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LIBRARY
MASSACHUSETTS
AGRICULTURAL
COLLEGE
No._-b_kS_l__- DATE..3.:iS_5 s
(?
^l
.^e
Jan. 28, 1888.]
[The GAnDE>f.
The G a EDEN.]
[Jan. 28, 1888.
CHARLES MOORE.
T:
ODO-
'3SSUM HARRYANU.
Jan. 28, 1888.]
[The Gabdbs,
II,X,l/STT^AT£^D W£;EKI,Y JOUT^KAL,
HORTICULTURE IN ALL ITS BRANCHES.
W. Robinson, Autlwr of " The Wild Garden," •' Enijlislt Floirer Garden," c^'C.
" Ton see, sweet maid, we marry
A gentler scion to the wildest stock ;
And make conceive a bark of baser kind
By bud of nobler race : This is an art
Which does mend natai'e, — change it rather : but
The art itself is nature."
Shaliespeare.
VOL. XXXII. -CH RISTMAS, 1887.
LONDON:
OFFICE: 37, SOUTHxVMPTON STEEET, COVENT GAEDEN, W.C.
The Gardek.]
[Jan. 28, 18S8.
CHARLES MOORE.
FOR OVER FORTY YEARS CURATOR OF THE BOTANIC GARDENS, SYDNEY, N.S.W.
(FORMERLY OF THE BOTANIC GARDENS, REGENT'S PARK),
THE THIRTY-SECOND VOLUME OF "THE GARDEN"
IS DEDICATED.
C
W. R. Jan. 1, 18?8.
V.?2-
Jan. 28, 1888.]
THE GARDEN INDEX
iisriDEX TO ■voUiTJnvcE x^^xiii.
(Illustrations in Italics.)
Abelia rupestris, 236, 276, 353
Abiee ajanensis, 524 ; coTWft^oJsis, 160; carta-
dmsis, branch of the, 160 ; canadensis,
pcndula, 363 ; EngelmaDni glauca, 403 ;
nigra, 47 ; noljilis, abnormal growtb of,
331 : FarsonsiaDa, 164 ; tsuga, 522
Abutilon Boule de Neige, 501 ; curious, 15 ;
■vexillarium, 389, 445
Acacia, Decaisne's False, 19 ; platyptera,
578, 598 ; saligna, 199 ; the Willow- leavtd,
199
Acantholimon venuetum, 170
AcerGinnala, 331 ; Negundo varlegata, 403
Achillea aurea, 4 ; viacrop/ii/lla, 57 ; umbel-
Acfn
265
, hanging baslrt ofj at Chaiiicortli,
Acintta Humboldti; 157
Acinetas, 156
Acrophyllum venosum, 323
Acrosticbum aureum, 101
Actiuiopteris radiata, 221
Adam's Needle, variegated, 600
Adelaide Botanic ^Gardens, 435 ; note from,
168
Adenocalymua nitidum, 114
Adhotodea cydonisefolia, 433
Adiantum aneitense, 592 ; asarifolium,
612 ; beUum, 66 ; C^Jlisi, 545 ; macrophyl-
luni bipinnatifidum, 174 ; pedatum, 277 ;
suhizophyllum, 66 ; sulphureum, 05 ; Vic-
torias, 545; WiUiamsi, 565
Adi^ntums, boli-growing, 566
Adlumia cirrho^a, 102
Aerides Godefroya;, 198 ; grown cool, 90 ; ex-
mnsum Leonid, 80 ; Leean.^m, 464 ; Lobbi,
89, 90; Rohauianum, 102, 197; Sanderia-
num, 464 ; virens Ellisi, 423
JEsculus flava, 403
Agathiea ccblestis, 336, 506, 578
Aglaomorjjha Jleyenianum, 134
Ailauthus glanduIo:-a, 196, 378 ; glandulosa,
330 ; gla.ndulosa in fioicer, 330
ADamanda grauditlora, 373 ; Henderson!,
52, 296 ; nobiliB, 55, 175 ; Schotti, 75
Allium giganteum, 7 ; pulchellum and A,
flavum, 235
Almond fruiting, 353, 403 ; fruiting in Eng-
land, 331 ; fruiting at Torquay, 306
i; pelegrioa alba,
124
Alumroot, the scarlet, 6, 7
Ah/ssum saxatilefoliis variegatis, 220
Ainaranihus caudatus gibbosits, 32
Amaryllids, 420, 445; hybrid, 109 ; at Lang-
port", 491 ; new, 250 ; not flowering, 343
Amaryllis belladonna, 210; formosissima,
270 ; reticulata, 390
Amasonia punicea, 458, 510
Amberboa moschata, 386
America, the sparrow in, 613
American Blackberries, 222; Exhibition,
gardens at, 235; notes. 359; Nurserymen's
AssociatioD, jjresideiit of the, ISO ; Seed
Association, prefcidtnt of the, 1S6
Ammonia, sulphate of, and sulphate of iron,
127
AmorgoB, Dittany of, 360, 417
Ampelopsis Veitcbi as a basket plant, 305
Amygdalus communis pyramidata, 305
Anchusa sempervirens, variegated, 56
Androsace folioea, 28, 31, 468 ; follosa, 247 ;
lanuginosa, 246
Androsaces, Himalayan, 246
Anemone, the, 533 ; alpina, 467 ; apemiina,
344; Japanese, red, 321, 415, 513; Jiobin-
soniana. 345; ItoOinson's blue, 3i5
Anemones, garden, 600 ; Japanese, 172, 335 ;
Japanese, the hardy, 293
Angrnecumcaudatum, 429; Chailluanum, 12 ;
Kotschyi, 405 ; Scottianum, 41, 314
Anguloas, 59, 90
Annual flowers, 240
Annuals, 392 ; as bedding plants, 319
Anomatheca, a new, 433 ; cruenta propa-
gating 496; grandiflora, 433
AnMiencum graminifolium 78
Aiithuriam Andrtanum, 381 ; ferrierenee,
490 ; Si-herzerianum Devansayanum, 295
Antigramuia Vouglan, 326
Ants in Fir timber, I40
Aphelandra Chamissouiana, 4^3, 491 ; Cba-
missoniana and A. chi-ysops, 550 ; chrysops,
420. 491 ; Margarirse, 372 ; Roczli, 534
Apple, a good, 311 ; an old, 60S ; Beauty of
Bath, U9; Blenheim Orange, 455, 540,
587; BUie Pearmain, 311; Claygat^ Pear- '
main, 455 ; Cornish Gilliflower, 517, 563, I
598, 60S ; crop, the, Sii, 1-.9 ; Curltail, 5S6 ;
English, a great, 478; of the Earth, 247 ;
Lane's Prince Albert, 286; name wanted,
441 ; Northern Spy, 551, 561 ; Seek-no-
further, 586 ; the Oslin, 274 ; trees, insects
on, 523 ; trees, planting for ornament,
538 ; Washington, 479
Apples, best, 539 ; and Pears, selections of,
339 ; bright -coloured, 587 ; dessert, 411 ;
dtssert, good early, 189, 286 ; early, 165 ;
early market, 310 : flavourin, 441, 538 ; for
Hertfordshire, 586; from cuttings, 309;
homegrown v. imported, 562 ; modes of
keeping, 597 ; raising new sorts of, 609 ;
specked, 617; storage for, '286 ; storing,
methods of, 396 ; two fine, 410
Apricot tree, a notable, 287
Apricots, squirrels destroying, 191
Arabian Star of Bethkhait, the, 145
Arabis petraja", 31
Aralia Sieboldi, 475, 522 ; Sieboldi in flower,
4.33 ; Sieboldi, propagating, 521 ; spinosa,
218, 330
Araucaria imbricata, 334
Arbor-vila3, golden American, 68
Arbutus Jlenzitsi, 572
Arctotis arborescens, 506 ; aureola, 108
Arddarrocb, 481 ; view in the grounds at,
481
Ardisia crenulata, 462
Arenaria balearica, 361 ; cfespitosa, 146
Aristolochia elegans, 118 ; rotunda, 104, 194 ;
rotuudifolia, 247
Arnica montana and English Iris, 50
Arrowhead, thf double white, 76
Arthropteris obliterata, 566 ; tenella, 514
Arum, Italian, 349
Ash, the White, 502 ; use of the, 48
Asimina triloba, 92
Asparagus, a graceful, 75 ; plumosus, 420 ;
plumosus nanus, 35, 509 ; verticillatus, 4
Aspatia lunata, 91
Aspen, the Weep-ng, 569
Asplenlum ambi-inen-e, 134; brachypteron,
134 ; buUdferum, 593; flabelUfo/iujii, 402;
Maarn, 471
Aster, a new, 209 ; acris, 321 ; alpinus ruber,
19 ; Bigelowi, 336 ; ericoides, 318 ; lon^i-
folius forraosus, 331 ; Queen of the Market,
147 ; turbinellus, 319
Asters, 245 ; as dry weather flowers, 292 ; at
CLiswick, 168; China at Chiswick, 239;
exhibitinn, 292 ; perennial, 467 ; single
pink, 283
Astilbe japonica aureo-rcticulata, 57 ; varie-
t ated Japanese, 57
Aubrietias, 30 ; two fine, 394
Auncula, the, 199, 296 ; grey-edged, 297 ;
Homers Heroine, 80; Page's Champion,
469
Auriculas, alpine, seedling, 349
Autumn colouring, 474, 496 ; tints, 386 ; v.
spring planting, 406
Avenue in bad condition, 594
Azalea amcena, specimen, 374 ; Deutsche
Perle, 506 ; mollis in autumn, 378
Azaleas, propagating, 32
Baden-Baden, notes from, 292, 458
Balsam, praise of the, 295
Balsams, 250
Banana, the, 288 ; at Penoj/re, Brecon, 243
Barberries, a few good, 568
Barberry, Darwin's, in fruit, 92 ; Japan, in
fruir, 20
Barkeria Lindleyana, 465
Barkeriaf, 216
Baskets, drooping growth for, 35
Battersea Park, 235
Beam tree, the White, 521
Beans, late kidney, 14 ; runner, 67
Beaumontiagrandiflora, 272 ; grand i^ora,27S
Bed, a pretty, 417
Bedding plants, annuals as, 319 ; propagat-
ing- 152
Bedding flowers, yellow, 291
Beech, American, 356 ; purple, the, 475 ; the,
572
Begonia Amaliaj, 500 ; as a table plant, 603 ;
Carrie i, 463; fu hsioides, 295; Maniana,
373 ; Mme. Henri Cache, 578 ; Princes-s
Beatiice. 307 ; socotnin^, propagating, 567
Begonias 343, 390; at Swanley, I5u; flower-
ing, 213 ; the new race nf, 4-*3 ; tuberous,
15, 391 ; tuberous, Juuigivg boskd- filled with,
!i91 ; wint rfl wenng. 579
BellflDWur, Canary Island, the, 582; the
ctijmriey, 120; the Ligurian, 535; ichite
Ligv.riaa, 485
Belot-trone ot longata, 2:0
Berberisaiistaia, I3ii; WollicU'-na., 5^S
BeiTied plints for the jockery, 485
HelUlehcn, i-atiny &t^r of, 77
Boiula Jeuta, 96
Bignonia chtrere, 240; grandiflora, 209;
purpurea, 162 -, radicans, 218
Bigri'Ot 15
Bit. bergin. nutans, 107; vittata, 106; Worltj'-
Bindwecd, Blue Rock, 171
Birch, pyramidal, the, 616; the, 140; the
Cherry, 96 ; the purple-leaved, 71
Birds V. caterpillars, 537
Birthworts, two elegant, 420
Blackberries, American, 129, 166, 190, 222,
286, 340, 396, 440, 538
VI
THE GAEDEN INDEX
[Jan. 28, 1888.
Blackberry, American Lawton, 2SS ; Ameri- Cardinal flower, 239, 320
can, Wilson'8 Early, 223 ; Wilson junr., 166 Carex diTUlsa, 594 ; paniculatd, 80
Bladder flower, the white, 210 " ' "'
Bladder Senna, Cape, 306
Bladder Snnnas, the, 196
Blechnums, 277
SHMinq Hall. Norfolk; 577
Bluebell, the New Zealand, 123
Book, wanted a, 59
Books :—
"A Manual of Orchidaceous Plants, 493
" Asa Gray's Lessons in Botany," 307
"Edinburgh Apple and Pear Congress.
" Fresh Woods and Pastures New," 307
" Handbook of the Fern Allies," 70
" Handy-book of the Flower Garden," 174
" Historical Record of the Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew," 114
" Orchid Album," 646
" Petroleum '■ (illustrated), 307
" Practical Papers on Gardening," 362
" Recollections of a Speyside Parish Fifty
Years Ago," 1S6
" Report of the Pear Congress," 209
" Rivers' Rose Amateur's Guide," 240
" Roses for Amateurs, 530
" Smithsonian Report" (part 1), 114
" Table Decoration," 114, 132
" Vines and "Vine Culture," 361
" Water for Nothing," 241
Boiler, saddle, fuel for, 593
Bomarea Carderi, 307
Boronia megmtigma, 443
Boronias, 442
Bougainvillea glabra, 214
Bouvardia, a yellow, 433 ; President Cleve-
land, 421, 490 ; triphylla. 272
Bouvardias, 625 ; in bloom, 33 ; notes on,
509 ; planted out, 373
Brachycome Sinclairi, 123
Bradfield, trees at, 616
Brachysema lanceoUta, 490
Brainea insignis, 81, 402
Bramble, double Roae-leaved, 660 ; Japanese
climbing, 209 ; Parsley-leaved, 353 ; the
double pink, 28
Brambles, double, 245
Breelia hirsuta, 336
Brier Roses, Austrian, 9
Briers, planting, 460
Brisbane, a note from, 500
Broadlands, Hants, vine in the grounds at,
507 ; view in the park, 663
Bromeliads at Croydon Lodge, 602
Bromsgrore School, Worcestershire, 337
Broom, Arrow-pointed, 43 ; com"
game shelter, 140, the black, 176
Browallia elata, 491
Brugmansia suaveolens, 237, 510
lens, the white, 386
Brunevigia Josephinas, 336
Buckthorn, the Sea, 378
Budding, 51
Buddleia globosa, 43
Bulb trade in Holland, 62
Bulbophyllum hirtum, 466
Bulbous flowers, hardy, in masses, 102
Bulbs, the ripening of, 512 ; and roots,
forced, 579 ; and Roses, 267
BuUflnches and fruit-buds, 619
Bunch-berry, the, 582
Burghlcy, letter from, 127
Burning Bush, the, 6
Butterwort, the Mexican, 373
Carissa grandiflora, 214
Carnation, Amber, 56 ; and Picotee, 102 ;
an old Sussex, 581 ; Germania, yellow, 436;
Gloire de Nancy, 292 ; good winter-flower-
ing, 650 ; Gravetve Gem, 120; Lady Agnes,
361, 394; MissJolifTc, 463 ; Mile. Carle, 35 ;
Mr. Englehearfs, 124 ; Mrs. Hole alias
Gravetye Gem, 106 ; Pride of Penshurst,
470, 486 ; the Governor, 146 ; White Rosette,
23 ; Yellow Germania, 147
Carnations, 209, 468, 485, 668 ; and Picotees
at Chiswick, 219 ; and Picotees, wintering,
445 ; border, 123 ; border, prizes for, 314;
336, 380, 436 ; disease, 28, 380, 419, 486 ;
the diseases attacking, 658; dwarf, 171;
248, 359 ; dwarf and self, 290, 416; garden;
prizes for, 409 ; new, 194 ; Painted Lady
Clenkows^ia Kirki, 15
Cincinalis, 196
Cissus antarotica in fruit, 295 ; discolor, 295
Cistus crispuB, 20
Clarkias, 360
Cleisostoma crassifolia, 58
Clematis cirrhosa, 628 ; coccinea, 28 ; Davl-
diana. 307 ; flammula, 194 ; graveolens;
378 ; Jackmanni on fences, 31, 417 ; Vitalba,
104
I Cypripedlums at The Woodlands, 422
Cyrtanthus hybridus, 332 ; McKeni, 296
Cystopteris montana. 349 ; the, 326
Cytisus nigricans, 176
Dsedalacanthus macrophyllus, 598
Clematises, 66, 560 , _. -„„ ,„
Clerodendronfallax, 420; nutans, 433; sped- Daffodil Y'eUow King, 220, 484
272
trichotomum, propagating.
Club, the Horticultural, 380
Cluster flower, crimson, 433, 501
Coccocypselum repens, 554
Cockroaches in plant houses, 523
Cockscombs, 294 ; feathered, 108, 373, 601 ;
pro- ■ scarlet, 293
paeating' in winter, 470 ; seedling, 76, ! Cocoa Weddelliana, 248
147- self, 122, 193, 267, 321. 347. 361, 483, i Ccelogyne Massangeana, 381, 400; ochracea,
511 ;' self-coloured, 625, 567 ; staking, 293 ; 400
Tree, 463 ; Tree, propagating, 496 ; winter Coffea arabica, 500
flowering, 560; wintering, 612,669; winter. "-«--'"—-
propagation of, 521 ; wiShout sticks, 76
Carrot, the Nantes, 520
Case, a seed, 114
Cassia, a new, 381 ; corymbosa, 419
Cassias, planted out, 283
Castor-oil plant and flies, 302
Catalpa, the, in flower, 136
Catalpas by the Thames, 136
Catasetum Bunserothi, 302, 332 ; Bungerothi
Pottsiana. 483 ; longiflorum, 385
Catchfly, Alpine, 31 ; autumn, 168 ; Pigmy,
66
destroying
I pretty, 650,
Cabbige, clubbing in, 226 ; seed 8avin,3;, 426 ;
sprir g, 67
Cacti, hardy, 77
Cactus, night-flowering, 62, 74
Calandrinia eetosa, 124 ; umbellata, 77
Calanthe furcata and C. veratrifolia, 124 ;
Veitchi, 12 ; vcslita rubro-oculata, 13
Calanthes, 423, 698 ; at Gannerabury Park-
483 ; seedling, 528
Calceolarias, propagating, 302 ; shrubby, 320
California, among the big trees of, 238
Callicarpa purpurea, 421, 555, 602
Callirhoe iavolucrata, 349
Camellia flowers, cutting, 606 ; leaves drop-
ping, 679
Campanula, chimney, 103 ; isophylla alba,
210, 433 ; isophylla allja, 485 ; lactiflora, 78,
jjcrsici/o/m <t/6rt, 557; pyramidalis, 120 124;
Raineri, 66 ; rotundifolia, 67; iJoysi, 268
Campanulas, 7
Canada, fruit prospects in, 76
Canarina campanula, 682
Canker, 441
Canna Ehemannl, 236 ; Premices de Nice,
292
Caiinas for winter flow. ring, 601; two Bne,*
108
Cantui dcpendens, 15
Cap 3 Primrose, Rex's, 35
Cape Town, seeds from, 194
Caper plant, the, at Cam'ir:dge, 161
Capifaris ."^pinosa, 75
Caterpillars and Poplars,
Potatoes, 281
Cattleya Aclandiaj and its allies, 40 ; bicolor,
350 ; Bowringiana, 350, 465 ; crispa, 134 ;
Dormanniana, 465, 549 ; Dowiana, 133 ;
Gaskelliana, 89 ; gigas, 59, 90, 336 ; gigas
Bhuttleworthi, 90 ; hybrid, a new, 690 ;
Loddigesi, 381, 549 ; fchilleriana, 12 ;
Schofieldiana, 133 ; Bpeciosissima Ernsti,
168; velutina, 198 ; Wageneri, 313 ; Wameri,
58
Cattleyas, 424 ; at Mr. Bull's, 424 ; at St.
Albans, 434; from The Woodlands, Streat-
ham, 69
Cauliflowers, autumn, 494
Ceanothus, 305 ; Gloire de 'Versailles, 136
Cedar of Lebanon, the, bearing cones, 403
Celery, market, 298
Celosias, 108, 269, 324, 373 ; at Birmingham,
509
Centropogon Lucyanus, 570 ; Lucyanus as a
climber, 676
Cercis siliquastrum, 20
Oestrum aurantiacum, 381
Chatsworth, notes from, 265 ; Pine stove a',
367
Cheiranthus mutabilis, 469
Cherries, the best, 398
Cherry, the early purple Gean, 410 ; wild,
foliage of, 381 ; winter, red, 381
Cherry plant, 374
Cherry Plum, purple-leaved, 224
Cherry trees, slugworms on, 88 ; Morello,
Ufting, 369, 440
Chestnut tree, Califomian, 52 ; large Spanish,
496
Chicago parks, flower gardening in, 684
Chinese plant, a pretty, 307
Chionodoxa Luciliae, 512
Chirita Mooni, 332
Chiswick, vegetable trials at, 186
Chou de Burghley, 299
Chrysanthemum Boule de Neige, 652 ; buds,
selection of, 158; coronarium Cloth of Gold,
317; Elaine, 466; Golden Aurora, 381;
Golden Gem, 336 ; groups at exhibitions,
606 ; lacustre, 103 ; Lord Eversley, 574 ;
Mme. Desgrange, sport from, 458 ; Mr. R.
Brocklebank, 381, 505 ; multicaule, 30,
269 ; notes, 574 ; prize schedules, 605 ;
sports, 409, 561 ; sportiveness of the, 466 ;
Yellow Ethel, 497
Chrysanthemums, 27, 121, 174, 221, 303,317,
458; and frost, 388 ; and Mahonia folj.age,
466; and Palms, 504; applying stimulants to.
Coffee Tree, the Mocha, 500
Colax, 89 ; jugosus, 89
Colchicum antumnale, 235
Colchicums, 321, 332
Columbines, hybrid, 6
Coluteas, 196
Colysis spectra, 565
Combination, a beautiful, 123
602 ; an eflective, 293
Combretum purpureum, 332; purpureum,
propagating, 379
Comparettia macroplectron, 424
Comptonia asplenifolia, 591
Coneflower, purple, 247 ; showy, 321
Congress. Apple and Pear, for Harpenden,
458 ; Horticultural, in Paris, 628
Coniferous plants, propagating, 177
Conifers, early coning of, 546 ; grafting, 128
Convolvulus mauritanicus, 171 ; tenuiflsimus,
168 ; White Major, 66
Coppices, destruction of small, 96
Cordyline indivisa and australis, 174
Coreopsis Drummondi, 359 ; grandiflora, 56
Comus canadensis, 682 ; mascula variegata,
331
Coryopteris mastacanthus, 307
Cosmos biplnnatus, 236, 358
Cotoueaster, Small-leaved, 379
Covert, Sedges for, 694 ; undergrowth for,
476
60
Forest Hill, 400 ; at Putney, 408 ; cutting
down, 53G ; dwarf. 91, 624 ; early, 883, 304 ;
early-flowering, 817 ; after early flowering,
336 ; at FiDsbury Park, 386 ; from suckers,
675 ;gold cup for, 605 ; grafting, 335; hints
to beginners in exhibiting, 407; in Inner
Temple Gardens, 386 ; late, 506, 636, 598 ;
new Continental, 552; new early-flowering,
408 ; notes on, 366, 388, 432, 636, 652 ; Pom-
pon and Anemone, 606 ; Pompon, 497,
503. 536 ; preparing plants for cuttings,
504 ; promising new, 465, 407; propagating,
551,573; propagating by cuttings, 576; pros-
pects of the season, 335 ; scented, 651, 605 ;
selection of varieties for various purposes,
605 ; single, 600 ; single, at Heckfield, 504;
soot for, 122 ; standard, 21 ; two new,
500
Covert plants, three ornamental, 406
Coicslip, Virginian, 173
Crabs, Siberian, 496
Crambe pinnatifida, 417
Cratasgus coccinea, 218; Pyracantha, 363, 475
Creeper, Canary, 292 ; for conservatory, 65
Creepers and climbers, training, 132 ; for a
London house, 448
Creeping Jenny, Golden, 58
Crinum americanum, 306 ; angustum, 433 ;
australe, 200 ; gig,anteum, 162 ; Hilde-
brandtl, 575 ; Mooreanum, 236, 291 ;
Moorei, 249 ; Powelli, 437 ; Powelli in
London, 386
Croci, the autumn-flowering species of, 417
Crocus Borgei Ipevigatus, 600 ; Indian, 381 ;
speciosus, 393, 438 ; the, 416, 469, 699 ; the
autumnal, 236
Crops, earliness of, 159 ; fruit, 141, 253 ;
weather and the 111
Crossandra undulfefolia, 151
Croton aneitensis, 463 ; Morti, 35
Croton', 445 ; a lew good, 420 ; grafted, 390
Croydon, Lilies at, 235
Croydon Lodge, Orchids at, 612
Cryptomeria elegans propagating, 632
Cucumber leaves diseased, 22
Cucumbers, 192 ; over-cropping, 38
Cumingia campanulata, 4
Cuphea eminens, 429
Cupressus Lawsoni.ana, 211 ; Laweoniana
erecta virldis, 379
Cups, silver, as prizes at flower shows, 356, 405
Corculigos, propagating 442
Cui cuma Roscoeana, 272
Currant buthes, summer pruning of, 129
Currants, rel, 106 ; summer pruning, 40
Custard Apple, North Americin, 92
Daffodils, cut, a group of, 63 ; white, 114
Dahlia imperiaUs, 660 ; single. Improved
Pantaloon, 359 ; tree, the, 650
Dahlias, Cactus and decorative, 348, 391 ;
grubs destroying, 237 ; single, 346, 392,
438 ; staking, 293
Daisies, Michaelmas, 283 ; Michaelmas, 318
Daisy, Bigelow's, 336; Marsh Ox-eye, 103;
the African, 500
Damsons, 311, 369
Daphne indica, 527
Darlingtonia calif omica, 489
DavaUia fceniculacea, 565
Decorations, table, 156
Deer forest, planting, 284
Delphinium grandiflorumfi.-pL, 8
Bendrobium aurev.m, 133 ; aureum, 528, 632 ;
bigibbum, 331 ; Dearei, 12, 102, 133 ; for-
mosum giganteum, 281, 468 ; Fytchianum
roseum, 89 ; Gibsoni. 400 : Phaljenopsis,
386 ; polyphlebium, 423 ; pulchellum, 68 J
rhodostoma, 240 ; Stratiotes, 172 ; super-
biens, 59 ; the Violet-scented, 532 ; trans-
parens, 172
Deodar, hedges of, 136
Desmodium penduliflorum, 330 ; penduli-
florum, propagating, 496
Destroyers, garden, 449
Deutzia crenata fl.-pL, 43
Dianella aspera, 147
Dianthus cinnabariaus. 8 ; cruenttis, 8 ; den-
tosus, SO ; Grievei, 6 ; Beguieri, 104 ; syl-
vestris, 30
Dicentra spectabilis alba, 31
Dichorisandra thyrsiflora, 462
Dicksonia Berteroana, 427
Dictyogramma japonica, 612
Didymochlfena lunulata, 18
Dimorphotheca fruticosa, 321
Diontea muscipula, 31
Diospyros Lotus, 68
Dipladenia boliviensis,
Dipladenias, 74
Disa culture at Dangstein, 216 ; grandiflora
and its varieties, 280 ; grandiflora at Straf-
fan, 115 ; grandiflora from Straffan, 162
Dittany of Amorgos, 269
Ditton Park, wall trees at, 190
Dove plant, the, 90
Dracffina Lindeni, 509
Drains, root-choking of, 212
Drought and the crops, 113 ; and the lawns,
9, 429
and the vegetables, 177
Dry-season flowers, 105, 124
Dry weather, plants for, 293
Dryas octopetala, 248
Dutch roots v. Dutch cut flowers, 146
Dutch flower roots, 105
Edelweiss, 321, 606
Edinburgh, flowers from,
236 ; Exhibition
261 ; garden, an old, 77 ; Mushroom-grow-
ing i
, 299
arrangement of groups of, 432 ; at Cut flowers for market, 656
Cuttings, compost for, 402 ; root, 427
Cyclamen hederiefolium, 332
Cyclamens, hardy, 291
Cymbidium eleg.ans, 429, 40.5 ; tigrinum, 134
Cyperus alternifolius, prop-gating, 3.53
Cypress, deciduous, 331, 370 ; deciduous
weeping, 403 ; Japanese, 187; Lawson's, 211
Cypripedium Arthurianum, 400 ; Canhami,
350 ; caudatum, 301 ; Domini.anum, 434 ;
Fairleanum, 313 ; Fairieanuui, 423 ; Fairic-
amim in its native home, 422 ; insigne,
506 ; javanicum auperbum, 90 ; Lawrcnce-
anum, 89 ; microcbilum, 434 ; niveum,
400; pro3stflns, 281; Sanderianum, 519;
Schlimi and its hybrids, 520 ; Sedeni, 500 ;
Sedeni and its hybrids, 532 ; spectabile, 40,
535 ; Spiccrianum, 519 ; Splcerianum, 532 ;
Spicerianum and its hybrids, 519 ; venus-
tum and Its varieties and hybrids, 464 :
vexillarium, 400
the
Bdraianthus caudatus, 31 ; serpyllifolii
Elaphoglossums, 173
Elder, golden-leaved, 136
Elders, variegated, 422
Elm, the, 572; Scotch or Wych, 23
English, 48, 356 ; the Wheatley, 476
Elms, old, 430 ; raising from seed, 96
Endive, well grown, 494
Endives, 278 , „ „ ..
English plant names for English-speakmg
people, 51
Epidendrum bicomutum, 90; hicorn utuiii, 3i 1;
ilichromum, 251 : nemorale majus, 52 ; p'l'-
matocarpum, 172. 283 ; viteUinum majus,
158; Wallisi, 12
Epidendrums, choice, 251, 370
Epilobium obcordatum, 170, 220
Epiphyllums in bloom, 510
Eranthemum nervosum, 528
Bremurus Bungei, 4, 120 ; bimalaicus, 31
Erica cafEra, 420 ; Cavendishiana, 34 ; gracilis,
420
Erigoron mucronatus, 321 ; speciosum super-
bum, SO
Erodium hymenodes, 247 ; Richaidl, 148
Eryngium, 414 ; alpimim, 414; amcthi/stinu
414 ; cbnrneum, 414 ; giganteim
iimum, 414 ; maritimum, 43
Kryngiums, 60, 147
Erythnea difltusa, SO
, 415 ; mari-
Jan. 28, 1888.]
THE GAEDEN INDEX
Erythrina Humei, 162
Escallonia Phillipiana. 62, 6S, 113
Eucalyptus citriodorus, 523
Eucharis, 570 ; Candida, propa^tiug, 442 ;
house at Aintree, 45S ; Mastersi, 3S6 ; mite,
15 ; mite conquered, 271
Eucryphia pinnatifolia, propagating, 442
Eugenia ugni, 523
Suialia japonica fariegafa, 599
Euonynius europjeus, 429 ; Japanese, 403 ;
latifolius, 591
Euphorbia jacquinia;floTa, 59S
J'^urybia stellulata, 20
Evergreen, a good, for towns, 501
Evergreens, the best time to plant, 304
" I affine, 74, 332 ; macranthuCD, 331
Fagus ferruginea, 3^6
Feea spicata, 173
Fruits, bush, 309 ; English standard, 357,
369, 3S3. 439, 455, 479, 516, 562, 586 ; flavour
in, 2, 47S ; hardy, 99, 243, 312, 413. 479, 563 ;
hardy, at the Royal Aquarium, 499; hardy,
work amongst, 39 ; names of, 261; lofty
names of, 369 ; select lists of, 36S ; some
prettv, 283 ; stone v. squirrels, 311; under
glass,* 63, S7. 130, 154. 166, 191, 223, 275, 2S7,
341, 369, 397.441, 456, 51S, 540, 587, 610;
work amongft, 2
Fuchsia, Califomian, 16S ; corymbiflora. 3S6;
coryTnbiflora,\hybridis'ng,44S; the Cluster-
flowered, 3S6 ; triphylla, 236, 270
Fuchsias. 331 ; a few good, 54 ; on Grass, 29;
treated as annuals, 214
Fuel for saddle boiler, 593
Fumitory, the clirabing, 162
Funkia grandiflora, 336
Fern, a pretty climbing, 514 ; Bat-winged,
the, 565 ; Beech, 447 ; Bladder, mountain,
349 ; Bush, sweet, the, 591 ; hard^/ :\Taiden-
?uiir, 277 ; OaX; 446; ravine, a, 612; Royal,
14S, 612 ; Roi/al, 565 ; Royal, fertile pinncE
of the, 565 ; the Elephanfs-ear, 196 ; the
Horse-shoe, 173 ; the Lady, 513 ; Tree, a
noble, 101
Ferns, a few useful. 66 ; basket, two good,
496 ; Filmy, cool house, 300 ; Filmy, from
Jama''ca, 375; Filmy, hardy, 66; hanging
biskifnf^ at Chat-Mcorth, 269 ; in small pots,
278 ; JUaiden-hair, golden, 65 ; manure for,
277 ; of Madeira, the, 592 ; our na'ive, 4*,
65, 82, 326, 376, 446, 471, 513, 544, 564 ;
Stag's-tongue, 173 ; table, 327 ; the Bird's-
nest, 134 ; the Bladder, 326
Ficus Cannoni, 575 ; elastica variegata, 390
Fig Xegro Largo, 410 ; trees, scale on, 339
Figs, 64; for forcing, 37; on walls, 368; with-
©ut water in the open air, 309
Fir, Hemlock, the Jacanese, 522 ; the Corsi-
can, 356 ; the Douglas, 95, 430, 476, 546 ;
timber, ants in, 140 ; timber, sources of,
164
Fire, death from, and waste by insurance,
593
Flame flower, noble, 168
Flame flowers, 307, 582
Flavour in fruits, 2
Flea-bane, Australian, 321 ; Georgian, S ; the
showy, SO
Fleur-de-li3, the, 237
Floors, paved r. earthen, 132
Florists, suggestions to, 2fi6, 371 ; flowers,
hardy garden, winter treatment of, 437
Flower beds in -winter, 55S
Flower garden, waste of gravel in, 273 ;
winter in the, 417
Flowers, a town of, 239 ; cut, in competition,
150 ; cut, packing, 3 ; favourite, season-
able notes on, 55; from Burton-on-Trent,
209 ; hardy, 4, 485 ; hardy, autumn plant-
ing of, 46S ; hardy cut, at shows, 1S9 ;
hardy, a retrospect, 289, 435 ; too few, 357,
444; uses of, by birds, 8
Fly-trap, Venus's, 31
Foam noiccr, the, 511
Fogs, London, and their effects, 549
Fohage, a brief season of, 153 ; coloured, 136
Forcing, hardy plants suitable for, 461
Forest, deer, planting, 284
Forests, natural, 115
Forestry, 476, 572, 617 ; economic, 238 ; in
England, 164 ; Lord Powerscoiirt's evi-
dence on, 116
Forget-me-not, alpine, 104
Foxglove, monster, 28
Foxgloves, 5S, 78 ; and Brake, 31; white,
103
Frames, cold, 573
Frankenia Ifevis, 195
Freeslas, 109, 415, 526. 579
Fremontia californica, 21
Fritillaria Meleagris, 558 ; Meleagns alba, 29
FritiUaru, Siwkf's-head, 29
Fruit buds, bullfinches destroying, 501, 519
Fruit crops, the, 120, 179, 202, 226. 253 ; of
1SS7 1'. wasted water, 222 ; v. drought, 153 ;
culture, successful, 411 ; growers and
nurserymen, 551 ; growing, 166 ; growing
at Orleans House, 62 ; keeping, 340 ; for
market, assorting, 398 ; prospects, 120 ;
prospects in Canawia, 76 ; quarters, wire
netting for, 396, 440, 477, 60S ; wire net-
ting for, 519
Fruit trees, canker in, 340. 397 ; decrepit,
339; lifting and root-pruning, 538 ; mulch-
ing, 1; pruned r. unpruned, 274 ; selected
stocks for, 561 ; soil for, t>2 ; stocks for,
86, 223 ; unpruned, 312 ; why not planted ?
455
Gaillardia, seedling, 76 ; William Kelway, 52
Gaillardias, 7, 77, 393 ; perennial, 534
Galanthus octobrensis, 417
Galeandras, 153
Garden, a school, 337; a stream, 337 ; a
stream, 289 ; produce, damage by smoke to,
332
Gardens at railway stations, 57 ; Inner
Temple, Chrysanthemums in, 3S6 ; of
Lincoln's Inn and Inner Temple, 210 ; Pub-
lic, Metropolitan Association, 2S2 ; the
American Exhibition, 235 ; the Tower, 210;
village, 304
Gardener, a woman, 213 ; the, with a secret,
297, 375
Gardeners" Orphan Fund, 4, 69, 76, 571
Gardeners* Royal Benevolent Institution,
240
Gardenias, 381
Gardening in Albany, 'West Australia, 2S
Garland flower, the, 496
Garland flowers, fragrant, 273, £07
Garrva elliptica, 616
Gate's, deal, 187, 212 ; deal v. oak, 96
Giultheria ShaUon on rocks, 522
Gaura Lindheimeri, 210, 269, 349
Geneva, the Jardin d'Acclimatation at. 407
Genista sagittalis, 43 ; tinctoria humifu«a, 32
Gentian, the fringel, 306 ; the Willow, 269
Gentlana bavarica, 4 ; ornata, 170 ; sceptrum,
80
Gesnera zebrina, 510
Ghost tree, the, 403
Gilliflower, what is a? 77, 171, 194
Gladioli, early-flowering, 360 ; from Holland,
52; hardy hybrid, 7S ; new hybrid, 560;
new race of, 394
Gl\diolus, early-flowering, Anna Paulowna,
331 ; ramosu^, hybrids of, 58 ; seedling,
361 ; the, 393 ; the, in 1887, 583 ; winter,
506
Gleditschia sinensis, 379 ; triacanthos, 304 ;
triacinthos, 352
Glonera jasminiflora, 532
Gloriosa superba, 250, 555
Glory of the Snow. 512
Gloxinia blooms, best mode of packing, 27
Gloxinias at Reading, 34; seedling, 175
Going backwards, 191
Gomphia decorans, 162
Gompholobiums, 14
GoniophJebium appendiculatum, 134, 496 ;
loriceum, 496
Gooseberries, good, 412
Gooseberry caterpillar, 86
Gooseberry, Rosebery, 97 ; Whinham's In-
dustry, 450
Grafting Peach on Whitethorn, 222
Grammatophyllums, 172
Grape, Diamante traube, 287; Gros Colman,
inarched, 190, 242 ; Gros Maroc, 273 ; grow-
ing at Clarendon Park, 439 ; Madresfleld
Court, 2, 166 ; Frimavis Frontignan, 166 ;
culture in 1887, commercial aspect of, 492 ;
White Frontignan, 564, oS9
I Grapes, a heavy crop of, 396 ; and flowers to-
gether, 573 ; at Gxmnersbury House, 456 ;
crowded bunches of,2~-i;jlat baslret used
foy, 493; handle basl-€t used for, 492 ; im-
perfectly coloured, 166 ; outdoor, 368, 456 ;
packing, 575; rust on, 38; scalded, 2;
seldom met with, 395 ; the Frontignan,
60S ; !-. choice Pears, 235
Grasshopper plague, 46
Grass, Hassock, 80; of Pamassxis, Aearum-
leaved, 321
Greenhouse plants, what are ? 16
Greenhoxises, coal giis in, 175
Greens, winter, 120, 542
Grifiinia hyacinthina, 444
Groimd, foul, 405 ; the cleaning of, 474
Groundsel, Tyerman's, 247
Growth, rapid, an example of, 125
Grubs destroying Dahlias, 237
Guelder Rose ua berry, 218
Gunnera scabra in fruit, 386
I Gifmnogramvia peruviana argirrox>hyUa, 81 ;
i pidchella, 17; triangidaris, 44
Gynerium saccharoides, 52S
Gypsophiia paniculata, 123
Gypsophiia", 219
Habenaria ciliaris, 434 ; militaris, 350 ; rho-
dopensis, 31
Habrotbamnus, 149. 199 ; eleg^s, 433, £01
H^emanlhus coccineus, 335 ; natalensis,
52S
Hahsia tetraptera, 450
Hampstead Heath extension, 458
Hardy flowe-, a capital, 120
Harebell, 57, 124; Ligurian, 210, 433 ; ich'te,
Harebells, 7 ; white, 557
Harpalium rigidum, 469
Hawkweed, the woolly, 29
Hawtlorn, the Engli-h, 616
Hazel, Wycb, the, 496
Heath, Sea, 195
Heaths, hard-wooded, at Xorwood, 175 ;
hardy, 422 ; propagating, 106, 2 2
ffeavai, Tree of, 330 ; Tree of, b7S ; Tree of, in
nojr r, 330
Heckfield, Pears at, 28?
Hedera maderiensis variegata, 379
Hedges, Beech, 546 ; evergreen, 449 ; crna-
mental, 617
Hedychium coronarium, 307; flavosum, 175 ;
GaVdnerianum and coronariuoj, 273
Helianthemums, 19
Helianthus decape'alus, 292 ; grandiplenus,
361 ; japonicus, 171 ; Isetiflorus, 331
Heliotrope blossoms in winter, 444 ; White
L-idy. 390
Helix Rregneriana, 422
Helminthostachys zeylanica, 134
Hemerocallis Thimbergi, 80
Hemidi'-tyiim marginatum, 81
Hemlock Spruce, creeping, 93
Hemp. African. 443, 491, 598
Hemstead Park, notes from, 387; vieic in
co7x^(7'vatori/ ot, 387
Herbs, two useful, 605
Heron's-bill, Fairy, 148
Hessea stellaris, 528, 555
Hessian fly scare, 237
Heuchera sanguinea, 6
Hibbertia dentata, 593
Hibiscus cisplataLUs, 240 ; coccineus, 235 ;
syriacus, 240, 245 ; syriacus caelestis, 336 ;
tyriacus. propagating, 313
Hieracium villosum, 29
Hlppeastrums at the Langport Nurseries,
I 491
I Hippophre rhamnoides, 378
1 Hoffmannia Ghiesbreghti, 75
1 Hole, Canon, appointment of, 552
Holly, common. 403 ; Japan dwarf, 379 ;
veilow-berried, the, 615
Hollyhock, the, 268 ; disease, 132 ; leaves
diseased, 282 ; Princess of Wales, 438
Hollyhocks, 103, 169, 438
Holloway, Lady's Shpper Orchids at, 252
Honeysuckle, the Trumpet, 43
Hornbeam, the, 572
Hornsea Mere and its wild flowers, 484, 559
Horse Ch'stnut, the double-iloicered, 014 ; the
scarlet-leaved, 403
HoKcradish, 298
Horticultural Society, Royal, transactions of,
616
Hot-weather plants, 291
Houlletias, 196
House, intermediate, heating, 421
Houstonia cserulea, 104
Hovea Celsi, 73
Hoya imperialis, 108
Hummiog-bird's Trumpet, 268
Hyacinth, white Cape, 113
Hyacinths in glasses, 5S4
Hvacinthus candicans, 240; (Galtonia) candi-
cans, 113
Hydrangea, blue, 240 ; 0»k-leaved, 92 ; pani-
culata grandiflora, 245, 276
Hydrangeas and dry weather, 291 ; propa-
gating, 51
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioides, 247
Hymenodaum crinitum, 196
Hi/menophi/lium demissum, 300
Hypericum patulum, 331 ; reptans, 248
Hypolepis, 514
Iberia gibraltarica, 585
Ilex crenata, 379
Imantophyllum, new varieties of, 168
Impitiens flaccida alba, 34 ; Hawkeri, 53,
554 : Hookeriana, 461
Inarching Gros Colman Grape, 249
India-rubber plant, a variegated, 35, 109, 295,
602
Indigofera fioribunda, 332 ; Gerardiana, 120
Indigo plant, the purple-flowerei, 151
Insect pests, 259
Insects on Apple trees. 523 ; on Vines, 2S1
Institution, Gardeners' Royal Benevolent,
240
Inula glandulosa, S
lonopsis utricularioides, 434
Ipomtea Horsfalhje, propagating, 192 ; HorS'
fallire and Friggsi, 214 ; Quamoclit, 209 ;
rubro-cierulea, 385, 500
Ipomjeas, 152
Ireland, flowers from, 283, 336 ; weather in,
28
Iris alata, 512 ; Algerian, 550 ; ochroleuca, 8 ;
Princess Beitrice, 28 ; reticuLata^ 582; sty-
losa, 558, 576; Susiana, 193; the great
spotted, 193 ; winter flowering, 576
Irises, English, 28 ; Germaa, 30 ; Onocyclos,
534
Irish natural hist ry, 120
Iron sulphate as an antiseptic, 88
Iron tree, 4"3
Ivies, two beautiful, 495
Ivy, golden-leaved tree. 218 ; on and under
trees, 450 ; purple-leaved, 523 ; the, as a
bisket plant, 615 ; the giant, 422, 451 ; the
Poison. 305
Isias, 118
Ixiolirion tataricum, 31
Jamcsia americana, 522
Jasmine, the Chili, 107, 236 ; Chili, hardiness
of the, 150 ; Xightshade, 2 10 ; winter flower-
ing, 550, 598
Jasminum fruticans. 02; gracillimxim, 528,
576 ; nudifloruni, 598
Jonqui's, the great and common, 394
Judging by ballot, 472
Justicia speciofa, 528
Kennedya Marryattre, 525
Kensington Gardens, 162
Kenwood, notes from, 4tj5
Kew, rock garden at, 23
Kitchen garden crops, preparation of the
ground for, S3
Kitchen garden notes, 13, 42, 66, 82, 110, 126,
159, 178, 201, 225, 252, 278, 297, 328, 350,
377,401, 424, 44S, 472, 494, 520, 541, 566,
59), 603
Kniphofia foliosa, 598 ; Uvaria, 582
Knotweed, the giant, 123 j the rock, 415
Kodreutcria paniculata, 378
Laburnums, eccentric, 44, 69; in rabbit
warrens, 140
Lachenalias, 249, 324, 374, 555 ; potting, 509
Lady's Slipper, showy, 40 ; long-tailed, 301
Ljelia a new, 5S9 ; albida, 575 ; autumnalis
atro-rubens, 429 ; Dayana, 280 ; elegans
nyleptha, 400 ; elegans prasiata, 281 ; ele-
gans, variety of, 158 ; Perrini ni-vea, 400 ;
Tmneii, 172 , „
Lfelias at St. Albans, 434 ; at the York Nur-
series, 400
Lagerstroemia indica, 108, 151, 210
Latid, the drainage of, 366 ; waste, plantmg,
164
Lapageria rosea, 109, 429, 433
Lapagerias, 306 ; at Chelsea, 325 ; propagat-
ing, 402 ; seedling, 576
Larch, the, its disease, value, and uses, 23
Larkspur, a beautiful, 52 ; double Siberian,
28; doitble Siberian, S; Pompon Brilliant,
52 ; seedling, S
Larkspurs. 8 ; new perennial, 56 ; peren-
nial, from the Westerham Nurseries, 4
Lastrea deltoidea, 513 ; fragrans, 611 ; Sie-
boldi, 134
Lastreas, Kew Zealand, 513
Lithyrus Drummondi, S
Lattice-leaf plant, 240
Laurel, Portugal, 44
Laurustinus, white, 543
Law —
Damage by smoke to garden produce, 3o3
Richardson v. Clarke, 70 ^ „« ,
Lawns and the drought, 193 ; verdant. 294
weeds on, 469
THE GAUDEN INDEX
[Jan. 28, 188&
Ltad-wort, blue-flowered, 307 ; roey flowered,
551
Leaves, Peach and Tine, diseased, 237
Lemonia tiifoliata, 320
Leplcystis, to
Lettuces. 2:9
Leucostegia parvula, 593
Leucostegi.is, 101
Liatris elegans, 349
ligustrum sinense, 69
Lilac, Indian, 210
Lilacs, double, 523
Lilie8, 30, 103 ; African, note on, 416 ; Afri-
can, white, 46S ; all tbe year round, 117 ;
and Larkspxnrs, 2$ ; at Croydon, 235 ; at
Kew, 114 ; early-flowered, 6 ; Sfaiiposa,
79 ; notes on, 5, 124, 145, 246; Scarborough,
5: transplanting, 35S ; where to plant,
34S
Liliom auratum, S, 29, 149, 293, 347 ; aura-
tum at Kew, 210 ; auratum crf^entum, 101:
aoratom. imported bulte of, 151, 534 ;
auratiim in a ft'.b, 5S1 : auratum. treatment
of, in pots, 270 ; Baremannije, 120: Browni,
56, 105 ; candidom, 104, 123 ; candidum,
transplanting, 220 ; Harrisi, 2v5 ; Krameri,
76; lancifolium album. 119; longiflorum
Tari^atmn, lai ; neOgtjerrecise, 3?5 ;
odorum, 52, 113 ; pard^luium, 76 ; poly-
phyllum, 52, 219 ; specioeum and its va-
rieties, 2^S ; testaceum seeding, 394 ;
venustum, 120
Liliums feeding, 194: treatment of, 147
Lily, Arum, 45S ; belladonna, 210 ; common
white, 123 : crimson-rayed, 161 ; Glory, the
3Ialabar, 555 ; golden-raved, 149, 5S1 ;
Guernsey, 415 ; hybrid Water, 23-5 ;
Indian, anew. 43S,'535; Japanese, 52;
Lotus, the, 4S3 ; Madonna, lOt ; Xeil-
gherry, 325 ; note, 321 ; Peruvian Swamp,
240: red-banded Japan, 240; Rockwood,
7,606; Scarborough, 213; scarlet 3Iartagon,
105 ; Toad, Japanese, 359 ; variegated, 349 ;
variegated-leaved, 125 ; Victoria, 4; Water,
Sweet red, 4S6; white Peruvian, 142;
white, transplanting Ihe, 2^7, 320
Lily of the Valley, summer, 113 ; flowering
early, 5C6
Lime, Crimean, A95
wood, 115
Linaria apsrinoides splendem
I)eIoria, 123
Ziiiffs<fG cultro.ta, 426; trichomanoidetj 349
Lincsajas, New Zealand, 349
Liquorice plant, the, 113
Liriodendrt-n tulipifera, 262
Lobelia cardinalis, 239; fulgens, 417; ilici-
folia, 229 ; King of the Blues, i04 : Slilleri,
321 ; SluUein-leaved, 394 ; scarlet, 417 ;
tupa, 394 ; White Perfection, ly5
Lobelias, hybrid, 321 ; division of, 599
Locust, the Clammv, 91 ; Honey, ZOi:\ Honey,
Chinese, 379
Loma^ia I'Berminieri, 612
London, open spaces of, 210 ; parks, main-
tenance of, 4
Lonicera flesuosa, 69 ; sempervirens, 41
Loosestrife, 122
Lotus comicu^atus pL, 31
I/>ti'i, Et'roptan, foliagto^f 6S; ^icer, iloir(r-
infj branch ond fruit of, 68
J>jr€-lUs.fJ(iding,Z2
Luculia gratissima, propagat'^g, 616
Lung-wort, Siberian, 104
Luzuila nivea, 31
Lycaste Deppei punctatissi:
acd L. leucantha, 90
Lychnis pyrenaica, 7
Ljrthrum salicaria, 122
Masdevallias at The Woodlands, 423
Matthiola bicomis, 31, 105
Masillaria p\m -tata, 52S, 5S9
Masillarias, choice. 60
May Apple, the Himalayan, 247
Meadow Sweets, 56
Meconopsisnepalensis, 104; nepalensis, rais-
ing. 169 ; Wallichi, SO, 147
Medlars, 455 ; for lawns. 47S ; in the garden,
Megarrhiza califomica 15
M^asea purpurascens, 46S
Melon Consul Schiller, 166 ; plants, canker-
ing, 311
3Ietispermum cinadense, SO
Mert
,173
jreservative
8; Tulga
Mesembryanthemums, SO
Mespilus, Snowy, 43
Michaelmas Daisies, 2S3
Mid-Xorfolk, notes from, 219, 360
Mignonette, £9
MilwU. laTff€-liat€dj 57
MUla biflora, 122, in, 319
3iiltonia bicolor, 2S1 ; Candida grandiflora,
532 ; Petersiana, 197 ; spectabilis Moreli-
aua, 114, 216
Miltonias, 434
Mimuluses. spotted, 5S1
Mioa lobata, 120, 436, 513, 5S2
Mistletoe growing on the Oak, 617
Mixture, a chance, 107. 124 ; a pretty, 301
Moccasin flower, the, 5:?5
Mock Orange, the snaall-leaved, 68
Monarda didyma, lc2
Montana, letter from, 73
Montbietias, SO ; new, 469 ; propagating.
302
Moore, Thoma?, the late, 76
Mormodes lusatuni punctatum, 15S ; pardi-
num, 46-5 ; pardinum unicolor, 4f 5
Moss, iertili=ing, 109
Mosses, Club, 29
J/bf7<-i- of Thofsands, 37
Mother of Ihousands, 321
Mount Usher. 121 ; rUir in Vie garden at, 121 ;
L'iKic III roct garden at, 125
Mountain Avens. 248
■ Mucuna imbrica'a, 236
I Mulberry, weeping, the. 317
I Musa Cavendishi 2SS ; Carendi^U 243
' Mushr«x)m bed, temperature of, 425 ; becom-
iog dry, 377 ; not bearing 542
Mushroom-growing in Edinburgh, 299
Mushro: m-growing in trenches, 377
Mushroom house, the, in summer, 178
Mushrooms, 279 ; curious growth of, 542 ; for
profit, 279 ; in the ojwn, 520 ; in trenches,
329
Musk, Harrison's, S
Muti£ia decurrens, 15
Myosotis alpestris, 104
Myrsipbvllum asparagoides, 31
Myrtle, the Crape, 151
Mystacidium filicome, 531
Name, wanted a, 210, 395, 445
12 ; tricolor Names, beautiful. 216. 2S3 ; for plants, Eng-
lish i\ Latin, 521 ; wanted, 193
Narcissus, Hawtrth's, 5S4 ; and Boses, 220 ;
a new, 598 ; bloims noi opening, 616 ;
I Bulboci)dium, 5S2 ; green-flower^, 506 ;
Hoop-petticoat, tbe, 5S2; in Jersey, 600;
I Mrs. F. W. Burbidge, 1*^5; Polyanthus,
444, 4'<3, 535, 580 ; the genus- 597 ; white
Hoop-petticoat, 557 ; Yellow King, 269, 347,
Madrona, the, 572
Magnolii acuminata, 591 ; glauca, 113; Sou-
langeana nigra, 92 ; Swamp, the, 113
Mahonia benies on dining table?, 136
Mahonias, the, 135
Malabar Glory Lily, 250
Mallow, scarlet American, S35
3Ian, a one-Apple, 517
3Ianchester, Ros3 show at 76
M.tndevilli sxiaveolenp, 107, 236
!Manettia bicolor, 57 S
Minuie, fungus amongst, 332
Maple, Norwav, a new, 331 ; the Amoor, 331;
the Tine, 80
Mare's nest, scientific, 237
31argu'^ritc, blue, 336. 506, 57S
3Iargueritts, diseased, 593
Marig Id, Cape, white, 321
Marigolds, 437; African, 292; Fig, SO; for
dry banks, i93
Market, cut flowers for, 556 ; plant growing
for, 460 ; vegetables for, 473.
3Iarket garden, a London, 427 ; notes, 137,
159, 322 427, 542
3l4rrow3, Vegetable, 299, 329
3fasievail<a abbrcviata, 465; Shuttleworthi,
494
Nardostachys Jatamansi, 31
Nasturtiums, dwarf, for summer beds, 73,
125
Natural history, Irifh, ISO
Nectarine, Rivera' Orange, 340
Nectarines, 340
Ncot opteris, 134
Nepenthe^ at Chelsea, 390 ; Northiina, 49CI ;
R»jah, 109
NephrolepisBiuseiandN. Duffi, 148; daval-
Itoides furcans, 545; rufescens tripinnati
fida, 496
Nerine crispa, 4:2; ilanselli, 601 ; samien&is,
415
Ncrines, blue, 4Sl, 555 ; at The Dell, Egham,
373
Neriums in small pots, 324
Netting, wire, 3C9, 413; for fruit quarters,
477
Nettle, the Canadian, 146
Newry, flowers from, 253 ; notes from, 291
Nicotiana affinis, 32, 293
Nierembergia rivularis. 123
Nightshade, the Jasmine, 319, 361, 3S1
North-west, out in the, 497
I yolhorlifana duta;u, 496 ; laiiuffi'*oia., 375 ;
Mci'aiiUe, 592; nya, 544; tulphnreot 148;
trirhoTnonoidei 148
Nothochkenas, European, 375
November flowers, 429
jiymen and fruit-growers, 551
;rymen and the poor rate, 42S
Oak, a fine seedling, 379 ; evergreen Japan-
ese, 451 ; Mistletoe growing on the, 617 ;
Red. a stedthig, 112; Bed, branch of, 113;
Red. branch from an old tree, 112 ; Red,
l&itesand aa^rti*, 112; Red, Uaretfrowi tr««
four and ni-e vean old, 113 ; the pyramidal,
522, 546 ;*the'Red, 112 ; the Turkey, 140
Oak tree, a fine, 308
Oak trees in chemical manufacturing dis-
tricts. 71
Oak galls 262
Obitcaet —
Eyl&s G,, 571
Ferguson, W., 237
Fowler, A., 186
Hovey, C. M., 283
Johnstone, Mr., 332
Lacharme, F., 475
Moore, Mra., 545
Rattray, W. O., 3S1
Sherwin, W., 114
Odontoglossum bictonense album, 182; carinl-
ferum, 549 ; Cercanteyt, 323 ; Cervantesi
decorum, 322 ; cuspidatum, 133 ; grande,
381 ; Harryanum, 23, 434 ; hastilabium,
400; Insleavi leopardinum, 505 ; madrense,
350 ; necad'ense, 5S9 ; Wallisi, 20
Odontoglossum s at Chelsea. 434
Odontosoria fumarioi5es, G12_
CEnothera m^crocarpa, 125
Oleanders, 343 ; not flowering, 269
Olearia Haasti, 135
Oncidium bracteatum, 3S6; cheirophoruro,
483 ; crispum, 307 ; Cr<£su?, 41 ; dasystyle,
90; escavatum, 400; flexuosum, 302; in-
curvum, 19S ; isoptenim. 52; Jonesianum,
314 ; Lanceanum, 280, 302; Lanceanum
Louvresi^num. 314 ; omithorhynehum,
381 ; prsetestum, 163 ; Rogersi, 506 ; Rogersi
or varicosum, 548 ; tigrinum, 433 ; varico-
sum and O. Rogersi, 589
Oncidiums, Butterfiy, 424, 4S2
Onion magarot, the. 132
Onions, 127 ; at Gunton, 329 ; harvesting,
Ophrys apifera, 12
Orange fungus on standards, 10
Orange trees, small, 601
Orchard house, the, 191
Orchard, market, in a, 412, 494 ; old, cultiva-
ting an, 410 ; the, 409
Orchard trees, tall r. dwarf, 609
Orchid, Bird't-bill, 3S1 ; flowen>, December,
531 ; notes, seasonable, 41, 197, 613 ;
blooms, longevity of, 5S
Ort^ids, Christmas, at Hollowav, 54S ; at
Chelsea, 2S1 ; at Cheltenham, 11, 424: at
Croydon Ledge, 612 ; at Hallow Park, Wor-
cester, 4*'4 ; at Meesrs. Veitch's, 590 ; at
Shepherd's Bush, 4S2 ; at Stonehouse
Court, 531 ; at Studley House, 313 ; at The
Deil, 3&9 ; fragrance in, 301 ; in bloom at
Wilton House, Southampton, 519; Mexi-
can, at Clapton, 532 ; October, at Holloway,
400 ; pans ;-. baskets for. 90, 133, 172 ;
winter treatment of, 482 ; with white
flowers, 532
Orchis, the Bee, 12 ; the yellow-fringed, at
home, 434
Origanum Toumeforti, 269, 417
Orleans House, fruit growing at. 62
Oniiihopaluhiarabicviii, 145; bracteatum, 78 ;
nutans, 77 ; nutans, 418
Osmanthus ilicifoUus, diffe.ent forms of,
474
Osmunda regalis, 148 ; regalU, 565 ; rcgalis,
fertif.f pinntf: of, 565
Oswego Tea, 162
Ourisia coccinea, 104, 170
Ouvirdndra fenestra i?, 240
Oxalis floribunda, 105 ; lobata, 528 ; prolifer^,
5ti
Oxytropis Halleri, 104
Oyster plant, tbe, 123
Piconies, 5 ; and Iris, 7 ; tree, profagdting.
P(Fjmy, tree, 169; J lag of Truce, 28
Palm-leaf wall pockets, 593
Falumbina Candida, 41
Pans r. baskets, 40
Pansies, book on, SO ; market, 616 ; new
tufted. 124, 470 ; tufted, 4, 346
Pansy, the, oS2 ; tufted, Ardwell Gem, 235
Paphanias, 5S
Park, Battersea, 314 ; Finsbury. 3S1 ; Fins-
bury, Chrysanthemums at, 385 ; proposed,
for Brixton, 314
Parks, London, surplus plants from, 314 ;
new, 28
Pamassia nubicola, 170
Parrotia persica, 403
Parsley, 542
Parsnips, 473
Pasoue Flofcer, the alpine, 467
PaS4ue Flowers, 466
P<issiflora cserulea, 415; Constance Elliott,
307, 393 ; kermesina, 235, 271 ; princeps,
151, 550
Passion Flower, crimson, 271; the, 415
Paulownia imperialis, 276; imperialis in
Paris and its environs, 19 ; the wood of,
48, 96
Pavia macrostachya, 52, 161
Peach, Alexander, 119 ; American Apricot,
397; Bellegarde, 119; Lord Palmerston,
313, 369 ; and Nectarine trees, pruning,
609 : and Viae leaves diseased. 237; grafting
on White Thorn, 222; stock not swelling,.
540 ; trees losing their buds, 262 ; trees,
standard, 455 ; trees, transpLinting, 310
Peaches, early, 2, 129, 154, 243, 39S ; early v.
late, 97 ; for uiiheated house open in front,
166 ; new, 190, 275 ; the Bidwell, 369 ; under
glass and in the open air, 15 J
Pear, Alexandre Lambre, 223 ; an orna-
mental, 223 ; Chaumontel, 223; Citron des
Carnus, 341; Congress, Report of, 168;
Deux Sceurs, 341 ; Doyenne du Comice, 616 ;
Duchessed'Angouleme, 455; Duchesse d'An-
gouleme from Scotland, 479 ; Duhamel de
Monceau, 60S ; Eyewood, 479 ; foliage in
autumn, 411 ; Fondante d'Automne, 340,
517, 561 ; ForeUe, 564 ; GIou Morceau, 396,
455 ; Louise Bonne of Jersey, 517 ; Marie
Louise, 398, 455 ; Napoleon, 589 ; Noveau
Poiteau, 609; Prcsideut Mas, 564; Seckel,
valuable seedlings of, 610 ; series. The
Gardek standard, 539; the Idaho, 60S;
Thompson's, 479 ; trees, old, renovation of,
586 ; trees, unhealthy, 397 ; Trout, 339
Winter Nelis, 564 587,' 598, 609
Pears, 540 ; as bush trees, 339 ; at Heckfield
287 ; at Scarborough, 562 ; August, 341 ;
bs-st, the, 455, 457, 5S7 ; choice c. Grapes,
285; December, 598; Duchess, from -hrub-
lands, 561 ; for Hertfordshire, 5S6 ; for
Norfolk, 539; from Worcestershire, 562;
gathering and storiog, 539 ; good, 273, 477 ;
in Nottinghamshire, 562 ; in Surrey, 562 ;
in the East Ridiag-of 1 orkshire, 60S ; notes
on, 477 ; Octol>er, 3S0 ; Russian, SO ; select,
539, 562 ; useful, 410
Pea, Sweet, Eckford's new, 57 ; Invincible
Blue, 76 ; Prince of Orange, 103
Peas, 178 ; Bl-ie Boilers, 494 ; choice, 327 ;
early, 42, 601; forced, 566; garden, 298;
Goldfinder, 176; green, as double croppers,
159, 226 ; late, 14 ; notes on, 126 ; Sweat,
new, 599 ; the Boreatton, 279
Pelargonium cuttings, striiiing, 320
Pclargoaium Henri Jacoby, 151 ; Lucie
Lemoine, 55 ; Volonte NatiOLalealbum, 509;
zonal, which is ihe best white-flowered?
2'- 9
Pelargoniums, Cape, 324; at Ewanley, 118,
509; good, 445; Ivy-leaved 3S9; Ivy-leaved,
new, bl9, 509 Ivy-leaved, as pijlar plants,
461 ; propagating, 379 ; white-flowered, 118
Pell«3, 17
Penoyre, tree F?eony at, 220
Pentas camea, 200. 554
Pentstemon cordifolius, 120, 194
Pepper bushes, the Sweet, 352
Perennials, hardy, for cutting, 559 ; some
choice, 171
Periploca graeca, f 8
Peristeria elata, '.'0
Petuoiii Empress, 35
PetuEias, 122 ; and the drought, 171 ; single,
148
Phaceliacampacul.iria, 293
Fhajus bicolor, la4
Poalainoisids at Kew, 90
Phalsenopsis Lawi, 429; Marie, 12, 58, 314;
tetraspis, 12
Philacelphia, an engraver io, 1S6
Philidelphu= microphyllus, »>S
> hilesia bu:^ifulia, 34 «
Phlox Drummoudi, double white, 104
Phcenocoma prolifera, 553
Phoimium Cooki in flower in Kent, 52
Phyltanthus nivosus, 509
Phymatodes nigrescens, 612
Physrtlis Alkekeugi, 3-Sl
Physianthus albtns, 210
Pbyteuma comosum, 32, 114 ; humile, 31
Pico tees, 40i
Picture, a beautiful 291
Pilumna nobilis, 434
Pilumuas, 280
Pimeleas, 508
Pimi>emel, Bog, 534
Jan. 2S,
THE GAEDEN INDEX
Fine, Chili, the, 334 ; Corsican, the, 71, 140; |
Hickory, the, 47 ; Monterey, the, 523 ,
Parasol, the, 5*24 ; Pitch, staining, 4S,
235; stor; at Cfiatsirorth, 357; trees and
health, 046 ; Weymouth, 352, 546 ; Wey-
mouth, as a timber tree in Britain, 30S ;
White Mountain, 594; woods, 262 ; yellow,
wood of the, 1S7
Pinguicula caudata, 373, 421
Pink, Amoor, SO ; blood-scarlet, S ; Carolina,
SO ; cinnabar, S ; Highclere, 4S6 ; Mrs.
Welsh, 2S; Napoleon III., 77, 101, 4S6 ;
wood, 30
Pink?, 30 ; border, 469 ; laced, 12o ; single, 73
Pinus Ayacahuite, 47; fiesUis, 594;
insifcnis, 523 ; insignis as a seashore tree,
1S7; Laricio, 71, 140, 356; parviflora,
522 ; Strobus, 546
Piper ornatum, '44
Pitcher Plmt, Califomian, 4S0
Pits, cold, 573
Plane, the western. 06
Planera Rlchanli, 02
Plant, a remarkable, 236 ; exhau&tion, 79 ;
houses, work in, 16, So, 54, 75, 119, 151,
176, 200, 214, 249. 271, 296. 325, 344, 374,
390, 421, 446, 462. 492, 510. 527, 555, 5S0,
602 ; nimes, English, for English-speaking
people, 51
Plantation of Abies Douglasi, thinning, 333
Plantations, formation of, on exposed sites,
454, 502 ; seedling, thinning, 594 ; why
some do not pay, 333 ; young, timely thin-
ning of, 110
Planting, shallow v. deep, 23 ; season, the,
3S2
Plants, hardy, notes on, 6, 31, 104, 123, 147.
35S, 46S, 512, 534, 582 ; for the dry weather,
76, 194 ; for the drought, 104 ; hardy, suit-
able for forcing. 461 ; in dry weather, 146;
mealy bug on, 75 ; names of, 237, 261 ; of
1887, new, 596 ; potting, from the open
ground, 373 ; potting up winter floweiing^,
213 ; resting, by drought, 394 ; variegation
in, 53
Platanus cc.identalis. 96
Platvcerium biforme and P. Etemmaria,
472 ; WiUincki, 149
Platyclinis uncata, 576
Platycodon grandifl.nmi Mariesi, 146
Pleione, the Bimnese, 429 I
Pleiones, 3S1, 548, 600 i
Pleroma macranthum, 429, 528, 576 '
Plumbago capensis al&a, 55 ; capens^s and
its white variety. 249 ; capensis in Laxen-
biurg, 2S3 ; Larpentie, 307 ; rosea, 551 ;
capen&ia, wliite, 162, 199, 214, 2S3
Plum, Golden Drrp, 540 ; Kelsev, 410 ; Per- i
shore, 285, 311 ; Riveis' Prolific, 97, 130 ; '
the Date, OS '
riumeria acutifolia, 236
Plums, 223, 367, 45S ; Gulden Drop and other,
439 ; Japanese, 2S6
Podoi-hyllum Emodi, 247
Poinsettia, double, 554
Pulybotrya osmundacea, 101
Polygala ChamEebuxus purpurea, 534 ; the
purple, 45 S
Polygalas, 342
Polvgonum cuspidatum, 123 ; vaccinifoUum,
415
Polypodies, the, 376, 4J6
FoUjito^Uum Drtjopttris, 446 ; Phigopteris, 447;
suspensum, lOl
Polystachya grandiflora, 528
Polystichum vivipirum, 427
Pomegranate, the, 1(;S ; in flower, 353
Ponds, concreting, M2 ,
Poplar. Canadian, Van Gccrti, 403 ; giant :
Lombardy, 451 ; golden-leaved, 616 ; Ita- I
lian, wood of the. 24, 212; white, the
pyramidal, 475, 616
PopliTs and caterpillars, S3 ; for bog plant-
ing, 140
Poppies, 7S ; BroxbDujne, 2S ; and Gaillir-
dias, 113 ; wild, 78
Poppy, Xepaul, 104
Poppywtrt, Satin, 147
Popuius alba pyramidalls, 543
Potato, a good, 425 ; crop, the. 542 ; Gil-
bert's WaJjiut-leaved, 178; Hughes' Earliest
of All. 280; Thorburn, 127 ; Walnut-leaved,
226 ; Wilson's Selected, 178
Potatoes, 42, 351 ; and when to lift them, 82 ;
Chiswicfc trial of, 306 ; early market, 604 ;
early, trial of, 377 ; early <-. late, 201 ;
grown-out, 401 ; in Jersey, 84 ; Jersey. 94 :
la^ge, 178 ; Ute, 253, 298 ; mid-sea<M)a and
late, 328 ; notes on, 29S ; supeituberation
if, 377
Pot plant?, another way of using soot for,
162
Prairies, some spring flowtrs of Ihe, 79
Pratia angidata, 57 ; (•»>h'iatif^ 293
Primrose, Evening, 179 ; tvening, the Mis-
souri. 125 ; Harbinger, 436 ; yeilow Hima-
layan, 598
Primroses, double, 394 ; and Primulas, ex-
hibiting, 51 1 ; exhibiting, J72
Primula cortusoidts, 31 ; erosa, 31 ; flori-
bunda, 35, 598 ; fl ribunda and obconica,
500 ; obconica, 534 ; old d'^uble white,
57'! ; p'lrpnrcx, lot
Primulas, blue, 598, 601 ; at Birmingham,
509 ; double. 578, 6 Jl ; two useful, 386 ;
wnite, double, at Putney, 526
Privet, Chinese, 09 ; golden-leaved, 474.;
variegated, 353
Promeca^ citrina, 59
Propagating, 10, 36, 50, 218, 259, 470, 496
Prophet flower, the, 429
Protea cynaroides,114
Pruning, 45 1 ; summer, and extension
training, 85
Pnmus Pissardi, 92, 224
Pseudofefeuga Douglasi, 95
P^^vchotria cyanococca, 555 ; jasminiflora,
532
Pteris cretica Maji, 402 ; New Zealand, 544 ;
iremuUgrandiceps, 471
Pterostvrax hispidum, IS
Pulmonaria dahurica, 104
Punica graaatum, 168
Purslane, the Rock, 77
Piuchkinia icilloides, 5
Pyrethrums. double, 470
Pyrus aria, 521 ; Maulci, 69
Quercus Cerris, 140 ; coccioea major nova,
379 ; fastigiata, 522 ; rubra, 112
Quinces, 455 ; for lawns, 478 ; in the garden,
Rabbit remedy, an effective, 308
Rabbits, a note on, 392 ; attacking Thujas.
43
Radish for winter, 279
Radishes, 401
Raft, a monster, 594
Railway rates and producers, 113
Rainfall in North Leeds, 4
Rain water, storage of, 317
Ramondia pyrenaica 32
Rampion, Tuftcd-homed, 32, 114
Rampions, 567
Ranunculus Lyalli, 7, 6C6 ; the, 484
R".i>}iiohpiit japonica, 20
Raspberry Earl of Beaconsfield, 116 ; purple-
flowering, 91 ; tte, 607 ; white flowering,
19
Recreation ground, a new, 458
Redwood, the Califomian, 139
BeLnwardtia tetragmum, 2iX», 5C6
Rr.xanthtra Loj'-i, 197
RetJnospora, Heath like, 403 ; obtusa, 187
Rhapis fiabelliformis, 532
Rhododendron calophyllum, 44; Dc chess of
Conraugtt, 550 ; Lady Alice FitzwilHam,
374 ; Nobleamm, 496 ; Princess Roval,
270
Rhododendrons, grafted, 91, 135 ; greenhouse,
3S9, 555, 601 ; greenhouse, from feed. 192 ;
greenhouse, email, 526 ; hardy, IS, 379
Rhopalas, 198
Rhubarb, early, 401
Rhus Cotiniis, 68 ; succedanea, 403 ; Toxi-
codendrcn, 305 ; typhina frutescens, 44*t
Rivina humilis and flava, 271
Roadside planting, 262
Robinia, small leaved, 213 ; viscosi, 91
Rochester, Dean of, the new, 551
Rock Cress, uorihern, 31 ; '■(("lev/a/c', 220
Rockery, berried plants for, ^Si'
Rocljo'tl, tht rrreot't'j'i.i, 53<, 60O
RcM'gersia podophylla, 23
Rodriguezia secun'da, 350
Rogiera gratissima, 461
Romneya Coulteri, 534, 576
Room decoration, plants for. 373
Root cuttings, 427
Roots, abnormal growth of, 187
Rosa Pissardi, 215, 240 : rugous. 2S3, 504
Rose, a new, 36i ; 2imee Vibert, 50. 4r.\t ;
American Beauty, 49. 384 ; and its culture,
338 ; Arcbiducheise Maria Immaculata, 26 ;
beds, winter mulching of, 5i'5 ; best aspect
for the Morechal Xiel in the Of en air, 9 ,
FUnche Moreau, 530; Bfj^tle dt ^'e../«, 315;
Boidede Xeige, 365, 504 ; buds, malformed,
132; buds not cpening, 1\\ 50; Cannes la
Coquette 366 : Celeste, 10 ; Chcnedole in
the sun, 303; Chris tmag, the grcit, in Scot-
Land, 5C6 ; Comtesse de Paris, 331 : Cornelia
Koch, 460 ; cuttings, when to strike, 548 ;
Duchess of Aibanv, 331, 365 ; Eirl of Duffe-
Jin, 120; early Christmas, 433; Eliai
Boelle, 215 ; Ftlicite Perpetue, 365 ; Fur-
tune's YtUow, 595 ; fruits, beautiful, 235.
316; garden, h^irdy, '6ZS ; garden, old, bSo\
Germaine Cdillot, 488 ; Gloire de Dijon for
hedges and screens, 339; Gloire de Dijon,
pruning, 411 ; Gloire de Margottin, 487 :
Glnire de Uosomane?, 317 ; Grace Dailino',
550
Rose, Harrison's Tellow, 10 ; Homfere,
215, 264, 317 ; Hom^re for hedge, 264 ;
hybrid, new IVench, 586 ; Japn, 283, 504 ;
Jules Finger, 460 ; La France, 306 ; Lam-
f fffce. 459 ; L^marque, c03, 547 ; Macartney,
215; 5[me. Barthelemy Levet, 336; >Ime-
de Watteville, 26 ; Marechal Niel, 26. 384 ;
Marie Van Houtte, 384 ; Marie Van Houtte
in Wigtonsbire, 506 ; Mtss Ethel Brownlow,
307 ; Mrs. Hamilton G-11, 429; Ophirie. 332,
336 ; Polyantha, 264; Prefct Limboui^, 530 ;
Puri*^n, 384 ; Bamana«. heps of, :j30 ;
Reine Marie Heniiette, 459 ; Rock, curled-
leaved, 20; Ruga, 50; seed, :83; Sir Row-
land Hill, 76, 119; Souvenir de Gabrielle
Drevet, 303 ; Stanwell Perpetual. 240 ;
Suzanne Marie Rodccanacbi, 303 ; Tea, The
Bride, 4S8 ; UliichBninner. 50, 384 ; varie-
gated Niphetos. 504 ; William Francis
Bennett, the truth about, 595 ; Tellow
Banksian . 547, 586 ; yellow, from Cashmere,
33S ; York and Lancaster, 50, 101
Rose?, autmnn, 315, 429; and bulb?, £»'.7,
317 ; and Narcissi, 220 ; and the drought,
27; JBani'^ian Tdloic, 529 ; budding
of, 215 ; ch*n?e of colour in, 101, 215 ;
Christmas, 50*', ooS. 576,599, 616; Cmistmas,
from Dorset, 501 ; Dog, 10 ; exhibiting, 50 ;
for buttonholes, 316; for grouping. 487;
for Lancashire, 488; for maiket, 26 ; for
Classing, 431 ; for winter forcing, 3t^3 ;
French'coUeclions of, S02 ; from cuttings,
366 ; garden, cf India, 385 ; grifted aad
own-root, 504 : in America, 417 ; in bloom,
251 ; in 1S87, 363 ; Lacharmc's, 503 ; lifting
and planting, 432 ; liquid manures for, 100 ;
making groups of, 4f?0 ; mulching of, 25 ;
neglected, 595; new, 263 ; new Continental,
487 ; new, raised at Lyons, 364 ; not open-
ing, 2ii4 ; notes on, 547; on poles and chains,
50 ; on their own roots, 3S4 ; planting, 460 ;
propagating, 318 ; recent, at Waltham Cro^,
385 ; Hock, in Derbyshire, 28 : single. 128 ;
strikng from cuttings, o>^d ; Tea and Noi-
sette. ?40 ; Tea, conspicuous, in 1SS7, o-yj ;
the liish of. 9 ; the sun, 19 ; two new, 317 ;
two new Yorkshire-raised. 384 ; two useful,
10 ; watering of, 49 ; worked c. own-root,
Rubos l:\ciniatu=, 166 ; odoratus, 91 ; phceni-
colasiu', 209 ; rosaefolius plenu-s, 550
Budbeckit purpurea, 247 ; speciosa, 321
Ruellia aflSnis, 555
Runners, Scarlet, for marke*', 351 ; s'aked,
401
Rur^l Grounds, a lettjr from. 189
Ru«h, the flowering, 162 ; Zebra slripe-J, (/(<,
Saccolabium Blumei. 281; giganteum ilUis-
tre, 532 ; Pechei, 90
Saffrons, Meadow, 3 il
Sage, tne Pine-apple- scented, 554
Salpiglossis, 171
Salvia aiiuxa, 429 ; blue, 429 ; Pitcheii, 491 ;
rutdans, 554 ; splenden?, 429
Salvias at Swanley, 500; wint.r-flowering,
458
Sandwo^^, Balearic, 361 ; tufted, 146
San vit ilia procumbens, 316
Saponaria beUidifolia, 31 ; Crimen Queen,
283 ; officinalis, 147
Saxifraga cu-cutjeformis, 75, 123, 468 ; For-
tunei, 36 ; geranioides, 468 ; nepdensis,
55S ; ohioensi*, 31 ; j)yra*it»c/n/i», 533 ; pyra-
midalis, COO ; sarmeatoM, 37 ; Ssirmentosa,
821
Saxifrage, diseased, SS ; Dodder, 78 ; For-
time's, 36
Sar.'^.parUla rine. Ihe^ 126
Sav.iy, Gilbert's, 3-29
Scabious, dwarf, in pots, 579
Scarborough Lily, a fine form of, 114
Scenery, woodl^d. 382
Schubertia grandiflora, S4. 373, 421
Sciadopitvs verticillata, 524
Scilli sibuica, 320
Scotland, a note from, 381
Screens and windbreaks, 476
Seut-llaria Moccimana, 294
Scuticaria Steeli. 314
Sea Hollies, 80, 147, 414 ; two fine, 317
Sea Hollv. the, 43; tfu o.lpin^, 414; t/,i
anir:0,i/it, 414; /Ae co^Hmoiu 414; the flit-
leaved, 146; tAe giant, 415; the iray-
Sea LaTCcders, noble, 210
Seakale, forcing, 60 1
Season, mildness of the, 386 ; the past, pnd
Std^s for covert. 594
Sedum Ewersi, IbS, 4t^
Seed'ings, delicate, 56t
Seed-pans, green growth on, 521
Selaginelljs, cu^on-Iike, 426; specimen,
301 ; (r^>, 221
Senecio elegans, 240 ; pulcher, 168, 247, 336
Sequoia sempervirens, 139
Sericographis Ghiesbr^htiana, 554
Sheet order, a convenient, 355
Shelter for plants, 3;0
Shirebampton, note from, 2S, 119. 359
Show, flower, a homely, 81 ; at the People's
Palace, 52 ; a Working 3Ien'3, 114 ; Fiuit,
at Manchester, 331; Flower, Nat onal Co-
operative, 186 ; Gooseberry, at Wilmslow,
Cheshire, 154 ; National Dahlia, 76, 234,
571 ; autumn, Newcaslle-on-Tyne, 113
Shrub, a pretty rock, 245
Shrublinda, g^rlens at, 213
Shrub?, autumn- flowering, 615 ; desirable
garden, 19 ; for forcing, 526 ; for wtt
ground, 572 ; from cuttings, 353 ; hardy,
p-opagating, 591 ; mutilatioa of. 614; notes
on. 244; pruning, 569; sxmamer-flowering,
195 ; watering, 209
Silene alpestris, 31 ; Argoa, 31 ; Pumilio, 56 ;
Schafta, 16S
Sisyrinchium convolutum, 4€S
^kimmia japonica, 569, 591
Skull-cap, scarlet-flowcred, 294
Slag, basic, manuring with, 369
Slugs, destroving, on Strawberry plants, 98
S-.i^fc.x Sai'sa'ix'.ril/c, 136
Snakfc's-head, the golden, 359
Snake's-heads, European, 536
Snapdragons. 57
Snow in Summer, S
Soapwort, common. 147
Sobralia sessilis, 576 ; xanthcleuca, 161
SociETirs —
Chiswick Horticultural, 52
Chrysanthemum show at the People's
Palace, 475
Cry-stal Pafece, 45, 233, S53, 451
Hull Chrysanthemum. 498
Manchester, Rose show at, 76
National Auricula, 528
National AuricuLi and Carnation, r7l
National Aurivula and Primula, 428
National Carnation and Picotee, 52, 94
National Chrys-nthemum, 236, 2-1, 355,
405, 4^j2. 475, 499. 523, 545
National Rose, 21
National R(^e S:ciety's thow at Edin-
buigh, f 9
Roval Botanic, 28, 161, 331
Ro^al HorliculturJ, 22, 45. 69, 76 93, 112,
137, 161. 18), 235, 260, 305, 354, 3S1, 404,
452, 498, 569, 593
Scottish Primula and Anricola, f 45
Southampton Horticultural, 111
United Horticultural Benefit, 331, 355
Soils and trees, 3S2
Solanxmi capsicastnmi, 374 ; crispum, 615 ;
jasminoides, 240, 361 ; sisirmbrifolium, 353
Solanums, propagating, 302
Solomon's S^, forcing, 32i
Soot, uses of, 501
Sophora japonica, 331
Spamiannia afric^na, 443, 59s ; afri,.an3,
double, 493
Sparrow, the, in Americ»,613
Sjathog ottis angustorum, 133, 280
Sj^fhrrjr, Sttc Z'-.afamf, thrcbby. 217; Rock,
Speedwells, fchnibby, 276
Sphenogyne speciosa, 104, 147
Sphaerogyne', 372
Spider, r-d, 1, S6, 93, 166 ; vapo'ising s-ilphur
for, 274
Spiders in fernery, 81
Spigelia marylindca 80
Spinach, winter, 298
Spindle tree, the, 429
Spinea astilboides, 29 : Bimiialda, 336 ; cris^i-
folia. 91 ; Douglasi, 135 ; hypeiicif lia, 236;
Lindleyana, 136 ; Lindleys, 120 ; Sorb-
leaved, 92 ; venusta, 523
Spirsexs in the York Nurseiies, 76
Spht n irort, fan -ha i> rf, 402
Ppleenworts, 44, 65 ; some West African, 471
Spring r. autimon itlanting, 406
Spring flowers, 458 ; of tne prairies, 79
Spruca, Black. 47, 72 ; blue, 495 ; UeudotL^
16^3 ; Hendocfc. 183 : m.nlock; branch of th',
160 ; B^mlodL; T(\«j*;rt^, 363
Spruces, the Eastern and Hemlock, 356
Spurge, the scarlet, 598
S'luill, theHrijHd. 5
Squirrels r. stone frui's. 3ll;destroying Apri-
cots, 191 : and Plums, 287
Star of Bethlehem. 418
Startrort, maur€, SVj
Stati.e Befsiriana. 124 ; floribanda, 161 ;
miniata, 29:^ ; sjathulata, 195 ; Suwarowi,
80
Stembergia angustifolia, 3:>2
Stigmaphylluni cilL^tum, 4t>4
Stock, Night scented. 31, 105; Night-scented,
is it an annual ? 56, 78 ; Tiiginian . on walls,
Stocks, a bed of, 104
Stokesia cyanea, 247, 336
Stove plants at Sevenoaks, 175
THE GARDEN INDEX
[Jan. 28, 1888.
strawberries, 40, 62, 86 ; a book about, 61 ;
and the drought, 38 ; at Gunton, 329 ;
autumn manuring of, 154 ; notes on, 130 ;
old II. new, 38, 63 ; pot, 166 ; ehade for, 63 ;
two new, 130
Strawberry, a good late, 180 ; beds, broadcast,
1 ; Black Prince, 3S, 86 ; crop, the, 2 ;
culture, 87, 9", 130, 191 ; Eleanor, 97, 130 ;
Elton Pine, 287 ; fete at Chiswick, 28 ; King
of the Barhes, 2 ; Laxton's Noble, 161, 190,
242 ; Loxford Hall, 86 ; plants after fruit-
ing, management of, 165 ; plants, destroy-
ing slugs on, 89 ; plants, wintering, 395 ;
plants, young u. old, 98 ; Wateirloo, 61
Strclitzia, new, a, 575 ; Reginse, 555 ^
Streptocarpus, new hybrid, 34 ; Rexi, 35
Stroptocarpuses, new hybrid, 76
Strobilanthus colorans, 550
Stuartia virginica at Syon, 43
Styras, Japanese, 18
Suffolk, notes from, 6, 56, 78, 146, 868, 497
Sulphate of ammonia, uses of, S4
Sultan, Sweet, the purple, 386
Sumach, the Venetian, 68; the Virginian,
449
Sunflower, the trailing, 336
Sunflowers, 358 ; large, 245 ; perennial, 2S3
Sutherlandia frutescens, 306
Sweet Sultan, 80
Sycamore, a new, 113 ; bronze-leave I, 496 ;
leaves, diseased, 451
Sydney, a note from, 70
Table decorations, 73, 156
Tacsonia exoniensis, 151
Tagetes Lemmoni, 599 ; Parryi, 500
Tamarisk, the, in bloom, 43
Taxodium distichum, 331, 379
Theophrasta imperialis, 270
Thistle, the large golden, SO
Thorn, a handsome, 591 ; evergreen, 353 ;
Paul's Scarlet, 276 ; scarlet-fiuited, 218
Thrift, the Prickly, 170
Thrifts, 170
Thuja gigantea, wood of, 212 ; Lobbi varie-
gata, 404 ; Phippeniana, 161
Thunbergia, anew, 307
Thunia Marshalli, 90
Thunias, 11
Thyme, common, 4
Thymus micans, 58 ; serpyllum, 4
Tiarella cordifolia, 511
Tickseed, large-flowered, 56
Tickseeds. the, 358
Tiger Flower, the, 381
Tiger Lily, varieties of the, 219
Tlgridias as annuals, 359
Tilia petioUris, 495
Tillandsia Lindeni, propagating, 521; Lindeni
vera, 421
Timber, bent, facts relating to, 24 ; cleating
sawn, 23 ; felling, 476 ; how to stack, 96
Toadflax, five-spurred, 123
Tobacco culture, 268 ; sweet-scented, 32, 293
Todea grandipinnula, 593
Tomato culture, '473 ; culture out of doors,
226 ; leaves curling, 226 ; leaves diseased,
401 ; Mikado, 97, 828 ; open air, 166 ; Tree
of Jamaica, 513
Tomatoes, 299, 329, 401, 425, 448 ; American
mode of growing, 425 ; at Bridge of Allan,
N.B., 351 ; Chiswick, ti-ials of, 306; crack-
ing of, 329 ; for liver complaints, 329 ; from
cuttings, 448 ; in the open air, 111, 127 ;
productiveness of, 83 ; winter supply of,
278
Torenia concolor rubens, 381
Towns, tree planting in, 430
Toxicophla^a spectabilis, 601
Training, extension, and summer pruning,
85 1
Traveller's Joy, 104
Tree, a good seaside, 140 ; a new weeping,
161 ; Beech, peculiar, 137 ; Chinese PJgodi,
331 ; Cucumber, 598 ; Honey Locust, 352 ;
Judas, 20 ; mammoth, 163 ; Planer, 92 ;
planting and Frederick the Great, 403 ;
Potato, 615 ; pruning, the saw in, 406 ;
Tulip, 92 ; of Heaven, 196
Tree Paeony at Penoyre, 220
Tree, Spindle, broad-leavod, the, 591
Trees, age of, for transplanting, 115 ; and
soils, 382 ; autumn planting of, 449 ; coni-
ferous, deep rich soil for, 308 ; dead, how
they may De used, 245 ; deciduous, how to
plant, 262 ; dociduoui, with ornamental
foliage, 352 ; for a churchyard, 69 ; for
shade, 352 ; for wet ground, 4S, 572 ;
forest. New Zealand, 72; from cuttings,
353 ; good rules forbujing, 367 ; gro\ips of,
ia pastures, 262, 284 ; hedgerow, the uses
and abuses of, 430 ; in town and country,
524 ; Ivy on and under, 450 ; large, near
houses, 406; notable, in the New Forest,
284; old, renovating, 140; photographs
of, 47 ; pruning, 569 ; renovating old, 47 ;
road-ide plantations of, in Belgium, 212 ;
social North American, 140 ; staking, 422 ;
staking transplanted, 451 ; the knife
among, 161 ; timely thinning of, 694 ;
transplanting, 422 ; transplanting in sum-
mer, ISS
Trenching, 351
Trichomanes parvulum, 612 ; radicans, 800 ;
Sdlowiami.m, 611 ; Sellowianum and its
allies, 611
Trichopilia "Wagneri, 314
Trichopteris excelsa, 278
Trichosma suavis, 549
Tricyrtis hirta, 359
Tridax bicolor, 359
Trinity College Gardens, notes in, 29
Tritoma nobilis, 168 ; Uvaria, 582
TropEcolum canariense, 292 ; Empress of
India, 56 ; speciosum, 31
Tropseolums, autumn-flowering, 394 ; in
winter, 579 ; tuberous-rooted, 150
Trumpet Flower, Peruvian, 510
Tulip, the, 347 ; the Cape, 335
Tulips, garden, 660 ; hybrid, 514 ; lafe DuicTi,
105
Tulip Tree, 262, 406 ; for timber, 308
Tulipa fulgens, 171
Tupelo, the, in autumn, 331
Turnip fly, 202
Turnips, white, 263
Tussilago alpina, 534
Tyda;as in bloom, 324
Vacciniums in autumn, 496
Vallota purpurea, 579
Vallotas, 5
Van Houtte Memori il prizes, 28
Vanda Amesiana, 314 ; Batcmannise, 424 ;
blue, the, 465 ; Cathcarti. 613 ; cairulea,
314; insignia, 531; Lowi at Ferriferes, 549 ;
Boxburghi, 12 ; Sanderiana, sketch of tfie
first flowered plant, 399 ; teres Andersoni,
216
Vandas grown cool, 90
Vase, silver, filled with Narcissi and Berberis,
53
trials at
Vegetable culture, notes on,
Chiswick, 186
Vegetable Marrows failing, 110
Vegetables at South Kensington, 425 ; forc-
ing, 667 ; for market, 473 ; in trenches, 494 ;
new, 604
Vegetation and the pa^t season, 4
Veratrum nigrum, 121
Verbena, veined, 209. 361 ; venosa, 209, 361
Verbenas, choice bedding, 220
Veronica Andersoni, 336 ; Armstrongi, 534 ;
buxifolia, 379 ; cupressoides, 534 ; Gird-
woodiana, 21 ; Guthrieana. 31 ; Hulkema,
4 ; longifolla subsessilis, 168 ; rupestris, 56,
78 ; salicornoides, 76, 4T0, 534 ; Traversi,
217
Veronicas, 292
Viburnum Opulus in berry, 218
Village gardens, 304
Vine, Claret, 352 ; and Peach leaves diseased,
237 ; borders, formation of, 36S ; eyes, 609 ;
leaves affected, 429, 501 ; roots, diseased,
501
Vine-», black rot in, 154 ; hardy and ornamen-
tal, 515 ; ioarching, 275 ; insects on, 281 ;
in the open air, 310 ; on walls, 242, 285 ;
pot, 411
Vineyard, Castle Coch, 396
Vineyards, Continental, 597
Violef, New Holland, 358 ; loavei diseased,
635
Violets, 331 ; for the winter and spring, 271 ;
Marie Louise, 248, 500
VirgUia lutea, 853
Vitis vinifera purpurea, 352
Vriesia braohystachys, 602
Water Lily, a new yellow, 307'; Canary, 52 ;
hybrid, 236
Weather, crops and the, 111 ; dry, and Hy-
drangeas, 291 ; dry, effects of the, 62 ;
dry, flowers. 195 ; dry, plants for, 76,
194 ; hot, and the Violets, 125
"Wedding, a Hertfordshire, 319 ; a 'Warivick-
shire, 248
Weeds on lawns, 469
Weigelas from se'd, i72 ; white, 19
Wellingtonia gigantea, 163
White Jessamine for screens, 7
White Thru, grafting Peach on, 222
Wild flowers at Hornsea Mere, 4S4
Willow as a seaside tree, 23 ; as a timber
Willow Herb, California, 170, 220
Windflowtr, Ajjennine, 344 ; scarlet, 528
Windflowers, wood, 344
Winter-flowerhjg plants, potting up, 213
Winter Sweet, the, 601
Wire, galvanised r. twine netting, 850 ;
netting, 457 ; nettingfor fruit, 440. 619
Wistaria frutescens. 43 ; long clusters of,
69 ; the double, 675
Witsenia corymbosa, 433, 491 ; corymbosa,
propagating, 470
Wood, drying, 476; formation of strong,
96 ; mineralising, 72 ; preservation of, 72 ;
protecting from rot, 110 ; autumn tints of,
353
Woodland scenery, 3S2
Woods, Pine, SOS ; of one species, 116 ; resi-
nous, uses of, 164
Woods and Forests, Commissioners of, 163
Santhoceras sorbifolia, GO, 161
Yarrow, Golden, true, 4
Yew tree, the, 543
Yorkshire gala, 113
Yucca, a variegated, 582 ; filamcntosa varle-
gata, 600 ; flowers, 56 ; gloriosa variegata,
682
Urceolina pendula, 381, 59i
Urn Flower, the, 381, 598
Wahlenbergia saxicola, 123
Walks, garden, cleaning, 585
Wallflowers, 581 ; double, 4
Wall pockets, Palm-leaf, 593
Wall, shaded, plants for, 4«5
Wall trees at Ditton Park, 190
Walls, north, utilisation of, 477 : Vines on,
285
Walnuts and Filberts, preserving, 369
Wasps, destroying, 173, 237, 281 ; nett, des-
troying, 351 ; the plague of, 281 ; where
are the ? 173
Wasted water v. fruit crops of 1887, 222
Water, rain, 537
Water Lilies, small growing, 109
Yuccas, propagating, 470
Zaluzianskia selaginoides, 171
Zauschneria californica, 268 ; califomica
splendens, 168
Zelkowa crenata, 522 ; tree, the, 92
Zelkowas, the, 92
Zephyr, the rosy, 76
Zeph^Tanthes Candida, 240; carinata, 76
Zinnias as dry-weather flowers, 292
Zygopetalum aromaticum, 400 ; Gavitigri,
i 134
Jan. 28, 1888.]
THE GARDEN INDEX
COLOURED PLATES.
AMAEYLLIS NESTOR AXD SPLENDENT
ANEMONE NEMOROSA
ANEMONE PULSATILLA
AURICULAS CHARLES PERRY, MRS. MOORE, AND
PRINCE OF GREENS
BEAUMONTIA GRANDIFLORA
BILLBERGIA YITTATA
BORONIA HEIEROPIIYLLA ...
CALANTHE VEITCHI
CYTISUS NIGRICANS
EPIDENDRUM MACROCHILUM ALBUM
FRITILLARIA MELEAGRIS VAR. ...
IPOM.EA HORSFALLI^
IRIS PARADOXA
PAr.K
250
40U
100
412
12
ITG
370
530
153
581
MAXILL.iRIA SANDERIANA
NARCISSUS ODORUS AND N. JOXQUILLA
NARCISSUS TAZETTA VARS
ODONTOGLOSSUM CERYANTESI DECORUM
ORXITHOGALUM NUTANS ...
PRUNUS PISSARDI
RANUNCULUS LYALLI
REINWARDTIA TETRAGYNUM
ROSA INDICA VAR
SAXIFRAGA FORTUNE I
SCHUBERTIA GRANDIFLORA
TULIPA AUSTRALIS
TULIPA ELEGANS, T. RETROFLEX.i, AND T.
YIRIDIFLORA
PAGE
CO
394
488
322
418
224
COG
200
128
3G
84
5G0
The Gardbn.J
[Jan. 28,
July 9, 1887.1
THE GARDEN,
VOL. XXXII.
Fruit Garden. j
W. COLEMAN. - !
BROADCAST STRAWBERRY BEDS.
"HoRTUs" (p. 492) and "J. G. H." (p. 539)
struck important notes in their remarks upon
the let-alone-system of growing Strawberries.
Growers of the present day who allow the
runners to ramble and root where they list
may be considered slovenly or antiquated, but
this is not the point ; fruit in abundance is the
first consideration, and hundreds of gardeners
whose memory carries them back forty or fifty
years can endorse the statement that in every ;
garden these old-fashioned beds were literally
paved with ripe Strawberries. The early part
of the present century was, I believe, noted for
what aged people term old-fashioned summers
and winters, and gardeners of those days may
have had good reasons for adopting a method
which enabled them to gather bushels of fruit
of fair size and excellent quality, although by
no means large enough to suit the modern ex-
hibitor. Innocent of props and ties and straw
for keeping the fruit off the damp ground, losses
from slugs and mould in wet seasons were
heavy; but when the old-fashioned summer
now repeating itself came round, the complete
shade of root and fruit, for the beds were com-
pletely covered with leaves, gave them the
whip hand over modem growers, as drying out
was hardly possible. My earliest recollection
carries me to one of these beds on a sloping
bank, mixed a little, it is true, but none the
worse for that, for variety is charming, and,
with the exception of here and there a stepping
mark made by the pickers, every inch of ground
was shaded, the largest fruit lying under the
strongest, the best flavoured under the weakest
foliage. And how was this bed managed or
mismanaged ? — either term suits me. Well, as
soon as the crop was over, the scythe was intro-
duced, not to cut down weeds, for they had
died out years before, but to mow off the foli-
age just above the crowns. These were raked
off, a dressing of old Melon soU and manure
followed, then a soaking of water, and cultural
operations for the season were pretty well
finished. Early in March, dead crowns, old ones
principally, old leaves and rubbish were cleared
out preparatory to a good dressing of soot to be
washed in by rain. In due time, every little
crown threw up its truss of flowers, when the
weather happening to be dry and favourable to
sterility, the garden engine was filled and refilled
and vigorously plied every evening, not entirely
for the benefit of the roots, but to ensure per-
fect fertilisation. Men of the present day who
claim credit for having been the first to intro-
duce the syringe for setting Grapes and Peaches
may wince a little at this revelation, but I beg
to assure them it is true, and to say this honour
belongs to our grandfathers.
The broadcast bed. — Did it die with the
last generation ? No, certainly not, for within
three miles of my house I can set my foot in a
bed of Keen's Seedling planted with this excel-
lent variety when first sent out at 6s. a dozen.
The owner, a very intelligent tenant, knowing
that I am a modern grower, always invites me
to assist in inspecting his crops of fruit, and al-
though he assures me they are not so heavy as
they were before the bad seasons set in, I can
only say he has ripe Strawberries by the bushel.
A good Hop and root grower, the bed, I sus-
pect, gets a good share of mellow manure, and,
perhaps, a little "artificial," but he assures me
his only dressing is sweepings from the road
over which his horses and cows pass daily. Still
nearer home, in a gentleman's garden, until
within the past three years, there stood a simi-
lar bed planted with the original Keen's Seed-
ling, but, much to the old gardener's regret, it
was destroyed to make room for a Peach house.
To this bed, as long as it was in existence, I
always paid my annual visit, for it brought back
boyish days, when wall Peaches were larger and
frame Melons better than we grow them now.
At this .place, although all my sorts are kept
distinct 'and true, trimmed, top-dressed, and
trussed, I always have a few beds on the let-
alone principle, as links with the past, and my
heaviest produce this year will be gathered from
nursery beds of runners dibbled out on an east
border two years ago. I do not for a moment
think anyone should give up modern culture, as
thousands of tons of fruit of the finest quality
are produced annually ; but, struck by the two
articles, which I read more than once, I not
only endorse all they have written, but venture
to remind the rising generation that our fore-
fathers, according to their light, shone quite as
brightly as we do.
Hulchingf fruit trees. — The present dry sea-
son seems likely to bring prominently into notice
the value of mulching or top-dressing over the
roots of fruit trees and bushes, not only with the
object of supplying them with fresh food, but above
all keeping the soil cool and moist, so that the
tender rootlets may not perish. In this locality the
soil is light, and in many places shallow, and mostly
resting on gravel, so that superfluous moisture
drains away very rapidly. - The fruit grower, if he
would finish off heavy crops of any kind, must be
constantly on the alert to see that the roots of the
trees do not suffer from drought. For a long time
we have had not only very little rain, but a continu-
ance of dry east wind, with cold and dewless nights.
Insect pests are consequently abundant, red spider
being especially noticeable. Although all outdoor
trees are growing under the same unfavourable
atmospheric conditions, it is surprising how rapidly
these pests get the mastery of trees that have their
roots dry. In such weather as we have lately experi-
enced it is hopeless to try to keep the soil moist
without some kind of mulching to prevent the rapid
evaporation that goes on. Anything in the shape of
manure is valuable no w ; in fact, fresh stable manure
applied thickly, and copious waterings given to
carry down the manurial properties, will soon show
a marked difference in the trees. — J. G-., Hants.
Red spider. — We hear more of this pest to
plant-life than usual during these early summer
months, and in districts where the rainfall has been
limited, the tendency of vegetation to suffer from red
spider will be proportionately great. Vines are among
the most liable to suffer, and we note that some are
complaining of the difficulty they experience in
combating with the enemy, and that of saving their
fruit from becoming spoiled at the same time. To
Peaches, clean, soft, tepid water applied with force
to the foliage and no stint at the roots should be
given. Where Grapes are ripening, or, indeed,
where the fruit is in any stage of growth, it is not
an easy matter to eradicate spider and keep the
fruit uninjured as well. Sulphur applied to the hot
I pipes so that the eyes smart from the fumes will
not destroy the pest. A simple way of applying
the sulphur, and a method which we often have
adopted with success, is to apply soapy water in
the form of spray with one of the small india-
rubber instruments so commonly advertised, and
THE GARDEN.
[July 9, 1887.
dust immediately after with sulphur. Applied in
this way, the sulphur sticks to the foliage so finely
that the leaves need not appear unsightly. By one
man carefully applying the soapy spray while an-
other follows closely with the sulphur a large breadth
of foliage can be got over in a short time, and no
injury by moisture or rubbing of the fruit need be
feared. If a little dry sulphur falls on the fruit it
may be blown off before the fruit is used. — Scott.
Madresfield Court Grape.— In "W. I.'s"
remarks on this Grape in The Gaedbn (p. 57G)
I read with interest of the excellent examples
grown at Ilsington House, Dorchester, and Froome,
Whitfield, and apparently without being subjected
to drying at the roots, a practice about which I can
say but little, as I am fully convinced from my own
experience that the evil arises more from the
management of the house than otherwise. My
plan of growing the Madresfield is to give it plenty
of water at the roots when the fruit is colouring
and from thence whenever necessary, as would be
the case with other Vines, until perfectly ripe. I
do not hurry them, but grow them very steadily
and with a much drier atmosphere. Unless it be
very sunny and hot I always keep a genial warmth
in the pipes, so that plenty of air can be given. I
have on more than one occasion noticed that the
berries split most on close, damp days, which greatly
strengthens my belief that the principle lies in the
atmosphere. When watering the Vines I always
choose if possible a bright morning. — H. Mabkham,
Merewortli Castle.
The Strawberry crop.— The anticipations
formed a month ago of an abundant yield of Straw-
berries are not likely to be realised. It is true the
fruit is there, none having been cut off by frost, but
the growth of the plants is meagre, and the dust-
dry condition of the soil renders it impossible for
the berries to come to any size. Those who have
water laid on may, with a copious supply, be able to
have fruit in plenty. Last year the outdoor Straw-
berry crop was much reduced in bulk by the influ-
ence of a hot, drying sun, accompanied" by a brisk
wind from the east. We have precisely the same
climatal conditions now. It is curious how persis-
tently the wind, winter and summer, blows from
east and north. How rarely during the last few
years have we felt the soft influence of southerly or
westerly breezes. That much-to-be-dreaded pest,
red spider, seems to come with an east wind. I
never knew it so destructive as during the last three
years. There is one point in connection with out-
door Strawberry culture to which I would direct
attention. This is the necessity for some attention
to the plants after fruiting, for how great must be
the strain on the plants to ripen a crop of fruit
under such adverse conditions. Left to themselves,
as seems to be the rule, they often assume a miser-
able condition, if they do not die. One good soaking
as soon as the fruit is gathered would frequently
keep them going, and save the trouble of forming
new plantations. — J. C. B.
SHORT N0TE8.—FRXIIT.
Flavour in fruits.— Will any of your correspou-
dents kmdly say whether soot, guano, or nitrate of soda
wiU affeot the flavour of Pears, Apples, and Peaches
grown in pots ? — Enquirer.
Strawberry King of the Earlies.— This is a
free-fruiting early variety. On hea\'y soil it succeeds
well, and it appears to be a few days in advance of
any other kind. — R. U.
Grapes scalded.— Can you suggest any cause of
Grapes suddenly shrivelling 'i I have enclosed a hunch.
The Vines are in excellent health, and have been
planted^about four years. — George Swallow.
_ *»* Your Grapes are what is termed scalded. This
IS caused by late or insufficient ventilation on a bright
morning when the atmosphere of the house and the
berries are saturated with moisture. — Ed.
Early Peaches.— We gathered the first dish of
early Peaches on June 28, the variety being Alexander.
The tree from which the fruit was taken occupied a
position on the hack wall of an unheated lean-to house.
Compared with last year, this variety is thi-ee weeks
earlier than Hale's Early. This is a consideration, as
this is extending the season in the right direction.
Wo do not want any more lata Peaches, as they are
rarely fit for use after the middle of September, hut
there is room enough yet for a few more early varieties.
I hive also Waterloo, a rather new variety, which
promises to ripen before Hale's Early. — J. C. C.
SEASONABLE WORK AMONG FRUITS.
Melons.
Whbke late Melons are in demand, the weekly
sowings may be continued for some time to come,
but from the time future batches of plants are
ready for turning out, houses in which there is full
command of top and bottom heat from hot-water
pipes must be selected for carrying the cultivator to
a successful issue. Fermenting material of course
plays an important part, and often carries the crop
well into September; but high flavour cannot be
guaranteed where fire-heat is not brought to bear
in dull weather and throughout long cold nights.
Just now even, the turn of midsummer, with the
earth and buildings well charged with sun-heat, we
often find the external temperature touching or
falling below 50° before morning, and this being
some 20" too low, we find a turn of the valve last
thing a great help in span-roofed houses, which
radiate heat almost as rapidly as it is generated.
Much heat can be husbanded with blinds, be they
nothing better than coarse scrim canvas, and this
material being ridiculously cheap, its cost in fuel
alone can be saved in a season. For very late, as for
early use, sound-constitutioned, hardy, and fertile
varieties should be selected, particularly where the
houses are dark and heavy, and that great opposing
enemy, stagnant moisture, cannot be expelled by a
chink of warm air without lowering the tempera-
ture. Good Melons are very numerous, and all, I
believe, are excellent when properly grown ; but
some I like better than others — not, perhaps, because
they are one atom in advance of scores of new and
old varieties, but because they are moderate growers,
set and crop freely, and my soil suits them. More
than thirty years ago I grew the old Beech wood, the
old Egyptian, Bromham Hall,; Golden Perfection,
Victory of Bath, and a small golden Melon called
the Masulepatum, possibly the first parent of all the
hardy yellow hybrids now so plentiful, so handsome,
and so well adapted for market purposes. The
white-fleshed Melons, however, I do not think
equal to the green in point of flavour, and for this
reason, were I growing for my own eating, I should
cling to the old Egyptian or round-ribbed netted
varieties, whose pedigree has not been tainted.
Late summer and autumn Melons I always find do
best in pots, plunged in fermenting material and
not too far from the bottom-heat pipes, which can
be made to raise the root temperature to 80° when
the fruit is ripening. If well fed at the right time
and the soil stiff, friable loam is good ; the roots can
be kept at home, the beds can be renovated at
pleasure, every fruit sets, and the quality when ripe
is sure to be good. The hot, dry weather of the
past month has been all that one can desire for
Melons in all stages of their growth. Young plants
in the full blaze of the sun, with plenty of water at
the roots, have not allowed insects a chance. Flower-
ing plants have set like Vegetable Marrows, and
those more advanced not only have finished well,
but have left behind them the best of all tests of
quality — an abundance of clean leathery foliage. I
never wet my house Melons after they are set, but
give them plenty of heat, water, light," and air, and
shut them up when they are swelling with a houseful
of tropical moisture.
Frame Melons.— 'la these of late we have been
able to give an abundance of air to prevent the
fierce sun from literally scorching the foliage, but
we never shade. Melons will stand any amount of
sun-heat, always provided the roots are well supplied
with water and the foliage gets fresh air. Plants
in frames just now should be ventilated when the
sun has raised the temperature to 75°, the openings
being gradually increased until S5» to 90° at mid-
day is reached. At this they will stand until 3.30
to 4 o'clock, when, no matter how broiling the sun
may be, every light must be closed as the necessary
watering or syringing is performed. When water-
ing or syringing frame Melons, the operation should
be thorough— that is to say, the bed should be
flooded without wetting the foliage, and every leaf
should be thoroughly bathed when overhead syring-
ing is attempted. Overhead syringing may be con-
tinued daily, unless the fruit is setting, until we
have a change to cloudy weather; then, with a
lower external temperature, a little warm water
syringed round the inside of the frame and dry
edges of the bed will produce plenty of vapour.
Where the heat is dependent upon fermenting
materials, a spell of hot weather must not be made
the pretext for neglect of the linings, which should
be turned and renovated every week. Checks and
chills, so favourable to canker, scalding, and the
spread of insects, will then be avoided, and a brisk
bottom and side heat will favour the tilting of the
lights for a few hours daily. Plants recently put
out must be pushed on with all speed, and the
young vines stopped when within a foot of the
sides of the frame. If the bottom-heat from these
half-exhausted beds is mild, extra warm water to
the roots and for syringing, thin training, early
closing with sun and good covering combined, will
carry the plants rapidly forward to the flowering
stage. Gross or even strong growth here being
detrimental, pure loam and lime rubble only should
be used for earthing purposes. This in moderate
quantity cannot be made too compact with the
rammer, as the roots of the Melon literally devour
a resisting loam and feed greedily on diluted liquid
when the fruit is swelling. The benefit of small,
solid hills or ridges is not, however, fully realised
until the time arrives for withholding water when
the fruit is ripening.
CUCUMBEES
under attentive manipulation, cleanliness, and a
profusion of stimulating liquid, never perhaps were
more prolific or rapid in their action. Until this
year I have pinned my faith upon Telegraph, but
this spring I put out a house of Pettigrew's Cardiff
Castle, and am greatly pleased with it. It does not
grow quite so long as Telegraph, but it is a profuse
bearer, every fruit as straight as an office ruler,
carries its flower to the finish, it never scalds, colour
deep green, handle short,[flavour excellent. Flavour,
forsooth ! some may say one Cucumber is as good as
another ; possibly ; but, like Melons, some require a
great deal of growing, and then do not come out
well. This for frame and house is every man's
Cucumber. We dress our plants three times a week,
have constant ventilation below the level of the bed
on the south side, and keep the house full of fresh
air and moisture by giving top air sparingly. This
I find the best method of ventilating moisture-loving
tropical plants, as the house is always full of air
and cutting draughts are prevented. Where winter
houses are now occupied by Melons, a set of Cu-
cumber plants should be got forward for taking
their place when the fruit is cut. Stout plants of
the sort I have just named, or any other favourite
variety, will come into early bearing and keep up
the supply till Christmas, or such time as the com-
partment is again wanted for Melons. In order to
ring satisfactory changes on Cucumbers and Melons,
the range should be divided into several compart-
ments, well, but not necessarily separately heated.
By adopting this plan, and starting early in January,
I have ripened three crops of Melons in one com-
partment, and then had the pit thoroughly cleansed
in time for the winter Cucumbers. The latter it is
not difficult to keep in bearing the whole year
round, but plants over six months of age get dirty
and untidy, and require heavy feeding, whilst
maidens from seed or cuttings produce finer fruit
and give less trouble to the grower.
Frames. — Free hardy sorts in frames are now
growing and fruiting well, and although the quality
is not quite equal to house produce, a large family
supply can be depended upon certainly until the
end of August. If the pressure of other work is
not too great, I prefer keeping the vines pinched
and confined to the frames, as sun-heat and moisture
can then be shut in early in the afternoon. Con-
finement in good situations in fine seasons is not,
however, absolutely necessary, as I have sometimes
tilted the lights on the west side to let out the
\dnes ; also I have reversed the frames and allowed
July 9, 1887.']
THE GARDEN.
them to ramble down the sides of the linings where
fruit in abundance has been produced, the only
attention being plenty of water and training in the
Way they should go.
Peaches.
. Work in this department is still pressing, and
"will be until the latest house is finally tied in and
the fruit elevated to the influence of the sun. Kain
still holds off, and the hose is kept constantly at
work on external borders to which another layer of
mulching has just been added. It is a most critical
time for large trees having many square yards of
foliage perspiring some is inches below the glass,
but on no account must the roots feel the want of
-water, as it is to a deficiency of this element in
ordinary seasons that so many losses from dropping
and premature ripening can be traced. Where
water is plentiful, as I lately stated, the conserving
and feeding mulch is important. Where it is scarce,
an extra quantity is imperative. Warm water in
hot weather no doubt is best', but with every crop
now feeling the effect of the drought I have used a
great quantity direct from the mains, passed, of
course, through a layer of sun-warmed manure,
and so far Peaches and Vines are looking unusually
fresh and robust. A great cry was raised against
Mr. Baines's statement that the trade growers used
cold water and succeeded, but this matter will soon
be settled, as hundreds of gardeners this season,
possibly against their will, must have used cold
water, not once or twice, but repeatedly.
Earhj lionses. — I have just finished gathering
from my earliest house, and before these lines
appear in print the trees will have been pruned, the
first and not the least important operation towards
securing nest year's crop of fruit. It may appear
early to make a beginning, but next to doing work
well there is nothing like doing it at the right time.
The trees being quite clean, heavy washing has been
unnecessary, still they have been well hosed ; the
syringe will be plied every evening, and the roof
lights, all of them movable, will be run off when-
ever we have the good fortune to welcome summer
rain. Many growers strip their early houses as
soon as the buds are up, and I have done so, but
•iiow prefer keeping the lights on until the foliage
is ripe, when they are taken in for painting. Being
portable, they can be moved up and down to let in
dew and rain, and they afford protection to trees
which grow very strong, as mine do, in cold, wet
seasons, which for some years have predominated.
MiJseason houses from which fruit is now being
gathered will require an abundance of air by day
and a free circulation through the night, always
provided spots of rain do not reach the ripe fruit.
There prevails an impression that house Peaches
are never so good as kindred kinds from open walls.
A brick wall in a hot season is, no doubt, a good
medium for giving high colour and rich flavour, but
glass stands our friend when the wall fails ; more-
over, a sis months' supply of fruit can be obtained
from a series of glass houses, the colour and quality
depending entirely upon the way in which the four
elements are used or abused. Too much water and
too little air make the finest Peaches vapid and
flavourless, but too much water cannot easily be
given to well-drained borders if light, air, and tem-
perate heat are admitted in due proportion. Al-
though it is not wise or necessary to wet ripening
fruit, the syringe in this compartment may be very
freely used twice a day, and the roots of the trees
will take moderate supplies of water, dryness even
in this, the ripening stage, being detrimental. When
this house is cleared of fruit, the details mentioned
above must be repeated, and possibly it may be
necessary to shut up the house after the afternoon
syringings to plump the buds and ripen "the wood.
Late houses, at one time unusually late, have
redeemed lost time, and already the fruit is more
advanced than, at a corresponding period, I have
seen it for some years. Late house Peaches in Oc-
tober this season will be scarce, but much in the
way of retarding may be done, and now is the time
to set the machinery in motion. First of all, the
roots, esternal or internal, must be kept cool and
moist by heavy mulching and copious watering. A
free and vigorous growth wOl then follow, and, pro-
vided the fruit is well thinned, premature ripening
will be prevented. Air in abundance by night and
day will, of course, be admitted, and a free use of
cold water for damping the floors and walls early
and late wUl have a beneficial effect in reducing
and keeping down the temperature. Shade from
the intense heat of the sun is an important retard-
ing factor, but how is this to be produced without
shutting out the light ? not by the use of canvas
certainly, for a great body of heated air rests be-
neath it, but by allowing the trees to assume a free
and abandoned growth and pinching the gross
shoots until the colouring process renders tying
down absolutely necessary. Trees, again, in pots
and tubs may now be placed in the open air where
the fruit will colour and ripen perfectly. The pots,
it is hardly necessary to say, should be protected
from the parching rays of the sun and well mulched,
and nets must be used for keeping off feathered
marauders.
Cheeeies.
Early houses now clear of fruit must be copiously
hosed and watered ; further, the roofs may be
stripped to let in rain and dew where the lights are
movable. Forced Cherry trees always ripen their
wood well, but there is little danger of the buds
bursting too soon if the foliage is kept cool, clean,
and healthy. Early trees that have been trans-
ferred to larger pots will now be taking to the new
compost and making fresh laterals. These it will
not be wise to check, as they foster root action and
aid in perfect recovery from heavy cropping. If
not already taken out, no time should be lost in
their removal to a shady place for a few days in the
open air, thence to the border where they are to
be plunged for the remainder of the summer. The
large, late black and Bigarreau varieties will hang
for a long time in rather dry, cool, airy houses, and
although ordinary kinds may be ripe and plentiful
on walls, dishes of these from houses tell amazingly
in the dessert or for exhibition. The first enemy to
these is damp ; the second is the blackbird. How
these are to be counteracted I leave to the culti-
vator. W. C.
PACKING CUT FLOWERS.
On an average we are cutting, packing, and sending
flowers by post and rail four days in the week, and
ought, therefore, to be in a position to afford F. J.
Eadcliffe (p. 502) some useful information. The
greater portion we send have to travel not less than
130 miles, but those sent to a much nearer point
have to be packed equally as carefully, and are
frequently as long on the road. Some are for
private use and the remainder for the markets, and
as we rarely receive any complaints as to their
travelling badly, we may reasonably conclude there
is not much the matter with the packing.
When to cut theji is an important query,
and which I will first reply to. Those who want
their flowers to arrive at their destination in a good
condition should see that they are started in a
perfectly fresh state. At this time of year espe-
cially it is simply a waste of flowers and time to
cut them after the sunshine or heated dry air has
been playing about them for some hours. Many
will be flagging, all will be hot, and if they do not
remain in the boxes long enough to ferment, they
will yet turn out in very miserable condition. Thus
treated they may well wither at once. Cut them
in the morning while yet cool, and place in pans or
saucers of w-ater in a cool room till it is necessary
to pack them. We prefer to treat the flowers in
this manner at any time of year, but it is less need-
ful in the winter months. Wlien cut and perhaps
packed in the course of an hour, much of the
moisture contained in the stems quickly evaporates;
whereas if stood in water for a time, all, or nearly
all, seem capable of absorbing a portion of it, and
are thereby fortified for the journey. Many err in
cutting and packing flowers already past their best.
In this matter it is impossible to lay d own good general
rules for the guidance of novices, as some flowers
require to be fully expanded when cut, while others
travel best in a bud state and open readily in water.
Many of the beautiful Irises, if cut when fully
blown, travel and last badly, and only well advanced
buds of these should be packed. The popular
Water Lilies also travel best in a bud state, and
those recei^ing them can open them easily with the
hand, a very little practice being needed in re-
flesing both sepals and petals. Fully-blown Roses
are of little value, and buds will rarely open. The
half-opened blooms are the best in every way, and
these should be cut while the dew is stUl on them.
Carnations, Stocks, Asters, Dahlias, Marguerites,
Heliotropes, Pelargoniums, Chrysanthemums, Gail-
lardias, and other border flowers ought to be cut
when fully expanded, as if this stage is anticipated
the stems wiU not be matured, nor are the flowers
likely to arrive at perfection. Whatever green
foliage is sent, whether choice or hardy Ferns,
Asparagus, branches of Conifers, Rose leaves, or
Sweet Brier, it should also be fully matured, or
otherwise it is liable to wither quickly. Cut it early,
or a few hours before it is required, and place in
water, and it will then be cool and fresh when
packed.
Best methods op packing. — I have frequently
observed how very nervous some people are when
packing flowers, and they rarely place enough in a
box for fear of crushing some of them. Common
mixed flowers cannot well be packed too closely,
provided they are not unduly pressed down. Xot
only should all be made to fit in closely, but the
lid should also be made to shut down tightly on
them. If loosely packed at the outset, this, fol-
lowed by natural fading, ends in the heavier
kinds battering themselves and the rest to pieces;
but when closely packed they preserve each other.
We have a variety of boxes, some being for mised
flowers, and which hold two and sometimes three
layers, and others for particular kinds, including
Eucharises, Gardenias, and Stephanotis. The
greater portion Of them are bought at the grocers',
but, as was pointed out by " A Novice in Market-
ing" in The Garden, June 25 (p. 573), cheaper
and better boxes can be bought direct from the
makers, and with various sizes to choose from,
packing is comparatively a simple operation.
Double flowers invariably travel best, and, although
not always so beautiful as the single ones,
ought to be most extensively cultivated by those
who have to send many flowers to a distance. If
the box will hold more than one layer of flowers, it
is the heavy double varieties, notably Roses, that
should go in the bottom, other double flowers on
these, flnishing off with a layer of the most fragile
sorts. It is not advisable, however, to send a mass
of flowers at this season, and for this reason,
boxes holding either one or two layers of flowers
are preferable. If not air-tight, the box should be
lined with thin paper, and paper placed between
the layers also checks heating. A layer of foliage,
slightly damped, should be placed in the bottom,
and on this the flowers laid as flatly and closely to-
gether as possible. Then comes the paper, on this
more green foliage, and another closely packed
layer of flowers as before. In order that the box
may be closely filled, it is advisable to remove
the lower leaves as well as thorns on the Roses, and
other superfluous foliage mayalso be removed. Green
leaves may be placed on the top layer and then more
paper. If this is insufficient to quite fill the box,
or rather more than fill it, a layer of cotton
wool should be placed on the paper, but the latter
ought on no account to come into contact with the
flowers, this material actually robbing them of their
moisture, therefore doing more harm than good.
When Spinach leaves are plentiful we frequently
intermingle a quantity of these with the flowers
with excellent results. Lettuce leaves, with their
fleshy midribs either crushed or cut away, are also
suitable for lining shallow boxes or for working in
between the layers of flowers. These leaves serve
to keep the flowers perfectly fresh, and are especi-
ally suitable for small postal boxes. Delicate white
flowers, including Eucharises and Gardenias, suffer
most when packed, and require extra care in the
operation. Both should be gathered as fast as
they open, as they keep much fresher in water than
on the plant. The former are merely cut off from
the flower-stem so as not to interfere with the later
THE GARDEN.
[July 9, 1887.
buds, while Gardenias may either be cut with wood
and foliage attached or be gathered with short
stems only, leaving the growth to flower again soon.
These and also Stephanotis ought to be packed in
shallow boxes by themselves as much as possible.
We wrap each stem in moistened cotton-wool and
pack in lines across the box, resting the blooms on
strips of cotton-wool enclosed in tissue paper. All
are made to fit closely together in an upright
position, and are covered first with a sheet of tissue
paper and on this a layer of cotton wool. After
the lid is closed we usually shake the box, and if
any sound inside is heard the packing is faulty.
Stephanotis trusses we sometimes divide and
surround with Spinach leaves, and out of these they
turn surprisingly fresh. AUamandas and Dipla-
denias may be packed in shallow boxes in a similar
way to the Eucharis, and we have frequently sent
large quantities of these fragile and most gorgeous
flowers to London for dinner-table decoration.
" Best wat of sending " ?— This question could
have been better answered if the inquirer had
stated whether the railway or post-office was the
easiest of access. In some instances the former is
the cheapest and best means of sending flowers ; in
others the parcels-post is to be preferred. Packages
of flowers are treated very badly indeed by some of
the country postmen, though unavoidably so in
some cases, owing to their being obliged to carry so
many parcels and bags. We send a good many
flowers by post, but never entrust them to the post-
man at this end, and as in most towns they have
van or truck delivery, nothing but wilful damage is
ever feared. Since the introduction of intermediate
charges, a list of which I need hardly give, the
parcels post is frequently cheaper than the railway,
and it is very certain it is much the best for extra
long distances, or, say, to Scotland and elsewhere to
which we occasionally send. In many districts,
ours included, it is possible to pack and send flowers
by an early train to London in time for the early
van delivery. Thus we frequently start flowers at
7 a.m., and by 2 p.m. they are set up in vases, &c.,
and in capital time for dinner parties. Small
quantities— or say from I lb. to 10 lbs., box in-
cluded—can be sent by post over night, and in
Loudon be delivered comparatively early the next
morning. Altogether, the parcels-post is a great
boon, and latterly I have noticed more care has
been taken of parcels than formerly ; whereas the
railway officials are quite reckless, treating all alike,
a box of flowers or fruit meeting with no better
treatment than a bale of cloth. Cardboard boxes,
which find much favour with senders of flowers
by both post and rail, are, owing to their cheap-
ness and lightness, altogether unfit for the pur-
pose. Those "behind the scenes" in large post-
oflaces are almost daily handling these, and could
speak of some extraordinary mixtures that come
out of them. Not a few senders use a quantity of
damp Moss when packing, and the moisture from
this soon renders the cardboard very rotten indeed.
Even if nothing damp is enclosed, such boxes are
not strong enough to bear any pressure, and conse-
quently they very frequently arrive at their destina-
tion crushed out of shape. Nor are very lio-ht
tin boxes to be depended upon. We send them
with button-hole bouquets by letter post, but when
suificiently large and strong enough to hold many
flowers they are too heavy and expensive. Light
deal^ boxes are the best, and we often send two
medium-sized ones instead of one of much larger
siz3. It is unwise to nail them down strongly, this
necessitating the use of a strong chisel or screw-
driver for opening them, and usually results in the
lids being split all to pieces. Tie them down
strongly and there is no need for any nails. A
strong parchment label legibly addressed and pro-
perly attached to the bos or string is necessary, and
these conditions being complied with, there is little
cause for anxiety. Not a single package we have
yet sent has failed to reach its destination. Empties,
when worth returning, should be neatly packed
together and returned by either post or rail.
"W. I.
Dovible Wallflowers.— If " R. D." who writes
abjut ol,l-rashion-il dnubli. W.illflon-er.s in Tiiio C4ab
DEN, June 25 (p. 578), will give me his name and
address, I will send him descriptions of three, from
which I offer cuttings in exchange. — Bichard Simpson,
Alderley Edje, Manchester.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
The Bavarian Gentian (Gentiaua havarica) is
in hinrini at Bi'oxhovirue. The flowers are of the same
vivid hue as tliose of the Spring Gentian (G. venna).
Asparagus vertieillatus. — This, planted out-
doors, is now hearing sprays 5 feet long. — E. H. W.,
Scarborough.
Veronica Hulbeana has been for many years
growing here in a sheltered, dry, north border. The
plant is now just going out of bloom. — B. P. W.,
Glaslinn, Clontarf.
The true Golden Yarrow (Achillea am-ea) is
flowering in Mr. Geo. Paul's nursery at Broxboume.
It is often confounded with the Woolly Yarrow (A.
tomentosa) , but the two are distinct, the former having
broader and more brightly coloured flower-heads.
Eremurus Bungei. — This is now flowering in
Messrs. Paul's hardy plant nursery at Broshourue. It
produces (about 18 inches to 2 feet high) a dense sym-
metrical spike of clear yellow flowers. It is a very
useful and beautiful garden plant, and the best of this
class.
Cumingia eampanulata. — This charming little
Chilian bulbous plant, now known by the name of
Conauthera eampanulata, is now in flower with me.
The flowers are very dark purple, hanging on slender
stalks. — A. C. Bartholomew, Park House, Beading.
We have received from Miss Roberts, Suffolk, a spray
of the Pomegranate, flowere of a Petunia, and Pelar-
gonium Pretty Folly. The flowers of the Pomegranate
were more vividly coloured than usual. The Petunia
is a very fine double, the coloru' white, flaked ■v\'ith rosy
purple.
We learn that, under the auspices of the Royal
Horticultural Society, a series of papers on the Potato
will be read at South Kensington to commemorate the
tercentenary of the tuber. The first will be read on
July 13, and the subject will be both soieutiflcally and
practically dealt with.
We have received a gathering of early-flowering
Gladioli from Mr. Hubert Mauger, Guernsey. The
flowers do not display a great variety of colour, but
they are both pleasing and showy. There were several
varieties, and those that deserve attention are Rosy
Gem, pink ; Prince of Wales, crimson and white ; and
Ne Plus Ultra, pale salmon-pink.
The Victorian Lily is now flowering at Kew,
and those who are interested in this class of plants
may be advised to visit the tropical Water Lily house,
near the Palm house, where the lovely Zanzibar Water
Lily (Nymphaaa zanzibarensis) and N. stellata are in
bloom. There are also flowering specimens of the
Sacred Bean (Nelumhium speciosum), which thrives
here with wonderful vigour.
Maintenance of the London parks. — A select
committee of the House of Coromons recently passed
the preamble of the London Parks Bill, which provides
that Victoria Park, Battersea Park, Kenuington Park,
Bethual Green Park, Westminster Bridge and the
Thames (Chelsea) Embankment, which have previously
been maintained by the Commissioners of Works, shall
now be maintained out of the local rates. The Metro-
politan Board of Works heheve that a burden of
£19,000 a year will be thrown upon the rates.
The past season and vegetation. — Prom ob-
servations made in past years, I find that vegetation in
1887, so far at any rate as deciduous trees are con-
cerned, has remained throughout the spring and sum-
mer moi'e than three weeks in arrear. I have noticed
particularly hardy exotic trees and shrubs, and the
latest of these, Chionanthusvirginica and Gymiiocladus
canadensis, will not be in full leaf until the beginning
of July. As the latter tree is also an early leaf-budder,
it will not show fully developed foliage for more than
two and a half mouths during the present year. The
deciduous Cypress (Taxodium distichum) is also very
late.— E. B.
Berennial Larkspurs from the Westerham
Nurseries. — We have lately visited these old Kentish
nurseries, and noticed with pleasure large breadths
of perennial Larkspurs, or Delphiniums. In such
hot weather it is delightful to see such flowers,
and it is surprising how well they travel. From a
gathering sent to us, the varieties that please us
most are Bella Donna, pale blue; Mons. Ulrich,
wdiite and purple; and Magniflca, blue and white.
The rarest is the old Delphinium grandiflorum
maximum, a distinct type, the flowers of the richest
blue, and of which Mr. T. W. Edmunds, the pro-
prietor, says, "It is quite distinct from grandiflorum,
and originated many years ago with the late Mr.
Cox, of the Gardens, Redleaf, Penshurst. We be-
lieve we hold the entire stock. It is quite different
in growth to any other variety, and is very diflScult
to propagate from."
Hardy flowere. — White Antirrhinum, pure as
alabaster, and most desirable for borders. I have
called it White Swan. I have propagated it and
distributed it already to many friends. Double
crimson Sweet William, a superb bit of colour in
large groups in beds. Helenium pumilum — I send
this to show how the great heat has turned an
autumn flower into a summer bloomer. — J. T. Poe.
Commou Thyme (Thymus serpyllum). — Messrs.
Backhouse send us a specimen of a pretty form of
our common native Thyme, which is named Thymus
serpyllum coccineus. The colour seems more
crimson than scarlet, but so far as we can judge it is
a pretty and very desirable form. We think the
common Thyme is a pretty plant, which is seldom
taken any notice of by the gardener, but very often
takes care of itself by the side of a sunk fence and
other positions, where its beauty is seen. The
white variety is pretty, and both the common one
and it are valuable as carpet plants for warm and
sandy spots. This higher coloured form will be a
valuable plant in certain positions.
Tufted Pansies. — Messrs. Collins and Gabriel
send us a sample of their tufted Pansies, most of
which we have noticed before. They are very cool
and pretty at this hot season, when one might ex-
pect the heat would have stopped their flowering
about London. They grow freely in most seasons, but
to get good results experience proves that they grow
most vigorously when planted in autumn or early
spring, and better from cuttings than from division,
though we have found they do very well by divi-
sion also ; cuttings are best taken in July, and for
spring bloom planted in autumn. The plants well
deserve to be grown in two series, so to speak — one
planted in autumn and the other in spring.
Rainfall in North Leeds. — First six months
of each year from 1877 to 1887 :—
Year.
Jan.
Feb,
Mar.
April.
May.
June.
Total.
Inches
Inches
Inches
Inches
Inches Inches
Inches
1877
3-84
1-92
2^90
3^66
2^34
1^55
16-21
1878
2-56
■97
■65
2-43
4-16
4^51
1.5-28
1879
1-32
2 67
1-69
2^72
1^68
444
14-52
ISSO
■06
1^99
2^18
2^26
2^43
6 IS
14 10
1S81
•46
4^64
3^41
1^61
1-22
2^22
13-56
1882
2-06
1-33
2^41
3 28
2^39
4 63
1605
1583
3-8:i
2 27
1-06
3^06
1-50
3^12
14-84
1SS4
3-18
2 12
1-68
2-64
101
■89
11-48
1S85
1-49
2'1I
rsi
1^15
2 61
2-85
12-02
18S0
3 64
■66
1^40
2^31
5-(0
■47
18-98
IS87
2-42
•61
1^40
•53
1-96
■06
6-98
Averag-e for ten years past for first six months of
each year, 14-19 inches. Average for ten years past
for twelve months each year, 30-65 inches.— J. E
Fbnwick.
The Gardeners' Orphan Fund.— A meeting
of the provisional committee of the above fund took
place in the garden of the Royal Horticultural
Society, at Chiswick, on July 1. The draft report
of the committee to be presented at the first meeting
of the supporters on July 12 was read, amended, and
approved. It was resolved that copies of the rules
and regulations should be sent to the gardening
papers, with a request that they would be good
enough to publish, previous to the meeting, so much
of them as set forth the main principles upon which
the fund has been instituted. Further accessions of
subscribers were announced. All who are interested
in the movement are earnestly requested to attend
the first general meeting to be held in the conser-
vatory of the Royal Horticultural Society, South
Kensington, on Tuesday, July 12, at 1 o'clock, when
Sir Julian Goldsmid, Bart., M.P., -will preside. Mr.
A. F. Barron is the honorary secretai^y.
July 9, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
Flower Garden.
STRIPED SQUILL.
(PDSCHKINIA SCILLOIDES.)
One of tlie best of the many pretty Scilla-like
spring bulbs, with flowers of a pale grey-blue
colour, delicately pencilled witb darker lines
and rather broad foliage ; also known as P.
libanotica. There are two or three garden
varieties, of which one is nearly white, and
another has the flowers more closely clustered.
J.
Fseonies. — The demand for herbaceous Pieonies
being so much on the increase shows that these
beautiful flowers are now very much valued. The
varieties now so generally cultivated are so rich in
colour and many of them have so pleasing a perfume,
that they are very valuable for cutting from during
part of May and throughout June. In the herbace-
ous borders here they have a fine eflfect associated
with SpiriEas, Delphiniums, Pyrethrums, &c. For
grouping among dwarf shrubs their true effect is seen
to great advantage ; masses of individual colour
planted in groups of from three to seven plants
often hear the complaint that the bulbs do not bloom
satisfactorily. My impression is that wherever a
failure occurs it is due to injudicious watering.
When the young growths start away in early spring
and especially if the old foliage has remained in
good preservation, they seem to require watering
tolerably freely. It is very often at this time that
the plants suffer. The roots are so spongy that the
slightest overdose of water kills them. Even during
the hot weather from April till July I find that from
one to two waterings weekly for ordinary sized
specimens are ample. In the case of plants in 8-in.
and larger pots a longer interval must elapse be-
tween the waterings. I have some plants in 8-inch
pots which are not watered oftener than once a
week in bright weather. — J. C. B.
NOTES ON LILIES.
I SENT some time ago a few notes on this charming
tribe in the hope that my remarks, taken from a
very limited experience, might be supplemented by
some one more experienced in their culture, especially
with regard to some kinds, which, in my small way,
I have found difficult to manage, notably Krameri,
Humboldti, and Szovitzianum. With regard to the
two first, I suggested that there must be some diffi-
The Striped Squill (Pusohkinia scilloides). Engraved for The Garden from a photograph.
afford as pleasing combinations as any arrangements
with which I am acquainted. When Pajonies are
forced and grown for conservatory decoration their
effect is good, and their flowers during the latter
part of winter and early spring are much valued
where large quantities have to be supplied. By
planting a few dozens on a warm border where they
can ripen their crowns early, preparatory to their
being forced, much more might be done with them
than we have yet seen. Though the old tree Pseony
is a striking object during winter when loaded with
large open flowers, its unpleasant scent will reduce
its value to a minimum. — Scott.
Scarborough Lilies (Vallotas) in large pots.
— Some time ago it was asked in The Gakden how
the big specimens of Vallota sometimes seen at
London flower shows are grown. There are two ways
of obtaining large plants. One consists in putting
from six to a dozen bulbs in a 45-inch or 6-inch pot,
according to the size of bulbs, and shifting them
into pots of larger size as required. The other, and
I think the more preferable, is that of growing the
bulbs singly and placing them in a large pot when
they have come to a blooming size. The best time
to pot them is when the bulbs are starting. Good
turfy loam with plenty of sand and a little decom-
posed leaf-soil suit them best. The Vallota can be
grown well with ordinary greenhouse treatment. I
! culty about their culture ; it is well-nigh impossible
to get home-grown bulbs, reliance being placed
I evidently on imported ones, which, like so many of
the imported auratums, vanish after a year. As I
have had no response to my appeal, I venture to
add a few more notes. I may say that, in reference
to the sorts mentioned, I had a conversation with that
very large importer and successful grower of Lilies,
Mr. Bull, of Chelsea, and he said many people made
the great mistake of giving up their bulbs as lost
because they looked queer the first season, and they
take them up and put them in some part of the gar-
den which is considered likely to suit them. He
says they should not be disturbed even when they
appear unhealthy, but be allowed to remain, and the
following year they will improve. This seems
sound advice. I imagine that Lilies of all kinds do
not like being disturbed, and that whether grown in
the open or in pots, they are better for not being so
much moved about as they frequently are. I find,
for example, that two clumps, one of L. pardalinum
and the other of L. Michauxi, which I was obliged
to move last year are not going to flower this sea-
son, and I am strongly of opinion that there are
other plants besides Lilies that would be better for
being left alone.
LiLiuM Batemanni^ is, to me, a great puzzle.
Some years ago I received a Lily of this name. It
was a very pretty late flowering Lily of the Marta-
gon form. I lost it and wrote for it, but received
instead a bulb that has proved to be of the elegans
type, the type of Lily I care least about. Referring
to the two catalogues of Mr. Ware and the' Colches-
ter Bulb and Seed Company, I find in the foriner
that it is described as a variety of the American
form of elegans, as growing upwards of i feet in
height, producing six to eight flowers of a clear
apricot colour and as early flowering. With the
exception of the height, this corresponds to the
plant which has just finished flowering in my house,
and the difference in the height is probably owing
to the fact that it is in a pot. I now turn to the
Colchester catalogue, where I find Lilium Bate-
manniiE described as autumn-flowering, apricot in
colour, and unspotted. This corresponds with the
variety I had some years ago, which belonged to the
Martagon and not the elegans type. Messrs. Back-
house and Son also similarly describe it, and give
the time of flowering from July to October, but in
their catalogue it is described as Batemannife. It is
quite clear that there must be two Lilies in exist-
ence under the same name Batemanniie, and as
the autumn-flowered species is the first in the field,
it seems to me but right that the elegans Lily
should be altered to some other name, for there is
much confusion now. I wanted to supply the
place of the roots I had lost, and received instead
of what I wanted those of the elegans type, for
which I did not care, so that it is not a sentimental
grievance.
LiLiDM speciosum Melpomene. — I fancy there
must be a good many bulbs which go under the
name of this Lily, but what are really cruentum or
some of the dark forms of speciosum raised from
seed in Holland. This I find described in the Col-
chester catalogue as of hybrid origin ; but surely
this is a mistake. If I recollect aright, it was raised
by Mr. Hovey, in America, from seed, and it cer-
tainly bears no trace of any cross-fertilisation in
either the flower or foliage. It is a true speciosum,
or lancifolium as some call it, and differs only in
the intensity of its coloirring ; it is doubtless very
bright, but unless I have had another Lily for it,
I do not see any difference between it and some of the
darker forms of rubrum which have been produced
from seed both abroad and in our own country. I
have several of these forms of speciosum which I
hope to flower this year, and shall then be better
able to judge.
LlLIUM LONGIFLOEUM FLOEIBUNDUM. — This is
another Lily about which there has been some confu-
sion. Longiflorum is, as we know it, single-flowered,
but there is a form called Wilsoni which produces
six or eight flowers on a stem, and is more robust
than the type. It is said that it was exported to
Bermuda, and that its character became after some
years of culture changed. It was then announced
that a new Lily, under the name of Harrisi, or the
Bermuda Lily, had been introduced ; good prices
were obtained for it ; in many instances it proved
to be simply longiflorum, while in others it was a
form which I had known at Mr. Bull's as floribun-
dum. It is surely misleading to have so many
names, and if they be the same thing, the later or
earlier flowering character may be simply an acci-
dent of culture. With regard to its name of Ber-
muda Lily, is it likely that a simple longiflorum
would be so altered by its culture in a warm climate
as to produce this large number of flowers from a
single stem, instead of singly ? One recollects that
when auratum was introduced it was described as
single-flowered by a very eminent botanical autho-
rity, but when we see twenty or thirty flowers on a
single stem, we shall err very much if we ascribe
that to culture, as we know that it is equally flori-
f erous in its own country. I really ask this question
for information.
LinuM KAMTSCHATICTTM (Sarana), a very curious
little thing more suggestive of a Fritillaria than a
Lily. It grows about 18 inches high; the flowers
are very dark, nearly black, and are slightly pendu-
lous. It is of easy culture and soon makes itself at
home.
I fancy from what I see that this is another
trying season for Lilies, as they seem to be all more
[July 9, 1887.
or less fond of water, not merely such Lilies as
superbum and pardalinum, but nearly all of them
require rain. I find the white Martagon suffers from
the dryness, while even testaoeum has not attained
its usual height, and even where clumps have been
established for years they seem to feel the effects of
a long season of dry weather. Delta.
NOTES FROM SUFFOLK.
Five weeks without rain, and the legend is writing
itself on leaf, and fiower, and fruit. Here, on a
hill, the soil naturally light and warm, the story is
in truth on parchment. Opposite my window stands
a fine Acacia, 60 feet high or more, I should say,
covered with the "milk-white bloom," and attract-
ing by its sweetness or perfume every kind of bee,
and gnat, and fly during the day, and, I daresay,
many of the moths at night. In and out round its
stem and among its branches skim the noiseless-
winged bats as soon as the dusk falls ; and by day
what myriads of bright or sober-feathered warblers
Seek its shade. First, the nightingale (and last
too) sings his roundelay from the budding boughs ;
thrush and blackbird are common visitants ; but
red-start and black-cap warblers, wry-neck and
creeper, woodpecker and nut-hatch, all haunt trunk
or branches as best suits their fancy ; and most wel-
come of all, a beautiful wood pigeon comes there too
to roost, attracted, perhaps, by the fountain which
the tree overshadows. Among the Acacia blossoms
hang the remains of wintry festivities — Cocoa-nut
shells, empty now, and emptied by members of the
titmouse family — blue-tit, marsh-tit, black-cap-
tit, and ox-eye — hero they are all fostered ; and
in spring the Plum trees are laden with blos-
soms, and the promise of fruit is abundant. It
seems as if, cruel scandal notwithstanding, our
little feathered friends are friends indeed, so
honestly do they abstain from our fruit buds, and
so gallantly do they slaughter our foes, the cater-
pillars. The Roses would be very fine this year if
the sun would spare them, but at the close of the
day some of the thinner-petalled flowers are hang-
ing their sweet heads like vrearied bell(e)s, and the
dark Roses are apparently scorched into blacka-
moors. The Pomegranate climbing over a south
wall does not suffer in the least ; rather revels in
the heat and glows in its brilliant scarlet flowers,
reminding one of Spain. Pelargoniums and Petunias
as yet can hold their own. How beautiful are the
new Ivy-leaved, double-blossomed Pelargoniums, by
the way, of every shade, and the foliage so neat and
dwarf and glossy — admirable for covering quickly
the beds and borders. The Plantain Lily (Funkia
Sieboldi) is throwing up numerous trusses of its
grey-blue flowers, but it is for the foliage prin-
cipally the plant is grown here ; as is a.lso the
grand-leaved Elecampane (Inula Helenium). Among
the border Pelargoniums, Pretty Polly thrives well —
none fairer nor sweeter to my taste. In the shrub-
bery the Portugal Laurels are crowned with gar-
lands of white blossom, while the snowy Privet and
the rosy blossomed Snowberry take lowlier places,
and double Sweet Brier and climbing Honeysuckle
overcome with their delicious fragrance the less
acceptable perfume of their neighbours.
SUFFOLKIAN.
Hybrid Columbines. — There is great variety
to be obtained from a packet of seed of a good
strain of these. The combination of tints is curious,
scarcely I think to be met with in any other garden
flower, which is only to be expected seeing that the
species comprise blue, yellow, and deep orange-red
colours, and that they intercross so readily. It has
been said that the hybridisation of such species as
Cierulea,californica,andchrysantha is a mistake, and
that it would be better to keep them true. The
typical calours being so decided, this is to a certain
extent true, but the strange combinations of colour
that hybridisation effects will always cause these
intermediate forms to be attractive. In light soils
these Columbines are perfectly hardy, and when in
flower are very conspicuous in early summer. To
get them to bloom well the first year after sowing,
they should be sown as early in spring as possible.
Last year I raised some in AprU in a cold frame, but
this was scarcely early enough, as, although the ma-
jority of the plants are blooming fairly well, they
have not attained sufficiently large dimensions to
enable me to form an adequate idea of their value.
If good specimens are required the first year, the
seeds must be raised in warmth in Marcli, hardened
off and pricked out in boxes or in a cold frame, and
placed in their jjermanent quarters by April. If
they are, however, required for the shrubbery or
mixed border, it is better to give them liberal
treatment during the summer months and transfer
them to their permanent quarters in October. —
J. C. B.
EARLY-FLOWERED LILIES.
When assisted by artificial heat a few Lilies may
be had in bloom by the early months of the year,
but when in the open ground the middle of June is
about the time the first flowers make their appear-
ance, and from then till the end of August or the
first half of September a continual display is
maintained. The early-flowered Lilies are largely
composed of those kinds in which the blooms are
somewhat cup-shaped and borne in terminal
clusters. Among these may be inclnded L. umbel-
latum, L. elegans, L. bulbiferum,and L.pulchellum.
Of the above-mentioned Lilies that most commonly
grown is L. umbellatum and its many varieties, the
most marked of which are grandiflorum, orange-red;
incomparabile, deep crimson ; and Sappho, bright
glowing crimson. The varieties of L. elegans are
very closely allied to those of L. umbellatum, the
members of the former group being characterised
by a dwarfer habit than L. umbellatum. The range
of colour is, however, greater in L. elegans, and the
varieties differ in the hue of their llowers from
orange-buff to very deep crimson. One of the best
among the lighter tinted forms is Prince of Orange,
and the extreme limit in the opposite direction is
supplied by htematochroum the blooms of which
are of a very deep crimson. L. bulbiferum is a
very pretty Lily, with rather slender stems and
clusters of cup-shaped reddish orange-coloured
flowers. A very prominent feature in the case of
this Lily, and one that distinguishes it from any
allied kind, is the presence of small bulbils that are
produced in great quantities in the axils of the
leaves. As the stem decays they drop to the
ground and form young plants as readily as the
Tiger Lily. The pretty little Siberian L. pulchellum
is also a very early-flowering kind, and the bright
crimson - coloured blossoms are most effective.
Several of the Martagon group are now in bloom,
prominent among which are L. monadelphum,
which will not on any account bear being disturbed
at the roots, for it will never flower in a satisfactory
manner the first season after planting, however
carefully attended to. It must be established for a
couple of years to have it in good condition. The
blooms are large, most gracefully reflexed, and
delicately tinted. They vary greatly in colour,
some blooms being of a pale sulphur tint — indeed,
almost white, while others are deep yellow. There
is also a great difference in the arrangement and
quantity of the small dark-coloured spots with
which the flower is studded. The Japanese L.
Hansoni, characterised by its massive wax-like
petals, is a few days later in opening than the last.
This is a true Martagon, the flowers being about the
size of the common one, but they are of much
greater substance and of a rich yellow colour. It is
a very distinct and beautiful Lily, and has not the
heavy unpleasant smell common to many of the
Martagon group. L. pomponium, or at all events
that form known as pomponium verum, is a very
early Lily with brightred blossoms. They arebornein
a many-flowered spike, and are most gracefully re-
curved. A smaller form of this is the Siberian L.
tenuifolium, while L. pyrenaicum with its greenish
yellow unpleasantly smelling flowers is another of
this class. In the case at least of L. pomponium
and L. pyrenaicum, it is useless to expect much
bloom from them the first season after planting the
bulbs. Of the common Martagon, a few of the
earlier blooms are just commencing to expand.
Besides these, some of the other Lilies will be by
now in bloom, if they have been protected in their
earlier stages or subjected to slight forcing. Those
principally grown in this way are that form of L.
longiflorum known as Harrisi, the blooming of
which may be so arranged that a succession is kept
up from the beginning of March till they flower out
of doors. This Lily is also remarkable for the
readiness with which pieces of the scales form
bulbs if they are taken off during the winter and
placed under conditions favourable to growth. L.
auratum is largely imported from Japan, and great
numbers are grown every year in pots, the earliest
blossoms of which are just now expanding, and in
their case not the least interesting item is furnished
by the great difference that exists amongst them.
Out of even a considerable number it is diflicult to
find two alike, the points of difference being the
size of the bloom, or the markings thereof, the
arrangement of the flowers on the stem, as well as
a great variation in the foliage. The white or
Madonna Lily (L. candidum) is now much grown
in pots for flowering early in the season, but out of
doors the blooms are rapidly developing and will
soon commence to open. In transplanting this
Lily a great mistake is often made in shifting them
too late in the season, the best time for this being
as soon as the flower-stems decay, for the bulbs com-
mence growing again directly, so that if it is in-
tended to move them, the operation ought not to be
delayed longer than August. H. P.
NOTES ON HARDY PLANTS.
Tiie Scarlet Alum Root (Heuchera sanguinea)
— This handsome plant, introduced about three
years ago, is undoubtedly a great acquisition to our
hardy plants. All the other species, with the ex-
ception of glabra and micrantha, have small, green,
insignificant flowers, and H. hispida (syn., H. Rich-
ardsoni) is the only useful plant amongst them.
H. sanguinea we have found perfectly hardy, it
having stood fully exposed in the open since its in-
troduction. The effect of a group of its charming
bright scarlet flowers is very pleasing, and the fo-
liage, which forms a dense mat, sets them off to the
best advantage. It may be increased to any extent
by the side growths, which, if taken off with a heel,
will be found to have a few very small roots. These
side growths, if placed in a little heat or under a
bell-glass in a cold frame, will very quickly form
plants. For greenhouse work it is also very suitable.
The Burning Bush. — Dictamnus albus and the
variety purpureus are very beautiful at the present
time ; nothing could be more effective than well-
grown groups of these two plants. The great secret
of success in growing these plants is, I think, to
leave them alone when once fairly established. Our
plants have been left undisturbed for four or five
years, and the immense heads of flowers and healthy
appearance, in spite of the bad season, are no doubt
largely due to this. They seem to flourish best in a
light, well-drained soil, fully exposed to the sun,
and supplied frequently with water, although they
resist drought to a surprising extent even in a burn-
ing dry soil. It is a glorious plant for the wild
garden, where it can grow at will. It continues a
long time in flower, and seems to flourish best when
other plants look dry and withered up. The named
varieties found in nurseries all vary more or less.
All have the same habit, and all are equally hand-
some and desirable. A new species, called V).
himalaicus,has been introduced this year, but I have
not yet seen it in flower. It is said, however, to be
very good.
Sianthus Grievei. — The Pinks, taken as a
whole, are perhaps the most lovely class of alpines
we possess, so varied are they in their form, colour,
and general appearance. Most of the varieties are
of the easiest culture. One of the most notable
plants of this group we have ever seen is called D.
Grievei, said to have been raised from a cross be-
tween D. barbatus and D. alpinus. So far as we are
able to judge, it is exactly what it pretends to be,
partaking of the characters of the two parents. It
has the stature, leaves, and flower-heads of D. bar-
batus, with the large flowers of D. alpinus. The
flowers are nearly as large and as well coloured as
any I have ever seen on the true D. alpinus, and with
halt a dozen or more of these flowers in a head
July 9, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
instead of one the effect may be better imagined
than described. It increases with great rapidity,
and makes a most lovely group on the rockery. The
typical D.alpinus, which keeps so true to its character
on the Alps, seems to vary under cultivation, and
always in the direction of D. glacialis. The form
with the broad, blunt, dark green leaves, and which
I take to be the type, is a very shy flowerer, while
those with the narrow-pointed leaves are as free as
D. glacialis, but throw their blooms well up above
the foliage. Is it possible that the one is but an
extreme form of the other .' Some of these plants
are known in nurseries under the name of D. tener,
often WTongly called D. sylvestris, &c.
Lychnis pyrenaicj. — A group of this on the
rockery at Kew shows what can be done with these
alpines when the proper position is selected, and
that even at a few feet above sea level. The parti-
cular spot indicated appears to suit this plant ad-
mirably. It is almost perpendicular, having crevices
filled with good porous soil just large enough to
hold the plants. The same treatment answers for
many more alpines that it would be almost impos-
sible to grow well on a fiat surface. When once
well established, they give little or no trouble, and
always ripen a good crop of seed from which plants
may be raised for future use. A great source of
injuiy to these charming plants is, that pieces
which often fail to grow and which endanger the
well-doing of the old plants are taken off. Young
plants can be more easily raised from seed when
the crop is gathered, as not only is this the quickest,
but it is also the most satisfactory way of increasing
them.
Achillea tunhellata. — Among plants for nice
exposed spots on the rockery none will be more
appreciated than this. It is one of the few plants
that retains its silky appearance in defiance of our
damp climate, and the more the plant is exposed
and placed in full sun in rather poor soil the more
marked wiU the effect of its silvery foliage be. In
the south of England it has proved quite hardy,
withstanding even the severe strain of last winter
and spring, ajipearing at the present time quite
healthy, and flowering with as much freedom as it
does in its native country. The foliage, finely cut,
when seen in a mass is very beautiful, and entirely
covers the ground : the flowers, borne in dense
clusters, are large, pure white, and very effective.
Even where the winters are too cold for this plant
it should be cared for and made a speciality of.
Cuttings taken off in autumn strike as freely as
those of a Pelargonium, requiring simply to be
kept comparatively dry in a pit or house from
which severe frosts are excluded. Another species
equally useful for the above purpose, but at
present rare, is A. rupestris. It was one of the
specialities of the late Mr. Joad's collection at
Wimbledon, where we saw a large patch covered
with its snow-white clusters. It does well on a
western exposure in a rich porous soil and plenty
of stones to scramble among. It can also be readily
increa ed from cuttings. A. serrata and the double-
flowered variety are also very desirable, and perhaps
better adapted for the mixed border. K.
Gaillardias. — These are very useful as cut flowers,
the colours being so bright. I know of uo other flower in
which the same colours (crimson and yellow) predomi-
nate ; they are also very showy in the mixed border, where
if the soU is well drained they are hardy. The single
varieties are the most showy, hut the double ones are
the most useful as cut flowers. The plants will flower
the first year if the seed is sown in February and the
seedliugs brought on uuder glass. — J. C. C.
White Jessamine for screens.— I doubt if
there is any plant which makes a prettier screen than
the common white .lessamine. Its foliage is very
pretty and produced in dense masses, and when
covered with its little fragrant flowers the plant is really
beautiful. We have a fine plant that nearly covers a
fence, and some of the till climhiug Xasturtiujns spring
up in the border at its base every year, and they rrm up
amongst its shoots, breaking out here and there into
large patches of bright colour, the effect of which is
charming. — J. G-., Hants.
Allium giganteum. — With referenes'tb inquiry
by " Delta " iu The Gakdex, June 25 (p. 57-1), I re-
ceived the fii-st bulb of this in 18"5, and flowered it
here in 1878. Afterwards Mr. O'Donnovan sent some
from Merv, and also Dr. Von Kegel from other parts of
Turkestan. The plant has been figured iu the Botanical
Magazine, and was first described by Dr. Von Kegel.
" Delta" could see here about 100 plants, the scapes
some t'uUy 5 feet high and the heads 6 inches
through. The plants have been in bloom now for a
montii. — Mxx Leichtlin, Baden-Baden.
HAREBELLS, OR CAMPANULAS.
The Harebells, or Campanulas, are a large and in-
teresting family, presenting a striking diversity of
character, so that one may grow the whole of the
best species and varieties without introducing same-
ness into the garden. A family likeness pervades
the whole, the flowers of the majority being of that
bell-shaped character which is a distinguishing
feature of the family, and has earned for the plants
the pretty English name that they bear. The dwarf
alpine kinds are peculiarly adapted for the rock
garden, falling over and hiding the facings of the
stones and making luxuriant carpets of growth,
which when studded with the blue-coloured flowers
are exquisitely beautiful. Many are of tall habit
and suitable for the background of a border, or for
associating with other things in the wild garden ;
while several, as the Canterbury Bell, are useful for
beds and odd spots where colour and beauty are
required. In these notes I have only attempted to
point out a few of the best, but I purpose to go more
thoroughly into the subject at a future date. This
family well repays for careful study, and its
popularity with all who love beautiful plants is a
sign of its genuine worth.
Caepathiax Harebell.— C. carpatica and its
variety alba are two distinct, free-flowering, and
noteworthy kinds, the last-mentioned being useful
for edging. They may be easily raised from seed,
as is the case with many of the Campanulas.
Brittle Harebell (C. fragilis) is one of the
most tender ; indeed, in some places it will not sur-
vive the winter without protection in some form or
other. Where it cannot safely be left in the open,
the proper plan is to lift the plants in the autumn,
keep over the winter in a frame, and plant out in
spring. It is a native of Southern Europe, and
should have a warm sunny position where the soil
is light and well drained. I like to see it planted
at the edge of a stone, so that its prostrate flowering
stems may hang over. When thus grown, its ap-
pearance when the delicate blue flowers are in full
beauty is delightful. The best way to increase the
plant is by cuttings, and these taken off in the
spring may be struck easily.
Gargaxiax Harebell (C.garganica).— Like the
last-mentioned, this should be planted against aledge
on the rockery, so that its flowering stems may hang
over. It is at once distinct and beautiful, making
compact, tufted growth, and producing with great
profusion its pale blue racemes of flowers. It
is highly prized for the embellishment of the
rockery.
Wall Bellflower (C. muralis) is another of
the dwarf tufted Bellflowers that is, by reason
of its habit, suitable for the rockery, and if it
is planted in fissures and nooks, its pale blue
flowers are well displayed. This also does well in
pots, and when thus grown makes a pleasing
flower for the greenhouse, though it is seldom we
find it grown for this purpose. It both grows
and flowers freely.
ArsTElAN Harebell (C. puUa) and Tufted
Harebell (C. pumila) are two lovely kinds, the
last-mentioned being well known and frequently
seen in large masses in cottage gardens. There
is a bed in a front garden on the Richmond Road,
at Kew, one mass of white. The plant can be in-
creased by division to almost any extent. A con-
trast to this in colour is C. puUa, wdiich is a
dwarf tufted kind, the flowers being distinctly
bell-shaped and of a rich violet-purple hue. AVhen
grown side by side on the rockery or in shallow
pans, the colours harmonise effectively. The last-
mentioned may be readily propagated by cuttings,
which if taken now from the shoots that have
not flowered will easily root. Keep the young-
plants in pots during the winter, and plant out in
the spring.
C. Raineri is a tufted, dense, compact plant,
growing about 3 inches in height, and bearing large,
deep blue, open, bell-shaped flowers ; the leaves are'
ovate, greyish in colour, and woolly. It thrives
best in a light soil and north or east aspect, as the
south is rather too warm.
Turban Bellflower (G. turbinata).— This is a
dwarf, compact kind, well known for its beauty and
distinctness. The flowers are large, frequently
measuring nearly 2 inches in diameter, and of a
fine shade of purplish blue. The variety pallida
has flowers of a soft porcelain blue, which are pro-
duced with such freedom as to almost entirely hide
the leafage. It is far more vigorous in growth
than the type, and may be grown in ordinary soil.
The variety pelviformis is also desirable; the flowers
are saucer-shaped and of a lovely pale blue colour.
It blooms later than the others, and to obtain a
display late in summer divide the plants in spring
and plant out.
Clustered Bellflower (C. glomerata) is a
native plant and too well known to need descrip-
tion. It is at once handsome and distinct, growing
in any soil, and producing freely terminal clusters
of blue flowers. The variety dahurica is the best
for the garden, as it is almost, if not quite, as free
growing as the type, and the flowers are of a deeper
shade. It requires a sunny position to ensure fine
growth and a plentiful display of bloom.
Canterbury Bell (C. media) is a thoroughly
popular garden plant, and deservedly so, as it may
be raised readily from seed, and we have now a
considerable range of colouring among the numer-
ous varieties. We prefer the rose-coloured varie-
ties, as they harmonise well with the pure whites.
For the border the deep violet-purples are useful ;
but we dislike the double varieties, as they lack
the grace and refinement characteristic of the
singles. It is unnecessary to mention the Canter-
bury Bells further than to say that the best way to
raise them is from seed, which should be sown in
March or April.
The following are also useful kinds; C. Hosti,
very pleasing, flowers pure white ; Peach-leaved
Bellflower (C. persicifolia) and its white variety
called alba, C. pyramidalis, C. latifolia, 0. Loreyi,
and C. grandis. These are all easy to cultivate and
indispensable in a collection. E. O.
The scarlet Alum Root (Heuchera san-
guinea). — This, growing with me in a heavy clayey
soil, I have not found hardy, while Veronica Hul-
keana, at the foot of a wall and growing inter-
mingled with the broad-leaved Myrtle, has proved
thoroughly hardy, even during the past two severe
winters, and has borne freely its branching spikes
of lavender flowers. — E. H. Woodall, Scarlorongh.
Feeonies and Irises. — I forward you a collec-
tion of Chinese Pseonies and Spanish Irises, among
which I hope you will flnd some good sorts. I
received the roots from Ant. Roozen. The flowers
are from plants that were divided last year,
and are therefore smaller than they otherwise would
be. — A. C. Baktholomew.
*,s* Both the Irises and the Paeonies were of high
merit. Of the former, Minerva, a delicate gem ;
Desdemona, deep purplish blue and yellow ; Gladi-
euse, rich orange ; La Dame Blanche, attractive
colouring; and Brunette, were among the best. —
Ed.
The Eockwood Lily (Ranunculus Lyalli). —
In answer to Mr. Douglas's inquiry in The Garden,
July 2 (p. 597), I will state the treatment Ranun-
culus Lyalli has had here. I received it as a healthy
plant from Mr. Ware, of Tottenham, in JIarch, ISStJ.
It was planted at the north side of a summer house,
and hurdles were put up on the west side in the
summer to keep off the evening sun. The soil it is
in is chiefly peat with a slight mixture of loam; the
other plants in the same little narrow border are
Gentiana asclepiadea and a. alba, Cypripedium
spectabile. Primula capitata, Meconopsis WaUichi-
ana, and Tropfeolum speciosum rambles all over the
THE GARDEN.
[July 9, 1887.
woodwork. It was watered nearly every day dur
ing the summer, and when it had died down, a little
Cocoa-nut fibre was placed over the crown, and a
bell-glass, raised on bricks, kept off rain and snow
during the winter months. This is all the protec-
tion it has ever received. The flower that opened
first lasted six days in perfection ; the eight or nine
others were of much shorter duration, owing, I
fancy, to the sun's rays not being sufficiently kept
off the plant. The plant has kept perfectly clear
of insects till it was in flower ; the flower-stems and
seed organs, which are both sticky, are covered
with black aphis. — A. C. Babtholomew, Park
JIoii.w, Ileadinrj.
Cinnabar Pink (Dianthus cinnabarinus). — This
is almost identical with D. cruentus in growth, but
it is quite distinct from that lovely Pink. As in the
case of the last-mentioned, it does not produce
much foliage, but this fault is atoned for by the
cinnabar-red flowers, which are borne on slender
stems and in a similar way to those of D. cruentus,
but individually they are much larger. It is valuable
for the distinct colouring of the flowers, and looks
well associated with plants of similar character on
the rockery. It loves a light soil and plenty of sun.
It is in bloom at Mr. G. Paul's nurserr at Brosbourne.
— E.
Snow in Summer. — In The Gaeden, June l'*
(p. 549), I see the above name has been given to
Helichrysum rosmarinifolium. This name is already
engaged, and has been attached for years to the
white-leaved variety of the Cerastium tomentosum,
and I for one refuse to give it up, for the best of all
reasons, that no plant can deserve the name half so
much. It is most appropriate for its height, light-
ness, fluffiness, whiteness, general effect — every-
thing ; and what Nature, habit, sentiment have
joined together, I decline to have put asunder.
P.S. — Permit me to ask our neighbours across the
English Channel why they mostly or wholly culti-
vate the plain-leaved instead of the silver-leaved
variety of this Snow in Summer. The flowers as
seen about Paris seem a little larger ; but if so, this
can be of no moment in a plant that is all bloom
during the flowering season. And then the silvery
foliage is so pure and white after the flowers have
faded.— D. T. F.
SHORT NOTES.— FLOWER.
Iris ocliroleuea. — I send you a few blooms of
this very showy Iris, the flowers of which are this year
vei-y plentiful. — J. T. Poe, Tiiverston.
Seedling Larkspur. — We have received flowers
of a seedliug Delphinium from Mr. M. Smith, Prest-
wieh. It appears to he a distinct variety, hut we
already have finer forms in cultivation.
Lilium auratum. — I send you a bloom of Lilium
auratum from a seedling hulh raised six years ago.
*#* A lovely and riclily spotted variety, the yellow
hand along the centre of the petals being very distinct.
—En.
Lathyrus Drummondi.— This beautiful Pea
is now flowering very freely here. It is most distinct
in colour, but has been much injured by the hot, dry
weather. — J. T. Poe, Riverston.
Blood-searlet Pink (Dianthus cruentus) is now
in perfection at Kew. To bring out the intense scarlet
colouring, plant in front of a bold piece of Moss-
covered stone, and then the contrast is peculiarly
striking. It is of free growth, and will succeed in
ordinary soil, hut loves plenty of sunshine and air. — C.
The Georgian Flea-bane (Inula glandulosa).
— Imagine a single Japanese Chrysanthemum, 4 inches
or 5 inches across, of a deep golden colour, and you
will have a fair idea of this fine summer-flowering
perennial. It grows about 2 feet high, and thrives
well in a light wanii soil. — E. Jexkins.
Harrison's Musk. — This is well known as an ex-
cellent Musk for pots, but it is also useful for bedding,
requiring, to ensure full development of the robust
leafage, a moist soil and somewhat shady position. A
thriving bed makes an interesting feature iit the garden.
— E.
Xjinaria aparinoides splendens.— This is now
very conspicuous on the rockery at Kew. It has
narrow. Grass-like leaves, and produces a profusion of
rich purple and yellow flowers. It appears to thrive
freely in light soU, and is very suitable for the margin
of a rock garden or for planting here and there in
clumps.— T. W.
LAUKSPURS.
Froji now to the end of autumn the Larkspurs
continue in bloom ; indeed, few other groups
of our most popular plants flower so long and
so efiectively as Delphiniums. The varieties,
chiefly French, are numerous, and the wonder-
ful improvement in colour and general appear-
ance is such as to render them quite indis-
pensable where large efl«ctive groups are re-
quired. For mixed borders and beds no plants
are more suitable. By far the most efi'ective
plan is grouping in beds, and semi-neglected
spots seem to be the right place for planting the
more robust of these Delphiniums where there
is a suitable background ; if the soil is stifle and
rich, a well-arranged group has a bold appear-
ance. Besides these garden varieties there are
many species now in cultivation which display
great diversity of colouring as well as habit.
These are worthy of more extended cultivation ;
Double Siberian Larkspur (Delpkmurm grindiflorum
fl.-pl.).
indeed, few other plants are so useful for the
rockery, and some are so strikingly beautiful
and yet so dwarf, as to be worth a place even
amongst the choicest of our alptnes. The
dwarf red Larkspur (D. nudicaide) is, perhaps,
best treated as a biennial. In warm, sheltered
localities, however, it makes a very fair
perennial. We have known it last three or
four years, but it never blooms with so much
vigour after the first season. It rarely exceeds
1 foot or 18 inches in height, and when well
treated and exposed to plenty of sunshine,
forms quite compact masses of its lovely scarlet
blossoms. D. triste is another rather un-
common species with a few very curious dark
brownish flowers on a stalk. The three-spurred
Larkspur (D. tricome) is a dwarf species of
no particular merit, unless for the front of
rockeries, &c. The Siberian Larkspur (D. grandi-
florum), a form of which is also called chinense
in gardens, is a charming plant for the rock
garden. It varies in height from 9 inches to
2 feet, and also in the shade of its intense blue-
purple flowers and finely-cut leaves. There is
also a handsome variety with white flowers.
The double Siberian Larkspur (D. grandiflorum
fl.-pl.) represented in the accompanying figure
is, thanks to the untiring energy of Herr Max
LeichtUn, one of the plants we now cultivate.
Until this last importation, it was exceedingly
rare in England ; indeed it is doubtful if it
existed at all. With much the same treat-
ment as the others, viz., a rich free soU in
full sunshine, it is now throwing up numerous
flower-spikes, and, from what we have already
seen, promises to be one of our best acquisi-
tions this year. The flowers are dark purplish
blue. The Himalayan species, of which a few
are already well known, should always be in-
cluded in this group. D. vestitum is a very
dwarf, haiiy-leaved plant, with a dense head
of handsome purple flowers. D. cashmerianum
and Brunonianujn are also both worth a place.
Other kinds that should be included in col-
lections are D. cardinale, a scarlet-flowered
species allied to nudicaule, but flowering in
autumn ; formosum, corymbosum, Ajacis and
its varieties, consolidum and many others.
Several of these tall kinds bloom a second time
if the stems are cut down as soon as the flowers
are over and encouraged to make new growth ;
these will flower finely towards autumn, and,
though not so tall, are very effective and
welcome. K.
THE USES OF FLOWERS BY BIRDS.
A CUEIOUS incident enacted by sparrows has just
come under my observation. The front of the house
of a friend living at No. 47, Highbury Hill is covered
by an extensive growth of white Jasmine which
reaches beyond the first-floor windows. For several
years house-sparrows have used the bushy branches
of this shrub without causing special attention.
This year, however, they have taken a new departure
in nest-building. Not satisfied, apparently, with
the hay, straw, and other ordinary materials of
sparrow architecture, they have suddenly aspired to
appropriating to their use the bright yellow flowers
of Laburnum, two trees of which are in fuU bloom
a few yards from the first-floor window-sills below
which they are carrying on their operations. Three
nests were discovered twelve days ago, built close
together in the Jasmine, all of which had Laburnum
flowers strewn upon the top of ordinaiy nests ; one
nest contained two young birds just hatched, and
the other two had each a couple of eggs. As they
rather disturbed the lady occupant of the house,
she had all three nests destroyed, the litter from
them entirely filling a large foot-bath. But the
three pairs of birds, as might be expected, only set
to work rebuilding their nests in the same place,
furnishing them with more Laburnum than before.
They were, however, again disturbed, and an
obstacle (which in a previous year had proved
effectual in stopping the building in another part
of the house front) was set in the place of the
nests, but still they did not desist ; two pairs con-
tinued to add their materials on the top of it, with
more Laburnum than ever, replenishing the nest as
constantly as it was removed, while the third pair
rebuilt their nest under the sill of the next window,
using Laburnum also. Even entire sprays of the
flowers were used, and the ground beneath the trees
was so much strewn with fragments, that my friend
at first thought that boys had been pulling the
flowers. All the birds are now allowed to remain
unmolested, and the yellow decoration is withered,
without fresh being provided.
This unaccustomed action of the sparrows is ap-
parently somewhat different from the operations
described by your correspondent " J. M. H.," for the
bright golden flowers enveloping the nests are so
strangely conspicuous as to attract the attention of
passers-by, and therefore cannot answer the protec-
tive purpose evident both in the case of the gold-
finches with Forget-me-nots and of the sparrows
that used Alyssum. The only explanation I can
suggest is that the birds have elevated their aesthetic
taste to this " quite too too " extent of art culture.
It is highly interesting to note also that — in opposi-
tion to the notions of the obsolete school of natu-
ralists, who believed only in blind instinct — the
rage for collecting their favourite " yellow " is in-
July 9, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
fectious with these little yearners for the intense,
just as is the desire for "blue" that now and then
breaks out (like a disease) amongst larger house-
holders. The three pairs of birds seemed to vie
with one another in their revelry of the chosen
colour. It will be instructive to learn whether the
fashion will last for many seasons ; perhaps it will
languish of satiety, and some other attraction of a
less absorbing kind arise.
The fondness of birds (in this country at least)
for the colour yellow is perhaps worth considering
in this connection. A large number of wild or cul-
tivated plants might be enumerated that produce
yellow flowers which are either used as food or
have their petals mauled by birds. There need
be no doubt, I think, that the mutilation of such
flowers is due to a playful fondness rather than to
a dislike to the flowers. That birds evidently exer-
cise the selective faculty in the choice of flowers
is well illustrated by the fact, twice observed by
my brother, that sparrows pull to pieces the yel-
low flowers only in mixed beds of Pansies and of
Crocuses, without injuring a single purple, mauve, or
white flower of either kind. I have myself also wit-
nessed the same selective operation performed by a
sparrow on various Crocuses growing in pots upon
my window-sill, and I find many correspondents
gave similar testimony to this fact in a series of
letters which appeared in these pages in the year
1877 (vols. xvi. and svii.). It may be questioned
whether the education of their preference for the
colour yellow is in any way connected with the fact
that it is proper to the yolk of their eggs, and
which they must be aware of ; but since all good
eggs contain that colour, while probably some birds
do not like it and greatly prefer other colours, this
suggestion may be no more valid as a theory than
would be the argument that some people's taste for
claret colour is due to the analogous physiological
accident of arterial coloration. The rich yellow
colour, again, of the beaks, entire mouths, and
" open sepulchres " of the newly-hatched nestlings
affords their parents ample opportunities for the
contemplation of colour, and there may be an un-
conscious mental absorption of the colour in con-
sequence of this course of training. At any rate,
canary-yellow is very highly developed in many
species of the FringillidEe, and there is a strong
tendency towards the development of the yellowish
colour in the plumage of the males of several
British finches, apparently through a greenish brown
tinge. It is also well developed amongst the
weavers and the orioles, to which they are so nearly
allied. That sparrows should thus use sprays of
flowers is perhaps not so remarkable when we recall
the close affinity they bear to Ploceus and other
weaver birds.
Doubtless the colour-sense in birds, as well as in
insects, is a real factor in the evolution of the floral
beauty that surrounds them, although the modus
operandi is not always one that can be so readily
traced. — William White, in Xature.
Specimen hardy border plants. — One hand-
some specimen is more effective and attracts more
attention than a number of small plants. It is
true some plants deteriorate with age, and, there-
fore, they are not adapted for forming specimens ;
but take the Funkias. Several years will be re-
quired to make the small plants which we obtain
from the nursery into specimens ; but when they
attain to a large size they are handsome objects.
All the Funkias make handsome border plants, and
the hardy Pelargoniums are also plants eminently
suited for planting in a good position. We have
P. ibericum now 4 feet over, and covered with its
peculiar purple-tinted flowers. P. sanguineum, a
dwarf red-flowered species, is also very pretty,
though less conspicuous than ibericum. Some of
the Spirseas and Bellflowers, or Campanulas, make
good specimens, and among plants of larger growth
there are the Celandine Tree (Booconia cordata),
the Knotweeds (Polygonums), especially P. cuspi-
datum and P. sachalinense. The Phloxes, Poten-
tillas, and Pyrethrums deteriorate with age, and
must be divided and replanted to keep them in
proper condition. — H.
Rose Garden.
T. W. GIRDLESTOXE.
THE BEST ASPECT FOR THE MARECHAL
KIEL ROSE IN THE OPEN AIR.
I AM inclined to say that each of the four points of
the compass, and all the infinitely varied angles
between these cardinals, may be the best according
to circumstances, and that this Rose is so useful, so
indispensable, in fact, as to deserve a niche to itself
facing the light, if not the sun, in every possible
position. But, some will say, what a stupid answer
to those who are always writing to inquire about
the best site for the Marechal Niel. Not at all.
See how comprehensive and safe it is. Plant the
Marechal where you will — east, west, north, or
south — you must be right. And it is so. Each of
these aspects, and all deviations from them, have
their compensatory advantages and their possible
drawbacks. Take the icy north first. Marechal
Niels will sleep soundly and winter well on a north
wall. This is a great point scored with such a
hot-blooded, restless Rose as this. On a southern
aspect it hardly sleeps at all ; on a western it
sleeps with one or many eyes open ; on an eastern,
each bright sunny day proves a wakeful dream of
half-budding life. Biit, with its head to the north,
the golden Marechal sleeps soundly from November
to June. Think of that, ye rosarians, who have
ventured all your golden treasures on a southern
wall, and have had every bud blackened by the
frosts of this spring, which has been but a long series
of March months up to the middle of June.
The happy mortals who turned the golden heads
of their Marechals to the north wind have aU their
treasures in embryo yet to unfold. This is some-
thing tangible. They have their cakes yet safe,
while most of their brotherrosarians have eaten theirs
— that is, have gathered or lost their Marechals.
Neither does this fine Rose suffer so much from
cold on a north aspect as might be supposed.
Being profoundly at rest, the frosts have little or no
power on dormant sap ; hence the plants winter as
well or better on a north than on a south wall.
Besides, nothing is simpler than a protection of
Bracken fronds or Spruce branches placed over or
among the Rose branches. No doubt Marechal Niels
on north walls sometimes faU to bloom, but they
do likewise on all other aspects for that matter.
Mr. Crook, for example, points out in The Gaeden
of June 25 (p. 572) how they faU to bloom on an east
wall. He also furnishes a capital example of their
flowering in huge basketfuls on a north wall some
twenty years ago at Ashton Court, near Bristol.
This, doubtless, is a favoured locality. But many
others might be given where the Marechal has
bloomed, or still blooms, with its head to the north.
Mr. Crook's testimony is, in fact, rather against
an eastern or southern aspect than a northern
one for this fine Rose. Neither is his experience
against the south at all solitary or unique. The
stimulating sunshine of the early springtide draws
forth the buds of the Marechal Niel to their sure
and certain destruction. Half-opened buds and
strong shootlets are alike caught up by the frosts
of spring and destroyed. Sometimes these early
plants are so crippled, that they remain roseless for
the season. At others they break back and furnish
a sort of midseason crop of golden Roses that are
quite as welcome as the very early flowers that may
sometimes be gathered from south walls, and the
abnormally late ones from north walls.
Mr. Crook seems to have been especially unfor-
tunate on east walls. Vigorous growth without
flowers so tired out his patience, that at the end of
seven years we can hardly wonder that he uprooted
the Marechal and planted Gloire de Dijon in itsplace.
One can but wish he had tried lifting and replanting
the Marechal first before discarding it ; or he might
have tried severe root-pruning or other means of
curtailing the food supplies first. All this would
have been the more desirable, as it is no uncommon
thing for this fine Rose to grow itself out of flower-
ing condition on any aspect. These tactics would
have satisfied us that Mr. Crook's Marechal Niel
was flowerless, through its head being turned to the
east wind, and not through its roots being overfed
either with solid or liquid manure.
WhUst advising that the Marechal Niel shordd
be grown on every possible aspect for the sake of
ensuring a more continuous and liberal supply, were
my choice limited to one, I should select the west.
This forms a genial half-way between the icy north
and fieiy south, and is sheltered from those piercing
east winds that blight and devour more buds of
semi-tender Roses than aU the direct assaults of
honest John Frost.
But to those rosarians who expect a constant
supply of this peerless golden Rose, I would repeat
the advice to grow it on every available aspect, and
also in the sun and shade in the open air. For the
latter purpose it is best worked about a yard high
on the Brier. So treated, it not only forms a capital
semi-drooping standard, but produces Roses of
exceptionally fine quality not only in the summer,
but throughout the autumn months. D. T. F.
THE RUSH OF ROSES.
The heat and the drought have at last (June 22)
brought the Roses out with a rush, and once more
confirms the old saying : " The more haste, the less
:peed." True, there is a spread of petals, but in too
many cases the substance and form of the Roses
have been sacrificed in the sudden rush out into
bloom. The incessant sunshine is trying at the
best for Roses ; but when to this is superadded the
intense drought of a withering nor'-easter and dew-
less nights, cold almost as December and equally
dry, then the Roses placed in the teeth of the
two extremes, or three rather, of drought, heat, and
cold, have nothing for it but to hasten out, fade and
be done with it. Unless a change comes, and that
soon, it may now be feared that the Rose season
will be exceptionally short, as it is abnormally late
and really so scant of fine blooms, as hardly to be
worth waiting for. Timely rains and a genial
change may yet wholly, or at least partially, alter
this verdict ; but another ten days of this parching
drought and brilliant incessant sunshine will go far
to mar the Rose season, so patiently waited for and
so hopefully expected. Hitherto the Teas have had it
all to themselves, and these generally have been
fresh and clean, though abnormally small. The
Marechal in the open has rather enjoyed the fierce
sunshine, but most others have had more of it than
was good for them ; and the Perpetuals are being
rushed out without time either to fill up or arrange
themselves into their most becoming forms. Pos-
sibly those who, like the old farmer who turned a
river over his Mangolds throughout a long drought,
can do likewise over their Rose beds and borders
may succeed in cutting good show flowers in spite
of the drought. But it is to be feared that those
who caimot, will be grievously disappointed with
the Rose harvest of 1887, unless rain falls, and
clouds gather soon, and the wind changes to a more
genial quarter. The weather, and especially the
east wind, enforces a lesson often taught in The
Gaeden, viz., the need of shelter for show Roses,
or, indeed, for Roses of any sort, if perfect flowers
are to be enjoyed or gathered. It is impossible to
pass through or linger among Roses during a keen
nor'-easter without feeling with and for them
under their rough treatment and severe whippings.
The flowers in their distress turn in all directions
for help and shelter, and, finding none, get bruised
and tarnished all round until their fair colours and
forms are utterly marred and ruined. The higher
they are the more they suffer. D. T. F.
Austrian Brier Boses.— I was delighted with
these when I saw them a few days ago in Mr. J.
House's nursery at Peterborough. They had been
worked upon the seedling Brier, and had done
well in the stiff loam which prevails there, notwith-
standing the drought. There was, first of all,
the Austrian Yellow, with its single bright yellow
flowers, and near it was the Austrian Copper, with
its singular reddish, copper -coloured blossoms.
Harrisoni has semi-double golden yellow flowers of
moderate size, and it is an abundant bloomer. The
palm must be given to the old Persian Yellow, the
10
THE GARDEN.
[July 9, 1887.
flowers of the deepest golden yellow, large and
full. It is generally believed that Austrian Brier
Roses do best on their own roots, but at Peter-
borough they do remarkably well on the seedling
Brier, and flower finely and profusely. — R. D.
THE ORANGE FUNGUS ON STANDARDS.
I WISH — what Rose-grower does not ? — that there
were any solid bases of fact for T. W. Girdlestone's
statement (page 542), " that as the resting spores of
the Orange fungus lie on the ground through winter,
perhaps the exclusive cultivation of standards on a
piece of ground where the fungus was troublesome
might secure its extermination." Alas, not ! Our
first invasion of red rust was made in a garden full
of standard Roses; and, so far as I can remember,
it was wholly confined to standards throughout
that year. Rust spores are too light to have any
difliculty in reaching the tops of our tallest Roses.
It is also evident enough that they do not climb
the stems of the Briers, for nothing is more
common than patches of the reddest rust on
the heads of Roses, when shoots or suckers on
the stems and the stems themselves are without
spot or speck of rust. Hence, to a great extent,
the futility of stem smearings and dressings as anti-
dotes against the pest of red rust. I do not con-
demn them. As stem-cleaners, destroyers of Lichen,
Moss, the eggs of grubs, maggots, or other insect
pests, the dressings may be most useful. But as
antidotes to red rust, I fear they are mostly nil, and
for this reason, the Fern seeds of the poets are as
nothing in subtilty and numbers to the spores of
red rust, and other almost everywhere present
fungi. Were we to allow these to develop in such
numbers as to permeate the air of our roseries, our
control over the fungus would cease. Only by
prompt and incessant collection and destruction of
it in its first beginnings can any sensible and useful
check be placed upon it.
Changes of climate and of culture may also
arrest — do, in fact, every year arrest — the terrible
plague of Orange fungus. But for this comforting
fact, all our Roses must have been leafless before
now, if not actually dead. The rust comes, carries
all before it for a time, is arrested by altered con-
ditions of climate, food and water supplies, ratio
of growth, &c. In a word, the plants grow out of
it, and any that remains fails to injure them. Pos-
sibly the spores are ever with us, but they are
powerless to harm our Roses till certain conditions
immediately within or around the plants form a
genial matrix for the rapid development of this fun-
goid life. So long as these continue, the fungoid
holds the reins, and the rosarian can only single-
handed make war on millions of fully armed foes
that are destroying his Roses.
But a sudden change of wind, an unexpected
thunder-storm, a rapid transition from rain to
drought, or rice versa, the flooding of our Rose
roots with rivers of water, foul or clean, the foul
being preferable, discomfits the rust, and the Roses
and the rosarians once more hold the field, and all
is well. D. T. F.
SHOUT NOTES.— ROSES.
Dog Roses. — We occasionally find the Dpg Roses
rambling at will over arbours, trellises, &c., in old-
fashioned gardens, but in the modem garden they are
generally excluded, as being too weed-like in nature.
At Gunnersbury House, Boursault and Dog Roses
Houeysuckles, and other delightful subjects are allowed
to grow at will. Treated in this way, they are an
agreeable relief to the formality that we are accus-
tomed to see. — C.
Rose Harrison's Yellow.— Could any of your
readers advise me as to the treatment of this Rose ?
I hive a fine plant on a wall. A month ago it was
covered with fine buds, of which about twelve opened
Those left, as also the leaves, then began to wither
until nearly half the foliage and all the buds are gone
List year it was watered with liquid manure, but even
thgn it failed. This year we gave no water 'after the
buds appeared. I have heard that it likes a damp soil.
— E.
Rose Celesta. — I believe this old Rose is not to
b3 obtain ?d friim mmy of thosa who grow Roses for
sale. I have had it sent to me from two nurseries, but
in neither case did I get what I wanted. In one ease
the Maiden's Blush was sent me, and in the other a
Bourbon Rose of no value. From one source I know
Maiden's Blush has been distributed rather largely for
this old favourite by mistake. — J. C. C.
This is exquisite in the bud state, and most
fragrant. — J. T. Poe.
Two useful Roses. — Of some ten sorts selected
a few years back to fill a large house, perhaps the most
useful have been Reve d'Or and Catherine Bell. The
first named is a capital Rose for filling up any large
spaces ; our plant now covers an area of more than 4U0
square feet, and flowers well every season. Although
very pretty in the bud, it is far from being a perfect
flower, and yet it seems a general favourite, possibly
from the fact that the expanded blooms are distinct in
shape fi'om almost every other Rose. Catherine Bell is
very free flowering, a vigorous grower, and not at all
susceptible to mildew. In a semi-expanded state it is
evenly shaped and vei-y sweet-scented, and from its
size and colour a useful flower for large vases, bowls,
&c.— E. B.
Propagating.
PiKKS AND Carnations. — Though the dry, harsh
weather we have lately experienced will retard the
propagation of these plants a week or two, by the
end of this month a great many will be layered,
and also many cuttings put in. The merits and
demerits of these two modes of propagation have
been often dwelt upon, but the general oioinion
seems to be in favour of layers, though cuttings can
be readily struck and are preferred by some.
Layering is a very simple process, all that is
necessary being to bring the young growing shoots
in contact with the earth, and secure them there
with a peg or two till rooted. The selected shoot
should have an incision made in the underside of
the stem, cutting it about half way through ; then,
instead of withdrawing the knife, it must be brought
upwards for an inch or so, thus leaving a kind of
tongue, and thereby arresting the flow of sap it
leaves a nucleus for the formation of roots. By
some a hillock is formed around the plants, but this
is by no means necessary for layering, as most of
the shoots can be brought in contact with the earth
if it is allowed to remain level, and the unsightly
mounds are thus dispensed with. In layering a
little fine sandy soil should be sprinkled around the
mutilated portion, as they will root quicker in such
compost than in ordinary garden soil. In layering
it is often necessary to trim off some of the old
leaves in order to carry out the operation in a
satisfactory manner, but no more should be removed
than is really necessary. The principal care to be
observed is that the shoots are not broken when
pegging them down. These layers will require
watering two or three times a week should the
weather be dry. With regard to cuttings, by some
cultivators only those shoots are treated as such
that cannot conveniently be brought in contact
with the earth, while others pin their faith to this
mode of propagation. The cuttings must be formed
of the young growing shoots, and they should be
cut off clean with a sharp knife immediately below
a joint. Then the two bottom leaves must be re-
moved by stripping them oil, which if carefully
done will not injure the stem in any way. The best
place for the cuttings is in a frame with a gentle
bottom-heat, as then they quickly root, but they
also strike well in a cold frame, or a shaded border
covered with hand or bell-glasses. A fine sandy
soil should be selected for the cuttings, and it must
be pressed down pretty firmly. These cuttings are
better if kept close and shaded from the sun, but
still the lights should be taken off every morning to
remove any signs of decay, and also to water those
that require it,
Cbotons, — The bulk of these are usually propa-
gated earlier in the season, but still the young
shoots that are in a growing condition will form
good cuttings and strike quickly. Those put in
now will root in less than a month, and will then
form nice little plants before winter. This mode of
propagation is very useful where new kinds are
being increased, or one is short of any particular
variety, as the second crop of shoots is thus utilised
for cuttings. These cuttings are best put singly
into small pots, and, in the case of the long-leaved
kinds secured to a stick. The leaves should be
sponged before putting them in, as if but a few
insects are present they make rapid headway. The
cuttings strike best plunged in a gentle bottom-
heat in a close case, but air must be given as soon
as rooted.
Camellias. — The many garden varieties of
Camellias are usually propagated by grafting on the
single red, which is obtained either from cuttings
or seeds. The cuttings are usually taken at this
time of the year and formed of the current season's
shoots, which by now will be partially ripened.
They must be dibbled into well drained pots of
sandy soil, and after a thorough watering may be
placed in a cold frame, or in a propagating case in
a warm house. Those kept warm will make roots
before winter, while those in the frame will callus
after a time, and in spring, if removed into a gentle
heat, will at once push forth roots. Seeds of the
single red are sometimes imported, and should be
sown as soon as received. They will often lie in the
ground some time before germination takes place,
but occasionally some of the seeds will grow very
quickly. Whether the stocks needed for grafting
are raised from seeds or cuttings, they must be
established in small pots, and with stems varying
in thickness from a straw to a lead pencil. Stocks
in which the bark is in a young and clean condition
will yield far more satisfactory results than older
and more stunted plants. The operation may be
carried out at almost any season, but this month
and August is the best time, as a union is then
effected before winter. As the plants after grafting
do better if they are kept at a temperature rather
above that in which they have been grown, the
stocks should be placed there about a fortnight be-
fore grafting is performed, in order to cause an in-
creased flow of sap. In grafting, the point of
union should be as near the ground as possible,
unless for some particular reason it is desired that
the plants shall have a certain amount of clear stem
at the bottom. The scion should consist of a shoot
of the current season, with three or four leaves and
a terminal bud ; then for side grafting (which is
generally employed) the scion is formed with a
sloping cut, extending for li- inches to 2 inches
from side to side ; the bottom portion is then out
level, which completes the scion. In the stock
make a slight horizontal incision, then as much
above it as the cut portion of the scion extends
make a gradually sloping cut down to the horti-
zontal one. The effect of this will be to remove a
piece exactly corresponding with the cut portion of
the scion, which must be fitted therein and tied
securely in its place. No part of the stock need
be shortened back before grafting unless any of the
branches are too tall or straggling, in which case
they can be cut back to the height required. After
a union is complete, the head of the stock can be
removed by degrees. When grafted, the plants
must be placed in a close propagating case, and it
it be perfectly air-tight no clay or grafting-wax will
be necessary, but if not too secure the point of
union is better if covered with some substance to
keep it air-tight. The grafts must be thoroughly
well shaded till a union is complete, when air can
be given by degrees.
Pansies. — This is the best time to propagate
these, as in most cases there will be now a good
many suitable cuttings to be obtained. In taking
the cuttings they should be chosen from the short-
jointed sturdy shoots, as those with stout, hollow
stems do not root well, nor grow away freely after-
wards. They may be either dibbled into a shel-
tered part of an open border, or into boxes or pans,
and placed in some such position or protected by a
frame. In the case of any very scarce varieties this
last is the better plan, but they must be fully ex-
posed as soon as roots..', otherwise they will be
greatly weakened.
Polyanthus. — The different border varieties of
this beautiful flower may now be divided where it
is desired to increase any particular kinds, and they
July 9, 1887.1
THE GARDEN.
11
can be again planted in the open ground. If pos-
sible, showery weather should be chosen to carry
this out, as they then quickly become established
and form good plants before winter. T.
Orchids.
W. H. G 0 W E R.
THUNIAS.
Some half-a-dozen or more kinds are included
in this genus which were formerly associated
with Phajus, and by this latter name, indeed,
they are still most familiarly known in gardens.
From the genus Phajus this group of plants
diliers principally in having long, terete, stem-
like pseudo-bulbs and membraneous deciduous
leaves, whilst the leaves of Phajus are massive,
plaited, and evergreen ; further, Thunias have
a terminal, drooping inflorescence, and their
tlowei'S have only four pollen masses, whilst
those of Phajus have eight, this latter character
being also the chief distinguishing feature be-
tween the genera La^lia and Cattleya. Thunias
have long been represented in our gardens by
T. alba, but its blooms only half expand, and
consequently its chief beauty is hidden, and
this habit prevented it from iinding much favour
with Orchid growers. More recently, however,
other kinds have been introduced whose flowers
are larger ; they expand more fully and are
more highly coloured, so that the genus has
considerably increased in pojiularity, and they
have become more extensively cultivated. These
plants are free and rapid growers ; they require
a decided period of rest, which should be afforded
them by entirely withholding water during
winter, at the same time keeping them in a
dry, cool house. Early in the month of
March the plants should have all the old soil
shaken from them, all the roots cut away,
and the stem-like pseudo-bulbs potted in fresh
material. In potting the base of the stems
shoviU be kept below the run of the pot, just
as any ordinary terrestrial plant is treated.
The pots must be well drained, and a mixture
of rough peat. Sphagnum Moss, and a little
dried cow manure suits this class of plants well.
They enjoy strong heat and abundance of water
during the growing season, but when first
started water should be given somewhat
sparingly, otherwise the young shoots are apt to
decay. When gi'owth is vigorous the supply
may be increased, and a weekly supply of weak
liquid manure will be advantageous. Thunias
will grow upon blocks of wood suspended from
the roof, but this system cannot be recom-
mended, as they require more attention, and
even then they neither grow so strongly nor
flower so profusely. Thunia is one of the few
Orchids that can be propagated by cuttings.
When it is desirable to increase the stock in
this manner the upper half of the old stems
should be cut ofi' when the young growths
have attained about a foot in length. These
should be cut into pieces about C inches long,
inserted in sand, placed in a close propagating
box, and treated in a similar manner to the
cuttings of ordinary stove plants. When rooted
the pieces should be put separately into small
.pots and treated as the parent plants ; if all
goes well they wOl grow sufficiently strong to
flower the second year.
T. Bensoni.e is a native of Rangoon ; its
stem-like growths are from 2 feet to 3 feet high,
leaves alternate, sheathing, and two-ranked,
pale green above, glaucous beneath. The
flowers are large and showy, produced in
slightly drooping, terminal racemes of ten to
fifteen together, not more than four or five of
which, however, are expanded at the same time.
Sepals and petals purplish mauve ; lip large,
rolled over the column, spreading in front,
deep magenta-purple, stained in the middle
towards the base with dull orange-yellow. It is
now blooming profusely in numerous collections
in the suburbs of London.
T. Marshalliana. — This plant is also -now
in full beauty in numerous Orchid collections.
It difl'ers from the preceding in having white
sepals and petals ; the lip is white, beautifully
fringed in front, where it is rich yellow ; it is
also streaked 'with lines of orange-yellow. Moul-
mein.
T. Veitchiana is a garden hybrid obtained
between the two previously-named species, and
the colours of both parents are beautifully
blended in its blooms. It blooms during the
early summer months.
T. DoDGsoNiASA. — The particular locality
from which this plant was introduced appears
to be unknown. The sepals and petals are
white ; Hp yellow, ornamented with numerous
crimson lines.
ORCHIDS AT CHELTENHAM.
The pure air at Cheltenham would appear to suit
Orchids well. At any rate they have a remarkably
healthy collection of them at Mr. Cypher's Queen's
Road Nurseries, and during the month of May espe-
cially a very gorgeous displaywas onview. Aclearand
fairly bracing air, and which the cultivators in the
neighbourhood of London and Manchester long for
in vain, undoubtedly favours the growth of Orchids
as well as the colours and longevity of the flowers;
but this is not the only secret of Mr. Cypher's suc-
cess. Fally 8000 plants are grown in his nurseries,
and all appear to be well understood and treated
accordingly. Without attempting to notice all that
was strikingly beautiful, I may yet be allowed to
allude to a good many praiseworthy examples,
adding what cultural details were gleaned on the
spot.
Cattletas.— These alone were worth going a
long distance to see. One large span-roofed house
50 feet long, 2-t feet wide, and 1(3 feet high was
specially erected for them, and even this noble
house does not contain all that are grown. Under
the central staging, a raised brick and cement water
tank, which is filled from the roof, runs the entire
length of the house. Not being heated, there is no
moisture evaporated from it, and instead of this
being a source of injury, as might at first sight
appear, it really serves to purify the atmosphere.
All the rafters of the house have a groove cut in
them, which catches all the drip from the glass and
passes it down the roof. Under such conditions no
spot or premature decay is ever discernible in the
flowers. Even the blinds are supported on stout
iron rods, well clear of the glass, thus admitting air
as well as subdued light into the house. Although
the collection includes many large plants, no really
large perforated pots or pans are to be seen, over-
potting being sedulously guarded against. In fact,
they are rarely large enough to set them ofl: effec-
tively, and they are usually plunged in larger pots
and mossed over prior to their being exhibited.
Plenty of healthy roots is the desideratum, and
these are not smothered up by Sphagnum, but, on
the contrary, are well exposed to the light and air.
This treatment, coupled with the maintenance of a
winter temperature ranging from 55'^ to fiO°, and at
no time a very high temperature, ensures the forma-
tion of sturdy, healthy growth and abundance of
serviceable, richly-coloured flowers. The compost
used for potting consists of equal parts of turfy
peat and Sphagnum, with charcoal added. There
were still many fine plants and beautiful forms of
C. Mossiffi in a perfectly fresh condition. These
included the large-flowered Rothschildiana in a
lO-inch pan and bearing sixteen blooms; another
good form with thirty flowers, and also quite a dis-
tinct variety flowered for the first time, this having
a lip of a bright orange shade and beautifully
pencilled. C. Mendeli in one instance had four
fine blooms from one sheath, and there were several
superb forms of this well-known species, including
a novelty with an extra large lip of a rosy purple
shade. C. Sanderiana is making very healthy
growth suspended near the glass, and a fine lot of
C. citrina had flowered strongly, and these are
growing more strongly every season, a by no means
general occurrence. The labiata section was well
represented, Gaskelliana promising in numerous
instances to be very fine in August, and Dowiana in
quantity will shortly unfold its beautii'ul flowers.
The Triauie section is also extensively cultivated,
this winter-flowering species being in great demand.
Ljslias, as far as the heat-loving sections are
concerned, receive much the same treatment as the
Cattleyas, and altogether these are a grand lot of
plants. L. purpurata, of which there are several
beautiful forms, is the most valued, and many were
at their best in May. One single plant had eight
spikes, or twenty-four fine blooms, and another was
unfolding as many as forty-two flowers. The re-
cently-certificated L. purpurata Cypheri was stUl
fresh and beautiful. Most of these, as well as a
flowering piece of the lovely and not-often-seen L.
majalis, were grouped in a large show house. L.
elegans, including a superb form not' long imported,
was also very well represented. Of the very valu-
able winter-flowering L. anceps alba they have a
fine lot, some of the newly-established imported
plants being of great size and very vigorous. They
are grown in pans or pots on the dry staging of a
lean-to house facing west, and in the afternoon
the roof is thinly shaded. There is plenty of mois-
ture arising from the beds underneath, and during
the hottest part of the day the plants are syringed
overhead.
Dendkobiums, besides having a house devoted
to them, are to be seen in various other houses. All
are kept in surprisingly small pots and pans, in
which they thrive and bloom admirably. The
beautiful D. bigibbum, of which there is a large
stock, suspended in small pans are increasing in
vigour every season, and flower freely. They are
exposed to all the sun possible, or as much as may
safely be given, and each season receive a sweet
surfacing of peaty compost and plenty of moisture
when growing. D. Dearei is not rested in any way,
being kept well supplied with moisture and con-
stantly growing in heat. Several spikes of nearly
pure white blooms are produced at different times
from each growth, and these keep fresh fully three
months. D. nobile nobilius, the most rare of the"
nobile group, is suspended near the glass, and in a
fairly strong heat is growing vigorously. A single
plant of D. Dalhousieanum was carrying seventeen
spikes of bloom, and D. suavissimum fourteen, the
latter being suspended in quite a small basket. D.
formosum and formosum giganteum thrive ad-
mirably on suspended thin boards, no compost or
Moss being used. D. Goldieanum, the flowers of
which keep fresh and good for three months,
succeeds best in an East Indian house. Four years
ago the pseudo-bulbs only measured a quarter of an
inch in length ; now some of them are 15 inches in
length and very sturdy. D. Parishi in tiny pans
has pseudo-bulbs 12 inches long and covered with
bloom, and the scarce violet-scented D. amcenum is
fiowering freely. D. Bensonise, one of the prettiest
of the Dendrobes, was flowering throughout the full
length of the pseudo-bulbs. One single plant was
carrving about 300 lovely flowers. The beautiful
Dendrobium Falconeri is very healthy, and the
plants flower freely.
Ctpripediums. — This class of Orchids is fast
becoming very popular, and every season more
valuable novelties are being added to the list. Even
the old C. insigne is in great demand, and of this
Mr. Cypher has a good stock in cold frames. Here
they are kept all the summer, and when reintro-
duced into heat, flower abundantly, plenty of
twin blooms annually developing. A plant of C.
Lawrenceanum was carrying nine gocd flowers, and
a very superior form is also doing well. There
were grand pans of C. barbatum, superbum and
nigrum. C. Isevigatum is very robust and plentiful,
and there is a fine stock of C. biflorum or Warneri.
C. Stonei is very flne, and my attention was called
12
THE GARDEN.
[July 9, 1887.
to a large and healthy batch of Spioerianum, in the
compost for which is introduced some good fibrous
loam. All received plenty of moisture and are
carefully shaded from bright sunshine.
Masdevallias are especially happy in their
somewhat cool quarters. A few are suspended, in-
cluding the quaint M. Chimerje and M. bella, but
the bulk are in small perforated pots, and rooting
in peat and Sphagnum. They are never allowed to
become dry at the roots. M. Harryana casrulesoens
was very showy ; the pretty little M. Shuttleworthi
had six flowers, and Chimerse was very freely
flowered. A large batch of the useful M. tovarensis
is grown exclusively for furnishing cut flowers at
Christmas when choice white flowers are in great
demand.
Of Odontoglossums, there are a wonderful lot to
be seen. The majority are grown in a compara-
tively cool house, but 0. Eoezli, citrosmum, and
vexillarium are most at home in the Cattleya house.
A single plant of O. vexillarium, a light and distinct
form, was carrying upwards of 100 good blooms,
and there were equally good examples also of
citrosmum and Roezli. Epidendrum vitellinum
majus in quantity was very showy, and altogether
it is a very useful Orchid. A grand pot of Calanthe
veratrifolia was well furnished with strong spikes
of beautiful pure white blooms, these continuing to
bloom for several months. This is a valuable and
useful Orchid. Anguloa Clowesi, or the Cradle
Orchid, so called from the peculiar cradle-like for-
mation of its rich yellow blooms, was carrying
seventeen fine flowers. This species requires plenty
of light and the growths to be well ripened, and then
every bulb will give a pair of flowers. Chysis
braotescens had five blooms in a cluster, and Thunia
alba was doing well. Schomburgkia tibicinis grandi'
flora forms very large bulbs, and there were as many
as 24 flowers on a spike. The rarely flowered Ee^
nanthera coooinea would shortly have a fine spike
of bloom expanded. The plant is fully 8 feet long
and is trained near the glass in the Cattleya house.
Brassia verrucosa, or the Grasshopper Orchid, was
attractive, being very quaint and distinct. Onci
dium ampliatum majus and macranthum were
very showy. Maxillaria grandiflora is a good cool
house Orchid, and worthy of a place in most col-
lections. Saccolabium prsemorsum and guttatum
in variety would shortly be in fine condition. This
class of Orchids is always kept on the move, and
the same remark applies to the Aerides, of which
there are many in good health. Vandas are not
very extensively grown, but many of the plants
seem very happy under the treatment given. The
foregoing does not exhaust the list of good things
to be seen in Mr. Cypher's nursery, but I think I
have not omitted mentioning the most noteworthy
Orchids in flower early in May. I. M.
SHORT NOTES.— ORCHIDS.
The Bee Orchis (Ophrys apifera).— I send you
n. few specimens of the above plant. It is not so
fine as it was last year, which is probably due to
dryness at the root. This Orchid is considered rare
in this neighbourhood, as there are only two small
phalky spots within ten miles of whei-e I wi-ite where
it is, so far as I know, to be found growing. —
Thomas Arnold, Cirencester Home.
Lyeaste Deppei punctatissima.— This is a
remarkably fine variety, and was shown in admirable
condition by Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., M.P., at
South Kensington recently. The flowers are of a
similar shape to those of the type, but larger and more
brightly coloured ; the sepals and petals are profusely
spotted with purple; the lip is yellow with purple
veins and blotches. It is at once distinct and hand-
some, and well worthy of a place in every collec-
tion.— C.
PhalSBnopsis tetraspis.— This cannot he con-
sidered a very showy species; its flowers, however,
are chaste and beautiful. It is blooming now in various
collections, the flowers, about the size of those of P.
Luddemanniana, wholly creamy white au'd slightly
fragrant. It should bo grown upon a block of wood
or in a small open basket, using a little Sphagnum
Moss to retain moisture about it. Like the majority
of the species of this genus, the roots cannot suffe
confinement, but enjoy the free air; therefore, the
atmosphere should be kept well charged with mois-
ture.—W. H. G.
Cattleya Sehilleriana. — This Brazilian species
is distinct and beautiful, the flowers being pecuharly
but richly coloui-ed, especially the bold, handsome lip.
Both the front lobe and the tube of the latter are thickly
striped with a telling shade of crimson, which affords a
rich contrast to the narrow sepals and petals ; these are
blotched with deep chocolate on a brownish groiind.
The flowers, however, vary somewhat in colouring.
— E.
Dendrobium. Dearei. — This species appears to
produce lateral as well as terminal spikes of bloom.
It is a profuse bloomer ; its flowers last for months in
full beauty, and they are invaluable for button-holes
or for placing in glasses. They are pure white, except
just a tinge of green in the throat. It enjoys fidl ex-
posure to the Ught when growing. After the growth
is matured it should be kept comparatively dry and
cool. It has been blooming for months in the HoUoway
Nursery. — W. H. G.
Epidendrum "Wallisi. — This species belongs to
the paniculate section of the genus, and is quite destitute
of pseudo-bulbs, but produces dense tufts of slender
leafy stems, which vary from 1 foot to several feet in
height, and bear both terminal and lateral racemes of
bloom, the latter appearing just as the blooms on the
terminal raceme fade. The flowers are numerous and
very showy; sepals and petals golden yeUow, dotted
with crimson; lip white, flaked with bright pur-
plish magenta. It thrives best in the cool end of a
Cattleya house, potted in rough peat and Sphagnum
Moss. Native of New Grenada. This plant is just
now in great beauty with Mr. Williams at Holloway.
— W. H. G.
Fhalsenopsis Marie. — This rare and beautiful
species is flowering now at Kew and in several other
collections. It reminds one of the lovely P. suma-
trana, the habit being dwarf, and the leaves dis-
tichous, and of rich appearance. The flowers are
borne loosely in a pendent raceme, and are both
handsome and brightly coloured. They measure
about IJ inches in diameter, the sepals and petals
distinctly barred with rich brownish crimson and
blotched with amethyst at the base. The three-
lobed, keeled, and convex lip is of a flne shade
of purple, the margin being pure white. It is evident
that this Phalsenopsis will become one of the most
popular of the many members of this beautiful genus.
—E.G.
Angrsecum Chailluanum. — This rare plant is
now flowering in Mr. James's nursery at Norwood.
It is a plant of moderately robust growth ; the leaves
are from 4 inches to 6 inches long, upwards of an
inch broad, unequally lobed at the ends, leathery in
texture and deep green. The spike in this instance
is bearing only four flowers, but it is said to bear as
many as twelve upon a drooping raceme ; the sepals
and petals are all of equal length, and similar in
shape, reflexed at the acuminate tips, pure white ;
spur long, nearly straight, yellowish green tinged
with light brown. It appears to come from the Nun
River district of Western Africa, which is hot and
moist, but Mr. James has wintered his plants some-
what cool and moist. It is noticeable that the
various species of Angrsecum suffer more from
drought than any other distichous-leaved Orchids ;
their leaves quickly shrivel when the plants are
dried, and if the drought is long-continued, it is
extremely difficult to restore the plants to vigorous
health again. — W. H. G.
Vanda Roxburghi. — This very elegant Vanda
appears to be again coming into favour, judging by
the appearance of it in various collections round
London. The plant is dwarf and compact in habit ;
its leaves are recurved, deep green, and some 4 inches
or 5 inches long ; spikes erect, bearing from six to
twelve flowers ; sepals and petals undulated, china-
white on the outside, the inner side light green,
tessellated with olive-brown ; lip three-lobed, the
side lobes white, middle lobe deep violet-purple.
This species should commend itself to all lovers of
the distichous-leaved Orchids, as it requires but
little space, and it flowers freely, even upon quite
small plants. It usually blooms during May and
June, and its flowers last upon the plant in full
beauty for upwards of a month, and when cut they
remain in perfection for a fortnight. The plant
should be grown in small hanging baskets, sur-
rounded with a little Sphagnum Moss ; during the
summer months it enjoys strong heat and moisture,
but in winter very little water will be sufiicient to
maintain it in a healthy condition, whilst being a
native of Northern India, it does not require so
high a temperature as the species of Vandas from
the Indian Archipelago. — W. H. G.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 604.
CALAKTHE VEITCHI.
(with coloured plate.*)
The genus Calanthe contains about fifty species
and Tarieties, most of which are natives of
Asia. They are special favourites with Orchid
growers, and justly so, being exceedingly
easy to manage, producing their showy flowers
in great profusion. The section to which
C. Veitchi belongs has been raised to
generic rank by Professor Eeichenbach by the
name of Preptanthe, signifying " handsome
flowers ;" but the name has not become popular
with English plant growers. They are robust-
growing terrestrial plants, with more or less
flask-shaped pseudo-bulbs, bearing large, thin,
plaited leaves, which are deciduous and die off
before the flowers appear, and are mostly winter
and early spring bloomers. The habit of bloom-
ing without foliage is thought by some to de-
tract from their beauty, but when arranged
among other plants their long, graceful spikes
of bloom produce a very elegant effect, and the
absence of their own foliage is not noticeable.
If, however, the plants are required to stand
alone, the want of foliage may be overcome by
inserting a few seedling Ferns around the
pseudo-bulbs, such kinds as Nephrodium molle
and Pteris serrulata being good subjects, and
kinds which grow readily from spores; there-
fore, a stock of seedlings may easily be kept on
hand.
The flowers of this section of Calanthes are
very persistent, and are also exceedingly beauti-
ful when cut, as they last in full beauty for
several weeks ; moreover, they are equally
useful for button-holes, bouquets, and sprays,
so that their general utility should lead to their
extensive cultivation.
Calanthes are most frequently grown in pots,
but this section succeeds equally well in hanging
baskets. Treated in this latter way, their long,
nodding spikes of bloom produce a charming
effect, and are a great adornment to a large
house. Wliichever way is adopted, however,
the treatment of the plants should be the same,
but those in baskets will be found to require a
larger supply of water than the pot plants.
Large pots are not necessary, but ample and
perfect drainage is essential to their wefl-being.
The potting material should consist of equal
parts of turfy loam, leaf-mould, fibrous peat,
and dried cow manure well incorporated. In
potting, tliree to five pseudo-bulbs should be
placed in each pot, but they need not be raised
above the rim. The pseudo-bulbs should be
fixed upon the top of the soil, and the whole
surfaced with living Sphagnum Moss ; this com-
pleted, sprinkle lightly with water, but very
little should be given afterwards until the now
roots are pushing freely. As root action in-
creases and the young growths push up, a copious
siipply of moisture will be necessary both to the
roots and in the atmosphere, and an occasional
application of weak liquid manure will add
* Drawn for The Garden by Miss E. Lowe, iu Cul.
Beddome's garden. West Hill, Wandsworth, Nov. 17,
1886, and printed by G. Severeyus.
THE aARDEN.
CALANTHE VEITCHII
July 9, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
13
greatly to the vigour of the plants and lead to a
corresponduig increase in the length of the
spike and quantity of Howers. When growth is
finished, liquid manure ivill no longer be neces-
sary, and the water supply must be reduced to
a minimum, but not entirely withheld, until
the flowers are faded. Wlien this occurs keep
them entirely dry until they show signs of re-
newed growth, when the pseudo-bulbs should
be shaken out of the old soil, the old roots all
cut away, and repotted as previously recom-
mended.
During the growing season these Calanthes
enjoy a high temperature and moist atmosphere
with good exposure to the light. They wiU
thrive as well in a collection of mixed stove
plants as in a special Orchid house, but during
the iiowering season a low temperature will
C. Seoeni lias been obtained from a cross between
C. Veitchi, itself a hybrid, and C. vestita rubro-ocu-
lata; the sepals and petals are bright rose, lip also
rose-coloured, having a deep purple blotch and a zone
of white at the base.
C. BELr.A is the result of a cross between C. Tumeri
and C. Veitchi; the sepals are white, petals soft
blush; the lip is pink, zoned with white, having a deep
reddish crimson blotch at the base.
C . POKPH YREA is both a rare and exceedingly hand-
some hybrid, obtained between C. vestita rubro-ocu-
lata and Limatodes lahrosa; sepals and petals rich
purple; lip purple in front; base yellowish, dotted
with purjile.
C. Sandhurstiana. — This has had for its parents
the same plants as the variety here figured (C . Veitchi) ;
it produces very long spikes, bearing in some instances
about fifty flowers. It resembles C. Veitchi in general
appearance, but the blooms are larger and of an in-
tense deep rosy crimson.
Calanthe vestita rubro-ocidata.
prolong the beauty of the flowers, and does not
in any way injure the plants, so that they may
be used for the adornment of the dwelling-house
without the slightest risk. The following kinds
are worthy the attention of all plant growers
requiring gay flowers in the dull months of
winter, and may be easily managed by those
having the accommodation of an ordinary
stove : —
GAEDEN HYBRIDS.
C. Veitchi, represented in the accompanying
coloured plate, was raised by Messrs. Veitch and Sous,
of Chelsea, from C. vestita, crossed with Limatodes
rosea (a plant very nearly allied to Calanthe) , and is far
more handsome and robust than either of its parents.
The spikes attain a length of from 2 feet to 3 feet
when the plant is well grown, and bear snnraerous rich
deep rose-pink flowers.
INTRODUCED KINDS.
C. WiLLiAMSi. — This lovely kind was introduced
by Mr. Williams, of HoUoway. The sepals are
white, tinged with rosy pink ; petals white, bordered
and pencilled with the same shade of colour as the
sepals ; lip rosy crimson, with a deep crimson eye.
Eastern Asia.
C. VESTITA LUTEO-OCDLATA. — Pure white, with a
blotch of orange-yellow at the base of the lip. Burmah.
C. VESTITA RUBEO-ocuLATA. — Pure white, bearing
a deep crimson blotch at the base of the lip. Burmah.
Our illustration of this plant shows both foliage and
flowers.
C. VESTITA OCULATA GIGANTEA. — This form makes a
spike nearly 4 feet in length, and blooms quite late in
the spring. Flowers soft creamy white, with a bril-
liant red blotch at the base of the lip. Borneo.
C. TuRNERi. — Pure white, "with a deep rose-coloured
blotch at the base of the lip. Java,
C. TuKNERi NIVALIS is pure white, quite destitute
of any stain of colour in the lip. Burmah.
C. Sanderiana.— Sepals and petils soft rose, lip
rosy crimson. Cochin China.
C. Regneri.— Sepals and pjtils white, lip rosy pink.
Cochin China.
C. Laingi. — This is a pure white flower entirely
free from the slightest stain of colour. The pseudo-
bulbs resemble C . Veitchi in having a contracted neck,
but the shape of the lip is more that of C. vestita. It
his recently been introduced by Mr. Liing, of Forest
Hill, from Cochin China.
W. H. G.
Kitchen Garden.
W. WILDSMITH.
KITCHEN GARDEN NOTES.
Potatoes.— Drought and heat in combination are
too much for most vegetable crops, but at present
Potatoes are an exception. I have never known them
better than they now are. Early kinds yield well
and are of fine quality ; the later sections
will soon want rain, or there will be a check to
growth that, when rain does come, growing out or
superturberation will set in. All we can do in the
meantime, by way of keeping them growing, is to
keep the soil about them well stirred. As soon as
the skins of the early kinds have become hard or
set, the entire crop should be harvested, for the
murrain is sure to be more or less prevalent as
soon as rain falls. The kinds we are now lifting for
use are the old Ashleaf and Fenn's Early Regent ;
the excellence of the former is well known to every-
body, and the latter deserves to be as widely known
as an excellent round variety and a fit companion
for the Ashleaf.
Mulching, watering, and hoeing.— Compul-
sion has no choice, and so we accept the inevitable
with the best grace we can command. We have
mulched quite to the end of our material. Fruit
trees are our first consideration, and the overplus of
material from these goes to the vegetables, and has
fortunately proved to be ample for all the Peas,
Runner Beans, and Cauliflowers. Soil mulching we
have done to all plantings of the Cabbage tribe that
have been made within the last five or six weeks,
by filling into the ordinary ground level the drQls
in which we always plant these crops. A good
supply of water was previously given, and, being
covered up in so wet a state, the moisture is more
lasting than are half-a-dozen waterings appUed
without such covering. We have a good supply of
water, and therefore we continue to water about
twice a week Celery, Brussels Sprouts, dwarf
French Beans, Leeks, Lettuce, and Radishes.
Amongst all other crops that can neither be mulched
nor watered we keep the hoe as regularly at work
as time permits. There can this season be no
legitimate excuse for having a weed-infested garden ;
plenty of suitable weather for destroying them.
Clearing ground. — There being a rich abund-
ance of other vegetables, I consider the summer
Spinach season is now ended ; at best it is a pro-
fitless crop, and is only of real value to make up
the lack of Cauliflowers, Asparagus, and Peas in
late spring and early summer. We have cleared it
all off, and in place of it have planted the ground
with Autumn Giant Cauliflower and Walcheren
Broccoli. Exhausted crops of Lettuce, Radish, and
early Peas are also being cleared, and the ground
made clean by hoeing and raking — no digging— and
as soon as we get a dull day (rain appears to be out
of the question) other winter greens will be planted,
including Savoys, Cottager's Kale, and midseason
Broccoli. The early Potato ground gets dug as the
tubers are lifted, and the only other preparation it
requires is to level and free it of all weeds, draw
drills and sow it with Black-seeded Bath Cos Let-
tuce and the latest sowing of dwarf Beans. The
seeds are well soaked in the drills before covering
up, and another watering is afterwards given, thus
ensuring rapid and vigorous germination.
Globe Artichokes, Rhubarb, and Horse-
radish.— To such a moisture-loving plant as the
first-named, the prolonged heat and drought are in-
14
THE GARDEN.
[July 9, 1887.
jurious, and as we are unable to add to the mulcti-
ing, we have soaked the plants with diluted sewage.
They are fruiting so freely, that to prevent extreme
exhaustion we have cut off a large number of the
smallest heads, which will doubtless be advan-
tageous in respect of increasing the size and adding
to the quality of those that are left. We cut all the
heads as soon as ready with a few inches of stem
attached, so as to place them in water, and in this
way they will keep good for a fortnight or even
longer. For the present Rhubarb is at a discount,
but for services rendered, as well as for others to
come, we cannot afford to let the plot take care of
itself. It should be heavily mulched, the seeding
stems be cut down, and not a bit more ought now
to be pulled. We have a quantity of seedlings that
were neglected to be thinned out when the rain was
about, and now they must remain as they are till
the winter transplanting time arrives. The plants
intended for forcing will be none the worse for
being a bit dry, as this will aid earlier ripening of the
crowns and they can be forced all the more readily.
Ridge and other Cucumbeks. — Given free-
dom from insects, plenty of water, and a fair
amount of attention in respect of ti'aining out,
pinching, and pegging down shoots, and fruit in
galore is a certainty. The foregoing conditions
are ever our aim, and this season the sunshine is
thoroughly seconding our efforts; the increased
watering consequent on such brilliancy is most
willingly tendered, and the results are already
apparent by the free bearing state of the plants.
They are kept well soiled up, a little additional
being placed over the surface every week, at which
time there is a general overhauling of plants and
pinching back of shoots. About thrice a week
watering is thoroughly done, and every e\'ening
they are well syringed with a powerful garden
engine. Plants in pits and frames are served much
in the same way. The most vital essentials to
success in Cucumber-growing under the present
tropical condition of weather is freedom from aphis
and nightly overhead syringings. All fruit should
be cut as soon as ready and, except in the case of
Gherkins for pickling, that are required to be
small, not more than a single fruit should be left at
each joint.
General work. — Hoe every spare and bare bit
of ground. Water whatever will be benefited by
its application. Gather Peas before they get too
old, also Broad Beans. Pull up Cauliflowers before
the heads begin to break open, and place them with
their roots in water in any cool shed or cellar.
Housed in that way I have known them to keep
good for a month. Now, whilst the ground is dry,
is a good time to apply a last sprinkling of salt to
Asparagus, and it will give no further trouble the
whole of the season.
LATE KIDNEY BEANS.
DwAEP Beans of the Ne Plus Ultra type are the
first to come into bearing. From seed sown during
the last week in April or the first week in May a
supply of pods early in July can be had. From
that time onwards for the next ten weeks or so
kidney Beans will be plentiful, as the runners will
be fit for use by the end of July. In many cases
tliey are too plentiful during August and the early
part of September, but by the end of that month no
tender young pods are obtainable, and during Oc-
tober good useful pods for the kitchen are rarely to
be found. It is, therefore, important that plenty of
delicate kidney Beans should be had at the very
end of the season. To obtain these a special late
sowing should be made, to yield a supply when the
early sowings are exhausted. From the beginning
to the middle of July is the proper time to make
this late sowing. As a rule, runner Beans are con-
sidered hardier than the dwarf-growing varieties,
and perhaps this is the case to some extent, but
runner Beans are not so suitable as dwarf ones for
the very latest crop, as when the former attain a
height of from 5 feet to 8 feet they are very liable
to be damaged by the autumn winds, and I have
known many promising rows ruined in this way, as
both the blossoms and the leaves were injured ; but
when the dwarf varieties are sown in a sheltered
corner the wind has little or no effect on them, and
even in exposed places their dwarf growth is greatly
in their favour, and in addition they can be far
more easily protected during severe weather. They
should be grown in rich soil and a sunny position,
and if shaded they may make large plants, but they
will not prove very prolific. There are now many
empty quarters from which Potatoes, Peas, and
other crops have been cleared off, and situations of
this kind are well adapted for late kidney Beans.
There is no better way of sowing them than in rows,
but these nrast not be too close, as it is an advan-
tage when the sun and air can penetrate freely be-
tween them. These late Beans may also be obtained
by sowing seed in frames from which forced vege-
tables have been cleared. These frames may not
be required until December or January, and they
may be very profitably filled with late kidney
Beans. We have sown Beans in these frames late in
August, but the produce was not satisfactory, as al-
though the plants did well, the days were so short
and the atmosphere so damp at the time the flowers
were open, that they decayed without forming pods.
The best way is to sow the Beans in frames, grow
them on without lights until about the middle of Sep-
tember, and then put the lights on to protect them
from excessive cold or wet. In this way they are
very often much better than any that can be grown
in the open, more especially in cold districts.
Margam. J. MuiR.
LATE PEAS.
Late rows of Peas rarely give many good dishes,
but I have always noted that what few are available
invariably give greater satisfaction than any
gathered previously during the season. The popular
Ne Plus Ultra is the best for the late supplies, and
the less known Sturdy is a capital late sort. Some
pin their faith on Veitch's Perfection, and the over-
rated Walker's Perpetual Bearer, which very much
resembles Veitch's old favourite, is also largely
grown. Sutton's Latest of All is much grown here-
abouts, and it is undoubtedly a very serviceable
sort. Any or all of the foregoing need to be sown
late in June on deeply worked, well manured
ground, and must be kept well supplied with water
from the first, or otherwise that great enemy to late
Peas, viz., mildew, will soon destroy them. As it is
now too late to sow the naturally late sorts with
any prospect of success, the next best thing to do,
if Peas are required up to the time severe frosts
intervene, is to sow good early varieties. Of these
there are two that I can strongly recommend, these
being William I. and American Wonder. The first-
named is certainly a round-seeded sort, but it is
the best of the section, and very tender and good
in the autumn. William II., a selection from it, is
of rather better quality and equally as early, robust,
and prolific, and may therefore be substituted with
advantage. American Wonder is probably one of
the best known dwarf, early wrinkled Marrows in
cultivation, but it may not be generally realised
what a capital sort it is for affording late dishes of
delicious Peas.
A very successful gardener practising in the
south-west of England is in the habit of making his
latest sowings with seed saved the same season. Or,
to be plain, as soon as the seed from the earliest,
William I., is thoroughly ripe, it is gathered and
sown — this usually happening early in July. '\'ery
few need to be told that new seed germinates more
quickly, and the plants resulting grow more strongly
than is the case with old seed, and a strong start
with late Peas is a decided gain. The reverse is
more often the case, the growth of early sorts, espe-
cially in hot weather, being frequently very spindly
indeed. The coolest part of the garden is not so
suitable for late Peas as many seem to imagine it
to be. It should be remembered that early frosts
are most destructive to them, and it is the lowest
and coolest part of the garden where these are most
severe. Some of the best crops of late Peas I have
ever seen, and which remained in a bearing state
till near the end of November, were grown on the
ridges between the rows of Celery. The variety
in this instance was the Ne Plus Ultra, and the
Celery trenches were about G feet apart. In addi-
tion to the Peas, two good rows of Lettuces were
also grown on the ridges, one on either side of the
former.
It is really surprising how well vegetables suc-
ceed on these apparently very dry and poor
positions, but even this season, so hot and dry as it
is. Lettuces succeed admirably on the ridges, yet
fail completely on the flat. The same phenomenon
occurs with the Peas, and those who wish for late
crops may safely sow now on these positions. Fail-
ing the Celery ridges, the next best place would be
a sheltered breadth of ground, not necessarily or
preferably the wall borders, but say such as was
recently occupied by the second Early Ashleaf
Potatoes. I do not believe in sowing in Celery-like
trenches, but prefer to well manure and deeply dig
the ground throughout. The rows of William I.,
or any early variety that attains about the same
height, ought to be about 42 inches apart. The
American Wonder may be sown in rows about
18 inches or 2 feet apart, and it is well to dispose
some of them on a border where they may be
covered with garden frames. The ground being dry
at the time of sowing, rather deep drills should be
drawn and well soaked with water prior to sowing,
covering the seed with about 2 inches of fine, dry
soil. This ensures a strong even start, and occa-
sional waterings with the necessary staking up will
do the rest. Small birds are very troublesome
among late Peas. If they are strongly staked the
best way to preserve them is to double the Straw-
berry nets and cover the rows with it. This is a
partial protection from frost, and to a certain extent
bafHes the birds. W. I.
Stove and Greenhouse.
T. BAINES.
GOMPHOLOBIUMS.
The Gompholobiiims are twining plants of
extremely slender growth. Their flowers are
Pea-shaped and the leaves are very small, and
in several of the species they are much divided.
The best kinds are noticeable for the profusion
and brilliant colonrs of the flowers. The plants
are small growers, not occupying much more
room than a well-grown, tuberous-rooted,
tricoloured Tropa3olum. G. polymorplium
splendens and G. barbigerum, two of the best
kinds, are now rarely met with, though their
flowers are extremely beautiful and produced
with great profusion when the plants are well
grown. G. barbigeram bears the largest flowers
of any of the kinds that I have gro->vn ; they
are pure yellow in colour, whilst those of G.
polymorphum splendens are of a peculiai- shade
of reddish crimson with a light coloured eye,
that adds much to their appearance. At one
time the two species named were much grown
by exhibitors of stove and greenhouse plants,
and were valued for greenhouse decoration.
The Gompliolobiums have, like other plants
of twining habit, a natural inclination to cling
closely to whatever comes within their reach.
Yet they are not adapted fur use as climbers
for pillars or rafters, as they do not attain
sufficient size to cover the space usually occupied
in such cases. Pot culture is the only way of
growing them that I have ever seen tried, .and
it is only by this method that they are likely to
succeed. As already stated, they used to be
shown in collections of stove and greenhouse
plants at the leading exhibitions held in
London and elsewhere when these shows were
first established. They are not now seen
in these competitions, although they .are tell-
ing plants. Their unpopularity for this pur-
pose is most likely owing to their not
attaining sufficient size to associate with
specimens of larger-growing plants which exhi-
bitors at the present time use. For this reason,
July 9, 1887.]
THE GARDEK
15
although growiug the two species mentioned,
I was aLways i-eluctantly obliged to omit using
them for exhibition. They are spare rooters,
not requiring large pots ; those 12 inches or
13 inches in diameter are large enough for good
sized examples, and for the largest specimens
about 3 inches larger will be found sufficient.
The roots are delicate and impatient of excess
of water, especially in the winter when little
growth is being made. On the other hand, care
must be taken that the soil is never allowed to
become so dry as to cause the leaves to flag, for
if this occurs, it is not unlikely that death will
follow. The flowers are so beautiful, and the
appearance of the plants so distinct from all
others, that it is a pity they are not present in
every greenhouse, where a fair measure of skDl
can be afforded them, as they are somewhat
difficult subjects to manage. The wire trellises
on which trained climbers are often grown are
not suitable for Gompholobiums, which are of
such a twining character that if once put on
trellises of this description it is impossible to
liberate the shoots from them when it becomes
necessary. Very thin painted sticks, that will
not show much, are the best ; insert them in the
soil so that the shoots when trained loosely over
them will form a bush almost as broad as it is
high. The shoots can be taken off them annu-
ally, and longer sticks used as the plants attain
sufficient size to cover them. All through the
growing season regular attention must be given
to keep the shoots evenly dispersed on the sup-
ports, and to prevent them from twining rouud
each other, as if left long to themselves, especi-
ally in the case of G. polymorphum splendens,
they get twisted into cord-like masses which it
is impossible to separate.
Eed spider and apliides are sometimes trouble-
some. If the plants are regularly syringed
every afternoon during the growing season the
insects seldom appear. Gompholobiums strike
freely from cuttings made of young shoots
which are neither too soft nor too far matured.
The plants begin to grow early in the year, so
that plenty of shoots may be obtained on healthy
examples about April. The cuttings should
consist of about three or four joints. They
must be put an inch or so apart in 6-inch pots
filled with sand. Cover with a propagating
glass, and stand in intermediate heat, keeping
them moist, shaded, and moderately close.
From four to six weeks generally suffice to get
them well rooted, when the glass should be re-
, moved. After this keep them in similar heat
and move them singly into little pots, drained
and filled with turfy peat finely sifted, adding
to it a moderate quantity of sand. Continue to
shade when the sun is bright, and stop the
shoots as soon as they begin to lengthen. The
plants must be kept well up to the glass, and
the pots stood on sand or ashes, which ought to
be constantly moist all through the growing
season. As the shoots extend wmd them round
two or three small sticks inserted in the soil.
Continue to keep the atmosphere moist, giving
air in the daytime and closing the lights early
enough to secure genial growing warmth.
Again pinch out the points of the shoots, and
it is necessary to attend to this to secure plants
well furnished with leaves at the bottom. Give
more sticks for support as the growth extends.
In the autumn discontinue shading and give
more air and less atmospheric moisture. As
already intimated, less water must be given in
winter, during which time the plants should be
kept at a temperature of from 40' to 45'^ in the
night ; if lower than this there will be danger of
mildew. In the spring as soon as a little top
growth has been made give pots 2 inches or 3
inches larger, being guided in this respect by
the progress that has been made. Any that
outgrow the others so as to require more root-
space should have pots a little bigger during the
summer, but generally after the second season
one shift will be sufficient. A litde shade should
be given in bright weather through the summer,
continuing to stand the pots on moisture-holding
material. There should also be a moderate
amount of humidity in the atmosphere, which
may be secured by throwing water about in the
middle of the day. Again attend to stopping
so far as appears necessary, and give longer
sticks and more of them. Train the shoots
every ten days or fortnight, and treat as advised
before in the autumn and winter.
Gompholobiums are such free bloomers, that
at the size the plants have now attained they
wiU produce flowers in profusion, and at tliis
stage will be very eflective in May or Juue
which is the time they bloom. The flowers con^
tinue to open, so as to keep up a succession, for
several weeks. The plants require to be shaded
whilst in flower. This is necessary to pro-
long the blooming, and, in the case of G. poly-
morphum splendens, to preserve the colour of
the flowers. Afterwards all that is necessary is
to keep on with the routine treatment so far
advised, giving a moderate shift each spring.
As the plants increase in size, use the peat in a
more lumpy state ; it must always be of the
best quality, with plentj of vegetal3le matter in
it, adding more sand than necessary for most
things. If a few cuttings are struck once in
two years there need be no doubt as to keeping
up the stock, as if some die there will be others
ready to take their place.
TUBEROUS BEGONIAS.
The display of these plants just now at the Forest
Hill Nursery is very grand, no words can adequately
describe their beauty. One is the more impressed
with these wonderful plants when they consider
how few years have elapsed since the first of this
race were introduced from Bolivia and Peru by the
Jlessrs. Veitch and Sons, of Chelsea. It was at
Chelsea first that their improvement by cross-breed-
ing was effected, and many beautiful kinds were
distributed. The nest firm to work with these
plants was JI. Van Houtte, of Ghent, soon to be
followed by Mr. Laing, the results of whose labours
have far outstripped all other competitors, and
made for the Forest Hill Begonias a world-wide
reputation. These results, however, have not all
been achieved single-handed, and we opine Mr.
Laing is largely indebted to the untiling zeal and
skill of Mr. Pope, who has these plants under his
charge, and who appears to have the history and
parentage of every plant indelibly impressed upon
his memory. In most instances great size and
rotundity of bloom have been obtained, and this
will no "longer be a desiderata in new varieties,
saving with the pure yellows, which have taken
longer to work up than any other colour, probably
because the material to start with was so small
and poor, for where the yellows have been
intercrossed with dark-coloured flowers bronze-
coloured blooms of good proportions have been
obtained. The nest thing to size which was
worked for has been plants dwarf in habit with
vigorous constitutions and free-blooming properties.
These have also been obtained in a marked degree,
and so beautiful are the plants withal that one is
tempted to ask what more can be required ; it
seems the pendulous habit of the flowers, which by
some is considered beautiful, is considered a fault by
others, more especially in kinds intended for adorn-
ment of the open garden, and now forsooth Mr.
Laing has a grand lot of plants with stout, short
petioles, which hold up their enormous flowers and
display their beauties without let or hindrance.
Whilst fully appreciating these b]ld flowers, it is to
be hoped they will not drive the pendulous-flowered
kinds quite out of the field because the drooping |
flowers produce such a charming effect when the
plants are grown in hanging baskets. Two houses,
upwards of 100 feet each in length, are set apart
for Begonias, one being full of single-flowered va-
rieties, and the other is devoted to those with
double blooms. The two houses, containing several
thousands of plants, present a perfectly unique
galaxy of beauty ; the flowers are of every con-
ceivable shade of colour (except blue), from pure
white, bronze, yellow, pink, rose, red, scarlet, crim-
son, maroon, selfs, and parti-coloured flowers. The
single-flowered varieties are the most robust
growers ; the plants, which are now in S-inch pots
and 2 feet or more in diameter, are literally
smothered with bloom. Mr. Pope says these are all
last year's seedlings ; they were sown about the
middle of January, 1886," transplanted from the
seed pots into boses, and from the boxes were trans-
ferred to the open air in the month of June,
planted in soil which would suit a Fuchsia. The
surface of the bed was mulched with cocoa refuse.
In this situation they grew and flowered magnifi-
cently until late in the autumn, and maintained a
brilliant display long after Pelargoniums and many
other things had become shabby. After this they
were taken up, properly harvested, and kept dry
and cool during the winter until the time came
round in January of the present year -n-hen they
were twelve months old. The tubers were then
potted and started in gentle bottom heat, and
through the spring they have been kept in the tem-
perature of an intermediate house in order to have
an early display of bloom. The plants are treated
to a little weak liquid manure about once a week,
but not oftener, as it is thought it tends to increase
grossness without improving either size or quality
of bloom. Instead of these Begonias being
capricious and uncertain and difiicult, which was
the character they obtained upon their first intro-
duction, they are "found to be plants of the easiest
culture possible, whilst the rapid manner in which
they grow when planted out of doors is truly
marvellous. Mr. Laing has largely increased his
area of open-air Begonias this season. The planting
was finished in the last week in June, when about
100,000 seedlings had been put out, all plants of this
year from seeds sown in the middle of January.
W. H. G.
SHORT NOTES.— STOVE AND GREENHOUSE.
Bigroot (Jlegarrhiza calif oi-nica). — Has this Cu-
curbit ever fruited in England ? I have both sexes,
which have grown side by side this year ; both have
flowered ahundautly, hut no fruit has resulted.— J. M.,
Channoufh, Dorset.
Cantua dependens.— This under a glass-coped
wall has beeu found to successfully withstand the
rigours of the last winter, while the Glory Pea of New
Zealand (Chanthus puniceus) has succumbed after
st.indiiig many winters.— E. H. W., Scarborough.
Curious ATDutilon.— I have a plant of Abutilon
Boule de Neige which has produced a flower having
sis petals, all of which are equal in size. The calyx
exhibits au equal number of sepals, but the sixth is
only about oue-fifth the usual size. How would you
aee"ount for this sport ? and do you think seeds from
such a flower would pei-petuate the variation ? — J. F.
Mutisia deeurrens. — This singular South
American climbing plant was seen a few days ago
gi-owing most profusely in a low span-roofed house at
the York Nurseries. It produces its flowers on wiry
stalks, which are borue at the extremities of the young
growths. They are as large and similar in form to
those of Gazania pavonia ; they are, however, of a
unifonn oi-ange-yeUow. I beheve this plant is hardy
in favoui-able situations. — P.
The Eucharis mite.— At the Eastgate Nurseries,
Peterborouffh, Mr. John House has quite got^ rid of
this pest by washing the bulbs of the plants in Hme
water, and 'he states that one washing is suiScient to
destroy the mite. If, in the case of potted plants, a
httle sulphate of ammonia is sprinkled upon the sur-
face, no mite wiU be found in the soil, and it may be
mentioned sulphate of ammonia is employed with great
success to IdU the grub in Onions. Mr. House thinks
that bad treatment produces the mite.— K. D.
Cienkowskia Kirki. — This showy-flowered
Ginger-wort, of which a few years since a coloured
plate was given in The Garden, is a very desirable
16
THE GARDEN.
[July 9, 1887.
and free flowering stove plant of easy culture. It
forms a fleshy underground root-stock that rests
during the winter, and in the spring pushes up a
few somewhat broad leaves of a light green tint.
The flower-scape makes its appearance afterwards
and grows about a foot high, and bears several
comparatively large flowers. The individual blooms
in general characters remind one to a certain ex-
tent of Odontoglossum vesillarium, being quite a
couple of inches in diameter, and of a delicate pink
colour, just marked with yellow in the centre. After
flowering it should be kept in the stove under con-
ditions favourable to growth, when towards autumn
the foliage will show signs of going to rest, and the
soil must be kept drier. We winter ours much in
the same way as Caladiums, keeping the soil just
moist. — H. P.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Stove. — Wintee-floweeing plants. — Plum-
bago EOSEA. — Plants of this free-flowering Plum-
bago that were struck from cuttings in winter
should, if not already in the pots in which they are
intended to bloom, be shifted without further
delay. It is a free grower, but does not require so
much root room as some things; consequently it
must not be over-potted, especially as much may be
done to assist the plants by the use of manure
water from the time the roots get hold of the new
soil. This Plumbago has naturally an erect habit,
and to get the plants sufliciently furnished, stop-
ping is required once or twice during the season.
It is, however, a mistake to attempt to induce it to
form a dense bush, as the blooms being somewhat
thin in texture do not stand well when cut unless
the flowering shoots are kept well up to the glass
during the latter stages of their formation. What-
ever stopping is still required should be carried out
at once, so as to allow suflicient time for the after
growth to attain the necessary strength. Old plants
that were cut back after flowering will, if all has
gone well, be sufliciently furnished without further
stopping. If the pots they were put in after being
shaken out are not large enough to keep up the
requisite vigour, others an inch or two larger may
be given. In most cases these older examples will
flower a little earlier than the younger stock. All
the training the plant requires is half a dozen sticks
to keep the shoots in an erect position.
Aphelandeas. — A. cristata is a very effective
autumn-flowering plant, coming in before the later
blooming kinds, especially in the case of large
specimens, that after being cut back have been
allowed to grow on without stopping. The plant
is a somewhat slow grower; consequently, old
examples make a much finer display than young
stock is capable of. From this time until the
flowers open, moderate surface-dressings of con-
centrated manure or manure water should be ap-
plied, as on the current season's growth will depend
the amount of bloom. Young plants of this species
struck from cuttings early in spring should not have
their shoots stopped more than once ; this ought to
have been carried out some weeks ago, otherwise
they had better be left intact, or their flowering
will be interfered with. The later blooming kinds,
such as A. aurantiaca Roezli, flower best when the
growth is not stopped the first year, confining the
planis to a single stem, as being comparatively
slow growers and dwarf-habited plants, they pro-
duce small heads of bloom unless all the strength
is concentrated in a single shoot. Six-inch pots are
large enough for young examples that have been
grown on from winter or early spring-struck
cuttings.
Begonia manicatA. — Independent of the effec-
tive character of the flowers of this plant for ar-
ranging in large vases, it is one of the most telling
of all the Begonias when strong and well grown.
Its habit of producing all its flowers at once
in an erect mass well above the leaves gives it
an imposing appearance. Where there happens to
be a roomy warm conservatory in which the plants
can be kept whilst in bloom a few good sized speci-
mens are very useful. This species is a quick
grower, and requires plenty of pot room ; examples
that after flowering were cut back, partially shaken
out, and repotted, should have 14-inch or 15-inch
pots, whilst young stock struck from cuttings in the
early months of the year will make roots enough to
fill 10-inoh or 12-inch pots. Turfy loam, rotten
manure, and leaf-mould, with a little sand, will
suit them ; even when thus liberally dealt with
in the matter of soil, manure water should be given
regularly during the latter part of summer when the
pots have become fairly filled with roots. One stop-
ping early in the summer, as soon as the plants have
begun to grow away freely, is suflicient for young
stock : older specimens require no stopping, as
after the shoots have been cut in when the bloom-
ing was over, the plants usually break sufliciently to
furnish them.
Seeicogeaphis Ghiesbeeghti. — This free-
flowering Acanthad is a handsome object in the
stove during the winter season. Its highly coloured
tubular flowers, produced freely on the extremities
of the shoots, are distinct in appearance from every-
thing else. It is a free grower, but to grow it to
a useful size in a single season from spring-struck
cuttings the plants require to be kept moving freely.
Where they are not already sufliciently furnished,
the shoots may be stopped once more, but where
this has yet to be done it must not be delayed, or
there will not be time for the growth to gain enough
strength to produce a full head of flowers. Plants
that were shifted some time ago to their flowering
pots should have weak manure water once every
week or ten days. Keep the plants well up to the
glass, as when the growth is made under the influ-
ence of plenty of light they may be depended on to
flower well.
GREENHOUSE.-CAMELLIAS.-Plants that flowered
in the early spring months and were then started
into growth must not be kept too long in warmth,
otherwise the flowers will expand before they are
wanted. Where turned out of doors, it will be an
advantage if some spare hot-bed lights are tem-
porarily arranged so as to give shelter to the plants ;
by these means the excessive soakings which the
roots get during thunderstorms will be avoided
and the leaves are not so liable to suffer from ex-
posure to the sun. Camellias that flowered late and
have not yet completed their growth must have a
plentiful supply of water. As soon as the shoots
cease to grow and the flower-buds are slightly per-
ceptible at the extremities, any plants that require
larger pots should at once be shifted. When they
have arrived at the state named is much the best
time for potting these plants, as then the growth
does not receive a check in the way that occurs
when potting is carried out just as the growth com-
mences. The roots of Camellias are actively at
work for some time before shoot extension begins ;
the young fibres are extremely brittle at that time,
so that it is not possible to then re-pot without
breaking them to an extent that much interferes
with the growth of the plants. See that the roots
are well moistened before potting, and ram the new
soil so as to make it as close and compact as the
old balls ; otherwise, when water is given after-
wards, it will pass off through the new material,
leaving the balls with the roots they contain so dry
that the plants can scarcely exist. In this way
Camellias, especially when the specimens are large,
frequently get into an unhealthy state, from which
it takes years to recover.
I'laiiting out Ccimellias. — Where Camellias
are to be planted out there is no better time
than when the flower-buds are just beginning
to form. If, as usually happens when the plants
are to be turned out in beds or borders, they
have attained considerable size, before moving the
from the pots it is a safe plan to pierce the balls
right down to the drainage material with a pointed
wire ; this will do much to prevent the balls getting
dry in the manner already shown, through the water
almost wholly passing off through the new soil,
which in a bed is more difficult to make solid than
in pots or tubs. With a like object the new mate
rial should be raised about an inch higher than
the surface of the balls. After a few months,
when the roots have begun to spread, it may be
removed.
Primroses for pot culture. — Amongst the
many distinct and beautiful Primroses now in
cultivation that are quite hardy, and succeed well
out of doors in most parts of the kingdom, there are
several that are equally adapted for growing in
pots, and when so treated are very effective either
for greenhouse decoration or for the production of
flowers for cutting. In fact, when grown in this
way, with the consequent protection they get under
glass, either in cold pits, frames, or greenhouses,
their flowers, through not being exposed to rough
weather and the dirt that heavy rains splash upon
them, are cleaner and purer in colour than when
grown out of doors. The different varieties of P.
Sieboldi (cortusoides amoena), P. japonica, and P.
denticulata may be named as especially adapted for
pot culture. Though easily managed in pots, it
does not always happen that those who undertake
to grow them in this way succeed well. The
plants, instead of increasing in size and vigour,
often dwindle, and are of little use a second season.
In most cases this arises through their not receiving
the requisite attention after they have flowered up
to the time of their going to rest in the autumn.
During this period they may be turned out of the
pots in a bed of well-prepared soil that is not too
heavy. A place should be chosen where they will
not be too much exposed to the sun, and care must
be taken that they are never allowed to suffer for
want of water ; the last named is the principal cause
of failure. When the plants are kejjt in the
pots they have bloomed in, there is still greater
care required with regard to watering, as the roots
when thus confined are solely dependent on the
moisture contained in the limited amount of soil
within their reach. The pots should be plunged up
to the rims in coal ashes. These Primroses are well
deserving of attention, as when well managed they
are quite worthy of a place during their time of
flowering amongst even the most select greenhouse
plants. T. B.
WHAT ARE GREENHOUSE PLANTS ?
This interesting question raised by Mr. A. Clark in
The Gaeden (p. 550), is worth discussing, because
so many persons are concerned in plant exhibitions,
and whilst some classes are so clearly designated
as to admit of no dispute, others seem to open the
door freely to all sorts of doubt and difficulty. One
would have thought that the conjunction of "stove
and greenhouse " in the description of the plants
or flowers exhibited in the case to which Mr. Clark
referred, as also in most other exhibitions, would
have settled the matter, because it is evident that
" stove " is used to mean " stove plants " purely,
and, of course, "greenhouse" should have the same
restricted interpretation. Judges, as a rule, find at
shows certain wide interpretations given to guiding
descriptions of this sort, and thus laxity of inter-
pretation prevails year after year. Nevertheless,
the complaint is well grounded, because a condition
is not intended to be more honoured in the breach
than in the observance, and if greenhouse plants or
flowers are invited they should be adhered to. But
it is pleaded that any plant which may be, and
is, grown in a greenhouse, even though like a
Rose or Azalea mollis, is literally a greenhouse
plant, and there are many such which will grow
freely in the open ground during the summer,
but are nevertheless not hardy. I take it that
any plant which in this country will not exist
through our ordinary winters out in the open
ground, but will live and thrive in a greenhouse, is
truly a greenhouse plant. There may be exceptions
to this rule, but Azalea mollis and Roses cannot
be amongst them. On the other hand. Camellias
are hardy enough, but only exceptionally are they
grown as hardy shrubs ; whereas we grow them
generally as greenhouse plants. Spirseas and Diely-
tras are mentioned as hardy plants, which cannot
be well regarded as greenhouse plants also. The
difliculty in classing these and Spirieas — I am
specially referring to japonica — is, that both are
quite hardy so far as their roots are concerned, but
both start into growth so early, that their foliage is
often seriously injured by spring frosts. That fact
seems to place them in a somewhat diverse category
July 9, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
17
from other really hardy things, and may well admit
of their inclusion into the list of greenhouse plants.
Still, their very commonness would hardly make
them useful elements in any class for store and
greenhouse plants or flowers. No doubt whatever
the classes so particularised were intended to en-
courage the growth of really tender plants — that is,
of house plants which will not grow and flower
naturally and freely outdoors. If that distinction
were made, of course in the spring shows hardy
plants forced would be excluded, unless specially
admitted by conditions appended. It may be
pleaded that were such things excluded in the
spring or early summer, shows would suffer. If
that is the case, the conditions or descriptions of
the classes should be enlarged accordingly.
A. D.
been taken from a side pinn?e of a frond some
20 inches long. The upper side of the frond is
bright lively green ; beneath it is covered with a
dense silvery white farinose powder.
G. pulchella has not produced many varieties.
Occasionally a form appears amongst a batch of
seedlings in which some of the segments are
golden beneath instead of white, and in the
variety WettenhaUiana the under sides of the
fronds are densely covered with a sulphur-
coloured farinose powder, and the ends of all
the pinnules are more or less crested. The cul-
Ferns.
W. H. GOWER.
GyMNOGRAMMA PULCHELLA.
This species is one of the most beautiful of all
the Silver Ferns upon account of its graceful
Gymuogi-amma pulclieUa. Engraved for The Garden from Nature.
habit, the delicacy of its ramifications, and the
purity of its white powder. It was introduced
from Venezuela to this country by M. Linden,
of Brussels, about the year 1S55. The fronds
are supported upon a dark chestnut-brown-
coloured, powdery stem some 9 inches long ;
they are triangular in outline, and upon well-
grown specimens attain a height of about 18
iiches, and from G inches to 9 inches in breadth.
The segments are very finely divided, as will be
seen by the annexed illustration, which has
tivation of this plant is not difficult ; it requires
the temperature of a warm stove and a mode-
rate supply of moisture both to its roots and in
the atmosphere, but the fronds must never be
sprinkled with water from the syringe, as, if
this is done, the farina is washed oflf from the
under sides on to the upper side of the lower
fronds, and the whole plant becomes disfigured
and unsightly. In potting, drain well and use
moderately sized pots, using for soil a mixture
of loam, peat, and sharp river or silver sand. I
In winter reduce the supply of water, but never
allow the plants to become dry.
PELLiEA.
This is a somewhat extensive family of Ferns,
most of the species included in it being exceedingly
beautiful and varied in appearance. They are
closely allied to the genera AUosorus and Cheil-
anthes, and differ in character from the former in
their barren and fertile fronds being alike in shape
and size, and from the latter in having a continuous
instead of interrupted indusium, and although at a
casual glance their affinity might be thought to lie
with Pteris, their habit and texture clearly define
their alliance with Cheilanthes. The various species
of this genus are widely distributed over the globe,
but the kinds found in the eastern hemisphere are
quite distinct from their relatives in the western
world, except in the case of Pellaja geraniifolia.
This species is found in Ceylon, various parts of the
Madras Presidency, the Mauritius and adjacent
islands. Cape Colony and various other parts of the
African continent, Brazil, Peru and Guatemala, the
Polynesian Islands, and New Caledonia, but widely
distant as are these localities the plant varies but
slightly in appearance. All the members of this
genus are elegant plants, and are generally of dwarf
habit. The largest and most vigorous growing
species is Pelljea hastata, and no better proof of its
popularity can be found than in the quantities of it
which are brought into Covent Garden Market
weekly. The majority of these plants require a
rough, porous soil. Overpotting must be carefully
avoided, as the delicate roots speedily die if over-
burdened with soil, and the plant rapidly becomes
unhealthy and decreases in size. In potting, drain
the pots well; this is not necessarily well done
because a large quantity of broken pots is used.
Perfect drainage consists in so disposing the
material used that numerous channels remain open
for the passage of all superfluous water, and this
can be effected by a small quantity of material
judiciously placed in a far better "manner than
double the quantity if carelessly used. The soil
should consist of loam, peat, and sand in about
equal parts, with some moderate sized pieces of
sandstone intermixed. In the case of the kinds
which are grown in hanging baskets, the bottom
and sides of the receptacle should be lined with
Sphagnum Moss to prevent the soil being washed
through. All these plants are very liable to be
disfigured by thrips, which may be avoided by
keeping the plants in a low temperature.
P. GERiNiiPOLiA, sometimes to be found in col-
lections under the name of Pteris colorans, is a
charming plant, with fronds resembling those of
Doryopteris palmata, but the segments are more
deeply and more frequently di\ided. It is of tufted
habit, and bears a quantity of fronds together-
these vary from 5 inches to 10 inches in height!
The footstalks are slender and jet black ; the seg-
ments of the fronds bright green, the under side
relieved by a marginal line of bright brown sori.
It forms a handsome small specimen in the fernery'
and may also be used with much effect in a
Wardian case.
P. BRACHTPTEEA attains a height of a foot or
more ; the fronds are rigid and erect, bipinnate, the
ultimate segments being small and bluish green in
colour, whilst the stem is chestnut-red. It does
well in the cold fernery, but soon declines in health
when grown in heat. It is a native of California,
and ought to be hardy in some parts of this'
country.
P. BELLA.— This also is a native of California,
and somewhat resembles the previously -named'
kind, but it is more slender in all its parts, and the
pinna; are more numerous, more closely set and
smaller.
P. CALOMELANOS.— This distinct and handsome
plant is found in various parts of Africa, from
Abyssinia to Cape Colony, and also in the North-
western Himalayas. The fronds are erect, from
9 inches to a foot or more high, broadly triangular
in outline, twice-divided; the segments large and
distant, smooth, and glaucous-green; footstalks
THE GARDEN.
[July 9, 1887.
ebony-black and very glossy. It quickly gets in-
fested with thrips if kept in a high temperature.
P. FLEXUOSA is a beautiful subject for a hanging
basket, or it may be trained as a climber, when it
produces a charming effect. The fronds attain a
height of from i feet to 6 feet. They are three-
times divided, the pinnules being distant, stalked
ovate in outline, and light glaucous green, the under
side being ornamented with abroad marginal band
of chestnut-brown sori. It comes from cool parts
amongst the Andes of Peru.
P. COBDATA somewhat resembles the preceding ;
it, however, does not climb, and seldom exceeds
1 foot to 2 feet in height ; the stems are straw
coloured, stout, and straight, not zigzag as in
flexuosa. The fronds are twice-divided ; the seg-
ments large, heart-shaped, pale green on the upper
side, slightly glaucous beneath, margined with a
bold line of brown sori. A cool-house species
from Mexico.
P. HASTATA. — This is an exceedingly beautiful
Kern, useful alike for indoor decoration, for exhibi-
tion purposes, or for the ornamentation of the cool
fernery, and thriving equally well in the cottage
window,its jet-black stems and intensely deep green
fronds rendering it ever welcome. The fronds are
erect, from 1 foot to 3 feet high, twice-divided ; the
segments large and hastate, deep green, margined
on the underside with a bold, continuous band of
chestnut-red sori. The variety known as adian-
toides differs in its broader fronds and its much
larger pinnules, which are more cordate in shape.
Cape of Good Hope, Natal, Zambesi-land, &c.
P. TERNIPOLIA. — This species is a veritable gem
when grown in a rather small basket. The pendent
fronds are from 9 inches to 18 inches long; the
stems are stout, purplish black ; the pinniE are
ternate and three-lobed, bluish green in colour. It
is a cool-house plant from the Andes of South
America.
P. ATEOPUBPUEEA. — A species from North
America, but not sufficiently hardy to withstand
the rigours of our winter in the open-air fernery,
saving in very favoured localities. It makes a
charming little specimen planted in the cold Fern
house. The fronds are about a foot long, twice
divided, the pinn:i3 bearing about two pairs of seg-
ments and a terminal one, the latter by far the
largest ; colour deep glaucous green ; the stem
purplish black, clothed with a short reddish brown
tomentum. Other small-growing species of this
genus, which may be grown into handsome speci-
mens in a Wardian case are P. consobrina, S. Africa ;
P. profusa, S. Africa; P. Bovini, Ceylon; P. intra-
marginalis, Mexico ; P. Wrightiana, California; and
P. densa from Oregon.
Trees and Shrubs,
DidymochlEena lunulata. — Good examples
of this beautiful Fern are to be found in the Kew
collection, but although it has existed there for
nearly fifty years, it is too seldom found in other
than botanic gardens. It is a subarborescent plant,
forming a short stem and bearing ample twice-
divided fronds, which in well-grown plants attain
a length of from 4 feet to G feet. The stipes and
crown of the plant are densely clothed with large
brown chaffy scales. The fronds are broadly
lanceolate in outline, the pinniii .S inches to 10
inches long; the segment or pinnules overlap each
other, and mostly develop on one side of the mid-
rib ; they are deep bright green in colour. It is a
stove Fern, and enjoys heat and an abundant supply
of water; indeed, in consequence of the pinnjc being
jointed to the stems, they quickly fall off, leaving
bare sticks only if the plant is allowed to suffer
from drought. Its elegant spreading habit and rich
colour should lead to its more extended cultivation
in the stove fernery. It is the only species, but has
a wide distribution, being found in Brazil, the West
Indies, and several of the Malay and Philippine
Islands, &c. Good examples of this Fern exist in
Mr. Williams' nursery at Holloway, where it is
grown in loam and peat and liberally supplied with
water.
W. QOLDRING.
HARDY RHODODENDRONS.
The Rhododendron season has been a somewhat
short one, the hot, drying days quickly telling upon
the flowers, and although, as a general rule, there
has been a marvellous display, still the flowers did
not last long. There is no early summer- blooming-
hardy plant equal to the Rhododendron for effec-
tiveness. A half century ago J. C. Loudon wrote
of these plants as follows: "Rhododendrons, the
pride of European gardens, as they are of their
native wilds." They are the glory of many an
English garden, and when grown in huge clumps,
as at Bearwood and other places, the plants present
when in flower a magnificent appearance. In Mr,
ciamuel Barlow's garden at Stakehill, Manchester,
where it is becoming increasingly difficult to grow
plants. Rhododendrons bloom with surprising
vigour, notwithstanding that their leaves become
encased with an adhesive sooty conyiound that
almost requires an alkali to remove it. Englishmen
have much reason to feel proud of the race of hardy
hybrid Rhododendrons which enterprising men like
Standish, the Waterers, Noble, Davies, and others
have given them. I was much impressed the other
day with the display made in Mr. Charles Noble's
nursery at Sunningdale, At Bagshot, and also
Knap Hill, miles of Rhododendrons attract atten-
tion by reason of their effective appearance.
With the Rhododendrons are the American or
Ghent Azaleas. They bloom together, and both
make brilliant patches of colour. The hardy
Azaleas have been greatly improved, for not only
have fine single varieties been introduced, almost
rivalling in the size and rich colouring of their
flowers some of the Chinese varieties, but hybrid
and several striking double varieties have been
obtained. These Azaleas, together with the more
recently introduced A. mollis, force well, and are
invaluable for conservatory decoration in spring.
They form fine groups in the open air at Bearwood,
and are also highly valuable for planting on the
fringes of shrubbery borders and for mixing with
hardy Rhododendrons ; their elegant foliage in
spring changes to red and yellow in autumn.
The best of the Rhododendrons are the follow-
ing: At the head of the white varieties must be
placed The Queen. It is free-flowering, and the
trusses are of large size. It is one of the very best
of standard Rhododendrons. Other white varieties
are Purity; Mrs, John Glutton, a good tall grower;
Princess, pure white ; and Mrs. Wrench, ivory white,
an excellent grower, of hardy constitution. All the
white varieties have a blotch of lemon on the
upper segments of the flower, varying in size and
density according to the kind.
The delicate blush varieties are very pleasing;
the best are Everestianum, blush, edged with violet,
the flowers handsomely fringed, and produced
freely; Princess Hortense, pale peach, very fine;
and Lady Strangtord, a late variety, with prominent
blotches, very fine and distinct.
Rose and pink shades of a pleasing character are
found in Lady Eleanor Cathcart, an old variety,
with bright pink flowers ; Lady Armstrong, pale
rose, the flowers much spotted ; Concessum, deep
rose; Lady Clermont, rose, with distinct dark
coloured spots; Countess of Shannon, bright pale
pink, fine compact trusses ; and Kate Waterer, rose,
with yellowish blotches.
Pale crimson shades are found in Barclayanum,
deep rose, very fine; Mrs. John AVaterer, bright
rose: Mrs. R. F. Holford, salmon-crimson; J. Mar-
shall Brooks, deep crimson, yellow blotch, very
fine; and Lord Wolseley, salmon-crimson, showy
and fine.
Among varieties with crimson flowers the follow-
ing are noteworthy: Atrosanguineum, deep red-
crimson, early ; Michael Waterer, bright crimson,
very fine and striking; Alexander Aide, bright rosy
crimson ; John Waterer, the most intense crimson ;
Lord Clyde, very dark red colour; and Charles
Noble, deep crimson, with yellow blotches, the
latest of all.
Among the most useful purple shades are Sir
T. Sebright, deep purple, with bronzy blotches ; Old
Port, bright deep plum ; a very fine variety when at
its best; Mr. G. H. W, Heneage, rosy purple, with
white centre; Caractacus, purple-crimson ; one of
the hardiest of all ; John Spencer, bright purple,
late, and most distinct in foliage ; Brayanum, bright
purplish crimson; andLefebvreanum, bright purple,
finely spotted.
Propagating Rhododendrons is a work of some
interest. The stocks upon which the fine varieties
are worked are seedlings of R, ponticum. Stocks
are potted in 3-inch pots in September, and placed
in cold frames. The grafting is done about the
middle of March. Raffia Grass is used for binding
round the graft, and as the former decays of itself, at
the same time lasting long enough for the purpose
to which it is applied, there is no necessity for cut-
ting it away. When the scion throws up a leader,
the top is pinched out ; this is done to cause it to
break out near the point of junction, and so the
foundation of a bushy plant is laid. But, owing to
the slow growth of the Rhododendron, it is some
time before the plants develop into good-sized
specimens.
Standard Rhododendrons are formed by allowing
a strong, healthy shoot to grow until it attains the
requisite height, pinching out all side growths, so
that there may be a clean, straight stem. It takes
five years to form a standard plant. When it has
reached the required height it is allowed to break.
Some of the fine standard specimens seen in the
Bagshot Nurseries are of from twelve to twenty
years of age, and they move well at all times,
owing to the light peaty soil.
The raising of seedling Rhododendrons is a slow
process, a considerable period being necessary before
the plants attain sufficient size to flower. I saw in
Mr. Noble's nursery a large batch of plants that had
been raised from seed sown in 1885. The beds are
prepared 2^ feet wide, and 3 inches or so below the
level of the surrounding soil ; and the seeds are
sown broadcast in Ai^ril after the soil has been well
trenched. The seeds are small, and no soil is
placed over them when sown. Sprays of Spruce or
Scotch Fir are laid over the beds to screen them
from the sun and keep the surface moist and cool,
for moisture is necessary to ensure proper germina-
tion. The seeds germinate in about a month, and
after an interval of two years the young plants are
planted out in drills. They flower when about five or
six years old, and command a ready sale for planting
out for coverts and other purposes. It is customary
to save seed only from the finest varieties. Some
are destitute of both pollen and seed. Especially is
that true of The Queen, a well-named white variety
now a quarter of a century old. Jlr. Noble informed
me that he has never succeeded in getting either
pollen or seed from this grand variety, although he
is very desirous of doing so. R. D.
Pterostyrax hispidum, — This by no means
common shrub is now in flower, and that, too, with
us far more profusely than has hitherto been the
case. The blooms are borne in pendulous racemes,
principally from the upper part of the plants, and
individually they very much resemble those of the
Snowdrop Tree. This Pterostyrax can be increased
by cuttings, but they do not strike very readily. I
have tried them in various ways, but the greatest
measure of success was obtained by putting in the
young growing shoots during the summer months
and keeping them close till rooted. Layers, I find,
strike root without any difficulty. — T.
Japanese Styrax (S. japonica). — We have in
this one of the most beautiful and valuable addi-
tions to open-air wall shrubs that we have had of
late years, for, besides possessing exquisite beauty
in its flowers, it is different from other hardy
shrubs. The flowers are bell-shaped, about the size
of a shilling, and pure white with a tuft of golden
yellow stamens. It is remarkably free flowering,
for every little branch carries a profusion of
drooping flowers strung on tiny twigs. The
foliage is oblong and of a deep green, and its con-
trast with the bloom is charming. Messrs. Veitoh
July 9, 1887.]
THE GARDEK
19
exhibited a large branch o£ it last week at South
Kensington, which showed the character of the
shrub admirably. In their Coombe Wood Nursery
they have a specimen of it over 12 feet in height,
and it is just now completely covered with bloom.
It is said to be quite hardy with wall protection,
and a more beautiful wall covering could not be
found among shrubs. The shrub that most nearly
resembles it in flower is Solanum jasminoides, but
this is not nearly so hardy. — W. G.
The Sun Eoses (Helianthemums). — At no time
do these pretty rock plants present such a glow of
colour as when still moist with the morning's dew ;
indeed, by mid-day they are either entirely or par-
tially closed. One great merit possessed by these
Sun Koses is the fact that they will not only grow,
but flourish on dry banks where but little else will
thrive ; but to see them at their best it is necessary
to arrange some rockwork thereon, as the plants are
thus enabled to resist the drought better than on an
open bank. There is now a long list of varieties
among the Sun Roses, varying in colour from white
to crimson, andincludiugalsoseveral yellow-flowered
kinds. In planting it is far better to select a few
well marked varieties than to have a great many
sorts, several of which will differ but slightly from
each other. Clear, well defined colours will give
greater satisfaction than those of a dull intermediate
hue.— T.
White Weigelas. — There are two very beauti-
ful white-flowered Weigelas in cultivation, and,
except in colour, they are so dissimilar from each
other, that space may well be found for both of
them in most gardens. The first to be mentioned,
viz , W. Candida, is a vigorous, somewhat upright-
habited variety, with rather narrow leaves and a
great profusion of pure white blossoms, while W.
hortensis nivea is of a loose spreading growth, the
leaves being larger and more rugose. The blooms,
however, are quite equal to those of W. Candida ;
indeed, it would be diflicult to say which is the
better. W. Candida has, however, a more vigorous
constitution than W. hortensis nivea. This last is,
I believe, of Continental origin, while the other was
imported from Japan. W. Candida may be in-
creased from cuttings much more readily than the
other.— T.
Dacaisne's False Acacia. — Next in import-
ance to the beautiful Rose Acacia (Robinia hispida)
noted last week is the variety of R. Pseudacacia
known as Decaisneaua, which is the most distinct
and also the most beautiful of the numerous forms
of the common False Acacia. Decaisne's variety
is distinguished from all others by the colour of
the flowers, which is a delicate rose-pink. A large
tree of it near the No. 1 museum at Kew is just
now an object of great beauty, as it is profusely
hung with drooping clusters of pink bloom. One
sees the common white Acacia everywhere, but
Decaisne's variety is scarcely known even in the
best nurseries. It is a vigorous grower, with
broadish foliage of a deep rich green, while the
habit of growth is sufliciently open to give the tree
a graceful appearance. This variety, as its name
Indicates, is of Continental origin, as are most
other varieties of the False Acacia. It was first
flowered about fifteen years ago by M. Villeville, a
nurseryman at Manosque, in the Lower Alps. —
yv. G.
■White-flowering Raspberry is the name by
which the pretty Rubus nutkanus is popularly known
in the United States. It is now in bloom at Kew and
other places, and attracts attention by its neat dwarf
growth and handsome white and sweetly-scented
flowers. These areaboutliin, across, cup-shaped, and
snow-white, produced at the tips of the erect shoots.
The foliage is large, lobed, and very dense, so much
so, in fact, as to hide the bloom. It is a capital shrub
for planting among bold rocks, as it grows well in
dry places, and looks well even when out of flower.
The later-flowering R. odoratus, called the Purple-
flowering Raspberry, is likewise a beautiful shrub
for the rough parts of a bold rock garden. It is
larger in growth than Rr nutkanus, and has larger
flowers, of a rich rosy purple colour. It continues
in bloom for several weeks if it is grown in a par-
tially shaded situation. It grows naturally on
rocky banks in the Northern United States ; while
R. nutkanus is seen most plentifully about the lake
districts in Upper Michigan. Both are old intro-
ductions, and may be obtained in nurseries. — W. G.
THE PAULOWNIA IMPERIALIS IN PARIS
AND ITS ENVIRONS.
It is worth a journey to France in the early part of
June to see this fine tree in perfection. Those
who have only seen a solitary tree or two in
normal health and beauty in home wood, arbo-
retum, or shrubbery in England can have but little
idea of the stately dignity and fragrance of miles
of avenues of it in France — not that it is everywhere
at home or alike beautiful, even across the channel.
Within the area of Paris alone the Paulownia may
be met in almost every stage or condition, from
perfect health to a mere pining subsistence, doing
battle as best it may with cutting draughts and
biting spring frosts. This season has, in fact,
proved one of great trial to many of the Paulownias
that now form so many of the avenues of Paris. In
one of the shorter streets radiating from the Arc de
Triomphe — the Avenue Caxnot— every bloom had
been frozen off the Paulownia, and the whole of
the earlier leaves were blighted and blasted. It
was, however, met with in much larger quantities
and in far better condition in the following, among
other, boulevards : De ViUette, De Belleville, De
Moutmartre, De Temple, in the gardens of the
Bastile, and other places. But even these, so far as
perfection of growth and profusion of bloom were
concerned, were far outstripped by trees in more
sheltered places in the Buttes Chaumont, in the
gardens of the chateau at Fontainebleau, and other
places, especially some private gardens on the route
from Paris to Fontainebleau. The finest tree in
full bloom seen in the twilight resembled in the
distance a Wistaria in full bloom, with its drooping
flowers rendered rigid, and standing bolt upright.
The tree was so thickly covered with bloom as to
hide the leaves beneath the masses of purplish
mauve-coloured blossoms. Others nearly as fine were
met with in the Buttes Chaumont, the finest speci-
mens being invariably found in the warmest and most
sheltered spots. The fragrance of the Paulownia
is as soft, delicate, and sweet as its colour. It is
next to impossible to define odours, as I have too
often found in endeavouring to spell out the sweet
fragrance of particular Roses. But were one to
define the scent of the Paulownia as a mixture of
Honeysuckle and Jasmine, with a faint suspicion of
Almonds and attar of Roses, it might possibly be
accepted as an approximation to the true fragrance
of this fine tree. Considering the little difference
in the climates of France and England either in
regard to time or degree of heat, and also bearing
in mind that the Paulownia is grown and has been
bloomed in various districts in this country, and also
taking into account its unique beauty and fragrance,
it seems surprising that it is not more generally cul-
tivated in the southern and western districts of
England, and generally throughout Ireland. Surely,
too, many sites might be found on the sunny sides
of the hills of the southern parts of Scotland where
the Paulownia would enjoy a more favourable cli-
mate than it meets with in the open squares and
wide and draughty boulevards of Paris. The plac-
ing of a semi-tender tree like the Paulownia in
single or double file in these is to try it severely for
its life ; whereas, grouped in sunny nooks and
sheltered corners, the Paulownias would keep each
other warm, while adding novelty of form, of colour,
and of fragrance to many a home landscape half
spoiled or wholly ruined for lack of greater diversity
of material and novel modes of disposition.
D. T. F.
Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora. — As
an autumn flowering shrub for the open ground this
stands in the front rank, and besides this it is easily
amenable to pot culture, so that where it has been
earlier in the season assisted with a little heat it is
now in flower, and very beautiful objects little bushes
of this Hydrangea make when bearing from three
to six large heads of creamy white blossoms. When
potted up for flowering in this way they should be
pruned back to good plump eyes, and the nearer
the ground this can be done the better, as the shoots
attain a good length before they flower, and if they
originatcata height of 2ft. from thebaseof the plants
they look thin and bare. When grown under glass a
free circulation of air is necessary, as mildew is apt
to attack the foliage, and a liberal use of the syringe
is necessary to keep down red spider. When
treated as a hardy shrub the yield of bloom is far
greater if the plants are judiciously pruned, and
assisted with a little stimulant during the growing
season. The principal pruning that is needed is
the thinning out of weak and overcrowded shoots
and the shortening back of the stouter ones. — T.
DESIRABLE GARDEN SHRUBS.
Fuchsia Riccartoni is undoubtedly one of the
most ornamental flowering shrubs we possess, but
to see it in all its grandeur, good, bold clumps, and
not single specimens, should be planted. We have
used it very extensively during the last ten years,
not only for the ornamentation of small gardens
and lawns, but for planting in large, irregular-shaped
masses around the margins of our woodlands, more
particularly such as are visible from drives and
walks. In planting this Fuchsia for woodland efli^ect
or for the double purpose of this and game covert,
for which latter it is admirably adapted, do not
place the plants closer than about i feet, and only
in the more open parts of the wood. From a dozen
to fifty plants will be sufficient for each clump, but
this must to a great extent depend on the size of
the spaces available, as well as on the arrangement
of the woodland. Many persons are under the im-
pression that Fuchsia Riccartoni is only half hardy
— a fact which has considerably retarded its exten-
sive cultivation — but this is not so, at least through-
out England generally. It may be — indeed, fre-
quently is — the case that the stems of this Fuchsia
are cut back to the ground during severe frost ; when
this occurs prune off the dead wood early in May,
and the plants will grow away quite vigorously. I
consider that this annual pruning back is of great
importance, as it causes the stools to send out
numerous suckers or shoots of from 3 feet to 4 feet
in length, which will flower profusely the same
season. In writing, I am just looking out on
a border which about eleven years ago was wholly
planted with this Fuchsia, and to-day the plants are
quite healthy and strong. Every spring the entire
growth of the previous year is cut close back to the
stool, when they start away freely and produce
an abundance of strong shoots and flowers. This
Fuchsia is very readily propagated by inserting in
sandy soil in August cuttings taken from the pre-
vious year's shoots. They soon take root, and may
in a couple of years be planted in the nursery lines
after which, in another year, they may be placed
out permanently. But not only for planting in
clumps or masses is this Fuchsia valuable, for as a
standard specimen for placing in front of some
large-growing shrubs of sombre foliage it is also
particularly well adapted, the wealth of pinky
flowers being shown oil to advantage by the dark
background. When grown as a solitary specimen
and placed in a favourable situation, it often
attains a height of 12 feet and nearly as much in
diameter. Not many days ago I saw in one of our
Carnarvonshire gardens a dozen plants of this Fuch-
sia, all remarkably uniform in size — 11 feet in
height by S feet in diameter — and they have stood
uninjured for the last seven years.
Hydeangea hoete?;sis is a fitting companion
for Fuchsia Riccartoni ; indeed, I know of no two
flowering shrubs that harmonise so well, and are
yet so totally different in foliage and flowers. Like
the Fuchsia, this Hydrangea may not be perfectly
hardy in all situations and soils, but that it is well
fitted for England generally is evident from the fine
healthy specimens one often sees, particularly along
the sea-coast. In many places it is grown' by the
hundred for game covert and woodland ornamenta-
tion, specimen plants alongside drives and walks,
decorating villa gardens, and for the lawn and
shrubbery ; in all these situations it docs well and
20
THE GARDEN.
[July 9, 1887.
charms the visitor for at least four raonths of the
year with its grand panicles of white or blue
flowers. It may be, and not unf requently is out back
by frost, but by pruning oif the dead branches in
early spring the young shoots grow away fresh and
stout, and soon form bushes of no mean dimensions.
Almost any soil suits the Hydrangea, but that in
which it attains to largest dimensions and flowers
most freely is a sweet and not over dry sandy loam.
It wants plenty of sunshine, and should, therefore,
be planted along the outskirts of a wood or as a
front plant for the shrubbery. When planted in
large, irregularly-shaped masses this Hydrangea
produces a fine effect, but particularly so during
the flowering period. We have known plants in
some of the Carnarvonshire gardens to stand
unharmed by frost or wind for a period of ten
years, and they are now about 8 feet in height and
proportionately bushy. Cuttings root freely, but
besides this method of increase divisions from the
roots of strong specimens make fine, bushy plants
in an almost incredibly short space of time. For
planting by the seaside this shrub can be highly
recommended; indeed, it seems to grow in seacoast
o-ardens with a luxuriance that we have rarely
known to be equalled in inland districts.
Spik.ua Douglasi. — This is an excellent all-
round shrub, being perfectly hardy, free-flowering,
and by no means particular as to soil or situation.
Under favourable circumstances this Spiriea attains
to a height of 5 feet, is of compact growth, and
with each branchlet terminating in a spike of
attractive pink flowers. There is a white-flowered
form in cultivation which contrasts well with
the type. Whether planted singly or in clumps,
this Spirsea never fails to attract attention. For
cutting, the flowers are of great value, as they re-
main fresh and beautiful for a long time when
placed in water. Stiifish loam seems to suit this
plant well. We have it growing and flowering
splendidly every year in this soil. It is readily
raised from cuttings, but as it increases rapidly
from the root, this method of propagating is seldom
resorted to. Planted at 3 feet apart, this Spirtea
will soon foi-m an almost impenetrable jungle of
underwood, and we have used it with very satis-
factory results in the formation of game coverts.
Being a native of North-western America, it may
be considered perfectly hardy.
The Myetlb. — Seeing some days ago several
large specimen bushes of the Myrtle in the college
gardens at Bangor reminds me of what a distinct
and pretty shrub this is for planting in mild dis-
tricts, and more particularly by the seacoast. How
well it does in the spot I refer to may be gathered
from, the fact that one of the plants is fully 4 feet
in height, and nearly as much in diameter. The
position in which the plants are growing is any-
thing but sheltered, for the cold t as" winds blowing
in from the Irish Sea often injure plants that are
natives of far colder climes than is the Myrtle.
The secret, however, is not far to look for ; the sea
air is well suited for imparting life and vigour
to the Myrtle even when otherwise placed
under adverse circumstances. As a wall plant —
and I speak from wide experience — few can equal,
and certainly none can surpass, the Myrtle,
that is, in districts where it does well. Let anyone
who doubts this assertion pay a visit to the flower
garden at Penrhyn Castle, in North Wales. There
this handsomest of all wall plants may be seen 8
feet and 10 feet in height, and 2 yards or 3 yards in
width, and covering with a rich profusion of their
glossy leaves the whole surface of the wall. Several
kinds are used for wall decoration — large and small-
leaved, single and double-flowered — but in my own
opinion, as well as that of several other persons, the
small-leaved form is most desirable, the flowers be-
ing larger and well displayed amongst the small
Box-like foliage. I have never seen a covering of
any description placed over these Myrtles even
during the most severe weather, and yet there
they are flourishing. A. D. Webstee.
it has noble pinnate leaves, that are but seldom
seared even during a hard winter, while should the
weather be favourable its clusters of bright golden
blossoms are produced during the early months of
the year in great profusion, and the fruits by which
they are succeeded are just now ripening. The
berries are large, of a rich purple hue, and covered
with a beautifulbloom. It delights in a good hold-
ing soil, and does well in a somewhat shaded
position. — T.
advise all who want variety among their wall
shrubs to plant one or two specimens of the
Raphiolepis mentioned, as they are thoroughly
distinct from the plants usually employed for
the enrichment of garden walls. E. C.
RAPHIOLEPIS JAPONICA.
This shrub, which is represented in the accom-
panying illustration, is at once distinct and
Curled-leaved Rock Kose (Cistus crispus).^
This is a capital plant for the higher parts of
the rockery. Its growth is dense, compact, and
shrubby, and the turpentine-like smell of the leaves
is even stronger than in C. florentinus (the Floren-
tine Rock Rose), to which it is allied. The flowers
are larger than in the last-mentioned kind, pure
white, with deep crimson spots at the base of the
""^>^^
Raphiolepis japonioi.
The Japan Barberry in fruit. — Eerberis or
Mahonia japonica is a beautiful shrub possessing
several very desirable qualities. In the first place,
handsome ; the growth neat, but not rapid, and
the flowers pinky white, and produced with
moderate freedom. The foliage is not over-
abundant, but of a fine deep green colour, which
affords a pleasing contrast to the ilowers. It is
fairly hardy, but in severe winters the plants
are crippled, though seldom killed outright. R.
ovata is also a bold and handsome shrub, the
pure white flowers freely produced, and they
show to advantage in their setting of deep
green, ovate, leathery leaves. There is a good
specimen in full bloom on a wall in the
gardens of the Royal Horticultural Society at
Chiswick, and it attracts attention by its dis-
tinct character aud cheerful appearance. We
It grows freely and blooms comparatively
late, so that we require both this and C. florentinus
to ensure succession of bloom. When in full flower
these Cistuses are very conspicuous in the rock
garden. — E. C.
SHORT NOTES.— TREES AND SHRUSS.
Eurybia stellulata. — This is a very iine, free-
flowerin,c:, hardy shrub, superior to the woll-known
Olearia Ha:isti with very much larger and pure white
flowers.— E. H. W.
The Judas Tree (Cercia siliquastrum) , — About
three weeks since I saw a fine specimen of this fine
flowering tree in bloom at Halstead, Essex, the blossoms
springing from trunk as well as branch, the rosy hlao
July 9, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
21
of their hue harmonising well with the soft and sober
tint of the bark. Would you or any of your readers
Irindly state the derivation of this English name ? —
Sdffolkian.
Veronica Girdwoodiana. — This with me has
not proved hardy, owing, no doubt, to its having been
planted in a heavy, clayey soil. — B. H. W., Scar-
borough.
Fremontia ealifomiea, — This is in bloom on a
wall at Kew, and its neat growth, refined appearance,
and golden yellow flowers attract attention. The
leafage is pleasing, and the whole plant of distinct cha-
racter. It does not appear to be very free-flowering,
but is, nevertheless, useful for covering walls. — E.
Chrysanthemums."
B. MOLTNBUX.
STANDARDS.
This form, of training is not often adopted, but
where suitable positions can be found for the
plants when in flower standards are useful.
The form of training required to produce those
close-headed specimens usually seen at the shows
does not find favour with many persons. A
considerable amount of time and attention is
required to have the plants in that form ; but it
is not necessary to train the plants so stiffly for
home use, nor is it requisite to thin the flower-
buds. Not many kinds are suited for this sort
of training. Mrs. G. Rundle, Mrs. Dixon,
George Glenny, Aureum multiflorum, Venus,
White Venus, Dr. Sharpe, several Pompones,
and that bright-coloured and sweet-scented
Anemone Pompone variety Dick Turpin are
the best where dwarf plants are required.
By this time all the varieties named above
which were intended for the production of large
blooms will have made their first natural break
into additional growths, and will have stems
sufficiently long for forming standards. Such
plants will be furnished with from three to six
branches. It is now too late to pinch the
growths, but the present number of stems wUl
be increased by natural breaks of the plant
when flower-buds form. If a rougli trellis is
at once made and fixed to the plant, the
branches may be tied into position, and when
additional growths are formed they can be laid
in as required. This early tying renders the
plants not so formal in appearance as later on,
as subsequent shoots can be allowed to grow
somewhat more naturally when once the frame-
work, so to speak, of the future head is formed.
The growths are not nearly so liable to break
when tied in at once as they are when the wood
is harder and firmer. The convex form of train-
ing answers well. The framework may be 2 feet
in diameter and 1 foot 4 inches in depth, made
of stout galvanised wire fixed to a circular hoop.
The top of the trellis should be fastened to the
top of a stout stake placed in the pot, to which
the stem of the plant should also be fastened.
From the wire hoop to the stake cross wires
should run, to prevent the trellis swaying about
in windy weather, the same precaution being
also taken to prevent the plants being blown
about when in their summer quarters. The
pots should be plunged to half their depth in
ashes, which prevents the plants rocking to and
fro and keeps their roots cool. Three stakes,
firmly driven into the ground in triangular
fashion and connected to the stake in the pot, is
a good plan to prevent their moving. Tie the
branches down to the wires as fast as they are
formed, and, if loose heads are required, no tying
down of the branches should be done after Sep-
tember, allowing all to grow away at will ; and,
if a large number of flowers are required, re-
move none of the flower-buds then formed ; but,
if large blossoms are desired, remove the side
buds, only leaving those placed on tlie centre of
each stem. Great care must be exercised in
watering, and vigorous overhead syringings,
which will induce a free and vigorous growth,
must be given. Keep a strict look-out for mil-
dew and green-fly, and on their first appearance
apply the usual remedies. A position close to
the glass, when the plants are housed, must be
found, and stimulants applied to the roots when
necessary.
Societies and Exhibitions.
NATIONAL ROSE SOCIETY'S SHOW.
The annual exhibition of the National Rose Society
is rightly considered one of the most important
horticultural events of the year. It was held in the
conservatory at South Kensington ; and, although
large, was to a certain extent disappointing, as,
owing to the dryness of the season, the flowers
were, as a rule, below the average size and wanting
in form and finish. This was only to be expected,
as the weather has tried the Roses severely, espe-
cially in districts where the soil is light and sandy.
There were, however, many excellent blooms, the
majority conspicuous for high colouring, and among
the best exhibited was the popular Ulrich Brunner,
a splendid Hybrid Perpetual when well shown, as it
was on this occasion. There was in almost every
class keen competition, both amateurs and nursery-
men being weU represented.
In the nurserymen's division the principal class
was for seventy-two distinct varieties, and there
was a sharp contest for the first prize, consisting
of £5 and trophy, between Messrs. Harkness and
Sons, Bedale, Yorks, and Mr. B. R. Cant, of Col-
chester. The former secured the premier award,
the flowers being smaller, but more even than
those of Mr. Cant. In both Ulrich Brunner was
creditably shown, as also were such fine varieties
as Marquise de Castellane, Pride of Waltham,
Antoine Ducher, Star of Waltham, Dr. Sewell,
Auguste Rigotard, Comtesse de Nadaillac, Mons.
E. Y. Teas, Marie Finger, Dupuy Jamain, Mdme.
Angele Jaoquier, Mdme. Prosper Laugier, Har-
rison Weir, Marie Baumann and Mdme. Cusin'; the
last-mentioned was largely represented in the
various classes, and varied considerably both in size
and colour, in some instances approaching a rich
rosy purple hue. Mr. Frank Cant was third. Mr.
B. R. Cant was, however, to the front for forty-
eight distinct varieties, three trusses of each, and
on the whole the flowers were both fresh and iine ;
Comtesse de Nadaillac was well shown, and there
were good blooms of MerveiUe de Lyon, Mdme.
P. Laugier, Etienne I^evet, Mdme. de Watteville,
La Boule d'Or, Edouard Morren, Mdme. Gabriel
Luizet, and Innocente Pirola. The second place
was secured by Messrs. Paul and Son, of Ches-
hunt. In the class for forty-eight blooms, single
trusses,' Messrs. J. Burrell and Co., Howe House
Nurseries, Cambridge, were to the fore ; the
flowers were well coloured and good, especially such
favourites :as Mdme. P. Laugier, Mdme. Gabriel
Luizet, Mdme. Cusin, La Boule d'Or, and Mdme.
Hippolyte Jamain. Messrs. Curtis, Sanford & Co,,
Torquay, followed closely, Mdme. de Watteville,
Mdme. Gabriel Luizet, and Duke of Wellington
being among the most noteworthy. Mr. H. Merry-
weather, Southwell, was the winner of the first prize
in the class for twenty-four distinct varieties, single
trusses ; the flowers were about the freshest in the
show, and had not lost their colour. In this stand
was a superb bloom of Ulrich Brunner, which was,
awarded the silver medal given for the best Hybrid
Perpetual in the nurserymen's division. Among
others exhibited in excellent condition were Niphe-
tos, Marie Eady, Charles Lefebvre, and Pride of
Reigate, a speckled variety in the way of the old
York and Lancaster. Mr. J. Mattock, New Head-
ington Nursery, Oxford, was placed second. Messrs.
J. Jeflferies and Son were first in the class for twenty-
four [distinct varieties, three trusses of each, and
Messrs. J. Cranston and Co. second.
Amateurs appeared in force, and there were
several entries in the class for forty-eight distinct
varieties, single trusses, Mr. W. J. Grant, Ledbury,
Hereford, gaining the first prize of £5 and trophy.
The flowers were large, but somewhat lacked colour
and freshness ; but this might be said of a great
many of the exhibits. The best shown were Mdme.
Crapelet, Star of Waltham, Le Havre (a very
brightly-coloured crimson Rose), Ulrich Brunner,
A. K. Williams, Caroline Kuster, Duke of Welling-
ton, Etienne Levet, Camille Bernardin,and Comtesse
de Nadaillac. Rev. J. H. Pemberton, Havering,
Romford, was a close second, his stand containing
the finest Hybrid Perpetual in the amateurs' divi-
sion, the variety being Ulrich Brunner. It was of
exquisite form and delightfully fresh, thoroughly
meriting the silver medal. A. K. Williams, which
did not figure well as a rule, was also exhibited
in first-class style as regards finish, but was deficient
in colour. An evenly-formed lot of flowers were
staged by Mr. W. J. Grant in the class for twenty-four
distinct varieties, three trusses of each, Niphetos,
Mdme. Gabriel Luizet, Le Havre, Abel Carriere, and
A. K. Williams being about the most noteworthy ;
Mr. T. W. Girdlestone was second. The first prize in
the class for thirty-sixblooms was deservedly awarded
to Mr. E. B. Lindsell, Bearton, Hitchin, whose
flowers were fresh, of good form, and well coloured,
especially those of Marechal Niel, Horace Vernet,
Marie Rady, Beauty of Waltham, Xavier Olibo,
Alfred Colomb, and Alphonse Soupert. The stand
also contained a lovely bloom of Comtesse de
Nadaillac, which was awarded the silver medal. It
was a beautifully formed flower, and of excellent
colour. Mr. J. Brown, gardener to Mrs. Waterlow,
Reigate, also exhibited creditably. In the class for
twenty -four varieties, Mr. C. J. Day was to the front
with a box of even, nicely finished flowers, and
was followed closely by Mr. G. Christy, Westerham.
Large, well-proportioned blooms were shown by
Mr.W. H. Wakeley in the class for twelve varieties,
distinct, three trusses of each : Abel Carriere, Baroness
Rothschild, and Marie Rady being conspicuous;
Mr. E.B. Lindsell was a close second. The first prize
flowers in the class for eighteen distinct varieties,
single trusses, shown by Rev. L. Garnett, Christie-
ton Rectory, Chester, were fairly well finished, but
there were many rough blooms ; Duchess of Bed-
ford, Ulrich Brunner, Catherine Mermet, Louis Van
Houtte, and Abel Carriere were among the best. For
twelve distinct varieties. Rev. Alan Cheales occupied
the first place, and Mr. J. Bateman was first for nine
blooms, exhibiting well coloured flowers. There
was good competition in the class for six flowers of
any Hybrid Perpetual, Mr. J. Gurney Fowler, Glebe-
lands, Woodford, staging fine flowers of Ulrich
Brunner, the form excellent, and the colour delight-
ful. Mr. W. J. Grant showed the same variety, but
the blooms had lost their freshness of colour. Mr.
A. Gibson, gardener to Mr. T. T. Burnaby-Atkins,
Halstead Place, Sevenoaks, was to the fore in the
class for six distinct single trusses, exhibiting Com-
tesse de Nadaillac and Ulrich Brunner in good con-
dition; Mr. O. G. Orpen came second; but in the
class for six distinct, open only to those who have
never won a prize at an exhibition of the National
Rose Society before, this exhibitor was the most
successful.
Tea and Noisette Roses were, on the whole,
far better than might have been anticipated. They
were in several instances of excellent finish and
colour, especially such favourites as the Comtesse
de Nadaillac, which figured prominently throughout
the exhibition.
In the nurserymen's division the principal prize
was for twenty-four distinct varieties, single trusses.
Mr. G. Prince, Market Street, Oxford, and Mr. B. R.
Cant were placed equal firsts, and the following
varieties were noticeable in the two exhibits : Com-
tesse de Nadaillac, Innocente Pirola, Souvenir de
Paul Neyron, Mdlle. M. Arnaud, Mdme. A. Jacqnier,
Souvenir d'un Ami, Mdme. de Watteville, Niphetos,
and Souvenir d'Elise. Messrs, J. Burrell and Co. were
the most successful in the class for eighteen distinct
varieties, exhibiting fairly good blooms of Mdme.
Cusin (richly coloured). La Boule d'Or, Mdme. de
Watteville, Comtesse de Nadaillac, Niphetos, and
Souvenir de Mdme. Pernet. Messrs. Harkness and
Sons were second with smaller, but well-finish
THE GARDEN.
[July 9, 1887.
flowers. The competition was spirited in the class
for twelve single trusses of anr Tea or Xoisette,
ilarechal Niel" excepted. Mr. Frank Cant pnt np
SouTenir d'EIise in fine condition, the colour good,
and the form excellent, considering the season.
Mr. G. Prince followed very closely with blooms of
-Comtesse de NadaiUac, which were clean, well
.finished, and finely coloured, but perhaps a trifle
too open. Mr. B. R. Cant occupied the post of
honour for eighteen varieties, three trusses of each,
and among them were good blooms of the lovely
Mdme. de WatteviUe. Mr. G. Prince showed the
best Tea or Xoisette in the nurserymen's division,
and was awarded the silver medal. It was a large,
fall, well-coloured, and finely formed flower of
Comtesse de Xadaillac.
Amateurs exhibited largely and well in the Tea or
Noisette division. The Rev. F. Page-Roberts was
first in the class for eighteen, showing Marechal
Kiel, Comtesse de Xadaillac, Souvenir d"Elise,
Madame Hippolyte Jamain, and Madame Cusin in
satisfactory condition. For twelve varieties, dis-
tinct, single trasses, Mr. J. Brown, gardener to
Mrs. Wateriow, occupied the first place, the best
blooms being Princess of Wales, Francisca Krnger,
Jean Dacher, and Madame de "W'atte\-ille — four
lovely flowers nicely developed. Mr. J. Ridoat,
gardener to Mr. T. B. Haywood. Reigate, showed a
good box of fresh, well-formed flowers in the class
for twelve varieties, three trusses of each, and was
placed first.
The Rev. F. Garnett showed well in the class for
nine, and was awarded the first prize, his blooms
being on the whole finely formed, especially the one
of Madame Cusin. TheRev. Alan Cheales was first
for six single trusses of any Tea or Xoisette, exhi-
biting beautiful blooms of Marechal Xiel, the colour
faultless and the form superb. The Rev. Hugh A.
Bemers, Ipswich, put up satisfactory flowers of
Comtesse de X'adaillac, and was placed second.
Open classes. — There were several exhibitors in
the class for a collection of garden Roses, Hybrid
Perpetuals, Teas, and X^oiseFtes to be excluded.
Mr. Julius Sladden, Evesham, Worcester, put up a
fine box of blooms, in which were such kinds as
the old Blush China Rose and Rosa rugosa, which
look better on the plants, however, than on the exhi-
bition table ; Messrs. Cranston and Co. were second.
Moss and Provence Roses do not show to advan-
tage at exhibitions, but nevertheless they formed
an interesting feature. Messrs. Paul and Son, Ches-
hunt, were first in the class for twelve bunches ;
such varieties as Blanche Moreau, Crested Moss,
and Perpetual White Moss were noticeable. In the
class for twelve bunches of Roses suitable for but-
ton-holes, there was sharp competition, and the ex-
hibits were among the most pleasing in the show.
Mr. J. Mattock was well to the front, the flowers
being exquisitely arranged, and were in just the
right condition for button-holes. The varieties were
Ma Capucine, W. F. Bennett, crimson : Souvenir
de Paul Xeyron, Homer, Xiphetos, W. A. Richard-
son, Devoniensis. Jean Pemet, and Comtesse de
NadaOlac. Messrs. Harkness and Sons were a good
second. Mr. B. R. Cant was first in the class for
twelve single trasses of any yellow Rose, exhibiting
splendid flowers of the Marechal Xiel, which is un-
rivalled when well shown : the colour was remark-
ably clear and defined. Mr. G. W. Piper also ex-
hibited the same variety, and was placed second.
The class for twelve single trasses of any white
variety brought a large competition, and the first-
prize bos, exhibited by Mr. B. R. Cant, contained
lovely flowers of the Merveille de Lyon, an exqui-
sitely beautiful Rose when in the perfection of form
and finish. X'iphetos was put up by Mr. G. W.
Piper, who won the second prize ; the flowers
were fairly good, though this variety was nowhere
shown to great advantage. Messrs. Curtis, Sanford,
and Co. came first for twelve blooms of any crim-
son Rose, exhibiting finely finished and well-coloured
blooms of Marie Rady. Ulrich Brunner was shown
by Mr. R. E. West, Reigate, who was placed second;
and the same variety formed the third-prize box, a
sign of its great popularity. The dark velvety
crimson varieties afforded a striking contrast, and
the flowers of Abel Carriere, put up by Messrs. John
Cranston and Co. in the class for twelve, were of
splendid colour and not wanting in finish. There
were several competitors in the class for twelve
single trasses of any Rose, the first place being
occupied by Mr. H. Bennett, of Shepperton, who
staged the variety Lady Mary Fitzwilliam in excel-
lent condition. When seen in perfection this Rose
attracts attention by its beautiful form and delicate
colour.
Xew Roses were of great interest, but it would
be unfair to criticise them, as the flowers were evi-
dently not in condition, showing signs of distress
from the dryness of the season. In the amateurs'
class for sis distinct varieties, Mr. H. Shoesmith
was the most successful exhibitor, showing, among
others, the massive-flowered Her Majesty, but the
blooms were small, and did not adequately repre-
sent this bold, handsome variety. There was also
a bloom of Clara Cochet, which is of a bright shade
of rose, and seems likely to prove an acquisition.
In the open class for twelve distinct varieties,
single trusses, Messrs. Curtis, Sanford and Co.
were to the fore, the varieties including a fine
flower of The Bride, pure white, and also Victor
Hugo, a fine crimson-coloured variety; Messrs. Paul
and Son were second, the stand containing a good
bloom of the lovely Mdme. de WatteviUe; and
Mr. B. R. Cant followed closely, a variety named
Grace Darling being conspicuous for its distinct
rich salmon colour; but, judging from the bloom
exhibited, it lacks that finish essential to a first-
class show flower. There were several exhibitors in
the class for twelve single trusses of any new Rose,
Mr. B. R. Cant coming first with a splendid box of
Mdme. de Watteville; Messrs. A. Cooling and Sons
staged the variety Her Majesty in capital condition,
and were placed second ; Mr. H. Bennett was third
with the pedigree seedling Tea variety, Princess
Beatrice.
Among the miscellaneous exhibits was a fine
group of hardy ornamental trees and shrubs from
Messrs. C.Lee and Son, Hammersmith, and a box of
pink Malmaison Carnations from Mr. T. S. Ware.
From the Royal Horticultural Society's Gardens at
Chiswick came several well-grown specimens of
Orchis foliosa, which is one of the best of the hardy
Orchids for pot culture.
A prize list is given in our advertising columns.
narrow, resembling Japanese forms of Chrysan-
themum. It received a first-class (floral) certificate.
Dr. JIasters observed that it was known to occur
much more "double'' than is the present form, and
Mr. Lynch had seen it with aU the florets "tubular,"
i.e., in the " quilled form.''
Plants ei'liihited. — From Mr. Veitch came Styrax
japonica and the Japanese Syringa, the former being
a very free-flowering shrub with white scented
flowers. Mr. Lynch showed the following from the
Cambridge Botanic Gardens : Polemonium flavum,
Cecropia stapeliseformis (with a long, tubular,
slender-rayed and spotted corolla), Helianthus
occidentalis, Melia Azedarach, Cerasus virginiana,
Myrsiphyllum asparagoides (in fruit). Echeandia
eleutherandea, Duchopogon strictus, Hymenocallls
Harrisiana (with very slender perianth leaves and
reduced corona), Fontainesia calif omica (?), a free-
flowering shrub with minute flowers. It is said
there is only one species in cultivation ; hence it
was forwarded to Kew for identification. A vote
of thanks and a botanical certificate for the last-
mentioned plant were unanimously awarded to Mr.
Lvnch for his interesting exhibits.
EOTAL HORTICULTURAL.
Scientific committee. — Lonicera jiiiJjcscens
!ii/b. — Col. Clarke exhibited sprays of a hybrid
raised between this species and L. italica. The
plant possesses the perfoliate foliage of the latter,
the male parent, as well as the climbing habit and
scent. It has small yellowish flowers.
Solhoj)lnjUum larhi/ierum. — This Orchid, like B.
Calamari, is remarkable for the peculiarity of having
an oscillating labellum. Remarking on the mechani-
cal movements of the labella of Orchids, Mr. O'Brien
called attention to the interesting fact that he had
more than once obsen-ed a spontaneous movement
in the "tails'' of Masdevallia coniiculata. On watch-
ing them closely they moved backward and forward
slowly, but occasionally with a jerk. This pecu-
liarity does not appear to have been previously noticed.
Liqiiidambar stijraeijhia. — Dr. Lowe called atten-
tion to the variety of tjiis plant in modern gardens,
and that it was frequently grown in old ones. He
exhibited a branch from an old garden at Putney
adjoining another in which was a Thorn said to
have been planted by Oliver Cromwell.
Ilaliea liiienri-i. — Dr. Masters showed a branch of
this plant grown by Jliss (Jwen, Ireland. It is re-
markable for its flattened leaves below and cylin-
drical ones above.
Helichnjsum (^Sivamvierdamia^ anfenariiim. — A
shrub with snow-white masses of small flowers was
also sent by Miss Owen.
Flon-erx. monstrous. — Double form of Silene in-
flata and Pieonia prolifera superba, with floral bud
issuing from the open carpels, exhibited by Mr.
Ware; and a semi-double Chrysanthemum Leucau-
themum occurring wild, from Mr. Saltmarsb. In
this form the additional ligulate florets were very
Cucumber leaves diseafe.-l. — I enclose a
leaf or two each of Cucumber and Melon which, you
will see, are infested with a thrip-like insect. They
are the worst of all insect pests I ever had the mis-
fortune to deal with. It is almost impossible to
kill them. I have repeatedly tried various insecti-
cides— Fir tree oil, Gishurst, paraffin. Swift and
Sure — in various ways sufficiently strong to kill the
plant, but not the insect ; also fumigation with
Tobacco paper, killing the plants purposely, but
still the pest remained whilst leaves were green.
They seem to increase rapidly, and very soon sap
up the plants' juices completely. We have at the
present time one compartment each of Cucumbers
and Melons in heated frames, fruit set, but their
growth now stopped. I should be much obliged if
vou would tell me what it is, and also any remedv.
-S. K. T.
*^* The Cucumber and Melon houses are infested
with thrips and green fly. Your want of success in
killing them was very likely owing to your not hav-
ingrepeated the remedy. Whatevermeansyou adopt
should again be employed in the course of four or
five days — for this reason, the eggs have not been
destroyed ; consequently in the course of a few days
the plants are again overrun with the pests, so that
a second or even a third dose should be given, so as
to kUl the new generations oft' before they have had
time to lay their eggs. Soft soap and Tobacco
water should kill thrips : before the plants are quite
drv wash them with cold water. Soft soap is a most
valuable addition to many insecticides : it adheres
1o the insects and chokes up their breathing pores. —
G. S. S.
'Names of plants. — F. Stead man. — 1, Xepeta
violacea ; 2, Antenuaria margaritaeea. G. C. —
Please send better specimens. E. B. R. — Hoya
heUa. J. IT. TMnfon. — t, '\"ibumum Ltintana : 5,
Linieera Ledehouri ; 7, Benthamia fi'a'^fera. T'li'-
ray\. — The Dendrobe is an ordinary form of Bensoniae ;
Epidendi'um phoeniceum ; cannot decide upon plant you
name without seeing specimen. G. U. — 1, Ma?de-
vallia Schlimi; 2, Dendi'ohium superbiens. 73. S. W.
— l,Chehdoniummajus; 2, Orobus tnberosus; 3, Pedi-
eularis palustris ; 4. Geranium pha?iun ; o, Pedicularls
sylvatica; 6, Lychnis vespertina. Fanny Fe^-n. — 1,
Pteris sciberula ; 2, Adiantum hispidnlura; 3, Schize.i
bifida ; 4. Hymeuopliyllum demissum. Sit-^seT. — 1,
Orchis Morio ; 2, Habenaria ehlorantha ; 3, Orchis
maculati; 4, Listera ovata. T. McU. — 1, Aeridcs
Yeitchi ; 2, Yanda Roxburghi ; 3, Epidendrum eoclilea-
tum; 4, Brassavola glauca. W. King. — 1, Dendro-
hium Parishi; 2, Odontoglossum cn.spum, poor va-
riety ; 3, 0. mulus ; 4, Cattleya GaskeUiana. Querist.
— The flower sent is not an Orchid ; it is Utricularia
montaua. a tropical Bladder-wort. S. J. — 1, Den-
drohiumCalceohis; 2, XeottiaXidus-avis; fine example.
Bucks. — 1, Drosera capensis ; 2, D. rotundifolia.
p. E.— Erica eximia ; 2, E. Hartnelli ; 3, Inipatiena
Sultani. G. H. — Cannot name Tree Ferns from
such small scraps. Curio. — Bolbophyllum barbi-
eenini. Subscription. — 1. Blechnnm corcovadense ;
2, Adiantum formosum; 3, Blechnura occidentale; 4,
Adiantum tcnerum; 5, Adiantum cnneatum.
July 9, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
28
WOODS &i FORESTS.
THE WILLOW AS A SEASIDE TREE.
Neither as an ornamental nor as a timber tree is
the Willow %-erT extensively grown, unless upon the
margins of lakes and rivers, for which situations it
is well adapted, and as it grows nearly as fast as a
Gum tree does under the most favourable circum-
stances, it soon forms a cover ; but we are not so
sure that its excellence as a seaside tree is so well
known, or that it is used so extensively as it might
be for sheltering purposes near the sea" coast ; yet it
would appear to be one of the best for this purpose.
TraveUers on the Lancashire coast, between Black-
pool and Southport, cannot but have noticed how
extensively the Willow is planted in belt lines to
protect plantations and gardens from the sea
breeze, which frequently sweeps along this part of
the coast with unusual severitv, and how well it
grows in the light sandy soil of the district. In some
places It IS growing on what were a few vears a^o
nothing but sand-banks. In the well-kept public
gardens at Lytham, which extend to within about
ntty paces of high-water mark, the WiUow is planted
on all sides near the sea for shelter, and thou<-h it
IS only some few years since the gardens here Vere
made and planted, and though the soil is verv poor,
the A\ mows are now 20 feet or 30 feet hi<^h and o-jve
a waving, feathery lightness of aspect to the seine,
and an ornamental appearance to the grounds which
one would not think could be produced bv the
\\ mow under such circumstances. Here and" else-
where in the neighbourhood the Elm, Beech, Syca-
more, Oak, Laburnum, and other deciduous trees
are as brown and withered in foliage during the
summer as if a severe black frost had passed over
them, andshowgenerally how badly the situationsuits
them : but the Willow towers aloft, and is green
and luxuriant to its topmost branches. In the ex-
tensive parks around Clifton Hall, and close to the
sea, we also noticed that the plantations were all
protected in the same way from the blast. In some
places the Willows appeared to be of a good age,
and were considerably taller than the Spruces, Oaks,
and other trees which they guarded from the storm.
The Poplar seemed to stand the blast next best to
the Willow, and afforded variety ; but this also
suffers visibly from the gales.
For general planting, however, near the sea the
best subjects are evidently to be found among Ever-
greens, though some of these do not appear to thrive
any better than the deciduous trees, and among the
worst is the Portugal Laurel. Within the shelter of
the low walls in front of the villa gardens facing the
beach it grows, but above the shelter of the wall it
makes no progress, and the tops look as if they had
been scorched by fixe. Beside the Laurel, and f uUy
exposed to the blast — and we should say within
reach of the spray from the sea — the Laurnstinns
thrives amazingly, making a large and densely-fur-
nished bush, such as is seldom seen in inland situa-
tions. It is quite a substitute for the Laurel. The
Aucuba japonica and the Hollies do fairly well, and,
what is rather remarkable, the golden variegated
kinds seem to grow better than the green onesT The
Sweet Bay, Arbutus, evergreen Oak, and Privet also
do well. X.
Dry rot in timber. — A remedy has been dis-
covered, by the use of which this destructive enemy
to the woodwork of a house may be destroyed or
arrested. What is known as " dry rot " is caused
by the spores of a species of fungus (the Merulius
lacrymans), which, though they are sometimes
carried by currents of air to the scene of their
future devastations, are more frequently present in
the soil upon which the house is built at the time
of erection, and are brought into near contact with
the woodwork in the filling up between the joists,
or sometimes even in the mortar. Notwithstanding
its name, dry rot does not act upon perfectly dry
timber, but begins its ravages whenever the wood
is in the necessary state of humidity. It may be
prevented by mixing with the rubbish used for filling
in the floors the "tank waste" from alkali works
or the same substance will completely check it if
already developed. Tank waste is of no commercial
value, and may be had at alkali works for fetching ;
it wholly destroys this species of vegetable life, and
generates no bad smeU whatever. — X.
SHALLOW T: deep PLANTING.
"E. B." renders useful service by calling fresh at-
tention to the evils of deep planting in The Gakdek,
June 18 (p. 570). It is downright cruelty to trees
to thrust their roots too deeply into the ground;
the feeding roots are thus thrust far down beyond
the reach of the best plant food, and the least
harm that can come to over-deeply planted trees is
that they will spend several years' time in raising
themselves nearer to the surface where they ought
to have been placed at first. The majority of them
never reach there, and a most serious loss of time
and vital force occur to recover the first mistakes
of deep planting. The practical instructions given
by "E. E." are all that can be desired, and, if care-
fully followed out, would show a difference of years
in time and many pounds per acre in profit in favour
of moderately shallow planting. Jly attention was
drawn to this subject many years since on observing
the extraordinary efforts made by a number of trees
to raise themselves out of the ground. JIany of
these were choice species and varieties of Conifers
that had been nursed up in pots and were planted
out with their balls intact to save time, and also to
prevent any check to the trees. Why, this very act
checked these trees for years. As some of these
specimens had been planted out of large pots
(12-inch), of course the whole mass of roots was
buried deeply so as to cover over the surface of the
old ball. Hardly were the roots thus interred when
the plants began to raise them up. Aided by the
circular form that most of the roots had assumed
in pots, as well as by their natural craving to rise
nearer to the surface, the roots rose higher and
higher year by year until almost the entire original
coils that had been cramped into pots lay high and
dry on the surface of the turf. And it was not
until this upheaving was accomplished and the
roots started afresh near the surface that any \isible
growths were made. Pot-grown trees, I admit,
form an exaggerated example of the evils of deep
planting ; but similar evils, though in a lesser degree,
happen to straight roots without spiral coUs that
are too deeply buried. Not only are food and
warmth lost by deep planting, but the plants lose
much time in attempts, more or less successful, to
raise their roots to more favourable feeding grounds.
And all this time might have been devoted to
timber-making had the roots been placed in the
most favourable positions at first.
D. T. F
Cleating sawn timber. — During the next three
months those who have to do with sawn wood
especially such as is clear in the grain, wiU have to
exercise care to prevent serious damage by splitting.
There are various ways of preventing this. A
common plan is to nail short strips of wood to the
ends of the planks and other kinds of sawn wood,
but, on the whole, there is nothing to equal hoop-
iron for the purpose. This, cut into short lengths,
according to the dimensions of the wood and bent
into the shape of the letter S> ^nd then driven into
the ends of the pieces of wood to be protected, will
resist an enormous strain and prevent damage by
splitting. — D. J. Yeo.
The Scotch, or Wych. Elm is more valuable
than the English Elm as regards its timber. This
is useful for cart-naves, and also for various purposes
as a substitute for Ash. It often inclines to grow
with a straggling head, and to break off into two or
three limbs, and is the better for being a little con-
fined. If grown by itself it may be iilanted at 12
feet apart, but can be advantageously mixed with
other hardwood trees. The great drawback to its
being extensively planted is its liability to dry rot
in the centre — pump-rot it is often called. This, I
believe, it is most liable to when planted on sand or
very dry soU, although it is often found affected on
good soil. The English Elm is a quick-growing
timber tree of compact habit. The timber is of
little value till over fifty years old. In the south it
is used as a substitute for Oak in the manufacture
of cotfins. It is also used for some of the more
common articles of furniture. It thrives well on a
sandy soil or light loam ; on the magnesian lime-
stone formation it also grows well. It is mostly
planted with other trees. — F.
THE LARCH: ITS DISEASE, VALUE, AND
USES OF WOOD.
Much has been written on the Larch, but how-
ever much may be said in commendation of it, its
great value as a timber tree and its place in the
economy of British forestry can scarcely be over-
stated. Its aptitude to afSliate itself to almost all
conditions of soils, situations, and climates, its rapid
growth, its early value, its established durability as
a timber tree, and the many uses for which its
timber is adapted, are qualities which alone belong
to it, and which none of its compeers in British
syMcultnre possess. The Larch is not now an alien
requiring a monopoly of care and coaxing to enable
it to develop its greatest perfection, whether as an
ornamental tree in the landscape, or as a timber
tree of the first importance, capable of husbanding
and yielding vast wealth to the nation.
But the Larch has been for some years past, and
is stm, in a rapidly degenerating state. Of the
causes or reasons assigned for the decay of the
Larch, they may or they may not be correct. Never-
theless, that the tree is diseased is a fact familiar
to most peopile ; therefore it is high time for prac-
tical men to turn their wisdom in search of some
sort of remedy to check and mitigate its onward
fatal progress. Some say that frost is the cause of that
ulcerous disease, some say the soil, some one thing,
some another, while indeed, whatever the cause
may be, it is not yet well understood, but the end
is premature decay. Now, if frost be the cause of
disease, how does it happen that it is the oldest
and most obdurate parts of the tree on which these
abscesses, as a rule, occur; and why do the young
and sensitive parts of the tree escape being frosted ?
Abscesses are common on all parts of the tree, from
the collar upwards to within four or five years'
growth of the top. It is rare to find an abscess
nearer the top than that ; therefore the frost theory
is hardly tenable ; has no sure basis, in fact. There
are two forms in which the ulcerous disease of the
Larch appear — the one in the form of greater or
smaller abscesses, which cancer-like eat into the
bole and branches of the tree, sapping away the
very essence of its existence ; the other in the form
of a general oozing of purulent matter all over,
which is seen exuding through the channels of
the bark, and of the two forms of ulcer, the
last is the least acute and deamy. Tree diseases
are different, and cannot be treated in the same
manner as the diseases of human beings, nor can
foresters bring the same amount of scientific skill
to bear upon this subject as that which learned
doctors of the human body can; nevertheless, though
wanting in scientific skill as foresters are, it is not
their fault, but the fault of circumstances : which,
however, is no reason why they should not make the
most of the knowledge they possess in the mean-
while till the grain of their scientific knowledge is
augmented. It is not contrary to nature or reason
to "suppose that diseases are contagious among
plants as weU as among animals, although it is not
here assumed that the gangrenous disease of the
Larch is of that nature : stUl there is not much
doubt as to its being hereditary ; and that, there-
fore, the disease is transmitted downward from
generation to generation, the germ of disease being
ever present in the offspring.
The propagation of the Larch is generally from
seed; there are means of propagating plants other-
wise than by seed, but this is the customary mode
of propagating the Larch. Here then the area of
disease is reduced to the minimum, i.e., to its
primeval source in the seed. Seeds axe composed
of two distinct parts, the living part, which is the
embryo, the dead part being its integument. It is
not essential to deal minutely with the elementary
24
THE GARDEN.
[July 9, 1887.
composition of the seed if the hypothesis of here-
ditary disease is at all admissible ; the beginning of
the end is evident. Doubtless there are cures for
the diseases of plants as well as of animals, and
though diseases in either case often cannot be
wholly eradicated, they can at all events be modified
by remedies. Something in Nature is the cause of
disease, and something out of Nature must work the
cure. To distinguish what that something is, is a
difficulty foresters have still to surmount.
This leads us then to consider the seed question
— a very vital question, indeed, in the case of the
Larch, and not it alone. Now, a very probable
cause of the degeneracy of the Larch is the want of
due regard in the collection and selection of seed,
and in not having test measures to prove the qua-
lity of it ; that is, instead of having from 15,000 to
25,000 seeds in the pound, it were better to reject
and reduce the number to the lowest, better to have
only 7000 seeds f uU of life and growing force than
to have twice or thrice that number in the pound,
seeing that there might not be more than 400 to
700 really good seed in all that number possessing
enough vitality to prolong life for more than a few
years, the sequel being untimely death.
Many seedlings come into existence in the foster-
earth of a genial nursery seed-bed that under diffe-
rent circumstances would never, if left entirely to
the course of Nature, appear. Can the Larch be
regenerated? It is not impossible. It might be
regenerated and again brought back to its former
vigour and health by using greater care in the col-
lection and selection of seed, that is the great nur-
sery and seed firms of the country ought not, as
heretofore, to pay the gatherer of seed for quantity,
but for quality, and those employed to gather coni-
ferous seed should be experienced men, men able to
discern between a healthy and unhealthy tree, and
not the sort of persons to be sometimes seen doing
the work. The gathering of seed is most important
work, and requires Judgment to do it skilfully.
Diseased trees generally produce more cones than
healthy trees, and it is true that a' very large amount
of seed, as at present gathered, is taken from dis-
eased and immature trees. There is no reason why
seed should only be gathered from mature trees ;
but there are reasons why it should not be gathered
from declining trees nor from trees of less than
half a century old and still showing signs of high
vitality. This is a question for the consideration of
our many nurserymen and seedsmen in this country,
and not altogether for them, but for all concerned
in the future improvement of arboriculture.
A still surer and more effectual means of regene-
rating the Larch will be through the spontaneous
process of natural reproduction. The natural des-
cendants of reproduction are often better fitted
than their parent to survive in the area they inhabit,
and cannot be worse, because anything less vivified
is not likely to generate, or, if so, it could not long
survive among its more robust congeners; wherefore
there is not much danger of imbecile seed outliving
more than the first three years after dissemination.
More encouragement ought to be given to trees in-
clined to reproduce their kind. The Larch is a tree
so inclined, and in the interest of its future preserva-
,tion should have special care. It seeds freely, dis-
persing its offspring over a wide area ; in fact, it is
so prolific and aggressive in its nature, as sometimes
to acquire complete possession of the area, to the
abolition of nearly all others, even although the
parent trees may have been formerly in a minority on
the ground. The progeny of the Larch begotten by
natural dissemination are strong, healthy, and vigor-
ous, always ensuring sound progenitors to perpetuate
the existence of the tree, the weaklings of the family
dying, as it were, in infancy or prematurely. The
physical constitution of the Nature-planted tree is
quite different to the transplanted tree ; the entire
system is changed. But in what manner is this im-
provement discernible? It is visible in the uniform
vigour of the tree; in the active powei; of its several
parts ; in the absence of dead and dying branches ;
in its copious green foliage, untainted by disease ;
in the clear, clean skin of its trunk ; and if ulcer be
not altogether absent, it, too, is more rare, with
every prospect of its becoming more rare ; and if
bugs have not entirely disappeared, the high vitality
of the tree is such that attacks made by such vermin
do not materially retard its progress. These are
some of the features of improvement.
The roots of all kinds of trees that are cultivated
by the natural method cannot be impaired, and
must be in the most perfect state of health and
strength, and therefore less liable to be blown down
by cyclonic storms. The local positions of many of
the plantations of our country are so prominently
exposed to the devastating tornadoes which from
time to time sweep over the face of the earth
with such impartial sway— leaving behind such de-
plorable marks of its fury— that the most carefully
thinned as well as the unthinned plantations
suffer alike. If self-sown trees will withstand
wind pressure better than those planted, that
ought, of itself, to be an inducement to stimulate
and apply the process of natural reproduction.
Trees whose roots never have been injured
by the spade of man must doubtless be much
stronger, especially in the main roots, and are
capable of resisting the force of the wind better
than trees whose roots have been less or more
strained and damaged by transplanting. Wind
power and action are not a compact steady force, but
act, as it were, by a series of swellings and depres-
sions, or by a compound succession of wave-like
incitements ; and the potency of the wind to do
harm is in proportion to the density or velocity
of its volume, and whether it plies on or is opposed
by a round or a square-shaped body ; and the
power of a tree to resist the force of the wind is
in proportion to its buoyancy of head, its stability
of roots, and the anchorage these have in the
ground. What are the facts concerning nursery-
cultured trees ? Their roots, as a rule, are all in-
clined to one side, and this is a structural flaw
that, even after having been long years planted
out into the forest, is never altogether repaired,
which is frequently observed after windfalls. Hence
great care is needed in planting such trees. The
roots of such deficient trees should, in planting,
be laid towards the prevailing wind, as this pre-
caution acts as a potent counterbalance to violent
gales and is conducive to the safety of a tree.
In forming new plantations, the Larch should
not be planted in large bodies by itself. The un-
certain tenure of its life enjoins this precaution.
On soils at all agreeable to its nature it may be
planted in the proportion of one to three, four and
five ; and in the most favourable soils it should not
be planted thicker than one to two of any other.
The Larch is a tree exceedingly well adapted for
growing in bulk ; nevertheless, the premature high
death-rate of the tree forbids the application of
such a course at present. If its regeneration be
possible, that must be consummated ere mass plant-
ing can be freely applied. Acclimatised from earliest
existence to all the vicissitudes of our fickle climate,
the (naturally-sown) Larch can resist all the powers
of Nature, however violent ; frosts do It no harm,
heavy snowfalls may bend, but cannot break its
robust stem ; nor can tempestuous gales uproot it,
it being so firmly anchored.
The Larch is not less valuable as an object of
beauty than it is remunerative as a timber tree. It
has a gracefulness of form which is never out of
place in any position, and will compare in these
qualities withany other coniferous tree, but its great
quaUties are best apparent and most completely
developed in the natural state. Its sweep of
branches, sometimes pendulous, sometimes stiff and
horizontal, and sometimes drooping, gently curving
downwards and then upwards ; its summer green-
ness and its winter nakedness and airiness are
phases and features which give to it a peculiar
charm of its own. The naturally sown Larch tree
also retains the lower branches, and retains them
green and vigorous to the ground if desired, isola-
tion being the sole essential. Of course trees are
not confined to only one ornamental aspect ; they
have many, and the Larch possesses several, and
yet is seldom erratic in the habit of its growth.
Of all the trees spoken of as substitutes for the
Larch, none can be termed substitutes except in a
narrow sense, although doubtless each of them might
reflect one or more of the qualities of the Larch,
which would be the limit of comparison. But
though all the qualities of these substitutes were
associated in one of them, yet it would be far
from realising the vast accommodating qualities
of the Larch, apart altogether from its worth.
From its value as a sheep-net-stake to its value
as a ship mast, among British trees there is none
of such universal use, and being so is always in
great demand, consequently never falling to stag-
nation price. The preservation or extinction of such
a tree is truly a question of great moment ; it is a
question fraught with immense consequences to the
great landed proprietors of this country who desire
to make the most of the land set apart by them for
the production of a timber crop. The regeneration
of the Larch appears to me to be one of the
paramount questions in connection with forestry,
requiring earnest and immediate consideration.
G.
The wood of the Italian Poplar. — The
Black Italian Poplar for timber purposes is the
most valuable ; and it is one of the best trees we
have for planting on strong, wet, clay soils, on
which it thrives well, provided there is no stagnant
water. It grows to a great height, and generally
leans a good deal to the leeside, especially when
much exposed. Owing to its growing so much
quicker than any of our other forest trees, it is not
suitable for intermixing with them, as it soon over-
tops them. It should be planted 16 feet apart, and
filled up with Birch to i feet apart. Its timber is
of comparatively little value when it is of small
size, but after forty years of age it commands a
good price. It is the most suitable for making
" breaks " for railway wagons of any of our timber,
but for that purpose it must not be less than
11 inches in diameter. In soils unsuited to its
growth, such as wet, peaty soils, it is liable to throw
out excrescences on the trunk. On good loamy soil
its quickness of growth is quite astonishing. The
White Poplar or Abele is the only other species
valuable as a timber tree. Unlike the Black Italian,
this grows well on damp, peaty soil, and in such
situations it is most valuable to jjlant ; it also grows
well on stiff loam. Its habit of growth is not so
spiral as the other, but partakes more of the habit
of the Oak or Beech, and when grown singly is very
ornamental. The timber is most useful when of
large size. — W.
Facts relating to bent timber. — As to the
peculiarities of bending, after a piece of wood is
bent its character is almost entirely changed. It is
wonderful how it is changed, and by that change it
is better fitted for any use than it was before.
Bending makes the wood heavier ; it is pressed to-
gether, and the same bulk of wood weighs more
after it is bent than before. Another peculiarity is
that, when it is thoroughly dry, it is stiffer than the
same sized piece of wood that is alike in every other
way in regard to grain. It will admit of more strain,
and move less out of its position, than a piece of
wood that is unbent. On this account it is better
fitted for carriage-making than sawn pieces. A
piece of timber that has been steamed, whether it is
bent or not, has its stiffness increased. It is more
brittle than it was before, and for some uses it will
not do as well ; and yet there is a quality of timber
that the steaming process and the kiln-drying
process affect very much the same ; they both cook
the gum in the timber and make it brittle and stiff.
There is a grade or class of Hickory that is benefited
by being steamed or kiln-driedfor use as spokes or
whiffietrees. There is a kind of Hickory that never
becomes stiff by a natural process of drying, and one
of the desirable qualities of a spoke, rim, orwhiffle-
tree is stiffness as well as strength ; you take that
Hickory — and it is the very best we have — and
steam it, and it is better fitted for these purposes
than it was before. It is difficult to tear apart a
piece of bent wood ; the fibres are interwoven one
with the other. We do not perceive the change on
the outside, but when we come to split the stick
open we find that its character is entirely changed.
— T.
THE GARDEN.
-.24
No. BIT. SATURDAY, July 16,1887. Vol. XXXII.
" This Is an Art
Which does mend Nature : change it rather ; but
The Art itself is Nature."— 5ft oA-espeare.
Rose Garden.
THE MULCHING OF ROSES.
Notwithstanding all that has been written
about these, one meets with amateur and other
rosarians here and there who seem to know
little about the character or functions of
these valuable aids to culture. Generally, they
may be broadly divided into two classes, me-
chanical and manurial ; though the first gene-
rally feeds the roots more or less, and the latter
mostly discharges all the mechanical functions of
a mulch as well or better than those that are
employed for these purposes only.
As it is not, however, many days ago that the
question, What is a mulch ] was asked in all
sincerity, it may be well to answer it before
discussing its various purposes and uses.
Briefly, then, a mulch is any loose substance
spread over the surface- of the soil, such as
Moss, leaves, spent tan, sawdust. Cocoa fibre
refuse, sand, gravel, burnt turf, peat, coal or wood
ashes, and animal manures incorporated with
hay, straw, hair, or litter of any sort in all their
various stages and degrees of decomposition.
This host, though somewhat comprehensive, by
no means exhausts the list of available mulches.
For the surface soU of the growing staple, when
kept loose and freely exposed to the atmosphere
until it is finely pulverised and lies loose over
rather than forms a portion of the growing tilth,
becomes one of the most valuable as well as
cheapest and most efficient of all mulches.
Ail that is needed to preserve the efficiency of
soil mulches is frequent disturbance — surface
scarifications ; these hinder the surface from ad-
hering to the growing tilth, warns the roots oflf
and to keep clear of the mulch, and preserves the
latter in such place and condition as qualify it
for discharging all the mechanical functions of a
powerful mulch. These functions are mani-
fold, such as, for example, the following, viz. ,
conservation of the food, water, and heat of the
ground, and consequent safeguarding it against
the extremes of cold and drought. The most
perfunctory observer of the efiect of sun, frost,
Avind, or air in motion in direct contact with
the surface-tilth of the soil cannot fail to
have noticed how rapidly food and water and
heat are dissipated by the action of sun,
air, and wind on the surface. Each thirsty
sunbeam, every molecule of air, and every frost
loosen, liberate, steal something from the
surface. Now, just as clothing, especially of
woollen fabrics, conserves the warmth of our
bodies, so does the mechanical texture of sur-
face mulches conserve the heat, moisture and
food of the ground.
The more porous the material, the more effi-
ciently does it perform the mechanical functions
of a mulch. For example, 6 inches of the
roughest Cocoa fibre refuse is virtually impervious
to the passage of heat or moisture upwards or
downwards. In practice it is most important
to bear in mind this compound action of surface
mulches. Much nonsense has been written
even by clever men about mulches that let the
warm sun.shine through to the roots, while re-
taining the natiiral heat and conserving the
food and moisture within the earth. This is, of
necessity, sheer nonsense, a physical impossi-
bility. The mulch penetrable to the warmth
of the sunshine would prove no barrier to the
free passage and copious loss of vapour or food.
Hence it follows that the great use of mechanical
mulches is that they tend to strike a mean be
tween extremes of temperature and a plethora
or scarcity of food and water. In a word, they
keep the roots warmer in winter and cooler in
summer, and help to provide them with
abundant daily supplie.s of food and water
without subjecting them to alternate fits of
famine and plethora. They even do more than
this. They go very far indeed towards render-
ing a water famine at the roots impossible. The
surface mulch prevents waste from surface
washing, greatly enlarges the storing capacity
of the soil, extends the area of supply, and
delivers the water where it is most needed.
Thus, the surface mulch proves itself a most
frugal administrator of our rainfall. But it
also recalls the water after it has left the
surface. A mere mulch, even of cold, hard,
utterly sterile stone, gravel, sand, coal ashes,
or sawdust, sets a series of infinitesimal
pumps, capillaries, or hair-like tubes in mo-
tion that bring water to the surface from the
vast depths of the earth to supply the wants
of the growing roots. Now this marvellous
pumping machinery of capillary attraction, so
minute in its individual parts, so semi-omnipo-
tent in its grand aggregate of total results, can-
not operate on the surface soil during drought,
when it is most needed, unless that surface is
protected with a mulch.
Let the veriest tyro in natural philosophy or
in horticulture mark the baked, riven surface
of the earth, the thirst-killed roots, and the
drooping tops of vegetation on unmulched
soils under long droughts, and then turn to the
moist earth, the healthy roots, the thriving
plants laden with produce, and attempt to
measure up if he can the aggregate supplies of
water raised by capillary attraction — supplies
that can only be maintained at a maximum and
retained by the earth instead of being dissipated
into the air through the aid of mulches. During
these periods of heat and drought it may seem
almost tantalising to add that the average tem-
peratiire of the earth and local atmosphere may
be sensibly increased by what may be termed
the intermittent use of such semi -natural
mulches as those here described. To prevent
any mistake as to the eflfect of mulches on the
temperature of the surface tilth, it must be re
peated that while the effect of permanent
mulches is to mediate between extremes, it is
yet possible so to manipulate surface mulches
as to materially add to the heat of the growing
tUth. This is constantly done by market gar-
deners and others in the raising and fostering
of such crops as early Radishes, Carrots, and
Potatoes. By removing the mulch by day
when the sun shines, and returning it over the
heated surface before sundown, the greater por-
tion of the sun's heat is caught in the thick meshes
of the mulch. This is less easUy done in the
case of Roses ; still by a little akilf ul manipula-
tion and a daily transposition of surface mulch-
ings, the root runs of Roses may be sensibly
warmed in the early spring, and also maintained
at a higher temperature later tlu-ough the
autumn. Whether this would always be wise
or worth the candle is quite another question ;
but that surface mulches may be so used as to
hold and retain the smibeams absorbed by the
surface soil on their removal, is a fact of very
considerable cultural importance.
Manurial mulches. — Most of these possess
all the qualities of the best mechanical mulches.
They are porous, retentive of water, and yet
virtually impervious to heat or air ; but, in
addition to these mechanical and semi-neutral
qualities, they are more or less richly stored or
freighted with plant food. Of course, the latter
varies in strength and quality almost to infinity,
according to the amount and character of the
mulch used. Short Grass, for example, scattered
thinly over the surface may be almost ranked
among such merely mechanical mulches as fibre
refuse, spent tan, sawdust, coal ashes ; but
applied from 4 inches to 8 inches thick, and rain
failing on it in a fresh state, it is speedily con-
verted into a manurial mulch of great potency.
Short Grass in a rapid state of decomposition
may almost match cow manure in manurial
strength, and may prove totally destructive to
crops mulched with it. The same holds good
with farmyard and stable manures. In modera-
tion there are few or no mulches to equal them
alike in their manurial or mechanical eft'ects, but
overdoses are hardly less pleasant than they are
actively destructive over the roots of Roses or
other plants. This leads us to lay down some
general rules in relation to the condition and
thickness of manurial mulches in general, and
for Roses in particular.
As to condition, these should be so far de-
composed as to be what is technically called
sweet. All gross, offensive, rank manures, such
as those from piggeries, bullock sheds, ifec. ,
should be rejected. There are two reasons for
laying such under the ban of the rosarian.
The first is on the ground of deUoacy and clean-
liness. It outrages every sense of fitness, pro-
priety, and refinement to be invited to a feast of
Roses and fiud it spread for us among the rank
odours and wallowing impurities of the stock-
yard, or worse, such as the vile compound of
malt combs and closet droppings in a state of
active decomposition and the most diabolical
effluvia. Such violent shocks to refined sensi-
bilities are by no means needful for the growth
of perfect Rose trees or blooms. Rank manures
are likewise a source of danger to the plants as
well as a gross ofience to visitors. Their very
gi-ossness proves them unfit for profitable em-
ployment as mulches. The volatile gases so
copiously escaping from them are lost to the
Roses, as well as obnoxious to their owners.
Not only this ; fresh, rank manures applied so
thickly, decompose violently, and heat to excess
during the process, both processes being new
sources of danger met in close contact with the
Rose roots. Should the latter escape being
burned or poisoned with the caloric or gases
thus evolved, the manurial value of the
mulches are whoUy dissipated or ruined in the
processes.
For these and other reasons mulches of fresh
and rank manures are quite a mistake. They
even feed the roots less than those that are
more or less thoroughly decomposed. As a sort
of standard or model mulch for Roses, there i.s
notliing to equal ordinary stable or farmyard
manure, with its usual proportion of horse-drop-
ings and straw, and yard manure as distinguished
from that of stall-fed bullocks or pigs. This mix-
ture from six months to a year old and 6 inches
thick will serve every desired and desirable pur-
pose as a feeding mulch for Roses. Its potency
and efficiency will be found to be in the inverse
ratio of its sweetness and inofl'ensiveness. Every
drop of water passed through such a sixrfac-
ing will be freighted fully with plant food
on its passage, the food being presented in
such form and condition, that the roots eat of
it abundantly without risk of injury to the
most delicate. Or, to put it more in accordance
with the latest discoveries as to root science and
function, these partially decomposed mulches
furnish the best possible pabulum for the solvent
' juices of the roots or external agencies or forces.
26
THE GARDEN.
[July 16, 1887.
such as microbes, to convert into Rose foods, or
Roses at one or more removes. These processes
and powers are so vitally important, and yet so
subtle and easily interrupted or deranged, that
it becomes of the utmost importance to sub-
cover them with such a mulch as shall supply all
their wants and protect them from most of the
dangers to which they are exposed, the more
prominent of which are intermittent food sup-
plies, extremes of heat, cold, drought, or water ;
and as a surfacing of 6 inches of partially de-
composed farmyard manure provides for all this
and more, it may be safely recommended as the
best possible mulch for Roses. D. T. F.
deepens towards the centre of the bloom. The fra-
grance is delicate and sweet. It is a most valu-
able acquisition to the Tea-soented varieties. — E. C.
ROSES FOR MARKET.
In The Garden June 25 (p. 57.3) "A Novice in
Marketing" expresses surprise that Niphetos, which
but a few years ago commanded the best price
in the London market, should now realise less than
coloured kinds. The explanation is simple. It has
been grown in such enormous quantities by some of
the large London growers, that it is now more plenti-
ful than other Roses not quite so suitable for pur-
poses to which it is peculiarly adapted. However
much in request any flower or fruit may be, it is
possible to glut the market with it. This is the case
with Niphetos ; the supply more than equals the de-
mand. It is indeed the same with everything grown
for market. There is sure to come a time when there
is more than can be readily disposed of. Then to
force a sale the price has to be lowered. There is
both good and evil in this ; the glutting of the market
makes it bad for the producer, but the purchaser
benefits by having good things brought within his
reach. The overstocking of the London markets
has become more frequent of late years. This is
principally owing to the wonderful increase in the
area of glass devoted to market culture that has
taken place during the last decade. The command
of convenience and capital which some have at their
disposal enables them to quickly work up an
immense stock of anything that appears likely to
take the public fancy. I went into a house in a
London market garden last spring and I there saw
30,000 young plants of Niphetos. These were all
to be planted out in large houses for the production
of cut blooms. This will give an idea of the extent
to which Niphetos Rose has been grown of late. It
was just the same with Marechal Niel. For some
time it realised from 4s. to Us. per dozen. A house
of this Rose was found to be so profitable an invest-
ment, that a large area of glass was given up to it.
Then came the inevitable glut, and the market over-
flowed with the Marechal. Now that it has been
rooted out in many of the largest market gardens
it is not nearly so plentiful and there is a tendency
to return to old prices. I doubt, however, it this
Rose at double the price pays so well as Niphetos.
It has such a short season where that of the latter
lasts several months. One may cut quite four
months from the same plant. Bypleet.
SHORT JSrOTES.— ROSES.
Rose''Archidueliesse Maria Immaeulata. —
The Journal des Roses, with a coloured plate, highly
praises this seedling of Soupert and Netting, which
they raised by crossing Tea Rose Madame Lambard
with Tea Socrates. The colour is a bright brick red.
Noisette Rose Prineesse Marie de Luaig-
nan. — M. Cochet declares that this is the most beauti-
ful Noisette ever raised. It is a seedling raised by M.
Periiy, a musical composer. The flowers are palo
yellow, of tine form, and exquisite perfume — the last u
rare quality in Nciisettos.
Rose ]\Iadame de Watteville.— This new
Rose was exhibited in several stands at the National
Rose Society's show, held at Kensington. In most
cases the flowers were of superb form and finish,
notwithstanding the trying character of the season.
When well shown it is an exquisitely beautiful
variety, the petals shell-like and spreading, sym-
metrically arranged, and in colour white, flushed
lightly with a lovely pale salmon-pink, which
ROSE BUDS NOT OPENING.
I SEND a box of Rose buds showing the sort of
Roses I get. You will see they mostly show green
centres, and the petals are much deformed. Dozens
of them come like these, and chiefly those which
come first into bloom. The plants are in good pre-
pared soil, well drained, and mulched with good
farmyard manure. When the flower-buds are be-
ginning to show, I give them periodical waterings
of liquid manure. Will you or any of your corre-
spondents tell me the reason why the buds are so
badly formed ? Every year it is just the same.
Puzzled.
*^* " Puzzled's " abortive Roses are rather a
puzzle to me, not that the curious phenomenon is
novel, but that it seems to attack all his sorts of
Roses indiscriminately, and every year alike. The
Roses, however, so far as can be judged from the
shrivelled state of the abortive buds sent, seem
mostly pink varieties. There is some hope in that
fact, as several of the pink varieties, such as Miss
Hassard, Jules Margottin, Duchesse de Vallombrosa,
and, worst of all, Comtesse de Serenye, have a bad
reputation in this way. So well deserved is this in
regard to the Comtesse, that, though we have many
plants, I have hardly been able to find one perfect
flower in a diligent search for such since " Puzzled's "
blooms arrived. This careful search over our Roses
also enables me to affirm that, among all other
colours, there are fewer malformed buds than usual.
It may also afford " Puzzled " some modicum of
comfort to be assured that our Comtesse de Serenye
are far worse than the samples he has sent. Can it be
possible that some of these pale pink Roses have
got some taint of the Bourbon Souvenir de la Mal-
maison in them, which, early in the season at least,
is the most monstrous blooming Rose we have ?
Should it turn out that " Puzzled's " monstrosities
run in certain colours or classes of Roses, the evil
might be mitigated by weeding out these colours
and classes.
On dissection of these malformed buds, the root
of the evil seems to lie in the seed vessels or
incipient hips. The latter are quite abnormally
developed for their age ; they are also deeper as
well as wider than usual. As if in sympathy with
this abnormal growth of the hips, the sepals or
calyx are also of abnormal size. Again, the petals
are lower down, and more mixed with the pistils
and stamens than is usual in regularly and properly
formed Rose buds. The arrangement of the petals
is also at fault. Cut a properly formed Rose bud
in halves from tip to base and the petals will be
found evenly rolled over each other, their upper por
tions pointing towards the apex. Cut these malformed
buds in two in the same way and the points of the
petals will be found pointing downwards to the
base of the buds. So great is the struggle for
space downwards, where it is impossible to find
it, so strong is the vital force of the distorted petals,
that the whole are crushed up together into
a hard mass, which, when cut through, is almost as
hard as ripe Peas, and it is possibly this downward
pressure on the crown of the hip that causes its
abnormal development. The petals are crushed
and riven in this fierce struggle for room in a wrong
direction, and the so-called green centres that are
the miserable products of all these efforts are the
tips of the seed vessels growing through the
wrecked petals of the Rose.
Such very briefly is the statement of the case
that occurs to me. As to cause and remedies, they
are even more obscure than the curious and pro-
voking transformations. So far as my experience
goes, they may be classified under the three heads
of constitutional, cliraatal, and cultural. Certain
colours and classes of Roses are more subject to
these monstrosities than others. Get rid of all that
seem tainted with malformation.
Then as to climate, improve it as much as possible
through the provision of shelter and a wise selec-
tion of site; also ayoid sites where these monstro-
sities have been and continue to be developed.
Improve the soil by drainage, manuring or with-
holding manure as found best.
But this brings us to cultivation. And here, I
think, possibly " Puzzled " will find his alleviation,
if not his remedy, for this provoking disease. His
feeding is probably too rich. If good prepared soil
means, in " Puzzled's " letter, well manured soil,
then his Roses are manured three times over — once
in the earth and twice over it — once by a rich
dressing of farmyard manure, and then by perio-
dical waterings of liquid manure. The phrase
" periodical " is very vague, and may mean once or
many times, and if the latter, his Roses may ex-
claim, through their monstrous forms, "Save us from
being killed or ruined by over -much manure."
" Manure water" is another vague term, that may
mean almost nothing or over-much, to the marring
of all good form, or even the destruction of Roses.
In most cases these monstrous blooms point to an
excess of food. No doubt sudden chills and stop-
pages of sap may also cause them. The fact of
their being most virulent among the first crops of
bloom points to excess of vital force or food as their
cause. They are also mostly associated with an exces-
sive number of petals. Altogether there seems too
much power and material to admit of any regular dis-
position or arrangement. Hence the distortions, &c.,
that ensue. When the growing force gets used up
through a first crop of these abortive blooms,
the plant can dispose of what remains, and arrange
it in symmetrical order on the normal lines of
beauty. Hence I would advise " Puzzled " to re-
move his mulch of manure, and to water not at all
with manure water this year. If this checks or
cures the malformations, well ; if not, choose a
fresh site and plant it with fresh plants in maiden
soil next year. D. T. Fish.
MARECHAL NIEL ROSE.
It was asked the other day " Why was Marechal
Niel Rose so much more saleable than other kinds ? "
I conclude this popularity arises from the fancy of
the day for yellow, orange, buff, brown, and similar
tints. Of course the Marechal Niel is a grand Rose
apart from its colour, but its colour is rare amongst
Roses, whilst other hues are abundant. Still the
fancy for yellows is very predominant, and if raisers
of Roses could but get away from stereotyped hues
into the popular tints, they would find their novelties
in great demand. New colours, or new combina-
tions of colours, are sure to hit the public fancy. I
saw, the other day, from one of our noted bouquet-
ists two large bouquets, one of mauve Orchids set in
the brown and bronzy foliage of Res Begonias, the
other the spathes of scarlet Anthuriums in foliage
of a similar character. The first was tied with
pretty mauve-coloured ribbon, the second with
bright red ribbon. The beautiful Orchids redeemed
the first from ugliness ; the second was the reverse
of pleasing, as Anthurium spathes are singularly
stiff and ungainly. Still, these bouquets attracted
exceeding interest and enthusiasm, far more indeed
than did those of the normal type, which were
beautiful, but by no means novel. It was evident
that the effort to satisfy the popular taste for odd
or novel combinations was successful. The mauve
and brown would have proved singularly successful
had the foliage employed for the base of the
bouquet been somewhat more graceful. The ab-
sence of elegant tinted foliage of novel hue limits
the ambition of the bouquetist in this new depar-
ture. It will be needful for market growers to
turn their attention in that direction, lest, as a last
resource, we find Beet leaves employed to give hues
which more graceful plants withhold.
During the spring, a lady who was a stranger to
me, and very much to spring flowers apparently,
called in here whilst the border Polyantluises were
in bloom. She at once became enthusiastic over
the orange, yellow, white, buff, brown, and similar
hues found in them, and seemed to care little for
my fancied rich colours. It was evident that this
rage for particular hues runs deep and far wider
than Roses. In the case of Roses, how much are
people attracted to the Austrian Brier, with i^s
July 16/ 1887:]
THE GARDEN.
salmon or coppery hue, and find special delight in
the orange-buff W. A. Richardson. If that hue
could be thrown into another Mareohal Niel, I fear
the latter would find a powerful competitor for
public favour, although the soft yellow of the
Marechal, with its fine form, substance, and endur-
ance, must keep it a strong favourite for many
years. In my experience few Roses hang longer
after being fully expanded, and few keep longer in
water after being cut. Perhaps the second best is
that lovely pink Tea, Catherine Mermet, made to
endure doubtless by reason of its great substance.
What a strong point is that in favour of the densely
double Roses. Indeed, as between semi-doubles or
thin doubles and single Roses, I prefer the latter,
for few, indeed, can excel in beauty some of the
delightful Dog Rose flowers of our hedgerows.
It is a pity that they are so very fugitive — the fault
of nearly all single flowers. However, we have so
many Roses of note now, that quality seems hard to
excel, and therefore we may look for breaks into
new colours. A. D.
THE DROUGHT AMONG THE ROSES.
Were the phrase not cruelly and tantalisingly
suggestive of water in abundance, one might say
that the drought has been playing " ducks and
drakes" with the Roses, whatever that may mean.
In this case it would mean very much that was de-
pressing and demoralising the fairest and fullest
promises, exploding rather than developing into the
most poor and paltry performances. Hardly has
the oppressive heat tempted the Roses to open their
eyes than they are full blown and gone.
We are advised on high authority to mulch. The
advice is good so far as helping to keep the roots
moist and cool is concerned. But we mulch the
roots to little permanent purpose or good, while
the sun scorches up their heads with a hundred
horse (that is, Fahrenheit) power.
Shading is almost the only antidote to scorching,
and this ought to be thought of in choosing a site
for Roses. More might be done to provide shelter
as well as shadow were both set about with proper
skill and in due time. Few rosarians that have
attempted to stage a few perfect boxes of twenty-
fours, thirty-sixes, forty-eights, or seventy-twos
but must have wished for more power than they
possessed over harsh, tarnishing winds, and severely
burning sunbeams.
The work of sheltering and shading each flower
in detail involves enormous labour and expense, as
well as absorbs an appalling amount of time. Neither
have the various attempts made to shade Roses in
blocks or masses proved suflioiently successful to
invite repetition. This is a mild way of describing
the virtual failures that have followed the various
attempts that have been made to directly shade
Roses en masse in the open by canvas or other
screens. Far more colour has been shut out in the
first instance than has been conserved by the
secondary functions of such shades or screens. In
other words, far more colour has been lost than
saved by the semi-opaque shading.
Nevertheless, in such seasons as we have had
this June — almost a whole month of sunshine with
few or no clouds or rain — the good results of shade
on Rose blooms have been generally as beneficial as
they were obviously apparent.
The whole structure, and what may be termed
the equipment and constitution of the Rose, proves
it to be far better fitted for combating cold than re-
sisting heat; as it hugs its semi-dormant petals
around its sleeping buds, it is safe to within a
measurable distance of zero. The average tempera-
ture most favourable to its perfect development
li( s within a few degrees of 00° Fahr. Add 20" or
more to this, the Rose suffers of necessity from
excess of heat as well as that of speed. By the
choice of partially shaded, not overhung sites, we
may very sensibly moderate excesses of heat with-
out seriously arresting or watering down the pro-
cesses of perfect colouring, or sensibly weakening
the strength of the plants. All this needs judgment,
but so also for that matter does the growing of per-
fect Rose blooms under any circumstances. And
Roses are so extremely fragrant and beautiful, that
no foresight or labour that will either enhance or
prolong their beauty can be considered eicessive in
any way or manner. Partial shade does both, and
it may generally bo found ready to hand in most
gardens it carefully looked for. But of shade in
general in horticulture either as a cultural, finishing
or conserving force, and especially among Roses, it
must never be lost sight of that any excess of it is
far worse than none.
Shadow overhead has also been so often asso-
ciated with the most persistent robberies of hungry
roots under ground that the shade has been too
often credited with the persistent impoverishment
of Roses. A perfect shade for Rose blooms should
neither overhang the tops of the plants, burrow
under their bottoms, nor afford too much nor too
little, but just suflicient to develop to the full every
hue of colour, and preserve it intact after it is laid
on.
The next point of most importance in regard to
the enlargement and perfecting of Rose blooms and
the strengthening of the staying properties of the
flowers consists in the keeping of the roots cool and
moist by means of various kinds of mulchings.
D. T. F.
Chrysanthemums.
E. MOLYNEUX.
Plants grown for the production of large
blooms will, in some instances, where struck
early in December or late in November, and
owing to the premature ripening of the first
break in some varieties, be now showing
second bloom-bud, this freak will cause a short
stoppage in the growth of the shoots upon such
plants, and ultimately the plants will develop
additional growths to the extent of six or more
upon each main stem. To the inexperienced
cultivator this is at all times a puzzling phase in
the growth of the plant, the difficulty to him
being to know how many of these new shoots to
retain for future flowering, and whicli to re
move, and when the operation should be made
Where the object is to obtain the largest
flowers in all their various qualities, then re-
move all the young shoots as soon as they can
be handled, with the exception of tliree of the
strongest-looking upon each plant. Some
growers wait until the new shoots are 4 inches
to 6 inches long — in fact until the wood is quite
firm, thus rendering it necessary to use a knife
when removal is decided upon. This method
cannot be recommended, as it is an unwise
action to allow these superfluous growths to rob
the main shoot, and then to cut all off' at last.
It is far better to remove the flower-bud directly
it appears, and pinch out the shoots as soon as
they can be handled. Pay strict attention to
making the points of each shoot secure to the
stakes to prevent loss by unforeseen circum-
stances, as in the case of those plants with only
three stems, if any are broken it is a serious
matter. Continue the removal of suckers in the
same careful manner as before advised.
Black fly is unusually troublesome during
this hot weather and attacks the points of the
young growths. If this pest is not destroyed
the tender leaves are soon crippled, and the
plants not only become disfigured, but receive a
serious check. Incessant attention to dusting
the parts affected with Tobacco powder in the
evening and vigorous syringing in the morning
will remove the insects, but in stubborn cases a
dipping of the points of the shoots in Tobacco
water may be found necessary. This is easily
accomplished by bending the points down gently
and immersing them in a shallow dish or pan
held in the left hand, which contains the decoc-
tion. Care must be used in bending the
growths, as, being brittle, theyare liable tosnapoff'.
The branches of the Pompons, single and
other varieties grown in bush form will now re-
quire some support. They cannot be finally
staked at present, as their growth is not com-
plete. In order, therefore, to prevent the
branches being broken, three stakes placed in
the pots in a triangular form, and matting tied
loosely to these and at the same time round the
outside of the branches, will prevent the plants
being injured until the stakes can be placed to
the stems in whatever form of training is de-
sired. In the case of larger plants four stakes
will be necessary. Those planted out, in what-
ever position they may be in, will now require
copious waterings, and if not already done, a
mulching of some short manure, such as that
from a spent Mushroom bed, in order to pre-
serve the foliage in good condition. This
mulching will assist to keep the roots cool and
reduce the quantity of water req iiired to a mini-
mum. A similar mulching applied to the roots
of those plants growing at the base of walls will
assist them in a like manner. Such plants wOl
now be breaking into additional growths, which
should be thinned and regulated according to
the space at disposal. From 4 inches to 6 inches
apart is a suitable distance for the branches of
the large-growing kinds, and closer for those of
Pompons .and single varieties. When the shoots
are kept nailed to the wall, the foliage quickly
rights itself, aiid at all times presents a neat
appearance, but when this is deferred for a time
the branches fall about for want of support, and
when this is attended to their appearance is
somewhat marred for a time.
Continue the tying and training of specimen
plants as the strongest branches make progress,
remembering that it is far easier to get them into
position while they are young and pliable rather
than when the wood is riper, and consequently
more liable to be broken in the operation of
bending. During the prevailing hot, dry
weather very vigorous syringings over the
foliage in the evening will be of much service
towards keeping the plants in good health. For
this the hand syringe must be used, as by no
other means can the plants be thoroughly
drenched. The plants set apart to produce the
latest supply of blooms will now reqtiire the
final pinching of the shoots. Those plants that
were struck in February wUl be the most suit-
able for supplying flowers at the end of De-
cember and early in January. It is not wise to
grow a large number of kinds, but rely rather
upon a few sorts that are known to flower late.
In the extreme south of England it is not so
easy to have Chrysanthemums late as it is
farther north ; therefore the selection of va-
rieties must be confined to those which are
naturally late, and with judicious treatment of
the plants flowers can be had at the times
named. One advantage possessed by those re-
siding in the south over those living farther
north, as far as late blooms are concerned, is
the fact that they can leave their plants with
safety out of doors longer than can the northern
growers. For those who have such plants in
stock I name a few of the best for late bloom-
ing. The list is short, but it is much better to
grow a goodly number of the soits that are
really late flowering than to grow a quantity
merely for the sake of variety. Princess Teok,
Hei'o of Stoke Newington, Meg Merrilies, Ceres,
Grandiflorum, Ethel, Fair Maid of Guernsey,
Miss Marechaux, Thunberg, Mrs. C. Carey will
be found the most useful for producing flowers
up to Christmas and even later. B. M.
Best mode of packing Gloxinia blooms. —
Will any of youi* readers kindly inform me as to the
28
THE GARDEN.
July 16, 1887.
best way of packing Gloxinia tlooms for trayelling a
long distance by parcels post ? — E. G.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
Androsaee foliosa.— Messrs. Stansfield have sent
ns a specimen of this distinct and pretty species.
Clematis coceinea.— This promises to be grand
this season ; it has already commenced to llower, bar-
ing made splendid growth and stood the winter well. —
W. A. Cook.
We learn that the disused burial-ground of St. Anne's,
Limehouse.will be opened by the Countess of Strafford
on Wednesday, July 20. It has been seciu-ed through
the Metropolitan PubHo Gardens Association.
Double Siberian La-kspur.— I send you a bit
of rich colour in the form of old double Siberian Lark-
spur (Delphinium grandiflorum fl.-pl.). It is one. of
the brightest things out just now, and it seems to hare
enjoyed the past bright weather. — John Wood.
*** We are pleased to note that this fine old plant is
becoming less rare. — Ed.
English Irises.— We have received, through Mr.
A, C. Bartholomew, Park House, Reading, a gathering
of English Irises grown by Messrs. Ant. Roozen,
Haarlem. The flowers are both attractive and richly
coloured. A few of the best are Formosa, Fleur de
Marie, Crown Prince, Lord of the Isles, Garibaldi,
Duke of Cornwall, Queen of the Lilacs, Mont Blanc,
Belle Lisette, Milton, Dr. Baker, and La Graudesse.
A curious flower of the Bog Arum.— Some
years ago I sent you a flower of Caltha palustris
with a twin spathe. I now send one with three
spathes, believing it to be an unusual sport. — J. M.,
Cha.rmoiith, Dorset.
Tree Pasony Flag of Truce.— This is one of
the very best I have seen. We received it last
autumn, and planted it out in a well prepared
position, and it has borne five large, handsome
flowers, deliciously scented. It cannot be too highly
praised. — W. A. Cook.
Note from Shirehampton.— I send you a rare
Lily, of which I do not know the name, Telekia
speciosa, Alstroemeria Brembaulti (quite hardy),
Rosa polyantha (a weed), and some early Asters.
I found Phlox, Helenium pumilum, and other
autumn flowers in bloom to-day.— C. 0. Miles.
Broxbourne Poppies.— These are a charming
addition to our borders. They are of nearly all
colours, and some of them very well marked. They
are_ flowering very freely now from seed sown this
spring. The Iceland Poppies are a mass of flower
this season, owing, I suppose, to bright weather.—
W. A. Cook.
Bramble, the double pink.— Against a wall
this pretty Bramble covers a space of 30 feet, all
one mass, such as enclosed. What a useful plant
to cover root-work or mounds, rough stones and
stumps of trees on lawns, where the shoots would
have room to ramble at will. For painting of
earthenware the sprays are most beautiful
Wm. Baylor Haetland, TempU mil, Corh.
Rodger's Bronze Leaf (Rodgersiapodophylla).
—This fine hardy, herbaceous plant is seldom seen.
The foliage has not inaptly been compared to
gigantic Horse Chestnut leaves, as will be seen from
the specimen sent. It is, hov^ever, a small one.
The plant, like many others, is dwarfed this year
by the drought. The portion of flower-spike is a
little past Its best. It seems allied to the Meadow
Sweets (Spiricas).— J. M., Charmouth.
Strawberry fete, held last Saturday afternoon
in the garden of the Royal Horticultural Society
at Chiswick, was considered a great success. Presi-
dent, Sir Charles Napier, and Sir Joseph Paston
varieties were in great demand, and good prices
were made by the new Waterloo Strawberry, a
large, brisk-flavoured variety of a deep ijurple
colour.
Boyal Botanic evening fete was of the
usaal character,and favoured with splendid weather.
Floral decorations made an interesting feature, and
the classes provided for them were well filled. In
the class for floral decorations for a dinner-table
Messrs. G. and J. Lane, St. Mary's Cray, were first
with a light and graceful arrangement ; and Mrs-
Chard, Brunswick N ursery. Stoke Newington, second.
In the other principal classes, Messrs. Hooper and
Co., Maida Vale; Messrs. CuUum and Sharpus,
Piccadilly; Mr. A. F. Youens, Leigham Court,
Streatham; and Mr. C. Hardley, The Elms, Stoke
Newington, were the chief prize-takers.
Odontoglossum Harryanum. — It is not usual
to find recently imported new introductions flower-
ing so soon as is the case with this splendid Odon-
toglot, which is now in flower in Messrs. F. Sander
and Co.'s Orchid establishment at St. Albans. The
combination of blue, white, brown, and yellow makes
this plant extremely captivating.
White Pink Mrs. Welsh.— The above-named
Pink has been sent us for trial by Messrs. Dicksons,
of Edinburgh, and is one of the finest we have seen.
The flower is well formed, broad in petal, borne
upon a strong footstalk, and at present does not
appear to split the calyx like Mrs. Sinkins, while
the scent is delightful. Those sent for trial, though
planted late and at a trying season, have done well.
Iris Princess Beatrice. — Mr. Gordon, of
Twickenham, sends us a Japanese Iris (Princess
Beatrice), which is a most graceful and large white-
flowering kind with a delicate suffusion of pale
lilac. The flower is more than 8 inches across. A
fine plant of it must be a very remarkable object in
the open air beside water. These will be the great
water flowers of the future ; and Mr. Gordon, for
introducing such valuable flowers, deserves our
thanks.
New parks.— The Brunswick Park, Wednes-
bury, has just been completed at a cost of £6000,
from the design of Messrs. W. Barron & Son,
Elvaston Nurseries, Borrowash, Derby, who were
assisted by Mr. W. H. Radford, of Nottingham.
The park is about 25 acres in extent, and has been
effectively laid out. Mr. William Hall has presented
the town of Bilston with 20 acres of ground for a
public park.
Monster Foxglove. — I have sent you a photo-
graph of a remarkable freak in a Foxglove growing
in Mr. Atkinson's garden, Wirksworth. The plant
is 3 feet high, the top flower 3 inches in diameter,
deeply spotted. All the side shoots are showing
the same diversity of character. The garden in
question is one of the finest types of an amateur's
one meets with. Its noble clumps of Funkias, and
hosts of other good things of similar character, make
a lasting impression on the visitor. — Geo. Bolas.
Carnation Clove White Rosette.— I send
you blooms of this. Out of several white sorts
grown here, I do not find any to equal this seedling
raised some three years ago. It is now in full
bloom and richly perfumed, like the old Clove.
The dry weather is much against all hardy plants;
the blooms of White Rosette would be much larger
if rain had fallen during the month of June;
the flowers never burst. W. P. Milner and Gloire
de Nancy have become split from the drought. —
Wm. Batloe Haetland, Temple Hill, Cork.
Van Houtte Memorial prizes. — We are in-
formed that the committee of the English sub-
scribers have determined to offer two prizes of the
value of £10 each to be competed for at the next
quinquennial international exhibition to be held in
April, 1888, at Ghent, under the auspices of the
Societe Royale d'Agriculture et de Botanique, one
prize for the best new varieties of Azalea indica
obtained since 1880, and one prize for the best col-
lection of hardy trees and shrubs. The conseil
d'administration of the society have intimated their
acceptance of these prizes.
The rock garden at Kew abounds with in-
terest just now, and we have never seen it more
attractive with flower. This rock garden is, in a
measure, independent of the weather, for during all
this protracted season of drought it has received
daily drenchings of water, so the plants have not
suffered in the least. The crowds of flowering
plants that would interest all hardy flower lovers
are too numerous to particularise, but we may direct
special attention to the groups of Lilies, among
which is the great L. giganteum, to the bog plants.
and particularly to Spiraea palmata, which is a great
mass a yard or more high, with clusters of bloom
nearly 1 foot across, and to the numberless alpine
plants, which, for the most part, have ledges or
pockets to themselves. — W. G.
liilies and Larkspurs. — One of the most
charming hardy flower combinations I have seen
lately was a group of the old orange Lily (Lilium
croceum), the white Lily and the pale blue Delphi-
nium Belladonna. These colours go admirably to-
gether, and the difference in stature is just sufii-
cient to make a pleasing group. For such a
mixture as this it is quite worth while setting
apart a bed for these three plants alone, as they
last in beauty for two or three weeks. In spring
the bed could be made attractive by Snowdrops,
Crocuses, and Daffodils, which by midsummer will
have ripened their foliage and died away. — W. G.
Rock Roses in Derbyshire. — A large speci-
men of Helianthemum algarvense (Cistus), which
is trained to the wall of my cottage, aspect south-
east, is flowering profusely. It has been planted
out several years, but has had no protection, and is
upwards of 9 feet high by 8 feet wide. H. for-
mosum, too, in the same situation has been very
beautiful. It flowers earlier than algarvense. It is
about 5 feet high. Cistus lusitanicus in the open
border, protected by a large inverted flower-pot
during the severe frosts of last winter, is going to
bloom nicely. C. crispus and florentinus perished.
I think C. purpureus is one of the most beautiful of
the family, but it is, unfortunately, rather tender. —
J. Whittakee, Ferriby Brook, Morley, Berhy.
Gardening in Albany, West Australia. —
We have young Potatoes ready for use. Peas just pod-
ding. Beans coming on well ; Cauliflowers, Cabbages,
and Tomatoes we are now using. I wish you could
see our Tomato plants ; the fruit is a very small
kind, but very good ; they have been bearing for
the last three months, and are laden yet. We have
a promising lot of Turnips and Carrots, and our
Cucumbers are just over. Spinach, too, we have
coming on, and we are now within a month of mid-
winter. N.B. — We have not a hand-glass even,
much less a frame. I was looking to-day at some
Pelargonium cuttings that have been in six weeks ;
they are flne bushy plants already. The Peach
trees have shed their leaves, but all other plants
have still good foliage.— T. E. F., 31ay 17, 1887.
Weather in Ireland. — I send you a record of
the rainfall here during the last six months : —
Belvedere.
Rainfall up to the end of June.
Total depth.
January . .
February
March
April ...
May
June ...
Total
1-36
1-12
1'85
From the above it will be seen that we have had
little more than half the quantity that fell last year.
There was abundant rain yesterday, but it is doubt-
ful whether it is in time to remedy the damage done
to aU agricultural vegetation by the unusual drought.
Roses have been splendid this year, particularly Tea
Roses. The bloom on flowering shrubs has been
extraordinary, and my garden at least has borne
till now very well the lack of moisture. — BeinsleY
Mablay, Belvedere Souse, Miillingar.
Diseased Carnations. — Will you kindly inform
me as to the cause of the Carnations I send you dy-
ing off immediately they form their buds ? — F. C.
*t* In reply to the above I have carefully ex-
amined your Picotees, and from their appearance I
imagine they have been attacked at the roots by
wireworms or some other grubs. The plants had
probably been ailing for some days and the effort
of flowering was too much for them. I cannot sug-
gest any other reason. — G. S. S.
July 16, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
29
Flower Garden.
SNAKE'S-HEAD FRITILLARY.
(fkitillaria meleagris.)
A GOOD garden plant that comes straight from
our meadows, where in some districts both the
purple and the beautiful white variety abound.
For simple beauty it holds its own against any
of the numerous garden Eritillaries of low
stature. The curious chequering of the flower
is very interesting to observe closely ; it is not
effected by colouring only, as it is nearly equally
perceptible in the pure white. These pretty
plants like a cool soil that is never dried up ; if
among Grass so much the better, water meadows
being their natural home.
Aster alpinus var. rubra. — As to the correct-
ness of the name of this plant, mentioned by J.
flowers. Fachsia Riccartoni is one of the most
vigorous, as well as one of the hardiest. In severe
winters the growth may be partially or even alto-
gether out down by the frost ; but it breaks forth
again in the spring with even greater luxuriance.
In suitable situations this species grows to a con-
siderable height. I have seen specimens more than
8 feet high on the south coast, where it seldom
suffers much from the winter. Fuchsia Carolina is
an excellent kind for a bed, being vigorous in habit
and free- flowering. F. exoniensis is sometimes con-
fused with Carolina, but is quite distinct from it.
I grew both many years ago. F. f ulgens, a Mexican
species introduced in 1837, is very distinct, having
broad foliage and large trusses of flowers. The va-
rieties with light - coloured flowers are garden
hybrids produced by the florist ; as are also the
double-flowered kinds of more recent date. One
of the best of the light varieties for an open-air
group is the old Rose of Castile. Another old
kind which was much thought of when first intro-
duced is Venus de Medici, which succeeds well when
trained as a standard. AU Fuchsias are hardy in
L
7\
If.
f '^'^
White Snake's-head Fritillary (Fritiharia Meleagris alba). Engi-aved for The Garden from a photogi-aph.
Wood in The Gaeden, July 2 (p. 598), I am some-
what puzzled. It is certainly a varietal name,
which for some reason or other Mr. Baker, of Kew,
failed to give in his splendid monograph of Asters
a short time ago. Perhaps " J. W." will be able to
inform me through The Gaeden the origin of the
plant in question, and how it differs from Aster
alwartensis (Botanical Magazine, t. 2321). This,
too, is a name Mr. Baker for some reason or other
failed to include in his monograph, but, from the
plate, is too good a plant to lose sight of. From the
plate in Botanieal Magazine I think they are
identical, and should be glad of any information on
the subject. — S. Appleton, Worcester.
Groups of Puchsias on Grass.— Fuchsias are
graceful subjects, and the free-growing varieties are
well adapted for forming groups in sheltered places
on the lawn. In old-fashioned gardens groups of
the old Fuchsias may still be found, especially in
the southern and western counties, where they at-
tain to a large size, and in summer are very orna-
mental. They succeed best in a light soil. Peat is
very suitable for them, adding strength and vigour
to the growth and brilliancy of colouring to the
both ^ for growing in pots and also on the rockery,
thriving best in moist and somewhat shady positions.
When placed under favourable conditions the growth
is vigorous and the flowers freely produced. It is in
bloom at Brosbom-ue. — E. C.
NOTES IN TRINITY COLLEGE GARDENS.
The Japan Peimeose. — All the Primrose and Poly-
anthus family dislike strong sunshine, and when
the thermometer stands at 135° Fahr. in the sun,
as it has been in Ireland for three-fourths of the
past month, not only the flowers, but also the foliage
of the Japan Primroses are scorched. Here I had
a bed planted in the open and every plant was
burned up. Mr. Burbidge grows this with a number
of varieties of P. Sieboldi and alpine species
in the shade of trees or partially exposed, as
in their native habitats, very successfully. It was
refreshing to see the fine healthy foliage and
flowers ; while in the borders they would have
been burned up. I received some fine specimens of
duplex Polj'antbus of the richest colours from
Miss Williams, New Abbey House, Dumfries, some
time ago, and though very hardy and continuous
bloomers, the hot sun burned up the leaves, though
the crowns and roots are, I presume, safe.
Wallich's blub Poppy (Meconopsis Wallichi).
— This is another illustration of the necessity of
knowing where to plant certain perennials so as to
ensure success. Even planted here in partial shade
it requires constant watering in hot weather, much
more than either the Nepaul or Cambrian variety.
The Edelweiss. — Mr. Burbidge has a quantity
of this and other similar plants in rude health
growing on the top of a wall, partially shaded.
Clonmel. W. J. Muepht.
the open air if a mound of ashes is placed over the
collars of the plants in autumn to remain till spring.
— H.
Lilium auratum.^^In this exceptionally dry
season some bulbs of Lilium auratum, planted last
autumn from 12 inohes to 15 inches deep, are look-
ing fresh and green, while others planted several
years ago near the surface, about 3 inches or 4
inches deep, are withering. I believe this deep
planting is one of the secrets of successful
Lily culture. A small clump of L. Browni is
also looking well, having been originally planted
7 inches or 8 inches deep, and undisturbed for five
or six years. My gardener is surprised ; he thought
my auratums were buried for ever ! I should add
they have never been watered. — J. H. W. Thomas.
Feathery Dropwort (Spirsa astilboides). — We
have several useful Spiraeas, but this is especially so
by reason of its dwarf habit and free-flowering chara-
ter. It grows about 2 feet high, and in general appear-
ance reminds one of the old and popular Astilbe
japonica, the leaves being triternate, and the stems
terminated by cr^my white, feathei-y panicles of
powerfully scented flowers. It is hardy and useful
Mignonette.— In spite of the heat and drought,
Mignonette transplanted from the seed bed has
done remarkably well, not a single plant having
been lost. Here in a stiff soil seed comes late, and
very often unevenly when sown out in the open. For
that reason I prefer to sow in frames and transplant
the seedlings when a few inches in height, using a
trowel for the purpose. In this way it is so much
easier to distinguish defects or improvements in
the strains, if any be found. Although so hot and
dry, a couple or three waterings sufficed to establish
the plants, and now they are robust and almost as
good as the few left unplanted in the frames. I
grow the Giant White, the best of all for ordinary
purposes, and the Giant Pyramidal Red, so fine for
market and pot culture, and although groTiTi by no
means remote from each other, they keep wonder-
fully true to character. — A. D.
Club Mosses.— We walk through a glasshouse
and admire the beautiful Lycopods, but the British
representatives of this genus are quite as beautiful
when seen in their natural beauty, as we acci-
dentally found them the other day. Strolling over
a barren heath, we came across the common Club
Moss (Lycopodium clavatum), extremely beautiful,
Among the soft grey Lichens its stems crept, some
of them more than 3 feet long. The contrast
between green and grey was pretty, and the young
growths from the creeping stem were in some
oases of a soft yellow colour, adding an additional
charm. The Fir Club Moss (L. Selago) was also
there, but in this variety the stems are shorter and
erect. Other forms of this genus which we hope to
find in moist positions on the same heath are L.
inundatum (Marsh Club Moss) and L. selaginoides
(Lesser Alpine Club Moss). These do not grow so
large, but the tips of the shoots are of a soft yellow
colour. — A. H.
The woolly Hawkweed (Hieracium villosum).
—This, as mentioned by "C. W. D." and verified
by " W. T." in The Gaeden, July 2 (p. 598), is, in
my opinion, no other than Hieracium valde-pilosum
of Villars. The above I have received, first as H.
lanatum, secondly as H. villosum, and thirdly as
H. valde-pilosum. These three names, as far as my
knowledge goes, belong to three distinct plants.
Hieracium valde-pilosum has foliage and stems
densely pilose when in a starved condition, but
under liberal treatment they appear less so ; foliage
30
THE GARDEN.
[July Iff, ]i
longer than in the two other species ; lower leaves
lanceolate, G inches long; upper leaves oblong-am-
plexicaul, from 3 inches to 5 inches long. The name
lauatam is by right the specific name for an Hawk-
weed, most generally known as Andryala lanata,
and which is even more densely pilose than H.
valde-pilosum, and with broad, but shorter and more
ovate foliage. H. viUosum, as known by me formerly,
differs little, if any, from one now grown by a botani-
cal friend of mine as H. villosum cordifolium. H.
villosum, in addition to being similar in habit to
the other two species in question, has leaves broad,
short, amplexicaul-cordate, and thinly pilose com-
pared with the other two species, and is also an
inferior plant.— S. Avplbton, St. John's, Wor-
cester.
GERMAN IRISES.
There are few more beautiful hardy plants than
these, and they are not particular as regards soil,
succeeding best in a deep, damp staple. I have
been surprised at the progress some of the newer
sorts have made in four years. When they first came
to hand the plants were very small ; now they have
spread out into large clumps. I do not think one
could wish for more satisfactory growth, yet they
have given us no trouble since they were put out.
They have not even had any water, yet every year
they make a gorgeous display. To increase the
stock is an easy manner, and may be accomplished
without seriously interfering with the old plants,
as pieces from the sides may be taken ofE and
planted where they are to remain. It is a mistake
to grow them in beds by themselves or in large
clumps, as their foliage has a rather common-place
appearance. For the mixed flower border or the
front of shrubberies they are well suited, and are
also adapted for isolated beds when associated with
other plants. I saw them used in a bed with
advantage, as sufficient space was left between the
plants for Pompon Dahlias ; outside of the Irises
there was a wide band of Rudbeckia Newmanni,
and next to the Grass an edging of Crocuses ; so
that from early spring until late in autumn this bed
was bright with colour. What made it more in-
teresting was the distinct change afforded from
time to time, and this was accomplished by pro-
viding about twenty-four Dahlias every year. By
the time the Irises were out of bloom the Rudbeckia
and the Dahlias followed, and remained in flower
until frost cut them down. Such an arrangement
would not be suitable in a geometric design ; but
there are few gardens in which a bed of this de-
scription could not be introduced with advantage.
Iris KiiSMPFBRi. — This Iris is remarkably attrac-
tive. With some cultivators it is a special favourite,
on account of the size of the individual flowers,
which in some varieties exceed a diameter of 6 in.
I esteem them for the great diversity of colour
they present, and also appreciate the charming
green foliage. These Irises are more particular as
regards soil and situation than any others. They
require plenty of sun and a moist deep soil to do
well.
The English Ibis Is unquestionably a lovely
group, possessing a wide range of colour, running
through every shade of white, rose, lilac, blue, and
purple, and some of them are marbled and striped
in the most charming manner. They are very
telling in the border when a dozen bulbs are
planted in a clump in either mixed or distinct
colours, and they are admirable flowers for cutting
from. What further enhances their value is that
in a fairly dry and light soil they are quite hardy,
and, when once planted, may remain several years
without being disturbed. September is the proper
time to plant.
The Spanish Iris. — The only difference between
this and the English section is that they have
somewhat smaller flowers and open earlier. They
have also a dwarf er habit, and possess colours
which the others have not, for they include various
shades of yellow and bronze. Except that I find
they dislike a damp soil in winter, they give no
trouble. There are few hardy plants of such a
varied and beautiful character as the various forms
of Irises, and they may all be grown with com-
paratively little difficulty. J. C. C.
Wood Pink (Dianthus sylvestris). — This reminds
one of the Grass Rose Pink (D. neglectus), and we
may also trace a likeness to the alpiue I'ink (D. al-
pinus), but it is distinct from these lovely mouutiiii
kinds, and may be more easily growu. The plant is of
dwarf, tufted growth, the leaves narrow and Grass-
like, and the flowers of a bright rose colour, and over
1 inch across. When in full bloom this tufted Pink is
very beautiful, and is seen to advantage in sunny nooks
in the rook garden, thriving freely in light warm soils.
Place sandstone round the plants to ensure a healthy
growth.— E. C.
Ch.rysaiitliemuin"inulticaule. — I made a note
respecting this novelty some few weeks since, term-
ing it the Butter Daisy. Its flat, creeping habit of
growth is maintained, and it seems to revel in stron;
sunshine. On dull days or at night the single yellow
flowers close up ; hence I flnd that the average life
of a flower is a month at least. That fact speaks
highly for its florif erousness. A plant about i) inches
across is carrying sixty flowers open at once. These
are on stems some 7 inches long. This Daisy seems
peculiarly fitted for hot positions, where many
similar plants would die. It certainly loves warmth
to a remarkable degree. It is worthy of notice that
the flowers die and seed ripens before the petals
fall. These remain closed up, as at night after the
seed is ripe, and only a browned appearance indi-
cates that the flowers must be gathered. As it is
so hardy an annual, I think it bids fair to become
a favourite with those whose soils are hot and dry
—A. D.
Lilies. — I see two notes on these interesting
plants in The Garden of July 9 (pp. 5 and 6). I
grow mine entirely in the open, without any
coddling or protection beyond Cocoa fibre, and,
with the exception of Humboldti, all are doing well,
proving how suitable they are for this climate. I
have now in bloom L. Krameri, croceum, testaceum,
candidum, monadelphum Szovitzianum ; and showing
for bloom, Lilium auratum, a. rubro-vittatum, a.
platyphyllum, a. macranthum, longiflorum eximium,
Leichtlini, Batemannise, rubrum cruentum, laucifo-
lium album, 1. roseum, 1. Krietzeri, tigrinum, t. flore-
pleno, t. splendens. Of the above, rubro-vittatum
is a very rare and valuable kind, and Krameri,
Leichtlini, Krajtzeri, macranthum and platyphyllum
are valuable. To show how healthy the Lilies are, I
have one plant of L. Krameri showing seven well
formed buds and several with two or three buds.
This Lily seldom has more than one flower. My
plants of L. macranthum are 6 feet high, and quite
2.V inches round the stem. L. tigrinum splendens
are already 5 feet to (> feet high, although they will
not bloom for a month to come. Last year they
began to bloom at the end of August and lasted till
November, a grand sight. I may mention, too, that
all these bulbs were bought at auction at Mr. J. C.
Stevens', and speak well for the persons who con-
sign them from Japan to that firm. Most of my
Lilies are planted in a mixture of loam and peat,
with some sand round the bulbs, at a depth of
6 inches to 8 inches.— C. J. Grahame.
Finks. — Looking over some plants of the old
Mule Pink, I was interested to find that the
hot, dry weather had favoured fertilisation, and
that numerous seed-pods were evident. But it was
soon further evident that a depredator was anxious
to gather the crop ere it was ripe, for numerous
holes in the tops of the pods were seen, and search
was soon rewarded by finding several large whitish
maggots or grubs about an inch in length, witli
their heads deep into the pods and their bodies
projecting. I cleared the plants of these pests as
soon as possible, but it was evident that only close
search would have revealed them, as their greyish
protruding bodies resembled the decaying flowers
of tlie Pinks exceedingly. These maggots must be
pretty active, as in this case each stem must liave
been separately ascended to have enabled so much
liarm to be done. As I have not previously found
seed-pods enclosing real seed in this pretty Mule
Pink before, I am naturally anxious to secure it.
Very probably the drought which may have pro-
moted this unwonted fertilisation may be as useful
with Pinks generally, and not less probably favours
the production of these grubs and other destructive
caterpillars, so that Pinks, Carnations, &c., will
want ample watching. I was fortunate enough to
obtain some seed last year from a very robust sal-
mon-coloured Pink sent me from Warwick, and the
jjlants from such seed are now very strong, several
having bloomed. As these few show diversity,
there is no telling what the bulk may produce.
This fact shows that double Pink seed, though
scarce, is, when obtained, well worth sowing. —
A. D.
AUBRIETIAS.
There is no prettier and more useful rock plant
than Aubrietia purpurea variegata. It is more at
home on the rockwork than anywhere else, but
may be used as an edging plant for small beds
where permanent marginal lines are required. It
is always attractive, whether in blocm or not, as
every leaf is broadly margined with white, and for
several weeks early in spring it is covered with
lavender-blue flowers. As a pot plant it is also
very pretty, especially when the pot is suspended,
and the sides of the pot are completely hidden by
its growth. Grown in this way, well furnished
examples are as pretty objects for the windows as
anything I have ever seen. Being a hardy plant, it
does not require to be always grown in the window,
as it does better if it is turned out of doors during
the summer. A friend of mine, who grows it for
the window, stands the plants on an inverted pot,
in a partially shaded place, until quite late in the
autumn. When grown on the rockery, a bed of
loam should be prepared for it, and a plain surface,
such as a large stone, should be provided for the
growth to run over, which it will do in the course
of a year or two, and furnish a very bright bit of
colour. When used as an edging plant, the ground
should be raised, as it is liable to damp off, wet
being a greater enemy to it than frost. The green-
leaved form of this plant is also a useful hardy sub-
ject. I met with a plant of it a year or two ago
in an old cottage garden, where it had been planted
inside the hollow bole of an Elm tree. In this
position it had grown over and down the side, until
it had formed a drapery more than 2 feet long, and
as I saw it when in full flower, with the centre of
the bole filled with red and yellow Tulips in full bloom,
I considered it a beautiful picture. The most useful
of all the Aubrietias is deltoidea. It is astrong grower,
and the flowers are larger than any of the others.
This is a capital variety to form masses in beds
where spring gardening is practised, for it is fre-
quently in flower early in March and lasts in good
condition till the end of May. The most pleasing
way in which I ever grew it was by forming irregu-
lar mounds of earth about 15 inches above the sur-
face, and putting in plants about a foot apart, and
then covering the soil with stones about the size of
hens' eggs. In less than two years all the surface
was covered with growth, and when the plants came
into flower the raised mounds presented a very un-
common appearance.
A. Campbelli is distinct from purpurea, both in
the colour of the flowers (which are darker) and
also in growth, which is much closer. This is a
very useful variety for bedding in the spring, as it
gives a desirable change.
The easiest way of increasing Aubrietias is to pull
some old plants to pieces in September, so that
every piece intended for planting has a root, and to
plant them in good soil, allowing them to stand one
year before they are mo\'ed, by which time they
will be large plants, fit for any purpose that may be
desired. They may also be raised from cuttings,
but it is a tedious business to increase the stock in
that way, as the cuttings do not strike freely. To
obtain suitable cuttings, a few old plants should be
cut hard back as soon as they go out of flower,
which will cause them to break into fresh growth,
and as soon as the young shoots are 2 inches long
they must be taken off and dibbled into pots filled
with sandy soil. The pots must then be placed on
bottom heat, and be kept quite close and shaded
July 16, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
31
until they have formed roots, which they will do in
about a month, when they can be hardened off and
planted out in the usual way. J. C. C.
NOTES ON HARDY PLANTS.
Primula cortusoides and all its varieties, com-
monly known as amcena or Siebokli, will do better
if divided every year. The month of June, I find,
is the best time to do this. If the knobbed stems
are examined, there will very likely be found fresh
roots just issuing from under thecorm-likepoints,and
it is desirable to get these into fresh compost, be it in
pots or borders, before they get too long. A timely
replacement of the crowns in deeper soil, as they
have a great tendency to grow to the surface, allows
the plants to get such a firm hold in their new
quarters, that they are quite safe from upheaval by
frosts in winter. The last-named advantage is far
from the least, for both late planting and old clumps
give a deal of trouble in winter when the roots are
often to be found loose on the surface.
Saponaria bellidifolia appears to be a vari-
able species, and the yellow-flowered kind at least
is not worth growing.
Iiuzula nivea is likely to prove very useful in
various ways. Its clusters of almost white flowers,
which last for five or six weeks, are graoefally
poised on slender arching stems of such substance
that they seldom or never break ; these rise 2 feet to
3 feet above the hairy Grass-like tufts of very dwarf
foliage, and are verj' useful for mixing with other
cut flowers. The flowers, too, are also very useful
in a dried state. It grows well in dry positions on
the rockwork. A good stock may soon be had
either by seeds or division. It may also be grown
in small pots, in which state it answers admirably
for edging groups of bold plants or flowers.
Bicentra spectaliilis alba. — Grown in the
open air, this is very disappointing, as its foliage
suffers from late frosts, and most of the buds drop
ofE from the same cause. Its name alba is a mis-
nomer, for even when grown under glass the flowers
are far from white. It is, however, a charming pot
plant for a cold frame, where it both makes com-
pact growth and bears perfect racemes of delicate
flowers. There is an advantage by growing plants
in the open borders. Young plants should be put
out in May, and if it is Intended to pot them up
again, they should be grown in rich soil and full
sunshine ; but if the plants are intended to
remain in the border, they will not only stand
the winter better on a north asj^ect, but the
spring growth will also be retarded in such a posi'
tion. Such plants may be turned to good account
in the following way ; By pinching out the points
of the stems that are showing flower-buds the
growth of strong lateral shoots is induced ; when
these shoots have four leaves they may be inserted
as cuttings in moist sand in the full sun, where
in about three weeks they will be nicely rooted,
when they may be potted and placed in a cold
frame. If the plants are kept growing they will
form strong roots, fit for either frames or borders
the following season.
Androsace folioea. — Among dwarf hardy
flowers this may well take first rank; it is also of
very robust habit. Its trusses of charming flowers
are similar to those of A. sarmentosa, but twice the
size, and each flower changes to various rich and
soft hues, as in A. Chamsejasme. From an experi-
ence of nearly two years with it, during which time
it has been fully exposed, and had no more than
the ordinary treatment of hundreds of other hardy
dwarf plants, I think that; it will give little or no
trouble. Moreover, it may be increased quickly
from ofilsets. It flowers freely, and its flowers last
for three weeks or more, even in such hot weather
as we have now. I shook out a strong pot plant,
and the fresh roots were quite 18 inches long.
Small offsets fill pots with roots in a very short
time.
Silene Argoa is certainly an interesting little
plant. It cannot, however, be called showy, and it
is not likely to be grown much. It loves sunshine
and light soil.
Nardostachys Jatamansi, or the Spikenard
of the ancients, is doubtless one of the most en-
gaging plants that one can cultivate. So much has
been searched for and said of it — the ancient plant
being so clearly identified — that it is no small
pleasure to be able to examine and smell its roots
and flowers in one's own garden. The little pale
pink flowers in terminal clusters have a strong
scent. There is nothing showy about it; still, I
should not like to be without it, and many covet it
as a famous historic plant.
Veronica Guthrieana is a lovely Speedwell,
much in the way of V. saxatilis, but a little larger
in all its parts, and the flowers are more glistening
and of a deeper blue. Those who wish for brilliant,
half-creeping, or procumbent plants for sunny slopes
or ledges should take note of this as one of the best
blue-flowered kinds.
Myrsiphyllum asparagoides. — After testing
young roots of this for two winters, I think I need
not longer doubt its hardiness. I kept the roots
much nearer the surface than I should ever think
of doing in the ordinary way of planting in the
border; in fact the roots were, and still are, in
3-inch pots, and after having been frozen, together
with the sand in which they were pilunged, to much
below the depth of the bottoms of the pots, I find
the roots sound and pushing growth ; of course they
are late, but one may reasonably suppose that with
more natural treatment and a favourable position,
they would have been active much earlier.
TropsBolum speciosum. — A plant of this to
which no water has been given during all the dry
weather we have just had is now in full flower.
The plant is growing against a wall, on the face of
which there is a dense mat of Ivy, and it is also
sheltered from wind, and, further, the plant is a well-
established one, for when transplanting a few Lilies
near we found plenty of its thick roots at a depth
of 18 in., the soil being light and rich. I have come
to the conclusion that this desirable and universally
admired creeper is not so difficult to manage as we
suppose. Given a well-grown plant established in a
pot and a border of well-prepared deep soil in a
sheltered position, I believe it will flourish in scores
of gardens where it has previously failed.
Saxifraga ohioensis is a charming little plant
when well grown in a somewhat shady position. It
is quite distinct from all others of the genus. It
somewhat resembles Heuchera ribifolia, but its
flowers are larger and a much purer white than
those of that Alum-root. It would make a pretty
companion to Heuchera sanguinea. The delicate
panicles with their stems are about 10 inches long,
and they would, no doubt, be very useful for bou-
quets. Although I have grown this plant five years,
I have not seen it in good form until the present
summer, which leads me to believe that it requires
a long, spell of fine, warm weather, such as we are
having, to ensure success with it. It is, however,
perfectly hardy.
Phyteuma humile is one of the very best
alpines I know, and it is worth a dozen of the rarer
and more fickle comosum. It is a truly serviceable
little plant. Its rich purple flowers, springing out
of the Grass-like tufts of deep green herbage, are in
dense and showy heads, and they last a long time
even in hot and dry weather. It seems to enjoy
stony soil, and to have its crowns well up or
the present summer I think this is one of the most
useful yellow-flowered creepers. It is a two-year-
old plant, is a dense mat nearly 2 feet across, and
has been gay during the last flve weeks.
Haberlea rhodopensis. — I have just been
turning out small plants raised from leaves ; they
were thickly overgrown with Marchantia, which to
some extent indicates the conditions suitable for
this mode of propagation. The roots were well
formed and plentiful ; indeed, out of proportion to
the small size of the foliage. Ramondia pyrenaica,
too, has just been similarly dealt with. I find these
plants will not only endure heat, but seem to enjoy
it. The roots are of a watery nature, and the
youngest have a peculiar habit of growing upwards
close to the collar, and they can often be seen on
the surface if the flat leaves are raised, and even
sometimes growing up between the leaves. This
habit, to my mind, shows the importance of keeping
the plants constantly moist. J. WOOD.
Kirltstall.
Iziolirion tataricum. — This beautiful Ama-
ryllid from Asia Minor has been exhibited at the
London shows on several occasions this season, and
although not a new plant, it is comparatively un-
common. It is graceful and effective when the
slender spikes of bluish flowers are in full beauty,
and at first sight the plant reminds one of the
delicate Triteleia laxa. It is quite hardy, and
thrives freely in ordinary soil with exposure to plenty
of sun and air. . We may, now that the plant has
been brought prominently into notice, ensure for it
a lasting popularity with those who appreciate
hardy flowers of this character, as it is not only
useful for the garden, but the flower-spikes may be
used with advantage when cut. — E.
Edraianthus serpyllifolius is a charming little
plant when in flower, but, from the appearance of
my plants, I am afraid that they will prove poor
perennials. That dalmaticus is such we well know,
though sometimes plants may live as long as four
years. I am afraid this little gem will not give less
trouble. There is nothing left but the bare stems
of such as have flowered ; while other plants that
have not flowered are nice and tufty.
E. caudatus is a more robust plant, and its
pale blue clusters of erect bell-shaped flowers are
very showy. I have only one plant, which I have
flowered at least three times, so I consider it a better
perennial than either of the two referred to.
Lotus coruiculatus pi. — For a dry time like
SHORT NOTES.— FLOWER.
northern Eoek Cress (Ai-ahis petraea). — This
is a very x^leasing plant ; the leafage dense, small, and
the flowers pure white ; the flower-stems are 3 inches to
4 inches high, and quite hide the vegetation. It is now
in bloom at Kew. — C .
Alpine CatchjB.y (Sileue alpestris) is very fine at
the present time on the rockery at Kew. It is one of
the most accommodating alpines, being perfectly
hardy, thriving in auy light soil, and when in full
bloom a mass of white star-like flowers. It comes from
the Alps. — C.
Primula erosa. — This is nearly allied to the
toothed Primrose (P. denticulata) , aud there are several
plants in bloom at Kew; the rich purple flowers are
borne in medium-sized heads. It is a lovely Primrose
for the rockery, and valuable for its late-blooming
character. — E.
Venus's Ply -trap (Dion^a muscipula). — This is
considered by many a greenhouse plant, but we recently
saw it thriving vigorously in the open in soil of a
moist, peaty character. The plant had stood out for
several years. A hell-glass shotdd be placed over it to
keep the leaves from being injured. — T. W.
Night-scented Stock (Matthiola bicoruis). — A
patch of this very pretty annual is now conspicuous in
the Royal Horticultural Gardens at Chiswick. The
perfume is strongest in the evening, aud it may there-
fore be recommended for beds and borders near the
house.— T. W.
Eremurus himalaicus. — The finest thing I
have had in my garden this summer has been an Ere-
murus. I exhibited a flower-spike at South Kensington
some weeks ago, under the provisional name of Ere-
murus robustus (white variety), and it received a first-
class certificate. I have now every reason to believe
that it is Eremurus himalaicus. — E. G. LoDER.
roxgloves and Bra^e. — The prettiest thing we
have seen for a long time is a large area of Brake and
Foxgloves in a Sussex wood. Beneath the shade of the
Oaks the Brake makes a charming growth, from which
rises numbers of spikes of Foxgloves, a natural ar-
rangement highly effective. One spike of Foxglove is
producing as many as 140 flowers. — A. H.
Clematis Jackmanni on fences. — This Cle-
matis is a capital plant for covermg fences, as it is of
elegant habit, and its lovely deep blue flowers are pro-
duced with great freedom. One gi'eat advantage of
this kind is that it commeuces to bloom early aud
32
THE GARDEN.
[July 16, 1887.
continues a Ion" tim-> in p.n-fection. There are many strate, creeping variety, Tvitli neat, deep green leaves.
' -- ■ When studded with the yellow Broom-like flowers, It IS
remarkably bright and pleasing. An excellent plant
for the rockery, and one that grows vigorously. — C .
way.9 of using this Clemitis so as to obtain strikin:
and beautiful effects. — E.
Tufted-horned Eampion (Phytsumi come-
sum). — I send youasm.iUphotoof aplantof Phyteumi
comosum now in flower iu my alpine garden. I have
flowered this plant every year for a_ long time, but I
think it has never been finer than it is at present. —
B. G. LODER.
*»* A large and well-flowered plant of this fine
alpine flower. — Ed.
SWEET-SCENTED TOBACCO.
(SICOTIAXA AFFIXIS.)
We have several Tobaccos that are sufficiently
ornamental to deserve a place in the garden, but
the kind that has received the greatest recognition
is N. aflinis, and it thoroughly merits its popularity,
as the plants are easy to grow, and their beauty
when in full bloom is of a distinct and attractive
character. It may not be out of place to give a
few hints as to the culture of this plant. The
proper plan is to sow the seed In the month of
March, as by so doing the plants will have plenty
of time to attain a fair size before being planted
out in the open, which is best done at the latter
part of May or early in June. It is not safe to
put them out before, as very little frost will kill
them. Sow the seed carefully in shallow pans,
which should be properly drained and filled with
light, loamy soil. Place the seed-pans in a warm
pit, where they must remain until the seedlings
are making free growth, when they may be trans-
ferred to a frame, from which the frost can be ex-
cluded. This enables the plants to make a hardy
growth, without which a profuse display of bloom
cannot be looked for. When the seedlings are be-
coming overcrowded they must be potted off singly
into 3-inch pots, using a loamy compost to promote
a vigorous growth. It is also of the first import-
ance to allow the plants plenty of light and air
after they have become established, as they never
grow satisfactorily when kept in a close tempera-
ture.
The time to plant these out has already been
specified, and if given a well-prepared soil and open
position, the plants will not fail to succeed well.
Avoid shady spots or positions overshadowed by
trees, as this Tobacco loves plenty of light and air,
and presents a most miserable appearance when
drawn up. We occasionally see the plants arranged
in separate clumps in the border, and grown in this
way they are very effective, imparting variety and
beauty to the garden. Another way is to devote a
bed entirely to them, and when the flowers are in
full beauty, a bed of this character forms a distinct
and beautiful feature. There are indeed many ways
of employing N. affinis to advantage. I know of a
garden in which there is a long wall skirted by a
narrow border. The border is backed by Cannas
and other stately plants of like character, while in
front is a line of this Tobacco. When the plants
are in full beauty the flowers make a striking con-
trast to the deep green leafage of the sub-tropicals.
It is astonishing how many pretty features we may,
with a little forethought, create in a garden, how-
ever small. It is also valuable for pot culture. The
proper way is to select the best of the seedlings, and
pot them on as you would a Fuchsia or Petunia. Both
plants in pots and in the open will require support
when in bloom, as the flower-stems are of consider'
able length, and apt to become broken ofl^ either
through careless handling of the plants or high
winds. During the daytime, when the weather is
hot, the flowers quite close up, but open again in all
their freshness and beauty as soon as the cool
evening approaches ; it is then that the delicious
perfume is most powerful. E
LOVE-LIES-BLEEDIiSrG.
(amaranthus oaudatus gibbosus. )
There are few annuals that give a better return
for judicious care and attention than the many-
members of this highly ornamental genus, and
more especially the forms of the kind repre-
sented in the accompanying illustration. We
rarely see the Amaranthuses developed as they
should be, and this, we believe, is not so much
the fault of the soil or the season as of the
grower who treats these choice annuals the
same as others of a hardier nature. A. caudatus,
and the variety gibhosus speciosus, and a few
others if properly treated and allowed to fully
develop their stems, are capable of forming
pyramids 5 feet or 0 feet in height, hung round
with the long, graceful tail-like racemes of
blight-coloured stems, flowers, &c. It is waste
might rank with such white-foliaged dwarf plants
as Achillea umbellata, Antennaria tomentosa, and
Veronica incana. — J. Wood.
White Hose Mullein (Ramondia pyi'enaica
alb.i). — This is in bloom at Broxbourue. It is similar
to the type in foliage and habit, and gi'bws as freely ;
the flowers are larger ;ind a.lmnst pure white, but
with a trace of pink, and with :i ring of yellow in the
centra. It is a choice and bj.nitifnl rock plant — E.
Genista tinetoria humifasa.— We saw a fine
plant of this in flower at Broxbourue. It is a pro-
Love-lies-bleeding (Amaranthus caudatus gibbosus) .
of time to plant them so many inches apart, as
the plants will not have room to develop in
such close quarters. When grown in vases or
isolated in light, rich soil, the peculiar
character of these plants is brought out in a
very striking way. They may also be used
with good effect in sub-tropical beds, in com-
pany with Castor-oil plants, Solanums, AVig-
andias, &c. K.
Campanula cenisia has evidently found our
climate more genial than heretofore during the
long spell of warm and dry weather ; it is now in
flower. We could hardly have further variety of
form than we have in the common Bellflowers, but
as a plant it is quite distinct in both foliage and
habit, and if it were more reliable as an open-air
subject, it would doubtless be more grown and
admired. I placed a well-established pot root in a
dryish sunny position in good loam and small
stones in spring, where it is growing freely like
others of the dwarf est Campanulas. — J. WoOD.
Scabiosa Webbiaua is a pleasing dwarf grey,
nearly white, herb, with the radical leaves and
those" of the barren stems spoon-shaped, and the
others pinnate. The neat little heads of blossom
are of a sulphur-yellow colour and pleasant scent.
It seems hardy ; anyhow it stood last winter. The
barren shoots with a rather woody heel make good
cuttings, which may be rooted in the ordinary way.
It is a fairly good grower, and I should think it
Stove and Greenhouse.
T. BAINES.
PROPAGATING AZALEAS.
Pew, if any, hard-wooded plants are more
easily increased than Azaleas, yet there are few
private growers who propagate their own, de-
pending principally on the bushy-headed little
standards of Continental origin that nursery
stock is now almost wholly confined to. Tiie
preference given to these formal and usually
stunted examples over home- struck stock to a
great extent arises through a mistaken notion
that time in getting them up to specimen size is
saved, as the plants when procured are in a
condition to flower freely at once, which condi-
tion, by the way, is the worst feature they pos-
sess, if account is taken of the extent to which
it afiects their subsequent attainment of size;
such as to make them the most useful for all
purposes. The stunted state they are in results
from the treatment they have been subjected to
with the object of making them flower more
profusely than plants of the size would if the
treatment had been as much directed to their
future well-being as to immediate effect. As
examples of what can be effected by the dwarfing
process, in which the Chinese gardeners are
such adepts, these little Mushroom -headed
plants afford illustration. But to get them to
move freely in the way that home propagated
plants that have been managed as young Azaleas
should be is very difficult. I have had them,
and after trying all I could do with them for
half a dozen years could not get them to grow
away like plants that had not been subjected in
their early stages to the dwarfing process. A
shoot in free condition grafted on a thriving
stock, or a newly struck cutting, that is after-
wards pushed along, will soon attain double the
size that one of these Continental raised plants
is capable of, notwithstanding the long start
the latter have when they come to hand with a
crop of flower-buds set. The plants in question
are useful enough iu their way for giving
patches of colour where required in greenhouses
and conservatories. Birt the short growth they
make, and out of which they are all but im-
movable, makes them of little use for cutting,
a purpose to which everything that is grown in
the shape of flowers has now to be put to. Of
Azaleas, as of most other popular plants that
come freely from seed, there is now an un-
limited number of varieties to choose from,
varying from those that are naturally strong,
vigorous growers, to others that are weak and
deUcate in constitution. The latter I would
in all oases advise to be rejected, no matter
how fine the form of the flowers may bo. The
weak growers are never satisfactory, as even
with the bist attention their continuing to
thrive is uncertain; whilst the vigorous-habited
sorts miy bo depended on to last for many
years if their wants are fairly attended to. Weak-
habited varieties, if grafted on free-growing
stocks, may be inducetl to thrive fairly for a
few years, but where there is too much dis-
parity between the stock and the variety that it
suiiports the union is short-lived.
In regard to stocks, it is well to have them
somewhat stronger in habit than the varieties
that are grafted on them. The old Chinese
species, phoenicea, used to be considered the
best stock, but many of the varieties now in
existence are more vigorous than it is ; conse-
quently, it is not suitable for them. Any strong,
JoLY 16, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
33
robust variety that is inclined to produce lengthy
shoots, rather than to be close and bushy, will
ansvrer. The stocks are easily and qviickly pre-
pared from cuttings struck any time during the
last two months, or put in at the present season,
giving them warm treatment so as to get them
rooted quickly. The shoots for cuttings should
be stiU growing at the points, moderately firm
at the bottom, the bark gi-een, not brown. If
in the latter condition, they are too old to grow
awaj' freely, though they may form roots. They
are best slipped off so as to secure the base ;
trim the bark if at all jagged. When not struck
earlier in the season they are better j)ut singly
in little pots, which drain and half till with a
mixture of half peat and sand, the rest all sand.
Keep them close, shaded, and moist in a warm
house or pit, where they wiU strike in a few
weeks, after which gradually admit air. When
well rooted move them from the frame and keep
in a warm, genial, growing temperature through
the autumn. If the small pots get full of roots
move them into others about 3 inches in
diameter. The little plants should be located
during the winter where there is warmth enough
to keep them moving a little, raising them well
up to the glass. No stopping must be attempted,
as the object is to throw all the strength into
the leading shoots. Early in spring give more
warmth, and put them into 5-inch or 6-inch
pots, using good fibrous peat sifted, with enough
sand to keep it porous for a lengthened time, as
Azaleas should never be shaken out, and, if pro-
perly treated, live as long as any hard-
wooded plants. Continue to keep them in heat,
shading and syringing freely overhead. In twelve
months from the time the cuttings were struck,
the stocks will be in right condition for grafting.
The scions must consist of the points of the young
shoots about 3 inches long, with the base only
a little solidified, and the bark green and sappy.
Strip oft" the lower leaves for about an inch of
the length, which pare dowai .so as to leave it a
little more than half its thickness, treating the
stock in the same way, which at the point
wliere the two are to be united must be in a
similar condition of growth. Fit graft and
stock so that the bark of each is together
on one side at least, and bmd them moderately
tight with worsted ; the advantage of this
material over bast or twine is that it will stretch
a little as the wood thickens. Stand the stocks
as soon as they are grafted in a close frame or
propagatmg box where there is a brisk heat,
giving a very little air during the day, for the
grafts must not be allowed to flag in the least,
wliich will occur if much air is admitted. The
union wiLL be effected in a few weeks, when
more air must be given and the ties slackened,
but do not remove the plants from the frame or
expose them to the full air of the house until a
few more weeks have elapsed, so that tlie stocks
and grafts have become fully united, after which
cut away the ties and the points of the stocks
immediately above where the union has been
effected. As soon as the grafts have begun to
grow freely pinch out the points ; this, if the
stocks are strong, will cause the production of
four or five shoots. Keep the plants through
the winter in heat, so as to have both top and
root growth moving, standing them well xip to
the glass. Early in spring they will require
moving into pots 2 inches larger. Do not again
stop the shoots until they are a foot long,
as the object is to get a limited number of
stout branches that will form the groundwork
of the future specimens rather than crowd them
with a thicket of shoots such as are produced
when the plants are subjected to the meaning-
less stopping generally practised.
Continue the warm treatment during the
summer, giving enough water to keep the roots
moving freely. Azaleas require more moisture
in the soil than most hard-wooded plants during
the time that top growth is active, and do not
like to be so dry as many things even when
quite at rest. The syringe must also be used
freely every day whilst growth coutmues ; a
little shade will be necessary in bright weather,
giving air daily with a moderate amount of
humidity in the atmosphere. By autumn the
branches will be 2 feet in length from the point
where the graft was first stopped, the plants
having a very ditterent appearance to those
usually met with at their age. The branches
must be tied well out, and their points bent
down so as to keep the base of the plants fur-
nished.
If the plants can be kept through the follow-
ing winter in an intermediate temperature it
will greatly assist them in gaining size, for
though little top growth will be made the roots
wQl be kept moving. This will admit of their
being repotted early in spring in place of having
to defer moving them until later on, in the wa,y
that will be necessary if the root growth is
suspended. They will now bear shifting into
pots 3 inches larger, using the peat in a more
lumpy state. The points of the shoots will
require stopping again, which, from the vigorous
condition of the plants, will cause them to
break much fuller and stronger than occurs
with young stock grown on the ordinary slow
system. During this summer, sun-heat, if made
the most of by closing early, will be suflicient,
except in dxxll weather, when a little warmth
should be used. If left to themselves the
flower-buds would set by midsummer, but it
will be well about that time to again stop the
shoots with a view to getting another growth ;
there will still be plenty of time for a full crop
of buds to set and get plump, with the wood
firm and well matured. To assist this a little
fire-heat regularly may be necessary from the
middle of September until the hardening process
is completed.
All through the growing season the plants
must be thoroughly syringed, as by this means
the attacks of thrips can be minimised. When-
ever this pest makes its appearance, syringe
with or dip in tobacco water, to which a little
Gishurst has been added, as the latter will kill
any red spider that may happen to be present,
wliich the tobacco water alone will not destroy.
On no account must either of these insects be
allowed to infest the plants, as when they get
overrun it is not possible to have them in good
condition. Treated in this manner, they will
be two or three times the size that plants of the
same age usually have attained. If, as recom-
mended, warmth has been kept up until the
buds were well matured, they will bloom well
and freely, the flowers coming larger and finer
coloured than they do under the usual treat-
ment. The plants will be a little thinner
possibly than those generally seen at the same
size, but through the following season they will
fill up so as to get amply furnished, especially if
the shoots are carefully trained. But for ordi-
nary decorative use not much of this will be
requu-ed henceforward. All that will be neces-
sary will be to give more pot room as the plants
require it, encouraging the growth each season
by a little warmth in dull weather for such
of the stock as are kept for late blooming. Give
enough room so that the growth at the base of
the plants will have a chance of keeping as
strong and vigorous as that at the top. Managed
in the way described, the growth annually made
wUl be strong and more than double the length
of that usually seen on Azaleas, thus admitting
of the flowers being cut with enough wood to
allow of their being used with advantage.
As the specimens get larger and older, stimu-
lants must be \ised freely during the time they
are making growth, and where the plants are
turned out of doors in summer in the way some-
times advised and often practised, this must not
be done without discrimination, only exposing
such of the stock in this manner as have been
forced into flower early and that have afterwards
made and matured their shoots and flower-buds
in a growing temperature, which is a very dif-
ferent proceeding to putting them out, as is fre-
quently done with the growth soft and un-
finished. Plants that are kept back for late
blooming should never be stood outside, as they
rec[uire all the time that intervenes between
their flowering and the end of the growing
season, during which they should be encouraged
under glass.
Where the flowers borne by plants that are
strong are subjected to hard cutting, it often
happens that the shoots get overcrowded.
When in this condition the weaker shoots
should be thinned out, so as to keep those
that are retained up to the requisite strength.
This at first sight may seem a tedious operation,
but even in the case of large specimens it is soon
got through, and the old maxim of " that which
is worth doing at all, is worth doing well," holds
good with Azaleas more than most plants, as,
when well managed, they repay a little extra
attention.
There is a prejudice against Azaleas on their
own roots, for which there is little foundation.
Possibly it may ai'ise tlrrough the weaker-grow-
ing Indian varieties, such as Gledstanesi and
lateritia, not succeeding unless they are grafted
on stocks that are stronger growers. But all
the varieties that I have tried that are suffi-
ciently free in growth to be worth cultivating at
all will grow on their own roots as well as if
grafted, only it is necessary not to allow any
shoots that happen to spring from the collars of
the plants to go on. When shoots of tliis kind
appear it is almost always on plants that have
been allowed to get into a stunted state, and
that afterwards through better treatment get
more root power, and have more sap than the
hard, moribund stem and branches can convey
to the extremities of the shoots. If a shoot of
this character is allowed to go on it nearly
always takes the lead, so as to soon starve the
existing head and stem, which dies off and has
to be cut away. After it is removed, the base
continues to decay, ultimately killing the younger
stem, which usually goes off suddenly. Azaleas
that are to be grown on their own roots require
to be treated in every way as advised for the
stocks that are to be grafted, except that the
leading .shoot requires to be stopped when it has
attained a height of C inches or 8 inches, to
cause it to branch out a little lower than grafted
plants. All through the subsequent stages the
management should be identical with that of
grafted plants, except so far as regards the
suckers mentioned.
Bouvardias in bloom. — Whether at midsum-
mer or midwinter, the blossoms of Bouvardias are
always valuable, especially where small, neat flowers
are required for button-holes, &c. To ensure a
supply of bloom a very good plan is to plant out
any old specimens that can be spared as soon as all
danger from frost is past. If the soil and situation
be fairlv good, and the plants hardened ofi previous
to being planted out, they soon become established
and flower freely. The freest flowering at present
are the bright-coloured elegans and leiantha, the
white Vreelandi, and the straw-coloured B. flaves-
cens. The double-flowered white variety Alfred
34
THE GARDEN.
[July 16, 1887.
Neuner is also blooming freely ; while the flowers ot
the double pink variety President Garfield treated in
this way are of a much deeper hue than when grown
under glass in the winter. The pure white, sweet-
scented B. Humboldti oorymbiflora is not yet in
flower, but it promises ere long to yield a good dis-
play.—H. P.
ERICA CAVENDISHIANA.
There is probably not a more striking hard-wooded
plant in cultivation than this. The yellow waxy
flowers, the erect handsome growth, and abundant
deep green leafage render it one of the most attrac-
tive and distinct of the many kinds of Cape Heaths.
A quarter of a century ago there was scarcely a
good garden in England where this Heath was not
to be found in a more or less good condition. If,
as I venture to predict, there should be a reaction
in favour of this class of plants. Erica Cavendishiana
will again come to the front. This Heath is still
grown in limited quantity for market, and in its
season one sees well-flowered little specimens in
6-inch pots in Covent Garden. It is a rather curious
fact that, although this is one of the most free-
growing of the family, it does not strike so readily
as most other kinds when the ordinary method of
propagation is followed. One of the best propa-
gators of Cape Heaths in this country told me that
he experienced more difficulty in propagating Erica
Cavendishiana and ventricosa coccinea minor than
any of the rest of the family. Cuttings taken from
the young wood and kept in warmth after insertion
are so liable to damp off. I once knew a gardener,
however, who in a rough-and-ready way managed
to strike this and many other Ericas very success-
fully. He took out the soil from a bed in a cool house
to a depth of about 6 inches. Brick rubble to a depth
of about 3 inches was then laid in the bottom, and
on the top some fine sandy peat was put. This was
done early in August, just as the wood was ripening.
Some of the smaller side shoots taken off with a
heel were then inserted firmly, a good watering
given, and a handlight put over them. Quite 90 per
cent, of the cuttings rooted. This man always had
a nice lot of young Heaths coming on, and kept
his less successful neighbours supplied with the
kinds he grew. His theory was, that hard-wooded
cuttings were better than soft ones, because the
latter must partially harden at the base before the
callusing process could begin, and it was during
this time that they were so liable to damp. The
above method might in some instances be worthy
of adoption. J. C. B.
pretty and useful plant, as it will bloom continuously
for months, and may be grown very easily. This
Balsam is also known as Impatiens platypetalaalba,
and the type with pinkish lilac-coloured flowers is
also in cultivation, but its ornamental qualities are
far inferior to those of the other varieties. All these
Balsams strike freely from cuttings, and the Sultan's
will, under favourable conditions, ripen seed in
abundance, but the white form does not seed so
freely, though some fertile pods are generally pro-
duced. If the seeds are sown soon after they ripen
germination will take place in a few days. — H. P.
flowers are intermediate in size between the parents.
This is likewise an artificial cross, in fact, it could
not be otherwise, for bees, instead of extracting the
nectar at the base of the flower-tube, puncture the
tube from outside, and so get the sweets. Among
the hundreds of flowers now open in the Cactus
house, there is scarcely one that has not been so
punctured at the tube. It may be a long time be-
fore these hybrid Streptocarpus can rival the Glox-
inia as regards size and colour of their flowers, but
if taken well in hand they would assuredly develop
into a popular class of greenhouse plants.
W. GOLDEING.
Philesia buxifolia.— This near ally of the La-
pagerias is now in full bloom and when met with
in a flourishing condition, which seldom is the case,
is a very handsome greenhouse shrub. It succeeds
best under the same conditions as the Lapagerias,
viz., planted out in a well-drained border in a soil
largely composed of fibrous peat and sand, and not
too fully exposed to the sun. Unlike the Lapageria,
this is not of a climbing habit of growth, but forms
a thick mass a yard or so high, from the outside of
which the bright-coloured flowers depend in all
directions. In particularly favoured localities along
our southern shores it is perfectly hardy, but gene-
rally speaking it needs the protection of a green-
house. Between this Philesia and Lapageria rosea
a hybrid was raised by Messrs. Veitch, which re-
ceived the name of Philageria Veitchi, and partook
of the characters of both parents. This Philesia is
a native of Chili, and was introduced into this
country by AVilliam Lobb, to whom we are indebted
for many valuable introductions, including, as they
do, among their number Lapageria rosea, Escal-
lonia macrantha, Embothrium coccineum, Desfon-
tainea spinosa, and, above all, Berberis Darwini. — T.
Impatiens flaccida alba. — Occasionally one
hears of a white-flowered form of Impatiens Sultani
(which has now become so popular), but it invari-
ably turns out to be the above-mentioned kind,
which differs in many respects from I. Sultani, for
.the style ot growth is far more spreading and the
. blooms are larger, but not so freely produced as in
j-lhe SidtanVs Balsam. Nevej-theless, it is a very
NEW HYBRID STREPTOCARPUS.
In the Cactus house at Kew there may be seen at
the present time some new hybrid varieties of
Streptocarpus that may prove to be the elements of
a valuable and very distinct class of garden plants.
These hybrids are the results of intercrossing that
extraordinary new species of Streptocarpus known
as S. Dunni, introduced from the Transvaal a year
or two ago. This species is remarkable for the
enormous size of its one leaf (for it never bears but
one), for its extreme floriferousness, and distinct
colour of its flowers. The flowers are tubular,
about 2 inches long, and of a dull brickdust red
colour. The plant is, therefore, not remarkable for
brilliancy, but when there is a profusion of
flowers on the multitude of stems, the plant has a
pretty appearance. Last year it occurred to Mr.
Watson that this big-leaved Streptocarpus would
probably hybridise with some of the smaller growing
species, such as the well known S. Rexi and S. par-
viflorus, and the beautiful and interesting crosses
he has obtained prove that his surmises were correct.
He has obtained crosses between S. Dunni and S.
parviflorus (No. 1), and between S. Kexi aud S.
Dunni (No. 2). The cross No. 1 is, we consider, the
most valuable, inasmuch as the colour of the flowers
is most pleasing. The flowers of No. 1 are shorter
than those of Dunni, but with a much wider tube.
The colour of the finest seedling is a bright rosy
lilac, heavily pencilled in the tube with crimson,
while the exterior of the tube is almost white. The
leaves of No. 1 are quite intermediate between the
parents. The largest at present are about 1 foot
long by G inches broad, much more pointed than
those of Dunni and considerably wrinkled. The
fioriferous nature of Dunni is transmitted to the
hybrid, for one of the plants has no fewer than six
flower-stems arranged in a regular row at the base
of the leaf -stalk, and extending up the midrib. This
No. 1 seedling has an extremely pretty effect, and,
on account of the profusion of numerous stems
which expand their flowers in succession, continues
in bloom for several weeks. No. 2 seedling, between
S. Dunni and S. Rexi, is not so beautiful or so dis-
tinct as the other. The flowers are as large as those
of Rexi, but the reddish tint of Dunni has imparted
to the seedling a ruddy tinge, which, suffused with
the mauve colour of the parent, makes a bright
violet-purple, the broad lines in the tube being very
much deeper. The floriferousness of No. 1 is seen
also in No. 2, and the leaves of the latter are like-
wise enlarged. There is a wide range of variation
between the seedlings of the respective crosses,
some flowers being much more richly coloured than
others. What would be the result of again cross-
ing the hybrids has not been proved, but we imagine
that by again crossing No. 1 with the white-flowered
parviflorus some beautiful varieties would be ob-
tained. Having regard to the fact that all the kinds
of Streptocarpus grow like weeds, either planted
out in free soil or in pots, and in a cool greenhouse
temperature, an invaluable race of showy greenhouse
plants may spring out of Mr. Watson's experiments.
The new S. Dunni will always remain a remarkable
plant on account of its grand leaves, some of which
measured last year at Kew were over a yard long
by 1 () inches in width. The great leaves lie flat on
the soil, and seen in numbers have a very odd
appearance. We had almost forgotten a third
hybrid, which for beauty of flower surpasses the
others. It is a cross between Rexi and parviflorus.
It has the white flowers of the latter species with
the tubes adorned with lines of purple, and the
, GLOXINIAS AT READING.
The display that these now make in the houses of
the Messrs. Sutton's seed grounds, London Road,
exceeds that of any previous year both in numbers
and general excellence. In regard to the latter, no
description, without being open to the charge of
exaggeration, can adequately convey any idea of
their beauty. It may not be generally known that
the Messrs. Sutton have for very many years past
taken an especial interest in Gloxinias, Cinerarias,
Calceolarias, Cyclamens, Begonias, and Primulas,
and their success exceeding their expectation,
house after house has been built after the most
approved fashion to suit these species of plants,
and that they have answered their purpose, the
unequalled results must testify. They are light,
span-roofed structures, heated and aired on the
most scientific principle, and yet the utilitarian
part is a conspicuous feature as seen in the arrange-
ment of stages for plants and shelves for raising
and growing on seedlings through the earlier stages
of growth.
The greater half of these houses are now filled
with Begonias and Gloxinias in various stages of
growth, the bulk of the latter now being in the
height of perfection, and form such an array of
beauty as is seldom witnessed. Whether or not
form, size, substance, and colour of the flowers are
the results of cultivation, or whether hybridisation
must have most of the credit, or the two conjointly,
I cannot say; sufficient for me that perfection has
been attained, and that to a degree never contem-
plated by the greatest enthusiast. Some of the
leaves of the Gloxinias that were raised from seeds
sown in January last, and now in 5-inch pots,
measured from 7 inches to 10 inches in length by
5 inches to 7 inches across, and completely hid the
pot. On these plants there were from twelve to
twenty fully expanded flowers with numbers of
others to follow. As to size, the largest measured
was a flower with ten lobes and nearly 5 inches in
diameter; the average of the flowers were fully
4 J inches in diameter, and mainly eight-lobed.
The erect or upright section is that most largely
grown; hence, length of tube plays as important a
part as regards effectiveness as does the diameter of
the flowers, and the Messrs. Sutton have been suffi-
ciently fortunate in their hybridisation to obtain
this feature as markedly as they have in diameter.
As to colours, the variation and brilliancy of the
whole are very marked. What I shall call the
white and rose-coloured section ranges from snow-
white to deep crimson-vermilion, and the purple
shades from a kind of dusky white to the deepest
purple; and generally the darker the shade of the
upper or lobed part of the flower, the purer is the
white of the tube— a contrast which adds both
beauty and novelty.
For variegated, mottled, or spotted flowers I have
hitherto had no fancy, but at Reading tliere is a
new break of such great beauty, that on seeing the
flowers my objections vanished. There are numbers
of various shades of colour with markings so even
and regular as to be only describable by calling it
true network. A friend suggested that marbling
would be a better term, but this word does not con-
vey tlie regularity of the marks on tlie flower. One
I specially noted has flowers of the deepest ver-
milion-rose colour, and a perfectly even network of
pure white covers the entire flower. There are
some dozens of plants of this variety, which if ex-
July 1G, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
35
liibited sliortly— as is probable — will cause quite a
furore amongst lovers of Gloxinias.
W. W. H.
Primula floribunda.— Mr. Elwes, in The
Garden, July 2 (p. (500), speaks thus regarding
this Primula : "A greenhouse plant with small
flowers, but I have not seen enough of it to say
whether it is worthy of general cultivation." My
experience of this Primula is that it has many and
desirable qualities, for the blooms, though small,
are of a rich shade of yellow, and under favourable
conditions a succession will be maintained nearly
throughout the year. The flowers are borne in
whorls in a somewhat similar way to those of P.
verticiUata, and as the stems lengthen row after
row of blossoms make their appearance. I raised
from seed a few plants which commenced to flower
last November, and they continued to bloom till
May, when I trimmed off the old spikes and gave
the" plants a little liquid manure. The result of
this was, that the plants produced some fine foliage
and stout flower-spikes, the blossoms on which soon
commenced to expand, and a succession has been
kept up ever since. — T.
Rex's Caps Primrose (Streptooarpus Rexi). —
Besides the beauty of its individual flowers, this
plant possesses the merit of continuous blooming,
and is withal of verj- easy culture. It can be readily
raised from seed, and a good plan is, when the
young plants are large enough, to group several in
a large pan (for they are not deep-rooting subjects),
when they will soon form a mass of dark green
leaves that serves well as a setting for the pretty
lilac-purple blossoms. In this Streptooarpus the
flowers are borne mostly in pairs on the top of an
erect spike about a foot high, but some seedlings,
presumably the result of a cross between this and
the small-flowered S. parviflorus, bear several
flowers on one stem. They are South African plants,
and do well in a warm greenhouse. — H. P.
SHORT NOTES.— STOm AND GREENHOVSE.
Croton Morti. — We saw this Croton recently in
Messrs. Hooper's nursery at Twickenham. It is a
free-growing, handsome, and effective variety, the
leaves large, broad, and of a tine green colour, with
showy yellow nerves. It is said, however, to bo diffi-
cult to colour well. — E.
Carnation Mdlle. Carle. — This is one of the
best of the pure white-flowered Carnations. It is of
good habit and blooms freely, the flowers being of
medium size and very fragi'ant. We noticed it at
Messrs. Hooper's Twickenham Nurseries.
Petunia Empress. — This is a useful variety for
pots, and is grown largely in Messrs. Hooper's nm'-
series at Twickenham, It is very free-growing and the
habit is compact ; the flowers are large and of a lovely
rosy pink colour. It is the best in its Hue of colour
we have seen. — C.
Asparagus plumosus nanus. — We saw a fine
example of this plant in the gardens of Orleans
House, Twickenham. It makes au excellent specimen,
and when cut, the elegant, slender stems are of great
value for intermixing with choice flowers, as the leaf-
age is Ught and featherv, and of a fiae deep green
colour.— T. W.
Drooping grow^th. for baskets. — Lophosper-
mum seaudens is a very pretty plaut for draping a lawn
basket on the Grass, or for hanging over the sides of a
vase. It is also well adapted for hanging baskets in
tile conservatory. Some day lawn basket beds vrill
probably be re-introduced, as everywhere the tendency
is to get back to the homely, simple condition of things
which associates so well with rustic beds and seats,
weeping trees and climbers. — H.
A variegated India-rubber plant. — There
are few plants so serviceable for house and room deco-
ration as the well-known Ficus elastica. It is certainly
of a heavy or foiTnal character, but then the thick,
leathery leaves are not easily iuiured either by neglect
or from fumes of gas. A variegated form is now being
fast propagated by different nurserymen, and this,
being quite as easily groini as its parent and very
prettily variegated^tliis variegation e^adently being of
a -fixed nature — ought also to have a good future before
it; 'I ha've' seeti' plants 5 feet hfgh'ahd others about
12 inches high, and in every case the growth
vigorous and the variegation perfect. — I.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Stove climbers. — Many plants that possess a
habit of growth such as to fit them for using as
climbers in a warm house are more or less free
and strong growers that naturally attain a large
size, so that if their roots are not much re-
stricted the top-growth becomes all but unman-
ageable, and whatever plants occupy the body
of the house have very little chance under the
dense thicket overhead. This particularly ap-
plies to such things as AUamandas, Bougainvillea
glabra, Thunbergias, and others of like character,
which, if planted out in a bed, unless the space
allowed is very limited, make too much top-growth.
The roots of the plants named may without injury
be partially shaken out annually, so as to admit of
the soil being renewed, on which account, except
where the house they occupy happens to be of un-
usual size, it is better to confine them to pots, adding
to the soil in which they are potted a liberal quan-
tity of manure, say from one-fifth to one-sixth.
But, however rich the material is made to begin with,
unless manure were added to an extent that the
roots would not bear, it becomes exhausted before
the growing and flowering season is more than half
over" and, unless means are taken to sujaply the
requisite nutriment, the growth and flowers that
should be forthcoming until the end of the season
will be deficient. From this time onwards repeated
dressings with concentrated manure, or regular
applications of manure water, must be given ; of the
two I prefer the latter, as if applied at a strength
proportionate to what each kind of plant will bear,
there is less danger of over-dosing, and the nutri-
ment given can be more evenly regulated than by
surface-dressings applied seldomer.
Allamandas and Bougainvillea glabra,
after the plants have got fairly into flower, will be
better for having manure water every second time
that the soil requires moistening, which, whilst the
weather keeps hot, will be almost every day. By
these means, even with comparatively little root-
room, the plants will go on producing double the
amount of flowers that are obtainable where the
stimulants are given less liberally and at longer
intervals.
Stephanotis floribunda. — Though this plant
will, if encouraged, cover a large space, its growth
can s.till be so far regulated as not to darken what-
ever is grown beneath it. Like the kinds before
named, when the plant is turned out in a small bed
it requires less attention, but a large specimen can
be grown in a pot, and I have generally seen it
flower best when its roots are somewhat confined
and but little disturbed. Plants that have flowered
late should immediately the bloom is over have
whatever pruning is required carried out, encourag-
ing them at once to make growth, so that there
may be time for the young wood to get thoroughly
hardened up before the short days come on. In the
case of young, thriving plants that are required to
cover more space, these should have larger pots.
Large specimens that are now in big pots must be
regularly supplied with manure water, continuing
its use untU the growth is nearly finished. What-
ever is given in the way of stimulants to this plant
has much more effect whilst the growth that is
made after blooming is in course of formation than
at the time which immediately precedes flowering,
and on the strength and vigour which the growth
now being made attains, coupled with its being
fully matured, depends the amount of flower that
will be forthcoming the ensuing year.
Small Stephanotis. — From their being so sel-
dom met with, it would seem that it is not gene-
rally known that this plant can be kept confined to
a very small space for an indefinite time with little
or no cutting in, yet still quite healthy, and pro-
ducing annually a crop of flowers equal in propor-
tion to those borne by large specimens. I know
of several examples of this Stephanotis that have
been kept in 8-inch pots for over a dozen years
without any renewal of or addition to the soil. The
plants are stood on the front stage of a house facing
south, and kept at an intermediate temperature.
Each plant consists of some two or three shoots
about 10 feet long trained to a single wire, which is
run over the path just below the roof. Each spring
the plants make a number of short growths not
more than 10 inches or 12 inches long, which flower
at nearly every joint. The plants subsist wholly on
manure water. Veiy little growth is made after
flowering, and in the winter the preceding summer's
shoots are cut away. The limited amount of heat
in which the plants are grown has no doubt much
to do with the success that attends the unusual
treatment to which they are subjected. In the
numerous places where a small house in which
an intermediate heat is kept up is the only struc-
ture in which this universally favourite flower can
be accommodated, this method of growing it could
with advantage be adopted.
DiPLADENiAS. — These plants maybe occasionally
seen planted out, but there is much less certainty
of their succeeding when so grown than when their
roots are confined in pots, and even where they
thrive planted in a bed or border I have never seen
them attain the size or produce the quantity of
flowers that well-managed pot-grown plants are
capable of. This applies to all the species and
varieties generally met with in cultivation, except
D. boliviensis, which thrives freely and attains a
much larger size, yielding proportionately more
flowers when planted out than when its root space
is more restricted. Nearly all the kinds wiU begin
to bloom in May, provided they are kept warm
enough, and will give an uninterrupted succession
of flowers right on to autumn if the plants are kept
in a condition that admits of their making growth
sufiiciently strong to enable them to produce bloom.
To help them to do this manure water should be
given from the time the roots have got fairly hold
of the soil, and as the season advances sustenance
of this kind is still more necessary. From now up
to the time when the growth is to be stopped by
withholding moisture, manure water alone may be
given regularly, but in the case of Dipladenias and
Stephanotis it should not be used so strong as the
more vigorous-growing subjects, such as AUamandas
and Bougainvilleas, will bear.
Clerodendron splendens. — This fine plant is
a smaller grower than many climbers that require
warm treatment, and consequently is one of the
subjects I should recommend for draping the rafters
without losing sight of the well-being of the rest of
the subjects in the house. It is best grown in a
pot which, even for a full-sized specimen, need not
be so large as many climbers require. With this
species the time of flowering depends on the
temperature that is kept up. In most cases it will
be met with in bloom from midsummer up to
August. Plants that have attained full size after
the blooming is over should be treated in a way
that will assist the young wood to ripen, as it is not
necessary to encourage much growth through the
autumn. A somewhat drier condition of the soil
and no more shade than is requisite to prevent
the leaves being injured wiU help the hardening
process.
HoxAS. — The different species of Hoya, such as
H. imperialis, H. Cunninghami, H. cinnamomifolia,
H. campanulata, and H. pallida, are all suitable for
clothing a rafter, as they do not make so much
growth as to unduly shade the roof. Three wires
run in line with the rafter — one immediately be-
neath it, and one on each side— will give enough
support for any of the kinds named, as several
shoots can be trained to each wire. Pot culture
suits these Hoyas best, as their roots can be kept
for a long time confined to little room. None of
the kinds named need much cutting in further than
shortening any shoots that are growing too strong,
or when they extend further than the space to be
flUed requires. It is well not to lose sight of this,
as most of the sorts form persistent flower-spurs on
the young wood as it is made, which spurs continue
for years to produce flowers once or oftener during
the season. It is best to encourage the plants to
continue making growth all through up to the end
of summer, so long as the space at command admits
36
THE GARDEN.
[July 16, 1887.
of their extension. Whilst the flowers are de-
veloping, especially in their later stages before
they begin to open, it is better not to syringe
overhead, as if the water hangs about them
much, it not unusually causes the flowers to
fall off before opening. These Hoyas do not like
their roots being much disturbed ; consequently
they will not well bear anything approaching shak-
ing out with a view to renewing the soil. This
being the case, it follows that for any young stock
that now requires more pot room, material should
be used that is not likely to lose porosity. Loam
suits them best, as it does not decompose so quickly
as peat. Plenty of sand proportionate to the nature
of the loam should be added. Old plants that have
been some years without any additional pot room
may have weak manure water about once a fort-
night whilst they are making growth.
Ipom.t;a Hobsfallijs and I. Thompsoni. —
These distinct and handsome flowered plants are
suitable for growing on rafters or for running on
wires lengthways over a path ; in the latter way their
flowers will be best seen. I. Thompsoni is a com-
paratively new sort that is not yet so much known ;
it is a fit companion to I. Horsfallise, differing from
it in the colour of the flowers, which are white,
whilst in the older kind they are bright rose. Under
ordinary treatment I. Horsfallife usually blooms in
autumn. The plants will now be in full growth,
and require to have their twining shoots regulated
from time to time so as to keep them to the wires
intended for their support; if left to themselves
they get entangled round each other, and if allowed
to grow in this way it is difficult to separate them,
as they are soft and liable to get injured. Any
young plants that require more pot room may yet
be moved, but they must not have a large shift, as
the time is now limited to admit of the roots getting
suflioient hold of the new soil before winter.
Clbeodendeon Balfouei.— When this plant is
used as a climber it requires to be differently
managed to most things. It is a vigorous grower,
so that when well treated it makes plenty of top
growth in a season. Large plants that have
flowered late should be cut back to from 6 feet to
8 feet of the bottom, and as soon as they have
started into growth they ought to be turned out of
the pots and have some of the old soil shaken away,
replacing it with fresh loam to which about one-
fifth of rotten manure has been added. Train the
shoots as they advance to thin strings run up under
the roof, and syringe freely every afternoon, keep-
ing the atmosphere moderately moist. As soon as
the roots begin to move give manure water freely
to induce stronger growth. The shoots trained in
the way described will get thoroughly ripened.
T. B.
Propagating.
Hollyhocks. — Where it is desired to increase the
stock of these showy flowers the present season is
very suitable, as they will root now without difli-
culty. The small side shoots, that are at times pro-
duced in some varieties far more than in others,
make excellent cuttings if put into pots of sandy
soil, and kept close and shaded till rooted. The
Hollyhock can also be increased by single eyes,
which is the method usually employed where con-
siderable numbers are required. For this purpose
the weaker side shoots are preferable to the stout
central ones. Care should be taken not to cut off
the stem till it acquires a certain amount of firm-
ness, and yet at tlie same time it must not be too
old, but in that condition known as half-ripened.
The cuttings are prepared in this way: take the
stem and cut off all the leaves just at the base of the
blade, thereby leaving a part of the leaf -stalk still
attached to the stem. Then divide the shoot up
into single eyes, leaving about IJ inches of stem
below the bud. This cutting should be cleanly per-
formed, otherwise should the stem be at all bruised it
is very likely to form a seat of decay. If only a few
plants are required the cuttings may be dibbled into
pots or pans, but where there are a good many to put
in the better way is to prepare a frame for their re-
ception by putting a layer of fine sandy soil in the
bottom, and dibbling the cuttings directly into this.
These eyes should be put in the ground at such a
depth that the bud is just level with the surface of
the soil. When they are inserted a thorough water-
ing must be given, but after this care must be
taken not to over-water, otherwise some of the cut-
tings will decay. A good way when one is obliged
to give them some water is to leave a little air on
the frame for an hour or two afterwards. Holly-
hocks can also be raised from seed, and if saved
from a good collection many of the flowers will
turn out satisfactory; but still, in order to per-
petuate any particular variety, propagation by means
of cuttings is absolutely necessary. The seed may
be sown in a frame early in the spring, and if
potted off when large enough wiU be fit for plant-
ing out by the end of May.
Rhus glabea laciniata. — I have a fine crop
of young plants of this beautiful Sumach, the
product of some root cuttings put in during the
early months of the year. The roots were out up
into pieces from 1 inch to 2 inches long, and
inserted into a bed of sandy soil protected by a
frame. It is better to put root cuttings in without
the aid of a dibble where they are firm enough for
such treatment. To facilitate this the soil should
be moderately fine and put in the frame rather
lightly, so that when it is levelled all is ready for
the insertion of the cuttings. They can then be
pressed down, keeping each cutting in a perpen-
dicular position, and pushing it down in the soil
till the upper portion is a little below the surface
thereof. The lights may be kept close and the soil
fairly moist, but not wet, when fibres will soon be
produced towards the lower part of the root, and
the upper portion will heal over and push forth
buds which grow away freely. If put in heat
they will commence to push much earlier in the
season.
New Holland plants. — The current season's
shoots of many of these will be now in a very
suitable condition for cuttings, and as the mode
employed for propagating this hard- wooded class of
plants affords but little variation, a few general
remarks may be here given. In the first place, as
most of these plants are very delicate and the
young shoots flag quickly when exposed to the air,
everything should be prepared before they are
separated from the parent plant. The soil suitable
for most of this class is very sandy peat passed
through a sieve with a quarter of an inch mesh,
and the pots prepared for their reception must be
well drained, being filled with broken crooks to
within 1 inch or 2 inches of the top, according to
the size of the cuttings. Most of this class do
better under bell-glasses, and, of course, the
size of the pots will be regulated by the
glasses that are at hand. The soil, having been
pressed down very firmly and level, should then
be finished off by placing on the top a
layer a quarter of an inch thick of clean
silver sand, when the pots must be watered through
a fine-rosed water-pot. In selecting the cuttings
the stout terminal shoots should be avoided, as well
as any weak attenuated ones towards the centre of
the plant. In the case of most subjects, the cut-
ting should be taken when the shoots have just lost
their succulent character and before they become
hard in texture. The base of each shoot must be
cut off cleanly with a sharp knife, and the leaves
removed as far as is necessary for the purpose of
insertion. In the hands of an experienced propa-
gator some Heaths as well as other subjects may
have their bottom leaves stripped off without in-
jury, but though by far the quicker way, it is .some-
times apt to damage the bark and thus cause decay.
Consequently the better way will be to remove the
leaves with a very sharp knife or pointed pair of
scissors. This last is often used, but still some
propagators prefer the knife, using the nail of the
left thumb as a support for the stem of the cutting
when severing it cleanly at the base. In dibbling
in the cuttings, care must be taken that the holes
for their reception are not made too deep, for the
cutting should quite reach the bottom thereof, and
must also have the soil pressed firmly around the
side, so that it is held securely in its place. Over-
crowding must be guarded against, and at the same
time space should be economised as far as possible.
It is as well to press down the glass in position
before the cuttings are inserted, as the marks made
by the rim thereof in the sand will be a good guide
as to the space at disposal. A pot of cuttings
having been inserted after this manner, a good
watering, sufficient, in fact, to cause the sand at the
top to form one unbroken surface, must be given,
and the glasses may be left off for a little while
until the foliage becomes nearly dry. The pots may
then be placed in a cold frame or in a cool and shady
part of the greenhouse till the cuttings callus, when
a gentle heat will be of service in hastening the
formation of roots ; or they may in the first place
be put in a warmer structure. By these means they
root quicker, but the loss is often greater unless
considerable care is taken in attending to them.
If there are no bell-glasses at hand, an air-tight
propagating case may be used for the purpose. A
good deal of the success or otherwise will, however,
depend upon the after-treatment accorded them,
and they will need careful attention in the matter
of shading, watering, Sec, as if too dry they soon
perish, and if there is too much moisture decay
quickly sets in. As soon as the cuttings are rooted,
air must be given by degrees until the glasses can
be altogether removed. T.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 605.
FORTUNE'S SAXIFRAGE.
(with a coloured plate of sasifraga for-
TUNBI.*)
To the facility with which this large genus may
be cultivated in our gardens we probably owe
much of that love for hai'dy alpines, of which
they form such a large proportion. Many of
the Saxifrages, especially of the Aizoon section,
the varieties of which are now very numerous,
may be grown successfully on old brick walls,
&c. ; indeed, treated in this way they are neater
and display their characters better than when
grown in rich soil. The latter condition tends
rather to coarse growth than to the production
of flowers. In the absence of a rockery no
better plan could be adopted for growing them
than in shallow pans filled with brick and lime
rubbish. Starving them in this way brings out
the peculiar characteristics so conspicuous in
their native habitats, and which they invariably
lose in our damp climate, unless some such plan
as the above is adopted. On a well-built rookery
the poorer the medium the Aizoon section is
grown in, the more satisfactory will be the re-
sult. All the other sections, including S. oses-
pitosa, Wallacei, <feo., London Pride, S. um-
brosa, cuneifolia, &c. , are eminently suited for
the rockwork, and a rockery entirely devoted to
this family forms one of the most interesting
sights in a garden. The following is a brief de-
scription of the Diptera section, to which our
plate of S. Fortune! belongs : —
S. C0RTUS.i:F0LiA. — A Comparatively rare
plant as yet, and most nearly allied to S. For-
tuuei, though inferior as a garden plant. It
was introduced by the Messrs. Veitch, Chelsea.
Professor Maximowicz considers this and Saxi-
fraga Fortunei as varieties, and several forms
are said to be figured in an obscure Japanese
botanical work called " Loo Bokf." These
varieties, however, have not yet found their
way into our gardens, and as the two plants are
perfectly distinct, it will be wise to retain, for
the present at least, the names that we know
them under. S. cortusajfolia requires much the
* Drawn for The Gaeden by Miss E. Lowe at
"Woodcote, October 2, 1886, and printed by G. Seve.
reyns.
THE GARDEN.
SAXIFRAGA FORTUNE I
July 10, 1887.]
?HB GARDEN.
37
same treatmont as S. Foi'tunoi, and, though an
inferior phiiit, the flowers arc so welcome iu the
autumn, that all who have space shouhl possess it.
The leaves are borne on stout stalks, nearly orbi-
cular, and usually cordate at the bases, with five
or six blunt, shallow lobes, cronated or toothed,
bright green above, and varying to x-eddish
brown or red towards autumn. The flowering
stem rises to a height of from S inches to 1 foot ;
flowers pure white, iu a loose panicle ; petals
entire, one of them twice, and sometimes three
times longer than the others, much narrower i
than those of S. Fortiinei. It may be increased
by division, and flowers during September and |
October, and is a native of Southern China and
Japan.
Fortdne's Saxifbaue (S. Fortunei), a faithful
representation of which will be found on the
accompanying plate, is, with the exception per-
haps of Primula japonica, one of the finest of
the many plants introduced to our gai-dens by
Mr. Fortune, while travelling in China and
Japan. It belongs to the Diptera section,
which also includes Mother of Thousands (S.
sarmentosa) and two others, one of which
has been entirely lost to cultivation as far as
we know at present. Though amongst the
smallest, this group is not by any means the
least showy of this largo and important family,
contributing with both graceful flowers and
handsome foliage in no small way to our late
autumn ert'ects. S. Fortunei with the large-
leaved Megasoas dift'ers widely from the other
sections with regard to culture. They require
good, rich, deep soil to bring out their true
character, and the numerous and large graceful
flower-stems of Fortune's j>lant when in good
condition amply compensate for the extra
time and labour bestowed im it during the
growing season. The soil wo use, and with
which we have been successful for a number of
years, is strong turfy loam with half leaf soil
and old cow manure, the healthy dark gi-een of
the foliage being brought out in a striking way
with good treatment. Although growing very
well in full sunshine, especially if the roots are
in a cool medium, our best plants are always
those grown in shade, well slioltered from the
cutting spring winds, and in such a position as
that they can obtain a plentiful supjily of water
during the hotseason. S. Fortunei ditt'ers widely
from the old Strawberry Saxifrage (S. sarmen-
tosa) in the absence of runners, and also in
the shape and texture of its leaves ; so far as
we are aware, it is the least variable plant of
this section, and never has coloured leaves, as
represented iu L'lthistraiwn Ihniicoh, 1864,
t. 308. The plant is figured iu the work just
quoted as bearing runners, clearly showing
that it belongs to S. sarmentosa, and is no
doubt the variety known in gardens as S.
sarmentosa tricolor. A much neax-er plant to
the latter, however, is S. cortusiefolia, which
is said to be very variable, but the entire petals
seem to me to mark it as quite distinct from
Fortune's plant. The leaves of S. Fortunei
are usually cordate, of a dark dull gi-een, and
with few or no bristly hairs on the upper
sxxrfaco ; on the underside the bristles are more
plentiful, especially on the ■veins, which ax'O
prominent. The lobes are blunt, from ten to
twelve to each leaf, serrated, oftan twice, the
leaf-stalks purplish red, and rough from the
scars of decidxious hair bi'istles, flowei-s nume-
rous in a loose panicle, petals white, serrated,
and set off to advantage by the red anthers.
It is easily propagated by division of the roots
in spring, and i-arely ripens seeds owing to the
early frosts injuring its flowers. Native of
China.
The Mother op Tnors.vxos (S. sarmen-
tosa).—This (well represented in the annexed
woodcut) is such an old favourite, and so well
known in this country, that it is hardly neces-
sary to describe it iu detail. It is so very
popular, that almost every cottager wiio aspii'es
to a gai-den grows it. It is generally used, more
especially the variety tricolor, ixi which the
gorgeoxis colouring is always a source of interest
in hanging baskets for which it is well suited.
We would be glad to see this variety more
largely grown than it is at the present tinxe, as
few plants surpass it, either for grace or beauty.
Mother of Thousands (Siixifraga i
L-ntosa).
It does well also on sheltered spots on the
rocker)', and forms a px'etty drapery. Native
of Japan, China, itc. ; flowers in Jxine and
July.
S. cusouT/HFOUiiis, a native of China, and
not now in cxiltivation, is named on account of
the stx'iking resemblance its runners have to the
Dodder, and is a near ally of S. sarmentosa.
D. K.
Fruit Garden.
W. COLBMAN.
FIGS FOR FORCING.
Fios of late years have grown gi-eatly into
favoxxr, and many excellent varieties ai-e now
met with iu ditt'ei'ent pai-ts of the kingdom. All
of thom do well under glass— that is, provided
they have plenty of light and heat, aixd space
for the fxill developmeixt of their shoots and
leaves, and during the growing season they
never feel the want of watei'. All, however, ax-e
not eqxxally .adapted to forcing, and a great
nxxmber of varieties, some of them now to this
couixtiy, others possibly old friends under new
names, having been introduced from the Conti-
nent, it may be well to inqxxire which of these
are most likely to answer special purposes. If
it holds that a good horse cannot bo a bad
colour, it certainly follows that a good Fig can-
not come at the wrong season, and yet some
may be more tractable thaix othei's ; they may
produce two cx'ops while othexs are producing
one, and the quality of the fruit from a fertile
old friend may be infinitely better than that
from the shy variety whose foothold is too large
and headroonx too small.
Good collections of Figs occasionally are met
with in private gai-dens, but the best, 1 sxippose,
is at Chiswick, and sonxo day I hope Mr. BaxTon
will be able to give xxs the benefit of his ex-
pei'ience, if only to the extexit of classifying and
tolling us what these gx'and Col do Signoras and
Dauphiixos were called when the Royal Horti-
j cultural Society led a xiseful life .at Chiswick.
My eai'liest recollection of forced Figs extends
to Pregussata .aixd Early ^'i^>lot, now considered
too snxall ; but of the latter I nxay have more to
say px'eseutly. Of the fii-st, it is oixly fair to
say the flavoxxr is delicioxis, and uixder modern
mauiigement mxich might be done tt)wards
ixiaking xxp for size or waxxt of it by quantity.
Brown Turkey .and White Marseilles form a
host in thenxselves, and these two alone will
supply all that an Italiaxx prince need wish, bxxt,
variety being charming, it nxay not be anxiss to
give the choice of a few more whose characters
will bear the stxictest investig.atioxx.
Taken .alphabetically, No. 1 is Angeliqxxe,
or Jladoliixe, i-ejoicing under several other
synonyms. A good Fig of medixxm size ; skin
yellow ; flesh white, tinged with red towards the
centre. Is greatly improved by being kept till
thoroughly x'ipe iix a I'ather dry and high tem-
pei-aturo. The late Mr. Rivei's thought well of
it for pot cxxlture.
2. Bkown Turkey, or Lee's Perpetual. —
Largo pyriforixx fi-onx tx-ees on walls ; x-oxxnder
when grown xxnder glass ; skin browxiish red,
covered with delicate bloom ; flesh red and de-
licious. T.aken at all points, this is a xnost
valuable variety, as it can be forced very early ;
it beoonxes a perpetxxal beai-er xxnder good cxxl-
ture ; it does well oix walls, and is one of the
best for staixdarda. The popularity of this Fig
ixxay be imagixxed whoix I state that it is met
witlx uxxder nearly a score of ixames.
3. Black Ischia. — A delicious purple Fig,
with deep red flesh ; very hardy and prolific.
Excellent for pot culture, and does well on walls.
4. Brown Ischia. — Larger than the preced-
ing, and equally good. Fruit globular, flesh
red or purple, sweet aixd luscious. A good pot
Fig ; also fine for walls. Some of the largest
ami oldest wall-trees in the kingdoxxx are the
true Black and Brown Ischia.
5. Early Violet. — Rather small, roundish
turbinate. Skin brownish red, red near the
stalk, covered with blue bloom. Flesh red,
highly flavoui-ed and delicious. Sti-ougly recom-
mended for pots ; it is to this universal method
of culture that the appellation "too small" may
be traced. The tree is vex'y early, and can be
made to produce three crops in a year ; more-
over, it is always reliable, and for this i-eason
should have a place in every forcing garden.
The finest tree I ever saw is at Bearwood, near
Wokingham, where, under Mr. Tegg's excellent
management, it oonxmenoes beaxing early in
April, and produces one continuous stream of
fruit throughout the season. This tree, a stan-
dard, is planted close to the front pipes, in a
house '20 feet by 16 foot, and is trained on wires
near the glass, which it covers to the extent of
400 feet siiper. It has the run of an external
as xvell as that of internal border ; its roots are
never disturbed. The shoots, as fixr as I can
judge, are never pinched, but liberally thinned at
the winter pruning, and the fruit xxnder this
treatment is so fine (3 inches from stalk to eye
and 2 inches across), that I have no hesitation in
calling it Tegg's Improved Early Violet, and
advising its extended culture.
38
THE GARDEN.
[July 16, 1887
6. White Marseilles, Raby Castle, White
Genoa, White Naples. — Fruit above medium
size, nearly round, with hardly any neck. Skin
very j^ale green when ripe. Flesh pale, exceed-
ingly rich and juicy. Deservedly one of the
most popular and best for general forcin" ; also
"for growing against a wall. This variety at
"Eaby Castle, under Mr. Westcott's manage-
ment, is in every way excellent.
7. Negro Largo. — One of the very best for
forcing in or out of pots. Fruit about 4 inches
in length and 3 inches wide. Skin jet black
when well ripened under plenty of light. Flesh
pale red, tender and juicy, highly flavoured and
delicious. The tree is a free, but not over
luxuriant grower, and does well against a south
wall.
8. Osborn's Prolific. — Fruit medium size,
not unlike White Marseilles. Skiu pale green,
very thin\'and tender ; hence the necessity for
ripening it with plenty of air. Flesh white, full
of rich juice, and in every way excellent. The
.tree is most prolific, small plants in pots bearing
profusely. It is not a strong grower ; conse-
quently it stands good feeding, and can be kept
within bounds in small pits or houses. The
above are well adapted for forcing in or out of
pots, but growers who wish to swell a selection
into a collection for general culture under glass
niay add the following ; 1, Black Bourjasotte ;
2, Grizzly Bourjasotte ; 3, Col di Signora
^ianca ; 4, Col di Signora Nero ; 5, Datte ; G,
Dauphine d'Argenteuil; 7, Dr. Hogg; 8, Figue
"d'Or ; 9, Grosse Monstreuse de Lipari ; 10,
Grosse Verte ; 11, White Ischia or Singleton (a
good forcing Fig) ; 12, Black Provence.
ford Hall Seedling, which was said to be a late
variety, I at once procured it, and after growing it
for three seasons I was obliged to discard it, as
it never threw up one single flower-spike during
that time. I have grown Sir Charles Napier for a
number of years, and only once have I known it to
fail. Our forcing Strawberries this year, the ma-
jority being La Grosse Sucree, have done remark-
ably well. This last sets its fruit freely, is of a
splendid colour, and of large size.
E. Gilbert.
general purposes, as well as for filling up the all
too frequent niches likely to occur during the
Strawbei-ry season, and adding to the length of the
latter very substantially. HORTUS.
OLD STRAWBERRIES VERSUS NEW.
-I TOOK my first lessons in Strawberry growing at
■Worksop Manor nearly fifty years ago, and well do
I remember that glorious old Strawberry Keen's
^Seedling, which for such a number of years has
held its own among its many ri\'als. This variety,
with old lioseberry and Carolina Pine, completed
the collection. Leaving Worksop for Arundel
Castle Gardens, I became acquainted with the finest
•flavoured Strawberry I have ever tasted before or
since, called the Old Pine. It was no gain in size,
but a thorough Queen in flavour ; the fruit round
in shape, the colour slightly rosy, but its chief
characteristic was the calyx turned backwards,
leaving the fruit fully exposed. I have often tried
to get runners, but have never been fortunate enough
to get the true variety.
I may here mention that I filled the post of fore-
man under George MaoEwan, who was a sincere
lover of Strawberries. Every known variety was
cultivated there with success. Among Mr. Mac-
Ewan's especial favourites were Brilish Queen,
Keen's Seedling, TroUope's Victoria, and Old Pine.
Myatt's Eleanor was also thought much of. I well
remember Cuthill, from Cambervvell, showing his
first dish of Black Prince at the Royal Botanic
Gardens. This variety has held its own as an early
Strawberry, and I should say equal to Keen's Seed
ling as a midseason variety, but it is nowfairly beaten
both for flavour, size, and earliness by Laxton's King
of the Earlies, which I pronounce, after three sea-
sons' experience, to be unique.
" We began gathering this variety, on the IGth of
June, from a south border, and have gathered a
large quantity. On the same border we have also
Pauline, which is ten d.ays later, a remarkably fine
fruit with a most excellent flavour, but King of the
Earlies is by far the most prolific. Mr. Laxton's
new Strawberry, Noble, which I also grow, is also
a remarkably fine fruit ; it somewhat resembles
King of the Earlies, but is of a much more robust
constitution. I am somewhat surprised that raisers
of new Strawberries do not turn their attention to
late varieties. I only know one really first-rate late
■variety, viz:, Oxonian, whicli we grow in quantities
on north borders. When Mr. Douglas raised Los- most useful Strawberries for early forcing and
STRAWBERRY BLACK PRINCE.
It is pleasing to find that this fine old Strawberry
still holds its place in the esteem and the practice
of such an experienced .cultivator as "E. B." He
finds, as many others have done, that it is still the
best of all varieties for preventing an awkward
hitch between the latest forced plants and the
earliest from the open air; it is also still equal to
the best, and superior to most for other and more
general purposes. For example, I have not yet met
with the equal or superior to the Black Prince for
its free setting and fast swelling in early forcing.
It seldom misses a crop in the most unfavourable
weather, and I do not know a Strawberry that takes
less time from the set to the finish either under
glass or outside ; these are qualities of superlative
importance to those responsible for supplies of Straw-
berries in February.
True, the Prince is smaller and inferior in flavour
to several; but, then, for early work, Strawberries
of any sort suffice. This statement, however, is not
to be understood as disparaging the quality of the
Black Prince, and, indeed, it would be rather late
in the day now to write anything either in its
praise or blame, as its qualities are so well known
and generally appreciated. In addition to its being
the most reliable cropping variety for early forcing,
it is also the best late cropper either in the open air
or in cool pits or houses. So much is this the case,
that where large quantities of the Black Prince are
grown for early forcing the problem of having a
supply of Strawberries for nine months out of the
twelve may be said to be in a fair way of solution.
Of course this requires some management and fore-
thought, but with such brought to bear upon the
Black Prince, three crops may be gathered from the
same plants in one season.
As soon as the first fruits are ripe the plants may
be top-dressed with manure and left in a tempera-
ture of t>U° or 65°. Carefully watered at the roots
and overhead, they will flower again in a few weeks,
and a second crop of greater weight and higher
quality be ripened in less time than the first. Even
then the plants will have sufficient vital force for a
third crop. Every decaying leaf should be picked
oft (but there ought not to be any under genial
treatment), and the plants either shifted into the
next sized pots or top-dressed again and placed in
a cool house or pit, and encouraged to grow on
and flower a third time, and often this third crop
on the Black Prince eclipses the other two ; or the
plants may be planted out on a warm, sheltered,
partially shaded border after ripening the first of
a second crop under glass. No one who has not
tried the forcing of the Black Prince, protecting
the plants from frost until the middle of May and
then planting them out in fair, but not over-rich
ground, can have any idea of the marvellous and
continuous crops they will produce. Thus treated,
the Black Prince becomes virtually a perpetual
bearer for a month, six weeks, or more. A very
sunny site should be avoided, as the heat of the
autumnal months, aided by the abnormally dark
colour of this Strawberry, induces burning or scald-
ing. Thus planted out, carefully watered and
mulched, the Black Prince seldom fails to furnish
useful late pickings for dessert, ices, and creams
until the verge of winter. Alike for gross yield,
abnormally brilliant colour, piercing deeply into, it
not running through, the fruit, this-fine old variety
is also one of the best for conversion into jams and
jellies, and, so far as my experience goes— and this
IS considerable — it stands unrivalled as one of the
THE OVERCROPPING OF CUCUMBERS.
Most practical horticulturists are at various tiines
and in divers manners guilty of overcropping
Cucumbers, Grape A^nes, and other plants, but we
seldom find them upholding the practice in theory, as
Mr. E. Burrell appears to do in The Garden (p. (iOI).
The very idea of thinning Cucumbers, however pro-
lific, seems quite a novel one to Mr. Burrell, who de-
clares that he has never found any ill effects from
overcropping. What, never ? and with no thinning
of the most prolific varieties, short-jointed and with
five fruit to a joint— that is, to each leaf ?
I do not dispute Mr. Burrell's statement, as most
of your more experienced readers have considerable
practical experience of the producing powers of
Cucumber plants under high feeding and forcing
treatment ; but younger growers need to be
cautioned against taking five fruits from each leaf
continuously for six or eight months at a stretch,
and if they attempt or expect it they must be pre-
pared for a sudden collapse or break - down.
Fortunately, however, but few varieties of Cucum-
bers, however prolific, will go on at this highly
precocious ratio of five fruits to a joint ; and it
they do, and thinning is not practised, the burden
proves excessive and the plants often fail when the
fruits are most wanted. The writer in his day has
seen not a few crops thus ruined alike under the
express and the more slow and safer methods of
Cucumber culture.
Neither is there any ultimate benefit or profit
arising from overcropping. Taking into account
quality and size as well as the gross weight of the
produce, my impression is that as good results in
the way of profit may be realised from two fruits
from a joint as from five. The two will also be
grown, finished, fit for sale or use in less rime than
the five. This is important. In Cucumbers, too,
as in other produce, it is size and quality rather
than mere gross weight that pay. Under moderate
as opposed to overcropping, there is little danger
of the disease or wreckage of the plants. And,
although I have no superstitious regard for old
Cucumber plants, yet it is a fact that they fruit in
more rapid and sure succession than younger plants,
that is, provided the roots, stems, and leaves con-
tinue in perfect health and cleanliness. The con-
solidation of tissues and diminishing size of the
leaves that come with the age of Cucumber plants
favour their fruitfulness, and the writer has had
plants a year or more old that had not once failed
of a good cutting twice a week for ten montb.-j.
But of these it might be written with truth that a
full half of the shows had been thinned off, the
thinnings, in fact, being as persistent as the
cuttings of perfect fruit. Hortus.
Rust on Grapes. — There are several causes for
rust on Grapes, but one of the most fertile sources
of mischief is the overheating of the hot-water pipes.
An instance of this has occurred here this spring.
A long row of frames has to be heated by the boiler
that warms a house in which Vines are growing.
To get the requisite temperature the boiler has to
be hard driven, so that the flow pipes near it are
often so hot that the hand cannot be borne on them.
Just abo\e them are a few bunches of Grapes all
badly rusted. They alone through the house are
affected, which is a plain proof of what has caused
the injury. — J. C. B.
Stra-wberries and the drought.— On the
light stony land of the south coast the Strawberry
crop appears likely to be of very short duration, as
the short rainfall "and continued easterly wind left
the land so dry that even a short spell of tropical
sun not only ripened off the fruit, but caused the
plants to suffer considerably. Except on really
good soil, the greater portion of the crop will only
be fit for preserving. In large fields anything in
the way of artificial watering is out of the question,
as unless it could be done by means of a hose at-
July 16, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
,39
tached to mains laid on at regular distances over
the field, the work would be too espcnsive to be
remunerative. Of late the profits on Strawberry
growing have not been enough to warrant much
extra outlay. In this locality there are no cool, re-
freshing streams, and all the water we can get is
from wells, or the water company's pipes at so
much per 1000 gallons. The east wind has brought
red spider in plenty on almost all the crops, and the
foliage of Strawberries is one of the first things to
fall a victim to this pest of the fruit grower. —
J. G. H.
WORK AMONGST HARDY FRUITS.
With some few exceptions, hardy fruit prospects
have not improved. The exceptions in this neigh-
bourhood are Peaches and Apricots. Pears are
fairly good, but uneven, some trees requiring thin-
ning whilst others are barren. Cherries have
dropped severely. May Dukes and other choice
kinds on warm soils and walls having suffered most.
The set of Jlorellos on north walls was enormous,
but just now, the last day of June, tbey look 'small
and show signs of following in the wake of the
dessert varieties. The cause of this general falling
away is unmistakable — want of rain with a parching
wind continuously blowing from the north and
north-east. Api^les bloomed profusely, and many
thought we were sure of another glut, but the foli-
age was too forward to please me; the subsoil,
owing to a deficiency of winter rain, was, and con-
tinues dry, and the dry north wind brought into
existence myriads of grubs just when drenching
storms of rain were so much needed. The natural
consequence is a partial crop of this useful fruit, as
of Pears, and this, unless we have an immediate
change, will be still more thinned, as the oldest trees
by their foliage are now showing signs of suffering
from want of earth and air moisture. The fruit,
where it has escaped, has swelled away very fast,
and it is just possible the average crop may turn
out better than we at present anticipate. Bush
fruits, where the bullfinches did not attack the
■Gooseberries, set an abundance of fruit, and for a
time looked well. The moisture-loving Black Cur-
rants, however, are badly blighted; Red varieties
are small, and Raspberries must now be a light
and short crop. Plums with us, even the prolific
Pershore, are thin and badly blighted, the best
being Victoria and Coe's Golden Drop on north and
east walls. Of Strawberries we never had a better
show, and the flowers escaped spring frosts ; still,
they did not swell away kindly, and although ours
is a good Strawberry soil, we mulch and water
heavily ; I do not anticipate picking more than one-
iourth of the quantity gathered last year. Old
plants are dying off, young ones are struggling
bravely, and late sorts on north borders may yet do
well. Discarding a hot south border, our best fruit
now ripening on an open quarter includes La
Grosse Sucree, Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury,
President, and Paxton. Pauline, of which we have
heard so much, is the ugliest Strawberrry I have
yet met with, some fruits swelling out to the length
of one's thumb, but less handsome, whilst others
are wasp-waisted and cockscomb-pointed. Of the
flavour it is hardly fair to speak, as the most ap-
j)roved sorts this season are ripening or roasting out
of character. Work in the hardy fruit department
just now is overpowering, for, turn where we will,
we find trees and bushes asking for an extra supply
of mulching and more water, an element in many
parts of the country by no means plentiful. Where
water is plentiful the hose should be kept constantly
going over the roots by day, and the foliage after
the sun has gone down in the evening, one good
soaking, I repeat, being more effective than a dozen
sprinklings.
Peaches and Nectaeines
on open walls have made a magnificent growth ;
moreover, they are clean, free from blister, and the
fruit is well advanced. The crop being heavy, we
have quite recently given each tree an extra mulch, a
thorough watering, and wash the foliage two or three
-times a week. Nailing is well advanced, and, much
.^s rain is needed, we hope to get this work finished
before a storm, which may be violent, breaks over
the trees. The promise of a full crop of fruit and
excellent wood for another year should stimulate
all Peach growers into closer attention to every de-
tail, not the least being the removal of every shoot
that will not be wanted next season, and the timely
pinching of gross growths that are likely to rob the
lowest and weakest parts of the trees. As soon as
the wood is laid in, a thorough washing will benefit
the fruit and foliage, and, provided the dry weather
continues, a free and unrestricted growth will be
found more helpful than repeated nailing until after
the stoning process is complete. Maiden trees
mulch, water, and train before they get injured by
the wind. If cut back to form dwarfs, an even
number of shoots should be laid in, as leaders, al-
ways objectionable in Peach trees, can then be
avoided. If any of these shoots show a tendency
to undue growth, the points must be pinched and
re-pinched until the proper balance is secured. Once
a given number of shoots are fairly started, exten-
sion training to the fullest will result in large,
handsome trees by the end of the season.
Apeicots,
like Peaches in many places, are bearing immense
crops of fruit, and, being greedy devourers of good
food, the mulch and hose must be freely and
vigorously plied. Moorpark, the best of all Apri-
cots, may now be expected to lose a few limbs,
especially where the roots have been kept too dry
and the old wood has been suddenly exposed to the
great heat of the sun by close pruning. The best
remedies or preventives of this perplexing disease
are obvious ; therefore, on the principle that it is
never too late to make an effort, the life-sustaining
element should be freely administered, and young
shoots tied in wherever a bare branch requires
covering. Grubs having been disposed of, it will
now be time to look out for other marauders. Here
we are obliged to net against blackbirds, but the
walls being old our worst enemy is the woodlouse,
which attacks the fruit near the stalk. Catching
and killing being the only preventive of future mis-
chief, now is the time to lay traps of Lettuce leaves
along the foot of the wall, cover lightly with litter,
and scald every morning.
Peaks.
If any of the trees against walls are making a
second growth, they must be pinched to concen-
trate the sap in the spurs and fruit. With us, un-
fortunately, they are not overdone with moisture at
the root, and for this reason, in anticipation of a
flush when rain does come, we are allowing the trees
a little freedom. Here, again, the early mulching
of all the trees, those on the Quince stock especially,
is a host in itself. The fruit, where it has stooiJ,
has made good progress, but the trees are not in a
condition to mature heavy crops ; therefore thinning
should be carried out with a liberal hand, and the
more the foliage is hosed, the better will it be for
the fruit and the roots lying close to the foundation
of the wall. Pyramids and espaliers also must re-
ceive attention, for, unpleasant as it is to manipu-
late a barren tree, upon timely stopping and training
may depend a fertile condition for another year.
Plums
with us, as I have just stated, and I believe gene-
rally in this great Plum district, are far from satis-
factory ; moreover, they are eaten up with blight,
but this great loss, which means ruin to many, will
not justify our sheathing the knife. We must break
out breast- wood, lay in young shoots, and wash with
clean water where there is fruit, with soapsuds
where there is none, and do all we can to secure a
good set of flower-buds for another season.
- RASPBEEItlES AND StKAWBEKKIES
will be a short crop, especially where the planta-
tions are old and timely mulching has not kept in
the rain that fell on the 1st and 2nd of June. Since
that time we have not had a single drop, and all we
have been able to do with the hose has barely kept
some of the plants alive. Young plantations com-
posed of a few rows of each of our favourite sorts
are yielding excellent fruit of fair size, the heaviest
being Paston, President, and La Grosse Sucree.
Runners, where ready, should now be layered for
forcing and planting out in August. I always put
out a number of surplus plants in double rows after
potting and the main planting is finished, take out
the flowers in the spring, and from these obtain m'y
annual supply without going to the fruiting beds.
The checks on the fruiting canes having caused
Raspberries to throw up a great number of suckers,
a quantity of the weakest should be drawn out to
let in light and air, and throw strength into those
left for next year's fruiting. From four to five
young canes to each stool will be found ample, but
a few a distance away from home should be left
for lifting and replanting in the autumn. Careful
netting of these, also of bush fruits, is imperative.
The sides of my Raspberry squares are enclosed
with permanently fixed aviary wire netting, and
fishing nets are cast over the top when the fruit
begins to change colour. Currants on north walls
should nowbe pruned to let in light and ensure quick
drying after rain. It well washed with the hose
and carefully netted, the best Red and White can
be kept for a long time after the crops from bushes
have passed away.
Apples.
With us the summer pruning of Apples comes
last, but instead of shortening back the leading
shoot of each branch, we allow it to extend and cut
back the side shoots only. If space admits, these
leading shoots are only tipped to maintain the shape
of the trees at the winter pruning, and we find
them fruitful in proportion to the rate at which
they are allowed to extend. Closely planted pyra-
mids on the Paradise stock, of course, require pinch-
ing and re-pinching to keep them in shape and
allow a free passage amongst them ; but restriction
here may be carried too far, and I question if a free
summer growth, followed by the lifting and trans-
planting of every alternate tree in the autumn, is
not the most profitable mode of extending our
plantations. Newly grafted trees have sufiered
severely from the double check produced by head-
ing back and the dry state of the subsoil. Young
stuff, of course, can be mulched and watered, but
with the exception of moistening the scions and
clay, old trees in orchards must fight the battle
with drought unaided. When these trees the first
year make a good growth, many grafters cut out all
the spray at some time during the following winter,
but this is a mistake, as I find a check at the end of
the first year and final removal the second early
enough. Young stocks which swell fast should be
examined and eased when we have rain ; if the
scions are growing freely and there is danger of
blowing out, they should be secured to stakes before
the ligatures are finally removed. Cordons can be
formed by pinching side growths and allowing
leaders to extend ; bushes, by pinching the leaders,
about IS inches from the union. Stock shoots and
suckers may be checked, and removed bodily when
the scions are capable of carrying off the full flow of
sap.
Figs
must now be divested of all useless spray and nailed
in close to the waU. If carrying crops of fruit, now
is the time to mulch and water, especially where
the trees have been root-pruned and the grower
does not wish to starve them into dropping or pre-
mature ripening. Trees grown on the let-alone
system and whose roots are allowed to travel in
search of food do not often suffer from lack of
moisture ; but this is an exceptional season, and
few, I think, having a barrel or two of water to
spare will shrink from giving it to them. The Fig
in many respects resembles a succulent, which, pro-
vided it gets plenty of ripening heat, will thrive
and accommodate itself to almost any amount of
rough treatment. Like many of those plants, it
may be laid up high and dry through the autumn
and winter, but the grower who wishes brilliant
flowers from the one and large luscious fruit from
the other gives an abundance of water in summer.
Standard trees, so common in back gardens and all
sorts of out-of-the-way places in the south of Eng-
land, Wales, and Scotland, do not receive, neither
do they require, artificial watering, for their roots
pass under and through brick walls ; they monopolise
40
THE GARDEN.
[July 16, 1887.
old drains, and so skilfully do they forage for food,
that many people who ought to know hotter actually
run away with the idea that they do best without
water.
The Orohaed.
The work in this department now ought to be of
a most interesting nature, but, unfortunately, owing
to the intense heat and drought, the first, without
the latter, would have been a God-send ; one cannot
walk many steps without finding distress which he
is unable to alleviate. Magnificent trees, at one
time so promising, in some places have cast all
their fruit ; in others the crop is scant, in a few the
yield promises to be abundant. Grub, to which
many attribute our losses, is unusually troublesome,
some of the old orchard trees being literally
wreathed in its webs; but, notwithstanding the fact
that it is a most destructive pest in dry, harsh
seasons, there must be another powerful cause of
sterility. It is not frost, for we have not had a de-
gree since the first flower opened, but it may be a
dry root-run, for our subsoils have not been properly
moistened for two years, and the best crops this
season will be found in low-lying orchards. I have
lately looked over a number of trees and find many of
them abundantly fruited, whilst others are carrying
more than we at one time anticipated. Kain is our
only saving aid. A slight shower fell here on the
evening of the 4th, hut nothing short of a series of
thunder-showers, and those the reverse of light, will
wash away the filth and tell upon the roots and
foliage. Should this wished-for change come, top-
dressing of a stimulating nature will have a bene-
ficial effect upon all fruit-laden trees; but be it
artificial or natural, little, if any, good will follow its
use during a continuance of dry, parching weather.
Newly planted trees have not made much growth,
but some we put in as late as the middle of April
are holding their own without the assistance of
water, the plan adopted being puddling in followed
by heavy mulching. Grafts of all kinds should now
be examined and re-clayed it necessary to keep out
drought and air. Insects, too, especially American
blight, which has had a jubilant time, must be kept
in check by dressing with a strong solution of
Gishurst compound before it has time to get into
the young foliage. Equipped with a short ladder,
a painter's brush, and the solution, a handy man
will go over an immense number of scions in a day;
but one dressing will not suffice ; it must be re-
peated. W. 0.
Summer- pruning Currants. — I have not the
remotest idea of converting "J. S. W," by any argu-
ments of mine of the value of the summer-pruning
of Carrants, but I believe that the majority of fruit
growers will see the force of my argument sufli-
ciently to give it a trial. " J. S. W." says the prac-
tice of market growers has nothing to do with the
question. I think otherwise, for if I see anything
being generally adopted or practised by them, I
always think there is some merit in it worth inquir-
ing into, as they measure everything by results, and
the reason they prune Red Currants so hard is
because they get shoots so thickly covered with
fruit, that in the season of gathering they are solid
masses of fruit. " A, D.," who is situated amongst
the Middlesex fruit orchards, bears testimony in
The Garden (p. 607) to the good results of close
pruning of both Red and White Carrants, and sug-
gests a trial of summer pruning for Black varieties.
I can only hope that some one will give it a trial,
and that "A. D." will chronicle the results. The
plan of allowing all the strength of the bush to run
into useless top growth, tbat has to be cut off in
winter as a means of promoting fertility, is more
than I can understand. I can most confidently
state that there is no cultivated fruit so much im-
proved by close pruning as the Currant ; and I am
certain that the most skilful practitioner would fail
with the Currant if he lets the knife rest on the
shelf both during summer and winter. — J. G.
Strawberries. — Perhaps some of • our readers
may be startled to hear that, in spite of the cool and
backward spring, I have gathered my principal
crop of Strawberries a week earlier than last year.
This seems almost incredible, seeing that the plants
were hit rather severely this last winter. From ex-
perience I find that two-year-old Strawberry plants
are the best, as not a single plant has failed, and
all have produced splendid crops. I had a few
three-year-old plants, but in yield and growth they
were far inferior to the two-year-olds. We have
been obliged to water, otherwise we should have
lost all, as we have not had any rain for five weeks,
and, in fact, very little for the past year. When
outdoor Strawberries have to be watered, it is a
serious task, especially when it all has to be carried
in watering-pots. — W, A. CoOK.
Orchids.
W. H. G O W E R.
CATTLEYA ACLANDLE AND ITS ALLIES.
This and a few other small-growing kinds
form a very natural group; they produce ex-
ceedingly handsome flowers, and they require
somewhat diiferent treatment to the majority of
the other Cattleyas. The whole of the kinds
included with C. Aclandite have rather short,
slender pseudo-bulbs, bearing a pair of leaves,
and they produce their gay and large flowers from
the summit about the time growth is completed ;
they enjoy a greater exposure to the sun than
the majority of Cattleyas, and consequently
should be grown on blocks of wood, or in bas-
kets (the latter are preferable) suspended from
the roof of an intermediate house and near to
the glass; slight shade, however, will be found
necessary during the hottest part of the day to
prevent the foliage being scorched. The plants
should have a little fibrous peat and Sphagnum
about them to retain moisture, but the roots do
not like much covering. They enjoy an abun-
dant supply of water during the growing season,
and during the winter months they must be
kept moderately moist, in order to keep the
thin pseudo-bulbs from shrivelling, for if this
occurs it is by no means an easy matter to
restore them to vigorous health. While rest-
ing, however, they may be kept in a much lower
temperature with advantage.
C. AclandIjE is a native of Brazil, from the
neighbourhood of Bahia. It is frequently im-
ported, but seldom lives long in cultivation un-
less great care is exercised and its special re-
quirements are carefully attended to, but where
it becomes thoroughly established and its sur-
roundings are congenial, it is by no means a
slow-growing plant. The pseudo-bulbs are some
4 inches or 5 inches long, slightly furrowed,
and its leaves are thick, fleshy and dark green ;
the flowers are about 3 inches across, sepals and
petals yellowish green, profusely blotched and
spotted with deep chocolate markings suftused
with purple, and arranged transversely ; lip
three-lobed, the small side lobes spreading, and
not enclosing the column, light rose colour,
with radiating lines of a deeper hue ; front lobe
large, rich magenta, with a staiu of yellow at
the base ; ' column large, dark magenta-purple.
Its flowers are produced just about the time its
growth is finished, and as it sometimes makes
two growths in a season from vigorous plants,
two crops of flowers may be obtained. It is
very liable to the ravages of a small white scale,
which is frequently imported with it ; this must
be carefully exterminated, as it is very injurious
to the plant.
C. ScHiLLERiANA.— A rather more robust
grower than the preceding, and the leaves are
larger and rounder ; its flowers are sometimes
produced twice in a season, appearing just when
the growth is finished ; the sepals and petals
are deep brown, flushed with rose, the lip being
large and spreading ; front lobe purplish crim-
son, marked with deeper coloured radiating
lines, margined with pink. This species is just
now flowering beautifully with Mr. Measures
in his garden at CamberweU. It comes from
BrazU.
C. Regnelli resembles the preceding in
growth, and is considered by some to be a
varietal form of it only. It has the same
peculiarity of blooming twice in a season ; the
flowers are about 4 inches across ; sepals and
petals pale green, suffused with a shade of dark
olive, in some varieties dotted with dull purple ;
lip amethyst purple, streaked with deep purple,
and stained with yellow on the disc, margined
with white, side lobes forming a hood over the
column, white, streaked with mauve outside,
ianer side rich purple. Brazil.
C. CALUMMATA. — This is a garden hybrid of
French origin, the result of a cross between C.
Aolandife and C. intermedia. It is a very
beautiful plant, partaking mostly of the cha-
racter of the first-named parent, but is very
much freer in its habit of growth ; the pseudo-
bulbs somewhat resemble those of C. inter-
media, but are shorter, scarcely exceeding
6 inches in height, the flowers in shape and size
resembling those of C. Aclandise ; sepals and
petals white, heavily blotched and spotted with
rosy purple, whilst the lip and column are
wholly deep purplish magenta. It blooms very
freely.
Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium spec-
tabile). — It is unnecessary to recommend this hardy
plant, as it has obtained universal recognition by
reason of the beauty of its flowers and its vigorous
leafy habit. There are many gardens, however, in
which this hardy Orchid is badly cultivated. To
ensure a fine growth special attention must be given.
Owing to the dry weather, the growth this year has
not been very luxuriant, but in several gardens
where the plants are grown in a moist bed com-
posed partly of peat and leaf-mould the plants have
done well. To have the plant in the best possible
condition select a sheltered bay in the rockery, but
not in a position overhung with trees, and there, in
company with tender Lilies, TrilUums, &c., plant C.
spectabile, and it is surprising what a sturdy growth
tbe plants make. I have also noticed that in places
of this character the lip becomes very brightly
coloured, but where the situation is rather dry there
is but a faint tinge of colour. When the plants are
in full growth and the weather is dry give liberal
supplies of water, and when well attended to in
this and other respects they will increase in beauty
with age. It may also be grown in pots, and well-
flowered specimens are useful for the greenhouse. —
E.G.
Fans versus baskets. — There are fewer baskets
used for Orchids than formerly, and it is to be
hoped still fewer will be made in the future.
Orchids, as a rule, do not require to be frequently
shifted into larger pots, pans, or baskets as the case
may be, but there are times when they become too
large for their receptacles, and a shift must be
given. Now, if established in a basket, the roots
cannot well be separated from the wood without
seriously damaging many of them, but there is no
avoiding this, as the wood, if shifted with the roots,
is liable to decay and injure all that comes into
contact with it. It is not much compost that
Orchids require, but what little is used must be of
a lasting character and free from all fungus, and
the longer it remains in a sweet state the greater
the certainty of the plants continuing to thrive in
it. If either perforated pots or pans are used
instead of baskets, all that is necessary when shift-
ing a healthy, strongly-rooted plant is to carefully
break the pot or pan containing it, and any
portion of roots clinging to it can be retained. In
this manner no risk is run of injuring the roots
either when the shift is given or at any time later
on. Of all the thousands of Orchids in Mr.
Cypher's Cheltenham Nurseries, not 10 per cent, are
in baskets, perforated pots and pans of various
July 16, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
41
sizes being much the cheapest and best. They are
as readily suspended if need be as baskets, the
plants thrive equally as well in them, and of the
two, baskets are the most unsightly. Orchid pots
and pans are made in most potteries, and can be
had in nearly all sizes. — I. M.
ONCIDIUM CRCESUS.
The species represented in the accompanying
illustration is now flowering in several collec-
tions round London. It is a most desirable
plant, for, apart from the brilliancy of its
blooms, it is of such a dwarf and compact habit,
that it can easily be accommodated. The flowers
of O. Croesus are borne upon a short spike three
or four together, each measuring about an inch,
across, sepals and petals nearly equal, tawny
brown in colour ; lip three-lobed and rich
golden yellow ; the crest is very prominent, and.
intense deep velvety black. It is a summer-
bloomer, and its gay and conspicuous flowers
last several weeks in perfection. The plant is a
native of Brazil, in the neighbourhood of Rio
Janeiro. It thrives best in hanging baskets
suspended from the roof in the temperature of
hansjins; basket, aud should be kept iu the cool house.
— W. H. G.
SEASONABLE ORCHID NOTES.
The flowering period tor Orchids is a very trying
time for them, and it is interesting to watch the
effect of flowering on the different species of one
genera. Those that carry their flowers for the
longest period are likely to suffer most, but, irre^
spective of this, some species of the same genus
suffer more than others, and in many cases it would
be well to cut ofE the spikes before the flowers fade
to give relief to the plants.
Take, for instance, Oncidium 'ampliatum majus
and 0. macranthum, the first requiring the warmest
part of the warm house, and the other the coolest
part o£ the cool house. The first named had been
in flower from the end of April to the end of June,
carrying dense spikes of flowers, and not a bulb had
shrunk; whereas 0. macranthum has suffered so
much through carrying three spikes on two bulbs
for a period of two months, that it seems as if a
season's rest would be necessary to restore it to its
wonted vigour. The bulbs have shrunk consider-
ably through having to carry such a weight of
flowers. The leading species of Cattleyas have also
Oncidium Croesus.
an intermediate house. When growing it en-
joys a plentiful supply of water, and during
winter it should be kept fairly moist. On no
account allow the plant to li30ome shrivelled,
as its restoration to health after such a process
is very diificult. W. H. G.
SHORT NOTES.— ORCBIDS.
Angrsscum Seottianum.— This is a small-
growing species from the Comoro Islinds. It has
terete, deep green leaves, aud comparatively large pure
white flowers, the long slender spur being yellow
tinged with .greenish brown. It is flowering with llr.
Salter in the coUeetion of Mr. Southgate at Streath.im,
and appaars to thrive well upou a hanging raft iu the
East India house, treated to abundance of water and
partial shade. — W. H. G.
Palumblna Candida. — This elegant little Gua-
temalan Orchid is now flowering most profusely in Mr.
Measures' coUcction at Streatliam, and although its
blooms are smafl, they are bonie with great freedom.
It is a dwarf plant ; the spUies are erect, bearing waxy-
white flowers, which somewhat resemble little flying
doves. It appears to come near to Oncidium, but it
has been separated from that genus by Professor
Keichenb.ieh. It thrives equally well in a pot or
passed through the flowering stage, and as the
weather was cold at the time of their flowering, the
flowers remained a long time in good condition,
some of them for six weeks ; and in this respect the
character of the flowers had doubtless something to
do with their endurance, the sepals and petals of
some varieties, even of the same species, being
much more lasting than others. Many plants have
been repotted during the last few weeks; some we
had to repot because they had been used to make
up specimens for exhibition. This system has been
pursued with exhibitors of Orchids for many years,
and in the case of some species, such as Masde-
vallias, Cypripediums, &c., no other system of cul-
ture answers so well. Single plants are grown in
4-inch or 5-inoh pots of one variety of a species, and
when in full fl^jwer one or two dozens of plants,
according to the size of the specimen to be made
up, are transferred from the small pots and are
carefully arranged in the large one. I say nothing
about the desirability of this practice; enough at
present to remark that it is const-.ntly being done.
I can also state without fear of contradiction that
plants may be made up in this way and not receive
the least injury. I made up some plants in May,
exhibited them in that month, and again in the
end of June ; the plants were afterwards taken out
and repotted; as I write they are forming roots
freely in the new potting compound. Probably if
the plants were turned out of the pots later in the
year they would not do so well, as they might not
have time to form roots if potted later. When the
operation is performed in June, and hot weather
sets in afterwards, they grow very freely and be-
come well established before the shorter days o£
the late autumn months. These remarks apply
more especially to the Masdevallias, Cypripediums,
Cattleya Mendeli, Mossiie, &o.
Odontoglossum vexillarium and 0. Roezli have
also been repotted. We used to repot them later
in the year, but found it convenient to do so about
the end of June or early in July. Since they have
been treated in that way, they have succeeded bet-
ter even than they did before. This is also a good
time to repot some of the Cymbidiums, especially
the vigorous-growing C. Lowiauum. These take a
good shift, not so much drainage as is used for
Cattleyas ; and turfy loam, with a little turfy peat
added, is a better compost for them than either by
itself. Our plants were potted a few weeks ago,
and already can the young fleshy rootlets be dis-
cerned pushing under the surface-soil in the pots.
Sometimes we have repotted the Anguloas at this
season. They are now going out of bloom, and it
is quite as well to repot them at once if they require
it ; but ours were repotted when they started into
growth in the spring, and they do not require to be
seen to now. Some species produce their flowers
much later than others ; indeed, by growing only
A. Clowesi, A. uniflora, and A. Ruckeri we obtain a
good succession from the middle of May to the end
of July, the last-named species producing its flowers
latest with us. I have seen it exhibited at flower
shows early in June ; ours in the cool Cattleya
house do not open their flowers until a month later.
I have no hesitation, even so late as this, in recom-
mending the potting of the following Cattleyas and
Lailias : C. Mossise, C. Mendeli, C. amethystoglossa,
C. gigas, &c. ; L. purpurata, L. harpophylla, L. ele-
gans, L. cinnabarina, L. Brysiana, &c. They do not
receive much check if the operation of potting is
carefully performed. The roots cling so closely to
the sides of the pots, and in such numbers, that it is
not possible to get the plants out without breaking
the pots ; even then the roots are greatly injured in
the process, and some cultivators (unwisely, I think)
merely place one pot inside a larger one without
disturbing the plants. At this season damaged roots
speedily recover themselves, as a high temperature
can be kept up without much artiflcial heat.
Newly-imported plants start into vigorous growth
at this season if well managed. They do not get
the exact treatment they require when placed in
houses already crammed full of established plants.
I like to give them quite as good positions in the
house as the best established plants receive. I
have very often seen them stuffed under stages
where they do not get sufficient light or air, and
where the young growths fall a prey to woodlice
and slu.gs. The growths they make in such posi-
tions are weak in the extreme, and even if they are
placed there until they show signs of starting, to
be repotted afterwards, they are certainly the
worse for it. All the imported Orchids are now
brought over in such excellent condition that they
may be potted at once. Care should be taken to
place them in small pots ; use plenty of drainage,
and place the plants in such pots as that the roots
may come in contact with the sides immediately.
The sooner an Orchid can take flrm hold of what-
ever it is growing in the better. During the hot
weather we have recently bad, and are yet likely to
experience, nearly all the occupants of the cool
house suffer seriously. The difficulty is to keep
down the temperature by night as well as by day.
Our house is a lean-to against a north wall, but
even there the plants have suffered. The wind, for
nearly a week of the warmish weather, blew like
the breath of an oven from the north, and I was
perplexed whether to throw the ventilators open or
keep them closed that the hot air might not rush in
quite so fast. With all our precaution a few leaves
look as if partially stewed, and through the
whole length of the house the pseudo-bulbs of the
42
THE GARDEN.
[July 16, 1887
Odontoglossums have perceptibly shrunk. Those
carrying spikes of flowers have a double weight to
bear, and if the plants with flower-spikes on them
are valuable ones I advise cutting the spikes off at
this time. The Masdevallias are now pushing into
growth with great vigour, and forming strong-
leaves, which give promise of a very good bloom
nest season. In the warmest house the tempera-
ture when the house has been shut up ranged from
90'' to 95", but as not much artificial heat is used
the minimum register has fallen to 65". The
Cattleya house is rather lower, but not much, as we
encourage vigorous growths in those Cattleyas now
forming their i^seudo-bnlbs. In the cool house the
temperature is kept as low as possible, the venti-
lators being opened at night to let in as much as
possible of the cool night air. Plenty of moisture
should be kept up by evaporation everywhere,
especially in the cool house. J. Douglas.
Kitchen Garden.
W. WILDSMITH.
KITCHEN GARDEN NOTES.
Wateeing. — This is the sort of season that shows
the great value of deep cultivation. We are now
in the sixth week of drought and intense heat, and
yet none of our crops are showing signs of giving
up, and this is solely due to deep culture. We can
only afford time to water those crops, such as Peas,
French Beans, Celery, and Cauliflower, that are
soonest affected by drought, and when these are
■watered it is thoroughly done, then they do not
require it again for a week. Where manurial
mulchings cannot or have not been applied double
the amount of water will be required to keep the
crops growing, hence mulchings of any sort of
material save labour that would otherwise have to
be expended in watering if growth is to be main-
tained unchecked. It is on this account that
latterly we have — in lieu of better material — had
recourse to mulchings of short Grass and waste
hay. The latter may possibly cause us some little
after labour by the production of a crop of weeds,
but this we must risk, our sole aim now being the
well-doing of present crops. Broccoli, Savoys,
Kale, and other winter greens that are now await-
ing suitable weather for planting them out must be
watered, and every evening we dew them overhead
with a garden engine, and the same practice is
followed in respect of Lettuce, Endive, Beet, and
the later sowings of Peas.
Peas, dwarf Beans, and winter Spinach. —
The second succession lot of Peas has been cleared
away, the ground weeded and levelled, drills drawn
2 feet apart ready for planting out succession lots
of Savoy, Autumn Giant and Early Penzance
Broccoli. We could not afford to wait any longer
for rain, and so we made deep trenches, put in them
manure in the same way as for Celery, and after
well soaking them with water the Peas were sown,
then the drills were partial]}' filled and again
watered, the covering in being completed the fol-
lowing day, and a final watering then given. We
shall make in a few days' time another and the
final sowing of early kinds, and also a sowing of
dwarf French Beans, which latter will be sown on a
border which is on a sheltered south aspect, and
now being cleared of Lettuce. We are now
gathering fine French Beans from the open garden,
the varieties being Osborn's Forcing and Canadian
Wonder. The latter requires small twiggy sticks
to keep the plants upright, for which purpose we
utilise the spray from worn-out Birch brooms.
Bather than allow the plants to get exhausted by
overcrowding, we give any surplus Beans there may
be to the men at the cost of gathering. Broad
Beans are so little valued with us, that, though the
crop is in its prime, necessity compels us to de.stroy
them in order that the ground may be prepared for
another sowing of winter Spinach. The ground
was deeply trenched and highly manured in the
winter time, so that the only preparatian now will
be a dusting over of soot and a fork over just to
level and free the ground of weeds.
Thinning out seedlings. — This we have
actually had to do under even such trying weather
conditions as heat and drought. There was no
choice in the matter ; either the work must be done
or the crops be lost. Tui'nips, Lettuce, Endive,
dwarf Beans, and a late sowing of Beet have been
thinned. Of course, the first step was watering, and
as soon as the ground was softened the surplus
plants could be pulled up well, and as each kind
was finished another watering was given to settle
the soil afresh about the roots. The growth of all
had become somewhat weakened by overcrowding,
but another couple of waterings will, I think, put
them all right, and we shall give the final touch to
them by hoeing deeply between the rows.
Hoeing Potatoes.— Locally, the Potato crop
promises to be very good. Early planting is the
rule ; consequently growth was well advanced when
the present drought began. Not many of ours are
earthed up, and those that are are no better than
those that are not, and when rain falls the latter
will soonest get the full benefit of it. The soil
between the rows is kept stirred as frequently as
opportunity offers, and doubtless these hoeings have
had much to do with keeping the Potatoes in such
vigorous growth. A plot of the old Ashleaf type is
now ready for housing, and this work will be done
at the first opportunity.
Cauliflowers, Coleworts, and Cabbages. —
Cauliflowers turn in so rapidly that there is some
danger of a break in the supply, but all that can be
done is to lift them as they become ready and place
them in a cool cellar, with their roots in water.
Succession lots demand water, for though thick
mulchings maintain them in a fair state of growth,
without water the heads will be tough and bitter.
It is the same with Coleworts and Cabbages, but, so
far as our plots of these are concerned, they must
take their chance, as the only assistance we can
afford to give them is frequent hoeing. The young
side sprouts are now preferable to the real Cabbage,
many of which are bursting open. Such are now
being cut, and all the old leaves taken off also,
which makes more room for side sprouts that will
be of the utmost value all through the winter.
Other plantings of Coleworts will be made as soon
as we get rain. They are not quite so hardy as the
ordinary Cabbage, and we therefore strive to have
batches of these for autumn and early winter use,
and thus are able to hold in reserve the hardier
Cabbages.
EARLY PEAS.
Sown in rows 2 feet apart, American AVonder will
produce pods in quantity several days before gather-
ings can be obtained from any other sort. This is
valuable and interesting evidence, and may doubt-
less influence many to sow that kind largely. It is
very obvious that although not more than a couple
of gatherings can be got from any one sowing of this
dwarf Pea, yet when those two precede others out-
doors some three, four, or five days, or perhaps a
week, they are most valuable. Why do not some of
our Pea hybridists, who have given us tall, medium
tall, and such Peas in abundance, turn their atten-
tion to American Wonder and see how far it may be
possible to obtain new first early kinds from it '.'
There is some prejudice no doubt against early
dwarf Peas — indeed, against any dwarf Peas at all.
Thus some few gardeners have the American Won-
der in pots, and perhaps a few on a south border,
but few will grow enough to have pickings of several
bushes. AVe have now many first-rate early dwarf
Peas, but, with the exception of American Wonder,
none are earlier than are the taller early kinds. It
seems obvious, therefore, that American Wonder is
the best material for Pea raisers to operate with. I
find that market growers still adhere for their first
"blues" to that dwarf, but wretchedly poor kind,
Harrison's Glory. It is cheap and hardy, but for
eating it is worthless, and especially so this year. I
very much doubt whether Pea raisers have "bad the
market grower in their minds very much in what
they have accomplished of late. Sunrise, Sangster's
and even William I. are not very good this season,
the pods being small and the contents hard and
flavourless. The growers are always glad to get into
blues as soon as they can, but Harrison's Glory
is a poor substitute. It is a Pea in name, but nothing
more. Still, as a round blue it is hardy and safe to
sow early. Here is a field for the cross-breeder,
who might do good service if he would leave the
tall Peas alone and endeavour to provide us with
really good early field varieties from 2^ feet to
3 feet in height, and which may be "sown at
30 inches apart. Round seed is hardier than
wrinkled seed for early sowing, and as a rule rarely
gives us such good flavour or quality. To obtain some
hard-seeded kinds which will give marrow quality
is well worth trying for. A. D.
POTATOES.
There is good reason to fear that we shall have
this year but a moderate crop of Potatoes. The
present prospect is that early kinds will be small as
well as late comparatively, and, of course, with
these a short crop; the demand upon the midseason
and late kinds will begin all the sooner and the
quicker exhaust them. Not uncommonly, when
drought has affected the Potato crop in the south,
there has been a plentiful supply of moisture in the
north, and what has been our loss has been the
northerner's gain. But this year the drought is not
only remarkably general, but is even worse in the
north than in some of the midland districts. Thus
we cannot aver that Potatoes look badly around
London, but the haulm is short generally, and the
indications of a moderate root crop are plentiful.
Rain may save the late sorts, but the first early
kinds are setting the skins of the tubers, and when
that is the case there is no further swelling of the
tubers, but supertuberation generally follows. New
Potatoes, in spite of foreign imports, are now fetch-
ing very good prices, for even abroad the drought
is telling its tale also. As a result there is a ten-
dency to get up the early breadths much before
they are ready, and the tubers are small. Tired of
waiting for rain, and anxious to have the ground
cleared for winter greens, &c., growers seem to
think it is wisest to make what they can whilst the
price is fair, even though the crop be miserably
moderate. Dry seasons such as the present do test
the nature of soils and the way in which they are
worked appreciably. A stiff, cold clay soil is seldom
suitable for Potatoes, but this year, when rendered
at all fine and well pulverised, such soils promise the
best crops. The great difficulty, however, is to pul-
verise such soils in the spring before planting, and
that can rarely be done. Clay soils are usually
either saturated with moisture and unworkable, or
else baked too hard to be worked with advantage.
Alternating days of drying winds and soft rains
would suit the condition of these soils admirably in
the spring, but such weather rarely exists, The
great feature of soils this year on which not only
Potatoes, but other strong-growing vegetables are
now doing their best to exist, is deep working, for
in dry seasons trenching proves an invaluable aid.
I can show the benefit of such aid here, and with a
stiff, but baking soil ; whilst neighbours, whose land
is but ploughed, and that only to some 7 inches or
S inches in depth, are finding their crops withering
up alarmingly. A deeply trenched soil liberates the
surface of the ground from moisture when rain is
excessive, and it equally enables the roots of plants
to descend in search of moisture when the upper
soil is dry. Still further, it enables the moisture in
the lower subsoil to ascend, and crops in such case
will be fresh and vigorous long after those on shal-
low-worked soils are exhausted. If the bulk of our
Potatoes were this dry season growing in deejjly
worked soils, we should have less reason to dread a
poor crop; but such is not the case,and some 9 inches
to 12 inches of soil with a hard subsoil is but a poor
medium for growing Potatoes when .such unwonted
drought prevails. It is obvious that we can do little
or nothing towards helping the Potatoes in this case,
but higher prices may cause consumers to econo-
mise, and perhaps be more careful than usual in
consumption. Very early, and especially immature.
Potatoes are poor food at the best, and the longer
the tubers can be left in the soil, the better for the
consumer at least, although, should the drought
continue, the grower cannot gain much and may lose
in so doing. We have, however a long year before
July Iff, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
43
us with a winter in prospect, daring which labour
will not be abundant and poverty will be consider-
able. In such case it is not cheering to learn that
the season bids fair to leave us, if a healthy, still
but a very moderate crop of Potatoes. A. D.
Trees and Shrubs.
W. GOIDRING.
THE A^RGINIAN STUAETIA AT SYON.
There is probably nothing that could give greater
pleasure to a lover of hardy ornamental trees and
shrubs than the sight of a huge spreading bush of
Stuartia virgiuica carrying a profusion of its lovely
flowers. Such a sight we enjoyed the other day in
the Duke of Northumberland's pleasure grounds at
Syon House, where there exists the finest speci-
mens probably of the Virginian Stuartia in Europe.
Two great bushes of it are thickly studded with
flowers, each measuring 4 inches across, with ivory-
white petals and a central tuft of crimson stamens.
The Syon Stuartias are very old, and have probably
acquired their full development, as they are as high
as they grow naturally in the swamps of Virginia
and Carolina. They are fully 8 feet high and about
10 feet through, and every twig is laden with either
flowers or opening buds. In the subdued light of
evening these Stuartias were indescribably lovely,
for the white flowers together with the pale green
leaves stood out prominently from the dark greenery
that suiTOunds them. There are so few open-air
shrubs that flower at midsummer, that it is sur-
prising that this beautiful hardy shrub should be so
rare in gardens. Nurserymen keep it in stock, but
they say as it is very seldom asked for, they do not
propagate it largely. It is certainly of slow growth,
but not more so than many other beautiful plants.
It seems to delight in the cool, moist soil of
the Syon House arboretum, where it grows in the
greatest luxuriance. It has been introduced to
England for nearly 150 years, and probably the
specimens at Syon were among the first planted in
this country. Its near relative, S. pentagyna, or
Malaohodendron ovatum, as it used to be called, is
equally beautiful, and so much resembles it as to be
hardly distinguishable. The tiowers are -white and
fragrant, and produced later than those of S,
virginica. The only garden I have seen S. pen-
tagyna growinglusuriantlyln is Coolhurst,in Susses,
where, as at Syon, there is a rich collection of trees
and shrubs. The two shrubs, though so much
alike, come from diiierent habitats, for while S. vir-
ginica grows in the swamps and shady woods, S.
pentagyna is found on the mountains of Virginia
and other South-western States of North America.
S. virginica likes shelter and a moist, peaty soil,
while S. pentagyna will thrive in a sandy loam in
an open situation. I should greatly value any in-
formation respecting other fine specimens of these
two Stuartias that any reader may know of.
bloom it makes a fine display of colour. It is like
the Chinese form in foliage, and the flowers are of
a similar mauve-purple, but gathered in denser clus-
ters, and almost upright instead of drooping. It is
suitable for clothing a wall, festooning an arbour or
verandah, and looks well rambling over a tree
stump. It is a very old introduction — one among
the many that were imported from North America
in Collin'son's time. It is a pity that this Wistaria,
and a host of shrubs interesting as well as beauti-
ful, should be so neglected now-a-days — that it does
not pay nurserymen to keep even a small stock of
them.— W. G.
The Trumpet Honeysuckle (Lonicera sem-
pervirens) is most often seen in a greenhouse, but
it is quite hardy enought to plant anywhere against
a wall if the soil and situation is warm. At Kew,
for instance, it thrives admirably against an open
■wall. A plant of it is now in full bloom against
the wall that encloses the herbaceous plant garden,
and makes quite a glow of scarlet and gold. Like
other Honeysuckles, it bears its long tubular flowers
(which resemble miniature trumpets) in clusters
terminating the small shoots. The foliage is a very
pale green or glaucous, and therefore sets off the
bright colour of the flowers well. It is a fairly
rapid grower in places wliere it succeeds, and,
being so bright in colour, is a most desirable climber
for late summer flower. It is a common plant in
nurseries, and inexpensive. — W. G.
"Wistaria frutescens. — This is the North
American Wistaria, and although it cannot rival its
Chinese relative, the common W. sinensis, it is,
nevertheless, a beautiful climbing shrub. If the two
flowered at the same time, the American species would
be quite eclipsed ; but it flowers when the Chinese
variety is past, and if a large plant of it is seen in
THE TAMARISK IN BLOOM.
I FIND in The Gaeden of July 2 (pp. 611, 613) two
well-deserved eulogiums on these beautiful plants.
It is impossible to write in words of excessive praise
of the extreme beauty of Tamarisks in flower,
foliage, and habit. Those who have only seen
stunted masses of Tamarisk on the parched sand by
the seaside can have but little idea of its extreme
grace and beauty when allowed scope and fur-
nished with favourable conditions for its fall develop-
ment. On visiting the ButtesChaumont a few weeks
since, the most charming plant seen in that richly-
f arnished park or garden was a graceful one of the
common Tamarisk. It was so exquisitely beauti-
ful seen at a distance, that I descended nearly to
the bottom of a deep valley to have a closer inspec-
tion and to make sure of its identity. At a distance
it resembled a fairy Spii'a3a, with long drooping
shoots, clothed with the most delicate plumes of
pink flowers intermixed with the fine spray of the
feathery foliage, the two forming a most exquisite
mass of beauty so unique in its grace and in its
novelty as to excite the liveliest admiration. And
yet throughout the whole of that well-furnished
park I only met with one other plant^ — a stunted
contrast to this ; and neither in the Bois de Bou-
logne, Versailles, St. Cloud, Fontainebleau, Pare
Monceau, nor in any of the other gardens in or
about Paris did I see a single Tamarisk, Neither
is it much more common in the gardens of this
country. So seldom, indeed, is it grown to any con-
siderable size as a single specimen, that I have
never seen a plant in this country to compare for
size, grace, and beauty with the one seen in the
Buttes Chaumont a few weeks since.
How far the scarcity of specimen Tamarisks in
England arises from difficulties of cultivation I am
not prepared to say, though it is a curious coinci
dence, and one that helps to throw light on this
view of the subject, to find two writers in the
same number of The Gaeden recommending
almost opposite treatment for the Tamarisk. " T."
says (p. 611) the Tamarisk will thrive on any soil
provided it is not too dry, and " W. G." (p. 613)
virtually says the same of any soil provided it is
not too wet, and proceeds to recommend it for dry,
poor spots where stronger growing shrubs would
fail, and points to the dry banks of the arboretum
at Kew beautifully clothed with Tamarisks in con
firmation of his advice. I may add that my limited
experience with the inland culture of this shrub
favours a rather moist, sheltered site for it, though
on the other hand, everyone knows how well it
takes care of itself on the parched sands of the
eastern and other coasts of our island. Eeturnin_
for a moment to the perfect specimen in the Buttes
Chaumont, it grows near the bottom of a
sheltered valley — on its southern side — with i
roots within a few feet of a murmuring brooklet,
the banks of which are clothed with Flag Irises and
other moisture-loving plants. Thus placed, and
with its water supply copious and secure at all
seasons of the year, the Tamarisk has grown into
the thing of health and beauty here so imperfectly
described. D. T. F
The Sea Holly (Eryngium maritimum). — This
pretty and unusually distinct native plant is just
now a very ornamental feature of the sea-coast at
Rhyl. The beautiful glaucous (bluish green) leaves
and Thistle-like flowers associate well with those of
the Rest Harrow (Ononis arveusis), which now
cover the sands in rich profusion. The flowers of
the latter are just now at their best, and being
borne in great profusion impart to the Grasses
amongst which they grow a desirable pinky appear-
ance that takes the visitor by surprise. Either of
the above plants are far more ornamental than
many of those we see grown on rockwork and in
the herbaceous border; indeed, could one cultivate
the Sea Holly successfully, it would be a most
desirable acquisition to any flower border. Fine,,
drifting sand would seem to suit it best, but it
should be [remembered that the roots penetrate to
a great depth. — A. D. WEBSTER.
Buddleia globosa. — This has flowered very
freely here this season, and very beautiful it looked,
covered with its orange-yellow flowers, the branches
being quite weighed down by them. It certainly is
quite at home in this part of the south coast. Al-
though it thrives so well, scarcely anyone seems to
know it, for the great majority of those who saw
our plants in fiower were surprised to hear that it
was an old and much-neglected plant. Our beauti-
ful hardy flowering shrubs are very much neglected,'
and do not receive a tithe of the attention they de-
serve. This Buddleia is so distinct in colour and
form of flower to any other plant, that I wonder it
has so long been overlooked by planters of shrubs.
One may go through many gardens and not find a
single plant of it. It will grow freely in any kind
of situation, and our light stony soil appears to just
suit it. As a wall plant it is very effective, and as
a background to dwarf shrubs it is admirable, as it
grows quickly and flowers most profusely. I fear
that many are deterred from cultivating this beau-
tiful shrub by reason of its doubtful hardiness ; but,
except in very extreme cases, it is hardy over the
greater part of the kingdom, and around the coast
it may safely be planted in almost any situation ;
although, doubtless, in a good sunny aspect where
the wood gets well ripened, it succeeds best and
flowers with greater freedom. — J. G., Hants.
Snowy Mespilus. — Referring to a remark in
The Gaedex, June 2.5 (p. 589), as to the Snowy
Jlcspilus, I am anxious to know the botanical
name of the tree alluded to. I have heard
Amelanchier Botryapium, so called, also Amelan-
chier vulgaris, and an extensive Irish nurseryman
calls the Bird Cherry (Cerasus Padus) the Snowy
Mespilus. Half a century ago, in the shrubberies
of many gentlemen's seats about Dublin, a Snowy
Mespilus was quite common. At Drumcondra
Castle, my father's place, there were several, which
I well recollect from the positions in which they
grew. This tree seems to have been lost, also the
White Laburnum, many years ago. I inquired of
Lawson's, Edinburgh, Smith, of Worcester, and other
nurserymen, but they did not know the tree. I got
plants of all the Amelanchiers to be had, but to no
purpose. The trees grew about 8 feet high, with
slender, upright branches, ending in slender twigs,
from which were produced racemes about 6 inches
long, pendent, bearing about six blossoms, the same
size, and closely resembling a single Snowdrop. It
bloomed in February. What was this plant ? Is it
known at Kew? — R. P. W., Glasliim, Clontarf,
IJuhViH.
*j,* The botanical name of the Snowy Mespilus is
Amelanchier Botryapium. — Ed.
SHORT NOTES.— TREES AND SHRUBS.
Rabbits attacking Thujas, — When at Mr.
Ntible'.s Suimiuixilale Nurserv a short time since, I
unti'ji?..! tlut tlie qu,n-ters of Tiiujj auv,?a and T. Lobbi
had wire fences round them to keep the rabbits away,
as they eat them down close when in a small state.
They will occasionally attack Cupressus Liwsouiana,
but only when hard driven for food. — R. D.
Arrow-jointed Broom (Genista sagittahs).^-
This procumbent species of Genista is a very ornamen-
tal rockwork plant, as it flowers most profusely iu such
a situation, provided it is growing in a sunny spot. It
will also yield a goodly display in a herbaceous border;
for although it is shrubby iu character, it only reacht's
a height of 6 inches or thereabouts, but forms a tliiek
mass of curiously-winged stems. — T.
Deutzia crenata flore-pleno. — This hardy
Japanese shrub is just now very channing on an east
44
THE GARDEN.
[July 16, 1887.
wall in the Chiswiclc Gardens of the Royal Horticul-
tural Society. To the single form of it appears to
have been given the name of D. scabra; at any rate
this is undoubtedly the typical form of D. crenati.
The double fonn is far superior to the single, for witli
an equal abundance of blossom there is added size and
fulness, and the blossoms have a tinge of elegant light
pink. The position it occupies in the Chiswick Gar-
dens appears to suit it exactly. — E. D.
Portugal Laurel.— We were uever more im-
pressed with the beauty, effectiveness, and sweet
perfume of this excellent shrab than a few days ago.
We had just seen it growing in the foi-mal manner of a
hard-clipped bush, forming a stiff, ugly line on either
side of a carriage drive, when beside the road we came
across some large bushes — quitetrees,infact— that had
apparently never seen the knife, and were one mass of
long racemes of flowers; while the perfume along the
road was suificient to make one pause and enjoy it. —
A. H.
rather bare, so that they are seen to better advan-
tage in the shape of large specimens. This Rhodo-
dendron will ripen a quantity of seed if the flower-
are fertilised, and the plants not only come up
quickly, but grow rapidly afterwards, There are
several names that are often used indiscriminately
for Rhododendrons of this class, viz., virginale,
tubulatum, Maddeni, and Wallicbi, as well as calo-
phyllum, but at all events they are so much alike
that one name will be sufiicient." Seedlings of B.
calophyllum, too, vary a good deal as to their period
of blooming, for whereas the parent plant is now in
flower, some young ones that have flowered for the
first time are already over, while others of the
same batch are as late as their parent. — H. P.
ECCENTRIC LABURNUMS.
I FANCY " R. D." rather confuses the origin of these
on page 611. He describes the facts quite correctly,
as those familiar with the manifestations of Cjtisus
Adami — a diminishing number now-a-days, 1 fear —
are aware. But is not the threefold display of species
or varieties the result of grafting C. Adami on to
the common or other yellow Laburnum, and not of
grafting C. purpureus on to the same ? However
this may be, and assuming that " R. D.'s " explana-
tion of the phenomena may be at fault, this is not
surprising, and however produced, the purple La-
burnum being a far more vigorous grower than the
semi-monstrous and abortive Adami, the purple,
like all strong monopolists, sooner or later— and
mostly sooner than later— sets about driving Adami
out of the field— that is, off the tree. This process
of starving off the weakest of the three competitors
for the food supplies frequently goes on until the
place of Adami on the tree knows it no more. Its
struggles for life and final suppression also favour
the supposition that it was, and is, a mere sport
from C. purpureus. But I have seen the work carried
on through a series of years with very chequered
results, and not seldom the Nemesis of the common
yellow overrun and almost annihilate the purple
just when the latter seemed almost to have mono-
polised the entire tree ; and even then, when the
gold seemed about to reign over all, the Adami has
once more shot forth its branohlets from the bare
wood and other unlikely places, and the trees have
once more run through their course of tricoloured
beauty.
It seems a pity that such an interesting tree is
not more generally grown ; for, whatever difl'erences
of opinion may arise as to its origin, there can be
but one as to its ornamental character and scientific
interest. The fact of the wide disparity of form
between the three types and the constancy of each
to its normal character through a long series of
years is one of the most interesting features of this
mixed-blooded Laburnum. If mised thus and to
this extent, why not more, and to any extent?
Even Darwin did not attempt any answers to such
questions, but confined himself to a careful observ-
ance of the curious facts of the case, and a careful
record of the origin of this curious graft hybrid or
sport, C. Adami. He dismisses, however, as wholly
untrustworthy the theory of production advanced
by " R. D.," viz., that C. Adami is the product of
grafting C. purpureus on the common golden La-
burnum ; on the contrary, Darwin's accurate epi-
tome of the iiistory of the origin and conduct of C.
Adami proves the latter, always and anywhere, as
the producing force or cause of the other forms.
And this case is unique in many respects, alike in
the constancy of its production and to that of the
types first struck off, though similar cases resulting
from united germs or mixed sap may be met with.
D. T. F.
Ferns.
W. H. GOWER.
GYMNOGRAMMA TRIANGULARIS.
This beautiful and iuteresting species was, I
believe, first introduced to this country by the
Messrs. Backhouse, of York. It is an outlying
member of the genus popularly known as ' ' Gold
and Silver " Perns. As will be seen by our
in other parts of the country. If grown in the
rockery, a small well-sheltered crevice should be
selected for it, high enough from the ground to
prevent the fronds from getting splashed with
dirt in wet weather ; whilst if grown in a pot, a
portion of broken sandstone mixed with the soil
will be advantageous.
Rhododendron calopliyllum.— This Hima-
layan species is with me always the "last of that
section to unfold its flowers, and very showy the
plant is when studded with clusters of large white
blossoms. If struck from cuttings the plants will
flower well in a young state, but are apt to run up
Gymnogramma triangularis. Engi'aved for The
Garden from a plant grown in the open air.
illustration (which was taken from a plant
grown in the open air at Tooting), it differs
considerably in shape from the majority of its
congeners ; whilst its fronds seldom exceed 6 in.
or 8 in. in height by 2 inches in breadth, these
are deep green in colour on the upper side,
whilst beneath they are covered with a dense
rich yellow farinose powder, througli which the
black sori protrude. The colour of the farinose
powder varies somewhat in different plants,
from golden to sulphur-yellow and creamy white.
The plant is of tufted growth, and forms a com-
pact and handsome specimen in a cold fernery,
whilst being a native of Vancouver's Island and
Oregon, it may be found sufficiently hardy to
live in the open-air rockery, if a sheltered nook
is selected for it. The Messrs. Rollisson had it
growing in the ojien air for two years, but the
situation was of an exceptional kind, the seasons
were mild, and the experiment was not con
tinned sufficiently long to enable one to speak
confidently as to its hardiness in the neighbour-
Some of our readers may have
OUR NATIVE FERNS.
(the spleenwoet.s.)
The Maiden-hair Spleeswoet (Asplenium Tri-
chomanes) is one of those few Ferns which are
found in all parts of the British Islands, where it
grows alike on shady sides of rocks, on old walls or
on hedge banks. It is distinct from any other
of our native Ferns on account of the black
colour and the beautifully polished stalks of its
foliage, which is produced in great abundance,
and is extremely graceful. According to the
situation which it occupies, its light and elegant
fronds vary from 3 inches to quite a foot in
length ; they are of a peculiarly dark green colour,
and all produced from a single central crown. Al-
though acknowledged and accepted as a British
Fern, it is also found not only in nearly all the other
European countries, but even in Japan, in India,
and in North America, from all of which places we
have on various occasions received dry specimens of
a Fern which could not possibly be any other than our
common Maiden-hair Spleenwort. The shady side
of a wall is undoubtedly the situation which it pre-
fers and that in which it is most commonly found,
but I once, in the eastern part of France, came
across a very long and very high wall facing due
south which was literally covered and completely
hidden by that pretty little species, and formed a
perfectly dense and most beautiful carpet. Yet
although many hours were spent in close examina-
tion of these plants, I was unable to discover any
deviation from the ordinary type. All the plants
were alike in appearance and in growth, which was
unusually long for plants exposed to the full action
of the sun. This, however, will be readily under-
stood when it is known that the wall on which the
Fern was growing measured over 3 feet in thickness,
and was the remains of fortifications with abundance
of soil at the back, so that though exposed to the
sun, a great quantity of moisture was always present.
The Maiden-hair Spleenwort may be propagated
either by means of its spores, which are generally
ripe in August and which germinate freely, or, as is
more commonly the case, by the division of the
crowns. In the latter case it is best to select, as
far as possible, plants growing on a hedge bank, as it
is most difficult to safely remove those which grow
amongst bricks or stones. Although they may be re-
moved almostatanytime, plants of this pretty species
are more certain of success if the operation is per-
formed during March or April. The evergreen Asple-
nium Trichomanes, hardy as it is, prefers an exposed
situation to a close or very shady one in which the
contiuuousmoisture, by collecting on the fronds, soon
causes them to blacken and decay. It is necessary,
if the plants are grown in pots, to have these well
drainecl, and also to avoid frequent wetting of the
fronds. The soil best suited for this species is a
mixture of peat, yellowish loam, and bricks broken
into small pieces. It is particularly adapted for
the formation in the hardy out-of-doors fernery
of a neat and pleasant edging, but in this case
the plants should be planted between stones, and
their crowns kept slightly above the surface of the
soil.
The Maidex-haie Spleenwoet has produced
several very pretty and interesting varieties, the
most distinct of which are Asplenium Trichomanes
multifidum, found in Scotland ; A. T. ramosum, a
constant form found in various parts of England
and. Ireland ; and A. T. bif urcum, which has been
gathered in Kilkenny, in Ireland, and also in
Kent. All these three varieties are more or less
crested or branched, but can only be propagated
by the division of the crowns, while A. T. crista-
tum, a very constant form, with fronds about
4 inches long, and terminating in a beautiful
hood of London.
more experience with this Fern as a hardy plant ] tassel or crest, is a free-grower, and reproduces
July 16, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
45
itself readily from spores. Of the non-crested
forms of the Aspleniwn Trichomanes, the variety
called incisum, with its divisions very deeply cut
into naiTow lobes of variable length, is about the
most distinct, as also the most handsome in culti-
vation ; unfortunately, it is a barren plant, which,
curiously enough, has been found in localities situ-
ated very far apart, in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and
Devon.
The Wall Rue Splkenwort (Asplenium Ruta-
muraria), so-called on account of the great resem-
blance of its small fronds to the leaves of the
common Rue, and also because it is rarely found
growing anywhere but in the mortar on old walls,
is a curious and very interesting Fern of particu-
larly small dimensions, and of a peculiar bluish
colour, and distinct from all other British species.
It is mostly found in the southern and midland
counties of England, and I have gathered it on the
walls of Ragley Hall, in 'Warwickshire, where it
grows in company with, the Maiden-hair Spleenwort.
From the quotation of Gerard, who says : —
The Stone Rue gi'oweth upon old walls near imto
waters, wells, and founbiins. I have found it upon
the walls of Dartford Church, in Kent, hard hy the
water side, where the people ride through ; also upon
the walls of the churchyard of Sittiugbourne, in the
same county, in the middle of the town, hard by a
great lake of water ; and also upon church walls of
Rayleigh, in Esses, and in divers other places.
It will be seen that it was known as one of our
native Ferns by some of our earliest botanists. It
is a plant somewhat difficult to manage under cul-
tivation, its removal from its native place being
seldom attended with success. The best time to
remove it is in April, as it only starts into growth
about May, when it produces its yomng fronds,
which remain green all through the winter. The
Wall Rue requires free exposure to air, and a soil
composed of rough lime rubbish, sand, and leaf-
mould, with thorough good drainage and a position
constantly moist and shady. Either when grown in
pots or when planted in the fernery, it is very
necessary to keep the crovras of this Fern well
above the surface of the soO, so as to prevent the
water resting on them. A crested form, named
cristatum, which has the points of each of its
fronds and of their divisions more or less tufted,
has been found in Kent and Surrey ; and one
named dissectum, whose pinnules are very long
and deeply cut, has been found in Devon, but it is
questionable whether these two interesting varieties
are now to be found in any collections. S. G.
Societies and Exhibitions.
CRYSTAL PALACE ROSE SHOW.
This exhibition, held on Saturday last, must be con-
sidered one of the best of the season, and, owing to
the judicious arrangement, was at once picturesque
and beautiful. The flowers, on the whole, were of
excellent quality, considering the trying character
o£ the season, and the competition was sufficiently
strong to make a show of considerable extent. As
at South Kensington on the previous Tuesday, Ulrich
Brunner was again shown in surjjrising condition,
and among the Teas Comtesse de NadaUlac was ex-
hibited in lovely form and colour.
In the great class for seventy-two varieties, single
trusses, Mr. B. R. Cant, Colchester, was the most
successful, the flowers large, fresh, and well coloured.
Especially good were llrs. Baker, very bright;
Beauty of Waltham, Mdme. de Watteville, Mdiue.
Cusin, Mdme. Charles Wood, Comtesse de NadaUlac,
La Boule d'Or, Eugene Furst, Etienne Levet, Sou-
venir d'Elise, and Her Majesty. The second place
was occupied by Mr. Frank Cant, Colchester, who
showed such varieties as Her Majesty, Charles
Lefebvre, Marie Baumann, Mdme. de Watteville,
Baroness Rothschild, Mdme. Ducher, Comtesse de
Nadaillac, and Duke of Connaught in excellent con-
dition. Messrs. Paul and Son, Cheshunt, were first
for forty-eight varieties, the flowers, on the whole,
of good form and colour. Among the best we
noticed MerveiUe de Lyon, Alfred Colomb, Sou-
venir d'Elise Vardon, Mdlle. Prosper Laugier, very
bright; Mdme. Norman Neruda, fine red colour,
capital centre ; and Grandeur of Cheshunt, a variety
in the way of Mdlle. P. Laugier. Mr. B. R. Cant
came second, and in his stand there were satis-
factory flowers of Ulrich Brunner, Reynolds Hole,
Mdme. de Watteville, Etienne Levet, Dr. Andry,
Catherine Mermet, and Duke of Wellington. There
was good competition in the class for twenty-four
varieties, distinct, three trusses of each, the first
place being occupied by Mr. Charles Turner,
Slough, whose flowers were staged in fine condition,
the variety named Reynolds Hole being one of the
best. This is a lovely variety when well grown, the
form excellent, and the colour of great depth and
richness. The Colonel, Star of Waltham, Harrison
Weir, A. K. Williams, MerveiUe de Lyon, Ulrich
Brunner, and Her Majesty were also noticeable.
Messrs. Keynes, WiUiams and Co., Salisbury, were
second, showing weU-finished, full flowers of Mdlle.
Marie Verdier, Dr. Andry, Ulrich Brunner, and
Mdme. Charles Wood. In the class for twenty-four
varieties, single trusses, however, the last-mentioned
firm came to the fore, and there was keen
competition. Lovely blooms, superb in finish,
colour, and substance were put up, the most con-
spicuous varieties being Rosieriste Jacobs, Her
Majesty, Marechal Niel, Ulrich Brunner, Niphetos,
and Star of Waltham. Mr. G. W. Piper was a good
second.
An interesting display was made by the collec-
tions of yeUow Roses, and in this class Mr. B. R. Cant
headed the prize list; Comtesse de Nadaillac was
exquisite, and Etoile de Lyon, Mdme. Margottin,
and Boule d'Or were conspicuous for good form
and delicate colour. Mr. G. Prince, who was second,
also showed a fine flower of Comtesse de NadaUlac,
but the blooms were sorely tried with the heat.
Mr. B. R. Cant was again first in the class for a
collection of white Roses, and his blooms were of
considerable merit, especially those of MerveiUe de
Lyon, Innocente Pirola, Devoniensis, and Mdme.
Lacharme. Mr. G. Prince was second, exhibiting
MerveiUe de Lyon and Alba Rosea in excellent con-
dition. The collections of Pink Roses afforded de-
lightful colours, and in this class Mr. Frank Cant
occupied first place, such varieties as Her Majesty,
Mdme. Gabriel Luizet, Catherine Mermet, and
Marie Finger being well shown. In the class for a
coUection of crimson varieties Messrs. W. Balchin
and Sons, Hassocks, were first, and the fine crimson
colour of the flowers showed up well ; Comte Ram-
baud, Dupuy Jamain, Duke of Edinburgh, Jlons.
E. Y. Teas, and Fisher Holmes were conspicuous.
Messrs. W. Balchin and Sons were again first in
the class for a collection of velvety crimson Roses,
and in their stand Reynolds Hole was noticeable by
reason of its good form, but in this class the
flowers, on the whole, were below the average. The
second place was occupied by Mr. B. R. Cant, who
was, however, first in the class for eighteen trusses
of Rose simUar in colour to Marie Baumann, show-
ing Ulrich Brunner in first-class form and colour ;
Mr. G. Prince followed with blooms of Marie
Baumann. Messrs. J. Cranston and Co., Hereford,
took the first place for eighteen trusses of a Rose
simUar in colour to Prince CamUle de Rohan, show-
ing weU-furnished and nicely-coloured blooms of
Abel Carriere ; Mr. B. R. Cant, who was second,
showed good blooms of the richly-coloured Reynolds
Hole. For eighteen trusses of Rose Francois
Michelon, or variety of similar colour, Messrs. Paul
and Son, Cheshunt, were first with Ulrich Brunner ;
and Mr. B. R. Cant came second with fine blooms
of Francois Michelon. Mr. H. Bennett, of Shep-
perton, was first for eighteen trusses of a Rose
of simUar colour to Lady Mary FitzwUliam, putting
up grand blooms of Her Majesty, the form massive
and the colour delightful, deepening from pale pink
to bright rose ; it stands the heat weU. Mr. B. R.
Cant showed smaUer flowers of the same variety.
For eighteen trusses of A. K. WiUiams the last-
mentioned exhibitor came first, the flowers of good
quality and colour. An interesting display was
made by the stands of W. A. Richardson Rose, the
first prize going to Messrs. J. Cranston and Co.,
whose blooms were of high merit. An interesting
class was that for twelve bunches of Rosa Poly-
antha in variety, Mr. C. Turner coming first, his
varieties including The Pet, Ma Paquerette, Migno-
nette, and Anna Maria de Montravel. Mr. G. Prince
was second, showing the choice Perle d'Or.
Teas axd Noisettes were exceedingly good,
and seemed to have stood the dry weather better
than the Hybrid Perpetuals. In the open class for
eighteen varieties, Mr. B. R. Cant was first, showing
weU-developed flowers of excellent colour. Among
the best were Innocente Pirola, Comtesse de Na-
daUlac, Mdme. Cusin, Boule d'Or, Devoniensis,
Mdme. de Watteville, Catherine Jlermet, and finely
coloured Slarechal Niel. Mr. F. Cant was second,
his stand containing several excellent flowers. For
eighteen trusses of Marechal Niel, Mr. B. R. Cant
was first, the flowers being of that rich yeUow colour
characteristic of this variety. The same exhibitor
was also the most successful for eighteen trusses of
any Tea or Noisette, showing lovely blooms of the
chaste Innocente Pirola. Mr. G. Piper showed
exceUent blooms of Niphetos in the class for that
variety, and was placed first.
Amatbues were weU represented, and they ex-
hibited flowers that testified to their high skill
in the cultivation of the Rose. In the class for
forty-eight varieties, distinct, Mr. W. J. Grant,
Hope End Farm, Ledbury, gained the first place,
exhibiting excellent flo%vers, the most conspicuous
being UMch Brunner, Comtesse d'Oxford, Caro-
line Kuster, Dr. Andry, and Duke of Edinburgh.
The Rev. J. H. Pemberton, Havering, Essex, was
a close second, exhibiting Etienne Levet, Niphetos,
Marie Rady, Xavier Olibo, Ulrich Brunner, Marie
Baumann, Charles Lefebvre, and Mdme. Gabriel
Luizet in good condition. In the class for twenty-
four varieties, single trusses, Mr. E. B. LindseU,
Bearton, Hitchin, was first, and this exhibitor
was also the most successful in the class for
twenty-four varieties, three trusses of each, ex-
hibiting fine flowers of Marechal Niel, Innocente
Pirola, Niphetos, Comtesse de NadaUlac, Dr.
Sewell, MerveiUe de Lyon, Abel Carriere, and
Ulrich Brunner. For twelve the first prize was won
by Mr. H. Shoesmith, Saltwood Rectory Gardens,
Hythe. Tea and Noisette varieties were well exhi-
bited by the Rev. E. G. King, Madingley Vicarage,
Cambridge, whose flowers were of high merit, espe-
ciaUy those of Mdme. Cusin, Catherine Mermet, and
Hon. Edith Giffard.
Prizes were also offered for Picotees, Carnations,
and Pinks, the principal prizetakers being Mr. J.
Douglas, Great Gearies, Ilford, Mr. C. Turner, and
Mr. F. Hooper, Bath. First-class certificates were
awarded to Mr. C. Turner for Carnation Amber, a
free-flowering yeUow variety ; to Mr. T. S. Ware
for GaiUardia maxima ; and to Mr. J. Douglas for
yeUow Picotee Agnes Chambers.
There were several misceUaneousexhibits. Messrs.
Veitch and Sons, Chelsea, and Mr. W. H. Fretting-
ham. The Nurseries, Beeston, showed cut Roses,
and from Messrs. Barr and Son, Covent Garden,
came cut LUies, Iris, &c. A simUar display was
made by Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, and Messrs. H.
CanneU and Sons, Swanley, sent cut Pelargonium
blooms. Verbenas, and Begonias. Messrs. Cheal and
Son, Crawley, exhibited LUies, and Messrs. Hooper
and Co., Covent Garden, also sent an interesting
collection of LUies, Pinks, Gloxinias, and other
hardy flowers.
A fuU list of the awards wiU be found in our ad-
vertising columns.
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
Lilies, annuals, and other hardy summer flowers,
together with a magnificent display of double and
single Begonias, formed the chief features at South
Kensington on Tuesday last. The meeting was of
an interesting character and novelties were numer-
ous, including a few Orchids of great beauty and
rarity. Fruit was mainly represented by Straw-
berries, and vegetables by Peas, for which special
prizes were offered. First-class certificates were
awarded as under : —
Beebeeis aeistata integeifolia. — This is
similar to the type, and is a desirable variety. _ It
has a wealth of neat, ovate, pale green leaves, which.
M
THE GARDEN.
[JuLT 16, 1887.
unlike those of the parent, are destitute of spines.
.The branches are laden with dense, pendent clusters
.of pale yellow flowers, with the pedicels rich crim-
son. Shown by Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, Chelsea.
SCOLOPBNDEIUM VULGAKB Vallaisi.— This is a
distinct and boldly crested form of the common
Hart's-tongiie, and is an acquisition to the numerous
varieties of this British Fern. The fronds are al-
most erect, deep green in colour, and terminated
with dense, rounded, crested tufts. Shown by
Messrs. J. Veitch.
Ibis Acquisition. — This is a variety belonging
to the Ka;mpferi section, and is well named. The
flower is beautifully coloured, the outer divisions
large, spreading, regular in form, and exquisitely
veined with rich lilac on a white ground, and
blotched with yellow at the base; the limb of the
stigma is deep purple. From Messrs. J. Veitch.
lEis Ceitbeion. — Another splendid variety of
the Kiempferi class. The flower is of immense size
and rich colouring, the outer divisions being of
great width, regular outline, and in colour purplish
lilac, veined and suffused with a deeper shade; the
base of the segments is bright yellow, and the
bold stigmas rich purple. Exhibited by Messrs.
J. Veitch.
lEis Exquisite. — A variety of Kaempfer's Iris;
the outer divisions of the flower are of a lovely
shade of lilac, veined with white and blotched with
yellow at the base; the blade of the stigma is mar-
gined with a bluish colour, the whole flower being
regular and effective. Shown by Mr. W. Gordon,
Twickenham.
lEis Eclipse. — This belongs to (he same section
as the last-mentioned, and is of a rosy magenta
colour, overlaid near the base with radiating white
veins, and blotched with yellow. From Mr. W.
Gordon, Twickenham.
Epidendeum Paekinsonianum.— This is synony-
mous with E. falcatum, and a well-grown plant was
exhibited. The leaves are succulent in character,
thick, and dark green; the flowers are borne in
threes ; the sepals and petals narrow, about 2 inches
long, and of a yellowish brown colour ; the lip is
three-lobed, the centre lobe linear, faintly tinged
with yellow at the apex, the lateral lobes being
prominent and almost pure white. It is one of
the most distinct of the Epidendrums. Shown by
Mr. H. M. PoUett, Fernside, Bickley.
Odontoglossum Vutlstekianum maculatum-
— A specimen of this variety was shown bearing a
raceme of sis blooms, which, in general expression,
remind one of O. crispum. The flowers are chaste
and delicate, medium in size, with the sepals and
petals clear sulphur yellow at the margin, fading to
white and sparsely blotched with brown, the edges
crimped ; the spoon-shaped lip is folded in front,
and at the base is dotted with crimson, the centre
being pure white, with conspicuous brown blotches;
the crest is yellow. Exhibited by Sir Trevor Law-
rence, Bart., M.P., Dorking.
Ljelia Batemanniana. — This is a most interest-
ing Orchid, the result of a cross between Cattleya
intermedia and Sophronitis grandiflora, and the
parentage is plainly visible. It bloomed last year
in Messrs. Veitch's nursery at Chelsea, and was ex-
hibited on the present occasion by Mr. Ballantine,
gardener to Baron Schroder, The Dell, Egbam ; a
plant about 4 inches high was shown bearing five
blooms. In growth this Lfclia is similar to the So-
phronitis, and in the colouring of the sepals and
petals we may also trace a likeness to the sarne
species. The "flower is decidedly Cattleya-like in
form, and has a conspicuous lip, narrow, and in
front coloured with rich crimson-violet, the basal
portion, which folds arch-like over the column, be-
ing white with a suffusion of rosy lilac. It is a most
charming hybrid.
Carnation Amber. — A free-flowering, distinct,
and pleasing variety, the habit good, and the mode-
rate sized flowers of a clear amber colour. Shown
by Mr. C. Turner, Slough.
CARNATION Pink Malmaison.— This variety is
of sturdy habit, and bears immen.se flowers of a rich
pink colour. It forms a capital companion to the
white form. Exhibited by Mr. C. Turner.
To the following Begonias, all shown by Messrs.
J. Laing and Co., Forest Hill ; —
Alba magna.— A very large, perfectly double
white variety with a trace of green in the centre;
it is distinct and free blooming.
Jupitee. — A double variety with intense scarlet
flowers, almost as round as a ball ; it will be valued
for its brilliant colouring.
Snowball. — A pure white double variety of free-
flowering character.
Jubilee. — A distinct flower of rosette shape,
and in colour bright pink ; it is very free-blooming.
Perfection. — This is an immense double variety ;
the flower has a high centre, and is of a. brilliant
scarlet colour.
Claribel.— A distinct kind; the flowers double,
the lower half pink and the centre portion white;
the contrast is curious and telling.
LusTEE. — A very showy scarlet-flowered double
variety.
Rosea compactA. — A single kind, of immense
white ray florets. Mr. H. Eckford, gardener to Dr.
Sankey, Boreatton Park, Baschurch, contributed
seedling Sweet Peas. The following varieties were
noticeable : Boreatton, deep crimson-purple ; Apple
Blossom, rosy pink ; and Eliza Eckford, pure white.
Mr. T. S.Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham,
was awarded a silver-gilt medal for an immense
bank of hardy flowers, comprising Lilies and other
seasonable subjects. Among the most noteworthy
plants were several of the Eryngiums, Helianthus
japonicus, similar to H.rigidus,"but earlier; Triteleia
laxa Murrayana, deep purple ; Lilium testaceum,
pale reddish white ; L. Martagon dalmaticum, deep
purple ; Gaillardias in variety ; Aster Townsendi,
pleasing bluish lilac; and Astilbe japonica aurea
reticulata, which produces a profusion of dense
creamy white panicles, the leaves being brightly
reticulated with yellow.
Mr. Ross, the Gardens, Pendell Court, Bletchingleyi
showed flowering branches^of Lagerstroemia indica.
When wreathed with the delicate, crumpled, rosy
pink flowers it is a plant of surprising beauty.
Mr. H. May, The Nurseries, Upper Edmonton,
size; the flowers of good form and of a rich rosy pink l^j^jj^'j^g^ ^^^^^^ ^j Croton Etna, a weU-coloured
colour.
Adonis.— This is a rich salmon-pink double flower,
the margin wavy and the form excellent.
The following were shown by Messrs. H. Cannell
and Sons, Swanley : —
Begonia Prince of Oeange.— A single variety
of dwarf, compact habit; the flowers are freely pro-
duced, and of a dazzling scarlet colour.
B. Mrs. Lewis Castle.- A sturdy, compact
variety; the flowers very large, high centres, and
perfectly double, the colour being of a fine shade of
salmon-pink.
To the following Sweet Peas from Mr. H. Eck-
ford, gardener to Dr. Sankey, Boreatton Park, Bas-
church ; Primrose, pale yellow, very sweet ; Mauve
Queen, large, bluish, lovely colour ; and Splendour,
bright crimson. '■, . ,
The great feature was the group of single and
double Begonias from Messrs. J. Laing and Co.,
Forest Hill. The whole of the plants were of neat,
compact habit, the flowers produced well above the
foliage, and displaying a wonderful variation in
form, size, and colour ; some of the most brilliant
hues, others of lighter shades, and a few pure white.
A silver-gilt Banksian medal was deservedly awarded
for this fine display. Messrs. H. Cannell and Son,
Swanley, also exhibited flowers of double Begonias
representing an excellent strain. Messrs. J. Veitch
showed several plants of interest, including the scar-
let Clematis coccinea, Notospartium CarmichEeliai, a
pretty, leguminous, shrubby plant, with small clus-
ters of Pea-like rosy pink flowers ; Escallonia Philip-
iana, which has a profusion of small white flowers
and small leaves ; Andromeda speciosa cassinicfolia,
very beautiful, the stems wreathed with pure white
beli-like flowers, the foliage abundant and light
green ; Nephrolepis rufescens tripinnatiflda, a
graceful, beautiful Fern, the fronds of great length,
and with tripinnatifid, pale green pinna;; Impatiens
Saltani variegata, a variegated form of this well-
known plant ; Miconia Hookeriana, a tropical
Melastomad ; Anthurium Bothschildianum, the spathe
blotched with red on a whitish ground, the spadix
yellow; the lovely Adiantum Capillus-venerisMairisi
and a collection of seedling varieties of Iris Ka3mp-
feri, which, however, soon curl up with the heat
when cut. Messrs. J. Carter and Co., High Holborn,
were awarded a bronze medahfor an extensive dis
play of annuals, including Balsams, Stocks, Pe
tunias. Nasturtiums, Drummond's Phlox, and Gode
tia concolor, pretty white and lilac flowers. The
same firm also had a collection of summer-flowering
Gladioli; Prince of Wales, scarlet; Fire King,
bright red ; Blushing Bride, white and rosy pink ;
and Brilliant being noticealile varieties. Mr. W.
Gordon, Twickenham, showed seedling varieties of
Iris Ka;mpferi and out blooms of the beautiful
Lilium Krameri. Messrs. Collins Brothers and
Gabriel, 39, Waterloo Road, exhibited a plant of
the great English Ox-eye Daisy (Chrysanthemum
Leucanthemumvar.imperialis), the habit ncat.,leaves
dark green, and the flower-heads large, with pure
variety.
Orchids were few in number. Mr. F. G. Tautz,
Shepherd's Bush, showed Cypripedium selligerum
rubrum, a neat brownish crimson variety; C. Cur-
tisi, a beautiful species in the way of 0. superbiens,
the lip being very large, and of a chocolate-brown
colour; and Epidendrum atropurpurenm Randi, an
attra,ctive variety, the sepals and petals greenish
brown, the lip white and pink. Mr. Evans, the
Gardens, Lythe Hill, Haslemere, exhibited a well
marked variety of 0. Alexandria blotched with brown
on a yellowish ground, and a specimen of the type
bearing a branching raceme of thirty-five flowers.
Fruit committee. — The fruit consisted princi-
pally of Strawberries, and a collection from Mr. W.
Allan, the Gardens, Gunton Park, Norwich, was
awarded a bronze medal. The fruits were of splen-
did size and colour, testifying to high skill in culti-
vation. The varieties included Auguste Nicaise,
Mr. Radcliffe, The Countess, Auguste Boisselot,
medium^size, light colour, good flavour ; President,
John Powell, fruits of immense size ; Unser Fritz,
very fine ; James Veitch, Sir J. Paxton, the old
British Queen, Sir Charles Napier, and Crimson
Queen. Messrs. J. Veitch showed Waterloo Straw-
berry, which has large fruits, deep purple in colour
when quite ripe, and with a flavour like that of
Keen's Seedling. There were also several other
minor exhibits, including Pine-apples, seedling
Melons and Peaches, and Strawberries.
Vegetables were more plentiful than at the pre-
vious meeting, and there was good competition for
the prizes offered by Jlessrs. J. Carter and Co., High
Holborn, for four varieties of Peas. Mr. H. Marriott,
sen., Skirbeck, Boston, was placed first, showing
large, well filled pods of Stratagem, Telephone, Pride
of the Market, and Anticipation ; Mr. H. Marriott,
jun., Prospect House, Boston, was second. In com-
petition for the prizes offered by Messrs. Sutton and
Sons for two varieties of Peas, Mr. H. Marriott, sen.,
was first, and Mr. R. Timms, Hammersley Lane,
Penn, Amersham, second. Mr. H. Marriott, sen.,
was the most successful in the class for twenty-four
pods of Wordsley Wonder Pea, the prizes given by
Messrs. Webb and Son, Stourbridge; Mr.H.Marriott^
jun., was second. For three Cauliflowers, prizes
offered by Messrs. Sutton, Mr. C. J. Waite was
first.
Grasshopper plague is reported to ho very
severe in Algeria this year, and the attempts made to
destroy the e.sgs have been unavailing. As many as
5(1,0110 gallous have been destroyed in ouly one district.
Ifam.es of plants.— P. C. A. — Lilium testaceum.
if, 1^, — Verbascum sp. ; specimen in.sufficient to
identify. — SchojieUl. — A very fine form of Odontoglos-
sum Alexandra?. G. J.— The name of the Grass is
Agrostis cauina. TK. Richards.— Cumwt name
florists flowers. Constant Reader. — Reseda, alba.
J. 0. L. — 1, Phlomis frutioosa ; 2, Oniithogalum
pyramidaie 3, Erigeron speciosum ; 4, Pelargonium,
apparently sauguineum, but the specimen sent was
much shrivelled. G. T.— Lychnis Haageana.
J. k.— Strawberry too smashed to identify.
July 16, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
47
WOODS & FORESTS.
THE HICKORY PINE.
(PINUS ATACAHUITE.)
Mr. Farraxt, in a letter received a few days ago,
reminds me how well this rare and beautiful Pine
does in his richly planted grounds at Ballamoor, in
the Isle of Man. His largest specimen is about
35 feet in height, perfect in every respect, and is
growing vigorously in light, sandy peat. This will,
no doubt, come as a pleasant surprise to most
Conifer lovers, for few indeed are the specimens of
this desirable Pine to be seen even in the warmest
parts of Southern England. That its cultivation
might, however, be greatly extended, and that with
every chance of success, I am fully convinced ; in-
deed it is not by any means so tender a subject as
we are led to believe, for I could point to more than
one specimen that has stood perfectly unharmed
through the worst winters we have experienced
during the last quarter of a century. There is, at
Westonbirt House, near Tetbury, a fine example of
the Hickory Pine which shows no traces of ill-usage
from storms and has produced an abundance of
fruit. Then who could find fault with the beautiful
healthy specimens at Cheshunt, at Highnam Court,
Gloucestershire, or at a much colder station in
Stranraer.
Neither can the Isle of Man be considered as
wholly exempt from cold winds, although the ab-
sence of intense frosts is well known to everyone,
for Mr. Farrant tells us that the frequency, violence,
and long duration of high winds is anything but
favourable for tree culture, unless in a few favoured
spots. I have every reason to believe that if owners
of pinetums would give this pretty and distinct tree
a fair chance, it would be found to do well in many
parts of the British Isles where it has not yet been
tried. For its ornamental appearance it is well
worthy of a little extra attention in the way of
choosing a warm suitable corner in which to plant
it, and all the better if within the influence of the
sea. The soil best suited for its culture is a light,
sandy peat, at least in such we have known it
to thrive best and produce annually the longest and
strongest shoots. The Hickory Pine is in truth a
lovely tree, somewhat resembling P. excelsa in gene-
ral appearance, but particularly so for the first few
years of its growth. The branches are whorled and
spread evenly around the stem, while the leaves,
which are five in a sheath, and of a desirable glau-
cous blue tinge, are about 5 inches long and plenti-
fully produced. The cone is strikingly handsome,
that now before me, a British grown specimen, being
exactly a foot in length and 2^ inches in diameter
at the widest part. It is of a beautiful brownish
yellow colour, cylindrical in shape, and produced
on a short footstalk of only half an inch in length.
The seeds are small for the size of the cone, while
the bark is of a pleasant leaden colour and re-
markably smooth.
This pretty Pine was discovered by Hartweg in
Mexico in 1810, but few seeds were sent home,
and it was not till Roezl subsequently intro-
duced it that it attracted any great amount of
attention.
The timber as grown in this country resembles
very closely that of P. Strobus, also produced at
home, and is of a yellowish white colour, rather
soft, but strong and long-grained, and would, I
have little doubt, be useful for the ordinary
purposes to which the Pine is applied in this
countiT.
Not, however, as a timber-producer do we wish
to recommend the Hickory Pine, but only as an
ornamental tree, and certainly in this latter respect
it is well worthy of a bold attempt to get it esta-
blished in suitable portions of our lawns and
grounds. The localities and conditions under which
it at present succeeds so well in this country are
not what would impress one as being extra well
suited for the cultivation of very tender plants, and
for this very reason we would ask tree lovers gene-
rally to give so handsome and distinct a Pine a
double chance at least before consigning it to the
list of tender subjects. A. D. Webstbb.
NEGLECT OF DECIDUOUS TREES.
Although I have a strong feeling for growing
Coniferrc, it is doubtful if there are many of the
recently-introduced species that will ever take the
place of the ornamental evergreen and deciduous
forest trees which are frequently to be seen through-
out the country, and which, I regret to say, are not
increasing to the extent they are justly entitled to,
standing, as they do, all weathers, wind and snow,
and remaining as monuments to their planters.
Many of these old ornamental hardwood trees are
orgreat interest, and I confess that I have infinitely
more pleasure in looking at them than on any coni-
ferous tree in this country, excepting, however, the
Scotch and Silver Fir ; also the majestic Cedars of
Lebanon, as seen in many English parks.
Of late years the rage for Coniferaj has rather
had a tendency to retard the planting of what are
commonly called evergreen and deciduous hard-
wood forest trees, but I trust the time is not far
distant when a return to these well-known hardy
and majestic forest ornaments must again take
place. With a few exceptions, including such well-
known trees as the ornamental-leaved Oaks, Beeches,
Tulip Trees, and the like, certain species of Abies,
Cedrus, Picea, and Pinus, most of the recently-in-
troduced Conifers are very weU up to a certain size,
but when they become of tree size, unless in
partially sheltered situations and particular soils,
they are often disfigured by wind and snow. Be-
sides, after many years' trial, how few of the new
Conifers do we find assuming a proper tree growth,
so as to take the place of, or even cope with, the
old kinds now existing, and thoroughly free from
the attacks of insect pests, which, in one shape or
another, have proved very detrimental to many
coniferous trees throughout the country / The
spread of these, I fear, will rather increase than
diminish — depiending on the mildness or severity of
the winter months. Many of the Conifers are mere
shrubs, and as such they are beautiful, and for this
quality they should be more widely cultivated ; but
a general feeling seems to prevail amongst their
admirers that they must become forest trees, and
for this end they are extensively planted. Surely
such trees as the Ash, Beech, Birch, Elm, Horn-
beam, Plane, Lime, Maple, Oak, Poplar, Walnut,
and Chestnut— now very numerous — the Oaks, both
evergreen and deciduous, which stand every blast
with impunity, ought to be planted in preference to
many of the coniferous trees. They become stately
with age, and we know that they will make trees,
and ultimately prove an ornament to the landscape
and a credit to their planters ; while, with many of
the Conifera3, we are planting only hoping that
they may, perhaps, succeed. After all that has
been done for the Coniferre, we find that it is only
in some exceptional places that they can ever
assume their true tree character, and these excep
tional places cannot be got on every estate. Spots
for deciduous trees are everywhere to be met with,
and I should like to see them again taking the
place which they held before the great Conifers;
fever set in about twenty-five or thirty years ago
S,
Benovating old trees. — The following is a
description of the means used to renovate an old
favourite Ash tree, whjpli is supposed to be more
than a hundred years old, and which, for several
seasons back, has showed unmistakable signs of
decay, so much so that every storm strewed the
ground about it with dead branches and limbs. At
one time, now a considerable number of years ago,
there was a permanent seat fixed round the base of
the trunk, which made a flat surface for the feet
necessary, in addition to the space taken up by the
seat. The efEect of this was that a number of large
gnarled roots were exposed to the action of the
weather,and these, as well as the surrounding ground,
got entirely overrun with the Snowberry plant ; so,
therefore, the soil must have been much exhausted.
With the view of, if possible, preventing the old
tree from dying, we had the ground trenched for a
distance of from 10 yards to 12 yards, thoroughly
eradicating all roots other than its own, and then
sloped up the soil so as to entirely cover all the
roots with earth, afterwards finishing with turf,
which is mown about four times in the season. The
result of these operations has been that the tree,
even to the very trunk, has pushed forth a number
of young twigs, which are clothed with fresh
foliage, and have made it a very interesting object
to those who formerly had seen it only bearing a
few leaves at the extremity of the branches, and
not even on all of them, for many of them were
already dead. Throughout the whole tree, however,
wherever there was life in the bark, there is now
freshness and beauty. All, therefore, interested in
saving fine old trees showing signs of debility, should
lose no time in adopting similar means to those just
described, and success will be almost sure to be the
result.— H. R.
THE BLACK SPRUCE.
(ABIES NIGEA.)
The Black Spruce is throughout the northernmost
parts of America one of the most common of the
Fir tribe, large forests being composed of it, in some
cases alone, and in others in the company of the
White Spruce (Abies alba), from which it is readily
distinguished by its colour, the foliage being of a
dark hue ; in Abies alba the foliage is much lighter,
although others might now be pointed out to which
the name of the White Spruce could with more
propriety be applied, such as some forms of Abies
Meuziesi and the glaucous variety of Abies Engel-
maimi, but at the time Abies alba and nigra were
introduced (about the year 1700), the other kinds
were unkno-mi. The leaves, with which the branches
are thickly clothed, are mostly about half-an-inch
in length, and the cones liinches, these latter being
when young of a purplish colour, which adds still
more to the sombre appearance of the tree. In its
native country the Black Spruce attains a height of
from 50 feet to 80 feet, but in common with all
widely distributed kinds it varies a good deal in
many particulars, so much so, that one of its forms
is often found under the name of Abies rubra, but
is scarcely sufliciently distinct to be considered a
species, the principal difference being that it is
of a rather more vigorous habit, with both longer
leaves and larger cones than the ordinary form of
the Black Spruce. As a timber tree this Fir is
largely used in Canada and the Northern States,
occupying there about the same position as the
Norway Spruce does in Europe. The Black Spruce
succeeds best in a cool, moist, loamy soil, and when
so situated its distinct characters are very notice-
able, and its rate of growth is, although not rapid,
yet moderately fast ; while in dry hot soils it assumes
a sickly appearance and makes but little progress.
The White Spruce (Abies alba), which is often
found in company with the foregoing, is a smaller
growing tree ; the leaves and cones, however, are of
about the same size as those of the Black Spruce,
but both the foliage and the bark are of a much
lighter colour. This Spruce is very useful as a
medium sized thoroughly hardy tree, succeeding
best under the conditions favourable to the Black
Spruce, but it also does well in exposed places if
not too hot and dry. This species is said by Sir J.
Richardson to extend nearly to the Arctic Sea, and,
being the only tree that the Esquimaux have access
to in a growing state, is much sought after by them
and turned to a variety of uses.
A.
Pliotographs of trees. — As you have taken so
much interest in forest trees, will you allow me to
suggest that you might invite competition, by
photographs, of Oak trees : 1, for the best tree for
timber; 2, for the best ornamental or park tree; 3,
for the most picturesque tree. Of course the same
list might be applied for Spanish Chestnut, Elm,
Ash, or any other useful or ornamental tree, but
you will see the necessity of having trees entered
in classes. I beg to send a photograph of an Oak
tree which I would enter as ornamental. It is a
fine healthy tree, growing on good land in the
48
THE GARDEN.
[Jdly 16, 1887.
county of Meath. Height 76 feet, diameter of
foliage 77 feet, circumference of stem 5 feet from
ground 10 feet 9 inches. — I. T.
*^* Thanks for the suggestion; the tree is very
round-headed and healthy, but the photograph
much too small, so that the tree comes out almost a
cushion. — Ed.
THE WILLOW AS A TIMBER TREE.
The common pollard Willow dotted along the
margins ofj streams is such a well-known and
ungraceful looking tree, that somewhat uncon-
sciously we have got a bad opinion of Willows
as objects in a landscape — but mutilate our stately
Oaks, Ashes, or Beeches in the same way, and where
would their beauty be ? The WiUow has never
received fair treatment as a forest tree, simply be-
cause it will bear more ill-usage than any other tree.
Few people have ever seen a Willow plantation in
its prime, say after having been forty years planted
and properly cared for ; those who have seen such
a plantation will not readily forget its beauty, any
more than the owner can forget its profit. The
WiUow, when in perfection, is "a thing of beauty; "
and those who have possessed well-grown^specimens
of it have seldom cared to have them cut down until
decay had set in, and the Willow soon decays after
reaching maturity. To speak in trading phraseology,
it is a tree which brings a quick return for invested
capital.
Lowe, in his survey of the county of Nottingham,
states that so very valuable are Willows as plantation
trees that at eight years' growth they yield in poles
a net profit of £214 per acre, and in two years more
he states that they would probably have yielded £300
per acre. In pagel520 of Loudon's "Arboretum Brit-
annicum " it is stated that a cutting planted by Mr.
Brown, of Hetherset, Norfolk, became in ten years
a tree of 35 feet in height and 5 feet in girth ; and
in the same work a tree is mentioned at Audley
End, Essex, of twenty years' growth which was 53
feet high and 7 feet 6 inches in girth. I myself
saw six trees felled in 1869, near Southwell, Notts,
which, after thirty-eight years' growth, unitedly
yielded 232 feet of measurable timber, which sold
on the spot for Is. 2d. per foot ; and the six trees
did not occupy more than 18 square yards of land.
To grow Willow trees in perfection they must be
planted closely, say 3 feet apart each way, or 4840
to the acre would not be too close for the first eight
or nine years, when they might be thinned out to
half that number. The thinnings would find a
ready sale for general farm purposes. At the end
of sixteen or twenty years they might be reduced to
1210 trees, or 6 feet apart each way, which would
generally afford ample space for their full develop-
ment. The time to fell such a plantation must de-
pend very much upon circumstances. No unvary-
ing rule can be laid down, but it is better to cut too
early than to allow them to stand too long ; for, as
before stated, when the Willow has reached its best
it speedily decays. Its duration may be said to
range from thirty to fifty years ; but whenever dead
branches begin to show themselves there should be
no delay in cutting down. In felling Willows do
not think of leaving a few selected trees, in the hope
of obtaining larger timber, for after having been
so crowded and then suddenly exposed they would
almost invariably perish. If heavier timber is de-
sired, plant more openly at first.
I will now endeavour to arrive at an approximate
value of an acre of such timber at its prime, say
after having been planted forty years. There is
plenty of evidence to show that it is not an un-
common thing for a Willow tree at thirty years of age
to yield 45 feet of measurable timber, or at the rate
of li cubic feet per annum. The experiments of
the Duke of Bedford and others proved this to be
the case. I will not, however, reckon on such great
results, and will further assume that 110 trees out
of our 1210 are worthless, being a much greater
margin than would be probable, and tHat in forty
years we only produce one-third of the above, or
half a foot instead of IJ feet per annum. We
shall then have 1100 trees containing an average of
20 cubic feet each, or 22,000 feet, worth, at the
lowest computation. Is. per foot, or £1100, the pro-
duce of an acre of such wood in forty years, leaving
the two thinnings to cover the cost of labour, which
would be more than suflicient for that purpose.
This is no fanciful calculation, but one fully borne
out by the experiments of men whose words cannot
be doubted. It cannot, however, be too often re-
peated that the Willow will not arrive at perfection
in swampy, undrained land. "Willows grow freely
on the slopes or tops of exposed hills; indeed, there
are few situations in which they will not grow, but
in no place so badly as in water-logged land. For
timber trees the Salix fragilis, or some of its kindred
varieties, of which there are not fewer than twenty
or thirty under cultivation, should only be employed,
some of the lately introduced varieties being not
only vigorous growers, but extremely beautiful. It
must also be borne in mind that all Willows grow
more vigorously from cuttings than from rooted
plants, and therefore rooted plants only should be
employed when immediate effect is desired.
It may be asked to what use is Willow timber put
when grown, and where would a market be found
for it ? There is no wood in greater demand than
sound AVillow ; it is light, smooth, soft, tough, will
take a good polish, and does not easily burn. It
will bear more pounding and hard knocks without
splinter or injury than any known wood, and hence
it is used for cricket-bats, and, whenever it can be
obtained, for the floats of paddle steamers, "strouds"
of water-wheels, brake-blocks for luggage and coal
trucks, the sides and bottoms of carts and barrows,
where wear and tear are greatest. To the wood
turner it is almost invaluable, and were it grown as
timber and obtainable, it would be used for very
many purposes to which foreign timber is now
applied, and that, too, with considerable advantage
both to producer and consumer. Withy.
Staining Pitch. Pine. — Pitch Pine has a strong
tendency to quickly get darker in colour. This
arises chiefly from the effect of the air upon the
turpentine and resin contained in the wood (just as
varnish gets dark by exposure), and therefore,
except the work is required of a dark colour to
begin with, it is advisable that no stains be used
on the mass of the work, and that the varnish used be
as light-coloured as it is possible to be got, for if we
varnish with a common dark-coloured varnish the
wood will all the sooner become discoloured.
The wood 6f Paulownia. — Paulownia im-
perialis is used to a considerable extent as an
ornamental tree, but attention has been drawn to
the value of its timber. The extreme lightness of
the wood has, no doubt, caused it to be neglected.
A well-dried branch of a young tree is scarcely
heavier than cork. The wood from an old tree is
more compact, and is susceptible of a fine silky
polish. The striking peculiarity of the wood is
that it does not shrink, nor warp, nor split, even
when green, or however thin it may be cut. The
Japanese use it in thin veneers for the same purposes
that we use pasteboard — to make boxes and such
like articles. — T.
Uses of the Ash. — In every part of the
country the Ash is highly valued, and, in many
districts, from the time it has attained the thick-
ness of a man's finger it can be profitably dis-
posed of. The habit of growth is not so spread-
ing as that of the Oak, and the early age at
which it can be profitably sold forms an argu-
ment in favour of close planting. It grows
well on a sharp, gravelly soil or good loam, but
I have found the most valuable timber on 'black,
peaty soil in low-lying, wet situations, and for
such soils it is by far the most profitable tree to
plant. It should be planted not wider than 8 feet
apart. In winter, when the branches are bare, it
is liable [to be driven furiously about with the
wind, and it lashes trees of a more rigid disposi-
tion unmercifully, often doing serious injury to
their tender shoots. — A.
Trees and shrubs for wet ground.— I know
of nothing more profitable to grow, or that will
succeed better in wet land than the Alder. When
once the plants become established, it is astonish-
ing how quickly after being cut down they start
again and yield fine poles, that is, if protected from
the attacks of game, such as hares and rabbits,
which are fond of nibbling the young shoots as they
start into growth. Next to Alders in point of profit
and suitability for wet land stands the Ash, the
wood of which always meets with a quick and ready
sale. Elm, too, does well where it can get plenty
of moisture at the roots, and it is only when so
favoured that it keeps healthy for any length of
time, or acquires much size ; when sound and large
Elm trees are valuable. By planting the two last-
named at wide intervals, the Alder will be found to
do well between them, and come in as a sort of
undergrowth, an arrangement by which there would
not be many years to wait before the ground would
yield some return. Evergreen Oaks interspersed
here and there, and some of the Conifers, such as
theAustrian Pine,Pinus Laricio, and Abies Douglasi,
would also have a good effect, but if the land be
very wet, it may be necessary to plant these on
raised mounds. — D.
THE ENGLISH ELM.
The Elms may be classed among the most useful
and ornamental of our timber trees. They range
in height from the dwarf species of Siberia, which
seldom exceeds 4 feet, to the towering tree of our
English plains, which sometimes rises above 100 feet
in height. The toughness of the Elm wood renders
it of great value in the arts, and its durability under
water or in situations where it can be kept perfectly
dry is another strong recommendation. The English
Elm (Ulmus campestris) flourishes in a deep loamy
soil, moist, but not wet. It is very common in this
country as a hedgerow tree. The wood is generally
of a rich brown colour, hard, tough, and crooked in
the grain, being consequently difficult to split or
to work up. Its medullary rays are either altogether
wanting, or else very difficult to distinguish. This
tree may easily be known by its alternate habit of
growth, each succeeding year's shoots springing in
alternate order from the sides of those of the pre-
vious year. The leaves are also similarly placed.
These are unequal at their bases, rough, and doubly
serrated. The English Elm is common in the
central and southern parts of Europe, and particu-
larly in France and Spain, and it is also found in
the western parts of Asia. When the timber has to
be kept unused for any length of time after felling,
it is better immersed in water. The strength of its
lateral fibre causes it to be much sought after for
making blocks for ships' rigging. It was formerly,
used for keels of ships and as gunwales for men-of-
war. Now it furnishes naves for wheels, furniture,
coffin boards, pumps, and piles, and is used by car-
penters and wheelwrights generally. The timber is
but little liable to shakes of any kinds, and its sap-
wood proves to be nearly as durable as the heart-
wood. Without great care, Elm planks warp very
considerably after sawing. The pruning of Elm
trees is generally followed by rapid decay of the
stumps, and when these are of large size the timber
soon becomes injured. In some of the midland
counties the trees are kept closely pruned up from
the time they are young, and though they are thus
rendered very unsightly, the practice is supposed
to be favourable to the growth of tough and gnarled
nave timber. This tree but seldom thoroughly
ripens its seed in England,and consequently nursery-
men obtain a great part of their supply from the
Continent. The appearance of the blossom in early
spring before the leaves unfold gives to the tree a
cheerful appearance in the park, the hedgerows, and
the woodlands. It proves very effective as a decora-
tive tree on account of the great masses of light
which the conformation of its branches and its
dense foliage enable it to reflect. It is supposed to
be a native of Britain, as nearly forty names of places
given in the Doomsday Book include the word Elm.
The timber should be winter felled, and is best
cut down between November and February. It
was formerly extensively used as weather-boarding
in the construction of houses in Kent and Essex,
and wherever fuel for burning bricks was scarce.
The narrow-leaved Elm is only a variety of campestris,
and there are several other varieties more or less
distinct from each other. A. J. B.
THE GARDEN,
49
No. 818. SATURDAY, July 23,1887. Voi XXXII,
" This is an Art
Which does mend Nature : change it rather ; hut
The Art itself is Nature." — Shakespeare.
Rose Garden.
T. W. GIRDLESTONE.
ROSE AMERICAN BEAUTY.
There lias been a good deal of discussion lately
as to the identity (or otherwise) of the so-called
Hybrid Tea American Beauty with a French
Hybrid Perpetual of some ten years standing.
The questiou was first mooted in the May issue
of the Journal des Hoses, by Fr. Harms, of
Hamburgh, in an article written to prove that
American Beauty was nothing more nor leas
than H. P. Madame Ferdinand Jaraain (Lede-
chaux, 1875). An indignant denial of the
charge was naturally expected from America,
but instead of this there seems to be a tendency
to admit the truth of Fr. Harms' statement, and
also to defend the proceeding of distributing an
old Rose as something new.
Mr. D. M. Dunning, in an article on the sub-
ject in the current number of the Gardeners'
Monthhj, says : " That the prominent florists in
Washington who are thoroughly conversant
with the circumstances of its (American Beauty's)
reputed origin there, have, ever since its intro-
duction, had very grave doubts as to its being
an American seedling;" and the editor of the
Gardeners' Mo>d}dy, commenting on Mr. Cun-
ning's article, says: "Suppose it (American
Beauty) was an old Rose, no one knew that it
had any merit. We hold that a man who dis-
covers a new merit is as much entitled to re-
ward as one who discovers a new Rose." From
all which it seems reasonable to suppose that
American Beauty is only Madame Ferdinand
Jamain re-edited, and the whole matter is well
summed up by Mr. D. M. Dunning when he
says, " The discovery of its excellent forcing
qualities was undoubtedly the principal cause
of its rapid introduction into this country
(America), as, aside from its superb fragrance,
it is not to many people an attractive Rose."
That is the worst of it, for it is absolutely
immaterial to growers in this country whether
it be reaUy Madame Ferdinand Jamain or truly
American Beauty ; whether it be an old Hybrid
Perpetual or a new Hybrid Tea ; whetlier, in
fact, it be a fresh seedling, or an old variety so
long discarded that it could be safely brought
forward again without much risk of being im-
mediately recognised ; for, whatever it may be
called, the fact, unfortunately, remains that it
is one of the least attractive Roses in existence.
Of a dreary purplish colour, almost entirely
lacking in form or finish, and with only a mode-
rate habit of growth, its one good quality of
fragrance does not redeem it from being almost
the ugliest Rose in cultivation. Already certain
nurserymen have been heard suggesting that at
least the name should be changed from Ameri-
can Beauty to the Yankee Beast, and as it ob-
viously will never be grown in this country, it
is not very material whether it be really a
novelty or a revival. If it is Madame Ferdi-
nand Jamain, it is easy to see why that variety
was so promptly discarded ; if it is a new seed-
ling, it will not on that account remain in culti-
vation. It may be useful as a Rose to force
under glass, because W. F. Bennett, which will
do nothing out of doors, is said to be valuable
for that purpose (although it has never been
our good fortune to see attractive blooms even
of that variety), but out of doors Madame
American Ferdinand Beauty Jamain is utterly
worthless.
The following remark, with which Mr. D. M.
Dunning concludes his article, shall serve as a
peg on wliioh shortly to hang a few notes on a
subject which has been receiving a good deal of
attention of late years : " Have we not already
many Roses with excellent qualities slumbering
among the ranks of the discarded ! Would it
not be jirofitable to expend a portion of the time
and energj' now so freely given to the produc-
tion of new varieties towards investigating the
merits of some of the old ? "
Although public opinion is seldom wrong in
its ultimate estimate of merit, yet there are two
excuses for trying to upset the verdict of our
predecessors in certain cases ; first, that many
Roses that flourish in one locality or country do
nothing in another, and that, therefore, if they
have not been widely tried, they may possibly
never have had a fair chance ; secondly, that
as the bases upon which the merits of flowers
have been estimated are liable to change, there
may survive, among discarded varieties, some
Roses which, by existing canons of taste, would
prove highly desirable. Thus, while it cannot
reasonably be expected that among Roses which
growers generally have decided to be worthless
there will be found manj- of great beauty or
value, still it is not impossible that a few may
be shown to deserve a better position than has
ever been allowed them.
THE WATERING OF EOSES.
The driest, and consequently the shortest, Rose
season of modern times has come and gone, to give
force and sea.sonabIeness to our remarks on this
subject. I do not know how it may have been in
other districts, but here we have had a rainless and
almost wholly dewless blooming season, and hence,
no doubt, to a very great extent its shortness. The
Rose buds, held back by the late and cold spring,
were finally caught up, as it were, in the inflating
force of the long drought, forced into bloom and
out of it before they had time to prepare or arrange
their material ; hence, no doubt, to a great extent
the abnormal numbers of flimsy and distorted
blooms. In this, as in other matters, the more
haste the less speed to any useful or good purpose
holding good. The forcing of Rose blooms forward
through drought is also quite a difEerent matter from
their being stimulated by more genial influences.
There is as much of nourishing fact as of charming
poetry in the linking together of dew and Roses.
The more substantial and deeply penetrating rains
are yet more pregnant with stimulation and refresh-
ment to the roots and tops of Roses. Now, the more
our artificial waterings follow the natural leading of
these two the better for Roses.
Amateurs are constantly asking us, Shall we water
our Roses, how often, and to what extent? Our
general answer is. Follow and better the example of
Nature in her most genial moods, and you cannot
go far astray. Captious critics may retort. But
Nature watered not at all this year. But then no
one could say that Nature was more genial than
such critics this year. She has been too late, too
cold, too hot, or too dry all through.
To begin with the last, as Nature forgot to let the
dew rise or fall, the rosarian, with his hose, syringe,
or vaporiser, should have seen to it that Nature's
lack of service in this most important particular
should have been supplied by artificial means.
Xow, I do not stop to inquire into such side issues
as whether time, means, or labour were at hand for
such operations. Doubtless in many Rose gardens
they were not ; but perfect watering during the
bud-swelling season should see to it that the buds
do not lack their dew coats during still and fairly
warm nights. These saving clauses about the cha-
racter of the weather are of the utmost importance.
Dew Roses overhead with a freezing temperature
around them, you but rob them of more heat than they
would have lost if left dry. The same law operates
with augmented force if Roses are dewed overhead
and the leaves and buds are whipped dry by the arid
east or north winds such as have so generally pre-
vailed through this all too brief season of Roses —
the first edition of which is already closed — before
the middle of July. During such ungenial external
surroundings the drier the Rose tops l:he less caloric
they lose and the less the Rose plants and blooms
suSer. But under other conditions artificial dewings
are not only stimulating, but purifying and preven-
tive of diseases.
To protect the juices of the Roses against waste,
and probably, though scientists doubt this, add to
its amount — but, be the latter as it may, if a penny
saved is a penny earned, and it is — the same holds
of the conservation of the vital juices and powers
of our Roses. It is not needful to add facts in
proof of the purging effects of overhead sprinkling
or syringing. Soot, and dust, and dirt of all kinds
disappear from buds, leaves, twigs, and stems
where these are persistently indulged in. Most
diseases and insect pests are either prevented or
cured by the same swift and sanitary processes.
Even red rust has succumbed to persistent overhead
syringing ; while thrips, red spider — alas ! so preva-
lent this season on half-scorched Roses — aphides,
maggots, and caterpillars become powerless for
harm under the hose of the garden engine or the
rose of the sprayer. All this is very important in
itself, and it also adds additional force to what I
am about to say in favour of overhead watering.
The mere fact that this is Nature's method of apply-
ing water to the roots ought to have led to its
universal adoption in our artificial waterings. In-
stead of this being the case, overhead watering is
quite the exception in our artificial waterings. This
is often from necessity, as in the absence of a head
of water at considerable elevations the water must
be raised by manual, horse, or steam power, and
the extra trouble of raising causes our artificial
watering to be mostly poured over the earth instead
of applied in heavy artificial showers over every
twig and branchlet of our plants.
But so far as the artificial watering of Roses is con-
cerned, there is reaUy hardly any practical difficulty
in overhead watering. Our dwarf Roses are within
the sweep of a man with a rosed watering-pot ; our
standard and wall Roses within range of our
syringes, vapourisers, and garden squirts, or engines
of various sorts. Suburban rosarians or those in
towns have access to the water mains, which will
send the water to any height and with any amount
of force over their Roses. These need cautioning
against an excess of force in their overhead flood-
ings of their Roses, for it is possible to injure Rose-
buds and young wood and bark, and even Rose
leaves, by the mere force of water from a supply
main. The finger over the distributor, or, better
stUl, a stop-cock for amateurs and lady rosarians,
though there is nothing like the finger for veteran
horticulturists, will regulate the distribution in:
accordance with the condition of the Roses and the
wishes and wants of the cultivator.
The whole of the water given in dry weather
should be applied overhead until the blooms begin
to open. After that, anything beyond a mere
spraying or dewing should be applied direct to the
soil. Roses thus watered during drought are doubly
blest — watered, in fact as well as in fancy, twice
over. Every bud, leaf, branchlet is cleansed, re-
freshed, invigorated, the hard constricted bark is
softened, relaxed, enlarged, the temperature of the
plant sensibly lowered, and the entire structure and
function of the top brought into harmony and
sympathy with, if not actually to the aid of the
thirsty roots in the feeding and strengthening of
the life and the perfecting of Rose products. A
Rose plant merely watered over the roots, as Roses
so often are, can hardly be said to be more than
half watered at the best. By watering overhead we
not only water the entire plant, but do our best to
create a local atmosphere charged with moisture to
50
THE GARDEN.
[July 23, 1887.
such a degree as to check for a considerable period
the activity of surface evaporation and so husband
and economise the water used to the utmost of our
power. Overhead watering exceeds the grace of
charity in being thrice blessed to our Roses. It
blesses tops and bottoms almost alike, and then
envelops them in a genial atmosphere that indefi-
nitely extends and prolongs the blessing to every
portion of Rose structure and the minutest detail
of Rose life and function. As to how often these
waterings should be given, that must very much
depend upon the normal rainfall of seasons and
districts, and the character of sites, soils, subsoils,
&o. Bat striking a mean of these, and accepting
such mean as affording a useful basis for an
approximate answer to the question of how often
such waterings should be given, my answer would
be, thrice during the growing season. But during
such droughts as we have had throughout this sea-
son of Roses, once a week would be beneficial.
Of course no rosarian would think of drenching
his Roses at all during an abnormally wet term of
Rose growth and blossoming. As to amount, that
practically is difficult to measure, and it needs
great practical knowledge either to assess the
volume of artificial waterings or to know by a sort
of practical instinct when to cry, halt ! enough.
During times of drought an inch of rain over Rose
tops and bottoms— that is, at the rate of 100 tons of
water per acre — would not be excessive. Not a few
of us who believe in the sound philosophy that
underlaid the rough-and-ready order of the farmer to
turn a river over his Mangolds would this season have
gladly exceeded the advice here given of an inch of
water for their thirsty Rose roots. It must, how-
ever, be understood that these overhead delugings
must have their volume and frequency alike deter-
mined by climatal and other conditions. But under
normal circumstances they need not be often re-
peated, one thorough soaking through the root-
runs of Roses being worth a dozen surface sprink-
lings, the latter, in fact, as a rule doing more harm
than good. Neither must these surface waterings be
confounded with mere top sprayings as substitutes for
dew, as, of course, the latter are not intended for
the roots, and, as a rule, no sensible portion of the
vapourisings can reach or feed the latter.
The art of making and applying manure water
for Roses is so practically important, as to deserve
detailed treatment in a concluding paper.
D. T. F
I know an ol 1 garden at Hanger Hill, near here,
that is very n;h in old-fashioned Roses, but unfor-
tunately the names cf them have become lost, but
there is a great variety of them. — R. D.
TJlrich. Brunner Eose.— The season of 1887
is one that seems to have been especially favourable
to the development of the flowers of this splendid
Hybrid Perpetual variety. Both at the Crystal
Palace Rose show and also that held under the
auspices of the National Rose Society at South
Kensington it figured on the winning stands, the
iiowers in almost every instance being of superb
form and finish, the colour exquisite, and, what is
interesting to note, the blooms stand the heat well ;
this is due to their great substance. When well
staged they have a handsome a]ipearance, and in
such dry seasons as this it is well to note those
flowers that are the least affected. It is of free
growth and does best in bush form. — T. W.
Th.9 york and Lancaster Rose. — At the
last meeting of tlio floral committee Dr. Lowe pro-
duced flowers of what he desi'ribed to be the true
and original York and Ijancaster Rose. The heat
had unfortunately spoilt the flowers, but he stated
that the flakes of colour on the white ground were
much brighter in colour than is usually seen in the
case of the Damask Rose grown under that name.
His conclusion was that the Damask form is not the
true York and Lancaster Rose. I find, on referring
toPao'e's "Prodromus" — an extremely complete and
reliable catalogue of exotic and indigenous plants
grown in that day, and published in 1817 — that the
author makes the York and Lancaster to be a va-
riety of Rosa damascena. One would like to know
■jvhat is Dr. Lowe's authority for stafing that the
true York and Lancaster is not a Damask Rose.
Dr. Lowe also produced a flowering spray of the old
Rosa alba Celestial, with its pretty flesh-coloured
flowers, which were said to be very scarce indeed.
EXHIBITING ROSES.
When acting as one of the judges at the Rose
show at the Crystal Palace on Saturday, July 9, I
could not but be impressed with the fact that an
exhibition of this character is far from being a
tasteful and artistic representation of this popular
flower. There were lines of boxes set upon bare
tables, boxes mainly of the same pattern and size
where a definite number of flowers were required,
but differing in colour and cleanliness. These
boxes are filled with wood Moss, tubes are thrust
into the Moss, and the flowers placed in them.
Now, let anyone take a class at a Rose show, say for
twenty-four varieties of Roses, three trusses of each,
and he will find them set up at different levels, and
in some of the boxes, though of the same width, he
will find two lines of flowers, and in some three, the
latter being most inconveniently crowded. There
is very little that is artistic about this ; the most
lovely flowers are set up upon a background of Moss,
which, in some instances, is arranged neatly, and in
others as if neatness of appearance was the very
last requisite in a box of cut Roses exhibited for a
prize.
In inspecting the stands I noticed one box of
Roses that appeared to me to indicate a step in the
right direction. It contained some Roses shown by
Mr. John House, nurseryman, Peterborough. It was
of the ordinary regulation pattern, painted olive
green, but instead of containing Moss, there was a
framework of wood raised half an inch or so above
the level of the outer box, and covered with a deep
bright green material stretched over the framework.
Holes are made in the wooden framework at regular
intervals, and a brass tube-like band surrounds
them. Into these openings ordinary zinc tubes are
placed. Water is put in them, and the Roses are
placed at a proper elevation by the employment
of the wire supports now so much used by Rose
exhibitors. There was no ill-coloured Moss to
offend the eye, but instead, a carpet of green that
appeared to set the flowers off to the best advan-
tage. This material is very durable, and does not
soon become soiled, and water runs off it and
does not saturate it. Those who flnd great diffi
culty in obtaining Moss— and it is very scarce in
deed in all limestone and other dry districts— will
appreciate Mr. House's improvement. The colour
of the covering appears to harmonise well with the
tint of the foliage, and Roses of all colours appear
to look well upon it, and we think it is certain to
find favour with Rose exhibitors in course of time.
R. D.
the OTOwth trained along chains. Let the Roses have
thei? own way and use the knife but little, then m the
month of June or July they will be wreathed with
flowers, which will load the air with fragrance, bucn
a feature may be obtained at comp.iratively little cost,
and it well repays for any outlay.— C.
Bose Ruga.— This is one of the varieties of E.
arvensis (the Ayrshire Rose), and I have in jny
forecourt garden a large bush of it grown as a pillar;
and now it is in full bloom, and so free and so
literally covered with its pale flesh, double, and
deliciously fragrant blossoms, as to compel the ad-
miration of every passer-by. Being on a north
aspect, it gets the sun only early and late, a circum-
stance that tends to prolong its bloom. Acting on
a suggestion thrown out by Mr. Harry Turner, I
I gave this Rose a dressing or two of Jensen's fish
manure, spreading it over the soil about the roots,
and watering it in when water was supplied. This
dressing appears to have had a decided effect in
increasing the size of the blooms, and adding also
to their fulness. There are several varieties of the
Ayrshire Rose, most of which, from their rampant
and quick growth, make excellent climbers and
pillar varieties, and though they lack the Perpetual
character, they flower abundantly, and have a soft,
delicate beauty peculiariy their own. Very little
pruning is required, except to keep the shoots
within certain bounds. — R. D.
SHORT NOTES.— ROSES.
Eose buds not opening.— In answer to " Puz-
zlod," July l(i (p. 2:;), the mistake he has made is
usiiiK fi't'sli cow ni.inui-e. ( llil inauure .ilioukl only be
used, us the fresh is very fiery and burns the roots.
Try hijrse manure, taking the straw away, and di},',s,'ing
the nrinnre into the gi'ound in the month of March.
When vou water with W.^xM iii.unir.< Li|.ply it onec :i
week when the Imd.- aiv piM iMr 1. and as tliry open
twice a week, but .1. imt vvairr if it is very warm
wcatbor. This is what 1 liavc Jouc, and I could not
have better Roses.— Bei.i.'.^st.
Rose Aimee Vibert.— This Rose is deservedly
popular, and it merits all the favour bestowed upon it.
True, it is not an exhibition Rose, but it will grow in
almost any situation, and give its beautiful clusters of
flowers without stint. We have a plant on the end of
a cottage here facing due east which is a grand sight
3ust now. In all probability it is about thirty years
old, covers a space of at least 150 square feet, and is
now carrying several hundred clusters of Roses ; many
of these have from sixteen to twenty buds and flowers
in various stages of development. — E. B. L.
Roses on poles and chains.— Climbing Roses
grown on poles and chains arc uu ngroc.ilile relief from
the stiffly-trained staiid.irds. There is, perliiips, no
feature of a garden that gives more genuine delight
jhan a Rose walk, with the plants grown on poles and
Propagating.
Tree Peonies.— These are generally propagated
by grafting on the stout, fleshy roots of the herbace-
ous kinds. Increased in this way plants make much
more rapid progress, especially during their earlier
stages, than do those that are raised from cuttings.
The present season is very suitable for grafting ;
indeed, from now till the end of August is the best
time of the year for carrying out this operation.
The most suitable stocks are any of the numerous ■
varieties of P. albiflora, and all that is required is to
take the tuber (leaving on it as many fibrous roots as
possible), and having fashioned the scion in the form
of a wedge, the upper part of the fleshy root must be
split for a certain distance and the wedge-shaped
base of the scion inserted therein. It must then be
tied securely in position, and the point of union
covered with grafting wax in order to render all air-
tight. Of course, in inserting the graft in position,
care must be taken that the bark of both stock and
scion fit perfectly; and should there be a very great
difference between the two in size, the wedge-shaped
portion of the scion may be so fashioned that an ex-
act union is effected only on one side. T'he most
suitable grafts are the good clean shoots without
flowers, although when any particular variety is re-
quired in quantity, the shoots that have flowered may
also be used for the purpose. After grafting, these
Peonies must be potted sufficiently deep in the soil
to completely cover the point of union, and for some
it will be necessary to use pots deeper than the
ordinary size, as the thick fleshy roots will prevent
the plant being buried low enough in the soil.
After this is done they may be placed in a close
frame, and care must be taken not to overwater till
a union is complete, which, generally speaking, will
occupy about a month. No heat is needed for
carrying out this operation successfully, but the
plants must be carefully attended to in the matter
of shading, watering, and other particulars. After
a union is complete the better way is to leave the
plants in the frame till spring, when, after all dan-
ger from frosts is over, they may be planted out or
potted into larger pots. During the winter care
must be taken not to overwater them ; indeed, they
will require very little water while dormant. Layer-
ing is also another way by which Tree Piconies can
be increased, but of course it can only be used where
there are good sized specimens, from which a
few branches can be readily spared. This opera-
tion is best carried out in the autumn, when the por-
tion of the branch that is to be buried must be par-
tially cut through, and a tongue formed as a nucleus
from whence the roots will spring. The branch
must be held firmly in position by a peg or pegs, and
if the soil is attended to in the matter of moisture,
July 23, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
51
roots will be formed the nest season. Besides these
methods when a plant is established on its own roots
it can often be split up into several pieces, leaving
sufficient librous roots on each to support it. Seeds
seldom ripen in this country, but when they are ob-
tained no time should be lost in sowing them, a good
soil for the purpose being an open sandy loam. After
sowing the seeds they should be placed in a frame,
where they will lie a long time before germination
takes place, and as their rate of progress afterwards
is by no means rapid, it is necessary to wait several
years before they flower.
Hydrangeas. — This is a good time to take cut-
tings of the common Hydrangea that are required
to flower nest season in the shape of small specimens.
Where it is intended to limit them to a single shoot,
carrying one large head of bloom, the cuttings
should be taken from plants growing in an open
position, and only those with the most promising
buds should be chosen, as in them the future flower
will be at least partially formed. The cuttings
should be taken off at a length of about i inches or
5 inches, and the two bottom leaves removed, when
they may be put singly into small pots of sandy soil,
and if kept close with a little heat they will soon
root.
Budding. — The dry weather we have had for so
long wiU retard the budding season, as in many
cases the bark will not run with the desired freedom
until there is more rain. Though the whole practice
of Rose budding is well known, it is by no means
generally known that a great many other subjects
can be budded with equal facility, and the advantage
of increasing them in this way is that no frames or
glass appliances are necessary. Among the different
subjects that can be increased by budding may be
mentioned Hollies, Lilacs, different Acers, including
the variegated Negundo, Hibiscus syriacus, Plums,
Apples, Pears, Peaches, Almonds, Horse Chestnuts,
Pavias, Laburnums, some kinds of Elm, Limes,
and many other trees. In all cases it should be
borne in mind that on a shoot with good clean,
healthy bark the buds will stand a far greater chance
of success than where it is at all old or stunted.
T.
ENGLISH PLA.NT NAMES FOR ENGLISH-
SPEAKING PEOPLE.
When Canon Ellacombe asks in connection
with this subject what is to be done with
names like Rose, Tulip, Violet, and others of
Greek and Latin origin, he appears altogether
to miss the point at issue. The objection to
plants bearing exclusively technical names is
not that these names are Greek and Latin, but
that they are purely technical, and from their
nature cumbrous and unadapted to general use.
There is no question of hostility to Greek and
Latin names, for, as the Canon truly points out,
the familiar names of the above origin, like
Rose, Tulip, Daphne, Narcissus, &o., are among
the sweetest we possess. But these represent
the nomenclature, not of the botanists, but of
the poets. Neither need there be any quarrel
with botanical names as such. They do the duty
required of them admirably, without doubt, but
they are too unwieldy to be carried aboixt in the
memories of busy folk. Plain, simple names of
pleasant sound for familiar plants, which now
have none but the botanical designations, are a
real want, and I for one wish you every success
in your endeavour to meet it. — M. R.
It will, I fear, take a long time to change
the universal custom of using Latin names for
garden plants ; but I can quite sympathise with
the efforts of the editor of The Gaedbx in his at-
tempt to popularise hardy plants by the use of
English names. Many times in the course of the
year, when walking round the garden with well-
educated persons, various plants attract their
notice and the name is asked for. My reply has
frequently been, "I cannot tell you any English
name for the plant, but its botanical name is
Phacelia campanularia," or some such name.
The querist is nonplussed and gives up in de-
spair. Not only cottagers, but thousands of
city men who are fond of flowers are disgusted
with the long Latin names. As far as I can see
at present, there is no clear way out of the diffi-
culty, except groping along an inch or so at a
time. If some central authority could be esta-
blished which would be recognised by the lead-
ing botanists, and if the introducers of new
plants would also lend their aid by giving
English names as well as generic ones to the
plants they introduce, the process even then
would be slow, but in time the revolution would
be complete. Probably the way would be
made easy when a general and systematic
system of naming is adopted. Dealers in plants
are much to blame for using Latin names for
varieties of a species, and thus adding to the
confusion. I have a catalogue of Orchids with
fifty-four varieties of Masdevallia Harryana,
containing such names as M. Harryana ca^ru-
lesoens atroviolacea, M. Harryana sanguinea
aurantiaoa, &c. A lovely variety of Odon-
toglossum crispum might be named The Queen,
Princess Amelia, or some such name. In fact,
an effort was made by the floral committee of
the Royal Horticultural Society to simplify the
naming of plants by omitting the use of Latin
names for varieties of a species ; but this system
can only be carried out thoroughly by the com-
mittee refusing to pass any plants so labelled. —
J. Douglas.
— - I am very much interested in the
correspondence in The Garden on English
names of plants. I for one, and I have no
doubt there are many who, Uke me, are glad to
find that in The Garden both the English and
scientific names are usually given, for some
plants are much better known to me by their
English, others by their scientific names, and I
think a paper, which includes among its readers
" all sorts and conditions " of lovers of plants,
should be written so that all may understand
when a plant is mentioned what the plant is.
The opposition to English names by botanists I
cannot understand. They can never .■supersede
the scientific ones, which are absolutely neces-
sary for botanical work, and to designate plants
which have no English name and are not likely
to acquire one. I think there can be no ques-
tion that there are numbers of persons who are
most ardent admirers and good cultivators, too,
of flowers to whom long classical names are
mere " gibberish,'' which they can never remem-
ber, and which never enlighten them in any
way. At the same time, to many botanists the
English names are utterly meaningless. When
great exactitude is wanted in speaking of a
plant, unless it is one with a very well-known
English name, it is safer to use the scientific
one. In opening (quite at hazard) Miller's
" Dictionary of English Names of Plants," at
page 114 I find the same English name in four
instances given to more than one plant, vi?. ,
the Raisin Tree (Hovenia dulcis and Ribes
rubra), the Rat Poison Plant (Chailletia toxi-
caria and Hamelia patens). Red Shanks (Poly-
gonum Persioaria and Geranium Robertianum),
the Resurrection Plant (Anastatica hierochun-
tica, Mesembryanthemum Tripolium, and Selc-
ginella lepidophylla). I think everyone will
admit that " Resurrection Plant " is more likely
to be remembered than either of the three
" jaw-breakers," if one only knew which plant
was meant by the name, so that it is evident
when speaking of these plants by their English
names some confusion may arise. Plants are
often, I am aware, known by more than one
scientific name, but uncertainty as to the
plant meant does not often occur from this
reason. I therefore plead for both names being
used when the name of a plant has to be men-
tioned.—G. S. S.
I cannot in the least complain of your
observations on my letter ; they are fair criticism.
But you really quite misunderstand me. I have
no wish to do away with English names. I love
them as much as you do, and have done all I
could to perpetuate them. What I dislike is
tlie avowed necessity that every plant should
have an English name, that anyone may invent
it, and that, when invented, everyone is to use
it, or be called a pedantic old fogey. My quo-
tation from " Horace" was no pedantry ; it was
simply an illustration that the discussion be-
tween us has gone on ever since his time and
before it, and that it is now as it was then ; that
no new word can be invented, or old one saved,
on the mere authority of a great name (even
Ruskin) ; that it is invented, and perpetuated
or lost by the caprice of fashion. You and I
are in the same boat — "hopeless" maintainers
of our own opinions ; and, like you, I, too, " go
on my way regardless." — H. N. Ellacombe.
*j(.* The meaning of the Horace quotation
was not hidden from us — the objection -n^e have
to all such c[uotations is that they are needless
in discussing simple matters. — Ed.
Referring to the passage from Horace,
quoted by Canon Ellacombe in The Garden
for .Tuly 2 (p. 595), "Multa renascentur quse
jam, &c.," that is, "Many icords (vocabula)
shall be revived which have long been obsolete,
and others which are now current and in
favour shall fall into disuse, if the usage of the
time, upon which depend the authority for, and
the law and the rule of, current expressions,
shall so order it," — which (without a translation,
at least) is, as you hint, perhaps somewhat out
of place in a gardening paper, and which was
also quoted in the same manner and to the
same efifect three or four years ago by the Rev.
Mr. Wolley Dod in one of his letters to The
Garden on English plant-names, permit me to
say that I am rather surprised that either of these
gentlemen should have employed it as a clincher
for their side of the question, as the passage
could, with far greater propriety, be quoted by
you in your own defence.
Horace was attacked by some of the carping
purists of his day because he had ventured to
coin a few new -words by forming compounds or
derivatives of existing Latin words, and also by
latinising some Greek words. In his " Ars
Poetica," from which the quotation is taken, he
defends himself by pointing out to his assailants
that the Latin language had been very con-
siderably enriched by the numbers of new irords
which were coined in the same way and added
to it by his predecessors Cfecilius, Plautus,
Cato, and Ennius, and he asks why he is blamed
for having even sparingly followed their ex-
ample ("ego, cur, acquirere pauca si possum,
invideor; cum lingua Catonis et Ennl sermonem
patrium ditaverit. et nova rerum nomina pro-
tulerit ? "), to which he adds that "it has been,
and ever will be, allowable to coin a word that
meets with the stamp of public approval "
("licuit semperque licebit signatum prresente
notd producere nomen"). He then goes on to
compare voi-ds, in their development and decay,
to the leaves of the forest, and says that they
partake of the mutable and perishable nature of
all eartlily things, concluding his remarks with
the lines quoted by Canon Ellacombe (Ars
Poetica, 46-72).
Now, it appears to me that it is simply a
wresting, twisting, and distorting of evidence to
bring forward this passage as a testimony against
you. You are neither guilty nor even accused
of coining new u-ords. On the contrary, "the
■52
THE GARDEN.
[July 23, 1887.
very head and fi'ont of your offending hath this
extent, no more" — that you take established,
well-known, and familiar English words and use
them to form appropriate and intelligible
English names of plants for English-speaking
people. In this respect your case differs appre-
ciably from that of Horace, but at the same
time it is plain that any arguments which have
been put forward by Horace in his own defence
might be very properly adopted and advanced
(f fortiori by you in support of the action you
have taken in the cause of popular plant-nomen-
clature. ^William Miller.
*** We cannot see any good in discussing the
matter more. We hope to aid those who care
for English names by publishing a very handy
dictionary of such as] are already known. Any-
one who sends us a good English name will
greatly oblige. We believe there are some in
use not yet in the books. — Ed.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
We learn that the Right Hon. Joseph Cliaraberlaiii,
M.P., has consented to take the chair at the 45th
Anniversary Festival of the Gardeners' Royal Bene-
volent Institution, to be held next year.
Phormium Cooki in flower in Kent.— I
have a plant of this in flower in a small bog bed just
now. The spike is about 7 feet high, and though the
individual flowers are more curious than striking, the
spike is very handsome. — R.
National Carnation and Pieotee Society.
— On Tuesday next, July 26, the National Carnation
and Pieotee Society will hold its annual show in the
Conservatory, South Kensington, on which day the
usual scientific, fruit andjfloral committees will beheld.
Flower show at the People's Palace.— The
Crown Princess of Germany will open a large flower
show at the People's Palace, Mile End, on Monday,
July 25. It wiU continue open until July 26. Most
of the leading London nurserymen will make very
extensive displays of plants, flowers, &c. Liberal
prizes are also offered for window plants.
Californian Chestnut tree (Pavia macro-
staohya) is flowering in Messrs. Veitch's Coombe
Wood nursery. The specimen is a fine one, and covered
with spikes of pure white flowers, which remind
one of those of Veronica Traversi, but are, of course,
much larger. A flowering spike was also sent to us by
Mr. Vertegans, Chad Valley Nurseries, Bii-mingham.
Gaillardia William Kelway.— We have re-
ceived from Messrs. Kelway and Sons, Langport,
Somerset, flowers of a very fine Gaillardia named
William Kelway. It is of the same character as G.
maxima, the flowers very large, of good substance,
regular outline, and the florets red, tipped with orange-
yellow. It is well worth peipetuating.
AUamanda Henderson!.— This is exceptionally
fine now at Plawhatch, a healthy specimen having
upwards of 100 expanded flowers, aU of them of good
size and substance. Mr. Draper (the gardener) says he
often gathers 100 flowers at a time for dinner-table de-
coration. Perhaps the free gathering, by preventing
exhaustion, prolongs the season of flowering. — A. H.
A beautiful Larkspur : Pompon Brilliant.
— Is not the enclosed Delphinium Pompon Brilliant a
worthy rival in colour to the beautiful old double
Siberian Larkspur, which we liave always grown in
this garden, though seldom more than a plant
or two at a time, as it seems to inci'ease but slowlv '■' —
C. M. Owen.
*** A compact dense spike of lovely and briUiant
blue. Quite distinct and worthy of general culture
—Ed.
Epidendrum nemorale majus.— This some-
what rare plant is now flowering in the Kew collec-
tion, and deserves more extended cultivation. It
is figured in the first volume of Warner's " Select
Orchidaceous Plants." AVhen this figure was drawn
sotne fine examples were growing in the gardens at
Leigh Park, Havant, and various other places, but
they appear to have died. We saw recently a fine
lot of imported plants, supposed to be' this species,
and, if so, there is every probability of its again
becoming plentiful. When the plant is vigorous
the spike reaches from 2 feet to 3 feet in length,
bearing numerous branches, which are densely laden
with Its large flowers, which are delicate rosy mauve,
the lip being white on the disc, marked with a few
short, red streaks. It is a Mexican plant, and enjoys
good exposure to sun and light. — W. H. G.
Oncidiutn. isopterum. — Under this name there
is flowering now at Kew a pretty plant which re-
sembles 0. sarcodes in miniature. The dense pendu-
lous racemes bear a profusion of clear yellow flowers,
which are thickly studded with crimson dots. It
appears an excellent subject for a small hanging
basket.— W. H. G.
Effects of the dry weather. — We have not
had sufficient rain to lay the dust for six weeks,
although within four miles there have been heavy
showers and thunderstorms. The Apples are fall-
ing off by gallons, but the Pears hold on well, but
do not swell. Raspberries are dried up, and so are
the Turnips. Spring Carrots and other vegetables
are dying off. The Strawberries, as well as
Broccoli, Peas, Beans, Cabbages, and herbaceous
plants, would also have perished if water had not
been freely supplied. — H. J. Buchan, Southamjyton.
Gladioli from Holland. — We send you flowers
of two dozen varieties of Gladioli — new hybrids of G.
nanus. They are the result of the cross-fertilisation of
G.blandus with G. ramosus. Their general superiority
to G. ramosus consists in a more floriferous habit
and finer and richer coloured flowers. We also send
you Gladiolus insignis and Gladiolus ramosus Ne
Plus Ultra to show how well adapted they are for
filling large vases. Our beds are now a blaze of
bloom of these beautiful flowers. Tlie corms ought
to be planted in October or November, and covered
during frosty weather with about 3 inches of litter.
They succeed under the same treatment as other
Gladioli and bloom in July. — Ant. Roozen & Son.
We have received from the Royal Gardens, Kew,
No. 7 of the Kew Bulletin of Miscellaneous Infor-
mation. It contains an interesting article on the
Annatto, and correspondence respecting West In-
dian botanical stations. The Annatto is valued for
the colouring matter obtained from the seeds, but
through the prices generally being so low and other
causes, the plant has not been cultivated to any eX'
tent, only very few plantations in the colonies being
devoted to it. The supplies have hitherto, therefore,
been mainly obtained from wild plants, but a slight
revival has taken place in its use of late years. In^
formation is given as regards its cultivation and the
preparation of the colouring matter.
Japanese Lily (Lilium odorum). — Mr. T. S
Ware, of Tottenham, has sent us a flower of this
rare and beautiful Lily, which at first sight might
be mistaken for L. Browni, but is distinct from this
fine old Lily, though without doubt a variety. The
habit of the plant and form of the flower remind
us of the last named, but the leaves are of a diffc'
rent form, and the fragrance is much more pleasant
and delicate. The flowers in the bud state are
yellow, changing as they become fully expanded to
creamy or ivory white, and the rich colouring of
the exterior of the tube, together with the large,
prominent, and deep chestnut-brown anthers, form
an effective and beautiful contrast. It grows about
2 feet fi inches in height, and is synonymous with
L. japonicum, L. japonicum Colchesteri, and L.
Browni viridulum.
Canary 'Water Lily.— Mens. Latour-Marliac
sends us flowers of a beautiful Water Lily, clear
canary in colour, and fresh even after their long
journey, accompanied with the following note :
This Nymphfea, to which I have given the name of
Marliacea Chromatella foliis hepatico-marmoratis,
is, from the beauty of its flowers, which measure
H inches in diameter, and the size of its foliage,
quite a distinct kind. It is quite hardy even in the
north, and its flowers, which remain open during
the best part of the day, are produced in profusion
from the beginning of May until the end of October.
From the simple beauty of its leaves, richly marbled
with reddish brown on the surface and freely
spotted with red on the under side, one can imagine
tliat the ornamental character of this plant consists
as much in the leaf as in the flower, and also what
an important part it is destined to take for the
embellishment of expanses of water in the open air.
I have forwarded quite recently a plant of this
Water Lily to the Royal Gardens, Kew, and I am
convinced that it will hold its own amongst the
most beautiful subjects in these magnificent
gardens. The box that I send you contains a flower
of the first day of opening, and a flower the third
day of opening and in its fuU beauty ; the base of
the outside petals is of a rosy colour. — Latour-
Makliac, Te.nij>le-snr-Lot, Garonne.
**"■ Til' have priiiied the aiove name, hut leg of
M. Marliae to give the 2)laiit some simple appel-
lation that mill malie it less formidable to Christen-
dom than Marliacea Chromatella foliis hepatieo-
marmoratis. In Mitglish we propose to call it the
Canary Mater Lily. — Ed.
Night-flowering Cactus (Cereus grandiflorus)
and other varieties of these beautiful night-blooming
Cacti have been flowering in Mr. Loder's garden for
some weeks. The first flower opened on May 27.
We have had on several occasions from six to thir-
teen flowers, but on Thursday evening, 14th inst.,
we had no less than twenty-one flowers of C.
grandiflorus open. It was a grand sight, the
perfume scenting almost the whole garden. The
size of the flowers varied from 11 inches to 14 inches
in diameter; the largest flower we have had open
measured a little over 15 inches. — G. Goldsmith.
The Gardens, Floore House, Weedon.
Lilium polyphyllum. — This is not often seen
in flower in English gardens. I believe it is usually
considered to require damp treatment. We have a
plant now in flower at Oakwood, Wisley, which
appears to show this to be a mistake. We planted
it in 1881 in a rather dry loam mound. The stem
is now 5 feet 5 inches high, and has thirteen flowers
and buds. Fearing the effect of thunder storms, I
thought a stake desirable. The earth was so hard
and dry that it was necessary to make a hole before
we could force the stake down. This Lily is very
graceful and pretty, though not showy. If any of
your readers have seen it flowering in India, any
hints as to its cultivation at home would be very
useful.^GEORGB F. Wilson, Heatlierhanlt, Wey-
iridge.
Chiswick Horticultural Society. — At the
recent annual exhibition of this society, the most
interesting competition was for a challenge cup
(value 26 guineas), offered by Mrs. S. A. Lee for a
group of plants. This cup must be won three times.
'There were three competitors, and the most success-
ful was Mr. W. Brown, St. Mary's Grove Nursery,
Richmond, who exhibited a group showing much
taste in arrangement, Crotons, Dracaenas, Palms,
Gladioli, Carnations, Orchids, and Lilies being the
principal plants used. A silver cup, value 7 guineas,
also offered by Mrs. Lee for twenty-five plants
in flower in pots not to exceed 8 inches in diameter,
was awarded to Mr. J, Prewett, Swiss Nursery,
Hammersmith, for a flne lot of plants.
Bulb trade in Holland. — The trade in cut
flowers from Holland to foreign countries, and espe-
cially to England, increased last spring in such an
extraordinary manner, that it is thought that the
trade in flower roots will be much damaged thereby.
Through speculation the foreign markets were,
during the flowering period of Hyacinths, Tulips,
and other bulbous plants, so overstocked by the
flowers of these plants, that their value was reduced
almost to nothing. The growers of and dealers in
bulbs are'generally of opinion that such transactions
must be stopped for the future, and, in consequence,
the Royal General Union for the Cultivation of
Flower Roots, at Haarlem, held an extraordinary
general meeting on the 11th of July last, and it was
then decided to do everything possible to bind all
growers of bulbs not to sell nor to send out any cut
flowers of Hyacinths, Tulips, Narcissi, Ranunculi,
and Anemones, except for exhibition purposes
or for small samples, under 6i- lbs. Besides there
are other measures in preparation with a view
to check, as far as possible, this trade in out flowers.
From these attempts a good increase on the order-
ing of bulbs for the coming season is expected. It
was also resolved that, owing to the unusually cold
spring which has affected the flower roots, and more
especially the Hyacinths, that the exportations be
withheld until later than usual.
July 23, 1887.J
THE GARDEN.
53
A GROUP OF CUT DAFFODILS.
The larger Daflbdils adapt themselves easily to
bold and free treatment in large vases, as in the
example now engraved, where maximus, bioolor
Horsfieldi— the largest of the Nonsuch and
Tazetta— and some of the good white hybrids
are arranged with some branches of flowering
Berberis in a silver punchbowl. The mass is
also good and harmonious in colouring, with its
many shades of yellow and warm white flowers
and ruddy leaves repeated by reflection on the
silver. J.
Stove and Greenhouse.
T. BAINES.
VARIEGATION IN PLANTS.
(eurya latifolia variegata.)
Opinions diflfer as to the merits of plants with
variegated leaves, but they find favour with the
enfeebled or abnormal condition in the plants
from which the variegation sjarings, for it must
be admitted that plants grown under artificial
conditions, to some extent inseparable from
cultivation, are more likely to become enfeebled
than when existing naturally. So far as my
own observation goes, when a plant has pro-
duced a variegated branch, it has generally been
something that has been neglected, or where
the energies of the plant have been weakened
through the necessity of obtaining stock, or
some such cause. Annuals and biennials are
the same as perennials in this respect — the
longer they are cultivated the more likely they
are to sufier from weakness. Even amongst the
ordinary kinds of cu.linary vegetables varie-
gated seedlings appear much more frequently
than they used to.
It may be noticed that the variegated progeny
rarely, if ever, attain the size of the green-
leaved parents, and it often happens that a shoot
Silver vase filled with Narcissi and Berberis. Engraved for The Garden from a photograph.
majority of those who are fond of gardening. ',
The origin of variegation is an interesting sub-
ject, and there is an importance attached to it
from a cultural point of view. Various opinions
are expressed as to the origin of variegation.
Some who have devoted time to the study of
vegetable physiology look upon variegation as a
disease, or rather that the appearance of varie-
gated sports is the result of a diseased or excep-
tional condition of the plants from which the
variegated forms have originated. Others, how-
ever, take a contrary view, and point to the
continued healthy growth made by plants with
variegated foliage to support their argument.
The Chinese and Japanese gardeners, who have
had most of the plants they grow under cultiva-
tion for many ages, seem to have variegated
varieties of almost all the plants they possess.
This points to variegation being the result of an
of a variegated plant returns to its natural green
colour, and almost invariably regains all the
strength andvigourof the green-leaved branches.
When a variegated plant produces a shoot that
has reverted to the natural green colovir, the
latter usually grows so vigorously, as to quickly
starve the variegated one ; the plant ultimately
becomes altogether green.
Variegated plants that are raised from seed
are of more fixed character than those that owe
their origin to sports. When variegated seed-
lings first appear there is little doubt but that
■ the parent plant has in some way become
weakened.
; Variegated plants in greenhouses and con-
servatories are valuable, owing to the cheerful
colour of their leaves, which brighten and re-
; lieve the more sombre green-leaved kinds.
There are comparatively few hard-wooded
variegated-leaved plants in cultivation compared
with those that require stove or intermediate
temperature, and the greenhouse kinds are more
useful for the decoration of large conservatories
where there is insuflicient light for flowering
subjects.
The variegated variety of Eurya latifoha
comes from Japan. When it first made its
appearance hopes were entertained that it might
prove hardy. It grows well out of doors in
summer, but, except in a few of the most
favoured spots in the country, it will not stand
the winter. The habit is dense and bushy, and
the leading branches are somewhat erect. The
leaves are not unlike those of the Otaheite
Orange ia shape, but somewhat larger and more
pointed ; about half the surface is green, the
other half white, whilst in a young condition
they are heavily sufiiised with red. This Eurya
is a free grower, and with ordinary care and
attention grows well.
When the plants are young it is advisable to
keep them in moderate warmth, as, by so doing,
the plants can be more quickly grown to a use-
ful size. It strikes readily from cuttings made
of the half-ripened shoots, such as are obtain-
able in summer from plants grown in a cool
house. The cuttings should consist of the
points with about three leaves attached to them,
and cut them at a joint. Put several together
in 6-inch pots which have been crocked and
filled with sand. Stand them in a temperature
of 70°, cover with a propagating glass, and keep
moist, close, and shaded. In eight or ten weeks
they will have made plenty of roots, so as to
admit of their being potted oS — 3 inch pots will
be large enough. Fibrous peat with some sand
added is the best material to grow the plants in,
as this compost gives a deeper shade to the
green portion of the leaves than loam. The
stock should be kept close until the roots
begin to move, maintaining a night temperature
of about 60° until the days get short ; through
the winter reduce it to 50° by night. So treated
the plants will make sufiicient growth. In
spring shift them into 6-inch pots and stop the
shoots ; this must be attended to as required
during the ensuing summer, so as to ensure the
plants being fully furnished with foliage. Keep
the examples in an intermediate temperature
through the summer, and give air in the day-
time, with shade during bright weather, and also
syringe daily. During the summer shift the plants
to pots 2 inches larger. In autumn admit more
air and keep them through the winter in a
moderate greenhouse temperature. Pots 2 inches
or 3 inches larger will be necessary in spring,
and at this time attend to the stopping of the
shoots. Ordinary greenhouse treatment will
now suffice, and give a little shade when the
sun is powerful. All that wiU be required fur-
ther is to give larger pots, as the roots want
more room, and pinch back any shoots that are
too strong. The syringe should be used freely
every day all through the growing season in
order to keep down red spider and thrips, both
of which soon damage the foliage if not kept in
check. Aphides sometimes attack the young
leaves, and when the pests appear fumigate at
once, or the leaves when matured will be de-
formed in shape. When the specimens have
grown from 2 feet to 4 feet in diameter they will
be very effective arranged amongst green leaved
things. With fair treatment the Eurya will
last in good condition for many years, as when
the plants become too large they will bear cut-
ting back freely.
Impatiens Hawkeri. — This new Balsam is now
flowering in the gardens at Croydon Lodge; its
flowers as seen in summer are certairly superior to
54
THE GARDEN.
[July 23, 1887.
the portrait of it recently distributed by Mr. Bull;
indeed, we imagine the rich lustrous violet-blue eye
and the peculiar shade of brilliant carmine of its
flowers are shades of colour very difficult for an
artist to produce. It is a much bolder and stronger
growing plant than I. Sultani; the flowers also are
very distinct, being thick and fleshy and much
larger, and of a totally different colour. It is a
most brilliant and effective plant. — W. H. G.
A FEW GOOD FUCHSIAS.
The varieties of Fuchsias now in cultivation are
so numerous, that unless personally acquainted with
many of them it is quite a puzzle to make a selec-
tion from the long lists that are offered by some
nurserymen. Having had ample opportunities of
noting a great many varieties in flower, I have made
a selection of the following twenty-four as a good
and representative lot for general purposes.
Varieties with white corollas: Madame Jules
Chretien, a free-growing variety, of rather an up-
right habit of growth, bearing very large, long
flowers with bright crimson sepals and pure white
corolla. Miss Lucy Finnis — This is a rather weak
growing, but much-branched variety with enormous
globular flowers. Both of the above have double
flowers, but the next, Flooon de Neige, has long
single flowers of a very good shape. Of light kinds,
that is, with white tube and sepals, and a coloured
corolla, mention must be made of Lady Heytes-
bury, a sturdy growing kind that bears its flowers
in massive clusters; Mrs. Bright, with a glowing
orange-red corolla; and Venus Viotrix Improved, a
good form of this old variety with a coroUa of a
purple hue. Of those in which the corolla is more
or less striped it is difiicult to speak with much
confidence, but the finest that I have seen are Lord
Wolseley and Harlequin, both with dark corollas
striped with pink, the flowers of the first named
being single, and those of the other semi-double.
The single-flowered dark coloured kinds include
among their number some beautiful varieties, a few
of them being Wave of Life, with golden foliage,
and perfectly, reflexed flowers with bright red
sepals and a violet-blue corolla; Creusa, corolla of
a blackish satiny hue; Turban, an improvement on
the old Crinoline ; and Progress, a good grower with
large blooms, the corolla of which is of a rich
violet. To these must be added Try-me-0', the
dark variety so much grown for the London market,
and Enoch Arden, with a bluish corolla. In a list
of the best double dark-flowered varieties would
be included La France, with a very distinct
purplish blue corolla; Phenomenal, with very
large flowers and a good habit ; while Champion
of the World, which is noted for its huge blossoms,
is a tall growing variety. This bears by far the
largest blooms of any Fuchsia, and is well suited
for growing as a pillar plant. Other good kinds
in this class are Monument, Avalanche, and Violet
le Dae, this last having the corolla prettily striped.
One or two other very distinct varieties are Alba
coccinea, with reddish tube and white sepals ;
Monarch, with large self-coloured flowers ; and
Earl of Beaconsfield, a large and remarkably free-
flowering variety with orange-salmon tinted blossoms.
The beautifully variegated foliage of Sunray en-
titles it to a place herein, for the leaves are
regularly marked with white, which in the young
stage or when fully exposed is suffnsed with red.
Besides these garden varieties of Fuchsia many of
the original species are very beautiful, not the least
interesting being the hardy kinds, that even if cut
down to the ground during the winter break with
renewed strength in the spring, and yield a goodly
display of blooms during the latter part of the
summer and early in the autumn. A few of the
best species would include F. corymbiflora, a stout
vigorous kind, producing pendulous bunches of
long tubed scarlet flowers, rendering the plant when
in bloom a grand and imposing object, and scarcely
less so when the flowers are succeeded by large ob-
long, reddish purple berries. F. fulgens is also a
stout-growing species, but more compact than F.
corymbiflora, and the clusters of flowers are less
massive than in that variety. The individual blooms
have the tube very long, and their colour is also
distinct, being a kind of orange-scarlet. F. serrati-
folia is another stout, bold-growing kind with red
blossoms, a great point in its favour being that with
sufflcient heat it will flower more or less nearly
throughout the winter. F. Dominiana, the re-
sult of a cross between F. spectabilis and F.
serratifolia, raised quite thirty years ago, is a
valuable winter-flowering kind, and now rarely
met with except in some old-fashioned gardens.
It requires to attain a good size before it will flower
well, and on that account is seen to greater ad-
vantage when grown as a pillar plant than when
grown in pots. F. splendens is another variety that
may be had in bloom during the winter months.
The blooms are of rather a peculiar shape, and red
and green in colour. Two small-flowered varieties
are F. microphylla and F.thymtefolia, this last being
the best for growing as little bushes, while the other
forms the most useful pillar plant. Of the hardy
F. gracilis there is a very pretty variegated variety
which, like its type, forms a most beautiful object
when employed for furnishing the roof of a green-
house, as the myriads of drooping blossoms are then
seen to the greatest advantage. The New Zealand
F. procumbens is best treated as a basket plant,
but the blooms, though curious, are by no means so
showy as the large magenta- crimson-coloured fruits,
which remain on during the greater part of the
winter. Fuchsia triphylla— an old kind which, after
being lost to our gardens for many years, was re-
introduced by Messrs. Henderson a few years since
— ought to be in every collection. It forms a neat
little bush with darkish foliage and bright orange-
scarlet-coloured flowers, borne in clusters on the
upper parts of the shoots. It is a very beautiful
summer-flowered variety, but to be seen at its best
needs more heat in early spring than most Fuchsias.
H. P.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
ACHIMBNES. — One of the principal causes of the
tubers of Achimenes decaying when at rest is their
being insufficiently matured. It frequently happens
that when the plants have flowered they get little
attention afterwards, and are allowed to die off
prematurely. In place of this, they should be stood
where they will have plenty of light and sufficient
air, and be regularly attended to with water, so that
the leaves and stems may keep fresh and healthy
until the tubers have attained their full size and
maturity. The plants that were started early and
were first in bloom will not require fire-heat to
finish up their growth ; those that were started late,
and that consequently may not complete their
growth until further on in the season, will, if the
weather becomes cold, need a little warmth.
Gloxinias. — The same remarks apply to these
plants, especially in the case of young stock the
tubers of which are yet small. After flowering they
should be kept quite free from thrips and red
spider ; if either of these pests attack the leaves
they will cause them to die off before their time,
thereby checking the growth of the tubers, and
leaving them soft and insufficiently ripened. Gloxi-
nias have been so much improved of late years, that
seed of a really good strain may be depended on to
produce varieties good enough for all ordinary pur-
poses, but when any of an exceptional character
appear it is well to increase them. This is best
effected by the ordinary process of striking the
leaves, which when put in should have attained
their full size and be firm in texture, as if deficient
in this respect they will decay before tubers of a
useful size are formed. It is better to use these
leaf cuttings entire than to sever the central rib in
the way that is sometimes practised, as the produce
of whole leaves will be much larger and in better
condition for flowering next year than the small
tubers that result from divided leaves. Leave about
half an inch of the stem attached, and insert it and
a little of the base of the leaf in the sand. Three
or four leaves may be put in a G-inch pot in sand,
which keep slightly moist, but not too wet. The
cuttings do best when not confined under propagat-
ing glasses or in a cutting-box, simply standing
them in the stove and shading a little when the
weather is bright. The principal thing to aim at is
to keep the leaves fresh and green as long as pes-,
sible ; whilst they remain in this condition the young
tubers keep growing, and the larger they get the
better they will bloom next summer.
Uteiculakia MONTANA. — This curious plant is
deserving of cultivation wherever there is a mode-
rately warm stove in which to grow it. Indepen-
dent of its structural singularity, the flowers are
handsome, and it does not take up much room. It
does best grown in a hanging basket, and as the
subjects that can be so used are few, this is another
point in its favour. It is a summer bloomer, coming
in sooner or later, according to the amount of heat
it is submitted to. Strong specimens when growing
freely, and especially during the time their flower-
spikes are forming, must be well attended to with
water, being careful that the roots do not get dry, a
condition which plants grown in baskets are liable
to suffer from. Aphides seem to have a particular
liking for the flower buds. Should these insects
make their appearance on the leaves, they may be
removed by sponging with clean water, repeating
the operation two or three times at intervals of a
few days. When the flowers are affected fumigate
moderately with tobacco. The plant likes a some-
what moist atmosphere during the time it is making
growth, but should have it drier after the flowers
open, otherwise the pure white blooms are apt to
get spotted. A thin shade should be used in bright
weather.
Mabantas. — For ordinary decorative use these
plants are much better when small, or of medium
size. Where large specimens exist the best time to
break them up is early in spring before they begin
to grow; but if this was not then carried out and
an increase of stock is required, the work may now
be done, provided a brisk heat can be given so as
to get the divided pieces to make growth and be-
come established before winter. Turn the plants
out of the pots and shake away the soil, at the same
time disentangling the roots, so that there will be
no necessity for cutting or breaking them in sepa-
rating the crowns. This separation is best effected
with a strong, long-bladed knife. The pieces may
be reduced more or less in size in accordance with
the number required; single crowns will succeed, or
each piece may consist of two or more crowns. In
all cases as many roots as possible should be secured
to each piece. Marantas will thrive in either peat
or loam. Loam suits the stronger growing kinds,
whilst the smaller-leaved sorts usually do best in
peat. A moderate quantity of sand should be added
to the soil. When the plants are broken up at this
time no larger pots should be used than will just
admit the roots, and allow room for the additional
growth that will take place before winter. Pot
moderately flrm, give a little water to the soil, but
not so much as to make it over wet, or it may cause
the old roots to perish before there are any new
ones to give the necessary support. Keep warm
and close with a moist atmosphere, shade closely
from the sun until the plants begin to grow, and
syringe slightly overhead in the afternoon. Keep
the plants growing as long as there is a fair amount
of daylight, for the more growth that can be se-
cured before the dormant period comes on the
greater the progress will be the following summer.
Young stock, the produce of specimens that were
divided in spring, will now require moving into
pots a size larger; this should be done without
delay, so as to allow time for the roots to get hold
of the new soil before the growing season is over.
Potting on spEiNG-STEtrcic stock. — Where
necessary, the potting of young flowering stove
plants struck from cuttings in spring may be carried
out later than in the case of greenhouse subjects,
inasmuch as the former are mostly much faster
growers, and, in addition, can be kept on growing
later in the season.
I.XOEAS. — To ensure success with these plants,
their roots should not be pinched for want of
pot-room. Spring-struck stock that may now be
in 5-inch or (j-inch pots, in place of allowing them
to remain in these until spring, should be shifted
into others from 3 inches to 4 inches larger, accord-
ing to the progress they have already made. Pot
I
July 23, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
55
moderately firm ; after potting keep up a brisk heat,
with plenty of moisture in the atmosphere, and
syringe freely overhead at the time of closing the
house. Little stopping will be required beyond
shortening back any shoot that is outgrowing the
others. Large plants that are intended to flower
next spring, and that happen to be short of room,
or that from their present condition are likely to
require more pot room before spring, may be moved
now, or at any time between this and the middle of
September. If there is enough heat at command
through the winter to do justice to them, there need
be no hesitation in repotting as late as the time
named, as with the requisite warmth both root
and top-growth will go on moving through the
winter.
Gaedenias. — Where the most is to be made of
Gardenias, it is necessary to see that they are not
stinted for root room, especially in the case of
plants that are wanted to flower in the early months
of the year. These, as the pots they now occupy
get filled with roots, should be repotted into
others from 2 inches to 4 inches larger. Peat, if
good in quality, is preferable for Gardenias, but
where none except the heavy black material some-
times used in the culture of pot plants is obtainable,
it is better to give loam, but this also should be
good and contain a fair portion of vegetable matter,
some rotten manure and a good sprinkling of sand
being added. After potting, keep the plants in a
brisk-growing temperature until the days get shorter ;
let them have plenty of light with a little shade up
to the end of next month when the weather is
sunny, after which the plants do not require it. A
moderate amount of air ought to be given every
day, the object being to get the plants furnished
with stout, robust growth well set with flower-buds
during autumn, in which condition there is much
less danger of the buds dropping prematurely when
the plants are subjected to the warm treatment
necessary to get the flowers to open through the
dull, sunless winter months.
RONDELETIAS. — These are slower growers than
many of the stove plants. They make much finer
roots than most species that require warmth, but,
nevertheless, they root freely, filling the soil in which
they grow with a mass of fibres. The plants gene-
rally make top growth proportionate to the pot
room that is given them. Young examples that
have now fairly filled the pots they are in with
roots should be moved to others about 2 inches
larger, and be encouraged to make as much growth
as possible. Rondeletias will do with less heat than
many stove subjects, but whilst they are young it is
as well to give them a moderately high temperature,
by which means there will be no loss of time in get-
ting them up to a useful size. Stand them where
they will be under the influence of full light. They
will do with less shade than many stove plants : a
thin covering for a few hours during the middle of
the day is all they need. It is necessary to attend
to stopping and training the shoots of these plants
during the early stages of their existence, as, being
somewhat erect growers, unless they are suffi-
ciently furnished at the base with enough shoots,
and these are tied out whilst they are young and
pliable, it is difficult to effect this afterwards, as
the wood gets too stiff to bend. Larger stock, the
roots of which have so far occupied the soil that
they will be cramped before the ordinary time of
potting comes round in spring, will be better for
being moved now. Treat afterwards in every way
as recommended for the smaller section. Syringe
freely every afternoon when the house is closed ;
this will help to keep down thrips, that, if present
in the house, will most likely attack the Rondele.
tias. If they are affected, the insects must be de-
stroyed by fumigation or syringed with insecticide,
as if not kept clean the leaves soon get disfigured.
T. B.
same eolleetiou. A. Cathearti makes a good specimen
plant, the flowers of medium size, yellow, and pro-
duced with great freedom ; moreover, they last for a
considerable time in good conditiou. We saw all three
kinds in bloom in Messrs. Jackson's nursery at King-
ston.—T. W.
Pelargonium Lucie Lemoine.— This is a
lovely decorative variety, free-blooming, of sturdy
habit, and hearing in medium-sized trusses large, well-
shaped flowers, pure white, saving a few rich crimson
stripes at the base of the petals. It is very useful for
cutting. — E.
Creeper for conservatory. — I have a conser-
vatory adjoining the house, facing west with wood
trellis-work against the bare walls ; size about 20
feet long by 15 feet high. Will any of your readers
tell me the best evergreen creeper to cover it with ?
I should like something to bloom, if possible, and I
want it covered quickly. Temperature never under
45° or 50°. — Ceeepbe.
Plumbago capensis alba.— The lovely shade
of steel-blue to be found in the flowers of Plumbago
capensis and its profuse blooming qualities have
rendered it a special favourite for clothing pillars
inacoolgreenhouse. Itspopularity,however,willhave
to be divided when the variety alba becomes better
known. This is the exact counterpart of the typical
plant, except in the colour of the flowers, which are
wholly pure white. This plant was to be seen
recently flowering in abundance in Mr. Williams'
nursery at Upper Holloway. — W. H. G.
SHORT NOTES.— STOVE AND OREENHOVSE.
AlJamanda nobilis. — This is similar to the well-
known A. Hendersoni, but the flowers are of a clearer
yellow coloui', and without auy of the brownish stripes
conspicuous in the last mentioned. It grows as vigor-
ously, and is sufficiently distinct to have a place in the
Flower Garden.
SEASONABLE NOTES ON FAVOURITE
FLOWERS.
The show and alpine Aueicxila. — The time of
seed-saving is later this year than usual, but the
whole will be gathered by the end of July, and to
save time it ought to be sown at once. The manner
of sowing is simple enough, and has often been
described. The principal thing afterwards is
patience. Let the seeds be kept in a moderately
moist medium, and the pots or seed pans where the
soil cannot be baked by the sun. About a third
of the seeds will germinate in from two to four
weeks of the time of sowing. The remainder wUl
vegetate in February of the following season.
Alpine Auriculas form a very pleasing feature of
the hardy flower garden . I have tried them on ex-
posed positions in the rock garden, also where they
have been shaded from the midday and afternoon
sun, and they are doing well in both positions. All
of them flowered very late, but they produced a
profusion of bloom. We tried masses of one variety,
a dozen plants of Gorton's Diadem and as many of
Queen Victoria (Turner) beibg planted together,
and they had a most excellent effect in irregular
masses formed by the arrangement of the stones in
the rock garden. Seeds sown in such places, or the
seedlings pricked out, not disturbing the mossy
grown surface too much, soon make a very interest-
ing display.
Primulas are making a most beautiful display
in similar positions in the rock garden, but all of
them have been planted in places shaded from the
sun after mid-day. P. Parryana does not produce
its flowers until midsummer. It has been flowering
freely planted out, but is scarcely worth growing as
a pot plant. P. sikkimensis is an excellent com-
panion to it, flowering at the same time, and
succeeds quite as well in pots as it does planted
out. It is very interesting to observe the difference
in size and 'form of the drooping flowers of P. sikki-
mensis on stems quite 18 inches high. Some of
the flowers are what are termed " pin-eyed " and
others " thrum-eyed," and the perfume of a large
bed of them is delightful. P. japonica suffered
very much from the hot, dry weather. We have an
excellent summer companion to it in P. prolifera.
It seems very vigorous as a pot plant, but our stock
of it is not large enough to plant out of doors for
the winter. I ought also to add, that where P.
sikkimensis was planted out many died in winter.
Where we had strong, vigorous plants they had
been grown in pots and planted out in the spring.
We are all greatly indebted to Mr. Elwes for his
useful information concerning the conditions under
which P. prolifera and others grow in their native
habitats. Lender more favourable circumstances
we hope soon to have P. Elwesi in our gardens.
Carnations and Picotees. — I wrote about
these in The Garden, June 18 (p. 553). We had
then only surface-dressed the plants growing in
pots and staked them. The hot weather speedily
caused them to rush up into flower, and before any
of the blooms showed colour it was quite plain that
the thrips had got inside the unopened buds. We
had to carry the plants into the house and fumigate
them with Tobacco smoke two or three times be-
fore this active little pest was quite killed. It is
true that many of the best varieties in all the sec-
tions have full flowers with a tendency to burst the
pods at one side, and it is necessary, in order to pre-
vent such flowers becoming a total wreck, to open
the pods a little opposite the side on which they
are likely to split, and, as a further precaution,
they ought to be tied round with a woollen
thread or a strip of raffia. Nearly all the Carnation
fanciers place cards to their flowers, but we do not
like the effect of them in our house where the
plants are in flower, and have never used any such
aids to development. We did not think it desirable
to plant out the seedlings while the weather was so
excessively hot and dry, but as it was past the time
and the plants were becoming too much crowded,
we planted them out in beds in rows 18 inches
apart and 14 inches between the plants in the rows.
Perpetual Carnations for winter flowering
must on no account be neglected at this time of
the year. They should now be in vigorous growth,
and instructions have already been given as to their
position, &o. At the present time it may be
observed that some varieties have a greater
tendency to run into bloom than others, but as
flowers are not required at present, and if allowed
to develop themselves would exhaust the plants, it
is better to remove them. A stick of proportionate
size should be placed to the centre stem of each
plant, and to this the side growths ought also to be
looped up, otherwise if they are allowed to hang
loose they snap off at the joints. We flud it neces-
sary to dip the plants sometimes to destroy green
fly, which is the only insect pest likely to damage
them. Pansies have suffered from the excessive
heat and drought more than any other of these
choice old flowers, and a few plants have died out
altogether. The only chance to save them is to
place a rich top-dressing about an inch thick over
the surface of the ground, give the plants a good
watering every second day, and peg the long-flower-
ing shoots down on to the ground. It is as well to
save a few of the small cuttings, which grow out
freely from the base of the plants. They may be
pulled out carefully with the finger and thumb,
having a small portion of roots attached, and if
planted out of doors on the shady side of a wall or
fence will soon become established. The thicker-
flowering growths with hollow stems do not make
good cuttings. The month of August is perhaps
the best time to put in the cuttings to produce
young plants to stand over the winter.
Tulips were dug up on the 11th of July, the
bulbs being of large size and thoroughly well ,
ripened. Each variety is kept by itself. Our plan
is to have a number of clean pots of various sizes
arranged on a hand-barrow, and each sort is placed
with the label in the pots, and there they remain in
a dry loft until planting time; but it is best to
clean them if the bulbs begin to s%vell at the base,
which they will do early in November, and roots
will soon issue from the swollen portion. The
large bed of Ranunculi made a grand display at the
same time as the Tulips were in beauty. The
flowers did not last long during the very hot
weather, but the plants flowered very strongly. Three
weeks after the flowers faded the leaves had de-
cayed, and this must be taken as the signal to dig
up the tubers. We usually plant these beds with
Asters or some such plants, but this year they have-
also been planted with Carnations — young seedlings
to flower next year.
. The old plants- of Polyanthus have suffered some-
56
THE GARDEN.
[July 23, 1887.
what from the attacks of red spider. These and
the choice varieties of the common Primrose are
not easily kept in a healthy growing state in these
hot, dry localities when the plants get aged, but all
of them succeed well in the south from seeds sown
in April. We are now planting out several hundreds
of them in the open air in beds and borders; they
are at present quite free from insect pests, but they
will require to be freely watered until rain comes.
They like rich, deep, clayey loam to grow in.
J. Douglas.
White Major Convolvulus.— We saw this
beautiful garden plant climbing over a cottage porcli
in Kingston, and were struck with its adaptabiUty for
such a purpose. The whole plant is very much like
the common Bearbine, but not so weedy in character.
We may mention that we have seen even the last-
mentioned made good use of for covering rustic
arbours, &c., but when grown in gardens slugs must
be kept from the leaves, as they quickly disfigure them.
— E.
Is the Night-scented Stock an annual ?— I
note that " T. W." calls it so in his praise of it at
Chiswick, but my impression is that it is a biennial ; it
seldom ripens seeds freely in the open air, and is
mostly propagated by cuttings. Perhaps "T. W." or
Mr. Barron would kindly say how they propagate and
grow it at Chiswick, where it seems to be grown
rather extensively. As to its extreme fragrance at
night and its simple beauty there can be no question
whatever.— Caledonicds.
Large-flowered Tiokseed (Coreopsis grandi-
flora) . — This is very useful for the border, the flowers
being briUiant orange -yellow, borne freely, and most
effective when the plants are in bold, well-developed
clumps. The leaves are smooth, deep green, and give
the plant a distinct and handsome appearance. It
grows freely in ordinaiy soil, and would look well in the
second or third row of the border. It is surprising,
considering their great usefulness, that the Coreopsis
are not more often, grown, as a few of them are quite
as fine as Rudbeckias and other things of that charac-
ter.—T. W.
Clematises. — These are now flowering freely,
and form at the present time the most ornamental
climbing plants we have. They may be put to a
variety of uses, never showing to better advantage
than when trained to walls, over arbours, poles,
porches, and fences, with the growth allowed to
ramble at will. In the nursery of Messrs. Jackson
at Kingston we] saw the dense-growing C.Vitioella
alba trained over a pole, and as no attempt had
been made to tie the plant in severely it presented
a delightful picture ; the flowers are almost white
and freely produced. At Messrs. "Veitch's Coombe
Wood Nursery we were struck with the beauty of a
variety named Marie Lefebvre. It has abundant
leafage and immense, well-proportioned, regular,
and bold flowers, which stand out well above the
foliage. They are, by reason of their beautiful
bluish colour, useful for intermixing with other
flowers in choice decorations. — T. W.
New perennial Larkspurs. — Their name is
legion ; all over the country seedling Delphiniums
are constantly being raised, and every year contri-
butions also come from the Continent. A packet of
good seed will be certain to produce many seedlings
of fine character, and thus it requires something of
a distinctly novel character to be considered first-
rate. Messrs. Kelway and Son, Langport, have long
been raisers of these fine hardy flowers, and at the
meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society, on the
28th ult., they produced a quantity of seedlings,
many of them of a very handsome character. On
this occasion two first-class certificates of merit were
awarded — one to Britannia, a very imposing-looking
flower, of the richest deep shaded blue, with a centre
of pure white anthers ; very fine and distinct, with
a noble spike. The other was Charmont, the exte-
rior petals bright blue, with a centre of shot-silk or
bronzy pink colour, the spike well formed, One or
two others were of superior character, but the com-
mittee wisely refrained from granting more certi-
ficates, but the following deserve attention from
their fine character : Imogen, light blue, the centre
bronzy pink, fine shape ; Claribel, in the same way
as Imogen, but yet distinct enough to constitute a
variety ; Clio, rich bright blue, shot-jilk centre, very
fine and showy ; Clemence, in the same way, but
rather deeper in colour ; Carbula, bright blue, bronzy
centre and white anthers, fine and distinct ; Agnes,
pale blue, large, pale bronzy pink centre; Latona,
bronzy rose, with margin of deep bright blue, a fine
variety; England's Pride, pink and bronze centre,
with distinct edging of bright blue ; and lachimo,
bright blue, bronzy pink and white anthers. There
is no difiiculty in growing Delphiniums ; they are
accommodating plants, thriving in almost any soil.
A few days since I saw two large beds of seedlings
growing in a deep light sandy soil, into which they
had struck their roots deeply, and had sent up
strong flowering-stems, surmounted by wonderful
spikes of blossoms. No other class of plants, hardy
or exotic, furnish so many and varied hues of blue
as do the Delphiniums. They are among the state-
liest of plants to place at the back of a border of
hardy plants. — R. D.
NOTES FROM SUFFOLK.
It is pleasing to turn for a moment from our life
and death struggles with drought and difliculties to
revel in the delightful prose-poem of " SufEolkian "
(p. 6). But for the killing power of this rainless,
dewless, windful drought we would gladly join in
her chorus of praise of all the garden beauties, from
Acacias to Honeysuckles, Sweet Briers and Pome-
granates, to say nothing of the pet names of Sweet
Belles and Blackamoors for the drooping and
scorched-up Roses, and the Pretty Polly Pelar-
goniums. All this in this arid time is almost like
a cup of cold water to a thirsty soul, and if we can-
not have rain — and it really seems as if we cannot —
let us by all means have some more of " Suff olkian's "
prose-poems, either with or without rhyme. I am
so cheered by this one, that it may seem unkind to
point out one discordant note, and that in regard
to the most eloquent sentences in the poem in praise
of our feathered warblers. It may be that " Suf-
f olkian " has but one big tree (the Acacia), and only
a few each of the plants and shrubs mentioned.
If so, her desire to clear the birds' character from
raids on Plum or other trees is intelligible enough ;
but were her fruit trees, like ours, encircled with
acres of close shrubberies and miles of woods, and
the birds increased so much, that no man could
number them, then would she be compelled to admit
that the tongue of slander itself could not ex-
aggerate their power nor performances of mischief,
and that either the Plums or the birds must dis-
appear, or more likely the balance be tenderly and
judiciously adjusted in favour of the Plums. But
doubtless " SufEolkian " will go on singing her
charming garden rhapsodies in her own way, not-
withstanding this protest against the feathered
warblers devouring all the Plums in their flower-
hood. D. T. F.
Yellow Carnation Amber. ^I think this
charming Carnation gives us quite a new shade of
colour among yeUow Cloves. It has two excellent
qualities — the flowers are of medium size, with
finely-rounded petals, and they are freely produced.
Some will be certain to say that it is not suf-
ficiently decided in colour ; but these persons are
apt to forget that there is a great variety in the
matter of taste and fancy, and that what some do
not like others regard with favour. I sometimes
hear the term " washy" applied to flowers of delicate
tints, and I have seen many good things condemned
in this rough-and-ready and somewhat arrogant
fashion. Washy things, so called, have their ad-
mirers, and a flower of this character, being good in
all other particulars, ought not to be condemned
simply because some one who is thought to be a
judge condemns it as washy. — R. D.
Meadow Sweets (Spirixias),— There are few
finer plants for the border, rockery, or odd spots in
the garden than these, and at the present time S.
palmata is in perfection, its rich crimson panicles of
bloom having an effective and beautiful appearance.
We saw it in excellent condition in Messrs. Veitch's
Coombe Wood Nursery, and growing in company
with the pure white variety named alba, which is
rather later than the type, and suffers more from
dryness. Another good form is S. purpurata, of a
similar character to S. palmata, its panicles of bloom
being of a pinkish colour, and not quite so dense. The
double variety of our common Meadow Sweet called
S. Ulmaria plena is also worth growing. S. astilboides
is another valuable kind, producing elegant plumy
panicles of pure white flowers. It is somewhat sur-
prising that the Meadow Sweets are not more culti-
vated, as they are easy to grow and most ornamental
when in full bloom. They need plenty of moisture
and well prepared soil — in fact, they seldom do better
than in the bog garden with Marsh Marigolds and
other moisture-loving plants. — E. C.
Lilium Browni. — Among the different Lilies
now in flower this will be at once singled out as
one of the best, for the large, massive bloom which
crowns the stem possesses many well-marked cha-
racteristics. It is however, liable to be confounded
with L. odorum or japonicum, an old, but very rare
kind. L. Browni generally grows to a height of
2 feet to S feet, the lower part of the stem being
mostly devoid of leaves, and heavily tinged with
purple. The blooms in shape somewhat resemble
those of the longiflorum section, but are more mas-
sive, and heavily tinged on the exterior with pur-
plish brown, which contrasts effectively with the
waxy white of the inside. The reddish brown
anthers form a prominent feature, and a distinguish-
ing one from L. longiflorum, in which the anthers
are yellow. L. odorum, which is the only one that
can be confounded with L. Browni, is altogether of
a lighter hue. The young shoots when they first
make their appearance above ground are devoid of
the purplish tint of L. Browni ; while the leaves
are rather broader, and the flowers shorter and
more open. In addition to this the blooms are less
heavily shaded with chocolate on the exterior than
are those of L. Browni. The bulb too is nearly
white, more like that of L. longiflorum ; while that
of L. Browni is reddish. L. odorum is also more
delicate than L. Browni, which does fairly in a well-
drained bed. — H. P.
SHOUT NOTES.— FLOWER.
"Variegated Anchusa sempervirens. — I send
leaves of a variegated form of Anchusa sempervirens,
which originated in the garden here three years ago.
I think it will hold its own against most of the variega-
tions of indigenous plants.— J. M., Charmouth.
Koek Speedvyell (Veronica rupestris). — There
are few more effective plants for the rockery than this
lovely Speedwell. We have seen it in several gardens
this season, with the neat, dense growth quite hidden
by the mass of bluish flowers. Plant it by the edge of
the stonework so that its trailing stems may hang
over. — E.
Campanula Eaineri. — I do not remember ever
noticing this dwarf Harebell so fine as it is this season ;
the little tufts are simply one complete mass of
blossom. There are several examples on the rockwork
at York ; some of the tufts are upwards of half a yard
in diameter. It appears to rejoice in a rich stony
soil on ledges. — P.
Pigmy Catchfly (Silene Pumilio). — This dwarf-
tufted plant is in bloom at Mr. Geo. Paul's nm'sery at
Broxbourne. It has the growth of the Cushion Catch-
fly (S. acauUs), but the leaves are longer. The flowers
are large, rose, with crimson blotch at the base. It
loves the full sun and plenty of water in the gi-owing
season. — E. C.
Arnica montana and English Iris.— These
gi-owing side by side, about 20 inches high, and flowering
at the same time, are just now very effective. The deep
orange-yellow of the Arnica contrasts well with the
rich purple of the Iris. The large heads of the Arnica,
nearly 4 inches across, are of that fine rich hue which
makes the much smaller heads of Chrysogonum vir-
giuiauum so effective. — J. Wood.
Tropaeolum Empress of India. — This is one
of the best bedding TropiBolums we have, as it is
dwarf in habit and bears its richly coloured scarlet
flowers well above the purplish leafage. It ^ grows
freely, and is most striking in a mass. It is very
effective at the present time in the garden of the Royal
Horticultural Society at Chiswick. — T. W.
Yucca flowers. — The noble Y. gloriosa is bloom-
ing in several places, and it may be worth noting that
July 23, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
57
the floTvers may be used advantageously when cut,
though into whatever aiTaugement they are intro-
duced it is important not to employ them too freely, as
tliey are dull in colour. But we have ofteu seen them
worked into wreaths, "bouquets, &c., with the best
results— T. W.
ECKFORD'S NEW SWEET PEAS.
Mr. Hexrt Eckfoed appears determined not to
relax his exertions in the matter of the production
of new varieties of Sweet Peas. Undismayed by
the somewhat contemptuous indifference with which
some persons are disposed to regard them — persons
who say that from a packet of mixed seed all Mr.
Eckford's new varieties can be had, which is surely
a rash expression — he yet perseveres, and he is able
to produce varieties that, in consequence of their
distinctness of character, challenge attention. On
the 12 th of July he sent to the meeting of the
Royal Horticultural Society a batch of over a dozen
varieties, some of them scarcely distinct from va-
rieties of Mr. Eckford's raising already distributed,
and some decidedly distinct and valuable as acqui-
sitions. To three of these — though more of them
deserved to be so distinguished — first-class certifi-
cates of merit were awarded, viz.. Mauve Queen,
delicate mauve, with just the faintest tinge of pink,
large, stout, and very fine, a decided advance to-
wards obtaining a pale blue Sweet Pea ; Splendour,
bright rose, distinct, and very pleasing, large stout
flowers, extra fine ; and Primrose, the nearest
approach to a yellow Sweet Pea yet seen, colour
pale primrose, very pleasing and novel, and a
very welcome break. Some years ago a yellow
Sweet Pea was put into commerce, but it was
little better than an ordinary Vetch, and
soon went out of cultivation. Other distinct and
good varieties were Apple Blossom, clear pale rose
standard, and delicate blush pink wings, a good
companion to our old Painted Lady, very pretty;
Miss Hunt, pale rosy salmon shaded, delicate rosy
mauve | wings, very pretty and pleasing; Delight,
white wings, the standard delicate pink; and
Maggie Ewing, the standard and wings suffused
with delicate pink, novel and distinct. Anyone
seeing Mr. Eckford's Sweet Peas as he grows them
at Boreatton cannot fail to be struck with the fine
size and stoutness he gets into his flowers. I think
the result is mainly owing to the fact that he gives
his plants plenty of space in which to develop.
Many persons spoil their Sweet Peas by sowing the
seeds much too thickly and starving the plants.
Now Mr. Eckford sows his seeds singly, and so the
plants have plenty of room in which to develop;
they are free-branching and produce fine blossoms.
He gives them good soil also. If anyone would
have fine blossoms of Sweet Peas let him give them
good soil and plenty of room, and his generous
treatment will be rewarded by flowers that will
gladden the heart of the cultivator. R. D.
ties is made, and we have now a considerable
choice. We are very partial to the striped kinds,
especially when the colours are vivid and decided.
These, when the spikes are large, symmetrical, and
closely set with flowers, contrast well with the
self-coloured kinds ; a pure white variety, when of
good form and in other respects satisfactory, is an
acquisition, and we noticed one in the Royal Horti-
cultural Gardens at Chiswick. Such an Antirrhinum
is worth perpetuating, and in a batch of seedlings
we may often find varieties that are worth keeping.
The best way to propagate is by cuttings, and these
should be taken from the side shoots that have not
flowered. Prepare a somewhat shady piece of
ground for their reception, and dibble them in
moderately close, placing over them a bell-glass to
promote the quick formation of roots. "When pro-
perly attended to, the cuttings will soon strike, and
they may be then planted out. If the variety is
very choice or not a particularly strong grower, it is
best to insert the cuttings in pots and place them
in a cold frame. — E.
makes a good pot plant, and in the Coombe Wood
Nursery of Messrs. Veitch we saw it grown in this
way plunged in a border against a house, the plants
being covered with flowers. — C.
LARGE-LEAVED MILFOIL.
(ACHILLEA SIACROPHTLLA.)
This belongs to a genus largely represented on
the Alps of Switzerland, &c., most of the species
of which, however, are like A. Clavenn<e, nana
tomeiitosa, and others of low stature, and more
in request as rock plants than for the mixed
Hare'bell (Campanula rotundifolia). — This is
not grown so much in pots as it deserves to be, as
well cultivated specimens have, when in bloom, a
distinct, elegant, and refined character such as no
other Bellflower possesses. It will, if properly
attended to, grow nearly 2 feet high, the slender,
graceful stems being covered almost from top to
bottom with the lovely, slightly drooping, deep blue
flowers. The white form is also well worth culti-
vating. They are not only useful for pots, but, as
is well known, make capital border plants. — E.
■Variegated Japanese Astilbe (A. japonica
aurea reticulata). — This is an ornamental plant, but
not such a free grower as the parent, and the plumy
panicles of flowers are not so white, being more of
a pale creamy hue. It has, however, the foliage
attractively variegated with yellow, which makes
well-grown specimens highly effective even when
out of bloom. It succeeds best when grown in
pots, and at all times must have careful attention.
It is valuable for intermixing in groups in the con-
servatory or greenhouse. — T. W.
Snapdragons. — There are few more beauti-
ful plants for the border than the Antirrhinum,
or Snapdragon, when a good selection of varie-
The Feverfew-leaved Milfoil (AchUlea macrophyUa) .
bed or border. The present plant, the habit
and general appearance of which may be seen
in the annexed cut, is one of the most beautiful
plants for the border that could well be chosen,
combining as it does large handsome flower-
heads with fine bold foliage. Isolated as we
grow it in the long Grass it grows well, though
somewhat shaded by neigbouring trees. When
fully exposed and grown in good rich soil it has
a much sturdier look, a more leafy stem, and
cleaner flowers. The flowers are white, large,
and very handsome. It flowers late in the
summer, and may be readily propagated by
division of the roots. K.
New Zealand Fratia (P. angnlata). — There
are few prettier plants than this Pratia for creeping
over the stones on a rockery, as it is Moss-like in
character, neat, and free grovsing. The small pale
green leaves are quite hidden by the white Lobelia-
like flowers, which are produced in summer, and
followed in autumn by dull-coloured, moderate-sized
berries. It likes a fairly exposed position, well
prepared soil, and a fair amount of moisture. It is
quite hardy, and, in common with many other
mossy rock plants, such as the Balearic Sandwort
(Arenaria balearica), for instance, deserves to be
more grown than is at present the case. It also
GARDENS AT RAILWAY STATIONS.
There are few more encouraging signs of progress
in horticulture than the spirited way in which the
growth of beautiful flowers for embellishing railway
stations is being taken up by many of the employes
of the railway companies. Country stations are
generally duU and dreary ; therefore an object like
the one under notice should receive the highest
encouragement, and that for many reasons. I
was never so impressed as when a short time ago,
having to wait some time for a train, I walked
up and down the platform, admiring and inhaling
the sweet perfume of Roses, Pansies, and Pinks. In
the midst of these flowers there came to mind re-
collections of stone gardening so common at some
stations — broken red bricks, whitewashed flints,
and other incongruities, arranged where, if nothing
better could be provided, green turf would be pre-
ferable. At the present time a pretty line, from
beginning to end, is the branch running from East
Grinstead to Brighton. The high-level of East
Grinstead Station does not permit of much being
done, but one can catch a glimpse of the station-
master's garden which adjoins. It is neat and
simple, the useful as well as the ornamental being
visible in the shape of good crops of vegetables and
plenty of Roses and Pansies. The railway slopes
round the station buUdings are furnished with
shrubs and flowers, a most pleasing contrast to the
dreary waste of refuse generally seen. On the low-
level large Rose bushes are to be seen on the walls ;
Gloire de Dijon had over 100 flowers expanded at
one time. Reluctantly we leave this and go on to
the next station, Kingscote. The traveller little
expects the vision of beauty awaiting his arrival.
This station can claim to be one of the best any-
where to be found. The company give prizes for
the prettiest stations on their lines, and last year
Kingscote took first ; but, not content to rest upon
his well-earned laurels, Mr. Ward, the station-
master, has again produced a display diiEcult to
equal, much more to beat. He possesses a little
glass-house, erected at his own cost, and tended
during his spare time. In this house are wintered
many of the plants that now help to make such a
gorgeous display. Beneath the covered portion of
the platform, on both sides of the door, are two
large groups, 1200 pot plants being used in the
arrangement. Pelargoniums were in profusion,
noticeable being Henri Jacoby, the colour even
more effective in the subdued light. Ivy-leaved
Pelargoniums suspended from the roof were very
nice ; also the Fuchsias, amongst which were
good, well-flowered specimens of the fine old
r. fulgens. Old tree roots made excellent recep-
tacles for hardy Ferns and Stonecrop. The little
borders along the back of the open part of the plat-
forms were perfect pictures, produced not by
elaborate bedding out, but by the culture of
good old-fashioned flowers. Pansies had been one
mass of flower, and the plants, though apparently
somewhat exhausted, will soon be reinvigorated by
the rich top-dressing that has been given them.
Pinks, especially Mrs. Sinkins, were strong, healthy,
and full of flower. Pinks are worth growing if only
for the nice colour of their foliage, which is much
prettier than some of the sickly variegations some-
times met with. Behind the borders is a little
wooden fence which will soon be draped with Roses.
There are many fine blooms, and two bushes of the
old Moss Rose had individual flowers larger than
we have ever seen in gardens. Those who use this
station must feel they owe a debt of gratitude to a
man who voluntarily provides them with such a
treat, and that at no small expense to himself. At
the next station. West Hoathley, all was blank.
True, there was a small glasshouse at the back, but
the occupants appeared dead. We hope the station-
master may become imbued with some of the
enthusiasm so conspicuous among his fellow workers.
At Horstead Keynes we were again in the land of
plenty. Roses, Pinks, and Pansies were at their
58
THE GARDEN.
[July 23, 1887.
best. Here and all along the remainder of the line
a mistake has been made by planting Laurel and
Privet to form a hedge in front of the fence, which
will ultimately preclude the possibility of growing
flowers. A little forethought, and this might have
been avoided. Sheffield Park was brightened by
Koses, Pinks, Antirrhinums, and Sweet Williams.
At Newick and Chailey, Roses were very good, while
beneath the covered way a small rockery had been
constructed from the natural sandstone of the
district and planted with hardy Ferns and London
Pride, which looked nice and fresh. As one gets
nearer Brighton, Flora seems to have been less
profuse in her gifts, but about Lewes Station there
are plenty of trees, and between there and Falmer
were banks literally draped with Ivy and having a
beautiful effect ; other banks were clothed with
St. John's-wort. London Road, which is really a
part of Brighton, had a large bed of Canterbury
Bells in full summer beauty, but, utterly regardless,
the train steamed away into the seaside metropolis,
and ended the pleasantest and prettiest journey
ever made by rail. A. Hekkington.
Foxgloves. — One of the most charming sights
we have seen round London during the whole season
is the Rhododendron border which bounds the lawn in
Mr. Stevenson-Clarke'sgarden at Croydon ; thenume-
rous fine varieties of Rhododendrons are just past,
but before they were over hundreds of Foxgloves in
great variety began to open, and are now in full
beauty, producing a grand effect when seen from the
house, or, indeed, any part of thegarden. The border
is also thickly studded with clumps of Lilium
auratum and other Lilies. These are now some 3
feet or 4 feet high, and promise a large supply of
blooms just about the time the Foxgloves fail.
Then Lilies are permanent denizens of the border,
some of the largest clumps having existed there for
several years. We imagine some few of the best
kinds of Michaelmas Daisies and single-flowered
Chrysanthemums would maintain an unbroken dis-
play up to Christmas. Hardy plants are well at-
tended to here, but yet time is found for stove and
greenhouse plants. Ferns and Orchids, and all are
well done.— W. H. G.
Hybrids of Qladiolus ramosus. — Messrs-
E. H. Krelage & Son, of Haarlem, catalogue nearly
fifty varieties. Most of these are well worthy of
culture. A few bulbs, three or five, put into a 4i-inch
pot and grown on in a cold frame, and then'taken
into the greenhouse to flower will be found of great
value in making it look very gay in April and on-
wards, or later according to the time when the bulbs
are potted. A collection of these was exhibited at
the meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society on
Tuesday, and the following were exceedingly bright
and effective, viz. : Fire King, pale scarlet with white
and purple markings on the lower segments ; Prince
Albert, pale scarlet, the lower segments blotched
with white ; Brilliant, bright red blotched with
white ; Insignis, pale orange-scarlet, purple blotches;
Blushing Bride, white, pale crimson and white
blotches ; Queen Victoria, the rosy pink segments
tipped with scarlet, white and crimson markings ;
Duke of Albany, pale orange-scarlet with white
blotches on the lower segments ; and Sarnian Gem
pile salmon-pink, white and rosy scarlet blotches
I have alluded to these pretty hybrids being culti-
vated in pots, but they do well in the open ground, and
in a good, light, free soil will flower from June until
August. One cannot but wonder that these charm
ing hardy bulbs are not more grown, though in all
probability the gardener and amateur alike will say
that there are so many things that demand atten
tion, that it is difficult to make a selection. I should
mention that bunches of the pretty white Colvillei
alba or The Bride were also included in the collection.
— R- D.
Thymus mieans.— This is iu bloom in Messv-s-
Jackson's nursery at Kingston, aud is a ijrostrutc'
Mos.s-Uko plant, smothered with small pale lilac
flowers. It is very pretty when gro\vn in small pots,
ami it may also be used as an edgiug or for the.rockery.
Tha plants thrive more fi'eely when the trailing stems
can creep over sandstone, as this is moist, and they are
able to cling closely to it. — E.
Golden Creeping Jenny.— This is a useful
plant for tlip rockery, as its leafage is of a decided
golden colour, which tells well among green-leaved
plants of the same kind of habit. It loves moisture,
and may be readily propagated by cuttings under a
bell-glass. The flowers are yellow, as in the type.
There are plants on the rockery at Chiswick which are
now very conspicuous owing to the bright golden yellow
of the leaves.— T. W.
Orchids.
W. H. G 0 W E E.
DENDROBIUM PULCHELLUM.
This is an exceedingly beautiful small-growing
plant, introduced many years ago from Northern
India. We have recently observed some good
examples of it in Orchid collections in the
neighbourhood of London. The pseudo-bulbs
are slender, tufted, about 6 inches long, and
very leafy, the leaves being small, fleshy, and
deep green. The flowers are about 2 inches
across, produced singly on long footstalks all
along the stem ; sepals pale purple, petals much
broader than the sepals, rich purple-lilac,
faintly streaked with a few lines of a deeper
hue ; lip large and spreading, fringed round the
edge with fine hairs, deep orange in the centre,
round which is a zone of white, the margin
being of the same colour as the petals. It usually
blooms in February and March. This plant
succeeds best grown on a block of wood or
in a small basket. The soil should consist of
equal parts of peat and Sphagnum Moss. When
making its growth, it enjoys strong heat and a
plentiful supply of water, and should have full
exposure to the sun, shading it slightly, how-
ever, from the fiercest rays to prevent the leaves
being scorched. When growth is finished the
plant should be removed to a lower temperatiure
and water entirely withheld, but still well ex-
posed to the light. This treatment will cause it
to gradually shed its leaves. Upon the first
signs of the flower-buds swelling water should be
given sparingly, but the plant may be kept in a
somewhat low temperature (which will be the
means of prolonging the flowers) unless the
young growths should appear, when greater
heat will be necessary to ensure their full
development.
Cleisostoma crassifolia. — Thisplant was origi-
nally introduced by Messrs. Veitch & Son, and a
very fine example of it was to be seen in the Kew
collection some few years ago. It is a plant of
stately mien, with thick, leathery, recurved leaves ;
the flower-spike is stout and erect, bearing numerous
drooping branches which are densely set with
small fleshy flowers. The sepals and petals are about
equal, pale yellow, lip rosy pink. A plant of this
species, bearing two large paniculate racemes of
flower, is just now a conspicuous object in Mr.
Measures' collection at Streatham. It is a native of
Burmah, and enjoys strong heat. — W. H. G.
Cattleya Warneri. — Many fine examples of this
magnilicent Cattleya are flowering profusely in The
Woodlands collection at Streatham, but the extreme
heat will cause their blooms to be much shorter lived
than is usual with this plant. Mr. Fraser, who has
charge of this fine collection of Orchids, says that
although he has contrived, by shading and keeping
the houses very moist, to reduce the temperature to
15° below that of the open air, the flowers are
not only affected by the excessive heat, but the
plants themselves show evident signs of distress,
thus affording ample proof that they thrive best
under a cool temperature. — W. H. G-
Fhalsenopsis Marie. — This very elegant
species was discovered by Mr. Burbidge whilst
travelling in the Eastern Archipelago for Messrs.
Veitch, of Chelsea. It was exhibited a few
weeks ago by Sir Trevor Lawrence at Kensing-
ton, and is also now to be seen in flower in
Mr. Measures" garden at Streatham. It belongs
to the small-flowered section, of which P. suma-
trana and P. speciosa may be taken as types.
The flowers measure about 1^- inches across ; they
are produced upon a drooping raceme ; the sepals
and petals are creamy white, barred transversely
with rich chestnut-brown ; the small lip is deep
purplish magenta, narrowly bordered with white.
It does not appear to be diiiioult to grow, but it de-
lights in a hot, moist atmosphere. — W. H. G.
PAPHINIAS.
The few Orchids which are comprised in this genus
are all small-growing terrestrial plants, producing
handsomely marked and exceedingly curious and
fantastic-shaped flowers. They are closely allied
to Maxillarias, from which genus they differ chiefly
in the arrangement and formation of their pollen
masses. More recently Paphinia has been merged
into the genus Lycaste, but it will be a long time,
we imagine, before this arrangement becomes accept-
able to those conversant with living plants.
These plants are found in the warm parts of
Brazil, Demerara, New Grenada, and Trinidad.
They have short pseudo-bulbs and somewhat large
plaited leaves and pendulous scapes, which proceed
from the base of the growth. During the growing
season the heat of an East Indian house will suit
them admirably, giving an abundant supply of water
to the roots and keeping the atmosphere always
moist. After growth is completed they should be
removed to the Cattleya or intermediate house, and
very little water given them, but it should never be
entirely withheld. Paphinias should be grown in
small baskets or shallow pans suspended from the
roof ; drainage should be ample, and just a little
rough peat and Sphagnum used to keep the plant
in position. Although these plants enjoy strong
heat, their leaves are easily disfigured if they are
exposed to the strong sun. They are somewhat
difficult to keep in health for a lengthened period,
unless great attention is given them.
P. CEISTATA, the best known species, was intro-
duced to our gardens upwards of fifty years ago.
Its pseudo-bulbs are small and clustered, oblong,
bearing two or three plicate leaves, which are from
G inches to 8 inches in height, and bright green.
The scape appears about the time the young growth
attains full size, but before the pseudo-bulb is fully
formed, and usually bears from two to three flowers,
each of which is from 3 inches to SJ inches across ;
sepals and petals similar in size, shape, and colour ;
lanceolate acute, ground colour yellowish white,
very closely streaked with transverse lines of deep
brown ; lip three-lobed ; the lobes curiously shaped,
blackish purple, the front lobe ornamented with a
tuft of club-shaped hairs ; column large and con-
spicuous, yellowish green. Its fiowers last in per-
fection two or three weeks.
P. EUGOSA. — The pseudo-bulbs of this pretty, al-
though variable, plant are rounder than those of P.
cristata. The scape is usually two-flowered ; sepals
and petals yellowish, somewhat sparingly dotted
and spotted with rich brown ; lip white, spotted
with purple. In the variety Sanderiana the sepals
and petals are creamy white passing into yellow,
and spotted with purple ; whilst the lip is reddish
purple, fringed with white hairs.
P. GBANDis is a very robust-growing species, and
produces fiowers twice the size of those of P. cris-
tata, but they only half expand. The sepals and
petals are large, the top half wholly bright reddish
purple ; lower half creamy white, densely streaked
with transverse lines of reddish purple ; lip three-
lobed, side lobes incurved, dull brown ; front lobe
spreading, blackish purple, terminated in front with
a curiously shaped tuft of white hairs. It blooms in
autumn. Native of Brazil. W. H. G.
Longevity of Orchid blooms.— The grand
specimens of Cymbidium Lowianum which exist in
Mr. Measures' garden at Streatham afford a strik-
ing example of the length of time the flowers last
in perfection. The plants opened their flowers in
the second week in February last, and although they
are now beginning to lose colour, this is attributable
July 23, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
59
to the recent hot weather rather than to exhaustion.
These specimens even when out of bloom are ex
ceedingly ornamental, and plainly show the errors
of those who assert that Orchids are miserable plants
without their flowers. A very large importation of
this species has recently been received by Mr. Low,
of Clapton, in whose nursery the plants are pushing
into growth most vigorously, so that the plant is
likely to be so reduced in price as to be within the
reach of all those desirous of possessing really hand-
some free-flowering Orchids. This Cymbidium is a
terrestrial species and thrives well in a mixed col-
lection of stove plants. — W. H. G.
CATTLEYA GIGAS.
The note of " W. H. G." upon this plant (p. StJT)
rather implies that a weak-growing plant is more
likely to bloom than a strong one. I presume, of
course, he meant the natural habit of the plant, as,
although a plant may have a small habit, it must be
robust to bloom properly. It may be that climatic
conditions here are favourable in a great measure
to enable our plants to bloom as they do, but I
certainly do think a great deal of our success is
due to the treatment the plants obtain. It may
interest some readers who have not been so fortu-
nate as we have if I detail the treatment the plants
get. Granted the plants are in good order when
bought as imported ones, and have bloomed freely
in their native home (I make a point never to buy a
shy-flowering one), they are without delay put in
baskets or pans and crocked up, and after a time,
when roots appear, good peat or trepho is added
(the latter we find agrees well with new roots of all
Cattleyas). They are hung up high in the house,
which is a curvilinear span, and runs east and west.
Plenty of water is given during the growing season,
and only a very moderate quantity when the plants
are at rest ; but there is no drying off, like some
people do, till the two sides of the bulb touch each
other. When they start in spring, of course more
water is given. The blooms and growth now speak
for themselves. I will now give a few details of
the sizes of some of the plants when bought and
now, and what growths they have made. If anyone
likes to come and see them, I will be glad to tell
them all I can to further the growth of this still
reputed shy-flowering, but gorgeous C'attleya.
My No. 1()6 (C. g. Sanderiana, bought July 6.
1883) had four bulbs and no leaves ; it produced a
five-flowered spike in 1886, the largest one 11 inches
across. This year it had six flowers, and, in addi-
tion, this plant has a second smaller lead, on which
it has not yet bloomed. It has now eleven bulbs,
the largest 10 inches high by 2-| inches in circum-
ference.
C. g. Sanderiana, Xo. 173, bought Nov. 16, 1882,
had two bulbs, one immense one 10 inches high by
3 inches in circumference (the old leaf of this plant,
which unhappily fell off at once, was 12 inches bv
i inches). Our largest new bulb is 8^ inches bv
2^ inches in circumference; leaf 11 inches by 2|
inches. The plant has now nine bulbs. Lastyearit
produced a five-flowered spike (after a three-bloomed
one in 1885) ; this year it broke double on its one
lead, and carried five and three blooms respec-
tively.
Now we come to Cattleya gigas that grows with
C. aurea. On May 7, 1884, I purchased nine plants
just imported. My No. 181 had nine bulbs, and five
leaves, and three natural leads ; it produced a four
and three-flowered spike in 1886, and has now five,
four, and four respectively ; its largest imported bulb
was 6 inches high by 3 inches in circumference ; its
largest now is 10 inches high by 3 inches in circum-
ference, as yet immatured : its largest imported leaf
was 9 inches by 3 inches, and its largest leaf made
here is 13| inches by 3 inches. Nos. 182 and 185 of
the same batch had three and five blooms respec-
tively in the year following their purchase ; they had
nine and six bulbs each. No. 183 of the same lot
was a six-bulbed three-leaved plant with two leads ;
it has now sixteen bulbs and three leads, carrying
three spikes of three flowers each, and a magnificent
variety, the lip intense deep crimson, the two eyes
being the smallest pair I have seen, only quarter of an
inch in diameter, and the yellow lines in throat hardly
visible at all at 6 feet or 8 feet away. 1 could mul-
tiply examples, but will only mention one more. On
September 5, 1884, I purchased a six-bulbed plant,
which carried in its native home a seven-flowered
spike. I showed it at the Orchid conference in
May, 1885, carrying a five-bloomed one on the first
bulb. That bulb was not two-thirds the natural
size ; it has not bloomed since, but has grown im-
mensely. I expect that plant to carry more than
seven flowers on a spike in time. Mr. Nevile AVyatt's
plant, with spikes of nine, six, six, five, is evidence
in its favour, and should conclusively prove this
Cattleya is worth more trouble than most people
give to it. I do not say we have no Cattleya gigas
that does not grow like a weed ; we have one that has
had a hard time of it, but it has made a start., and
is now growing freely, and I fear no evil result in its
case, as it is one of the batch of Cattleyas that con-
tained No. 181. The reason it did badly, I think,
was that it was the only one potted. Basket or pan
growth is undoubtedly the better, although the
two C. gigas Sanderiana I have mentioned are both
in pots, as are some other C. gigas 1 have, but then
the latter were bought so out of collections. One
thing is evident to us, that C. gigas grown suspended
is far better than on the stage, and it is a far cleaner
habited plant than many of its fellows. There is
one thing I would impress on anyone establishing
C. gigas — this is based on our experience with two
plants I bought out of collections. Never put them
on to Tree Fern stems and plunge them in pots. They
do well for a time, and the roots run riot on them,
and eventually penetrate them as the parts become
softer from decay. After a time decay is so rapid,
that the roots succumb also, and all of a sudden
the plant is in a state of absolute starvation. Now
comes the rub ; all the Fern matter has to be cleared
oflt it, and the plant must be re-started in an ex-
hausted condition. Our plan now is to cut out the
roots where possible (if by any chance I purchase
one on a stem), and start it at once according to
our usual plan. If anyone has a C. gigas that does
not do well their way, try ours ; and if they are
doubtful of the result, come and see the facts on
which this is based. Patience and strength of plant
will produce the desired result, and when in bloom,
there is no Cattleyatomymindthatisequal toagood
variety of C. gigas, with the exception of C. Dowiana,
but in this we have a really difiicult subject to
manage. 1 fear there are few who can chronicle
continued success with C. Dowiana. I hope, how
ever, to do so some day. De B. Cbawshay.
Anguloas. — The flowers of these plants obtain
the name of El Torito, or Bull's Head, in their
native country. Several kinds are now flowering in
Mr. Measures' garden. The blooms of Anguloas are
not of graceful beauty, but their bold character
contrasts well with those of other genera, and the
length of time they last in perfection renders the
various species extremely useful for those who
desire to exhibit their plants in public. A. Clowesi
is represented by a form bearing exceptionally large
Tulip-like flowers of a deep rich yellow; its fra-
grance is not agreeable to some, resembling, as it
does, that odour which pervades a medicine-chest,
but it is not sufficiently strong to be offensive. A.
Ruckeri is similar in size and shape ; its flowers are
pale tawny yellow, profusely dotted and spotted with
reddish crimson, the small lip being deep crimson.
A. Ruckeri sanguinea differs in the inside of the
sepals and petals being wholly deep blood colour.
A. eburnea — This form first flowered in the collection
of Messrs. Jackson and Son, of Kingston, in 1855,
where in the spring of the same year Lycaste Skin-
neri alba first flowered. The last-mentioned plant
died the same year through being buried in snow,
but what became of the Anguloa I do not now
recollect. The existence of both these plants has
been much questioned, but their identity at the pre-
sent time is unquestionable. A. eburnea, which is
still very rare, is figured in vol. iii. of the " Orchid
Album," from a specimen which flowered with Sh'
Trevor Lawrence, and at the present time a fine
plant is flowering with Mr. Measures. The pseudo-
bulbs are large and of an intense deep green. The
Tulip-like flowers are scarcely as large as those of
the best forms of A. Clowesi, and are pure ivoiy-
white, saving the small lip, which is freckled with
pink dots, whilst the column is pale lemon colour.
All are natives of Columbia. — W. H. G.
Fromensea citrina. — This beautiful dwarf-
growing Orchid is now flowering with Mr. Shuttle-
worth in his nursery at Clapham. These plants have
become somewhat scarce in collections, but are well
deserving the attention of all lovers of Orchids, more
especially of those amateurs only possessing small
houses in which to grow their plants, as large masses
of these Promensas occupy but a small space, whilst
the flowers are gay and last a long time in perfection.
In P. citrina the flowers are deep yellow, bearing a
blotch of crimson at the base of the lip. Mr.
Shuttleworth grows his plants in the cool end of the
Cattleya house. — W. H. G.
Dendrobium superbiens. — We recently ob-
served this lovely species flowering most profusely
in Mr. Williams' nursery at Upper HoUowoy. The
first plants of this that were introduced appeared
to be very shy bloomers, but the form inti educed
by Mr. Williams is quite the opposite, even small
plants a few inches high producing long racemes of
bloom. The pseudo-bulbs attain a height of 2 feet
to 3 feet, the racemes bearing from one dozen to
two dozen rich, warm, purple flowers. T':,e blooms
will last several months ; whilst from the peculiar
habit of the plant, which continues to produce
flower spikes from the old growths for several years,
afairly strong specimen is seldom without flowers. It
is a native of New Guinea, in the neighbourhood of
Torres Straits, and delights in strong heat and sun-
shine all the year round, and an unlimited supply
of water whUst growing. — W. H. G.
Cattleyas from The 'Woodlands, Streat-
ham. — I send you a few Cattleya flowers. I am
afraid, owing to pressure of other matters, I
have delayed it a little too long, as my gardener
tells me they are not so good in form or
variety as we had three weeks ago ; hot weather
has materially interfered with them. No. 1, Cat-
tleya Leopoldi (Woodlands variety), I think you will
admire ; it is the finest form I have seen. Nos. 2
to 6, varieties of Gaskelliana. No. 7, varieties of
Gaskelliana alba; it was my intention to send you
C. Blunti, C. Mossiie alba, and C. Wagneri, but un-
fortunately they are too far gone. No. 8, C.Wameri.
No. n, C. labiata, the old true pallida ; and last, but
not, I think, least, Nos. 10 and 11, Mendeli ma-
crantha and Mendeli Fraseriana. We have been
particularly fortunate, commencing January 13 with
a fine variety of C. Trianse, and up to now have
continued with some extraordinary beauties in the
Jlossife, Mendeli, and labiata sections. — R. H.
Measures.
*^* A magnificent lot of flowers, especially the
C. Mendeli Fraseriana and C. M. macrantha, whilst
C. Gaskelliana alba was very chaste. The Woodlands
variety of C. Ijcopoldi is by far the finest form of
this species we have seen. Your statement respect-
ing the succession of Cattleya which you have had
throughout the entire season should convince the
greatest sceptic that Orchids are free-flowering
plants. — Ed.
WANTED, A BOOK.
To THE Editor of The Garden.
Sir, — Can you inform me if any book has yet
been attempted containing a botanical description
of our garden and greenhouse flowering plants,
assigning them to their proper orders, and mention-
ing their first introduction into this countiy, their
natural habitats, and by whom first grown ? Such
a work would be most valuable, since many of the
mistakes in cultivation arise from total ignorance
of the conditions under which the plants grow in
their natural state ; hence the process with a new
plant is in many cases purely empyrical. First one
method is tried and then another, till at last some-
thing approaching its proper treatment is discovered .
As regards classification, I have heard a University
man, supposed to be a botanist, insist on referring
a Cineraria to the Solanacese (little as you may
believe such a mistake possible), and the majority
60
THE GARDEN.
[July 23, 1887.
of US regard a Gloxinia as a glorified Foxglove,
knowing nothing whatever of the country it comes
from, its introducer, and the date of its introduction.
The history of the first Fachsia, known to a few, is
interesting enough. Doubtless that of many other
plants would be equally so, notably that of our first
Tulip. The subject is an extensive one. I would
suggest a larger work and an abbreviation, with the
practical portion for the use of florists and nursery-
men. It appears to me that such a book would be
pre-eminently useful. A Subscbibeb.
*^* We print this, but hope it will not lead to
the ruin of any unfortunate publisher who may
attempt to do all. Some of the older books, such
as Don, Paxton, Moore, and Lindley, are very full
for their time. — Ed.
Chrysanthemums.
E. MOLYNEUX.
APPLYING STIMULANTS.
Chrysanthemums are such gross feeders that,
for whatever purpose the plants are cultivated,
they rof[uire stimulants to bring out the charac-
ters of each variety. Chrysanthemums, when
in proper health and given all the necessary
attention before and after potting into their
flowering pots quickly make growth, and fUl the
pots into which they were last transferred with
roots. Many growers do not advise the use of
stimulants until the flower buds are formed and
swelling, but why, it is difficult to understand,
as by that period the nourishing matter in the
soil will have been absorbed by the roots, so
that some check to the plants must necessarily
ensue if manure in some form or other is not
given. When the pots are sufliciently filled
with roots is the proper period to commence the
use of stimulants. The strongest growing kinds,
as, for instance. Prince Alfred among the in-
curved, and Fair Maid of Guernsey in the
Japanese section, quickly make roots, while the
most delicate growing varieties, such as Princess
Beatrice and Balmoreau, are not very free root-
ing ; therefore examine first some of the medium
growing kinds. Of course, the time when
plants growing under various kinds of treat-
ment require stimulants will be guided by the
time they received their last shift, the size of
the pots, and the kind of soil used. Some soils
are more favourable to root-production than
others, and it will also depend upon the manner
in which the potting was done and the varieties
grown when feeding will be required. Plants
cultivated for specimens will first require atten-
tion, owing to their being grown on early in the
season. Examples grown in the bush style and
intended for conservatory use will need stimu-
lants early in the season where it is required to
have the foliage in the best condition. This
applies especially to Pompons and single varie-
ties, as they are generally grown in compara-
tively small pots.
As regards the best stimulants, it may be men-
tioned that liquid manures, such as the drain-
ings from cow houses and stables, are excellent.
Where liquid manure cannot be had from tanks
direct from the places named, a very good sub-
stitute may be had from a heap of mixed ma-
nure. The best plan is to throw clean water
over the heap, and allow the water to soak
through the manure, and drain into a pit at the
side of the heap. Soot is almost indispensable.
Some growers sprinkle it on the surface of the
soil ; this is a mistake, as it becomes caked and
prevents the water soaking into the soU. Others
place a quantity in a water-pot of water and stir
it until dissolved. Applied in this form it has
the same eifect as sprinkling on the surface of
the soil in a dry state. The proper method of
using soot in a liquid form is to place as much
as is required into a sack, and the water soaking
through the soot in the bag becomes charged
with the manurial properties. Water prepared
in this manner may be given to the plants every
time they require watering for a week, after
which period it is better to withhold soot-water
for three weeks, then give them another course .
One bushel of soot in a bag to 100 gallons of
water will be ample. The water at all times
should, if possible, be soft or rain water, but
where many plants are grown this is difficult to
obtain during the summer months. Chrysan-
themums quickly show the eifects of cold hard
water from springs and wells, and many
growers have no means of softening the water
sufficiently before using, neither have they space
to make it soft by adding common washing
soda at the rate of a quarter of a pound to 36
gallons of water, previously dissolving the soda
in hot water, and allowing the whole to stand
twenty-four hours before using. Soda applied
in this way acts as a stimulant to the plants.
Water that comes direct from wells and the
pipes of the water company in the neighbour-
hood of towns, causes, when the plants require
water two and sometimes three times each day,
the foliage of some sorts, such as Boule d'Or,
Meg Merrilies, and Golden Dragon, to assume
a sickly yellow hue. This is disheartening to
the cultivator, but it may not be very injurious,
as such plants when placed under cover in the
autumn, where they have the advantage of soft
water collected in the house tanks, soon regain
their deep green colour. Sheep manure, where
it can be obtained fresh from the fields, makes
a capital stimulant applied in a liquid form.
Prepare it as follows : Place the manure in a
bag to prevent its being mixed with the
water ; put the bag in a tub or tank of water
and allow it to soak for twelve hours, when
the water will be ready for use, and by
moving the bag about in the water occasion-
ally a regular supply may be maintained until
the manure is exhausted. Excellent liquid
manure can also be made from deer droppings
or cow manure made in the same way. It is
difficult to state the exact quantity of manure
to use. A safe guide is to use the liquid made
from animal manures when of the colour of
brown brandy. There are many kinds of artifi-
cial manures now in use which no doubt are all
excellent substitutes for animal manures. The
advantage of chemical manures is their easy ap-
plication, and each cultivator of experience has
his own particular kind. Guano finds favour with
some growers. It is easily prepared, and when
of good quality very stimulating ; a 4-inch pot-
ful to thirty-six gallons of water is a safe quan-
tity to tise. Nitrate of soda, used judiciously at
the rate of half a teaspoonful to a 10-inoh pot
and watered in, has a quick effect on the foliage
and growth of the plants. To use it in excess
of the quantity named is a mistake, as it forces
the growth too rapidly.
When plants are well furnished with roots,
sulphate of ammonia, applied with care, is a
capital stimulant — perhaps none better — but
great care in its use is necessary. I have seen
plants which have lost nearly all their foliage
and others killed by its injudicious use. It
is decidedly risky to use it in any other than
a weak form. The safest way to apply it that I
am acquainted with is as follows : Dissolve one
tablespoonful in four gallons of liquid manure,
and apply it to the plants once a week. Some
growers sprinkle the ammonia on the surface of
the soil and water it in ; but this is dangerous
to the surface roots, as they are liable to be
burnt. While writing about the use of soot
as a stimulant, I omitted to caution those persons
for whom these notes are written (beginners)
against the misuse of it. I have seen plants
severely injured through applying it too freely,
but by following the instructions I have given,
no risk need be apprehended from the use of
soot. Chrysanthemums require a change of
food, and the stimulants should be varied,
using one sort for, say, a week, then have ■ an-
other. To the strongest-growing varieties sti-
mulants should be given every time water is
required if the plants are well rooted. Of course
they must be used in a weak state to begin with,
increasing the strength as the plants grow. In
the case of weaker-growing kinds, liquid ma-
nure should be occasionally given. Overfeeding
brings on premature bud formation or malfor-
mation of the petals. It is not wise to apply
stimulants when the soil in the pots is allowed
to become very dry, but when the soil in the
pots is approaching dryness is the proper time
to afford'nourishment.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 606.
CHOICE MAXILLARIAS.
(with coloured plate op m. sanderiana.*)
Although many plants which were at one time
included in this genus have been removed from
it, MaxUlaria still contains a great number of
species. It is a genus of Orchids which of late
years has not found much favour with Orchid
growers, as those kinds which produce small and
insignificant flowers so largely predominate.
Some few kinds, however, are exceptions to the
above rule, and are well deserving a place in
every collection of plants, whilst several of
the small-flowered kinds are deserving of
cultivation simply on account of the grateful per-
fume yielded by their blooms. These plants,
moreover, are so extremely robust in habit and
so easy to cultivate, that the merest tyro may
be sure of success in their management. MaxU-
larias are nearly all cool-house plants, although
some assert they require a high temperature
when growing ; but those who wish to have their
plants grow vigorously and flower freely will do
well to follow our advice and keep them
in the Odontoglossuni house, and even in such
situations during the recent excessive heat the
plants have been showing signs of distress. I
had the good fortune to originate the treatment
of Orchids on the cool system, and have ever
since been stoutly advocating the cause. At
first it met with great opposition, and at the
present time there are many who fear to give the
system a fair trial ; at the same time, although
my experience has taught me that the majority
of Orchids will only thrive under cool treat-
ment, I entirely object to the phrase, "Green-
house Orchids," as being misleading, especially
to amateurs, who naturally suppose they may
introduce Orchids amongst the Pelargoniums
and Fuchsias. In such positions Orchids are
sure to fail, although they thrive in even a lower
temperature than such plants wiU. Maxillarias
thrive best treated as pot plants. The drainage
must be perfect ; indeed, I always have main-
tained that perfect drainage is half the battle in
the cultivation of any plant, and the more I
study the subject the more confident I feel that
I am right. The soil should consist of fibrous
peat and Sphagnum Moss, but the peat should
have all the fine i^articles shaken out, or the
soil will soon become sour, and the roots of the
plants will decay. When growing, these plants
* Drawn for The Garden at Mr. Doi-man's, Syden-
ham, by H. G. Moon, July 1, 1886, and printed by G.
Severeyns.
L'lAid LL ARI A_ S A"N DE RIAN A .
July 23, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
61
require a liberal supply of water, but after
growth is complete less water should be given ;
but it must not be entirely withheld, or the
pseudo-bulbs will shrivel and the plants wUl
require considerable care and attention to restore
them to health.
M. Sanderiana. — This plant is of recent intro-
duction, and still remains very rare : its beauty
has given quite an impetus to the growth of
Masillarias. This species was introduced by Mr.
Sander, of St. Albans, whose name it bears, and was
first bloomed by Baron Schrceder, who exhibited it
at the Orchid Conference held by the Royal Horti-
cultural Society in May, 1885. Mr. Sander informs
us that this was one of the lucky finds of his
collector, Mr. Edward Klaboch, while scouring the
mountains of Peru, and that it grows at an elevation
of 4000 feet, so that even this species may be re-
garded more as a cool-house than a tropical subject.
The plant from which our plate was taken flowered
in the collection of Mr. Dorman at Sydenham in
188(3. As to treatment, Mr. Sander says that the
plant is at present so scarce in Europe that few
have any practical knowledge of its requirements,
but those who have grown it say it is a plant of
easy culture when established ; but as the plants
hitherto imported have travelled badly, it has not
at present proved an easy plant to restore to vitality
after its journey to this country. Those who have
the good fortune to possess this plant, I believe
have kept it in an intermediate temperature, fearing
the cool-house would not afford sufiicient excite-
ment to induce it to root strongly ; but in all proba-
bility, when fuUy established, it will be found to
enjoy as low a temperature as the other species, and
when so treated it will bloom more profusely. The
few ghmpses obtained of its flowers lead me to
assert that it is at once the largest and most
beautiful flowered species of the genus hitherto
brought to the notice of Orchid growers.
M. GEANDIFLOEA comes from Peru at consider-
able elevations, and thrives best under very cool
treatment. The pseudo-bulbs are ovate, flattened at
the edges, and bear a pair of oblong, dark green,
leathery leaves, which are from 9 inches to a foot
in length. The scape is erect, one-flowered ; the
blooms are some i inches across, and appear towards
the middle of autumn ; they yield a delicious per-
fume, and remain in beauty several weeks ; sepals
and petals pure waxy white ; lip three-lobed,
pouched ; side lobes deep purple ; middle lobe
white at the base, passing into yellow towards the
front. A figure of this species is given in the recently
published " Dictionary of Gardening" as M. venusta.
M. LUTEO-ALBA. — This is another cool-house
plant which is valuable, as it produces quantities of
flowers even when quite young, and these are ex-
ceedingly useful for cutting. The plant attains a
height of about 18 inches; the pseudo-bulbs are
clustered, somewhat ovate in shape, with flattened
sides, and bear a single, broad, deep green leaf,
which is about a foot long. The scape bears a soli-
tary flower, which measures some 6 inches in
diameter ; the sepals are large and spreading, white
at the base, the remainder tawny yellow; petals
erect, about half as long as the sepals, white at the
base, tawny yellow at the tips, the middle portion
flushed with dull purple ; lip three-lobed, the side
lobes small, erect, yellow streaked with radiating
lines of purple; the front lobe oblong, recurved,
yellow, bordered with white. New Grenada.
M. OCHEOLEUCA. — This is an old, but very little
known species; it is a most desirable plant on
account of the quantity of blooms it produces. The
pseudo-bulbs are somewhat oblong-ovate, and bear
a single obtuse, strap-shaped, dark green leaf.
Flowers numerous, about 2 inches across ; sepals
spreading, petals erect, all pure white in the basal
part, the upper portions clear yellow, the middle
triangular lobe of the lip reddish brown.
M. VENUSTA is another charming species; it is
somewhat similar in general appearance to M.
grandifiora, but is more robust in its growth.
The scape bears a single flower, which is nearly
6 inches across and pendulous (not erect, as in
grandifiora). The sepals and petals are spread-
ing, gradually tapering upwards to a fine point, the
latter slightly crisp on the margins, all pure snow-
white; lip white, stained with pale yellow, and
bearing two reddish crimson spots on the disc. It
blooms during winter and spring, and the flowers
continue in perfection a very long time. It is found
in Ocana at an altitude of 6000 feet.
W. H. G.
Fruit Garden.
W. COLEMAN.
A BOOK ABOUT STRAWBERRIES.
If an acre of good ground wQl produce two tons
of fruit — our moist temperate climate just suits
the plant, and there is no danger of American
competition — the fourth edition of this prac-
tical work, by Mr. Lovel, of Driffield, is worthy
of perusal by every grower, perhaps equally
successful, but who is not above hearing what
other people have to say upon this interesting
and, I think, profitable subject. Although it
does not extend beyond fifteen pages, and can
be read in a few minutes, every line is so full of
practical information — 1st, on the preparation
of the soil ; 2nd, on the selection of runners ;
3rd, on the best time to plant ; and 4th, on
after-management— that I have no hesitation in
saying many will read it with profit, and aU with
pleasure. Passing the preface, which is trite
and to the point, we find the writer dividing the
few pages between summer planting, spring
planting, field culture, and general remarks.
The first is most generally practised, the second
not so much as it ought to be, and the third
should be carefully read by the farmer before he
enters upon culture in the fields. The Straw-
berry season now passing away has been excep-
tionally trying, quite the reverse of moist and
temperate, growers living in all parts of the
kingdom having had to contend with heat and
drought rarely experienced in Britain. In some
places ^the plants have been killed ; in others
the crop has been light, the fruit small and
quickly over ; whilst on suitable soils, well pre-
pared and worked upon Level's system, the
Tesvdt is satisfactory. A correspondent the
other day stated that the Strawberry could
hardly be called a biennial ; others drew atten-
tion to the certainty of a profuse bloom from
every tiny runner allowed to root and settle
down on the lazy or broad-cast bed or the hard
path ; and the writer of the pamphlet con-
firms their remarks by showing how the finest
fruit can be obtained from plants treated as
annuals. The term, perhaps, is hardly correct,
as an amiual, I believe, must be grown from its
origin to the flowering or seeding condition
within the year. It is, however, near enough,
as we know that a sound, healthy runner,
pegged down in July or August, will produce
ripe fruit before those months come round
again.
Mr. Lovel, a perfect stranger to me, is evidently
thoroughly master of his plants as well as the
climate, as samples of Sir Joseph Paxton, Sir
Charles Napier, and Filbert Pine, just arrived
from Yorkshire, are very large, bright, and
richly flavoured. A few lusty young runners
accompanying the fruit are excellent, and would
gladden the heart of the most fastidious Straw-
berry forcer just now in many parts of the
country on the outlook for a scarce article. I
have often drawn attention to the importance
of getting young plants from a distance as well
as change of soU, and Mr. Lovel's remarks I
find freely bear out my views. Moreover, he
strongly urges marking out the beds 4 feet wide
with 2-feet alleys between them, and planting
three rows on each bed 18 inches apart every
way. The Potato is the best preparatory crop.
August is the best time to put out the plants,
which must be kept free from weeds and
runners, watered in dry weather, and mulched
to keep the roots near the surface. It is, how-
ever, to spring planting, the method recom-
mended by " Hortus " and others, and so
thoroughly carried out by Mr. Lovel, that I
would direct special attention. He says : —
To grow the Strawberry to perfection it should be
growu as an annual, and the young plants left un-
disturbed. To obtain a bed in the shortest time stock
plants should be put out in April, a single row along
the centre of a 5-foot bed, distance 18 inches, as in
summer planting. In June the first crop of runners
will be ready for layering ; ten from each plant wiD be
sufiicient to save, the remainder should be out off.
When the runners are 18 inches in length and show a
nice plant at the second joint it is time to have them
layered. Proceed as foUows : Take the mnner in the
left hand, trim off all to the best young plants, which
will be found at the second joint of the runner. Scoop
a shaUow hole in the soil as far from the parent plant
as the runner will allow, cover with an inch of boU,
and secure with a stone or peg. Treat each runner in
the same way half on each side of the parent row,
spreading them out as much as possible to prevent
crowding. In a very short time these layered plants
will be rooted and commence throwing out a fresh crop
of runners ; select the best, and a sufficient number to
cover the bed without crowding. By the end of
September the bed will be furnished with young plants
all firmly rooted ; avoid crowding by allo^ong 6 inches
to 12 inches apart, when every plant that gets rooted
in autumn, no matter how small, will contribute one
or more bunches of fruit the following season. This is
the very best possible plan of growing them if proper
attention is given to layering and thinning out the
surplus growths. The bed should be mulched with
manure early in February, and if a little in a finely
broken state falls upon the plants, no harm will be
done, as they will soon grow tlirough it.
Genehal remabks. — The fruit from yearlings
is far superior in quality and larger in berry
than that from older plants. The Strawberry
will live and bear fruit for twenty years, but
the roots as well as the leaves are a new growth
every year. If we examine a plant we shall
find it to consist of three distinct parts, viz. , the
roots, the rootstock or corm, and the leaves.
The leaves are annual, they ripen, wither, and
die, and fresh ones supply their place in sum-
mer. The same process goes on with the roots ;
the last year's roots are of no use to the plant,
and it depends entirely upon a fresh growth.
With a young plant on fresh soU the roots are
equal to the support of the leaves, but with an
old plant the case is difierent ; the soU is pre-
occupied by the old roots, and there is often
lack of moisture ; hence the supply of new roots
is sadly deficient. The result is a large plant
full of small leaves, but with very weak root
power ; the berries ripen slowly, are small,
husky, and flavourless. It may seem heroic to
wage war and subdue Nature, but we shall ever
find it uphill work and need not feel surprised
if we are defeated in the conflict. Better work
in harmony with her laws and not attempt to
alter the habit of a plant, but learn a lesson
which the persistent growth of the Strawberry
runner teaches us. What vigoux it displays ;
how tenacious of life and how quickly it roots
in the hard path. What a host of roots a young
plant has, and, as a natural consequence, fine
large, healthy leaves are developed. Every
Strawberry grower knows that it is only young
plants that are fruited under glass, and yet
when we come to outdoor culture, this fact is
lost sight of. The safest and best way to grow
the Strawberry is to work with young plants ;
all they require is good soil and plenty of room.
Waterloo Strawberry. — This variety was
shown at South Kensington on July 12, and it
is being grown for trial in the Royal Horticultural
Society's Garden at Chiswick. There can be no
62
THE GARDEN.
[July 23,- 1887-.
doubt as to its distinctness, and in respect to its
other qualities, it may be said to be first rate, tliough
some object to the deep purple colour of the fruits,
which are well shaped, flatfish, handsome, and larger
than those of President ; the flesh is deep red, firm,
and with a flavour resembling that of Keen's Seed-
ling. It does not, however, make such a sturdy
growth as some varieties; but the large size of
the fruits helps to make up for their comparative
scarcity. It is also late, a point of no small im-
portance.— C.
FRUIT GROWING AT ORLEANS HOUSE.
Thbeb are comparatively few gardens where so
much space is devoted to the culture of fruit as at
Orleans House, Twickenham, and a few hours spent
with Mr. O. B. Hiehle, the head gardener, is time
profitably employed.
Peaches and Nectarines are largely grown, and
the trees are in splendid condition, both indoors
and on open walls, not a trace of red spider
being visible, notwithstanding that the season has
been especially favourable to this dreaded pest. In
one house, a lofty curvilinear with a south aspect,
we saw a very fine tree of Elruge Nectarine, which
is considered here the very best of all varieties, and
this conclusion has not been arrived at without
thoroughly testing the qualities of the various other
kinds. Near this Nectarine was a tree of Stirling
Castle Peach and one of Noblesse, both excellent
varieties, and bearing heavy crops of large pro-
mising fruit. The feature of the place, however, is
the large Peach house constructed upon Tracey's
principle, and is a three-quarter span, the length
being 250 feet without any division. It is constructed
mainly of zinc, and the panes of glass may be made
to slip in and out of the zinc grooves, so that putty
is dispensed with. The heating is accomplished bV
two flow pipes and one return, and the house
answers its purpose thoroughly. It has a south-
west aspect, and it is worthy of note that though
the trees, now six years old, were only planted in
the house last December, they are now bearing a
large crop of splendid fruit ; in one instance
we counted upwards of 4S0 fruits upon a single
specimen. The trees covered a space of from
15 yards to 20 yards, and their clean, healthy,
and thriving condition testifies to the high skill of
Mr. Hiehle. The varieties included such useful
kinds as Goshawk, of which there was a splendid
specimen laden with fruit; Princess of Wales, Nec-
tarine Peach, which is very prolific; Barrington,
Prince of Wales, and Sea Eagle. From here we
were taken to the early Peach and Nectarine house,
in which the trees were in the same healthy condi-
tion as those in the large structure. This was
li;0 feet in length, and all the trees were shifted
last winter; they covered on an average a space of
9 yards. Here again the Elruge Nectarine had a
place, also the useful Violette Hative variety, the
fruits being well developed and highly coloured.
In the same house were also examples of Royal
George and Stirling Castle Peaches, both heavily
cropped. The treatment is to keep the house at a
high temperature during the day, but cool at night.
In the fruit garden the great feature is the
Peach and Nectarine wall, which is 3(l.j feet long
and 15 feet high, and faces south. The trees are
from four to six years old, and although only
planted here last winter, they were, at the time of
our visit, bearing abundant crops of large fruits.
Protection is afl^orded from early spring frosts by a
glass coping of simple construction, standing out
from the wall 2 feet (i inches, and doubled Straw-
beiTy nets, suspended in front, give quite sufficient
shelter. The principal Nectarine grown out of
doors is the variety known as Victoria, which is
valuable for its lateness. Prince of Wales, Pine-
apple, and Albert are also kinds highly esteemed.
Of the Peaches, the Salway variety is one of the
best, and there were also trees of Osprej, Golden
Eagle, Lord Palmerston, and Walburton Admirable ;
the two last-mentioned varieties Mr. Hiehle con-
siders, after thorough trial, are of no value for
indoors, but in the open they succeed well. The
Walburton Admirable needs slight protection, and,
unless care is taken, the fruits are apt to become
disfigured by rain ; it is a very fine late variety.
Grapes are also grown here with great success,
the Muscat of Alexandria being the kind that is
most largely represented. In one house, a lofty
lean-to, this splendid Grape was growing in com-
pany with the Madresfield Court Muscat. The
former was in the most vigorous health and bear-
ing large bunches in the most promising condition.
It was interesting to note the Madresfield Court
Muscats, owing to the controversy that has been
carried on in the pages of The Gaeden respecting
the treatment of this Grape. It is bearing heavily,
though the rods have only been two years planted,
and on one or two we noticed upwards of twenty-
two bunches with the berries large and plump. The
Vines are treated the same as those of Muscat of
Alexandria, and there is but little trouble from
cracking. There is also a house 200 feet long de-
voted entirely to Muscat of Alexandria grafted on
black varieties. The house is divided into six
compartments, and last year the amount of produce
was very large. The Vines were in splendid condi-
tion, the bunches large and well shaped, and the
berries plump.
The Strawberry is another specialty, and this
season about 10,00 plants have been forced ; the
variety chiefly grown for this purpose is Sir Charles
Napier, which has large, clean, shapely fruits of
excellent piquant flavour. After the Strawberries
are over, the pits are prepared for Melons. The
forced plants are used for openbeds, and the runners
from these plants used for early work. The popular
President Strawberry is also grown, but this and Sir
Charles Napier are the only two that have a place.
The plants in the open were bearing well, and this
remark applies to the Raspberries, which are in
fine condition here, the fruits large, clean, and
well flavoured. The old Antwerp Yellow was re-
markably productive. There was a good show of
Cherries and Plums, but Apples were much blighted,
owing to the severe dryness of the season. E. C.
STRAWBERRIES.
This cannot be considered a good Strawberry year-
The crop was good, but the plants suffered severely
from the continued drought. Naturally, where
abundant supplies of water can be had, the sea-
son can be considerably extended, but, after all,
artificial watering is but a poor substitute for
rain — at least, so far as the Strawberry is con-
cerned. As in the case of all small fruits, I have
found it advisable with our light soil never to allow
fork or spade in the Strawberry beds. They get a
thorough mulching of half rotten manure late in
the summer after the runners are removed, and
receive no other attention. I find this mulching
answers a double purpose — the stimulating pro-
perties of the manure are carried down by the
autumn rains, and the litter that remains keeps the
plants moist in spring and early summer, and also
provides a clean bed for the fruit. Strawberries do
very well here, and would doubtless stand for many
years, but I find the fruit deteriorates in size after
the third year, so we destroy the plants at this age.
I have seen with surprise that a prejudice still exists
in some quarters against using forced plants in the
formation of new plantations, but, so far as my ex-
perience goes, I decidedly prefer them to runners
The first crop after planting is much heavier. One
special point to be noted where forced plants are
used is not to allow them to suifer until the ground
is ready for them, as if they are thrust on one side
and allowed to get so dry that the foliage is
shrivelled up, there is no doubt but that the future
welfare of the new plantation will be materially
affected. They should have as much attention in
the matter of watering as though they were carry-
ing a crop, and if at all dry at planting time the
balls should have a thorough soaking. If new
plantations are formed in this way a capital crop
can be gathered the first season, but I have never
succeeded in doing this with runners. In the matter
of varieties, Sir J. Paxton is decidedly our best, as
it is hardy and a great and consistent cropper.
Other varieties grown are La Grosse Sucree, Keen's
Seedling, Vicomtesse H. de Thury, President, Dr.
Hogg, and Black Prince. What is the earliest
Strawberry we have in cultivation ? I have never
found anything earlier than Black Prince, and this
on a warm border was ready June 1-t. There is,
however, a variety growing at Cobham which is de-
cidedly earlier. It was ten days before the Prince
this season, and should, therefore, prove a decided
acquisition to the present list of sorts. I did not
see it until the crop, which, however, appeared to
have been good, was nearly over. The fruit was
wedge-shaped, medium sized, and of good colonr ;
the foliage scanty, and the leaf plain and smooth
and sharply cut. E. Bpbeell.
SOIL FOR FRUIT TREES.
One of the great hindrances to the rapid spread of
fruit culture is, in my opinion, owing to the
exaggerated statements made in nearly all treatises
on fruit growing as to the soil necessary for the
various kinds. If one started a range of fruit
houses, and had borders constructed on the
orthodox plan of carting away from 2 feet to 3 feet
of soil, replacing it with drainage, turf, bones,
charcoal, &c., I am certain the borders would cost
more than the houses. It must be understood
that the keen competition in the building trade has
brought down the price of hothouses at least
50 per cent., and soil fit for the purpose of fruit
borders is in thickly populated places now much
more expensive than it was some few years ago.
Very good fruit can, I am sure, be grown without
any elaborate compost ; in fact, those who now
go in for fruit growing for profit have to adopt far
less expensive root-runs for their trees, and splendid
crops are grown of all kinds of fruit year after
year in houses, the borders of which were prepared
just the same as if intended for vegetables. Plenty
of manure was incorporated with the natural soil of
the house, and over the roots of the Vines, Peaches,
or whatever crop was being planted, a barrow-
ful of fresh soil was laid, just to give the trees a
start, and after that the latter depend on surface
dressing to keep them in vigorous health. Although
I have lived in a good many different places, I have
found very few borders that really required any
drainage at all. I remember a large Peach house
that I had planted on an estate where we could
have had hundreds of loads of top-spit pasture soil
for the carting, but being pressed with other work
we simply trenched the soil, added a little
manure, and lifted good strong trees from the
open walls directly the leaves bad fallen, and
we gathered a splendid crop the first season,
and the trees were quite as satisfactory as those in
other borders that had entailed far ' more labour
and expense in making. I can fully understand the
advisability of securing the very best soil for pot
fruit trees or for such borders that are so small as
to be little better than pots. That Vines will grow
in any kind of soil that suits vegetable crops is well
known, and I doubt if anyone ever saw a A'ine die
from the soil being unsuitable, although many fail
through mismanagement. Then there are Peaches,
Nectarines, Apricots, Cherries, Figs, &c., and these
also grow in any fairly good kitchen garden soil ;
indeed, sometimes they thrive too strongly, the
difficulty being to get the wood ripened in our
variable autumns. I have seen trees condemned as
worthless on open walls, but when covered with a
glass roof the plants made healthy growth without
anything being done to the roots, proving that it
was not the soil that caused the mischief. Market
growers are not likely to go to unnecessary expense,
as the margin of profit is not very large ; but, as re-
gards crops, I doubt if more regular or better all-
round crops of Grapes could be found in the king-
dom than those that are grown on the south coast,
and many of the Vines have been planted in the
natural soil and the houses built over them after
the Vines had reached bearing size, but then the
roots have an unlimited run. In many gardens
loads of bricks are used to keep the roots in a given
space, and when I was employed in large forcing
establishments I noticed that these enclosed borders,
even when composed of rich materials, have scarcely
had a root in them, while any fresh compost, even
JuLT 23, 1887.]
^HE GARDEN.
63
the gravel walk if the roots could only get into the
soil, was full of fibrous feeding roots. I determined,
if ever I had any of my own fruit borders to make,
I would try if fruit trees would not do better with
less stimulating food, and I feel confident that any-
one adopting the same plan will never regret it.
Provide a large border, both inside and outside the
house, dig it deeply before planting, and plant in-
side, and never let a season pass without a liberal
top-dressing. The roots must not be allowed to get
dry either in winter or summer ; keep the foliage
clean and healthy, having the wires upon which the
rods are trained far enough from the glass to allow
a current of air to pass between, and in bright
weather keep plenty of moisture in the atmosphere
by damping the walls and floors frequently. Stop
the laterals before they become overcrowded, and
avoid severe cropping and thinning of the foliage,
and if good crops are not obtained, the cultivator's
experience will be different to mine. J. G. H.
SHADE FOR STRAWBERRIES.
I WONDER this has not been more generally thought
of and provided, for is not the Strawberry natu-
rally a shade-loving plant? With such seasons
as the last two — dry, harsh, and sunny, with
little rain and dew — we will be forced back into
old-fashioned modes of bed and sub-cropping cul-
ture. Strawberries in the open this year, and
especially on dry soils, unless where the water
supply is unlimited, have had to fight for their life, to
say nothing about landing perfect crops in safety.
Even that general panacea against drought — a good
mulch — does not solve the far more difBcult and
even more vitally important problem of how to keep
the fruit cool. Gathering some ripe fruit to-day,
semi-baked or roasted over a mulch of stable-yard
manure, the fruit almost scorched hard or black,
and the flavour was either marred or burned out of
them. Practically, it reaUy mattered little which.
The flavour was not in the fruit, and that is the
vital defect which surface mulching certainly does
not cure. Of course, Strawberries should never be
eaten hot, and some may contend that the flavour
returns by cooling. But it does not to any great
extent after the fruit has been semi-baked for a
month at a stretch, as it has this season.
Under these circumstances, and also as our
meteorological prophets foretell a new and pro-
longed series of dry seasons, may it not be worth
the while of Strawberry growers to turn their serious
attention to the provision of some natural method
of shading this delicate and luscious fruit? The
peculiar structure of the Strawberry being virtually
rindless renders it more susceptible of injury from
extreme sunshine than any other fruit. The foliage,
too, does not seem constituted for withstanding any
extremes of heat. It is emphatically a plant for
temperate and not tropical climes, and when
attempts are made to grow it in the latter it either
refuses to set its fruit, or should it set and swell,
the penalty for exposing it to unnatural conditions
is sheer insipidity. All this points to some easy
means of ensuring coolness and shade if we are to
have perfect Strawberries throughout such seasons
as last year and this. Bed and sub-cropping may
prove very efficient aids in keeping Strawberries
cool and affording the necessary shade from scorch-
ing sunshine. Again and again have I found bed-
grown Strawberries of exquisite flavour, while those
in rows have had their refreshing aroma scorched
out of them. Similar and yet more pronounced
results have been obtained by sub-cropping Straw-
berries under bush and other fruit trees. The
shadow of the higher crop when not excessive has
been of the greatest service in shutting out the
direct rays of the sun and keeping roots and fruits
alike cool.
Like many other good things, the shade of the
super-crops was doubtless often carried to excess,
and hence the system got discredited through being
wrongly used. The roots, too, of the Apple, Plum,
or other trees, and Gooseberry and CuiTant bushes,
were often allowed to impoverish the larder that
ought to have been chiefly reserved for the use
of the Strawberries, and hence the latter frequently
dwindled down into small dimensions. But, on the
whole, I really believe that as fine flavoured and pro-
fitable crops of Strawberries have been and are
grown in beds and as sub-crops under fruit trees and
bushes as have ever been produced under the now
almost universal open-row system of the present day.
Grown on these older methods, the cultivator might
water or not almost at pleasure. The leaves of the
Strawberries and foreign foliage of the fruit trees or
bushes shut in the moisture and keep out the scorch-
ing heat. Favoured and fostered by such conditions,
the ample foliage of the Strawberry plants furnished
a dense canopy of shade over the fruit.
The open and wide-row system reverses almost
all these conditions, and so soon as the sun beats on
the leaves for many hours at a stretch, down they
go from the vertical to the horizontal or semi-hori-
zontal position. A small matter, some thoughtless
critics may say ; but a most vital one for the plants
and their fruits. For the latter, now deprived of
their natural screen of leaves, are robbed of their
flavour, and checked in the development of their
size, through the scorching rays of direct sunlight
and heat ; and the leaves, hit on their under side,
are weakened, paralysed, not seldom burnt up by
the heat and warmth that would have strength-
ened and nourished them had it shone on their
crowns where Nature intended it should.
HOETUS.
OLD V. NEW STRAWBERRIES.
Mr. Gilbert's experience, which he has recorded
in The Garden, July IG (p. 38) is to me most sur-
prising. Black Prince and Keen's Seedling I have
grown and forced in my present situation every
year for twenty-three years, and still recommend
them as the best for forcing ; they also hold their
own out of doors against any others ripening at the
same time. It is not so long since Mr. Laxton
raised an early variety, which he named Pioneer.
It was said to surpass everything in the way of
early Strawberries. He sent it to Chiswick, where
it was planted out and fruited well ; further,
the fruit committee of the Royal Horticultural
Society, after seeing it in fruit, gave it their highest
award, a first-class certificate. Who recommends it
now? Has Mr. Gilbert discarded it ? I had enough
of it after one year's trial for forcing ; it is so liable
to be attacked by mildew. It was grown here
under the most favourable conditions for three or
four years, but we could not retain it. King of the
Earlies was grown in our trial collection this year,
but both it and Black Prince suffered much from
the dry weather. I think it is very promising, but
it was not earlier than Black Prince. I said all I
could for it in The Garden, July 2 (p. 605). Mr.
Gilbert is surely in error in saying that King of the
Earlies somewhat resembles Noble, also raised by
Mr. Laxton. I have not grown Noble, but saw the
fruit which was exhibited at the great Liverpool
exhibition last year. The fruit was of the largest
size, handsome and distinct in form, and gave pro-
mise of being a decided acquisition. King of the
Earlies I would class below medium size. The
leaves give trace of its parentage being Black
Prince, which is also below medium size, and, I may
add, is more acid than King of the Earlies.
As the raiser of Losford Hall Seedling, I must
say that Mr. Gilbert's experience is unique. It is
fifteen or sixteen years since I raised a batch of
some 300 seedling Strawberries. The seeds were
taken from fruits that had been carefully hybridised.
They nearly all fruited the first season, and about a
dozen plants were selected for trial again. I thought
very highly of them, and had an idea that at least
four of them were worthy of being introduced, and
grew them for two seasons longer, but they were all
discarded at last but Loxford Hall Seedling. It
was raised by crossing Frogmore Late Pine with a
Continental variety named La Constante, popular
at the time. I exhibited the fruit at various exhibi-
tions, where it was awarded first prizes. It was
also awarded first prize in a good competition at the
Royal Botanic Gardens, Regent's Park, It was sent
out by one of the leading members of the nursery
trade after it was seen growing at Losford Hall by
the principal of the firm and his foreman. It has
been grown in our garden every year since, and as a
proof that it has not deteriorated, I may add that
another member of the nursery trade called here
when it was in fruit last year, and he told me that
if he had seen nothing else but the Loxford Hall
Seedling Strawberry he would have been well re-
paid for his visit. It is a small plant, but most
fruitful; in fact, I cannot understand how Mr.
Gilbert failed in getting it to produce fruit. It is
also the latest fruit we have.
Waterloo is late, but not so late as Loxford Hall
Seedling; it is a large-fruited variety, which will, I
fancy, take a leading place. The fruit is also of
excellent flavour. J. DOUGLAS.
FRUITS UNDER GLASS.
Vines.
Were it possible to have too much of a good
thing, we might safely say we have had more in-
tensely hot weather than has been good for ripe
black Grapes. White varieties will stand any amount
of sun-heat and improve under its influence, always
provided they have plenty of air, but black varieties,
especially Hamburghs, no matter how well they are
finished, soon begin to lose colour after they are
quite ripe ; hence the importance of a little shade,
which can easily be secured by means of two or
three breadths of fishing netting oast over the most
exposed parts of the roof. Of equal importance is
the protection of the external roots, which should
be kept uniformly moist and heavily covered with
good stable manure or the remains of the winter
mulching. A month or six weeks of tropical
weather may have induced some to clear away the
winter mulching, but on no account should less
than 6 inches be left, even on early Vine borders,
otherwise the surface roots will go wrong or to
rest, laterals will cease, and the quick ripening of
the main foliage will follow; then we may hear that
covering has been tried and proved a failure.
3Iidseaso'i Jwiises, in which Grapes are now ripe
or ripening, will require all the air that can be ad-
mitted, plenty of water both to the roots and about
the walls and floors, and a good canopy of foliage
to prevent the sun from striking directly upon the
berries. If spider — no unlikely occupant — has
gained a hold, the syringe must still be plied after
sundown wherever a portion of the foliage can be
treated to a dash of pure soft water without casting
spray upon the fruit, or, much as I dislike it, sulphur
may" be applied to the pipes when they are highly
heated on a dull evening. As fast as the Grapes
are cut the hose must be vigorously plied to cleanse
the foliage, and the inside borders will take liberal
supplies of diluted liquid or pure water through a
deep mulch, whilst guano, soot, or bone-dust cast
over the outside roots will induce the growth of
laterals to an extent that will support the action of
the old leaves until the next bunch-bearing buds
are perfect.
Late houses, containing Lady Downe's, Ali-
cantes, and other winter sorts intended to hang till
Christmas, having had such fine forcing weather,
the fruit should be well advanced and free from
scalding. This troublesome disease or disorder is
always most prevalent in changeable and unsettled
weather ; when days do not favour the full admis-
sion of air, and the temperature of the berries, after
cold nights, does not rise so quickly as that of the
air on bright mornings. The best preventive is a
little fire heat by night to prevent the berries from
condensing moisture and an abundance of air — in
fact warm greenhouse treatment from sunrise until
the berries are as warm as the atmosphere. Scald-
ing in bad seasons does not last more than a fort-
night or three weeks. This year we must not
expect to hear of it, as hot and bright weather has
rendered profuse ventilation imperative. Water in
abundance through good mulching may now be
given every week or ten days ; early closing with
sun heat, after the berries are safe from scalding,
ill save fire heat, and a free growth of laterals will
favour swelling to the fullest extent. If not already
done, a final examination of each cluster should be
made, not only for the rejnoval of imperfectly fer-
64
THE GARDEN.
[JcLY 23, 1887.
tilised berries, but also to give those left an abund-
ance of room, as late Grapes cannot be expected to
keep where the air cannot pass freely through the
bunches when the leaves are falling in November.
The secret of success in keeping these valuable
varieties after they are cut and bottled is perfect
ripening by the end of September, and as this con-
dition cannot be secured without the aid of heat,
the temperature from this time forward should
range from 68° to 70'' by night, with a correspond-
ing rise by day. If early closing, with solar heat,
does not support these figures, gentle firing at the
present time, whilst swelling the berries, will be
more economical and better for the Vines than
sharp firing with treble the amount of fuel when
the Grapes should be sufficiently advanced to
require cooler treatment.
Mascais. — Early crops now fit for cutting cannot
have too much light, which must be secured by
turning or tying the main leaves and laterals aside,
not by cutting them off, and the quicker and better
to secure amber-coloured berries they must have
plenty of heat and air. In the general house pre-
cautions against scalding must not be neglected,
and the principal roots being inside the borders
may be well mulched with short stable manure, the
ammonia from which will keep red spider in check,
whilst the stimulating matter carried down by re-
peated waterings will feed and draw the roots to
the high temperature near the surface — the best of
all preventives of shanking in the autumn. Water
this season is the main factor ; if well warmed by
exposure to the sun, so much the better, otherwise
in a cold state it will do no harm, always provided
it is passed through a good body of mulching.
Pot and newly planted Vines. — Pits and houses
in which these are ripening up will now take less
water and more air, with good daily syringing to
keep the foliage clean and healthy. The roots must
not, however, feel the want of water ; therefore, the
better to maintain an evenly moist condition of the
soil, the pots and borders must be well covered with
some non-conducting material, than which nothing
answers better than the remains of an exhausted
Mushroom bed or frame lining. If not already re-
moved, the laterals from the bottom of each Vine
up to the pruning bud may be cut out close to the
eyes, always be it understood without injuring the
main leaves. Where through accident these have
been lost, the lateral with a leaf attached must be
left as an inferior substitute, and all laterals above
the pruning bud for the present will form safety-
valves if allowed to ramble.
Peaches.
Clean, healthy foliage, not only in early houses
from which the fruit has been gathered, but also in
others less advanced, must be secured at any price.
Good morning and evening syringing should keep
red spider in check, but the passing season is excep-
tional, and no amount of washing will annihilate it
unless the roots are liberally supplied with water.
It is too often the practice to push up or down the
movable lights and leave early-forced trees to take
their chance, but this is haphazard work — the sea-
son may suit them or it may not, and as the next
year's crop depends upon perfect buds, there must
be no relaxation in the supply of water until the
foliage is ripe and falls naturally from the trees.
Old trees that have borne heavy crops of fruit will
stand good mulching and feeding ; young ones will
succeed best under plainer diet, the important point
being moderately strong wood well ripened to the
tips, just enough and no more than is actually
wanted for the winter training, and perfect rest
when the leaves are falling. If constant watering
and syringing induce the formation of breast-wood,
which grows fast and robs the blossom-buds, each
shoot must be cut back to a single leaf as often as
repeated breaks render the operation necessary.
Succession houses in which the fruit is ripening
must have an abundance of air, as good flavour can-
not be secured without it, and should this hot,
parching weather continue, the supply of root and
atmospheric moisture must be on a liberal scale.
The weather of late has been too hot for ripening
fruit ; consequently, heavily cropped trees have
been forced beyond their strength, and the produce
comparatively is smaller than usual, but the colour
and flavour more than compensate for this slight
falling off in weight.
Gatliering and paoldng. — Although many pages
have been devoted to the art of packing this fragile
fruit for long journeys, we still hear of consignments
reaching their destination in unsaleable condition.
The weather, no doubt, sometimes steals a march, and
circumstances occasionally prevent experienced
growers from sending off at the right time ; but mis-
haps, as a rule, are traceable to bad packing and the
use of unsuitable materials. The best material, I have
often stated, is fresh, sweet, well-beaten Moss ; the
worst is common wadding, which sweats and heats
on the journey. Boxes of uniform size and depth,
that win hold twenty-four fruits each, are quite
large enough. Two or three of these, well corded
together, travel the right side upwards and protect
each other. The lids should be slightly nailed.
Plain printed labels are imperative, and the receiver
should always meet them at the terminus. When
fully developed and properly coloured Peaches
quite firm to the touch may be gathered for mar-
ket. I always detach them with a pair of old Grape
scissors, fold each fruit in a square of tissue paper,
make firsts and seconds, and pack a single layer in
each box, with at least an inch of Moss above and
below and dividing in every direction. This Moss,
it must be understood, is not dropped in lightly,
but a solid layer is placed all over the bottom of the
box, then each fruit is firmly placed in a nest of the
same, every crevice is well filled, and a finishing
layer, which requires a little pressure with the lid,
finishes the operation. When Peaches are allowed
to hang upon the trees until fit for home use, they
should be gathered early in the day, with a pad of
wadding in the left hand, as the slightest pressure
with the fingers is followed by a bruise. They
should then be placed on squares of paper in a
padded basket, and there remain in a dry airy room
until they are wanted for the dessert.
Late houses in which the fruit now shows signs of
swelling away from the stoning should be freely
syringed twice a day, and shut up with sun-heat, if
only for a short time in the evening. If delay in
ripening is desirable, plenty of night air may be
admitted, close tying, which checks the growths,
avoided, and last, but not least important, cool
mulching followed by copious watering must not
be neglected. Where dropping has been fostered
by tardy thinning this work must receive immediate
attention, and all pendent fruits that can be raised
to face the sun must be elevated by means of short
pieces of lath, placed or tied to the wires to prevent
them from turning. A drooping Peach may be as
good as another that is well coloured, but it is not
so rich looking and pleasing to the eye, and for this
reason alone its best colour should be upward when
dished in its natural position.
Figs.
The weather has been exceptionally good for
forced Figs, which cannot easily be overdone with
heat, always provided they have a free circulation
of air when ripening and light is freely admitted.
Early houses, from which the second crop is now
being gathered, will take an extra quantity of weak
liquid, as roots are now very numerous and evapora-
tion is great. Syringing just now is an irregular
operation ; for much as the foliage rejoices in a
daily bath it is not well to touch the ripening fruit,
The walls, paths, and the stems of the trees, how-
ever, may be well damped twice a day, and a
thorough overhead syringing will always be safe
after the fruit has been closely gathered. Trees on
the extension principle must be kept free from use-
less spray and neatly tied in, but stopping under
any system after this date is injurious, as second
crop trees have neither the time nor the vigour to
produce and ripen another set of shoots. As the
second crop wears away to the finish, plenty of heat
and air by day, and rest through the night, will
favour the gradual ripening of the wood, which
from this time forward may be divested of late
shows that will not have time to swell to maturity.
It is, of course, possible to take three crops, but the
last, which is of little value, keeps the trees at work
when they ought to be resting, and very often
spoils them for the next year's early forcing. To
prepare Figs for keeping or travelling the air
should be very dry as well as warm through the last
stage, and as this condition checks the swelling of
successional fruit, the most forward may be
gathered from day to day and kept on a hair sieve
or loose paper shavings opposite an open window in
an airy fruit room. Large juicy Figs ripened in
moist heat do not keep long, neither do they travel
well, but by adopting the above method the skin
shrivels a little and becomes dry, when they can be
sent a great distance in good condition. To the
uninitiated the packing of Figs may appear very
diflttcult, but really it is not so. The best bedding
material is very dry, soft Moss or paper shavings,
as each of these contains a certain amount of dry
air, and, unlike wadding, there is freedom from
sweating or heating on the journey. Small boxes
or close, stiff wicker baskets, about 4 inches deep,
are used here ; each Fig is rolled up in one or two
soft, dry Vine leaves, then in tissue paper, and
packed nearly upright, stalk downwards, with an
inch of Moss dividing it from its neighbour. Every
space is then firmly filled, and an even layer of
Moss, which offers slight resistance to the lid, pre-
vents movement, no matter how roughly the pack-
ages may be handled.
Pot trees requiring a shift may be potted as soon
as they have finished fruiting. The pots need not be
large, but they should be clean and dry, and well
crocked, as they will have to pass liberal supplies
of water. Light rich loam, bone dust, and old lime
rubble form a suitable compost, which cannot be
made too firm about the balls by ramming. The
latter, it is needless to say, should be well watered
or soaked before they are turned out, as no after
watering will moisten a dry ball, and another water-
ing after the trees are potted will be necessary.
The preservation of the foliage and quick - root
action being important factors, the newly potted
trees should be taken back to the house or pit,
where with their heads near the glass they can be
syringed twice a day, and shut up early in the
afternoon. Here, if the pit is not wanted for a
better purpose, they may remain until the wood is
ripe and the new pots are full of roots, when they
may be allowed to become comparatively dry at the
root and have an abundance of air. Circumstances
often necessitate the placing of pot Figs out of
doors in the autumn, but ripe wood should be the
first consideration, and the better to secure this, a
dry, warm, sunny place under glass if possible
should be given to them.
T!ie Fig as a standard. — Although pot Figs are
generally trained as pyramids or bushes, they do
equally well, if not better, on clean, single stems as
standards. Strong cuttings with good points or
single eyes started in the usual way in small pots
and trained to sticks, soon attain a height of 3 feet
or 4 feet, and often form a tuft of side shoots at the
end of the first season. If these are sufficiently
numerous they need not be pinched ; indeed, they
winter best when left intact until new growth has set
in in the following spring, and the first shift has been
given to them. When thoroughly established in
9-inch pots, good feeding and syringing combined
with judicious pinching will result in neat, well-
formed heads fit for fruiting by the end of the
second season. When thoroughly ripened, trees of
this kind can be stowed away in very small com-
pass, not absolutely in a glass house, but in any dry
building where they can be kept safe from severe
frost, as they do not require water during the winter.
Neat-growing, free-fruiting sorts answer best for
growing into standards, but any of the varieties
mentioned last week will give one good crop of
fruit in a temperate house, and many of them when
well advanced may be plunged on a warm south
border after midsummer. If, in due course, the
heads become too large and straggling, they may
be pruned back into the old wood, the balls may be
shaken out and reduced, or pared down with a
sharp knife, and re-potted. Would-be growers of a
good selection of Figs which would prove highly in-
July 23, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
65
teresting can obtain a supply of young plants from
auy good nursery.
Ferns.
W. H. GOWER.
LEPICYSTIS.
A SMALL family of Ferns, which are all natives
of the western hemisphere ; they have netted
veins, and in most of their characters much re-
semble Goniophlebiunis. From these, however,
they differ in being destitute of the little pro-
tuberances on the upper side of the fronds, and
in having these densely covered with long fringed
scales and silky hairs. These are all elegant
Ferns, which should find a place in every
fernery, however limited in extent. They may
be treated either as pot plants or used to cover
blocks of sandstone, stems of dead Tree Ferns,
or any similar device. Grown on the stems of
Tree Ferns they display their beauties even
better than when grown in pots. They enjoy an
abundant supply of water to their roots, but
their fronds should not be wetted. The follow-
ing kinds are deserving the attention of all
lovers of Ferns : —
L. SQUAMATA. — Fronds from 1 foot to 2j feet
high and 6 inches broad, produced from a stout,
creeping, scaly rhizome ; the fronds are pin-
natifid, but so deeply divided as to appear at
first sight pinnate ; the segments are linear-
acuminate, somewhat wide apart ; the main
stem (rachis) and under side of frond densely
clothed with membraneous scales and numerous
large sori, disposed in a single row on each
side of the midrib, the upper furnished with
numerous silky hairs. It is found in Mexico,
Peru, and various parts of the West Indies,
and requires stove temperature to develop its
beauties.
L. iNCANA. — This is an erect-growing, some-
what rigid-looking Fern. When weU grown the
fronds attain a height of 18 inches or more, but
it is most frequently to be met with less than
half that length ; the creeping rhizome is slender,
almost woody, and clothed with small rusty
brown scales ; the pinnfe are thick in texture,
divided nearly down to the main stem, the
under side densely scaly. It is a native of
North America, chiefly in Ohio, and is also found
in Chili. It thrives best in the greenhouse
fernery.
L. LEPiDOPTEBis. — A handsome species, with
a stout creeping rhizome, furnished with dense
red chaffy scales ; fronds almost pinnate, some-
what eared on the upper edge at the base ; from
C inches to 18 inches long and from 1 inch to
3 inches broad ; the segments thick in texture,
both surfaces densely clothed with white silky
hairs and scales, those on the under side
becoming ferrugineous with age ; sori copious,
large, and bright red. It is a native of
Brazil and Mexico, and should be grown in the
stove.
L. RHAGADIOLEPIS.— This species is frequently
confounded with L. incana, from which, how-
ever, it is abundantly distinct. It has a creep-
ing, scaly rhizome, and the fronds are from
6 inches to 1 foot high, lanceolate in outline,
almost pinnate ; the segments are distant,
blunt, the lower ones often lobed at the base,
dull green on the upper side, densely scaly
and hairy below. It comes from Mexico and
Peru.
All the above plants are readily increased by
dividing the rhizomes with a sharp knife, secur-
ing with each piece a growing point and some
roots. After division the plants should be kept
in a somewhat close atmosphere for a short
time.
GOLDEN MAIDEN-HAIR FERNS.
This popular genus of Ferns includes a few
species which are ornamented with a farinose
powder similar to that family of Ferns so well
known as Gold and Silver Ferns (Gymno-
gramma). The two kinds named here are ex-
ceedingly beautiful, but very distinct, and are
well deserving the attention of everyone pos-
sessed of a fernery or Wardian case. There is
nothing exceptional in the treatment of these
Adiantum sulpliureum. Engraved for The Garden
from a plant gi-owing in the open air.
two species ; those who have the common
Maiden- hair Fern (A. cuneatum) doing well
may hope to be equally fortunate with these.
A. SULPHUEEUM. — This is a charming small-
growing species, which was originally introduced
from Chili by the Messrs. Backhouse, of York. It is
usually considered a difficult plant to manage, but
this arises, I imagine, from its being kept too
warm ; our illustration was taken from a plant
which grew in the open air during the summer, but
the plant suddenly disappeared, so that the oppor-
tunity of testing its hardiness was lost. The fronds
vary in length from 4 inches to 1 foot, they are
three-times divided (tripinnate) ; the pinnules when
infertile are roundish, but when fertile they are
obovate, uniform, furnished with copious sori, and
clothed on the under side with a dense, shining
golden yellow, farinose powder.
A. WiLLlAMSl is a more robust-growing plant
than the preceding ; it has been introduced from the
mountains of Peru by Mr. Williams, of Upper Hol-
loway. It is said to have been found growing at an
elevation of some 12,000 feet ; consequently it
thrives admirably in a cool fernery ; indeed the
golden farina with which the stems and under side
of the fronds are powdered appears to remain
longer upon the plant under cool treatment than
when grown in stronger heat. It appears to be as
free in gTowth as A. cuneatum ; the fronds are from
12 inches to IH inches long, light and graceful, and
admirably adapted for cutting. W. H. G.
OUR NATIVE FERNS.
(THE SPLEEN WOBTS.)
The Foeked Spleenwoet (Asplenium septen-
trionale), whose specific name is, no doubt, an
indication of its being most frequently found in
the northern districts of Great Britain, is a particu-
larly distinct Fern which is now accepted as very
rare in England. Such, however, was not the case a
quarter of a century ago, for although its home then
was limited to the extreme northern and western
districts of this country, from whence it has
been very nearly eradicated by enthusiastic Fern
gatherers and tourists, yet wherever it did formerly
grow there it was pretty abundant. The places
where it is commonly found growing are Craig Dhu,
Carnedd Llewellyn, and Snowdon, in Wales ; Ingle-
borough, in Yorkshire ; Patterdale, Keswick, and
above Ambleside, in Westmoreland. Mr. B. S.
Williams also states in his excellent book, " Select
Ferns and Lycopods " (p. 286), that he has gathered
it in Perthshire, and has received specimens from
Somersetshire. This curious species is of medium
growth, seldom exceeding 5 inches in height, and
of erect habit ; its peculiarly shaped fronds are of
a bright green colour. Its natural habitat is not
confined to England exclusively, as it is also found
in almost all other European countries, principally
in Switzerland and Germany. As is the case in all
other species of delicate constitution and slow
growth, it is necessary that the tufted crowns of the
Forked Spleenwort should be kept above the sur-
face of the soil, and as regards its treatment, that
recommended for the Wall Rue will answer equally
well. In the case of this variety the absence of all
superfluous moisture must be strictly secured, and
care must be taken that it is not overshaded by the
fronds of any strong-growing Fern or the branches
of overhanging trees. In fact, the cold, close
frame, where it may be equally sheltered from the
cold and from the sun, is the best place in which
to keep the Forked Spleenwort in good order,
which at any time is a somewhat difficult matter.
The Sea Spleenwort (Asplenium marinum), as
its name implies, is found at the sea-side, where it
grows in chinks of rocks, to the sides of which it
clings so firmly that it is very diflicult to separate the
plants without injuring them. Fortunately, it is a
free-growingFern which, even when detached without
hardly any roots, will start into growth under good
treatment. Its broad and coriaceous foliage, of a
pleasing dark green colour and most peculiarly glossy
nature, renders it one of the most distinct of our
native Ferns. These fronds, which in favourable
situations attain to a length of between 12 inches
and 15 inches, and under generous cultivation some-
times 20 inches, are produced from a single succu-
lent crown covered almost entirely with black,
chaffy scales, which, however, do not extend along
the frond-stalk. It has for a very long time been
known as a British plant, for Johnson, Gerard's
editor, in 1633 says : " It grows in the chinks of the
rocks by the seaside in Cornwall;" whereas Gerard
himself, as far back as 1597, states that "it groweth
under shadowy rocks and craggy mountains in
most places," which remark is rather too general for
useful information. Ray found it " on the rocks
about Prestholm Island, near Beaumaris, and at
Llandwyn,in the Isle of Anglesea; about the Castle
of Hastings, in Sussex, and elsewhere on the rocks
66'
THE GARDEN.
[Jdlt 23, 1887.
of the southern coast." It has also been found on
Marsden Rooks, Durham ; in the Isle of Man ; Isle
Sf StafEa.in Berwickshire; Aberdeenshire, Fifeshire,
and on the eastern coast of Scotland. In Ireland
it has been gathered on the Sutton side of Howth
Mountain, Underwood Killiney Hill, and other places
near Derrinane, in Kerry, and frequently on the
■western and southern coasts; also in the Isle of
Orkner, the Channel Islands, and up the Bristol
Channel as far as Clevedon. Although really a
British Fern, it does not succeed well in the open
air in auT part of Great Britain : whereas it certainly
luxuriate"s in -warmth and readily adapts itself to
the treatment allowed even to our stove plants,
thoush it grows very well and forms splendid speci-
mens in the cool and intermediate houses, pits,
vineries, &c. It is also found not only in the south
of France and Spain, but also in the Canary Islands,
Madeira, Teneriffe, the northern parts of Africa, in
aU of which places it is tolerably abundant. Asple-
nium marinum is one of our handsomest species
when grovm in a pot or planted in the temperate
fernery, where its shining and durable fronds, of a
particularly leathery texture, show themselves to
great advantage, and are rendered more striking
still bv their purplish black stalks,which, on account
of their robust nature, entirely differ from all others
of our native Ferns. The various situations in
•which this species is found in its wild state naturally
account for the slight variations in the general
appearance of some of the plants of the Sea Spleen-
wort, but very few distinct varieties have been re-
corded or have been cultivated. Most prominent
among these is Asplenium marinum ramosum, a
permanent and distinct variety, native of Devon
and also of Dorsetshire, with rather wavy, usually
branched or twin-shaped fronds of normal size.
A. marinum subbipinnatum is found in the Channel
Islands, and is equal in size to the typical species,
but has the fronds much divided and deeply lobed,
becoming sometimes quite bipinnate. In A. m.
imbrioatum and A. m. crenatum we have two forms
of somewhat diminutive size, seldom exceeding
6 inches in height. In the former the pinnre are
set so close together as to partly cover one another
and to form a perfect imbrication ; whereas the
fronds of the latter have their pinnae deeply and
evenlv crenate round the edges. Although in its
natural state the Sea Spleenwort appears to require
but verv little food for its maintenance, and although
in a cultivated state its young seedlings will fre-
quently make their appearance, and if lef i undis-
turbed will grow luxuriantly in places where scarcely
a particle of soil is to be seen, it is more satis-
factorv to grow it in a compost of fibrous peat and
sand. " If good drainage is provided and the plants
carefully watered they will do well.
The gkeex Spleenwobt (Asplenium viride), so
called on account of the peculiar green colour of all
its parts, somewhat resembles A. Trichomanes. Its
green colour, more especially in the case of the
stalks, is a most distinguishing character in a plant
which, as regards size and habit, is similar to the
species above named. It is distinct from A. mari-
num, however, by its texture, which is very soft ;
whereas, that of A. marinum is of a much stiffer
nature, and by its habit, which is not so erect and
more graceful than that of the Maiden-hair Spleen-
wort. Like that species, it is particularly fond of
moist rocks and old walls, especially in cool districts,
for although it has been gathered in Northumber-
land; on Mazebcck Scars, in Westmoreland: at
Gordale, Settle, near Halifax; and at Black Bank,
near Leeds, in Yorkshire, it has not been found in
England farther south than Derbyshire. The
principal places where the green Spleenwort ha:
been found in Ireland are on Turk Mountain, Kil-
larney; Ben Bulben, Sligo; and near Lough Eske,
on tile Donegal Mountains. It has also been
gathered on Cader Idris, Crib-y-Ddeseil, and Snow-
don, in Wales ; and in Ross-shire, in Cawdor Woods,
near Nairn; at the foot of Benmore, Sutherland-
shire: and all over the Highlands. Fitie masses of
this species, with fronds upwards of 6 inches long,
have also been gathered in Perthshire by Mr.
B. S. Williams, but this is a size very unusual with
that plant, whose fronds generally average about
i inches in length. Its removal is usually attended
with some difficulty, but when once it is established
it succeeds very well under the treatment recom-
mended for the Maiden-hair Spleenwort. The
green Spleenwort has, as far as I know, produced
no striking variation: the A. viride multifldum,
which is frequently found among plants of the
tvpical form, and which has its fronds more or less
forked at their apex, cannot be termed a permanent
varietv. S. G.
Adiautum sehizophyUum. — This is a. beauti-
ful new ilaiden-hair Fern of garden origin which is
being distributed this season by Mr. Williams, of Hol-
loway. It grows about a foot iu height, and forms a
bushy plant wider thin it is high ; the stems and foot-
stalks, like the majority of the Adiantnms, are jet-black,
and in this variety they are very stout compared with
their length. The divisions of the fronds are small
and slender, deeply cut into small lobes, the apex being
more or less branched. It is a pretty and desirable
addition to this popular family of Ferns. — W. H. G.
Hardy Filmy Ferns. — There is now to be
seen in the gardens of Mr. Stephenson-Clarke, of
Croydon, a most interesting group of these plants
in an ordinary cold frame. They comprise a grand
specimen Todea superba, bearing an immense
number of its vivid green ostrich feather-like
fronds, a smaller specimen of T. hymenophylloides,
a magnificent Trichomanes radicans, and numerous
masses of Hymenophyllum tunbridgense and H.
unilaterale. All of the above are in rude health
and vigour, and this is the more remarkable,
as Mr. Carr says they have frequently been
frozen hard during the past winter, having been
subjected to 10° or more of frost from time
to time. Those who coddle their Todeas in stove
heat may learn a valuable lesson by examining the
plants here mentioned. — W. H. G.
Adiantum bellum. — An elegant, dwarf, com-
pact growing Maiden-hair Fern, which was intro-
duced a few years ago from Bermuda by 3Ir. Bull,
of Chelsea. Although familiar with this plant for
some years, I had no conception of its extreme
elegance until quite recently, when some well-grown
examples were pointed out to me to name. It is of
tufted habit, quite distinct from any other Adiantum
in cultivation, its graceful fronds seldom exceeding
I) inches in height ; they are narrowly-ovate in
outline, and twice divided (bipinnate) : the segments
are small, somewhat distant, and irregularly wedge
shaped : the stem and foot-stalks of the pinnules
slender and jet-black, colour of the fronds bright,
lively green ; the son are large, lunulate, and set in
the lobes of the segments. The fronds are very
numerous, and when cut can be arranged beautifully
in a specimen glass with flowers without producing a
heavy effect, whilst the compact habit of the plant
renders it a fit subject for grouping in a Wardian
case with other Ferns of a similar stature. —
W. H. G.
A fe^w useful Ferns. — Messrs. Dixon, of Moor-
gate Street and the .\mherst Road Xursery, Hackney,
so long famous in the Chrysanthemum world, are
also equally well known as large growers of orna-
mental Ferns. Amongst the most notable just now
are large batches of handsome well-grown plants of
the Norfolk Island Tree Fern (Alsophila excelsa)
and the well-known New Zealand feathery Pteris
tremula. There exists here a sport of this favourite
Fern, in which all the points of the pinn.-e are fur-
nished with an elegant crest ; should this become
fixed and perpetuated, it will be both a valuable and
beautiful addition. Pteris cretica is also largely
grown, and there are few more useful kinds for
room decoration. Of this also we observed an in-
dication of variegation appearing ; of course, we
have several varieties of cretica with variegated
fronds, good batches of such kinds as Mayi and
albo-lineata being grown by Messrs. Dixon, but the
plant in question appears to be quite the typical
form, without any alteration except colour : but it
is, however, not sufficiently advanced to allow one
to judgeof its merits. Amongst the many thousands
of young Ferns just being pricked out here there
doubtless will arise from time to time many distinct
varieties. In addition to the above, there are quan-
tities of Pteris ai^rea, Asplenium bulbiferum,
Doryopteris palmata. Sec, kc, all grown cool, as the
majority of these plants are sold for the embellish-
ment of the dwelling house and Wardian case.
These plants seem to find a ready sale, ample proof
that although high-priced Ferns may not be in such
demand as they were a few years since, the taste
for graceful and elegant kinds has largelv increased.
— W. H. G. "
Kitchen Garden.
W. WTLDSMITH.
KITCHEN GARDEN NOTES.
The dbought. — In this part of the country
0 17 inches represents the entire rainfall since
June 2, and this drought, combined with intense
sunheat, has caused us such an amount of additional
labour in respect of mulching and watering as only
those that have passed through the same ordeal
can reahse. Every bit and aU sorts of available
material that would serve the purpose we have
pressed into service as mulching ; long stable litter.
Grass, refuse hay, sawdust, and Cocoa fibre, these
have all proved of great service in staving off the
ill effects of drought, and, in fact, have up to the
present kept the crops growing. For the majority
of vegetable crops these mulchings are much to be
preferred to watering, for the reason that the
latter conduces to surface rooting, while roots
quickly suffer or perish outright if from any cause
watering has to be discontinued. By reason of the
more equable temperature and moist condition of
soil to which mulchings are applied, the roots
descend to a greater depth, and consequently are
longer in being affected by drought, and if, in addi-
tion to such surface coverings, an occasional good
watering can be given, the longest drought we ever
get may be successfully resisted, as is proved by the
present state of our own crops of Peas, French
Beans, Celery, and Cauliflower, which still are as
flourishing as anyone could wish.
Spixach aud wixtek greens. — Being tired
of waiting for rain, and having a good supply of
water, we faced the extra labour involved of sowing
winter Spinach under such unfavourable weather
conditions. We first well soaked the drills with
manure water, and after an hour or so the seed was
sown, another watering given, and covering over of
seeds done, as soon as the state of the soil would
admit of it without sticking to the hands. To plant
out winter green stuff under such trying conditions
is more difficult, but this we are gradually sur-
mounting by adopting the plan of drawing deep
drills : these are thoroughly watered and the plants
at once put in, then a second supply of water is
given, and thus the plants are, as it were, puddled
into the ground. This plan is, of course, only
practicable on ground that does not require digging
prior to putting in the plants, and ours does not,
having been cleared of exhausted crops of Peas,
early Potatoes, Cauliflowers, Lettuce, and autumn-
sown Onions, for which crops it was deeply trenched
and well manured. The sorts being planted are Broc-
coli, several kinds. Kales, Cottagers' and the tall
Curled, the former the finest flavoured and hardiest,
and the latter the most productive and profitable,
by reason of the space the length of stem aft'ords
for the production of side shoots or sprouts over
the dwarf kinds. So long as the drought continues
watering will be necessary once or twice a week,
and for the ready application of the same the drills
are most convenient.
Peas. — The last sowing for this season of Peas
we made on the 1-lth, the varieties being William I.
and Advancer. The preparation of the ground for
the same was simply the digging out of shallow
trenches, in the bottom of which was placed a layer
of manure, and over this some 6 inches of soil,
which, after the Peas were sown, had a thorough
watering, another 3 inches of soil being put over
the seed as soon as it could be done. The great
heat causes the Pea crop to be quickly over, but our
plan of sowing small lots at short intervals has up
to the present time given us an ample and unbroken
supply.
July 23, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
67
Tomatoes in the open aik. — The hot weather
has suited these, and their present appearance be-
tokens a crop of fruit of the finest description.
They are planted on the open border, kept to one
stem, and tied to stout stakes, and are now 4 feet
high, being covered with fruit some 2 feet of that
height. Part of the small and deformed fruit has
been out or pinched off, and so has part of the large
foliage and a few of the shoots that overshadowed the
fruit. They are heavily mulched with litter, which is
convenient for gettingamongst the plants for the pur-
poses of tying and pinching, in addition to rendering
watering unnecessary oftener than once a week. For
the time being, indoor growth of Tomatoes is discon-
tinued, and those that were fruiting in large pots
have been brought out, Avell secured to stakes, top-
dressed with good loam and manure, and are now
placed in sheltered places against the houses and
pits, where they will continue to give us a few ripe
fruit till a full supply can be had from the plants on
the open borders.
Gbneeal work. — Until we get rain, hoeing,
watering and clearing the ground of exhausted crops
will be nearly all that can be done, but as soon as
the rain does come, there will be thinning out of
Turnips, Lettuce, and Beet, and the planting of
winter greens of all descriptions.
RUNNER BEANS.
That the practice of staking runner Beans is more
profitable than is the staking of Peas there can be
no doubt. Beans are more enduring; they grow
taller, and relatively produce heavier crops than
Peas do. Then the stakes are usually of a more
substantial nature than are Pea sticks, and if some-
what more costly at the first are at least more en-
during, for with ordinary care Bean stakes should
last two seasons, whilst Pea sticks are seldom of
much use the second year. To make the staking of
Beans profitable the ground should be deeply
trenched and well manured, the Beans being in
double rows about 10 inches apart and evenly
placed. In such case the plants fully cover the
stakes and produce very heavy crops. There is
sometimes a suggestion made that tall stakes are
too high, and that the Beans would be more pro-
ductive if occasionally pinched at about 5 feet from
the ground. Still, gardeners rarely adopt that
suggestion, especially where tall stakes are to be
had ; indeed, it is a very common rule to use stakes
which stand from 7 feet to 8 feet from the ground,
and the runners seem to bear on them to the ex-
treme points until frost interposes its veto on further
growth. TaD, straight stakes in double rows and
interlaced or tied to some horizontal stays present
the neatest appearance, and good gardeners pride
themselves upon the neatness of their rows of
runner Beans as much as upon any ordinary garden
crop. Barring straight stakes, however, better than
none are Pea boughs, if but 5 feet in height ; in-
deed, there can be little doubt that, staked in
any way, runner Beans are the most profitable. I
have seen in some gardens these Beans sown in
rings, and when staked formed into tall cones, but
the inside Beans are in that form of training some-
what out of reach. In the market gardens and
fields it is, however, so much the custom to sow
runner Beans in single rows 3 feet apart, simply
topping the plants perhaps once and allowing them
to lie on the ground, that I noted with surprise the
other day a large breadth of these Beans sown and
staked hill fashion, as Maize is grown in America
and Hops with us. The Beans were in clumps of
two or three plants only in rows 4 feet apart, and
the clumps 3 feet apart in the rows. The space
occupied with the growing Beans was trifiing com-
pared with the unoccupied area. Each clump or
hill had set to it some three or four stakes, not
more than 4 feet out of the ground, and tied to-
gether nearly at the top. The saving of seed
per acre must have been considerable relatively,
but the cost of stakes and labour in fixing
and tying them, as also in earthing up the clumps,
must have been considerable also. It seemed to me
that it was utterly impossible such a method of cul-
ture could be profitable, especially when we remem-
ber the low prices touched by runner Beans during
the season, as a rule. Certainly gathering would
be facilitated somewhat, but still only in a trifling
degree. A small cone of sticks only 4 feet in height
seems to offer but slight climbing area compared
with what Beans find on ordinary stakes. Then in
4-feet rows it is not possible to put in more than
one row of Brussels Sprouts, and the same is usually
done when Beans are left unstaked in the open
field, so that nothing is gained in that way whUst
the entire area of a row is fully occupied. It would
be exceedingly interesting to learn in what way a
breadth of runner Beans so planted and trained can
prove more profitable than an equal breadth ordi-
narily grown. Soils being about equal, it is of the
highest importance we should learn whether any
ordinary market vegetable crop can be made more
profitable by any method of culture not usually
adopted. There may be amongst the newer kinds
of runners some that will in time displace the old
ones, but it is worthy of remark that tastes amongst
large growers vary, some preferring the true scarlet,
some the old scarlet and white-flowered Painted
Lady, and some the old white Dutch : others, with
an eye to effect, sow the scarlet and white alter-
nately in rows, giving to the fields a pleasing ap-
pearance during the early blooming period. There
is little appreciable difference on the whole, but the
seed of the white Dutch is the cheapest, and late in
the autumn, when colder nights are apt to provoke
discoloration of the pods, the white-flowered section
is free from the stain. That there is considerable
room for improvement in many of the ordinary
strains is evident, as under ordinary culture the
pods are usually too short, and too soon become
stout and old. Long, straight, green pods which
are young and tender are, of course, the best, but
tenderness is very much a product of culture, as
seasons and soils testify. Should the new Ne Plus
Ultra prove in the field as long, straight, and
tender, allied to size and colour, as it has been
found in gardens, it should, when plentiful, make a
favourite market variety. Gigantic strains produc-
ing pods some 12 inches in length are valueless for
market, although favoured on the show table. A
really good, straight, clean sample will command
the best prices, and that is a matter of grave
moment to the grower for market. A. D.
SPRING CABBAGE.
At one time we seldom could prevail upon the cook
to send any kind of Cabbage to the dining-table,
though Brussels Sprouts were, during the winter
and early spring months, in great demand ; now,
however, the latter are rather despised and Cabbage
is in favour. This change has doubtless been
brought about owing to the short-lived admiration
of coarse, strongly-flavoured sprouts; while the
Cabbages of recent introduction are decided im-
provements, as far as quality is concerned, on the
older sorts. A small, quickly-grown, and not too
closely-packed heart of Cabbage, at any time dur-
ing the winter or spring months, is really superior
to any kind of winter green vegetable, not even ex-
cepting Broccoli, and I am glad to find they are now
better appreciated by all classes of society than
formerly. There are several small, or comparatively
small, varieties to choose from, either of which will
be found more profitable, and certainly of a better
quality than the much coarser sorts that used to be
thought best for autumn sowing. Ellam's Early
Dwarf is of quick growth, fairly hardy, and of supe-
rior quality. Reading All Heart is quite a little
gem ; and we have good reason to be well satisfied
with Veitch's Matchless. Wheeler's Imperial, if
supplied true to name, is scarcely so tender and
mild in flavour as Ellam's, but, on the whole, is yet
one of the most reliable small sorts that can be
grown. It is very hardy, and we had it good
throughout last winter. At least two or three varie-
ties ou^ht to be grown, as it sometimes happens
that the season that suits one may be unfavourable
to another, and, by growing several varieties,
some of them are almost certain to be extra good.
If larger sorts than the foregoing are needed, the
well-known Enfield Market and Heartwell Marrow
may be grown, these under good cultivation pro-
ducing very fine, tender heads. Such are best for
the market, but they are too large for home con-
sumption, and, besides, they form too many leaves
to be profitable.
The ground being warm, the seedlings will grow
rapidly, and instead of making our first sowing
early in July, it will be about the middle of the
month before it is done. In colder seasons, or in
late localities, we would sow seed early in the
second week in the month, and again at the be-
ginning of August. It is always advisable to sow a
second time, say at about an interval of fourteen
days. Some seasons the early raised p-''.ants are apt
to bolt, or run to seed prematurely, and, conse-
quently, if no second sowing had been made, a
general failure would be the result. Raise sufficient
early plants to fill half the proposed bed and com-
plete the plantation from the second sowing. If
one batch fails, complete failure vrill yet be avoided,
and if both do well, so much the better, as a long
and acceptable succession will be secured. For the
seed beds we select a good, open spot, a free-work-
ing soU being preferred. The weather and ground
being dry, the latter is well watered a few hours
previous to sowing, after which it can be raked
down finely. It may be again moistened, then if
the seed is sown thinly broadcast and covered with
fresh fine soil, the moisture will ensure a quick
and even germination. If birds are troublesome,
they may be kept off with fish nets, branches of
trees, or lines of cotton strained a few inches off
the surface of the ground. It is not advisable to
water the plants in the seed beds until they are
ready for transplanting. Then if the ground is
hard and dry, a heavy watering given a day or two
previous to drawing them will start the growth of
fresh root fibres and faciUtate lifting without giving
a severe check to the plants.
Few need to be told that Cabbages well repay for
generous treatment ; in fact, if grown on poor
ground they are almost certain to be slow in growth
and tough when cut. A loose rich soil favours rank
growth, and this again is objectionable. No better
site for a Cabbage bed than the ground just cleared
of Onions can well be found. This is almost always
very freely manured and deeply dug, and in addi-
tion receives one or more dressings of such fer-
tilisers as soot, lime, salt, singly or in mixture, and
not unfrequently some kind of artificial manure is
also given. In all probability the Onions do not
half exhaust this liberal supply ; at any rate, there
is always abundance kept in the soU for the next
crop. As before stated, firm ground suits Cabbage,
and all that is necessary, therefore, is to hoe over
the surface of the bed and clear off the weeds.
Drills about ,18 inches apart for small, and 2 feet
apart for the larger sorts may be drawn with a hoe,
and the plants put out either with a trowel or
dibber, according to the size of the ball of soil and
roots. They ought to be sturdy stuff when put out,
be firmly planted, and, if the weather is dry,
watered in. We dispose the small sorts about 12
inches apart in the rows, but if they were left to
give second or third crops of hearts or greens, they
would be allowed another 6 inches. Sometimes an
old Cabbage bed is found very profitable, but we
find fresh or summer-planted breadths of Coleworts
superior in every way, and these do not rob the
ground so much. They are planted 1 foot apart
each way, and usually in succession to the autumn-
sown or Tripoli Onions. Before the young plants
are far advanced they are lightly moulded up, this
both steadying and protecting them. If we wanted
extra fine heads early in the spring, the furrows
caused by moulding up the plants would be filled
occasionally with liquid manure, this soon putting
extra vigour into the Cabbages. It should be re-
membered that firm nndug ground is usually much
the warmest during the winter. Being naturally
drained, the worms contributing to this, it is much
less liable to become saturated with moisture, and
is warmer in consequence.
We are not troubled with clubbing of the roots,
but this disease is frequently prevalent on light
lands. The best preventive in the case of old
gardens is trenching, and plenty of soot and lime
weh stirred into the surface of undug ground is
68
THE GARDEN.
beneficial. A dressing of gas-lime applied in the
autumn and merely forked into the surface has been
found a remedy for clubbing, but this has to be on
the ground several months before Cabbages or any-
thing else can safely be put out. If this is used,
spring planting must be practised. If the disease
is not very widespread, the plan of trimming off the
knotted roots from the plants when drawn from the
bed and then puddling the remaining roots in a
mixture of clay, soot, and lime, will sometimes cure
it. W. I. M
[July 23, 1887
Trees and Shrubs.
W. aOLDKING.
THE DATE PLUM.
(diosptros lotus.)
The common European Date Plum is not a tree
that one may see every day ; it is found, in fact,
only in those old gardens that came under the
influence of wliat may be termed the tree plant-
ing generation that existed some fifty years.
Now-a-days it is scarcely thought of, and it
would be a difticult matter to get a tree of it
from any but the largest English nurseries. Like
many other trees, it has been ousted from nur-
series of the olden days to make room for
quicker growing, if not more handsome trees.
But a tree like this is worthy of a good place in
the garden, not only for the sake of the pic-
turesque growth it acquires in mature old age,
but on account of its interest in being the Lotus
of the ancients. It is, moreover, one of the
oldest foreign trees we have in this country, the
date of its introduction being about the latter
part of the sixteenth century. For close upon
300 years then has the Date Plum or Lotus
been cultivated in England. Gerard knew it
well, and planted some trees of it at Barn Elms ;
whether these exist now I am not aware. The
Foliage of European Lotus.
oldest tree exists in the arboretum at Syon,
and when I saw this decrepit old tree the other
day I was much struck with its picturesque
appearance. Like the old Mulberry tree at
Syon (said to be the first planted in England)
the old Lotus has to be supported by crutches,
or the weighty limbs would bend to the ground.
This grand old specimen stands iu a prominent
spot just at the junction of two paths, and is
therefore seen on all sides. It is now covered
with flowers, but as these are small and greenish
they are inconspicuous. Later in the season
fruits succeed the flowers, but these do not get
bigger than small Cherries and are not eatable,
though they are in Soutliern Europe, where they
go by the name of Trebizond Dates. Ripened
in a warmer chmate than ours, the fruits are
said to be much less astringent and make a
capital conserve. When small the plant is a
moderately rapid grower, making shoots a foot
or more in length, but it is only in ripe old age
that the real beauty of the Date Plum, like the
Mulberry, is seen. Being a native of the
southern parts of the Caucasus, one would have
thought that the tree would be less hardy than
it is, but in all districts south of London it is as
hardy as most trees from southern regions. It
the typical form, and, like that^ succeeds best where
the soil does not get too dry. This variety origi-
nated in America, and is known as the George Pea-
body Arbor-vitas, as well as Thuja occidentalis
lutea. One point worth mentioning with regard to
the American Arbor-vita; is the fact that all the
varieties thereof may be propagated from cuttings
far more readily than the Chinese Arbor- vitfe (Biota
orientalis), which is by no means an easy subject
to strike. — T.
The Greek Periploca (P. grsca) is one of
those old-fashioned climbing plants that many re-
Flower, flowering branch, and fruit (uatural size) of European Lotus.
likes a good soil to grow in, not too diy or too
wet, and if the spot where it is planted is
sheltered it is all the better for the tree. ;
Escallonia Phillipiana.— At Syon there is in
the arboretum a beautiful bush of this South Ameri-
can shrub, which though not new is not half enough
known, for it is one of the few shrubs that flower in
July. Seen as an open bush, and covered with
myriads of tiny white flowers, it reminds one of an
Australian Leptospermum, particularly L. scopa-
rium. Its long, slender shoots are laden with
white bloom, which in the twilight gives the plant
a very pretty effect. The hardiness of this shrub is
considered doubtful, but Mr. Woodbridge assures
me that at Syon the bush of it in the open has not
suffered by the late winters. At Kensington last
week, Messrs. Veitch showed numerous flowering
sprays of this shrub, but in a cut state it loses much
of its beauty.
The Venetian Sumach (Rhus Cotinus) is now
one of the most attractive shrubs in the garden,
and it always arrests the attention, because of
its singular appearance, of even those who do not
take a general interest in shrubs. On account of
the feathery nature of the sterile flower-clusters
some call it the Wig tree, a name by which it is
perhaps better known than Venetian Sumach. It
is an invaluable shrub, as it is attractive at a time
when shrubberies begin to look dull and mono-
tonous. It is always a dwarf, spreading bush,
rarely more than .S feet high. Its glaucous round
leaves make a pleasing contrast to the reddish
feathery clusters. It is hardy, almost evergreen,
and grows in all kinds of soils, but must always
have plenty of room to allow of full development. —
W. G.
The Oolden American Arbor-vitee.— A well-
grown plant of tins is remarkably attractive just
now, for the whole of the young growth is of a
bright golden colour, which is intensified by its
contrast with the more sombre tint of the mature
foliage. Where golden Conifers are in request, this
should be made a note of, for it grows as freely as
gard as being fit only for a botanical garden ; but
perhaps there are several who, during the past
week, having seen a glorious mass of it adorning one
of the buttresses of the herbaceous ground wall at
Kew, have looked upon it with admiring, if not
envious eyes. To see this hardy climber dragging
out a miserable existence in an unsuitable spot is
one thing ; seeing it in luxuriant growth and hung
with a profusion of flowers is another, and in the
latter state it can be seen now at Kew. Evtry
flower is about the size of a florin, quite star-shaped
and of a rich velvety appearance, and of a reddish
purple colour. The foliage, too, is beaxitiful, as it
is of a rich, shining, dark green. The plant con-
tinues in bloom for several weeks, and even when
not in bloom it has a graceful appearance, on
account of its long, slender shoots. It is an ex-
tremely rapid climber-, or rather twiner, and is a
capital plant for quickly covering new arbour.^,
pergolas, and the like. It is not advisable to let it
twine round a tree of any value, as its stems
encircle it so firmly as to strangle the tree by
making indentations in the bark. Being a native
of the south of France and other parts of Southern
Europe, it is liable to injury by our severe winters ;
but as it is deciduous, it may be more easily pro-
tected than an Evergreen. Apart from the elegant
beauty of the plant, it is of great interest, inasmuch
as it is one of the oldest of garden plants, having
been in cultivation for nearly 300 years, and was,
therefore, one of the best loved exotic plants in the
gardens of Gerard, Parkinson, and other old English
gardeners. — W. G.
The small-leaved STock Orange (Phila-
delphus microphyllus). — This is a pretty little shrub,
and produces its sweet-scented blossoms as pro-
fusely as its larger and better known relatives. In
the case of many of the varieties of Mock Orange
the perfume is by no means agreeable, but the
scent of this reminds one of a ripe Quince. Like
the rest of its class, the blooms are pure white in
colour, and borne so freely that the slender
branches are completely wreathed with them. This
variety is well suited for mixing with small or
medium-growing shrubs, for furnishing a nook in
the rockwork, or in any place where room is limited,
July 23, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
69
as it can easily be kept within bounds. It is
perfectly hardy, and though by no means strong-
growing soon attains the dimensions of a neat little
bush.— T.
The Chinese Privet (Ligustrum sinense). —
Among the numerous Priyets, this species is, as a
specimen lawn plant, the finest of all, being of
elegant growth and never fails during July to pro-
duce an enormous crop of flowers ; and it is so free
flowering, that where there are large jilants of it in
the shrubberies at Kew they look like huge masses
of white bloom, and as there are few other shrubs
in bloom, they are very conspicuous. The flowers
are borne in small, erect clusters on every twig, and
their perfume is almost overpowering. It is, in
short, one of the best of all summer-flowering hardy
shrubs, and every garden should contain it, par-
ticularly as it is as cheap as commoner shrubs. The
position for it is as an isolated mass on a lawn or
as a low shrub, where its great head of slender
branches may spread gracefully on all sides. It has
been in bloom for a fortnight, and will continue so
for some time. A warm, dry soil and an open
place seem to suit it admirably. — W. G.
Eccentric Laburnums.— What I wrote in The
Garden, July 2 (p. 611), was simply what I saw at
Mr. C. Noble's nursery at Sunningdale. There were
several plants of the purple Laburnum (Cytisus
purpureus), formed by grafting the last-named on
to the common yellow Laburnum. The heads were
of good size and many-branched, and on one of the
branches had generated a tuft of a sparer growth
bearing deep purple flowers, and this the foreman
informed me was Cytisus Adami, On some of the
branches were the drooping yellow spikes of blossoms
of the common Laburnum. The theory held by
the foreman is that C. Adami is a sexual growth
produced by the combination of the other two. Is
this incorrect ? I was further informed that C.
Adami produced seeds two years ago, but they did
not germinate. I asked if they could propagate C.
Adami, and he said it was very difiicult indeed to
do so, and they were rarely successful in forming a
union. If I have been misinformed I am grateful
to " D. T. F." for putting me right. In his book on
" Trees and Shrubs for English Plantations," Mr. A.
Mongredien alludes to the common practice of
grafting C. purpureus on C. Laburnum, but he makes
no mention of C. Adami. — E. D.
8S0B.T NOTES.— TREES AND SHRUBS.
Pyrus Maulei. — This is a charming Httle plant
for covering small spaces on walls ; the flowers, which
are vei-y freely produced, are of a bright brick-scarlet
colour, and contrast well with any of the tints seen in
P. japonica. — E. B. L.
Trees for a churchyard. — Will any of your
readers give the names of a few trees best suited for
planting in a large disused churchyard in the centre of
a town on the north-west coast ? The soil is sandy,
and no interments have taken place for the lasttwenty-
flve years.- T. F. J.
Long clusters of Wistaria. — The statement
made in some catalogues that the racemes of Wistaria
will often reach 3 feet in length in China has been
doubted. In a recent conversation with the repre-
sentative of the Minister of Agriculture of Japan, Mr.
Hida, the editor of the Gardener's Monthly, was
assured that they certainly often reach that length.
On the editor's grounds the longest this year measured
13 inches.
Xanthoceras sorbifolia. — This beautiful Chi-
nese shrub with such a foi-niidable name is thriving
better at Kew this year than we have yetseeu it. The
finest plant is growing against the wall on the western
side of the herbaceous ground, and is about 5 feet
high, the foliage being healthy and the shoots strong.
We may before long see it produce its flowers, which are
said to be very beautiful. The foliage looks very much
like that of Spirfea Lindleyana. — W. G.
Lonieera flexuosa. — Those who wish to plant
something choice in the way of a climber or twiner
cannot have a more fragrant or more elegant plant
than this Japanese Honeysuckle, which at this season
and throughout the summer hears a profusion of pink
and yellow flowers. Its long, slender, twining shoots
are tinged with reddish purple, and, therefore, have a
distinct appearance from any otherhardy Honeysuckle. I
Planted at the foot of a buttress, pillar, or post, it falls
over the top in a most graceful way. It grows very
quickly, especially in good soil. — W. G.
Societies and Exhibitions.
NATIONAL ROSE SOCIETY'S EDINBURGH
EXHIBITION.
The annual exhibition of the Royal Caledonian
Horticultural Society recently held in the Waverley
Market, Edinburgh, proved unusually interesting,
as it took place in conjunction with an exhibition of
Roses by the National Rose Society, who crossed
the border for the first time. The exhibition o£
Roses was highly satisfactory, as the competition
was keen, the flowers of good quality, and the at-
tendance of visitors very large. It is most gratify-
ing to have to chronicle such a success, and it will
doubtless encourage the National Rose Society to
again hold exhibitions in Scotland, and, perhaps, in
Ireland, as growers from the last-mentioned were
well represented, and exhibited very fine flowers.
Nurserymen showed excellent blooms, especially
Messrs. Harkness and Son, Bedale, Yorkshire, who
gained the challenge trophy, value fifty guineas,
offered as the first prize in the class for thirty-six
distinct varieties, single trusses. The flowers staged
were fresh, well finished, but comparatively small,
owing to the severe dryness of the season. Among
the best blooms were Beauty of Waltham, a fine
flower when well developed ; Abel Carriere and the
lovely Merveille de Lyon, which is a splendid ex-
hibition variety. The second place was occupied
by Messrs. Mack and Son, Catteriok Bridge, York-
shire ; and there were several other competitors.
The great class was for seventy-two distinct varie-
ties, and Messrs. Harkness and Son again occupied
the premier position, staging fresh, fine, and well-
coloured blooms, conspicuous being such varieties as
Marie Baumann, Ulrich Brunner, La France, Duoh-
esse de Vallombrosa, Co'mtesse de Nadaillac, Abel
Carriere, A. K. Williams, Merveille de Lyon, and
Xavier Olibo. The second prize went to Mr. B. R.
Cant, of Colchester, who also showed flowers of
good quality.
In the class for thirty-six varieties, three trasses
of each, the last-mentioned exhibitor came first, the
flowers being in first-rate condition ; the second
place was occupied by Messrs. Paul and Son, Ches-
hunt. Mr. House, of Peterborough, occupied the
post of honour in the class for thirty-six distinct
varieties, single trusses, and the same exhibitor was
also to the fore in the class for eighteen varieties,
three trusses, the flowers in both instances being
highly satisfactory, considering the character of
the season. There was good competition in the
class for twenty-four distinct varieties, single
trusses, open only to Scottish nurserymen, and the
first place was worthily occupied by Messrs. James
Cocker and Sons, Aberdeen, who exhibited flowers
that reflected great credit on this firm.
In the class for eighteen Teas, Mr. Prince, Oxford,
secured flrst honours, noticeable among his blooms
being Cornelia Koch and Comtesse de Nadaillac.
In the class for twelve blooms of any yeUow Rose,
Mr. B. R. Cant was first, showing very fine blooms
of Marechal Niel. For the best twelve white varie-
ties, Messrs. Thomas Smith and Son, Stranraer, were
to the front with good blooms of Merveille de Lyon,
while in the class for crimsons, Messrs. Cranston and
Co., Hereford, were first with A. K. Williams.
Amateurs' classes. — These were well filled,
and in the several stands were capital flowers,
showing that amateur Rose growers possess con-
siderable skill in the culture of this flower. Mr.
T. B. Hall, Rockferry, Cheshire, gained the chal-
lenge trophy of the value of 50 guineas, the flowers
being excellent in finish and colour. Mr. E. R.
Whitwell, Barton Hall, Darlington, occupied the
second place. The Rev. J. H. Pemberton, Havering,
Essex, occupied the premier place in the class for
thirty-six varieties, single trusses ; and the winner
of the first prize for twenty -four varieties was Mr.
L. Garnett.
In the classes for Tea-scented or Noisette varieties
in the amateurs' division, Rev. J. H. Pemberton
and Messrs. T. B. Hall and L. Garnett were the
principal prize-takers.
An interesting feature of the amateurs' division
was the classes devoted to those residing in Scot-
land, and the premier position for eighteen varieties
was obtained by Mr. A. Kirke, Alloa. The other
classes were well filled, and the flowers, on the whole,
of considerable merit.
Messrs. W. Paul and Son, Waltham Cross, staged
a very fine collection of Roses, not for competition,
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
Scientific Committee.
Say ferer. — Mr. O'Brien made some comments
on a paragraph recently published in the columns of
the Gardeners' Chroniele, and detailed his own expe-
rience with reference to the flowers of Golden
Feather, Artemisia insect - powder (Pyrethrum),
Hibbertia volubilis. Patchouli, Lilium auratum, and
other plants, by the perfume of which he was to a
greater or less degree affected. Other cases of a
simUar kind were mentioned by members of the
committee — the general inference, from the varied
nature of the plants, being that the real causes of the
symptoms must also be varied, and that the pollen
alone cannot be credited with the mischief.
Torlt and Lancaster Rose. — The chairman showed
a specimen of a Rose which this year had produced
on the same stalk a red Rose and a white Rose. Dr.
Lowe stated, on the authority of the late Rev. H.
EUacombe, that the Damask Rose with striped
petals, now commonly called the York and Lancaster
Rose, is not rightly so called. Dr. Masters alluded
to other instances of dimorphism in Roses, attribut-
able to the sudden dissociation of previously com-
bined hybrid characters.
Celestial Rose. — Dr. Lowe exhibited a specimen of
this old Rose, remarkable for its very glaucous
foliage, its elegant light rose flowers, and delicious
perfume.
BoiMe Campanulas, Sj-e. — Rev. C. WoUey Dod sent
a curious form, which seems to have a regular place
in the history of that very variable species. Cam-
panula rotundif olia. The form with the corolla cleft
into narrow segments is generally produced in
greater or less proportion from the seed of the form
with the double corolla. I have never found either
of these two forms wild, but the one with the double
coroUa, known in nurseries as var. soldanell^flora, is
not uncommon in gardens ; andthe other, of which
I send both double and single flowers, seems to
follow it in natural sequence. I enclose also the
single form produced among seedlings with the
other two.
Hybrid Lyehnis. — Dr. Masters called attention
to the interesting hybrid between L. coronaria and
L. Flos-Jovis sent him by Mr. A. 0. Walker,
THE GARDENERS' ORPHAN FUND.
The inaugural meeting of this fund took place in
the Top Quadrant Arcade, kindly placed at the
disposal of the promoters by the Royal Horticultural
Society, on Tuesday, July 12, at 3 p.m.. Sir Julian
Goldsmid, Bart., M.P., presiding, there being present
also Dr. Hogg, Dr. Masters, Messrs. S. Hibberd,
H. J. Veitch, W. Roupell, J. Fraser, W. Bull, C
Noble, &c.
Mr. Geo. Deal, as the chairman of the provisional
committee, read the following reiport prepared by
that body, as follows : —
Ladies and Gentlemen, — We, the members of the
provisional committee, nominated to conduct the ini-
tiatory proceedings in connection with this fund, have
now the pleasure to present our report, which is, in
fact, an epitomised statement of our labours, and will
show how the idea of the Gardeners' Orphan FuuJ
originated, developed, and, step by step, reached its
present proportions.
Early in March last, Mr. Penny, gardener to His
Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Sandringham ;
Mr. Clayton, of Grimston HaU, Tadcaster; and Mr.
Udale, Elford Hall, Tamworth; suggested in the
hoi'ticultural papers that the most fitting way for.
the gardening community to commemorate Her
Majesty's Jubilee would be to estabUsh a gardejjere'
70
THE GARDEN.
[JuLT 23, 1887.
orphanage or fund for the benefit of oi'phaii children
of gardeners.
The idea met with approval, and a meeting was held
(March 24) in the Conservatory of the Royal Horticul-
tural Society, South Kensington, to take into consi-
deration the suggestion and the best means of
furthering it.
The subject having been fully discussed, a resolution
was passed to the eifoct that it was desirable to esta-
blish such a fund, but that it was not desirable to
purchase or erect any building as an orphanage.
It was further resolved to appoint a provisional com-
mittee to prepare a scheme for carrying out the objects
of the meeting, and the following gentlemen were
nominated: Dr. Masters (Gardeners' Chronicle), Mr.
Shirley Hibberd (Gardener's Magazine), Mr. Deal
(Weeks & Co., Chelsea), Mr. J. Douglas (Great Gearies,
llford), Mr. C. Penny (Sandi-ingham), Mr. C. H.
Sliarman (James Carter & Co., Holborn), Mr. H. J.
Veitch (Chelsea), Mr. J. Roberts (Gunnersbury Park),
Mr. J. Woodbridge (Syon House), Mr. A. P. Barron
(Chiswick), Mr. R. Dean (Ealing), Mr. J. Matthews
(Weston-super-Mare), Mr. J. Wright (Journal of Hor-
ticulture), Mr. B. S. Williams (HoUoway), Mr. W.
Richards (Gardeners' Chronicle), and Mr. B. Wynne
(Gardening World).
This committee held its fii-st meeting on March 25,
and again met on April 12, when the members present
(after first agreeing to piy preliminary expanses should
the scheme fail to mature) discussed the lines upon
which the fund should be organised and conducted.
A_ circular letter was drawn up and widely circulated,
with a view of testing the feeling of gardeners respect-
ing the proposals. The result was highly gratifying,
inasmuch as in a short time promises of support were
received in the form of donations and subscriptions to
the amount of £400.' By May 24 the amount had
reached nearly £600, and now it is about £950.
At a meeting of the committee held on the last-
mentioned date, the progress made was considered
sufficiently satisfactory to wan-ant the calling of a
public meeting to establish the fund. It was therefore
resolved to convene such meeting for July 12, and a
sub-committee was appiintod to make the necessary
arrangements, also to draw up rules and regulations
for the general management of the fund.
This sub-committee, consisting of Messrs. Ban-on,
Deal, Dean, Roupell, Woodbridge, Wright, and Wynne,
at once proceeded to consider and revise the 'di-aft
rules subrnitted by the chairman, which, after much
consideration, were agreed to, and are now recom-
mended to the subscribers for adoption.
The committee have been much encouraged in their
labours by the fact that so distinguished a friend to
horticulture as Sir Julian Goldsmid, Bart., M. P., &c.,
has kindly consented to accept the office of president,
and trust that the donors and subscribers will cordially
endorse this selection, and approve the initiatory pro-
ceedings.
In conclusion, the committee beg to offer their best
thanks to the subscribers and all who have so kindly
given them their assistance and support.
The chainnau then moved the adoption of the
report and rales, and commended the proposal to
the gardeners of the United Kingdom; this was
seconded by Mr. C. Penny. Suggestions as to
alterations in the rules were made by Messrs.
S. Hibberd and D. T. Fish, the former recommending
that the annual general meeting be held later in
the year than February; and the latter, that the
election of candidates be in the hands of the com-
mittee, and not be made by the subscribers. Mr.
I-I. J. "Veitch suggested that the annual meeting
take place in July, which was adopted after a reply
by Mr. Geo. Deal, and the report and rules were
carried with this alteration. Mr. H. J. Veitch then
proposed that Sir J. Goldsmid, Bart., M.P., be
elected president of the fund, and stated that he
had subscribed the sum of £100 to it; this was
seconded by Dr. Masters, and carried by acclama-
tion, and the chairman suitably responded. Mr.
Geo. Deal proposed that the following be elected
vice-presidents of the fund: Baron Schri_eder, Dr.
Hoffg, Dr. Masters, Messrs. H. J. Veitch, F. G. Tautz,
J. Mcintosh, H. J. Adams, E. J.Beale, A. W. Sutton,
Shirley Hibberd, and H. M. PoUett;. this was
seconded by Mr. B. Wynne, and carried. Mr.
John Fraser proposed that the following gentlemen
be the trustees of the fund; Mr. S. Courtauld,
Maldon; J. T. D. Llewellyn, Swansea; and- A. H.
Smee, London ; this was seconded by Mr. C. Noble
and carried unanimously. Mr. Shirley Hibberd
then proposed that Mr. T. B. Haywood, Wood
hatch, Reigate, be the treasurer of the fund;
seconded by Mr. J. Laing, and carried unanimously.
Mr. R, Dean proposed that Mr. A. F. Barron be the
hon. secretary of the fund ; this was seconded by
Mr. J. Roberts, and carried unanimously. On the
motion of Mr. J. Wright, seconded by Mr. W.
Richards, Mr. John Fraser, Leyton, and Mr. W.
Sharp, chartered accountant, London, were ap-
pointed the auditors of the fund. On the motion
of Mr. D. T. Fish, seconded by Mr. Ildale, the
following were appointed an executive committee,
with power to add to their number: Messrs. P. Barr,
W. Bates, H. Cannell, R. Dean, G. Deal, J. Douglas,
W. Goldring, W. G. Head, H. Herbst, W. Holmes,
W. Ingram, J. Laing, G. Nicholson, C. Penny,
W. Richards, J. Roberts, W. Roupell, C. H. Shar-
man, J. Smith, H. Turner, H. Williams J. Wood-
bridge, J. Wright, and B. Wynne.
A cordial vote of thanks was passed to the
council of the Royal Horticultural Society for per-
mitting the meetings of the provisional committee
at South Kensington and Chiswick; to the Horti-
cultural Press for valuable assistance in giving
publicity to the fund; and to the chairman for pre-
siding.
Law.
RICHARDSON F. CLARKE.
This action recently tried in the County Court, at
Selby, Yorkshire, was brought by Mr. Joseph Rich-
ardson, of Selby, against Messrs. A. H. Clarke and
Co., seed merchants, of King Street, Covent Garden,
to recover the loss which he alleged he had sus-
tained in consequence of defendants supplying him
with a quantity of seed which turned out to be
defective. In May, 1886, the plaintiff ordered of
the ^defendants a quantity of Turnip seed, called
" Hartley's Short Top." After the seed had sprung
up and partly developed itself, it was noticed that
it was growing into a very peculiarly-shaped plant.
The plaintiff, who is also a seed merchant, had sold
some of the seed to his customers, and had thereby
lost their custom. The damages charged were £50.
Mr. Danckwerts, barrister-at-law, instructed by
Mr. Charles Butcher, solicitor to the Nursery and
Seed Trade Association, Limited, was specially re-
tained for the defence. He contended that Turnip
seed oftentimes turned into what were called " run-
ners," and when they were in that state they re-
sembled the specimens produced in Court. Messrs.
Clarke and Co. had had printed on their invoices
and catalogues a protective clause, which stated
that they would not hold themselves responsible
either as to the quality or production of their seed.
It was a customary thing with all seed merchants
to print a clause of this kind on all their invoices
and catalogues. Part of the plaintifi's land only
produced these plants, and the other parts on which
the same seed had been sown had produced good
Turnips. It was impossible to tell Swede Turnip
seed from Rape seed ; no person could tell the dif-
ference between the two ; therefore it was an impos-
sible condition to guarantee. The plaintiff, who was
called and examined by his solicitor, Mr. Burton,
said he ordered the seed and sowed a quantity of
it on his farm. When grown it turned out to be
some wild plant, the like of which he had never
seen before. He had received several complaints
from his customers, and when he saw in November
of last year the kind of plants that had grown from
the seed, he wrote at once to the defendants com-
plaining of the seed. With the goods he re-
ceived a catalogue and an invoice. He had not
read the clause whic^h stated that the defendants
would not hold themselves responsible as to quality
or production. The defendants said that they had
supplied the seed he ordered, and could not hold
themselves [responsible for any subsequent mishap
that might have befallen it. Mr. F. Smith, seed
merchant, Selby, stated that the specimens pro-
duced in court would not grow from Turnip seed at
all, neither would any neglect in the cultivation
make them turn out in that way. As to the protec-
tive clause, seed merchants, he said, always printed
something similar on their catalogues and invoices.
He admitted that it was impossible to distinguish
Swede Turnip seed from Rape, unless by the size ;
where the size was the same there was no other
distinction. At the close of the plaintiff's case, Mr.
Danckwerts submitted that there was no case made
out for the plaintiff. The plaintiff had received
catalogues before he had the goods, and on the
catalogues, invoices, letters, &c., there -was printed
the non-guarantee notice, and therefore the defen-
dants were not responsible for the crop. Accom-
panying the goods was sent a notice to the effect
that unless the plaintiff accepted the seeds on those
terms they were to be returned. It was admitted
by one of the plaintiff's witnesses that it was the
universal practice amongst wholesale seedsmen to
insert the notice in catalogues, invoices, &c., and
there was therefore no need to call plaintiff's
special attention to it. He quoted from several
reported 'cases in support of his contention. His
Honour, in giving his Judgment, said that he could
not but take notice of the fact that Mr. Smith had
admitted that it was the general practice amongst
seedsmen to print such a clause as the one referred
to on all their invoices and circulars. In the face
of the evidence which had been submitted he could
not think it was an unreasonable qualification, and
he should therefore nonsuit the plaintiff, with costs
for the defendants.
A note from Sydney. — I have now in prepara-
tion a work on the flora of this colony, which will
probably be in the printer's hands in the course of
a few months. This will embrace all the discoveries
made since Bentham's time. By the way, I would
just mention that by far the best time to -visit
Australia is from the beginning of August to the
end of September. During those months our indi-
genous plants are for the most part in flower, and
our gardens usually look at their best. We are now
having fine cold weather, the thermometer falling
here as low as 35°, yet the Poinsettias out of doors
are in great perfection, and quite set off the garden
with (heir scarlet bracts. This plant and Cassia
CandoUeana are by far the most showy shrubs we
have at this season. — Chaeles Mooeb.
BOOKS RECEIVED.
" The Herb of the Field." By Charlotte M. Yonge.
Macmillan & Co., London.
Transactions of the Massachusetts Horticultural
Society. Part II. 1886.
Bulletin de la Federation des Soeietea d'Horticul
ture de Belgique. 188-3, 1884, 1885.
" Handbook of the Fern Allies." By J. G. Baker,
F.E.S., F.L.S. Messrs. Geo. Bell and Sons, York
Street. Covent Garden.
Names of plants.— Cr/spm.—l, Gongora atro-
purpurea, other numbers lost ; red spotted flower
Maxillaria tennifolia ; yellow flower, Maxillaria vai-ia-
bilis lutea. /. Elma.—A handsome, well-marked
form of Odontoglossum Pescatorei ; as you say it has
bloomed on a very small and weak grow't h it mil pro-
bably much improve. F. W. TF.— 1, Adiantum
concinnum; 2, Microlepia cristata ; 3, Nephrolepis
ensifolia; i, Menisoium triphyllum. G. H.—l
AUamanda nobilis; 2, Ochna mnltiflora. W. A.—
We cannot undertake to name Nepenthes from such
spcciniens ; ^ the pitcher-s appear to have had some
decaying animal matter in them which has destroyed
them. Fern, Drymoglossum piloselloides, common" in
Japan. G. (Teddingfoji).—!, Adiantum pei-uvia-
nnni; 2, A. macrophyllum. Yak (Shefrield).~l,
Plumbago capensis ; yes, there is a white -i-ariety ; 2,
Gloriosa superba ; 3, Hibiscus Cooperi ; 4, Cleroden-
dron fiUlax. J. Morris.— 1, Thunia Marshall! • •'
T. Bensonise. Lo'lia (Winchester).—!, Triehopilia
tortilis ; 2, Oncidium Jonesiauum ; 3, Dendrobium
isp.irens; 4, Cypripeilium Parish! ; 5, Dendrobium
a.lmu-um. Old Render.— 1, L;istrea glabella; 2,
areutly Mar.ittia alata ; they are diflicult to deter-
ic from siieh scraps; 3. Hypolopis distans ; 4, Drv-
naria musa;folia. Fair Rosnmfxid.— ], Spigelia
marylandica ; 2, Spergula filifera aurea ; 3, Nierem-
bergia rivularis ; 4, Reineckia carnea variegata.
G. M. — Eucharis Sanderi.— — C. M. Owen. — Campa-
nula alliarisefolia.
July 23, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
71
WOODS & FORESTS.
THE CORSICAN PINE.
(FINDS LAEICIO.)
Peehavs no tree of recent introduction has been
more fayourably received in this country or planted
in such quantity as the above. As a hardy, free-
growing, and valuable timber-producer it has few,
if any, rivals. To one who has planted this tree by
the thousand, seen its behaviour under the most
varied circumstances as regards soil, altitude, and
situation, and likewise cut up and converted its
timber, it is most pleasing to record that, for
general forest planting, it is by far the best of the
many Pines introduced of late years. That it is
well worthy of extended culture in every part of
the British Isles need hardly be hinted at, for the
numerous fine trees and healthy, thriving young
plantations to be seen in various parts of the country
testify but too clearly how well adapted the Corsican
is for withstanding the somewhat fickle ordeals of
our very changeable clime. AVe have planted it at
800 feet altitude on some of our English hillsides
— even on the most exposed sides, and where
the wind at times blows hard and long, and in
company with our hardy Highland Pine, the Larch,
and Scotch Elm, and even there it has done well
beyond expectation and proved itself to be one of
the most hardy, free-growing, and desirable species
with which we have yet become acquainted. The
Laricio has, however, one fault, and a bad one too —
it is difficult to transplant, but, fortunately, this is
an evil that, by careful nursery management, can be
readily enough counteracted. To produce well-rooted
plants, the great object to be borne in mind is to
frequently transplant — every year at least — the
young Laricios, and by doing so in a common-sense
way and at the proper, time we have been as success-
ful in turning out this as any other species of Pinus.
To produce the best results in this way the seed-
lings should be transplanted when two years old,
and every season afterwards until planted out per-
manently. The principal object in transplanting,
it is well to bear in mind, is to produce sufficient
fibrous roots to allow of the tree being planted out
in its permanent quarters with safety, and to ensure
this the following method, that we have found more
successful than that usually carried out in nursery
grounds, should be adopted : —
Having first of all well prepared the ground,
stretch an ordinary garden line along the surface,
and with a spade take out a shallow notch along
each side. This will leave the soil in the shape of
a small ridge, and allow the roots of the young
plants to be spread out evenly around the stem,
instead of, as is too often the case when a notch is
taken out on one side only, cramped together and
confined in the allotted space. By such a course of
treatment the roots of the plants are, to a great
extent, trained from infancy in the position which
they should occupy when the trees are planted out
permanently, and as they will thus form a whorl
around the base of thestem theyare enabled to collect
food from all quarters. Plants so treated are like-
wise far less apt to be uprooted during a storm than
such as are rooted on one side only.
We have obtained the best results by planting out
Pinus Laricio when four years old ; indeed, unless
with special care and a great amount of attention,
it is difficult to deal with after that age. For filling
up gaps in old plantations caused by fallen trees
we have used this Pine in quantity, and up to even
the height of 4 feet and .5 feet, but when it
has attained to that size, and consequently pro-
duced its two or three strong, tap-like roots, the
difficulty of successfully transplanting it is greatly
augmented, and, more than this, firm staking and
tying must in such cases be resorted to immediately
after planting. The soil that we have found to be
best suited for the growth of Pinus Laricio is that
of a gravelly nature ; indeed, some of the largest
trees I know of are growing on the site of a disused
gravel pit, and where but a small quantity of
leaf-mould and loam overtops the rough gravel.
Other soils, such as good, free loam and alluvial
deposit, suit this tree fairly well. As a tree for
planting in exposed, wind-swept districts Pinus
Laricio is one of the best, and this we have found
out after repeated trials with almost every other
tree that could be thought of. Some years ago a
bare hillside in the north of England that was fully
exposed to the south-west was planted with the
Scotch, Austrian, and Corsican Pines, as well as
various kinds of hard-wooded trees, and to-day the
latter species looks better than either of the other
two, and has thus proved itself to be a most valu-
able tree for planting on htgh-lying and exposed
situations. Even along the very top of the above-
named wood, and where the wind sweeps along the
hillside with terrific fury, more particularly when
blowing from the south and west, this Pine stands
boldly out, and that, too, on such ridges and peaks
where the Scotch Fir and Austrian are bending
from the storm. For seaside planting Pinus Laricio
must by no means be despised, for we have culti-
vated it with very marked success down even to
high water line.
As an ornamental tree, too, the Corsican Pine
certainly ranks high, for its whole contour may be
said to be very easy, while its silvery grey and not
too massy foliage is at all times, but particularly
during the spring, pleasing to behold, and renders
the tree as distinct as it is beautiful. Planted as
a single specimen, and allowed to develop itself,
the Corsican Pine soon forms an imposing and
ornamental lawn tree, and I can at this moment
recall to mind one of the finest Laricios in this
country as occupying a position similar to that
described. The timber of Pinus Laricio grown
in this country is of first rate quality, compara-
tively speaking, and this we state after having
converted several of the largest logs ever produced
in this country into boarding, and afterwards used
these for various estate purposes. The first trial
of the wood was made six years ago, when several
boxes which were to be used constantly out of
doors, rough gates, doors, &c., were manufactured
from the timber of Pinus Laricio. Although a suf-
ficient length of time has not yet elapsed since the
commencement of these trials, still an examination
of the wood so converted clearly tends to show that
it has deteriorated but little, and may be relied upon
as being very lasting in its nature.
When thoroughly seasoned it is of a light yellow
colour, much darker and nearly as fine in graining as
the yellow Pine, and works smoothly and easily under
the tools of the carpenter. It contains a great quan-
tity of resin, and will, no doubt, when it becomes
more plentiful, be largely used for constructive
purposes.
Under favourable circumstances the rate of growth
of Pinus Laricio is very rapid. After being planted
for five years," the average annual growth for the
next ten years is frequently as much as 2^ feet.
Stem bulk is likewise well carried on with this in-
crease in height, for not many weeks ago I had
occasion to examine a plantation of thirty-two
years' growth in which Pinus Laricio had attained
to 65 feet in height, and with many of the stems
girthing from 5 feet to fully G feet at a yard from
the ground. Standing alongside one of the largest
trees, I counted around me no less than nine others
whose average stem girth was fully 5 feet, and the
height 65 feet. The soil was not of the best quality,
being a brackish gravel ; indeed, I question much if
it would have grown any other timber crop so suc-
cessfully.
The Douglas Fir was doing fairly well alongside
the Corsican, but the Silver Fir, Black Spruce, and
Austrian did not thrive so well. In another planta-
tion formed twenty-four years ago at 400 feet alti-
tude on a badly wind-swept hillside, the Corsican
Pine can be seen towering for 10 feet above any of
its neighbours, and throwing out stout branches into
the very face of the blast. Its neighbours are the
Scotch and Austrian Pines, the Larch, and numerous
hardwooded trees ; the soil of excellent quality,
a free gravelly loam, and the aspect north and east.
The Corsican Fine is readily raised from seed'
the young plants usually appearing stout and
vigorous. As before stated, the young plants should
not be allowed to remain long in the seed-bed, but
be transplanted every year until final planting takes
place.
Game and boring beetles are said not to attack
the Corsican Pine, but hares and rabbits will — but,
perhaps, only when pressed with hunger — attack
and injure the young plants, but not nearly to so
great an extent as they will the Austrian Pine
when planted under similar conditions.
That insect pests do not trouble the Laricio is,
unfortunately, another error, for the Pine beetle
(Hylurgus piniperda) is very injurious to the tree,
and more particularly in the younger stages of its
growth. Two years ago nearly every tree of Pinus
Laricio in a 30-acre plantation was attacked by this
beetle, and the injury they committed can never be
rectified. The beetle usually bores into the succulent
leading shoot at about a foot from the tip, and works
its way upwards to within an inch or two of the top
bud, where it emerges. The weakness caused to
that portion of the shoot where the insect enters
causes the leader to snap during the first storm,
and a sad sight it is to see scores and scores of fast-
growing, 5-feet-high specimens with their heads
either lying on the ground, or hanging limp and
lifeless. It is usually supposed that the Pine beetle
only attacks unhealthy trees, but this is, I believe,
quite a mistake, for a more healthy and thriving
lot of Corsicans no person could desire to see than
those on whom the depredations were committed.
The plantation to which I refer, and in which the
attacked Corsicans were growing, is situated at
600 feet altitude, and close to another in which a
quantity of decaying branches were allowed to lie,
and to which source it was easy enough to trace the
origin of the beetles.
From my present experience of this Pine, I be-
lieve that it is the best all-round species yet intro-
duced; further acquaintance, and on a large scale,
with the tree only causes me to reiterate the state-
ments made by me some years ago in the " Pinetum
Britannioum." A. D. Wbbstbe.
Oak trees in chemical manufacturing dis-
tricts.— The Oak is possessed of more vitality than
most people are aware of. Living in the heart of
the chemical manufacturing district of Lancashire,
I have had an opportunity of observing the behaviour,
of this tree under difficulties. It is quite true that
it is the first to show signs of decay, and that it
yields to the influence of the noxious gases before
any other British tree ; but, after it has apparently
withered, and to all outward appearance is dead, it
continually, year after year, sends out again a few
green shoots, thus showing that the roots are living,
and to some extent vigorous. Other trees in
this district which are susceptible to the gases
seldom send out any new shoots. Another thing
worthy of notice is that tall trees suffer before
shrubs or small trees. — R.
The Purple-leaved Birch.— This is an orna-
mental tree of unquestionable value, especially as
the list of deep, dark-coloured-leaved trees is very
limited. The Purple Beech, the Purple Oak, the
Purple Hazel, the red-leaved forms of Acer colchi-
cum and A. platanoides are the chief of such at
present available among deciduous trees for the
production of deep-toned effects in ornamental
planting ; while among Evergreens the number,
variety, and excellence are even less considerable.
Any such addition as the subject of this notice,
therefore, to this important class of hardy trees is
to be welcomed with pleasure. The only familiar
tree that can compare with this Birch in colour is
the Purple Beech ; but when the characteristic
elegance of the former is associated with the
fine, purplish black leaves of the latter, there
can be but one opinion as to the value of the plant
and its high capabilities in the hands of planters of
good taste. The particular form of Birch thus so
valuably coloured is that known as the Poplar-
leaved, of which the sort named laciniata is a
tolerably well-known variety. A very free, vigorous,
yet elegant growth is characteristic of this form of
Birch, and the purple-leaved variety is in all respects,
except the colour of the leaves, the same as the
72
THE GARDEN.
[July 23, 1887.
green-leaved type. It is a vigorous-growing, freely-
branching tree, and as graceful as the cut-leaved
sort, only the leaves are entire and large, and in
form resemble those of the Lombardy Poplar in
miniature. It has a most charming effect as a lawn
tree, or when grouped tastefully in the ornamental
plantations, — G.
THE PRESERVATION OF WOOD.
The durability of wood — that is, its power of re-
sisting the destructive influences of wind and
weather — varies greatly, and depends as much upon
the particular kind of wood and the influences to
which it is exposed as upon the origin of the wood
(timber), its age at the time of felling, and other
conditions. Beech wood and Oak placed perma-
nently under water may last for centuries. Alder
wood lasts only a short time when in a dry situa-
tion ; but when kept under water, it is a very last-
ing and substantial wood. Taking into consideration
the different kinds and varying properties of wood,
and the different uses to which it is applied, we
have to consider, as regards its durabUitv, the fol-
lowing particulars : 1. Whether it is more liable
to decay by exposure to open air or when placed in
damp situations. 2. Whether it is, when left dry,
more or less attacked by the ravages of insects,
which while in a state of larvas live in and on wood.
Pure woody fibre by itself is only very slightly
affected by the destructive influences of wind and
weather. ^ When we observe that wood decays, that
decay arises from the presence of substances in
the wood which are foreign to the woody fibre, but
are present in the juices of the wood while growing,
and consist chiefly of albuminous matter, which
when beginning to decay also causes the destruc-
tion of the other constituents of the wood ; but these
changes occur in various kinds of wood only after
a shorter or longer lapse of time; indeed, wood may
in some instances last for several centuries and
remain thoroughly sound ; thus, the roof of West-
minster Hall was built about 1090. Since resinous
wood resists the action of damp and moisture for a
long period, it generally lasts a considerable time ;
next in respect of durability follow such kinds of
wood as are very hard and compact, and contain at
the same time some'substance which — like tannic
acid— to some extent counteracts decay. The be-
haviour of the several woods under water differs
greatly. Some woods are after a time converted
into a pulpy mass. Other kinds of wood, again,
undergo no change at all while under water — ^as,
for instance. Oak, Alder, and Fir. Insects chiefly
attack dry wood only. Splint wood is more liable
to such attack than hard wood ; while splint of Oak
wood is rather readily attacked by insects, the hard
wood (inner or fully developed wood) is seldom so
affected. Elm, Aspen, and all resinous woods are
very seldom attacked by insects. Young wood,
which is full of sap and left with the bark on, soon
becomes quite worm-eaten, especially so the Alder,
Birch, Willow, and Beech. The longer or shorter
duration of wood depends more or less upon the
following; a. The conditions of growth. Wood
from cold climates is generally more durable than
that grown in warm climates. A poor soil produces
as a rule a more durable and more compact wood
than does a soil rich in humus, and therefore con-
taining also much moisture, h. The conditions in
which the wood is placed greatly influence its dura-
tion. The warmer and moister the climate, the
more rapidly decomposition sets in ; while a dry,
cold climate materially aids the preservation of
wood. 0. The time of felling is of importance ;
wood cut down in winter is considered more durable
than that felled in summer. In many countries the
forest laws enjoin the felling of trees only between
November 1 5 and February 1 .5. Wood employed for
building, and not exposed to heat or moisture, is
not likely to suffer from the ravages of insects ;
but if it is placed so that no draughts of fresh air
can reach it, to prevent accumulation of products
of decomposition, decay soon sets in, and the decay-
ing albuminous substances acting upon the fibre
cause it to lose its tenacity and become a friable
mass. Under the influence of moisture fungi are
developed upon the surface of the wood. These
fungi are severally known as the "house fungi"
(Thelephora domestica and Boletus destructor), and
the clinging fungus (Merulius vestator). They
spread over the wood in a manner very similar to
the growth of common fungi on soil. Their growth
is greatly aided by moisture, and by exclusion of
light and fresh air. A chemical means of prevent-
ing such growths is found in the application to the
wood of acetate of oxide of iron, the acetate being
prepared from wood vinegar. Wood is often more
injuriously affected when exposed to sea water,
when it is attacked by a peculiar kind of insect
known as the bore worm (Teredo nivalis). This in-
sect is armed with a horned beak capable of pierc-
ing the hardest wood to a depth of about a foot.
These insects originally belonged to, and abound in
great numbers in the seas under the tropical clime ;
but the Teredo nivalis is met with on the coasts of
Holland and England. X.
FENCES.
The reason why more sawn than riven Oak is used
for fences is because wood that can be riven is of
necessity straighter, cleaner, and therefore more
valuable. Rough and knotty pieces can, by means
of the saw, be cut into a suitable shape ; to cleave
them would be impossible. With regard to the
stability of the fence which " Yorkshireman " refers
to, the information he gives (p. 593) puts another
complexion on the matter. The 3-inch by 2-inch
stakes he mentions are only 9 inches apart. This,
of course, means a dozen upright posts in a 9-feet
bay. Placed so thickly as this, the fence ought to
be sufficiently firm, but a greater quantity of timber
would be used. From his remarks I gather that
small Oak, whether rough or smooth, is not worth
much in his district. This, however, is not so in
every place; therefore, in considering the merits of
the fence recommended, the quantity and quality of
the timber required must be taken into account.
For a rail fence, only two posts would generally be
required to a bay, viz., a square-ended post, for
which a hole would have to be dug, and which
would have to be rammed, and a prick post or
centre stake in the middle. Of course, two main
posts would be necessary for the first bay, but after
this the other posts would answer the double pur-
pose. To compare the fences fairly, one stake
should be deducted from the dozen which com-
poses " Yorkshireman's " bay, so that we have two
posts against eleven. This is a very wide difference.
As I understand it, 1 cwt. of the doubled 6 or
7-gauge wire would form from 250 yards to 300 yards
of single rail. If this is so, provided this would
last as long as an ordinary wood rail, the cost of
the wire would certainly be less. A wood fence
rail, such as the railway companies use, even if cut
upon the place, cannot be produced under from
IJd. to 2d. per yard. I have not any manufacturers'
quotations for wire, but I think that at present
figures they would not be so high as this. The
chief thing open to question is the character and
arrangement of the posts. In considering this, it
must be conceded that stakes so close together as
9 inches do away with the necessity of a multi-
plicity of rails, as it is virtually transforming the
fence from a railed to a paled one. As I have
before said, such a vast number of posts or
stakes, however, consumes a large quantity of tim-
ber, and that of such a class as cannot rightly
be termed unsaleable — at least not with us. For
100 yards, 400 posts would be required. In the
ordinary rail fence from sixty to seventy would
cover the same distance, i.e., from thirty to thirty-
live rammed posts, and the same number of centre
stakes. This, of course, is a very great saving in
timber, but an extra line of wire or an extra rail
would be necessary. D. J. Y.
forest of the North Island, rising to a height of 150
feet, and measuring 30 feet in circumference at the
base. The wood is very inflammable, from the
amount of resin contained in it ; and this no doubt
accounts for vast extents of such forests having
been accidentally burnt. It exudes a valuable gum,
which has become an important article of com-
merce. For shipbuilding it is considered equal to
Oak, and large quantities are annually exported for
that purpose. Another timber tree of colonial re-
putation is Podocarpus Totara. In foliage it is
somewhat sombre ; the wood is so close in the grain
as to be termed " iron wood " by the natives, and is
of course very durable. X.
THE BLACK SPRUCE.
New Zealand forest trees. — Among the
timber trees which constitute the wealth of the
New Zealand forest, the foremost is known to col-
lectors of hard woods as Dammara australis.
Leaving out some of our British Oaks of historic
fame, it would be almost impossible to find a more
stately tree. It is common to meet with it in the
I WAS glad to see " A.'s " notice of this useful and
ornamental tree (p. -IT), as it is far too little planted
either for cover or ornament. As it seldom reaches a
height of more than 50 feet in this country, it is not
likely to assume very great importance as a timber
tree. I also think that " A." is in error in stating
that the black species grows higher than the white.
It possesses, however, a quality quite unique almost
among Spruces and rare among Coniferous trees —
that of spreading wide horizontally. When the
larger side branches reach the ground, they
often root into it, the lateral branch soon after-
wards assuming the position of a secondary bole.
This habit of the natural layering of the side branches
and these assuming the form of sub-leaders give
the black Spruce a very distinctive appearance in
woods and shrubberies, and add to its value as a
covert-forming and game-protecting tree, and im-
parts a character to the landscape that no other
tree can give.
Groups of black and white Spruce alternated, and
now and again further varied and enriched with
intervening groups of Birch and Larch, are perfectly
charming. The light foliage of the white Spruce
sets off to greater effect, by contrast, the darker-
leaved black; while the fairy- like lightness of Birch
and Larch is as welcome to the senses as sunlight
after shade. Such combinations, welcome in most
landscapes, are more so when immense tracts of
Scotch Firs clothe mountain sides or commons for
miles at a stretch. Even the white Spruce is a
relief from the density of masses of Scotch Fir
foliage, standing stiffly on end and bolt upright, like
rows of soldiers on sentry. But when the Spruce is
further lighted up with Birch and Larches, the con-
trast and cheerful play of light over the dark shade
of Conifers are complete. All this is best illustrated
by planting Spruce and other trees in groups.
Beautiful and complete as Spruce Firs may seem
in woodland masses, or in single, double, or mul-
tiple lines as avenues, the real landscape worth
and beauty of these trees can only be seen in groups.
These may be managed in various ways, but where
it is needful to cover the entire area of home woods
or game-preserves, the Birches and Larches may be
so massed as at once to fall into and distinctly mark
out the interstices between the Spruce ; while the
black and white Spruce, with or without other va-
rieties of Abies, such as the Silver Fir, the Douglas,
and the Morinda, may be employed to give variety
of tint to the shadows that shall be lighted up by
Larches, Birches, Laburnums, Acacias, Silver or
other Maples, or other trees. Caledonicus.
Uineralising wood. — When the terms mine-
ralised, petrified, metalised, or incrusted are applied
to wood, they include the meaning that the wood
has undergone impregnation with an inorganic sub-
stance, which has so filled the pores of the wood
that it may be said to partake of the characteristics
of a mineral substance. Suppose that the wood has
become impregnated with sulphate of iron, when
exposed to the rain the sulphate will be gradually
dissolved out, in time leaving only a basic sulphate.
By the researches of Strutzki (i.S34), of Apelt in
Jena, and of Kuhlmann (1S59), the influence of
oxide of iron upon wood fibre has been rendered
very clear. Wood impregnated with basic sulphate
of iron ceases to be wood after some time.
THE GARDEN.
73
No. 819. SATURDAY, July 30, 1887. Vol. XXXII.
" This Is an Art
Which does mend Nature : change it rather ; but
The Akt itself is Nature." — Shakespeare.
DWARF NASTURTIUMS FOR SUMMER
BEDS.
The sight of siicli a brilliant display of colour as
that ■which for the past few weeks has made a
corner of the horticultiu'al gardens at Cliiswick
aglow with scarlet and yellow makes one think
that too little use is made of dwarf Nasturtiums
for summer bedding, and having regard to the
fact that they are easily grown, need Httle or
no attention, and continue in bloom throughout
summer and autumn tiU cut off by frosts, it is
the more surprising that their value is so under-
rated, especially in these days when economy in
the garden is so much studied. It is very
doubtful if the most perfect arrangements of
scarlet Pelargoniums, Calceolarias, and such
like bedding plants equal in brilliancy of
colour such a glowing effect as that produced
by the dwarf Nasturtiums in the Chiswick Gar-
den. The dry, hot season has just suited
them, and probably they are better this year
than usual ; at any rate, there are few who
have visited Chiswick lately that have not ex-
pressed surprise at the effect these Nasturtiums
create. This year the Royal Horticultural
Society has, in its useful work of flower and
vegetable trials, included a trial of all the sorts
of dwarf Nasturtiums (varieties of Tropseolum
minus) in order to give an opportunity to
its floral committee to adjudicate upon the
merits of the several kinds, old as well as
new. A collection of about a score of sorts
are under trial, contributed by two of the lead-
ing seed firms in London and Paris, so that
never before has such a good opportunity been
afforded in London of seeing all the sorts grown
side by side for comparison, and selecting the
best sorts to produce given effects in colour or
habit. Not a few have visited the collection in
order to choose for themselves the sorts they
think best, and for the benetit of those who
cannot see the display, the selection of sorts
made by the floral committee may be useful.
The committee took into consideration all the
points which constitute what they regard as a
first-rate bedding Nasturtium. It must be bril-
liant and decided in colour, free-flowering, neat,
and compact in growth, and true to its name.
They found that several sorts were duplicates,
that is, there were two names for th e same variety,
and these they wisely coupled. In most cases
the duplicate sorts enjoyed a French and Eng-
lish name, so that the suppression of the foreign
name will be most convenient. Nine sorts were
selected as the best in the collection, these be-
ing named Empress of India, a very compact
grower, with flowers of the deepest scarlet-
crimson ; Tom Thumb Pearl, pale yellow ; Creru-
leuui roseum, bright piirplish red ; Tom Thumb
Beauty, brilliant scarlet (same as Tom Thumb
Scarlet) ; Tom Thumb Crimson, vivid crimson ;
Tom Thumb Spotted King, bright yellow,
crimson spots ; Tom Thumb Yellow, rich yellow ;
and Crystal Palace Gem, pale yellow, crimson
blotches.
These nine sorts, then, may be looked upon
as the pick of all the dwarf Nasturtiums. All
are decided in colour and compact in growth,
and extremely free-flowering. Some of the
others not selected by the committee are pretty,
and some may like to grow, for instance, such a
distinct coloured sort as Ruby King, quite a
ruby colour, or King Theodore, with its flowers
of the deepest maroon-crimson.
With such a selection as this, what glorious
masses of colour one could produce throughout
the summer in gardens, and what a boon they
would be to owners of small gardens who like a
gay display without much trouble or expense.
But they must be masses ; singly or in small
patches they look nothing compared with a
large mass. I recently saw a long border, some
10 feet wide, entirely filled with the vivid crim-
son Empress of India as a centre line, flanked
by the bright Tom Thumb Yellow, and with an
edging of the scarlet T. Lobbianum, with creep-
ing stems, and I thought I had rarely seen such
a gay border in July. As everybody knows the
treatment dwarf Nasturtiums require, it need
only be said that the greatest success is obtained
with them when planted in wama and fully ex-
posed spots in poorish soil, be well looked after
from the seedling stage till planting-out time,
about the end of May or beginning of June.
W. G.
LETTER FROM MONTANA.
The flora of this country is indeed most wonder-
ful, and it is perfectly marvellous to me how so
many beautiful plants can have sm-vived 50° to
60° of frost. From the window where I write
one can see just a perfect blaze of colour, most
of the plants being quite new to me. Amongst
those which I do recognise are Lewisia rediviva,
from pui-e white to rich pink ; Opuntias of
various colours, blue Lupines, GaUlardias, and
innumerable dwarf alpine plants, some of them
most lovely ; there is one in particular, of very
pretty growth and a bright terra-cotta colour,
which I greatly admire. I am bringing home a
great many dried specimens which I hope you
may be able to name for me, besides having
collected seed and sent home various plants,
some of which I hope may survive their long
journey of 6000 miles. We are 5600 feet above
the sea here, and at 1000 feet higher the vege-
tation is again completely altered. There I
found Dodecatheons and Erythroniums, and
again several plants quite new to me. -^t still
higher elevation and near the snow I am told
that the flowers are even still better ; but un-
fortunately I have not been able to spare the
tune to get so high. We are now off to the
Yellowstone Park, as to the flora of which I am
at present entirely in the dark, but fear the
whole region being almost entirely volcanic, we
may experience some httle disappointment as
to tills, though we expect to be more than
repaid by the magnificent scenery.
A. KlNGSMILL.
Table dficorations.— The utmost ingenuity of
the most expert of table decorators seems unable to
provide anything new, striking, or specially effective
in this direction. The glass stand or epergne is still
the chief object upon which floral dressings are
bestowed, and of these decorations it is enough to
say that, on the average, they are neither better nor
worse than were seen ten years ago. We see year
after year the same styles ; we might almost say the
same "flowers— certainly flowers of identical sorts,
with the same methodsof mixture and arrangement
year after year, until aU interest in this class of ex-
hibit has ceased and pleasure in contemplating them
is absent. The best effects are invariably found on
stands in which there is a limit to colours and to
quantity. It needs a hard heart to resist the temp-
tation to put in just a bit or two of something more
after a stand really looks pretty, and few, indeed,
can resist the temptation. Thus it comes that we
see in myriads of stands not only some seven or
eight colours, some offensively anomalous in com-
binations, but a dozen diverse kinds of flowers, with
perhaps three or four kinds of Grasses, and as many
of Ferns or other foliage. All that sort of thing is
intensely irritating, because it has reduced what
might have been a pretty, pleasing, even graceful
arrangement to the level of a mere floral mixture.
A dispute arose the other day as to whether three
stands at a flower show should not so far show
diversity in arrangement, as that the centre one
should "not be the same as the outer ones. It
seems a small matter, but still desirable, because
causing some little diversity. The objection to the
employment of so many flowers and colours is, that
in the house there can be no pleasing contrasts.
Were the stands decorated with, say, a couple of
kinds of pleasingly harmonising flowers on one day,
and with some two other kinds of flowers a few
days later, and so on, variety would be maintained
with the best results. We want similar dressing
arrangements adopted at flower shows. A. D.
Stove and Greenhouse.
T. BAINES.
HOVEA CELST.
Now, when this beautiful plant is so rarely seen
in a size that gives any idea of its true character,
it is refreshing to hear of a fine example such
as that noticed in The Garden a short time
ago at Coddington HaU, Newark. A specimen
like that mentioned is a lovely object when in
bloom. Mr. Thorpe's description of the plant
was meagre, and he does not state whether it is
grown in" a pot or planted out. I should suppose
that it has been allowed to assume much of its
natural habit, that is with a clean branchless
stem of some length supporting a bushy head.
It would be interesting to know how old the
plant is, and whether it has been grown on from
a cutting or from seed.
Like most other plants, whether slow-growing
Evergreens, or quick-growing deciduous kinds,
it is necessary whilst the growth is being made
to give it plenty of light, without which the
leaves will be deficient in the fibre and substance
requisite to enable them to retain their vitality
long enough. But all the light that it is possible
to give it is useless to correct the persistently
spare, branchless growth natural to the plant in
its early stages. Like some other plants, this
Hovea does not branch until it has formed a stem
of considerable length, after which there is no
difficulty in getting it to form a bushy head, only
a little" stopping, and sometimes none at all,
being required to induce it to do this. When
grown in low bush form by repeated stopping
and tying out the shoots, it taxes the skiU
of the cultivator more than most plants, and so
managed it will not attain anything approaching
the size that it does when allowed to grow as a
bush-headed standard, which is the best form to
grow it in.
It answers well for clothing the upper part of
a pillar, or for clothing the loof of a cool con-
servatory or greenhouse, but so treated the
space it will fill is limited. It looks best as a
standard. When to be used in this way it
should be grown on without stopping until it
has got a clean stem 4 feet or 5 feet high, or
more if the house in wliich it is ultimately to be
located is high, removing any side shoots that
may appear till the required height of stem is
secured. But anything in the form of side
branches that may break wiU give little trouble,
as imtil a good height of stem is present, even
if lateral growth is pushed, it seldom makes
much progress if the leader is allowed to go on
without interference. Plants raised from seed
are preferable in some respects to those propa-
gated from cuttings, as the former generally
make freer growth. The seeds are usually sown
early in spring or in the winter, as then the
74
THE GARDEN.
[J0LY 30, 1887.
plants have a long season before them in which
to gain strength. The seed may, however, be
sown at any time after it is ripe, provided there
is the means of giving the little plants an inter-
mediate temperature through the winter, .so as
to keep them UKjving slightly. Sow in a shallow
pan, drained and filled with fine sifted peat, to
which add enough sand to make it light, so that
when the seedlings require potting the roots
will come away without breaking. The soil
ought to be pre.ssed moderately firm in the pan.
The seeds should not be sown too thickly, or
there will be a difficulty in disentangling the
roots. Ccjver with about a fourth of an hioh of
the finest of the soil, put a square of glass on
the pan, and as soon as the sun gets power-
ful, a sheet of thin white paper. Stand in
intermediate heat, and keep the soil slightly
moist, not wet. When the plants appear, dis-
pense with tlie glass, but use the paper when
the sun is bright, as the seedlings should be
kept well up to the light, which not only gives
strength to the leaves, but induces the formation
of roots.
Sown in the early spring, the young plants
will be ready for moving to small pots in
July, giving them soil of a like description
to that in which the seed was sown. Stand
the pots on some moisture-holding material
and encourage growth by a genial tempera-
ture with a moderate amount of air in the
daytime, but not so much as will dry the atmo-
sphere unduly. Continue to shade when the
weather is bright, syringing overhead in the
afternoon. As autumn comes on give more air,
and cease shading and syringing. Winter in a
temperature of about 45°. This Hovea is a
comparatively slow grower, and in spring, when
the plants will require moving, 3-inch or 4-inch
pots will be large enough ; after potting, keep
the atmosphere a little close and moderately
moist, again giving shade in the middle of the
day in bright weather. When the roots have
begun to move admit more air. Treat through
the summer and ensuing winter as advised for
the preceding year, and again in spring give a
shift, now using the peat without sifting. Six-
inch pots will be the right size to use, unless in
the case of any that have made more than ordi-
nary top and root growth. Put a thin stick to
eacli plant. Continue to treat as hitherto ;
again in spring give pots 2 inches larger. This in-
crease in size will generally be sufficient for each
potting. Sixteen-inch pots were large enough
for the largest specimens I have had or have
seen. After they have been a year or two in
pots of this size, they may be assisted by the
use of manure water, applied in a clear, weak
state five or six times during the growing season,
or a large tablespoonful of Standen's manure
may be sprinkled on the surface of the soil
twice in the season. I find this the best and
safest of all manures for slow-growing hard-
wooded plants, as from its being much slower
in giving olf its strength, there is less danger
from its use than from that of the highly soluble
manures.
This Hovea is a profuse bloomer, and when
clothed with its lovely dark bluish purple. Pea-
shaped flowers, is not easily matched. Its
habit of fl(jwering is peculiar ; not only does it
bloom from the axils of the leaves almost the
entire length of the preceding season's growth,
but it also flowers again from the base of the old
leaves, thus clothing the shoots in a way seen
in few plants.
In the early days of the Chiswick and
■Regent's Park shows Hovea Celsi was often
shown in collections staged by the leading exhi-
bitors. Tiie specimens were usually in bush
form, about 2 feet or 2i feet through, not so
well furnished as other things with which they
were associated, thus showing the difticulty
there was in getting it furnished in the way
most plants so used admit of. This, with the
fact of its being too small to look well in com-
pany with the large specimens of Pimeleas,
Epacrises, Eriostemons, Polygalas, and Choro-
zemas that the collections were chiefly composed
of, led to its being given up as an exhibition
subject, for which purpose its character of
growth makes it unfit. But this is no reason
why the plant should so seldom find a place in
greenhouses and conservatories grown in the
shape already recommended. Why it is not so
used can only be attributed to the preference
now given to weedy, quick-growing things that
in a year or two fill the space allotted to them,
and to the fact that it is more than likely that
comparatively few gardeners have ever seen a
well-grown standard such as I have attempted
to describe. Quick-growing plants are very
useful in their way to give immediate efl'ect,
but why not grow on a few examples of this and
the many other sterling plants that are ne-
glected > As they get up in size they will fill
the place of the quick-growing, but much less
beautiful and efleotive plants that are now
much more in favour than their merits entitle
them to.
This Hovea usually seeds freely ; a specimen
such as the one described at Coddington Hall
will yield a quantity of seed. I should not
advise even strong examples being allowed to
bear more seed than is required for use, as even
when the plants are strong and vigorous it
taxes them severely, and generally interferes
much with the amount of bloom produced the
following season.
once or twice a day during fine weather is very
beneficial, discontinuing the practice as soon as the
plants show signs of flowering, when they may be
removed to an unheated structure where an abund-
ance of air can be given them. — W. H.
Dipladenias. — I cannot help thinking that these
plants are used too exclusively for the purpose of
public exhibition, and not sufficiently grown as stove
climbers. Just now they are exceedingly beautiful
with Mr. Carr, at Croydon Lodge, where they are
treated as rafter plants, and the stove is a perfect
blaze of beauty with the gorgeous trumpet-shaped
blooms of such kinds as D. regina, rosacea, bolivi-
ensis, and Brearleyana. These plants are well
rested in the winter and potted early in spring, and
as there is abundance of heat at command they soon
commence to flower, and bid fair to maintain the
display well into the autumn. — W. H. G.
Exacum affine.— This very pretty Gentian-
wort is a native of the island of Soootra, and was
found by Drs. Balfour and Schweinfurth growing
on the banks of watercourses. It is a plant not at
all difficult to grow, and will last in full beauty for
more than three months. A number of plants
grouped together in one of the greenhouses of the
Cambridge Botanic Garden are now very attractive.
It is an annual, and grows from 1 foot to IS inches
in height, and makes nice compact specimens.
From the commencement of their growth the plants
require neither stopping nor tying. The flowers
are pale blue and nearly an inch in diameter,
produced in profusion, and sweetly scented. To
have this charming greenhouse plant in bloom at
the present season, seeds should be sown about the
second week in January, and as they are very fine,
it is advisable not to cover them "with soil, but
simply sow them on a finely prepared surface, cover-
ing the pot or pan with a piece of glass, and placing
it where it will receive a little bottom heat. When
the plants are large enough to handle they should
be pricked off into pans filled with a mixture of
l^eat, loam, sand, and broken pieces of crocks.
From these pans they should be potted separately
into small pots, still keeping them in a warm tem-
perature, say from G0° to (55°. Shift them on into
G-inch pots, giving them good drainage, as they re-
quire abundance of water, and on no account allow
them to get dry. A slight dewing over the foli.igo
NIGHT-FLOWEEING CACTI.
The majority of gardeners have never seen, and
perhaps never heard of, those lovely flowers of the
night, the few kinds of Cacti belonging to the genus
Cereus, that open their blossoms only after sunset.
They are rarely met with outside botanic gar-
dens, or, at least, botanical collections, and even
there their flowers are unseen except by a few.
Nothing to us is so impressively beautiful in the
way of flowers than to see the great blossoms of
these Cacti by candle-light in the stillness of the
night. They do not look like ordinary flowers, for
every petal seems as if chiselled out of alabaster,
and sparkles as if beset with myriads of tiny
crystals. The beautiful way in which the long
white petals hold themselves up in a symmetrical
cup-like form is admired by all who love exquisite
form in flowers. Daring the past week three species
of these Night-flowering Cacti have bloomed in the
Cactus house at Kew. They wereCereusgrandiflorus,
C. nycticalus, and C. McDonaldias, all of which have
climbing or creeping stems, and therefore are
trained under the roof of the house. All these
three plants were in bloom one night, and we will
not attempt to describe the envious sight we were
privileged to enjoy, or the delightful fragrance,
which is more delicate and sweet than any other
flower at night-time. Night-flowering Cacti must
be grown in one's own garden to thoroughly enjoy
them ; they ought to be in every good garden where
hothouse plants are grown, for what more enjoyable
treat can be given to evening guests than the sight
of these great Cactus blooms, often nearly a foot
across, gradually, yet perceptibly, expanding in the
dim twilight, and lasting open till day dawns.
It is, indeed, strange that plants possessing such
marvellous beauty should be considered of less im-
portance than Orchids and other fashionable flowers.
It cannot be because they are difficult to grow ; on
the contrary, they need little or no attention beyond
what plants generally receive when they occupy an
odd corner of a plant stove. In one garden
we know — that at Leigham Court, Streatham —
there is a plant stove, the back wall of which is
entirely covered with a plant of Cereus grandiflorus,
and it is not an unfrequent occurrence to see on a
warm summer night as many as a score of ex-
panded blooms. The plant is held to the wall by
means of a wire lattice trellis packed with Moss,
and in this the stems root freely. The Night-
flowering Cacti are not, unfortunately, stock plants
in murseries, but if a demand for them sprang up
they would be forthcoming. Of the three species
mentioned, V. nycticalus is the finest, its blooms
being nearly a foot across, of ivory whiteness, ex-
cept the outer sepals. C. grandiflorus is also
very large, white, and deliciously fragrant ; and
McDonaldiiB has white petals and sepals, stained
with orange- red. All three are worthy of the best
attention, and a dry, warm corner of a plant stove
where there is plenty of light could not be adorned
in a better way than by these nocturnal-flowering
Cacti.— W. G.
I am much interested in the above, that
flowers in July in a neighbour's warm greenhouse,
sometimes two, and even three, of its lovely flowers
being open the same night. It is, we learn, a creeper
in its native home (Jamaica), running along its table
lands, and beautifying them by its flowers and
fragrance. In this country it is usually trained to
a trellis, and to one who has seen it in its native
haunts it must indeed look unnatural. It opens
about n o'clock in the evening, attains perfection at
11, and the flowers collapse about 3 on the follow-
ing morning. It looks best by lamplight. In few
flowers has Nature blended and harmonised the
colours more happily than in Cereus grandiflorus.
The sepals, to the number of sixty, are of a warm,
rich browm, and form a noble corona to the snow-
white petals, which they so gracefully encircle.
July 30, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
The stamens are yellow and declinate, and the style
is tijiiied with the usual star-like crown. I wish
some o£ your many readers could tell us more
about the Cereus, from actual observation of it, in
its native haunts. I bave tried in vain to keep the
flowers open till sunrise. Once, indeed, I succeeded,
and once only, by retaining the juices by means of
a coating of sealing-wax and keeping the flowers in
a dark closet. It gave its beauty to our breakfast-
table, but in an hour, or even less, the flower
collapsed, and became as limp as those on the plant.
— Peter Inchbald, F.L S., Fuln-ith Grange,
Harrogaie.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Amaryllis (Hippeastrums). — These plants have of
late years regained the popularity which they de-
serve. Large numbers of fine varieties have been
raised and continue each flowering season to make
their appearance. Most of these are deciduous in
habit, and from the size of their flowers coupled with
their fine and varied colours have in a great measure
distanced the evergreen varieties, some of which
are nevertheless worth retaining. The treatment
required by the evergreen and the deciduous kinds
whilst making their growth is similar. Both like a
moderate amount of warmth, plenty of light to give
substance and solidity to the leaves, suilicient water
to the soil to keep the roots moving freely, and
syringing overhead daily — this last Ihave always
found indispensable whilst the plants are making
growth, continuing it at longer intervals, say twice
a week, through the summer so long as the weather
is warm enough to favour the presence of red spider,
which, if it attacks the leaves and is not at once
destroyed, does much harm. Where considerable
numbers of Amaryllids are grown and they are
started at intervals, so as to give a succession of
flowers, the result is that the plants vary in the
time of maturing their growth. My own practice
has been to devote a span-roofed pit to them, put-
ting those that bloomed first at one end, with others
that come on In succession to follow, keeping the
latest-flowered stock at the opposite end. In this
.way it is easy to give to all the treatment they re-
quire in the matter of water and shade, as, when
the growth is finished, less of both these is required
than by stock that has bloomed later.
Cereus, Night-flowering. — Notwithstanding
the short-lived nature of the individual flowers
of these plants, they are deserving of cultivation
where there happens to be the means of giving
them the treatment they require to ensure their
blooming. The plants are amongst the easiest
to grow, as they will thrive in any ordinary struc-
ture where sutScient heat is kept up to suit the
generality of warm stove plants, but to grow these
Cereus and to get them to flower freely are very
different things. To ensure the thorough ripening
of the fleshy, succulent stems in a way thai will
cause them to bloom regularly, the plants require
to have their growth made in a position that is ex-
posed to abundance of light and sun, with a drier
condition of the atmosphere than most things like,
• especially after the growth is completed. Where a
chimney shaft happens to be carried up against the
. back or end wall of a stove, and causes the wall to be
so dry and hot, that few things can be got to thrive
against it, in such a place these Cereus delight. In
such a position, trained closely against the wall, and
syringed freely every day during the summer, they
will thrive apace, throwing out from their weird-
looking stems large masses of aerial roots. When
the tops reach nearly up to the roof they will
bloom regularly, producing their large, magnificent
flowers during several weeks When the plants
are large and the situation suits them, they
frequently bloom twice in the course of the
summer. In places where the conditions necessary
to induce them to flower exist, it is an advantage to
grow them, as, independent of the wonderful beauty
of their flowers and their highly interesting charac-
ter, they fill a place where little else will succeed.
There are several species of these night-flowering
Cacti, but amongst those that I have tried C. grandi-
floius and C. McDonaldia: are the best. The former
has white flowers, the latter yellow.
Epiphyllums.— The large and medium-growing
kinds of these plants, of which E. speciosum and E.
Ackermanni may be taken as examples, will by this
time have made their growth, during which they
should have been stood where they would get
abundance of light— the nearer the glass the better,
as under such conditions the fleshy stems whilst in
course of formation gain the solidity nesessary to
enable them to bloom freely. A thorough ripening
of the growth in these plants is requisite, otherwise
they will flower sparingly or not at all. After this
time it will be well to stand them out of doors for
some weeks where they will be well roasted by the
sun; the best place that I have tried to secure this
has been up to a south wall fully exposed to the
sun, securing the stems of the plants against it,
giving no more water than needful to prevent shrivel-
ling, to which if the growth has been made under the
influence of light and direct exposure to the sun
already named, there will be little disposition to. It
is sometimes said that the reason these gorgeous
flowered plants are now seldom met with is on
account of the fugitive character of their flowers,
which do not last so long as those of some things.
This is correct so far as it applies to the indi-
vidual blooms, but when the specimens attain size
they will keep on opening numbers every day for a
month. In addition to this they are amongst the
easiest to grow of all plants cultivated in pots, and
they occupy little room. The poor material the
plants are usually advised to be potted in, consisting
of ordinary soil mixed with crocks and sand, has
led many to suppose they will not bear better fare,
but this is a mistake. Epiphyllums are spare
rooters, and have a natural dislike to stagnant
moisture or sour, adhesive soil; good rich turfy
loam in the proportion of about fiveparts to one of
sand and a liberal addition of broken crocks is the
best material to pot them in. When the plants get
large and do not require more pot room, an annual
top-dressing of manure of a cool nature, such as
well decomposed cow manure that has laid exposed
until it is black and will crumble to bits, is a great
assistance to them; this, with care in seeing that
the drainage is efiicient, is sufficient to keep large
Epiphyllums going for an unlimited time.
Gloeiosas. — Where these distinct and handsome
flowered plants are grown they do good service for
conservatory, or greenhouse decoration in the sum-
mer and autumn, as if the bulbs are started at dif-
ferent times the plants come into flower so as to
give a succession. Gloriosas are easily grown, yet
they are often lost in winter when at rest. One of
the chief causes of their going off at that season is
through the bulbs being indifferently cared for after
they have done blooming. Early started plants wiU
shortly be in bloom provided they have been sub-
jected to moderately warm treatment ; they will
bear standing in a "cool house whilst in flower if
they are kept away from cold draughts. When so
used it not unfrequently happens that the plants
are allowed to remain too long in cold quarters when
the few flowers that may yet open are not worth re-
taining the plants for. it is well to bear in mind that
it is after the plants have bloomed that the matura-
tion of the bulbs takes place, and instead of keeping
them in a temperature that is too cold to effect the
ripening process, the plants, as soon as they have
produced their principal lot of flowers, should be
moved into a warm house or pit where, with regular
attention to watering until the tops die down natu-
rally, the bulbs will have a fair chance of complet-
ing their growth. Later started roots that may not
come into flower before the middle of the ensuing
month must be dealt with cautiously if moved to a
much cooler place than where they have been grown,
and if the weather is cold returned at once to a
genial temperature.
Stove plants in cool houses. — Much more
use might be made of stove plants that are in
flower during the latter part of summer than is
often attempted. At this time the season's growth,
both wood and foliage, has acquired a good deal of
solidity, so that the plants if properly treated may
be placed for a month or so in conservatories and
greenhouses without injury. Amongst the kinds
that may be used in this way may be named
Bougainvillea glabra, Allamandas, Rondeletias, a«d
Ixoras. Where these plants have been grown witli
their heads close to the glass in a light house, with
no more shade than is found requisite to keep the
sun from burning the leaves, and without bottom
heat, they will not suffer so long as the weather
keeps warm. The presence of these plants, especi-
ally when the specimens have attained considerable
size and are well bloomed, adds much to the appear-
ance of conservatories at a season when there is
not a superabundance of flowering subjects. Even
the Ixoras, which require as much heat to grow
them well as any plants in cultivation, receive no
injury if placed in comparatively cool quarters for
a time. I have had plants of I. coccinea that had
been kept in a night temperature of 75°, with from
85° to 90° by day through March, April, and May,
until they came into flower, after which they were
moved to a cool house where they stood for a
month without so much as a leaf being injured.
Other kinds of Ixora will bear being similarly
treated, but I name this grand species in particular,
as it requires more heat than most of the others to
grow it well, and therefore might be expected to
resent cool treatment. When tender stove plants
are used in this way the amount of air given to
the house must be in accordance with the more or
less warmth of the weather, and under no circum-
stances must it be admitted to the extent that
Heaths and other air-loving things like.
T. B.
Capparis spinosa. — In the Botanic Gardens,
Cambridge, at the present time a specimen planted
against a wall on a south border is now in full
beauty. It is growing and flowering very freely,
owing, no doubt, to the past warm, bright weather.
The plant is protected during the winter months,
and in spring is pruned in closely. The flowers
measure 4 inches in diameter, and at first sight re-
semble to some extent the flowers of a St. John's-
wort. The petals are whitish, and the filaments
purple. It should be planted in a well-drained
situation ; when grown in pots for greenhouse de-
coration the plants always have an inclination to look
scrubby and sickly. The plant is easily propagated
either from cuttings of well-ripened shoots or from
seeds. If propagated from cuttings they should be
placed in a moist heat and covered with a bell-
glass. Seeds should be sown during the early part of
the year in small pots, two or three in each pot, and
when the seeds have germinated, be thinned out to
one plant; the plants will, if potted on, make hand-
some specimens. The advantage of sowing in small
pots is that the plants do not receive a check when
it is necessary to transfer them to pots of a larger
size.— W. H.
SHORT NOTES.— STOVE AND OREENHOVSE.
Mealy bug on plants. — Can any reader advise
as to the most effectual means of eradicating mealy
buo: from a stove house and plants badly infested with
itP — EXQUIREK.
A graceful Asparagus. — One of the prettiest
foliage efPects I have seen for some time was au arch
of Asparagus plumosus nanus, grown in a stove at
Jlessrs. Ireland and Thomson's nursery, Ediuburgh.
Its feathery branches show to great perfection grown
iu this way.— C. M. Owen.
Hoffmannia Gliiesbreghti. — Can anyone tell
me how to grow Hoffinaunia (Higginsia) Ghiesbreghti ?
Is it considered a hard plant to gi'ow ? Also Aphe-
landra fascinata. They are both in a general collection
of stove plants, most of which succeed fairly well. I
can grow and strike Bertolonias, so I fancy there is
heat enough. Why, too, do some of my Marantas
become yellow at the edges of the leaves? — An
AM.iTEUE.
Allamanda Sehotti. — A marvellous specimen
of this glorious stove plant is to he seen iu one of the
small stoves at Gunnershury Park. It is planted out
on the north side of the house and trained up to the
roof, and covers a considerable space, and blooms with
the most marvellous profusion. There are at least
250 to 300 expanded blossoms on it at one time, and it
appears as if the capacity of the plant for producing
flowers is inexhaustible. Mr. Roberts finds it invalu-
able for cutting from, and the cuttiug seems to cause
le
THE GARDEN.
[July 30, 1887.
tbd production of more flowers. It furnishes an excel-
lent illustration of the value of a proper position and a
generous treatment. — R. U.
The rosy Zephyr Flower (Zephyranthes cari-
nata). — This pretty little Mexican bulb can be success-
fully grown in a cold frame, provided it is protected
during the winter. We have a number so treated that
are now in full flower, and very beautiful they are, the
colour of the blossoms being of a very pleasing shade
of rosy pink. The foliage is Grass-like and of a bright
- and cheerful green colour, while the blooms are com-
paratively large, being about 3 inches in diameter. —
H. P.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
We leam that the exhibition of the northern section
of the National Carnation and Picotee Society will be
held at Manchester on August 5.
National Dahlia showr. — We understand that
this show will be held at the Crystal Palace on Sept. 3
and 4. Mr. Henry Glasscock, Rye Street, Bishop's
Stortford, is the honorary secretary, who will furnish
parficulars on application.
Lilium pardalinum.— A clump of this Lily,
planted in the garden here in the early spring of 1886,
has this season twenty-one stems, ranging from 6 feet
4 inches to 8 feet 3^ inches in height, and each bearing
from three to eleven blooms. My best stem of L. ex-
celsum (testaceum) is not more than 5 feet 8 inches
high. — A. C. Edgedale, AUrincham, Cheshire.
Sir Rowland Hill Rose.— This variety gained
the gold medal offered for the best new Rose at the
National Rose Society's Edinburgh Exhibition. It
was shown by Messrs. Mack and Son, Catterick, York-
shire, and is a Hybrid Perpetual; the flowers are of a
rich crimson colour and of good form. It is probable
we shall hear more of this Rose.
Veronica salicornoides. — I send you herewith
all I can get in flower of Veronica salicornoides which
is growing in a mixed bed composed of peat, loam, and
sand. It seems to flower very sparingly, and the
. flowers soon wither. I saw two beds of it at Edin-
burgh Botanic Gardens last week ; there were many
fine plants, but no blooms, although Mr. Lindsay told
me they had some flowers last year. It would be in-
teresting if some New Zealand botanist would tell us
whether it flowers freely in its native country. —
Ed. Moir, Neivburgh-on-Tay, Fife.
Royal Horticultural Society. — We have re-
ceived, in the form of a letter, the outline of a
scheme proposed by Professor Michael Foster for
the re-organisation of this society. It is addressed
to Sir Trevor Lavprence, the president, and contains
valuable, practical, and thoughtful suggestions for
its future management. All who are interested in
the welfare of the Royal Horticultural Society and
desire to see it established upon a sound and sub-
stantial basis should carefully consider this excel-
lent and timely letter.
Flower show at the People's Palace.— An
interesting exhibition was held last Monday and
Tuesday at the People's Palace, the exhibits being
arranged in a marquee erected in the grounds, and
from an early hour there was a large attendance of
visitors. The display was principally made up
through the contributions of the leading London
nurserymen. Messrs. Hooper and Co. and Messrs.
Barr and Son, Covent Garden, showed hardy plants
and cut blooms, and a similar exhibit came from
Messrs. J. Carter and Co., High Holborn; Messrs.
Laing, of Forest HiU, and Mr. B. S. Williams, of Hollo-
way, also showed interesting collections. Prizes
were given for window plants, and, considering the
circumstances under which the plants were grown,
their vigour and healthiness were surprising.
Spirseas in the York Nurseries.— Spira3a
crispifolia is a dwarf, twiggy, compact little shrub,
and a most suitable subject for planting in small
flower-beds or on rockwork. The flowers are borne
in dense clusters at the extremity of the branches ;
they are rose or rosy crimson in colour. It makes
a very pretty object when grown as a pot plant.
'I'he above and Spirssa Bumalda may now be seen
flowering in the York Nurseries. I'he latter plant
is new and vigorous ; the flower-heads are con-
siderably larger than those of S. crispifolia, and the
colour of the blossoms is much lighter, being of a
. pleasing rose or rosy pink. This would be suitable
for planting in masses for summer display and it
only wants to be known, when it would soon rise in
popular favour. It is of very free growth, stands
drought well, and produces its lovely heads of
flowers in great profusion. — R. P.
Invincible Blue Sweet Pea. — We have re-
ceived from Mr. Thomas Laxton, Bedford, flowers
of this distinct new variety. The growth is very
vigorous, and the large, strongly fragrant flowers
are of a rich purplish mauve colour. It seems to
be a most useful Sweet Pea for the garden, owing
to its rather uncommon, but effective shade of
colour.
Seedling Oaillardia. — Messrs. Kelway & Son,
Langport, Somerset, send us flowers of a new
Gaillardia. If it proves constant in character it will
be a welcome addition, the flowers being of bright
colouring, large size, and with the outside ring florets
rich scarlet, tipped with golden yellow, the inside
ring of small florets being of the same colour, and
enhancing the effectiveness of the blooms.
Gardeners' Orphan Fund. — The first meeting
of the committee of this fund was held on Monday
evening last, at 126, King's Road, Chelsea. The
subscriptions and donations now amount to £1020,
and the committee are thus relieved from any
anxiety as to the future success of the undertaking.
All contributions and communications respecting
the fund should be addressed to Mr. A. F. Barron,
Royal Horticultural Society's Gardens, Chiswick.
Fruit prospects in Canada — We learn that
the Apple crop in Canada promises to be a good
one. Ontario has not suffered seriously from the
drought which has been so disastrous in the United
States, and the crops, as a rule, are in a flourishing
condition. All kinds of fruit are generally reported
to be abundant in the province, and, with a favour-
able harvest, the farmers will have little to complain
of except low prices.
The double white rArrowhead. — This fine
aquatic has been flowering freely in a tank in a
greenhouse at the residence of Mr. Samuel Barlow,
J.P., Stakehill House, . Castleton, Manchester. It
throws up strong stems, surmounted by several pure
white, ball-like flowers, as much like those of a
good double Balsam as can be imagined. Planted
out in the tank a few years ago, it has been left
alone, and has flourished to the detriment of other
aquatics of less robust growth. — R. D.
Lilium Krameri. — I send you a somewhat
unique specimen of Lilium Krameri bearing seven
flowers. I obtained this among about fifty bulbs at
Mr. J. C. Stevens' last autumn. Most of them have
done weU, bearing two, three, and four flowers
plant this bulb in loam and peat in the open and put
some Cocoa fibre over it, and although it is usually
considered somewhat tender it has done very well
at all times with me, and it is one of the loveliest of
Lilies. — C. J. Geahamb.
Plants for the dry weather. — It may interest
some of your readers (who, like myself, have alight,
gravelly soil to contend with) to know that the
following hardy plants have withstood the present
season of drought and heat in a remarkable manner
without either the aid of mulching or watering
Egyptian Yarrow (Achillea segyptiaca). Double
Sneezewort (A. Ptarmica fl.-pl.). Showy Fleabane
(Stenactis speciosa), Blue Succory (Catananche
cserulea), White Succory (C. alba), Lythrum roseum
superbum, tall white Evening Primrose (CEnothera
speciosa), CE. macrocarpa. May Weed (Matricaria
inodora), and Senecio abrotanifolius. Achillea
aigyptiaca, A. Ptarmica, and Lythrum roseum
superbum are three of the most showy border
plants we have. — T. B. Field, Stanley Hall Gardens,
Bridgnorth.
Orand Jubilee Rose show at Manchester.
— This took place in the Exhibition Palace, Man-
chester, on the 22nd inst., under the superintend-
ence of Mr. Bruce Findlay. There was a good
exhibition, the season considered, and the leading
amateur prize-winners were Mr. T. B. Hall, Rock
Ferry; the Rev. J. H. Pemberton, Romford; Mr.
S. P. Budd, Bath ; and Mr. W. J. Grant, Ledbury.
In the case of the trade growers, Messrs. James
Cocker and Co., Aberdeen, took the leading prizes ;
Messrs. Harkness and Son, Bedale, and Messrs.
Mack and Son, Catterick Bridge, being also prize-
winners. One interesting feature was a class for
Roses, other than exhibition varieties, and Mr.
Samuel Barlow, of StakehiU, Manchester, was
placed first with a good collection, including Moss
and Provence varieties, the varieties of rugosa,
W. A. Richardson, Ma Capucine, and other types.
There was a large attendance, and the public
appeared to be greatly interested in the display, the
spaces round the tables containing the flowers being
crowded all the day until quite late at night.
Seedling Carnations. — I send you a gathering
of seedling Carnations. The seed (given to me by
Mr. Glazin, of Clare) was from plants grown under
glass, but mine, I think, were never at all under
glass, certainly not after they were a few weeks
old. I planted over a hundred of them out of pots
into the border late in autumn or early in winter,
and did not lose one. I have had a great abund-
ance of flowers, two-thirds of them being double,
and a fortnight or three weeks earlier than those
from plants grown from layers, besides being of
stronger habit. Owing to the dry weather the
flowers do not last very long, and their fragrance is
not strong, yet there is such a succession of flowers
that the blooming season will not be short. — W.
Simmons, Enfield.
New hybrid Streptocarpuses.— These which
have been raised at Kew, and described under num-
bers in The Gaeden July 16 (p. 34), have now been
named. That described as number 1 is named S.
Watsoni by Dr. Masters on account of the hybrids
having been raised by Mr. Watson, of Kew. The
other, number 2, is called S. Kewensis. Both were
exhibited at South Kensington on Tuesday, and
were submitted to the floral committee, who unani-
mously awarded a first-class certificate to each.
Everyone looks upon these hybrids as the fore-
runners of a new race of greenhouse plants almost
unknown in a general way, and it is to be hoped
that as Kew has begun the work in this direction
other results will f oUow. — W. G
Carnations without sticks.— I hope you will
like to renew your acquaintance with this Carnation
of mine, which I sent you, and you approved of,
two years ago, I think. It keeps its character per-
fectly, and has passed unscathed through the ordeal
of the past terrible winter and spring. For a month
every plant stood in a cup of frozen snow, filled
with water which froze and thawed almost every
day ; nevertheless, my losses have been nothing per
cent. The stems sent are cut quite down to their
base ; you will notice their rigidity and stoutness.
The shape — just irregular enough— and colour of
the flowers are delightful to my eye, and I find their
fragrance distinctly greater than that of the old
Clove. This Carnation seems akin to the French
perpetual class; nevertheless, it originated as a
chance seedling from the old Clove or a similar
plant in a Worcestershire cottage garden. Some
two-year-old plants in my garden, heeled in anyhow
instead of being thrown away after my layering
was done last summer, are now great tufts, literally
covered with short, stiff flowering stems.— G. H.
Engleheaet.
The late Thomas Moore. — A memorial stone
has been erected in Brompton Cemetery to the
memory of this Indefatigable worker in and for
horticulture. It is of marble, with an appropriate
device of Ferns and Stangeria. The inscription
runs thus : —
To the memory of Thomas Moore,P.L.S.,for thirty-
eight years curator of the Botanic Gardens of the
Society of Apothecaries at Chelsea, who died Jan. 1,
1887, aged sixty-five years. In testimony of their
appreciation of a career unselfishly devoted to the pro-
motion of botany and horticulture, especially to the
investigation and classification of Ferns, as well as in
grateful remembrance of his sterling qualities as a
frieud and a colleague, tliis memorial lias been erected
by a few of his fellow-workers.
Those friends of Mr. Moore who have not yet sent
their contributions are requested to do so without
delay, either to Mr. Harry J. Veitch, King's Road,
Chelsea, or to Dr. Masters, at the office of the
July 30, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
77
Flower Garden.
NOTES ON HARDY PLANTS.
The Rock Purslane (Calandrinia umbellate).
— This is one of those plants that one can never see
too much of in the rock garden or border. It is
very easily propagated both by cuttings taken ofE in
autumn and struck in a cool frame, or by seeds
which always ripen freely. In soils where it does
not stand the winter well, a sowing of seed or a few
cuttings will always ensure a stock of plants for
summer flowering. Except the improved varieties
of Portulaca and the Callirhoes, nothing at all ap-
proaches it in the rich colouring of its flowers, which
are borne in the greatest profusion when the plants
are in a dry, sunny position. On low situations we
have considerable trouble in getting it established,
and even then it does not bloom satisfactorily.
Planted high up on the rockery in a sandy soil,, and
fully exposed to the weather, it made a fine large
clump, and stood the last winter without the
slightest injury. About the name C. umbellata
there seems to be some confusion ; we have often
seen it under that of umbellata, and this is perhaps
the commonest, also under Gilliesi and setosa.
Authenticated specimens show us that the plants in
cultivation are certainly not, as called, C. umbellata,
as the calyx, Sec, is quite glabrous; neither is it
setosa, as that species is quite silky, and, I believe,
it does not quite answer to Gilliesi. At any rate,
the plant as we have it at present is much nearer
the latter than any of the others, but I fear it has
been so long known under the name umbellata that
we can never hope, nor do we urge, a re-labelling,
as it is very doubtful what may be done with them
eventually. Be its name what it may, it makes one
of the most charming low border plants we have
ever seen, the flowering heads appearing like large
balls of the richest maroon carelessly scattered on
a bed of silky down. We find it perfectly hardy in
the neighbourhood of London, and it is only after a
series of bad winters that it gets injured at all.
Cuttings put in early In autumn root freely and
make nice sturdy plants for planting out the follow-
ing spring.
Hardy Cacti, which now include a far greater
range of species than was hitherto supposed, appear
to be one of the most neglected classes of plants we
have, and yet very few indeed give less trouble.
We have seen them grow and flower well in the open
rockery, and though exposed to all the damp, fogs,
&o., of a London winter seemed to thrive the
better for it, and certainly flowered as freely as
could be expected. Although doing well under
the above conditions, the protection of a portable
handlight or frame is very beneficial, not only in
the quantity, but in the condition of the flowers.
Under the glass they receive a thorough roasting,
and are also kept comparatively dry during the duU
season. Our plants do not receive water more than
two or three times during the year, and yet they
thrive, and have formed quite giant specimens
within the last three or four years, C. vulgaris itself
covering a space of 2 yards or 3 yards. C. Rafines-
quiana, missouriensis, and many others, as well as
others of a supposed less hardy nature, are simply
growing in brick and lime rubbish, and seem to like
it well. K.
posure to the sun, the blooms are fresh and fine in
colour. It is invaluable for light soils. My plants
have been in the full sun, and the length of time
that the individual blooms have lasted in perfection
is remarkable. There is one thing I should like to
know, i.e., whether this Dianthus comes true from
seed. It blooms so freely, that I have but little
hope of getting either cuttings or layers from my
plants. This reluctenoe to make new growths may
be one cause of its scarcity. — J. C. B.
SATIN STAR OF BETHLEHEM.
(ORNITHOGALUM NUTANS.)
One of the most useful bulbs for furnishing cu
flowers in the early part of the year, and beauti-
ful as a garden plant, but it must be planted
cautiously, as in some soils it increases so fast
by seeds and oflfsets as to become a pest. When
cut the flowers become even more satin-like,
Pink Napoleon III.— This fine Dianthus may
be classed among the neglected plants. It has, I
believe, been in cultivation for twenty years, but
for some time past it has been so scarce, that it was
a matter of difficulty last autumn to procure some
plants. The reason why the plant has to some extent
been discarded is perhaps owing to the near resem-
blance that the flowers bear to the double Indian
Pinks, which have been so much improved during the
last few years. I do not think, however, that the best
of these can equal the blooms of this Dianthus. With
me itgrows 8 inches high ; theglowingcrimson-scarlet
flowers form a solid mass. Two or three weU-flowered
plants make a fine show ; a large bed of them would
undoubtedly be a most effective sight. This Pink
appears to stand a great amount of dryness, as,
after three weeks of dry weather and with full ex'
The Satin Star of Bethlehem (Omithogalum nutans).
Engraved for The Gakden from a photograph.
and open more fuUy than they do on the plant ;
also the whole of the flowers remain open
together ; whereas in a growing state the lower
flowers run rapidly to seed. J.
OaiUardias. — So much attention has been given
to these old-fashioned garden flowers of late, that
they have come into renewed popularity, and no one
can complain, because they give us pleasing variety,
much beauty, and a long flowering season, whilst
the plants are obtained by seed or from cuttings
with comparative ease. That Gaillardias have some-
what unsettled characters may be a point in their
favour, as, except in the case of plants specially in-
tended to produce prescribed bodies of colour, it is
not of so much consequence sometimes whether the
flowers be varied or constant. As evidence of this
variability, I may mention that a few years since I
obtained the best form of the double Lorenziana,
colour deep reddish chestnut pointed with yellow,
Seed from that gave a rich maroon-chestnut single
self, which I liked most, and seed from that
again has given me not only the single dark parent,
but the dark double one, as also double and single
yellows. These results show that propagation by
cuttings is indispensable to the maintaining of any
set form. As I had no other kinds here, it is evi-
dent the variation is not due to intercrossing.
Deeper hues in single Gaillardias seem to me to be
a special desideratum. The floral committee of the
Royal Horticultural Society have awarded some
certificates to Gaillardias of late. I hope no more
will be given unless to much better varieties than
have yet been shown. The yellows so far are pale
straw-hued things ; we want real rich yellows, and
of self dark ones, some good deep chestnuts and
maroons. By refusing to certificate half colours,
growers will work to obtein self colours ; indeed,
those having plants may work for themselves, as all
seed freely; and if the seed be sown in the spring it
is easily raised and the plants transplant admirably.
GaUlardias make charming flowers when cut, and
they have long stems. They should be largely
grown in gardens where cut flowers are in demand.
— A. D.
An old Edinburgli garden. — Many of your
readers, no doubt, recollect Dr. Patrick NeiU and
his garden at Canonmills, Edinburgh. He was
looked upon as the father of Scottish horticulture,
being one of the founders of, and for forty years the
secretary to, the Caledonian Horticultural Society.
"Neill's Horticulture" was long a standard work.
His garden, although hardly an acre in extent, con-
tained many rare plants and trees, contributions
coming to him from all quarters of the world. Tiie
Macnabs (father and son), of the Botanic Garden,
were frequent visitors, and the latter, shortly before
his death, having come into the garden, remarked
to me that he was glad to see that, in making
alterations, I had not touched the old greenhouse,
and that I should take care of it, as it was the first
span-roofed house erected in Scotland. The wood
used must have been the very best, as it is stiU
sound, and the house looks as if it would last as
long as it has done. How old it is I am, unfor-
tunately, unable to ascertain, owing to changes
in the firm who probably built it ; but it cannot be
less than eighty years. I enclose a photograph of
it in case you wish to put it on record in The
Gaeden. I also enclose photographs of my rock gar-
den to show what may be done in a villa garden,
especially where an abundant supply of water is avail-
able. Part of the rockwork and pond were Dr.
Neill's, but both have been much extended recently.
The carved stones used are interesting, being from
St. Giles's Cathedral, when some alterations and
repairs were made about sixty years ago. — Alex.
Fraser.
What is a Gillyflower f — As we are now in
the season of Carnations and Stocks, the question
arises whether Gillyflower is the name of the old-
fashioned Stocks, particularly the biennial kinds,
or the equally old Clove Pink or Carnation, as both
possess the same delicious scent. The writer's
early days were spent in Worcester; the country
around the Faithful City is famous for old farm-
house and cottage gardens. The owners used to
cultivate Clove Pinks and Carnations, as well as
Brompton and Queen Stocks, invariably applying
the name Gillyflower to these latter, often speaking
of them as Stock Gillyflowers. But J. Hudson
Turner, writing of thirteenth-century gardens in the
first volume of his " Domestic Architecture of the
Middle Ages," says : " Of aU the flowers, how-
ever, known to our ancestors, the Gillyflower, or
Clove Pink (Clou de Girofl^e), was the commonest,
and, to a certain degree, the most esteemed."
Mr. Loudon has stated, erroneously, "that the cruel-
ties of the Duke of Alva in 1567 were the occasion
of our receiving, through the Flemish weavers, Gilly-
flowers, Carnations, and Provence Roses." The
Gillyflower had been known and prized in England
centuries before. Mr. Turner refers to Wm. Law-
son, whose words are as follows, quoting from the
edition of 1656: "July flowers, commonly called
Gillyflowers, or Clove July flowers (I call them so
because they flower in July), they have the name of
Cloves of their scent. I may well call them the
7-8
THE GARDEN.
[July 30, 1887.
king of flowers, except the Rose, and the best sort
of them are called Queen July flowers. I have of
them nine or ten, several colours, and divers of them
as big as Roses .... They last not past three or
four years unremoved." After directions as to pro-
progating them, he quaintly adds : " Their use is
much in ornament, and comforting the spirits by
the sense of smelling." He then proceeds: "July
flower.s of the wall, or walljuly-flowers, Wallflowers,
or Bee-flowers, or winter July-flowers, because grow-
ing in the walls, even in winter, and good for bees,
will grow even in stone walls, they will seem dead
in summer and yet revive in winter ; they yield seed
plentifully, which you may sow at any time, or in
any broken earth, especially on the top of a mud
wall, but moist." .... This last would seem to
describe what we call Wallflowers ; the old women
in Worcestershire used to cultivate the beautiful
double dark Wallflowers, but called them " Bleed-
ing-hearts." As this subject seems somewhat
obscure, it would be interesting to have it cleared
up by any of the writers in Thb Gaeden. — E. C. M.,
Loohaber.
NOTES FROM SUFFOLK.
Still a tale of drought. Only one heavy rain and
storm and hail on St. Swithin's night and during
the Saturday following, so, according to a popular
saying, the "Apples are christened," and that is the
sum total of all the rain has done for us during
this seven weeks' drought ; but the glass is going
down, and flowers and fields, and even high roads,
may rejoice in the prospect. This continued dry
weather has shortened the season of the Roses,
dwarfed the Hollyhocks, scorched the Pansies.
The Rhododendrons even look limp and flaccid, but
the foliage of the Magnolia purpurea is fresh and
bright, while the great white Magnolia on the south
wall is literally covered with flower-buds. Every
shoot holds a lovely closed chalice, which, in but a
few days, will open, filling house and lawn with
fragrance. From the Rhododendron border spring
tall spikes of Lilies, of which I must write by-and-
by, since they are the pride of the garden when
their beauty is expanded. Only the white Lily
just now is brightening the border, with the reflexed
apricot-coloured Lily (Lilium testaoeum) and the
pretty little purple Turk's Cap. Standing on the
Grass is an old-fashioned tree or shrub, which
I rarely see hereabout — the Venetian Sumach
(Rhus Cotinus), called by the Germans Perriicke
baum, or Wig tree. Covered now with its rosy,
feathery bloom, it is an object of admiration. It
is loveliest, I think, when veiled by morning dew
its pink shade softened into mauve changing,
as the sun dries the moisture, into a beauti-
ful blushing rose. The tree of which I write
must be very old, its gnarled and leafless boughs
standing out through the winter's clear atmosphere
like a magnified Gothic monogram, but now summer
has clothed trunk and branch with a mantle of
green young growth, and the quaint tree is very
showy. I wonder it is not a more common feature
on lawns ; it deserves popularity. So, to come down
to lowlier growth, does that beautifully tinted Sea
Holly (Eryngium amethystinum). Crowned with
lovely blue-purple blooms and stems, it contrasts so
well with the pink Spiraaa (Spirsa palmata),and blue
flowers are scarce and precious. Down the avenue
the branches of Spanish Chestnut sweep the ground,
the heavy handsome foliage and light foam-like
racemes of flowers mutually enhancing the beauty
of each other. Suffolkian.
Campanula laetiflora.— This is of vigorous
■g.'owth, the plants occasionally reaching a height of
4 feet. There is a good spscimon in bloom in a border
at Pendell Court, and the loose panicles of milky white
flowers make a tine display. It grows freely in orJi-
niry soil, and likes an open position. — T. W.
Wild Poppies. — Some years ago I noticed a
curious tendency to variation in the common Poppy.
It was in a Wheat field where this flower was very
plentiful. In one portion of the field where the
soil appeared to be lighter the Poppies were not
tjnly exceedingly numerous, but they exhibited
various shades of colour, varying from pale flesh
and red to the normal tint. Some of the flowers
also showed a tendency to form a margin of a
lighter tint. As the Corn was thin at that particu-
lar spot, and did not exceed 2 feet in height, the
effect of this mass of Poppy was very curious. It
was also noteworthy that all through the other part
of the cornfield there was not the slightest tendency
to variation. I intended at the time to mark some
of the most distinct blooms and gather the seeds,
and have always regretted not having done so. It
is evident that the soil was the cause of this varia-
bility, and is instructive as showing how much the
colour of flowers may be influenced by the compost
in which they are grown. — J. C. B.
Omithogalura bracteatum. — I have a plant
in bloom in my garden which I got as Ornithogalum
bracteatum, and having grown it for four years it is
at last in flower. I measured it to-day (July 22),
and find its height to be 7 feet 4 inches, and its
width 6 feet, measuring from tip to tip in the
natural position of the branches, but if straightened
out the width is over 9 feet. I should be glad to
know if these are the normal dimensions of the
plant. After my long waiting I confess I am much
disappointed with it. It expands a fair number of
flowers every evening, but altogether too few to
produce any efEect, and they are quite closed next
morning, and it looks all day like a gigantic
Asparagus plant from which the leaves had been
stripped. I shall either throw it away or give it a
much less conspicuous place. — Fkedeeick Tymons,
Cloijlirmi, County DxMin.
Is the NigM-scented Stock an annual ?—
In reply to " Caledonious " (p. 56), the Night-
scented Stock (Matthiola bicornis) is certainly an
annual. The seed of the plants to which refer^
ence was made by " T. W." was sown in the month
of April, and at the present time the plants are
one mass of bloom, and in the cool shades of
evening the flowers spread their perfume all over
the garden. I myself have sown the above in
the month of March or April, and have har-
vested a good crop of seeds the same season.
Perhaps " Caledonicus " is referring to Matthiola
tristis.— W. P. T.
" Caledonicus " (p. 56) asks the above ques-
tion. I have never seen the plant partake of any other
character. Barely two months ago I planted some
young seedlings sent by post, and they are now
strong plants and one mass of bloom, and producing
seed freely, but as to the ripening freely I do not
know. Certainly it is unnecessary to propagate
the plants by cuttings, as seed can be sown in the
open ground like other annuals. Nor is the plant
very fastidious as to soil, for a few evenings ago I
was in a new churchyard ornamented with borders
of shrubs and flowers ; some patches of the plant
were in the borders, but a few seeds, whether
intentionally or by accident, I cannot say, had got
scattered in the gravel walks, and individual plants
had grown to a large size. — A. Heerington.
Hardy hybrid Gladioli. — The term hardy is
apparently no misnomer as applied to the new race
of Gladioli which originated with M. Lemoine. I
raised a number of seedlings, and last spring
they were planted in the open ground. They
remained there through the winter, and are now
growing strongly. If they will pass through such
a winter as the last uninjured, they may, I think,
be considered perfectly hardy. These hardy
hybrids appear to first bloom in the second year
from sowing if grown freely. I did not quite
do justice to my young plants in the second year,
but a good many of them flowered during theautumn.
I sow the seed thinly in boxes in April, and place
them in a cold frame. The young plants are not
disturbed, but stood in a sheltered position and kept
carefully watered. By the end of the season they
make nice little bulbs. They remain in the soil
until the following March, and are then planted out.
One thing in favour of these hybrid Gladioli which
is likely to lead to their extensive cultivation is the
rapidity with which they increase from offsets.
Even small one-year-old bulbs produce several
offsets, and the quantity that strong blooming ones
yield has often surprised me. It is therefore an easy
matter to work up a stock of any particular variety.
An important point in connection with these Gladioli
is early planting. If they are not kept in the ground
during the winter they ought to be planted as early
in March as possible. Some bulbs that I took up in
the latter end of that month had already roots 2 in.
long.— J. C. B.
Tlie Dodder Saxifrage (Saxifraga cuscutse-
formis). — In the interesting article on Saxifraga
Fortunei and its allies in The Gaeden, July 16
(p. 36), I see that it is stated that the Dodder Saxi-
frage (S. ouscutieformis) is lost to English gardens.
As this statement has appeared in other recent
horticultural publications, it may be as well to say
that it has flourished in my garden for many years,
and having also distributed it, probably it is in culti-
vation elsewhere. It is, nevertheless, a little-known
and desirable plant for a moist fernery under glass,
from which frost is excluded, as it is not hardy, as
far as my experience goes at present. Ail that it
requires in the position indicated, when it becomes
untidy or encroaching, is to pull away the super-
abundant growth, as it propagates itself by stoloni-
ferous crowns, which are produced in numbers under
the surface of the soil, and these quickly develop
into new and vigorous plants. The young leaves are
beautifully veined, but later on become marbled like
those of its near ally S. sarmentosa, from which,
however, it is quite distinct. — K. L. DAVIDSON,
Vi'eriiolen, Ammanjord, B.S.O., S. Wales.
Veronica rupestris. — On page 56 of The
Gaeden I read that there are few more effective
plants for the rockery than the Rock Speedwell
(Veronica rupestris). I am eager to possess the
plant, which I do not know by the name. The best
known Rock Speedwell is the native V. saxatilis, a
shrubby, not a trailing plant, of which there are,
besides the sky-blue type, varieties with pink and
vrith dark purple flowers ; but I have searched
botanical books in vain for any Veronica rupestris
answering the description. Pritzel, in his " Index
loonum," refers to nearly 300 coloured pictures of
Veronica, but there is no V. rupestris amongst them.
Nyman enumerates nearly 200 names, including
synonyms, but rupestris is not amongst these. Don
describes 177 species of Veronica, but no rupestris
occurs. After a long search I find the name in
Hooker's " Flora of British India " as a synonym of
Veronica deltigera, but this is a dwarf erect plant,
not at all like the plant recommended in The
Gaeden. Is V. rupestris a gardener's name, or will
"E." refer me to any recognised authority where
the plant is described ? There are surely enough
Veronica names without coining more, unless for
new species. — C. Wollet Dod, Edije Hall.
Poppies. — We have gro\\'U a great many of these
this season. The seed of all of them was sown in the
flower borders on April 19. P. Rhajas is by far the
finest of them all, and P. miniatum is the most disap-
pointing. The flowers produced by the former are more
beautiful and interesting than those of any Poppies I
have ever seen. The flowers vary from a single form
with four petals to a dense double, and are of every
imaginable shade of colour.— J. MuiR.
roxgloves. — A good way to use the stately Fox-
glove in the garden is on the higher parts of the
rockery. The noble spikes have a most efl'ective
appearance when thus placed, as their symmetrical
contour and bold flowers can be well seen. It is re-
markable how the Foxglove varies in colour, some of
the flowers being pure white, and others as richly
spotted and coloured as many of those of the Orchids.
— E.
Antlierieuin graminifolium. — This is in
flower now, and is perhaps the most gi-aceful and re-
fined of all the Anthericums. It grows about 2 feet
high, the gi-owth tufted and the leaves narrow; the
sniall pure white star-like flowers are borne thickly on
slender stems, the plants when grown in a mass or as
isolated specimens having an elegant and beautiful
appearance. It thrives freely, and is one of the best of
our hardy summer-flowering border plants. — E.
Single Pinks. — Several forms of these charming
plauts are in great beauty in Kew Gardens at the
present time, although the severe drought together
with the light soil has doubtless seriously affected
their pei-iod of flowering. The most notable are del-
toides, bright crimson; Seguieri, rosy pink; Grievei,
clear pink, said to be a hybrid between alpinus and
July 30, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
79
barbatus, and producmg beautifully fringed flowers of
a rose colour; and plumarius and its white variety
albus.— W. H. G.
PLANT EXHAUSTION.
This is a wide subject, and there is one phase of it
that directly bears upon the work of the garden at
this time of year. I allude to the rapidity with
which many plants are now, or soon will be, running
to seed. The production of seed, we know, is de-
sirable in some cases, but it is not always so, as the
perfecting of a crop of seeds means exhaustion to
the plant, and how to prevent this should be the
business of the cultivator in all cases where the
health of the plant is of more consequence than a
crop of seeds. Amongst all classes of plants the
season has been favourable for the fertilisation of
the flowers ; therefore, a larger display than usual
of seed vessels may be seen ; but where no seed is
required, go over the plants and cut off dead flowers.
Owing to the weakened condition of many subjects
through the want of sufficient root moisture, this
removal of the seed vessels will prove a great relief.
Take the case of a row or a few clumps of Sweet
Peas, which are now blooming freely. These
flowers, however, wiU soon develop into well-filled
pods of Peas, which, if allowed to remain upon the
plants, wiU eshaust them quite as much as the
continuous production of bloom, which always
follows when the dead flowers are removed. Some
make two sowings of Sweet Peas when they want
an early and late supply of flowers ; but one sowing
made in a good soil will yield flowers all through
the season if the decaying blooms are picked off.
Many other subjects will prove equally as satisfac-
tory if dealt with in the same way.
At the present time one has only to look over an
herbaceous border to find plenty of plants well
laden with seed vessels ; this is especially the case
with Larkspurs, single Dahlias, Lupines, &c. In
such cases it may not perhaps injure old plants to
ripen a crop of seeds, but in the case of those that
are not well established it certainly checks them
severely. If aU the dead flowers are removed as
they fade, the plants will continue to bloom all the
season. It is especially necessary to keep decaying
blooms picked oil Poppies, for if they are allowed
to ripen two or three pods of seeds it will exhaust
the plants considerably. The earliest flowers on the
large-growing Sunflowers should also be cut off to
throw the strength into the side branches which
they usually make. Mignonette, whether grown in
pots or in the open ground, suffers considerably
when allowed to ripen seed early in the summer.
The best way to deal with it is to cut off the oldest
flower-spikes. Other annuals should be regularly
gone over and the seed vessels removed in good
time. If this is done, and two or three good soak-
ings of water given to the roots, a much longer dis-
play will be obtained. J. C. C.
distinct yellow Mexican species, and of a deep
shade. Of the same colour is C. luteus, which is
thickly covered with hairs in the interior of the
flower. One of the finest of all is, however, C.
venustus; this has large, beautifully coloured flowers,
white, blotched with yellow at the base, feathered
with crimson, and bearded in the interior with
reddish hairs ; the varieties purpureus and roseus
are noteworthy. A rare kind is C. Weedi, which we
saw lately in bloom ; it is of tall growth, handsome,
and distinct ; the flowers are bell-shaped, of a rich
lemon-yellow colour, spotted freely with crimson in
the interior, and also thickly clothed with long
yellow hairs. Other useful kinds are C. splendens
and C. lilaclnus. — C.
Mariposa Lilies. — The Calochortus genus is
one of extreme beauty, though not very largely
grown, owing to the somewhat delicate and fas-
tidious character of the various species and varie-
ties. It is allied to Cyclobothra, and the finely
coloured, handsome, and well-formed flowers have
made the plants popular with all who esteem choice
subjects, and can afford to meet with occasional
disappointments in their culture. In some places
they are most diflicult to grow satisfactorily, but we
have seen them planted in light, warm, and dry
positions in a sandy loamy soil, and thrive most
vigorously, producing in the month of July an
abundance of flowers. The time to plant the bulbs
is early autumn, and if a suitable position cannot
be found in the open grow them in pots, and keep
them in a frame. In the north Mariposa Lilies will
not succeed in the open, but in the southern
counties places may be chosen where they will thrive
without shelter. There are several kinds, and
among the best are C. albus, also known as Cyclo-
bothra alba, a pure white kind with pendent
fringed flowers ; it is one of the earliest to bloom.
C. pulchellus is well named ; it blooms early and
freely, the golden yellow flowers giving beauty and
interest to the rockery or border. C. flavus is a
SOME SPRING FLOWERS OF THE PRAIRIES.
To me there is no fairer place on earth than the
woods of New England. I love every rock of her
boulder-strewn hillsides — every shady nook where
the purple Orchids or blazing Cardinal flowers
brighten the mossy banks of the streams. Some of
the happiest days of my life have been passed in
roaming, with plant-case and gun, among the hills,
and many a rare and dainty flower has rewarded
my search. But not in New England alone are the
woodlands beautiful. I wish I could show you some
of the beauties of the " Oak openings " of Illinois.
While they lack the variety of the New England
hills and valleys, while one rarely hears the musical
murmur of the brooks, the woods of the West have
charms which, in their way, are quite unsurpassed.
If my readers could catch a glimpse of the groves
in the early spring, when the whole woodland is
carpeted with the pink blossoms of the " spring
beauties," while here and there a clump of He-
paticas upturn their blue stars to the sky, I fancy
they would almost cry out with admiration.
But come and let us visit some of these beautiful
scenes together. We enter the woodland and see
the ground tinged with great masses of pale purple
flowers. Closer inspection shows them to be Cresses
belonging to the Mustard family. Here and there
we may notice the great green parasols of the Man-
drakes, or May Apples, slowly opening in the sun-
light. Now and then one may be seen firmly closed
by some dried leaf, through which the growing
stalk has thrust its way. Look beneath the broad
leaf and you will find the white bud, soon to open
into a beautiful wax-like flower.
Tramping on over a rich carpet of flowers, so
bright that one feels sorry to trample on them, we
come to a little knoll, on which, among the Man-
drakes, we find the elegant divided leaves and
quaint blossoms of the Dutchman's Breeches (Di-
centra cucullaria). The name is a strange one, but
is well merited, as anyone will say who has seen the
curious blossoms. One of its nearest relatives is
our cultivated Bleeding-heart. Here, too, we find
Dog's-tooth Violets, which of course are not Violets
at all, but members of the Lily family. These are
precisely like those of New England, except that
the flowers are of a bluish white instead of yellow.
Another plant which will probably be found
growing not far off is the Bell-wort, with its leafy
stalk and gracefully drooping yellow flower at the
summit. The leaves of this will repay careful
notice, for they furnish beautiful examples of what
are known as perfoliate leaves. Each one is nearly
elliptical in shape, and the stalk looks as if thrust
through the blade near one end.
Leaving the knoll, we find ourselves confronted
by a diminutive brook, flowing sluggishly through
the reeds. Sloping down to the brook is a bank
scantily shaded by scattered trees, but blue with
the clusters of the wild Phlox, while the monotony
is broken by the yellow of the Buttercups and by
the red Trilliums. The effect of the view is height-
ened by a background of wild Plum trees, " foamed
over with blossoms white as spray." Savage things
these Plum trees are, for their fragrant blossoms
hide stout thorns as sharp as those of the Haw-
thorn.
Across the fields we find another piece of wood-
land, white with the blossoms of the great white
Trillium, each set in its bed of glossy green leaves.
One can scarcely forbear to gather these snowy
blossoms by the handful. Could we visit these
thickets a fortnight later, we should find that a
strange transformation had taken place. The
blossoms that such a short time ago were of a
snowy white are now turned to a deep pink. The
change is wonderful, and so complete that an in-
experienced observer often fancies, on finding the,
pink one, that he has found a new species.
There is another white Trillium which a careful
searcher may find in this wood. This one hides
its^ blossom directly beneath the spreading leaves
on a short recurved pedicel. It is smaller than its
more showy rival, but hardly less beautiful, though
one might easily pass the concealed flower by un-
noticed.
Here, too, among the Trilliums we find the deli
cate pink and white blossoms of the showy Orchis,
crowning the slender scape sent up between the
two glossy green leaves. This Orchid is interesting,
because, unlike its near relatives, the fringed
Orchis, it has the sticky discs, by which the pollen
masses, covered with a little cap of membrane, are
attached to the heads of visiting insects. When the
flower opens the membrane splits along the front
side, so that the insect, on entering the flower, will
push it off, and the discs will then stick to the eyes
or antennse of the visitor, or perhaps to his pro-
boscis. The gum on the discs hardens very quickly
on exposure to the air, and is very tenacious, so
that the object of the membranous cap is obviously
to protect it from exposure till the proper time
comes.
I might take you on through the woodlands and
over the prairies, but it would be a long tramp. Let
me rather point out to you some of the beautiful
things as they bloom from week to week. Along
the lake shore is a pleasant walk in the bright days
of May. The Beach Plums, seeming like wanderers
from the ocean, are covered with snowy blossoms,
and along the sand hills, under the shade of the
burr Oaks, the creeping, straggling branches of the
fragrant Sumach (Rhus aromatica) rise, while back
among the Junipers the ground is dotted with the
pole stars of the Phlox bifida. In the open woods
and prairies we find great beds of the large blue
Phlox, and along the borders of the thickets the
pink one, which to my mind is the loveliest of all.
Its woody stalk creeps along the ground, sending
up shoots with narrow green leaves, and each bear-
ing at its summit a cluster of the large flowers, the
petals notched more than half way to their base,
and tinged with the faintest touch of blue, wtilQ
the centre of the flower is marked with slight
dashes of a darker hue.
Leaving the lake, with its charming views and cool
breezes, let us turn again to the woodlands. We shall
find them full of flowers by the latter part of May,
and few more beautiful than any is the red Honey-
suckle. It is a variety of our New England small-
flowered Honeysuckle (Lonioera parviflora), but
while the blossoms of the latter are yellow, those of
our Illinois variety are of a deep red, almost a crim-
son ; while the stamens, with their yellow anther,
serve to increase the beauty of the flower. Another
interesting varietal form, attractive from its very
oddity, is a blue Violet, which in some localities
grows in great abundance. The whole flower, in the
variety, is most curiously striped and blotched with
white. It is curious, to say the least, and not with-
out beauty.
One thing which a new-comer wiU soon notice is
that some of the plants which are cultivated in New
England are found here growingwild. For instance,
probably most of my readers who live in the East
have seen in old gardens, laid out, it maybe, almost
a century ago, the Spider-wort, or Tradescantia.
Here one often sees its Lily-like leaves and deep
blue blossoms growing in the fields in considerable
abundance. The same might be said of a number
of others.
There is one curious little plant found in this par-
ticular locality which is of great interest, not only
from its comparative rarity, but from certain pecu-
liarities of its own. It is one of the Mustard family,
and is an insignificant little weed, growing in the
80
THE GARDEN.
[Jdly 30, 1887.
sand, and bearing at its summit a gradually length-
ening cluster of minute yellow flowers. It is not at
all a striking plant, yet I think that if you could get
a glimpse at the under surface of the leaves through
a lens, you would be charmed. The hairs with
which the under side is covered are arranged in the
most beautiful star-like groups. I know of no other
plant which shows this so well as this little Alyssum
calyoinum.
One word more and I will stop. I wish I could
take my readers out where they could see the prairie
in the early days of June. Standing on a slight
ridge — the ancient shore of Lake Michigan — one can
look across several miles of level surface so covered
with bright yellow flowers that it looks like a sea of
gold, while the effect is made more impressive by the
dark green of the encircling woods. The plant which
causes this wonderful effect is the Golden Ragwort,
which is rather common in some parts of the East.
Here it covers acre after acre of the prairie with its
robe of deep yellow.
These are a few of the spring flowers of Illinois,
not all. Time would fail me to tell of the tall
"shooting star," the charming Orchids and the scores
of other beautiful flowers. — L. N. J., in Cmmtry
(rentleman.
Fig Slarigolds (Mesembryanthemums). — These
beautiful plants have been neglected for some years,
and the only reason we can assign for this is the cast-
ing aside of beautiful plants by plant lovers simply
because they want new forms to admire. There are
several lovely kinds flowering in the open air at Ke w,
which if seen would surely help to restore these
plants to favour, as few things could be used in rock-
work, for example, in the summer months that pro-
duce such a brilliant effect with such a small amount
of attention. The most notable amongst the collec-
tion are M. polyanthum, pale red; faloif orme, pink ;
Cooperi, brilliant Tpurple ; curvifolium, white and
rose colour ; violaceum, violet shading to pink ;
inclaudens, purplish pink ; micans, bronzy scarlet ;
blandum, white shading into rosy red ; barbatum,
soft pink ; and tricolor, rich crimson with dark
centre, and its white-flowered variety alba. These
plants really deserve the fostering care of spe-
cialists.— W. H. G.
SHORT NOTES.— FLOWER.
The large Golden Thistle (Soolymus graudi-
florus). — This and Catnpiuula celtidifolia have here
withstood the drought well. — C. M. OwEN, Knock-
mullen.
Alstroemeria aurantiaca. — This is a glorious
plant, with its glowing orauge flowers produced in the
richest profusion. It appears perfectly hardy in a
loamy soil, rather hght, aud spreads freely. — B.
The Vine Maple (Men-ispermum canadense). —
As cut foliage for drooping over flower vases, or for its
graceful wreaths out of doors, we find this well worth
growing. I enclose a spray of it. — C. M. OwEN.
Meconopsis Wallichi.— Plauts of this have
with difficulty been kept alive. One of tho.se sent is,
I think, the hriglitest blue we have ever grown, as the
dilTerent plants vary much in tint. — C. M. OWEN.
Book on Pansies.— I would be much obliged if
you could inform mG whether there is any reliable
hook published on Pansies and Pansy culture, or
whether there is a good book on gardening which treats
of the subject. — J. F. Sturrock.
Gentiana sceptrum. — This is a fine, erect grow-
ing species, liainng glaucous leaves and large rich soft
blue flowers of great beauty. It is now in perfection
in the rook garden at Kew, where it is treated as a hog
plant.— W. H. G.
Carolina Pink (Spigelia mirylandica).— When
grown in a moist peaty soil, this interesting plant
makes a healthy growth, and it may also be planted in the
bog garden with Calthag and other water-loving plants
of this character. The tubular flowers are produced
in dense small heads, and coloured on the exterior with
crimson, and on the interior with yellow^ — T. W.
Auricula Horner's Heroine.— This very fine
dark self was shown in excellent condition at the
exhibition of the National Auricula Society in April
last, and many inquiries were made as to the possi-
bility- of obtaining plants of it. Mr. B. Simonite,
Rough Bank, Shertield, is off'ering it at the reynest of
the Rev. P. D. Horner, and plants of it can be had
from him. — R. D.
Hemeroeallis Thunbergi. — This Day Lily is
of a similar character to the old H. flava, but quite
distinct, and valuable for its lateness. It grows about
2 feet 6 inches high, the habit robust, and the naiTow
Grass-like leafage abundantly produced. For sunny
bordei"s it may be strongly recommended, as the plant
is decidedly ornamental, both in the foliage and flowers.
— E.
Amoor Pink (Dianthus dentosns). — This is a
vigorous and dwarf Siberian species growing about
6 inches high, and having narrow, pale green leaves
which form broad sturdy tufts. The flowers are com-
paratively large, rich purplish in colour, and borne on
short stems. It loves a light loamy soil, and is a use-
ful Pink for the rockery. We saw it blooming freely in
Messrs. Jackson's nursery at Kingston. — B.
The Showy Pleabane (Erigeron speciosum
superbum) . — This is a beautiful plant for the border,
as it blooms freely in summer, and the flowers are of a
delicate and attractive lilac colour. It is superior to
the well-lcnown parent, and thrives in ordinary soil and
position. It is now in the most vigorous condition,
notwithstanding the high temperature and want of
rain. — E.
Statiee Suwarowi. — This beautiful Sea Laven-
der produces long, erect, cylindrical spikes of pinkish
lavender flowers, and it is conspicuous at the present
time in the rock garden at Kew. It is also grown
largely as a pot plant at the same place, and is even,
if possible, more beautiful when treated in this manner.
It makes a no^'el and striking effect when grouped
with other plauts hi the greenhouse. — W. H. G.
Hassock Grass (Carex paniculata). — This is a
native plant, and that is, perhaps, one reason why it
is not more often introduced into our gardens, but
there are few finer and more tropical-like plants for
the margin of an ornamental pond or lake than this
Sedge. When isolated, so that its graceful beauty
can be well seen, it is at once handsome and strik-
ing, the masses of drooping elegant leaves almost
sweeping the ground. Planted in well prepared soil
close by the water, and allowed free scope, its beau-
tiful contour and graceful habit will be seen to the
fullest advantage. — C.
Sweet Sultan. — I do not know what the ex-
perience of gardeners may be with this annual, but
I find that it does not come up readily when sown
in the open ground. The seeds are of a light fluffy
nature and appear to be extremely susceptible to at-
mospheric influences. This may be one of the reasons
why the Sweet Sultan is not commonly grown. It cer-
tainly ought to be in favour with lovers of fragrant
flowers, as it has a mild and peculiarly gratifying
honey-like odour. The individual blooms last a long
time in good condition when cut. The yeUow form
is undoubtedly the best, and in a mass it has a
beautiful appearance. I advise all who have failed
to raise this annual in the open border to sow it
in pots, leaving a couple of plants in a 2J-inch pot,
and plant them out, without breaking the balls, as
soon as the plants begin to grow freely ; they then
receive no check. — J. C. B.
Erythrsea diffasa. — We have none too many
creeping tufted rock plants, so those who are
without this comparatively scarce and beautiful
Erythrrea may be advised to add it to their collec-
tions. It is of dense, cushion-like growth, the leaves
pale green, almost resting on the soil, and when
the plant is growing under suitable conditions, the
stems quickly spread, forming a beautiful tufted
carpet. The bright rosy. Wood Sorrel-like flowers
are borne on stems about 4 inches high, and the
plants continue to bloom for several weeks during
the summer. But the Erythrasa will not succeed
everywhere, requiring a damp, moist position,
where the soil is of a light loamy character. If
planted in the full sun and in a dry position it will
be certain to succumb. It is very easy, however,
to give it favourable quarters, and the rockery is
the proper place to plant it, though it will also do
in the front line of the border. It is in bloom in
Mr. T. S. Ware's nursery, Tottenham.— C.
SContbretias. — The Montbretias are now in
flower, and form very beautiful objects for green-
house decoration, the glowing orange-red colour of
their blossoms being very distinct from most of
their associates. M. crocosmiajflora seems to have
almost supplanted the older M. Pottsi, and it is in
turn left behind by some of the newer kinds, but at
present they are by no means common, and still
command a good price. However, from their beauty
we shall, after a year or two, no doubt find them ex-
tensively grown. They all dislike a hot, dry posi-
tion, for, though plenty of flowers are produced in
such a spot, the foliage usually becomes infested
with red spider, and wears such a sickly hue that
much of the beauty of the plant is lost. When
grown in pots, a fairly rich soil, with a little liquid
manure as the flower-stems make their appearance,
is very suitable, and they do best plunged outside
in a slightly shaded position. By plunging them in
the open ground till the flowers are on the point of
opening, the colour of the blooms is much more
intense than if they are grown entirely under glass .
— H. P.
ERYNGIUMS, OR SEA HOLLIES.
Thebb is a growing love for the Eryngiums, or Sea
Hollies, and we note with pleasure their increasing
popularity, as their beauty is of a peculiar kind,
distinct, striking, and unfamiliar. They therefore
impart variety to the rockery or border, and a well-
grown specimen in a prominent position is sure to
gain attention by reason of its picturesque and
curious character. The wild Sea Holly (E. mari-
timnm) that delights in shingly, sandy soil is well
known, but it is no proper representative of the
beauty and striking appearance of the members of
this genus, though interesting as a British plant.
Several of the European species are of noble and
stately habit, which fits them for adorning the
rockery or border, or giving beauty and interest to
the wild garden. One great point about these
plants is that they are very easily grown, preferring
well-exposed, sunny positions and light soil, though
they will succeed in any ordinary staple. The
majority may be raised from seed, and some are
best perpetuated by division. In several gardens
this season we have seen the Eryngiums used
judiciously, but in others they have been planted
so freely as to create a monotonous effect. It is not
in a great patch that the beauty of these plants is
best brought out, neither is it in large clumps at
regular intervals in the border, but as single
specimens. The summit of a knoll or a ledge in
the rock garden are the best positions, bringing out
the delightful picturesqueness of the metallic-blue
Thistle-like leafage. There are several Eryngiums,
and the best for the garden are the following : —
Alpine Sea Holly (E. alpinum). — This is one
of the most interesting, ranging in height from
18 inches to 3 feet. To obtain, however, plants of
the last mentioned proportions, the position must
be well suited to their requirements. The flowers
individually are inconspicuous ; but in the aggre-
gate make a moderate show ; the dense heads are
backed with lovely blue prickly bracts, which vary
somewhat in size in the different Eryngiums. It
will grow in any soil, and is a useful plant for the
border or rockery, being quite as handsome as many
of the other perennials that have a place in our
Amethystine Sea Holly (E. amethystinum).
— This is, perhaps, the most beautiful of all, the
flower heads amethyst coloured and in a setting of
toothed metallic-blue bracts. It grows about the
same height as the last-mentioned, and will thrive
in ordinary soil. The stems, when cut, may be
worked into choice decorations with the best
results.
Giant Sea Holly (E. giganteum). — This is well
named, as it is the largest of the Eryngiums, attain-
ing under favourable conditions a height of i feet.
The flower-heads are blue and the spiny bracts of
large size. The leaves are supported by long stalks,
and those that clasp the stem are prickly and deeply
cut. To ensure full development and a flne spread-
ing head, the plant must be grown in good loamy
soil.
For the garden of moderate extent those above
mentioned will be sufhcient, and two or three speci-
mens of each will suffice to create variety, but those
July 30, 1887/
THE GARDEN.
81
who take an interest in the Eryngiums may add E.
Bourgati and E. planum. E.
A nice combination. — I have often noticed
how well the white Lily (Lilium candidum) grows
and flowers in old gardens here. But this year.
owing to the hot weather, the leafy stems look
bare ; clothed as they are with burned leaves from
the ground upwards, the plants have a sickly ap-
pearance. A few days ago I met with in an out-of-
the-way cottage garden, and probably the work of
Nature only, a very nice combination. A fine batch
of these Lilies was blooming among half grown
clamps of the common Fennel (Fceniculum vulgare
or olEcinale) ; the white heads, emerging here and
there out of the elegant foliage, whose lightness re-
minds one of clouds of verdure, were set oil to ad-
vantage, while the lanky stems were well hidden.
The introduction into that garden of the common
Fennel naturalised in many parts of the country
was merely an accident, which, however, happily
showed how much this tall weed deserves attention.
— J. Sallibb, St. Oermain-en-Laye.
A HOMELY FLOWER SHOW.
This is the term I apply to a flower show held by
the Cheerful Home and Window Gardening Society
of the Oakley and St. Matthew's Mission Districts
in connection with St. Paul's, Onslow Square,
Chelsea. The object of this society is, as its name
implies, to render more cheerful the homes of
the labouring classes, and especially those in the
most densely populated parts of Chelsea, by en-
couraging the growth of plants in windows and
such small gardens as may be found attached to
some of the houses. An exhibition is held annually
in July, and prizes are offered for plants grown by
adults and also by children. About six weeks before
the exhibition takes place the plants are taken to
the mission rooms, where they are sealed and regis
tered, and only such plants are admitted to compe
tition. Prizes are also offered for window boxes.
The plants exhibited consisted of Creeping
Jennies (very good), zonal Pelargoniums, Fuchsias,
Musks, Lobelias of the Erinus type, Tradescantia
zebrina (very good), Chrysanthemum frutescens,
African Marigolds, India-rubber plants. Parlour
Palm (Aspidistra lurida), Scarborough Lilies (VaV
lota purpurea). Myrtles, Ferns, &c. Many of these
were nicely grown and flowered ; others were puny
in growth and without bloom, though otherwise
clean and neat. All this difference was doubtless
the result of plants being grown under more or less
favourable circumstances ; and, as far as one could
judge from the awards made on this occasion, the
prizes went to plants grown under the most favour
able conditions. I think that in all competitions of
this character information should be forthcoming
as to the locality in which the plant is grovm, the
circumstances of the cultivator, and especially how
long the plant has been in the possession of the
exhibitor. On this occasion it appeared as if the
awards went to plants that had been in the posses-
sion of the persons growing them, for the shortest
periods. Thus a plant purchased from a nursery-
man or a costermonger on May 18 would be eligible
for competition, supposing it to have been properly
registered, on July 7. With a little care this plant
could be maintained in good condition during that
period, and it would be certain to win a prize. On
the other hand, plants were exhibited which
unmistakably showed that they had been in the pos-
session of the exhibitors for a much longer period —
Fuchsias, for instance, that were evidently grown
in a crowded locality for a much longer period than
that which occurs between registration and exhibi-
tion— plants with clean, but somewhat attenuated
foliage, but without a single bloom upon them.
These were, however, passed over, and it was with
something akin to regret that I saw how much
the prizes were at the mercy of those who would
tend a plant for two months simply for the purpose
of winning a prize with it ; while a specimen that
had been grown for a much longer period, and
possibly under muoh'greater difiiculties, had no
chance of a prize. What promoters of these exhibi-
tions should endeavour to do is to encourage the
cultivation of plants all the year round, and not
merely for a limited period ; and it would be well if
the plants were occasionally inspected at the homes
of the growers. If plants are to assist in making
the home cheerful, they should be there always and
in the best condition. E. Dean.
Ferns.
W. H. GOWBR.
GYMNOGRAMMA PERUVIANA ABGYRO-
PHYLLA.
The various members of this genus are subject
to great variation, both in the general outline of
their fronds, and also in the colour of the
farinose powder which covers the under side of
Gymuogramma peruviana argyrophylla. Eugi-aved
for The Garden from Nature.
the pinnules in the majority of the plants in the
section to which the plant in question belongs.
These plants are easily and quickly grown into
handsome specimens, and this, combined with
their extreme beauty, makes them general fa-
vourites with lady Fern growers, although they
cannot be made useful for cutting.
The typical plant (G. peruviana) was first
cultivated, I believe, about the year 1854, when I
obtained a specimen of a Gymuogramma from
Venezuela, which appeared to be distinct from
anything then growing in this country ; 1 there-
fore sowed some spores, which germinated freely
and proved to be quite characteristic. Mr.
Smith, of Kew, pronounced it to be peruviana,
and secured some specimens for the Kew collec-
tion. It is a bold, somewhat erect-growing
plant, with blackish brown stems which are
scaly at the base, the pinnw broad, the pmnules
more or less toothed at the edges, bright green
on the upper side, silvery white beneath. _G.
peruviana argyrophylla, of which we here give,
an illustration of a side pinnte, is said to have
been introduced amongst Orchids, and origi-
nated in the garden of Mr. Brocklehurst, at
Macclesfield, and for a short time after its in-
troduction it was known by the name of Crossi.
It, however, was described by its present name
in the Oardeners' C%ronide, in 1856, by the late
Mr. Moore, of Chelsea. This variety is perhaps
the handsomest of all the farinose kinds, and it
is remarkable that every portion of the plant is
covered with silvery powder .
The plant grows in a beautiful vase-like
manner. The fronds vary from 1 foot to 2 feet
in length and are broad at the base. The
pinnules are also broad and obtuse ; the upper
side is dull green, but it is so heavily dusted
over with the farinose powder as to entirely hide
the green, and the upper sides have a metallic-
bluish appearance. The under sides of the
fronds are heavily coated with silvery white,
through which the black sori protrude and add
materially to their beauty. The stems also are
thickly covered with powder.
This plant comes quite true from spores, and
may be easily grown in ordinary stove-heat and
a moist atmosphere ; but on no account must it
be syringed overhead, as this completely de-
stroys the effect produced by its densely-
powdered fronds.
Hemidictsrum marginalmn.— This plant is
a native of the West Indies and various parts of
Tropical America, from Brazil to Venezuela and
Peru. The genus was established by Presl, and al-
though several others besides the plant here men-
tioned have been added to it, none have any
natural affinity. The plant in question is a gigantic
grower ; it has an erect stem, and bears a crown of
fronds, which grow from 4 feet to 12 feet in height ;
these are once divided ; the pinn:e from 12 to 18 in.
long, and about 4 inches in width, the plant being of
a peculiar shade of bright light green. It is an
Asplenium of the old fashion arrangements, from
which genus, however, it is easily distinguishable
by its veins being netted near the margin. It may
be grown into nice specimens in a season, and
thrives admirably treated as a semi-aquatic. Good
examples of this rather uncommon Fern are to be
found in the Kew collection. — W. H. G.
Brainea insignis. — Good examples of this
handsome Fern are to be found in the Kew collec-
tion, but it is to be regretted that this plant is so
seldom seen in private establishments. It was
sent to this country in the first instance from Hong
Kong, and for a long time was considered peculiar
to that spot, but it has since been found somewhat
sparingly in Northern India. Thus, local and rare
in its wild state, it likewise continues one of the
choice plants of our collections in this country. It
rises upon a short, stout stem, and bears a dense
head of fronds, which are simply pinnate (once
divided), from 1 foot to 3 feet in length, deep green
above, much lighter beneath. The fronds are
spreading and arranged in a vase-like manner, in
general outline somewhat resembling an arborescent
Lomaria, but its netted veins and naked sori render
it quite distinct from that genus. It requires stove
temperature, and should not be sprinkled overhead
frequently, as this practice is apt to cause the seg-
ments to turn black, which greatly deteriorates
from its beauty. — W. H. G.
Spiders in fernery.— WiU any of jour readers
kindly iuform me whether spiders infesting a fernery
would cause any harm to the Perns P The fernery
is about 26 feet long by 15 feet broad, and the
roekwork is composed of "tonka," or "tonga, ' pro-
cured from Derbyshire. The Ferns, Maiden-hair m
particular, are eaten by something or other, and as the
crevices are infested with spiders, I wish to know
the best means of exterminating them. — N. J. B.
82
THE GARDEN.
[July 30, 18S7.
OUR NATIVE FERNS.
The Scale Fern. — The Ceterach oflBcinarum,
more generally known under the names of Scaly
Spleenwort, Scaly Ceterach, and Scale Fern, is a
most distinct plant, and the only representative of
its genus in Great Britain, where it is found dis-
tributed more or less plentifully all over the three
kingdoms. In the various popular appellations
under wliich, according to the localities, it is known,
its distinguishing name of scaly is strictly adhered
to on account of the brown, imbricated, squamose
scales with which the under surface of its leathery
smooth fronds is thickly clothed ; these scales,
which in young fronds have a peculiar silvery
appearance, are permanent and singularly tenacious,
but they are exclusively limited to the under sur-
face. The upper surface, which is totally devoid of
such scales, is, in the young state, of a glaucous
colour, and shows around the pinnse a white narrow
edge, which forms a most pleasing contrast with
the dark tint which it assumes when the fronds are
mature. The Scale Fern is of dwarf growth ; its
fronds, rarely exceeding (i inches in height, are
produced in great abundance from a close central
crown, and although they frequently shrivel up
completely during very dry weather, as also during
the winter, they spread out afresh as soon as the
plant is exposed to a certain degree of moisture.
As an example of its extreme tenacity of life, we
may here quote a statement made more than a
quarter of a century ago by Dr. Daubeny, then
Professor of Agriculture at Oxford, who says
that —
A lady in Ireland found among her dried specimens
one of the Grammitis Ceterach (Ceteraeli ofBcinarum),
which had been above two years in a portfolio in a
very dry, warm room, and after planting it in a pot
and covering it close she had the satisfaction of seeing
it come again to life. Afterwards a fresh young frond
came up, which continued to flourish at the time this
information was given, and all the old ones have now
withered away.
Although found in a wild state in most parts of
the British Isles, the Scale Fern occurs less fre-
quently in Scotland, where, however, it has been
found on Drumlanrig Castle, in Dumfriesshire ; on
the ruins of lona and at Kinoul Hill, near Perth.
In England it has been gathered in counties situated
far apart, and in localities which, as far as climate
and situation are concerned, have no similarity,
such as Settle, in Yorkshire, where it used to grow
abundantly; on limestone rocks in Lath-hill-dale
and in' Dovetail, in Derbyshire ; on walls in
quarries at Ludlow, Shropshire ; at Cheddar, Malvern
Abbey, and Bath ; at Topsham and other places
in Devon ; on the tower of Old Arlesford Church,
Hants ; on an old wall near Cowley, in Oxfordshire ;
and in many places in Norfolk, Suffolk, Gloucester,
and Hertfordshire. On the walls of a rain at Tre-
borth, near Bangor ; in Denbighshire and some
other parts of Wales where formerly it was very
plentiful, the Scale Fern has become nearly extinct,
for, although neglected as a medicinal plant, it has
been largely used as a bait for rook cod fishing on
the coast of Wales. The Rev. Hugh Davies men-
tions, that owing to its consumption for that pur-
pose, it has become very scarce about Holyhead,
where it once flourished and was found in abund-
ance. In Ireland, where it is most plentiful and
where it is seen growing most luxuriantly, it has
been collected on stone walls, which it completely
covers, near Cork and Kilkenny ; on the ruins of
Saggard Church, on Cave Hill, and at Headford, in
Galway. According to Mr. B. S. Williams, several
distinct and pretty forms of the Scale Fern have
been gathered in some of these places, but they
have not proved constant under cultivation ; the
only acknowledged permanent form of it is called
crenatum. It is a robust variety found wild in the
south of Ireland in places where the species proper
is plentiful and luxuriant ; its fronds are taller than
those of the ordinary Ceterach ofBcinarum, from
which it also differs in having the margins of its
rounded-toothed lobes deeply erenate, and often
appearing as though slightly twisted towards the
back of the frond.
The success in the cultivation of this, one of the
prettiest of all our native Ferns, depends mostly on
the situation in which it is placed. Some sound
advice as to its culture given more than twenty-five
years ago being now as good as it was then, we
cannot refrain from extracting the following re-
marks upon the subject made by Mr. Charles John-
son, who, speaking of this Fern, says : —
It is not at all easy to cultivate this Fern success-
fully ; it is too impatient of confinement to live long
ni a greenhouse, and the cold frame, so useful for the
protection of other half-hardy species, is almost oei-taiu
death to this. The metropohtan cultivator is told that
London air disagrees with it, and yet the only plant of
:t I possessed in my early career Uved in a nook of an
old wall in a back area in Hatton Garden for several
years, and may be there stiU, unless eradicated by
repair. Sun never reached it, and ancient mortar,
which, constantly moist, had somewhat the consistence
of paste, probably agreed with its constitution— a very
necessary point to be studied in planting, as when left
to its omi selection or in the wild state it seems uni-
versally to prefer a calcareous habitat. Whether
planted in the open fernery or grown in pots, great
care must be exercised as to drainage, and in the
latter case especially to avoid wetting the fronds in
watering.
As will be seen by the above quotation, the Scale
Ferri, which is a true limestone plant, was thought
as diflicult of cultivation as it now is, and to suc-
ceed in growing it well, its natural mode of growth
should be imitated as far as practicable ; it should
be planted in a wall among some old mortar, or, if
grown in pots, it should be put into a mixture con-
sisting of one part of old lime or mortar rubbish,
one part of peat, and one part of fragments of lime-
stone ; and it will be found to grow all the better it
the pots, instead of standing in an upright position,
are kept in a horizontal one and well above the
ground, where no superfluous moisture can collect
and remain around the plants. S. G.
Kitchen Garden.
W. WILDSMITH.
KITCHEN GARDEN NOTES.
Feench and runner Beans.— The drought still
continuing, little can be done, except watering, to
assist the crops, which, I regret to say, are now
showing signs of distress, and the final collapse
must soon come if the present excessive heat con-
tinues. Watering is still the order of the day, but
the ground has now become so hard and dry, that
it is heartless work, as it does so little towards
keeping the crops in full growth. Peas are the first
to succumb, then Cauliflowers, two of the most im-
portant vegetables, and having both mulched and
watered them, there is no alternative but to let
them drift to destruction, and prepare for the worst
by taking care to have a constant succession of
French and runner Beans, both of which withstand
drought better than anything in the garden. An-
other sowing of both has just been made, and care
has been taken to sow in deep drills which were well
soaked before the seed was sown, another watering
being given before covering the seed with soil, and
repeated when all is finished.
Clearing ground preparatory to planting
WINTER GREENS.— Having mulched, hoed, and
watered until there is no more of the two first men-
tioned to be done, and the latter is only continued
in hope of keeping certain crops from entire failure
till rain comes, all the ground now becoming
vacant is being cleared, and drills are drawn in
readiness for planting out all kinds of Broccoli,
Kale, Endive, and Lettuce when the weather ad-
mits of it. All the ground that has been occupied
with the earlier kinds of Peas and Potatoes, and
also the first crop of French Beans, is now at liberty,
as well as a large breadth of Strawberry ground, the
plants on which, having borne two full crops, are
being destroyed by hoeing them up. The ground
having been thoroughly cleared of weeds, the drills
are drawn between where the rows of Strawberries
were, and thus the ground is ready for planting as
soon as rain comes. The plants, most fortunately,
are on a north border, and having had good sup-
plies of water they are in as good a condition for
transplanting as if the season had been a favourable
one ; providing we could feel sure of having two or
three days of cloudy weather, we would plant and
water, but to plant under such conditions would be
certain failure.
Seed.s .sown. — After a certain period, to wait any
longer for rain before sowing certain kinds of seeds
would prove fatal to the crops, however favourable
the season may become. We have, therefore, taken
care to get in our plot of winter Spinach, and also
to make sowings of Bath Cos and Hicks' hardy
White Cos Lettuce, and Cabbage seeds for autumn
planting. The last named is of most importance to
those who require good spring Cabbage at the
earliest period. In anticipation of partial failures
from drought of the latest Peas, we have made
other sowings of early and second early sorts, which,
if the autumn proves favourable — that is, free from
frost — we shall hope to have supplies of Peas till
well into November. We are hoping to make a
sowing of Turnips and Carrots, the latter for draw-
ing as required all through the winter for use as
young Carrots, but the ground is so hard and dry,
that we have had to give it up and still wait the
earnestly desired change to rain.
POTATOES AND WHEN TO LIFT THEM.
Those who planted early and second early sorts
rather extensively will have good reason to congra-
tulate themselves. In this district the late varieties
are still healthy, the haulm being surprisingly strong,
especially on good, well-worked ground. The
tubers, however, are behaving badly. They had
apparently ceased to swell, and a little rain that
fell recently has had the effect of causing them to
sprout and form a second crop of tubers. When
heavy rains fall this evil will be further aggravated,
and a crop of mixed quality will be the result. It
would be very unwise to lift in anticipation of this
occurrence, and I am afraid it will be almost impos-
sible to separate the old from the new tubers when
they are lifted later on. Scotch Champion, Reading
Hero, Abundance, Chiswick Favourite, Tie Dean,
Magnum Bonum, and Village Blacksmith aie all in
vigorous growth and supertuberating in the manner
described, and they will be left in the ground at
all risks.
The case is very different with the early and
second early varieties, including Ashleaf, the
early American, and such successional sorts as
Cosmopolitan, Sutton's Seedling, Early Regent,
Lady 'Truscott, Woodstock Kidney, Bedfont Pro-
lific, Lapstone, Dalmahoy, Reading Russet, and
Snowdrop. All these are in most localities sufii-
ciently matured for lifting and storing. The haulm
may be comparatively fresh and green, and the
skins of the tubers not firmly set; nevertheless they
should be lifted. Left in the ground, they, when the
rains fall, are liable to either commence growing
afresh, or the disease may attack them badly. Last
season there was but little cause to complain
of the disease, very few diseased tubers being
found, but I am very much afraid we shall not
escape so easily this year. The little rain we had
in the second week of July washed the spores
down to some of the topmost tubers, and I find
many affected by the disease. This is on a small
scale, it is true, but if we have soaking rains
while yet the haulm is erect over the ridges, the
disease will be wide-spread. The remedy in the
case of the early and second early varieties is
simple enough. T'hey should either be lifted at
once, or the haulm should be drawn clean away
from them and burnt. This can be done without
disturbing the crops, and they can then be lifted
as wanted. All are of excellent quality this year,
even the American varieties being fit to eat. Left
to take their chance. Potatoes will not improve in
any way, and, as just pointed out, they may easily
deteriorate. Ground well cultivated for a crop of
Potatoes is usually left in excellent condition for
various successional crops, including Broccoli,
winter greens. Turnips, Spinach, Lettuce, Endive,
and Strawberries. We believe in a wholesale clear-
ance of the ground, and immediately utilising it for
July 30, 18S7.]
83
some or all of the crops mentioned above. Although
the late Potatoes will be left in the ground a con-
siderable time longer, they will not be left altogether
to take their chance against disease. All those I
have named are more or less disease-resisting, but
none wholly so. The most reliable with us is the
Scotch Champion, and I attribute much of its com-
parative immunity from disease to its habit of
growth. The haulm is more branching and more
abundant than is the case with any other variety,
and the greater portion falls on either side of the
ridges of soil, and, as a consequence, but few of the
resting spores of the disease are washed down to
the tubers. Magnum Bonum, Abundance, and other
late sorts are of woody, yet erect growth, and the
foliage conducts most of the rainfall down to the
roots, and disease with it. After the haulm has
ceased to spread it is a simple matter to partially
lay it so as to conduct the rain and spores as much
as possible into the furrows. This is no new idea,
but after giving the plan a fair trial I am convinced
it is a good one. In very many cases the tubers
promise to be very small, and unless either lifted,
cleared of haulm, or the haulm laid on one side,
the tubers eventually stored will fall very short of
the usual quantity. I. M.
Somerset.
PREPARATION OF THE GROUND FOR
KITCHEN GARDEN CROPS.
It is astonishing how much ignorance still prevails
in regard to the proper preparation of the soil in all
classes of gardens, and this has been brought home
to many persons during the present season, espe-
cially in the months of June and July, when the
excessive heat, combined with the lack of rain, has
caused nearly all vegetable crops to develop far too
rapidly. In well managed private gardens, and
also in large market farms or gardens in Esses, the
crops have in most cases been very satisfactory,
although they have been soon over. It is owing to
the hot weather, no doubt, that in most cases the
crops of Peas were exhausted with the first gather-
ing ; but it is equally certain that more gatherings
might have been made if the ground had received
better previous preparation. In this neighbourhood
manure of good quality can easily be obtained, but
its proper application is not always understood, any
more than are the cultural requirements of the
crops. Our garden ground may be improved in
other ways besides digging in large quantities of
manure when it has been spread over the surface.
After such a season as the present many persons
would consider it superfluous to mention drainage
as a means to improve the quality and increase the
quantity of kitchen garden crops. In all light and
most medium soils drainage may, under certain
conditions, be dispensed with, but heavy clay soils
should always be drained. It is difficult to con-
vince some persons of the value of draining in any
other way but by ocular demonstration. I know of
a small piece of ground cropped with vegetables,
which were always poor for no other reason but
want of drainage, and the owner was not convinced
of this being the cause until a drain, which was cut
on an adjoining property, carried off the superBu-
ous water from a small portion of the field, when
its effects could not be mistaken, not only in the
better working of the soil, but also in the quality of
the next season's crop. As a rule, drains 3 feet
deep are best, and 3-inch drain-pipes are sufficient
to carry off all the water. The drains may be
18 feet from each other ; some persons have them
a little closer than this and others further apart.
Teenching is also of very great importance in
giving the crops a more free and ample root run
than they otherwise would have ; and as it allows
the roots to penetrate much deeper into the ground,
the crops are in this way enabled to pass through a
prolonged season of drought without showing signs
of distress. Although trenching is very beneficial,
it may not always have a good effect. Some four or
five years ago I trenched half an acre of good pasture
land 18 inches deep; the soil was of good quality
to that depth, and yet the first year nothing would
grow on it. Peas, Beans, Carrots, Onions, even
Potatoes, refused to grow in the subsoil which was
turned up to the surface. After twelve months the
garden was retrenched, and the turf, by this time
thoroughly decayed, was brought up again to the
surface ; and, of course, during this process much
of the subsoil became incorporated with the upper
portion, but it was in a state to grow excellent
vegetable crops without any manure. After one
good crop had been obtained, a good dressing of
manure was dug in, and thus another excellent crop
was obtained, and the ground was then in splendid
order for cropping. In those instances where a
good dressing of manure may be considered neces-
sary, we place a layer in the bottom of a trench,
say 18 inches deep ; one deep spit of mould is then
thrown on to this, and another layer of manure ; the
second layer would be about 9 inches under the
surface. This method of trenching and placing the
manure at a considerable depth under the surface
may be well known and practised in most good
gardens, but it is not done on market garden farms ;
probably the expense of such a system of culture
would be sufficient to deter any gardener from prac-
tising it as a matter of profit ; and, on the other
hand, some farmers have told me that it was a very
wasteful process to trench manure deeply into the
ground.
There is another reason which prevents
growers for profit investing money in expensive
systems of culture, and that is the uncertainty of
disposing of the produce at a profit. Wagon-loads
of all kinds of market garden produce, which barely
pay the expense of gathering, preparing, and send-
ing, are sent to the London markets Good prices,
paying prices perhaps, may be obtained one day,
and the salesmen, eager to benefit the growers,
notify the fact by telegraph, and immediately
the markets are glutted, with the usual result — the
prices are reduced so low that a profit cannot
be made. Growers of vegetables are placed in a
very difficult position ; they must either sell out
or retain a useless stock on their hands. Although
deep trenching may be out of the question for
market growers, those who require the produce for
their private consumption are in a very difEerent
position.
Gardeners have to supply the kitchen all the year
round, often with limited space at their disposal,
and too often they are driven to their wits' end as
to how the most has to be made of it. In such
cases trenching and manuring are absolutely
necessary, as they not only double the crop, but
cause it to last longer, which is of the more im-
portance, as a large quantity at one time is not so
necessary as a continuous supply. The above re-
mark applies more especially to Peas, Beans, Cauli-
flowers, and a few other crops that are hurried in
too rapidly by excessive heat. I would like to
allude further to the loss incurred by trenching up
useless subsoils on to the surface and burying the
useful tilth. This may be avoided in new gardens
by working up a certain depth annually. Instead
of throwing the subsoil out on to the surface let it
be merely broken up to the depth of 6 inches or
S) inches, and the manure incorporated with it. The
upper portion should be turned over on to it to the
depth of 9 inches or more. A necessary part of
good culture during hot, dry weather is mulching
with short decayed manure. If this can be done in
conjunction with trenching and flooding the ground
with water once a week, excessively hot weather
might be welcomed or not, as the crop was early or
late, for the purpose it was intended to fulfil.
Watering does little good if it is poured on to a
hard, dry, and heated surface; the water evaporates
in an hour, leaving a surface crust impervious to
the atmosphere, and the last state of the watered
garden is worse than the first. If a mulching of
manure is applied first and a good watering after-
wards, evaporation is prevented, and the surface
may remain moist for .a few days, or perhaps a
week. There is another side to the question, and
that is, the utter impossibility of predicting what
the season may be — wet, dry, cold, or hot. Highly
manured and deeply trenched ground may cause
over-vigour in a wet season. It might be safest to
under rather than overdo the ground with manure.
Mulching and watering would act as a compensa-
tion balance if the season was like the present one.
J. DOtJGLAS.
PRODUCTIVENESS OF TOMATOES.
" G. A. S." asks in The Garden (p. 492), What is
the productiveness of the large red Tomatoes 1 Al-
though the yield of any variety may not be the
same in England as in America, a table of the
pounds of fruit produced by an average plant of
several varieties in Michigan may be of interest.
The following table does not give the absolute
pounds of produce of any plant, as the weighing
was done when part of the fruit was green. When
the first one or two pickings of Tomatoes were well
matured, all the fruit on each plant was picked and
weighed, and then the plant itself was weighed.
Variety.
Queen . . .
Hathaway's Excelsior
General Grant .
Cardinal
Conqueror .
Mayflower .
Mikado
Paragon
Perfection .
Trophy
Golden Trophy .
Trophy, extra selected
Vick's Criterion .
Canada Victor .
-Icme ....
Li\du.ffstoue's Favourite
Pear Shaped
Islaud Beauty .
Greeu Gage
Essex Hybrid .
Yellow Vlum
Feejee Island
Red Cheney
Hundred Days .
Red Valencia Cluster
Hovey
Improved Lirge Yellow
Y'ellow Cherry .
New Currant
Alpha ....
Read's Island Beauty
Livingstone's Acme .
The Cook's Favourite
Fultou Market .
Yellow Victor .
New Red Apple .
Tilden's New
Essex Round Red Smootli
Rochester Favourite .
Criterion .
NeUis' Snowball
Queen
New Cardinal
New York Market
Nishit's Victoria
Persian
Precursor .
Nellis' Selected Trophy
Kiug Humbert .
Boston Market .
Tom Thumb
Golden Queeu .
Livingstone's Beauty
Golden Trophy .
Emery
Climax
Rochester .
Large Red Smooth Round
Dwarf Orangefield
Autocrat
Cardinal
Li^angstone's Favourite
Golden Queen .
Turner Hybrid .
The Prize Belle .
Jlarket Champion
Advance
Plant.
Fruit.
Lbs.
Lbs.
7'i
13J
17J
22|
10§
25i
12
13
7
19
10
16J
8i
25^
n
14^
lOJ
16
6
m
13^
14|
21
241
H
19
n
22^
Hi
21
n
12i
IS'-
10
loi
121
m
22
8
19i
H
16
9
m
16i
u
6
19
8
19j
14i
18
J- J.
7"^
20|
lol
6^
o|
8i
16j
lOi
\n
12f
20
6
183
13|
10
21^
9
17i
10
18
lOi
21
7i
17i
lOi
19
uk
lOi
12
15l
12
17|
11
15^
7i
25*
12
16h
^
19*
P|
133
11
21i
73"
18i
71
15J
1311
224
ok
14i
Hi
22.i
P-i
9|
8
18i
114
ICk
7
20|
Ui
m
16i
27
lei
22i
i'i
17
io|
16i
12|
21i ■
14
25
9
16
8^
1E|
The table is interesting as
weights of plant and fruit.
giving (he oomparativu
In this connection it is
84
THE GARDEN.
[July 30, 1887.
interesting to note that in 1818 Tomatoes in Eng-
land averaged about 20 lbs. of fruit to the plant, and
some plants produced as much as 40 lbs. (See Hort.
Trans, iii., 34(i.)— L. H. Bailey, Jun., Miohit/an
Agricultural College.
POTATOES IN JERSEY.
The remarks of Mr. WUdsmith in The Garden,
July 16 (p. 42), on hoeing Potatoes induce me to
send you a few lines on Potatoes in Jersey. Mr.
Wildsmith says early planting is the rule, and then
in the next line he says that not many of his Pota-
toes are yet earthed up. It would be interesting to
know what he calls early planting, and also in what
condition the sets are in when planted, as it would
thus enable one to draw a comparison between
Jersey and English vegetation in a backward season.
Here we have a plot of ground that we lifted our
first crop of Potatoes from during the last week in
May and the early part of June, and on June 15
we planted the same ground with late sorts. Since
they were planted we have (July 16) had but one
shower of rain, but these Potatoes are now 15 inches
high, and have been earthed up five days.
There is no doubt but that the climate of Jersey
and also the soil are admirably adapted for growing
early Potatoes. Anyone would be surprised to see
how much ground is devoted to them. Nearly half
the island is planted with Potatoes, and vrith many
people it is the only crop worth growing, and the
only one that they know how to grow with anything
like success. The Jersey farmers certainly devote
much time, labour, and tillage in the cultivation
of early Potatoes, and also produce very good
results. The early sorts are mainly planted dur-
ing the first and second weeks in February,
Myatt's Kidney and Ashleaf being the varieties that
find most favour. These are ready to lift by the
end of May and the first week in June. It is, how-
ever, the main crops that pay the grower best ;
therefore, nearly everyone reserves the best piece of
ground for the later and larger sorts, which are
planted during the last week in February and the
second week in March. The sorts that are grown
are but few ; in fact, it is surprising how many
growers keep to one sort only — viz., the Jersey Fluke
— for the main crop. Some growers who cultivate
twenty-five vergees (11 acres) of Potatoes will have
twenty vergees of this one sort. During the last few
years one or two other sorts have been grown, and
which, owing to their good qualities, promise to run
the Jersey Fluke a hard race for popularity. The
sorts in question are Royal Jersey Fluke and Prince
of Wales.
No late sorts are cultivated, simply because it
does not pay to grow sorts that cannot be lifted by
the last week in July, as the ground must be cleared
by that time in order to obtain a crop of something
else. Owing to the long-continued drought the crop
has been lighter this year than usual, but neverthe-
less in many places from five to seven cabots (a
cabot is about 43 lbs. English weight) to the perch
have been realised. I am informed that in a good
season often not less than from ten to twelve cabots
are lifted from a perch of ground. If the crop is
lighter, the prices are much higher. I was informed
the other day by one of the largest growers in Jer-
sey that his crop this season had fetched 15 per
cent, more than it did last year, when the crop was
a heavy one. The reason is not far to seek. If the
crop is heavy, the market is glutted, and the prices
come down to a very low figure. Last year (on
June 28) when the crop was heavy, the price in St.
Heliers was Is. 7d. per cabot ; while this year, with
a lighter crop, the price at the same date was from
Ms. lOd. to 4s. a cabot. Thus it will be seen that a
light crop in Jersey and a late crop in England
benefit the Jersey growers very much.
St. Jecm's, Jersey. H. Paeker.
the grower being that he would be able to obtain a
big return for so fine a sample. He seems to have
fallen for the venture upon bad times, for the first
gathering from this area gave 1000 bushels, and the
return was but 2s. a bushel — really the price of
common Peas. Seven hundred bushels were ga-
thered in one day, and three hundred more early
the next one, and all disposed off in the one day.
This grower is perhaps one of the largest in the way
of Peas near London, and in good seasons his quan-
tities are almost fabulous. This year they are
terribly clipped by the heat and drought, for whilst
heat has produced blindness on most of the later
flowers, the drought has checked the development
of the pods. On the whole, even so fine a Pea as
Telegraph is producing not more than half a crop, and
only really early-sown breadths any crop whatever.
It might have been expected that, with a somewhat
sparse Pea season, prices would have been better ;
but the above case is evidence that the ruling mar-
ket prices are low. This is no case of consignor
and salesman, but what can be obtained by an old
market hand himself who both grows and attends
market every morning through the Pea season. To
have been a fairly remunerative crop these Tele^
graph Peas should have fetched at least 4s. per
bushel ; as it is, it is utterly impossible that, with
all the charges incidental to culture, &c., any profit
can be left to the grower. — A. D.
Market Peas.— A large grower of Peas for
market in this locality sowed this year the large
area of 10 acres of Telegraph Peas. The needful
quantity of seed had been purchased and the plants
grown at considerable expense, the anticipations of
USES OF SULPHATE OF AMMONIA.
From a pamphlet by A. H. Church, M.A., on " Sul
phate of Ammonia as a Manure," we gather the
following interesting and practical remarks : As the
sulphate is a very strong manure, it should always
be applied sparingly and evenly. Land rich in
useful mineral matters, such as good loams and
fertile clays, may receive larger doses than poor
sandy and calcareous soils. To ensure its regular
distribution it should be very thoroughly mixed
before sowing with twice its bulk of some such
material as dry peat or dry and riddled loam ; sand
does not make so thorough a mixture, while any
form of caustic lime must be carefully avoided. It
is well to add that the sulphate should always be
bought with a guarantee of strength, not less than
24 per cent, of ammonia.
For Geass lands. — One hundredweight per
acre, applied during showery weather in early spring,
is a moderate dressing ; its effect is greatly enhanced
by the application in the previous autumn of 2 cwts.
per acre of fine bone-meal. If lime be required it
should always be applied six months after or before
the ammonia salts.
Fob Wheat. — A top-dressing of 1 cwt. to
IJ cwts. in the spring will generally be found
remunerative. It should be sown broadcast, rather
before the customary time of applying nitrate of
soda, and, if possible, just previous to rain or
during showery weather. If it be thought advisable
to apply the sulphate of ammonia before the
winter, not more than half the total quantity should
be then sown.
For Barley and Oats.— From 1 cwt. to 2 cwts.
per acre may be used in early spring. Good results
have been obtained by employing for these crops a
mixture of IJ cwts. of the sulphate with 2 cwts. of
superphosphate.
For Potatoes.— The Potato crop is greatly
increased, especially on poor soils, by the use of
abundant supplies of a mixed manure containing a
fair amount of sulpliate of ammonia, say 3 cwts.,
with 4 cwts. superphosphate per acre. This mix-
ture, to which may be added 3 cwts. of kainit, is
very useful also in the market or kitchen garden,
especially for such crops as Onions, Celery, Beet-
root, and Spinach ; also for fruit trees. Sulphate
of ammonia, however, like other nitrogenous
manures, scarcely benefits Peas, Beans, and legu-
minous crops generally, although if applied in a
mixture to them much of it will remain in the
ground to the advantage of the Cabbages and
other hardy winter crops which succeed the pulse
crops. I
Foe the flower garden. — An excellent manure
of a stimulating character may be prepared by
thoroughly mixing 56 lbs. of sulphate of ammonia
with each ton of horse or cow manure. As nitro-
genous manures generally tend to develop leaves
rather than flowers or fruit, the sulphate or mixture
containing it must be applied with caution and at
suitable seasons (when the flower-buds are forming
or the fruit setting). For Roses, Chrysanthemums,
and many robust-flowering plants (not Heaths,
Azaleas, Rhododendrons, or Orchids), whether in
the open ground or pots, a solution of sulphate of
ammonia containing 2 ozs. in 3 gallons of water
may be safely used twice a week during the season
of active growth. Or, as a more general and com-
plete plant food, 2 ozs. of the sulphate with 1 oz. of
superphosphate and 1 oz. of kainit may be
thoroughly mixed and repeatedly stirred in 5 gallons
of water ; the solution thus formed is to be used as
above directed.
It cannot be too strongly urged upon farmers,
market gardeners, and florists that they should
always buy their artificial manures at first hand and
separately. The so-called Corn and Grass manure.
Mangold manure, &c., may be more cheaply pre-
pared at home ; the saving thus effected often
makes all the difference between a remunerative and
wasteful expenditure.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 607.
SCHUBBRTIA GRANDIFLORA.*
The genus to which this plant belongs was
establishfed in honour of M. Schubert, a Polish
botanist. It has, however, lately become merged
with Physianthus, which does not in any way
detract from the beauty of the plant. It is a
twining shrub having opposite leaves and um-
bels of fleshy, white, funnel-shaped flowers. It
belongs to the Natural Order Asclepiadaceaj, and
is a dangerous rival to that popular flower the
Stephanotis, the blooms being somewhat larger,
equally persistent, and as gratefully fragrant.
Although the plant was introduced to our gar-
dens about half a century ago, it has never be-
come plentiful, which is remarkable when one
considers how easy the plant is of cultivation.
Our drawing was taken from a specimen grown
by Mr. Bartholomew, Park House, Reading,
who thus details his experience with it : —
The seeds were received from the Argentine Re-
public, and were sown in January of last year, the
seedlings in their young state being characterised
by a very strong and offensive odour. After re-
maining almost stationary for some weeks, they
began to grow rapidly. The plant from which the
plate was drawn was planted in a 12-inch pot and
placed in the greenhouse ; the soil used for it con-
sisted of peat, loam, and manure. It soon climbed
up one side of the house, and by September had
reached the length of from 20 feet to 25 feet ; for
the last 10 feet or more there sprang from the nodes
clusters of flowers, which, in their early stage, re-
sembled bunches of Filberts, about six blooms in
each cluster. The individual flowers were funnel-
shaped, nearly 3 inches across, pure white, very
sweet-scented, and lasted a very long time when
cut and placed in water. The plate hardly does
justice to the flower, but perhaps that is due to the
drawing having been made from a cut spray, and
not from the plant as it was growing. The plant
is a perennial in its own country, and we quite
hoped that this year we should see a glorious dis-
play of blossom ; but, although the wood seemed
hard and thoroughly ripened, when the spring came
we found the plant dead, except just at the base.
Probably the temperature, which sometimes fell to
40°, was too low for it.
* Drawn for The Garden in Mr. Bartholomew's
garden, Park House, Reading, by H. G. Moon, October
12, 1886, and printed by G. Severoyns.
GARDEN
SCHUBEP.TIA CrRAI^TDIFLORA.
July 30, 1887. J
THE GARDEN.
85
In all probability the base of the plant will
push out stubby lateral shoots, which will strike
freely, and thus this most desirable stove twiner
may become perpetuated. It will survive our
winters unharmed in a temperature of about 55°.
W. H. G.
Fruit Garden.
W. COLEMAN.
SUMMER PRUNING AND EXTENSION
TRAINING.
When the summer pruning and pinching of
other fruit trees has been brought to a close,
the Apple, be it pyramid or bush, comes in for
its share of attention. Members of one school
say shorten all summer growths to four or five
eyes to allow for pruning back to the second or
third bud when the sap is down and the trees
are at rest. Leaders, as a matter of course, are
allowed to go up to the height of 10 feet or
12 feet, and perfect cones from 2 feet to 3 feet
in diameter are in due course foi'med. Strong
and weak growers, planted in pairs perhaps on
either side of a long central walk, and whose
habit of growth and mode of bearing are dia-
metrically opposite, are treated alike, for is it
not necessary that each tree must be a match for
its neighbour ? and so it is, for in nine seasons out
of ten these faultless extinguishers to which so
much attention has been paid are precisely on a
par with each, other in the small quantity of
fruit they send to the store room. Strong
growers like the Blenheim, Annie Elizabeth,
and others, although regularly root-pruned to
within an inch of their lives, become cankered
and barren. Moderate growers which can be
kept in order with the finger and thumb are
more fruitful, but far from satisfactory, and the
weakest of all, which reqiiire coaxing and feed-
ing, and whose terminal points are left intact,
are the most fertile of all. An avenue of these
trees, which might do credit to an accomplished
Parisian trainer and trimmer of Ivy edgings and
standard Orange trees, may be considered a work
of art ; but it is neither pretty nor profitable, and
yet the soil in which the trees are growing, most
likely on free stocks, may be admirably adapted
to the j)roduction of quantities of Apples of the
finest quality. That good crops of fruit of the
largest size can be grown upon small trees I do
not deny, for I grow them myself; but great care
should be devoted to the selection of the stock
than which there is none better than the English
Paradise. Worked upon this and well mulched
all that is needed is the summer pinching of any
gross shoot that may be robbing other parts of
the tree or carrying it out of shape, and it will
go on extending and fruiting for years.
The advanced school says, prune not at all ; let
all the growths go ; but this, I think, is carrying
extension training, which really is no training at
all, to the other extreme, for wood as well as fruit
must have light, and sun, and air, not only to
ripen the buds, but to give colour and flavour to
the latter. If anyone doubts this, let him look
into any old orchard in which the let-alone sys-
tem has been going on for years, and there he
will find tangled branches covered with Moss
and Lichen as impenetrable as a jungle and as
worthless, for none but the outside tips produce
fruit worth gathering, and the quality of the
best from such trees is sour and flavourless.
Extensionists who combine judgment with
their system do not acknowledge this method,
but, like any other body of sane men, use their
knives as well as their eyes when these instru-
ments are wanted. They tip the points to
maintain the balance ; allow all weak and mode-
rate leading shoots to go as far as they can and
finish their year's work with a terminal bud, and
they pinch the lateral shoots to let in sun and air
until each main branch extending outwards re-
sembles an elongated pyramid, of which one set
of roots may have to support twenty or more.
Once started in this way, the branches and smaller
boughs increase in number from year to year.
Two-year-old wood throughout its full length is
studded with blossom-buds, fruit spurs take the
place of a forest of young shoots, and the weight
of the crop enables the extensionist to pacify
his conscience, for his work is redxiced to a little
summer pinching and judicious winter thinning.
Close planting within a space of 6 feet from the
Box edging, and, perhaps, a little more from tree
to tree, prevents many would-be extensionists
from letting them go, simply because they can-
not command room, but wherever space does
admit, trees, especially those on free stocks,
which do not fruit freely, should be allowed to
extend outwards in every direction until they
have finished their year's growth. Young spray
in the centres of the trees may be troublesome
for a year or two, and must be removed in July,
but once numerous outward channels are opened
for the sap these growths will cease, and annual
root-pruning wiU no longer be necessary. On
warm, thin soils it may be given up altogether ;
on deep, cold loams, which have a chilling effect
on the atmosphere, the branch-growth must
always be regulated by an occasional check upon
the roots ; otherwise the young wood will get too
strong and the autumn will not be hot enough
to ripen it properly.
These remarks are not imaginary, but founded
upon experience gained here in the management
of several pyramids and bushes, which positively
refused to carry fruit so long as they were re-
duced to orthodox form in July and finished off
in January. Six tree.s of Echlinville Seedling
and a like number of Cox's Orange Pippin,
which have been allowed to extend, now carry
good crops every Apple year, and although they
have not yet required root-pruning, the wood
they make is not too strong. Single trees of
Keswick Codlin, Lord Grosvenor, a never-fail-
ing kitchen Apple ; Warner's King, Tower of
Glamia, Nelson's Glory, and Dumelow's Seed-
ling are equally satisfactory, carrying bushels
where formerly they did not yield pecks, and
this change is brought about by judicious thin-
ning and extension training.
I have been rather amused at the discussion
on this subject, and at the tenacity with which the
opponents adhere to their respective systems. No
hard-and-fast line can be drawn on either side, as if
there is plenty of space at command I see no
reason why one large bush of Currants or Goose-
berries should not answer the purpose of three or
four small ones, but if the cropping ground is
limited, and, as in the case of the Gooseberry, a
number of varieties are sometimes required from a
small space, then the cultivator must have recourse
to restriction. I have before called attention to
the value of the trellis system for Gooseberries, and
have not the slightest hesitation in saying that the
annual crop taken from trees that are confined to
five leads each, and which are spurred hard in
everv summer, is quite double that taken from
bushes grown on a piece of ground exactly the size
of the trellis quarters. So far as Red and White
Currants are concerned, I am gradually working out
the large old bushes in favour of wall cultivation, a
small space on a south wall being used to obtain a
few early fruit, and a north-west wall for the main
crop. Now where, as in our case, the border
attached to the latter wall is cropped, and only
a 2-feet alley allowed, I fail to see how it is possible
to avoid summer pruning ; indeed, the trees get
hardly any pruning but this, the operation being
performed just as the fruit is beginning to colour,
use would extension be in such a case as this ? We
should have a perfect thicket of wood that it would
be almost impossible to net, and the border would
be practically useless. I can gather bushels of
fruit annually, and yet with very little trouble. I
am hardly likely to follow the plan of " J. S. W.,"
so far, at any rate, as my wall Currants and trellis
Gooseberries are concerned, and yet one would
imagine this system would be an essential feature
in their management if we are to believe its bene-
ficial results in bushes. One great point that
" J. S. W." makes is that a healthy and vigorous
unpruned shoot of Red Currant will produce more
fruit than one cut back to four or five eyes. Un-
doubtedly, if it would fruit its entire length,
but we, in our experience, doubt that such
shoots produce fruit at their extremities and that
back buds suffer in proportion to the vigour of the
top, and the question arises, what is to be done
with the enormous quantity of weakly shoots that
would necessarily arise from these long, unpruned
shoots ? Are these also to be left ? Another state-
ment is, that he is not aware Currants will grow
beyond their natural height. What is that height ?
My wall Currants are 12feet high, and if "J.S.W.'s"
bushes are any higher than this, " J. G.'s " ladders
are no idle suggestion. The truth of the matter is
that the extension hobby ridden so hard is an un-
mistakable absurdity. — E. B.
The appearance of bush fruits, as seen in many
gardens at this time of year, would certainly suggest
the advisability of going through them with the
pruning knife. In many instances branches are so
crowded, that the fruit can only to a limited extent
receive the benefits of light and air. It is when
the plants are in full growth that the amount of
space required by each branch can be accurately
judged. A branch here and there taken out would,
in the case of crowded bushes, be of great assist-
ance. Cutting away some of the fruit in such cases
would matter but little, as the loss thereof would
be recouped by the extra development of that left.
If summer pruning were not made a regular por-
tion of routine work, it might be beneficially under-
taken about every three years as a means of ensuring
the due amount of space to each bearing portion of
the trees. Black Carrants naturally grow so gross,
that what at the winter pruning is often considered
ample distance from branch to branch does not
suffice to ensure the berries getting the amount of
light and air they need to give them size and flavour.
Seasons vary so much, that growth is much stronger
in some than in others, and it requires great ex-
perience to accurately judge of the space that each
component part of the tree requires so as not to un-
duly crowd those branches left. When in full
growth any errors of judgment in this respect can
be easily rectified. I know an old fruit grower who
never winter-prunes his Gooseberries. He leaves
all the branches intact — in the first place as a safe-
guard against the depredation of bullfinches, and
then again, by reason of the extra amount of leaf-
age, as a means of warding off May frosts. As soon
as the fruit is well advanced, the bushes are gone
over, and light and sunshine admitted to the centre
of them by a judicious thinning out of the branches.
That man had Gooseberries by the bushel when his
neighbours had none whatever. If in the case of the
Gooseberry, summer thinning of the branches, in
conjunction with the heading in of the straggling,
rankest-growing shoots, takes the place of winter
pruning, there will, no matter how unfavourable the
year, be more or less of a crop of fruit. The close
pruning, which is generally considered the right
thing,leaves the newlyforming fruit in its tenderest
stage to the mercy of the biting wind and keen
frosts. In the case of the Raspberry, some growers
make a rule of going through the stools and thinning
out the young growths where too numerous. This
is an excellent plan, as it greatly strengthens the
shoots left, as well as admits air and light to them.
—J. C. B.
Referring to the articles which have
appeared recently in Thb Garden respecting
the pruning of Currants in the summer, I have
to observe that in 1884 I had blight on the
Currant trees, in consequence of which they
and very little growth is made afterwards. What I were pruned very hard. We had scarcely any
86
THE GARDEN.
[July 30, 1887.
fruit on them in 1885 and 1886, but this year we
have an abundant crop. The Black Currants were
pruned hard in 1885, and last year we had a bad
crop, but this year a good one. — H. J. Buchan.
EED SPIDEK.
Sevbbal years since, upon taking charge of a gar-
den, the trees in one of the Peach houses were
badly aiiected with red spider. After adopting
several measures for its eradication, such as delug-
ing the foliage with water and sulphur mixed, and
sponging the leaves with a well-known insecticide,
but with little success, we determined to settle to
our own satisfaction the disputed question of the
efficacy or otherwise of sulphur fumes for the de-
struction of red spider. For this purpose, on a
calm evening after the house was shut up, we had
the hot-water pipes made as hot as it was pos-
sible to make them with water, and then applied
to them a coating of sulphur mixed with water and
a small quantity of soft soap. Some idea of the
atmosphere may be conceived from the fact that
the fumes were so strong, that it was quite as much
as we could bear to remain in the house until the
operation was performed. Next morning upon ex-
amination with a pocket lens it was found that
a great number of the insects were dead, and also
that many had survived the ordeal, too many in
fact to be allowed to remain undisturbed without
another effort being made to destroy them. There-
fore, on the following night they were treated to a
similar application, the only difference being that
whereas on the first occasion the leaves were quite
dry, on the second they were saturated with water.
After many anxious forebodings as to the result of
our experiment, we could not after the second ap-
plication discover a living insect in the house, nor
was there a leaf injured, and the trees which were
bearing a good crop ripened it very satisfactorily.
Since the above experience we have frequently
used sulphur for the same purpose, and always with
a like result. W. Neild.
Wythenshcave, C/iesJnre.
Stra'wberry Loxford Hall. — Mr. Gilbert seems
to be unsuccessful with Loxford Hall Strawberry
(p. 38). Here it proves to be the finest and best late
variety I know. The crop this year is enormous, and
this variety, fruit of which we are gathering
daily, follows the best and most useful of all
Strawberries, Sir Joseph Paxton. As to size, I
think I may say Loxford Hall is quite large enough,
as I gathered sixteen berries last week which
turned the scale at a pound weight, and there
were quantities on the bed as large or even larger.
The only fault I find with it is that the foliage
is scanty and dwarf, giving no shade to the fruit,
a matter of importance in such weather as we have
had. Loxford Hall Seedling also produces its runners
very late, which is rather against it, as I like to have
my new beds planted by the middle of August at the
latest. By far the finest fruit comes from beds the
first year after planting, and I am thinking of grow-
ing Sir Joseph Paxton as an annual. My beds of it
this year, planted last August, have been a fine sight
both for fruit and foliage, and the crop never fails.
Strawberries are quite a fortnight earlier than last
year, though in the early months the weather was so
severe and everything very backward. I think pos-
sibly Mr. Gilbert's want of success with Loxford Hall
seedling may rest with the soil, as my experience is
that no Strawberry with Queen blood in it will succeed
if it does not like the soil. I cannot grow the Hautbois
up here, though I had no difficulty with it in Kent,
where I could not grow the Queen, notwithstanding
that within a mile of my house the finest Queens in
the country were grown, only I was on gravel and
they were on clay. — A. R., Winclermcre.
The Apple crop.— The heat and drought have
told very severely upon the Apple crop during the
the past week or ten days, and under many trees
the ground is strewn with the fallen frujt. Various
opinions given show that the damage done fully
equals one half the previous crop, and what fruit is
left does not seem to grow. This result seems to
be even more marked amongst late kinds, few of
which were previously too heavily laden. Oddly
enough, the trees do not seem to be suffering, as
foliage is good, and summer growth so far has been
excellent, quite strong enough, indeed, for any use-
ful purpose. Pears seem to hang even better than
Apples, but then the former are in most cases
thinner on the trees, and producing no exhaustion.
Where trees can be kept mulched and watered, or are
grown upon thoroughly holding soils, things may
be different, but the heat has been in all cases the
same, and it is generally thought that the very
heated dry atmosphere is as much responsible for
the thinning of the Apples as drought at the roots.
With such a moderate general crop the trees should,
under the influence of the warmth, be creating an
abundance of fruit-buds for the coming year, but
even that may prove a doubtful blessing, very heavy
flushes of bloom somehow seeming rarely to prove
as equally fertile ; whilst a moderate show of bloom
is very often much more prolific in the end. I have
some large trees upon which the bloom surpassed
all previous experience, and yet the fruit now upon
them is very thin. We may say with safety that,
grand as was the Apple bloom in the spring, it is
rare in the history of fruit seasons that such a poor
crop has followed. — A. D.
RUSSIAN PEARS.
The recent researches of Professor Budd, of Iowa,
and Mr. Charles Gibb, of Canada, among the fruit-
growing districts of North-eastern Europe have re-
vealed to us m America the fact that races (if not
species) exist there of fruit trees possessing much
greaterresistance against cold than any before kno-mi
to us. And yet the cold of Europe is, so to speak, of
so different a texture from American cold, that a
mere thcrmomctric comparison is not always a crite-
rion sufficiently definedforourcertainguidance. The
same minimum temperature at low altitudes, especi-
ally if near the sea, does not seem to be so injurious
to fruit trees as in higher and drier interior regions.
For that reason we iind that quite a number of the
Russian Apples,broughtfrom sectionsof thatcountry
where the thermometric observations indicate cold
quite as severe as that of the mountains of North-
eastern Vermont, do not prove to be thoroughly hardy.
In this particular they are like the Apples of the
Lower St.Lawrence valley, from Montreal downwards.
Though grown successfully in that valley, consider-
ably north of where I live, I cannot do much with
them. With the thermometer indicating the same
temperature, our drier atmosphere, and perhaps dif-
ferent electrical conditions seem to permit greater
injury to the wood, which becomes much more dis-
coloured and disorganised in consequence, and the
trees are soon rendered valueless.
I am already noticing this difference in the Rus-
sian Pears, many of which, brought from Middle
Russia, between latitudes 50° to 60° north, where
a winter's cold of minus 40° to 55° Fahrenheit is
often recorded, have their wood darkened by tempera-
tures no more severe than the lower one named.
But I find that this mere darkening of the wood is
not so injurious to the Pear as to the Apple. In the
Apple it is followed by decay; but in the Pear the
devitalised wood takes on a hard horn-like condition,
which does not seem to impair the vigour of growth,
and I hope will not affect the fruitf ulness of the trees.
The hardiest of our well known Pears in my grounds
has been the Onondaga, or Swan's Orange. Its new
wood is darkened even in our mildest winters ; but
the trees seemed thrifty, and I have grown them to
bearing size without any evident external injury.
But the winter of 1884-5 settled the business, ex-
terminating every Pear on my place, along with the
Ben Davis Apple, all the root-grafted or low-budded
trees of Fameuse, and manyother semi-hardy Apples.
That same winter I received some dozen or more
young Pear trees of the Budd-Gibb importation, the
upper branches of which were well above the snow.
The wood showed discoloration in the spring, yet
the terminal buds all started strongly, and the trees
made a very fine growth. The earlier planted trees
now stand (i feet to 8 feet high, and the past winter,
which has exceeded the average in severity, does not
seem to have done more than cause a moderate
discoloration in niost of the varieties. There is a
difference, however, in them, and a few are killed
back a fewinches. But I am glad to say that the two
varieties which Messrs. B. and G. regard as most desir-
able, Bessemianka and Sapieganka, are among the
hardiest. To these may be added Dulaand Limonaya ;
but the Bergamotte Common is not so hardy as
Onondaga, and the same may be said of varieties
under the name of Gliva and Bezi de la Motte,
received from Mr. Gibb. Tonkavetka, called a culi-
nary Pear, seems pretty hardy.
In growth, Bessemianka is a most beautiful tree,
the limbs coming out symmetiically and curving
upward equally, so as to give the young trees a
candelabnim shape. Sapieganka, on the contrary,
has a rugged growth, the limbs, supported by strong
bosses at their origin, coming out at right angles to
the trunk, only the upper ones showing a tendency
to ascend. The petioles of this variety are quite
red, so much so as to give a reddish tone to the f oliaee
in mass. The leafage of all the Rus.sian Pears is strik-
ing, being much like that of Le Conte and Keiffer,
indicating Asiatic origin. The foliage of all the
American Pears I have tried here was more or less
attacked by fungi and insects, but that of the Rus-
sian varieties is remarkably firm and healthy. —
T. H. HosKiNS, M.D., in VieKs Magazine.
Strawberry Black Prince. — I am glad to see
this fine old Strawberry well spoken of. All points
considered, were I restricted to grow one variety in
the open air or under glass I would select this one.
Both when forced and grown in the open air there is
no difficulty in getting it to bear heavily. The fruits
are of medium size, of an excellent dark colour, the
flesh being firm and of superior flavour. It may
be forced well any time after the new year, and
in the open the plants may be grown much closer
than some of the large-leaved kinds. It ripens at
least ten days earlier than any other commonly
grown variety, and as the first fruits would command
a high price in the market, I am surprised it is not
more cultivated by market growers. Its colour and
size make it a great favourite for preserving. —
J. MuiE, Margam.
Strawberries. — Mr. R. Gilbert, in his remarks on
these in The Garden (p. 38) speaks very highly of
Laxton's King of the Earlies. I have not yet fruited
it, but cannot fail to see the Black Prince foliage
in it. Black Prince can be forced and cropped
heavily, and if afterwards planted out, fruit may be
had even as late as November in good seasons. If
my Loxford Hall Seedling makes any runners, I
will send Mr. Gilbert a few to try them once more.
Plants put out of small pots in spring fruited the
same season. In the second year of fruiting (1886)
it was superior to all the other varieties which I
grew. It was later and of far better flavour than
British Queen. Loxford Hall Seedling is a very
compact -growing variety; therefore it may be
planted closer with advantage. I shall so arrange
that a runner is pegged down between every plant;
this will fill up space. I noticed that British Queen
was out of bloom before Loxford Hall Seedling was
in flower. This phenomenally dry time has entirely
altered the style of it; while, unfortunately, both
of these very splendid varieties are flavourless. I
should say the fruit even in its young stage is burnt,
baked, or scalded, and the under side of the fruit is
even worse than the sunny side. I never remember
such a disastrous time for Strawberries. Rasp-
berries also are very poor. Water is out of the
question, as I have none to spare for outdoor crops,
— Stephen Casti/B, M'est Lynn.
SHORT NOTES.— FRUIT.
Gooseberry caterpillar.— Some years aRo I
was troubled with caterpillars on the Gooseberry
trees. I tried syringing them with various solutions,
and also removed the earth under them to the depth of
6 inches, hut all to no purpose. Three years ago I had
a boy who was more than a fortnight picking off all
these insects, and since then they have not reappeared,
and we got an abundant crop every year. — H.J. BuCHA\.
Stocks for fruit trees.— When talking recently
with a. fruit tree uursorynuin iu tlie midland counties,
who has to deal with a stiff loam, he said he used the
fhiglish Crnh for .Apples, the English Pear stock for
July 30, 1887.
THE GARDEN.
87
Poiirs, aiul the Mussel aud Bromptou stocks for riiims.
He said that these stocks in a heavy soil made plenty
of fibrous roots, and he sent away to the north of
England every season large unmbers, all of which
readily accoramodated themselves to the soils in which
they were planted. — E. D.
STRAWBERRY CULTURE,
Good growers of Strawberries are by no means
agreed upon the general principles governing the
successful culture of this popular fruit. Mr. W.
■Wildsmitb, of Heckfield Gardens, recommends that
Strawberry plantations be destroyed after the third
season of fruiting. Some gardeners will allow their
beds to fruit another year, but much, of course, de-
pends upon the nature of the soil. Others will
make an annual of the Strawberry, planting afresh
every year and destroying the beds at the end of
the season, and it is contended that under this
system of treatment finer crops of fmit are ob-
tained than under the usual method. Those who
follow the latter method trench their ground in the
usual manner, but do not mix the manure with the
soil ; instead thereof they place it in the form of a
layer i inches or 5 inches thick and about the same
distance below the soil. It is then lightly trod
over and the strongest runners that can he got
planted a foot apart, and after the first good
soaking of rain the ground is again trodden over to
make it firm. In the case of ground that is light
and sandy, treading is of great benefit, as might be
supposed. The act of treading is not so necessary
in the case of heavy land, but a deeply trenched
and well-consolidated soil is of the first importance
to the successful cultivation of the Strawberry. The
object sought by placing the manure a little below
the surface rather than by incorporating it with the
soil in the usual manner is to promote an early and
vigorous growth, and to prevent the plants running
so much to leaf, as they are apt to do where the
soil is both deep and rich.
The best soil for the Strawberry is a fairly friable,
stiff, yeUow loam, but then this kind does not exist
in all gardens, and where this is so the best must
be made of what is found there. A stiff clayey
loam has to be lightened somewhat ; drainage may
be necessary, but certainly anything iu the way of
ashes from a rubbish heap, charred soil, siftings of
old mortar rubbish, &c., will help it. Light soils
need to be made more adhesive, and the addition
of loamy clay helps to produce this condition.
Calling upon Mr. Miles at Wycombe Abbey a few
days ago, I found his beds of Strawberries in fine
condition. He has a good Strawberry soil, and gets
very fine crops. He plants at a good distance apart,
and renews his beds once in three or four years.
He lays great stress on the advantages derived from
top-dressing, and especially so in order that the
surface soil should be kept well up about the plants,
as there is a tendency for them to be thrown up
above its level as they increase in size and form
fresh crowns. The plantations are forked over once a
year in autumn, taking care not to disturb the roots.
I think that those who require a good number of
Strawberry plants are very apt to overlook the value
of the late runners put forth by the plants. Pro-
bably most gardeners can get enough of early
runners for all their purposes, and do not need to
trouble about the later ones
Strawberry plants for sale must sometimes — as1;hey
in aU probability wiU huve to do this season —
take care of every plant they can obtain. Now, if
the late runne-s are taken off in the autumn and
planted out in beds of good soil, and allowed to
stay in them all the winter, spring, and early sum-
mer following, they grow meanwhile into size,
become very strong, and make excellent stuff to
plant out in the autumn following. I have known
beds of late runners produce splendid crops of
fruit the following season ; aud it is found in prac-
tice that such plants are also very useful for forcing.
Only let there be good culture, and rare crops of
fruit wiU reward the labours of the planter.
E. D.
Fruit in Manitoba.— The Canadian correspon-
dent of the Liverpool Journal of Commerce savs :
That small fruit can be successfully grown in Mani-
toba has been settled by the experience of a great
many people. About a year ago Mr. M. D. Major
purchased a piece of land near Kildonan, which
was covered with timber. A small portion (about
half an acre) was cleared and prepared for Straw-
berries, Mr. Major recently had a sample of the
berries at Winnipeg, and contracted for the whole
crop, about 1000 quarts, at Is. 3d. per quart. He is
also growing Currants, Gooseberries, Raspberries,
and Blackberries. With six years' experience
growing small fruits in Nova Scotia, Mr. Major says
he never saw anything to compare with the fruits
of Manitoba, and the quality cannot be surpassed.
That aU small fruit grown in a temperate climate
can be grown in the province seems to admit of no
doubt.
FRUITS UNDER GLASS.
Fixes.
Queens intended for early fruiting will now be
filling their pots with roots, consequently in a con-
dition for taking mild stimulants at least once a
week. Diluted liquid guano or soot water, used
alternately, always in a weak and clear state, cannot
be surpassed for this purpose ; but care must be
observed in its application, as plants should never
be watered until they are in a fit state for taking a
full supply. Ripe roots and short, stiff, le.ithery
foliage, if a little browned no matter, being im-
portant, the plants cannot be kept too near the
glass, provided the points do not touch it. Mois
ture in the house in an atmospheric form will be
preferable to constant overhead syringing, and
shading when actually necessary must be of the
lightest character.
Later plants in all stages are now growing fast,
and the second batch will soon be in a fit state for
ig ; meantime they must be freely, but care-
fully watered, judiciously ventilated to prevent the
foliage from becoming drawn, and shut up early in
the afternoon with strong sun-heat and plenty of
atmospheric moisture.
Where the excellent system of allowing one or
two strong suckers to remain on the old stools until
they have attained considerable size is practised,
these should be taken off and potted in batches as
space and convenience admit. Plunged in a sharp
bottom-heat at this period, they root quickly and
become succession plants fit for shifting into fruit-
ing pots in a few weeks after they are detached.
As few plants are now grown in private gardens,
and trade growers have given them up altogether,
this method of growing small batches in small com-
partments saves a great deal of time and trouble ;
whilst the fruit from young plants grown on with-
out a check is always fine, as fresh roots are plentiful
and vigorous, and the compost does not have time
to become sour and unhealthy. Very small suckers,
unless the variety is scarce and stock is wanted, are
not worth the house-room, especially when they are
crowded together, as frequently was the case years
ago, when success was jeopardised by the retention
of at least fifty per cent, of young stock to choose
from and make good failures. Enough and none to
spare, plenty of room, and quick growth in light,
well-heated and ventilated houses is the best and
Tho'se"wlio'"'<n-ow I '^'^sapest method. And then imported Pines, nine
■^ months out of the twelve, can be bought much cheaper
than we can grow them. Their quality is another
matter ; many people assert that the handsome
fruits from the Azores are as good, but I question if
the best ever imported would stand the test of
flavour with a four-pound Queen of home growth
from June to October.
FruUivij jylants, when the fruit is changing
colour, may still be lifted out, and placed in dry,
airy vineries for the Pines to ripen. So treated, not
only is the flavour improved, but sound fruit can be
kept over a longer period, and in due course the
fruiting pits can be cleared out, thoroughly cleansed,
and refilled with fresh sweet fermenting material.
Meloxs,
Although the mean temperature is lower than it I that will maintain a maximum of 8f
the rapid growth of Melons ; consequently abundant
supplies of diluted liquid must be given to plants
swelling off crops at short intervals. Syringe freely
the walls and surface of the bed when the house is
closed, with sun heat in the afternoon, but avoid
wetting the fruit and old foliage, unless spider is
troublesome. Some vai-ieties will stand daily syring-
ing, others scald and canker, and for this reason it
is best to err on the safe side by giving moisture in
an atmospheric form. An occasional syringing after
a very hot day is beneficial, but then it should be
thorough, and a little night air should be admitted
through the front ventilators to dry the collars of
the plants and stems. Steadily reduce the supply
of water and moisture to plants whose fruit is ripen-
ing, or approaching that stage, and increase the
circulation of air both by day and night, but care-
fully avoid getting the plants into a flagging condi-
tion, or the temperature low enough to produce a
check. Push on preparations for getting out late
batches as soon as the plants are strong enough for
removal to the pots or hills, and encourage quick
growth by the use of sweet fermenting material and
plenty of solar heat after the house is closed. Hot-
water pipes for giving top and bottom heat at the
finish will, of course, be at command, but for the
present they will not often be wanted, unless it be
to keep up a gentle circulation of warm air through
the night. Plants in pots and boxes, especially on
kerbs and in exposed positions, will take more water
than others growing on hills and ridges, also when
the fruit is set they will require richer food. Good
liquid from the manure tank, clear and well diluted,
is the best of all stimulants for Melons, but, like all
other plants, they enjoy a change from this to
guano or soot water, which must be used in mode-
ration, otherwise they will produce too much lateral
and foliage. Heavily cropped plants in small pots
may be top-dressed with rich loam, and dry, finely
broken cow manure that has been laid up for some
months, but the best food is loam and fine bone dust
spread thinly and firmly on the tops of the pots.
Through this, in a few days, thousands of roots
push their white points and devour weak liquid
whenever watering becomes necessary.
Pits and frames. — The latest plants in these by
this time should be weU advanced and fit for set-
ting. When the vines have been stopped and a
flush of laterals are showing fruit, renovate the
linings to sharpen the temperature of the bed and
frame, and slacken the supply of water for a few
days before they open. Fertilise every female
flower on bright days to secure an abundance of
fruit of uniform size and age, otherwise a few will
take the lead and the remainder will be left behind.
When enough and to spare commence swelling,
pinch all the laterals at the first leaf beyond the
fruit; select for the crop, and elevate on inverted
pots to keep the fruit clear of the soil and compara-
tively safe from woodlice, sometimes very trouble-
some in renovated manure beds, but do not make
the final thinning until water has been given to the
roots and the Melons are the size of hens' eggs.
From this stage forward more water must be given
to the roots and the syringe freely plied, when about
half-past three to four o'clock the frame is closed
for the day. Keep the frame evenly filled with
foliage, but avoid crowding, about the centres of
the hills especially, and on no account injure or re-
move an old leaf, otherwise canker, the worst
enemy in these close structures, may become
troublesome. Where the fruit in earlier frames is
more advanced, an occasional flooding with warm
liquid, without wetting the collars of the plants and
foliage, will be found the best method of supplying
root moisture, and syringing round the inside will
keep the atmosphere in a satisfactory condition.
,\s days become shorter and nights colder, the al-
ternate renovation of the linings to keep up the
proper degree of heat and allow for the admission
of air must receive careful attention, and on no
account must covering be neglected. The main
points in frame culture are good soil that will grow
the plants without the addition of manure, a free
growth of stout, leathery foliage that will stand any
amount of sun, thin training, and artificial heat
and a mini-
has been, the season continues highly favourable to | mum of 70" with a free circulation of air.
88
THE GARDEN.
[JnLY 30, 1887.
CUCTJMBEES.
Much as the Cucumber enjoys tropical heat, it
cannot long escape the attacks of insects where
moisture in due proportion is not regularly supplied
to the roots and foliage. Old plants at this season
will take diluted liquid to any reasonable extent ;
the syringe may be plied twice a day, and then
such pests as spider, thrips, and mildew will cling
to them. Top-dressing with short horse manure
as prepared for Mushroom beds, whilst feeding and
keeping the roots near the surface, gives off a
quantity of genial moisture highly acceptable to
the foliage ; frequent renovation of the bed with
fresh, but well-worked fermenting material prevents
the temperature from falling too low when brilliant
days are followed by chilly nights, and slight cover-
ing, if only the summer blind, is a great preserver
of heat and moisture. These blinds should be
drawn up very early in the morning, and remain
coiled upon the rollers until the foliage shows signs
of drooping under strong sun heat, when again
they may be of service, but on no account must the
plants be weakened or rendered soft and flabby by
systematic shading. Another imi^ortant point in
keeping Cucumbers clean and steady is moderate
cropping, otherwise, no matter how well they are
fed, there will come a time when the most prolific
varieties will give in, and nothing short of cutting
over will restore them. Cutting over is a very old
method of obtaining a new growth of vine and
foliage, but it means constant attention to shading
and syringing, and a break in the supply, which
more than balances the account in favour of
moderation. Better crop lightly throughout the
season, keep the plants clean as long as possible,
and make a fresh start with young plants when the
old ones become troublesome. Where the autumn
demand is heavy a few plants of Telegraph or any
other favourite kind should be raised at short
intervals for taking the place of Melons as the
compartments become vacant. Light, roomy frames
on manure beds are the best of all structures for
raising summer plants in, as they can be kept close
to the glass, and insects rarely touch them. It is
important that these plants be grown from the
seed to the fruit without a check, and the better to
secure this point two or three sowings should
always be on hand to select from. Pits that have
been used for Melons require scrupulous cleansing
before the Cucumbers are introduced, not merely a
washing down of glass and paint, but a thorough
clearing out of all old materials, followed by scald-
ing and washing with quicklime and sulphur.
Opportunities for this work do not often present,
but it generally happens that compartments one
after the other become empty in the autumn, and
may be cleaned at least once a year. While this
work is going on the materials for producing moist
heat must be in course of preparation in the open
air. Oak leaves from the store, thoroughly shaken
to pieces, watered if necessary, and allowed to fer-
SQent, may be turned once or twice, when they will
be fit for use. These cannot be beaten or trampled
down too firm, as solidity keeps in the heat and
prevents the mass from becoming charged with
water. Plunged in or planted near fermenting
leaves. Cucumbers grow amazingly through the late
summer months, and by the morning dewdrops
depending from their leaves show that they are
grateful for the luxury of feeding upon the moisture
from decaying vegetable matter. This, however,
cannot go on for long ; fires again must be lighted ;
and the better to ameliorate their drying influence
upon the plants, arrangements should be made for
keeping the stems a considerable distance away
from the hot-water pipes ; not so the roots, which
should be placed within their influence when extra
heat is needed.
The Oechakd House.
Trees in the early house now clear of fruit must
be regularly watered at least once a day, and
syringed twice to keep them free from insects. If
weakened by heavy crops of fruit, it is a' good plan
to resume mild stimulants, not only to fill up the
buds, but to give the roots a fresh start before they
are transferred to larger pots, an operation which
should be performed without delay. When shifting
pot Peaches, I use clean pots just large enough to
admit a potting stick IJ inches in diameter, as it is
necessary to ram the compost very firm round the
balls, which should be thoroughly moistened before
they are turned out. Clean, finely broken crocks to
the depth of an inch and covered with half-inch
bones make a sound, sustaining bottom, tbrough
which worms do not readily penetrate, whilst the
dust and finer particles sifted out of the bones
come in for mixing with the compost. Good, strong
loam, bone-dust, old lime rubble, and burnt garden
refuse make up a compost that will grow any fruit
tree without the aid of manure, which may be
better employed on the tops of the pots in succes-
sion houses. When potted the trees should be re-
turned to the house, well watered and syringed to
prevent them from flagging, and kept moderately
close for a few days; more air may then be given,
and unless the house is wanted, a month under
glass will suflice for getting them thoroughly re-
established, when for the remainder of the season
they will do best and give least trouble in the open
air.
The general liouse in which the trees are now
carrying their crop to maturity must have all the
air that can be admitted through the day, judicious
syringing and closing for a short time to swell the
fruit in the afternoon, and a circulation of air from
8 p.m. until syringing time the following morning,
when the ventilators may again be closed to give
the trees the benefit of the bath. As soon as the
fruit on the most forward trees shows signs of ripen-
ing, heavy overhead syringing must be discontinued,
but the stems, lower parts of the trees, and other
surfaces may be well moistened twice a day as
usual, and discretion must be brought to bear upon
the supply of water to the roots. Of this element
ripening fruit may have a great deal too much,
especially in the atmosphere of an orchard house,
but on no account must the Peach or any other
stone fruit tree be allowed to feel the want of it at
the root. To say how much water and how often
it should be given to a pot tree is simply impos-
sible ; the amateur must find this out for himself ;
and quickly he succeeds, for when we meet with an
enthusiast who loves his trees — how he feeds and
withholds, and anticipates every want, and how
soon he discovers that a thorough soaking when-
ever water is needed is better than incessant drib-
bling. The aim, then, should be a light, warm,
buoyant atmosphere with plenty of fresh air and
just sufficient water to keep the roots and foliage
fresh throughout the ripening process. This condi-
tion in ordinary seasons is easily maintained ; just
now the great cry is for earth and air moisture, for
a change that will enable our established open-air
trees to swell their crops to maturity. These we
cannot mulch and water ; they are too expensive and
extensive; but we can help our orchard -house trees
by giving one good watering and completely bury-
ing the pots in light, non-conducting material,
through which moisture passes slowly and intense
sunheat does not readily penetrate.
Plums and Cheeribs,
from which the fruit has been gathered cannot
derive benefit from confinement under glass during
this parching weather ; therefore, the sooner they
are removed to their autumn quarters, deeply
plunged and heavily mulched, the better will it be
for them. Old trees with well-filled pots will take
a great quantity of water, and the better to ensure
its passing through the balls basins should be formed'
round each stem, not only for its retention, but also
to save time in watering. The garden engine
during a continuance of this weather should be
plied every evening, as fresh, healthy foliage is the
best safeguard against premature bud-bursting.
Later sorts still carrying fruit may be set out in the
open air to retard ripening, but Coe's Golden Drop
and the late Gages must not be disturbed, the
genial warmth and free air of the orchard house
being just what they require before and after the
fruit is ripe. If Strawberries are wanted for next
season, now is the time to get them layered, either
at once upon the fruiting pots or into 3-inch pots
for repotting when well rooted. It is not necessary
to give details of preparation here, the mode having
been written threadbare under its proper heading.
The best sorts for the orchard house are Vioomtesse
Hericart de Thury, La Grosse Sucree, President, Sir
Joseph Paxton, Keen's Seedling, Filbert Pine, and
British Queen. W. C.
Garden Destroyers.
IRON SULPHATE AS AN ANTISEPTIC.
The following extract from this month's Science
Gossijj may be of interest to the readers of The
Gaeden : —
Dr. A. B. Griffiths has just pubHshed a communica-
tiou which is of great importauce to horticulturists
and agriculturists. He demonstrates that iron sul-
phate is au antiseptic for many of the most virulent
epidemics which attack field and garden crops. These
diseases are due to microscopic funguses, whose struc-
tures are built up in a somewhat different manner to
the cori'esponding parts in other plants. It appears
that the cellulose iu these funguses is acted upon by
iron sulphate ; whereas in the higher plants the cellu-
lose of the cell walls is not influenced. The iron sul-
phate destroys the cellulose of the funguses, hut does
uot affect that of the attacked plant. It is therefore
an antidote and destroyer of such parasitic germs aud
funguses as the Potato disease, wheat mildew, &c.
The crops of winter Beans have this year been a fail-
ure in the neighbourhood of Peterborough, aud a well-
known agriculturist sent Dr. Griffiths a number of the
plants for examination. The roots of the Beans were
covered with "small boils," which appeared to be
living on the plant and keeping it down. Dr. Griffiths
found that these "boils " were due to the growth of a
parasitic fungus, and that both the fungus and its
spores were entirely destroyed by the irou sulphate.
Iron sulphate can be purchased at 2s. 6d. per cwt.
In this extract the manner in which the iron
sulphate is employed is not stated, but I presume,
from the remarks about the Bean roots, that it is
applied in solution to the roots of the affected
plants. If iron sulphate will do all that Dr.
Grifliths gives it credit for, it will prove an in-
valuable assistant to all plant growers, and Dr.
Griffiths has placed all the latter under a deep
obligation to him. G. S. S.
Saxifrage diseased. — I send herewith a piece
of Saxifrage which is diseased. The fungus, or
whatever it is, is much too frequent here this year.
Can you tell me what it is, how it originates, aud a
possible remedy ? — J. WOOD.
*„.* Your Saxifrages are attacked by a fungus,
the Saxifrage brand (Puccinia saxifragarum). Like
other fungi, it propagates by spores. Try dusting
the leaves with flowers of sulphur, or washing them
with sulphide of potassium,as if for mildew. — G. S. S.
Caterpillars and Poplars. — Will you kindly
insert the name of the enclosed grub in The
Gaeden ? They are destroying a lot of young
Poplar trees by eating off all the foliage. I enclose
what I think an old one and a young one. — H.
Baenes.
*,„* The caterpillars attacking your Poplars are
those of the puss moth (Cezuza vinula), a large and
common moth. Hand-picking is the most certain
way of getting rid of them. Scattering lime or fine
dust over the foliage would render the leaves dis-
tasteful to the caterpillars. Syringing with soft
soap and water would have the same effect. — G. S. S.
Slugworms on Cherry trees. — I send you
specimens of a caterpillar that made its appearance
on my Cherry trees on the wall last year, and this
year it has come in numbers, and threatens to de-
stroy all the leaves of the wall fruit trees. We tried
washing the trees with soapsuds and also Fir tree
oil, but they have proved insuiHcient to stop its
ravages. Can you kindly give me the name of it,
and if any specific is known to kill it? — W. A. Tem-
PESLEY.
*^,* Your Cherry trees are attacked by the grub
of a sawfly (Eriocampa adumbrata), which are com-
monly known as " slugworms." The best way to
destroy this insect is to pick off the leaves on which
they are and burn or bury them not less than a foot
below the surface, or thoroughly wet the leaves with
the following mixture; 2 ozs. of soft soap, and 1
July 30, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
gallon of water and some tobacco water, or a wine-
glassful of paraffin oil to every gallon of the soap
and water. The grubs when full fed bury them-
selves an inch or so below the surface, and each
surrounds itself with a papery cocoon ; from these
the sawflies emerge the next spring. During the
winter remove the earth under the trees to the
depth of 3 inches, and burn or bury it deeply, or
keep the surface broken up so as to allow the birds
and the weather access to the grubs. This insect is
ligured and described in The Garden of the 9th
of April, 1.887.— G.S. S.
Destroying slags on Strawberry plants,
&c.— In The Garden, June 25 (p. BHS'), " R. D."
recommends superphosphate of lime dusted over
the plants for this purpose. I have tried this, but
any result in protecting the plants from the vermin
is very doubtful, while it certainly injures the
young foliage, and at once kills young Peas. It
does not kill, nor apparently injure slugs, for if
they be thrown into a bos containing some earth at
the bottom with a layer of superphosphate upon it,
they will be found the following morning well and
lively, those at least that have not made their
escape. The proposed remedy, too, would be some-
what expensive, being sold retail usually at 6d. per
lb. Superphosphate is an excellent fertiliser for
Turnips, and by stimulating the growth of the
plants enables them to resist the ravages of the fly,
but is not generally supposed to have any tonical
action on the latter. — E. F.
Orchids.
COLAX.
Under this name Lindley has grouped a few
plants which appear to differ somewhat botani-
cally from Maxillaria, and Beichenbach also
concurs in the arrangement, so that we have
tion to the rule. The plants grow freely and
flower profusely under very simple treatment,
whilst their blooms last an almost incredible time
both upon the plant and also when cut and placed
in water. They are also charming subjects for
button-holes and sprays. To enable the blooma
to last, however, they must not be sprinkled
with the syringe, neither must they be sub-
jected to a low temperature and a moist atmo-
sphere combined ; the former the plants can with-
stand uninjured, but it must be dry, otherwise
the flowers soon become spotted and decay.
These plants are natives of BrazQ, and thrive best
in an intermediate temperature with Cattleyas
when growing, but they may be rested in a
lower temperature with advantage. They suc-
ceed best treated as pot plants, using for soil
rough fibrous peat (from which all the fine
particles have been well shaken), chopped Sphag-
num Moss, and some medium-sized nodules of
charcoal, the whole well incorporated. The pots
must be well and efhoiently drained, and the soil
should be raised in a cone-like manner above the
rim of the pot, upon the top of which the plant
should be placed. This arrangement allows
the water to pass quickly away from about the
young growths, which otlierwise would be liable
to rot. All the Colax enjoy copious supplies of
water during the time of growth, but when this
is well ripened, all that is necessary is sufficient
water to maintain the pseudo-bulbs in a plump
condition.
C. JUGOsus, well represented in the an-
nexed cut, has been called the Zebra-striped
Colax, a name I readily endorse, as it is so
thoroughly applicable. It is now some twenty
years ago since I first saw tliis plant in flower
in the celebrated Ruckerian collection at Wands-
worth, in Surrey. The plant grows about a foot
blotched with bluish purple. It commences to
bloom about the month of January, and con-
tinues in full perfection up till May, and even
longer. It is figured in the Botanical Magazine,
t. 5861, and also in L' Illustration Sorticole,
t. 96, but the flowers are represented in the
latter more fully open than I have ever seen
them on the living plant.
C. Pdydti. — I have not seen this plant in
flower ; its growth is similar to the preceding.
It was described to me by M. Linden as bearing
flowers similar in size and shape to those of C.
jugosus ; the sepals greenish white, sparingly
spotted with purplish brown, the petals being
very thickly studded with brownish spots, whicli
become confluent ; lip wlioUy bluish purple.
It is classed by some as a variety only of C.
jugosus, but whether a variety or a species it
appears to be quite distinct.
Colax jugosus.
good authority for the name. The plants enu-
merated below are well deserving the attention
of that now large class of plant growers which
devote some portion at least of their houses to
the cultivation of Orchids. Notwithstanding
the attempts made by some (who probably have
been unsuccessful) writers to instil amateurs
with the idea that Orchids are both difficult to
grow and very shy to bloom, quite the opposite is
usually the case, and the genus Colax is no excep-
in height, the pseudo-bulbs are somewhat ob-
long-ovate, about 3 inches high, and smooth ;
the leaves are 9 inches long, nearly 3 inches
broad , and slightly plaited ; scape erect, bearing
from two to four sub-globose flowers, the
sepals of which are thick and fleshy in texture
and waxy white ; petals similar, but thickly
banded with oblong spots of blackish purple,
arranged transversely ; lip white, bearing fleshy,
velvety ridges of deep purple, the front portion
Dendrobium rytohianum roseum. — A va-
riety of a very beautiful small-growing, free-flower-
ing species, which has been introduced by Mr.
Williams, of HoUoway. It produces a terminal
raceme bearing about ten flowers, which are of a
soft rose colour, the base of the lip and the side
lobes being deep_rosy purple. The typical plant is
now flowering in quantity in Messrs. Low's nursery
at Clapton. In this the flowers are of the purest
white, except a faint stain of soft yellow at the base
of the lip. It enjoys strong heat when growing,
and when the growth is matured it sheds its leaves.
It should then be removed to a cooler temperature
and kept dry until it shows signs of pushing out
new shoots and flower-spikes, when greater heat
and a liberal supply of water are necessary. — W. H. G.
Cattleya G-askelliana. — This handsome kind
appears to vary considerably in the shape of its
pseudo-bulbs and leaves ; its flowers also vary much
in their markings. There can be no doubt but
that it belongs to the summer-flowering section of
C. labiata, and becomes valuable, more particularly
as it commences to bloom after the forms of C.
Mossi» and Mendeli are fading. Quantities of this
plant are now flowering in Mr. Low's nursery at
Clapton, and some excellent forms are also now
blooming in Mr. Stephenson Clarke's garden at
Croydon, where Orchids generally (but especially
Cattleyas) are exceptionally well done. —
W. H. G.
Aerides ezpansum Leonise. —
Messrs. Low and Co. have received a
large importation of this beautiful and
hitherto rare variety, and it is now flower-
ing in the Clapton Nursery. It belongs
to the same group as A. falcatum (Lar
pentfe), but the foliage is much bolder
The racemes are long and drooping;
the flowers are large and numerous ;
sepals and petals creamy white, tipped
with rich purple ; the front of the lip is deep purple,
the lateral lobes creamy white, spotted and marked
with bright amethyst. It is a most desirable and
beautiful form.— W. H. G.
Aerides Lobbi. — This beautiful species, which
commemorates the labours of one of the most suc-
cessful of English plant collectors, is now flowering
beautifully at Croydon Lodge, where the distichous-
leaved kinds are not put on one side because they
require a somewhat higher temperature than the
South American alpine kinds. It is treated as a
basket plant, well exposed to the light and liberally
supplied with water; the perfect leaves and the
very long branching racemes of bloom, which are
thickly studded with exceptionally large and rosy
pink and purple-dotted flowers, show how congenial
are its surroundings. — W. H. G.
Cypripedium Lawrenceanum. — This is one
of the freest growing of the Lady's Slipper Orchids.
It was discovered by Mr. Burbidge when travelling
in the Indian Archipelago for Messrs. Veitch, of
Chelsea, and has been named in honour of Sir
Trevor Lawrence. When not in flower it is remark-
able for the beauty of its bright tessellated leaves, and
90
THE GARDEN.
[July 30, 1887.
•when in bloom it is a magnificent variety, especially
in the condition it is now to be seen in at Messrs.
Low's nursery at Clapton, where fully a thousand
flowers o£ this species alone are in full beauty,
some of the spikes bearing twin flowers. Other
fine forms of Slipper Orchids now flowering in the
same establisliment are the rare and beautiful C.
Curtisi, C. ciliolare, C. superciliolare, C. Haynaldia-
num, the second time of flowering this season ; 0.
Veitchi, C. lavigatum, and many others. These
Cypripediums are usually grown in a warm house,
but the chief difticulty lately has been to keep the
temperature of the houses cooler than that of the
outside.— W. H. G.
Cypripedium javanicum superbum. — This
is a very distinct and handsome hybrid raised be-
tween 0. javanicum and C. superbiens (Veitchi);
it has, however, hitherto been somewhat disappoint-
ing to some lovers of the Lady's Slipper family, inas-
much as a bad variety of 0. barbatum has by some
means been distributed under the same name. The
true form, which we recently saw in bloom with
Mr. Shuttleworth, produces a large flower with bold,
pouch-like lips ; the dorsal sepal is large, rounded
at the base, white, profusely striped with bright
lively green; petals long and broad, destitute of
barbs, rosy pink at the tips, and dotted all over with
dull purple.— W. H. G.
Thunia Marelialli. — I recently saw this in
excellent condition in the orchard house at Lilles-
den, Hawkhurst, and think I may safely afiirm that
it is one of the most beautiful Orchids flowering in
July. It is not a difiioult species to cultivate.
Potted in good peat and plenty of Sphagnum, given
plenty of water, kept growing in a warm house till
the flowers are produced at the end of the newly
formed growths, are its principal requirements till
the flowering period is past, after which the tem-
perature of a cool house and much less water en-
sure a gradual ripening and resting. It continues
in flower for several weeks, each raceme giving a
succession of flowers. These are about 3 inches
across, prettily fringed, and nearly white, a little
yellow showing on the lip only. The Thunias gene-
rally are very beautiful, and should be included even
in the smallest collection of heat-loving Orchids.
— I.
SHORT NOTES.— ORCHIDS.
Saccolabium Peehei. — This appears to be a
somewhat new introduction from Mouhnein. We
recently observed a small plant of it iu flower at Kew,
where it is grown in a hanging basket. The foliage is
rather short and broad, the flowers in shape and size
resembling those of S. belliuum ; the sepals and petals
are light yellow, dotted with crimson; the lip white.
— W. H. G.
Odontoglossum Wallisi. — This is a distinct,
but seldom seen species, and a native of Venezuela,
near Meridi. Its flowers measure some 2 inches .across,
sepals and petals cinuamon-brown, broadly margined
with yellow, lip fiddle-shaped, rosy purple bordered
with white ; in some forms the lip is spotted towards
the base with rosy pui-ple. It is a cool house plant.
A very nice variety is now floweriug at Kew. — W. H. G.
Lyeaste tricolor and L. leueantha. — These
are two pretty and somewhat small-flowered species,
producing an immense number of flowers from each
growth. In the former the sepals are dull white ;
petals and lip creamy white, tinged with flesh colour,
the base of the lip dotted with purple. L. leucantha
has green sepals, the petals and lip being pure white
the lip is stained with lemon in the throat. Both
these species are now flowering profusely in the Ke
collection. — W. H. G.
Cattleya gigas. — A magnificent form of this
supjrb Cattleya is now floweriug iu Messrs. Low's
nursery at Clapton, and iu this instance it is the
bold, robust-growing form. Several plauts of equal
merit are also just now in perfection in Mr. Stephenson-
Clarke's garden at Croydon, some plants bearing five
flowers upon a spike, but these are the slender-bulbed
kind. My observations still confirm me in my opinion
that the latter are the freest to bloom.— AV. H. G.
Aerides Lobbi. — Several plants of this very fine
species are now floweriug at Kew, some of them being
extra fine varieties. When grown as a basket plant its
long, graceful racemes of bloom are seen to the best
advantage. The foliage is broad and ample, bright
green, somewhat indistinctly dotted with dull purple,
and the flowers are home in dense racemes and of a
white and rosy pink coloui', dotted towards the tips
with rose ; the lip is purplish violet and white. It
usually blooms from June to August. — W. H. G.
. Anguloas. — Three forms of these plants are now
flowering in the collection at Kew, viz., A. Ruckeri,
the rare A. Ruckeri sanguinea, in which the whole
of the interior of the flower is deep port-wine
colour, and a grand example of A. Clowesi bearing
two dozen flowers. In many instances the spikes
bear two blooms— a somewhat rare occuiTence in
this species. The plants appear to have been grown
in intermediate temperatures. — W. H. G.
Phalsenopsids at Kew. — These plants are still
making a fine display in the Royal Gardens, Kew,
which is rather unusual at this season. The plants
appear to be growing vigorously, and they are
grown in hanging baskets, receiving stove treat-
ment. Notable amongst them is a very fine variety
of P. Sanderiana, P. grandiflora, and P. violacea ;
also P. Esmeralda, which produces an erect spike ;
the flowers are numerous and about the size of
those of P. rosea, and of a lovely bright amethyst
colour. It is said to be a native of Cochin China.
The greatest rarity, doubtless, is P. Marie, which
has a branching spike, and gives promise of being
a much flner plant than we have hitherto thought.
— ■W. H. G.
The Dove plant (Peristeria elata). — This
beautiful Orchid is now flowering very freely at
Croydon Lodge, the residence of Mr. Stephenson
Clarke. It appears to thrive most vigorously, and
blooms profusely under the treatment given it by
Mr. Carr, who says that it should be potted in a
similar manner to any other terrestrial stove plant,
leaving ample room for copious supplies of water
which it requires when growing and flowering. It
also enjoys strong heat; the soil used for it is loam,
peat, and dried cow manure in about equal parts,
adding some good sized lumps of charcoal to keep
the soil open. Treated in this manner it makes im-
mense pseudo-bulbs, and the plants flower regularly
every year. The peculiarity of its pure white, waxy
dowers, and its delicate fragrance render this plant
a favourite with all who see it in flower, and it
would be seen oftener if it were only treated more
liberally.- W. H. G.
Epidendrum b'.cornutum. — This is one
of the most beautiful and the most difiicult in
the family to maintain in a flourishing condition.
It has long, fusiform, hollow stems, which in its
native country (Trinidad and Demerara) grow up-
wards of a foot in height, but the growths macle
under cultivation are, as a rule, very puny when
compared with the imported ones. In Mr. Stephen-
son Clarke's garden, however, it would appear the
diifioulty with this plant is likely to be overcome.
We recently obser\'ed a flne mass of it bearing three
spikes of bloom, each with eight flowers ; this is the
third year of its flowering in this collection, and
each year's growth has been an advance in size and
strength on that of the previous year. The flowers
are nearly 2 inches across, full and round, thick and
fleshy in texture, and waxy white, with the excep-
tion of a few crimson or blood-coloured spots on the
centre of the lip. The plant in question is growing in
a stove along with Crotons, and is in a wooden
basket in rough peat, close to the glass, and just
under the ventilator, so that it obtains plenty of air
and all the sun. This is really a difficult Orchid to
grow, and I shall watch this plant attentively, in
order to see if its requirements have at last been
ascertained. — W. H. G.
Cattleya gigas Shuttlewortbi. — This is a
very gorgeous form, now flowering with Mr. Shuttle-
worth, the introducer, in his nursery at Clapham.
The flowers are large, of good substance and shape;
the sepals and petals are deep rosy lilac, the latter
flaked with purplish violet ; lip large ; the whole of
the side lobes which surround the column, as well
as the broad spreading front portion of lip, being of
an intense deep purplish magenta, set off by the
two characteristic yellow eye-like blotches at the
base. The inner part of the throat is streaked with
violet-purple. The plant is of medium growth in
comparison with many forms, and it appears to
be very florif erous, which, by the way, still further
conflrms my previous statements. By this I do not
wish to convey the impression that weak growth is
more likely to produce blooms than strong-growing
plants, nor that the latter do not flower, but when
we continually see plants with almost gigantic
bulbs and large, broad, vigorous leaves flowerless,
and other plants equally healthy, but with growths
only about half the size, which flower annually, the
inference I draw is that tl e former, although ex-
tremely handsome as plants, are not as a rule the
most floriferous. — W. H. G.
Oncidium dasyatyle. — The first plant of this
species introduced alive was sent by chance amongst
a small lot of Brazilian Orchids consigned to a lady
at Peckham Rye. The plant has always been looked
upon as a charming little species, its novel colours
rendering it very conspicuous. Judging, however,
from a specimen which I lately saw flowering at
Kew, this species is likely to become exceedingly
popular. The plant in question has a long, stout,
branching spike, bearing numerous very large
flowers ; that is to say, flowers nearly double the
size of those usually seen ; sejjals and petals pale
yellow, blotched with chocolate-brown ; lip large
and flat, soft primrose-yellow ; crest very prominent,
intense deep velvety black. It would appear to be
a plant of easy culture, thriving either in the Cat-
tleya or the Odontoglossum house ; whilst we have
a plant now in flower growing in a suspended bas-
ket in the dwelling-house. — W. H. G.
Pans V. baskets for Orcbids. — In The
Garden, July IG (p. 40), " I. M." recommends pans
as substitutes for baskets in the growing of Orchids.
This will seem very discouraging to orchidists, who
may perhaps prefer the baskets to the pans. The
objection of " I. M." lies principally in the separa-
tion of the roots from the wood. I cannot see the
f jrce of his objection as regards this, for all know
that such Orchids as are placed in baskets will
seldom require shifting until the wood is sufliciently
decayed to render the operation safe. If all baskets
were made of soft wood instead of teak wood, I
think that the obstacle as regards injury done to
the roots of Orchids would be removed. To break
pots and pans would be an expensive business, and,
I think, would be strongly objected to by our em-
ployers. As for the baskets being unsightly, I
think that pans are not only more unsightly, but
are decidedly more dangerous when suspended.
Where will "I. M." place his Sphagnum for Aerides,
Phalsenopsids, Stanhopeas, and Dendrobiums if he
uses pans ? and if he dispenses with Sphagnum
round the sides of the receptacles in the cultivation
of the above-named, where is he to retain the
moisture so essential to their growth ? Experienced
orchidists tell us that when the Sphagnum is grow-
ing the plant is growing. What does *' I. M." say
to that ? Again, Cattleyas thrive better in baskets
and upon blocks than they do in pots. Although
Cattleyas love a moist atmosphere, they detest
stagnant moisture about their roots- then Cattleya
roots cling tenaciously to the sides of pots much
more so than wood; consequently more are injured
during removal. When Cattleyas are placed in
baskets they get more air about their roots and
absorb the moisture more readily, provided no
Sphagnum is placed round the sides of the baskets.
— Alfeed Lixdeidgb.
Aerides and Vandas grown cool. — In the
earlier part of the season we had occasion to re-
mark upon the vigorous health and extreme flori-
ferousness of these plants as grown under very cool
treatment by Mr. Simpkins in the garden of Mr.
Measures', Cambridge Lodge, Camberwell. Upon a
visit to the same place during the past week, I
was much interested to see the plants still growing
vigorously; the Vandas are again sending out quan-
tities of spikes, the second crop this season ; even
V. Lowi, which is usually credited with requiring
very strong heat, is growing freely, and producing
two spikes of bloom. Amongst the Aerides are flne
examples of the Fox-brush (A. Fieldingi), Mr.
Lobb's Air-plant (A. Lobbi), A. expansum, A. Bal-
lantineanum, and numerous plants of A. odoratum,
which did not bloom early in the season, are now
pushing out numerous spikes. Amongst Saccola-
July 30, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
91
biums, notable was a plant of S. Rheedi. This is a
narrow-leaved form of S. Blumei, and bears a dense
raceme of flowers, which are profusely spotted and
have a bright magenta lip. — W. H. G.
Aspasia lunata. — This is an old Orchid which is
not often seen. It resembles a Miltonia, and thrives
under the same treatment as the Brazilian species of
that genus. The sepals and petals are white, or
greenish white in some varieties, and spotted with
dull purple or chocolate. The lip is large, white,
marked in the centre with light blue or violet. It is
a dwarf, compact-gi-owing plant well deserving more
extended cultivation. — W. H. G.
Chrysanthemums.
E. MOLYNBUX.
DWARF PLANTS.
UsBFtTL little plants may be grown in 3|-incli
pots if a few simple instructions are followed,
sach. plants growing from 8 inches to 15
inches high, and bearing one flower upon the
point of each. Chrysanthemums grown in this
manner are not so often seen as their merits
deserve, and they are well worthy of what little
attention is required to produce them. They
further show how suitable the Chrysanthemum
is for various purposes of decoration. These
miniature plants are well suited for the decora-
tion of vases or for standing on the side stages
of the conservatory. Where dwarf plants only
are required, attractive flowers can be had from
plants growing in pots 2| inches in diameter,
but where large blooms are desh-ed, pots
4^ inches across are better. From the first to
the last week in August is the best time to take
the cuttings, as if they are inserted sooner the
plants are apt to get too tall, and if the cuttings
are taken much later than this date the flowers
are necessarily smaller, owing to the buds being
those called terminals. Where the Chrysanthe-
mums are grown for the production of lara;e
blooms some of the points are almost sure to be
broken off by various causes about the time
stated, as, for instance, heavy rains, high
winds, and birds alighting on them, the shoots
at this stage being very brittle. Such shoots
should be formed into cuttings 4 inches long,
and some may be 6 inches long, and dibbled
singly and firmly in sandy soil into pots
2| inches in diameter. Water well to settle the
soil securely about the cuttings, plunge them in
a gentle hotbed, shading them carefully from
the sun, syringe the foliage every afternoon on
fine days, and by keeping the frame nearly close
roots will be formed in about a month, when
more air should gradually ba admitted, in-
creasing the supply until the pla;its will bear
full exposure without flagging. The best posi-
tion for them at that stage of their growth is on
a shelf close to the glass in a cool house. If it is
desirable to have large blooms, shift the plants
into pots of the size previously named, using
rich soil and potting firmly. Although almost
any kind may be grown successfully in this
manner, it is better to utilise those shoots
which are broken by accident than to destroy
them.
There are two other systems of producing
cuttings which I will describe. Where the ge-
neral stock of plants is grown upon what is
termed the big bloom method, instead of allow-
ing three branches on each plant have four, and
when the flower-buds form on the points of the
shoots towards the middle and end of August,
as they will do according to variety, the extra
shoots can be topped and cuttings inserted, as
if the lower part of the same branch is cut off
the plants will be none the worse. Where a
large number of dwarf plants are required, the
following is a good method of preparing the
stock : Insert cuttings in January, and pot on
the plants as required ; do not top them, but
train up four shoots from each plant at the first
break, which will take place in May, removing
all other side branches as fast as they appear ;
secure the plants to one stake during their
growth ; when the bloom-buds form cut oft' the
points, insert them, and treat as advised for the
others. Nearly all sorts are suitable for this
method, avoiding all those which have slender
peduncles, the stout, erect growers being best,
as they require no support when in bloom.
Perhaps the Japanese, Anemone Japanese, and
the largest flowering kinds of incurved are
the most suitable for this style of cultivation.
When the plants are such that no stakes for
supports are required, so much the better ; but,
unfortunately, all varieties are not so well suited
for growing without support. The following
are some of tlie best kinds : Incurved : Prince
Alfred, Lord Wolseley, Mrs. G. Rundle, George
Glenny, Eve, Cherub, Lord Alcester, Jeanne
d'Arc, Mrs. Heale, Princess of Wales, Jardin
des Plantes, White Venus, Queen of England.
Japanese: Belle Paule, Baronne de Prailly,
Mdlle. Lacroix, Peter the Great, Elaine, Japo-
naise, Mons. Tariu, M. Ardene, Comte de
Germiny, Boule d'Or, Val d'Andorre, Jeanne
Delaux, M. Astorg. Anemone Japanese : Mdlle.
Cabrol, Fabian de Mediana, Mdme Cios. With
the exception of CuUingfordi, King of the
Crimsons, Mdme. Madeleine Tezier, and Felicity,
the reflexed varieties are not suited for this
method of growing, as the peduncles generally
are weak.
Trees and Shrubs.
W. GOLDRING.
THE CLAMMY LOCUST.
(eobinia viscosa.)
The Robinia viscosa is called the Clammy Locust
in America, because all its little branches, as well as
the leaf-stalks, are covered with a clammy or sticky
substance ; whereas the common Locust, or False
Acacia, is quite smooth. The Clammy Locust is
a very handsome tree when in bloom, and though
strongly resembling the common Locust out of
bloom, has flowers quite distinct in colour. The
foliage and the growth of the tree are very similar,
except that R. viscosa never grows into such a large
tree as Pseudacacia ; the flower clusters are erect
instead of drooping, and the racemes are more
crowded. The colour of the flowers is a pale pink,
never- so deep as in Decaisne's variety of Pseudacacia,
and are scentless. The bark of the branchlets,
moreover, is always tinged with reddish brown. It
is, therefore, abundantly distinct from Pseudacacia,
although it becomes confused with that species in
gardens and nurseries. I saw it in bloom the other
day at Syon side by side with Pseudacacia and its
varieties, and one could recognise the difference
between them without close inspection. The Syon
tree is about lO feet in height and 1 foot in dia-
meter, which, according to Dr. Gray, is its full
height and size where it grows wild in Virginia and
other Southern States of America. Like the Pseud-
acacia, the Clammy Locust is a very old introduc-
tion, having been cultivated since 1797, and was
one of the first 600 plants figured in the Botanical
Magazine under the name of R. glutinosa. It is an
invaluable tree in ornamental planting, as it is
capable of producing distinct effects in groups, and
where space is limited, or where the larger-growing
Acacias would be too tall when fully grown, it is
preferable to the common kind.
LEAVES OF CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
The advantage derived from a study of the leaves and
habit of growth of the Chrysanthemum is that almost
every kind may be detected even when not in bloom.
When the cultivator is thoroughly well acquainted
with these characteristic features of the plant ; it
is easy to note a variety wrongly named, and there-
fore much trouble is saved. This is important,
because every variety requires some special form of
treatment at some stage or other of its growth.
We will suppose that a Chrysanthemum grower has
varieties sent to him that he is desirous of
procuring, and they are not sent true to name. If
he were able to detect the mistake by the leaves in
time for the error to be rectified, that would be
much better than waiting until the plant flowered.
The few varieties I will name will be suiBcient to
show what is meant by a study of the leaves. Re-
fulgence has dense green, deeply cut foliage with
green stems, which assume with age a purplish
green. Soleil Levant is easily known by its leaves,
which have very long stalks and droop consider-
ably, giving the plant the appearance of always
suffering from want of water ; the stems are quite
dark in colour. Thunberg has stems the darkest in
colour of any variety; the leaves are long and
drooping, imparting to the plant an unhealthy
appearance. Peter the Great has green stems and
broad leaves with short stalks, and they are cat but
little compared with some varieties. Grandil?ora
has leaves very thick and heavy in substance with a
drooping character, and which assume bronzy shades
of colour early. Meg Merrilies, Golden Dragon, and
Boule d'Or are distinct from others by reason of
their leaves being, as a rule, in some localities of a
pale colour, owing possibly to the nature of the
soil and water. Cherub is easily known by its light
green wood ; the leaves grow in an upward direc-
tion; the veins are plainly seen, as they are
generally much lighter in colour; this variety is
quite distinct from all others. Many growers
make a practice of arranging all the plants of one
variety together. Where this is done their charac-
teristics may be quickly noted, as they are plainly
brought out. - E. M.
The purple -flowering Raspberry (Rubus
odoratus). — For a dry sunny bank or hillside I know
of no shrub that would give greater satisfaction
than this North American Rubus. It is a most
persistent bloomer, for as soon as one crop of
flowers fades it is succeeded by another, and so the
bush is gay with bloom from midsummer till
autumn. When a big bush of it is covered with its
large reddish purple bloom it makes a fine display
of colour, and the foliage, being as large as that of
a Vine, is always handsome. I saw a huge plant of
it last week in a Surrey garden, and was much
struck with it. It was about 6 yards through and
covered with bloom ; it was growing on a dry hill-
side in full sun. A shrub like this should be remem-
bered at planting time.
Grafted Rhododendrons. — In planting Rho-
dodendrons on a large scale only those on their own
roots should be used. Grafted plants, unless the
number to be planted is very limited, should be
carefully avoided. Plants of R. ponticum are much
cheaper, and will probably produce much the same
effect in the long ran. This fact I learned when
visiting this summer in the Rhododendron season a
gentleman to whom some fifteen years since, in the
days of my ignorance, I gave a quantity of the best
varieties, which were planted in masses in his
shrubberies and round the lake. Instead of the
varied and beautiful colours which I expected to
have seen, I beheld everywhere dull masses of R.
ponticum, varied here and there by a relic of
brighter hue, showing what might have been had I
only known the fatal result of using grafted plants.
In a neighbouring garden where Rhododendrons are
a speciality and no expense is spared, and where
the owner assured me the stock growths were care-
fully cut away every year, I saw the same process of
deterioration in a lesser degree. Such will always
be the case unless plants on their own roots are
used. — Rocks.
Spiraea crispifolia. — This little Japanese
Spirfea is quite a gem among small-growing shrubs
that flower at this season. It is now in bloom, and
is so profusely covered with flowers that the whole
92
THE GARDEN.
[July 30, 1887.
plant is quite a mass of its brightly tinted blossoms.
Tliis Spirpea, though it does not attain a great size,
is by no means delicate in constitution, for it soon
forms a dense globular mass less than a foot high,
and is well suited for planting on the rockwork, as
it will not readily outgrow its bounds, nor with its
suckers intrude on more delicate associates. The
flowers are borne in small flattened clusters, and in
the bud state are crimson, but when expanded are
of a carmine-pink colour. The blooms are of a
deeper tint when the plants are grown fully exposed
to the sun than when placed in a shady position.
Like most of its relatives, this Spirfea succeeds best
where the soil is not parched up dur-
ing the summer, but at the same time
it will not flourish in a water-logged
situation. If the clusters of blossoms
are taken just as the most forward
flowers are on the point of expansion,
they will open beautifully in water,
and last a considerable time. This
Spiraja is also known as S. bullata. —
H.P. -^^
The Oak-leaved Hydrangea ^.
(Hydrangea quercifolia). — There are
several kinds of Hydrangeascommonly
cultivated in our gardens, but this (one vl i
of the oldest) is quite a rarity, and, \^N-
considered simply from a floral point
of view, it would not rank high, but
as a set-off to this the foliage is most
handsome, the leaves being lobed after
the manner of an Oak, and are quite
distinct to those of the other Hydran-
geas. They are also very large, as a
fully developed leaf will measure
nearly a foot in length and of corre-
sponding breadth. The heads of bloom
are rather small, and the large sterile
flowers, which constitute the most
conspicuous feature of the Hydrangea
blossoms, are but few in number.
This Hydrangea is a native of Florida,
and is rather too tender to stand out
of doors during our most severe win-
ters.—T.
Parwin's Barberry in fruit. —
Some bushes of this JJarberry here
are very heavily laden with fruit, and
in this stage they are scarcely less
attractive than when covered with
their golden blossoms, for the purple
berries are borne in such profusion
that the branches are bending down under their
weight. The berries are about the size of a small
Pea, and though of a deep purple colour, they are
covered with a delicate bloom after the manner of
a Grape. All the Barberry family, including the
bright tinted common one as well as the numerous
kinds of Mahonia, are densely laden with berries,
and in all cases they form now a conspicuous
feature. — H. P.
[ gi'owth, and by no means densely laden with foliage.
The flowers are of a clear yellow colour, and borue
freely towards the upper parts of the shoots. They
supply a colour that is but little represented among
t hardy shrubs, especially at this season. — H. P.
THE PLANER TREE AND THE
ZELKOWAS.
In The Garden of Oct. 27, 1883, a paper on
these trees was inserted by Mr. Nicholson, of
Kew Gardens, and in one which appeared in the
same publication on the 19th of June following
SHORT NOTES.—TREES AND SHRUBS.
Prunus Pissardi.— This tree, which has been
certificated this year by the Eoyal Horticultural
Society, is grown largely in Messrs. 'Veiteh's Coomhe
Wood Nursery, in the form of standards, for which
pui-pose it seems well adapted. There can be no doubt
that there is a great future in store for this Prunus,
as till' leafage is richly coloured, and it makes a dis.
tiiict and telling feature in tlie garden scenery. — T.W.
Magnolia Soulangeana nigra.— There is a
weU-grown specimen of this Magnolia in the Coomhe
Wood nursery of Messrs. Veitch. It forms a well-pro-
portioned handsome plant, the loaves abundant, light
green , nvatn and gln^sy, mid tlip swrct , tlioiighnotpower-
lully Si-flilccl Hinvr],, ;irr ,i|' a r\r]i dc.p purple colour,
whirl, |,iv,rli|:.; ,, r„|,|ra,| t„ H,,. |ij,l,t, huC of thc
fi.liagr. It is still in ll,,«rr, and Las been blooming
for some considerable time. — C.
Jasminum frutieans. — This Sou^h European
species of Jasmine is a. very uncommon plant in gar-
dens, yet when in a flourishing condition it is very
prettyand possesses the great advantage of floweringfor
months together. This Jasmine foi-ms a much-branched
sub-evergreen shrub, of rather an upright style of
ZeUjowa tree (Planera Richardi), showing peculiar
habit of branching.
I called attention to a remarkable tree adjoin-
ing the old castle of Wardour, in Wiltshire,
which 1 thought to be the Planera aquatica of
the mid-eastern States of North America, but
which Mr. Nicholson, on examining a spray
from it, considered to be the Zelkowa crenata,
which was introduced from the Caucasus in
17C0 ; and I have now to state that Professor
Asa Gray confirms Mr. Nicholson's view, and
with such high authority, in which Mr. Britten,
of the British Museum, now concurs, no
reasonable doubt can be entertained on the
subject.
The Wardour tree is 38 feet 5 inches in girth,
which, though its form is peculiar, appeared to
me a very large size for a tree planted in, or
soon after, 1760 ; whUe, according to the tradi-
tion in the family of Lord Arundell of Wardour,
it was sent over in the 17th century by Cecil
Calvert, the second Lord Baltimore, the founder
of Maryland, who had married an Arundell, or
by one of the Calvert family, and the decision
now arrived at shows how little reliance can be
placed on family tradition, however well authen-
ticated, and how deceptive size may be as an
indication of the age of a tree.
Exmouth. WiNSLOw Jones.
The Tulip tree.— This is a tree which requires
space to develop, and is therefore not very suitable
for front or back gardens of a few feet or yards in
extent, but it is an admirable subject for all posi-
tions where a little space can be giveu it, and I am
surprised that it is not introduced to all gardeng of
any size. Young plants of it may be bought cheaply
from all nurserymen. The plants grow quickly, and
the large bright green curiously cut foliage is highly
ornamental and attractive. The peculiarly formed
cup-shaped blooms open in June and July, and all are
delighted with their unique character. Our largest
specimen is over 90 feet in height. — J. MuiR, Margam.
North American Custard Apple (Asimina
triloba). — This plant has flowered well here this
year. At the latter end of June and the beginning
of this month it was quite covered with the dark
purple flowers. The dimensions of the plant are,
height 12 feet G inches, girth of stem 1 foot 6 inches,
spread of branches 11 yards. It is growing in one
of the most sheltered and hottest spots in the
garden in a light loamy soil, with a subsoil of sand.
As a plant of Taxus adpressa is quite spoiling it, it
must be moved in the autumn . Would it be safe to
attempt its removal ? — E. Bueeell, Claremont.
Escallonia Fhillipiana. — This would be
scarcely recognised as belonging to the same genus
as E. rubra, macrantha, and Ingrami, in all of
which the flowers are red, while in the species
under notice they are white, and disposed in a
totally different manner from the others. In E.
Phillipiana the leaves are small and close, the
branches slender, and the flowers, which suggest
those of a Leptospermnm, are densely arranged
along the shoots. It is a native of the mountainous
parts of South America, and was introduced a few
years ago by Messrs. Veitch, who distributed it.
Like the rest of the genus, this Escallonia is especi-
ally valuable from the fact of its flowering after the
bulk of our hardy shrubs are past their best. — T.
The Sorb-leaved Spiraea. — The pinnate-leaved
section of shrubby Spir^as forms quite a distinct
group, and are but few in number, the oldest in-
habitant of our gardens being the Sorb-leaved
Spirasa, a native of Siberia. This reaches a height
of from 3 feet to G feet, with large, pinnate, bright
green leaves and small white flowers, borne in ter-
minal panicles. Given a cool, moist soil, in which
it delights, this Spiraea will push up suckers freely
and soon form a good-sized mass, which, when
crowned with the clusters of white flowers, is ex-
tremely pleasing. It is a very distinct and, under
favourable conditions, a handsome shrub ; while, be-
sides the typical form, there is a variety known as
alpina, Pallasi, or grandiflora, which is characterised
by a dwarfer habit of growth and much larger
flowers. It is so distinct from the common form as
to be well worth a place in any collection of shrubs,
but still the queen of all this class of Spiraeas is
Lindley's, which is, generally speaking, a month
later in expanding its blossoms than the others are.
It is altogether a larger-growing plant than the
Sorb-leaved, and the whole contour of the specimen
is far more graceful. This species will in good, free
soil reach a height of from 10 feet to 12 feet, and if
planted as a single specimen pushes up a great
number of stems, so that it soon forms a large bush.
The flowers are borne in terminal panicles, and as
July 30, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
93
every shoot is crowned with a mass of blossom, a
large specimen when in that stage is a very beauti-
ful object. This Spirrea is one of the most handsome
of late summer-flowering shrubs, and, favourably
situated, it lasts a considerable time in bloom. It is
a native of the Himalayas, and though sometimes
injured during severe winters, from its rapid rate of
growth it quickly recovers. Like many shrubs of
this character, Lindley's Spiraea is greatly benefited
by an occasional thinning out of weak and useless
shoots ; while a dressing of manure, or an applica-
tion of it in a liquid state, will leave its mark on the
future growth and well repay any little trouble that
may be taken in this matter. — T.
Weeping Hemlock Spruce.— We have had a
good photograph of a fine specimen of the Hemlock
Spruce from Mr. S. B. Parsons, which we propose to
engrave. It seems a fine thing.
Societies and Exhibitions.
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.
AiTHOtTGH the meeting held in the conservatory at
South Kensington on Tuesday last, in conjunction
with the annual show of the National Carnation
and Picotee Society was comparatively small, there
were many interesting exhibits, hardy flowers, com-
prising principally Lilies and Carnations, forming a
leading feature. Tuberous Begonias were well re-
presented and there were a few stands of Holly-
hocks, which, however, in common with many other
flowers, have felt severely the recent drought.
First-class certificates were awarded as under : —
Caenation Alice Atees. — This is at once a
beautiful and distinct border variety, the flowers
of fine circular form, full, and flaked sparsely with
scarlet on a pure white ground. It is free-blooming,
and the flowers in a cut state will be valued for
their chaste colouring. From Mr. T. S. Ware.
Caenation Gravetyb Gem. — Several bunches
of this distinct and showy variety were exhibited,
which will, we feel certain, gain great popularity,
owing to the bright, unfamiliar, and eifective terra-
cotta colour of the flowers. These] are of average
size, good form and substance, and with a delicate
Clove-like fragrance. Shown by Messrs. James
Dickson and Sons, The Nurseries, Chester.
Begonia Shielbt Hibbeed. — A very fine and
distinct double variety, the habit of the plant
excellent, and the flowers well formed, large, and
white, with a trace of salmon in the centre. From
Messrs. H. Cannell and Sons, Swanley.
Begonia Majoe Lendy. — This is also a double
variety, the flowers more like those of a miniature
HoUyhock bloom than a Begonia. The centre is
very high, rosette shape, and the colour rich salmon
pink ; the plant has an excellent habit. Shown by
Messrs. H.- CanneU and Sons.
Begonia Edelweiss. — A double variety with
pure white rosette-like flowers. The plant is of
compact habit, and a most useful addition to the
double Begonias. From Messrs. H. Cannell and
Sons.
Phal^nopsis HAEEIETT.S;. — An interesting and
beautiful Orchid, the result of a cross between P.
grandiflora and P. violacea. The flowers are about
half the size of those of the first mentioned and of
neat, compact form. The sepals and petals are of
nearly equal size, and make up a bloom of almost
circular shape, the colour being whitish green, with
the basal half, which is very bright in contrast with
the greenish colour, freckled and suffused with rosy
crimson. The column is pale rose, and the lip
of a rich purplish crimson, narrow, and with the
upper half of the wings of the same hue, with the
lower portion yellow ; the lip is also ridged at the
base. Exhibited by Messrs. J. A''eitch and Sons,
Chelsea.
Odontoglossitm Hakeyanum. — This represents
a most distinct break. The flowers in general ex-
pression may be likened to those of a Maxillaria,
and are of rich decided colouring; the sepals and
petals are ttickly blotched with deep chocolate-
brown on a greenish yellow ground; the lip is of
immense size, spoon-shaped, and finely coloured, the
front portion being snow-white, which presents a
striking contrast to the white regular veining on a
rich purplish ground of the basal half, the suffusion
of yellow in the centre adding brightness and
effectiveness. Exhibited by Messrs. F. Sander and
Co., St. Albans.
Steeptocaepus Watsoni.— a hybrid Strepto-
carpus, the result of a cross between S. Dunni and
S. parviflorus, and raised at Kew last year. The
plant exhibited was blooming with great vigour, and
producing on numerous stems rather small lilac
flowers, with the throat richly and boldly pencilled
with purplish crimson. It is a useful and eifective
plant when in full bloom. The leaves are about
1 foot in length and 6 inches in width, of fine colour
and handsome character. From the Royal Gardens,
Kew.
S. KEWENSis. — This has similar leafage to the
last, and the Gloxinia-like flowers are borne with the
same freedom. They are not quite so large as those
of S. Rexi, and light purplish lilac in colour, the
throat being richly and heavily pencilled with crim-
son. It is a plant of distinct and handsome appear-
ance. From the Royal Gardens, Kew.
The groups of hardy flowers comprised a variety
of choice things. Mr. T. S. Ware, of Tottenham,
staged a large collection, in which the following
were conspicuous : Gyi^sophila paniculata, a feathery
and graceful border plant, the white flowers being
useful when out ; the spotted scarlet Lilium chalce-
donicum ; the Californian L. Humboldti, the flowers
of which are of great substance, with the recurved
segments richly spotted with purplish crimson on a
golden yellow ground ; and the brilliantly coloured,
small-flowered L. concolor, a Chinese species of
dwarf growth. There were also bunches of the
lovely lilac Statice Suwarowi, blooms of the deli-
cately coloured Shirley Poppies, the flowers ex-
tremely light and beautiful, especially those margined
with white ; and a collection of border Carnations,
the varieties most noticeable being Corney Grain, deep
red, flaked with a purplish colour ; W. P. Milner,Anna
Senary, white, flaked with pink ; Laura, pure white ;
Illuminator, scarlet ; and C. H. Pomeroy, coloured
like the old Clove. A silver Banksian medal was
awarded. Messrs. Paul and Son also exhibited a flne
group, and were awarded a bronze Banksian medal.
QSnothera speciosa was well shown ; also the pretty
Catananche bicolor, and the useful Erigeron specio-
sum superbum. There were flower-stems of the
vigorous Bocconia cordata, and a collection of
perennial Phloxes, Everlasting Peas, and Pentste-
mons. Epilobium angustif olium album was notice-
able for its purity of colour, and there were large
heads of the metallic-blue Echinops ruthenicus.
Mr. R. Spinks, florist, Horley, showed Carnation
Pride of Horley, a robust grower, free-blooming,
the fringed flowers pure white, with flakes of
bright red. From Mr. J. Blundell, The Nurseries,
West Dulwich, came cut flowers of Hollyhocks,
the colours of which would have been brought
out more strongly if backed with something
better than white perforated paper; Princess of
Wales, blush ; Primrose Gem, primrose yellow ;
Venus,pure white; Princess Beatrice, bright sulphur;
Her Maj esty , pink;andEttieBeale, white tinged with
blush in the centre, were the finest varieties. Holly-
hook blooms were also exhibited by Mr. F. T. Smith,
The Nurseries, West Dulwich : Sarah Bernhardt,
fine, bright pink ; Mont Blanc, pure white ; and
Rienzi, deep maroon-purple, were the best varieties.
Mr. R. Munro, Abercorn Nursery, Edinburgh,
showed Matricaria inodora fl.-pl. Snowflake, an
improved form, the flowers larger and of a purer
white than those of the type. It blooms freely, and
will doubtless make a useful plant for supplying cut
flowers. Lilium Hansoni, the Japanese yellow
Martagon Lily, was shown by Messrs. J. Carter and
Co., High Holborn ; the flowers are small, segments
somewhat reflexed and orange-yellow in colour, with
crimson spottings. From Mr. G. F. Wilson, Wey-
bridge, [came a large head of the picturesque Eryn-
gium giganteum, for which bees have a decided
preference. Rev. H. H. D'Ombrain, Westwell
Vicarage, Ashford, showed a hardy Amaryllis, named
Bayard, a hybrid of A. vittata. A single flower
was exhibited which had been taken from a plant
grown in the open (unprotected) for eight years. It
had two spikes carrying four blooms. The flower
shown was well proportioned and richly coloured,
the segments scarlet, with a broad band of white
down the centre of each.
From the Royal Gardens, Kew, was sent a mis-
cellaneous collection, including the rare deep crim-
son-flowered Anguloa Ruckeri sanguinea, Phajus
bicolor, which has leafage like that of a Curculigo ;
the flowers borne in racemes, sepals and petals of a
brownish yellow colour, the lip pinky white; the
Orange-flowered Adenooalymna nitidum, the scarlet
Oswego Tea (Monarda didyma), several Ferns, and
a collection of Figworts (Jlesembryanthemums),
which are but too seldom seen. There were also
hybrid Streptocarpus, two of which were certifi-
cated, and, judging from their beauty and free
flowering character, it is safe to predict a great
future for these cool-house plants towards the
improvement of which so much has been done at
Kew. Messrs. J. Veitch and Son, of Chelsea, exhi-
bited several plants, viz.. Begonia Bismarcki, a dis-
tinct scarlet-flowered variety ; cut trusses of hybrid
greenhouse Rhododendrons, the colours bright and
effective; and a plant of R. President and R. jas-
miniflorum carminatum ; the former is of a fine buff
tint and the last-mentioned bright carmine, the
colour very bright. Messrs. H. Cannell and Sons,
Swanley, exhibited a group of double Begonias, the
flowers well borne above the foliage, and the habit
of the plants dwarf and compact. Besides those
certificated, the following varieties deserve mention :
C. H. Secretan, pink, full, fine double ; Amos Perry,
pale orange ; and Dr. Lowe, bright salmon-pink.
There were many unnamed seedlings of rare pro-
mise. Messrs. Hooper and Co., Twickenham,
showed a collection of Gloxinia flowers, noticeable
for their massiveness, size, and range of colouring.
It is evident that this firm has a very select strain
of these popular flowers. Mr. Gordon, Twicken-
ham, sent a specimen of Cypripedium Lawrence-
anum ; and a Cypripedium named C. javanicum
superbiens, a hybrid between those two kinds, came
from Mr. R. Measures, Cambridge Lodge, Camber-
well ; it is described in this week's Gaeden. The
same exhibitor also showed a variety of Vanda
suavis, the flowers richly coloured with chestnut-
brown on a greenish ground, the lip rosy pink ;
Cypripedium concolor, with two lips ; a species of
Cattleya in the way of C. Schilleriana and C.
Aclandiaj. Messrs. Page and Son, Twickenham,
sent Odontoglossum vexillarium formosum, the
flower of medium size, white, flushed with rich
pink. Mr. Norman, The Gardens, Hatfield House,
Herts, was awarded a cultural commendation for a
very fine specimen of Sacoolabium Blumei, bearing
four or five of its cylindrical racemes of delicately
coloured flowers.
Fruit Committee. — There were several in-
teresting exhibits in the fruit section. From the
Royal Horticultural Gardens at Chiswick came the
Rosebery Gooseberry, and Gloire des Sablons, and
variegated Black Currants. Messrs. Paul and Son,
The Old Nurseries, Cheshunt, exhibited a collection
of Gooseberries, Whinham's Industry, Miss Chappie,
Whitesmith, Champagne, Lancashire Lad, Ringer,
Gretna Green, King William, Catherine, and Roar-
ing Lion being the most noteworthy ; the fruits
were of fair size and colour. Messrs. T. Rivers
and Son, Sawbridgeworth, had fine fruits of the
Victoria Nectarine, the Nectarine, Lord Palmerston,
Sea Eagle, and Exquisite Peaches ; the fruits of the
last were of an orange and crimson colour. Messrs.
J. Veitch and Sons showed pot trees in fruit of the
Alexandra Peach, the early Pear Citron des Carmes,
&c. Mr. G. Norman, Hatfield House Gardens,
I Royal George Peach and the Eh-uge Nec-
tarine, both well coloured ; and from Messrs. J.
Carter and Co. came Tomato Sandwich Islands,
a handsome red-fruited variety, and Tomato Blen-
heim Orange.
Vegetables were fairly plentiful. In competi-
tion for the prizes offered by Messrs. Sutton and
Sons, of Beading, for three varieties of Peas, Mr. H.
Marriott, sen., Skirbeck, Boston, Lincolnshire,
was first with large well-filled pods; Mr. B. S.
94
THE GARDEN.
[July 30, 1887.
Miles, Edgeoote Gardens, Banbury, coming second ;
and Mr. H. Marriott, jim., Skirbeok, Boston, third.
Mr. C. J. Waite, gardener to Col. the Hon. W. P.
Talbot, Esber, was first for twelve pods of Sutton's
Mammoth Longpod Bean ; Mr. T. A. Beckett, Cole
Hatch Farm, Amersham, second ; and Mr. A. J.
Sanders, The Gardens, Bookham Lodge, Cobham,
third. Messrs. Sutton also offered prizes for two
varieties of Cabbage, Mr. P, Cornish, The Shrubbery
Gardens, Enfield, coming first; Mr. T. A. Beckett
second ; and Mr. C. J Waite third. Messrs. J.
Carter and Co. offered prizes for three heads of
Heartwell Marrow Cabbage, Mr. H. Marriott, sen.,
occupying the first position ; Mr. C. J. Waite and
Mr. T. A. Beckett were second and third respec-
tively. The same firm also offered prizes for twelve
pods of Leviathan Bean, Mr. C. J. Waite being first;
Mr. T. A. Beckett second ; and Mr. R. Timms,
Amersham, third. Messrs. Webb and Sons, Stour-
bridge, offered prizes for three heads of Emperor
Cabbage and twenty-four pods of Chancellor Pea.
In both classes Mr. H. Marriott, sen., was first.
THE NATIONAL CARNATION AND PICOTEE
SOCIETY (SOUTHERN SECTION).
This annual exhibition took place on Tuesday last
in connection with the meeting of the Royal Horti-
cultural Society, and the tables on which the flowers
were arranged occupied one half of the centre of
the conservatory. Considering how hot and dry the
weather had been for several weeks past, it was sur-
prising to see not only so many flowers, but blooms
of such good general quality, though there was an
absence of that refinement witnessed in the flowers
last season. There was no lack of exhibitors, and
the show served to illustrate the fact that the in-
terest in the Carnation and Picotee as exhibition
flowers is still maintained.
Caenations. — In the class for twenty-four blooms,
not less than twelve varieties, there were five com-
petitors, and Mr. Charles Turner, The Royal Nur-
sery, Slough, was a remarkably good first, having,
on the whole, large, smooth, bright flowers of the
following varieties : scarlet bizarres, Robert Lord,
Mars, George and James Mcintosh; crimson bi-
zarres H. K. Mayor and Captain Preston ; pink
and purple bizarres, James Taylor, Sarah Payne,
Squire Llewelyn, and William Skirving ; purple
flakes. Sporting Lass ; scarlet flakes. Outsider,
John Ball, and Matador ; rose flakes, Jessica, John
Keet, and Mrs. Bridgwater. Second— Mr. James
Douglas, gardener to Mr. F. Whitbourn, Great
Gearies, Ilford, with large full flowers, but wanting
in purity of the ground : scarlet bizarres, Fred, Ro-
bert Lord, Arthur Medhurst, and seedling ; C. B ,
Miss Gorton, sport from Rob Roy and seedling ;
P. and P. B. William Skirving and seedlings ; scar-
let flakes. Matador and Alisemond (Douglas) ; P. F,,
James Douglas, Mayor of Nottingham, and Florence
Nightingale ; rose flakes, Thalia and Tim Bobbin.
Third, Mr. H. Cattley, Ifi, Claverton Bridge, Bath ;
fourth, Mr. F. Hooper, Widcombe Hill, Bath. In
the class for twelve varieties of Carnations, dis-
similar, there were also five competitors, and here
Mr. James Douglas was first with S. B. Robert Lord
and seedling; C. B. Mrs. Gorton and seedlings;
P. P. B. seedlings ; P. F. James Douglas and Squire
Whitbourn ; S. F. Alisemond and seedling ; R. F.
Thalia and Rob Roy. Second, Mr. Joseph Lakin,
Temple Cowley, Oxford, with S. B. Admiral Cur-
zon; C. B. Master Fred and J. S. Hedderley ;
P. P. B. William Skirving, Sarah Payne, and Wil-
liam Bacon ; P. F. Florence Nightingale and Sarah
Payne ; S. F. Tom Lord and Robert Cannell ; R. F.
Rob Roy and Mrs. May. Third, Mr. W. L. Walker,
Earley, Reading; fourth, Mr. Huson Morris, The
Nest, Hayes, Kent. In the class for six dissimilar
blooms, Mr. M. Rowan, 3(i, Manor Street, Clapham,
was first with a good lot of flowers, consisting of
S. B. Admiral Curzon, C. B., J. S. Hedderley ; P. P. B.
Madame Gyles ; P. F. George Melville ; S. F. Mata-
dor ; and R. F. Rob Roy. Second, Mr. T. Anstiss,
Brill, Bucks, with S. B. Robert Lord ,' C. B. William
Bacon ; P. P. B. seedling ; P. F. James Douglas ;
S. F. Clipper ; R. F. Jessica. Third, Mr. C. Phillips,
Hamilton Road, Earley, Reading; fourth, Mr. H.
Startup, Stanley Road, Bromley, Kent,
Next came prizes for single blooms of the dif-
ferent classes of Carnations, with the following
results : S. B. — 1st, Mr. C. Turner with Robert
Lord ; 2nd, Mr. M. Rowan with Admiral Curzon ;
3rd, Mr. J. Douglas with Robert Lord ; 4th, Mr. C.
Turner with George ; 5th, Mr. J. Douglas with
Robert Lord. C. B.'s. — 1st, Mr. J. Lakin with Mrs.
Lakin, and 2nd with Master Fred ; 3rd, Mr. J.
Douglas with W. M. Hewitt, and 4th with the same ;
ijth, Mr. C. Turner with Rifleman. P. P. B.— 1st,
Mr. C. Turner with Sarah Payne, and 2nd with
William Skirving ; 3rd, Mr. J. Douglas with Mrs.
Gorton, and 4th with the same ; 5th, Mr. C. Phillips
with Madame Gyles. P. F. — 1st, Mr. J. Lakin with
James Douglas ; 2nd, Mr. J. Douglas with the same;
:!rd, Mr. W. L. Walker with the same ; 4th and 5th,
Mr. C. Turner with Squire Whitbourn. S. F.— 1st,
Mr. C. Turner with John Ball; 2nd, Mr. J. Douglas
with Matador ; 3rd, Mr. C. Turner with the same ;
4th, Mr. J. Douglas with the same ; 5th, Mr. W. L.
Walker with Clipper. R. F.— 1st and 2nd, Mr. J,
Douglas with Thalia ; 3rd, Mr. M. Rowan with
Jessica; 4th, Mr. C. Turner with Charles Medhurst;
5th, Mr. T. Anstiss with Mrs. May.
The premier Carnation selected from the whole
show was S. F. Alisemond, shown by Mr. T. E.
Henwood, Reading.
PicoTBES. — In the class for twenty-four, not less
than twelve dissimilar varieties, there were four
competitors, and Mr. C. Turner was again placed
first with a fine lot of blooms, consisting of Heavy
Red Edge Dr. Aberorombie, J. B. Bryant, John
Smith, and Princess of Wales, Light Red Edge Lord
Valentia, Mrs. Gorton, and William Summers,
Heavy Purple Edge Mrs. A. Chancellor and Zerlina,
Light Purple Edge Jessie, Juliette, and Baroness
Burdett Coutts, Light Rose Edge Orlando, Favourite,
Lucy (very fine). Heavy Rose Edge Mrs. Payne ;
2nd, Mr. J. Douglas with H. Red E. Brunette,
Princess of Wales, and seedlings, L. Red E. Dr.
Horner, H. P. E. Muriel, Mrs. A. Chancellor, and
seedling, H. Rose E. Mrs. Sharpe, Constance Heron,
and seedling, L. Rose E. Favourite and seedlings ;
3rd, Mr. F. Hooper ; 4th, Mr. H. Cattley. In the
class for twelve dissimilar blooms Mr. J. Douglas
was first with H. Red E. Brunette and seedlings.
Light Red Edges Mrs. Gorton and Thomas
William, Heavy Purple Edge seedlings, L. P. E.
Her Majesty and seedling, H. Rose E. Constance
Heron and Mrs. Sharpe, L. Rose E. Favourite; 2nd,
Mr. M. Rowan with H. Red E. John Smith, L. Red
E. Thomas William, H. P. E. Mrs. A. Chancellor, L.
P. E. Jessie and Clara Penson, H. Rose E. Nellie,
Constance Heron, Mrs. Payne, and Purity, L. Rose
E. Favourite and Miss Lee; 3rd, Mr. J. Lakin;
4th, Mr. J. Buxton, Manor Street, Clapham. In the
class for six blooms there were ten competitors,
Mr. H. Morris being first with H. Red E. Princess
of Wales, L. Red E. Lucy, L. P. E. Clara Penson
and Nymph, H. Rose E. Constance Heron, L. Rose
E. Favourite; 2nd, Mr. T. Anstiss with H. Red E.
Morna, H. P. E. Imogen, L. P. E. Laura, H. Rose E.
Constance Heron and Marie Elton, L. Rose E.
Favourite; 3rd, Mr. W. Meddick, Hampton Road,
Bath; 4th, Mr, C. Phillips.
In the classes for single blooms a large number
were staged, the awards being as follows: H. Red
E. —1st, Mr. J. Douglas with IJrunette; 2nd, Mr. C.
Turner with J. B. Bryant, and 3rd with Lord Val-
entia; 4th, Mr. J, Douglas with Brunette; and 5th,
Mr. M. Rowan with J. B. Bryant, L, Red E.— 1st,
Mr. C, Turner with Thomas William, and 2nd with
Mrs, Gorton; 3rd, Mr. Rowan with Thomas William;
4th, Mr. J, Douglas with Dr. Horner; .5th, Mr, H,
Headland with seedling, H, P. E, — 1st, Mr, J,
Douglas with seedling; 2nd and 3rd, Mr, C. Turner
with Minnie; 4th, Mr, J, Douglas with Muriel; 5th,
Mr. Rowan with Alliance. L. P. E, — 1st, Mr. H,
Headland with Pride of Ley ton; 2nd, Mr, C, Turner
with Baroness Burdett Coutts, and 3rd with Mary ;
4th, Mr. H. Headland with seedling; 5th, Mr. J.
Douglas with Baroness Burdett Cioutts. H. Rose
E.— 1st, Mr, Rowan with Edith Dombrain; 2nd,
Mr, C. Turner with Mrs. Payne; 3rd, Mr. J. Douglas
with seedling; 4th, Mr, C. Turner with Mrs. Payne;
5th, Mr. J, Douglas with Mrs, Sharpe. L. Rose E.
^Ist and 3nd, Mr. J. Douglas with Favourite; 3rd,
Mr. C. Tamer with the same; 4th, Mr. Rowan with
Nellie; 5th, Mr. C, Turner with Ethel. Yellow
grounds. — 1st and 2nd, Mr. J. Douglas with Agnes
Chambers; 3rd and 4th, Mr, C. Turner with Prince
of Orange.
The premier Picotee selected from the whole
show was L. Rose E. Favourite (Liddington), shown
by Mr. J. Douglas.
There were five stands of twenty-four blooms of
selfs, fancies and yellow grounds, and as so many
of the blooms shown were run flowers, it is scarcely
necessary to give the whole of the names. Mr. C.
Turner was 1st, and Mr. J. Douglas 2nd, both
having very fine and varied flowers ; 3rd, Mr. F.
Hooper ; 4th, Mr. H. Cattley. Mr. Joseph Lakin had
the best twelve blooms, sho%ving a very fine lot ; Mr.
W. Rowan being 2nd, Mr. H. Morris 3rd, and Mr.
T. Anstiss 4th. Mr. J. Douglas had the best twelve
blooms of yellow ground Picotees, showing good
blooms of Almira, Annie Douglas, Ne Plus Ultra,
Agnes Chambers, Janira, Jaune and seedlings ; 2nd,
Mr. C. Turner, with Prince of Orange, Thomas Page,
Janira, Mrs. Cannell, Lightning, Mrs. Coleman, and
seedlings ; 3rd, Mr. F, Hooper ; 4th, Mr. A. Spur-
ling, The Nest, Blaokheath,
Mr. J. Douglas was awarded the 1st prize for the
best nine plants of Carnations or Picotees in pots
having the largest head of bloom ; but the same
number shown by Mr. C. Turner, and awarded the
2nd prize, had the best quality of flower.
Turner Memorial prizes were offered for compe-
tition by amateurs, and four prizes were offered for
six distinct Carnations and six distinct Picotees.
There were eight competitors, and Mr. M. Rowan
was placed 1st with Carnations S. B. Robert Lord,
C. B. Master Fred, P. P. B, William Skirving P. F.
George Melville, S. F. John Whitham, and R. F.
Jessica. Picotees — H. Red E. Countess of Wilton,
H. P. E. Alliance, L. P. E. Mrs. Gorton, H. Rose E.
Edith Dombrain and Constance Heron, L. Rose E.
Favourite ; 2nd, Mr. J. Lakin with Carnations, S. B.
Admiral Curzon, C. B, Master Fred, P, P. B. Sarah
Payne, P. F. Florence Nightingale, S. F. John Ball,
R. F. Mrs. May. Picotees— H. Red E. John Smith,
Countess of Wilton, and J, B. Bryant, L. Red E.
Laura, L. P. E. Juliette, and H. Rose E. Constance
Heron; 3rd, Mr. T. E. Henwood; 4th, Mr. C.
Phillips.
In the class for seedlings of merit, Mr. H. W.
Headland was placed first, with Light Purple E.
Pride of Leyton, a very promising flower of ex-
cellent quality, and it was also awarded a first-class
certificate of merit; 2nd, Mr. J. Douglas, with an
unnamed seedling in the same section. Mr, C. Turner
was also awarded first-class certificates of merit for
Seedling Clove Purple Emperor, a very fine bright
purple flower of high quality, and to Will Threlfall,
clear pure yellow, large, full, and extra fine.
Messrs. James Veitch and Sons, Royal Exotic
Nurseries, Chelsea, exhibited, not for competition,
six boxes of Carnations, Picotees, and Cloves; Messrs.
R, Veitch and Son, nurserymen, Exeter, had some
fine fancy varieties; and M, Ernest Benary, seed
grower, Erfurt, Germany, sent three blooms of a
very promising golden yellow Clove named Ernest
Benary. This variety is remarkable for its brilliant
colour and the blooms were highly commended, and
had they not been damaged in the transit, they
would probably have received a first-class certificate
of merit.
Jersey Potatoes. — When Potato digging is in
full swing daring the latter part of June and the early
part of July, sometimes no less than 1001) van loads are
despatched' from Jersery to the Euglish markets in one
day. — H. P.4.RKEB, .Temey.
Names of plants,— D. (Guernsey).— Cl\toni,
teruatea. H. B. D. — Delphinium alopecuroides,
garden var. Barr and Son. — Chrysanthemum sege-
tum. 0. f.— Viburnum dentatum, Broad.iiairs.
— Veronica salicornioides. A Suisc.riber. — Hyos-
cyamus uiger. F. C— Pellaja gerauifolia. — — X E.
Sendall. — Asclepias mexicana. Robert Qreening. —
Lychnis vespertina.
Names of frait.—ITalJ.—l, Early Rivers; 2,
Florence ; 3, Bigarreau Napoleon.
July 30, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
95
WOODS &, FORESTS.
THE DOUGLAS FIR.
(PSEFDOTSUGA DOUGLASI.)
There can be no question that in tlae above tree
we have a valuable addition to such as have been
introduced of late years. The Douglas Fir has now,
after a fair trial, been found to be perfectly hardy
in this country, a tree of very rapid growth, and
withal producing nice clean and fairly valuable
wood. It cannot, however, in most parts of the
country, do battle in anythinglike a satisfactory way
with our long-continued and hard-hitting winds,
and for this one reason has within the last few
years fallen rather low in the estimation of planters.
From this it must not, however, be inferred that in
certain situations — and numerous enough these are
in the British Isles — it will not succeed well
enough, and produce a far greater quantity of
timber in a given period than any other tree grown
in this country. For planting in low-lying and
well-sheltered valleys it is just the tree, for there
its high-reaching top and massive stem get a fair
chance of becoming perfectly developed, and in
such places in this country by far the best results
in the cultivation of this gigantic tree have been
obtained.
Long ago we advocated the forming of woods
with the Douglasi alone, or with some other
tree of equaliy rapid growth, for when mixed up
with and coddled, as it were, amongst the general
run of our forest trees, the leader on overtopping
those of its neighbours soon gets broken over, or
otherwise presents an almost branchless, whip-
handle-like appearance that is anything but a desir-
able feature of well-managed woods.
We are well acquainted with many plantations in
which the Douglas Firs, after growing side by side
with the neighbouring trees for many years or until
these latter had attained to their usual height, got
broken and twisted as soon as their leading shoots
rose a few feet above their surrounding woodland
occupants; in fact, it has now for years been a series
of bold attempts on the part of the Douglasi to rise
higher ; but, alas I when it does so, the first hard-
blowing wind either snaps the frail leading shoot,
or renders it so wind-shorn as almost to arrest its
growth. By planting clumps or whole woods of
the Douglasi alone much better results have been
obtained, for then they grow side by side, yard for
yard, and the one acts as a shelter to the other,
and so the leading shoots remain to a great extent
uninjured.
In choosing ground in which to plant this tree, it
might be well to bear the above facts in mind, and
so plant the Douglasi only in sheltered situations,
or at least where it will be, to a great extent, secure
against the prevailing winds of the particular dis-
trict in which it is planted. Such situations are by
no means difficult to choose on most English estates,
and if it is intended to grow this stately tree in
anything like a satisfactory way, then its peculiari-
ties when brought under cultivation in this country
must be attended to, for a lengthy experience in a
district where it is grown in perhaps greater quan-
tity than any other has now fully convinced me
that the Douglas Fir is an ill-chosen subject for
planting on exposed grounds.
As to choice of soil, the Douglas Fir is far from
particular, as it thrives well and produces timber
rapidly almost anywhere. We are now fully con-
vinced, however, that the greatest quantity of timber
is produced either in light, alluvial deposit or loam
of a sandy description, and for our own part would
give preference to the latter.
Rough, open soil, such as a gravelly loam or
vegetable mould interspersed with fragments of
rock, would seem to suit it best; but the soil, be it
of whatever description, must be moderately damp,
as otherwise the Douglas Fir will lead but a miser-
able existence, put on a rusty, scant-foliaged ap-
pearance, and ultimately die out altogether. Strange
as it may seem, we have known this tree to make
rapid growth on reclaimed peat bog, and this one
would hardly credit when we consider how well it
generally does in a free, stony soil ; but then we
must bear in mind that well-prepared peat bog is a
specific for most trees, even our mift'y Conifers.
It may not be out of place to mention that by far
the finest specimens of the Douglas Fir in this
country are growing in sandy loam, the next best in
alluvial depo it, and this from a comparison of
several plantations and clumps growing under "both
of these conditions as to soil.
The production of timber in the Douglas Fir is
far in excess of any other tree grown in this
country of which I have kept a record, and in sup-
port of this statement I may add that in one case
nearly 5 cubic feet per year were produced for a
period of half a century; and, furthermore, the tree
which produced this unusual quantity of timber is
growing in sandy loam of unusually good quality. On
measuring several other trees the average annual
production of timber was found to be similar to
that just mentioned. Some years ago I took the
measurements of a number of trees of the Douglas
Fir of twenty-two years' growth, and on comparing
these with such as were taken during the present
season I have every reason to believe that the in-
crease in bulk during the first twenty-five years is
little more than one half what it is between that
time and up to the age of fifty years. In taking the
average size of the trees in a plantation formed
twenty-two years ago the dimensions were as fol-
lows: Height, 76 feet; girth of stem at 24 feet,
4 feet; cubic contents fully 50 feet; thus giving an
annual increase in wood of 2^ feet. The average
cubic contents of each tree in another mixed wood,
but in which the Douglasi was the main crop, was
nearly 2| feet per annum for thirty-five years.
The timber is light, but strong, has a pleasant
yellowish tinge, works readily, and takes a good
polish. We have cut into boarding numerous large
trees grown in this country, and used the wood
experimentally in the making of various kinds of
fences, for doors, in boat-building, principally as
masts, for tool houses, and in the making of gates,
but it would be yet premature to speak of such with
any amount of assurance, as sutficient time has
hardly elapsed since such were instituted ; but it
may be stated that so far the results are in every
way satisfactory. As seen either at the Forestry
or the Colonial and Indian Exhibition, the gigantic
blocks of Douglas Firwood attracted much atten-
tion, and clearly set forth how valuable it is for
general constructive purposes.
The rearing and general management of the
Douglas Fir is simple indeed, the plants being of
strong constitution, transplanting readily, and not
at all subject to the attacks of the numerous insect
pests, which have, more particularly of late years,
caused such destruction to the Pine tribe in this
country. I cannot remember having seen even one
plant infested with any of the boring beetles,
although we have reared and planted this particular
Fir on a large scale.
The seeds germinate very freely if sown in early
spring and in well-prepared beds of fine sandy loam
or leaf -mould. During the first few years the growth
is very rapid, and this is, likewise, maintained
throughout the whole life of the tree. No tree
transplants with greater ease than the one under
notice, for neglect it as you will, yet the roots are
bushy, fibrous, and strong, and thus render moving
an operation that is fraught with little or no risk, so
far as the health of the plants is concerned. Even
up to the height of 10 feet we have removed not
one, but scores of specimens, and with the best pos-
sible results ; while a whole plantation was formed
of plants 4 feet in height, the per-centage of deaths
being small indeed.
It has been stated, on good authority, that the
progeny of British-grown trees deteriorates, but
this is certainly not the case with that of some of
the oldest trees in this country, for we have sown
their seeds and raised plants whose constitution
quite equalled that of such as were raised from
seeds collected in their native country. We know
one estate in particular where all the Douglas Firs,
with, perhaps, half-a-dozeu exceptions, were raised
from home-saved seeds, and yet these, many of
which are now nearly 90 feet in height, appear as
healthy, and are certainly of quite as vigorous
growth as any raised from American seeds. There
is, unquestionably, a marked difference between
many of the plants in a batch of seedlings, and this
difference is maintained until tree size is reached,
some being of a deep sea-green in colour of foliage,
while that of others is of a pale greyish green ;
others, again, have an upright inclination, while
the branches of others hang gracefully down,
assuming the weeping form. These differences in
general appearance are, however, common to nearly
every kind of tree, and must on no account be
attributed either to degeneracy or Ul health.
For park or lawn ornamentation the Douglas Fir
is a tree of great value ; indeed, we know of no
prettier sight than that brought home to our mind
a few days ago by the appearance of an old and
weU-furnished specimen of this tree, and which
occupied a rather low-lying and well-sheltered
situation on the greensward of an English lawn.
When planted in clumps or masses it is likewise
particularly effective, the beautiful rich green
foliage being pleasing in the extreme, but par-
ticularly in early spring when the young leaves
are becoming fully developed, for then the contrast
between these and the dark sombre green — almost
Yew green — of the older foliage is strikingly dis-
tinct. In planting the Douglas Fir for ornamental
appearance ample space should be allowed for the
perfect development of all the branches, as if the
trees are at all crowded together the lower
branches die off, and thus greatly mar the
effect.
By planting the young trees doubly thick at first,
and when their lower branches begin to touch each
other taking out every alternate one, an even crop
is left on the ground, or, in other words, the speci-
mens are left at such distances apart as will ensure
the foliage being retained down to ground level.
As to the distance apart at which the Douglas Fir
should be planted so as to ultimately allow of plenty
of room for the full development of the branches, it
would be rather difficult to say, much depending
on the position and altitude at which the trees are
grown, as well as the soil in which they are planted.
In high-lying and exposed situations the individual
trees may be planted much closer together than in
low, sheltered grounds, for the annual rate of
growth under the former conditions is much less
than the latter, and the trees never attain to so great
a size.
A good safe average for planting this Fir under
ordinary conditions as to soil, altitude, and situa-
tion would, we consider, be at 20 feet apart, the
standard specimens ultimately being left at 40 feet,
thus giving, in the majority of instances at least,
ample room for the spread of branches. When
planting out the Douglas Fir permanently, it is
always well, so that they may start away freely, to
pay some little attention to the preparation of the
ground intended to receive them, for although this
tree does fairly well even under veiy ordinary treat-
ment, yet its annual rate of growth is wonderfully
augmented by a thorough or even partial prepara-
tion of the soil in which it is to be planted. Of
course, where the soil is naturally kind and free
(such soils cannot, however, be often spared for tree
planting), no preparation may be necessary, but
with such soils the forester is usually a complete
stranger, it far more often falling to his lot to
operate upon such as are of a very opposite quality,
and which cannot and will not produce anything
approaching a satisfactory crop of trees without
timely and carefully carried out preparations.
Holes a good deal larger than the size of the balls
of the plants to be inserted should first of all be
opened, and, if possible, but particularly where the
soil is stiff and unmanageable, it is well to have
this work done some time before planting opera-
tions are taken in hand, so that the soil may be-
come pulverised and sweetened by the action of the
weather. With a pick loosen well the soil in the
bottom and around the edges of each pit, and they
will thus be left in the best possible condition for
receiving the plants at whatever time it may be
deemed necessary to have these inserted.
96
THE GARDEN.
[July 30, 1887.
Autumn planting of the Douglas Fir has, in our
own case, been attended with the best and most
satisfactory results, and this is especially the case
when the plants to be put in are of large size, say
4 feet and upwards. Here also it may be well to
mention that in lowland, sheltered ground large-
sized plants should, for the sake of immediate effect,
always be used, as, unlike many others of the
Coniferje, the Douglas Fir transplants with perfect
freedom at all sizes up to 7 feet or 8 feet.
Staking of such large-sized transplants may in
some instances be necessary, but usually the fibrous
solid root of this Fir is quite sufficient to keep the
plant firm in the ground, and so prevent its rooking
with the wind.
Game are, on the whole, not particularly fond of
the Douglas Fir, not even in a young state, and
when newly removed from the nursery border.
According to Dawson, the Douglas Fir has a wide
range, it occurring on all parts of Vancouver's
Island, with the exception of the exposed western
coast. On the Rocky Mountains it is found in a
stunted form at upwards of 6000 feet altitude, but
its north-eastern limit in these mountains is still
somewhat uncertain. The largest specimens are
always found near the coast in proximity to the
waters of the many bays and inlets which indent it,
and in such situations it frequently exceeds 8 feet
in diameter at a considerable height above the
ground, and reaches a height of from 200 feet to 300
feet.
This fine tree was first introduced to this country
by David Douglas in 1827, although discovered by
Menzies as early as 1795. When, therefore, we bear
in mind that this Fir has only been in this country
sixty years, and that specimens 120 feet in
height and containing fully 250 feet of timber are
to be seen, we may weU award to it the palm of
victory as a fast-growing and rapid timber-produc-
ing tree. To this we may add that the timber is
clean and of good quality and the tree of the easiest
culture, all of which should impress upon land-
owners and foresters the advisability of planting in
fair quantity at ^least, and in situations and soils
suitable to it. A. D. Webstbe.
Baisinir Elms from seed. — The seeds of the
Elm generally ripen towards the end of June. In
gathering such, select tall, well-grown trees, and be
particular in the handling and storing of the seed,
as it is very delicate and heats quickly. On this
account it should be well spread out if not sown
the same day on which it is gathered. When in-
tended to remain in the seedling beds for two years,
it should not be sown too thickly, as the plants are
apt to become drawn up and weakly. A covering
of half an inch of soil is sufficient, and this should
be both rich and mellow. The seeds kept over for
sowing in the following spring should be well and
gradually dried before being stored away. An airy
loft is the best place for storing them. The quality
of Elm seed may be ascertained by the firmness of
the capsule. — A. J. B.
The Western Plane (Platanus oocidentalis).
— The Western Plane is a larger tree than its rela-
tive in the East, and of more rapid growth, and has
broader and less deeply-cut leaves, and the fruit is
smooth and much larger. It is found in a vast
tract of land in North America, and goes by the
name of Button Wood. The Western Plane
■ grows along the great rivers of the Ohio
and the Mississippi, and in the fertile valleys
watered by those mighty streams. The lower parts
of these valleys are covered with thick dark forests,
composed of gigantic trees. The leaves that fall
every year decay, and form a rich vegetable mould
that contributes to the amazing growth of the
trees. Here the Button AVood flourishes in great
luxuriance, and is loftier and larger than any of its
neighbours. It has a variety of names besides those
we have mentioned. Sometimes, it is called the
Water Beech, or the Sycamore ; and often it is
named the Cotton Tree, because of the thick down
which covers the inner surface of the leaves when
they first expand. In the course of the summer
the down becomes detached, and floats in the air in
such quantities as to be unpleasant and injurious.
When the tree is very abundant, persons in the
neighbourhood greatly dread the floating down,
which irritates the lungs, and has a tendency to
produce consumption. The wood of the Western
Plane has a fine grain, and can take a high polish ;
but though it is sometimes used for bedsteads, yet
the cabinet-maker rather avoids it on account of its
tendency to shrink. It is a very picturesque tree,
and has the property of throwing oS its bark in
scales, and thus freeing itself from Moss and other
parasites. This is done in an irregular manner, first
in one place and then in another ; and as the newly-
exposed bark is of a lighter colour, the stem has
the appearance of being marked in a peculiar and
rather striking manner. — X.
The wood of Paulownia imperialis. — This
wood is referred to in The Garden for July IG
(p. 48). The Japanese seem to have two distinct
varieties of this tree, the woods of which are also
distinguished by them ; one, which seems to be the
most common, is known as Kiri wood, and the
other as Shima giri. The wood of this second form
is said to be more glossy, and when polished to
have a more satiny appearance than the other.
This may be the wood referred to by your corre-
spondent as the wood from an old tree. Samples
of the wood both of native growth and also from a
tree which grew in the Royal Gardens, Kew, are
contained in the museum, and they show but very
little difference either in structure or colour. The
rings are very wide in both — three-quarters of an
inch apart. The trunks do not seem to grow to any
great diameter, and the Kew-grown specimen mea-
sures 8 inches in diameter. The wood is of a
pleasant brown tint, but very light in weight, and
admirably adapted for boxes. — John R. Jackson,
Curator Iluseums, A'erv.
Deal V. Oak gates. — Some time ago I com-
mented on a practice which had sprung up upon
an estate near here of using foreign Deal for field
gates instead of English Oak, of which such gates
are commonly made. The result is just as I pre-
dicted, and almost daily one meets with wrecked
specimens — the outcome of a false economy. These
gates are generally to be found at agricultural
shows, and by the aid of paint, which costs but
little, are made to look smart at a very low figure.
The bait is very tempting, but a little thought will
show that it should be avoided. If the purchase
of a gate finished the whole business, it would not
matter so much, but it does not. Posts and iron-
work cost more than the gate itself, and these
things must be much the same whether the gate is
of Deal or Oak. At the lowest estimate, a set of
materials for a common single field gate — when the
gate itself is Deal — would cost £2, exclusive of
fixing. The life of this, perhaps, would average a
couple of years. With a good sound Oak gate the
cost would be about 10s. more, with an average
duration of quite ten years. On the place I have
spoken of there are plenty of gates made of Oak
and good after twenty years' using, whilst after a
couple of years of similar treatment many of the
Deal " apologies " are broken and disfigured. — D. J.
Yeo.
The Cherry Birch (Betula lenta), a native of
America, I find, grows best in a rich, moist, light
soil, in a free, open situation. Its usual height is
(iO feet. The bark is black, and the leaves resemble
those of the Cherry tree. The catkins are without
peduncles, and consist of simple undivided scales.
The bark and buds have an almond-like flavour, and
the wood emits a fragrant odour. The sap is used
in a similar manner to that of the common Birch.
The Cherry Birch yields the timber known as
" mountain mahogany," and the volatile oil, called
" oil of winter green," is derived from its bark.
B. Bhajapaltra, called the Indian Paper Birch, is a
beautiful Indian species. B. acuminata of Nepaul
is another Asian species, with very taper-pointed,
smooth leaves, and of a beautiful, pendulous, oval
shape. Among the best European White Birches is
the variety pubescens, bearing leaves covered with
beautiful white hairs, as well as B. a. urtica^folia,
i.e., nettle-leaved, a deeply cut, serrated, and hairy
variety, and a variegated kind of the same with
leaves blotched with yellow. No lawn is perfect
without some of these Birches, and any lawn is
graced by their beautifully light and airy presence.
—J. H. M.
Formation of strong wood. — A thorough
knowledge of the toughness and durability of woods,
as influenced by the conditions under which the
same woods were made, is of great importance.
It would advance forest-tree culture a long way if
we only knew the best conditions for making the
best Ash, Oak, and a score of other woods. The
position trees occupy in the wild state is not always
a guide in making plantations. Because a tree grows
upon a rocky cliff, it is no reason why it would not
thrive in rich soil. There has been a mighty struggle
among the native plants of any locality, and those
that can survive the trials, so to speak, flee to the
hillsides, cliffs, and mountains. Is it true that the
faster wood is formed the stronger it is ? When we
look at the end of a log it is seen to be made up of .^
a number of rings. These rings are caused by un-
equal growth during each season. A comparatively
porous layer is made during the rapid growth of
early summer, followed by a more dense portion
later in the season. It would seem that the more
rapid the growth, other things being equal, the
more porous would be the product. — L.
Destruction of small coppices. — It is strange
that people should be so fond of destroying small
plantations. Adjoining here there is a large farm
on which there is no woodland whatever ; yet some
sixty years ago, judging from report and also from
the ordnance map of that date, there were at least
two pieces of plantation, each some acres in extent.
No doubt when these coppices were grubbed up,
some reason existed, real or apparent, but in any case
not a sufficient one. The late tenant has often
spoken to me of the great inconvenience of having
no such spot from which he could draw a supply.
Next to water, there is nothing more necessary on
a holding than wood in some shape or other — fire-
wood, wood for rick bottoms, fences, farm imple-
ments, such as whippletrees, and the very many
purposes for which wood is wanted, apart altogether
from the question of shelter and temperature. One
of the pieces where these coppices stood is now laid
down with Grass, the other is the corner of an
arable field, so that, so far as cultivation was con-
cerned, they were neither of them in the way. Even
if the few acres which were occupied by wood did
not pay as well as the cultivated land, the expense
incurred for wood would soon make a far greater
difference. It is, therefore, of the utmost import-
ance, in a district where wooded land is scarce, that
every small coppice should be jealously preserved,
and where necessary young ones planted. — D. J.
Yeo.
How to stack timber. — In stacking timber
the following suggestions, from " Laslett's Timber
and Timber Trees," may be useful : 1. Let the
" skidding," as a rule, be placed as nearly as possible
level both ways, and in no case allow the upper side
of it to be less than 12 inches from the ground. It
will then necessarily follow that, whether the stack-
ing ground be level or upon the hillside, there will
be ample space for ventilation under the timber to
be piled thereon. 2. Let the butt-ends of the logs
be placed to the front, and keep the back or top
ends of each tier slightly higher than the butts, for
facility in withdrawing them from the stack. 3.
Let the skidding over each tier of logs be level,
and place short blocks under it as packing pieces,
li inches or 2 inches in thickness, upon every log.
The advantage of this is that by removing the
packing pieces any log in the tier between the two
layers of skidding may be withdrawn from the
stack without disturbing the remainder. 4. If the
timber to be stored cannot be placed in a permanent
shed, it should, with a view to its preservation,
have a temporary roof placed over it. The size of
the stack, therefore, should be considered in setting
it out, limiting the breadth or span to 25 feet or
30 feet. 5. Let each tier as it rises be set back
6 inches to 8 inches, to enable the converter to
get over it without a ladder ; he will find it con- I
venient for examining and selecting his logs for
conversion.
^HE GARDEN.
97
No. 820. SA TURD A Y, A ug. 6, 1887. Vol. XXXII.
" This l8 an Art
Which does mend Nature : change it rather ; but
The Art itself is Nature." — Shakespeare.
Fruit Garden.
W. COLEMAN.
EARLY V. LATE PEACHES.
A CORRESPONDENT (p. 2, July 9) says he gathered
ripe fruit of Alexander Peach from the biek
wall of an unheated house on the 28th of June,
and, apparently delighted with his success, ex-
presses an opinion that we have room for a few
more early sorts whilst late ones are plentiful
enough, as wall Peaches are rarely fit for use
after the middle of September. If "J. C. C."
can ripen in .Tune an early Peach in a cold
house, most likely partially shaded by trellis-
trained trees, his situation must be a good one,
and I should be inclined to think well adapted
to the growth of many of our best late sorts on
open walls, where certainly he might add
another three or four weeks, making six weeks
in all to his Peach season. That an early tree
or two about a place is really useful, every fruit
grower is ready to admit, but few I think will
endorse the opinion that it would be wise to
add to our already obese hsts from which nur-
serymen are discarding sorts too small, too
watery, or too adhesive, and whose only good
point, extreme earliness, has been surpassed by
others. Although wisely expunged from the
lists,' many of them, no doubt, remain in stock,
and can be supplied to purchasers wishing to
add about tlrree dozen sorts whose fruit is fit
for use before the end of August. A Peach
that ripens on an open wall in August is - ac-
counted early ; but some, I may say many, of
these ([ am sorry space does not admit a detailed
list) ripen in fair seasons through the last half
of July, just when first-rate Strawberries and
Cherries are in damaging perfection. If a tithe
of the early varieties were really good, it would
not be wise to give one of each a space of say
12 feet to the exclusion of the better mid-season
varieties which come in a little later, some of
them close on the heels of their watery rivals.
Early Beatrice, Amsden .June, and Alexander
I have gathered from south and west walls on
the 16th of July, but have given them up, for,
handsome as they look, flavour, the main test, has
found them sadly wanting. In the first place,
they are too small ; in the second, their pulp, if
pulp it can be called, is thin and watery. The
last two are very much alike, and the better
they are grown the more decided is their cling-
stone tendency. Previous to the addition of
more than thirty varieties, many of them early,
and for which we have many times thanked the
late Jlr. Rivers, we had Early Anne, Early
Nutmeg, and Acton Sootfc, now rarely met with,
the Sawbridgeworth seedlings having superseded
them. Some of these seedlings, notably Condor,
Crimson Galande, Dr. Hogg, Early Silver,
Alexandra Noblesse, Large Early Mignonne,
Magdala, and Rivers' Early York, are a great
acquisition to the list of early varieties. Of
midseason and late varieties he has given us
some very good ones, than which none, perhaps,
are better than Sea Eagle and the Nectarine
Peach in their respective seasons.
Early Grosse Mignonne, A Bee, and Hale's
Early did not originate at Sawbridgeworth, but
the first and second, in my opinion, are the best
all-round early Peaches grown, and infinitely
superior to the tliird, an American vai'iety now
a universal favourite on account of its fine colour
and earliness. To our transatlantic friends we
are also indebted for Amsden June, Alexander,
and Waterloo, of which great things are ex-
pected. The latter I am growing, but have not
fruited. The fruits of the first from some cause,
most likely the coldness of our cUmate, do not
come up to the high quality we are assured they
attain in America. If "J. C. C." has not grown
any of the above he may safely do so and dupli-
cate them, but one of each, unless for market,
he will find more than enough, as our good old
sterling midseason sorts, which everybody
knows and grows, can be planted to succeed
them. And, assuming that his situation is
above the average, if he has not already tried
and failed, I would suggest the introduction of
Barrington, Prince of Wales, Sea Eagle, Late
Admirable, Walburton Late Admirable, Ray-
mackers, and the Nectarine Peach. These are
large, handsome, first-class varieties, worthy of
the best glass or walls, and come in when soft
fruits, the companions of the early cUngstones,
have passed away.
STRAWBERRY CULTURE.
There will be differences of opinion as to the best
methods of Strawberry culture till the end of time,
and what is being written now is but a repetition of
what has been said dm'ing the past twenty years.
With a favourable season one method gets exalted ;
with an unfavourable season, such as the present,
another method of culture is advised. All are good,
all will be more or less successful, but success is,
after all, far more dependent upon soils and seasons
than upon anything else. Strawberries are very
easilygrown,andtheyaresometimeshard to kill, even
by the most persistent negligence, but, on the whole,
the finest average crops come to the grower who has
the best soil and gives the amplest cultivation.
How many gardeners are there who employ their
forced plants for the making of new beds, and, on
the whole, in what way can better results be ob-
tained .' The plants are there to hand in large quan-
tities ; if not employed in that way they must be
absolutely wasted, but being employed and planted
out, say, at 2 feet apart each way in good soil, they
produce the following year quite three times as
much, perhaps more, fruit than the very best of
runners of the previous season could give. Is not
that a great gain ? The fact that most gardeners
have such large quantities of forced plants at then
disposal every year enables them to have a fresh
bed of plants put out every year, and it is difficult
to see how they can do better. Their chief want,
of course, beyond fruit is an ample supply of run-
ners for the making of pot plants, and some of the
potted runners of the previous year if planted out
in the autumn and kept denuded of bloom the fol-
lowing spring invariably give the earliest and best
runners. Ordinary garden culture of Strawberries
seems thus to lie in a nutshell, and as ninety out
of every hundred gardeners seem to foUow this
plan, it may be taken for granted that any better
is hard to find. But when we turn to the field cul-
ture of Strawberries where plants are put out by
tens of thousands and over large areas, of course
forced plants must be left out of the question.
The grower has to be guided by the nature of the
crop preceding the Strawberry planting, and the
utilisation of the ground whilst the young plants
are perfecting themselves. In that case the usual
rule is to allow a piece of plants to make
runners only and as early as possible. Then, as
fast as they can be got ready (weather permitting),
and provided the crops are cleared, these runners
are dibbled out in rows from 24 inches to 30 inches
apart. Watering is, of course, out of the question
in such big breadths, but the Strawberry is very
tenacious, and usually soon gets hold of the ground.
If the autumn is at all favourable, the plants be-
come very strong indeed ; but whilst the following
season's crop may be worth gathering, it is not
likely (o pay for mulching; hence it is as often the
rule to have all the bloom removed the following
season, and to sow Spinach, dwarf Beans, or plant
single rows of Lettuces between the Strawberries.
So far the expense of culture has been trifling, but
during that season the plants are making big crowns,
and the following year they produce a grand crop
of fruit, which it pays to mulch thoroughly. If the
same area of ground were planted on the lazy-bed
system, the quantity of plants required would be
trebled, the difficulty of getting them enormous,
and the labour excessive. There must be broad
footpaths every 5 feet at least, and even then
the plants during the gathering of the fruit would
get terribly trodden upon and much fruit injured,
whilst mulching — that is, keeping the fruit clean
by means of straw or long manure — would be out of
the question. It is useless to look for fine fruit in
such case. The lazy-bed system is of no use for
market purposes. Mr. Fish thinks it is desirable
to provide shade for Strawberries. The very best
shading without doubt is an ample head of foUage,
with a mulching of straw for the soil, but in the
open fields the only possible extra shading would
be found in sowing rows of Rye between every
second or third row of Strawberries. That might
give some welcome shade in such weather as we
have just had, and, of course, should the season
prove dull or wet, it could easily be cut. Any other
method of shading seems impossible on large areas.
On the whole, we seldom have such Strawberry
weather as that experienced this season, and a little
later, perhaps, for every dry season now we shall
have a wet one. When those come, then, systems
of culture of a diverse kind to those now advocated
will be put forth. I observe Waterloo Strawberry
highly spoken of. It is a large President-shaped
fruit and a good mid-season kind, but I think to
Strawberry consumers the colour of the fruit — quite
a deep Beetroot hue — will prove objectionable.
There can be no doubt but that a rich hue of
crimson-scarlet is the favourite colour for Straw-
berries, whilst semi-black-coloured fruits have a
dead aspect. A. D.
New Tomato Mikado. — This Tomato was
advertised in many seed lists last spring. In some
instances the illustrations of it measured 5 inches
across, showing a handsome, smooth fruit. I bought
a packet of seed, and gave it the same treatment
as the other varieties, all of which have fruited
excellently. This new variety has proved completely
worthless. Its growth is very straggling, and the
fruits are very few and coarse. — J. MuiR.
Roseberry Gooseberry. — There are so many
Gooseberries of high merit that it is difficult to say
which is the best. But after comparison with other
varieties, this amongst the green skinned class
must be accounted the finest. The fruit is of average
size, smooth, duU green, boldly veined with a lighter
hue, and abundantly produced. The flavour is
delicious, being sweet, and just sufficiently acid to be
pleasant. It is a variety that should be in every
amateur's garden, as it is excellent for the dessert.
Red Warrington is another free-cropping kind ; the
fruit, densely covered with short hairs, is finely
coloured and well flavoured. — E.
Rivers' Prolific Plum. — Looking through a
neighbouring market garden in which Plums are
largely grown, I noted a number of dwarf standard
trees "heavily laden with medium-sized roundish
fruits that were colouring well, and covered with
rich bloom. The kind proved to be Rivers' Early
Prolific, and the grower spoke in hiofh terms of this
Plum, not only because it is so prolific and of such
excellent flavour, but also because it is so early,
coming into the market the first week in August,
and a fortnight before other kinds. The trees are
of close, compact habit and robust ; the foliajje is
broad, and well shelters the fruit from hot sunshine.
It is a freestone variety, and highly esteemed in
the market both for colour and earliness. Any
kind of fruit which is rather earlier or later than
the bulk of the crop is valuable. — A. D.
Eleanor Strawberry.— Although a very old
kind, and never very highly esteemed, it is yet in-
teresting to learn that this variety is coming into
98
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 6, 1887.
favour with market growers on account of its late-
ness. It produces fine showy fruits, which com-
mand excellent prices in the markets. There is
such a demand for Strawberries of fair quality and
size late in the season that even those which are not
esteemed good enough for private culture will prove
profitable. This season has not been generally a
very good one for Strawberries, but those grow-
ing on a cool holding soil have done very well. —
A. D.
YOUNG r. OLD STRAWBERRY PLANTS.
There can be no doubt as to the importance of
encouraging the formation of surface roots, but are
we justified in assuming that the roots that strike
more or less deeply into the ground are not needful
in the case of the Strawberry? We may safely con-
clude that if Nature intended that the roots made
this year should take the place of those made in
previous seasons, the former would be of but annual
duration. But the old roots do not die, as anyone
may prove by the examination of a plant that has
just produced fruit. If the plant has been placed
under congenial conditions, the old roots will be found
at least sound, and their retention by the plant is a
proof that they assist the growth and fruit-bearing
powers of the plants. It is only on the assumption
that the Strawberry is an annual that we are in any
way justified in concluding that the roots of the
past season are useless. It is, however, as truly a
perennial as any hardy herbaceous plant in cultiva-
tion, and our cultivated Strawberries, if placed under
the same conditions as those enjoyed by the wild
species, would live for very many years. I can
prove this in several cases. The first is that of a
garden in which bushels of Strawberries are grown
annually, and where, too, many of the beds were
not renewed for seven or eight years. When the
plants became thick they were thinned out, and the
method of forming new plantations was by dividing
the old stools in autumn, just as one might do with
a Phlox, or anything of like nature. I never saw
more and better fruit than was gathered from these
plants, but it is worthy of note that the garden was
made on the very spot where wild Strawberries
once grew abundantly. Another instance is that of
a friend whose plants have this year produced their
eighth crop of fruit without further trouble than an
annual mulch of manure. This plantation was not
made from runners, but with forced plants. A
third instance is that of a grower for market, whose
Strawberry beds have been planted seven years —
three of them at least of a very trying nature. In
this case no artificial waterings are given, and the
ground slopes rather sharply. Ijooking at the
situation, one would think it very unfavourable, for
the soil is light. Its nature and the sharp incline
deprive the roots of the benefit of casual rains. It
would appear, however, that there is a depth of
quite 10 feet of soil, and the longevity of the plants
must be due to the large amount of soil in which
they are growing. I think that the foregoing
proves that deep cultivation is a great aid to Straw-
berry culture, and that the old roots are instru-
mental in maintaining health in times of drought.
But, it may be said, how about quality ? You are
only proving that plants will live and bear fruit for
some years, but we want size, colour, and flavour.
My answer is, that the individual referred to here
has taken the leading prizes at the local shows for
some years past. His fruit gathered from these old
stools is so fine, that his cultural system was a year
or two ago made the subject of special investigation
by a contemporary, in whose pages a full account of
it appeared. This, then, refutes the assertion of
those who maintain that the fruit from old plants
is always inferior to that obtained from young ones.
One reason why old plants do not in a general way
yiehl such good fruit as young ones is the crowded
state of the crowns, which, hidden by a mass of
foliage, do not during the growing season get the
full benefit of sun and air. We cannot expect a
cluster of a dozen crowns overtoppeil by a canopy
of foliage, which shuts out from them the air
and sunshine, to grow with proper vigour. If
only one-tenth part of tlie labour involved in the
formation of new plantations was bestowed upon
the old stools, there would be fewer complaints of
the plants failing. The work of carrying off a
good crop of fruit under such climatal conditions
as we frequently experience in July is terribly ex-
hausting. On the top of this comes the burning month
of August, which partially shrivels the crowns and
renders the plants so hard and sapless, that it takes
a month or more of genial weather to restore the
free circulation of the sap. There is nothing that
exercises such an awakening effect on an old Straw-
berry stool as cutting away some of the old foliage.
Trim ofi the oldest leaves and give a good watering,
and you will in the course of a week or two see the
young leaves pushing from the crowns. Then with
a sharp knife thin out all but three or four crowns,
and by the end of the growing season you will have
plants that will give a greater yield of frait than
the best managed young ones — the berries being
equal in quality.
Compare the labour necessary in forming a new
plantation from runners with the above simple
operations. I do not say that even in this way
Strawberries are to remain for an indefinite period
in a blooming condition, but I do know from prac-
tical experience that the lease of life and fertility
may be much extended in this way. Everyone
knows that in some years (the present, for example)
runners are scarce, late, and not first-rate in quality.
When such is the case, the crop from them the
first year is meagre, sometimes hardly worth the
labour incurred. It was to avoid any such partial
failure that I adopted the defoliating and thinning
process. I have had every opportunity, through a
lengthened period, of comparing the produce from
young and old plants. Grown side by side, iinder
identical treatment, I have never been able to dis-
cern any difference. When the fruit are put up in
the punnets it is impossible to point out those that
come from the old plants. I grow Marguerites
rather largely under glass, and this kind has ave-
raged from eighteen to twenty fruits to the pound.
I grow it planted out in frames, and renew the
plants every fourth year. This saves a lot of trouble,
and the crop is just as good as i£ I annually went
to the trouble of layering young plants. I have this
day (July 2i) made a plantation of Sir J. Paxton
with plants that have already borne a crop of fruit.
They were taken up as soon as the fruit was ga-
thered, well dipped in a solution of soft soap with
black sulphur to kill red spider, and were laid in
thickly in a north border. They are now starting
freely into growth, and I do not doubt that I shall
be able to gather a pound of fruit from each plant
next year. It was surprising to see the amount of
young roots that these plants had made after being
laid in. The old roots to the whole of their length
were studded with white fibres. If the sun is very
hot, I shall run a piece of scrim canvas over them,
and in a fortnight's time they will be well esta-
blished and growing freely. By the end of the
autumn they will be double the size of the earliest
runners, and the roots will be half a foot deeper in
the ground. Last year I had thousands of good
runners where I have not hundreds now.
J. C. B.
observer, and he is not in the habit of making state-
ments of this character without being convinced
they are strictly correct. — R. D.
HARDY FRUITS.
SHORT NOTES.— FRUIT.
Red spider.— In The Garden of July .30 (p. 8fi)
an article appears on the above. Will Mr. Neihl
please say if ever he has tried the experiment in a
vinery, and what the effect might he in one where the
Grapes are just about to colour? — J. Wattie.
Destroying slugs on Strawberry plants.
— If " E. V." will again refer to tlie paragraph he
alludes to (p. 588) lie will find that I was simply
giving an epitome of a communication made to an-
other paper by Mr. Samuel Barlow, of Manchester.
The last paragraph should have been in inverted
commas, as an extract from Mr. Barlow's paper.
When staying with Mr. Barlow, he sliowed me his
article, and personally bore the strongest testimony
to the value of superphosphate of lime as a vermin
destroyer. I have had no experience of it myself ;
and therefore any recommendation of it for the
purpose is that made by Mr. Barlow. This gentle-
man is not only a good gardener, but an accurate
The cry in this part of the country is for rain, not
in the light flying showers with which St. Swithin
tantalised us, but in a long and steady fall that will
reach the roots of the trees and enable them to
finish off their still lightening and partial crops of
fruit. The cold, heavy nature of our marl and lime-
stone formation in hot, dry seasons gives us a de-
cided advantage, and at the present time we are
much better ofl: than many of our sandstone and
thin-soil neighbours; but for all that, we are now
going back very fast, and unless the change is de-
cided and speedy, our irregular crops of Apples and
Pears will go on thinning to a serious extent. In
cultivated gardens heavy mulching and, where that
scarce element can be obtained, copious supplies of
water are the main factors in the weekly, I may say
daily, detail, but watering, where mulching has
been neglected, is of very little avail; therefore,
better late than never, a thick covering of some
kind should still be provided for the exposed root-
run of every tree having a crop of fruit to carry to
maturity. Decayed or decaying manure, in the
majority of cases, is best, but there is no rule with-
out an exception, as tropical heat combined with
manure and water may force trees into growths
which they cannot ripen, and into a flush of leaves
which may be detrimental to the fruit. Here, at
the present time, root-pruned Peach trees are
making just a little more growth than I like, but
they have heavy crops to finish, and soon they will
feel the strain of their load. The only root cover-
ing these trees have received is a thin layer of lime
rubble laid on the wall paths early in the spring
followed by a light shake down of stable litter after
the fruit had set, and ridiculous as these heat-ab-
sorbing and moisture-retaining materials may ap-
pear, they have answered my purpose, for every
fruit has stoned, and we have neither fly nor spider
to mar the finish of the most promising crop I ever
grew.
Peabs,
as I have previously stated, are partial on wall; >
pyramids and standards, and still they drop. _ Many
of the trees, however, have required much thinning,
and next to root-watering and mulching, frequent
washing with the hose has proved invaluable to the
foliage and fruit after the sun had left the walls.
If helit and artificial moisture induce another flush
of breast wood from the upright stems of horizontal
trained trees, these growths must be pinched back
and terminal shoots must be kept closely nailed in.
Pyramids and bushes in like manner may require
regulating to let in sun and air, but owing to the
exceptional nature of the season very few of these
will need or be improved by a second pinching.
Plums
require precisely the same treatment, and, being
badly infested with aphis, the hose or garden'engine
must be applied to trees carrying fruit as often as
may be practicable— certainly until they are clean.
To otters, unfortunately too numerous, from which
very little, if any, fruit will be gathered this season,
soapsuds, of which every fruit-grower should keep
a store, may be applied two or three nights in suc-
cession. Plum aphis, however, is easily destroyed
or rendered too weak for harm, and one dose, fol-
lowed by clean water the night following, may make
the trees clean for the remainder of the season.
Work ujion barren trees is rather depressing, but
neglect only makes bad worse, as neither the young
wood nor the leaves can perform their proper func-
tions where cleansing is neglected.
Cherries.
Choice late sorts, also Morellos, must be closely
netted to keep them safe from birds, now so keenly
pressed by hunger. The first, including Bigarreau
Napoleon, one of our hardiest and best varieties,
will hang for an indefinite time if kept dry and well
covered with young growths and foliage. Moisture
just now is the reverse of troublesome, but a change
Aug. 6, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
99
from drought to heavy rain may cause nine-tenths
of the best fruit to crack, and the better to guard
aj^ainst this, broad coping boards or old lights
placed over the trees while they are yet dry will
prevent disappointment. Years ago I pinched and
summer-pruned my late Cherries, but now the lead-
ing shoots are laid in as usual, and all breast-wood
is left unpruned and unnailed until after the fruit
is gathered. The young shoots are then thinned
and trained as we now train Peach shoots, only
thinner, and the trees are better. Of all the fruit
trees grown in English gardens, none so quickly
respond to, and prove their adaptability to, exten-
sion training, the free outlet of sap apparently
checking the tendency to grossness which is the
touchstone of gumming, and the first step towards
the refuse fireplace. Cherries, like other trees, cost
time and money. Their fruit is greatly appreciated,
and for these reasons the restrictive pruning and
training which slay their thousands should be given
up and replaced by a more rational mode, as we
never see large, handsome standards in oar orchards
crippled and eaten up with green and black aphis,
the invariable bane of garden trees lashed into fury
by rich soil and manure, and paralysed by the
kniCe when they have covered the miniature space
allotted to them.
Morellos on north walls have greatly improved'
and the crop, so far as quantity goes, will be good,
but the size of the fruit, especially upon trees that
have been pruned and pegged or nailed in, will be
small. Where leaders only have been trained and
the proper complement of lateral shoots are still
growing outward they are finer, and having the
shade and protection of extra leafage will
fresh and plump well into the autumn. It is not a
good plan to wash the trees after the fruit begins
to colour and soften, but- mulching and an occa-
sional root-watering will add considerably to its
size and quality.
Peaches
having made an unusually free growth, especially
since the next year's frait bearers were nailed in,
the better to protect the fruit through the stoning
process, we have allowed them a little licence, but
the time has now arrived for going over them again,
and after pinching the points out of growths that
will be cut away when the crop is taken, another
general training will suflice for the summer. Of
water, well-drained trees will take any amount, and
having plenty, a flooding until the fruit begins to
ripen will be given every week. When swelling
away from the stoning, all leaves interfering with
full exposure to the sun must be turned aside, not
cut through the middle, and the hose freely plied
after hot days to keep spider away. The destruc-
tion of woodlice on old walls should now be taken
in hand, for once the fruit becomes palatable the
ordinary bait will lose its charm. I have already
said Lettuce leaves slightly covered with the litter
at the foot of the wall on which Peaches and
Apricots are fruiting will attract numbers to spots
available for daily scalding, the quickest and best
mode of destroying them. Wasps, too, may be
expected in great numbers, and as these gluttons
invariably attack the best Peaches, really good walls
of trees should be made wasp-proof before they pat
in an appearance. The old-fashioned method of
hanging up bottles of sweetened liquor cuts in two
ways, for whilst a few are destroyed the temp'-ing
traps attract thousands, which wisely take the fruit
in preference to the alcohol, and, finding then:-
selves in Arcadia, do not always return to their
nests at night. A wasp-proof covering, which saves
much trouble and annoyance, can be quickly and
cheaply provised by the use of Haythorn's hesigon
netting, securely fastened to the top of the coping
and to narrow boards placed edgewise on the
border. The netting being so thin and open it does
not exclude light and air ;. consequently the fruit
will colour and ripen under it, and provided a few
smooth slater's laths that will not chafe it into holes
are placed against the coping with their lower ends
4 feet from the foot of the wall, the boards, to
which it must be tacked, can be kept in position,
and a covered promenade accessible at each end
will be open for the daily examination and gather-
ing of the fruit. Netting any width in proportion
to the height of the wall can be bought, and once
provided will soon pay, as it will last for a great
number of years.
Apricots
now ripening can be protected in the same way,
but being much earlier than Peaches, it is just
possible the bulk of the crop may have been gathered
before the wasps are strong enough for mis-
chief. A hot, dry summer is favourable to the
breeding of these troublesome insects, but the long,
cold winter has been unfavourable to the sur-
vival of queens, of which I never saw so few in
May and June; consequently nests, after all, may
not be so numerous as we anticipate. This fact,
however, should not prevent a careful search over
the fields and hedgerows, as one strong nest near
home will do an immense amount of damage.
Various modes of destruction, some of them dan-
gerous, have been recommended, but the safest and
cheapest is the composing charge of gas-tar poured
into the entrance and lightly bunged down with a
sod of turf. Wasps' nests should never be dug out,
as exposure to the air not unfrequently restores
them to life. 'When all the Apricots have been
gathered the trees should be copiously hosed and
the roots well watered, as next year's crop greatly
depends upon a plentiful supply of water, not only
for plumping up the buds, but also for keeping the
roots active and healthy through the autumn and
winter. These trees, like Peaches, are worked upon
stocks, whose roots are ever foraging and extending,
and for this reason the too common practice of
allowing them to become dry after the crop is
gathered cannot be too strongly condemned, as it is
fraught with much danger.
Easpbeeeies.
Where well planted and heavily mulched, the
moi?ture-loving Raspberry has produced more fruit
than many growers anticipated — a fair proof that
deep tilth and timely mulching in the driest seasons
are the best of all aids to the cultivator who cannot
command a moderate supply of water. Few growers
touch their plantations with spade or fork, but
simply hoe the surface or hand-weed and economise
this labour by the frequent application of top-
dressing. If this mode of management so well
suits the Easpberry, surely the practical lesson
which it teaches may be brought to bear upon other
plants, trees, and bushes, which, owing to our clumsy
way of preparing for exceptionally dry seasons, we
never think of mulching until we find them parched
and suffering. To every fruit or vegetable garden
the cultivator is able to give a certain quantity of
manure annually, but whether the cut-and-dry
method of burying the greater part of it at the
winter digging, to be washed out weeks or months
before the roots require it, is a matter which may
be reversed by the recurrence of a series of dry
seasons. That good spit manure dug in during the
winter soon loses its stimulating properties theie
exists no doubt, as I have here a large tank through
whose faulty walls water can pass inwards or out-
wards. Above its level lies an acre of vegetable
ground, and within two or three weeks after th?
winter dressing is applied the ordinary rainfall
changes clear water into strong liquid the colour of
London porter. To fruit trees whose roots are
deeply seated in light, hungry soil the winter dress
ing may be beneficial, but the cool-feeding and
moisture- conserving spring mulch should follow, and
w'jere the supply does not extend to two meals, I
venture to say the spring is the best time to put on
or in the annual dressing. Whea the Raspberries
have ceased bearing, not a day should be lost in
the removal of the old canes and the selection of
the strongest and best placed for next year's frait-
ing. Of these, two, three, or four should be loosely
tied to each stake to secure them from injury by
wind and loss of foliage. Superfluous growths,
unless wanted for stock, can then be cleared away
and a thorough watering will set the old stools right
for the remainder of the season.
Steawbeeeies,
like Raspberries, enjoy a rich, moist foothcli, but,
unfortunately, it too often happens that old beds
are left to shift for themselves after the crop is
gathered. The removal of runners and weeds, often
through great stress in other parts of the garden, is
put off until a convenient season, and a thorough
soaking of water through a fresh mulch is left en-
tirely to the elements. Fruiting beds just now
stand sorely in need of a thorough drenching, not
only to free the foliage from spider and stop mil-
dew, but also to plump up the crowns and induce
the growth of fresh roots near the surface. As one
watering, unless the beds are on a dead level, will
hardly penetrate to the bottom of the old stools,
the first application may precede the removal of
runners, but this work should not be delayed ; and,
provided a good spadeful of old vine soil or other
fresh losmy compost be placed about each of the
stools, a second watering will soon work a marked
improvement. Beds that have been exhausted by
time or drought should be chopped up and well
dressed with lime, to destroy fungus and spider.
Once paralysed by dry heat, no amount of water
will restore the plants to a paying condition ; there-
fore, no time should be lost in getting the ground
cleared, broken up, and cropped with vegetables.
A correspondent has recommended shade, but Straw-
berries do not require shade, all they want is good
soil and plenty of water. Their own foliage will
then grow erect, gradually turn over and protect
the fruit, which will be large, and bright, and good,
no matter how hot may be the weather.
Xen- jilanlations. — The ground for these should
be deeply dug, well manured, and in fine tilth by
the time the young plants are ready for detachment
from their parents early in August. One of the
best preparatory crops is the early Potato, as it
necessitates frequent movement of the soil and
comes off about the end of July or the first week in
the succeeding month. On cold wet soils it is a
good plan to set out the beds 5 feet in width, and
throw out the alleys to the depth of i inches before
planting is commenced. On light warm soils the
dividing alleys are unnecessary, as the plants more
frequently suffer from drought than too much mois-
ture. In either case the beds must be made very
firm by treading, which should always be done when
the soil is dry and in condition for working without
becoming pasty. Upon the beds ch'aw three shallow
drills, one in the centre and one on either side 2 feet
from it. Take out good-sized holes with a trowel,
plant firmly 18 inches apart in the drills, giving each
plant a few handfuls of fresh loam ; water well and
level down the dry soil thrown out of the holes. When
planting on flats I draw shallow drills 2 feet apart
each way, and place a plant in each angle, water
home the soil, and mulch immediately. The beds are
hoed occasionally until the growth of weeds ceases.
All runners are pinched off at the outset, and 90 per
cent, of the plants flower freely the following year.
When the runners are pegged down upon small
pots they should be regularly watered during dry
weather, and receive an extra soaking before
they are turned out into the beds. If summer
crops of vegetables are tardy and the soil cannot
be properly prepared and pulverised by the end
of August, but little, if anything, can be gained
by summer planting, as the plants barely have time
to get established before winter is upon them. Better
prepare nursery beds early in August, and turn out
the different sorts 6 inches to 9 inches apart, whence
they can be taken to the fruiting ground as soon as
the ground becomes workable in April. Then, a
broadcast plantation being the object, the first set
of runners must be pegged down firmly and evenly ;
but the reverse of crowded upon the 5-foot beds,
whose dividing paths should be 2 feet in width for
t'le convenience of getting amongst them and
gathering the fruit. Spring planted beds do not
bear the first season, but the young plants furnish
it with well rooted runners which, together with
the parents, give a full crop the following year.
The Oechaed.
Work in this department just now is confined
to a few operations, but these are important ah^d
must not be neglected. Newly planted trees stand
first, for no matter how. well they were secured to
their stakes and watered or puddled home, the in-
tense heat and drought will have caused the ground
100
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 6, 1887.
to crack and shrink, and drag the stems down-
wards, whilst the stakes to which they are tied
having been driven into the undisturbed subsoil,
will most likely prevent them from settling without
strangling the roots. Cracks, it is hardly necessary
to say, should be well covered up with loose soil or
manure, to be washed down with one good soaking
of water, when farther covering with Grass, or any
refuse, will most likely carry them safely through
the season. Nest in order come newly grafted
stocks, young ones especially. On looking over
some a few days ago grafted quite late with scions
that had crossed the Atlantic, I was agreeably sur-
prised to find they had made an excellent start, and
required relief at the union. I do not generally
check stem-growths the first year, but having a
wish to obtain a goodly number of scions of these
American sorts, the whole of the first have been
spurred back, the ligatures have been cut, and the
growth from the scions tied to sticks to protect
them from accident. Looking amongst other trees
brought another and certainly a less gratifying fact
to light, for I found that the American blight, or
woolly aphis, had made giant strides and must have
immediate attention. Water applied with great
force dislodges a portion of the insects, but instead
of killing, simply distributes them. Soapsuds, of
which we always keep a stock, produce a temporary
check, whilst a teaoupful of paraffin added to each
pail of suds makes a sate dressing which kills every
insect it touches. Evening is the best time to apply
this wash, and two persons are required for the
work ; one to agitate the mixture, the other also
with a syringe to force it over the parts afEected. If
kept well mixed and carefully applied, this summer
wash, which is confined to the lower parts of the
young wood, will not hurt the leaves, but water be-
ing plentiful, a dash with the hose the following
morning may be advisable.
Quite recently I have seen some hundreds of
acres of orcharding, and Apples, as usually happens,
are more plentiful than many people anticipated.
A long and steady rain, no doubt, would help them,
but the very light showers we have had have re-
freshed the foliage, and with a soft balmy wind
blowing from the west, we may reasonably hope
that more will soon follow. W. C.
Rose Garden.
LIQUID MANURES FOR ROSES.
The great advantage of these over solids are that
they are sooner available as food, and more equally
and widely distributed throughout the root runs.
Solid manures are not available as food until they
are changed into liquids or gases, and these pro-
cesses need time, and while the Grass is growing the
steed may starve, that is, while the food is cook-
ing for the roots the plants may be starved for lack
of food. All this must be obvious to everyone, but
what is by no means so obvious, nor generally acted
npon, is another fact that many liquid manures are
so strong and pungent as not to be food, but poisons
for the plants. Hence the superlative importance
of the instruction, which cannot be too often re-
peated— weak and often. Neither does the full
force and vital importance of acting on this lie on
the surface, as if weak and strong doses were equally
useful in the ratio of their strength. The very
opposite of this is more nearly true, viz., that the
weaker in reason the manure water, the more and
the sooner will it nourish and feed the Roses. Of
Course there must be a limit to the degree of weak-
ness, dilution, or attenuation, and in the distant
future we shall probably have some sort of instru-
ment invented to test the manurial value of liquid
manures as we have thermometers to indicate tem-
peratures and hydrometers to measure the strength
of beer. Until such are invented and brought into
general use, there must needs be a good deal of
rough guesswork in the making and application of
liquid manures, and but little harm is likely to come
of these so long as in practice we lean to the side of
weakness. For powerful liquid manures most cer-
tainly burn and destroy roots almost as certainly as
a drench of vitriol or a soaking of boiling water .
whereas weak liquid manures can by no possibility
injure the most delicate roots, while they feed
them up to the full measure of their capacity.
All this may be familiar to the more experienced
readers of The Garden, but it is not for such
these sentences are penned, but rather for the
great hosts of amateurs who firmly believe that the
stronger the liquid the better for the Roses. How
often one hears such exclaim, what " stingo " —
whatever that may mean — they had been giving to
their Roses. Having asked to see this wonderful
stimulant with the forcible name that was to grow
such wonderful Roses, I was led in triumph to the
drainings of a stable, and a jet thrust into the
London stout, the real stingo, as my friend
triumphantly exclaimed. "Do you believe in it?"
"Believe in it, of course I do ; it is strong enough to
grow Roses without any soil at all, on Grass or
rocks." "But your Roses do not look very verdant;
their yellow tinge is assuredly no proof that they
liked the food you were giving them." " Ah, that
shows how much you know about it ; the friend
that told me to feed my Roses on stingo told me
it would change their colour." " Oh, yes ; but he
meant of their flowers, not their leaves. But, come,
that sickly yellow hue warns you that the leaves do
not like their pungent drink ; but let us have a
fork and see how the roots take to it."
On baring the roots most of them were literally
done brown, and no wonder. They had been dosed
three times a week with a liquid so strong and
pungent as to seriously injure or absolutely destroy
every delicate living tissue, and this bi-daily for over
six weeks at a time. And, of course, the only
useful portions of the roots had simply and
wholly perished. Another case almost as bad is
seen much more frequently. A quarter, half, or
whole wheelbarrow full of rank manure of fowls,
cows, or pigs is placed around the boles of Roses,
fruit trees, or other plants formed into a hollow
basin, with the stem for its lowest and central point.
On and into this clean water is poured in quantity
daily or bi-daily, the result being that much of the
rank manure is conveyed immediately to the roots.
This is considered liberal and rapid feeding, but
really in most cases it results in slow and sure root-
poisoning.
The evils of such top-dressings are more promptly
felt when guano, soot, and artificial manures are
used. The more powerful they are and the more
readily solvent, the greater the danger of an over-
dose from watering them in over the roots.
House sewage, again, is apt to become too strong
and pungent at times, especially if permitted to
accumulate until it putrifles. Drainage from stall-
fed bullocks or sheep is equally or more dangerous
from excessive concentration as that of stables. In
Belgium and other countries where a great deal of
such liquid manures are used, they are greatly
diluted before or immediately after application.
The latter is a very risky and unsafe method of
dilution, as portions of the very strongest essence
of the manures are brought into direct contact with
the roots. Diluted at something of the ratio of ten
of clear water to one of urine, such liquid manures
are among the most valuable.
On the Continent they also manufacture liquid
manure on a large scale by washing the most
soluble portions out of heaps of solid manure, and
collecting the liquid soup or broth into tanks. In
cases where the solids consist almost wholly of
animal excrement, the latter almost entirely disap-
pears under frequent washings or delugings of clean
water. Our systems of brewing liquid manures of
various sorts from the dissolution of more or less solid,
placed in barrels, tubs, or tanks, are but imitations
of the continental plan on smaller scales.
Half a bushel of pigeon's manure, sheep or cow
manure to 18 gallons or a peck of soot or guano
to the same quantitj" of water, well stirred up and
left for a day or more to dissolve and settle, form
the bases of excellent liquid manures for Roses and
nearly all other plants. These powerful extracts of
manurial matters should be drawn off clear, and be
further diluted with from six to ten times their bulk
of water before application,
Some cultivators are most anxious to draw off all
the solid in the liquid, and frequently stir up the
liquid as it is run off for the purpose of drawing
the solid residuum off in the liquid. This is quite
a mistake, for if properly incorporated with the
water at first and sufficient time is allowed for
dilution, all the useful elements of the manure will
be diffused throughout the water and not left in
the sediment. And if not, the remedy is a second
filling up of tank or tub, a second stir, &c., and not
the application of turbid liquid manure, which
really offers the roots a stone instead of food, and
if persistently applied has a most demoralising in-
fluence on the texture of the soil. No, the place for
such sedimentaceous matter is to be dug in to the
earth with solid manure. To apply it in the liquid
is to parallel the stupidity of those who would shake
up their wine bottles or beer casks every time they
pour or draw a glass from either to make sure of
their due percentage of sedimentary or solid
matter.
No ; liquid manures should be mild and clear if
they are to feed the hungry roots promptly and
abundantly. This brings us to the question of how
often should they be applied. This depends very
much upon soil, site, weather, and condition of the
plants. On average soil and sites, and during such
weather as we had throughout this Rose season, a
daily watering of an eighth of an inch at a time
would not have been excessive. Under other and
more normal states of the weather, one good water-
ing a week or twice a week would suffice.
What may be termed the jjlant's indicator to the
use of manure water is mostly misread. The
weaker the plant the more liberal the supply, seems
the rule in practice. It is right-wrong, for the
weaker the plant the less it can use up to any good
account, and food of any sort, whether for vegetable
or animal sustenance unused, is apt to degenerate
into poison. Few things are more distasteful or in-
jurious to weakly roots than to surround them with
or envelop them in food that they can neither
utilise nor get rid of. This begets nausea, or in-
ability to eat, a most debilitating form of disease
by no means confined to man or the other families
of animal life. Roses have the character of being
gross feeders. I beg leave to question it, though
they are mostly treated as if they were. The gross-
ness lies in the blunders of their cultivators, who,
not content with forcing their roots into a manure-
heap of solid manure, flood them with their stingos,
from which they can escape only by dying — the vic-
tims to an excess of food.
Growth cannot be forced beyond certain limits,
and common sense ought to teach us that the less
growth — that is, the weaker the Rose — the less food
is needed to foster and sustain it. The great point
in the use of liquid manure is to apportion the
quality and adapt the strength to the size and
character of the plants. It is meant for rapid or
immediate consumption, and therefore requires
more careful adjustment to the needs and character
of the plants than solid manure.
There is also another wide distinction. Roots can
mostly avoid solid manures by changing their course,
or in other ways, but they are compelled to drink
up our liquid foods whether they want them or not.
Their dietive affinities, amounting almost to some-
thing like choice, set a limit to our compulsory
feedings. But in the main our liquid foods must and
are absorbed by the thirsty roots that we flood or
drench with them ; hence the importance of nicely
adjusting the amount and quality of the dietary. to
the wants and, I had almost said, the wishes of our
Roses. D. T. F.
York and Lancaster Rose. — There can be
no doubt as regards the usefulness of the famous
York and Lancaster Rose, and a large bed filled with
thriving plants in flower is a delightful featui'e in
any garden, no matter how well stocked with other
choice things. At Pendell Court, Bletchingley, there
is a mass of this Rose in a bed on the turf, and the
plants were blooming freely at the time of our visit,
the delicious fragrance scenting the garden for some
considerable distance round. There is, amongst a
Aug. G, 1S87.]
THE GARDEN.
101
large number of plants, a great variation in the col-
ouring of the flowers, some being almost selfs, and
others boldly and beautifully flaked. As regards
form, the flowers are not of much account, but their
simple beauty has made them favourites with all
who appreciate and love homely plants. In the
same garden we also saw a bed of Rosa lucida, the
leafage of which is almost as beautiful as the flowers.
It gives variety and a more English aspect to a gar-
den to have beds of this description, but they are
certainly uncommon, though why it is hard to tell.
— E.
CUKIO.US CHANGES OF COLOUR IN ROSES.
The general imperfection and scarcity of high
coloured or dark Roses has been much commented
on this year. Not a few dark Roses seem to have
been scorched in the bud before they opened, to say
nothing of the thousands that -were burned in the
opening and immediately afterwards. Madame
Ducher and some other varieties have assumed all
sorts of indescribable hues. I was also startled the
other day to find a veritable bloom of Lady Mary
Fitzwilliam or Catherine Mermet, and a Jlarie Van
Houtte with all its outer petals converted into a
bronzy pink as unique as beautiful. The White
Baroness and the entire class of so-called white
Perpetuals have run through all the different shades
of pink up to pure Baroness Rothschild. Even
Niphetos has more pinky guard petals than usual,
and, in some few instances, the Marechal Niel has
had something like an infusion of rose or crimson
into its flowers of gold.
Doubtless the intense light of cloudless skies
weeks and weeks in succession has been the chief
agency in bringing about these changes of colour.
But the absence of rain and dew and consequent
paucity of food and moisture may also have con-
tributed to them. Possibly the want of rain may
have tended to induce concentration of colouring
matter in different portions of Rose blooms just as
a scarcity of oil or turps may deepen the tone of
colour on the artist's palette or canvas.
The Roses shown at the great show of the
National Society at Edinburgh seem to favour this
view ; the highest coloured Roses came from the
driest of three kingdoms — England — while the
Roses from Scotland and Ireland had less colour.
The great differences in the quality, substance,
colour, and even size and staying powers of Roses
may often be mostly accounted for through dif-
ferences of rainfall, though the data are hardly suffi-
cient to enable us to formulate the facts thus dog-
matically ; the less rain or water the more colour,
and vice rersa. But of course this dictum, if
accepted at all, must be accepted with great reserve,
and after a careful estimate of the rainfall most suit-
able for the growth of Roses to perfection. Will
the rosarians throughout England, Scotland, and
Ireland kindly furnish us with such records of rain-
fall and experience as shall help us to determine
whether or not about 30 inches of rain a year are not
the best possible supply for the perfect cultivation
and colouring of Roses ? D. T. F.
Unpruned Roses. — After several years' trial I
believe that those, when free-flowering sorts are iiseJ,
produce not only masses of flowers, but on the whole
better blooms than pruned plants of the same varie-
ties. The bushes grow 6 feet to 8 feet high, aud
multiply at the root just like wild Roses. I cut out
superfluous or worn-out shoots, and leave the others
alone, giving plenty of stable manure in autumn. My
soil is a good loam. The unpruned Roses seem less
liable to bUght and insect attacks than severely pruned
ones. — R.
Koses not opening'. — I herewith enclose buds
of the double white Macartney Rose. This is
one of the most disappointing Roses I ever met
with. The plant from which these buds were taken
is growing against a wall having a south-east aspect.
The soil is a rich loam ; the plant makes vigorous
growth and produces plenty of buds every season,
but I have never been fortunate enough to get one of
them to expand. Will any of your correspondents
tell me the reason why the buds never open ' — T. F.
*** The buds sent are quite different from the
malformed buds lately submitted to us. The buds
are properly formed, and normally arranged so far
as calyx and external appearance go. On cutting
them through, however, from crown to base, the
long petals bend back over the crown of the bud,
and the pressure of the points of these downwards
over the bud masses seems to forcibly prevent their
unfolding into Roses. This pressure appears also
to act powerfully on the stamens and pistils, causing
a sort of second Rose to form among these through
the transformation of these into petals. The foli-
age and character of the double Macartney Rose
sent are widely different from the single Macartney
I have grown. The Rose sent is a delicate scented
white Rose with glossy leaves. Possibly a change
of aspect to the south or west and a semi-starving
treatment might help the buds to open. The latter
seem virtually closed through redundancy or con-
fusion of material, and either way more heat and
less food might prove a remedy. A change of soil
and also of climate are also highly beneficial at
times. Has " T. F." tried this Rose under glass or
on any other aspect than the south-east border ? If
so, will he kindly state the results under these
different conditions ?— D. T. F.
Ferns.
W. H. GOWEK.
LEUCOSTEGIAS.
The plants included in this genus belong to the
family of Hare's-foot Ferns (Davallia), and are
nearly allied to the Humatas, from which, how-
ever, their habit is thoroughly distinct. The
habit of growth I consider one of the chief
characters in forming groups of Ferns, yet this
point is entirely ignored by those who do not
examine living plants. The various species
inhabit the Polynesian Islands, tropical Asia,
and New Zealand, but as far as I am aware
none have been found in America or in any
part of Africa.
Most of the species form beautiful ornaments
in the fernery when well grown, and the
majority display the elegance of their fronds to
the greatest advantage when treated as basket
plants. If, however, it is wished to treat them
as pot plants, broad pots or shaUow pans are
preferable, as these afford more surface for
their creeping rhizomes to extend. The soil for
these plants should be wholly rough peat,
except where otherwise specified, and if it is
raised in a cone-like manner above the pot it
will increase the surface and render the plant
more effective.
L. CH^5EE0PHTLLA. — This charming Fern may be
grown in either a temperate house, Wardian case,
or stove, although it must be confessed it thrives
most luxuriantly in stove heat. It has a stout,
creeping rhizome, which is clothed with broad, chaffy
scales. The fronds are three or four times divided ;
the segments very finely cut, from 1 foot to 2 feet
high; when young very bright green, slightly tinged
with pink, the mature frond being pale green. It
appears to be widely distributed in India.
L. IMMEKSA. — A very distinct plant, forming
underground rhizomes, from which numerous elegant
fronds are produced, which are from 1 foot to 2 feet
long, about three times divided, and very pale
yellowish green in colour. It thrives well in the
greenhouse fernery in the summer, but by no means
objects to stove temperature. In whichever situa-
tion it is growm, it always loses its fronds in the
winter months, at which season the underground
rhizomes must not be kept dry; the pots containing
them should be kept in greenhouse temperature, and
the soil in a nice friable, moist state. The keeping
of the plant through the winter is a matter of im-
portance, because if kept dry the rhizomes will
suffer (if they do not die), and the fronds piroduced
the following season will be small and weak. It is
found in Northern India at considerable elevations.
L. JlEilBEANULOSA. — A very distinct and bold-
growing species ; the creeping rhizome is stout and
densely clothed with soft brown, chaffy scales ; the
fronds are supported upon bright brown stems, and
are from 1 foot to 2 feet in length, and -1 inches to
.5 inches in breadth, twice-divided, the pinnules
being deeply lobed ; the texture is thicker than in
any of the previously named kinds. I believe this
plant and L. immersa were both introduced to cul-
tivation by the Messrs. RoUisson, of Tooting. It is
a native of Northern India.
L. BOENEENSIS. — This species has been placed in
the genus Lastrea, which, perhaps, would not have
occurred had the author had the advantage of see-
ing the plant in a living state. The rhizome is
stout, the fronds being lanceolate in outline, some-
what coriaceous in texture, and persistent. It forms
a handsome specimen, but it requires stove tem-
perature. It was discovered by Mr. Lobb near
Sarawak.
L. PAEVTJLi. — This species is one of the most
beautiful little gems in the whole familj' of Ferns.
The rhizome is long, thin, and creeping, and clothed
with red scales ; the fronds, seldom 1 inch or 2 inches
in height, are almost fan-shaped, and are cut into
very narrow segments, the colour being intense deep
green. It is admirably adapted for clothing the
stem of a Tree Fern. This species was first intro-
duced to cultivation by Messrs. Low, of Clapton,
from Borneo.
L. HIESUTA. — This is the Davallia ciliata of
Hooker. It forms a handsome specimen ; its rhi-
zomes are clothed with almost silky brown hairs,
and the fronds are lanceolate in outline, more or
less hairy, about twice divided, 1 foot or 18 inches
long, and deep green in colour. A stove plant from
the Philippines.
A noble Tree Fern. — In the conservatory ad-
joining Seacox Heath House, the beautiful Sussex
residence of the Right Hon. G. J. Goschen, there is
a remarkably fine specimen of Dicksonia antarctica.
It has a clear stem 12 feet high, and is carrying not
less than 100 grand fronds, each fully 10 feet long
and proportionately broad. The stem is covered with
Ficus repens, long growths of this trailing down
beautifully. It is rooting in a compost consisting
of equal portions of turfy loam and peat, this being
hid by a carpeting of Selaginella Kraussiana. The
border, being well drained, admits of very large
quantities of water being given, and wh'ch Mr.
Gilmour, the gardener in charge of these gardens,
considers this class of plants require. A certain, or
the requisite, amount of shade is afforded by Tac-
sonias and other climbers overhead. — W. I.
Acrosticlium aureum. — This is the typical
anR only species in the genus ; it is widely distri-
buted over the Fern regions of both hemispheres,
assuming different aspects in different positions.
Its full beauties are brought out, however, in a
marked degree when the plant is treated as a sub-
aquatic, and just now fine examples of the plant
are to be seen in the tropical aquarium at Kew.
The fronds are erect, several feet in height, pinnate ;
the segments are glabrous, from S inches to a foot
long, and bright light green in colour. The veins
are netted, and the fertile segments are wholly
covered with sori. It should be potted in loam and
sand.— W. H. G.
Polybotrya osmundacea. — This is a bold,
handsome Fern, some fine examples of which may
now be seen in the Kew collection. The creeping
stem is stout and woody, densely clothed with large
pale brown, chaffy scales. The infertile fronds are
several feet in length, three-times divided, broad,
and spreading ; the lowersegments 1 inch to 2 inches
in length, and deep green in colour. The fertile
fronds are as large as the barren ones, but the seg-
ments are very much reduced in size. These fertile
fronds are very fugitive, but the barren ones are
persistent, and the plant forms a noble ornament to
a stove fernery. It should be potted in rough loam
and peat.— W. H. G.
Polypodium suspensum. — This Fern has long
been known to us by herbarium specimens, and we
were much pleased to see good examples of it
growing in the collection at Kew. It is a pinnate-
fronded Fern, reaching 1 foot to 1| feet in length.
102
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 6, 1887.
The naked stems are erect, but bend from the first
pinnfe, and thus are pendulous. It is admirably
suited for covering a prominent boulder in the
natural fernery, or for planting upon the top of a
short Tree-Fern stem. It requires stove heat.
Native of Tropical America. — W. H. G.
Orchids.
CHysis.
This genus was established by Lindley upon
C. aurea, and all the kinds which have since
been introduced bear a very close resemblance
to that plant in everything but colour ; never-
theless, for garden purposes it is quite neces-
sary they should bear a distinctive name. These
plants are characterised by their thick stem-like
pseudo-bulbs, which usually grow to about a
foot in height, bearing large, sheathing thin
leaves, which are strongly ribbed. The leaves fall
away after the growth is mature, and the flower-
spike is produced with the new growth, the
flowers opening when the leaves and shoot are
about half-developed, so that the absence of
foliage upon the old stems is not noticeable.
These flowers are thick and fleshy in texture, and
if not sprinkled with water will retain their beauty
unimpaired for two or three weeks. Naturally,
1 believe, these plants are epiphytal, but they
succeed best with us treated as pot plants.
They require for soil the ordinary material for
Orchids, i.e., fibrous peat and Sphagnum Moss.
AVhen growing they enjoy strong heat and an
abundant supply of water, but during the period
of rest, moisture should be entirely withheld,
their thick fleshy bulbs enabling them to with-
stand a severe drying without injury, and I
believe they require such treatment to induce
them to flower. At the same time it will be ad-
visable to reduce the temperature somewhat
during the winter months.
C. BKACTESCENS has been an inhabitant of our
plant houses for nearly half a century, and first
flowered in this country in 1840. The raceme is
drooping, and bears from five to ten large, thick,
and fleshy flowers, which in the sepals and petals
are pure waxy white ; the lip is also white, more or
less deeply stained with yellow, and streaked with
crimson. Flowers of a very fine form of this plant
came to us this spring from Dr. Paterson, of the
Bridge of Allan, and we recently saw it in excel-
lent condition with Mr. Measures, of Camberwell.
It is a native of Mexico.
C. AUREA, the first known species, also produces
a drooping raceme, but does not usually bear more
than five or sis flowers ; the sepals and petals are
rich yellow, tipped with crimson ; the lip is also
yellow, dotted and spotted with crimson and purple.
It usually blooms in May and June. This species
is now blooming well in Mr. Measures' garden at
Camberwell, where these plants are great favourites
and are admirably grown. It is a native of A'enezuela.
C. CiiELSONi is a garden hybrid raised between
the two previously named plants in the estaljlish-
ment of the Messrs. Veitob, of Chelsea. There
would appear to be some misapprehension respect-
ing the parents of this plant, for whilst the raisers
give the above-named plants, Mr. Williams suggests
it has been obtained between C. Limminghei and
C. Isevis, whilst the Floral Mar/azine gives C. Lim-
minghei and C. bractescens as its progenitors.
The sepals and petals are nankeen yellow, blotched
near the tips with rose colour ; lip bright yellow,
spotted and streaked with purplish red.
C. Limminghei is a charming plant introduced
by M. Linden from Lrasscls, and flojvered for the
first time in England in the nursery of Messrs.
Jackson at Kingston. Sepals and petals creamy
white, blotched near the apex with pale purple or
lilac; lip yellowish, front lobe purplish rose
lotched and streaked wit li deep piu-ple and crimson'
C. LiEvis. — This is a Mexican plant, bearing
from five to ten flowers of a large size upon its
drooping racemes ; the sepals and joetals are yellow
at the base, passing into tawny orange ; lip yellow,
spotted and dotted with crimson, front lobe beauti-
fully crisp. It is one of the earliest to bloom,
opening its flowers sometimes in the month of
January.
SHORT NOTES.— ORCHIliS.
Aerides Eohanianum. — I send you flowers of an
Aerides which lias bloomed for the fir»t time. It was
bought as the above variety. Kindly say if it is true
to name. — W.
*#* Yes ; it appears to be a bad variety of the kind
named, but the species has flowered so seldom that we
should like to see the flower unpressed. — Ed.
Dendrobium Dearei.— This is quite a gem,
either for hand bouquets or for button-hole bouquets.
Being pure white, with the exception of a greenish
tinge about the throat, and very durable, it may safely
be considered one of the best of the Deudrobes. It
ought never to be dried oif or rested in auy way, but if
kept growiug iu a brisk heat, the plant's vigour is
maintained and plenty of flowers will be produced in
the spring and summer months, the same growths giving
two or three lots of flowers. We have a plant that has
been in flower six weeks, and the blooms appear as
fresh as ever. They commonly last three months, very
few other Orchids at all equalling it iu this respect.
— M.
shine is considerably in excess of what we get in
this country. As the capability of a plant to resist
the combined influences of cold and wet in a great
measure depends on its maturity in the autumn, it
is evident that in many instances bulbous flowers
do not get a fair chance when crowded amongst
other things. The soil around them cannot get so
warm and dry as when there is nothing in the way
of vegetation to keep off the sun and parching air.
Some bulbous plants, such as the Calochorti, re-
quire to be well ripened after they have died down,
or they are almost sure to suffer greatly in winter.
Many kinds of Daffodils, such as the white Trumpet
kinds, Corbularia Bulbocodium, and bulbous-rooted
Irises, &c., belong to this category. In many gar-
dens where this class of plants now fails they would
in all probability succeed if the bulbs were sufli-
ciently ripened after flowering. Well ripened bulbs
will assuredly bloom better than such as have not
received the benefit of the most favourable climatal
influences. J. C. B.
Flower Garden.
HARDY BULBOUS FLOWERS IN MASSES.
The practice commonly followed of dotting hardy
bulbs among the ordinary occupants of the her-
baceous border is not calculated to convey a true
idea of their value. One good breadth of Snow-
drops or Daffodils will produce a much finer effect
than the same number of bulbs will give if distri-
buted over a larger area of ground. We have only
to note the pleasing eft'ect of our own spring-flower-
ing bulbs where they are growing naturally to be
convinced that this is the best plan to adopt.
Scillas,Triteleias,and similar things of lowly growth
do not show to great advantage in small clumps,
but when seen flowering in large masses they are
very effective. There are few more pleasing floral
pictures than where the early spring sun lights up
good breadth of the Siberian Squill.
An advantage not to be lost sight of in thus group-
ing hardy bulbs is that one always knows exactly
where they are. When they are dotted about among
the miscellaneous occupants of the borders their
exact whereabouts is often forgotten, and during
the annual cleaning and digging they are apt to be
destroyed. When borders are being dug I have
frequently seen a whole spadeful of bulbs turned
up. This is not at all the treatment that bulbs
like, and is often the cause of the rather mysterious
disappearances that occur with this class of hardy
flowers. I am acquainted with the owner of a
garden who for some years has made hardy dower
culture a speciality, and the money that he has ex-
pended in the purchase of hardy bulbs would have
stocked five or six such gardens had they got any-
thing like fair treatment after planting. Most of
them were planted among or in the front of shrubs,
and when the annual digging takes place the bulbs
are ruthlessly destroyed. It is true that each
clump is marked with a zinc label with a number
on it, but the workman often simplifies matters
by turning in label and all. Unless a workman
is fully impressed with the necessity for great
caution when digging among hardy bulbs, he is sure
to injure some of them, unless large white painted
labels are used, in which case a garden looks like a
miniature cemetery. In small gardens it is gene-
rally practicable to set aside a corner for bulbous
plants, where no digging being allowed and a top-
dressing of rotten manure being given annually,
they will increase and make a fine display at their
appointed time. There is another advantage in
growing bulbous plants by themselves that ought
not to be overlooked. A great many of them come
from countries where the average amount of sun-
THE CARNATION AND PIGOTEE.
The exhibitions of these fine old garden flowers are
over for the season, and the hot, dry weather of the
last few weeks has quite finished the brilliant dis-
play in the open ground. AVe grow a very small
number out of doors, except seedlings, but the seeds
from which these plants have been raised are saved
from carefully hybridised fiowers of the best varie-
ties, and they certainly make a most gorgeous dis-
play in beds or borders. Anybody can grow seed-
lings to a high degree of excellence by cultivating
them much in the same way as they would Stocks
and Asters. We sow the seeds about the same
time — early in April. This gives time for the plants
to grow to a flowering size before the end of the
season. We have several hundred plants of various
strains now planted out in the open ground, and we
are not very particular as to position if the ground
is drained. Stagnant water in winter combined with
severe frost might be injurious, but I never knew
frost to kill seedling Carnations or Picotees in any
kind of soil, unless it was combined with stagnant
water. We ought, in cultivating our garden
favourites, to take some account of the circum-
stances under which they are found growing in a
state of nature. Where do we find the Carnation .'
Not on damp, low-lying ground in rich loam, but
on dry banks, or even attached to the walls of old
ruined castles, where the roots find sufficient sus-
tenance in the dciri.i of decaying mortar rubbish.
Of course, the fine flowers we are able to grow in
our gardens require more generous treatment. A
good loam well .worked to the depth of 2 feet and
enriched with decayed manure is the best treatment
for them. Plants cultivated iu pots are often in-
jured by overdoses of artificial manure, and some-
times the potting mould itself is too rich. This
last is an error which should be avoided at the
first, as it cannot be altered afterwards. No delay
should now take place in proceeding with the layer-
ing of the " Grass," as it is termed. I like to see it
all finished early in August ; the blooms are late
this year, but that need not hinder the work of
layering, which should be proceeded with rapidly
until the whole of the jilants are finished.
The process of layering is generally understood,
and is a simple enough garden operation. The
lower leaves are stripped from the growth to be
layered, and a notch is cut in the stem with a sharp
knife, cutting upwards through a joint ; iieg the
layers firmly in the soil at the cut portion, cover
over with fine sandy soil, and the process is finished.
Many persons may be anxious to know something
about the new varieties, and whether they are supe-
rior to those already in cultivation. The process of
selection in the flaked and bizarre Carnations as
well as in the classes for edged Picotees is very slow.
But the new varieties are certainly taking the place
of the old in the whole of the classes. Beginning
with the Carnations, Admiral Curzon, which has
held the highest place for a ]ieriod of forty years
at least, has fallen into the background at last,
and newer varieties with more vigorous constitu-
tions have taken its place, at least in the south.
Robert Lord, Fred and Arthur Medhurst, were the
Aug. 6, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
103
best varieties exhibited this year. They received
the (irst-class certificates of the Carnation and
Picotee Society in 1ST7. It may surprise those
who fancy that the scarlet bizarre Carnation is
quite a modern type to know there is a well-
ooloured plate of an exceedingly good variety,
named Tai-tar (Franklin), in the Botanical Mar/n-
zhie, tab. 39. This figure was published in the
year 17SS, but as it bears favourable comparison
with those grown in the present day, the process
of selection must have been going on many years
previous to that early date. Indeed the editor,
Mr. Curtis, states that it " was not figured as the
most perfect flower of the kind, either in form or
size, but as being a very fine specimen of the sort."
Probably this is the first Carnation published as a
plate in colours. The next class is the crimson
bizarres, but neither in this nor the following one,
pink and purple bizarres, have I observed any im-
provement. Harrison Weir is rich in colour and
beautifully marked. H. K. Mayor I have given up,
as it lost its rich colour. Shirley Hibberd is fine ;
and in the pink and purple class, Mrs. Barlow,
Mrs. Whitbouru, Squire Llewelyn, William Skirv-
ing, and Miss Gorton are the best. This last-named
variety is pale in colour, but not more so than Sarah
Payne. It has been our best during the last two
years.
In purple flakes there is certainly no improve-
ment in any of the new varieties that I have seen.
James Douglas, certificated twelve years ago at
Manchester, is still the best. Squire Whitbourn is
next to it with us ; while Mayor of Nottingham and
Florence Nightingale are next to them in the order
of their names.
Scarlet flakes, if one might judge by the awards
at South Kensington on the 2Gth of July, have been
improved by the addition of Alisemond, a well-
formed flower, with broad, perfectly-formed petals;
it was awarded premium as the best Carnation of
any class in the exhibition. It is also a vigorous,
grower. Matador stands at the head of the older
varieties ; it is one of Dr. Aberorombie's seedlings.
John Ball is also an extra fine variety in this class,
and Sportsman, a sport from Admiral Curzon.
Henry Cannell has usually been fine, but it was
not at its best this year.
Kose flakes are well represented by Rob Boy and
Tim Bobbin, both seedlings raised by a celebrated
amateur, Mr. Richard Gorton, of Ecoles.
Thalia was well shown this year, and was awarded
first and second prizes in the class for rose flakes.
It is a new variety not yet sent out.
Jessica and Sybil are also excellent varieties in
this beautifuUy-marked class.
The self flowers are very numerous now, and
many of them are very beautiful. Purple Emperor,
exhibited by Mr. Turner, is a very handsome flower,
as well as the most richly-coloured of the purple
selfs. Will Threlfall is also a very superior yellow
self, large in size and of good form, but not so rich
in colour as a variety sent from Germany named
Ernest Senary, which, I fancy, when it can have
the same chance as some of the others, will easily
surpass them. It is quite golden in colour. The
Governor is a really handsome variety of the self
class. Rosa Bonheur is quite a distinct shade of
soft pink, and very pretty.
Picotees were very much out of character this
year. Those that ought to have been what we term
heavy-edged were not more than medium-edged,
but such as they were, Brunette, Dr. Abercrombie,
Princess of Wales, and John Smith were the best
heavy-edged red varieties ; the best light red being
Mrs, Gorton, Dr. Horner, and Thomas William. In
the heavy purple-edged class, Murieland Mrs. Chan-
cellor are still the best, and in the light-edged section
the new variety Pride of Leyton, raised by a surgical
instrument maker, Mr. Headland, is a decided ac-
quisition. Her Majesty is a lovely variety also in
•this class. The heavy rose-edged class has received
an excellent addition in Mrs. Sharpe ; it is a splendid
variety, richer and more decided in its broad, rosy
scarlet edge; it throws Constance Heron into the
shade. Liddington's Favourite is easily at the
head of its class, light rose. It is the best Picotee
yet raised, not only in this class, but in any other.
It was awarded premium as being the best Picotee
in the exhibition. Mrs. Payne, a very beautiful
variety, used to occupy this position, but it has
fallen into the second place.
The class for yellow ground varieties has been
strengthened by the addition of Almira, a very
large, bright yellow, the petals barred with red at
the margin. Annie Douglas, also of the largest
size, with a heavy rosy red margin; Agnes Cham-
bers, yellow, with broad petals margined with rose.
There are also some new forms with a buff ground
colour, of which a variety named Terra Cotta is the
type; they are also large in size and vigorous
growers. Ne Plus Ultra and Prince of Orange are
the best of the older yellow ground varieties ; they
are all vigorous growers. There is great room for
improvement in the classes of yellow Picotees; we
want the yellow ground varieties of a clear yellow
colour, without spot or bar in the petals, and the
edges narrow or broad, the same as the white
ground varieties. There is a wide field open to
cultivators, and the varieties we have are as vigorous
in constitution as any of the others.
J. Douglas.
White Foxgloves. — Our strain of these, of a
pure white colour with dark leaves, has, to a rather
unusual degree, the not uncommon and very useful
quality of making a quantity of good, free-flower-
ing side growth after the main flowering-stem has
been out away. This is very convenient where they
are used in a mixed border, as it the plants had to
come right away their place would be diihcult to
fill up at this time of year. Moreover, bush Fox-
gloves, though not so graceful as Foxgloves in single
spires in June, are not plants to be despised in
August. — G. J.
Sweet Fea Prince of Orange.— This new
Pea is very free flowering and the colour very effec-
tive. Those which were sown in small pots in the
spring and planted out have done remarkably well.
I consider that is the best way to grow Peas, if
only the space and time can be spared, for in this
case one can feel certain about the work they are
undertaking. Where they are sown outside we have
mice and birds and wet weather to contend with.
I sowed a lot outside this spring of common varie-
ties, and had to sow three times and then did not
get half a crop of flowers ; but those sown in pots
and transplanted flourished amazingly. — W. A
Cook.
Hollyhocks. — It is specially interesting to
note that in spite of the exceeding drought Holly-
hock plants are this year very free from the
Puccinia fungus, the which has decimated this
favourite garden flower so severely in years past.
The chief evidences of the fungus are found on a
few old stools, but even on those slightly as com-
pared with the attacks of former years. Seedling
plants seem to be absolutely free from the fungus.
In previous years I have always found the fungus
most destructive when the weather was dryest. We
have now good reason to hope that this fungus has
done its worst, and that we may grow Hollyhocks
once more in certain assurance of obtaining from
them fine spikes of glorious flowers. — A. D.
Mar^h Ox - eye Daisy (Chrysanthemum
lacustre). — I am not certain whether the fine white
autumn Daisy I have here is lacustre or maximum,
as I have seedling plants under both names from
Continental stocks, and I find no difference in them.
It is, however, a grand hardy autumn flower, and it
is worthy of note, as it resists the drought so well.
My plants are in a very dry plate, yet they are
doing remarkably well for the season, especially as
some other perennials close by seem literally
withered up. Not only does this fine Daisy seed,
but I found last year that Pjrethrum uliginosum
seeded also, although but sparingly. The two kinds
rank amongst the finest and most serviceable of
hardy autumn perennials. — A. D.
Chimney Campanula. — Campanula pyra-
midalis is very commonly grown as a greenhouse
plant, but is apt to be neglected out of doors. This
is to be regretted, as in many positions it is a noble
garden plant, while a greenhouse at this season,
with its usual thin sprinkling of Fuchsias and
Balsams, is always less enjoyable than the open
garden. It is a plant that' enjoys a place with its
roots against cool stones, and will even grow well
in the chinks or at the foot of a shady wall. It
will grow 6 feet high or more, and in some positions
wants staking, but a very short stick a foot out of
the ground with two firm ties is quite enough,
just to save it from breaking down at the collar. —
G.J.
LILIES.
This has not been a great Lily season, as the
drought has proved too much for the plants, in-
ducing a dwarf, stunted growth, with the result
that the flowers have not been of that finish, size,
and form which we are accustomed to see in more
favourable years. When visiting several gardens in
the course of a few weeks at this period, one is
able to gather interesting particulars as to the
behaviour of Lilies in such a phenomenal season
as this. In some instances the plants are blooming
with their wonted vigour, but in many cases the
dry weather has seriously interfered with them,
such kinds as the strong growing scarlet Mar-
tagon Lily (L. chalcedonicum) and L. Humboldti
thriving the best, especially in positions screened
from the fierce glare of the sun, and where the
roots can be kept moist. In a Middlesex cottage
garden, situated in a hot, dry spot, we saw
the old L. candidum in splendid condition, but
even this famous border plant has not passed
through the trial unharmed; for although the
flowers are plentiful, they are not of the proper
size, and in one instance they were very small,
owing to the dryness of the soil and the high tem-
perature which has prevailed for several weeks. L.
auratum is now in full perfection, and it is remark-
able what rapid strides this has made in popularity
in quite recent times. Not very long ago it was a
rarity, but now it is seen on all sides, even in the
small plot attached to the suburban villa. It is not
considered the tender, delicate plant it was when
first introduced, and its adaptability for growing in
pots has made it still further a highly prized Lily.
The flowers are not only valuable for their large
size, superb form and fragrance, but in colour
they are very variable, some pure white, save the
yellow bands on the segments, others thickly and
richly spotted with various colours, principally
crimson or shades of the same. A very beautiful
variety is virginale, well named, the flowers being
almost white, larger than those of the type, and
with well expanded segments, so that we have a
bold, handsome bloom. It is quite hardy, and de-
sirable for cultivating in pots. L. Browni is a
favourite Lily, and, like L. auratum, does best
when planted amongst shrubs, as Rhododendrons,
for instance, so that the tender stems may be
protected from spring frosts, and it is also partial
to a peaty soil, though it will thrive well in a light
well drained border. A new Lily, named L.
odorum, undoubtedly a form of L. Browni, and
which I saw recently at Mr. T. S. Ware's, is
a most handsome variety, the flowers partaking
strongly of the character of L. Browni, but their
fragrance is more delicate and the colours more de-
cided. In the bud state the flowers are pale yellow,
but change as they expand to creamy white. A dis-
tinct, useful, and old-fashioned Lily is the Canadian
Lily (L.canadense), of which the variety named ru-
bi-urn is worthy of note. Both this and the type I have
seen in excellent condition where the soil has been
of a moist, holding character. The old scarlet Mar-
tagon, L. chalcedonicum, has made excellent growth
this season, the plants of the usual height, strong,
and with plenty of foliage. This is one of the very
best of border Lilies owing to the brilliant scarlet
colour of its flowers. L. c. maculatum is a distinct
and useful variety, similar to the type, but with the
segments broader, and spotted with deep purple on
the exterior. L. c. Heldreichi is of compact, sturdy
habit, and blooms a little later ; the flowers are scar-
let, but with the segments more closely arranged.
Two interesting Lilies to me are L. ooncolor and its
variety Coridion. Both are of dwarf growth, and
104
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. C, 1887.
resemble the beautiful pulchellum, but in the last-
mentioned species we have only a single bulb, and
the flowers are also borne in umbels. In L. concolor
the segments are narrow, pointed, and scarlet, and
in the variety t'oridion they are yellow ; both are
worth growing, and do well in peat.
In the elegans or Thunbergianum section there
are several fine Lilies, and the majority are well
adapted for pots. They also make useful border
Lilies, not requiring the attention necessary in the
case of more tender kinds. Among the rarer kinds,
L. Batemannia; is worthy of note ; it reminds one of
the late-flowering Armeniacum venustum, producing
a fine head of orange-coloured flowers, and attaining
a height of about 4 feet. Brevifolium, red, sparsely
spotted ; cruentum, deep crimson, distinct ; and Van
Houttei, richly coloured, are also useful varieties ;
while there are two or three new kinds of which we
shall have something to say later on. L. Humboldti
I have seen growing exceedingly well this season ;
it will attain over 6 feet in height when in a place
that suits it. The flowers, somewhat variable in
their markings, are orange, richly and usually thickly
spotted with crimson, the colours efli'ective and de-
cided ; L. Hansoni, the Japanese yellow Martagon,
flowers yellow, spotted with crimson ; and the
lovely rose-coloured L. Krameri, are also valuable.
1 recently saw a spike of the last named bearing
seven flowers. It was of good form, size, and
colour — an unusual occurrence. L. longiflorum
is a Lily that is being greatly used for growing
in pots, and nothing could be better, as the habit
is dwarf, and the flowers white and fragrant.
A variety with variegated foliage is interesting, the
flowers being white, and the foliage glaucous,
coloured with a broad margin of white. L. neil-
gherrense is not yet in bloom, as it does not usually
flower until the autumn. L. Nelsoni and L. Take-
simiE are also both beautiful kinds. L. Martagon
dalmaticum is of a very deep purplish crimson, but
the odour is strong, pungent, and disagreeable;
we rather prefer the white L. d. album. The com-
mon Orange Lily (L. croceum) needs no remark.
Its variety, L, c. tenuifolium, is a graceful grower,
the segments orange and arranged in cup-like
form. L. pardalinum is a well-coloured kind; so
also is L. philadelphicum, which grows about
2 feet high, and has wide-spreading segments, rich
scarlet in colour, spotted with purple. An interest-
ing variety is L. rubescens, which is very small, the
flowers opening pure white, then shading to pink
and afterwards to a purple colour; this usually
attains a height of about 4 feet. L. testaceum, the
buff-coloured Lily, has flowered well, and is one of
the best, being of easy culture; the flowers are
fragrant and freely produced. The old Tiger Lily
(L. tigrinum) and its varieties are very valu-
able, not only for the beauty, showiness, and bold-
ness of the flowers, but for their late-blooming
character. The type will grow almost anywhere,
and the double form, together with the variety
named splendens, are two of the most effective
border kinds we have, their bold beauty and fiery-
coloured flowers making a fine feature in the garden
when it is most required. In the above descriptions
many beautiful Lilies have been omitted ; but it
would be interesting if those who have collections
would send notes as to the behaviour of the rarer
species and varieties in this hot and dry season.
E. C,
Traveller's Joy (Clematis Vitalba).— This capital
plant should be in every garden, except, perhaps, in
chalk districts, where it rambles over every hedge. For
roughish places or arbours aud many of the wilder parts
of gardens nothing can he prettier than its foamy
masses and festoons. It is also of groat use for cut-
tuig, both m good lengths and also in single sections
cut between the main joints, so that each piece has a
pair of leaves and flowers. It looks well with any of
the bright-coloured flowers of the season.— G. J.
Tlie Madonna Lily (Lilium candidum).— I have
twenty-six clumps of Lilium candidum. They wore
top-dressed last autumn with old stable manure, aud
have bloomed profusely this summer in spite of the
long drought. Can any of you.r readers advise mo as
to feeding them again this coming autumn ? I have
been advised to top-dress the plants once in three years,
but the bulbs having thrown up such a quantity of
bloom, I should like to know if it would hurt them if
they were again top-dressed, aud with what material.
— M. T.
NOTES ON HARDY PLANTS.
Aristolochia rotunda has at least two features
not common to its genus. It is not showy, but per-
fectly hardy, and blooms most freely. The curiously
marked pitcher-like flowers are 2 inches long, and
are produced at the axil of nearly every round and
stem-clasping leaf. The leaves being somewhat
small and the stems slender, the flowers are fairly
conspicuous ; they are greenish white on the tube,
bronzy-green on the upper surface of the lid, and
there is almost a black patch on the under part ;
the tube is striped with dark brown or chocolate.
The whole effect of the plant is neat, and it is
rather attractive.
Oxytropis Halleri is one of the brightest of
alpines. It is compact in habit, the foliage is of
good substance, and the flowers highly coloured,
and freely produced on short stems.
Nepaul Poppy (Meconopsis nepalensis) has
failed to open many of its flowers, doubtless owing
to the great heat which scorched the buds. Singu-
larly enough, however, the buds developed into seed
pods, and the plants present the odd feature of the
usually fugacious sepals still adhering over the pods
Alpine Forget-me-not (Jlyosotis alpestris).—
This is often confused with M. rupioola. I have
grown side by side the last-named from the Swiss
Alps, and several plants of alpestris procured from
the Scotch habitat on Ben Lawers, and they are
quite distinct. M. alpestris being much larger, is
certainly far more effective. It is, however, when
the two varieties are examined closely that the
distinction is apparent. I have just made a sowing
of home-ripened seed of alpestris. I hope it may
come equal to the parent plants, for I am thoroughly
satisfied that as an early, long-lasting, brilliant
flower, it is far the best of all the annual or peren-
nial Forget-me-nots.
Primula purpurea (Royle).— The way in
which I am trying to propagate this flne Primrose,
since, as mentioned a short time ago, the seed
tailed to mature, is by division of the crown. The
mode is as follows : Three weeks ago I bared the
crown, keeping the plant in the pot in which it is
growing. I then removed all the black decayed part of
the root-stock, and with a sharp knife I divided the
base of the crown into four, being careful to retain
as many roots as possible to each part. A few of
the outer leaves may fall off, but the inner ones
remain crisp. Already young roots are pushing
from each quarter. In a little time, when the new
roots touch the present surface, the soil will be
further removed for about an inch, the plant, which
until then had the appearance of being but one
plant, will be cut off at the level of the reduced
surface. I shall then have a detached plant with
nearly 2 inches of the old roots, and the new ones
formed on each of the quarters. I afterwards cut
the plant through upwards into four and plant at
once, giving shade. The reason why I sever the
plant from the lower roots yet intact in the pot is
of the possibility of some of the strong roots push-
ing growth at the tops, as they sometimes do in
these large species. With that view the lower and
more flbrous parts are not disturbed, and the cut
tops are left a little bare. I have just examined
the plant in question, and I notice crowns are
forming between the outermost leaves, and the
young roots from the cut parts are numerous and
nearly half an inch long. All this time the plant is
kept in a moist and shady corner out of doors. Of
course, I should try such a mode of propagation
only in early summer.
Siberian Lungwort (Pulmonaria dahurica).—
If strong plants of this are carefully divided after
flowering and the pieces potted, it may be had in
bloom in the autumn. Some portion of the roots
should go with each division, as though the plants
may start into growth, they will neither flower nor
be able to pass through the winter.
Houstonia caerulea. — I always succeed better
with this in pots than in the open ground ; my gar-
den is hot and dry in summer, even in ordinary
summers. It we take into account that the plant
rarely roots deeper than 2 inches, it will be seen
that it may be readily accommodated in small pots.
In the bottom I place stithsh loam to retain mois-
ture, and for the roots a mixture of peat, leaf -mould,
and grit; so provided for, the plants, both of the
blue and white forms, make rapid progress, but I
do not allow them to flower until at least 3 inches
across, so that it often happens that this early
flower is in its greatest beauty in late summer. I
have just picked for a friend a perfectly double
flower of the typical or blue form ; the calyx seemed
to have become petaloid, or at any rate there was
no calyx at the base of the long tube; it was a
charming flower. J. WOOD.
WooihiUe, KirltstaU.
Double white Pbloz Drummondi. — This is
one of the more recent German novelties. At first
I felt very much disappointed with it, because the
flowers are but semi-double, whilst the colour seemed
dull. As the plants grew, however, and side shoots
came out, I found the flowers purer in colour and
very freely produced. My few plants, to give them
a fair trial, have been grown in large pans, and
have thus had all the help of the warmth, with the
assistance of ample moisture. For ordinary bedding
purposes, or for furnishing pleasing white flowers
on long stems for cutting, this double white Phlox
can be well recommended. The semi-double nature
of the flowers in no way interferes with seeding.
On the whole, we may regard this as a very worthy
novelty and a useful member of what is a very
beautiful family of garden flowers. — A. D.
SHORT NOTES.— JFLOWEB.
Dianthus Seguieri. — This lovely Pink is very
■ bright on the rockery at Chiswick. It has rosy pink
flowers which are produced freely. Tcsecure the best
effect, plant in bold clumps by the edge of the stones.
— E.
Ourisia eoceinea. — Can any of your readers in-
form me how to get Ourisia ooeoinea to bloom ? I have
a plaut growing in sandy leaf-mould in a damp Rho-
dodendron bed by the river-side and fairly exposed to
sunshine. It looks very healthy, aud is increasing in
size, but shows no sigu of floweriug. — P. W. Harmee.
Lobelia King of the Blues. — This is a very
distinct and effective variety. It is of compact and
tufted babit, the flowers large, of an intense deep blue
colour, with a large, clearly-defined pure white eye.
It is now very conspicuous in Mr. Cannell's nursery at
Swanley.-W. H. G.
Pink Napoleon III. — In answer to " J. C. B.,"
in The Gaeden, July 30 (p. 77), I was last year
afraid of this splendid Dianthus " bloomiug itself to
death." I out off all the flowers from one plant, aud
in a short time a ijuautity of healthy cuttings was
produced, which rooted very freely under a bell-glass in
the open air. They are now good plants. — M. Jl. G.
The plants for the drought. — Those that have
not only stood best here, but that have flowered the
better for the drought, are single Petunias. They are
dwarf, and the flowers much varied and variegated.
The plants are most telling in the garden. Doubtless
they owe their extreme beauty as much or more to the
drought as the strain, though the latter is exceptionally
fine.— D. T. P.
Abed of Stocks. — We can with a little forethought
create many interesting features in a garden, aud one
would certainly be a bed of Stocks. Tiiey are, indeed,
often grown for bedding, but not so much as they de-
serve to be. At the present time the Ten-week Stock
is now in full flower, and will be followed by the luter-
mcdiate variety. If a bed is filled with an equal pro-
portion of these varieties a succession of bloom is
secured. The pl.iuts like an open position. — T. W.
Splienogyne speeiosa. — This is one of the
prettiest ami neatest-growing of the half -hardy annuals,
the flowers being produced in long succession, particu-
larly it the dead ones are picked cilV. They :ire Daisy-
slijiped flowers of yellow and rich jipricot-yclldw colour-
iug, with dai'k brown centres. When the plant goes
to seed it is still pretty, and has the appearance of a
little papery white flower. It does best in a warm,
light soil and in a hot, dry summer, such as that of
this year. — G. J.
.
Aua. 6, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
105
DUTCH ROOTS T'. DUTCH CUT ^LOWERS,
In Tub Gaeden, July 23 (p. 52), it is stated that a
meeting of bulb and other flower-root growers has
been held to consider what steps should be taken
to stop the traffic in cut flowers from Holland,
Belgium, &c., which has reached such enormous
proportions, that the value of the consignments fell
to so low a price as to leave very little for the
senders after expenses were paid. I should have
thought that the growers could have seen this
before, as it has been pointed out frequently in the
Horticultural Press. In fact, they have ruined the
bulb trade through sending such large quantities
of flowers to the market. We cannot continue to
pay for bulbs and flowers as well, and they must
choose which branch they will give up.
I can prove this by my own experience. Last
season I planted hundreds of Hyacinths, Tulips,
articles, are grown by the thousand in other
counties, and if there is any dispute as to quantity
or quality, it is far easier rectilled With our own
wholesale growers. "When the cost of ship and rail
charges, and the impossibility of returning empties
to foreign flrms are considered, it will be found
that foreign goods are not so reasonable as one
would imagine. J. G.
LATE DUTCH TULIPS FORCED.
For conservatory or house decoration in March
and April few flowers can exceed these in beauty.
Grown four or five in a pot and massed together,
as shown in the engraving, they make a pleasant
variety from the usual pot plants of the season.
These Tulips are the "breeders," as sold in
Lute Dutch Ttilips. Grown at Mr. Edmund Evans's, Witley, SuiTey. Engraved for The Garden
from a photograph.
&c,, in boxes as usual for cutting, as even the latest
ones if grown under glass used to realise a good
price, but last year, as soon as the cut-flower boxes
from Holland began to arrive, they were sold by
auction at such a low price that good bunches of
Hyacinths were sold at Id. each. I need hardly
say the result was a considerable loss to those that
grew a quantity. We are now told that the Flower-
root Association is going to stop the imports, and
that a largely increased trade in bulbs is expected.
I doubt if this association is powerful enough '
to stop the traflic at once. If English florists '
would turn their attention to more profitable
things than bulb flower growing, there is little
doubt but that the astute foreigner will see the
wisdom of being content to supply us with bulbs as
heretofore. Another plan would be to obtain as
much as possible our supplies from home growers.
We have now Lily of the Valley growers in Norfolk.
Deutzias and Spirsas, quite equal to the imported
mixture at about Ss. a hundred, mostly self-
coloured, and of a fine range of rich colourings.
Their noble cups are of a much more beautiful
form than the early Tulips ; they have a de-
lightful Rose-like perfume, and last for some
J.
Dry-season flowers.- -Any plant that can with-
stand such a season as the present without suffering
ought to be more extensively cultivated. In this
part of the south coast the drought has been severe
and protracted, and the soil is naturally light and
dry, but the following have stood well : Scabious and
Mangolds of various shades of colour keep on flower-
ing, as if the most genial weather prevailed. The
small-flowered Tagetes signata is a good substitute
for yellow Calceolarias, which do not like such hot,
diy summers as the present. Marguerites, or Paris
Daisies, are very good plants for dry places, as they
keep on flowering when nearly all others cease.
Antirrhinums are excellent plants, and show great
variety of colour ; and as dwarf plants Portulacas
revel in heat and drought, and are particularly
bright when everything else hangs its head. The
beautiful silvery-leaved Cineraria maritima is whiter
in foliage, and altogether does better, as in a moist
season it grows too freely and assumes a grey tint.
Amongst bedding plants the Pelargoniums stand
out bravely ; while the Petunias, especially single
kinds, flower most profusely. The above are a few
that have stood the late severe dry weather without
the application of any water.— J. G. H.
Oxalis floribunda. — This is one of the best of
the Wood Sorrels, the lovely rose-coloured flowers
almost hiding the vegetation. It is a suitable plant
for the greenhouse, rockery, or border, being quite
hardy, and growing freely in light soil and a sunny
position. In a chink in the rock garden, where its
beauty can be well seen, is the place for it, and it
also does well in pots. We recenth' saw it flourish-
ing in a stove in spite of the high temperature.
It is, indeed, a thoroughly useful plant, and its
adaptability for a variety of ^jositions further adds
to its value. — E.
Night-scented Stock (Matthiola bicornis). —
This plant has been grown here for several years as
an annual, the seed being sown in the open ground
about the last week in March, and with us it ripens
its seed very freely in August. We have another
night-scented plant, Hesperis tristis, which is often
spoken of as the Night-scented Stock (instead of
Night-scented Rocket). This plant is a biennial,
and does not ripen seed freely. We increase it by
taking the offshoots in July. Probably " Caledo-
nicus " refers to this plant, and not the Matthiola. —
John W. Odell, Barrow Point, Pinner.
There are two Night-scented Stocks. Mat-
thiola bicornis is a true hardy annual. Under
favourable circumstances it seeds itself, and the
seedlings survive the winter, making exceptionally
strong and early plants ; but Matthiola tristis (which
I never see now) is a greenhouse perennial, of a
shrubby nature, and its perfume is stronger and
more delicate than that of M. bicornis. — Junia.
Scarlet Iffartagon Lily (Lilium chalcedoni-
cum). — This Lily is well known, and is thoroughly
entitled to the high place it has obtained in our
gardens, but there are two forms to which attention
may be directed. These are L. chalcedonicum
maculatum and L. c. Heldreiohi, both distinct and
possessing noteworthy characters. In the first
mentioned the divisions of the perianth are spotted
with a purplish colour, and they are also broader
than in the type. It is quite distinct and most
useful for the border, growing freely in ordinary
soil. The variety Heldreichi is of compact growth,
and is somewhat later than the above, the flowers
being of the same intense scarlet colour, with the
segments more reflexed, and, unlike the type and
the variety maculatum, they are not borne in the
branching form characteristic of those kinds. It
is of robust growth and a first-class Lily. Of
the numerous Lilies we have in cultivation, there
are none to equal for brilliancy of colour the old
L. chalcedonicum, and few are easier to grow. It
requires but a clump here and there in the border
to add colour and beauty to the garden. One great
thing is to guard against having too many of them,
as owing to their conspicuous character they make,
unless judiciously planted, a formal and monoto-
nous effect. We saw both the type and its varieties
in bloom recently at Mr. T. S. Ware's nursery at
Tottenham.— E.
Lilium Browni.— I can endorse all your corre-
spondent says with regard to the extreme beauty of
this Lily and its complete hardiness, but my object in
noticing it is to ask whether it is not unusual for it to
have more than one flower on a stem. I received
amongst other excellent bulbs of various Lilies from
M. Ant. Roozeu, of Haarlem, a bulb -whieb has pro-
duced two flowers, both of full size and thoroughly de-
veloped. As I have never seen it with more tlinn one
flower, and have always heard and seen it described as
such, I thought this might he worth notice. — Delta.
Narcissus Mrs. F. W. Burbidge.— In April,
1885, I bought a nice bulb of Narcissus Mrs. F. W.
106
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 6, 1887.
Burbidge, wliieli was then blooming in a pot. ^ I at
once turned it out into the open border. As it was
"being overgrown by a shrub I last week took up the
Narcissus and was astonished at tlie wonderful increase,
there being nine large bulbs and six smaller ones, some
of which may probably flower next season. — Jay Aye.
Clove Carnation Mrs. Hole, aKas Gravetye
Gem. — This distinct and pleasing Clove Carnation
wa3 exhibited at the meeting of the Royal Horticultu-
ral Society on July 25, and awarded a first-class
certificate of merit. It was unfortunately put up
without a name, and the floral committee gave it
the name of Gravetye Gem. But this self-same
Carnation was also shown by Messrs. James Dickson
and Sons, of Chester (who also exhibited it at
Kensington), at the Jubilee Rose Showat Manchester,
on Friday, the 22nd ult., and awarded a first-class
certificate of merit under the name of Mrs. Hole, being
so named by Canon Hole, who was one of the judges.
As this is the name first given to it, it should be
accepted, or great confusion will result. I should
imagine Messrs. James Dickson and Sons could
scarcely be aware it was named and exhibited at
Manchester on the 22nd, or they would surely have
given it the name of Mrs. Hole, by which it should
hereafter be known. It would be much better and
save confusion if exhibitors of seedlings were to
name them before submitting them for awards at
any show. — R. Dean.
Propagating.
Heaths. — Unless in trade establishments where
every convenience exists for the purpose, the
propagation of Heaths is but little carried out, but
still there is no reason why it should be so, the
great road to success being continual care and
perfect cleanliness. Many of the soft -wooded
Heaths, as they are called, that include among their
number such kinds as Cavendishi, caff ra, gracilis,
hyemalis, ventricosa, &c., are often propagated
earlier in the season, the plants being placed in a
gentle heat two or three weeks before the cuttings
are taken in order to draw out the young shoots a
little. Nevertheless, they can be put in now as
well as the other members of the genus that are
usually termed hard-wooded Heaths. As thorough
cleanliness is a great essential in the propagation
of these plants, the pots prepared for their recep-
tion must be quite clean, and if new, soaked in
water for an hour before using, as if this is not
done, the clay being, when the pot is new, so porous,
will absorb all the moisture from the soil, and often
cause the cuttings to perish from drought. As it is
necessary to cover the cuttings with bell-glasses, the
size of the pots will depend upon that of the glasses,
but the most convenient size will be those G inches
or 7 inches in diameter. The pots must be filled to
within 11 inches or 2 inches from the top with broken
crocks, the roughest at the bottom, and gradually
becoming finer towards the top, the upper layer
being very small. A good way in draining is, in the
first place, to invert a small pot in the bottom of
the one intended for the cuttings, as the drainage
is more efficient than when broken crocks alone are
used, besides which, the pot when filled is not so
heavy. It may appear a somewhat diflicult matter
to select crocks of three or four sizes, but such is in
reality by no means the case, for a quantity is
readily pounded up, and by an arrangement of two
or three sieves of different sizes, the broken crocks
can be easily assorted. The soil most suitable for
these cuttings is very sandy peat sifted fine which must
be pressed down very firmly when fiUingthepots with
it; just enough space must be left for a thin layer of
sand on the top, and when so far finished a thorough
watering should be given to settle everything in its
place. This watering must be applied through a
very fine rose, and repeated two or three times till
the soil is completely moistened. When the aand
on the top is still moist the bell-glass may be placed
in position and pressed down slightly, as the mark
in the sand thus made will serve as a guide for in-
serting the cuttings. When several pots are pre-
pared in this way the next consideration is the
selecting and preparing the cuttings. The best cut-
tings are not the stout, vigorous shoots, but the
weaker ones, such as are mostly found around the
bottom part of the plant. Those from the outside
of the plant only should be chosen, as if shoots
from the interior of the plant are taken, they are very
liable to damp off. The small wiry shoots that are
often found around the base of the principal ones
make very good cuttings. A length of 1 inch to
li inches is suitable for most kinds, and the
leaves will need to be stripped off the bottom por-
tion for about half an inch. These leaves may be
taken off with a pair of sharp-pointed scissors or a
very sharp knife, but by far the better way is to
strip them off by means of the finger and thumb,
and if this is carefully done the cutting will remain
uninjured. To carry this out successfully, the cut-
ting must be held firmly, but gently, in the left
hand, and the leaves removed by taking two or three
at a time by the right hand and stripping them off
with a downward pull. Should the bark come
away the cutting is spoilt, and it may at once be
thrown away, but with a little practice this strip-
ping can be carried out and very few indeed in-
jured. These cuttings fiag easily, and on that account
should not be exposed more than is absolutely ne-
cessary. Owing to this only as many as are required
should be taken for one pot, and directly they are
cut the better way is to drop them into a flower-pot
lined with a piece of wet rag. In making them
they may be kept fresh by laying another piece of
wet rag on the bench, and over that inverting a
4-inch flower-pot with the hole in the bottom broken
rather larger than usual. Each cutting may directly
it is made be dropped into this pot, where they will
all keep fresh till required for insertion. This pre-
caution is quite necessary, as it takes some time to
prepare the cuttings ; those made early would
flag before the last were finished. When putting in
the cuttings it should be borne in mind that the
greatest loss arises from their damping off, and on
that account overcrowding must be strictly guarded
against. At the same time, as space under bell-
glasses is valuable, it must not be wasted by placing
the cuttings too far apart. A good guide is to so
dibble them in that the tips of the leaves are just
clear of each other between the rows, as decay,
should it set in, is much sooner arrested than if
they are crowded closer together. The dibble em-
ployed should be made of some hard, smooth wood,
such as Box, which forms a clean hole ; but it need
not be very thick, and, above all, the hole made for
the reception of the cutting must not be deeper
than the cutting itself, or at least that part of it
which is to be inserted in the soil. The cutting
must be pressed in firmly, and that can be readily
done without disturbing the surface of the soil to
any great extent if the dibble is held in a perpen-
dicular manner when forming the hole ; then, on
inserting the cutting, put in the dibble about a
quarter of an inch from it, and press down nearly
as deep as before, and if in doing this a steady
pressure is kept towards the cutting, it will be fixed
firmly in its place for the entire length of its buried
portion. This is far better than holding the dibble
in a slanting manner when pressing in the cutting,
as then, though the upper part of the soil is firm
enough, a slight cavity is often left at the base.
When a pot is filled with cuttings the latter must
be thoroughly watered, using for the purpose a rose
fine enough to do this effectually without knocking
them on one side. The watering must be suflicient
to cause the sand on the top to form an unbroken
surface, and as the leaves are sure to be very wet,
the glasses must be left off for a little time to dry
the foliage. After the pots are finished the ques-
tion arises is. Where shall they be put ? and,
of course, that will altogether depend upon circum-
stances, for in establishments where large quantities
are propagated, a house is set apart for the purpose,
and it can be kept at the temperature desired.
Where this is not done a good place for their recep-
tion is a cold frame, which must be prepared for
the purpose by thoroughly whitewashing it inside
and forming a bed of ashes on which to stand the
pots. There they must be well attended to in the
matter of shading, watering when necessary, &c.,
and as the autumn advances be removed within doors.
There in a gentle heat any that are not then rooted
will strike. The bell-glasses must be lifted off
every morning and wiped dry, advantage being
taken of this to remove any decaying leaves or to
do anything that may be needed. Owing to the
regular attention that is required, it is far more
convenient when they are in a house, as they can
then be attended to irrespective of weather. A
great point is not to keep them in a house where
there is sufficient draught to dry up the soil quickly.
When the cuttings are rooted, air must be given by
degrees, and when the young plants are sufficiently
established they may be potted off, using for the
purpose very small pots and a soil composed of
sandy peat. The pots for the purpose must be
thoroughly drained. T.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 608.
BILLBERGIA VITTATA.*
This genus belongs to the Bromeliad family,
which also includes the plant which yields the
luscious fruit familiarly known as the Pine-
apple ; none of the Billbergias, however, pro-
duce edible fruit, although some few species
possess economic properties. Naturally these
plants grow as epiphytes, in company witli
Aroids, Orcliids, Ferns, and various other plants,
clothing the branches of the forest trees in
South America with wreaths of verdure. In
that country they are held in high estimation
by the residents for the beauty of their in-
florescence and the delicate fragrance which the
flowers of many of the species emit, and they
are largely used in the houses in South America
for the decoration of rooms and balconies.
These plants have never been so popular in
England as they are on the continent of Europe;
French, German, and specially Belgian growers
being celebrated for the extent of their collec-
tions, and for the general excellence of their
cultivation.
In former years the gardens at Kew possessed
a considerable number of species, which, how-
ever, dwindled away in an unaccountable
manner ; recently, however, the collection has
been largely increased in numbers by the
acq^^isition of many species from the gardens
of tlie late Professor Morren, of Belgium, and
it is to be hoped that by good cultivation our
national collection will so develop the striking
beauties of these plants as to render them as
popular with plant growers in England as they
now are abroad.
There is nothing peculiar or diflicult in the
cultivation of Billbergias ; indeed, they will
stand much rough treatment before they can be
killed, but if neglected they seldom flower, and
their foliage assumes anything but an orna-
mental appearance. There is little doubt but that
it is on account of English gardeners having so
managed or mismanaged them, that so few
kinds are to be found at the present day in the
gardens of private establishments in this
country.
The genus is an extensive one, and contains
many species of great beauty, some of them
small, and others large, robust-growing plants ;
for the former blocks of wood and small baskets
are the most suitable ; these should be suspended
from the roof in such a position as to be exposed
to full bright light, which both the large and
the small-growing kinds so much delight in.
The plants upon blocks should have some Sphag-
num Moss fastened round their roots, whilst
those in baskets should be planted in rough
* Drawn for The Garden by H. G. Moon, in the
Royal Gardens, Kew, Deo, 18, 1886, and printed by
G. Severeyns,
Aug. 6, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
107
fibrou3 peat, Sphagnum Moss, and medium-sized
lumps of charcoal. The larger kinds require to
be grown in pots. Tlie soil best suited to these
is a mixture of rough peat, light yellow loam,
leaf-mould, and sharp sand, about equal pro-
portions of each. The drainage for these plants
must always be kept free and open, as they
cannot endure anjr stagnant water about their
roots. The majority of Billbergias do not make
a great quantity of roots ; therefore large pots
are not necessary to then- well-being. They are
all more or less vase-like in their habit of
growth, the bases of the leaves overlapping,
leaving a hollow centre, at the base of which is
the crown of the plant, and from which the
flower-spike springs. Into this hollow tube-like
centre, water should always be poured, and the
portion which percolates between the sheathing
bases of the leaves will, in most instances, be
found to afford ample moisture to tlie roots to
enable them to maintain the plant in a flourish-
ing condition. On the other hand, if these
Billbergia nutans.
hollow centres are not kept supplied with water
the inner leaves will curl and shrivel, and
speedily lose colour, a sure indication that the
plant is sufiering from drought. Wlien thus
treated, moreover, flowers are seldom produced,
and the whole aspect of the plant has a starved
appearance. These plants enjoy strong heat,
but are somewhat indifferent as to the state of
the air, thriving equally well in a dry or humid
atmosphere, always provided their reservoirs
for water are kept well supplied. The follow-
ing are a few kinds specially notable for their
beauty : —
B. viTTATA, figured on the annexed plate,
well represents the general appearance of the genus,
although it is by no means the most handsome.
The leaves are deep green on both sides and orna-
mented with transverse scurfy bars, whilst the edges
are furnished with stout, blunt, red, teeth-like
spines; racemes pendulous, flowers indigo-blue,
calyx carmine; the bracts are bright reddish car-
mine, and are, like those of all the species, very per-
sistent. It comes from Brazil.
B. MORELIANA. — In this plant the leaves are
plain, and deep green on both surfaces; raceme
drooping and dense ; flowers yellowish green, tipped
with pale blue ; bracts numerous, large, ovate-acu-
minate, and deep rosy scarlet. This fine species is
a native of the neighbourhood of Bahia.
B. Saundeesi is more notable perhaps for its
ornamental foliage than for the beauty of its
flowers. Leaves strap-shaped, with rounded ends,
which are furnished with a sharp point, deep green
on the upper side, reddish brown beneath, profusely
mottled with irregularly shaped, creamy white
spots, which show tln-ough on both surfaces, the
edges being furnished with numerous bright red
spines. Raceme few-fiowered, drooping; flowers
greenish yellow tipped with blue ; calyx and bracti
coral-red. Native of Bahia.
B. PALLESOBNS. — Leaves dark green above, irre-
gularly dotted with duU white, underside paler, and
transversely barred ; flowers yellowish green tipped
with violet; bracts large, lanceolate, bright red on
the upper side, rose coloured beneath. CentralBrazil
B. DECOEA. — A bold-growing plant from Brazil,
The leaves are dull green on both sides, irregularly
spotted with pale yellow, faintly marked beneath
with a few scurfy bars ; raceme
drooping; flowers mostly green and
inconspicuous, for which, however,
the large and numerous rosy carmine
bracts amply compensate.
B. Baeaquiniana strongly lesem
bles the last-named plant, but differs
in being destitute of the yellow spot-
ting on the leaf, and in the underside
being more distinctly barred, whilst
the bracts are larger and rosy pink
in colour. It comes from the valley
of the Amazon.
B. Sandeeiana. — This is a remark
able plant from the province of Rio
Janeiro. It must not be confounded
with B. Saundersi, previously named,
from which it is quite distinct. The
leaves are strap-shaped and obtuse,
armed at the edges with stout, dark
brown spines, pale green above, fur
nished sparingly with a thin white
scurf beneath ; raceme drooping,
flowers yellowish green, coroUa and
calyx both tipped with light blue,
bracts rose-pink.
B. maceocalyx. — Leaves deep
green, faintly spotted on the upper
side, the under side bearing a few
indistinct light bars ; raceme erect,
flowers large, yellowish green, edged
with a peculiar shade of dull bluish
purple ; bracts large, deep rosy red.
It comes from Bahia.
B. Endeei is a small-growing plant, with pale
green leaves, thinly clothed with a scurfy covering,
spike erect, clothed with appressed bracts through-
out its entire length — these are deep coral-red,
whilst the long flowers are of a beautiful, almost
ultramarine blue.
B. BkeauteanA. — This is one of the most hand-
some of the Billbergias. It is a garden variety, the
result of a cross between B. pallescens and the sub-
j ect of our present illustration, B. vittata, thus clearly
showing there are laurels to be gained by the hy-
bridiser who will take this family in hand. The
leaves are very distinctly ornamented with white
scurfy bars upon a dark green ground ; the racemes
of bloom are long, pendulous, and dense ; flowers
rich indigo-blue, each petal bearing a narrow, trans-
verse bar of white on the centre, whilst the calyx is
rose colour ; bracts, broad and obtuse, red, shading
to violet towards the base.
B. NUTANS produces long, sword-shaped leaves,
sparingly furnished with spines on the edge ; flowers
on short drooping panicles, sepals pale red, petals
greenish yellow tipped with blue, bracts large rosy
red. Brazil. W. H. G.
can invent. A case of this has come about in the
alpino garden, where Acajua micropliylla has invaded
a widespread patch of Sedum Lydium, and is rambling
through it with the happiest effect. The Stonecrop is
of a reddish bronze colour, and makes a richly har-
monious setting to the rosy crimson flowers of the
little New Zealander. — G. J.
Stove and Greenhouse.
A chance mixture. — Sometimes plants taking
their own way make prettier combinations than one I
THE CHILI JASMINE.
(mandevilla suaveolbns.)
This is the only known representative of the
genus ; it is a free-growing, deciduous climber,
requiring an ordinary greenhouse temperature.
By some it has been described as evergreen, on
what grounds I am unable to conjecture, as
with me the plant always shed its leaves in
autumn. The thin, soft texture of the leaves is
such that anyone who is observant of the nature
and appearance of plants would when first seeing
it in the growing season have little hesitation in
pronouncing it deciduous. Those who look
upon the roof climbers in a conservatory or
greenhouse as the first and principal plants to
be considered, holding the general occupants of
the house underneath as of secondary import-
ance, will give the preference to subjects that
are evergreen. This view of the matter I con-
sider a mistake. Climbers are necessary to
drape the roof of a plant house and give effect
especially in the case of conservatories where
many of the other plants are only temporarily
located whilst in bloom, being grown elsewhere
and consequently do not suffer through being
overshaded by the climbers to the extent that
occurs with plants that are kept permanently in
a house with the roof thickly clothed. With a
view to giving all the plants grown in a house a
chance of doing well, it is best to use both
evergreen and deciduous climbers, arranging
them alternately and confining them to °the
rafters. In this way, in a well constructed
house occupying a favourable position, sufficien'
light will reach the plants underneath to admit
of their thriving fairly well. By the use of a
portion of deciduous kinds, more light will
necessarily be admitted in the winter. The
Mandevilla is particularly adapted for use in
this way, for though with liberal treatment it
grows freely, the branches extending further
than those of many climbers, yet they are not
nearly so close and dense as many plants used
for the same purpose. To grow the plant suc-
cessfully, it must be planted out in a border of
moderate extent, which should be so arrani^ed
that the roots of each specimen are confined to
the portion allotted to them. A similar course
ought to be followed with this Mandevilla as
with other things that are planted out in a bed
or border where their roots will have consider-
able scope ; the plants should be kept in pots
until they have attained some size and have
plenty of roots, so that they may be able to
occupy the soil within a reasonable time after
planting. For, as I have before urged when
treating of roof climbers, if they are turned out
whilst small the soil of which the bed is com-
posed gets sour before the roots are present in
sufficient strength and quantity to take posses-
sion of it.
The plant may be increased from cuttings.
The ordinary shoots produced by a strong speci-
men are somewhat long-jointed and not of a
character to form roots so freely as some things
but when stock is required it is easy to provide
such as will answer by cutting a branch or two
into the hard wood in spring before growth com-
mences. Wiien these have pushed young shoots
108
THE GARDEN.
from 4 inches to G inches long, take them off
with a heel ; they will root readily if put singly
in small pots half filled witli a mixture of peat
and sand, the top all sand. Stand in an inter-
mediate temperature, and keej) close and moist
under propagating glasses, shading when neces-
sary. When the cuttings are rooted, dispense
with the glasses, putting the plants where they
will get plenty of light, and give sufficient
water to keep them growing freely. I may here
remark that in raising young hard- wooded plants
of all kinds from cuttings, except such strong-
rooted tilings as Acacias or Clianthus, it is neces-
sary to pay close attention to their wants in the
matter of water from the time the cuttings are
struck until they have gained some strength, as
if whilst they are young and tender water is
given before it is wanted, the roots are likely to
perish, and if moisture is withheld until the
inaterial gets too dry, the roots are equally
liable to sufier. Continue to keep the plants in
a genial growing temperature, giving a moderate
amount of air daily. As soon as they get well
established, move them into 3-inch or 4-iuch
pots, using soil of a similar character to that in
which the cuttings were struck ; shade from the
sun and water carefully until root and top-
growth have begun to move freely. Stand the
pots on a moist bottom, still keeping them well
up to the glass. In private gardens where the
stages in the houses are composed of the ordi-
nary dry boards, or, still worse, open lathwork,
a useful makeshift for the accommodation of
young plants raised from seed or cuttings may
be devised by using some large, shallow boxes
3 in. or 4 in. deep, which should be two-thirds
filled with sand or fine-sifted coal ashes. On this
stand the pots, keeping the material damp, not
wet ; otherwise more moisture will be absorbed
by the pots than is good for the roots. Do not
stop the .shoots in the way practised with plants
that are intended to grow bushy. Syringe over-
head regularly every afternoon until the end of
summer. It is necessary to attend to this all
through the growing season in all stages of the
plant's existence, as it is more liable to sufl'er
from the attacks of red spider than most things.
Yet if attention is given to this the pest will
rarely put in its appearance. In autumn give
niore air, cease shading, and use less moisture
in the atmosphere. A warm greenhouse tem-
perature will suffice for the winter, keeping the
soil proportionately drier whilst the plants are
at rest. In spring move them into pots 3 inches
or 4 inches larger, now using the soil with-
out sifting. Pot moderately firm ; it possible
give the plants intermediate heat again this
summer, by which means they will make more
progress. Ko stopping should be attempted, as
the object is to confine the plants to single
stems until they ha^•e attained the height of the
rafter or rocjf space which they are required to
furnish. Three or four tall, thin sticks should
now be inserted just within the rim of each pot,
round which wind the shoots, keeping the ex-
tremities in an erect position. Treat in every
way during the summer as advised for the pre-
ceding, and winter as before. If the house in
which the plants are to be permanently grown
is not high, it will most likely be better to
plant them out in the spring, but if intended
for a lofty structure another season's pot culture
will be an advantage, in which case 10-inch or
12-inch pots may be given now, using the peat in
a more lumpy state. The plant is not particular
as to soil, and if peat of good quality that con-
tains enough tougli vegetable fibre to enable it
to last long is not at hand, it will be better to
use loam, though in the latter the foliage, which
is inclined to be pale in colour, will have a
lighter tint than when the plant is grown in
[Aug. G, 1887.
peat. In preparing a border to turn the plant
out in, it is necessary to make provision for its
la.sting, as little or nothing can be done with
subjects like this in the way of taking them up
to renew the material. The plant likes a good
deal of water during the growing season after it
has got fully established ; consequently the
drainage must be sufficient, and means must be
taken to prevent its getting stopped afterwards.
A layer of thin turves put over the drainage
material will best effect this. The soil, whether
loam or peat, must have enough sand mixed
with it to ensure its keeping porous ; to assist
this it will be well to add something like a sixth
of broken charcoal or crocks.
The best time to turn the plants out is early
in spring just before growth commences. The
extremities of the roots should be disentangled
so far as can be done without injuring them, and
spread out evenly. In planting, make the soil
moderately firm, and use it in a somewhat dry
state, as if too wet the roots will not take kindly
to it. When fairly established the plants must
be well supplied with water during the growing
season. Manure water should be given fre-
quently whilst growth is going on. Train the
shoots thinly in the space they are to occupy.
They should be cut in so far as necessary after
the leaves have fallen. The flowers are' trumpet-
shaped, pure white in colour, and very sweet-
scented.
Hoya imperialis.— This has not the beauty o£
the pretty H. bella and H. carnosa, but nevertheless
it is a handsome plant, though comparatively rare.
At Pendell Court there is a specimen almost always
in bloom, and no difficulty whatever is experienced
in its cultivation, though sometimes we hear com-
plaints of its fastidious character and reluctance to
bloom. The flowers are borne several together
in a large umbel, and are of large size, though
dull in colour, being of an unattractive reddish
brown hue ; the leaves are about G inches long, and
when in a healthy condition, by no means an un-
ornamcntal part of the plant. The specimen at
Pendell Court is grown in a pot, and is given plenty
of heat, light, and moisture, the result being a
vigorous and luxuriant growth. — C.
Two fine Cannas. — There are two Cannas,
viz., C. Nouttoni and C. Ehemanni, that can be
highly recommended for growing under glass. We
recently saw them side by side in a warm house
at Pendell Court, Bletchingley. They were planted
in boggy soil, by the edge of a large tank filled with
Water Lilies, and, owing to their noble character,
had a mosttropical and effective appearance. The
tirst-nientioned is, perhaps, the most striking of the
two, by reason of the intense crimson colour of the
flowers, which are of a richer shade than those of
C. Ehemanni, and more freely produced ; while the
leafage of C. Nouttoni is narrower and more glau-
cous. The better known C. Ehemanni has the most
luxuriant and handsome foliage, but both varieties
are well worth cultivating, and grown as they are at
Pendell Court, their characters are well displayed.
They are also useful for pots, as they are very suit-
able for forming a background to groups in the
conservatory and other places. — E.
liagerstrcemia indica. — Several flowering
branches of this lovely Chinese plant were shown
at South Kensington on July 12, and proved one of
the most interesting features of the meeting, but
very little idea can, however, be formed from an
exhibit of this kind of the extreme beauty of the
plant. At Pendell Court there is a fine specimen
flowering freely in the conservatory. The habit is
shrubby and the height about 10 feet, the dense
bunches of exquisitely beautiful, crumpled, rich
pink flowers contrasting well with the ornamental
branches of smooth, pale green, ovate leaves. It is
not often we find this Lagerstnemia in such health
as here, and Mr, Ross, the head gardener, says one
of the great points to ensure a fine display of
bloom is to have the wood thoroughly well ripened.
It will succeed in a greenhouse, and in verv favour-
able seasons will even live out of doors if the
position is sheltered and warm. But the greenhouse
or cool conservatory is its proper place, and when
well grown it is a plant of extreme beauty and
elegant growth. The flowers would be invaluable
when cut if they did not fall so quickly, but owing
to their delicate nature they soon fade. It may be
mentioned that ordinary soil suffices, but plenty
of light is essential. — E.
ARCTOTIS AUREOLA.
CONSlDBElNa the beauty of this and some species
of the genus, it is rather surprising that they
should be allowed to go out of cultivation, as they
do not require anymore attention than the majority
of greenhouse plants. It is said by some to be
rather an unsatisfactory plant to grow, but as far
as my experience goes it certainly does not deserve
this character. The above species may be either
propagated by cuttings or by grafting it upon
the more robust A. arboresoens. The latter is a
very good plan and one that has been adopted by
us, though cuttings are easily rooted, provided
they are not taken when the growth is sappy.
Plants that have finished flowering and have been
exposed to the bright sunshine of late will produce
plenty of good growth from which success would
be more or less certain. Too much should not,
whichever plan is adopted, be expected from them
the first year, but the second year five or six good
strong growths may be taken up which will each
produce many flowers. Our old plants after finish-
ing flowering are placed outside in full sunshine,
and when the wood is well ripened they are cut
down similar to the method of cutting down Pelar-
goniums, though hardly pruned in so close. When
the growths are a couple of inches in length the
plants are shaken out and repotted into a mixture of
good yellow loam and sand. At the time of housing
them the plants are placed in a position where they
can obtain the most light to prevent them from
making a succulent growth, which would simply
mean very few flowers later on. The shoots should
each have a stake, or they are liable to break down
with their own weight. Care should be taken not to
over-water, it being better to keep them on the dry
and safe side during winter. By dry, I do not
mean so dry that the soil leaves the sides of the
pots. The plants attain the height of about 2 feet,
and make neat and compact specimens. The
flowers are large, orange coloured, many of them
measuring more than 5 inches in diameter.
A. EKVOLUTA is well suited for greenhouse deco-
ration. It grows more freely than the preceding,
but the flowers are smaller and of a bright yellow.
A. ASPEKA YAR. AEBORESCENS is also a showy
plant where large structures have to be kept gay
with flowers; this often attains the height of 5 feet
or G feet, the flowers in colour being white and
pink. Could we but calculate uijon summers like
the present one, these plants would make a grand
effect trailing about a rockwork or some other ex-
posed situation. W. Harrow.
Celosias, or Feathered. Cockscombs. — When
the strain is good and the plants well grown these
are remarkably effective for greenhouse, conserva-
tory, and house decoration. Some of the prettiest
I have yet seen arc now at their best in the conser-
vatory at Seacox Heath, Hawkhurst. Mr. Gilmour
has a good selection, and evidently knows how to
grow the plants. The seed was sown about the
middle of April, and when up the seedlings were
kept near the glass. They were first potted oS
singly into Sj-inch pots, and before they became
badly root-bound they were shifted into SJ-inch
pots. Kejjt growing in a warm frame, they soon
needed a final shift into "ij-inch pots, the soil used
in each instance consisting of equal portions of
turfy loam, leaf soil, and peat, plenty of sharp sand
being added. In potting the soil is rammed very
firmly, and there is no doubt that this firm-rooting
medium has something to do witli the sturdiness of
the plants, none of them being much above 18 in.
in height, and yet they were abundantly and strongly
Alio. C, 1887.J
THE GARDEN.
109
flowered. They are not kept in frames long after
tlie final shift is given, but are transferred to an
airy greenhouse, and otherwise treated similarly to
Balsams. The syringe serves to keep red spider in
check, and frequent supplies of liquid manure
formed from soot and sheep droppings tend to
keep the plants in good health and colour. They
are far more beautiful than the ordinary Cocks-
comb, and amply repay for the trouble taken with
them.— AV. I.
t Small-growing Water Lilies.— Several per-
sons have recently been inquiring for water plants
suitable for small gardens. There are now nume-
rous plants of this description blooming in the
open-air aquarium at Kew, notable amongst them
being Nymphiua odorata and N. pygmaja, both of
them being species with small leaves, produced on
short footstalks, and lovely pure white flowers.
The footstalks would doubtless elongate if the roots
were planted deep; therefore, where compact masses
are required, care should be taken to keep them in
shallow water. — W. H. G.
Fertilising Moss.— The use of Moss as a
medium for plants to root in has for some time
been well known, and I have seen thousands of
bedding plants turned out in better condition
for planting by reason of the roots not being
so cramped and matted together. The plan
usually adopted is to take a large flake of Moss
in one hand, and having shaken out the rooted
cuttings, to lay a plant in the centre of the Moss,
cover the roots with a handful of soil, press the
Moss close together, and bind it on with soft bass
matting. The plants may then be set on the floor
of a vinery or in a frame, and will soon be well
rooted. I have tried the fertilising Moss, and it
certainly promotes a luxuriant growth. I have also
used it for Ferns in small fancy pots, and it answers
admirably, as the pots can be kept cleaner and the
plants healthier than when grown in soil alone.
The pots are also very light, which is a great ad-
vantage when several are set on very frail supports
in drawing-rooms. The best way I find is to shake
the Fern out of the soil it is growing in, and work
the roots carefully into the fancy pot with some of
the finely powdered Moss amongst them, finishing
off with some larger pieces. Give a good soaking
of water, and set in a shaded place until the roots
begin to form, when the plants may be used for in-
door decoration. For Orchids also this Moss answers
well, as it is impregnated with stimulating food for
the roots, and maintains the plants in health for a
long time. — J. Ghoom, Gosport.
Freesias. — These plants should now be repotted ;
and it is better to repot before they commence to
grow again than after. There are two varieties — re-
fracta alba, which has white flowers, and Leichtlini,
which has a yellow throat. When grown under the
same conditions, both bloom at the same time, and
by a little forcing they can be had in bloom at
Christmas. The flowers are then most valuable in
a cut state. Anyone can grow the Freesia who has a
greenhouse or a garden frame ; and it is worthy of
remark that the less artificial heat the plants have,
the flowers, although not so early, are much larger.
Those who have plenty of bulbs may grow them so
as to form filie specimens by planting them in pans
12 inches to lij inches in diameter. We cultivated
them this way last season; but they are more useful
when grown in pots, placing about eight strong
bulbs in a 5-inch pot, and such a specimen makes a
very pretty object for the table. In the matter of
soil, the Freesia is not very particular, but it should
not be too light. No doubt they would grow very
well in good garden soil if some sand was mixed
with it. 1 make up a compost of equal parts loam
and leaf soil with a sprinkling of sand, and this mix-
ture suits them admirably. The bulbs should now
be shaken out of the old soil, and the largest selected
for flowering. Grow the small ones in rather deep
pans, to get them strong enough for another year.
As soon as potted, remove them to a cold frame, or
place them on a shady shelf in the greenhouse. It
it may be some time before they show signs of
growth, but the soil should be keptfairly moist, and
as growth increases, the plants will require more liberal
supplies of water. So long as frost does not reach
them, they will take no harm, and if desired they
may remain in the frame until they come into flower.
But if the plants are wanted in bloom at Christmas,
they must be placed in the warmest part of the
greenhouse at the end of October, and about the
middle of December be taken to a house where the
temperature is not less than 60" by night and 70"
by day. It is a mistake to withhold water as soon as
they go out of flower, for they require a liberal supply
until the foliage is quite yellow. — J. C. C.
HYBRID AMARYLLIDS.
1 OBTAINED some of these four years ago, potted
them in 4-inch pots, and placed them in a cool
house where fire was only used in frosty weather.
They grew all through the winter until March, and
then died down. They have done the same every
season since without flowering. I have never
shifted them out of the 4-inch pots, which are full
of roots and the bulbs plump and sound. I place
them out of doors when they die down, and give
very little water, but they start into growth at the
time they should go to rest. Any information
respecting the above will oblige. — A Subscriber.
*^* Amaryllids require good rich soil to grow in,
and pots bearing some proportion to the size of the
plants. "Subscriber" has never shifted his bulbs
out of the same 4-inch pots during a period of four
years. This is an error. The bulbs ought to be
repotted annually. They have also received im-
proper treatment ; placing them out of doors is a
mistake, and they must have hothouse culture
when in growth. During the winter .season, which
is also the time of rest, they do best in a green-
house. In a large collection a certain number will
start into growth out of season, but the proportion
of such will not be very large if the cultural
requirements are as they ought to be. The pre-
sent is the season of growth, but they pass into
the season of rest in September and October, when
the supply of water must be diminished, with-
holding it altogether at the end of the last-named
month. From that time until the end of January
no water whatever is given ; the bulbs are left in the
pots, which are placed anywhere in a greenhouse
temperature. I grow nearly a thousand bulbs,
the potting of which we commence in January,
usually about the end of the month. The bulbs are
shaken out from the old spent soil, and are re-
potted in various sized pots, in proportion to the size
of the bulbs. The largest-flowering bulbs are grow-
ing in 8-inch pots, and these have each produced
three scapes of flowers with flve and six on each, but
this is the maximum number. The smallest-flower-
ing bulbs will bloom in 4-iuch pots, but the largest
proportion are grown and flowered in G-inch pots.
This is the most critical period of the plant's growth,
as mistakes are often made by giving too much water
at first. I seldom give any water for the first four
weeks. They are plunged in a bed of tanner's bark,
or some material that will give a lasting moderate
bottom-heat, and no water should be given until it
is seen that new roots have been formed. The tem-
perature at first ought to be 45° to 50", increased
by the flowering period to 60°. The flowers last
longest if the plants are removed to the greenhouse
as soon as they open, but it is necessary to take
the Amaryllids back again to the hothouse to make
their growth. — J. Dotjslas.
SHORT NOTES.— ST07E AND OREENEOVSE.
Lapageria rosea. — A photograph of a densely-
flowered wi'eath of this well-lmown climber, growing
in the garden of Major Milward, Redditch, Worcester-
shire, has been sent to us.
Nepenthes Hajah. — This rare species is now
gi-owing freely in Mr. Williams' nursery at Holloway
suspended from the roof of a warm stove. It has
hitherto been a very diflicnlt subject to grow. The
l^itchers have not yet assumed their characteristic
form, but, judging from the progress this plant is
making, they soon may be expected to appear. This
is one of the largest plants in the country. — W. H. G.
Variegated India-rubber. — Whether there are
two variogated-leaved vai'ieties of this plant I cannot
say, but from the note thereon in The Garden (p. .35)
I ciinolude there must he, as that which I have seen
has a broad, hut irregular edging of greenish white,
and is certainly not nearly so ornamental as the common
green-leaved form ; indeed, in this variety the foliage
at best has but a sickly hue, and with the wealth of
variegated-leaved plants now in our gardens it is not
worth growing. — H. P.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
.ESCHTNANTHUS. — Most of the species of jEschy-
nanthus make good basket jilants, their drooping
habit of growth fitting them well for the purpose.
They are amongst the easiest of stove plants to
manage, as if the pots they occupy are well drained,
the material in which they are grown fairly
porous, and if care is taken to give them enough
water during the time of active growth, with no
more in winter than will keep the soil slightly
moist, they seldom fail to thrive and flower satis-
factorily. They look best in wire baskets suspended
over the paths ; their time of flowering necessarily
varies with the temperature they are kept in. In a
warm stove a good many of the kinds come in early in
thesummer; others, such as iE. grandiflorus and X,.
splendidus, usually bloom late in summer or early
in autumn, The last named is almost erect in
growth, and is best grown in pots and the shoots
staked. The drooping-habited sorts are best in
pots, even when used as basket plants, plunging the
pots in Moss in the baskets ; in this way they have
a much better appearance. As soon as the earliest
flowered examples have done blooming they should
at once be cut back, shortening the shoots nearly to
the rims of the pots ; if this is not done the branches
get into an unsightly, straggling condition, and
only flower at the extremities. The late-blooming
kinds should now be encouraged with weak manure
water, which will increase the size and improve the
quality of the flowers. Spring is the usual time to
propagate these plants, but if there is any deficiency
of stock, cuttings may now be put in, by which
means time will be saved. The extremities of the
shoots are best for cuttings, though any portion of
the current season's growth will answer. The cut-
tings should be about 6 inches long, removing the two
lowest pairs of leaves. Where examples are wanted
that will be effective in the shortest time, it will be
best to put six or eight cuttings together in 5-inch
pots, drained and half filled with peat to which
plenty of sand has been added, filling up with sand
alone. The cuttings, if put in at equal distances apart
round the pots, stood in a brisk heat, covered with
propagating glasses, kept moist and shaded from
the sun, will strike in a few weeks. As soon as
as they are well rooted, move them just as they are,
with the balls and roots intact, into pots 2 inches
larger, now using the peat with less sand in it.
Keep in a stove temperature through the autumn ;
about the end of the year stop the shoots. In
spring they will grow apace, and may be expected
to flower freely in summer.
EucHAEls AMAZONICA. — With a sufficient
number of plants, enough heat in which to grow
them, and the necessary forethought in keeping a
portion of the stock growing with others subject to
short rests, an almost continuous succession of
flowers may be had. It is now generally known
that this Eucharis will bear being submitted to
alternate excitement and rest in a way that few
things will stand. Like others who have treated
the plant in this manner, 1 have had the same bulbs
in flower three times within a year, but it is better
to be content with two crops in that time, as the
short seasons of forced growth and of equally forced
rest are apt to weaken the plants. As has before
been remarked, this Eucharis is one of the few
plants that do not like to be stood near the glass
in a light well-constructed house. It may often be
seen strong and in faultless condition in old-
fashioned dark houses or pits where most things
would succeed indifferently ; consequently, when
located in a light position, thicker shading material
should be used. The plant is an exception to most
bulbs, the generality of which like to have their
roots more or less confined in the pots in which
they are grown ; specimens that are cramped for
room should either have larger pots or be divided.
Potting may be carried out at any time from early
110
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 6, 1887.
in spring until the autumn ; even in the case of
large examples that are to be broken up there is
plenty of time for them to get established before
the end of summer. The bulbs should always be
divided with as little damage to the roots as pos-
sible, for on the retention of these depends the
future progress of the plants. I do not advocate
wholly breaking up the specimens into single bulbs
unless they are collectively large and strong, as the
separation generally causes the production of a
crop of flowers %vhen it is more desirable to grow
them on until they ha\e attained a larger size.
With this object, where the bulbs are wanting in
strength, it is often better to move the plants into
larger pots. Anyone who has a healthy stock of this
most useful plant will do well now, when the insect
that is so destructive to it has spread so much about
the country, to confine themselves to such as they
already possess. I know a case where one of the
most successful growers who had a large, healthy
stock was induced to purchase some bulbs of E-
oandida that turned out to be affected with the
mite, but it was not discovered until the whole
stock of E. amazonica and a fine collection of
Amaryllis were so infected with the pest, that after
persistent attempts to eradicate it the whole had
to be destroyed.
CtAnophyllum mAGNIWCUM.— This plant,
though now seldom met with, is one of the most
telling fine-leaved species ever introduced. There
are two ways of treating the plant, either to grow
it to a large size so as to show the character of its
immense leaves when fully developed, in which case
it must have a large amount of pot room ; or to
confine the cultivation to comparatively small ex-
amples so as toadmit of their beingstoodamongst the
other occupants of the stove. In this latter form it is
the most useful. It is also very effective when
associated with Ferns and the more elegant habited
kinds of Palms when grouped in rooms, halls. Sec.
It may be so used in the summer time if not allowed
to remain too long out of heat. With liberal treat-
ment the plant is a quick grower, and when it is
required for the purposes named the stock must be
kept up by frequent jaropagation. Where large ex-
amples exist they usually push side shoots at every
joint, and if these are cut out right at the base when
they are some 1) inches or 10 inches in length they
will root readily. The cuttings will strike readily
put singly into 4-inch or 5-inch pots filled with a mix-
ture of peat and sand, and kept close and shaded in
a propagating frame or under bell-glasses. When
they are rooted give them a light position, and
shade when the sun is bright. In a month or so
after the cuttings are struck the plants will require
moving into pots 3 inches or i inches larger; in these
they may remain for the winter. Where any plants,
either large or of medium size, have lost their
bottom leaves, it is best to cut off the tops, severing
them at about two or three joints from the ex-
tremities. These, treated in the manner described,
make the best plants. The stools will soon break
into growth if kept in a warm house, and in this
way will provide a stock of cuttings.
Medinillas. — The immense drooping panicles
of flower borne by M. magniBca, with its large
coloured bracts, and M. amabilis, which is almost a
counterpart of M. magnifica, except that the panicles
are erect, rank them at once amongst the most dis-
tinct and telling of stove plants. Both the kinds
named are effective when in a comparatively small
state, and as the v bloom freely whilst they are young
there is no ditticulty in so having them, provided
the growth is well matured. To get the plants to
flower freely they should be grown in a light house
and kept with their heads well up to the glass dur-
ing the summer, and from this time through the
autumn they should be stood as near as possible to
where air is admitted, with no more shade than will
keep the leaves from getting scorched. So treated,
plants in 10-inch or 12-inch pots will flower nicely.
Medinillas, like most other Melastomads, are easily
raised from cuttings, which if put in now will soon
root, and will be in advance of stock struck next
spring, so that the plants will attain size during the
summer and bloom better the year following. The
points of the shoots with the wood in a half-matured
state, or shoots such as frequently appear on the
old branches, will strike and get established before
the end of autumn. The cuttings should be put
singly in 3-inch or 4-inch pots, drained and half
filled with sandy soil. Stand in a brisk heat in a
propagating frame or under bell-glasses. Keep them
moderately moist, but not too close, otherwise they
are liable to damp off. When well rooted, move the
little plants into pots 2 inches larger, encouraging
them to make growth untU the days get short.
Keep the roots a little drier through the winter.
Meyenia bkecta. — Where free-flowering stove
plants that will bloom in a comparatively small
state are required, this Meyenia is a suitable sub-
ject. There are two varieties of it ; in both the
ground colour of the flowers is purple ; in one the
throat is yellow, in the other white. The plants are
easily and quickly grown ; cuttings root freely if
put in during the spring or summer. Plants struck
now will flower well during the latter part of next
summer, and continue as long as the plants keep
growing. In selecting cuttings choose shoots that
have no flower-buds on them, as the blooming wood
is slow in making roots, and does not move freely
afterwards. When the plants are growing freely,
enough soft shoots may generally be found. These
should be taken off when about 3 inches long, and
inserted 2 inches apart in pots or pans filled with
sand. If kept moist and shaded in a stove tempera-
ture the cuttings will soon strike. Allow two or three
weeks to elapse afterwards before potting off, then
put them singly in 3-inch or 4-inch pots. Ordinary
turfy loam with some sifted leaf- mould and a
sprinkling of sand will answer well. As soon as
the plants have made a little top-growth pinch out
the points of the shoots ; keep them near the glass,
where they will get plenty of light through the
autumn and winter. T. B.
Kitchen Garden.
W. WILDSMITH.
KITCHEN GARDEN NOTES.
Planting otjt Bkoccoli, Caultflowees, &c. —
Being favoured with rain on the 25th, and again on
the 27th ult.,theplantingof Broccoli andotherwinter
greens has been completed. Our plan of only
planting in deep drills is of the utmost convenience
in respect of artificial watering that will have to be
applied until the plants have begun to take root,
which in the present dry state of the soil is all but
impossible without watering. The following is our
list of Broccoli : Veitch's Protecting, Snow's Early
Penzance, Purple Cape, Leamington, Model, Safe-
guard, and Late Queen. The varieties of Cauli-
flower are Autumn Giant, Early Dwarf Erfurt,
Walcheren, and Early London. The kinds of other
winter greens are tall curled Scotch Kale, Cottager's
Kale, Dwarf LTlm Savoy, and Rosette Coleworts.
Wintee salads. — Endive, Lettuce, and Beet
have been thinned out, the excessive heat and
droughthavingprevented these operations being per-
formed, and watering will even now have to be
done to get the plants well established. Once this
is the case, no matter how dry the weather keeps,
these new roots will strike deep, and so be out of the
way of drought. Beet was sown rather late, and
consequently the rain has come just right. Dry
weather hindered the regular successional sowing
of Lettuces and Endive ; and, therefore, a few of
the surplus plants of each have been planted out
and a sowing of Radish and Onions made for use as
salads.
Turnips. — It is diflSoult in the best of seasons to
have good supplies of all kinds of vegetables, and
Turnips are this season very bad, as we have really
none worthy of the name. In this part of the
country summer Turnips of good quality can only
be had from p.artially shaded borders, and such
positions being limited, we must have at least part
of the blame for our shortcomings in this respect.
Wi- have now made a sowing on a border having a
due north aspect, and given moist weather or artificial
waterings, our lack of supply will soon be made
good. Red Stone and Chirk Castle Black Stone are
the varieties now sown. Soot and wood ash we
find the best antidotes against attacks of fly.
Peas. — It is worth some amount of extra labour
to get continuous supplies of these as far into the
autumn as possible, and our rule is to make use of
any suitable piece of ground there is at this time of
year to sow a row of the early varieties such as
AVilliam the First, Advancer, and Early Champion.
Advancing crops we have well mulched with long
litter, and this, combined with a good watering
once a week, keeps them in the most vigorous
health. Ground now being cleared of exhausted
crops of Peas is being re-cropped with Savoys and
Kales. The deep drills in which they are planted
will enable us to well water them should another
spell of dry weather render it necessary.
Ridoe Cucumbbes and Vegetable Maeeows.
— Abundance of water, and the shoots thinned out
and stopped once a week, and rich surfacing of soil
and manure are necessary to keep these plants in a
continuous bearing state. We are not always able
to get at them to the day, but every effort is used
not to allow them to suffer for lack of the cultural
attention here indicated ; consequently we are re-
warded with full supplies of produce.
Tomatoes. — The hot weather has suited these.
We have them planted on the open border and
tied after the fashion of Dahlias. The plants are
kept to one stem, the side branchlets of which are
now loaded with fruit in all stages of growth. The
ground is thickly mulched with long stable litter,
and the plants have a good soaking of water about
once a week. The trampling of the ground occa-
sioned by the necessary tying, pinching, &;o., of the
plants seems to have proved beneficial, the hard
ground having served as a preventive of rapid, or
rather of a too fleshy root-formation, the conse-
quence being a more free-fruiting condition of the
plants, and therefore a lessened amount of pinching
and tying. The plants on walls[are also kept closely
stopped back, and it is necessary to cut away some
portion of the foliage to expose the fruit to the
light. Of the two, we prefer the plan of growing
the plants on warm borders and staked as advised.
The cuttings for plants to supply fruits throughout
the winter have just been put in on a Cucumber
ridge and under the protection of a handlight.
Geneeal woek. — The maintenance of neatness;
earthing up Brussels Sprouts, Autumn Giant Cauli-
flowers, and early Broccoli ; lifting all Potatoes that
are ready ; hoeing between the rows of Carrots,
Parsnips, Onions, and Lettuce ; staking runner
Beans and Peas ; lifting Garlic and Shallots ; and
cutting herbs for drying.
Vegetable Marrows failing. — Complaints
are often heard of Vegetable Marrows growing very
freely, but failing to fruit abundantly. Scores of
female blossoms form, open, and set fruit, which swells
a little, then becomes yellow and drops off. This
is particularly the experience of amateur growers.
Vegetable Marrows, e.^jjecially the small-fruiting
ones, are always disposed to fruit freely, and their
failing to do so is, as a rule, due to cultural defects.
Many of the plants are planted in very rich soil ; in
fact, I have known some to be planted on the tops
of pure manure heaps. All plants grown in such
rich material are sure to make very thick, juicy
stems and huge leaves, which overshadow all the
blooms. Grown in this way, no heavy crop of Vege-
table Marrows will everbeproduced. Theplantsmust
have light and air in order to produce hardy, close-
jointed wood, which produces fruit freely. Where
the plants are growing in I'ather poor soil the shoots
will be of the best description for fruiting. In such
a case it is only necessary to thin the shoots and
prevent them from overlapping each other. The
very large growths on plants growing in very rich
soil must be thinned to excess before a heavy crop
can be produced. If plants overgrown at the pre-
sent time and fruitless are carefully and well
thinned, and a number of the female blossoms fer-
tilised, a heavy crop will soon he the result. There
are too often faults in watering. When the foliage
overshadows the roots, no rain can reach them, and
the plants often suffer for want of water. If all who
have to complain of Marrows not fruiting will thin
Aug. 6, 1887.]
Ill
the shoots and large leaves freely, water those grow-
ing in poor soil with liquid manure, and only give
clean water to those on manure beds, then fruit will
be produced in abundance. — J. MuiH, Manjam.
TOMATOES IN THE OPEN AIR.
I HAVE just gathered some ripe Tomatoes from
plants in the open air, and a gentleman who is an
enthusiastic Tomato grower brought me a ripe fruit
weighing 8j ozs. grown on an east wall. This
was cut from plants grown to a good size under
glass Tjefore planting out. The spring being very
cold, those plants that were put out early in Jlay
were very much cut up by cold winds, while those
kept under glass and growing in ti-inch pots made
fine plants with bunches of bloom on them when
planted out at the end of the month. There can be
little doubt but that those who can give the
requisite space under glass to grow their plants on
to a good size, and not plant out before the end of
May, so as to avoid the little winter that we almost
invjiriably get about the third week of ihit month,
will get an earlier supply of ripe fruit than those
who plant out very early, and trust to ; e nporary
coverings to ward off the latest frosts. In this year
of drought, and failure with many kinds of garden
crops, it is pleasant to find one crop that is really
doing well, and certainly the Tomato does revel in
heat, and the maximum of bright sunshine that we
have experienced during the past two months just
suits it. In this locality we have a great number of
residents who have spent many years in tropical
countries, and these are invariably passionately
fond of Tomatoes ; consequently the demand for
them is quite equal to the supply, and they are
grown in all sorts of situations, both under glass
and in the open. I lately saw a splendid crop
grown in an old gravel pit, the good soil ha\-ing
been piled up against the sides where the sun had
fall play, and as the plants were well sheltered from
wind on all sides they made rapid progress, and were
certainly in advance of those on walls close by, and
treated the same in other respects. As regards
aspects for Tomatoes, I think many are deterred
from growing them through not having a south
aspect. Now, the ripe fruit above referred to as grow-
ing on an east wall was only one oE a fine crop just
ripening, certainly in advance of that on a wall
with a full south aspect. When one considers how
great an effect the morning sun has on all kinds of
vegetation compared with what it has after mid-day,
I think it is not unreasonable to suppose that an
aspect facing east is as good as any for Tomatoes,
for although shunned by fruit growers, it may be
fully utilised for the growth of a fruit that increases
in popularity every year. I believe there are very
few fruits that will yield so good a profit, especially
on walls not more than G feet high. As regards
varieties, the main thing is to get a good bright
coloured fruit with an even outline and of medium
size. Any good selection of the old smooth Red
that passes under numerous synonyms cannot be
excelled, and if well grown there is no fear of
foreign competition driving well-grown samples from
the market. Foreign-grown samples are being sold
at 4d. per lb., but home-grown ones sell readily at
double that price, while the risk of loss, such as
attends soft, perishable fruits that must be used
within a day or two of being ripe, is very trifling in-
deed. The Tomato, if cut when fully coloured, but
not over ripe, will keep for a fortnight at least if
placed in single layers in boxes and set in a cool
room. J. Geoom.
GospoTt.
The weatlier and the cropj. — We have the
last season or so been wishing for an old-fashioned
summer, and we have really got one at last, and
now it is a question which we like best — carry-
ing the water-pot, or pulling weeds. It is most
certain the former has to be done this summer, and
the latter was a great task la^t season. We have
had no rain for seven weeks, and in consequence
the ground is very dry. '\'egetables. Peas, and
Beans ripened before they were ready for gathering.
Scarlet Runners are not at all satisfactory, in spite
of good syringings with the garden engine. Cauli-
flower plants bolt as soon as they are planted.
Onions are all ripening prematurely. Parsley in
most cases is running to seed. Carrots are being
scorched up, the tops lying flat on the ground.
Vegetable Marrows are doing well, but Potatoes are
small. We have been digging Covent Garden Per-
fection, Sutton's Fortyfold, and Beauty of Hebron —
all excellent in flavour. We have plenty of Potatoes,
but uO per cent, not good enough for seed. Our
field crop looks all right, with the exception of early
sorts. Lettuce plants run to seed before they are
fit for cutting, with the exception of some that were
put out upon ridges and some sown in rows to stand.
I cannot quite understand those standing so well on
the ridges, but such is the case. Brussels Sprouts
are about a month later than they were at this
time last year. Late Cauliflowers look very well.
Altogether it is rather a bad look-out in our district.
— W. A. C, Peferhoro'.
Societies and Exhibitions.
THE ROYAL SOUTHAMPTON HORTICUL-
TURAL SOCIETY.
July 30 and August 1.
The display at the annual esiibition of this
society, although not quite equal to that of last
year, for which, no doubt, the exceptional charac-
ter of the present season has much to do, was a very
magnificent one. This is the twenty-fifth year of
the society's existence, and £300 were offered in
prizes, which brought together nearly a hundred
competitors, who staged about 500 distinct collec-
tions, and with justice it may be said there was not
a single discreditable exhibit amongst the whole.
The show was held in the society's own grounds,
called Westwood Park, and as a proof of the inte-
rest taken in horticulture in this district, great
numbers of visitors passed into the show during the
two days. Independent of the pilants, cut flowers,
fruits, and vegetables staged, there was a great dis-
play of heating apparatus, garden implements, and
other requisites. The display made at the exhibitions
of the Southampton society is perhaps the most
varied and beautiful of any similar society in the
kingdom, so numerous are the varieties of plants, ..tc,
asked for ; for although great prominence is given
to all high-class plants, almost every other depart-
ment of gardening finds equal encouragement at the
hands of the committee ; and a most pleasing feature
are the numerous and excellent contributions of the
cottagers. The groups of plants arranged for effect
were numerous and for the most part good. This
is one of the most useful features in a public
competition, as it educates the gardener in just
that work so necessary for him in his everyday
requirements. We still observe, however, that
too much preference is given to the rarity
and value of the plants used; whilst the com-
monest plants if properly arranged oftentimes
yield the most beautiful effect. Bouquets, cut
flowers, and dinner-table arrangements are a marked
feature of this show, and are generally set up with
elegance and taste. Mr. Chard, of Stoke Newington,
had a pretty table, completely laid for six persons,
in which it may be said there was not a super-
fluous flower or leaf ; whilst he was again deservedly
first for three stands, not exceeding LS inches in
height, for table ornamentation, ilessrs. Perkins, of
Coventry, carried first honours for bridal bouquets,
but we thought all these would have been more
beautiful if they had been somewhat smaller in size
and less packed with flowers. Cut herbaceous
flowers were good, especially the stand set up by
Mr. Molyneux, gardener to Mr. Myers, Swanmore
Park. Bishop's Waltham ; so also were those from
Mr. Guillaume, Southampton, and Mr. Pope, High-
clere Castle, Newbury. Roses were good for the
season, especially so those of Messrs. Perkins, of
Coventry, and Messrs. Keynes and Williams, of
Salisbury; whilst a beautiful stand of cut stove and
greenhouse flowers came from Mr. James, of Nor-
wood. The arrangement of wild flowers and Grasses
by the cottagers in wooden garden baskets was very
notable for beauty and grace. This plan is far
preferable to that of bunching, which is the usual
style of setting them up. ■ This, combined with the
fact that the flora of the neighbourhood is a rich
one, rendered this portion of the show very pleasing.
Turning to stove and greenhouse plants, there were
many large and well-grown specimens, for the most
part fresh and good ; notable amongst them were
the two Lapagerias in Class 1 from Mr. Lack, New-
combe House Gardens, Crediton, both the white and
rose-coloured forms magnificently flowered. So
also were Ixora Duffi and Erica a^mula ; whilst
amongst the ornamental-leaved plants in the same
arroup Croton Warreni stood out very conspicuous.
Mr. .lames, of Norwood, and Mr. Wills, gardener to
Jlrs. Pearce, were placed equal second. Amongst
the plants shown by the latter exhibitor were a
superb Statice profusa and Stephanotis flori-
bunda. In Class 2, for six stove and greenhouse
plants in flower and six with ornamental foliage,
Mr. Aymes, gardener to the Honourable Mrs. Y'orke,
Hamble Cliff, was first, but although his plants
were well grown, we imagine he lays himself open
to have first honours wrested from him, unless he
discards some of his less showy and effective plants.
Mr. Blandford, gardener to Mrs. Hazelfoot, staged
a very fine Croton volutum, remarkable for the free
manner in which it had been grown, and also for
the rich golden yellow of its foliage, and also a
well-bloomed Stephanotis bearing fruit, ilr. !JIoly-
neux had a magnificent Croton Queen Victoria,
and also a veryfine well-flowered plant of the Throat-
wort (Trachelium cajruleum); this latter plant affords
a charming bit of dark blue to a collection. It is a
native of Italy, and I am assured it is perfectly
hardy, and flowers well in the open air in the
neighbourhood of Southampton ; it appears to be a
mistake to stage it amongst stove and greenhouse
plants. Tuberous Begonias were poor, except the
fine cut blooms staged by ilr. Laing, of Forest Hill.
Cape Heaths were somewhat numerous and good
this is a pleasing feature, and we hope it indicates
a rising taste for the cultivation of this charming
group of plants. The most notable kinds were E
ampullacea Barnesi, Marnockiana, tricolor rosea,
:T3mula, Fairrieana, Aitonia Turnbulli.
The Pitcher plants from Mr. James, of Norwood'
were very fine, the principal kinds being Nepenthes
Ratflesiana, Courti, Mastersi, rubra, hybrida, ro
busta, Heuryana, Hookeri, and Mastersi nigra
Orchids are asked for in groups, the space to be
occupied, 6 feet by 4 feet. In this class Mr. Osborne,
gardener to Mr. H. J. Buchan, Wilton House,
Southampton, was first, and Mr. Blandford second
In Mr. Osborne's group were good examples of Cat
tleyas Dowiana, Gaskelliana, Eldorado, and Scho-
fieldi, Oncidiums macranthum and Lanceanum,
Odontoglos^ums Alexandrfe, cuspidatum and Uro-
Skinneri, Masdevallia Veitchi superba, Dendro
biums Dearei and superbiens, Calanthe veratrifolia,
Peristeria elata, and many others. Notable amongst
Mr. Blandford's lot were Lfelia Dayana, Brassavola
nodosa, Dendrobium McArthi;c, Saccolabiums
Blumei and guttatum, Peristeria elata, &c. Ferns
and Lycopods were largely shown and in good con-
dition, the most noticeablebeingGleicheniaSpeluncae
and Mendeli, Davallia polyantha and fijiensis, Ne-
phrolepis davallioides furcans, and Microlepia hirta
cristata, staged by Mr, Lock. Jlr. Wills also staged
some excellent specimens ; amongst them extra fine
were Adiantum cardiochhena and Nephrolepis da-
vallioides furcans; the same exhibitor set up
superb collections of British Ferns, which should
have been named to make them instructive. Mr.
Rogers staged a large, varied, and beautiful collec-
tion of hardy shrubs, far too numerous to detail ;
the plants were in pots, healthy, bright in foliage,
and smart in appearance, as if grown under protec-
tion; amongst them was a beautiful plant of Des-
fontainea spinosa, profusely flowered, its long, pen-
dulous orange-yellowand scarlet tube-shaped flowers
rendering it very conspicuous in the show.
Feuit made a fine display, the competition being
keen and the exhibits of considerable merit. For
a collection of six dishes, Mr. Evans, gardener to
Lady Ashburton, Melchet Court, Reading, was first,
the Muscat of Alexandria and Madresfield Court
Grapes, Elruge Nectarines, Barrington Peaches, &c,,
being excellent; Mr. S. Pulman, gardener to Mr
112
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. G, 1887.
R. B. Sheridan, Frampton Court, Dorchester, was
second. Mr. Ward, Longford Castle Gardens, Salis-
bury, was first in the class for three bunches of
black Grapes, contributing splendid samples of
Madresfield Court Muscat; Mr. Molyneus being
second with Black Hamburgh. In the correspond-
ing class for white Grapes, Mr. J. M. Stewart, Boldre
Grange Gardens, Lymington, was first with Muscat
of Alexandria. For twelve single bunches of black
Grapes, Mr. Molyneux was the most successful.
There were also good samples of Peaches and Nec-
tarines.
Vegetables were well shown. Mr. W. Pope,
gardener to the Earl of Carnarvon, Highclere Court,
was first for a collection of twelve varieties; Mr.
W. Sanders, the Gardens, Longstock House, Stock-
bridge, being second. Mr. Molyneux was tlie most
successful in the class for nine varieties of vege-
tables.
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL.
Scientific Committee.
JSryngium nigaivtenm. — Mr. Wilson showed a
handsome spray of this plant, remarking that it was
extraordinarily attractive to bees, which seemed to
prefer it to all other flowers in blossom at the same
time. He was not aware of its having been noticed
as a "bee-plant," but strongly recommended it.
Streptocarpvs hylricl. — An interesting series,
raised at Kew, was exhibited, between S. Dunni (male
parent) and S. Rexi (female) ; also between S. Dunni
and S. parvifiorus. Dr. Masters called attention to
the great interest attaching to these plants, and to
their curious habit of producing only one leaf sub-
sequent to the cotyledons.
BUoplwspliora (jrarnvms. — A specimen of this curi-
ous fungus, which attacks ears of Wheat, destroy-
ing spikelets and disorganising the stem, was exhi-
bited and described by Mr. Smith. It is local and
erratic in its appearance. It occurred in South Bed-
fordshire.
Fasc'mted stems. — Mr. Wilson remarked upon the
prevalence of fasciated stems in Lilium auratum.
Professor Church corroborated his observations by
mentioning a similar occurrence in Kew Gardens.
Mr. O'Brien observed that the habit has become
more or less fixed in L. lancifolium when raised from
bulbs, but nothing is known of this variety, mon-
strosum being raised from seed. Apropos of raising
Lilies by seed, Mr. O'Brien remarked that if seeds of
Lilies be saved and sown in South Africa they will
flower within six months, whereas in England it takes
over twelve months. Also, if English-saved seeds
are planted in South Africa they will not bloomunder
a year ; showing the influence of climate upon the
development of the plant. The only Lily, Mr.
Wilson remarked, which comes up quickly is L.
tenuifolium.
Laurel leaves recovering from frost. — Mr. Henslow
showed a drawing and specimen of Laurel leaves
which had been severely injured at their apices and
along the margins in early spring, but which had
thrown off the injured part and formed a new
cuticularised edge in place of it. The serratures
were wanting, so that the portions renewed were
entire. They were received from Mr. F. C. White,
of Ealing.
(rlazinq bars for glasshmtses. — A specimen was
exhibited and explained by the patentees, Messrs. E.
& F. Newton, of Hitchin and Stevenage. The
merits of the invention lay in the facilities for allow-
ing the glaFS to expand and contract under varying
temperatures, and the method of conveying away
the drip water ; also in the ventilation and the im-
portant point of price. In all these particulars the
committee were favourably disposed towards the in-
vention. Mr. O'Brien and Mr. Smee undertook to
report more fully at the next meeting upon the
invention.
Cattlega GasltelUann. — The Hon. and Rev. Bos-
cawen exhibited splendid sprays of this Orchid,
showing various tints. They were from plants im-
ported in the spring of ISSfi, A vote of thanks was
given to him.
Trees and Shrubs.
■W. GOLDEING.
THE RED OAK.
(quercus rubra.)
Among the numerous North American Oaks
now in English gardens there are four species
that, on account of being so nearly alike as re-
gards their foliage, are often confused one with
the other. These four are the Red Oak (Q.
rubra), Scarlet Oak (Q. oocoinea), the Querci-
tron, or Black Oak (Q. tinctoria), and the Pin
Oak (Q. palustris). These may be collectively
A seedling Red Oak one year old.
called the Red Oaks, as the foliage of at least
three of them dies off to a red colour more or
less bright in autumn. All four are valuable
ornamental trees of rapid growth, and particu-
larly elegant in foliage and growth. The leaves
of all are large, more or less deeply lobed, and
usually beset with bristly teeth. It is not an
easy matter to distinguish these species when
in a young state without closely examining
the leaves and bark, though when in fruit
they can be at once recognised, as the acorns
of all differ more or less in shape and size.
The two species that are most generally
confused are Q. coccinea and Q. rubra. Both
have oblong leaves in outline, deeply cut into
lobes, but while the spaces or sinuses between
the leaves of Q. coccinea are broad, those of
Q. rubra are narrow ; and, again, the leaves
of Q. coccinea have but three or foiir distinct
lobes on each side, while those of Q. rubra
have never less than three, and generally from
Leaves aud Acorns.
four to six on each side. The leaves of Q. coc-
cinea turn in autumn to a bright scarlet, while
those of Q. rubra turn to a dark red. The
acorns of both are similar, but those of Q. rubra
are more globular and larger than those of Q.
coccinea. The leaf character of these Oaks,
however, is only reliable on trees fully de-
veloped or mature, as they vary so much in the
lobes on young trees, as was pointed out by
Michaux, who paid more attention to Oaks
than any other botanist. In his work on the
Oaks he gives illustrations showing the variation
of the leaves of the Red Oak from the seedling
stage to those of the mature tree ; while Loudon
in his "A rboretum " went further, and gave
drawings of leaves showing the leaf variation of
this Oak on trees of four or five years' growth.
These illustrations are reproduced herewith.
It is not surprising then that Oaks .so nearly
resembling each other and so variable in leaf
character should be misnamed in nurseries,
though it is so important that the contusion
should not exist, as in ornamental planting
these two Oaks produce decidedly different
effects in autumn.
A vigorous, full-grown Red Oak is a beauti-
ful tree, tall and with a wide-spreading head,
but more rigid in growth than the Scarlet Oak.
The leaves, being large and disposed in heavy
masses on the branches, produce that effect of
light and shade so pleasing in tree-growth ;
while the bark is always of a soft ashen-grey
colour, and is never very rough. It is a beau-
tiful tree at all seasons, but is most conspicuous
in spring, when the newly-expanded foliage is of
The Red Oak. Branch from an old tree.
a soft yellow-green tint, and in autumn, when
the decaying foliage turns to a deep red or
russety brown.
It is a rapid-growing tree compared with
other Oaks, the average rate of growth being
about a foot annually during the first 30 years.
In order to give full effect to this Oak, it should
be grouped with other trees of a different habit
of growth — that is, not round-headed or other-
wise symmetrical. It associates well with such
trees as the Acacia, Abele, Liquidambar, Black
Walnut, and others which in growth and colour
are either in harmony or contrast in habit and
tint. The Red Oak is a tree not particular as
to soil or situation, flourishing both in a sandy
soil and one that is .stiff' and moist. Some very
tine trees exist in this country, having been a
favourite tree with planters about a century
ago. In the famous arboretum at Syon there
are some magnificent trees ; also at other old
places like Longleat, Warwick, Strathfieldsaye,
West Dean, and Bicton.
It was cultivated as long ago as 1739, and
might have been introduced from the United
States years before that date. It is a common tree
in all the New England, Middle, and Southern
Aug. 6, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
113
States, but readies its greatest perfection in
Massachusetts. It is common also in Canada,
and is a stock tree in English nurseries.
THE DATE PLUM.
(mOSPYEOS LOTUS.)
To THE Editor of The Garden.
Sir,— I read in the issue of The Gardes for
July 23 (p. 68) that D. Lotus still exists in England,
and that it produces fruit. I do not know whether
it can still be found in France, but am doubtful.
This tree, so neglected at the present time, will
probably acquire a certain importance for furnishing
a very fine vigorous branch of it from his
garden. It is apparently a variety of the common
Sycamore (Acer Pseudo-platauus), though it may
turn out to be a distinct species. For the present
it is known as Acer Van A''olsemi, and is very little
known in this country at present. It may be de-
scribed as resembling the Sycamore, but with leaves
almost twice as large, and appear to be more
numerous. One can imagine what a grand park
or avenue tree this Acer will make, for no doubt
it is as hardy and as handsome in growth as the
Sycamore. — AV. G.
The Swatnp Magnolia (M. glauca). — Though
this Magnolia has not the huge foliage or mag-
Leaves from trees four and five years old.
stocks on which to graft good varieties of D. Kaki,
which do not come true from seed. It is D. Lotus
that the Japanese use for this purpose. I write to
you respecting this tree to ask you for some seeds
of the next gathering when they are ripe, so that I
can sow them immediately before winter, as they
perish very quickly. If you could send to me a
small stock I will make use of it for grafting twenty
of the best selected varieties of D. Kaki, which have
been sent to me from Tokio, and which have rooted
well. I am only in want of stocks so as to enable
me to multiply and propagate them in France. In
the note in TiiE Gakden W. Goldring says that
j niScent flowers of some of the others, it never-
theless possesses several desirable qualities. In
the first place, its limited size enables it to be
grown successfully ia small gardens, where it forms
a very desirable specimen for the lawn, as under
favourable conditions it will flower more or less
continuously from midsummer till frosts set in.
Besides this, as it will bloom freely when under
6 feet in height, the fragrant blossoms can be then fully
appreciated. This is a somewhat variable species,
for though the foliage of all is more or less silvery
underneath, it varies a good deal in this respect, as
well as in the length of time during which it
Brincli of Qusrcus rubri (Red Oik).
the fruit of D. Lotus is the Trebizmd Date. Is he
quite sure of it ? I was of the opinion until now '
that the Trebizond Date is the fruit of Elceagnus
hortensis, which is sweet and eatable, whilst that
of D. Lotus is bitter and disagreeable.
Antibes. C. Naudin.
*^* Perhaps some of our readers may be able to
teU M. Naudin where young plants may be had. —
Ed.
A new Sycamore was exhibited at South
Kensington last week by Dr. Masters, who brought
remains on the tree, for, though generally speaking,
the Swamp Magnolia is a sub-evergreen, plants
will occasionally retain the greater portion of their
leaves throughout the winter, while others lose most
of their foliage during the autumn. As its name
suggests, this Magnolia prefers a fairly moist soil,
but it by no means requires to be in a swamp. A
situation where it is never dried up during the
summer, and where the soil is not too gravelly, suits
it perfectly. — T.
Escallonia Fhillipiana. — I am rather sur-
prised to notice in The Garden, July 30 (p. 68),
that there is a doubt about the hardiness of this
beautiful South American shrub. It has been
growing out of doors here for a number of years,
and has survived the severe winters we have ex-
pierienced during that time without protection of
any kind. It is now a very healthy plant, and has
lately been quite covered with its pretty tiny blos-
soms, making it a very pretty object indeed. —
J. Graham, Milne Graden, Coldstream, Ilern-lck-
sliire.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
Lilium odorum. — Messrs. Barr & Sou, of Covent
Gardeu, have sent us a strong spike of this Lily hear-
ing three flowers. It was fully described in The
Garden for Jidy 2,3 (p. 52).
The drought and the crops. — The dryness of
July, added to that of June, is now telling seriously on
all the crops of the garden. Fruit continues to drop
in sackfuls, and vegetables are suffering very much.
Potatoes are abnormally small, but sweet and sound.
— D. T. F.
The Liquorice plant (Glycirrhiza glabra). — We
learn from a contemporary that the above is now in
flower in Dr. Paterson's garden at Fernfield, Bridge of
Allan. Ou the thi'ee occasions in which it has pre-
viously flowered in Scotland, the smnmers have been
excexationally warm.
Ifevircastle-on-Tyne autumn sho'w. — We
learn that the above show will be held on August 31,
September 1 and 2, instead of commencing on August
30, as previously announced. The amount of prizes is
the largest yet offered by the society, including £50
for collections of fruit. The secretary is Mr. J. Gil-
lespie, Cross House Chambers, Westgate Road, New-
castle-on-Tyne.
White Cape Hyacinth (Hyaeinthus Galtonia
candicans) from seed. — In 1SS4 I sowed in a drill in
the open ground some freshly ripened seed of this
pretty autumn flower. It quickly germinated, and the
plants, which have never been moved, are now flower-
ing well. I have just counted fifteen spikes iu a yard
of drill, some with as many as thirty buds and flowers.
As seed ripens readily, this valuable plant can thus be
quickly increased. — Gkeenwood.
Iceland Poppies and Gaillardias. — We have
received from Mr. T. S. Ware, of Tottenham, flowers
of Iceland Poppies and Gaillardias. Among the
former there is a new one of a pale primrose colour,
which is distinct, but not so large as the better
known orange and white varieties. The Gaillardias
are good forms, the colours bright and telling.
Yorkshire gala. — The balance-sheet of this
great northern horticultural exhibition shows that
the income of the society for this year amounts to
£1671 10s., leaving a balance of £12. The com-
mittee were anxious, this being Jubilee year, to
realise large profits, which are devoted to the
charities of York, but wQl be unable to do so,
owing to the small balance. Although the receipts
on the opening day of the show were larger than
those on the corresponding day of 1886, the takings
on the following days were below the average.
Kailway rates and producers. — The market
growers in the neighbourhood of Sandwich having
lately petitioned the railway company for a reduc-
tion in the rates of carriage, and having been re-
fused, started a scheme for the delivery of fruit and
vegetables to London by water. A barge, loaded
with Strawberries, Cherries, Currants, &o., was taken
in tow by a steam-tug to London Bridge, from
whence vehicles from the various salesmen conveyed
the fruit, &c., to the different markets. The charges,
it is stated, are about 35 per cent, lower than those
asked by the railway company.
Summer Lily of the Valley is a good name
for that pretty Himalayan plant, Theropogon palli-
dus, which looks so much like the Lily of the
Valley, that in the absence of its leaves one would
scarcely tell the difference between the two. The
flowers are of the same size, of the same bell-like
form, hang on the spike in the same way, and are,
moreover, white, or very slightly tinged with purple.
The leaves, however, are very different, being long
and narrow, very similar in fact to the leaves of an
Ophiopogon. This Theropogon always flowers in
summer, lasts a long time in bloom, and its little
114
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. G, 1887.
sprays are admirable for bouquets, button-holes,
or any other small and neat floral arrangements. It
is a plant very little known, and probably one would
have a difficulty in obtaining it from a nursery,
though It has been grown at Kew for years, and
written about several times. It is essentially a
greenhouse or frame plant, and may be seen in
bloom in the house at Kew devoted to Cape plants.
—VI. G.
Whitfi Daffodils. — Will you be kind enough to
allow me to remind those of your readers who take
an interest in this subject that if they have any
varieties upon which they have any doubt, or which
they may consider to be of special merit, I shall be
glad to receive bulbs of them as soon as possible to
be planted side by side with others at Kew for the
Narcissus committee to report on next season? It
desired the bulbs will be returned to the senders as
soon as the variety has been determined on. —
C. K. ScBASE-DiCKiNS, Hon. Sec. Xarcissiis Com-
mittee, Coolhurst, JIoi-.i/ki/ii.
Disa grandiflora at Straffan. — As seen at its
best there are but few other cool Orchids that can
rival Disa grandiflora. At Straffan, Co. Kildare,
there are just now 180 spikes of this Orchid in per-
fection, hearing in all about 4.50 flowers. The va-
rieties are D. g. superba and D. g. viole3cens, the
one being of a fiery scarlet, and the other having a
violet suffusion through the floral segments of the
flower. The best pan is of D. g. superba, and bears
33 spikes and 7G flowers. Apart from their beauty
the flowers of Disa remain fresh for a long
time. A plant of Cattleya Dowiana in the same
collection bears 7 fine blooms on 2 spikes, and
is a rich dark-lipped form most deliciously scented.
— F. W. BUKBIDGE.
A working men's flower show. — The co-
operative movement will be well represented at
South Kensington on August 23, on the occasion of
the National Co-operative Flower Show, held under
the auspices of the Royal Horticultural Society. The
exhibition will consist of the products of hona p'de
working men's gardens. The show cannot help
being interesting and instructive, as it will so
thoroughly represent the gardening capabilities of
small cottagers throughout the length and breadth
of the land. Cheap excursions are being organised
from all parts of the kingdom, and the conference,
which is to be held in the afternoon on the " possi-
bilities of co-operative allotments and associated
gardens," will doubtless be well attended, and give
rise to an interesting discussion. All persons who
would like to attend should communicate with the
hon. secretary, Mr. W. Broomhall, 1, Norfolk Street,
Strand, "VV.C.
Protea cynaroides. — This singular shrub has
for the past three weeks been an object of much
interest at Kew, where there is a good specimen
of it in flower in the Caotas house. The flowers
are gathered in a great globose head, the envelop-
ing scales of which are broad and thick, and in
appearance the whole flower reminds one of the
Globe Artichoke. The inside of the head looks
like a huge tassel of a pale pink colour, the in-
volucre or bracts being greenish. The flower
measures some 8 inches or '.i inches across, and
the leaves are large, fleshy, and oblong. This is
the same species that was exhibited some time
ago at South Kensington under the name of P,
Hubbardi, and which excited a good deal of interest.
— W. H. G.
Lilies at Kew. — A few years, ago one might
search in vain for a well-grown Lily of any kind.
Experts gravely consulted about the most suitable
soil and position for them ; but somehow, after all
the trouble taken, the Lilies refused to grow. Now
it is different, since Lilies have been planted in
various parts of the grounds and not confined to
one particular spot. For the last few years, and
particularly this year, one has been able to see re-
markably line Lilies in Kew Gardens. No display
of the old white Lily could possiblybe finer than
that made by the large mass of it ]ilanted round the
decrepit old Araucaria. Every plant carried a fine
head of bloom, and the stem bore green foliage
almost to the ground. In the garden by the Palm
house may be seen Californian Lilies flowering
abundantly and rearing their graceful wand-like
stems above the shrubs. In great perfection now
are the large beds of L. longiflorum esimium, which
are near the Cactus house. There is quite a thicket
of flower-spikes carrying one or more noble white
flowers, and this variety will be succeeded by Tiger
Lilies and others, all of which grow luxuriantly in
the beds with peat-soil plants.
Adenocaljnnna nitidum. — This most grace-
ful and showy stove climbing plant now adorns
the roof of the A'ictoria Lily house at Kew with
wreaths of golden bloom. At first sight one would
think it was one of the AUamandas in flower, as the
colour is the same as that of A. Henderson! ; but
on closely looking at the flowers they are seen to
be different in shape from those of an AUamanda,
and more like those of a Bignonia. In fact, it is
practically a Bignonia, and one wishes that the
simpler name had been adopted. The flowers are
about 3 inches across, of a bright golden yellow, and
produced in long loose clusters, which hang in a
most graceful way under the roof. Some might like
to grow this noble climber as a relief to the mono-
tony of AUamandas, which crowd almost every
stove house, large or small, and which are about
the most useless flowers one can grow for cutting.
— W. G.
A fine form of the Scarborough Lily
(Vallota purpurea magniflca). — There can be no
doubt now about this variety being very dift'erent,
and also much superior, to the ordinary Scarborough
Lily, and the nursery firm who distributed it did
not say a word too much in praise of it. It is a
glorious plant, the flowers being of exquisite form
and exceedingly brilliant in colour. Compared
with the old "V'allota purpurea, the flowers are quite
a third larger, and produced three or four together
on spikes 15 inches or 18 inches high. There is
more of an orange-scarlet glow about the flowers,
and the large milk-white centre (which does not
exist in V. purpurea) intensifies the scarlet. Some
plants of it have lately been very attractive in the
Cape house at Kew. There is room for both this
and the type, as the variety flowers earlier. A
coloured plate of the magnifica variety was given
some time since in The Garden. — W. G.
Uiltonia spectabilis Moreliana. — A speci-
men of this Orchid, of which a coloured plate was
given in The Gaedek of April 23, l.'^sT, is now in
bloom at Kew. The plant is growing on a raft in
the cool Orchid house, and the colouring of the
flowers is rich, decided, and distinct. I'hey are
larger than those of the type, of greater substance,
and nobler form, the golden yellow pseudo-bulbs
intensifying the deep rich purplish hue. The sepals
are narrow, pointed, and channelled down the
centre ; the petals broad, slightly crimpled at the
edge, folding inwards, and with a lilac-white suffu-
sion at the base. The lip is large, and beauti-
fully coloured, the upper part flushed with purple,
and veined with the same rich hue, which lightens
towards the wavy margin. The ivory white column,
with reddish wings, and the yellow stripes at the
apex of the lip stand out in bold relief. — C.
To THE Editob of Thb Gakden.
Sm, — In Professor Foster's able paper circulated
among the Fellows of the Royal Horticultural
Society, it is said at page 2, " In the first place, the
bestowal of medals is ridiculously superabundant ;
being showered down as they are, they have lost all
distinctive value." For the information of those
not thoroughly conversant with the working of the
Society, it may be well to state why medals are
given more frequently than was formerly the case.
In the impecunious state of the society, when it
cannot afford to offer prizes, and when the visitors
to the fortnightly meetings would be hardly satis-
fied with seeing only the plants sent up for adjudi-
cation, leading nurserymen, both of town and
country, from time to time make most interesting
and instructive large displays. Visitors will re-
member fine banks of Gladioli, Rhododendrons,
Roses, Narcissi, spring flowers, &c. Some acknow-
ledgment has to be made to the exhibitors. In
this view a medal of grade according to merit is
awarded after very careful inspection. The use of
medals has thus been diverted from being very
rare awards to single highly remarkable plants, to
be a reward for making useful and attractive dis-
plays in the conservatory. When no great exhibi-
tions are going on next door, the visitors to the
fortnightly shows are not sufficient in number to
reward the exhibitors of groups for the expense
and trouble of bringing up their large number of
plants. According to my experience, which is not
small, exhibitors still greatly prize the award of
medals. George F. Wilsox.
ircatherhanlt, Weybridge.
A SEED CASE.
To THE Editor of The Garden.
Sir, — I wish to record my great surprise at the
case of Richardson r. Clarke as quoted in The Gar-
den July 23 (p. 70) ; in fact, I am quite astounded
at it. If I remember rightly, some years ago the
farmers, who had suffered great losses, were com-
pelled to go to Parliament and ask for an Act
to protect them against the vendors of bad seed .
Their case was strong, they had the public with them,
and they got their Act. This Act is now, I suppose,
on our Statute book and part of our law. Now, the
case referred to is quite clear ; the seed was bad, it
was rubbish, it was worse than dead seed would
have been, and caused greater loss to the plaintiff.
The only flaw I see to favour the defendant is that
(trusting to my memory again) the Act is confined
to the vitality of the seed, not to its purity. Yet the
bottom is knocked out of this plea by the notice of
the defendant, which clearly was worded to evade
the Act, " that they would not hold themselves re-
sponsible as to quality or production." How, in
the name of all common sense, can it be held in
a county court that this printed notice by the
defendant gave immunity from the law I cannot
conceive. Private arrangements, however well
agreed upon, if made to vary a point in which the
Statute law is clear and quite different, are of no
effect when once the court is appealed to. The
whole duty of a court is, as I understand it, to
administer the law of England, and not to sanction
private arrangements, which are, on the face of them,
evasions of the la w. Why, the whole army of adultera-
tors would go to the county court of Selby if this
is to go on. I hope, therefore, that Farmer Richard-
son will appeal, and that he will be well supported
by other farmers, not to speak of other seedsmen,
too, who are known to do all they can to supply a
pure article, and who ought to feel the matter as
much as anyone. Alfred Dawson.
Hogarth 'Worhs, Clmw'ieli.
Wb regret to record the death of Mr. William
Sherwin, which occurred on the 25th ult.,at Farn-
borough Grange, Hants, at the age of 79. He was
greatly respected, and through his death horticul-
ture has lost a warm supporter. Herbaceous plants
were his favourite flowers, and of these he had a
good collection. He was a first-rate judge of fruit,
especially Pears and Grapes.
Tufted-liorned Eampion (Phyteuma como-
sum). — Wo have received pbi)to[^raphs from Mr. James
E. Backhouse, Hurworth tir.iugo. Croft, Darlington,
of the best specimen we have over seen grown in Eng-
land of this rare and beautiful rock plant.
BOOKS RECEIVED.
" Smithsonian Report." 1885. Part. I.
" Historical Record of the Royal Botanic Gardens
Kew." By John Smith, Ex-curator.
" Table Decoration." With Illustrations. By Win
L-iw. Messrs. Chapman Sa Hall (Limited), Loudon.
Names of plants.— G. C. (Headingleii).—!, Co-
reopsis tinctoria; 2, Clarlda pulchella; 3, Coreopsis
Drummondi ; 4, probably L.i Rosieje. L. D. D. —
Tecoma jasminoides. C. M. Owen. — 1, Spir[ea
arliufolia ; 2, Allium, common variety.
Aug. 6, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
115
WOODS & FORESTS.
AGE OF TREES FOR TRANSPLANTING.
Where large trees or shrabs are transplanted, it is
generally either with the object of giving them a
better position, or of producing an effect at once ;
generally the last. When the object is to furnish
the landscape around a mansion, perhaps newly
erected, it is a good plan to plant at least a portion
of the ground w-ith trees of as large a size as can be
procured and transplanted safely ; but otherwise,
except in isolated and exceptional cases, it is better
to begin with young trees. It is a well-ascertained
fact that trees raised from seed where they are to
grow make the tallest and finest specimens ; but, for
several reasons, this plan is not generally practicable
now in this country, and small plants from the
nursery are generally employed. It often becomes
necessary, however, to thin out shrubberies and
plantations in parks and on estates, and the thin-
nings present a ready means of extending these in
other directions; and, if transplanted carefully, they
grow and do well. It would be difficult to say at
what age such subjects as Chestnuts, Beeches, Oaks,
Elms, Planes, Thorns, Spruces, and Firs, &o., may
not be moved with success up to thirty years of age,
so much depends upon circumstances ; but it is
seldom wise to leave trees intended to be trans-
planted till they reach that age, because they get
drawn up weakly by being so long crowded. The
larger the trees the greater the difficulty, no matter
what their age may be. In warm situations and in
good deep soils, the tops soon grow large and the
roots extend, and hence both are most difficult to
carry away. With proper transplanting machines,
and care, of course, almost any tree may be trans-
planted ; but transplanting operations on a large
scale are too often carried out with rough-and-ready
appliances. I have seen many hundreds of trees
moved within the past fifteen years, and very few
of them failed altogether, though none were under
fifteen years of age, and many woiild be more ; but
in all cases the common Spruce suffered worst, whilst
Pinus austriaca and the Scotch Fir seemed to endure
considerable hardships and yet thrive. Both I have
seen moved during severe frosts at midwinter and
grow, but not all. In mild weather both may be
moved at any time, provided a good bit of soil is
attached to the roots.
DECIDTJOrs TREES will transplant successfully as
long as they are growing vigorously, and while they
are not too heavy and tall to carry from one place
to another, provided they are moved at the proper
time and with as many roots as possible; with them
a ball of soil is not of so much consequence. How-
ever, moderate-sized trees are the best, as they need
less staying, and are not so liable to be prostrated
or shaken by wind. I once lifted fifty vigorous
Apple trees, none of them protably less than
forty years of age. They had not been disturbed
for many years ; consequently the roots were all
strong and fibreless, and had no soil to them.
The result was, that none of the trees put forth a
leaf the following season, and made very feeble
growth the second year; but they eventually re-
covered and did well.
As regards evergreen trees and shrubs like the
Holly, Yew, Laurel, &c., it is different. I have
transplanted these of all ages, up to about forty
years, on many occasions during the past eighteen
years, the object of moving large specimens being
to fill up gaps ; but if I had to do the same work
over again, I would prefer young trees from five
to ten years of age. Very few Hollies died out-
right, thanks principally to the fact of their being
moved at the right season — ilay or August : but
numbers of them received such a severe shock in
the moving, that they have hardly added a foot
to their stature in ten years or more. When a
HoUy tree dies from transplanting, its leaves soon
wither, but hang on the tree : when it lives, it
probably casts more or less of its foliage, and not
unfrequently the whole of it, leaving the branches
quite naked, but not dead, except perhaps at the
extremities. StiU, in such cases, it is years before
the tree is fairly clothed with fresh foliage, while '
no growth is made, and in the end it is often ne-
cessary to cut all the branches back considerably,
in order to induce a fresh and stronger break from
the old wood, thus greatly reducing the size of
the tree, which is overtaken and surpassed by
younger and smaller trees put in at the same time.
Undoubtedly the best way to have a good Holly
fence, be it high or low, is to begin with young trees
in good health. It is the same with Yews and
Laurels, especially the latter, which, if moved when
several years old, soon age or grow feeble at the
top. When the branches are well cut back at the
same time, however. Laurels grow well enough, if
in good ^health to begin with ; but cutting the
branches defeats the object of the planter of large
bushes. Pruning of Evergreens recently transplanted
should always be deferred till April, or even later.
So long as growth has not commenced, nothing is
lost ; something is rather gained, for wounds soonest
heal over when growth follows soon after pruning.
Many a large Evergreen is killed or injured by being
cut too severely back. As regards the
Bbst season roE teansplakting, deciduous
trees may be moved at any season between leaf-
falling and bud-bursting in spring ; but October and
November are the best months, and from February
till April or Jlay the next best. I have moved
Elms, Planes, and Horse Chestnuts, &c., on an
emergency after they had come well into leaf and
without injury, taking care to water well for some
time after planting. Deciduous trees planted at
the right time do not need much watering. Ever-
greens should be planted at the same season as de
ciduous trees, vrith the exception of Hollies and
some of the more delicate Fir tribe, both of which
should be transplanted in August or September, or
late in spring, at least in the case of large trees.
At whatever age or season trees are transplanted,
success depends largely upon the manner in which
the operation of raising the roots of the trees is per
formed. Some people think if they get a good ball
of soil away with the root it is enough ; but it all
depends where the roots are. Trees that produce
a bunch of roots like a Box tree will move with a
small ball, because all the roots are near to th(
stem : but in the great majority of trees the root;
spread out to a considerable distance, and mostly al
the fibrous or feeding roots are at the extremities
and hence these must be carefully preserved. The
object of having soil to the roots is simply to pre
serve the small rootlets, and if these could be had
without the soil, it would answer almost as well
only many roots are necessarily lost in digging the
soil away in the transplanting. On large estates,
where a nursery is provided, many trees of a few
special kinds maybe kept for filling up blanks ; and
if they are annually or periodically root-pruned or
dug round, they will lift without much check or
injury. S
Lime as a preservative of wood. — Lime is
said to be a good preserver of timber. Ships and
barges used for the transport of lime last longer
than others. A small coasting schooner, laden with
lime, was cast ashore and sunk. She was raised
and set afloat once more, and remained sound for
thirty years. Again, a platform of Pine planks was
used to mix lime on during three generations ; then,
being no longer required, was neglected, and at
length hidden by Grass that grew over it. Sixty
years afterwards, on clearing the ground, it was dis-
covered sound and well preserved.
Woods of 0119 species. — The characteristics of
different woods, composed chiefly of one family of
trees, would make an interesting study ; but it
would be tiresome to enter minutely into their de-
tails. Some are distinguished by a superfluity,
others by a deficiency of undergrowth. In general.
Pine and Fir woods are of the latter description, dif-
fering in this respect from deciduous woods. These
differences are most apparent in large assemblages
of wood which have a flora as well as a fauna of
their own. The same shrubs and herbaceous plants,
for example, are not common to Oak and to Pine
woods. There is a difference, also, in the cleanness
and beauty of their stems. The gnarled habit of the |
Oak is conspicuous even in the most crowded forest,
and coniferous woods are apt to be disfigured by
dead branches projecting from the bole. The Birch,
the Poplar, and the Beech are remarkable for the
straightness, evenness, and beauty of their shafts
when grown in a dense wood. — T.
NATURAL FORESTS.
Ix a natural forest there is a very small proportion
of perfectly formed trees ; and these occur only in
such places as permit some individuals to stand
isolated from the rest, and to spread out their
branches to their full extent. When we walk in a
forest, we observ-e several conditions which are
favourable to this full expansion of their forms.
On the borders of a pond or morass, or of an exten-
sive quarry, the trees extend their branches into
the opening ; but, as they are cramped on the oppo-
site side, they are only half -developed. But this
expansion takes place on the side that is exposed
to view ; hence the incomparable beauty of a wood
on the borders of a pond, or on the banks of a
river, as viewed from the water; also of a wood on
the outside of an islet in a lake or river. Fissures
or cavities sometimes occur in a large rock, allow-
ing a solitary tree that has become rooted there to
attain its full proportions. It is in such" places and
on sudden eminences that rise above the forest
level— on a precipice, for example, that overlooks
the surrounding wood — that the forest shows in-
dividual trees possessing the characters of stan-
dards, like those we see by the roadside and in the
open field. We must conclude, therefore, that a_
primitive forest must contain but a very small pro-
portion of perfect trees ; these are, for the most
part, the occupants of land cleared by cultivation,
and may be found, also, among the sparse growth
of timber that has come up in pasture land, where
the constant browsing of cattle prevents the forma-
tion of any dense assemblages.
In the opinion of Whately, grandeur is the pre-
vailing character of a forest, and beauty that of a
grove. This distinction may seem to be correct
when such collections of wood exhibit all their
proper characters ; but perfectly unique forms of
wood are seldom found in this country, where
almost all the timber is of spontaneous growth. We
have genuine forests : but other forms of wood are
of a mixed character, aud we have rather fragments
of forest than legitimate groves. In the south of
Europe many of the woods are mere plantations, in
which the trees were first set in rows, with straight
avenues, or vistas, passing directly through them
from different points. In an assemblage of this
kind there can be nothing of that interesting
variety observed in a natural forest, and which is
manifestly wanting even in woods planted with
direct reference to the attainment of these natural
api)earances. " It is curious to see," as Gilpin re-
marks, " with what richness of invention, if I may
so speak. Nature mixes and intermixes her trees,
and shapes them into such a wonderful variety of
groups and beautiful forms. Art may admire and
attempt to plant and to form combinations like
hers ; but whoever observes the wild combinations
of a forest and compares them with the attempts
of Art, has little taste if he does not acknowledge
with astonishment the superiority of Nature's work-
manship." When a tract is covered with a dense
growth of tall trees, especially of Pines, which have
but little underbrush, the wood represents overhead
a vast canopy of verdure supported by innumerable
lofty pillars. No one could enter these dark soli-
tudes without feeling a deep impression of sut-
limity, especially if it be an hour of general still-
ness of the winds. The voices of animals and of
birds, particularly the hammering of the wood-
pecker, serve to magnify our perceptions of grandeur.
A very slight sound during a calm in one of these
deep woods, like the ticking of a clock in a vast
liall, has a distinctness almost startling, especially
if there be but little undergrowth. These feeble
sounds afford one a more vivid sense of the magni-
tude of the place than louder sounds, that differ less
from those we hear in the open plain.
In a grove we experience different sensations.
116
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. G, 1887.
Here pleasantness and cheerfulness are combined,
and the feeling of grandeur is excited only perhaps
by the sight of some noble tree. In a grove the
trees are generally well formed, many of them being
nearly perfect in their proportions. Their shadows
are cast separately upon the ground, whicli is green
beneath them as" in an orchard. If we look upon
them from a near eminence, we observe a variety
of outlines, and may identity the different species
by their shape, while in the forest we see one un-
broken mass of foliage. A wild wood is frequently
converted into a grove by clearing it of under-
growth and leaving the space a grassy lawn. It may
then yield us shade, coolness, and other agreeable
sensations of a cultivated wood, but the individual
trees always retain their gaunt shapes. As we pro-
ceed southward, we witness a constant increase of
the number of species gathered together in a single
group. Nature is more addicted in the north to the
habit of classifying her productions and of assem-
bling them in uniform phalanxes. The painter, on
this account, finds more to interest the eye and to
employ his pencil in the picturesque regions of frost
and snow ; whilst the botanist finds more to exercise
his observation in the crowded variety that marks
the region of perpetual summer. X.
branch has been sawn off larger than 1 inch or so
in diameter, or when the red or heartwood has been
fairly formed, the wound and aftergrowth of woody
layers will never unite ; the knot will remain a piece
of dead or decaying wood ; and, of course, the larger
the limb amputated the greater the blemish in the
plank when the tree is sawn up. Timber merchants
are alive to the injurious practice of lopping branches
off trees ; for, whenever they find a tree tliat has
been so treated they pronounce it faulty, and in
consequence the value of timber is lessened. In-
spectors of timber for the government dockyards are
very particular not to use trees in which there are
dead knots ; when inspecting the timber they are
generally supplied with an auger to test where dead
knots exist, and if any be detected the tree is at once
condemned. "Prunenotatall," saidLindley; "plant
thickly, thin constantly, stop carefully, and leave
the rest to Nature." Now is a good time to carry
out thinning, and, being so important, it should
have precedence over mere routine work.
Old Foeestee.
FORESTRY.
LOED POWEESCOUET'S EVIDENCE.
TIMELY THINNING OF YOUNG PLANTA-
TIONS.
Eablt thinning, or in other words the weeding out
of the small, weakly, bad-shaped, or unhealthy trees
that are encroaching on better ones is a matter
which should always have early attention if a
healthy crop o£ timber be expected. It is a too
common practice to put off the thinning of young
plantations during their early stages of growth
from time to time until the trees are drawn up and
crowded to such an extent that, when they are
eventually thinned, the sudden change in the tem-
perature of the plantation, occasioned by allowing a
free circulation of air, causes a check in the growth
of the trees, and in many cases injures the health
of the crop, hastening on premature decay and dis-
ease ; and if in an exposed situation, in all proba-
bility the growth will be stunted. A great many
of the trees also will be uprooted or blown to one
side by strong gales of wind.
If youngplantations are periodically andsystemati-
cally thinned as soon as their branches interlace and
interfere with the free growth of one another, they
will sustain no check ; on the contrary, they will be
stimulated to renewed vigour and healthy growth.
When a plantation has been systematically and
judiciously thinned, and the trees have attained a
height of upwards of :>0 feet, thesubsequent thinning
will have to be done very cautiously and sparingly,
the trees being allowed to grow close enough to draw
one another up somewhat, in order to attain lengthy
timber. After each successive thinning, the hard-
woods will require some attention to pruning, or,
more strictly speaking, foreshortening of lateral
branches and contending leaders that require re-
straining so as to balance the heads of the trees.
Stem or" close pruning should only be done with the
pruning knife when the trees are young in the
nursery, preparatory to planting out.
The pernicious practice of mutilating trees by
amputating live limbs close to the bole is pregnant
with evil results ; it tends to check the growth of
even healthy timber; and although the wound may
be overgrown by bark and to all external appearance
the stem looks clean and the timber sound, such is
not the case, for when the tree is cut up, a blemish
will be found, rendering the timber where the branch
was cut off useless. The injudicious practice of
stem-pruning trees after they have acquired the size
of timber cannot be too strongly deprecated ; the
old adage that " A little knowledge is a dangerous
thing " is strictly " jirojwf in the case of pruning
forest trees.
It is a common practice on some estates to saw
off live branches close to the stem, witlrthe professed
object of making a clean butt of timber ; it is, hovif-
ever, a gross nustake and a delusion to saw olT
live brandies close to the bole, with a view to assist
Nature in making clean sound timber. After a live
The select committee of the House of Commons on
Forestry, presided over by Sir E. Lechmere, resumed
on Wednesday afternoon, to conclude the evidence
and enter on the consideration of their report.
Lord Powerscourt, examined by the chairman,
said he lived at Powerscourt, near Enniskillen, and
had read the evidence given before this committee.
In his opinion the Austrian Pine was not suited for
Ireland. The Corsican Pine and the Douglas Fir
were more suitable, and there were one or two other
kinds, but they were more expensive. Common Larch
and the Douglas Fir were the best. Besides the Fir
tribe, another kind of tree that did well in Ireland
was the Poplar. Asked by Sir R. Temple if his re-
marks applied equally to England, he said he was
speaking particularly of Ireland. There had been
very little planting in Ireland, but he had done a
good deal himself. He believed the Douglas Pine
would do well on the west coast, and would stand
the Atlantic breezes if protected by other trees.
By Sir J. Lubbock : Austrian Pine was valuable
for shelter in exposed places.
By Sir R. Temple : If the Douglas Pine was not
suitable for the west coast, he would recommend
Scotch Fir. Deciduous trees would thrive there.
In former ages the hills on the west coast of Ireland
were well forested by Oak and Holly. The Yew had
also flourished. He could not say that the Arbutus
was one of the ancient trees of Ireland. The re-
afforesting of the west coast of Ireland would be
beneficial to te peasantry, because it would give a
great deal of employment.
By Mr. Jlunro Ferguson : He believed trees were
much better managed in the Scotch and English
forests than in Ireland.
By the Chairman : If a school for forestry were
established in Ireland it should be at the Botanical
Gardens at Glasnevin. That place, however, would
not be suitable for a nursery. You had only to go
through the gardens to see how wretched the trees
were. He had planted about 150,000 trees in Wick-
low, His forester, who was a Scotchman, recom-
mended him to buy seedlings at Chester and else-
where. He did so, and established a nursery of his
own, and then planted out, which was a much
cheaper process than buying young trees for planting.
By llr. Egerton Hubbard : He was not sure he
could make it pay to borrow money for planting.
He was now beginning to receive a return for money
he had expended.
By Sir J. Lubbock : There would be considerable
advantage to the land from the protection given by
planting.
I'jy the Chairman : It would be possible to
establish a school in Dublin for theoretical instruc-
tion in forestry. There were men in Ireland who
would be quite willing to become foresters.
By Mr. Munro Ferguson : Tliere was some little
difficulty in Ireland as to railway o.xrriage for
timber.
By, Mr. Egerton Hubbard : Timber merchants in
Dublin might be able to tell the relative value of
foreign and home-grown timber used in Ireland.
By Col. Nolan : Wicklow was the only county in
Ireland with woods and mountains. If there were
sinular districts on the west coast it would be a
great national advantage. The rent of some of the
wilder portions of Wicklow would be about a shil-
ling an acre, and he would not be surprised to
hear it was much cheaper on the west coast, where
land could be got almost for nothing. Asked if
planting could be done for ;t3 an acre, he said a
good deal would depend on the soil ; but he should
think it could be done on the west coast of Ireland
for that price. Asked if the Go\-ernment should do
the planting directly or lend money to the proprie-
tors; he thought the better plan would be for the
Government to buy the land and plant it on the
security of the land itself. He doubted whether
the landlord could borrow money. It would be
very interesting if the Government took up experi-
mental planting in Donegal and Kerry. If there
was a school of forestry in Ireland it would not
only be useful for grown-up planting, but for seed
culture. Government woods, on a large scale, would
probably pay their way.
By Sir R. Temple: Planting on the west coast of
Ireland would improve the dwellings of the people
by giving them cheaper command of timber, build-
ing, rafters, &c. That would also aj)ply to their
domestic furniture and agricultural implements,
because carpentry would spring up. Timber was
not much required for fencing, but would be useful
to some extent. It would be some time before that
came into operation, because Ash took some time
to grow. Foresting would tend to improve the
climate. The people in Ireland objected to the
land being taken up.
Sir R. Temple ; Would they if it was uncultivable ?
Witness : They did in my case, I know. He could
hardly attribute the better condition of the people
in Wicklow to that of those on the west coast to
the fact that the former was forested and the latter
was not.
By Col. Nolan ; It did not do" to plant in small
patches. The trees did not grow so well as they
did in large plots.
By Dr. Farquharson: Trees would not grow 39
well on limestone as on other soil. They grew very
well on granite. It was very problematical whether
he would get any adequate return for the large sums
of money he had spent in planting. The Agricul-
tural Society of Ireland would not include forestry
in their'examinations. It would be of great advan-
tage if they did. He believed they were anxious to
take it up.
By the Chairman ; The central school should 03r-
tainly be at Glasnevin; but practical instruction
should be given in nurseries planted in the west of
Ireland.
Protecting wood from rot. — A means of pre-
serving wood from rotting was accidentally dis-
covered by Herr K. Fleischer, of Gonobitz, a few
years ago. He was about making a preparation of
coal tar and ashes for the purpose of driving away
ground fleas and beetles from his garden. Just as
he had mixed the materials together he was called
away from his work, and, on returning, found that,
instead of tar in the ashes, there was a kind of
woody texture. Astonished at the transformation,
he tried the experiment over and over again, and
invariably with the same result. Just about this
time he had occasion to refloor an outdoor room,
where the boards came into almost immediate con-
tact with the ground, and took the opportunity of
testing the preservative effects of this mixture by
smearing the under side of the planks with coal
tar, and sprinkling them liberally with ashes, a thin
layer of which latter was also sifted over the ground.
The procedure proved eminently successful, for the
floor is still in perfectly good condition, and not in
the least attacked by fungoid growth, while on all
previous occasions, though laid down with equally
good material, it had always required constant repair
and was generally quite rotten in less than two years.
THE GARDEN
M
117
No. 821. SATURDAY, Aug. 13, 1887. Vol. XXXI i.
Stove and Greenhouse,
LILIES ALL THE YEAR ROUXD.
Means are now often de-iTsed for having garden
productions of many kinds all the year round,
yet only in the case of comparatively few sub-
jects is this desirable. Roses and Lilies are
amongst the exceptions. Now, when the adapta-
bility of Lilies for pot culture is better known,
there is no difficulty in having them in flower
from one end of the year to the other. It is
simply a matter of using the right kinds, having
sufficient numbers, and the necessary accommo-
dation for growing them. Under pot culture
a continuous succession of white Lilies may be
had by using the different varieties of L. longi-
florum and L. candidum. The la.=t named is a fine
old species, and has been used as a pot plant by a
few cultivators for a long time, but it is only
recently that its merits for growing in this way
hare become more generally known. Taking
into account the length of time it can be had in
bloom, the quantity of flowers it produces, and
the small cost of the bulbs compared with other
kinds, it is a question if it is not the best Lily
for pot culture. The time is now at hand for
potting the bulbs, which ought to be taken out
of the ground as soon as ever the stems have
died down. It is a matter of the first im-
portance that there is no delay in taking them
up, as the bulbs of this Lily begin to push new
roots soon after the tops die off; in fact, they
begin to move much sooner after flowering than
any other LUy that I am acquainted with. And
the sooner after this time they are potted the
better chance they have of blooming well.
Whether home-grown roots are used, or they
are bought in, the best and strongest should be
selected ; three bulbs may be put in a 7-inch or
8-inch pot ; a smaller size than this wiU do, but
if the most is to be made of the bulbs, it is
better not to confine them too much. Good,
rich, turfy loam, with something Kke a fifth of
leaf-mould, some rotten manure and sand, will
grow them well. Pot moderately firm, and do
not keep the bulbs too near the surface. When
the potting is completed plunge up to the rims
in coal ashes out of doors, choosing an open
position under the full influence of the sun and
air. It is much better to plunge the pots in the
material mentioned than in the Cocoa-nut fibre,
now so much in fashion, as it is a better preven-
tive against worms entering the soU, especially
if sufficient ashes are used to admit of 2 ioches
of them being under the pots. Plunged in this
way the soil wiU be in a much more equable
condition as to moisture than when the pots are
stood on the surface. As both root and top-
growth wiU begin to move directly, it is neces-
sary that due attention should be given to
watering ; if the soil is allowed to get dry the
young fibres wiU receive a check, and to succeed
with Lilies of any kind in pots, they must
never be checked. Let them remain plunged
out of doors until there is likelihood of sharp
frost, for though the Lilies are quite hardy,
they must not be left out so as to get
the soil within the pots frozen, as experience
shows that when so confined the roots of any
plant suffer in a way that does not occur in the
open ground. When there is danger of frost
an ordinary garden frame may be put over the
plants, which will before then have made
their autumn leaves ; or, if there is room any-
where in a greenhouse or other cool structure
where enough light wiU reach them, they
may be moved to it. A greenhouse tempera-
ture, or only a few degrees more, should be
kept up until so far into the new year as the
flower-stems have pushed up and the flowers
individually are visible ; after this, if it is
thought desirable, intermediate warmth may be
given, standing the plants with their heads well
up to the glass. Heat at an earlier period and
more of it is sometimes used, but at best it is a
risky proceeding, as so treated I have seen
thousands of pilants filling a large house all go
bHnd. not a single flower opening. When
this Lily is subjected to too much heat, or the
heat is applied too soon, even if the flowers do
open, they are thin in texture, and the stems
get so drawn as to be very unsightly, but to
make the most of the plants it is necessary to
give them greenhouse warmth, with which they
will flower in spring. If a portion of the stock
is kept, as already said, a few degrees warmer,
a succession will be secured, as these will pre-
cede the cooler grown set. I liave, so far, said
nothing about the general treatment until the
plants come into flower further than giving them
plenty of light. But as soon as the bloom-stems
begin to rise, the roots will require a good deal
of water, as will be easily understood, from the
limited amount of soil they have access to.
When deficient of moisture. Lilies do not .show
it by their tops flagging in the way that many
things do, but when they suffer from this cause
to any extent it invariably checks the embryo
flowers. In the advanced stages — that is, when
the bloom-stems are well forward — weak manure
water once a week will be an assistance. All
Lilies, including this, that I have grown in pots
are benefited by assistance of this kind ; not
only does it increa.se the size of the flowers and
give them additional substance, but it helps the
bulbs to gain size and strength. After the
plants have bloomed they must not be subjected
to careless treatment by withholding water,
although at this time they will not require quite
so much as when the flowers were approaching
completion. Neither must they be subjected to
iudden chills in the open air should the time of
fro.sty nights not be passed when they have done
flowering. With attention to these matters the
plants will shortly push up another set of leaves
similar to those that they annually produce at
the latter end of summer in the open ground.
As soon as these appear again give manui-e water
about once a fortnight until the leaf growth is
completed. It will then be well to give the
plants a shift into pots a size larger, being care-
ful not to disturb the roots, as if they are
interfered with, it will be likely to affect the
blooming. Later on the flower-stems wiU ap-
pear, during the formation of which again give
manure water. The plants mu-st be housed be-
fore there is any danger of their being injured
by frost. A ^rtion may be kept a little warmer
than ordinary greenhouse stock requires, whilst
the others will do with greenhouse treatment.
The former will flower during November and
December, whilst the later portion will come in
through the two first montl^ of the year, giving
at this second flowering a much longer supply
than at the first. After the plants have done
blooming give as much water as wiU keep the
soil sufficiently moist until the tops die down,
after which no more will be required than will
keep it a little moist. The bulbs will now take
a long rest before they again begin to move.
Some growers turn them out in the open ground
in a well-prepared bed after the second flower-
ing, giving them a year or two to gain strength ;
others keep them on in pots to bloom again,
which, if well cared for, they will do before
planting them out. "VMien account is taken of
the little money which strong-blooming bulbs
of this Lily cost, and the quantity of flowers
they fjroduce in the two crops when treated in
the way described, there is not much difficulty
in coming to the conclusion that there are few,
if any, plants that will submit to pot culture
that will give such a return. The second crop
is more valuable than the first on account of its
coming in during the dullest months of the
year, and the length of time it lasts. Before
the second blooming of L. candidum is over, L.
Harrisi, the earliest of the longiflomm section,
can easily lie had in flower, as if the bulbs are
potted as early as they can be obtained, and
after they have made sufficient growth they are
gently forced in a good house or pit with their
tops well up to the roof, they wiU begin to
flower in January. By starting some later and
bringing them on in a cool house, a succession
of this beautiful Lily may be had until after
mid.summer. The leading market growers
manage to have it in during the greater part of
the year. By careful attention to the earliest
flowered bulbs they will bloom again a second
time in the same way as L. candidum. Too
much cannot be said in favour of this beautiful
Lily ; the ptirity of its large white flowers and
the number which strong roots wiU bear are not
the least of its merits.
L. eximium, another fine variety of the longi-
flomm section, is one of the best for pot
culture ; it differs from the ordinary longi-
florum, inasmuch that it produces more flowers
on a stem. L. longiflomm seldom comes with
more than two blooms, whilst L. eximium gives
on an average double that number. This kind
forces well, but wUl not come so early as L.
HarrisL Under cool treatment it will flower as
late as July. Like the others mentioned,
plants that have been brought on with heat so
as to bloom in spring wiU flower a second time.
I have had plants of it in bloom at the be-
oinnincr of April, and again flowered them in
Sefitember ; the flowers were little, if any,
inferior to those which they produced the first
time.
The merits of the different varieties of L.
speciostun for pot culture are too well known to
require notice, further than saying that they may
be had much longer in succession than many who
grow them seem to be aware of. By pushing
some on in warmth they can be had in bloom,
early in July, whilst by standing others during
summer where they will not have the sun on
them, except in the morning and evening, they
will bloom as late as the end of September.
The different forms of this free-growing species,
including L. s. album, L. s. punctatum, and
L. s. rubrum, are all worth having. Independent
of the use of their flowers for cutting, they are
amongst the most beautiful and useful of all
summer and autumn-flowering plants for fur-
nishing greenhouses, conservatories, rooms, <tc.
By growing the few kinds named a supply of
white Lily flowers can be had all the year round,
with the addition of the spotted varieties of L.
speciosum to give variety. Unfortunately for
the Lilies here mentioned, they do not die off at
once, or immediately show the effects of in-
attention or careless treatment in the way many
plants do, through the fact of which they often
get neglected. But, nevertheless, if their re-
quirements are not considered and duly attended
to they do not fail to resent it . It is only by fair
usace that the results detailed can be obtained.
118
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 13, 1887.
Apart from the object of a continuous supply
of flower-s, L. auratura cannot be omitted. It is
not unlikely that this kind is now more gene-
rally grown by those who cultivate Lilies in pots
than any other sort, though it is by no means
so useful as the others mentioned. Neither is
it so easily managed, nor is there so much
certainty of its living and doing satisfactorily as
the others, as most of those who have had to do
with it know too well ; yet the noble size of its
flowers and the charming combination of colours
present in a well-mai'ked variety will always
make it a favourite.
There is yet another species which few will
question as being amongst the grandest and
most stately of all the Lilies — L. giganteujn,
though it has never been so extensively grown
as it deserves. This in some measure may be
accounted for by the plant being what may be
termed biennial in its habit of blooming. Plants
i-aised from seed do not flower until the year
after sowing, and, unless strong, not until the
second year, and when they bloom, the suckers
that appear at the base require a similar time
before they flower. This species comes from
Nepaul, and is not able to withstand our winters
out of doors, except in favoured parts of the
country, and then only with some protection
after it begins to grow in spring. When well
grown in a pot it is a splendid object, with the
stem rising to a height of 10 feet or 12 feet, and
carrying a score or more of its huge flowers, the
colour of which is white, with a band of i^ale
violet down the centre of each petal. The best
way that I have found to deal with the plant is
to grow the seedlings or suckers in the open
ground during the first summer, taking them
up and putting them in large pots in the autumn,
and wintering in a greenhouse or pit where the
frost cannot reach them, keeping them cool
under glass until they flower the following
summer. From the time growth begins to
move freely in spring they should be assisted
with weak mauure water up to when they
come into bloom. When stood on the floor of a
lofty conservatory or gi-eenhouse, there are few
plants with which I am acquainted that have
such an imposing appearance. The flowers are
highly fragrant.
IXIAS.
Both at South Kensington and at the exhibitions
of the Royal Botanic Society Ixias were numerously
and finely shown this season. Thanks to the
Guernsey growers, our English bulb dealers were
able to exhibit very fine bunches of choice varieties,
and these are of an attractive character, and lead
many to attempt their cultivation. But they
require good and careful culture if they are to
succeed, for the climate and soil of Guernsey are
not common in England, and our late spring frosts
do the plants much injury. Probably the most
successful culture will be in the case of plants grown
in pots filled with a light, free, rich sandy soil, well
drained, and brought on in a cold frame all the
winter. The bulbs can be potted in succession
from September until the end of the year, and
should they be planted in the open ground the beds
should be raised above the ground level so as to
secure natural drainage. The bulbs can be planted
from October onwards, and some slight protection
should be given to the beds during winter and
spring when necessary. Much injury is done to the
plants when coming through the ground by reason
of frost following close upon rain.
Of good standard sorts the foljowing may be
accepted as a suitable collection : Atlas, cream
colour, purple ani mngenta ; Barbara, white, rose
and magenta ; Bucephalus, rich crimson ; Conqueror,
shaded red, yellow and magenta; Orateroides
major, scarlet ; Diana, carmine and amaranth ;
Elvira, azure-blue with purple eye ; Gazelle, fawn
and dark purple ; Golden Drop, yellow, purple and
maroon ; Hemisphere, yellow, tinged with red, and
black centre ; Hybrida longiflora, clear rose with
dark eye ; Lady Slade, brilliant pink ; Lucius, straw
colour, tinged with purple ; Pallas, pale yellow with
dark purple centre ; Prestios, white with dark red
eye ; Sarnia's Glory, bright yellow, black centre ;
Satyrus, yellow with dark maroon centre, a good
late-flowering variety ; Snowdrop, pure white, dark
purple centre ; Timeus, sulphur and purple, rich
velvet-purple centre ; and Viridifiora, one of the
most distinct, bright sea-green with black centre,
very striking. This is but a small selection out of
more than 100 varieties, but they will be found
distinct and fine. Only those should attempt to
grow Ixias who are prepared to give them the
attention they need. E. D.
WHITE-FLOWERED PELARGONIUMS.
There are now in our gardens a great many white-
flowered Pelargoniums, or at all events having
blossoms that, if not actually white, are but faintly
marked, so that a few notes on these may be of
interest, especially as white flowers are more in de-
mand than those of any other tint. Of the French or
Regal section of Pelargoniums — that is to say, those
with the petals more or less crisped at the edges —
there are a great many, but the difference between
some of them is very slight. One of the best is a
sport from that sturdy-growing favourite Volonte
National, in which the blooms, instead of being
coloured, are in some instances pure white, and in
others slightly pencilled on the upper petals. In
habit it is all that can be desired, and its merits
have been already recognised by the Royal Horti-
cultural Society, who two years ago awarded it a
first- class certificate. This variety can be had in
flower very early in the spring, as also can another
variety named Mdme. Charles Kcenig, with rather
erect, compact trusses of bloom. The pencilling in
the case of this is also but slight, and as the flowers
do not open so widely as the last, the marking is
scarcely noticed. Other good varieties in this way
are Duchess of Bedford (a sport from Digby Grand),
one of the oldest and still one of the best ; Lucie
Lemoine, Mdme. Harmant, and another Continental
variety named Mdme. Marie Knecht, all in the
way of Mdme. Charles Kcenig. In addition to the
two first noticed, I should mention Maid of Kent, a
very free-flowering variety with large round trusses
of prettily crisped blossoms. In this each petal is
slightly veined at the base with rosy purple. Of
show varieties — that is to say, those in which the
three lower petals are clear and unspotted — the
first place must be given to Claribel, with flowers of
the clearest white, except a small blotch on the two
upper petals. This variety is well adapted for
growing into specimens, but the blooms have less
substance, and are therefore not so well suited for
cut purposes as those previously mentioned. There
are two or three of the French class of Pelargoniums
with semi-double flowers which possess the great
merit of lasting longer in a cut state than the single
varieties. Among these are Belle de Joie, with
large open trusses of pure white flowers, notable
from the fact that the blossoms on one cluster do
not expand altogether, but keep up a succession
for some time. The blooms are large, pure white,
double, and borne on such long stalks that in small
arrangements they can be used singly. The habit of
the plant is by no means good, for it grows leggy
and doesnotbreakfreely ; butauothervariety(Jeanne
d'Arc) is in these respects all that can be desired,
but the blossoms are suffused with blush. 'J'he best
white fancy Pelargonium is Princess of Teck, a well-
known show variety with pure white flowers, slightly
spotted carmine. Of the pretty Cape Pelargoniums,
eohinatum has the flowersof a pure white hue, except
a purplish marking in the upper petals. Coming
now to the zonal class, it becomes rather difiicult
to make a selection, but of the single-flowered va-
rieties, at all e\'ents as a pot plant. Queen ot the
Belgians stands out conspicuously, though for bed-
ding purposes the old Mdme. Vaucher still holds
its own. Of this class with double flowers, Can-
didissima plena, though sent out some ten years
ago, ranks with Le Cygne as amongst the best of
them all. Notwithstanding the numbers of double
Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums that are sent out as new
every year, we are still without a good white-flowered
kmd, the best in this way being Mdme. E. Galle
and Jeanne d'Arc. This last is one of the very best,
but the flowers are not strictly white, being in fact
ot a mauve tint. Of single-flowered kinds Inno-
cence is very pretty, the ground colour being pure
white, with the upper petals shaded with maroon.
H. P.
PELARGONIUMS AT SWANLEY.
These plants are very fine just now with Mr.
Cannell, several houses, each 100 feet in length, being
perfect masses of flower, the plants being remark-
able, not only for the size of their individual blooms,
but also for the immense size of their trusses.
Those desirous ot securing a good show of bloom
during the winter and spring months should now
select the varieties they intend growing. On a
recent visit to the nurseries at Swanley, the follow-
ing we noted as being some of the best : —
SiNGLB-FLOWBEED VARIETIES. — Raphael, very
large truss, soft red, suffused with shades of rose
and orange ; Lady Reed, pure white, with scarlet
centre, a charming variety ; Edith George, very
large, globular trusses, of a rich reddish pink shade;
Zeno, a dwarf variety, large trusses of bright ma-
genta flowers ; Eurydice, deep purplish pink, white
centre, trusses very large ; Queen of the Belgians
still remains the finest pure white, serviceable alike
for summer and winter flowering ; Omphale, soft
salmon, white eye ; Queen Matilda, soft pink, pure
white base of upper petals, large, the best of its
kind for winter and spring flowering ; W. E. Gumble-
ton, crimson, flushed with magenta, white eye ;
Nelly Thomas, bright scarlet, feathered with maroon
in upper petals ; Kate Farmer, rosy salmon ; Lady
Chesterfield, very deep salmon, fine variety.
DouBLE-rLOWERED VARIETIES. — Amongst these
the following are the most noteworthy, viz. : Rosa
Bonheur, large, soft rose-pink, habit dwarf ; Sur-
passeLeNain, truss large, individual blooms medium,
deep pink, shaded purple ; Spade Guinea, orange-
scarlet, suffused with yellow, a strong-growing and
free-blooming variety ; Paul Bert, purplish pink,
white centre, dwarf habit ; Belle Nancienne, large,
white, salmon-red centre, very fine ; Kobus, trusses
large, reddish scarlet ; The Lord Mayor, very dwarf
and free, bright purplish pink ; Blanche Perfecta,
pure white ; Earl Granville, large trusses, pips deep
purplish pink, dwarf ; Mrs. Langtry, pure white
flowers and trusses, very large ; Tendresse, soft
lilac-pink ; Black Knight, intense deep crimson,
very free-floweriDg, trusses large.
Double-flowered Ivt-leaved varieties. —
These are now both numerous and charming ;
amongst the best we noted were Souvenir de Chas.
Turner, large flowers, deep rose-pink, upper petals
feathered ; Murillo, dark scarlet, very full ; Madame
Thibaut, flowers deep pink, a very free bloomer, of
dwarf habit, and very useful ; Madame Thevenin,
rosy cerise; Jeanne d'Arc, white, slightly shaded
with mauve, very fine ; Rosacina, deep rosy red,
large and full ; Massenet, rich magenta, fine ; Emile
Lemoine, orange-scarlet ; Fiirstin Von Hohenzol-
lern, very large, rich deep scarlet ; Dr. A. Chipault,
deep salmon-pink ; Daniel Brothers, soft magenta ;
Alice Crousse, deep rich magenta, large and good.
W. H. G.
Aristolochia elegans. — This highly ornamen-
tal species of Aristolochia, of which a coloured
plate was last year given in The Garden, is a very
desirable climber for small or medium glass struc-
tures, that are kept either at an intermediate or a
stove temperature. AVhen growing freely, the
peculiarly glaucous green foliage possesses a charm
of its own, and towards the latter half of the sum-
mer the flowers are produced in quantity. When
trained to the roof the shell-shaped blossoms hang
suspended therefrom by long flower-stalks, and, it
the roof is not too high, they are thus brought pro-
minently under notice. No description can convey
an idea of the delicate velvety reticulation that
overspreads the yellowish groundwork of the flower ;
and the rich blackish colour of the interior of the
I
Aug. 13, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
119
throat is also another very couspiouous feature. It
is a plant of easy propagation and culture, for cut-
tings of the young shoots root readily enough during
the summer months, and the plants grow quickly if
potted in good open soil and treated in the same
way as the general run of stove plants. Small spe-
cimens obtained from cuttings will flower freely in
4-inch pots. — H. P.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Roses. — In many gardens a constant supply of
Roses isrequired. When the flowers are not to be
had out of doors, provision for them under glass has
to be made. To have no interruption in the succes-
sion, from the time in autumn when the out-door
Teas can no longer be depended on, to when they
may again be looked for in spring taxes the fore-
thought and skill of the grower to a greater extent
than those who have not tried their hands at the
work are likely to realise, especially if the plants
have to be flowered here and there in houses and
pits where other things are grown. In cases of this
kind the attempt to keep up an unbroken supply
often ends in failure just at the time when the
flowers are most wanted. This is only what might
be looked for when account is taken of the fact that
Roses, more than other plants when grown under
glass, will not submit to treatment in the mat-
ters of air and warmth that answers for most
things, requiring, when being brought on in the dull
season, little or none of the former and less of the
latter than the general run of subjects that need
heat. Where there is a house suitably constructed,
particularly if it is divided so as to admit of the
difference in temperature, &c., necessary for bring-
ing the plants on in succession, there is less diffi-
culty. Another important matter is that the stock
of plants is sufficient to allow for any failures that
may take place. Success with hardy subjects like
Roses when grown in heat is not so certain as it is
with plants that naturally require artificial warmth;
consequently it is well to be on the safe side in
having enough to fall back upon, and the present is
the right time to see to this.
Potting Roses. — Some growers pot earlier in
the season than this, but for the Tea varieties —
which, by the way, are principally to be relied on
for the late autumn and winter supply — I prefer the
present month, getting the work completed early so
that the roots of the plants may have plenty of time
before the growing season is passed to get their
roots well hold of the new soil. In the case of
specimens that are now in pots as large as it is
desirable to give them, all that is required is to
remove about half the old soil and replace it with
new. If the plants have abundance of roots the
strongest may be shortened a little ; but Tea Roses
are not usually overdone with roots, and I should
by no means recommend a too free use of the knife.
Smaller stock that it is desirable to increase in size
should have pots larger in proportion to the quan-
tity and condition of the roots they have, remem-
bering that there is nothing gained by giving them
too much room.
Soil for potting. — Success in the cultivation
of pot Roses depends a good deal on the character
of the soil they are grown in. It is useless to look
for the best results where light, sandy material is
used. Strong yellow loam that naturally contains
little sand is what they require, and to this should
be added one-sixth part of rotten manure and a
sprinkling of sand. When unable to get any but
loam that was too light, I have mixed it with one-
fourth of marl, or, this failing, yellow clay, exposing
the material to the action of the weather until it
was thoroughly pulverised, and mixing it in a dry
state with the loam and manure. Drain the pots
well, and ram the soil so as to make it quite solid.
Insects. — See that the foliage is quite free from
mildew, aphides, and red spider, for if any of these
pests are present the plants will make little progress
towards gaining the strength necessary to produce
a crop of full-sized flowers. Give careful attention
to watering, and syringe overhead freely every
evening in dry weather. The plants should have a
fairly open situation out of doors where sun and
air will reach them.
Pelargoniums. — Large - flowered and fancy
Pelargoniums that were headed down some weeks
ago will now be ready for repotting. It is necessary
not to delay this until the growth has made much
progress, as if this occurs the check that unavoid-
ably follows the disturbance of the roots will cause
a good many of the shoots to stop altogether.
Most of the soil may be shaken away from full-
grown specimens and a portion of the roots
shortened. Put the plants in pots a size or two
smaller than those they have bloomed in. Young-
growing stock that has not yet attained the size
that it is desirable they should may have somewhat
less of the old material removed, and, unless in the
case of very strong-growing varieties, will not
require much shortening of the roots. The roots of
these sections of Pelargoniums are impatient of
any excess of water at all times, and especially so
after heading down, when they are reduced to a
partially stagnant state ; consequently it is neces-
sary to be careful that the soil in which they are
repotted is in right condition as to moisture. If
too wet the roots will be likely to perish, and if
over-dry it will be necessary to give water sooner
than is advisable, as little beyond that which reaches
the soil in syringing the plants overhead should be
applied until the roots have begun to move. To
grow Pelargoniums well they should have good,
fresh, turfy loam wi.th a liberal addition of rotten
manure and some sand. In potting ram the soil so
as to make it solid. With these plants light potting
favours unequal growth, some of the shoots making
little progress, whilst others are too strong, pro-
ducing big, soft leaves, in place of the even, short-
jointed wood that the shoots collectively should
consist of. After potting, a cold frame or pit will
answer for them, standing them close to the glass ;
keep the lights nearly closed for a short time until
root and top growth begins to move, after which give
air freely. Syringe overhead slightly every after-
noon in sunny weather, and see that the foliage is
quite free from aphides, on the appearance of which
at once fumigate.
Schizanthus. — It is not unusual to meet with
ordinary plants, the cost of which is comparatively
nothing beyond that of the labour and room they
require, which are both useful and effective. Such
is the annual named when grown in pots for spring
flowering, and when it has the little attention it
needs bestowed on it. Seed should now be sown.
The best way is to sow in 3-inch pots, putting half
a dozen seeds in each, which ought afterwards to be
thinned out to a single plant, or two or three, ac-
cording to the size of pots the plants are to be
flowered in. A 10-inch pot will accommodate three
plants ; by the use of good rich soil, further assisted
in the spring by liberal applications of manure
water, large profusely bloomed specimens may be
depended on. One of the chief matters essential to
success is that the plants have plenty of light from
the time the seedlings appear until they come into
flower. A cold frame, in a light position, filled with
ashes so that the pots when stood on it will be close
to the glass, is the best place for them until the
time comes in autumn for housing them. As soon
as the seedlings appear give sufficient water to keep
the roots moving freely, with plenty of air to induce
stocky growth, for if ever the plants get drawn they
are of little use afterwards. A shelf over the path
in a greenhouse will answer for them well during
the winter.
Mignonette. — There are few plants in which the
difference between good and indifferent cultivation
is so apparent as in this sweet-scented favourite.
It is the most useful when grown so as to have it in
flower early in spring. With this object seed should
now be put in. Place several seeds in a 3-inch pot,
which, if high cultivation is aimed at, must when
up be thinned out to a single plant. A frame should
be prepared for them similar to that recommended
for the Schizanthus, taking the lights off every day
after the plants are up, except when the weather is
very wet, when the lights may be tilted. Before
frost comes, move- them to a shelf in a light house
where they will be close to the glass. When the
plants are 3 inches high, pinch out the tops, and
when they have again broken, move into G-inch
pots. As soon as the shoots are long enough, tie
them out horizontally. This may appear unneces-
sary attention to bestow on so common a plant, but
it is well worth the little extra labour. Use good
loam well enriched with manure, and give manure
water in spring as soon as growth begins to move
freely. The French variety Matchet outstrips all
others for spring and summer flowering.
Stove. — Impatiens Hawkeri. — The intensely
brilliant colour of the flowers of this plant, com-
bined with its quick growth and continuous habit
of blooming, are calculated to bring it into general
favour. It flowers freely in any state, from that of
little examples just established from cuttings up
to large specimens, but with it, as with most other
quick-growing stove plants, the success attained will
vary with the treatment given. Rapid growing, soft-
wooded subjects that need a good deal of heat, un-
less kept close to the glass, where they will get all
the light that it is possible to give them, invariably
get more or less drawn, a condition which is directly
opposed to their good appearance and to their pro-
ducing a full complement of flowers. Plants of this
character are generally the most useful whilst small
or of medium size, and in most cases it is better to
keep small stock, such as is required to bloom in
spring, through the winter rather than larger
examples that have been in a flowering condition
for some time. For this purpose some cuttings
should now be put in, and more later on; the cut-
tings ought to be 2 inches or 3 inches long, and
should consist of the ends of the shoots, severing
them at a joint. Insert them 2 inches or 3 inches
apart in pots filled with sand, moisten the sand
immediately, but do not make it so wet as necessary
for things of a less succulent character, neither must
the cuttings be kept covered so closely as many will
bear, or they may damp off. All that is necessary is
to confine them so as to prevent the leaves flagging.
Stand the cuttings in a warm house and shade from
the sun, and as soon as they are sufficiently rooted
move singly into 3-inch pots. When the roots begin
to move, the plants should be stood on a shelf as
near the roof as possible; pinch out the points
when a little top growth is made ; keep the soil
fairly moist so long as active growth continues
giving less water during winter. T. B.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
In the August number of L' OrclUdophile a good
illustration is given of Phala^uopsis Han-ietse, recently
certifioated at South Kensington, and a coloured plate
of Aerides Godefroyauimi.
Apple Beauty of Bath. — We have just re-
ceived from Messrs. Cooliug an'l Sons, Bath, samples
of this pretty Apple, which is described in our report
of the Royal Hortioultm'al Society's meeting.
Bellegarde and A'exander Peaches. — Mr.
T. W. Everitt, Peurhos G;irdeus, Holyhead, has sent
three brightly coloured fruits of the Bellegarde Peach,
githered from a large tree carrying eleven dozen, and
also samples of Alexauder, grown on a young tree
planted for three years and carrying four dozen fruits.
Lilium laneifolium album. — We have received
from Mr. W. Gordon, of Twickenham, flowers of this
lovely variety. They are of the purest white, the
curled segments banded with clear green, and covered
with thick hairs. It is one of the most chaste of
Lilies, blooms freely, and is well adapted for cultiva-
tion in pots.
Eose Sir Rowland Hill. — This was exhibited at
Manchester by Messrs. Mack & Son, Rose growers, of
Catterick Bridge, and deserves to be noted as perhaps
the best purple Hybrid Perpetual in cultivation. The
flowers are of good form and suhstmoe, the colour
claret-pm-ple. — R. D.
Notes from Shirehampton. — I send some
blooms of seedling Gladioli raised by Max Leichtlin.
They are interesting departures from exhibition
sorts. Caterpillars are a terrible plague to them
this year. Can anyone advise me as to growing
Iris stylosa alba from seed ? I have a lot of seed
from Algiers. I could spare some to anyone. In a
previous experiment all our plants failed. Iris
Kfempferi are doing well with me. I have some
120
THE GARDEN.
[ArG. 13, 1887.
;c ^^izids direct frtj^ ^BfBxi iiinmt^ .
Z r- ■> jmor_ J. jsa Ermcaas hVKimfiil weD in Jil!t.
-Li lis: ■n.-j^r, '-eL-rlf ul L pc%{ibfl}ma biDDmed
: ■well br: I -.;.-^iri7 FueoaBd •iSi! L. Hhic bdldii.
— KlLEi.
Tufi fmit crop. — As nsnal. ■we sHaTI THibBsb r~
p:*rt= ic tbr fnirr crops, and kiz tJ~ z^r rr "- ~r '
baT^ rt;:-.5;~T-.i £ crrciLlaE. askiiLi' :' : : -— : rz_
onlar. "t t are iriHisg to s»adivt t^s in :
c£Bu3ici=i£ atnes, -se ^aB be g^ad 1.0 rr
JL c^pifeBl luuvly flower noir in
grate a ^ov €f nd ydBov, bb aisomdtaBi ^:
Jg S^. «a4MlJ5Hl^BA»Mll5wMijM«CTM1^.^fcBggTJL*»ll. ^ L
rrv li^ *»^mwjllpuljil.. lit Ttg gi iiHiMlHHllj Mim ] ' ~ '
sasafy gSDBB aafl cis:^ — W. 6.
Bose 'BbA off I>aBbrm.-^JL ^cesa bloDn-
T>tig «jjgi«Mg Hjbnd FapeteaD Bcse trere sbcnn e.t
ihs Jtdnlee fioae ^ow is tbe !Ez±dbaxicm Palace,
JEaxo&estec, OD t!hf* 23nd3BSt.,'byMes3S.A.I>icksC'T-
and Sons. KewTOTmards, Belfast. The SoweE arr
laig£, fun, of Sue lonn, and of a dssp red oolcnrr.
Aaded ■sriih riarV cmnson-inar:':^. _=_= ?r:l — ^r-
inowx roiaiiaas as tlie Eer. _ _ i ::
H- E. D^mbrsiii, tiie Eev. J. H
T. E. Hal! aH surpp-jrt&i ths r: ;- - -
ceraSrate of meriL, tbis Ecse =.2Lrjc-_- r^: ziris i- -
ij^iiST reconrmendaiiorL It pronds^ t/i make a
LaTi arr; a raei
wiDcJi, a= is nc— -s-elZ izir-sr:!. is :— le
a -wbH, azsd niiss a zieaiiTin:! vail
d-DS P. &3rdif-Ciiia. If it -B-ere 1::
the shooB -srosld no donbi rr-;— s;
ih~y do in tie plaits Halite Lar-i'nai.
of The coast resrior frD— L j; Az.j
Barbara. — ^W. G.
'.- Onr grrmni is sd
i pack to ^et trp tiie
;t Bsems tins season
'-T the crops are in
Lre aiike.— "W. A. C
Indig-ofera G-erardiana. — XLi= 1e m^
:""" li-rf- fit'-'- *iiT ire no-w in bio:- ti
■ ^ I: makes a neai lln
-' - =;-e?aLt p'inna'K folii.
'--•'- i tin.T rorr j^ini ;£-.-
: T -JL ei-err sLoot. Jl
■ ':i2iu: iiardr enoxi^i
- it Kew. opfi--.-
i-L-jii»ei In-l-irv
- ^ — -r. -■-_D'ia,'tmt .'•
■ j-erardiana : it is brii'
= nse — W. G.
'- : .- iifolim. — One of \l=: - - .
- '-"den at Kew at th^ '
/aiif--isr Pent--,
'z' dom r.e^i In
' plant, baling
bx a dense
-45 long, and
"a. Its abso-
: i.5 it is f oimd
- iL^ : Liier Cajifannan
- tbe reason idiy it bas BOt
.ration as a bonier fioBcr.
- ..^..-dj as Dlplacns glaljiiataf^
tiiiat "ire jjope Tna.T tjitej ^^ . i
T lertirnl aiid easilj obtaizr . i :-.:■:::■
1-7 i.r= all natives of Cential Ar_^ nzl _;i -_: =
Lilimn Teimstiiiii and Batemannise axe
botii are so beatiiifiil ibat it is a 1. " - ■ :
sajT-K-iodhis best, bai peibsps tir ;. i
- hzi^ i^i^L^xe. —i'L'^:^ :: ::;irse. vanenes oi
^ry Tariao.Le _ ^.^^iz^ ~zr~ so distinct in
eniiilei i^ rank as species. liej are the latest to
bloom of all the elegans Tsiieiies, and areif^^ole
i^jL^ j^-LTzsz irben a sort of d'oll season aznons
— " ^ ^ r- ocoTTTs. and ererr brigbt and showr
r— W. G.
1:1-^5. . :-ba.ta. — This besntafnl Mesioan cHmber.
:. "K-as illi:scrat.ed last jeax in Tke G-i£jJEy.
' ,-'~*^ be seen in Sower in the conserraiorv
- at EeTT, rKiring aroimd one of the pillars.
" : tii bright in colour and elegant in gro-srth.
i : ■weis are ttibclar, aboirt an inch long, and
- :ed in forked spikes ■srhich varrfrom 6 inches
- - mobes in length. The ooloirr is xellow and
: L:-T-red, and Taiies in depth aooording to the
I.;.- z : i the bloom. As the spikes are nxiineroTis and
the nosrers erpand in snooession, the plant c-ontinnes
to bloom for a long time. The f oliag-e resembles
that of the Hop, and the slender shoots rsrine in
mnch the same ■w^x as a ConTolxnlns or Ipomsea,
to ■which, in fact, it is closelj allied. We hope some
iij to see it grown at £ew as fine as the engraxing
' i .- \z. The GATiT/jgy. This is a re-introdnoed plant,
1 ; -.^1 "oeen in caltiTation quite fifty xeais ago. It
: TO be almost hardx, and sniiable for coxering
-'>e= and walls in warm localities. It is a plant
/. ■ ; — ortbx of general culture. — W. G.
Lmdley's Spirsa. — Wberexer this shmb is
■- ;" Is a faxotcrite. There is Bomething so xerx
Li- in itE light, airx foliage whioh maies it one
oest fine-foliaged shrubs exen when not in
but now that it is adorned with dense,
rj while plumes of floweis it is the more
For Tie ZJhsz fortnight it has l»een in
' '■'jut London, and in the
- Its flowering season is
1^ e^d of Atigust. It
•bese islands, and
-igLts most in a
. =p- : awaj from
it grows
-jj strong,
'rfnllx on
"b Others.
bx itself
take off
- feet to 1'.' :
■ -.ike shoots, x ..
;._ ?id*s if the plant 1^ i
It is a capital shrob to ; :
on lawz^ ■with a fringe o: .--
the bare effect in ■winter, ioo mooL cannot be
said in praise of such a b^ntifnl shrab. and exerx
garden or pleasure ground, large or small, shoold
cootaiti at lea'-t a plant of it. It is a cheap plant
in maaeiifs, and grows fast tmder suitable oondi-
ticMHL ItwasiiitrodacedmaxijjeaisagofromXepaiil,
aadB^beaaadtobetbefinestoftiiegeDtiE. — VT.G
Camatioii G-raretye Gem. — ^Mr. Dean in Thk
GiXDES, Ati^iis: i ,j,. IV'. ^ saxs a good deal abont
tbe r-amie of tni» new Carnation, bat little abont its
merits, neither do£s the descriptixe note about it in
7:;; I '>'~;'xy. Jnlx 30 (p. &3,) conxex to the reader
1 :. : :' : ; : : ■what it reaEx is. To call it a t^ra-cotta
: ; . ; _: _.- ~ign.e, seeing that that material xazies so
o_ 0 : _ -1- '—0. Perbati? a better deSniiian -wonld be
1 ■ - . : " oi orb obe tint is a liide mcae in-
:_or :: re: t~:l :_^" "ibat. I saw Gzavui.iv Gem
r: : — -^r i: -riiryr llir::r.in 5'!iS5ei,TwelTenionths
I::: :.n : i.— z^ i_ roe Carnations and Ficatees
— :— o roero :: ?r;oi :or iistinctlx from aH the resii
;-_ .0. : ;.: _r ioi b^rri of gro-wth. Beji^ T%aroas
^ ^ :; to i frsi-iate bcHder Taiiety. ¥tara
■ : oraci the attemtSon o€ all die Car-
:i; ri assembled al Bondi Kfiwinstaw
- : 1: o:r o so -:: -nsibeanmmfimJBort^and
:r :_:::; o::rbcr like it in coJoBE. ItiB
: : : ; : !-■ :^r : : 1 ; ^r. that ladies espeoally ad-
'-'- -It- ij the oolonr ai tbe Boses of a
:_:::- .- o : b as W. A. TK/'haWtonn and Va/iaTTip
r i.::" "^oeroer its proper name is Mrs. Hole or
Graxetxe Gem. noaj rilj o:o:'em a few ; the flower
isthesame. It is toe ~:?r iririedbreakinpoint of
colour I haxe see- imrrg- ":':riTr Carnations. — W. G.
Irieli natnral iistory. — Manx -win regret to
bear that Mr. A. G. More. T.L.S, feels himself
:rliged to resign his position as curator of the
; 'irriral Hist^orx Museum, Dublin, owing to an ei-
-:oied and painful illness. Apart from mtiseum
~:rk, Mr. More is "widelx kno'wn as an ardent field
collector, and also as an a'utbor on natural history
subjects. He ■wrote the •* Tauna and Flora of the
Isle of Wight" in Tenables' Guide (ISTl), and, in
connection ■with the late Dr. Moore, of Glasnexin,
he produced the " Cxbele Hxbemica," an exlensixe
work on the distrfmrtion of Irish plants. In the
Jiif of 1^♦J6 is a long and systematic paper on the
'• I>isizibntion of British Birds during their P.e5ting
Season;" and another xaluable contribution to
science from his pen is " Dredging. Omithologr,
and Pishts of Ireland." A "List of Irish Birds""
and ■' Tertebrate Animals " (Part L, Mammals and
Birds) are published as guide-books to the oollec-
rions in the Xatural Htstory Museum of which Mr.
More baa held the curatorshii' since the death of the
late Dr. Carte. As a collector Wt More must be
credited -with the disooxery of Scirpns parvnlns,
Aira uliginosa, and of Keotinea intacta, a xoy rare
little Orchid. During his twenty jeais of active
service in the Dublin Xatural History Hnsemn Mr.
More bag endeared himself to his broliier natmaliEtB
by his geniality and ■willingness to E^ast on all
occasions when his services were reqtiired, and into
his enforced retirement he carries the good ■wielies
of all who knew lim. — B.
The Ctimney Bellflower (Campantila pyra-
midalisj. — This i^ now one of the most noteworthy
plants in the greenhouse CSo. i) at Kew, where it
makes a sjlendid show throughout the bouse.
Large plants cairxing numerous flower-spikes rising
some 6 feet high form xeiy effectixe groups at
xarious prondnent points in the house. Both the
light and the dark purple-flowered xarieties are
gro^wn, but the loxeliest of all is, perhaps, the pure
white, which is less common, and the idea of inter-
mixing the three forms is admirable, as one acts as
a foil to the other. It may be tmnecessary to
describe such an old-fashioned plant as this Cam-
panula, which has been introduced to England for
nearly S'.Ki years, yet there max be some who do not
know it, and to these a brief description may be
acceptable. The root or bottom leaxes are large
and heart-shaped, but tie stem leaxes are smaller
and narrower. The fiower-spikes are tall, and the
large, flat flowers, bigger than a cro^wn-piece, are
densely arranged on what botanists call a pyramidal
raceme. Young plants make but a single spike the
first year, but afterwards there are sexeral. It is
best to keep a stock of young plants, as the spikes
produced by these are stronger and finer. It is an
invaluable pot plant for the greenhouse in July and
Ang:ti5t, though it may be grown also in the open
borders in dry, warm soil, as it is not so hardy as
most other Campanulas. Too much cannot be said
in praise of tiiig giaod old plant. — W. G.
Aug. 13, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
121
MOr>"T USHEK.
Abottt four miles from Wicklow, and twenty-
eight from Dublin, is a small garden, which the
taste and skill of its owners have conTerted
from an old mill surrounded by a Cabbage
and Potato patch into a veritable little paradise,
there everything grows with a luxuriance
seldom seen in these northern climes. The
river Vartry — what is left of it after supplying
water to the metropolis — bounds one side, the
overflow from the mill-race the other side, while
the tail-race of the inill runs right through the
grounds. Consisting of light, rich, alluvial soil,
and well watered, it is not strange that, having
warmth and shelter as well, things should do so
the rule, and flowers to match. L>ver an old
fence enclosing a propagating sround creeps
Tropseolmn spedosum, which takes the place
of Bindweed in an ordinary garden, so
perfect a weed is it. and at a little distance
the fence looks as though on lire. Over the
porch clusters the finest form of Clematis Jack-
manni I have seen, while over an outhouse C.
montana covers many si^Tiarp yards and minalea
wixh Virginian Creeper as well as other spedea
of Clematis. In early summer large bushes of
Eurybia Gunni are like masses of snow, while
later on Phloxes and Delphiniums of the choicest
varieties tower in lovely spires. On each side
of the stream, in the middle of the garden, is a
View in the garden at Mount Usher. Engraved for Tee Garden from a photograph by Jlr. Greenwoc»i Pita.
well. The old mill-wheel has not turned for
mauy a day, and is now so smothered with
creeping things of various kinds as to be qmte
invisible. Outside the garden wall is a portion
of ground reclaimed from commonage. In this
lure great clumps of Pampas Grass, standard
Ivies and standard Honeysuckles — a speciality in
this place — shrubby Spirtvas. Arundos, ttc. In-
side is one of the finest specimens, perhaps, in
Europe of Choisya ternata, covering a space of
something like 10 feet by S feet, and covered with
flowers. Tea Roses grow with wonderful
vigour. Shoots t> feet or S feet long, and three-
quarters of an inch to an inch thick, are quite
most flourishing rockery containing innumerable
gems — Sedums, Saxifrages, Sempervivums, li-
thospermums. Primulas, Orchis foliosa. Cypripe-
diums, and numberless others, while by the water-
side Saxifraga peltata forms a glorious mass of
leafage, and on the top, Tropawlumpolyphylltim,
a mat of grey and gold. There is a fijie Chama?-
rops which flowers annually, also several large
Cordylines, which blossom and bear seeds in
abtiudance. The river which bounds the lower
side of the garden has been greatly improved by
ornamental weirs, planting along the edge, >tc.
Space forbids a further enumeration of the ^ood
things in this charming spot : the annexed cuts
represent two bits, one of which might weU be
in 3Ientone or Algiers : the other is a tiny
grotto in which is a water-ram, and over which
falls a torrent of a deep purple Aubrietia, while
Fem5, such as Athyriums. Strmhiopteria. tc,
flounah higher up. -Just now clumps of Arundo
conspicua are in great beauty notwithstanding
the liry season, which has greatly marred the
usual summer beauty of this otherwise most
luxuriant garden. Gseestfojo.
Chrysanthemums.
K. JfOLiiJSLJt.
I Ai£ almc-st daily receiving inquiries relating to
the loss of the points of the sho^jts of Chrysan-
themums, and I believe that all cultivators have
been much tuDubled in this respect this sea-
son. If the points of the shoots were examined
closely b'Dth night and morning, it would be
found that those shoots aifected are infested by
three kinds of insects, perhaps not all upon one
plant. Earwigs are very plentifni Tbi» season,
and are the chief cause of the mischieL These
pests hide themselves among the young leaves,
burrow down the side i-'f the leading stem, thus
crippling the sh<.*t, and causing it to slightly
curl on one side, and in many cases rendering it
entirely blind. In some instances, partial
damage only, otrt of which the plant grows in
time, is done. 2fothing btrc hand-picfinar will
dear these depredators, and trapping them with
inverted pc'ts placed here and there on the tops
of stakes among the plants. Inside the pot
place a small quantity of Moss, which should be
examined every morning, and any earw%s found
immediately destroyed. Another sirecies of in-
sect that is troublesome is a »7n:in brown one,
almost round in shape, commonly known as the
jumper. A large green fly, about as large as a
common black fly, is also very destructive to
the points of the shoots.
By examining the plants carefully from time to
time, and destroying all the pests that can be
seen, the latter may easily he got rid of. Princess
Teck and Hero of Stoke Xewingtcn are two
sorts specially subject to these ravages. An-
other drawback to some growers of the Chry-
santhemum is a disease appearing amongst the
plants during the months of August and Sep-
tember, generally after three or four successive
rainy days. On the first appearance of the
disease a small black speck appears upon the
leaves, and gradually spreads to about three parts
of the length of the stem and entirely spoils the
foliage. I do not know what the disease is, but I
have noted that it is most prevalent where soQ of
a retentive character is used, thus suggestina
that sluggish or defective root action may be the
cause of the eviL The only preventive I can
suggest is to prepare the soil for the final pot-
ting very carefully in the manner previously
described, and thus reduce to a minimum the
chances of the disease appearing. On the first
appearance of the disease keep the soil in the
pots rather drier than otherwise tor a time, and
the foliage should not be wetted, except by
dews or rains. If the grower is obliged, to use
a retentive soiL it should not be rammed, very
firmly in potting, thus allowing the water to
pass away more quickly. I have seen plants
denuded of three parts of their foliage in a few
days by this liisease, in consequence of which
such plants must receive a serious check by sucii
an early loss of the leaves before they have per-
formed their natural functions. Fortunately
for cultivators of the Chrysanthemum, there are
few diseases which a&ct the plants in any way,
and these, if taken in time, are amenable to
treatment.
122
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 13, 1887.
Chrysanthemum flower buds. — Cultivators
of Chrysanthemums for the production of the
finest blooms, either for show purposes or home
decoration, will soon be on the look-out for the
appearance of the flower buds. In some in-
stances varieties are now showing buds. This
is a little earlier than usual, owing, no doubt,
to the very hot weather lately experienced,
in consequence of which the plants have made
rapid progress. If there is one detail in the
cultivation of Chrysanthemums for large blooms
that is of more importance than any other, it is
the selecting and retaining the proper kind of
flower bud for each variety. That there are
certain buds which do produce finer flowers
than others is now beyond a doubt ; therefore
it is necessary to study the various details so
that the best blooms will be forthcoming.
Amongst growers the common term used is
"taking the buds," and some persons may
think this means pinching oft' the flower buds,
but that is not so ; it means the removing of
the growth shoots which form around the
flower bud. The formation of the flower bud
in the point of the shoot causes other growths
to spring from below where the bud is formed,
and when these growths are taken off the whole
.strength of the plant is thrown into the de-
velopment of the bud retained. Only experi-
ence with the different varieties will thoroughly
teach beginners the proper time to " take " the
buds. If the buds are not retained at the proper
time for each variety, it is useless to expect
flowers of first-class quality. It is not on a
particular day of the month that all buds must
be "taken," but the state of each individual
plant must be taken into consideration when
the wished-for bud appears. No hard-and-fast
line, therefore, can be laid down as to the time
when every plant should set its proper bud.
Generally, what is known as the crown bud pro-
duces the best blooms, but in some instances
this particular form of bud will not produce the
best results. As a general rule, plants which
are grown in what is termed the "big bloom"
method show three buds during the season of
growth. If the plants were propagated at the
proper time and grown on in the manner indi-
cated, the first break is made from the middle of
May to the middle of June. Sometimes buds will
form in July, and these must in every case be
considered useless, and should, of course, be re-
moved. The bud, which I will term the " crown,"
is formed in exactly the same way as the one
formed in May. When this bud shows at the
correct time for each variety, and is "taken"
then, all other things considered, it will develop
into a perfect flower. When this bud is re-
moved other growths start, and in time form
buds which are known by the name of terminal
buds. These are the best buds to select for
some kinds, particularly in the south of England.
The all-important point then to study is the
time at which the crown bud forms. If it
forms too soon the flowers are coarse in the
petals, which very often in the case of incurved
kinds become reflexed. Such flowers as these
are loose and flabby, and more like invei-ted
saucei-s tlian globe-shaped, which many in-
curved varieties ought to be. Such flowers
cover space enough, but are devoid of depth
and solidity, the two most essential points in
a good flower. The dark varieties also in the
case of the crown bud forming too early are
not nearly so highly coloured as they ought
to be. Many beginners make a great mistake
then in "taking" the buds too .early, and
disappointment is sure to follow where quality
is considered of the first importance. Then,
again, if the buds are selected at too late a
period, the flowers produced are neat in appear-
ance, but much too small. Some kinds do not,
under this treatment, exhibit their true character
when in a small state. The locality in which
the plants are being grown has also to be con-
sidered, as there is a difl'erence of quite a fort-
night, and in some cases a month, between the
seasons of the buds showing in the south and
north of England. Crown buds ought to be
taken earlier in the northern counties than they
can with safety in the south.
Two iaeth,ods of using soot for Chry-
santhemums.— Top-dressing.— Mr. E. Molyneux in
his instructive notes in The Garden, page GO,
objects to the use of soot sprinkled on the surface of
the soil, as " it cakes and does not permit water to
soak through." This is true when used dry and in
undue quantity ; but as there may be some who find
it convenient to adopt this plan with the view of
having the manurial properties carried down to
the roots each successive watering, the following
are two good methods, either for pot or wall
Chrysanthemums. 1 . Water heavily, then sprinkle
the soot over the top of the soil, and, after
some time, lightly mis the soot with the surface
soil, and if the roots are so near the surface as
to render this impracticable, (2) make a liquid mix-
ture of any manure, or other substance convenient — I
use horse droppings — spread it over the soot, which
fixes it, and then, for appearance sake, sprinkle dry
loam over all. During the past dry weather I have
found this not only a stimulant, but a very good top
dressing. — W. J. Murphy, Clonmel.
Flower Garden.
SELF CARNATIONS.
This class of Carnations is an important one,
and likely to become more so as new and im-
proved varieties are added to the list. The
plants are admirably adapted for the border,
being of hardy constitution, well able to with-
stand the vicissitudes of the winter, and, more-
over, they bloom both strongly and freely. The
best method of propagation is by layering, which
should be commenced as soon as the flowers are
past their best. This operation should not be
delayed too long, as it is important to have the
layers well rooted and planted out before the
winter. There are few soils in which self Car-
nations will not grow ; to ensure the best results,
the soil should be deep, moderately rich, well
drained, and the position sunny, but not too
hot. In cottage gardens we may often see
splendid clumps of self Carnations, showing that
with ordinary treatment the plants thrive vigor-
ously and flower profusely. Amongst the best
are the following, which include flowers from
pure white to the richest crimson, the severax
varieties affording a fine range of colour-
ing : Imperial Purple, a large massive flower,
well proportioned, the petals finely shaped,
and of a rich purplish colour ; Elegant
also produces flowers of a purplish shade, the
form being excelleut and the fragrance sweet and
delicate. A good early white is Gloire de Nancy,
and another fine variety of the same kind is
W. P. Milner, the flowers of excellent outline,
pure, and very freely produced. Hodge's Bride
we may also recommend for the purity of its
flowers, and the robust habit of the plant. The
Governor is an excellent variety either for pots
or the open air. The flowers are blush white,
large, full of good substance, and borne freely,
while the growth is strong. Chieftain is not a
very vigorous grower, but it is useful for the
distinct colour of its flowers ; and another va-
riety of value is the Coroner ; the flowers large,
reddish, with the petals well arranged and
smooth. It grows fretly, and is a lirst-class
border Carnation. Chiswick Red, bright scar-
let ; Anna Williams, pink ; Chromatella, yel-
low ; Cremorne, purple ; Field Marshal, rosy
crimson ; Hindoo, deep crimson ; Pride of
Penshurst, yellow ; and Lord Rosebery, rose,
are also varieties that may be included in
a choice selection. Lady Rose Molyneux,
which we saw recently at Mr. Turner's nursery
at Slough, is a fine white self, the flowers regu-
lar, the petals smooth, firm, and symmetrically
arranged. Amber has been certificated several
times this season, and is a most useful yellow,
self, the flowers small, but neat and regular.
The self Carnation certificated at South Ken-
sington on July 25 under the name of Gravetye
Gem is a decided acquisition, by reason of the
striking and distinct colouring of the full, well-
formed, finely-petalled flowers. It would be
interesting and valuable information it those
who take an interest in the self Carnations
would record their experiences, so that we may
have a iist of varieties thoroughly well proved,
for there are no flowers of more value for beauti-
fying our gardens during July than these, and
their easy culture renders them suitable for
cultivation in small places. B. C.
Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). — Transferred
from the brookside in Berks a few years ago to the
garden here, but in proximity to water, a plant of
the purple Loosestrife has done wonderfully well,
and this season forms a big clump, carrying pro-
bably not less than 100 fine spikes of bloom. A
lovely thing also is the rose-coloured form, shown
so well the other day at South Kensington by Mr.
Paul under tlie name of Lythrum roseum superbum
—rather a big name for what might better be
termed the rosy Loosestrife. These plants pro-
duce spikes of flowers that are very beautiful
for vase decoration, and give rather uncommon
colours. Best of all, however, they form fine masses
either in cool places in the garden or beside ponds
and lakes. Specially beautiful are they when so
planted that their masses of colour show out at a
distance. — A. D.
Milla biflora. — This, as seen at Tottenham the
other day, is really a bulb for the million. It is in
fine form in an open frame, and from the stalks
showing frequently three flowers appears to like its
treatment. The same treatment as we give our
Calochorti suits this plant admirably, i.e.. Just before
the severe winter vv'eather sets in lifting the bulbs
and storing them in dry, sandy .soil in a cool airy
shed. Treated in this way they give us no trouble,
flowering just now with a delightful freshness in
defiance of our unusually hot weather. When strong,
this Milla grows a foot or 18 inches high, and in
masses has a noble appearance. The flowers are
star-shaped, pure white, with a tube G inches or 8
inches in length. The plant called Milla grandiBora,
a perfectly hardy species, is also in full bloom now,
and looks well in a large bed mixed with M. biflora,
or with the latter closely grouped in the middle, and
M. grandiflora as a broad edging. Another bulb,
curious as well as beautiful, is the twining Cali-
fornian Hyacinth (Brodiaja volubilis) ; the flowers,
produced freely on long twining stems, reaching
often from 8 feet to 10 feet or more, are rose col-
oured.— K.
Petunias. — How remarkably beautiful are
Petunias out in the open ground this year. I
have never seen them doing better, although here
not a plant out of hundreds has had one drop of
water given it since first planted out. Then they
had two or three waterings just to give the roots a
start, but no more. The soil too is very hot and dry,
and yet the plants grow and bloom wonderfully — in-
deed, I have never seen them more gay. No doubt
those residing in districts where moisture, especially
in the form of small rain, is prevalent, find Petunias
unsatisfactory. Moisture, especially if the soil be rich,
generates luxuriant growth and non-blooming. But
on hot, dry soils, where rain is not frequent. Petunias
of all kinds thrive admirably, and make very beauti-
Aug. 13, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
123
ful masses o£ flower. There is much to recommend
Petunias in the facilities with which plants may be
raised from seed; indeed, it is only when it is found
desirable to perpetuate some special variety that
propagation is needful. If a pinch of seed be sown
in a shallow pan about the first week in April and
placed in a light window or in a frame, it will readily
germinate and give an abundance of plants. These
need careful pricking off into shallow boxes, or out
into the soil in a frame or, if desired singly, into
small pots, and after a month's attention under glass
may be planted out wherever desired. If cuttings
be desired, now is the time to secure them. Young
tops soon strike, and if plants are not cut too hard
they soon throw other shoots which keep on flower-
ing. In spite of the taste for self colours, and especi-
ally for dark or rosy hues, it must be admitted that
the striped flowers are very beautiful, and, fortu-
nately, are of a strain which seeds freely also. — A. D
NOTES ON HARDY PLANTS.
Saxifraga cuscntseformis. — In addition to what
has been said about the rarity and hardiness of
this plant I may mention that for six or seven years
1 have grown it here, having received it from my
esteemed friend, the late Mr. Thomas Williams, of
Ormskirk. It has never been left fully exposed in
the open, only when duplicates were otherwise win-
tered, but latterly, as I have not cared so much
about a Saxifrage that needed coddling, it has had
to take its chance in a cold frame. I can, there-
fore, positively state that when plunged in sand
and under the dry conditions of such a frame, and
always well aired, it has resisted all the severe wea-
ther of the last two winters. Often the plants were
subjected to 14* of frost.
The New Zealand Bluet ell (Wahlenbergia
saxicola). — What a bright little plant this is, flower-
ing for ten or twelve weeks together I The solitary
flowers, on stout stems and springing from dark
green foliage spread flat on the surface of the ground,
remind one of the Pinguicula or Mazus Pumilio. It
enjoys sunshine with moisture, and during the re-
cent dry period it had to be watered daily, other-
wise the bright blue and white-eyed flowers seemed
to suffer in the bud state. It grows freely in the
open, in a light and rich soil composed of half leaf-
mould and loam, mixed with a few small stones. I
have only as yet wintered it in a cold frame, where,
however, it was thoroughly frozen. If it should
prove perfectly hardy it must be classed among the
neatest and most effective of moderately spreading
and free-flowering rock plants.
Brachycome Sinclairi is a gem for the rock
garden, perfectly hardy and perennial, producing
its charming little white Daisy-like heads on stems
2 inches or 3 inches high all the summer months,
and having a habit both of flower and growth which
renders it distinct from anything else I know — the
crowded ray florets roll their points under when
aged, which reduces the size of the heads to half an
inch across. The plant spreads moderately by short
stolons, and the foliage is arranged in tufts or
rosettes, and is brownish or bronzy green and very
downy. Those seeking for beautiful miniature
plants should take note of this. I grow it in loam
and leaf-mould mixed with small stones, and in a
position where it can have plenty of moisture and
sunshine.
The Oyster plant (Mertensia maritima). —
It is very interesting trying experiments with
plants said to be difiicult to manage. Last
year I placed a strong root of the Oyster plant,
just as many set Vegetable Marrows, on the
surface, and near the side of a heap of ma-
nure on which a frame stands. The manure is
spent or, I may say, old; the plant has been in
flower since early May; the prostrate stems are
nearly 3 feet long, and loaded with flowers and
seed.^. I should not be surprised if the plant
flowered itself to death, but I notice there is the
usual set of large, radical leaves in the middle of
the spreading stems, which indicates a well de-
veloped crown for next year. It has never been my
lot to see this rare native plant in its wild state,
but I understand that it seldom is met with in such
large specimens. Doubtless the manure and dry
situation are favourable, though very different to
conditions in which the wildings flourish.
Nierembergia rivularis.— This I always find
to be the best period of the year for dividing and
making fresh plantings of this lovely creeper.
Now, the least scraps of the rooting stems may be
pricked into a deep bed of black soil composed of
peat and leaf-mould and a little loam in a fine
state, and if kept moist, the result will be a
dense carpet of growth. The compost should be
of a light and warm or springy nature, and in a flat
position. Old plants make deep and rope-like roots,
and if attempts at establishing the plant are made
in cold weather, it will be needful, according to my
experience, to secure some of these strong roots.
Grown in the compost above-mentioned, which
keeps moist in dry weather better even than stiff
soils, there is no necessity for wet places in order to
be successful with the white Cup-flower; but, of
course, it needs well watering in dry seasons.
Woodrille, KirJtstall. J. WOOD.
BORDER CARNATIONS.
In striving to get greater size into the flowers of all
forms of Carnations, the bursting and splitting
of the buds so commonly follow, that it is worth
asking whether size in these flowers is so much
worth aiming at as quality and variation of
colour. A splitting flower is pretty well in-
dicated by the character of the bud, for those
which are very stout and rounded show fairly well
that they have in them too much strength, and will
burst to pieces. Splitting may be checked to
some extent in the case of pot plants by loosening
the calyx all round and by tying the buds low down,
but the defect is so serious that it is doubtful
whether the trouble involved is repaid by the pro-
duction in the end of large, but almost always
irregular flowers. These splitting flowers seem in
most cases to be abnormal in character, as almost
invariably a dormant bud is found in the centre
of each bloom. The buds from side shoots
being less full may open better, but none do so
with that excellence which marks flowers less full,
but more evenly arranged. Not only should all
bursting flowers be thrown away, but even the
finest of them should not tempt raisers of seedlings
to perpetuate their defects. However, a batch of
seedling Carnations from any ordinarily good strain
will always give the larger proportion of medium-
sized solid flowers, which will open evenly and
satisfactorily. Like all other seedling flowers. Car-
nations are of great interest when a batch is so
obtained. The colours or markings remain unknown
until the blooms open, and whether the plant will
give flowers of special merit or otherwise can only
be seen when the blooms are fully expanded.
Single, or very thin doubles are easily distinguished
by the thinness of the bud, and all these
may be pulled early. It is true many of the
single flowers are very pleasing, and no doubt could
be much enlarged and improved, but the ordinary
strain of Jacks, so called, grown in myriads for
sale by the costermongers, gives really very pretty
single flowers in great variety, and with these so
plentiful, seedling singles are hardly worth trou-
bling about. A batch of seedling plants blooming
for the first time this year gives a wondrous variety
of colour, selfs largely predominating. Thus I find
scarlet, rose, salmon, crimson, plum, purple, white,
&c., in abundance, with both flaked and bizarre
flowers. It is strange that nearly all the seed from
which this batch was raised was saved from white
and scarlet flowers. Some are of the split pod
order, and these are discarded. Many are so good
as to merit special attention in layering, and if so
far fertile will, I trust, give a good lot of seed. It
is usually found that heat and drought favour
fertility in double Carnations, and 1 hope ad-
mirable results will follow this year. The smaller
flowered French kinds give some hues and markings
which are not commonly found in our English
strains. Specially are the former rich in flakes and
edged flowers, semi-Picotee markings, and many
produce flowers, which, if small, are yet very per-
fect, and all that can be desired for bouquets,
button-holes, or for any similar uses. These latter
strains as a rule bloom so freely as to make little
Grass, but I have found that what Grass is made
roots freely in the form of pipings placed under
handlights. In that way specially meritorious
kinds may be perpetuated. It is best, however, to
sow seed every year, and in gardens where cut
flowers are in great request, few things will prove
more useful than a big patch of border Carnations.
A. D.
Gypsophila paniculata. — This is an elegant
and free-flowering plant, thriving in ordinary soil,
provided it is moderately dry, and making a hand-
some feature in the border at this season. A speci-
men in the Royal Horticultural Society's garden at
Chiswick measures fully 3 feet across, the small
pure white flowers, arranged in graceful, feathery,
and Grass-like branching panicles, being of simple,
but attractive beauty. They are most useful for
epergnes and choice decorations. This plant is well
worth growing, especially where cut flowers are in
request. — E.
Five-spurred Toadflax (Linaria vulgaris pelo-
ria). — This interesting and useful plant is com-
paratively little known, though there are few things
better suited for a broad ledge on the rockery
where the soil is well drained and the position
sunny. It is freely planted on the rockery at
Chiswick, its singular yellow five-spurred flowers
having a bright and cheerful appearance, while they
are rendered more valuable owing to their appear-
ing when hardy flowers are becoming scarce. The
Grass-like leafage and slender habit of the plant
make it especially useful for rockwork, as it is al-
most too frail to grow with robust perennials. — C.
A beautiful combination. — We saw the other
day in the Royal Horticultural Society's garden at
Chiswick a beautiful and elegant combination. At
the entrance to the rockery there is a raised bed of
soil which is kept in position by ornamental stone-
work. It was formerly filled with Yuccas, but is
now planted in quite a different style. In the centre
are several well-grown specimens of Acacia lophan-
tha, and associated with these are plants of the
Blue African Lily (Agapanthus umbellatus), the
whole arrangement being finished with an edging
of Lobelia and Ivy, which hangs over the stone-
work. At a short distance the contrast between the
light, graceful, and dark-coloured foliage of the
Acacia and the lovely blue flowers of the African Lily
is most happy. It would be well if more of such
harmonious and striking effects were seen in gar-
dens, and they might be created with little ex-
pense.— C.
Common white Lily (Lilium candidum). —
Few hardy plants, whether herbaceous or bulbous,
have stood the heat and drought so well as this old
white Lily. Notwithstanding the absence of rain,
it thrives well, loading the air with its fragrance,
and creating a striking effect in the distance. As
we have it growing in a long line in the kitchen
garden, where it is cultivated for a special purpose,
the foliage is perfect, and the stems rise up to nearly
5 feet high, many of them bearing more than twenty
flowers on a stem. I never before had such a proof
of the necessity of providing for this plant a good
soil and an open position, for there is a great differ-
ence in the condition of this particular batch of
plants and those occupying positions in the mixed
borders, where the soil is not so good and the plants
much crowded. It is very evident that a rich, deep,
and fairly heavy soil, and plenty of sunshine, suit
the common white Lily better than a crowded bor-
der, and it is also important to leave it alone, for at
least four or five years, without disturbing the roots.
—J. C. C.
The Giant Knotweed (Polygonum cuspida-
tum). — This, in its proper position, is of noble and
dignified character, requiring plenty of space to
display its elegant arching stems. We have seen
this plant made use of in a variety of ways, some-
times as a kind of hedge, and also to form a back-
ground to a wide border, but it is best seen as an
isolated specimen in the rougher parts of the garden,
and associated with plants of the same vigorous
growth. We once saw a large clump, backed with
124
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 13, 1887.
Hollies, on the outskirts of a spacious lawn, and were
struck with its adaptability for such a purpose, but
when introduced into the flower garden it must be
used judiciously. This Polygonum is far too vigorous
for the well-kept border, as it attains, when placed
under favourable circumstances, a height of 7 feet
or even more, and therefore overshadows and
destroys other things of more weakly growth. It
blooms late in the summer, and a well-grown speci-
men, covered with the slender pure white clusters
of flowers, is at once ornamental and beautiful.
To ensure a good display the plant must be weU
exposed to the light and air. — T. W.
White Peruvian Lily (Alstroemeria pelegrina
alba). — A plant of rare and most delicate beauty,
whether growing in a warm, sheltered nook, well
backed by wall or rockwork, or cut and brought in-
doors for closer enjoyment. Three sprays are
beautiful in a Venetian glass. The flowers, of a
milk white colour, have a curious half transparent
quality, which causes a greenish tinge that would
spoil a flower of a harder white, to be only an ad-
ditional charm and source of refinement. — G. J.
Dry-season flowers. — To the list of dry-season
flowers given in The Garden, August G (p. 105),
let me add a favourite which has stood the dry
spell without flinching, and that is the white variety
of the Musk Mallow (Malva moschata alba), a plant
not half enough grown, perhaps because it is a
variety of a native wild flower. For purity of
flower, pleasant perfume, and general vigour of
growth it is unequalled in its way, and is specially
valuable for cutting in the cool of the afternoon for
the evening dinner-table. Other flowers which I
observe stand the drought well besides those
mentioned are Godetias, Calliopsis, Harpalium
rigidum, most of the perennial Sunflowers, Helenium
pumilum (a splendid dwarf border plant), and
Snapdragons particularly, for in many a garden not
wealthy in other hardy plants these are about the
only plants presentable. — W. G.
Ijily notes. — Lilium concolor, a native of North
America, is one of the prettiest little Lilies we have
yet seen, and it has the advantage of not being
nearly so hard to manage as L. Catesbiei and one or
two others. It was shown at Kensington a week or
two ago; its intense scarlet-black spotted flowers, of
medium size, attracted much attention. There are
two varieties of this Lily catalogued by American
nurserymen which we have not yet seen in this
country, and which, judging from the descriptions
given, will certainly prove acquisitions. The first is
Coridion, a bright yellow variety ; the second pul-
chellum, with large bright scarlet flowers. Lily
growers should take note and get them introduced
to our gardens. The varieties of L. chalcedonicum
are hardly over yet, and they apparently stand
drought better than most of the others, as this year
the groups have been beautiful, and the flowers,
though a trifle small, are brilliantly coloured. The
varieties gra^ca, Heldreichi, and the recently intro-
duced maculata are all worth growing. Lilies are
not fastidious as to soil, and with a little shelter do
well in the ordinary mixed border. L. Batemannite,
a near ally of venustum, is a good plant for late
flowering. — K.
Another chance mixture. — I agree with
" G. J." that the prettiest combinations of plants
are generally those eflfected by themselves, and
since I read the note about the Acajna and Sedum
mixture I have seen a charming mixture in the way
of climbers against a house. It was a luxuriant
Gloire de Dijon Eose smothered with bloom inter,
laced among the dense yet feathery growth of the
common white Jasmine (Jasminum ofiicinale), which
was also in full bloom. The combination of the two
is one of the prettiest sights of the kind I have seen.
The mixture was quite a chance, for the main stem
of the Rose was yards away from the Jasmine, the
regulation distance in fact, but the far-reaching
shoots found their way among their neighbours a
year or two ago. At p. 104 " G. J." also, writes of
the Traveller's Joy (Clematis Vitalba). Only yester-
day I saw a pretty mixture of this, too. A strong-
growing Clematis Jackmanni had intermixed its
shoots with the tangled growth of the Traveller's
Joy, and the two had become so interlaced that it
would be difficult to separate them. The glowing
masses of purple amongst the " foaming masses and
festoons" of the Traveller's Joy produce a delightful
effect, and perhaps when our English Clematis is in
feathery seed next month the late blooms of its
Japanese relation will mingle with it. That was a
capital note from M. Sallier about the clump of
white Lilies rising out of a mass of feathery Fennel.
I shall try it when I have a chance. Every happy
mixture such as this should be recorded for the
benefit of us all.— W. Goldeing.
they should be planted in the autumn. It is a great
mistake to plant late in the spring, and when put
in at that season it ought not to be after the first
week in April. But early autumn is the best time,
and plant in deeply dug and rich soil, made porous
by the addition of leaf -mould, grit, and refuse soil
from the potting bench, so that the plants may
make root quickly and freely, and become firmly
established before winter. Mulching with leaf-soil
or thoroughly decomposed manure from an old hot-
bed during the winter, and on no account removing
it, but rather allowing it to become a part of the
surface soil, helps the plants considerably.
NEW TUFTED PANSIES.
These charming bedding plants are still in large
demand, and raisers are thus encouraged to per-
severe in obtaining new, distinct, and improved
varieties. Some of them present novel and charm,
ing shades of colour not hitherto seen in the bedding
Violas, and the plants also have a dwarf, tufted
habit of growth. There has recently come under
my notice a batch of new varieties in the hands of
Mr. John Downie, florist, Edinburgh, and amongst
them several are well worthy of attention, and the
following descriptive list may be said to comprise
the best varieties in cultivation : Arthery, white,
tinted with lilac, and having a large and distinct
rosy purple centre, a beautiful variety ; Archie
Grant, an old, but very excellent variety of sturdy
habit, producing large blue- violet blossoms ; Bullion,
a most valuable variety with flowers of good size
and of a bright yellow colour, and almost entirely
free from any dark markings; Countess of Hopetoun
is a very fine white, quite free from any dark mark-
ings, an abundant bloomer, and of close, sturdy
habit ; Countess of Kintore, light rosy purple, with
large white blotches on the edges of the flowers, a
handsome variety largely cultivated ; Duke of Albany,
upper petals lilac tinted, lower ones violet.purple,
a charming variety ; Evelyn, pale shaded lilac, with
deeper coloured centre, closely resembling Duchess
of Albany, but brighter and of finer form ; Garland,
a light yellow self with rayed centre, a useful va-
riety, but considered inferior to Bullion ; Lady
Amery, rich violet lower petals, with the same colour
in the base of the top petals, and broad margin of
silvery lilac, a beautiEuL variety of very fine form;
Meta, light shaded rosy purple, with small blue-
purple blotch ; Mrs. Tosh, rosy purple lower petals,
lighter at the margin, shaded lilac and light purple
top petals, the form good ; Owen Cameron, a flower
in the way of Holyrood, but with light bronze colour
in the centre, large and showy ; Oracle, blue purple
under petals, with small dark blotch, top petals
deep lilac, veined with purple, a very distinct va-
riety ; Pytho, rich violet under petals, with a slight
margin of blue-lilac, top petals blue, with a liglit
blue margin, very fine form, distinct and handsome;
Rimini Donaldson resembles Pilrig Park in colour
and marking, and can scarcely be termed an acqui-
sition ; Skylark is a charming and distinct variety,
white, with a narrow margin of bright cerulean
blue ; Spark resembles Duchess of Albany in style,
but has a different coloured centre, it is of good
form and very pretty ; Scotia has a dark shade of
blue with dark blotch (probably there is a good
deal of the Pansy in this variety, as it is large and
showy); The Mearns has rich shaded lower petals,
with a brighter coloured margin and darker centre
—it has the top petals of Countess of Kintore, and
is a very fine and distinct variety ; Topsy is almost
black, quite of a self colour, fine in form, and very
promising— it appears to be a decided acquisition ;
Virginale is a decided pure white self, and an ex-
cellent variety.
Of valuable and useful older varieties, which are
cheap, I may mention Ardwell Gem as a sulphur
yellow ; Mrs. Gray, white, and very sweet scented ;
Queen of Lilacs, blue-lilac ; Lady Diana, light purple ;
Queen of Spring, clear light yellow ; Golden Queen
of Spring, deep yellow ; Queen of Violets, deep
purple; True Blue, the best blue; Spotted Gem, rich
purple, with large white blotches; and Ethel Baxter,
a most lovely shaded rosy lilac variety.
All authorities on Violas say that, in order to
have them in all their beauty and at their best,
MR. ENGLEHEART'S CARNATION.
It is in many ways fortunate that the attainment by
one person of his or her ideal does not interfere with
the pursuit by some one else of theirs. There are
many intermediate forms of desired perfection from
a plant that will grow without training and with-
out sticks, to a blue Primula or a giant Gooseberry 1
There cannot, however, be any real lovers of hardy
flowers but will welcome to their midst Mr. Engle-
heart's inotegee, referred to in The Garden,
July 30 (p. 70). I had heard of it before, and he
has fulfilled a promise of sending a bunch of the
flowers ; they are quite as much a j^leasure to see
as to think of , and most certainly fulfil what he claims
for them. The stems being short, and not much
over a foot high, do not require undue thickening
to enable them to support themselves. They are,
of course, stouter than the usual run of Carnations,
and more like the Souvenir de la Malmaison in this
respect than the French perpetual class to which
Mr. Engleheart considers them akin. Very fragrant
are the blossoms and of a pleasing form, the petals
being well contained within the calyx ; their hardi-
ness, too, has been described, so they score a number
of good points which are not to be despised. Apart
from all the trouble of fixing stakes and tying the
flower-stems to them, it will be a great advantage
to have a race of self-supporting Carnations, and
not dependent on voluntary, or rather compulsory
assistance, whether grown for efEect in gardens, or
to cut from, the unorthodox gibbet to which they
are usually attached being scarcely soothing to the
feelings of the enthusiastic admirer. I am writing
this, because I am sure that there must be many
amateurs and others who have not had the oppor-
tunity of becoming acquainted with this special
variety, and who will be glad to make a note of a
really good thing as a first step towards getting hold
of it. I believe that at present it exists only in
Mr. Engleheart's garden, but that there it is plen-
tiful, so I hope he may be able to find means to
distribute it before long, and that he will give us a
hint whether, or when, such is likely to be the case.
Sussex. C. R. S.-D.
SHORT NOTES.— FLOWER.
Harebell (Campanula rotuudifolia).— Is the white
form of this synonymous with C. Host! alba ? I am ot
the opiuiou tliat siich is the case. — T. W.
Campanula pyramidalis.— There are large
masses of this Bellflower in the Royal Horticultural
Garden at Gliiswick, and the plants make a telling
feature. Both the white and blue varieties are grown,
the tall, symmetrical spikes proving useful when cut.
They arc also well adapted for pot culture.- T. W.
Veratrum nigrum.— This plant is easily recog-
uised by its lars;e, broad, i-ibhcil, anil handsome fohage,
which shows up well on the liordcr. There is a speci-
men in bloom at Chiswick, the stiitcly spikes hearing
numerous deep purplish flowers. It likes a somewhat
rich soil, and to ensure fall development of the striking
foliage, must have plenty of room.— T. W.
Calandrinia setosa.— This is flowering at Kew
on the rockery. It is of prostrate growth, the leaves
narrow, hairy, and glaucous, and the growth wiry.
The flower-stems are straggling, and terminated with
dense heads of small, cup-shaped, iuteuse purple
flowers. The colour is very bright when seen under
strong sunlight. — E.
Statice Beaseriana.— This is a distinct, tufted,
and beautiful rock Statice, and plants of this character
we can always find space for in our gardens, as their
beauty, if simple, is of a rare kind. It is well suited
Aug. 13, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
125
for a chink in the rock garden, where the soil is light, coated with limewash, and plenty of air is given,
well drained, and the position sunny. The short, ] At Slough, where Pinks are largely grown and pro-
comparatively thick stem hears a spreading, flat head i pagated, piping is carried out about the second
of innumerable small floivers, some pink, others pure and third weeks in July. Five-inch pots are fi.lled
white with stripes of brown, the whole of exquisite I „jtij ^ light sandy soil, and on the surface is placed
delicacy and refinement.— E. C. I a thin layer of sand. The pipings are then put in
' somewhat thickly and the soil pressed firmly about
LACED PINKS. . them, and then they are well watered. The pots
. ,„.,,' T^ , , i. -1 • ' are then placed in frames in a gentle bottom-heat,
1 DO not know who raised Pink Mrs. Dash, but it is ^j^^ atmosphere kept moderately moist, and the
a very fine variety ; the flowers large and full, the ! ; Jq^j. shaded from the sun. The lights are nearly
petals stout and smooth, evenly arranged one over j^gg^ allowing a little air by day. The cuttings
the other, and finely laced.
strike root in about three weeks ; then the plants
It is a flower that re- __
quires but little dressing, and it is also a vigorous j ^^g"^''^]^g^"^.'J* ^^""^"0]^ Y/^^'j^g^''""^"'^^^ sufficiently
grower, making plenty of Grass. Brown's Eed has hardened off, they are put out into nursery beds in
small flowers, but they are finely laced ; it is a rich i ^-^^ ^^ ground. B- D-
dark maroon on a white ground. Tom Sayers has ^ ° '
also fine dark lacing and good full flowers ; George
Hodgkinson is one of Mr. Thurstan's seedlings, and Hot weather and the Violets.— In many
is a very refined and handsomely laced flower of gardens red spider has gained the upper hand of
View in rock garden at Mount Usher, Ashford, Co. Wioklow. Engraved for The Garden from a photograph
by Mr. Greenwood Pim. (See p. 121.)
great merit; Mrs. Thurstan is another of Mr. Thur- Violets being prepared for flowering during the
Stan's seedlings, and regarded by him as one of the winter in pits and frames, and unless a change in
best he has obtained ; it has fine smooth petals, and the weather soon takes place, the plants wiU be very
is handsomely laced. Henry Hooper is also a very weakly indeed when lifted. To be really service-
fine Pink, large, full, and very handsome, and- a able, they should have healthy foliage and good
good grower. I saw all these in Mr. Samuel Bar- stout crowns ; in fact, they will not prove at aU free
low's garden at Stake HUl House, Manchester, a flowering unless they are well prepared during the
few days ago, and the rich perfume from the summer. Many err in planting out on a very sunny
bed was something to be remembered. It will be border. In such positions they need to be frequently
said that the foregoing is a small selection, but it ' watered, and, unless freely syringed nearly every
comprises varieties that I saw good and can be de- evening, red spider will not be kept in check. Our
pended upon. Mr. Barlow had already commenced stock of both Marie Louise and Comte de Brazza
"piping," or putting in cuttings of Pinks. He is planted on an east border, and here the Violets
has some low span-roofed brick frames, and the seem to be most at home. They were watered
lights can be lifted up on both sides in order to give occasionally till well established, when a final water-
air. In one of these a bed of sandy soil had been ing was given and the plants slightly moulded up.
made up, and the pipings put in in lines and pressed This moulding up both preserves the moisture and
firmly into the soil. As a matter of course they are also covers the stems of any not planted sufficiently
kept well shaded from the sun, the glass being deep. I have frequently noticed that those plants
thrive best which are dibbled into the ground well
up to the collars, but as watering is apt to bare the
stems, moulding up is also practised. Where the
Violets are not doing so well as wished, they may,
if the ground is at all poor, be given a supply of
liquid manure. A drenching of diluted farmyard
liquid manure, or some substitute for it, also proves
obnoxious or destructive to red spider. A mulching
of either leaf soil, very short manure, Cocoa-nut
fibre refuse, or Grass from the mowing machine, is
beneficial in any case. "Molets need plenty of atten-
tion, and they pay for it.— W. I.
Variegated-leaved Lily.— The variety of the
Japanese L. longiflorum in which all the leaves are
regularly edged with white is very pretty, not only
when in flower, but long before the plants reach
that stage, for if in the open ground so that it is
not drawn in any way, the foliage is thickly clustered
on the stem, which reaches a height of 1 foot to
2 feet. The flowers are like those of the ordinary
L. longiflorum (whose name now appears somewhat
of a misnomer, as there are other kinds with
flowers of greater length), and as soon as they are
over the beautifully variegated leaves lose some of
their freshness. This variegated Lily is less robust
in constitution than the green-leaved type, and is
by no means common in gardens. Now is a good
time to compare the many so-called varieties
of L. longiflorum, the distinguishing marks of
which would, I think, in most cases disappear if all
were grown for a season or two under exactly
similar conditions. — H. P.
Dwarf Nasturtiums for summer beds.—
I am unable to agree with the remark of " W. G."
(p. 73) that the dwarf Nasturtiums at Chiswick
"make glorious masses of colour throughout the
summer in gardens." If he had seen them as I saw
them on July 29, he would have been of a different
opinion. The great fault attaching to this race of
dwarf Nasturtiums is that they are not continuous
bloomers. They make excellent masses for the
space of five or sis weeks, but by the end of July
their beauty is quite gone. On July 29 I saw lines
of plants with plenty of seed-pods, but very few
flowers, and I fear but very few more will be pro-
duced, and yet there are nearly two months of sum-
mer yet to come. If the Tom Thumb Nasturtiums
are to be employed for bedding, succession plants
will be necessary, and these can only be had by
sowing seeds at different intervals. 'What is wanted
is a race of dwarf bedding Tropajolums that does not
produce seed freely, and then a greater continuity of
bloom may be expected. — R. D.
An example of rapid growth— I scarcely
know whether the photograph, which I send by the
same mail, will be of interest to you. You are at
liberty to make what use you please of it. There
are many valuable and interesting plants growing
in these gardens. If you wish it, I shall have much
pleasure in giving you a sort of a synopsis of its
contents, or furnish you with any information rela-
tive to any of our floral curiosities.— Wm. Souttbe,
Aoolimatisatimi Society's Gardens, Bon-en Parh,
Brisbane, Queensland,
*^* Thanks for the photograph, which shows a
picturesque sub-tropical garden with a giant Agave
foetida in the centre. The following notes accom-
panied the photograph: The height of the flower-
item is b1 feet, its girth at 1 feet pom the groxmd
being 28 inches, the average length 0/ the leaves bei^ig
dfeet. To illustrate the rapidity of growth of the
Jfower-^em, it may be mentimied that it grew 'ZTfeet
from the 27tA of February until the llth of March.
—Ed.
The Missouri Evening Primrose ((Enothera
macrocarpa).— Notwithstanding the long drought,
this fine old hardy plant makes about the only
really bright spot in our mixed flower border, which
has the sun the whole of the day. A'ery few plants
of this character can stand the heat and drought in
such a position without attention ; but this one is
an exception to the general rule, for it furnishes
trailing masses of low growth, which are covered with
large conspicuous deep yellow flowers. It is to be
regretted that our gardens are not furnished with
more plants that give so little trouble, and are in
126
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 13, 1887.
different as to soil and situation, 'i'he majority of
garden plants cannot endure more than three days'
ordinary sunshine without needing assistance from
the watering-can, to say nothing of the skill and
care required to propagate them. My Evening
Primroses were raised from seed eight or ten years
ago, and planted where they now are ; moreover,
they have had nothing done to them since, yet they
make a bright display every season. — J. C. C.
Kitchen Garden.
W. WILDSMITH.
KITCHEN GARDEN NOTES.
Dkought. — The little rain we had a week since did
an immense amount of good, but the drought is
now more severe than ever and the heat more in-
tense, but it is rendered more bearable by the cooler
night temperatures that are now the rule. As a
matter of course, artificial watering is of greater
benefit to the crops, as evaporation does not go on
so rapidly. As regards vegetable crops in general,
we have mulched all that it has been possible to do
with the limited amount of material at command,
and this, added to the watering once, and some-
times twice, a week, has up to the present maintained
the various crops in vigorous health, but if drought
continues much longer a collapse must come. Early
Potatoes are all being lifted and stored in a dark
cellar. Late varieties — as I feared would happen —
are growing out, and the tubers are too small for us
to think of lifting the crop, bad as the prospect is
of its improving after rain. Those Potatoes that
have as yet formed no tuber may do all right, but
the others cannot possibly produce a crop. In
respect of the criticism of Mr. H. Parker at p. 84,
he apparently has not observed that all through my
notes I have repeatedly alluded to earthing up as
being unnecessary, if not positively injurious, and
that I never earth up, except with a view of support-
ing the long-haulmed kinds; hence my writing "not
many of ours are earthed up." Mr. Parker mis-
quotes me by adding the word " yet," which implies
that earthing up was intended, when, in fact, it was
not ; neither has it been done, except in the case of
abnormally tall growers. Here (North Hants) we
consider it early to plant out any time during March
Usually we plant out on a south border in the first
week of that month. The sets having been pre
viously started in rough leaf soil are planted in
deep drills, and as soon as they emerge above the
soil protection is afforded by coverings of long litter.
We cannot, of course, compete with the Jersey
climate, but by some amount of labour in respect of
protection from frost we have frequently dug fine
Potatoes from the open borders as early as the 20th
of May, and very rarely, indeed, have we failed to
do so before the end of the first week in June.
Watering. — No help for it ; this must be done
if winter supplies of green vegetables are expected
We have got all kinds planted, and twice a week we
give them a thorough soaking ; in fact, the drills
are completely flooded, and our labour is being re-
warded by a most satisfactory growth, as if, indeed,
the weather conditions had been of the most
favourable description. Peas, French and runner
Beans we have to treat in the same way, but with
the thick mulching that these have had watering
once a week suffices to keep them in condition.
Recently sown Turnips, Cabbage, Coleworts, Let-
tuce, and Endive we water on alternate days. The
two former we were compelled to protect from
birds by nets. Celery and Cauliflower i)lants ought
to be watered, but, as something must go short, a
thick mulching suffices to keep these crops in fair
condition.
Seeds now to be sown. — Onions, Lettuce,
Cabbage, Cauliflowers, Carrots, and Spinach. For
Onions a piece of ground is being prepared by
manuring and trenching, and we shall sow the fol"
lowing kinds between the 12th and 20th : Tripoli,
White Lisbon, and Giant Kocca. Black-seeded
Bath Cos Lettuce we sow in any warm place ; Cab-
bage on the most exposed plot, so as to bring the
plants up hardy. Cauliflowers we sow at the foot
of a south wall, and here they winter with a slight
covering of litter, straw. Bracken, or mats in the
sharpest weather. Dwarf Erfurt and Early London
are the best varieties. Carrots we have just sown on
a west border ; Early French Horn and Early Nantes
are the varieties. Of Spinach we have one plot well
above ground, and another sowing will be made
immediately, so that if one sowing does not do well
the other may. For the last two or three years
this crop has been more trouble to us than any
other, owing to the mysterious way in which the
plants have died off, and to prevent this happening
again we have taken every precaution in the pre-
paration of the ground, soot and wood-ashes being
the fertilisers used, owing to an idea that canker or
decay of the stems was engendered by the fungus
from animal manures. I only hope that such a
surmise may prove correct.
General work. — To stake late Peas and to
mulch and water. Thin out dwarf Beans, Turnips,
Lettuce, and Endive. Pick off all old pods from
runner Beans, and pinch out the points of the
shoots to induce lateral growths, which often prove
more profitable than successional sowings. Lift
Potatoes as soon as matured. Cut off the seed-stems
from Globe Artichokes, Seakale, Rhubarb, and
Horseradish, and, if time will admit of it, pick
seeds off Asparagus. Thin out growths, and top-
dress ridge Cucumbers. Keep Tomatoes tied to
supports, and the fruit exposed to sunshine by cut-
ting away the bulk of the lateral growths and the
large foliage that overshadows the fruit. Hoe
amongst all crops where there are weeds to be de-
stroyed ; their destruction is only secondary to other
benefits that will accrue from the operation during
the prevalence of the present drought and heat.
WINTER GREENS.
Seldom in the experience of market-growers has
there been so difficult a season as the present
one for the getting out of all kinds of winter
greens. Seeds came badly and late in the spring,
but that defect was to some extent compensated
for by the general lateness of everything else,
so that early planting in succession to other
crops was not possible. When, however, oppor-
tunity offered not only were jilanta much stunted
in the seed beds, but heat and drought rendered
planting out almost hopeless. In some cases
where water was accessible moderate breadths
of Giant Autumn Cauliflower and Brussels
Sprouts, the two most valuable of all the sum-
mer plantings, were well watered in, and thus
saved, but the Brussels Sprouts suffered much
less than the Caulifiower. Even the best
breadths of these, however, have made poor
progress as compared with what we see in ordi
nary seasons. In the case of Broccoli, Cab
bages, Coleworts, and Kales, the prospect is far
worse. Some recent showers, each of a couple
or three hours' duration, incited to planting
largely, extra men being put on and over-
time made. In a market garden district
literally millions of plants of these kinds are
put out in a few days, and should the ground
be moist the green crop following upon Potatoes,
Peas, (fee, soon develops into one of vigour
and promise. The showers, however, made but
a passing impression on the soil, moistening it
at the most not more than to the depth of half
an inch, where all is as dry as ashes to a depth
of 1.5 inches. A couple of warm days soon ab
stracted this little moisture, and now plants
are dying rapidly ; indeed it is piteous to look
over acre upon acre of sprouting Broccoli, Cole-
worts, Savoy Cabbages, &c., and note the
dried-up appearance of the plants, sad evi
dence of money and labour wasted, with the
prospect of distressing blanks during the
coming winter. White Turnips present even
a worse prospect than plants do, for where some
small sowings were made after the showers, the
Turnip fly has generally devoured the seedlings,
and later sowings refuse to germinate, because
the soil is so hot and dry. If rain does not
come speedily, it will be utterly impossible to
secure white Turnips for the coming winter in
the area over which drought still prevails. That
the sou in its now heated condition would, after
rain, promote rapid germination there can be
no doubt, and if there be ample dressing used,
sowings of early or precocious bulbing kinds
might, if made even so late as the last week in
August, give fair bulbs, but later it is useless to
look for roots of any appreciable value. It
thus becomes evident that the rain is of vital
importance to the market gardener, whose pre-
sent lot, in spite of the excellent prospects of
the spring, is even worse than at any previous
time. The crop of Peas was a fleeting one, sel-
ling fairly well while enduring, but all too soon
over. Runner Beans so far have been very
good, but are now beginning to feel the long
continued drought. Potatoes are hardly half a
crop, being not only small, but relatively few,
and in spite of the lessened bulk so far are
cheap. Later crops must be small unless rain
comes at once, and even then it may cause
growing out, which would not improve the crop.
Plums, of which there is a heavy crop, and
Apples are smaller than usual and stagnant.
Apples have been greatly thinned, but the fruit
remaining does not appreciably swell, and much
of the dessert kinds, such as Cox's Orange and
King of the Pippins, are unusually small. These
things point to the nature of the troubles which,
our exceptionally hot, dry season has evolved
for market gardeners, and render the winter
prospects very gloomy. A. D.
NOTES ON PEAS.
Not having had any rain here for two months past,
vegetables, more especially early and second early
Peas, have suffered very much both as to produc-
tiveness and quality. Here the early white round
kinds, of which Ringleader is the type, have per-
fected a poor crop compared with what the same
sorts would have done in a more suitable season.
They soon became too old for use, and at no time
were they so tender as some of the other sorts. I
have before proved this, and in future shall rely
more upon the blue round and blue wrinkled kinds
for my early and second early crops. Most of these
are quite as hardy, withstand the dry weather
better, and are quite as prolific, and in some cases
more so. They also remain longer in a tender state,
which is a point to be studied. As a rule they are
more vigorous, larger, and more fleshy in the pod;
consequently resist the drought longer. I have been
growing the following sorts, with which, considering
the season, I have reason to be satisfied : My first
sowings were Carter's First Crop or Ringleader with
Laston's William the First. There was a wide
difference in these for productiveness and growth.
First Crop came in a week before the other, and
though fairly good it was soon over. The pods were
short and not filled out, while William the First,
loaded with pods both full and large, afforded three
more pickings than First Crop. I next sowed
Carter's Surprise and Omega. 'The first-named was
by far the best in every way. Omega filled up well
for such dry weather, but was soon past use. My
next sowing consisted of Carter's Pride of fhe
Market, Maclean's Advancer, and G. F. Wilson, and
in these I think I have got the best of the dwarf
and medium growing sorts. Pride of the Market,
which w:is the first fit for use, grows about 18 inches
high, and is literally covered with well-filled pods,
the Peas being tender and keeping their colour well.
I have tried other dwarf sorts in previous years, but
consider this one a long way ahead of all of its
class. Advancer came next, though differing but
little from G. F. Wilson. It is a good cropping Pea
of strong habit, continuing to grow and retaining its
colour well in such trying weather. G. F. Wilson
is equally good in these respects, but preferable to
either in point of flavour and tenderness. I have
before proved this to be the best dry weather Pea
Aug. 13, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
127
that I know of. I may say that my Peas are grow-
ing on a very chalky soil, and but one shght shower
has fallen to benefit them. They were simply sown
in deeply dug, well-manured ground, and mulched
with short litter just before they came into bloom.
I am now growing the tall wrinkled Marrow kinds,
and will state my experience of them later on.
F'lkiii^ton Manor. THOMAS RECORD.
LETTER FROM BURGHLEY.
To THE Editor of The Garden.
Sir, — Ten years ago I wanted you to do the
very thing you now suggest. Respecting old
things with new names, I must tell you doubt-
less old things, good things, do still exist, but not
in anything like the numbers you presume.
Now I will give you fifty years' experience on
Potatoes. When I was head gardener to my good
grandfather at the Crown Hotel, Woi-ksop,
Notts, we used to grow four kinds of Potato.
The first early was Ashtop, so-caUed now, but
the proper name is Alberry's Kidney ; a man
called Alberry, who was a chimney sweeper
at Retford, raised it. These Potatoes are of
good quality, but they are not productive. Five
eatable Potatoes at one root we thought a good
crop, but now, in Wilson's Selected, from
Empress Evigenie, we get from twenty to
thirty quite as early, and as good in flavour,
lightness, and general excellence. It would
fill a volume to take in review all the Potatoes
that have appeared since, but it will suffice to
say that Myatt's Kidney, Veitch's Ashtop, Barr's
Ashtop, Lee's Ashtop are all selections made
from favourable roots. In a trial of six kinds
of these Ashtops this year my object has been
to obtain the earliest and the best sample. Six
roots of each were dug. Wilson's beat them all
by having 1 lb. more in the six than any of the
rest. The main crop was Farmer's Glory, a
truly magnificent white round, beautifully
mealy, and flavour superb, but no good after
February. Then a red round variety, called
Irish Apples, comes in. This we used to keep
in old porter barrels in a dark cellar ; a first-
class Potato in any shape and form. But the
query is how would these stand the disease, and
there is much more fuss made about disease
than is needed. Early lifting is one safeguard.
I have Wilson's now lifted and stored. I have
sent you a sample basket of Wilson's.
Since writing the above I have refreshed mj
memory, and find Myatt's is a seedling, not a
selection, as written. While writing, I remem-
ber a Potato being grown largely, an early
variety called Walnut-leaved Kidney. It is
larger in size than Wilson's, but the quality is
not good, but being large in size and early it
was a great favourite. I have grown it this
year, and find it as I say. R. Gilbert.
Th-orburn Potato. — We find this an exceUent
Potato on soils where early Potatoes of the kidney race
are soapy and poor. — X.
Tomatoes in the open. — Where these have
been kept well supplied with moisture at the roots
they have made good progress, and there is every
prospect of exceptionally heavy crops of fruit re-
sulting. At the outset the hot weather seemed to
injure the flowers, for they shrivelled and dropped
oil in an unaccountable manner. Subsequently,
however, every blossom set, and very large clusters
of fruit are rapidly swelling off. It is useless to let
them form any more leading growths this season,
unless late clusters of green fruit are required for
pickling or preserving. In any case all side shoots
should be kept closely cut away, and if the foliage
is extra strong this also may safely be shortened
back. This timely removal of growth and leaves
concentrates the rigour of the plants to the swelling
off and ripening of the fruit. If smothered up by
foliage the fruit is sure to be small and very back-
ward in ripening. Some of the smaller or most
ornamental sorts seem capable of throwing out
their long clusters of fruit well clear of the foliage,
and will ripen much of their fruit in spite of neglect.
These are now receiving more attention from the
distributors of novelties, and both the red and
yellow-fruited sorts are becoming popular for dessert
purposes. They are enormous and sure croppers,
but at present I am unable to give the names of
some of the best on trial this season. At present
there is no sign of disease on the Tomatoes, nor
will there be so long as the dry, clear weather lasts.
A change to dull and damp weather may quickly be
followed or accompanied by disease, and the only
way of preventing this is by covering those plants
growing against walls with glass. It would be a
pity for such fine crops of frnit to be spoilt, espe-
ciaDy when a few lights from the unoccupied garden
frames might save the greater portion of them.
The fungus which attacks the Tomato is the same
as that which injures the Potato, and seldom effects
a lodgment on dry foliage or fruit, which should,
therefore, be kept as dry as possible. If the drought
lasts through August a considerable portion of the
crop will be ripened, and many more fruit will be
sufficiently advanced for cutting in bunches^ or
singly, these being hung up and ripened either in a
warm house or kitchen. The fruits are certainly of
a better quality when left on the plant to ripen, but
it is not always advisable to risk their loss either
from disease, cracking, or slugs. Cracked fruit are
usually of excellent quality, but they keep badly. —
W.I.
ONIONS.
Whatever may be the effect of the drought on
the Onion crop elsewhere, here, whUst the summer
growth is very stunted, there seems to be an entire
absence of the Onion mould, or fungus, which has
so severely attacked our Onion breadths in previous
seasons. That bulbs will be very small there can
be no doubt; indeed it will be only where great
trouble in watering is taken that fine exhibition
bulbs this year will be found. It would be very in-
teresting to learn from others how their Onions are
faring under the drought, and especially with re-
gard to absence or otherwise of the fungus. I ob-
serve specially that seeding Onions seem to feel
the drought only in a trifling degree ; indeed, I am
not sure whether, on the whole, the heads are not
larger than is usually the case. The stems of these,
always so quick to show the attacks of the fungus,
are now very clean and stout. The drought may
have some effect on the seed sample in respect of
size, but so far, I think, defects in that direction
will be more than compensated for by superior fer-
tility. I never before remember having seen Onion
bloom so thickly infested with wild bees as this
year. That should be good evidence of seed fer-
tility later. One reason, perhaps, why seeding
Onions suffer so little now is that the bulbs have
very indifferent root-hold, and, no doubt, abstract
little from the soil. A quantity of plants which
stood the winter because sown too late to bulb pro-
perly last summer are seeding even better than are
planted bulbs. The difficulty in securing a crop
of seed arising from the present season's drought,
therefore, is less likely to be felt next year than
in the following year, as bulbs for planting for
seed next spring promise to be scarce. As this is
the season for sowing for summer crops, it may
become all the more needful in view of the probable
scarcity of this season's produce to sow all the
more largely of Roccas, Lisbons, Tripolis, and other
fine winter-standing kinds, but it may be well to
sow some AVhite Spanish also, as bulbs of the
winter sorts so-called keep so short a time that for
stock purposes they are not so useful as is desirable.
Some very early ripening varieties, such as the
Queen, perhaps the most precocious of all Onions,
will next summer be found specially useful. A
moderate breadth of the Queen sown now should
give an ample supply of bulbs early to make good
winter deficiences. A good time for sowing winter
Onions is the third week in August. There can be
no difficulty this season in finding an ample area of
soil at liberty for the purpose, and only a good rain
is needful to ensure early and good growth after
sowing. Very probably ere this is in print rain will
have fallen, as we can hardly go on much longer
with such hot, dry skies. Certainly, if sowings
cannot be made in August the chances of getting
strong plants to stand the winter are materially
reduced. Gardeners, however, can help themselves
so far as to sow seed thickly in a broad shallow
box, and have the plants ready early for trans-
planting, a course not so acceptable for market
growers who sow thickly in order to secure bulbs
for pulling green in the spring and early summer.
Onions when transplanted carefully and the bulbs
not buried in the soil usually do remarkably well,
and produce the finest bulbs. The finest autumn
exhibition bulbs are usually got from plants so
treated, seed being sown under glass, and the plants
dibbled out into exceptionally good soil early to
secure strong growth before the summer heat sets
A. D.
SULPHATE OF AMMONIA AND SULPHATE
OF IRON.
Frequent inquiries are made as to the value of
sulphate of ammonia as a manure and the method
of its application; therefore some particulars
relating to it may be useful. It supplies to the
plant the nitrogen which is absolutely necessary for
growth, but if the medium in which the plant is
growing does not contain the other elements, which
are principally potash, soda, lime, magnesia, iron,
phosphorus, sulphur, silicon, and chlorine, and
which in greater or less proportions are equally
necessary, the sulphate of ammonia is compara-
tively useless ; therefore it is advisable to combine
with it the other elements which are generally
deficient in soil, either naturally, or through their
removal by previous plant growth. The most
important are potash, phosphorus, and lime. Georges
Ville, the eminent French agricultural chemist,
whose work on artificial manures has been trans-
lated by the equally eminent English chemist,
William Crookes, states that as soil is generally
found to contain all the elements necessary for
perfect plant growth, excepting nitrogen, potash,
phosphorus, and lime, if these elements are com-
bined in a manure, such a manure is complete, and
is all that is necessary for ordinary plant growth in
ordinary soil. He has given a formula for such a
manure, which he calls normal manure No. 1, and
is as follows •. —
Superphosphate of lime ... 8 parts
Nitrate of potash 4 >.
Sulphate of ammonia 5 „
Salphateof lime or gypsum ... 7 „
He recommends that 1056 lbs. of this be applied
to an acre, which is nearly equivalent to a quarter of
a pound to a square yard, and rather less than
half an ounce to a square foot. The above formula
may be varied by the substitution of chloride of
potash, obtained from kainit found in a native
state in Prussia and elsewhere, for the nitrate of
potash, as a source of the potash and as a source of
the nitrogen, nitrate of soda, a natural salt imported
from Peru, may be used instead of the ammonia.
This substitution is a question of economy of great
importance to the agriculturist, but less so to the
horticulturist.
It may be inferred from the above that to secure
its best effect it is far better to combine the sulphate
of ammonia with the other elements than to use it
alone Perhaps the most convenient form of appli-
cation is to sprinkle the surface of the soil with the
complete manure in the proportions above men-
tioned If it be the soil of a garden one dressmg
in the year is sufiBcient, but if of a pot subjected to
frequent artificial waterings the dressing may be
repeated after an interval, as to which the gardener
must use his discretion, forming his opinion from
the appearance of the plant; it is not desirable to
apply the manure untU the pots are fairly filled
with roots.
Ville assumes that all soils contain iron sufficient
for plant growth ; but some recent experiments of
128
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 13, 1887.
Dr. Griffiths, Principal of the School of Science at
Lincoln, recorded in the Journal of tlie Chemical
Society of this year, prove that a half hundredweight
of sulphate of iron to the acre will, when the land
is otherwise sufficiently manured, double the crop
of Grass, and very largely increase that of Mangold
Wurtzel, Beans, and Potatoes, and much benefit
Palms, India-rubber trees in pots, and Roses.
If the soil experimented on by Dr. Griffiths be
not exceptionally deficient in iron, these facts are
of great importance to cultivators generally.
Seventeen years ago the writer, doubting some
evidence of the late Dr. Voelcker, in a Chancery
suit against the corporation of Birmingham, to the
effect that 4 grains of sulphate of iron to the gallon
in the Birmingham sewage was injurious to grow-
ing Grass, made an experiment (recorded in the
Birmingham Sewage Inquiry Report, published in
1871) with solutions of 10 grains and 5 grains of
sulphate of iron to the gallon and with pure water
on Grass seeds, which gave a result that the Grass
watered with the 10-grain solution doubled the
produce of that watered with water only ; while
that treated with the 5-grain solution was about
intermediate between the other two.
Iron is essential to the formation of chlorophyll,
the green colouring matter of the leaves. It is a
matter of common observation that the health of a
crop is proportionate to the colour of the leaves,
and it would seem that the more readily the colour-
ing matter is assimilated the freer is the growth,
and consequently the stronger is the health, of the
plant. Low forms of life, whether animal or vege-
table, appear to make their attacks on plants de-
ficient in condition in preference to those in a
healthy state ; therefore the freedom from fungoid
disease referred to by a correspondent may be due
to the healthy condition of growth rather than to
any direct action of a small quantity of sulphate of
iron applied so long previously to the period at
which fungoid disease generally attacks the crops.
Paoliwood, Kiiowle. Edmund Tonks.
Propagating.
Grafting Conifees. — Grafting is employed for the
propagation of many Conif erse, and if it is carried out
when the plants are small, they grow away as freely
afterwards and form as permanent specimens as
those raised from seeds, provided suitable stocks
are chosen. Conifers are usually grafted either in
the spring or during the months of August and
September, perhaps the best time of all being the
first named month. Such being the case, the ope-
ration may be set about at once ; but, of course, in
order to carry it out successfully, several appliances
are necessary. As the plants when grafted must be
kept under glass, a cold frame may be prepared for
their reception, choosing one that is as near air-
tight as possible. If the sides are built of brick, so
much the better, as the hot, di-y winds do not affect
the atmosphere within to the same extent as in a
wooden frame. It should be, if possible, in a spot
shaded from the full rays of the sun ; and, besides
this, it must be entirely shaded from the sunshine
by a covering of mats. The frame should be tho-
roughly cleaned out and whitewashed before using,
as a good deal of the success of the operation will
depend upon thorough cleanliness being observed.
Where there is a house set aside for propagating
purposes, and containing close cases for striking
cuttings, these may be utilised for the grafted
plants ; indeed, they are better than an ordinary
frame, provided the house is kept without artificial
heat. The best stocks are young seedlings (as
nearly related to the scion as possible) that have
been potted in small pots, and being plunged out of
doors have now become established. Generally
speaking, a very suitable size for grafting is when
the stems are about the thickness of a straw, but
much larger ones, provided they are young and
free, can be at times successfully grafted, and I
have also used them much smaller; indeed, in
grafting the golden Arbor-vitie on to seedlings
of the common Chinese species, I have taken the
stocks from the seed-bed, side-grafted them with
sraaU pieces below the cotyledons, and potted them
at such a depth that the point of union was just
covered with the soil. The result was very satis-
factory, for the loss was but slight. One thing,
however, should be borne in mind, that unless all
the convenient appliances are at hand and the pro-
pagator experienced, this method should not be
attempted, but the operation is better limited to
small plants established in pots. The selection of
the most suitable stocks is a very important part,
for in some cases, although a union may be effected
and the plants grow for a year or two, they then
die. The stocks generally employed are young
seedling plants of the following : For the Abies of
the excelsa group, the Norway Spruce ; for the
Tsuga section, A. canadensis ; and A. Douglasi for
its allies. The common Silver Fir will do for most
of its immediate relatives, and the Yew for the
different Taxacefe.
The Chinese AEBOE-viTiB (Biota orientalis),
which seeds so readily, is a good stock for the
Biotas, and the American variety (Thuja ocoi-
dentalis) for the true Thujas. Seeds of Cupressus
Lawsoniana are usually easily obtained, and plants
of this make a good stock for its allies. With
regard to the various Retinosporas, most of them
strike root easily from cuttings, and on that account
it is by no means necessary to graft them, but
where required, seedlings of R. pisifera or obtusa
make the best stocks. When about to graft and
the stocks established in small pots they should all
be gone over about a fortnight before the operation,
cleaned thoroughly, at the same time shortening in
any long straggling shoots, and placed in a frame,
where they must be kept rather close in order to
encourage a brisk circulation of sap. At the time
of grafting the stocks must not be cut down at all,
otherwise the flow of sap towards the mutilated
portion will be so great as to cause the graft to
perish. Side or veneer grafting is the method
usually followed, and is performed in the following
manner : Take a good, clean shoot about 3 inches
or 4 inches long, and make a sloping cut from
1 inch to Ij inches at the base thereof, the stock
being prepared for its reception by making a slight
incision in the stem 1 inch or 2 inches above the
ground, and with a sharp knife commence an inch
higher than that and make a sloping cut down to
the first incision, removing, in fact, just sufficient
from the stock to allow the scion to fit in exactly,
and great care must be taken that the barks of
stock and scion unite properly. The scion must
then be tied securely in its place, using for the
purpose some soft-tying material. The best is
that known as grafting cotton, a thick, soft, but
strong material, with which the graft may be tied
tightly without injuring the bark in any way.
If this is not available, coarse darning cotton
will answer the same purpose. The mutilated part
may then be covered with grafting wax, but where
the frame is very close this is by no means
necessary, as, provided no outside air can reach
the grafts, they will unite without wax, and
the progress of the union can be then watched.
The stocks must be, of course, watered when ne-
cessary, but it must be confined to the roots, and
not allowed to touch the point of union, as decay
will soon set in. The grafted plants must be treated
just as cuttings are, that is, kept close and shaded
from all sunshine, the lights being taken off for a
little while early in the morning to dry up any
superabundant moisture that may have condensed
on the foliage. In about a month many of them
will be partially united, and as soon as it can be
done without injury a little more air may be given
A very good way is to examine them about this
time, and separate the most advanced from the
backward ones, in order that the first may have a
little more air given to them.
After a union is complete the head of the stock
must be shortened back by degrees until it is
removed altogether. The plants had then better
be wintered in a frame, and in spring planted
out. When this is done, if the roots are at all
potbound tliey had better be carefully loosened
out, otherwise they do not often take hold of the
soil, and though it may not happen for years, the
plant is liable to be blown over in any gale of
wind. Besides the plants above enumerated for
which grafting can be employed, mention may be
made of the greenhouse Araucarias, especially
excelsa, of which seed is by no means difficult to
obtain. Plants raised from seed run up rather
naked during their earlier stages, and, consequently,
they are not so effective as better furnished plants.
To obtain these the tops must be either struck as
cuttings, or the seedlings may be utilised as stocks,
on which to graft them ; indeed the top of a plant
may be taken off and grafted on its own bottom,
thus forming a short sturdy specimen. With regard
to Conifers that can be struck from cuttings, most
of them had better be propagated in this way, but
in the case of any new variety a stock can be
worked up quicker by grafting than by any other
method. Where seed can be obtained it is by far
the readiest way to propagate Conifers, but, of
course, the different varieties cannot be increased
in this way. T.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 609.
SINGLE ROSES.
(WITH COLOUEED PLATE OF EOSA INDICA VAE.*)
Nearly all the varieties of Rosa indica are worth
growing in gardens, and it is among them that
some of the most beautiful of all Roses are to be
found. This applies not only to the universally
known florists' varieties, but also to those which
produce only single flowers. In addition to the
beautiful form figured in the present issue of
The Garden, there is an exquisite variety not
long since exhibited at one of the meetings of
the Royal Horticultural Society at South Ken-
sington by Messrs. Paul and Son, of Cheshunt,
who have recently made rather a specialty of
single Roses, and which is considered to have
probably been an important progenitor of the
present race of Tea-scented Roses. The flowers
are single, having very large petals of a beauti-
ful flesh colour, and having deep golden stamens,
while the foliage and habit are similar to many
varieties widely known in gardens. Another
attractive variety is one to which attention has
been directed by Mr. Ware, of Tottenham, and
which produces immense clusters of blush white
single flowers of delicious fragrance throughout
the season ; the plant is of exceptional hardi-
ness, and is most vigorous, making a large and
very handsome bush. So many of these single
Roses make beautiful additions to our roseries,
that they ought to be far more generally culti-
vated than is found to be the case. For instance,
they include some of the very best climbers,
that is to say, climbers that are exceedingly
hardy, immensely vigorous, but little subject to
disease, and extremely free-flowering. Such
a one is Rosa polyantha, which will grow
anywhere, to any height almost, and hide itself
in June under a snowy awning of white blossoms
of delicious fragrance ; it may be propagated
from cuttings in the open ground more rapidly
even than Manetti, and it is absolutely hardy.
Rosa Brunonis again, though scarcely so hardy,
makes a most distinguished - looking climber
with its glaucous foliage and great trusses of
white flowers. Tlien the North Americans,
Rosa lucida and Rosa nitida, are always attrac-
tive for their glossy foliage and brown stems,
even when they are not covered with bright rosy
flowers or brilliant scarlet bunches of heps, and
they are as hardy and vigorous as possible.
Rosa macrantha may be regarded as a queen
amongst .'tingle Roses, with its great royal-look-
ing blossoms, flesh-tinted, and crowned with a
* Drawn for The Garden at Woodcote, Wimbledon,
by Miss E. A. Lowe, August 7, 1886, and printed by
G. Spvercyus.
THE GAPXEN.
A,
^. %.
'S
"^•.
ROSA INDICA.VAR
^ J
Aug. 13, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
129
gleaming diadem of golden stamens, and Hebe's
Lip, not a species, but generally classed as a
hybrid Sweet Brier, with large tlowers having a
pnrple margin to each white petal, is not less
beautiful. There are many delightful forms of
Sweet Brier, but most of them are either double
or semi-double. The Austrian Briers, yellow
and so-called (mis-caUed) copper, are, of course,
among the moot distinct and gorgeous of all
Roses, single or otherwise, and a great mass of
either seen at its best is not a sight readily to
be forgotten. The rugosas, white and red, are
also very handsome both in flower and in fruit,
and well known, though they cannot on that
account be omitted from a list of the best. But
a Rose which is not often seen, but which this
year (as last) has proved one of the most
fascinating things in the whole rosery, is Rosa
berberidifolia Hardyi, which throughout the
summer, both on the rockery and as maiden on
seedling Brier has been a mass of bloom ; its
clear yellow petals with a maroon blotch at
the base of each delighting everyone, while at a
Rose show at which a bunch of its unique
flowers was exhibited it proved a centre of
unfailing attraction. Anybody who has a
rockery should grow this charming Rose, which
survived tlie last severe winter almost entirely
unprotected. T. W. G.
Fruit Garden.
W. COLEMAN.
AMERICAN BLACKBERRIES.
Success in the management of these sombre-
fruited members of the Rose family as yet has
been extremely limited, but when it is borne in
mind that a series of cold, sunless seasons since
their introduction have prevailed, and some
have tried how much hardship they will stand
by placing them in out-of-the-way corners where
the sun never reaches their roots, the question
arises. Have we treated American Blackberries
as they ought to be treated? On my way
through a gentleman's garden the other day I
saw perhaps a dozen of these Transatlantic
Brambles growing in a north-east comer made
fat with rich manure, but upon which the sun
could not touch after early morning. Treated
hardly as well as Raspberries, which in an ad-
joining quarter were excellent, the planter
evidently had missed his mark, and although
they had topped the wall in search of a warmer
clime, their rank growth and the remains of
frostbitten shoots of the previous year told un-
mistakably that the best home in this garden
had not been selected for them. But why plant
in a rich, heavUy-manured garden at all, when
so many warm, brashy, sloping banks facing
south and west can be found for them ? There,
if anywhere, open to sun and air, with their
surface roots creeping amongst stones and work
ing hard for their daily supply of food, they
will make moderate growth, their semi-wild
appearance will not be objectionable, and firm,
well-ripened wood may be expected. In many
parts of this country there axe hundreds of acres
of warm, light, poor land upon which the native
Bramble holds its own ; no one attempts to
destroy it, and the poor people make many
poiinds every autumn by gathering and selling
the friiit. In this county, especially in this
neighbourhood, men, women, and children turn
out by the hundred and commence picking as
soon as the fruit is coloured, but far from ripe,
and find ready sale, at good prices, to agents,
who send immense quantities to large towns in
the north. If these small, wild, uncultivated
berries are gladly purchased as an article of
fooJ, surely the hardiest and best of the Ame-
rican varieties or hybrids are well worthy of a
great deal of patience and trouble. I say luirdy
advisedly, for, if I mistake not, more than one
American writer has laid particular stress upon
the word, from which I gather that their win-
ters are too severe for cultivated plants treated as
we treat our Raspberries. Our method of train-
ing the Raspberry to stakes or trellises will no
doubt be found best for the American Black-
berry, only we must allow the latter more room.
Also, instead of giving it heavily-manured soil,
quantities of water, and successive mulchings,
we must find them warm slopes, trench if we
can, mulch, and water when the summer of
1887 repeats itself. In fact, we must not
attempt cultivation that will force gross
shoots which the heat of our mUd, uncertain
autumns wiU not ripen thoroughly. Ripe wood
we all know is the keystone of success, but it
must be strong enough to form and mature
flower buds, otherwise we cannot expect fruit.
The fat, unctuous soils of our gardens have
failed ; we must try elsewhere ; where better than
on the bright hillsides already clothed with our
native Bramble ? There, by burning and clear-
ing, a good-sized patch might soon be prepared
for planting, but instead of treating the new
comer as a crotchety stranger, our first effort
should be devoted to getting it thoroughly
established, acclimatised, and on good terms
with its tenacious neighbour. In due course
seedlings may spring up, and these, I think, are
more likely to be of use to us even on our
warmest and best soils than the imported va-
rieties. In America Nature has managed these
matters of cross-fertilisation in her own way,
and, so far, has beaten man in the raising of
hybrids. In this country she may prove equally
bountiful, and the EngUsh hybrids, although
the fruit from them may be smaller, will no
doubt prove much hardier than the hardiest of
the American varieties, which in their native
country they cannot kill. As to varieties, the
hardiest, no doubt, will be found most useful
to us, but they are not numerous ; therefore, no
great amount of harm will foUow the introduc-
tion of the whole family. The Lawton, I be-
lieve, is the oldest, but on fat land too tender
for fruiting. The Kittatinny and Snyder,
Nature's seedlings from Rubus viUosus, are more
promising, and should have a place in every
hillside patch, and so should the much-pufied,
praised and advertised Wilson Junior. Hitherto
this variety has positively refused to move with
us, but it is not unusual for over-propagated
plants to have their revenge, and when they
have recovered that which has been unjustly
taken out of them they grow as freely as other
members of their respective families. I well
remember the overworked double Poinsettia,
which for a time after its dehvt set the most
skilful growers at defiance. In due course it
started, and now behaves like any other Poin-
settia. Wilson Junior ultimately may reach
the age of progress. If heat is all it wanted it
has had it in this year of jubUee with a
vengeance, but water on soils best adapted to
the American Blackberry has been, and still
continues, a scarce article.
the two varieties will find a place in every gar-
den where early Peaches are in request. I have this
year given the Alexander a trial in pots. The trees
are small, so that each was only allowed to bear six
fruits, which swelled up to a good size, and were
very rich and juicy, ripening over a fortnight
before Hale's Early. Amsden June planted along
with the Alexander ripens at the same time, and the
fruit greatly resembles it, except that the Amsden
seems to be slightly inferior both in size and flavour.
Of the Waterloo we have gathered fine fruits from
indoor trees, some of them measuring 9 inches round,
and turning the scale at half a pound. The trees
grow vigorously, and set plenty of fruit, which
ripens five weeks earlier than that of those two
grand Peaches Royal George and Grosse Mignonne.
Two other favourite Peaches with me, and two
that cannot possibly be spoken too highly of for
indoors, are Stirling Castle and Bellegarde.—
H. Maekham, Meren-irrth Ciuile.
Early Peaches. — Our first Peach to ripen out-
side this season is the Waterloo. We gathered the
first on July 28 from trees which are planted on a
south aspect. As the long-continued spell of hot,
dry weather has told greatly on the young
trees, the fruits have not swelled up to their usual
size, but they are, nevertheless, remarkably sweet
and juicy. Alexander is now (August 3) ripe, al-
though this variety with us does not grow quite so
large nor ripens so early as the Waterloo. It is a
capital early Peach, and, Ibelieve, when better known.
THE APPLE CROP.
We are in the happy position of being able to truth-
fully assert that a hot and dry season such as we
experienced last year, and again in a more marked
degree this season, really suits our Apple trees. In
nine districts out of ten the reverse is the case. Those
with gravelly subsoils and thin and poor surface
soils are complaining with good reason of the non-
realisation of the prospects of a heavy and good
crop of fruit. Not only are the Apples dropping off
the trees in a wholesale manner, but those hanging
promise to be very small indeed. Many old trees
appear to be dying, and in any case they will be
some time before they recover from the severe check
they have received. Where, as in our case, the
trees are deeply rooted into a clayey subsoil, they
are in much better condition than I have ever seen
them, and the crop promises to be heavy and good
in quality. Instead of the leaves on the young
growth in many cases being of a sickly yellow, they
now present a healthy green appearance, and the
trees will be really greatly improved by the dry, hot
season now being experienced. The greater por-
tion of them have dwarf stems and thinly trained
heads, varying from 9 feet to 12 feet in height. All
are much too old to be safely lifted and replanted,
and part of our renovating process has been to
leave a number of young shoots to their full length
wherever they could be obtained without crowding.
These young shoots in a few instances bore fruit
the season following their growth, and nearly all
are, or were, prior to thinning carrying crops nearly
as thickly as ropes of Onions. The Old Hawthorn-
den, an almost sure cropper, but which possesses a
weakly constitution, and frequently cankers badly,
hasreooveredsurprisingly,andwearegatheringfreely
from the trees for present use. Lord Suffield is a
partial failure, but we have good crops of Stirhng
Castle, Blenheim Orange, Lemon Pippin, Beauty of
Kent, Duchess of Oldenburg, Glamis Castle, Lord
Derby, and a few other useful culinary varieties.
Red Quarrenden has not fruited so freely with us
for several years, and Irish Peach, Beauty of Bath,
King of the Pippins, Cox's Orange Pippin, Margil,
Court Pendu Plat, Braddick's Nonpareil, and Adams'
Pearmain are all carrying good crops. The old
King of the Pippins is crowded with fruit in one
position, and it is swelling to a good size.
Somerset. W. Iggulden.
Summer pruning of Currant bushes.— It is
amusing to observe what a stumbling-block the pro-
position is that an unpraned Currant shoot bears
the most fruit, and therefore should not be short-
ened. At page So, four of your correspondents dea
with the subject, but not one of them is able to
contradict my statement. If they would, I should
know how to deal with them. They all deal in
empty platitudes about their " experience" and the
experience of their neighbours, but the only wisdom
they exhibit is a care not to take up the gauntlet
thrown down. I repeat that an unpruned healthy
Currant shoot— not a sucker— produces more clus-
ters of fruit than one that is cut back or summer
pruned, and I challenge the whole of those who
130
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 13, 1887.
hold the contrdiy opinion to prove it. I am not
anxious to push the idea down the throats of
others. They may please themselves about their
practice, vfhich will affect no one else ; but let them
disprove my statement. When I wrote some years
ago that a well-ripened Mne shoot need not be
shortened, but left and cropped its whole length, I
was met with the same old arguments, which have
turned out to be not worth a straw, and all who have
seen Vines treated in that way are adopting the
system. The ignorance of some of your correspon-
dents on such subjects is shown by " E. B.," who
asks, " what is to be done with the enormous quan-
tity of weakly shoots that would necessarily arise
from these long, unpruned shoots ? " the fact being
that it is out-hacJi shoots that produce spray, and
not unpruned shoots, which expend their strength
at their extremities — a well-known fact. — J. S. W.
TWO NEW STRAWBERRIES.
A GOOD deal has been written lately in The Gaeden
on the cultivation of this favourite fruit, and also
on the merits of different sorts. There has been,
as usual, m\ich difference of opinion on this latter
point, for there is no fruit which appears to be so
particular as to soil, those that will grow in one
place being almost worthless in another. There is
one sort (President) which is an almost universal
favourite, and succeeds in most places, and it is no
wonder that those who are bent on trying to im-
prove the varieties should work with this as one
parent, its vigour of constitution, freedom of bear-
ing, and the firmness of the fruit making it a most
desirable sort to grow.
During my rambles as judge at different Rose
shows I occasionally came across many things which
are noteworthy in other respects, and so it has
happened this year with Strawberries. At the
Edinburgh show there was a plant exhibited by
Mr. House, of Peterborough, of a new seedling va-
riety which has received the name of
House's Victoet. — It is said to be (and, indeed,
its appearance bears this out) a seedling from
President crossed with British Queen. The plant
shown at Edinburgh bad 125 fruits of good size on
it, with the long footstalk characteristic of Presi-
dent, while its flavour was very rich, quite remind-
ing one of its other parent. It is said to be ex-
cellent for forcing, while from the sample of fruit
and plant exhibited it must be pronounced to be an
excellent sort for general cropping.
Atheeton's All Round. — This I saw exhibited
last year at Hitchin by Mr, Atherton, of Chatteris,
and this year he sent a beautiful box of it to the
Hitchin Rose show, where its merits were fully
discussed in the most practical shape, and it was
pronounced excellent. It, too, is a seedling from
President, crossed with Dr. Hogg, a near relative
of British Queen, and many of the fruits have that
peculiar shape which is so observable in that va-
riety. The dry season has been a trying one for
Strawberries ; but in both of these cases the fruit
showed no sign of having suffered from the pro-
longed drought. Delta.
berries perhaps small for market work. It has a
very pleasant flavour and is perfectly hardy. We
are just now (end of July) in the full crop with this
variety. — J. Lovell, Driffield, Yorhltire.
At the commencement of another plant-
ing season I would again advise all those who
have not tried Loxford Hall Seedling to do so,
for I find it the best late Strawberry I have
grown. As to quality, it is all that can be desired,
and bears a good crop of fine fruit, which ripens
much better if fully exposed to the light and sun.
The plants do not attain a large size ; consequently
need not be planted so far apart as most sorts,
and I have had some splendid fruit from those
planted last autumn. I am not surprised at Mr.
Gilbert not succeeding with it, as there are several
first-class sorts, such as British Queen, Dr. Hogg,
Mr. Radclyffe, Pioneer, and others, which are of no
use here. I still find King of the Earlies and The
Captain to be first-rate early varieties. I think
highly of Waterloo, but want to try it another
season before pronouncing a final judgment upon
I have gathered fruit (Loxford Hall Seedling)
twelve days later than last year, and was only two
days later in gathering the first dish. Runners are
produced much later this season than for several
seasons past ; but there are plenty of them, and the
earliest have now been placed in their fruiting
pots. — D. Walkee, DunoTla7i Gardens, Timliridye
WeUs.
Strawberry notes. — The past season will long
be remembered among Strawberry growers as an
exceptionally trying one. It has brought into
prominence the staying powers of young, well-grown
plants of the old standard kinds, and the quality
of fruit and robustness of growth have both alike
been excellent. It has had a disastrous effect on
those put out late in the spring, especially on light
soils where the plants had not become established
before the drought set in. New varieties have
passed a severe test, and those that have gone
through satisfactorily should prove valuable addi-
tions to our stocks. King of the Earlies promises
well here. We do not grow Loxford Hall, having
been disappointed with it some years ago. Are
Dr. Roden"s seedling varieties going out of cultiva-
tion ? Crimson Queen, Duke of Edinburgh, Early
Prolific, and others are all of good flavour and neat
habit of growth. Is Wizard of the North generally
known ? It is an abundant bearer, very late, the
STRAWBERRY CULTURE.
Teeatikg the Strawberry as an annual — that is,
planting runners this year and fruiting them the
next, replanting again, and so on, as I understand
Mr. Lovell's directions in The Gaeden, July 23
(p. 61) — may suit some people ; but how any prac-
tical Strawberry grower can seriously recommend
the practice beats me entirely. It would be the
best plan of getting the smallest return for the
greatest amount of labour and expense, and that is
all that can be said about it. By letting your plan-
tations run on for two or three years, or, indeed, as
long as they produce good crops, you save the labour
of renewal, while by the annual system you incur
all that and get a light crop, for however fine the
berries may be, early autumn planted runners do
not produce above half a crop compared with that
obtained from well-managed two-and-three-year-old
plants. If I am wrong I would like to see an
example to the contrary. Still less can be said for
the newly broached hypothesis that the roots of the
Strawberry " are annual " and perish annually, and
that "the last year's roots are of no use to the
plant." If that is the case, how comes it that the
roots increase in bulk yearly till they form a ball as
big as a man's head or bigger, and that they are
found alive any month in the year you may choose
to examine them ? A pot Strawberry plant, which
in no way differs in habit from an open ground
plant, will show anyone at a glance the root habit.
If at the end of the year a good pot plant is plunged
in the open ground, or otherwise protected, till
spring and then examined, the roots will be found
in good condition and pushing fresh second year's
roots in all directions, and these in turn will mature
and afterwards produce a third generation of roots
if they get the chance. I do not say that some of
the small fibrous immature roots may not perish
during the winter, for that happens in many kinds
of plants and trees, but the great bulk of Strawberry
roots live on, and it is on a clear recognition of this
fact that some of the most important points of
culture depend. S. W.
dish for the table, and for cooking and preserving it is
very much liked here. " A. D." and myself generally
differ in opinions, but I have great pleasure in -this
instance to agree with him to the full. I hare a grand
crop this season. — E. Gilbert.
A good late Strawberry. — A hot and dry
season would appear to suit Eleanor, or Oxonian, as
it is also named. It is invariably a heavy cropping
sort, but in a wet or dull summer the quality of the
fruit is very inferior, and it is also liable to rot off
wholesale. This summer I have seen it wonderfully
good, and that, too, in gardens where the earlier
varieties were comparative failures. No fault can
be found either with the colour or quality of the
fruit, and it has proved very remunerative to the
market growers. It is the one and two-year-
old plants that have done the best ; in fact,
older plants of any varieties of doubtful quality
ought not to be depended upon. Runners are small
and late this season, and the requisite number ought
at once to be layered into pots and planted out
when well rooted, otherwise the planting will be
late, and a very poor start made. — I. M.
SHORT NOTUS.— FRUIT.
Eleanor Strawberry. — ^Again " A. D." alludes
to this magnificent Stra-wberry. I grew it a number
of years both in pots and outdoors. It is one of my
old favourites, hut the Strawberry of all others I
should like to possess is the old Pine, which I have
before inquired about. — R. GiLBEiiT.
Kivers' Prolific Plum. — For twenty years past
T have gi-own this Plum. It always bears some fruit,
but generally a prodigious crop ; it makes a very good
FRUITS UNDER GLASS.
Vines.
Veby early Vines from which ripe Grapes were cut
in May, owing to the intense heat and lack of rain,
will now require a little extra attention, the main
point being the preservation of the foliage and the
retention of a few laterals as safety-valves to the
bunch-producing buds. A great number of vineries
are now built upon the fixed roof principle. The
rafters, or sash bars, are light, and the closely
lapped squares of 21-oz. glass have lately drawn the
heat to an extent that rendered it impossible to
allow the hand to rest on the woodwork. Under
these roofs the ordeal has been very trying, and we
have tried to dispense with shading by taking off
all movable or ventilating lights and hacking out a
number of panes along the roofs of the houses. This
method of making the best of a bad system of glazing
very early houses combined with frequent hosing
and damping has produced the desired effect, as
the foliage is still limp, not dry and cracking and
taking on the soft nankeen colour which betokens a
gradual settling down to rest. Beyond cleansing
and watering, the work in this range is light, but
the time is at hand for lifting and re-laying the
roots in internal or external borders, one or other,
but not both at once or during the same season, as
a full crop next May depends upon getting them re-
established before the leaves fall. The season, un-
fortunately, is unfavourable to the cutting of fresh
turf for this work, but once home a supply of water
or weak liquid manure will soon reduce it to good
working condition and set up fermentation in the
parched herbage. A dry condition is always in-
sisted upon, but it is possible to have the turf too
dry, especially at this time of year, and as intense
heat seems to rob it of its richness, drainage from
the frame ground is a better restorative than pure
water. The work should be taken in hand with a
will and quickly performed, and the better to pre-
serve the old foliage, flagging should be prevented
by shading the south side of the roof and frequent
syringing.
Young Vines intended for starting, say on the
1st of January for the first time, will now be nearly
ripe and assuming a bright nut-brown colour; the
foliage, too, will be changing, two points which in-
dicate the necessity for an extra supply of fresh,
warm air by day, and less atmospheric moisture
through the night. Thorough maturation of the
wood and roots being imperative, heavy supplies of
water need not be continued, but sufficient to keep
the borders in a sound growing state must be given,
and the better to prevent the escape of surface
moisture, more light non-conducting material may
be placed over them. If not already cut out, all
the laterals from the base to the bud to which the
canes are to be shortened at the winter praning
may now be removed, the main leaves only being
left. Above this bud, laterals and sub-laterals may
ramble for some weeks to come.
Succession linuscs in which ripe Grapes are still
Aug. 13, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
131
hanging must be kept as cool as possible by abun-
dant ventilation and plenty of shade, than which
there is nothing equal to the natural foliage, for
whilst preserving the colour of the fruit without
keeping the sun and light from the young wood, it
maintains an active circulation of the sap, the best
of all preventives of shrivelling. As these Grapes
are cut, all laterals may be cleared away from spur-
pruned Vines to plump up and let the sun into the
buds, and the syringe will again play an important
part in cleansing and refreshing the foliage. Atmo-
spheric moisture in moderation, especially by day,
is essential to the health of the Vines and the
freshness of the fruit, but on no account must it be
produced when the house is closed and the atmo-
sphere is warmer than the berries, otherwise it will
condense upon them and destroy the bloom. The
best time to damp down the floors and walls in hot,
dry weather is from 8 a m. to 4 p.m., but not later,
unless the house stands high and dry, and the foli-
age is touched with spider.
Muscais now colouring freely must still have
plenty of atmospheric moisture, more air, and
sufficient fire-heat to keep up the temperature. If
rapid maturity is the object, a few bunches of the
Bowood variety may be rather freely exposed to
the sun by turning or tying aside the leaves, other-
wise a good canopy of foliage, always favourable to
the swelling of the berries, answers best in the long
run. Much, however, depends upon the style of
house in which the Muscats are grown. Our fore-
fathers had heavy rafters and sash-bars glazed with
inferior glass, all of which kept out much light, and
small open-lapped squares which let in much fresh
air ; consequently they were obliged to shorten
back rather severely to secure the influence of solar
heat and light. Modern growers have a maximum
of 21-oz. glass closely lapped, a minimum of sash-
bar which produces hardly any shade, and they are
obliged to cover every part of the trellis with
foliage to protect the shoulders of their bunches
from the intense heat which prevails through July
and August.
Za,te Hayaburglis intended for use through the
late autumn and early winter months have made
very rapid progress, and are, if anything, too for-
ward. As these Grapes should not be wanted
before the middle of October, a free run of lateral
and an extra supply of air will retard to a certain
extent, but when colouring has fairly set in the two
hours' confinement, with moisture to swell the
berries, must be secured by closing all the venti-
lators. From 6 p.m. to 6 a.m. they may be kept
open until the Grapes are ripe, when continuous
ventilation, unless the weather is wet and cold this
year, wiU be advisable. This stage reached, a damp,
stagnant atmosphere being the greatest enemy, I
gradually, but surely cut out all the laterals, and
shorten "back extra long shoots to within two or
three buds of the bunch to let in light. Ventilation
receives the most careful attention, air being
admitted at the base on dry days only, and a gentle
circulation on the hot-water pipes keeps it in con-
stant motion. When the foliage has changed
colour every bunch is cut with the wood and placed
in bottles in the Lady Downe's house, where the
berries keep much better than on the Vines. Steady
fire-beat with air is then turned on and maintained
until the foliage falls, and the wood is nearly fit for
pruning. Where the Black Alicante is extensively
grown many people do not trouble about late
Hamburghs, but when the latter are properly
finished and well kept all good judges of Grapes
prefer them.
Lady Donne's and other late varieties now safe
from scalding may be pushed on under Muscat
treatment. Solar heat, so far, is quite sufficient by
day, but nights are comparatively cold, and gentle
fires henceforth will be necessary. Large, well-
coloured berries this season may be produced with-
out this early aid, but Lady Downe's when black
axe neither ripe nor fit to eat ; therefore, timely
assistance, when one cwt. of coke is worth half
a ton later on, should now be given if this fine
Grape is to be made as good as it can be grown and
keep fresh and plump till next April. When the
colouring process is well advanced, gradually reduce
the laterals, leaving a good canopy of foliage all
over the house, and continue atmospheric moisture
to prevent the spread of spider. Also, look well to
the borders and keep them regularly supplied with
warm diluted liquid guano and soot water alter-
nately. Heavy drenchings may soon be discon-
tinued, but moderate supplies will stimulate the
surface roots and very often carry heavy crops to a
good finish.
Peaches.
Earhj Jioi/ses. — With the exception of breast-wood,
which must be removed, the trees in this compait-
ment have nearly ceased growing. Hard, brown
wood well furnished with clean leaves and silvery
flower-buds being the object, the trees cannot have
too much light and air ; hence the importance
of cutting out every shoot that will not be wanted
for another year. When pruned, the young shoots
should be tied down about 6 inches apart, and in
aged trees as much as possible over the old branches,
which sometimes suffer from the Intense heat of the
sun. To secure these conditions, my lights being
portable, I give full air at the top, bottom, and
along the middle of the house by running them up
and down as far as they will go, but now defer
stripping for painting and getting the inside bor-
ders thoroughly soaked with rain water until the
foliage is ripe in October. Meantime the trees ai-e
well watered once a fortnight and hosed on fine
evenings, morning syringing having been discon-
tinued.
Midseason houses now clear of fruit we syringe
and shut up every afternoon for two or three weeks
after the last Peach is gathered. Prune as in the
early house, and keep the roots abundantly supplied
with water. When, by the rich colour of the wood
and petioles of the leaves, we find perfect maturity
is a certainty, the lights are thrown open and the
hose is plied more or less every evening in fine
weather. On dark or wet days the hose is not used,
for much as the Peach enjoys plenty of fresh water
above and below the surface of the soil, it is not an
aquatic, and, provided the foliage is kept free from
spider, the trees are allowed to remain dry until we
have a return of briglit or arid weather. Root-
watering, especially where the roots are confined to
internal borders, is the main thing, for, syringe as
one may a plant in a pot or a tree in a border when
dry or semi-dry at the root, spider will spread and
thrive under tie refreshing bath. On the other
hand, give every root and rootlet plenty of water,
let the foliage have an abundance of fresh air, and
spider in the hottest and driest summers will be
heavily handicapped.
Late houses. — Although the fruit in the latest
houses may now be fit for raising up to the influence
of the sun, the weather to a certain extent should
be the guide. The sun still continues fiercely hot
upon fixed roofs, and so long as there remains
plenty of time for colouring before ripening, partial
shade will favour the swelling of the fruit. As the
Peaches are raised point upwards, all strong growths
should be tied down to the trellis and pinched back
where their use ends with the gathering of the fruit,
otherwise they may be left intact, as the longest
and strongest shoots always break down to the base
if properly ripened. A gross habit of growth, how-
ever, is far from desirable, and for this reason an
even balance should be secured by timely pinching,
that is to say, as soon as any of the young shoots
show signs of taking the lead, to the detriment of
the fruit or the lower parts of the trees. Late trees
having their roots in external borders should be
heavily mulched, and thus, provided they are well
drained, they will take water every ten days. The
rainfall in this locality for the seven months is
10 inches; last year it was just double, and our
late trees did not get an inch too much water. To
make up this deficiency it is not difficult to imagine
the quantity that must be conveyed by hand or hose,
and that at a busy period, when every tree and
plant in the garden is feeling the effect of the
drought. Having plenty of water I could run over
my borders twice a week, but the fruit, the vege-
table, and the flower gardens have an equal claim ;
consequently, to economise labour and water, mulch-
ing of any kind is now pressed into use.
Plums.
The houses in which mid-season varieties are now
ripe, or approaching that stage, cannot have too
much air by night and day ; indeed, many trees in
pots or tubs may now be placed in the open air
where they can be securely netted from birds and
the pots covered up with Fern or litter. Those
left in like manner may be covered for the twofold
purpose of keeping the roots cool and economising
water. When Plums are nearly ripe the bloom
should not be marred by heavy syringing with the
purest water, whilst water impregnated with lime
should never touch them at any time. Still, the
trees must have moisture, which may be secured by
syringing with soft water the centres of the trees
and watering down the floors two or three times a
day. Golden Drop in the open air having suffered
from the drought and blight will not be so good as
we at one time anticipated, and late Gages in this
neighbourhood being a comparative failure, extra
attention to this king of Plums under glass will be
well rewarded. I have often suggested planting
and training this Plum as we now train Peaches on
fixed trellises. This year the crop will be invaluable
for use after Peaches are over, especially where
early autumn Pears are neither fine nor plentiful.
Birds and wasps having a great liking for good
Plums, the openings must be protected with hexagon
netting.
Figs.
We are now gathering quantities of fine Figs from
two houses, viz., the second crop from the early
house and the first crop from the third house, the
varieties being Brown Turkey, Osborn's Prolific, and
Negro Largo. A large tree in the second house has
just finished its first crop, and having monopolised
all the joints in the back wall, which is composed
of rough limestone, the second crop will be con-
tinuous until we cut off the bi-weekly supplies of
warm liquid and leave off syringing. An old tree
of Brown Turkey taken from the first and planted
in the third house without a particle of soil adhering
to its roots has got over the unusually severe check
and is now carrying a heavy crop of fruit, which
kind treatment will bring to maturity in September
and October. I was strongly ad vised to destroy this
tree, as it could not possibly recover in time to be
of use, but knowing how tenacious the Fig is of life
and how grateful, the result I am pleased to say
surpasses my expectations. Fire-heat has been
nearly, if not" quite, shut off all my Fig houses since
the early part of June, all moderate shoots have
been lai"d in full length, water in abundance has
been given through heavy mulching to the roots,
and the syringe has been plied twice a day whenever
ripening fruit has not prevented the performance of
this important operation. When ripe fruit inter-
feres with the daily routine, we gather in close and
then wash with the hose once, or perhaps twice, a
week to keep down spider. The fruit in late houses
and wall cases is now well advanced, and the most
forward will soon commence swelling for ripening.
The trees should be kept thin of wood and closely
nailed or tied in to favour the ripening of the points,
as it is from these that nest year's crop will be
o-athered. The season having been so hot and fine,
many of the young growths will ripen up a few ot
the most forward spring shows, but any that are
late and doubtful should be rubbed off at once, as
it is better to take one good crop and secure a
plentiful supply of embryo fruits for another year
than attempt too much, and have the trees still
growing when the wood should be ripenmg. In
Srder to assist the fruit and keep the foliage clean
the house should be syringed when closed with
sun-heat, and the borders, well mulched, must have
plenty of water.
Pot trees intended for early forcing having filled
the compost given at the last shift must now be
encouraged to ripen up their wood by a slight re-
duction in the supply of atmospheric moisture and
water. Sufficient of the latter must, however, be
given to prevent premature ripening of the toliage,
and daily syringing, until the weather changes, will
keep it clear of spider. When thoroughly ripe and
divested of all figlets too large to stand, pot trees
mav be placed close to the foot of a warm south
132
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 13, 1887.
wall in the open air through the month of Sep-
tember ; meantime the forcing pit should be
thoroughly cleansed, painted, and limewashed
ready for their reception before they are touched by
frost, or saturated with rain, in October. Large pot
trees, now swelling off full crops of fruit, require
good top-dressing and liberal supplies of diluted
liquid. An abundance of light and air being im-
perative, a succession of superior fruit both indoors
and in the open air can be secured by thinning out
the trees and plunging a portion of them in a warm
sheltered corner of the garden. Here they should
be heavily mulched with good rotten manure, and
protected from birds and wasps by a covering of
hexagon netting.
Cheeeies.
Early forced pot trees now plunged in the open
air must be kept as cool as possible and fairly moist
at the root by the addition of more surface cover-
ing should this hot weather continue. The wood
and buds being ripe, feeding must be discontinued
and one good watering with pure water, not only
through the balls but between the pots, wDl most
likely suffice until the earth and air become much
colder. Hoseing after a hot day to keep the foliage
clean and the surroundings cool in like manner must
be carefully and judiciously performed. But when
these drying northerly winds give place to nights
laden with shower and dew, artificial moisture will
be unnecessary.
The latest sorts still under glass and secure from
birds and wasps must be kept carefully shaded and
freely ventilated with just sufficient atmospheric
moisture to prevent the fruit from shrivelling. Bigar-
reau Napoleon here is still keeping fresh and plump,
but this fine Cherry cannot be expected to hang
much longer. Now, we find it necessary to gather
some of the fruit and remove decaying leaves, as
one faulty Cherry soon affects its neighbour, and
dead leaves check the circulation of air, and hold a
certain amount of moisture. W. C.
PAVED r. EAETHEN FLOORS.
During this period of long protracted drought it
may not be out of place to call attention to the
great difference that the flooring of a house has
upon the atmosphere of the structure as regards
keeping it in a genial condition of moisture, and I
think it not improbable that many gardeners in
various parts of the kingdom can testify that red
spider, one of the greatest of all pests to the fruit
grower, has been, and still is, especially destructive
this season in houses of all kinds, as well as in the
open air. In houses with paved floors I have seen
it defy all efforts to eradicate it, as pouring water
on such a hard surface is of no avail. In such
bright scorching weather as has prevailed this year,
the paving gets so hot that the water when poured
on sends up such a hot steam as to be a source of
danger to tender foliage with the sun shining on it.
I lately saw a large house glazed on the modern prin-
ciple of very little woodwork and very large panes
of glass, and not being intended for a vinery when
it was built, the floor was paved all over with large
white paving tiles, very hard and durable, but very
bad for holding moisture. Now this house answered
very well for plants of various kinds, but after a
few years Vines were planted in an outside border,
and taken through apertures in the wall, but as
they are planted widely apart the sun plays on the
flooring, and the result has been that red spider
has been a great pest to the owner from the first,
and especially this year. It is all very well to have
paved foot-paths, for they add very much to the
appearance of the house, but do not conduce to the
usefulness of the structure, or to its adaptability
for fruit culture. There can be no doubt but that a
bed of soil is the best, and whether it is bare, or
covered with a mulch of manure, there is always a
genial moisture arising, provided an adequate quan-
tity of water is applied, and as the cry is now for
economy in the garden, why not put it "into practice
by having the cheapest as well as the best foot-path
that can be had ? I think the best foot-path is a
movable trellis of wood, iron, or zinc, made in
lengths to fit the house, so that they can be readily
removed for the purpose of cultivating the borders.
With red spider in abundance on outdoor trees,
shrubs, and plants, the fruit grower is fortunate
who has kept his glass structures clear this year.
I am sure, however, that if a census of clean and
spider-infested houses was taken now, that those
with earthen floors would be found to have with-
stood the trying ordeal far the best.
Gospori. J. Groom.
Garden Destroyers.
HOLLYHOCK DISEASE.
Where the plants are badly nourished, the Holly-
hock fungus is giving trouble, and when the leaves
are much infested there is no chance of obtaining
fine blossoms. It is probable that the Hollyhock
fungus may have been in existence (vegetating
quietly on some member of the Mallow family) for
many years, but its introduction among cultivated
plants is of comparatively recent date. In dry, hot
summers it is a terrible pest, and the only way to
cope with it successfully is to give the plants
generous cultivation from the first moment of their
existence, whether raised from seeds or cuttings.
In dealing with living organisms of this character —
which are so minute, and so easily carried from
place to place unobserved — it is often easier to
prevent than to cure, and it is certainly better for
the plants, for when once attacked, even though we
may succeed by taking timely measures in arresting
the progress of the disease, the plants are never the
same afterwards; it is a rare occurrence for a
plant to be attacked, even in a mild form, without
losing its bottom leaves. The best way to deal
with it is to pick off some of the worst leaves, for
nothing can save them. Mulch the plants heavily
with manure, and water sufficiently to moisten the
soil ; then syringe them with Gishurst compound,
i ozs. to the gallon. The whole of the leaves
should be thoroughly wetted with the solution on
both sides, and the syringing must be repeated
until the fungus has been destroyed. It is never
wise in dealing with known enemies to wait for
them to begin the attack. Insects of all kinds, as
aphides, red spider, thrips, &o , may be easily dis-
comfited by taking the necessary measures before-
hand. The first thing is generous treatment, and
the next is, in anticipation of unfriendly visitors, to
syringe with a weak solution of some insecticide.
Soapsuds in which a little sulphur has been mixed
are as good as anything. A very weak solution will
have a cleansing effect upon the foliage of the
plants, and the odour of soap is distasteful to
insects. The floating spores of mildew do not take
kindly to the surfaces of plants where the least
trace of sulphur, soot, or lime is perceptible. Seed-
lings are more vigorous than plants raised from
cuttings. In the days when we had no Hollyhock
fungus we raised our Hollyhock seedlings in the
open air, sowing the seeds about midsummer, and
pricking out in a nursery bed, where they remained
all the winter. Now they are commonly raised in
heat, often late in autumn or winter, and hurried
on by forcing temperature, and it is not unlikely
that this treatment has something to do with the
predisposition to disease so common among Holly-
hocks now. H.
Bosebuds malformed. — I send you some Rose-
buds which, I fancy, a small worm or fly have been
eating. I thought at first a syringing of "Tha-
natos" might have been the cause, but I found a
great many where no " Thanatos " had been used.
My Roses, with the exception of a little mildew,
have done magnificently this summer, and are still
flowering. The usual caterpillars and a very few
aphides have appeared, also earwigs in quantities,
but I have disposed of nearly all by traps, Will
any of your readers kindly say what is the cause of
the malformation of the buds ? — P. F. Wabd.
*f,* In reply to the above, I have often seen Rose-
buds affected in a similar way to yours, but I do
not know the reason. I carefully examined those
you sent, but cannot find any trace of insects or
worms. I imagine it is some atmospheric condi-
tion, or, perhaps, a want of power in the plant,
which prevents the buds opening. If I remember
right, buds in this condition are more common
when the Roses are going out of flower than earlier
in the season. — G. S, S.
The Onion maggot. — I am anxious to know
the probable cause of the decay of the Onions en-
closed, with its remedy. The whole crop is spoiled.
There were little white grubs among them. A few
years ago the ground on which they grew was part
of a highland croft, but it was thoroughly trenched
and drained in the winter and spring of 18S6 ; then
Potatoes were planted, with so much manure as to
make that crop turn to very tall haulms and poor
tubers ; soot was applied this spring before the
Onions were sown. Is it likely that the land re-
quires liming, or that sand should be used at sowing
time ? I am particularly interested in this Onion
question, because people tell me, " Ah ! Onions will
not do in this country" — a fact hard of belief. —
E. C. M., Loehaher.
*jf* In reply to the above, your Onions are at-
tacked by the maggots of the Onion fly (Anthomyia
ceparum). The flies deposit their eggs in the bulbs.
One of the best preventives is to earth the bulbs
well up round the necks as soon as they can bear it.
This prevents the flies getting at the bulbs. This is
easiest done when the Onions are drilled or sown in
rows. Any plants which are affected should be
carefully taken up with a spud, so as not to leave
any maggots behind, and burnt or buried at least
a foot deep ; watering the plants with 4 pints of
paraffin oil, 1 lb. of soft soap, and 25 gallons of
water, is said to be very useful. As soon as the
crop is off, dig the ground well and dress with lime
to kill any chrysalides which may be in the soil. —
G, S. S,
Books.
TABLE DECORATION.*
Mr. Low, gardener to the Duke of Grafton at
Euston, has published a handbook on dinner-
table decoration that will be a useful guide to
those whose duties include the dressing of tables
for large parties or for daily use. To those who,
like ourselves, prefer a few simple bowls of
Roses, or such like decoration, to anything
more elaborate, the amount of small detail in
many of the examples shovm may appear over-
done ; but the kind of ornament described by
Mr. Low is now widely prevalent, and when
done in good taste may be charmingly gay and
pleasing. On looking carefully through the
examples we are glad to find that the author
has grasped the great principles of decoration,
in that he uses his flowers mainly in good har-
monies of colonring, and does not put too many
different kinds of flowers on one table ; more-
over, all the arrangements show a refined taste
and a good eye for colour. The book is fur-
nished with nineteen plates, showing in plan,
arrangements for tables from 8 feet to 18 feet
in length, and by reference numbers the kinds
of plants and flowers used. It would have been
better to have printed the names on the plate
itself, or at any rate on its margin, references
being always troublesome, especially when the
page has to be turned; and in any case the
numerals should have been placed the right way
up as the book is held. J.
Training creepers and climbers. — Too
much trimming and tying are generally done in
training creepers. A plant too closely nailed to a
wall is generally lacking in grace and beauty. The
idea of covering a wall with greenery should not be
to perpetuate its harsh outline, but to impart grace,
and life, and motion. The main branches must, of
course, be firmly secured, but the short flowering
* "Table Decoration." By William Low. London:
Chapnmn and Hall.
Aug. 13, 18S7.]
THE GARDEN.
133
sprays should have liberty to move with the air
currents. I was looking the other day at an arch-
way some 1 0 feet long covered with Jackman's Cle-
matis just in the first flush of the rich purple mantle
of blossoms. This archway projected from a mass
of luxuriant foliage of tree and shrub growth, and
formed the entrance to a shady dell furnished with
hardy Ferns and ancient tree trunks clothed with
Ivy. The main stems of the Clematis were firmly
tied down, but the flowering sprays hung over grace-
fully, hiding the harsh outline of the wirework, and
giving just those pleasant touches which the painter
delights to transfer to his canvas. — H.
are paler in colour, and they are not sweet-
scented like those of the normal form. D.
aureum is a plant easily grown ; it enjoys
strong heat when growing, but should bo placed
in a lower temperature and kept dry when
Sfrowth is mature.
Orchids.
TV. H. G 0 W E E.
DENDROBIUM AUREUM.
This species is perhaps better known in gardens
by the name of D. heterocarpum. It cannot
take rank as one of the most showy-flowered
kinds, but its blooms yield such a rich and
grateful perfume (resembling a combination of
Violets and Primroses), that it should be in
Cattleya Dowiana. — This species thrives well
and blooms freely with Mr. Osborne in the collec-
tion of Mr. Buchan at Southampton; he says he
treats it in every respect in the same manner as C.
Mossia; and its congeners, saving in being more
sparing with water, as he finds it does not like
to have water or wet soil about its roots; and,
judging by the tine growths these plants have made,
and the numerous gorgeous flowers they bear, this
treatment is thoroughly congenial. — W. H. G.
Spathoglottis angustorum. — In habit of
growth and general appearance this plant resembles
Phajus bicolor. It produces a tall spike, bearing
upon the top a somewhat dense-flowered raceme,
the individual flowers much resembling those of a
small Phalajnopsis. The sepals and petals are waxy
white sufEused with a tinge of flesh colour ; lip three-
lobed, the side lobes erect, and dull purple; front
Dendrobiuni aureum. Engraved for The G.A.EDEN from a photograph.
every collection of orchidaceous plants, and as
its flowers are produced during the dull months
of winter, they become doubly acceptable.
From this species, cro.ssed witli D. nobile, have
been raised some of the most beautiful kinds
now in cultivation, as, for example, D. Ains-
worthi, D. Leechianum, and D. splendidissimum,
to all of which, more or less, D. aureum has im-
parted its delicious odour. There are numerous
varieties of this species which vary considerably
in the colour of their flowers (which are pro-
duced after the leaves have fallen), but in the
typical plant the sepals and petals are creamy
yellow ; the lip is recurved at the tip, rich
yellow, streaked and veined towards the base
with crimson velvety lines. The blooms last about
a month in perfection. It is a native of Java
and various parts of Northern India. A very
striking form of this plant has been intro-
duced from the Philippine Islands and named
by Prof. Reichenbach D. philipiiinense. The
pseudo-bulbs are 2 feet or more long, which is
more than double the size of the species. It is,
however, a less abundant bloomer ; the flowers
lobe clawed, the front portion spatbulate, and pale
mauve coloured. This rare plant was exhibited at
the Southampton show last week by Mr. Buchan,
of Wilton House.— AV. H. G.
Odoatoglossum cuspidatum. — This is a
charming species, and a fine form of it is now
flowering in the rich collection of Mr. Buchan at
Southampton. It is a profuse bloomer, and the in-
dividual flowers are upwards of 2 inches across;
sepals and petals golden yellow, profusely blotched
and barred with deep chestnut-brown ; the lip is
yellow, blotched with chestnut in the middle, and
toothed on the edges ; crest very prominent. This
form appears to be very near to, if not identical
with, the variety xanthoglossum of Reichenbach.
It grows vigorously under the very coolest treat-
ment.—W. H. G.
Cattleya Schofieldiana. — This rare and dis-
tinct Cattleya is valuable as an autumn bloomer ;
several forms of it are now flowering in the collec-
tion at Wilton House, Southampton. In habit of
growth it resembles C. guttata ; the stem-like pseudo-
bulb is about 18 inches high, bearing on the summit
a pair of oblong, leathery, dark green leaves, which
are about 6 inches long. The flowers are some
6 inches or more across, sepals and petals tawny
yellow or olive-green, thickly spotted and dotted
with purplish crimson; lip three-lobed, the side
lobes rolled over the column, white, middle lobe nar-
row at the base, spreading and reniform in front,
where it is wholly rich magenta-purple with a
narrow marginal white border, the narrow portion
is of the same colour with the addition of a few
streaks of yellow. Some good forms of this Cattleya
are also flowering in Mr. Bonny's nursery at
Swanley. Its requirements are the same as those
of the C. Mendeli and Triana; section. — W. H. G.
PANS V. BASKETS FOR ORCHIDS.
Me. Lindbidge, in The Garden, Jaly 30 (p. 93)
is of opinion that my recommendation of perforated
pots and pans for Orchids will have a discouraging
effect upon orchidists, but why this should be so I
cannot conceive. I was under the impression that
most orchidists, or those requiring advice and assist-
ance in any way, would have welcomed the in-
formation, especially seeing that my remarks were
founded on the practice of such an experienced
cultivator as Mr. Cypher, of Cheltenham. If we
place healthy young plants in baskets one or two
sizes too large for them they may not require shift-
ing " until the wood is sufficiently decayed to render
the operation safe ;" but is it wise to over-basket
Orchids ? It is my belief that this giving them too
much root room is one of the most frequent causes
of the plants' refusal to exist. The unoccupied com-
post gradually becomes sour, and any tyro must
know that every root that comes into contact with
sour soil will perish. , The roots die and the plant
slowly, but surely, follows suit. When either pots
or pans are substituted for baskets there is far less
likelihood of too much root room being given, and
besides they serve to keep the compost sweeter
longer than baskets. Mr. Lindridge remarks, " If
all baskets were made of soft wood instead of teak
wood, I think that the obstacle as regards injury
done to the roots of Orchids would be removed."
Undoubtedly the roots would not cling to decaying
wood, for the simple reason that contact with "it is
liable to destroy them. Which are most expensive
in the first instance, pans or baskets ? Then, as
regards the expensive practice of breaking a pot or
pan prior to giving the plants a shift. Is it economy
or wise to risk injuring a plant worth, say, from Ss.
to as many pounds rather than spend a "few pence
on a new pot or pan? If employers object to the
practice I am arguing in favour oF, they ought not
to indulge in Orchid culture at all. Suspended
pots or pans are neither unsightly nor dangerous,
unless they are supported by matting or string
instead of wire. All can be hung up in pots or pans
as well as in baskets. Why not ?
I believe the value of live Sphagnum is over-rated,
and the practice of growing it on the surface of
the Cattleyas, Lailias, Dendrobes, Epidendrums, &c.,
has done much to prevent these from doing so well
as they otherwise would have done. The Moss may
be thriving beautifully, and the roots underneath
either decaying or being eaten by slugs or woodlioe.
The last consignment of established Orchids we re-
ceived from a sale were in just such a plight.
Saturating the compost in order to keep the
Sphagnum growing induces rank growth of the
plant for a time, but the roots which are of so
much consequence, what are they doing ? Who
are the experienced orchidists who think so
highly of growing Sphagnum, or who think it
absolutely indispensable say for Cattleyas and
La^lias ? I am under the impression some of the
best Cattleyas and Lailias are, or were, at one
time growing at Cheltenham, but they are in pots,
and certainly not smothered by Sphagnum. Vandas,
Aerides, Miltonias, Dendrobes, and a few other
Orchids flower very freely with us, but in each
case they have no live Sphagnum about them, and
the majority are in perforated pots and pans.
Cattleyas even do well in ordinary pots.
I. M.
Dendrobium Dearei. — Some very fine varieties
of this beautiful Dendrobe are now flowering with
Mr. Buchan, Wilton House, Southampton. Mr,
134
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 13, 1887.
Osborne says he treats it just in the same manner
that he does D. nobile, giving it a long rest in the
cool house after growth is completed. The flowers
are thick and fleshy in texture, pure waxy white,
saving a tinge of light green at the base of the lip,
the long footstalks being also pure white; this, com-
bined with the fact that the flowers are produced
in great abundance and last in perfection on the
plant for about three months, and when cut and
placed in water they retain their beauty for a long
time, should induce growers of cut flowers for market
to turn their attention to this plant.— W. H. G.
Phajus bicolor. — There are specimens of this
fine Orchid now in bloom at Kew, and although the
flower-spikes are of considerable beauty, the foliage,
resembling that of a Curculigo, is remarkably orna-
mental, being deep green, ribbed, and arching. The
flowers are of moderate size, and quietly coloured ;
the sepals and petals narrow, spreading, and
brownish yellow in colour; the lip is tubular,
with the arch of the tube pink, and the margin white,
tinged with a light hue. The plants are growing
in pots, and thrive vigorously in the cool house, the
growth being robust and the habit strong.— C.
Cattleya crispa. — This species was introduced
from Brazil to our gardens some sixty years ago,
but although very beautiful, and particularly useful
as an autumn bloomer, its merits appear to have
been completely ignored in the race for novelties ; it
was therefore with peculiar pleasure I recently saw
some fine examples of this, my old favourite,
flowering with Mr. Buchan, Wilton House. It would
be well if fine forms of this plant were searched for ;
it not only greatly resembles Lfelia purpurata in
growth, but it may with justice be called the
autumn-flowering purpurata. Some good forms of
this species were recently flowering with Mr. Bonny
at Swanley. It requires a severe, but judicious
rest to induce it to flower freely.— W. H, G.
Cymbidium tigrinum. — This is one of the
discoveries of Mr. Parish nearly a quarter of a
century ago in the Tenasserim Mountains at some
6000 feet elevation. It has, however, been lost sight
of for a long time until Mr. Shuttleworth, of Clapham,
exhibited it at Kensington in the spring of the
present year. I recently saw it again flowering
with Mr. Bachan, and this time it was growing in a
cool house in company with Epidendrum vitellinum,
so that possibly its apparently very shy-flowering
character is to be attributed to its hitherto having
been kept in too high a temperature. It is a com-
pact-growing plant, the erect spike bearing from
two to three flowers, which is an unusual thing for
a Cymbidium. The flowers are 3 inches or more
over ; sepals and petals yellowish green, dotted and
freckled with red ; lip large, three-lobed, the side
lobes erect, reddish purple on the inside ; middle
lobe broadly oblong, white, barred transversely with
short streaks of reddish purple.— W. H. G.
Calanthe farcata and C. veratrifolia.—
These two species resemble each other very closely,
and, indeed, both are usually grown under the name
of veratrifolia. They are both evergreen, and pro-
duce their flowers on long, erect racemes. In far-
cata the flowers are the largest ; the sepals and
petals pure white and reflexed; the lobes of the
lip are creamy white, very broad, crest white, and
the spur is recurved and deeply forked at the end.
The flowers of C. veratrifolia are smaller in all their
parts; the sepals and petals do not reflex, and the
crest of the lip is yellow; the spur also differs in
being short, straight, and stout, and thickest at the
end. The general arrangement of the flowers, more-
over, is different, as they are set upon the spike at
some distance apart, thus forming long racemes;
whilst in C. furcata they are closer together near
the top of the spike, and have a more umbellate
appearance. Both kinds are now flowering in Mr.
Buchan's garden at Southampton. — AV. H. G.
Zygopetalum Gautieri.— Thisspeciesisnearly
related to Z. maxillare; its chief distinctions indeed
do not appear more than varietal. It is a dwarf
plant, producing from a creeping rhizome small,
oblong pseudo-bulbs, bearing numerous, strongly
ribbed, bright green leaves, which are from '.) inches
to 12 inches high. The raceme is slightly drooping,
three to six-flowered, the individual flowers being
very showy; the sepals and petals are light green,
ornamented with numerous transverse blotches of
chocolate-brown, here and there suffused with
purple; lip broad, the middle lobe measuring some
2 inches across, rich deep bluish purple, in some
varieties varying in colour to light mauve, side lobes
deep purple, produced into a peculiar ruff surround-
ing the column. The colour of the flowers in this
species is an unusual one ; they last a long time in
full beauty, and as they bloom through the autumn
months just when the Orchid houses are looking at
their worst, it should commend itself to all. The
plant thrives bestwhen attached to a block of Tree-
Fern stem; indeed, it appears to grow naturally
upon these stems. It enjoys the temperature of
the Cattleya house when growing, with an abun-
dant supply of water, which, however, must be re-
duced when growth is matured, but not entirely
withheld. The growths are made at various seasons,
and the flowers are produced just when the new
bulb is about half mature. It enjoys the light, but
requires shading from the strong sun. This plant is
admirably managed by Mr. Bonny, in his Hestable
Nursery, Swanley, where we recently saw some fine
examples of the best variety. — W. H. G.
Ferns.
W. H. GOWEK.
THE BIRD'S-NEST FERNS.
(NE0TT0PTERI8.)
These are bold-growing handsome plants be-
longing to the Asplenium family. From Asple-
niums, however, they are readily distinguished
by the apices of their free parallel veins being
connected by a transverse intramarginal one.
They constitute the genus Thamnopteris of
some authors.
Several species are included in the family,
but the kinds here quoted are the most orna-
mental yet introduced to cultivation. They do
not require large pots, but when the plants are
re-potted care must be exercised in order to
avoid injm-y to the young roots, or the fronds
are apt to come up deformed, which robs the
plant of its beauty. The same result will arise
from want of vrater or imperfect drainage. The
soil should consist of a little turfy loam, rough
peat and sand, with some nodules of charcoal
or small lumps of sandstone intermixed to keep
the whole open and free.
N. Nidus. — A noble form producing broad
undivided fronds, which are arranged in a cir-
cular manner, and thus give the plant a vase-
like appearance. The fronds attain a height of
some 3 feet or 4 feet, by 6 inches or 8 inches in
breadth ; they spread out horizontally at iirst,
and then assume an erect habit, the colour
being a bright shining green, the mid-rib be-
neath being broad and rounded. It is a stove
Fern. Native of the East Indies and adjacent
islands.
N. ADSTRALASICA. — This is perhaps the most
handsome of the two kinds here enumerated.
It is similar in habit, and is often confounded
with Nidus, yet its difl'erenoes are so great, that
they are readily distinguished when the plants
are growing. The present species attains to
about the same height, and the fronds, of
a deep shining green, differ in rising erect,
and in not spreading out horizontally. The
fronds are also narrow at the base, widening
upwards, whilst the prominent mid-rib is jet-
black and very sharply carinate, these two
latter characteristics being very marked from
the seedling state. It thrives best in the cool
fernery. Native of Australia, Norfolk Island,
Lastrea Sieboldi. — This is a handsome, dis-
tinct plant suitable for the hardy fernery, although
we recently observed it treated as a stove plant in
the Kew collection. The fronds, which attain a
height of from 1 foot to 2 feet, are once-divided,
the segments being about 6 inches long and 1 inch
broad ; the sori dense and bold. The root-stock is
densely clothed with large, brown, chaffy scales ;
the fronds are coriaceous in texture, and bluish
green in colour. It comes from Japan.— W. H. G.
Asplenium bracliypteron. — This elegant
little species is seldom seen in good condition, the
result, I imagine, of being grown in too high a tem-
perature. Although a native of West Africa, it is
found at considerable elevations, and I have always
found the fronds produced in a low temperature
larger and more persistent. It forms a pretty
object treated as a basket plant; its elegantly cut,
bipinnate fronds are from 6 inches to 9 inches" long,
spread out horizontally, and intense deep green in
colour. It should be grown in a mixture of peat
and Sphagnum Moss. — W. H. G.
Asplenium amboinense. — This is a very in-
teresting, fine, bold-growing species, with undivided,
erect, dark green fronds, which are produced from
a stout creeping rhizome, which is densely clothed
with black chaffy scales. It differs from the majority
of the section with entire fronds in being proliferous
at the ends. It is, perhaps, the true A. fijiense of
Brackenridge. Mr. Williams, of Holloway, has in-
troduced this plant from the Pacific Islands, and
we recently observed some handsome specimens in
his nursery growing in an intermediate house. —
W. H. G. ■
Aglaomoipha Meyenianum. — This is both
a remarkable and extremely ornamental Fern from
the Philippine Islands, and is included with Poly-
podiums by those who adhere to the old arrange-
ment. It is nearly allied to Drynaria coronans, but
differs from that plant in having the upper portion
of its fronds much contracted, the narrow linear
pinna; bearing a large round sorus upon each lobule.
The rhizome is stout, creeping, and densely clothed
with large brown chaffy scales ; the fronds are
sessile, erect, from 2 feet to 3 feet high, and 6 inches
to 1 foot broad, the lower portion divided into blunt
lobes, the upper divisions narrow and linear bearing
the sori ; the fronds are coriaceous in texture, bright
green in colour, and very persistent. We recently saw
some fine examples of this Fern in Mr. Williams'
nursery at Holloway. — W. H. G.
Helminth ostachys zeylanica. — This is a
rare and interesting Fern, nearly allied to the
Moon-worts (Botrychiums). It was introduced some
years ago by Dr. Thwaites from Ceylon to Kew,
where, we are pleased to see, it still exists in a
flourishing condition. It is a deciduous plant, and
succeeds best in a mixture of loam, peat, and sand
in about equal parts ; the rhizome is creeping, grows
beneath the surface, and is thick and fleshy. The
soil should not be allowed to become dry during
the winter when the plant is devoid of fronds ;
neither does the plant like being disturbed. The
fronds vary from 9 inches to a foot or more in
height, and are pale green in colour, and somewhat
coriaceous in texture. The infertile fronds are
almost palmate or digitate, the divisions being
narrowly oblong, and about 4 inches in length. The
fertile fronds rise from the base of the segments,
and are simply spikes bearing the clustered sori.
When first known it was supposed to be peculiar to
Ceylon, but more recently it has been discovered in
various parts of India, the Philippine Islands,
Korthern Australia, and New Caledonia. It is the
Osmunda zeylanica of some authors.— W. H. G.
SHORT xote.—fehns.
QoniopWebium appendieulatum. — I eneloso
a frond of Goniophlebium appendieulatum for your
opinion. A friend here learned in Ferny tiiiuks it
well coloured. There arc about fifty fronds on the
plant ; they are now losing their ruilJy colour. —
Gbeenwood Pim.
*#* The specimen sent is by far the highest coloured
example we have seen. It is at all times an exquisite
Feru, but the plant you refer to must indeed be beauti-
ful. The colour always fades as the fronds gain
maturity. — Ed.
Aug. 13, 1887.
THE GARDEN.
135
Trees and Shrubs.
THE MAHONIA.S.
Wherever a briglit, cheerful evergreen shrub
is wanted for covering large breadths of ground,
the planter has a never-failing material in
Mahouia Aquifolium. A light, rich soU suits it
best, but provided heavier laud ia drained it
•will gi'ow equally -well, although perliaps not
quite so fast. Plants put in about 4 feet apart
will last a lifetime, producing their bright,
golden corymbs of flowers every spring, and
when they become old and sticky, cutting over
close to the ground makes them young again.
Some years ago I raised many thousands of
seedlings which are still doing excellent service
on rich flats and on stony banks, and yield many
an armfal of shoots clothed with brilliant
crimson leaves for indoor decoration through
the autumn and winter. These qualities alone
make the Mahonia invaluable to the planter and
decorator, and ensure for it wide scope in game
presers'es and ornamental shrubberies. Its
good points do not, however, end here, for it
yields large clusters of rich purple berries in
July and August, whose dense, blue bloom
might gladden the heart of the most accom-
plished Grape grower.
Fruitists who are much troubled by birds
amongst their beds and bushes should grow this
Mahonia extensively, not only for its beauty,
but also for its power of attracting the black-
birds from their most tempting treasures as soon
as its fruit is ripe. At this place blackbirds are
very numerous, and wage incessant destruction
where nets of good quality are not well secured,
but no sooner are the Mahonia berries ready
than a general exodiis takes place. Our
feathered friends take to the shrubberies,
whence Currant or Cherry cannot draw them
until their harvest is over. Add the utilitarian
to its ornamental properties, this bright, cheer-
ful, dwarf shrub is worthy of a place in every
garden and shrubbery.
Another favourite with the birds is Mahonia
Bealli, or japonica, and so sharp are they upon
the fruit, that whenever we wish to secure seeds
we are obliged to net the beds and bushes be-
fore the fruit changes colour. By adopting this
plan I have saved quantities of seeds, and now
have a large stock of very handsome plants
grouped in large masses in the grounds, also
planted thinly iu large flower-beds, where their
straight, scaly stems clothed with handsome
pinnate leaves raise them to the level of the
most beautiful of the sub-tropi-als. This plant
is supposed to do best in the shade, but I find
it equally at home in the full blaze of the sun,
where, as a matter' of course, it requires good
soU and plenty of water in summer. Moreover,
in a situation of this kind, its wood gets
well ripened, and the points do not suffer in
winter. Unlike M. Aquifolium, this fine shrub
has two enemies, the second being the mis-
chievous hare, which will travel mUes, I believe,
to whet his teeth, not onty on the leaves, but
also on the stems, which he eats down to the
roots. That hares are sometimes killed off in
wet seasons by the sheep-fluke, which preys
upon the liver, and the bark of the common
Berberis is good for the cure of jaundice— also a
liver complaint — I know, but whether these
animals have discovered a medicine or a tonic
in the bitter wood of Mahonia japonica I
am unprepared to say. I only know young
plants are extremely handsome, and can
strongly recommend them to all sub-tropical
gardeners whose beds are secure from these mis-
chievous animals. If the master of the art of
bedding, fi-iend Wddsmith, who picks up every
good thing, has used this plant, he will endorse
my remarks ; if he has not, I am sure he
will not regret giving it a trial.
W. Coleman.
Spirsea Douglasi. — This is one of the most
persistent flowering of all the Spirseas, for it com-
mences to bloom at midsummer and is still flower-
ing. When a good type is obtained the crowded
spikes of bright, rosy red blossoms are most showy ;
indeed, so conspicuous are they, that the plant
ought to find a place in a selection of the best
half-dozen shrubby Spirseas. Owing to the great
number of these Spiraeas in our gardens, choosing
the best six would be by no means an easy task.
Though Douglas's Spiraja does best when planted
in a fairly cool and moist spot, it will hold its own
and flower well even in hot and dry positions. It
pushes up suckers so freely that it must not be
planted near delicate shrubs, as it will in time
choke them. — T.
Grafted Rhododendrons. — "Books" in The
Gakdbn, July 30 (p. 91), recommends that Rhodo-
dendrons " only on their own roots should be used."
Perhaps he will inform us in what way to meet the
great demand. Can the varieties now in cultivation
be propagated by grafting 1 He seems to imagine
that the named varieties revert to the common sort,
which he cannot prove in any one instance, unless,
of course, any suckers through ignorance or care-
lessness are allowed to prevail and overcome the
grafted variety. Named Rhododendrons, with few
exceptions, are propagated by grafting, and always
retain their vigour and beauty if planted in suitable
soil and situations and properly attended to. Of
course. Rhododendron ponticum is raised from seed
only, and although adapted for large plantations
would never create the same effect as the beautiful
named varieties. — W. H. R.
Olearia Haasti. — Though the Composite Order
is such a large one, there are very few shrubby
members of it available for plantingin this country,
and still fewer, if only conspicuous flowered ones
are taken into consideration. Among the finest of
all is this Australian shrub, which has now tho-
roughly proved its hardiness, at all events around
London. It is a neat, sturdy-growing, evergreen
shrub, with dark Box-like leaves and large clusters
of smaU white star-shaped blossoms, which are
borne on the upper part of every twig. It is of
rather slow growth, especially during its earlier
stages, and may be safely grown along with delicate
associates, for it will not soon overgrow them.
When about a yard high and as much through, it
is seen at its best. The fact of its now flower-
ing so freely after all the dry weather we have ex-
perienced is a great point in its favour, as very few
shrubs are now in bloom. Cuttings of the half-
ripened shoots strike at once if put in during the
summer and kept close, but the young plants thus
obtained should be kept in pots the first winter and
not be planted out till the spring. The flowers of this
Olearia last a very long time in water if they are
cut just as the buds are on the point of expanding.
— H. P.
After midsummer every hardy shrub that
comes into bloom attracts more notice than
those that bloom in flowery May and June, and
this is one of those that in a modest way
creates a little interest as an August flowering
shrub. It has just commenced to bloom, and in
many a garden may be seen the dense masses of
white flowers. The flowers are small, but are pro-
duced numerously in dense, flat clusters on every
twig. It is a particularly neat shrub, a good deal
like a large-leaved Box, and always makes a
symmetrical bush. It is only of recent years that
this Australian shrub has been planted in this
country as a hardy shrub, but no one need hesitate
to plant it in any part, as it has proved hardy
beyond a doubt. We have seen it even in the
cold parts of Scotland doing well, as well as in mid-
land districts where the hardiness of shrubs is
thoroughly tested. A very pretty effect we saw last
year in a garden in Kent made by planting some
Gladiolus brenchleyensis amongst a group of Olearia
Haasti. The two flower in August, and the contrast
of the white and scarlet was striking. — W. G.
THE CATALPA IN FLOWER.
In the early days of August the Catalpa is about
the only tree to be found in bloom, and therefore is
perhaps more noticed and appreciated than any
other. This year every large Catalpa I have seen is
more profusely flowered than usual, and none seem
to have suffered from the long speU of thirsty wea-
ther. A finely grown Catalpa in full bloom is a
glorious sight, perhaps more beautiful than any
other tree, excepting the Horse Chestnut. The
Catalpa has handsome heart-shaped leaves, and they
are always of that delicate pale green which pro-
duces such a marked effect in ornamental planting.
The flowers are not remarkable until you examine
them closely, but they are borne so abundantly, and
in such pretty, erect clusters on every young twig,
that a tree at a distance is a fine sight. The flowers,
like those of the Horse Chestnut, are individually
extremely beautiful. They are white, in shape
like a Bignonia flower, and the interior is heavily
spotted with purple and yellow. It is only when
the Catalpa gets fully developed that it flowers
well, and then it always possesses a characteristic
growth — a large, wide-spreading head of dense
branches — so that it is useful in planting where a
tree of distinct character is desired. In some seasons
one sees the flowers succeeded by seed-pods, which
are long and quill-shaped, and curved like a
horn. The Catalpa cannot be called a reaUy
hardy tree in aU parts of these islands, but in the
neighbourhood of London and south of it it only
gets injured by severe winters after damp and sun-
less summers, which fail to ripen the wood. There
are not many trees that are so rapid in growth when
young as the Catalpa, but when the trees have
grown from 15 feet to 20 feet high, their annual
growth is small. This applies chiefly to the old
and well-known C. bignonioides, or C. syringa:folia,
as it is also called. What the new C. speciosa will
prove to be, I cannot say, as I have seen only small
plants of it. It is said to be much hardier than C.
bignonioides, with larger flowers, and produced
earlier. It comes from the Mississippi valley and
adjoining lowlands ; whereas the old species is said
to come from Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. There
seems, however, to be a doubt about its native
habitat, and it is probable that both C. bignonioides
and speciosa are but forms of one species. There
are now good-sized specimens of speciosa at Kew
and elsewhere, so that we shall soon be able to
prove its merits. The other Catalpas, C. Bungei
and C. Kiempferi, natives of China and Japan, are a
good deal like bignonioides ; so much so, in fact,
that unless they are different in flower, or are earlier
or hardier, there is no need to plant them in pre-
ference to the old kind. — W. G.
The most commonly cultivated species
of Catalpa — bignonioides or syringjefolia (for
it is known under both these names) — is
now in full flower, and a very conspicuous object
it forms, standing almost alone as it does among
flowering trees at this season. It is a fast-
growing tree, by no means particular in its require-
ments, and well worth cultivation if only for the
sake of its huge, handsome, heart-shaped foliage,
and when all the principal shoots are crowned with
large, branching, pyramidal-shaped panicles of
showy blossoms its beauty is greatly enhanced.
The individual flowers are white, sometimes tinged
with purple, and more or less dotted inside with
purple and yellow. In shape they are by no means
unlike some of the Gloxinias. ■\\'hen this Catalpa
is allowed plenty of room in which to develop itself,
it forms a handsome specimen that is during
the flowering season studded with blossoms. Apart
from its ornamental qualities, the wood of the
Catalpa is valuable, being light, close grained, and
very durable. Seeds, by which it can be readily
increased, are easily obtained, and, in addition,
plants can be easily raised by cuttings of the
roots. There is a golden-leaved form of this
Catalpa whose large, handsome foliage retains its
golden hue throughout the season, and, not as many
136
THE GARDEN.
do, onlT during the first half of the summer.
Another species, C. speciosa, is claimed by American
writers to be much superior to C. bignonioides, but
I have not yet seen it in flower in this countrT. —
H. P.
Mahonia berries on dining tables. — Now
that shrubberies are almost, if not entirely, flower-
less, even the berries and seeds attract attention,
and the berries on the JIahonia this year are very
beautiful. The season appears to have been verv
favourable for setting and ripening the fruit, and
now old bushes are crowded with great clusters of
berries of a bluish glaucous grey that makes them
look most tempting. The berries are not, however,
so good as they look, but they may be made use of
in decorations, and the other day I saw an exceed-
ingly pretty effect made on a dining table with the
ripe JIahonia berries and leaves of various shades of
green, and sometinged with red and yellow. In order
to vary the arrangement and to give greater effect
to the ilahonia a few flowers of the common St.
John"s-wort (Hypericum calycinum) were intro-
duced, and the harmony of colour was most pleasing
— W. G.
Golden-leaved Elder.— The hot, dry weather
■we have experienced for some time has been very
favourable for deepening the golden colour of this
Elder, which has not grown so freely as it does
during an ordinary summer, but where exposed to
the sunshine the leaves are now of a rich golden
hue, and are wonderfully effective. Even "where
shaded but slightly the leaves lose much of their
brilliancy of colouring. Like the common Elder,
this variety will grow well even in hot, sandy soils ;
indeed its bright colouring is attained under such
conditions, provided the roots of the plant are
not too dry for the leaves to retain their freshness.
It will hold its own with most subjects in an
ordinary shrubbery border, and is most effective
when towering above sombre - leaved associates.
It can be readily propagated by cuttings of the
shoots put in a sheltered border any time during
the autumn. — T.
Ceanothus Gloire de Versailles.— When this
fine Ceanothus attains a large size it forms a very
ornamental and handsome plant. There is a speci-
men trained to a high wall at Pendell Court,
Bletchingley, and it is at the present time very
striking, the bluish-coloured flowers associating
well with the luxuriant deep green leafage. It is
quite hardy, though in some places it is wise to
afford some shelter, as when the position is very
much exposed and the winter severe, the plants are
apt to suffer severely. When it is considered neces-
sary to give protection. Bracken placed amongst the
branches, the same as is done in the case of Tea-
scented Roses, will give the requisite shelter. It is
not often we find such thriN-ing specimens as the
one at Bletchingley, and it is somewhat strange,
considering the beauty of the Ceanothuses, that they
are not more common in gardens. — E.
[Aug. 13, 1887.
Once planted, this Barberry will grow apace, and the
reddish colour of its young" bark forms quite a conspi-
cuous feature during the winter months. Most of the
other Barberries are now aglow with their bright
coloured fruits. — H. P.
THE SAESAPAEILLA XIKE.
The beauty and utility of native vines are often
displayed along old fence rows. There we fre-
quently meet with effects which rival the skilful
productions of the gardener, and there we sonie-
times make the acquaintance of plants which
we can rjrofitably and satisfactorily employ in
our gardening operations. All who have travelled
through the rural districts of Pennsylvania,
U.S.A., win at once recognise the subject of
the accompanying Uhistration . The Sarsaparilla
Vine, Smilax Sarsaparilla (L.), is one of the
most common, as well as most handsome, species
of the Smilax family. It is a hardy perennial,
but somewhat herbaceous in character, as the
vigorous annual growth almost invariably dies
SHORT NOTES.— TREES AND SHRUBS.
Coloured foliage.— There is a difference in the
effects of heat and drought on plants. The powerful
sun has destroyed all the colours on Altemantheras.
The plants are almost green, while trees and shrubs
with golden foliage were never so bright. The Golden
Yew growing in a position exposed to the sun all day,
and in a poor, dry soil, is of the clearest and brightest
yellow. Retinospora aurea is also very bright, as also
is the golden form of Liwson's Cypress. — J. C. C.
Spiraea Lindleyana.— A very fine specimen of
this may now be seen in the gardens at Courtlands. It
is quite a tree in fact, 10 feet or 12 feet high, beautiful
when in leaf, and doubly so when, as now, bearing a
number of lovely racemes of white flowers 15 inches to
18 inches long. This specimen instead of being choked
up in a shrubbery stands out prominently on the lawn ,
and close to the main road where all can see and eniov
it.— A. H. ■'
Berberia aristata.— This is a free, bold-growing
Barberry that possesses the very desirable quality of
flowering long after all the others are past ; indeed,
some specimens of it are still in bloom. It is a native
of Nepaul, but, unlike many other plants from that
region, it is not injured during our most sevore winters.
the other. The flowers of either kind are small
and inconspicuous. The berries are one-seeded,
sparsely borne, and when ripe are of a reddish
colour.
One of the desirable qualities of this vine
IS its early growth. Almost before the loom-
ing Glories and other annual vines show a
disposition to run, the Sarsaparilla Vine has
made a vigorous growth of 8 feet or more,
and formed a dense mass of clean glossy foliage.
The vine from which the drawing was made grew
in the shade of a Black Walnut tree (Juglans
nigra), but the plant wUl thrive just as well
when fuUy exposed to the burning rays of the
sun. For a trellis, screen, or summer hedge,
this vine would certainly prove valuable. °It
is readily propagated by" division of the roots
and underground stems, and by seeds. The
former is sometimes used by herb doctors in
the preparation of medicines for the treatment
of scrofulous diseases. The commercial drug
known as Sarsaparilla, however, is obtained
from Smilax officinalis, a native of Colum-
bia, Guatemala, and Lima, though the roots
of both S. medica, a Mexican species, and
S. papyracea, a BrazUian species, are sold under
the name of Sarsaparilla. It may also be noted
here that the genus Smilax bears no affinity to
the greenhouse vine popularly known as
Smilax. The former belongs to the Natural
Order Smilaceas, while the latter, botanically
known as Myrsiphyllum asparagoides, is a
member of the Lily family.
Fannettsburg, Pa. Geo. W. Park.
The Su!:..; ..:.il_ \ ;iie (Smilax Sarsaparilla). From a
drawing by Mr. G. W. Park.
to within 1 foot or 2 feet of the ground. Early
in the season, however, new, thrifty shoots are
reproduced from the .shrubby stem at the base,
thus affording an annual freslmess and vigour
which the plant would not otherwise possess.
Unlike many of the genus, this SniiJax has
smooth stems and leaves, without stipules or
tendrils. It will coil itself from right to left
around anything that it touches, or hold itself
up by means of its petioles, which are enlarged
at the base, and nearly always twisted in a
peculiar manner. The leaves vary greatly in size
and generaJ outline. Most of them are oblong-
ovate, having a smooth margin, but this is by no
means a fixed character. Upon any plant a great
diversity in the foliage will be noticed. The
plants are regarded by botanists as dioecious.
The flowers, which open in June, are borne in
panicles, issuing from the stem a little above
the axil of the leaf. The panicles bearing pistil-
late flowers are small and mostly sohtary, but
those bearing staminate flowers are much larger,
and frequently issue in pairs, one directly above
Hedges of Deodar.— In making an ornamental
hedge one need not now be confined to the few
common kinds of hedge plants, since it is proved
that some of the ornamental evergreen Conifers
make capital hedges, and eflicient as a protection
and shelter. In the large tree nurseries one often
meets mth a hedge out of the oidinaryrun, planted,
perhaps, when a surplus stock of some Conifer or
other tree was in hand. In the Surrey nurseries,
about Woking, this is a common occurrence, and
huge hedges of golden and sOver Hollies are very
often met with; But the hedge I more particularly
wi.sh to draw attention to is that formed by Deo"-
dars, which I think the most beautiful of all.
There is a very fine one in the Coombe Wood
Xursery, and it is the admiration of all the visitors
if they reach that part of the grounds where it
exists. It was planted presumably for sheltering
the young stock of the less hardy kinds of shrubs
and trees. It is now about 8 feet in height and
nearly a yard through, and as dense as a vigorous
\ew hedge. It is kept constantly clipped in order
to keep it in shape. At all seasons this hedge is
beautiful, but particularly in early summer, when
every part of it hangs with myriads of pendulous
twigs of a glaucous-grey colour. This hedge was
evidently planted with seedlings which vary con-
siderably in glaucousness as well as in habit, and
their differences are the more striking. Some of
the plants are almost green, others very glaucous ;
some have their new branchlets scarcely drooping,
in others they hang like tassels. But this is no
defect, as it relieves the hedge of that monotony,
which, as in the case of one formed of Yew, is,
to some people, unbearable. Now that young Deo-
dars can be bought at a cheap rate in quantities,
hedges of them should be made in gardens where
effect as well as utility is considered. Of course one
must consider before planting a Deodar hedge
whether the soil or situation is suitable for it, and
one may generally judge of this by the behaviour
of specimen trees in the neighbourhood. — W. G.
Catalpas by the Thames.— In going up the
Thames the other day from Richmond to Hampton
Court I was much struck with the beauty of the
many Catalpas that are planted on the riverside
lawns. All are remarkably fine trees, ranging
between 20 feet and 30 feet in height, having
huge spreading heads of dense foliage, which in
Aug. 13, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
137
Some instances is almost hidden behind myriads of
flower-clusters. The trees vary considerably as re-
gards their free-flowering qualities. Some trees are
sparsely flowered, while others are masses of bloom.
Some I noticed had flowers only on the sunny or
river side, the other side being almost bare of bloom.
The finest flowered tree is that standing close to the
water's edge opposite that historical old residence,
York House, Twickenham, in the grounds of which
there are some of the finest trees about London.
This particular Catalpa is a perfect mass of bloom
and may be discerned half a mile off. The tree is
in the rudest health, and this, I imagine, is because
its roots are in a soil perpetually moist, if not
actually wet ; indeed, all the finest Catalpas along
t he Thames" side are growing within a few yards
of the water'.s edge ; hence, it may be gathered
!rom this fact that the Catalpa is a water-loving
tree. The specimens in the vicinity of Twickenham,
Jvingston, and Hampton look very different from
those on the hot, dry soils at Kew and other places,
:i,nd certainly flower much more abundantly. This
;s only to be expected from the fact that in its
native habitat the Catalpa thrives best near the
banks of rivers, but in no account of the Catalpa
under cultivation have I seen it recommended for
planting by the waterside. It would seem, then,
that the proper place to plant a Catalpa is by a
.stream, river, or lake, sufficiently near the margin
that the roots may feel the benefit of the damp
soil. Perhaps others have noticed the difference
botween Catalpas growing on wet and those planted
in dry soils. — W. G.
Peculiar Beech, tree. — When at Doory Hall,
recently, a place in this county (Longford), I was
much struck by some magnificent trees there, both
Conifers and hard-wooded. One in particular attracted
my attention. Just in front of the house there stands
a tree about thirty years old, I should imagine. One
side of it and the lower portions were composed of a
Fem-leaved Beech ; the rest was an ordinary Beech.
Is not this a carious phenomenon ? The tree seemed
very healthy, hut I should fancy that the ordinary
lieech was inclined to preponderate. Have any of
your readers met with an instance of this kind ? — J. M.
WiLSO.v, Currygrane, Edgeworthstovin.
MAKKET GAEDEN NOTES.
Watering pot plants. — The exceptional heat
that we have experienced for some time teaches
one lesson, i.e., that to allow a plant in a pot to re-
main dry during the middle of the day seriously
lowers its vitality. In many gardens the rule is to
water copiously in the afternoon, the plants remain-
ing until the following day without further atten-
tion. The consequence is, that many of the plants
are dry long before the time again comes round for
them "to be attended to. They thus have to bear
several hours' hot sun when they are least able to
withstand it. In the case of root-bound plants
especially this inflicts a check which frequently re-
tards their progress and diminishes their value. One
of the principal points in growing for profit is to en-
sure a free unchecked growth from the infancy of
the plant until it is ready for market. It is easily
understood that the returns obtained from glass
houses are in proportion to the amount of produce
grown in them. As a natural sequence, if a lot of
plants can be brought into a saleable condition in
ttiree months, the profits will be greater than if a
month or two longer is required to bring them to
the desired standard. The importance of keeping
up the necessary amount of moisture is so great
that no one can expect to make the culture of plants
in pots for market at all profitable unless he fully
recognises it. It may be said without exaggeration
that this never-failing attention in keeping the soil
In a moist condition is the one thing that brings
pot plants to the high degree of perfection in which
they are to be seen in the London market gardens.
Every hour that a plant stands dry in the growing
season represents so much lost time, and loss in
this way is equivalent to loss of money. Wherever
high culture for market prevails, the plants are
looked through twice and sometimes three times
a day, not allowing them to dry out, and then
giving them a soaking, but giving less at a time and
before the roots feel the actual need of it. The
remarkably fresh, healthy condition of the foliage
of the plants brought into Covent Garden is due to
this system of watering them. In many places
such an amount of labour cannot well be given, but
I think that in a time of exceptional heat it would
be better, supposing that two waterings cannot be
given, to well soak every plant early in the morn-
ing. This would ensure a supply of moisture up
to the time that the sun's power again declines.
There is a reluctance with the generality of growers
to allow their plants to remain dry during the
night. Water given towards the close of the day
is supposed at this time of the year to be best
utUised. A plant does not, however, suffer by being
in a dry condition during the cool hours of the
night, whereas it must feel the want of moisture
when the rays from a burning sun are pouring down
on it. These remarks, of course, apply with most
force to plants grown in houses that are open to the
full force of the sun. Where shade, however
slight, is afforded there is not so much danger to be
apprehended. In such cases the customary after-
noon watering and damping down will generally
suffice to ensure the plants against a check to their
growth.
Bulbs. — It would be difficult to estimate approxi-
mately the value of bulbs grown in the London
market gardens. I have seen as many in one of
them as one might suppose would almost suffice for
the London trade. The popularity of bulbous
flowers, especially of the Hyacinth and Tulip, is so
great that, with the exception perhaps of the Fuchsia
and zonal Pelargonium, more of them are grown for
market than of any other flowering plant. One
thing in their favour is that their season can be
made a long one, as their flowering time may em-
brace a period of quite sis months, commencing at
the close of the year with two or three of such
early Hyacinths as Homere and the little A'an Thol
Tulips. The first three months of the year, how-
ever, really ^constitute the bulb season. The bright
weather of April brings so much floral beauty with
it that the importance of bulbous flowers is lessened
considerably, and in May it is often difficult to get
rid of good samples. There is a great art in bulb
culture for market, and there are few things that
wUl so quickly entail loss when the requirements of
the market are not accurately gauged. Probably
few things are more remunerative when the grower
is well up to his work. Easter is one period of the
year when the demand for white flowers is heavy.
There appears to be no limit to it at that particular
period. If Easter always fell on the same day there
would be but little difficulty, as the plants could be
brought into bloom to the day. But this being a
movable feast often baffles the judgment of the
most experienced cultivator. The weather varia-
tions are so great that the treatment that would one
year bring in a lot of Hyacinths to date would either
undulyretard or throw them too forward. Nothing
can be more vexatious than to see a houseful of white
Hyacinths passing out of bloom a week before they
are wanted, or, what is equally trying, to have the
conviction forced upon you that the plants wUl not
be fit for sale at the time required. A difference of
a week either way will reduce the value of the
flowers by quite a third, and this taken off, the
grower's profits are probably in a great measure
gone. This particular phase of market culture
differs from most others in the primary outlay in-
volved in the cost of the bulbs, which, unlike the
generality of things grown for market, cannot be
propagated at home.
MoNETTVOET. — It may surprise many to know
that this little native trailing plant is cultivated by
the acre for the London market. I know of one
grower who has at the present time three acres
stocked with it. He sends frequently as many as a
thousand dozen to market. This shows how popular
this little creeping plant is among window gar-
deners in towns, for it may be taken for granted
that nearly ail the plants are employed for the de-
coration of window ledges. It is, indeed, one of
the best things that can be used for that purpose,
being so hardy, and thriving admirably in positions
not particularly well adapted to the majority of I
flowering plants. It has a preference for sunless
situations, and there are many such in large towns.
Peas. — This has been a disastrous year for Pea
growers. The severe winter, so long protracted as
to hold the month of March firmly in its grip,
effectually prevented the customary sowings of
early kinds being made at the usual time. This
cost a loss of a month at the gathering season, and,
later on, brought a great glut of produce into the
market. Those who were fortunate enough to get
up a crop of early Peas were, through the ungenial
nature of the early spring months, debarred from
reaping much benefit therefrom. The yield was so
scanty, that a tolerably high price per bushel failed
to recoup the grower for a light crop. The expense
of picking a scanty crop, too, is greater than when
the pods are well filled and thickly set on the haulm,
as the pickers are in general paid by the bushel.
The thinner the crop the higher the pay. Daring
the whole of the time that the Pea crops were grow-
ing we had but one fall of rain. The haulm never
came to its full development, and the pods,
fewer than usual, did not fill well. .Just to show
how badly Pea growers have fared, I may mention
that a friend was offered less than £1 per acre — a
price that would not pay expenses. He preferred
to keep them and use them for cattle. A Pea that
is likely to be much grown by market gardeners is
American Wonder. It has undoubtedly high merits
as a market kind, but it has not been long enough
in cultivation for them to be appreciated by Pea
growers generally. With those who have tried it,
however, there is a remarkable unanimity of opinion
as to its value. A few days after a large Pea
grower here had commenced gathering he was
shown some pods of American Wonder by a gar-
dener in the neighbourhood. " You have been
gathering a fortnight, I suppose," he said. "No,"
replied the other : " this is our first picking."
" Well," said the market grower, " if I had had this
Pea I could have made 5s. more per bushel. Accord-
ing to the appearance of these pods I could have
begun quite a week earlier than I did with my
earliest kind, and the quality is much better." This
is where American Wonder has the advantage over
the early white Peas commonly grown for market.
It is infinitely superior to them, not only in appear-
ance, but also in flavour. Market growers are not
quite so wedded to old ways as formerly, there
being a greater disposition among them to try any
kind which may be likely to excel older ones. The
keenness of competition and bad times generally
have no doubt had their influence on the market
grower, who has believed in the infaUibility of old
kinds, but has often had a rude awakening.
J. C. B.
Societies and Exhibitions.
ROYAL HORTICULTUEAL.
Haedt flowers were fairly well represented at South
Kensington on Tuesday last, notwithstanding the
intense heat, which has caused many hardy plants
to bloom prematurely, and also shortened their
flowering season. Gladioli and Hollyhocks formed
the chief exhibits, the former giving welcome colour,
but the last-mentioned were small and far below
the proper standard of finish and size. There was
a very interesting display of fruit, which included a
representative collection of Gooseberries, the fruits
of fine development for such a dry season as this ;
and although vegetables were few, they evinced high
skill in cultivation. First-class certificates were
awarded as under : —
Catasetuh Bungeeothi. — A strong plant of
this remarkable Orchid was shown bearing a raceme
of ten blooms, the whole of massive character, chaste
appearance, and great substance. At a sale in Mr.
Stevens' rooms in December last a specimen realised
fifty guineas, and it was then seen that we had a
grand acquisition in this Orchid. The stem is thick
and of a glaucous hue, the foliage narrow, finely
coloured with green, and ornamental, the racemes
springing from the base of the pseudo-bulbs. The
sepals are narrow, pointed, and ivory-white ; the
two petals erect, of the same hue, and, like the
138
THE GARDEN.
dorsal sei^al of a Cypripedium, forming a kind of
hood, their inner edges touching each other. The
lip is very large, similar in form to that of Angrte-
cutn eburueum, spoon-shaped, finely, but distinctly
serrated at the margin, and ivory-white, except at
the entrance to the thickened knobbed sac, where
it is bright orange, and at this portion there is a dull
suffusion of mauve. The column is conspicuous,
glistening white, and furnished with antenn;\5. The
fragrance is very strong, more resembling aniseed or
carraway seed than anything we know of. Exhibited
by Baron Schnjcder, The Dell, Egham.
Saccolabium Hbathi.— a specimen of this
realised 150 guineas at the sale of Orchids held at
Downside last May, and illustrations of it were also
shown ; but these conveyed but a poor idea of the
delicate beauty and refinement of this exquisite
Orchid. A cut raceme was exhibited, which
measured 10 inches, and was of cylindrical shape,
pendulous, and closely set with flowers. These are
like those of S. Blumei majus in form, pure white,
and with a transparency that greatly enhances their
beauty. It is certainly one of the finest of the
genus, and an Orchid that will undoubtedly gain a
place in all select collections. From Baron
Schrceder.
CypRiPEDiuM OKPHANUM.— A distinct, hand-
some, and briglitly coloured Lady Slipper. The
flower is of average size and well proportioned, the
dorsal sepal being broad, with green and brown
nerves, a suffusion of a brownish red colour, and a
bold, deep chocolate band down the centre ; the
margin white. The wavy petals are about 2.^ inches
in length, studded on the edges with dark hairs,
and with chocolate-coloured bands down the centre;
the lip is neat, of medium size; and dull rose colour,
veined with a .similar hue. Shown by Mr. F. G.
Tautz, iStudley House, Shepherd's Bush.
Rose Paul's single white Perpetual.^- A
lovely variety, like the wild Dog Rose, but continues
to bear its beautiful delicate pinky-white, sweetly
scented flowers until November, and, owing to thefree-
dom with which they are produced, create a decided
effect. It is useful for climbing up a pole and to asso-
ciate with varieties of the same character in the Rose
garden. The blooms, by reason of their simple
beauty, are higlily valued when cut for choice
decorations. From Messrs. Paul and Son.
Hollyhocks William Aecheh and Scablet
Gem. — Both these are double varieties of large size;
the first is of a crimson colour and the latter
scarlet. Shown by Messrs. Webb and Brand,
Saffron Walden.
Afbican Marigold Peincb of Orange. — The
flowers of this measure 4| inches in diameter, and
are almost as round as a ball ; the colour is intense
orange. To obtain such size and finish must have
been the result of very careful selecting and culture.
From Messrs. Dobbie and Co., Rothesay, N.B.
African Marigold Lemon Queen.— This is
not quite so large as the former, but as well propor-
tioned, though more closely quilled ; the colour is
pale lemon. Exhibited by Messrs. Dobbie and Co.
^ Viola Lucy Ashton.— A bedding Viola of dis-
tinct colouring; the petals are broadly margined
with mauve-purple, and the centre of the flower is
■white, enlivened with radiating lines of purple ; the
eye yellow. From Messrs. Dobbie and Co.
Gladiolus William Roupell. — A broad,
massive, and striking flower of an intense scarlet,
feathered at the margin with a dull purplish hue ;
the lower segments are conspicuously striped with
crimson. It will be valued for its brilliant and
decided colouring. Exhibited by Messrs. Kelway
and Son, Langport.
Gladiolus Princess Royal.— This is also a
large, well-proportioned, and distinct flower, pure
white, feathered witli rosy pink, and having a
crimson throat. The spike is of good length
and thoroughly robust. From Messrs. Jfelway and
Son.
Gaillabdia William Kelway.— A distinct
variety, with flowers of great width and richness of
colouring ; the ray florets are deep red, tipped with
yellow. From Messrs. Kelwnv and Son.
Apple Beauty op Bath.— This is a remarkably
pretty, brightly coloured dessert variety, the fruits of
medium size, roundish, regular form, flattened,
and with a suffusion of bright red on the sunny
side, the other portion yellowish green ; the surface
is dotted with dull white. The samples were
scarcely ripe enough to properly determine the
quality, but we should say it is a well-flavoured,
sweet, and ijuioy Apple. Exhibited by Messrs.
Cooling and Son, Bath.
Pear Mdlle. de SoLANGE.— A fruit in the way of
Doyenne d'Ete, similar in size, but of a rich green,
and when freshly gathered covered with bloom; the
stalk is long and the outline regular. The flesh is
sweet, juicy, and of good flavour. It will, no doubt,
make a useful early Pear for the table, but its small
size is rather against it. Shown by Messrs. J. Veitch
and Sons.
Cherry Emperor Francis.— This is a distinct
and fine variety, belonging to the late Bigarreau
section, the fruits large, scarlet with patches of a
purplish colour, and of good quality. It will prove
a useful market Cherry. The fruits exhibited were
from pot trees grown under glass. From Messrs.
Rivers and Son.
The Gladioli from Messrs. Kelway and Son,
Langport, made an excellent display, "the spikes
well developed, massive, and the flowers exhibiting
a great diversity of colouring, some pure white,
others brilliantly and delicately feathered. Among
the best were Appianus, white, lower segments
striped and suffused with crimson ; Mrs. J.^Eyton,
with a delicate suffusion of rosy pink, the margin of
the segments streaked with light crimson ; Dr.
Woodman, salmon-buff ; Daimio, white ; DercuUus,
upper segments broad, pink, flaked with a richer
hue, lower ones ivory-white, with crimson bands
down the centre; Major Lendy, salmon -buff;
and H. M. Pollett, scarlet and white. A silver-gilt
medal was awarded.
Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, had a fine bank of
hardy flowers, for which a silver medal was awarded.
There were many plants of interest, but the most
noteworthy were the following : Funkia grandiflora,
pure white, tubular, fragrant flowers, excellent for
cutting ; Gaillardia maxima, a useful and brightly
coloured variety, well worth perpetuating; Gladiolus
Saundersi, scarlet, lower segments suffused and
freckled with white ; Lilium auratum platyphyllum,
one of the best varieties of this splendid Lily, the
flowers very large, excellent in form and out-
line, ivory-white, with brownish bands down the
centre, and freely spotted ; Scabiosa caucasica, the
flowers pale blue ; Papaver nudicaule sulphurea,
sulphur, small, but when improved will doubtless
make a good thing ; and Eremurus Bungei, a very
hardy and free-flowering species, the spike sym-
metrical, and densely furnished with round, regular,
and pale pink flowers ; it is not so vigorous and tall as
the old E. robustus, but is a beautiful and ornamental
garden plant. Mr. W. Palmer, The Gardens, Thames
Ditton House, Thames Ditton, sent a stand of cut
blooms of the lovely and richly scented Magnolia
grandiflora, and also Ooleus Palmer's Favourite,
showing its adaptability both for bedding and pots.
Messrs. J. Carter and Co., High Holborn, exhibited
Pyrethrum Snowball, the flowers quilled, and of a
whitish colour ; it is a form of the Golden Feather ;
and also seedlings of K^mpfer's Iris ; Purple King,
violet-purple, veined with a deeper colour, and
Emperor of Japan, being 'the most noteworthy.
Messrs. Dobbie and Co., Rothesay, had seedling
Violas, some of the colours very rich ; Victoria was
a good white.
Hollyhocks have suffered from drought, so that
they were not seen to advantage. Mr. F. T. Smith,
The Nurseries, West Dulwich, exhibited seedling
varieties: Diana, fine rich pink; Champion, deep
red ; Dr. Primrose, sulphur; and Purity, white, being
noticeable. Messrs. Webb and Brand also had a
small collection. Jewel, sulphur, and King of Crim-
sons, deep crimson, meriting notice. There was one
competitor, viz., Mr. J. Blundell, of Dulwich, for
the special prizes otTered by Mr. Roupell for a col-
lection of double varieties, not less than 50 spikes,
and he was placed first. The spikes on the whole
[Aug. 13, 1887.
were well developed, and the flowers of good form.
The flnest kinds were Mandarin, pale lemon; Prin-
cess of Wales, rich salmon-pink; Princess Beatrice,
rich yellow; Shirley Hibberd, scarlet; and Henry
Irving, deep crimson.
^ Orchids of great interest were exhibited by Mr.
F. G. Tautz, Studley House, Hammersmith. Cat-
tleya Warneri rubra is a fine variety, the sepals and
petals rich pink, the tube of the lip of the same
hue, and the front portion wavy, crispy, and finely
coloured. Amongst the Cypripediums were C. ton-
sum, Ashburtonia3 expansum, C. leucorhodum, C.
concolor, and C. orphanum. Messrs. H. Cannell
and Son, Swanley, contributed cut Begonia blooms,
exhibiting a fine range of brilliant colours, and
showing to what perfection this firm has brought
the Begonia. J. Harrison and Mrs. Tasker were
useful single kinds, the former buff and the latter
bright salmon-pink. Capsicum Mango Pepper, ex-
hibited by the same firm, is an ornamental plant,
the fruits large, orange-yellow, and the foliage
abundant.
Fruit committee.— There were several exhibits
of importance in the fruit section. Messrs. J. Veitch
and Sons were awarded a silver medal for a collec-
tion of Gooseberries, cordon trees in pots being ex-
hibited as well as gathered fruits. The latter were
well developed, finely coloured, and included a large
number of varieties. We selected a few of the best,
which were Surprise, green; Clayton, red, conical;
Keen's Seedling, medium, deep red, abundant
bearer; Companion, large, deep red; Whinham's
Industry, well flavoured, deep red ; Red Champagne,
Rough Red, Green Overall, and Red Warrington,
one of the best of all. The same flrm also showed
Red Juneating and Summer Thorle Apples, Oullin's
Golden Gage Plum, and well coloured fruits of the
Alexander Peach. Messrs. Rivers and Son, Saw-
bridgeworth, exhibited several late Cherries, com-
prising Emperor Francis, which was certificated;
Late Black Bigarreau, the fruits large, late, and
excellent; Geant de Hedelfinger, black, very large
and fine ; and Monstrueux de Mezel, an excellent
Cherry of the late Bigarreau section; the fruits red
and yellow, and very large. Mr. M. Roupell sent
Purple Constantino and Muscat Hamburgh Grapes,
and there were several seedling Melons.
Vegetables were fairly well represented. Mr.
C. Fidler offered prizes for a collection, the first
place being secured by Mr. C. J. Waite, gardener to
Col. the Hon. W. P. Talbot, Glenhurst, Esher. The
produce was of high quality and showed great skill
in culture; especially fine were the Intermediate
t^arrot, Reading Perfection Tomato, Ne Plus Ultra
runner Bean, and White Leviathan Onion. Mr. T. A.
Beckett, Cole Hatch Farm, Penn, was second. The
last mentioned was first for the prizes offered by
the same nurseryman for Conqueror Pea ; Mr. C. J.
Waite coming second ; and Mr. H. Marriott, Skir-
beck, Boston, Lincoln, third. Mr. Fidler also
offered prizes for Melon Fidler's Defiance, the pre-
mier award being made in favour of Mr. C. Ross,
Newbury, Berks ; Mr. J. G. Dean, Titsey Gardens,
LimpsHeld ; and Mr. W. Woodford, LittleMissenden
Abbey, Bucks, were second and third respectively.
Messrs Webb and Sons also offered prizes for a col-
lection of vegetables, Mr. C.J. Waite being the most
successful.
We are pleased to announce that a second edition of
Mr. A. F. Barron's able and practical work on " Vines
and Vine Culture" is in the press, and will be shortly
published. Additions have been made, and the price
reduced to 5s., so as to bring it within the means of all.
Wo can only hope that this edition will find as ready a
sale as the first issue.
Names of plants.— IK S. B.— 1, Struthiopteris
gornianica ; 2, send fertile frond. HaU. — 1, Cam-
Ijanula rotuudifolia ; 3, Lotus coriiioulatus ; ■!■, GaUum
vorinn ; 5, Polygonum amphibiura ; others not Icuown.
J. Carter tO Co. — 1, Epilohium augustifohum ; 2,
Epilobimn hirsutum. IT. Stoclier. — Adiantum Pa-
cotti. T. J. Dan. — Polygonum maritimum. — Mells.
— Pellaja andromeda;folia. Jleginald Kellij. — Origa-
num inoanum. B. — Lyeripodiuni reflexum.
Auo. 1?, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
139
WOODS & FORESTS.
THE CALIFORNIAN REDWOOD.
(sequoia sempbkvirens.)
Now that f iiUy forty years have elapsed since the
introduction of this giant Conifer, it may not be
premature to speak of its value or otherwise as a
forest tree in the British Isles. Of course, we do
not presume to say that forty years' experience of
any tree is sufficient either to condemn or uphold
it, for in the majority of trees, the Redwood in
particular, maturity has not at that age been arrived
at ; yet a careful study and comparison of many
specimens growing under varying circumstances as
regards soil, altitude, and situation must tell very
much in favour or otherwise of the majority of
trees grown in this country at least. Our own
experience of the Redwood is this, that, like the
Wellingtonia, it is only fitted for planting in low-
lying and well-sheltered situations, such as that
afforded by a valley or other piece of ground that is
protected "by high rising hills from the prevailing
winds of the particular district in which it is
planted. No doubt there are, and we know of
many such ourselves, examples of the successful
culture of this tree on exposed, windswept estates,
but a careful examination of such cases reveals the
fact that such trees have been by skilful manage-
ment planted in situations where they are shielded
by others, perhaps in the form of clumps, strips, or
plantations, from hard-hitting winds. Abundant
proof of how this tree fares in the genial climate
of Southern England and Ireland as a whole is
furnished on many properties to which we could
refer, but in all these cases it may be laid down as
a standing rule that the Redwood will only thrive
in a satisfactory manner where shelter from cold
and high winds is constantly afforded. In respect
of hardihood, this tree is even behind the 'Welling-
tonia, for as it continues to grow until late in the
season its growth is rarely well matured, at least
not sufficiently so to enable it to withstand even an
ordinary English winter with impunity. The
leading shoot of the Wellingtonia is seldom seen in
an injured condition, even in trees of large size, yet
that of the Redwood is constantly getting broken
over, and usually the top part of the tree presents
a scorched and mutilated appearance from the
repeated loss of leaders, as well as from the
incapability of the somewhat tender foliage to stand
our cold winds and winter frosts.
We have watched with a great amount of interest
for the past ten years the growth of the Redwood
in one of the warmest and most favourable districts
in England, where even the Chama^rops and Gun
ninghamia stand unharmed, and although it has
attained to an unusually large size and grows with
great strength and vigour where shelter is afforded,
yet repeated attempts to get it to do well where
partially exposed have been productive of by no
means satisfactory results. In a sheltered wood-
land 30 feet above sea-level, half a mile inland from
the same, and where the soil is a kindly loam with
a free admixture of alluvial deposit, we measured,
not long since, two specimens of the Redwood, pro-
bably the finest in this country, 8i feet in height, and
with straight and gradually tapering stems, that
were well clothed from near ground level to the
leading shoot with the brightest and healthiest of
foliage. The surrounding trees — principally Doug-
las and Silver Firs, with a large percentage of mixed
hardwoods — afforded a welcome shelter to these
fine specimens ; while the naturally rich and kindly
soil, and warm, sunny slope contributed in no small
degree to their almost perfect development. Let
us now contrast with these, others of the same kind
and planted at the same time, but. instead of in a
sheltered, low-lying district, at 100 feet above sea-
level, and where partially exposed to the south-west
wind, and a very different state of matters is re-
vealed. The trees are not half the size above
stated, with sadly disfigured heads — flat and table-
headed, almost like a Lebanon Cedar— and a vile
mixture of brown and green foliage, that every here
and there shows traces, from its meagre appearance.
of the hard struggle it has had to undergo, and
that side by side with the Weymouth and Corsican
Pines, whose leaves look fresh and green and the
very essence of health. The situation in which
these very Redwoods grow, or rather try to do so,
is by no means unfavourable for timber trees gene-
rally, it being fairly well sheltered from the worst
winds of the district, while the soil may be classed
as of excellent quality.
At less than 100 yards from where the two larg®
specimens just referred to are growing, but in a
more open and exposed situation, although sur-
rounded on three sides at least by tall trees, is
another gigantic tree of the Redwood, the stem of
which girths at 1 foot and 5 feet from the ground
13 feet and 9h feet, and rises to about 60 feet in
height. This line tree rarely escapes injury each
season, the young and immature twigs of the
previous year getting sadly browned and disfigured
when suisjected to cold wintry winds for any
length of time. Over and over again has the leading
shoot of this same tree been broken and otherwise
damaged, and one season in particular do I re-
member of having side branches substituted for
these on at least two occasions. Had this specimen
been growing, not on the outskirts of the woodland,
but a few yards inwards, it would in all probability
have exceeded both in height and stem girth the
two others whose measurements have been given
above. In another well-sheltered and low-lying
wood there are a number of trees of the Redwood
planted, I should say, fully thirty years ago, but the
difference between such as are growing on the out-
skirts and those in the interior of the wood is
marked in a very perceptible manner. Along the
margins of the wood the largest Redwoods are
hardly half the size of those growing in the centre
of the wood, while their one-sided and browned
appearance is by no means ornamental ; indeed, it is
such as to impress the forester with the fact that
the sooner they are removed the better it will be for
the look of the remaining trees.
These and numerous other examples of the un-
satisfactory nature of the Redwood when planted
in any but the most favourable situations in this
country tell too plainly that for general forest
planting it is not to be recommended, while at the
same time it should also be remembered that there
are numbers of places throughout the British Isles
eminently adapted for the successful culture of the
tree, such as sheltered lowland valleys, or, in fact,
anywhere to which the force of our winds has not
free access. By planting whole woods of this one
tree, or in conjunction with others of about equally
rapid growth, there can be no doubt but that the
Redwood would do much better, thrive more
rapidly, and attain to greater dimensions than
when," as has always been the case, coddled up
amongst the general run of our forest trees.
Let me advise anyone who has a well-sheltered
and rich lowland valley on his estate to give this
gigantic Conifer a fair trial by forming a whole
plantation of it alone, and I feel confident he will
not be disappointed with the results.
The first expense will not be excessive, as young
trees of the Redwood can now be obtained at a veiy
small cost, while as the tree is of very rapid growth
and a valuable timber-producer, the investment
should turn out fairly remunerative. The trees to
be recommended for planting in conjunction with
the Redwood are Thuja gigantea, Abies Douglasi,
and Wellingtonia gigantea, with a few Silver Firs
and Corsican or Weymouth Pines, all of which would
act as shelters to each other, being of approximately
equal growth.
As regards the quality of timber produced in this
country by the Redwood, it is in every respect fairly
satisfactory, and this is in judging of specimens of
hardly thirty years' growth. At the age of fifty or
one hundred years, and when maturity is being
arrived at, we may ex]:iect much better results from
home-grown wood. The appearance of the timber
in a sample now before me is of a desirable red
colour, or rather between that and brick colour,
close grained, and free from knots. It is light in
proportion to its bulk as compared with most other
woods, and takes on a fine, silky polish, while being
long grained it splits readily, more readily, indeed,
than any other British grown timber we know of.
For these reasons we anticipate that it will ulti-
mately, where it is grown in quantity, be used largely
for fencing purposes and in the making of packing
cases, boxes, &c., where neither great strength nor
long-lasting qualities are of paramount importance.
In the making of furniture it would seem to be a
most valuable wood, as anyone could perceive who
had the chance of seeing the several suites sent
by the Redwood Company to the late forestry
exhibition at Edinburgh.
Two of these suites had a remarkably dissimilar
appearance, one being manufactured from cross-
grained, gnarled wood, while the other was even in
the grain, and displayed not a single knot. The
beautiful rich colour, graining, and lustrous polisli
were the admiration of all.
We have used it with perfect success for carving*
but the high price asked by the Edinburgh Redwood
Company for blocks of suitable size for that pur-
pose pre"cluded its use. The timber is imported to
this country in some quantity, but not to the extent
one who is acquainted with" its valuable qualities
could wish, but it is to be hoped that when better
known it will be appreciated to a much greater
extent.
Few trees spring so readily from the root as the
Redwood, and for this reason, as well as owing to
its being an Evergreen, it has been recommended
for planting as underwood or game covert. In Ire-
land we have seen it turned to good account in this
way, and that, too, in situations where, from the
long-continued blasts, it would not succeed as a
tree. From these young shoots or suckers we have
seen fine specimen trees reared, and such at the
time were con.sidered to be far superior to those
raised from cuttings, they having less inclination to
assume the bush habit of growth or produce a mul-
tiplicity of leading shoots. Pruning of the Red-
wood may be engaged in at almost any time when
such is deemed necessary for the appearance or
welfare of the tree. By depriving the stem of its
branches— that is, in old trees— for say 5 feet from
the ground, we consider that the appearance of such
trees is vastly improved, the thick, spongy, reddish
brown and deeply furrowed bark, and which con-
stitutes one of the peculiarities of the Redwood,
being then shown off to advantage. Of course, this
is a matter of individual taste, but for our own
choice, although we are no partisans to stem-prun-
ing standard trees generally, yet in this particular
case we consider it a decided improvement to trees
of large bole dimensions. The baik as well, indeed,
as the timber is almost free from resin, which causes
the ignition by fire of either rather a difficult matter.
For this very'reason also the destruction of Red-
wood forests is rare, although the brushwood in the
same may be totally burned up, and we are informed
by an American "friend that the immunity from
large fires in San Francisco and other towns is due
in a great measure to the houses being built of that
. wood.
The early or nursery management of the Red-
wood is fraught with no great risk cr trouble, but
owing to the scarcity of good seeds the majority of
plants offered for sale have been raised from cuttings
or suckers. Plants raised from cuttings usually give
a great amount of trouble in the way of pruning
back and correcting rival leading shoots, and that
even till they have attained to nearly tree size.
Early and occasional pruning must be resorted to,
else the plants grow up in an unsightly manner and
are then more fitted for planting as underwood than
forest trees. The branch-spread of young trees not
unfrequently exceeds the height of the main stem,
and in such" cases pruning or fore-shortening should
at once be set about, and this will serve the double
purpose of throwing more strength into the leading
shoot and imparting a tree-like appearance to the
specimen.
For its ornamental appearance the Redwood is
well worthy of extensive culture, but it is well to
bear in mind at time of planting that it will only
put on its true character where the condition of
140
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 13, 1887.
soil and situation are as before described. The
foliage is of a dark, pleasant green above and
silvery underneath, and to some extent resembles
that of the common Yew, while the branches are
irregularly arranged and usually pendent. In pruned
specimens the foliage we have noticed has a far
greater tendency to assume the drooping form than
in trees not so treated. Usually, but this is the case
in old specimens only, the cones are produced in
great abundance, they being an inch long, nearly
spherical in shape, and with thick scales which
terminate in a hard and rather sharp point. AVe
cannot remember having seen good seeds produced
by trees grown in this country.
A. D. Webstee.
Laburnums in rabbit warrens.— Considering
how fond both hares and rabbits are of the bark of
Laburnum, would it not be worth the consideration
of rabbit-warren owners to sow Laburnum seeds in
the open parts of the warrens so as to form an
undergrowth, and at the same time afEord available
food for the rabbits during winter ? The seedling
plants would, of course, be eaten to the ground
every winter, but they would spring up again and
again, and every spring a new sowing may be made.
One or two gentlemen to whom I have made the
suggestion intend to save Laburnum seeds this
gathering time, and sow an acre in the poorest part
of their estates for the benefit of the rabbits. As
the Laburnum grows and flourishes in poor soil
where few other things will thrive there is no sacri-
fice in the experiment. — W. G.
Common Broom for game shelter. — Seeing
what a capital game covert the common Broom
makes, and how cheaply it can be produced, not
half enough use is made of it in this direction. It
is, moreover, such a beautiful shrub when in flower
that large masses of it sown in the open parts of
woodlands near rides and drives create a fine effect,
and give interest where monotony usually prevails.
An abundance of seeds can always be obtained
either for the gathering or at a very cheap rate,
and these should be sown as soon as ripe or kept
till the following spring. All that is required is to
clear the intended sites for the Broom of coarse
herbage, dig up the patches, burying the top sod,
and then scatter the seed, scratch it in with a rake,
and tread the ground. All that is afterwards
required is the removal of coarse weeds, which may
choke the seedling Brooms while yet young. After
the seedlings have got a good root-hold no other
herbage wiU eradicate them. — W. G.
Ants in Fir timber.— A friend living in Switzer-
land asks me to inquire of the best English authori-
ties it there is any means of preventing the damage
done to external house woodwork by ants. The
house is in the national chalet style, with a large
quantity of outside woodwork in Fir. Worm holes
have been observed of late in large numbers, and a
builder having been called in to make a thorough
examination obsen-ed some winged ants leaving the
holes. It is therefore to be supposed that the
destroyers are ants in their imperfect state. It is
desirable to know at what time of the year the
wood is attacked, and whether there is any prepara-
tion to be recommended that will deter the insects
to be painted over the wood. Hitherto it has been
treated at intervals with a kind of transjiarent
reddish brown paint, made of painters' oil and one
of the earthy colours in powder. Would Stockholm
tar, thinned with turiientine and coloured with red
lead, be likely to do ; it would give about the right
colouring ? — J.
The Corsican Pine (Pinus Laricio).— Well-
grown examples of this Pinus certainly point to its
being a very useful tree for an arboretum or for
planting on the lawn. The habit of growth and the
pleasing grey-green foliage make an agreeable
change amongst other trees. It is not so dense in
growth as some of the other Conifers. Although
grand in its outline, there is an air of lightness as
compared with some of the dense and darVfoliaged
kinds which makes it a fit companion for trees of
noble stature. It has also the merit of growing
rapidly. Two or three young plants which I put
out in the pleasure grounds five years ago have
made excellent progress, and ultimately promise to
make grand trees. If I had to deal largely with
this Pinus, I should prefer to plant trees about
3 feet high in preference to larger ones, and I
should choose plants that had been transplanted
two or three times. It is such a naturally strong-
growing subject when young, that unless the plants
are frequently moved they make two or three long
roots and but few fibres, and when such is the case
they do not transplant well. — J. C. C.
RENOVATING OLD TREES.
Now is the season to examine fine old trees upon
the lawn and in the park, as those that are falling
into a state of decay can be readily detected at this
season by the appearance of the foliage, and by
taking a note of the cause of failure the forester
will thus be enabled to apply a proper remedy be-
fore it is too late. Old deciduous trees often con-
tract disease which may be attributed to a variety
of causes, such as poor and unsuitable soil, exces-
sive damp or wet, caused by drains in the imme-
diate ricinity of the trees having got choked up by
roots or other obstructions, any or all of which, if
not rectified in time, soon lay the foundation of a
series of other diseases, such as heart-rot, mould,
rust, mildew, and the development of different spe-
cies and varieties of fungi, &c., the devastating
inroads of any of which may often be prevented by
timely care and the application of proper remedies
judiciously applied according to the requirements
and circumstances of the case. In cases where the
soil has become exhausted, and the vital energy of
the tree impaired thereby, a good dressing of rich
compost will be beneficial in restoring it to its wonted
vigour, and for this purpose nothing perhaps can be
better than road-scrapings well prepared and mixed
with lime ; at all events, I have often usedsuchwith
most happy results. Before applying the stuif it will
be an advantage to remove as much of the exhausted
soil as can be conveniently done without cutting or in-
juring the roots. When the trunks of such trees have
got coated with various forms of cryptogamic plants,
such may be kUled by washing and scrubbing the
stem with lime water mixed with soot, which will
cleanse the surface of the bark and render it more
healthy, and exercise a salutary effect in promoting
and restoring the tree to health and vigour. Trees
that have died or are past hopes of recovery had
better be stubbed out by the roots, and the bark re-
moved from the trunk and burned along with the
diseased branches, roots, and chips of wood in order
to destroy and prevent the fungus spawn from
spreading and attacking other trees in the -s-icinity.
In cases where it would be desirable to plant an-
other tree in the spot where the former has been re-
moved, part of the exhausted soil should be removed
and replaced by rich fresh soil, which will ensure
success. Examine drains thoroughly to see that
they are in proper working order, and where repairs
are necessary have the work executed at once, or at
any rate before winter, as such repairs can be done
to better advantage during dry weather. X.
The Turkey Oak (Quercus Cerris). — It is only
when this tree is isolated that it can develop its
true character, and then its long-extending branches
will sweep the ground in all directions. AVhen
allowed plenty of space the branches assume more
of a horizontal than an erect direction, and for that
reason a large tree has a somewhat flat appearance.
But even this form is an agreeable change where
trees of an opposite character abound, and when
growing in plantations I observe it makes a fairly
long and straight bole with a conical-shaped head.
Here in a rather light sandy soil resting on the red
sandstone this Oak grows faster than the English
variety. — J. C. C.
The Birch is capable of supporting a much
greater degree of cold than any other tree. In the
Old World its northern limit is 71" upon the west,
and 63° upon the east coast; in America its northern
limit is 01° upon the west, and 58° upon the east.
In Germany, the highest elevation at which it is
found is 5200 feet above the level of the sea ; in
Sweden at 3900 feet ; and in Lapland at 1722 feet.
It is worthy of remark that this tree decreases in
size not only as it advances towards the north, but
also as it proceeds southward beyond the limits of
its native region. It attains its 'highest perfection
and greatest height in Germany and Southern
Sweden. The Birch is not particular in its choice
of soil or situation, and will grow almost equally
well in sandy, rocky, dry, or damp soil. — R.
Social North American trees. — The northern
trees which are most eminently social include the
Beech, Maple, Hickory, coniferous trees, and some
others ; and by the predominance of any one kind
the character of the soil may be partially deter-
mined. There is no tree that grows so abundantly
in miry land, both north and south upon this conti-
nent, as the Red Maple. It occupies immense
tracts of morass in the middle States, and is the
last tree which is found in swamps, according to
Michaux, as the Birch is the last we meet in ascend-
ing mountains. The Sugar Maple is confined mostly
to the north-eastern parts of the continent. Poplars
are not generally associated exclusively in forests,
but at the point where the Ohio and Mississippi
mingle their waters are grand forests of deltoid
Poplars that stamp upon the features of that region
a very peculiar physiognomy. — M.
A good seaside tree. — There is only one tree
which we find valuable both for ornament and shel-
ter in extreme exposure to the sea, and that is the
Pinus Pinaster and its smaller variety maritima.
Some say it will not thrive on clay. More is the
pity ; but let me strongly recommend it to all who
plant for shelter on a free soil near the sea. It
seems to delight in the blast ; and although some-
times tardy of growth at first, and even frequently
" kneed " when it does get a start, and although
limb after limb may be torn from it in high gales,
still it conquers in the end, thrusts out sturdy limbs
to windward, and (this appears its peculiarity as
compared with all other Conifers) it never loses
the deep rich green of its foliage. What is the
\alue of the timber I know not. but wood of any
sort cannot be grown for much profit close to an
exposed coast. Further inland it grows to a con-
siderable size. One more point in its favour, and I
have done eulogising the Pinaster. The huge cones,
which it bears in abundance, make capital fuel.
Put half-a-dozen in a sulky fire, and you have a
blaze in five minutes. It is a tree which does not
bear drawing up, as most Conifers do. Unless the
breeze has free access to all parts of it, the rugged
bark will rot and the whole tree decay. — R. S.
Poplars for bog planting.— The following
successful and profitable method of planting bog
land is recorded : Upwards of forty years ago Mr.
Murray, then land agent to the Earl of jersey,
planted a bog near the Button Ferry Station, South
Wales. This bog was quite useless and even dan-
gerous, as people often lost their cattle in its wet
quagmires. It was eventually planted with Black
Italian Poplar, and the trees made such extraordi-
nary growth, that at the end of fifteen years, when
they were cut down, the produce realised something
like £13 per annum per acre for the whole period
of fifteen years during which the crop had occupied
the ground, it luckily happening that the poles
were just wanted in the neighbouring copper
works. However, this was not all the benefit or
profit derived from planting the bog with these
rapid-growing trees. Their strong roots running
through the underlying clay thoroughly drained the
■, letting off the water in a way that no other
process of draining could accomplish. Beneath all
bogs, which are formed of decomposing vegetation,
there lies a bed of clay, and below that comes a bed
of gravel. The strong roots of the Poplar will run
down through the soft bog to a depth of many feet,
and pierce through the bed of clay some feet thick
into the gravel. In these days of great demand for
packing cases, &c., the wood of this Poplar is very
valuable, and the tree has the additional property
of arriving at a fit state to be cut down in a man's
lifetime. When the timber was removed a charge
of gunpowder was inserted in each stool, which
effectually burst them up and rendered their re-
moval easy. After the ground was cleartd a beauti-
ful, rich, firm pasture remained. — W.
THE GARDEN.
141
No. 822. SATURDAY, Aug. 20, 188T. Vol. XXXII.
"This is an Art
Which does mend Nature : chanfi;e it rather ; but
The Art itself is Natcre." — .Sliohs^xayc.
The Fruit Crops.
As usual, we are enabled to publish, by the
kindness of our correspondents, returns of the
fruit crops from almost every county in England,
Scotland, Ireland, and Wales, which will be
doubtless perused with great interest this year,
by reason of the exceptional character of the
season. Complaints of the drought are general,
as we have for several weeks had an unusually
high temperature, with little, if any, rain.
Apples are bearing well, but the fruits are
dropping, and owing to the lack of moisture
they are undersized. This falling of the
fruit is in many cases beneficial, and simply the
outcome of neglect in the matter of timely and
judicious thinning. A few of the varieties
mentioned as bearing especially fine crops are
Cox's Orange Pippin, King of the Pippins,
Fearn's Pippin, Golden Noble, Irish Peach,
Kerry Pippin, AVamer's King, and Lord
Suiiield. Pears are in a similar condition to
the Apples, the fruits small, and in some
cases the crop is below the average. Louise
Bonne of Jersey is one of the best, and
other good varieties are Easter Beurr6, Eon-
dante d'Automne, Beurre Diel, Williams' Bon
Chretien, and Blarie Louise. Plums are carry-
ing heavy crops in some districts, and, of course,
especially where water has been given freely.
This season the Victoria . variety is yielding
abundantly in places where previously good
crops of Plums have been scarce. MoreUo
Cherries are reported satisfactorj', and also the
dessert varieties, but Apricots and Peaches
vary in productiveness this season, the drought
seriously interfering with the development
of the fruit, except where special attention
has been afforded by watering, mulching,
&c. The Strawberry season has generally been
very short, though there was an excellent
promise, the plants flowering freely ; but the
fierce heat burnt up the fruit in many places,
and rendered the flavour of those that were left
insipid and poor. Sir Joseph Paxton, President,
Sir Charles Napier, A''icomtesse Hericart de
Thury and Oxonian are varieties well spoken of.
Bush fruits have, on the whole, given an excel-
lent supply, showing their real usefulness,
though frequently their culture is neglected.
Gooseberries have borne well, and the varieties
mentioned as having proved especially satisfac-
tory are such fine and well-known sorts as Crown
Bob, the old Red Warrington, Golden Drop and
Glenton Green. Vegetables are recorded as
having suflered severely, but Peas have stood
fairly well, and in some cases borne excep-
tionally heavy crops. The season has suited
Tomatoes, which are doing well, and their
increasing cultivation testifies to their thorough
wholesomenesj and utility. With this brief
introduction we give the following instructive
notes on the fruit crops of Herefordshire from
Mr. W. Coleman, which will doubtless interest
our readers : —
The drought having put cultivators of the soil to
great inconvenience and loss, it is to be feared too
many failures amongst fraits will be put down to
the want of rain. That the intense heat and
drought which set in early in June, some ten weeks
ago, have hastened, and, in many places, injured
our crops, no one for a moment will deny ; neither
can they or will they say every ban-en bush or tree
would have been a success had the brilliant season
now passing away been a wet one. For an illustra-
tion of my meaning, no obser\ant man need go far
from his own orchard in which the trees bloomed
as trees never bloomed before, and vet the Apple
crop, although very much better than many would
have us believe, is not so even as it might be. The
dry weather, as a matter of course, has thinned the
fraits to a great extent, but the fate of the crop
on many of those trees was sealed long before the
drought set in, not only by cold, cutting east winds
when they were in flower, and a long winter which
swallowed up the spring, but also by the enormous
crops which many of them carried last year. And
after aU, crops generally. Plums excepted, are and
have been fairly good ; moreover, the fruit is bright
and clean, two points that will go a long way to-
wards making up for the size, which might have
been improved by rain.
Apples, as I have often observed, in this locality
are plentiful, but partial, and still keep dropping. It is
now too late for early sorts to derive benefit from
rain, but late varieties having another two months
to hang might yet be greatly improved. Trees in
my own and my neighbours' orchards which bore
heavily last year are this year comparatively light or
barren, whilst others which took a rest are loaded
with fruit of fair size, clean, and promising to be
very bright. Amongst early sorts, Worcester Pear-
main, Irish Peach, Kerry Pippin, Lord Suffield.
Keswick Codhn, Lord Grosvenor, EchUnvDle Seed-
ling—a ne\er failing Apple — and Stirling Castle are
good. Late varieties include Golden Winter Pear-
main, Claygate Pearmain, Xorthem Greening, Gol-
den Reinette, Margil, Cox's Orange Pippin, Golden
Eusset, Gamon's, or Court Pendu Plat, Minchal
Crab, a most useful Apple, and Dumelow's Seedling.
The Duck's-biU and Blenheim Orange, which made
such a grand hit last year, flowered weU, but their
crops are light, ami on many trees nil.
Pears. — On east walls, also on standards Pears are
not carrying much fruit. The crops on south and west
walls, also on pvramid trees, are fairly good, but partial
or Ught in proportion to the crops the different trees
carried last year. The fruit is very clean, free from
fungus, and, where mulched and watered, will
attain a good, but not the maximum size. A change
to showery weather would, no doubt, improve the
late sorts, but it should come quickly, otherwise
we may yet see our walls white with premature
flowers.
Plttms. — 'WTien the glut of last year is taken into
account the Plum may well be excluded from our
list of profitable trees. The blossom here was very
thin and weak ; the weather at the time the trees
were in flower was bad, and we did not expect a set
of fruit. Bullfinches were very troublesome, and
paid marked attention to the Gages, whose buds as
well as fruit may be superior to the buds and pro-
duce of ordinary varieties. Blight on these has
been rather troublesome, and, where neglected, the
prospect for another year is the reverse of pro-
mising.
Cherries, of which immense quantities are
grown in this and the adjoining county of Glou-
cester, have been very plentiful and good. The
trees thinned freely, and it is well they did, other-
wise the fruit in a more favourable season would
have come to nothing. Cherries revel in a dripping
time when swelling, but will stand any amount of
dry weather after they have stoned. The sorts
grown in the Herefordshire orchards include Elton
Bigarreaus, Black and White Hearts, and May
Duke. Choice varieties on walls have been very
fine, and we have Bigarreau Xapoleon stiU hanging
fresh and plump— indeed, hardly ripe — on north
walls. MoreUos, an immense crop, have not at-
tained the largest size, but they are very good and
the trees' are clean. iVe mulch heavily and water
all our wall fruit trees freely.
Peaches a_sd Nectabixes, I believe, are good
everywhere, an undeniable proof that sljilful atten-
tion, not only to the trees, but also to the annual
thinning of the fruit, is the mainsjiring of success ;
for if allowed to carry all the fruit they set, and
insects were allowed to prey upon their leaves. Uke
orchard trees, they would soon get out of order and
become unmanageable. If choice Apples, Pears,
and Plums were thinned and washed and pruned
as soon as the fruit is gathered, we should hear less
of gluts and failures, but good average crops of
fine fruit would foUow year after year as regularly
as now do our crops of Peaches and Nectarines.
Apricots, like the preceding, are plentiful, and
where properly mulched and watered of good
average size and quality. Moorpark, the Peach
Apricot, Large Early, and the Roman are fruiting
well. The first is unrivalled for flavour, but the tree
is so subject to sunstroke or paralysis. The second
and third are but little if at all inferior, and the
last is well worthy of extended cultivation.
Cottagers in this neighbourhood grow quantities of
good Apricots, and might do still better were they
educated in thinning and watering.
Bush fruits generally have been bright and
fine ; Gooseberries alone, owing to the immense
crops they carried last year and the ravages of bull-
finches, in places being thin. The trees at one
time looked very bad, but they have improved, and
now, like fruit trees generally, have made excellent
growth, and prove beyond doubt that a hot season
suits them. The moisture-loving Raspberry, on
deep, well mulched soUs, quite contrary to our
expectations, swelled up a hea^-y crop of fine fruit,
but the dryness of the atmosphere was too much
for the point berries, which were small and soon
over. A small plantation, consisting of Baumforth's
Seedling, Prince of Wales, and the old Fastolf, and
to which we were able to give an occasional flood-
ing, produced remarkably fine berries, and have
made excellent canes. All these are fine for the
dessert ; the flavour of the last this year was the
best.
Strawberries on cool, deep soils have produced
good crops of fruit, but tiieir season was soon over.
On light soils we hear of complete failure. Our
soil suits the Strawberry, and, having plenty of
water, we flood the beds without wetting the foUage.
We top-dress with old Vine border soil as soon as
the runners are cleared off, mulch in the spring,
and cover the beds with long litter as soon as the
fruit has set. Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury, La
Grosse Sucree, President, Sir J. Paxton, and Elton
have been excellent. The last and Oxonian we
grow extensively on north, east, and west borders
for late use. Oxonian is an excellent dry summer
Strawberry, and Elton has not yet been surpassed
for preserving purposes.
Figs are a good crop, and where well mulched
and watered will ripen a quantity of fine fruit.
The wood they are making is short-jointed and not
too strong. Filberts and Walnuts are most abun-
dant.
SOUTHERN Dn'ISION.
Claremont, Esh.er. — The fruit crop of 1887 is
about an average one : good in many cases, yet by
no means up to the high standard we were led to
expect from the splendid display of bloom. This is
particularly the case with Apples. I can only
account for the many varieties failing to set their
flowers from the very high and dry biting winds
that prevailed during the flowering season. We
have been obhged to mulch and water to preserve
the crop on bushes and pyramids ; the fruit is
hanging well on standards with us, but in many
instances in the neighbourhood it is dropping fast.
Early varieties are faUing prematurely, and wiU be'
of Uttle use. Pears (rather under an average crop) are
also sufiering considerably from the continued
drought. Plums are very good, but have required
considerable attention both in the matter of root
watering and syringing to keep the crop moving and
the foliage clean. All early varieties are very small.
Dessert Cherries are fairly good, and MoreUos satis-
factory. Apricots fair; Peaches and Nectarines
very good indeed, but, as in the case of Plimis, they
have required a great amount of extra labour to
keep them from suffering. I have been obliged to
142
THE GARDEN.
[Adg. 20, 1887.
water even old-established trees. Aphides in all
forms and red spider have been very troublesome,
and the Apple caterpillar has in many cases almost
destroyed all the foliage. All bush fruits have been
very plentiful and good. Strawberries were a good
crop, but the season very short. The lesson that we
may learn from the present season is to mulch
heavily. I have always done this in the case of
Strawberries and all bush fruits, putting it on early
in autumn, and allowing it to remain throughout
the season. The practice will be extended this
autumn to every fruit tree in the garden, for the
experience of the present season has taught me
that if a heavy top-dressing of stiff manure is put
on before the heavy winter rains it enables one to
dispense with summer watering, even with a dry
soil and in such a season as the present.
Potatoes are abundant, quite free from disease,
and of excellent quality, but very small. — E.
BURBELL.
Fulham Palace, Iiondon. — We have an excel-
lent crop of Peaches and the trees are clean, but
the fruit will be ripe quite a fortnight earlier
this year owing to the very dry and hot weather.
I have Early Beatrice now ripe, but small. Apricots
are only bearing a fair crop. Of most Isinds of
Apples we have an enormous crop, but now a great
many are dropping. Standard Pear trees of almost
every kind are carrying very good crops, and the
fruit is holding on well, large trees of the Jargonelle
variety requiring support ; on walls trees we have
only a fair crop. A few large standard Plum trees
are well laden, others fair, and some again with
none ; wall trees also poor. Morello Cherries are
very good, the fruit fine and clean. Figs are fair.
Currants very good, especially Black, but smaller
than usual. Raspberries also very good, but the
fruit small. Gooseberries are bearing a large crop
of well-developed clean fruit. Tomatoes we have
never had better. I have this year a lot on a south
wall, and a great number on a framework of sticks
in one long single row, and the latter are far better
than those on the wall ; the variety I grow is
Stamfordian, all on the extension system. I may
say that for weeks past I have kept three men doing
scarcely anything but watering. Besides having
plenty of water from the water company, I have the
old moat, exactly a mile long, running round the
grounds, and every spring tide in the river Thames
I get an abundance of water ; so you see by using
an unlimited supply for everything my gardens
are looking well. I have had and still have an
abundance of vegetables of all kinds. The pleasure
grounds, lawns, and fields around on the farm are
terribly parched. Our hottest day here was July 3,
when the thermometer stood at 08° in a fully
exposed, but shady place. — A. J. Ballhatchbt.
Syndale Part, Faversham.— Owing to the
prolonged drought of the past two months small
fruits attained maturity very quickly, and were
deficient both in quantity and quality ; in fact, in
some instances Strawberries were completely dried
up. Peaches, Nectarines, and Figs are bearing very
heavy crops, and promise well. Apricots and Plums
being under the average. Pears and Apples are
carrying very light crops with us, although there is
a good show in the neighbourhood. Cherries have
borne an abundant crop, the fruits being of first-rate
quality. Nuts of all kinds are very plentiful.
Late Potatoe,^ and green crops are suffering
severely for want of rain. — H. Louth.
Up down Park, Sandwich, Kent. — Pears,
Cherries, Peaches, Nectarines, Figs, Gooseberries,
and Currants are bearing very good crops, and of
Apples there is a fair show. — John Sblway.
Uoor Park, Riokmans worth. —We have heavy
crops of Apricots on all trees without an exception,
and the fine fruit is ripening well. Apples, very fair
crop; average on bush trees worked on Paradise stock
and on orchard trees. Pears on walls very good and
plentiful ; on trained trees very thin and poor.
Cherriesaveryfaircrop, and of good quality ; Morellos
especially fine. Strawberries were very abundant,
but small, and a very short season, owing to the
drought. Bash fruits. Gooseberries, and Currants
very plentiful. Raspberries very good, but soon
over. Filberts above average crops. Peaches and
Nectarines on walls very heavily cropped and good.
Plums under the average ; Victoria still maintains
its character as the best cropping variety — all otliers
very thin.
Potatoes are rather small, but good in quality.
The earliest planted turn out the largest and best.
I have lifted all the Ashleaves and Beauty of Hebron,
and they are very fair samples for the season. Some
of the later varieties are beginning to grow out and
run smaller. Peas have done remarkably well on
trenched ground, yielding good crops. "\'egetables
of all kinds have done well, except Cauliflowers,
which have not been so good. Winter greens. Broc-
coli, &c., will be very scarce, and late planted. This
season has been noted for a scarcity of wasps and
an abundance of butterflies, which we shall suffer
from in the way of caterpillars later on. — J. C.
MUSDELL.
Eridge Castle, Sussex. — Apples are a splendid
crop, owing to the orchard being mulched with
leaves and manure, thus enabling the trees to with-
stand the drought ; the orchard also has the advan-
tages of being well sheltered with Scotch Pines, and
at an elevation well out of the valley, and so escapes
spring frosts. Apricots are an average crop. Pears
on walls are simply splendid, both on the Quince
and free stocks ; those on standards are not so
abundant. Peaches are an average crop ; the late
spring was very cold for them, but the unusual heat
of summer has suited them. Cherries have been a
splendid crop ; the black fly was troublesome in
July. Strawberries were very abundant, but soon
over, owing to the intense heat and gi'eat drought.
Small bush fruits were a good crop, but not so large
as usual. Figs and Mulberries will be fine, the hot
weather j ust suiting them. Nuts will be an average.
The fruit crop may thus be said to be an average
one, but soon over, and deficient in size on account
of the want of rain and the excessive heat, which
have not been equalled since 182G. — Joseph Rust.
Brantridge Park, Sussex. — Strawberries
produced a grand crop, the varieties especially
good being Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury, Sir
Joseph Paxton, and Sir Charles Napier. Vicom-
tesse Hericart de Thury I consider one of the most
prolific and best Strawberries in cultivation for pre-
serving. Currants and Gooseberries are a good
crop here; of the latter, the varieties known as
Crown Bob and Golden Drop have been especially
good considering the dry weather. The best kinds
of dessert Pears are thin, and the frnit is not above
half as large as was the case last year at this time.
The drought seems to have affected Pear trees very
much, the foliage being thin and unhealthy.
Apples generally are small, and some varieties not
half a crop. I find Warner's King is one of the
most regular in bearing of all the Apples we have.
Apricots on outside walls are a good crop. Figs
also good, but late. Plums are not bearing well,
the best varieties here being Rivers' Prolific, Diamond,
and Green Gage.
Potatoes good in quality, but small in size.
Other sorts of vegetables becoming very scarce. —
Geo. Jupp.
Englefield, near Reading. — Apricots are very
good indeed, and a finer crop than we have had for
about ten years. Apples are only about half a crop,
some trees having none at all, and others a mode-
rate sprinkling of fruit. Peaches are good, but
owing to the long continued drought they will be
very small, and many fall during the stoning period.
Pears are very good, but they will also be small.
Plums are very poor indeed. Gooseberries about
half a crop, and Currants very plentiful. Straw-
berries flowered and set well, but through the dry
season the fruits were very small, more than half
the crop being unfit for dessert.
The Potato crop is very i:ioor ; three parts of
the tubers are not so large as ordinary seed. — James
Coombes.
Dover House Gardens, Roehampton, S.W.
— On the whole the fruit crop around here is above
the average. Apples are bearing a very heavy crop,
but the fruit will be small where it is not well
thinned out. Pears will be a good average crop.
and the fruit will be especially satisfactory on young
trees. Plums are bearing a heavy crop, especially
on standards, and the trees are freer from blight
than they have been for some years. Cherries are
a very fair crop. Strawberries were poor and soon
over. Gooseberries and all sorts of Currants are
producing a heavy crop. Raspberries are plentiful,
but very small. We have had no rain since the be-
ginning of June, and the dews ha\e been light, so
we feel the drought severely on our light soil. If we
had not a good supply of water the greater part of
our fruit would have dropped by this time. Fruit
is bound to be small, even if we get rain now. — J.
FOKBBS.
Bayfordbury, Hertford. — The fruit crop in
this immediate neighbourhood is, on the whole,
fairly satisfactory as regards quantity. Apples, with
few exceptions, are about three-fourths of a crop ;
both trees and fruit look healthy, but the latter is,
generally speaking, small, no doubt owing to the very
dry season. Pears are a fair crop, and much better
than last year. Those trees on the walls which are
bearing good crops have been liberally watered two
or three times. Plums are excellent, and have been
treated like the Pears, otherwise I think perhaps
the fruit must have been smaller than usual, even if
it had remained on the trees. Most of our Peaches
and Nectarines are grown in an orchard house, and
are bearing good crops ; but the Apricot trees have
suffered more than usual this season — both young
and old alike have died, first a branch or two and
then the whole tree became affected in the same
way. I do not know if this is the case elsewhere.
Bush fruits of all kinds are very plentiful. Rasp-
berries are a poor crop, owing entirely to the dry
weather. Strawberries, although liberally watered,
were nevertheless soon over, many of the plants
being almost burnt up. Morello Cherries are bear-
ing excellent crops, and the trees having been well
watered the fruit is good ; but on all other fruit
trees that could not be so treated the fruit wiU be
small. Good vegetables, too, must, I think, be
scarce after this remarkably dry season. — John
GiBBS.
Wrest Park Garden?, Ampthill, Bede.^
Apricots are an average crop and of good quality,
but small from the dry season. Plums, except Green
Gages, which are very scarce, are about an average
crop on walls. Damsons, Victoria and Rivers' Early
Prolific are abundant crops. Cherries, including
Morellos, are over the average. Apples under
average ; small. Cox's Orange Pippin, Hormead
Pearmain, King of the Pippins, Fearn's Pippin,
Lane's Prince Albert, Hawthornden, Golden Noble,
and Lemon Greening are kinds most to be depended
on. Pears under average ; small. Fondante d'Au-
tomne, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Easter Beurr^,
Beurre d'Anjou, Beurr^ Die], Chaumontel, and
Seckle are the heaviest croppers. Peaches and
Nectarines average and good ; small on account of
the dry season. Gooseberries and Currants average.
Strawberries and Raspberries soon over. Nuts and
Walnuts over average, especially the latter, of which
there is an abundant crop. — Geo. Foed.
Coolhurst Gardens. — Apples here are plenti-
ful, but in most cases very small from the want of
rain. Pears are a fine crop and about the average
size. Plums a heavy crop and looking well. Cherries
are a good crop and the fruit is of average size.
Apricots do not succeed well here ; consequently not
many are grown. Filberts are a very heavy crop.
The crop of Medlars is good. Strawberries were a
heavy crop, but soon over, owing to the excessive
hot, dry weather, and many of the plants died
altogether. Raspberries were a good crop, but they
also lasted a very short time. Currants of all sorts
were plentiful and good. The crops of Gooseberries
are \ery fine.
Vegetables of all sorts have done well. In deeply
cultivated soil the dry, hot season has not affected
them much. Potatoes are ( xocllent in every way.
This season has convinced us more than ever of the
beneficial results of trenching deeply. Our soil
having been trenchtd from 2^ feet to 3 feet deep,
the crops have been excellent in every way, notwith-
standing the excessively hot and diy season we have
had.— David Kemp.
Aug. 20, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
143
Theydon Grove, Epping. — Apricots are a good
crop. Plums, very light. Morello Cherries very
good, the soil round here not being suitable for
dessert varieties. Apples and Pears are good, and
Strawberries have been satisfactory, though very
lio-ht in the neighbourhood generally. Gooseberries,
Currants, and Raspberries have been good. In con-
sequence of the dry weather Apricots and Peaches do
not promise to be so fine. Apples also are suffer-
ing, and if the dry weather continues they will
certainly be small. — Geo. Hewitt.
Addington, Winslow. — In this district the
fruit crop is not a very satisfactory one. Straw-
berries, in the early part of the season, looked
healthy and strong, and produced a great abundance
of bloo"m, but the long spell of hot dry weather was
too much for them. The fruit was small and lasted
a very short time. Bush fruits of all kinds were
plentiful, but Black Currants were smaller in size
than usual. Plums, a moderately good crop, but
the fruit will be small. Apples and Pears are a very
moderate crop. Apricots are the best I have had
for years. Vegetation has suffered very much from
drought and scorching sunshine. From the 1st of
January to the 4th of June I only registered
9 25 inches of rain. Since that date until the present
time only O'Ti inch has been registered, and the
land is so cracked that it will require a good deal
ot steady rain to do much good.
Vegetables, as well as many trees and shrubs, are
suffering very much.— JoHX "JIathison.
Arundel Castle, Sussex. — Apples are an
average crop. The following are bearing the heaviest
crops, viz., Irish Peach, Kerry Pippin, Hawthornden,
Keswick Codlin, Devonshire Quarrenden, Normanton
Wonder, Lord Suffield, and King of the Pippins.
Pears are under the average. The following are
bearing best. Monsieur le Cure, Rose Lynch, Fon-
dante d'Automne, Eyewood, and Louise Bonne of
Jersey. Plums are poor; Apricots a very good crop ;
Cherries under the a\-erage ; and of Peaches, Nec-
tarines, Strawberries, Nuts, Quinces, and Medlars
we have average crops. Small fruits, with the ex-
ception of Black Currants, are abundant. The
drought has affected fruits of all kinds very much,
particularly Raspberries and Strawberries, which
promised heavy crops, but for want of moisture could
not swell their fruit. Apples have dropped very
much, and unless rain comes soon must be small.
Vegetables of all kinds are dried up. Early Po-
tatoes have been very good both in quantity and
quality. Late sorts, I fear, will be a very light crop.
— E. BUSBtJET.
Putteridge Parfe, liUton, Beds. — Plums are
an average crop. Cherries under the average ; but
Apples and Pears are ^•ery good. Strawberries
flowered well ; hut were so dried up that very few
fruits swelled. Raspberries, Red and Black Currants
were a good crop, but very small, owing to the long
drought. Gooseberries were very scarce, owing to
the birds taking the buds in winter ; the sparrows
are the most destructive. Nuts are very plentiful.
Potatoes are very small, but free from disease. —
Thomas Hedley.
Swanmore Park, Bistop's Waltham,
Hants. — Apricots are under average. Apples an
average crop; the quality promised to be good, but
long-continued drought has caused the fruits to
drop lai-gely and checked the remainder so much
that they do not swell. Cherries are above an
average crop, while the quality has been excellent,
Governor Wood and Morello in particular. Peaches
and Nectarines have required much thinning where
the trees have been freely watered at the roots and
the foliage thoroughly drenched. The trees are in
capital health and quite free from insects of all
sorts; in fact, trees so managed seemed to have
revelled in the hot weather which we have had.
Plums bloomed very freely, but the long-continued
easterly winds which prevailed while the trees were
in flower caused many to drop their fruits soon after
being set; still, we have an average crop of fruit,
the quality promising to be particularly good of
Green Gage and Jefferson. 0 wing to excessively dry
weather the trees have not made such free growth
as in other seasons. Cold winds at the time the
Pear trees bloomed prevented the fruit setting freely ;
consequently, the crop is under the average. Straw-
berries were an average crop, while the quality
early in the season was good; but owing to the
very dry weather the season was short, which was a
misfortune, as Strawberries are produced in quan-
tity in this neighbourhood for the markets, as many
as 30 tons being sent away from one station in a
day. The varieties grown are but few, Sir .Joseph
Paxton being the principal sort relied on. Small fruits
were, as they always are here, a very heavy crop, the
most noticeable kinds being Gooseberries and Red
Currants; trees of the latter are summer pruned
regularly, which greatly assists the ripening of both
trees and fruit, while the exposure of the latter to
rains keeps them quite clean. Nuts are a very
heavy crop. Filberts promising to attain a good size,
while common hedge nuts are bearing exceptionally
well.
We have had but one inch of rain since June 3,
and so Potato crops are miserably small in conse-
quence, particularly the late kinds; in some fields
the tubers are so small that it is doubtful if they
will be worth lifting, — E. Molyxeux.
Dogmersfield Park, Hants. — Our soil is of a
light character, resting on a rather gravelly subsoil,
and considering the unusual heat and drought the
crops have done very well. This I attribute to its
being an old garden with about 2 feet of good
vegetable mould, and annually well enriched with
good dressings of stable manure. We have a rather
limited supply of water; therefore, have not been
able to spare much for outdoor fruit crops and
vegetables. Peaches and Nectarines are a capital
crop and above the average, necessitating heavy
thinnings. We find the early varieties raised by
Mr. Rivers very useful, gathering our first outdoor
fruit of Early Rivers on the 2nd of August. Apri-
cots are also a heavy crop, and ha-i-e also required
well thinning. Pears are about an average crop,
and the fruit of some varieties promises to be fine ;
our best flavoured varieties are Williams' Bon
Chretien, Marie Louise, Seckle, Pitmaston Duchess,
Beurre Diel, Beurre Superfin, Winter Nelis, Beurre
d'Amanlis, Doyenne du Comice, and Glou Morceau.
Apples with us, and in this locality generally, are
under average, and I fear will be rather small,
owing partly to drought and partly to the ravages
of caterpillars early in the season. Plums are a
good average crop, the fruit rather smaller than
usual. Strawberries have been rather above the
average, and although not watered once were very
fine. Our best varieties are President, Sir Joseph
Paxton, and James Veitch. Gooseberries are about
an average crop, but rather small. Raspberries
have been and still are plentiful, and of good size.
They are planted in rather a moist piece of ground
partially shaded by Apple trees, and although they
ha\e not been watered or mulched, are still bearing
freely. Black Currants have been a good average
crop, and Red Currants have been, and still are,
most abundant. Cob Nuts are under average, but
Walnuts are a heavy crop.
The Potato crop in this locality is a very poor
one. In this garden the tubers are of fair size and
good in quality, especially the varieties of Ashleaf .
Great complaints came from the cottagers of the
smallness in size, and also of a second growth
having set in through the light showers we had
about a month ago. Peas have been very good ; we
have been gathering every day until now, and we still
have good rows of Ne Plus Ultra. We rely chiefly
on that variety and Veitch's Perfection for our sup-
ply. All the Brassica tribe is now sufilering severely
from the drought and the ravages of caterpillars
and Turnip fly. Onions are small. Scarlet Runner
Beans and Marrows are both plentiful and good. —
G. Teinder.
Wildernesse, Sevenoaks, Kent, — Peaches
and Nectarines on outside walls are bearing full
crops, and the trees are free from insects. Apricots also
are bearing well, the fruits being of good size and
quality. Dessert Cherries are a good average crop,
and the same remark also applies to Morellos. Plums,
especially Victorias and Green Gages, are plenti-
ful, and Red and White Cun-ants are heavy crops,
but Black Currants are much below the average.
Raspberries are the poorest lot I have seen for many
years, having suffered more than any other small
fruits in consequence of the long continuance of
hot, dry weather. Apples generally are a good crop,
but quite half the crop is falling from the trees.
Pears are an average crop, but will be small.
Gooseberries are plentiful, of large size and good
quality, especially those on a new plantation where
the ground was well manured and deeply trenched.
We grow sixteen sorts, and the best, in my opinion,
are Lancashire Lad, Whitesmith, Crown Bob, War-
rington, JoUy Tar, and Golden Drop. Strawberries
have produced a splendid supply of fruit. The beds
were well mulched with long stable manure before
the dry weather commenced, so that the ground
has been moist and the fruit of good size. We are
now finishing gathering Loxford Hall Seedlingfrom
borders under a north wall. The fruits have proved
a great acquisition, as they were a fortnight later
than those of the main crops. Those sorts grown
are La Grosse Sucree and Garibaldi for early sorts,
and for main crops President and Sir J. Paxton.
There are scores of acres of Raspberries and Straw-
berries grown in this locality. The crop of fruit in
the early summer was most promising to the
growers, but in consequence of the extreme hot
weather the yield has been much below expecta-
tions. Walnuts and other small nuts are a medium
crop.
Early Potatoes are the smallest I have ever
seen, and the later ones must also be small. At
present no disease has been detected. The soil is
light.— Thoiias Caelton.
Mereworth, Castle, Maidstone.— The crops
of fruit this season are not so good as was at one
time anticipated. This applies more to the Apple
crop, as the trees when in flower were a perfect
mass of fine, strong, healthy blossoms. LTnfortu-
nately, I presume owing to the unfavourable condi-
tion of the weather we experienced when in this
critical stage, the flowers dropped off in such quan-
tities that in some of our neighbouring fruit plan-
tations the crops are anything but satisfactory ; on
the other hand, those in the more favourable
positions have apparently escaped ; consequently
the crops are very good. The fruit, however, will
eWdently be small, and in some instances I find
the maggot is doing a deal of mischief. King of
the Pippins is throughout carrying good crops.
Peaches and Nectarines are especially good, out
unless we soon have good soakings of rain the fruit
will, I am afraid, be both small and poorly flavoured,
particularly that on old trees. The crop of Pears,
both on the walls and standard trees, is very heavy.
Apricots are with us very thin. Cherries on stan-
dards thin, but those on the walls very good. Plums,
including Damsons, are not plentiful, except the
Victoria, which in some gardens is heavily cropped.
Raspberries good. Red and White Currants fairly
good, while the crop of black is very light. The
Strawberries in their early stages of growth looked
well, promising us heavy crops, but owing to the
want of rain, coupled with the parching hot sun,
the fruits did not swell up to their usual size, and
the flavour was also inferior. Nuts are a fair ave-
rage crop. In consequence of the drought, which
has now lasted about ten weeks, all kinds of fruit
have suft'ered very much. Many of the Strawberry
plants, in spite of the very heavy waterings fre-
quently given, are dying, and others have a very
miserable appearance ; and even now, should we be
favoured with a good soaking of rain, the plants may
not sufliciently recover to yield satisfactory crops
next year. — H. MaekhAM.
Iiockinge, "Wantage. — Apricots are an average
crop, the fruits of fair size and good in quality where
they have been well attended to with water, kc.
Apples are also about the average ; the fruits are
good in the garden, but small in orchards, owing to
the long drought. Plums are very good ; and Cher-
ries are bearing fair crops, but the Cherry is not
very much grown, the top soil being so close on the
chalk. Peaches and Nectarines are very good.
Pears on walls are under the average, but will be
good in quality ; sorts that do well here are BeuiTe
Diel, Marie Louise, Williams' Bon Chretien, Louise
Bonne of Jersey, Jargonelle, and Josephine de Malines .
144
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 20, 1887.
In orchards there is a fair crop of Pears, but the fruit
is of bad quality. Gooseberries and Currants have
been up to the average, both in size and quantity.
Strawben'ies have borne an average crop, but tlie
frait was very small and soon over. The beds at
the present time are quite scorched up, so that there
is not a very promising outlook for nest year's crop.
Potatoes are a very poor crop ; early sorts quite
ripe and will be safest out of the ground, for disease
will be sure to spread as soon as ever we have the
long-wished-for rain. We have not had any in this
neighbourhood for eleven weeks, and such a dry
season has not been known since 1868. Late varie-
ties are looking fairly well, but will make a second
growth if we get rain soon. I do not think the crop
will be benefited by it.— G. H. Rose.
Syon Gaidens, Brentford. — The fruit crops
in this neighbourhood are very much afEeoted by
the dry weather, and the prospects now are not so
good as they were two or three weeks ago, especially
as regards Apples, Pears, and Plums. The Apples
have been dropping very much lately, and there will
be an under average crop. The Pears are a good
crop generally, but the fruit will, I think, be very
small. The Plum trees on light soils are sufEering
very much. The frait is shrivelling, and some of
the trees are dying, and there seems to be a great
deal of the silver blight about them this year. Ap-
ricots are quite an average crop, and the fruit is
very good. Peaches and Nectarines are a full
average, the trees are very clean and healthy, and
the fruit will be very good. Cherries also are a full
average crop, and the fruit has been very fine on
walls where the trees have been kept well watered.
The standard Morellos too are looking very well, and
bearing good crops. Small fruits have been plenti-
ful, but rather small, on light soils ; and Straw-
berries were plentiful and good, but soon over.
Walnuts are over the average, and Filberts will, I
think, be plentiful.
The early crops of Potatoes have turned out very
well, and up to the present they have been quite
free from disease. The late crops are looking
healthy, but the haulm on light soils shows the
efi'ect of the long drought. — John Woodbridge
Bsnliam Park, Newbury. — Apples, medium
crop, but many falling, owing to the dry weather.
Pears are very shy and small. Plums very shy. Apri-
cots are bearing medium crops of good size and ex-
cellent flavour. Peaches and Nectarines are a full
average crop where coping and protection have been
used. Cherries, including Morellos, are a full
average crop, and of good size. Strawberries and
Raspberries set well, but owing to the severe dry
weather were soon over. Currants, Red, Black, and
White, full average crop, and they have stood the dry
weather exceedingly well. Gooseberries medium
crop, but excellent fruit both in size and flavour.
Indoor fruits are fuUy up to the average, and of
good quality.
Potatoes are small generally. Peas and Beans
have had a severe struggle to keep alive, but mulch-
ing and watering have greatly assisted them. — C.
Howe.
Goodwood, CWcliester.— The fruit crops in
this district as far as come under my notice are
principally good. Early varieties of Peaches and
Nectarines up to the present have sufllered much
from the long-continued drought. Later varieties
promise to be "good average crops should showery
and growing weather soon set in. The Apple and
Pear crops up to the present have stood the drought
remarkably well and promise to be a good ave-
rage ; although many have fallen, still plenty
remain. Apples especially looking well. Apricots
are good and of excellent quality; the same may
be said of Gooseberries and all kinds of Currants,
which are large and fine in quality. Figs early in
the season never looked more promising, but I am
afraid the drought will bring about a failure ; they
appear to suffer most. Strawberries were a light
crop from the above cause. Plums rather under
average. Filberts, Cobs, and Walnuts a
average crop, and looking well.
We have just commenced taking up our early
Potatoes. The Ashleaf red varieties generally are
small and much under average size, but such varieties
as Beauty of Hebron, International, and Welford
Park Kidney are large and excellent, and stand the
drought better than any that have as yet come under
my notice. — F. Rutland.
Barrow Point, Pinner. — Apricots are a good
average crop ; Peaches and Nectarines fair ; Pears
average crop ; bush fruits good crops, but very small
fruit ; Strawberries promised well in the spring,
but the crop was under the average and quickly
over ; Filbert Nuts over the average. The drought
have not afEected our Apples or Pears. This is due to
the strong retentive subsoil which overlays the
London clay. Strawberries suffered most severely
with us. Currants and Raspbemes were fairly plenti-
ful, but they did not swell. The dry weather princi-
pally affected the vegetable crops, which have been
of short duration. No amount of mulching and
watering would induce Peas to last more than a
few days. Our soil being a stiff clay loam has made
the sowing of winter crops a matter of difficulty,
owing to the baked, rough condition of thesurface.
Potatoes are very small, but free from disease
at present. — John W. Odell.
Koyal Gardens, Frogmore. — The remarkably
dry weather and such long-continued drought, with
east and north-east winds drying everything up,
have been most trying to all kinds of fruit crops and
vegetables, which are now seriously suffering, causing
large quantities of fruit to drop, although watering
has been persevered with where practicable. I
need hardly say that under such conditions and for
such length of time the fruit trees are affected, and
now show it. Apples and Pears were good crops,
but many have fallen, and those that remain are so
small on old trees as to be almost worthless ; on
young trees, and particularly on some Apples trans-
planted three years ago, the fruit is swelling fairly
well. Apricots are a fair crop ; Plums medium,
good on standards ; Peaches and Nectarines good
of most sorts ; Cherries extra good in quantity and
quality; Strawberries were plentiful, small, but
of good flavour ; small fruits abundant. Generally
speaking, theire was every prospect of a better fruit
season all round than for some years past untU the
drought set in. I may here mention that the
average number of rainy days at Windsor during
the months of June and July for the six years
ending 188G was 27, and the average rainfall for the
same period -l-l ; while during June and July, 1887,
rain has only fallen on ten days, with a total of
17; of that amount I'll of rain fell during the
first four days in June, and as no rain has fallen
here in August (up to date), the total rainfall for
the last ten weeks is only '59 inch. Nor does the
rainfall (as above recorded) convey a correct idea
of the drought in this district ; because in previous
dry summers there have been many dull days with
low temperature and overcast skies, but this summer
there has been a uniform high temperature
(maximum in sun, 115°; ditto in shade, 90°), and
only two days on which the sun has not shone
(more or less) from June 1 to August 12. — Thomas
Jones.
Dunorlan, Tunbridge 'Wells. — With 5° of
frost on the 22nd of May, and the wind blowing
every day from north to east, the prospect of a good
fruit season was very poor, as many of the Apples
were in flower and several Pears had been in flower
for more than a fortnight. During that time we
had frost several nights, and occasional showers of
snow and hail. Apples are almost a complete fail-
ure ; many of the trees have not a fruit on them, and
many others with not half a crop. Pears are much
better; I have generally thought that those in
flower first would suffer the most from the frost,
but this season I find it is not so, for I have had to
thin the fruit of Comte de Lamy, Zephirin Gregoire,
Beurre Hardy, Seckle, Marie Louise, and others, all
of which were in flower on the 9th of May. Louise
Bonne of Jersey, Josephine de Malines, Williams'
Bon Chretien, Madame Treyve, Beurre Diel, and
others were in bloom at the same time, but there
are very few fruits on several of them. Plums are a
complete failure, with the exception of Rivers'
Early. They were in flower at the same time as the
first Pears, and aphis have been very numerous on
many of them. All kinds of bush fruits have been
abundant, but the fruit is very small. Filberts are
a good average crop, although we had severe frosts
when they were in bloom. Strawberries have been
a good average crop, and the fruit on young plants
of good size. Although we iave had such a
dry season, it is surprising to see how well the
wood and foliage of Apples and Pears look. These
do not appear to have suffered in the least from the
drought, but possibly this may in some measure be
accounted for through most of our fruit tree borders
having been mulched in the spring with half decayed
manure. The trees are now forming a large num-
ber of fine fruit buds for another season. It is very
remarkable that some of the Pears, the fruits of
which have been cracked very much for several
years are not cracked this year. — D. Walkbe.
Iiytlie Hill, Haslemere. — Apricots are plen-
tiful and fine; the trees are very healthy. The
Moor Park variety does not seem to be losing
scarcely any branches this season. Peaches and
Nectarines are plentiful, and swelling off their fruit
well. The trees are much more free from blister
than for years past. Plums are under average ; in
some places there would have been a heavy crop,
but the bullfinches cleared off the buds to such
an extent as to make the trees unsightly. Cherries
are but little grown in this district. Morellos on
walls are good and.clean. Apples are plentiful, but
small, a great many spotted and deformed, and the
foliage much curled. The early varieties have done
much better than late ones. Juneating, Irish Peach,
Lord Suffield, Manks Codlin, Blenheim Orange,
Keswick Codlin, Duchess of Oldenburg, Boston
Russet, Dutch Mignonne, Lord Derby, Cox's
Orange, Hawthomden, Rymer, Kentish Fillbasket,
and a few others are swelling off more regularly than
others. Pears are under average, and will be small
both on pyramids and standards. There are fair
crops on walls ; such sorts as Doyenne d'Et^, Gratioli,
Madame Treyve, Josephine de Malines, LouiseBonne,
Huyshe's Prince of Wales, are good on pyramids.
Of Strawberries we have had a plentiful supply,
the ■ fruit of fine size and excellent quality.
This I attribute to the waterings of liquid manure,
supplemented by heavy mulchings, given when
throwing up their flower-spikes. Two more water-
ings sufficed to finish off the fruit weU. The varie-
ties that have done best are 'Vicomtesse H^ricart
de Thury, La Grosse Sucrc^e, President,'^Sir Joseph
Paxton, Eclipse, James 'Veitch, Elton Pine, and
Eleanor. Sir Charles Napier, Dr. Hogg, and British
Queen do not seem to be able to withstand the in-
tense heat. With me they lost nearly all their
foliage, while the other sorts were healthy and
strong. Hautbois and other alpines are grown for
their peculiar flavour, not for their usefulness.
Raspberries are plentiful and good, but undersized.
The same remark applies to Black Currants. The
Red and White varieties of these are plentiful and
good. Mulberries are cropped heavy. Walnuts,
Filberts, and Hazel Nuts are plentiful everywhere.
It must have been observed how persistent the
bloom of Apples and Pears was, and, at the same
time, was fine and strong, as well as long-lived.
Everything gave promise of a most productive fruit
season ; added to this, the thorough soaking the
trees received just when coming into bloom
made the most sceptical quite sanguine. Then
followed a continuation of cold winds accom-
panied with heavy hailstorms — namely, on May 27
and June 2, which quite riddled the foliage and
cut the fruit off by the thousand. Apples which
withstood it do not seem to be able to stand the
intense heat of the past two months. The trees
do not seem to be affected in the least ; the growth
is strong, with plenty of fruit buds. The trees,
both in the valley near streams as well as those on
the hill, have shed large quantities of their fruit.
There are varieties of Pears that do not seem to
stand theheat — Josephine de Malines, Louise Bonne
of Jersey; these have lost a large percentage of
their leaves on the spur and main branches, not on
the young shoots ; neither of these have in any way
been disturbed either by root-pruning or digging
near. This does not occur in one place, but in
several. The growth of Peaches, Apricots, Necta-
rines, and Currants is most satisfactory. — A. EvANS.
Aug. 20, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
145
Flower Garden.
ORNITHOaALUM ARA.BICUM.
This half-liardy bulbous plant is a good type of
the many showy species of Ornithogalum figured
in the earlier cumbers of the Botanical Maya
zinc and elsewhere, but now-a-days seldom seen
in gardens. It is a beautiful species, easy to
grow and bloom in pots if good imported bulbs
are obtained annually, but otherwise it is a
most difficult subject to manage. Last autumn
I received twelve fine bulbs from a firm in
Guernsey, and with them came the following in-
structions : ' ' Pot in good loamy soil, surround-
ng the bulb with dry sand, and place the pots
majority of English gardens, the only sure plan
will be to grow good fresh imported roots every
year. F. W. B.
NOTES ON LILIES.
In The Garden, Aug. 6 (p. 103), " E. C." invites
anyone having collections of Lilies to send notes of
their behaviour during this trying season; there-
fore, I am induced to contribute a few notes on the
subject. Though L. odorum is a scarce Lily, it is
by no means new, for it was introduced as long ago
as 1804, and a coloured plate was given in The
Gaeden last year under the name of L. japonicum,
when the principal distinctive features between this
Lily and L. Browni (which it most resembles) were
pointed out. With me the bulbs of L. odorum are
The Ai'abian Star of Bethlehem (Ornithogalum arabicum). Engraved for The Garden from a photograph
taken by Mr. Greenwood Pirn, in the College Gardens, Dublin.
in a cold frame, and do not water till growth
appears, and then only very sparingly." The
result was the flowering of four bulbs out of the
twelve, and the best spikes bore ten to fifteen
blossoms. The flowers are pure white, with
yellow anthers clustered around the jet-black
seed vessel in the centre. The accompanying
engraving is a truthful representation of a spike
about the natural size. Seeing that this fine
species has been in cultivation for nearly, if not
quite, three centuries, being figured by Clusiug
in 1601, and also in the sumptuous " Hortus ;
Eystettensis"-of 1612, it would be interesting
to know if the plant is hardy, and especially so
to hear if it blooms year after year in any part
of Britain. No doubt it does well in the hot,
dry districts of Southern Europe, but in the
more delicate, and therefore more difficult to keep
through the winter than those of L. Browni. Re-
garding the common scarlet Martagon (L. ohalce-
donicum), I cannot get this to grow or flower at all
satisfactorily the first season after planting, for out
of a dozen bulbs that were planted in the winter
only one has flowered, and that only produced two
blooms. At the same time some that were planted
twelve months earlier (and last year behaved just
as the above-mentioned ones have done) flowered
beautifully this year. This Lily is with me by no
means the only one that behaves in this manner,
other noticeable examples being L. pomponium,
pyrenaicam, Szovitzianum, and several of the North
American kinds, while those that do not seem to be
affected by removal are all the varieties of L.
speciosum, longiflorum, tigrinum, davuricum, and
elegans or Thunbergianum. Here, in rather a hot
and dry spot, with a gravelly subsoil, the North
American kinds do not flourish, for of them L. Hum-
boldti, as a rule, only just makes its appearance
above ground the first year after planting, then the
following season it usually flowers well, and after
that the blooming is more irregular, though most of
the bulbs will remain in the ground for years,
but they never seem thoroughly at home. This
season the edges of the leaves are much seared by
the intense heat and long-continued drought. In a
very dry position I am convinced that it is a great
benefit to the bulbs to plant them deeply, as an
illustration of which I may mention that we never
flowered L. Humboldti at all satisfactorily when the
bulbs were planted 6 inches deep, but since they
have been covered with 12 inches of soil the results
are better. In our light sandy soil it is a great ad-
vantage to give the bulbs a little stifl: loam to root
into, provided the bulb itself is just surrounded
with a small quantity of silver sand. The kinds
with creeping rhizome-like bulbs all require more
moisture, but of them the one that does best is the
Panther Lily (L. pardalinum). L. Washingtonianum
is quite a failure this season ; indeed, it never seems
to succeed thoroughly well.
All the varieties of L. longiflorum flower well
and increase rapidly, the buried portions of their
flower-stems being thickly studded with young
bulbs, besides which the original bulb will often
split up into three or four. L. davuricum does well
except we get a very wet winter, when several of
the bulbs will decay even in our well-drained spot,
but though impatient of too much moisture at that
season it appreciates frequent showers during the
spring and early summer. L. Batemannise, as a
rule, blooms well, and this season is no exception,
though the foliage is so much burnt up that a good
deal of the beauty of the plant is lost. There is a
great resemblance between the blooms of this Lily
and a variety of elegans known as venustum, for in
the case of a single flower it is impossible to dis-
tinguish the one from the other, but the foliage is
quite different, and L. BatemanniiE grows about
twice the heigbt of L. venustum. With regard to
the golden-rayed Lily (L. auratum), it does mode-
rately well in the open ground, the best results
being attained by planting the bulbs deep, and
entirely surrounding them with silver sand. They
are then allowed to remain without being disturbed.
I do not experience any difficulty in keeping them
in pots ; all that is necessary after flowering being
to keep them rather drier until the stems decay,
when they are at once repotted and placed in a
cold frame until growth recommences in the spring.
They will require very little water during the
winter, being in a frame without artificial heat.
L. Leichtlini has for the last three seasons done
well here, but its prettily spotted blossoms are
now past their best. L. Krameri is a Lily that
I have never yet been able to master the culture of,
though it will flower beautifully the first season
after importation. I have grown it in the open
ground, planted it out in a frame, and also culti-
vated it in pots, but in all cases have been able to
save but a very small percentage over for another
season, and even these did not flower so well as
imported bulbs. I tried taking them up early and
storing them in sand, with no better results than in
the case of those that were left in the ground ;
indeed, so far this Lily baffles me. L. neilgherrense
is a very ornamental greenhouse Lily, and is especi-
ally valuable from the fact that it blooms late in
the season, for I have had it in flower at Christmas,
though the autumn is its usual season. As it
will need the protection of a greenhouse for
the blooms to develop properly, this Lily is
usually grown in pots, and I find the best soil
for the purpose is rather stiff sandy loam. There
is a peculiarity about this Lily that I have not ob-
served with any of the others, and that is the
flower-stem, instead of pushing up straight through
the soil, will often descend and perhaps coil itself
around the inside of the pot, finally coming to the
surface at the side. I have had the flower-stem
make its way among the crocks in the pot and
through the hole at the bottom. The result is
that perhaps one half will throw up their flower-
stems in the usual way, while the other half will
146
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 20, 1887.
behave in this erratic manner. The common white
or Madonna Lily (L. candidum), though left until
the last, is second to none in the beauty of its
blossoms, but this year they have been much smaller
than usual, and owing to the hot sun and dry
easterly wind they lasted but a short time in per-
fection. I am convinced that many of the com-
plaints through its blooming in a very unsatis-
factory manner the first year after being shifted
arise from the potting being done too late in the
season. Directly after flowering the stems die
down, and if it is intended to shift the bulbs it
should be done at once, for the roots at the base of
the bulbs start again quickly into growth, and after
that they cannot be moved without injuring the
roots more or less. To transplant this Lily fiuccess-
f ully it should be done not later than August, in-
stead of which bulbs of it are often seen out of the
ground until the new year, and consequently when
planted often fail. H. P.
DUTCH ROOTS T'. DUTCH CUT FLOWERS.
The attempt of the Dutch root-growers to revive
the bulb trade, by withholding the cut flowers from
the English and other markets, will do them but
very little good unless they are also prepared to re-
duce the price of all Dutch roots and plants. Gar-
deners, employers of gardeners, and also growers
for sale are beginning to tind out that Dutch roots
are the most expensive things in the garden, and
also, as a rule, the shortest lived, and when com-
pared with other plants that require but little more
time and care to grow and bloom them, they are
not worth half the money they cost.
It is now no longer necessary to grow Hyacinths
and Tulips in order to have a good display of flowers
all through the winter and early spring months, and
here it may be remarked that these are about the
only bulbs or roots that cannot be grown successfully
in England. The great drawback to the Hyacinth
is its cost if a lengthened display is required to be
made with them. If the bulbs could be bloomed
year after year in the same way as nearly all the
Japanese Lilies can, one might put up with the first
cost, and not object to grow them, but it is the con-
tinual re-ordering and paying for the bulbs every
year that has caused many people to give up grow-
ing them, and turn their attention to other plants
that cost no more to begin with, and from which a
succession of cut flowers can be obtained.
When once the flower has been cut from a Hyacinth
or Tulip, the bulb is rendered useless, not only for
the current year, but for all time, and very often the
flower is not worth as much as the bulb has cost
During the last few years, since so many cut flowers
have been imported, one might buy as many flowers
for a shilling as ten shillings' worth of bulbs would
produce if well grown. I have often when living at
Sheffield bought a dozen spikes of Hyacinths for
threepence, and good Tulips at even less than that.
These have not been imported flowers, but the im-
ported flowers have been the cause of the low prices
obtained. With regard to the other Dutch roots
and plants there is no reason why they should not
be grown at home quite as good as imported ones
The Spiraeas may be grown in any part of England
to such perfection that they cannot be beaten by any
imported roots. The reason why many people fail
with them is through trying tobloom them every year.
When this is attempted, the crowns become small
and flower so unsatisfactorily, that a fresh lot of
roots has to be bought to replace the old ones that
have been thrown away. This is not as it should
be, as when the plants have been bloomed once in
pots they should be planted out in good rich soil,
and if well attended to with water in dry weather,
they will be by the following year flne large clumps
that cannot be surpassed by any imported roots.
St. Jeans, Jersey. H. Paekbe.
plants alluded to were left on purpose to test the
hardiness of the variety, but, as a rule, it is not safe
to risk any of the better forms of Carnation out in
the open ground all winter. We are now busy
layering the plants, which as soon as rooted will be
put into pots and kept in a cold frame until the
spring. — J. C. C.
NOTES FROM SUFFOLK.
The Hollyhocks have bloomed, and are passing into
the sere and yellow leaf before their ordinary span
of life has been attained. Last year they were still
beautiful in early September ; and now the flowers are
nearly all gone. How lovely are these old-fashioned,
straight-stemmed, grand-looking flowers, of every
shade and of every hue. They are lovely for the
decoration of the table where flat arrangements (not
the most graceful, but by far the most convenient)
are permitted. The usual foliage of the Hollyhock
is, it is true, somewhat coarse and heavy, but those
severe critics who insist that each flower should,
when cut, have its own foliage, may be comforted
by the fact that the cut-leaved Hollyhocks are by
no means uncommon, the leaves strap-shaped, re-
sembling Horse Chestnut leaves, the segments being
more numerous and narrower. Of the Lilies, some
of the plants of Lilium auratum have bloomed, some
are blooming, and some are still in different stages of
budding beauty. One bulb promises 125 blossoms,
or more, a rich harvest for a small outlay of a few
pence five years since ; there in the Rhododendron
border these golden rayed Lilies bloom year after
year untouched. With them are also in flower Tiger
Lilies and Lilium longiflorum (Harrisi, or Bermuda
Lily), notthe low-growing Lilium longiflorum, which
is, I am told, very free-flowering this driest of dry
summers. It is more pleasant to enumerate gains
than to score losses ; therefore it is a pleasure to
dwell on the double Pelargoniums (Ivy and zonal) and
Petunias, which both in the single and double-
flowered forms resist the drought, the little Matri-
caria inodora, which seems to revel in it, and the
sweet white Jasmine, whose beauty and fragrance
appeared to gather strength under the flercest of
summer suns. It is true that in light lands the
Raspberry crop has been a scanty one, but the
new Black Raspberry has proved a success ; the
flavour partakes of Raspberry and Blackberry, but
fruit and foliage are most certainly Raspberry.
Having strayed into the fruit garden, mention
should be made of the Plum and Apple crops.
These are in some places most abundant, while
the crops of Figs, Apricots, Peaches, Nectarines
and Pears are heavy, if only the rain would come
and keep them on the trees.
Driving through the country roads, the cottage
gardens are gay with the sweetest of flowers ; the
white Lilies, old favourites, have given place to
Fuchsia gracilis and Larkspur, while the Evening
Primrose and Sunflower vie with each other in
golden glory. Those constant Roses, Celine Fores
tier and Gloire de Dijon, cover porch and roof,
and scramble over lattice windows as if to welcome
the sunlight from every vantage ground. Soon, too
soon, the Virginian Creeper ( Ampelopsis) will assume
its autumn livery of red, but as yet there is summer
beauty in store, though country gardens are showing
purple Plums and yellow Apricots, and Sops o'
Wine Apples will soon hoist their splendid crimson
standard in the old-fashioned orchards.
SUFFOLKIAN,
Carnation The Governor. — In, our damp
climate this proves to be quite as hardy as the
old crimson Clove. AVe have some plants that
are flowering for the third season, and they are
very healthy, the blooms being as large and the
growth as vigorous as one-year-old plants. The
Plants for the drought. — In making a few
additions to the note given in The Gaeden,
Aug. G (p. 104), I may mention that we have only
been able to water once since the plants have been
put out ; anything, therefore, that has come well
out of the ordeal deserves notice for another season.
To commence with Pelargoniums. Lucius is by far
the best in the scarlet shades ; the drought has re
stricted its luxuriant growth, but not its flowering
qualities, and it is now a mass of bright colour.
Of the nosegays. Bonfire is best. In the pink shades
Master Christine, growing under the same conditions
as the old Christine, Amaranth, Mrs. Lancaster,
&c., has withstood the drought much better than
these varieties, and makes a bright and effective
bed. Flower of Spring is by far the best of the
variegated types ; its sturdy, compact habit, with
the foliage close to the ground, has kept the soil
about it fairly moist and the plant always slightly
on the move. None of the golden-leaved varieties
have made any growth, with the exception of Harry
Hieover. Of the many different inmates of the
flower garden grown especially for obtaining masses
of colour, the best have been the 'A'erbena, Petunia,
and Heliotrope. The first-named is not a general
favourite, but it always does remarkably well with
me, and is just now about the best thing in the
garden. The best varieties are Hampton Court
Scarlet and two seedlings, white and purple, selected
some years ago. The white is particularly good,
and being a vigorous grower, it soon covers the
ground. This once accomplished, drought seems to
have no effect on it, and it is at the present time a
sheet of flower. Petunias are bright and good, the
best being the old dark single purple and a large
semi-double known locally as I)uchess of Albany.
I think this season will have the effect of bringing
the Petunia into great favour. I have seen several
beds this year, and not a bad one amongst them ;
all well filled up and very bright and gay. A very
pretty bed is formed with a groundwork of dark
Petunias dotted with the variegated Maize. Helio-
tropes were rather late in being established, but
having been pegged early to cover the surface
quickly, are now flowering very freely. A bed of
dark Heliotrope, with a few plants of small Euca-
lyptus, is a pretty feature on the lawn. Of the two
double Tropjeolums, the yellow is doing remarkably
well, and has covered the bed with flower and
foliage, whilst the red is completely shrivelled up.
Tuberous Begonias are doing well with partial shade,
but in the full blaze of the sun, even with a carpet
of dwarf foliage, they are by no means satisfactory.
— E. Btjeeell.
SHORT NOTES.— FLOWER.
Plants in dry weather. — This has been a
dreadful year for annuals. Most of them have dis-
appeared some time, and herbaceous plants only cut a
sorry figure, unless they have been well mulched and
watered. Pelargoniums and succulents are now the
brightest subjects in the flower garden. — Owen
Thomas, Chatsworth.
Tufted Sandwort (Areuaria ctespitosa). — This
is a lovely rock plaut, forming a dense mat of vegeta-
tion, and the white, star-like flowers are abundantly
produced. It should be planted by the edges of stoups,
so that the gi'owth can creep over them, and ordi-
nary soil will suffice, provided it is light and well
drained. This Ai-enaria is of more luxuriant growth
than the Balearic Sandwort (A. halearica), but both
should he on every rockery. — E.
Platycodon grandiflorum Mariesi. — This
is now in bloom on the Kew rockery, and its neat,
bushy, compact, but vigorous growth at once arrests
attention. The deep purple flowers, freely produced,
are as large as those of the type, and of bell-shape
form. It is planted on a sunny ledge where the soil is
of good quality, and gi'ows to about 1 foot in height.
We may also mention that the old Chinese Bellflower
(P. gi'andiflornm) has flowered well this season. It is
a most useful plant either for the rockery or border,
and does best in a light loamy soil. — E.
The flat-leaved Sea Holly (Eryngium planum).
— I was in a garden the other day and noticed a
splendid clump of this Sea Holly on the rockery. The
plants were crowded with bees, while others of a
different class hard by were left untouched. At a
recent meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society
Mr. G. P. Wilson showed a head of Eryngium
giganteum for which, he mentioned, bees had a decided
preference. B. planum grows about 2 feet high, the
flower-heads small and steel-blue, and the narrow, spiny
bracts of the same colour. It is useful for either the
border or rockery. — E. C.
The Canadian Ifettle. — Can you give me any
information about a plant which, if Irememher rightly,
was common in our gardens many years ago, and
known as the Canadian Nettle ? Thinking it was
what the name implied, I never took the trouble to
examine it. The name, I find, is floating in the minds
of some gardeners, hut they mostly identify it with
the Coleus, which it resembles in the variegated
Aug. 20, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
147
leaves, but the Coleus is a Labiate plant, and belongs
to this side of the Atlantic. An eminent nursery
gardener says the only plant he is acquainted w-ith that
is likely to be called the Canadian Xettle is Monarda
didyma (Libiata;), better known in Eughmd as Ber-
ga mot. — ^Aphi s .
NOTES ON HARDY PLANTS.
The severe and protracted drought has had a very
disastrous effect on most of our alpine and herba-
ceous plants, and where the soil is sandy and the
water supply small the survivals are almost sure to
be in the minority, amongst rarities especially. The
dry season, although very disastrous to some, has
brought out the good qualities of others, and in
none more so than in the case of Calandrinias,
Portulacas, and Mesembryanthemums. I never re-
member to have seen these plants more beautiful or
with such a profusion of flowers as they have this
year. They are growing on the sunniest and driest
spots we could find for them, and although they
have had no water, yet their succulent leaves are as
plump and healthy as could well be desired. These
charming annuals are very easily managed ; we sow
in a gentle bottom heat early in spring, say the
latter end of March, prick off when ready to
handle into 2-inch pots or boxes, and plant out
when they are large enough to take care of them-
selves. Calaudrinia glauca (syns., C. grandiflora and
discolor), C. speciosa, and the handsome variety
alba, &c., are gems for warm borders. Portulaca
grandiflora and its numerous and varied coloured
varieties are also excellent for this work. Spraguea
umbellata, a most curious, but pretty plant, and as
easy to manage as the others ; Mesembryanthemum
tricolor and the variety alba, M. Pomeridianum,
capitatum, and others are all highly desirable, and
may be recommended for the driest spots in the
garden. K.
Sea Hollies (Eryngiums). — These are now at
their best, and there are few plants in the garden
more attractive or capable of standing severe
drought with less damage. E. Oliverianum is one
of the very noblest, and certainly the brightest
coloured at the present time, with its steel-blue,
pointed, involucre bracts. This plant is often con-
founded with E. amethystinum, but the latter is
never more than a foot or so high, with smaller and
less vividly coloured flower-heads ; while Oliveri-
anum grows from 3 feet to i feet in height, and
is much larger in all its parts. E. amethystinum is,
however, not to be despised, as it just fits the first
row of the mixed border, the other coming in two
rows or so further back. E. giganteum is very free,
and perhaps more so this season than we have ever
seen it before. For isolated groups it can hardly
be surpassed ; the bold entire "foliage and gigantic
flower-stems, and heads of a pale grey, are very
effective in this way. We use it with good effect
on the rookery, where clumps at intervals almost on
a level with the eye show to the best advantage. It
can be raised in any quantity from seed, the plants
flowering the second year. E. alpinum when well
grown is a very handsome and highly ornamental
species ; it thrives well in a shady border in stiff
loam, but also does well exposed. E. ca:ruleum,
Bourgati, planum, aquaticum, paniculatum, Serra
Lasseauxi, and many others are all worthy of culti-
vation where room can be found for them on a dry,
well-drained bank or border. — K.
Sphenogyne speciosa. — This has so long been
known and is so widely grown under the above
name, that I fear its new one of Ursinia will hardly
be universally adopted in our time. They say there
is nothing in a name, but if those who argue so will
only watch with what tenacity gardeners will stick
to this old name of Sphenogyne, they will change
their opinion. We do not indeed wish "it otherwise ;
the simpler they are the better, and if descriptive
and pretty, so much the more so. The different
species of Sphenogyne seem very nearly allied to
each other, and the species we have this year re-
ceived under the name of anthemoides diffe"rs little
from speciosa, unless in having the under-side of
the ray florets smoky purple, instead of being self-
coloured. This does not, however, affect the beauty
of either plant ; indeed, we find them the most use-
ful and most free-flowering of all annuals while in
season, and even while the seed is ripening the
disc florets develop and spread open, making the
head very beautiful. We sow them all in the open
air along with the other hardy annuals about the
end of March or beginning of April, and simply
thin out where the plants are too thick to develop
freely. S. speciosa has large bright orange-yellow
flowers, a brownish disc, and with a black ring
round the base of the ray florets. The variety sul-
phurea has pale sulphur flowers, and is also well
worth procuring. — K.
TREATMENT OF LILIUMS.
At the present time we have a very excellent dis-
play of LUiums in pots — principally L. auratum —
and as the point in their culture to which I wish to
draw attention has to do with the plants after they
pass out of bloom, the present would be the best
time to allude to it. In some gardens the bulbs of
Lilium auratum have a tendency to degenerate, or
die altogether ; whereas, if they are carefully man-
aged, they will increase in vigour year by year.
This failure to maintain a vigorous growth is caused,
I believe, by either neglecting the plants after the
blooms fade, or giving them improper treatment.
Any plant, bulbous or otherwise, when grown in a pot
is perfectly under control, and if pot plants fail to
do well, the reason ought to be sought for and the
remedy applied. When a Lilium has produced its
flowers the work of the plant is not over for the
season, and the bulbs will not ripen as they ought
to do unless this plain fact is recognised. The
plants, it must be admitted, are not very ornamen-
tal after the flowers fade, but this is no reason why
they should be turned out of doors, crowded to-
gether, and either neglected for want of water at the
roots, or deluged with heavy autumnal rains. I
have seen bulbs turned out of their pots in October
with the soil soaking wet, and as a result of this the
fibrous roots quite dead, the bulbs black at the base,
and dropping to pieces with a touch of the fingers.
L. auratum bulbs in this state are not worth look-
ing after ; throw them on the rubbish heap, and
purchase a fresh lot in a healthy state.
When the bulbs are in good condition they will
be found enclosed in a mass of active fibrous roots,
which are matted so closely together that the ball
is not easily broken up ; half of them are stem roots,
and the others have issued from the base of the
bulbs. It is perhaps a wise provision of Nature
that the roots which have issued freely from the
base of the stems form over the vital part of the
bulbs a network almost impenetrable to rain. After
the plants have done flowering they are placed to-
gether in a cool greenhouse, where they are freely
exposed to light and air, and receive only sufllcient
water to keep the soil from becoming dust-dry.
October is the month in which to pot the bulbs.
Before doing so the old stems are wrenched out at
their base with all the roots attached to them. The
bulb roots are disturbed but little, and if the bulbs
themselves have sufficiently increased in size they
are shifted into larger pots accordingly. Good pot-
ting soil for Lilium auratum, L. lancifolium, L.
longiflorum, and, indeed, most of the genus, is two
parts good fibrous loam, one part fibrous peat, and
a little leaf -mould and sand. We mostly add to it
some broken-up charcoal, but I am not sure if this
is really beneficial. The roots do not seem to attach
themselves to charcoal, but rather avoid it; while,
on the other hand, they revel in small pieces of de-
caying bark, or small portions of wood that may be
in the leaf-mould. Plenty of drainage in the bot-
tom of the fpots is necessary. It is not safe to
plunge the pots containing the bulbs out of doors.
The winter rains injure or destroy many of the
bulbs when placed in such a position, even if they
are plunged where water drains rapidly away.
Some persons think that under the stage of a
greenhouse is a safe and convenient resting place
for the winter. Probably this treatment is worse
than placing them out of doors, as some of them
may be too dry, while others are soaking wet. The
best place is a cold frame; if they are plunged in
Cocoa fibre the lights need only be placed there to
prevent them from getting too wet, but if the soil is
moderately moist when the bulbs are potted, no
water will be required until they have made an
inch or more of growth in the spring.
J. Douglas.
Common Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis). —
This vigorous perennial is flowering with great
freedom in spite of the drought, and it is strange
the plant is not more often grown. The growth is
robust, and the pinkish white flowers, borne in large
heads, make a fine display. Both this and the
double variety will thrive in ordinary soil, but like
plenty of sunshine and air. — E. C.
lellow Carnation Germania.— Mr. Ernest
Benary informs us that his new yellow self Carna-
tion, which was recently shown at the National
Carnation Exhibition, is to be sent out in Germany
under the name of Germania. By mistake it was
labelled Ernest Benary at Kensington. Can anyone
say who is the authority in such cases ? We pre-
sume the name chosen by the raiser would be re-
spected.
Aster Queen of the Market.— In the collec-
tion of Asters grown for trial in the Royal Horti-
cultural Society's garden at Chiswick this variety
has been blooming freely for some time, and is
considerably earlier than any of the others. It
grows about 1 foot high, the habit spreading, and
the variously coloured flowers large and well shaped,
but unfortunately many of them show the centre.
It appears to be desirable for cutting, owing to
its earliness and the length of the flower-stalks.
— E.
Satin Poppywort (Meoonopsis Wallichiana). —
There are few more stately and noble hardy plants
than this, and we were much struck with its beauty
at Kew. Several specimens have been planted in a
bay in the rook garden, the background being
formed with vigorous, deep green-leaved Bambusas,
and the sides of the rocks covered with Ferns. The
Meconopsis evidently appreciates a moist, shady
position, as the plants are fully 5 feet high, the
leafage in the best condition, and the Poppy-shaped
flowers plentiful. The peculiar shade of blue is
intensified by the deep green foliage of the Bamboos,
the whole making a beautiful natural picture. —
E.G.
Dianella aspera. — This native of New Zealand
forms a tuft of dark green Sedge-like foliage, and
bears good sized branching spikes of blossoms. The
individual blooms are whitish, and play but a small
part in the embellishment of the plant, but they
are succeeded by berries about the size of Peas,
which when ripe are of a most beautiful dark blue
colour. This Dianella flowers in the early part of
the summer, and the berries are just now ripe, and
consequently objects of great beauty. They wiU
remain on for some time if unmolested, but if the
birds can have access to them, and once commence
ravaging, they soon strip the plant. The Dianella
will flourish in a cool greenhouse, or evemin a frame
if protected from frost, but it succeeds better
planted out than in pots, though in these last good
specimens can be obtained. — H. P.
Seedling Carnations. — These have proved in-
valuable of late for supplying cut flowers, as, owing
to the protracted drought, flowers for cutting have
l^een far below the average at this season of the
year. Last season I resolved to try a packet of
good seed, and having sown it in a pan and care-
fully grown on the young plants in boxes, they had
made nice stocky growth by the end of July. At
this time a bed of gooil soil was prepared, and the
plants were put out 1 foot apart each way. Beyond
keeping them free from weeds, nothing further
was done until the spring, when the weather
proving very dry the bed received frequent soak-
ings of water, and in May the plants produced
an abundance of fine blooms, at least a fort-
night before the plants from layers. The flowers
were nearly all doubles, quite equal to those of
named sorts, and all worth growing as border plants.
I feel sure that anyone having a demand for cut
flowers cannot do better than grow a good bed of
148
THE GARDEN.
[Aug, 20, 1887.
seedling Carnations, being careful to get the seed
from a reliable source. During the last three
winters we have lost a great many of our old stock
plants of Cloves and Carnations, so that a good
supply of these seedling liinds proved a valuable
addition, for they withstand heat and drought better
than many flowers. — J. Geoom.
PAINTED LADY CARNATIONS.
Me. Bubbidgb has sent me from the Trinity Col-
lege Botanic Gardens flowers and growths of Painted
Lady Carnations. He is justly proud of his Painted
Ladies, especially his own Irish variety. Three va-
rieties are sent ; one is termed the Peel Park variety,
and the other a sport from it. They are all very
lovely fringed flowers, the colours soft rose or pale
red, the under side of the petals whitish, as are also
the margins of the petals on the upper side. Mr.
Burbidge asks, Is there not a section specially set
apart for Painted Ladies .' and if not, why not ?
There used to be a section in Miller's time, date
1733. He says the florists distinguished the Carna-
tions or Clove Gilliflowers by dividing them into four
classes. It may be interesting to quote Miller.
He says : —
The first they call flakes ; these are of two colours
only and their stripes are large, gomg quite through
the leaves (? petals). The second are called bizarres ;
these have flowers striped or variegated with four dif-
ferent colours. The third are called piquettes ; these
flowers have always a white ground, and are spotted (or
pounced as they call it) with scarlet, red, purple, or
other colours. The fourth are called Painted Ladies ;
these have their petals of a red or purple colour on
the upper side, and are white undemeath.
Miller says the piquettes were held in the greatest
esteem, but he does not care to give the names of
any of the numerous varieties in the four sections.
Then, as now, the names were either borrowed from
the owner's name, or place of abode, or from the
titles of noblemen. It is easy to gather from Miller's
work, " The Dictionary of Gardening," that the
names were very numerous.
Referring again to the three varieties sent by Mr.
Burbidge, I believe they are merely varieties of one
original plant. Indeed, it has been stated that one
is a sport, and there is no evidence that the other is
not. The Painted Lady Carnation can be traced
back to Parkinson's time, where it may be found
under a much prettier name, viz., the Dainty Lady.
Here is our old author's description taken from "The
Garden of Pleasant Flowers '' : —
Mr. Bradshaw his Dainty Lady may well be reckoned
among these sorts of Gilloflowers (twenty-nine varieties
are described) and compare for neatness with most of
them ; the flower is very neat, though small, with a fine
small jagge, and of a fine white colour, on the under
side of all the leaves, as also all the whole jagge for a
pretty compasse, and the bottom or middle part of the
flower on the upper side also ; hut each leaf is of a fhie
bright pale red colour on the upper side, from the edge
to the middle, which mixture is of wonderfuU great
delight.
It is only fair, I think, that John Parkinson should
take precedence over Philip Miller, and I would
suggest that the pretty English name of Dainty
Lady should be used instead of the equivocal name
of Painted Lady. Those who have plants in flower
of these delightful Carnations should save seeds,
and in this way raise new varieties. The fringed
edge to the petals ought to be retained. The florists
seek to obliterate the fringe, and they have suc-
ceeded in doing so as regards all the other sections
alluded to by Miller. Here, then, is an opportunity
for those who say that the florists are on the wrong
tack to work up another class of flowers of a diffe-
rent character. The Dainty Ladies have had a sec-
tion, but the varieties contained in it are lost to
cultivation. It may not be diSicult to raise similar
varieties. The stock is at present in a most healthy,
vigorous condition, and as there are also three
shades of colour, by crossing one with another there
would certainly be some variation in the first seed-
lings produced ; deeper fringes would be found
amongst them most certainly. J. Douglas.
*,,* We have received flowers of the above from
Mr. G. V. Hart, Dublin, who says that it is a most
valuable kind, being a profuse bloomer, and much
more easily flowered than many of the yellow
varieties. — Ed.
Fairy Heron's-biU (Erodium Reichardi).— This
is a very small, tufted, and exquisitely beautiful rock
plant from Majorca, the heart-shaped leaves resting on
the surface of the soil, and forming a thick mat of
vegetation. The fairy stems attain about 1^ inches in
height, and the flowers are pure white and remarkably
pretty, especially when the plant is grown in pans.
But it should also have a position on the rockery, and
where it can spread freely ; the soil should be mode-
rately light and the situation sunny. Plant by the
edge of the stones, so that it can creep over and cover
them.— E. C.
Single Petunias. — These are making a great
display this season, notwithstanding the dryness of
the soil and high temperature. A portion of a border
in the Slough Nursery is one mass of colour, the
flowers being produced so freely as to quite hide the
leaves. At the West Drayton Railway Station we also
noticed a bed of them in the most vigorous condition,
although the position was in the full sun. The colours
are bright, decided, and showy, purple and shades of
the same predominating. We must certainly class
single Petunias among hot-weather plants. — E. 0.
Ferns.
W. H. GOWEB.
NOTHOCHL.^NA SULPHUREA.
This is a veritable little gem for an intermediate
Fern house, and was first cultivated in this
country in Mr. Rucker's garden at Waudswortli.
It is a native of Peru, and was discovered by
Seemann during the expedition of H.M. S.
Herald. It first appeared in a growing state in
a nursery near Potsdam, in Prussia, about the
year 1856, from whence it found its way into
English gardens, but has never become com-
mon ; indeed, it has obtained the reputation of
being a difficult plant to grow. This, perhaps.
Nothochlaena sulphurea. Engi-aved for The Gaeden
from Nature (natviral size).
baa arisen from most cultivators placing it in a
high temperature, in which it not only is diffi-
cult to grow, but cannot long be kept alive. A
glance at our woodcut will show that the fronds
are what is called pinnato-pinnatifid, the lower
segments the largest ; the stem, which is ebony-
black, seldom exceeds 3 inches to 4 inches in
height ; upper side of frond bright green, be-
neath densely covered with a rich yellow farinose
powder. It is the Cheilanthes Borsigiana of
Reichenbaoh, and Pteria sulphurea of the old-
fashioned nomenclature.
NoTHOCHL.ENA TuicHOJiANOiDEs. — This is by
no means a common Fern in cultivation, yet it is
one of the most handsome when grown in a
hanging basket. The fronds are pendulous,
from 12 inches to 18 inches long when well
grown, pinnate ; the segments are slightly
toothed at the edges, deep green on the upper
side, beneath they are densely covered with
white stellate scales, which change to a rusty
brown with age ; over these there is a thin cover-
ing of white farinose powder, and the edges are
ornamented with a marginal line of black sori.
It is a somewhat difficult plant to bring through
the winter months, for although it will grow
freely in summer, enjoying abundance of heat
Q-.
Notliochltena trichomanoides.
and moisture, water must be very carefully
given through the dull months. It should bo
potted in peat and Sphagnum Moss, with the
addition of a little lo.im. Native of Jamaica.
NephTOlepis Bausei and BuGB. — The former
of these is a garden variety, raised from seed by the
gentleman whose name it bears. Its fronds are
erect, from 1 foot to 2 feet in height, once divided
(pinnate), the segments being deeply cut into nar-
row, recurved lobes, which give it a peculiar light
appearance; the colour is briglit light green. N.
Duffi is an erect-tufted plant, introduced a few years
ago by Mr. Bull; it is oneof the few examples of a wild
crested form of an exotic Fern being introduced ;
the fronds are ramified near the base, each branch
bearing upon its apes numerous short branches which
form a handsome flat crest, whilst all the pinnse are
reduced to somewhat small sub-rotund segipents,
which are toothed on the edges. Both these kinds
are extensively grown by Mr. House at Park Hill,
Streatham, for the embellishment of the dwelling-
house, N. Dufti being also largely used in a cut
state with flowers in the glasses.
Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis). — This is one of
the finest of hardy Penis and when grown under proper
conditions, it thrives with great vigour. The most
Aug. 20, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
149
suitable position for it in the garden is in a shady dell
■where there is plenty of moisture and a moderate
amount of shade. If the soil is peaty, damp, and of
good depth, and the surroundings of the right descrip-
tion, this lovelT Fern will rise to a great height, and
■when seen in the form of large specimens, one can
readily imagine why such an appropriate English name
as " Royal " was given. The small, stunted plants ■we
frequently see convey no idea of the nohle beauty of
Osmnndaregalis.— E.
Platycerium Willincki. — A beautiful member
of the Stag's-horn Ferns, introduced some few years
since by the Messrs. Yeitch from Java; its barren
fronds (or shields as they are popularly caUed) are
erect, imbricated, and many times lobed on the
upper edge : they die annually, but are persistent,
■which is the character of the African P. Stemaria,
and, like the last-named plant, it also produces
young plants freely from its roots. The fertile
fronds are pendent," 2 feet to 3 feet long, dichoto-
mously divided into long, narrow, strap-shaped seg-
ments, which bear the sori near the tips on the
lower side. This is perhaps the most elegant of all
the cultivated Stag's-horn Ferns, and is admirably
adapted for growing in a hanging basket, or for
placing upon a bracket. We recently observed fine
specimens of this species in Mr. Tait's fernery at
Park Hill, Streatham, and also in the fernery of
Canon Bridge's at Beddington ; in both places it is
said to enjoy a strong, moist heat. — W. H. G.
Stove and Greenhouse.
HABROTHAMNUS.
The conimonest kind of Habrothamnus, H. ele-
gans, is a well-known plant that accommodates
itself to various uses, either as a pot specimen
grown bush fashion or as a standard, in which
latter form it looks much the best and is the
most useful, especially when to be located in a
roomy conservatory. It is very effective grown
on a 5-feet or 6-feet stem, with a proportionate
head ; the elegantly arched drooping shoots bear
dense masses of pendent epaulette-like flowers,
that last long either on the plant or when cut.
The colour of the flowers may be described as
duU carmine, with a shade of reddish violet.
Although several of the species are well
adapted for pot culture, still, when so confined,
the plants never show to such advantage as
when planted out and trained to a pillar, or used
for covering a wall. In a lofty conservatory
■where the branches have room to extend la-
terally as well as upward, they seldom fail to
look well. Not the least of their merits is that
they are amongst the easiest of all hard-wooded
plants to grow ; their vigorous habit enables
them to cover a very large space in little time,
whilst they readily submit to being cut in, so as
to be con fined to comparatively little room.
Though H. elegans is much the best known and
most extensively grown, it is yet very inferior
to .several others. There is some confusion in the
correct names of several of the kinds in cultiva-
tion. By far the best with which I am ac-
quainted is one that I received and grew under
the name of H. NeweUi ; in strength and habit
of growth it does not differ much from H. ele-
gans, but the flowers are much brighter ; so
much so, that the last-named is valueless com-
pared with H. NeweUi. The colour I should
describe as ■yivid red. It is an exceedingly free
bloomer, the terminal bunches being much
larger than those of H. elegans, whilst some
thing like five or six smaller bunches are borne
at the joints below the extremities. Another
fine kind I had under the name of H. fasciou-
latus, and which I have several times met with
bearing the same name, has flowers of a bright
crimson colour, the bunches not so dense as
those of H. Newelli. Then there is H. auran-
tiaous, or, as it is sometimes called, Oestrum
aurantiacum ; the flowers of this distinct species
are orange-yellow ; they are borne in smaller
bunches than those of the kinds previously
named. It is a free grower, but not qtiite so
strong as the others. Like them, it can be grown
either in pots or planted out.
The kinds mentioned are well worthy of cul-
tivation, especially where there is a large, cool
house, or a corridor from -which the frost can be
kept out in ■winter. The plants strike as freely
from cuttings as Fuchsias. They can be pro-
pagated at any time, from as early in the spring
as young shoots are obtainable up to the end of
summer. If cuttings are put in during the
present month, and kept through the -winter in
gentle warmth, they will be in advance of such
as are rooted next spring, and will make much
more progress in the summer. Young shoots
should be chosen that have not any flower-buds
in them ; they may usually be found in right
condition proceeding from branches that have
been cut with the flowers. They are best put
singly in 3-inch pots filled with a mixture of
sand and peat. Kept in a moderate heat,
covered with a propagating glass, and attended
to -srith moisture and shade, the cuttings -will
soon root. After they are well rooted the heat
may be reduced somewhat. It -will be better to
let the little plants remain for the ■winter in the
pots in which they have been struck, giving them
a shift early in spring. During the winter a tem-
perature of 50° -will be better than one lower
for them, as in it they will keep moving slowly.
They are free rooters, and when moved wiU
bear putting into 6-inoh or 7-inch pots. If the
plants can have an intermediate temperature
through the spring it will greatly help them to
gain size. By midsummer they maybe put into
pots 3 inches or 4 inches larger now, using the
peat in a more lumpy state, but it must have
a liberal quantity of sand added, as the plants
require a good deal of -water. When they
are to be grown bush-shape in pots, the lead-
ing shoot must be stopped to cause the produc-
tion of sufficient branches to furnish the future
specimens. If as standards, keep the stems clear
of lateral growth untU the desired height
is secured ; subsequently, any shoots that
outgrow the rest must be pinched back untU
the°heads are sufficiently dense. By the time
the second spring comes round after the cuttings
were struck, such as are intended to be grown
as climbers, or for covering walls, <tc. , may be
planted out. A good bed of weU-prepared soil
should be made proportionate in size to that
which the plants are to be grown to, draining it
sufficiently, now adding some rotten manure to
the soil. With these, as with all plants that are
required to fill a given space, be it clothing a
pillar or covering a -wall, care should be taken that
the branches are so disposed of at the commence-
ment that the lower part of the positions to be
filled is sufficiently furnished. If, in place of
this, the branches are allowed to run up as they
like, there will be difficulty in covering the
bottom of the wall afterwards. The plants, as
already said, will bear cutting in freely without
suffering in the least. When the required space
is fiUed, each spring before growth commences
the shoots may be shortened back so far as
necessary to keep the surface clothed with
flowering growth. When -well managed some
of the kinds flower more or less during the
greater portion of the year. As might be sup-
posed, free-growing things of this character re-
quire to be well supported at the roots, for
however well the bed in which they are planted
is made they soon exhaust it, necessitating
rich top-dressings annually; these should be
given in spring. In summer give manure water
frequently ; by these means the vigour of the
plants may be kept up for many years.
THE GOLDEN-RAYED LILY.
(LlLim AUEATUII.)
THEnE are now so many forms of this LOy, differ-
ing principally from each other in the markings of
the flowers, that at least in the case of some of
them the name of Golden-rayed Lily seems inap-
propriate ; while, on the other hand, some of the
varieties have the rich golden band very clearly
defined, and usually accompanied by beautifully-
spotted petals. Enormous quantities of bulbs are
every year imported into this country, and disposed
of in great numbers at the various auction sales
during the winter months. Among the bulbs thus
brought together, a great variety is to be found in
the profusion in which the flowers are borne, in
their size, markings, and manner of arrangement on
the stem. As wide a difference also exists in the
height of the stem, the arrangement of the foliage
thereon, and in the size and shape of the leaves.
A very good variety more especially adapted for pot
culture is that characterised by stout, sturdy stems
(dwarfer than many others), rather narrow pointed
leaves thickly arranged on the stem, and, generally
speaking, well shaped blooms prettily spotted. A
direct contrast to this, and one greatly inferior as
an ornamental plant, is furnished by a variety
which, as a rule, is taller growing than the last, but
with a fewer number of leaves on the stem, and
loose-looking blooms, which, from the length and
weakness of the flower-stalks, hang down in such a
manner that much of their beauty is lost. Besides
this, the flowers are mostly very inferior in their
markings to the shorter and more sturdy-habited
varieties. Especially during a very hot summer,
and moreparticuhirly in a position fully exposed to
the sun, L. auratum is sometimes apt to lose a
great many leaves, and when this happens the
flowers seldom open in a satisfactory manner. This
disease, or whatever it may be, I find affects
the loose-growing kinds more readily than it does
the shorter, sturdier, and more densely-leaved
forms. The best time to note the points of difference
between them is when a great number are gro-wn
together under exactly the same conditions ; for in
some particulars (that of height, for instance) a
very great deal will depend upon the conditions
under which they are grown, for if two plants are
kept in pots, and one is grown entirely under glass
while the other is kept outside until the blooms are on
the point of expanding, this last will not be above half
the height of the one that was protected throughout
its gro-wlng season. I once saw a quantity of this
Lily that was required for a certain purpose, the
principal consideration being to have the plants as
dwarf as possible. This object was attained by
laying the bulbs in the open ground during the
winter, and not potting them till they started mto
growth in the spring, when they were then potted
and again plunged in the open ground. From the
late season at which the bulbs were potted there
were a few losses amongst them, but the majority
did well, and in most cases flowered when stm
dwarf. Where this Lily is grown in pots for indoor
decoration a succession can be maintained for some
time, even though it does not submit to forcing
well, as by a little gentle heat it can be had in
bloom a month earlier than in the open ground,
while by keeping some in a cool shady position,
many of them can be retarded for a corresponding
period. From the vast number of different forms
of this Lily a few of the most distinct have had
varietal names bestowed upon them. One of the
finest of all the named varieties is platyphyUum,
which when first introduced caused quite a sensa-
tion, but within the last two or three years it has
been imported in greater numbers, and disposed of
at the various auctions of bulbs during the -winter,
not only under the name of platyphyUum, but also
as macranthum. This variety is altogether a bolder
growing plant than the ordinary auratum, and the
stem is clothed with large, handsome leaves, which
attract attention before the flowers make their
appearance.
150
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 20, 1887.
The blooms, too, are also far more conspicuous
than, those of the other forms, both in their
size and massive wax-like character. They are
shallower than the common kind, being indeed in
many cases almost saucer-like in shape. The most
densely spotted variety of auratum, with occasion-
ally a faint reddish streak down the centre of
each petal, is known as pictuni, while that in
which the streak is more clearly defined is rubro-
vittatum. The best in this way is cruentum, of
which a coloured plate was given several years ago
in The Garden, but even after the lapse of so long a
time it is still very scarce, and always commands a
good price. Some forms of this are greatly superior
in their markings to others. Another very pretty,
but rare kind is virginale, clear white, escept a
slight yellowish band down the centre of each
petal. Where L. auratum is grown in pots, thorough
drainage must be given, and at the same time the
plants must not be allowed to suffer for want of
water. If grown in small pots the bulbs should be
put in as deep as possible, for shallow planting is
very injurious to this Lily in pots as well as in the
open ground. With regard to purchasing the bulbs
during the winter, I prefer to get them as soon as
possible after their arrival in this country, and lay
them in sand kept slightly moist until the roots
commence to start, when they are at once potted.
With regard to the size of the bulbs, my experience
of previous years has been still further strengthened
this season, and I can safely say that the very large
bulbs do not as a rule give a correspondingly large
amount of bloom, for some of the smaller bulbs will
push up a stem quite equal in strength to that pro-
duced by others twice the size. The different varie-
ties, except platyphyllum, cannot be distinguished by
the bulbs, but this has a bulb composed of larger
and whiter scales than the others, and can be readily
picked out. H. P.
Hardiness of the Chili Jasmine (Mandevilla
suaveolens). — Having read the article on the Man-
devilla suaveolens in The Gaedbn, Aug. li (p. 107),
I think it may be of interest to you to hear that we
have here a very healthy plant of the same which
has now lived out of doors for seven years. It was
raised from seed sent from the Cape, and planted
out the second year as an experiment in a very
warm and sunny corner of a courtyard in the angle
formed by the south and west walls. It has now
climbed up to the roof about 16 feet from the
ground. Being out of doors, the blossom is not
abundant, four or five sprays being the most that
have been gathered from it in one season. This
year as yet we have had only one bloom. No doubt
the dryness of the atmosphere has caused the
s:;arcity of bloom, as the plant grows luxuriantly,
and is in a very healthy condition. In winter the
lower part of the stem is protected by matting, and
the roots by stable manure. Should there be any
more blossom on it this year, I will send you a
specimen by post, though it fades so quickly after
bjing cut that I fear it will not reach you in very
good condition.— V. M., Comhe, Iloniton, Itevon-
sldre.
Begonias at Swanley.— The enormous quan-
tity of these flowers grown by Mr. Cannell fully
proves how popular this class of plants has become.
It is hardly possible to conceive the immense stride
that has been made with these plants in such a short
period of time ; all shades of colours and mixtures
of colours are here represented, and there is no doubt
but that the tuberous Begonias are unequalled for
outdoor work during the end of summer and late
autumn. Wet weather does not affect them, but
they suffer somewhat from such excessive heat as
we have recently been experiencing. We subjoin
the names of a few of the best kinds which were
blooming during our visit, but immense numbers of
seedlings of this year's raising have not yet opened
their flowers, so that fresh forms may be expected
later on in the season. Amongst doubles we noted
Felix Crousse, orange-scarlet ; Madame Croussc,
outer petals salmon, centre nankeen-ealmon, very
handsome; Mons.Duvivier,rosycrimsoD,verydouble;
Virginalis, pure white, fine ; Louis d'Or, a distinct
shade of yellow, very free ; Goliath, very large, rich
cerise-crimson ; Rosamonde, large and double, rosy
pink ; Agnes Sorel, large and full, salmon-pink ;
Grandville, guard petals silvery blush, centre soft
salmon-pink, very double and free ; Madame Arnoult,
pinkish blush, fine shape, and free. Single flowers
are numerous and of exquisite shades of colour.
Amongst the most attractive to the eye were Lady
Kirk, soft salmon ; Mrs. Cannell, pure rose, paler in
the centre ; W. E. Gumbleton, rosy magenta ; Riive
d'Or, pure yellow ; Mrs. Nash, rosy red, with light
centre ; Mrs. Laing, a free-branching variety, with
pure white flowers; Charles Fellowes, a dwarf form,
with reddish crimson flowers ; Earl of Bessborough,
yellowish buff, very free ; Glow-worm, intense fiery
crimson ; Mr. Cockburn, orange - scarlet ; Mrs.
Edwards, light pink, very large ; Miss Malcolmson,
a very fine large white ; Mr. Murphy, very bright
pink ; Countess of Bessborough, rich golden yellow,
very fine ; King of the Begonias, intense crimson-
scarlet ; Purple Gem , deep rose, suffused with purple,
&o.— W. H. G.
CUT FLOWERS IN COMPETITION.
At an exhibition of plants, flowers, &c., held at
Wellingborough on August 5, there was an open
class for twenty-four bunches of flowers, not less
than twelve varieties. Three exhibitors competed,
and two of them had collections of such things as
AUamandas, Dipladenias, Ericas, Lapagerias, Kalo
santhes, Eueharises, and Bougainvilleas. The
other set up twenty-four bunches of hardy flowers
of the herbaceous type, large, bright, well ar-
ranged, and well set-up bunches of really good
things, all of the highest quality and in the
freshest condition. It made one of the fea-
tures of the show, and I think I never before
saw an exhibit of bunches of hardy flowers of such
fine and striking character. One collection of stove
and greenhouse cut flowers was out of the question,
it was so poor ; the other was arranged in bunches
on the usual surface of Moss, but quite close down
upon it; but little, if any, taste was displayed in the
arrangement, not a few of the things were poor
and in some cases much faded. AUamandas, Dip-
ladenias, Lapagerias, Eucharis, &o., made showy
bunches, but in the case of the last two the indi-
vidual flowers lacked quality. One of the judges
held that the hardy flowers could not compete
with the stove and greenhouse plants, but the only
restriction in the class was to the effect that it
was confined to twenty-four bunches of not less
than twelve varieties. He held that quality was on
the side of the stove and greenhouse plants, mean-
ing thereby that they are of a more expensive cha-
racter. Of real quality of flower there was
scarcely any. On the side of the hardy flowers
there was quality of the highest order, and they
were in as good a condition as could well be
imagined. In bulk they were about six times that
of the stove and greenhouse cut flowers. The two
judges thus divided in opinion, a gardener was
called in as a referee, with the result that he
decided for the stove and greenhouse flowers
on the ground that quality had to be consi-
dered. And so it is that a silly prejudice in favour
of a sentiment of quality frequently works unjustly
against those who stage hardy flowers in the very
best condition.
Let me give the names of the subjects staged in
such fine character on this occasion : Achillea Ptar-
mica fl.-pl., Amberboa odorata, a glorious bunch ;
Catananche bicolor and C. casrulea ; Coreopsis lanceo-
lata, very fine; Carnations Old Crimson Clove, Mrs.
Forester and seedling scarlet; Eohinops Ritro,
Gladiolus Amaltb^e, Gaillardia seedling, of the
picta type; Eryngium amethystinum, Gypsophila
paniculata, Helianthus multiflorus major, and its
double form also ; Harpalium rigidum, Lilium
auratum, chalcedonicum, longiflorum, and tigrinum
plenum, all of very fine quality; Monarda didyma,
Papaver nudicaule alba and miniatura, and Soabiosa
caucasica — not a weak bunch among them. Among
the bunches of flowers in the winning stand were L.
auratum and L. longiflorum, of very poor quality.
I have the satisfaction of knowing that I fought
hard for the proper recognition of this stand of
flowers, but prejudice and a merely artificial method
of valuation proved too strong. How I wished that
someone like Mr. Geo. Paul had been the referee in
this case. I am sure the result would have been
very different. R. n.
TUBEROUS-ROOTED TROP^OLUMS.
The greenhouse species of Trop;eolum, which are
excelled in grace by no other climbing plants, ought
to be potted at once. At this time of year they
quickly make roots, whereas if the potting is de-
ferred until late in autumn, the comparatively low
temperature retards root-activity. The consequence
is that only feeble growth is made before the dark
days arrive, and a great amount of care is necessary
to keep the plants in health. I used to grow these
Trop.-eolums to large dimensions, but I was never
very successful with them when I put oft' the potting
until October. My rule was to get them potted up
during the last week of August, as I found that in
common with bulbous and many tuberous-rooted
plants the natural rooting season commenced in
September. Owing to the brittle nature of these
plants they cannot well be shifted, and the tubers
must be put directly into their blooming pots. For
this reason a greater amount of drainage must be
given than is customary in the case of flowering
plants. A good sized tuber will require an 8-inoh
pot, and an inch of drainage is none too much with
some fibrous material on it. If a pinch of soot is
scattered on this, the pots may be plunged to the
rims in a frame. This plunging of the pots is indeed
half the secret in successfully growing these Tro-
pi\3olums. It keeps the soil free from any rapid
atmospheric fluctuation. There is no necessity to
water until a good amount of growth is made and
the roots are actively at work. There is no place
so good for them in their earlier stages of grovrth
as a rather deep pit which will admit of a trellis
being fixed as soon as growth commences. If this
cannot be done, put in three or four sticks, and coil
the young shoots round them as they grow. The
plants may remain there until the end of October,
when they may be placed with the ordinary occupants
of the greenhouse. The soil for these Tropaiolums
should be rather light, and consist of two-thirds good
fibrous loam with one-third leaf soil, adding a little
peat in small nodules, with quite one-sixth of silver
sand. If the loam is rather heavy, add more of the
other ingredients, and for the charming, but little
known, T. azureum, the loam should be in the pro-
portion of one-half only. This is a delicate species,
and requires very careful handling in the matter of
watering during the winter months.
These Tropajolums present such a charmingly
fresh appearance, are so distinct and effective when
in bloom, and are so admirably adapted for train-
ing up the rafters in small houses, that it is
much to be regretted that they are not more often
grown. As to T. azureum, it is probably one of the
rarest plants in cultivation in this country, and I
believe that the only stock of it is in the hands of
one or two German nurserymen. By the way, do
any of your readers know a white-flowered species?
Some years ago it was asserted in a contemporary
that such a kind was in cultivation. I have never
seen any mention made of it since, so that I con-
clude that either there was a mistake made, or that
the plant has disappeared, unless, as may be the
case, it has baffled the propagator's art. If such a
kind exists I should be happy to get it. I fancy
it would be a variety of azureum, which has a
clear white eye. I suppose that there is no likeli-
hood of obtaining hybrid forms from these Tro])seo-
lums. I have tried cross-fertilisation with no suc-
cess, although I have raised hundreds of seedlings
from trioolorum, brachyceras, and azureum. The
first named bear sufticient aftinity as regard struc-
ture and colour as to warrant the hope of obtaining
cross-bred plants. Azureum is so different in form
and colour as to render any union with other kinds
improbable. If hybrids were obtained, they would
probably exhibit the curious mixture of tints that
some of the hybrid Columbines do. One important
point th.at I have omitted to mention in connection
with the culture of these Tropieolums is the neces-
Aug. 20, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
151
sity for attention after the blooming season. If the
bulbs are dried off suddenly they are apt to shrivel,
and do not start well the following year. J. C.
Syfleet.
The purple-flowered Indigo plant (Indigo-
fera floribunda). — This is a very showy member of
the shrubby Leguminosaj, but one that is rather
tender, for, unless protected by a wall, it seldom
flowers well, being usually injured during the win-
ter. When trained to a wall it must not be tied
thereto in too formal a manner, as it is seen to the
greatest advantage when the slender shoots are
allowed to dispose themselves gracefully, and par-
tially droop with their wealth of beautiful rosy
purple blossoms. Besides its value as a wall plant,
it can, in especially favoured spots along the south
coast, be grown planted] out in the open, or, where
the cold is too severe for this, as a flowering plant
for the embellishment of the conservatory. When
used for this purpose the plants can be plunged
outside till the blooms make their appearance, when
they may be removed under glass. There is a white-
flowered form of this Indigof era which was awarded
a first-class certificate at Kensington some two or
three years ago, and a very pretty contrast it makes
with the ordinary type. Indigofera Gerardiana
seems to be hardier than the foregoing, and forms
rather a dwarf, compact bush, which is now laden
with its bright rosy pink blossoms. It stands out
very conspicuously now owing to most flowering
shrubs being past their best. — T.
The Crape Myrtle (Lagerstrcemia indica). —
In the rage for novelties, many old plants of ster-
ling merit are apt to be overlooked, and in the
front rank of these may well be placed this beauti-
ful shrub, which, without any particular care or
attention, will be about this season heavily laden
with its bright rose-pink coloured flowers, whose
beautifully crimped and frilled petals add so much
to the attractiveness of the specimen. It is a plant
that is almost hardy, yet it is frequently kept in a
stove, where, as a rule, it grows freely, but flowers
little. The best place for this in order to flower it
successfully is an intermediate house during the
growing season, and it may be wintered in a lower
temperature, as upon the winter's rest will the
future display of blossoms to a great extent depend.
There are two varieties, in one of which the blooms
are lighter in colour than that above mentioned,
and are not so showy in a mass. These Lager-
stroemias are known as Indian Lilacs and Crape
Myrtles. They can be easily propagated by cuttings
of the young shoots put in during the summer and
kept close till rooted ; or cuttings of the older wood
may be put in at any time during the autumn, and
will strike fairly well if kept in a greenhouse. —
H. P.
SHORT NOTES.— STOVE AND GREENHOVSE.
Imported bulbs of Lilium auratum. — Will
any reader of The Garden kindly advise as to the
best treatment of these in order to flower them in the
second and subsequent years in pots ? — G. W. D,
Passiflora prineeps. — We have received from
Mr. Greenwood Pirn, Dubliu , flowers of the above from
the open air. The plant is iu a temperate house, but
a shoot has crept out and is flowering freely.
Pelargonium Henri Jaeoby.— This makes a
telling mass of colour, and has a dwarf habit of growth.
Planted in a deep fairly rich soU, and given only a
moderate supply of water, it is the most satisfactory
variety we have out of a large number of sorts. It
bears medium-sized trusses of dark crimson flowers. —
J, C. C.
Tacsonia exoniensis. — This is a garden hy-
brid, obtained between T. Van Volxemi and T. molUs-
sima. It is a robust grower and a wonderfully free
. bloomer. It is just now in great beauty in the gi'een-
house at Kew, its long, pendulous shoots laden with
its large purplish magenta flowers hanging in festoons
from the roof. Tacsonias thrive iu a compost com-
posed of equal parts of peat, loam, and leaf-mould,
with a little sharp sand added, and if they are required
to fill a large space they succeed best when planted
out.— W. H. G.
Crossandra undulsefolia. — A coloured plate
of this plant was given in The Garden, and
being much struck with it I obtained a speci-
men and have grown it ever since. One great
merit is that it will continue to bloom for a
long time. We have had some in flower for
weeks, and they bid fair to continue some time
longer. It may be also so treated as to have it in
bloom in mid-winter, provided the plants are grown
on freely during the summer and not allowed to
bloom at that time. The flowers are borne in a
terminal spike, in such a manner as to suggest a
close affinity to the Aphelandras, but the individual
blooms are rather larger and of a distinct bright
salmon colour. It is a plant of very easy propaga-
tion and culture, the one thing to guard against
being to see that the plants do not run up leggy
during their earlier stages, to prevent which they
must be occasionally pinched back, and a telling
effect is also produced by grouping several in a
large pot or deep pan. Occasional doses of weak
liquid manure are of service as the flower-buds
make their appearance. — H. P.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Carnations, winter- flowering. — In excep-
tionally dry summers, like the present, when,
even with fair attention to watering, plants
make little progress, the advantage of strik-
ing cuttings of winter-flowering Carnations in
autumn, rather than deferring it until later, is
already seen in the size and strength of the early-
struck stock as compared with such as were struck
in spring. This holds good both with stock that is
planted out and with plants that are grown in pots,
though in ordinary summers the former usually
leave the latter behind, for unless the roots are
kept constantly and plentifully supplied with water,
little progress is made. Occasional waterings or
sprinklings are of little use beyond keeping the
plants alive. Should the dry weather continue, if
means are not taken to keep the plants moving
freely during the next four or five weeks, the grow-
ing season will come to an end with the stock
intended to bloom early in winter so deficient in
size as to be incapable of giving the quantity of
flowers that should be forthcoming. The benefit of
mulching the soil as far as the roots extend was
never more apparent than in the present season.
The best material for the purpose is rotten stable
manure free from litter, or with the litter fairly de-
composed. Plants that are meant to bloom during
the late autumn months should now be pushing up
their bloom-stems ; these take a longer time between
their first beginning to extend and the flowers
opening than those who have not noted their pro-
gress suppose ; consequently mistakes are often
made by stopping the shoots too late, through
which a break in the supply of flowers is caused.
Due attention must also be given to the later stock
meant to bloom in spring ; i£ the plants are wanting
in size and strength when the grovring season comes
to a close, little or nothing can then be done, as the
progress made in winter is very slow.
Older stock. — Plants that have flowered
once, had their stems cut away down to the
base in spring, and afterwards planted out, will
be, if they have been fairly attended to, in a
condition, when the time comes for taking them
up, that cannot fail to give satisfaction, as they
will yield more than double the quantity of flowers
that younger stock will do. The important part
which these Carnations hold in supplying flowers
of the most enduring and acceptable description
can scarcely be over-rated, so that nothing in the
way of attention should be wanting to keep up a
supply.
New varieties. — A word of warning in regard
to new varieties of these Carnations may not be out
of place. It is well to try any new variety that
comes out with a fairly reliable character, but it is a
mistake to depend on such for a supply of flowers
in winter until there has been a chance of testing
their disposition to bloom at this season. Numbers
of new varieties are annually sent out with high
credentials as to their merits for winter blooming.
but when tried many of them are found useless.
It is much better to rely on old well-proved soits.
In like manner it is best, when possible, to see a
variety growing before ha^'ing it, as much depends
on the natural vigour of any kind in determining
whether it is worth growing. Strong, free growth '
and plenty of full-sized leaves are essentials that
should not be lost sight of. The narrow-leaved,
thin, puny growers are useless for this kind of work ;
however perfect the individual flowers may be, they
lack the strength to produce a sufficient quantity
of blooms to be worth cultivating.
Primulas. — Plants raised from seed sown in
spring and afterwards pricked off into small pots,
or, still better, into boxes, as in boxes they
make much more progress than when their roots
are confined to little pots, will now require moving
to the pots they are to bloom in. The size the
plants are intended to be grown to will determine
the size of pots to be used. For most purposes
6-inch pots will be large enough. Where larger
specimens are wanted pots an inch bigger will be
required. The best material to grow Primulas in is
good turfy loam, with some rotten manure, leaf-
mould, and sand added. Drain the pots well, so
that the water can pass freely away, without 'which
it is impossible to keep these Primulas healthy.
Previous to moving them from the boxes give as much
water as will moisten the soil well ; if this is not done
the roots get broken in removal. Pot moderately
firm. A cold frame shaded from the sun is the
best place for the plants during the next two months.
Do not give much air for a week or ten days after
potting, nor more water than is necessary to prevent
the roots getting over-dry until they have begun to
move. The plants should stand on a bed of coal
ashes raised sufficiently to bring them close to
the glass. As soon as the plants have started into
growth, raise the lights back and front in the day-
time, using where necessary a thin shade. During
the night it will be better to draw the lights off
altogether, as full exposure to the dew and night
air is an advantage. Pinch out any flower-stems
that make their appearance as soon as they are
visible, as if these are allowed to grow they greatly
weaken the plants.
Semi- double Primulas. — The advantage at--
tending the cultivation of this section of Primulas
is that they wiU succeed with the treatment required
by the single varieties, whilst the flowers have the
lasting properties of the double sorts, which do not
answer well without more warmth in winter than
the other two sections need. Thus the treatment
advised for the single sorts will answer for the semi-
doubles.
Double Primulas. — Plants that were raised
late in spring from suckers, and since then have
occupied small pots, .should now have a shift. If
the plants are strong, they will bear putting into
6-inch pots, giving an inch smaller to weaker
stock. A low house or pit, where the plants can
stand over some moisture-holding material and still
be near the glass, answers best for them. Even in
the summer time these double varieties like a little
closer treatment than the single kinds need, pro-
vided they get plenty of light. They must be
shaded in the daytime so long as the sun is at all
powerful. Older plants of this section that want
more root-room should be repotted at once into
larger-sized pots.
Cinerarias. — Plants raised from seed sown in
spring and intended to flower soon after the new
vear, and which are now in small pots, should be
moved to those in which they are to bloom. Six-
inch pots are large enough for the earliest-flowering
batch; as if they are regularly supplied with manure
water from the time that the roots have got hold of
the soil, they may be grown well in this size.
Cinerarias are gross feeders ; their roots revel in rich
material ; good turfy loam, mixed with leaf-mould,
rotten manure, and a little sand, suits them. A cold
frame, facing north, will be the best place for the
plants until the time for housing them comes. They
must have a thin shade in bright weather. They will
be better for having the lights drawn off during
the night, tilting them back and front or one side in
the davtime. If air is only admitted at the back in
152
THE GARDEN.
[Attg. 20, 1887.
the usual way, the plants which occupy the front of
the frame get more or less drawn, which condition
spoils their appearance, and is also detrimental
to their flowering. The frame should be filled with
ashes so as to bring the heads of the plants when
stood on them close up to the glass. Late-sown
plants intended for blooming in spring must not
be allowed to suffer for want of root-room. As
soon as the pots the plants are now in are
moderately iilled with roots, they must be shifted
into larger ones.
Lantanas. — These free-flowering plants are not
now so much grown as they used to be, yet they
are very useful in the conservatory. Not only do
they keep on blooming during the growing season,
but they can be placed where, owing to the deficiency
of light, plants of more value cannot be used.
Lantanas are free-growing, hungry subjects, so
that, even if the soil in which they are potted is
rich enough to begin with, it gets exhausted before
the end of the season. Plants, either large or small,
that have been blooming through the summer
should now have manure water one or twice a
week.
Chbysanthemumfeutbscbns. — Plantsthatwere
struck in spring with the Intention of their being
grown on for winter flowering should now be treated
so as to get them large and strong. They are best
out of doors, as when fully exposed in the open air
they make short, bu.shy growth, the shoots getting
better matured than it is possible to have them
when kept under glass. Small examples are useful,
but a few large specimens will give more flowers
than a number of little ones ; consequently where
there is room full-sized plants are preferable, espe-
cially where there happens to be a large conservatory
to provide for. The white forms grow rapidly,
filling the soil within their reach in little time. To
keep up the strength of the plants in a way to
enable them to flower well in the dull season they
must either have pots proportionate to their size, or
be regularly fed with manure water. The latter
they vrill take in quantities such as many things
would not bear. When the roots are confined in
pots that are small in comparison with the heads of
the plants, they will do with liquid stimulants every
other time the soil requires moistening, but with
these, as with all plants, however vigorous in habit
they may be, it is best not to give the liquid too
strong. It will be well to keep the flower-buds
closely picked off as they appear, by which means
the plants will bloom better when the flowers are
wanted later on. The yellow varieties of this
Chrysanthemum are not so free in growth as the
white forms, and do not attain so large a size in a
given time. The plants must now be weU attended
to, treating them in the manner advised for
the white-flowered sorts. These plants are some-
times attacked by the larva of a leaf-burrowing
insect similar to that which affects Celery. If this
pest makes its appearance, the plants must be re-
peatedly looked over, examining the leaves closely
and crushing the grubs before they have time to do
much damage. If this is not done the foliage gets
so disfigured and the plants so injured as to be all
but useless. If there is any deficiency of small
stock, cuttings should now be put in ; treated in the
ordinary way by keeping them close, moist, and
shaded in a little heat, they will root in a week or
two.
Hbdaboma tulipifera. — Flowering examples
of this plant require to be differently treated in the
matter of exposure in the open air to other hard-
wooded things, as if the plants are turned out be-
fore the flowers are set they generally fail to set
them. By this time all plants that will bloom next
year will have the flower-buds quite visible, and
should, if not already out of doors, be at once
moved there. Stand them for a week on the shady
side of a tree or wall, after which expose them fully
to the sun. It is necessary that this species, after
the plants have attained any size, should stand out-
doors for a time towards the end of summer, without
which the leaves, which are much subject to mil-
dew in winter and spring, are almost sure to be
attacked. But it is not necessary to give the plant
as long a season outside as many things require.
A month will suflSce to harden up the leaves in a
way that makes them much less susceptible to injury
from the parasite. T. B.
Propagating.
Bedding plants.— The propagation of bedding
plants for next year's display will now require at-
tention, for cuttings must be taken whenever avail-
able, and as they can now be struck with much less
protection than wUl be needed later on, the young
plants are more sturdy, and consequently better
able to withstand the winter. In dealing with the
various bedding Pelargoniums, it should be borne
in mind that the short, stocky shoots are far better
that those that are stout and succulent, and conse-
quently preference should be given to them; but
where stock plants are limited, or it is desired to
increase any to the fuUest possible extent, all the
shoots may be utilised as cuttings. As a general
rule, one great consideration is to economise space
as much as possible during the winter, and to effect
this the cuttings are usually dibbled rather thickly
into boxes, pan, or pots. If pots are used, conve-
nient sizes for the purpose are those either 5 inches
or 6 inches in diameter, while in the case of pans
the square ones are much better than those that are
round, as by using the latter a considerable amount
of space is lost. Soil of rather a light sandy nature
should be used for the cuttings, and as they have to
stand a considerable time therein, it should be
pressed down rather flrmly. A layer of broken
crocks must be placed in the bottom of the pots,
and by some it is considered absolutely necessary
to expose the cuttings when taken off until they flag
rather severely ; but such treatment is by no means
necessary, as they do not strike more readily. A
sunny border at the foot of a wall or in a similar
spot is a first-rate place to stand the cuttings in
till they strike, but a proper place must be pre-
pared for their reception, either by making up abed
of coal ashes, or standing the pots on a platform of
boards raised slightly above the ground, so as to
prevent the worms having access to the pots.
Where the space at hand during the winter
allows of the plants being kept in single pots,
a ready and at the same time very effective
way of striking the cuttings is to select a
sheltered border, preference being given to one in
which the soil is of rather an open nature, and hav-
ing mixed a little more sand with it the cuttings
can then be simply dibbled in. When struck they
may be readily lifted without injury to the roots
and potted up, but where it is intended to store
them in boxes or other receptacles they are better
if struck therein. The more delicate varieties, such
as the tricolor-leaved kinds, are better if sheltered
by a frame, for in the open ground if the weather is
wet many of them are liable to perish. Should the
winter be unusually severe, or many plants are lost
from any other cause, a good deal may be done on
the return of spring towards making np the loss by
keeping those that it is desirable to increase rather
warmer than usual. As soon as the upper part of
the shoot has grown sufficiently to form a cutting,
it may be taken off, and will root readily in a gentle
heat, so that without any risk the stock may be
almost doubled. The old specimens of a great
many plants, including Heliotropes, Cupheas, Pe-
tunias, and others of this class, may be kept during
the winter and when put in a forcing bouse in the
spring will make a large number of shoots that
strike root very readily, and grow so quickly as to
form good plants by bedding-out time. At the same
time as all work done now greatly lightens that in
the spring, when everything demands attention,
cuttings of the different subjects should be put in
now, and if wintered under favourable conditions
will furnish a good stock of young plants by the
spring. Cuttings of such things do best if pro-
tected by a frame and kept close and shaded in it till
rooted. Coleus in a warm structure strike root in a
few days and may be kept in good condition in a
dry house during winter if placed near the glass.
Succulents, now so much used, will in many cases
have produced offsets while in their summer quar-
ters, and where such is the case may be readily
increased, while some can be propagated by single
leaves if taken now, put into pots of sandy soil, and
stood on a shelf. Bedding Calceolarias may be
put in much later than this, and succeed best
when dibbled into sandy soil, placed in a cold
frame, and the latter kept rather close until rooted,
when plenty of air must be given whenever possible
during the winter months and the plants protected
from frost. Lobelias of the speciosa type may be
struck from cuttings of the young growing shoots
(not the flowering ones), and wintered in pans or
boxes. Besides this, if a few old plants can be
wintered, they wiU yield a crop of cuttings in the
spring. A very ready method of increasing the
Lobelia is to select half-a-dozen or so of the finest
kinds when in flower, and, having isolated them, save
the seed, which is readily produced, and which, as a
rule, will produce satisfactory results. We have
raised a quantity in this way for some years, and
they are so good that everyone regards them as
plants raised from cuttings. The seed is sown
about the end of January, under much the same
conditions as tuberous Begonias, and when well
above ground it is pricked oft', and the plants grown
under cool treatment. One great point to be no-
ticed in the case of these pans of cuttings is during
the winter to on no account overwater them, but
rather to keep them moderately dry, as if too suc-
culent they are very apt to decay during the dull
days of winter; while at that season many subjects
(Pelargoniums especially) will stand a considerable
amount of drought. A plant in common use, and
yet one that many people fail to strike in a satis-
factory manner, is Centaurea candidissima, of
which those raised from cuttings are much superior
to seedlings. The best cuttings are furnished by
the side-shoots of the established plants, and the
former should be simply stripped off by means of a
downward pull, and all the trimming needed will
be to cut the base of the cutting a little level if too
much torn, or to remove any bad leaves. The cut-
tings may be put singly into 2^-inch pots, using for
the purpose a soil composed of loam, leaf-mould,
and silver sand. The cuttings must then be in-
serted flrmly in the pots, and stood in a frame in a
shaded position, as in such a spot a little air can be
given. The cuttings should be thoroughly watered
when first put in, but after that scarcely any wiU be
needed till they are rooted. T.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 610.
IPOM^AS.
(with coloured plate of I. horsfalli^.*)
Odr illustration of this beautiful stove climber,
taken fi'om a fine specimen growing in the Royal
Botanic Gardens at Kew, is slightly different
from the plant originally introduced, inasmuch
as the flowers are somewhat smaller and brighter
in colour. This plant is quite unequalled as a
winter-blooming climber, although the family to
which it belongs contains a vast number of
species, remarkable for their extremely showy
flowers, a few of which we include here. Intro-
duced to this country upwards of fifty years ago,
this plant has never become common, although
it is always admired when seen in flower, the
difficulty of its propagation being perhaps chiefly
accountable for its scarcity, as I am not aware
that it produces seeds, and it will not strike
from cuttings. This species is a perennial,
evergreen, stove climber, and is admirably
adapted for clothing rafters oi- trellises ; the
leaves are digitate and smootli, the leaflets Ijeing
entire, lance-shaped, somewhat leathery in tex-
ture, and deep green in colour, and the funnel-
shaped flowers are freely produced in succession
tln'oughput the dull months of winter. It is, I
* Drawn for The Garden in the Eoyal Gardens,
Kew, Deo. 20, 1886, by Mr. H. G. Moon, and printed
by G. Severeyns.
THE GARDEN
IPOViCSA HCRSFALLI^.
Aug. 20, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
153
believe, a native of the East Indies, although
stated by some to have been introduced from
Africa. The soil in which this plant thrives
best in is a mixture of loam, leaf- mould,
peat, and sand in about equal proportions,
chopped up roughly and well incorporated. It
is a plant which requires ample root room and
good drainage, and on this account seldom
succeeds satisfactorily when cultivated in a pot,
but when planted in a well-drained border it
grows freely and flowers profusely. If a border
is not available, a large box or tub may be sub-
stituted with advantage. To increase this plant
it must be grafted upon some other strong-
growing tuberous -rooted kind, medium-sized
tubers being preferable to large ones, as in
large tubers the rind is very thick, quite out of
proportion to that of the scion, and thus it be-
comes diflicult to make a good union, whilst
those inexperienced in the work would be liable
to cut too deep or not deep enough. The scion
should be about 6 inches long and have two
buds or eyes. Moderately well-ripened wood
should be used, and the scion secured firmly
and closely to the stock. AVhen the operation
is completed pot in the soil previously recom-
mended, burying the plants below the point of
union. Plunge the grafted plants in gentle
bottom-heat, and keep them rather close until
growth commences, when ordinary stove treat-
ment is all that is necessary.
I. Leabi is a rapid and free-growing plant from
Ceylon, producing all through the summer months
a profusion of large, trumpet-shaped flowers of an
exquisite shade of bright blue. It requires a very
moist atmosphere, otherwise it becomes a prey to
red spider, which sadly mar the beauty of its foliage
and injure its health.
I. BoxA-NOX. — This is an annual kind, a native
of the West Indies, where it obtains the name of
Moon-creeper, from its habit of opening only after
sunset, although the flowers do remain open a few
hours during the morning. Its flowers are large,
pure shining white, and dehcately fragrant. Seeds
should be sown in bottom-heat early in April.
I. NATiONis. — This is a tuberous-rooted species,
with large heart-shaped leaves. The flowers are
funnel-shaped, tube white, the limb being rich
orange - scarlet. It thrives in the greenhouse.
Native of Peru, at considerable elevations.
I. Gberaedi is another greenhouse species with
a tuberous root. Its twining stems are clothed
with a short, white woolly substance ; its leaves are
simple, somewhat heart-shaped, and the large
trumpet-like flowers are very fragrant, pure white,
slightly tinged in the throat with greenish yellow.
It is the wild cotton plant of Natal.
I. ALATIPES. — This is an extremely beautiful
species, though rarely found in cultivation. It has
simple, heart-shaped, pointed leaves ; the flowers
are large, trumpet-shaped, some 3 inches or more
across, the limb being rich deep salmon colour. It
blooms during the summer months, and requires
the heat of an intermediate house. Venezuela.
W. H. G.
A brief season of foliage. — It was quite the
end of May before our Apple trees were in bloom,
and some of the late sorts, such as Court Pendu Plat,
did not expand until the first week in June. Here
we are now in the first week in August sweeping up
barrow-loads of fallen leaves, the Horse Chestnuts
and Limes having quite an autumnal look. If the
summer was tardy in coming, it made up for its
lateness by its fierceness, for with combined heat
and drought it has finished its work in a marvellously
short time as far as leafage is concerned. Even it
rain comes shortly, the leaves of many trees are
already too much afEected by the drought to hold
on long. We have frequently had green crops suffer
from drought in this locality, as the soil is light and
resting on gravel, but I never saw large trees show
such signs of distress from dryness at the roots; the
fruit on large Apple trees as well as the foliage is
dropping off, and is quite dry and flavourless. I
think this season ought to teach us a lesson, that
drying off and ripening off are totally different things.
It is a very common occurrence to find drying off
substituted for ripening off ; wliereas a tree or plant
of any kind cannot ripen its fruit or wood off pro-
perly without the requisite amount of moisture at
the roots to enable the leaves to perform their pro-
per functions, as it is only by the sap elaborated in
the leaves that the wood and buds can be perfected.
Bad as the prospects are at present, I fear the worst
is in store, as trees prematurely defoliated cannot
perfect their wood and buds for another season's
work. — J. G., Gosport.
Fruit Garden.
W. COLEMAN.
FRUIT CROPS F. DROUGHT.
Fruit growers for some years past have had an
annual grievance ; sometimes the early spring
has been unpropitious and frost has cut off the
blossoms ; the summers have been too wet, too
cold, or too short ; but few amongst us until this
year have exi^erienced a parallel to the long-
continued heat and drought which have pre-
vailed since the beginning of June. One or two
light showers we have had, it is true, but beyond
washing the dust off the leaves of the trees,
practically they have not been of much use,
especially when we take into account the fact
that we commenced the year with a dry subsoil,
and the rainfall here down to the present time
is nearly a foot below the average. This drought,
for which we were so badly prepared not only
by the light rainfall of the past winter, but also
by the late spring, which threw vegetation a
mouth behind, and, as a consequence, kept the
ground bare of its moisture-retaining covering
until the heat of summer came upon us. This
state by many will be looked upon as an extra
annual misfortune ; and so it is, for thousands
of men who live by the land will be ruined, but
whether this thorough roasting after so many
cold, wet seasons, which have made the soil un-
workable and fiUed the pastures with semi-
aquatic weeds, should be considered an evil or a
blessing remains to be seen. From a cultivator's
point of view this parching preparation of the
ground for water is quite right, and the man of
capital who can afford to wait will be none the
worse, but a great deal better off in the long
run. Meanwhile many are feeling and sinking
beneath the pinch, which might have been
lighter had we devoted to reservoirs and irriga-
tion a tithe of the money spent on big ships and
engines of destruction. The Grass and green
vegetables have been terribly cut up, but corn
crops are good, and there is yet time for our
gardens and fields, which rain will convert into
hotbeds, to become full of green stuff before
Christmas. In the fruit garden and orchard
the trees have made excellent wood, and there
is no lack of blossom-bud waiting for rain to
plump it up, also to swell up the crops of Apples
and Pears, in two senses holding on better than
we might expect. The fruit, as a matter of
course, will be small, but remarkably bright
and clean ; and on deep, heavy marls of the
lime and clays of the old red sandstone the
quantity and quality will exceed casual obser-
vers' expectations. On light, thin, gravelly
sells the crops will be doomed or the fruit small,
as the trees already show signs of ripening, and
many old ones — no great loss — are past re-
covery. Trees of all shapes and ages in culti-
vated gardens also look fresh and well, and the
fruit, since nights became cooler, has taken to
swelling rapidly. Many varieties of Apples and
Pears are carrying heavy crops of fruit ; others |
are light or partial in proportion to the splendid
blossom, which, by the way, never set properly,
consequently their failure — which, as a matter
of course, wOl be set down to the drought — was
sealed long before the dry weather set in. A
hot, dripping season, no doubt, would have been
worth many thousands of pounds to the country,
but, taken at all points, and judging from re-
ports from all parts of the United Kingdom, the
fruit crops on the average have not been seriously
affected by the drought ; whilst the trees, the
soil, and the prospect for another year certainly
are brighter and better than they would have
been had a cold, wet summer followed the latest
and most trying spring on record.
PEACHES UNDER GLASS AND IN THE
OPEN AIR.
From various sources we are glad to hear that the
open-air Peach crop is likely to be a good one, which
makes the third in succession, and one very natu-
rally begins to look about to find a reason for this
agreeable change in so valuable a fruit. I am aware
that during the past few years more attention has
been given to the trees in a good many instances ;
still, that does not sufiiciently account for what I
may very properly call a widespread change in the
condition of the crop. Thirty years ago there was
some difficulty in finding a garden in which there
were fruitful trees, but plenty where Peaches had
been discarded and the walls occupied with other
fruit trees. Now nurserymen teU us there is once
more a demand for trees, and we learn from many
sources that the crop this year is a full one. It
does not seem to me an easy task to explain
satisfactorily this agreeable change. I think
there are two reasons for it : one is, that cul-
tivators have found that Peach culture on open
walls cannot be carried on successfully unless
the trees are properly attended to during the
flowering and growing season ; and the other reason
is that of change. Many people, as I have already
said, gave up planting Peach trees and filled the
walls vrith more hardy fruit, which has been an
agreeable change to the soil. Having now returned
to Peacb culture again, the grower finds them
succeed where they so lamentably failed years ago.
At the present time I have a few trees on a wall
facing east, and some on a south wall 10 feet
high. They are perfectly healthy, and have been
so since they were planted, and have borne full
crops of fruit. Yet twenty-five years ago, I am told,
Peach trees, managed by a skilful gardener, actually
died on the same walls. Their place was, there-
fore, occupied by Plum trees, which I cut back a
few years ago and introduced Peach trees between
them. These Peach trees were planted in the same
soil as that occupied by the others which had
died.
With regard to the cultivation of Peaches under
glass, I look upon a Peach house as an indispens-
able adjunct to all gardens of any pretensions,
even where the crop is a reliable one in the open,
for the reason that with a good selection of sorts
the season is extended at a time when choice fruit
is in demand. One has only to give the trees the
necessary attention to ensure success. Failures, no
doubt, do occur, but these generally arise from
making the borders too rich and too deep, and from
the want of sufficient root moisture. Not long since
I inspected the plans of a projected Peach house,
for the borders of which were shown a cross drain
at every 4 feet, with a main drain the whole of the
length of the house, and the instructions were to take
out all the old soil from the border 4 feet deep, and
to put 6 inches of rubble over the drains and to fill
up the remaining space with three parts loam and
one part manure. What the probable expense of
such an undertaking would be I do not care to say,
because I know that the drains and the manure and
rubble were altogether unnecessary, and half the
quantity of soil would be sufficient to grow Peaches
in a satisfactory manner. It is very plain that the
cost of such a border would be nearly as much as
the house, unless, under exceptional circumstances,
154
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 20, 1887.
the draining of inside Vine or Peaoli tree borders is
a mistake, but any outlay expended upon providing
a good supply of water will prove a good invest-
ment. As to providing any other ingredient, with
the exception of good loam for the border, I am
satisfied it is unnecessary for Peaches. It at any
time the trees appear to require any assistance, it
can he applied in the shape of liquid manure or rich
surface dressings.
As regards the introduction of new sorts, much
progress has been made of late in the right direc-
tion. Some valuable new early kinds that are both
large and handsome are now widely distributed.
We cannot have too many of these, provided they
are improvements and will extend the season at the
beginning of the summer instead of at the end.
There are already too many late varieties, for
whether they are old or new they are rarely of good
flavour, whether grown under glass or in the open,
but I find that these late sorts are better flavoured
from open walls than under glass. I could name a
dozen or more late ones that I have tried and dis-
carded, including Princess of Wales, Lady Palmer-
ston, Mr. Radoliff, Sea Eagle, and several others.
Most of these produce fruit large enough to please
anyone, but I find they are deficient in flavour. No
doubt this want of flavour is caused by a want of
heat to bring it up. I think, however, that it is a
waste of energy as well as space to grow many late
Peaches, and when they have to be grown on open
walls it is better to confine the selection to such old
and useful kinds as Late Admirable and Barring-
ton, because they are more hardy than some of the
riew ones. Those who have plenty of space and
like to risk a chance crop may grow the Salway,
which is a large, handsome fruit, that may some-
times be had well flavoured from a south wall in
October.
To return to the early sorts, those introduced
from America are decided gains, as they have larger
fruits, which are more handsome than those of Eng-
lish origin. Alexander is the first to ripen ; this is a
highly-coloured fruit of fairly good flavour. The
Amsden ripens about the same time and is very
similar to Alexander, so that both are not wanted
in small collections. AVaterloo is somewhat more
highly coloured than the preceding, and it is also
larger and succeeds them admirably, ripening
between these and Hale's Early. I have formed a
very high opinion of it. Hale's Early should be
planted to succeed the above-named sorts, and with
Early Grosse Mignonne to follow them there will not
be many days' break in the supply.
It may not be generally known that Princess
Beatrice is a very good early sort for open walls.
In a garden near to where I write it does exceedingly
well; sometimes it is ripe by the third week in July.
There is a great number of mid-season sorts to
choose from, but the cultivator will find it diflioult
to select any better than the following : Stirling
Castle, Noblesse, Royal Hative, and Bellegarde. As
a matter of course. Nectarines are usually associated
with Peaches. The best of these are Elruge, Pine-
apple, Lord Napier, and A^ctoria. J. C. C.
Black rot in Vines.— Could you kindly let me
know if there is any efficacious remedy against the
black rot attacking Grapes 7 — Petek.
*^* This fungoid disease, so much dreaded by
Continental Vine growers, is supposed to be identi-
cally the same as the black spot of Australia and
the Grape rot of America. Hitherto we have not
been troubled with it in this country ; consequently
I am unable to say positively how it should be dealt
with. Many assert that it cannot be cured, but
were I called upon to treat Vines I should try
sulphur in every known form, both for dredging and
syringing. A low, damp, stagnant atmosphere
being favourable to its development, these condi-
tions should be avoided, and a warm, well-drained
soil that will pass water quickly should be pro-
vided. You might try sulphide of potassium,
quarter of an ounce to a gallon of water. With
this syringe overnight ; wash with pure water the
following morning. A'entilate very early, before the
sun strikes the house, if your A'ines are' in a house.
and shade from sun. Repeat if necessary. If these
precautions are taken this wash will not hurt the
most tender tip or leaf, neither will it, like paraffin,
injure the roots. — W. C.
GOOSEBERRY SHOW AT WILMSLOW,
CHESHIRE.
We have received the following prize list, together
with a collection of most of the varieties there
mentioned, from Mr. Charles Leicester, Maccles-
field: -
C. Leicester
.1. Kuowles
J. Threlfall
E. Salsbury
G. Beckett
-J. Harvey
W. Eiley
R. Whitehurst
T. Botthy
J. Bower
A. Bower
J. Salsbury
T. Botthy
G. Beckett
J. Salsbury
R. Whitehurst
J. Harvey
J. Kuowles
G. Beckett
T. Botthy
G. Beckett
D. Bower
J. Salsbury
J. Threlfall
W. Riley
C. Leicester
W. Riley
D. Bowers
.1. Chantler
R. Downs
J. Harvey
W. Riley
.1. Kuowles
J. Boot
A. Tomkiusou
C. Leicester
J. Boot
R. Whitehurst
.1. Harvey
J. Threlfall
lA. Tomkinsou
J. Warburton
J. Threlfall
E. Salsbury
J. Harvey
J. Threlfall
C. Leicester
A. Tomkinsou
J. Knowles
G. Beckett
C. Lsicester
.1. Threlfall
W. Riley
.1. Harvey
.1. Warbui'ton
J. Hiirvey
J. Threlfall
D. Bowers
Pkemiee
Prizes.
Dwts.
Gns
Garibaldi, yellow .
23
12
Bobby, red .
22
10
Plunder, green
23
12
Princess Royal, white .
21
10
Stewards' Prizes.
London, red .
20
G
Ringer, yellow
19
10
Surprise
18
6
Fascination
IS
4
Lord Derby
20
4
Leveller .
18
12
Shiner .
17
20
Transparent
17
20
Twins, two on one stem
Lord Derby, red .
32
20
Ringer, yellow
31
0
Stockwell, green .
28
15
Transparent, white
3G
4
Red Class.
Bobby ....
19
IS
London ....
19
IG
Magenta
19
14
Falstaff ....
19
13
luniho ....
19
Lord Derby .
19
0
Blucher ....
18
20
Pirbob ....
18
11
Lord Liverpool
17
4
Clayton ....
17
0
Duke of Sutherlaud
1.5
IG
Spsedwell
15
0
Yellow Class.
Pavonious
21
.^
Leveller ....
19
10
Garibaldi .
18
0
High Sheriff .
18
G
Thatcher
17
23
Lady Haughton
17
15
Wakeful
If,
4
Mount Pleasant .
If)
3
Sally ....
17
4
Ringer ....
16
n
Seedling.
Ifi
Hit or Miss .
IG
3
Green Cla.ss.
Surprise ....
IS
1
SMuer .
17
IS
Stockwell
17
15
^fatehless
17
6
Bi-itish Oak
17
Seedling
IG
12
Plunder .
IG
10
Ho 3 pool
IG
8
Diadem .
17
Telegraph
IG
f>
Rough Green
. 15
in
Advance
15
11
White Cla.ss.
Careless.
19
21
Transparent
in
20
Princess Royal
19
12
Hero of the Nile .
20
1
Piisciuation .
; in
:^
King of Trumps
17
ifi
Peto ....
17
12
Succeed ....
15
20
.\utai;onist .
15
19
Postman
11.
20
Over eer
M
m
Marchioness
1-1
IS
The fruit was of very large size, but generally of
poor flavour, lacking that briskness and delicacy to
be found in medium-sized fruits. We are of opinion
that flavour is often sacrificed for mere size, and
that good eating sorts are often neglected.
Early Peaches.— One of the best early Peaches
we know is the Alexander. This is as early as any
and as desirable. There are a host of claimants for
its place, but the Alexander holds its position, and
probably will for some time yet. The Early
Canada claims to be equal or superior. The Moun-
tain Rose is the first large, superior Peach to follow
the very early varieties. Except in very special
localities, the Mountain Rose is the most profitable
and the best for market of the early Peaches. The
trees of the later varieties are more healthy, more
productive, less liable to rot, and the fruit ripens in
the season when Peaches are in greater demand. —
Farm and Garden.
Autumn manuring: of Strawberries. — It is
often supposed that it is best to allow Strawberry
beds to remain untouched after they are trimmed
over at the end of the fruiting season, decaying
leaves, weeds, and all litter being carefully removed,
and a clean surface maintained until a mulching is
given during winter or early spring to support the
crop of fruit. From careful observation and exten-
sive experience in Strawberry growing, we make it
a practice to give the main supply of nourishment
immediately after the last gathering of fruit has
been made. The useless leaves and runners having
been removed from the plants, the ground hoed and
levelled nicely round the collars of the plants, a
good coating of half-rotted manure is applied. The
plants get the full benefit of it while they are
making their growth, and are well prepared for
supporting a heavy crop next season. It is admitted
by experienced practitioners that success in fruit
growing of every description is obtained by the
treatment the plants receive during the previous
autumn. — A Scot.
FRDITS UNDER GLASS.
Pines.
If the potting of plants intended for throwing up
next spring is still in arrear, the work should be
finished without delay. Where a continuous sup-
ply of fruit is expected from a limited number of
plants, it is not a good plan to pot up large batches
at any particular time; the last, nevertheless, should
be finished early enough to allow of their filling the
pots with roots before dark autumn weather sets in.
Another matter must not be overlooked, and that is
the size of the pots, which for autumn use it is so
easy to have too large, especially for Queens. For
these, a pot that will allow a clear inch of compost
all round the ball is quite large enough, and the
drier in reason the soil and the firmer it is rammed,
the quicker they will fill with roots and the safer
they will pass through the winter. The bed in
which early fruiters have been plunged will now
require examination, and much as we object to the
frequent disturbance of large plants, it is better to
correct the plunging material and re-arrange whilst
the weather is fine and warm than to put it off
until the elements are unfavourable. If, on the
other hand, the pick of the plants are holding their
own, they are not too close together or too far from
the glass, and the bottom-heat touches 80°, it is
best to leave well alone, and continue feeding with
mild stimulants until a number of sharp centre
leaves show that it will not be safe to push them
further without endangering or forcing untimely
fruit. I have often pointed out the advantage of
small compartments for the forcing of exotic fruits
of all kinds, but to none are they more applicable
than the Pine-npple, and for the following reasons :
In the first place, small batches from suckers to
fruiters can be kept together; in the second, they
can be hastened, retarded, or rested at pleasure;
and last, but not least, every plant will be within
reach for daily examination. Assuming that the
first and second sets of plants have been arranged,
and the only defect in the beds is dryness, watering
Aug. 20, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
155
between the pots, followed by a slight covering of
fresh leaves, will most likely maintain the figures
just named until colder weather necessitates mode-
rate firing. If any of them show a tendency to the
production of suckers, they can be twisted out from
the back and front paths, and top-dressing in like
manner can be packed and rammed round the col-
lars without breaking a single leaf.
Fruiting liouses. — Where all the plants are fruited
together and the bulk of the summer Pines have
been cut the weather just now offers great induce-
ment for a general clear out, followed by a thorough
cleansing. In many places this important onslaught
on cockroaches, crickets, and woodlice cannot be
undertaken more than once, although twice a year
would be better; therefore cleanliness and freedom
from these pests being so essential, a good start
with everything fresh and sweet should now be
insisted upon. The few plants still carrying fruit
in most gardens can be accommodated in pits.
Stools, after being divested of suckers which may
be laid in, can be thrown away, when a thorough
clearance to the very bottom must follow. Boiling
water poured down the sides of the pit walls and
into the rubble or chambers is a composing element,
and quicklime is as searching as it is inexpensive.
So far good, but a clean bill of health will not be
secured until the walls, glass, and woodwork have
been washed and, if necessary, painted. Meantime
the tan, poor stuff in these days, or, better still,
sound Oak leaves of last year's harvesting, must be
well turned, shaken, and worked into a steady fer-
menting condition. With these materials beds
intended to last must be made very firm, and when
the heat is up again beaten or trampled, for be it
known that the beds as well as the compost in
which Pines are grown hold least water in suspen-
sion and last longest when this matter receives
proper attention. When the bottom-heat has sunk
below 90°, the plants, after being top-dressed, may
be lightly plunged or placed in shallow basins,
which can be filled up as the heat declines.
Suckers. — If fruiting plants are to be brought on
in small batches suckers must be taken off and
potted in the same way. Of ordinary varieties none
but the strongest and best with well-ripened heels
need be taken, and as these can be grown on the
one-shift system they may be placed in 8-inch pots
at once, well watered, and plunged in a bottom-heat
of 90". When well rooted and the heat has
declined to SC^ more air and less moisture will pre-
pare them for safe passage through the winter,
otherwise light, compact pits being at command, a
few may be kept close to the glass and steadily
moving through October and November. Some
profess to grow Pines all through the dead months,
but the gain is questionable, especially when
December and January prove unusually dark and
severe.
Melons.
If heat and light are two of the most important
elements in the production of high flavour. Melons
this year should be good, and so I believe they are,
especially where water and ventilation have not
been supplied with a niggard hand. We sometimes
hear of wonderful fruit being grown in houses to
which air is never admitted, and from which
moisture to saturation is never absent, but I ques-
tion if Jlelons ever gave less trouble from the seed
to the ripe fruit, or finished their work in less time
than they have done this summer. The heat still is
intense, and with the glass standing about 80° in
the shade we are able to run the lights off the plants
for a few hours each day. Red spider and fly are
heavily handicapped by quick, vigorous growth,
and busy insects fertilise the females which, swell
away as if by magic. There is no looking back, and
yellow fruits are conspicuous by their absence.
Express speed iu the culture of Melons and Cu-
cumbers no doubt leads to the best results, and the
best engine is the sun, but this luminary in our part
of the world is now gradually declining, and soon
we may find that late plants put out under the
most favourable conditions will need the stoker's
aid long before they ripen their fruit. To give
these plants, especially their roots, the full benefit
of a minimum of fire heat, I must again impress
upon the grower the importance of plunging the
pots, or forming the troughs immediately above
the pipes. Dry fire-heat, however, is not good
for the roots which may bake in the crocks, whilst
incessant watering in dull weather may induce
canker in the stems, and as either of these con-
ditions have a damaging effect, a small quantity
of fermenting material, also a sod of turf, should
be placed beneath each pot before the body of the pit
is filled up with warm leaves. Pot Melons, after this
period, should be kept to single stems, divested
of every bit of lateral up to the first wire, and
stopped as soon as four female flowers are visible.
Of these, two only will be wanted, even if all set,
but it is well to have a choice of fruits that will
swell evenly together. When swelling freely the
fruit must be supported on boards well up to
the sun and all future laterals closely pinched to
a single bud to prevent overcrowding when damp
is injurious through the autumn. Some Melon-
growers stop the laterals close to the female flowers
before they open, then pinch every sub-lateral
away at the first leaf beyond the fruit, a method
which enables them to grow a greater number of
plants, sometimes with advantage, but the limited
number of leaves is against the fruit attaining a
large size.
Frame J/ehms also have had a good time, and all
who grow them well will now have the fruit on the
latest plants set and swelling. Like late house
plants, frame Melons require all the sunhght and
air than it is possible to give them, always provided
every part of the bed or trellis is evenly covered
with the main foliage, which should neither be
mutilated nor crowded by laterals. Nest to venti-
lation, which, during this hot weather cannot be on
too liberal a scale, thorough flooding with warm
diluted liquid, without wetting the foliage and col-
lars of the plants, will be found a most important
aid, not only in swelling up fine fruit, but also in
keeping the foliage free from spider. The best time
to water the beds is the half-hour preceding shut-
ting up with sun-heat, as the fruit and foliage then
have the full benefit of tropical heat and vapour.
On non-watering days plants carrying young swell-
ing fruit may be copiously syringed, but when the
Melons attain full size damping the sides of the
frames and extremities of the bed will suffice.
Bottom heat must not be neglected, neither must
night covering be discontinued, for although the
days are all that we can desire, nights already are
cold ; therefore, in proportion to the heat of the
day must that of the roots and interior of the frame
be well kept up. It is now late for putting out
young plants, no matter how strong they may be,
but where the good old-fashioned, sound-constitu-
tioned sorts are finishing their first crop, they may
be trimmed out, watered, and top-dressed as soon
as the last Melon is cut. Old gardeners always
took two crops, and not unfrequently had the second
set swelling within a week or two after the clear-
ance. They then took out a portion of the old com-
post back and front, filled up with fresh, renovated
the linings, and secured excellent fruit through
September and October. Times, however, hai-e
changed, for not only is the Melon of the present
day crossed and enervated, but our growers assert
that the modern method of heating has rendered
the old system obsolete. In many gardens, hot
water may have thrown the old and cumbrous
manure-frame into the lumber yard, but hundreds
of good managers of small places still use it. The
outdoor fruit prospect. Peaches excepted, just now
is far from promising, and many gardeners having
clean, healthy plants may find a useful stop-gap in
a second crop of frame Melons.
CUCTJMBEES.
Where the general supply is obtained from frames
the plants may be kept in bearing for a consider-
able time, provided the bottom-heat is kept well up
to the mark and daily details are carefully attended
to. We have just planted the north side of a house
for coming into bearing early in the autumn, and
having another house of the ever-bearing CardifE
Castle, which has been a marvel of fertility all the
summer, and looks like going through the winter.
I can give up frame Cucumbers before they become
troublesome. Others having but one winter house
which they wish to husband at the outset will do
well to cut over at short intervals a few of their
frame plants and top-dress with rich turf, flaky
leaf-mould, and old lime rubble, into which a few
of the joints must be firmly pegged to throw out
new rootlets. A sharp bottom-beat being essential
to a fresh and rapid growth of vine, old linings may
be pulled down, the rotted parts removed, and re-
built with fresh fermenting material, which will
soon diffuse new life through the bed and create a
moist, genial air temperature. Where old plants
are cut over we shade throughout the day and keep
the vines constantly moistened with tepid water,
but supply the roots rather sparingly until the new
growths are well started. This stage reached, the
shading is gradually withheld, more air is admitted,
and ordinary treatment in every respect is resumed.
Old and heavily worked plants in houses may now
be expected to show signs of distress, red spider, and
mildew. For the first, the remedy is top-dressing
and feeding; for the other two, cutting over and
dressing with a safe, but certain insecticide, in-
cluding sulphur in some form, than which none is
better than the sulphide of potassium, -( oz. to a
gallon of soft water. When this chemical, indeed
any powerful insecticide, is used, it is a good plan
to shut up the house minus the ordinary afternoon
bath, and moisten every leaf above as well as below
after the sun has gone down. Early the following
morning a thorough syringing with pure water
followed by a chink of air along the ridge and light
shading will secure the most delicate foliage from
injury, but once let the sun strike the roof before
the plants are syringed or the ventilators opened
and the case may be different. Many people allow
insects and parasites to half kill their plants before
they move ; they then give an extra strong dose
where really they should apply two extra weak
ones; they neglect after precautions, their plants
suffer or die, and, as a matter of course, they blame
the insecticide.
Preparations _for printer. — The sowing of seeds
for the two or three batches of winter plants may
now be commenced and continued up to the middle
of September. If Melons still occupy the pits, the
different sowings must be regulated by the periods
at which they are likely to be ready for their recep-
tion, the main point being steady growth without
a check until the beds are ready for them. When
the Melons are removed, we always take advantage
of the opportunity of clearing out and cleansing, as
for Pines, and make a fair start with everything
fresh and new, as these pits may not again be
vacant for several months. After scalding and
lime-washing, we use pure Oak leaves, previously
well worked, for giving the requisite degree of
bottom-heat, plunge or plant as far as possible
from the top-heat pipes, and close very early to
economise fuel. The best mode of growing winter
Cucumbers depends in a great measure upon the
size and form of the pit. It very narrow and well
supplied with bottom-heat pipes, planting out on
hills or ridges gives least trouble ; if wide and deep,
and capable of holding a good body of fermenting
material, the pot system is most applicable. In
either case the compost should be formed of light,
rich, turfy loam, charcoal, and lime rubble. The
pots at first need not be made more than two thirds
full of soil, as the Cucumber, unlike the Melon, will
stand earthing uj) the stem. Manure should not be
used, as it forces a rank growth which cannot be
sustained, and a good sod of turf placed under
each pot, whilst absorbing liquid after it has left
the crocks, prevents the roots from striking down-
wards.
The conn>ost yard. — The intense heat and drought
having literally destroyed the summer herbage, the
cutting of turf for the present cannot be attempted.
Turf, however, must bo secured, but unless the
stock of any particular kind is exhausted, the cut-
ting for winter and spring use should be deferred
until we have a change to showery weather. Fresh
maiden loam for Vine or fruit-tree borders can, of
course, be cut and carted, but the labour will be
great, and, provided it is wanted for immediate use,
156
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 20, 1887.
it should be fairly well moistened with the hose
before it is placed to any depth beneath the surface.
Turf for Pines and potting purposes should be taken
ofiE about 2 inches in thickness, rolled up as for
laying a lawn, and stacked in narrow ridges, where
for a time it can have full exposure to the weather.
When well moistened by autumn rains, than which
there is no better restorative, a cap of thatch or
boards will keep out frost and snow, if not entirely,
certainly to an extent that will favour chopping down
in bad weather. In many well-appointed gardens
space for stacking large quantities of turf and other
necessaries under cover is provided, and temporary
protection is dispensed with ; but all gardeners are
not thus fortunate, many being thankful for an out-
of-the-way corner or shed that will hold a few loads
upon which they can depend in severe or wet
weather. That cold and saturated soil is bad no-
body will deny ; neither will they say it is impossible
to have it too dry ; therefore, for summer and autumn
use they may safely leave it exposed to the elements.
For winter and spring a moderate stock of loam,
peat, leaf-mould, and correctives should be kept in-
doors and replenished as often as may be necessary.
When turf, well furnished with fresh green herbage,
is harvested, it is not a good plan to make the stacks
large enough to ferment and burn in the centre, as
the burning of turf, like the over-heating of a Mush-
room 'bed, is injurious, but this can always be
avoided by making long, narrow ridges with venti-
lating pipes through them, and capping from rain,
snow, or drought with thatch boards or manure.
Weeds of rank growth, it is hardly necessary to say,
should not be allowed to grow upon the stacks, and
yet it is no uncommon thing to see large masses of
turf sucked dry and completely exhausted by useless
vegetation. When the well-appointed open shed
has been provided, bins of various sizes should be
made for different soils, for crocks, charcoal, burnt
earth, and the like, by running out four and a-half
divisions at right angles from the back walls, or,
lacking bricks, stout posts and 2-inch boards sliding
in grooves made in the posts answer equaUy well.
If these walls are raised to a convenient height and
well planked over the top they form excellent sum-
mer potting benches and store room for composts,
which are improved by lying for days or weeks after
the materials are put together. Manures of different
Muds, especially cow manure, which improves with
age, cannot be stacked and beaten too firm, and the
better to preserve them from the ravages of worms
a liberal dusting of soot as the work proceeds will
not only keep them free, but add greatly to their
stimulating properties. W. C.
TABLE DECOEATIONS.
Thbbb is no subject connected with the garden on
which it is more necessary to avoid dogmatic asser-
tions than on this, and for this simple reason, that
it is a matter of taste, and that tastes vary. There
are, for instance, those who consider massive group-
ing as the perfection of beauty, and others who
admire lightness, elegance, and grace, just as there
are those who would admire the beauty of a Juno,
and others that of a Venus, and who shall say that
either is wrong. I am old enough to remember the
introduction of table decorations as far as flowers
are concerned, coincident as it was with the cl'vmr
a la Riisse, and I have watched its varying phases,
for it has, like everything else, gone through a num-
ber of changes. The introduction of the Marsh
stands marked a change for the better, better than
when tables were cut and plants in pots plunged be-
neath, so that the guests sat under an um-
brageous grove of Palms. Since then many things
have been tried, very low vases or jardinieres taking
the place of the high stands, which were objected to
because they hid the guests from one another.
Flowers laid on the cloth itself, and even petals dis-
tributed about, had their day, and if, as your corre
pondent "A. D." says, the ingenuity of the mosttaste
ful of table decorators seems unable to provide any-
thing new, striking, or especially effective in this
direction, may it not be that the arrangement which
he condemns has after all been that which has sur-
vived all other fashions because it met with most
general approval ?
There is one thing that I think is often over-
looked when this subject is touched upon, and that
is how to decorate our tables for every-day use, and
not merely for grand occasions. Those who have not
tried are little aware how much time it takes to
empty a stand and fill it again with flowers, and,
therefore, a simple plan is that which most com-
mends itself to those who wish so to utilise the
custom. Your correspondent finds fault with the
system which is at present seen at most flower
shows, and which, notwithstanding his unsparing
condemnation, I believe to be a most pleasing and
generally acceptable one — the upright stand with a
mixture of flowers on it. It always has struck me
that I had much sooner have before me a variety of
different flowers than all of one sort- or one colour,
or a plant however graceful it might be. One's eye
gets tired of looking at the same thing ; whereas
where there is a bouquet of flowers one or another con-
tinually catches the eye, and not always the same
flower. So far from one's getting tired of looking
at the exhibits of flower shows in this respect, it is
always pleasant to see the stands exhibited by such
artistes as Mrs. Seale, of Sevenoaks, or Miss
Cypher, of Cheltenham, but I have observed that
there are still others who are uninfluenced by the
taste they display, and who set up massive, heavy
looking stands, which they no doubt have cen-
sured the judges for not preferring to the lighter
and more elegant forms. Indeed, it is a most
amusing thing to stand by a group of ladies who
are criticising the judgments in those classes, espe-
cially where one is unknown, and hear the delicious
terms in which one's poor efforts to do justice and
set an example of good taste are assailed. It might
be thought that ladies would at least recognise
some canons of taste, but each one has a different
view, and if there are a dozen stands, I venture to
say that there will be as many dift'erent opinions
vouchsafed by the bystanders.
I do not think that it is at all necessary to have
offensive combinations of colours, even when you
have a dozen different flowers on the stand, and,
af terall, what is offensive combination ! It sounds like
something grand ; but no one who has observed the
colouring of Nature can have failed to observe that
combinations are often seen which are with us
impossible, because we have to work with adul-
terated compounds, and it is one of the best
characteristics of Japanese art that they do venture
on the most daring combinations, and often of
bright colours, which subdue one another. The
same may be said of much of Indian art. One can-
not forget the hangings at the Indian and Colonial
Exhibition which surrounded the entrance hall ;
they literally contained all the colours of the rain-
bow, and yet were so combined as to give a pleasing
and subdued tone to the whole.
I think that very often a lavish display of Ferns
and Grasses is made use of to hide defects in
arrangements, for, like charity, they cover a multi-
tude of sins, and therefore I would say that in
summer especially they should be very sparingly
used, they are so pretty that there is a temptation to
use them. In the winter months when flowers are
not so plentiful with those, at any rate, who do not
possess much glass, the foliage is much more
admissible, and Ferns and Grasses may be more
freely used.
In arranging flowers at this season of the year
we hardly ever use anything but half-hardy annuals
and herbaceous plants, and there are so many of
these, that they afford an almost endless variety,
and the centre stand of our table is hardly ever
arranged alike. It is a double cornucopia, low, so
that there is no obscuring of the view, and is, to my
mind, one of the prettiest vases for the purpose I
have ever seen. Sometimes we use a single vase,
and sometimes an oblong one; to-day, then, this is
filled with the following flowers (when I say filled,
I do not mean crammed, but lightly and gracefully
filled) : yellow, white, and lilac Sweet Sultan, Bar-
toniaaurea. Invincible Scarlet Sweet Pea, Catananche
bicolor,Buphthalmum salicifolium, Combottle, small
blooms of Gaillardia picta and of Chrysanthemum
Dunnetti ; while a spray or two of the common
Asparagus supplies the green, and some sprays of
Gypsophila paniculata add a lightness to it which
greatly enhances its beauty. There are other flowers
which will be available, such as small single Dah-
lias, Salpiglossis, Sea Lavender, Coreopsis, and
other late-blooming annuals ; and, in fact, the stand,
as I have said, need never be two days alike. It
will be noticed in the list of things used that they
are all single flowers, and this, I think, is one
reason of its success. The moment you begin to
use double flowers, you impart a heaviness to the
arrangement which no brilliancy of hues will do
away with. It may be treason to say so, but, beau-
tiful as the Rose is, I have never yet seen an ar-
rangement of it, except one of the Dog Rose (alas !
too fleeting), that we could say was thoroughly
beautiful, unless buds were only used and a good
quantity of Maiden-hair Fern : while I do not think
anyone ever saw a beautiful arrangement of double
Dahlias ; even such small double iJowers as Achillea
Ptarmioa fl.-pl. or Matricaria at once give a certain
amount of heaviness to a stand.
I have thus endeavoured to show that the cause
of table decoration is not in such a hopeless condi-
tion as "A. D." seems to imagine, and that the pre-
sent arrangement is perhaps an instance of the
survival of the fittest — not that of a hopeless want
of ingenuity and resource, and that it is possible
with very simple materials to make an arrangement
which shall be pleasing, not offend any principles of
good taste, and be also effective. Delta.
Orchids.
W. H. G 0 W E R.
ACINETAS.
The genus Acineta has been somewhat neglected
by Orchid growers of late years, yet it comprises
a few handsome species characterised by tlieir
thick, angular pseudo-bulbs and membraneous
plaited leaves. The large flowers are thick
and waxy in texture, mostly sweet scented, and
produced in long pendulous racemes, which
proceed from the side of the pseudo-bulb, close
to its base. These plants are for the most part
natives of Central America, and enjoy a con-
siderable amount of shade, and require the tem-
perature of an intermediate stove. They may
be grown successfully in company with ordinary
warm house plants, and should be liberally
supplied with water when growing. During
winter, water may be entirely withlield, except
in just sufliciei\t quantity to prevent shriveUing.
On account of the fiower-spikes taking a down-
ward direction, as shown in otir illustration of
A. Humboldti, the plants must be grown in
hanging baskets, and these should be con-
structed sufficiently open to aflbrd space for the
free egress of the spikes. The basket should be
lined throughout with long Sphagnum Moss (to
prevent the soil running through), then filled
with a mixture of rough fibrous peat, nodules
of charcoal, and chopped Sphagnum. This kind
of Moss is tised for Orchids because it retains
the moisture about the plants for a longer time
than ordinary Moss without decaying, and there-
fore does not require renewing so frequently.
The following kinds are well deserving the at-
tention of our readers.
A. Humboldti produces spikes some 2 feet in
length, the flowers are tliick and waxy, globose,
groimd colour deep chocolate, freckled and
dotted all over with purplish crimson. It
blooms during the spring and early summer, the
blooms being rather short-lived. The variety
fulva has sepals and petals of a lawny yellow,
dotted with purplish brown and a bright yellow
lip. A. Humboldti punctatissima bears about a
dozen large flowers upon a spike, the ground
colour being greenish yellow, the sepals pro-
fusely dotted and spotted with purple, petals
smaller, spotted in the same manner, the tips
Aug. 20, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
157
being wholly deep blackish purple. This fiae a very cUstiuct species, ths flowers of which are
variety was blooming recently in Mr. Measures' pure waxy white, saving a few spots of purple
colleotion at Streatham. The flowers of A. on the lip. A. Barkeri bears a great quantity
Mr. Williams' nursery at Holloway, whilst A.
Jensa, sometimss called chrysantha, produces
large rich golden yellow flowers, the interior of
Acineta Humboldti.
Humboldtistraminea have a light yellow ground, I of flowers, which are wholly golden yellow, with I the sepals and patals being profusely dotted
over the interior of which are sparingly scattered the exception of a few spots of dark red upon with crimson. The blooms of this species last a
some purplish brown spots. A Hrubyana is | its small lip. It is now in great beauty in I long time in perfection.
158
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 20, 1887.
GALEANDRAS.
This is a small genus of Orchids whicli is rarely
to be met with in cultivation, a fact which is
much to be regretted, as some few species are
exceedingly beautiful and present colours and
forms which are unusual in the order. Galeandras
are erect-growing plants with somewhat slender
stem-like pseudo-bulbs, from which the leaves
fall away when the growth is mature. The
flowers are produced from the top of the pseudo-
bulb, the spike appearing just as the growth has
attained full length, but before it is mature,
and thus the flowers are supported by the
leaves. These plants are best managed when
treated a.s pot plants during the season of
growth ; an abundant supply of water and
good exposure to light are necessary for the
development of sound pseudo-bulbs. It has
generally been considered necessary to place
these plants in the temperature of an East
Indian house when growing, but although I
admit they oftentimes make fine bulbs under
these conditions, yet the plants have to be
watched very carefully in order to keep them
free from thrips and red spider, whilst, on the
contrary, I have found plants of G. Devoniana
and others thrive equally well and give less
trouble in the matter of insect pests when
grown in a cool intermediate house, always
exposing the plants well to the sun. After
growth is finished the plants should be hung up
near the glass or placed upon a shelf and kept
quite dry, for it must be admitted they are
not ornamental in appearance when destitute
of leaves, and as they will only require look-
ing over once or twice during the resting season
in order to see that the pseudo-bulbs are not
shrivelling, they are best put out of sight until
growth commences. The following are the most
showy kinds in cultivation : —
G. Devoniana is perhaps the strongest growing
species known, its somewhat slender fusiform bulbs
usually attaining a height of about 3 feet ; but
about the banks of the Rio Negro, where it grows
wild, it is said to reach even 5 feet and 6 feet.
The flowers are large and helmet-shaped, the lip
being spurred and the most conspicuous part in all
the species; sepals and petals purplish brown, edged
with yellowish green ; lip creamy white, suffused in
front with rosy purple, and pencilled and streaked
with lines of purple and pink. This species is figured
in the first volume of Warner's "Select Orchidaceous
Plants." It is a summer bloomer.
G.Baueri. — This is a smaller growing plant than
the precediDg, and may be successfully grown upon
a block or in a basket, but thrives most vigorously
in a pot ; its pseudo-bulbs are short and ovate ;
sepals and petals olive green ; lip dull purple, with
a yellow throat. It blooms towards the end of
summer and beginning of autumn. It appears to
be widely distributed, having been found in Mexico,
Guatemala, and French Guiana.
G. NIVALIS. — Pseudo-bulbs slender, fusiform, and
glaucous ; the sepals and petals are olive-brown ;
lip white, stained in front with a blotch of violet.
It blooms during the spring months.
G. BAUBATA. — This species has deeply ringed
pseudo-bulbs and glaucous leaves ; the flowers
are much longer than those of the other species ;
sepals and petals erect, olive-brown ; lip rosy pink :
the front bordered with white, and crested
with rosy pink lines on the disc. It is a summer
bloomer. \V. h. G.
SHORT NOTES.— ORCHIDS.
Mormodes luxatum punotatum. — This is a
superb variety of the species wliich, wliile retaiuing
the agi-eeable perfume of the typical plaut, has its
largo, white, fleshy flowers profusely ornamented with
red dots and spots. It has appeared occasionally
amongst importations of M. luxatum, and we observed
it recently blooming with Mr. Marriott in his uursery
at Edmontou, where it is grown with the Cattleyas. —
W. H. ,G.
Leella elegans variety. — I send you a variety
of Laalia elegans and should highly esteem the
favour of your opinion as to its merits. The plant
has not flowered before in this country ; the bulbs
are above the average size of my lot, amongst which
I have been so fortunate as to bloom three or four
other dark varieties. — Malcolm S. Cooke, Kinnsf on
Sill.
^* The flower is too much withered to report
upon decisively. It is a goodvariefy, and apparently
is L. elegans WolstenholmiEe, but I should like to
see the flower again to be sure of its identity. —
W. H. G.
I'pidendrum vitellinum majus. — This is one
of the most beautiful and easiest grown Orchids,
and one that may be taken in hand even by those
who do not possess a glass structure of any
kind, as it may be grown as a window plant. It is
said to grow wild upon the branches of Oak trees
on the cloud-capped mountains of Mexico at GdOO
feet to 9000 feel; elevation, where it is almost con-
tinually enveloped in fog. Its flowers are rich
orange-scarlet, and so persistent that it may almost
be called a perpetual bloomer. The Odontoglossum
house in Mr. Buchan's garden, Southampton, is
rendered very gay just now with numerous examples
of this variety. This, we observe, a contemporary re-
cently referred to under the name of E. Wallisi,
which is a totally different species, with long, slen-
der, reed-like stems belonging to the paniculate
section, and the prevailing colours of its flowers are
golden yellow and purple ; it is also a cool-house
species, and lasts nearly six months in bloom. —
W. H. G.
Chrysanthemums.
E. MOLTNEUX.
SELECTION OF BUDS.
In my last notes on the above subject I en-
deavoured to make it quite clear to beginners
why the flower buds should not be "taken" too
early nor yet too late. I will now try to make
as clear as possible the proper time to select the
buds, as the bulk of the Japanese varieties re-
quire a longer period to fully develop their
blooms than does the incurved section ; there-
fore this peculiarity must be taken into con-
sideration. For instance, buds selected and
"taken" on the 0th of August will not be fully
in bloom any earlier than some which may have
been selected about the 10th of September.
Watchfulness and comparison one year with
another can only perfect the ambitious culti-
vator in this respect. As a general rule around
and south of London crown buds which arc set
from the 18th of August to the 1st of September
are the most likely to produce desirable flowers.
The buds of plants that have been grown farther
north will show a little later, some, perhaps, at
the same time, while in the extreme north many
plants will not set their buds till quite a month
later. In the south of England, if the summer
be exceptionally hot, and consequently dry, the
buds should not be "taken" quite so early as
I have here stated, as through this cause — hot
summer — the growth is more quickly ripened,
and, of course, the buds do not swell so kindly.
Deformity of the petals also ensues in conse-
quence of such early development. Where buds
are formed early in such a season as described,
it is much better to take out the bud and con-
tinue the leading shoot to each stem, which in
due time will jDroduce another flower bud which
piossibly may not arrive at such a size as the
earlier flowers, but it will assuredly be much
neater in the petals, of higher colour, and will
last a longer time in perfection. I would im-
press upon all lovers of this flower that it is
only in extreme cases of a very hot summer
that this slight deviation of bud-selection should
be made, and that not amongst growers north
of London.
As a guide I will name a few varieties, buds
of which should be selected about September 1 :
King of Crimsons, Golden Christine, Pink
Christine, Peach Christine, Phidias, Queen of
England, Golden Empress, Alfred Salter, Sir
Stafford Carey, Empress of India, Hero of Stoke
Newington, Princess Teck, Thunberg, and Mdme.
C Audiguier. It will be well to state that in
addition to these times named, I propose to call
other dates, say from August 18 to September 1,
general time. Where any particular kind is not
named, it is intended that buds of these shall be
selected, then, of course, it is impossible to have
every plant of each kind forming its buds to the
very day ; therefore there is no absolute hard-
and-fast rule governing the well-doing of the
flowers. For instance, if any particular kind
shows the buds, say one week before the given
date, it would be folly to destroy that bud, be-
cause a considerable time would elapse before
another bud formed, which would be too late
for the proper development, but if all the earlier
details of the cultivation of the plants have been
carried out properly, much will have been done
to prepare the formation of flower-buds at the
desirable dates or thereabouts.
When the bud is forming, a check in the
growth of the plant will ajopear to take p)lace for
a few days, and numerous side shoots will push
from the axils of each leaf on the younger-grown
part of the branches. The difficulty with young
growers is how to manipulate these shoots and
the flower-bud. Very little jjractice is required
to make a person eflrcient. The best time for
this operation is in the early morning or even-
ing when the dew is upon the plants, as then
the shoots are quite brittle. If the stem is held
secure in the left hand, and the young growths
which are intended for removal be bent sud-
denly down one at a time, they snap off. After
a little practice this method of taking oft" super-
fluous shoots is much more expeditious than
cutting them ofl' with a knife. If, however, the
operation is eff. cied during the middle of the
day, the shoots are quite tough, and the risk of
damaging the flower-bud by bending the side
branches is much increased. When all growths
are removed, the whole energy of the plant is
concentrated in tlie flower-bud. If the bud ap-
pears to have received any injury from insects
or otherwise, it is need'eis to retain such a bud.
A day or two, however, will determine this, for
if the bud be only slightly deformed it cannot
develop into a perfect flower. The remedy in
this case is then to allow one growth shoot
nearest the top to remain until it can be seen
whether or not the bud is all right, when either
can be removed at will. If it is necessary to
remove the bud, the extra shoot may be allowed
to grow, and thus the number of flowers on each
plant is not reduced by the accident to the main
bud.
In spite of the very dry weather experienced,
Chrysanthemums are making rajsid progress
where constant attention has been given to the
various details required. As the drying winds
so quickly parch up the soil in the pots, it is
necessary to be very attentive to the watering
of the plants. Pompons in small pots, for in-
stance, require water at the roots four and five
times each day, and where cold water only
coming direct out of pipes or wells can be used,
yellow foliage in some places is sure to be the
result. In order to preserve the green leaves
so desirable, give frequent applications of soot
water, also change the kind of stimulant in use
Aug. 20, 1887.J
THE GARDEN.
159
repeatedly, and give the foliage a tliorougli
drenching with the garden engiae each after-
noon or evening. See that the leading stems
are securely tied to the stakes in case of sudden
gales of wind and heavy rains, which would be
almost sure to destroy some of the points of the
branches. Keep a sharp look out for earwigs
and other insect pests lately described. Mil-
dew may in some cases be troublesome, and
where this pest attacks the under side of the
leaves where dry sulphur cannot be applied,
the following remedy may be substituted ;
Place 2 lbs. of sulphnr aud 2 lbs. lime, which
has not been slaked, in ten quarts of water
and boil for twenty minutes ; with this decoc-
tion the plants should be thoroughly syringed,
using two wineglassfuls of the mixture to
four gallons of clean, cold water which has
been well aired; a syringe with the jet affixed
causing a smgle stream is the best method of
applying the liquid ; by placing the forefinger
over the oriSoe the liquid can be directed up-
wards and spread over the plant where required.
Any sediment that may be left on the
leaves will not be injurious, but can be removed
if desired by a vigorous washing with clean
water.
Kitchen Garden.
W. WILDSMITH.
KITCHEN GARDEN NOTES.
Strivisg to battle with drought. — Ten weeks,
with virtually no rain and fierce sunshine for several
hours daily, makes the struggle to keep garden
crops in anything like growing order a battle in-
deed, but having got thus far through the drought
in a presentable condition, we do not mean to give
up now, but shall continue to water, mulch, and hoe
until rain comes to our relief, which period cannot
now be very distant. I would like the non-trenching
advocates to give us a true description of the
appearance of their crops at the present time. I
expect they will think " silence the better part of
valour" and quietly begin to "go in "for deep tilth; at
any rate, I shall continue a practice that in a season
of such exceptional drought has given us good crops,
with a moderate amount of watering and mulching,
as anyone could have wished in the best of seasons.
Peas, French Bsans, and Cauliflowers— three of the
most difficult vegetables to grow under such con-
ditions as have prevailed duiing the last few weeks
— have really been, and still are, extra fine, and
this could not have been the case had ordinary
digging and manuring only been practised, even
though the supply of water had been unlimited.
Necessarily the supplies have had to be very small,
and some crops got none whatever. Brussels
Sprouts, for instance, have never once been watered,
and yet they range from 30 inches to 40 inches in
height, with foliage as large as good-siz8d Cabbage
leaves, the reason of such vigour being deeply
trenched and highly manured ground.
Haevestisg Potatoes. — We are having all
kinds lifted that are of any size, for as soon as rain
comes the disease is almost sure to set in, and
even if it should not, supertuberation will, in fact, it
has begun, and rain will increase this evil. Late
varieties are an entire failure, for there are no tubers
worth the name, and the haulm is so withered that
no amount of rain can revive it ; but as we do not
require the ground, we shall allow all late kinds to
stand, by way of experiment, to see what really does
happen.
Planting out Lettuce and Colewoets, and
SOWING Onions. — This we have done on the best
of our ground that has just been cleared of Pota-
toes. We could not afford to wait any longer for
rain, and, therefore, the mode of planting was
adapted to the weather. Drills were drawn and
well watered the day previous, and again as soon as
the plants were put in. Such watering will be con-
tinued for the present on each alternate day. We
have followed the same rule in respect of sowing
Onions to stand the winter, but with the additional
labour of thoroughly soaking the whole of the
ground before drawing the drills, and again after
they had been drawn.
General work. — This is so dependent on the
weather, that it is difficult to mention the work that
should be done. Ours will mainly be a repetition
of what we have been doing for some weeks, namely,
using our utmost endeavours to keep the crops in a
growing condition, and all parts of the garden tidy.
Spring-sown Onions are ready for pulling. Runner
Beans require pinching, and pick off old pods. Late
sown dwarf Beans require thinning out, the earliest
Celery earthing up. Tomatoes tying to stakes and
pinching, exhausted crops of Peas pulled up, and
the sticks used for the latest crops.
Green Peas as double croppers. — As every-
one knows, of course, the great desideratum is to
get a good long season of green Peas, may I sug-
gest an idea founded on observation ? I sowed a
favourite of mine. Day's Early Sunrise, on a hot,
sheltered border, and they did well with some help
in the way of watering. I knew this variety to be
good at continued production on the tops of the
plants, but I never expected to notice a quality as I
did to-day — a new growth from the base of the
stem, the first joint or two from the ground. This
new growth is full of bloom, and has set lots of
Peas hanging in regular bunches, about 6 inches
high. I immediately clipped away the haulm, and
shall pull up the sticks, too, I think, and also give
the plants some fresh mulch, and so help them.
I think I need say no more ; every gardener will
recognise the almost priceless value of a group of
Peas which can be cut down to sprout again, thus
getting the benefit of the deep root already formed
and no dry haulm to trouble one, but a clean, fresh
growth from the very bottom yielding a late crop
without more labour. Of course it is needless to
remark that I shall save my seed from this second
growth as the surest way to perpetuate the same
character. 1 observe no trace of this quality in
two other kinds I am growing, but I would ask that
any other variety than the one named should be
carefuUy noted, cut down, and encouraged in the
habit referred to. It must be noted that not a
branching habit from the old haulm is the desidera-
tum, though that is a good quality, but an entire
fresh growth from the very bottom. — Alfred
Dawson, Hogarth ir«r/is, Cliisn-ick.
Earliness of crops. — It is a subject of general
remark in northern districts that crops of most
kinds have not been so early for many years, and
in many cases some kinds which often barely give
a return for the labour expended on them have done
remarkably well, notably French Beans. These, we
are told, never were so early for more than a quarter
of a century, or so abundant as they have been and
are this season, Ne Pius Ultra and Osborn's Forcing
being two of the best. On a portion of firm ground,
where the holes for the seed were cut out with diffi-
culty, because of the hardness of the surface, the crop
is unusually fine and has withstood the drought much
better than where the soil has been well dug and
manured. Potatoes have been as early as they are
generally seen in the south of England. We were
able to dig Veitch's kidneys, Mona's Pride and
Belvoir Prolific during the last week in June. The
last-named has done better than usual, the crop
being heavy and the quality excellent. These were
from a sheltered border, but others in open spaces
were quite fit for use on the 1st of July. An ex-
cellent addition (among early kinds) is Drummond's
Prolific. As a handsome Potato of fine quality and
an abundant cropper, it has maintained its high
character. Village Blacksmith is truly an excellent
midseason kind, and very suitable for northern dis-
tricts. Peas have been very abundant this season,
especially the strong growers, but late supplies are
becoming scarce, and we fear there will not be
many gathered in October, as is often the case in
many northern districts. The drought has been
intense, but, on the whole, the season will be re-
membered as a productive one. — A Scot.
MARKET GARDEN NOTES.
The protracted drought has greatly affected crops
of all kinds in market as well as in private gardens,
for the impossibility of applying water in-anything
like adequate quantities has been fully demon-
strated during the past few months. When it
comes to several acres of any kind of crop, it is
quite a different thing to a few rows in a private
garden, and when these protracted spells of dry
weather visit us the market grower is compelled to
rely more on good culture and liberal manuring
than watering to carry his crops safely through
the trying ordeal. Only a favoured few have
water plentiful enough just now to do more
than keep their Cucumbers, Tomatoes, and other
crops in houses, j)its, and frames supplied, and
perhaps a few plots of "\'egetable Marrows, Scar-
let Runners, &c., that really pay for watering. It
is surprising what a protracted spell of drought
crops will bear if a good supply of manure is
buried in the soil, and especially if the surface i
made tolerably firm by rolling. The heat has
been so intense and the atmosphere so dry that
moisture-loving crops, like Peas, Beans, and all
the Cabbage tribe, were hard and striugy long
before they were fully grown ; consequently at the
present time there is a great scarcity of really good
vegetables, and prices are high. We have, however,
not yet seen the end of the scarcity, for it is quite
impossible to get winter crops to make any pro-
gress. The seed is sown in plenty, but the land is
dust-dry, and plants of the Brassica tribe can barely
be kept alive either in seed-beds or when planted
out, unless exceptional means are at hand for suiJ-
plying moisture to the roots.
Potatoes. — The early kinds are now very good
in quality, but are a light crop. The late varieties
are very much in want of rain, which, unless it
comes directly, will have no effect on them, but
will, in fact, start a second growth. Potatoes are
now realising fair prices for the time of year, as the
prospect of higher returns in winter causes growers
to withhold any sort that will keep.
Vegetable Maerots's are at present the most
profitable crop that market growers have in quan-
tity, as they withstand the heat, and being gene-
rally liberally treated with manure both under the
roots and as a mulching, they, with the aid of abund-
ance of water, resist the drought well.
Cabbages grown on cool, low-lying fields are
supplied in good condition, and realise good prices.
In many places they are terribly infested by cater-
pillars, as we have for some time past had swarms
of white butterflies, and when they are so plentiful
green crops are soon spoiled. The planting of suc-
cessional crops is now being done, the practice being
to dip the roots in thick puddle, and then watering
them to give them a start. The sowing of main
spring crops is also being done. Early Rainham,
Wheeler's Imperial, and Early York are sorts in
great favour in this locality, and in few places are
Cabbages better grown than in market gardens.
Tomatoes are every season being more and more
largely grown for market, and they enjoy the heat
and drought if well supplied with liquid manure at
the roots. Fruits are now being plentifully supplied
from under glass, and some are being obtained from
the open-air plants. Tomatoes promise to ripen
well, even in open fields this year. I have seen
good crops on plants trained to hurdles by spreading
out the shoots thinly, so that sun and air could get
at the fruits.
Cucumbers, both frame and ridge, are doing
well, the latter coming in early, where they were
protected by hand-lights during May. They are
generally mulched with straw, and a supply of liquid
manure given when fruiting freely.
Bush fruits have been, as a rule, very soon over,
the heat and drought having dried up the Currants
and rendered Raspberries almost a failure.
Apples are dropping very much from the trees ;
the early Codlins and dessert kinds of the Juneating
and Quarrenden type are selling fairly well, but the
late sorts are greatly in want of rain to swell them
to anything like full size. Apples appear to suffer
160
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 20, 1887.
more than Pears, which are with us a moderate
crop. Taken collectively, the season is anything but
favourable for growers. J. G.
Gns2)0Tt.
Trees and Shrubs.
W. GOLDRING.
THE HEMLOCK SPRUCE.
(adies canadensis.)
Among the Conifers the Hemlock Spruce (Abies
canadensis) stands out as conspicuously from the
rest in point of graceful growth as the Weeping
Willow does among deciduous trees ; indeed, it
is not too much to say that the Hemlock is the
most beautiful of all Spruces. But it must be
seen in health and vigour, and not in that ill-
conditioned state in which it is often seen in
places unsuitable to its growth. It has, in fact,
the reputation in this country of being an un-
satisfactory tree for general planting, and this
really is so if due cai'e is not taken to select
suitable spots for it. It is a tree that will not
thrive in a windy, exposed place, and dislikes a
heavy clayey soil ; in fact, it is time and labour
lost to plant it either in a wind-exposed place
or in a wet, undrained soil. In such spots it
might exist, but I have never seen it so healthy
and luxuriant as when growing on light soils
and in sheltered positions.
As to its extreme hardiness there can be no
doubt, for at home in the Canadian woods and
other parts of the American continent it ex-
periences, of course, more severe cold than ever
we get here. In the southern counties of Eng-
land there are places where the Hemlock Spruce
thrives with a vigour unsurpassed even in its
native woods, and, perhaps, of all places, it
grows best among the hills of Surrey, for I have
Branch of the Hemlock Spruce (Abies canadensis).
never met with finer specimens, though when
travelling about the country I am always on the
look-out for Hemlocks. There are two places
in Surrey where the Hemlock succeeds sur-
prisingly. These are St. George's Hills, near
Weybridge, the seat of Admiral Egerton ; and
Norbury Park, near Dorking. When Mr. C. M.
Hovey, an experienced American from Boston,
was in this country a few years ago, he told me
that he had never seen the Hemlock in such
perfection as it is at St. George's Hills, although
he had seen it at home in its native woods, and
some of the best ctiitivated specimens in America.
The situation of St. George'.s Hills is high and
undulated, but the spot where the Hemlocks
grow is well sheltered from the prevailing winds
by plantations. The soil is light and of a deep
sandy, peaty nature, rich in decayed vegetable
matter ; therefore it is never very wet, and the
soil being deep, does not get very dry. The
Hemlocks form a most beautiful plantation, the
trees being mixed with other Conifers in irregu-
lar and most picturesque groups, and in some
parts the Hemlocks make an undergrowth be-
neath great Oaks and other deciduous trees. The
Hemlocks are at all times a beautiful sight, and
particularly in winter, when their luxuriant and
graceful foliage is seen in bold relief from the
surrounding bareness of trunk and limb.
Taking this instance as typical of the correct
conditions under which the Hemlock thrives in
this country, it may be assumed that partial
shade and perfect wind shelter are necessary,
combined with a rich and deep light soil,
and the failures that some complain of may
generally be traced to the neglect of these con-
The Hemlock Spruce (Abies canadensis), a small specimen
ditions. But it may happen that some readers are
able to contradict this assertion, and tell us
that the Hemlock thrives on heavy soil and in
exposed places, and a note to that effect would
be valuable for the guidance of intending
planters. The Hemlock is, I consider, such an
important tree in ornamental planting that we
cannot have too much information respecting
its likes and dislikes.
As it is one of the best known and most
familiar Conifers it may be needless to describe
it. It may always be recognised by its dense,
spreading growth, lighter in colour, more
slender, and elegant than a Yew, and always
with pendulous branchlets. Sometimes it
assumes a strictly pyramidal growth as most
other Spruces, but this is the exception, not the
rule. Young trees sometimes grow as much as
30 feet high before the main leader fails to grow
erect, but generally the trees have several
leaders or the stem becomes forked and much
divided, and in this respect it differs from its
near relative, the Hemlock Spruce, of the Pacific
coast region (A. Albertiana), which is so much
like the Canadian Hemlock in foliage. This
western tree usually develops a symmetrical
outline with a strong, erect leader, and rarely
assumes that bushy growth so common in A.
canadensis. This low-spreading habit of growth
constitutes, indeed, one of the chief points of
beauty in the Canadian Hemlock, and in an
assemblage of coniferous trees its rich masses of
verdure afford quite a relief to the monotonous
spiral growth of most others. In the dense
woods of Canada and other places where indi-
genous it sends up a straight stem 60 feet or
80 feet high, but wherever it is isolated or
grows in small masses its tapering growth is
lessened, and assumes more the character of the
specimen herewith illustrated. It may be seen
by this picture of the tree that there is no
approach to the regular whorls of branches as
in other Spruces, but that they are arranged
irregularly on the stem, and thus give the tree
that graceful and picturesque aspect which
everybody admires.
It is a noteworthy fact that the Hemlock in
this country suffers less from injury from heavy
falls of snow than most other Conifers, owing to
the elasticity of its branches and their irregular
disposition, which distributes the snow more
than regularly whorled branches do. It is stated ,
however, by Michaux that in the Canadian
forests of Hemlock the old trees suffer terribly
from snowstorms, for when very
old the wood is so brittle, and
• these damaged old trees greatly
impair the otherwise beautiful
Hemlock woods.
In ornamental planting it looks
well in almost any position, and,
like the Spruce, flourishes well
under large Oaks. The best effect
of the Hemlock is seen when
planted in large, irregular masses
by itself, the trees being of dif-
ferent sizes, and in order to break
the outline, its spiral growing re-
lative (A. Albertiana) may be
introduced in the groups, in
which position it has the same
effect as the Lombardy Poplar
has among round-headed trees.
The spot for a group of Hem-
locks should be chosen on the
lee side of a plantation or hill,
and if the soil is stiff and un-
drained, the usual plan of re-
medying this can be carried out.
The Hemlocks make a beautiful
hedge, and in some large tree nurseries a Hem-
lock hedge is one of the features of the place.
In planting a hedge of Hemlocks the plants
should be placed in double or triple rows, so as
to give a good thickness to the hedge, and as it
stands pruning well, it may be kept in a uniform
There are several varieties of A. canadensis in
cultivation which differ more or less from the
original in habit and character of the foliage.
One named macrophylla, which originated in an
American nursery, has the leaves longer and
broader and of a deeper green than those of the
type. Another named parvifolia is the opposite
of macrophylla, inasmuch as its leaves are very
small and more pointed, and also of a deeper
green than the common form. It is the same as
that called miorophylla. The variety pendula
is very distinct and beautiful, as the whole of
the branches, including the leaders, are decidedly
pendulous. A pretty new variety named mil-
fordensis, which will undoubtedly soon become
a favourite, may now be seen in Mr. Maurice
Young's nursery at Godalming. It is exceedingly
dense in growth and graceful, while the colour
is altogether brighter than that of the common
form. Considering that the Hemlock Spruce
was introduced to England in 1736, one would
expect to find it commoner than it is, and
more fine specimens of it than exist in English
gardens.
Aug. 20, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
161
THE KNIFE A3I0XG TREES AND SHRUBS.
This is a good season to look round choice trees
and regulate their leaders, as wounds heal quickly
now. All tendency to deformity in growth should
also receive timely attention. Want o£ symmetry
may generally be traced to neglect in early life. A
well-designed and well-planted shrubbery is one of
the most interesting features of the country and
suburban residence. Tree and shrub growth are in-
dispensable, both for shelter and for ornament; but
very often, in seeking the shelter and that privacy
which every Englishman craves for in his inmost
soul, the effect the plantations may present in the
future is forgotten or altogether ignored. The skil-
ful planter arranges his groups to suit the formation
of the ground : he clothes the hUls with trees and
shrubs to give a boldness to their outline and add to
the depth of the valleys, and he either selects the
plants to suit the situation, or fits the position to
suit the plants, and the greatest powers of the de-
signer are often called into being in his efforts to adapt
means to ends, and in softening and toning down
difficulties which are sure to be thickly strewn along
the path of those who are trying, in however humble
a manner, to get off the beaten track. No one shoxild
set about planting on a considerable scale without
forming a thorough acquaintance with the soU and
the local conditions and climate of the place ; and
it is 'of equal importance that a perfect knowledge
should be obtained of all the introduced trees and
shrubs, as far, at least, as snch knowledge can be
obtained.
Of late years people generally are acquiring a
greater familiarity with hardy border flowers, but
we cannot rest there ; we must know and make use
of the larger and more digniSed members of the
vegetable kingdom. Flowers come and go with the
seasons, but trees and shrubs are joys for a long life,
if not for ever. But when the planter, who knows
all things about trees and shrubs, has been found,
and has worked his will upon the surroundings
of the country mansion or the suburban villa and
has gone his way, how difficult it often is for those
who come after him to gather up the planter's ideas,
to give prominence to those features which require
development, and curtail or contract those which it
was never intended should be permanent. This is
where the pruning knife should be brought in to
give timely liberty and freedom to the beautiful,
and keep a firm hand upon the common things
planted as shelters and nurses. In the proper man-
agement of woods and shrubberies we have all much
to learn. A planter who understands his business
looks far into the future. In his mind's eye the
groups of Cedars and Hollies take a definite shape,
and though the bits of colour introduced into the
picture may take years to develop, he sees them
there, and in his grouping allows for the effect of
light and shade. But in those long after years there
is need of a guiding hand, and sometimes that hand
should hold a sharp knife and be animated by a de-
termined spirit. In planting new grounds, those
features wMch are intended to form the principal
objects in the future are often of slow growth, and
so common things are planted to nurse and protect
them ; but it is absolutely necessary that the nurses
be kept in check, or they will overgrow and destroy
their f oster-chUdren. Many a choice plant has been
ruined by neglect in this particular, and there is no
time better than the present, when all things are
full of growth, to repair errors of the past. H
A new weeping tree (Teas' Weeping Russian
Mulberry).— In the year 1885, Mr. John C. Teas
discovered among some Russian Mulberry trees,
one ha%"ing growth similar to a Vine, which attracted
his attention. Being a practical nurseryman, he
at once betook himself to budding some trees
at standard height on some Russian Mulberry,
to test their weeping qualities. Some of the buds
took so well that they grew to 2 inches or 3 inches
that season. The following season the trees grew
so rapidly that the branches soon reached the ground.
These qualities being ascertained, Mr. Teas next
placed the propagation with the Messrs. J. B. Wild
and Bros., nurserymen, of Sarcosie, Mo. At the
twelfth annual meeting of the American Asscciation
of Nurserymen, Seedsmen, and Florists, in June,
1887, at Chicago, we were shown by these gentle-
men a one-year head, with branches touching
the ground. Photos and stereo-views taken from
specimen trees in nursery were shown, which at-
tracted the attention of those desiring to see a
new variety and type of weeping tree that would
be much better suited to a diversified climate. The
leaves of this remarkable tree are beautifully lobed,
of a bright green with gold edged margin in the
autumn. The branches are delicate as well as
graceful. As to fruit — its berries are above ordinary
size and almost seedless. So far as the lobes of
the leaves are concerned, these will disappear as the
trees get older; aU Mulberries have lobed leaves
when they are young, and entire when of maturer
age. This will be no disadvantage, as all the forms
of the white Mulberry are interesting, and this one
will no doubt be a welcome addition to our list of
weeping trees. — Gardeners' Monthly.
Thuja Fhippeniana. — Mr. Hopkins, of Tid-
marsh Manor, Reading, has just sent me shoots of
what appears to me to be a very distinct kind of
Thuja, bearing the name T. Phippeniana. At first
sight one would say it is T. Lobbi, or some form of
it, and this may be so, but not having seen the tree
I cannot judge of the difference in growth between
Lobbi and this so-called Phippeniana. The shoots
sent certainly differ from those of Lobbi in being
more slender, of a lighter colour, and with the
branchlets decidedly drooping. Mr. Hopkins de-
scribes his specimen as possessing great elegance of
growth, and very effective on account of its weep-
ing habit. It is said to have originated with
Mr. Phippen, of Reading, and as it appears to have
been distributed by him, perhaps some reader can
throw further light upon the tree, and give their
opinion as to its merits and characteristics. — W. G.
Pavia macrostachya. — Loudon, fifty years
ago, called this shrub " one of the greatest floral
ornaments of the shrubbery," and this remark holds
good now, for there has been no shrub introduced
since Loudon's time that can rival this Pavia for
beauty of flower or elegance of growth. It is the
more noticeable at this season because there are so
very few trees or shrubs in bloom, and, therefore, a
great deal should be made of the Pavia. In gardens
about London it has been coming into bloom for
over a month, and will continue in bloom for some
weeks yet. It is a wide-spreading shrub, rarely
more than 10 feet or 12 feet high, generally under,
and sends up slender, erect shoots in all directions.
These at first spring from the main stem horizon-
tally, and take root, so that an established specimen
of this Pavia may be said to be an assemblage of
distinct plants. Each shoot or stem is terminated
by a feathery spike of white bloom, often nearly a
foot in length, and agreeably fragrant. The foliage,
too, helps to give the shrub that air of elegance
which makes it so admirable. In short, it is one of
the finest of all hardy shrubs, and being an autumn
flowerer, is the more valuable. It will grow anywhere,
but best in a moist situation, such as the margin of
a stream or lake. It is a native of North America,
growing commonly in the South-eastern States by the
banks of rivers. It was introduced over sixty years
ago, and is known under various names, such as
.Ssculus parviflora, jE. macrostachya, and M. edulis,
but Pavia macrostachya is that by which it is most
generally known. — W. G.
Xanthoceras sorbifolia. — A plant of this S feet
or 9 feet high, and from 3 feet to 4 feet through, is
now bearing a fine fruit 2A inches long by about 2 inches
in diameter; it is, however, stUl green. I purchased
the plant, which was then about 2 feet high, in the
spring of 18"9. My garden lies low, and is very damp
in winter and very warm in summer, and the plant has
stood the trying winters since I bought it without any
injury, except that two years since, when showing very
well for bloom, a hailstorm stripped off the greater
portion of the blossoms. This year it had a fair
amount, but not so good as in 1885. It is a handsome
small tree or shrub. — E. Nicholsox, Lewes.
I have a plant in the open border which is now
hearing a fruit. It somewhat resembles a medium-
sized Pear, but is more angular. — J. H. J., Goddard's
Green.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
We learn that a large exhibition of flowers and fruits
will be held at Manchester on September 16 and IT.
Particulars may he obtained from Mr. Bnice Findlay,
Royal Botanic Gardens, Old Trafford, Manchester.
Strawberry Laxton's Noble. — Mr. Laxton, of
Bedford, has sent us a coloxired plate of this Straw-
berry, which was certificated by the Royal Horticul-
tm-al Society last year. It is a large, handsome,
regular, and well shaped fruit, early, and richly
flavoured.
Iiilium longiflorum variegatiun. — We have
received a flowering stem of this Lily from Messrs.
Barr and Son, of Covent Garden. It is an interesting
variety, the foliage abundant, glaucous green, and
boldly margined with white ; the flower is not so
large as in the type, but quite as pure, and also sweetly
scented.
Eoyal Horticultural Society. — The National
Co-operative Flower Show will be held on Tuesday
next, under the auspices of this society, and will be
open to the public at 1 p.m. at the reduced charge of
6d. There wiU he a conference at -3 p.m. in the Upper
West Quadi-ant, when the subject for discussion will
be, "Possibilities of Co-operative Allotments and
Associated Gardens," by Edward Owen Greening.
The Caper plant at Cambridge. — We saw
with pleasure this handsome and curious plant in
flower in the Botanic Garden at Cambridge a few
days ago. It is out of doors, but protected with a
little frame and placed outside a hothouse wall. A
plant so singularly pretty as the Caper is worth a
place in our gardens, but hitherto no fit home has
been found for it in them.
Crimson -rayed liily (LUium anratum cru-
entum). — Mr. J. Shenton, Heme Hill, Brixton, has
sent us a spike of this magnificent Lily, which,
though not new, is still scarce. A coloured plate of
this variety appeared in The Garden, Dec. 27, 1879.
The flowers are of large size, not of such substance
perhaps as those of the type, but quite as effective
in colour, the segments freely spotted and having a
broad showy band of crimson down the centre. It
is a distinct, handsome, and noble variety.
Royal Botanic Society. — The i8th anniversary
meeting was recently held at Regent's Park, and
from the annual report we are glad to find a con-
tinued improvement in the society. As an example
of its usefulness, 681 free orders of admission were
granted for from three to six months, a fair propor-
tion of the applicants being artists, and no less than
iO,362 cut specimens were given away to those
requiring them for furthering their knowledge of
plants and flowers.
Sobralia zantholeuca. — Mr. T. H. Powell,
Drinkstone Park, Suffolk has sent us flowers of this
rare and beautiful Sobralia, which, however, owing
to their fragOe texture were much bruised in transit.
It is a species of distinct, handsome character, the
colouring delicate, and the blooms with that de-
flexed nature which rather adds than detracts from
their beauty. Both sepals and petals are of a pale
sulphur hue, the former narrower than the latter ;
the beautifully frilled lip stands out boldly, the tnbe
pure white, and the front portion sulphur, which
deepens at the entrance of the tube, where it is
lined with orange.
Statice floribunda. — Messrs. Charles Lee and
Son, Hammersmith, have sent us a specimen of
this Statice, which has been certificated both by
the Royal Horticultural and Botanic Societies. It
is one of the finest we have seen, the growth
neat, foliage abundant, and the flower-stems nu-
merous, bearing comparatively large violet -blue
flowers of great beauty and cheerfulness. It
makes an excellent pot plant, and wUl probably
prove useful for market. It blooms when not
more than 4 inches or 5 inches high, so culti-
vators have not long to wait before the -plants
flower.
We have received from the Royal Gardens, Kew,
the "Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information" for
August. There are notes on the Tree Tomato
(Cyphomandra betacea), Chooho (Sechium edule),
the Arracacha (Arracacia esculenta), and the Cheri-
mojer (Anona Cherimolia), aU used as food plants.
162
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 20, 1887.
The Tree Tomato is illustrated, and has egg-shaped
fruits, both in colour and flavour resembling the
Tomato. Chocho is much used in Tropical America
as an article of food, and Arracacha is described as
a valuable esculent in the highlands of Venezuela.
Cherimoyer is a native of the Andes of Ecuador and
Peru, the fruit of delicious flavour, and with a firm
flesh.
Sisa grandiflora from Straffan. — As usual
at this time of year, I send you a few Disa flowers
by parcels post, four varieties, D. grandiflora, D. g.
superba, D. g. violescens, and another good form
that comes between the two last varieties ; good as
they were last year, they are far better this year. A
note respecting them appeared in The Gabdbn,
Aug. 6 (p. 114). — F. Bedford.
*j,* The flowers arrived in excellent condition,
and displayed brilliant, but refined colouring. It is
strange that these cool-house Orchids are not more
often cultivated considering their beauty and dis-
tinctness.— Ed.
Kensington Gardens. — We learn that a letter
has been recently received from the First Commis-
sioner of Works by Mr. John Lloyd, on the part of
the Kensington memorialists, to the effect that Her
Majesty has been graciously pleased to sanction the
throwing open to the public use the strip of garden
forming part of the grounds of Kensington Palace,
and adjacent to the Bayswater Road. Arrange-
ments will accordingly be made, as soon as posses-
sion can be obtained, for incorporating the land
with Kensington Gardens, and it is the intention of
the Board in due course to remove the brick wall at
present surrounding the plot, and to make a suit-
able entrance at the western end.
Bignonia purpurea. — This as a late summer
stove climber is most valuable, combining the
elegance which Bignonias usually possess with
large showy flowers of a bright purplish lilac. The
flowers are borne in clusters of several pairs, which
crowd around every joint on the long, slender shoots,
which droop in graceful profusion from the plant if
the latter is trained under the roof of a stove house.
It much resembles another showy climber, B.
speciosa, with purple flowers, but whereas this
species flowers, as a rule, in spring, B. purpurea
always blooms in August and September. It is one
of the many climbers that now adorn the Palm
house roof at Kew, where it grows with the greatest
freedom planted out in the usual way.
Tlie Flowering Kush.— Few plants shown at
the last Kensington meeting gave me more pleasure
than the Flowering Rush(Butomus umbellatus), one of
the most charming plants that could be used in the
embellishment of a lake or pond. It grows almost
at our very doors, and yet is rarely seen in a garden
where, even in the absence of a pond, it flowers
freely. Instead of so many Juncuses, Lysimachia
vulgaris, and other plants which make the edges of
ponds in our public gardens hideous, why not intro-
duce beautiful plants as this flowering Rush, the
Great Spear- wort (Ranunculus Lingua), Water Dock
(Rumes Hydrolapathum), and in the shallows near
the edge Villarsia nymphieoides, Cape Pond-weed
(Aponogeton distaohyon), and other pretty plants
in the place of Flags which rarely flower, and which,
though very well in their way, should not be grown
to the exclusion of plants that would make our
lakes look picturesque and natural. — K.
Climbing Fumitory (Adlumia cirrhosa).— One
of the most noteworthy plants in bloom now against
the herbaceous ground wall at Kew is this extremely
graceful North American climbing biennial plant.
A vigorous plant placed at the foot of the wall has
climbed up by aid of branches to some 8 feet or Id
feet high, and its long slender stems clothed with
delicately cut foliage and profusely hung with flesh-
coloured blossoms, each about an inch in length,
produce a charming eifect. It manages to climb
by the tendril-like young leaf-stalks, and being a
rapid grower it soon gets to the top of a wall or bush.
The American botanists say that in the native habitat
of the plants, viz., the wet woods of the Eastern
States, it festoons high bushes and trees in a most
beautiful way. It flowers there from July to October,
and here it continues to bloom for nearly as long.
It is strictly a biennial ; that is, it makes its growth
one season, flowers the next, and then dies. It is
therefore necessary to raise a stock of seedlings
every year. But this is not much trouble, as it seeds
so freely — indeed, in places where it succeeds
well self-sown seedlings are plentiful. It likes a
warm soil and the partial shade that it gets in
rambling over a thin-leaved bush or on Pea sticks
Now that seed can be bought readily, those fond of
graceful climbers should by all means grow it.
"White Plumbago capensis. — Everyone knows
the delicate porcelain-blue Plumbago, and one can
imagine how lovely the white-flowered variety of it
would be. This white form may now be seen in
flower in the entrance porch of the old tropical
Water Lily house at Kew in company with the
common kind. The white difl^ers in no way from
the type, except in the absence of colour. It looks
like a snow-white Jasmine, and appears to be quite
as vigorous and as free-flowering as the blue va-
riety. Gardeners will welcome this white Plumbago,
as it will be a precious addition to white blooms for
which there is always such a great demand. This
white Plumbago is one of the plants brought
recently from Soiith Africa by Mr. Watson, of the
Royal Gardens, and it will probably prove a more
valuable acquisition than any other plant he
brought.
Oswego Tea(Monarda didyma). — When planted
in a damp place this is a most charming plant. In
the bog garden at Kew the jilant has attained a
large size, and has been flowering for the last
month. It does not seem to mind the sun so long
as the roots are kejit cool and moist; indeed, this
seems to be the whole secret of robust growth and
vividly coloured flowers. As it is growing in the
bog at Kew amongst Asclepiasgigantea and Senecio
pulcher, with a broad band of the Marsh Fern in
front, it makes a beautiful picture, quite in keeping
with the surroundings. Near to it is a large clump
of Spir;ca lobata alba, sent out, we believe, under
the name of S. palmata alba; it has, however, lobed
not palmate leaves, but, after all, it may be a diffe-
rence of degree. The damp situation seems to
suit it admirably, the plants being robust, compact,
and flowering profusely. In front of the bog, Gen-
tiana sceptrum, a North American species nearly
allied to G. afiinis, has been very fine; it has flowers
as large as G. Andrewsi. — K.
Crinum giganteum. — Now that bulbous
plants are beginning to be more grown than
hitherto, attention should be directed to the lovely
Crinum giganteum, which is one of the finest of all
the species. It has large and beautifully-formed
flowers, somewhat similar to the better-known C.
Mooreanum, but borne on shorter stems. They are
of ivory whiteness and deliciously fragrant, and are
borne from six to eight in a cluster on each spike.
The leaves are nearly a yard long, and of a deep
green colour. A plant of this Crinum is now flower-
ing amongst the undergrowth beneath the great
Palms in the Palm house at Kew, where it seems per-
fectly at home, growing with a luxuriance that could
not be surpassed in its native jungles. It comes
from West Tropical Africa, where it grows in deep
swamps in the shady forests ; hence it requires
plenty of heat and moisture as well as shade. It
has no particular season for flowering, but, as a
rule, it commences to bloom in early summer, and
continues to send up flower-spikes throughout the
season.
Gomphia decorans is a Brazilian shrub that
makes a bright show of yellow bloom on one of the
shelves in the Palm house at Kew at the present
time. Although it cannot be found in ordinary
nurseries or gardens, it is nevertheless a plant to be
recommended for general culture, because it is one
of the comparati\ely few shrubs that flower in the
stove in August, and because it is such a showy
plant and lasts so long in bloom. It is a shrub of
low, bushy habit when grown in pots, and has neat,
pale green foliage. The flowers are each as large as
a shilling, of a bright canary yellow, produced in
long, dense clusters, or branching racemes, as the
botanists say. It is of the simplest culture, thriving
well under the ordinavr treatment of stove plantf.
It is popularly called the Button Flower, but why is
not quite clear, except that its fruits are like
buttons. In Brazil it grows from 10 feet to 15 feet
high, but as it flowers in a small state there is no
need to allow it to get so big. It is also called G.
olivieformis, but G. decorans is the name by which
it is best known.
Erytlirina Humei.— Here is a plant that for
brilliancy of colour is not equalled by the brightest
of scarlet Pelargoniums, and certainly has no rivals
among August-flowering stove plants. There are
now some plants of it in full bloom in the Palm
house at Kew. Naturally this Erythrina is a
tree, growing from 30 feet to (JO feet in height, but
at Kew the specimens, being small, may be described
as shrubs. It has numerous erect shoots spring-
ing from a woody stem, and each is terminated
by an erect flower-spike with the flowers densely
arranged. The most conspicuous part of the flower
is the upper petal or standard, as in the case also
of the commoner E. Crista-galli (the Coral Tree),
and this petal is of the most glowing orange-scarlet
imaginable. When half-a-dozen or more spikes are
borne on the same plant they have a most brilliant
efilect. The foliage, too, is handsome, the leaflets
being large and heart-shaped and of a deep green.
It is certainly a plant that should come into general
cultivation, but at present it would perhaps be difli-
cult to buy it in a nursery. It is a native of South
Africa, and was figured several years ago in the
Botanical Magazine under the name of E. Caflira.
Another way of using soot for pot plants.
— To the two methods of employing soot as a top-
dressing described by Mr. Murphy, I would add
another that I have found useful. With the soot I
mix one-third of its bulk of either white or silver
sand, thoroughly incorporating the two ingredients.
When soot is applied in this way it binds down on
the soil after one watering ; there is no floating ofl^,
as is the case when soot is used in a pure state.
Moreover, the water passes freely through it. For
pot Strawberries soot has always been a favourite
dressing, to be applied at the beginning of the
autumn. For root-bound plants that have, in a
great measure, exhausted the soil, it is excellent,
giving colour to the foliage and substance to the
crowns without stimulating over-much. An addi-
tional reason I have for using soot as a top-dressing
is that it keeps the surface soil free from Moss
through the winter. It also helps to keep the com-
post free from worms. To Chrysanthemums it may
be applied in the same way ; but I ha^e found a
good plan in their case is to" put on the soot before
beginning the customary top-dressings of composts.
There is nothing that so quickly rids the foliage of
the yellow tinge as an application of soot.— J. C. B.
Names of plants.— C P. BrooZ,/jeW.— Your Hi-
biscus is a very handsome variety ; 1, Cymhidium aloi-
folium; 2, C. aloifolium, light variety. C. C.
{Wmibledoii). — 1, Odontoglossum Lindleyanmu; 2,
Cypripedium Stonei; 3, Aerides Lobbi; 4, Calanthe
veratrif olia ; 5, Cattleya gigas. V. Y. V. — 1, Catt-
leya orispa, goodform; 2, Dendrobium aureum philip-
piaense; 3, Epidendrum nemorale; 4, Dendrobium
transparens. G. R. {Ipsivic]i). — 1, Adiautum ama-
bile ; 2, Pteris nemorale ; 3, Aspleuium formosum ; 4,
Adiautum mundviluni. Man.r. — 1, Erica Marnocki-
ana ; 2, E. tricolor Wilsoni ; 3, Dipladeuia boliviensis.
G. Falconer. — 1, Rhododeudron Princess Alexan-
dra, cannot name varieties of tuberous Begonias ; 5,
Reineckia carnea variegata. John Jones, — 1, Cat-
tleya velutiua ; 2, ThuniaDodgsoni; 3, Cattleya Scho-
fieldiaua. J. Johnston. — 1, Hoyabella; 2, Boniarea
Carderi ; 3, Eticliaris Sauderi. Mayo. — Montbretia
Pottsi. v. T. Fish. — 1, Salicornia radioans (Croej)-
ing Glasswort); 2, Lupinus micranthus. James
Grant. — Bog Arum (Calla palustris). May BJossom.
— Possibly you mean the dwarf Bellflower (Campanula
puuiila) , but you do not state the colour of the flowers.
There are several dwarf Bellflowers. F. ]V. E.—
Metrosideros tomentosa. IF. D. 8. — We do not name
florists' flowers. G. S. Goldsmith. — 1, Rudheckia
laciniata; 2, Rudbeckia occideutalis; 3, Buphthalmum
speciosum (Telekia) ; 4, Inula Heleniuni; 5, Senecio
Dorio var. ; 6, Lysimachia Ephemeram.
Name of fruit.- Applo, Red Juneatiug.
Aug. 20, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
163
WOODS & FORESTS.
THE MAMMOTH TREE.
(WELLINGTONIA GIGANTEA.)
Although nearly five-and-thirty'years have elapsed
since the above tree was introduced to this country,
yet, unless for ornamental purposes, it has not found
much favour with planters generally. This is, how-
ever, hardly to be wondered at, for although per-
fectly hardy in any part of the British Isles, yet
repeated experiments have clearly pointed out that
unless in well sheltered districts the Wellingtonia
cannot be relied upon as a tree for general forest
planting.
This is a matter much to be regretted, for whether
looked at in an ornamental or commercial sense,
this tree must always be considered as an acquisition,
it being one of the brightest ornaments of our
lawns, as well as one of the most rapid timber-
producers ever introduced to this country. In this
latter respect it is, perhaps, surpassed by no other
tree, the growth of which in this country we have
kept a record of, save the Douglas Fir, although the
Californian Kedwood (Sequoia scmpervu-ens), it
must be admitted, produces under similar circum-
stances an almost equal quantity of timber, and
likewise attains to a much greater height in a given
space of time.
The largest specimen of the Wellingtonia that I
have measured contains 120 feet of timber, and this
I believe to be the 'result of thirty years' growth.
Another planted in the year 1S57, or exactly thirty
years ago, contains exactly 115 feet of wood, and is
at present forming timber rapidly, faster, indeed,
than at any previous period of its existence.
These measurements give an annual stem increase
of about 3 feet, and this measurement likewise
holds good with regard to several others of younger
growth on which I have experimented. It may
here be necessary, however, to state that the trees
j ust referred to are growing under exceptional cir-
cumstances as regards soil, altitude, and situation,
they being well sheltered from the prevailing winds
of the district, growing at only a few feet above
sea-level, and in good loam of a free, open texture.
The 'upward growth of the Wellingtonia per year
for a period of thirty years is, in numerous speci-
mens of which measurements have been taken,
about 26 inches, but this is far exceeded in special
instances which I have not considered it fair to
record. This rate of growth is usually well main-
tained until the trees have attained a height of
about 70 feet, after which period, however, and
when the leading shoots begin to overtop the general
run of our forest trees, the annual upward growth
is arrested, and becomes less from year to year.
I had an opportunity some time ago of having
one of the largest trees of this kind cut into board-
ing, which was used in the construction of a hut
used by charcoal-burners, and I was agreeably
surprised with both the appearance and texture
of the wood, it being beautifully marked with red
lines lengthwise, while the groundwork is of a
desirable yellow. Though light in proportion to
its bulk, as compared with the generality of timber,
it was firm and free from knots, worked readily
enough, and polished with ease.
Had I not been fully conversant with the some-
what valueless nature of the timber of the Welling-
tonia, its brittle, spongy quality, as set forth by the
numerous specimens exhibited in this country of
late years both in a manufactured and unmanu-
factured state, I would have been apt, in judging
from home-grown wood, to speak in fairly high
terms of its quality, at least so far as could be
judged by appearance without actual experiments
as to strength and durability.
More so than, perhaps, any other Conifer with
which I am acquainted does the stem of this tree
increase in bulk in proportion to its height ; indeed,
in this country nineteen out of every twenty speci-
mens may well be described as " Carrot-shaped,"
for the stem girths at the usually recorded
heights of 3 feet and 5 feet are certainly a very mir-
leading data to go by as to the actual contents of
every tree. But to be more concise I will put
it in this way, that a tree of 60 feet in height will
usually measure at 3 feet and 5 feet from the ground
level 10 feet and 7 feet respectively, but this thick-
ness is not kept np, for at say 15 feet the taper has
been so fast that the stem rarely girths more than
one-third of the dimensions just given.
From the measurements of ten large specimens
of the Wellingtonia, I might likewise add that a
perfectly safe assertion to make is this, that the
stem girth at 3 feet up multiplied by 4f will give,
in most cases at least, a pretty accurate idea of the
height of any tree of this kind.
The bark is not nearly so rough and flaky as in
the Redwood, and is likewise of a darker colour,
being of a dull tawny brown, tough and stringy in
nature.
Few trees are more readily propagated than the
Wellingtonia, it being readily raised from seed,
abundance of which is now produced on most estates
where the tree is grown, and it isbyno means diiEcult
to grow from cuttings. The latter is the usual way ;
it is certainly the quickest, but from my own personal
experience I prefer plants raised from seeds. The
cones may be collected in late autumn and placed
thinly on shelves in a dry, airy room, there to re-
main until they are sown in spring.
Outdoor rearing of the young seedlings is to be
recommended, they being of stronger constitution
and better adapted for immediate planting than
such as have been raised under glass. A bed or
beds of light leaf-mould and sand or loam should
be prepared, and the seeds sown thinly and evenly
on the surface and lightly covered with finely riddled
soil. The young seedlings soon make an appearance,
and are during the second year fit to be lined out
in beds or breaks, the individual plants being
placed 4 inches to 6 inches apart and in lines
10 inches from each other. Previous to planting
out the seedlings the soil to receive them should be
well worked up, and if found necessary enriched by
a good top-dressing of thoroughly decayed vegetable
refuse or farmyard manure. All the better for the
vigour of the young plants will it be if such manur-
ing and stirring of the soil were performed for some
time previous to the plants being lined out.
That the AVellingtonia is not a difficult tree to
suit with soil is well exemplified on any estate
where the tree is grown in quantity; but that it
makes a greater annual growth on certain classes
I have long ago found out from actual measure-
ments of several trees growing on different qualities
and at varying altitudes. A rather light, moist
sandy loam produces, in my opinion, the finest
examples of the Wellingtonia ; but then, again, the
rate of growth on this soil is not much in advance
of what I have found it to be, either on alluvial
deposit or on stiffish brown loam, resting at a few
feet in depth on broken, shingly rock. Peat bog,
likewise, produces rapid growth in this tree, while,
again, one of the largest and healthiest specimens
I know of is growing in a disused gravel pit, and
in a well-sheltered situation, on Sir William Verner's
estate in the north of Ireland.
Although the Wellingtonia is a great favourite
of mine, still I must speak plainly, and protest
against its being planted in any but sheltered situa-
tions, for it is a tree above all others that will not,
in fact cannot, withstand constant exposure, far less
cold, cutting winds. I have tried it over and
over again as a standard on rather bare lawns, but
always with the same result, that it gradually
dwindles away, even in the best class of soil.
Where, however, a little shelter is afforded from the
prevailing winds of any particular district the
Wellingtonia will do fairly well, but even in such
places it never raises its head higher than those of
its neighbours, dreading, as it were, to come in con-
tact with the first brunt of the storm. At low eleva-
tions and in mountain valleys it not unfrequently
surprises one with its rich, healthy foliage and
rapidity of growth, but then such places cannot
always and on every estate be chosen in which to
plant the Wellingtonia.
For planting in conjunction with the general run
of our forest trees the Wellingtonia is not at all
a suitable subject, that is, unless from youth up it
be allowed plenty of room so that it may retain
its branches to within a few feet of the ground, for
certainly a more wretched and neglected-looking
forest object could hardly be imagined than a
drawn up and branchless specimen of this tree. In
such situations, too, the rate of growth, as com-
pared with that of the same tree when allowed
plenty of room, is slow in the extreme, although, no
doubt, for the production of timber of a clean and
knotless quality it is, perhaps, superior.
The spread of branches in the Wellingtonia is
usually wide in proportion to the height of the tree ;
therefore to have it clothed to near ground level, a
wide space for its development should be allowed.
It bears stem and branch-pruning with impunity —
better, indeed, than the majority of Conifers, and
I have operated upon it in this way when needful
with very marked results. The lower branches
usually hang downwards and become massy, and in
such cases a little judicious and timely pruning is
to be recommended.
Although of a somewhat stiff and formal appear-
ance, yet the Wellingtonia, from its massive pro-
portions and bright green foliage, must ever hold
its own as an ornamental tree. It associates well
with such free-habited and lighter-leaved Conifers
as the Indian Cedar (Cedrus Deodara), the Weeping
Spruce (Abies Morinda), Pinus excelsa, P. Strobus,
and many others ; while it has, in the formation of
avenues and drives, been made, by judicious planting,
to contrast nicely with Araucaria imbricata and
Abies Nordmanniana.
Little variation in the general appearance of this
tree is to be noticed, and that even where it is
grown in quantity, the same fine, rich colour of
foliage and arrangement of branches being conspi-
cuous in the majority of specimens.
One variety is, however, weU worthy of notice,
and that is the golden variegated form, W. gigantea
aureo-variegata, probably one of the most distinct
variegated Conifers in existence.
At the Lough Nurseries, Cork, Mr. Hartland
(who sent me the first specimens I had seen) had
three years ago, and for aught I know has so still,
a whole grove of this desirable plant, the specimens
being from IS feet to 25 feet in height. The varie-
gation is remarkably distinct and constant, not
piebald, but regular all over the trees, and as it is of
a rich deep yellow it affords a striking and desirable
contrast to the deep green foliage of the tree as
usually seen. I am no partisan to variegated
Conifers generally, but this Wellingtonia is so
distinct and true to name, that I can hardly help
recommending it for ornamental planting.
A weeping form of the Wellingtonia has also
crept into commerce of late years, and a specimen
which I know is a really handsome tree of fully
35 feet in height. A. D. Webster.
Commissioners of Woods and Forests.—
A Parliamentary paper is published containing a
return issued by the Treasury of the income and ex-
penditure of the Commissioners of Woods and
Forests for the last ten years. The income gradu-
ally decreased from £512,774 in 1877 to £479,904 in
1881; itroseto £512,341 in 1884, and fell to £492,624
in 1886. This last sum is made up of rents of agri-
cultural land, £101,640 ; rents and royalties of mines,
£49,072 ; forests and woodlands, £28,120 ; ground
rents and houses, £242,648 ; dividends and interest,
£18,383 ; and miscellaneous receipts, £89,249.
From the total of these sums various deductions
have to be made for losses, repayments, allowances,
and property tax, which will reduce the sum to
£492,624, as aforesaid. The expenditure, on the
other hand, has, with some fluctuations, risen from
£106,515in 1877 to £117,922 in 1886. It was highest
in 1884, when it amounted to £128,715. In 1886
the chief items of expenditure were : Salaries of
Commissioners and staff, £16,676 ; salaries and
emoluments of receivers, £10,508 (Lady Willoughby
d'Eresby is set down during each of the six years at
£15 under this head) ; surveyors, £3,823 ; legal ex-
penses, £4327 ; repairs, £5940 ; rates and taxes,
164
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 20, 1887.
£1309 ; forests and woodlands, £49,496 ; donations
to chuiohes and schools, £1533; miscellaneous pay-
ments, £10,930 ; and repayments of advances for
permanent improvements, £12,298.
SOURCES OF FIR TIMBER.
Vaeietibs of the Scotch Fir are to be found all
over the continent of Europe, and its great use in
building has led to the development of a trade in
it which was far from being anticipated a century
ago. The high rate of duty charged tliirty or forty
years ago was against the true interests of com-
merce, and the vexatious hindrance to business
inflicted by customs' regulations did much to dis-
courage building. Wood was then bonded, and the
duty paid as occasion arose. The result was a very
great loss of time, and the speculations as to the
lessening or increasing the tax consequent on the
approach of every budget were a source of great
disturbance and injury to the market. Entirely
free from such disadvantages, the trade in wood,
especially of Fir, has assumed colossal proportions,
and is increasing every year. Onega is the best
description, being fine-grained, generally free from
sap, durable, and easily worked, but its price is so
high that it is not at all in general use. Archangel,
though coarser in grain, is more used, but not to
such an extent as formerly, although it has not ad-
vanced in price to the same extent as other wood. It
is of a soft silky nature, and is also easily worked.
■The May max sawmills send some very good samples
to the market, and those requiring good quality and
long lengths can be accommodated in this descrip-
tion of goods. St. Petersburg wood is more largely
used than Onega or Archangel, but the quality is not
so good as it used to be twenty years ago, when
GromofE's shipments were in such great demand.
The whitewood is much used in the market, and
works very well. Wyburg is a very useful quality.
The wood is close-grained, and, although cheaper,
is often very difficult to distinguish from St. Peters-
burg, but, like all Russian goods, it has an often
successful competitor in Swedish wood. It is more
liable to sap and shakes than other Russian deals, but
when free from these defects no wood can be more
useful for flooring, and most kinds of indoor work.
Fredricksham is of similar description, and with
the same may be classed Uleaborg, Tornea, Abo,
Bjorneborg. Riga white is extensively used. The
grain is generally coarse, but the wood is, as a
rule, sound, and well spoken of for its utility.
There are other sorts of timber, but the differences
in quality are not so striking as to call for special
notice. Swedish wood has been attracting much
attention of late years, and it is sent here from
about forty ports. Gefle has been known in this
country for many years, and it is a very durable and
valuable wood. There is a family likeness amongst
the products of all the other ports, which send us
the same species of timber from all, the only varia
tion in quality being due to the difference in soil,
and the generally favourable or unfavourable sur-
roundings of the trees. The shipments from Gothen-
burg, Holmsund, Husun, Swartwick, and SundswaU
command very high prices. The latter deals are
very good and easy to work, and are generally very
free from knots and sap. The very high rates do
not appear to affect the importations ; and the ques-
tion is whether they are not much too high to last.
We get but few Prussian deals into the market ; but
they are useful for carpenters or rough work, the
large knots and coarse grain rendering them unfit
for anything else. Norway deals run of small scant-
ling, but much is of very good quality, such as
Namsos, Laurvig, Vef sen. Dram, &c. The latter are
principally 2i- by 6^, and lately have turned out
very well, and brought good prices ; but when they
are bad, no wood can be worse. Sap, knots, wane,
and shakes are then in abundance, so that even a
firewood manufacturer would not be anxious to buy
them. In square or balk timber, Riga, Memel, and
Dantzig are the staple, but the first is scantily im-
ported. Its great strength and durability make it
very valuable for building purposes. Nothing can
exceed the best qualities of Memel and Dantzig for
cleanness, straightness of grain, and freedom from
knots, but the high price restricts their use to a very
great extent. The inferior qualities, especially of
Dantzig, are, as might be expected, coarse and
knotty, the knots in Dantzig especially being very
large. There is much more demand for Swedish,
as it is much cheaper, although it does not run to
such a great scantling. It is more like Red Pine
than is any other timber, and is frequently used as
a substitute. It will be seen from the foregoing re-
marks that we are largely dependent on Fir for
building purposes, and that the state of the market,
however unfavourable, causes no decrease in the
imports. But year by year the expense is increased,
as the wood has to be brought further, thus increas-
ing the free-on-board cost, although by no means
to the extent that prices have advanced.
FORESTRY IN ENGLAND.
In May a select committee of the House of
Commons was appointed to consider whether,
by the establishment of a forest school or
otherwise, our woodlands could be rendered
more remunerative. The report, which was
agreed to unanimously, points out that the
woodlands in private hands amount to 1,466,000
acres in England, 163,000 in Wales, 820,000 in
Scotland, and 330,000 in Ireland ; and there is
no doubt that the management of these 2,788,000
acres might be materially improved. Attention
is particularly called to the New Forest, where
over 40,000 acres of waste land are lying idle
and worthless. It is also stated that there
would be considerable advantage in an extensive
system of planting in many parts of the king-
dom, especially in the west of Ireland and in
the Highlands of Scotland. It is to be noted
that nearly every other civilised State possesses
one or more forest schools, while in this country
no organised system of forestry instruction is in
existence excepting in connection with the
Indian service. The general conclusions to
which the committee came may be gathered
from the words of the report : —
Your committee recommend the establishment of
a forest board. They are also satisfied by the evi-
dence that the establishment of forest schools, or,
at any rate, of a course of instruction and examina-
tion in forestry, would be desirable, and they think
that the consideration of the best mode of carrying
this into effect might be one of the functions en
trusted to such a forest board.
As regards the Board of Forestry, the committee
submit the following suggestions : —
1. That the board should be presided over by a
responsible official (an expert by preference) ap-
pointed by the Government, and reporting annually
to some department of the Government.
2. That the board should be so constituted as to
comprise the principal agencies interested in the
promotion of a sounder knowledge of forestry, es-
pecially the various teaching and examining bodies,
as well as the professional societies.
3. That the following bodies should be invited to
send delegates to the board : —
The Royal Agricultural Society of England, the
Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, the
Royal Dublin Society, the Office of Woods and
Forests, the Linnean Society, the Surveyors' Insti-
tution, the English Arboricultural Society, the
Scottish Arboricultural Society, and that the direc-
tor of Kew Gardens should be a member ex qjficio.
That the board should also comprise three mem-
bers of each House of Parliament, and a certain
number of owners or managers of large woodlands,
a preference in the latter case being given to those
who are in a position to afford facilities for study in
their woods.
4. That the functions of the board should be —
(a) to organise forest schools, or, at any rate, a
course of instruction in forestry ; (i) to make pro-
vision for examinations ; (p) to prepare an official
syllabus and test-book.
5. That the examiners should be required to ex-
amine in the following subjects, namely : (a) Prac-
tical forestry ; (b) botany ; (c) vegetable physiology
and entomology, especially in connection with dis-
eases and insects affecting the growth of trees ;
(d) geology, with special reference to soils ; (e) sub-
jects connected with land agency, such as land
drainage, surveying, timber measuring, &o.
The expense of secretarial staff and examiners
need not, in the opinion of the committee, exceed
£500 a year, and the cost might be considerably re-
duced by fees for diplomas.
The fact that the Indian Government already
incurs some expense in promoting the education of
forestry students for the Indian Service suggests
theadoption of the Royal Indian Engineering College
at Cooper's HiU as a nucleus for the proposed forestry
instruction.
Inducements might be offered to the agricultural
colleges and the Surveyors' Institution to send their
students for examination, by a system of exemption
from examination in certain preliminary subjects,
in respect of which the candidates could produce a
certificate of proficiency.
Abies Parsonsiana.— This Conifer is worthy
of admiration at all seasons ; but in June — when the
new growth overspreads the old, when the delicate
light steel-green of the new shoot is contrasted
with the rich darkness of the old, and the leaves
curl up over the branches till they almost meet — it
is especially beautiful. — S. P.
TJses of resinous woods. — No other kinds of
wood are so much used for engineering and archi-
tectural purposes as that of Pines and Firs. The
kind known as Memel is the most convenient for
size, Riga the best in quality, Dantzig,';when free
from large knots, the strongest, Swedish the
toughest. For framing, Christiana battens are the
best; for panelling. White Christiana (Norway).
Yellow Christiana deals have much sap. Swedish
timber is not so good. Of Baltic timber, Memel sup-
plies three qualities— Crown, in baulk, 13 inches by
13 inches, and 28 feet to 50 feet long, best
middling, second middling, or brak. The two last
are about the same dimensions as crown, but con-
tain large knots, and not so fit to be cut into small
scantlings. Dantzig common baulks are from 14
inches to 16 inches square. Crown baulks are
sometimes 26 inches to 30 inches square, and 70 feet
long. These should be used where whole timbers
are required. Riga baulks are 13 inches to 14 inches
square, and 40 feet long. It is difficult to tell the
difference between Memel and Riga in the log. Nor-
way timber is of smaller dimensions. The best Pitch
Pine comes from Florida. It is very elastic, but
not very durable under ground, and is redder in
colour than Scotch Pine.
Planting waste land. — It is an undisputed fact
that the planting of waste land with trees would be
the means of bestowing a great benefit on this country
in various ways. There are millions of acres of waste
and almost worthless land, so far as agriculture is
concerned, that could be made most profitable plan-
tations, and the owners of them should not allow the
present favourable opportunity to pass without add-
ing largely to the area under forest trees upon their
estates. The low price of labour, and the ease with
which any amount of it can be obtained at the pre-
sent time, should be a strong inducement to all
enterprising landowners to engage at once in plant-
ing, upon a judicious and well-arranged plan, all
the waste land upon which trees will grow, and
other properly chosen ground, upon their estates. A
safer investment of money, or a more profitable one,
cannot easily be found in these times, besides the
great benefits immediately derived by the country,
through the employment of the present abundant
supply of surplus labour. Estate improvements of
every kind can now be carried out in the most
economical manner, and those who employ the
greatest amount of labour at the present cheap rate
will reap the greatest reward at a future and not far
distant time, when trade and wages regain their
natural buoyancy. — F.
THE GARDEN.
165
No. 823. SATURDAY, Aug. 27,1887. Vol. XXXII.
"This is an Art
Which does mend Nature : change it rather ; but
The Art itself is Nature. "^S/iai-csjjcare.
Fruit Garden.
W. COLKMAN.
THE MANAGEMENT OF STRAWBERRY
PLANTS AFTER FRUITING.
The Strawberry within the past two years has
figured frequently and prominently in the pages
of The Garden. An exhaustive list of names
of the best varieties has been brought to the
front ; its management as an annual, biennial,
and perennial has been discussed ; and yet a
walk through many good gardens will reveal
the fact that several important matters of detail
are neglected or allowed to stand over until,
owing to the lateness of the season, the full
benefit which should follow is lost. When the
beds have been cleared of their fruit the runners
are often allowed to run wild, sometimes to
enable the grower to obtain stock, but more fre
quently because other pressing matters claim
immediate attention ; and so these lowly plants
are left to waste their strength when it should
be forced into the buds from which the succeed-
ing year's flowers and fruit are to be obtained.
In due course the beds are trimmed, weeded,
and perhaps mutilated by the introduction of the
spade or steel fork ; then, to make up for procras-
tination, a heavy dressing of manure is placed
between the rows, but with what result ?
Stimulated too late in the season, the weak
crowns settling down to rest make a fresh start,
and a plentiful crop of leaves shows that the time
lost cannot be redeemed, as frost will be upon
them before they are half ripe. If a severe winter
follows, the cry goes forth, as it did last spring :
" Strawberries have wintered badly ; the buds
are numerous, but weak, and the prospect is not
so encouraging as it might be." In course of
time these roughly-treated beds throw up a pro-
fusion of flowers, but the scapes are weak, the
fruit is small, and how can it be otherwise when
the months of August and September have been
allowed to slip away and the formation of new
roots and crowns have been dependent upon
autumn rains. If the Strawberry forcer adopted
this plan his pots would be half-filled with roots,
his crowns would be half ripe at Christmas, and
his flowers, if any were produced, would set
badly ; but what does he insist upon ? Why,
he takes the earliest and best runners he can
get ; he grows them on rapidly ; he does not
allow the young wires to grow over the sides
of the pots, and he commences ripening treat-
ment when the outdoor afternoon grower com-
mences cultivation. But Strawberry culture in
the open air and under glass, some may say, are
quite distinct, and bear no relation to each
other. I think diflerently, as all good fruit
growers know that ripe roots, ripe wood, and
ripe buds must be secured if first-rate crops of
fruit are to reward them for their attention and
labour. The outdoor cultivator, no doubt, is
handicapped, especially in cold, late seasons,
but delay after the crop is gathered does not
improve matters, particularly when the straw
used for keeping the fruit clean prevents the
runners from rooting and helping themselves.
A clever Strawberry grower, who has studied
the plant closely, has proved that the useful
roots as well as the leaves are formed annually,
and a few plants which he has sent to me con-
tain as many new as old roots some 3 inches to
4 inches in length, which have been made
since the ripe fruit of the present season was
gathered. The crowns or fruit buds these
plants have made are as large as Hazel
Nuts, flrm, brown, and nearly ripe ; and how
has this satisfactory condition been brought
about ? How have buds that would satisfy a
Strawberry forcer been produced in an open
garden in the north of England? By allow-
ing the runners to run wild 1 Certainly not,
but by timely trimming, by flooding, and by
top-dressing as soon as the crop was gathered.
The bed from which these crowns were taken
was to have been broken up, but so magical
was the eflfect of the deluge which penetrated
every old ball, that the grower has very wisely
decided upon giving the plants another year.
Young plantations, provided the plants have
plenty of water, always take care of themselves,
and for this reason, the roots have an abund-
ance of fresh soU to work in, and the runners
are regularly cut off or pegged down upon
pots, where, in accordance with the nature of
the Strawberry plant, they support themselves.
Old stools, on the other hand, when maturing
heavy crops of fruit, suck the soil dry, even
in moderately wet seasons ; and, unless a
moist condition is at once produced, they re-
main stationary or languishing until autumn
rains set them growing. It is now, perhaps,
rather late to direct attention to neglected
beds, but knowing how entirely next year's
crop, not only of Strawberries, but of all
fruits, depends upon the treatment the plants
or trees receive after the fruit is gathered, it
is never too late to turn over a new leaf.
Good mulching, no doubt, is essential to suc-
cess, but I am not an advocate for the use of
heavy dressings of rotten manure, which forces
a gross autumn growth, which cannot ripen,
and keeps the roots cold when a warmer and
a return to a drier condition would be better.
New roots from the base of every plant, how-
ever, must be induced and encouraged, and the
best material for this purpose is fresh soil of
a calcareous nature, rejected compost from
Melons, Peaches, or Vines, road-scrapings, or
the like, which should be stored away in the
soil yard, dressed with soot and lime, and
turned occasionally until wanted for use. When
the last Strawberry is picked, the cultivation
of the bed for the next crop should be com-
menced by trimming, weeding, and the removal
of all loose matter from the surface, but not
by digging or forking. Each stool should then
be thoroughly watered to restore the old ball
to a growing condition, and the time will have
arrived for top-dressing. Old beds will take
from 1 inch to 2 inches of this compost annu-
ally, but, provided this quantity is not forth-
coming, one or two spadefuls should be firmly
packed round and within the old balls, and
well watered home. If, in the course of ten
days, a close examination is made, it will be
found that young roots from every corm or root-
stock have fasten i.d on their fresh food, new
leaves are pushing freely, and the fruit buds
are swelling fast. Manure might increase their
size, but not their quality, as it would most
likely cause them to split into several buds
which would throw up as many weak flower-
scapes instead of one strong one. By the end
of October these plants, furnished with new
roots equal to their work, will be ripe and
capable of passing through our sharpest winters
with impunity. Early in February a dressing
of soot should precede the manure, which may
then be used very freely, not only as a mulch for
keeping in moisture, but also as a stimxxlant to
the roots now actively engaged in forcing up the
flowers,
EARLY APPLES.
The very pretty new Apple certificated at South
Kensington on the 9th, whilst a pleasing addition
to our early sorts, yet left us in the dark as to
whether the sample presented was from ordinary out-
door trees or grown under glass. It may befair enough
either to strive for certificates or prizes with house-
raised fruits, but as the great majority of Apple
trees are grown out in the open, it is fairer to show
the merits of any kind, old or new, from outdoor
growth than from under glass. Perhaps Messrs.
Cooling and Sons wUl give the desired information,
as it is very important to learn whether the Beauty
of Bath Is to be esteemed the earliest Apple in
cultivation — at least, judging by the samples sent
to South Kensington, it should be so considered.
Messrs. Veitch and Sons, sent up smaller, but pretty
samples of the old striped Juneating, and one could
not but think that this kind grown under glass
would give far finer samples, and much earlier. It
is also handsome and prettily marked. Still it is
worth asking. Are early Apples of suflicient merit
to render their culture under glass desirable and
profitable ? I think the reply will be in the nega-
tive. Still further, I am by no means assured that
very early kinds are worth any considerable culture
outdoors. None of the early sorts have flavour or
quality, because all too soon under the influence of
the prevailing heat and dryness at the roots usually
found in August ; the fruits lack that freshness and
briskness found in later kinds. Early Apples may
have a profitable side in market culture, but
necessarily only a limited one, as few of them are
very prolific, and most of them are small. The
most popular early market Apple is the Julien. It
not only comes early, but it is of fair size, crops
freely and constantly, and cooks well. These are
important market recommendations. Following
this in the same direction, Lord SuflSeld, Manks
Codlin, Stirling Castle, and Warner's King may all
be classed as early kinds, but being used solely in
the kitchen are most valuable. Early dessert Apples,
however, being of no use for the kitchen, and being
of transitory existence, are of no appreciable
market value. Red Juneating, Red Astrachan, Red
Quarrenden, Gladstone, and some others are no
sooner fit to gather than they are over, as if pre-
served for a week or two they are mealy and flavour-
less. Early Apples, too, come in practically with
Plums, Apricots, Peaches, and other luscious fruits,
and by comparison, especially in warm weather,
show poor quality. A month later, when the
weather is cooler and autumn has both fully
matured and ripened Apples, then we find flavour,
but nothing of the early section can equal Ribston
Pippin, Cox's Orange, King of the Pippins, Margil,
Cornish Aromatic, or similar autumn dessert kinds.
We may therefore take it for granted that flavour
in Apples allied to keeping quality cannot be co-
existent in kinds which ripen under the summer
heat. One of the finest and handsomest of early
sorts is the old Sack and Sugar, or Early Harvest.
The fruits ripen about the middle of August, but
are good only for about a week. It is a somewhat
shy bearer, the fruits of medium size, not unlike
those of the Old Hawthomden, but when fully ripe
of a bright yellow colour. One of the most
popular of market early sorts now is Mr. Glad-
stone, because it is a free bearer and has rich
colour, although the fruits are not exactly hand-
some. Of old early sorts none excel the Devonshire
Quarrenden when it is good ; but I never see such
samples of this Apple as were so plentiful forty
years ago ; then Red Quarrendens were both fine
and high-coloured, now a good sample seems rare.
Quarrendens are the nicest eating when, having
fallen from the tree on to the Grass beneath, they
can be picked up at once. It is evident that some
recent seasons have not favoured either Quarrenden
trees or the maturing of the fruit. The red or
striped Juneating is, perhaps, next to the Quarrenden,
the favoured kind of the streets ; but its season is
short— in fact these, as with niost others of the early
Me
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 27, 1887.
sorts, must be gathered before fully ripe if they are
to be properly marketed. One of our earliest and
tandsomest of sorts is the Red Astrachan, but the
tree is a coarse grower and not a free bearer. Good
samples, richly coloured and furnished with bloom,
make an effective dessert dish, but the flavour is
poor. Nest comes for colour Worcester Pearmain,
very handsome and telling, but more valued for
colour than for ijuality ; and the same may be said
of the beautiful red striped Duchess's Favourite, a
different Apple from the paler, larger, but still red-
striped Duchess of Oldenburg. Perhaps the best
of all early Apples is the Irish Peach, sometimes a
greater cropper on old trees ; and a little later comes
Kerry Pippin, which is even better flavoured, and
naturally leads on to the finer quality found in the
later Pippins. On the whole, we have abundance
of first early dessert Apples, such as they are, and
new kinds do not seem to show improved quality
over older ones. Apples are late autumn and winter
fruits, and their enjoyment for dessert purposes
seems incompatible with heat ; hence, I presume it
is that comparatively few first early kinds are grown
in private gardens. A. D.
- Fruit growing. — Fruit growing is now attract-
ing more attention than formerly, owing to the
failure of the corn crops. Unfortunately, the sea-
sons that have been unfavourable to corn crops have
been equally unfa\ourable to fruits. A low tem-
perature, an excessive rainfall, and deficient sun-
shine have had such an effect on vegetation, that
for several years our fruit crops have been poor and
deficient in quality. We not only have to contend
with a changeable climate, but also against markets
glutted with fruit. The low price of foreign fruit
depreciates the value of good home-grown ex-
amples. Labour, rent, and rates, together with
railway charges, &c., are all against the home
grower. Lowness of price is a great temptation to
the consumer, and frequently tempts him to be-
come the purchaser of an inferior article. — M, Saul,
Harroi/ate, Yorks.
SHOR T NO TES.—FR VI T.
Tomato Open Air.— This is proving itself a
wonderful cropper. I have twenty plants iu 82-iuch
pols, carrying over .300 fruits. The plants are only
about 21 inches high. — Geo. Bolas,
Eed Currants. — I send you a branch or two of
Red Currants from spur-pruned ti'ees which have
been bearing heavily to my knowledge for fourteen
years. — PI. J. Clayton.
*#* The branches received were heavily laden with
large huuches of fine fruit. — Ed.
Wilson Junr. Blackberry.— I gathered a dish
nf Wilson Junior Blackberries the first week in August.
They were very nice fruit, but the flavour is not equal
to that of our native sort. Ours are growing in a
sunny position at the end of a Vine border, and are
doing well this season, ha\'ing made gi'owths of 8 feet
in length.— W. HoLAH, Redleof.
Raspberry Earl of Beaeonsfield. — I am
greatly disappointed with this Uaspben'y. The fruit
is smaller than that of any other variety I have, and
the flavour is very poor. By growing Baumforth's
Seedling, au oarlv and large first-class variety, and
Northumberland FiUbasket, which is of good size and
quality, aud continues to hear for a long season, we
can afford to dispense with most or all other varieties.
D. Walker.
Primavis Frontignan Grape.— Tliis is a de-
licious little Grape, which we tasted at Mr. Rivers',
Sawhridgeworth, the other day. The flavour is very
rich, and superior to that of the Grapes of our English
gardens. The colour is a clear amher ; the berries are
not large, but whether large or small it is to ourselves
nothing as compared with flavour. We feel sure that
those who are at all discriminating as to flavour will
not omit this.
Rad spider.— In reply to Mr. Wattle's question
with reference to red spider, allow me to inform him
that we apply sulphur to the pipes in vineries every
year after the fruit has stoned, and it remairjs on the
pipes until the house is prepared for ailother season.
The sulphur has never caused auyiujui-y to either fruit
or leaves, aud we should have no hesitation in applying
it uuder tlie circumstances which he mentions. — W.
Neild, Wythenshawe.
American Blackberry (Rubus laciniatus). —
We are this year growing the American Blackberry
(Rubus laciniatus), or, as it is also called, the Cut-
leaved or Parsley-leaved Bramble. The growth is
most vigorous, the young shoots — next year's fruit-
ing canes — are now stout and vigorous, while the
present crop of berries, now passing through grada-
tions of green to ruby red and deep purple, is a
heavy one. The flowers with their vandyked petals,
as if in mimicry of the foliage, are very fascinat-
ing to bees. The flavour of this Blackberry is
delicious, quite distinct from, and far superior to,
that of our English wild fruit; superior also in the
preserve made from the cultivated variety. Nor
must the beauty of the foliage be ignored — it is
simply charming for table decoration, for wreaths
and crosses. I have not seen on these leaves the
lovely glowing tints which autumn lends to the
wilding of the hedgerows. — Supfolkian.
Consul Schiller Melon. — I recently saw a
plant of this Melon growing in Mr. Sharp's garden
at Holmbury St. Mary, near Dorking. It was
trained on a trellis at the back of a Cucumber
house, and seems to be a fairly productive kind,
and the fruit for size and appearance everything
that could be desired. A Melon cut from this plant
weighed 20 lbs., was 31J inches in circumference,
13 inches iu length, divided distinctly into ten ribs,
and beautifully netted. The flesh, which is red, is
about 3 inches in thickness, perfectly tender
throughout, and extremely juicy; the flavour
moderately good, and the seeds very few; altogether
it should be a useful variety. Several more fruit
on the plant gave promise of swelling to large
dimensions. Probably the quality would be much
improved if grown in a drier atmosphere than would
be the case in a house devoted to the culture of
Cucumbers. Some of your correspondents may be
able to add something of their experience with
regard to this Melon. — C. D.
Peaches for unheated house open in
front. — I have a brick wall about 80 feet long facing
due south. On this I intend building a glass roof
lean-to about 14 feet wide, but with no front lights.
The front will be protected by canvas. Will some
reader give me the names of six or eight of the best
Peaches for succession ? — T. C. T.
*^* Your idea of planting Peaches in a cold house
14 feet wide is a good one, but why not make it
complete by putting in front lights instead of trust-
ing to canvas ? The cost will be very little more
and you will be money in pocket in the long run.
To what use can you turn this wind-swept house
through the autumn and winter? On the other hand,
how valuable would it be for Chrysanthemums,
salads, and a thousand things were the elements
excluded. Think well before you decide, and, at
any rate, make provision for putting in front lights
when yon get tired of perishable and untidy flapping
can^'as. Assuming that you intend to train upon a
trellis some 16 inches from the glass, select dwarf
trained trees of the following kinds, and plant near
the front, viz. : Hale's Early, A Beo, Stirling Castle,
Bellegarde, Dymond, and Barrington. If riders on
tall stocks are wanted, add the following: Alexandra
Noblesse, Grosse Mignonne, Walburton Late Ad-
mirable, Royal George, and Sea Eagle. — W. C.
Madresfield Court Grape. — I called the other
day upon a grower of this fine Grape for market,
who does it remarkably well, and found that he had
cleared off his crop by the end of July, as later he
said they would be of little value until October.
He also grows Black Hamburghs in the same range
aud under precisely similar conditions, this Grape
being well turned out also. But in the matter of
market returns the Madresfield is by far the best,
the bunches, even without looking large, yet rela-
tively weighing heavier and returning from Is. to
Is. Gd. per lb. more. That profit on a large crop is
very considerable, and merits attention. His state-
ment is to the effect that the Madresfield is more
popular than the Hamburgh, not only on account
of appearance and size of berry, but also flavour,
as when well done it has an undoubted Muscat
flavour, which renders it specially attractive to
those who have appreciative capacity. The Vines
alike are started with persistent regularity on New
Year's Day, and the crop is ready during June and
July. The difliculty incidental to cracking of berry
in the Madresfield is surmounted solely by giving
plenty of air and checking internal moisture. A
top light left open so as to admit a shower, however
short, has sometimes led to cracking of the berries
in the vicinity of the light, and thus the lesson has
been taught to keep down moisture as far as possible
by thorough ventilation after the berries colour.
Watering is performed liberally up to that period,
but later it is done sparingly and with special cau-
tion.— A. D.
Orapes imperfectly coloured. — I have a
vinery containing six Black Hamburgh A'ines, as
also some other varieties. On some spurs the
bunches have coloured nicely, and on others they
have not coloured at all. Some of the bunches
were ready for thinning before the others came into
bloom. Do you think that the border is the cause
of it ? Will any correspondent kindly advise me in
the matter ? — J. C.
"^* In answer to the above, without seeing your
Vines or learning something of their past treatment,
it is quite impossible to say, beyond conjecture,
what is wrong with them. Your complaint, how-
ever, leads to the inference that the border is in
bad condition, and the Vines, imperfectly ripened,
were started in too high a temperature. Under
these conditions a few of the best and most promi-
nent buds seem to have broken early, taken and
kept the lead to the detriment of others, which
most likely did not push until after the first set had
been checked by stopping. Had you removed these
early shows, all the later breaks would have come
away together, when, provided you have not over-
cropped, all the bunches would now be equal in
point of colour. Ripen your wood thoroughly, lift,
if necessary, and re-lay the roots in new compost as
soon, as the Grapes are cut. Keep the house cool
and airy through the winter, and aid with gentle
warmth when the buds show signs of swelling in
the spring. — W. C.
FRUITS UNDER GLASS.
Pot Strawbbreies.
RuNNEES being scarce and late, growers who force
a great number of plants will have experienced
much difliculty in obtaining their usual complement,
especially where old plantations or early forced
plants have formed their principal source of supply. ■
Plants, on the other hand, that were put out last
August or even early in spring, and have been
properly mulched and watered, have produced their
usual quantity, which it is needless to say are good,
though not gross, and will, no doubt, form excellent
crowns for forcing. From maiden plants denuded
of their flower-stems I always obtain my stock, now
detached and arranged in blocks rear our supply of
water. Young plants of the different sorts in
small pots also are rooted, and will be planted out
on well-prepared ground when rain comes. Having
thousands of surplus runners we make a good
nursery bed of each variety when the rows are
trimmed, and from them obtain a quantity of flne
fruit provided they are not wanted for spring plant-
ing. Growers who peg down at once upon the
fruiting pots, this year have saved much time and
trouble in watering. Others who adopt the 3-inch
pot, especially where water is scarce, must have
found the incessant attention the plants required a
great tie ; but at last the intense heat and drought
have passed away ; fine rains have been general,
and as a climax sharp morning frosts have killed o£E
Potatoes and tender plants in the north. In the
management of Strawberries for late forcing a very
important point is the production of plants with
plump, ripe crowns and plenty of roots, thoroughly
established in medium-sized pots in preference to
larger-sized plants, which do not alw.ays ripen
properly, and when they do the crowns throw up
several weak scapes — an indift'erent substitute for a
single good one. Assuming that all the young
plants have been taken off, if not potted, there
must be no lack of water during the time they are
standing about, neither must the work be delayed
Aug. 27, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
167
for a single day. Because the Strawberry rejoices
in moist soil many people do not crock their pots
properly, but this is a great mistake, as stagnant
and, indue course, putrid water hanging about the
roots soon destroys them. The pots, therefore,
should be clean, dry, not too large, and liberally
crocked to ensure a free passage of water ; the
soil strong and sustaining, but corrected with burnt
earth, bone-dust, crushed shells, or other materials
that will keep sweet and pre\ent it from becoming
clogged, as often happens when liquid manure is
used in the autumn. When potted it may be neces-
sary to set the plants in the shade for a day or two,
but this does not often happen so late in the season ;
indeed, an abundance of light is quite as important
as good soil and water, and for this reason each
plant should have ample room for the full develop-
ment of its foliage without shading its neighbour.
When properly arranged in blocks, late as well as
early potted plants must be turned and moved
occasionally to prevent them from rooting through ;
weeds and runners must be kept in check, and on
no account must watering be neglected. Where
warm, soft, or pond water can be obtained, overhead
syringing is beneficial, but cold spring water chills
the foliage and fosters spot and burning.
Early plants having filled their 5-inch or 6-inoh
pots with roots will now require great care. The
weather at the present time is neither too wet
nor too hot for them, but this is a season of ex-
tremes, and it is well to be ever on the watch for
sudden changes. The watering of these very small,
compact balls being a very tedious operation, it is a
good plan to partly plunge the pots in banks of
coal ashes or other material free from worms, and
to dash in ainongst them a mulch of old Mushroom
manure, which will preserve and feed both the
roots and foliage. These banks, it is hardly neces-
sary to say, should be in the full blaze of the sun,
and not too near the influence of trees and build-
ings, and, notwithstanding the fact that the plants
are plunged and mulched, they must be regularly
watered in dry weather.
Succession hatches in larger pots which do not dry
out so readily need not be plunged or mulched, as
watering once a day will be found ample; but
rather, on the other hand, they may be placed on
dwarf walls, elevated boards or tiles, for the two-
fold purpose of keeping out worms and getting the
roots as well as the crowns thoroughly ripened. If
not already put out, surplus plants intended for
giving next year's supply of runners should be
planted without delay. Deep tilth, heavy, but well-
drained and good soil and plenty of water are im-
portant factors in the production of strong and early
runners.
Vines.
Early houses. — All laterals and sub-laterals may
now be removed close down to the buds, the lights
thrown wide open or off altogether, not only to ex-
pose the upper sides of the main leaves to refresh-
ing rain, but also to allow the soft water to pass
through the borders. If any of the' Vines require
lifting and relaying, allow the laterals to remain
and proceed with the work without delay. Having
provided the compost, fork out the old borders,
carefully preserving every bit of root, which must
not be allowed to become dry, correct the drainage,
and cover with sods of fresh turf Grass side down-
wards. Upon this lay a thick layer of the roughest
of the previously prepared compost, make it very
firm, and repeat until the border is high enough for
the first laying of roots. When trimmed, shortened,
and relayed, cover with soil and continue the work
until all the roots are disposed of ; then give the
border a steady watering with tepid water, allow it
to rest for a few hours to settle, put on the remain-
der of the compost and mulch with fresh stable
litter. If bright weather continues it may be neces-
sary to shade the Vines for a week or two, and to
syringe frequently until fresh root action has set in.
If, on the other hand, it is dull, and the roots have
the range of external and internal borders, shading
and the close moist system may be dispensed with,
as one or other of these can be taken out at any
time without aifecting the foliage. The renovation
of Vine borders, it should be borne in mind, cannot
be undertaken too early after the Grapes are cut ;
the borders should not be wider than is absolutely
necessary, and the roots must be kept well up to
the surface. By adopting this plan the consump-
tion of new compost in the first instance is mode-
rate ; a little fresh food is then added every year,
not as an annual custom, but because the roots
absolutely want it. With their roots in such com-
pact, well- filled borders, which can be readily pro-
tected and attended, Vines are easily started and
the Grapes invariably colour and keep well.
MUlseason houses now clear will require sharp at-
tention with the hose and plenty of water about the
internal roots, otherwise the attempt to stamp out
spider will be useless. When clean, gradually re-
move all laterals carefully, preserving the old leaves,
not only to throw light into the house, but also to
plnmp up and ripen the buds. Many good Grape
growers who cut a given quantity of Grapes from
their Vines every day shorten back all spur shoots
as the house is cleared, and the Vines do not feel
the loss of foliage, but when large breadths of
trellis are denuded of fruit in a single day, the
removal of autumn laterals, like any other leaves,
should be performed piecemeal. Ripe Grapes still
hanging, especially black ones, will require con-
stant shade from bright sun, than which nothing is
better than the natural foliage. White ones, on the
other hand, will stand and improve under any
amount of sunlight, always provided scorching is
prevented by liberal ventilation.
Muscats. — The principal crop now colouring will
require more light and air, and when well finished
a good covering of Fern inside and out will keep
the surface roots moist, and reduce the necessity
for repeated waterings. Muscats under modern
roofs after they have reached a certain stage are
very apt to scorch, especially where their best pro-
tection— the natural foliage — has been injured by
spider. When this has been destroyed, a few fresh
growing laterals may be laid In, and pinched at the
fourth or fifth joint to secure an even spread of
foliage, or Haythorn's hexagon netting drawn over
the roof will save the Grapes without shutting out
the light. Wasps hitherto have not been trouble-
some, at least with us, but it is well to be prepared
for them by allowing the netting to cover every
ventilator, in preference to the clumsy method of
bagging the bunches.
Zate houses containing Grapes intended for win-
ter use or bottling, although black, are far from
ripe; therefore, the nights being unusually cold,
steady fires must be lighted early in the evening,
not only to maintain the proper degree of beat, but
also to "favour a free circulation of air. As days de-
crease in length and moisture begins to condense, a
general thinning and shortening of laterals will be
necessary, and the syringing of the walls, paths, and
stems, without which the foliage cannot be kept
fresh and clean, must be confined to the early part
of the day. The fine rain we have recently had has
been a great help to external borders, but more is
needed, as Grapes neither finish nor keep well where
the borders are not thoroughly moistened quite
down to the drainage.
Pot Vines intended for early forcing should now
be ripe and fit for full exposure either by removal to
a warm south wall, where they can be made secure
from wind, or by having the roof lights drawn off
them through the day. In either case it is a good
plan to cover the pots with Fern or litter to keep
the roots moist and in an even temperature. Plant-
ing canes must be divested of every bit of lateral
and treated in a similar way, but unless the pit is
wanted for other purposes, these and the preceding
will ripen their roots as well as their wood best
under lights that can be closed when the weather is
wet and cold.
Figs.
Early trees from which the second crop has been
gathered must now be divested of every fruit larger
than a Marrow Pea, thoroughly cleansed, and
treated to plenty of dry sun-heat. If more wood
than is likely to be wanted has been retained for
the sake of the fruit, now is a good time to thin it
out, also to remove heavy mulches, but not to an
extent that will expose the surface roots. Should
the weather continue bright and fine, well-ripened
trees will derive great benefit from full exposure to
the elements by the removal of the roof lights for a
month or more ; but in the event of the glass being
fixed, all the ventilators must be kept constantly
open, and the hose or garden engine plied as often
as may be necessary to the maintenance of freedom
from insects. The most troublesome Fig insects are
bug, scale, and spider, which can only be thoroughly
eradicated at the winter cleansing. Much, how-
ever, may be accomplished before that operation is
performed, and as few care to see these pests in-
creasing and spreading to adjoining houses, a course
of syringing with paraffin and water should nowbe in-
sisted on. Pot trees may be removed to the foot of a
south wall, where, to save time and labour, the pots
should be completely buried in some light non-con-
ducting material. An occasional watering in dry
weather may be necessary, but, unlike Vines, it is
not easy to get pot Figs too dry at the root after
the leaves fall. If well managed through the sum-
mer they require very little pruning, but any shoots
that have lost their points or can be spared should
be cut back to a single eye, which will soon plump
up and form a useful'growth next season.
Succession houses in which the second crop is now
ripening will require more air, and as nights in-
crease in length drier treatment. The greatest
enemy to late house Figs is a damp, stagnant at-
mosphere, which spots the fruit and destroys the
possibility of its keeping. To counteract this we
give water early in the morning, ventilate freely
through the day, and warm the pipes at night when
the ventilators are again thrown open. Where later
crops are grown in lean-to houses and cases without
the aid of fire-heat, I syringe freely once a day, and
shut up very early in sun-heat until the fruit shows
signs of changing. Syringing is then discontinued,
and the air is gradually increased until every ven-
tilator by night and day can be left wide open. By
adopting this mode of treatment, by watering very
early and freely on bright mornings, and confining
moisture to the fioors and mulching, the trees are
reduced to the condition of wall Figs, with the ad-
vantage of a glass covering for keeping them dry in
bad weather. Late house trees never produce more
than one crop of fruit ; consequently they do not
require stopping. Thin training on the extension
principle suits them best, and when the leading
shoots reach their limit they should be cut out to
make room for others that are following.
Plums.
If anyone doubts the advantage of growing Plums
under glass he should make the round of crippled
trees this season on open walls and then pay a visit
to the Plum house at Trentham, where the quantity
and quality of the fruit would surprise him. Plums
require very little heat, none, in fact, beyond the
sun's rays after the fruit is set ; they can be trained
like Peaches on a trellis, as pyramids in pots or
planted out, and under judicious management one
set of trees can be kept in condition half a life-
time. The varieties being so numerous, a few of
the best sorts only should be selected for house
culture ; they can be grown to a fruiting condition
in the open air, and now is the best time to mark
them for lifting and potting in October. If Apples
and Pears did not yield valuable crops of culinary
and dessert fruit, they would be extensively planted
in our pleasure grounds. If Plums were not pro-
duced in abundance the trees would be forced by
the thousand, as we now force the Deutzia for their
flowers alone, but because these fragrant, snowy
pyramids and bushes produce a valuable additidh
to the dessert, they are too often neglected or con-
sidered out of place in the conservatory and green-
house. The best varieties for house culture are
Kirke's (1), Jefferson's (2), Golden Drop (3), Wash-
ington (4), Transparent (5), and Green Gage; in
fact, any of the Gages, including Peine Claude de
Bavay, Rivers' Late (6). a most valuable Plum, and
De Montfort for coming in early. There are, of
course, many more equally good, but it is^ not well
to start with too many varieties ; indeed, if I were
confined to half-a-dozen, I should choose those
marked (1) to (6) and duplicate them. The work
168
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 27, 1887.
just now in the Plum house is light, the principal
points being protection of the ripe fruit from birds
and wasps, attention to watering, and abundant
ventilation. Trees from which the fruit has been
gathered should be potted at once and plunged to
the rims in the open air, where they can be kept
free from insects by the use of the hose or engine,
well mulched, and regularly watered.
Cherries.
These, like Plums, are worthy of extended culti-
vation, and succeed under precisely similar treat-
ment. Good crops may be grown for years without
the aid of fire-heat, but, being so very early and the
flowers liable to be affected by a damp, stagnant
atmosphere, gentle fire-heat should be at command
for keeping up a brisk circulation when the fruit is
setting. Good forced Cherries are worth from 3s.
to 4s. a pound ; the trees can be trained like Peaches ;
they do well in pots or tubs ; bearing trees can be
bought at a cheaj) rate and fruited the following
season, and, independently of their value for the
dessert, I question if any class of forced shrubs
when in flower is more fragrant or beautiful. May
Duke, Belle d'Orleans, Black Circassian, and Elton
are good sorts for forcing. The large and late black
Bigarreaus, also B. Napoleon, stand unrivalled for
cold-house culture. If confined to pots, every tree
can be turned out as soon as the fruit is gathered,
when the houses become available for Chrysan-
themums. W. C.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
Report of Pear Congress.— We are asked to
state that the report of the Pear Congi'ess — a copy of
which we have received — may be obtained free of cost
by Fellows on application at South Kensington, and
by the public ■ generally from Messrs. Macmillan and
Co., Bedford Street, Coveut Garden, at the price of
2s. 6d.
Convolvulus tenuissimus.— What a pretty
twiner this — which is said to be hardy — is ! Here a
specimen in a vinery has reached a height of 9 feet,
and has been covered with its bright pink flowers all
the summer. ^ The leaves, unlike others of the family,
are much divided, closely resembling those of many of
the Passifloras. — J. M., Charmouth.
Note from Adelaide.— I have just returned
(July 14) from a trip in the far north (some 600 miles) ,
where Crinum australe was just at its best, thousands
of its pale yellow flowers being open and the perfume
overpowering. It was a sight never to be forgotten. —
W. B. Weger, Adelaide.
*#* With the above note were sent several fine photo-
graphs {the receipt of which we acknowledge with
thanks) of vieios in the Botanic Gardens, Adelaide.
Some of these views ice shall be pleased to engrave —
Ed.
Oncidium prsetextum.— This is one of the
most beautiful of its race for autumn blooming,
and is just now producing a grand effect in the
gardens at Ladymead, near East Harling, in Sussex,
the country residence of Mr. Measures, of Camber-
well, where just now there are about a hundred plants
in full beauty, some of the plants bearing as many
as four spikes, each densely laden with their large
rich yellow and bronzy brown flowers. It is a plant
which thrives well in a cool house, and cannot be
too strongly recommended for autumn display.
W. H. G.
Senecio puloher.- This is one of the most
beautiful of hardy plants now blooming, and there
are few of the summer flowers proper thai can rival
this Senecio for effectiveness and brilliant colour
ing. There is a splendid clump in a moist portion
of the rockery at Broxbourne, and the bold, hand-
some flowers, coloured with a delightful bright
purple-crimson, make a most telling feature, espe-
cially under a strong sunlight. It is quite hardy,
the leafage somewhat coarse, but thoroughly charac-
teristic, and the flowers, which have a bright yellow
disc and regularly arranged ray florets, are borne on
a strong stem. It likes a moist, well-drained, mo-
derately light soil and open position, and should be
planted in a bold clump to obtain effect. Consider-
ing its unquestionable beauty and usefulness,
blooming, as it does, when summer flowers are
nearly over, and those of the autumn scarcely com-
menced, it ought certainly to become a greater
favourite with amateurs. It is seldom we find it in
small gardens.
Californian Fachaia (Zauschneria californica
splendens). — A large clump of this plant is now
blooming on the rockery in Messrs. Paul and Son's
nursery at Broxbourne. It is fully a month earlier
than the type, and is in every way far more useful,
the flowers being quite as intense in colouring,
longer in the tube, and more freely produced ;
the leafage is also of a darker colour. It is a
choice plant for the border or higher parts of the
rockery, increasing rapidly, and thriving in light
soil. We have very few hardy perennials in bloom
at this season that rival this Zauschneria for showi-
ness.
Cattleya speciosissima Ernsti. — This variety
is named in honour of Dr. Ernst, of Venezuela. It
is a very free-blooming form and remarkably hand-
some ; the flowers measure upwards of 7 inches
across ; the sepals and petals are of good substance,
the latter much the broadest, white, faintly tinged
with blush ; lip large, beautifully crisp round the
edge, front part rich crimson-lake, ornamented with
numerous radiating lines of the same hue, which
extend into the throat; the convolute portion of
the lip is stained with pale citron. Nice examples
of this rare variety are now flowering in Mr. Shuttle-
worth's nursery at Clapham Park, where it has been
grown close to the glass in a cool stove. — W. H. G.
'Veronica longifolia subsessilis. — This is a
hardy perennial that has become firmly established
in our gardens, and its culture is likely to become
general, as it is a plant easy to grow, readily in-
creased, and is, both in flower and habit, distinct
from the other large-growing Veronicas. The
height of a well-cultivated specimen is about 2 feet,
and the flowers are produced at this season. They
are thickly set in cylindrical, erect spikes about
1 foot in length, and the colour is of the richest
blue, distinct, telling, and beautiful. We saw a
large batch planted out in the nursery of Mr. Morse,
of Epsom, and, notwithstanding the severe drought
and dry temperature that have prevaOed until quite
recently, the plants were in vigorous health and
commencing to bloom with their wonted vigour and
freedom.
Asters at Cbiswick. — There is now to be seen
at the Chiswick Gardens of the Koyal Horticultural
Society a fine collection of Asters of the flat-
petalled types, which affords a good opportunity
for comparison and selection. One of the most
charming is a rose-coloured variety of the Pyramidal
Bouquet, of somewhat erect growth, each plant
forming a perfect bouquet of pale, silvery rose
flowers of good size, and as many as from forty to
fifty flowers on a plant. The centres of the blooms
are slightly quilled ; the margins of the flowers have
flat, reflexed petals. A more delightful Aster to cut
from can scarcely be imagined, and if lifted and
put into pots makes an excellent subject for con-
servatory decoration. There is a white form of it,
and a pale purplish rose one also, but they lack the
refinement of the rose-coloured variety, and they
are more quilled in the centre. Among plants raised
from mixed seed of Pyramidal Bouquet Aster this
rose-coloured form appears, but Messrs. VOmorin
and Co. are to be commended for having selected
and fixed the character of so fine a type. — R. D.
New varieties of Imantoph.yllum. — Mons.
E. A. Carrifere describes in the last issue of Za
Reinie Ilorticole two new varieties of the above-
named beautiful Amaryllid which have recently
flowered as chance seedlings in a leading Paris
nursery, and which are specially interesting to
growers of these plants, as they promise quite a
new departure from the somewhat monotonous uni-
formity of colour prevailing in all hitherto obtained
seedlings, which only differ from one another either
in the shade of orange colour or in size or per-
fection of form of the individual flowers. The
two new varieties are described as follows : No. 1
has relatively short-petalled flowers, but well formed,
and deeply cupped with oboval segments almost
touching at their edges, so as to constitute an open
bell. The colour is brick-red, shading off to a
lighter tint at end of petal, while the base is of the
pleasing yellow of fresh butter ; the stamenal fila-
ments and base of tube are also yeUow, No. 2 has
much longer flowers with oboval-lanceolate petals,
and very distinct in form from other varieties. But
it is, above aU, in its colour that this variety is
specially distinct, the petals being white, lightly
shaded with sulphur over the whole of their lower
portion, their upper half being bright vermillion-
red edged with white, with almost pure white tips,
sometimes streaked with red, thus forming a charm-
ing mixture of red and white harmonising well to-
gether. Although nothing is known for certain as
to the parentage of these new varieties, it is hoped
that from them may be obtained in time a pure
white variety. — W. E. Gumbleton.
Autumn Catchfly (Silene Schafta).— This
pretty Catchfly would be entitled to a place in our
gardens if it bloomed with the majority of the
Silenes, i.e., spring and summer; but its value is
trebled by reason of its autumn-flowering character.
It is the brightest plant on the rockery at Brox-
bourne at the present time, and when grown in
large tufts it is remarkably showy, but its beauty is
refined, not coarse. The growth is dwarf, dense,
and compact; the flowers purplish rose, and, owing
to the freedom with which they are produced, make
a block of colour. It is easily grown and propa-
gated, preferring a light, loamy soil and a sunny
position. When planted on a ledge on the rookery
its bright and cheerful character is well displayed.
The Pomegranate (Punica granatum).— I en-
close you a few sprays of the Pomegranate. The
tree from which I cut them is 11 feet high and
13 feet wide, and is trained on a wall with a south
aspect. The stem is about 15 inches in circum-
ference. The plant is in a flourishing condition,
and has been flowering freely during the past three
weeks, and at the present time has over 200 buds
and flowers. I find the flowers very useful, as
they stand well for several days after being cut.
Its beautiful glossy foliage adds a charm to the
richness of its bright scarlet flowers. To ensure
blooms in abundance it is best not to prune it in
any way, but to let it grow at will. — William Hop-
kins, The Gardens, South Town House, Kenton,
Exeter.
*^ The flowers sent were quite double, and of a
rich bright scarlet colour, which was enhanced by
the beautiful glossy foliage. — Ed.
Sedum Ewersi. — In the herbaceous garden at
Broxbourne there is an edging of this beautiful
Stonecrop, now smothered with its dense corymbs
of rosy coloured flowers, which harmonise well with
the crowded glaucous foliage. It is of compact
growth, and thrives vigorously in light soil and an
open position. We may recommend those who keep
bees to have a few rows of the plant near the hives, as
bees have a decided preference for it. Two or three
years ago this mountain form was made great use
of in the Royal Horticultural Gardens at Chiswick
as an edging to a round bed in the main walk.
Then we noticed the strong love bees had for the
rosy flower-heads. It might be more often used for
edgings, as its neat habit flts it for well-cared-for
and highly-kept divisions of the garden.
Noble Flame-flower (Tritoma nobilis). —
This splendid plant is now flowering, and a large
clump in full bloom is at once impressive and
stately. There are few garden subjects that attain
to such noble proportions ; the leafage abundant,
strong, and of tropical-like character, in complete
harmony with the bold, massive spikes, which often
rise to upwards of 6 feet in height, bearing closely-
set flowers of the most brilliant orange and red
colouring, the symmetrical regular contour of the
spikes adding to the dignity of the plant. We have
seen it in one or two places this season, but never
remembered it shown to such advantage as about
three years ago, when we saw a vigorous specimen on
the higher portion of a well-constructed rockery.
It was a happy thought to place it high up, as its
noble character of growth could be seen to the
greatest advantage. For a single bed on a lawn to
form a clump it_may be strongly recommended.
Aug. 27, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
169
Flower Garden.
TREE P.^ONY.
The annexed cut represents a good specimen of
a fine old plant which is now beginning to take
a more prominent place in our gardens, as I
see a large number of new varieties offered in
some of the current catalogues. If they are as
good as their relatives in the herbaceous section
they will be grand acquisitions. There are many
fine individuals of P;ieonia Moutan in Irish
gardens, where it seems to flourish to great per-
fection, perhaps because, especially near the
sea, we have more immunity from spring frosts
than elsewhere. ThLs P«ony starts very early,
and its buds are easily injured by frost. The
plant from" which our photo, was taken has been
I j ustif y the time spent on my garden on the grounds
that anyone who tries experiments carefully and
publishes the results has a useful occupation, and
am therefore glad to answer such questions when I
can. After this somewhat long preamble I have
only to state that we sow the seed when ripe in a
rather moist, shaded border, the soil being light
loam and more generally (as my wood garden happily
need not be kept neat) let the plants shed their
seed about, when a family of young plants come up
around them. I must add that hitherto I have not
been successful in raising M. Wallichi from seed. —
Gbokqe F. Wilson.
HOLLYHOCKS.
We are now in the Hollyhock season, and
this year's experience strengthens the opinion
that the noble flower has overcome the disease,
which has threatened its very existence for
feotion we must picture a thoroughly English
mansion, skirted with wide borders, filled with
homely flowers, displayed naturally, and with-
out stereotyped pattern. There this flower is
in perfection, its stately stems in perfect har-
mony with the warm, red bricks and massive
structure of an English home. And in places
where the houses are in the Queen Anne style,
and the gardens in keeping with the quaint
interesting architecture, the capabilities of the
Hollyhock for creating effect are more fully
brought out than in the ordinary villa -;lot, where
foliage and suitable surroundings are usually
The season of 1887 has, we need scarcely re-
mark, been one of severe drought, and the
Hollyhock has fared the same fate as many
other garden plants, the result being that on
Tree Paeony, Eabton Lodge, Monkstowu, Co Dublin. Engraved for The Garden from a photograph by Mr. Greenwood Pirn.
in my garden as long as I can remember — some
thirty years or more. A large piece was taken
off it ten or twelve years ago, and is also a good
specimen, but not so compact as the other,
which is about 6 feet by 4 feet, and a yard and
a haK high. It bore some fifty or sixty of its
deep rose-coloured flowers this year.
Greenwood Pim.
Monhtmvn, Co. Dublin.
Kaising Ueconopsis nepalensia. — A well-
known nurseryman has just sent me a note as
follows: "Mr. B informs me you have found
the secret of raising Meconopsis nepalensis, &c. I am
glad of this, and hope that what you have found can
be made useful to the general public, as I am afraid
most persons who purchase the seed from me fail to
raise plants, and I confess I have failed also. . . ."
upwards of twenty years, and rendered its com-
plete destruction an almost accomplished fact.
But we can now rejoice with all true lovers of the
garden that the Hollyhock is restored to us, for,
in truth, we have no flower of such a homely
character, if we except the gorgeous Sunflower,
to which it forms a suitable companion. These
two go hand in hand. Both are of strong,
vigorous growth, stately in bearing, showy, pic-
turesque, and ornamental, admirably adapted
for terminating a vista, forming a backgi'ound
to a border, or hiding a wooden fence. It is,
however, the Hollyhock that now engages atten-
tion, and its popularity testifies to its genuine
worth. It is as well suited for the ducal resi-
dence as the viUa garden, and amateurs have
now no need to fear the disease, if we may judge
from this season. To see the Hollyhock in per-
the whole the flowers are small, the growth
somewhat stunted, and the foliage in some in-
stances badly affected with red spider. This is
especially the case on dry, poor soils, but
even in soils of this character the plants are
flowering freely and displaying a surprising
vigour of constitution. But, of course, to obtain
full, symmetrical, finely-petalled blooms, that
wUl please the ardent, critical florist, the plants
must be well grown in ground of a substantial
loamy character, manured and kept fairly moist.
The great thing in Hollyhock culture is to treat
the plant naturally, one of the main causes of
the disease playing such terrible havoc being
the unnatural culture given, such as sowing the
seeds in heat and growing the plant as if it be-
longed more to the greenhouse than the open
air. The result of this treatment was that a
170
THE GARDEN.
[Aug, 27, 1887.
weakly race, unable to cope with vicissitudes,
sprung up, and soon became a prey to disease.
There is no need to use artificial heat at
any stage in the culture of the Hollyhock,
and by making successional sowings the
plants may be had in bloom over a lengthened
period. The usual time to sow is in March,
and a suitable place is a warm south border
where the soil is of the proper descrip-
tion. Sow thinly, and when the seedlings are
of the proper size, transplant them into beds,
and transfer them to their permanent quarters
the following March. In some cases the plants
will bloom before six months have passed, while
others will require the whole year. It is an ad-
vantage when they bloom the autumn after being
sown, as seedlings of an unpromising character,
which it is evident will never develop into any-
thing noteworthy, may be destroyed, as it is
only by this careful process of selecting that a
vigorous race of well-coloured and highly finished
flowers can be obtained.
The plants will bloom strongly if the cul-
ture has been of the proper description. We
must protest against the practice of permitting
the plants to remain for years in the same
place. It is detrimental to their welfare, for, as
in the kitchen garden so in the flower depart-
ment, tlie process of rotation-cropping must to
a certain extent be carried out. Three years are
quite long enough to allow the plants to remain
on the same ground, and then the latter shovild
be freshly dug up and fllled with another kind
of plant. When it has been determined which
seedlings are to be retained, cut the spikes down
as soon as the flowers are over, and the seed has
been saved, to enable them to throw strong
suckers, which should be taken ofl' with a heel,
and though they may be struck without heat, it
is best to dibble them into a frame where there is
a gentle bottom-heat to promote quick root-for-
mation. Leave them in a frame all the winter,
giving plenty of air, and in the spring transfer
to the open. On no account coddle the plants,
as nothing engenders disease so readily and de-
bilitates the Hollyhock as strong artificial heat.
Another method of propagating is by cuttings
(ir eyes, and this is a method of increase readily
accomplished. Mr. Blundell, of Dulwich, uses
a compost composed mainly of sewer sand, with
the addition of loam, leaf-mould, and charcoal
in proper proportions, and this is found ex-
cellent for potting, (fee.
There are some cultivators who strive rather
to obtain size in the flowers than quantity, and
to secure bloom of the highest excellence for
exhibition, thinning must be done, as the
flowers are produced so thickly as to cramp
them and hinder their full development. Where
the stem is running up very high it is proper to
top it, and reduce'the flowers from eight to'^ten,
according to the natural size of the blooms.
This cutting back of the stem, is also desirable
where it is requisite to obtain all the seed
possible, as then the strength of the plant is
thrown into the remaining blossoms. When a
variety is flowering for the first time , and gives
indication of proving an acquisition, mark the
finest blooms and from these save the seed, so as
to obtain a first-class selection; this process,
when carefully carried out, results in strains
of a high and finished character.
As a rule, it will not be necessary to com-
mence watering Hollyhocks until about May,
but, of course, much will depend upon the
character of the weather. In such' a season as
1887 it is a great help to the plants to keep
the soil well moistened, and a mulch may also
be given with advantage. But it must not be
thought that the Hollyhock will fail without
these aids, as I have seen a batch this season
which has received no manure and only one
watering, but yet the plants were in excellent
condition, notwithstanding the poor character
of the ground. We lately visited the nursery
of Mr. Blundell, of Dulwich, where Hollyhocks
are cultivated with the care that specialists
usually bestow. Some of the best varieties
in his collection are the following: —
Mrs. Sharman, an excellent variety, the out-
line regular, full, dense, compact, and of a
salmon-bufi' hue ; Ettie Beale, tinged with flesh ;
Mrs. A. F. Barron, a new variety that has not
yet been brought out, and one of exceptional
promise ; the flowers measure about 6 inches in
diameter, the colour rich pink, the guard petals
of a lighter shade, the dense, compactly arranged
centre and symmetrical regular outline making
up a flower of a high standard of finish and form ;
another named Henry Neville is of the same
build, but of a salmon colour ; A. F. Barron,
deep crimson ; Princess Beatrice, canary colour ;
Miss Roupell, yellow buff', tinted red ; Princess
of Wales, salmon-pink ; Shirley Hibberd, scarlet ;
Venus, white, well adapted for making wreaths ;
Prince of Wales, deep pink ; Ethel Blundell,
creamy yellow ; and Mary Anderson, are also
noteworthy kinds.
There are, however, several old-established
varieties that are entitled to consideration, and
some of the finest of these are the under-men-
tioned : Alba superba, white ; Contrast, sulphur ;
Dr. Masters, deep crimson ; Dr. Hogg, deep
purple ; Exquisite, orange ; Enchantress, creamy
white ; Favourite, fawn ; Magnet, crimson ;
Mauve Queen, mauve ; Perfection, delicate sil-
very flesh ; Purple Prince, purple ; Rubens,
oarmine-red ; Surprise, yellow, the centre
purplish ; Modesty, pale cream ; W. G. Head,
cardinal colour ; and Marion Foster, yellow-
buff. E. 0,
The Evening Primrose.—" J. C. C." (p. 125)
does justice to the hardiness and beauty of this
useful old plant. It does better and makes a
iiner display without any care or culture than
most other plants do with the utmost care and
skill. " J. C. C." says nothing of its fragrance,
though there axe one or more varieties of the
Missouri Evening Primrose deliciously sweet. But
my favourite among all the Evening Primroses is
the common one, Ct^nothera biennis, which foims a
grand mass from 3 feet to 1 feet in height, and
when well established in any herbaceous ground or
wild garden will hold its own for years against such
monopolists as Foxgloves, Scotch Thistles, Cow
Parsnips, &c. Its masses of soft primrose flowers,
several inches in diameter, will light up the dullest
landscape at eventide, for it only opens fully then ;
hence its name. There is a larger variety than the
species known as (E. Lamarckiana or grandiflora ;
but- fortunately .all-are alike ; fragrant in the even-
ing and throughout the night, and even the odour
of the Violet itself cannot exceed the delightful
fragrance of the common Evening Primrose, as"the
fine rain or finer dews distil its odour broadcast on
the evening air. — HORTUS.
There are few more interesting or
beautiful hardy plants than the G5notheras, and
we have now a fair selection of suitable kinds,
some of trailing habit and adapted for the
rockery, others upright in growth and useful for the
enrichment of the herbaceous border. When well
grown they make bold showy masses in the garden,
but very often they are placed under unsuitable
conditions, and one point that is frequently over-
looked is their great love for a moist soil — in fact,
they will almost live in wat-jr, specimens so treated
presenting a strange contrast to those grown in a
poor, starving staple. Especially necessary is it,
when they are grown in pots, to give a liberal supply
of moisture, and in such a season as 1887, the (Bno-
theras suffer severely unless carefully attended to
in this matter. Sundrop (CE. fruticosa) is a bold
kind for the border, growing sometimes fully 3 feet
high. It has pale yellow flowers, which are faintly
scented ; the variety known as major is a useful
border plant, the flowers deep yellow, and freely
produced. (E. eximia, sometimes called marginata,
is a dwarf, vigorous kind, the flowers very large,
pure white, changing to a pinky colour, and with a
powerful, delicious fragrance. It is quite hardy,
readily increased, and adapted for either border or
rockery. 05. taraxacifolia, by reason of its prostrate
growth and vigorous constitution, makes a good
bedding plant, and may also have a place on the
rockery ; the flowers are large, and are at first white,
but change with age to a reddish hue. (E. Youngi
is an excellent border kind, and other noteworthy
forms are CE. riparia, <E. speciosa, and (E. macro-
carpa. — T. W.
NOTES ON HARDY PLANTS.
Ourisia coccinea. — In reply to Mr. Harmer in
The Garden Aug. G (p. 104), this plant requires
to be well established, so that the roots can
get well to the surface in a similar way to
the rhizomes of the German Iris. This is my
conviction from an eight years' experience of the
plant under various conditions. It should have
plenty of water in summer, and I believe it will be
found to do better in a stiff soil than in sandy leaf-
mould. My best patch is growing in stiff, clayey
loam mixed with coal ashes.
CaliforniaiL Willow Herb (Epilobiumobcorda-
tum). — This is one of the most pleasing dwarf plants
in the garden just now. Grown on the flat and
given plenty of water in this sunny weather, it seems
quite happy. My present plant was wintered in a
cold frame with air left on in all weathers, the con-
ditions being but slightly different to those of the
open air, where, however, I never yet succeeded in
bringing it through the winter.
The Prickly Thrift (Acantholimon venustum)
is truly beautiful, the individual flowers are so
large and rich in colour. Still under the most fa-
vourable circumstances, it is somewhat disappoint-
ing, as seldom more than three or four flowers are
open at once. It seems to enjoy the moister posi-
tions at the base of but slightly elevated rockwork,
where between stones in leaf -mould and loam it re-
quires little or no further care.
Farnassia nubicola. — This is a lovely flower,
and the plant seems capable of thriving with the
ordinary treatment of free-growing alpines. My
plant is growing in a full south aspect, and has not
always been kept so moist as it should have been.
Still it flowers freely and the flowers have a delicious
scent.
Gentiana ornata. — This charming Indian Gen-
tian, so valuable because it flowers so late, seems
most happy in the warmest weather, provided it has
plenty of moisture. Not only do the flowers then
develop more finely, but the little prostrate stems
root freely, whether on or detached from the plant.
It is because of these two conditions, moisture and
sunshine, being so essential, that I can always man-
age to "flower plants iM pots better than in the open
ground. The pots can be moved if needful and
otherwise accommodated.
Thrifts (Armerias). — Some of these well merit
the extra attention now being given them, but it
is a singular fact that stocks of some of the
softer -leaved and non - branching sorts, though
as hardy as they can possibly be, can only be
kept up by division and transplanting. It is
not so with the stiff and glaucous-leaved species,
which have mostly an arborescent habit. I always
find the soft-leaved sorts to sufEer most from snow.
-I.'he tufts get flattened and the great quantity of
dead material in the hearts of the plants begins to
decay from pressure, and in spring we too often
find the middle of the larger tufts a mass of rotten-
ness, and, of course, the plants of no further use.
Bad as the last winter was, I got over the difliculty
by having the old leaves picked out of the larger
plants late in the autumn. These remained perfect ;
young plants, too, formed by divisions in spring
Aug. 27, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
in
took no harm, ijresumably because of the absence of
dead leaves in sufficient quantity to cause decay to
set in. From the frequent way in which the soft-
leaved sorts have gone off, they have had their
hardiness doubted, but I think the above facts, and
especially the results of the treatment adopted, con-
clusively prove that to be erroneous. To succeed
with these plants the treatment of those kinds with
soft leaves should be annual or biennial division,
and planting on the raised edges of borders.
Chrysogonum virginianum. — By the kind-
ness of Mr. Dod I received a plant of this last
autumn, when he told me that it was a difficult
plant to divide. I managed, however, to get three
plants from the material sent, and two points are
noticeable. From the profuse manner in which the
flowering stems branch and fiower for months, there
can be no wonder that root increase is much slower
than with most composites, and the other matter
worth note perhaps is the display of the small deep
orange-yellow heads that one may obtain from such
small plants the firstseason. The flower-stems, a foot
or more in length, on my small specimens are borne
to the ground. It was one of the earliest flowers we
had here in spring from the same plants just referred
to, but as such produce might have been abnormal
from the frame treatment they were then under, we
may not expect the plant to prove what would
practically be an all-year-round bloomer.
Woodinlle, Kirlistall. J. Wood.
Blue Bock Bindweed (Convolvulus maurita
nicus). — This is one of the prettiest rock plants
in bloom at the present time, and when seen trail-
ing over the stones, or hanging down over a ledge,
its appearance is distinct, beautiful, and natural.
The stems are very slender, and the leaves ovate,
abundantly produced, and deep green, harmonising
well with the blue flowers, which are about the size
of a florin and borne freely. It will, as mentioned,
succeed on the rockery, and to ensure a satisfactory
growth the soil must be light, warm, and well
drained, and the position sunny. It may also be
used with advantage for hanging baskets, treating
it in the same way as the Creeping Jenny, that is,
allowing the stems to faU down and form a fringe.
It should certainly be used more than it is for orna-
mental vases or baskets. — E. C'.
What is a Gillyflower? — I believe the deriva-
tion of " Clove Gillyflower " from "Clou de Giroflee"
is correct, and that it was originally applied to the
old Clove Carnation, and introduced with the plant
from Flanders in the 14th century, not the 16th, as
stated by Loudon. Then, a fancied resemblance in
the scent caused the name to be extended to our
native Stocks, which were distinguished as "Stock
Gillyflowers," because they were shrubby ; " July-
flowers" was, of course, a false etymology, when
the true one was forgotten. Lastly, the Wallflower
received the name of " Winter Gillyflower," to mark
at once its likeness and unlikeness to the Stock.
In my native village (in Bucks) all three names
were in use, and well understood : " Clove Gilly
flower "for the Carnation, "Stock Gillyflower " for
the Stock, and " Winter Gillyflower " for the Wall-
flower.—Junia.
I Dwarf Carnations. — Although I have no desire
to rob Mr. Engleheart of the credit of possessing a
good thing in his dwarf, stout-stemmed Carnation,
yet I may say that he has no monopoly of the breed.
From out of a big batch of seedling Carnations I
have several much dwarfer than the ordinary border
type, and having very stout, erect, flower-stalks,
which need no stakes to support them. Apart from
the great gain it would be to be enabled to dispense
with stakes, I should have found it a special satis-
faction this year, because the soil about the plants
has been so hard that fixing sticks into it was
almost impossible, the plants being a long way from
water. However, they have stood drought remark-
ably well. With respect to the dwarfer forms, I have
scarlet, white, and salmon coloured, but of the two
first named colours, I have two plants specially of first-
class form, each in bloom about 16 inches in height,
whilst the normal height is 24 inches. The scarlet
when in bloom carrying a score of fine blooms on a
dozen stalks was so good, that I thought at one time
of lifting it into a pot and taking it to South Ken-
sington, but was afraid of spoiling the seed crop,
especially as Grass is scarce. The white one has
flowers equal to the best named kinds. If these
could be induced to form the progenitors of a dwarf,
stout race, it would be a great gain. The scarlet will
seed freely, the white one very sparsely, if at all. —
A.D.
SOME CHOICE HARDY PERENNIALS.
A SHOKT time since, when at Oxford, I had the
pleasure of looking through the garden of an
amateur who makes a specialty of these plants, and
grows them very finely for exhibition in a cut state.
I made notes of the following as the finest and
most showy in the collection, viz. : The Georgian
Fleabane (Inula glandulosa), a noble species, with
large golden flowers fully 4 inches across, the petals
in the form of rich golden threads ; the tall Star of
Bethlehem (Ornithogalum pyramidale), flowers
large, pure white, and very fine — this seemed to do
well in the rich light sandy loam in which it was
growing ; Geum coccineum fl.-pl., with large bright
orange-scarlet flowers ; the Virginian Cowslip
(Mertensia virginica — here under the name of M.
sibirica), a plant scarcely suitable for cutting
from, as the flowers soon flag — it does best in peat
and leaf -mould, planted in a shady situation ; and
the Russian Globe Thistle (Echinops ruthenicus),
the blue Thistle, as it is sometimes called. I was
informed that the flowers of this sell freely in the
Oxford market, and are much appreciated by the
citizens. St. Bruno's Lily (Antbericum Liliastrum),
a grand plant, with large pure white flowers, pro-
duced in great abundance and very effective ;
Papaver bracteatum, a very fine selected seedling
form, large in size and finely spotted ; the A'irginian
Spiderwort (Tradescantia virginica), in four dis-
tinct varieties, all very attractive ; Salvia Tenori,
a good old perennial ; Campanula persicifolia,
blue and white, and the bold purple C. Van
Houttei ; Delphiniums in variety, and especially
some choice seedlings of great beauty; a select
collection of about a dozen sorts of German Flags
Pinks in variety, the white Mrs. Sinkins being
particularly good ; a fine form of the purple Ever-
lasting Pea ; Lychnis Viscaria ; Sprrroa filipendula ;
Pansies in variety ; and a few fine varieties of
double Pyrethrums, the following being particu-
larly good, viz., niveum plenum ; there was a large
bed of this variety, and I was told that as many as
5772 blooms had been cut from this bed and sent
to market, where they readily sold ; Princess Met-
ternich, Hermann Stenger, Uzziel, J. W. Twerdy,
Boule de Neige, and imbricatum plenum.
Now this garden of perennials is well looked
after, as it deserves to be. The plants are not
merely left to thicken and crowd each other, and so
become starved, as is too often the case. The
plants are cultivated ; they are mulched and en-
couraged to grow, and when necessary the clumps
are lifted, divided, and planted out in nursery beds
to grow into size ; then the ground from which the
old plants are lifted is trenched and manured and
replanted. Every plant has ample space in which
to develop, and the ground is kept scnipulously free
from weeds.
I have only noted what were in flower at the
time of my visit. In spring there are Primroses,
Polyanthuses, early bulbs, &c. ; for July and August
there are Lilies, Roses, &f.; for autumn. Chrysan-
themums, Japanese Anemones, and such like. There
is also a select collection of about 800 plants of
choice Carnations and Picotees in pots. In such a
garden there is always something to interest and
something to be done. R. D.
cup. It is a strong grower, reaching in good soil
about a yard high. An isolated mass of this Tulip,
say a hundred bulbs in a bed, will make such a
glow of colour on a lawn for three weeks or a month
in early summer such as no other bulb can. Every-
one who saw a bed of it on one of the lawns at
Kew this year was struck with its beauty, and,
judging by the number of inquiries respecting it,
we imagine that it is but little known. It is some--
times called T. fulgens grandiflora, by which name
it should be inquired for. — W. G.
Salpiglossie. — The varieties of S. sinuata are
annuals of quaint beauty, and, when well grown, of
elegant character, the bold flowers displaying an in-
teresting range of colouring. We have seen the
plants in beds and in clumps in the border, and in
both positions they are ornamental. The usual plan
is to sow the seed in gentle heat about March, nurse
the plants on until they are ready to be planted
out, and at all stages of their growth to maintain
them as hardy and stocky as possible. It is a mis-
take to keep the seedlings in heat longer than neces-
sary, and for some time before bedding out the
plants should have full exposure to the sun and air.
When the soil is of a substantial character and the
situation favourable to a free development, the
plants attain a good height, and owing to the stems
being slender and the leafage both light and abun-
dant, they have a beauty distinct from the annuals
usually grown. — E. C.
Helianthus japonicus. — A plant was shown
under this name by Mr. Ware, of Tottenham, at the
last meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society,
but, after careful search, I found, as expected, no
such name to exist in any book or flora relating to
that or any other country. It is also what I
thought, i.e., a mere form of Helianthus rigidus,
which seems to be a very variable plant and widely
distributed. We grow four distinct forms, two
early flowering and two late,' this new form, however,
appearing to be the earliest of all. Dr. Gray gives
several synonyms, Harpalium rigidum being the
most common name in gardens. Specimens vary
from 2 feet to 6 feet or 8 feet in height, the leaves
entire or serrated, involucre bracts blunt or pointed,
and many other minute differences in pappus, &c.
There can be no question about the above plant
belonging to this species, and it will save confusion
if growers will take note of it. — K.
Zaluzianskia selaginoides. — This is a charm-
ing little plant, nearly allied to Nycterinia capensis,
and somewhat resembling the purple wall Erinus
now so plentiful on old crumbling brick walls and
similar places. The Zaluzianskia is a low, compact
plant, rarely exceeding 2 inches in height, and
when grown in a light sandy soil in a sunny posi-
tion, it produces its pretty pink and white starry
flowers in the greatest profusion ; so much so, in-
deed, that it is difficult to see the foliage through
them. Being a surface-rooting annual, it proves
indispenable for covering permanent bulb beds, &o.
It might also be useful as a groundwork on dry
banks. Nycterinia capensis, although an annual, is
not nearly so common as it ought to be. At mid-day
it is certainly not much to look at, as its flowers, like
those of CEnothera odorata, open only towards even-
ing. The deeply-cleft petals and the soft tint on the
underside as they curl over make it well worth
'.— K.
Tulipa fulgens. — Now is a convenient time to
remind those who look forward to gay displays of
bulbs next season to make note of this splendid
Tulip, which beyond all others is capable of creating
a most brilliant display in May. It is one of the
late-flowering Tulips with very large flowers, beauti-
fully cup-shaped, of a glowing cherry crimson colour,
stained with a blue-black blotch at the base of the
SHORT NOTES.— FLOWER.
Milla biflora. — This charming flower has done
wonderfully well this season, owing, no doubt, to so
much sunshine. It lias verypretty, pure whiteflowers,
which are sweetly scented. If grown in a sunny po.si-
tion and given plenty of water, it will well repay a
little trouble.— W. A. Cook.
Petunias and the drought. — Permit me, if I
have not already done so, to bear my testimouy to that
of " A. D.'' aud others in favour of Petunias this sea-
son. Our soil is rather heavy, and we gave up grow-
ing Petunias, as they on an average of seasons ran too
much to leaf-age and bloomed indifferently. Fortu-
nately, a packet of seeds was sent this season,
and we planted the centres of four large beds.
It need hardly be added that they are a feature
of the large flower garden this season. Of moderate
172
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 27, 1887.
height and all of the choicest colours, they are one
mass of brilliant hloom, and I intend to repeat and
extend them without manure or other stimulant, in
hopes that the dwarfness and at least a portion of
the brilliancy may be repeated in future seasons. —
D. T. F.
Japanese Anemones. — These are flowering
earlier this year, the intense heat bringing the
plants into bloom before the usual time. There are
few perennials of more use in the garden than these,
as they are stately in habit, free-blooming, and the
lovely flowerji may be worked into arrangements of
the choicest character, as they are remarkably
chaste and last moderately well when cut. We
have seen the Japanese Anemones used in a variety
of ways. At the present time there is a large clump
of A. japonica hybrida, which has flowers of a soft
rosy colour, in bloom in a bay in the rock garden at
Chiswick, and, ovring to its leafy surroundings, the
plant is rendered an ornamental and striking object.
In this position the soil is moist, well drained, and
substantial ; and this is the key to success in the
culture of these plants. Drought and a starving
staple they abhor, but, given a loamy, well-manured,
moist soil, the growth is of surprising vigour, and
the flowers abundantly produced. The type, which
has carmine-rose flowers, the variety hybrida, and
the white form, known as A. japonica alba and
also as A. Honorine Jobert, are all worth cultivat-
ing, especially the last-mentioned, which is un-
doubtedly one of the finest hardy perennials we
have. Propagation is readily effected by dividing
the roots. — E. C.
Orchids.
W. H. G 0 W E E.
GRAMMATOPHYLLUMS.
The plants comprising this genus are said to be
closely allied to the Cymbidiumg ; they are, for
the moat part, gigantic growers, one species (G.
speciosum) producing the largest pseudo-bulb
of any known Orchid. They should be potted
in peat, Sphagnum Moss, and a little loam, and
the drainage must be maintained in good work-
ing order, as these plants enjoy abundance of
water both to their roots and in the atmo-
sphere, and strong heat at all seasons. During
winter the water supply should be entirely with-
held.
G. Ellisi. — For the introduction of this
plant in a living state. Orchid growers are
indebted to the Rev. W. Ellis, after whom it
is named. He stated that he found it growing
in Madagascar " on the branches of trees about
the size of a man's leg, and stretching over a
river about 25 feet above the water ; the roots
were abundant, but short, white, and fleshy."
This plant flowered with Mr. Ellis for the first
time in Europe in the autumn of 1859, but the
plant remained very scarce and high-priced for
a long time ; ultimately the Messrs. Veitoh, of
Chelsea, and Messrs. Low, of Clapton, imported
it in good condition in some quantity, which
has enabled many Orchid growers to add it to
their collections, although it still remains com-
paratively rare. The plant has flowered in
several places in this country, and recently we
saw a fine spike of it, upwards of 2 feet long
bearing about forty flowers, in Mr. Williams' nur-
sery at HoUoway. The pseudo-bulbs are some-
what square, bearing broad, strap-shaped,
obtuse leaves. The spike produced with the
young growth is pendent, bearing numerous
flowers of a somewhat triangular outline ; the
sepals are twisted and recurved at the tips,
tawny yellow, transversely streaked- with close-
dotted lines of chocolate-brown, the apex of
each being wholly deep brown ; petals smaller,
tipped with brown, the basal part greenish
yellow, the small lip being white streaked with
reddish purple. The figure of this species in
the Botanical Magazine represents a much
brighter form, and with the petals creamy white.
Reichenbach separates this plant from Gramma-
tophyllum under the name of Grammangis.
G. SPECIOSUM. — This remarkable plant has
obtained the name of the Letter plant, from the
peculiar blotching of its sepals and petals,
whilst its stately and majestic appearance has
led to its being styled the Queen of the Orchids.
This species was first introduced and flowered
by the Messrs. Loddiges in 1852 at their famous
nursery at Hackney — long since passed away.
The only occasion upon which I have ever seen
the flower was in 1859, the same season that I
saw the previously-named species for the first
time. This was in the gardens of Mr. Farmer,
of Nonsuch Park, in Surrey, a place then famous
for its large collection of plants and for excel-
lence of cultivation. The plant resembled a
gigantic Cyrtopodium ; the pseudo-bulbs were
upwards of 9 feet high, and the flower-spike
nearly 6 feet in height. The individual blooms
are nearly 6 inches in diameter ; sepals and
petals thick and fleshy in texture, nearly equal,
broadly oblong, rich yeUow, profusely and curi-
ously blotched with brownish purple ; lip com-
paratively small, three-lobed, yeUow, streaked
with red lines, the lines on the middle lobe
being furnished with short, erect hairs ; the
large column is white, tinged and spotted with
rosy red. The above specimen had been grown
for about a dozen years before it had bloomed,
so that it really must be admitted to be a shy-
flowering plant, and one that requires a large
house to develop its beauties. Some few years
ago there was a plant of this species in the
gardens of Lord Londesborough, at Grimston
Park, bearing five pseudo-bulbs, the smallest of
which measm-ed 5 feet 3 inches in height, and
6 inches in circumference at the base, and the
tallest was 5 feet 7 inches high, but I do not
know if this plant ever flowered, neither have I
seen a plant since that time. If the plant still
exists in the country, the fact and the size of
the specimens would be worth recording. It is
a native of Java and Malacca.
Another species, G. multiflorum, a native of
Manilla, was cultivated in the once famous col-
lection of Herr Consul Schiller, near Ham-
burg, but I do not know if the plant flowered
there, or if it still exists. It is not a tall-
growing species, but its flowers — large and rich
yellow — are described as being borne on long
racemes, and are curiously spotted and blotched
with deep red.
Lselia Turneri, — This belongs to the Laalia
elegans section, if it is not really a variety of that
species, and although rare it is invaluable as an
autumn bloomer, helping to tide over the time until
Cattleya Triana3 blooms. The flowers are large
and showy, being upwards of 6 inches in diameter ;
the sepals and petals rosy purple, veined with
deep purple ; the front lobe of the lip is spathulate,
of an intense deep magenta-purple hue ; the side
lobes are white suffused with rose, which is more
intense towards the tips. I'ine examples of this
plant are now flowering in Mr. Williams' nursery, at
HoUoway, where it is grown in an intermediate
temperature, but requires to be watered sparingly.
— W. H. G.
Epidendrum prismatocarpum. — This hand-
some species was exhibited beautifully in flower the
other day at the Sevenoaks Horticultural Society's
exhibition. The plant was very large, and gained
the first prize as a single specimen flowering plant.
It had twelve very strong spikes. This species
usually flowers in July and August, and from its
distinct character (the pale yellowish sepals and
petals being well blotched with dark purple) it is a
welcome addition at this season of the year. It is
figured in the Bot. Mag., tab. 5336, from specimens
sent by Messrs. Low, of Clapton, and it flowered
about 1862 for the first time in this country,
although it had been described by Reichenbach in
Bot. Ze'it. for 1852 from dried specimens. It is an
easily grown species, cultivated as Cattleyas are.
The plant was sent from the gardens of Mr. Da
Barri Crawshay (Mr. Cooke, gardener). There was
also sent by the same exhibitor an excellent stand
of twelve species of Orchids, spikes of Vanda suavis
being very fine. Anguloa Ruckeri sanguinea was
also very striking, the flowers being unusually dark.
PANS 7. BASKETS FOR ORCHIDS.
I READ " I. M.'s " article in The Garden, Aug. 13
(p. 133), very carefully, and was surprised to find he
still maintains that pans are preferable to baskets.
In my last article I did not explain myself fully.
The reason that I object to the use of pans, as far
as appearance goes, is because they so soon become
dirty and very unsightly. In a nursery this is
not of so much importance as in a gentleman's
establishment; whereas, when baskets are used, that
unsightly appearance is removed by the living Moss
partially or wholly covering them.
" I. M.'' has not read my last article very closely,
or he would have seen that I objected to the use of
Sphagnum for Cattleyas. As regards the use of
living Moss for East Indian Orchids, I have ex-
amined some baskets containing these, and failed
to see any decayed roots where the Moss was grow-
ing luxuriantly. Conspicuous among the number
were Phatenopsis amabilis and P. grandiflora with
a layer of healthy living Moss growing luxuriantly,
while P. Schilleriana with not a particle of living
Moss is far from being healthy. Our Stanhopeas
are covered to the depth of 2 inches or 3 inches
with living Moss, and under that the roots thrive
admirably, and the young growths are better and
more numerous than they were last year. This
year the plants in suspended baskets received more
syringing than they did last year ; consequently, we
have stronger and healthier plants. Other instances
of the beneficial results of living Sphagnum are seen
in plants of Phahenopsis cornu-cervi and Brassavola
nodosa. The above are only a few instances, and I
am inclined to think that while East Indian Orchids
thrive with living Moss, no one can say that it can
be dispensed with, seeing it retains the moisture
which is so necessary to this class of Orchids. I
hope " I. M." does not think I advocate large shifts
for Orchids. Not in the least. But when esta-
blished Orchids are shifted, they should only be
shifted every two or three years. Such plants as
Aerides, Phalfenopsids, Stanhopeas, and some Den-
drobes thrive admirably if shifted into baskets one
year, and top-dressed the second or third. During
that period if the Moss be encouraged to grow
luxuriantly by the frequent use of the syringe and
plenty of atmospheric moisture, the plants receive
just the treatment they require.
Alfred Lindridgb.
Monijieth, Dundee, j\\B.
Dendrobium stratiotes. — This is a species of
somewhat recent introduction from the Sunda
Islands, and, both in its habit of growth and in the
shape of its flowers, would appear to belong to the
taurinam section. It came to us with a high
character for beauty, but the examples which have
hitherto bloomed have not conduced to its popu-
larity ; a small plant, however, which we saw
recently blooming in Mr. Williams' nursery at Hol-
loway has more beautiful flowers than any form of
it which we have yet seen. The sepals are broad,
spreading, reflexed at the points, and pure white ;
the petals, which are also white, are narrow, twisted
in a spiral manner, and stand quite erect ; the lip is
three-lobed, the side lobes erect, projecting forward,
the middle lobe cordate-acuminate, white, beau-
tifully marked with netted lines of rich magenta.
It appears to require strong heat. — W. H. G.
Dandrobium transparens.— Some few years
ago this species was extensively cultivated and
highly prized, although it appears of late to have
decreased in popularity. We recently observed a
Aug. 27, 1887.J
THE GARDEN.
173
large batch of this kind flowering in the Messrs.
Low's nursery, at Clapton, and its exquisite beauty
will, we hope, again lead to its general cultivation.
It is an excellent species for block or basket culture,
producing slender terete pseudo-bulbs, from 1 foot
to 18 inches in length, the greater portion of which
is furnished with a pair of flowers springing from
each joint ; these are of a soft lilac colour, suffused
with pink, the base of the lip being ornamented
with a deep blood-red blotch. It usually blooms in
the late spring and early summer months, but its
flowers are not very enduring. When growing it
enjoys strong heat and an abundant supply of
moisture, but during the winter months it should be
kept somewhat cool and quite dry. — W. H. G.
iug the nest through the Grass, and we oaunot get rid
of them. — May Blossom.
These, which in some places are reported to be
very scarce this season, are plentiful hereabouts ; in-
deed, their nests are found in batches of two to four or
five within a few yards of each other. We pour gas
tar into the nests as soon as they are found. Their
destruction should now be vigorously followed up,
otherwise they will soon attack the Grapes in vineries.
F. Harrison, Knowsley.
VIRGINIAN COWSLIP.
(mbrtbnsia virginica.)
One of the many beautiful Nortli American plants
that -enrich English gardens. The flowers are of
a peculiar and lovely kind of blue ; in graceful
clusters on an arching stem. The leaves are of
a bright pale green, and the whole plant has a
clean, fresh, spring-like look that is charming.
Ferns.
W. H. GOWER.
STAG'S-TONGUE FERNS,
(elaphoglossdms. )
These Ferns are included in the genus Acro-
stichum by some authors, from which they may,
however, be readily distinguished by their
simple or forked and free veins, whilst in the
true Acrostichum they are uniformly reticulated.
Elaphoglossums cannot be described as elegant
Ferns, but in many instances they have a bold
and massive appearance, and produce a fine
Virginian CowsKp (Mertensia virginica). Engraved for The Garden from a photograph.
It enjoys a cool place in light soil, in shade or
half shade.
Where are the wasps ?— " Here," I am sorry
to answer (August 15) ; only, like the season, on
the whole a fortnight or three weeks perhaps later
than usual. We have destroyed several nests, and
to-day they are swarming among the Gooseberries.
Having extracted the last honey out of Vines, Syca-
mores, Hollies, they now come to have their au-
tumnal feed of our most luscious fruits, and prove,
as they mostly do, the last and most troublesome of
all the pests of the fruit season. The birds have
been mad as well as ravenous lately. I wonder
' what " SufEolkian " would think of our slaughter of
over fifty a day, and the fact that some of our men
and their famiUes almost live on blackbirds and
thrushes just now. It is also a singular fact in
natural history that, notwithstanding the entire
absence of animal diet for the birds for more than
two months, the birds are in good fettle, as they
say in East Anglia — are, in fact, fat and plump and
good eating, and furnish proof positive in battahons
of the feeding properties of a fruit diet. But who
shall say how many fruits it takes to plump up a
fat blackbird or thrush to present weights ? —
HOBTUS.
Destruction of wasps. — Can any reader of The
Garden' advise as to the best means of destroying
wasps P They formed a uest in the root of an old cut-
down tree. I have tried boiling water, covering the
nest with lime , and putting into it cyanide of potassium,
but all in vain. The wasps are as lively as ever, enter-
contrast when associated with those bearing
much-divided and finely-cut fronds, whilst the
pendulous species are admirably adapted for
hanging baskets or covering the face of rock-
work in a naturally arranged fernery. There
are about a hundred recognised species of this
genus, and this number would, no doubt, be
considerably increased could all be seen in a
living state, for as their chief distinctions con-
sist in the more or less hairy or smooth fronds,
it becomes very diflicult to distinguish them by
dried specimens only. The species are widely
distributed throughout the tropics of both
hemispheres, one kind, and that one of the
prettiest, being found wild so near home as the
Madeira Islands. The fronds of these plants,
although simple and plain, are yet of two kinds,
the fertUe ones being contracted and invariably
the smallest, and wholly covered on the under
side with sori. They are easily grown into
handsome specimens. The drainage must be
well attended to, and the soil they thrive best in
is a mixture of loam, leaf -mould, peat, and sand
in about equal proportions. Water must be
given liberally, but those kinds which have
their fronds clothed with chaffy scales should
not be syringed unless the fronds are drooping,
in which position the water quickly drains off
them. The following are a few of the most
handsome kinds which are to be found in culti-
vation, and which should find more favour
with Fern growers than they have hitherto
done : —
E. SCOLOPBNDEIFOLIUM. — An erect - growing
kind ; the infertile fronds are thin in texture, 1 foot
to 2 feet in length, and from 1 inch to 2J inches
wide ; the edges fringed with large scaly ferru-
gineous hairs, whOst the colour on both surfaces is
a light cheerful green ; the fertile fronds are less
than half the size of the sterile ones, densely
covered beneath with brown sori. It requires stove
heat, being a native of Brazil.
E. Heeminibri. — The fronds of this variety are
thick and coriaceous in texture, from 1 foot to
2J feet long, and about 1 inch wide, becoming very
narrow at the base. The fronds are quite smooth
and drooping ; the colour is pale green beneath, upper
side deep green, over which is spread a beautiful
metallic blue bloom. The fertUe fronds are only a
few inches long, but broad in proportion. It enjoys
strong heat. Native of Brazil, Cuba, and Trinidad.
E. SQUAMOSUM. — This handsome species is a
native of the Madeira Islands, and the form found
there thrives best under cultivation in a temperate
house ; the species is, however, found also in various
parts of the East and West Indies. Plantsfrom these
countries require sto%'e temperature, but on account
of the dense manner m which the fronds are clothed
with scales, the plants should not be watered over-
head. The infertile fronds are from 6 inches to
12 inches long, and less than an inch wide ; the creep-
ing rhizome and footstalks are densely covered with
large, jet-black, chaffy scales, upper side of frond
deep green, more or less covered with bright brown
scales ; the under side, however, is densely clothed ;
the fertile fronds are smaller and much narrower;
the large scales form a band along the midrib, the
remaining portion being wholly covered with spores.
E. UNDULATUM. — This handsome, erect-growing
kind produces fronds from a foot to 18 inches in
length, and from 2f inches to 3 inches wide, bright
green, dotted on both surfaces with numerous thin,
pale scales ; the fertile fronds are quite small. It
requires stove heat. Native of various of the West
Indian Islands.
E. PILOSBLLOIDES is a dwarf plant, which may
be utilised for a little projection in a Wardian case;
the fronds rarely exceed 3 inches in height ; they
are spathulate in shape, and as well as the foot-
stalks are densely covered with long brown hairs.
Native of Natal, Peru, Mexico, kc.
E. CALL^FOLIUM. — This is a bold, robust plant,
with large, erect, leathery, deep green fronds, which
are from 1 foot to 2 feet in height, and from 2 inches
to 4 inches in breadth, very coriaceous in texture,
and deep green, the fertile fronds being smaller and
narrower. Java, &c. Other species well deserving
attention are E. musoosum, E. Funcki, E. simplex,
E. crassinervum, E. rubiginosum, &c.
Feea spicata. — This is a very pretty dwarf-
growing Filmy Fern, nearly allied to Trichomanes,
from which it is distinguished by its fertile and
sterile fronds being dissimilar. The tufted fronds
are about 6 inches long and less than 2 inches wide,
prostrate, pinnatifid, but divided nearly down to
the mid-rib. The fertile frond is erect, contracted,
the cup-shaped involucres hanging from it like
clusters of little bells. It is a free-growing plant,
and is well suited for Wardian-case culture. It
appears to be common in Trinidad, from whence
great numbers of plants have been sent during the
past few years. — W. H. G.
The Horse-shoe Fern. — Under this name we
have received some specimens of Fadyenia prolifera
from Mr. Burbidge, of the Trinity College Botanic
Gardens, who says, " It is one of the most distinct
and interesting Ferns known to him ; quite a sort of
walking Fern in its way." One species only repre-
sents the genus which is named in honour of
Dr. M'Fadyen ; the plant does not accord well with
any other known Fern. It is a dwarf tufted plant
producing fronds of two kinds ; the infertile ones
are prostrate, lanceolate in outline, the apex length-
ened out into a tail-like point, which roots andforms
young plants, so that it gradually advanges and es-
174
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 27, 1887.
tends its area ; the fertile fronds are erect, narrowly
linear and obtuse ; the sori are very large, and are
arranged in a single row on each side of the mid-
rib, opposite each other ; the indusium is very con-
spicuous, reniform, or, as Mr. Burbidge aptly says,
horse-shoe shaped. It thrixes in a moist, shady
situation, and forms a pretty object in a Wardian
case. This species, I believe, is only found in Cuba
and Jamaica. — W. H. G.
Adiantum maorophyllum bipinnatifidum.
— The typical form of this species is one of the
most distinct and beautiful in the genus. Its fronds
are pinnate, from 12 inches to 18 inches high ; the
stems are jet-black and polished, the infertile pinna3
large, somewhat ovate, and deeply lobed on the
margins. When fertile the pinna; are rather smaller
and the edges plain. The young fronds are reddish
pink, but they change with aue to bright light
green. The variety bipinnatifidum has a pair of
branches at the base, which are again pinnate, ren-
dering it very distinct, and adding materially to
the effect. Nice examples of this new form are
now to be found in Mr. Williams' nursery at Hol-
lowav.-W. H. G,
Chrysanthemums.
E. MOLTNEUX.
PLANT.S of the early-flowering kinds, such as
Madame Desgrange and its yellow sport, Madame
G. Wermig, two of the best kinds for producing
blooms towards the end of the present month,
will now require to have some of the bloom-
buds taken off if large flowers are aimed at.
By allowing one bud only on each shoot the size
of the flowers is much increased, but useful
trusses of blossom may be had from plants with-
out any thinning of the flower-buds at all if due
attention be given to supplying the plants with
stimulants. I think that blossoms of Chrysan-
themums developed before the end of the pre-
sent month are somewhat out of season when
other kinds of flowers are plentiful, as they
generally are at this season of the year. I lately
saw at the Southampton show (July 30) several
plants of the white Madame Desgrange about
2 feet high, bearing each one large finely de-
veloped bloom caused by restricting the growth
into one main stem, and taking the crown bud
for the flower. Sceur Melanie is one of the most
useful varieties of Chrysanthemums for supply-
ing pure white flowers in November. The plants
now need special attention with regard to stimu-
lants being given them regularly. Some plants
growing here in 7-inch and 8-inch pots need water
during this hot weather three, and sometimes
four, times each day. For the last three weeks
we have had plants of an early-flowering kind,
named Mignon, in full flower. The plants are of
dwarf habit, from 12 inches to 1.5 inches high, and
bear small flowers of a deep rich yellow colour.
Our plants were grown in pots with the object
pf replacing some early flowering herbaceous
plants in a mixed bed in the flower garden, and
well have they answered the purpose, rendering
the bed attractive as soon as they were planted.
Lady Selborne, a capital early-flowering Ja-
panese variety, which comes in most useful
during September for church decoration or other
purposes, will now be forming its buds. Remove
all surplus buds, retaining one upon each stem,
also taking off all side shoots as fast as they
appear. This operation throws all the strength
of the plant into the flowers. Continue the
application of stimulants as previously directed,
until the flowers are half-developed, when tho
plants may have clear water which will be sufli-
cient to finish the flowers. Now that a change
in the weather has taken place, the nights being
colder, a sharp look-out must be kept for mildew,
particularly on the under side of the leaves,
where it usually finds a lodgment, and quickly
spreads over the whole plant if not detected and
quickly eradicated with the usual sulphur reme-
dies. Plants so far this season have been very
free from this pest. Contiaue to remove, as
fast as it appears, all superfluous growth from
the plants intended for large blooms. Carefully
remove aU suckers as they show above the soil.
Cuttings of choice kinds may still be inserted
for stock purposes and will be found useful when
December comes round again. Let no neglect
take place in securely fastening the points of
the shoots, that no damage occurs by wind, rain,
or otherwise.
Chrysanthemum plants growing in the her-
baceous or other borders need a plentiful supply
of water at their roots during dry weather to
keep them in anything like a healthy condition,
a loss of the lower leaves rendering them very
unsightly. More so is this noticed during the
months of September and October when many
of the occupants of the mixed border are past
their fiowering stage and the stems cut down.
To succeed such cases as this are outdoor Chry-
santhemums valuable ; therefore any extra
trouble taken for their welfare wDl be well re-
paid. Supports now will be required of some
description, avoiding always the broom-like man-
ner in which they are sometimes seen tied. Fix
one centre stake at about the height to which
the variety ^vill grow, and to this tie each main
stem singly, yet loosely. Plants growing at the
foot of walls will also need attention to watering
if they are to present a clean, vigorous appear-
ance. They need more water at the roots than
those growing in the open, as the wall absorbs
so much moisture from the soil. The plants
will now be forming their August break of new
growths by the formation of a flower-bud ; where
the additional shoots are too thick cut away the
lower ones, always retaining those starting from
the top. Vigorous syringings in the evening
after a hot day are of great assistance to the
plants. Now is a good time to see to the
correct naming of the plants. More leisure can
be spared for this operation now than in the
past or in the succeeding months ; write the
names clearly on good-sized labels, thus render-
ing them more easily seen by visitors and atten-
dants alike.
Books.
HANDY-BOOK OF THE FLOWER GARDEN.*
Should those who are familiar with the earlier
writings of our author on flower gardening com-
pare those with the volume now before us, they
will, we think, acknowledge the truth of the old
adage that " We are never too old to learn." It is
not so many years since the author wrote, in earlier
editions of his book, " that the plants at our
service have already been used in every conceivable
arrangement and relationship to each other, and
there cannot be much to achieve within the limits
of good taste in this direction ; " but one has only
to read the present and last edition and note its
additions and extensions, acknowledged in the
preface, to see how far mistaken he was in that
view, which had scope for little besides bedding out
as it then was practised. If that view were near
the truth, we were then assured, " we must neces-
sarily look to a new order of plants more than to
fresh designs executed with those we possess if the
rate of progress and an interest in our gardens was
to be maintained." Alas I for such predictions ; the
" new order of plants " has turned out to be the old
order of the hardy flower border restored, and the
fresh designs possible with such materials are ac-
knowledged to be well-nigh endless, as the extended
* " HLi,mb:-Bu.,.k of the Flower Gardeu." By D,
Thomson, Fourth Edition. Blackwood and Sons.
lists of the handy-book now testify. The author still
gives such subjects as Pelargoniums, Calceolarias,
and other bedding subjects the first place in his
book, when the present actual position of flower
gardening might have suggested an altered arrange-
ment ; but no one will quarrel about such trifles
with an author who has made so many amends in
other ways.
While on this part of the subject we would also
just enter a gentle protest against the poet
Wordsworth being any longer saddled with the
blame of the bedding-out system, or of having any
proclivities in that direction. We believe Mr.
Thomson was the first to make use of Wordsworth's
" dancing sea of Daffodils " as an argument in
favour of the bedding-out system ! Could Words-
worth have revisited the earth during the bedding-
out craze and gone into some of our big gardens, he
would have been impressed by the fact that, how-
ever useful his verse may have been to the advocates
of the massing system, his poetry had not had the
power to prevent them exterminating his favourites,
for the " dancing Daffodils " were early victims of
the new style ! As to the merits of the book as a
guide, it is all that could be desired as far as it
goes. The instructions for propagation and plant-
ing, &o., are good, and the lists are judicious. The
different sections of plants are treated separately,
and much pertaining to their culture and general
management and planting plainly set forth.
S.
Stove and Greenhouse.
CORDYLINE (DRAC^NA) INDIVISA AND
AUSTRALIS.
Amongst the fine-leaved plants with foliage of
an enduring character these two species of
Cordyline stand in the front rank, and de-
servedly so, for when well grown they compare
favourably with the best of the now numerous
fine-leaved plants. In general appearance the
two species named differ much ; the long,
narrow, arched, drooping leaves of C. australis,
densely crowded as they are on the slender
stem, impart an elegance which few plants
possess. This species, like C. indivisa, is
arborescent in habit, ultimately as the lower
leaves die off assuming a bushy head on a clean,
bare stem, yet the leaves are so far persistent
that the plants when well managed attain a
height of 4 feet or ■■) feet, being still clothed
with leaves down to the base. And though as
the specimens get older and have tall, bare
stems they are interesting in showing their
character, it is whilst smaller and fully fur-
nished with healthy foliage that they show to
the best advantage ; consequently, one of the
first matters to keep in view is to treat the
plants in a way that will enable them to retain
their leaves in perfect order as long as possible.
This species comes freely from seed, which,
however, is not so easily obtained in reliable
condition as that of many plants. Seed coming
to hand early in spring should at once be sown.
Drain a large seed-pan and fill it with sifted
peat, with some sand added. Press the surface
smooth and moderately firm ; on this scatter
the seeds, and cover them thinly with a little of
the finest of the soil. Stand in a temperature
of 65° or 60°, keep the material a little moist,
and shade until the seedlings appear, after
which only use it so far as necessary to avoid
injury from the sun and to prevent the soil
drying up too rapidly. Stand the plants well
up to the glass, giving a moderate amount of air,
the object being to get as much substance and
strength into the leaves as possible from the
first, for on this depends much of their ability
to last well. When they have made several
leaves 6 inches long they may be moved singly
into 3-inch pots ; fresh loam of good quality is
Aug. 27, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
175
the best to pot them in, as in it the foliage gets
more strength than when peat is used ; sand
must be added in sufficient quantity to ensiu'e
porosity. When the little plants get fairly into
growth greenhouse warmth will be the best for
them. Stand the pots on a moist bottom, still
keeping them near the glass, with plenty of air
and a little shade when the sun is powerful.
From the first all through the plants' existence
they should be well syringed daily from early in
spring until autumn, being careful to get the
water to the whole of the leaves on both sides,
without which they are all but certain to get
affecfed with red spider, through the attacks of
which more than age the leaves lose their vitality
and fall off. With the same object the plants
must never be allowed to get too dry at the
roots, as, needless to say, this is highly injurious
to the foliage. Give pots two sizes larger before
the roots get overcrowded in those they were
first put in. After this all that is necessary is
to give additional pot room as required, but by
assisting the plants during the growing season
with manure water large pots are not needed.
For this kind 12-inch pots are big enough for
specimens 5 feet high.
When the plants get at all devoid of their
bottom leaves it is best to root the tops, and in
private gardens this is the best way of increasing
it. Early in spring is the right time to com-
mence ; strip oft" the lower leaves that are at all
discoloured, and make three or four notches in
the stem a little below the leaves, using a sharp
knife so as to cut clean. Then pack the notched
part of the stem with Sphagnum, using enough
so that it can be kept continually moist by
syringing ; tie it on with bast. If the plants
are moved to where they will have an inter-
mediate temperature, with the atmosphere a
little close, roots will be sooner formed. As
soon as these have got hold of the Sphagnum
sever the stem just below and transfer to pots
proportionate in size to that of the head of
leaves, leaving the Sphagnum with the young
roots it contains undisturbed. Keep the plants
in a like temperature to that in which they have
been located whUst the heads were being rooted
until they have got fairly established in the
pots, after which greenhouse treatment will
suffice. Rooted in this way the plants make
more perfect heads than when raised from seed,
as the leaves down to the base are larger, and
consequently more even in size from bottom to
top than those of seedlings.
The stool will produce several young shoots
that may be struck when large enough ; take
them off with a heel, remove the lower leaves,
and put them singly into 3-inch or 4-inch pots,
drained and half filled with sandy soil, the top
all sand. By keeping them moderately close
and moist with the necessary shade in genial
warmth they will soon root, after which all that
is necessary is to give larger pots as they
'require more room. The stools, if well cared
for, will give several crops of young shoots,
by which a large stock may soon be obtained.
C. indivisa has always been a scarce plant,
and is of much more value than C. australis,
and it is likely to remain so, as it is a difficult
subject to keep in a healthy state. In skilful
hands it is often short-lived ; it is usually much
more liable to go off through the roots perishing
than any species of a like nature with which I
am acquainted. Yet it is a noble plant. The
leaves are a peculiar shade of pale green, the
mid-rib and lateral nerves coral-red. In a
really well-grown specimen they attain a size of
4 feet in length by 6 inches or 7 inches in width.
It is raised from seed in the same way as C.
australis, and requires to be treated similarly.
except that it needs more pot room and greater
care in watering, as if at any time the roots are
too wet — especially in winter — the chances are
that they will perish, a condition that generally
ends in the death of the plant. From this it
will be easily understood that water must never
be given until the soil is drier than most things
would bear it being. It is especially necessary
to keep this in mind when the plant gets large
and occupies a big pot. . This species is less
hardy than 0. australis, and does best when
wintered where it will get a little more warmth
than in an ordinary greenhouse — say, about
45°. Large specimens require pots from 16
inches to 20 inches in diameter. In repotting
the roots must not be disturbed more than in
removing the old drainage from the ball. When
the plant loses its bottom leaves the top can be
rooted like C. australis, but I should not advise
the use of Sphagnum round the stem, as this
material holds more water than I should like
to risk the roots in. In place of this a 9-inch
or 10-inch pot should be cut in two — this can
be done easily with a piece of thin hoop iron
and some fine sand, with a little water kept
dripping into the opening as the iron saws its
way through. The halves of the pot must be
fixed round the stem just below the leaves,
tying them firmly together ; then put a little
drainage material in the bottom, and fiU up
with a mixture of loam and sand. Early in
spring is the best time to carry out the opera-
tion, as then there is all the growing season
wherein to get the plant re-rooted and esta-
blished. After the top is taken oft", the stool
must not have more water than wiU prevent the
soil getting quite dry until it has started into
growth. When the young shoots are large
enough they must be taken oft' and .struck in
the way recommended for C. australis.
Coal gas in greenhouses.— Mr. Butcher, an
Englishman settled at Providence, Rhode Island,
U.S.A., tells us in conversation at our office of the
curious destruction of his house plants by coal gas
leaking from a sewer a long distance away. A fine
stock of Roses and Carnations turned yellow and
was practically destroyed. For a long time he could
not discover the cause of the sickness of the plants,
but when a hard frost sealed the ground and shut up
the taps, the gas became more noticeable.
AUamanda nobilis. — In one of the heated
plant houses at Maiden Erleigh, this beautiful
AUamanda is trained up a high back wall with a
stout woody stem and allowed to flower from annual
shoots close under the roof above. There it carries its
fine flowers for from five to six months each season,
the blooming shoots being spurred hard back each
spring. The flowers are deeper in colour than those
of A. Schotti, devoid of all dark markings, and of
great size; indeed, as grown here it seems the finest
of the family. It forms a striking feature in asso-
ciation with BougainvUlea glabra, which similarly
treated produces great quantities of its beautiful
bracts yearly. AUamanda flowers are ever in re-
quest with ladies, who so much admire their rich
hues, and a constant supply as found in this way is
most serviceable. — A. D.
Seedling Gloxinias. — From seed that was
sown early this season it is possible to have good
plants in bloom at the present time, and that, too,
without any undue forcing or coddling. All that is
necessary is to sow the seed about the middle of
January in open sandy soil, and place it in a good
light position in the stove, when the young plants
will soon make their appearance. When large
enough to be handled they must at once be pricked
off, and when sufficiently advanced potted into
small pots. All that is needed afterwards is to
shift them on when required, and to assist the
growth with applications of liquid manure. If pro-
perly hardened off they wUl do well in an ordinary
cold frame during the summer, and plants grown
in this way will last much longer in beauty when
used for indoor decoration than those that have
been grown in[a more tender manner. If the seed is
saved only from the very best flowers, it may be
relied on to produce a superior class of plants ; but
of course, to propagate with certainty any parti-
cular variety, cuttings of the shoots or leaves must
be resorted to. — T.
HedycMum flavosum. — The best known
Hedychiums are Gardnerianum, coronarium, and
flavum, but H. flavosum is rare and seldom seen in
bloom. In the tropical Water Lily tank at Kew
there is now a plant of it in flower in company with
H. coronarium. The habit of growth reminds one
of that of Gardnerianum, but the flowers are diffe-
rent, the petals being broader, and instead of bright
yellow, are a pale sulphur colour, borne in large,
erect clusters. It is a beautiful plant for growing
in a tropical Water Lily tank and lasts in bloom a
long time. But it cannot rival in loveliness the
favourite Garland Flower, which of all Hedychiums
is the most desirable for general culture. Its noble
growth, rising from 6 feet to 8 feet, and its clusters
of large flowers of snowy whiteness and delicious
scent make it a most suitable plant for a large con-
servatory. At Kew it is grown as a semi-aquatic,
in mud in fact, and, judging by the luxuriant speci-
mens, it seems to revel in it. Such plants as these
Hedychiums grown in conservatories would relieve
that common-place look they generally have when
filled with ordinary plants. — W. G.
Stove plants at Sevenoaks. — Remarkably
handsome specimens of Dipladenia Brearleyana and
D. amabilis, the former with seventy-five richly
coloured flowers and the latter with flfty, were
shown at the recent exhibition of the Sevenoaks
Horticultural Society, from the gardens of Mr.
T. F. Bumaby Atkins (Mr. Gibson, gardener). Mr.
Gibson ascribes his success to two causes ; the first
is cleanliness, the plants being perfectly free from
bug and all other insect pests. It may be truly said
that these plants cannot be grown with any degree
of success if mealy bug has gained a footing upon
them. Secondly, he cuts them down almost to the
pots annually, encouraging the plants to make vigor-
ous growth afterwards. AUamanda nobilis was
also shown in splendid condition by the same ex-
hibitor ; the plant had upon it a hundred of its large
golden yellow flowers. It gave promise to continue
in flower for a long time, as many more buds were
upon the plants. It was a grafted specimen, the
stock being A. neriifolia. Mrs. Crawshay's gardener
(Mr. Goodman) exhibited a good, weU-flowered
specimen of Tabernfemontana Camassa (?) with pure
white, semi-double, sweetly perfumed flowers ; it is
a useful stove plant, which should be more generally
grown.— J. Douglas.
Hard-wooded Heaths at Norwood. — It is
often said that the atmosphere round about London
has become so vitiated, that it is no longer possible
to grow fine specimens of these plants such as used
to be the pride of London gardens and exhibitions
a few years ago. The numerous fine examples, how-
ever, which are now blooming in Mr. James's nursery,
at Norwood, clearly prove such ideas to be incorrect,
and it cannot be said that they are provided with
any exceptional accommodation. At the present
time the good old-fashioned plan is adopted of
growing them in the open air, from whence they
wiU be gradually removed if the weather becomes
very wet, the most hairy-leaved kinds being the
sorts first to be housed. The plan of setting them
in the open air induces short, robust growth, which
becomes thoroughly ripened ; the flowers also are
more highly coloured, and are longer lived than
when the plants are kept under glass. The follow-
ing are the most notable kinds now flowering in
Mr. James's nurseries, fine specimens of E. Mar-
nookiana nowproducing their second crop of blooms.
This variety is perhaps the very finest of all the
hard- wooded varieties, and on account of its flowers
being smooth, they retain their beauty for a very
long time. Its colour is rich, .shining purple in the
tube, with a small spreading white limb. Other
kinds now flowering most profusely for the second
time this season are E. Bandoniana, E. tricolor
Wilsoni ; this latter is one of the finest of the tricolor
176
THE GARDEN.
section. Of such kinds as E. effusa, ajmula, the
brilliant cerinthoides corouata, kingstonensis, fer-
ruginea, Vemoni, Parmenteriana, ventricosa Both-
welliana, and ventricosa magnifica, numerous iine
specimens are in great beauty, whilst several
plants of earlier-blooming varieties have just had
the faded flowers picked ofiE.— W. H. G.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
WlNTBE-FLOWEEiNG SALVIAS.— Salvias, intended
for autumn and winter blooming and that were
planted out in spring, will now require attention to
prepare them for lifting and potting a few weeks
hence. Where large plants are wanted, there is much
gained by-planting out Salvias and other quick-
growing subjects that bear without injury lifting
and potting, as the growth made in weU-prepared
soil is stronger than ; usually obtainable under pot
culture. But so grown, unless the plants are pre-
pared for taking up by severing their roots once or
twice before potting, the check they receive often
causes the loss of the lower leaves, in which condi-
tion they have an indifferent appearance. All
that is necessary is to go round each plant with a
spade, cutting the roots so as to retain as many as
can be got without cramping them into the pots
they are to occupy. After being thus treated the
plants wiU require careful watering, as the source
from whence they have to draw their supply is
confined to the limited amount of soil which the
roots that are retained have access to. In the
course of three weeks they will have made quan-
tities of new feeding fibres that wiU be ready to
support the growth, which should go on without
interruption as soon as the plants are potted. The
best varieties of autumn-flowering Salvias are S.
Pitcheri, azure-blue ; S. BetheUi, rose colour shaded
with white ; and S. splendens Bruanti, which is much
superior to the old S. splendens, being brighter in
colour, a profuse bloomer, and better in general habit.
When the plants are well grown, and introduced in
sufficient numbers amongst Chrysanthemums, they
are seen to advantage. S. gesnerasflora is a valuable
plant for flowering early in the spring, and does well
treated in the same way as recommended for the
autumn bloomers.
Veronicas. — The strong-growing varieties of
these desirable plants, when turned out in summer,
require to have their roots cut in similarly to
the Salvias previous to their being potted. The
same applies to other free-rooting subjects that
have been planted out for the growing season, as
by shortening their roots in the way described they
can be moved with less injury.
Bbkht-bbaeing Solanums that have been grown
in the open ground should now be dealt with in like
manner. There should be no delay in carrying out
the work, as the time when it will not be safe to
trust tender plants out-of-doors is near at hand, for
however fine and warm the days may be, the nights
are doubtful.
EOMAK Htacinths.— Where these plants are re-
quired in flower early, some bulbs should be potted
as soon as they come to hand, for, upon their hav-
ing sufficient time to get the pots well filled with
roots before they are put in heat, success in their
flowering depends, as, like the large-flowered varie-
ties, if the plants are at all deficient of roots, it is
useless to look for their blooming well. Where the
object is to secure the largest quantity of flowers in
the least room, moderate-sized shallow boxes or
pans may with advantage be used in place of pots.
If a space of about 1 inch is allowed between each
bulb it will be enough. Respecting the material in
which these and the large-flowered section of Hya-
cinths are grown, there are different views held.
Some maintain that the quality and quantity of the
flowers are so far dependent on the condition of the
bulbs, that any kind of soil, if porous enough, will
answer, but after trying good new loam enriched with
one-sixth of rotten manure against old potting soil, I
found the former gave much the best results. Where
the loam happens to be of a close, heavy nature, a
little leaf -mould in addition to the manure may be
used vvith advantage. For plunging the pots or
boxes in whilst the rooting process is going on, I
prefer fine coal ashes to the Cocoa-nut fibre now so
much used, as in the latter, unless it is quite fresh,
worms are much more likely to find their way into
the pots.
ANTHtTEItTM SCHEEZEEIANUM.— The time that
this Anthurium makes its growth and flowers is agood
deal influenced by the temperature in which the
plants are grown. When kept in a warm stove it comes
into bloom early in spring, and makes its growth,
which follows the decay of the principal crop of
flowers, correspondingly early. Yet when the
plant is grown in a high temperature the results are
not so satisfactory as when it is subjected to inter-
mediate warmth aU the year round. I have grown
this Anthurium in different temperatures, from the
highest that any stove plants will bear down to
that of an intermediate house, kept at about 50° in
the night through the winter months, with propor-
tionally cool quarters in summer. Under these
conditions the same plants made much larger and
stouter leaves and correspondingly larger spathes
than if kept warmer. Under this treatment
the latter fuUy develop when the spring is
well advanced, and last fresh until towards the
end of summer, most of the growth being
made daring the last four months of the year.
The best time to repot is just as growth is
about to coromence. From the quantity of water
the plant requires, it follows that the soil in which
it is grown, however enduring its nature may be, soon
becomes a wet, soddened mass, in which the roots
cannot remain healthy. To avoid this it is much safer
to repot every year. Where the plant is grown under
cool treatment in the way described the potting
should be carried out at once. All the old material
must be shaken from the roots ; if any soft, pasty
matter adheres to them it should be washed away
by syringing freely with water. The best compost
in which to grow this Anthurium is one half fibrous
brown peat, with most of the earthy matter taken
out, and an equal part of Sphagnum, which should
be chopped, but not made so fine as to hasten its
decay ; to these should be added a liberal portion
of broken charcoal, crocks, and some sand. In this
the plants will make double the quantity of roots
that they do in heavier soO. Half fill the pots with
drainage material, as the plant is a shallow rooter.
Syringe overhead daily, by which means thrips and
aphides will be kept in check. The lightest position
that the house or pit in which it is grown wiU afford
should be given, standing the plants well up to the
roof. Water should be given as soon as the plants
are potted, keeping the soil quite wet from the time
growth commences until it is flnished, when less
will be required, but the roots must never be dry.
When well managed I know of no more desirable
plant, taking all its properties into account. Its
spathes, if devoid of the elegance of form that
many flowers possess, are extremely effective and
enduring, whilst the plant when large and in good
condition is at all times a handsome object when
out of bloom, and with fair treatment it wiU con-
tinue to thrive for a very long time.
Htdeangeas. — The common Hydrangea is by
far the best for general use when confined to small
plants with a single stem. So managed it can
be used freely amongst other things, either
fine-leaved or flowering. To have it in this condi-
tion, the cuttings are mostly struck in spring and
grown on slowly during the summer. But to secure
large heads on the shortest stems the best way is to
grow a large plant or two out of doors where they
get plenty of light and are fully exposed to the sun,
giving them good soil so as to get the wood strong.
About this time when the buds are set and the
growth is approaching maturity, the shoots should
be taken off and struck. The cuttings ought to
consist of about three joints ; remove the leaves from
the lower joint, leaving the others on as long as
they will stay; put them singly in 3-inch pots,
drained and half filled with good loam, to which add
some rotten manure and a little sand, filling up
with sand alone. Put in the cuttings and give a
good soaking with water. A small frame on a
moderate hot-bed is the best place to strike them
in, plunging the pots and shading closely from the
sun. Keep the light tilted at the back night and
[Aug. 27, 1887.
day; this is necessary, as if the tops of the cuttings
are kept close and warm it will be likely to cause
the buds to start into growth, in which case few, if
any, flowers will be produced. By the time the cut-
tings are well rooted the leaves wiU most likely have
turned yellow and fallen off, leaving only the bare
bit of wood with its terminal bud. Stand in a cool
greenhouse during the depth of winter, after which
a portion of the plants may be brought into flower
slowly in moderate warmth, allowing the rest to
come in with the return of sun-heat. In the case
of those that are forced, as well as those that come
on later, they should be moved into 6-inch pots
before they begin to grow, giving them rich soil, and
when the roots and tops have commenced moving
freely give manure water every week until the
flowers open. All suckers or side shoots that ap-
pear must be removed as soon as visible, so that the
whole energies of the plants may be directed to the
flowers. When the blooming is over the plants
should be headed right down to the bottom, and
have pots an inch or two larger, restricting the
grovrth to a single shoot. If plunged out of doors
and well attended to during the summer they will
again produce very large heads of flowers, but on
much taller stems than the first year. There are
two forms of the plant, one with the heads of bloom
and also the individual flowers double the size of
the other; the large variety is much the best.
T. B.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 611.
THE BLACK BROOM.
(CYTISUS NIGEICANS.*)
Most of the species of Cytisus in gardens at the
present time, being natives of Central Europe
and northwards, are quite hardy ; while a few
coming from warmer climates, like the south of
Europe and islands of the Atlantic, are green-
house plants. All are shrubs, generally of low
stature and creeping growth. The common
Broom (C. scoparius), being a native, is the
best known, and certainly there is none finer
in regard to its bloom ; but its very common-
ness makes it of less importance for the garden
than others not so showy. Among the exotic
species perhaps the most important from a gar-
den point of view is C. nigricans, the plant we
herewith illustrate. It is a native of the Swiss
Alps and various other parts of Central Europe,
and was iirst known in this country about the
year 1760, but even now is very little known in
a general way, and, in fact, may be considered
rare. It is a free-growing bush, of thin growth,
the slender stems and branches reaching from
3 feet to 6 feet high, clothed with small trifoliate
leaves of a deep green. In early summer it
blooms abundantly, the flowers being small, but
produced in long thin clusters terminated by
young shoots, as shown in the plate, which, by
the way, does not flatter the plant in the least ; on
the contrary, it is commonly seen more densely
flowered. The colour is a bright yellow, much
brighter than shown in the plate. It is a first-
rate shrub, very hardy and vigorous, suitable
either for a choice spot in a shrubbery or an
exposed part of a good rock garden, where, if
planted near a bold ledge so as to hang over, it
produces the best effect. As in the case of other
small-growing shrubs, it must be kept free from
stronger growers ; and if a small group of it —
say, about half-a-dozen plants — were placed on
an exposed bank of good soil, they would have
a beautiful effect.
Of the other species of hardy Cytisus to be
recommended for general culture, there is none
more valuable than the Spanish white Broom
* Drawn for The Garden at Woodcote, Wimble-
don, by Miss Lowe, August, 1886, aud printed by G.
Severeyns.
THE BLACK BROOM. CYTISUS NIGRICANS
Aug. 27, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
177
(C. albus), one of the prettiest of all slirubs,
being so elegant in growth and so persistent
in bloom. During .June and July it lights up
the slirubberiesVith clouds of white bloom, and
is generally seen overtopping all other shrubs
as its wliip-like shoots draw to the light. It is
quite as useful as the common yellow Broom for
clothing dry, exposed slopes in light or heavy
soil, and if the two are intermixed in a bold
group the one acts as a foil to the other.
Another beautiful species of Cytisus is C.
purpureus, also a common shrub, but usually
seen grown in an absurd mop-headed fashion
by grafting it on a straight stem of a Laburnum.
It is naturally a low-growing, trailing shrub, with
long shoots that are entirely wreathed with
large purplish lilac blooms. Its proper place is
on banks or amongst rocks, where it can be seen
to advantage. Like the others, it is perfectly
hardy, and will grow anywhere if the spot is
exposed and dry. There are several other kinds
of Cytisus interesting enough to those who take
a special delight in trees and shrubs, but are
scarcely showy enough in flower for general
culture. Among these are C. austriacus, a
common Austrian shrub of dwarf growth with
yellow flowers ; C. Ardoini, a pretty little alpine
shrub that grows plentifully on the Maritime
Alps; C. capitatus, also dwarf, and with dense
clusters of small yellow flowers ; C. biflorus, a
deciduous shrub, about a yard high, common in
Himgary; C. hirsutus, a trailing shrub, also
yellow; and C. sessiliflorus, that grows wild in
Italy and other parts of Southern Europe. All
these were introduced to this country genera-
tions ago, but have never, for the reasons above
stated, come into general cultivation, so that
the list of first-rate kinds of Cytisus is reduced
to about four, viz., C. nigricans, albus, pur-
piireus, and scoparius (common Broom), about
which there need be little said, seeing that
everybody knows it to be one of the finest
native shrubs and difficult to surpass in beauty,
even in the garden. The Laburnum, which is
sometimes called Cytisus Laburnum, is now
named by botanists Laburnum vulgare, so that
it does not come under present consideration.
W. G.
Propagating.
Cuttings of coniferous plaiits. — This is the
best time of the year for putting in cuttings of the
various hardy ConifeiEe, many of which can be pro-
pagated in this way. The principal kinds for
which this mode of increase is employed are the
smaller-growing ones, such as the different varieties
of Capressus, Thuja, Biota, Juniperus, Eetinospora,
and such like. The larger Conifers, including among
their number the Silver and Spruce Firs, as well as
the different Pines, are seldom propagated by means
of cuttings, those raised from seeds being usually
preferred, but where they cannot be obtained graft-
ing is generally resorted to. A very important con-
sideration in connection with cuttings of all kinds
is to prepare a suitable place for their reception,
and in the case of the different Coniferse, they may
be put either in a cold frame or in the close hghts
of a propagating house, provided there is no arti-
ficial heat. This last can be very well carried out
in estabUshments where great numbers of any one
subject are propagated, but in gardens where it is
necessary to strike a great variety of subjects at
the same time, it will be impossible to dispense
with fire-heat, and on that account the best place
for these Conifers will be in a cold frame. It must
be prepared for their reception by being thoroughly
cleansed, and, if deep, it should be filled up with
ashes, so that the tops of the cuttings when put in
will not be more than 6 inches from the glass. As
the frame should be as nearly air-tight as possible, the
lights must have a thorough overhaiihng before use.
The frame should, if possible, be in a spot shaded
from the sun, a well-drained situation under a
north wall being very suitable for it. The prepara-
tion of the pots is the next consideration, and any
size may be used, but those G inches in diameter are
very convenient, for the soil in them does not dry
so quickly as in smaller ones, and they are more
easily handled than the larger sizes. The pots
should be washed quite clean, and, if new ones, they
must be soaked in water some time before being
used. If they are not treated in this way they
absorb all the moisture, and cause the cut-
tings to perish unless they are continually
watered, which is by no means desirable. The pots
should be filled to within 2 inches or 3 inches of
the top (according to the size of the cutting) with
broken crooks, and after that with a compost con-
sisting of equal parts of peat, loam, and sUver sand,
the whole passed through a sieve with a quarter of
an inch mesh, and pressed down very firmly. Enough
space should be left on the top of the soU for about
a quarter of an inch of clean silver sand. The pots
being thus prepared and slightly watered, are then
ready for the reception of the cuttings. The selec-
tion of the cuttings is a very important considera-
tion, and with regard to the smaller kinds, as a rule,
the best cuttings are furnished by the side branches
that have been well exposed to light and air, as the
shoots from the interior of the plant are very liable
to damp off, as weU as the more succulent ones on the
upper part of the specimen. A cutting from 4 inches
to 6 inches long is the best, and it is necessary
that it consist entirely of the current season'sgrowtb,
with a slight heel of older wood at the base. To pre-
pare the cuttings for insertion a very good way is
to strip off the branch, then with a very sharp knife
remove any irregularities, and cut off the bottom
shoots for about IJ inches or 2 inches, in order to
aUow of their being inserted up to that depth in the
soO. In the case of the long-leaved kinds, such as
some Junipers, Cryptomerias, Tews, &c., it will be
necessary to remove the leaves also, but in the case
of those with small, scale-like leaves this is by no
means necessary. The leaves of the Yews may be
stripped off by taking each singly and giving it a
downward pull, but with most of the others it
will be necessary to cut them off. For this pur-
pose a sharp knife is better than scissors, as
the cutting is not so much bruised. The
knife must be kept free from resinous matter.
The cuttings must be dibbled in firmly, and
when finished all the pots should be thoroughly
watered in order to settle everything in its place.
Overcrowding must be guarded against, and, on the
other hand, space should be economised as far as
possible. When finished the cuttings may be placed
in the frame and the lights shut quite close ; whUe
if the situation is not completely shaded from the
sun, mats must be laid on the Ughts whenever re-
quired. Any signs of decay must be at once re-
moved, and watering attended to whenever neces-
sary. With regard to these things, however, if the
lights are taken off eveiy morning when the weather
is favourable for an examination of the cuttings, a
little air may be left on for a time if there are any
signs of decay, while the soil wOl not quickly dry
under such conditions. A great many of the cut-
tings will form roots before winter, while, on the
other hand, several will not strike till the spring.
In any case, they must be kept in their pots until
April or May, when they may be either potted into
small pots or planted out in a bed prepared for
their reception. There is a great difference in the
time that the various Conifers take to strike root,
the quickest being some of the Retinosporas, espe-
cially those with long leaves, such as ericoides,
squarrosa, and the undeveloped parts of plumosa, all
of which strike root quickly and with very little loss.
The American Arbor-vitfe and its various forms
all strike far more readily than the many varieties
of the Chinese Arbor- vitse, some of which are among
the most difficult.
Of all the varieties of Lawson's Cypress, I have
found C. erecta viridis to strike more readily than
the others, the loose-growing forms being the most
difficult. Junipers, as a rule, strike more quickly
when the cuttings are formed of the long needle-
like-leaved shoots towards the base of the plant
than if taken from the fully developed portion at
the top. This remark will, indeed, apply to aU, for
in every case shoots clothed with the immature
foliage strike more quickly than the others.
So far, I have dealt only with cuttings in pots, as
by this treatment the greatest measure of success
is" obtained, but where large quantities are put in
they may be dibbled into a prepared border and
sheltered by a frame. In all other matters the
same remarks will apply as to those in pots.
T.
Kitchen Garden.
THE DROUaHT AND THE VEGETABLES,
1887.
The effects of the unprecedented drought on
Potatoes have been most marked. That the early
crops should prove a light yield and the tubers
abnormally small was only what everyone ex-
pected. The cold, late spring held theni back
till they were caught in the drought, which has
made further progress well-nigh impossible.
Watering has been tried, and may be said in
general terms to be found wanting. The tubers,
as a rule, with several exceptions, however, re-
fuse to swell kindly or at all under artificial
waterings. The latter, too, produce disease.
This may now be accepted as a certain fact. In
examining Potatoes over a wide area this season
the only diseased tubers were found on plots that
had been persistently watered to force size. The
watering succeeded but indifierently in enlarging
the tubers, but perfectly in developing the
disease. The second pecrdiarity of the Potatoes
under the baking drought has been an abnormal
extension and vigour of shaw or top. Magnum
Bonums and other varieties have run up a yard
high, and strong in proportion. Judging by the
tops, the dry weather on good soils promises a
liberal yield of tubers. The growth and bloom
are all that could be desired. Root growth, as
distinguished from the formation and develop-
ment of tubers, is also in perfect harmony with
the vigorous top-growth. Never possibly be-
fore have Potato roots spread so widely or bored
so deeply as in this dry season. Each plant is
furnished with a huge bunch or bundle of feed-
ing and running roots. But the roots of all
sorts seem occupied chiefly in supporting the
stems or haulm rather than in forming and
growing tubers. Digging up plants in good soil
and observing the masses of healthy roots, one
searches in vain among them for tubers, and it
is no exaggeration to say that the more flatter-
ing the promise from haulm and roots, the
poorer is the yield of tubers. So far, this is
quite contrary to the usual order of results,
and must be set down to the effects of the
abnormal heat and drought.
A similar paucity of legitimate produce has
characterised our single Dahlias this year. These
have run up to almost double then- normal
height, while showing few or no flowers.
Cauliflowers.— These have suffered much
from the drought in all stages from the start to
the finish. Through the attacks of jacks and
other causes a large percentage of the plants
came blind from their youth, a great many more
bolted in a young state, and the remainder have
come in most irregularly, and have opened al-
most before fit for use. Late batches of Au-
tumn Giant and Walcheren look very blue,
and greatly need twenty-four hours' rain to
start them oft' into free growth and abundant,
clean, compact produce.
Peas. — These have hardly stayed with us at
all during the drought. Crop after crop has
come and gone after a few gatherings, and
latterly they have set so badly, that even the
few pickings have mostly failed. Persistent
178
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 27, 1887.
waterings on rich, deep soils have continued the
crops longer in some instances, but in others
even these have failed, and on the whole the
Pea crop has been the very worst of recent
years. We have late crops coming on, which,
we trust, the coming rain may foster into
growth and produce, as tender, sweet Peas are
as welcome and useful in September and Octo-
ber as any other months in the year.
Broad Beans have suffered with the Peas,
but this is of less moment, as they are seldom
used to any great extent.
Runner and French Beans. — These have"
enjoyed the drought on good soils, and have
proved invaluable.
Tdrnips.— These have been difficult to get
up, and have run or hardened into stickiness
under the scorching drought. It has been most
difficult to get up successional crops or to keep
them alive, and even watering will neither
drown jacks nor keep the Turnips alive under
such scorching conditions.
Carrots have suffered less; still they have
suffered, and the produce wiU be light, though
clean and of good quality.
Garden Beet in many oases came up badly,
and has grown slowly.
Parsnips have suffered least of all the main
crops from the drought, and promise an average
yield.
Onions, spring sown, are small, and less than
half their usual size. Autumn sown are fine,
and will prove exceptionally useful this season to
make up for the short yield of the sirring sown.
Shallots and Gaelic, on the other hand,
seem to have enjoyed the dry weather, and are
finer than usual.
Celery, too, where well watered, has suffered
little ; while Vegetable Marrows and Tomatoes
have also done well.
Spinach lias been a most difficult crop, being
troublesome to get up and bolting almost as soon
as fairly out of the ground. Unfortunately, we
have no New Zealand Spinach this year as a most
useful substitute, though far inferior in tender-
ness and flavour to the real article.
Lettuces and all sorts of salading have pre-
sented great difficulties during tlie heat and the
drought, and it has been well-nigh impossible
to keep the salad bowl well filled with crisp and
sweet mixtures.
Never were shade and rain more needed than
in the kitchen garden on this 15th of August
to drown the white butterflies which swarm on
every green leaflet, and also bring new life and
fresh growth into all the drooping and parched
vegetables. D. x. P.
SHORT NOTES.— KITCHEN.
Wilson's Selected Potato— Mr. Gilbert, of
Burghley, has sent ns a basket of these Potatoes, the
quality nf which we liave tested and found excellent.
It ia a nsefnl kidney variety, regular and smooth, and
nrst-elass on the table.
Peas.— Carter's Lightning is just a trifle earlier,
and just a trifle more productive, than any of the
selections of First and Best of American seedsmen.
Why sow the Champion of England Pea, which,
m good soil, will grow 6 feet high, rather than the
Telephone or Stratagem, which will grow not over
3 feet high, and bear larger Peas and as many of them
and as good in quality?— fiiiraZ Neiv Yo',-Ja-r.
Pea Goldfinder.— This Pea has been known for
several years in the west of Engl.ind, but I think it is
not much known in other parts of the country. It has
come well to the front this season, for it is acknow-
ledged by a large number of cultivators that it has
stood the dry weather better than any other sort. The
pods are not particularly handsome, but the Pea.? are
large and of excellent flavour. I have also found that
G. F. Wilson is fairly reliable in a dry season. This
well-known sort grows about 4 feet high, and is of ex-
cellent flavour. — J. C. C.
KITCHEN GARDEN NOTES.
The weather and the chops. — The long-de.sired
rain came on the 17th inst. (0-6 j in.), and the change
it has wrought, in but a couple of days, in the appear-
ance of vegetable crops is simply marvellous, and,
Potatoes excepted, the benefit to all is quite as great
as improved appearance betokens. Such crops as
Peas, Beans, Celery, and Cauliflowers, that we were
able to water show no signs of drought whatever,
and all other crops are so proportionately improved
as to justify the remark that vegetable crops will
be quite up to the average in exoeUenoe. Potatoes
are small, but of good quality ; only very late va-
rieties are a failure, and the rain, I fear, has come
too late to be of any service to them.
Sowing seeds. — We have made the general
sowing of Turnips and Lettuce for the winter. Of
two former sowings of Turnips, one is a failure by
reason of drought, and the ground wiU therefore
shortly be cleared and planted with Coleworts ; the
other plot we have thinned out to from 8 in. to 10 in.
from plant to plant, and given it a dressing with dry
wood ashes as an antidote against the attack of Turnip
fly. ; Lettuces, Hicks' Hardy White Cos and Black-
seeded Bath Cos, we have sown between the rows
of a new plantation of Strawberries, and the surplus
plants, when these rows are thinned out, will be
planted on warm borders under the shelter of walls
to stand the winter. Other small sowings of Cauli-
flowers have been made on south, west, and east
borders, so that if the plants fail to winter in one
aspect they may be safe in another, some such plan
in our case being rendered necessary owing to our
being short of frame space wherein to winter plants
of doubtful hardiness. Main sowings of Cabbages
for autumn planting and to stand the winter have
also been made, the latter in three various aspects
for the same reason as given for Cauliflowers. The
main crop of Onions was sown on the 18tb, the
dressing being soot, which for our light soil is the
best of fertilisers for Onions, always supposing that
plenty of good stable manure was incorporated with
the ground for the crop immediately preceding.
Harvesting. — Potatoes we are housing as fast
as labour will allow. We shall have ample cellar
room for all we have this year ; late kinds we have
generally to pit in the open garden, in which way
they winter well enough, but the inconvenience of
the plan is great, as they cannot be got at in all
weathers ; hence the former plan is much to be
preferred, and more especially so in seasons when
the disease prevails, when it is necessary to examine
the tubers two or three times after housing. Spring-
sown Onions have ripened off prematurely and are
good, but small. These we are also getting in to
airy sheds to dry preparatory to storing, and as the
ground from which they are being taken is hard
and still dry, it is contrary to our usual practice,
being forked over in readiness for the main batch
of Cabbages for spring use.
Earthing up. — This we practise on the strongest-
growing of the Cabbage tribe by way of keeping
the plants in upright form, and not from believing
that the plan_has any other merit to commend it ;
the earthing now done is mainly filling in to the
ordinary ground level the drills in which the plants
were planted, and which have been of the utmost
importance during the recent dry weather, as water
could be applied so much more effectively to the
plants. The late sowings of Peas have also had
their trenches filled in to the ordinary ground level,
and having been thickly mulched with litter are
now ready for staking. A row of the earliest Celery
we have earthed, but the remainder will be left till
growth is completed, when it will have the first and
final earthing at the same time.
Tomatoes, Cucumbers, and Marrows.— A bet-
ter season for these is an impossibility. We have
them both on walls and in the open gai'den in
various aspects, and all are alike good. We now
keep the growth closely pinched and the fruits ex-
posed to the light, and they are ripening oS splen-
didly.^ As they are thickly mulched, artificial
watering will not again be required, apart from the
desirability of keeping them when this stage has
been reached on the dry side as to root-moisture.
Cucumbers of the ridge class are just as fruitful as
Tomatoes, and the only attention they now require
is to keep the fruit cut to prevent undue exhaustion
of the plants, and the growths thin, and the surface
roots covered with good soil. Marrows have begun
to mildew, and the remedy has been applied, namely,
the clearing of the plants of every aft'ected leaf and
shoot, and the thorough soaking of the beds.
General work. — In fine weather surface-hoeing
between the rows of Broccoli, Spinach, Lettuce, and
Endive. Digging up Potatoes and preparing the
ground for other crops. Pulling up the haulm of ex-
hausted crops of Peas, and staking late sowings.
Clearing ofE Broad and French Beans ; the ground
occupied by the former we require for a late planting
of purple sprouting Broccoli, and it will therefore be
cleaned and have a dressing of guano sown over it,
and after drawing drills in which to plant, another
scattering of guano will be put in them. It will be
noted that digging is not to be done ; this we find
unnecessary when trenching has been done for the
preceding crop. W. W.
Mr. Gilbert's "Walnut-leaved kidney Po-
tato.— I was surprised to hear of a Walnut-leaved
kidney Potato being larger than others and of in-
ferior quality. The Walnut-lea\ed that I knew
and grew many years since was smaller than any
other Ashtop, and of excellent quality. It was also
the shortest- topped kidney Potato known, and was
never known to flower. It would be interesting to
know if Mr. Gilbert's was distinguished by the
latter qualities. If anyone has the original Walnut-
leaved and could send a sample to The Garden
Ofiice entire with the crop of tubers intact, they
might confer a favour on early Potato growers. From
its dwarf stature and early and prolific qualities, the
old Walnut-leaved used to be forced in ti-inch or
s-inch pots, and ripened early on shehes in Peach
houses and vineries. — D. T. F.
Large Potatoes. — The whirligig of time in-
variably brings its changes and its revenges. Thus
in some past years large Potatoes have been abused
and denounced. This year we shall have to thank
the large-tubering sorts for something to eat. When
the 12-oz. to 16-oz. tubers are reduced to li-oz. or
s-oz. tubers, it is certain that the smaller tubered
kinds are diminished in the same proportion ; in-
deed, we may say of many of them this year, to em-
ploy a hackneyed illustration : " They have become
smaller by degrees and beautifully less." Beauty,
however, will hardly compensate for quantity this
season, and the large ones, no longer monsters in
size and ungainliness, but useful and acceptable in
their reduced dimensions, are all too welcome. The
present season should be a favourable one for such
kinds as White Elephant, Internationa], Vicar of
Laleham, Rufus, Fidler's Prolific, Imperator, Prima
Minister, and not a few others too often in the past
found fault with for being so large tubered. The
favoured quality will prove a fast diminishing
quality, and the larger, if coarser, sorts for once
will obtain not only respect, but thanks. We can
hardly hope for high-class quality in Potatoes this
year, the growth having been so much checked, but
large kinds will be rather better than worse. — A. D.
The Mushroom house in summer. — Per-
haps there is scarcely a vegetable in more request
in the kitchen than Mushrooms, as they are used in
so many different ways. We always depend upon
an outside bed as the days lengthen and the weather
gets hotter, simply because they cannot be grown
in a Mushroom house in hot weather. I have never
seen them or grown them to perfection after the
end of May. I will naiTate a case under notice this
summer. I had a bed made up late in the spring
(April 5). I had plenty of manure to spare after
making an outside bed, so I determined to see what
I could do with another bed inside, though scarcely
ordinary care was bestowed on it. The bed was
spawned at 00°, after which it ran up in the
course ot a week to 112". I then thought failure
Aug. 27, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
179
must be inevitable, instead of which in sis weeks
the Mushrooms came through by hundreds ; in fact,
so thick, that the bed (30 feet by 3 feet (5 inches)
was nearly white with them. This has continued
all through the scorching weather of June and July,
and now (August 15) we are gathering every day
from this one bed beautiful, fleshy Mushrooms
nearly the same as in winter. The house is fully
exposed, and has a slated roof and a north-west
aspect, but under the roof about two seasons ago I
had a good thick layer of straw put on in the form
of thatch. By means of this I am enabled to keep
the house cool in summer,- and close and warm in
the winter. It has had a good syringing with the
garden engine twice a day. — W. A. C, Peterhorourjli .
The Fruit Crops.
■WESTERN DIVISION.
Tortworth, Falfield, Gloucestersliire.— In
this district Apples are much under average. There
was an abundance of bloom, which set well, but a
quantity of fruit has fallen off. The late kinds are
the most promising. The Pear crop is barely an
average. The following varieties are fairly good :
Beurre Bacholier, B. Duhaume, B. Bosc, B. Gifiard,
B. d'Amanlis, B. Dial, B. Clairgeau, B. Berckmans,
L'Inconnue, Brockworth Park, Alexandre Lambre,
Zephirin Gregoire, Alexandre Bivort, Comte de
Lamy, British Queen, Forelle, and Marie Louise
d'Ucole. The very dry and hot weather will have
here a beneficial effect on Pear trees, the trees being
nearly all on the Pear stock ; consequently they are
deeply rooted. The few on the Quince stock do not
look so promising. Plums are carrying a very poor
crop indeed, many trees being absolutely without
fruit and infested with green fly. Peaches and
Nectarines are doing thoroughly well, the trees clean
and healthy, and the fruit large. The earliest
varieties have been remarkably well coloured.
The dry season suits them here, but the borders
have been well mulched and water freely used.
Apricots are about the average and the fruit much
better than I at one time expected it would be.
Cherries only about half a crop, the fruit being
somewhat smaller than usuaL Morellos are fairly
good, but the black fly has been very troublesome.
Strawberries are quite an average crop, but small
and soon over ; the dry, hot weather did not suit
them. Gooseberries, Currants, and Easpberries are
abundant ; also Filberts and Cobs, but Walnuts under
average.
Peas on well cultivated ground are very good
otherwise they have failed. Vegetables generally
fairly well up to average, excepting Broad Beans.
Early Potatoes very small, but good. Late ones
look well so far. — Thomas Shingles.
Cothelstone House, Taunton. — The Apple
crop is a heavy one, both in orchards and gardens,
but the fruit is falling from the trees in large num-
bers. In the garden where the trees get a little
manure placed over their roots the fruit is very fine
and clear in the skin. Pears with us are bearing a
poor crop compared to the space they cover. Wil-
liams' Bon Chretien, Brockworth Park, Louise Bonne
of Jersey, and Josephine de Malines are the most
fruitful sorts this season. I may mention that
fruits of aU kinds have been affected by the drought.
Bush fruits have been smaller than I have ever
known them. The Strawberry crop was only saved
by copious waterings. Fruit trees of all kinds are,
however, quite free from insects, except red spider,
which is aU over the garden, but we have no green
or black fly, and neither mildew nor blister on Peach
trees. Apricots are abundant and early. Peaches
are a fuU crop. Plums on all but north walls are
excellent, especially Green Gages. Cherries are also
a full crop. Walnuts are plentif al, but the Filbert
crop varies. Everything, in fact, except Pears are
plentiful with us, but the fruits are of small size,
owing to the lack of rain. — J. C. Clabke.
Witley Court, Worcestershire. — Apples and
I'ears are, upon the whole, under the average and
small in size, especially so the early dessert, kinds.
The trees have healthy foliage with clean, short-
jointed growth. Apricots are good average crops,
and the trees healthy and flourishing ; so also are
Damsons, Cherries, and Plums, the two latter having
much better crops in the open than against walls.
Peaches and Nectarines are full crops everywhere,
and where mulchingand watering have been attended
to fine richly-coloured fruit is the result. Straw-
berries gave great promise, an abundance of bloom,
which set well, but owing to the drought the crop
tailed to swell, and only in instances where an un-
limited supply of water was given have there been
anything like good results. Gooseberries and Easp-
berries plentiful, but small in size. Currants of all
kinds under average, and generally uneven in size.
Nuts of all descriptions are most abundant, but
they fail to kernel well, especially in woods and
hedgerows, which is attributable to the dry season.
The fruits most affected by the prolonged drought
are — Apples, partially so, the whole crop under-
sized ; Apricots, fruit much under size ; Pears, par-
tially so, early kinds small ; late kinds will probably
yet be of fair average size. Strawberries and bush
fruits may be put at half produce, owing entirely to
drought. The plants and bushes of these have also
suffered severely, and in many instances killed out-
right.— John Austen.
Sherborne Castle, Dorsetshire.— The fruit
crops in this neighbourhood are far below the
average. This is partly owing to an unprecedented
frost, which occurred on March 17 (when the ther-
mometer fell to zero), and partly to blight and the
long-continued drought. Apricots suffered so se-
verely from the first-mentioned cause, that all the
buds and a great many of the spurs were de-
stroyed. Apples promised well, but aphis, mag-
got, &c., have reduced the crop very much. The
varieties carrying the most fruit are Lord Suf-
field, Keswick Codlin, Duchess of Oldenburg, Cox's
Pomona, Manks Codlin, Echlinville Seedling, Cox's
Orange Pippin, Kerry Pippin, and King of the
Pippins. Pears are thin, and have a very stunted
appearance. Peaches and Nectarines under glass
have been good in size and quality, but on the open
walls the crop is scanty and late. Cherries do not
flourish in this locality, with the exception of
Morellos, and of these we have a good crop. Plums
are very scarce, owing to the depredations of spar-
rows, which picked out the buds in early spring.
The crop of Figs is small. Gooseberries are very
scarce. Black Currants suffered severely from the
effects of a hailstorm. Eed and White Currants
good and plentiful. Easpberries miserable, and the
canes for next season in the same state. Straw-
berries were very fine and large whilst they lasted,
viz., seven or eight days only.
Vegetables are suffering very much. Peas will not
pay for the seed, and aU roots will be small. Early
Potatoes were a success, mid-season varieties only
fair. Scotch Champion and late sorts generally
have no tubers under them in many cases, and will
be a great loss in this neighbourhood, where the
labouring classes depend so much on their Potato
crop. — W. G. Pkagnell.
Longford Castle, Salisbury.— Consequent
upon the weU-ripened wood which fruit trees made
last autumn, the promise last spring of good all-
round crops of fruit was very good, but the late
frosts which followed, together with the cold
easterly winds which prevailed during the months
of April and May, severely thinned the blossoms
and embryo fruits of many of the trees in this and
surrounding districts. However, taking them alto-
gether, the fruit crops may be pronounced as fairly
good. The crops of Peaches and Nectarines are
very heavy : indeed, the trees set so thickly that
basketfuls of fruit had to be picked off before,
and a large percentage after, the stoning period
arrived. While the trees were in flower they were
protected from frosts by No. 5 shading, 9 feet wide,
and from 100 feet to 300 feet long (according to
the length of wall to be covered), raised and
lowered by means of ropes and pulleys fixed to
strips of wood secured to upright poles let into the
ground at 5 feet from one another and at 18 inches
from the wall, and fixed to holdfasts driven into the
latter immediately below the brick coping, over
which projected a 11-inch board. The latter,
together with poles, &c., were removed and stored
away for future use as soon as a good set of fruit
was secured. Owing to the dry weather which
prevailed at the time the trees were in flower, and
since, a mulching of rotten manure to the thickness
of 3 inches or 4 inches was laid over the roots, and
frequent supplies of water given, and the trees were
washed overhead every afternoon with the garden
engine. Thus treated, our trees are at the present
time furnished from the ground with large, healthy
leaves, and, as alreadly hinted, heavily laden with
fruit, aU varieties grown being alike heavily cropped
on walls having various aspects. The varieties
cultivated on the open walls here are Amsden,
Alexander, Hale's Early, Violette Hative, Teton de
■\'enus, Belle Beauce, Chancellor, Exquisite, Grosse
Mignonne, Bellegarde, Alexandra Noblesse, Barring-
ton, Princess of Wales, Eoyal George, Walburton
Admirable, Sea Eagle (one of the best late Peaches
in cultivation), and Salway ; and of Nectarines the
following are the varieties which find most favour:
Elruge, Lord Napier, Balgowan, and Pine-apple.
Apricots are fairly plentiful, some trees being
heavily cropped, while others on the same wall
have very few fruit on them. Cherries, on the
whole, are a good crop, though the fruits of early
and second early varieties on south and west walls
were, owing to the great drought, under size, whOst
Morellos and Black Tartarian on north walls are
full sized. Trees of the Morello Cherry, planted
some fifteen years ago in sound fibry loam with a
liberal admixture of old mortar rubble and plenty
of drainage, never faU to yield us good crops.
Although the Plum crop, on the whole, is a light
one, yet some varieties, including those two sure-
cropping ones. Pond's Seedling and Victoria, are
carrying good crops, whilst trees of Orleans,
Jefferson's, Kirk's, FonthiU, Eeine Claude de Bavay,
and Green Gage are cropped fairly well. Pears, on
the whole, are under an average crop, but umbrella-
trained trees and standards of Easter Beurre, Marie
Louise, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Knight's Monarch,
Beurre Gris, Calebasse Grosse, Jean de Witte,
Hacon's Incomparable, and Glou Morceau (the
latter on walls) are all bearing good crops, but the
fruits, like the Apples, which are plentiful enough,
are small in our light soil, which rests on a gravelly
subsoO. Bush fruits, except Gooseberries and
Strawberries, have been plentiful and good, but
their season was short. Figs are a heavy crop, not-
withstanding the fact that the trees, covering about
100 yards of wall, received no protection of any
kind during the winter and spring months. _ They
remained— as has been our practice the last sixteen
years— tacked to the walls until the end of April or
early in May, when they were pruned and re-nailed
to the wall, retaining those shoots which were then
best furnished with embryo fruits to form the
individual trees, and removing at the same time all
the old branches not required for that purpose.
The varieties we grow are Brown Turkey, Bruns-
wick, White Marseilles, Castle Kennedy, and a
variety (having fruit very pale, sickly-looking on the
sunny side) which we do not know the name of.
Mulberries are a good crop, but Medlars and Filberts
are under average. As might be expected in a
season like the present, fruit trees have made a
short-jointed and well-ripened growth ; therefore,
should the trees escape injury from frosts next
spring whOe in blossom, good aU-round fruit crops
may reasonably be predicted next season. — H. W.
Wabd.
Badminton Gardens, Chippenham —The
fruit crops in this neighbourhood are by no means
so heavy as the appearance of the trees when in
bloom seemed to promise. A cold, backward
spring and keen easterly winds were unfavourable
to a good set of fruit, and' this was suddenly followed
by intense heat and drought, which still continue,
as no rain has fallen here to speak of for ten weeks.
The crop of Apricots is a good one, much above the
average, especially where the trees are in a well
made and solid border, undisturbed by the spade.
Peaches and Nectarines are also good, but copious
supplies of water must be afforded the trees, or the
fruit will be very inferior. Apples seem a partial
crop, but generally thin, and I notice that many are
prematurely falling from the trees owing to exces-
180
THE GARDEN.
sive drought. Pears are below the average, and will
be inferior in size and quality. Plums are a fair
crop, and would be.like most things, much benefited
by good rains. Cherries are about half a crop, ex-
cept_ Morellos, which are well laden. Straw-
berries on thin, shallow soils were a complete
failure, but on rich, deep ground they were very
fine and of excellent quality. Gooseberries and
Currants have been plentiful and good, as also
are Nuts. Generally speaking, this has been a
most trying season to cultivators, and those who
paid most attention to trenching and manuring last
autumn and winter are reaping the best results now.
—William Nash.
"Willey Park, Broseley, Shropshire.— All
kinds of fruit trees have suffered very much from
the exceptionally dry season, and the fruit is much
below the average in size and flavour. Raspberries
have suffered more than any fruits, and were
nearly a failure. Apricots and Peaches on south
walls are a good crop, but the fruits are much below
the a\erage in size. Apples are a good average
crop, the following varieties carrying the heaviest
crops : Keswick Codlin, Manks Codlin, Haw-
thornden, Kerry Pippin, Besspool, and Northern
Greening. Pears on south walls are bearing well,
Marie Louise, Duchesse d'Angouleme, Beurre Diel,
and Louise Bonne of Jersey being the best. On
pyramid trees the Pear crop is very thin and the
fruits small. Cherries, including MoreDos, are about
an average crop. Plums, including Damsons, are a
failure in the gardens, but within a short distance
from here I find there is about half a crop of
Damsons. Strawberries were a full crop, but we
had to assist them by continual waterings. James
A^eitch, President, and Sir Charles Napier succeed
very well with us. Gooseberries and Red and Black
Currants are about an average crop. Cob Nuts,
Filberts, and Walnuts are carrying heavy crops. —
John Pbnson.
Killerton, Exeter. — Apricots are an average
crop; trees healthy and fruit fine. Peaches and
Nectarines are a very good crop, but the fruits are
below their usual size, owing to the long-continued
drought.' Plums are below the average on walls,
but very good on pyramids and on standards in the
orchards. Cherries are carrying fairly good crops,
but the fruit is below the average size. Apples are
only an average crop, and the fruit is small. In
many orchards the trees are suffering very much
from the dry weather. Pears are below the average,
but the fruit is of good size, the trees having been
mulched and watered occasionally. Strawberries
were not much more than half a crop ; while Red,
White, and Black Currants were good ; also Goose-
berries, but Raspberries were under average. Fil-
berts and Walnuts are heavy crops.
Potatoes. — The early sorts are very small gene-
rally, while the late sorts are growing out and making
fresh tubers. There is no trace of disease. Tomatoes
are bearing fine, heavy crops indoors and outside,
and quite free from disease. We are now gathering
from outside walls. Peas have suffered very much,
although mulched and well watered.— John Gar-
land.
Norton Hall, East Gloucester.— The exces-
sively dry weather that we have experienced this
summer (no rain for ten weeks) has had a serious
effect upon the fruit crops in this district. Apples
and Plums are falling off in large numbers, and the
mildew has already obtained a firm hold on the
former in many orchards. Pears stand it better,
especially those trees grafted on the Pear stock, but
still the fruit is very small. Peaches and Nectarines
swell slowly; Apricots have ripened prematurely,
and are of little use ; Gooseberries and Currants are
very good ; Strawberries were soon over, and Rasp-
berries were very poor ; in fact, the whole of the
fruit crop has suffered very much, with the excep-
tion of Cherries, which were greatly assisted by the
rain we had on June 2. — J. P. Bartek,
Berkeley Caatle, Gloucester.— Tl;e fruit crop
here is an unfavourable one, owing to the excep-
tionally dry summer and in some measure to a
wretched supply of water. The rainfall in winter
was so small, that the store in rain-water tanks was
[Aug. 27, 1887.
soon exhausted. The flower and kitchen gardens
are presenting a sorry spectacle ovring to the same
cause, and I am sure I shall find it most difficult to
procure necessary vegetables for the coming au-
tumn and winter. Apricots are an average crop,
but the fruit is small. Apples under average, small,
and dropping fast. Cherries under average, and
small. Plums very bad. Rivers' Early the only sort
with a crop on it. Peaches and Nectarines an ave-
rage crop, but smaU. Pears bad, Beurre Bosc the
only kind with a crop. Strawberries were half a
crop, owing to the drought, and the plants are badly
attacked with spider. Raspberries are half a crop,
but "small. Gooseberries average, good. Currants
average, but the fruits of the black varieties small.
Nuts an average crop.
The Potato crop is in a very bad condition. The
early ones are small, and the late varieties growing
out. Even in the Vale of Berkeley, which is so well
watered, we hear complaints from the farmers re-
specting the scarcity of Grass. — Richard Shore.
Shobdon Court Gardens, Herefordshire. —
Considering the cold, cutting winds we experienced
in this exposed district during the time the trees
were in bloom, the fruit crop taken on the
whole is a fair one. Apples are very plentiful,
though small. Pears below the average. Morello
Cherries are a heavy crop. Apricots above the
average, but small, and Peaches and Nectarines are
a complete failure. Strawberries with me were a
heavy crop, which I attribute to the heavy mulching
the plants had with rotten manure, for I have had
no water to spare for them this season. Raspberries
are a medium crop. Red and White Currants a
very heavy crop, but small in berry. Black Currants
thin, but very fine. Gooseberries plentiful, but
very small. Plums, Green Gages especially, are
very abundant. Walnuts and Filberts are very
plentiful. Everything in this district is parched
up, as we have had no rain since June 3, and conse-
quently the water supply is very short. — A. HOR-
SELL.
Southwick Park, Tewkesbury. — In this
neighbourhood we had a splendid bloom on all fruit
trees, and being late, a good year was expected;
but as regards Apples and Pears, it is the worst
season I have ever experienced. In the large
orchards there is scarcely any fruit, and what is
left is small and full of maggots. I think most
of those will drop off, owing to excessive drought.
We have a good crop of Plums, Victorias especially,
but they are all young trees, on a good deep, well-
manured soil, and I have been obliged to thin. We
have an average crop of Damsons. Bush fruits very
plentiful, but of short duration for want of rain.
Strawberries have been good, but soon over. Apri-
cots and Peaches an average crop of good fruit, and
trees clean. Nuts are plentiful about here. MoreDo
and Bigarreau Cherries a fair crop. — Walter
Evans.
Hewell Grange, Bromsgrove, Worcester. —
The fruit crop with us is generally a very good one,
and, considering the long period of drought we
have passed through (now extending over ten weeks),
it is astonishing what strong, healthy growth all
kinds of fruit trees have made, and they are, as a
rule, very free from blight. The soil in this district
being a light sandy loam resting on the sandstone
rock is naturally cool, so that fruit trees with us
can withstand a long period of drought without
sustaining any very serious effects. Apricots are a
thin crop, but the fruit is fine. Peaches and Nec-
tarines are a fair average crop, and the trees have
been entirely free from blister, and have made ex-
cellent growth. Plums on walls set so thickly that
it became necessary to thin the crop. Varieties of
dessert Cherries have borne excellent crops of full-
flavoured fruit. Morellos are a lieavy crop of very
fine fruit, and the trees have been comparatively
free from black fly. Apples, both dessert and cook-
ing varieties, of which we have a large collection
of trees on the Paradise stock, are an excellent
crop, and the fruits are rapidly swelling to a large
size. Pears on walls and pyramids are also a fair
average crop. Black Currants have been thin, but
clean, and fine in berry. Red and White Currants
have borne enormous crops of fine, clean, and bright
fruit. Raspberries have borne good crops of fruit,
and autumn varieties are now commencing to ripen
with us much earlier than usual. Gooseberries have
also borne excellent crops. The Strawberry crop
has been magnificent. "\'icomtesse Herioart de
Thury was excellent. The plants of Sir J. Paxton
variety on south and west borders and on the open
quarters have borne excellent fruits of first-rate
quality. The Oxonian variety has produced very
fine, well-flavoured berries. We gathered our last
dish of this variety on August 10, much earlier than
usual. Nuts are a fair average crop. Figs that
have remained unprotected throughout the winter
are carrying excellent crops of fine fruit. Standard
Apples, Pears, Plums, Damsons, Medlars, Mulberries,
and Quinces in the orchard are all carrying good
crops of fruit. Trees of Knight's Monarch Pear are
again bearing well, which they have done now for
several years in succession. — E. Ward.
Bradfield, CuUompton, Devon. — Apples are
over the average. Pears on walls good, but on
pyramids they are under the average. Plums much
blighted round about here ; in fact, trees in some
places wiU have to be replaced. Peaches and Nec-
tarines are under the average. Apricots the same.
Bush fruits are over the average in some places.
Gooseberries were damaged by caterpillars, and of
Strawberries there was a great promise, but the
weather was too dry, although we kept watering ; some
were quite scorched. Nuts and Filberts would have
been good, but the dry weather seemed to have played
havoc with them, as they have lost nearly all their
leaves. We have a fine average crop of Walnuts,
but the trees are suffering for want of moisture.
Apple trees are dropping their fruits and leaves ; in
fact, some orchards are seriously affected. Pears
are not suffering so much ; indeed, their condition
is surprising considering the dry, hot weather. —
J. James.
Madresfield Court, Malvern.— The prolonged
drought has very materiallyand injuriously affected
all kinds of fruit, for on thin and poor soils orchards
of Apple, Pear, and Plum trees have already a sere,
autumnal appearance, with yellow leaves and
pinched, starved-looking fruit, which continues to
drop off prematurely — already reduced to half a
crop. On deeper-holding and more alluvial soils
we see less distress and better results, with fair,
but uneven crops. Old and New Hawthornden,
Stirling Castle, Echlinville, Golden Spire, Lord
Suffield, Maltster (an everlasting kind), Blenheim
Pippin, Newland Sack (an extra long keeper),
Flanders, Ribston, and Cox's Orange Pippins are the
best of over 100 varieties of Apples. Bon Chretien,
Marie Louise, Gratioli of Jersey, Beurrfi Superfin,
Doyenne du Cornice, Louise Borme, Pitmaston
Duchess, Beurre Diel, L'Inconnue, and Glou Mor-
ceau are the best of over 80 varieties of Pears.
Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, and Cherries have
each cropped well, with satisfactory quality of fruit
and general absence of insect pests. Fruits of Alex-
ander Peach we gathered on August 6 outside. Bush
fruits abundant, also Strawberries, but each much
damaged by drought, the latter especially — La Grosse
Sucree, Pauline, President, James Veitch, and
Oxonian being the best kinds grown here. On June
3 we had 1-06 inches of rain, but none since to be
of any service to vegetation. — W. Crump.
Impney Hall, Droitwich. — Generally speak-
ing, the crops in this locality are under the
average. This is all the more disappointing, as
there was a great abundance of bloom. Cold, dry-
ing north winds just about the time the fruit was
forming, and followed by a continuation of dry
weather, have caused a great quantity of fruit to fall,
especially Apples and Plums, and in many cases
those that remain are small and the Apples grub-
eaten ; but in gardens where the trees have been
mulched and supplied with water the crops are
very good. Pears are a good average crop, espe-
cially on walls. Peaches and Nectarines good crops,
the growth very clean, and promises to be fruitful
for another season. Apricots good crops. Cherries,
both dessert and Morellos, heavy crops. Straw-
berries bore very heavy crops, the fruit of good size
and flavour; British Queen especially, planted on
trenched land last June twelve months, produced the
Aug. 2?, 1887.]
THE GARBEK.
181
finest fruit, only two or three plants dying in a large
plantation. Kaspberries were plentiful, but wanted
rain to swell them up. The same may be said of
all bush fruits. Great care has to be taken with all
trees that were root-pruned last winter in being
well mulched and supplied with water. — Eichahd
Paeker.
Estcourt Park Gardens, Tetbury.— The
Apples and Pears promised well at first, but are a
very poor crop. Apricots are a fair crop, and some
of the Peach trees are bearing moderately well.
Plums a partial crop ; some of the trees are good,
but on others there are no fruits. Strawberries
were fine where we could keep the plants well
watered, but where the beds were not well watered
the plants have failed. All sorts of small fruits are
plentiful. — A. Barnfield.
Westonbirt Gardens, Tetbury.— Cold east
winds in spring retarded the fruit buds, and the
blooms being late escaped the frosts. It is seldom
we have seen such a quantity of fruit, but a long
period of excessive heat and the absence of rain for
many weeks have been most unfavourable for
Strawberries and bush fruits. Apples are an average
crop. Pears, Plums, Peaches, Nectarines, and
-Apricots good. Gooseberries an abundant crop.
Currants plentiful, but small. Kaspberries com-
pletely dried up. Cherries good, especially Morellos.
Figs good, and Walnuts abundant. — A. Chapman.
Wilton House, Salisbury. — Apples are a fair
crop, but much injured by maggot. Apricots a good
crop and of excellent quality. Cherries a fair crop.
Currants and Gooseberries a light crop, the trees
much injured by heavy falls of snow in the winter.
Figs are a fair crop. Peaches and Nectarines are a
full crop of unusual excellence. Nuts are bearing a
heavy crop. Walnuts are poor. Pears a fair crop,
but the fruit is very small and much injured by
maggot. Plums a light crop and the trees much
blighted. Raspberries a very light crop. Straw-
berries poor.
Potatoes. — Early varieties are a light crop, the
tubers small in size, but excellent in quality. Late
varieties have made plenty of growth, but in the
stronger and latest varieties no tubers have yet
formed, so that unless we get an unusually late
autumn there is but little hope of even a fair crop.
— T. Challis.
Alderley Park, Chelford, Cheshire.— Apples
are a full crop, but the fruit will be very small,
owing to the dry weather. Pears are a good crop
and look very promising, being very clean. Cherries
are a full crop. Morellos also good. Peaches and
Nectarines indoors are very good, and the fruit fine.
Strawberries were nearly a complete failure through
the dry weather. Such varieties as Sir Charles
Napier, President, Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury
did very well, but were soon over. Plums and
Damsons are a very good crop ; the latter will be
small unless rain soon comes. Currants and Goose-
berries are abundant, though small. Nuts also
abundant. Gooseberry and Damson trees are much
affected with red spider, which I am afraid will
greatly injure the buds for next season. We have
several trees that are nearly leafless. Gooseberries
are completely bare, the caterpillar having proved
so destructive. — A. J. Oxford.
Cleveland?, Lyme Regis. — Considering the
very dry season, the fruit crops in this locality are
generally considered good. In looking over our
rainfall register, I observe for the year 1«S6, up to
the end of July, 29o8 inches of rain had fallen, and
this year's record for the same period gives only
10 30 inches, being a difference of 19-28 inches,
which has necessarily told its tale on vegetation
more or less. Strawberries and surface-rooting plants
especially. The Apple crop in this locality is
abundant, but the fruit small, and many of the
cider fruit dropping from the trees. Pears are an
average crop. Plums are plentiful, and Cherries
abundant. Bush fruits, such as Gooseberries, Cur-
rants, Raspberries, ice, are an average crop, but
fruit small. Peaches and Nectarines set very freely,
and have swelled fairly well, but fruit smaller than
usual. The bloom on Strawberries was abundant
and set well, but the fruit did not swell satisfac-
torily for want of moisture, and the crop was conse-
quently smaU and soon over. Walnuts and hedge
Nuts are very abundant. Insects of all descriptions,
especially of the aphis tribe, have been prevalent
and troublesome this season. Caterpillars have
been very prevalent on all the Brassica tribe. —
Hexbt Munro.
Carclew, Perranarworthal, Cornwall. —
Apples in this district are very plentiful. Peaches
and Nectarines the best for years, and the trees are
not affected with so much blister as usual. Rasp-
berries, Currants, and Gooseberries heavy crops.
Strawberries very small, and not half a crop, owing
to dryness of the season. Pears and Plums thin.
Morello Cherries average. — James Simmons.
liilleshall Gardens, Salop. — The fruit crops
in this neighbourhood, generally speaking, are good.
Apples and Pears with me are but medium crops,
and both are showing the effects of the continued
dry weather. Pears are cracking, and do not look
like swelling to any size. Apples are falling in
quantities. Lord Suflield, Lord Grosvenor, and
Beauty of Kent are amongst the sorts that are
swelling well. Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots
are a full crop, but the fruit is small. Plums and
Cherries fair. Bush fruits very plentiful, except
Black Currants. The heavy hailstorms which we
had here on May 21 knocked off fully half the fruit,
and injured the foliage considerably. Strawberries
have been almost a failure ; there was a grand show
of bloom which set well, but not half the fruit
has ripened, owing to the lack of moisture. —
J. Francis.
EASTERN DIVISION.
Flixton Hall, Bungay. — Taking the fruit
crop generally in this neighbourhood, it is rather
above than under the average, but owing to the
long-continued drought the fruit is small. Apples
are fairly plentiful, the following bearing the most
abundantly : Hawthornden, Golden Noble, Lord
SuSield (always good). Golden Winter Pearmain,
Blenheim Orange, Adams' Pearmain, and Court
Pendu Plat. Pears are thin, both on pyramids and
trained trees, and the same may be said of all kinds
of Plums. Peaches and Nectarines are a good crop,
but Apricots are only partial. The best crops I have
seen this season are on trees planted against build-
ings and only protected by the eaves from late
frosts. With the exception of Morellos, Cherries
are a failure. Strawberries and all small fruits were
plentiful, but suffered much from the want of rain.
Walnuts and all kinds of Nuts are bearing abun-
dantly.— H. FiSHEB.
■WymondhatQ, Norfolk. — We have good crops
of Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, Pears, Apples,
Cherries and Figs. Gooseberries are abundant, also
Red and White Currants, but the black varieties are
only bearing moderately. Raspberries and Straw-
berries promised well, but suffered much for want
of rain. Of nuts and AValnuts we have good crops.
The continued drought has caused a good deal of
fruit to fall off the trees, still there is a fair crop
left. Strawberries and Raspberries have suffered
most severely.— Wm. Wainwright.
Sandringham, Norfolk.— Our crops are in a
dreadful state for want of rain. We have had but
half an inch since March. Of Apples we have a fair
crop. Apricots are good. Plums, which set well,
are falling off, and there are no Cherries. Peaches
are poor, but there is a good crop of Pears,
also of bush fruit. Strawberries have been good, but
where are the runners to come from for another
season ?
Potatoes must fail if rain comes now, as it
will cause supertuberation. Other vegetables have
been good up to the present. Everything is perish-
ing for want of water. "We have no Turnips or
Mangolds worth speaking of. — Chas. Penny.
Euston Hall, Thetford, Norfolk.— Apricots
are quite up to the average, and the trees look
very healthy ; they were mulched early in spring.
Peaches and Nectarines are an average crop, and
the trees have made excellent growth. Plums on
walls and pyramids are above the average, and re-
quired much thinning. They are below the average I
on standards, and the trees are badly blighted.
Pears are above the average, and on some of the
trees about two-thirds of the crop had to be thinned
oif . Morello Cherries are an abundant crop, but the
fruit is small. Apples are over the average. Straw-
berries an average crop, but deficient in size and
flavour. Small fruits an abundant crop, and both
Filberts and Walnuts are satisfactory. Figs on
outside walls are a good crop where the trees were
protected with a good covering of Spruce branches
in winter. Those left uncovered had about 9 inches
of the last year's wood killed by the frost; there-
fore there are no Figs on these shoots, and very
few on those that escaped. The effect of the very
dry season was most marked on those moisture-
loving subjects, viz.. Strawberries and Raspberries,
both being deficient in size and flavour, and the
season was soon over. Morello Cherries are much
smaller than usual, and Pears, never of first-rate
quality in our light sandy soil, do not appear as if
they would ever swell to their usual size. Other
fruits are not much affected. — William Low.
Drinkstone Park, Bury St. Edmunds. —
With very few exceptions the Apple crop is an
abundant one in this district. It would be a good
thing if half the crop would fall in time to help the
remainder to develop. In poor soils the trees are
decidedly suffering, both foliage and fruit appear-
ing to flag. Pears are a lighter crop, and little
thinning is required. We have well watered the trees
in the garden. Apricots are plentiful, but small
where not watered. Peaches and Nectarines a good
crop, the fruits small and the foliage clean. Cher-
ries plentiful, and well developed where the trees
have been watered. The Strawberry crop has been
most variable, and under the average. We mulch
in February, but heavy waterings were required to
secure two-thirds of the crop, there being such a
tendency to ripen prematurely. Gooseberries
are good with us, as the trees have been well
watered, but we shall have very small samples
in most cases. Red and White Currants are bear-
ing heavy crops of clean, fine fruit, trees healthy,
and kept well watered. There are but poor ex-
amples where this was not done. The same remarks
apply to Black Currants. Raspberries are bearing
fairly well, but the berries are very small. Of
Walnuts we have a very heavy crop. Figs are bear-
ing well, and we have heavy crops of outdoor-grown
Grapes. The drought will probably put the finish-
ing touch on any previously failing tree, and as
little wood has been made, fruit buds will possibly
be plentiful for the following season. Drought has
in a great measure checked the vigour of the trees
without impairing their health. Birds have kept
the insect pests down. Our rainfall to the end of
July is 7-52 inches. — Geo. Palmer.
Hardwicke Hall, Bury St. Edmunds,
Suffolk. — Apples, on the whole, under average.
The bloom also held on to the trees far longer
than usual. The set, however, was disappoint-
ing, and hardly were the fruits set when they
began to drop, and the dropping still continues
(August 13) with the results already stated. Pears
are even more irregular and unsatisfactory, on the
whole. The promise was most superb, but the
result around here is, on the whole, unsatis-
factory. Pears have not dropped so freely as
Apples, but the fruits have continued small, and a
good many seem to hesitate whether they shall
drop or develop into luscious fruit. Plums variable,
but, on the whole, under average. Gages, Golden
Drops and Imperatrices thin; Victorias and several
other varieties of standard Plums, and also all sorts of
Plums on cordons, a full crop. Many Plums
dropped very much from drought. Trees suffered
severely from aphides. Apricots under average ; fruit
smaller than usual ; great losses occurred through
dropping during stoning and afterwards through
the intense drought. The flavour seems also inferior.
Peaches and Nectarines. — On the walls the crops
of the season ; a fine bloom, a free set, vigorous
thinning necessary. Trees free of aphides and other
insect pests made free and vigorous grovrth ; young
wood left untrained to afford useful shade against
the succession of days of unclouded sunshine.
Watered several times overhead sufficient to reach
182
THE GARDEN.
[Aug.
1887.
the roots. Promise to finish well. Cherries a good
set ; many dropped through the drought ; trees
clean and wood free and vigorous. Small fruits. —
Gooseberries very fine, smaller than usual, flavour
partly burnt out, best on north and east borders.
Currants, White and Red, average, Black under
average, fruit small. Raspberries a wonderful
show ; flooded twice, which resulted in a good
set, which would have probably been doubled
had rain fallen and the weather been cooler.
All the old Strawberry plants lost their leaves
in winter or during the cold spring. Most of
these, with the exception of Eleanor and Brit-
ish Queen, which succumbed speedily, recovered,
bloomed, and fruited well until baked up by the
drought. We had two good gatherings only, the
season lasting about a fortnight, and the plants
have not until now (August i:!) produced any
good runners. Walnuts and other nuts are under
average, though trees and bushes here and there
may be found heavily laden. The chief features of
the fruit crops are the magnificent spring blossom-
ing and the erratic and, on the whole, unsatisfac-
tory results. The cold and late spring were the
first steps towards the serious threatening of the
fruit crop. These probably prevented the pollen
from ripening sufficiently to ensure the perfect set-
ting of the embryo fruits. Hardly had the latter
begun to swell when they were arrested by the unpre-
cedented drought, which lasted all through June,
ran through July, and continued till the middle
of August. Unless heavy rains fall or artificial
floodings are soon given, it is to be feared that
we have not yet reached the limit of our fruit-
dropping among Apples, Pears, and Plums. Peaches
and Nectarines where mulched and watered are
promising the most perfect crops of recent years. —
D. T. Fish.
Harlaxton Manor, Orantham. — The dry
weather has affected all the fruit crops. Apricots
are good, but, owing to the drought, the fruit is
rather small ; the trees are very healthy. Apples
are a better crop than was at one time expected.
Cherries are bearing an average crop, but are not
quite up to the mark. Plums are under the average,
and the fruit is small ; the trees are also doing
badly. Peaches and Nectarines are below the ave-
rao'e, and the fruit is small, owing to the dry wea-
ther. Pears are under average and suffering from
same cause, the leaves of Winter Nelis being much
injured by grubs. Strawberries were a good crop,
but soon over. Other small fruits are carrying
average crops, but the fruit is rather small. Wal-
nuts are plentiful.
Potatoes. — Early kinds are good in quality, free
from disease, but very small. Late sorts are looking
well, considering the dry season, and rain is much
wanted for all green crops. — Thomas Vinden.
Papworth Hall Gardens, Cambs. — The dry
weather has affected some of our fruit trees very
much. Black Currants were almost useless, having
no flavour, neither did they scarcely attain half
their usual size. Raspberries and Strawberries were
also affected in like manner. We have about half
a crop of Apples, and they are dropping off owing
to the drought. We have had no rain for ten
weeks. We have a good crop of some sorts of Pears,
and other varieties are scarce. Gooseberries and
Currants, both Red and White, are a good crop, and
Plums are only about half a crop. The Czar and
Gisbon's are the best Apricots, and we have a fair
crop, but the fruits are not ripening at all well.
Peaches and Nectarines are also not ripening well.
Walnuts are a very fair crop with us, but the trees
are fast losing their leaves. Filberts and also the
common Hazel Nuts are abundant.
I examined some of our late Potatoes the other
day and found them growing again, which I con-
sider very serious. — Thos. Smith.
Woolverstone Gardens. Ipswich. — Although
the fruit trees in and around this district showed a
great wealth of bloom, which appeared certain to
set, owing to the lateness of the season the crops
are, on the whole, very disappointing, as the cold,
harsh spring and the absence of rain since have pre-
vented the swelling of the fruit, and caused Peaches
and Nectarines to fall at the time of stoning.
Apples and Pears are very small. Should we get
plenty of wet now, the chances are that the last-
named will split, and in any case they are sure
to be gritty and hard, except where growing in cool,
retentive soil, or where the trees can be watered
sufficiently to prevent them from suffering. Plums
are almost a total failure, and what few there are
are deformed, and will not be of much use. Apri-
cots set abundantly, but many fell, and the fruit is
very small, but is ripening well and promises to be
of fine quality. Strawberries have been very plen-
tiful, but not good, the excessive heat and drought
being too much for them ; and the same may be
said of Raspberries, many of which were dried up.
Dessert Cherries have been thin, but Morellos are
bearing very fair crops. Gooseberries were thin,
and so were Black Currants. — J. SheppARD.
MIDLAND DIVISION.
Ashbourne, Derbyshire. — The fruit crop here
is a fairly good one, with the exception of Pears,
which are bearing a very light crop, owing to the
very late cold winds and frosts in spring. Apples
are fairly good, but small, owing to the exces-
sive dry and hot weather. Peaches and Nectarines
are also moderately good, but they will require an
abundance of water to develop them to their usual
size. Strawberries have been a heavy crop, but
were very soon over, and deficient in flavour, owing
to the very hot, scorching sun. Bush fruits of all
kinds are plentiful, but very small.
Late Potatoes are looking remarkably well
about this district ; it remains to be seen what the
crop will be like. Garden crops, as a rule, are look-
ing fairly well where they have had an abundance
of water, otherwise they are miserable. — William
Shbewin.
Kingston Hall Gardens, Derby. — Never
did the fruit trees and bushes give better promise
of an abundant yield than when they were in
flower. After a long, cold spring, summer burst
upon us all at once at the beginning of June, and
with the heavy fall of rain on June 4 and the heat
immediately following, vegetation made rapid
progress for about a month, the fruit trees and
shrubs flowering in about three weeks. Straw-
berries produced a profuse display of flowers, which
set in excellent condition, but the excessive heat
at the beginning of July proved too much for the
fruit here. The roots seemed moist enough, and we
had them well mulched with stable litter all the
winter, but the fruit did not swell to any size. We
got about a fifth of a crop. If we do not get rain
soon next season's crop may suffer. Gooseberries
with us are bearing a very fair crop, the fruit being
not quite so large as in former seasons. Rasp-
berries have suffered with the dry weather ; there
is only about a third of a crop. Black Currants are
a good crop, and Red Currants excellent. Apples
flowered abundantly, but the dry weather has
destroyed the hopes entertained of a heavy crop.
In some cases half of the fruit has dropped, but on
such trees as Keswick Codlin, Irish Peach, Lord
Suffield, Dumelow's Seedling, and Northern Green-
ing we have a very good crop, the fruit not large,
but clean. Pears are a very good crop, early varie-
ties particularly so, but the fruit is not so large as
in former years. Our most reliable sorts are Louise
Bonne of Jersey, Easter Beurre, Beurre d'Amanlis,
Comte de Lamy, Winter Nelis, Glou Morceau, with
Marie Louise, Forelle, Huyshe's A'ictoria, Prince of
Wales, Beurre Superfin coming in as second. Plums
are bearing fairly well. Damsons being in some
cases slight, in others good. Cherries of the
Morello kind are very fine, and Figs are satis-
factory. The dry weather has not particularly
affected the fruit crop around here save the Straw-
berries, which were a very short crop. Apples,
Pears, and Plums seem to have stood the drought
fairly well ; certainly the trees are not in the health
that they would have been if a good fall of rain
had come during July. If the drought continues
much longer, the effects will be severely felt next
year.
Potatoes with us look very well. Early varieties
turned out fair crops. Late varieties, particularly
the Eureka, look very strong and healthy. This
is, of all the Potatoes we have tried, the one that
withstands the disease the best. It is a very fine
cropper and of excellent flavour when grown on
light land. The ground here is heavy. — J.W.Baynb.
Chatsworth, Derbyshire. — Oar rainfall up to
the end of July was 9-1'J inches. Last year for the
same period it was 220 inches, a difference of
nearly 13 inches, representing, I suppose, about
1300 tons of rain per acre. This extraordinary
drought has not so prejudicially affected garden
crops here as would lead one to expect; indeed,
many of the vegetable crops which we have been
able to water occasionally seem to have luxuriated
in the heat and to have yielded heavy returns. 1
attribute this mainly to the great depth of our gar-
den soil, and to our cool alluvial subsoil and our
naturally damp situation. Also the nights, with
few exceptions, have been unusually cool consider-
ing the exceptional heat of the day. At the end of
the first week in July our thermometer dropped to
32° one morning, and to 34" on two other occasions.
1 must not omit to give the free application of the
Dutch hoe a little credit for counteracting the effect
of the drought. Apples are a good crop, but the
fruit will be small. Pears are a failure. Plums
fair. Morello Cherries are a heavy crop; other
Cherries light. Strawberries a fair crop, but soon
over, and the fruit small. Of Raspberries, Goose-
berries, and CuiTants we have excellent crops, but,
of course, over sooner than usual. — 0\yEN Thomas.
"Wobum Abbey Gardens, Beds. — No spring
ever gave greater promise of an abundant crop, all
kinds of trees showing plenty of bloom, and the
foliage was healthy and clean. The excessive drought
since the first week in June has told severely on
many varieties. Apples, though an average, are
small, and still falling in great numbers. King of
the Pippins, Keswick Codlin, Hawthornden, and
Besspool bearing the best. Plums are below average,
the trees being much infested with aphides ; the
Victoria variety is the best. Dessert Cherries are
in a few instances good ; Morellos an average crop,
but ripening slowly. Pears are small, and do not
swell up ; while Strawberries were fine where well
watered — otherwise, a total failure. The same re-
mark applies to Raspberries. Currants and Goose-
berries are bearing an average crop, but the fruits
are small. Birds are very troublesome.
Potatoes. — On light lands the early kinds are
very small. The tops of the late ones look healthy,
but there are only a few roots, in many instances
supertuberation having set in ; altogether, the least
promising yield, without disease, for many years.
The drought has told heavily on all kinds of vege-
tables. Peas were soon over. French Beans and
Scarlet Runners were only kept going by abundance
of water. Celery the same. Onions very small.
Cauliflowers and Cabbages unusually infested with
caterpillars, and winter stuff much behind. Great
losses must occur amongst market gardeners. —
Alex. McKay.
Waresley Park, St. Neots. — Fruit crops in
this district, with some exceptions, are above the
average, although the fruit is small, owing to the
long drought. Seldom have we had a better ap-
pearance of blossom than there was this spring, and
with a moderate amount of moisture there would
have been an abundance of everything. But having
had no rain, or not enough to lay the dust since
the beginning of June, and a very limited supply of
water, the fruit crop is quite as good as could be
expected. Apples at one time seemed to want
thinning, but the dry weather has done this, al-
though on most varieties there are plenty left. Pears
are a fair crop, but fruit small. The crop of Plums
is very thii;. Peaches and Nectarines are good and
the trees healthy. Apricots are large and fine.
Cherries a poor crop. Figs are fair. I never saw
Strawberries and Raspberries look more promising,
the blossom being extra large and fine, but, having
a light, porous soil, the dry, hot weather withered
them entirely up. Currants, both Black and Red,
have been good. Bush Gooseberries were thin, but
splendid where trained on a north wall. Nuts, both
Walnuts and Filberts, abundant.
Bad as the effects of the dry weather have been
Aug. 27
THE GARDEN.
183
on the fruit crops, it has been much more disastrous
to vegetables. In this district, where vegetables
are largely grown for market, the soil being of a
light sandy nature, the produce will scarcely pay
for labour.— R. Caeter.
Ingestre Hall, StaflFord.— Of Apples, Pears,
Plums, and Cherries we have average crops. Apri-
cots are bearing well, but Peaches and Nectarines
are under the average. Small fruits are carrying
heavy crops, and Strawberries have been very good,
but the fruits small. Nuts are plentiful. — Edwabd
GiLLMAN.
Bolton Hall, Clitlieroe. — Apples, Raspberries,
Plums, Gooseberries, and Currants of all sorts are
bearing excellent crops. Pears are bearing an average
crop, and Strawberries have been very fine. Cherries
are good. Peaches are not grown outside, but we
have heavy crops under glass. The soil here is a
heavy, deep loam. The dry summer has been very
favourable for all kinds of fruit, with the exception
of Plums. — J. C. Leslie.
Eydon Hall, Northamptonshire. — Apples
are bearing a heavy crop on both orchard standards
and bush trees. Apricots are also good, and Cherries
about an average. Pears are an average, some
kinds bearing heavy crops. Of Peaches and Nec-
tarines we have heavy crops. Plums are an average
crop, but the fruit will be small, oving to the
drought and the trees being blighted. Of Straw-
berries we have a iine, heavy crop. Small fruits of
all kinds are abundant, and we have a heavy crop
of Walnuts. The drought does not seem to have
affected the fruit crop so much as one would sup-
pose. Plums are suffering the most severely. Goose-
berries and Red Currants are smaller than usual,
and Strawberries were watered heavily with the
result that the fruit was the finest I ever had. —
J. Hughes.
The Gardens, Worksop Manor, Notts. —
Apricots are bearing a very heavy crop, and the
trees are both clean and healthy. Plums are good,
such varieties as Victoria, Jefferson, Magnum
Bonum, and Coe's Golden Drop being very fine.
Of Peaches and Nectarines we grow very few
out-doors. Apples are plentiful and good, much
better, indeed, than they have been for several
years. Pears are under the average and small, the
trees suffering from the drought and through being
eaten by the larva; of the Pear sawfly. Strawbemes
were a splendid crop, but suffered from dry weather.
Small bush fruits are bearing heavy crops, but the
fruit is small, except Red Currants, which are very
good. Owing to the kitchen garden here being on
a bed of red sand, and the supply of water being
short, crops have suffered to a great extent, and
vegetables, I am afraid, will be rather scarce this
autumn and winter.
Potatoes are very good, though small, being
quite free from disease. Late sorts look very well,
and promise good crops should rain come in time
to swell them. — Thos. H. Sutton.
Clumber Gardens, Worksop, Notts. — The
fruit crop is the best we have had for the past five
years, and throughout the district is above the
average. Plums are again this year abundant.
CheiTies, both sweet and Morellos, are good, also
Apricots, Pears, and Peaches. Apples are also a
good crop, and promise to be fine. Small fruits
were a heavy crop, Strawberries on young planta-
tions being particularly good. The long-continued
period of drought seemed to benefit the fruit crop
generally here, with the exception of old'Strawberry
beds, the plants in every case being killed almost
outright.
Potatoes have also suffered for want of rain.
The early kinds are small, and the late varieties,
though looking well, have in every case made a
second growth, and what the crop may be it is
difficult to say. — Michael Gleeson.
Burton Closes, Bakewell.— In this part of
Derbyshire the cultivation of Peaches, Nectarines,
and Apricots is rarely attempted in the open air;
the long and generally severe winters and springs
being found most unfavourable to their growth.
Plums this season are a poor crop. Cherries fairly
good. Apples good, though owing to long-continued
heat and drought the fruits are falling from the
trees. Pears are moderately good. Small fruits very
good, clean and free from the attacks of fly. Straw-
ben-ies in rich soil and moist situations are good';
on higher land where the supply of water has been
scarce the crop has proved a failure, the plants
being nearly burned up by the heat and dryness of
the atmosphere. Rain is sorely needed in this dis-
trict. We had nice showers on the 9th, 14th, and
24th of July, but vegetation is burnt up, and both
farms and gardens would be greatly benefited by a
good soaking rain. — Waltee G. Gaigee.
Ettingtonl Park, Stratford-on-Avon.— The
late cold spring followed by excessive heat and
drought has been unfavourable for all kinds of fruit
and vegetables. The Strawberries have been a com-
plete failure. I do not remember ever having seen
them look better than they did last May. Although
Raspberries have stood the drought better, the crop
has been under the average and small. Apples,
Pears, and all kinds of stone fruit are suffering
from the effects of the dry season. Currants have
been small. Gooseberries in some situations would
not have finished off had they not been assisted
with water. Apples average. Pears and Plums
under average. Apricots and Peaches average.
Raspberries under average. Currants, Black, Red,
and White, average. Gooseberries average. Dam-
sons under average. Cherries will not do well in this
district. Figs under average. Walnuts abundant.
Filberts abundant.— W. S. Hatlock.
Whittlebury, Towcester. — The fruit crop
here this season is on the whole light. Apples,
with the exception of a few varieties, are thin ; the
sorts that are carrying the best crops are Lord Suf-
field, Keswick Codlin, and Stirling Castle. The
crop of Pears is also very thin. Plums and Cherries
are a light crop. The crop of Strawberries is the
lightest that we have had for some years. Red
Currants are very good. Black Currants, Goose-
berries, and Raspberries are very poor. — W, S.
Miller.
Hopton Hall,' Wirkaworth. — The days of
this year on which we had rain more or less here are,
January two days with deep snow ; February five
days with snow ; March three days with snow ;
April three days, with snow on the 2Gth ; May five
days ; June one day ; July three days ; August ii
and 1 :i rain. Though the garden falls rapidly to the
south and near limestone, most crops have, and are,
doing remarkably well ; deep trenching and plenty
of manure have kept the crops going in a garden
without a drop of water. Marie Louise Pear on
tall building is bearing a good crop. Plums on
walls are good, though the trees are infested vrith
spider ; we have good crops of Imperatrice, Goliath,
Victoria, Early Orleans, Golden Drop, Early Pro-
lific, Angelina Burdett. MoreUo Cherries are bear-
ing heavy crops, but the fruit is small. Other
varieties dropped most of their fruit. Damsons
seem good throughout this district. Old espalier-
trained Apple trees, as Keswick, Northern Greening,
are carrying good crops of fruit. Lord Suflield
and Irish Peach are good on walls. Apples through-
out this district are good. Black, Red, and White
Currants never finer. Strawberries excellent.
Vegetables have done remarkably well, still gather-
ing a daily dish of Peas ; Omega heavy crop ; old
favourite Ne Plus Ultra, good crop and over.
Onions, August sown, finer than usual. I never saw
Seakale make such fine growth before. Asparagus
about a failure, but making tremendous growth
now. Potatoes excellent crop and quality so far,
with no disease in any form. Winter greens
and Broccoli are eaten up with caterpillar. — Geo.
BOLAS.
Osberton Gardens, Worksop. — Apricots are
a good average crop, fruit smaller than usual.
Apples a fair crop, great many dropping off the
trees. Plums are only about half a crop, plenty of
bloom ; the cold east wind at the time they were in
bloom was very much against the fruit setting, a
great quantity of the blossom dropping off. Peaches
and Nectarines oiitside are a good crop, trees clean,
but fruit small, owing to the long-continued
drought. Pears are thin on some varieties, on others
plentiful ; Jargonelle, Louise Bonne of Jersey,
Beurre d'Amanlis, Williams' Bon Chretien, Marie
Louise, Winter Nelis, are carrying good crops.
Cherries are a good crop, especially Jlorellos. Goose-
berries and Currants are plentiful and good. Straw-
berries are a good crop, plentiful, but fruit smaller
than usual. British Queen very fine. — S. A. Woods.
Combe Abbey, Coventry. — Regarding the out-
door fruit crops of 1887, notwithstanding the dry
season we have passed through, I think we have not
suffered much. Here Apricots on walls have never
been better during my experience of over twenty-
six years at this place. I am pleased to be able to
say so for two reasons, the first of which is that
this is not particularly an Apricot district, and the
second, that the trees had no covering during the
time they were in blossom. The fruit is clean and
of delicious flavour. Plums, more especially on
standards, are a satisfactory crop. Cherries have
been excellent; of Morellos a most extraordinaiy
crop, both in quantity and quality. Peaches and
Nectarines on walls, where they have been carefully
manipulated and abundantly watered at the roots,
are very good. In the houses some varieties, such
as Gros Mignonne, Stirling Castle, and Violette
Hative Peaches have swollen up to enormous size.
This, no doubt, can be traced to thorough good
action of both root and branch, prepared to take
advantage of the exceptionally warm season we are
having. Apples. — These are an average crop, and
in some instances even more. I have just passed
through our little orchard and flnd it very satis-
factory. Some trees are literally loaded, the branches
being quite weighed down ; but I must admit that
some trees have none at all. Pears on walls and
also on standards are very satisfactory. Small
fruits are plentiful and good. Strawberries were an
extraordinarily heavy crop. Nuts. — These in this
neighbourhood consist chiefly of Hazel and Walnut,
and are very plentiful. — W. Miller.
rioore House, Weedon. — The fruit crop here
generally is an average one, with the exception of
Plums, which, owing to the long-continued drought,
are not quite up to the average. Apples here are a
very hea'iT' crop, but the great heat and drought
have caused them to fall off very much. Apricots
also are very abundant and of fair quality, having
had abundance of water. Cherries are an average
crop, but rather small. Plums and other stone
fruits are under the average and small, having been
affected a great deal with blight. Pears are a fair
crop, and the quality promises to be good. Goose-
berries and Red Currants are heavy crops, but
Black Currants and Raspberries far below the
average, the drought seriously affecting the latter.
Strawberries have been a very good crop, having
been frequently deluged with water. The varieties
that succeed best here are President, Keen's Seed-
ling, Dr. Hogg, James Veitch, and Sir J. Paxton.
Pioneer and Loxford Hall Seedling were kiUed last
winter. Nuts are a heavy crop.
Potatoes. — The early crops in this district are
unusually light and the tubers very small. The
late crops, I am afraid, will be very light. — G.
Goldsmith.
Belvoir Castle, Lincolnshire. — Apricots. —
The crop of this excellent fruit is the largest and
most general we have had for many years ; large
numbers of green fruit were removed, but I fear the
trees are still overtaxed. Hot, dry seasons seem to
suit the trees, which are in vigorous health. In our
well-drained border watering has been necessary ;
the fruit at this date (Aug. IG) is ripening slowly,
but scarcely any even on south walls fully ripe.
Peaches suffered from blighting winds early in the
season, but the unusually hot and dry season has
reinstated them in health, with the exception of the
kind called Royal George, which in the rear of two
large trees is mildewy and unhappy. The crop
generally is a medium one and later than usual, even
the earliest are far from being ripe ; moderate water-
ing has been adequate ; hot and dry seasons seem to
suit the Peach as well as the Apricot. Hale's Early
is our first to ripen. Figs. — We are quite far
enough north for the successful outdoor culture of
this fruit, but a certain number are ripened in
1B4
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 27, 1887.
favourable positions and seasons ; the crop this year
is not large, and it will be late in maturing. Apples.
— The early promise of a grand crop has not
been fulfilled ; drought and heat appear to act
unfavourably on the hardy nature of this tho-
roughly British fruit ; even on clay soils orchard
trees have lost fruit ; premature ripening has to be
feared, as should a rainy time ensue growth would
recommence, and both the flavour and keeping
qualities of the Apples would be impaired. Bush
trees on the deep soil of the kitchen garden promise
fair results. Lord Suflield, Warner's King, Stirling
Castle, and Hawthornden are carrying good crops.
The general result will probably be an average
crop. This season has afEected Pears injuriously.
The crop on pyramid trees is exceedingly thin,
Louise Bonne of Jersey, Welbeck Bergamotte, and
Dunmore being favourable exceptions. The crops
on walls are irregular; the early kinds are bear-
ing the best. Although much wanted, heavy rain-
falls will, I fear, induce a late swelling in the
fruit. The Plum crop promises an abundance,
almost equal to that of last year. Rivers' Early
Prolific is ripening. Trees are recovering from the
blight which threatened to injure the crop; the
general result promises to be satisfactory. May
Duke and early Cherries suffered greatly from
drought ; the crop was thin and soon over.
MoreUos were affected by black fly, and the growth
of the trees was checked, but the trees are recover-
ing and the crop is an average one. Raspberries seem
to be exceedingly impatient of drought; the crop
was abundant, but small in size, and half the fruit
failed to swell. Currants and Gooseberries were so
generally and pertinaciously attacked by cater-
pillars that a great loss of foliage was the result,
and a consequent deterioration of fruit. — W. In-
gram.
NORTHERN DIVISION.
Whitburn Hall, Sunderland, Durham.—
This place being situated on a promontory on the
north-east coast, with the sea on three sides of it,
is therefore not at all a good fruit district. Peaches
and Apricots are not grown outside ; in fact, stone
fruits are generally not much grown. Apples are
over average, and of good size for the time of year,
but recent gales of wind have much thinned them.
Pears do not grow at all well, Jargonelle, Louise
Bonne, and Beurre d'Amanlis doing best. ^ Straw-
berries, though a good crop, are of small size, and
have suffered much from drought, although watered
frequently. Gooseberries and Red Currants are a
grand crop and large size; Black Currants thin;
Raspberries plentiful, but small.
Vegetables are suffering much from the drought.
Peas will soon be over instead of lasting to the
end of October, which they usually do sown at
the same time as they were this year. Not since
18G8 have we felt the drought so much. — Thomas
DOBSON.
Seaham Hall, Durham.— Owing to the dry
season fruits of all kinds have suffered. During
the last three months only a little more than 3 inches
of rain have fallen on this east coast; the average
is about 26 inches for twelve months. We are on
the limestone, which soon dries up. Apples look
well, and most of the late flowering varieties are
bearing fairly good crops. As usual. Lord Suffield
has a good show. Of Pears some kinds are laden
with fruit, especially such varieties as Bergamot
and Jargonelle. For the first time we have the
Victoria Plum in full bearing, and it is the first
Plum I have ever seen here produce any quantity of
fruit for thirty-four years. Cherries do not bear a
crop near the sea, even in their wild state, and the
fruit does not set. Of Gooseberries we have had
a good crop from all the trees, but the dry weather
has caused one half the fruit to drop; the fruits
that have remained are only half size and with little
flavour. We have a splendid crop of Red Currants,
but the berries are very small, and the dry weather
caused the blackbirds and thrushes to' gather in
large numbers; they eat all uncovered by netting.
Black Currants. — These are only half size, and the
greater part of the crop fell off the trees before it
ripened. Of Strawberries we had an abundant
crop, but few fruits ripened, the remainder wither-
ing up.
The Broccoli are at a standstill, but it is remark-
able how well Potatoes look; the early sorts of
kidneys are good and sound and the tubers large. —
R. Dravee.
Hildenley, Malton, Yorks.— I am sorry to
say the fruit crop is very poor in some parts of this
district. The drought, which has lasted for over
two months, has affected Strawberries and Potatoes
severely. Nevertheless there are fairly good crops of
Gooseberries and Currants. Apricots, Apples, and
Pears are under the average. Plums very fair. Straw-
berries have been poor and Walnuts good. Peaches
and Nectarines not grown here, but they are very
poor in the neighbourhood, the drought causing the
fruits to fall off. AU garden crops indeed are suffer-
ing.— W. Smith.
Thorpe Perrow, Yorks.- The fruit crop in
the north of Yorkshire generally showed a good
promise, and had the weather not been so dry, the
promise would have been fulfilled ; as it is, fruit is
very plentiful, but in many places very small, in
some places being so small as to be not worth
gathering. Bush fruits were abundant and very
fine; all our trees were heavily mulched in the
winter, and they are planted in good soil. Straw-
berries suffered most, and where water could not be
given plentifully the crop was almost a failure.
The Apricot crop is moderate, but the fruit is very
small. Apples are plentiful everywhere, but owing
to the drought have been very much thinned out,
and the fruit is small. Pears and Plums are partial ;
in some places the latter are abundant, but very
small where not watered; many of the trees are
half spoiled with red spider. At present we are
9i inches below the usual average of rainfall. To
put it in another way, the land is 950 tons of rain
water short on every acre of land. This will account
in a great measure for the scarcity of water in the
springs, also for the burnt-up nature of the soil.
Potatoes are good in quality, and there is no
disease, but the crop is miserably small. The sea-
son now is too late for them to recover. — William
CULVEEWELL.
Duncombe Park, Yorks. — All fruits in this
neighbourhood have suffered more or less for want
of rain, according to the situation and depth and
character of the soil on which they are growing,
On shallow and sandy loams they have suffered
most, especially in exposed and high situations. On
soils of greater depth and of a more tenacious nature
deep-rooting plants withstood the protracted drought
with impunity. This is most marked in the case of
young, vigorous Plum and Apple trees, and even the
younger plantations of Strawberries prove that they
possess better means of " gathering their food from
afar" than older ones do. Apples are a fair average
crop on the whole, and where there was depth of soil
of moisture-retaining properties the trees are carrying
heavy crops of well swelled fruits ; but on shallower
loams the abundant yield which was promised in
early summer has been considerably reduced for
want of suflicient moisture to meet their require-
ments ; consequently quite a half of the crop has
dropped off. The varieties which do best here are
Cockpit, Blenheim Orange, Tower of Glamis, Margil,
Carlisle Codlin, and Lord Suflield. Pears are a
very thin crop, and, with the exception of Beurre
de .Capiaumont, Marie Louise, Jargonelle, Winter
Neiis, and Easter Beurre, they may be regarded as
a failure. Plums on walls are a scanty crop, but
where growing in the open the trees are loaded with
fruit. Mctorias in some instances have their
branches wreathed with fruit, and have to be sup-
ported to prevent them breaking down. Where
this support has not been given some young trees
are completely broken down, and look like an
umbrella turned outside in in the way the branches
hang round the 5-foot stems. All varieties in the
open are bearing good crops. Cherries have yielded
fairly good crops, particularly Morello and May
Duke, but the arid atmosphere and want of moisture
at the roots diminished their keeping properties.
Currants.— Of these the Red and White varieties pro-
duced an abundant crop of very fine fruit, but the
1 Black was very light. This plant is most susceptible
of drought. Once the fruit of the three varieties
were ripe they commenced to shrivel, no doubt for
want of sufficient water to maintain them in that
condition, especially as a great strain was put on
them by the scorching atmosphere in which they
were growing. Gooseberries have been a very fine
crop indeed, and suffered little for want of rain to
all appearance ; at least the fruit was plentiful and
equal in size to former years. Caterpillars have
been very numerous, and although they have not
done so much damage, it is the dry atmosphere we
have to thank for their destructive proclivities being
placed liors de combat, as it seems they cannot
exist without a certain amount of moisture. Rasp-
berries have been more than average crop, although
smaU. Nearly all the shorter canes of this year]s
growth are carrying heavy crops. This freak, if
freak it may be called, will keep up our supply into
the autumn. Strawberries have been a very poor
crop, and those on older plantations were more
forced to ripeness than naturally matured. Vioom-
tesse Hericart de Thury is our most prolific variety,
and Bothwell Bank Prolific promises well as a hea^-y
cropper, and the fruit being large it will turn out a
good variety for marketing purposes, even although
the flavour is only third-rate.
All garden crops look well on our heavy soil, ex-
cepting Carrots, which have been attacked more
than usual with wireworms. — J. Riddell.
Lowther Castle, Penrith.— Apricots are the
best crop we have had for several years. Plums are
also an average crop ; Victorias, Gages, Golden Drop,
and Magnum Bonum on walls are very good.
Cherries are also above average ; May Duke, White
Heart, and Morello are our best. Strawberries have
been abundant, fruit fine and of good flavour. The
heavy mulching of cow manure which they received
early in the spring proved very beneficial to them
in swelling them off during the very dry months of
June and July. Our best kinds are Duke of Edin-
burgh, President, and Garibaldi. Pears are a very
thin crop, having suffered a great deal from the
long drought. Apples are a very good crop, and,
considering the long contimiance of dry weather,
promise to be of a very fair size indeed. Goose-
berries are above the average. Red and Black
Currants are above the average. Raspberries ave-
rage crop ; fruit not so fine as usual — suffered from
the effects of dry weather. Peaches and Nectarines
are not grown outside here.
AU vegetables, to a certain extent, have suffered,
what with great heat, dry winds, and droughty
weather. The fall of rain for the past twelve
weeks is about IJ inches, our average being about
4 inches per month.— F. Claekb.
Waterdale Gardens, St. Helens.— The crops
of fruit in this district are various, according to
situation. Peaches and Nectarines bloomed well
and set fairly, but the fly being troublesome through
the dry weather caused many to drop. Victoria
Plums are good and other varieties very poor, ex-
cepting Damsons, of which we have a fair sprink-
ling. Cherries are very poor, excepting MoreUos,
which are good ; but stone fruit generaUy has been
so infested with fly as to prevent its developing
properly. Pears produced plenty of bloom, and in
sheltered situations a fair crop remains, but where
exposed very few fruits are left. Apples bloomed
and set well, but the cold, cutting east winds and
dry weather caused many fruits to drop. Such as
Hawthornden, Lord Suflield, Echlinville, Keswick
Codlin, Dumelow's Seedling, and King of the Pippins
are bearing well, but the fruit is smaU. Bush fruit
all round is plentiful, but small, and Black Currants
suffered more than any other fruit from the late
east winds and lack of moisture. Strawberries on
our cold clay showed plenty of bloom, which set
well, and where a supply of water was at hand a
good crop of finely coloured fruit was gathered, but
where no water was applied the fruit was small and
scarce. Black Prince is the best early and crops
well. Vicomtesse Hijricart de Thury is the surest
and best cropper. President and Sir J. Paxton also
succeeding fairly well. The Fastolf Raspberry is
the best, and where a good supply of water has
been given the fruit has been fine and juicy.
Potatoes are largely grown around this district
Aug. 27, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
185
The Champion variety is looking uncommonly well,
but being such a lover of moisture I fear that the
results will be disappointing when lifting time
comes. — James Smith.
Wortley, Sheffield. — As the rainfall up to the
present has not been above half the average, crops
have suffered proportionately. Outdoor Straw-
berries and other small fruits have been fairly good,
but the fruits were not so large as usual ; otherwise.
Strawberries have been plentiful. The promise of
Apples, Pears, and Plums was unusually fine, but
the drought has to a great extent destroyed the
crops.
Potatoes have grown well in the stems, but the
tubers are undersized, though sound. Most vege-
table crops have finished off prematurely, and such
things as Brussels Sprouts, Savoys, and Cauliflowers,
&c., which have had no rain worth mentioning since
planting time are a failure ; they have clubbed very
badly in many cases, the roots being very large.
Seakale has done best, and we have never had a finer
crop. — J. SiMPSOX.
Oulton Park, Tarporley. — The fruit trees of
all kinds bloomed very profusely this season, and
as there were no late frosts there was a favourable
prospect of a heavy crop ; but the long continuance
of cold winds prevented the fruit from setting,
although there is still a good average crop. Straw-
berries were very small, but of good flavour. Goose-
berries, Easpberries, Red and Black Currants are
bearing average crops. Nuts are a good crop.
Apricots, unless where injured by cold winds, are
bearing well. Plums are carrying heavy crops. —
W. ■\VUIBBBELEY.
Enville Gardens, Stourbridge.— Fruit crops
in this district are generally good. Apples and
Pears blossomed well and are very healthy, but failed
to set freely. Many are now falling, owing to the
excessive drought experienced here since June 3.
Plums on walls and on standards are carrying
average crops, but smaU. Apricots very good.
Peaches good, also Nectarines, all being protected
with glass coping. Cherries very good. Rasp-
berries good, but many of the late fruit did not
come to maturity. Gooseberries a heavy crop, and
very free from caterpillar. Currants plentiful, but
smaU. Strawberries good crop, but very small and
dried up. I found those on a north border and
left in a semi- wild state much the best, and suffered
less from drought.
Vegetables generally are very scarce, and of in-
ferior quality. Peas fairly good where kept well
watered and mulched. Cauliflowers poor, and in-
fested with caterpillar. I have experienced a great
diflioulty in procuring a supply of nice crisp vege-
tables and salads of any kind. Early Potatoes are
a very poor crop ; second early a little better. Late
kinds have made unusually strong growth, but
formed very few tubers, and those formed have
begun to grow out. I think the Potato crop will
be a failure. — Geo. H. Green.
Brougliton Park, Manchester.— The fruit
crop in this neighbourhood is very good considering
the very dry season we have had. Apples and Pears
are bearing heavy crops. Red, Black, and White
Currants, Gooseberries and Raspberries are carry-
ing average crops. Strawberries were a heavy crop,
but smaU ; the dry season seems to have injured the
Strawberries and Raspberries more than any other
fruit. — J. Macdonald.
Chillingham Castle, Northumberland.—
Apples have suffered a good deal with the dry
weather, and the early varieties are dropping off ;
late ones in damper situations look very much
better and are swelling fast. Apricots, which
I have mulched and watered well, are a heavy
crop and large in size. Morello Cherries are
a heavy crop, although on a north wall; they
suffered more than most fruits with the severe
drought. I have never seen better crops of the
different Currants. Some sorts of Gooseberries
trained on a north wall have been very fine ; Glenton
Green and Warrington are very good, and will last
a long time. All sorts of Pears will be small. Plums
will be good, although not a Plum soil. I am told
there has not been such a crop for a very long time.
Victoria is bearing very freely. Raspberries suf-
fered very much. Strawberries I have gathered since
the 1st of July from the beds that were thoroughly
watered in June, and Elton Pine is still bearing. —
RiCHD. Henderson.
Societies and Exhibitions.
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL.
The conservatory was gay vrith flowers on Tuesday
last. Lilies and Gladioli, both of which are capable
of creating an effective display when arranged with
taste and judgment, forming the chief features.
Hardy plants were shown in variety, and all through
the season these have been exhibited in excellent
condition, notwithstanding that the recent drought
has tried them severely. Lilium auratum and
several of its varieties were in full splendour, and
there were many miscellaneous subjects of con-
siderable interest and beauty. Fruit was not plenti-
ful ; but owing to the National Co-operative Show
being also held in the conservatory, there was an ex-
tensive display of vegetables.
First-class certificates were granted as under ; —
Ctpbipedium PK.a;STANS. — This rare Lady's
Slipper was represented by a strong, vigorous plant
bearing a spike of two flowers, but a larger speci-
men vvill carry several more. The leaves are of great
substance, thick, strap-shaped, narrow, and deep
glossy green, giving the plant a characteristic
appearance. The flowers are of the same style as
those of C. Stonei, but quite distinct, and display-
ing beautiful colouring. They are of neat form,
borne on a stout purplish stem, and medium in size,
but will probably become larger when the plant has
been more cultivated. The dorsal sepal is erect,
not of unusual size, and suffused with a greenish
hue, but boldly and finely coloured with broad
stripes of rich chocolate ; the twisted, corkscrew-
like petals are about 3^ inches in length, crimson at
the apex, and at the upper portion there are large
purple warts along the margins, the remainder
being of a greenish hue. The lip is nan-ow, stands
out conspicuously, and is light brown, with dull
veining ; the large, raised yellow crest, with the
sides coated with short crimson hairs, giving a finish
to a richly coloured and handsome flower. From
M. J. Linden, Ghent.
Dahlia Miss Gordon. — This is a single variety
of fine character, and for distinctness has certainly
few equals. The flower is of medium size, but the
neat, massive, symmetrically arranged petals make
up a circular, well-proportioned, and finely finished
bloom. The colour is rich and decided, the upper
half of the petals crimson, and the other portion
greenish yellow, the contrast between the two re-
sulting in a peculiar and novel colour effect. It is
an acquisition to the single Dahlias. Exhibited by
Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham.
Gaillardia Admiration. — A showy and useful
variety, with less crimson and more yellow in the
flower than we usually find in Gaillardias. The
colours are bright and telling, and the form excel-
lent. It is evident that this class is steadily im-
proving. From Mr. T. S. Ware.
Scolopendrium vulgaee chispum: fimbeia-
TUM. — This is another addition to the numerous
varieties of oiTr common Hart's-tongue Fern, and is
of somewhat coarse growth. The rigid fronds are
broad, boldly crisped, and at the margin finely
serrated, the deep green colour giving the plant a
vigorous and rich appearance. Shown by Messrs.
F. W. and H. Stansfield, Sale, near Manchester.
ASPLENIUM scandens. — A beautiful, elegant,
and distinct Fern from Sumatra. A specimen in a
pan was exhibited, and the creeping rhizomes are
hidden beneath a wealth of delicate, finely divided,
and pale green fronds, which are of considerable
length and exquisite beauty. It appears to be a
most useful Fern for a pan, and would doubtless
look well suspended in a plant house. Exhibited
by Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, Chelsea.
Gladioli. — The following, aU from Messrs. Kel-
way and Sons, Langport, were certificated: John
Dominy, a variety with finely-formed, handsome
flowers, flushed with pink, and striped at the
margin with deep crimson ; HaUe, glowing scarlet,
very rich and striking ; Mary Anderson, distinct
colour, rosy lOac, with a band of white down
the centre of each of the segments ; Mrs. Edgar
Wild, richly striped with crimson on a white ground,
very distinct ; and Bonavia, rose-lilac, veined and
suffused with a deep shade of the same hue.
A botanical certificate was granted to —
DisA cornuta, an interesting species, the flowers
quietly coloured. It is certainly of botanical value
only, and useless from a mere ornamental point of
view. The flowers are of a dull white and purplish
colour, and the leaves deep green. From Mr.
A. H. Smee, The Grange, Wallington.
The most briUiant feature was the large group of
Gladioli from Messrs. Kelway and Son, Langport,
Somerset, the spikes massive, strong, and closely
set with flowers of excellent form and finish, the
colours embracing an interesting variety of shades,
from pure white to the richest scarlet. Besides
those certificated, such varieties as Trojan, bright
carmine, with a white band down the centre of each
of the segments ; Ball of Fire, deep rich scarlet ;
and Princess Beatrice, white, were noticeable. The
same firm also sent boxes of GaiUardia flowers. The
variety Neptune, yellow, and of neat size, was
worthy of mention, also a semi-double form
named Leonard Kelway. A silver-gilt medal was
awarded.
Mr. T. S. Ware, of Hale Farm Nurseries, Totten-
ham, staged a fine group of flowers, in which were
such good things as Senecio pulcher, Scabiosa
caucasica, the colour soft delicate blue; Iceland
Poppies, Gladioli, Gaillardias, and Lilies, the last
including L. auratum macranthum, the handsome
flower freely spotted vrith crimson ; L. a. virginale,
L. a. platyphyllum, and L. superbum pictum, a dark-
coloured form of the type, the flowers deep crimson
and profusely spotted with chocolate. A silver
medal was awarded.
Lilies were exhibited in excellent condition by
Mr. W. Gordon, Twickenham, who had several va-
rieties of L. auratum, the plants carrying large
heads of finely developed and vigorous flowers.
There were specimens of the brightly coloured L.
lancifolium rubrum, the chaste L. Krsetzeri, a large
form of L. lancifolium album ; L. auratum virginale,
and L. a. macranthum ; the whole showing careful
and skilful culture. An award of a silver medal
was made. Messrs. James Carter and Co., High
Holborn, showed plants of Lilium auratum Wittei,
the plants noticeable for their freedom of flowering
and neat, shapely character ; the colour is clear
white, with a conspicuous bright yellow band down
the centre of each of the segments ; the harmony of
colour distinct and attractive. Mr. R. Owen, Maiden-
head, showed cut blooms of seedling double and
single Begonias, the colours rich and the form
good ; and Messrs. Vilmorin-Andrieux and Co., of
Paris, sent plants of Aster Bouquet Pyramidal,
showing an excellent strain, which was commended ;
the plants dense and neat in growth, and the rosy,
flnely quilled flowers freely produced. Messrs. Paul
and Son, Cheshunt, had a branch of variegated
Plum, the leafage boldly margined with greenish
yellow.
Messrs. H. Cannell and Sons, Swanley, were
awarded a silver medal for a collection of Dahlias,
the show varieties excellent in finish and colour,
well developed, and fresh ; and the same firm had
cut flowers of single and double Begonias, the
flowers of rich colouring and large size. Mr. T. S.
Ware also had boxes of Dahlias, comprising single,
Pompon, and Cactus varieties ; the Pompons in-
cluded Isabel, scarlet ; Golden Gem, yellow ; and
Favourite, deep crimson self ; a variety named
Huntsman, intense scarlet, being one of the best of
the singles. Mr. W. Sime sent double Sunflowers
of huge size, but we prefer those of more normal
character.
Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, of Chelsea, had an
interesting group, including the distinct and arch-
ing Nephrolepis ruf escens tripinnatifida, Phrynium
variegatum, boldly variegated with white ; Senecio
186
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 27, 1887.
macranthus, a coarse yellow-flowered Chinese kind;
Oplismenus albidus, a variegated, almost white
Panicum-like plant, and several greenhouse Rhodo-
dendrons, the v.irieties noteworthy being Hermosa,
rosy carmine ; Balsamiflonim album, with creamy
white flowers like those of a small Gardenia; Queen
of the Yellows,buff-yellow; Duchess of Westminster,
scarlet ; Nemesis, yellowish buff, good truss ; and
Maiden's Blush, bearing pretty flowers suffused with
pink. Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, showed blooms of the
white, tubular, and richly-scented Gesneralongiilora;
and Messrs. ¥. AV. and H. Stansfield had plumose
varieties of Blechnum Spioant and Asplenium mari-
num, the latter elegant and glossy green.
Orchids were staged by Mr. F. G. Tautz, Studley
House, Shepherd's Bush, and comprised Cypripe-
dium Ainsworthi, a neat flower, dull rose-coloured
lip and short, twisted petals ; the interesting Disa
cornuta, Acro[3era Loddigesi, with pendent spikes
of brownish yellow flowers, having a 'VVallflower-
like fragrance ; the richly-coloured Miltonia Mo-
reliana, and Aerides Regnieri, a fine Orchid, the
flowers brightly coloured and with a strong fragrance
resembling that of almonds ; the sepals and petals
are pinkish, and the horned lip gives the plant a
distinct character. A specimen was shown bearing
a sturdy raceme of rather closely-set flowers.
A small group of plants was sent from the Royal
Gardens, Kew, and comprised Erythrina Humei,
described in last week's Garden ; it is a variety of
E. caffra, and of a brilliant scarlet colour. Mucuna
imbricata was well shown, the deep purplish
flowers produced in dense pendent racemes ; these
when seen suspended from the plant have the
appearance of bunches of black Grapes ; it blooms
freely, and there is a fine specimen in the Palm
house at Kew. Other interesting things were
Origanum hybridum (better known as 0. Tourne-
forti), and Kniphofla pallidiflora, small, pure white
flowers, slender leafage, and quite unlike any of the
other members of this group ; it comes from
Madagascar. The crimson-flowered annual Cosmos
bipinnatus was exhibited, also the well-named
Allium pulohellum, the South African Stenoglottis
fimbriata, and an example of fasciated inflorescence
in Jasminum Sambao var. Maid of Orleans, a flower
of a pale yellow colour and deliciously scented.
Fruit committee. — The exhibits before this
committee were few in number. Messrs. James
Veitch and Sons, Chelsea, showed a collection of
fruit trees in pots ; the varieties were Early Trans-
parent Gage, carrying a heavy crop of well de-
veloped fruit; Green Gage, Denniston's Superb,
Prince Englebert, and LawrenceGagePluius; Dryden
Nectarine and Acton Scott Peaches. Tliere were
fine fruits of Lord Suffield, Duchess of Oldenburg,
Irish Peach, and Kerry Pippin Apples ; also capital
samples of the Jargonelle Pear, one of the best of
the early varieties, the fruits of large size consider-
ing the season, as this variety is generally small.
There were also fruits of Beurr6 Giffard and Fon-
dante de Bihovel Pears. Sea Eagle Peach was re-
presented by a dish of superb fruits, the perfection
of finish and colour ; there was also a dish of Hale's
Early. Besides the foregoing, 'Washington, Jeffer-
son's, Belgian Purple, The Czar, and ■\''ictoria Plums
were shown; the fruits of good colour and size.
Mr. Frank Ross, gardener to Sir George Macleay,
Bletchingley, exhibited fruits of the purple Guava
(Psidium Cattleyanum), which are of a deep claret
colour, abundantly produced, and of a pleasant
flavour, sweet, and briskly acid.
■Vegetable trials at Chiswick. — At a meeting
of the fruit and vegetable committee of the Royal
Horticultural Society, Chiswick, on the 12th inst. —
present : Mr. Peter Barr in the chair, Messrs.
Roberts, Saltmarsh, and the secretary — the com-
mittee examined the collections of Onions, Potatoes,
and Tom.itoes growing in the garden. Amongst
Onions, Rousham Park Hero and Anglo White
Spanish from Mr. Deverill, and Sandy Prize from
Mr. Laxton, were .selected as excellent stocks of the
White Spanish Onion that should be tried again
next year, and White Qyieen (Carter) was com-
mended as a very true stock. Potatoes— fourteen
sorts were selected and cooked ; none of them were
considered equal in quality to existing kinds. Of
Tomatoes, of which eighty-seven samples were
grown in pots, the following were considered worthy
of three marks each — viz., Horsford's Prelude
(Horsford and Pringle), medium-sized, smooth, red,
a very free bearer ; Livingston's Perfection (Kar-
quhar, Veitch), large, smooth, round, red, very free;
President Cleveland (Farquhar), large, round,
smooth, handsome; Ham Green Favourite (Crocker),
very large, smooth, round, early, and prolific ; No 1
(Watkins and Simpson), large, round, smooth, very
free ; No. 3 (Watkins and Simpson), medium-sized,
roundish, sometimes oblong, smooth red, producing
large clusters, a remarkably free cropper.
NATIONAL CO-OPERATIVE FLOWER SHOW.
This exhibition, promoted by the Agricultural
and Horticultural Association (Limited), took place
in the conservatory of the Royal Horticultural
Society at South Kensington on Tuesday last.
Though termed a flower show on the schedule of
prizes, flowers played but a small part, vegetables
being in strong force, and fruits were well repre-
sented. The prize list was divided into tljree
sections : In one, the competition was confined to
members of industrial co-operative societies ; in
the other, to members of the Agricultural and
Horticultural Association, or their gardeners, bailiffs,
&c. ; and in the third, to members of all co-opera-
tive societies, the result being that some exhibitors
were able to show both in the second and third
sections. Such vegetables as runner Beans, dwarf
French Beans, Carrots, Onions, and Vegetable
Marrows were well shown ; Potatoes were rough and
somewhat scabbed. Collections of vegetables were
good, especially those shown by gardeners, and
collections of six varieties of fruit were of fair
character.
Cut flowers, in all cases of a hardy character,
were of average quality. Compared with some
country shows, in which the cottage exhibitor plays
an important part, the exhibition, as a. whole, did
not rise above the ordinary level ; but it might be
a fair inference that many of the subjects having
been grown in allotment gardens suffered from the
drought of the summer. Several medals were
awarded to successful exhibitors in addition to the
money prizes.
During the afternoon a conference of the advo-
cates of co-operation was held in the Western Ar-
cade, when a comprehensive paper was read by
Mr. E. 0. Greening, the manager of the Agricultural
and Horticultural Association, on the " Possibilities
of Co-operative Allotments and Associated Gar-
dens." The paper was full of practical suggestions
for the establishment of such gardens, but it ap
peared to be on a rather too ambitious scale. Still
no one knows what can be accomplished until efforts
are put forth. A discussion followed, but there was
a tendency on the part of some of the speakers to
avoid the main question and raise points wide of
the objects sought. Perhaps that was inevitable,
but the aim of each speaker was praiseworthy. It
was something gained to secure a publicity for the
purpose of the conference, and it may safely be
assumed that the principle of co-operation has be-
come woven into the social life of the present time
and that it is one that will extend as the public in-
telligence increases.
An engraver in Philadelphia.— There is au
engraver nimod Blanc liviug in l^hiliidclphia, iu the
United States, who has copied without permission or
acknowledgment a good mauy of our beautiful cuts.
In the present .state of the copyright law between Eng-
land and the United States this gentleman is perhaps
within his legal rights ; hut puttiug his own name on
the blocks which he copies without leave or acknow-
lodgmout compels us to publish the fact. He copies
thorn by some photographic or other mechanical pro-
cess, and then puts his own name on them !
BOOKS RECEIVED.
" RecoUcctious of a Speysido Parish Fifty Years ago,
and Miscellaueous Poems." By James Thomspn.
Moray and Nairn Newspaper Company (Limited),
Elgin.
Personal.
The President of the American Seed As-"
sociation. — Mr. William Meggat was born in
Scotland, near Drumlanrig Castle, May V, 1835,
and there at the age of 13 commenced liis work.
There he spent three years. From here be went
to Brighton, where he remained about two years,
and from thence to London, where he spent some
three years. Mr. Meggat came to this country
ill 1850, and spent several years in Toronto,
Hamilton, and Montreal. From there he went
to New York and engaged with the late Andrew
Reid, continuing with him till he became con-
nected with Mr. Comstock, the founder of the
seed house of Comstock, Ferre & Co., Wethers-
field, Conn. Having in this time acquired a
good knowledge of the seed trade, lie com-
menced to grow for himself — selling in. bulk to
others — and now does a very large business. —
Ilurticultnral Art Jonrnal.
The President of the American Nursery-
men's Association. — Charles L. Watrous was
born in Cortland County, N.Y. , in the year
1837, graduating at the academy in Homer, in
that county. In 1802 he entered the class of
that year in the University of Michigan. He,
liowever, left it in the senior year to raise a
company for the 7tli New York Volunteer
Infantry, of which he was elected captain.
Going to the front, he served continuously until
disabled by three bullet wounds, received at the
battle of Bull Run, in August, 1802. After
several months he was mustered out "for dis-
ability from wounds received in battle." In
1803 he returned to Michigan University, passed
bis Degree in Letters, and in 1805 was gradu-
ated from the law department. Soon after he
settled at Winchester, Va., in the practice of
his profession, and served three years as prose-
cuting attorney during the troublesome times of
re-construction ; he also served as U.S. register-
ing officer on the restoration of civil government
in that State. In 1868, his health having failed
on account of the wounds received in the war, he
abandoned the profession of the law, and return-
ing north in 1809, settled at Des Moines, Iowa,
engaging in the nursery business, which he bas suc-
cessfully followed up to the present time. In 1873
he was elected director of the Iowa State Horti-
cultural Society, and was re- elected untU 1879.
The next four years he served as president, and
is at present director and librarian. From year
to year he has written more or less on horticul-
tural topics for societies, and is well known
through the public press, has also served his
adopted State as a member of her legislature.
Since the organisation of the American Nur-
serymen's Association he has been one of its
most active and leading members, and was first
elected president when the association met in
Washington in 1880. So well did he servo the
society, that he and all the other officers were
selected again at the late meeting in Chicago. —
HoiilcMuml Art Juiinutl.
Death of Mr. A. Fowler. — It is with great
regret that we announce the sudden death from
heart disease of Mr. Fowler, who since ISIO has
had the charge, under successive Earls of Stair,
of the gardens and grounds at Castle Ken-
nedy. He had a great deal to do with the com-
pleting and laying out of the grounds there, and
under his directions a very flne pinetum was
formed. His advice was very frequently asked
on the planting and management of trees, and, in
fact, on all matters relating to horticulture.
Names of plants.— J- IVood. — Doudi-obium su-
perbieus. Q. I. C. — Henbane (Hyoscyamus uiggr).
G. 0. — Zephyrauthes Audersouiauus (siyu., Ha-.
branthus Audersoni).
Aug. 27, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
187
WOODS & FORESTS.
THE JAPANESE CYPRESS.
(UETISOSPORA OBTUSA.)
Althouoh of rather stift' habit and sombre hue,
still there is something remarkably pleasing and
distinct about a nice healthy specimen of this
Japanese Conifer. Yonng plants of it, at least
as seen in this country, are usually densely
branched, with closely imbricated, obtuse leaves,
these being of a vivid green above and silvery
undeirneath. Having only been introduced to
this country in 1S50, or thirty-seven years ago,
there are no very large specimens to be met
with, the finest I know of being a stout and
well-branched tree of fully 30 feet in height.
It is growing in deep boggy soil and closely
surrounded by some of the most majestic Larches
I have ever beheld. When planted, a load of
good free loam was mixed with the rather cold
peat, and in this and its shadyish situation it
has done well— better, indeed, than several
obhers on the same estate that were supposed to
have been planted under more favourable circum-
stances, both as regards soil and situation. The
next best tree with which I am acquainted is
growing in a cold, northern-facing piece of
ground where the soil is a stiffish loam of only
ordinary quality. It is some 23 feet in height,
and as well covered with bright, healthy foli-
age as one could desire, the branches sweep-
ing the greensward at the base, where they
have a diameter measuring nearly 4 yards.
Sharply conical gives a good idea of the general
outline of the Japanese Cypress, but particularly
so in a young state, for when it advances in age
and size the branches become more spreading,
and with a great inclination to put on the broad,
flatly horizontal style that is so marked a cha-
racteristic of the tree as seen growing in the
island of Nippon, as well as throughout Japan
generally. In its native clime it attains not un-
frequently to 80 feet in height, and produces a
beautiful light, easily worked and lasting wood
that is mucli in demand for constructive pur-
poses generally. For flooring and wainscotting
it is of great value, and it is likewise used in
shipbuilding, for fencing, in the making of
furniture, and for various other purposes where
strength, lightness, and beauty of graining are
the chief requisites.
The golden form, R. obtusa aurea, is at once
one of the most striking and remarkable Coni-
fers we know of, that is, when a good-sized spe-
cimen in a really healthy state and with a well-
balanced head, is seen. In this pretty and much
sought-after variety the light fulvous green of
the foliage is, for the greater part, changed into
a desirable golden yellow, this being most ob-
servable during the period of growth. For
associating with any of the darker-foliaged
and semi-weeping Conifers this tree is well
suited, and as it is of comparatively slow growth
may even be planted where lawn space is some-
what limited.
Retinospora obtusa is not a tree of rapid
growth, it rarely making more upward growth,
and that even under the most favourable cir-
cumstances, than a foot per year ; indeed, in
this coimtry it is usually seen as a large and
round-headed shrub of perhaps 12 feet in
height, and nearly as much in spread of
branches. But then its graceful, pendent
branches form nice rounded masses of foliage of
a deep green suffused with a distinct purplish
hue, and thus render the tree one of the most
distinct and ornamental with which we are ac-
quainted. There is a dwarf form, nana, iu cul-
tivation which dift'ers little from the typical
plant save in the sliortened branches and gene-
rally stunted appearance, and which is, to some
extent, useful for planting on small lawns, or
where ground space is limited. All the Retino-
sporas we have found to be particularly useful
for general garden or lawn ox-namentation, and
as they are of free growth, are not at all parti-
cular as to soil. The trees arc very ornamental
and perfectly hardy, and may well be recom-
mended for far more extensive use than that to
which they have hitherto been applied. In the
formation of screen fences many of the smaller
growing kinds are valuable, and as they bear
trimming well may be cut back, or pruned, into
almost any shape that is required ; in fact, as
good all-round Evergreens, few of the Coniferte
family may be put to such a lot of useful pur-
poses as the various species and varieties of
Retinospora,
They are all readily raised from cuttings
formed of the previous year's ripened shoots,
inserted during August and September in
boxes which may be placed in a frame facing
the north. A. D. Webster.
Abnormal growth of roots. — Having had
occasion to call at the residence of Dr. Smith, of
Weaverham, some days ago, after showing me some
alterations that he had been making, he drew my
attention to a large Copper Beech which stood in
front of his house. This tree is a favourite,
but he is afraid it has got into bad health. He
told me that he believed it had been struck by
lightning some few years ago. On closer examina-
tion, I found the bark for about 5 feet up one side
dead and rising oil' the trunk. On taking away
some of this bark, we found it covered with one
mass of roots. I could compare it to nothing else
but a well-rooted Privet bush, some of the rootlets
as thin as horse-hair, others thicker than a man's
thumb, the thin ones actually penetrating under-
neath the living bark and seemingly drawing
nourishment from the living part. I remarked to
the doctor that this must be a parasite of the worst
sort. But on tracing the main roots upwards, we
found it did not shoot out a stem and branches, as
we expected, only a lump like a goose's egg, where
all those roots protruded from. The doctor re-
marked that this reminded him of cancer in the
human system, and asked if such a thing took place
among trees. I told him that I never knew of such
a thing, but that I would make inquiries. Will you
kindly say if such a thing exists, and if you consider
these roots injurious to the tree? — Eoeeet Camp-
bell, The Gardens, Oaltmcre Hall, A'orthKicli.
*,* In reply to the above, the abnormal growth
of roots in the Copper Beech is very curious, and, as
far as I know, quite unusual. I imagine it occurred
in this way: The tree met with some injury by
lightning, or otherwise the injured part decayed
more or less. A bud from the sound part, which
would under other circumstances ha\'e become a
small branch, finding itself in dark and moist sur-
roundings, develojjs into a root, and throws out
rootlets, &c., just as a root will when it finds its
way into a drain. The fact of some of the roots
entering the living bark is not surprising, for the
branches of the Beech will often anastomise, or join
and make one growth with other branches of the
same tree with which they may come in contact ;
and I know of more than one instance of a branch
being turned back towards the stem, entering it,
and so terminating its existence as a branch. I
cannot think that the roots are any form of cancer,
and I am not aware that plants are ever attacked
by anything analogous to cancer ; but Cabbages
and Turnips are infested with a fungus which per-
meates the tissues of the roots, causing the disease
known as finger-and-toe. I should recommend the
roots and any decaying portions of the stem being
cut away. — G. S. S.
Pinus insignis as a seashore tree.— The
gre.it merit of this as a seashore tree is well shown
at Bodorgan, in Anglesea, where many specimens
are in perfect health within a few yards of the sea.
There is perhaps nowhere a more wind-tortured
district than Anglesea, judging by the appearance
of the few stunted native trees that withstand the
blast. Planting of the most beautiful kind is, how-
ever, established almost on the seashore. On the
margin of the shore the Sea Buckthorn, Furze, and
Darwin's Brirberry first meet the south-western
gales and almost continual winds. A few paces
within these the first plants of Pinus insignis and
the common evergreen Oak appear, and soon, with
the aid of these excellent shore trees, almost any
kind of evergreen planting may be carried out.
The whole place is most instructive as regards
planting near the sea. The contrast between the
wind-swept surface of the island and the noble
avenue of evergreen trees leading from the entrance
lodge to the house is very striking. — V.
DEAL GATES.
D. J. Yeo (The Garden, July 30, p. 96) must be
rather unfortunate in his market if, as he says, " at
the lowest estimate a set of materials for a common
single field gate — when the gate itself is Deal —
would cost £2, exclusive of fixing," and adding :
" The life of this, perhaps, would average a couple
of years."
At a Birmingham agricultural show, in 1881, I
saw examples of field gates made of Eed Deal and
of Pitch Pine, unpainted. The sizes were : (1)
10 feet by i feet; (2) 10 feet by i feet, extra
braced ; (3) 10 feet by 4 feet 4 inches, these of
the best foreign Eed wood Deal ; and (4) 10 feet by
4 feet 4 inches, extra braced, of " the best American
Pitch Pine." There were of each gate two qualities
— planed for painting, and unplaned. The prices
were: 1, 7s., planed 10s.; 2, 8s,, planed 10s.; 3,
7s. 6d., planed 10s. ; 4, 10s. «d., planed 13s. Od. All
were, I believe, of the same strength, but I give that
of No. 4, planed, just taken : heel, 5J inches by
3 inches ; head, 3 inches by 3 inches ; top bar,
3 inches by 3 inches ; bars (top included), 5, and
braces, 3^- inches by 1 inch : all slightly reduced
by planing except the bars and braces, still 1 inch.
All the crossings are screw-pinned. The prin-
ciple of construction is good, and they are
thorou2;hIy well-made gates. Of No. 4 I have had
not a few, both planed and unplaned, and un-
painted, and, therefore, there can be no deception.
The necessary ironwork fitted with screw bolts is
supplied by the same firm at 4s. Gd. the set.
From Norfolk these gates have been delivered at
my station for the additional charge of 2s. each.
I cannot conceive a gate of the commonest Spruce
Deal only lasting two years. An Oak or any gate
may come to grief from accident ; but with regard
to the durability of Pitch Pine for outdoor use, I
have had practical experience. Quite fifty years ago.
Pitch Pine rails, with Oak post, — the rails planed
and painted — were put up where I write ; about
twenty-five years after, I paled these rails with cleft
Huntingdon Willow, and from that time they were
left unpainted. A year ago, the fence becoming
defective, I replaced it with iron. The greater part
of the old fence remained sound. I removed it to a
farmyard where it is still doing duty. The rails
had stood out two sets of Oak posts.
With regard to Red Deal, I have just been testing
a piece which has been exposed to the weather for
about fifteen years, and which, with the exception of
an original coat of varnish, has never been painted,
and this, though a little cracked, is perfectly sound.
Of the value and durability of Oak for outdoor
use, there can be no question ; but sawn Oak gate
bars, if cut across the grain, will not stand lateral
pressure. V.
Whitohurch, Shrqj)sJi!)-e.
Wood of the Yellow Pine. — The wood of the
Yellow Pine (Pinus ponderosa) of California is ge-
nerally highly resinous, and, though heavy, is brittle
and less valuable than that of the Sugar Pine.
Like the "Pitch Pine" of the Eastern States, it
188
THE GARDEN.
[Aug. 27, 1887,
is, however, sometimes of excellent quality, contain-
ing little resin, and is soft and tough. The Yellow
Pine exhibits a tendency to twist, which is very
noticeable in a forest of these trees, the grain of
trunk and branches being often seen coiled into
the closest possible spiral. The bark of the Yel-
low Pine affords one of its most noticeable and
distinctive characters. It is light yellowish brown
(cork colour), and is divided into large plates, 4
inches, 6 inches, or 8 inches in breadth, which are
flat and smooth, and enable one to distinguish the
trunk of this tree at a considerable distance. The
plates of cork-like bark are made the repositories of
acorns by the woodpeckers, and it is a very common
thing to see large numbers of these trees having the
bark of the trunk cut into a honeycomb by thickly-
set holes as large as thimbles, or as thickly studded
with inserted acorns. — A. L. S.
TRANSPLANTING TREES IN SUMMER.
It may be useful to place on record some of my
experiences in planting, which, in some cases, may
be exceptional, but from which I, at least, have
learned some important lessons. There is little
doubt that planting can be carried on with perfect
success throughout the whole of the winter months,
when plants are in a dormant state, and I have
been compelled often to be very indifferent about
the time when such work was done, provided always
that the weather was sufficiently mild and free from
frosts and cold dry winds. I am, however, far from
being satisfied that winter, when the vitality of
trees and shrubs may be considered to be at its
lowest ebb, is the best season for transplanting
them. Take, for instance. Hollies, Berberis Dar-
wini, Japanese Conifers, Wellingtonias, and others,
all of which will be found to move more safely very
early in autumn or early in summer, when their
growth is active, than in winter. In the case of
other subjects, it is interesting to remark the
success attending their transplantation at different
seasons. In one season I transplanted some hun-
dreds of thousands of trees, consisting of various
sorts of Conifers and deciduous trees, the work of
moving which extended over a period of six months,
from the 1st of November to the 1st of May. The
whole were lifted from a home nursery, and were
virtually planted at once. At midsummer it was
easy to tell which were planted at mid-winter,
which in autumn, and which in spring. Those
planted latest in spring contained the fewest deaths ;
those moved in mid-winter and in March the
greatest number. The planting in autumn was not
early enough; October would have been better.
Of course these were all plants of small size,
moved without any balls of soil whatever ; on the
contrary, they were simply lifted from the nur-
sery ground and pit-planted in trenched ground.
I have for years moved large quantities of trees
and shrubs during the mid-winter months with
scarcely one failure; but they were carefully
handled, and in most instances were furnished with
good balls of soil. I have, too, moved considerable
numbers at midsummer with equal, or still greater,
success; and those moved then always made the
best growth the following season. Trees planted in
winter invariably grow but indifferently the follow-
ing summer; they seem to require a lengthened
period to recover from the shock of removal ; but,
in the case of summer-moved plants, the check is
only temporary at the time of removal, and they
grow away the following spring as if nothing had
happened. The warmer the weather, too, the more
successful generally are the results of planting, pro-
vided the subjects operated on are exposed as little
as possible to hot sunshine.
I once transplanted a large quantity of evergreen
and deciduous trees and shrubs during a very hot
fortnight in April; and of these the most important
part consisted of choice Conifers, such as Cupressus
Lawsoniana, Wellingtonias, Pinus insignis (heavy
healthy ; trees). Thujas, Piooa nobilis and Nord-
manniana, Abies orientalis and Douglasi. In addi-
tion to these were also Laurels, Catalpas, Scarlet
Chestnuts, 15 feet high. Tulip Trees, and Liquid-
ambars, all pushing into growth. Some shook their
heads in doubt, and I began to fear that operations
had been begun too late, but the ground was newly
trenched and mellow, and the trees were lifted by
one set of men while another planted them almost
directly ; after planting, some were watered, but
not very liberally, and the majority not at all; yet
the result was most satisfactory, except in the case
of a few Wellingtonias which died back. I attri-
buted my success to the hot weather which pre-
vailed at the time. It warmed the soil and kept the
sap of the plants moving; had there been cold
easterly winds, with even cloudy weather, success
might not have been so complete. Another excep-
tional instance of success in planting (this time
when growth was at its height) may be noticed.
On another occasion, in the middle of July, I was
obliged to transplant a quantity of evergreen and
deciduous treee and shrubs to make way for some
improvements in progress. We looked upon the
work as a sort of forced experiment, most of the
subjects being large, and the variety comprehensive,
including Conifers, Laurels, Rhododendrons, Lilacs,
Forsythias, Weigelas, Leycesterias, &c. Some could
be lifted with balls, some not; none were allowed
to be out of the soil many minutes ; for as soon as a
plant was lifted, a pit was ready for its reception.
It so happened that none had any artificial water-
ing, the soil being light and moist from recent rains,
and the work was conducted under a hot sun and
clear weather; but thunder-showers fell after the
planting was completed. In some instances the
young growths hung down their heads immediately
after transplantation, but invariably in the morning
they were found to be erect, and the more healthy
and succulent the plants, the better they seemed to
stand removal. Of course, the whole were in active
growth, and, in the case of the common Laurels,
some of them very large bushes; although they had
shoots like Asparagus, in a week's time no one could
have told that they had been moved at all.
From experience, therefore, I may say that the
season of greatest safety, as regards transplanting
trees and shrubs, is not when they are dormant and
when life is at a low ebb, but when it is at full tide
and growth active ; that is the time wlien an injured
tree can most quickly repair the damage which it
has sustained ; fresh roots will be made in twenty-
four hours under a hot sun and warm soil ; whereas,
in winter, roots will often languish and die when
injured by removal.
One more instance of an exceptional character,
which might be dangerous in the case of any hard-
and-fast rule respecting the best time for planting,
and one which will prove the soundness of the
principle carried out in all our best nurseries, and re-
commended by all planters, requires a passing re-
mark, and that is periodical removals. Thirty large
Deodars, ranging from 15 feet to 2-1 feet in height,
and furnished to the ground with branches, some
of them with boles as thick as a man's thigh, were,
in consequence of the development of certain plans
for extension, removed six times within three years,
a period of from five to seven months elapsing be-
tween each time of removal. The balls were from
6 feet to 8 feet in diameter; the roots, too, extended
beyond the balls, the weight of which necessitated
considerable labour to move them and strong tack-
ling. The first removal was the most difficult, as
they had occupied the position in which they grew
for some years, and it was then doubtful whether or
not the whole of them would live. When the second
removal was undertaken, many were of opinion that
they would fail ; but it was found that, although the
branches had not improved after the first shift, the
roots had, and they were found to lift much more
readily than on the first occasion. These trees were,
however, looked upon as drawing near their last ; and,
when the third removal was decided upon, an old
workman gravely proposed making a fire of them,
and a somewhat unceremonious commencement
was made in lifting them. This time it was found,
however, that the balls were one solid mass of small
wiry roots, and, in planting, it was found difticult
to get soil intermixed among the fibres. After-
wards the balls became round as cheeses, tough,
and matted; and the question was not whether
these trees would live, but whether it was possible
to kill them. I believe, if it had been possible, that
latterly we might have pulled them up by the stem,
balls and all; yet aU these Deodars are now grow-
ing and in good health, notwithstanding their
singular peregrinations.
Mode of plantino. — Now, as to planting, one
of the very first essentials to success is that the
soil be trenched and broken up, so that it can be
well worked in among the roots, and also that the
ground surrounding the latter be well aerated. I
prefer, on the whole, high planting ; but on very
light land, with an open sub-soil level with the sur-
face. The old-fashioned plan of shaking the tree
from side to side and lifting the stem up and down,
in order to settle the soil amongst its roots, is, I had
hoped, a thing of the past ; at least, as a rule, I
should not recommend it. 'Thus treated, in puddle,
or even in loose soil, roots must as a natural me-
chanical result get bent and twisted. I prefer
placing the tree or shrub in position after the soil
in the pit has been brought to the proper level ;
then stretching every root carefully outwards from
the bole, filling in the soil over them — the bottom
roots first, the uppermost last — and covering the
whole before treading or watering. Some of the
soil I leave for a final dressing when the ground has
settled down after watering.
Staking and securing. — The staking of newly
planted trees is a matter also of the first importance,
for if they are allowed to be blown about by the
wind the roots become strained or broken oS. at the
collar. I, however, object emphatically to the
driving of a stake] down by the . side of the stem
through the roots and tying the tree to it, because,
in the first place, the roots are sure to get injured,
and, again, the stem of the tree is in much danger
of being chafed by the top of the stake, or by the
tie during wind-waving. I once saw an illustration
of this in the case of two long lines of fine avenue
Chestnuts, each of which had four long poles driven
in round the bole to serve the double purpose of
steadying it and to prevent cattle from rubbing
against it. At the top of the poles, which were
6 feet high, a band of straw had been wrapped
round the tree, the poles being tightly bound against
the straw by a coil of strong wire. Mechanically
the operation had been at first well done, but in
course of time the straw from the wind-waving of
the trees had wasted away, and then the stems had
become so chafed that only a narrow communica-
tion of bark existed, and one of the trees had lost
its top by breaking over at the damaged part. The
plan which I like best is using three galvanised
wires fixed to a collar at a convenient height up the
tree, and fastening them to stumps driven into the
ground at a certain distance from the stem, thus
avoiding the roots altogether. Wire looks better
than stakes, and is cheaper in the end, and any
kind of stick strong enough may be driven into the
ground as a holdfast. Strips of old guano bags
make good collars, or rags of any sort, or even straw
ropes. Tar cord, instead of wires, is sufficient for
small trees, such as Cypresses and Thujas, up to the
height of 10 feet. For very large trees we employ
wire such as is used for fencing. A handy man
with a little practice soon becomes expert at fasten-
ing trees in this way ; he cuts his three wires off to
one length, fastens one end of all three to the
collar, catches hold of the other, and, stooping down
with the wire at full stretch, makes a mark on the
ground with a finger of the hand which holds the
wire ; this is exactly the spot where he drives in his
stump, with the sharpened end inclining inward
towards the stem of the tree, thus giving greater
facility for fastening the wire and placing the
stump in an advantageous position like a man
pulling at a rope; one or two turns of the wire and
an additional blow with a mallet tightens the wire ;
the other two wires are then served the same, and
the work is finished. W. D. C.
SHORT NOTE.— WOODS AND FORESTS.
Hemlock Spruce. — We should be obliged for a
photograph of a good Hemlock Spruce, a tree not
often seen fine in England.
THE GARDEN.
189
No. 824. SATURDAY, Sept 3, 1887. Vol. XXXII.
"This is an Art
Which does mend Nature : change it rather ; but
The Art itself is Nature." — Shakespeare.
HAEDY CUT FLOWERS AT SHOWS.
I CAN fully sympathise with " R. D." when he
relates (p. 150) how a magnificent collection of
hardy cut flowers was passed over by the
Wellingborough judges in favour of poorly-
shown stove and greenhouse ones. I have
suffered in a precisely similar way, not once nor
twice, so that now, although possessing a collec-
tion which is a perennial envy to my wealthy
neighbours with glasshouses, and which would
do honour to any provincial show, I refuse
altogether to exhibit until the time shall come
when either provincial shows are emancipated
from the supreme and autocratic dominion of
glasshouse gardeners, or till classes be formed for
hardy plants only. " R. D." speaks of a sUly,
prejudice that quality is of necessity in favour
of stove and greenhouse flowers as such over
hardy ones, irrespective of their real and actual
relative value as ornamental subjects. It is so.
I can testify to the widespread existence of this
silly prejudice, which considers some (from a
floral point of view) comparatively worthless pro-
duction of the stove superior to some lovely hardy
or half-hardy flower, whose beauty and fragrance
everybody would admit. The visitors to the
show would not give a thank-you very probably
for a bushel of the former — nobody would grow
them, likely enough, if they could be had by
the bushel ; whereas they all gaze in wrapt
admiration on the other, and one and all ex-
claim, " How I wish we had that ! " But,
then, the one requires a stove ; and the other —
that can be grown anywhere.
The true argument is entirely the other way.
Given two flowers or plants of equal beauty or
fragrance, the one that can be grown with
greater ease and less expense is the more valu-
able flower of the two. I fully admit the
beauty of a host of lovely Orchid blooms, and
put a very high value on their lasting power,
and only wish I could afford to grow them. I
gaze in admiration at a house of Dipladenias,
Allamandas, Stephanotis, Eucharis, Hibiscus,
et hcec omnia genera, too many far to mention,
cultivated and maintained at vast labour, skill,
and expense, but I am most devoutly thankful
that with little labour, little skiU, and less ex-
pense I can revel from February to November
in a little paradise of flowers and plants, many
of them really far more beautiful than most,
some quite as beautiful as any, of the petted
exotic darlings that cost a little fortune to main-
tain. The fact of the matter is (I hope I shall
not ofiend), a vulgar mind values most what
costs most, without any reference whatever to
intrinsic use and beauty. If it were possible to
deceive one of these glasshouse gardeners into
believing that Harpalium rigidum could only be
grown in a hot, damp stove, he would, I
honestly believe, cherish it beyond almost any
flower that he possesses ; but because it runs
rampant over everything outdoors in any soil
and anyposition unless kept within due bound?,
he thrusts it on one side, saying, "Why, that's a
perfect weed, that'll grow anywhere." No doubt
a certain value does attach to things on account
of rarity, but in the matter of flowers this
added value is (in my opinion at least) by no
means large. Our use of flowers and orna-
mental plants is to cheer and please, and the
simple fact that a thing is rare cannot in itself
alone either cheer or please me. It simply
astonishes and interests me for a time. I do
not wish for one moment to imply that all who
have or tend glasshouses are of this sort of
mind. You and your readers will fully under-
stand what I mean by "glasshouse gardeners,"
and in some country districts they are clearly
in the ascendant. Let all lovers of hardy plants
do as I have done — withdraw their subscriptions
from all horticultural societies which will not
assign a distinct and honourable class to hardy
and half-hardy flowers and plants — in fact, to
outdoor gardening. And now a word of warn-
ing (forgive a parson) to growers of hardy plants.
Do not you also run into the same or a similar
vulgarity of estimation of value ; for I think I
see the thin end of the wedge inserting itself into
some hardy gardens— a tendency to sacrifice the
beauty of the garden to the growing of a few
very difficult and not over-beautiful plants.
The backbone of hardy English gardening should
be beautiful flowers and plants grown outdoors
with comparative ease and with little expense.
That is the first and governing principle.
But if you are blessed with a small greenhouse
(a few yards square is enough), then do not des-
pise the half-hardy plants. Pelargoniums, Helio-
tropes, Calceolarias, Dahlias, and so forth. They
add the finishing touch to a hardy garden when
it is just at its weakest — July and the first
week of August. But even without these a
constant succession can be kept up by means of
hardy and half-hardy annuals. Towards the
end of July, a lady, visiting my garden, ex-
claimed : " Oh, Mr. Wilks, you have Geraniums
and Calceolarias ! " and by the scornful emphasis
on "Geraniums and Calceolarias," you could
tell she really was shocked at my gross inconsis-
tency. It may be inconsistent, but until a bet-
ter name is invented, I must needs call my style
"hardy gardening," though perhaps "English
gardening" might be an improvement. Anyway,
the spirit that prompted the remark needs
guarding against, I am sure, amongst hardy
gardeners as much as it needs rooting out of
the minds of those whom I mean by glasshouse
gardep.ers. Let us all value flowers simply for
their beauty and fragrance, and plants for their
habit, and when judging between one and an-
other, put aside all other thoughts, such as
where they were grown or what special ti'eat-
ment they may require.— W. WiLKS, Shirley
Vicarage, Croydon.
*^* A hardy flower garden should be in one
of its most lovely stages at the end of July and
in August, particularly early in August. We
mean without the aid of any half-hardy plants,
though some of these, like the Heliotrope, are
worthy of a good place in any flower garden. If
anyone doubts this, we think we could show
them proof of it. — Ed,
A LETTER FROM THE RURAL
GROUNDS.
To THE Editor of The Garden.
SiRj — On p. 610 reference is made to seed-
lings of Rosa rugosa coming true always. This
may interest 5'ou. Last year I crossed Har-
rison's Yellow upon Rosa rugosa rubra. As
a result we have sixteen seedling plants now
growing. A notable peculiarity of these plants
is that but one resembles the mother rugosa.
The others differ in a remarkable way. The
leaflets vary from three to seven, some of a
dark green, others of a very light green colour ;
some are very small, others large. The shape
varies from orbicular, oval, elliptical, to ovate ;
the margins from entire to coarsely toothed.
The stems of some are crowded with prickles,
while others have few. Some of the plants are
vigorous, others weakly. R. rugosa, the seed-
bearing plant, is very distinct, as you know.
The leaves are tough, thick, and wrinkled, and
of a dark green colour. Here large heps are
produced freely, which turn to a bright red
colour. These remain for a long time, while
the foliage of other Roses may be infested with
aphides, worms, thrips, (fee. Rosa rugosa is
often exempt. It was for such reasons that I
selected it for the mother, as well as for a
stronger reason, viz., that I had never heard of
crosses being attempted with it. Harrison's
Yellow, an Austrian Rose, I believe, was chosen
for the male parent, because it blooms freely
and the flowers have plenty of pollen, while our
more double Roses bear very little. The dis-
tinct foliage of rugosa, and its being the seed-
bearing parent, would lead to the belief that
the hybrid seedlings would for the most part
resemble it. It appears, however, tha,t in this
case the Harrison is potent in the ratio of six-
teen to one, since but one seedling bears the
rugosa foliage. It is said, too, that pure rugosa
seedlings come quite true, while pure Harrison's
Yellow seedlings do not.
I should be glad to know if there are any
hybrids with R. rugosa (white or red) in exist-
ence. From its beautiful luxuriant foliage and
thrifty habit one would suppose that it would
long since have been chosen for hybridisation.
E. S, Cabman.
Biver Edge, Bergen Co., N.J.
Fruit Garden.
W. COLEMAN.
GOOD EARLY DESSERT APPLES FOR]
MARKET.
Next to very late Apples, the extra early varieties
command a fair price in the market, and being for
immediate use, many of them direct from the trees,
they are well worthy the attention of planters
whose space for storing is limited. About two
dozen sorts for coming in through August and
September may now be selected, but some, by reason
of their splendid colour and tolerable keeping qua-
lities, being more valuable than others, should be
chosen and duplicated.
After the Red and White Juneating, two fleeting
varieties, the Red Astrachan formerly stood pro-
minent ; but this has been left behind by hardier,
though not handsomer and better basket-fiUing
sorts. One of the best is the now well-known
Woecbstee'Pbaemain, a very old Apple, in-
debted to Messrs. Smith, of Worcester, for bringing
it into prominence. It do( s wall on the Crab, and,
its size being moderate, it may be extensively grown
as an orchard standard. As a pyramid or bush on
the Paradise it is very fertile, colours well, and now,
the end of August, is fit for gathering. Most de-
servedly this handsome Apple has become a great
favourite with growers and consumers.
Gladstone, or Jackson's Seedling, rather too
small, a very showy early Apple, mottled with
red striped with yellow, and carrying a rich bloom
like a Plum, is likely to become very popular with
those who do not carry politics into the orchard.
Kent growers think highly of it for market. It is a
moderate grower, and fruits profusely on the Para-
dise stock.
Irish Peach.— Of this excellent Apple there are
two varieties in cultivation. The earliest and best
is small, rather angular, and somewhat flattened ;
skin smooth, fine lively red, mottled with yellow
spots next the sun ; flesh tender, crisp, and rich.
The tree is very hardy, makes a good standard, and
is most prolific. The Paradise stock has a wonder-
ful dwarfing effect, and renders pruning almost
unnecessary. Thinning out is of course imperative,
but the shoots should not be shortened, as it bears at
190
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 3, 1887.
the points. The other variety is flat, round, smooth,
,and covered with a rich violet bloom; later than
the true variety as I knew it in Ireland, and not so
good.
Lady Sudelby. — This rather large, but beautiful
Apple, certificated at London and Edinburgh, was
sent out by Messrs. Bunyard in 1885, and promises
to become one of our leading early market varieties.
Having seen it several times, I can only say it is just
the Apple to take the eye ; and t;'ardeners who have
known it for some years assure me it is a wonderful
variety, alike fit for market, exhibition, or the finest
dessert, and a certain cropper.
Duchess op Gloucester.— Rather small, of a
glowing red, and very striking for show or market.
The quality, however, is not very good, and for this
reason it should not be grown for private use.
Duchess of Oldexbueg. — A Russian Apple of
first quality and very handsome. The fruit, beau-
tifully striped, is fit for use by the end of August,
and can be kept until October. A good cropper and
well adapted for market purposes.
Summee Golden Pippin oe Yellow Ingesteb.
— Rather too small, but nevertheless an excellent
summer dessert Apple. The fruit is bright yellow,
very handsome, and abundantly produced by pyra-
mids or bushes on the Paradise stock. In good
situations it does well as a standard, and although
not so good as the old Golden Pippin, it is a profit-
able market Apple.
Keeey Pippin.— This grand old Apple will take
a great deal of beating. Had it the Duchess of
Gloucester's brilliant colour it would carry all before
it. A few trees of this delicious variety should be
grown in every garden for private use, and the
market grower can always dispose of any quantity
to purchasers who know good Apples when they see
them. The tree does well as a standard on the
Crab, and is very prolific on the Paradise.
Beauty of Bath.— This excellent dessert Apple
has long been known about Bath, Clifton, and
Weston-super-Mare, and 1 have seen it on the Welsh
side of the Channel. It was not until last year,
however, that its great merits were made known to
the general public. The fruits, of medium size, are
round and flattened, not unlike those of the Irish
Peach, from which it is quite distinct ; ground
colour yellow, richly striped and suffused with crim-
son when fully ripe. Having many times had the
pleasure of awarding first-prizes to this delicious
variety, I can strongly recommend it to all lovers of
first-class early dessert Apples. The stock is in the
hands of the Messrs. Cooling and Son, Bath.
Wall trees at Ditton Park.— All gardeners
fond of seeing really good wall trees, if in the
neighbourhood of Windsor or Slough, should call in
at Ditton Park, not more than two miles distant,
and see the trees on the fine kitchen garden wall
there. This garden forms a square of about
100 yards each way, and the wall is about 10 feet
in height, hence an enormous brick area is pre-
sented. Of course, there are some vacancies, for old
trees are occasionally being removed and young
ones substituted, but the trees which are old,
and they are many, show satisfactorily enough
that the place has either some magic about it, or
else that the art of growing outdoor wall fruits is
specially well understood at Ditton. Mr. Lindsay
is an old gardener, and may be classed as of the old
school of tree-trainers. Still, I do not observe that
his style of culture differs from that of others, ex-
cept that his results are so admirable. Finer Peach,
Nectarine, and Apricot trees can hardly be found
on walls in any other garden in the kingdom, and
bearing heavier crops of fruit. Watering during
the past dry weather has been done as well as it
could be, but with the limited staff it could only be
done indifferently ; still the trees are in fine con-
dition and full of fruit ; indeed, the crops on some
seem too heavy. There is a broad straw mulching
running beneath the trees on the south borders.
On other walls, Pears, Plums, and Morello Cherries
have also done well, and are fruiting abundantly. It
would be worth the while of any gardener vyho is
unfortunate with his wall trees to visit Ditton, and
take notice of the soil, surroundings, and general
system of culture, as it seems hard to understand
that Ditton should be in this matter favoured beyond
so many other good gardens. — A. D.
THREE NEW^ PEACHES.
The Peach has been — and continues to be — acknow-
ledged the most luscious fruit of our temperate
climate, and ranks, in that respect, with the choice
fruits of the tropics, and it seems that it has of
late become one of the staple products of the farm,
not only in numerous sections of Pennsylvania, but
in other middle States, and reaching into the west
and north-west. And it is no longer alone a luxury,
but also a healthful necessary of life. In its yearly
increase in cultivation, and in its marketable con-
sumption in our large cities and towns, we find all
classes manifesting a deep interest.
The old traditional stereotyped declaration,
which had grown into a maxim with age— that
" Peaches cannot be grown in Pennsylvania as a
marketable crop at a profit to the grower " — has
been reversed, and it now reads : " Peachf s can be
grown at a profit, and that profit can be enhanced
by the introduction of new and improved varieties,
and under a more enlightened and careful cultiva-
tion, in regions where climate is adapted to the
growth of the tree."
I find that within the last thirty or forty years few
new varieties have entirely supplanted the old ones ;
but still, for the orchard, garden, and vineyard,
.new varieties of Apples, Pears, Cherries, Grapes,
&c., are almost yearly being introduced. All these,
as with Peaches, should pass through fair tests
before a g3re:al recommendation. Of all the seed-
lings raised, not one in a thousand, perhaps, would
be an improvement on any of our old varieties. We
have so many new Peaches raised yearly that it
would be advisable, as a precaution, that proper
tests should be made — by grafting or budding, or in
some other way, on a small scale— before intro-
ducing any one of them generally as an improve-
ment on our old, well-tried varieties. This fruit
business is a slow one at best, and the more im-
portant it is that we should proceed cautiously and
wisely. I have tested the past season — which has
been a fair one for fruits with us here on the
Susquehanna River Bluffs — three varieties of the
new Peaches, which, with many others, had been
recommended to me several years ago through reli-
able sources. All of them are on trial. New
varieties demand fair treatment— the same as we
should give to old varieties. These have been
treated in that way. The three are— Lord Palmer-
ston. Levy, and English Cling.
Lord Palmerston has figured for several years
as a great acquisition to our list of Peaches, and in
catalogues as a magnificent very late Peach, of im-
mense size, and a valuable acquisition to our culti-
vated fruits. Some large specimens weighed over a
pound. It produced with me, at four years old, a
good crop of light cream-coloured fruit, a few of the
largest specimens being tinged with blush on the
sunny side. It is a good, large-sized Peach, falling
short of the general descriptions; quality good; but,
instead of finding it to adhere but slightly to the
stone, it turned out a veritable clingstone, and
ripens a little later than Crawford's Late. It is not
so valuable as the old Late Heath Cling for the
market. It is inclined to rot at the time of ripening
on the tree, changes quickly, and requires quick
picking to save it. A large Peach grower in the
State wrote to me a few days ago that "Lord Palmer-
ston was worth nothing with him."
Levy's Late Winter.— This Peach has already
a synonym of Late Winter, which should have been
Late Fall, if the name has any reference to the time
of ripening for Middle Pennsylvania. It originated,
I believe, somewhere near Washington City, D. C.
It is a large, handsome yellow clingstone with a red
cheek, ripens with the",Salvvay Peach, a freestone,
and is much more valuable. Some of the catalogues
say that, if ripened very late and carefully handled,
it will keep until Christmas. 1 took them from the
tree ripe on the 12th and l.'jth of October last, and
gave those subjected to a test a careful handling,
and ate the last on the 7th day of November. It is
a very fair clingstone. Some rotted on the tree, but
not more so than the Salway, which kept quite as
long, and is much more valuable.
English Cling.— This originated in Kent county,
Maryland. A white-fleshed clingstone, of large size,
good quality, ripening a few days in advance of
Levy, but so near together that they were picked at
the same time. A large Peach, the size, perhaps, or
nearly, of the Late Heath, with less colour and not
so showy, and hence would not be so marketable.
No improvement in other respects. The Late Heath,
as an old standpoint from which I have judged of
these three new varieties, is one of the oldest and
best known clingstone Peaches in cultivation. It
was a popular Peach over eighty years ago, not only
in this country, but its fame had reached Old Eng-
land, where Peaches are ripened against walls and
in fruit-houses under glass. And, indeed, we may
yet trace it back to its original ancestry, standing
as a patriotic sentinel at the time of the American
Revolution of 177(). For.syth, in his epitome on
" The Culture of the Fruit Trees," an English work
epitomised and edited by an " American Farmer "
and printed in Philadelphia in 1803, in his chapter
on Peaches, says : " But of all Peaches, perhaps of
all fruits, there is none equal in flavour to the
American Heath, a clingstone weighing near a pound
in common." This Peach retains its popularity,
may be found in the nurseries, and is recommended
and sold as the leading clingstone. It has not, dur-
ing all that time, been supplanted by any other
more recent variety of its class. It is said, however,
that there is a new clingstone, named Ring Gold'
that is an improvement. Of this I hope tolDe able
to judge in another season, for I shall ha\e it three
yeais planted, and it will probably bear fruit. I
seldom cultivate more than one variety of the cling-
stone, and that is my old favourite. Late Heath.
J. Ruttee, in Farm and Garden.
American Blackberries. — If "W. C." (p. 129)
wiU wait patiently, doubtless he will reap success
with his Wilson Junior. On August 6 we gathered
from second yearplantedcanesourfirst dish of fruits,
which were good enough to satisfy an epicure of
Blackberries. I agree with " W. C." that this class
of plant has had its constitution affected by over-
propagation, hence the difficulty to get them to grow
satisfactorily. We grow them like Raspberry canes,
trained to strained wires, and well mulched on
open, sunny, but not over rich ground. Best of All
is said to be a very fine variety. — W. Crump,
MadresfieU.
Laxton's Noble Strawberry.— Like you, I
have received a coloured drawing of Mr. Laxton's
new Strawberry. I have not yet seen fruit of
it, and may be excused, having some experi-
ence of the striking tendency to exaggerate found
in artists of fruits and florist's flowers, to ask of any
who have grown it how far the drawing and the
original resemble. I ask this all the more earnestly,
because, showing some of my market garden neigh-
bours the illustration advising them to go in for
such a fine thing, they shake their heads in doubt.
The drawing depicts fruits of exactly the shape
and colour of Hathaway 's Excelsior 'Tomato. If
this be a true representation of it, then must it be a
grand kind and well worthy the attention of market
growers. Will any disinterested person who has
grown it fairly, please say how far illustration and
real fruit agree ? — A. D.
Inarched Qros Colman Grape. — At Maiden
Erleigh Gardens may just now be seen an interest-
ing example of the effect of inarching Gros Colman
Grape upon Lady Downe's Seedling. In a range of
houses are early and late vineries. In the earlier
ones are strong Vines of Gros Colman which have
been in good bearing several years, producing
invariably fine bunches, but hard to colour. In the
adjoining vinery, amongst other Vines there are
a couple of Lady Downe's, but which never have
produced satisfactory bunches, although all other
kinds have done so well, for Mr. Turton invariably
has capital Grapes, as his success at local shows
can testify. Last vear Gros Colman was inarched
Sv.vr. 3, 1887-.]
THE GARDEN.
191
on to these Lady Downe's Vines, and some fine
fruiting rods resulted. These rods are each bear-
in? several good bunches now, and the remarkable
result of the conjunction is that whilst in the early
house adjoining Gros Colman is still comparatively
green, the bunches on the Lady Downe's stock in a
house started fully a month later are rapidly colour-
ing, and bid fair in a few weeks to be admirably
finished. Mr. Turton states that not only does this
result fiow from working on Lady Downe's, but also
that Gros Colman so far partakes of the peculiarities
of the former kind as to produce thicker skinned
berries, which will keep far better than will those of
the normal form. If that result invariably happens
from grafting on Lady Downe's, it is very important
not only to private gardeners, but also to market
growers. The thickness of the skins of Gros Colman
berries will enable the bunches to be kept several
weeks longer in the winter, and that is a great gain.
.It would be interesting to learn of others' experi-
ence in this matter. — A. D.
STR.MVBERRY CULTURE.
" S. W." in The Gaeden, Avigust 13 (p. 130), seems
startled at the method of replanting Strawberry
plants recommended by us. If, however, he
Teads the pamphlet he will find we do not advocate
removing the plants after the first crop is gathered,
but advise the grower to allow them to remain " so
long as profitable" (p. 11). It is also remarked on
p. 8, " they will continue to bear satisfactory crops
for two cr three years;" and, again, "to call the
Strawberry an annual is perhaps hardly correct, as
it will live and bear fruit for twenty years without
removal" (p. 11). Nevertheless, we still maintain
that the early years of a plant are by far the best
and most satisfactory.
As to the roots being annual, this may not in the
strictest sense be true, but, generally speaking, " last
year's roots are of no use to the plant," for a crop
of entirely new roots takes the place of those origi-
nal ones whose period of active growth has passed.
Anyone. who will take the trouble to break up an
bid plant will find that these roots have started
growth from the base of each crown, thus
■practically turning an old into a new plant; in
fact, a so-called old plant is simply a cluster
of buds or crowns of various ages and in various
stages of development. The system of taking oil
all the leaves and flooding the land with water
after the plants have fruited stimulates the
growth of these roots, without which the crop the
following season would be probably worthless. The
movement of the runner plainly indicates a desire
for " fields and pastures new," which means old pas-
tures exhausted. It is the stay-at-home runners or
buds which annually make their appearance in in-
creasing numbers on the sides of the old stock, and
which in seeking new pastures throw out bunches
of these roots that make the ball of earth and fibre
as big as a man's head or bigger. This, too, ex-
plains the tendency of crowns to grow themselves
out of the soil, necessitating earthing up or mulch-
ing. Some varieties are notorious for their timidity
ia producing buds; hence are very suitable for
forcing. Such varieties are La Grosse Suoree and
Sir Harry, both of which throw out their runners a
long way from the parent plant, in order to take up
distant ground, and, I may remark in passing, give
us a hint for guidance in replanting them. If such
varieties did not steadily propagate their kind by
runners they would soon be lost, for the old plants
with such limited root action could not long survive.
This is most noticeable on light soils whose fertility
is soon exhausted, and this fact affords a reason-
able explanation of the failure of particular kinds
in certain localities.
There is still much to learn, and one lesson em-
phatically enforced this season is, never trust ex-
clusively to old plants. If by cultivation we can
convert an old plant Into a new one, so much the
batter, and there is little necessity for replanting. If,
again, plants in old beds grow well and produce abun-
dantly, by all means continue to cultivate old beds,
but be not amazed if, after even fifteen years' suc-
cessfal growth, a whole bed at the most critical
period suddenly collapses. Such a one was described
in a contemporary lately, and points a moral which
should be taken to heart by all defenders of the
perennial bed system of culture.
Vrltlield. J. LOVELL.
SHORT NOTES.— FRUIT.
Squirrels destroying Apricots. — This season
I have discovered that squirrels are the greatest robber.s
of Apricots, and, I daresay, other fruit trees, but of
Apricots I and my gardener have had ocular proof this
autumn. SquiiTels also steal young birds from their
uests to feed their own young with. — R. F. Ward.
Going backwards. — Some of the uew and large
Peaches sell well in the market owing to their
size. If all goes well with them and their likes, the
public will not know what a good Peach means by and
by. But those who care for a perfect Peach will do
woU not to let any of the bad ones into their gardens.
FRUITS UNDER GLASS.
The Obchard House.
The weather through July and the early part of
August was altogether too hot and forcing for the
fruit in the Peach house proper ; whilst the partial
shade from the foliage and the greater distance
from the glass j ust suited the Peaches and Necta-
rines borne by pyramids and bushes in this much-
abused structure. The crop in the earliest house
in many gardens, it is true, was soon over, but the
fruit was highly coloured, and where properly
grown well flavoured. From these facts the grower
whose space is limited, and does not extend beyond
one or two houses, may learn two lessons: first,
that an abundance of sunlight and fresh air are the
main factors in the production of colour and flavour;
second, that instead of confining himself to the
culture of early and the best midseason sorts, he
must prolong the season by the introduction of
more late varieties. Hitherto it has been the too
common practice to run on the very early varieties
for early forcing, and many have ridden this hobby
to the death, not only to their own loss, but also to
the detriment of the forcing orchard house, which
has been pronounced a failure through the intro-
duction of sorts whose only good point is early
maturity. A few of the best of this section the
private grower must have, and the grower for mar-
ket may stock large houses with Amsdens and
Alexanders, which colour well, and realise high
prices in the fruiterers' shops long before the better
sorts commence the last swelling for ripening.
'When Peaches are to be consumed at home and
quality is to be the test of merit, Hale's Early, a
fairly good Peach, may lead the way ; but of this
showy variety I would not have many trees, just
suflacient to lead up to Early Grosse Mignonne and
A Bee, two grand Peaches, which ripen nearly, but
not quite together. From these we step on to a
whole host of the best midseason varieties too
numerous for mention, and from which no one will
go far wrong in making the following selection, viz.,
Alexander, Noblesse, Crimson Galande, Grosse Mig-
nonne, Royal George, Bellegarde, 'Violette Hative,
Dymond, Stirling Castle, Old Noblesse, Belle Beauce,
Belle de Done, Magdala. Later sorts, which ought
to be well represented, are Barrington, Late Ad-
mirable, Walburton Late Admirable, Sea Eagle, the
Nectarine Peach, Prince of "Wales, Raymacker, a
most beautiful and valuable late Peach, rarely met
with. If more of these late sorts were grown in the
early house, the period of ripening, commencing
with Hale's Early and finishing with Sea Eagle
would extend over many weeks, and the cream of
the best would follow each other in succession. To
grow these fine late varieties well, they should be
managed as Grape growers manage late Grapes.
They should be started early in a light, airy house,
and there remain until the wood is thoroughly ripe,
when, their space being required, they might be
placed out of doors. 'When late sorts are started
in late, often unheated houses, the wood does not
have time to ripen thoroughly, the fruit does not
attain its best, the flower-buds drop, and the trees
are accounted shy; but reverse these conditions, and
the shy 'Walburton will give a fruit for every flower.
The work in the early department will now be lijht,
but important, as next year's crop greatly depends
upon the way in which the trees are managed from
the time the fruit is gathered until the leaves fall.
Potting and pruning, we may assume, are finished,
and many of the trees are fit for turning out into
the open air ; others, notably the late ones, must be
kept in until the wood and buds are ripe, carefully
watered and well syringed to keep down spider, a
most troublesome pest this season.
General house.— A. quantity of fruit in this house
will now be ripe or suificiently advanced for gather-
ing. Some allow their fruit to hang until dead ripe,
but this, I think, is a mistake, as a Peach that falls,
or is ready to fall, has passed its best and has lost
its rich flavour. Further, the most gentle handling
produces bruises, which soon taint the pulp and
render immediate use imperative. To avoid this
depreciation and waste, I always gather my Peaches
before they are fit for the table, but, instead of
wrenching them from the trees, they are detached
with a pair of Grape scissors and placed in shallow,
padded baskets, each Peach in a square of tissue
paper to prevent collision in transit. These baskets
are kept in a dry, airy fruit room, whence the most
forward fruits are selected as they become fit for
use. For market we gather as soon as the Peaches
have attained their full size, are well coloured, and
show the faintest signs of softening. They then
pack and travel well, and the fruiterer is able to
ripen and keep them for several days in his store-
room. As the fruit from the trees is gathered, we
thin out the useless wood to let in light and air,
wash the foliage with the syringe, water freely, and
in due course select a batch for potting on or reduc-
ing and returning to the same sized pots. Formerly
I used to allow full-potted trees to stand over until
the autumn, then with a sharp-pointed piece of iron
work out about 2 inches of soil nearly down to the
crocks, and re-place with new compost. This was
done every year, but now I prefer turning them out
of the pots, reducing and returning them to clean,
dry pots of the same size once in two years. The
work is better and more quickly performed ; we are
able to correct the drainage, and, provided the trees
are kept in a close, moist house, a few days will suf-
fice for setting new roots into action. If by chance
any of the trees get into bad condition, I place
the balls in a tub of water, pick, and wash out the
major part of the old soil, re-pot at once in pure
loam and bone-dust, shade for a few days, and they
re-establish themselves before winter sets in. Just
now I have a pair of Nectarines in boxes nearly
3 feet square— the last of a heavy crop of fruit was
picked to-day— but the trees, more than twenty
years old, are weak and going back, and must have
a fresh start. After taking ofi the sides, these balls
will be reduced with handforks, all exposed roots
will be shortened back and washed, the sides will
be put on again, and fresh, dry compost will be
given to them. To the experienced this severe
handling is not new, but knowing that many ama-
teurs are afraid of touching a root before the leaves
fall, I avail myself of this opportunity to show them
that not only the Peach, but all stone fruit-trees
may be restored to health and vigour if taken in
hand as soon as the fruit is gathered. The principal
points in subsequent treatment are slight shade for
a few days, no more air than is absolutely neces-
sary, frequent syringing to keep the foliage _ moist,
and a sparing supply of water until the crisp ap-
pearance of the laterals shows that the new roots are
working. One good watering then puts them right
for the winter.
Figs.
If these heat-loving trees are grown in the
orchard house they thould have all the warmth,
light, and air that can be afforded them. Being so
subject to red spider, they must be copiously
syringed above and below the foliage whenever
ripening fruit does not interfere with this operation.
Good top-dressing and liberal supplies of warm
diluted liquid also are necessary; indeed, it is
hardly possible to over-water well-drained pot Figs
during the time the fruit is swelling. When
orchard house trees get well established they make
short spur-like pieces of wood, and as these set
.several fruits near the points, the hackneyed method
192
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 3, 1887.
of pinching should be avoided. In course of time
these shoots may become too numerous, when
thinning or cutting a fair percentage bacli to a
single dormant eye as soon as the crop is off will
let in light and air, and secure a relay of young
growths close at home another season. The best
time to prune, also to repot, this class of tree is
early autumn, as the roots then get re-established
before the embryo fruits or figlets begin to draw
upon them. All figlets larger than a Marrow Pea
should be piclsed off as soon as it is seen they can-
not ripen. Complete rest under glass, very little
water, and protection from frost will carry them
through the winter.
Stkawbeekies.
All owners of orchard houses insist upon having
pot Strawberries, but they are dangerous subjects,
and often leave a legacy of spider and mildew. If
these have been potted or pegged down upon the
fruiting pots they must be conveyed to a light, open
situation, where they can be kept clear of weeds
and runners, and never feel the want of water.
Many persons set the pots out in single rows along
the sides of gravel walks, but a more unsuitable
place cannot be selected, for the rich food contained
in the pots and constant moisture invariably attract
worms, which soon work serious mischief. When
these miners, useful elsewhere, get into the pots
they must be eradicated by the use of lime and
soot water, the latter in a very weak state,
alternately. Prevention, however, being better than
cure, their inroads may be checked by placing the
pots on bricks, tiles, or boards as soon as they are
removed from the nursery. Another bad practice
is wintering the plants in the house, sometimes
warm enough to excite the roots and crowns, but
more frequently dry, draughty, and exhausting, not
only to the plant, but also to the shrinking compost.
Being perfectly hardy if not most fertile after a
hard winter, the best place for pot Strawberries is
the open air, where, plunged to the rims in Cocoa-
nut fibre, tan, or ashes, they will stand any amount
of frost, and being well crocked heavy rain will not
hurt them.
Cucumbers.
The month of September reminds us that the
season of warmth and light and active growth is
drawing to a close, and none better than the winter
Cucumber grower knows that it is better to be a
little early than late with plants that have to battle
with dark December and dry fire-heat. To this end
young plants, clean, stout, and sturdy, should be
kept on hand, and potted on, if necessary, ready for
planting out or plunging, as the pits now occupied
by Melons become ready for them. I have pointed
out the importance of a thorough cleansing from
base to summit of the house, and the rejection of
plants that are pot-bound or touched with thrips or
spider on their lower leaves. The loss of a few of
these may appear a small matter, but I always find
them doing best when every leaf is preserved until
the trellis is well covered, and their removal is not
followed by bleeding. The best fermenting ma-
terial for the beds is a solid body of well-worked
Oak leaves, which gives off ammonia and moisture
through the early stages of growth, and forms a
genial medium for the roots when they escape from
confinement in the spring. To have the leaves fit
for use they should be taken in hand when the seeds
are sown, well broken up, watered, if dry, and fre-
quently turned to get rid of noxious gases. By the
time the plants are in full rough leaf, the heat-
probably 90"— will justify making the bed, but the
Cucumber being a witer-loving plant, provision
must be made for its passing away from the crocks
quickly. In narrow and shallow pits 3 inches or
4 inches of clean broken brick placed over the pipes
and covered with thin sods of turf make a suitable
base. In deeper pits where the fermenting ma-
terial is always sinking, solid pedestals should be
provid 3d to prevent the pots from settling and the
plants from strangling. My pits being of this cha-
racter, we build up pedestals of dry bricks, cap them
with turf, and pack the fermenting material round
them. In due course the roots catch the turf and
descend the loose-jointed column, where they revel
in the warm liquid, which follows, but cannot re-
main long with them. Many winter Cucumbers
suffer from an insufficient supply of water, and go
off just when their produce is wanted, but by adopt-
ing this plan, not only is it impossible to over- water,
but the fermenting material can be turned and re-
novated at pleasure. If planting out is preferred
we make narrow troughs, 18 inches in width, the
length of the pit, but not too near the top-heat
pipes, and place the hot leaves beneath and on
either side of them. Small cones are then made
for the reception of the young plants, and fresh
compost is added as the roots require it. Knowing
how often winter Cucumber plants are killed by
kindness — in other words, by giving them too much
rich food at the outset — I have entered rather
tediously into detail, and hope I have succeeded in
showing the young beginner that a great mass of rich
soil, which soon becomes sour, is a stumbling-
block, whilst in a smaller quantity well filled with
food-seeking roots they will often keep fresh through
the most inclement season. Another mistake they
should avoid, and that is crowded planting. It is
very pleasant to put out a batch of nice plants
3 foot or so apart, and train them in the way
they should go, but after the first stopping, what
happens? They run into each other before they
show fruit, the knife is introduced, and they are
ruined for ever. Give them double the room, stop
the leader when it has made the ascent of two-
thirds of the trellis, pinch all laterals at the first
joint beyond the fruits, and in this way allow them
to extend until they meet. If any of the plants
then take the lead, cut out others to make room,
and save time, as any ordinary person can manipu-
late, and tie in Cucumbers so long as they have an
abundance of trellis room.
Friiit'mci plants in houses and frames encourage
to make short-jointed, fruitful growths by moderate
feeding with liquid, by light cropping, and the
maintenance of bottom-heat that will favour the
free admission of air. If shading has been used
dispense with it, and reduce the syringing, but keep
the atmosphere well charged with moisture by
means of damping down and the use of evaporating
pans. Keep a sharp watch for spider and mildew,
also for fly, which sometimes spring into new life
when cold autumn nights follow bright days. As
preventives of the first and second, use soft soap the
size of a Walnut worked into 4 gallons of water
once or twice a week, also sulphur and soot water
occasionally. If these do not keep it off, sulphide
of potassium, a never-failing and safe remedy, may
be used. Fly, like other insects, should be pre-
vented from entering by periodical smoking. Smok-
ing a house years ago when dilapidated flower-pots
and riddles were used was a most disagreeable
business ; consequently young men tried to get out
of it, or put it off until the plants were destroyed.
This and many other unpleasant operations are un-
known to the rising generation who have improved
machines for their work, and in the matter of fumi-
gating, all they have to do is to charge Bloxham's
machine, make the tour of the houses, and puff in
smoke wherever they wish to make the foliage un-
palatable to the enemy. W. C.
Propagating.
Greenhouse Rhododendrons from seed.— The
different greenhouse varieties of Rhododendrons
belonging to the Princess Royal section flower more
or less throughout the year, but the best time to
fertilise them for the purpose of seed-saving is in
the spring or early summer, as the seed will then
thoroughly ripen during the bright sunny weather,
for should it be dull and wet, especially soon after
fertilisation takes place, many of the seed-pods will
drop. In the case of most of them the seed will be
by now ripening, which is shown by the outside of
the seed-pods commencing to scale off, though not
sufficiently deep to allow the seeds to escape ; but
when the first mentioned indications are seen it is
time to guard against the sudden bursting of the
seed-pods, which often happens without any warn-
ing during an unusually hot and dry day. To pre-
vent the escape of the seeds when the pods show
signs of bursting, they should be either enclosed in
a muslin bag, or, better stUl, a funnel-shaped paper
collar may be fastened securely just below the
cluster of seed-pods, into which the seeds will drop
when they escape. The seeds of Rhododendrons
being so minute are apt to fall through the muslin,
while this does not happen if paper is used. In
either case the syringe must be kept from the plants
as the seed-pods approach maturity. From the
minute and delicate character of the young seed-
lings it is better that they be fairly strong before
winter sets in, and on that account no delay should
take place in sowing the seed as soon as ripe. For
this purpose either pots or jians may be used, but
wliichever are employed they must be quite clean
and thoroughly well drained. A depth of a couple
of inches is quite enough soil for the young seed-
lings, the remainder of the space being filled with
drainage material. The soil best suited for the
purpose is sandy peat, sifted fine, and it is a great
advantage if it can be baked before being used, in
order to destroy all vegetable matter which it may
contain, as a small Moss-like substance that rapidly
spreads will often choke the young plants just as
they make their appearance unless this precaution
be taken. The soil must be pressed down mode-
rately firm and quite level, and a thorough water-
ing then given through a fine rose. The seed should
be sown while the soil is still saturated, and it will
then adhere to the surface, so that care must be
taken to distribute it thinly and evenly, as any defects
cannot be remedied afterwards. A little dry silver
sand may be spriiikled on the surface to just cover
the seeds, and the pots must then be placed in a
position where they do not dry too quickly. A
close case, such as is used for propagating in a
stove or intermediate house temperature will
answer perfectly, or if there is not one at hand an
equal state of moisture may be maintained by lay-
ing a pane of glass over the pot. In this way the
seed will soon germinate, and as soon as this takes
place the seedlings may be inured to more air, but
at the same time they must not be placed in a lower
temperature nor in a sunny or draughty place.
After the young plants have made two or three
leaves besides the cotyledons they may be pricked
off, using for the purpose a similar soil to that in
which they have been growing. The principal
difference is that the soil then requires to be pressed
down more fijrmly than is the case when sowing the
seed. Great care must be taken in pricking off to
fasten each plant securely in position, as the ex-
tremely delicate young fibres quickly suffer if this
is not done. For this reason each pot should be
watered through a very fine rose as soon as finished,
as the water wiU thus help to settle the soil around
the roots. The plants will generally require to be
pricked off once or twice more before they are ready
to be potted into small pots. As they are delicate-
rooting subjects, plenty of drainage must be given
in all stages ; 2J-inch pots are large enough for
them at first, and they must be clean and filled for
about one-third of their depth with drainage ma-
terial. Some finely broken charcoal, mixed with
the soil, which should be rougher than that used
for the seed, is of great advantage to them. The
roots will cling to the small nodules of charcoal,
which must not be larger than Peas; indeed, in all
stages afterwards an admixture of charcoal is of
great service. In shifting them on it must be borne
in mind that none of these Rhododendrons are
\ igorous rooters, so that care must be taken not to
overpot them, and at the same time to use good,
sweet and open soil, which must, however, be pressed
down closely. In all the earlier stages of growth
they make far more rapid progress if kept in a stove
or intermediate temperature than in that of a green-
house.
iPOMiEA HORSFALLi^. — I find that the shoots of
this readily form a union with the roots of Batatas
paniculata, and where there is an established plant
of this it is easy to obtain stocks for grafting pur-
poses. Roots about the thickness of a pencil are a
very convenient size for grafting, and in separating
them from the parent plant the fibres should be as
little mutilated as possible. T.'
Sept. 3, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
193
Flower Garden.
mis SUSIANA.
We engrave this week a figure of this curious
and beautiful Iris, from a photograph by Mr.
Greenwood Pim, in whose garden it blossomed
this year, as well as in several other places about
Dublin, no doubt fostered by the unusually dry
and warm season. Mr. Pim writes that the
individual was fully half as large again as the
figure, although perhaps hardly up to average
in size. It grew at the edge of a border of Tea
Roses, which is kept uji with two or tliree rows
of bricks and facing almost due south ; hence it
is always warm and dry. Ixias, Sparaxis, and
other like things flourish in the neighbourhood.
I greener look than the Grass. If these weeds are
I rooted up now and seed sown at once, there will be
a good chance of getting the gaps filled up before
winter, as it is hardly probable that the drought
will last through September, and as the soil will re-
tain its latent summer heat for some time vegetation
will make rapid progress. — J. G., Hants.
SELF CARNATIONS.
"E. C." in The Gaedbn (p. 122) says these are now
becoming an important class. > It is certainly grati-
fying to know that more attention is being paid to
them, for they truly deserve it. For a long period
there has been a tendency to run after what florists
call bizarres and flakes. What is the reason of this 1
Surely, from first to last, selfs ought to have held
the first position, for there are none in the other
classes to equal them in beauty. Perhaps some wiU
mm
ft','! "Y'.-'l
The Great Spotted Iris (Iris susiaua). Engraved for The Garden from a photograph by Mr. Greenwood Pim.
This most remarkable species is now so cheap
(Is. 6d. per dozen), that, though not easy to
bloom, every lover of choice things should get it.
liawns and the drought. — I never remember
flower gardens and pleasure grounds to present such
a parched, bumt-up look as they do at present.
Not a blade of green Grass has there been for weeks
past, and the flower beds, even where well filled,
show at a glance how much they lose by contrast
with a russety brown instead of the usual ground-
work of verdant green ; but the Grass that looks so
dead will spring up fresher and greener than ever
when the long-looked-f or rain comes. In the mean-
time I would urge on all those who have Daisies,
Plantains, or other noxious weeds in their lawns to
take means to get rid of them, as they are so easily
distinguished now by reason of their having a
say that is a matter of taste, but we are well aware
there is such a thing as bad taste; and is it not a
false taste that ignores the clear, well-defined colour
of a good self and seeks its types of beauty among
bizarres and flakes where we get a complicated
mixture of colours, arranged in lines, first one and
then another predominating, and sometimes instead
of harmonising, one neutralises the effect of the
other ? In some of the scarlet flakes so evenly are
the stripes produced, that the lines of red and white
are almost suggestive of a negro's jacket. Probably
in years gone by the Carnation had one self colour.
Ultimately a variety with two or three colours came
upon the scene, and was doubtless received more as
a novelty than for its beauty. The love of the novel
ousted the love of the beautiful, and Carnation
raisers being among the number, they laboured to-
wards the furtherance of this false taste, with the
results which are now being deplored — the almost
total neglect of the selfs. One has only to take up
a nurseryman's catalogue to be convinced of this
neglect. There are long lists of bizarres and flakes,
but the self list is very meagre, and in some cases is
not present at all, the few possessed appearing under
the head of border Carnations. These variously
coloured varieties sometimes revert to selfs, as if to
resent their almost forced characteristics. We have
a National Carnation Society, and one would natu-
rally look to it to further the interests of any ne-
glected class. Are they doing so? One has only to
look at the report of the recent show ; they will
find a long list of bizarres and flakes, but where are
the selfs? There was one class for selfs, fancies,
and yellow grounds, and a poor recognition indeed.
Such a society ought to cater for the tastes of all,
and if one particular class is neglected, as in this
case, do all they can to popularise it. It has failed
to do this ; consequently it ceases to be national in
its work, and is content to move in the narrow
groove cut out by the florists who have made this
flower a specialty, and have laid down certain rules
or points which they think should constitute a per-
fect flower, such as breadth and disposition, and
smoothness of petal, &c., so that altogether the
flowers might almost appear as if they had been
turned out of a mould. A good Carnation should
be borne upon a strong footstalk, have a long, well-
formed calyx, as it is generally the short ones that
split, and hold its flowers up well. Smoothness of
petal is not so essential, as I have seen beautiful
varieties where many of the petals were erect and
imbricated. A short time back Mr. Douglas said
the best varieties of the season had been Robert
Lord, Fred Medhurst, and Arthur Medhurst, and
these received first-class certificates from the
National this year. I only know Arthur Medhurst,
and a more objectionable mixture of colour I never
saw ; one spoils the other, and none of them har-
monise.
Moreover, most of these show varieties are grown
in pots. There are few gardens where one meets
with a good display of Carnations. If grown at all,
they are generally relegated to the mixed border,
or some border in the kitchen garden. A bed filled
with a good-coloured, free-blooming kind will make
a display that would be a surprise to many. One
of the nicest things I have seen this summer was
two large patches of Carnations, Sandringham Red
and Sandringham White. Both were highly eflfec-
tive, and being near each other the contrast was
beautiful.
There is a want of a really good yellow. I
have not seen the new kinds spoken of this season,
but unless better than Pride of Penshurst they are
not worth much ; for this variety, though said to be
the best yellow, is pale in colour, and" the flowers
droop too much, every one facing the ground, owing
to insuflicient strength of foot-stalk. If some
private individual takes the selfs in hand, he will
have a wide field for labour, and the reward will be
great. Almost infinite are the varying shades of
colour, and few of them are as yet displayed in self
Carnations. If we can have such a beautiful variety
among the Roses without recourse to bizarres, surely
the same variety is to be obtained in the Carna-
tion!
As regards growing them, when obtained, there
are few better places than with the Roses. Instead
of filling a bed with Roses, let the best varieties be
grouped, as advocated by Mr, Girdlestone, and free,
open breaks of Carnations planted. Such beds will
give to the possessor the fullest amount of pleasure.
When the first season of the Roses is over, along
come the Carnations to prevent a blank, and before
they are gone a second crop of Roses continues the
display, which, especially with some of the beautiful
Teas, will last till frost steps in and puts an end to
all. A. Heebington.
Names ■wanted.— Can any reader kindly tell
me the names of two bulbous plants very common
on the barrows in the streets of Paris during May
and June ? Both seemed to me to be true Ornitho-
galums. The later one was a long spike of pure white
flowers; it was called Epi de la Vierge, and ap-
peared to be O.narbounense, but I cannot be sure, as
194
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 3, 1887.
no leaves were sold. The earlier one had a lax
spike (beginning almost as a corymb) of large
creamy white flowers with a black germen in the
centre, reminding me of the picture of " Homer's
Garlic," Allium ma^gicam (L.), in liotanii'al Maffa-
zine, t. 1148. Both plants are splendid ones for
purity of colnur and form, and 1 should like to obtain
bulbs of them. In Paris I bought about five cut
heads for 3d., so they cannot be difficult to grow
there. Friends in England to whom I used to send
the cut flowers are anxious for roots, but I cannot
be sure that my ideas are correct. — X.
Clematis flammula. -This favourite climber
is now loaded with blossoms, which, although indi-
vidually small, make a fine display when seen in a
mass by reason of the extraordinary freedom with
which it flowers. I find it one of the best of
climbers for mingling with Honeysuckle or any-
thing of that kind, as its leaves are small and do
not smother anything it may overgrow. One of the
prettiest effects I have seen with this plant was
where it had run up the naked stems of some tall
Fir trees, and after it had reached the branches it
sent down long trailing shoots that waved with the
slightest breeze. Whether covered with blossoms or
when in winter's garb, its featheiy seed-pods burst
open, it was very pretty. Many of these chance
combinations are well worthy of imitation. — J. G.,
JTa^its.
"What is a Gilliflower ?— '• E. C. M." in The
Garden, July .30 (p. 77), asks the above question,
in answer to which I send the following extracts as
they appear in an old herbal, dated 1578 : —
The desceiption of the Wallfluuke. — The yel-
low GiUoter, or WaUfloure, is a little shrub or hush,
that is greene both winter and sommer, whose stalkes
are hard, and of a woodie substance, and full of
branches ; the leaves growing thereon are somewhat
thioke set, long, narrow, and greene : at the top of the
stalkes, or branches, grow the floures, which be very
yellow and faire, of a pleasant smell, every floure
divided into foure small leaves, the which perished,
there commeth up long cods or huskes, wherein is
contained seede which is large, flat and yellow.
The kinds of Stocke Gillofers, or Gaknsie
Violets. — There are found two kinds of these Gillo-
floures. The one is great and called the castell or
Stocke Gillofer, the which may be kept both winter and
sommer. The other is not so big, and is called the
small Stocke Gillofer, the which must be yeerely sowen
againe,^ and hringeth forth his flom-e and sfiede the
same yeere.
The description of Dames Violets, or Gillo-
I'LOUKEs. — Dames Gillofers hath great large leaves of
a browne-greene color, somewhat suipt or dented
round about the edges : amongst the which springeth
up a stem beset with the like leaves full of branches,
which beareth swfiete and pleasant floures at the top,
in proportion like to the Gillofers aforesaid, most com-
monly of a white color, sometimes carnation, and
sometimes reddish, afterwards come up long round
cods or huakes, in which the seede is contained.
—J. T. Gibson, Victoria Parli.
SHORT NOTES.— FLOWER.
Aristolochia rotunda.— Will Mr. .J.VYood kindly
tell me where I can obtain plants of this ?— J. M.
Seeds from Cape Town.— In a bundle of seeds
just received from the Botanic Gardens, Cape Town,
are packets of Carissa grandiflora and Duvernora ad-
liatodoides. What are these ? Are they hardy ? I
cannot find any account of them. — J. M.
New Carnations.— The yellow Picotces are said
to be a great advance. The list of first-class certifi-
cates attests their value. Amber has small flowers, but
very pretty. Will Threlfall is a really good yellow,
prler than Emest Benary. — A. N.
Liliums seeding.— I have never known the
difl'erent species of Lilies to bear seed so freely as this
year. I have one seed-pod on a plant of L. testaeeum,
As this Lily is supposed to be a hybrid, I wish to know
it it often bears seed, as I have never known it do so
before.— W. Shoolhred, Ht. Ann's, Chepstow.
Pentstemon eordifolius.— Tliis shrubby Pent-
stemon grows here 8 feet high, and its large, pendent
clusters of dark red flowers are very ornamental, but 1
doubt if it is hardy in England. A large plant was
left in an unheated Inuse a few winters ago and
perished, so that I had to obtain it again — not a
easy matter, as it is but little known. — J. M., Char-
mouth.
PLANTS FOR DRY WEATHER.
With the experience of such a dry season as the
present, it is well to note those varieties of plants
which are able to withstand the parching, dry
weather and still have a good appearance in the
borders. The kinds that I will name belong per-
haps to the common order of this class of plants
more than to the more choice section, and for this
reason they merit notice, as they come within the
reach of all lovers of hardy plants, are easily pro-
pagated, and require little preparation.
Chelonb bahbata is a gem for the front part
of the herbaceous border or for the rookery ; when
in not too dry a position it grows equally well. Its
small scarlet Pentstemon-like flowers are profusely
borne on spikes 2 feet in length. If stout side
shoots which have not flowered are taken off at the
end of September and inserted in a cold frame, they
will flower freely the following year if planted out
early in April ; old roots can be divided either in
the autumn or spring.
The Spiked Sea Lavender (Statice spicata)
is a capital plant either for the border or rockery,
and lasts a long time in flower either on the plant
or in a cut state. A stock of plants can easily be
raised from seed sown in April in pans of sandy
soil in a cold frame, and planted out when large
enough.
BoccoNiA CORDATA is One of the best dry
weather border subjects we have, owing, no doubt,
to the thick fleshy roots which descend deeply into
the soil. A large stock can quickly be raised from
one plant by cutting the roots into short lengths,
when almost every piece will grow. Independent
of its long branching spikes of creamy white
flowers, the leaves are handsome, being a glaucous
green, with the under side silvery white ; under
good treatment the jilant attains a height of 4 feet
to 5 feet. Nowhere does it show to better advan-
tage than when growing in clumps amongst Rhodo-
dendrons, which it lightens up when these ever-
green plants are dull in the summer. A good
specimen growing on the Grass or by the water's
edge is equally ornamental ; in fact, it can be hardly
planted out of place.
Matricaria inodora plore - pleno. — This
useful Camomile when grown from a selected stock
makes rapid progress when liberally treated, and
is a most desirable subject to grow where white
cut flowers are much in demand. It is best raised
annually from cuttings inserted in a cold frame
early in October and planted out where required
early in April. The reason for raising a stock of
plants every year is that older plants get too large
and straggling if allowed to remain longer than one
season, and they are not so vigorous, and in severe
winters are liable to be killed by frost.
The California Fuchsia (Zauschneria cali-
fornica), with its bright scarlet blossoms, which are
freely produced, is well adapted for a position in
the rockery, where it can have plenty of sun and a
deep root-run. It grows about a foot high, has a
branching habit, is perfectly hardy, and easily in-
creased in the spring by division of the roots. A
smaU portion of rotten leaves or peat mixed with
the ordinary soil suits it admirably.
The Amethyst Sea Holly (Eryngium amethy-
stinum) ]iroduces a capital effect amongst other
plants in the herbaceous borders, and seems to revel
in the hot, dry weather. Its novel colour gradually
changing to a delicate shade of blue harmonises
well with that of other plants. It lasts a long time
in a cut state.
The great O.x-eye Daisy (Leuoanthemum maxi-
mum) is very rapidly increased by dividing the
roots either in the autumn or spring. Its large
Marguerite-looking flowers are freely produced on
stout stems with deep green foliage, which adds
considerably to its attracti\'e appearance. It flowers
generally during August and September.
Helianthus communis fl -PL., commonly called
the perennial Sunflower, is an exceedingly showy
plant where a bright spot of yellow is required. It
is of compact growth, flowering freely ail the sum-
mer, and where deep cultivation is practised it wiU
easily take care of itself in dry weather.
Harpalium kigidum, a small-flowered, single
perennial Sunflower, is another August and Septem-
ber-flowering plant, growing to a height of -1 feet or
5 feet. It is most useful for supplying out flowers,
and when well established requires frequent atten-
tion to prevent it encroaching on weaker subjects.
Francoa appendiculata is seldom seen only
in a few collections of herbaceous plants ; its long,
upright-growing flower-spikes clothed with pink
and white flowers are much enhanced by its robust
foliage of a deep green colour. Di\ision of the
roots is the safest mode of increasing the stock.
The Oswego Tea (Monarda didyma), with its
Bergamot-like scented leaves and flowers, is well
worthy of a place in all collections large or small.
Showy clumps can be grown in a small space. It
grows from 2 feet to 3 feet high, and is easily in-
creased by division of the roots.
Stenactis speciosa is one of the most showy
border plants with which I am acquainted. It will
withstand the dry weather as well as most subjects
of this class. The flowers, of a deep lavender colour
and of Michaelmas Daisy-like character, are pro-
duced in abundance, and last a long time after they
have opened. It grows to a height of 2 feet. If a
large stock of plants is required quickly, take off,
early in October, all the side shoots, dibble them
into a cold frame, keeping it close for a time. The
cuttings, which quickly form roots, will be fit for
planting in the borders or on the rookery early in
April, and will flower freely during the following
July and August.
DiANTHUS chinensis hybeidus is the old-
fashioned Mule Pink, of a pleasing magenta colour,
flowering freely all the summer. For the front of
the borders it is unequalled. As there are various
trains of it, the best should be selected, propagat-
ng by means of cuttings as in the case of other
Pinks.
The double -flowered scarlet Lychnis
(Lychnis chalcedonica fl.-pl.). — Planted three or
four together in a clump, the effect of its rosy ma-
genta-coloured blossoms in the months of May and
June is most striking. As a very severe winter is
likely to destroy it, the safest plan is to break up
the old plants in the autumn into as many pieces
as are required, dibbling them into a cold frame in
October, and transferring them to their summer
quarters at the end of March.
The red Valerian (Centranthus ruber) and its
white ally are desirable subjects to cultivate where
a large collection is grown, or even a small one,
where a bright brick-red colour is required. It
withstands the drought well, flowers freely, and is
easily increased by cuttings in the usual way.
Spir.ea Aruncus is one of the best of this
family for dry weather; in fact, it is almost a
wonder how it flourishes so well considering what
moisture-loving plants Spirneas are. E. M.
Fainted Lady Carnations. — Mr. Douglas in
The Garden (p. 148) draws attention to a collec-
tion of three varieties of those sent him by Mr.
F. W. Burbidge, which he says varies in colour from
"soft rose to pale red, the under side of the petals
whitish, and all very lovely fringed flowers." I have
often seen Mr. Burbidge's Painted Lady Carnations
(the last time being the end of June), and I was
under the impression mine and his were identical,
but mine are not all fringed, while the colour may
be described as very bright rose, shading to white
in the centre. Some years ago when Mr. Douglas
first inquired after those then supposed lost flowers
in The Garden, I sent him cuttings, and as some
of his may still be in flower, he may have an oppor-
tunity of noting the apparent discrepancy. There
is, of course, another supposition that the flowers
are quite distinct from those that came under Mr.
Douglas's notice as grown and reared by Mr. Bur-
bidge. I expect to save some seed from mine this
year, and if it ripens as it promises to do, this
Sept. 3, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
195
time nest yeax I may have some curious varieties,
i£ not a distinctly new strain to send you. Mr.
Douglas seems to liope for varieties with deeper
fringes. They certainly would give greater variety.
— yv. J. MUKPHY, Clmtmcl.
Statice spatliulata. — This beautiful plant is
blooming in one of the pits at Chiswick, and displays
its adaptability for culture in pots. The growth is
denseand tufted, the leavessmooth,narrow,andsmall;
while the flower-stems rise about 1 foot in height,
and bear, in elegant spreading heads, small Ulac-
\ iolet flowers of great beauty. It is a very pretty
Statice, and, like the attractixe S. Besseriana, might
be more often seen in our gardens. A tuft of either
of these kinds in a chink on the rockery would have
a most natural and inviting appearance. They like
a sunny position, but should on no account suffer
from want of water. — E. C.
Sea Heath (Frankenia l;c\is),— Although this
pretty plant is found wild on the eastern coast of
England, it is not often culti\ated in gardens, even
where prostrate creeping herbs are cared for with
an earnest love. It is blooming freely at Brox-
bourne, and the small pink flowers which almost
rest upon the crowded, tiny, and Heath-like glaucous
leaves have a quiet, but interesting beauty. When
planted in a light soil and sunny position it makes
a comparati\ely quick growth, and carpets the
ground with its dense vegetation. We like to see it
planted near stones, so as to cover the facings,
which should be always as far as possible hidden
from view. — E. C.
Dry weather flowers.— A collection of some
forty to fifty distinct kinds of cut flowers, all grown
outdoors, were lately shown at Earley. The collec-
tion consisted of Hollyhocks, Dahlias, Gladioli,
Pentstemons, Gaillardias, Harpaliums, Petunias,
Stocks, Verbenas, Asters, Zinnias, Phlox Drum-
mondi, several beautiful kinds of Salpiglossis, Lilies,
&c,; in fact, far more than can be enumerated.
All these things show, first, what a wealth of out-
door flowers we have which will thrive in heat and
drought ; and, secondly, how abundant are flowers
which are useful for cutting. I noticed in the
gardens at Maiden Erleigh a big patch of double
Zinnias which were carrying ti-uly wonderful flowers,
so beautiful, in fact, that they presented quite a
marked feature in flower culture. The colours were
singularly beautiful, and form and doubleness re-
markable. There will soon be also a fine show of
Asters, drought in these two cases seeming to have
exercised no injurious influence, though doubtless
the water-pot has not been neglected. — A. D.
liOhelia White Perfection. — I have at
various times grown many white Lobelias, but none
of them came up to the desired standard, viz.,
dwarf habit and plenty of large white blooms!
Last spring I had some plants of White Perfection
sent me with a very glowing description, which was
not in the least overdrawn, ifor tliis Lobelia really is
a gTeat_ acquisition to summer bedding plants, and
maintains a continuous succession of blooms
during the entire season. As white-flowered plants,
of habit dwarf enough for edgings or carpet
bedding, are not by any means plentiful, I antici-
pate that this plant will be largely grown as soon as
it is well known. The best way to get a good stock
of plants is to raise them from cuttings, or by divi-
sion. Oar plan is to grow the late-struck lot in
pots during the summer, and about this time to cut
the flowering tops off, and thus cause the develop-
ment of a quantity of healthy shoots. The plants
are thus in good condition for being divided and
planted singly in small pots, or else dibbled into
boxes to stand the winter. In a cool house where
the frost is excluded the plants will keep on grow-
ing gently, and in February they may either have
the shoots taken off for cuttings or be shaken out
and divided as before. The main point is to get
them rooted early, and to keep the flowering shoots
cat close off, thus causing a regular thicket of
growths to spring from the base. The plants must
not be allowed to flower before they are planted
out, but they should be full of shoots with flower-
buds ready to expand, and if planted in deeply
cultivated, well-manured beds they will keep on
flowering all through the season.— J. Gkooji,
Trees and Shrubs.
SUMMER FLOWERING SHRUBS.
Although it now is the 18th of July we still have
many shrubs and woody Vines in bloom, which add
gaily to our display of garden flowers.
KOELEBUTERiA PANicuLATA has terminal ample
panicles of small, yellow flowers, which on account
of their great abundance are quite showy ; they now
are beginning to fall and to be succeeded by" blad-
dery pods. As an isolated specimen, it forms a very
pretty little tree.
The small Buckeye (.Esculus parviflora) is very
fine. It forms a compact, but spreading bush some
B feet to 12 feet wide by i feet to !) feet high, and
now every branchlet is "terminated by an upright
raceme-like panicle of whitish fragrant flowers with
prominent capOlarystamens. Old established plants
were at their best a week ago, while specimens
transplanted last spring are in full flower now.
Stuaetia PENTAC4YXA, a bushy shrub, 4 feet to
« feet high in our gardens, and indigenous to the
Alleghanies, has been in bloom for two or three
weeks, and still is flowering freely. The flowers
are large, white, showy, and, except for their ragged
edges, not unlike those of single Camellias.
Azaleas in bloom include some white-flowering
Ghent varieties, also A. arboresoens of our southern
mountains, and the clammy False Honeysuckle (A.
viscosa) of our swamps.
Hydeaxgeas add largely to our list. We have
masses of the Oak-leaved (H. quercifolia) some in
full bloom and others a little past that condi-
tion. H. radiata has flat cymes of dull white flowers
notat all conspicuous, butwhen coupled with thevery
silvery (the under side only) foliage, they render the
plantattractive. H.arborescens.anotherof ournative
varieties, is also in full bloom, flowers whitish, and in
flat cymes. H. paniculata (the species and not the
variety common in gardens and known as H. p. var.
grandiflora) is in capital flower with us just now,
and very showy it is. Some of the panicles are 1.8
inches long. Not one of the H. p. grandiflora will
be in bloom for some weeks to come.
The slender stems of Lespedeza bicolor are bend-
ing under their load of small purple Pea flowers.
This is an acquisition among late-flowering shrubs,
and quite different from Desmodium penduliflorum,
which will not come into bloom for some time yet.
Among yellow blooms we have nothing neater or
brighter than Cytisus nigricans. It forms a com-
pact bush, 2 feet to 3 feet high, and in July every
shoot is terminated by a spike of bright golden
flowers. These are now nearly over. Cytisus capi-
tatus blooms at the same time and lasts "till August.
It is of compact habit and has woody foliage and
yellow flowers in terminal bunches. The Calif ornian
Privet (a Japanese species) is still in bloom. We
cannot regard it as a first-class flowering shrub.
Still when we behold it as it may now be seen in
Prospect Park, as full of flowers a"s any Deutzia, I
do not see why we should omit it. Isolate and give
it an open place, and it will assume that firm, stocky
nature so favourable to free-blooming.
Hypeeiciti aueeum is the best of the St. John's-
worts. It comes into bloom about the 1st of July
and keeps on flowering until August. The flowers
are large and showy, and towards the end of their
season only marred by being mixed up with so many
seed-pods and past blooms. The bushes are 2 feet
to 3 feet high and 3 feet to i feet wide. H. pyra-
midatum, H. kalmianum, H. si^hKrocarpum, and H.
prolificum are also in bloom. They do not differ
much in contour, but all are inferior to H. aureum.
H. patulum and H. calycinum, both showy sorts, are
also in flower. They get killed to the ground
every winter, but come up in spring, and thus are
more like herbaceous than shrubby plants.
We have many miscellaneous things among
Spirreas, such as S. salicif olia and its varieties, now in
seasonable bloom ; others as some forms of S. callosa
blooming a secondtime. Wehave a form of S. callosa,
known as eximia, which for continuance in bloom
supersedes all others ; it comes in in June and lasts
till autumn. The curious Yarrow-leaved Spirtea
(S. millefolium) is now at its best. It has terminal
panicles of white, but not showy, flowers.
A^iTEX incisa is in full bloom. Its bluish purple
flowers last a long time.
Callicaepa ameeicaxa is also in flower. Its
small bluish flowers clustered close to the shoots
would not of themselves be showy enough to war-
rant for it a place in our gardens, but the beautiful
violet-blue fraits that succeed the flowers later on
are too pretty to be overlooked.
Of Buddleias, we have two species, namely, B.
curvifolia and B. Lindleyana, in bloom, but they are
a little coarse in habit in rich ground. The flowers
are bluish purple in terminal racemes, and not showy.
Yucca filamkxtosa, in its several forms, has
been grand ; it is now passing out of bloom. It
may be associated with shrubs.
The Chinese Wistaela has been in bloom a
second time, and a few straggling clusters still hang
upon the vines. The Japanese Wistaria does not
bloom a second time like the Chinese one.
The sweet little Daphne Cneorum is dotted over
with fragrant pink flowers. This little Evergreen
does dearly lo\-e a cool, moist soil, and a thin shad-
ing from a warm sunshine in summer, and also in
winter.
The " smoke " of the Smoke Tree (Rhus Cotinus)
is about over. Better cut it off and clear it away
before the wind scatters it all about.
_ The Carolina Allspice (Calycanthus) con-
tinues to bloom all through the summer; though its
flowers are not showy, we love them for their fra-
grance.
The little Lead plant (Amorpha canescens) is
now in bloom. It has soft, hoary leaves and violet-
purple flowers, not showy, but interesting.
Cladeastis AMUEENSis has whitish flowers, but
not to be compared with those of our Yellow-wood
for beauty or fragrance. Trees bloom when quite
small. Now going past.
The Button Lush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
is still in bloom. Although one of our native shrubs,
indigenous to water margins and swamps, it makes
a capital garden shrub if grown in slightly shaded
ground.
Rhododendkon maximum is lingering with us
still. Lovely in the woods and mountains, but in
face of the multitude of beautiful garden varieties
we now have, barely worth introducing into small
gardens.
The shrubby Cinquefoil (PotentOlafruticosa)
is not choice or showy enough for small gardens,
but in large gardens interesting and worth growing,
on account of its long and late season of blooming.
IxcAEA-iLLEA 0LG.E is a frce-flowering suffruti-
cose plant related to the Bignonias. Old plants
come into bloom in June, and continue to flower,
more or less, all through the summer. It is casUy
raised from seed, and seedlings a year old bloom
freely. A recent introduction from Central Asia.
Quite hardy here.
Kereia, Rhodotypos and Rubus odoratus are
still in bloom, but their beauty is long past.
The Smooth Sumach (Rhus glabra) and its
laciniated-leaved variety are in bloom, or a little
past, but they are not very ornamental as flowering
shrubs. Osbeck's Sumach will not be in bloom for
a week or two. Our specimen has thrown up a
good many suckers this season.
Wild Roses are abundant in bloom about our
swamps, and Rosa rugosa, red and white, continue in
bloom in the garden.
The Teumpet Creeper (Tecoma radicans) is in
magnificent condition on pillars, trees, trellises or
wherever grown. Tecoma grandiflora, a magnificent
species from China and Japan, is also in bloom, but
not yet at best with us. It enjoys the warm front
of a building or other sheltered position.
196
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 3 1887.
Among some Honeysuckles still in bloom on our
pillars and trellises, a very strong-growing yellow-
flowering kind, sent to me as Lonioera gigantea, is
especially fine.
Chestnuts, Lindens, Catalpis, Elders, Mock
Oranges, Deutzias, Snowballs, and many others have
gone past since July came in. But Chinese Tamarix
and Japanese Sophora, Clethras, Alth^is, Di-
morphanthus. Sorrel tree and some others are not
yet in bloom. — W. Falconer, in Country GcMli-
The Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus glandulosas).
— A large female tree of this in a garden here
flowered for the lirst time, I am told, this summer,
and has lately been ciivered with fruit, principally
towards the top of the tree. The bunches of fruit,
like the keys of the A.sh, but of a bright red colo\ir,
gave the tree a very striking appearance. Some
of the fallen fruits which I picked up contained
seed, but whether fertile or not I cannot s.ay.
Another tree about two miles away flowered at
about the same time, but whether male or female I
did not notice. Is the fruiting an uncommon
occurrence ?— W. A. Shoolbred, St. Amis, Chep-
stoiv.
The Bladder Sennas (Coluteas).— In any selec-
tion of shrubs for dry, sandy spots these must find
a place, fur during this very hot summer, when most
of their associates have been dried up, the Bladder
Sennas have not only retained their freshness, but
have flowered and fruited more freely than usual.
Seeds, from which plants can be easily obtained,
ripen freely, and among the seedlings there is often
a considerable amount of variation. Several names
are to be found in various catalogues, but the most
distinct are C. arboresoena and C. cruenta. The
first of these (C. arboresoens) is of free, rapid
growth, and is the hardiest of the genus. The
flowers are yellow, and borne from midsummer till
nearly the end of August, while the large inflated
seed-pods, which form such a prominent feature,
are mostly of a reddish green tint. In some speci-
mens they are, even when ripe, quite green, but
generally tinged with red. The other (C. cruenta)
is rather less vigorous than C. arborescons, while
the blooms are of a bronzy red colour, and the pods
of a much deeper hue than even the deepest
coloured specimens of C. arborescens.— T.
Ferns.
W. H. GOWER.
CINCINALIS.
This genus was established by D.^svaux, an
eminent French botanist and writer on Ferns.
It contains but a few species, which Smith .says
"resemble in habit Platyloma calomelanos and
its allies, but are more delicate; their imperfect
indusium and broad compound sori show them
to be related to Platyloma." They are included
in Nothochlivna by Hooker.
The plants here included in the genus are
small-growing, elegant, and compact, most of
them natives of warm climates, and under culti-
vation enjoy the temperature of a stove. They
should be potted in a compost consisting of loam,
peat, and sand, and on account of their delicate
nature must not be overpotted. The plants are
not long-lived, but as they seed freely, an annual
supply of young ones may be easily maintained.
C. NivEA.— An elegant and delicate Fern, the
fronds of which vary from :i inches or 4 inches to
1 foot in length, the latter size being exceptional.
They are three times divided (tripinnate), the seg-
ments being small, distant, ovate, and entire bluish
green on the upper side, clothed beseath with a
white farinose powder, the main stem and side
branches being dark brown. It is found in Mexico
and Peru.
C. HooKBBi, of which our figure is an excellent
illustration, does not appear to have been found in
a wild state by any collector. It first appeared in
a garden in Notts, and was distributed under
the name of nivea, from which, however, it is very
distinct. The main stem is jet-black, the pinnules
are closer set, and the ultimate segments smaller
and of ten-times lobed ; it also produces a greater
number of fronds than nivea, and forms a more
compact and handsome plant. Upper side of frond
deep green, the underside being densely covered
with a snow-white farinose powder,
G. FLAVBNS. — In general habit this species is in-
termediate between the two previously named kinds.
Its stems are ebony-black; fronds deep green above,
covered beneath with a brilliant yellow farina, the
marginal sori being jet-black. This plant is, with
out exception, one of the most beautiful Ferns
known. It first ajipeared in cultivation in a nursery
at Potsdam, in Prussia, from whence it was distri-
buted under the erroneous name of Nothoch'aDaa
Cineinalis Hooka:
chrysophylla. It is the Acrostichum flavens "of old
authors. Native of Central America.
C. TENERA. — This plant is similar in appearance
to C. Hookeri, but its segments are larger and more
oblong, the stems are deep brown, the upper side of
frond deep green, paler beneath, and quite destitute
of farina. Native of Chili.
C. PULCHELLA, although similar in general outline
to the preceding kinds, is somewhat more coriaceous
in texture, which has led Hooker to place it in his
genus Pulhca. Its stems are deep chestnut-brown,
and the segments, quite destitute of farinose pow-
der, are deep green on both sides. It is of Mexican
origin.
C. Fendlbki is a rare and little-known species.
The stems are deep chestnut-brown and flexuose;
fronds somewhat triangular in outline, and three-
times divided, the segments being obtusely oblong,
deep green above, and clothed with a white farinose
powder beneath. New Mexico.
THE ELEPHANT'S-EAR FERN.
(HrilENODir.M CRINITU.M.)
This is a remarkably bold, massive, and hand-
some Fern. It requires stove temperature and a
moist atmosphere, otherwise its fronds are liable
to become parched at the edges, which greatly
disfigures it. When grown in a pot it forms a
massive ornament, but it is especially effective
when planted upon a prominent boulder of a
naturally arranged fernery, in such a position
tliat it stands out free from any other kind.
Grown in this way its peculiar character is very
distinct. In whatever position it is grown, how-
ever, the drainage must be good ; the soil should
consist of equal parts loam and peat, witli some
sharp sand added. It forms a short, stout, de-
cumbent rhizome, which is densely clothed with
large jet-black chaffy scales ; the footstalks are
stout and profusely clothed with long black
hairs, fronds simple, oblong or ovate, the infer-
tile ones from 12 inches to 18 inches long, and
from 0 inches to 9 inches broad ; usually, how-
ever, they are somewhat smaller ; the colour is
deep green, and both surfaces are furnished
with numerous long black hairs, which stand
erect ; it is also densely fringed round the edge
witli long black hairs ; the fertile frond is in-
variably the smallest, and its under surface is
completely covered with brown sori. Native of
the West Indies, appearing to be plentiful in
the island of Jamaica. W. H. G.
Orchids.
HOULLETIAS.
The plants comprising this genus produce small
ovate pseudo-bulbs, which bear a single, large,
strongly ribbed, deep green, leathery leaf, and
altogether are very Stanliopea-like in general
appearance. They are very near relatives of
the Stanhopeas, the chief differences being their
spreading sepals and petals, and a lip jointed in
the middle, as well as the stout, erect (not
pendulous) raceme of bloom. They are usually
termed ejiiphytes, but are found growing upon
the ground amongst very light fibrous matter
and Moss in the mountain forests at consider-,
able elevations. Houlletias are not so popular
as they deserve to be with lovers of Orchids,
many asserting that they are shy bloomers and
difficult to maintain in a healthy condition.
Where these difficulties are encountered we
venture to predict they arise from the plants
having been kept in too high a temperature, for
plants that grow in th e mountains of New Grenad a
at 6000 feet elevation and upwards do not re-
quire strong heat. The drainage for Houlletias
must be maintained in good condition, as any-
thing stagnant about them soon produces dis-
ease and death. They grow best in rough
fibrous peat (from which every particle of mould
has been shaken), witli a little Sphagnum Moss
added. During the growing season they enjoy
a liberal supply of water. After tlieir growth is
completed they must not be kept entirely dry.
The temperature of the Odontoglossum or cool
Fern house suits these plants admii'ably, with
the exception of one species (H. Brockle-
hur.stiana), which is said to be found at low
elevations in Brazil. It succeeds best in an
intermediate house.
H. TIGEINA has flowers some 4 inches across;
sepals oblong, concave and acuminate, about 2 inches
long and an inch broad, fleshy in texture, pale yellow
Sept. 3, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
197
tinged with green, irregularly blotched with choco-
late-brown and flushed with rose ; petals narrower,
three-lobed, rich yellow, blotched with bright
crimson ; lip narrow in the basal part, white trans-
versely banded with purple, and bearing on each
side an erect, falcate, horn-like process ; the front
lobe broad, and shaped somewhat like a blunt spade
or trowel, creamy white tinged with greenish yellow,
and speckled with little dots of chocolate and
crimson.
H. PICTA. — This very distinct and handsome plant
produces a scape some" 18 inches high, bearing from
six to ten flowers, which measure about 31 inches
over; the sepals are broader than the petals, all
plain and similarly coloured, apical half cinnamon-
brown, lower half yellow, transversely banded with
cinnamon blotches ; both sepals and petals greenish
yellow on the outside ; lip hastate in front
and recurved, narrow at the base, bearing on
each side a short falcate horn, ground colorr
yellow, ornamented with transverse lines of
reddish purple. It grows at some 6000 feet
elevation in New Grenada.
H. ODOKATISSIMA. — The flowers of this
species are nodding, somewhat smaller th; n
either the previously-named kinds, and yield
a perfume resembling Violets. The sepals
and petals are about equal, reddish purple ;
lip white, the sickle-shaped processes on
the sides, near the base, being of the same
colour as the petals ; the front portion tipped
with yeUow ; column large and thickest : t
the tip, white. Native of the province cf
Loto, Rio Magdalena.
H. ODOEATISSIMA AXTIOQTJIEXSIS. — Th's
fine form differs from the type in its sepals
and petals being wholly rich deep purjilish
red colour, the sepals being much broader
than the petals ; the lip is white and similar
in shape to that of the species. Native
of the province of Antioquia, in Colombia.
H. CHEYSAXTHA. — The scape of this
plant is beautiful carmine, and bears about
sis flowers, the whole of which are golden
yellow, the inside being blotched with choco-
late-red ; the lip dotted with crimson. Na-
tive of the province^ of Antioquia, in
Colombia.
H. Beocklehtjestlana. — This is the best-
known species, and is now blooming in Mr.
Williams' nursery, at Holloway ; the flowers
are supported upon a stout dull-purple scape ;
they are very fragrart, and nearly i inches
across ; sepals and petals spathulate, dull
brown, profusely spotted with purplish
brown ; lip creamy white, blotched and
striped with purple. It requires a slightly
higher temperature than either of the pre-
ceding kinds, being a native of the pro-
vince of Rio Janeiro, on the Organ Moun-
tains.
Other kinds recorded, but which I have
not seen, are H. Langsbergi, H. odoratissima
xanthina, and H. vittata. I should be glad
to hear from anyone who possesses either or
all of them, recording their distinguishing
characters and colours.
becoming pale towards the margiu, veined througliout
with Hues of deep violet, and bearing several raised
ridges ou the disc. This beautiful plant is now flower-
ing in the intermediate house in Mr. Measures' gardeu
at CamherweU.— W. H. G.
■ REN ANTHER A LOWI.
This plant is better known in English gardens
by the name of Vanda Lowi, and is often er-
roneously written Vanda Lowei. It difl'ers from
Vanda, however, in having its spur in the
middle — not at the base of the lip — and in this
organ being jointed at the base. It seem.s to be
peculiar to the island of Borneo, where it is said
to be found on trees and rocks in the hottest
SHORT NOTES.— ORCHIDS.
Aerides Eohanianum. — We have received from
Mr. John Clark, Link's Place, Leith, a very fine spike
of this new and rare species. It would appear to be
nearly alhed to the suavissima section. The raceme
was upwards of a foot long and dense, the flowers
being deliciously fragrant ; sepals and petals white ;
side lobes of lip citron-yellow, the spur being dotted
with pm-ple. It is a very handsome form, and valuable
as an autumn bloomer. — W. H. G.
Miltonia Fetersiana. — This is a new species,
apparently intermediate between M. Kegnelli and M.
Moreliana, with the growth, habit, and inflorescence
similar to the first-named kind. The sepals and petals
are large and spreading, wholly deep purplish ifiolet ;
lip large and flat, bright purplish violet in centre,
Renanthera Lowi.
districts, and in the neighbourhood of water.
In cultivation it is usually placed in the
warmest part of the East India house, but re-
cent observations lead me to believe that this
species will thrive equally well and flower more
freely in a much cooler temperature than is
usually accorded it. A notable example of this
is to be found in the collection of Mr. Measures
at Cambridge Lodge, Camberwell, where there
exists a grand specimen in the rudest health,
which, for the last two years at least, has been
subjected to a temperature not higher than 60°
in winter, at which time, however, it must not
be allowed to become dry. This plant is some
7 feet high, bearing twelve pairs of leaves
of the richest green ; it has two spikes of
bloom, which, however, are not yet fuUy grown,
and the flowers are not expanded. Another
example is the famous plant from the once cele-
brated collection of Consul Schiller, near Ham-
burg. The plant has been for a long time in
the possession of Mr. James, of Norwood, where
it is certainly kept very cool, and its accommo-
dation is far from first-rate. The plant is about
7 feet high, and in most robust health. It is pro-
ducing several strong side shoots, from which a
stock of home-grown plants may soon be ex-
pected. It is so difiicult to import in good
condition, that it seems almost hopeless to ex-
pect to increase the numbers by these means.
Mr. James's plant has flowered in the position
it now occupies, the spike reaching some 12 feet
in length, and it bore three yellow flowers at
the base of the spike ; the fourth basilar flower
also was partly yellow, the usual number of
these singular flowers being two only on each
spike.
Renanthera Lowi, figured in the annexed en-
graving, was discovered by, and named in honour
of. Sir Hugh Low, the brother of Mr. Stuart
Low of the Clapton Nurseries, and is an erect
plant, with a stout stem ; the leaves are ar-
ranged in a two-ranked manner ; they are \\ feet
long, so that the plant measures upwards of a
yard from tip to tip of its leaves ; the spikes are
pendulous, and much longer than the plant. The
flowers are dimorphous ; the two basal ones are
tawny-yellow, ornamented with large crimson
dots ; the ground colour of the other flowers is
greenish yellow, transversely banded with
blotches of reddish brown. W. H. G.
SEASONABLE ORCHID NOTES.
Wb have usually repotted some of the occupants of
the East Indian house at this season— Odonto-
glossum Roezli, &c., but last year and also this they
were repotted in June at the same time as 0. vexil-
larium. This is a good time to repot nearly all the
Cypripediums requiring a warm temperature. Some
of them, such as C. niveum and C. Spicerianum, like
a large proportion of turfy loam in the potting soil.
The pretty C. niveum does not seem to thrive in all
gardens, but if the treatment is right, there is no
reason why it should not succeed as well in one
place as it does in another. I think the finest pan
of this species I ever saw was in the garden of Sir
Trevor Lawrence, Bart., at Burford Lodge, grown by
the late Mr. J. Spyers. Its potting compound was
two-thirds yellow loam, one-sixth nodules of chalk,
and one-sixth coarse leaf-mould. The pan contain-
ing the plants was placed quite close to the glass, and
where it was well exposed to the light. C. concolor
may also be treated to this compost. I find them
both difficult to grow, but have not tried the nodules
of chalk. C. Spicerianum, on the other hand, is an
exceedingly free-growing species. C. Dominianum
is the most vigorous of them all; we grow it in the
warmest house, and it requires not only a good
shift at potting time, but should be repotted every
year. The hybrid C. grande is a more vigorous
grower, but this is kept in the Cattleya house dur-
ing the summer months.
Lailia elegans and L. pnrpurata may be repotted
now, and after being cleaned and shUted, they do
better in a high temperature to start them into
vigorous growth. They are now ready to start into
active growth. I may add that we have potted
these handsome Lselias as soon as the flowering
period was over, and also in September, and have
had equally good results. I called recently upon a
good Orchid grower, who showed me plants of
Lajlia purpurata that had not been repotted for
three or four years ; his contention was that as
long as the plants kept in good health, it was better
not to repot them. I maintain that it would be a
grave error to allow a plant to suffer by being root-
198
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 3, 1887.
bound before repotting it. The probabilities are
that it would not recover again very speedily. We
repot our Lajlia purpurata biennially, and they seem
to do well with the treatment, and increase the
number of their strong flowering sheaths annually.
In repotting some growers simply place the plant
with its pot inside a larger one, filling the space
between with potting stuff ; this is, I think, a
clumsy method of dealing with Lielias or Cattleyas,
not to be recommended. In order to save the best
roots it is necessary to break the pots in which the
plants are growing, removing the broken portions
carefully to prevent injury to the roots. Many roots
will get broken notwithstanding all the care that
may be taken of them. The compost has usually
become decayed into a powder, and is not at all
fitted to give vigour to the roots. All this useless
material should be picked out with a pointed stick,
and its place supplied with good fibrous peat.
Sphagnum, and clean potsherds ; we also use char-
coal, but I do not think this material is of such
great value as we have usually been led to believe.
When it has once become thoroughly saturated
with water, its useful properties have disappeared.
The pots should be at least half full of drainage.
At the present time the greatest heat is kept up
where the Dendrobiums are making their growth.
These we usually repot as soon as the flowering
period is over ; after that the plants will stand a
temperature of 90° to 100° after the house has
been shut up in the afternoon. The plants also re-
quire a considerable supply of moisture at the roots,
and as soon as the growths are completed the plants
must be removed to a cooler house. Most of the
Madagascar AngrsECums and Phali\;nopsids luxuriate
in this house.
In the Cattleya house, the growths of Cattleya
Trianse are now mostly completed. The plants
until now have been well supplied with water at the
roots ; but this must be gradually reduced, else they
will start again, especially if the plants are young.
The same remark applies to C. Mossife and C.
Mendeli. When once their growths are completed,
they must be carefully attended to in order that no
second growths should be made. We have at the
present time plants of C. Mendeli which have made
their growths ; others have not long been started,
and their perfectfuture developmentdepends greatly
upon the care they receive as regards watering.
This is the resting period of C. Warneri, and the
plants must he kept very dry it they are intended to
flower well next year. Those who complain of this
species not flowering freely probably do not take
account of the desirability of giving the plants a long
resting period; even when they do start into growth
it is not desirable to water too freely. The time to
give liberal supplies of water is when the plants
begin to root freely from the liase of the pseudo-bulbs.
C. -Lawrenceana is also completing its growth.
This species also seems as if a good resting period
until the time when the flowers begin to rise from
the sheaths would benefit it, following in this re-
spect the nearly allied C. Skinneri. The richly col-
oured C. Peroivaliana has also completed its growth
and should, be kept comparatively dry at the roots,
but this species if kept too dry is apt to refuse to
expand its flowers, which dry up in the sheaths.
I recommended the repotting of Odontoglossums in
the spring last year, but prefer to repot now. They
have time to become established before the winter,
and being well rooted in the spring they start into
vigorous growth at once. Masdevallias and any
other occupants of the cool house may be repotted
in September. During the hot weather it has been
trying work to keep [plants free from insect pests.
Green fly on the spikes of Odontoglossums, and red
spider on some of the Masdevallias, have been very
prevalent. This last is a troublesome pest on the
leaves of the Chiuin'roid group, and soon makes
them black if it is not washed off with water in which
soft soap mixed with some Tobacco liquor has been
dissolved. Tobacco water will destroy both thrips
and red spider, while soapy water will .not touch
them. ,T. Douglas.
able as an autumn bloomer. The panicles are
upwards of 2 feet long and many-flowered ; the
sepals and petals are white, transversely banded
with reddish purple, the lip being pure white.
Numerous examples of this chaste and beautiful
kind are now flowering in Mr. Laing's nursery at
Forest Hill. There is also a pure white form of
this plant, but it still remains scarce. It is a native
of Mexico, and although not requiring great heat, do-
lights in an abundance of sun and light. — W. H. G.
Aerides Godefroyae. — A spike of this rare
species has been sent by Mr. Simpkins, gardener to
Mr. R. J. Measures, of Camberwell. It is one of the
most beautiful species in the genus, belonging to
the maculosum section, and is a rival to Aerides
Schrcederi itself. The raceme is more than a foot
long, bearing about two dozen large flowers ; sepals
and petals large, broad, and incurved; lateral sepals
largest, all waxy white, more or less spotted with
purple, and flushed with pale purple towards the
tips ; the lip is somewhat spade-shaped, large, and
slightly convex, deep rosy purple, paler towards the
margin ; spur curved, small, white and green at the
tips.— W. H. G.
Cattleya velutina. — Although this cannot be
considered a very gay-coloured species, yet it is
thoroughly distinct, and, moreover, flowers at the
dullest time in the year for Orchids. Good forms
of it are now flowering in Mr, Measures' garden at
Camberwell. The sepals and petals are bronzy
brown, spotted with dull crimson ; front lobe of lip
large, creamy white, covered with a coating of close
soft hair, copiously veined with broad radiating lines
of bright lilac, and bordered with light brown ; the
basal portion small, rolled over the column, and
white. It thrives at the coolest end of the inter-
mediate house. — W. H. G.
Oncidium incurvum. — Although an old and
somewhat small-flowered species, this is invalu-
Stove and Greenhouse.
T. BAINES.
RHOPALAS.
In designing a conservatory attached to a dwell-
ing, it often happens that the fitness of the
structure for the growth of plants is a secondary
consideration, appearance and harmony with
the building being the only matters taken into
account ; whilst the position of tlie structure —
an equally important matter to the well-being
of the plants to be grown in it — may be set down
as accidental, through the fact that a conserva-
tory of this description is usually jjlaced where
something is wanted to fill a vacant corner and
give effect to the mansion ; the site often being
on the north or north-eastern aspect, the plants
cannot thrive as they ought. There is no remedy
for this, as the conservatory must of necessity
be subordinate to the building. Under such
circumstances, the only resource is to select for
the permanent occupants such kinds of plants
as are able to live and maintain a healthy ap-
pearance in positions of this kind. Fortunately,
there are a good many with handsome foliage
that will succeed under adverse influences such
as would render the generality of flowering
species more of an eyesore than an ornament.
Amongst those that are best able to succeed
where the majority fail are Rhopalas. They are
indigenous to the cooler parts of South America.
Some of them attain the dimensions of small or
moderate-sized trees, but, nevertheless, they do
well when grown in pots, in which, with suitable
treatment, they may be kept for many years. The
habit of the plants is erect, with little disposition
to branch out ; in fact, they look best when
confined to one or two shoots that are allowed
to grow naturally. The leaves of the favourite
species are elegant in form, pinnate, and very
long. In appearance the leaves resemble those
of the well-known hardy Sumach, or of the
Japanese Silkworm tree (Ailanthus glandulo-
sus), but much longer than those of either of
the above-named trees. Their arched drooping
form adds much to the elegance of the plants.
The hard texture of the leaves gives them an
endurance beyond that of most things, and for
decorative use in structures of the character
noticed this is a matter of importance.
R. corcovadensis may be set down as the best
for general use ; where required it can be grown
to a height of 15 feet or more without more
root-room than a 16-inch or 18-inch pot will
afford. The plant attains this size whilst its
leaves are still in a healthy condition down to the
base. This and several other species that I have
grown will all thrive in heat, though they suc-
ceed in a greenhouse temperature. They are
propagated by cuttings made of the shoots when
the wood has become moderately firm, but not
too hard. The cuttings should consist of two
joints ; remove the leaf from the lower joint,
and shorten that attached to the joint above, so
as to leave it 6 inches or 8 inches long. Five or
six cuttings may be put in a 6-inch pot, which
drain and half fill with a mixture of sand and
fine loam, the surface sand alone. Cover with a
propagating glass, or confine in a propagating pit
in a temperature of 65° to 70°, or a little more
will do no harm. Cuttings of plants of this
character naturally do not root so quickly as
those with softer wood; but if put in about
August or the beginning of September, at which
time the wood will in most cases be in right
condition, they will root before spring and make
some top-growth, when they should be moved
singly into 3-inch or 4-inch pots drained and
filled with good loam, to which some sand should
be added. Pot moderately firm, and if during
the first summer the plants can have stove
or intermediate heat so much the better.
Wlien the roots have begun to move and top-
growth has started, stand the plants where they
will have plenty of light, for although, as pre-
viously intimated, the foliage is naturally stout
and of a lasting description, it is necessary for
the plants whilst growing to be placed under the
most favourable conditions for the strengthen-
ing of the foliage. Shade from the sun in
bright weather and syringe freely overhead
in the afternoons during the growing sea-
son. When the plants are assisted with
genial warmth they may require larger pots
liefore the end of summer ; where this is found
necessary they must have a shift, as it will not
do to lot them suffer for want of root-room.
By the end of September shade will not bo
needed, and syringing may be discontinued.
The plants require the soil to be kept fairly
moist during the time they are making growth,
and it must not be allowed to get dry through
the winter. If they can be kept warm dur-
ing winter it will greatly assist them, as al-
though there may be little movement in their
tops the roots will keep active, and under such
conditions they will begin to grow much earlier
in spring. In this way a useful size will be
much sooner attained. As soon as found requi-
site, in spring, give pots two sizes larger ; use
good turfy loam with enough sand added to
prevent its becoming too close and adhesive.
After the roots have again begun to move and
the weather has got warm, greenhouse tempe-
rature will be sufficient. Treat in other respects
as before, giving more jjit room each season as
it is required.
Where the plants are intended ultimately to
be located in a lofty, indifferently lighted struc-
ture, it is well to grow them on for a time under
more favourable conditions until they have at-
tained size and strength to enable them to better
withstand the adverse influence.
Rhopalas are usually four or five years before
they become unsightly through loss of leaf-
Sept. 3, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
199
age. When they get bare at the bottom they
may be headed down to within 12 inches or
15 inches of the pots ; it is not necessary
to reduce the tops more than this, as the
new leaves that will be made will be long enough
to come down over the pots. Early in spring,
before growth commences, is the right time to
head down ; as soon as the plants are thus cut
back they should be moved into heat. When they
have made G inches of new growth, turn them
out of the pots, and clear away as much of the
old soil as can be done without interfering
with the roots, replacing it with new, and,
if necessary, giving larger pots. Encourage
growth by treatment such as recommended dur-
ing the earlier stages of the plant's existence,
and as soon as growth has begun to move after
potting, thin the shoots out so as to leave two
to go on. These will give the plants a more
fully furnished appearance than if they were
confined to a single shoot. If shoots of equal
strength are retained, thej' generally go on ex-
tending equally. Cut-back plants grow very
much faster than young one.s. When the young
shoots have made enough progress to render
them effective, the plants may be moved to
their permanent quarters in the conservatory,
where, stood amongst such things as Camellias,
C3'cads, Palms, and Tree Ferns, the erect-grow-
ing Rhopalas add much to the appearance of the
whole. Their distinct, stately growth, with
their handsome and equally distinct foliage,
contrast agreeably with other things.
They will bear repeated heading down in the
way described. I have had a plant of R. cor-
covadensis that was cut down four or five times
and was as vigorous afterwards as it was when
younger. This species I consider the best for
all purposes ; it is a quick grower, soon running
up to a height of 15 feet or 16 feet. It has
bold, handsome, drooping leaves of great sub-
stance, dark glossy green in colour when ma-
tured. In their early stages they, like the
wood, are thickly covered with reddish brown
hairs, that give the surface an appearance exactly
like silk plush, affording a marked contrast to
the old leaves.
Of other species that are worth growing may
be named R. Jonghi, which also has large, stout
foliage ; R. Porteana, a distinct and handsome
species ; and R. magnifica, a moderate-sized
species, differing in appearance from the others
mentioned.
SHORT NOTES.— STOVE AND QREENHOVSE.
The ■Willow-leaved Acacia (Acacia saligna). —
Mr. E. Touks, Packwood Grange, sends us a very
beautiful spray of the above. It is a very graceful
and showy variety. Mr. Tonks says it is the best
Acacia he knows, as it blooms in winter as well as in
summer.
White Plumbago eapensis. — Is there not
some mistake in one of your contributors (p. 1G2)
stating that this plant lias been introduced from the
Cape by Mr. Watson, as I have seen the plant for
several years past both growing and flowering in this
country Y If by the note the writer meant that the
individual plant there refeiTed to had been brought
liome by Mr. Watson, it should have been so stated :
but why remark at all upon the fact of one's " can-ying
L-oals to Xewcastle " )' — Botanicus.
Habrothamnus. — In the article on these plants
in The Gaeden, August 20 (p. 149), no mention is
made of their showy fruits, which, in the case of a
large established specimen, add so much to the
beauty of the plant. The berries are about the
size of small Cherries, of a purplish red colour, and
are borne in large clusters on the ends of the
branches. When planted out so that a specimen is
growing- freely, it is often studded at the same time
with chisters of flowers and ripe fruit. In the
emperate house at Kew both the berries and
lilossoms make a goodly winter display, li un-
disturbed the berries will remain on till the spring.
— H. P.
THE AURICULA.
We are now in the middle of the re-potting of the
show and alpine Auriculas, and hope to finish them
by the end of August. Many persons may think
tliis is very late. May haxing been frequently chosen
as the best month in which to re-pot the plants.
As a matter of fact we are sometimes early with
them, and we leave the work for anything else that
is more important, but as the best plants were set
apart to gather seeds from, and as the seeds did not
ripen until the end of July, the work could not be
performed sooner. OfEsets not bearing seeds can be
re-potted as they require it. The Rev. F. D. Horner
called here on August 18, and told me that he had
not yet finished all his re-potting, and added he
had come to the conclusion that the time of re-
potting was not of vital importance, some of his
exhibition plants not having been re-potted for two
years. I can add further, that some of the best
plants I ever exhibited were re-potted as late as
October.
In writing a short article on the Auricula, it may
not be amiss to start with the time of re-potting in
August or September, for we seldom re-pot the
alpines until that month. The staple material is
good turfy loam, pretty well decayed. Tear this
up by hand, and add to it one part decayed manure,
one part leaf-mould, some sharp sand, and if the
loam is heavy, a little fibrous peat. We use rather
small pots, especially at this season. I never re-
gretted re-potting a valuable plant in a pot that was
too small, but have often done so when it was too
large ; the plants get into bad health and may not
recover again until they are turned out and re-
potted. I saw the evil of over-potting Auriculas
when I first began to cultivate them. The Middle-
ton and other Lancashire silk-weavers had become
celebrated for the skill with which they managed
to grow these plants, but I found on visiting some
of their gardens that they erred sadly by over-
potting. Plants that ought to have been growing in
4-inch were in 7-inch pots ; the laced Polyanthuses
were in the same plight, but they seemed to thrive
better in too large pots than Auriculas did. The
system of using such large pots for a small plant
like the Auricula has perhaps disappeared under
the enlightening influence of a better system advo-
cated by the Rev. F. U. Horner and other good
growers. I never use larger than 5-inch ones ; they
are termed large forty-eights, and are used for full-
grown examples of some of the strongest growers,
such as Robert Traill (Lightbody), Colonel Champ-
neys (Turner), Frank (Simonite), John Simonite
(Walker), &o. The small forty-eights vary in size
from less than 4 inches diameter to 4J inches. We
always drain the pots well, for we must not forget
that our favourites are alpines, and many of them
are far from being so vigorous as the Primula Auri-
cula. The more delicate the constitution of the
plants, the smaller pots do they require.
Before the plants are shifted the roots must be
carefully examined, and any decayed or decaying
portions cut out. We still grow many of the old
varieties, such as Privateer (Grimes), Colonel Taylor
(Leigh), Glory (Taylor), Prince of Wales (Ashston),
&c., and these old varieties are much more liable to
decay at the roots ; moreover, they seldom require
larger pots than 3-inch. The loose mould is worked
well amongst the roots, and the potting soil is
pressed in moderately firm with the fingers. It is
not necessary to ram it in with a wooden rammer,
as some do. After the plants are repotted place
them in a frame on the north side of a wall or fence.
The lights of the frame may be kept over the plants
by day and be tilted a little, shading from hot sun-
shine, but drawing them off to expose the plants to
night dews and the cool air, or even a gentle shower
of rain. When the plants have made some new
roots and are again established, the lights are kept
ofl" night and day, except to ward ofi' heavy rains ;
slight showers we do not mind. There is always a
numerous progeny in the form of offsets clustering
round the stems of the old plants. These will soon
establish themselves if carefully taken oft with a
root or two attached. Plant them singly or two or
three together in 2J-lnch pots, and place them in
handlights in a shady place. The lights have to be
kept close over them until they have formed roots.
Decayed leaves must be removed, otherwise they
may kill the plants. Large established plants of
Auriculas do not require much water at this season,
some of them not more than twice in a week, and
as autumn merges into winter the soil must merely
be prevented from becoming dust dry. In winter
the plants may be left for two months without
water. Does severe frost injure Auriculas ? is a
question which has frequently been asked. The
reply is, not in the least. I find frosts kill the
Auricula aphis (Trama auriculas), but the roots have
been frozen for six weeks at a stretch as hard as a
stone, and the plants seemed to do all the better
for it the following season. It is desirable to throw
mats over the glass during frosty weather. This
prevents the frost from crusting the inner surface
of the glass, and also the leaves. In February the
season of rest is over and the plants wake up into
active life. This is also the most interesting time
for the florist.
Nearly all the owners of large collections have
small houses in which they grow their plants. This
is a modern system of culture which has made the
work of attending to the plants much more pleasant.
To protect them from frost in frames during the
months of February and March frequently required
double mats, the mats requiring to be fastened on
firmly every night, in case a gust of wind might
blow them oS. In frames, too, the delicate mealed
petals would frequently suffer from damp ; whereas
in a heated house the damp can be easily kept out.
Our plants are grown in a low span-roofed house
from which the lights can be entirely removed if
necessary. The plants enjoy being freely exposed
in early morning, and when the sun is off them in
the afternoon, or even all day in calm weather when
the sun does not shine. Unless ventilation is
ample the fiower-stems are drawn up weakly, and
are not strong enough to support the trusses of
bloom unaided, and this is an error in culture un-
pardonable amongst fanciers. One thing the culti-
vator must bear in mind that the plants either when
in flower or when the buds are well formed on the
trusses must not be exposed to rain, high winds, or
frost; but, on the other band, every advantage
must be taken of still, fine days to admit all
the air it is possible to give. The flowers are also
very easily injured by strong sunshine through the
glass ; a light blind ought to be used which can be
rolled up or let down speedily. Staining the glass
with " Summer Cloud," whiting mixed with size,
or indeed any permanent shade must not be thought
of. In March and April the sun is more often hid
behind clouds than it is shining brightly, and pro-
bably the shade may not be required more than ten
or fiftc en hours in a whole week.
I have tvar advocated the saving of seeds, and
the desirability of raising seedlings annually. Those
who have no seedlings to fiower annually cannot
anticipate the flowering period with the same in-
terest as those who have. The very best varieties
must be set apart for this purpose, and the anthers
of the variety from which seeds are to be saved
must be cut off with a pair of sharp-pointed scissors
before ih"; flowe-s open; the plants should be in-
verted -nhile tbey are being removed, else they
might fall into the narrow tube, from which they
cannot easily be dislodged without doing injury to
the stigmatio poition of the flower. When the
flowers are quite open the pollen may be applied. I
do this once every day with a small camel's-hair
brush. The seeds ripen in July and may be sown
at once, cr kept until February. We go in now en-
tirely for spring sowing. I have more than once
written of the treatment the young seedling plants
ought to receive. They have to be pricked out
when they are of very small size, and require good
management in order that they may flower well for
the first time ; and it is but fair to add that they
may promise very fair the first year, but fail to make
it good in subsequent seasons.
200
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 3, 1887.
Plants set apart to save seeds from cannot be re-
potted until the seed-pods are gathered. This per-
force drives the work into July or August, whether
or not. Our plants have generally too much vigour
in them, and allowing seeds to ripen prevents, to a
certain extent, the production of autumn trusses,
which are a constant source of annoyance to growers.
For the present I advise the plants to be kept in
low frames, the lights of which are to be con-
stantly removed, except to shelter from heavy rains
Do not water any plants that do not really require
it. The plants will not suffer even when very dry
at the roots, and an over-supply of water will cer-
tainly cause them to produce autumn trusses.
J. Douglas.
Pentas carnea. — This is an old and beautiful
plant, although now seldom grown. It is of the
easiest culture and a profuse bloomer, bearing flowers
upon a single shoot in the smallest size pot, or it
may be extended into elephantine proportions. It
is a compact, soft-wooded plant with soft opposite
light green leaves, and its delicate flesh-coloured
flowers are produced in corymbose heads somewhat
resembling an Ixora. These may be utilised in a
cut state, either in glasses or for bouquet or spray-
making. Numerous plants of this old favourite are
now flowering in Mr. Laing's nursery at Forest Hill.
— W. H. G.
Crinum australe. — W. B. Weger, in The Gae-
DEN, Aug. 27 (p. 168), must be in error with regard
to the name of the plants he saw in such great
abundance 600 miles north of Adelaide. Whatever
their name, it could not be Crinum australe as
known in English gardens, nor is it likely to be a
Crinum of any kind, no known plant of that genus
having yellow flowers. Can he mean Calostemma
luteum, the Australian Daffodil? This plant is
plentiful in damp places all over the east side of
the Australian continent, and it has pale yellow
flowers powerfully fragrant. It is figured in the
Botanical Register, t. 421, and 1840, t. 19. Crinum
australe is a large, robust species with a stout bulb,
long, thick neck, broad channelled leaves, and large
compact heads of rather small tubular white flowers.
For an account of the genus Calostemma see Gar-
den, Vol. XXVIL, p. 199.— W.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Fuchsias. — Old plants that were started early in
spring, and that after flowering during the early
part of summer, were partially cut in with a view
to their blooming again during the autumn, should
now be well furnished with young growth. Plants
that have been treated in this way are almost wholly
dependent on the support that is given them by
surface-dressings or manure water. Fuchsias are
not able to bear stimulants in either of these forms
nearly so strong as many plants, as if used too
strong they cause the flower-buds to fall off before
opening, frequently doing injury to the foliage as
well. Many of the concentrated manures now in
use are strong and cannot be applied alone to the
surface of the pots in even small quantities without
doing harm to the roots ; to avoid this they should
be mixed with finely sifted loam or peat, or a mixture
of both, in the proportion of something like one-
sixth of the manure to iive-sixths of the soil,
and in all cases the mixture should not be used
for some days, so that the soil may partially
absorb the essential elements contained in the
manure. By this means the water given to the
plants after they have been surface-dressed will not
be too strongly impregnated with the manure for
the young feeding fibres to bear. The necessity for
caution in this matter with Fuchsias as well as
other plants for which stimulants are used cannot
be overrated. Through want of suflicient fore-
thought it often happens that manures of this cha-
racter do more harm than good. The only safe
way to proceed is to see that whatever is used
is applied weak enough at first, increasing the
strength if necessary.
Lack EN alias.— These plants look best when
grown together in numbers proportionate to the size
of the pots or baskets in which they are placed.
But the bulbs must not be overcrowded, for though
much may be done to keep up the requisite strength
by the use of manure water whilst the plants are
growing, there is still a limit beyond which it is not
safe to go with this kind of assistance. Plants that
have been treated in the ordinary way and allowed
to remain during the time they were at rest in the
pots they flowered in, should now, when starting
into growth, be turned out and as much of the old
sou cleared away as can be done without interfering
too much with the roots, replacing it with new that
has been fairly enriched with rotten manure.
Where the bulbs are overcrowded larger pots should
be given, or the mass of bulbs may be divided into
two without doing much damage to the young
fibres. See that the pots or baskets are sufficiently
drained, for whilst in active growth the plants re-
quire a good deal of water. After potting, a cold
frame will answer best for them for some time,
giving plenty of light and air.
Roman Hyacinths. — Where the flowers are
required early no time should be lost in getting the
bulbs started, as, however strong and well-matured
they may be, unless they have enough time allowed
them to make plenty of roots, the bloom will be
indifferent. In potting, use good loam, not too
heavy in texture, making it rich with rotten manure,
and adding some sand. In this the bulbs will be
found to flower better than in the poor, worn-out
soil sometimes supposed to be good enough for
them. After potting, plunge the pots in an open
situation, being careful that the material used is
such as wiU keep worms from getting into the soil.
Latbbing Chrysanthemums. — Where small
plants of Chrysanthemum are required to flower in
proportionately small pots, layering is much the
best method by which to obtain them. Where this
system is adopted it is usual to plant out some of
the old specimens in spring, choosing an open piece
of ground where the growth will not get drawn,
allowing enough room between the plants to admit
of the layering being carried out without crowding.
In selecting the varieties for this purpose such as
produce only a limited number of large flowers
should be rejected, giving preference to sorts
that flower freely. Plants intended for layering are
better if they have not been stopped in the usual
way, as then the whole strength is directed to a
limited number of branches, which naturally pro-
duce more lateral shoots towards the tops than
stopped plants do, and on which a good deal of the
appearance of the layered plants depends. Now,
when the buds will in most cases be set, the layer-
ing should be at once proceeded with, otherwise
there will not be time for the layers to get well
rooted before frost sets in. The branches should
be layered just below the lateral shoots that are set
with flower buds, so that the plants will be fur-
nished with bloom from the base upwards ; in this
way they form pyramids of flower from top to bot-
tom. The shoots, after being stripped of a portion
of their leaves, should be pegged down firmly in
little mounds of prepared soil, similar to the way in
which Carnation layering is carried out, but allow-
ing a larger body of soil than is necessary for Car-
nations. Keep the soil moist, so as to encourage
the formation of roots that will take place in five or
six weeks, when the layers must be taken up and
potted, giving them no larger pots than needful to
admit the roots with enough soil to sustain them.
Plants that are managed in this way require
only a single stick to the main stem. They have a
nice appearance, and can be used in positions where
large specimens would be unsuitable.
Thinning Chrysanthemum buds. — This is some-
times looked upon as an unnecessary proceeding with
Chry.'^anthemuiiis that are only required for ordinary
use ; but to do justice to the plants it should always
be practised, especially where the stock has been well
grown, and consequently formed far more buds than
the plants are able to fully develop. The thinning
requires to be done with judgment, taking into
account the character of the variety. The large,
full flowers seen at the exhibitions lead many astray
by turning their attention from the much more
useful free-llowering kinds that were in existence
before the influx of show varieties that have made
their appearance during late years,
CblosiA pteamidalis. — The importance of this
feathery sport from the formal Cockscomb can
scarcely be over-rated for general use in greenhouses
and conservatories, where, during the summer and
late autumn months, it plays a part that is certainly
not equalled by any other kind of annual. The
habit of growth, combined with the varied soft and
brilUant colours of the flowers that plants from a
weU-selected strain produce, is such as to fit them
for associating with any other cultivated plants.
To make the most of them several sowings should
be made in the course of the season. Where a
pinch of seed was put in late, the plants will
now be in full growth. If they are deficient
in root-room it will be well to move them in-
to pots a size larger, for though these Celosias
can be well grown in small pots, still the con-
fining process may be carried so far as to prevent
the plants attaining the size and condition they
would do. Keep them close to the glass, and as
soon as the weather becomes cold and sunless they
must be moved to where they can have a little arti-
ficial heat, otherwise the growth will receive a check
that will interfere with their progress, and no sub-
sequent attention, even in warmth, will correct it.
So long as the weather continues warm syringe
overhead daily, as if the leaves become at all affected
with red spider the appearance of the plants is
spoUed and the bloom injured. With fair attention
and enough warmth the plants from this late sowing
will last in good condition up to the middle of
December. Sprays of the bright shaded forms,
mixed with white and light-coloured Chrysanthe-
mums, have a beautiful effect. Not the least of
their merits is their endurance when cut. Those
who are fortunate enough to possess a good strain
of this Celosia should make efforts to still further
improve it by selecting for seed the dwarfest plants
that are well furnished with feathery sprays devoid
of the Cockscomb extremities which they more or
less often revert to, and that, in addition, possess the
most distinct, decided, and varied shades of colour.
Like some other good things, the best forms pro-
duce seed very sparingly, and care should be taken
to gather it as soon as ripe ; if this is not done it
falls out and is lost. To avoid this the plants that
are selected for seeding should be looked over often
enough to secure the seed when ripe. T. B.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 613.
REINWARDTIA TETRAGYNUM.*
This plant, of which the coloured plate is a
good representation, is a member of the Flax
family, and is a native of the hilly districts of
India. For its introduction to commerce we
believe the credit is due to the Messrs. Veitch,
of Chelsea. It very much resembles R. trigy-
num, a plant familiar to most plant growers by
its old name of Linum, from which it and one or
two other species have been separated on ac-
count of their possessing three or four styles
only, instead of live ; whilst the glands situated
at the base of the petals in true Linums are
usually wanting in Reinwardtia. The name
commemorates the labours of a celebrated Dutch
botanist, yet it is rather confusing to find
Lindley enumerating four genera of Rein-
wardtia—one in the Tea faniil}', another in the
Dilleniads, one amongst the Bindweeds, and
the one to which the plant now under considera-
tion is assigned. The general contour of this
species will be readily understood by a glance at
our coloured illustration, but the brilliant efiect
produced in winter by a quantity of its beauti-
fully funnel-shaped flowei-s must be seen to be
appreciated.
* Dr.iwu for The Garden in the Royal Garden.^,
Kew, December 17, 1886, by H. G. Moou, aud printed
by G. Hcvoreyus.
GARDEN
REINWARDTIA TETRAGYNUM.
Sept. 3, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
201
To have this species at its best, young plants
should be obtained from cuttings every spring,
and the old ones discarded, as the latter are
very apt to lose their bottom foliage and thus
become unsightly, whilst the flowers are seldom
so fine as those produced by young plants. The
cuttings should be taken in early spring, say
about the end of March or beginning of April, and
placed in a close, warm, and moist atmosphere
until they are rooted, when they should be
potted oft" separately into ."imall pots. When the
plants become established they may be re-potted
as may be required. The drainage for Reinward-
tias must be kept open and free, and the soil
they thrive best in is a mixture of loam, peat,
leaf- mould, and sand in about equal propor-
tions ; the compost should be chopped up with
the spade, but the sieve, whicli is so great a
favourite with many gardeners, should be dis-
pensed with. Whilst it is necessary to guard
against saturating the roots with water, it is well-
nigh impossible to administer it too freely over
the foliage with the syringe, as the red spider is
is both smaller and thinner, and its flowers are
neither quite so large nor so bright in colour.
W. H. G.
Kitchen Garden.
W. WILDSMIIH.
KITCHEN GARDEN NOTES.
Vegetable geowing under difficulties.—
The showers of a few days ago gave us some hope
that we had done with drought for this season, but
we are, however, still battling with the greatest
drought of recent years. In private gardens the
difficulties may be surmounted by a determined
will, and the hard work of watering, mulching, and
M'M
1^
East Indian Flax (Reinwardtia (Liuum) trigyuum)
its most deadly enemy. During the summer
months the plants should be grown in a cool
house, and the points of the shoots pinched out
from time to time in order to produce lateral
shoots, and thus induce a bushy habit. When
the autumn days, however, begin to turn cold,
remove the plants into an intermediate house
having a temperature of about 55", in which
position they will soon begin to push up their
flowers, and will keep on blooming for several
months.
R. TRIGYNUM (of whicli an illustration is here
given) is of a similar character, and succeeds
under exactly the same treatment, but its foliage
hoeing ; but in market gardens a coUapse is inevit-
able, as watering and mulching on an extensive
scale are quite out of the question, and only on
ground that has been highly cultivated for a series
of years can crops prove anything like remune-
rative. A spell of showery weather now would,
no doubt, do much to prevent the scarcity of
winter greens. Turnips, and Spinach, but under
any circumstances a scarcity is now a certainty,
I a fact that should be faced and recognised by
preparing to supply the lack of winter greens
1 with quick-growing substitutes. As soon as rain
comes we shall sow a good breadth with Eape,!'a
rapid-growing, hardy, and delicious winter and
spring green. Turnips, too, we shall sow in quan-
tity for the production of greens, not bulbs, and
failures in plots of Coleworts will be at once made
good.
French and Runner Beans. — These are the
vegetables for a hot and dry season. Ours are
thickly mulched, and have been occasionally
watered ; and, as a matter of course, the gather-
ing of the beans as soon as ready (as they have been
in daily demand) has not been neglected. They
are still bearing heavily, and deserve all the labour
of watering we can afford to bestow on them. All
the rows of runners are occasionally topped, a plan
that conduces to lateral, and, therefore, of succes-
sional growth, and are bearing from top to bottom.
Dwarf French Beans, more especially that robust
variety, Canadian Wonder, are amenable to the
same treatment, namely, of topping, to induce side
growths, and it is not an exaggeration to say that
at least double the produce is, by that means, ob-
tained. All are mulched, and watering done when
circumstances allow.
Tomatoes. — The increased and increasing quan-
tity of these now grown will in this season of
scarcity of other first-class vegetables be of im-
mense value; moreover, in good soil the plants
withstand the drought better than most vegetables.
Ours have not been watered oftener than twice a
week, and some of the plants only once, yet the
crop could not possibly be larger or finer, and now
that the fruit is ripening in quantity daily gathering
is the rule, that no unnecessary strain may injure
the plants. The plants for winter fruiting in the
houses have been potted into 7-inch pots, and will,
for the present, be grown in the open air, care being
taken that they do not suffer for want of water.
What I may call the training or forming of the
plants is of the simplest description, consisting as it
does in keeping all side or branchlet shoots pinched
out — in fact, making cordons of them— to a height
of 2 feet, which is the height from the bed to the
Melon trellis on which they are to be growh through
the winter.
Cucumbers for winter fruiting.— These are
ready for planting as soon as we can muster courage
to pull up plants that are still fruiting moderately
well. Our soil for the winter consists of three-
fourths loam, the other portion being manure, char-
coal, and potsherds, the two latter being incorpo-
rated to prevent the soil becoming sour or stagnant,
as during the winter season it is apt to do. The
plants in frames and on ridges are now beginning
to suffer from mildew, which means that the end is
approaching. The worst affected foliage we pick
off and keep the plants freely supplied with water.
Sulphuring at this late period of the year with a
view to destroy mildew fungus is a waste of material
and labour— I mean as regards old fruiting plants.
For young plants the process is both desirable and
necessary.
General work.— Unfortunately, much of it still
consists of watering. Salads, Lettuce, and Endive
lately planted must be watered, and some that re-
quire thinning out we shall have to soak to enable
us to do the work. It is the same in respect of
lately sown Turnips, which at this season we do
not thin so severely, 5 inches to 7 inches being a,ll
the space we allow. Onions, Shallots, and Garlic
are being picked over and housed. All spare ground
is being cleared by hoeing ; some of it has to be
trenched, and this we are not so particular to rid
of weeds as that which is likely to be required for
catch crops, to make up the lack of the scarcity
caused by drought. Potatoes we lift as soon as ready.
Some will never be so this year, and such will be
left to chance, or rather they will have to wait un-
til work of greater importance is finished.
Early r. late Potatoes.— The general verdict
as regards the Potato crop is briefly about half a
crop of very sound tubers, the early sorts being
much better than the late ones. In this locality
Potatoes are very largely grown, both as garden
and field crops, and the kinds that mature early,
such as the Ashleaf Kidneys and American Rose
type, are fairly good crops. But when we come
to examine the late-keeping kinds the tubers are
202
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 3, 1887.
very small, and probably rain would do more harm
than good now, as there are evident signs of grow-
ing out already. It is surprising how green the
haulm remained, as the soil was dry when the
tubers were planted, and there has been barely
rain enough to wash the dust off the leaves since.
The thunderstorms that have been heavy in some
places never reached us. — J. G., (tosjwH.
NOTES ON VEGETABLE CULTURE.
COLEWOETS. — A good Supply of tender young
Cabbages through the winter is certainly worth
some little labour to obtain. There is nothing in
the way of winter greens that can approach Cole-
worts in delicacy of flavour, and those who have
never made a practice of growing them ought to do
so. No better preparation of the ground can be
made for them than in the lifting of early Potatoes,
and where such a piece of ground is now at com-
mand it may at once be profitably utilised. As
Coleworts are cleared by the end of the winter the
space occupied by them becomes available for other
things. This vegetable may be considered one of the
most profitable crops that can be grown. No
manure is needed, as high feeding will induce
a succulent growth which a hard winter destroys.
The last week in August and the first few days of
September constitute the planting time of Cole-
worts. In view of the exceptional drought that
does not appear likely to leave us yet, the advice to
plant in showery weather is not likely to be acted
upon. As this is an operation that cannot be
delayed, we must do the best we can under the
circumstances. Fortunately, the Cabbage stands
drought better than most things, and if we can
give the plants a start they will take care of them-
selves, although their progress will naturally be
accelerated by occasional watering. In planting
make a hole, which fill up with water ; put the
plant in it and fill in with dry earth. If the plants
are well rooted they will scarcely feel the removal,
and in a few days they will start away into growth.
Leave the ground rough round them, which will
allow of giving them some water if required, and
when they begin to grow freely give them a top-
dressing of soot, which hoe well in.
WELL-rLAVouEBD PAK8NIPS. — The strongflavour
of this vegetable is a great bar to its popularity
with all but cottagers, with whom it is a favourite.
I once had some roots that were so free from rank-
ness as to render them wonderfully palatable. The
sowing was accidentally retarded until July, so that
the roots did not come to their full maturity. This
was the secret of their freedom from an objection-
able trait ; they had not the time to acquire it. If
any reader will act on this hint, I think he will form
a different opinion as to the merits of this esculent.
The Parsnip is a nutritious vegetable, very profit-
able as regards weight of produce from a given
area, and we can therefore in its case aiford to
dispense with some bulk to secure delicacy of
flavour. In any case the Parsnip should be grown
in the full sun, and not in very rich ground.
Peas and Bean.s in trenches. — In a season
like the present when the Pea season has been brought
to a premature close, and runner Beans are almost
a failure by reason of the long-protracted drought,
the advantages that may be derived from planting
them in trenches have been more than usually ap'
parent. On soils of a very light and burning nature
this is the only way whereby good crops of these
two vegetables can be ensured. If the trenches are
taken out in the winter time and the soil laid up on
each side of them, it will sweeten and will, when
the time comes for sowing, be in a much better con-
dition than digging can bring it to. If the refuse
from the rubbish-heap mixed with its own Ijulk of
manure is laid in the bottom of the trenches, the
roots will find their way into it, greatly to their
benefit when dry, exhaustive weather comes. The
difference in the yield of runner Beans grown in
this way and by the ordinary method is great. I
remember some years ago that an individual, who
had an exceptionally dry soil to deal with, always
grew his Beans in trenches. It hapjiened that there
came a very hot, dry season, and runners were so
scarce that they fetched nearly £1 a bushel in the
London market. In a time of scarcity like that it
was pleasant to look upon row after row of Beans
in a green, bearing condition. That man gathered
sacks of Beans when his neighbours' plants were
quite burned up. On the score of economy of space,
the culture of runner Beans in this way is to be re-
commended, as one row is equal to two, and often-
times three, grown in the ordinary way. It is,
moreover, easy to give a soaking of sewage or water.
Where space is somewhat restricted, this form of
culture is to be recommended. It is the same with
mid-season and late Peas ; they give a much better
result than in the ordinary way of growing them.
I am acquainted with a private grower who, having
a rather large household to provide for from a
limited space of poor sandy ground, had the
greatest difficulty in doing so until he adopted the
trench system. He certainly grew excellent crops
of Peas and Beans in this way, and he rarely failed
to have a good lot of crisp Lettuces during the
summer months. Strawberries, too, he grew in beds
slightly below the level, as he found that only in
that way he could ensure them getting enough water.
Onions on light soils. — According to my ex-
perience, it is much more difficult to get a crop of
Onions on light lands than on those of a tolerably
holding nature. For some cause or another the fly
seems most destructive on porous soils. It is note-
worthy, however, that in a district thus afi^ected one
man will year after year get good crops, whilst his
neighbours fail more or less, so that it is evident
that good culture will help to neutralise the attacks
of this Onion scourge. The great antidote to the
evil effects of an attack of Onion maggot lies, I
believe, in very liberal culture. It is well known
that a plant in full healthy growth will escape the
attacks of an insect pest, while a badly nourished
one is slowly succumbing to it. A friend who grows
Onions very well in a fly-infested district makes a
point of putting on a very liberal dressing of manure
at the beginning of the winter. By the time that
it is necessary to sow, the soil has become so rich
that the young plants grow away freely from the
first, and the majority become so strong as to be in
a great measure insensible to the attacks of the
maggot. It is rare that this individual fails to
obtain a ci-op of Onions. A curious fact is that in
this case Onions were grown on the same piece of
ground seven or eight years in succession, and that
when the site was changed the crop failed entirely.
This, I imagine, must have been caused through the
ground not being in such good heart. In a district
where the soil is almost pure sand it was said to be
impossible to get a crop of Onions. An experienced
Onion grower, however, determined to make a trial,
and met with good success, in the following manner ;
The ground was richly manured, the seed was sown
and the surface was rolled over hard. When the
young plants were well up a good top-dressing of
soot was given with a view of keeping off the fly.
Whether this really acted as a deterrent it cannot
be said for certain, but a good cro|i of Onions was
obtained. Where other means have failed it might
be worth while to try this plan.
The Carkot grub. — Dry summers are always
favourable to the attacks of this enemy of the Carrot
grower. In this neighbourhood, where a large
proportion of the Carrots that supply the London
market is grown, the grub is often a source of great
loss. Whole fields are sometimes swept off by it.
There seems to be no means of preventing it, and the
only means of lessening its effects is not to thin out
the young plants. It is when the Carrots are in their
primary stagesof growth that the grub works so much
mischief. It passes from plant to plant, a single grub
in the course of the season making a serious blank
in the crop. In a growing time, when the plants
start away into rapid growth, it cannot so well
work its will, but when the young plants remain for
some weeks nearly stationary the destruction is
great. Hand-picking should always be resorted to,
as the grub lies near the surface, close to the crown
of the root, and with a little practice can easily be
found.
Vegetable Marrows. — An individual in this
neighbourhood who grows Marrows for market has
an excellent way of getting an early supply. His
beds are made rather below the ground level. The
plants are put out early, and are protected with
mats laid on cross pieces of wood. He has a pump
at one end, by moans of which he can soak his
beds in dry weather. In this way he gets a plenti-
ful supply of Marrows, no matter what the weather
may be. There is probably no more profitable
vegetable crop than an early one of Marrows.
J. C. B.
Turnip fly. — The recent showers have done
wonders for the green crops, and have come just
in time to germinate Turnip seed, considerable
breadths of which had been sown in readiness for
the rain whenever it should come. To have been
thus prepared is great gain. Turnip fly is exceed-
ingly prevalent, and should the drought return for
but a week or so, I fear our Turnip'plants will, with
Cabbage seedlings, stand a poor chance. So hard
driven for food have these black-winged beetles
been during the summer, that I have seen old, hard,
leathery- like Cabbage, Horseradish, and other leaf-
age literally desiccated by them ; whilst anyone
passing could hear the continuous resound of hop-
ping on the leaves, like reports of miniature mus-
ketry. But their worst work has been done on Tro-
pixioiums, which, curiously enough, they have taken a
fancy to, and although as far removed from Cabbages
and Turnips as well could be, yet the fly has eaten
ofE the flowers wholesale, including those of the
Canary Creeper. In a garden the other day was a
large bed of dwarf TropiBolum Vesuvius, which
but a week previously was one mass of bloom, but
then had not a shred of flower left, the fly having
eaten all off. The little pests have been destructive
in a similar way here, and in spite of rain still in-
fest the plants. Tropieolums seem to be the only
flowering plants thus affected. That is, however, a
minor evil. Should the fly prove too much for
the young Turnip and Cabbage plants, then will
the misfortune be great. Dustings of soot and
other ingredients, however, may help to check the
enemy en these. — A. D.
The Fruit Crops.
Sl'PPLEMENTARY ENGLISH REPORTS.
Wythenshawe, Cheshire.— There was an
abundance of bloom on most kinds of fruit trees in
this garden and neighbourhood, and, as the flowers
did not suffer any injury from spring frosts, there
was every prospect of a heavy crop. This, however,
has been only partially realised, as the extraordinary
dry weather and high temperature combined have
caused many Apples and Pears to fall off prema-
turely. The average rainfall registered here for the
first seven months of the last six years is 181it
inches ; whereas in the same period of this year we
had only !)-90 inches, or a little more than one-half
the average amount. The mean maximum tempera-
ture recorded in the month of July was TSTo" Fahr.
All kinds of fruit are much smaller than usual, but
what is wanting in size is more than compensated
for in flavour and appearance. AVe never remember
the fruit being so highly coloured in this district as
it is this year^ Some \arieties of Apples and Pears
have bloom on them like Plums. Strawberries have
sufl'ered more than any other fruit from want of
rain. Most growers for market in this neighbour-
hood follow the system of planting four rows of
plants in beds i feet wide, and do not remove the
runners, except from the alleys ; consequently, after
the second year, the beds are entirely covered with
plants. Under such conditions, especially in light
soils, a considerable (|uantity of both fruit and leaves
have been shrivelled up. AVhere the single-row
system has been adopted and the land heavily
rnulched in spring the crop has been a fairly good
one. Raspberries flowered well and looked promising,
but, except in damp soils and partially shaded situa-
tions, a large portion of the later fruits were dried
up from want of rain. The following are bearing
good and, in some instances, heavy crops : Dessert
Apples Irish Peach, Cox's Orange Pippin, Golden
Reinette, Kerry Pippin, King of the Pippins, Eibston
Sept. 3, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
203
Pippin, Burchardt's Seedling, Court Pendu Plat, and
Sturnier Pippin. Culinary — Keswick Codlin, Lord
Suffield, Old and New Hawthornden, Stirling Castle,
Potts' Seedling, ■Warcham Russet, Grenadier, Cellini,
Lewis' Incomparable, Greenup's Pippin (Yorkshire
Beauty), Dumelow's Seedling, Tower of Glamis,
Golden Noble, Alfriston, and Northern Greening.
Pears — Citron des Carmes, Williams' Bon Chretien,
Fondante d'Automne, Althorpe Crassane, Beurre
d'Amanlis, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Comte de Lamy,
Beurri5 d'Aremberg, Autumn Nelis, Marie Louise,
Souvenir du Congres, Pitmaston Duchesse d'Angou-
leme, Flemish Beauty, Alexandre Lambre, and
Beurre de Capiaumont. Damsons are a good crop.
Plums, especially Victorias, are bearing a much
heavier crop than usual. Cherries have borne a good
crop, although many dropped at the stoning period.
Gooseberries that escaped the ravages of birds in
spring have ripened heavy crops of fruit. Red Cur-
rants have been plentiful, and also black ones, on
heavy soil, — W. Neild.
Capesthorne Hall, Chelford, Ch.Gsliire. —
With the exception of Strawberries, which have
been a total failure here, the fruit crops are satis-
factory. Apples are an abundant crop and fine in
quality, such varieties as Lord Sufiield, Keswick
Codlin, Fillbasket, and Stirling Castle being parti-
cularly fine. Pears are an average crop, only the
fruit is of much smaller size this year. Apricots
are a splendid crop. Peaches and Nectarines under
the average. Plums are fair. Damsons, which are
grown largely round here, are slightly under the
average. Small fruits, such as Black and Red Cur-
rants and Gooseberries, have been excellent, the
fruit large, fine, and clean. Although we have had
little or no rain for the last nine weeks, fruit trees
have not suft'ered to any serious extent. It is, how-
ever, very trying for vegetables. — Alex. DbwAE.
Ragley Hall, Alcester. — Apricots above ave-
rage. Apples very much below average, except
Lord Suffield, King of Pippins, Worcester Pearmain,
and Blenheim Orange, all of which are good. Cm--
rants heavy crops ; White, Black, and Red Currants
are carrying heavy crops. Cherries very good ave-
rage. Pears good average. Peaches and Nectarines
much under average. Raspberries very small.
Strawberries, crop excellent ; fruits small. Damsons
good average. Plums good average. Walnuts good.
Filberts very good crop, but small. In this neighbour-
hood, as in other parts, we have suffered much from
the long-continued drought, the result being a very
short supply of vegetables.
Peas had a very short season'; scarcely two gather-
ings could be obtained from a sowing; in addition
they were very indifferent as to flavour. Other
vegetables are the same ; roots are very small. Early
Potatoes are rather under size, but of first-rate
quality. Late planted and late varieties are bearing
a very light crop, and the tubers are very small. —
Chables Slade.
Grimston Park, Tadoaster. — There is not
such a heavy crop of Apples as the very healthy-
looking, abundant blossom promised to produce.
Quantities fell off at what I may term the "stoning"
period, whether from imperfect fertilisation or the
drought I cannot say for certain — I think the latter.
Lord Suffield, Keswick Codlin, Oslin Pippin, War-
ner's Pippin, Stirling Castle, Lane's Prince Albert,
Beauty of Kent, Warner's King, Summer Thorle, New
Hawthornden, Winter Quoining, Cockpit, and Gallo-
way Pippin have all good crops. The fruit will be
smaller than usual owing to the dry season. Pears,
too, bloomed very freely ; Seckle, DoyennS d'Ete,
Louise Bonne of Jersey, Williams' Bon Chretien,
Beurre Die', Autumn Bergamot, Thompson's, and
Broom Park have good crops as espaliers, which, in
my opinion, is the best way to grow Pears away from
walls. Marie Louise, Citron des Carmes, Beurr^
d'Amanlis, and Easter Beurri^, which usually fruit
very freely with us, are thin this year. Apricots
are very plentiful, both in these gardens and all
through the district where grown. The fruits are
smaller in size than usual, and fully a fortnight
earlier in ripening owing to the season, but they
ripen thoroughly ; that is, the back portion of the
fruit is thoroughly melting, not, as in some seasons,
hard when one side is ripe. Moorpark, Kaisha,
Hemskirk, and St. Ambrose are our best kinds.
There has been much branch-dying this season,
especially during the months of May and June. St.
Ambrose is more free from this (to me) mytcrious dis-
ease than any kind we have ; Moorpark has been
the worst sufferer. Plums not so plentiful. Jeffer-
son's, Green Gage, and Victoria fair crops on walls.
There is a fair crop of Winesours and Damsons in
places. This district is noted for its Winesours, in
that they are said to possess a much better flavour
when grown on the limestone soils of some villages
a tew miles from us. Some large bush trees of Vic-
toria and Rivers' Prolific that were loaded last year
have again a sprinkling of fruit, the latter variety
being now ripe. Dessert Cherries are thin. Singular
to say, these kinds are a very uncertain crop here
when grown on walls ; yet on bushes in the garden
and as standards they fruit freely enough; but, of
course, there is great difficulty in netting them to
keep them from the birds. Morellos, too, are very
short-lived when grown on north walls. We always
get fine cropis of good fruit from some large bush
trees growing in the kitchen garden borders. This
variety, by its pendent habit of growth, is easily
protected by nets. Peaches and Nectarines are fair
crops and the trees are healthy. Bellegarde, Grosse
Mignonne, Prince of Wales, and Red Nectarine are
our best Peaches, Lord Napier and Pine-apple being
the only Nectarines we have on walls. As a rule.
Nectarines are not a success with us on walls.
Strawberries were the most short-lived crop I have
yet known, and the crop was much smaller than usual,
tinless on young plantations, where they were very
fine. If one could be sure of always having warm
summers, planting annually in August would be by
far the best way to grow fine Strawberries here-
abouts. In cold, wet seasons there is difficulty in
getting the runners sufficiently established to Ijear
full crops. Sir Joseph Paxton (syn., Ne Plus
Ultra) is the best and most reliable variety for ge-
neral purposes about here. I know growers who
have an acre or two of it, and it lias done weU with
them this j-ear. Hericart de Thury, Keen's Seed-
ling, James Veitch, and Helena Gloede are our other
standard varieties. We have some other varieties
on trial, but as the season has been an unfavourable
one and they were late planted, I will reserve my
opinion for another year, all being well. Goose-
berries have been plentiful, though not so much so
as last season. The caterpillars have done a lot of
damage in many places, many of the trees in large
plantations being quite leafless. Ashton Red or
Warrington, Whitesmith, and Crown Bob are our
standard kinds. Red and White Currants have
been very good, both in quantity and quality. We
usually give all our Gooseberry and Currant trees a
good dressing each winter of charred garden refuse,
first scraping the soil from the roots for an inch or
two in depth and about 18 inches or so from the
stems and stools of the trees with a draw-hoe. We
have practised this for many years, and find it
answers well. Black Currants were a fair crop, and
on moist, stiff soils were very good in size. Rasp-
berries were a good crop, but in consequence of the
dry season they were soon over and small in size.
Fillbasket, Fastolf, and Prince of Wales are the
best kinds we have. Walnuts of the small, hard-
shelled kind are very plentiful. Filberts and Hazel
Nuts scarce.— H. J. Clayton.
Haigh. Hall, Wigan. — The fruit crops have
been considerably affected by the severe and con-
tinuous drought of the past ten weeks. Apples
blossomed late, set well, and promised to be a fine
crop, but in many instances the ground under the
trees is covered with fallen fruits ; Cellini, Lord
Suffield, Dumelow's Seedling, Kerry Pippin, War-
ner's King, Echlinville Seedling, Yorkshire Green-
ing, Keswick Codlin, and Braddick's Nonpareil carry
fair crops. Pears on walls are about an average ;
Louise Bonne of Jersey, Williams' Bon Chretien,
Jargonelle, Powerscourt Crassane, Beurre Diel,
Beurre Clairgeau, Glou Morceau, and Doyenne du
Comice are the best. Sweet Cherries have been
abundant and of fine quality. MoreUos are abun-
dant, but small. Strawberries, where the soil is of
a retentive nature and deep, have been very fine ; in
fact, the finest I have seen in this district during |
the last fourteen years. Seldom has the advantage
of surface dressing been so apparent as this season;
where the surface was well covered the fruits have
been fine and of excellent quality. Raspberries
have been plentiful and good. Black and Red Cur-
rants where sheltered are good, but in exposed
positions the crop is thin. Plums, with the excep-
tion of Victoria, are a poor crop. Goose) lerries
about an average. The Peach, Nectarine, and Fig
are not cultivated in the open in the immediate
neighbourhood.
Potatoes promised to be a fine crop, but have
'suffered from the want of rain, and on dry soils the
crop will be light. — Andrew Jamieson.
Tliirkleby Park, Thirsk. — The fruit crops in
this district are varied, and many kinds almost a
failure. Late Apples have almost all fallen ofE
owing to the long-continued drought ; early kinds,
such as Lord Suffield, are fairly good. The Kes-
wicks are far below the average. Pears are below the
average, and will be small. Bush fruit has been a
good crop and of fine quality. Peaches and Nec-
tarines a good crop and fine in flavour.
Vegetables are fairly good, considering the long-
continued drought. Peas have done wonderfully
well on our strong, retentive land, our best being
King of the Marrows, Evolution, and Duke of
Albany. Early Potatoes have never done better
where planted early, Veitch's Ashleaf and Covent
Garden Perfection being especially good. — H.
Brdnton.
Holker Hall, Carnforth. — The fruit crops in
this district are fairly good, considering the long
drought we have had. Apples, though plentiful,
will be small. Pears of the choicer kinds rather
scarce, some hardy local sorts bearing heavy crops.
Plums both on walls and standard trees set so
abundantly that they had to be thinned. Green
Gages only do well here on walls ; while Jefferson,
Washington, Kirke's Blue Gage, Magnum Bonum,
Orleans, and A^ctoria are bearing good crops this
year on standards. Cherries on walls very good —
Frogmore Bigarreau, Florence, and Black Eagle
notably so ; Morellos a fine crop. Strawberry
President thickly mulched early in the spring with
stable litter suffered very little from drought, and
produced plenty of fruit of excellent quality, though
small in size. Carter's Prolific Raspberry, War-
rington and Champagne Gooseberries, Red and
Black Currants all plentiful and good. Apricots
are an excellent crop, setting the fruit in clusters,
and ha\dng been' heavily thinned are now ripening
off of a fine golden colour ; tlie kinds are Moorpark,
Blenheim, and Turkey. Peaches are thin; the leaves
were badly blistered, having no other protection in
spring than double fishing nets. Yet two very use-
ful early kinds have ripened small crops well, viz.,
Alexander and Rivers' Early, the first-named highly
coloured, rich, and juicy. Brown Turkey Figs on
open walls a good crop ; these generally ripen well
about the end of September. The few Damson
trees we have promise well for big crops. Walnuts
also are plentiful on the trees, but rarely come to
perfection here. Mulching with stable litter on
fruit-tree borders has been of great service this
\'ery hot, dry season. — W. Fox.
Stricklandgate, Kendal.— Apples are very
abundant and over an average; the fruit is, how-
ever, small, owing to the protracted drought.
Amongst other varieties which are much grown here
and are carrying heavy crops are Hawthornden,
Northern Greening, Prussian Pippin, Cellini, Kes-
wick Codlin, Lord Suffield, Warner's King, and Manks
Codlin. Pears are over the average, but, as in the
case of Apples, the fruits are small. The varieties
largely grown in the orchards here and which carry
heavy crops are Hessle, Jargonelle, and Green
Chisel. On walls there are excellent crops of Louise
Bonne of Jersey, Marie Louise, Beurre d'Amanlis,
Williams' Bon ChrStien, and Beurre Superfin. Plums
are over the average; Victoria is the variety mostly
grown. Damsons, which are largely grown here,
are also a very heavy crop. So great is the crop of
Victoria Plums and Damsons that branches have
broken down with the weight of fruit, and in the
majority of cases the trees have to be supported.
204
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 3, 1887.
Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots are very little
grown out of doors. Figs, where grown, look re-
markably well and carry fine crops. Cherries
are a good average crop ; May Duke and Mo-
rello are the sorts principally grown. Straw-
berries are very much under the average. The
drought completely destroyed the crop. The plants
looked remarkably well when in bloom, but, as no
rain fell after that time, the plants (except where
watered) were completely burnt up ; in fact, a large
number of the best Strawberry beds are entirely
killed. Principal sorts grown are John Powell,
President, Keen's Seedling, and Elton Pine. Goose-'
berries are over average ; Raspberries under average;
Red Currants about an average ; of Black Cur-
rants we had a good crop, and Nuts are over
average. Taken on the whole, fruit crops are de-
cidedly over an average, but in every case the fruit
is small, owing to the prolonged drought. Since
the beginning of May we have had no rain, with
the exception of a few light showers, and the country
has a very arid and burnt-up appearance. Water
in many places has to be carted for miles. Straw-
berries have probably suffered more from the
drought than any other fruits. Plots which usually
yielded 500 quarts of fruit did not yield a single
fruit this year, except where the plants were care-
fully watered. The fruiting canes of Raspberries
are in many places killed, and in some places
Currants and Gooseberries are dead ; the bushes
carried and even ripened a nice crop, but nearly
every day we notice fresh deaths. Apples, Pears,
and Plums have dropped a good many fruits on the
higher elevations, but in the low-lying districts they
look first-rate.
Potatoes hitherto have looked very healthy,
particularly the Magnum Bonum (which is mostly
grown here) ; the tubers, of course, are small
and the crop light, owing to the drought. Nearly
all Potatoes in this district were blackened and
entirely cut down with frost on the nights of the
13th and 14th ult., and the frosts were severe
enough to cut down the common Nettle, many of
the more tender bedding plants. Vegetable Marrows,
&C. — ROBBBT Chaig.
Guerdon Hall, Preston.— Apples are a heavy
crop, though a considerable portion of the fruits has
dropped during the past fortnight or three weeks in
consequence of the continued drought. Pears are a
good crop, but I fear that Apples will be very small.
The trees have scarcely made their usual growth,
but the foliage looks clean and healthy. Cherries
have been a better crop than for some years, and
the sweet varieties swelled to a fair size before the
drought could affect them, but many of the Mo-
rellos have succumbed to it; still, there is a good
crop left. Plums are also a good crop, and there is
a heavy crop of Damsons. Peaches and Nectarines
had to be thinned heavily, and the trees have
looked healthy until recently, when they have be-
come infested with red spider. Apricots' are above
an average, and the trees have made vigorous
growth, and where they have been watered and
mulched the fruit is excellent. Strawberries pro-
mised a heavy crop everywhere. On a light soil
two or three-year-old plants were shrivelled before
scarcely any fruit was picked. Fruit-picking has
generally terminated in this garden in the middle
of August, but this season our last dish was
gathered on the 30th of July. The flavour was supe-
rior to anything we are accustomed to in this part
of the country. Bush fruits on the whole have pro-
duced an excellent crop, but Gooseberries have not
attained the usual size, even where heavily cropped.
In exposeil places the gale on May 19 daslied the
shoots of Black Currrants one against the other to
such an extent tliat the ground was covered with
flowers and partially set fruit, and we greatly wished
that they would submit to the same kind of pruning
as the Red and White varieties. Raspberries are a
good crop, and we are gathering satisfactory fruit,
and hope to continue for another week or two. Wal-
nuts and Filberts are over an average.; the first do
not_ always mature here, and are consequently
of little value, except for pickHng. Those who are
old enough to remember, inform me that their
usual sources of water supply, such as wells, streams,
and ponds, have not failed since the hot summer of
1S2G until now. — Wm. P. Roberts.
Lambton Gardens, Fence Houses.— Apri-
cots and Plums are a thin crop outside. Cherries
are a good average crop of clean, healthy fruit, and
Morellos doing well on pyramids, far superior to
same variety on walls, and although the dry weather
has had the effect of lessening the size of the fruit,
they retain a decided advance over the wall fruit.
Peaches and Nectarines killed a few years ago by
the severe frosts have not been replaced. Apples
are a fine even crop, more especially where they arc
in the form of an orchard, but in single rows the
crop is not so heavy, no doubt showing that the ex-
posure when in bloom had its effect upon them.
Pears are good on walls, but on pyramids thin.
Small fruits are plentiful and of good quality,
although somewhat smaller, owing to the dry season.
Potatoes never lifted cleaner nor of better
quality, but smaller in crop as well as in tuber.
Cauliflowers have done badly, rotting and button-
ing in all forms. Peas did well early in the season,
but are now suffering much for the want of rain,
and becoming yellow before finishing their crop.
Winter crops require heavy and frequent waterings
to keep them alive. — J. Huntee.
Worsley Gardens, Manchester. — Apples, on
the whole, are a very fair crop, and now swelling
fast. If we get a fair amount of rain even now I
anticipate a good roomful of fruit. That almost
indispensable variety, Lord Sufiield, is carrying the
heaviest crop of any variety, so much so that we are
thinning for present use in the kitchen. Bush
fruits have gone off so quickly that these small
Apples come in particularly useful. Scarlet Non-
pareil is carrying a fine crop, also Cellini, Wareham
Russet, Pott's Seedling, Royal Codlin, Dumelow's
Seedling, Strawberry Pippin, Early Peach, and
Early Margaret. Pears suffered very much from the
spring storms, and besides Jargonelle, Beurre Diel,
Beurre de Capiaumont, and one or two early varie-
ties, the Pear crop is a very poor one. Stone fruits
do not succeed on our soil. Plums are better
than usual. Morello Cherries a fair crop, but the
fruits small. Nuts seem unusually plentiful. Peaches
and Apricots will not exist, partly owing to a damp
climate, and partly to the bad atmosphere which
prevails here. Strawberries, Raspberries, and
Currants were all good and abundant, though the
season was short. The former yielded the best
crop we have gathered for twenty years past, but
have so suffered with drought, that even now it is
difficult to find a rooted runner, and I fear that our
forcing stock must be poor unless the autumn
proves unusually favourable. The drought has been
the most severe we have had since 1868, and the
water supply being limited everything has had to
go on short rations. It seemed at one time that the
winter crops would never become established in the
ground, as the sun was fierce and the wind parch-
ing. But after a severe trial of some six weeks'
duration they are now just making headway, and
may be pronounced out of danger.
Cauliflowers have been a troublesome crop, and
early Onions can hardly attain anything like a fair
size. Peas have only been saved by frequent
waterings, while Beans seemed to revel in the sun-
shine and dryness. Scarlet Runners on moist soil
are a marvellous crop. The general effect of the
past summer will, I believe, be very beneficial,
thoroughly ripening the wood of trees, &c., and
drying soil that has been so drenched for years
past, that even when well drained it was quite sour.
The absence of insect pests is noticeable, there
being but a little red spider, while this time last
year everything was smothered with aphis. Our
Potato crop is excellent, the tubers of fair size, and
good quality, while late sorts look robust and
healthy. — W. B. Upjohn.
Childwall Hall, Liverp col.— Apples are an
average crop, but the fruit is small, owing to the
continued drought. Sweet Cherries fairly good,
but owing to drought a considerable portion of the
fruit fell off about stoning time. Morellos are
about an average crop, and being mostly on north
walls they are shaded. Currants, both Black, Red,
apd Wbite, we a full crop, but tli? forpier are
smaller than usual. Damsons a moderate crop, the
trees being much damaged by a storm of wind on
May 20. What fruit is left is on the east or
sheltered side. Gooseberries are under the average,
especially the variety known as Rough Red ; all the
fruits are smaller than usual. Pears are about an
average crop on walls with south or south-west
aspect ; trees in the open ground are not bearing so
well, except the Jargonelle variety, which is quite
up to the average. All will be small unless rain
comes very soon. Plums are very scarce, even on
walls with a good aspect. Victoria is a partial
failure (a very rare occurrence). Raspberries in a
partially shaded spot were very fine and plentiful,
but the season was short. Strawberries were not
large, but were very plentiful, especially Duo de
Malakoff and President. Their season, too, was
shorter than usual. — Thos. Winkwobth.
Shawdon Ha)l, Northumberland. — The
gardeners of the north of England have had a new
experience in almost continued sunshine during the
last seven weeks. Occasional showers had fallen,
that had the effect of forcing on the fruit crop at a
rapid rate, and the consequence is that the quality
is excellent, thus making up for any deficiency in
bulk. Wall fruit is a fair average crop. Where
Apricot trees are healthy they are bearing a heavy
crop of fruit that will be ripe a fortnight earlier
than usual. Pears are a partial crop in some gar-
dens. Williams' Bon Chretien, Louise Bonne of
Jersey, Beurre Diel, Beurre Superfin, and other sorts
that suit this district are bearing well. Marie
Louise and Jargonelle are thinly cropped this sea-
son. Although the Apple crop is light in most
places, the quality of the fruit is good. Many
varieties will be seen in perfection in this district
for the first time. Plums are a good crop, fine in
size, the trees being generally healthy, free from
red spider, which has affected early Apples trees in
many gardens. Where water is not abundant, red
spider and thrip have been very prevalent. Cher-
ries are abundant and of a quality never before seen
in this cold district. The same may be said of all
kinds of bush fruits, which may be classed as fairly
good. Rain fell in time to save the Strawberry
crop in most places. The result has been an abun-
dant crop of superb quality. Altogether, the fruit
crop in the north of England is the most satisfac-
tory that has been seen for many years, not so much
for its abundance as for its unrivalled quality.
Where the garden is well worked and judiciously
cropped, the great heat of the present season has
had the effect of producing abundant crops. — Jas.
Thomson.
Kno'wsley, Prescot.— The fruit crops at this
place and in the immediate neighbourhood are, on
the whole, good, although the fruit generally is
rather smaller than usual, especially where the
ground is poor, and the important matter of mulch-
ing over the roots has not been duly attended to.
Strawberries here have been both abundant and
fine, as well as free from slugs and grit. They are
now over, and the ground occupied with winter
Broccoli, with the exception of the alpines, which
are apparently enjoying their quarters on the shady
side of a wall and in a damp border. Raspberries,
Gooseberries, and Currants have done well, though
not so fine as usual. Latterly the smallest sort of
Gooseberry caterpillar has been troublesome, but as
the crop is for the most part gone, the ravages of
the insect seem for the moment to be of less conse-
quence than usual. Cherries were a good crop, but
they were of an inferior size, excepting some of the
Morellos, which are good. Plums have rarely been
so plentiful. Rivers' Early is now ripe, but most
other sorts swell .slowly for want of rain. The trees
had some good dressings with Fir-tree oil soon after
the fruit was set, and since then the trees have kept
clean. The heavy gale and cold blasts of May were
disastrous to fruit trees in exposed places, especially
so with some of the Pears, such as Marie Louise,
Winter Nelis, Zephirin Gregoire, Josephine de Ma-
lines, Duchesse d'AngoulCme, and some others. On
the other hand, we have good crops of Jargonelle,
Louise Bonne of Jersey, Gratioli, Williams Bon
Chretien, Comte de Lamy, Souvenir du Congrfes,
Beurrf d'Amanlis, &c. Apples, too, are abundant.
Sept. 3, 1S87.]
THE GARDEN.
205
some of the fruits having, like the Pears, to be
thinned to prevent the branches from breaking
down ; nevertheless in most instances the fruit is
only about half the size it should be. Some of the
best are Lord Suffield, Hawthornden, Betty Geeson,
Small's Admirable, Scotch Bridget, Boston Russet,
Cellini, Warner's King, and Ribston Pippin. Apri-
cots thinned themselves freely at stoning time, but
sufficient were left. The fruit has ripened earlier
than usual, and is rather small, but sound and good.
Peaches and Nectarines are a full average crop, and
the trees have kept clean and free from blister.
Early Beatrice, Early Louise, and Early Alfred are
over, and Early Leopold is just in, but the fruit of
all these is too small to bring credit, coming after
the much finer indoor fruit. — F. Haekison.
Alawlck Castle, Northumberland. — Apri-
cjts are an abundant crop and of fine quality. Of
Apples, Lord Suflield, Keswick Codlin, Cellini
(small, but good bearer), Pott's Seedling, King
Pippin, and a few others are bearing good crops
of average quality on dwarf trees. The latter are
annnaUy manured round the borders, which ac-
counts for fine quality this dry season without
watering. Plums are scarce. The May Duke Cherry,
as usual, bears a good crop of fine fruit : but Mo-
rellos are under the average. Several varieties of
Pears are bearing heavy crops, Louise Bonne of
Jersey, Jargonelle, Beurre Colmar, Pitmaston
Duchess, Beurre Clairgeau, Glou Morceau, Josephine
de Malines, Easter Beurre, Baurre Superfln being
amongst the best. Bush fruits have been abundant
and good in quality, but have not continued to bear as
longasusual owing to thedrought. Strawberries have
been extra fine, and bore heavy crops where manure
water has been applied, but in the market gardens
the fruit has been smaller than usual and the
season short ; Vicomtesse, President, Sir J. Paston
and Marshal McMahon are good, and Helene
Gloede is a good one. We had more than 2 Inches
of rain in July, but very little in June. The dry
weather is now telling severely on all fruits and
vegetables. I have never mulched Peas before this
year, and we have had them fresh with little trouble
to the end of October, and a few even in Novem-
ber, but this season I fear we shall scarcely be
able to gather so late, even with every possible
care in watering and mulching. — Geoegb Haeeis.
Castle Eden, Darham. — Plums are bearing
a very thin crop. Apricots are good and Apples
abundant, but small in size. Pears are rather thin.
Cherries, Gooseberries, and Red Currants are fairly
sxtisfactory, but the berries are rather small. Straw-
berries and Raspberries were soon over, and the
fruit was very small in size. The leaves of the
Apple trees are quite brown and covered with
insects. — William Laidlow.
Gannersbury Park, ActDn. — The present
season will do a little towards dispelling the idea
that a very late spring is an unmixed blessing. The
congratulations that were freely passed among fruit
growers during the months of April and May have
not been realised. I never remember such a short
space of time— about a fortnight — to intervene be-
tween the flowering of the Apricots and Peaches
and the Apples ; in fact, all kinds of fruit trees may
be said to have flowered simultaneously this season.
Before the trees were well out of flower we were
treated to such a sudden rise of temperature accom-
panied by an excessively arid atmosphere, that it
proved too forcing for the Cherries and Plums, and
much of the fruit fell, owing to the high tem-
perature and drought. Apricots are a full crop,
and the fruit is fine and extra good in quality.
Peaches and Nectarines are bearing heavy crops,
and the trees are clean and free from fly and red
spider. Amongst the earliest kinds Early Rivers
has been the best this season, but, as a rule, it is
not to be depended on. The mid-season and later
kinds are now swelling well, and with a fine autumn
we shall have abundance of fine fruit. Plums in
this district are very poor indeed. The crops were
considerably thinned at stoning-time, and the
drought has in many instances killed the trees, and
the fruit is now shrivelled. Cherries have borne
moderate crops. The best have been Archduke,
Governor Wood, Black Eagle, Mammoth, Bigarreau
Napoleon, and St. Margaret's. Apples are a light
crop. The trees were badly infested with cater-
pillars early in the season, and the maggot is now
very prevalent, spoiling much of the fruit. The fol-
lowing kinds are standing the drought best ; Stir-
ling Castle, Cox's Pomona, Potts' Seedling, Prince
Albert, and Cockle Pippin. Pears are a light crop,
and where the trees have not been watered and
mulched the fruit is so small that it will be use-
less. Strawberries on land that was deeply trenched
have done well. British Queen and President have
been the best. We generally grow 2000 of the first-
named kind in pots and place them during winter
and spring under a fence facing north. These give
us a supply of fine fruit long after the outside beds
are over. Bush fruits of all kinds plentiful, and the
fruit clean, but small. — J. ROBEETS.
Highclere .Castle,' Berks. — Fruit crops are,
and have been, very good on the whole here this
season, though, of course, the long - continued
drought has affected all more or less. The trees
generally are making much less growth than usual,
but all are clean and free from insects. Birds are
unusually troublesome, nothing seeming to come
amiss to them, even attacking Tomatoes on the
walls. Apples are very plentiful, the trees being
clean and healthy, but the fruit is somewhat smaller
than usual. Pears are a short crop, quality very
good. Cherries have been plentiful, especially
Morellos, but they seem to have ripened pre-
maturely, and are not so large as usual. Peaches and
Nectarines set a very heavy crop, but owing to the
impossibility of giving them a sufiiciency of water
the fruit will be small. Apricots are a good average,
the dry weather apparently suiting them, the trees
being very healthy and strong. Plums are again a
heavy crop, fruit smaller than usual, and late.
Strawberries have been very good, but soon over,
and the same will apply to Raspberries. The crop
of Gooseberries is rather short, owing to the ravages
of sparrows in the spring. Red and Black Currants
are very good and plentiful. Nuts are also very
abundant. — Wii. Pope.
Pendell Court, Bletchingley. — Fruit trees
of all kinds bloomed very abundantly, and, owing
to the late period of the season at which it occur-
red, there was less likelihood of its being injured by
late frosts ; therefore full crops were anticipated.
But the flowering stage had scarcely passed when a
period of rough, inclement weather followed, which
considerably thinned the embryo fruits, and more
or less injured the remaining flowers. Yet in some
cases very good crops were obtained — such as
Cherries, which were more abundant than usual.
Strawberries were good on the first picking ; later
gatherings smaller, and, owing to the drought,
ripening prematurely and of short duration. Of
stone fruits Peaches and Nectarines are the best,
colouring and ripening well. Plums are a thin crop.
Small bush fruits fair crop, but small. Apples and
Pears are rather irregular, some trees having a fair
crop on them; on others the crop is thin, and the
fruit is falling off and infested with maggots. I
also notice that the imperfectly fertilised fruits are
the first to drop. Walnuts and Filberts are plenti-
ful. Indeed, unless we have rain soon, the fruits
still to ripen will be very much undersized. —
Fkank Ross.
"Wycombe Abbey, Bucks. — Apricots a good
average crop, of fair size, and of excellent quality.
Plums under average, 'V'ictorias most plentiful; the
trees on walls much aflleoted with aphis. Cherries
average crop; quality first-rate. A dry season suits
this crop, as by it the loss through cracking is
avoided. Peaches a full crop, but red spider
abounds very much in places, and doubtless will
in some degree reduce the size and quality of the
fruit. Nectarines a fine crop, and jjromise to de-
velop fully, and be in in good time. Apples very
abundant, but many of them small on some of the
trees ; large early kinds, as Lord Suflield and Lord
Grosvenor, excellent now, fit for use for culinary
purposes. Pears under average, promise to be
fairly good; Doyenne d'Ete and Windsor gathered.
Currants plentiful and good. Raspbsrries abun-
dant crop, but soon over. Strawberries abundant,
but small in general. Oxonian planted on northern
borders very fine, and especially useful. Nuts and
Walnuts a partial crop; in some places._they are
abundant, and in others the trees are bare of fruit.
Filberts and hedge Nuts partial. The effect of the
prolonged season of drought upon fruit trees in
general is such as to diminish the size of the diffe-
rent kinds of fruit very considerably. In certain
situations which are not quite so much aifected by
it the fruit is all that can be desired, both in re-
gard to quantity and quality, but in others as those
on hillsides or on thin gravelly or sandy soil, the
fruits must necessarily be materially depreciated,
if they attain perfection at all.
With regard to vegetables, its effects are even more
serious, and already have made the better class of
those subjects, as Peas, Cauliflowers, salading, &c.,
very scarce and expensive. Moreover, it will most
certainly very much diminish the size of all kinds
of winter stuff, which in the ordinary way of culti-
vation should at this time be out and partly esta-
blished; whereas, under existing conditions it is
impossible, speaking generally, to plant them out.
I have recently seen several gardens where the
water supply is reduced to the minimum amount
and cannot be afltorded for this purpose. This
likewise, in many cases, will also defer this matter
until rain comes, by which time it will be im-
possible for the subjects to attain their ordinary
size, and hence a diminished supply in this way.
Potatoes are excellent in quality, and abundant
in low, moist places ; in others the crop wiU be much
below an average; however, they are free from
disease. Snowdrop, Sunrise, Midsummer Kidney,
and Chancellor that we have lifted are all that can
be desired in every respect ; but this I find is not
the case on higher ground, where some instances of
super-tubering have been found. Many of the allot-
ments in this district are situated on elevated ground,
and I hear numerous complaints as to this season
being one of the worst the holders have experienced
for many years, especially in regard to most other
crops besides Potatoes. — Geo. Thos. Miles.
Danesbury Park, "Wei wyn.— What at one
time promised to be a most abundant fruit crop has
been sadly marred by the excessive heat and pro-
longed drought. AU kinds of fruit have suffered
severely. Apples, about half a crop, are small and
falling very much. Pears good, and, though small,
seem to stand better. Apricots good average crop,
but very small. Peaches good crop, trees healthy.
Plums about half crop. Damsons very thin. Cherries
a poor crop, and the trees muchinfested with aphis.
Strawberries heavy crop, small, and partly destroyed
by drought. The crop of Currants is thin, and suf-
fered very much from drought. Raspberries, a good
average crop, seemed to withstand the drought
better than many things. The crop of Gooseberries
is small, and the trees badly infested with cater-
pillars. Nuts are a heavy crop.
All kinds of vegetables are suffering fearfully from
drought, and the prospects for autumn are disheart-
ening unless rain falls speedOy. — Robbet F. Sax-
FOED.
Trent Park, NeWiBarnet.— Considering the
late spring, the fruit crops in this district are fairly
good. Apples and Pears are a medium crop, but
very much blighted, and I am afraid the greater
part will fall off. Plums and Damsons not quite
the average, but Apricots, Peaches, and Cherries,
especially the Morello on outside walls, are a
good crop, but small in size. Bush fruits in some
gardens abundant, in others quite a failure, owing,
no doubt, to the cold winds during the flowering
season. Strawberries and Raspberries have been
a good crop, and though small in size, have been
of good flavour. — Edwaed Baxtee.
Eedleaf, Penshurst, Kent. — Apples are
at this place a very fair crop, but I find they are
very thin in places round about us, especiaDy in low
situations. We are well sheltered from the north
and east winds, and the gTound sloping to the
south and west, we are often favoured with a crop,
when our neighbours in less favoured positions have
only partial ones. Old standard orchard trees are,
as a rule, bearing best. Bush trees are not so full ;
the best are Lord Suffield, Cox's Pomona, Frogmore
206
THE GARDEN.
Prolilic, Hawthoriiden, Cellini, Duchess of Olden-
liui-fi-, Loan's Pearmaiii, Marg-il, and Northern Spy ;
those are all bearing fine orojjs. Other sorts of
which we have a very fair collection are not so good.
GrowiBfj Apples and Pears on Grass, as bush and
dwarfs, has not yet piiid for the time and labour
expended on them. The best of our old trees this
year .are Walthara Abbey Seedling, Blenheim
Orange, Bromley, Hamljledon Deux Ans, Norfolk
Beaufin, Wellington, .-ind Royal llusset. The trees
have liecn badly infested with caterpillars, and
lately the woolly aphis has increased very much.
The drought has not affeotsd the growth of old
established trees very much ; they are making good,
shorl -jointed, .sturdy shoots. The fruit will most
likely lie small, even if we get rain soon, and jjro-
bably will cause some of them to crack very much.
Newly ])lanted trees are in a very bad plight, and I
am afraid we shall lose a good many. Pears are
under an average cro]i, but promise to be fairly
good, if they are not sjioiled by cracking when the
rain comes. We lost a great <|uaiitity last year
through the same cause, and after such an excep-
tionally dry summer as this, we may expect tlie same
to occur again. Our best this y(«ir on walls are
Williams' Bon (Chretien, Jargonelle, I'itmastoii
Duchess, Louise Boinio of Jersey, Doyenne du Co-
mice, Brown Beurrfi, Marie Beiioist, and Winter
Nelis. Of bush and standard trees the following
have good crojis : Doyenne d'Ete, a. heavy croji, but
does not keeji a)iy time ; Williams' Bon Chretien, Eye-
wood, Beurre Hardy, Pitmaston Duchess, Emile
d'Heyst, Monarch, Ne Plus Meuris, and Olivier de
Serres, the last a very good Pear, keeps well till Feb-
i-uary, and api)ears to be a good cropper. Apricots an
average crop; the fruit has ripened well, and is
of good size coisidering the season. Old trees
seem to bear best, but are continually dying off.
Peaches are thin and the trees are suffering from
the great heat ; some which have lieen well watered
and syringed towards evening are healthy; the black
(ly has been very troublesome all the sea.son. A few
fruits of Alexander were ripe on July 23 from a
young tree in a warm corner ; this variety promises
to be the earliest of all the Peaches at present.
Early Louise was ripe on August 4, and will be fol-
lowed by Early Grosse Mignonne, Royal George,
Violette HiUive, and Barrington. Nectarines are
much the same as Peaches as regards cropping and
growth ; Lord Napier has the best crop this season,
l^lums mostly a poor crop, and considering the
enormous crop they carried last year, it is not to be
wondered at. The trees are badly infested with fly
this season, and this, combined with drought, has
caused many of them to have a very sorry appear-
ance. Early Rivers is our first to ripen. Early Or-
leans and the Green Gages are carrying fair crops of
fruit, but most other sorts are very thin. Straw-
berries gave promise of a splendid crop, but the dry,
scorching weather was too much for them ; deeply
trenched ground, with a heavy mulching of litter,
and all the watering we could give, did not give us
the returns we looked for. A row each of La Grosse
Sucr6e, President, and Sir J. Paxton under a north
wall were the best ; these were planted early last
autumn from forced plants, and they look the
healthiest at the present time. Pauline, Pioneer, and
Marguerite, planted last autumn, were not good
enough to decide upon this year ; our old sorts, as
usual, served us best, Sir j. Paxton and Loxford
Hall being the best of all. Strawberries felt the
effects of the drought more than any other fruit up
to the present time. Of small fruits we have had a
very good crop. Raspberries were very fine, also
Red and White Currants. Black Currants were
good, also Gooseberries. All these were well dressed
last winter with plenty of stable litter, and not dug
in any way, which treatment suits them well. Nuts
and li'ilberts are a \'ery good crop, and Walnuts are
the best I have seen for several years. — W. HoLAii.
Pierrepont, Farnham.— The fruit crop here
is very satisfactory, .•illbough more or less affected
by the exci'iilion.-illy dry weather we have ex-
]jerienced. Apples set an enormous crop, but owing
to the drought fully halt drojiped off; the remainder
are very snuill with a few exceptions, viz.. Lord
Suffield, Keswick Codliii, Alexander, Hawthornden,
Sec. ; these, in spite of adverse conditions, are quite
up to the average of other seasons. Cox's Orange
Pippin was the first to show signs of distress, the
foliage having turned quite yellow. I have observed
the same at other times ; the trees were all mulched
with manure in the spring. Peaches and Nec-
tarines are a fair crop. During the time the trees
were in bloom there was a cold east wind, and the
fruit did not set quite so freely. They have been
well watered, and this, with a daily syringing, has
kept the trees in good health. Plum.s are a heavy
crop, but the fruit small. Cherries a heavy crop.
Morellos on north walls are as fine as we have had
them, although they have had no water. Pears on
walls are a heavy cro]), but the crop on pyramids is
very thin, owing to the unfavourable weather when
in bloom. Strawberries were a good cro)i, fine,
highly C(jloured, and of excellent ilavour, but they
were soon over, the tropical sun was too much for
them ; the plants were mulched both in autumn
and sju-ing, and a good watering given after the
fruit was set. Ras|iberries are aa excellent cr(jp ;
the stools were heavily mulched and watered. The
autumn-fruiting Belle ile Fontenay promises to give
us a good crii]> of fruit during 'October and No-
vember. Currants are a heavy crop. Black Currants
have suffered terribly, several (jf the trees having
succumbed altogether. The lied Currant seems to
stand the drought much better than either the
Black or White. Gooseberries were a heavy crop,
and have not suffered in the least. The bashes
have not made so much wood as usvial, but I never
remember seeing it so thoroughly ripened.
[Sept. .3, 1887.
the fruits were good, but the great heat soon told on
them ; and where they were not kept well watered
I may say they were nearly a failure. Medlars pro-
mise well. Quinces are cropping well. Grapes out-
doors are looking very well, and from present
appearance promise to be very good.— Geohge M.
Beeese.
The early Potatoes were excellent, but the second
and main crops are very poor and scarcely worth
lifting. On the morning of August 15 we had a
frost here. Some dwarf French Beans growing in a
valley in the kitchen garden are quite black. It
has not touched anything on higher ground. The
earliest frost we have had in any previous year was
on September 10, but I never remember or have
heard of one so early as on the date above men-
tioned.—J. TURNEK.
Petworth House, Sussex.— Apples looked
promising at one time for a good crop, but have
fallen very much of late, owing to the long
drought (for we have only had a little over half
an inch of rain since June 3) and maggot.
Some sorts promise well, such as King of the Pippins,
Cox's Orange, Scarlet Nonpareil, Quarrenden,
Hawthornden, Cox's Pomona, Cellini, Echlinville,
Worcester Pearmain, Tower of Glamis, Prince
Albert, Stirling Castle. We shall have half a crop,
All kinds are small at present, the early sorts espe-
cially so. Pears very promising for a good average
crop on standards, pyramids, wall-trained, and cor
dons. Fruit smaller than usual at this season of
the year, but many of the sorts will not be any the
worse for that, for often when the fruit is large
they deteriorate in Ilavour and keep badly. Marie
Louise, Bon Chretien, Doyenne du Comice, Duran-
deau, Beurre Diel, Nouvelle Fulvie, Winter Nelis,
Beurre d'Aremberg, Emile d'Heyst, and many other
sorts promise well. Plums are only half a crop, but
the fruit have improved during the last fort-
night. Damsons are abundant. Gooseberries have
been very plentiful and good in most places ;
on very dry soil they were small, but on good
land they were excellent. Currants, Black, AVhite,
and Red, have been abundant and good. I have
never seen finer fruit or a better crop, taking
them upon the whole. Peachi^s and Nectarines
are plentiful enough, but small ; the trees have
made no growth and look badly ; the fly and
red spider have been most troublesome all through
the season. They are looking somewhat bettiT since
the nights have be(ui cooler, but I cannot hope for
a good crop of fine fruit this year. AjDricots are an
abundant crop, under average in size, but excellent
in Ilavour. Cherries have been finer and better than
we have had for several years— clean, good, and fine
fruit, excellent Ilavour. Figs did promise well, but
have dropped much of late; will only be halt' a
crop now. Nuts and Filberts very good and plenti-
ful. Walnuts promise to be abundant. Raspber-
ries have been good on moist land, but on poor soil
they were dried up and withered very soon. Straw-
berries promised well to be an abundant crop •
Burhill, Walton-on- Thames.— The fruit crop
here in general is very fair this season ; although
there was such a splendid display of Apple blossom
this spring they are carryingonly a partial crop; .some
trees are well laden, while others have none. The
most prolific sorts are Hawthornden, Dumelow's
Seedling, Golden Harvey, Lemon Pippin, Blenheim
Orange, and Court Pendu Plat. Pears are more
ploitiful ; Williams' Bon Chretien, Louise Bonne of
Jersey, Marie Louise, Beurre Capiaumont, Duchesse
d'Angouleme, and Catillac are well laden. Plums
are under the average, though good on the follow-
ing, viz.. Early Orleans, Victoria, Coe's Golden Drop,
and Jefferson's : other kinds are a failure. Morello
Cherries a good crop and very clean. Strawberries
and Raspberries were a good crop, but owing to the
excessive heat they were of very short duration.
Gooseberries and Red Currants are thin crops.
Black Currants are abundant, bvit small. Mul-
berries are heavily cropped. Medlars and Filljerts
are carrying good average crops. Walnuts are poor.
Peaches and Nectarines are carrying good crops, as
also Apricots, esjiecially Moorpark, which is carry-
ing a heavy crop of very fine fruit.— A. Felgate.
Leigh Park, Havant, Hampshire. — The
fruit crop, as a rule, is not so good this season,
owing to the long, continuous drought, which is now
telling heavily on fruit trees. We have a good crop
of Apples. The trees were lifted a few years ago
and the soil renewed ; in fact, the trees have never
failed to carry 'a good crop since. In some orchards,
however, I notice the crop is not so good. Pears
are fairly good in some places, but the trees are not
bearing so heavily as last year. Figs are in first-
class condition on walls. Peaches and Nectarines
are a good crop, but I fear the fruits are under-
sized owing to the parched nature of the soil.
Morello Cherries are carrying a good crop. Plums
are rather thin as a rule, Victorias bearing heavily.
Bush fruits were fairly good in heavy soils, but in
light soils suffered considerably. — E. Penfold.
Heckfield Place, Winchfield.— In these gar-
dens and the immediate district fruit crops are
good, certainly far better than was expected after
such a long and severe winter, followed by such
exceptional heat and drought as still prevail.
Apricots are a full crop, the fruit large, and the
trees pictures of health. Peaches and Nectarines
are much abo\'e the average, and the fruit promises
to be extra fine. The trees were well protected
with scrim canvas during the blossoming season,
and have had abundant suiiplies of water, and
the borders are at all times of the year thickly
mulched with stable litter. Plums are a fair average
crop, and Damsons unusually plentiful. Cherries
good, and those that we have been able to water are
fine. Pears are much above the average and the
fruit is clean, but the drought has checked swelling,
anil I fear they will be small even on trees that
have not been allowed to carry a heavy crop.
Ap]>les are plentiful, but the drought is seriously
affecting them ; they are dropping off the trees
wholesale. Except Strawberries, no^other fruit seems
so susceptible to injury from drought. The trees
in orchards that ha\e been planted for many years
are dropping their fruit just as badly as young
plantations. Strawberries were a heavy crop, but
the season of bearing did not in this part extend
ON'er a fortnight. The sun was so powerful that,
though well watered and thickly mulched, they
collapsed as completely as if they were dried up.
Goost'berries and Currants of all kinds have been
very heavy crops, and the fruit unusually fine, so
that it would appear that dry, hot weather is favour-
able to these. But such is not the fact in respect
of Raspberries, the fruit of which was plentiful
enough, but much of it got what I call hide-bound
and could not swell out. A heavy soil and a humid
atmosphere are the best for Raspberries. Nuts of
all kinds are plentiful, and the crop of Black-
Sept. 3, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
207
berries in shady hedgerows is simply prodigious. —
W. WiLDSMITH.
Eaglehurst, Fawley, Hampshire. — The
Jlowers of most hardy fruits set well in this dis-
trict, but the continuous east winds experienced
during April, May, and part of June crippled the
growth \ery much, causing it to become an easy
prey to insects of all sorts. Cherries and Plums in
particular suffered severely from the attacks of
black and white aphis. The black aphis has now
disappeared from the Cherries, but Plums are still
affected with the white. Apples are a good crop,
but where the trees are much exposed the dryness
is telling upon them, and the fruit will be small.
Apricots are an average crop. Peaches abundant,
but we bad to water the borders several times to
keep the trees in health. Pears are a good average
crop. Plums and Cherries fair. Bush fruits abun-
dant. Gooseberries were particularly fine. Rasp-
berrie.s promised well and the early fruits were very
good, but the later fruit is all withering up with the
drought. Of Strawberries we had a fair crop, but
we had to water the plants heavily.
The drought has severely tried all garden produce
in this locality, as we have scarcely any vegetables,
notwithstanding the watering, the ground being
parched up and the air so arid and dry, that nothing
seems to grow as it should. — W. Watson.
Bearwood, Wokingham, Berks. — Apples
and Pears are a good average crop. Plums on walls
fine and good ; on standard trees they are thin.
Peaches and Nectarines are carrying a fine crop.
Apricots are carrying very good crops, and
making good growth. Strawberries with us were
poor and of short duration. Bush fruits all
good crops, but very small for want of rain. This
has been a season most trying to gardeners where a
great demand for fraits and vegetables out of doors
is required. Apples are already falling.
Our Potatoes are very good, early ones being ex-
cellent, late ones looking well, and all free from
disease. — James Tbgg.
liinton Bark, Maidstone. — Generally speak-
ing, the fruit crops here arc under average. Apples
and Pears we think we never saw so fine when in
blossom, but a continuance of cold east winds left
us with a very poor set on most varieties, and the
severe drought since is making the crop thin ; in-
deed, Keswick, Quarrenden, Lord Suflield, and
Stone Apple have set heavy crojis, but, from the
effects of maggots and drought, they are dropping
very fast. Pears, without exception, are thin and
small. Peaches and Nectarines are carrying fair
crops, but they do not swell. Plums thin. Damsons
good. Cherries have been a heavy crop, and very
good. Walnuts plentiful. Black, Red, and White
Carrants a fair crop. Raspberries fair. Straw-
berries a failure, completely dried up. Apricots we
do not grow. In our immediate neighbourhood
where fruit is much grown maggots are playing sad
havoc among the Apples, and dropping off prema-
turely is very prevalent.
Potatoes are small, but of first-rate quality. We
have not seen a diseased tuber this season. — John
MoKbnzie.
Wynyard Park, Stockton-on-Tees. — The
fruit crops in this district, especially when one
takes the long dry season into consideration, are
very good. Strawberries have been a good crop
and fine, but the season for them shorter than usual.
All bush fruits plentiful and good. Raspberries
suffered more than anything from drought, and the
later part of the crop did not come to maturity.
Apples are a heavy crop, the fruit particularly clean,
but not so large as usual. The foUowingare all carry-
ing heavy crops: Stirling Castle, Cookie Pippin,
Peasgood's Nonsuch, Keswick Codlin, Ribston Pippin,
Scarlet Nonpareil, Adams' Pearmain, Alexander,
Blenheim Pippin, Red Astrachan, Lamb Abbey
Pearmain, Datch Mignonne, Kerry Pippin, Court of
Wick, Herefordshire Pearmain, Tower of Glamis,
Sturmer Pippin, Beauty of Kent, Quarrenden, Eoh-
linville, Golden Pippin, Margil, Manks Codlin, Haw-
thornden, and Pitmaston Nonpareil. Pears are also
a heavy crop, both on walls and bush trees. Many
of the fruits on the former we had to thin. Our
best are as follows : Pitmaston Duchess, Beurre
Diel, Winter Crassane, Napoleon, Flemish Beauty,
Doyennfi du Cornice, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Marie
Louise, Easter Beurre, Williams' Bon Chretien,
Hacon's Incomparable, and BeurrS Capiaumont.
Apricots a full crop of good-sized fruit. Plums a
medium crop, those doing best being Early Rivers,
Victoria, Magnum Bonum, Jefferson's, Kirke's, Green
Gage, and Coe's Golden Drop. Morello Cherries
are moderate. Peaches none outside. Our soil is
a clayey loam, with subsoil principally on the clay.
To the retentive state of the ground and mulching
I attribute the present state of our fruit crop. —
H. E. Gribble.
Hall Barn, Buckinghamshire.— The crops
around this district have suffered severely from the
dry weather. Here Apples are below the average
and far below the usual size, and are falling off ; in
fact, some of our trees look half dead. Apricots
are good, but \ery small. Peaches and Nectarines
above the average. Pears and Plums are below the
average. Red, White, and Black Currants have
been good. Gooseberries have been rather small,
but we have had an enormous crop ; some of the
old bushes we have been obliged to prop to prevent
the branches from breaking off. Strawberries pro-
mised well, but the dry weather was too much for
them. Raspberries a failure. FUberts an average
crop.
Potatoes, as a rule, are very small. White Ele-
phant is the best we have for crop and quality. All
green stuff presents a sickly appearance ; in fact, in
the cottage gardens and allotments there is not a
bit of green to be seen. — J. Pkowse.
Basing Park, Alton. — Fruits this year are the
best we have had for twelve years. The Apple crop
is very heavy, and the fruit on good strong loamy
soil of fair size, but on light, sandy soil, fruit small.
Blenheim Orange, Kerry Pippin, Irish Peach, Red
Quarrenden, King of the Pippins, Lord Suflield,
Keswick Codlin, Cellini Pippin, Worcester Pear-
main, Dumelow's Seedling, Warner's King, Royal
Russet, and Yorkshire Greening are producing good
crops. Pears are a good crop, and trees very healthy,
and the fruit fine on the walls. Plums are a first-
rate crop, and on the walls the fruit is fine. Dam-
sons are bearing abundantly ; the trees have to be
propped up. The best kinds of Plums are Victoria,
Pond's Seedling, and Coe's Golden Drop, Green
Gage, Jefferson's and Goliath. Peaches and Nec-
tarines are a good crop. Apricots a fair crop, and
fruit good and well ripened. Morello Cherries a
most abundant crop and good, but the trees very
much blighted. Gooseberries and Currants are very
abundant and good. Raspberries and Strawberries
are good, but fruits small and very soon over. Fil-
berts are plentiful. The effects of the hot, dry
season have caused Apples and Pears to drop, and
Plums also, but in most cases there are plenty left.
— Wm. Smtthe.
Maiden Erleigh, Beading. — Fruit crops here
and in this district are quite up to the average, but
Apples on old and orchard trees are, owing to the
excessive drought, unusually small. They are very
much infested with the maggot, and are dropping
off wholesale. The following are sorts that do best
here, and are all carrying full crops : Irish Peach,
King Pippin, Jefferson's, Worcester, Adams' and Man-
nington Pearmains, Cox's Orange Pippin, King of
the Pippins, Rosemary Russet, Keswick Codlin, Lord
Suflield, Stirling Castle, Pott's Seedling, Frogmore
Prolific, Cellini, Echlinville Seedling, Peasgood's
Nonsuch, Small's Admirable, Warner's King, Wal-
tham Abbey Seedling, Prince Albert, and M^re de
Menage. Pears are an average crop, but except
where they have had copious supplies of water,
they are, like the Apples, very small. The follow-
ing on walls : Jersey Gratioli, Souvenir du Congr^s,
Brockworth Park, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Fon-
dante d'Automne, Glon Morceau, Winter Nelis,
Zephirin Gregoire, Conseilleur de la Cour, Beurre
Diel, Bergamotte d'Esperen, and Easter Beurre
all set heavy crops, and required thinning, as did
also the following on pyramids : Doyenne d'Ete,
Clapp's Favourite, Williams' Bon Chretien, Duran-
deau. Peach, Fondante d'Automne, British Queen,
Passe Colmar, Dr. Trousseau, Beurre d'Aremberg,
Beurre Clairgeau, AVinter Nelis, Beurre Duval. Of
Plums, Orleans, Victoria, and Jefferson's on walls
and Victoria on standards are heavy crops, but
Gages and other sorts are a thin crop. Cherries,
both sweet and Morello, are a heavy crop, and trees
of the former made unusually clean and healthy
growths. Apricots and Peaches are a full crop ; of
the former we depend upon Shipley, Peach, Turkey,
and Breda for preserving ; and Moorpark, Kaisha,
Frogmore Large, and D' Alsace for dessert. Apricots
we grow in quantity, but we never have had so
satisfactory a crop as this season. The greater
portion of the trees has been planted aboiit eight
years. Bush fruits have been plentiful. Red
Currants in particular being particularly fine and
clean. Raspberries we never fail with ; they are
planted in good ground where the soil is deep and
holding ; we give them an annual top-dressing and
a heavy mulching before the fruit begins to ripen ;
the sort is Prince of Wales. Strawberries were a
heavy crop, and repaid us for the watering we gave
them before putting on the nets. The sorts we grow
are Hericart de Thury, President, Sir Joseph Paxton,
and Elton Pine. The last-named we grow in quan-
tity for preserving. Walnuts are a great crop.
Cobs and Filberts thin, but fine. — T. Tueton.
Easton Lodge, Essex. — Apricots are an
average crop. Plums are a light crop. Peaches
and Nectarines are an average. Stirling Castle,
Lord Palmerston, Grosse Mignonne, and Lord
Napier Nectarine are bearing heavy crops. Cherries
are average. Apples are over the average ; the best
are Hawthornden, Keswick Codlin, Warner's King,
Mere de Menage, Dutch Mignonne, Lord Suflield,
Nelson Codlin, Irish Peach, King of the Pippins.
Reinette du Canada, Boston Russet, and Court
Rendu Plat. Pears on pyramids are an average
crop ; on the walls the following sorts required much
thinning: Glou Morceau, Bergamotte d'Esperen,
Josephine de Malines, Louise Bonne of Jersey, and
Beurre Bosc. Strawberries a fair crop, but poor in
quality ; Sir .Joseph Paxton seemed to stand the dry
weather best. Currants and Gooseberries are heavy
crops, but rather small. Raspberries are a light
crop and the fruit small. — H. LiSTEB.
Moreton, Dorchester. — The drought still con-
tinues in this district, and all crops are suffering
severely from its effects. I find that our rainfall
here from 7th of May to present date amounts to
only 3 inches. Apples are good crops generally,
but small and falling. Apricots light crop, and
fruits small. Peaches and Nectarines where pro-
tected with glass are very good. Pears are light.
Plums are a very light crop. Clierries none. Figs
pretty good. Strawberries promised, but were de-
stroyed by drought, and the plants are suffering
very much. Raspberries are a poor crop. Goose-
berries and Currants are good crops.
Vegetables are only kept alive by constant water-
ing. Potatoes are very small, and would not now
be improved by rain, supertuberation having already
commenced in some varieties. — D. Uphill.
Hall Place, Tonbridge. — Apples here and in
this neighbourhood are fairly abundant, especially
the following sorts : King Pippin, Northern Green-
ing, Early Nonpareil, Juiieating, Kerry Pippin, Cox's
Orange Pippin, Golden Knob, Golden Noble, Lord
Suflield, White Paradise, Hawthornden, new and
old varieties. Pears are an average crop. Peaches
and Nectarines on walls and under glass copings
are very good. Apricots under, the same conditions
are only half a crop. Plums on walls are very
scarce, but commoner sorts on standards are a good
crop. Damsons are half a crop. Cherries very
plentiful. Morellos on north walls are fair crops.
Raspberries very satisfactory ; this being the third
season since they were planted on deeply trenched
and well manured ground, the results are all that
could be desired. Gooseberries are only about half
a crop. All sorts of Currants were a good crop, but
where situation and other conditions were not so
favourable, the want of suflicient moisture at the
roots proved rather disastrous to the fruit. Kentish
Cobs, Filberts, and Walnuts are medium crops.
Quinces abundant. Medlars thin. Mulberries have
dropped very much. Strawberries promised good
208
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 3, 1887.
and substantial crops, bjt t'ae dry weather affected
them very much. The quality of both table and
preserving fruit was excellent. Still, the season so
far has been fairly good, and most garden crops are
doing well considering the season. — J. Berry.
Iieonardsles, Hor.Hham. — Apple trees were
well furnished with healthy blossom, and a good
crop was set of all kinds, but in consequence of the
excessively dry, hotweather Apples will be very small,
and the trees are blighted with green and black ily,
with the foliage blistered. Pears are, as a rule,
looking better, the foliage healthy, but the fruit is
small. We have a fair average crop of all kinds,
both on walls and bushes. Plums are a fair average,
the fruits small, and a great many drop for want of
rain. Peaches and Nectarines are good indoors,
but bad outside. Apricots are also bad. Cherries
have produced a large crop of all kinds, but the
fruit is small. Strawberries have borne a large
crop of fruit, but under the average in size owing
to the want of rain. Other small fruits have been
most abundant. Walnuts are a little under average.
Kent Cobs a full average crop. Figs on bushes in
the open are very fine and over average crops.
Mulberries are promising.
Potatoes. — All the first earlies were dried up
owing to the long-continued dry and hot weather.
The tubers are small, but good, and dry when
cooked. All the second earlies are in much the
same condition as the above. In most of the cottage
gardens in this district they are all taken up. The
late kinds are looking well, but I find they have
begun to supertuberate, and in a few cases blight
has been found. ■\^egetables were abundant up to
the third week in June.— Sidney IToed.
Silvermere, Cobliain. — Fruit prospects were
never brighter than last spring, but the severe east
wind, coupled with drought and frosty nights, were
more than the tender blooms could bear. Oi Apples
we have scarcely an average crop. Pears, although
more plentiful, are by no means satisfactory. Plums
and Cherries fair crops, but small. Raspberries and
Red, White, and Black Currants are abundant.
Peaches and Nectarines are fair crops. Strawberries
gave promise of a large crop, but the intense heat
fairly dried up all but the earliest fruit. — James
QUAETERMAN.
Leigham Court, Streatliain. — The early
spring gave ])romise of an abundant fruit crop, but
the prospect has not been fully realised. Orchard
fruits have suffered considerably from the cold
-winds, and all fruits have suffered more or less from
. the drought. Apples are a thin crop ; the only
variety bearing a full crop is Hawthornden.
Alfriston, King of the Pippins, Blenheim Orange,
Lemon Pippin, Echhnville, Kerry Pippin, and
-Ribston Pippin are carrying a moderate crop, other
sorts being very thin. Pears are a moderate crop,
but will be small on account of the drought. Plums
are scarce, and we have Ijut few Damsons. Sweet
Cherries do not succeed well in this district, but
there was a fine set of Morellos, which, however,
were very much thinned by the dry weather at
stoning period. Bush fruits have been good where
the trees received a good mulching, but where this
precaution was not taken the fruit was very poor.
Pea'ches and Nectarines are a good crop ; the trees
suffered from cold winds in the spring, but are now
looking healthy and well. Strawberries have been
very good where freely supplied with water, without
which they would have failed altogether. Our
best plants have been those which were layered last
summer, and jilanted out about twelve months ago.
— E. Butts.
Homewood, Chitleliurst. — Apples, an abun-
dant crop growing upon espalier trees, but below an
average upon standards, both in the orchard and
garden. Apricots a most abundant crop, but the
fruit below the average size, owing to the continued
dryness of the summer. Cherries an average crop.
May Duke, Bigarreau Napoleon, and Governor
Wood bearing the heaviest crops. Morellos below
an average crop. Currants, Black, an 'average ci'op,
the fruit smaller than previous years owing to the
dry weather. Red a most abundant crop, fine large
fruit. White over an average crop. Figs a fair
average crop. Gooseberries a very abundant crop,
more especially the late ripening sorts, Warringtons
bearing an extra heavy crop of fruit. Grapes grow-
ing out of doors a failure. Medlars none. Necta-
rines above the average growing upon south walls
outdoors. The trees are healthy with clean foliage,
having been heavily watered at the roots several
times. Nuts below the average crop. Peaches are
bearing heavy crops of fruit, which are swelling
\'ery freely. Trees healthy and free from insects.
Picked ripe fruit of Early Beatrice from a south
wall on August 7, Early Louise on August 12 ; upon
the same wall the trees ha^'e been heavily watered
at the roots during the summer. Plums below an
average crop ; varieties bearing medium crops are
Orleans, Rivers' Early Prolific, Victoria, and Red
Gage. Damsons almost a failure, trees only bearing
a very few fruits. Strawberries an average crop ; the
fruits suffered from dry weather, many of them
not swelling to perfection; the season of ripe fruit
being very short owing to the very dry season, and
at the present time the plants are suffering from
the drought and producing but weakly runners.
Raspberries are bearing a good average crop of fine
large fruit, the crops soon being over owing to the
dry weather. Walnuts a plentiful crop. — William
Christison.
Poulett Lodge, Twickenham. — The fruit
crops in this district never looked more promising
than they .did in the n\onth of May this year, but
everything has suffered for want of rain. Straw-
berries particularly. Apples are dropping off very
fast, and are an average crop ; fruit small. The
crop of Pears is below the average. Plums are a
good crop, but the fruit will be small. Peaches and
Nectarines are generally bearing crops. Straw-
berries average crop, soon over. Gooseberries and
Currants little below average crop. Cherries are
very good and fine. Walnuts good crop and fine.
The crop of Potatoes will be light. They are as
yet free from disease. This has been the driest
season we have had at Twickenham for twelve
years. — William Bates.
Bedfont, Hourslow. — The hanging fruit crops
vary so much from day to day, that, as far as the stan-
dard autumn crops of Apples, Pears, and Plums are
concerned, the latest report is likely to be the most
correct. What early in the year promised to be a
grand Apple crop is now, thanks to the drought, a
moderate show, for not only on many trees has the
fruit been greatly thinned, but that which hangs is
small and hard. LTp to a certain period the trees
stood well ; indeed, remarkably sii for the weather,
but now the fruit tells upon the root resources, and
the trees are giving out. Early Apples have been
and are plentiful ; late Apples a;re thin and do not
swell as they should. Maggot, also, is very preva-
lent. Here Juliens form the, chief yearly market
kinds, and these have been largely gathered whilst
but half the ordinary size. Lord Suflield and
Manks Codlin follow, both good Crops, but in all
cases only half "sized. On the whole we may say of
the Apple crop in this market garden district, that
it will be a fair one, but fruits smaller than usual
and lacking quality. Only a very heavy rain which
would reach the roots could help the later kinds to
improve their fruits. Pears are but a moderate
crop, the heaviest being found on the somewhat
largely grown, but almost worthless, Hessle ; and
the next best is Williams' Bon Chretien. Calebasse
Pears are thin ;' so also are Beurre de Capiaumont.
Beurrc d'Amanlis, Alexandre Lambre, and Poiteau
Nouveau have their crops of fairly good fruits on
free standards. On the whole, we may say that
Pears are about half a crop, the sample being of
moderate size, I should like to remark that Nou-
veau Poiteau, which makes such a handsome pyra-
midal tree, has a very luxuriant, stout leafage
naturally, and the fruits on that kind are relatively
finer than on less heavily foliaged trees. The best
fruited Plums are Rivers' Early Prolific, Early Or-
leans, Victoria, Prince of Wales, and Gisborne, with
Damsons generally, whilst Farleigh Prolific is carry-
ing, after a very heavy crop last year, quite a good
crop this year. All Plum trees, however, are feeling
the drought much, and many apparently dying, the
leaves withering on the trees. Had we had an ordi-
nary season we should have had to report a very
fine Plum crop. Now it will be a plentiful one of
inferior and small fruit. Cherries have been won-
derfully plentiful, and being gathered early and no
rain to induce cracking, have proved the best crop
of the year. Bush fruits have been fair. Black Cur-
rants quite a failure, but Red plentiful, and Goose-
berries fairly abundant. Raspberries were seriously
affected for the worse by drought, and proved not
more than half a crop ; Strawberries turning out
the same, though very good in holding soils. Here
the favoured kinds are Napier's, Paxton's, and Pre-
sident, but the two former are the most popular. —
Ale.xandee Dean.
Mentmore, Leighton Buzzard. — Apples
were very late in flowering, but set a good average
crop ; in the gardens where the soil is rich and deep
they are of a good size, the trees healthy, and grow-
ing freely, but in the orchards under Grass the fruit
is small and the trees stunted owing to such a long
season of dry weather. The following varieties
grafted on the Paradise stock are fruiting well :
Mr. Gladstone, White Juneating, Red Juneating,
these are our first ready to gather the first week in
August ; Red Astrachan, Irish Peach, Lemon Pippin',
Cellini, Duchess of Oldenburg, Cox's Orange Pippin,
King of the Pippins, Lamb Abbey Pearmain, Cockle
Pippin, Besspool, Dumelow's Seedling, Yellow
Ingestre, Stamford Pippin, Lane's Prince Albert,
Cox's Pomona, Washington, Ribstoni Pippin, War-
ner's King, Ringer, Worcester Pearmain, Col.
Vaughan, Jefferson's, Margil, Kerry Pippin, &c.
Pears on walls, trained as cordons, are bearing
freely, but in the open garden they did not set well,
although there was an abundant crop of llowers.
Citron des Carmes is our earliest on walls, and when
gathered before being fully ripe is rich and good ;
when allowed to ripen on the trees it often proves
mealy. Plums are an excellent crop on walls, but
in orchards a failure, with the exception , of
Victoria, which seldom fails to give us a supply.
The Czar is one of our best early Plums oh walls ;
the fruits are now ripe, and are sweet and good for
dessert or cooking. Oullin's Golden Gage is also
fruiting freely on the walls, and is one of our best
early dessert Plums. Transparent Early Gage is
also good. Grand Duke is good on walls here.
Green Gages are a very thin crop ; also Prunes and
Damsons.— J. Smith. "
Albuiy Park, Surrey. — Strawberries (new
plantations) were a good crop, fruit being fine in
quality. Apples on some trees are bearing heavily,
but others, owing to the heavy crop they carried
last year, are thin. All stone fruits are good, par-
ticularly Plums on standard and bush trees. All
small fruits, such as Gooseberries, Currants, &o.,
were fine. Pears on the whole are a thin crop. Our
soil is light, with a pure sand subsoil. We were
without rain for over ten weeks, and after the long
winter and cold and late spring, fruit trees, ever-
green shrubs, and deciduous trees have, owing to
the late tropical weather, made splendid growth. .
All kinds of vegetables are now, thanks to the
late rain, looking well. Peas have been very fine.
Potatoes are a good crop, being of fine table size
and quality, and free from disease. I consider this
has been one of the best seasons we have had for
years, and fruit trees promise well for another year,
the fruit-buds plump and the wood well ripened. —
W. C. Leach.
Luton Hod Park, South Beds. — Apples are
under the average, and the fruit will be small.
Apricots are a good crop, but the fruits are under-
sized and the quality inferior. Figs are a fair crop,
and the trees vigorous. Nectarines are a good crop,
as also are Peaches, the trees being remarkably
healthy. Plums are poor. Pears under the average,
and small. RaspbeiTies were a good crop where the
plants were mulched in time with 4 inches of short
Grass. Strawberries were a good crop, but owing
to the drought the fruits were small. Dessert
Cherries are a failure. Morellos a heavy crop, but
the fruit is not so large as last year. Mulberries
are plentiful, but very small. Nuts are under ave-
age. Bush fruits are abundant, except Gooseberries.
The flowering season was one of great promise, and
Sept. 3, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
209
had we had anything like a season we should have
had a most abundant crop of every kind of fruit.
When the Plums, Cherries, and many sorts of Pears
were in bloom the thermometer fell to 11® one
morning, which destroyed all the blossoms which
were open. The prolonged drought has done much
harm to Strawberries, the President variety suffer-
ing most severely. Apples drop badly, and Cherries,
Plums, and most other sorts are seriously infested
with aphides. Altogether the season is disappoint-
ing.— Wm. M. Baillib.
Books.
REPORT OF THE PEAR CONGRESS.
Disinterested observers who have followed the
unfortunate Royal Horticultural Society through all
its gradations from brilliant Chiswick days to mise-
rable Kensington wUl insist that its best work has
been performed on the eve of its unhappy depar-
ture. In 1883 a few practical members of the
society, who love horticulture for horticulture's
sake, conceived the happy idea of holding an Apple
Congress at Chiswick, and, notwithstanding the
fact that the undertaking involved the committee
and secretary in an enormous amount of work, the
result exceeded their most sanguine expectations. In
due course, thanks to the indefatigable Mr. Barron,
a report on British Apples was published, and it is
not too much to say that this handy book, within
the reach of all, is the most complete practical work
of the kind yet published in the English language.
Possessing as it does a large fund of useful informa-
tion invaluable to the hardy fruit grower, it is by no
means surprising that it has found its way into every
pomologist's library, and further, that two years later
a Pear Conference on the samelines was inaugurated.
Undaunted by the load of close work which the com-
pilation of a book of this kind must have added to
his other duties, Mr. Barron again returned to the
charge, and the companion volume on Pears just
published is now before us.
With few exceptions, the plan adopted at the Apple
Congress in 1885 was repeated, when, the season
proving highly favourable, good representative col-
lections, accompanied by invaluable notes, and con-
taining almost every known Pear, were sent in from
nearly all parts of the British Islands. On reference
to the book (p. 6), which, by the way, can be ob-
tained free by all Fellows on application to the sec-
retary to the society, or by the general public from
Maomillan & Co., Bedford Street, Covent Garden,
we find 6161 dishes of Pears were contributed by 164
British growers, 108 dishes by growers in the Chan-
nel Islands, and 262 dishes were sent from France
for comparison. To fruit growers who have had
experience in comparing and naming small col-
lections grown under good, bad, and indifferent
conditions, the work which this formidable array
involved can easily be imagined. But when it is
understood that nearly all the exhibits were well
named and accompanied by notes on " Situation
where grown," " Character of soil and subsoil," "The
most suitable stocks," and a " List of varieties best
adapted to each district," it will be seen that the
work was greatly simplified. After throwing the
collections into geographical groups, the outcome
of the labour undertaken by the examiners (pp. 19
to 183) results in a short descriptive list of 616 dis-
tinct Pears which passed under their scrutiny.
That some errors from various causes crept in there
exists but little doubt ; indeed, this we know to be
a fact, as all supposed corrections have been sent to
the exhibitors . Taken on the whole, the examin ers say
,the number of synonyms noted was strikingly small,
and a pleasing feature was the general correctness
of the nomenclature. Returning to p. 7, we find a
list of Pears which, although not new, are not in
general cultivation, and, being good in quality as
well as excellent bearers, the committee strongly
recommend the following : —
Beurre GiSuri, August ; Madame Treyve, Summer
Beurre d'Aremberg, Clapp's Favourite, Septemher ;
'Pitmaston Duchess, October and November ; Beurre
d'Anjou, BeuiTe Baltet pere. Emile d'Heyst, Novem-
ber; Marie Benoist, Nouvelle Fulvie, Beurrg de Joughe,
L'lucomiue (Van Mons), ./aiiuari/; Duchesse'de Bor-
deaux, Olivier de Serres, Passe Crassane, February and
March.
Again, same page, they think the annexed list suit-
able for market purposes : —
Beacon, August; Fertility, .Souvenir du Cougres,
September; Marie Louise d'Uccle, Dm-ondeau or de
Tongres, October and November.
Of new French Pears not yet proved in this country
the committee think the following are worthy of
introduction : —
Beurre Dumont, October; Madame Andre Leroy,
President Mas, President d'Osmanville, No^'ember.
Finally, on a general examination of the whole of
the collections, and noting the most prominent va-
rieties in each, the following 60 were selected ; —
Alexandre Lambre, Bergamotte Esperen, BeuiTe
Alexander Lucas, B. d'Amanlis, B. d'Anjou, B. de
I'Assomption, B. Baolielier, B. Baltet pere, B. Bosc,
B. Clairgeau, B. Diel, B. Hardy, B. Ranee, B. Spae,
B. Sterckmans, B. Superfiu, Chaumontel, Comte de
Laniy, Conseiller de la Cour, Doyenne Boussocli,
Doyenne du Cornice, Duchesse d'Angouleme, Dn-
rondeau, Easter Beurre, EmQe d'Heyst, Flemish
Beauty, Fondante d'Automne, Gansel's Bergamot,
Genei'al Todtleben, Glon Morceau, Huysbe's Bergamot,
Josephine de Malines, Jersev Gratioli, Louise Bonne
of Jersey, Madame Andre Leroy, Madame Treyve,
Marie Benoist, Marie Louise, Marie Louise d'Uocle,
Nonvelle Fulvie, Olivier de Serres, Passe Colmar,
Passe Crassane, Pitmaston Duchess, Princess, Souvenir
du Congres, Suffolk Thorn, Thompson's, Urbaniste,
Van Mons Leon Leelero, WiUiams' Bon Chi-etien,
Winter Nelis, Zephirin Gregoire.
Stewtng Pears. — Bellissime d'Hiver, Catillae.
Gilles 6 Gilles, Grosse Calehasse, Uvedale's St. Ger-
main, VeiTilam, Vicar of Winkfield.
At p. 9 we gather the following remarks, and as
they cannot be too extensively known, without
robbing the book — for it is equally rich throughout
— with this quotation this notice must terminate : —
Without entering into minute comparison of the
merits of the different collections exhibited, it is im-
portant to notify this fact — that the cultivation of
good Pears does not seem to be confined to any par-
ticular climate or disti-ict of the country. If we take
the magnificent examples from M. Joshua Le Comu,
of Jersey, as the result of good and careful cultivation,
we have their equals produced by Mr. Haycock and by
Mr. Thomas in Kent, and closely followed by Mr.
Wildsmith in Hampshire, and Mr. Breese in Sussex.
Many other individual examples throughout the exhi-
bition were equally meritorious. No one failed to re-
mark on the excellence of the examples from Lord
Chesterfield, Herefordshire, or those still further north
from Mr. Dalrymple, St. Boswells, Scotland, which
were probably as meritorious as any at the conference.
Nothing contributed so much to these successful re^
suits as good and careful cultivation. It may be taken'
as a general rule, that the best fruits are produced
where the greatest care is bestowed. An importaut
factor in the successful cultivation of the Pear, as
gathered from the returns, is in the use of the Quince
stock, which, from its close surface-rooting character,
is more directly amenable to the attentions of the cul-
tivator.
Coming as this sister volume does direct from the
hands of Mr. Barron, it is hardly necessary to say it
is got up in a style worthy of his skill. The cost is
trifling, and before another tree is bought, the book
should certainly be secured by every fruit grower
and planter throughout the kingdom. W. C.
Watering shrubs. — Fire-engines have their
particular uses, but they can hardly be put to more
useful special duties than in watering liberally the
trees and shrubs in gardens. Mr. Hargreaves has a
powerful steamer at Maiden Erleigh, and this placed
near the lake, although a long way distant from the
lawn, has proved most serviceable in drenching trees
and shrubs, so that they look delightfully green, and
more than repay in beauty and freshness for the
labour expended in the watering. In the same
way the large number of young Apple and Pear
trees in the extensive kitchen gardens have been
well soaked several times, and the crop of fruit not
only well sustained, but induced to swell admirably.
A number of large trees which were lifted and
transplanted last autumn, although well mulched, I
might have died but for the powerful services of
the steam fire-engine. — A. D.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
Carnations. — Mr. R. W. Proctor, the Nurseries,
Chesterfield, has sent us a gathering of seedling
Carnations. They seem a very interesting collec-
tion, and we regret that they were received in
rather bad condition. One yellow seemed very
pure, and we hope more attention will be paid to
the self varieties, of which there were comparatively
few in the selection of Carnations forwarded.
Flowers from Burton-on-Trent. — A branch,
cut off entire with foliage, of Helianthus multi-
florus looks exceedingly rich in an old oak-coloured
jar in the corner of a room, and Potentilla formosa
is very bright and useful for cutting, much the best
of the single Potentillas. It looks most beautiful
on the rockery, as it is of a straggly habit. Ano-
matheca cruenta is a sweet little flower, apt to be
overlooked in the garden, but it always attracts at-
tention and admiration in the house. — E. S. L.
Veined Verbena (V. venosa). — This is an old-
fashioned plant, but one that we cannot afford to
despise. There are large clumps of it, now a mass
of bloom, in the Epsom Nursery, and as in the case
of the single Petunias, the drought seems to have
rather increased its flowering capabilities than other-
wise. It is a most useful plant to give colour to a
border or bed, preferring a well-drained open soil
and sunny situation. As there may be some unac-
quainted with it, we may mention that the flowers
are bluish in colour, and borne in terminal spikes. ,
A new Aster. — Messrs. E. Forgeot and Co.
Paris, have sent us flowers of a new Aster, which is
called "Tige de fer Monstrueuse." The plant is
stated to be of pyramidal habit, and, judging from
the blooms, we should say it is a useful novelty.
The flowers measure 4 inches or 5 inches in
diameter, are of fine substance, circular form, and
delicate colouring, pure white shading to rosy pink
— a beautiful combination. The stalks are of rigid
character and great length. We should advise
Messrs. E. Forgeot to give the flower a prettier
name than the absurd title above quoted.
Japanese climbing Bramble (Rubus phoeni-
colasius). — We have received from Mr. R. Irwin
Lynch, Botanic Gardens, Cambridge, fruiting
branches of this fine Bramble. The fruit is of orna-
mental character, scarlet, and produced in dense
clusters on long, graceful, and picturesque shoots.
We recently saw a fine specimen planted amongst
the stones in a rock ravine, and there its wild, un-
ruly growth could be allowed free will, the result
being a delightful natural picture, which would be
entirely spoilt if any trimming or pruning were
indulged in.
Ipomeea Quamoclit. — This small herbaceous
tropical annual seems to be a stranger to most
gardeners, judging by the number of times it has
been sent to be named. It often comes up as a
waif among newly imported Orchids or other plants,
and its pretty foliage attracts attention and wins
for it care until it flowers. Although a tropical plant,
it thrives iu an ordinary greenhouse in summer.
Here is a short description by which it can be
recognised : Habit twining ; stems thin, sometimes
12 feet long ; leaves divided into numerous linear
segments; Gleichenia-like, 3 inches to 6 inches long;
flowers in short, axillary cymes all along the stems,
about three flowers springing from each leaf axil ;
they are slender tubed, 1 inch long, and about the
same across the top ; colour scarlet, rarely white.
It is a common tropical weed, originally native of
S. America. — W.
Bignonia grandiflora. — I saw this glorious
climbing shrub in flower the other day at Dang-
stein, in Hampshire. It was growing against an
open wall facing south, and bore a huge panicled
cluster of great trumpet-shaped blooms of a bright
reddish orange colour. The flower-clusters termi-
nate the shoots, as they do in the common B. radi-
caus, and are arranged in sets of three, one on either
side of a central one, which always opens first. The
210
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 3, 1887.
leaves are very elegant, being about a foot in length,
made up of several pairs of leaflets, but the growth
is altogether less dense than that of B. radicans,
which is much hardier. B. grandidora is seldom
grown against an open wall; generally it is placed
in a greenhouse, but there can be no doubt that
it may be grown perfectly well against open walls
in warm parts of our southern counties if care is
taken to protect the plant against severe frosts
in winter. Its larger and brighter coloured
flowers make it even more desirable than the beau-
tiful B. radicans. It requires close pruning in
winter, so as to produce strong flowering growths.
It is a native of China and Japan, whence it was
introduced to this country about the beginning of
the present century. It is a more expensive plant
than B. radicans, but may be got from any good
nursery. — W. G.
Gaura liindheimeri. — This is a ]jlant we may
recommend to those who have a difficulty in keep-
ing their gardens gay with hardy flowers during the
late summer and early autumn months. It is in
full ]jerfectioii now, and when well grown makes
one of the best border jilants we have for late
blooming. It requires a fair amount of space and
loves a loamy spot, with full exposure to the sun-
shine and air. It reminds one of an Epilobium in
general expression, tlie graceful, slender stems rising
to 3 feet, and sometimes 4 feet, in height, and fur-
.iiished with slightly pendent pinkish flowers. It is
not only an admiraljlo border perennial, but may be
used for bedding, and at Gunnersbury Park, Acton,
it is employed in this way, creating a tasteful and
high-class design. We were also much struck with
a specimen high up on the rockery at Kew, as when
standing out from amongst other things and with
suitalile surroundings, its elegance is more plainlj'
shown. This Gaura is quite hardy and easily pro-
pagated, so that it ought to become popular.
The white Bladder Flower (Physianthus
albens). — This graceful Chilian climber is one of
the chief flowers of the week, as it adorns the roofs
of greenhouses as well as open walls, arbours, and
trellises in many fa\oured spots along the south
coast. The plant reminds one of the Stephanotis,
the leaves and flowers being similar. They are
snow-white, and freely produced in clusters all
along the slender stems, which twine in all
directions. It is quite an insect trap, as innumer-
able flies and bees are caught when the plant is in
full flower. They get in the flower somehow, but
cannot get out. It is scarcely a climber for a small
greenhouse, as it is of such rampant growth, but
for large houses where it can have plenty of room
and festoon rafters and pillars it is most valu-
able. It is, however, seen only in perfection when
grown out of doors against a wall, arbour, or
trellis, but to see it in luxuriance one must go to
the sunny gardens of Devon and Cornwall, or on
the south coast of the Isle of Wight, that favoured
spot where numberless plants half hardy about
London thrive to perfection. — W. G.
Iiilium auratum at Kew.— Tliis Lily is so
grand at Kew this season tliat it is alone worth a
long journey to see. The finest specimens are those
planted among the Rhododendrons in the orescent-
shaped beds skirting the main walk leading from
the grand entrance to the Palm house. Here there
are scores of stems that rise as nmch as 8 feet
high, and terminated by huge clusters of flowers
quite a foot across. Some of the stems are
fasciated, and carry as many as five and six
dozen flowers, smaller, of course, than those on
stems not so deformed. Altogetlier, these LiUes
make a grand show, and are certainly one of the
chief attractions at Kew at the jires'ent moment.
The bulbs have been planted about three years,
and are, therefore, just about in their best con-
dition. Lilies of ali kinds have been very fine at
Kew this year. The Tiger Lilies are now in per-
fection ; indeed, it would be difficult to surpass, or
even equal, the fine display of the L. tigrinum
splendgns, which is near the greenhquse (No. 4).
This variety is brighter in colour than the type, has
larger flowers and heavier spotting. To follow these
there will be the masses of L. speciosum, which
promise to be good. Since M.ny, when the earlv
Lilies came into bloom, there has been no flowerless
interval among the Lilies at Kew. — W. G.
Beloperone oblongata is the name of a
pretty little stove plant now in flower at Kew, and
which is worth directing attention to on account of
its neat and dwarf growth and abundance of bright
violet-coloured flowers. It is an Acanthaceous
plant, and has flowers similar in shape to those of
Justicia, but instead of being borne in clusters are
produced singly or in pairs from the leaf axils on
every twig. It is, we believe, to be obtained from
nurseries ; if not, it is certainly a plant nurserymen
should keep a stock of, as it is such a pretty decora-
tive plant at this season. — W. G.
Indiau liilac (Lagerstroemia indioa). — When I
saw this old greenhouse shrub the other day I was
much struck with its singular beauty and elegant
growth. The specimen I saw was about 10 feet
high and with a wide-spreading head, smothered
with rosy pink blossoms, exquisitely fringed at the
edges, and reminding one of the common annual
Clarkia. The specimen was planted out in free soil
in a lofty and airy greenhouse, and was one of the
attractions of the house. Some are under the im-
pression that t lie Indian Lilac requires great heat
in order to bring it to perfection ; but here is a case
that refutes that idea. For a large house it is a
most worthy plant, as it blooms at a time when
greenhouse flow'ers are most needed. — G.
Belladonna Lily (Amaryllis belladonna). — I
send you blooms of the lovely A. belladonna. It
flowers very freely every year with me, and some of
the bulbs have two and three spikes on them.
When I took charge of the gardens here I was told
that the bulbs had been planted in the herbaceous
border about fifteen years and had not borne a
single spike. I had them taken up and planted in
a border facing the south, the position being
sheltered from the north-east winds. In this spot
the plants have succeeded remarkably well. — R.
FOLLBY, Xuntrell Gardens, Bradhig, Isle oj Wiijht.
*^ We liave seldom seen flowers of this exqui-
site Amaryllis of such fine substance and rich rosy
pink colour. They stand well, and have a most
delightful appearance associated with other things
in a common vase. — Ed.
Noble Sea Lavenders.— Two of the finest of
the Statices are the great Sea Lavender (S. latifolia)
and the common S. Limonium, which are now the
most beautiful features on the rookery at Chiswick.
The specimens are pictures of \igorous constitution
and striking beauty, and peculiarly noticeable now
that hardy flowers are comparatively scarce. The
common Sea Lavender is in a small recess, and
stands up boldly, the head of spreading flower-stems
measuring 2 or more feet across, the small densely
crowded purjilish blue flowers in perfect harmony
with surrounding suljjects. On the other side of
the same portion of the rock garden is S. latifolia,
the leafage deep green, and the numerous stems
densely set with small blue flowers, the whole ex-
pression of a well-grown sjiecimen, one of refine-
ment and quiet lieauty. Statices, together with
many other useful rock plants, receive careful culture
at Chiswick, so that it is not surprising good results
are obtained.
White Ligurian Harebell (Campanula iso-
phyllaalba). — This is one of the Bellflowers not sufll-
ciently recognised by those who profess a sincere
love for hardy gardening, as we may visit many
places without seeing a single specimen. There are,
at the present time, several plants in full bloom in a
cold frame in the Royal Horticultural Society's gar-
den at Chiswick. They are grown in 5-inch pots,
and the somewhat straggling stems, clothed with
heart-shaped, pale green leaves, are covered with
bell-shaped flowers of the purest white. It has a
natural appearance planted in a sunny chink or
nock in the rockery, where the soil is light loam
and of good depth. But we also advise a few
tul'ts receiving careful culture in pots, as they are
then suitable for introducing amongst other things
in the cool greenhouse. The flower-stems do not
last well when cut, but they are only like the ma-
jority of the Bellflowers in this respect, the delicate-
textured blooms quickly fading.
Public Gardens.
The Tower Oardens. — Mr. Edward Stanhope,
Secretary of State for War, in reply to a memorial
signed by liOOO residents of the Whitechapel dis-
trict, presented by Mr. Samuel Montagu, M.P., has
consented to the opening of the Tower gardens for
the recreation of the public, upon Mr. Montagu giv-
ing an undertaking that he would personally provide
the funds for the maintainance of the gardens until
the end of 1)SSS, it a local charity fund should
not be available for the purpose.
The Gardens of Lincoln's Inn and the
Inner Temple. — The gardens of the Inner Temple,
which have been open- to the public e\ery evening
since the 1st of June, were closed on Wednesday,
the 31st ult., but the gardens of Lincoln's Inn will
remain open until the end of September. Thousands
of poor children from the surrounding districts have
availed themselves of the privilege thus granted by
the benchers of the Inner Temple and Lincoln's Inn,
and it is satisfactory to state that in neither in-
stance has any damage been done, either to the
trees, shrubs, or flowers, the only indication of the
presence of the children being the state of the
Grass, which presents a well-worn appearance.
Open spaces of London. — The burial-ground
in rear of St. James's Church, Hampstead Road, has
been formally opened and dedicated to the public
as an open space by Mrs. Lawson, wife of Mr. Law-
son, M.P. for the West Division of St. Pancras, in
which the ground is situated. The gardens, which
have been artistically laid out under the supervision
of Mr. Booth Scott, chief surveyor to the St. Pancras
'\''estry, and his assistant, Mr. Ellis, cover an area of
2i acres, and were closed in 1857 by order of the
Home Secretary, at the same time as other buiial
grounds in the metropolis. Since that time the
space has been a complete wilderness until l.S8(i,
when the vestry of St. Pancras decided to move in
the matter. In this they were strengthened by the
London and North-Western Railway Company, who
wished to enlarge their station, and by mutual
agreement the latter were allowed to apply to Par-
liament for a third of the ground, paying their
share accordingly, the amount being £5(i00, of
which St. Pancras paid two-thirds. The work was
put in hand in October, 18s(), the result being one
of the best-arranged gardens in the metropolis.
■Wanted, a name. — A lady asked us the other day
what was the ugliest plant name now in use. We
could not choose where there are so many, but if any
of our readers Uke to send us one they think worthy
of the distinction, we shall be happy to consider its
merits.
Names of plants. — ./. Tahnage. — Cleihra
arborea. — -C. 0. Miles. — Probably Hypoxis ; speci-
men iusuifieient. G. C. — 1, Malva sp. ; 2, Convol-
vulus uiiuor ; 3, Cacalla cocciuea ; 4, Coreopsis atro-
purpurea. Thorax. — Venetian Sumach (Uhus
Cotiuus). J. B., Thornlea. — The flowers were much
crushed, hut they appear to represent a somewhat
small form of O. superbiens. /. B. — 1, Miltonia
Moreliaua atroruheus ; 2, t)ncidium prietextum ; 3,
Cypripedium selligervim ; 4, Dendrobium superbiens.
Spliagnum.—\, Dendrobium Dearei; 2, good form
of LaeHa elegans ; 3, Loekhartia elegans ; 4, Oncidiom
dasystyle. Delta. — 1, Cypripedium Swauianum ; 2,
C. Sedeni; 3, C. Stonei. S. 31. B.— Cape Fig-wort
(Phygelius capensis). A. J., Doncaster. — Oncidium
How'er did not ai-rive ; small spike much crushed appa-
rently a Notylia. W. H. 7.— The Cattleya is a form
of C . Gaskelliana ; flowers previously sent did not
arrive. ,/. V. — Both flowers are forms of Cattleya
Ga-kclliana. T. W., Sheffield.— 1, Laiha Dayana;
2, Miltouia Moreliaua ; 3, Galeandra Bauori.
11'. H. J.—l, Laslia Turuori ; 2, Cypripedium Harriai-
auum ; 3, C. Sedeni. J. Biermann. — Villarsia
nymphaioides. 11'. Tivrciit.—l, Aspleuium Be-
langeri ; 2, Adiautuni caudatum ; 3, Gymuogramma
trifoliata. Yorkshiremcin. — l, Pyrola rotmidifolia ;
2, Pteris tremula ; 3, Erica Maniockiana. H. P.,
Netvmarket. — Your Ferns are mere scraps and quite
undeterminable. Jeweh — 1, Aerides odoratum; 2,
Vanda suavis^. 3, Aerides crispunj :. .4, , Masdevallia
ciu-iaeea. /. C. — Poor form of C. Godefroyoei
Names of fruit. — Alpha. — 1, Louise Boune of
Jersey ; 2, Beurre Diel ; 3, Beurre Clairgeau ; 4,
I Urbaniste. R. O. B.— ^\pple Red Astrachan.
Sept. 3, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
211
WOODS & FORESTS.
LAWSON'S CYPRESS.
(CUPRESSFS LAWSONIANA.)
Perhaps no better proof of the qualifications of
tlie above as an ornamental evergreen tree can be
adduced than when I state that in this country alone
the demand for it and the quantity in which it is
raised exceeds that of almost any other Conifer of
so recent introduction. By the million, I may
safely state, it is propagated in Britain each
season, and the uses to which it is applied are
as varied as could well be imagineil, for it may
be seen as a single specimen growing on some well-
kept lawn, as forming a clump of almost indescrib-
able beauty in juxtaposition to some more harsh-
growing trees, while lastly, its pccuUar grace and
density of rich foliage cause it to be largely used
in the formation of screen and other fences. No
tree is more hardy than the Lawson Cypress — none
more easily managed or more readily suited with
soil, while few others, it must be admitted, combine
in a higher degree the useful with the ornamental.
It has been planted largely in almost every British
county and in soils and situations widely different
from each other, and yet rarely are ill-grown, stunted,
and browned specimens found, even when they
are growing under conditions that may well be con-
sidered as anything but favourable. I have tried
it in reclaimed peat bog ; in gravelly soil ; even
amongst the dibris of a disused gravel pit ; in
plastic loam almost bordering on, clay; free sandy
loam ; and alluvial deposit, and in all these it has
proved itself to be quite at home, as the beautiful
weeping spray of the most vivid green and rapidity
of growth but too clearly bore testimony.
Pleasantly surprised also was I some seven or
eight years ago to find that a few specimens which
were planted experimentally on the hillside at 700
feet altitude, and where no other shelter — save a
narrow strip of woodland on one side, certainly the
most exposed .«ide — was afforded, had taken firm
root, and were growing in a most satisfactory
manner. On examining these same trees not many
months ago, they looked healthy and well — far bet-
ter, I must candidly admit, than I ever expected.
It would be a very difficult matter to say what
quality of sod is best suited for this Cypress, and
that even for a person who has noticed its growth
under the most varying circumstances ; but I
should say, taking everything else into considera-
tion, that a strong, dampish loam or alluvial soil
causes the most rapid growth, and the tree to
assume tliat lively, bluish-green tint that takes
everyone who sees a healthy specimen by surprise.
This peculiarly pleasing tint of foliage-colour in
the Lawson Cypress is not equalled by that of any
other tree we know of, not even excepting the
Colorado Spruce. It is so distinct, so pleasing, and
withal so quiet in tone, that everyone who sees a
fair-sized specimen when in the flush of health
admires it.
One of the largest, finest-foliaged, and most
healthy specimens of this tree I at present know
of is growing on the site of a worn-out gravel pit,
and this is how it was planted : A large pit was dug
out where the tree was intended to be placed, and
the sandy or rather rough gravelly soil rei^laced
by that of first-rate quality, including a mixture of
peat, road scrapings, and the Ijroken-up walls of an
old dwelling-house, the house being what is termed
in the Emerald Isle a "mud cabin" — a grand spe-
cific when well broken up and diluted for the
majority of our miffy Conifers. Another and also
beautiful tree is growing in deep peat bog, to which
a small quantity of clay was added at the time of
planting. It was planted twenty-six years ago, and
is now 45 feet in height, with a stem-girthing of
4 feet 10 inches at a yard from the ground. The
situation was well sheltered, and this Cypress, along
with a number of others of the same kind, was
planted with a view of testing their adaptability for
-general forest purposes.
Growing in alluvial deposit of no great depth, and
resting on shale rock, I have noted for some years
past the growth of numerous trees of the Lawson
Cypress, and must say that under such conditions
it docs remarkably well, as the specimens referred
to will bear testimony, from the deep green colour
of foliage and large size to which thoy have at-
tained. They were [ilanted twenty-seven years ago,
and are now fully 43 feet in height, and with clean
and gradually tapering stems. Where the soil is
too light and dry, C. Lawsoniana will not succeed
well, and too often dies out altogether ; but a top-
dressing of any damp-retaining substance will often
set matters right, for this tree is anything but a
difficult subject to deal with.
In the formation of screen or other fences I
know of no Conifer that is better adapted than
this Cypress. It bears trimming well, trans-
plants with perfect safety even when of large size,
and in an incredibly short space of time forms a
neat and pretty evergreen fence. I have used it
largely for this purpose and with perfect success,
several fences of fully 100 yards in length each
bearing testimony to how well suited it is for this
important purpose. One would naturally think
that by trimming in the side branches of this
Cypress a bare and hard appearance would be pre-
sented; but not so, for if pruning be engaged in at
the proper time in spring the lateral twigs soon
send out numerous fresh shoots, which in a few
weeks totally obliterate the marks of pruning and
render the fence even of outline and as compact
almost as one of Yew. No matter how limy and
poor the soil is, this Cypress fails not to grow as a
fence plant, notable examples of which have more
than once come under my notice and to my pleasant
surj^rise. In one case I was called upon to hide
temporarily a dead wall, and, having an overstock
of this Cypress on hand, I planted O-feet-high
specimens just close enough for the outer branches
to come in contact, and so formed a waU of lively
green at almost a moment's notice. Being planted
only as a temporary screen and in a hurry, no
proper pits were dug out, but nevertheless, and
although the soil was but a mixture of old lime,
stones, and bad sandy loam, appearances of their
having taken to their new abode, though only a
temporary one, caused them to be left untouched,
and great was my surprise eighteen months after-
wards to see them shoot out fresh and green, and
to such an extent as to cause me to leave them un-
molested. Now they are a perfect screen fence of
12 feet in height, and with their sides as compact
and green as could well be desired. When a height
of 8 feet was attained the whole fence was topped,
or, in other words, the leading shoot of each tree
was cut over at about 7 feet from the ground, thus
inducing more rampant growth near the base, as
well as making the hedge of uniform height through-
out its whole length. Another advantage of this
topping was that a great number of twigs started
near the point where amputation took place,
thus forming a dense mass of foliage both above
and below. Another fence of about 150 yards in
length was next formed, but in good soil, and as
a shelter to a mixed herbaceous plant border. The
plants used were 5 feet in height, bushyj and well
rooted, and were planted at an average of 5 feet
apart, or in such a way that the outer branches just
touched each other.
In this case also the results were everything that
could be expected, the trees having now formed a
neat and compact fence, that gives no trouble what-
ever save an annual trimming of the sides and top.
This trimming, it may here be well to state, should
be performed in early spring, just before growth
commences, and not with the pruning shears or
switching knife, but with a sharp pruning knife, as
by this means the work can be performed much
more neatly.
The propagation of Cupressus Lawsoniana is very
simple, for by collecting the seeds just as the cones
begin to open, and storing these away in a suitable
place till early spring, they will be found to germi-
nate quite freely. Light,, friable, and well worked
soil should be chosen in which to sow the seeds,
and one thing must be particularly borne in mind,
and that is, not to cover the seeds too deeply, for
this is a growing evil that should be carefully
guarded against. I have been very successful by
sowing the seeds broadcast on 4-feet-wide beds,
rolling these in , and covering with a quarter of an inch
of half sand and half leaf mould. The beds require
attention in the matter of shading from the sun,
but this is readily done by placing a few SpruCe Fir
branches so as to keep oil the direct rays. Not
many years ago my father pointed out to me a num-
ber of self-sown seedlings of this Cypress along the
margin of a ditch that had been cut to drain a tract
of peat bdg near Lough Neagh, in Ireland, thus
showing that natural reproduction of the Lawson
Cypress in this country may be expected where the
soil and climatic conditions are favourable.
To propagate it from cuttings is also a very
simple matter, for these strike freely enough if
inserted in sandy soil during the months of
August and September. In selecting cuttings the
outer point twigs should alone be chosen, and never
those from the interior, or portions of the tree shaded
from the sun . As a stock for grafting any of the nu-
merous and distinct varieties on, this Cypress is of
great value. So rapid is this tree of increase, that
at the present time nice bushy specimens can be
obtained at a less cost than one shilling each, while
seedling plants of three years' growth may be pur-
chased at a merely nominal rate — a great change
from thirty years ago, when single seeds were
offered at the price of £5 each. The scarlet bloom
of this Cypress is simply grand, but not so in all
trees ; indeed so distinct and attractive is it, that
even a faithfully coloured illustration has been de-
scribed by those who have never seen the original
as flattered in the extreme. "
Not much value is placed on the timber of this
Cypress, but from the appearance of specimens cut
from home-grown trees, it would seem to me to be
of good quality, and well worthy of a trial in
household carpentry at least. It is of a nice, light
yellow colour, remarkably close grained, and takes
on a good polish.
As an ornamental tree, it is, perhaps, superfluous
of me to say one word in favour of this Cypress, its
qualities in this particular way being already so
well known and appreciated by all. I may, how-
ever, just refer to its cheerful and desirable shade
of green, and to the gracefully recurved and feather-
like foliage, neither of which is surpassed by any
other Conifer with which I am acquainted. It is
of columnar habit, but not in consequence stiff nor
formal in outline, this being relieved by the droop-
ing spray and elastic leading shoot, the latter being
just sufficiently tilted to one side to impart a most
pleasing finish to the tree.
Amongst the numerous varieties of this Cypress
it must be admitted that there are several distinct
and desirable kinds, and, what is better still, these,
in the majority of cases at least, retain their dis-
tinctive characteristics under the best cultivation.
In my opinion, one of the best and most useful
amongst these numerous well-defined forms is that
known under the name of C. Lawsoniana erecta
viridis. Where a fastigiate-habited tree is wanted,
and one of a lively tint of green, this Cypress should
certainly find a place, for beyond doubt it is the
most valuable of all tapermg trees. There are
numerous other erect forms of the Lawson's Cypress
in cultivation, but none with such a rich green tint
on the foliage as the one now under consideration.
C. Lawsoniana aureo-variegata is another distinct,
but inconstant form, inconstant so far, as it is
seldom two plants under this name are found alike.
In the best form many, indeed the majority, of the
branchlets are of a bright yellow colour, contrasting
strangely with the deep green of the normal foliage.
Not many days since I had the pleasure of see-
ing an unusually large and well-furnished specimen
of this tree in Mr. Ball's nursery grounds at Rhyl,
but its beauty had been greatly marred by repeated
cuttings of the brightest foliage for wreath-making.
The variety nana for rockwork embellishment has
come greatly into favour of late years. It is of low,
compact growth, rarely more than 2| feet in height,
and in the best form the foliage Is of a bright bluish
green colour.
Other desirable varieties are filifera, with long,
attenuated branchlets; lutea, in which during the
212
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 3, 1887.
growing season the foliage is suffused with a rich
yellow, this changing during early winter to an
almost light green; argentea, with silvery green
foliage, and remarkable for its low growth and re-
curved branchlets; and pendula, in which the
branches hang down in a graceful manner.
Wherever the normal plant is raised in quantity
then numerous forms will always be found, and this
I have even noticed in the progeny of one tree.
A. D. Webstee.
Deal gates.— In The Gaedbn, Aug. 27 (p. 187),
" v., Whitchurch," does not clearly understand my
remarks (p. !I6). I did not suppose anyone would
use Deal for ])osts, even if they required cheap
gates ; hence " V.'s " inability to see how a set of
gate materials — the gate itself being Deal — could
cost £2. I, of course, reckoned upon a pair of good
Oak posts. It was, however, more to the relative
economy of using Deal or Oak gates I referred.
From tlie particulars given I believe the gates of
which "V." speaks are practically the same as those
which have been used in this district, possibly from
the same firm. From " V.'s " own showing < e of
these gates — the average — unplaned anc' un-
painted, would cost 8s., plus 2s. carriage lOs.
An Oak gate of similar dimensions could be made
of best material for 203. or less. Such a gate as
this would last twenty years. Even if we allowed
fi ve years before these Deal gates come to grief, we
have cent, per cent, in favour of Oak. I well know
what both classes of gates are, and as the result of
my observation, I assure " V., Whitchurch," that in
a year or two hence his belief in the economy of
these Deal gates will be modified. — D. J. Yeo.
The -wood of the Italian Poplar. — The
Black Italian Poplar for timber purposes is the most
valuable ; and it is one of the best trees we have for
planting on strong, wet, clay soils on which it
thrives well, provided there is no stagnant water.
It grows to a great height, and generally leans a
good deal to the leeside, especially when much ex-
posed. Owing to its growing so much quicker than
any of our other forest trees, it is not suitable for
intermixing with them, as it soon overtops them.
It should be planted 16 feet apart and filled up
with Birch to 4 feet apart. Its timber is of com-
paratively little value when it is of small size,
but after forty years of age it commands a good
price. It is the most suitable of any of our timber
for making " breaks " for railway wagons, but for
that purpose it must be not less than 14 inches in
diameter. In soils unsuited to its growth, such as
wet, peaty soils, it is liable to throw out excrescences
on the trunk. On good loamy soil its quickness of
growth is quite astonishing. The White Poplar or
Abele is the only other species valuable as a timber
tree. Unlike the Black Italian, this grows well on
damp, peaty soil, and in such situations it is most
valuable to plant ; it also grows well on stiff loam.
Its habit of growth is not so spiral as the other, but
partakes more of the habit of the Oak or Beech,
and when grown singly is very ornamental. The
timber is most useful when of large size.— X.
Boot-choking of drains. — Deep as drainage
may be laid, it is never altogether free from the
possibility of being put out of order by the roots of
trees, or of certain kinds of crops which may pene-
trate the drains, and form a hindrance to the free
passage of the water through them. The roots of
the Elm, Ash, Willow, and other trees are known to
enter the pipes, and even pass through the ground
for several yards to reach them, as if they were at-
tracted by the moisture and air which they find in
the pipes, and by the nourishment afforded them
there. To obviate this difficulty it is advisable,
where it occurs or is apprehended, to use socket-
pipes jointed with cement, or to lay the pipes as far
as possible from the trees. I have found that em-
bedding the pipes in lime, mortar, or concrete has
prevented them from being choked, and has kept
them clear for some years, although close to trees
which it was impossible to avoid. The roots of some
crops, if they should penetrate the pipes, die away
when the crops are removed, and are frequently
washed out at the mouths of the drains by the
strong flow of water through them. Other sub-
stances give the drainer a vast amount of trouble in
obstructing pipes. Ochreous water, depositing
oxide of iron, is a common source of obstruction.
It appears to harden and consolidate as it receives
air through the pipes, and ultimately chokes
them. I have found it best to get at the source
of the spring or springs, and conduct the water
away by large pipes independent of the general
system. Confervje and parasitic plants will also get
into the pipes, grow, and ultimately stop the flow of
water through them ; another source of trouble is
the percolation of sand into the pipes, which neces-
sitates patience and care in taking them up fre-
quently after being first laid and relaid, until all the
water has run out of the bed, and then laying them
in straw and on strips of wood. — R. A. P.
ROADSIDE PLANTATIONS OF TREES IN
BELGIUM.
The roadside planting of trees is carried out on a
most extensive scale in Belgium, forming a marked
feature in the landscape of that country. According
to the report of M. J. Houba, State Head Bailiff or
Ranger of Woods and Rivers in Belgium, recently
published in the Revue HortieoJe, the total length
of the highroads of Belgium in I.SSI amounted to
4227 miles, classified, as regards tree planting, in
the following manner : —
Roads already planted
, , still to he planted .
which cannot be planted
2417 miles.
264 ,,
1546 „
422r miles.
From this it will appear that, at the date men-
tioned, more than half the entire length of the
Belgian highroads had been planted, and that the
proportion would soon reach two-thirds.
The number of trees used in forming these planta-
tions amounted to 871,685, representing, in 1881, a
money value of £415,986, the average cost of each
tree when planted having been about 2s. 6d. The
plantations had therefore at this date increased in
value to nearly four times the amount of the capital
originally expended upon them.
The trees principally employed in these roadside
plantations (already made) are : Elms, 371,621 ;
Oaks, 130,828 ; Poplars, 80,853; Ash, 73,8!)3 ; Beech,
32,970 ; Maples, 27,755 ; Service trees, 24,630 ; Nor-
way Spruce, 43,767 ; Larch, 41,699. It wiU be seen
from this list that coniferous trees are largely
used in Belgium for roadside planting. On the
other hand, the report only gives 897 Plane trees,
976 Acacias, and 672 Cherry trees, Apple trees, and
Pear trees, showing that while the Belgian autho-
rities fully recognise the great utility of these road-
side plantations in other respects, they especially
aim at the production of timber of good quality in
a commercial point of view. W. M.
The wood of Thuja gigantea. — Thuja gigan-
tea is, among the trees on the north-west coast, the
Indian's best friend, for out of its wood and bark
he manufactures endless varieties of domestic, hunt-
ing, fishing, and warlike utensils. Most of their
canoes are hollowed out of it, at least in Vancouver
Island ; and there is a case quoted where a canoe
made out of Cupressus nutkaensis, in Vancouver,
was quite an exception, and indeed the canoe was
probably traded from some of the northern tribes,
and not of Vancouver manufacture at all. The
Indian ropes are also very commonly twisted out
of its bark. The tree which I took for Thuja plicata,
and out of which I happened to see the Indians,
just at the time I wrote the letter quoted, twisting
ropes, I believe, from after investigation, to have
been only a stunted form of T. gigantea, and that T.
plicata is not a separate species, but for reasons
which I have given in another place, and cannot
now again repeat, is, indeed, only a variety of T.
gigantea. North of latitude 53° Cupressus nut-
kaensis takes the place of Thuja gigantea, and is
applied by the Indians to all the useful purposes of
T. gigantea, and to some others in addition. For
instance, at the Matlakatlali Mission on the coast
of British Columbia, in about latitude 54° N., where
there are fine groves of it, it is sawn into lumber
and sent to Victoria, where it meets a ready sale
among the cabinetmakers, as it takes a fine polish
and works beautifully. Most of the prettily polished
discs and little cylinders used by the Indians in
gambling are made either from this wood or from
that of Acer macrophyllum. It is also valuable for
ship or boat-building. The wood of T. gigantea is
whitish, but in its fresh state is yellower, hence the
name " Yellow Cypress " applied to it. It is light,
tough, durable, and easily worked. The property of
durability it shares with T. gigantea, and in addi-
tion it has a pleasant fragrance. On this account
the Russians about Sitka used to call it dushnik or
" scented wood." It was absolutely at one time ex-
ported to China, and returned marked with Chinese
characters, which warranted it as "real Chinese
camphor wood," puissant for many purposes, and a
sovereign remedy against moths in drawers! In
repairing old Fort Simpson, the only log found
sound after twenty-one years' trial of those used for
" under-pirming " was one of this. — M.
CONCRETING PONDS.
In concreting ponds and lakes the sides should be
taken out vertically to one even depth below the in-
tended finished surface of bottom — if in loose
ground, say 12 inches ; and if solid or retentive
soil, say 6 inches. Let the trench be taken out 1 5
inches wide at bottom, place boards (half an inch
are the best for a round pond) round at the 15
inches at bottom, and draw them into 8 inches at
top ; support them there with a few thin pieces pro-
jecting over the concrete and into the ground.
Then take washed gravel stones, burnt ballast or
hard cinders free from dirt (a few barrowfuls at a
time) ; over these spread a little dry cement, mix it
while dry, add sufficient water just to make it ad-
here— not too sloppy — and then throw it hard with
a shovel into the space between the boards and
earth sides, so that every shovelful shall be part of
its neighbour; consequently no hoUow space can be
left anywhere. After this is carried up, which
ought to be about G inches above the intended sur-
face of the water, and has had a few days to dry,
take down the boards and put on a three-eighths of
an inch or half an inch coating of neat cement
made smooth. If the sides are wanted to be orna-
mental, push a few burrs or rock stones into the
cement just below and above the surface of the
water. If a rockery from the water's edge is re-
quired, finish the concrete wall and cementing as
before, only leaving the concrete wall at top flat and
rough, and then commence by using rather large
pieces of burrs or rock bedded in cement on the
concrete wall to any style desired. Should It be in-
tended to plant aquatics, build with cement water-
proof pockets, or brick boxes, on the bottom of va-
rious sizes and in positions as required. These
should be carried up to within a few inches of the
surface of the water. This is necessary for three
reasons — first, to prevent strong-growing kinds from
crowding the weakly ones ; secondly, by bringing
the crowns of the plants near the surface they suc-
ceed better than if deeper ; and thirdly, the water
can be drawn off at any time, the mud and filth
cleared out, and the pond re-filled without disturb-
ing the plants. The water would thus be at all
times transparent to the bottom. This is the way in
which I make ponds, and they have always given
satisfaction. I might add, should it be a newly
formed pond dug out of solid ground, that it would
be better to lay 2 inches or 3 inches of concrete all
over the bottom, and on that half an inch of cement.
A man can then go in and scrub the sides and bot-
tom, and at the same time open the sluice, when
out goes all the filth with the water. This is worth
the extra expense. If the pond is to be made this
autumn, put the water in as soon as possible ; the
cement, if good, will set under it, and the water will
keep frost out. T. B.
BOOKS RECEIVED.
" Rough Notes on Natural History iu Norfolk and
the Eastern Counties." By H. M. L. Jarrold and
Sons, .3, Paternoster Buildings.
THE GARDEN,
213
No. 825. SATURDA Y, Sept 10, 1887. Vol. XXXII.
" This is an Art
■Which doee mend Nature : change it rather ; but
The Aei itself is Nature. "—Sio.'.fsiifarc
THE GARDENS AT SHRUBLAND.
The present owners of these celebrated gardens,
in common with many lovers of flowers, take
but little interest in the carpet-bedding and
geometrical flower-gardening to which the gar-
dens of our great houses have for the last thirty
years been almost exclusively devoted. It is
proposed, we learn, gradually to introduce at
Shrubland more natural and, in our opinion,
more artistic ways of flower-gardening, depend-
ing almost wholly on the many famUies of plants
hardy in England. This will be done with as
little alteration as possible of the main plan of
the grounds. The changes wUl, we think, add
greatly to the picturesque charms of the place —
one of great natural beauty.
The fine trees, the noble landscape seen as a
picture beyond the grounds, and the grand,
airy, tree-adorned terrace to the right of the
house, all invite true English and natural ways
of gardening.
It is also intended, by widening and deepen-
ing a brook for a quarter of a mile, to bring the
pretty little river Gipping into easy communi-
cation with the gardens, thus adding the plea-
sure of boating to the many attractions of the
place. The gleam of water thus obtained in
the valley below will be a welcome addition to
the view from the terrace.
A woman gardener. — Madame de Eostaing
at Seillans, in the Department of A'ar, France, has
a flower farm of about 23 acres, located on the
southern slope of the JIaritime foothills, about 2000
feetabovethelevel of the Mediterranean and perhaps
20 miles from the coast : so writes United States
Consul Mason at Marseilles. The calcareous soil
was naturally thin and poor, and the Olive trees,
which had occupied the ground for a century or
more prior to 1881, yielded but scanty and un-
satisfactory returns. The slope of the surface was
so steep, that the waters of a spring which flows
from the rocks above the track could be but imper-
fectly utilised for irrigation, and the land was re-
garded as practically worthless. In 1881 the pro-
prietress caused the Olive trees to he removed and
the land prepared for flower culture. First the
ground was dug up to a depth of 4 feet, the larger
stones were removed and buUt into sustaining walls
for the terraces, into which the surface was divided
and levelled. Along the upper margin of each
terrace a shallow ditch was cut, connected with
transverse channels, which supply the spring water
for irrigation. The abruptness of the slope will be
indicated by the fact that on the tract of 18 acres
the terrace walls required to produce a series of
level or gently sloping surfaces are 2166 yards in
length. Thus terraced, the tract yielded 17^^ acres
of prepared ground for planting. In the autumn of
1881 45,000 tufts of Violet and 140,000 roots of the
white Jasmine were planted. The following spring
the remainder of the ground was planted with Eoses,
Pelargoniums, Tuberoses, and Jonquils, and a labo-
ratory erected for the manufacture of perfumes.
The position proved to have been well chosen ;
the plants grew vigorously and strong, and in
1885, the fourth year after planting, the flower
farm at Seillans, which had previously yielded a
rental of £23 a year, produced, according to the
statement of the proprietress, perfumes valued at
£8680, giving a net profit of £1550. The difficult
nature of the ground had made its preparation
unusually laborious and expensive, but in the fore-
going balance-sheet for 1885 interest on the entire
investment is included in the expense account, so
that the profits as stated purport to be clear and
legitimate.
Stove and Greenhouse.
FLOWERING BEGONIAS.
AyrosB interested in these would find much plea-
sure in a visit to Messrs. Sutton and Sons' Portland
Nurseries, in the London Eoad, Reading, at the pre-
sent time. They wiU see a large number of plants
raised from seeds sown in January and February-
now in fuU bloom, and arranged in colours, such as
crimson, white, salmon ; shades of yellow, such as
pale copper-coloured to primrose, rose, coral, scarlet,
pink, &c. Messrs. Sutton and Sons say that by
means of selection they have 'secured this result,
that a certain colour of flower will produce itself
from seed, and that colours of any popular flower
are much appreciated ; and it is worthy of notice
how fine a plant can be had in August from
seed sown in January. At Beading the closest
attention is given to the plants, and they are
brought on in houses well adapted for the pur-
pose ; still, the result iQustTates what it is possible
to do with this plant. In one house is to be seen a
number of last year's plants that were started into
growth in January and used for decoration at an
agricultural show in June, when they were much
checked. They were started into bloom and again
used on the occasion of a royal visit to Reading ;
and now, once more located in an appropriate house,
they are putting forth flowers and rapidly develop-
ing into fine specimens.
Some of the imported species have been used with
good efEect. There is, for instance, a batch of
selected B. Pearcei, the leaves of which are
very handsomely marked, quite placing them in
the front rank of foliaged plants, and the loose
flowers have been transformed into blossoms of fine
form, smaller in size, it is true, but with the addi-
tion of improved form. A Begonia, named Meteor,
is worthy of attention; it was obtained from Pearcei,
crossed with the poUen of a kind of phosphorescent
double-flowered variety, the result being the Pearcei
type of foliage, but beautifully veined on a dark
velvety green ground. It is a very handsome plant
out offlower, and when in bloom it produces good
flowers of an orange and citron colour. But the
beauty of the foliage is decidedly striking. There
is also to be seen a batch of seedlings of B. Froe-
beli, showing great improvement in the flowers,
which are here borne on bold, erect stems, that stand
up well, and are surmounted by large, stout, and
finely-coloured blossoms. Here is another instance
of the value of a process of persistent selection, and
in the case of this particular type it does not go so
soon to rest as the imported form, but lasts in flower
nearly up to Christmas, and the young leaves open
of a bright red colour, changing to pale green as they
mature. Begonia Schmidti, a German introduction,
should be treated as an annual. This was one of
the parents of that beautiful perpetual-flowering
dwarf bedding type named Princess Beatrice. B.
Schmidti makes a capital window-box Begonia for
summer, and it is equally valuable for conservatory
decoration ; the buds are of a rosy blush colour, but
the flowers, which are produced with great freedom,
are nearly white. As it seeds freely, seeds should
be sown in January and February, but it is too soft
to succeed when used as an ordinary bedding plant.
Princess Beatrice is the bedding Begonia, and
whether the weather is wet or dry it is alike good.
It is very prolific of bloom, and does not seed. Mr.
■WUdsmith uses it at Heckfield with great efEect in
his almost unrivalled flower garden. B. Suttoni, a
variety obtained from B. Daviesi crossed with an
ordinary tuberous-rooted variety, is a fine small-
flowered type, with orange-crimson flowers, borne
well above the foliage. The plant is compact in
growth and needs no tying. E. D.
The Scarborough Lily.— This grand old-
fashioned plant is just now commencing to unfold
ts bright-coloured blossoms, and that too without
any particular care or attention bestowed upon it ;
indeed, the less looking after it gets the better in
many cases wOl it flower. As the roots do not
penetrate very deeply, the pots must be thorouglily
well drained, or deep pans may be used, but in their
case also plenty of drainage must be ensured. A
good, open, fibrous loam with an admixture of silver
sand suits this plant perfectly, as such soU will, if
treated properly, keep sweet for years, and, there-
fore, annual re-potting may be dispensed with, as
the bulbs flower better if left undisturbed at the
roots. There is a good deal of variation in the
blooms of different plants, some being much superior
to others. Such varieties of '^''allota purpurea as
magnifica (of which a coloured plate was given last
year in The Garden) and eximia, a large, round
flower, with the interior of the throat whitish, are
far superior to the thin, pale flowers that one occa-
sionally sees. — H. P.
POTTING UP ■R'lNTER-FLO'VVERING PLANTS.
Plants of Eichardia(Calla):ethiopica,Eupatoriums,
Salvias, Deutzias, and Bouvardias, which were
planted out in suitable positions early in June last,
have not, owing to the intense heat and dryness of
the season, made much growth during the interval,
and that is necessarily short-jointed and consoli-
dated. Preparatory to being potted up in the
middle of September, the plants should now be
ringed by thrusting a spade into the ground at the
same distance from the centre of the individual
plants as the sized pots into which it is intended to
pot them. Thus treated, the plants will experience
very little check in the process of being potted up
a couple of weeks later. Commence with the Bou-
vardias, which should be potted in a compost con-
sisting of three parts of fibry loam and one of leaf-
mould, with a Hberal sprinkling of sharp sand
added ; 2 inches or 3 inches deep of drainage
(according to the size of pot used) should be placed
in each pot. A handful of half -decayed leaves or
Moss placed over the crocks wiU prevent the soil
from getting among the drainage. Thus crocked
there need be no fear of the plants becoming water-
logged. In potting, the soil should be worked well
round the roots of the plants with a flat potting
stick and be made moderately firm. The plants
should then be stood in a shady place for a few
days until the roots have taken to the soU, when
they should be given a sunny position and be
watered at the roots to settle the soil about them,
afterwards applying it sparingly until the roots have
pushed well into the soil. The Bouvardias, like
the plants enumerated above, should be housed
before they get nipped by frost, and if they are
given a light house and a night temperature of from
50" to 55'' and 10° higher by day with fire-heat and
a free circulation of air during favourable weather,
with occasional waterings of diluted tepid liquid
manure at the roots, they will yield good supplies
of fragrant white and pink "flowers during the
winter months. If the plants should be attacked
by aphides, fumigation with tobacco paper on two
successive evenings will free them of that trouble-
some, though easily got-rid-of pest. The same
treatment recommended for Bouvardias will also
suit Salvias, Eupatoriums, and CaUas, except in the
matter of temperatures, which should be 5° less all
round, and in the case of the last-named plant, horse
droppings should be substituted for leaf-mould.
Moreover, the Calla being a gross feeder, having
large fleshy roots, should, therefore, have liberal
and frequent supplies of tepid liquid manure, under
rather than over-strong, given it at the roots during
its growing and flowering period. If a peck or two
of fresh soot be tied up in a piece of coarse cloth
and immersed in the tub containing the water, it
will impart to the foliage a firm texture and a rich
dark green colour, as well as tend to the production
of more substantial flower-spikes than would other-
wise be secured. 'With regard to the young plants
of Deutzia gracilis and its varieties, they should be
potted up, as indicated above, sufficiently early in
the autumn to get re-established at the roots before
the plants shed their leaves. The plants, having
been watered and placed in a shady place for a
few days to allow of the roots talking to the soil
214
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 10, 1887.
should then be phinged to the rims of the pots in
coal ashes in a dry, open situation having a south
aspect, and afterwards be attended to in the way of
giving water at the roots when considered necessary.
Thus placed the plants wUl ripen the wood satis-
factorily, and can be taken to the forcing house as
required. W. H. W.
Bougainvillea glabra.— It is wonderful how
■well this plant endures a high temperature when in
flower. We have a speciiueu on the back wall of the
Muscat house, where the night temperature is never
lower than 70° all the summer, and during the day
frequently as high as 100" ; but with all this heat
the flowers remained fresh and bright for quite a
month, and even now, at the end of three months,
when it first commenced to bloom, the points of
the young shoots are bright with colour. The
reason of this is, no doubt, on account of the high
temperature, which causes the flowering shoots to
lengthen and form fresh blooms after the first have
faded ; this it would not do to so great an extent
in a lower temperature, but in a cooler house the
individual flowers would last longer. I do not
advocate the culture of this BougainviUea in a high
temperature, as I believe it will be found inore
satisfactory if exposed to less warmth. My object
is to show that when an intermediate temperature
cannot be provided for it, that it may be grown
fairly well in a higher one. In any case the plant
requires plenty of light, and during the winter,
when the leaves have all fallen, the young shoots
which extend from the wall should be out back to
within 2 inches of the branches. — J. C.
Fuchsias treated as annuals.— In The Gab-
den of October 30, 1886 (p. 403), I described my
treatment of the Fuchsia as an annual, and I
now forward blooms as examples of my success
in this mode of treatment. My seed this year
was sown on the 14th of February, many of the
plants commencing to bloom by the middle of
June following, some when the plants had only
grown from 8 inches to a foot in height ; in fact, I
have retained, in my efEorts to improve the Fuchsia,
the very free, dwarf habit of my Blue Boy, sent out
by our good old friend, the late Mr. Charles Turner,
of Slough. My object in submitting the blooms to
you is not for a moment intended to bear upon
their commercial value so much as it is to show
how easy a matter it is to produce, with only a
small amount of trouble, in a short space of time a
really interesting batch of good seedling Fuchsias,
which will bloom for many months in the green-
house or conservatory. — Gbokge Fky.
*„* A very leauUful gatltering of many excellent
lands of Fuchsias, bright and varied in colori/r, and
evidently all of them very free-flowering, proving
conclusively that the Fuchsia as an annual is every-
hody's flower. Anyone desiring to nialte a green-
house or conservatory gay during the summer and
autumn months a,t a little e.rpense cannot do better
than follow the advice here given and grow Fuchsias
annually from a good strain of seed. The chief
points to be aimed at in selecting the seed-bearing
2>la7its should be a naturally free and graceful habit
of growth, distinct colours in- the individual flowers,
with, an abundant production of the same, and a
good hurdij voiixtil ulivii, or, to use a gardener's
phrase, ivliifh sums uji the whole matter, all the seed-
bearinf/ plants should he "good doers." Given these
essentials to start with. Fuchsias treated as annuals
can hold their own with most other easily gron-n,
sojt-wooded plants, and will well rewa/rd the cultiva-
tor Kith an abundant display of flmvcrs for the
really small amount of care required in their
management. Pot them in good- loamy soil, give
plinlij of iifmfisplirriv and root moisiure,and alight
and ircll rrnlihitcil liiiu.^c- In i/roir in, aiulthenno fcar
need he cntcrlaincd us to the rcsnli.^'ED.
in botanical collections, or even in nursery collec-
tions, is no proof that it is generally cultivated. I
deny that the white Cape Plumbago is grown gene-
rally, and " Botanicus " may go into twenty private
gardens and not see it in nineteen of them, and,
what is more, gardeners do not know of its existence.
Moreover, it is not even mentioned in the catalogue
of the chief of London nurserymen. How then can
a plant be called as plentiful as " coals at New-
castle ; " Perhaps "Botanicus " will say where I
can see this white Plumbago in flower in a private
garden about London. I should like to go and see
it.— W. G.
"Botanicus" is cxuite correct in stating in
The Garden, Sept. 3 (p. 199), that the white-flowered
Plumbago capensis has been in English gardens for
several years. Ihelieve it was introduced by Mr. B. S.
Williams, of HoUoway, about five years ago. I need
hardly add I am not responsible for the statement that
I had " introduced " this plant, nor yet that it was the
most valuable of the plants I collected and brought
home from the Cape.— W. Watson, Kew.
quires in THE Gabden, September 3 (p. 194), in
vol. ciii. of the Botanical Magazine (pi. 0307). In
case he may not have immediate access to the work
I may state for his information that the plant in
question is a very pretty evergreen bush with white
fragrant flowers and deep green leaves, of easy cul-
ture in a moderate stove or warm greenhouse during
winter, and a greenhouse or the open air during
summer. It is also known under the name of Ar-
duina grandiflora. The flowers resemble those of a
very large Jessamine.— W. E. Gdmbleton.
White Plumbago capensis. — I am obliged
to " Botanicus " for further information respecting
this beautiful Cape shrub, but he sefems to infer
that I regard it as an absolutely new introduction,
but if he will again look at the note (page 162), he
will see I said nothing of the sort. A plant may
have been introduced for many years, and yet re^
piain unknown in a general way ; because it exists
IPOMvEA HORSFALLI^ AND I. BRIGGSI
The plant represented by Mr. Moon's beautiful
drawing in the plate published in The Garden
August 20 is not what is known in gardens as 1.
Horsf allise, nor is it merely "slightly different" from
that species, as stated by " W. H. G." As I saw
both I. Horsfallitc and the plant figured in flower
together at Kew in December last, and noted at
the time the differences between the two, perhaps it
may be worth while to record them now.
I. HoBSFALLi.E was introduced in 1835 and is
&guKA in iiie BotanicalJMagazine, t. 3315. It has
broad, ovate, dark green leaflets, all about the same
size except the two lowest on each leaf. The flower-
buds, or rather the calyx lobes, are a shining purple-
black colour, and the corolla when developed is a
tube half an inch in diameter by an inch in length,
whilst the spreading portion or limb is nearly 2^
inches across. Stamens white, stigma rose col-
oured, the colour of the corolla being rich deep
crimson (furplish red some call it). The plant re-
presented in The Gabden plate is what is known
at Kew as Lady Briggs' variety. It was sent to Kew
by Sir Graham Briggs from New Grenada about four
year ago, and was marked by him as being "very
distinct." Last year I submitted flowers of it to
Professor Oliver at the Kew herbarium, who wrote,
"The Lady Brigg's Ipomiea is certainly distinct
enough to merit a varietal name at least. My notion
is that it is of hybrid origin, I. Horsfallia3 being one
parent." The colour and form of the flowers are
shown in The Gabden plate, but I give a short
description made when the plant was in bloom.
I.Beiggsi (for garden purposes this name will be
preferable to the longer one). — Leaflets larger than
in I. Horsfalli:e,the terminal one twice the size of the
others, paler green. Flower-buds (calyx lobes) pale
brown, corolla tube quarter of an inch wide and Ih
inches long, limb IJ inches across, colour deep rose,
stamens shorter than style, stigma purple-black.
This plant flowered freely in the stove at Kew last
winter, and I may state that more than one com-
petent person who saw it considered it widely dif-
ferent from I. Horsfallia;, one nurseryman asking for
the plant with a view to distributing it as new.
I. Horsfalliaj has only lately flowered abundantly at
Kew, but I. Briggsi has not Ijeeu in bloom since
last December. With reference to the home of I.
Horsfalliic and the other plants of this section of
IpomiEas, viz., I. ternatea, I. macrorhiza, 1. Thomp
soniana, and I. Briggsi, it is now settled beyond
all doubt that they are natives of Jamaica and a few
other West Indian Islands. Dr. Masters, with the
assistance of Mr. Hart, who was then at Jamaica
obtained specimens of all the above and published
an account of them in May, 1885. In December of
last year Mr. Moore, of Glasnevin, sent me flowers
of wh.nt he knew had been grown in his garden for
fifteen years as I. imperialis, and which proved to
be I. Thompsoniana, described a year or two ago
as a new introduction. W. Watson.
Kew.
Carissa grandiflora. — "J. M." will find a por-
trait of the above-named plant, about which he in-
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Housing geeenhouse plants. — Preparation for
taking indoors the various kinds of greenhouse
plants that have for a time been outside should now
be made, for though it frequently happens that the
nights are free from frost during the present month,
this cannot be relied on, and it is far better to have
the pits and houses where the plants are to stand
during the winter ready to receive them. By this
means labour is saved, and the work is much better
done than when the plants have to be huddled to-
gether indiscriminately. The tenderest of the New
Holland and Cape species, such as Boronias, Heda-
romas, Adenandras, Eriostemons, Polygalas, and
Aphelexis, should be taken indoors first, leaving the
kinds that are better able to bear a moderate
amount of cold a little later. In gardens -where a
miscellaneous collection of plants is grown it is
well to have a light skeleton framework made of
wood, or, still better, of iron, under which the
plants can be stood, with thin canvas blinds on
rollers that can be let down at nights over them.
A contrivance of this kind costs little, and is very
useful during spring and autumn, while in the early
summer it can be used for hardening ofE various
things preparatory to their being turned out. For
Camellias that have set their buds it answers ad-
mirably, the blinds drawn down in the daytime
protecting them from fierce sun, and also preventing
the roots getting soddened by drenching rains.
Under such protection New Holland and Cape plants
will not suffer should several degrees of frost occur,
and later onthe requisite shelter for Chrysanthemums
is in this way available.
Heebaceous Calceolaeias.— As soon as the
plants that have been raised from seed sown some
time ago are large enough, they should be pricked
off into small pots, as if left longer together than
necessary the roots get so matted that it is impos-
sible to separate them without breakage, the effect
of which is that tlie growth receives a check,
which at all times should be avoided, and especi-
ally so in the case of plants that are raised in
the after part of the year and have little enough
time to gain size and strength before winter. Quick-
growing subjects of this description require rich
soil. To have them strong and suflaciently large
to flower well, the plants must be kept moving freely
from the time the seed vegetates up to the time
they come into bloom. Good yellow loam, with
about one-fifth of leaf-mould, some sand, and
a little rotten manure, forms a compost that suits
Calceolarias in every way. Keep the soil moderately
moist. Let the plants be close to the glass, stand-
ing the pots on a moist bottom. This is one of the
best means of preventing aphides, to which Calceo-
larias are so subject, attacking the plants. When
the plants are stood on moisture-holding material
the edges of the leaves in the morning will be found
hung round with pearly drops ; whereas if they are
on dry shelves the foliage will be dry and more
liable to the attacks of insects. Success in the
cultivation of plants of all kinds depends on little
matters of this description that often escape notice.
A cold frame standing in a light position, filled up
with coal ashes to within 8 inches or 10 inches of
the glass, is the best place for these Calceolarias
for some time .yet, giving air freely in the day-
time.
Swainsonias. — When these plants cease to
bloom the shoots must at once be shortened back,
as if this is delayed new growth is formed that has
afterwards to be cut away, which is so far a waste
of strength. In the case of specimens that are as
large as it js desirable to have thepa, the shoots
Sept. 10, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
215
may be cut in to within 6 inches of where they
were shortened to last year. Young examples or
half specimens may with advantage hare the cur-
rent season's growth left longer, say from 12 inches
to 1 J inches, bending it down horizontally so as to
encourage more of the eyes to push.
Plumbago capensis. — This useful summer
bloomer requires to be cut in as soon as it has done
flowering, in the same way as the Swainsonias ; for
when the plants are strong and in general good
condition they begin to grow directly they cease to
bloom. It is better to do this in the autumn than
defer it until spring, unless in the case of any that
flower late, as the new growth that is made before
winter is so much gained towards another season's
display. To any young plants in G-inch or 7-inch
pots that are suffering for want of root-room it will
be better to give a small shift rather than leave them
until the spring, especially if they can be accom-
modated with an intermediate temperature for the
next eight weeks, as in that time the roots will get
hold of the new soil, and top-growth will also
make progress.
Lilies, — Each succeeding year brings a marked
increase in the cultivation of Lilies in pots. For
conservatory and the general decoration of rooms,
halls, corridors, &c., there are few things equal to
them. One of the advantages they possess over
most other plants is that from their erect habit of
growth they can be employed where bushy-headed
subjects are inadmissible ; in addition to which
they associate well with plants of all kinds, im-
proving the general effect of whatever they are in
company with. Most of the plants that flowered
in summer will now have matured their top-growth
and be in a condition for potting. This operation,
as has before been urged, cannot be carried out too
soon after the leaves and stems have died off, for
though the various kinds differ in the length of
time that elapses between the decay of the tops and
the roots again commencing to move, still, even in
the case of those that are the longest at rest, it is
by far the best to get the potting done early. One
thing necessary to bear in mind is that the soil must
not be allowed to get too wet before the young roots
have begun to move freely, as if this occurs the
soft, tender fibres are liable to rot. Lilies of most
kinds do not require so much root-room as is often
supposed, though when the plants are subject to
continuous pot culture more space must be given
them than when they are simply potted for forcing.
The opposite extreme of letting the mass of bulbs
accumulate until the soil within their reach is
insufficient to support them is often fallen into, es-
pecially with such kinds as L. speciosum in its
different varieties. This LOy when well grown in-
creases fast by the large flowering bulbs dividing
and also by the formation of numerous offsets;
these latter should be removed every year at the
time of potting, putting them in separate pots and
growing them on until they are strong enough to
flower. When the large bulbs get too numerous
they should be divided, giving them pots propor-
tionate in size to the number that are put together.
Most Lilies like good rich loam with plenty of
turfy matter in it, this with about a fifth of leaf-
mould, a moderate quantity of rotten manure and
sand in proportion to the nature of the loam forms
a compost in which the roots revel. In potting
keep the bulbs well below the surface, especially in
the case of kinds that produce small bulbs on the
stem, and pot moderately firm. A cold frame or
pit, where the pots can be stood on the slightly damp
earth or any damp material, is the best to keep
them in until there is danger of the soil getting
frozen through.
Lageestecemia indica. — This is one of the
finest conservatory plants, not the least of its merits
being that it occupies little room in winter. It re-
quires to have the branches cut close in once a year,
otherwise the plant becomes a straggling, confused
mass of shoots. The cutting back is usually de-
ferred until spring, but now when it has done bloom-
ing, the head may be reduced in place of leaving
the operation tUl the plants are about to commence
growing. In the case of full-sized specimens, the
.shoots may be shortened to within 3 inches of where
they were cut in to last year. After this the plants
should be kept in a little warmth till they begin to
grow. After cutting in, the soil must be kept a
little drier than whilst active growth was going on,
and all through the winter it is necessary to see
that it is not too wet, as the roots, having com-
paratively little growth to support, are liable to
suffer. The plant looks best and will generally
be found most useful when grown in the form of a
bush-headed standard, with a stem proportionate in
height to the size of the house in which it is stood
whilst in flower. T. B.
Rose Garden.
THE BUDDING OF EOSES.
Not a few amateurs are still anxiously putting the
questions that have been rife since June, viz,, when
and how they are to bud their Roses in this year of
exceptional drought and heat? And it must be
confessed the questions are much easier put than
answered, and it is not yet too late to press for
answers, for thousands of IJriers are yet in these last
days of August still unbudded. Buds and bark
alike have been quite unfit for budding, and had
either developed signs of fitness, the heat and
drought alike forbade the transference of the buds
into foster stocks. This latter may indeed be mat-
ter of controversy, which is needless this year, for
the physical condition of buds and bark forbade
budding at the normal time this season — of ex-
ceptional unfavourableness for Roses. The short-
ness of the blooming time is over and gone, and its
provoking brevity may be said to have closed with
the season, if, indeed, some compensation is not yet
in store for us in an autumnal blossoming of excep-
tional quality and lateness. But the consequences
of undeveloped and untransferable buds and con-
stricted bark — hard and immovable as that of hide-
bound fruit trees — must seriously affect the supply
and quality of our young Rose bushes for next year.
The non or late development of buds was hardly to
be looked for as a direct product of the drought.
But it was, and still is, one of the most common
features of this untoward Eos'fe season, and would
of itself have retarded budding at the normal time
had the stocks been in a condition to run. But the
latter was, and still is, in many cases yet hopeless.
Hence our answer to the question of when to bud.
Now is the time if fit buds can be obtained, and
the bark of the Briers can be induced to rise freely
to receive them.
As to fit buds, those of medium plumpness will
prove the best at this late season. There will
doubtless be a rush of sap through the stocks when
the coming rains reach the extremities of the
drought-starved roots ; henCe, were buds so plump
and full as to be on the eve of breaking, to be used,
they might either be flooded off or forced to break
into leafage and shoots at once, the latter being
almost as fatal to final success as the former. Buds
of medium form as to size and maturity would
prove more likely to resist either cause of failure ;
for so soon as the sap reached them they would be
prepared to receive a portion of it, to complete their
growth as well as consummate their union with the
foster stock. By the time this dual process was
completed the flood-tide of growth will have passed
by, and the remaining supplies of sap only suifice
to plump up and mature a perfect dormant bud for
the coming Rose season of 1888.
Fortunately, it is not yet too late to obtain,
through prompt and skilful budding, a full crop of
dormant buds for next year. This is about the
only hopeful outlook among Roses at present, for
however welcome the late breaks and promises of
late crops of flowers which the Roses are now put-
ting forth in faith rather than the results of the
scanty showers which have done nothing more than
refresh the tops up to the present (29th of August),
experienced rosarians, however eagerly they may
welcome these late crops of bloom and of wood, are
fully alive to their dangers, and are very appre-
hensive that a wet autumn and these late growths
may prove far moj-e disastrous to their plants than
he tremendous drought. Should severe and early
frosts come suddenly upon the Roses in this condi-
tion of abnormal tenderness, the plants may die in
thousands during the coming winter. Hence the
unusual interest and importance of getting any
number of suitable buds well and truly laid in their
foster stocks so soon as possible in the sure and
certain hope that such may winter safely as dor-
mant buds and yield brilliant results as maidens in
1888 as a set-off against the partial or complete
failures of this season, assuredly the shortest and,
on the whole, most unsatisfactory Rose season of
modem times. Let us, however, gratefully acknow-
ledge one or two blessings, in disguise or otherwise,
that seem to have come to us through the drought.
These have been as unexpected as they are welcome,
and may be briefly summarised as almost complete
freedom from insect and fungoid pests. In a word,
the drought appears to have shrivelled up grubs
and aphides, and burnt out red rust and mildew.
On the contrary, in a few oases we have noted a full
complement of thrips and red spider, but the latter
are quite exceptional, while the freedom from the
commoner insect and fungoid pests seems general.
D. T. F.
Rosa Fissardi. — Although this Rose does not,
as it has been incorrectly represented, belong to the
" Remontant," or " twice-flowering " section, it is,
nevertheless, one of the handsomest ornamental
varieties, and although the flowers are almost single,
it is certainly worthy of a place in all large collec-
tions of plants, and of a prominent position in
flower gardens of every kind. The plant, which is
vigorous growing, very free flowering, and of a gene-
rally glaucous aspect, produces in addition to very
abundant and luxuriant foliage large clusters of
flowers, after the manner of the Noisette Roses.
These flowers are very agreeably and delicately
scented ; the five oboval petals are notched in the
middle and are of a milk-white colour, relieving
the fine golden yellow anthers which head the
numerous stamens. The flower-buds are at first of
a light pink colour, passing into sulphur-yellow.
The plant blooms from the end of May to the first
or second week in July. In addition to its value as
an ornamental plant, Rosa Pissardi might be used
as a stock, and probably also as a seed parent in
raising hybrids. It is from this point of view espe-
cially that we (Heme Horiicole') commend it to the
notice of rosarians and raisers of varieties. We
believe the type will prove a valuable one to any
hybridist who takes it in hand and works it up
properly. — W. M.
SHORT NOTES.— ROSHS.
Eose £!liza Boelle. — This is a variety not often
written about, but, judaring from a row of plants I saw
some time ago in Mr. 'Turner's nursery at Slough, it is
most useful. The plant is of good habit, produces
plenty of foliage, and the gi-owth is vigorous, without
being too strong. The flowers are borne freely, and
are ot dehcate colouring, the petals firm, closely ar-
ranged, and making up a medium sized, circular, full,
handsome bloom, the colour varying from blush to pure
white.— E.
Eose Macartney. — Amid the dust and heat of
a wateriug-place on the eastern coast, it was most re-
freshing to find a fine single Macartney Ro.se in fuU
bloom, August 9, on the western front of a cottage.
The leaves seemed to afford no foothold for dust, aud
the Roses were plentiful, full opened ones, with a good
and abundant crop of buds in all stages for succession —
one of the most pleasing sights of this far too short and
arid of all the Rose seasons I have known. — D. T. F.
Eose Homere. — This old and weU-lmown Rose
deserves a meed of praise for its flowering qualities
during this trying summer. It is now flowering for
the second time in gi-eat profusion. Other Roses are
blooming, too, but not a standard nor pillar Rose here
can compare in vigour and abundance of bloom with
this beautiful Tea Rose, perfect in tint and formhoth
in flower and bud. The delicacy of its colouring is en-
hanced by the parple-red hue of the young foliage. —
SUFFOLKIAN.
Changes of colour in Eoses.— The curious
changes of colour referred to by " D. T. F." iu The
G.\RDE-V, August (5 (p. 101), hold good with my own
Roses, hut under entirely diflereut climatic conditions,
216
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 10, 1887.
The rainfall for June was 5'09 inches, and no very hot
weather tiU June 29. The Agricultural Experiment
Station bulletin of this State for August reports that
the mean temperature for July was the highest for
this month since 1839, being 7371. The total rainfaU
for July was 8'93 inches, the largest amount during any
month since 1839. So it seems that too much or too
little rain with high temperature brings the same
resists. — H. Heaton, Amherst, Mass,
Orchids.
BARKERIAS.
These plants are very closely allied to Epiden-
drums ; indeed, many now include them with
that genus, their chief distinguishing character
being the broadly winged column. A few species
dnly are known, the flowers of which rank
amongst the most beautiful of any of the Orchid
family. It is often a source of complaint and
regret that these plants do not live long and are
difficult to cultivate. This is undoubtedly true,
for. they are perfect wildings, and long ago I
found by experience that they will not stand
the nursing and coddling which are too frequently
bestowed upon Orchids, but must be allowed to
grow at will, requiring neither peat nor Sphag-
num about them. If you wish them to grow
and flower, they must have an abundance of
air, very little artificial heat, with full exposure
to the sun, and frequent syringings overhead.
To accommodate them, therefore, they should
be simply fastened upon a bare block or raft of
wood, and hung up near the glass in the fuU
sunshine, and never shaded. When growing,
water, of which they cannot have too much,
must be given frequently, but when growth is
finished and the leaves have fallen (for they are
deciduous), stop the supply entirely, or give
only a little occasionally to keep the stems from
shrivelling. As before remarked, a cool, well-
yentUated house is necessary to ensure good,
vigorous bronzed growth ; but when the flowers
appear, the plants should be moved into a little
warmer position, say a cool intermediate house,
where if the blooms are not wetted, they will
last for many weeks (sometimes months) in full
beauty, but when the flowers are past, again
subject the plants to the treatment previously re
commended. Treated thus, I venture to pre-
dict no complaints will be heard, either respect-
ing their longevity or their shy -blooming
qualities. . T '
B. SPECTABILIS, a native of Guatemala, where it
0;btains the name of Flor de Isabel, produces the
largest flowers of any of the known species. Like
all the kinds, it has thin fusiform stems, and the
spikes are terminal, the racemes . being seven and
eight-flowered, each flower about 3 inches across ;
sepals and petals spreading, pale rosy lilac ; lip rosy
lilac or pink in front, white at the base, dotted all
over more or less.with red. , It is a summer-blooming
variety, the flowers usually appearing in July.
B. Skinneki.— This is a native of Mexico and
Guatemala, and produces its blooms during winter,
its racemes forming a perfectly lovely bouquet by
themselves. The flowers are deep rose colour, the
lip being stained with crimson on the disc, and as
many as twenty or thirty blooms being borne upon
the erect, cylindrical raceme.
B. CYCLOTELLA.— A dwarf -growing plant, produc-
ing its flowers during winter and early spring. The
raceme is from three to six-flowered ; the individual
blooms are about 2 inches in diameter, and of a
deep rich magenta colour, except the centre of the
lip, which is white. It is a native of Guatemala.
B. ELEGAN.s is a native of Mexico, and is a chaste
and beautiful species. The flowers appear in the
winter and early spring months ; the blooms are
over 2 inches across, with the sepals and petals of a
delicate lilac blush colour ; the lip is flat and oval,
white, with a large blotch of rich purple in the
front. The column which lies upon the surface of
the lip at the base is profusely dotted with crimson.
B. MELANOCAIJLON Usually flowers in autumn, but
stiU continues rare. The sepals and petals are rosy
lilac, and the lip purplish red, bearing a blotch o£
green on the disc. It comes from Costa Rica.
B. LiNDLEYANA. — TMs speoies flowers in mid-
winter, and, like the preceding, is a native of Costa
Rica. The scape is many-flowered, the individual
blooms being 2 inches across, rosy purple, saving a
white blotch in the centre of the lip.
B. LiNDLEYANA Centek^, which we saw recently
in Mr. Shuttleworth's nursery at Clapham, resembles
the preceding in aU respects except the colour of
the flowers, which are delicate lilac-purple in the
sepals and petals, the lip stained in front with a
blotch of deep purple, the disc white, dotted with
purple. It is found growing wild with the typical
plant.
DISA CULTURE AT DANGSTEIN.
When Dangstein was the residence of Lady Dorothy
Nevill, the garden there was celebrated for the ex-
tensive collections of aU sorts of exotic plants, but
when the place was sold and the plant collections
dispersed, it was thought that Dangstein would soon
drift among common-place gardens. But such is
not the case. I was there the other day and
was surprised to find the garden so well stocked
with plants, and, considering what a multitude of
glasshouse there is to fill, one can see how much
has been done to make the garden interesting since
the place came into the hands of Mr. C. T. Lane, its
present possessor. The collections of plants are not
now so rich, but the Orchid house is weU filled, so
are the stoves, the greenhouses and ferneries, while
the little cave-like house for the Filmy Ferns, which
in the old days used to be the admiration of every-
body, remains almost as it was when Lady Nevill
left it. Altogether the garden is now most interest-
ing both in the houses and the grounds, and a few
things I was particularly struck with, particularly
the Disas, the Table Mountain Orchid of the
Cape. The Disa used to be grown by the late Mr.
Vair at Dangstein perhaps finer than anywhere in
the country, and if the plants now in full bloom
there do not surpass Mr. Vair's, they at least equal
any that I had seen there in former years. The
present gardener, Mr. Batchelor, was for many
years Mr. Vair's chief foreman, and Mr. Lane has
fortunately secured his services, and there lies the
secret of the exceptional success of Disa culture at
Dangstein. There is a good number of these fine
Disas in flower scattered about the large Orchid
house among the plants. ' What the effect of the
whole would be if gathered in one great group can
be better imagined than described, for their bril-
liancy now as they stand isolated is beyond de-
scription. Of all Orchids, the Disa grandiflora is the
most brilliantly flowered, for none have that glow-
ing richness of scarlet and gold which this has,
and when it is seen with spikes a yard high and
several on a plant, and each carrying from four to
seven flowers, the effect is very fine. Some of the
finest specimens at Dangstein now have spikes
4 feet high rising from a tuft of most luxuriant
foliage. It is, of course, not without a considerable
amount of care and attention that Mr. Batchelor is
able to produce such specimen Disas as these, but
he has been growing them so many years, and it is
so easy for him to grow them well, that he wonders
why it is others cannot grow them likewise. He has
no secret, and there is certainly nothing exceptional
in the locality for Disa culture, as the garden lies
high and exposed, rendering it particularly difficult
to maintain the moist coolness in the houses requi-
site for cool Orchid culture. The prevalent fault in
Disa culture is growing it in too much heat, which
is unnatural to the plant, seeing that it comes
from a climate where the temperature is often
low and .ihvays moist. The Dangstein Disas
are grown in a cool, airy, and yet moist house,
where the temperature descends in winter as low as
40°, and in summer, when the outside air is hot and
dry, the plants are shaded, watered, and ventilated,
so as to keep them in a nice growing atmosphere,
otherwise they would soon go, as Disas generally
do — the leaves would turn yellow and sickly, or be
attacked by their greatest enemy, thrips. Formerly
the Disas at Dangstein were grown in a house facing
north, where direct sunlight was almost excluded ;
but Mr. Batchelor finds that they can be grown just
as well, and better, in an ordinary span-roofed house,
if shaded and ventilated properly. The great point
is not to neglect the watering ; and yet it wiU never
do to allow the plants to stand in water, as some
do, as that would rot the roots. The potting com-
post consists of fibry peat, lumps of charcoal, with
plenty of live Sphagnum Moss, chopped enough to
mix with the other material. This is all the plants
require. Some mix manure with the compost, but
this is bad, as it contains worms or their germs. If
the plants are very vigorous and a little stimulant
is required, very weak manure water is the best ;
but this must be used cautiously, and only at in-
tervals. Good drainage is most essential when so
much water is needed, and by having good deep
pots plenty of potsherds can be put in the pots
without curtailing the room for the compost. The
practice at Dangstein is to repot all the Disas in
January, for then the plants are least active. The
large plants have their young offsets or suckers
taken from them, and these are placed in small-
pots, treated just the same as the old plants, and ,
make flowering plants the following year. It is;
best if a few roots can be taken off with the-
suckers, though, they soon strike roots with care.-
The plants at potting time have aU the old soil
shaken from the roots and placed in new soil, and
afterwards are kept in a close, but not too warm
house, so as to recover more quickly. As the season
advances more and more water must be given, and
when warm weather has fairly set in frequent
syringings overhead are given, and the house is kept
moist in the usual way. This treatment is kept up
till after flowering-time, when a rest is given by.
keeping the plants drier until potting-time in Jan-,
nary. There are several forms represented, though
really there are but two named varieties, which are
BareUi and superba. Both are different from the
typical form as regards colour, being much more
brilliant, but an attempt to describe the difference
in tint would be a failure. All the forms of the
"Flower of the Gods" are so beautiful, that one is not
to be preferred to the other. W. Goldeing.
Vanda teres Andersoni. — A charming form
of this beautiful terete-leaved A''anda is now flower-
ing at Blendon Hall, Bexley, the residence of
Mr. W. C. Pickersgill. The plant is some 4 feet
high, with four flower-spikes, which together bear
twenty-eight flowers. The sepals and petals are
white, flushed with rosy magenta ; lip deeply bi-
lobed in front, where it is flat, and rich, deep rosy .
purple ; the side lobes slightly paler, rolled over the
column; throat rich orange, veined with crimson..
This specimen has been grown fully exposed to
the sun, and supplied with abundance of water. —
W. H. G.
Miltonia epectabilis Moreliana.— The finest
form of this Orchid in cultivation is, without doubt,
that which for the past fortnight has been the
attraction of the Orchid-loving visitors to Kew.
The flowers measure 4 inches across, and the colour
is superb. The sepals and petals are of a rich
claret-purple, and the broad, flat lip is a bright rose
heavily veined with deep rose-pink or carmine.
This form is possibly that described in Williams'
"Orchid Manual" as Moreliana atrorubens, and
which is said to be a very scarce plant. None of
the true Miltonias'surpass^spectabilis in beauty, and
certainly there is no match among all its varieties
for that described. — W. G.
Beautiful names. — The following have been
sent to us in response to the note inserted in The Gar-
DEN, Sept. 3 (p. 210) :—
Acanthopanax quinquefolia, Wachendorfia thyrsi-
flora, Muhlenheckia complexa, Catoblastus pra?morsus,
Scorzonera calcitrapifolia, Erythrochiton hypopbyl-
lanthus, Calyptrogyne Ghioshreghtiana, Coccoeypse-
lum campanuUflorum, Helmholtzia glaben'ima, Hepta-
plourum polybotryum, Korolkowia Sewerzowi, Gra-
bowsldahoerhaavia3folia,Schizophi-agmahydi-angeoides,
Cienkowskia Kirki, Sideroxylon chrysophylloides,
Xanthorhiza apiifolia.
Sept. 10, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
217
Trees and Shrubs.
SHRUBBY NEW ZEALAND SPEED-
WELLS.
(veronicas.)
Since communication between New Zealand
and this country has been established our
gardens have been indebted in no small way to
the rich, and almost inexhaustible flora of that
colony. It has assisted largely in adding to our
collections of plants, beautiful flowering shrubs
that give to our shrubberies and borders a
character that would have been almost impossible
without their aid. Of the numerous plants
protection and be kept comparatively dry during
the winter season there is little fear of their
being injured. Such, at least, is my experience
in the neighbourhood of London, where the
damp atmosphere, fogs, &c. , carry off a greater
number of this class of plants than tho cold.
It is not unusual, when duplicates are planted
in different situations, to have some killed
whUe others are untouched, and this will be
so untU we find out the exact positions in our
gardens best suited to the requirements of these
plants. Near to the seaside I believe they grow
more vigorously than inland, the glaucous
species being almost white, and forming round
sturdy bushes. As pot plants for winter decora-
carpa, &c. , either hybrids or improved forms of
this species, are largely used in the conserva-
tory and greenhouse, and where space admits of
their being planted out they make beautiful
specimens in a few years.
V. SALICIFOLIA, a fine shiny-leaved shrub,
bearing numerous spikes of white flowers, vari-
able, and generally longer than the leaves ; V.
parviflora, a small-flowered very graceful species.
Other allied forms are V. Kirki, speciosa,
oamea, &c. Amongst the latest introductions
are V. Lyalli, Hulkeana, Cataractaj, chathamica,
vernicosa, Itevis, anomala, elliptica, Colensoi,
amplexicaulis, piraeleoides, epacridea, Haasti,
&c.
A New Zealand Speedwell (Veiomca Tiaversi) Engraved for The Garden fiom a photograph sent by Mi. Edward Moir, Newport-on-Tay, Fifeshire
introduced of late years shrubby Speedwells
take the lead in point of numbers, over sixty
distinct species (not including varieties or
forms), according to the latest botanical
authority, being found there, and of these,
perhaps, half are in cultivation in our gardens
at the present time. The only thmg urged
against their being largely planted is their
liability to be disfigured during severe winters,
but I believe this is true only in certain locali-
ties and under adverse conditions. When hurt
at all it seems to be our damp climate rather
than the cold that does it, and if planted in
weU-drained soil where they can receive a slight
tion, for the balcony, the corridor, and the con-
servatory they have a future before them, and
have already been used with advantage ; the
variety in habit and size, as well as the various
hues of colour, give them an interesting as well
as an ornamental appearance. If cuttings are
put in in the autumn they will root freely and
make good specimens by the second year. For
the rock garden we have found them very use-
ful.
"V". LiNDLBTANA IS One of the oldest plants in
cultivation, having been introduced many years
ago, and undergone vast improvements. Ander-
son!, kermesina, versicolor, linarisefoUa, maoro-
V. TfiAVERSi, of which we have a good illus-
tration in the annexed cut, was engraved from a
photograph of a plant growing in the garden of
Mr. E. Moir, Craighead Villa, Newport-on-Tay,
who says
That it was quite a little sprig when planted twelve
years ago, and has never had any protection, being
quite in the open and exposed to all the four winds, the
principal exposure heing north facing the Tay.
It has one peculiarity in that it flowers freely the
one year and very sparingly the next, owing, I fancy,
to the flowering shoots being exhausted and the plant
requiring another year to make new wood. Scores of
seedlings have come up around it. The other varieties
of New Zealand Speedwells which I grow are Y.
218
THE GARBEK.
[Sept. 10, 1887
Lyalli, carnosula, amplexicaulls, pin^ifolia, glauco-
csenilea, Colensoi, glauca, chatliamica, epaeridea, and
salicoruoides, all of which have stood the last severe
winter and this trying dry summer remarkably well.
They are growing luxvu'iantly with the exception of V.
chathamica, a trailing species, which is weakly and, I
am afraid, a little tender. Veronica Lyalli, V. piugui-
folia, V. glauco-cserulea and amplexicaulis flowered
very freely this season ; the others, though strong,
healthy plants, 1 have never yet seen in flower. The
smallest morsels of V. epaeridea and salieomoides
strike very readily from cuttings and soon make nice
bushy plants.
Veronica pingulfolia, Lyalli, and amplexicaulis are
covered with flowers every year, as is my experience
with V. Traversi. Has this the same peculiarity with
other growers ?
V. Traversi is one of the old ones, having been
in cultivation a good many years. It is amongst
the hardiest of the shrubby Speedwells, and is
certainly one of the most beautiful and useful
in a garden. Unless after an unusually severe
winter, it never fails to produce freely its pretty
white clusters of flowers, which in contrast with
the dark shiny leaves make a charming pic-
ture. It is an excellent plant for the rockery,
where with a little shelter it forms fine bushes
full of interest both in summer and winter.
Other varieties are arborea, pinguifolia, carno-
sula, diosmrefolia, &c. K.
Small-leaved Robinia.— There is in the rock-
garden at Kew a specimen of a variety of the
common Acacia named Robinia Pseudacacia
angustifolia, which for elegant growth and foliage
has no rivals among all the many forms of the
Acacia. The leaflets are only half the size of those
of the ordinary form, and the leaf-stalks are so
slender that the whole tree, which has a wide-
spreading head, looks like an airy cloud of pale
^een leafage, which is the more noticeable, as it
-rises out of a dense mass of Rhododendrons. This
Acacia, as well as others, has not suffered in the
least from the drought ; on the contrary, all the
Acacias seem to enjoy a warm, rainless season.
Daring the coming planting season this elegant tree,
which will grow in almost any kind of soil, light or
heavy, should be noted. It may be found in nur-
series under the name of Robinia angustifolia and
angustifolia elegans. — W. G.
The Scarlet-fruited Thorn (Cratfegus coc-
cinea) is now one of the most conspicuous objects
in many old gardens (for one seldom finds it in new
places) on account of its clusters of bright coral-
red haws. One cannot understand why planters
pass this beautiful tree and go on planting the
commonest of trees and shrubs simply because the
nurserymen can supply them most readily. This
scarlet Thorn is in a sense more valuable than the
Hawthorn, for it has three seasons of beauty, in
spring when covered with clusters of white bloom,
in late summer when with ruddy frait it lights up
the shrubbery, and in advanced autumn when its
decaying leafage assumes various tints, sometimes
a rich golden yellow, sometimes a glowing red or
scarlet. The growth of the tree, too, is graceful,
and always has a wide spreading head, but not so
formal looking as that of the common Thorn. It is an
admirable tree for planting in park groups as well
as in garden shrubberies, and even as a single
specimen on a lawn it is effective. If in good soil
and not too much exposed to winds it will grow as
much as 18 feet or 20 feet, but it is generally seen
about 10 feet or 12 feet high. Being a native of
North America, it is one of the hardiest of Thorns
— W. G.
The Guelder Rose in berry is one of the
prettiest shrubs to be seen in August and Sep-
tember, for then the berries, borne in flat clusters
like the Elderberry, are of a bright red colour,
almost as bright as that of red sealing-wax, and,
added to this, the foliage at this season is tinged
with reddish purple if the shrubs are ftfUy exposed.
On an estate in Sussex I lately saw an ornamental
lake with almost a continuous fringe of the Guelder
Rose around its margin, and the effect was striking
and unusual. The Guelder Rose delights in a moist
spot, but if fully exposed it does not grow to such
a large size as when sheltered, but the rich summer-
colouring of its leaves, together with its bright red
berries, make it most desirable for lake margins.
It is, of course, only the single-flowered variety that
fruits ; the common garden Guelder Rose or Snow-
ball tree never bears berries, the flowers being all
sterile, while the inconspicuous flowers of the wild
Viburnum Opulus always bear fruit. This is one of
the many plants suitable for lake-margin planting,
and if more attention were given to others of a
similar character ornamental water would not wear
that monotonous appearance which it usually does.
— W. G.
BIGNONIA RADICANS.
This beautiful old hardy climbing shrub is again in
bloom in many a garden in the warmer parts of the
country, where it flourishes to perfection against
walls or some such protection. Daring the past
fortnight I have seen it very beautiful in various
gardens in Sussex and Surrey, and in one instance
the entire front of a house was covered with it,
every shoot being tipped with a cluster of long,
trumpet-shaped blooms of that peculiar reddish
brown colour that makes the plant so different from
any other, and, therefore, more noticeable. The
pinnate foliage, too, is so elegant, that even
in the absence of flowers the plant is a wall-
covering of singular beauty. The most successful
way of inducing it to flower freely is to prune it in
closely in late autumn, so that only the well-ripened
wood, which is less liable to injury from frost,
remains. Last winter this shrub was very little in-
jured by frosts, because the wood became ripened
by the dry and warm autumn. In any case it is
advisable to take precaution, for though the shrub
is quite hardy in the south it is not worth while to
risk it in the midlands and further north. It is a
simple matter to protect a plant with either a mat
or straw covering in winter, and certainly such a
beautiful climber is weU worthy of the trouble. This
Bignonia clings to a wall or tree trunk by its stem-
roots like an Ivy ; therefore, no nailing of the shoots
is needed if it is regularly pruned so as not to be-
come too top-heavy. I have seen it running up
stems of trees like Ivy, but then it does not often
bloom freely, because the shoots do not become
sufficiently ripened by sun and exposure. But if
the tree trunk is dead and there is no shade, it
flourishes as well as against a wall, and a more
beautiful covering for a dead tree could not be
found. One would expect to find the climbing Big-
nonia commoner than it is in English gardens at
the present day, seeing that it was introduced from
the Southern States of North America nearly 250
years ago. It is happily a common plant in nur-
series, and good plants of it may be bought cheaply.
There is a variety called major sanguinea and atro-
purpurea, the flowers of which are of a different
colour from those of the type, and in other respects
it is superior. W. G.
ing shrub that reaches a height of 13 feet or there-
abouts, and pushes up from the base numerous
shoots that quickh' reach an equal height. The
huge compound leaves render it an imposing sub-
tropical-like plant, while, of course, its beauty is
greatly enhanced when in flower, for the blooms,
though small, are borne in large terminal, upright,
much-branched panicles, which have a grand and
imposing appearance when crowning such a noble
mass of foliage. As a single plant in good soil this
Aralia is seen to very great advantage, as there is
then plenty of room for the full development of the
foliage. Few subjects are more readily propagated
than this, as rooted suckers may often be detached,
while cuttings of the roots grow away freely and
soon form plants. — T.
Golden-leaved Tree Ivy.— This is one of the
brightest of golden-leaved shrubs that retain their
foliage throughout the year, and it forms a con-
spicuous feature when in a flourishing condition,
the exposed portions of the foliage being of such a
bright golden hue that the plant can be at once
singled out even at a distance as something
possessing more than ordinary attractions. It is far
less vigorous than the commcni green-leaved forms
of Ivy, and on that account is often grafted on to
young plants of the Irish, on which stock it grows
more freely than on its own routs. Sucker.s from
the stock must be guarded against. Not only does
this Ivy grow more freely so treated, but all the
weaker kinds are greatly benefited if grafted on a
stronger stock. I have some of the variegated
kinds grafted in this manner, and tliey have quite
outtfrown some of their neighbours that were struck
from cuttings. — T.
Aralia spinosa. — The list of autiimn-flowcring
trees an<l shrubs is by no means an extensive one,
and among those few that bloom at this period a
front place must be assigned to this Aralia, which
is now an object of great beiuty. It is a fastgrow-
Propagating.
Dbsfontainbaspinosa. — This highly ornamental
shrub is often spoken of as one that is very difficult
to propagate by cuttings, but I have not found it to
be the case, as they will strike root without any
great difficulty. The principal consideration is to
obtain good cuttings, which must be formed of the
current season's shoots cut off just at their base.
The bottom leaves having been removed, the shoots
are put into 5-inoh pots, filled to about one half their
depth with broken crocks, and the remainder a light
open soil sifted through a fine sieve. A very good
compost for the purpose is equal parts of peat,
loam, and silver sand, the whole pressed down
firmly, and a little clean silver sand spread on the
top. The cuttings being dibbled in and watered are
then placed in a cold frame that is kept close, and
by the return of spring they will be rooted with but
very few losses. If the cuttings are formed of the
shoots that are stunted, they take longer to strike,
and the loss amongst them is often pretty consi-
derable. The frame must be kept close during the
winter, except for a little time occasionally to dry
up any superabundant moisture, and it must be sutH-
ciently protected in frosty weather to prevent the
inmates being at all frozen.
Blandfordias. — These New Holland plants are
principally propagated by division, and where it is
to be carried out no time should now be lost, as the
plants root during the early autumn months ; there-
fore, if divided now they will again become esta-
blished before winter. As the roots of the Bland-
fordias are not very numerous, but are thick and
fleshy, particular care must be taken not to bruise
them, as even a slight injury to one jjortion will
often cause the loss of the whole root. To prevent
this as far as possible a very good plan is to wash
the old soil away from the roots instead of removing
it forcibly by hand. This is easily done, either by
holding the ball of earth under a tap or soak-
ing it in a pail of water, when a gentle pressure will
cause the soil to fall away, when the roots may be
washed clean. By using a sharp knife the plants
can then be divided into as many pieces as there
are crowns, saving, if possible, an equal number of
roots to each. They must then be potted in a mix-
ture of loam, peat, and sand, using for the purpose
pots thoroughly well drained and no larger than are
absolutely necessary. As a good deal of the success -
in growing Blandfordias depends upon a suitable
spot for them, this remark applies even more parti-
cularly immediately after division. The position
best suited for them is a cool part of the greenhouse
that is slightly shaded, and where the atmosphere
is kept somewhat moist. They must be kept a little
closer and more shaded than usual after division
till they make fresh roots. Blandfordias can also
be increased by seed which occasionally ripens, and
when such is the case it should be sown as soon as
it is quite ripe, using for the purpose the same kind
of soil as above recommended. From the delicate
character of the young seedlings, they should be
potted off as soon as they require it into small well-
drained pots.
Ampelopsis Veitchi. — If not already done, cut-
tings of this beautiful hardy climber may be put in.
During its earlier stages this Ampelopsis is rather
delicate, and on that account by far the better way
Sept. 10, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
219
is to take the cuttings of the shoots and dibble them
into pots of sandy soil, afterwards placing them in a
close frame. If carefully attended to, the cuttings
will be well rooted by the spring ; and should it be
desired to grow them on as quickly as possible,
they may be then potted off and afterwards as the
season advances be either planted out in a prepared
bed, or shifted into larger pots. By this means no
time is lost, while should the plants be exposed too
soon they often become stunted, and then take a
long time to recover themselves.
Sesecio pulchbk, which is just now attracting
so much attention, can be propagated to a certain
extent by division, but in almost unlimited numbers
by means of root-cuttings. The roots for the pur-
pose should be taken whUe the plants are dormant,
and of course the largest should be chosen. These
roots can be taken without interfering with the
plants, as the removal of a limited number can be
readily effected without checking the future growth.
If the roots are cut up into lengths of 1 inch to 2
inches and dibbled rather thickly into pans of sandy
soil, they make their appearance in the spring like
a crop of seedlings. A well-drained cold frame that
is safe from frost is the best place for these root-
cuttings, which must be dibbled in perpendicularly
and at such a depth that their upper portion is just
covered with the soil. A very good plan in insert-
ing the cuttings is to put in the soil rather lightly,
and stick the roots in without employing a dibble.
They can be easily pressed down so that the top is
just below the soil, and when finished, a good
watering will settle everything in its place. T.
Flower Garden.
NOTES FROM MID-NORFOLK.
In Mid-Norfolk we had in the four months follow-
ing March over G inches of rain. In April we had
1-4.JI inches. May 1-S85, June -280, July 2-7i0, but
in the last month it should be added that over 2
inches of the total fell on the 31st. This last deluge,
not extending many miles, helped us on till the
drought fairly broke on August 13. Between that
and the present date (August 29) over 2 inches of
rain have fallen. All through the year our flowers
have been unusually late in blooming ; as yet, not a
Colchicum has broken ground. The Tritomas, which
suffered greatly from what may be styled "the
glacial period " in January and February when the
earth was encased in ice, are, with the exception of
T. Burchelli and T. Macowani, still flowerless. The
first Aster, AmeUus (followed to-day by A. gracilis),
flowered only yesterday. All Dahlias and Sun-
flowers are very backward. To the number of
drought-resisting plants I would add Galega offici-
nalis and its variety G. o. alba, both of which have
been less rampant in growth, and flowered more
freely. The Sea Lavender.s (Statices) also are extra
good. I think the Catananches have appeared on
your list ; most useful they are. Has anyone suc-
ceeded in perpetuating the white or bicolor variety
from seed ? I sow it, and it only, but all the seed
lings produce but blue flowers. Some time back
Catananche was written of as probably not more
than a biennial — certainly, not a perennial — in dura-
tion of life. With me, and my soil is not very light,
Catananche proves a true perennial, the two plants,
the type and its variety, purchased in 1880, being
still strong and flowering freely. I expect that any
real difBculty with Cordyline australis consists in
procuring fresh seed. Nothing could have given
less trouble or received less care than some seed
given me three years back by a friend just returned
from New Zealand. More to avoid appearing un-
gracious than with any hopes of success, I sowed
the seed, but it was in common soil in a pot placed
in f uU sun in my little greenhouse. To my surprise
an array of Grass-like plants appeared. Some time
elapsed before I could surely distinguish between
the Dracfenas and the Grass which sprang up with
them. The plants are now of all sizes, and in pots
of all sizes, but all flourishing and most useful for
many purposes, and hard treatment most of them
get.
Whilst reading through an old volume (the 18th)
of The Garden I was much struck by the paper (p.
312) on Hyacinth propagation. May I ask : " Do the
systems of crossing and hollowing require great
nicety in operation ? And can that be applied to
all bulbs, more especially to Lilies and Tulips ? "
B. M. G.
LILIUM POLYPHYLLUM.
Mt request for information as to the growth of
Lilium polyphyllum in its native habitats has been
so fully responded to by Mr. E. Huftelen, of Le Roy,
New York, that I think you might like to publish
his note copied below: —
I saw your parasrniph on Lilium polyphyllum in The
Gardex of July 23 (p. 52), which has just reached me.
Now, I have not been to India, but last year, feeling
the need of more direct information concerning this
particular Lily, I wrote to an old friend of mine, now
a Dutch missionary in that country, to look the matter
over and report to me. I translate from his letter as
follows : "I did not find L. polyphyllum growing at a
low altitude on the mountains, where, I imagine, the
winters are as severe as they are with you, though not
so long. I find them almost invariably growing on
ground sloping to the north, so that at no time during
the day can the direct rays of the sun strike the ground
squarely, as would be the case if they grew on ground
sloping to the south. However, I have in one or two
instances seen them growing in a southern exposui-e,
but they were shaded hy low shrubs. I am satisfied
that this Lily is not an aquatic, nor does it appear to
be a true alpine. I notice it grows much better in
such soil as seems to have been washed down from the
heights above and composed of about half and half of
gravelly soil and vegetable fibre. Though it seems to
seed freely it is far from being plentiful. As the
natural conditions of its gi'owth appear to be very
simple, there should be no difficulty in your success
with it under cultivation. It is a very handsome Lily,
fragrant, too, and stately, growing 5 feet or 6 feet
high, with from four to six flowers on a stalk. The
ground colour is old pearl white, dotted along the mid-
rib of the petals with shoi-t, very fine, royal purple
lines (not spots). I feel sure that if you can protect it
from too much wet during your long winter you will
succeed with it. I think it will bear all the cold in-
cident to your chmate."
I have flowered this Lily for three seasons and like
it very much. I have a tight hoard screen 2 feet high
along on the south side of the row to shade the ground,
wliile the tops grow in the open sunshine without any
shade, and they flourish in a mean temperature of 88*^.
My flowers agree exactly with the description given by
my Dutch correspondent. It is true that individually
they vary like other LiUes,but collectively his descrip-
tion is correct. In a postscript he adds: "These
Lilies begin — in the lowest places — to flower in June,
and two miles further up the mountains I have found
them as late as the 1st of August. This shows the
effect of altitude. 1 do not know of anything which
I have written touches any point upon which you may
he in doubt, and can only hope that it may not be
altogether without interest to you. By reading I
know that you, like myself, are particularly interested
in the Lily family."
Geobge F. Wilson.
Heatherbanh, Weybridge.
Carnation and Picotee shows are less particular
now than formerly. 'WTien visiting Mr. Henry
Eckford, at Boreatton, a few days ago. I saw that
he was growing somewhat largely a white Carna-
tion, a seedling of vigorous habit and wonderfully
free, pure white, the petal edges slightly fimbriated
as in the case of Chromatella, to which it forms an
excellent companion. I think it is a local seedling,
but it deserves to be better known. I saw
hundreds of flowers, but scarcely one with a split
pod.— R. D.
Carnations and Ficotees at Chiswick. —
When at the Chiswick Gardens some time ago I
made a note of a few varieties Mr. Barron had
planted out, and thus a good test was afforded of
their capacity to stand the great heat and drought
of the summer. Chromatella is a very fine yellow
self, pale sulphur, with fringed petals, a good
grower, and first rate in all respects, being very free
also ; a better variety of the yellow section to cut
from can hardly be imagined. Hilda, heavy red-
edged Picotee, also a very fine border variety, very
free indeed, the flowers full and brightly edged
with colour. W. P. Milner is a capital white, also
doing well in the open ground, and making a good
growth. Florence is a pale buff-coloured variety,
and also blooms very freely. Some of our named
border Carnations are apt to split their pods ; this
is a great defect, as it completely spoUs the
symmetry of the flowers ; the petals fall all abroad,
and lose the desirable quality of form. In the old
days of Carnation and Picotee showing the split
pod was a disqualification, but the promoters of
A^ARIETIES OF THE TIGER LILY.
Even in the open ground the season of Lilies lasts
for a considerable period, bvit the majority are now'
past, though there are a few kinds still in bloom or
fast approaching that stage. Among the commoner
kinds the season is finished up by the different varie-
ties of L. speciosum, which are rather later in ex-
panding than either the Golden-rayed or Tiger Lily.
This last is one of the commonest species in culti-
vation, and, at the same time, it is one of the least
particular in its requirements, for planted in the
open ground and allowed to remain undisturbed it
will yield a grand display of bloom every year. The
ordinary form is too well known to need any
description, but there are two or three well-marked
varieties, of which one (splendens) is much superior
to the common kind. This variety is distinguished
from the ordinary tigrinum by the leaves being
broader, less woolly, and of a much deeper green ;
the flowers larger, brighter coloured, and with
larger spots, whUe its season of blooming is rather
later. Besides this the leaves are, even during
adverse seasons, retained on the lower part of the
stem in a better condition than any of the other
Tiger Lilies, whDe the stem itself is quite smooth
and almost black. It may be very successfully
grown in pots, while in the case of the others
treated in this way the foliage becomes so disfigured
as to detract greatly from their ornamental appear-
ance. This Lily is also known under the varietal
name of Leopold! as well as splendens. The
double-flowered Tiger Lily is another very distinct
form, being, in fact, the only true double Lily we
have, as the variety of L. Thunbergianum or elegans,
known as flore-pleno and staminosum, has the
stamens more or less transformed into petal-like
substances that fill up the interior of the flower,
while the doubleness of the Tiger Lily is formed by
several rows of petals arranged one above the other.
This variety has the leaves, stems, and the un-
opened buds quite woolly, which character is also
common to another of this class (Fortunei), which
has been sometimes confounded with splendens. It
is, however, less ornamental than that is, being
more like the common form, but is of taller growth
and having the stems more hairy. A prominent
feature of all these is the presence in the axils of
the leaves of great quantities of small bulbils,
which afford a ready means of increasing these
Lilies, as they no sooner drop to the ground than
they take root and grow away at once. There is,
however, one variety in which these bulbils are
absent, and that is a very scarce one, viz., juoundum,
which is often classed as a distinct species under
the names of L. Maximowiczi and L. pseudo-tigri-
num. It is a very handsome Lily, smaller in all its
parts, and more delicate than its allies. By some
it is considered to be a Lily of hybrid origin, and
certainly appearances would tend to bear out that
view, for it has the flower of L. Leichtlini and the
colouring of L. tigrinnm, its reputed parents.
Besides this, it is in foliage and general characters
about midway between the two. H. P.
Gypsopliilas. — Few plants amongst the hardy
herbaceous section have received higher praise
than G. paniculata, its light, graceful habit and
myriads of fairy-like flowers rendering it a general
favourite. There are several other species in the
genus well worth a place in the garden ; G. Steveni
is a perennial species like paniculata, but it is a
dwarfer plant, and has larger individual flowers.
G. elegans and G. muralis are annual species, very
dwarf, and producing small rose-coloured flowers in
profusion all through the summer. In the front
220
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 10, 1887.
row of the herbaceous border or on rookwork they
are very showy. They are best sown in the open
about the third week in May. The Gypsophilas
will grow well in any common garden soil that is
fairly drained. — J. W. Odell, Barrow Point.
Lobelia ilicifolia. — This is sometimes classed
amongst the Pratias, and partakes of the character
of the Moss-like P. angulata; the growth dense,
creeping, and carpeting the ground with a dense
belt-like mat of vegetation. The flowers, like those
i:if the ordinary Lobelia in form, are pure white,
and stud the plants during the summer months.
In late autumn they are followed by pink oval
berries, so that the whole year round there is some-
thing to admire in this plant. It is quite hardy, and
does well in a somewhat moist position on the
south side of the rockery ; it is not so thoroughly at
home on a northern situation, so those that can
give the plant the more favourable site should do
so. Plant it on a low shelf, so that the mossy
growth can creep over and hide the facings. — E. C.
Roses and Narcissi. — In looking over some
old volumes of The Gaeden, I noticed a note by
" Veronica," advocating the marriage of Queen Rosa
to Narcissus and other spring bulbs. I was always
under the impression that the queen of flowers ob-
jected to anyone approaching her throne. May I
ask " Veronica" how near the Rose trees (dwarf and
half standards) may the smaller sorts of spring
bulbs. Daffodils, &c., be planted with safety ?
" Veronica's " idea, if carried out, would fill what
has always appeared a blank to me, for, though to
the true rosarian the bursting buds and unfolding
leaves are interesting as well as important, unfold-
ing, as they do, sweet hopes for the future, yet if
the, at that time, necessarily bare earth was covered
by fair-faced heralds of the coming glory, the Rose
buds would, in my opinion, much increase in interest
and beauty. — E. S. L.
Transplanting Iiilium candidum. — This is
the best time to transplant this lovely white Lily,
which I find succeeds well if lifted, divided, and
replanted every alternate year, giving it if possible
a fresh site every time it is replanted. We have just
lifted our stock, and found that single bulbs under
?, inches in diameter had developed great masses of
roots. These are pulled apart and single bulbs
planted in lines, 2 feet from row to row and 1 foot
from plant to plant. As the soil was dust-dry at
the time of planting, the bulbs were put in little
.trenches, just covering the crowns with soil, and
finishing off with a sprinkling of manure. They
will grow very strongly in any fairly good garden
soil, and we generally plant them where Potatoes or
some vegetable crop have been cleared off, this kind
of soil usually being in much better condition than
that in the herbaceous borders. To this change
of soil I attribute not only the rapid increase of
bulbs, but also the fine spikes which are fully 5 feet
high, and bear from twelve to twenty large blooms
on each. As the flower-stems are liable to get broken
off by rough gales of wind, we put stout stakes at
intervals along the rows and stretch a cord at about
3 feet from the ground, to which each of the spikes
is secured. In replanting we sort the bulbs into
three separate sizes. The small bulbs make fine
ones after one year, and flower very strongly the
second year. — J. G., Gosjiort.
SHORT NOTES.— FLOWER.
Daffodil Yellow King. — Would some of your
readers taking an interest in Daffodils tell me when or
in what year the name Yellow King was registered by
the Daffodil Committee? It does not appear in report
of 1885, 18S(!, or 1887.— Nemo.
Tree Paeony in the pinetum at Penoyre.—
Mr3._ Cleasby sends us a good photo of an admirable
specimen, with even more flowers thin Mr. Pirn's
plant engraved in The Garden of August 27. It
shows how well the Tree Pteony does in Breconshire.
Dw^arf Californian "Willow Herb (Epilobium
obcordatam). — This beautiful plant, considered by
many to be scarcely hardy and difficult to manage, has
stood all last winter unprotected, and has been flower-
ing profusely for many weeks. It thrives well in
peaty loam in a shady and moist situation. Cuttings
put under a hand-glass in early autumn will strike
readily, and if allowed to remain under the glass during
the winter may be planted out in spring, when they will
soon make nice flowering specimens. — J. Whittaker.
VARIEGATED ROCK CRESS.
(ALYSSaM SAXATILE FOLIIS VARIEGATIS.)
Amongst spring flowers, probably no plant
gives a greater amount of pleasure to the grower
than the type of that represented in the annexed
cut. The golden yellow flowers are set off to
advantage by the beautiful glaucous foliage that
makes this plant interesting even in the absence
of blooms. It has a shrubby habit, and, indeed,
in some nicely sheltered localities it attains quite
bush size, and continues so for many years. In
some districts, however, and especially damp
ones, the weaker plants often sufi'er. It may be
transplanted very easily "when a year old, and
even at two years, when oarefuUy handled, it
suffers but little. We increase our stock by
cuttings, which we take oft" in early autumn,
put in pots, and place in a cold frame, kept
close for a little time. Air is gradually admitted
as roots make their appearance. If potted oflF
singly, or planted out in a sheltered bed in rich
slopes are to be found many interesting plants, and
it might weU be called a vrild garden. On the top
of the hiU grows the rare and glaucous Yellow-wort
(Ghlora perfoliata); at the base in shaded spots
the Columbine is to be found, while more than a
dozen different kinds of Orchids are blooming in
the natural calcareous and rather damp soil. From
the window where I write, a bold group of the
Mullein (Verbascum Thapsus) might have been seen
growing in a sunny position, the numerous large
pyramidal panicles of yellow flowers forming in the
distance a golden patch of 2 yards high. These
Mulleins are now in a wretched state, the rabbits
having eaten the large downy leaves up to a height
of 14 inches. Nor is this all; nearly all the flowers
have been picked by tourists, who have gathered
the flowers for their medicinal properties, which are
said to be emollient. Intermixed with the Mulleins
was the common Teasle (Dipsacus sylvestris), called
in French Bird's Tavern, from the structure of
the opposite leaves, which are welded at the
base in such a way as to hold suflicient water for
birds to quench their thirst. This plant has been
left untouched, being happily too rough for the
depredators previously mentioned. — J. Sallieh,
St. Germaiti- en-Laye.
Viriegited EocL. Ciess (Alysbum saxrtde fohis
variegatis) .
compost, they may be transferred to their per-
manent quarters early in spring. Our practice
is the same with the vai-iegated form, and as
they both retain their leaves, the latter especially
is well worth planting for effect in winter.
Where suitable places can be spared on the
rockery, this plant, in our opinion, surpasses
all others flowering at that season. It is so
thoroughly at home, and it looks so well peep-
ing through openings in the rocks or overhang-
ing ledges on old walls, cfcc, that every garden,
however small the accommodation, should
find a corner for it The variegated form
flowers as freely as the type, the beautiful foli-
age rendering it very conspicuous. It is a mat-
ter of no little surprise that this plant is not
more used for spring bedding; young plants
could be planted and lifted with ease, and cer-
tainly with as little trouble as bulbs, and with
less chance of failure. There is a variety called
nana which we have found very useful for
bedding purposes. It is much dwarfer than the
type, more compact, and forms little dense
cluniijs of foliage. It is as easily managed as
the others, and strikes quite as readily from
cuttings. K.
A note from Oermany. — Our dwelling-house
stands on the north side of a little hill, on whose
CHOICE BEDDING VERBENAS.
Notwithstanding the drought, Verbenas, Petu-
nias, Phlox Drummondi, and such like things have
done well, and bloomed grandly in many places
during the summer. At Messrs. Keynes and Co.'s
Castle Street Nurseries, Salisbury, a number of the
leading varieties of Verbenas are bedded out, and
they have been, and still are, very effective. Fore-
most among them is one named Lustrous, a dwarf
growing variety with a low, dense, spreading habit,
and throwing up numerous fine trusses of rich
scarlet-crimson, well-formed flowers with a yellow
eye. Now here is a Verbena that actually clothes
the ground in which it is growing with flowers, and
that is one of the great requirements in a good
bedding Verbena. As fitting companions to this,
to use in a mixed bed or to form beds of different
colours, I may name Boule de Neige (white) and
Purple King (purple), two good old standard varie-
ties that are difficult to improve upon, and there is
a pretty blue and white striped sport from the
latter known as Lady of Langleybury, which makes
a capital bedder also. Add to these Crimson King
(lich crimson) and Ethel Barnes (clear rosy scarlet),
and a very useful group of bedding varieties is
obtained, and as good varieties are propagated
largely because always in demand, it is just as
well — nay, it is surely better — to plant good and
striking varieties as to plant indifferent ones, and
they who raise seedlings cannot over-estimate the
advantage of having good varieties from which to
obtain seed. Surely it is better to raise the best
possible in the way of seedlings than to waste
one's time in rearing and growing plants that are
only disappointing when they bloom. In Messrs.
Keynes and Co.'s nursery there is a bed of seedlings
of high-class quality which illustrates my meaning.
There is scarcely an inferior flower among them,
and several of high promise have already been
marked for trial next season. Therefore get good
seed, and plant the seedlings in good soil, and they
will be seen to the best advantage. Messrs.
Keynes and Co. say they have a large demand for
Verbenas, first for plants in the autumn, and again
in the spring. The plants that are to be sold in the
autumn can now be seen in lines in cold frames,
many of them singly in pots. Others contain two
or three good plants, but all nice, young, fresh-struck,
healthy stuff that will grow into good size by the
time orders have to be executed. Then in early
spring comes another season of propagation ; store
plants are placed in a brisk heat, and they put
forth young growths, from which cuttings are made
by the hundred. The cuttings are put in saucers of
moist sand in a moist temperature, and form
roots in a few days. In order to have a healthy,
vigorous stock of Verbenas, young plants should be
constantly propagated. Young plants are better
for all purposes than old ones, and anyone who is
accustomed to grow Vebenas on a large scale is
Sept. 10, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
221
well aware of the extreme difficulty experienced in
keeping old plants through a long winter.
R. D.
Ferns.
W. H. GOWER.
TREE SELAGINELLAS.
Although not, strictly speaking, Ferns, Sela-
gineUas are very nearly allied, and are very
Fern-like in appearance. There are nearly 350
recorded species, all of whicli are more or less
beautiful. I will here describe a few of those
kinds having erect, simple stems, which eventu-
ally are much' divided, becoming flabellate and
frond-like, and in which the roots are pro-
are upwards of 2 feet in height, and 1 foot broad at
the base, triangular in outline, elegantly divided,
and bright green. The bottom part of the stem for
some 6 inches or 8 inches is bright crimson, and
very sparingly furnished with a few small bract-like
leaves, which are closely pressed to it. It comes
from Venezuela and Peru.
S. BEAtTNi is a very beautiful plant with finely
divided frondules ; the stems are pale straw colour,
and somewhat zigzag towards the upper part ; seg-
ments deep green. It grows some 12 inches to 18
inches high, and thrives in a cool house. Native of
Western China.
S. GBAKDIS. — This is a beautiful species dis-
covered by Mr. Curtis in Borneo. It grows from
1 foot to 2 feet high, and is broadly triangular in
outline and much divided, the frondules somewhat
thick in texture and bright green
is, however, much finer in the division of the
segments, which are of a lighter colour. It comes
from Madagascar, and is a scmewhat difiicult plant
to maintain in good health.
S. EE1THR0PU8 is a charming kind, usually
about 9 inches high, but upon strong specimens the
frondules attain a height of 18 inches and a width
of !) inches or 10 inches ; the branches are ascend-
ing and densely clothed with small light gietn
leaves. The simple stem at the base is bright
crimson, furnished with numerous small leaves.
It comes from Brazil, Guatemala, and the West
Indies.
S. FLABBLLATA. — This species is widely dis-
tributed over South America, and is usually from
12 inches to 18 inches high, half of which is desti-
tute of branches ; stem pale straw colour, clothed
with distant, small leaves ; the branches are bright
oieen It is a free growing plant, and produces its
f lulling spikes very freely at the ends of the
branches, which add much to its beauty.
S Geiffithi. — Frondules about a foot high, the
roots m some instances ascending the stems nearly
to the branches ; triangular in outline, arching, and
light green in colour. It is a very handsorne and
distinct plant, and somewhat rare in cultivation.
Selaginella grandis.
Actiniopteris radiata.— This ia a
most curious and elegant little Fern,
bearing fan-shaped leaves resembling in
miniature those of a Palm (Chamserops).
It is of tufted habit, the footstalks thin
and wiry, furnished with numerous
rough scales. It has hitherto proved
difficult to manage under cultiva-
.. I believe it is a lover of limestone,
which should be largely used as potting mate-
rial In the variety australis the fronds
are just as finely divided, but the segments are
longer, and the contour of the frond is flabellate,
which renders it thoroughly distinct from the
typical plant. Quantities of this beautiful and
rare Fern I recently noted in Mr. Williams'
nursery at HoUoway, where they appear to
thrive vigorously near the glass in a warm stove.
Both the forms are natives of various parts of
Arabia and India. — W. H. G.
duced from the base only. The species belong-
ing to this group are distributed over various
parts of Asia, Africa, and America, but none of
them exist in Europe. The group contains about
three dozen species, about a third of which only
are in cultivation. Our illustration of S.
grandis, introduced from Borneo by the Messrs.
Veitch, of Chelsea, gives a good general idea of
their appearance. The feathery outline of their
frondules, combined with the many shades of
green they assume, renders them extremely orna-
mental. These plants are easily cultivated, their
chief requirements being shade, a moist atmo-
sphere, and moderate heat. For soil use rough
peat and sand, to which may be added a small
portion of turfy loam.
S. H.a;MATODES, known also as S. filicina, is a
charming plant. When well grown its frondules
S. CAULESCENS. — This is a somewhat variable
plant, differing very much in the length and breadth
of its frondules, in some cases being about 20 inches
high and rather narrow for their length ; the
segments are bright green above, paler below.
Widely distributed throughout India and the
islands of the Indian Archipelago.
S. VoGELi. — On well-grown specimens the fron-
dules attain a height of between 1 foot and 2 feet,
and are about 9 inches wide at the base, triangular
in outline, and intense deep green in colour ; stem
at the base straw colour, tinged with pale red when
young, and sparingly furnished with a few distant,
small bract-like leaves. It is also known in gardens
by the names of S. africana and S. triangularis. It
is a native of West and East Africa, and also of
Madagascar.
S. LtALLI. — This somewhat resembles the pre-
viously named kind in size and general outline. It
Chrysanthemums.
B. MOLTNBUX.
Single varieties for vase decoration should be
taken in hand now if success is to be achieved.
When the bloom buds are forming take off the
points of the shoots about 8 inches long, insert
them in pots, say, five cuttings in a 44-inch and
nine in a 6-inch pot, using sandy soil with a
free admixture of leaf-mould, and in a rougher
state than for ordinary cuttings ; sprinkle sonie
sand on the surface of the pot, to be carried
down with the dibber when inserting the cuttings,
which, resting upon sand at the bottom of the
hole, more quickly form roots than when soil
only is used. If the flower-buds have attained
a good size before the cuttings are taken off,
more time is required for them to root ; there-
fore, the cuttings must be put in as soon as buds
are formed. Plunge the cuttings in a gentle
hotbed, keeping them moist and shaded from
the sun, and, when rooted, gradually inure them
to more air until they will stand on a shelf in
the greenhouse, or in a cold frame, without
flagging. Each plant will produce several
flower-buds if disbudding has not been done.
Restricting the blooms to one upon each plant
is a matter of choice entirely. If size is of the
first importance, then disbudding must be prac-
tised, removing aU flower-buds except the
central one. Mildew often appears upon dwarf
plants of this class, caused, no doubt, by their
being kept close when as cuttings they were
222
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 10, 1887.
being rooted. The xibual remedy of sulphur
applied to the leaves in a dry state will check
the growth of this parasite. When the plants
are well rooted liquid manure may be freely
applied.
Cuttings of the larger varieties should now be
inserted for producing plants 8 inches to 12 inches
high. They shoiild be taken as cuttings 4 inches
long and firmly dibbled singly into small pots,
treating them in the same manner as the single
varieties. Do not stand them too close together,
ur they become weak, which quickly spoils their
appearance. Dwarf, sturdy plants, with deep
green foliage, and carrying a single bloom upon
each are necessary for small vases or the side
stages of the conservatory where tall speci-
mens cannot be used. The plants intended to
produce the latest supply of flowers, say during
December and January, will now be growing
freely, having received their last pinching of
the shoots about the first week in April. Allow
ample room between the plants that they make
as sturdy a growth as possible, as thorough
ripeness of the wood takes place under such cir-
cumstances ; the flowers, too, are much more
likely to be of better quality and last a longer
time in good condition than when the growths
are weak and attenuated.
Attend carefully to the regulation of the
branches of specimen plants, tying them loosely
into form as they advance. This early attention
preserves better foliage than when the growths
at this season of the year are allowed to ramble
away at will. The operation of training any
branches in a particular manner, such as the fill-
ing up of a gap in the plant caused by breakage
to the stems or otherwise, is more easily done
now as growth proceeds than if not attended
to until the whole growtli of the plant is
complete. Mildew must be vigorously attacked
upon its first appearance, or the leaves will
quickly be disfigured if it is allowed to gain a
firm footing. ^The same remarks as to tying and
training of the growths apply to standard-grown
plants. Deformed buds, from which perfect
blooms can never be produced, are a great
annoyance to some cultivators. This deformity
is caused in some instances by a too early selec-
tion of buds, and in other cases by over-feeding
the plants.
Fruit Garden.
W. COLEMAN.
FRUIT CROPS OF 1887 F. WASTED
WATER.
Judging from the reports recently published,
the fruit crops generally are, and have been,
much better than we at one time anticipated,
and, notwithstanding the fact that samples of the
dift'erent fruits run small and their season has
been cut short by the drought, we have reason
to be thankful for the condition of the trees for
another and — let us hope — non-sensational year.
It is now too late to lament our partial or com-
plete failures ; not so to turn the lesson we have
learned to practical and px-ofitable account in
the future. Nineteen years have elapsed since
we had an approach to such a season, and our
failures then, as now, in almost every garden
may be traced to the want of water at the right
time and the tardy application of mulching. A
wet autumn or winter may make up for the de-
ficient rainfall, and another twenty years may
pass before the season of 1887 repeats^itself, but
no one can see into the future ; we may be
entering a cycle of liot, dry seasons, and man
alone will be to blame if he does not strain every
nerve in the effort to be prepared for them. In
many districts the surrounding hills give an
everlasting supply of pure water, but for horti-
cultural purposes it is greatly inferior to that
which falls from the clouds, and down to the
present time in almost every locality is allowed
to pass away to the ocean. This invaluable ele-
ment, by means of tanks and ponds, we should
endeavour to retain for summer use, and if we
never require it, so much the better. Work of
this kind cannot be undertaken by every private
gardener, but all may plead, and, being tho-
roughly practical, many may succeed in per-
suading their employers to provide for future
periods of heat and drought. The storage of
water for garden use need not be an expensive
business — a dam to throw back a brook or to
restain the overflow from a spring would give
winter employment to honest labourers, who
must live. No great amount of skill would be
required, and the water so backed up might be
made ornamental as well as useful. Mulching is
a more simple matter, as the veriest tyro, by
exercising a little forethought, may secure large
masses of drought-resisting and moisture-retain-
ing material.", which in ordinary seasons will
tide them over their difficulties. For feeding
and finishing heavy crops of fruit, good manure,
no doubt, heads the list, but newly planted and
thoroughly established trees are not always im-
proved by stimulants, and for this reason the
different qualities for special purposes should be
kept separate. Take, for instance, a set of
Pears on the Quince stock growing against a
south wall ; starve their moisture-loving roots
and the fruit will be small, deformed, and gritty ;
mulch early in the season with the best rotten
manure, water freely, and the greatest solar
heat ever experienced in these islands will not
be too strong for them. From this wall, turn
to an open quarter of newly-planted trees, well
watered home in soil containing all they require
when once started. A mulch of manure will
not injure them, but, failing this, long litter,
short Grass, anything in bulk that will keep
out drought will suit them admirably. Here,
some 200 trees puddled home late in the spring
did not get a taste of manure, but our ground
being rich and heavy, a mulch of 4 inches of
burnt refuse was given to them in preference.
They have passed thx-ough the summer, the
majority of them making a good growth, and
five per cent, will cover our losses. Peaches a
few years ago were considered too tender and
uncertain for this climate, but special attention
to their requirements, notably to good mulching
and copious supplies of water, have made the
Peach quite as certain as the Apple or the Pear.
Put all these facts together, compare the
mulched and watered gardens with others that
are neglected, and the result in every instance
will sliow that the weakest link in the cultiva-
tor's chain must and will snap at a critical time
if he persist in neglecting the storage of water.
every year yield an abundance of handsome and
excellent fruit. The question suggests itself whe-
ther, in the extensive group to which the'WhiteThorn
belongs, there may not be some other species which
might be utilised in the same way. There can
hardly be any doubt that there are such, when we
think of the great number of species and also of
races which the group includes. We invite the at-
tention of fruit growers to this subject, being tho-
roughly convinced that in this direction important
discoveries, which will prove to be of the highest
consequence in everything relating to Peach culture,
are still to be made.
Peach-grafting on the White Thorn.— Not-
withstanding all the experiments (says the Iteriie
Horticole) which have been made on various subjects
in order to discover suitable stocks for the grafting of
fruit trees, we have not yet attained a thorough
knowledge of them, and we are especially unable to
determine the number of them which may exist in
any particular species, except in a very loose and
general manner; accordingly we very often discover
that some new subjects can be added to the re
cognised list. Thus we can now include the com'
mon White Thorn (CratiBgus oxyacantha) as a stock
for the Almond, the Plum, and sometimes the Peach
Quite recently, while visiting M. E. Lefort, secretary-
general of the Horticultural Society of the arron-
dissement of Meaux, we saw Peach trees, both stan-
dard and wall trees, which, grafted on the White
Thorn, are proportionately very vigorous, and which
AMERICAN BLACKBERRIES.
Knowing the interest you take in novelties gene-
rally, I thought you would like to see some fruit of
Blackberry Wilson Junior, and I have therefore
much pleasure in sending you a few berries by same
post, gathered from small plants planted out in
March last. You will, I think, agree with me that,
having withstood one of the most unfavourable
springs we have ever experienced, they are well
worthy the attention of fruit growers in this
country, and they will give you an idea of what
may be expected with an ordinary season, and,
judging from their luxuriant appearance at the pre-
sent time, we may expect that they will become one
of the most popular fruits in this country. I may
further observe that I have another variety which I
think will even eclipse " W. J.," being hardy enough
to withstand our most rigorous seasons. It further
possesses the additional advantage of its fruit
carrying much better than the WUson Junior. —
W. H. Vbetegans.
Feeling confident that a great future is in
store for these and hybrids when they have been
induced to intermarry with the rambling natives of
our own hillsides, I have more than once drawn
attention to them. As far back as September, 1880,
a very interesting paper, with plate of the Kitta-
tinny, appeared in The Garden, but the majority
of fruit growers, no doubt correctly, concluded that
it was too tender for our climate. Since that time
the Wilson Junior has figured in a more sensational
form, and a few enthusiasts, knowing what an
acquisition an improved Blackberry would prove,
decided upon giving this and others a trial. They
do not, however, seem to have made much headway,
and their early failures may, I think, be set down to
two causes ; first, to the plants' great aversion to
root disturbance and transfer to a colder and damper
climate ; second, to enervation through over-propa-
gation. Be this as it may, to the energetic Mr.
Vertegans, of Birmingham, belongs the credit of
having made them grow and fruit, and to him I am
also indebted for a box of most beautiful and
delicious berries picked from Wilson Junior, planted
out in March last. In course of conversation with
this gentleman the other day at Shrewsbury, I
gathered that he has some very fine varieties grow-
ing well in his nursery, and accepted his offer of
ripe fruit. One variety, the Raspberry Blackberry
Orange Gem, a chance seedling, and supposed to be
a cross lietween the Blackberry and a yellow Rasp-
berry, of which he thinks verj' highly, was to ha\-e
been sent, but the violent thunderstorm which
broke over the midlands spoiled the fruit, conse-
quently I must wait. This successful fruiting of
the Wilson is highly creditable to Mr. Vertegans,
and I hope he will tell us how he has succeeded in
making these Brambles grow freely and produce
clusters of large fruit somewhat resembling monster
Mulberries.
The American varieties of edible Rubus, it appears,
may be divided into two sections, viz., the " iron-
clads " and ordinary varieties. The first contains
the Snyder, the Wilson, Early Cluster, Best of All,
and others whose hardy constitutions fit them for
travelling north or'east, whilst the ordinaries, includ-
ing the Lawton .and Kittatinny,nTe too tender to bear
fruit in this country. The ironclads, then, are the
sorts we should look to for fruit, but, independently
of the pleasure of overcoming their aversion to
transplantation, and adding a month or sis weeks
to our season of bush fruits, all of thera are worth
Sept. 10, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
223
growing for their flowers alone. Edible varieties
should be planted on rather poor, warm, moist, but
not wet soil above the line of spring frosts. They
should be pinched to prevent gross shoots from run-
ning away, and trained to rough trellises, as we
train Raspberries. Non-fruiting varieties, including
the lovely Rabus delioiosus, should be allowed to
ramble and extend on sloping banks in the pinetum
and wild garden, where plenty of room can be given
them. — W. COLEMAU.
STOCKS FOR FRUIT TREES.
After such a long season of heat and drought we
ought to be able to obtain some useful information
respecting the behaviour of the Paradise andQuince
stocks. Tlie exceptionally dry time we have experi-
enced must have been very trying to fruit trees grow-
ing on eitlier of these stocks, more especially when
the soil is not exactly suitable. If we could learn
from a variety of sources what effect the dry weather
has had upon the different stocks, tlie information
would be of great value to the future planter of fruit
trees. It is not a difficult matter for anyone to pre-
dict the kind of information that could be gained
if they have had any experience of the growth of
fruit trees on these stocks in a dry season, unless they
are growing in a favourable soil and have received
all tlie attention they require. My experience of
the behaviour of these stocks carries me back to the
years 1868 and 1870, both of which were dry sum-
mers, and I well remember that it was an exceed-
ingly difficult matter to keep the trees alive, and
\-ery soon after I gave them up, as it was plain that
our soil was of too harsh and calcareous a nature to
suit them, unless one was prepared to expend a lot
of labour upon watering and surface-dressing the
roots, which I could not see my way to do. It is
pleasant to turn from failures to success, which I
am able to do in the case of the Paradise stock, for
in several gardens in this county the trees grafted
on this stock grow and fruit abundantly with no
other attention than having a little manure laid on
the surface o\er the roots during the winter. These
inrticular trees are growing in i^Iaces where the
soil is deep and fairly heavy. I ha\'e no doubt but
that the Paradise stock would thrive in many cases
if it was properly attended to in regard to watering
in dry weather and laying some manure on the
roots during the winter.
With regard to the Quince stock, it has never
risen very high in the estimation of the English
frait grower, nor is it likely to do so, as there ap-
pears to be some difficulty in providing it with a
suitable soil, unless one is prepared to devote more
attention to it than the Pear stock requires. Like
the Paradise, the Qaince is not a deep-rooting sub-
ject; therefore, root watering must be resorted to
in dry weather, and rich surface mulchings must be
gi\en to keep up the fertility of the soil. Still,
there are instances in which the Quince as a stock
for the growth of Pears is satisfactory. Having
seen it utterly fail under a most skilful cultivator
and pomologist on land where everything else
grew with great luxuriance, it is difficult to say
where it would succeed and where it would not
until it had been tried. J. C. C.
SHORT NOTES.— FRUIT.
An ornameiital Pear.— M. Cavriere, in the
Revue Hortlcole, mentions a new variety of Pear with
variegated leaves very elegantly bordered with white.
It has been given the name of Poirier Bergamotte
Espereu Souvenir de Plantieres, which is a little too
long, and which reminds us of the excellent Pear Sou-
venir de la rue Mare au Tron. It is then a Bergamotte
Esperen Pear tree, with leaves variegated with white.
It has been found by accident in the nurseries of MM.
Simon-Louis, near Metz.
L. L. Goldman, of the Japanese nurseries, near
Vacaville, Cal., writes that he has formed a co-partner-
ship with a Japanese nurseryman of Osaka, and char-
tered a sailing vessel, which is to bring to California a
stock of every variety of fruit trees, plants, bulbs, and
seeds ivithin a couple of mouths. In company with
three Japanese gardeuere, who are now there, he is
preparing au extensive catalogue of Japanese trees and
flowers, in whieh he will make use of about eighty
Japanese woodcuts. This business will be incorporated
under the name of Oriental Importing Company. —
Horticidtunil Art Journal.
American Blackberry, "Wilson's Early.— 1
send you a few fruits of this, of which I have a small
piece which has done remarkably well this season, the
canes being literally covered with berries equal to
those I send. — William Ball, Northampton.
*»* The fruit sent were of good size, but unfortu-
nately so badly packed in cotton wool, without any
paper whatever, that it was impossible to form any
idea as to their flavour. — Ed.
Alexandre Ijambre Pear. — Out of several
kinds of Pears here the most prolific bearers on the
whole are Williams' Bon Chretien and Alexandre
Lambre. They are worked on free stocks, and are
semi-standards. They are both fruiting very well
this year, much better, in fact, than any other kinds,
but the latter, which is the more robust grower, is
invariably the more productive. I cannot under-
stand how it is that this excellent kind has escaped
the attention of market growers, for not only is it
so prolific and hardy, but the fruits are handsome
and of capital quality, far better, indeed, than is
the ordinary run of market Pears. I hold that
Williams' Bon Chretien, Souvenir du Congres, and
Alexandre Lambre are three of the best market
Pears in cultivation for orchard planting on free
stocks. The three kinds named also give a very
good succession, but the latter is at its best during
the month of November or a little later, and from
standard trees is soft and melting. — A. D.
The Chaumontel Pear. — A neighbour of mine
has a standard tree of this Pear, and although the
situation is open and sunny, and the soil a good
loam resting upon the gravel, yet however bright
and warm the summer might be, the Pears seldom
reach a good stage of development, or become juicy
and luscious after being kept. I think that round
London the Chaumontel needs a wall to have it in
good form. When Mr. Hepper was gardener at The
Elms, Acton, he used to grow some very fine Chau-
montel Pears. He had a tree on an east wall, which
he regards as the best aspect for this Pear; it grew
in a good bed of loam on the gravel, and high cul-
tivation was necessary. Then he gave the tree a
good dressing of manure every season, and during
the time the fruit was maturing plenty of liquid
manure. The fruit were gathered in October, placed
in a very dry and airy fruit room, and they ripened
and were good up to the middle of December; in
fact his employer regarded it as the finest Pear he
grew. But let no one discard their Chaumontel
Pears, even if they do not ripen. In a green state
this variety makes one of the very best stewing Pears,
if anyone will try the experiment. It is very
rich indeed in a stewed state; therefore there need
be no waste of fruit. — R. D.
Plums. — Judging from the published fruit re-
ports, the Plum crop is a very good one over a wide
range of country, which is somewhat remarkable
after the exceptionally large crop of last year, as in
many cases the Plum is more capricious than the Pear.
In our case the crop is a fairly good one, and as the
trees are trained to walls on various aspects, it is
interesting to note their behaviour. We have the
Green Gage on south and east walls, and in each case
they are carrying good crops of fruit. With the
exception of the Magnum Bonnm, the Green Gage
is the most reliable Plum we have, as the trees
never fail to bear a good crop of fruit. It is not so
with some of the other varieties, such as Jefferson's
and Ktrke's. I have tried them in various aspects,
but they are not reliable bearers ; while Coe's Golden
Drop, Belgian Purple, and Guthrie's Late Gage
bear as regularly on walls with a north aspect as
on any other. Rivers' Early Prolific, Belgian Purple,
and Dymond I regard as three of the most useful
Plums anyone can grow. The trees bear as well
grown in the form of bushes as against a wall.
Amongst other cooking sorts the Victoria is no
doubt a most useful sort, as it is of free growth and
a good bearer, and the same may be said of the
Purple and Yellow Magnum Bonum. Early Favourite
is one of Mr. Rivers' seedlings, and a decided ac-
quisition for those who can accommodate it with a
wall. It is a handsome purple Plum with a very
agreeable flavour, and a good cropper. — J. C. C.
FRUITS UNDER GLASS.
Melons.
Some time ago I stated that late Melons should be
plunged or planted within the influence of the
bottom-heat pipes. So far they have not required
more than could be obtained from the fermenting
beds alone, but the time is now at hand for supple-
menting this with heat of a drier and steadier
nature, as good October Melons cannot be obtained
where the root temperature is allowed to fall much
below 80°. If the plants are grown in pots and
this provision has been made, no difficvdty in main-
taining suitable ripening conditions will be ex-
perienced, as water through the swelling stage can
be freely administered and the soil quickly dried
when the fruit begins to ripen. During a continu-
ance of this tail end of a brilliant summer, solar
heat wiU favour liberal ventilation for a few hours
every day, but the fire must be started in time to
catch the night heats, with a chink of air, which
should not fall lower than 70". As daylight will
soon be counterbalanced by darkness, wetting the
foliage with the syringe, provided it is clean, must
be discontinued, but the walls and paths may be
well moistened on fine mornings, and again when
the house is closed for a few hours in the afternoon.
Many persons syringe incessantly from the setting
of the fruit to the change for ripening, but I ques-
tion if more harm than good does not often follow,
as I have during the whole of this exceptional
summer laid aside the syringe, at least as far as the
foliage was concerned, as soon as the flowers began
to open, and certainly I never had so little spider.
Solar heat, light, and fresh air were in favour of the
plants, and the vapour bath was never omitted,
whilst the supply of water given to the roots was
considerably in excess of the quantity given in ordi-
nary seasons. Cleanliness and the removal of all
decaying matter being imperative, it is a good plan
to well wash the glass occasionally, to limewash the
internal walls and top-dress the beds with thin
layers of old lime rubble, an excellent absorbent of
moisture, or, lacking this, fresh maiden loam will
be found a good substitute. When or where late
Melons are subject to canker — a most fatal disease
— the use of manure in the compost or as a top-
dressing should always be avoided and bone-dust
substituted. Strong animal manure, no doubt, con-
tributes to the formation of very large fruit, but
the largest Melons are not often the best; indeed,
it seldom happens that a fruit whose cavity is too
large for the seeds is up to the mark in flavour. I
have grown a Melon — the Oosance — to scale 30 lbs.,
and once saw a house of my own Melon that would
average 7 lbs. each, but they were as hollow and
flavourless as Pumpkins. Had the grower aimed at
an average of 4 lb. — their proper weight — the fruit
I tasted might have become a prize-winner.
Pits and fratnes. — If the fruit in these is not well
advanced and fairly elevated on inverted pots, the
chances are considerably against a good finish with
rich flavour. A high and dry temperature being so
essential, that troublesome enemy, a damp, stag-
nant atmosphere, must be carefully prevented by
frequent renovation of the linings, not merely on
the surface, but quite down to the ground, other-
wise the roots as well as the foliage will not derive
much benefit. Great assistance may be obtained
from good dry covering, than which nothing is better
than bast mats overlapped with Eddy's oiled canvas
for throwing off the rain. Internally, the removal
of every particle of dead and decaying matter and
all laterals cannot be too strictly attended to ; the
glass, inside and out, must be kept clean, and, the
better to prevent an accumulation of stagnant mois-
ture, root-watering without wetting the leaves or
vines should be performed on bright mornings only.
Quick Melons of the green-fleshed type are best
adapted for frame culture, but on no account should
the forcing of the fruit beyond the normal size be
attempted.
Steawbbeeies.
The Strawberry forcer having been beset by many
difficulties, it was at one time thought pot plants
224
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 10, 1887.
would be scarce and late. This, however, thanks to
the generally adopted system of putting out stock-
producing plants every year, at least so far as
quantity is concerned, does not appear to be the
case. Smaller than usual they may be, but having
had such a profusion of light, the leaves are short-
petioled, and the crowns look like forming one
plump bud from which a strong scape may be ex-
pected. The fine warm showers now falling are
highly favourable, not only to growth, but to free-
dom from spider and mildew, and, having still a
good month before us, plants of the finest quality
may yet be secured both for early and late forcing
Much, however, depends upon the way in which the
plants are treated, especially where they are wanted
for early work. These batches in 5-inch pots, now
fuU of roots, should be placed on a dry worm-proof
bottom, where sun and air can reach them, and
water in plenty can be regularly supplied. As
October wears away and the oldest leaves show
signs of ripening, the pots may be plunged to the
rims in a light open place out of doors, where they
may remain until they are wanted for use. Later
plants in larger pots must be kept clear of weeds
and runners, also of worms, and the more frequently
they are moved to let in light and air the quicker
will the pots fill with roots and the crowns arrive at
a satisfactory state of maturity. If not already put
out, plants from which nest year's runners are to be
obtained should now be planted on deeply-trenched
ground, mulched, and regularly watered. Many
soils receive and require heavy dressings of manure;
others, notably old gardens already too full of de-
caying vegetable matter, do not need it. They can,
however, be greatly improved by the addition of
any kind of fresh, stiff loam or marl, spread over
the surface when dry, and worked in with forks
some time previous to planting. The beds cannot
be made too firm by steady treading ; neither can
the balls of the young plants be made too moist
before they are turned out of the pots, as no amount
of after-watering will properly moisten a dry ball.
The beds from which I intend taking my next year's
stock have been formed by strong runners, pegged
down upon Lovell's plan, from single rows put out
in May last. From each plant we layer about half
a dozen of the best runners, and these, still attached
t-) the parents, having been grown without a check,
are now strong enough for forcing. Where it is
desirable to increase new or scarce sorts this is the
best and most rapid mode of procedure, as every
runner pegged down becomes an independent plant,
producing its runner, and so on, in the course of a
fortnight.
Peaches.
Glass-grown Peaches this year are much earlier
than usual, and the trees, even in the latest houses,
will have an abundance of time for ripening up
before winter. Sunlight and air are, of course,
important factors in the production of all fruits,
but it is possible to have too much of a good thing
compressed into a limited space, and I still question
if midseason and late-house Peaches would not
have been larger, higher coloured, and better
flavoured had the season been moister and cooler.
I may be singular in this notion, but I know for a
fact that the fruit from several old-established trees
of my own has not been so large, neither has it
been so well coloured as in former years. We are
now gathering Prince of Wales and Sea Eagle, two
very good late Peaches, but like all fruit I have seen
thi.s year, not excluding the few fair dishes shown
at Shrewsbury, they are deficient in size and colour.
Another superior and truly handsome Peach now in
under glass is Gregory's Late, for succeeding the
best of the midseason sorts. It attains a large size,
colours well, and the flesh is very melting, juicy,
and highly flavoured. Although this excellent
English variety has been in cultivation quite forty
years, having made its dil/iit at Cirencester, it is
very little known, and an equally handsome but
distinct Peach, Late Admirable, is sometimes made
its substitute. The true stock is in the hands of the
Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea, and I can strongly re-
commend it both for late house and open wall
culture. The Nectarine Peach is one of the best of
the Sawbridgeworth seedlings, and is quite equal to
Ssa Eagle, not only for quality, but also for keeping
after being gathered. The absence of down on the
cheek may be a drawback, but when well coloured
the smooth Nectarine skin is not noticed. These
Peaches, one or more, as I stated last week, should
have a place in all large houses, early or late, for
coming on steadily and filling a gap with magni-
ficent fruit when ready. Having such an immense
stock of varieties, so much can now be done by
making a selection of kinds that will succeed each
other in their order of ripening, and when it is
understood that the late sorts, as a rule, are better
than the extremely early ones, it follows that these
from an early house are better than early ones from
a succession house. Although there is a strong
probability that the wood in the latest houses will
ripen well, the usual thinning out to let in light and
air should be taken in hand as soon as the last of
the fruit is gathered. Cleanliness and freedom
from spider must then be brought about by the use
of the hose, and the surface showers we are now
getting may be supplemented by a lasting flooding
that will penetrate to the drainage.
Midseason and early houses having all the venti-
lators wide open will simply require moderate sup-
plies of water inside and out, and good syringing
after bright, warm days. As the trees in the latter
will soon be ripe, certainly ripe enough for root-
lifting or transplanting, all work of this kind should
be thoroughly thought out before the time arrives for
action. A good plan well laid is more than half the
battle in the lifting and removal of large trained
trees, especially where they have to be taken from
one house into another, and are then expected to
bear fruit next year. In this particular house from
which ripe fruit may be expected in May, newly
planted trees should be thoroughly ripe and have a
good foothold before the end of October. To secure
these points the Peach forcer should have a good
reserve house of trees to fall back upon, as it is
quite impossible they can be obtained from open
walls or direct from the nursery. But, furnished
with a home factory, trees from three to five or six
years of age can be lifted when in full, but fairly
ripened leaf, as the buds must be well formed and
past shrinking. Having been root-pruned, or per-
haps lifted bodily every year, they will at once take
to the new soil and give a fair crop of fruit the fol-
lowing season. As soon as the root-pruning and re-
arrangement of the early house is finished others still
later may be taken in hand, and finally the reserve
house itself must be filled up from the open walls.
Soil and eonnjosts. — Next to good trees true to
name and well-appointed houses, stands good compost
wherewith to make the borders. Dwellers upon old
estates from which they can obtain any qviantity of
prime turf little think what difficulties others in the
neighbourhood of large towns have to contend with ;
how they have to scramble and bid for a few loads
of soil from the foundation of a new building, and
find at the last moment that it is not quite the
thing they are most in need of. Fortunately, the
gardener, like his plants, when new soil is on the
move, .always feels hungry. To him, peat, sand,
gravel, loam, heavy and light, never come amiss; he
always knows where to place them. Peaches, no
doubt, will grow in almost any well-drained soil,
but the fruit must have lime, and, lacking this, the
finest turfy loam must be corrected, not with the
caustic article fresh from the kiln, but with rich
old rubble from a demolished building, or, better
still, with hair plaster, as old-fashioned builders
made it a century or so ago. If the loam is too light
and sandy, stiff marl dried and pounded may be
added, and scrapings from a limestone road stacked
up with the scourings from a ditch will do no harm.
Loam, on the other hand, that is too clayey can
always be corrected by exposure to the atmosphere,
by the addition of burnt or charcoal refuse, by
liiurning a portion of the staple, and, as a matter of
course, the free use of lime rubble. Out of these
materials tlie best of composts can be made, but
given a good old calcareous sheep pasture, from
which a supply of turf can be obtained, all one has
to do is to cart and stack, to break down, and use
when dry, and the most important step in stone
fruit culture is accomplished. The best time to cut
and cart turf or loam for horticultural purposes is
early in the autumn, for then the roots of the Grass
are ripe and tough, and it can be stored before
snow and winter rains have saturated and chilled it.
In some districts the best turf obtainable loses its
fibre in a few months ; in others, notably in Wales,
it holds it for a year or two. The first should be
used fresh with plenty of grit, the second may be
improved by lying in the stack for a twelvemonth.
Whichever soil is used provision should always be
made for the free passage of water from the base of
the border. Many people incur unnecessary ex-
pense in carting out the old soil, in concreting where
there is no water to rise, and in making wide and
deep borders composed entirely of new soil, when a
much smaller quantity of new with two-thirds of
the old added would save scores of pounds and
grow equally good Peaches. Some years ago a
gentleman told me he thought of building extensive
houses for Grapes, Peaches, and Tomatoes, and re-
quested me to advise him respecting his borders. I
paid a visit to the place, a sharp slope on the side
of a hill, and found he had provided concrete drain-
age and animal manure in abundance. Of these, I
said, you must not use one atom, as your soil, a
splendid loam 2 feet in depth, is resting on a deep
bed of old red sandstone. All you have to do is to
trench and plant, and then you wiU have to root-
prune. Giving up these expensive materials was a
sad disappointment; my advice, nevertheless, was
followed, and his Vines, Peaches, and Tomatoes, if
anything too strong, are never weary of well-doing.
Had he carted these expensive coals to Newcastle,
no power could have kept his trees v,-ithin bounds,
and lasting crops of good fruit would have been out
of the question. W. C.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 613
THE PURPLE-LEAVED CHERRY PLUM.
(PRUNTJS PISSARDI.*)
It is the general opinion among those interested
in hardy trees and shrubs that this new variety
of the Cherry Plum is the most valuable introduc-
tion among ornamental decidous trees in recent
years. The addition of a purple-leaved deciduous
tree is especially valuable, considering how few
we have, and this new tree will certainly take
the same rank among ornamental trees of me-
dium growth as the Purple Beech does among
large trees. Although it has been introduced into
Europe only about five years, it has already
become quite common since it has proved such
a fine tree and perfectly hardy, even so far
north as Scotland, and in the coldest localities
where hardy exotic trees are put to the test
thoroughly. It has, moreover, proved itself per-
fectly constant as regards the leaf colour, which
does not fade under the influence of the summer's
sun, as is the case with most other coloured
leaved trees and shrubs. On the contrary, its
colour is intensified by sun exposure, as I have
seen this year, for it has been richer in colour
than in previous seasons, notwithstanding the
drought. As the season advances the rich
reddish crimson hue of its foliage always
deepens, until in late autumn it vies in rich-
ness with the glowing tints of the decaying
leafage of other hardy trees. It is really the
only hardy tree of small growth that can be
relied on for retaining its colour, for others
with purple foliage, such as the Purple Peach,
the Purple Hazel, the Purple Birch, are not
reliable, and at no time so elt'ective.
P. Pissardi has been in cultivation so sliort a
time that no one can say what its maximum
height will be and what kind of habit it will
assume, but taking the typical Cherry, or Myro-
balan Plum (P. cerasifera), as a guide, we pre-
* Dr.iwn for The Garden iu Mr. G, Paul's nursery,
Broxbourue, March 12, 1887, by H. G. Moon, and
printed by G. Severeyns.
THE GARDEN
PRUNUS PISSARDI
Sept. 10, 1887.
THE GARDEN.
225
Bume it will make a similar round
much-branched tree, ranging from 10 feet to
15 feet high. The leaves on luxuriant young
plants are about 3 inches long and half as broad,
but probably the size will diminish with the age
of the tree. At first the leaves are small and
of a dull greenish red, but they soon put on the
rich red-crimson tint, as do also the branches
and twigs. It flowers freely in the open air, as
the natural ilowering season is early in March,
before our winters are past really, so it is doubt-
ful if we shall be able to enjoy its flowers and
fruits, which are said to be even more striking
phases of the tree's beauty than its foliage. The
fruits are round, about the size of large Damsons,
and of a rich red colour, even before they are
ripe, in August. But in France it is said to fruit
well, and in some localities in these islands it
may do likewise. The accompanying engi'aving
shows the flowers and fruit and branch of the
Cherry Plum (P. cerasifera), and P. Pissardi
does not dift'er materially from it.
With slight protection and very little arti-
ficial heat, bushes of it may, however, be
flowered profusely in February and early in
March, and there is perhaps not a more beauti-
ful sight in the way of forced shrubs than a
tinge, and looks, of course, common place. It
is usually propagated by grafting, as it does not
come true to its colour from seed, and the com-
mon Cherry Plum is the stock used. The
proper position to place this tree in the open
garden will suggest itself readily to persons of
taste, and let us hope that its effect will not be
spoilt by planting it too plentifully, as other
"good things" have been, such, for instance,
as the variegated Negundo, Golden Elder, and
several others, but being of a quieter aspect
more can be planted of the Purple Cherry Plum
than of golden or white-leaved things. Not long
ago I saw a most efiective group of ornamental-
leaved trees in which this Plum figured conspi-
cuously. There were about three variegated
Maples, half-a-dozen of the Plum, with here
and there a bush of the Golden Privet, Golden
Spirsea, a graceful-leaved Ailanthus, Cut-leaved
Walnut, and a Cut-leaved Sumach (Rhus).
The history of Prunus Pissardi is brief. The
head gardener to the Shah of Persia, M. Piasard,
seeing what an ornamental tree it was in Persia,
took the trouble to get it introduced to France.
He sent a couple of plants to M. Carri^re, who
grew them in his garden, and subsequently took
steps to have it put in commerce. This was in
pot shrub for forcing into flower early, though
it is quite hardy for open-air culture. It is
dwarf in growth and neat; therefore specially
suitable for pot culture. The double flowered
variety of the common Sloe (P. spinosa) is a
first-rate flowering shrub. It is always a mass
of double white bloom m early spring, and may
be admitted to the shrubbery with the choicest
kinds. These are a few of the many species of
Prunus to be found in botanical collections that
are worth attention. W. G.
The Cherry Plum (Prunus cerasifera). Fruiting branch ; flowers and fiiiits natural size.
bush of P. Pissardi in abundant bloom. At
the Royal Horticultural Society's meeting in
March of this year some plants of it, which capti-
vated everyone who saw them, were shown by
Messrs. Paul, of Cheshunt. Each bush was com-
pletely smothered with small flowers of a very
delicate blush tint, while the new foliage just
unfolding was sufficient to relieve the bushes of
that naked look that most other forced shrubs
possess. From one of Messrs. Paul's plants our
drawing was made, though the plate gives no
idea of the beauty of the shrub in summer. It
will be quite worth having another drawing
made of it showing its autumn dress with crim-
son foliage and ruddy fruits. It will un-
doubtedly become as great a favourite for forcing
into bloom in winter and early spring as in the
open air, and already I hear of nurserymen pre-
paring large quantities of it expressly to sell for
forcing. It grows so well in any common gar-
den soil, that nothing much need be said on that
head. Like most of the Plum tribe, it will
probably grow well on dry, poor soil, where
other trees would fail, but its behaviour under
various conditions is at present a matter of
conjecture. One condition must be observed,
and that is full exposure, if its fullest leaf tint
is to be seen; in shade it almost loses the red
1 1882, and the novelty was sent out under the
I name of P. Pissardi, in compliment to the in-
' troducer. But M. CarriSre has proved, since he
has fruited it, that it is but a purple-leaved
variety of Prunus cerasifera (P. Myrobalan), and
that it does not reproduce itself true from seed.
It has been catalogued also as P. cerasifera fol.
purpureis. It is said to grow wild at Tauris, a
town about 230 miles from Teheran, in Persia,
but it is said to be rare there and highly esteemed
on account of its coloured leaves and fruits,
which latter are eaten by the natives as dessert ;
therefore it is useful as well as ornamental.
While upon the subject of ornamental species
of Prunus it might be well to mention the few
that are good enough for general culture. Best
of all is P. triloba, which is now pretty generally
known. It bears a profusion of semi-double
flowers as large as a florin and of a delicate pink
colour. It is a Chinese shrub, perfectly hardy,
but flowers most freely when planted against a
wall, as then its shoots become better ripened.
P. divaricata is next best, because it flowers so
early and before any other of its tribe, except the
Almond. The flowers are white, small, but ex-
tremely abundant, and the growth of the tree
is spreading and otherwise graceful. P. sinensis
fl.-pl. ,the double Chinese Plum, makes a capital
Kitchen Garden.
W. WILDSMITH.
KITCHEM GARDEN NOTES.
End of the dkought. — With a register of 2J in.
of rain for the week the drought may safely be said
to be ended and the well-doing of the various crops
assured. The effect of so copious a rainfall on all
the Cabbage tribe is most noticeable in the rapid
change of colour that has taken place, namely, from
blue to a natural green, and there is an end of the
flabby appearance that with all our watering and
mulching it was impossible to prevent. Now that
the ground has got well moistened we shall lose no
time in drawing soil to the stems of all those plants
that are likely to need such assistance to keep the
heads in upright form. Brussels Sprouts, Autumn
Giant Cauliflower, and the strongest-growing late
Broccoli all require this attention. Late Peas and
French Beans that were sown in trenches for the
convenience of watering will also be filled into the
ordinary ground line. Mulching will not be needed,
as it is not at all probable that we shall have any
prolonged dry weather again this year, and the
warmth of the sun's rays will more quickly pene-
trate the soil and aid in some degree the earlier
maturing of the crops. To enable the latest sow-
ings to finish ofE properly it will be necessary to use
every means likely to tend to that end, the most
important point being to keep the surface of the
ground open by repeated hoeing.
Planting and thinning. — The early lifting of
Potatoes and the removal of main crops of Peas,
dwarf Beans, early Carrots, and Onions have set at
liberty more than the usual amount of ground at
this season, so that one begins to doubt whether
the management has been of the best ; but, gardener-
like, we shall blame the weather, and at the same
time do our utmost to crop the ground by sowing
and planting extra lots of winter and spring vege-
tables. Spinach is doing well, but we mean to sow
another little plot, as we have visions of failure of
this crop for the last two years, and if one batch
fails the other may not. Another sowing of Cauli-
flowers will be made at once, and within the week
part of the first sowing will be pricked out to winter
on a south border, easy to protect in the event of
such assistance being required. The sowing now
to be made wiU be the best for planting out in
frames and for wintering in hand-lights. Lettuce
and also Endive we shall sow for the last time this
season. We have lots of both ready for thinning
out ; as also Turnips, a large breadth of which were
sown on the 30th ult. We have more than our full
quantity of all the Broccoli tribe planted; but, as in
severe winters like the last, the bulk get killed.
Extra quantities of Coleworts and Cabbages will
this season be put out, as we have plenty of ground.
The ground for spring Cabbage is quite ready, but
the plants are not. We sow about the middle of
August and plant oiit the third week of September,
and are seldom troubled through the plants running
to seed, which would happen if sown and planted
at an earlier period.
Pits and frames. — The season has arrived for
activity in this department. French Beans ought
to be got in forthwith. Our beds are composed
entirely of leaves, made as firm as treading will
make them, and, being old, very little warmth arises
from the mass, but there is ample heat for autumn
sowings. Light, moderately-enriched soil, to a
depth of a foot, is placed over the entire bed, and
the seeds are sown in rows a foot apart, and 6 inches
apart in the rows. A good watering is given as soon
226
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 10, 1887.
as the sowing is complete, and the pits kept quite
closed until the plants are seen emerging from the
soil, then ventilation is freely given. Where small
saladings, such as Onions, Mustard and Cress,
Chives, and Eadishes, are in constant request,
frame growth must begin at once, and for all of them
there is no better way than the bed of leaves, as
advised for French Beans.
Trenching. — Now that the ground has become
moistened to a good depth we have started this
work. It is rather early for the men to do it in com-
fort, but as the ground is required for making a new
Strawberry plantation, we are anxious to get it
finished as early as possible. The soil is sandy, of
good depth, but " hungry ;" hence we do not spare
the manure, and are by no means particular as to
what sort it is, though by preference we favour
farmyard manure. We have, however, generally to
be content with little of it, and make shift with
ordinary stableyard litter, which we sometimes sup-
plement with artificial manure of some sort or other.
The ground now being operated on is being trenched
three spits deep, and the bottom being broken
up makes it virtually four spits, or a little more
than a yard in depth ; and the manure is in two
layers, one over the broken-up soil at the bottom,
and the other immediately under the top spit. By
such treatment crops ought to do well, and, in a
general way, such is the case.
General work. — After these rains weeds wiU
grow apace, and when fine weather prevails, no op-
portunity of hoeing to keep them down should be
missed. Herbs not yet harvested ought to be done
at once, and all sorts will be the better for jjartial
cutting back, even though they are not needed for
drying. Late-sown Parsley should be thinned out,
and if there is a spare frame some of the surplus
plants should be planted in it, and will probably
prove valuable during the winter when open-air
plots are bare. When the weather is dry, the large
useless foliage that intercepts light and air reaching
the stems of Brussels Sprouts should be cleared off ;
and the same remarks apply to old Cabbage plants,
the sprouts of which, after these nice rains, will be
quite as tender as were the original heads.
SHORT NOTES.— KITCHEN.
Clubbing in Cabbage. — Can any reader of The
Gariien toll me what to do to prevent clubbing in the
Cabbage ? I have not been able to get any winter
greens for two years, and this year they are in the
same condition. — J. T.
Green Peas as double croppers.— With re-
ference to Mr. Alfred Dawson's note on this subject
in The Garden, Aug. 20 (p. 159), I have this night
found two good examples of the same in Sutton's
Satisfaction and Laxton'a Omega, which are my two
special favoiirites ; iu fact, for flavour and general ex-
cellence, I know of nothing like them, thus showing
that other varieties besides Sunrise do the same thing.
Cutting away the old haulm is certainly a step
onwards, which I shall tiy, and will report same. —
R. G.
"Walnut-leaved Potato. — In reference to the
article of " D. T. P." on the above in The Garden,
August 2/ (p. 178), I have grown it for some six or
seven years, and had it sent from a gardening friend in
our locality. Your correspondent's description is quite
different from that of the variety I have. The tubers
when well grown are at least twice the size of those of
the Aslitop, but the quality is not so good. I have a
slight recollection of a Potato which appears to answer
the description of the Walnut-leaved variety referred
to by " D. T. F.," and the best way to settle the point
is for him to send me a few sets. — R. Gilbert.
Tomato leaves curlingf. — Would any reader
of The Garden kindly inform me as to the cause
of the leaves of my Tomato plants curling so badly
this year? I grow two varieties, llathaway's Excel-
sior and Laxton's open air variety. Both the varie-
ties arc grown in the open air against west and
south-west walls, some in pots and others planted
out. The leaves of both varieties are' curled, but
those of Excelsior mucli more so than those of the
others. They be.nan to curl just after they were
planted oat. They are planted in light, porous
soil, and have been watered very freely. — J. L.
TOMATO CULTURE OUT OF DOORS.
Since the cultivation of the Tomato out of doors
was begun in this country, the present is the most
favourable season which we have had for its culture.
The Tomato being a native of South America, a
season like the present is capable of producing and
ripening heavy crops of fruit of the best quality in
this country. But in order to secure results of this
description the plants should receive liberal and
judicious treatment from the beginning. The seed
should be sown early in March, the seedlings
pricked out in a box as soon as large enough at
about 2 inches apart, and afterwards potted singly
into 3-inch pots, using a compost consisting of four
parts loam and one of old Mushroom manure. The
plants should then be put into a pit or frame near to
the glass, watered, and shaded from the sun
until they have become established, subsequently
shifting them into larger pots in order to secure
good examples for planting towards the end of
May at the foot of south and west walls and
between the fruit trees. As a shading from the
effects of the sun, as well as a protection from a
few degrees of frost, a Spruce bough or two should
be stuck in the ground in front of the individual
plants for a few weeks. The shoots should be
secured to the wall or fence at from 9 inches to
12 inches apart. A surface-dressing of short ma-
nure, to the thickness of 2 inches or 3 inches,
should be put round each plant prior to giving
sufficient water to settle the soil about the roots.
After the plants have set then- fruits— indeed, the
greater number of the plants thus grown will have
set a few clusters of fruit before being planted out
of doors— diluted liquid manure should, in the
absence of rain, be given at the roots two or three
times a week, so as to keep the plants and fruits
steadily on the move.
Plants grown as indicated yield good supplies of
fruit from the middle of July until cut off by the
frost ; whereas plants grown in the ordinary way —
turned out of 3-inch pots the first or second week
in .June — have hardly come into bearing by that
time. Plants which have been fruited in 10-inch or
12-inch pots in the forcing houses during the months
of April and May, and which have been properly
hardened off before being planted out, yield most
satisfactory results.
Tlie chief points to be observed in the training of
the plants are the tliinning and stopping of both
shoots and leaves in due time, as anything ap-
proaching overcrowding of these would be fatal to
success. The lateral growths should be pinched
back to one joint ; the leading shoots and second-
ary growths being stopped at one joint beyond
the clusters of fruit, and the compound leaves
pinched back to within two joints of their bases,
thereby exposing the principal shoots and the fruit
to the full influence of the sun, and reducing to an
impossibility during ordinary summer weather the
chances of tlie plants being attacked by the so-called
disease. In support of this, what to not a few
readers of The Garden may appear a bold asser-
tion, I may say that the discolouration and sub-
sequent withering of shoots and leaves are to be
attributed, when these symptoms appear during a
dry, warm summer, not to the epidemic, but to the
overcrowding and consequent fermentation of the
soft, sappy shoots and leaves. Hence the result of
inattention or pressure of work on the part of the
cultivator, the disease — a disease which I maintain
may be guarded against, and warded ofE in the man-
ner indicated.
stokeholes or any airy shed out of the reach of frost
to ripen. W. H. W.
The Fruit Crops.
On the approach of frost all the fruits which have
begun to colour should be gathered and spread out
thinly to ripen on the staging over the front hot-
water pipes in late vineries, the dry, airy atmosphere
maintained in the vineries being admirably adapted
for the ripening of the Tomatoes. In this way we
invariably secure good supplies up to the new year.
Of course they should be looked over frequently,
not only to pick the ripe fruit for immediate use,
but also to remove any bad ones that may be
amongst them. Where the late vinery accommo-
dation does not exist, the clusters of ripening fruit
may be tied loosely together and suspended in
SUPPLEMENTARY ENGLISH REPORTS.
Beckett Park, Shrivenham. — The crop of
Peaches and Nectarines is very good, but the fruits
are small, owing to the continued drought. Apricots
are liearing a very lightcrop. Cherries — Morellosvery
good crop, and the fruit of fine quality. Dessert
kinds under the average. Strawberries were abun-
dant, and the fruit of good quality, but not of large
size ; Sir Joseph Paxton and President were our
best ; the Strawberry season was very brief. Of
Plums we have a moderate crop on standards, on
walls good, especially "\^ctoria, Washington, Rivers'
Early Prolific. Damsons and Winesours are quite
a failure, and the trees are very much infested with
aphis. Apples — the crop is considerably below the
average, and the fruit very small and Ijlighted.
Pears are bearing a very light crop ; the most pro-
ductive varieties are Marie Louise, Easter Beurre
and Dachesse d'Angouleme ; fruits run excep-
tionally small. Nuts are quite a failure. Rasp-
berries were very plentiful, but the fruit was small
and flavourless. Of bush fruits, Gooselierries were
nearly a failure, and Black Carrants unsatisfactory,
the berries being very soiall. Red and White
Carrants were of fine flavour. — W. Mead.
Welford Park, Newbury. — Apples of all sorts
were very much later than usual in coming into
bloom in this neighbourhood. Most of the varieties
set well, and gave promise of being a full crop, but
the long-continued dry weather, maggots, and birds
have thinned the fruits considerably. The latter
find out the soft-fleshed sorts, such as Echlinville
Seedling, and peck away at the fruits on the trees
until they knock them down. The fruit is generally
much smaller than usual, and altogether the crop is
under the average, although some varieties have, as
usual, a full crop. Cox's Orange Pippin, Sturmer
Pippin, Worcester Pearmain, Keswick Codlin, Ech-
lin\ille Seedling, Northern Greening, Stirling Castle,
and Lord Raglan are bearing well. Pears are an ave-
rage crop, but the fruit is not half the usual size. The
best varieties are Jargonelle, Williams' Bon Chretien
Duchesse d'Angouleme, Passe Colmar, and Beurre
Ranee. Plums are about half a crop, Orleans,
Pond's Seedling, Winesour, and Golden Drop being
the best varieties. Apricots are not much grown,
as they never do well here. Peaches and Nectarines
are about an average, but the trees are \ery much
crippled with red spider. Cherries are very scarce,
some of the trees dead and dying ; even Morellos
are very thin and the fruit small. Strawberries
were small and soon over. Red and White t^urrants
are a full crop, and the fruit is very good; Black
t^urrants are not half a crop. Raspberries a very
poor crop, and of bad quality. Walnuts abundant,
and the Hazel Nuts in the woods very plentiful.
Of vegetables. Cabbage, Cauliflower, and Turnips
have been very poor. Peas fairly good, but did not
last long. French and runner Beans are most
abundant and of first-rate quality ; the dwarf Ne
Plus I'ltra has enormous crops. Beet and Carrots
that were heavily mulched with short Grass are
very fine. Onions nearly as large as usual, and of
very good quality. Tomatoes, both indoors and
out, are bearing splendid crops. Potatoes in gar-
dens where the soil is deep and well worked are a
very fair crop, and there is scarcely any disease,
but in some places they will hardly be worth lift-
ing.—CHARLES Ross.
Cobham Hall, Gravesend. — All fruit crops in
this district have suffered from want of rain, and
Apple orchards in places were attacked with swarms
of caterpillars in May, which destroyed most of the
foliage. Pears are quite a failure in most places,
except on walls and pyramids where they ha\e been
mulched and watered. Plums are a light crop, and
in some places quite a failure ; Rivers' Prolific, Vic-
toria, andCxoliathare bearing the best. Some treesare
literally covered with green fly, and the foliage gives
the appearance of the trees having been just root-
Sept. 10, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
227
praned. Peaches and Nectarines look promising
where they have had a good supply of water. Red,
White, and Black Currants have been a light crop
on chalk and gravelly soils. Raspberries a fair
crop, but soon over, and the prospects axe not en-
couraging for next season owing to the canes not
making- their usual growth. Strawberries were a fair
crop, but soon over, especially where they had not
been mulched.
Vegetable crops have been most difficult to man-
age. It has been almost an impossibility to grow
Lettuce, Peas, and Turnips. — F. Dbwsbeeey.
Bulstrode Park, Bucks.— In this district
Apricots are a superior crop, and Apples under the
average. Plums on walls, with a few exceptions, are
good ; but, on the whole, below the average. Dam-
sons are a failure. Cherries are a good average.
Peaches and Nectarines are very good. Pears under
the average. Bush fruits were plentiful, but Rasp-
berries suffered much from the dry weather. Of
Strawberries we had a good crop. Nuts are also
satisfactory. — W. Watbes.
Dropmore, Maidenliead. — Taking the ex
tremely dry weather into consideration, the fruit
crops in this district are certainly a fair average.
Strawberries were a light crop and soon over, owing
to the excessive heat and drought. Peaches and
Nectarines on walls are a good crop, although rather
smaller than usual ; the trees, notwithstanding the
hot, dry weather, look well. The Plum crop gene-
rally is very poor. Cherries a fair average. Apples,
which constitute the most important crop to the
public generally, are in this neighbourhood a fair
average, especially in sheltered situations. Blen-
heim Orange, Wellington, King of the Pippins, and
Ribston Pippin are bearing heavy crops ; the long-
continued drought is, however, causing many of the
fruits to drop prematurely. Pears are very thin.
Bush fruits and Nuts are plentiful. — C. Heekin.
Abney Hall, Cheadle. — Oar fruit crop has
been a poor one, though in the mouth of May it
promised to be particularly good. We had some
very good fruits of the following Strawberries :
Marguerite and British Queen, but President and
Lucas were very much burnt up. Currants were a
fair crop. Gooseberries a very good crop, though
small. Raspberries were good in quality, though
not so heavy, in consequence of the drought. To
the surface of the ground I generally apply a good
mulching, which is very beneficial in dry weather
and keeps down weeds. Morello Cherries have
nearly all fallen off. Duke and Bigarreau varieties
were a very fair crop, and the latter of fine quality.
There was no cracking of the fruit, as is usual.
Plums on walls are a very poor crop. Victorias
in orchard are fair. Pears are fair. Jargonelles a
fair sprinkling ; also Williams' Bon Cbrgtien and
Marie Louise. Louis Bonne on standards very full.
Apples are a very good crop, though many fell off
during the dry weather. The fruits are very fine of
Lord Suffield. Grenadier, Lane's Prince Alljert,
Hawthornden, Lord Grosvenor, and Cellini very full
as usual. Stirling Castle also is heavy laden.
Amongst dessert kinds, Cox's Orange is bearing a
fair crop, so are Ribstons, Blenheim Orange, Golden
Pippin, Sturmer Pippin, and King of the Pippins.
Notwithstanding the dry weather vegetables have
been good. Potatoes, though rather light in crop,
have been very fine in quality. Peas also have
been good, though ripening rather fast. Cauli-
flowers, after the early ones were done, were rather
scarce and much eaten by grubs. French Beans
were very good, but much injured by frost. — R.
McKbllae.
Hackwood Park, Basingstoke. — Apples are
much under the average, and a great many have
fallen through the continued drought. The follow-
ing sorts are good crops : Lord Suffield, Warner's
King, Keswick Codlin, Wellington, Deux Ans, Irish
Peach, Cockle Pippin, and King of the Pippins.
Pears are very thin, many of the trees not having
any fruit on them. Beurre Diel, Beurre Ranee,
Marie Louise, Winter Nelis, Pitmaston Duchess,
and General Todtleben are the best. Plums an
average crop. Peaches good, but the fruits are
much under their usual size. Nectarines we have
given up growing outside. Apricots are an average
crop. Of Cherries there are very few, except
Morellos, which are good. We had a good crop of
Strawberries, but in places near here this crop was
quite a failure, the season for thein being the
shortest known, and with a temperature of 91° in
the shade, and only 0 27 inch of rain from June 3
to August 16, such a result is not surprising. Goose-
berries and Black and Red Currants have been
plentiful, but the fruit small. Raspberries were
almost a failure. Filberts an average crop.— J.
BOWEBMAN.
Livermere Park, Bury St. Edmunds.—
Apples are over the average, and the fruit is clean
and good. Apricots an average crop, but the fruit
is rotting prematurely in great numbers. We have
a fair show of Cherries, but all the fruit dropped,
except Morellos, which held on fairly well and are
good. Currants, Red and White, over the average
and of good quality ; Black varieties a total failure.
Damsons much under average. Filberts average.
Gooseberries were over the average in surrounding
gardens, but bullfinches cleared all fruit buds here,
even on thick, unpruned bushes. Pears are over the
average and of fair quality. Plums very unequal ;
some trees overaverage, others without a fruit. Rasp-
berries a good show, but the birds would not let
them ripen. Strawberries were under the average,
bad in quality, and the season was short.
Potatoes much under average and small, except
in the case of that first-rate variety Covent Garden
Market, which has stood the dry weather well.
This garden is level and well sheltered, the soil
light and rather shallow, with a sandy subsoil.
Birds are a great trouble. No one here can remem-
ber them doing so much damage as this year. A
late row of Peas, which I ha\e been anxious to
save, has threefold net all over and kept well away
from the Peas, and yet I find it has been attacked
and many of the pods torn, though the Peas are
not bigger than Radish seed. It seems impossible
to save them. Potato disease has set in. Early Rose
being the first victim. Most of the early kinds are
fairly safe, but late ones may suffer badly yet. All
are growing out since the few showers we have
recently had.— John C. TallACK.
■Wierton House, Maidstone. — Apples in this
district are a very light crop, particularly in
orchards. In private gardens lijush and pyramid
trees are carrying fair crops, the best varieties being
King of the Pippins, Summer Pippin, Keswick Cod-
lin, Lord Suffield, Peasgood's Nonsuch, Cellini,
Cheshunt Pippin, Loddington, and a few others.
Pears are a thin crop, with few exceptions. Com-
mon market kinds are more plentiful in some places.
Plums are a light crop ; Early Rivers', Prince of
Wales, Dauphin, Pond's Seedling, and Green Gage
are bearing good crops ; other varieties are very
thin. Damsons are also very thin, much of
the fruit having fallen off through the long drought;
the remainder is not swelling freely. Raspberries
were very scarce and soon over. Strawberries were
plentiful, owing to the liberal waterings. Cherries
have been a heavy crop on orchard trees, excepting
the Morellos, which are very thin. Apricots are a
fair crop, but the bloom was much injured by
frost. Peaches and Nectarines are a full crop, but
the fruit is small from want of rain, and trees are
much affected by spider and blister. Figs are a
heavy crop on walls, and the fruit on standards has
to a considerable extent fallen off. The kinds are
Brown Turkey and Brunswick ; of the last we have
fine standards, which bear excellent fruits. Hardy
Grapes promise well, but are rather later than
usual owing to the cold, dull spring we had. Fil-
berts and Cobs are light crops. Bush fruits, such
as Gooseberries and Red and White Currants, are a
good crop, the fruit very fine. Black Currants are
thin generally, but the fruit is very fine and the
trees clean. Walnuts are a good crop. All the
fruit trees carried a most beautiful bloom, but the
cold winds and dull weather favoured caterpillars.
Plums and other trees were much affected with
green and black fly ; indeed all kinds of insects have
been very troublesome this season. Many kinds of
fruit wili be small this season, the weather being so
hot and dry for such a long time. Our soil is a
light, sharp loam on the Kentish ragstone. — Wm.
DiVEES.
Eden Hall, Cumberland. — Of Apricots very
few are grown in this district. Apples are an
average crop, though the fruit is small owing to the
prolonged drought. Pears are under the average,
but small. They have suffered more from drought
than Apples, and many of the trees have lost quite
half their foliage. Morello Cherries are very good,
and the fruit fine. Plums abundant. Strawberries
an average crop, which only lasted three weeks;
Vicomtesse HSricart de Thury and President are
our best varieties. Currants of all sorts were
plentiful and good, as also Gooseberries and Rasp-
berries.
Eaely Potatoes very small. Late varieties
promised well until cut down by the frost on August
14, when we registered 7° of frost, completely de-
stroying Dahlias and other tender plants. We
had frost seven times during August. — T. R.
CUCKNET.
Poles, 'Ware, Herts. — The fruit crops here are
generally plentiful. Apples are a heavy crop, but
the fruit is small and falling off owing to the mag-
got. Apricots are plentiful, but very small and
much destroyed by earwigs, which are our worst
enemies this year. Peaches and Nectarines are
plentiful, but small. Pears are a fair crop, both on
walls and pyramids, but the fruit is small. Cherries
were a good crop, Morellos especially so. Plums
fairly plentiful and of medium size. Raspberries
were very small, and the crop of very short duration.
Gooseberries and Currants were plentiful, but small,
and Strawberries were poor, with the exception of
a border planted last year with forced plants, shaded
by the wall from the afternoon sun. The crop
from this was as good as could be desired, both for
quantity and size of berry. The fruit on other
plants was small and dried up. Our soil is a stiff
clayey loam, and although thoroughly moistened
several times with the hose it seemed to do very
little good. Nuts are plentiful, also Medlars and
Mulberries. So far as I can tell at present, the ex-
tremely dry season we have had has only affected
the fruit in one way, and that is in the size. Pears
have made young wood freely, and Apples and
Peaches generally have made good growth.
Raspberries have not thrown such strong canes as I
expected after the heavy mulching of strong manure
the plants received. Among cottage gardens and
orchards in this district the crop of Apples is every-
where abundant, but the fruit is below the average
size; the foliage is healthy and clean. — W. M.
Albxandee.
Penjerrick, Cornwall. — Apples here and in
the neighbourhood are a heavy crop, but small, and
I fear many will drop, owing to the want of mois-
ture. In dry situations the crop is very light, but
in moist situations and where shaded by larger
trees there are some splendid crops ; such sorts as
Lord Suffield, Hawthornden, Blenheim Orange, and
Cornish Aromatic are bearing heavily. I think we
grow too many sorts; half the trees in most orchards
are useless, because of the sorts not being adapted
to the locality. Pears are a good average crop.
Here again the variety to suit the locality is still
more apparent ; true, some old standard trees bear
prodigiously and tell in the market, while such sorts
as Louise Bonne, Marie Louise, Williams' Bon Chre-
tien, and Beurre Diel are bearing good crops. The
old Chaumontel is a delicious Pear when well
ripened, which is very seldom in our humid atmo-
sphere ; last year it was quite useless for dessert.
Apricots — scarcely any are grown in the district.
Gooseberries a good crop generally, and the bushes
free from caterpillar. Currants, more especially
Black ones, are a heavy crop, but soon over, and
the trees have suffered very much. Raspberries
below average, excepting in damp situations, where
good crops have been gathered. Strawberries gave
promise of a good crop early in the season, but
owing to the scorching sun and want of rain, the
plants were literally roasted, and many of them have
died. Peaches and Nectarines are a splendid crop
where attended to with water. I never remember
seeing them better ; where not attended to with
water the case is very different. The aphis were
228
THE GARDEN.
Sept. 10, 1887.
most troublesome in spring, and the hot weather
soon brought millions of spider, with what results
most gardeners know to their sorrow. Plums
below average, excepting Magnum Bonums, of
which we have good crops. Figs very good crop.
I find the old Brown Turkey one of the best out of
doors. — T. Evans.
Holly Lodge, Higligpate. — The fruit crop, on
the whole, is quite up to the average. Strawberries
are fairly good, although old plants suffered con-
siderably from the drought, the fruit being small in
consequence. Raspberries were abundant and
good. Of wall fruits we had a good supply,
Morello Cherries being a full crop. Apples are a
full crop. Pears medium. Plums heavy. Damsons
light, owing to a change in the weather at flowering
time. Bush fruits were above the average. — J.
WiLLARD.
Panshanger, Hertford. — Seldom have our
anticipations met with greater disappointment
than they have during the present season. The
magnificent bloom, combined with the lateness
of the season, led us to expect heavy crops,
but the fruits of most kinds are either falling
or withering on the trees. On our light, gravelly
soil watering and mulching havehad but little effect,
the surrounding soil being so dry as to absorb all
moisture as soon as applied ; consequently our crops
are suffering. Apples were so destroyed by aphis
and maggot that the crop is very thin, and what
fruits we have are falling. Pears were also much
injured by maggots. Some sorts are carrying fair
crops, but the fruit will be small. Victoria Plums
set very heavy crops ; other sorts are not, however,
so satisfactory. The fruit is falling off, and the
crops will be thin. Apricots, Peaches, and Nec-
tarines set very heavy crops, the trees generally
doing well. The fruit is rather under-sized, but
good. The Strawberry season was very short.
Gooseberries and other small fruits had heavy
crops of small and inferior fruit. — R. Ruffbtt.
Bamsey Abbey, Hunts.— Apricots, Peaches,
and Nectarines are bearing very good crops, and
the trees healthy, but for a long time we have
watered them twice a week, as our soil is of a dry,
hot nature. Plums not quite so good — not equal to
the early promise. Apples and Pears abundant,
though smaller than usual, in consequence of the
drought. Strawberries very heavy crop, but the
late fruit small and not equal to the first gatherings
in flavour. Gooseberries were thinned by the cold,
ungenial spring. Black Currants suffered from the
same cause, but the Red and White Currants are
abundant, though the fruit is smaller than usual ;
Raspberries also being abundant, but later gather-
ings small. Figs good crop, and promise to be
fine. Open-air Grapes very good crop, and if mil-
dew does not attack them they promise to ripen
better than usual. Walnuts and other Nuts are
bearing good crops generally on young trees, but
old trees, of which we have a considerable number,
only moderate crops. On the whole, the fruit crops
in this district are above the average, but the pro-
longed drought has had an injurious effect upon
their size. — E. Hobday.
Seepdene Gardens, Dorking. — The fruit
crops are on the whole fairly satisfactory in this
district, and, considering the dry season, have been
of fair quality. Apples are rather above an average
crop, but a good many of the fruits are dropping,
though what are left promise to be of fair size ; the
best varieties are Lord Suffield, Echlinville Seedling
(a most certain bearer), Keswick Codlin, Hawthorn-
den, Dutch Mignonne, Cellini, Ribston Pippin, Manks
Codlin, Hormead's Pearmain, King of the Pippins,
and Waltham Abbey Seedling. Pears are a full
crop of all varieties, except Marie Louise and
Pitmaston Duchess, and the fruit is fine and clean.
Peaches and Nectarines are a fine crop, and the
fruit is of fine quality. Apricots are both abundant
and fine. Plums are a moderate crop, except Vic-
torias, which are very heavy. Strawberries were a
very fine crop, but the fruit was generally small.
Gooseberries and Currants were good crops and fruit
fine. Raspberries were dried up very soon, and
small. Cherries were very much blighted, but the
bloom was very abundant. Figs are an unusually
fine crop ; also Grapes in the open air. Walnuts
are plentiful, but there seems no Cobs whatever.
As far as I have been able to observe, the dry season
has not injured the fruit crops to any serious extent
in this district, with the exception of Raspberries
and Strawberries. Gooseberries and Currants have,
on the other hand, been exceptionally fine. We
have been very much troubled all the season with
black fly, blight on Plums, Cherries, Peaches,
and Nectarines, and in the early part of the season
with American blight on the Apple trees, and cater-
pillar on the Pears.
Vegetables have suffered considerably, more in-
deed than the fruit crops. Early Potatoes are about
one-fourth of a crop, and I am afraid the later
varieties will not be much better. Peas are about
finished, but French Beans are bearing exceptionally
well. — J. Burnett.
liondeaborough. liOdge, Surrey. — Apricots
good average crop. Plums very poor; bullfinches
very troublesome in spring. Cherries a tremendous
crop and wonderfully good, on account of the
weather being dry and hot. Peaches and Nec-
tarines are a very good, even crop ; wiU have to
attend to these by giving heavy waterings at the
root, as well as syringing the foliage daily. Lord
Napier Nectarine, I find, is excellent for outdoor
culture. Ajriples very good average crop, and
mostly swelling well ; early ones, such as
Juneating and Early Margaret, much finer and
far better flavoured than usual ; seem to like dry,
hot weather. Pears a good average crop, and appear
likely to swell to a good size. Red Currants very
good. Black Currants very poor. Gooseberries
abundant, but small. Raspberries fair crop, but
dry weather spoilt them after first picking. Straw-
berries very heavy crop, and excellent both in size
and flavour, but season rather short, as they were
late in ripening. Nuts and Filberts short crop.
Walnuts very heavy crop. Cobs average crop. — W.
Denning.
Babraliaia'Hall, Cambs. — In this part of the
country gardeners have not experienced such a
trying season for many years. The greater portion
of our time has been occupied in keeping the crops
alive. The fruit crops in this district are, on the
whole, very good. Apples and Pears are a good
crop. Apricots average. Plums over the average,
but blighted. Strawberries were an abundant crop.
Gooseberries plentiful, and we have an abundance
of Red Currants, but Black Currants are small owing
to the drought. Raspberries were plentiful, but
small. Peaches and Nectarines are very scarce here;
Nuts an average crop. — W. Edwards.
Conholt Park, Andover. — Fruit crops here
have not proved to be so abundant as they promised
to be early in the season. Pears and Plums are
thin, such kinds of the latter as Victoria, Washing-
ton, Orleans, and Transparent Gage Plums are carry-
ing good crops. Apples are a fair crop, but very
small. Apricots a good crop, better than for several
years. Gooseberries and Red and White Cur-
rants have been plentiful and very fine. Black
Currants and Raspberries good crops, but very
small and soon over, owing to the long continu-
ance of hot and dry weather. Strawberries
have been a very heavy crop and fine, but the fruit
was deficient in flavour. Cherries, both Morello
and dessert varieties, have been plentiful. All wall
fruit is smaller than usual and very much blighted.
—John Bissett.
Farnboro' Grange, Hants. — In the spring I
never saw such a fine display of bloom on all sorts
of fruit trees. Many trees were five or six weeks
late in coming into flower, and the bloom ap-
peared to have set well. Then came cold winds and
a sunless period, and during May the temperature
was almost as high at night as by day. The fruit
did not appear to swell in the least. Then followed
hot weather, which has continued every day since.
I never saw Apricot trees die off to such an ex-
tent. We had a wall well covered here, and almost
half of the branches have gone off, all of the sorts
having been very much injured. I think the severe
winter was the cause, as our trees are protected by
good blinds every spring. But one tree of the
Moorpark variety in a very sheltered spot, and
which has never had the least protection, has never
had a branch decay, and the crop is also excellent.
Peaches we grow very little outside, but they are
cultivated in several gardens close by here, and in
one the crop is good and clean, but the trees have
to be well watered to keep them in health on this
hot, dry soil. Morello Cherries are a good crop and
the fruit is large, although the trees suffered con-
siderably by the loss of branches. Strawberries
were good where the plants were mulched early and
supplied with water. The season was not a very
short one here, as we continued to gather daily
until the -Ith of August, the best sorts being Frog-
more and Elton Pine, from a north border. Rasp-
berries were the same as Strawberries, only the
season was short. Plums are a very good crop ;
many trees of the dessert kinds are giving a better
crop than they have done for ten years. On walls
we are obliged to keep them continually watered, or
the fruits would be scarcely half their proper size.
Of Gooseberries some sorts are good, especially
where the trees are trained on north walls. —
John Crook.
Sliernfold Park, Frant, Kent.— Bush fruits
have been anything but satisfactory, owing to the
late frost. On May 15 we registered 7° of frost.
On the 16th we had a good day's rain, and have
only had one slight shower since. Strawberries
promised to be very good, but suffered from want
of water ; Sir J. Paxton was our best variety. The
same may be said of Raspberries. I have several
trees of Early Rivers' Peach, and I have never
seen it better out of doors ; later sorts do not come
on at all well. Moorpark Apricots are grand.
Nectarines not so good as last year, and Pears are
very thin. Apples are plentiful, but small. Plums
the same. — E. Braybon.
Harefleld Grove, Herts.— Never was a spring
so promising for a full crop of fruit of all kinds,
and, blooming very late, I thought we were quite
safe, but the disastrous east winds came, and few
Apples here have escaped the scourge of the cater-
pillar. The kinds that resisted it most effectively
are Worcester Pearmain, Lord Suflield, King of the
Pippins, and Echlinville Seedling ; Lane's Prince
Albert is carrying a good crop. Apricots carry
heavy crops, though small. Pears very thin, ex-
cepting Louise Bonne and Thompson's, which are
carrying heavy crops. Of Plums we have about
6000 pyramid trees planted five years ago ; Victorias
are bearing heavy crops ; all other sorts have
average crops. Golden Drop has a very heavy crop ;
other kinds are dropping fast. American Black-
berries, especially Kittatinny, are fruiting and
looking well. Of Strawberries we gathered none, and
most of the plants are dead. All bush fruits were
heavy crops, but mostly small. Raspberries small
and soon over. We do not grow Peaches or
Nectarines outside.
Potatoes. — All early sorts are small, excepting
Early Border and Beauty of Hebron ; both good. —
John Gough.
High. Grove Gardens, Pinner.— The fruit
crops looked very promising until the dry weather
set in. Apples are about an average, but the fruits
are falling off the trees in great numbers. If rain
keeps off they will be scarce. Pears are fair. Plums
partial, the Victoria variety bearing fair crops.
Peaches and Nectarines are fair, but small. Apricots
are scarce, and very few are grown in this neigh-
bourhood. Cherries are fair ; Gooseberries a bad
crop. The buds were taken by birds in some places,
and the late frost in May thinned out what few
were left. Currants were good; Raspberries fair,
but soon over. Strawberries partial, but suffered
from want of water.
Scarlet Runners drop off and do not set. Cauli-
flowers have not been worth cutting. Cabbages
are fairly good. Winter stuff, such as Brus-
sels Sprouts and Autumn Giant Cauliflowers,
will be very poor if Ave do not soon get rain. The
plants put out two months ago are not so good as
those left in seed beds. The Brussels Sprouts will
be very scarce in our district. Tomatoes are good ;
Potatoes excellent, but small, and the kidney va-
rieties are commencing to grow out again. The
Sept. 10, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
229
best Potato this dry season is the Beauty of Hebron.
— G. Brush.
Old Warden Park Oardens, Biggleswade.
— Apricots and Cherries are average crops, also
Plums, which are better on north walls than in open
quarters. The trees are a good deal blighted, and
much damage was done to fruit buds by birds.
Peaches and Nectarines are an average, but small ;
the trees are healthy and growing freely. Apples
are good, the fruit very clean. This is espe-
cially the case with those of Keswick Codlin,
Manks Codlin, and Lord SufBeld. Pears are under
average, except on walls, and the fruit is small.
Small fruits are fairly good, except Black Currants;
the buds of most kinds were a good deal thinned by
bullfinches, &c. Strawberries were an average crop
where watered, but those that did not get water
were very small, and in some cases dried up. Nuts
are an average crop. Walnuts bearing heavily. —
Geo. R. Allis.
Eimbolton Castle, Hunts.— Though there
was plenty of bloom on the Apples the crop is
miserably poor, hardly better indeed than last year,
which was one of the worst seasons I have ever
known. Pears suffered also from a similar cause,
though there was an abundance of bloom; the crop
is generally thin and the fruits small. This applies
to all varieties in this district. Plums are also a
wretched crop, yet we had plenty of bloom, but
through the drought the fruit fell off when
stoning. Peaches and Nectarines are a very poor
crop outdoors, the fruit falling off since the period
of stoning. Apricots are bearing fair crops, but the
fruit is small. Cherries are fairly good, but the
trees are suffering very much from aphis and
drought. Strawberries are very good here, owing
to supplying plenty of water since the time of
flowering, otherwise the crop is poor and of short
duration. Nuts are an abundant crop Red, Black,
and White Currants are bearing a heavy crop, and
the fruit is good. Gooseberries and Raspberries are
scarce.
Peas are very good indeed on our clayey soil, but
short-lived. Huutingdonian I have found the best
and most lasting variety this season. We gathered
for quite three weeks good edible Peas from one
and the same sowing. French Beans have done
well, Canadian Wonder especially, this giving a
larger produce than any other variety. Runner
Beans have not done so well, the flowers dropping
off through the dryness of the soil. Onions, Beet,
Parsnips, and Carrots are all good. Potatoes. —
Those started and planted in February have given
us a full supply since the third week in May. Those,
however, in the fields, which were planted in April,
are small in size and the crop is light. This is the
case generally, and Potatoes therefore will be scarce
and dear.— Thos. Cowbukn.
Broadlands Gardens, Komaey, Hants.—
Strawberries were a fair average crop in soil which
was in good tilth, and the important operation of
mulching carried out before the drought set in.
The fruit was fine in quality, and very little eaten
by slugs, which are so troublesome in wet seasons.
Vicomtesse is our principal variety for preserving,
and President and Sir Joseph Paston for dessert.
Cherries were in great abundance and of fine quality.
Black Currants are an average crop ; but the red
and white varieties a little under the average. Goose-
berries are a complete failure, chiefiy due to three
or four sharp frosts which occurred when the trees
were in bloom. Raspberries showed well and set
freely, but did not swell more than half the crop on
account of the dryness of the soil. Peaches set an
enormous crop. Such early sorts as Alexander,
Early Louise, and Early Rivers have ripened off
splendidly, and are good in quality. Apricots also
set in great abundance. The fruits have ripened off
in splendid condition, seeming rather to like the
drought than otherwise. Cracking, which is so
troublesome in wet seasons, is quite absent, and
there is no difficulty in getting both sides of the
fruit ripe this season. Plums are below average,
but on walls there is a fair sprinkling of such sorts
as Kirke's, Jefferson's, Coe's Golden Drop, Green Gage,
and Reine Claude de Bavay. Apples set well, but a
large quantity of the fruit is falling, and I am afraid
it will be very small. Standard Pears are a failure,
but wall trees are yielding about half a crop, and
are clean and healthy. Cherries were in great
abundance and fine in quality. Nuts are an average
crop, but of Walnuts we have scarcely any. — F.
Thirlby.
Knebworth. House, Beds."— Apricots above
the average, fruit small, quality good. Peaches,
the same as Apricots, and like them run small in
size. Plums much below the average, fruit small
and poor on standards, a little better on the walls ;
the varieties carrying the best crops are the Vic-
torias, Pond's Seedling, Jefferson's, Washington, and
one or two others. Cherries almost a blank, with
the exception of Morellos, which are a good average,
fruit rather small. Apples not an average, fruit
likely to be small, and a good deal of it worthless,
dropping very much at present time ; the varieties
on which there is about an average cro]5 are Au-
tumn and Winter Pearmains, Keswick and Dutch
Codlins, Hawthorndens, Beaufins, Tower of Glamis,
Brownlow's Russet, King of the Pippins, Fearn's
Pippin, and Court Pendu Plat, the latter a very
meritorious Apple for dessert, and a late keeper ; it
rarely fails to carry a crop. Bush fruits, especially
Gooseberries and Red Currants, plentiful, but fruit
smaller than usual. Raspberries not an average
crop, and soon over. Strawberries with us were a
heavy crop of very fine fruit, but soon over ; we gave
two or three good soakings of water to our planta-
tions, which preserved the crop ; in several places
where water is scarce I have seen large i:ilantations
entirely dried up, and not a single fruit gathered.
Pears, much under the average in this district, and,
like the Apples, will run small. Nuts, Cobs and
Filberts, over the average. Walnuts not so good.
For all outdoor fruits, as well as vegetables, the
long continued drought has proved a serious draw-
back, fruits under-sized on the average, and in some
cases soon over.
Early and main crops of vegetables soon over, and
successions very difficult to keep up, even with con
stant waterings. Early Potatoes were ripened off pre
maturely, about one-fifth a crop, and quality not very
good. The second early varieties which we are
lifting now are very good in quality, but only half a
crop. Late kinds in the fields are looking fairly
well where the tilth is good and the soil a loamy
one, but will be very poor crops.— John Kipling
Exton Park, Rutland.- Apples and Pears are
a fair crop. They promised to be exceptionally fine,
but a great many of the fruits dropped, owing to
the very dry season. Hawthornden, Codlins of
sorts, 'Worcester Pearmain, Golden Pippin, Cox's
Orange Pippin, King of the Pippins, and Rein-
ette du Canada are best amongst Apples. Jar-
gonelle, Williams' Bon Chretien, Louise Bonne,
Beurrfi Superfin, Doyenne du Comice, Beurre Hardy,
Beurre Bachelier, Beurre d'Amanlis, Suffolk Thorn,
Comte de Lamy, and Josephine de Malines are the
finest of the Pears. Cherries were very poor, save
Morellos, which are a heavy crop, the fruit being
fine. Apricots a good crop, but half of the fruits
spoiled by earwigs, which are very troublesome with
us this year. Peaches and Nectarines a good crop,
but the fruit will not be so fine as usual, although
we have given the trees several good soakings of
liquid manure at the roots. Strawberries were
almost a failure on old plants ; young plants were
good. Sir Joseph Paxton and President being the
best kinds. Plums are an average crop in the open ;
not many on walls, save Kirke's and Green Gages
Currants and Gooseberries were a good crop, but
fruit small. Raspberries small and soon over. Nuts
and Walnuts very plentiful— John Lindsay.
Hawkstone, Shrewsbury. — Apricots are an
average crop, fruit small. Apples are a good ave-
rage crop. The following varieties are carrying the
heaviest crops : Lord Suffield (very fine), Keswick
Codlin, Hawthornden, Baron Wood, Blenheim
Orange, Devonshire Greening, Orange Pearmain,
and Cox's Orange Pippin. Pears on walls bearing
good crops are Jargonelle, Louise Bonne of Jersey,
Williams' Bon Chretien, Beurre Clairgeau. Pyra-
mid trees — Williams' Bon Chretien, Glou Morceau,
Vicar of Winkfield, Seckle, Zephirin Gregoire, White
Doyenne are the best. Strawberries were a good
crop ; Due de Malakoff, Keen's Seedling, President,
and Sir Harry do well here. Red and White Cur-
rants a good crop. Black Currants very fine and a
heavy crop. Raspberries very good. Cherries and
Plums nearly a failure. The dry weather has had
more effect on the stone fruit here than on any
other. Damsons are largely grown in this district
and are a good crop, but the fruit very small. All
kinds of nuts are plentiful. — W. Care.
Stoneleigb Abbey, Warwicksbire. — Apples
have fallen very much, and, in consequence, the
crop will be short ; and though we have an average
crop of Pears, the fruits will be small. In the dis-
trict round here Apricots are an average crop.
Plums on walls about the average, good, but on bush
trees there is not such a good crop. Morello Cher-
ries are good, but sweet varieties are under the
average. Peaches and Nectarines an average crop.
Apples are under the average, and the fruits have
fallen considerably for want of rain. Pears under
the average and the fruit small. Currants good,
except Black. Strawberries an average crop ; Eleanor
variety is very good, but we have watered frequently.
Nuts an average crop. Gooseberries and Raspberries
are good. — T. Beddaed.
Studley Royal, Yorks. — Early Apples are
bearing good crops, but many of the late-blooming
trees were cut off with the cold winds and frosts in
the sjiring. Of Pears we have moderate crops on
most of the early varieties, though they suffered
from the same cause as the Apples, and unless we
get good rains the fruit will be small. Plums are a
fair crop. There was a fine bloom, but cold winds
affected the trees. Apricots are a very good crop,
and though the fruit is rather small there is a pro-
spect of the latter ripening up well. Our trees have
suffered during the last few summers, as they have
been planted twenty-six years and are losing large
branches. Young, healthy trees are doing well this
year. Of Peaches and Nectarines we do not grow
many out of doors. What few we have are doing
fairly well, and have ripened off their fruit, being
early varieties. Under glass they have been very
good, but will be over earlier than usual. Bush
fruits have been fair, and Red Currants very fine.
Black Currants were soon over owing to the dry
weather. Gooseberries have been small, and the
trees were much injured by caterpillars. Raspberries
have been plentiful, but small. Strawberries were
a very short crop. The early ones and British Queen
did fairly well, but late ones were of no use. Fil-
berts are most abundant, but squirrels are more
than usually troublesome.
Vegetables have been very good on our strong
soil. Cauliflowers and Peas have come in all together
instead of supplying us in September. Celery has
made no progress, and salads have been difficult to
grow. The sparrows pick the hearts out of the
young plants and pull them out of the ground when
transplanted for the sake of the moisture. Potatoes
are of splendid quality, and we have a fairly good
crop. The tops fairly covered the ground, and
helped to retain the moisture. Upon the whole, a
hot summer suits our ground, but the drought has
made it troublesome to plant our winter stuff and
to sow Spinach, Turnips, &c. — J. Claek.
Trelissick, Truro, Cornwall. — There are
probably few counties in England that have felt
the effects of the long and continued drought more
severely than we have here. Almost every kind
of crop, whether of fruit, flowers, or vegetables, has
suffered more or less, especially where there has
been a limited supply of water. Our Strawberry
plantations were all heavily mulched with stable
litter and watered several times, but we only got a
few very small half-baked fruits for preserving, and
not one satisfactory dish for dessert. We grow
several sorts, but Sir Charles Napier is our favourite,
both for forcing and general crops ; it has stood the
long drought as well, if not better, than any other.
Gooseberries, Currants, and Raspberries, especially
the latter, were very good. This is not a good
county for Cherries, but this season they have given
fair crops of fine fruit. Apples are a tremendous
crop ; every blossom seems to have set, but owing to
the extremely dry summer the fruit will be so very
230
THE GARDEN.
small and poor, as to be scarcely worth the gather-
ing ; this is the case in nearly every part of
Cornwall. The extensive Plum orchards of this
neighbourhood have suifered severely from drought.
Red and Green Plums are a fair average crop, but
the Black will be very small and inferior. Figs
are very good both in quantity and quality. An
enormous tree here of the old Brown Turkey
is carrying a splendid crop, and produces several
bushels of fine ripe Figs in most seasons. Peaches
and Nectarines are a magnificent crop with us,
but not generally so good through the county ;
there are many complaints of the fruit prema-
turely falling. Oar success I attribute to very
early thinning, heavy mulching with stable litter,
and copious supplies of water to root and branch.
Apricots do no good in Cornwall, so we never
ex])eot any, though a tree or two may be found
in most places. Pears are a fair average crop of
good sized fruit, but there are many complaints
of premature falling in very dry situations.
Vegetable crops have suffered most severely.
Peas have been a complete failure. We have not
been able to pick a good dish since the middle
of July, although we mulched and watered heavily.
Mildew and insects, especially thrips, have been
very troublesome to them this season. Spring-
sown Onions, Carrots and Turnips have nearly all
been destroyed by the drought. Cabbages, Sprouts,
Broccoli, and all winter stufl: of that kind must
be very scarce this autumn, as all early sown
crops have been completely roasted in the ground.
Potato prospects are improving; it was at one
time feared there would be no tubers, but I find the
tubers are now forming, and, thougli late, give some
liope of a light crop. The rainfall since the 1st of
January has been about 4 inches ; wliereas our
usual quantum would be over 2(1 inches, which will
no doubt to some extent account for the almost
total disappearance of the Potato disease in this
district.— W. Sangwin.
Lathom House, Ormskirk, Lancashire. —
The fruit crops in this district are quite up to the
average as regard.s quantity, but, owing to the long-
continued drouglit, are rather poor in quality.
Currants, Gooseberries, and Raspberries are an ex-
cellent crop and of good quality. Autumn Rasp-
berries also promise well. Strawberries showed
well at the commencement of the season, but on
our light, sandy soil the drought affected them very
much, and we had to water them frequently to save
the crop ; even then it was soon over. Cherries are
a good crop and of fair quality. Peaches on the
open wall are bearing satisfactorily, and with fre-
quent waterings will be a fair size. Plums and
Damsons are a good crop, but the fruit is small.
Damsons especially are feeling the effects of the
dry weather very much. In some instanceSi where
the trees are on light, sandy .soil, the fruits are
ripening prematurely. Apricots never do much good
in this district, but are better this year than usual.
Pears are only a moderate crop and the fruit rather
small. The fruit on pyramids is better than that on
the wall trees this year. Apples are a very heavy
crop, but will scarcely be up to the average as
regards size of fruits. — J. Hathaway.
Tatton Park, Cheshire.— Apples good crops
on pyramids of the following kinds: Lord Suffield,
Cellini Pippin, Beauty of Kent, Hawthornden, Pott's
Seedling, Court Pendu Plat; fair crops of Tower of
Glamis, Ribstim Pippin, Margil, Keswick Codlin on
standards a fair crop and of good size. In the
open orchard plenty of fruit, but small in size.
Pears— fair crops on pyramids, the best being Louise
Bonne of Jersey and Beurre Diel ; on walls Jargo-
nelle, Marie Louise,Napoleon,WinterNelis,GlouMor-
ceau, Beurre Royale, Keel Hall Beurre are carrying
good crops of average-sized fruit, and have stood
the dry weather well. Plums, ven' few grown ; a
fair crop of Jefferson's, Coin's Golden Drop, and
Magnum Bonum. Peaches a fair crop, and the trees
clean and free from l)lister; not many grown out-
side. Nectarines, only a few trees grown ; Pitmas-
ton Orange a good crop. Apricots, only a few
trees grown, but a full crop of Moorpark and Breda.
Cherries, early ones, a full crop, l)ut Morollos rather
thinner than usual; the trees are very healthy and
[Sept. 10, 1887.
clean ; no sign of black fly, which in previous years
has been very troublesome. Strawberries. — The
kinds grown outside are La Grosse Sucree, Sir
Harry, President, Sir Charles Napier for general
crop, and Helena, Gloede grown under a late wall
comes in after the open plots are o\er; through the
dry weather we had to water them several times.
Sir Charles Napier suffering most from drought.
Black and Red Currants are good average crops.
Raspberries are very jilentiful, but rather smaller
than usual. Gooseberries fair average crop of early
kinds, and a heavy crop of Warrington Reds, which
generally hang well.— Joshua Atkins.
Crewe Hall,'Cheshire.— All kinds of fruit trees
bloomed very plentifully, but a low temperature
with cold winds injured the flowers and young fruit,
so that not more than an average crop of fruit re-
mains generally. Many Apples and Pears have
fallen in consequence of the prolonged drought, and
from the same cause both Apples and Pears are
small. The kinds of Apples bearing best are Kes-
wick, Irish Peach, Minchal, Lord Suflield, Dume-
low's Seedling, Grenadier, M6re de Mi5nage,
Pott's Seedling, Worcester Pearmain, and Warner's
King. Pears are similar to Apples, about an average
crop. The best-bearing kinds are Citron des Carmes,
Bon Chretien, Louise Bonne, Beurre d'Amanlis, Au-
tumn Colmar, Winter Nelis, and Beurr(5 Ranee.
Plums.— Some have little or no fruit, but a few have
good crops, the best being Victoria, a local sort,
called Crewe Hall Seedling, and Kirke's. Although
there was an almost unpreoedentedly large crop of
Damsons last year, the trees are bearing plentifully
again this season. Peaches and Nectarines on walls
protected in spring are bearing very abundantly.
Apricots are rather under the average, some kinds,
as Large Early Hemskirk and Moorpark, bearing
well. Early Cherries rather under the average, but
Morellos very plentiful. Nuts where sheltered from
cold winds very plentiful. Strawberries very abun-
dant, of large size and fine flavour, but soon over.
Gooseberries, Currants, and Raspberries about an
average crop.
Vegetables.- Peas generally have been much
injured by the prolonged hot and dry weather, but
where, as practised by us, trenches were deeply dug
and manured for them previous to sowing, they have
borne good crops and lasted well. Potatoes al-
though late in coming in and the tubers rather
smaller than usual, have borne good crops. In no
instance have I seen or heard of the disease. — Wm.
Whitakeh.
Brickhill Manor, Bletchley, Bucks. — In
this district all fruit crops have suffered more
or less from the long-continued drought. We are
situated on the top of the red sandstone hills ; con-
sequently our soil is very light and shallow, and not
adapted for fruit growing. However, by manuring
and mulching heavily we manage to get fair average
crops. This season Strawberries were above the
average ; whilst such varieties as Keen's Seedling,
Vicomtesse He'ricart de Thury, James Veitch, Lucas,
and Oxonian were all good ; Oxonian is decidedly
the best late Strawberry I know. Currants, Red,
Black, and White, good crops, clean and bright, but
small. Gooseberries were also very plentiful. Plums
are about half a crop, and the trees are suffering
from mildew and blight. Apples are an average as
regards early and late varieties, tlie trees being re-
markably healthy and free from blight. Pears on
walls and in the open garden are small for the time
of year, being barely half a crop. Neither the Peach
nor Apricot will thrive here, owing to the light,
sandy nature of the soil; consequently, ourj crops
are very poor. Whole trees frequently die away in
one season when the fruit is only about half ma-
tured. The same remarks apply to Cherries. Nuts
do well here. Cobs and Filberts being an average
crop. Walnuts are very plentiful, and Figs on walls
abundant. — G. Bloxham.
Hibston Hall, Yorks.— The fruit crops in this
neighbourhood are on the whole light. We had a
most excellent show of bloom upon nearly all sorts
of fruit trees, but it was damaged by wind and
rain. Apricots arc a good crop and clean. Plums
under an average, and the trees have been much
damaged by fly. Cherries a good, clean crop.
Peaches and Nectarines are a poor crop. Apples
and Pears are light crops. Small fruits are good.
— Thomas Jones.
Sudbury Hall, Derby.— Apples are an ave-
rage crop, but the fruit is small for want of
rain. Pears are also an average, good on walls, but
on pyramids a failure. Apricots bearinu- heavy crops
of very good fruit. Plums very thin, " Of Cherries
we have a heavy crop of fine fruit. Small fruits
were abundant. Strawberries a heavy crop, but the
fruits suffered for want of rain. All fruit has suf-
fered very much for want of rain ; where the trees
have not been well watered, many of the Apples
and Pears have fallen off. I may add we have onlv
had 0 5U of rain since June 3. — J. Bottrell.
Down House, Blandford, Dorset.— Apri-
cots urider glass coping, and which were pro-
tected in spring when in flower with nets, are bear-
ing a heavy crop of fruit of very good quality.
Apples a very fair crop, but the fruit is small gene-
rally. Of Morello Cherries we have very heavy
crops. Pears are not so good; Glou Morceau,
Forelle, Beurre Ranee, Ne Plus Meuris, and Knight's
Monarch are the best varieties. Strawberries a fair
crop, but small owing to the drought. Goose-
berries and Currants bore very good crops. Rasp-
berries were very fair, but the fruit was rather
small. Filberts very good. Everything has suffered,
however, more or less, for want of rain.
Potatoes are small, but of good qualitv.—
Thomas Denny.
Bamsbury Manor, 'Wilts.- We had good
crops of Strawberries on two and three-year-old
plants ; Vicomtesse Hericart de Thury, Sir Joseph
Paxton, President, and Black Prince were our best.
I do not water, but mulch early in the season.
Morello Cherries are good crops. We have fair
crops of Victoria, Goliath, Kirke's, Prince Englebert,
Pond's Seedling, Green Gage, White and Red
Magnum Bonum, and Jefferson's Plums. We have
a good crop of Moorpark Apricots ; branches of
both old and young trees have died this season in a
most unaccountable manner. Peaches and Nec-
tarines are fair crops; the trees have made good
growth, and are free from blister. We have fair
crops of Apples on bush and espalier trees. Our
best are Lord Suffield, Warner's King, King Pippin,
Lord Grosvenor, Lady Henniker, Wormsley Pippin,
Echlinville Seedling, Court of Wick, Peasgood's
Nonsuch, Manks Codlin, Prince Albert, Keswick
Codlin, Dutch Mignonne, Stirling Castle, Cox's
Pomona, Lemon Pippin, and Magnum Bonum or
Roundway, which never fails with us. Pears are not
so good as last year, our best crops being on cordon
and trained trees on walls. — G. Allen.
Holme Lacy, Hereford.— Apples in this
neighbourhood, taken as a whole, promise a large
yield of good fruit. In a few cases on light soils I
hear of a good deal of the fruit dropping through
the long- continued drought. In the gardens here
the fruit is swelling to a good size, and very clean
and bright. Pears. — The same remarks apply to
this fruit. Plums are a good average yield.
Cherries a heavy crop of good fruit. Apricots are
an average crop of good fruit. Figs. — The crop is
above the average. Gooseberries, Red, White, and
Black Currants are full crops. Strawberries and
Raspberries fell very short. There was a splendid
promise for a large crop, but owing to the heat and
drought, and being unable to water them, the
plants were completely burnt up. Taken as a
whole, the fruit crop of this district is very satis-
factory.— Charles Denning.
Cole Orton Hall, Leicester. — Apples here
were a mass of bloom in the spring and set fairly
well, but owing to the dry summer have dropped off
very much. Pears are a moderate crop ; Beurr6
Diel very good ; Louise Bonne of Jersey, Citron
des Carmes, Easter Beurre, and Marie Louise have
a thin crop on some of the trees ; the leaves are
much eaten with grubs. Plums are also a moderate
crop; the best are Victoria, Pond's Seedling,
Diamond, Coe's Golden Drop, and Jefferson's.
Apricots set well, but many have dropped off,
although well watered several times. Peaches and
Sept. 10, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
231
Nectarines are a good crop, and the trees very
healthy. Cherries good crops, especially Morellos.
Strawberries bloomed and set well, and the younger
plants have done well ; they were watered, but the
oldest plants were a failure, being completely dried
up. Ked Currants were a good crop ; Black Currants
very thin. Raspberries were very good. — G. C.
Maynaed.
Haigh Hall Gardens, "Wigan..— The fruit
crops in this locality have been considerably affected
by the severe and continuous drought during the
jiast ten weeks. Apples bloomed late, set well, and
promised to be a fine crop, but nearly two-thirds
have fallen off ; in fact, under many trees the ground
is literally covered. The trees present a bare and
starved appearance, and many of the leaves have
fallen off. Cellini, Lord Suffield, Yorkshire Green-
ing, Small's Admirable, Kerry Pippin, Lady Derby,
Dumelow's Seedling, Warner's King, and Keswick
Codliu can-y fair crops. Pears are about an average
on walls; Louise Bonne, Beurr<S Diel, Jargonelle,
Doyenn^ du Cornice, Williams' Bon Chretien, Powers-
court Crassane, Glou Morceau, and Easter Beurrc^
have fair crops. Sweet Cherries have been abun-
dant and fine; Morellos abundant, but small. Straw-
berries, where the ground is deep, well manured, and
of a retentive nature, have been abundant and of
fine quality ; the best, in fact, that I have seen in
this locality for the last fourteen years. Never in
my recollection have the advantages of surface-
dressing been so apparent. Raspberries were abun-
dant and fine. Gooseberries and Red and Black
Currants in sheltered places have been very good,
but in exposed situations thin. Plums, with the
exception of Victorias, are very poor. The cultiva-
tion of the Peach, Nectarine, and Fig is not at-
tempted in the open.
Potatoes promised to be a fine crop, but are
ripening prematurely, owing to the excessive
drought, and the tubers will be very small, but so
far they are free from disease. — Andrew Jamibson.
Ounton Park, Norwioh. — A season with no
rain from May 2(> till July ,31 will have left a deep
impression on the minds of those who, like myself,
have had the water-cart and the watering-pot in
daily use for six weeks, to the almost exclusion of
all other work. There was no mowing to do, as the
Grass was dried to a cinder. No w all is green again,
the rains of the 12th and 13th, and again on the
18th, relieving us from all trouljles for this season.
There has been nothing like this drought since that
of 1868 in this part of the country, the latter being
of even longer duration, lasting twelve weeks, from
the end of April to the end of July. I am well
pleased with the appearance of the crops in general.
The watering-pot has proved their salvation. Young
Strawberry plants planted between the rows are
gromng away vigorously. Pears on south and west
walls are swelling a fine crop of fruit, and there are
no failures. All the best kinds are grown. Pears
on bush trees are partial, some sorts, especially early
kinds, being well cropped. Of Plums on walls we
have a good crop — Pond's Seedling, Victoria, Green
Gage, Goliath, Coe's Golden Drop, and Reine Claude
de Bavay. Plums on standards are thin. Rivers'
Early Prolific carrying half a crop. Gooseberries
were a very light crop. Currants good. Apples set
a heavy crop, but we have lost many of the fruits
from drought, but now the crop will be above the
average. Strawberries were a fine crop, and every
flower set its fruit. The first fruits swelled up well,
but the heat and drought were too much for the
later ones, which were very small and quickly over,
finishing quite ten days earlier than usual. Rasp-
berries were very plentiful, but small, and only
lasted a short time ; the young canes are, however,
producing freely now. Apricots are plentiful ; also
Peaches and Nectarines, but the fruits are rather
small ; the trees are, however, healthy. The late
kinds of dessert Cherries have lieen good, such as
Black Tartarian and Napoleon Bigarreau. Morellos
are plentiful. Filberts are bearing heavily, but the
trees were much tried by the drought.
The early and second early Potatoes are very
good, as we have a fine crop of large, clean tubers.
They are all taken up (I grow no late kinds), as
they liegan to sprout after the rains. Old Ashleaf,
A^eitch's Ashleaf, Beauty of Hebron, M.P., Welford
Park, The Daniels, White Perfection, and Early
Primrose are the kinds 1 have grown. They are all
good, more especially M.P. and The Daniels. 1 hear
poor accounts of the late kinds ; the tubers are very
small, owing to the drought, and are sprouting
again after the rains, which will certainly spoil their
quality. Cauliflowers and Brussels Sprouts are
growing freely, especially Cauliflowers, and they
evidently enjoy hot weather. Rows of Ne Plus
Ultra Peas are coming on well. Celery is very
vigorous and free from grub. Borders of Violets
are free from spider, and this is no idle boast after
such tropical weather. Spring-sown Onions are
promising weU. — Wm. Allan.
Somerleyton Hall G-ardens, Lowestoft. —
The fruit crops in this locality are disappointing,
considering the prospects in the spring. I have
seen more bloom ; the orchards were quite a picture,
but owing to the parching east winds the crop will
be a moderate one. Plums on walls and in sheltered
spots are a fair crop, but in exposed situations
almost a failure. Peaches and Nectarines are very
little grown in this neighbourhood; the same may
be said of Apricots. Cherries on walls are an abun-
dant crop. Apples are a fair crop, but fruit is small
owing to the drought. We have only had about
9 inches of rain in eight months ; the varieties
giving the best crops being King of the Pippins,
Cellini Pippin, Hawthornden, Lord Suffield, Cox's
Pomona, Lord Grosvenor, London Pippin, Delaware
Pippin, Court Pendu Plat, Dr. Harvey, Sturmer
Pippin. Some other varieties have not a fruit on,
but that is a usual occurrence here on the east
coast. On the whole the crop may be said to be a
fair average. Pears are very poor, and what there
are must be undersized, and all the orchards I have
seen round here are the same, certainly under the
average on standard trees. On walls there is a fair
crop. Filberts and Nuts are over the average; in
fact abundant, and of Walnuts I have never seen
such a full crop. On some trees 1 counted as many
as twelve in a bunch. Small fruits were very small.
Strawberries set a full crop, but, except on some
low-lying and marshy land, there was a small crop.
We had plenty of Raspberries, but the fruits did
not swell. Several of the market gardeners in this
neighbourhood who grow them in quantity, and
who had sold tons in advance, were thoroughly
disappointed, scarcely getting hundredweights in-
stead of tons. In most places Black Currants did
badly, but of Red Currants there was a full crop.
Taken altogether it has been a very unfavourable
year for gardening, owing to the high temperature
and long-continued drought. — JAMES BOLB.
Burghley, Stamford.— We have 1000 feet of
south walling devoted to the Peach crop. The
early varieties grown here are Amsden, Hale's Early,
and Violette Hative. For the mid-season varieties
we have Crimson Galande, Stirling Castle, and Royal
George. For late sorts we grow Princess of Wales,
Late Admirable, and Walburton Admirable. All
these varieties bear good crops. Nectarines. — This
fruit we do not grow largely. Violette Hative, Lord
Napier, and Tillery's Seedling are all bearing fairly
good crops. Plums, both on wall trees and standards,
are laden with fruit. Our dessert sorts are Green
Gage, Jefferson's, Golden Drop, and Black Diamond.
For cooking and preserving we grow Victoria, Prince
of Wales, Orleans, and Reine Claude de Bavay. 1
naay here mention that the finest and best preserving
Plums are Magnum Bonum and Pershore, the latter
being excellent. Standard Pear trees are not half
a crop, but the trees on walls are bearing a full
crop. Williams' , Early, Beurre d'Amanlis, and
Green Balsam are among our early varieties. Fon-
dante d'Automne, Thompson's, Marie Louise, and
Louise Bonne we look upon as our second early
kinds. For late keeping we grow Glou Morceau,
Beurr^ Ranee, Easter Beurre, and Bergamotte
Esperen. Apricots. — The branches of the trees of
the Moorpark variety die off badly. We have only
a west wall employed, and the crop is poor indeed
of this variety, while upon the same wall two trees
of an early variety are literally covered with fruit.
Apples are a good all-round crop. Our favourite |
dessert sorts are King of the Pippins, Cox's Pomona,
Cox's Orange Pippin, Worcester Pearmain, Ribston
Pippin, Wycombe Pippin, and Blenheim Orange.
For cooking we choose Wellington,Dutch ilignonne,
Loddington Seedling, Schoolmaster, Golden Noble,
Grenadier, and Lord Suflield. Gooseberries, Cur-
rants, and Raspberries have all borne heavy crops
of good clean fruit. Cherries. — Of the early
sorts we had no crop whatever. Morellos a good
crop of very fine fruit. Strawberry Earliest of All
is bearing a very fine crop and good quality. Of
mid-season varieties we grow President, La Grosse
Sucree and Sir Charles Napier. The fruit of the
latter was somewhat poor and dried up, whilst
Oxonian, grown on a north border, was perfect,
the border having been well watered. — R. Gilbert.
Strathfleldsaye. Hampshire.— Fruit crops
suffered .severely from late spring frosts, the posi-
tion being low and damp. 1 have never seen fruit
trees and bushes more profusely covered with
bloom, but the fact of having frost every night from
the nth to the end of April accounts for an in-
different crop of fruit where unprotected. We have,
however, a fair sprinkling of fruit left, which though
small appears to be clean and healthy. Nothing
here is so certain to bear full crops as Keswick
Codlin and Northern Greening. Pear bloom was
on many trees quite killed by April frosts, and the
same applies to sweet Cherries and Plums. Morello
Cherries being later in blooming are a fine crop.
Peaches on open walls where protected and in glazed
cases were plentiful and fine. Apricots and Figs
the same where freely supplied with water. Of
small fruits the season has been exceptionally short,
as many of the later Strawberries and Raspberries
failed to mature their later fruits. We had only
0-60 inch of rain since June 4, and many things
have suffered, more especially newly planted trees
and shrubs.
Potatoes are quite free from disease, and a fair
crop of excellent quality, but 1 very much fear that as
soon as we have rain the later varieties will super-
tuberate, as I see certain indications of that already.
— James Bell.
Bloxholm Hall, Lincoln.— The fruit crops
in this neighbourhood are fairly satisfactory.
Apples are a good average. Lord Suflield, Oid
and New Hawthornden, Warner's King, Kes-
wick Codlin, King of the Pippins, Fearn's Pippin,
Blenheim Pippin, Gravenstein, and Echlinville bear-
ing a heavy crop. Pears are a fair crop. Plums
not so good as last year. Apricots a heavy crop,
but the fruits are rather small. Peaches out of
doors a fair crop. Gooseberries, Red and Black
Currants a good crop. Strawberries and Raspberries
promised well, and we had several good pickings,
but the dry weather affected the plants considerably.
The long-continued drought is telling upon the fruit
crops in this district. Strawberries and Raspberries
ripened only half a crop, although well watered.
Gooseberries and Currants in the open were dried
up; those on walls are keeping fairly well. Apricots
and Peaches on walls are smaller than usual ; also
Plums.
■\'egetables have felt the effects of the dry weather.
Early Potatoes are very small, and in any case we
do not expect half a crop of either early or late
varieties. Our hottest day was on Sunday, July 3 ;
thermometer at 12 noon indicated 88°. The rain-
fall in July, 1-.30 inch; in June 012 inch; in August,
up to 20th, 0-29 inch ; for the three months only
201 inches, or about 2 inches. — D. Lumsdbn.
Great Qearies, Ilford. — In all my expe-
rience I never saw the fruit crops so much
affected by drought as they are this season.
The largest crop of Apples was on two trees of
the White Juneating ; the fruit very small and
ripened very early. Devonshire Quarrenden was a
poor crop, but the fruit good. Kerry Pippin is bear-
ing a good crop of very small fruit. Ijord Suffield
has a good medium crop. Hawthornden a large
crop of good fruit. Golden Noble is laden with fruit.
Pomona and Sturmer Pippin are medium crops.
All the late fruit is under-sized, and more than half
of it is maggot-eaten. Some of the old trees seem
as if they would die altogether ; the leaves are
232
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 10, 1887.
dropping prematurely, and on some the fruit have
shrivelled up or dropped off. Pears are much the
same as Apples ; a young tree in front of the window,
as I write, has lost nearly all its fruit, dropped off
unripe, and the leaves look as if October was here.
Behind it a Jargonelle of large size has borne a good
crop of under-sized fruit ; it has been gathered.
Williams' Bon C'hretien has a good crop, but these
are the only two, except, indeed, an old Bishop's
Thumb and a large tree of the Seckle, which are both
laden with fruit. The crop on Plum trees is good,
in fact too heavy ; the fruit cannot ripen for lack
of moisture, which the roots are unable to extract
from the hard parched earth. Apricots have been a
good crop, but the quality is certainly deficient ; the
trees required mulching and drenching with water,
but we could not find time to do this. The Cherries
were a better crop on large standards than they
were on walls. Morellos are a good crop on the
north wall, and will be of fairly good quality.
All the small fruits were good, the Gooseberries
and Black Currants small in size. Red and White
Currants were very good. Raspberries and Straw-
berries, although a good crop, were small in size,
the last-named almost roasted with the excessive
sunshine.
Early Potatoes are very small, quality fairly good.
Late Potatoes are sufff ring sadly from the drought ;
the haulm is quite blighted on light soils ; in some
places the tubers are sprouting. Have seen no disease
as yet.— James Douglas.
Melbury House, Dorset. — Strawberries have
been plentiful, and owing to the plants having been
well watered occasionally, the supply was well kept
up. Currants of all sorts are bearing good crops,
and of fine quality. Raspberries the same, but they
did not last long. Gooseberries were about the
average. Cherries of good quality, but not a large
crop, except Morellos, which are plentiful. Plums
area fair crop, while those on standards are thin,
and of Damsons we have scarcely any. Pears vari-
able,sometreeshavingveryfewfruits. Some kinds,as
Marie Louise and Passe Colmar, will give a good
supply. Apples are plentiful and good, the fruits
swelling well, but there are complaints of the want
of rain in cider orchards. We have for the last ten
weeks only had 1-73 inches of rain. The consequent
dryness of the atmosphere robs what little assist-
ance we can give in the way of watering of much
of its value. We have plenty of Nuts and Walnuts,
but Peaches and Nectarines are scarce on trees on
open walls. — T. C. Elliott.
Thoresby Park, Notts. — The fruit crops are,
though late, above the average, and notwithstanding
that the long dry season has told on many things,
we do not suffer like some, as we have a good
supply of water. Apples and Pears are variable,
some of the trees bearing good crops, but those
that had a good crop last year are not so satisfac-
tory. Plums, especially the finer sorts, and Damsons
are plentiful, also Apricots. Bush fruits plentiful
and fine. Strawberries have been plentiful and of
good flavour, Oxonian being a fine late variety.
Early Potatoes are good and plentiful ; this we
attribute to the heavy watering they got when
growing. Late varieties are looking very well, and
do not appear to have suffered from the drought in
the least. — A. Henderson.
WoUaton Hall, Notts. — Apricots are a
marvellous crop, Kaisha and Moorpark bearing
well. Peaches and Nectarines moderate. Apples
a very partial crop. The most fruitful are Sleeping
Beauty, Annie Elizabeth, Franklin's Golden Pippin,
Bramley's Seedling, Braddick's Noniiareil, Garratt's
Pippin, Partridge Pippin, Keswick Codlin, and New
Hawthornden. Pears — Doyenne d'Et6, Jargonelle,
Williams' Bon Chretien — are very fine. Later varie-
ties— such as Doyennfi du Comice, Beurre d'Amanlis,
Easter Beurre, Glou Morceau, Fondante d'Automne,
Beurre d'Aremberg — are carrying a good average
crop. Cherries — the Bigarreau section is good,
the Kentish varieties are also satisfactory ; Morellos
good; Black Tartarian excellent. Nuts moderate.
Walnuts plentiful. The Raspberry crop is good,
but the fruits smaller than usual. Strawberries
good, President, Sir Charles Napier, Sir Joseph
Paxton, and Eclipse being fine ; Black Prince is the
best for preserving, but the fruits are dried up con-
siderably. Currants, Red, White, and Black, are a
grand crop. Plums on walls bad ; those on standards
very fine, especially Winesour, Jefferson's Victoria,
and Rivers' Early Prolific. Tomatoes. — Those out of
doors are carrying heavy crops.
Potatoes are a good average, and the tubers of
fine quality. — Hbney Gadd.
Neasham Hall, Darlington.— The fruit crop
in this district has been very much injured by the
long-continued drought. Bush fruits have been
plentiful, but very poor in quality. Some Apple
trees are bearing a fair crop, while many of the
trees have none. Pears are the same as Apples.
Plums are an average crop. Apricots very good.
The prospect in the early part of the season was
very good indeed, but for want of rain Apples,
Pears, and Plums kept falling off the trees all
through the summer, some varieties suffering more
than others. The Gooseberry caterpillar has been
very destructive in this district, acres of bushes
being without a leaf, which will affect the next
year's crop. — John Cleitgh.
Glossop Hall Gardens, Noith Derby.— The
fruit crops in this district are quite up to the ave-
rage, though, as a result of the very dry, hot
weather which we have had — and we rarely have to
complain of drought at Glossop — many trees of
Apples and Plums are literally smothered with red
spider. Apples, owing to the same cause, have
dropped quite two-thirds of their crop, though on
such varieties as Lord Sufiield, Keswick Codlin, and
Manks Codlin there is still a fine crop, all other
varieties being rather light. Unless we get rain
very soon the fruit will be very small. Pears on
such varieties as Jargonelle, Louise Bonne of Jersey,
and Hessle are a fair crop, and some very old stan-
dard trees of a medium-sized variety of stewing
Pear (of which I do not know the name) are carry-
ing a fine crop. Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots
are not grown outside, but the two former have
been, and are still, very fine in houses. Straw-
berries have been a splendid crop, and the quality
exceptionally good, such, indeed, as is rarely seen
in this district. We gathered our first dish outside
on the 11th of July — a fortnight earlier than last
year — and have only just finished gathering
(August 12). I have every reason to be well satis-
fied with the plan I adopted two years ago, of taking
out trenches about a foot deep or rather more, and
filling in to the depth of 6 inches with stifl: clay,
covering with 7 inches or 8 inches of the natural
soil — which is of a very light character resting on
gravel — and planting good strong runners thereon
la inches apart each way. Afterwards I tread the
plants round firmly. To this, and the heavy mulch-
ing of stable litter which we apply annually in
March, I attribute our fine crop and clean, healthy
plants. I am thinking of adopting the same plan
with our Raspberries, which, though they have borne
a very good crop, have suffered much in conse-
quence of the drought, and the fruit has been very
small. Gooseberries have been a very good crop,
and of fairly good quality. Currants an average
crop, but poor in quality. — B. AsHTON.
Shipley Hall Gardens, Derby.- In this dis-
trict fruit crops generally are by no means so good
as the great show of blossom led us to anticipate.
Apples, Pears, and Plums suffered greatly from a
severe hailstorm when in bloom on the 2l6t May,
and the protracted drought has caused an immense
quantity of the fruits to fall, especially Apples and
Pears. The crops of small fruits, excepting Rasp-
berries, are much below the average both in size,
quantity, and quality. Strawberries were exceed-
ingly small and soon over. No variety withstood
the drought so well as President. Helena Gloede
and Losford Hall Seedling, grown under a north
wall, have this dry summer been more useful and
appreciated than ever. No choice fruits are grown
on the walls in this cold, late climate ; in fact,
nothing but Morello Cherries repay for attention.
I have not seen or heard of any disease amongst
the Potato crops, which are very heavy in this
locality, a circumstance doubtless attributable to
the dryness of the season. At the time of writing,
August 13, the rainfall for the year has not reached*
8 inches. — Wm. Elphinstone.
Ketton Hall, Stamford. — Apples are a good
crop in most instances. A few trees are not bear-
ing well, but in every case these carried heavy
crops last season. At present some kinds are
smaller than usual, but the dry season has not
affected them to any great extent. Pears are a
thin crop ; the trees flowered abundantly, but owing
to cold, north-east winds at the time tliey failed
to set well. Plums are a very thin crop, with the
exception of Victoria, which is good ; all kinds
are very much infested with aphides, which has
considerably checked the growth of young wood.
Peaches (outside) were a heavy crop and ripened
about the usual time, viz., the last week in July ;
the only kinds grown outside here are Alexander,
Waterloo, and Early Beatrice, the two former
being almost or quite identical ; the last-men-
tioned is small, but very useful for kitchen pur-
poses ; all three ripen almost together ; we protect
in spring, when in flower, with old fish netting.
Apricots are a heavy crop, and were also well pro-
tected in spring with old netting wlien in flower.
Strawberries in a dry position were almost a failure,
as we were unable to water them ; on those in a
lower part of the garden, and planted in mud
dredged out of a pond some years ago, we had a
good crop of splendid fruit ; especially fine being
Sir C. Napier ; this is one of the best mid-season
varieties, and is also a useful kind for forcing where
plenty of heat and light are avaOable. Figs are a
heavy crop ; the plants are always covered with
straw during the winter months ; Brown Turkey
gives us the best average crop. Cherries — Morellos,
very heavy crop ; Bigarreaus, good on walls, but a
poor crop on standards. Gooseberries were a good
crop, also Currants, but. the latter were smaller than
usual, owing to the dry season. Raspberries a
heavy crop. Filberts and Walnuts good. I do not
find the dry weather has injured the fruit crops to
any great extent here. Strawberries, Raspberries,
and Currants have suffered most severely. We are
near to two rivers, and in a valley only 130 feet
above sea level ; consequently we have abundance
of water very little below the surface of the ground ;
trees and other deep-rooting things do not, there-
fore, feel the drought so soon as in many positions.
On the other hand, plants rooting near the surface
soon dry up, the soil being poor and full of small
limestones. On the whole, we have as good a crop
of fruit as in a more moist season, and possibly have
a much better chance for a crop next year, as the
wood will get well ripened if fine weather continues.
— W. H. DlVEES.
"Warwick Castle, 'Warwick.— Fruit crops in
this district, owing to the dry weather, have suffered
very considerably, especially on the light, sandy
soils. Strawberries here and in several places have
been a faUure. Raspberries nearly so. Currants
and Gooseberries good in quantity and quality.
Apricots, Plums, and Cherries in most places are
bearing average crops. , Peaches and Nectarines
have fair crops. Apples and Pears average quantity,
but small, and dropping prematurely, as are also
Nuts. The crop of Figs is light, and the fruit will
not swell to the usual size. In the early part of the
season fruit crops were most promising, but owing
to the dry, east winds in spring and early summer,
and little or no rain during the last three months,
both quantity and quality are far below expectations.
Potatoes are plentiful, but very small, showing
no signs of disease. — A. D. Christie.
Tring Park Gardens, Tring.- In this locality
Apples are not much grown, and I have about half
a crop. In the gardens here we have a fair ave-
rage, but, owing to the drought, the fruits are small,
and falling very much. Pears are very partial, and
on many kinds a complete failure ; Louise Bonne of
Jersey, Beurre Diel, Beurr6 Sterckman are the only
sorts here carrying a full crop this season. Plums
are much under the average ; A''ictoria, Jefferson's,
and Rivers' Early are the best. Cherries. — Of Mo-
rellos we have a very heavy crop, and being mulched
and watered have finished well. Strawberries very
abundant, small, and deficient in flavour, and the
season soon over. Bush fruits above the average
Sept. 10, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
233
and good, Gooseberries excepted, which were about
half a crop and small. Raspberries much below
average and very small. Apricots on south walls
are a fair average crop, but much below usual size.
Walnuts are a good average crop. Filberts about
half a crop.
Potatoes. — Our first and second earlies are an
abundant crop, excellent in quality, and, for the
season, good-sized ; later sorts are suffering for
want of rain. — E. Hill.
Brantingliam Thorpe, Brough, East York-
shire.— Fruit crops in this locality are generally
good. Small fruits suffered most from the con-
tinued dry weather, particularly Strawberries and
Black Currants. Most of our wells are dry, water
being very scarce, and we have none to spare for
crops. Peaches and Nectarines are a moderate
crop. Apricots plentiful. Cherries a good crop.
Apples and Pears are abundant and swelling well
after the welcome showers of rain we have had. It
is the best Plum year we have had for some time,
the trees being healthy and swelling their fruit well.
Walnuts are plentiful. — R. C. Kingston.
Naworth. Castle, Bampton. — Apples are a
heavy crop, the fruit medium in size ; the best
kinds are Lord Suffield, Keswick Codlin, Stirling
Castle, Hawthornden, Cockpit, and Yorkshire Green-
ing. Cherries — we have a fair crop of May Duke,
but the fruit is below the average size ; Morellos a
heavy crop, and the fruit of large .size. Gooseberries
a medium crop, and the fruit of small size. Pears
a light crop. Plums fair crops ; the best kinds are
Green Gage, Jefferson's, Kirke's and Magnum Bonum.
Raspberries are a fair crop, and the fruit of medium
size. Strawberries were a good crop, and the fruit
of fair size. The fruit crops in this district are
above the average. There was a splendid show of
bloom, which set weU. The size is a little below
the average, with the exception of Currants, which
are larger than usual. The dry season has not done
any damage to the fruit crops. — R. Bubn.
Castle Hill, Devon. — Apricots are an average
crop, but the fruit is small. Plums are good both
in quantity and quality. Of Cherries the early
crops are very poor ; Morellos are very fine indeed
— in fact, the best crop we have had for years.
Peaches are a good average. Nectarines are
good, but the fruits are beginning to drop.
Apples a good crop, but rather small. Pears are
very good, especially on wall trees. Small fruits
were over the average, and of fine quality. Straw-
berries a complete failure, not only in this garden,
but also in the market gardens in this district. Nuts
are plentiful, especially Filberts. The long drought
has not affected us in this district, as in most places.
I have had an abundance of water at my command,
so I have been able to give all the crops copious
drenchings from time to time. I may mention that
we are supplied from a large reservoir about 150 feet
above the garden. — Richaed Nicholas.
Barmiug Hou8e,'near Uaidstone. — Apples
are plentiful, but much affected with maggots,
doubtless through the drought. Nectarines, Peaches
and Plums are plentiful in this district, but very
small. My own are suffering through drought and
red spider caused by the dry weather. Cherries in
East and West Farleigh and neighbourhood of
Maidstone have been good. Damsons are not plenti-
ful. Strawberries and Raspberries suffered severely
through the drought in this district, there being not
more than half a crop. Red Currants were very
good; Black Currants not so plentiful. In our
garden we have two large Fig trees loaded with
fruit, and they have borne well for four years. —
S. Hughes.
Gosfield Hall, Halstead, Essex. — Apples are
bearing a good crop, but the fruit is smaller than
usual. The varieties most noticeable for heavy
crops are King of the Pippins, Fearn's Pippin,
Sturmer Pippin, Hawthornden, New Hawthornden,
Dr. Harvey, Blenheim Orange, Dutch Mignonue,
Lord Suffield, Warners King, Kentish Fillbasket,
Dumelow's Seedling, and Norfolk Beaufin. Pears
are under the average, both on walls, standards,
and pyramids. Louise Bonne of Jersey, Vicar of
Winkfield, Beurre de Capiaumont, Jargonelle, and
DoyennS d'Et^ are bearing fairly well. Apricots
are splendid in quality and size. Plums, with the
exception of that sure cropping variety. Rivers'
Early, are under an average ; Pond's Seedling and
Prince Engiebert are fair crops. Of Damsons we
have a plentiful supply. Cherries on standards
bloomed and set well, but the fruit has nearly all
dropped since. Morellos on north walls are bearing
abundantly and the fruit is fine. The Strawberry
crop was heavy, and the fruit of splendid quality in
the case of Sir Joseph Paxton, Dake of Edinburgh,
British Queen, Lucas, and James Veitch. We
mulched both early and heavily, so that the plants
suffered very little from the drought. Bush fruits.
Gooseberries, Currants, and Raspberries were very
good. — W. Dance.
Societies and Exhibitions.
CRYSTAL PALACE FRUIT SHOW.
September 2 and 3.
The exhibition at the Crystal Palace on Friday and
Saturday last was both large and interesting, com-
prising all the most important fruits in season, the
whole of moderate size and generally well coloured.
Apples and Pears were small as a rule, but this can
surprise no one, as the dry weather and other
causes have prevented large size being obtained, but
many of the samples were superbly coloured, this
being especially the case with the Windsor Pear, a
beautiful variety of fine size and excellent pyriform
shape. Nectarines and Peaches were well repre-
sented, also Grapes and Melons. Staging the fruit
on separate tables with Ferns and foliage plants in
the centre is a most practical way of obtaining an
effective and picturesque exhibition.
The leading class was for a collection of fruit,
not less than twenty dishes, and Mr. W. H. Ward,
Longford Castle Gardens, Salisbury, was placed first
for a fine display, including excellent samples of
Gros Maroc Grape, which, when well coloured and
finely finished, is a telling variety, and good bunches
of the weU-known Foster's Seedling, Muscat of
Alexandria, and Alnwick Castle, a variety carrying
a lovely deep bloom ; the bunches are shapely and
handsome. There were also fine samples of the
useful early Jargonelle Pear, Worcester Pearmain
Apple, and Smooth Cayenne Pine ; it was, on the
whole, a most finished collection. Mr. J. H. Good-
acre, Elvaston Castle Gardens, Derby, who was
second, had finely-coloured Bellegarde Peaches and
heavily-shouldered bunches of Black Hamburgh,
also excellent samj^les of Madresfield Court. There
were several good exhibits for a collection of twelve
dishes, Mr. W. Pratt, Longleat Gardens, Warminster,
occupying first place. There were heavy, sym-
metrical clusters of Muscat of Alexandria, well-
coloured Black Hamburgh, and excellent samples of
the delicious Irish Peach Apple, one of the finest
of all early varieties, juicy, rich, and with a fine
aroma. The second prize went to Mr. J. H. Good-
acre, whose chisters of Black Hamburgh Grape
and fruits of Bellegarde Peach and Turkey Fig
showed careful culture. There was also a class for
twelve dishes, and in this Mr. S. Pullman, Framp-
ton Court Gardens, Dorchester, headed the prize
list. The Grapes were well grown, but rubbed in
transit. Early Admirable Peach and Pine-apple
Nectarine were also noteworthy. Mr. C. Goldsmith,
Kelsey Manor Gardens, Beckenham, had in his
second prize collection capital Windsor Pears, the
perfection of colouring, and there are few varieties
when well grown to beat this for beauty and
brightness.
Grapes were an important feature, and, on the
whole, they were creditably represented, though in
some classes the samples were inferior. There was
only one competitor — Mr. W. H. Ward — in the class
for a collection of Grapes, ten kinds, two bunches
of each, and he was adjudged third prize, though,
in our opinion, a higher award should certainly
have been made. There were weak points in the
collection, but the bunches were generally satis-
factory, especially Gros Maroc, Alnwick Seedling,
Madresfield Court, and Lady Downe's. Alicante
was finely coloured, but small in berry. Mr. J.
Harvey, gardener to Mr. J. Watson, Ticehurst,
Sussex, was the most successful for a collection of
Grapes, five kinds, two bunches of each. As in the
former exhibit, Gros Maroc was represented by com-
pact, symmetrical, and evenly finished clusters, the
berries large and covered with the deep bloom
characteristic of this variety ; Alicante and Lady
Downe's were also well shown. Gros Colmar was
magnificently shown in the collection of Jlr. A.
Smith, gardener to Mr. W. H. Sewell, Loughton,
Essex, the bunches of huge size, heavily shouldered,
and the berries large ; Madresfield Court and Ali-
cante were also good, but there was a great falling
off in the bimches of Muscat of Alexandria. The
class for three bunches of Black Hamburgh was
fairly well filled, Mr. J. Bury, Forest Hill, coming
first with good samples, well shouldered, but rather
rubbed. Sir. T. Osman, Ottershaw Park Gardens,
Chertsey, had large bunches, but loose and lacking
finish. The three bunches of Muscat of Alexandria
put up by Mr. R. Gray, Chevening, Sevenoaks, were
the perfection of form, finish, and colour, the berries
large, and of that lovely clear yellow hue only seen
in skilfully grown samples. The bunches put up by
Mr. G. Duncan, Warnham Court Gardens, Horsham,
were large, ungainly, and badly coloured ; while
those of Mr. W. Rutt, who was placed third, were
neat and shapely, though smaller. There was good
competition in the class for Gros Maroc, Mr. J.
Harvey putting up three characteristic samples
of this compact, heavy, and large-berried kind.
Mr. John Wells, Windsor Forest, Bucks, had bunches
vrith fine bloom. There was also keen competition
in the class for three bunches of Madresfield Court,
Mr. J. H. Goodacre heading the prize list with
symmetrical, well shouldered, and nicely finished
bunches, the berries large and finely coloured ; the
bunches of Mr. W. Jupp, who was accorded second
place, were loose, but otherwise creditable. Black
Alicante made a fine show, and excellent bunches
of this popular and useful Grape were staged by
Mr. J. Harvey, the finish and colour perfect. Mr.
C. Griiiin, Coombe Bank, Kingston, was a good
second, but his exhibits lacked the beautiful sym-
metry of the former. In the class for three bunches
of any white Grape, save Muscat of Alexandria,
Jlr. F. Hicks, gardener to Mr. J. HoUingworth,
Turkey Court, Maidstone, was first with Cannon
Hall Muscat, a variety like Muscat of Alexandria in
colour ; but, as shown, the bunches were rough,
straggling, and devoid of beauty. Mr. J. Bury was
second for good samples of the favourite Foster's
Seedling. There was also a class for any other
black Grape than those mentioned ahove, Mr. T.
Osman winning the premier award for regidarly
finished, deeply coloured bunches of Lady Downe's.
An interesting class was for a basket of black
Grapes, and Mr. W. Howe, gardener to Mr. H.
Tate, Park Hill, Streatham Common, showed a
splendid basket filled with bunches of great merit,
the colour superb. A good exhibit was also that
of Mr. G. Duncan, who was placed second. In the
corresponding class for white Grapes, Mr. R. Gray
was the most successful, the Muscat of Alexandria
bunches being excellent both in colour and size, a
contrast to the lustrous hue of the Black Hamburgh.
Peaches and Nectarines were not so plentiful
as we anticipated, nor were the fruits of exceptional
merit, save in the first prize dishes. The competi-
tion was sharp in the class for four dishes of
Peaches, Mr. W. H. Divers, Ketton Hall Gardens,
Stamford, winning the premier prize with beauti-
fully coloured fruits of Bellegarde, also fine samples
of Crimson Galande and Early Crawford; Mr.'
J. Edmonds, Bestwood Gardens, Notts, was second,
the fruits being undersized. The former exhibitor
was also to the fore in the class for one dish of
Peaches, showing exquisite fruits of Crimson Ga-
lande, aud the colour in these samples was both
intense and uniform. The fruits of the Prince of
Wales variety, put up hy Mr. F. Day, were also
worthy of mention. For four dishes of Nectarines,
the premier award was secured by Mr. W. H. Divers,
who had capital fruits of Dryden, Victoria, Rivers
Orange, and Lord Napier varieties, the whole rich
in colour and of average size. The samples of Mr.
J. Edmonds were fairly good, but small. Mr.
234
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 10, 1887.
S. Pullman was to the fore in the class for one dish
of Nectarines, showing' goorl fruits of the Pine-
apple variety. Mr. John Eidout, gardener to Mr.
T. B. Haywood, Woodbatch Lodge, Reigate, had
iine samples of Lord Napier. Jlr. W. H. Divers
was to the front in the class for six Peaches and six
Nectarines, the fr\iils well developed and of rich
colour; the lle^t Peaches were Crimson Galande,
Bellegarde, and Early Crawford, and the finest of
the Nectarines comprised Dryden, Albert Victor,
and A'ictoria.
Plum.s were not largely exhibited, but the fruits
were satisfactory, though small; this has, however,
bee the general complaint this season. In the
class for four dishes of red varieties, Mr. J. Neigh-
bour, gardener to Mr. E. J. Wythes, Chislehurst,
came first, exhibiting Victoria, Goliath, Pond's
Seedling (beautifully coloured), and Cox's lilmperor.
Mr. John Wells, Windsor Forest, Bucks, was first
for yellow and green varieties, four distinct kinds,
exhibiting good fruits of the delicious Jeiferson's,
Cloth of Gold, and Webster's Green Gage. The
most successful in the class for four kinds of purple
Plums was Mr. Geo. Holliday, who had Bradshaw
very good, and Kirke's of [exceptionally rich colour.
There was not much competition in the class for
Figs, Mr. Thos. Butler being well to the front with
splendidly-developed fruits.
Melons were largely shown, and the fruits were
satisfactory examples of the respective varieties.
In the class for one green- fleshed kind the premier
award was taken by Mr. Alfred Bolton, Sevenoaks,
who had a capital specimen of Sutton's Horticul-
ture, Mr. Goodacre coming second with the well-
known Best of All. In the corresponding class for
a scarlet-fleshed Melon, the last-named exhibitor
was first with Read's Scarlet.
Apples and Peaes made an interesting feature'
but the drought experienced until quite recently
has prevented the fruits attaining any size, though,
as a rule, the colouring is more brilliant than
usual. For a collection of Apples, six dessert and
six kitchen varieties, Mr. A. Waterman, gardener to
Mr. H. A. Brassey, Preston Hall, Aylesford, was
first, and he showed excellent samples of such well-
known table Apples as Duchess of Oldenburg, Red
Astrachan, Quarrenden, and Worcester Pearmain,
the best of the kitchen kinds being Lord Suffield,
Peasgood's Nonsuch, Stirling Castle, and Warner's
King. Three of the best dishes of Apples were put
up by Messrs. G. and J. Lane, St. Mary's Cray, Kent,
who were first in the class for three varieties. AVe
have seldom seen Duchess of Oldenburg of better
colour ; the crimson stripings over a yellow ground
were exceptionally vivid. Astrachan was well
represented, and Shakespeare, an Apple something
of the character of Cellini, of good shape, and, as
shown, of medium size. In the class for a collec-
tion of Pears Mr. J. Butler was to the fore, showing-
superb fruits of the AVindsor and Doyenne du
Cornice varieties ; the mottling on the last-men-
tioned is similar, but not so definite as on the
brightly- coloured Trout Pear. For three dishes
Mr. J. Butler came first, showing good samples of
AVindsor Beurre, Goubault, and Clapp's Favourite.
The competition was keen in the class for a
collection of six distinct Tomatoes, the fruits well
developed and of rich colouring. Mr. C. AVaite,
gardener to the Hon. W. P. Talbot, Glenhurst, Esher,
was first, exhibiting excellent fruits of the hand-
some Mikado, Cardinal, Hathaway's Excelsior, and
Reading Perfection. Mr. C. J. Goldsmith was a
close second.
^ Amongst the miscellaneous exhibits was a collec-
tion of Peaches, Nectarines, and Plums from Messrs.
T. Rivers and Sons, Sawliridgeworth. The fruits of
crimson Ctalande Peach were exceptionally fine, and
there were well-grown bunches of the Duke of
Buccleuch Grape. Messrs. G. Bunyard and Co.,
Maidstone, had a fine show of Apples and several
good Pears. There were excellent samiiles of
Duchess of Oldenburg, Pott's Seedling, Cardinal,
Red Astrachan, Lady Siideley, Lord ' Grosvenor,
Grenadier, and Lord Suftield— altogether an in-
teresting display. Messrs. Cheat, of Crawley, had
fruiting branches of the out-leaved Blackberry, and
also the AVilson Junior variety. Messrs. W. Thom-
son and Sons, Clovenfords, staged splendid bunches
of the Duke of Buccleuch Grape, a beautiful and
showy variety when well grown.
A prize list is given in our advertising columns.
GRAND NATIONAL DAHLIA SHOW.
The extent and general quality of this exhibition
was a surprise to many. Storm, rain, frost, and
wind appeared to have done their worst during the
previous fortnight, and yet here was an exhibition
of unexpected dimensions of flowers so fresh, bright,
clean, and pure, as to cause much wonderment.
The season has suited the north, and Mr. AVilliam
Boston, Carthorpe, Bedale, was able to bring his
flowers to London from that distance, and beat
such noted growers as Keynes, Turner, and others
in the class for seventy-two blooms. This was an
achievement of which Mr. Boston had much reason
to be proud. As in the case of a class for seventy-
two Roses, it was not necessary that the flowers
should be distinct; not less than thirty-six varieties
had to be shown, and not more than two blooms of
any one variety could be admitted. For the first
time the fancy flowers, so-called, were shown in all
the nurserymen's classes with the show varieties,
thus breakingdown a purely artificial distinction that
has stood for many years, and which is becoming-
yearly much more difficult to maintain. Whether
it will be continued remains to be seen ; but -sve
thought the presence of the fancy flowers gave a
brightness, novelty, and piquancy to the stands
that was decidedly agreeable. AVhat a ridiculous
thing it seems that a white flower tipped with
purple or crimson is a show Dahlia; while a
purple or crimson flower tipped with white is a
fancy variety. In many country shows all tipped
flowers are regarded as fancy Dahlias,
There were six stands of seventy-two Dahlias,
and here Mr. C. Turner, Slough,'and Messrs. Keynes,
Williams and Co. had to be content with second
and third prizes. In the class for forty-eight
flowers, Mr. Turner set up a superb lot of blooms,
and was i^laced first; Messrs. Keynes and Co. being
second; and Mr. John AValker, Thame, third. In
the classes for twenty-four and twelve blooms, those
exhibiting in the two classes just named could not
compete, and so in the larger number, Mr. G. Hum-
phries, Kington Langley, Chippenham, a well-
known exhibitor in the west of England, was first ;
Alessrs. J. Saltmarsh and Son, nurserymen, Chelms-
ford, second; and Mr. J. AValker, third. In the
class for twelve, Messrs. J. Saltmarsh and Son were
first, and Messrs. Harkness and Son, nurserymen,
Bedale, second.
After all, it would be difficult to hit upon a better
method of exhibiting for prizes the large double
Dahlia flowers grown in the present day than that
followed at the Crystal Palace. The stands are
uniform in size, and painted of a dark pale green
colour, and on these the blooms are arranged in
three lines, the larger at the back, the smaller in
the front, and in a way to present a pleasing con-
trast of colour. There is a great deal in the art of
setting up blooms. Twelve blooms set up by Mr.
Turner will look far better than the same blooms
set up by a novice who has no conception of har-
mony and contrast of colours. I was interested in
watching Mr. Harry Turner commence setting up
his seventy-two blooms. He began with a waving
line of yellow flowers ; then he put in another of
pink ones ; then'darks were distributed, other colours
being worked in so that each neighbouring bloom
appeared to help in showing off the nest to it to
the best possible advantage. A successful exhibitor
requires to be something of an artist as well as
being able to produce good flowers. And it sliould
be stated, in justice to Mr. Turner, that he ran Mr.
Boston very close indeed for first place in the class
for seventy-two varieties. I should state that there
were nine competing stands of forty-eight blooms.
In the following five classes for amateurs the
show and fancy Dahlias were kept distinct, as of
old ; the representatives of this class of exhibitors
did not take kindly to the suggestion that they
I should be shown together, It the class for twenty-
four blooms, Mr. R. Petfield, Diddingston, Hunting-
donshire, was first with a very good lot indeed, Mr.
Thomas Hobbs, Bristol, being second, and Mr.
Henry Glasscock, Bishop's Stortford, third. In
that for twelve blooms, Mr. J. T. AA''est, Cornwalls,
Brentwood, one of the leading amateur cultivators
and exhibitors in the present day, was first, Mr. B.
Clarke, Shottesham, All Saints, Norfolk, second,
and Mr. A. AVhitton, Bedale, third. The best sis
blooms came from Mr. S. Cooper, The Hamlets,
Chippenham.
Then came two classes for fancy Dahlias. The
stands of these are always bright and pretty, and
have a pleasing effect. Mr. West had the best
twelve blooms, Mr. R. Petfield being second. Mr. S.
Cooper had the best six, Mr. AV. H. Smith, Shriven-
ham, being second.
The leading flowers shown in the foregoing classes
were as follows : Show Dahlias — Burgundy, Butter-
cup, Cardinal, Canary, Clara, Constancy, Colonist,
Crimson King, Defiance, Ethel Britton, Flag of
Truce, Florence, Georgiana, Goldfinder, Harry
Keith, Harrison AVeir, Henry Bond, Herbert Turner,
Hope, Imperial, James Cocker, James Stephen, Jas.
Service, John Henshaw, J. N. Keynes, J. W. Lord,
John AVyatt, Joseph Ashby, King of Purples, Lord
Chelmsford, Miss Cannell, Miss Henshaw, Mrs. Glad-
stone, Mrs. F. Foreman, Mrs. G. R. Jefferd, Mrs.
Langtry, Mrs. Shirley Hibberd, Mrs. J. AValker, Mr.
Glasscock, Mr. Harris, 0. E. Coope, Ovid, Picotee,
Pioneer, Prince Bismarck, Prince of Denmark,
Rosetta, Royal Queen, Senator, Seraph, Shirley Hib-
berd, Thomas Goodwin, T. J. Saltmarsh, A'ice-Presi-
dent, Victor, AVilliam Rawlings, Mrs. AVilliam Slack;
Richard Dean, and Thomas Hobbs. In this list we
get the very cream of the show Dahlias. The best
of the fancy Dahlias were Chas. G. AVyatt, Carna-
tion, Chorister, Duchess of Albany, Fanny Sturt,
Flora Wyatt, Eric Fisher, General Grant, Gaiety,
General Gordon, George Barnes, Henry Glasscock,
Hugh Austin, James O'Brien, John Forbes, John
Lament, Lotty Eckford, Maid of Athens, Miss
Browning, Miss Lily 'Large, Mrs. N. Halls, Mrs.
Saunders, Pelican, Professor Fawcett, Peacock, Re-
becca, and the Rev. J. B. M. Camm.
Then followed open classes for show Dahlias
grouped in their colours. Messrs. J. Keynes and Co.
had the best six dark Dahlias, staging fine blooms
of AVilliam Rawlings, Mr. Glasscock, Imperial, A'ic-
tor, Richard Dean, and Ethelwin. Second, Messrs.
Saltmarsh and Son, with AVilliam Rawlings, John
Standish, Shirley Hibberd, James Cocker, Rev. J.
Goodday, and John Henshaw. Mrs. Scale had the
best six light Dahlias, staging beautiful and deli-
cate blooms of Annie Neville, Mrs. S. Hibberd, Jlrs.
Gladstone, Flag of Truce, Julia AVyatt, and Ethel
Britton. In other stands the employment of heavy-
tipped flowers marred their effect. Messrs. Salt-
marsh and Son had the best six tipped Dahlias,
staging Royal Queen, J. T. AVest, Mrs. Saunders,
Mrs. Harris, Mrs. N. Halls, and T. J. Saltmarsh.
The best six striped Dahlias came from Messrs.
Keynes and Co., and consisted of Rebecca, Eric
Fisher, Pelican, Gaiety, Chorister, and a seedling.
Messrs. Rawlings Brothers came second. The de-
sign of these classes was to show the public the
best flowers that could be produced under these
The class for six bunches of decorative Dahlias >
including, of course, the Cactus type, was an at-
tractive one, the varieties shown being set up in
bunches of six blooms, Messrs. Keynes and Co.
were first with a stand that came as near perfection
as could well be imagined. The varieties were Con-
stance, white ; Empress of India, deep crimson and
maroon, extra fine; Cochineal, rich dark crimson;
Mrs. Hawkins, clear sulphur yellow ; Juarezi, bright
deep scarlet ; and Mrs. Tait. white, the petals much
serrated. Messrs. .T. Cheat and Sons came next with
Lady Jiarsham, Charming Bird, Mrs. Hawkins,
Cochineal, Lady Kerrison, and Juarezi. Mr. C.Turner
came in a very close third.
The beautiful and useful Pompon Dahlias were
seen to the best advantage set up in large and
striking bunches of eight or ten blooms in a bunch,
but the practice of using wires so as to give the
bupches a fan shape, and so display thetu so that
Sept. 10, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
235
thev can be best seen, is one that imparts to them
a very stiff appearance. It was even worse in the
case of the single Dahlias ; but the important ques-
tion is, how can so many blooms be displayed so as
to be seen to the best advantage 1 There were five
stands of twenty-four bunches of Pompons, a charm-
ing show in itself. Jlr. C. Turner was first, closely
followed by Messrs. Keynes and Co., who were
second, and Jlessrs. J. Cheal and Sons an excellent
third. Jlessrs. J. Burrell and Co-, of Cambridge,
had the best twelve bunches, ilr. J. Henshaw, Har-
penden, being second. Jlr. Henry Glasscock had the
best sis bunches, and 5Ir. J. T. West was second.
The best Pompon Dahlias shown were Coquette,
Cupid, Darkness, Dora, Eccentric, E. F. Jungker,
Fanny Wiener, Fashion, Favourite, Gazelle, Garnet,
Gem, Golden Gem, Hector, Hilda, Isabel, Lady
Blanche, Mabel, Slignon, Mdlle.V. Faconet, Princess
Sophie Sopieha, Professor Bergeot, Leila, Rosalie,
Kosetta, Thomas iloore, Titania, White Aster, and
Wilhelm Nitsche. There is quite a danger of getting
these Pompon Dahlias a little too large. Small,
compact flowers are certain to be symmetrical in
form, and they are generally produced freely.
But is the single Dahlia losing its hold upon the
popular taste .' There was but one stand of twenty-
four varieties, and it was expected they would be
shown in large quantities. I think the long-ne-
glected Pompon varieties are fast displacing them in
the public estimation. 3Iessrs. J. Cheal and Sons
won the first prize in the twenty-four bunches of
most excellent quality. The leading varieties were
Alba perfecta, ilrs. Kennett, Mrs. Bowman, Amos
Perry, Silver King, Excelsior (new). Paragon, Sun-
set, Duchess of Westminster, Negress, Cetewayo,
Acquisition, &c. Mr. T. S.Ware had the best twelve
bunches, having in the best form ilauve Queen Im-
proved, Canterbury Tales, Huntsman, Jlrs. J. Cc-
ninck, JIary Graham, Amos Perry, Formosa, and
Duchess of Westminster ; second, Messrs. Paul and
Son, Cheshunt ; third, Messrs. J. Gilbert and Son.
The Turner Memorial silver cup for twelve show
and six fancy Dahlias was won by Mr. J. T. West,
and, as he also won it in 1886, it now becomes his
property. Five prizes for Dahlias were also offered
to amateurs only by the trustees of the Veitch
Memorial Fund, consisting of a medal and the sum
of £2 10s. The best nine self-coloured show
Dahlias came from Mr. H. Glasscock. Mr. Glass-
cock also had the nine best parti-coloured flowers,
thus becoming the possessor of two medals. Mr.
John Henshaw had the best twelve bunches of Pom-
pon Dahlias, and Jlr. H. Vincent, gardener to Mr.
Hart, Keymer, had the best twelve bunches of deco-
rative Dahlias. Strange to say, the class for twelve
bunches of single Dahlias brought no competition.
First-class certificates of merit were awarded to
Mr. C. Turner for show Dahlias Eoyalty, Malcolm,
and Purple Prince, and for Pompon Dahlia AVilliam
Carlisle ; to Messrs. Rawlings Brothers for fancy
Dahlia Frank Pearce ; to Messrs. Keynes and Co.
for Pompon Dahlias Janet and Iseult ; to Mr. T. S.
AVare for single Dahlias Miss Henshaw, Miss
Roberts, and Miss Gordon; to Messrs. J. Cheal and
Sons for single Dahlia Excelsior : and to Messrs.
Henry Cannell and Son for Cactus Dahlia Blazer.
Besides Dahlias there were several miscellaneous
flowers, consisting of Gladioli, quilled Asters,
Hollyhocks, Cockscombs, &c., the chief prizetakers
being Messrs. A. E. Campbell, Saltmarsh and Son,
Webb and Brand, Saffron Walden ; J. Prewett,
Hammersmith ; G. Saunders, Crawley ; A. Whitton,
and Rev. H. H. D'Ombrain. Gladioli were well shown
by Mr. A. E. Campbell, Gourock, N" B., and Messrs.
J. Burrell and Co., Cambridge ; seedling Begonias
by Mr. John Laing, Forest Hill, and Mr. H. Cannell,
Swanley ; herbaceous Phloxes by Mr. J. Silver,
Streatham ; and Chrysanthemum Mrs. Burrell by
Mr. Geo. Miles, Brighton. This \'ariety, which is
very similar to George Wermig, was certificated.
Cut Roses in fresh condition were exhibited by
Messrs. Paul and Son, Cheshunt, and the Lilies from
Mr. W. Gordon, Twickenham, were also noteworthy,
A collection of promising Hollyhock seedlings was
put up by Messrs. R. and F. Smith, Dulwich.
A prize list is gi^en jn our advertising columns. |
Public Gardens.
The American Exhibition gardens are
now particularly attractive with hardy American
flowers, as the bulk of the collection planted is in
bloom. The Composite family, which predominates
so largely in the United States, creates the chief
attraction, especially the great'perennial Sunflowers.
Of the variety called Helianthus multiflorus
masimus, there are several fine masses from 6 feet
to 8 feet high, with flowers almost as large as those
of the common annual Sunflower. The double form
of the same plant placed close to the great single
variety associates well with it, and the rest of the
group is composed of the Scarlet Bee Balm (Monarda
didyma), Rudbeckia Newmanni, with Iceland Pop-
pies in various colours as an edging. Another fine
group, occupying about 200 square feet, consists of
Harpalium rigidum as a background to masses of
the finest varieties of the perennial Gaillardias,
whose scarlet and gold flowers have been borne in pro-
fusion for the past six weeks, and have not suffered
in the leastfromthedrought. Pentstemons generally
have not flourished so well this year, on account of
the drought, but here they have been well watered,
and have flowered very freely. Another first-
rate hardy flower that has been a great attraction
is Helenium pumilum. It is very dwarf and
extremely free-flowering, the flowers, bright yellow,
harmonising well with those of Aster Amellus and
Asclepias tuberosa planted with it. The Asclepias
(the Butterfly Weed) has been very flue. It likes
the hot, dry weather, and the heads of scarlet
and yellow bloom have been large. It lasts in
bloom for several weeks. Phloxes make a great
show now, and succeeding them will be the
Asters, of which there are groups of the finest
kinds only. Besides the large plantations of hardy
perennials the whole place is lit up with Dahlias,
which, being of Mexican origin, have been ad-
mitted. There are nearly 2000 of these planted,
representing all the sections, so that till the close
of the exhibition next month there will he a dis-
play of colour. All the perennial plants as well as
the Dahlias planted by Mr. Ware, of Tottenham,
have done remarkably well, seeing how late every-
thing was planted. The ornamental trees and
shrubs planted by Messrs. Lee never looked better
than they do now ; they include some very choice
kinds, especially the golden and variegated forms of
American trees and shrubs. Messrs. Cheat's de-
ciduous and other trees and plants make a pleasing
plantation on one of the chief lawns and in the
central gardens. Messrs. Paul, of Waltham Cross,
have asimUar display, whichincludes representatives
of the chief hardy American trees and shrubs. The
Californian annuals from Messrs. Carter have for
some weeks past made a brilliant display in the
long chain of beds in the central garden. Though
some of the annuals are not strictly Californian, it
has been a surprise to many that such a large
number of annuals that are capable of making such
a display come from California. The different
kinds have been planted in bold masses, so that the
frdlest effect has been obtained. Just now the most
attractive beds are those filled with Phlox Drum-
mondi. Zinnias, Tagetes signata, CEnothera sinuata,
Calliopsis, and Godetia The Bride, a satiny white va-
riety. The collection of American Tobacco plants,
also from Messrs. Carter, has done remarkably well,
some plants being 6 feet high with enormous foliage.
The lawns, which were sown by the same firm, have
been the admiration of many who before doubted
that perfect lawns could be obtained in a few weeks
from seed.
Battersea Park. — The visitors to this park
during the past few weeks have had a great sight to
enjoy in one corner of the sub-tropical garden where
there is a tangled mass of Clematis Jackmanni,
Canary Creeper (Trop.'colum), and Everlasting Pea
(Lathyrus), white and pink, all flowering in the
utmost profusion. The purple, yellow, and white
harmonise charmingly, and the whole mass presents
a mass of colour rarely seen, which the visitors evi-
dently appreciate as much as they do the acres of
scarlet Pelargoniums, prim carpet beds, and other
costly arrangements, while the climbers cost nothing
to look after, and year after year give a wealth of
beauty for several weeks. — W. G.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
Tufted Pansy Ardwell Gem.— We have re-
ceived blooms of tills fine variety from Messrs. Collins
Bros. & Gabriel. The flowers are of a light caiiary
colour, aud seem to he very freely produced ou long
footstalks. After this trying season it was wonderful
how flue the blooms were.
Eoyal Horticultural Society. — We are asked
to state that the fruit aud floral committees will meet
on Tuesday next, the 13th inst., when special prizes
will be offered by Messrs. Carter & Co., Messrs.
Sutton & Sons, Messrs. Webb & Sons, and Mr. H.
Deverill, as per schedule. We have also to announce
that List B of the plants and seeds for distribution is
now ready, and may be had by Fellows ou application
at South Kensington.
Allium, pulehellum and A. flavum are two
bulbs we rarely see in collections now, although at this
time of year at any rate we iind them very useful.
They have in a more or less degree the offensive smell
so characteristic of this genus, but the plants can be
admired in the border without touching them. They
increase by offsets easUy, or they may be raised from
seeds, which ripen freely. Both are now in flower at
Kew.
Lilies at Croydon. — 1 send you spikes of Lilium
aui-atuni rubro-vittatum and L. tigrinum splendens
grown in the open. The former to me is disappointing,
as although a haudsome and rare form of the auratum
type, 1 do not think the red hand is so pleasing as the
golden colour of the more common kinds. Lilium
tigrinum E'plendens has done very well this year ; the
spikes have grown to au abnormal height, quite 8 feet
to 9 feet high. This is decidedly the handsomest of
the Tiger Lilies, and increases rapidly in good loamy
soil.— C. J. Gk.\hame.
The autumnal Ci ocus (Colchicum autumnale)
appears to have beneflted by the late rains, and is
now in full flower along the margins of the pond
at Kew. To all appearance it thrives much better
here than in the ordinary border where the collec-
tions are, and is certainly a fortnight earlier. It is
a charming sight ; the large rosy purple flowers, on
a carpet of fresh green Grass in close proximity to the
water, give the whole a sweet natural appearance,
which is entirely lost in the tidy border. It is
mixed with C. tessellatum, or variegatnm, with
flowers of a deeper colour, and prettily tessellated
with purple, much the same as in our meadow Fri-
tillary. — K.
Beautiful Bose fruits. — We have received a
beautiful gathering of the fruits of the Rose from
Mr. T. Smith, Daisy Hill, Newry. The beauty of
the fruits of many kinds of wUd Roses, as, for ex-
ample, the Sweet Brier, is so marked that they wiU
be worth growing for that alone. In Mr. Smith's
collection the Apple-fruited (Rosa pomifera), the
shining Rose (Rosa lucida), Rosa rugosa splendens,
and a seedling Scotch Rose with the fruit in panicles,
different to the type, were very conspicuous. Mr.
Smith says that the Apple-fruited variety is now
splendid, a large bush, 8 feet high, being laden to
the ground, and that all the varieties are bearing
fruit this season.
The Scarlet American Mallcw (Hibiscus
coccineus). — This remarkable plant so rarely seen
in flower in Europe is now in bloom in the large
temperate house at Kew at the present time. It is
one of the several species of Hibiscus, growing wUd
in the Eastern United States. They are all very
handsome plants with large flowers, usually brightly
coloured. H. coccineus is an herbaceous perennial
growing as much as 8 feet high, but the Kew plant
is only about 6 feet. The flowers are like those
of the stove shrub Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and
about the same size, shape, and colour. The stems
are tall and slender, and with leaves like those
of the Hemp, and therefore very elegant. The
Scarlet Mallow is a native of the marshes and low,
rich tracts of country in Carolina, Florida, and
other Southern States, and consequently cannot be
called a hardy plant here. It does not succeed
unless grown in pots under greenhouse treatment.
Being so handsome, both in foliage and flower, it is
236
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 10, 1887.
quite worthy of general culture, though it is
doubtful if any nursery in this country could supply
it. It has been grown many years in English
gardens, but is still rare. It was figured in the
early volumes of the Botanical Mafjazine (t. SdO)
under the name of H. speciosus.— W. G.
Flowers from Edinburgli.— We have received
from Messrs. Dicksons and Co., Edinliurgh, flowers
of a seedling Clove Carnation, Nolly Anderson, also
blooms of Carnations James Grieve and Mrs. Green,
and Picotee Mrs. NicoU, but on arrival they were
too withered to give an opinion respecting their
merits. From the same firm also came flowers of
' the interesting and curious Dahlia viridiflora and
Antirrhinum Hendersoni, the latter of a pretty
crimson and cream colour.
A remarkable plant is now in flower at Kew
in the open air just outside the greenhouse No. 4.
It is one of the American Aloes (Agave lophantha),
a native of Mexico. It has the usual great tuft of
sword-like, fleshy leaves, and from this rises the
flower-spike, which is from 12 feet to 15 feet high.
The flowers are yellowish and closely set on the
stem, and their numerous protruding stamens give
the spike the appearance of a gigantic Bottle-brush.
The bloom is confined to the upper half of the stem,
and the expanded flowers occupy a length of about
2 feet. The plant is not, of course, hardy, but it is
placed outside because the Cactus house is not lofty
enough for its spike. — W. G.
Canna Ehemanni —What this handsome plant
is like when grown to its fullest size may be seen
in the tropical Water Lily house at Kew, where
there are plants of it growing in wet soil— mud, in
fact— that reach fully 10 feet high. The tall, slen-
der stems carry leaves as large as those of a Banana,
and the crimson flower clusters droop in a most
graceful manner from the tops of the stems. Grown
to such perfection, this Canna is one of the hand-
somest of all stove plants, and it is the more valu-
able, as it continues to bloom from early summer
till late autumn. Wherever there is a favourable
spot to plant this Canna out in wet soil it should be
done, for it is never seen to perfection either in a
pot or tub, however much attention is bestowed on
it.— G.
The Chili Jasmine (Mandevilla suaveolens) is
perfectly hardy here, having been grown on a south-
west wall for some years without the least protec-
tion, and has this summer flowered most profusely,
its large bunches of white, sweet-scented flowers
being very attractive. We find it thrives well in
about half and half of fibry peat and loam, with
sand to keep the soil open, and liberal drainage.
On this aspect and with the treatment named, I
think it would prove hardy in most gardens in the
south of England and Ireland.— W. 0., Fota Island,
Cork.
the top of the gouty-looking, naked stems, the only
foliage being that forming a sort of collar around
the flowers, which are about 3 inches across, pure
white with a lemon-yellow centre. The petals are
so thick and folded or twisted in such a singular
way, that they look artificial, and particularly as no
stamens nor pistil can be seen. It is really a very
beautiful plant, but only to be seen in botanic gar-
dens, probably because gardeners repudiate all
l^lants that possess an ungainly growth. A fine
specimen of it has been in flower in the Cactus
house at Kew for the past six weeks, and, judging
by the present appearance of the flower-spike, it
will remain a good while yet in perfection.- W.
Mucuna imbricata.— This Indian climbing
plant is again adorning the roof of the Palm house
at Kew with its great clusters of black flowers,
which look so much like bunches of Grapes, that
many visitors think that they really are Grapes.
The flower-clusters hang in precisely the same way
as Grapes, and are produced at regular intervals on
the vine, which festoons in a graceful way a large
area under the roof. Though so strange in appear-
ance when in bloom, this climber cannot be recorn-
mended for general culture, as it is too rampant in
growth, and only suitable for large conservatories.
As it is a native of the jungles of Sylhet, it neces-
sarily requires a hot and moist house. It is what
may be termed a mimetic plant, for the flowers of
no other plant that we know so much resemble
Grapes. — G.
Fuchsia triphylla.— The most important plant
at present in bloom in the temperate house at Kew
is this West Indian Fuchsia, a really beautiful plant,
and one that will undoubtedly come into general cul-
tivation. To describe it intelligibly, one must say
first that it is unlike most other Fuchsias, except m
habit of growth and foliage. Its flowers are more
like those of the Mitraria ooccinea, and quite as
brilliant scarlet. They are about IJ inches long,
with short sepals and petals, and a long tube. They
are produced in loose clusters terminating the young
shoots, which spread in a graceful way on all sides
of the plant. The flowers open in succession, so
that the plant is attractive for a long time. The
leaves are like ordinary Fuchsia leaves, but smaller,
and sometimes are arranged in whorls of three, but
this is not a constant character ; at least, in the pot
specimens at Kew. Though said to be West Indian,
it is grown very successfully at Kew under cool
treatment, and this is what makes it valuable, as
bright scarlet greenhouse plants flowering at this
season are not plentiful. It does not appear to be
grown in nurseries yet, but such a plant must come
to the front.
on all sides and clothed with tiny round leaves of
a pale green and a profusion of dense flower-
clusters not pure white. These flower-clusters spring
alternately at short intervals all along the wiry
twigs, and, being so abundant, had a charming
app'earance. The shrub was growing in partial
shade and in a soil composed almost entirely ot
chalk, so that, as a suitable subject for chalk, it is
one of the best. The shrub was labelled S. hyperici-
folia, but I fancy it must be one of the numerous
varieties of that species, as it seemed different Irom
the typical S. hypericifolia m the Kew arl^oret"™-
It most nearly resembled the variety called S. tia-
gelliformis, a variety of S. hypericifolia that was
figured some time ago in The Gabden from Mr.
Stevens' collection at Byfleet. S. flagelliformis is a
name well known in nurseries, and should anyone
wish to plant the Spiriea under notice it wiU be
advisable to ask for it under that name.— W.
Hybrid Water Lily.— Among the Tropical
Water Lilies in flower at Kew just now is a new
hvbrid that has been raised in the gardens by inter-
crossing the white-flowered N. Lotus and the rosy
pink N. devoniensis. Thehybrid has pink flowers, but
larger than those of either of its parents, the sepals
being longer and broader, while the colour is a very
deep rosy red. The flowers raise themselves erect out
of the water, and when fully expanded have a splendid
appearance. Besides this new kind there are many
other Water Lilies in bloom worthy of special notice,
and none more so than the Zanzibar Water Lily (N .
zanzibarensis), whose great purple-blue flowers are
the admiration of everyone. Then there are the
common N. Lotus, stellata, and dentata, which
flower profusely and have made the Lily tank one
of the most attractive features at Kew since June.—
W. G.
^ We liave just received floroers of the abore
taken from a sjiecimen <jrom/ng in the open air at
Comhe, ILmifon, JJeron, where it also proi-es quite
hard//. — Ed.
National Chrysanthemum Society.— The
first meeting for the ensuing season of the general
committee of the above society was held on Monday,
the 5th inst., at the " Old Four Swans," Bishops-
gate. The attendance was somewhat smaller than
usual. After the honorary secretary had read the
minutes of the former meeting he announced that
Mr. David Hutt, one of the oldest members, had
died since the committee last assembled together.
A vote of condolence with his family was accord-
ingly moved and carried. The nomination and
election of new members were proceeded with — the
total on the society's books being at the present
time 405. The Victoria Horticultural Improve-
ment Society having applied to become afliliated,
it was moved that the request be acceded to. A
question as to the interpretation of the note on
page 7 of the schedule was raised, but it was
resolved that no alteration could now be made.
Plumeria acutifolia.— Though this plant must
be looked upon as a botanical garden plant it is
quite worthy of attention, as its flowers are so
lovely and their fragrance so delightful. The flowers
are borne many together in an irregular cluster on
Crinum Mooreanum.— It cannot be generally
known that this lovely bulbous plant can be grown
to perfection in an ordinary greenhouse, otherwise
it would be more frequently seen than it is. It has,
in fact, proved quite hardy in some parts— Glas- ,
nevin, for instance, though it is not advisable to
risk such a plant in the open when there are hosts
of other plants for outside borders. But as a
greenhouse plant for flowering in August and Sep-
tember it is invaluable, and many a gardener would
be glad to have such a noble plant in bloom at this
season when indoor flowers are not plentiful. From
the base of the great globose bulbs it sends up
strong flower-spikes often a yard high, carrying a
cluster of open, bell - shaped flowers, 0 inches or
more across, of a lovely soft pink colour. The
depth of colour, however, varies in different
varieties, some being much deeper than others. A
plant when in bloom lasts in perfection for several
weeks. It is of the simplest culture, merely requiring
plenty of water while growing and a slight rest
during winter. This Crinum is now one of the
most noteworthy plants in bloom in the greenhouse
(No. 4) at Kew.— G.
Spiraea hypericifolia.— I saw this elegant
shrub in flower the other day in a garden among
the chalk hills in Sussex, and I thought at the time
I had never seen a hardy shrub more beautiful in
August. It was about 8 feet high (its full height,
in fact, as it was planted in the garden twenty years
ago), and its slender stems arose like graceful wands
The Rock Abelia (A. rupestris) is one of the
very few open-air shrubs that flower at this season
and onwards through the autumn. Since the recent
rains set in it has burst out with a profusion of
bloom. Against one of the walls at Kew a specimen
of it is quite a sheet of delicate pink bloom, and
will continue so for a long time. It is very neat m
growth, having small glossy green leaves and small
trumpet-shaped flowers produced m clusters of
threes and sweetly scented. Though it thrives best
when grown against a wall, it flourishes well m the
south without protection if planted high and dry.
For planting among rocks, mounds or on .rockeries
it is a charming shrub, as it spreads out in a neat
way and looks pretty at all seasons. In gardens
north of London it requires some protection, and in
some places it is grown as a greenhouse shrub It
is one of the many fine plants sent home from China
by Fortune some forty years ago.
Cosmos bipinnatuB.-Among all the Compo-
sites now in bloom there is none that can equal this
Cosmos for elegance of growth. Its fohage is like
a finely-cut Fern, and its flowers are ^^ large as
those of a single Dahlia, and quite as plentituh The
flowers are so much like a Dahlia, that it would
' puzzle one to tell the difference when cut from the
plant They are a bright rosy purple, set off by a
bright yellow disc or centre. The fohage mucli re-
sembles that of the common Fennel, and the p an
erows from 3 feet to C feet when very strong It is
^nTnnual, introduced from Mexico nearly 100 years
ago toough even now one must go to a botanical
collection to see it, as Dahlias monopohse so much
attention. Those who want to have a ^ore grace ul
plant than a Dahlia, and one quite as showy should
buy a few seeds of this Cosmos to raise seedlings
next April and plant them out m May in good so 1
and an open spot. It begins to flower in August
and does not stop till frost puts an end to it-
Passiflora kermesina.-In such a large genus
as Passiflora, which contains so ^lany beautiful
nlauts it is difiicult to say which is the bnest
spec L; or even pick out a few of the best Among
the best three kinds would certainly be P. kerme-
fna whose elegance of growth and beau y o
flowers are beyond adequate description. So thought
I?he other day when I saw a small greenbousewith
its roof entirely festooned with this de ightfulh tie
Passifloia The plant was covered with numberless
Sept. 10, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
237
starry llowers about i inches across, and of an ex"
quisitely soft carmine colour, a peculiar tint to be
found in no other Passion Flower or among other
plants. The shoots arc very slender and wiry, upon
which are hung the pretty triangular, or rather three-
lobed, leaves, and these are flushed with a sort of
vinous purple tint, so as to be in harmony with the
flowers. The flower shoots of this Passiflora are par-
ticularly beautiful when out and entwined around
the stem or pedestal of a flower vase on a dining
table, and for this purpose alone it is well worth
growing. No garden possessing a warm greenhouse
or stove should be without it, and it is easily obtained
in nurseries. Its flowering season continues for
several weeks at this season, but now it is at its best.
It may be seen at the present time in at least two of
the houses at Kew, and is very fine in the Palm
house. — W.
Brugmansia suaveolens. — Now and onward
for another month is the season for the noble
Brugmansias, or Tree Daturas, as some people call
them. Already in many gardens the common kinds,
such as B. sanguinea, 13. Knighti, and B. arborea,
are in bloom, and last week I saw the true B.
suaveolens in great beauty in Mr. Lane's garden at
Dangstein, in Hampshire. It was a grand plant
some 8 feet high, with broad and dense foliage, and
great trumpet shaped flowers about 9 inches long,
and pure white. Their perfume is delightful and
powerful enough to pervade the house. There is
not a grander sight at this season than a large plant
of one or other of these Brugmansias, and in every
greenhouse large enough to accommodate it a plant
ought to be grown. The white-flowered kinds, B.
suaveolens, B. Knighti (double), or B. arborea, are
the best, as their flowers show so finely amidst the
foliage. It is best to plant them out if possible in
a border of free soil, otherwise they require such a
huge pot or tub in which to develop their true
character. — G.
Destruction of wasps. — " May Blossom," who
inquires about the destruction of these in The
Gabden, Aug. 27 (p. 173), should pour say a pint of
paraflin oil into the opening leading into the wasps'
nest, and immediately ignite it, then fork up the soil
or otherwise disturb the occupants of the nest. As
the wasps attempt to fly out they are burnt. I
need scarcely suggest that night is much the safest
time to undertake, even by the means named, the
wholesale destruction of wasps. — Geo. Stme.
We are naturally suffering this year from a
plague of wasps. Allow me to relate how I always
destroy their nests in broad daylight, and how I
avoid getting stung during the operation, without
needing to put a veil over my face. I first prepare
a wet squib, composed of gunpowder and sulphur,
not too wet. I fill an ordinary squib-case or small
iron tube, with the mixture, cover the top with a
piece of touchpaper made with saltpetre ; light the
squib, and plunge it into the mouth of the hole that
communicates with the nest. I then cover the hole
with a sod, taking care that neither wasps nor sul-
phur fumes escape. After the lapse of ten minutes
the nests may be dug out and destroyed ; the wasps
inside will be either dead or helpless. During the
ten minutes that elapse before the nest is dug out
there will accumulate a great many wasps outside
the nest, but they will not attack you. Singularly
enough, while wasps that escape from the nest the
instant before the hole is closed will fly into the face
and sting, none of the wasps that come home dur-
ing the operation will attempt to do so, their efforts
being concentrated in trying to gain an entrance to
the nest. Care, therefore, must be taken that none
escape from the nest. The nest step is to capture
the wasps that are flying about. This is done in the
following way: Fill a wine bottle half full of
water ; upon the site of the nest dig a hole deep
enough to hold the bottle perpendicularly, so that
the cork-hole be level with the surface of the ground.
Into the hole place the wine-bottle, leaving the
mouth of the bottle open, and filling in the sides
with soil. Into the bottle every wasp that is
outside will immediately descend, and as often as
the bottle gets full of wasps take it up, empty it,
and again sink it, and the work is done. To destroy
wasps' nests by daylight is in every way far prefer-
able to doing it by night. In the daytime you
can see what you are aljout ; in the night you can-
not. Only take care that none escape out of the
nest while you are at work. Many a nest have I
destroyed in broad daylight, and never got stung ;
many have I destroyed at night, and often got
stung. — MoNOPS, in Field.
Grubs destroying Dahlias. — I send you
samples of a grub which has been very prevalent in
a bed of Dahlias, biting the stem above the bulbs,
and killing the shoot. They do not touch the bulbs.
Will you kindly give me the name, and also any
plan for destroying them ? — K. F. Waed.
*j* In, reply to the above, the grubs are those of
the common cockchafer (Melolontha vulgaris), and
are known as "white worms," and in Ireland as
" Connaught worms." They are very injurious to
the roots of many kinds of trees and plants. I fear
that there is no effectual remedy but turning up the
ground and picking out the grubs. Rooks are par-
ticularly fond of them. Keeping a tame rook in
the garden has been recommended as most service-
able in destroying these grubs. One pint of gas
liquor to nine parts of water, or strong salt and
water, administered freely, or digging in soot, or fine
ashes, or earth soaked in paraflin oil, have also been
tried with success. The history of these grubs is
as follows : The cockchafers lay their eggs in April
or May at the bottom of a hole which they make in
the ground. The grubs do not attain their full size
until they are nearly three years old; they then be-
come chrysalides, and appear as cockchafers the
next spring. — G. S. S.
"Vine and. Peach leaves diseased. — I enclose
you a Vine leaf. The crop has been poor, and is not
all off yet. When management of Viues is good,
should they be like this ? I also send a leaf from a
Peach tree in a Peach house. The crop has been
good, but has been gathered six weeks. Should you
consider they are wrong to he in this state with good
management ? — Inquirer.
*** lu reply to the above from "Inquirer," the
Vine and Peach leaves have been attacked by thrips,
the former much more severely than the latter ; other-
wise they appear healthy. — G. S. S.
SCIENTIFIC MARE'S NESTS.
Hessian fly scare. — As chairman of a Board
of Guardians and farming over 1250 acres of mostly
heavy land, you may possibly think my opinion on
the above subject — supported, as I believe, by
nearly all, if not all, my colleagues on the Board —
worth insertion. We believe that this insect has
been in the country for a hundred years or more,
and that it becomes dangerous to our crops only in
very exceptional seasons such as this, and even then
that the damage done by it is grossly exaggerated.
We believe that this scare is most absurd, and has
been largely circulated by amateur agriculturists,
partly from political motives and partly to show
how well (?) they attend to their duties as county
members. What has become of the Colorado beetle
or bug ?— East Anglian.
*^* The above appears in the Times, and it is
well that someone should at last protest against
the fool-fuss raised about things of little conse-
quence to anyone but those who write about them.
If any poor gardener or farmer had caused so much
needless alarm, or wasted so much of the space of
the daily papers,^he would long ago have been put
in Bedlam or in gaol. — Ed.
The Pleur-de-Ijis. — Its most ancient Egyptian,
Assyrian, Persian, Ajahic, Armenian, Byzantine, and
European examples — whether ou sceptres, crowns,
helmets, coins, seals, or monuments, whether in
mosques or on tombs, in art, in heraldi-y, or in
industry — show the Fleur-de-Lis to he no Lily flower,
hut a triple unison, the emblem of a triad. Its French
renown is a mere modern vulgarisation, an adoption
from the East during the Crusades, and dating from
Louis TIL, about a.d. 1137. The Fleur-de-Lis crowns
Osiris and Isis, as being engendered from Phtah, the
most ancient of the Egyptian gods, and it is also, in
sceptre form, iu the glyphic of Phtah himself. It
was, besides and derivatively, a symbol of fecundity,
happiness, and riches, and as such appeared on the
Arabic coins, and on the Moorish coins of Spain.
M. Isidore Loeb has recently engraved an instance of
it from a middle-aged seal of some Spanish Jew {Revue
lies Etvdes Juives, 1887, p. i^fiS). It woidd be im-
possible iu brief limits to discuss this subject, which
was fully treated in M. Adalbert de Beaumont's model
essay, " Recherches sur I'Origine de la Fleur-de-Lis,"
Paris, 1853. — John O'Neill.
Sept.
FLOWER SHOW FIXTURES.
13.— Royal Horticultural Fruit and Floral
Meetings.
Woodstock Horticultural Society.
14. — National Chrysanthemum Society.
27. — Royal Horticultural Fruit and Floral
Committees.
Oct. 6, 7, 8.— Crystal Palace.
11. — Royal Horticultural Fruit and Floral
Committee.
25. — Royal Horticultural Fruit and Floral
Committee.
Nov. 1. — Southampton (two day s) .
3. — Havant Chrysanthemum Society.
4 & 5.— Crystal Palace.
8. — Royal Horticultural Fruit and Floral
Committees.
Brighton Chrysanthemum Society (two
days).
Lambeth and Southwark Chrysanthe-
mum Society (three days).
9. — National Chrysanthemum Society (two
days).
10. — Portsmouth Chrysanthemum Society.
11. — Huddersfield Chi"ysanthemum Society
(two days).
IG. — Birmingham Chrysanthemum Society.
Ealing Chrysanthemum Society.
IS. — Reading Chrysanthemum Society.
22. — Oxfordshire Chrysanthemum and Fruit
Show.
23. — Banbui-y Chrysanthemum and Fruit
Show.
25. — Pontefract Chrysanthemum Society.
Secretaries of flower shows will oblige by forwarding
us dates of when their shows are to be held.
The death of Mr. William Ferguson,
F.Z.S., we learn, occurred recently. The Ceylon
Ohserrer states that he was born in the year 1820,
and that he had been connected with Ceylon for
nearly 48 years, having first arrived in the island in
December, 1839. He was the author of a long and
valuable series of contributions on natural history
and cognate subjects in the columns of the Ceylon
Obseri-er and the Tropical Agrieulturist. Sir
Joseph Hooker, Bentham, Munro, and others have
recognised the fulness and accuracy of Mr. Fergu-
son's information on botanical questions. He was
a self-taught man upon these subjects, and, after
becoming a practical botanist and entomologist,
made a complete study of the natural history of
Ceylon, tabulating the products of every region of
the island. He has left behind him, in addition to
a mass of notes on other subjects, full descriptions
and illustrations for a monograph on luminous
beetles, including fire-flies and glow-worms, which
will now be undertaken by a specialist.
K^ames of plants. — Brom. — Leycesteria formosa.
— ^Si.1; Years' Reader. — 1, Black Solanum (Solanum
nigrum); 2, Procumbent Veronica (Veronica agrestis).
A. Young. — No specimen received.. W. Y.Hope-
ijood. — Stanhopea insignis. Sine Macula. — Lapa-
geria rosea. T. Boijle Woolley. — Taxodium disti-
chum. F. W. C. — Acalypha musaica. /. J. — 1,
Inula glaudulosa ; 2, Amaranthus species. G. W.
Eotch. — Deadly Nightshade (Atropa belladonna). •
A. G. — 1, Sparmannia africana; 2, garden variety of
Begonia; 3, Onychium japonieum; 4, Gymnogramma
chrysophylla ; 5, Pteris cretica. B. K. — 1, Odonto-
glossum tJro-Skinneri; 2, 0. bictonense album ; 3, Gy-
pripedium Sehhmi. G. W. — 1, Aspleuium hetero-
carpum ; 2, A. pumUum. Tpjihridge. — 1, Odontq-
glossum Qirstedi majus; 2, Oncidium dasystyle; 3,
0. Krameri. T. Jenhins. — 1, Ceratopteris thalic-
troides; 2, Pteris semipinnata; 3,Leucostegiaimmersa;
4, Selliguea caudiformis. Geum. — 1, Anagallis ar-
vensis ; 2, Utrieularia vulgaris ; 3, Galeohdolon luteum ;
4, Chlora perfoliata. Fern. — All the specimens
appear to be forms of the Lady Fern (Athyrium Filis-
f Qsmina) , but are such wretched scraps that they are
iudeterniiu able .
Names of fruit. — C. Lucas. — Plum, Jefferson's. —
W. Whait. — Apples, 1, Hawthornden; 2, Kerry Pip-
pin; 3, Golden Noble; 4, Duchess of Oldeuburg.
B. Kelly. — Apple, Yellow Ingestrie.
238
THE GARDEN.
WOODS & FORESTS.
ECONOMIC FORESTRY.*
This liandy work, the contents of a score and
more reports and pamphlets included in one,
will be welcomed by every person who is at all
interested in the timber resources of the world,
and it is probably the first work of the kind
directly bearing on the above subject that has
yet been published. Beginning with the con-
tint, nt of Europe, a general summary of the
names and economic uses of the timber trees of
each country and its islands is given, followed
up in consecutive order and in a similar way
with those of Asia, Africa, America, and Aus-
tralasia. In dealing with the various trees of
each country popular as well as botanical names
are freely cited ; while the quality of the timber
and its uses, as well as approximate size to
which each attains, render this part of the work
highly interesting and of great practical value.
Why the common Larch (Larix europrea) is in-
cluded amongst the prevalent species that are
indigenous to the United Blingdom, and expelled
from the list of so-called exotic species, it would
be difficult to say ; for doth not John Parkinson
tell us in his " Parnassus " that " the Larch was
introduced into England prior to 1629" I This
is, however, a minor mistake or oversight as
compared with the statement made a little fur-
ther on, where, in speaking of the Douglas Pir
(Pseudotsuga Douglasi), it is said that it " bids
fair to become the most important timber tree
of North Britain." Had " the most sheltered
valleys of Southern England " been substituted
for " North Britain," we would even then have
had some difficulty in concealing our astonish-
ment at the remark ; but to say that a tree that
cannot raise its head above its neighbours with-
out being broken over by the wind, or have its
leading shoot converted into a whip handle, and
that even in the warmest and mildest parts of
England, where the Chinese Cunninghamia and
the Chamairops have stood unharmed for the
past quarter of a century, will ever become the
most important timber tree of North Britain, is
certainly a statement that requires a great
amount of modification. Had the Corsican
Pine (Pinus Laricio), a tree that unfortunately
is excluded from Mr. Boulger's list of commonly
cultivated species in this country, taken the
place of the Douglas Fir, few British foresters
would have cared to find fault with the state-
ment, for it is in every way a superior tree to
the Douglas Fir for forest planting in this
country.
Economic forestry is likewise rendered of
particular interest from the fact that many, in-
deed the majority, of the woods enumerated
were exhibited in this country, either at the
Edinburgh Exhibition of 1884, or the Colonial
and Indian, in London, of 1886.
Altogether, Mr. Boulger's pamphlet is of
great value, and will save those who are inte-
rested in timber trees generally a vast amount
of trouble in examining the numerous reports
and papers over which a like amount of infor-
mation is scattered. A. D. W.
[Sept. 10, 1887.
mass of the work, and that the varnish used be as
light-coloured as it is possible to be got, for it we
varnish with a common dark-coloured varnish the
wood will all the sooner become discoloured.
Staining Pitch Bine.— Pitch Pine has a strong
tendency to quickly get darker in colour. This
arises chiefly from the effect of the air upon the
turpentine and resin contained in the wood (just as
varnish gets dark by exposure), and therefore, ex-
cept the work is required of a dark colour to begin
with, it is advisable that no stains be used on the
* " Eoouomic Forestry." By Profes.sor G. S. Boulgor,
London. Reprinted from the "Transactions of the
Scottish Arboricultuval Society," vol. xi., part 3, 1887.
AMONG THE BIG TREES OF CALIFORNIA.
The passage of the great American desert which is
crossed on the way from New York to San Francisco
is perhaps the best preparation one could have for
the startling verdure and giant tree-life of the
Sierras. Dust, dreariness, alkali — the earth look-
ing as if sprinkled with salt ; here and there a few
tufts of brown Grass in favoured places ; but gener-
ally nothing |,better than starved Wormwood, that
seems afraid to put forth more than a few small,
grey leaves, represents the vegetable kingdom in
the plains of the desert region. Where the arid
hills — worn with horizontal lines by the waves of
long-dried seas — are visible, a few thin tufts of
Alders and Poplars mark their hollows ; while
Willows fringe the streams of undrinkable water
which course through their valleys. A better idea
of the country can scarcely be had than by imagin-
ing an ashpit several hundred miles across, in which
a few light grey weeds, scarcely distinguishable
from the parched earth, had sprung up, regardless
of drought.
As the train ascends the Sierra, there are long
covered sheds, which guard it from the snow in the
winter — dark ribbed tunnels. Dawn broke upon us
as we were passing through these; and, looking out,
we saw such a change from the Salt Lake scenery
as one experiences in passing from a hot dusty road
to a cool, green, ferny dell. Dust and alkali, dreari-
ness, harshness of arid rock, and hopelessness of
barren soil, are seen no more. Near at hand a giant
Pine rushes up like a huge mast, while in the dis-
tance they fill the deep valleys and crest all the
wave-like hills till these are lost in the distant
blue.
On the very summit of the Sierra Nevada the
vegetation is not luxuriant. When you see a solitary
Pine that has been bold enough to plant itself among
the boulders and rocks of the high summits, it is
usually so contorted that it looks as it inhabited by
demons ; while here one has succumbed to the
enemy, and you see a few blanched branches stick-
ing from a great, dead, barkless base, lapped over
the earth] ess granite. But go a little lower down,
and most probably you will find a noble group of
Picea, startling, from the size and height of the
trunk, though looking much tortured about the
head by the winds that surge across these summits
— the mast-heads of the continent. Snow falls
early and deep on the Sierras, and the roots of
the higher trees are often covered with it to a
depth of from G feet to 25 feet. Near the rail, and
near frequented places, thick stumps of Pines, (! feet
to 15 feet high, may be noticed ; these are the trees
cut down when the snow is high and thick and firm
about the lower part of their stems. But if the
nights are bitterly cold, the sun is strong in the
blue sky far into the winter months, so that the
snow is melted oS the tree tops, and the leaves of
the Pines live, in golden light, long into the winter.
All the Pines that grow near the summit must
resist the most piercing cold.
The golden light of the sky and the blue of its
depths, and the purity of the fresh mantle of snow
are not more lovely in their way than the robe of
rich yellow Lichen with which the stems and
branches of the Pines are clothed. Imagine a dense
coat of golden fur, 3 inches deep, clothing the bole
of a noble tree for a length of 100 feet, and then
running out over aU the branches, even to the small
dead twigs, and smothering them in deep fringes of
gold, and some idea may be formed of the glorious
effect of this Lichen (Evernia). It is the ornament
of the mountain trees only ; in the vaUeys and foot-
hills I did not notice it.
To the flanks of the western slopes of the great
chain of the Sierras one must go to see the noblest
trees and the richest verdure. There every one of
thousands of mountain gorges, the pleasant and
varied passes of every vale that aljounds with its
streams and rivers, and all the hills from top to
bottom, are densely clothed with noble Pines
and glossy Evergreens. The autumn days I
spent among these trees were among the happiest
man could desire. Every day a glorious sunshine,
and the breeze as gentle as if it feared to hurt the
long-dead trees standing here and there leafless,
and perhaps barkless, but still pointing as proudly
to the zenith as their living brothers. Wander
away from the little dusty roads, crossing, perhaps,
a few long and straight banks of Grass and loose
earth — dead monarchs of the wood, now rendered
back to the dust from which they once gathered so
much beauty and strength— and "fancy willingly re-
minds us of the mast-groves of the Brobdignags,
quite cut away from little worlds and little people.
There is little animal life visible, with the exception
of a variety of squirrel, ranging from the size of a
mouse to that of a large ferret, the graceful Cali-
fornia quail, and occasionally a hare or skunk.
Everywhere vegetation is supreme, and in some
parts higher effects are seen than is the case in the
most carefully planted park or pleasure ground in
the most favoured climate. This results not more
from the stately Pines (not often crowded together,
as in the Eastern States, but with perfect room for
development, and often near the crest of a knoll,
standing so that each tall tree stands clear against
the sky) than from the rich undergrowth of Ever-
greens with larger leaves that form a smaller pic-
turesque forest beneath the tall trees. Grand as are
the Pines and Cedars (Libocedrus), one is glad they
do not monopolise the woods ; the Evergreen Oaks
are glossy and form such handsome low trees. One
with large shiningleaves, yellowish beneath , and large
acorns sitting in thick cups, covered with a dense
and brilliant fringe of fur, was the most beautiful
Oak I ever saw ; but most of the Evergreen Oaks of
California, whether of the plains or hills, are very
ornamental trees. One day in a deep valley
darkened by the shade of giant specimens of the
Libocedrus, I was astonished to see an Arbutus,
about 60 feet high, and quite a forest tree. This is
Menzies' Arbutus, commonly known by the old
Mexican name of the " Madrona " ; and a very
handsome tree it is, with a cinnamon-red stem and
branches. Here and there, too, the Californian
Laurel (Oreodaphne) forms Laurel-like bushes, and
tends to give a glossy, evergreen character to the
vegetation. Shrubs around the Manzanita (jVrcto-
staphylos glauca) and the Ceanothuses being usually
predominant ; while beneath these and all over the
bare ground are the dried stems of the numerous
handsome bulbs and brilliant annual flowers, that
make the now dry earth a living carpet of stars and
bells of joyous hues.
Those who have not visited the high lands of
California can have no idea of the size and majesty
of the trees. It is a mistake to suppose the Sequoia
(VVellingtonia) is such a giant among them ; several
grow nearly or quite as high, and it is very likely
that in such a climate all the Pines known in Bri-
tain would attain extraordinary dimensions. There
was a small saw-mill near where I stopped for some
days, and several yokes of oxen were always occu-
pied in dragging Pine logs to it. The owner never
thought of bringing anything smaller to this than
a log 3 feet or i feet in diameter in its smallest
part, and usually left 100 feet or so of the portion
of the tree above this on the ground where it fell,
as useless. At a future time I may have the
pleasure of speaking of some of the big trees in-
dividually, and conclude now by asking what it is
that causes the tree growth to be so noble there.
There can be no doubt that the climate is almost
the sole cause. Soil has very little to do with it. I
have frequently noticed the trees luxuriating where
there is not a particle of what we call soil, and,
indeed, in places where 25 feet or so of the whole
of the earth had been washed away by the gold-
miners. A bright sun for nearly the whole year
and a sufficiency of moisture from the Pacific ex-
plain the matter. This should draw our attention
to the fact that, in ornamental planting, and espe-
cially in the planting of coniferous trees, we pay
far too much attention to suppljing them with rich
and deep soil, and far too little consideration to the
capabilities of the climate in which we have to plant.
W.
THE GARDEN.
239
No. 826. SATURDAY, Sept. 17, 1887. Vol, XXXII.
"This is an Art
Which does mend Nature : change it rather ; but
The Abt itself is Nature."— SAalrsjjcarc.
CHINA ASTERS AT CHISWICK.
Among the subjects for trial this year at the
Iloyal Horticultural Society's Gardens at Chis-
wick are China Asters, a large collection of sorts
having been planted for the purpose, but, not-
withstanding the hot, dry season bo detri-
mental to the luxuriant growth of such an-
nuals as Asters, they have grown well. The
China Aster has now become such an im-
portant garden plant, and there is such a
bewildering ntunber of strains and sorts, that
some such methodical trial as this is necessary
in the interests of the gardening public, and
even with this partial trial there are many in
ferior sorts grown. Owing to the exertions of
the French raisei-s, and M. Truffaut in parti-
cular, as well as Mr. Betteridge in this coun-
try, the China Aster has been brought to
a high state of perfection, and now the
only thing to do is to direct the attention
of the public to the best sorts. Recently, the
floral committee of the society made an inspec
tion of the plantation, as they did in the case of
the Nasturtiums a few weeks previous, in order
to adjudicate upon the merits of the sorts, irre-
spective of their being new or old. The heavy
storms had damaged the flowers a good deal,
but still the committee were able to single out
the most meritorious sorts, the majority of which
belonged to the Chrysanthemum, or reflexed
floreted section, and the Pseony, or incurved
floreted section, and the tall Victoria section, and
these were contributed chiefly by Messrs. Benary
(Erfurt), Vilmorin (Paris), and Carter (London).
The multitude of tints now to be seen among
these Asters makes it a difficult matter in some
instances to discern the difl^erence between them,
b\it in cases where the tints were similar the
free-flowering character and growth in the sort
were taken into consideration by the committee.
Some sort of intelligent classification is greatly
needed among these China Asters, and it would
be well if the several seed houses would submit
to have it carried out on neutral ground. At
present the only attempt at classification is that
founded on the colour and form of the flowers
and habit of growth, which latter is as varied as
the tints. The useless multiplication of sections
has been practised until seedsmen themselves
must experience a difficulty in regard to the
names of the strains, and how much more be-
wildering it is to the public.
The greater number out of the seventy odd
kinds grown were, of course, passed over, and the
following were selected as being the best. The
practice of the committee is to award three
marks to sorts that are first-rate in every point,
taking both flowers, colour, and habit into ac-
count ; and two marks to those that are inferior
in one of these three characters. The following
were awarded three marks among the tall Vic-
toria section : Mignon, piure white, remarkably
free-flowering and very neat habit ; Victoria
Rose and White, form of flower excellent ; Vic-
toria Crimson, colour bright rose flushed with
a paler tint ; Peach Blossom, delicate pink
colour, extremely pretty ; and Victoria Crimson
and White, colour deep rose striped white. Two
marks were given to the following Victoria
kinds : Brown Violet, a peculiar shade of colour,
hardly definable, and ^Vhite turning to rose, a
colour which means that the flowers open pale,
and get darker by age.
The small-quilled section came next, among
which only one had three marks. This was
that labelled Reddish Violet, a bright and at-
tractive colour. Liliput White, a small-flowered,
free-flowering sort, was awarded three marks ;
while three marks were also given for the
whole strain. Among the dwarf pyramid sorts
one, called Bouquet Rose, had three marks, and
so had one called Harlequin Purple ; while
Harlequin Red was considered worthy of two
marks only. These Harlequin sorts have flowers
with florets of various colours, but with one
predominating tint. One of the Multiflora sec-
tion, named Light YeUow, had three marks,
being so distinct from others, the centre of the
flower being a good yellow. Two marks were
given for the strain of Imbricated Pompons,
and three marks to the mixed strain of Liliput
Pompons. A half-dwarf Pteony-flowered sort,
called Blood Red, was one of the finest in the
collection, the colour being a deep rich blood
red, and the flower was good, and also the habit.
Among Messrs. Carter's selection the following
were awarded three marks : Chrysanthemum
Crimson, Copper Coloured, White, Light Blue,
and Purplish Crimson. These five are all first-
rate sorts in every point. Among the dwarf
growing sorts from the same firm. Dwarf
French Carmine, Rose with White, Dark
Blood Red, Rose, Copper Red, and Light
Blue, were given three marks each. Some of
Messrs. Carter's sorts were raised from home-
saved seed, and the plants were as fine as those
raised from Continental seed. Some of the
Cocardeau or Crown-flowered section are ex-
tremely pretty, but they were not well repre-
sented in this trial ; neither were the beautiful
quiUed sections ; and it would be quite worth
continuing the trial another year, when pro-
bably the weather will be more favourable.
W. G.
A TOWN OF FLO'SVERS.
MoEB so than perhaps any other place I have
yet visited does the pleasantly situated town of
Denbigh deserve the above appellation, for cer-
tainly in point of floral beauty it is surpassed by
no other I can call to mind.
From the railway station to the castle the main
street, which has a gradual, but steep ascent all
the way, may be said to be lined with small and
tastefully kept gardens, each weU furnished with
the sweetest and showiest of flowers ; indeed, what
with trees, shrubs, and flowers, hardly a buUding
was to be seen. Lilium auratum I saw in fine
condition, while some plants of Hydrangea pani-
culata grandiflora well sustained their cumbrous,
but suggestive, name, the panicles of flowers
being extremely abundant and chaste in colour.
Myrtles (the small and large-leaved kinds) seemed
to flourish to perfection, as also the Mock Orange,
Sea Lavender, and hosts of other old-fashioned
plants, the rich soil of the famous Vale of Clwyd
producing a profusion of healthy foliage and
flowers that is perhaps unsurpassed in any other
Welsh district at least. Conspicuous for some
distance along the principal street is a fine old
specimen of the English Yew, the rounded massive
head and spreading boughs of which were fes-
tooned with garlands of the Old Man's Beard
(Clematis Vitalba).
The light green foliage and curiously formed
whitish flowers of this creeper had a most dis-
tinct and pleasing appearance when contrasted with
the deep, sombre hue of the Yew, and together
formed a combination that it would be hard to
match in a simple rustic way. Half-a-dozen stately
specimens of the upright Cypress (Cupressus sem-
pervirens) have a most distinct and attractive
appearance, their columnar habit and peculiarly I
massed foliage and cones rivetting the attention
of most passers-by. Next to this is as fine and
well kept a Beech hedge as I have ever seen, it
being about 20 feet in height, and fantastically cut
into a number of lofty arches.
In the public garden, which is nearly opposite
the Cypresses just mentioned, are numerous, well
grown, and rare specimens of ConiferiE, including
amongst others the largest variegated Wellingtonia
I have yet seen, it being a tree of about 20 feet in
height, well furnished with branches down to the
ground, and the variegation regular and well defined.
Upright-growing Lawson's Cypresses are here in
plenty, and with as bright, healthy foliage as I
have before seen. The rich loam of this place suits
the Nordmann's Fir and Eetinosporas, as these look
both healthy and happy, with straight, clean, and
densely branched trunks. The Austrian and Wey-
mouth Pines could not have appeared in better
form, and afforded just the little shelter that was
necessary for numerous others of our semi-hardy
Conifers. The garden is tastefully kept, the walks
clean, the Grass short and tidy, all quite in keeping
with the fountains which have recently been
erected.
The ruins of the ancient castle, which was built
in the reign of Edward I. by the Earl of Leicester,
and to whom it was given by the king, are well
worthy of a visit, the grounds being extensive and
well kept, while a small museum contains many in-
teresting relics that were found within the walls.
The grand entrance to the castle is in a tolerably
good state of preservation, and consists of a large
Gothic archway flanked by two octagonal towers,
now very much in ruins, while the walls are of
extraordinary strength and thickness and beauti-
fully mantled with Ivy. Charles I. visited the
castle in 1645, the next year it was besieged by and'
surrendered to General Mytton, and it was blown
up in the time of Charles II. Near the bowling
green is the famous Goblin Tower, which, when
complete, must have been of vast height, while ex-
tending to a great depth there is, from the present
floor of the tower, a dry well, the object of the
tower, being, no doubt, the protection of the water
supply.
The woodwork of the roof of the church of St.
Hilary, which is the most beautiful feature of
the building, is well worthy of inspection, and
received along with the hagioscopes on each side of
the chancel arch a considerable amount of attention
from the members of the Cambrian Archaeological
Association, who were present at the time of my
visit. One of the members also pointed out that
this was the only instance of a church in North
Wales that was provided with squints or hagio-
scopes on each side of the chancel arch. Within
the precincts of the castle is standing the quaint
old house in which Stanley, the African explorer,
was brought up, although the neighbouring 'town
of St. Asaph shares the honour of being the birth-
place of the celebrated traveller. Altogether the
town of Denbigh is well worthy of a visit, and
should not be omitted by those who are residing in
the district, be they interested in horticultural or
antiquarian pursuits. A. D. Webstee.
Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis). — There
are few finer or more distinct perennial plants than
this, and when grown as a bedder, as it is in the
garden of Mr. Lee, Downside, Leatherhead, its rich
and striking character is effective and telling. We
should always be on the alert for noting happy
effects in the garden, and one may be created with
little expense and trouble by planting this Lobelia,
famous for its rich colouring both in leafage and
flowers, the latter a subdued, but striking crimson.
There is a round bed fiUed with it on the terrace,
and this is the way to employ it profitably ; but also
plant it in the border and on the higher portion of
the rockery. It can scarcely he called hardy, but ,
in favoured spots will survive without harm. The
safest plan is, however, to lift the plants when their
beauty is over and put them in a cold frame, cover-
ing with mats when the weather is unusually severe. ■
With this treatment they will keep safe until spring, '
when they may again be transferred to the' opSn '
240
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 17, 1887.
This Lobelia should have a rich, moist soil, moderate
shelter, and, if placed in a high position, support to
the flower-stems if likely to be levelled by winds or
rains. We have also seen the Cardinal Flower made
good use of in converting a swampy portion of the
garden into a paradise of beauty. — E.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
The Gardeners' Eoyal Benevolent Insti-
tution.— We are informed that the Right Hon. Sir
Robert Peel has kindly consented to preside at the
anuual friendly dinner of this institution after the
general meeting to be held in January next.
Annual flowers. — Amongst a gathering of
flowers, including Asters, Stocks, and Marigolds, from
Messrs. Webb, Stourbridge, we note the fine blooms
of Zinnias, which ought to be grown more largely in
our gardens, as they bloom so freely in the autumn,
when flowers are on the wane.
The Stan well Perpetual T?ose. — The autumn-
flowering variety of the Scotch Rose is now (Sept. -10)
beautifully in bloom, the plant being covered with its
deliciously fragrant white flowers. This pretty form
ought to be far more extensively planted among Scotch
and other summer Roses, as it enlivens the beds when
they are otherwise looking very dull. — T. W. G.
Kosa Fissardi. — This very attractive Rose is now
flowering freely, semi-douhle only, but delightfully
fragrant, the flowers being pi-oduced in large clusters,
their appearance, as well as the whole habit of the
plant, recalling more or less the old Musk Rose. It is
well worth a trial among single and semi- double Roses,
as it is said to he perfectly hardy in this country. —
T. W. G.
Blue Hydrangea. — In a small cottage garden a
few days ago we saw a nice specimen of Hydrangea
hortensis, carrying six large panicles of flowers, the
colour being a beautiful azure-blue. The owner said
he had done nothing to induce the colouring, which
had never been so intense as it was this year. Perhaps
the situation or season may have had some effect. —
A. H.
Tea and Tfoisette Roses.— Mr. W. Rumsey,
Waltham Cross, has sent us a gathering of these, cut
from the open ground, the whole of the flowers fresh
and lovely, the colour well defined, and the fragrance
strong. There were excellent blooms of Niphetos,
Mdme. Lambard (fine in colour)", Innocente ^irola,
Marfichal Niel, and Mdlle. Angele Jacquier (delicate
pink).
Dendrobium rhodostoma. — This Dendrobe
is flowering in the collection of Sir Trevor
Lawrence, Dorking, and is the result of a cross
between D. Huttoni and D. sanguinolentum. It is
of exquisite beauty and delightful colour, the flower
small and neat, with the sepals white,, save the tips,
which are rich rose-magenta ; the petals are
suffused with the same hue ; also the lip, which has,
in addition, conspicuous stripes in the throat ; the
magenta and white make a lovely contrast.
The red-handed Japan Lily. — Mr. Grahame,
of Croydon, brought us on September 5 a fine
specimen of this, grown in the open air. The broad
red bands are so striking in this, that ' its botanical
name of auratum seems less appropriate than we
used to think it. We do not think it is very beauti-
ful, although it is a showy variety. It is time the
public should begin to discriminate about all the
doubtful colours that are creeping into our
favourites. Mr. Grahame tells us that his splendens
variety of the Tiger LUy is 10 feet high.
Bignonia Cherere. — This splendid Mexican
climber is so seldom seen in flower that, whenever
it is seen, one is tempted to make a note of it. I
saw it in bloom the other day in Lord Leconfield's
garden at Petworth in the greenhouse among several
other old climbers that one does not often meet
with now-a-days. The great trumpet-shaped flowers
are very showy, being about 4 inches long, with a
wide open mouth of a rich orange-scarlet. They
remind one of the common hardy Bignonia (Tecoma)
radicans, but are much larger and brighter in colour.
The flowers are produced on the ends of the young
shoots in loose clusters, and surrounded by large-
divided leaves with oval-shaped leaflets. The plant
is a strong grower, and has stout, wiry stems. It
generally grows too rampant to flower freely, but
when the soil becomes exhausted it blooms freely
enough. It is only suitable for adorning the roofs
of large houses on account of its luxuriant growth.
It thrives well in ordinary greenhouse temperature,
but some make a mistake in trying to grow it in a
stove. As it comes from the high regions of Mexico
it does not require great heat. — W. G.
Jasmine Nightshade (Solanum jasmiuoides).
— This beautiful creeper is now in full bloom on
many cottage walls in the south of England. It is
usually planted in a sunny aspect, where the wood
gets well ripened. If the winter proves severe, and
the soft unripened tips of the shoots get killed,
the older wood is quite safe, and breaks out into
full growth at the return of spring. All these
shoots flower profusely during the latter part of
summer and autumn ; in fact, until severe frost
comes. It is very pretty under glass, but becomes
so infested with green and black fly, that I have
discarded it as a greenhouse climber. The constant
fumigating necessary to keep it clean made it un-
profitable to grow, but on open walls in mild situa-
tions it is well worthy of a place. — J. G. H.
Hyacinthus candicans. — This is now recog-
nised as of high value for adding to the beauty of
the garden in the early autumn months, and as it
has become known that it is a plant requiring no
special cultural conditions, its popularity will doubt-
less increase. It grows with but little attention
and in ordinary soil, the seeds, moreover, germinating
with great readiness,, so that a stock can be easily
raised. There is a mass of it in bloom in the
Epsom Nursery, the white bell-shaped flowers
proving of use in the making of wreaths and other
choice arrangements. It is a fine plant for a rookery
when placed so that its stately character can be
seen, and for borders it is also useful to impart
variety. We have seen it grown in pots, and though
not the best of plants for this method of culture,
yet a few specimens so grown are welcome at this
season for the conservatory or greenhouse.
Pompon Purple Jacoby. — As a September
flower for the greenhouse this new strain of dwarf
Seneoio elegans named pomponius is excellent
when grown well in pots, for the plants are then so
dwarf, Eo neat in growth, and so full of flower that
they make an extremely pretty display. The
flowers are very double, and remind one of double
Cinerarias. The colours are as various as in the
common sorts — crimson, purple, white, pink, and
intermediate shades. This pretty strain of Jacoby
does not seem to be generally known, but being so
useful for greenhouse decoration from August till
iOctober, it is worth attention. The pot culture of
Jacoby is simple. It must be treated as other half-
hardy annuals, and treated liberally, so as to get
strong flowering plants by the end of the summer.
By sowing at intervals a longer display of flowering
plants may be kept up.
Hibiscus cisplatanus is, like H. coccineus, a
half-hardy species very seldom seen, though ex-
tremely beautiful when in flower. A specimen of it
now in flower in the temperate house at Kew shows
it to be a free-growing plant, producing about this
time of the year an abundance of flowers in succes-
sion. The blossoms, produced singly from the axils
of almost every leaf, are very much like those of a
single Hollyhock, but more beautiful, inasmuch as
both the form and colour are finer. The flower is
quite funnel-like, of a delicate pink, with a heavy
blotch of rich crimson at the base, and the Mush-
room-shaped stigma is likewise crimson. The stems
are herbaceous, but the root is perennial, and the
leaves vary from heart-shaped to three-lobed. It is
a very handsome plant, and of great interest to
anyone interested in uncommon plants. The label
states that its synonvm is H. spinulosus, and that it
was presented to Kew by the late Mr. Joad, of
Wimbledon Park.— W. G.
Iiattice-leaf plant (Ouvirandra fenestralis). —
This is flowering with Sir Trevor Lawrence, Burford
Lodge, Dorking, and the comparative rarity of the
occurrence makes it worth recording. The speci-
men is exceptionally fine, and located in a small
tank in one of the Orchid houses. The leaves, as is
well known, form the feature of the plant, having
the appearance of a skeleton of nerves, or lattice-
work; hence the English name, which is at once
appropriate and descriptive. They vary in size
according to the strength of the specimen, and
when well developed their delicate and marvellous
construction is finely shown. The flower-stalk is of
considerable length, and at the apex branches in
two, the white, fragrant spikes, almost resting on
the water, standing out in bold relief. After they
have faded, the stem gradually sinks, and at the
bursting of the pods the seeds are distributed to a
considerable distance; the numerous progeny ger-
minate readily when properly treated. It requires
moving water to promote healthiness and a vigorous
constitution. The Lattice-leaf plant was one of the
fine things introduced from Madagascar by the
Rev. W. Ellis.
The Syrian Hibiscus (H. syriacus).— This,
the "Althfea frutex" of old botanists, is known to
many by name, but can scarcely be called common,
notwithstanding that it has strong claims for con-
sideration. It is in full flower now in the Epsom
Nursery together with many of its varieties, which
vary in hue and other particulars, but the type
stands alone for purity of colour and delicate beauty.
The flower in the setting of cheerful green leaves
looks well both on the plant and when cut, and for
the latter purpose it is admirably fitted, as it lasts
for a lengthy period without exhibiting the least
signs of fading. I had one In my coat for fourteen
hours, and notwithstanding that it was without a
drop of water, it was as fresh at the end of that
time as the beginning. When grown in a position
somewhat sheltered, sunny, and moderately dry, the
plant makes an ornamental bushy specimen. — E.
Peruvian Swamp Lily (Zephyranlhes Can-
dida).— This is one of the flowers of the season, and
is most delicate and beautiful when seen in the
form, of vigorous clumps, as we noticed it at Bur-
ford Lodge, Dorking, and in the nursery of Mr.
Morse, of Epsom. In both places the adaptability
of the plant for embellishing the garden during the
autumn months was well displayed, and it is strange
that, notwithstanding its usefulness, it is compara-
tively rare. The flowers, resembling a pure white
Crocus, are of delicate beauty and refinement, and
in perfect harmony with the olive-green Rush-like
foliage. It thrives in ordinary soil, and may be in-
creased freely by division of the offsets, so that no
one need say its difiicult propagation or culture
renders it an expensive or unprofitable flower. At
Dorking there were patches of it in a border skirt-
ing one of the plant houses, and they appeared as
fresh and delightful as the nodding Snowdrops and
gay Crocuses in spring.
Books.
RIVERS' ROSE AMATEUR'S GUIDE.*
Mr. Thomas Rivees' book about Roses is one of
the most valuable on the subject from an historical
point of view, and supplies an immense fund of in-
formation to the Rose lover who is interested in
tracing the development of his favourite flower
through its various families. The amount of reliable
information — much of it at first hand about the
summer Roses — must make many readers regret
that they cannot discover where these charming
old world varieties are now-a-dajs to be obtained.
Many of them, of course, are generally and well
known, but a goodly number of those described and
eulogised by Mr. Rivers are never named in cata-
logues now and rarely met with even in old-fashioned
gardens. However, this is all the more reason for
drawing attention to the best of those which are
still easily obtainable, and the remarks on page 34
about Chfinedol^ will be readily endorsed by those
who have grown this charming crimson Rose in a
conspicuous position, for when seen from a distance,
even if it is growing amongst other bright-coloured
Roses, the unique and so-to-speak penetrating crim-
son colour of Chfn^dql^ will attract immediate
attention, especially in the light of the setting sun.
* " The Rose Amateur's Guide : " contaiuing ample .
descriptions of all the finer leading varieties of Roses,
regulaj-iy classed in tlieir respective families ; their his- '_
toryaudmode of culture. By Thomas Rivers. Eleventl^
edition. London ; Longmans, Green and Co.
Sept. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
241
Madame Plantier, again, which is now so commonly
forced for sale in pots in Covent Garden, is still un-
surpassed as a white Rose, which will grow any-
where and quickly make huge mounds covered with
snowy blossom throughout the summer. Most of
the varieties of Scotch Roses enumerated on p. 50
would be welcome in many gardens if it were known
whence they might be obtained ; but the admirers
of the pretty semi-double rosy and pale sulphur-
coloured forms of R. spinosissima, of which so
attractive a coloured plate was given in the issue of
The Garden for May, 1886, would probably demur
to the statement (on p. 51), that in raising new
sorts from seed " the aim should be to obtain va-
rieties with large and very double crimson flowers."
And who will be found to concur in the statement
on the next page (p. 52), to the effect that the Sweet
Brier "pleases not the eye?" — a gratuitous snub to
one of our most charming native Roses, whether in
flower or fruit, which comes a little inconsistently
from a writer who within forty pages (p. 89) is fain
to plead for the inclusion (thoroughly deserved) of
wild Roses in the garden.
Referring to climbing Roses, Mr. Rivers justly re-
marks (p. 66) that the Ayrshires "are worthy of
much more attention than they have hitherto re-
ceived." The first essential of a climbing Rose is
that it should climb, and there is no doubt that a
great mistake has frequently been made by modern
growers in trying to make one class of Roses serve
all purposes. Soon after the invention, so to speak,
of autumnal blooming Roses it was considered de
rigveur to employ no others whatever, and the con-
sequence was that Hybrid Perpetuals were set to
climb pillars or to cover trellises,whether they would
or no. The result, of course, was in ninety-nine
cases out of a hundred a dismal failure, and even in
the hundredth the effect obtained was as nothing
compared to what' it might have been had the pains
and skill that achieved it been bestowed upon a
variety naturally adapted to the end in view. Where
climbers are wanted let genuine climbers be used,
and as such the Ayrshire and evergreen Roses are
i quite unsurpassed. In a similar way there is a
good recommendation on p. 'IBl to employ China
Roses for bedding — a practice largely resorted to
by growers in America, for, owing to their bushy
habit of growth, brightness of tint, and freedom and
continuity of bloom, the China Roses are admirably
fitted to furnish masses of colour in conspicuous
positions. By the way, among climbing Roses
reference is made (p. 87) to Sir John Sebright, a
desirable crimson climber now not often heard of.
Good counsel is given on p. 102 as to the selection
of varieties with special regard to the climate in
which they are cultivated, for it must be borne in
mind that varieties that are generally too thin
in the south are frequently among the most valuable
sorts in a damp northern district, where there can
be rarely properly developed many full-flowered
Roses, which only require a drier and sunnier
climate to bring them to perfection. At the same
time it is also worth remembering that Roses
whose flowers have too few petals to be able to
stand a burning summer sun often furnish the
most beautiful blooms in the cooler days of autumn^
Of course, it is impossible to make any list of
florists' flowers which shall be the best for any
length of time, and Mr. Rivers' lists have the great
merit of not giving too many varieties ; neverthe-
less, in the selections (pp. 104—108 and 237—239)
there are a good many Roses enumerated which are
no longer amongst the most desirable of their class,
especially for a small collection. Taking a few
names at random, Rubens (H. P.), Alphonse Damai-
zin, Professor Koch, Vainqueur de Goliath, Richard
Wallace, Prince Li5on, Josephine de Beauharnais,
and Princess Christian can hardly be considered as
varieties to be recommended to growers who have
only room for a few of the very best. Moreover, a
good many are included against which grave con-
stitutional defects may be urged, and the list of
Tea-scented varieties might be considerably strength-
ened ; while those who were planting the Moss
Roses suggested would do well to add the beautiful
perpetual Blanche Moreau, the best of all white
Mosses, as well as the attractive miniature Little Gem.
Most of the remarks on raising seedlings are of a
speculative character, though some interesting facts
are given, as on page 31, in regard to Hybrid
Chinas ; and the prophecy of a coming white Hybrid
Perpetual (page 120) has "long since been fulfilled, as
presumably M. Gnillot would now contend has also
been the case with reference to a yellow Hybrid
Perpetual ?
The injunction (page 36) to manure and look after
old plants is well thought of, for there are too many
growers who appear to hold the mistaken notion
that plants that have attained a certain age are
able to take care of themselves, and have no farther
need of careful cultivation ; the recommendation,
however, on the following page, of wooden posts for
pillar Roses is of doubtful economy, as they are sure
to rot, and then, if the plants upon them are
flourishing, they are diflicult to replace without
damaging the tree; while iron posts well spurred are
practically indestructible.
The fact of the references to the Dog Rose as a
stock being almost invariably made on the assump-
tion of its employment as some form of standard
(whether long-stemmed or short) naturally accounts
for the recommendation for light soils of the Ma-
netti Rose (pp. 38, 207, 213) as a stock, especially
as this was Mr. Rivers' own introduction into this
country; but while it is not necessary to underrate
the immense advantages that have accrued to Rose
growing through the introduction of the Manetti
as a stock, yet there is little doubt that the employ-
ment of Brier cutting and seedling stocks will
eventually supersede it, even for light and shallow
soils. The somewhat elaborate instructions given
(p. 205) for making cutting stocks are hardly neces-
sary in the case ofManetti, which if cut with sharp
nippers into 9-inch lengths anS firmly inserted in
sandy ground, so as to leave only 2 inches appear-
ing above the surface, will almost invariably root
readily, and will not sucker any more even if the
stem-bnds are not removed; in the case of Brier
cuttings, however, it certainly is desirable that all
the buds but the two at the top should be cut out.
The statement (p. 209) that "stocks of the Dog
Rose should always be planted in November"
applies exclusively to standards, as all dwarf stocks
are preferably planted in March when they can be
planted shallow enough to be budded close down to
the roots without any trouble of removing soil, all
danger of their being drawn out of the ground by
frost being past.
The time suggested (p. 112, 240) for pruning,
viz., the end of February, would generally be con-
sidered full early in these days of spring frosts;
plants thus soon started into growth are very liable
to be badly cut by subsequent frosts in the first
weeks of April, and the advice, to be constantly
moving Rose trees, is also not likely to be very popu-
lar, for, with the exception of some Teas, plants
never give perfect flowers the first summer after
removal, and though, owing to their summer flower-
ing having been checked by disturbance, they some-
times flower more freely in autumn than established
plants, yet few growers would care to risk the loss
of perfect summer blooms for the chance of flowers
in autumn, when many Roses are at any rate not in
true character, and most are disfigured by mildew.
A good many budding devices are described
(pp. 77-81 and 116—119) which, however, are
likely to be considered too fanciful to be widely
practised, and the hedge - budding referred to
(p. 210) is also a most unsatisfactory operation.
The extremely careful treatment of newly budded
stocks (p. 173) will not be found necessary, espe-
cially for dwarfs, which if cut oflc within an inch of
the bud in March will be found to thrive admirably ;
and the remark (p. 172) that "the only shoots fit
to take buds from are those that have shed their
flowers " is most misleading, as all the Teas require
to be budded from shoots upon which the flowers
have not yet expanded, and if buds of General
Jacqueminot and his tribe are waited for until the
flowers have fallen, every bud will be found to have
shot an inch or more, " In fact, until the beginner
has mastered the enormously different conditions
in which only the wood of various types of Roses is
fit for yielding buds, the only safe shoots to employ
are those which, having stopped growing for the
first time, have just started again at the tip=.
The least valuable chapter in the book is perhaps
that devoted to the Tea-scented Roses (pp. 133—
140). The varieties recommended include many
that are no longer worth growing, and, coni-idering
the excellent stock that the dwarf Brier (cutting or
seedling) makes for Margchal Niel, it is no longer
worth while to trouble about "double working"
(p. 136), especially upon such a base as Manetti,
which is the worst possible stock for Tea Roses.
Then, again, there are very few localities where the
exceptionally tender climbing Devoniensis will sur-
vive as a pillar Rose, and, on the other hand, it is
not absolutely necessary that Tea Roses grown as
dwarf plants on Brier in the open should be pro-
tected in winter, in the southern counties at any
rate. The recommendation (p. 144) that in a Tea-
scented Rose house " the roof should be fixed," is
also not in accordance with the most recent prac-
tice of making the roof movable, so that after the
flowering is over the lights may be removed, and
the plants thus exposed to the ripening influence of
uninterrupted sunshine and showers. The informa-
tion about grafted Roses contained: in the first line
of page 176 will come as a pleasant surprise to most
of those who have melancholy recollections of
three-and-sixpenoes invented in new Roses in pots
in May. .r-
In consideration of the minute and thorough
life-history of Orange fungus, recently published by
Mr. Worthington Smith, it is hardly worth while to
draw attention to the slight reference to this pest
on page 220, where the two forms are still distin-
guished as separate fungi, nor to protest again
against the alleged preventive thereof, viz., "annual
removal ;" but with regard to the allusion (p. 221) to
"green-eyed Roses," it may be asked whether these
monstrosities are ever met with, except when the
growth of the plant has been severely checked by
frost. They always seem most prevalent after a
cold spring, and last year after the very severe
frosts that occurred in April, at a time when most
of the summer Roses and some early Hybrid Per-
petuals were coming into leaf, there was hardly a
flower among the summer Roses (Damasks, Gal-
licas, &c.) and the Perpetuals that flowered first
that was not more or less green-eyed.
The first part of Mr. Rivers' book is especially in:
teresting, though there is something a little mis-:
leading, perhaps, in the enthusiastic descriptions of
the old varieties, which were probably written when
the Roses in question were of the newest, but if, in
addition to their " name," it were possible to give
the " local habitation " of many of these delightful
summer Roses, now so rarely seen, there is little
doubt that many amateurs would eagerly collect
them, if only for the sake of growing what had once
been the pride of the Rose world. T. W. G.
WATER FOR NOTHING.*
An enthusiastic little book, urging people to collect
carefully and store properly their rain water, and
thereby have an endless fountain of the pure fluid,
instead of paying heavy sums to water companies
for a substitute which is always hard and often
impure, or pumpings at great expense out of the
earth, one which is almost as seldom soft and as
frequently contaminated. We fear, however, that
the author will not induce many people to take
action in the matter. The majority of human
creatures (having no power of initiative) will con-
tinue to do as the fool-knave of a speculative
builder has taught them— throw away the good
which they can get for opening their hands, and
instead use the bad, which costs them dear. For,
as Mr. Hibberd himself says, "an Englishman's
main ambition appears to be to attain to the per-
fection of wastefulness, even to the emplojment of
the blessed rain from Heaven to wash the fertile
earth away from under his feet." Those, however,
who have ambition of opposite kind may find in
* " Water for Nothing ; every House its own Water
Supply." By Mr. Shirley Hibberd, F.E.H.S. London:
Effingham Wilson.
242
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 17, 1887
this pamphlet matter to their purpose. We may
probably ourselves have a word to say on the subject
before long. W. S.
Fruit Garden.
W. COLEMAN.
VINES ON OPEN WALLS.
Although the Vine has been grown on open
walls in all parts of the country for a good num-
ber of years, with few exceptions it is still the
most neglected, as it is certainly the most beau-
tiful of all our hardy climbers. Before the
advent of cheap glass, and in 1847 the appear-
ance of that terrible scourge, the Vine mildew,
outdoor Grapes were more extensively grown
than they are now, but I question if our climate
has changed any more than our system of
management has improved. And yet we learn
from old records that excellent wine was made
in this country long before a questionable article
was imported from the Continent. What pleased
the consumer in those days might not suit the
rising generation, neither would the fruit as an
article of diet pass muster after eating Ham-
burghs and Madresfield Court Muscat from
unheated glass houses in the south and warmest
parts of England. StUl, with care and attention,
for it is a well known fact that neither the
bunches nor the berries are thinned, I cannot
help thinking very good Grapes might be
obtained from carefully manipulated Vines in
good average seasons.
I remember, when a youth, seeing and tasting
most excellent Hamburghs from an old Vine
trained over the gable end of a thatched bam
in Northamptonshire, and since that time I have
paid an annual visit to a ducal place in Glouces-
tershire, where the painstaking clerk of works
obtained scores of bunches of the same variety
from Vines trained over the roof of the car-
penter's shop. This gentleman, it is true,
trained, and stopped, and thinned his bunches
and berries as carefully as we perform these
operations under glass ; but what of that ? he
succeeded in getting fruit from Vines which
made his workshops cool and clothed a plain
ugly roof with graceful foliage. It is not. how-
ever, so much for the precarious crop of fruit as
for the beautiful shade-producing foliage that I
would suggest the general planting of Vines on
south and west aspects, and autumn being the
best time for putting out the young canes, I
venture these remarks in the hope that owners
of house property will give them a trial. If
they succeed in cutting ripe Grapes, well and
good ; if they fail, the Vine being perfectly
hardy and easily managed, they will have en-
riched their walls with trees that will outlive
generations. Having decided upon planting, the
first thing to be considered is the soil and drain-
age. The foundations of the building in many
places form quite sufficient drainage, but where
they fall short, or the subsoil is wet, cold and
heavy, the house as well as the border may be
improved by the introduction of a common
tUe drain and 6 inches of broken stone or rubble
for the soil to rest upon. Fresh, light, loamy
soil answers best, but the Vine is very accom-
modating, and will grow in almost anything,
provided it is well worked and moderately en-
riched with burnt earth, road sweepings, or
manure. Of the latter, however, I would use
but a small quantity, and then as a mulch in
preference to mixing it with the staple, other-
wise the young canes will grow too, strong for
our autumn to ripen them properly. A narrow
border 2 feet in width and 18 inches in depth is
quite sufficient for a start, not only for the
Vines, but also for Tea Roses, and a host of
hardy flowering plants which would revel with-
out becoming robbers in such a situation.
Planting. — As well-ripened canes established
in pots can be obtained from any good nursery,
they should be shaken out and planted before
the earth loses its summer warmth, and whilst
there is yet time for the roots to recover and
get a hold upon the compost before winter sets
in. If time does not allow for this, then the
pots may be plunged over the rims, and, with
the canes well secured to stakes or the wall,
they will take no harm until the buds show
signs of swelling in the spring.
Varieties. — In very warm situations the
Hamburgh may be tried, but, lest it should not
succeed in carrying its fruit to maturity, I would
introduce the Royal Muscadine, Ascot Frontig-
nan, Miller's Burgundy, Black July, and Grove
End Sweetwater. These will give fruit as
well as foliage, but, an ornamental covering
only being wanted, then the old Parsley-leaved
variety may be introduced.
Training. — To grow open-air Vines success-
fully they should have plenty of room, not only
for the admission of sun and air, but also to
allow for extension training. If planted in
autumn they must remain intact until the
spring, when they may be cut back to within a
foot or 18 inches of the ground. A number of
shoots will then start, but three only must be
retained and trained upwards a foot or more
apart. When they have made from 4 feet to
6 feet of growth each shoot must be stopped,
and all laterals save the second breaks closely
pinched to plump up the buds. After the first
winter pruning, the two side shoots, say 4 feet
in length, should be trained horizontally, much
as we train Pears, one to the right, the other to
the left. The centre shoot, which will always
retain its vertical position, having been short-
ened back to about 3 feet in the course of the
second season, will produce another pair, or
perhaps two pairs, of shoots, which, in like
manner, must be trained horizontally from 18
inches to 24 inches apart, to allow for nailing in
the fruit-bearing wood. These fruiting shoots
taken from the upper sides of the horizontal
branches must be laid in vertically, a foot or a
little more apart, and stopped at the first joint
beyond the bunch. All intermediate shoots
having been removed by disbudding, every
lateral must be pinched and repinched at the
first leaf. The bunches, reduced to one, and
that the best on each shoot, in due course will
require thinning. Mulching may then be ap-
plied, and washed in with an abundance of
water, diluted house slops, and soapsuds in hot,
dry weather.
LAXTON'S NOBLE STRAWBERRY.
Having seen this on several occasions and also
fruited it, I can assure "A. D." (p. 190) that his doubts
are unfounded, and that the iUustiations I have seen
of this grand Strawberry merely represent its true
character, and all who saw the extraordinary clusters
of it exhibited by Mr. Laxton at the provincial show
of the Royal Horticultural Society at Liverpool in
June, 1S86, will, I am sure, own that the coloured
plate of it does not give one the impression of being
exaggerated.— J. MuiB, Maryam.
" A. D.," in The Garden, Sept. 3 (p. 190),
is a bold writer, and does well to level his shaft at
what he may know to be artistic extravagances, but
not having seen Noble, although it has been ex-
hibited both in London and at Liverpool, where it
was awarded a first-class certificate by the fruit
committee of the Royal Horticultural Society at
their provincial show last year, he would have done
better to have waited before making a pointed
attack on the capable artist (Mr. W. G. Smith) in
this instance, "A. D." would know from my circular
sent him with the fruit that this Strawberry is only
just issued, and as he is well posted in matters
horticultural he must have known that fruit novelties
are not usually in the hands of your readers before
being let out, and that this would be especially the
case with a new Strawberry which is so quickly
propagated. He would also know that in raising
and distributing such novelties I have to be recouped
for the heavy expense and time in testing many
other seedlings and sorts which have to be destroyed
as valueless by the issue, of those which I consider
worth bringing before the public, and, therefore,
when he asks your readers at p. 190 of your last
number, from any disinterested person who has
grown it fairly, how far the illustration agrees with
the fruit, he must have been aware that the ques-
tion could not be answered, and his motive in this
case is not apparent. I look upon it, however, as a
challenge to Mr. Smith and myself. The former is
well able to take care of himself, and on my part,
in justice to the large number of trade, market, and
private growers who have already ordered it, I
willingly accept the challenge, and without hesita-
tion I can say that Noble, as represented in the
fruit, has not been overdrawn, and that I have cut
and exhibited a large number of trusses quite equal
to that which I sent Mr. Smith, and which he has
fairly and faithfully pourtrayed. "A. D." is not
alone in his idea of the shape of Noble being like
that of Hathaway's Tomato, for several who have
seen the fruit have made the same suggestion. The
most expressive form which has, however, fixed it-
self in my mind is that of the old-fashioned bag
plum pudding, but not quite so depressed, and this
is the shape in which Noble pretty regularly comes.
Before sending out Noble I thoroughly tested and
grew it in the open air three seasons for market,
and it realised high prices each season in Covent
Garden, and I may state that on no occasion have
I adopted either high or fancy culture, and, indeed,
as I grow a large number of seedling fruits, vege-
tables, and flowers yearly for trial, it would be quite
impossible to do it. The ground on which Noble
is grown is chiefly of a warm, sandy nature, but a
few plants are grown for later requirements on cooler
soil, and, notwithstanding the drought of the past
two seasons. Noble, with the exception of about
sixty plants, has not been mulched or even watered
previous to the fruit being gathered, and, as I use
London manure, which costs about 8s. per load on
the land, I have never been extravagant with it, my
Strawberries receiving much less manure or atten-
tion than these.usually get at the hands of amateur
gardeners. I send you herewith an original photo-
graph and my circular, with cut of the dish of
Noble, which wOl show the proportionate size and
the shape of the fruit, and that the fruit, as repre-
sented by Mr. Smith, is neither out of shape nor
proportion. As I do not grow under glass, I sent
about a dozen plants last year to each of two capable
and reliable growers, and my circular will show that,
so far as one season's trial can be a test, their trials
were most favourable. Noble has also been seen
growing and been tasted by a good many of the
trade who have purchased it, and before it was ever
announced or the price fixed I bad good orders
from the trade for it. Lastly, I may state that
when I exhibited it last year at Liverpool in masses
of trusses one conscientious raiser and grower of
Strawberries suggested to me the desirability of not
parting with a single plant of Noble until I had
planted sixty myself for fruiting purposes. This,
however, was beyond my aim or my reach. — T.
Laxton, Bedford.
Inarched Gros Colman Grape. — Five years
ago I inarched Gros Colman Grape upon Lady
Downe's Seedling, but my experience has been the
reverse of Mr. Turton's (p. 191). It has never
coloured well. At the present time there are berries
on it more than 4 inches in circumference, and
many of the bunches are nearly 3 lbs. in weight.
Some of the berries are entirely green, and many
only half-coloured. In the same house, Alicante, Gros
Maroc, and Lady Downe's are coloured well. With
me it invariably keeps very badly. I had another
in a late vinery, grafted on West's St. Peter's, which
coloured and kept very well. — D. Walker.
Sept. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
243
THE BANANA.
(lIDSA CATENDISHI.)
The plant from which the annexed illustration
was engraved was a sucker, which sprung up in
a tub 16 inches deep and 2 feet in diameter after
the old plant had fruited and was cut down in
June, 1886. This old plant was grown in ordi-
60°, and in summer of from 70° to 75°. The
fruit when cut weighed 30 lbs. , and we think
this above the average, considering the size of
the tub and that the sucker was not removed
from the time it started until the frvtit was cut
on the 20th of July. We have a sucker from
the plant this year which now stands 5 feet
high. It was removed and put into fresh soil
English varieties of Peaches, such as Amsden, Alex-
ander, Early Beatrice, Waterloo, Cumberland, Rouge
de Mai, &c., which ripen in very close order of suc-
cession. The writer of the paragraph says : "As
for pronouncing absolutely upon the degree of earli-
ness, that we believe to be an impossibility. Earli-
ness, as we think, is a phase of growth, the cause of
which, being entirely organic, cannot be precisely
defined, and which is closely correlated with the
vegetation of the trees. For a number of years
during which we have been observing the same
trees, we have remarked every year the occurrence
of variations. Sometimes one tree ripens first and
sometimes another, and we are utterly unable to
say what is the cause of this. As a matter of com-
parison, we shall merely state that at Montreuil
this year, with some very rare exceptions, no early
Peaches were gathered before the 1st of August.
We are, therefore, very far from having any Rouge
de Mai or even any June Peaches, since in the cU-
mate of Paris we can hardly gather a few ripe ones
in July. We may here mention a feature which we
think we have detected in some of these early va-
rieties of Peaches, namely, a tendency to become
later and later in their time of ripening. Is
this a general experience ? It is a point which
well deserves the attention of observant cultivators."
HARDY FRUITS.
The Banana (Musa Cavendishi) growing in a stove at Penoyre, Brecon. Engraved for The Gasden
from a photograph sent by Mrs. Cleasby.
nary loam, with a sprinkling of bone manure, i in a tub of similar si2e at the same time as this
and by the time it was cut down the soil must ! year's fruit was cut. W. Matthews,
have considerably deteriorated. The sucker Penoyre, Brecon.
was top-dressed with horse droppings and ordi- — —
nary loam and grown in the same house as that Early Peaches. — The Bevue IToriicoIe expresses
in which it fruited this year. The house is , a somewhat sceptical opinion as to the fixity or per-
kept at • an average temperature in winter of | manence of some of the precocious American and
The light, bnt'f requent showers with which we were
favoured during the last week in August having
gradually moistened the surface, at least, of the hot
and parched ground, the fruit grower may now
carry out many operations which the drought
rendered impossible. First and foremost on the
delay list stands the Strawberry, which cannot be
put out too early, always provided the ground is in
first-rate condition and the weather favours the
young plants starting away freely. Many growers,
myself included, prefer planting out in August,
but this year, although our plants were ready, we
elected to wait for rain, and took advantage of the
dry weather for giving the ground an extra turn
over. This step we do not regret, as the soil now
works well, and the ground having been converted
into a hotbed, we anticipate the time lost will be
fully redeemed by the middle of October. Many
writers would have us believe the Strawberry does
very little good the first year, but this is altogether
a mistake, as the finest fruit, and that in no mean
quantity, is gathered from maidens of nine or ten
months' growth, and the greatest bulk from the
same beds when two and three years old. This age
attained, the Strawberry on many soils may be kept
in profitable condition for some time longer, but
with an eye to regular rotation I question if any-
thing is gained by allowing the beds to stand over
the fourth year. This, however, is entirely a matter
of opinion, and as our business now is the forma-
tion of new plantations, we must devote our atten-
tion to the preparation of the ground and the mode
of planting. The key to success is plenty of fresh
calcareous loam, resting on a deeply trenched and
well-manured subsoil. In old gardens full of rich
humus this fresh soil can always be worked into the
staple by trenching the quarter a little deeper than
it has been disturbed before ; but no matter how
freely animal manure may have been introduced, I
always make a point of giving each plant at least
half a cubic foot of fresh loam at the outset. This
does not always come direct from the pasture, but
generally it passes through the Melon house, the
Peach or Vine border to the storeyard, thence,
enriched with bone-dust, lime rubble, mulchingF,
and liquid, it is taken to the quarter already pre-
pared, levelled, and marked out for the young
plants. Two feet apart each way is a good average
distance ; holes the width and depth of the blade
of a spade are then taken out and refilled with the
fresh soil, which is firmly rammed to prevent it
from sinking during the winter. In the centre of
each of these cubes a single plant is inserted and
well watered home. The soil taken out of the holes
is then loosely and rather roughly levelled down, an
operation which leaves the young plants resting in
a shallow basin ready for the reception of water.
If the balls of the young plants are thoroughly
244
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 17, 1887.
moistened before they are turned out and a dripping
autumn ensues they do not often require more than
one or two waterings at tlie outset ; the beds, never-
theless, should be closely watched, as fruit the first
year cannot be expected where watering is
neglected. Nest to the drying of the tiny balls of
soil in which the runners have been rooted, the
existence and spread of spider and mildew should
be guarded against. Free growth in the new soil
is antagonistic, but, prevention being better than
cure, it is a safe and economical plan to prepare a
small tubful of soapsuds, to which a pound of
sulphur may be added, and to immerse each plant
before it is turned out of the pot. The young
plants should be ke]>t clear of weeds and runners,
frequently hoed amongst until growth ceases, and
rough cast with old Mushroom manure before severe
frost sets in. Growers for market will say they
cannot incur this expensive mode of planting, but
gardeners who can find the way as well as the will
will not regret giving it a trial. All good growers
before this date will have trimmed their established
beds without destroying the old leaves, when,
having a stock of soot and a heap of the compost I
have named, they will dress lightly with the first
and encourage new roots by earthing the old stools
with the compost.
Raspbereies.
In many gardens it is no uncommon occurrence
to find large fiats the age of a man, and, thanks
to annual top-dressings and mulchings, they make
good canes and fruit fairly well. But these mem-
bers of the Rubus family, like the Strawberry, give
the best return when fresh ground is deeply trenched,
heavily manured, and a few rows are planted annu-
ally. A corresponding breadth can then be de-
stroyed and the ground, at once broken up, becomes
the richest spot in the garden for summer vege
tables. When this method is adopted and the
ground is ready, this month is perhaps the best for
planting. Having determined the distance, say
4 feet to 5 feet from row to row, the young canes
may be planted triangular fashion in threes or in
single file about 2 feet apart throughout the length
of the rows. The young canes should be well
watered home, mulched with light manure or leaf-
mould, and tied to small sticks to prevent wind-
waving. Early in the spring, after making all
failures good, the canes should be cut down to
within a foot of the ground, again mulched, staked
or trellised, and watered if necessary. If the
ground is not ready, the young canes should be
lifted out of the old beds and laid in by the heels
until spring ; otherwise they may be injured by
wheeling in the winter dressing. Fruit-bearing
plantations must be kept clear of weeds by the
hand, and on no account must the strong canes be
twisted or broken by gusts of wind through the
autumn.
Peaches.
We are now gathering very fine fruit from the
leading mid-season kinds, and already a few of the
earliest trees are ready for pruning. This is not a
heavy operation, merely the removal of useless
wood from which the fruit has been gathered.
When pruned, the wood of the current year is regu-
lated and laid in close to the wall to ripen, gross
points and laterals are pinched, and cleanliness is
secured by copious washing with the hose or engine.
The latest sorts, still rather backward, we keep
closely nailed in, maintain the proper Isalance by
cutting back gross shoots and pinching laterals, and
now fully expose the fruit to secure colour and
flavour. The trees, both early and late, have made
magnificent growth, and, although water in abund-
ance above and below has been used, a little spider
has pushed its way, but too late to do serious mis-
chief. Wasp.s Ijetore the change to cooler and
moister weather threatened a sharp onslaught. A
raid upon their nests witli composing draughts of
gas tar and heavy storms, however, have greatly
reduced their number and vigour, and a complete
veiling with Haythorn's hexagon netting has cir-
cumvented the remnant. Woodlice on old walls
generally are troublesome, and working, as they do,
out of sight, the finest fruits are mutilated and de-
tached before their presence is suspected. Syring-
ing behind the fruit upsets their peaceful progress,
but, next to killing, the best check Is the introduc-
tion of small pieces of clean glass, over which they
do not care to travel. Nectarines form their favourite
food, and we now save our finest fruit by slipping
the glass behind the wood. It is yet early to com-
mence root-pruning ; not so to decide upon the
course of action and the preparation of suitable
materials for use when the proper time arrives. The
end of October is the best time to root-prune
Peaches and Nectarines, but, before we commence,
every particle of manure used as a mulch is re-
moved to that portion of the border devoted to
vegetables. Every root is then shortened, and the
trench is re-filled with a mixture of pure calcareous
loam, burnt earth, and lime rubble. These materials
we have in stock. Others who have them not should
now act, as work of this kind cannot be properly
and expeditiously executed where the formation of
the compost heap is allowed to stand over until the
eleventh hour.
Planting, like root-pruning, still lies in the future,
but the thrifty operator will now be planningand pre-
paring for action. If new ground is to be taken in,
the first point to be settled is draining, then comes
double digging or trenching, and if the soil be of a
cold, tenacious nature, a second and possibly a
third turning over may have to precede the addition
of correctives. Fine tilth secured, burnt earth, old
lime rubble, road scrapings, and a good dressing of
fresh light soil, one or all, spread over the surface
and forked in in dry weather will fit the most stub-
born ground for ordinary hardy fruit trees. Light,
poor soils, on the other hand, may require manure
and marl as well as lime, but unless it is very
hungry, when bone dust and soot may be added, the
manure should be kept back for a winter mulch
after the trees are planted. When trees have to be
bought in from the nursery, early selection is im
portant, but they should not be moved xantil the
wood and buds are ripe, otherwise the check pro-
duced liy delay in transit will be followed by
shrinking of the bark, leaf hanging, and bud-drop-
ping in the spring. Planters having a well-stocked
home nursery to fall back upon not only escape
these troubles, but having the trees upon the pre-
mises can lift with balls certainly much earlier in
the season whenever their ground is ready and the
day favours the operation. When trees in leaf are
transplanted the roots should always be watered
home and mulched immediately. Later in the sea-
son, say November, watering is of less consequence,
but then even unless the soil is decidedly moist, the
watering-can will be found better than the foot or
the rammer for settling down the compost and bed-
ding without injuring the most tender fibres.
FiC4 Thebs.
Where these on open walls have been heavily
mulched and well watered the fruit now ripening
will be very fine and of excellent flavour. Some
Fig growers repudiate the use of water, but I cannot
get on without it, and having had plenty, Brown
Turkey and the old Brunswick are now giving most
excellent fruit. The season having so completely
favoured the trees, they are now carrying as many
Figs as leaves, but the majority of them being too
backward to ripen and too forward to stand through
the winter, they should now be taken off, as every
point contains in embryo quite as many fruit as the
trees in the coming season can carry to maturity.
Drj- heat being so essential to the ripening of the
roots and wood, all useless spray should be removed
to let in light and air, and to protect them from
storms of wind the leading shoots should be kept
clo.sely trained to the walls.
Peabs
on walls have made excellent growth, and the fruit,
which at one time looked unkind and small, is
now swelling rapidly. Whether the late varieties
will have time to finish properly remains to be
proved, but one thing is certain, they have a warm
rootrun, and where moderate supplies of water were
given through the drought there yet remains a fair
chance in all favourable situations. Standards and
large pyramids in this locality have been severely
shaken by the storm, which set in on the evening of
the 1st and fitfully has continued throughout the
week. Had the weather continued calm and settled,
many of the best autumn varieties would have been
the better for another fortnight on the trees, but,
prudence now dictates daily attention to gathering
as soon as the fruit parts in response to the upward
turn with the hand. The earliest sorts, including
the Jargonelle now in use, Williams' Bon Chretien,
Beurre d'Amanlis, Dunmore, an excellent old Pear,
and some others, should be gathered before they are
ripe, otherwise they become mealy and worthless.
The starving birds this season are very troublesome,
and the wasp, equally voracious, is taking his share
of the best. The blackbird works well until a large
Apple or Pear is consumed, but the titmouse taps
the fruit near the stalk, lets in the wasp, and moves
on. Against these marauders nothing short of
stout nets dropped from the coping of the wall will
prevail, whilst the wasp, as I have previously advised,
must be visited and destroyed in his underground
home.
Apples,
like Pears, have been sadly thinned by the wind.
The loss is not so heavy as at first sight it appears,
as many of the Apples are grub-eaten and would
have dropped had the weather been never so calm.
Stillagreat number of the largest and soundest of the
Blenheims and other heavy varieties have been swept
from the trees. This in two ways is unfortunate, as
the glut will spoil the sale of early fruit, and the
keeping sorts will be useless for storing. If the hot,
dry summer has taught as the full value of the heavy
mulch and the water store, the boisterous September
wind has not been far behind in playing a trump
card for the advocate of extension-trained bush
trees, especially in exposed and elevated districts.
The demand for tall standards for orchard-planting
for some time has been in excess of the supply, but
many will now pause to inquire whether better pre-
parations for a greater number of dwarf trees to the
acre will not pay best in the long run. From this
time forward harvesting must be carried on vrith
prudence and despatch, but after a storm there comes
a calm, and it will not be wise to allow our losses of
the past week to hurry us into the gathering of the
remnant before the keeping sorts are fit for storing.
W. 0.
Trees and Shrubs.
SHRUB NOTES.
Pavia macrostachya. — When seen at its best
this is truly a noble shrub — a shrub in stature, but
a tree in foliage and flower. It is a remarkable and
interesting member of the family to which our
common Horse Chestnut belongs. It is of dwarf,
spreading habit, and with long slender racemes of
pretty yellowish white flowers. The flowers are
sweetly scented, produced in July and August, and,
being of good substance, are remarkably lasting in
tlieir nature. For planting singly on the green-
sward we question much if there is a prettier and
more desirable plant, it soon forming quite a mass
of branches, and flowering with great freedom
once it becomes quite established. It is now
rarely seen, but can certainly be highly recom-
mendedfor, planting wherever a low-growing, pretty-
flowered, and good-habited subject is in request.
As it succeeds well in the shade it has been used
with advantage for carpeting the ground beneath
our larger growing woodland trees, while for cover-
ing a bare bank where soil is not too plentiful it
seems to be well suited.
Gatjltheria Shallon, when seen in good bold
masses, is certainly a far from uninteresting plant
— a fact the truth of which struck us forcibly
but a short time since on seeing a large oval-
shaped bed of it in fall flower in the grounds
of the LTniversity College of ^Vales. Being
of low, dense growth it is admirably suited for
planting in positions where high-growing shrubs
would lie out of place, and as it grows, nay, thrives,
luxuriantly under the shade and drip of our wood-
land trees, it may thus be used advantageously
where a carpet for such is recjuired. During May
the flowers are in perfection, and are almost
pure white, and produced on established masses
Sept. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
245
in great plenty. This Gaultheria will thrive in
almost any soil, but a free, sandy peat seems
to suit it best. It is readily increased by division
of the roots, an operation which had best be per-
formed either in autumn or early spring.
G. PROCtraiBENS is a small, creeping shrub, and
one that has been found invaluable for cover-
ing dry, shady borders, but where either peat
or leaf-mould is present in the soil. It is of
much dwarfer growth than G. Shallon, and is,
in our own opinion, a superior plant to that
species, for its growth is usually more neat and com-
pact, while it is quite as free-flowering. The flowers
are small, almost pure white, and produced during
the summer months. For the fruit also this plant is
well worthy of culture, the berries being of a
bright scarlet and very showy. They are a favourite
food of pheasants and partridges. We have never
seen this pretty plant used to better purpose than
for carpeting the ground beneath a clump of
old and gnarled trees of the Highland Pine. By
planting a few tufts of this procumbent-growing
Gaultheria at about a yard apart over the ground
intended to be covered it soon spreads about, and in
a short space of time forms a complete mass of
dwarf, green verdure, which, during the flowering
season, is a sight well worthy of a couple of miles'
walk to behold.
Ehodora canadensis does not receive one half
the attention which, as a free-growing, hardy, and
early-flowering shrub, it deserves. Canada and
the United States are the headquarters of this
pretty shrub, where it is usually found inhabiting
peaty soils and dampish situations along the
margins of lakes and rivers. In this country it
forms a neat bush about 3 feet in height, with
dark green, oval-shaped leaves and terminal clusters
of rosy purple flowers. Long ago this American
plant was far more commonly cultivated than it is
at present, but why it has fallen into disuse it
would be difiicult to say. It delights in a damp
situation, and therefore to grow it well in our gar-
dens a fair amount of moisture must be supplied.
LiMONiA TEIFOLIATA is a Chinese shrub, and
one that has been found fairly weU suited for
planting out of doors in this country. It is all the
better, however, for the protection of a wall, or may
be planted on a southern sloping sunny bank, where
it will soon become quite established and flower
grandly from year to year. It is rather a singular-
looking shrub, with an abundance of branches,
trifoliate leaves, and long thorns or spines. The
flowers are numerous, small, and white, and have a
great resemblance to those of the Orange ; indeed,
the plant was at one time included under Citrus,
but it is now found to belong to quite a distinct
genus. Wherever a sheltered and warm corner can
be provided this shrub is weU worthy of attention,
and as it forms a nice, compact standard specimen
of unusual appearance, it may be used with good
effect in conjunction with other plants for conspi-
cuous portions of the lawn and grounds. Cuttings
taken in August, and inserted in light sandy soil in
a frame, soon take root, and in three years will have
formed nice bushy plants.
Rhododendron DAvtjEicuM cannot be too
highly spoken of for early flowering, for even in
ordinary seasons the rosy purple blossoms are
thickly produced during the cold days of March.
Being of dwarf habit — for it rarely exceeds 4 feet
in height — this showy Rhododendron is particularly
weU suited for planting in the front line of a
shrubbery, and as it is of neat growth takes up but
little room wherever it is employed. During un-
usually severe winters this plant loses its foliage,
and if very hard frost should set in before
the flowers open, the latter suffer considerably.
For these reasons, we have found it adWsable to
assign a rather sheltered situation to this pretty
Rhododendron, so that its early-produced flowers
may not get spoilt by the severity of the weather.
It grows well with us in a free sandy peat, and
blooms freely every year.
Clethra alnifolia.— This North American
plant was introduced to British gardens in 1731,
but although a very ornamental, perfectly hardy,
and free-growing shrub of, perhaps, a full yard in
height, it is rarely seen unless in choice collections, in
our public nurseries, or in botanic gardens. The
flowers, which are white and highly ornamental, are
produced abundantly in short racemes at the tips
of the branohlets, and usually early in September.
It is a moisture-loving plant, and should, therefore,
be assigned a damp portion of the bog garden, al-
though we have known it to be grown very success-
fully in rather damp loam to which a small quantity
of leaf -mould was added, and in a situation sheltered
from cold, cutting winds. Pruning should be freely
administered; indeed, in this country, to grow this
Clethra successfully it should be cut hard back at
stated intervals. The flowers, we omitted to state,
are almost oppressively fragrant.
CORONILLA Emerus, Or the Scorpion Senna, vrith
its pea-like flowers and loose but elegant habit of
growth, may well be allotted a place in our shrub-
beries, for whether seen as a single specimen, or in
the shape of a hedgerow plant, it never fails to
attract attention. It is very variable in height, for
when grown asaspecimen plant itrarelyexceedsSft.
or 4 ft. in height ; whereas, when allowed to ramble
about amongst other shrubs, as in a hedgerow, the
pretty red and yellow flowers may frequently be
seen ornamenting the higher portions of the fence,
and at fully 6 feet from the ground. For forming a
neat little garden fence this CoroniUa is of great
value, and as it bears hard cutting in, may readily
enough be kept to any size and shape that is desired.
Pruning should, however, be engaged in during
autumn, so that the young wood formed in early
spring may not require to be cut away, else half the
floral beauty of the plant will be destroyed. We
have not found this plant at all difficult to manage,
any situation and a free loam suiting its require-
ments. A. D. Webster.
time to plant it, and if the plant is very small it
should have some sort of slight protection in winter,
for, though perfectly hardy when quite established,
it is apt to sufilerfrom severe frosts when newly
planted. — W. G.
The Syrian Hibiscus or Althaea (H. syriacus).
— The varieties of this showy flowered shrub, where
well cultivated, for the last week or two have lent a
brightness and a charm to shrubberies otherwise
monotonously green. They blossom most fortu-
nately when, notwithstanding the host of varied
flowering shrubs, deciduous and evergreen, now
available, our shrubberies are generally dull and
practically flowerless. The effect produced by the
red, white, and violet (single and double) varieties
in lighting up the green of the mass of other shrubs
is truly refreshing and desirable. This Hibiscus, as
a decorative subject, I regret to say, seems to be
more appreciated in the United States than it is
here ; at any rate it is more generally planted there
in gardens worthy of the name. One of the best and
most attractive of the floral features of the grand
Central Park of New York in early August is the
effect afforded by the grouping of the varieties of
this Syrian Hibiscus. By way of further recom-
mendation for the more general cultivation of this
desirable shrub, I need only say that in this country
the flowering season, covered collectively by ever-
green and deciduous hardy shrubs, would be very
incomplete and materially shortened without it. —
Geo. Stmb.
A pretty rock shrub. — Those who have a
rock garden, or even a few bold rocks in their
gardens that look bare, should plant that charming
little creeping evergreen shrub, Cotoneaster con-
gesta, which soon makes a most exquisite tracery
over the barest of big rocks, provided it can be
planted in good soil near them. It is a dense-grow-
ing trailer, having a mass of wiry branches clothed
with tiny round leaves of a pale green. It spreads
in all directions in an irregular way, and either
grows up the face of a rock downwards or side-
ways ; in fact, it is most accommodating in this
respect. In autumn it is often covered with a pro-
fusion of small, round, bright red berries that
remain on the plant for months. The flowers are
not conspicuous, very small, and white. It is a
variety of the Thyme-leaved Cotoneaster (C. thymi-
folia), and grows wild in the Western Himalayas,
whence it was brought to this country about ten
years ago. It is called congesta on account of its
congested branches, although thymifolia itself is
very twiggy. It is as true an Evergreen as the
typical form is. The present month is the best
HYDRANGEA PANICULATA GRANDIFLORA.
This is one of the finest autumn-flowering shrubs
that we possess, and where so situated that it has
been kept at least fairly moist throughout the sum-
mer it is now profusely laden with its large pyra-
midal-shaped, densely packed clusters of blossoms,
which are of a creamy white colour, but in a sunny
aspect become some time after expansion tinged
with rose. This Hydrangea is seen to great advan-
tage when in a mass, as, for instance, if a bed be
planted with it the autumn display will greatly sur-
pass that of any of the tender bedding plants, which
by now have lost a good deal of their beauty. It is a
subject that well repays liberal treatment, and if a
bed be fiUed with it the display of bloom is
heightened if the plants are gone over early in the
spring before the buds commence to grow, and all
straggling shoots cut back to a good eye, at the same
time removing any weak or exhausted wood. A
liberal top-dressing of well decayed manure will be
of great service, or if this is not done, the same
results may be attained if the plants are occasionally
watered with liquid manure during the summer
months. In the case of this Hydrangea, if the
situation be at all dry, by far the best way is to make
the bed below the level of the surrounding ground
so that it can be frequently well saturated with
water. This Hydrangea can be readily propagated
from cuttings formed of the current season's shoots,
put in sandy soU in a cold frame till rooted. Be-
sides its value as an outdoor shrub it is often grown
for Co vent Garden Market. By liberal feeding a
fine display of bloom is obtained from plants in
comparatively small pots, and during the London
season they find a ready sale. The principal care
in connection with them is to keep the pUnts well
supplied with water and the foliage clear of red
spider and mildew, both of which are sometimes
troublesome, especially if the plants are kept rather
close to induce them to bloom early. Liberal
syringing and plenty of air are the two best anti-
dotes for these pests. H. P.
Double Brambles.— Among the best drought-
resisting shrubs that we possess must be classed the
various Brambles, and of these the double-flowered
varieties can lay claim to be also very handsome
when in bloom, and to remain in that stage a con-
siderable time. There is one with white blossoms,
and another in which the flowers are of a pink
colour, but of this last some appear to be of a much
brighter tint than others. These Brambles may be
grown in a variety of ways, one method being to
secure them to a stout stake during their earlier
stages, and when they reach a height of 6 feet or
8 feet allow them to grow at will. In this way,
should they occupy an isolated position, the long
flexible branches droop on all sides, and when
laden with flowers form handsome specimens;
while, if allowed to ramble at will in the wild gar-
den, they are then equally beautiful. The blooms
are perfect little rosettes of quUled petals, like
those of a double Daisy, and are borne in great pro-
fusion. Propagation of the various rambling kinds
of Eubus is effected by pegging down the tips of
the growing shoots during the summer months,
when they soon root and quickly form plants. An
illustration of this mode of increase is frequently
to be seen in the common Bramble of our hedge-
rows.— T.
How dead trees may be used.— Unsightly as
dead trees are in a garden, they may nxith a little
trouble be turned to good account, rendered very
ornamental, and greatly add to the general effect by
furnishing us with objects as highly decorative as
they are uncommon. They often prove a most wel-
come addition, and an entirely distinct departure
from the usual garden attractions. A striking ex-
ample of what may be done in this way may now be
seen in the garden of Mr. J. Salter, the well-known
Chrysanthemum raiser, at Kensington. The subject
246
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 17, 1887.
in Mr. Salter's garden is an Apple tree standing
isolated on the lawn and furnished with half-a-
dozen spreading branches forming a somewhat flat-
tish head. At the base of the tree a couple of
plants of a close growing Ivy with fohage first
of a bright yeUow, but gradually turning to green,
■were planted some years ago. This Ivy, which
in the spring and early summer is of a beautiful
golden colour, has entirely covered the trunk, and
also made its way among the branches. In con-
junction with the above, a plant of the common
Virginian Creeper was planted a little way o£E the
dead tree, to which it has been gradually trained,
and its shoots trail along each branch of the tree
from whence they hang at right angles in beautiful
festoons, the foliage green now, but crimson-purple
later on. Their swinging to and fro by the wind,
however light, produces a most graceful effect.
Until these shoots reach the ends of the branches
they are deprived of their foliage, so as to prevent
them smothering the Ivy, which is of much slower
growth.— S.
Flower Garden.
NOTES ON LILIES.
Having a small collection of Lilies which I have
been endeavouring to grow under somewhat dis-
advantageous circumstances, I venture to add what
little experience I have had as an amateur to the
" Notes on Lilies," which have been appearing
lately in The Gakdbn.
Mine is a small town garden, in a hollow, with a
north-east aspect. During at least two months in
the winter the sun's rays never reach the greater
part of it. As the soil, of a heavy tenacious nature,
and full of stones and rubbish, was worn out, special
beds had to be prepared for some of the choicer
sorts.
This season many of my Lilies have flowered
remarkably well. In consequence of the late, cold
spring the early and mid-season sorts were all in
flower at the same time. L. tenuifolium was the
earliest to expand. The commoner kinds, candidum,
croceum, umbellatum, chalcedonicum, pyrenaicum,
the Martagons and testaceum, flowered much more
freely than usual. Many of these were growing in
the old soil, made lighter by the addition of sand,
and enriched with leaf -mould and old manure from
a Melon bed. Chalcedonicum was brighter in
colour than in cooler summers. The flowers of
candidum were certainly smaller than usual, and,
like all the others this season, soon over. L.
Szovitzianum has always done well planted in sandy
loam and leaf -mould, but this year my best speci-
men of it when about 3 feet high was kUled by
the heat. Last summer this specimen was over
6 feet in height, and bore a dozen flowers. L.
Parryi bore two flowers on a stem 4 feet in height.
It is growing in loam with a little peat and leaf-
mould ; last year it did not flower at all, though the
year before it bore one flower. L. Humboldti
flowered fairly well, but its leaves were all scorched
before the flowers opened. L. pardalinum I have
planted, together with auratum, in a mixture of
peat, sandy loam, and leaf -mould, in a corner which
the sun only reaches early in the morning. The
former has not been planted long, but has made
strong growth and flowered well. I have it also
planted in loam and leaf-mould in full sunlight,
but in that situation it has not done well. L.
auratum in the shady corner flourishes splendidly ;
one small clump has been out of flower a week,
and another is now (September 2) just expanding
its buds. From one bulb planted three years ago I have
this year had seven flowering stems. L. lancifolium
sends up each year strong stems, but the foliage
and flower buds are invariably eaten by slugs. L.
longiflorum, strange to say, does no good with me
out of doors, invariably disappearing the second or
third year. L. giganteum and Browni I have not
tried out of doors, but as I have forty good seed-
lings of the former from a pot plant which flowered
a few years ago, I shall be able to give it a trial.
L. Krameri I have only tried in a pot, but have not
succeeded with it, neither can I say that I have
succeeded with imported bulbs of L. auratum in
pots for more than one year. Those that have done
so well planted out were imported ones. L.
Thompsonianum has thrown up healthy foliage for
three years, but has not as yet flowered. I find the
bulb is now surrounded by numerous smaller ones,
lying free in the soil around the old one.
L. Leitchlini I planted out a few years ago, but
after flowering the first year it never appeared
again . L . Batemannia; has sent up weakly stems, but
has not flowered. Pomponium verum did well two
summers, but this year it has not flowered. L.
Washingtonianum does not flourish well with me ;
one bulb sent up a very short, single-flowered stem,
another a twin stem, united for 2 inches or 3 inches
above the ground, and showed numerous flower-
buds, which, however, died in their infancy from
the drought.
I have not succeeded with any of the canadense
group, owing, I believe, to want of sufficient
moisture in the soil. LOies of the Tiger group do
not flourish as well as I could wish, but have done
better than usual this year. Tenuifolium, Szovitzia-
num, and several other species have seeded freely
this season ; seeds of tenuifolium sown about a
fortnight ago are already up. W. A. S.
HIMALAYAN ANDBOSACES.
Ever since the Primula Conference the Andro-
saoe as a near ally has come in for a large share
of attention. Taking the European as well as
the Asiatic species, few genera are more worthy of
Androsace lanuginosa
attention for the embellishment of our rockeries,
(fee, than this one is. Alpine travellers are
never tired of detailing the impressions that the
vast sheets of these little gems leave on the
mind, and, judging from the numerous flowers
one gets on a piece no larger than the hand,
golden yellow, pink, &c., a large carpet must be
a grand sight. As will be seen, a few of the
European kinds extend in their distribution as
far as the Himalayas, and although somewhat
altered in appearance, there is no difficulty in
placing them in their proper places, except per-
haps in the case of A. villosa ; A. Chamiejasme
is much the same, as also is A. septentrionalis.
Those not mentioned in detail are Aizoon, mi-
crophylla, muscoidea, globifera, Selago, Leh
manni, Crofti, geranifolia, saxifrageefolia, sem
pervivoides, and rotundifolia, all natives of the
Himalayas, and with the exception of the last
and perhaps sempervivoides, none of the others
are in general, if in cultivation at all. A. ro-
tundifolia, as we have it degenerating year by
year, is scarcely worth the trouble of cultivating.
All those here described are really useful and
desirable plants for the rockery.
A. Cham^jasme, although generally looked
upon as a European species, is common enough in
Western Thibet, Barjila, Karakorum, &c., at from
12,000 feet to 15,000 feet above sea level. It is also
distributed on the Alps, Central and North Asia,
Arctic Kussia, Arctic America, &o. It is fairly
common in gardens, and is one of the Androsaces
that can be grown well in this country. It is of
vigorous habit and very free flowering, especially
when close tufted. It lasts in flower a considerable
time, although there are never many flowers open
at one time. The flowers somewhat resemble
those of A. villosa, but the habit and form of rosettes
and leaves are distinct enough to be recognised at
a glance. It should be allowed plenty of room to
spread, and wiU be all the better if planted on a
slope, the surface of which should be covered with
lime rubbish broken small and slate dust. It pro-
duces offshoots in great abundance, but, unlike A.
sarmentosa and others, does not produce roots, and
by far the safest way to increase it is by seeds.
Division of large plants even is risky, and the
chances are strong against their being satisfactory.
North of Kumaon and in the near districts the
variety uniflora is found. It has very short flower-
stems, generally one, rarely two-flowered. In the
variety coronata, found at 16,000 to 17,000 feet in W.
Thibet,theleavescloselyoveriap,andarenarrowerand
shorter than those of the type, with a more promi-
nent ring or eye round the mouth of the corolla.
This form is considered identical in almost all re-
spects with the plant of the Alps, and variable m
size, habit, &o, as in that form. It grows best here
in a position due south-east, and sheltered from the
midday sun.
A. FOLIOSA, which is well represented in the an-
nexed engraving, is undoubtedly the largest and
most robust, if not the best, of this i.-rportant genus.
The photograph from which the engraving was
made was taken from a plant growing m the
nursery of Messrs. Stansfield Bros., Cambridge Road,
Southport, and as their experience nearly coincides
with my own, I append an extract from their
letter : —
It is a most robust gi-ower and perfectly hardy. We
grow it in half leaf mould and good rich loam, with a
little rough grit. The position in which the plant is
growing is due south, with full exposure to the sun.
The flowers, resemblingthose of Androsace lanuginosa,
are borne on long foot-stalks, some of the heads con-
taining no less than fifty flowers. Owing to its robust
growth, it requires an abundance of water during tlie
growing and tiowering season. Besides the flower8,an
additional attraction is afforded in autumn by the
leaves assummg a tint similar to thosj of baxitraga
purpurascens.
All this and a good deal more might be said in
favour of such a striking acquisition as the above
Androsace. I have found it extremely useful for
rockery decoration, and, when allowed plenty of
room in a good, rich soil, the profusion of large,
neat heads of pink flowers is a sight not easily for-
gotten Here it commenced to throw up its flower-
items eariy in June, and the last of them are
just past their best now, it having continued to
throw up fresh flowers during that time. It was
first raised by the late Mr. J. Anderson-Henry,
from seeds sent from the North-west Himalayas.
Of foliosa. Sir J. D. Hooker says :—
Though itself so unlike A. sarmentosa, there are so
many forms of the latter plant approaching it in size
and in habit, that I was induced, when monographing
the Indian species of this genus, to bring these two
together as varieties of one plant, and though the dit-
ferences are more striking in living than in dried
specimens, I am not convinced I was wrong. A. sar-
mentosa varies in stature and in the size of the leaves,
and sometimes wants stolons altogether, and develops
tall, stout scapes exactly as in A. fohosa.
Sept. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
247
As growing here, A. foliosa has rather a weakly
habit — inclined to become somewhat procum-
bent, although in robust specimens the stems
generally grow upright, making a handsome mass.
It is very free growing and'perf ectly hardy in the open
air. It never shows the slightest trace of forming
rosettes, and the weakly growths that lie on the
ground never take root. In this way it is far re-
moved from the form grown under the name of
sarmentosa. The stems just now are bright red,
covered with long white hairs ; leaves alternate on
longish stalks, oval or lance-shaped, and tapering
more or less gradually to both ends ; of a lively
green colour, and very attractive even in the ab-
sence of flowers. I have not yet succeeded in
obtaining good seed, but the plant is so easily
increased by cuttings that this is quite immaterial.
The cuttings, if taken oflE now and placed in a cold
frame, kept close and comparatively dry until they
begin to root, will make nice little plants by spring.
A native of the Western Himalayas, at elevations of
8000 feet to 12,000 feet.
A. HooKEEiANA is a species new to cultivation,
introduced about two years ago with many of the
rarer Primulas, and promises to be a great acquisi-
tion to our list of choice alpines. So far as can yet
stolons, like A. sarmentosa, but may be readily in-
creased either by layering or making cuttings of the
shoots, of which in healthy plants there is always
an abundance. In good seasons it ripens seed
very sparingly. It was first raised in Trinity College
Gardens, Dublin, by Mr. Mackay, and first flowered
in August, 1842. It is a native of the Western
Himalayas, from Kumaon to Cashmere at from
7000 feet to 10,000 feet elevation. A variety called
oculata, raised in this country, has a distinct, deep
purple eye.
A. SAEMENTOSA Is SO well known and so generally
appreciated in gardens now, that a description will
not be necessary. It somewhat resembles A. lanu-
ginosa in flower, but with a totally different habit.
It is a true stolonif erous species, and if allowed
! plenty of space in a good, free, rich soil the stolons
root freely, and make handsome large rosettes for
the following year. I have it here planted on a
ledge or stony bed sloping to the south, and fully
fully exposed to the sun ; the patch, containing no
less than fifty flower-heads, was a grand sight.
Native of temperate and sub-alpine Himalayas,
from Sikkim to Cashmere. The varieties grandi-
folia Watkinsi and primuloides I have not seen in
cultivation.
Audrosace foliosa. Engraved for The Garden from a photograph sent by Messrs. Stansfield, Southport.
be judged, it is likely to prove as hardy as other
Sikkim plants, the only diflSoulty appearing to be
damp during the winter months. In the case of
established plants this may be easily remedied, and
the more so if it be borne in mind at time of plant-
ing. It forms little rosettes of shining elliptic
leaves, bearing many few-flowered stems. The
flowers are large for the size of the plant, and of a
pretty deep pink tint. I grow it in peat and sand
in a half-shady position, as it seems to like a cool
soil. A native of Sikkim, Lachen, and Donkia-la,
at 15,000 feet elevation, and found plentifully in
sunny dry places on the ground. It flowers in
spring.
A LANUGINOSA. — As a Continual flowerer this
charming species, represented on the annexed cut,
surpasses even A. foliosa. From early summer it
has been flowering constantly, and with favourable
weather will last for three weeks or a month longer.
It is a most elegant-habited plant, and growing, as it
does here, in wild profusion, the long, graceful
shoots overhanging the rocky ledges remind one
of a picture in the Alps. It is grown here in posi-
tions facing both west and south, in which it seems
to do equally well. It does not produce runners or
A. VILLOSA. — This is the gem of our collection
among the smaller alpines, and a weU-grown plant,
especially of the European form, is one of the most
delightful little pictures one could well wish to see.
The Himalayan form, which is found in all the drier
regions of the Himalayas, from Kumaon to Cash-
mere, and Thibet, at from 12,000 feet to 1 7,000 feet
elevation, differs widely from the plant found in the
Alps, and might readily be taken for A. sarmentosa
in a small state. As in the case of A. sarmentosa,
it is stoloniferous, the leaves clad with long white
hairs ; flowers produced on short stalks, in loose heads,
rose-coloured, and with a prominently raised ring
round the mouth of a much deeper tint. This form
is perfectly hardy in the open rockery on slopes
facing east, and growing in a rich porous soil
amongst pieces of sandstone. In the European
form the rosettes are much smaller and neater, the
flowers white or blush, and produced in such
quantities as to entirely hide the foliage. Here
this is grown in full sunshine in a soil to which
plenty of lime rubble has been added, while round
the collar are placed a few rough pieces of sand-
stone. It flowers in April, May, and June.
D. K.
NOTES ON HABDY PLANTS.
Hydrocotyle sibthorpioidea. — Though for
garden purposes this is practically a flowerless
creeper, it is a plant that may be employed in many
pleasing ways, for its habit and leaves are exceed-
ingly pretty. In moist and either shady or sunny
parts, as between big stones, over and under ledges,
or in any narrow seams of soil, it will run freely
like a miniature Ivy. Its round and evenly crenated
leaves, of light green, are smaller than a sixpence in
size. It thrives in any sort of soil if moist, and
when well grown in good-sized pieces it is very at-
tractive on a rockwork.
The Purple Cone-flower (Rudbeckia or Echi-
nacea purpurea) has come into flower much earlier
this summer, and the heads are also much larger
than I have ever seen them ; the reddish purple ray
florets, which recurve, when straightened out are
i over 3 inches long, and the whole head is then quite
7 inches across ; the plants, however, have never
suffered from drought, being quite close to a well.
Free as this plant grows under favourable condi-
tions, it has never flourished here until this summer.
I also know that efforts have been made for years
to establish it in some"' gardens without success.
The flowers are of a quaint and perhaps
unique type, and, to my mind, very desirable.
Erodium hymenodes. — This alpine and
dwarf shrubby species not only blooms from
spring to autumn, but it retains a fair amount
of its grey green and three-lobed foliage
throughout the winter. Grown in loose, rubbly
soil, which I fancy it likes best, it is quite
hardy here in Yorkshire. Its flowers, which
are clustered on each peduncle, are similar to
those of the favourite E. macradenum. If
properly grown in dry, exposed, sunny posi-
tions, it may be rendered very effective ; more-
over, its flowers are much liked.
Apple of the Earth (Aristolochia rotun-
da) is fruiting flnely in the open air. I think
we should give some attention to this pleasing
and free-flowering species. In reply to " I. M."
(p. 194), my supply consisted of a small batch
of collected tubers ; if he cannot procure it
from the ordinary sources, and will forward
me his address, I wiU send him a specimen.
Tyerman's Groundsel (Seneoio pulcher).
For lack of flowers in ordinary summers this
beautiful Composite was losing favour, but this
season it has bloomed very freely and its rich
purple flowers are very attractive. Many of
the buds become malformed as they near the
period of expansion. I believe earwigs are
the cause.
Stokesia cyanea. — This peculiar half
Centaurea and half Thistle-like Aster has
behaved very difEerently this summer in
the way of flowering to what it usually
does. It has in many former years had
to struggle with fogs and frosts in October, and
seldom did a good head develop. During this
hot summer it came into flower early in August on
a dry and sunny bank, and the flowers have been
fine. The heads are rosy purple; the florets are
uneven and narrow, and so arranged that they form
a dish ; the large scales and bulky receptacle give
the heads an ungainly appearance ; stiU the plant,
when in flower, is very quaint and attracts notice.
The Himalayan May Apple (Podophyllum
Emodi).— Just a year ago I sowed seeds of this
pretty and interesting plant; the seedlings have
good long roots, plump crowns, and their fourth
and fifth leaves. Dr. Appleton has just sent me
some pods, one exactly 3 inches long and very
stout. From such pods large seeds in plenty are to
be had, and I have found them vegetate quickly
treated in the following manner : Rub them out of
the pulp with sharp sand, place them to dry just
long enough to harden the husks ; in four days after
separation from the pulp sow in loam and place in
heat in a greenhouse all the winter, during which
period the seeds develop long radicals, but may not
sprout upwards until spring, when growth goes on
rapidly.
•248
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 17, 1887.
IVEountam Avens (Dryas octopetala). — This
favourite creeping shrub is not at all difficult to
manage, and the best way to propagate it happens
to be the best way to make plants thrive and spread
rapidly, as a bit the size of a crown piece may be
grown to a diameter of 9 inches or 10 inches in a
season. Scraggy specimens are brought into bad
condition from want of proper treatment. Take
them up and set them deeper, so that the younger
wood touches the surface. The soil should be loam
and peat of a friable texture. Plants, young or
old, should be annually covered with a mixture of
dry, fine peat and sand, and it should be washed
down by a heavy watering ; if done every summer
each branchlet will push out strong roots, and a few
plants will soon form mat-like masses.
WoodriUe, KirMall. J. Wood.
Hypericum reptans. — The beauty of the
trailing St. Jobn's-wort, when doing well, is not
surpassed by any other low-creeping plant. It
grows freely, doing well in almost any position,
and, though liable to be injured in damp or very
severe winters, it strikes readily from cuttings, which
can be kept with safety in a cold frame or under
a bell-glass through the winter, and will be ready
to plant out at any time during the spring months.
I also find it makes a most charming basket plant,
and when liberally treated flowers freely, and
remains in beauty for a considerable time. — K.
A Warwickshire wedclingf. — In a homely
little garden I recently saw a combination which
some of your readers may consider worth repeating
in their own way. It was only a sunny corner,
backed by an old, grey, sandstone wall, and flanked
by hedges of dense dark Yews, but on the wall the
white- wreathed " Virgin's Bower " was at its best —
sweet and white — chaste and cool as alpine snows
seen from a warm valley in summer-time. Along
the narrow border some garden artist, in a moment
of inspiration, had placed a few roots of the scarlet-
flowered Tropjeolum (T. speciosum), and when I
saw the result a day or two ago, it was a garden-
picture good to look upon. No bare words could
tell of the intertwining beauty and grace of these
two hardy plants as thus luckily combined. Im-
primis, the sandstone wall was enriched at its base
with bosses of dark velvety Moss, its upper part
embroidered with lace-like Lichens of silver-grey,
lemon, and orange. Over this hung loosely the
snowy wreaths of Clematis, either alone or mingled
with the glowing crimson Tropseolum flowers. I
had just seen Vandyke's Henrietta Maria at War-
wick Castle — the garden queen to whom Parkinson
dedicated his " Garden of Pleasant Flowers " — had
looked ever the whole of the Shakespeare country
from Guy's Tower, but, with my eyes filled with the
finest of art treasures, my heart was full of this
most sweet and happy wedding in a tiny garden. —
Vehonica.
coloured." Now, I have seen Mr. Engleheart's new
Clove in growth and in a cut state, and to my mind it is
the deepest and sweetest as well as the dwarfest Clove
Carnation 1 have ever seen, and quite unlike the ordinary
old Clove, with every beautiful quality so well known
in that flower enhanced. — D. H. G.
Marie Louise Violets. — I herewith send you a
small bunch of Marie Louise Violets. They are grown
in an open, exposed quarter of the kitchen garden.
We cannot boast of soil, the nearest approach to it
here being small slaty stones. Grown in such, and with
liberal dressings of Beeson's, we can gather blooms all
the summer, hut this season, owing to the intense heat
and dryness, and a great scarcity of water, the plants
and blooms have been much smaller than in previous
seasons. — J. Eobeets, Merioneth, North Wale>i.
*#* A very fine gathering of large, well developed
flowers and healthy foUage. — Ed.
SHORT NOTES.— FLOWEB.
Large Sunflowrers. — There is nowat Mr. Hogg's
cottage garden at Westcott a beautiful group of sixty
or seventy Sunflowers, the average height about 10
feet, the highest 10 feet 11 inches, the flowers and
foliage all very fine, the largest flower measuring 14^
inches across.
Asters. — These have flowered with remarkable
freedom this season, when we consider the peculiar
character of the past summer. At Chiswick they
are the gayest feature of the garden, and in the
Epsom Nursery we noticed a hatch of a pure white
variety in full splendour. It was of fine dwarf habit,
and with flowers of the perfect circular form and finish
tiiat satisfies the critical florist. It appears to he most
nieful, and the blooms for bouquets, &c., are invalu.
able.— E.
Dwarf Carnations. — Keferring to a note in The
Garden, August 2" (p. 171), respecting dwarf Carna-
tions generally, and the Rev. G. H. Engleheart's in
particular, I would like to draw your attention to the
fact that "A. D.'s" flowers are "seedling Carna-
tions," and the ones of most promise in his collection
he mentions as being "scarlet, white, anrl salmon-
Stove and Greenhouse.
T. BAINE.S.
COCOS WEDDELLIANA.
When this plant was first distributed it appeared
under the name of Leopoldina pulchra, after-
wards it was referred to the genus Cocos, and
now it seems that it is to return to Leopoldina;
but it is best known as Cocos Weddelliana.
When I first saw it, now some twenty-four years
since, it struck me as being the most elegant
plant I had ever met with, though the example
in question was not more than 2 feet high.
Further acquaintance with it, in the form of
specimens 8 feet or 10 feet in lieight, has gone
to confirm the first impression, though there are
one or two other Palms that run it very close.
Geonoma gracilis, for instance, is so far like the
Coocs,fthat those who are not intimately ac-
quainted with the two species might easily
mistake one for the other ; but the Cocos is
usually longer and somewhat narrower in the
pinna;. Plants of this Cocos vary considerably ;
in some the leaves are longer and curve much
more gracefully than in others, in which they
assume a more erect position, giving the plant
collectively a less pleasing appearance. The
diflerence is not so clearly visible whilst the
plants are small, though those who are well
acquainted with the species and have observed
the marked difference that exists between the
two forms when the specimens get large can
readily detect the difference when the plants
are not more than 12 inches or 15 inches high.
Needless to say, that in selecting plants to
begin with, the aiched-leaved form should be
chosen.
When this Cocos was first introduced, and
until quite recently, it was supposed to require a
high temperature in which to grow it, and also
that it was equally necessary to keep it compara-
tively warm in winter — a conclusion that was
reasonable, considering that it comes from Rio
Negro. But to lovers of beautiful plants it lias
been an agreeable surprise to find that it succeeds
equally as well in an intermediate temperature as
it does when kept hotter, though when kept cooler
the growth is somewhat slower. This, however,
is often rather an advantage than otherwise, as
it enables the cultivator to confine the specimens
when necessary to a limited size for a consider-
able length of time. Some of the most perfect
examples of this Cocos that I have met with —
plants from 5 feet to 6 feet high — have been
grown for some years in houses that were not
kept at more than 4G° or 48° during the winter,
and only a little warmer in proportion through
the summer. Still, as with numbers of other
slow-growing things, where it is desirable to in-
crease the size of the plants with as little delay
as possible, it is best to subject them to warm
stove treatment,
Ccoos Weddelliana, like most other Palms,
is raised from seed, which is now sometimes
produced by plants grown in this country ; but
the bulk of the stock raised both in England
and on the Continent is from seed brought from
its native country. At one time there was less
certainty in getting the seed to vegetate than
there is now ; this arose from the indif-
ferent condition in which the seed arrived, or
more likely from the careless way in which it
was collected. With this, as with most Palms,
there frequently is a considerable difference in
the time occupied in the seed vegetating ; this may
in some measure be due to the condition of the
seed. The seeds of some species of Palm will lie
for twelve months before the plants appear. Sup-
posing the seed to be at hand about the end of the
year, sow at once in ordinary seed-pans, or shal-
low boxes, drained and filled with loam sifted and
mixed with a little sand. Sow the seed mode-
rately thick, and cover with some of the soil,
stand in a temperature of 70°, keeping the soil
moderately moist, not wet. After the seedlings
appear they must not be allowed to remain too
long in the seed-pan before potting off, or the
roots will suffer, in which case much time is lost
by the check they receive. Put the seedlings in
small pots drained and filled with soil similar to
that in which the seed was sown. Give the
plants a brisk heat, standing them on a moist
bottom ; keep the soil well moistened, as the
Cocos, in common with most Palms, likes plenty
of root-moisture, and must never at any time be
allowed to get dry. Shade from the sun in bright
weather. Winter in a warm stove temperature,
raising the heat as the days lengthen. Give pots
a little larger as soon as the condition of the
roots requires it, and treat generally as advised
for plants during the first summer's growth.
In private gardens Palms are seldom raised
from seed, except where there happens to be
seed produced by plants grown on the place ;
consequently the plants are generally bought in
whilst small and grown on, a course that will
usually be found the best. For a considerable
time after this Cocos was known in England it
was dear, small plants costing from three to five
guineas each. After it had been a dozen years
in the country, specimens 6 feet high were sold
under the hammer at from fifty to sixty guineas.
Now it is cheap enough, healthy plants, such as
are sold in the trade, being procurable at from
Is. Cd. to 2s. each. Plants of this description
are generally in 4-)nch or O-inch pots ; these, if
procured in autumn, had better remain as they
are until spring, giving them a shift then, early
or later, according to the heat that is kept up.
Pots two sizes larger will be big enough, as this
species requires little room ; a 13-inch or 14-inch
pot is large enough for a specimen C feet or &
feet high. Drain the pots sufficiently, putting
some tough vegetable matter over the drainage
to keep the soil out of it. In potting this and
other Palms, never attempt to disentangle or
uncoil the roots that generally lie thickly at the
bottom of the pots ; if this is done, the roots
are sure to be injured, or possibly killed. Get
the crocks that have formed the old drainage
from amongst the roots so far as this can be
done without destroying them, but when the
roots are thickly matted round the crocks, I
should always leave the whole untouched. This
Cocos is frequently seen growing in soil as difle-
rent in character as it well could be ; I have
seen it do well in pure yellow clay, with which
some crocks or broken charcoal and sand were
mixed. It will thrive in peat or loam ; I prefer
the latter, especially if of the yellow, rich, close
nature, such as is procurable in some parts of
Kent ; to this add a little sand. Pot firmly, as
the roots like solid material to grow in. If pos-
Sept. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
249
sible, the plants should always have a damp
bottom to stand on ; they do not like being on
dry boards or shelves, but in standing them on
moisture-holding material care should be taken
that it is of a nature that will not admit worms,
as if these get into the pots the plants seldom
thrive well. After this, all that is necessary is
to give more pot-room as required. The plants
should be syringed freely overhead every after-
noon at the time the house is closed. Less air
will suffice for it than some things require, and
it must not be subjected to drying currents that
parch up the atmosphere.
Like most Palms, this Cocos will do with a
less amount of light than many things need.
From the hard whalebone-like texture of the
leaves it does not seem likely that they would
be easily scorched with the sun if not shaded.
How much direct exposure to the sun the plant
would bear without injury I am unable to say,
having always grown it in company with other
fine-leaved subjects that require shade. Now
and then complaints are made by some who
attempt to grow this Cocos that with them the
foliage has a sickly yellow hue. Without know-
ing how plants so att'ected have been treated, it
is ditScult to hit upon the cause. If, on turn-
ing plants in this state out of the pots, the roots
are found decayed, the cause at once is evident.
Such a state of matters is more likely to be
brought about by neglect in letting the roots
get dry than it is by their being too wet, as
unless the drainage is so deficient that the
moisture cannot pass away and the soil thus be-
comes water-logged, the roots are not likely to
perish in this way. When the roots are kept in
poor, hungry soil the leaves of many Palms are
yellow, but when not too far gone, weak manure
water given once a week or ten days during
the growing season will usually restore the
wonted colour. Where the course of treatment
already advised is followed there is not much
danger of the plant getting out of order in any
way, as it is a good, though not a fast grower,
and little liable to get out of condition.
This Cocos does well as a room plant, the
leaves keeping their beautiful deep green colour.
I lately saw a plant which had been growing in
a room for two years, and which looked as
healthy as any specimen that I have ever seen
grown under the best treatment.
Although the plant is an acquisition for room
culture, it is not to be expected that everyone
who attempts to cultivate it will succeed. Many
who try to grow plants in rooms fail through
the course they adopt, as often the windows near
which the plants are stood are opened for
hours, and a strong ciuTent of air admitted.
As might be expected when so treated, the
plants look unhappy, if they do not die outright.
If, in place of opening the bottom sash of
the window, the top was let down, the ventila-
tion would then be in the right place. Few
plants do any good if subjected to a keen
draught if only for a short time, and that in
summer. When this Cocos is grown in a room,
except in the middle of summer, it should be
where there is a fire in the daytime ; this is
still more necessary in winter, during which,
and in spring, it would not be likely to live
where no fire heat is used. All through the
cold season the plant should be stood at the
side of the room opposite to the window ; being
at rest, it wiU not suffer, as might be supposed,
for want of sufficient light. This I have proved
with some of the kinds of Dracaena that will
not bear being kept too cold in winter, and
with various other plants of a like character.
One reason why plants of a permanent character
that req\iife more or lefss warmth often fail
when taken into rooms is that they are not
prepared for the more or less reduction in
temperature which they have to undergo.
Plants that are thus subjected to cool quarters
have frequently been kept up to the time of
removal in strong heat, and the removal efl'ected
too early in the season, say in spring, before
the cold weather is past ; whereas if they were
put in the rooms in summer they would be in a
much better condition to bear the change.
- Plumbago capensia and its white variety.
—The Camellia house in Mr. Laing's nursery at
Forest Hill is just now singularly beautiful, as all
the pillars are clothed with plants of P. capensis,
which are adorned with innumerable trusses of
lovely steel-blue flowers. This species is perhaps
without a counterpart in the whole range of culti-
vated plants. Here also are numerous examples in
flower of the pure white variety alba, which has
been gradually working its way into collections for
the past three or four years, but it is not so attrac-
tive or so effective as the type. — W. H. G.
Xachenalias.— In The Garden, September 3
(p. 200), " T. B." gives some instructions for treat-
ing these bulbs. These instructions, if carried out,
would give but poor results as compared with a
more rational treatment. " T. B." says : —
Plants that liave been treated in the ordmary way
and allowed to reriiaiu during the time they were at
rest in the pots they flowered in, should now, when
starting into growth, be turned out, and as much of
the old soil cleared away as can be done without inter-
fering with the roots, "replacing it with uew that has
heen fairly enriched with rotten manure. When the
hulbs are overcrowded, larger pots should he given, or
the mass of hulbs may he dirided into two without
doing much damage to the young fibres.
If this is the ordinary way of treating Lachenalias,
it is a very clumsy one. Where growth of any kind
has been allowed to take place before potting, much
valuable time has been lost. I have grown Lache-
nalias (chiefly tricolor) very successfully for the
last ten years, and my treatment is to shake out
the bulbs when in a perfectly dormant state ; clear
away all the young bulbs, as these, if left, soon over-
crowd the pot. The bulbs are then re-potted in a
compost consisting of equal parts of loam and leaf-
soil, with a little coarse sand added, placing eight
or ten bulbs in a 5-inch pot, and from twelve to
fifteen in a 6-inch pot. The pots are then placed in
a position where they can be sheltered from heavy
rain, as the bulbs should have but little water till
growth begins, just sufficient being given to keep
the soil from getting dust-dry. Neither should any
stimulant be given till the flower-spikes show, or
the result will be a crop of strong foliage, with small
spikes of flower. If it is desirable to increase the
stock, the young bulbs may be placed thickly in
pans, where they will make fairly good flowering
bulbs for another season. The best place for hous-
ing Lachenalias during winter is a dry, airy shelf in
an open Peach house or vinery. About Christmas a
few may be introduced into a warm house for the
sake of prolonging the flowering season, but, when
forced, the flowers are very inferior to those which
flower later on. The earlier flowers are of a yel-
lowish green colour, while the later ones will com-
pare favourably with the Tritoma for colour.—
E. B. L.
Crinum Moorei.— This Crinum is one of the
most ornamental of the many kinds now in cultiva-
tion, and it is also noteworthy, as far as the spec-
mens here are concerned, as being one that can be
regularly depended upon to bloom every season.
Here we have a dozen plants that are grown in pots
for the decoration of the greenhouse, and while the
blooms on the most advanced plant were expanded
bv midsummer, the latest specimen is only just out
of flower, so that their flowering period extended
over a considerable time. Like most of its class,
this Crinum is very impatient of being disturbed at
the roots, but continued potting is by no means
necessary, in proof of which I may mention that
ours have not been potted for three years, yet they
are in good health and flower every year, though
the pots are crammed with roots. As they stand so
long without re-potting, good substantial compost
is necessary, but if a rather stifE, yet open, loam is
obtainable, this, with a liberal admixture of silver
sand, will suit them perfectly. Our plants are
growing in pots 8 inches, 9 inches, and 10 inches in
diameter, and are somewhat deeper than those used
for most subjects. After flowering, the plants are
removed to a narrow, sunny border in front of the
greenhouse, the pots being plunged in ashes.
The growth that is there produced is clean and
sturdy, while the bulbs are well ripened. As soon
as frost makes its appearance the plants are taken
into the greenhouse and placed on a shelf well ex-
posed to the light, where they pass the winter,
enough water being given during that time to keep
the roots and bulbs fresh and plump. With the re-
turn of spring more water is given, and as soon
as the flower-stems are seen weak manure water
is occasionally applied. Any offsets that make their
appearance are removed in order to strengthen the
single bulb. Though Moore's Crinum will, in fa-
voured spots, pass the winter out of doors if covered
up with leaf-mould or some protecting material,
the blooms are so readily injured by winds and
heavy rains, that they are generally seen to the
greatest advantage under glass. — H. P.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Stove. — Potting off cuttings. — Cuttings of the
various kinds of flowering stove plants that were ad-
vised to be put in a short time back should by now be
well rooted and in a condition for potting off. At all
seasons it is desirable that cuttings should be potted
as soon as they are well rooted, especially in the
case of free-growing things ; but at this time, when
the growing season is on the wane, it is well that
no time should be lost in getting rooted cuttings
transferred to pots, so that they may have time to
get established before winter. There are several ad-
vantages;attached to the late summer propagation of
many kinds of stove plants, as in this way they gain
sufficient size and strength to admit of their bloom-
ing earlier and better next year than when the pro-
pagation is deferred until spring. In the case of
young stock, consisting of such things as Isoras,
Allamandas, bushy and climbing Clerodendrons,
Dipladenias, Francisceas, and Hibiscus sinensis, it
is not necessary that they should rest during the
winter in the way that is often looked on as indis-
pensable, and without which it is supposed that
they would get exhausted, as they are much better
if kept moving slowly until spring, by which means
the plants will not only gain in size and strength,
but will be found to move much more freely when
subjected to additional heat. But to keep them
growing, the temperature of the house in which they
are located must not be allowed to get too low, and
the plants require to be stood where they wiU get
plenty of light.
Ceotons and Aralias.— Cuttings of these and
other plants of a similar character, that were put in
to strike at the same time as the blooming plants,
will in like manner now require potting. Use good
loam for them, with more or less sand as may be
necessary. Smaller pots will now suffice for newly-
struck plants of the kinds named than it would be
advisable to give them earlier in the season when
the roots had a long autumn before them. Where
the Crotons are wanted to form large bushy speci-
mens, it will be necessary to pinch out their tops as
soon as they have begun to move freely ; this must
not be omitted, as most of the now numerous species
and varieties are more or less disposed to run up
without branching until they have gained a consider-
able height, and the wood does not bend well when
it has attained strength and solidity. Conse-
quently, if the specimens are not furnished with
enough side shoots near the bottom, they get bare
and unsightly as soon as the lower leaves begin to
fall. Stock of this kind should Ukewise have
enough warmth through the winter to keep the
plants growing slowly.
Alocabia mackoehiza vaeiegata.— Amongst
the whole of the variegated-leaved plants there are
none that give a. more cheerful appearance in a
250
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 17, 1887.
warm stove than this Alocasia when well grown
and the foliage well coloured. The plant may be
propagated either in spring or early in autamn. To
have the leaves well coloured it is necessary to
select suckers that show this character from the
first. Suckers that come with their leaves all, or
nearly all, white are too delicate to ever attain size
and strength, whilst such as have their leaves
nearly wholly green rarely afterwards produce well-
coloured foliage. Old specimens usually have at
this time a crop of suckers springing up at the
base ; the best coloured of these that have got
three or four leaves each should be slipped ofE at
the bottom with as many roots attached as can be
secured. Put them singly in pots from 4 inches to
6 inches in diameter, according to their size.
Turfy loam made very rich with rotten manure is
the best material to grow this species in ; the
manure should be dry when used. Such as has
been used for mulching a Vine border or an
Asparagus bed answers in every way. One part of
this to two parts of loam with some sand will grow
the plant to perfection. This, unlike most of the
other species of Alocasia, which are surface-rooters,
pushes it roots deep down to the bottoms of the
pots. It requires plenty of drainage, as when large
and In full growth it needs plenty of water. The
suckers should be confined in a propagating frame
for two or three weeks after being potted, so as to
prevent the leaves flagging until the roots begin to
move, after which the plants may be gradually
inured to the fuU air of the house, giving them a
light position at the warmest end during the winter.
Suckers of this Alocasia taken off now whilst there
is yet time to get them established before winter will
make fine specimens next summer, whereas if the
work is put off until spring they will not attain
sufficient size. Where fuU-sized specimens of
this species are required large pots must be given
as soon as the plants begin to make rapid growth
in spring, and, in the case of smaller examples, the
roots must not be cramped for want of room, as the
plant is a quick grower, attaining its full size when
well managed the summer following the suckers
being established. After this the full-sized leaves
decay, and the plants never afterwards make such
large leaves ; consequently it is necessary to propa-
gate every year.
Palms. — On account of the difference in the
length of time which the seeds of Palms take before
they vegetate, there is no particular season that can
be named for potting ofE the seedlings. But they
must never be allowed to stand too long in the pans
or boxes in which they have been raised, or they
vrill be injured more than many kinds of plants.
Seedlings that made their appearance in spring vrill
in most cases, if not already potted, require atten-
tion at once. Do not give too much root-room ;
small pots are sufficient at first for seedlings of
even large-growing species. Good yellow loam
with only a little sand added to it answers best for
Palms, as they like close-holding material for their
roots. After potting them keep a little close for
two or three weeks, with the atmosphere moderately
moist, shading when the weather is bright. Young
stock of this kind when potted at this time should
have warm quarters during the winter, so as to keep
the plants growing slowly.
Greenhouse.— Pot Roses.— The Tea varieties
of Roses, on which the most dependence must be
placed for the production of flowers in the autumn
months and the early part of winter, must be well
looked after. Should the weather be very wet the
plants must not be exposed to the rains, as the
roots are impatient of too much water, which has a
different effect on the plants when confined in pots
to that which it has when they are turned out in
the open ground. If they appear to suffer from re-
maining longer out of doors they must be got under
cover. If there is a house devoted to the cultiva-
tion of Roses a portion of the stock may be placed
in it, selecting such plants as seem from the present
state of their growth to be likely to bloom shortly ;
the remainder may be put in cold pits, an early
vinery, or anywhere under glass where they will get
plenty of air and be quite cool. Before taking
them in see that the whole are free from red spider
or aphides ; the former if present, although it will
not increase to the extent that it does earlier in the
season when the weather was warmer, if allowed to
remain will yet become troublesome as soon as the
plants are subjected to heat, whilst the aphides if
not destroyed now will entail more labour to get
rid of them later on. The treatment that the plants
which are wanted to flower first should have in re-
gard to warmth will require to be regulated by the
time the flowers are needed. If they are not re-
quired before December the house may be kept cool
for a time ; if a supply of bloom is wanted imme-
diately to follow the flowers of the Teas that are
grown on walls out of doors, a little warmth wiU
soon be necessary, as though the outside supply in
favourable localities often continues well on into
autumn, stUl they are too much dependent on the
weather to be relied on. Hybrid Perpetuals in pots
are less susceptible of injury at the roots through
the soil being over moist, but it is not well to ex-
pose them too much in autumn, as there is little
top growth going on to absorb the water; con-
sequently when there is an appearance of the
weather breaking up, it is better to get them under
glass.
Azaleas. — Where Azaleas have been well
managed in the early stages of their growth so as
to be well furnished at the base, comparatively
little training is required afterwards ; but whatever
it is necessary to do in this way should be com-
pleted before the current season's growth gets hard
and fully matured, otherwise in training the shoots
it gives the plants an unsightly appearance through
the inability of the leaves and shoots to restmie
their right position. Plants that flowered late, and
consequently are late in finishing their growth,
should have whatever training seems necessary
finished at once. Use no more sticks than requisite,
and when inserting them in the balls do not push
them deeper than needful, as every inch that each
stick is thrust into the soil breaks a number of root
fibres. T. B.
be no doubt but that we have the very best ever
seen ; indeed, a poor strain is utterly inexcusable.
AUied to fine quality of flower and excellent robust
habit is also a great variety in colour, the most
effective being white, carmine, mauve, scarlet,
crimson, and purple ; whilst there are several others
having light grounds and scarlet or purple flakes,
or dark grounds with white spots. I have, indeed,
counted twenty distinct forms in a collection, but
the coloiirs named comprise the best. Balsams
thrive wonderfully well out of doors, and during the
drought have grown well and flowered profusely.
The flowers are of quite as fine quality out of doors
as under glass, and a bed of plants of some half
dozen bright colours makes a beautiful feature in a
flower garden.^A. D.
The If alabar Glory Iiily (Gloriosa superba).
— This is, when in fiower, one of the most orna-
mental of stove bulbs, though not so often seen in
private gardens as it deserves to be. It is of easy
cultivation. Plenty of heat and moisture in summer
and rest in a warm place in winter are important
considerations in its successful culture. The plant
is of a straggling habit, but can be kept within
bounds by training to wires on the roof of a stove,
or, if trained to a balloon-shaped trellis, not only
would it be a feature in the stove, but would, if
necessary, be an acquisition to a collection of plants
at a summer or an autumn show. As the growth
ripens water should be gradually withheld. During
winter the pots should be laid on their sides, or, 3
more convenient, the bulbs may be removed from
the pots into seed-pans and covered with sand,
when they may be stored away in any warm
place. The bulbs should be potted by the beginning
of March in a compost of peat and loam in equal
parts, with a sprinkling of sand. — H. F.
Baleams. — How seldom do we see Balsams well
done as pot plants. It used not to be so some
years since, for then there seemed to be special pride
in producing fine, well-grown plants. Possibly the
introduction of Begonias, Gloxinias, Celosias, and
other recently improved soft-wooded plants, and
usually so showy and so easily grown, has done
something to distract attention from Balsams ; pos-
sibly also Balsams are not so easy to grow well. In
any case, really good, weU-grown and well-flowered
Balsams are far from being common. The very best
plants I have seen for a long time were shown at
Barley last month, and, being the product of ioiia
fide cottagers, possessed all the greater merit.
Generally the strain was a good one, the flowers of
the most perfect doubleness and rich in colour, but
some of the plants, though in 9-inch pots, were re-
markably good, showing skill and care in their
production. It is most probable that these had been
grown in a cold frame, or possibly out of doors en
tirely , for in such great heat as we have had to endure
plants in a house would hardly have looked so fresh
and vigorous. As to quality in Balsams, there can
Garden Flora.
PLATE 614.
NEW AMAEYLLIDS.
(with coloured plate of a. NESTOR AND A.
SPLENDENT. *)
The garden varieties of the Amaryllis (Hippeas-
trum) have become so much mixed by crossing
species and varieties, that the original source
from which the finer garden forms have emanated
is altogether lost. The variety named Nestor is
doubtless descended from that handsome species
A. Leopoldi, introduced by Messrs. Veitch, of
Chelsea, from Peru twenty years ago. It was
exhibited for the first time at the Royal Horti-
cultural Gardens in 1869, and was named in
honour of the King of the Belgians, who visited
the exhibition and saw it in flower. The intro-
duction of this species created quite a revolu-
tion in the genus. The same firm had previously
introduced Hippeastrum pardiniun from the
same country, and their foreman, Mr. Seden,
raised three fine garden varieties by crossing
A. Acramanni pulcherrima with the pollen of
H. pardinum; the produce were the following :
Brilliant, Chelsoni, and maculata. The work
has been continued ever since in the Chelsea
Nurseries by Mr. Heal, who has surpassed the
most sanguine expectations in the production
of varieties unrivalled in form, colour, and con-
stitutional vigour. Another and important
standard of excellence has not been lost sight
of, and that is the prodiiction of a large head
of bloom. Leopoldi and pardinum produce
but two flowers on a scape ; whereas the
best of the recent seedlings have from four to
six flowers on a scape. To produce this grati-
fying result some Continental raised varieties
have been introduced to play the most important
part. The varieties to which I more particularly
allude are Empress of India and The Giant.
These two varieties are of the most vigorous
constitution, and have each produced from one
bulb three scapes with as many as seventeen
flowers in the aggregate. Another notable cha-
racteristic in the modern seedlings is the short
tube or lack of tube altogether. This has been
caused by the introduction of the Leopoldi and
pardinum types into them. The last-named has
no trace of a tube whatever ; the petals expand
to an almost circular outline, showing the in-
ternal surface of the petals more than the outer ;
whereas the varieties with long tubes display
the outer surface much more conspicuously.
H. pardinum may be taken to represent the
type without any tube ; and the best represen-
tative of the long-tubed varieties is H. so-
landi'iflorum conspicuum, which has produced
flowers lOJ inches long. The type form pro-
duces its flowers 8 inches in length, but the
green and yellowish white flowers are not very
* Drawu for The Garden in Messrs. Veitch' e nvusery,
March 14, 1887, by H. G. Moon, and printed by G.
THE GARDEN
NEW VARIETIES OF AMARYLLIS 1 NESTOR. 2 SPLENDENT
Sept. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
251
striking. I was greatly pleased to see hybrid
forms of this distinct species flowering in Messrs.
Veitch's nursery during the past season. There
is no other species with such a peculiar long
tube, so that the cross had necessarily to be
made with shorter tubed species or varieties;
but the hybrids had retained the peculiar bent
tube of H. solandriflorum with the rich colours
of the seed or pollen-bearers, for it is most in-
teresting to cross both ways.
The variety named splendent follows in its
rich colour A. Acramanni pulcherrima, a variety
which has been frequently used as a seed or
pollen-bearer. There is still a wide field for the
hybridist to further improve all the sections of
this interesting genus of plants, but especially
the long-tubed varieties. It is a very large
genus. Dean Herbert enumerated fourscore
species of Amaryllis and Hippeastrum in 1836.
He divided them into distinct genera by the
form of the seeds, but that distinction does not
seem sufficient, and all the hybrids now grown
are referred to Hippeastrum.
I have frequently dealt with the cultural
requirements of the whole section, and a very
few remarks on this head will be sufficient for
the present. They have completed their growth,
and are now passing into the period of rest.
We do not disturb them in any way at present,
except to keep the leaves free from insect pests
and the crowns of the bulbs free from bug.
Those who have their plants qiiite free from this
troublesome pest are fortunate, for if it is
established in the hothouses it will be sure,
sooner or later, to get upon these plants. They
seem to increase rather freely in the decaying
scales of the bulbs, and to make sure none are
lurking there all decaying portions ought to be
removed with the old leaves. It is as well to
mention that no plants can be successfully
cultivated unless they are quite free from all
traces of insect pests. The house where our
plants are grovm is now kept quite at a green-
house temperature, no top or bottom heat is
required, and ample ventilation is given even at
night. We must not forget, however, that the
fmest varieties at present in cultivation are Peru-
vian and require a hothouse temperature when
making their growth, and the lower temperature
is safe only when the plants are at rest and
quite dry at the roots.
It has been stated that Mr. Kelway, of Lang-
port, has cultivated the AmaryUis successfully
out of doors ; but this can only be A. vittata, or
varieties raised from it, crossed with other half-
hardy species. They had been introduced from
the Cape of Good Hope more than a century
ago. Dean Herbert used this species to
hybridise from at least sixty years since, and it
would be a great boon to hardy plant growers,
if they could obtain hardy forms, to produce
their flowers out of doors. Our climate is too
moist for them to live in the open borders dur-
ing the winter. January is the best month in
which to repot them, and I do it annually,
shaking all the old spent soil from the roots.
They like a moderately rich compost to grow in,
and the pots must not be too large for the size
of the bulbs. Good-sized flowering bulbs may
be placed in 6-inch pots. Start them in a gentle
bottom-heat about the end of January, and a
temperature of 50*^ as a minimum, to be in-
creased from 5° to 10° more when the new roots
are formed. Avoid watering too much at first ;
an over-supply of water is a great evil, and has
destroyed many valuable bulbs.
J. Douglas.
Roses in bloom. — The only Roses which have
flowered with any freedom since the first lot of flowers
faded are some of the Tea-scented varieties, which are
growing against a south wall. These have been, and
are now, flowering in the most satisfactory manner.
Only afew other sorts have produced flowers in quantity.
These are Aimee Vibert (Noisette), Mrs. Bosanquet
(China), and the old pink and crimson China varieties.
I have known Eoses to be scarce in September after we
have experienced a dry summer, but I never saw so
few Hybrid Perpetuals in bloom as at the present time.
-J. C. C.
Orchids.
CHOICE EPIDENDRUMS.
This is a very large genus, but its members are
not popular with Orchid growers, on account of
the great numbers of kinds whose flowers have
neither size nor beauty to recommend them.
The various species of this genus abound
Epidendrum dichromum.
throughout the whole of South America, and
thus are easily obtained, and as everything in
the shape of an Orchid was at one time im-
ported. Orchid houses at home were completely
inundated with the most worthless of the race,
until "It's only an Epidendrum," became a bye-
word, and was quite sufficient to seal the fate of
many an unknown plant. There are, however,
several large-flowered and handsome species
even amongst Epidendrums, to a few of which I
wish specially to refer, in order that they may
receive a greater amount of attention than is
usually accorded them.
There are two distinct sections of the genus
Epidendrum — those with slender, Eeed-like
stems, which produce large panicles of bloom,
and those with pseudo-bulbs ; and it is to
plants belonging to the latter section which I
will here confine my remarks. These for the
most part succeed best upon blocks of wood, as
they delight in spreading their roots in the at-
mosphere, but, if grown in pots, the drainage
must be ample and kept in an efficient state,
and very little potting material should be used to
encompass their roots. When growing, the plants
require an abundance of moisture, but when
the growth is mature little or no water should
be given them, their stout growths enabling
them to withstand a severe drying without any
ill efiects. They should not be allowed to
shrivel ; this, however, will seldom occur if the
temperatirre is low, which it should be during
the resting season.
As previously remarked, there are numerous
species of Epidendrums which are by no means
showy. Many of them, however,
yield a delicious odour when in
bloom, and, where space is ample,
some of these kinds should be grown
upon blocks of wood, and their flowers
utUised for cutting. The following
kinds are remarkable for their grate-
ful perfume : E. ionosmum, virens,
ruf um, fragrans, odoratissimum, selli-
gerum, Boothianum, phceniceum, va-
uillosum, aromaticum, alatum, aga-
thosmicum, and auritum.
E. DlCHEOMtru. — A good idea may
be formed of this species by a glance at
the annexed cut. It has somewhat ovate
psendo-bulbs which taper at each end,
and bear on their summits two or three
leathery strap-shaped leaves, which are
some 6 inches or 8 inches long. The
scape rises from the top of the pseudo-
bulb, and is from 1 foot to 2 feet high,
branched and bears numerous flowers,
which are each about 2 inches across,
the sepals and petals pure white ; lip
deeply three-lobed, front lobe deep rosy
red margined with white, faintly stained
at the base with yellow, side lobes rolled
over the column, white. It blooms dur-
ing the late summer and early autumn
months. Native of the warm parts of
Brazil, and thrives best in the Cattleya
house.
E. DICHBOMUM AMABILB. — This form
was first introduced by the Messrs. Low,
of Clapton, from the neighbourhood of
Bahia, where it is said to grow upon
low bushes on the margins of streams,
and so near the ground that its roots
descend and penetrate the sand on the river banks.
It varies considerably in its markings, but in the par-
ticular form distinguished by the name amabile the
sepals and petals are white, beautifully suffused with
rose colour ; lip deep crimson bordered with white,
the side lobes white tipped with purple. This and the
typical plant thrive upon blocks of wood, and also
in pots, but they appear to dislike having their roots
covered either with peat or Sphagnum. Both forms
are now somewhat rare in cultivation.
E. PSisiLiTOCAEPUM is a native of Central Ame-
rica, and requires the temperature of an interme-
diate house to develop its singular beauties. The
pseudo-bulbs are flask-shaped, bearing two or three
bold strap-shaped leaves, nearly 1 foot long ; the
scape is erect and the raceme nearly 1 foot long and
many-flowered; sepals and petals about equal in
size, narrow, and of a pale yellowish green hue, more
or less blotched with dark purple ; lip narrow, tri-
angular, tapering to a sharp point, and bright rosy
pink. It usually blooms during the late summer
months.
E. Brassavol^. — This is a very rare and, at the
same time, a most beautiful species. It resembles
E. prismatocarpum in the shape of its pseudo-bulbs.
The spike is erect, from 1 foot to 2 feet high ; the
flowers, which are numerous, measure about
i inches across ; sepals and petals narrow, linear-
252
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 17, 1887.
lanceolate, clear tawny yellow ; front lobe of lip
broad, somewhat spade-shaped, the base yellowish
white, the front portion being of a deep mauve
colour. It grows wild on the volcano of Chirigui at
some 7000 feet to 8000 feet elevation ; consequently
thrives best in a cool house, but enjoys an abundance
of light.
E. ATROPUEPUKEUM. — This species is a native of
New Grenada and Guatemala, where it is cilled
the Dragon's Mouth, and should be grown in a
cool house, but in such a position as to obtain the
full benefit of sun and light. It is frequently to be
found under the erroneous name of E. macrochilum.
Its pseudo-bulbs are ovate, much crowded, and
bear on the summit a pair of oblong, strap-shaped,
leathery, deep green leaves ; spike erect, many-
flowered, the flowers being the largest in the genus,
the individual blooms being nearly H inches across ;
sepals and petals about equal, cuneate-oblong,
spreading with the tips incurved, olive-brown,
stained with green at the base; lip large, deeply
three-lobed, the side lobes forming a hood over the
column; middle lobe large, flibelliform, pure white,
blotched with deep crimson at the base. This
species we recently noted blooming in Mr. Williams'
nursery at HoUoway.
E. ATEOPDEPURBUM EOSEUM resembles the
typical plant in its growth, but the flowers are very
distinct, the large lip being destitute of white,
which is replaced by deep rose colour passing into
crimson at tlie base. Both forms usually bloom in
spring and early summer.
E. ERUBESCBNS.— This speoies forms a stout
creeping rhizome, from which at intervals are pro-
duced somewhat fusiform pseudo-bulbs, which bear
a pair of ohlong acute, leathery leaves The raceme
is much-branched and bears a profusion of flowers,
which in the sepals and petals are delicate mauve,
whilst the lip is rosy mauve. These blooms last
many weeks in full beauty. It should be grown
upon a block of wood in a very moist and cool
temperature, as it cannot be induced to live long in
heat. It is a native of Mexico, about Oaxaca, at
upwards of SOOO feet elevation, where it abounds
upon the branches of Oaks.
E. Stamfoedianum.— This is a somewhat tall-
growing plant for this section ; its fusiform pseudo-
bulbs are (i inches or more high, and the aspect of
the plant is that of a small-growing Cattleja. It
differs, moreover, in producing its spike from the
base instead of the apex of the ]iseudo-bulb ; the
flowers are borne in a branched raceme ; the sepals
and petals are greenish yellow ; lip yellow, with a
deep violet spot at the base, and dotted with red.
It is a spring-blooming plant, and thrives best in an
intermediate house. Native of wet, shady places in
Guatemala.
E. nemgrale, sometimes called E. verruoo-
sum, has tufted and stout pseudo-bulbs, some 4
inches high, and bear a pair of narrow, leathery,
obtuse leaves; panicle nodding, many-flowered;
sepals and petals soft rosy mauve ; lip white in the
centre, margined with deep rose and bearing three
red streaks upon the disc. It is a summer-bloom-
ing plant, and thrives best in a cool house, but
enjoys abundance of light. Mexico.
E. NEMOUALE MA.JUS difljers from the type in its
longer and more branched spike, and in the flowers
being larger and more delicate in colour.
E. viTELLiNUM MA.iu.s.— This species was dis
covered in Guatemala growing amongst Lichens on
the mountains, which are continually enveloped in
fog and mist, and in Mexico growing upon Oak
trees at an elevation of 9000 feet. Lindley de-
scribed it as a magnificent species bearing brilliant
orange flowers, but very difiicult of cultivation.
This difiaculty, however, arose from the system
which was practised at that time of placing plants
from whatever altitude in tropical hejit. Now, how-
(ver, since a more rational method is pursued with
the.se alpine Orchids, they are found to be ea.sy of
ciltivation and profuse bloomers. The pseudo-bulbs
and leaves of this plant are all of a soft glaucous
hue. It produces erect and dense racemes of thick
fleshy flowers, which in the sepals and petals are
deep orarije-soarlet, the small lip being bright
yellow. The possessor of a few plants of this
species may enjoy its blooms nearly all the year
round, the individual flowers lasting nearly three
months in full beauty. It thrives in the coolest
situation and requires an abundance of moisture. In
the variety giganteum the spikes are longer and
branched, and the flowers are also much larger.
LADY'S SLIPPER ORCHIDS AT HOLLOWAY.
Cypeipbdiums appexr to find great favour with
Mr. Williams, who maintains a private collection of
these deservedly popular plants, for apart from their
interesting form and beautiful markings, they are
extremely free flowering, and the flowers are very
persistent, and although this may be called the
dullest season for Orchids, we recently noted nearly
forty kinds of Cypripediums flowering in the Vic-
toria Nursery. The most notable kind was C.
Morganiic, numerous plants of which were bear-
ing three of its large and beautiful flowers upon a
spike. This is a Veitchian hybrid, having for its
parents C. superbiens and G. Stonei, and is a dan-
gerous rival to the variety of G. Stonei, called
platytienium, which realised such a high price
recently at Mr. Lee's sale. The large dorsal sepal
is white flushed with red, and heavily veined with
dark red; the petals are both long and broad, undu-
lated and fringed on the edges, ground colour yel-
lowish white, heavily spotted and blotched with
deep purplish brown ; lip very large, brown, flushed
with mauve. A coloured illustration of this superb
plant was given in The Garden, January, 18«3.
C. PIIILIPPINENSB was first figured in the Botani-
cal Magazine, under the name of C. Ifevigatum, and
by which name it is still best known in gardens. It
appears to be a native of the Philippine Islands,
where it usually grows upon rocks near the sea,
although the first plant was found by Mr. J. G.
Veitch growing as an epiphyte on the roots of
A'anda Batemani. Although now frequently to be
met with in collections, it remained for some years
a very rare plant and commanded a high price. The
form of this species now flowering with Mr. Williams
has thick and fleshy leaves of a light, glossy green,
arranged in a two-ranked fashion; the scape is
erect, furnished with soft hairs, and bears from
three to five flowers ; upper sepal white, streaked
with broad lines of purple ; the connate lower sepals
are similar, but more sparingly ornamented with
purple lines ; petals upwards of 6 inches long and
much twisted, greenish white near the base, passing
into rich bright brown ; lip small, yellowish green.
Numerous beautiful forms of C. cenanthum and
oenanthum superbum are also now to be seen here ;
it is a hybrid between C. Harrisianum (itself a hy-
brid) and C. insigne Maulei ; they apparently have
varied considerably from seed, and thus from the
same cross have been produced the form cenanthum,
the varieties superbum, obscurum, &c.; it is a very
bright and pleasing flower, variously flushed with
violet and yellow on a rich vinous ground colour.
C. VB.XILLAETUM is a rare and beautiful plant,
one of the few hybrids produced from C. Fairie-
anum crossed with C. barbatum, the parentage of
the first named species being visible in the deflexed
petals, which are recurved at the tips; the dorsal
sepal is large, white tinged with green, and flushed
with light purple, and distinctly veined deep port-
wine colour; petals dull purple suffused with
green; lip large, dull brown veined with bright
green.
C. SUPBRBIEKS, better known perhaps as Veitchi-
anum, is now flowering here profusely, the form
known as Prince DemidoS's variety being much the
finest. This belongs to the barbatum group, and
even when not in bloom the bright tessellated foli-
age renders it both beautiful and conspicuous. The
flowers, however, are large and showy.
C. SUPBRCILIAEB is the result of a cross between
the last named plant and C. barbatum; it is a very
handsome form, more closely resembling C. super-
biens, but its flowers are smaller, and they have in
addition some of the characters and markings of C.
barbatum.
C. SELLIGERUM.— This hybrid has been obtained
between C. philippinense and 0. barbatujn. It retain^
the glossy leaves of the former, but in addition partakes
of some of the markings of the latter species. It
would appear to have varied considerably from seed,
and various forms are flowering in the Holloway
collection ; whilst we have as recognised varieties
selligerum majus, selligerum superbum, selligerum
rnbrum, and others. It is a bold-growing and
handsome plant, with a vigorous constitution;
scape three-flowered, the dorsal sepal white, broadly
veined with very deep crimson, the connate lateral
sepals smaller, white, tinged with green; petals
about 3 inches long, tapering to a point, fringed on
both edges with long hairs, ground colour deep red
veined with purplish red, and bearing near the
margins numerous black warty protuberances; lip
large, reddish brown. The most notable of the
other kinds now flowering in the Victoria Nursery
are C. Harrisianum in variety, good forms of C.
Swanianum, cardinale, calurum, Sedeni, and Ash-
burtoniie; C. conchiferum, stenophyllum, and
Auguste Regnieri, the latter belonging to the con-
color section, but with a pretty little pointed
slipper-like lip. The whole of the above named
kinds are grown in a high temperature and a moist
atmosphere, which, judging by the vigorous ap-
pearance of the plants and the abundance of
blooms they are producing, are highly congenial to
them. W. H. G.
Kitchen Garden.
W. WILDSMIIH.
KITCHEN GAEDEN NOTES.
Weeds. — The long-continued drought enabled us,
by a free use of the hoe. to make such a clearance
of weeds that we felt fairly certain of having no
further trouble with them this year, but since the
rains they have increased most rapidly, and again
the hoes have to be brought into play whenever
there is wind and sun suflicient to kill the weeds.
It is of the utmost importance that weed destruc-
tion should go on as fast as possible now, for in a
month hence we shall have less sunshine, and damp
fogs will be so frequent that there will be no nope,
of clearing them off except by hand-weeding, and
we have not time for that.
Clbaeins ground and thinnino out seed-
lings.— This since the rain has really been our
chief kitchen garden work. Peas, French and
Broad Beans, Cauliflower stumps, old Turnips, and
Lettuce are all being cleared, and such of the ground
as is required for immediate cropping is being forked
over, and the remainder will be trenched during the
autumn. Lettuce and Endive have been thinned out
to 9 inches apart, Spinach to about a foot, and
being very anxious to prevent canker in the latter
a good dressing of soot has been scattered over the
ground. Our first sowing of winter Spinach has
grown so rapidly that it is already fit for use, and,
therefore, the thinning of the plot is done, as a
supply of Spinach is needed. This plan we also
practise with Coleworts, which are put in at only
half the distance the plants are finally to stand,
the intermediate plants being pulled out as required
for use. Turnips, also Carrots, required for using
fresh from the ground during the winter are now
ready to thin; 5 inches to (! inches apart is at
this season ample space, ^\'e have pricked out Cauli-
flowers on a well-sheltered border, and they can be
protected from frost by one of several contri-
vances, such as covering them over with old
lights, straw hurdles, canvas or mats. Planted
out Lettuce, Black-seeded Bath Cos, and sowed
another lot between the rows of newly planted
Strawberries. Cabbage Lettuce we have discon-
tinued growing. It is far inferior compared with
the commonest of all the Cos Lettuces.
Seakale, Globe and Jerusalem Arti-
chokes.— The three are mentioned together, le-
cause they are in a general way grown side by side
outside the limits of the kitchen garden proper ;
and there are reasons for such being the case, as
they take up a lot of space, are not every-day vege-
tables, and not over grand in appearance ; still they
are none the less valuable in their proper season.
The drought has not affected either of the Arti-
Sept. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
253
chokes, unless it be for the better — I mean as regards
the plants, for the Globe Artichokes have fruited
enormously, but being now over, the old stems and
withered foliage require cutting away and clearing
out, and the ground between the stools lightly
forked, or deeply hoed in preparation for the
autumnal rains. Jerusalem Artichokes have grown
abnormally tall, and as yet manifest no signs of
maturing, and being with us required for use at a
very early date, about a third of the whole have
been cut down to encourage the ripening of the
tubers, which will a few weeks hence be lifted for
earliest use, but the remainder will be left in the
ground and dug up as wanted. Seakale has suffered
somewhat from drought, because the tendency it
always has for seeding has been still greater by
reason of the heat and drought. The seed stems
must be persistently out away, and the ground be
kept open by hoeing, or at this season lightly
forked ; the latter we hope to do within the next
few days. Seedling plants of the present year have
not done well, and presently they will be given a
good dressing of manure, which will be forked in as
deeply as it is safe to do it without injury to the
roots.
GbneeAl wobk. — To complete the housing of
late Potatoes ; plant out Lettuce and winter greens,
and fiE up gaps in those already planted. Earth any
plants that require such assistance. To keep
Tomatoes securely tied to their stakes and the fruit
cut soon as ripe, that later fruit may have a better
chance of developing.
Late Fotatoes. — There is a great cry in this
part of the country about late Potatoes in conse-
quence of the dry summer. I have about 5 acres of
a mixed character, and about a fortnight since I
tried a few roots, of different kinds and found the
tubers very small and covered with scab. The tops
looked so green and fresh that I had hopes of a
crop. We have recently had two or three good
showers, which have altered tlie appearance not only
of the Potatoes, but of everything else. I have lifted
a few roots of Cosmopolitan, Wormleighton Seed-
ling, and Snowdrop, and to my surprise found some
excellent Potatoes, but scabby. I had these three
cooked and found all good, but for flavour I prefer
Wormleighton Seedling, which I have grown for many
years. Among the new kinds of Potatoes, Hughes'
Pink Perfection is very fine. — K. Gilbeet.
White Turnips. — It would be very interesting
to learn about the end of the present month what
are the general prospects of the winter crops then
growing. We should then be better able to judge as
to the outcome of the present robust growth of late
Potatoes, and what were our winter prospects of a
crop of tubers. Even so late as the end of August
it seems difficult to judge accurately — indeed, it is a
problem difficult to solve. But while we certainly
shall have ordinary winter vegetables in more or
less bulk, it does seem as if white Turnips would be
utterly lacking. With these we seem quite helpless
in the face of the myriads of Turnip beetles which
infest fields and gardens everywhere, and which seem
to increase enormously in the warm sunshine and
drying winds. Good breadths of seeds, but especi-
ally of white Turnips, looking full of promise, dis-
appear as if by some unseen agency in a day or two,
and with the soil so dry and full of insects it seems
useless to repeat sowing. Indeed, let the weather
be ever so favourable (and it is not so), seed sown
so late as the end of August, even of some very
quick-growing sort and on good soil, can hardly be
expected to produce useful bulbs before the winter
comes in. I fear white Turnips will be very scarce
this winter. In any case it would be of real service
could we learn from capable sources what are the
prospects of the Turnip crop in different parts of the
kingdom, say a month hence, or indeed at any time
during the mouth of October. To this report might
well be added the general condition of Brussels
Sprouts, white Cabbages an d Colewoits, Autumn Giant
and other Cauliflowers, Broccoli, Spinach, winter
Onions, Celery and otherimportant crops. We should
thus be in a far better position than now to ascertain
what general effect the recent hot, dry summer has
had upon the winter supply of vegetables. If these
reports could embrace field as well as garden crops
the return would be all the more valuable. — A. D.
The season's crops. — The detailed remarks
of "D. T. F." in The Garden, Aug. 27 (p. 177),
upon the condition of the vegetable crops in his
district a fortnight since singularly depict the
average condition of the crops generally throughout
the greater part of the kingdom as well as in
Suffolk. Were we to judge of the general condi-
tion of our vegetable crojis from what is seen at
exhibitions we should entertain very optimist
views; but sliow produce is usually misleading,
because grown under special and not ordinary con-
ditions of culture. When we turn to the large
areas which supply the public with good produce,
however, we find very various displays, and although
the recent rain has changed the look of the crops
very much, it has come too late for many things.
We have had some light showers, but so moderate
that they have soon disappeared, and the ground
remains as dry as ever. It is most diflicult to keep
Turnip and Cabbage seedlings from destruction by
fly ; indeed, these pests have cleared all the earlier
sowings, and only misty nights and cloudier days
have held them in check. " D. T. V." terms these
beetles "jacks"— a local designation, doubtless.
They have rarely been more troublesome than this
season. Still, if we got some heavy showers, we
could circumvent these pests, as growth would be
rapid. I can supplement the reference to the ab-
normal top-growth and free-blooming qualities of
late Potatoes as seen in Suffolk by the statement
that exactly the same thing has been seen here ;
and stin farther, that those who try the roots find a
very indifferent produce. It is no use to lift the
tubers now, and if they stand for several weeks
longer the result may be little better. Still, under
the circumstances, it is well to wait and see what
the end of the summer may produce, for much de-
pends upon the appearance of frost, which would
soon settle the matter effectually. — A. D.
The Fruit Crops.
SCOTLAND.
mine Graden, Berwick. — The fruit crop here
is an average one. Apricots are a good crop, and
the fruit is ripening early. Peaches are bearing
fairly well, the trees healthy, but were much troubled
with fly in spring, owing to the prevalence of east
winds. Apples are a variable crop, those bearing
most abundantly being Blenheim Orange, Yorkshire
Greening, Lord Suffield, Hawthornden, Warner's
King. Atkin's No. 2, Small's Admirable, Cornish
Gilliflower, and Manks Codlin ; the finer dessert
kinds are much thinner. Strawberries were a dis-
appointing crop, the severe drought affecting them
so much that the fruits lost both flavour and colour,
and were only fit for preserving. Pears are very
thin, except Louise Bonne of Jersey, Beurre d'Aman-
lis, and Beurre Boussoch on west walls. Of Plums,
those bearing most abundantly here are Green Gage,
Golden Gage, Victoria, and Kirke's Seedling. Rasp-
berries were not good, being, like the Strawberries,
very much affected by the dry season. Small bush
fruits are very good. Gooseberries and Black Cur-
rants being an especially fine crop. All kinds of fruit
are small this season, owing to the prolonged
drought we have experienced. Apples have dropped
off from the trees in quantity, and small bush fruits
ripened a fortnight earlier than usual. Mulching
and watering had been carried on regularly for
months back, and this treatment has materially
assisted heavily cropped trees.— James Geaham.
Cawdor Castle, Nairn.— Gooseberries, Hasp-
berries, and Strawberries were most abundant, but
the dry weather shortened their season. The best of
the latter were Garibaldi, Duke of Edinburgh, and
Elton Pine. Apples are a small crop, and many of
the fruits have dropped, owing to the dry weather.
The same remark applies to the Pears. Apricots
are fair. Peaches thin, also Plums. Cherries in
some gardens here are good, and in others very thin.
Black and Red Currants good.
The season has been so dry and hot that fruit and
vegetables — Peas, Beans, and Cauliflowers — have
come in all at once, yet they were very good. —
James Maitland.
Dunbeld House, Perthshire. — Apricots are a
fair crop, but the fruits have not swelled as usual,
owing to the dry weather. Plums are under average,
but the fruit is of fine quality on walls. Cherries
are not a heavy crop, but the fruit is good. I
gathered fine Peaches outdoors on the 11th of
August ; we have a good crop, the flavour being extra
fine. Pears are unsatisfactory, Williams' Bon Chri5-
tien and Jargonelle being among the best. Goose-
berries were not of the usual size, and the same
remark applies to Currants. Dunkeld has suffered
more from the dry weather than any place I know.
—P. W. Faiegeieve.
Bupplin Castle, Perthshire. — Apricots are a
good crop, and the trees that were watered are
bearing heavily ; the fruit is also very fine. Apples
are about an average crop, and a few of the trees
are loaded, but some of the fruits are dropping
from dryness at the soil. Plums are under the
average here, and on trees that were not watered
the fruit is small, but I hear that there are good
crops in the district. Pears are irregular on the
whole, Moorfowl and Marie Louise carrying full
crops. Cherries are about an average. Among
bush fruits Black, Red, and White Currants yielded
good crops. Gooseberries were a heavy crop, but
the fruit was not so large as in former years. Rasp-
berries are numerous, but the fruit is small, and
will be soon over with the continued dry weather.
Strawberries were quite a sheet of blossom, and a
very heavy crop was expected, but the plants suffered
so much from drought that the yield was only about
half a crop, the largest fruit being from one-year-
old plants.— John Beownisg.
Coltness, Lanarkshire. — Altitude from 120 ft.
to 300 ft. ; the soil various, but chiefly resting on
clay. Apples are an excellent crop of nearly all
sorts. The trees did not suffer much from drought,
but there is a marked improvement in the fruits
since the rainfall of July. Pears a moderate crop,
but the fruit is smaller than usual ; the drought has
affected early sorts, the fruit being small ; late sorts
improring. Plums an excellent crop, especially of
Victorias. Cherries a very good crop, but not much
grown in orchards here. Strawberries have borne
well. The fruits were small in places where the
soil was light and on exposed parts ; later sorts on
level ground were fine. In some cases the crop
was really excellent, but the season was short.
Gooseben-ies carried very good crops. The only
sort that has suffered by the drought is Red War-
rington, many bushes having died, and others lost
several branches. It is mainly old bushes that are
affected. Currants of all kinds bore well. The
Black varieties in orchards are very much troubled
by the mite, but there is less complaint of its
ravages this year. Raspberries were excellent. —
J. Whitton.
The Glen, Innerleithen. — There has been an
abundant crop of most of the kinds of fruit that are
grown here, and especially of Strawberries, which
were abundant and good. It is certainly one of
the best seasons we have had for the last ten years
in this district. During the drought we were
fortunate in getting some thunderstorms, which
were a great benefit.
We have good crops of all kinds of vegetables.
Potatoes have not been so good for years, the tubers
being of fine quality ; cereals are also in most places
good.— M. MclNTTEE.
Dunecht House, Aberdeen.— Fruit trees of
all sorts in the early part of the season promised
well, but the hard, cold winds and frosty nights
have proved too much for many of the varieties.
Small fruits, on the whole, have done fairly well.
Raspberries did not carry so heavy a crop as usual,
and late Strawberries were unsatisfactory. Early
Cherries were very much thinned by the frost.
Plums fairly good, but the fruit small. Apples on
walls very thin, and fair on standards. The dryness
of the season has told very much on all kinds of
fruits bj ripening thepa three weeks earlier than
254
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 17, 1887.
usual, and on our light, thin soil watering has been
necessary.
The Potato crop in this neighbourhood was ob-
tained in excellent condition, and in spite of the
intensely dry season we hare had the tubers are
larger than I anticipated and quite a fortnight
earlier. The quality is all that could be desired ;
field crops look well, and there are no signs of
disease.— J. V. Smith.
Auchincniive, Ayrshire. — Fruit, as a rule,
has been very plentiful in this neighbourhood this
season, and generally very good. Strawberries,
perhaps, suffered more with the hot, dry weather
than anything else. The fruits were very fine in the
first part of the season, but the crop was soon
over. Gooseberries, Eed and Black Currants were
all a very heavy crop of the best quality. Apricots
and Plums are both good crops. Pears are, per-
haps, rather a light crop, but Apples are bearing
heavily, and the fruit is of the best quality. I
think we have" not suffered so much from the dry
season in this neighbourhood as in other districts,
with the exception of where the groiond is very
light. On moderately heavy soil the crops have
stood well. — A. Wilson.
Eglinton Castle, Irvine, Ajrrshire. — Plums
and Cherries are the only stone fruit grown on open
walls, and the former are a good average crop, the
trees being clean and healthy. Cherries are under
the average, but the crop is good in quality. Apples
are never very good here, but they are about an
average crop and the quality is better than usual.
Pears are under the average and not of good quality.
Strawberries were a splendid crop and of fine
quality, particularly President and Yicomtesse Heri-
cart de Thury. Currants, Gooseberries, and Rasp-
berries over an average and very good. The hot, dry
weather has suited all kinds of crops here, but we
were only three weeks without more or less rain, and
everything is much earlier than usual ; Strawberries
were sixteen days earlier, and Peas quite a fortnight.
Field crops look well. Potatoes particularly, and
our early Potatoes were never better. I never saw
French Beans do so well in Scotland before. —
W. Priest.
Bunrobin Castle, Sutherland. — Apples are
an unusually heavy crop, but the fruit will be small
in size on trees too heavily cropped. Strawberries
have been plentiful and of excellent quality ; the
varieties which suit us best are Duke of Edinburgh
and Elton Pine. Cherries on a north-west wall
have borne well, and have been a welcome addition
to the dessert since the end of July. Bush fruits of
all kinds have borne heavy crops of excellent flavour.
Gooseberries and Easpberries being unusually fine.
Pears and Plums are rather a poor crop. On the
whole, the dry, warm summer has had a beneficial
effect on our fruit crops, our deep, friable soil
enabling the plants and trees to withstand the dry
weather.
Carrots are the only failure among vegetables,
the Carrot grub having completely spoilt the later
sowings. Potatoes are an excellent crop, the tubers
being of excellent quality and useful size. — D. Mel-
ville.
Terregles Gardens, Dumfries. — The crop of
Apples in the gardens here and in this district is
over the average, and the fruit is fine in quality.
Pears are also a better crop than we have had for
several years. Plums ars a thin crop both on wall
trees and standards, but the fruit is very good.
Cherries have been more than an average crop, espe-
cially Morellos, which are very fine. Small fruits,
with the exception of Black Currants and Straw-
berries, have been abundant and good ; the latter
crop has been almost a failure, and suffered more
than any other from the drought ; the fruits were
very small and deficient in flavour. — Alexander
Chalmers.
Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire. — This very
dry season has had a bad effect on the fruit crop.
We grow neither Apples nor Pears in this district.
Gooseberries and Currants are plentiful, but small
good quality. The fruit and other crops are about
a month earlier than last year. — Wm. Patbbson.
Bowhill, Selkirk. — Fruit is abundant, but
owing to the very dry season many of the varieties
are undersized. Strawberries were extra good, the
fruit large and abundant. Raspberries were also
excellent. Of Gooseberries we had a good crop.
Currants very fine, both in size and quantity.
Of MoreUo Cherries we have extra crop, but the
fruit is undersized. May Duke Cherries and early
sorts were abundant. Apples abundant and good.
Pears a fair crop, but the fruit is undersized.
Plums a good crop. On the whole, this has been the
best fruit season for many years, and I have not
seen a single wasp this summer. — Geo. Brown.
Dunmore Park, Stirlingshire. — Apricots are
an average crop and the quality is good. Plums are
an average, both standards and walls. Cherries a good
crop and the quality good. Peaches and Nectarines
are an average crop with very good quality. Apples
an average crop, the quality good. Pears also satis-
factory. Of small fruits we have a good crop. Straw-
berries were very good. From the beginning of May
the season has been exceptionally dry. We have
had plenty of sunshine to flavour fruits, but the con-
tinued want of rain has rather affected both wall
and standard trees.
Potatoes. — We have good crops both in gardens
and fields, but the tubers are rather under size for
want of rain, and as yet there is no disease. Farm
crops have suffered from the long continued drought,
Turnips especially. — Maurice Fitzgerald.
Wemyss Castle Fife. — Apples especially are
an excellent crop. Pears below the average, and
the fruit poor. Cherries a heavy crop, especially
Morellos, and the fruit excellent. Plums a fair crop.
Apricots abundant and early. Easpberries were a
heavy crop, and the quality of the fruit was good.
Black and Eed Currants the same. Gooseberries
promised a heavy crop, but were much destroyed
while in flower by frost. In sheltered localities the
bushes carried a heavy crop. Strawberries on light
soils were an entire failure, more especially the early
varieties. Fruit trees in general have made good
growth and promise well for a future crop.
Owing to the excessive drought, vegetables of
every description have come rapidly to maturity. —
J. Clark.
Gordon Castle, Banffshire. — Apricots over
average, clean and good ; ripe flrst week in August.
Plums. — Some sorts over average, others under ;
Early Berthold and Early Prolific ripe on walls
the first week in August. Cherries good ave-
rage. Peaches average ; trees clean and healthy.
Apples under average ; fruit good. Pears under
average. Small fruits — very plentiful crop of
aU kinds. Black Currants small. Strawberries
a good average and of fine quality. Walnuts are
a full crop. The only sort of fruit affected
by the long drought here is the Black Currant,
and that is partly owing, no doubt, to an over-
abundant crop. AU other kinds are fuU-sized and
highly flavoured, with clean foliage. The failure in
the Apple and Pear crops is considered to be the
the result of imperfectly ripened wood and buds.
We had a cold season up to August 8 last year, and
although the autumn was warm till the middle of
October, the period was too short to enable the buds
to get thoroughly matured; the consequence was
that, although a plentiful display of blossom was
produced in spring, fruit failed to set. The crops of
these two sorts of fruit are generally deficient in the
north. — J. Webster.
Polmaise Castle, near ; Stirling. — Young
plantations of Strawberries were very fine, old
plants bearing a moderate crop, Keen's Seedling,
Vioomtesse Hericart de Thury, and Frogmore Late
Pine being the best varieties. Gooseberries bore a
very large and fine crop. Eed, White, and Black
Currants are a heavy crop, the quality fine ; the black
ones especially are fine and large. Easpberries were
very good. Peaches on walls are carrying a mode-
rate crop. The Early Louise variety was ripe on
Strawberries a light crop, but the fruit of good August 1. Plums on walls are carrying a fine crop ;
quality. the best varieties are Kirke's, Green Gage, Victoria,
Potatoes will be a light crop on dry soils, but of I Jefferson's, Pond's Seedling, and Reine Claude de < As to earliness, I do not think I shall be beyond the
Bavay. Standard Plums have an immense crop, the
trees requiring support. The best varieties are Vic-
toria, Pond's Seedling, Jefferson's, and Damson. Pears
on walls are, on the whole, a very moderate crop.
Some varieties are abundant, viz., Beurre Diel, Passe
Colmar, Jargonelle, Louise Bonne of Jersey, and
Hessle. Pears on standards are bearing a good
crop. The best varieties are Hessle, Moorfowl's Egg,
and Louise Bonne of Jersey. MoreUo Cherries on
walls are a very good crop, and the fruit is extra
large in size. Apricots on walls are a small crop,
the fruit good in size and flavour. Of Apples (large
standard trees and bushes) we have the finest and
largest crop for twelve years, every tree and bush
being laden. The principal varieties grown are
Keswick Codlin, Northern Dumpling, King of the
Pippins, Cox's Orange Pippin, WeUington, and
Yorkshire Greening. The dry, warm summer has
been greatly in favour of all the fruit crops in our
garden, with the exception of Strawberries. Taken
altogether, the fruit crop is the finest I have ever
seen. — W. W. Ritchie.
Cullen House, Banff. — The fruit crops in
this part of the country have, generally speak-
ing, been good. Peaches are an extra good
crop. Nectarines the same, and Apricots are above
average. Plums are a fuU crop on walls, but scarce
on standards. Apples and Pears are only a partial
crop, some of our trees being heavily laden and others
have none at aU. Stirling Castle, Lord Suflield,
Hawthomden, and all the different kinds of Codlins
are a full crop with large, weU developed fruits for
the season, but many of our other kinds of Apples
are a failure, owing to cold frosty winds when the
trees were in bloom. Cherries, both early and late
kinds, are a full crop, and all bush fmits have been
good, and ripened weU. Strawberries were soon
over on account of heat and extra dry weather,
much of the late fruit never sweUing and becoming
dried up with the drought. The dry season has not
affected us much in this locality. Strawberries being
the only fruit that suffered to any extent. We had
frequently to water our Peach and Apricot trees on
the south waUs during the months of June and July.
We are now getting plenty of rain, and gathering
ripe Apricots and Peaches from the open waU at an
earlier date than we have done for many years back.
We had dishes of both for table use by August i,
fuUy three weeks earlier than in ordinary seasons.
— G. Bbbey.
■Whittinghame, Prestonkirk. — Apricots are
about an average crop, and the fruit has ripened
properly for the first time for many years. Of
Apples we have a very abundant crop. Cherries
(sweet) were an average, but MoreUos were abun-
dant and fine. Peaches an average crop, but the
fruit small. Plums over the average. Pears almost
a failure here, but abundant in the neighbourhood.
Easpberries abundant and fine. Strawberries were
under the average, and the fruit was small. Goose-
berries average crop, and of fine quality. Red,
White, and Black Currants very abundant and fine.
Like many other places, this has been the driest
season we have experienced for many years, and, in
consequence, much of the fruit has suffered, notably
in the case of Strawberries, which were poor in
quality and small in quantity. The continued
drought is causing the Apples to faU in large quan-
tities.—John Gaerett.
Tynninghame Castle, Prestonkirk.— Not-
withstanding the severity of the drought, we have
no occasion to complain of the fruit crops as a
whole. AU kinds of small fruits have been heavy.
Currants standing very weU ; but in the case of
Strawberries, Easpberries, and Gooseberries the
crops were of very short duration. It may be noted
that Strawberries were of particularly fine fiavour.
All other fruits are a full crop. Pears having had
the lightest crop of blossom,but sufficient for agood
crop. Other fruits had to be very severely thinned.
The effect of the drought as to size is appreciable,
but not to a great extent. As to appearance, there
is a decided superiority. We are gathering Apricots
much finer than is usual with us, and Apples show
few coarse fruits, and these are generaUy coming
much finer in colour than we find them so far north.
Sept. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
255
maxk in saying we are three weeks earlier this
season than last, and 18S6 was not a late season
With regard to the best kinds of particular fruits,
there is not much to add to what has been said in
former years. However, it may be of interest to note,
with respect to Apples, that Warner's King is this
season poor both in crop and size for that kind
Eibston Pippin, on the other hand, is extra line. J
think we shall have fruits quite up to the Kentish
average. Blenheim Orange is also better than
usual ; and Lord Suffield is, for the first time these
last seven or eight years, free from speck, and the
trees making healthy growth. The following sorts
are also very fine : Irish Peach, Early Harvest, Ked
Astrachan, Early Margaret, Devonshire Quarrenden,
Cockpit, Margil, King of the Pippins, Reinette du
Canada, Cobham, East Lothian Pippin, Adam's
Pearmain, Claygate Pearmain, Wadhurst Pippin,
Duke of Devonshire, Dutch Mignonne, Cornish Arc
matic. Early Julien, Duchess of Oldenburg, Pott's
Seedling, MSre de MiSnage, Cox's Pomona, Bedford
shire Foundling (much finer than usual). Northern
Greening, Tower of Glamis, Rymer (smaller than
usual), Echlinville, Keswick Codlin, Old English
Codlin, Grey Leadington, Stirling Castle, Alfriston,
Cellini, Lord Sufiield, Kentish Fillbasket, Lady
Wemyss (a good late-keeping sort). Our best Apri-
cot is Shipley ; Moorpark is also large and good.
Of Plums, Victoria and Magnum Bonum are smaller
than usual. Green Gages, on the other hand, are
considerably larger. Jefferson's, Kirke's, Washing-
ton, &o., about the average quality. As a rule. Pears
are decidedly smaller ; large sorts, such as Beurre
Bachelier, Souvenir du Congr^s, kc, about haU the
usual size. Peaches are also smaller than usual.
We have in no case been able to water fruit trees.
In a few instances the want of water has acted
prejudicially. Trees have made a sufficiency of
growth and none are stunted. — R. P. Beothbeston
Damaway Castle, Moray. — The situation of
the garden here is south-east, with a gradual slope
to the south, and weU sheltered from both north
and east winds. Stone fruits, Pears, and Apples
grow remarkably well. Apricots are a good average
crop, but the fruit is not so large as usual, owing to
the dry weather we had in June and July. Peaches
on open walls are a fine average crop, and the fruits
of usual size. Plums looked very promising up to
June, but owing to the dryness of the borders they
dropped off towards the end of July, and what fruits
remain on the trees are very small and blistered
with the sun. Pears are satisfactory, and the fruits
fuUy up to former years in size. Apples are an
average crop, and the fruit is good, especially that
of the late sorts, such as Lord Sufiield, Stirling
Castle, Lord Derby, Fillbasket, Beauty of -York,
and Blenheim Orange. Gooseberries are over the
average, and Red and Black Currants and other
sorts of small fruit were abundant. Strawberries
were a good crop ; the varieties we grow are Gari-
baldi, President, Sir Joseph Paxton, and Elton Pine
The Potato crop suffered very much for want of
rain. Early sorts are very small and not numerous,
but good in quality ; but I fear the late sorts will
not be so good as usual. — D. Cunningham.
Oalloway House, Wigtonshire. — Fruitcrops
in this county are generally very plentiful. Straw-
berries, owing to the excessive heat and drought,
did not swell off their fruit so satisfactorily as
usual, and were soon over. On shallow soils the
crop was almost a failure. British Queen has done
better than for some years past. Several rows of
the former, as also of Oxonian, President, and Sir
Joseph Paxton, were last year allowed to form
runners between the established plants, making
continuous rows or beds. These have given the
best results ; the plants grew strongly in spring, and
before the drought was much felt had almost
covered the ground with foliage, and ripened up a
much finer fruit than was obtained from isolated
plants. Apples are abundant ; on young trees the
fruit will be a fair size ; on old ones quite the
reverse. Apricots are a good crop ; the Moorpark
and Orange have very fine fruit. Pears are a good
average ; the Marie Louise variety is carrying fine
crops, and all the hardy orchard varieties are loaded
with fruit. Peaches are fair, and promise to ripen
well. Royal George and Gros Mignonne are the
best. Plums on walls are below the average, the
best being Kirke's, Lawson's, and Green Gages, and
Coe's Golden Drop. Orchard trees of Victoria,
Belle de Septembre, and Damsons are laden with
fine fruit. Cherries very good, both of dessert
kinds and Morellos ; the fruit fine and well
coloured. Figs are a fair crop ; the Brown Turkey
does best here, but established trees of the Castle
Kennedy variety are carrying heavy crops of fine
fruit in the neighbourhood. Raspberries very poor.
Gooseberries and Currants heavy crops, and large,
well-coloured fruit.
Eaelt Potatoes are excellent, and late kinds
promise well, with no trace of disease as yet. —
James Day.
Dalkeith, Midlothian. — Fruit trees in this
district flowered in great profusion last spring, and
set heavy crops, which were considerably thinned
by the drought in June. Still most varieties are
bearing well, and the crop generally is over an
average. Apricots are abundant and fine, the most
productive being Large Early, Hemskirk, and Moor-
park. Peaches and Nectarines on the open walls
promise to be the best seen here for many years,
Hale's Early and Alexander being the best of the
early Peaches, Royal George, BeUegarde, Stirling
Castle, and Barrington following with fine crops.
Pine-apple and Lord Napier are the best Nectarines.
Apples are generally a fine crop, the fruit large,
clean, and of the finest quality. The best crops are
borne by Keswick Codlin, Wellington, Alfriston,
King of the Pippins, Blenheim Pippin, Kerry
Pippin, Golden Spire, Cockpit, Cox's Orange Pippin,
Warner's King, Northern Greening, and Yorkshire
Greening, aU orchard standard trees, while EchUn-
ville. Lord Sufiield, Duchess of Oldenburg, and
Manks Codlin, which usually bear heavily, are very
moderate or light crops. Pears are an equally good
crop, the best bearers being Beurre d'Amanlis,
Williams' Bon Chretien, Hacon's Incomparable,
Louise Bonne of Jersey, Marie Louise, Napoleon,
Doyenn§ d'Ete, Jargonelle, Catillac, Hessle, Swan's
Egg, and Black Achan, all standards and pyramids,
and, in addition to most of these varieties on walls,
Thompson's, Passe Colmar, Glou Morceau, BeurriS
Ranee, Doyenne du Comice, Red Doyenne, Easter
Beurr6, and Winter Nelis are bearing good crops.
Plums and Cherries are fuUy up to the average,
Victoria, Jefferson's, Kirke's, Orleans, Transparent
Gage, and Pond's Seedling bearing the best crops of
Plums, and May Duke, Black Tartarian, Frogmore
Bigarreau, and Morello are the best of the Cherries.
Small fruits were very fine and abundant. The rain
came just in time to save the Strawberry crop,
which proved a fine one, but lasted only about a
fortnight, Vicomtesse H^ricart de Thury and James
Veitch being by far the most productive on our
light, sandy soU. Raspberries, Gooseberries, and
Currants have been all fine crops, and of the best
quality. — M. DuNN.
Falkland Palace, Fifeshire.— Considering
the excessively hot and rainless summer through
which we have just passed, the fruit crops are much
more satisfactory than was at one time anticipated.
Owing to the dry season we had no soft fruits
spoiled by rotting. Strawberries were quite un-
touched by slugs. The quality of all fruits which
have ripened has been good, but we have lacked
quantity, and the season has been short compared
with ordinary summers. We completed our last
gathering of Elton Pine on August 12. All fruits
that were early and heavily mulched with litter
have given a very satisfactory yield. Our soil being
light we take the precaution to mulch early as far
as our material will go. Apples are very plentiful,
especially trees of Lord Sufiield, Echlinville, Kes-
wick Codlin, Early Harvest, Stirling Castle, and
Atkin's No. 2. Spring frosts greatly damaged the
flowers on standard Pear trees in low-lying districts,
and except on walls with a southern aspect, the
crop may be said to be a failure. Some old trees
of the Hessle Pear growing on the terrace slopes
are carrying good crops. Plums, excepting Vic-
toria, are devoid of fruit. Cherries very plentiful ;
the same remark applies to all small fruits. Rasp'
the flavour was good, also Gooseberries. Red and
White Currants, on the other hand, were both large
and fine. The varieties of Strawberries grown here
are Black Prince, Grove End Scarlet, Keen's Seed-
ling, Garibaldi, President, and Elton Pine, all of
which yielded full crops, but red spider to some ex-
tent damaged the later gatherings. Apricots grow-
ing on the gable end of the old Palace stables
facing south are a full crop, the wall being of con-
siderable thickness, and flanked at either end by
glass houses, which protect the trees from east and
west vrinds. The border received a good mulch
when the dry weather set in and frequent soakings
of liquid manure have been applied during the
summer ; the result is that the fruit is of good size
and quality. — A. Dewar.
Balcarres, Fife.— The fruit crops in this dis-
trict are by far the best we have had for years, and
we are three weeks earlier. Our garden is heavy
soil, and the various subjects have withstood the
dry weather very well, but on lighter soils the crops
are not so good, and in some cases small fruits have
been very scarce. Apples are a heavy crop, and
Keswick Codlin, Lord Sufiield, Nelson's Glory,
Atkin's No. 2, Stirling Castle, Warner's King are
completely loaded ; these are the chief kitchen va-
rieties we grow. King of the Pippins, Cellini, Rib-
ston Pippin, Irish Peach, and several other dessert
varieties are also bearing good crops. Pears are
chiefly conflned to walls, and we only grow a few of
the old standard varieties, which are very good.
Plums-Victoria, Jeff erson's,Kirke's,MagnumBonum,
Golden Drop, and Green Gage are all carrying
heavy crops. Peaches are a fair crop where pro-
tected, but rather small. I only grow Hale's Early
outside, and this year I gathered the fruits on
August 6, the trees being in a southern aspect.
Cherries have all been good; Morellos rather small.
Nuts a fair crop. Of Strawberries I gathered King
of the Earlies June 11, and Garibaldi ten days later,
but the fruits were very small ; those late varieties,
James Veitch and Elton Pine, have been good and
fine in flavour. Gooseberries bore heavy crops, and
the same may be said of all kinds of Currants.
Raspberries a fair average crop.
Potatoes are generally heavy crops, and so far
free from disease. Early varieties have been very
fine, the tubers being of good size and excellent
flavour. Taking this season's crops all through, it
is the best we have had for many years. — Edwabd
Tate.
Dalmeny Park, Edinburgh.— Apricots and
Peaches are a good crop; also Nectarines. Pears,
such as Marie Louise, Brockworth Parkj are bearing
satisfactorily. Dessert Plums are very flne, and
early dessert Cherries were a good crop ; Victoria
Plums an average crop. Pears on west aspect under
the average, except Doyenne d'Ete, which always
has a good average crop. Morello Cherries on north
aspect are scarce. Red and Black Currants were an
average crop, but the fruit was rather small. The
same applies to Raspberries and Gooseberries. Early
Strawberries have been quite a failure; whereas late
Elton Pine produced a very heavy crop.
Vegetables of all sorts have done well this season.
—John Motes.
Fyvie Castle, Aberdeenshire. — Apricots are
a fair average crop. Apples much under the average,
but a few trees of the hardier varieties have a fair
crop. Pears on the walls are more abundant than
Apples, but we have none on the standards. Plums
are very much under the average, and Cherries were
poor outside, but good in the houses. Peaches are
not grown outside. Gooseberries were fair, but did
not produce a heavy crop. Red and White Currants
fair, but Black under the average. Strawberries
were both good in quantity and quality. Rasp-
berries were very heavy, and the fruit was of ex-
cellent quality. Those fruits that ripened before
the rain came were small and poor in quality, and
came to maturity from ten to fourteen days later
than usual. — R. Paeqtjhae.
Brodie, Forres. — Apples are a good crop and
the fruit is of fair size, but not so good as in 1885.
The most abundant bearers are Lord Sufiield,
berries and Black Currants were much smaller, but I Stirling Castle, Tower of Glamis, Kentish Fill-
256
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 17, 1887.
basket, and an unnamed Codlin of local origin,
which generally bears well. Pears are only a fair
crop, the best bearers being Williams' Bon Chretien
and Moorfowl's Egg. The fruits of Winter Nelis
and Easter Beurre are both extremely small.
Bergamotte d'Esperen a fair size, also Doyenne
du Cornice. Apricots are an excellent crop. Other
stone fruits, viz., Plums and Cherries, are almost a
failure, the reason I think beinf;- that the wall they
are growing on is partly overhung by a line of Oak
and Beech trees. The border lacks moisture, and
as a result a great many Cherries dropped in
stoning. Small fruits have all done well with the
exception of Strawljerries, and the drought affected
them to such a degree that a fair proportion of the
fruits never swelled. The Strawberry season here
was very short. Gooseberries were a very abundant
crop, also Red and Black Currants. Raspberries
good and of large size, but the crop was soon over.
— John Clark.
Drumlanrig, Dumfriesshire. — Black, Red,
and White C'nrrants bore very heavy crops, and the
frait was of finer quality tlian usual. Strawberries
were abundant and early, but smaller than usual.
Raspberries were a moderate crop and the fruit small.
Gooseberries were plentiful and of (inequality. Plums
abundant and finer than for several years. Apples
abundant and the fruit large. Of Pears we have
few out of doors, but they are plentiful and fine in
orchard houses. Peaches, Nectarines, and Figs in
orchard houses are abundant and fine. There was
little rain in June, but in July there was plenty of
moisture, and all crops of fruits and vegetables are
finer than usual.
On August 1-1 there were 2° of frost that affected
such things as Vegetable Marrows, French Beans,
and Potatoes. This is the earliest frost sufficiently
severe to injure anything on record. The Sllth of
August was the earliest frost until this one of the
last twenty-six years. — D. Thomson.
Dysart House, Dysart. — Our soil being very
light and dry, the dry season has had a serious
effect on fruit crops in general, but on Strawberries
in particular. We had a splendid promise on nearly
all our varieties of Strawberries, the plants being
literally covered with bloom, but owing to the long
continuance of dry weather the fruit never swelled,
but shrivelled up, and in some cases the plants
were killed outright. We only gathered 150 lbs. of
fruit from an area of rather over a quarter of an
acre. Gooseberries, Black and Red Currants were
a heavy crop, but the fruit was rather small. Rasp-
berries under average and the fruit small. Apples
a fair crop, but small. Pears a poor crop, also
Apricots and Plums. Peaches we do not try out of
doors. Cherries — with the exception of Morellos,
which are bearing heavy crops of fine fruit — are
under the average, but the fruit is fine, especially
on trees of the May Duke variety. Many of our
fruit trees are badly infested with red spider,
standard Apples being especially bad. I fear this
will tell on our next year's crop, but as our water
supply is very deficient, we must allow the spider to
have its own way. — Charlbs Smith.
New Byth, Prestonkirk, East Lothian. —
Fruit crops of all sorts, although the fruit is under-
sized, owing to the dry season, will be a fair average
in this neighbourhood. Apjiles will not be so hea\y
as they promised, a great many having dropped off
owing to the droiiglit. The following varieties are
bearing well : Lord Suffield, Manks Codlin, Ke.swick
Codlin,Yorkshire Greening, Is^orthern Greening, York-
shire Beauty, Stirling Castle, Hawthornden, Blen-
heim Orange, Round Winter Nonsuch, Ribston Pippin,
King of the Pipi)ins, Devonshire Quarrenden, Thorle
Pippin, Worcester Pearmain, Cox'.s Orange Pippin,
Cellini, Prince Albert, Cox's Pomona, Syke House
Russet, and Royal Russet. Pears are the best cro])
I have had since I have been here both on walls and
standards. Williams' Bon Chretien, Louise Bonne
of Jersey, Beurre d'Amanlis, Hessle, Jargonelle,
Moorfowl's Egg, Duchesse d'Angouleme, Beurre?
d'Aremberg, Easter Beurre, Beurre Diel, Marie
Louise, Glou Morceau, Beurre Oapiaumont, Tri
omphe de Jodoigne, Ne Plus Meuris, and Winter
Nelis are all bearing good crops. Plums are very
poor, tlie only fruit I have being on the walls, and
the varieties are Victoria, Green Gage, and Trans-
parent Gage. C;herries of all sorts have been a
good crop ; Morellos are still very fine. Apricots are
the best crop I ever saw, and the fruit is fine and
clean ; Moorpark variety does best here. Peaches
are an average crop, and with the waterings they
are getting I expect them to finish well ; Stirling
Castle, Royal George, and Noblesse are the best.
Strawberries would have been a heavy crop this
year, but the great drought and scorching lieat
ripened the fruit prematurely, and had we not
mulched heavily and watered liberally, althougli
we have a strong heavy soil, our crop would liave
been light. Vicomtesse Hi5ricart de Thury, Mar-
guerite, Duke of Edinburgh, and Elton Pine were
ourbestvarieties. Raspberries, except where shaded,
lasted a short time ; they were a fair crop. Goose-
berries were not so plentiful with me ; but Red and
Black Currants have been abundant. I am afraid
that any amount of rain we may have now will not
swell the Apples and Pears to their usual fize. —
L. Dow.
Scone Palace, Perth. — Apples are a satisfac-
tory crop in this district, but Pears and Plums are
rather scarce. Bush fruits, with the exception of
Gooseberries, are plentiful. Strawberries are under
the average. Cherries good, especially Morellos,
but the fruits are small in size. Nuts are plentiful
and early. Owing to the excessive drought most
fruits are under the average size, especially Straw-
berries, Raspberries, and Black Currants. Straw-
berries are largely grown in this neighbourhood as
a field crop, and as the fruit was poor in quality and
lasted but a very short time, farmers have suffered a
severe loss. — A. McKinnon.
Castle Uenzies, Perth. — In Perthshire I be-
lieve we have had a good share of the dry weather
that has been so common this season. In conse-
quence garden crops are variable, some sorts of
vegetables being scarce. Peas especially 'are badly
dried up. Currants and Gooseberries are plentiful,
but the fruit is smaller in size than usual. There
was a good crop of Raspberries that nearly all
ripened at the same time. Strawberries would
have been a good crop if there had been more mois-
ture to swell the fruit. Apples are a good crop.
Pears are not so plentiful. Plums are about an
average. Apricots are a very good crop and ripen-
ing nicely. Cherries were not a good crop. —
Joseph Ewinq.
Pitfour Castle, Perth.— The heat and drought
have not affected our fruits injuriously ; but, on the
contrary, our finer wall fruits are finishing off well.
Our trees also have given less trouble than usual,
being singularly free of insect pests, and making
moderate growths, which will be pretty certain to
mature sound fruit buds for another season. Apri-
cots, quantity and quality superb, the best for many
years. Plums good average. Cherries, full crop,
excellent quality. Peaches, light crop, but give
promise of good quality; trees very healthy. Apples
may be called the crop of the season, very fine.
Pears very scarce, much under average. Currants,
Gooseberries, and Raspberries, full average, and good
quality. Strawberries, where water was plentiful,
very good, fine quality ; otherwise unsatisfactory.
Nuts very scarce. — A. Forbes.
Abercairny, Perth. — We have finished gather-
ing the small fruits in Perthshire three weeks earlier
than last season, and, taken as a whole, they were
not so heavy as was the case last season, the long-
protracted drought causing ]iremature ripening.
Strawberries, of which large breadths are grown in
the county, suffered very much from the want of
rain. Late varieties in some districts were a failure,
and in not a few places the plants were seriously
burnt. Apples are plentiful, but small; the quality,
however, will be fine, and many varieties are beau-
tifully coloured. Pears are somewhat scarce. The
Plum crop is heavy, both on walls and standards.
Apricots, Peaches, and Nectarines are under an
average crop, but the fruit is of good quality, and,
like all other fruits, will be early harvested. Fruit
trees and bushes are generally stunted in growth,
and should autumn rains not promote a second
growth, wood and buds are finely ripened, and with
an ordinary spring a good crop may be anticipated
next season.
Vegetables on light and poor soils have fared
badly. Where the soil was well manured and deeply
dug they will well repay, in a season like this, the
extra cost entailed. Second early Potatoes are
likely to make second growth. Since the recent
showers of rain the late Potatoes have looked well.
— Jambs Brown.
Marchmont, Berwickshiie. — Apricots are a
heavy crop, and will be ripe a fortnight earlier than
usual. Plums are a medium crop. There was an
immense amount of bloom in the spring, but it did
not set well. Apples are abundant and large. Pears
are scarce. Strawberries were a full crop and very
fine in quality, but the season was very short. I have
still some fruit of the Elton Pine variety in con-
dition for dessert, but I have had the same sort as
late as the 20th of September ; this year they will
be finished by the 20th of August. Currants, Black,
Red, and White, have been a heavy crop and of
good quality. Gooseberries and Raspberries are
abundant and large, and fine in flavour. Walnuts
are plentiful. Filberts abundant and ripening well.
Vegetables have been good, and are still plentiful,
though Peas will not last so long as in past years.
Altogether this has been the best year for flowers,
fruits, and vegetables that I have had since 186.S. —
Peter Lonet.
IRELAND.
Elm Park, Limerick.— Apricots are a good
crop. Apples very abundant, but Peaches a splendid
crop, the best, in fact, I ever had. Mine are grown
on the open walls. Cherries are a poor crop.
Plums good. Raspberries were not half a crop, and
the fruit was small. Gooseberries half a crop and
small. Strawberries were half a crop, and the fruit
very small. Figs a good crop, but small. Pears a
fair crop, but small. I never saw Grapes doing so
well, especially Muscats. — Thos. Conway.
Bockingham, Boyle, Roscommon. — Of
Strawberries we had a good crop, although they came
in too quickly. Our best were Sir Joseph Paxton,
President, A'icomtesse Hericart de Thury, and Keen's
Seedling. Raspberries were a goodcrop,ourbestbe)ng
Carter's Prolific. Gooseberries were a very heavy
crop, especially Warrington. Black Currants were
good and very large ; Red and White Currants we had
in abundance. Cherries were a good crop, but the
fruit was small compared with former years, our
best variety being May Duke. We have not had so
many Apples for the last eighteen years, the largest
and best bearers being Blenheim Orange, King of
the Pippins, Ribston Pippin, Lamb Abbey Pear-
main, Echlinville, Hawthornden, Keswick Codlin,
and Irish Peach. Pears are not quite as good as
usual, although we have good crops of the follow-
ing : Jargonelle, Hessle, Beurre Oapiaumont, Beurre
Bachelier, Marie Louise, and Beurr^ Diel ; other
kinds are scarce. Of Apricots we have only two
trees out of doors, but these had a very heavy crop
on them. Plums are scarce, owing to the small
birds picking out the buds in winter. Peaches,
both early and late, are good, and plenty of them ;
the early house suffered somewhat from red spider.
Filberts and Hazel Nuts arc plentiful. — James
Clews.
Phoenix Park, Dublin. — Apples here without
exception are an excellent crop ; even Cox's Orange
Pippin, usually a shy bearer, has an abundant crop,
and all the fruits promise to be highly coloured.
Standard Pears are not quite so good as last year ;
still they may be termed average. Those on the
walls carrying best are Jargonelle, Williams' Bon
Chretien, Marie Louise, Louise Bonne of Jersey,
Passe Colmar, and Urbaniste. Apricots have been
very fine and in profusion. Moorpark and Hems-
kirk are the only varieties here. The latter appears
to have a stronger constitution in our variable
climate, and with larger fruit, but less of them.
Plums are generally light. Morello Cherries were
extra fine in quantity and quality ; they evidently
benefited by the very warm summer we have had,
which cannot be said of the Strawberries. They
have been almost a failure and nearly burnt up.
Sept. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
257
Only tbose favoured by a little shelter from trees,
&c., bore any fruit, and no runners formed to make
new plantations. Gooseberries ;ind Currants were
fine. Outdoor Peaches are fairly good, but small ;
the inside ones were very fine and highly coloured.
Great difficulty has been experienced in keeping
Vine and Peach borders in a safe condition with
water. Unfortunately our supply here is very limited.
— RoBT. JIcKenna.
Bird-hill, Clonmel.— The drought has not
affected the fruit crop in Ireland at all to the same
extent as reported in Sussex and Kent. I have seen
many gardens, and though in those of limestone
formation, or high position, fruits in the open or
planted against walls seem smaller and less succu-
lent, they did not in any case fall ofE the trees ;
neither were they denuded of foliage. Royal George
and Noblesse Peaches are better under glass than
any recent season. Apricots on a south wall are,
owing to thorough ripening' of the wood last year,
over the average. We always mulch, and give a few
doses of liquid manure. Cherries above the average,
the dry weather not affecting them at all. Apples —
Ribston Pippin admirable crop, Hawthomden and
M^re de Menage very promising. King of the Pippins
and Lord Suffield about an average. Pears — some
varieties are heavy crops and others light; Flemish
Beauty never better, while that best of all Pears,
Marie Louise, some degrees behind former seasons ;
Williams' Bon Chri^tien and Countess of Flanders
suffered from late frosts in May, though they pro-
mised well. Next year, owing to the thorough
ripening of the wood, there should be a heavy crop.
Bash fruits — both Gooseberries and Black and
White Currants were over the average in this dis-
trict. Raspberries somewhat less. Strawberries,
in moist gardens where early mulching had been
attended to, ga\"e splendid results ; of twenty-five
varieties I must give premier place to Paxton's
Captain, then James Yeitch for size, British Queen
and Dr. Hogg for flavour. Sir Joseph Paxton stood
the drought best, and fruited, continuously.v then
Marguerite. — Thomas Bdlfin.
Kilruda.iry, Bray, Co. Wicklow. — Straw-
berries were an abundant crop and of excellent
quality, owiag to the position of the garden here
being in one of the lowest spots in a mountainous
district, so the plants were not affected by the long
drought ; whereas in higher positions in this neigh-
bourhood they have been a complete failure. Rasp-
berries here, and generally in this locality, a poor
crop. Apples an aliundant crop, though small.
Pears average. Plums a good crop. Damsons about
half a crop, and they are prematurely ripening owing
to the dry serison. Cherries were an average crop.
Apricots plentiful, though small. Figs a fair crop.
Taking a general survey in this district, the fruit
crop this year is far above the average. Although
in elevated positions and on light, sandy soil small
fruits, though plentiful, have been inferior in size,
orchard trees everywhere show plenty of fruit. — W.
Cooper.
Bally waiter Park, Co. Down. — Apricots and
Cherries a good crop. Plums a light crop. Pears
very scarce, but Apples are bearing well. I never
saw better promise of Strawberries, but, owing to
the very hot, dry weather, comparatively few of the
fruits swelled. The crop was light, fruit small,
good in quality — all ripe nearly together and soon
over. Currants were plentiful, also Gooseberries
and Raspberries. We are situated on the north-
east coast within a quarter of a mile of the shore.
Severe frost is a rare occurrence, but we suffer much
from north and east winds in spring. There was no
frost worth mentioning after December last, and
very little rainfall since January. Fruits in general
ripened earlier than usual, but were below the
average size, though good in quality. — W. Crane.
Baronscourt, Tyrone. — Fruit crops have never
been better than this year, all kinds being abundant,
fine in flavour and fair in size. We feared that the
Apple crop would be small, but the fruits promise
to be rather larger, on the whole, than usual where
the crop is not too heavy. Plums are also a very
fine crop, and Pears (a very unusual thing in this
district) are a very regular crop. Strawberries
and other small fruits have been more abundant
than they have been for more than nine years. In
my opinion we have benefited by the fine dry season.
— A. Dickson.
Shane's Castle, Co. Antrim.— The crops of
fruit in this neighbourhood are good on the whole,
dry weather being the exception and not the rule
here. This summer has been beneficial to all fruit
crops, excepting Raspberries and early Strawberries.
There was a light crop of the latter owing to want
of rain when the fruit was swelling, Imt the later
varieties and those growing in low-lying districts
came on well. Small fruits were good in all cases.
Apples arc quite as heavy a crop as in 1885, and
the fruit much finer. Pears are better than they
have been for many years. Jargonelle on walls espe-
cially. Standard trees in orchards and gardens are
laden with clean, handsome fruit, a rare occur-
rence in this part. Peaches on south walls are
carrying a good crop. Cherries and Apricots are
rather light. Figs good. Plums on both wall
trees and standards very plentiful and good. The
only kind not having an average crop is Coe's
Golden Drop. Damsons are good. There is an
excellent crop of Cobnuts, but Walnuts are scarce.
— Charles Waravick.
Bellarena, Londonderry. — Apples, Pears, and
Plums are a thin crop here, owing to a severe hail-
storm that we had when the trees were in full
bloom, but the orchards near us in more exposed
places, therefore a few days later, escaped the
storm. The crops are good and a fair size. Red,
White, and Black Currants were a plentiful crop.
Gooseberries a heavy crop. Raspberries good.
Strawberries were mulched previous to the drought
setting in, and having a good supply of water we
used it freely ; therefore we were rewarded with a
fair crop of good fruit. Cherries. — May Duke a
full crop ; Morellos thin. Apricots have ripened
better this year than they have done for some years
past, and are a good crop. All kinds of fruit
have stood the drought remarkably well. — Wm.
Hubbard.
Castle Forbes, Longford. — Small fruit has
been abundant, but not up to the average, owing to
the long drought. Plums are not half a crop,
owing to an extra crop last season, and as the
autumn was dull and wet the wood did not ripen
properly. Pears similar. Apples a very heavy crop.
Indoor Peaches and Nectarines good ; none grown
outside.
Garden crops very poor. Peas and Beans about
half their usual height. Most of the Cabbages
were destroyed with green or black fly, such as one
would see on Broad Beans or on Black Currants.
The crop is almost lost from their attacks ; the
hearts withered up. Turnips in the fields are
attacked just in the same way. — J. Raffbrty.
Tynan Abbey, Armagh. — We have here and
in this part of the country an abundant crop of
Apples. Pears are not so good as last year, owing
to the spring frosts, which injured the bloom that
was most promising in the month of May. Plums
are an average crop. We had an abundant crop of
Cherries. Gooseberries and Currants were very
good, and all seemed to profit by the unusual
intense heat of the past summer. Strawberries and
Raspberries were the only fruits that seemed to
suffer ; the fruits were plentiful enough, but small.
Peaches are very good, but they are under glass, as
they will not come to maturity in the open air in
this part of the country.— W. H. Baker.
Kylemore, Galway. — The fruit crop in this
district is above the average this year, the unusually
dry summer having favoured us in the west of Ire-
land, where the rainfall is very heavy even in ordi-
nary seasons. The very dry and cold late spring
made fruit trees of all kinds late in coming into
blossom, and so increased the chances of a good set
of fruit. In this district, however, we suffered very
much from the sharp snowstorm which passed over
here on May 18 and 19, but, notwithstanding the
serious damage inflicted, by the end of the first
week in June it was quite apparent that there would
be a good crop of Apples, Pears, Plums, and Cher-
ries, the fruit being large, clean, and well shaped.
Apricots, Peaches, Nectarines, and Figs are a thin
crop out of doors, but under glass the crops are in
every way very fine this year. Bush fruits were a
good average crop, with the exception of Black Cur-
rants, and they seem to have suffered from the hot,
dry weather. Strawberries were an abundant crop ;
the varieties that have proved best with us this
year are Keen's Seedling, President, Sir Joseph Pax-
ton, James, Veitch, British Queen, Sir Chas. Napier,
and Dr. Hogg. There is a great quantity of Nuts in
the woods about here, and a continuance of good
weather will make them a useful crop.
The Potato crop is likely to turn out well. Field
crops look fresh, and as yet there are no signs of
disease. Early varieties a heavy crop of excellent
quality. — John MacKinnon.
Straffan House, Kildare. — Our fruit crops
early in the season were never more promising, but
the frosts of May 4, 5, and 0 were most disastrous.
Black Currants suffered the worst and were nearly
killed outright. Gooseberries, Apricots, early Cher-
ries, Pears, and Plums also suffered very much, the
young fruits being blackened right through, and,
owing to the long drought and cold east winds, the
trees have been badly infested with greenfly. Laite
Strawberries were dried up and gave no return ;
early kinds good, but quickly over — President and
Vicomtesse H(?ricart de Thury were the best. Red
and White Currants and Raspberries have carried
very good crops. Morellos and late Duke Cherries
on north walls are good. I have not seen the latter
so good before. Apples of all kinds are abundant ;
some kinds rather small, but all clean and good.
Irish Peach and Cox's Orange Pippin are better than
we have had them before. Filberts are a fair crop,
and Walnuts over average. The following Apples
are our best : Lord Suffield, Echlinville, Cellini,
Yorkshire Greening, Tower of Glamis (extra), Wal-
tham Abbey Seedling, Hawthornden, Wellington,
Besspool, Blenheim Pippin, Holland Pippin, Kerry
Pippin, Golden Pearmain, Golden Reinette, Irish
Peach, and Cox'§ Orange Pippin. Pears on the
whole are small, but there are fair crops of Marie
Louise, Winter Nelis, Thompson's, Passe Colmar,
Flemish Beauty, BeurriS Diet, Bon Chr(5tien (bush
trees). Knight's Monarch, and Glou Morceau. Of
Plums the following are good : Rivers' Green Gage,
A^ctoria, Washington, Jefferson's, Kirke's, Prince of
Wales, and Damson.— F. Bedford.
Dromoland, Clare. — The land in this part of
Ireland is of limestone formation and of a porous
nature. Fruit and other trees when established do
well, and a dry, hot year, like the present, takes
little effect on them. To trees only two or three
years planted a season like the present is very de-
structive. Strawberries and Violets are in many
cases quite burned up. Apples in this part of the
country are an average crop. I never saw the trees
set such a quantity of fruit, but they are now falling
fast and much infested by the maggot. Pears are
a very light crop, especially on standards ; on walls
with a west aspect there is an average crop, and of
good quality. Plums are very poor. I never recol-
lect such a scarcity of this fruit in the markets here.
Peaches are an average crop here, but not half the
usual size. Strawberries were about half a crop,
and the quality very inferior. Gooseberries and
Currants were an abundant crop, and the quality
good. The crop of Raspberries was very poor.
Filberts are carrying good crops.
Turnips, Carrots, and Peas are almost a failure. —
W. Wilson.
Castle Upton, Templepatrick. — Strawberries
are an excellent crop, but very quickly over, and
were ripe ten days earlier than usual. The Sir J.
Paxton variety is this year better than any other
kind we grow. Raspberries good. Gooseberries
under medium, but our bushes have for five or six
years consecutively borne very heavy crops. We
have had enormously heavy crops of Black, White,
and Red Currants. We have some 60 yards of a
north wall devoted to the latter, and we net the
plants over annually and keep them very late. We
also grow a good many Gooseberries on the same
wall, a position I commend to anyone who can
command it. Those who require the fruit to keep,
I know of none better than the good old Warring-
258
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 17, 1887.
ton. Of sweet Cherries we have not one, although
the bloom in spring was simply enormous, and also
a full set, but all dropped. Undoubtedly drought
was the principal contributor to this defect, but a
cold spring had, I should say, something to do with
it. Morellos on north walls abundant on half our
trees ; on the other half the fruit nearly all dropped
off. Plums generally a fair crop. Prince Englebert
bore well, Victorias next, and many others are about
equally cropped. Pears very poor, with the excep-
tion of a few trees of Seokle and Louise Bonne of
Jersey on south aspect. As bushes, Hessle is best,
and Louise Bonne next. We have this year the first
fair crop of Apricots we have had since they were
planted eleven or twelve years ago | but our stock
is reduced to one tree, which is looking better this
year than ever I saw it. The fruit is ripening well.
Apples are an enormous crop, but the fruit is drop-
ping in great quantities, and must necessarily be
very small. We watered liberally, but it is simply
impossible to do it sufficiently. Wall trees have
suffered the most, and in a few cases young trees
had to be watered regularly to keep them alive.
On old-established trees the fruit is dropping
wholesale, but I never saw the trees look healthier.
— G. Kevan.
Charleville Forest, TuUamore.— Apples are
an average crop, but the fruit is small on account
of drought, and on fairly old trees growth is poor.
Apricots are above the average ; some trees are
bearing heavily ; the fruit of the Moorpark variety
is good, clean, and well developed. Peaches and
Nectarines will not do here on the open walls.
Young trees would in a season like this grow and
ripen their wood well ; but, as a rule, they die
after two years from mildew, gangrene, and blister,
caused by the cold weather in spring and early
summer ; under glass they succeed ' admirably.
Some of the Plums have good crops, others light,
and the fruit, with one or two exceptions, is
small. Of Damsons we have scarcely any.
Cherries are an average crop, excepting the Bigar-
reau varieties, which are not so good as last
year; individual fruits of the latter are in many
instances very fine. Pears are under the average ;
some sorts on walls have a fair crop, others light,
and on many pyramids there is scarcely a fruit';
all flowered admirably. We had a good crop of
Strawberries on young plantations, but the older
plants suffered much from the sfevere dry and hot
weather, and the season was soon over. Red,
White, and Black Currants bore heavy crops, but
the Black varieties suffered from the drought.
Easpberries were an average crop, and finished
better than expected. Nuts are good ; we never had
a better show of bloom in the gardens here than
this season, but Pears, Apples, and Plums suffered
from the spring frosts, and it is surprising how re-
markably well the Apricots have stood.
Potatoes have not had any rain at the roots for
this season, and so are nearly dried up ; but we
have no disease, and the produce must be very
small, and miserably so in the gravelly districts.
— J. KOBEETS.
Fota Island, dueenstown. — Apples are above
the average in almost every district. The early
kinds have ripened much earlier and coloured much
better than usual in consequence of the heat and
dryness of the soil, but the fruit is small. W. E.
Gladstone will take a leading place as an early
highly coloured fruit, and is of medium size and
fair quality. Irish Peach, Red Ingestre, and Wor-
cester Pearmain are also desirable early kinds.
Pears arc an average crop. Early kinds, like the
Apples, have ripened well and with good colour.
The fruit is of fair size and free from any blemishes,
which in this generally damp climate we suffer so
much from. Peaches under glass copings are a very
heavy crop, and the fruit is well coloured, but rather
small, caused, I believe, by too heavy cropping.
Plums a good crop, and where water could be given
are very fine. As usual, three-fourths of the Vic-
torias had to be taken off, and yet there are too
many left. Prince of Wales, Prince Englebert,
Transparent Gage, Kirke's, and Oullin's Golden Gage,
are always reliable kinds, and are bearing heavy
crops. Strawberry crops were much injured by. the
long drought, and much of the fruit was spoilt by
the heat. In shallow soils the crops were an entire
failure, and altogether the Strawberry season was
very short. Marshal MacMahon and Sir Joseph
Paxton are two of our best kinds ; Keen's Seedling
still the finest for forcing. Easpberries, like the
Strawberries, were almost a failure in consequence
of the drought. Cherries an average crop, but many
of the Morellos fell prematurely from the trees
owing to the want of moisture. Currants and
Gooseberries good crops, but the season short. Figs
a fair crop on old bushes. Nuts much under
■age. Apricots a few of fine quality.- — W.
Osborne.
WALES.
Margam Park, Qlamorganshire. — Apples
are plentiful, but very small. Pears are an average
crop, the fruit being rather small, but very clean.
Plums are an average crop, and a fortnight or more
later in ripening than usual. Peaches and Nec-
tarines in the open are good crops. Apricots are
more abundant than usual, and the fruit is of good
size. Figs have not done well. Cherries are a
heavy crop, particularly the Morello. Medlars are
extra good. Strawberries promised well when in
blossom, but three parts of the crop failed to swell
for want of moisture. Gooseberries were abundant.
Easpberries and all kinds of Currants were very
good, and, with the exception of Strawberries,
the fruit crops may be said to be a good average.
Pruning next winter will be light work, as the trees
and bushes have made little growth. . Red spider
and some other insects are on some of the trees,
but, as a rule, the leaves are clean and healthy.
The quality of the fruit is excellent, as the warm,
dry weather has developed the flavour, but the
whole may be regarded as below the average in size.
The drought has been excessive, all kinds of vegeta-
tion being severely affected. — J. MuiR.
Cardiff Castle, Olamorgan. — The present sea-
son has been favourable, on the whole, for fruit
crops here. The wood ripened thoroughly last year
apd the weather was propitious during the time the
Jrees were in flower. The frost and biting winds
which were prevalent and wrought mischief in some
other parts of the country were little felt in this
quarter, thanks to our sheltered situation. The
flowers set well, but the long drought which fol
lowed prevented the fruits from swelling as they
would have done under such showers as visit us in
ordinary seasons. In consequence also of the con-
tinued drought the trees became badly infested
with red spider, and the fruits are suffering from
the attacks of maggots, which were developed dur-
ing the long spell of hot, dry weather. The rainfall
in this quarter has been the lightest for very many
years. The average annual fall in the gardens here
has been over 40 inches, and up to the present
date (August 29) the rainfall for this year has been
only l332 inches, distributed as follows : January,
2-98; February, 1-35; March, 2-58; April, 1-45;
May, 019 ; June, 0-61 ; July, 1-53 ; August (up to
29th), 2-63. Strawberries were a very light crop.
They gave fine promise at the setting, but the
drought catching them at the critical time they got
withered up, and there was not more than half a
crop. Red and Black Currants and Gooseberries
gave an average yield. Apples and Pears are a
heavy crop, but the fruits are smaller in size than
usual, and are now dropping very fast. The follow-
ing varieties are yielding well both on walls and
pyramidal trees : Pears — Williams' Bon Chretien,
Easter BeurrS, Beurrg Clairgeau, Glou Morceau,
Beurr^ Bosc, General Todtleben, Beurr^ Diel, Duchesse
d'Angouleme, and Bergamotte d'Esperen. Apples —
Rushock Pearmain, Lord Burghley, Echlinville Seed-
ling, Braddick's Nonpareil, French Crab, Worcester
Pearmain, Lord Suiiield, Pott's Seedling, Keswick
Codlin, Ribston Pippin, |Cox's Orange Pippin, New
Hawthornden, and Cellini Pippin. Plums of all va-
rieties and Damsons, both on walls and on stan-
dards, are a very heavy crop, although the foliage
of some of the trees has suffered from aphis. Mo-
rello Cherries were a good crop. Peaches and Nec-
tarines on walls are a fine crop, and the | trees
which have been regularly syringed are healthy,
and making excellent wood for next year. Figs
are an average crop; the vines on Cardiff Castle
wall are bearing a heavy crop, and are far advanced,
and likely to ripen well. "The crop in the vine-
yard at Castle Coch never was heavier or better
advanced in any year since the vineyard was planted.
The vines are very healthy, with the exception that
a few have a touch of mildew, which disfigures
the foliage to some extent. — Andbew Pettigbew.
'Maesgwyiine, Whitland, Carmarthen. —
The third week of May was very cold with heavy
hailstorms in this district, which damaged the early
blooms, but the later varieties of fruit escaped and
are carrying good crops ; they are, however, very
small on account of the drought. Bush fruits, such as
Gooseberries, Currants, Red, A^Tiite, and Black, were
very fine, and above the average. Raspberries, where
well mulched, were good, but otherwise poor. The
crop of Strawberries is very poor. Peaches, Necta-
rines, Apricots, Cherries are small, but well coloured,
and are average crops. Pears and Apples are
abundant. Nuts very plentiful. The fruit trees
are all free from blight and very healthy. Potatoes
are looking well both in garden and field ; no signs
of disease.— James Higgins.
Bynevor Castle, Llandilo, Carmarthen. —
Apples are plentiful everywhere. Pears are very
thin and much under average. Plums are good in
some places, and the crop is about an average ;
trees on walls were smothered with aphis in the
spring. Peaches and Nectarines good average crops,
but the fruit is smaller than usual. Red, White,
and Black Currants and Gooseberries were average
crops, and the fruit very good. Raspberries were
much under average. We have had to do a con-
siderable amount of watering to keep things alive.
Strawberries suffered from the drought, and the
fruit, which was not so large as usual, was soon
over, the flavour being good. Apple trees seemed
to enjoy the heat ; the leaves are healthy, and the
fruit larger and finer than usual. Pears do not
appear to have benefited to the same extent.
Peaches will not be so large as usual, and the trees
have beeh troubled considerably with red spider ;
the fruit will be ripe about a fortnight earlier than
last year. Currants of all sorts are fine and bright,
but Raspberries were small and scon over. — J.
TiCBHUBST.
Powis Castle, Welehpool.— The fiuit crops
here are looking fairly well. Early Apples, such as
Lord Suffield and Worcester Pearmain, are splendid
crops, and promise fine, well-coloured fruits. Late
and other sorts on old trees are swelling well ; the
hot, dry weather appears to suit them. Pears are
not so good. Plums are a medium crop. Damsons
are a better crop than for several years past. Apri-
cots are a very good crop and early, the fruits being
large. Peaches and Nectarines are under the
average. Trees promise well for next season with
good, clean, ripe wood. Amsden June a splendid
cropper, with beautiful fruit, and ripe August 1
outdoors. Cherries, early and late, are excellent.
Gooseberries, Red, Black, and ^Yhite Currants, and
Raspberries are very good. Some trees and branches
are dead, owing to the great heat and drought.
Strawberries abundant, but soon over. — W. Lee.
Fenrhos, Holyhead. — With us Peaches are a
very fine crop, the varieties grown being Early
Grosse Mignonne, Early Alexander, Bellegarde,
Noblesse, and Eoyal George. Of Nectarines, El-
ruge, Downton, Pine-apple, and Victoria are good.
Both these fruits are grown under glass. Grapes are
very fine and well coloured. Pears a very good
crop on such kinds as Louise Bonne of Jersey, Beurrfi
Bosc, Van Mens Leon Leclerc, Marie Louise, Ne
Plus Meuris, Baronne de Mello, and Duchesse d'An-
gouleme. Of Apples we have an excellent crop,
much above the average of the last few years, espe-
cially Lord Suffield, Keswick Codlin, Hawthornden,
Peasgood's Nonsuch, Boston Russet, Emperor Alex-
ander, King of the Pippins, Cox's Pomona, and Cox's
Orange Pippin. Plums are a poor crop, the only
two kinds bearing well being Victoria and Green
Gage. Strawberries were very much affected by
the drought, and consequently the fruit was small.
The kinds grown are President, Keen's Seedling,
Sept. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
259
Vicomtesse Hfiricart de Thury, Sir Joseph Paxtom
British Queen, and White Alpine. Raspberries were
a very poor crop, and the fruit was nearly dried up.
Very little fruit is grown elsewhere in this district.
Potatoes are quite free from disease. — F. W.
EVBKETT.
Singleton, Swansea. — Of Apples we have an
excellent crop on all trees, and varieties that have
never carried a crop before here are heavily laden
with fruit, and, considering the hot and dry season, the
quality is very good. Pears are very thin on all the
varieties, with the exception of a few common early
sorts, and the trees have suffered very much from
the drought, especially those worked on the Quince.
Peaches and Nectarines are a fine crop, and by giv-
ing constant attention to mulching and watering,
the fruits are of very good size, and beautifully
coloured. The following varieties are doing well :
Peaches — Alexander, which we find to be the best
early kind, ripens with us the same time as Early
Beatrice, but is quite double the size of that variety,
and quite equal to it in flavour ; next comes Hale's
Early, which very much resembles the Alexander in
shape, but is from a fortnight to three weeks later ;
then comes Early Louise, Dr. Hogg, Bellegarde, Dy-
mond. Goshawk, &c. ; Sea Eagle comes in well be-
tween the two preceding varieties and Late Ad-
mirable ; then follows Salway. The above varieties
are all good, and will give a continuous supply from
the end of July till the end of October or well into
November out of doors. Nectarines. — We find Lord
Napier, Elruge, Humboldt, and Victoria the best.
Perhaps Victoria would not ripen well unless favour-
ably situated ; that is, a good drained border (not
too deep), south aspect, and not too far north.
Where these conditions exist there is not a better-
flavoured Nectarine grown that I am acquainted
with. Plums are a fair crop, but the trees are very
badly blighted. Apricots not grown. Cherries very
little grown ; and all kinds of bush fruits and Straw-
berries were abundant. — J. Habbis.
Bodorgan, Anglesea. — Fruit trees of all kinds
bloomed profusely this season, and there was
every prospect of a good crop, but the late spring
frosts and continued east winds did great damage.
We have very few Plums on walls, but Apples are
a fair crop. Pears are very scarce. Wall Cherries
very good. Gooseberries and Currants almost a
failure, owing to late frosts and cold winds. We
had a heavy crop of Strawberries, the fruit being
of good size and flavour. Raspberries were only a
slight crop. Apples are dropping very much, owing
to the long drought, as we have had but little rain
since the beginning of May. Plums and Cherries
are very much infested with aphides. Walnuts are
quite a failure, owing to the spring frosts. We have
a very fair crop of Peaches, Nectarines, and Apri-
cots, and the trees are much more free from insects
than Plums and Cherries. American blight is very
prevalent on Apple trees here this season. — G. Grat.
GUERNSEY.
Somerset House. — The fruit crop in
Guernsey will be below average. We have had
very unusual weather up to the present time.
The winter was long, without, however, extreme
cold, but a continuance of wintry weather with no
mild days, as we generally have. There was no
spring, but a sudden change to summer, with a
continuance of hot, dry weather. This has been
bad for : the fruit crop. The Strawberry crop was
very light, and soon over in many places, the plants
drying up. Currants of all kinds were fairly
plentiful, but the fruit was small. Gooseberries
were good, except in places where the east wind
caught the bushes, when the fruit dropped off.
Raspberries were a very light crop. Stone fruits of
all kind below the average. Peaches, where pro-
tected, are a fair crop, but the fruit is small, even
where the trees were watered. Pears were a very
light crop, but last year there was a fine show.
This spring the trees did not flower well, so that a
good crop was not expected. Apples flowered well,
but very late. I noticed that the bloom on many
trees did not open until the trees were in leaf. We
expected from their late flowering that there would
be a good set, but, owing to the continued east
wind and cold weather, there is not a good crop,
except on free setting sorts as Lord Sufiield and
Cox's Pomona. Owing to the drought the fruits
are now falling very much, so that the crop wOl be
much below the average. Grapes are a very good
crop where the borders have been well watered, but in
other cases the bunches are small and badly coloured.
The hot weather has made fruits and vegetables
scarce and dear. The early Potatoes were good,
but late, and the late varieties in most cases are
quite green, a very unusual thing at this time of
year. All kinds of other vegetables require plenty
of water to keep them growing. Another effect of
the weather has been to make insect pests, both on
trees inside and out, very plentiful, particularly red
spider. I may mention that I have two plots of
late Potatoes, the two together measuring from
6 perches to 7 perches, and the plants are badly
infested with red spider, a thing I have never heard
of before. I have a row of Scarlet Runner Beans
between the two pieces which I noticed were
attacked first, and shortly afterwards the Potatoes
became affected. One other result of the dry and
hot weather has been to render some of the New
Holland trees and shrubs remarkably beautiful,
particularly the varieties of Eucalyptus ; in fact, it
is surprising how well many things look after the
long drought. — E. Petbbs.
faumarez Lodge. — I have been very suc-
cessful this season with indoor fruit. Grapes,
Peaches, and Nectarines have been very good, and
bore heavy crops. From one vinery, 40 feet long,
I have just finished cutting 545 lbs. of good fruit.
As a general rule. Grapes have carried good crops.
Tomatoes in some places have failed ; in others
there is a good crop. There has appeared, however,
this year a new disease on the Tomatoes, viz., black
mildew on the under part of the leaf. No cure has
been found for it. Outdoor fruit, as a rule, is very
scarce. I have very few Apples and Pears this year.
When the Apple trees were in full bloom there were
a few nights of cold fogs, which destroyed the
bloom. Gooseberries and Currants are carrying good
crops, but the fruit is small. Strawberries are a very
poor crop as a rule, on account of the long-con-
tinued drought. A great many of the Apples are
falling ; the trees are Infested with greenfly, aphides,
&o., and some are covered with red spider. Straw-
berries, Scarlet Runners, and French Beans the
same. — Wm. Cameeon.
Propagating.
Seedling Ferns, especially those in the earlier
stages of development, will need to be sharply
looked after, as the damper and more autumn-like
weather we are now experiencing will cause some
of the more delicate kinds to decay if they are un-
duly crowded. In order to avoid this as far as pos-
sible the store pots that are getting too thick should
be gone over, and the young plants pricked off at a
greater distance from each other than before. As
young Ferns, generally speaking, make more rapid
progress when kept rather close, the propagating
case and such appliances are often utilised for their
reception when available, but the humid atmosphere
is also favourable to the development of various
Mosses and Confervae, which are apt to choke
up the young plants, especially those of delicate
constitution and rather slow growth. To prevent
this the soil should be baked before using, as
by so doing all insects as well as vegetable
organisms will be destroyed. It will be a great ad-
vantage to prick off the young plants before they
are much crowded, as if this is not done till they
form one dense mass, those in the centre become
drawn up and greatly weakened, so that decay is of-
ten liable to set in amongst them. In pricking off
Ferns the soil must be slightly pressed down, as
the roots run more readily and the plants make
greater progress than if the compost is very solid.
This remark applies not only to Ferns during their
very earliest stages, but also to good sized plants,
and where it is desired to push a batch on as quickly
as possible the potting should be done lightly. The
present is not at all a good time of the year for sow-
ing Fern spores, the early months of the year being
the best, but at the same time where it is intended
to sow a quantity any spores that are available may
be taken now, as it is not always possible to find
fertile fronds of all kinds just when wanted, and they
keep perfectly well with ordinary care. All that is
necessary is to take the frond or part of a frond and
lay it in clean white paper folded carefully (the
minute character of the spores needing this) till
required for sowing. A dry place such as is favour-
able to the keeping of seeds is very suitable for
storing the Fern spores till required.
EvEEGEBBN SHEiiBS. — This is a good time of the
year for putting in cuttings of the various evergreen
shrubs, and if they can be protected by a frame so
much the better ; indeed in some cases the return
wiU be a poor one unless they are so sheltered.
Shrubs of this class would include the various
evergreen Euonymus, Privets, Aucubas, Box, and a
host of other subjects. Whether the cuttings are
put in pots, or in a bed of soil formed in a frame,
the same mode of procedure is followed. The ad-
vantages of using pots are, that the different kinds
can be more readily kept distinct fromeach other,and
when struck the roots are less liable to be injured
in turning them out of pots than in lifting them
from the bed of soil. Another advantage of pot-
culture is that where a miscellanceous collection of
cuttings is put in some will be certain to strike root
in much less time than others, and if in pots those
that are struck can be lifted out and removed to
more airy quarters, whOe if put in a bed of soil
either those that are rooted must be kept close and
greatly weakened thereby, or the more backward
ones will suffer if too much air is given. As a great
many of these things are now largely used for de-
coration when young, attention must be paid to
ensure a bushy habit of growth. To induce this the
tops of the plants should be pinched out as soon
as rooted, for if once allowed to run up nothing
short of absolute cutting down will ensure a bushy
habit. Where there are no appliances at hand, and
the cuttings have to be put in the open ground, as
sheltered a spot as possible must be chosen, but at
the same time on no account should it be shaded by
overhanging trees. The soil must be open ; it will
be necessary to insert the cuttings firmly in the soil
and at a greater depth than if protected by a frame.
The cuttings should be cut off with a sharp knife,
and a few leaves removed for the purpose of inser-
tion! Of cuttings in the open ground, if they be
1 foot in length three parts of that should be buried
in the ground, as they are thus to a great extent
protected from frosts and drying winds.
CoEDYLiNB AtrsTEALis. — Specimens of this plant
are often either plunged or planted out of doors dur-
ing the summer months, and where this last is
carried out the plant will frequently push out a large
root, or rather underground stem, which takes a
downward direction, and makes it almost impossible
to pot the specimen in a satisfactory manner unless
the root be cut away. When the plant is in a pot
these thick roots will often coil around the bottom
of the ball and lift it bodily tiU it reaches such a
stage that the plant cannot be watered. As this
root contains a bud ready to burst forth into foliage
when placed in a favourable condition, it may be
utilised for propagating purposes by removing it
from the parent plant, leaving a few fibres attached
to it if possible, and then potting these eyes at such
a depth that the upper portion is just below the
surface of the soil. If placed in a gentle bottom
heat these eyes soon push forth foliage and become
established. Seeds are often readily obtained and
when possible they should be sown without delay,
and will germinate better in a structure kept at a
higher temperature than in an ordinary greenhouse.
Insect pests. — 1 would be glad to know the name
of the enclosed insects. They are destroying Stocks,
Fumitory, Canary Creeper, and Nasturtiums. I have
never seen them till this year, and would feel obliged
for any suggestions as to how to get rid of them.^
A. 0., Dublin.
*** Tour plants are attacked by a small beetle very
260
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 17, 1887.
nearly, allied to the Turnip flea beetle. It belongs to
the genus Phyllotreta. Shake the plants over pieces
of board or tin which have been newly painted or
taiTed, or syringe the plants thoroughly with soft soap
and water, to which add a little tobacco-water. —
G. S. S.
Societies and Exhibitions.
KOYAL HORTICULTURAL.
September 13.
The exhibits at last Tuesday's meeting consisted
chiefly of Dahlias and other open-air autumn
flower.^, though among the miscellaneous exhibits
there were some of considerable interest, particu-
larly the Orchids.
First-class certificates were awarded to the fol-
lowing:—
Dendrobium Stratiotes.— a very remarkable
new species belonging to the distinct group of the
genus inhabiting Northern Australia and adjoining
islands. The growth of this plant is similar to that
of D. superbiens or bigibbum, but the flowers can
be compared with no known kind, except perhaps
D. tanrinum. The flower measures about 2 inches
across; two of the sepals are H inches long,
erect and twisted. Their colour is'a dull yellow;
the petals are pure white, and the labellum, which
has a distinct lobe, is white and most exquisitely
netted and pencilled with bright violet-purple.
The flowers are produced in spikes from near the
top of the old bulbs. The plant was shown by Sir
Trevor Lawrence, Burford Lodge, Dorking, and bore
a four-flowered spike.
Odontoglossum Schecedbeianum.— Another
nsw and very beautiful Orchid, and quite as distinct
in its way as the Dendrobium. It belongs appa-
rently to the same section as 0. lEeve, but its flowers
are much larger than those of that species, being
about 2 inches across, with sepals and petals of a
yellowish green heavily blotched and spotted with
caffee-brown. The long and broad labellum is the
showiest part, being of a deep lilac-purple on the
upper part and pure white below, the band of
purple being oat off transversely as in the case of
O. Iseve or Oncidium Weltoni. The plant appears
to be dwarf, and has an ovoid compressed bulb and
a short spike. Exhibited by Baron Schroeder, The
Dell, Egham.
Habenaria militaeis.— An exceedingly bril-
liant-flowered terrestrial Orchid, native, we believe,
of the Eastern Tropics. It has a leafy stem, sur-
mounting which is an erect spike of flowers of about
the same size and shape as those of the well-known
Calanthe veratrifolia, and of the most vivid scarlet
imaginable. No cultivated Orchid has flowers of a
similar colour, and on that account alone it will be
valuable. A good specimen of it was exhibited by
Sir Trevor Lawrence.
ScHTJBERTiA GRANDiFLOEA.— A climbing plant
from the Argentine Republic, possessing flowers of
great beauty, and the growth is elegant. It reminds
one of the Stephanotis, the leaves and flowers being
similar and the perfume almost as strong. The
flowers are nearly 3 inches across, tubular and star-
shaped, of wax-like texture and pure white. They
are produced in clusters of several together froiii
the leaf axils. The leaves are large and of a peculiar
heavy green. A large plant of it bearing numerous
clusters of flowers was shown by Mr. Bartholomew,
Park House, Reading. It is not a new introduction,
but extremely rare. A coloured plate of it was
given in The Garden, Vol. XXXII.,.p. 84.
Oplismenus albidus. — a near ally to the
common variegated creeping Grass of hothouses
erroneously called Panicum variegatum. This new
kind is similar, but smaller, and the whole of the
foliage is of a pale creamy white. Being of vigorous
and rapid growth and particularly neat in appearance,
it will prove a useful addition to the list of stove
plants. Exhibited by Messrs. Veitch, Royal Exotic
Nursery, Chelsea.
Nepenthes Curtisi.— A very handsome new
Pitcher plant, and quite distinct from all other
kinds in cultivation on account of the peculiar form
of the pitchers and their markings. Each pitcher
is aliout 8 inches long, with a widely opened mouth
and Inroad rim, while it tapers to almost a point at
the base. It is green, but this is almost obliterated
by the profusion of deep cinnamon blotches and
spots which cover the pitchers. On the plant ex-
hibited by Messrs. Veitch there were several fully
grown pitchers.
Rhododendron Thetis. — One of the greenhouse
section, having robust foliage and massive trusses
of finely shaped flowers of a rich yellow colour, a
tint not yet plentiful among these hybrid Rhodo-
dendrons. Exhibited by the raisers, Messrs. Veitch.
Ieesinb ColemAni. — A variety of the well-known
I. Lindeni, remarkable for its more vigorous growth,
broader foliage, and deeper colour. It is stated by
Mr. Wildsmith, of Heckfield, who exhibited it, that
it is altogether a far finer plant for bedding than
the original Lindeni, and the plants sent certainly
bore out that assertion. The variety originated as
a sport with Mr. Coleman, of Eastnor Castle, after
whom it is named.
Dahlia W. Carlisle. — A pretty bouquet or
Pompon variety, with perfectly shaped flowers of a
rich cherry-crimson, suffused with white. Exhibited
by Mr. Turner, Royal Nurseries, Slough.
Dahlias (Show). — Olivia, deep lilac-mauve ;
Purple Prince, rich amethyst-purple ; Glow-worm,
vivid scarlet ; and Lustrous, orange-scarlet — all of
the finest types of the show section, with well-built
flowers. Exhibited by Mr. Turner.
Dahlia Maude Millett. — A very pretty single
variety, the flowers being of admirable form, and of
a pale mauve, deepening to an intense mauve at the
tips of the florets. Shown by Mr. Girdlestone,
Sunningdale.
Dahlia Miss Henshaw. — A single sort, of a
pale primrose colour, and quite an addition to the
list of yellows. Shown by Mr. Ware, Hale Farm
Nurseries, Tottenham.
Dahlia ZuLtr.— One of the so-called Cactus
Dahlias, and of a very deep, almost black, crimson
and velvety colour. From Mr. Ware.
A botanical certificate was awarded to Masde-
vallia cutex, shown by Sir Trevor Lawrence. It is
a very singular species, of tiny growth, and from
the tuft of small leaves rise numerous hair-like
stalks, carrying one or more transparent flowers
that look like winged insects.
Among the miscellaneous exhibits were some
rare Orchids from various collections. Baron
Schrceder sent a plant of that little gem, Saccola-
bium caeleste, a new species, reminding one of
Vanda CEerulescens, the sepals and petals being sky-
blue, while the lip is a deep purple-blue. It is of
similar growth to S. curvifolium, and its flower-
spikes are borne in the same way. Mr. Tautz, Stud-
ley House, Hammersmith, was awarded a cultural
commendation for a plant of Dendrobium superbum,
the spike carrying seventeen flowers. The same
exhibitor also sent Oncidium Lanceanum and
Cypripedium lo, the latter a new hybrid in the
way of C. Argus. Dr. Duke, Lewisham, sent a
finely-flowered specimen of his new Cattleya Duke-
ana. It is somewhat similar to C. Harrisoniana,
and particularly bright in colour. The new Aerides
Rohanianum, evidently a variety of A. suavissimum,
was shown by two exhibitors. It has more yellow
in the flowers than suavissimum, and is as highly
fragrant. A variety of Oncidium Lanceanum, called
Louvrexianum, was shown by Mr. Knox, of Cavers-
ham, though it was not clear in what way it differed
from the original.
Among the new plants shown by the Messrs.
Veitch the following were noteworthy : Crinum
Hildebrandti, a lovely species, having large white
flowers with reflexed sepals and purple stamens.
Such a plant as this was quite worthy of a certifi-
cate. The variegated-leaved variety of Impatiens
Sultani is handsome, as the variegation is good and
distinct, and harmonises well with the flowers,
though some may think it a defect. Messrs. Veitch's
other plant of interest was Nepenthe^ cylindrica,
which produces an abundance of pitchers. The new
seedling Rhododendron called Aphrodite, also shown;
has blush-white flowers and pink stamens.
The hardy flowers from Mr. Ware consisted
mostly of Lilies, Gladioli, and autumn Composites,
the chief being Lilium Leichtlini, remarkably fine,
and Milla biflora, with large white star-like flowers.
An interesting feature in the show was the fine
collection of specimen Selaginellas from Mr. E. H.
Watts, Devonhurst, Chiswick. All the plants were
of conical shape, varying from 2 feet to 3 feet in
height, proportionately broad, and every one was in
the most vigorous health. The kinds were S.
Martensi and varieties stolonifera and formosa, S.
Kraussiana (denticulata) and its variety aurea, and
S. uncinata, with bluish green foliage. A silver
Banksian medal was awarded to the exhibitor of
this fine group, which reflected so much credit on
the gardener, Mr. Wright. Besides a full coUectiori
of China Asters, grown at the Royal Horticultural
Society's gardens, Chiswick, Mr. Barron showed
specimens of several species of Begonia, some of
which, such as B. semperflorens rosea, Bruanti, a
large form of semperflorens, Schmidti, and Car-
rieri, make pretty greenhouse plants at this season.'
From Chiswick also came flowers of two very
beautiful Crinums, viz., C. Moorei and C. giganteum,
the latter with large white and very fragrant flowers.
Dahlias were largely shown, and among them
were many new kinds, besides those certificated.-
Mr. Ware's collection consisted of the Pompon, Single,
and Cactus sections. Of the latter, those named
Henry Patrick, pure white; William Rayner, a
peculiar tint of nankeen-yellow ; M. Darvil, magenta ;
and King of the .Cactus, bright scarlet, were new
and of great merit. Among the singles, the newest,
and ' best were Canterbury Tales, brilliant cherry-
crimson ; Huntsman, glowing scarlet ; Mrs. Roberts,
rich yellow ; and Ellen Terry, mauve. Messrs.
Cannell brought a large collection from Swanley,
the majority being Cactus, or what are called deco-
rative kinds. The finest were Lady Marsham, scarlet
flushed with pink ; Lady Thompson, crimson flushed
with purple ; Beauty of Chichester, dazzling scarlet ;
General Gordon, scarlet ; and King of the Cactus.
The effective way in which these Swanley Dahlias
were arranged greatly enhanced their appearance,
for they were not placed singly in the usual way,
but in bold clusters of several together. Of the-
other Dahlias shown, the variety from Mr. Munday,
Basingstoke, called Princess, was noteworthy. It is
a form of Juarezi with violet-purple flowers.
Fruit. — The chief exhibits were a collection of
sixty dishes of Apples from Messrs. Paul, of Waltham
Cross, who also had a dozen -n'ell fruited pot trees
of Peaches and Nectarines, the varieties Dymond,
Lord Napier, Humboldt, Byron, and Magdala being
the best. A silver Banksian medal was awarded.
Mr. RoupeU showed some excellent samples of
Frontignan Grape, a variety with darker berries
than the ordinary Grizzly Frontignan, and he con-
siders of superior flavour. He also showed Chasselas
Musque, a delicious white Grape ; Auvergne Fron-
tignan and Purple Constantine, both highly flavoured
sorts. Mr. Taylor, Hampton Gardens, had two trees
in pots of the new Apple, Schoolmaster, an excellent
sort, large, and of good flavour. Mr. Wilks, Shirley
Vicarage, Croydon, sent a dish of a seedling Apple
raised and grown in his garden for seventeen years.
It is said to be a certain croppei-, and otherwise
excellent. It resembles Manks Codlin in form and
colour. Mr. Deverill, Banbury, had a fine display
of various sorts of Onions and Carrots. Of Anglo-'
White Spanish Onions he had fifteen bulbs
weighing 20J lbs., the largest weighing 1 lb. 8.t ozs.
Rousham Park, another large Onion, was almost as
fine, and among other good sorts were Improved
Wroxtou and Cocoa-nut, the latter in shape like a
Cocoa-nut, and as large. His Scarlet Intermediate
and Early Nantes Carrots were also good ; likewise
a Runner Bean called Neal's Ne Plus Ultra.
Special prizes were offered for vegetables by
several firms. Messrs. Carter, High Holborn, offered
prizes for the best dish of their Jubilee Runner.
Bean. Mr. Richardson, Enfield, was first, and Mr.
Bunting, . Enfield,, second.- Of seven dishes of
Carter's Perfection Tomato, a large, smooth, and
Sept. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
261
handsome fruit, Jlr. Lockie, Oakley Court, Windsor,
showed the best, while Mr. Waite, Glenhurst, Esher,
was second. Slessrs. Sutton, Reading, offered
prizes for Early Gem Carrots, the best dish being
that from Mr. Lye, Newbury. The best dish of
Sutton's Perfection Tomato was shown by Mr.
Waite, the second best by Mr. Jennings. Jlessrs.
Webb, of Stourbridge, also oifered prizes for Toma-
toes. The best dish of Webb's Sensation was shown
by Mr. Muir, Margam Park; Mr, Pope, Highclere,
took second prize. Mr. Deverill, of Banbury, offered
prizes for Neal's Ne Plus Ultra Bean, and no fewer
than nineteen competed. It is a very large sort, and
said to be very productive. Mr. Cornish, The Shrub-
bery, Enfield, was first.
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY.
The above show was held at the Royal Aquarium,
Sept. 14 and 15. Among the Chrysanthemums,
Mdme. Desgrange and its beautiful yellow sport
were conspicuous throughout the show, which was
very fair considering the season. Three groups
appeared in the nurserymen's class, the two pre-
viously mentioned varieties being most conspicu-
ous. Messrs. Davis & Jones, Camberwell, were
an easy first. The amateurs' class for twelve plants
had but three exhibitors, the first prize being
awarded to Mr. H. Neary, gardener to Rev,
R. W. Powell, Hornsey, for a group composed
solely of Mdme. Desgrange and its yellow form. In
the cut-bloom section the same two varieties carried
all before them. Intheclass forsix bunches of Mdme.
Desgrange and for twelve single blooms, the flowers
exhibited by Mr. Blackburn, of Elmstead Grange,
Chislehurst, were exceedingly well grown. The
same may be said of twelve blooms of the yellow
form from Mr. Elliot, Leyden House, Mortlake. The
early flowering section needs a liberal addition of
varieties like these two. Mrs. Pitcher and Mrs
Cullingford were both good. There was plenty of
variety considering the earliness of the season in
the class for fifty bunches.
Dahlias from all the leading growers were very
good, Mr. Turner's first-prize lots of 60 and 48 blooms
being remarkably fresh and fine. Pompons were
strongly represented, and Mr. Cheal's singles were
good, though we could not admire the formal fan-
shaped mode of exhibiting which now prevails.
They would look much prettier arranged in bimches
■with their own foliage. Mr. Cannell exhibited
Dahlias well, and also tuberous Begonias raised
from seed sown Jan. 7. They were dwarf in habit,
and bearing flowers of immense size and good sub-
stance, especially noticeable being a very good
white. Fine cut blooms of Begonias were .sent by
Mr. Owen.
Mr. Burrell's Gladioli were very good; in fact,
one of the features of the show ; a spike of Grand
Rouge carried fifteen expanded flowers. The group
of Lilies from Mr. Gordon, of Twickenham, was
highly effective, L. auratum and L. lancifolium
roseum making a pretty contrast.
EDINBURGH EXHIBITION.
The annual autumn exhibition of the Royal Cale-
donian Horticultural Society was held recently in
the Waverley Market, Edinburgh, a place well
adapted for the purpose. Looking across the market
roof from Princes Street, anyone uninformed could
scarcely realise that such a place as the Waverley
Market was below, as the roof is laid out as a flower
garden, with beds and borders. There are also
several stone vases filled with shapely plants of
Golden Elder, the golden foliage making a fine con-
trast with the surroundings. The show was con-
sidered to be the best yet held by the society, and quite
equal to the International Fruit Show held there a
few years since ; indeed, the entries exceeded even
the number of that by nearly 700. Fruit, of course,
was the principal object in the show, as many as 368
bunches of Grapes being staged, the quality of
which was excellent, especially the three bunches of
Muscat Hamburgh staged by Mr. Thos. Boyd in the
class for twelve dishes of fruit. Many other splen-
did specimens were staged in the various classes
devoted to Grapes, and justly proud might the
Scotch gardeners be of their produce in this depart-
ment. The latter were arranged down one side and
half-way up the other on a table running the whole
length of the hall, and they had a most imposing
effect. Excellent tables of plants, both for compe-
tition and exhibition only, were arranged ; while
specimen stove and greenhouse plants. Ferns, &c.,
were shown on low tables down the hall in rows.
But this we considered a bad arrangement, as in
many instances the pots were the most conspicuous
features. Had these plants, as also the Grapes,
been arranged on the floor without any stage
at all, the effect would have been much better.
An exhibit which was a source of much attrac-
tion was a very fine collection of Mushrooms in
all stages of growth, from mere buttons to fully-
developed specimens. In a Wardian Fern case,
3 feet long and 1 foot 3 inches wide, groups of
Mushrooms were to be seen in a growing state, as
many as 130 being counted on a slightly raised
mound in the centre, these coming from the Scottish
Mushroom Company. Vegetables made a fine show,
there being as many as 50 dishes of French Beans,
30 of Cauliflower, and 37 dishes of Beetroot.
Fruit. — The principal class was for twelve
dishes. The first prize was awarded to Mr. T. Boyd,
gardener to Mr. W. Forbes, Callender Park, Falkirk,
for a grand collection, his principal dishes being
Muscat Hamburgh, previously noted ; Alicante,
medium-sized bunches, fine berries and colour ;
Black Hamburgh, good-sized, shapely bunches, fine
berry and colour; Jubilee Melon, good; Grosse Mig-
nonne and Barrington Peaches, Elruge Nectarines,
Brown Turkey Figs, and Jargonelle Pears, very fine.
Mr. W.McKelvie, gardener to theDowager Duchess of
Roxburgh, Broxmouth Park, Dunbar, had splendid
clusters of Muscat of Alexandria, also good fruits of
Best of All Melon. In the class for eight dishes, the
winner of the premier prize was Mr. Hunter, gardener
to the Earl of Durham, Lambton Castle, Durham,
who had Gros Maroc Grape, medium-sized bunches,
neat, and well finished; Golden Champion Grape;
Smooth Cayenne Pine, good ; Melon La Favorite ;
and fine Souvenir du Congres Pears. Mr. Mclndoe,
who exhibited fine bunches of Gros Colmar Grapes,
was second. In the class for twelve dishes of hardy
fruits grown out of doors, there were thirteen com-
petitors, the first prize going to Mr. W. Fairgrieve,
gardener to the Duke of Athol, Dunkeld, with a
fine, even lot — Peasgood's Nonsuch and Worcester
Pearmain Apples and Williams' Bon Chretien Pears
being most noticeable varieties. For twelve dishes
of fruit to be grown in an orchard house, Mr. D.
Melville, EUiston, St. Boswell's, was first, exhibiting
Pitmaston Duchess and Easter Beurre Pears, and
Albatross Peaches. For twelve bunches of Grapes,
six black and six white, Mr. McKelvie was an easy
first, with grand samples— Golden Hamburgh, the
bunches averaging 3^ lbs. each, finely coloured, and
even, large berries ; Alicante, grand in berry, well
coloured shapely bunches ; Raisin de Calabre, small
berries, large bunches ; Barbarossa, fine bunches,
berries small, but finely coloured ; Muscat of Alex-
andria, fine bunches and well coloured ; two bunches
each Madresfield Court and Alnwick Seedling, both
good. In the class for eight bunches, at least six
varieties, Mr. McKelvie was again awarded first
honours, Golden Hamburgh being well exhibited,
also Gros Maroc, Madresfield Court, Alnwick
Seedling, Alicante, and Muscat of Alexandria.
For four bunches, Mr. A. Kirk, gardener to Mr.
J. T. Paton, Alloa, was first, Alnwick Seedling being
very fine, and Madresfield Court good in bunch and
berry. In the classes devoted to single varieties, two
bunches of each, there was good competition. Mr.
McKelvie had grand clusters of Muscat of Alexan-
dria, and for Black Hamburghs, Mr. W. Mundy,
Park Hall, was first with large bunches, the berries
small. For twelve fruits of any variety of Peach,
Mr. Mackinnon, gardener to A'^iscount Melville,
Melville Castle, Lasswade, was first with highly
coloured fruits of an unnamed variety. In the class
for Nectarines, Mr.G. Dewar, gardener to Mr, J.
Munro, of Kinloss, Cupar, Fife, staged a fine dish of
Elruge. In the class for the best collection of six
dessert varieties of Pears, three of each, Mr. L. Dow,
gardener to Sir D. Baird, Bart., was first, showing
Beurre d'Amanlis and Marie Louise. The Jargo-
nelle variety was best shown by Mr. Machattie;
Williams' Bon Chretien by Mr. Mclndoe; Louise
Bonne of Jersey, Marie Louise, Winter Nelis, Glou
Morceau, Easter BeurrS, and Beurr6 Ranoe by Mr.
Melville. The best collection of twelve varieties of
Apples, three fruits of each, came from Mr. W. King,
gardener to Lord Hamilton, Dalzell House. For six
dessert varieties, Mr. R, P. Brotherston, The Gardens,
Tynninghame, was first.
Plants. — Mr. G. Grossart, gardener to Mr. J.
Buchanan, Oswald Road, took first prizes in many
of the plant classes, notably for Liliums, Crotons,
Dracaenas, exotic Ferns, and Orchids. In the class
for twelve Chrysanthemums, not less than six varie-
ties, open to nurserymen only, Messrs. B. Laird
and Sons, Edinburgh, were well to the front with
plants about 3 feet through and finely flowered, the
collection consisting of early kinds, such as Mdme.
"Desgrange and its yellow sport. Mr. J. Patterson,
gardener to Mr. J. Syme, Milbank, was awarded
first prize for six stove or greenhouse plants in
flower.
Cut flowees. — In the nurserymen's class for
eighteen trusses of single Dahlias, distinct, Messrs.
J. Lament and Sons, The Glen Nurseries, Mussel-
burgh, were first with a fine lot. For twenty-four
show Dahlias, Messrs. James Cocker and Sons,
Aberdeen, were an easy first with full, compact
flowers of the leading varieties. These exhibitors
were again first for both thirty-six and eighteen
varieties of Roses, with fresh and full flowers con-
sidering the lateness of the season. Messrs.
Stuart and Mein, florists, Kelso, were awarded the
premier prize for thirty Gladioli spikes, not more
than two of any variety.
Vegetables. — In the class for six distinct sorts,
the best came from Mr. J. Harkness, who had
capital Cauliflowers, Leeks, Tomatoes, and Village
Blacksmith Potatoes. For twelve Tomatoes, Mr.
Mclndoe was first, with clean and even fruits of
Hackwood Park, A good collection of Potatoes
was staged by Mr. S. Bigham, Edgerston, Jedburgh,
Ashtop Fluke and Mr. Bresee being among the
best kinds shown.
Miscellaneous groups, &c., shown by nurserymen,
not for competition, were staged by Messrs. Ire-
land and Thomson and Messrs. Thomas Methven
and Sons, the former firm staging a choice collec-
tion of leading kinds of Conifers in good health.
From the Royal Botanic Gardens came a choice
collection of Pitcher plants (Sarracenias), which
were most interesting to the visitors. Mr. J. Forbes,
Buccleuch Nurseries, Hawick, had a nice collection
of Hollyhock spikes of exceUent quality ; also some
good Delphiniums and Pentstemons. Messrs. John
Lament and Sons, the Glen Nurseries, Musselburgh,
exhibited good single and Cactus Dahlias. Messrs.
Kent and Brydon, Darlington, had a capital stand
of herbaceous cut flowers. Messrs. Jas. Dickson
and Sons, seedsmen, Edinburgh, staged forty dishes
of Potatoes, consisting of the leading kinds. Messrs.
Dickson and Co., Liberton Nurseries, Edinburgh,
staged 110 dishes of Apples, as also many branches
laden with fruit of both Apples and Plums, all of
the best kinds.
We regret to learn of the death of Mr. Chaeles
D1M.MICK, nurseryman, which occurred at Ryde, Isle
of Wight, recently.
We have also to announce the death of Mr, David
HuTT, for many years connected with the National
Chrysanthemuru Society, both as exhibitor and judge.
Ifames of plants. — JF. P. — Billbergia splendens.
Malcolm Lajnowt.— Podophyllum Emodi. G. 0:
— Trachelium caeruleum. G. B., Winchester. — 1, a
fine variety of Odontoglossum Uro-Skinneri; 2, Zygo-
petalum Gautieri ; 3, Cypripediumconeolor. • Sachel.
— 1 , Utrioularia montaua ; it is not an Orchid ; 2, Ini-
patiens Jerdoniffl; 3, Gloriosa viresceus. /. J. — 1,
Adiantum Pacotti ; 2, Elaphoglossum scolopendrif olium;
3, Thuubergia fragrans ; 4, Passiflora Buonapartea. — ; —
F. H. — Eudbeckia Newmanni; cannot name varieties
of early Chrysanthemums.
Names of fruit.— /. B. B.—l, Marie Louise; 2,
Beurre Kance ; 3 and 4, Beurre Diel. Fatfinson and
Glendeninq. — Apple, Hinger. J. — 2, Vaquelin
3, Louise Bonne of Jersey; 4, Beurre Superfin.
262
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 17, 1887.
WOODS & FORESTS.
ROADSIDE PLANTING.
At the sitting of the British Association on the
2nd inst. at Slanchester, Mr. Courtenay C. Prance
read a paper on the subject of " The Depreciation
of Land as caused by recent Legislation," in which
he says —
The English farmer is not doing his best. The
fanner himself wants training. The existing depres-
sion should lead to the planting of more timber, and
to its more systematic culture.
This advice, I think, is a step in the right direction,
and I trust that both landlord and tenant will not
be slow to take advantage of the advice here ten-
dered for the embellishment of their properties and
the rearing of a class of valuable timber trees.
Every landlord does not keep a trained forester to
execute such work, but this can be no great draw-
back, as any nurseryman can not only supply the
plants, but likewise send a thoroughly qualified
person to have them properly planted and cared for.
In The Garden of September 3 (p. 212) there is
an article on " Roadside Tree Planting in Belgium,"
and it appears the work has been carried out on a
very extensive scale. The cost of each tree when
planted is stated to average 2s. 6d., and although
we consider that a high figure, yet, notwithstanding
the cheapness of foreign timber, it seems to pay,
as we are told that since 1881 the plantations
at this date had increased in value to nearly four
times the amount of the capital originally ex-
pended upon them. This is highly satisfactory;
and although I do not expect that equal results
would be obtained in this country, yet from my
own experience and observations it will pay and
leave a small margin of profit to the owners.
In the formation of these plantations large quantities
of coniferous trees, principally Larch and Spruce
Fir, have been used. Although the Larch is very
suitable for such a purpose and soon increases in
value, yet I cannot say the same of the Spruce Fir,
as I have found it very unsuitable for roadside
planting, and am surprised to see that it has been
used extensively in Belgium for such a purpose,
more especially as the report says that the produc-
tion of timber of good quality from a commercial
point of view is especially aimed at. To grow
Spruce Fir of good quality it requires to be grown
in blocks by itself, by which means the side branches
gradually lose their vitality and fall to the ground,
thus leaving the stem a fine clean shaft free of knots
to a distance of about two-thirds of the height of
the tree. On the other hand, when the Spruce is
planted as single specimens along roadsides or else-
where, the plants retain their side branches almost
to the ground, and as they do not admit of being cut
off, the trunk, after the trees are felled, presents from
one end to the other a series of rough knots, which
render the wood of no value whatever for a great
many purposes. Among trees of European growth
the common Spruce is one of the tallest we have,
and, moreover, it is altogether a surface-rooting
tree, and, consequently, when planted as a single
specimen it is very apt to be blown over by the
wind. Railway directors should take very good
care that this tree is not introduced or planted along
their lines, as it actually forms a source of danger
to the travelling public in such positions.
J. B. Webster.
Pine woods. — Pine woods possess attractions of
a peculiar kind; all lovers of Nature are enrap-
tured with them, and there is a grandeur about
them which is felt at once when we enter them.
Their dark verdure, their deep shade, their lofty
height, and their branches, which are ever mysteri-
ously murmuring as they are swayed by the wind,
render them singularly solemn and sublime. This
expression is increased by the hollow reverberating
interior of the wood, caused by its eleamess and
freedom from underbrush. The ground beneath is
covered by a matting of falling leaves, making a
smooth brown carpet, that renders a walk within
its precincts as comfortable as in a garden. The
foliage of the Pine is so hard and durable, that in
summer we always find the last autumn's crop lying
upon the ground in a state of perfect soundness,
and under it that of the preceding year only par-
tially decayed. The foliage of two summers, there-
fore, lies upon the surface, checking the growth of
humble vegetation, and permitting only certain
species of plants to flourish with vigour.
HOW TO PLANT DECIDUOUS TREES.
The best time for planting trees and shrubs is when
they are dormant, that is, after they have made
their season's growth and before they have begun
to start afresh. Deciduous trees speak for them-
selves ; when their leaves have fallen they may be
said to be at rest, and they should be transplanted
before the buds have begun to swell, not that there
is much mischief in a little delay, but the proper
time is before the buds have become excited. 'The
next point is to take up the tree with every fibre,
if possible, undamaged, and more care is required to
do this than many think proper to bestow upon it.
I have seen valuable trees literally torn up by the
roots in some nurseries because the men would not
take the trouble to lift them properly. How,
therefore, can such trees be expected to thrive for
at least a season or two after removal ? Again, if
the roots are mutilated the head of the tree must be
reduced in proportion. Moreover, in planting, the
earth must be made to fill up all the interstices be-
tween the roots — there must be no hollow places ;
and, when a tree has been much mutilated, it is a
good plan to puddle or, at least, make the pit in
which the tree is to be put a kind of mud hole, that
is, pour into it two or three pailfuls of water, and
throw in a cone of loose earth, on which the tree
should be placed, spreading out the roots well and
filling up all round with loose soil. By moving the
tree sideways, backwards and forwards, lifting it
now and then a little, and continuing to fill in with
earth, it may be made a fixture at a proper height,
and a little patience will enable you to hold it
moderately firm until stakes can be put in to sup-
port it and the soil settles. This kind of treat-
ment is unnecessary when the trees are small and
carefully lifted, as they should be.
I prefer dry planting when the soil is in good
order and finely broken ; the soil can then be got
in among the roots well enough to answer the pur-
pose. In that case the point of most importance is
to take the plants 'up well. Dig round them in a
circle, as far off the stem as the ends extend, and
release the latter carefully, so as not to break them;
then, with a sharp knife, cut off the tap root close
to the stem, and all ends that may happen to have
got accidentally bruised, and, having roughly esti-
mated the quantity of roots lost or injured, make
amends by reducing the head in proportion. Cut
out all weak shoots close to the stem, and re-
move any that grow upward or cross each other in
the centre, retaining only the best branches in the
best positions, and, if any of them be too long,
shorten them. Then,having made a pit large enough
to hold all the roots, fill in with some soft well-
worked soil, and press the roots into position with-
out bruising them. Hold the tree upright while
the hole is being filled in, and shake it, in order that
the soil may get well worked in between the roots.
When the tree is properly placed, fill up the rest of
the hole, and tread it well in, not by pressing the
soil close to the stem, but by treading on it all round
where the points of the roots are. When pretty
firm, drive in three stakes, in a sloping direction,
so as to meet at the stem, and to these fasten the
tree, so as to prevent wind-waving.
A much neater way, however, of fastening trees is
to drive three posts into the ground, in the form of a
triangle, and nail some slabs to them. I have moved
Cedars 35 feet high, and fastened them quite se-
curely in this way, the posts being driven into the
ground G feet deep. But though deciduous trees show
us so well when they are at rest, that period is not so
apparent in the case of Evergreens. It needs close
observation to ascertain when they are at rest. With
some it is at midsummer, with others later ; but the
cause of so many failures in transplanting Ever-
greens is moving them when they are in active
growth. If the foliage has attained its full size and
proper colour, and if the last growth made has assumed
the same colour as the rest of the trees, transplanting
may be done with safety. If the ground where
the trees are to be planted is dry, it must be
well watered ; and even the branches must be
sprinkled if the weather is warm. Plants taken
out of peat form an exception, for it frequently
happens that a ball of earth, larger than the
entire root space, lifts with them, and they are thus
unaffected by removal. They do not, indeed, lose a
fibre.
To recapitulate, planting successfully consists,
firstly, in removing the plant from the place in
which it grows without disturbing its roots much ;
secondly, if any roots have been lost, cut in the head
so as to lessen the work which the roots that re-
main have to do ; thirdly, in placing the tree again in
the ground where it is to stand, solidly, and with the
roots as nearly as possible in the position in which
they were before removal ; and lastly, in supplying
moisture, if it be deficient, and in so fastening the
tree in its place that it shall not afterwards be in-
jured by wind-waving. E. B.
Oak galls. — In reply to " A. R.," it is unusual to
find an Oak tree studded with galls to the extent
you mention, and similar to the twigs sent. If it is
a favourite tree and growing close to other Oaks,
we would advise you to have the galls collected at
once and burnt while the grubs are quiescent. The
galls are caused by an insect (GaU-fly or Cynips),
the grub of which, in obtaining nourishment from
the surrounding cells, induces a rapid growth of
these, and so the abnormal growth is produced. —
A. D. W.
Groups of trees in pastures. — The only
reason advanced against shade trees in pastures is,
that cows are inclined to spend too much of their
time under them, and consequently give less milk
than they would if no shade existed. This is not
the case. Cows that rest a portion of the time
under trees feed more at night than do those that
have no shade in their pastures. The more com-
fortably and quietly we keep our cows, the more milk
they will produce, and we contend that cows that
have a shady group of trees to lie under wiU pro-
duce as much milk as cows do without shade. In
many places of limited extent it is often desirable
to extend the plantation beyond the garden portion
of the grounds, and one is glad to see that it may be
done without injury to the grazing interests. We
look forward to a time when the whole area of a
farm or demesne will be so arranged as to ensure
the greatest amount of landscape and tree beauty
possible under the circumstances.
The Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera). —
This noble North American tree seldom fails to
develop itself into a stately specimen in any good,
deep, well-drained soil. In America the tree is said
to form specimens from 100 feet to 150 feet in
height, but in this country it rarely exceeds 70 feet
or 80 feet. There are some fine specimens at Ful-
ham Palace, at the Royal Gardens, Kew, and in
other places, although well-grown trees of it are by
no means common. In the old arboretum at Chis-
vrick there used to be two specimens of this fine
tree, one having much larger and brighter coloured
flowers than the other; and, doubtless, other va-
rieties of it exist where plants are raised from seeds.
All through the summer the foliage is of a fresh
pale green, and in the autumn it dies off a bril-
liant golden-yellow. Striking effects might there-
fore be obtained by grouping it with Quercus coc-
cinea or the purple-leaved Beech. In addition to
its ornamental properties, it is valuable as a timber
tree, the wood being firm in texture and capable of
taking a fine polish. It is, however, most valuable
in this country as an ornamental tree, and for that
purpose, its distinct and noble port commends it at
once to the notice of intending planters. In London
gardens, where the tree flowers very well and grows
fairly, the foliage dying off in autumn affords very
striking effects. Its value is more apparent where
stately specimens are found.
THE GARDEN.
263
No. 827. SATURDA Y, Sept. 24, 7887. Vol. XXXII.
"Thiaisan Art
Which does mend Nature : change it rather ; but
The Art itself is Nature." — Shaisespeare,
Rose Garden.
NEW ROSES.
There is no doubt that the Roses first generally
distributed in this country in the sprhig of
] 886, and consequently seen in character out of
doors for the first time tliis summer, are a far
more interesting set than the novelties of the
previous season, and include several first-rate
varieties.
First and foremost, a most appropriate and
successful appearance in this Jubilee year was
made by Her INIajesty (Bennett), a magnificent
Rose -svorthily named, and a great acquisition.
This variety was exceedingly badly exhibited at
the National Rose Society's show at South
Kensington, the blooms having apparently been
cut from frost-bitten plants, and being so far
spent as to be entirely wanting in form, colour,
or anytliing like quality. A feeling of consider-
able disappointment was naturally prevalent in
consequence, as it was supposed by many that
this was the true character of the Rose ; but it
was soon afterwards exhibited at the Crystal
Palace and some of the later shows in such
splendid form, as to leave no question as to its
being a flower of the first rank. Moreover, it
proved less impatient of hard pruning than its
non-autumnal character led many growers to
expect, and it flowered freely as a maiden, so
that there was no difliculty in getting abundance
of blooms. The buds were so late in starting
that it seemed as if they never would begin to
grow, but through their tardiness the majority
of them escaped injury from the late spring
frost. Of about eighty plants, half on Brier
cutting stocks and half on Manetti, growing
side by side, those on Brier furnished far the
most perfectly finished blooms, and were much
less disfigured by mildeAv than those on Manetti,
which are already leafless and white with
mildew half way down their stems. There is,
unfortunately, on all the plants no sign of an
autumn bloom, but in spite of this and of their
tendency to mildew, the immense size of the
ilowers, combined with their perfect outline,
great depth, and the pure quality of their rose
colour, will ensure their conspicuous presence
at all great Rose shows for some time to come.
American Beauty (Bancroft), on the other
hand, has in all probability made its last appear-
ance in public in this country. Apart from the
great doubt freely expressed on both sides of
the Atlantic as to whether this Rose is really a
novelty, its dreary colour and the coarseness of
its flowers are faults which their fragrance can-
not condone. The fact is that, with the excep-
tion of the beautiful pale sport from Catherine
Mermet, called The Bride, the recent American
' ' novelties " have not proved the great additions
that had been hoped. Sunset, the sport from
Perle des Jardins, which was said to be as fine
as its parent, only of a different colour, is rarely
of any use out of doors, and though it is ex-
tremely free as a bud Rose when forced in win-
ter, its colour is not nearly so fine as that of
Safrano. Then American Beauty turns out to
be (or at least to be undistinguishable from) an
old and long since discarded Hybrid Perpetual,
and this year, unfortxmately, Marshall P.
Wilder has definitely proved itself to be nothing
more nor less than Alfred Colomb. There
were considerable misgivings as to its distinct-
ness as soon as it appeared, but the great and
well-deserved reputation of its raisers and the
fineness of the flowers that the variety pro-
duced compelled a most careful and patient
trial. It has been often remarked that the
same season rarely sees both Marie Baumann
and Alfred Colomb at their best ; 1886 was
rather a Marie Baumann year, and Alfred was
not seen to advantage ; neither (? consequently)
was Marshall P. Wilder, and no one was pre-
pared to state definitely that it was not distinct.
This year, however, it was Alfred Colomb's
turn, and, oddly enough, also Marshall P.
Wilder appeared in equal perfection. For con-
venience of comparison the rows of these two
Corsican brothers had been worked close to-
gether, and as they grew under precisely similar
conditions, the resemblance in every respect
became daily more apparent — wood, foliage,
prickles, all identical, until the day that saw
Alfred Colomb burst into fuU beauty witnessed
the simultaneous development of Marshall P.
Wilder. Sis blooms of each were cut and
staged together in a twelve box, and several
good judges failed entirely to say which was
which, or wherein one difiered from the other.
On one occasion the introduction of a bloom of
each into a collection of distinct varieties would
have resulted in the disqualification of the box
for containing two Alfred Colombs, but that
the judges knowing their Roses well, recollected
the close similarity of the " American Cousin."
It is not incredible that there may have been
raised in America a seedling in all respects
identical with Alfred Colomb, for there is no
lack of recorded cases of such coincidences ; but
it cannot be believed that any skilful grower of
a good number of plants of the two can possibly
distinguish by any difference of wood, foliage,
prickles, stature, size, form, or colour of flowers,
or time of blooming between Marshall P. Wilder
and Alfred Colomb.
Clara Cochet (Lacharme) has not yet been
seen to advantage, being one of the early and
lusty growers that was a good deal checked and
disfigured by the long cold spring, but it is of
very vigorous habit, and produces large pale rose
flowers, apparently a good deal in the way of
the same raiser's Catherine Soupert.
RosiERiSTE Chauvrt (Gonod) proved one of
the most attractive of the French Hybrid Per-
petuals, and if it continues to carry as fine
blooms as it bore early in the season of 1887, it
will make a valuable addition. It belongs to
the Victor Verdier family, and is consequently
of a moderate habit of growth, but its flowers
are of a bright full red colour quite distinct in
its class, and they are at the same tune very
smooth and well finished, with a flue deep petal.
Souvenir de Victor Hugo (Pernet) is an-
other Hybrid Perpetual of the same type, biit a
more vigorous grower, and producing flowers of
a pleasing brilliant rosy red colour, a trifle thin,
perhaps, for a baking season like the past, but
still very attractive, and probably first-rate in
cool weather. This variety flowers freely, and
is a thorough autumnal, not seeming very liable
to mildew.
Raoul Gdillard (Margottin) is a promising
red Rose of great vigour, and very free-flower-
ing, each of the strong shoots carrying bloom
and stiU retaining their fine foliage well, being
little disfigured by mildew, in spite of the gene-
ral prevalence of that pest. Madame Musset
(Liabaud) is another light red Rose of somewhat
similar type, even more vigorous, but with
flowers rather inclined to open flat, something
in the way of Beauty of Waltham. Madame
VUly (Liabaud) is a very uninteresting flat red
Rose ; and Princesse Amadou de Broglie (Le-
veque) has been so taken up with growing, as
hardly to have had leisure to flower at all Ln
character, and little can be said of it beyond
that its colour is a pleasing shade of clear rose,
but it should make a valuable pOlar or climbing
Rose if its great 8-feet and 10-feet shoots flower
with anything approaching freedom next season.
There is one other Hybrid Perpetual which
has this season proved itself a first-rate and
most attractive variety, although it is not quite
a new Rose, having been sent out two years be-
fore those now immediately under notice ; but
Suzanne Marie Rodocanachi (LevSque) seems to
have been entirely overlooked in 1884, on the
principle, perhaps, of " Give a do^ a bad naine,
and hang him." Nevertheless, in spite of its
rather terrible appellation, it is a beautiful
Rose and well worth growing. Of the Victor
Verdier race, it is far more vigorous than the
type, and it blooms with the utmost freedom
both in summer and autumn ; its flowers are
large, deep-petaled, and of a delightful shade of
salmony rose, something of the colour of Coun-
tess of Rosebery, but a good deal brighter and
quite distinct. It has several times been finely
exhibited, and its pure and fresh colour stands
remarkably well, and it may fairly be considered
a genuine addition either for exhibition or in
the garden in a line of colour to which recruits
are specially welcome.
Of the Tea-scented varieties there are two
that stand a head and shoulders above their
fellows, although they are surrounded by a
promising group. Of these two. The Bride
(May), the pale American sport from Catherine
Mermet above alluded to. has been so frequently
exhibited and so widely distributed, as to be
already very generally known and appreciated.
It is the exact counterpart of Catherine Mermet
in every way, except in the entire absence in
the flower of the slightest tint of rose colour ;
and yet the bloom cannot be called pure white,
but it is more like the flesh of a Water Melon,
hardly creamy, but having a faint greenish
tint at the base. It is a most beautiful variety,
if anything more vigorous and freer than its
parent, and taking its place at once in the very
front rank of Tea-scented Roses.
CoMTESSB DE Frigneuse (Guillot), the second
of the leading pair of new Teas, and about
which some fears were last year expressed as to
its being too like Amazone, has happily proved
quite distinct, being of a deeper, richer yellow
colour, and having a broader, smoother petal
than that variety. The habit of the novelty is
also better, being stronger and more erect, and,
considering how few really first-rate yellow
Roses there are, Comtesse de Frigneuse must
be regarded as a most valuable acquisition.
Viscountess Folkestone (Bennett) is a beau-
tiful Rose, and has been very fine this year,
although the question will probably soon be
raised, as in the case of the charming Grace
Darling, whether it ought to be classed among
the pure Teas. The flowers are very large, of a
beautiful shade of pale flesh-coloured rose,
deeper in the centre, and are most freely pro-
duced both in summer and autumn, always
opening well, although not at all thin. The
plant appears of good constitution, growing
freely, and retaining its foliage well, so that
altogether Viscountess Folkestone is likely to
become one of the most generally popular of
the valuable varieties sent out by its successful
raiser.
Claudius Levet (C. Level) is a fine, full,
erect-growing rosy Tea of considerable promise,
264
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 24, 1837
but will need another season's trial before it can
be unreservedly recommended, and the same
applies to Comtesse Horace de Choiseul
(L(5v(§que), which is very vigorous and thoroughly
perpetual, but has been somewhat lacking in
iinish ; to Edmond de Biauzat (C. Levet), also a
likely pale rose ; and to Marguerite Ramet
(C. Levet).
Souvenir de Victor Hugo (Tea) (Bonnaire)
is very vigorous and very free-flowering, both
in summer and autumn, but its flowers, though
pleasing in colour in their combination of rose
and yellow, are rather thin and lacking in finish.
Marquise de Vivens (DubreuO) proves a
pretty addition to the " button-hole '' Teas, pro-
ducing an abundance of flowers charming in the
bud state, in colour a pale yellowish white with
a bright rosy margin, not unlike GuiUot's
L'Elegante of a few years ago.
Reine Nathalie de Serbie (Soupert et
Netting) is likely to be an addition to the light-
coloured Teas, growing vigorously, and pro-
ducing well-formed and well-finished blush-
tinted flowers, which are of good size, and are
carried erect on stiff stems after the fashion of
Madame Lambard, from which the variety is
said to be a seedling.
There is one other Rose of considerable note,
although neither a Tea- scented variety nor a
Hybrid Perpetual in the ordinary sense of the
term ; but it promises, nevertheless, to be a
considerable acquisition. This is Max Singer
(Lacharme), a variety raised from a cross be-
tween Rosa Polyantha and Hybrid Perpetual
General Jacqueminot, and sent out as a climber,
non-remontant. The flowers were also said in
some English catalogues to be " singly borne ;"
but this proves to be a mistake, for the flowers,
so far from being borne singly, are developed in
very large and handsome clusters, and if it
cannot be called strictly "remontant," it is at
the same time a continuous bloomer, the maiden
plants having been in flower unintermittently
from the middle of June until the middle of
September. The plant is of a vigorous climbing
habit, and the flowers, which are above medium
size, quite double, and well formed, are of a
bright cherry-red colour. Good red climbing
Roses are none too numerous, and we have to
thank M. Lacharme for a most promising addi-
tion in an entirely new line, which, it may be
hoped, he will think it worth whUe to pursue
further. T. W. G.
worthless," namely, that it is far the hardiest of the
Macartney Roses, and, consequently, makes a very
pretty evergreen creeper for a low wall, its habit of
growth and its persistent, gleaming foliage being
very attractive. But, at the same time, it is cer-
tainly not worth while to give it a valuable aspect
on a good wall where wall-space is precious, nor to
waste space for it under glass. — T. W. G.
Koses not opening.— "T. F." (p. 101) need
not be perturbed at the buds of the double Macart-
ney Rose failing to expand, in so far, at least, as its
being no reflection on his cultural skill that they
should persistently " remain callous and obdurate,"
for the flowers of this Rose never are (nor, from the
formation of the petals, can lie) properly and fully
developed. This summer in the great heat a few
flowers were expanded further than, perhaps, ever
before, but even when a few of the outer petals do
open fair, there is always a rounded mass not un-
like a pigeon's egg left in the centre, rendering the
flower entirely unattractive. If " T. F." will refer
to " The Rose Amateur's Guide," by Mr. Thomas
Rivers, he will find the double Macartney Rose re-
ferred to (at page 157) in the following terms :—
The double (the old variety) was the first double
Macartney Rose over raiseiJ from seed ; it is mentioned
here to caution anyone from planting it, as it is totally
worthless, its flowers constantly dropping off without
opening.
It is specially distinguished here as " the old va-
riety," that it should not be confounded with the
double Macartney Maria Lconida, a very charming
and free-flowering double white Rose, very well
worth growing, but, unfortunately, rather tender.
And herein lies the quality that redeems the old
variety from Mr. Rivers' charge of being " totally
HOMERE ROSE.
Though it is not the first nor second time I have
praised this Rose for its profuse blooming and ex-
treme beauty in the autumn, I gladly take advantage
of the note of " Suffolkian" (p. 215) to praise it yet
again. Never were its merits more conspicuous
than this autumn-tide, when the drought appears to
have burned out the autumnal-blooming properties
of even the old Gloire de Dijon. Never do I re-
member cutting so few Glories as this September.
We have them in all sorts of places and on walls,
and in all alike they have yielded an abnormally
scant crop of autumnal blossoms ; and the pink
Gloire de Bordeaux — mostly andmore than thegolden
or buff — has been conspicuous by its absence of
blooms. The so-called perpetuals are in the mass
nowhere this autumn-tide. Even Jules Margottin
has forgotten to sustain its character as about the
most profuse and useful autumnal bloomer. Only two
of the so-called perpetuals have come up to anything
like their usual standard, and these are La France
and Boule de Neige — varieties of very mixed blood,
as all rosarians will generally acknowledge.
A good many Teas, and even the old pink and
red Chinas, are also flowering but little ; but I see no
difference in the free-flowering qualities of Homere.
If anything, it is more profuse than usual, and now
the rains are reaching the roots the flowers are dis-
tinguished by great perfection of form and exquisite
beauty of colour, the delicacy of the colouring being
enhanced, as " Suffolkian " so aptly observes, by the
purple-red hue of the young foliage. I hardly
know, in fact, what we should do without the fine,
fresh, clean foliage of Homere this autumn-tide ;
for it is one of the characteristics of this Rose
season that clean young foliage is almost as scarce
as Roses. Homere, however, is a host in itself of
both.
In addition to many dwarfs and some standards,
we have several Homlres on walls — one huge plant
on the stables that covers a good many square
yards, and forms the backbone of our autumnal
supply this year. Like Souvenir de la Malmaison
and a few other Roses, Homfere only reaches its
highest form and exquisite delicacy of colouring in
the autumn. There is hardly a Rose better adapted
for vases and basket-furnishing than Homfere, gar-
nished with its own shootlets. It is thus far more
telling than when mixed with other Roses. I leave it
to lady rosarians to determine whether the effect can
be heightened by adding small buds of Niphetos.
Full-opened Roses of the former would utterly mar
the beauty of Homere, but small half-opened buds
are quite a different matter. It is more than probable
that Puritan is the coming Rose to group with, and
even, mayhap, heighten the effect of Homere. The
rather liberal suffusion of pink on the outer petals
of the Puritan, its pale lemon centre before it melts
or bleaches into the whiteness that may be held to
justify its name, point to the probability that a
mild mixture of the Puritan might even enhance
the charms of a vase or basket chiefly filled with
the autumn blooms of Hom5re. D. T. F.
the reputation of first-rate varieties should be
lowered by their disadvantageous presentciont in
public— T. \f. G.
Polyantha Rose (Perle d'Or).— The coloured
plate in the current number of the Journal t/cs
Ii'osi'f is a very poor presentment of Dubreuil's
beautiful Hybrid Polyantha, Perle d'Or, which is
made to appear flimsy and irregular and very dull
in colour; whereas it is in reality one of the smartest
little Roses in its class, and its buds, so popular now
with bouquetists, are of a rich, tawny orange tint,
the edges of the petals becoming paler as the
flowers expand. Although it is not desirable that
the merits of flowers should be pictorially exagge-
rated (a not uncommon failing with a certain class
of coloured plates), it is equally undesirable that
HOMERE ROSE FOR A HEDGE.
The foliage, habit, hardiness of Homere fits it ad-
mirably for this purpose. The first Rose hedge ei er
seen by the writer was formed of Gloire det: Roio-
manes, a Rose now seldom met with. It was bril-
liant when in bloom, but thin, and also jathsr
perishable. Perhaps, on the whole, the best hedge
Rose we possess at present is Gloire de Dijon. It
has also possibly been more used for this purpose
than any other Rose, and this for several reasons;
its beauty, its fragrance, its habit, its hardiness,
and last, but by no means least, in relation to hedge
Roses, the ease with which it can be rooted from
cuttings and cultivated afterwards, have all tended
to place the Gloire de Dijon in the first rank for
hedge-forming and other rough-and-ready purposes,
such, for example, as forming masses in woods,
running up trees, overrunning rocks and roots, the
clothing of banks, &c. Of course, too, the enormous
productiveness of Gloire de Dijon hastoldmuch in its
favour. Though by no means a first-class Rose for
show purposes, as an all-round Rose for general
favour and universal use and a variety that seldom
fails to furnish an abundant supply throughout the
season, most rosarians will agree that they are not
likely to see the like of the Glory again. Now, in
every quality that fits a Rose for forming a hedge,
unless in the one item of fragrance, Homfere may
be successfully placed abreast of the Glory — I had
almost written pitted against it. But this would con-
vey a wrong impression. In enumerating the merits
of Homere as a hedge Rose, there is no desire to see
one hedge the less of Gloire de Dijon. Quite the
contrary. There is room for any number of Rose
hedges throughout the country. All wars of the
Roses in the sense of uprooting one to make room
for another must become things of the past. We
have had far too many such, with the result of
losing very many good things brimful of sentiment
and to memory dear.
There is no need to uproot Golden Glories to form
hedges of the exquisitely mottled pink Homeres,
but rather wherever opportunity offers let us plant
more hedges of both, or of any other Rose equ.ally
useful and adapted for the purpose, if such can be
found. I may name another in passing, the (Hoire
de Bordeaux, a pink Glory by no means equal in
quality to the golden one, but a hardy, quick-grow-
ing, free-blooming Rose, well furnished with formid-
able prickles, that would almost render a thi-ik
fence of it stock-proof were it not for the fact that
all stock love so much the sweet leaves and shoo' lets
of Roses. In the matter of prickles, too, the Hcrr.cre
beats the Gloire de Dijon. It also grows with great
freedom and flowers more profusely, especially in
the autumn. In bushes and masses it has proved
itself quite hardy, and would even be more so in a
hedge, in which the plants protect each other.
Strong plants planted in fair soil 2 feet or a jrird
apart would soon form a hedge a yard or more high
and as much through. Fair rather than over-rich
soil is to be preferred. In the latter, growth is too
rank alike for ensuring the perfect hardiness of the
plants and a full, continuous blossoming from Juae
to November. As Rose hedges are mostly planted
for ornament, there is no need to confine them to
one line of plants. Most of those so grown or seen
by the writer have been far too narrow and formal ;
they have been too severely pruned, too formally
trained— single lines of colour rather than broad
profuse masses of beauty and fragrance, with a wide
margin of freedom alike in breadth and height.
Possibly among the Rose hedges of the future we may
find such Roses as Gloire de Dijon flanked on cither
or both sides with such glowing supports as Duke of
Edinburgh, and hedges,' of Hom6re contrasted with
and resting on either side on a base of Madame
Hardy, Boule de Neige, Puritan, or The Bride.
HORTUS.
Photographs. — We are constantly receiving pho-
togi-aphs with neither name nor address. All photo-
gi-aphs sent should have the name of the sender, and
also the subject, on the hack.
Sept. 24, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
265
NOTES FROM CHATSWOBTH.
The gardening public Trill be glad to know that
the reputation for good gardening that Chats-
worth has borne for a long series of years has,
by the change of management necessitated by
the lamented death of the late Mr. Speed, lost
none of its prestige, Mr. Owen Thomas, the
present superintendent-in-chief, being appa-
rently bent, not only on maintaining, but of ad-
vancing the reputation of Chatsworth for
horticulture in general. I use the word "gene-
ral" advisedly, from the impression made on
my mind by a leisurely and most enjoyable
walk over the place, through all its depart-
ments, and in all of which there was visible the
Grapes are all alike first-rate ; and such crops as
involuntarily make one imagine that they will not
finish, which, however, is practically answered a
few yards further on, where may be seen as
good a crop of Black Hamburgh Grapes as any-
one could wish. My visit was purely one of
pleasure, and I had no idea of writing this paper,
so that my notes are purely mental (dates, ifec,
have since at my request been supplied to me),
and will the better recur to me by beginning
their recital at the point from which I started
on my tour of inspection, under the courteous
guidance of Mr. Thomas, and the said point is
from the front of his house, which is suitably
adorned by a sort of hybrid rock and herbaceous
Hanging basket of Achimenes in the conservatory at Chatsworth. Engraved for The Garden from a
photograph.
same painstaking management — no " hobbies,"
at least I coiild discern none, for the commonest
of kitchen garden crops seem just as well cared
for as are the most valuable Orchids, and it is
the same with fruit ; Currants, Gooseberries,
and every other fruit up to Grapes and Pine-
apples manifest the same equality of attention.
1 had not seen Chatsworth for many years, and
went knowing that I should see some good gar-
dening, but I own that I was totally unprepared
to see each and all departments in such a state
of excellence, and the greatest surprise, and, to
me, a most agreeable one, was to find fruit
grown so extensively and so well. There is no
mediocrity — Peaches, Figs, Melons, Pines, and
garden — i. e. , neither one nor the other, and yet
both conjointly. The smallest alpine and com-
moner rockwork plants are effectively displayed
on jutting- out ledges of Derbyshire stone and
slag, and are well backed up with Rhododendrons,
Lilacs, Spirsea Aruncus, Weigelas, Delphiniums,
and other of the stronger-growing herbaceous
plants, the whole having a foreground of closely
shorn turf, and the rough and the smooth com-
mingle better than any similar arrangement I
ever remember to have seen.
The kitchen garden next comes under review,
and from all the writing and hearsay about low-
lying, water-logged ground, expectancy on my
part was not an extravagant quality from this
department, but I do not exaggerate in saying
that better crops no one could wish for. I
particularise nothing, for the simple reason that
all are as good as can be. Mr. Thomas has
strong faith in the principle that if you want
aught out of the ground it must first be put in,
and at the time of my visit this faith was being
practically exhibited by such a dressing of
manure as few would venture to give (and that
fewer are able to give) being applied to a plot
of ground that was being prepared for Celery.
Currants, Gooseberries, Raspberries, and Straw-
berries do exceediogly well in this garden, but
wall fruits are less satisfactory. Plums do
fairly well, and also Morello Cherries, but
Peaches and Nectarines are nowhere.
Our next move brings us to the far and de-
servedly famed Lily house, of which the Victoria
Regia is the principal occupant. I am not a
judge of such matters, but if vigour of stems
and foliage and free-flowering count for any-
thing, I question whether a higher state of
cultivation has ever been attained. The Vic-
toria Regia has eleven leaves, and the largest
is 7^ feet across, and by way of testing its
strength it bore easUy the almost incredible
weight of 200 lbs. Suspended from the roof in
this house were a number of baskets planted
with Achimenes and Ferns (see illustration), for
which Chatsworth has long been noted. I shall
not attempt to describe them other than to say
that they are simply magnificent, and must be
seen in order to fully realise their grandeur.
I ought to add that their sojourn in this house
is only preparatory to their final removal to the
large conservatory, of which more anon.
The vineries next come under notice, and at
a glance one can see that they are well managed ;
thick leathery foliage, not an insect on them,
bunches medium to large, berries good, and the
thinning perfect. The Vines in several of the
houses being unsatisfactory, Mr. Thomas lifted
some shortly after taking charge in the autumn
of 1884, and some in the spring of 1885, and,
contrary to the usually accepted notion, those
lifted in autumn have done by far the best ; in
fact, there is just this difference, that Mr.
Thomas says, "never from choice" will he
again have recourse to lifting the roots of Vines
in the spring, and his work justifies bis deter-
mination. The limited time I allow myself for
writing will not admit of my noting the impres-
sions I formed of each house, but one is so
exceptionally good as to demand more than a
cursory note. The house is one of the largest,
and was originally a fruiting Pine stove, though
of this I am not quite certain ; at any rate, it
has a pit in the middle of the house suggestive
of such a use, but ^111011 is now far better
occupied by a grand set of supernumerary Muscat
Vines, every one of which is a model of good
culture, and carrying such fine bunches of
fruit, that it seems like sacrilege to talk of
destroying them as soon as the present crop of
fruit is exhausted. There is, however, really
no help for it, seeing that the permanent Vines
now cover the entire roof ; in fact, they are
being injured somewhat, owing to the over-
crowding caused by the temporary Vines. Both
sets of Vines were propagated from eyes struck
in the spring of 1884 and planted the following
July, and in 188-5 both permanent and tem-
porary Vines bore three bunches each of fairly
good fruit, and last year they carried and
finished ofl' well eight bunches each, many of
them weighing over 4 lbs., and I myself can
testify that this year, both in number of
bunches and weight, the advance on these
figures is considerable. The remark, that low
levels had not afleoted Grape-growing, only for
266
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 24, 1887.
the better, drew from Mr. Thomas the rejoinder,
" No, we have overcome that by raising the
borders," and such raising certainly lias a two-
fold advantage ; iirst, the drainage is sure ; and,
secondly, the borders, as it were, hold them-
selves up to get the full Ijenefit of sunshine.
The climate not being suitable, Peaches and
Nectarines are not grown outside ; hence a large
portion of indoor space has to be given up to
these fruits and Figs. The Peach trees are
mostly old, but possess all the vigour of youth,
having all within the last three years been
lifted, new borders made, and after having the
most woody portion of the roots cut away re-
planted, and being kept well watered and thickly
mulched with good manure, they fruited just
the same as if they had never been lifted, but
with this advantage, that the fruits were much
finer ; and finer could not be than that which
the trees have borne and are bearing this year.
In reply to the query, " When do you lift?" the
•answer was, " Immediately after the fall of the
leaf" — never before, as is the general practice,
and is, in fact, my own, and followed with some
success, but which Mr. Thomas declares would
be much greater if such work were not done till
the leaves were off. What say readers of The
Garden ? Our next move was to the fruiting
Pine stove, but as a picture of this is to be
shortly forthcoming, my note must be reserved
to accon^pany the same. Cucumbers, Tomatoes,
and Melons are growing here, there, and every-
where ; not a nook seems to be unoccupied.
At the time of my visit Melons were in full
force, there being some extra fine fruit of Mr.
Thomas's favourite varieties ; William Tillery,
Eastnor Castle, Best of All, and Blenheim
Orange. Other houses and pits in close proxi-
mity to the fruit houses are filled with plants
for furnishing purposes, not a few of which are
required for the decoration of the rooms and
vestibules of Chatsworth House when the family
are in residence. Soft-wooded plants predomi-
nate, as this section is of rapid propagation and
growth, and had need be if one is expected
to cope with the destruction of plants that is
constantly going on from being placed in dark,
draughty vestibules and passages.
Pleasure grounds. — Being some distance
from the kitchen gardens and fruit houses, the
round of which we have now completed, a drive
through the park to the pleasure grounds and
plant houses is suggested, accepted, and fully
enjoyed, on the route to which one cannot help
expressing an opinion as to the superiority of
various sites on which to have formed the
kitchen and fruit gardens than the one we have
just left ; but not knowing the views of the
founder, and his love of gardening being such
as to make us contemn the thought, that it was
selected from economic motives, we are led to
believe that, from his point of view, he thought
it the best. However, here we are in front of
the stately mansion, grand in its immensity,
which is about all that my own knowledge of
architecture will admit of my saying. The sur-
rdundings — particularly the woodland scenery
and undulating nature of the ground — have
more charm for me ; not that I have a disparag-
ing word or thought for the formal parterre on
which I am standing, as it is formality in its
rightful place, and is not nearly so overdone
with stonework gardening as are many places
of less extent and less suited to it. Tlie
flower beds are large, not too numerous, and
are eti'ectively planted. Mr. Thomks is mak-
ing a break in the right direction, and that is
lessening the number of summer bedding plants
that are required, by filling some of the beds
•with Roses,, Clematis, and shrubs. Passing
under the shade of grand Cedars, Beeches,
Chestnuts, and Oaks, and on through a laby-
rinth of rocky dells, we suddenly come in sight
of the
Great conservatory, the dimensions of
which Mr. Thomas has kindly furnished. They
are — length, 277 feet ; width, 123 feet ; height,
66 feet, and 10,000 feet of 6-inch piping is re-
quired to heat the structure, and in such a
winter as last this proved too little, as some
few of the plants still bear traces of suffering
from too low a temperature. Any description
of the occupants of so gigantic a structure (which
is well furnished throughout) must necessarily
be very limited, and I shall, therefore, content
myself by giving only the names of a few of the
most striking. As will be surmised, Palms are
the most prominent and effective plants in the
house, and the largest, which reaches the roof,
is a vigorous specimen of Corypha australis ;
others nearly as large are Sabal umbraculifera,
Sabal Blackburniana, Cocos plumosa, and Sea-
forthia elegans. Amongst the finest Dracaenas
are D. arborea, D. australis lineata, and fine
plants of the deeper-coloured kinds. Tree and
other Ferns also play a prominent part in the
arrangement, as do the monster hanging baskets
of Ferns (see illustration). Amongst the difli-
culties attendant on the keeping in good health
the plants in so large a structvire, not the least
is that of the opening and shutting of doors
necessitated by the — on some days — constant
succession of visitors, as many as 3000 having
been known to have passed through in a single
day, and there are regularly 50,000 visitors a
year.
Orchid and plant houses. — Another enjoy-
able walk across the upper part of the pleasure
grounds and we are at the Orchid and plant
houses. The former consists of five large span-
roofed houses devoted to Vandas, Cattleyas,
Dendrobiums, Odontoglossums, and Masdeval-
lias. The Van da house contains, perhaps, the
largest collection of Vandas to be seen anywhere,
the plants of the Chatsworth variety of V. suavis
being esi^ecially fine. This house also contains
a large number of species of East Indian Or-
chids, as well as many large specimen Nepenthes,
also many plants in great vigour of Ouvirandra
fenestralis. Here also are many pans of de-
ciduous Calanthes, which are grown in quantity
for winter flowering. The Cattleya house in
addition to the Cattleyas contains many other
species of Orchids, nearly the whole of one side
being taken up with Calanthes in variety —
masuca, Dominiana, and the lovely white va-
riety veratrifolia being particularly fine. There
are also many plants of Cymbidium Masters!
and Lowianum, Cypripediums of sorts, and
scores of pans of Pleiones, which seem to grow
like weeds. The Dendrobium house contains
many large pans of the difierent species, all in the
most perfect health, and the same is true of a large
numberof plants of Coclogynecristata(Chatsworth
variety), and I must not omit to mention some
enormous pans of Cypripediums insigne, Harrisi-
anum and Maulei. The Odontoglossum house
contains about a thousand plants, chiefly Pesca-
torei and crispum. In the warmest end of the
Masdevallia house are over a hundred fine
plants of Odontoglossum vexillarium, which here
appear to grow as freely as does a plot of Cab-
bages. These plants, in common with most of
the Odontoglossums, revel in plenty of moisture
at the roots as well as in the atmosphere. Some
of the large plants had lately been divided,
many of them making from ten to twelve small
plants. In respect of the whole of the collec-
tion, though my knowledge of Orchid growing
is very restricted, I fancy that I know sufficient,
from the appearance of plants, to warrant my
saying that in the hands of Mr. Thomas, Orchid
cultivation at Chatsworth has lost none of its
former reputation.
Continuing the survey, we next come to Cape
Heaths, which are not so frequently seen now
as they were in years gone by, but here they
have a house to themselves, and are worthy of
it, for there are few plants when in flower more
lovely. On one side of this house are 100 or
more plants of the beautiful Cape Orchid, Disa
grandiflora, some of them in fine flower. On a
solitary spike on one of thestrongest plants were
as many as eleven flowers ; it Wduldbe interest-
ing til know if this number on a spike has ever
lieen reached before.
In the two " show, or flowering houses," near
the Heath house, I particularly noted some
extra fine Hydrangeas, many of the panicles
measuring 19 inches across, and yet they had
not more root space than that aflforded by a
5-inch pot. The method of growing them, as
practised at Chatsworth, is very simple and
easy. The cuttings are inserted at the begin-
ning of July singly in 25-inch pots, and j^laced
in a little heat and shaded from bright sunshine
till rooted, when they are removed to a more
airy position. As soon as the pots are filled
with roots the plants are shifted into their
flowering pots, and they are kept close to the
glass and are carefully watered until they start
into growth in the spring, when more is needed,
and once they are in full growth, they are given
an occasional surface-dusting of Thompson's plant
manure. Tuberous and fibrous-rooted Begonias,
Celosias, Gloxinias, &c. , at the time of my visit
were amongst the most efl'ective of the occupants
of these houses, the excellent arrangement of
plants in which, combined with the most scru-
pulous cleanliness both of plants and houses,
does the utmost credit alike to Mr. Thomas and
the attendants in charge.
Bedding plants. — The preparation of summer
bedding plants is a department in itself, the
now ancient flue-heated pits being made avail-
able for the purpose, and that they answer their
end the perfect health and number of the plants
testify. But time and railway trains will not
wait, and our tour has to be finished by a hurried
run through the Camellia corridor, where there
is but just time to note that the plants are quite
on a par with all that has previously come under
review, being clean, full of buds, giving promise
of great usefulness in the cut- flower line when
other flowers are somewhat scarce. To Mr.
Thomas, for favours so copiously showered on
the head of a comparative stranger to him, my
heartiest thanks are due, and are hereby ten-
dered. W. WiLDSMITH.
JScckJield.
Suggestions to florists. — Trade catalogues
are for the most part very badlj arranged.
The different classes are too much mixed together,
and yet one sometimes has to look through
several lists in one catalogue before one can
find some particular flower of which one may
be in quest. Every catalogue, whether of seeds,
roots, or bulbs, should have separate divisions for
"annuals," "biennials," and "perennials," and each
of these again should be grouped under headings of
"hardy," "half-hardy," "greenhouse," " stove," &c.
Bulbs should be distinguished, in the first instance,
as " autumn plants " and " spring plants," according
to the time at which they are most successfully to
be dug up and replanted. The common method of
mixing things all together, and trying to distin-
guish them by means of rertain hieroglyphs pre-
fixed or suffixed to the names, is most contusing
and annoying to the reader. There should be, in
the first place, the greatest possible amount of
Sept. 24, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
267
division .and subdivision, and then (this is most
essential) a complete alphabetical index to bind
the whole together and enable every name to be
" spotted " offhand. Each catalogue should contain
two or three order-sheets instead of only one. Every
seed-packet should have on it the date of the year
of gathering ; should state the height, colour, and
habit; whether annual, biennial, or what else;
whether hardy or half-hardy or tender ; and should
give full cultural directions. These improvements
would greatly lessen the labour both of making out
orders and of sowing seeds, and consequently would
make people order more than they do. For my own
part, I care almost entirely for hardy perennials
and bulbs, but I want a good separate list of each
of these, with the bulbs under distinct heads of
" autumn " and " spring." Finally, florists should
not waste so much wind in blowing their own
trumpets. The noise they make (on paper) is dis-
tressing, and the English in which it is made often
terribly needs revision. — W. Simmons, EntieJd.
Flower Garden.
SELF CARNATIONS.
Me. a. Heeeington (p. 19;i) seems so persuaded
.of his superior taste and knowledge as applied to
the Carnation, that one cannot help regretting he
did not come to the late show and give the benefit
of his counsel to our hon. secretary and the judges.
Leaving aside, however, the delicate question of
taste, on which, of course, there is no disputing, and
approaching the more prosaic region of fact, there
"are, I think, one or two of Mr. Herrington's statements
sufficiently misleading to call for correction.
Mr. Herrington deplores what he calls "the
almost total neglect of the selfs," and says one has
only to take up a nurseryman's catalogue to be con-
vinced of it. " There are," be says, " long lists of
bizarres and flakes, but the self list is very meagre,
and in some cases is not present at all," &c.
Nurserymen's catalogues in this connection are
presumably the catalogues of nurserymen who grow
Carnations. Now if you will take up the cata-
logue of Mr. Charles 'Turner just issued, you will
see that it contains a list of thirty-six selfs ;
Messrs. Veitch's has sixty-nine, and Mr. T. S.
Ware's (last year's) fifty-five. In Mr. Dodwell's
list (last year's) of Carnations of his own raising
I find the selfs numbering forty-nine different
varieties, and this, I have no doubt, will be
augmented in this season's issue ; so that here in
four lists we have — allowing for repetitions of those
sorts which they contain in common — over 180
different varieties of selfs, more than a fourth of
the total being the contribution of a single florist.
But, besides the unlucky florists, Mr. Herrington
does not spare the rod when he comes to the
National Carnation and Picotee Society itself. To
show how it neglects the selfs, our critic says,
" One has only to look at the report of the recent
show ; they will find a long list of bizarres and
flakes, but where are the selfs ? " Where, indeed !
The question, however, should be addressed not to
the National Carnation and Picotee Society, but to
the gardening papers themselves. The society
encourages the culture of the selfs among other
classes, as evidenced by its schedule, and growers
exhibit them at its shows. The papers, however,
do not all report the sorts exhibited, and it appears
to accord with Mr. A. Herrington's notions of logic
to empty the vials of his wrath upon the society
and its exhibitors for the omission.
Bat Mr. Herrington has not done with the
National Carnation Society even here. "There
was," says he, " one class for the selfs, fancies, and
yellow grounds, and a poor recognition indeed."
As a matter of fact, there were three classes. They
were well filled and selfs well " recognised " in all
the stands. In mj- own, nine out of the twelve
flowers shown were selfs, two of them by the way,
Mrs. Page and Celia, being fringed. Selfs and
fancies were, I believe, an object of special solici-
tude with the founders of the society from its first
inception.
The Carnation and Picotee Union also, which
holds its exhibitions at Oxford, and attracts the
greatest gathering of florists of the year, besides
giving numerous prizes for collections of selfs and
fancies, marks its special appreciation of these sorts
by the award of " premier " prizes for the best indi-
vidual self and fancy Carnations in the exhibition.
That florists do not disregard selfs and fancies is
amply shown by the numbers of beautiful varieties
that have been raised and exhibited by them. It is
alsoshown in amoresubtlemannerbytheir readiness
to connect their names with them. Thus, Mr.
Dodwell has named his beautiful salmon self Mrs.
Dodwell, after his wife. Mr. Robert Lord called his
new rose self Edith Lord; Mr. Douglas' beautiful
yellow ground Picotee is Annie Douglas; Mr.
Lakin's new white self, an exquisitely imbricated
flower, is named Emma Lakin ; and so one might
go on.
No, sir ; we owe our best flowers, be they selfs or
fancies, bizarres or flakes, to the patient labour and
enthusiasm of the florists. These are the men who
have flowers not merely in their eye while the sum-
mer passes, but, as Canon Hole would say, in their
hearts from year's end to year's end.— JI. Rowan.
These are a step in the right direction so
far as usefulness and profit are concerned. Broken,
mixed coloured bizarres and flakes arc too much
mixed to be effective for button-holes, liouquets,
wreaths, or other decorative and artistic purposes.
If for some of these objects differences or even con-
trasts of colour are desiderated, yet the masses of
colour must be of sufficient bulk and distinctness
to tell. Thus a pure scarlet and yellow, or pink
and white Carnation forms more pleasing and effec-
tive contrasts than these or other colours bizarred
or flaked indefinitely in the same flowers. Besides,
for many purposes a group, bed, vase or basketful
of uni-coloured or self Carnations is far more telling
than equal or larger masses of striped or patched
sorts — that is, bizarres and flakes. Purity of colour
tells among Carnations almost as much as among
Roses. And yet nothing illustrates the power of
fashion among flowers more than the fact alluded
to by Mr. A. Herrington (p. 19.3), that while varie-
gated blooms are all the rage among Carnations,
they are hardly known and assuredly not prized as
merits among Roses. The York and Lancaster,
with a few allies, exhaust the list of bizarre Roses.
These are hardly afforded a place — never an award
— at our Rose shows. 'Wliile the more vari-coloured
the new Carnations, the greater their chance of a first-
class certificate. I also agree with Mr. Herrington
in attributing the highest place to self Carnations
as flower-bed and border plants, •\\hether in juxta-
position with Roses or elsewhere. During the past
dry summer no plants bore the drought better or
made a braver or grander display in the garden than
the self Carnations and Cloves; whereas seldom
have we had a winter, spring, and summer that
dealt out more widespread disease and death to the
bizarres and flakes. In not a few gardens nearly
the whole of the more delicate and vari-coloured
varieties were swept off. Permit me also to endorse
Mr. Herrington's suggestion of grouping self Car-
nations with Roses, and to carry it further by ad-
verting to a plan that I have once found practicable
for fear of the rabbits, viz., the sub-cropping of
Roses with Carnations. The Roses were planted
thinly and the Carnations between them, and a
long, sheltered border so furnished was seldom
without choice bouquets of colour and of fragrance
from June to November. The Roses did not seem
to suffer from the Carnations, and the latter ran
into huge tufts of Grass and yielded an amount and
a succession of blooms that are seldom seen in these
modern days of enlightenment and improvement,
in which not a few of our best and sweetest old
favourites have been improved out of our gardens.
— HOETU.S.
It is fortunate a discussion has arisen on
this subject, and I hope the note sounded by Mr.
Herrington (p. 193) will ring in the ears of all" Car-
nation growers and be the means of raising up
the selfs to their rightful position in the garden,
also the purging out from the bizarre and flaked
classes those horrible mixtures of colours that every
man and woman of taste must condemn as crude
and displeasing. But I respect the high canons of
flower art as established by the florist, and there-
fore totally disagree with Mr. Herrington in the
wholesale condemnation of the bizarres and flakes,
as in many of the flowers we have delightful com-
binations of colour blending in exquisite harmony,
the tints delicate, soft, and refined, and, what is of
great importance, constant. And, again, we have
another type of beauty in the form, the petals
smooth, regular, symmetrically disposed, and making
up full, highly finished blooms. I see these ad'
mirable qualities in the above sections, and yearn
for an improvement in the self varieties, which
alone I can grow, by reason of their hardiness^,
vigour of constitution, and thorough usefulness!
The remarks of Mr. Herrington, in spite of some
of his erratic and ill-judged statements, are to
the point, and I hope will have one effect, and that
is, to create a genuine interest in a class that until
now, in England at any rate, has been most un--
deservedly neglected. In my remarks on page 122
it will be seen that the names of but few varieties
are given, but this is no fault of my own, as to make
a respectable selection is impossible until this class
is improved and new kinds added. We want a
good yellow ; of whites we have a fair number, but
there are other colours by no means well repre-
sented.— E, C.
Virginian Stock on walls. — I know an old
garden on the walls of which the Virginian Stock
has for a good many years bloomed freely. I do not
think it was ever established there by human agency,
but, being cultivated in the adjoining garden, its
seeds somehow found their way on to the wall. The
wall is, of course, old, and just such a one as the
Wallflower would delight in. There are doubtless
many plants yet untried that would do well on
walls, and it is only because this phase of gardening
has never had a great deal of attention that we are
not acquainted with them. To those who love wall
gardening I can safely recommend this little annual.
—J. C. B.
Transplanting the white Lily.— With due
respect to the weight of "J. Cl.'s '' well-known
initials (p. 22(1), I must say that this is emphatically
not the best time to move the white Lily. The
right time is the very day the flowers wither or
are cut. I had this hint first from one of the largest
growers of white Lilies for theLondon cut-flower mar-
ket, and have not the slightest doubt he is correct. This
plant is perhaps ueverabsolutely at rest, but it comes
nearest to that state when it has just made its grand
effort in perfecting its flower-spikes. Thereforemove
it, if it has to be moved, without fear early in August
or e'-sn in July, however green and growing it may
look. Every year notes are sent to The Gaeden to
advocate the moving of the white Lily in Septem-
ber and October, months in which the plants are
really making very active growth, and had better be
left alone.— G. H. Englehbabt.
Roses and bulbs. — "He who would grow beau-
tiful Roses in his garden, must first of all have
beautiful Roses in his heart," at least .so it is written
in the Rev. Reynolds Hole's "Book about Roses,"
and I firmly believe it myself, and further, think
that the same gospel applies to the culture of bulbous
flowers. The finest clumps of white Daffodils I ever
saw, single as well as double, were grown in beds of
Moss and Cabbage Roses, and I was told that neither
the Roses nor the Daffodils had been disturbed for
the last twenty years. These beds received a top-
dressing of fine sifted manure every autumn, and in
March were pruned, their strongest shoots being
pegged down horizontally all over the bed. The
Daffodils came up quite thickly among the Rose
shoots, and when in flowei", from the middle to the
end of April, they were a sight worlh seeing. Of
course, I fully know that Queen Rosa has a good
healthy appetite, but, apart from that, she is not
naturally exclusive, and bulbous flowers are of all
others the best fltted as under-growth ; indeed, so
far as my observations go, such things as Daffodils
seem ever happiest at her feet. Just at the time
the leaves of Narcissus die away, say in June, the Rose
leafage covers the beds, and the bulbs go to rest
268
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 24, 1887
amongst the Eose roots below. Many other bulbs
besides Narcissi like a little root companionship
below ground, and naturally obtain it, as all who
have collected bulbs in their native habitats can
testify. The Roses also naturally exist in hedges or
thickets or among bushes with which they compete
for head room above and for food below. — Veronica.
THE HOLLYHOCK.
Exception was taken the other day to the presence
of Hollyhock blooms in a coUeotion of annual
flowers on the ground that it is a perennial, or, as
some prefer to call it, a biennial. A goodly number
of working men were exhibiting who could not be
expected to have a knowledge of the niceties of
botanical terms, and the judges tried to place them-
selves in the position of the exhibitors and ascertain
what appeared to [be in their minds. It appeared
easy to understand that what the exhibitors under-
stood by an annual was any flower that could be
raised from seed and bloomed in a year from the time
of sowing. Other flowers besides Hollyhocks were
shown that could not be correctly termed
annuals, but which could be regarded by them as
annuals. The judges, proceeding upon the safe
principle that when a doubt arises as to the defini-
tion of a particular term or phrase in a schedule of
prizes the exhibitor should have the benefit of the
doubt, wisely proceeded to award the prizes to the
subjects before them, but recommended that for the
future the word annual should give place to hardy,
so that the interpretation should be as broad as pos-
sible. I know there are some judges who appear to
have a passion for disqualifying, thinking perhaps
thereby they show off a superior knowledge, but in-
justice may be worked in this way for want of
full consideration.
And yet the Hollyhock, if the seeds be sown in
January and February, or even early in March, will,
if the plants are well looked after, bloom in August
and September following. I saw, a few days ago, a
patch of yearling Hollyhocks of remarkably fine
quality that had been treated in this way and had
sent up fine spikes of bloom. There is one great
advantage in this practice, that the finest varieties
can be selected and planted out in the autumn for
another season's blooming, when they will throw up
very fine spikes of bloom. There is now to be seen
at Reading a piece of Hollyhocks of the second year's
seeding of very fine quality indeed, the plants very
strong and healthy, and seeding freely. The stronger
the plants are in the autumn and spring, the earlier
and more finely do they flower. But anyone desir-
ing to have fine blooms, say for exhibition purposes,
will do well to give the plants a mulching of short
manure in early spring, and keep them well watered
during the prevalence of dry weather. The young
growth sent up from the base of the flowering stem
should also be cut away, so that the strength of the
plant may go to the production of fine blossoms,
large, f uU, symmetrical, with the guard petal well de-
veloped. It is not now so much the custom to show
spikes of Hollyhocks as it was a few years ago, but as
this flower is decidedly gaining once more in popu-
larity, I think spikes of Hollyhocks will soon find a
place in schedules of prizes once more. To have
good spikes the flowers should be judiciously
thinned out so that they are not too much crowded,
and the tip of the spike might be removed with
R. D.
Tobacco culture.— The condition of a long line
of Tobacco plants here plainly shows how well the
season has suited them, for they are in the most
vigorous health and have been flowering for some
time. The majority of the plants are about 6 feet
high, the principal leaves being 2 feet 3 inches in
length and 16 inches wide. If the plants had been
planted for effect, more satisfactory results could
not be wished for, as they stand out boldly and the
heads of flowers are very large. The condition of
the Tobaccos is more noteworthy because they have
had very ordinary management. The seeds were
sown about the middle of April, and the plants
raised in a warm greenhouse temperature. As soon
as they were large enough they were put singly into
pots 3 inches in diameter, and then kept in the
same temperature until the last week in May. The
plants were then hardened off, and early in June
planted out where they now are. Although the
ground was very dry at the time, and the weather
cold, they had no water and no protection, and they
have had [no attention since. The plants made
rapid progress, so much so in fact that it was
evident they would do better without help than
with it, and with only IJ inches of rain from the
end of May to the middle of August, these plants
have attained the dimensions given above, and no
artificial watering has been given. With regard to
the soil in which they are growing, I may mention
that it is fairly heavy and moderately rich. It was
dug up early in the vrinter, but had nothing done to
it when the plants were put out. It is evident, too,
that Tobaccos thrive more satisfactorily in a dry
summer than in a wet one, and it is safer at aU
times to select positions where the soil is rather
dry.— J. C. C.
LILIUM SPECIOSUM AND ITS VARIETIES.
Except L. neilgherrense and a few blooms funished
by a second crop of some of the many varieties of L.
longiflorum, the Lily season may be said to flnish
with the Japanese L. speciosum, represented in our
gardens by an almost endless number of difierent
forms. This Lily is so late in blooming that the
flowers are often injured by the heavy rains and
early frosts, and on that account it is more fre-
quently grown in pots than planted in the open
ground. Other reasons for growing it in pots are
that it readily lends itself to this mode of treat-
ment, and also flowers at a time when an additional
feature in the greenhouse or conservatory is very
welcome, many of the summer-blooming plants
having lost their freshness. Besides this the varie-
ties of L. speciosum may be used for various pur-
poses indoors, where the L. auratum would be in-
admissible on account of its strong perfume. The
cultural requirements of L. speciosum are very
simple, all that is needed being in the case of im-
ported bulbs to lay them in somewhere in a sheltered
spot, covering them with Cocoa-nut refuse or some
other light material tiU the roots at the base com-
mence to push forth, when they must be potted or
planted out. If potted, a good soil for the purpose
is open loam, with an admixture of sand, well-de-
cayed manure and leaf -mould. The pots must be
well drained and the bulbs put rather deeply there-
in, so that it wiU not be necessary to fill the pots
too full, in order to allow of liberal top-dressing
after the flower-stems have attained a height of a
few inches. A cold frame just protected from
frost is a good place for the bulbs as soon as potted,
and they may be allowed to remain there till frosts
are over. Alter this the plants will do better if
plunged in the open ground, as the stems do not
become drawn in any way, and if attended to with
water throughout the summer they will flower well.
After the top-dressing is added and the pots again
get full of roots, liquid manure occasionally is of
great service. Unless it is desired to hasten their
blooming in any way the plants may be left outside
till the flowers are just on the point of expanding,
when they may be removed where needed. Aphides
seldom attack this Lily, but where they put in an
appearance a syringing with tobacco water will
speedily rid the plants of them. Should the flowers
be allowed to open outside before removing them
under glass, a shower of very heavy dew will cause
the pollen to spread over a great part of the flower
and mar the purity of its tint. Great numbers
of Lilium speciosum are imported into this
country every year from Japan and also from the
Dutch growers. Those from Japan principally con-
sist of the white-flowered Krietzeri and different
forms of rubrum, while L. Krictzeri does not appear
to be as yet largely grown in Holland. L. speciosum
varies considerably, and though there are several
well marked varieties, intermediate forms in
many cases crop up to which it is difiicult to
assign any particular place. One of the most
pronounced varieties (for neither in bulb, foli-
age, nor flowers need it be confounded with
any other) is Kra^tzeri, the flowers of which |
are most gracefully reflexed, and pure white in
colour, except the presence of a greenish stripe,
which extends about half way down the centre of
each petal and resembles a green star overlying a
pure white Lily blossom. With regard to the bulbs,
they are yellower than those of any other variety,
and the foliage is of a hghter green. There are two
other white-flowered varieties, but they are much
inferior in beauty to this last. One of them, L.
speciosum album, has the foliage of a much darker
green, while the flower-stems and the exterior of
the blooms are suffused with chocolate. The inside
of the flower is, however, pure white, except the green
star in the middle, but it becomes suffused with pink
after a few days' expansion, and is wanting in the
particularly pleasing contour of Krajtzeri, the arrange-
ment of the petals being much more irregular than in
that kind. Besides this, Krsetzeri is more robust in
constitution than album. The third white variety is
a form of this last, in which the stem is more or less
fasciated, the blooms being mostly arranged in a
confused cluster at the top. It is by no means de-
sirable, for the flowers seldom open in a satisfactory
manner, and besides this the most vigorous speci-
mens frequently revert to the type. L. s. puncta-
tum has the ground colour of the flower white, but
it is dotted more or less thickly, especially towards
the middle, with pink spots. A good type of this
is very pretty, but there are many inferior ones.
Of the coloured varieties, a good deal of confusion
exists between roseum and rubrum, the two names
being mostly used indiscriminately. The true type
of roseum is, however, characterised by the flower-
stems and exterior of the blossoms being nearly
green ; while in rubrum they are brownish. It is,
however, possible to pick out at times some indi-
viduals with the characters of roseum, the flowers
of which are deeper in colour than some in which
the features of rubrum are strongly marked. There
is quite a list of other names, such as rubrum su-
perbum, r. magnificum, r. speciosum, roseum Schry-
makersi, and purpuratum, which are often used
indiscriminately ; indeed, a couple of this group is
quite sufficient, selecting first a good variety of
roseum with broad petals, and secondly the deepest
coloured type of rubrum, under whatever name it
may be called. The deepest coloured of all is,
however, that known as Melpomene_(figuredin The
Gaeden in February, 18Si). The first we heard of
this variety was from Mr. Hovey, of Boston, with
whom it originated from seed, and who distributed
it in this country. It was awarded a first-class cer-
tificate by the Royal Horticultural Society three or
four years ago, the specimen shown having large
blooms of a beautiful carmine-crimson colour, the
depth of hue being further intensified by a narrow
edging of white. Since the large importations have
taken place from Japan, it is often possible to pick
out from them some individuals that are undoubtedly
the same as Melpomene. Besides the flower they
have rather rounder leaves than the others, and the
leaf-stalks are of a blackish chocolate colour. This
and Kr;etzeri are certainly the two best forms of
speciosum. There is a fasciated-stemmed variety
with pink flowers, but it blooms in a less satisfac-
tory manner than even the white form. H. P.
Campanula Zoysi. — This is a most distinct
Corinthian Bellflower, of tufted, dense growth, the
leaves small, heart-shaped, and neat, and develop-
ing well when the plant is grown in a soU of gritty
peat. The flower-stems are about 2 inches or 3
inches long ; the flowers tubular, pale blue, and,
unlike the majority of the Campanulas, do not ex-
pand in the usual bell-shape form. It may be
grown with success on the rockery, luxuriating in a
gritty soU and sunny, moist position. 'WTiere slugs
abound, great care is necessary, as these small
marauders have a strong partiality for the tender
leaves, and as the plant is of small proportions, one
slug will soon work mischief. — E. C.
Humming - bird's Trumpet. — This pretty
and appropriate English name is given by the
Californians to Zauschneria californica, which we
flnd a really excellent plant for autumn flowering.
We have had it for some years both on therockery and
in the flower border, and although it suffers a little
Sept. 24, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
269
in severe weather, more, I think, from damp than
cold, it has safely weathered the last three winters,
and is now strong and in a very healthy condition.
There are three varieties, I believe, in cultivation,
two tall forms, one nearly green and the other quite
silky, and a dwarf form from the Yosemite Valley.
All are equally charming, but where limited space
will only allow of one, I would choose the dwarf form
for cultivating on the rockery. In localities where
it does not stand the winter well it can always be
replaced by cuttings, and these taken off in early
autumn wUl be ready for planting out again about
the middle or end of May. It grows well in pots
and would doubtless make a charming plant for the
alpine house. — K.
Gaiira Lindheimeri. — A most charming pe-
rennial plant, belonging to the (Enothera family,
and, I am told, largely used as a bedding plant on
the Continent. It is a great pity our flower gar-
deners could not be advised to give it a trial, as in
a bed it forms one of the most elegant groups I
have ever seen. The sprays of pure white flowers,
chaste as those of an Orchid, curve gracefully at
means fastidious, but the staple should consist of
good loam as containing the greatest amount of
nutriment. After the plants have attained a large
size they may be kept for a good many years in the
same pots or tubs by rich annual top-dressings and
copious supplies of liquid manure, and in such a
summer as the present has been it is certainly de-
sirable to stand the plants in large saucers filled
with water. 'Rlien planted out in rich borders the
plants make too much growth. They certainly do
best when grown in pots, as the wood will then be
shorter jointed, and the plants will flower more freely.
If the supplies of liquid manure are neglected for
only a short time, the buds, instead of developing
fully, will drop off. — J. G., Gosimrt.
The Willow Gentian. — A fine, strong clump
of the Willow Gentian (G. asclepiadea), white and
blue, is just now making a grand show in the
rockery at Kew. Judging from its free growth and
robust habit, this plant is worth attention as a sub-
ject for naturalising in our woods. There can be
no doubt about its being able to take care of itself,
and if the undergrowth is not too thick, it will
Hanging basket of Ferns at Chatswoith. Engraved for The Garden from a photograph. (See p. 265.)
group of plants from the Royal Gardens, Kew, and
called 0. hybridum. It is reputed to be a hybrid,
and is so designated by Miller, but it seems
misleading and confusing to re-name a plant
that everyone knows and that everyone possesses
who cares at all for interesting rock plants. 0.
Tourneforti is the name it is universally recognised
by, and why render the nomenclature of plants more
niuddled than it is by this useless alteration ? O.
Dictamnus is, in my opinion, one of the best of the
Origanums, the leafage, covered with a thick hoary
down as soft as velvet, giving this gem of alpines a
characteristic appearance; the purplish-coloured
flowers are borne in small heads like those of the Hop
plant. It is rather tender, but in winters of ordi-
nary severity will live out of doors unharmed if the
situation is dry, sunny, and sheltered. A chink, re-
cess, or shelf is the best position to show off its dis-
tinct character to the best advantage. It is some-
times called the Hop Plant, but this is scarcely appro-
priate, as to those who are not acquainted with it
such a name might convey a wrong impression of
its character. — E. C.
Celosias. — At a flower show near Southampton
a few days since I noticed with much pleasure some
charming bush Celosias some 20 inches in height
and as much through, and reflecting high credit
upon the grower, Mr. Wills, of Bassett. Some very
line Cockscoinbs were near, rich in colour and huge
in comb, but I thought that the Celosias were the
most beautiful and graceful. It was odd to note at
the same show some other plants badly grown,
showing that either special knowledge is needful to
ensure good plants, or else that strains vary very
much. I believe with Celosias, as with so many
other things, the better the strain the less seed wiU be
produced, whilst inferior strains show a converse
capacity to produce seed ; hence it is that whilst
the few have superior plants the many have inferior
ones. Still, there is considerable skill required to
produce good plants. Mr. WUls evidently under-
stands well,the culture of Celosias, because he also
had in his' group several smaller Celosias which
proved most effective in lending not only colour to
the arrangement, but also grace and elegance.
The colours seen were crimson and scarlet, the
latter especially being bright and effective. The
strain, which is purely pyramidal in form, and carries
purplish foliage allied to the deepest crimson in-
florescence, difiers appreciably from that grown at
Syon, Maiden Erleigh, and some other gardens.
The strain grown by Mr. WiUs is very elegant
and true, but, like so many other good things, seeds
sparingly. Plants of this range from 3 feet to
3 feet" in height, according to culture. Inferior
strains' or bady-grown plants may give useful
spikes or tufts for cutting. A few lines from Mr.
Wills with respect to his method of culture might
prove acceptable.^A. D.
2 feet or so from the ground, and as the lower part
of the plant becomes bushy, a fine undergrowth is
formed to set off the beautiful blossoms. It is quite
hardy in warm, light soils, and where these advan-
tages are wanting, it is so easily increased from
cuttings that plenty of plants can always be ob-
tained. Cuttings struck early in autumn, and
potted on as soon as they have formed strong roots,
will flower in the greenhouse all through the late
winter and spring months ; indeed, it may be had
in flower easily on Christmas Day, if managed pro-
perly.— D. K.
Oleanders not flowering. — We hear such fre-
quent complaints as to the Nerium Oleander refus-
ing to open its buds, that one would think there
was some secret as to its culture ; whereas the fact
is that the plants are starved and cannot open their
flowers. My own experience is that no plants which
we cultivate are more easily grown or more certain
to flower freely provided their simplest wants are at-
tended to, and if this is not done, it is useless look-
ing for flowers. As regards soil, they are by no
seed and increase freely. It is well worth a trial,
at any rate, by anyone who has space at his dis-
posal. Close by, G. affiinis, a near ally of the
Willow Gentian, is also in flower ; it is much weaker
in habit, and though useful as a variety, is not to be
compared with that species. G. Andrewsi is also in
flower, as also is G. alba, often called G. ochroleuca,
and Andrewsi alba. It is a most useful plant for
the bog, thriving well fuUy exposed so long as the
roots are kept cool and moist. G. phlogifolia is
also in flower, but it seems a miffy subject, and does
not flower freely. — K.
The Dittany of Amorgos (Origanum Tourne-
forti).— This is an interesting and beautiful rock
plant that will thrive well on a sunny exposure
where the soil is moderately dry, well drained,
and light. It bears in habit a resemblance to 0.
Sipyleum, but is quite distinct, the branching
flower-stems, slender, elegant, and studded with
purplish, Hop-like flowers, showing well either in
the rock garden or in pots, as we saw it at Chiswick.
It was shown recently at South Kensington in a
SHOB.T NOTES.— FLOWEM.
Narcissus Yellow King.— In answer to the
inquiry of " Nemo " (p. 220), I am able to state that
the following varieties of Narcissus were brought before
the committee, and the names accepted on April 14,
1885 : Golden Spur, TeUow King, Blondin, and Henry
Irving. I do not know what the reports are which
"Nemo" has searched. An account of the work on
which the committee has been engaged during the last
three years is now being arranged for pubUcation. —
C. R. SCRASE-DlCKINS.
In answer to "Nemo" in The Garden,
Sept. 10 (p. 220), Daffodils Yellow King, Henry Irving,
and Golden Spur were placed by me on the table of
the Daffodil Committee in 1885.— P. Bare.
Chrysanthemuni multicaule.— This interest-
ing hardy annual is without exception the most per-
sistent bloomer I have met with amongst plants of a
similar nature. It has been in fuU and continuous
bloom with me for nearly four months. I am not sure
whether it ought not to he classed as an effective yellow
bedder, for its habit is dwarf and compact, not reach-
ing to more than 6 inches in height, and the flowers
are produced in great abundance and continuity. — A. D.
■Which is the finest white-flowered zonal 1
I have often heard this question asked, and tried
to find out for myself which is the best. It is one
2^0
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 24, 1887.
thing for a white or any other Sowering variety to
do well indoors and to develop large trusses of pure
white flowers with perfectly rounded pips, but it is
quite another matter to obtain the same results
when the plants are bedded out and exposed to all
weathers. Comparing all the varieties, I find Queen
of the Belgians, either grown under glass or bedded
out, is by far the best, as the flowers always remain
pure white, and the plants form fine large trusses of
well-formed pips. — W. J. MUEPHT.
Stove and Greenhouse.
T. BAINBS.
THEOPHRASTA IMPERIALIS.
In this we have a stove plant with noble leaves,
which in a well-grown specimen attain a
length of 2.| feet or more, by 9 inches or 10 inches
in width. The leaves are simple, much corru-
gated, and are armed with strong spines on the
edges ; they ai-e hard in texture and deep green
in colour, the surface smooth and shining.
Collectively it is one of the most distinct and
telling of all fine-leaved subjects, and is de-
serving of a place wherever there is a roomy
stove in which to grow it. Though the plant
will bear a cool house or conservatory. La summer
its grand leaves never attain their full develop-
ment unless it is cultivated in a moderately high
temperature ; in fact, it will stand as much heat
as anything I have ever grown ; still, it is not
necessary to subject it to so much. It belongs
to a small genus, of which only a few are
known, some two or three being all that I am
acquainted with, or, so far as I know, have been
in cultivation. Moreover, this species is so
much finer than the others, that it is the only
one I should recommend. Some years after
fine-leaved plants came prominently under the
notice of cultivators this Theophrasta was to be
met with frequently. In the rage that now
and then sets in for plants which possess some
particular feature, every kind, good, bad, and
inferior, that is obtainable is taken in hand
untU the thing becomes so over-done that people
grow tired of it, and then good and bad alike
are discarded. This, to some extent, has occurred
with fine-leaved plants. Some years back when
plant houses, especially those that were devoted
to heat-requiring kinds, had such a sombre
appearance through the predominance of fine-
leaved subjects, a reaction set in, and this Theo-
plirasta and other desirable species were thrown
aside indiscriminately with many others tliat
were never worth the room they occupied. Such
is the result of following fashion in place of
using judgment in what plants to grow and
what to reject.
Like some other fine-leaved species, this
Theophrasta attains the height of a moderate
sized tree, yet it can be kept for many years in
vigorous health with its roots in a pot of
medium size. It is one of the most difficult
of all plants to strike from shoot cuttings, so
much so that I have known the cuttings stand
for two years in a very hot house without pro-
ducing i-oots, though the base callused over and
the whole kept green. Ultimately some formed
roots, but the greater number failed. It strikes
.readily enough from root-cuttings. It will also
■increase by seeds, which, however, are so
seldom to be had in this country, that in most
cases it is best to procure small ordinary trade-
sized examples. These are usually, when they
.come to hand, in C-inch or 8-inch pots, in which
it is generally best to let them remain until
■spring, when, before growth commences, they
should be moved into others about 3 inches or
4 inches larger. The plant is a vigorous
grower and roots freely ; consecjuently it will
bear a liberal shift. Turfy loam suits it
best ; mix as much sand with the loam as will
keep it in a condition to admit of the water
passing freely through it. Drain the pots well,
and make the material moderately firm. A
temperature of C5° or 70° should now be kept
up in the night, with a proportionate increase
in the daytime. The plant must be carefully
shaded when the weather is sunny, otherwise
its leaves are liable to get burnt in patches, in
which condition its appearance is spoilt ; but
whilst giving the requisite protection it must
not be darkened too much, or the leaves will be
deficient in the substance necessary to enable
them to last as long as they should. With this
object it is advisable to keep the plants well up to
the glass, lowering the pots as the heads want
more room. When in active growth this
Theoplirasta needs a good deal of water, of
which it must not be allowed to go short. The
atmosphere should be kept moist, and the
syringe should be used freely each afternoon so
long as growth continues, getting the water well
to the underside of the leaves, as if there
happens to be any black thrips in the house
they will establish themselves on the under
surface, and soon do injury that cannot be
remedied until the plant forms another head.
A moderate amount of air should be given in
warm weather, closing the house early so as to
secure sun heat.
Possibly it may be necessary to give another
shift before autumn, as nothing approaching a
pot-bound condition must be permitted ; on the
contrary, the roots should have plenty of
nutriment to sustain them, or the leaves will
not attain the size they should. In the
autumn discontinue shading and give a little
more air. Winter at about 60° or 65°. Before
growth begins in spring any plants that were
not potted a second time the previous season
must be shifted ; those that had larger pots
towards the close of summer will not require
additional room before the growing season is
further advanced. The plants will now move
freely ; the growth is not continuous through
the active season, as it is with most things.
When strong, ten or twelve leaves are formed
all at once with, as a matter of course, the
length of stem that supports them ; these un-
fold simultaneously and attain their full size
and substance before another set is produced.
Two or three sets of leaves are forthcoming in
the year, according to the heat in which the
plants are grown and the vigour they possess.
The leaves are enduring, lasting in good condi-
tion for several years, and so long as the plants
retain them down to the bottom, they should
he allowed to go on. But when the base of the
stem gets at all naked the plants ought to be
headed down ; this should be done in spring
before growth begins. About 12 inches of the
old stem may be left, as cut-back plants when
healthy and strong make large leaves at the
bottom that will attain a size sufficient to almost
cover the pots. As soon as headed down the
stools should be kept iia a brisk heat, not giving
too much water until the young shoots appear;
when the strongest of these is 10 inches or
12 inches long remove all the others, as no
attempt should ever be made to grow the plant
with more than one stem. Turn them out of
the pots, and remove as much of the old soil as
can be got away without injuring the roots, re-
placing it with new of a like description to that
already advised. After this keep the jjlants in
a genial growing temperature, being careful not
to overwater for a time. When root and top-
growth has begun to move freely the soil will
take more moisture. Plants that have been
cut down and started afresh will form finer
heads with larger leaves at the bottom than it
is possible to get young ones to make. Pota
from IC inches tf) 18 inches in diameter will in
most cases be found large enough, as they will
bear the use of manure water, which may be
applied freely when the specimens have got
strong and have plenty of roots. With good
treatment these headed-back examples will at-
tain a height of 7 feet or 8 feet in two years
from the time they were cut down. The opera-
tion may be repeated as often as they get shabby
and wanting in foliage at the bottom.
Being, as this Theophrasta is, quite distinct
from all others, it has a telling efl'ect associated
with other fine-leaved kinds and with flowering
plants, a sufficient number of which should be
present with them, arranging the foliage sub-
jects so as to form a background for the bloom-
ing plants.
Fuchsia triphylla.— With the long list of
garden varieties of Fuchsias now in cultivation,
many of which differ from each other more in name
than in anything else, it is pleasing to turn to one
of the original species that stands out quite distinct
from all others in the bright colouring of its flowers,
as well as in other particulars. Like all the other
members of the genus, it is of easy culture, and
forms a neat little bush clothed with dark olive-
green leaves, arranged mo.stly in whorls of three along
the stem. The flowers are borne on the ends of the
branches in drooping racemes, and their bright
scarlet colour, combined with the profusion in which
they are borne, serves to render it one of the most
ornamental of all Fuchsias, and one whose season
of blooming is extended well into the autumn
months. — H. P.
Treatment of Ij. auratum in pots. — Will
some experienced Lily grower tell me what I should
do with a glorious specimen of L. auratum platy-
phyllum, which I have here in a H-incli pot, just
passing out of bloom .' It lived some seasons in an
open border, but never did very satisfactorily till it
was moved into a pot. It has been magnificent
during the past ten days, but is now ]iast its best.
How am I to treat it to ensure a strong growth next
year ? I have no warm greenhouse, only a small
cold one. I have received an embarrassing diversity
of advice already. One friend says, " Now is the
time to re-pot ;" another, " By no means disturb the
plant." Some recommend drying off and laying the
pot on its side in ashed; others say the plant should
be kept a little moist under glass all the winter.
Will a competent authority kindly give me his actual
experience ? — G. H. E.
Amaryllis formosissima. — This is the Jaco-
bean Lily of the bulb catalogues, and bears showy
crimson flowers. I saw a large batch of this a few
days ago planted out in Messrs. Sutton and Sons'
Portland Road Nurseiy at Reading. In the month
of May the bulbs were put into baskets with some
peat, cocoa flbre and sawdust about them ; here
they began to make roots and sprout into growth,
and they were then carefully taken out of the bas-
ket and planted out in a prepared bed in June, and
the larger part of them flowered in July. The bed
is in the open ground, but with a low hedge on
either side, which acts as a shelter. Here the bulbs
will be matured and then lifted, and, notwithstand-
ing the drought, it was interesting to notice what a
very fine growth the bulbs had put forth. Evidently
this kind of treatment suits them better than merely
potting them up for a time, provided they be planted
out in suitable soil. — R. D.
Rhododendron Princess Boyal. — Some
specimens of this Rhododendron here have been in
flower for the greater part of the last twelve months,
and still keep on flowering. They were in bloom,
with scarcely an intermission, from September till
the beginning of June, and now, after having com-
pleted good, healthy growth, they are again unfold-
ing their blossoms. Though generally spoken of as
greenhouse Rhododendrons, they are kept during
the winter in a temperature above that of an ordi-
nary greenhouse, otherwise the flowers do not open
Sept. 24, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
271
freely. In the case of a good variety, the flowers
are of a very pleasing shade of pink, but pale colours
and poor-shaped flowers are at times met with, pro-
bably owing to the fact that they are propagated
from seed, and then, however superior some may be
to the parent plant, there are sure to be others
equally inferior. A good companion to the above
and one that is just .is continuous-blooming is
Duchess of Edinburgh, the flowers of which are of a
bright-orange crimson colour, and, therefore, from
their rich tint are very conspicuous. This kind does
not bear quite so large trusses as the other, and the
habit of the plant i^; less vigorous, on which account
it is seldom struck from cuttings, but is mostly
grafted on one of the stronger-growing kinds. Any
of its allies of the tube-flowered varieties can be
used as stocks, one of the best, from its vigorous
constitution, being Princess Alexandra, a pale blush
coloured form. — H. P.
than a group or two of each of these beautiful beri-y-
beariug plants. With ordinal? care aud attention
they last a considerable time. The red berries of E.
humihs are more ofteu seen than the yellow ones of
flava, but both kinds are equally beautiful and worthy
of a good position. They are" slender in habit, but
very effective if colleoted into a group of eight or ten
plants. They are by no means novelties, but their
beauty, combined with the fact that they are so easy
to grow, renders them well worthy of a note in their
favour.— H. P.
VIOLETS FOR THE WINTER AND SPRING.
In order to secure a regular supply of Violets dur-
ing the winter and spring months, it is necessary to
give them the protection of frames, or provide a
suitable position for them in cool, airy houses, as
even when pits and frames are efticiently protected
in frosty weather there is often a scarcity of flowers.
The past summer has been a trying one for "N'iolets.
In some cases the plants are much infested with
red spider and thrip, owing to the heat and drought,
and those who advocate growing them during the
summer in positions in the full sun will, I think, be
glad to alter their practice another year, for it was
only by giving a considerable amount of shade aud
plenty of water that I have been able to keep my
stock of plants growing. The first work of prepa-
ration of the plants for their winter quarters should
be to cut off all the runners and remove any dead
leaves, and when the plants are on the hand-barrow
they should be syringed with soapy water if there
are any insects about them ; one ounce of soft soap
dissolved in one gallon of water will make a suit-
able wash for them. Complaints are frequently
made that Violets grown in pits and frames damp
off during the winter, and I know from experience
that it is so, even under the most painstaking
management. I therefore advise all who can to
grow some in pots, and to plant others on the floors
of cool Peach houses, or in any other structure
where they will get plenty of light and air. In
placing the plants on the floor of a house it is not
necessary to disturb the border. I simply place the
plants in lines and fill up the space between with
finerich soil. When they are grown in pots I find those
6 inches in diameter quite large enough. The
selection of soil for Violets requires some amount of
care. If it is too rich they run too much to leaves
and produce but few flowers, but at the same time
they require a fairly rich soil, or growth will be defi-
cient. Whether I use ordinary garden soil or loam,
I mix with it about one quarter of rotten manure,
which I find quite suflicient to promote a satisfac-
tory growth. When the plants are to occupy pits or
frames, the soil should reach to within 6 inches of
the glass; the nearer the plants are to the glass the
less they are likely to damp oif in wet weather, and
the sooner the plants are placed in their winter
quarters now the better. For the first few days
after being placed, in the frames the plants should
be shaded until they get established, after which
the lights can be left off when there is no danger of
frost. J. C. C.
SHOUT NOTES.— STOm AND QREENHOUSE.
Crimson Passion Flower (Passiflora kerme-
sina).— I quite agree with all that " W.'' (p. 236) says
in praise of this exceedingly beautiful plant. I think,
however, that the temperatm-e of an ordinary green-
house will hardly be found sufficient to grow the pl.int
to the greatest possible perfection. What is known as
an intermediate house will, I think, he better suited
to the purpose. I do not Imow if it is the practice to
graft this plant, but I know that the finest specimen
I have ever seen of it was worked upon the common
blue Passion Flower (Passiflora caerulea). — P. G.
Hivina humilis and flava.— There are few
more attractive features in the stove at this season
THE EUCHAEIS MITE CONQUERED.
The correctness of the assertion made by me at
various times in The Gabdex that the destruction
of Eucharis bulbs infested with the mite is a mis-
take is verified by the appearance of some plants in
the garden of Mrs. Buxton, Cobham, Surrey. When
Mr. Hall, the gardener there, was offered some bulbs
with the statement that there was mite on them, he
replied that he did not care for that, feeling confi
dent that he was able to deal with it. The health
and vigour of the plants are a proof that he did not
underrate the resources at command for extirpating
this pest. The important factor in its annihilation
was sulphide of potassium, a remedy which it may
be remembered I last year stated to have been effi-
cacious with some A''aUota bulbs. I was then told
that I must have made a mistake, but there is none
in the case of Mr. Hall's Eucharis bulbs. The plants
are now in as good health as if they had never been
attacked. Seeing that we have found means of
neutralising the ravages of the plant foes that from
time to time have made their appearance in our
gardens, it certainly is not creditable to English
gardeners to have given way to a panic which has
resulted in consigning to the rabbish heap hundreds
of pounds' worth of Eucharis bulbs. I must admit
that I would not counsel the imitation of Mr. Hall's
hardihood in the introduction of infested bulbs, but
the fact that he has so successfully dealt with this
pest shows that such desperate measures are not war-
ranted. Just fancy a market grower having every
now and then to throw away his stock and purchase
more. Buying 1000 good flowering bulbs would in-
volve an outlay that no grower for profit would
care to incur twice. It would also result in the
Eucharis becoming a dear article, and would
seriously affect the supplies of the flower to the
London markets. Either there must be a means of
saving the bulbs if attacked, or Eucharis culture for
profit will in time be a lost industry. The true
way of dealing with the mite will, I believe, be that
followed in the case of other insect pests. Observe
the plants closely, and directly one is seen to be
attacked, and before its vitality is lowered, or the
enemy has time to develop and extend its powers of
destruction, isolate it and apply remedial measures.
If such means are effectual with other plant pests,
why not with the Eucharis mite I
Rarely, indeed, do we find the entire collection
of plants attacked simultaneously. As with the
human race in a time of epidemics, we see the
scourge appear here and there. The reason why
the Eucharis mite has made such fearful ravages is
not far to seek. It has come like an enemy in the
dark. Its unsuspected presence has enabled it to
work securely, untU probably in many cases the
bulbs have been almost eaten away. With vigilant
watching and remedial measur'es timely and per-
severingly applied, we have no reason to dread the
Eucharis mite any more than other plant enemies
that trouble us. Prevention is better than cure,
and although with the best of skill I doubt if the
mite can be kept in all cases at bay, I believe in
good culture being distasteful to it. The high-
pressure cultivation so often followed produces a
luxuriant growth, but the depth of verdure with
rank leaf growth which characterises plants that
have been subjected to a steaming atmosphere and
constantly high temperature, is often the herald of
a flowerless condition. No doubt bulbs in an
abnormal state of exuberance often succumb when
attacked by such a potent foe as the mite. What
the exact conditions are that prevail in the home
of the Amazon Lily I know not. Moisture both
of them, but I doubt if this is not accompanied
by a tolerably free exposure to light with an
abundant circulation of air. The plants at Fox
Warren are growing in a light span-roofed structure.
They are near the light, standing on inverted flower
pots. Judging by the other inmates, which include
a good batch of Cypripedium insigne, they get
what is commonly called intermediate treatment
as regards warmth aud atmospheric moisture.
J. C. B.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Stove.— Gloxinias.— Plants that flowered early in
the season will now have matured their growth, and
the foliage will have died dovm, so give no more
water, and before removing them from the stove,
allow the soil to become quite dry. This ripening
process is essential if the tubers are to be kept
sound during their season of rest. Where this
course is not followed the tubers are wanting in
the solidity necessary for them to winter well.
They keep satisfactorily if allowed to remain in
the dry balls of soil in which they have been
grown, but they take up more room this way
than is often available, so in most cases it is
necessary to remove them from the pots. When
this is done they should be put separately in
paper bags in dry sand, and be careful not to store
them where they will be too cold. Plants that
have bloomed late and cuttings struck from leaves
must now be kept where they will have a moderate
amount of warmth, and not be allowed to get too
dry before the foliage dies off. When this occurs
the tubers can be taken out of the pots and treated
as advised in the case of those that bloomed early.
AcHiiiENES. — These require to be managed similar
to the last mentioned plants, not allowing the soU to
get quite dry until the leaves and stems have turned
brown and decayed gradually. When the tops are
allowed to wither whilst yet green either through the
plants being kept too cold or for want of water, the
tubers are not likely to live through the winter.
They will keep well tied up closely in paper bags in
dry sand, as recommended for the Gloxinias. In
this way they are kept nearly air-tight, a condition
that, when combined with a little warmth, tends to
preserve them.
CUECUJIAS. — These herbaceous perennial stove
plants are not so much grown as one would expect
considering their bright flowers. They are easily
managed, and do not require much room. In most
cases the tops will either have died off, or will be
gradually ripening. During the winter Curcumas
should be kept dry, or nearly so, allowing the roots
to remain in the soil in which they have been
grown, but the plants must not be stood where
there is an insufliciency of warmth or they will
perish. As they come from the hot districts of
Eastern India they requu-e a brisk heat to grow
them well.
BoirvAEDiAS. — Where these free and almost con-
tinuous-blooming plants have been turned out in
cold pits and frames for the summer, it will be best
to pot them now. For such plants as were struck
from cuttings last winter or spring 6-inch pots
will in most cases be large enough. Plants that
flowered last winter and spring, and were out in
before being planted out, will require S-inch or
9-inch pots if they have made fair progress since.
It is well to give Bouvardias more root-room than
some things, for if they are strong and are well
cared for from this time onwards they will keep on
giving a succession of flowers for several months.
As soon as potted, the plants should be stood in a
house or pit where they can have a little fire-heat.
This is an advantage even if they are not wanted to
bloom until later on, as when in genial warmth the
plants make quicker root-growth. Where cut
flowers are wanted continuously during winter these
Bouvardias are deserving of the best treatment that
can be given them, for few things, in proportion to
the little room they occupy, give such quantities of
bloom. Where the plants are turned out in a pit or
house that can be heated it is not necessary to pot
them, as heat can be given freely when required ;
but there is this advantage attached to having the
at the roots and in the air is undoubtedly one I plants inpots, that when wanted they can be brought
272
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 24, 1887.
on into flower in heat a few at a time ; whereas,
when planted out, the whole have to be treated
alike.
Potting plants from the open ground. —
The various autumn and winter-flowering subjects
that were planted out for the summer should now
be moved into pots, as it is not safe to trust them
out longer, especially such things as Salvias, which
will not bear much cold. Before lifting the plants,
see that the soil about their roots is well moistened,
for if it is at all dry they will suffer in removal.
Be careful not to give them either too large or
too small pots, as the former look unsightly; whilst,
if on the other hand, the roots are unduly cramped
it will interfere with the flowering. The soil should
consist of good free loam, with a liberal addition of
leaf-mould, rotten manure, and sand. Pot mode-
rately firm, and give enough water to prevent
flagging, for if this takes place, the lower leaves
will perish and give the plants an unsightly appear-
ance. As soon as potted put them in a green-
house or pit where they can be kept close for a
week or two. Syringe in the afternoon, and give
a little shade in bright weather until the roots
begin to move freely, when the plants cannot have
too much light and sun ; also give plenty of air
when the weather permits. Berry-bearing Solanums,
Veronicas, Eupatoriums, and other things of like
character that have been grown in beds out of doors
should also be potted, for even in districts that are
not usually visited by early autumn frosts, it is best
to get the plants established whilst the weather is
comparatively warm. Similar compost to that ad-
vised for the Salvias will answer for the subjects
last named. They wiU also be better kept close
under glass for ten days or a fortnight, after which
treat as advised for the Salvias.
Winter-flowering Carnations. — It is now
time to lift and pot those that were planted out of
doors in spring, for though cold will not harm them,
at least not for some time, it is still important that
the plants should be potted early enough to get
them well established before the growing season is
too far advanced. Although they may be assisted
with ■ fire-heat, it is better not to give them this
until later on when they are coming into bloom.
In lifting the plants care must be taken to get them
up as far as possible with their roots entire, as any
injury to the latter is not so readily made good as
in the case of quicker grovring things. If the
flower-stems have made much progress, injury to
the roots of the plants is likely to cause the buds to
go blind. But with ordinary care and attention
there is no danger of injury, and by planting out
the stock the growth is mucli stronger than when
the plants are cultivated altogether in pots.
Good free loam should be used, with a little leaf-
mould, rotten manure, and sand added. Be careful
not to over-water after potting, giving no more than
necessary to keep the soil sufficiently moist. Where
these plants have been grown in pots it is best to
get them under cover unless the weather continues
fine and warm, as they do not like being exposed to
drenching rains, which have the effect of stagnating
the soil about the roots and interfering with the
quantity and quality of the flowers. See that the
stock is quite free from aphides. If any of these
pests are found the plants should be fumigated two
or three times at intervals of a few days, by which
means the insects can usually be completely got rid
of. If there is any trace of mUdew on the foliage,
dust with sulphur. T. B.
rai;ive neglect, while others less desirable will be met
with in most gardens. A very heautiful, but at the.
same time sadly neglected plant is the subject of this
note, which reaches a height of 2 feet, and, as far as
the foliage is concerned, vei-y much resembles a Canna.
The inflorescence is, however, quite distinct, the
flowers being arranged in an erect spike, whose most
showy feature is not the blooms themselves, but the
large shell-like bracts, which are of a bright reddish
orange colour. It is a plant that requires stove treat-
ment, and a few specimens in flower at this time of
the year form a very distinct and attractive feature .
— H. P.
Propagating.
Bouvardia triphylla. — Though we have a long
list of garden varieties of Bouvardia, this pretty little
species is worthy of a place amongst the most select,
for the extremely bright vermilion hue of its clusters of
small blossoms makes it very conspicuous. The Bou-
vardia season has just commenced, and as a good deal of
attention is directed towards the douhle-flowered varie-
ties, I may mention that one of the latest of them
— B. flavescens flore-pleno — is in bloom hero, and
turns out to be as represented, viz., a double-ilowered
foi-m of the straw-coloured B. flavescens. Like the
single kind, it is of vigorous liahit, and belongs to that
class with smooth foliage. — H. P.
Curcuma Eoscoeana. — It is difiicult to imagine
why some good plants are allowed to fall into oompa-
Hakdy Heaths.— Owing to the long period of dry
weather that we experienced during the summer,
many of the hardy Heaths were remarkably late in
making their growth, so that in some cases the
shoots are only just now in a suitable condition for
cuttings, while in many seasons they may be ob-
tained in July and August. The young shoots must
be chosen for the cuttings, and generally a length
of I5 inches to 2 inches is most suitable, the leaves
being stripped from the bottom half for the purposes
of insertion. The base of the cutting must be cut
clean with a sharp knife, and the leaves may be
removed by holding the top of the cutting flrmly,
but gently, in the left hand, and with the right strip
off the leaves with a downward pull. If carefully
done the bark of the stem will not be injured, but,
in order to lessen the chances of damage, the leaves
should be taken singly, or, at the most, but two or
three together when stripping them off. Taking a
cluster of leaves at one time is often apt to result in
injury to the bark, and the cutting is then spoilt.
The method of insertion is much the same as re-
quired for the greenhouse kinds. Prepare the
requisite number of pots by fllling them to within
IJ inches of the top with broken crocks, the top
layer being composed of very small ones in order to
prevent the soil finding its way through. The soil
should consist of very sandy peat, sifted fine, and it
must be pressed down firmly. The pots being filled
with cuttings, a good watering by means of a very
fine rose must be given, and they may then be
placed in a cold frame either with or without bell-
glasses. If there are none to spare it is necessary
to choose a very close frame, with lights in thorough
repair, and it must be cleaned out before using.
The frame should be kept quite close, the cuttings
being examined every day or two to see if any of
them are in need of water, and also to remove the
least indications of decay. They must be shaded
during bright sunshine, and if attention is observed
in all these details a successful strike may be
anticipated. As spring advances all the cuttings
will be rooted, when a very good plan before plant-
ing them out is to pot them into small pots, and
plant them into prepared beds when they have
fiUed these pots with roots. Another way is to take
larger cuttings and put them firmly in a prepared
border situated in a sheltered position. Many of
the low-growing Heaths, especially if they have
been planted rather deep, may be lifted carefully
and divided into several pieces, each with a certain
number of roots attached. This is a very good plan
with those kinds whose habit admits of this mode
of treatment, but where large numbers are needed
propagation by means of cuttings must be re-
sorted to.
PuLpy SEEDS. — A great many seeds of trees and
shrubs that ripen at this season are embedded in
pulpy fruits, and in the case of many of them, such
as Thorns, Roses, and this class, the seeds mostly
remain a considerable time before germination takes
place. Where they are raised in quantity, the
berries are laid in a heap and mixed witli fand
being turned over about every fortnight'to assist the
decomposition of the pulpy matter. In this way
they may be left tiU the following spring, or even a
twelvemonth later, before sowing, when they quickly
germinate. When it is intended to sow small quan-
tities under glass, the ]iulp may be rubbed up with
a little silver sand and the seed sown at once.
Weigelas from seed. — The usual means of
propagating Weigelas is either by cuttings or de-
taching some of the shoots that have produced
roots. At the same time they can be raised in
quantity from seeds. Here, in a sunny position,
where trained against a fence so as to form a screen,
they ripen seed readily, and by means of it I have
raised considerable numbers of young plants. The
seed ripened early in autumn, and after being
cleansed from the pods was sown in a shallow box,
watered, and placed in a frame. The young plants
made their appearance during the following season,
and being pricked out in a sheltered bed they grew
away rapidly. This mode cannot be relied on to
perpetuate any particular variety, as a varied lot
was the product of our seeds.
Clerodendron trichotomum. — This Japanese
shrub, which has attracted a considerable amount
of attention within the last two or three years
owing to the fact of its flowering during the autumn
months, can be propagated by cuttings of the
shoots ; but by far the readiest plan to increase it
in quantity is to take cuttings of the roots, which
may be secured anywhere during the autumn or
winter months. A favourable opportunity for taking
these cuttings arises in the event of a specimen
being transplanted, when roots about the thickness
of a pencil may be chosen for the purpose. If cut up
into lengths of 2 in. to 3 in., and dibbled into a box
or pan of sandy soil and sheltered by a frame, they
push up young shoots in the spring, and, as they
send out fibrous roots at the same time, may soon
be either potted or planted out. In the event of the
cuttings being inserted in the open ground, they
may be left an inch or two longer and inserted in a
sheltered border. The cuttings must be put in per-
pendicularly, and in dividing the roots up into
convenient lengths care should be taken that no
mistake arises as to which is the top or bottom of
the cutting. Tecoma radicans, noted recently in
The Gaeden, can also be readily increased in the
T.
same way.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 615.
BBAUMONTIA GRANDIFLOEA.*
This plant, which our artist has so faithfully
portrayed in the accompanying plate, was intro-
duced to our gardens from Sylhet nearly fifty
years ago, and. for some years was very popular
with plant growers, but it ultimately became
neglected for plants of more recent introduction
until it was nearly lost to cultivation. The last
plant of this species we remember seeing in
London gardens was in the then famous collec-
tion at Syon House, Isleworth, the seat of the
Duke of Northumberland, where it grew vigo-
rously and bloomed profusely every year, and a
memento of this plant in the shape of a dried
flowering spray is now before me. It is a mem-
ber of the Dog-bane family (Apocynacese), an
Order which abounds in showy-flowered twiners,
of which the most notable are AJlamanda, Dipla-
denia, &c. Beaumontia is a bold-growing plant
with large opposite, oblong ovate leaves, which
are about 8 inches long and upwards of 3 inches
broad, deep shining green on the upper side,
paler beneath, the principal ribs on the lower
side being clothed with a fen-ugineous tomentum.
The flowers are bell-shaped, some 4 inches or
5 inches long, thick in texture and pure white,
borne in terminal and axillary corymbs. It is
really surprising that such a magnificent plant
should have been so nearly lost to gardens, and
we were agreeably surprised to receive in the
spring of tliis year a fine bunch of flowers of this
species from Lady Cowper's garden at Panshan-
ger, where it is said to grow freely and flower
profusely. Mr. Ruftett, who has grown this
plant, says he has found it a profuse bloomer,
* Draivu for The Garden in Earl Cowper's garden
at Panshanger by H. 6. Moon, March 23, 1?87, and
printed by G. Severeyns.
Sept. 21, 1887.
THE GARDEN.
273
increasing in beauty year by year as it attains
size. It is a plant easily cultivated, and as it is
a native of Northern India, will be found to
thrive best in an intermediate house, but al-
though it does not require a great amount of
artificial heat, it delights in abundance of sun-
shine and light. It does not tlu-ive satisfactorily
as a pot plant, but should be planted out in a
well-drained border, in a soil composed of loam,
peat, and sand in the proportion of two parts of
the former to one each of the latter. It flosvers
upon the previous year's growths, and therefore
wheii the blooms have fallen the whole plant
should be cut hard in in order to induce a greater
quantity of lateral shoots for the next season's
bloom. It is a twining plant, and should be
trained upon pillars, rafters, or wu'es near the
glass. In the latter situation, however, the
shoots must be kept thin, as otherwise the size
an occasional top-Jressing. The flowers of H. coro-
nariuin tell well with Maideu-hiir Ferns, and are
therefore of value in table decoration and other similar
purposes. I consider these two Hedyohiums useful
plants.— W. A. Cook.
Fruit Garden.
W. COLEMAN.
GOOD PEARS.
Once more the season for planting fruit trees is
at hand, and many will be asking all sorts of
questions, not only of the best mode of proce-
dure, but also for guidance in making small
selections from the bewildering lists now pub-
lished by the trade. Planters in highly favoured
districts cannot go far wrong in choosing the
best well-known sorts, but others less fortunate
^Beaumontia graudillora. Engraved for The GARDEN from a photograph.! Floivc
vliito, much reduced.
of the leaves is apt to produce a somewhat too
heavy shade for the plants growing beneath it.
W. H. G.
Wastes of gravel on terraces and in flower
gardens. — Among the objections to the very com-
mon terrace garden now so often formed is the
large area and gravelled surface often without any
motive. The owner of one of these informs us that
during the present sunny season the garden was
frequently unbearable owing to the heat reflected
from the large area of gravel — some four times more
than the traffic of the place required. This, in ad-
dition to the glare from white walls around, made
the garden anything but a cool and pleasant retreat.
—Field.
Fragrant Garland flowers (Hedychium Gard-
neriannm and coronarium) . — These beautiful plants
make a fine display at this time of year. A plant of
H. Gardnerianum with halt a dozen large flower-spikes
a foot long cannot but attract the attention of any
gardener, and the blooms are, moreover, highly fra-
grant. Give them plenty of room, abundance of water,
and when established in a large pot they will need only
should first of all ascertain the names of a few of
the varieties which do well in their own neigh-
bourhood, and then with the Royal Horticul-
tural and the Caledonian Society's recently pub-
lished reports before them, add to or diminish
their lists. The way in which these cheap and
handy volumes are framed and divided geo-
graphically, whOst rendering them highly inte-
resting to the most experienced pomologist in
all parts of the United Kingdom, will make them
especially valuable to inexperienced persons, as
it matters not where they may reside they will
find at a glance much useful information contri-
buted by their neighbours.
Assuming that an amateur living, say, in
Somersetshire wishes to plant twenty-four va-
rieties of Pears ; on turning to page 172 of the
Royal Horticultural Society's report, he will find
eighteen exhibitors in the western counties con-
tributed 1109 dishes. Their season extends over
six months, and he wishes to have four of the
most popular varieties for each month. Taking
July and Aiicjiist as one month, he will choose —
1, Jargonelle ; 2, Doyenne d'Eto ; 3, Beurre
Gifl'ard ; 4, Citron des Carmes. Sepfemher — 5,
Williams' Bon Chretien ; 6, Beurre d'Amanlis ;
7, Beurr6 Superfin ; 8, Souvenir du Congro3.
October — 9, Louise Bonne of Jersey ; 10, Marie
Louise ; 11, Beurr6 Superfin ; 12, Brown Beurre.
November— 13, Pitmaston Duchess ; 14, Bsurro
Diel ; 15, Marie Louise ; 16, Doyenne du Co-
mice. December — 17, Passe Colmar ; 18, Win-
ter Nelis ; 19, Beurr6 Bachelier ; 20, Glou
Morceau. January to March— 20, Bergamot
d'Bsperen ; 21, Easter Beurre ; 22, Beurr6
Ranee ; 23, Josephine de Malines ; 24, Ne Plus
Meuris .
This is a very good selection, but unless the
situation is very good, I should let Autumn
Bergamot take precedence of the shy and tender
Brown Beurre ; Thompson's of Beurre Diel, and
if possible I should find a place for those excel-
lent Pears Beurre d'Aremberg, Huyshe's Prince
of Wales, Knight's Monarch, and Zephu-in
Gregoire. Most of these wiU do well as
pyramids on the Quince stock, and all of them,
notably the late ones, are worth a good wall.
For orchard planting the western growers say
select,l, Williams' Bon Chretien ; 2, Swan'sBgg ;
3, Aston Town ; 4, Beurre de Capiaumont ; 5, Louise
Bonne of Jersey ; 0, Bishop's Thumb. For stew-
ing, 1, Catillac ; 2, Uvedale's St. Germain ; 3,
Bellissime d'Hiver ; 4, Vicar of Winkfield ; 5,
Black Pear of Worcester. Although the climate
generally west of Worcester may be good enough
for the majority of our best Pears, if not as pyra-
mids and standards, certainly as trained trees
against south and west walls, it does not follow
that the warmest nook always turns out the finest
and best fruit. Sun and shelter we must have,
but soil, subsoil, and drainage are factors that
must not be overlooked. I)rainage, from the
cultivator's point of view, is the first step to-
wards success ; therefore where the ground lies
cold and heavy, although not actually charged
with water, a series of tile drains should be put
in for the twofold purpose of keeping the sub-
soil sweet and raising the temperature by venti-
lation. As no rule can be laid down for drain-
ing, the inexperienced should seek advice from
an expert in the neighbotirhood, otherwise he
may tlirow away many pounds in unnecessary
labour. Next as to soU and subsoil. If every-
one could have his choice he would not go far
H rong in choosing a deep, stift' sandstone loam
for trees on the free stock. Next to this stands
the rich, but lighter sandy loam, and last of aU
we come to the light thin soils which require
marl and lime as correctives. In the first, hardy
orchard trees will grow and bear excellent fruit
for generations. In the second they require
once lifting, root -pruning, and relaying to keep
the roots near the surface and within the influ-
ence of solar heat and the moisture- retaining
mulch of good stable or cowyard manure. Thin
hungry soils are most difficult to convert for good
Pear culture, but by the removal of the subsoil
and making up with calcareous loam from an old
pasture, roadside parings and lime rubble, pyra-
mids, bushes, and well trained trees on the
Quince will make excellent growth and produce
very fine, although not such highly coloured
fruit as that usually obtained from the old red
loams and cornstones. The Quince is a shallow-
rooting stock, and many recommend it for thin
unfavourable soils, but, like all other trees, it
quickly responds to good treatment, and tho-
roughly enjoys an annual mulch of well-rotted
Gros Maroc Grape. — At Hackwood Park there
are two very distinct forms of this now popular
Grape'; one producing very fine solid bunches has
huge berries quite long and oval in form, and
274
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 24, 1887.
similar in shape to those of Madresfield Coiirt.
These colour early and finely. The berries of the
other are much rounder, though fine and well
coloured, but the bunches are not of such good
form. When the special Grape shows were held at
Kensington some two or three years since, it was
remarked there that Gros Maroc was exhibited in
these two distinct forms, the long berry seeming to
exhibit the best characteristics. At Hackwood it
was not possible to discern any difference in growth
or leafage. Probably one form is a sport from the
other — A. D.
THE OSLIN APPLE.*
AiioxG the various kinds of Apples which are pro-
pagated in Britain, there is one to which, in my
opinion, less attention has been paid than it de-
serves. The Apple to which I allude is, in different
parts of the country, known under different names.
At St. Andrew's, once the metropolitan see of Scot-
land, and, of course, the residence of numerous
ecclesiastics, to whom, as is well established, we
are principally indebted for the introduction of the
finest fruits into Scotland, it is generally known by
the name of the Original Apple. At Aberbrothock,
a place still celebrated for the venerable ruins of a
magnificent and picturesque abbey, it has the ap-
pellation of the Oslin Apple. By several of the
professional gardeners in the neighbourhood of
Edinljurgh it is styled the IMother Apple, by others
the Golden Apple, and in different parts of England,
as well as in the works of some eminent horticul-
turists, it is denominated the Bur-knot Apple. The
last of these names is evidently derived from the
appearance of the tree, for it in general abounds
with a particular sort of bur or knot. The appel-
lation of Oslin is supposed to be derived from its
being first lirought into Britain from a village of
the name of Oslin, in France. The denomination of
the Golden Apple has, in all probability, been given
it from its beautiful yellow colour. But of all the
names by which it has been distinguished, that of
the Original appears to me to be the most character-
istic, for from the easy method in which it is pro-
pagated, it may justly, I think, be considered as a
Mother or Original Apple.
Every bur observable upon this tree can, I think,
be clearly demonstrated to be in reality a root
above ground, and this bur only requires to lie
planted in a proper soil to send out numerous
fibres, which will nourish and support even a large
branch connected with it. This mode of propaga-
tion by slips, which among the Apple tribe is almost,
though not altogether, peculiar to this species, has
long been known, and is not without some remark-
able advantages, for by this means a tree in full
bearing and of a considerable size may be obtained
almost immediately. Of this a very strong proof is
at present afforded in the garden of Mr. Peacock,
at Filrig, in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh. In
the month rjf February last he cut off from an old
Original tree about fifty branches, each provided
with a proper bur. These were immediately planted
in a good soil, and almost all of them grew luxuri-
antly. More than one half of these slips, though
detached from the mother tree only in spring,
blossomed the same year, and jiroduced ripe fruit
in the autumn ; and I think there can be little doubt
that they will continue to be good bearing trees.
Indeed, this is also demonstrated in Mr. Peacock's
garden. Three years ago he jjlanted a pretty large
branch furnished witli a proper bur, and that au-
tumn I counted about fifty fine Apples upon it.
Last year it produced upwards of twenty, and this
year there are more than forty upon it. Hence
there can be no doubt that a branch furnished with
a bur becomes at once a permanently bearing tree.
The same fact has also been fully confirmed in other
gardens in the neighbourhood of Edinburgh, espe-
cially in the garden of Jlr. Lyon at the Abbey of
Holyrood House, and in my own garden at St. Leo
nard's Hill. Indeed, this circumstance has been
long and well known at St. Andrew's, where this
Apple is more cultivated than at any other place
with which I am acquainted. I have had an oppor-
tunity of witnessing it from the earliest period of
my life, especially in the garden of my grandfather,
Jlr. 'WiUiam Vilant, formerly Professor of Civil
History in the University of St. Andrew's, a zealous
amateur in gardening, who was particularly partial
to this Apple. Nay, the probability is that this
mode of propagating it was known in Scotland as
early as the Api^le itself was introduced into the
country. But this ready mode of multiplying the
original Apple by slips has, I think, been less at-
tended to by professional gardeners than from its
importance it deserves.
The Original Apple has not, indeed, the property
of being a keeping Apple. It is eaten with greatest
advantage immediately when it falls from the tree,
in consequence of a gentle shake after it is fully
ripe. 'When used at that time very few Apples are
superior to it either in appearance, in smell, or in
taste. In point of taste we have indeed no certain
standard, each one judging for himself. I shall
only observe that the Original Apple has a consider-
able degree of sweetness and a pleasant acidity
combined with a peculiar and, what I think, a very
delicate flavour ; in point of smell I know no Apple
superior to it, and its appearance when fully ripe is
that of a most beautiful yellow. It does not, how-
ever, retain these qualities for any length of time,
but when taken immediately from the tree I am
acquainted with no Apple which excels it in any of
the three qualities mentioned — in taste, in smell,
or in colour. From the colour it is not improbable
that the Original is the Aurea mala, much esteemed
by the Romans in the days of Virgil.
Quod potui puero, sylvestri ex arhore lecta
Aurea mala decern nisi.
ViRG., Exl. 3.
Nay, a fertile imagination may carry it to much
more ancient times, and suppose it to be the Golden
Apple which grew in the garden of Hesperides.
* Observntions on the Proprg.ition by cuftings of
the Original, the Mother, the 0.slin. or the Bur-knot
Apple tree. By A. Duncau, Senr., IVI.D. & P. Read
at the Caledonian Horticultural Society, September 4,
1810.
PRUNED T"; UNPRUNED FRUIT TREES.
The long, protracted drought has at length broken
up in a series of terrific gales, accompanied by
torrents of rain. We had so long been hoping and
looking for rain to swell up our late Apples and
Pears that we thought our troubles for this season
were at an end when the rain came. But with the
rain the wind increased to a gale, and the destruc-
tion it made amongst fruit trees can hardly be
realised, as quite two-thirds of the fruit have been
swept off, not only from varieties of Apples and
Pears that were nearly fit for gathering, but from
the latest sorts that ought to hang until the middle
of October, and that are consequently of very little
value. Truly this is a season of extremes, as the
crop was half blown off by a violent gale in 3Iay,
and now after enduring one of the severest droughts
on record, the trees have been nearly stripped of
lioth fruit and foliage. But it would be a profitless
task to mourn over our losses, and we must try and
reap some useful lessons for future guidance. The
first thing that strikes an observer in looking over
fruit gardens and noting those trees that have
carried their crop best through this trying ordeal, is
that trained trees of all kinds have far more fruit
left on them than unpruned ones, and that the only
ones that have anything like a crop left on them
are the old-fashioned espaliers, which even in the
most exposed positions have suffered little. Bush
and pyramid trees have suffered in proportion to
the closeness to which they were pruned in, the
stiffer and more rigid the branches the less they
suffered ; while those that had been allowed to extend
their branches suffered very much. In the case of the
wide-spreading standards the destruction is com-
plete, ilucli as I admire the wide-spreading
branches of any kind of tree, I must own that they
are not adapted to wind-swept localities. We are
very liable to rough gales, being close to the sea-
coast, and our trees are therefore pruned for the
purpose of withstanding gales. From what I hear
the inland orchards have suffered quite as badly as
ours have, and although Apples and Pears are now a
drug in the market, the probability is that good keep-
ing fruit wUl again be scarce before the winter is
over. Although it is impossible to guard against
these \-iolent gales, I shall certainly as a precaution-
ary measure stop the young growth of our Apples
and Pears at the next winter pruning, and plant
only espaliers or cordons, which, considering the space
they occupy, yield us the best returns of any.
Gosport. J. Gkoom.
VAPORISING SULPHUR FOR RED SPIDER.
The vaporising of sulphur for the destruction of
red spider is largely practised by one of the leading
Grape growers in the following manner for market.
The pipes are thickly covered with pure sulphur, and
are then heated to their highest possible capacity,
the fires being hard driven all night. The house
becomes so charged with sulphurous fumes, that the
attendant cannot remain in it for any length of
time. This is repeated for three or four nights in
succession. I may mention that this remedy is only
employed when the spider attacks with such per-
sistency that a jet of water thrown violently from
the hose on the foliage has not the desired effect.
The grower in question affirms that no harm ever
comes of such a lavish use of sulphur, and I know
that his houses of Alicantes are second to none in
the country. This was confirmed by the attendant,
who informed me that he has used in one season
32 lbs. of sulphur for a house 100 feet long. It is
worthy of note that this individual is a Grape grower
by birth. He comes of a family which comprises
seven well-known market growers. His father was
one of the cleverest Grape growers around London ;
so that we have the guarantee that this strong sul-
phur remedy is the result of careful observation ex-
tending probably over nearly half a century. Many
of the operations of our best market growers are of
a hole-and-corner description. Practised by one or
two indi^dduals, they are jealously guarded, and it
is only now and then that a ray of light is let in on
them. The method of destroying red spider with
sulphurous fames lies in a nutshell. It is simply
accurately guaging the amount of it that wiU be des-
tructive to the insect whilst doing no harm to the
'\'ines. This knowledge will not be acquired by leaps.
It is only to be done by a series of experiments, gradu-
ally increasing the amount of sulphur until the
spider is killed. If this point is reached and no
damage is done, the destruction of red spider be-
comes a ver^- easy matter. Syringing with clean
water for the destruction of red spider when once it
has got firm hold is almost useless. But well wash-
ing the foliage in combination with plenty of root
moisture and good food is a fine deterrent. I see
this in the case of two small Alicante A'ines that
were planted in a house containing Hamburghs,
which, owing to scarcity of water, the roots being
inside, are badly attacked. The two Vines in ques-
tion became infested, but wishing them to get
established I kept them well watered and syringed
thoroughly the under sides of the leaves twice a
day. I cured these Vines, and now there is no
spider on them, although they are growing side by
side with infested ones. J, C. B.
Crowded bunches of Grapes.— Grapes, as a
rule, suffer more from overcrowding in the bunches
than overthinning. It does not matter much if
summer Grapes are crowded a little, as they are
cut and used before the evils of it appear"; but
late and long-hanging Grapes are frequently in-
jured by crowding. 'Wlien they are almost finished
swelling, the berries press each other so hard that
many of them burst, and have to be cut out, as if left
in for a short time they cause decay. Should they
escape this when finished growing, they are sure to
be injured by damp further on. No matter how well
a vinery is glazed, drip will come through ; and,
if not, the atmosphere will become so humid at
times that the damp will collect on the buncb,
and if it cannot pass down through, will soon
cause decay amongst the berries. This is no over-
drawn picture. It occurs in almost all vineries,
and tons of Grapes are lost by it. It is easily
prevented, and before the season is too far ad-
vanced I would advise all to see to it. It requires
Sept. 24, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
275
a good practical hand to thin Grapes to finish off
perfect, and no blame need be attached to the
thinner if they are a little crowded when matured.
The same cannot be said of those who allow their
Grapes to remain in an overcrowded state. Know-
ing the evil that will result from it, means should
alwavs be taken to rectify it, and if overcrowded
bunches are gone over and a berry carefully taken
out here and" there, especially from the centre of
the bunch, until the berries all hang so loose as not
to obstruct moisture, there will then be little or no
danger. If done very carefully no one could tell
that the bunch had been re-thinned. I would never
be afraid of thinning a whole vinery at this time. —
Cambrian.
phur and lime, but before trying these experiments I
prefer asking the advice of someone who has had a
practical experience in the matter. — A G.\rdener.
NEW PEACHES.
Fkom an American standpoint, Mr. J. Butter's note
in regard to these (p. 190) can hardly fail to prove
useful as well as interesting to English readers. I
know nothing of the Peaches referred to as Levy's
Late AVinter.English Cling, and American or Late
Heath. The latter especially seems well worth the
attention of English growers. Lord Palmerston,
however, is pretty well known to English culti-
vators, and it is interesting to find its merits and
demerits very much the same on both sides of the
Atlantic. This season with us under glass this
Peach has been large and fine, and the quality ap-
proximating to that of a Xoblesse. We have had
fruits nearly a pound in weight, and the flesh is very
solid and juicy ; colour pale as that of a Xoblesse,
with almost an entire absence of that delicate suf-
fusion of pink that gives such a charm to the latter.
Though the flesh adheres slightly to the stone, it
does not deserve, as gi-own under glass in this
country, to be classed among clingstones. Mr.
Rutter^ however, is quite correct in his further de-
scription of this Peach, as inclined to rot at the
time of ripening on the tree, changing quickly, and
requiring quick picking to save it. The skin is so
thin and delicate and the weight of the fruit so
great, that the Peaches seem incapable of bearing
their own weight without bruising the base of the
fruit. They also need careful handling ; otherwise
every finger-mark shows, and the tiniest bruises
speedily disfigure and rot the fruit. Attempting to
keep some of the heaviest for a special purposefor two
or three days after picking, I was much surprised to
find their bases bruised by their own specific gravity.
Hence, I fear Lord Palmerston will never prove a
market fruit nor a good traveller under the most
favourable conditions of packing and transit ; but
for home consumption in favourable seasons it cer-
tainly ranks as one of the finest late season Peaches,
alike for size and quality.
Some have tried it in the open and condemn its
flavour, or rather the want of it. Under glass with
us it has always been good ; this season more so
than usual. D. T. F.
Inarching^ Vines. — This most useful plan is by
no means so generally adopted as one might expect
to find it. The absolute certainty of a good result
ought to commend it to anyone wishing to change
a variety of Grape without loss of crop. I have this
year put on several Black Hamburghs in place of
white varieties, simply because the demand for
black Grapes is far in excess of that for white ones.
Our plan is to take young Vines in pots, and set
them close to the shoots we want to inarch on.
AVith a sharp knife we cut away about half of both
shoots, for a space of two inches, between a pair
of leaves, and bind them firmly together with soft
bast matting. In a few weeks the shoots will be
united, when the graft maybe severed from the pot
-plant, and allowed to grow unchecked for the rest
of the season. — J. G. H.
Fig tree infested with, scale. — I have a large
Fig tree under glass badly attacked with scale. For
the last three months I have tried to keep it down by
occasionally using soft soap and water at lUO", and con-
stant syringing. This has not destroyed the pest, hut it
is stm making sure progress. The leaves will soon he
dropping. Can any of your numerous readers tell me
how to get rid of it ? I have heard of blowing lime
over it, of syringing with soot and lime water, and sul-
FRUITS UNDER GLASS.
ViN'ES.
Late Grapes should now be black, if not ripe, and
fit for a slow, but steady reduction to a lower tem-
perature. Fire-heat will, of course, be necessaiy,
and the more air in reason they can have through
the early part of the day the thicker and better will
be the bloom upon the berries. All Grape-growers
pride themselves on perfect clusters that have never
been touched by the hand or water, and consumers
admire them quite as much as they do the choicest
flowers, but no one professes to say the keeping
qualities of the Grapes are affected by the preser
vation of the bloom or by polishing. I31oom, in my
opinion, is of great use as well as ornament, and for
this reason all who can should avoid rubbing when
detaching dead leaves or faulty berries, and on no
account should they shut up with sun-heat and
moisture, the most common cause of condensation
and sweating. To avoid this, all damping, watering,
and cleansing should be performed early in the day ;
air and fire-heat at that time should be in force,
when a low, dry night temperature may safely follow.
When late Grapes refuse to put off the foxy tinge
many persons put on the fuel, but beyond producing
a genial temperature that wiU favour a current of
fresh air, the less they force the better will be the
colour at the footstalk. If not already done, the
laterals on Lady Downe's and other late sorts that
have coloured may now be removed to let in indirect
rays of light and air; whilst Gros Colman, out of
place in the latest house, wUl go on improving under
a heavier spread of foliage. Alicantes and the tyro's
Grape, Gros Maroc, everywhere are good this year ;
but what has become o"f perfect late Hamburghs ?
The treatment accorded to the heavy, coarse va-
rieties has produced large straggling bunches of
this, the gardener's sheet anchor; but a perfect
bunch of Hamburghs is now rarely met with. The
taste for sensational bunches of Grapes to look at
has taken deep root with the public, but growers
have themselves to blame, and if not careful they
will be hoist with their own petard. If anyone
doubts this, let him visit the autumn shows, and
there he will find medium-sized, compact clusters of
large berries, black as jet or bright as amber, still
and always will head the lists with good judges.
Late Hainhiirtilis now ripe cannot be kept too dry
and cool, always provided gentle fire-heat is at com-
mand for preventing a sudden depression in frosty
or wet weather. Laterals which hold moisture may
be cut out close to the main buds, and many of the
shoots, cut back to within two or three eyes of the
bunches, will yet have time to heal before the Grapes
are bottled. If bright, dry weather continues, these
Grapes will keep well on the Vines until the middle
or end of October. After this date they may be
tranfeired to bottles temporarily placed in the Lady
Downe's house. Having often tried them both ways,
I have always found bottling best for the Grapes,
whilst removal favours sharp, dry firing of the A'ines
when going to rest in the autumn.
Muscats. — If these are ripe and well coloured, the
laterals must be well, but gradually thinned to let in
more light and air, and, whilst maintaining a steady,
genial warm from the fires, the mean temperature
must be gradually lowered, otherwise the fall of the
leaf will be followed by the shrinking of the beiTies.
If, on the other hand, the rich amber is wanting, all
the hard firing that can be brought to bear will not
produce it, but the borders must be looked to.
Sluggish root-action in cold, wet, inert soils is quite
as fatal to colouring as it is to setting. Correct this
with fresh sweet compost and an improvement in
due course will follow. When late Muscat Vines are
confined to one border only, lifting before the
Grapes are cut is attended with danger; better
wait till the spring and renovate when the buds
show signs of swelling. But, given an internal and
an external border, one of these may be taken out
and re-made now with impunity. External borders
in this locality are not yet too wet, but, provided
they are fairly moist quite down to the drainage,
ome kind of covering should be prepared for keep-
ing in summer warmth and intercepting chilling
rains. A dust-dry border, it must be borne in
mind, is quite as pernicious as a wet one ; but of
the two evils it is best after this date to err on the
side of moderation. Sweet dry Bracken forms the
best of all coverings for keeping internal borders
moist and at an even temperature ; externally it is
equally valuable, and long stable litter is an excel-
lent substitute in fernless districts. In due course
old lights, or shutters above, but not touching the
Fern or litter, will keep the covering and borders in
good condition until all the Grapes are cut.
Eartij Jioiises. — 'Whe-a very early Grapes are
wanted, the Vines in these should now be pruned ■
and washed, and the glass and walls well cleansed as
the first preliminary to starting. If nothing more
than a touch of spider has been observed, a pound
of Gishurst compound, dissolved in 4 gallons of
water, will make a suitable wash for the rods, which
should neither be peeled nor scraped— a most cruel
operation, detrimental to the Vines only. But, the
better to stamp out these and other pests, the
Gishurst, same strength as before, may be repeated.
Years ago the scraping, scrubbing, and painting of
Vines, like the potting of Pines, formed a red-letter
day ; domestic spring-cleaning is nothing to it ; but
this barbarous work has been given up and a more
rational mode of cleansing prevails. When mealy
bug gets thoroughly established on old Vines it is
very troublesome, and holds its own so long as filthy
plants are grown in the houses. Indeed, at one
time its complete destruction was looked upon as a
marvel, if not an impossibility. In due course the
modern remedy, gas tar, was introduced, and, not-
withstanding some mishaps, the judicious use_ of
this powerful insecticide, all other details being
properly attended to, is now a well-proved, safe, and
certain annihilator. The way of applying it having
been so often explained, all" who read know that a
teacupful, mixed with a gallon of dry earth, and
then reduced to the consistency of paint, will kill
the bug, not only where it touches, but where it
encloses. They also know it is only safe when the
Vines are quite dormant, and thoroughly effectual
when every part of the house has been carefully
cleansed and painted. When the Vines and struc-
ture have been property dealt with, the internal bor-
ders must be denuded of every particle of loose soil
and mulching, top-dressed with fresh compost, and
they will be readv for starting. External borders
may be treated in the same way, mulched, and
covered up with Fern, dry leaves, or long litter.
Fot lilies are not so extensively forced as they
were a few years ago, but where the earliest Grapes
are obtamed from them they should now be care-
fully washed, placed in position, and top-dressed
with good compost, consisting of turfy loam, bone-
dust, and a dash of soot, or rough charcoal. Clean-
liness and perfect drainage being imperative, the
pots should be well scrubbed, and the apertures
enlarged with a hammer to set the crock roots at
liberty before they are placed upon the pedestals.
These, according to the depth of the pit, may be
composed of dry bricks, as for Melons, or inverted
pots, with a good sod of turf as a cap for catching
the fitrst roots and the liquid on its way from the
drainage. By adopting this plan the pots can be
kept steady, there will be no sinking or strangling,
and fermenting material can be introduced, turned,
and renovated at pleasure. Once in position, and
the canes slung with their points on a level with
the pots, the pit or house must be kept cool
and well ventilated until the time arrives for
starting.
TearUngs intended for cutting hack or spring-
planting should now be ripe and fit for fuU ex-
posure, either by liberal ventilation or removal to a
dry, sunny wall in the open air. Nurserymen who
grow pot Vines by the thousand often turn the
early batches out "before the foliage is ripe, but
thorough maturity of wood and roots being so im-
portant, the private grower, whose stock is limited,
should make an effort to keep them under glass
untU the leaves fall. They will then stand any
reasonable amount of frost, provided the canes are
2/6
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 24, 1887.
well scoured against wind. The pots are covered
uj) with old tan or litter, and the roots are not over-
done with water. As pruning is performed, bright,
ripe pieces of wood from the best Vines should be
selected and laid in for future propagation.
Lale-phintcd lines, still in growth, must be
hastened forward with gentle fire heat, an occasional
da.sh with the syringe to keep the foliage clean, and
liberal ventil.ation. Late and persistent growth
being of little use, all laterals mu.stnowbe removed
from the base of the Vines up to the pruning bud,
that is, unless the main leaves be gone, when the
lateral with one leaf attached may be left to feed
and perfect the bunch-producing bud.
Figs
liave had the benefit of one of the finest seasons on
record, and early trees will now be fit for cleansing.
If surplus wood was cut out as soon as the second
crop , was over, tlie knife will hardly be needed.
When li!t down from the trellis every inch of wood
must be carefully washed with soap and water once,
twice, or oven thrice, according to the insects that
have been troublesome. Spider, scale, and bug are
quite at homo in the Fig house, and soon spring
into new life where thorough cleansing is neglected.
Careful washing destroys the first and second, and
a light dressing with the tar mixture will stop bug
as far as the trees are concerned, but a clean tree on
an infested trellis only remains so as long as it is
resting. Many persons succeed in destroying the
bug on their trees and leave a rcmnsint in the walls,
the trellises, or ever the borders. These, then,
should be most carefully attended to before the Fig
house can be considered ready for forcing. If the
trees have grown too strong, now is the time to
check them, either by partially lifting or cutting
out a trench along the front of the border, taking
roots and soil away together and filling in again
with light loam and lime rubble. This compost in
a dry state cannot be too firmly rammed, neither
can it be too poor, as Figs when growth has com-
menced quickly respond to liquid and mulching, but
do not submit to a check without casting their fruit.
fln(i(vs.fiiiu /iiiiisrn from which the second crop has
not been cleared must be kept moderately dry and
airy, with just sufficient firo-heat to prevent stagna-
tion or the lingering of moisture in the atmosphere.
The best fruit at this season is obtained from hot,
dry liouses, or walls fully exposed to the sun ; the
most vapid and fleeting from trees that are coddled
and stewed in moist, ill-ventilated structures. Trees
in later houses from which one crop only is taken
may now be divested of all fruits larger than Peas,
and treated to a dry, but warm, atmosphere favour-
able to the hardening and ripening of the 'young
shoots. If clean, syringing must not be continued ;
if otherwise, a thorough drenching with an insecti-
cide that will settle Uw. account at once will answer
better than repeated half measures with clear water.
ClIBBRIBS.
If root-pruning, replanting, or any other opera-
tion upon the borders has been neglected, not a day
should be lost in setting matters straight. The
trees, as a matter of course, are now leafless and
resting, but the roots are active, and where new
compost was given to them a month ago they will
be steadily working their way into it. If trained
on trellises. Peach-tree fashion, they should be
pruned lirst, then let down from the wires and care-
fully washed with soap and water or a weak solution
of (iishurst to free them from aphis and .'jiider.
The trellis, all fixed woodwork, and the walls .-ilso
must be cleansed and jiiiintcd if necessary, but the
roof lights, which have been taken off and painted,
need not be put on again until we have a change to
colder weather. Cherries, like all other stone fruit
frees, being subject to bud-dropping, should never
bo allowed to feel the want of water at the root.
1 louses that have been stripped generally pet enough
from the autumn rains, but borders under fixed roofs
require constant attention. Pot trees still out in
the open .air may remain there for the ppesent, ad-
vantage being taken of favourable opportunities for
getting them washed and top-dressed with strong
calcareous loam, old lime rubble, and rotten manure.
Their pots, plunged to the rims and full of roots.
will take an occasional soaking with the hose or
water-pot to ensure a thoroughly moist condition
down to the drainage. In decidedly wet weatlier
they may get enough from the clouds, but ordinary
showers that penetrate to a good depth in newly
broken ground have very little — indeed, often a mis-
leading—effect upon pot-bound balls well filled with
roots. If pyramids or bushes intended for potting
have completed their growth, the end of this month
may be accepted as a favourable time for lifting.
Trees that were root-pruned last season, well mulched
and watered through the hot, dry weather will now
be loaded with flower-buds, and having made wigs
of roots they may now be potted up with every
chance of a full crop of fruit next year.
Plums.
Early and midseason sorts, like Cherries, will now
be resting, and whether they be in pots or trained
upon trellises open to similar treatment. Pot culture
in course of time makes them if anything too fertile
when much thinning of the fruit becomes absolutely
necessary. Good growers do not, however, allow
them to reach this stunted state, but with a fine-
bladed knife thin out the ilower-buds pretty freely
in the autumn and feed copiously throughout the
summer. The advantages, it is hardly necessary to
explain, arc larger flowers, but not so many of them,
finer fruit, which still requires thinning, the ability
to cleanse the spurs with insecticides thoroughly,
and a fair percentage of leaf shoots every season.
Like Cherries, again, they may be divided into two
distinct classes — the first for forcing or removal to
the open air to ripen; the second, for coming in late
and hanging under glass safe from wet, wasps, and
birds until November. Coe's Golden Drop, Rivers'
Late, Ickworth, and Blue Imp<^>ratrice in many parts
of the country never ripen properly in the open air,
and when by chance the season is propitious the
plagues I have just named destroy nine-tenths of
the fruit. But give them a light, airy house— if
heated so much the better — and they become pro-
lific producers of the most luscious sweetmeats fit
for use long after the latest wall Peaches have
passed away.
Trees and Shrubs.
SHRUBBY SPEEDWELLS.;
Srvkbal of the New Zealand species of A'eronica
have from time to time engaged the attention of the
hybridist, with the result that there are now (be-
sides the species given on p. 217) a great number of
garden varieties, all of which are very beautiful.
At the same time, out of the long list of these va-
rieties now in cultiv.ation, there are some between
which it is found impossible to find any difTerenee ;
Therefore I am induced to give a list of a few that
I have proved to be distinct and desirable kinds ;
Imperiale, bright am.aranth red, shaded m.agenta ;
Blue Gem, a dwarf and free-flowering variety, with
blue flowers ; M. J. Moulins, pink ; Celestial, pale
blue ; Reine des Bleus, deep blue ; and the varie-
gated-leaved variety, the marking of the foliage
being very clear and distinct. This is frequently
used for summer bedding, but it flowers equally
free during the winter with the others. Here,
where we are very glad of the A''eronicas for indoor
decoration during the winter, and dwarf bushes
being most ajipreciated, we grow on a quantity of
young plants for that ]nirpose. The cuttings are
put in during the autumn, and, when struck, potted
into small pots. Directly they get a little root-hold,
the tops are pinched out in order to encourage a
bushy habit of growth. The plants are wintered
in a frame where plenty of air is given, so that they
keep dwarf and sturdy. When sharp spring frosts
are over they are planted out in the same way as
Bouvardias, Solanuiiis, &c. They are pinched over
once or twice during the early part of the season, to
encourage a bushy liabit of growth, and .about the
early part of September lifted carefully and potted.
After this they need to be kept fairly close and
shaded till they become established, when plenty of
air must be given. If the situation in which thcyare
planted during the summer is an open one, when
lifted they will be fairly covered with flower-spikes.
which will soon expand. Under greenhouse treat-
ment a succession will be kept up throughout the
winter. Sprays of these different A'eronicas, cut just
as the foremost flowers are on the point of expanding,
will last fresh in water a long time. The readiness
with which these plants can be struck from cuttings
is a great point in their favour, for all that is neces-
sary at any season is to form the cuttings of the
growing shoots, and, after dibbling them in, to keep
them close and shaded till rooted. If the Veronica
cuttings are once allowed to flag severely it is diffi-
cult to freshen them up again. This last remark
applies particularly to another New Zealand plant,
Coprosma Baueriana, the variegated form of which
is a great favourite. Many failures attending the
propagation of this plant may be traced to neglect
of this rule, for if they once flag they seldom recover.
Great numbers of Veronicas are brought into Covent
Garden Market during the autumn months, and dis-
posed of at a cheap rate, mostly to the hawkers, whose
barrows may be frequently seen laden with them.
As these often undergo a considerable amount of
hardship before they are disposed of, it is easy to
understand whymuch'of the foliage frequently falls
soon after they are purchased. With regard to
market plants, early in the summer I saw some neat
bushes of the pretty mauve-coloured V. Hulkeana
for sale, and very attractive they were ; so much so,
that we may expect it to be soon grown more largely
for this purpose. H. P.
Faulownia imperialis. — This deciduous tree
when grown, intermixed with Palms, Musas, Cycads,
&c., and treated as it is here, is very attractive. We
cut the plants down to the ground in the winter,
and in the spring, when they break and get fairly
started into growth, we select the strongest shoot,
remove all others, and by the end of the summer it
is marvellous the growth they have made. They are
now from 8 feet to 10 feet in height, and the leaves
from 2 feet to 2 feet 6 inches in diameter, and are
very nuich admired by all who see them. — G. G.,
Floore House (Jardcns, Wecdmi.
Paul's Scarlet Thorn. — Intending planters of
trees should make a note of this very handsome
Thorn, for it not only makes a handsome tree, but
it is thoroughly distinct from all other Thorns, the
colour of the flowers being a bright crimson, and
produced in such numbers that a single specimen
is an effective object. I have seen several rather
large trees of it in different places, and in every in-
stance they were making satisfactory progress. I
h.ave also seen it very efllective in shrubbery borders,
but it is as a single specimen standing on Grass
th.at it best shows its true character. — J. C. C.
Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora. — This
is one of the easiest shrubs to propagate from green
cuttings. Old — matured — cuttings will not mako
roots. It is import.-int that our readers should bear
this in mind, because this plant is never so striking
as when it is young. Make green cuttings now
() inches long, and press the soil about them so that
1 inch appears above it. Next year these cuttings
will bear flowers, and the panicles will be as largo
or even larger than those borne by older plants.
The older the plant the smaller the panicle; tho
younger the plant the larger the panicle. It should
be considered that every stem will bloom, whether
young or old — that is, every stem will in August
terminate in a panicle, which in year-old plants in
suitable soil will often grow to the immense size of
IS inches in length and a foot in its widest dismeter.
Propagate this Hydrangea now and make and strike
cuttings every year. — lliiral ^'av Yorlicr.
Abelia rupestris.— This pretty little Chinese
shrub will yield a succession of bloom for a con-
siderable period, and that, too, at a time when most
outdoor shrubs are over, for it has been in flower for
the last six weeks, and there are a great many blos-
soms yet to expand. It forms a neat, twiggy bush,
with pleasing foliage and tubular blossoms about
an inch in length. These flowers are borne in clus-
ters on the points of every shoot, even the very
smallest, and they are very agreeably scented. It
is a neat little bush for the rock garden, where it
may be trusted not to encroach on its neighbours.
Sept. 24, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
277
and in the open border it is a fit companion to the
most select flowering shrubs. This Abelia is at
least fairly hardy, for arovind Loudon it is seldom
injured, except during a very severe winter ; while,
as a wall plant, it will survive even the sharpest
frosts. It is frequently planted against a wall, and
when so treated will reach a much greater height
than as a shrub in the open ground. It is easily
propagated by means of cuttings, put in towards
the end of summer, just as the current season's
growth is partially ripened. For the introduction
of this Abelia we are indebted to Fortune.— H. P.
Ferns.
W. H. GOWBR.
HA.RDY MAIDEN-HAIR FERN.
(adiantuii pedatuji.)
This beautiful Fern is sufficiently liardy to
withstand unharmed the rigours of oiir winters,
which cannot be said of our own indigenous
species (A. Capillus- veneris). Adiantum peda-
tum is a native of Canada, extending southward
in the open air needs no care during the time it
is dormant, but if grown in a pot it must not be
allowed to get dry during winter, or it will surely
die.
BLECHNUMS.
This family contains a large number of species,
the majority of which are very ornamental in a
Fern house. Their fronds range in size from
a few inches to several feet in length, so that
there is ample opportunity for all to choose just
the kinds adapted to the accommodation at
command. Blechnums are very closely allied
to Lomarias ; indeed, the names are frequently
used synonymously. It may, however, be taken
that the chief points of distinction between
them is that in Lomaria the fertile fronds are
always contracted, whilst those of Blechnum
remain unaltered in form, and that in Lomaria
the sori are marginal, whilst those of Blechnum
are either medial or situated close to and parallel
with the midrib. These distinctions, however,
will not always enable one to distinguish be-
tween a Blechnum and a Lomaria.
Hardy Maideu-hair Pern (Adiautum pedatum) .
to Virginia and California; it is al.so found in
Japan and Northern India, where it ascends to
an altitude of 9000 feet. It is one of the most
beautiful amongst this large family of handsome
Ferns, but although introduced to this country
nearly two centuries and a half ago, it is by no
means so extensively cultivated as it deserves.
This species thrives equally well in the green-
house fernery and the open air, and I have seen
it treated as a stove Fern, but in this latter
position it is apt to become infested with thrips ;
it is also folly to occu^jy space in a stove with a
plant that will succeed inhnitely better in the
open air. A glance at our illustration will give
an idea of the general outline of this plant ; its
stems are jet black or dark chestnut-brown and
polished ; the fronds are from 12 inches to
2 feet high, half this being naked stem ; the
fronds are produced from a creeping rhizome ;
they are dichotomously branched, the branches
all springing from the upper side, forming a
beautiful fan-like frond of a delicate green. The
fronds die down in winter, and the plant when
The plants here introduced to the notice of
our readers are all easily managed, and will
yield the cultivator a great amount of pleasure
for a minimum of care and attention. By this
I do not mean that they may be neglected with
impunity, but that all are robust in constitu-
tion, and as their fronds are very firm in tex-
ture, bright light is not injurious to them, so
that if the matter of drainage is properly
attended to at the commencement, and a liberal
supply of water given them afterwards, they
wUl give little more trouble, as they will grow
in either a high or a comparatively low tempera-
ture. If the plants are subjected to a high
temperature, however, the atmosphere must be
kept moist, otherwise thrips will speedily m.ir
the beauty of their fronds. When grown in an
ordinary intermediate temperature, Blechnums
are by no means subject to the attacks of insect
pests. For soil use equal parts of loam and
peat, adding some sharp sand. In potting allow
ample space for a good supply of water to the
roots and all will be well. Syringing overhead
will not injure or disiigxire Blechnums, but the
water should be made to fall lightly upon the
fronds. The following are a few of the best and
most distinct kinds : —
B. OEIENTALE.— A truly beautiful, large-growing
plant which acquires with age a short, erect stem,
and produces fronds some 3 feet long and about
9 inches wide ; these are pinnate, the segments
(pinn;i;) narrow, tapering to a point, the whole
frond having a light, plume-like appearance ; colour
soft green above, paler beneath ; the sori forming a
continuous deep brown band close to the midrib.
It enjoys strong heat, and is found in various parts
of India.
B. BEASILIENSE. — This is a fine, robust plant,
far more massive in appearance than the preceding,
and with age forms a short, stout stem, the crown
of which and the base of the fronds are densely
clothed with large, jet black, chaflfy scales. The
fronds are some 3 feet or -1 feet long, and upwards
of a foot across in the widest part, are pinnate at
the base, but the upper segments are connected
with a very narrow wing; lower pinnic about an
inch long and blunt,, increasing upwards to more
than 6 inches in length and an inch in breadth,
where they gradually taper to a point. In a young
state the fronds are suffused with rosy pink, but
when mature they become deep rich green. Native
of Brazil.
B. OCCIDENTALB is a handsome, somewhat
dwarf creeping plant. Its fronds are pinnate, from
12 inches to 18 inches long, and about 1 inches
wide ; pinn;Ti tapering upwards, slightly falcate,
eared at the base on the upper edge ; colour bright
lively green, to which the broad central line of rich
brown sori forms a pleasing contrast. It grows
strongest in a warm house, and its fronds are
admirably adapted for arranging with cut flowers ;
it also flourishes in a cool house, but its fronds are
always shorter, as they invariably are also in a
Wardian case, where it produces an excellent effect.
A common species in South America.
B. CAMPYLOTis. — An elegant plant, and very dis-
tinct from the preceding, although it is said to be a
form of it. Its fronds are about 2 feet long and
about 2 inches wide in the broadest part, tapering
from the centre towards the apex: pinniu on the
bottom portion of tlie frond reflexed, upper ones
slightly falcate, colour bright green, sori very con-
spicuous. Brazil.
B. LONOiFOLirrM. — This pretty plant seldom ex-
ceeds 12 inches or 15 inches in height, and more
often is smaller, part of this being a naked stem.
The frond consists of long terminal pinnai and one
or two pairs of smaller lateral ones ; most frequently
only one pair of side segments are produced; the
terminal pinn;\; are about 0 inches long and half an
inch broad, the side ones the same width, but only
half the length ; the colour is deep green, and the
bold mediariine of brown sori renders the plant
very ornamental. It succeeds well in a Wardian
case. Mexico.
The above kinds are very distinct, and the follow-
ing, viz,, B. triangulatum, gracile, latifoliuni, inter-
medium, glandulosum, polypodioides, and licviga-
tum, are also very beautiful, and where there is
ample accommodation may be added to a collec-
tion.
manure for Ferns.— I have lately been trying
Standen's manure for Maiden-hair Perns, and the
results have far exceeded my expectations. On some
previous occasions I have been deterred from using
it, as the tender fronds get browned, and therefore
spoiled for decoration. About a teaspoonful is
given to a 6-inch or 7-inch pot immediately after
watering, as then the powder gets moist, and can
be washed down to the roots at the next watering.
By giving a little in this way about once a month
during the growing season, we have now far finer
plants in 6-inch and 7-inch pots than if we had
shitted them into 10-inch pots. I find that all these
highly-concentrated manures are dangerous to ten-
der-stemmed or foliaged plants if used in strong
doses, but if mixed with the soil or applied carefully
as a top-dressing, they are not only perfectly safe.
278
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 21, 1887.
but highly efficacious. There is an impression that
Ferns do not like manure, but if those who hold
this view would apply it weak and often they would
soon change their opinion. — J. G., Hants.
Feme in small pots. — These have of late years
been in great demand for indoor decoration. I find
that there is nothing to equal Pteris serrulata and
the many-crested forms of this popular Ribbon
Fern. It may be grown to a large plant and kept
for a long time in a very small pot. We shake them
out of the sou they have gro'rni in, and work in
some very finely-sifted soil with the roots, in which
a little artificial manure has been worked, as this
promotes a rapid and healthy growth of the fronds.
They should never be allowed to become dry. Seed-
lings of these useful Ferns should be raised in
quantity where much of this kind of decoration is
carried on, as the plants soon lose their freshness,
and it is easier to raise healthy young stock than to
try and renovate sickly plants. — J. G. H.
Tricliopteris excelsa (11". Macdonald"). — The
specimen sent is that of a small Tree Fern from
Brazil, and certainly does not grow wild in New
Zealand. It was formerly included in the genus
Alsophila, but it has several points of distinction,
which induced Presl to separate it from that
family under the name given above. It differs
from Alsophila in having its fronds jointed with
the trunk, and all the divisions of the fronds are
jointed with their stems ; moreover, the sori are dis-
posed in a broad, transverse, confluent line along
the middle of the pinnules. A few years ago we
noted a very fine example of this Fern in the then
celebrated collection of Mr. Bewley at Blackrock,
near Dublin; it is an exceedingly beautiful species,
well deserving the care and attention of Fern
lovers, but is still very rare in cultivation. —
W. H. G.
Kitchen Garden.
W. WUD.SMITH.
KITCHEN GAEDEN NOTES.
Haevestixg. — We were in the midst of this
work when the grand rains began, and now that we
are having another spell of fine weather the work is
being finished. The latest Potatoes are being dug,
and are better than we expected; though smaU,
there is comparatively little supertuberation, and
not a particle of disease. Our best are Magnum
Bonum, Standwell, Beading Hero, and Reading
Russet. The remainder of the spring-sown Onions
has just been housed. We spread them as thinly
as space allows on the floors and under the
tables in fruit rooms, where they keep perfectly, and
are not objectionable as regards smell after the first
few days of housing ; in fact, only when disturbed
for sorting over would anyone know they were there.
I mention this fact because of the straits that some
are put to for room, and that may have space that
might thus be utilised. Small Onions for pickling
are sent into the kitchen at once; and the bruised
and unripe bulbs for immediate use are kept in
the vegetable shed.
All heebs that are likely to be asked for in a
dry state were bunched and hung to dry some time
since. The lanky shoots of Sage, Thyme. Balm,
Hyssop, Tarragon, and Mint have been cut back to
encourage a bushy habit of growth. Those that die
right off are the better for this cutting back as they
continue to grow, and are therefore available for
use so much longer in the autumn and early winter
until, in fact, frost ends them quite. Fully half of
the plot of Parsley w-e have cut right down, as the
growth now made will have shorter and stouter foot-
stalks, that wiU better withstand the severity of
winter than will that which has become over-
crowded and weakly. Early Horn, Early Nantes,
and Champion Short Horn Carrots we have housed,
but the main crops of larger varieties wiU be left in
the ground till winter arrives, as also -will Beet.
Parsnips wiU be left in the ground all the winter, or
rather till they start into renewed growth, as when
the weather is mUd they sometimes do before the
end of January. Then, as a matter of course, they
must be lifted, or the quality would rapidly deterio-
rate. Turnips that are fuUy grown quickly become
spongy and useless. In instances where a succession
is not forthcoming, those stUl good will continue so
for a long time, provided they are lifted and thickly
heeled in in any shady and moist part of the garden.
We serve Cauliflowers in the same way whenever
they turn in more rapidly than they are required for
use, and by this means we have many times pro-
longed the supply tUl a later succession has been
ready. I wish it was possible to serve Peas the
same. We have them bearing most freely, but at
this season the birds are so daring that they get a
great part of them, and were they not netted over,
it is questionable whether we should get any at all.
This raid always happens as soon as the fields
are cleared of com, and in self-defence we are re-
luctantly compeUed to shoot some of the delin-
quents.
Eabthixg UP. — As a rule, we defer the earthing
up of Celery tiU growth is completed. A single row
for early use was done some time since, but all the
rest was left. However, there is no rule without
exception, and our work being well forward, and
prospective work great, to husband time we are
doing the earthing now, having first satisfied our-
selves that the root moisture is ample to keep the
crop growing, as but little wUl reach the roots
directly through the mass of soil that is being used
for "earthing. Of course, as the soil is only moved
from each side of the trench to the middle of it,
the rain and artificial watering, should they be
deemed necessary, will soon get to the roots. Yet,
for all that, it is desirable that the central roots of
the plants be full of moisture before earthing up
begins. Again, as to the manner of doing the work,
there is a right and wrong way, and as the right
way is the most economical, even though it takes
up double the time, we strive to practise the same
by first clearing away all small leaves and side
shoots, and next by tying the outside leaves closely
to the inner, in order to keep the soil out of the
axils of the leaves. The soU is then pushed in by
hand to within an inch of the top of the inner or
central leaves. To bury these would greatly hinder
the further progress of the plants, not to mention
the tendency to decay engendered by such over-
soiling. When soUing up is done, the ties should
be cut away, otherwise the inner leaves, as they
grow, will either get broken, or wUl be deformed.
The Celery fly was a bit troublesome early in the
season, but a mixture composed of soot and Tobacco
powder effected a riddance. Since the rains, Broc-
coli and Kales — the ground being so warm — have
grown most rapidly, and we have to earth up to
keep them in position. Brussels Sprouts and the
latest planting of Autumn Giant Cauliflower had to
be done long since. The Dwarf Erfurt and Wal-
cheren \arieties are naturally sturdy growers, so
that, like Coleworts and Savoys, earthing up of these
is never required.
HOEiXfi AXD THINNING. — The Weather is perfect
for the first kind of work, which it is our rule to
practise on every occasion that presents — for, in-
stance, to make out an hour when, the men having
finished a job, it is not worth while to set them to
another of large extent that day. Lettuce, Endive,
Spinach, and August-sown Onions have all been
hoed after this mode, and there is more of such
work in store as time and opportunity present.
Thinned out late-sown Turnips, and Spinach, and
small seedling Cauliflowers, that having been sown
on a warm, sunny bank, it is hoped they will winter
there. The thinnings are being dibbled in closely
at the foot of the fruit tree walls, and some few are
intended for planting out permanently in hand-
lights. Lettuce urows too freely, and wants
thinning, and another sowing— contrary to expec-
tation— will have to be made to ensure our having
plenty of plants for early suppUes next year.
old green curled has broad green leaves, curled on
the eilges, and is a strong grower. The Moss-curled
variety of this, oiUy with the leaves very much
laciniated, and very handsome. But the white
curled appeared to be one of the very best Endives
the leaves are much more curled than those of
the green, and they are of a pale golden green
colour, and reaUy very pretty. Then there were the
old Broad-leaved Batavian and Eraser's Broad'
leaved, which is quite distinct from the former, as
well as being much more rounded in the leaves. The
White Batavian is of a pale greyish green colour,
but not white, as might be supposed. I came to
the conclusion that the best Endives for garden cul-
ture are the Moss green curled and the white
curled, both looking crisp, tender, and palatable. —
R. D.
Endives. — It is not often that a study can be
made of a trial of Endives. I saw one a short time
since at the trial grounds of Messrs. Hurst and Son
at East Croydon. There were lines of several plants
of each, so a good opportunity was afforded for
judging of the characters of the various types. The
WINTER SUPPLY OF TOMATOES.
OUTDOOB crops of Tomatoes are remarkably good,
the fruit being both large and abundant. As yet
there are no signs of disease, and if this does not
affect the plants and fruit during the'present month,
a most serviceable lot of fruit will be stored for
autumn and early winter use. It is now very well
known that fuUy developed fruits may be cut and
ripened under cover, and that it will not be very
inferior to those perfected under more favourable
circumstances. Even those only partiaUy grown
will eventually colour and will be serviceable for
cooking, if not for eating as a salad. Frosts and
rainy weather are both liable to spoU much of the
fruit. In numerous gardens there are at this time
of the year several garden lights that can well te
spared, and these ought to be utilised for protecting
the best cropped Tomato plants growing against a
wall or fence. The foliage and fruit being kept
dry there is much less likelihood of the fungus
spores affecting a lodgment on them, and what
keeps off rains wUl also afford good protection
against a sudden frost. Thus taken care of, the
plants wUl properly ripen the greater portion of the
fruit, most of which wiU be of superior quality to
that ripened off the plants. If there are no avail-
able means of protecting the plants, it is advisable
to cut and house the crops about the third week in
September. Later than that they are liable in mcst
districts to be spoilt by frosts, and this has happened
stiU earlier. I would advise that all half grown or
smaUer fruit should be pickled. Those above that
size should be cut in bunches and hung up to ripen
either in a warm, dry house or in a kitchen. Any
nearly ripe being liable to drop off should be
gathered and placed on shelves to flnish colouring.
Altogether the supply wUl, in our case at any rate,
last tUl late in November, perhaps longer.
There is less demand for Tomatoes in the winter,
and with very little trouble and without occupying
much house space, the requisite immber of ripe
fruit can be secured. We have tried the plan of
raising plants both from seed and cuttings in
August, but, on the whole, prefer to re-invigorate a
few old plants that were grown under glass for the
early supplies. These being either on the roof or
against a sunny back wall of a forcing house are
aUowed a short rest, though not altogether neglected.
If some of the surface soil is removed, a good soak-
ing of water or liquid manure given, followed by a
liberal top-dressing of turfy loam and half rotten
manure, the plants soon form a number of fruitful
shoots from all parts of the stems, and no difficulty
need be experienced in setting a good crop of fruit.
The ribbed sorts, of which the best are the Dwarf
Orangefield and the Large Red, set their fruit most
freely, the former being the heaviest cropping and
most Lrenerally excellent sort in cultivation. The
syringe wUl usually set the smooth, round-fruited
varieties, and we have frequently distributed the
poUen after the houses have been ventUated about
an hour by simply smartly tapping the bunches of
bloom. Plants with their roots confined in a small
quantity of exliausted soil require occasional sup-
plies of liquid manure as well as top-dressings of
trood compost. Many plants are kept in large pots
and boxes, and in this case it is advisable to place a
rim of tin just inside, so as to enclose a greater
Sept. 24, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
279
depth ot fresh soil. I have known instances where
plants of Tomatoes in narrow, square boxes stand-
ing near a pathway, have been kept in full bearing
for upwards of two years. They were trained
against a back wall where plenty of light could
reach them, and were kept sufficiently vigorous with
the aid of fresh top-dressings of loam and manure,
enclosed by a fresh wooden rim added to the bos.
What appeared to be one whole bos was really
made up of several narrow additions, the last nails
being driven in after the back strip had been passed
behind the stem of the plant. It was a simple
method of maintaining an unbroken supply of use-
ful fruit. Dwarf Orangefield was the sort grown, no
other being quite so amenable to this method of
culture.
If we had neither old plants to reinvigorate, nor
young plants already established in small pots, I
should yet be inclined to raise some from cuttings,
and have no doubt about being able to secure fairly
good crops by midwinter. Stout, yet firm, shoots
would be selected, these being duly trimmed and
inserted in 3-inch pots, and then placed in a hand-
light set in a warm house. Little or no air would
be given tiU the cuttings were rooted unless they
gave signs of damping off, in which case the glass
would be dried every morning and air given for a
short time. When well rooted, the plants would be
placed on a sunny shelf in a warm liouse, and soon
after shifted into 6-lnch pots, any light loamy com-
post suiting them. Sunny, airy shelves would still
be the best place for them, the aim being to keep
them as sturdy as possible. By the time the pot;
were full of roots a good bunch of bloom would have
developed, and the final shift be required. They
can be fruited in 12-inch pots, or a rather smaller
size used, and these be eventually plunged in a bed
of good soil — say a ridge of soil and manure pre-
viously occupied by Melon or Cucumber plants. The
roots from these plunged plants soon spread into
the surrounding soil, only sufficiently so, however,
to support the plants without inducing gross, unfruit-
ful growth. Those placed in good sized pots and
intended for standing on a staging ought to receive
good loamy soil, this being made fairly firm at
potting time, sjaaoe also being allowed for a top-
dressing later on. High temperatures are not
necessary or advisable. Our Tomatoes do well in a
rather poorly glazed house, the temperature of which
generally ranges from 55° to 5G° in the daytime
and from .5(1" to 60" in the night-time, an occasional
fall of 10' not making much difference. A warm
airy house just suits them ; a stewing hot tempera-
ture does not.
The plants in all cases may well be trained thinly,
this both favouring fniitfuluess and also admitting
a fair amount of light to a variety of plants that
may be grown underneath. Young seedlings and
newly-struck plants are best trained with a single
stem, all side shoots beiog kept closely pinched out
These plants may be allowed to extend up to the
roof, and fruit to their full extent. We have ob-
tained good crops from staked-up plants, but, as a
rule, those trained to the roof are the most profit-
able during the winter months. They ought never
to get very dry at the roots, and frequent supplies
of liquid manure or light surfacings of some kind
of manure are most beneficial to plants in fall bear-
ing. The one great enemy to Tomatoes is a tiny
white-winged insect, which is very hard to exter-
minate. This pest has been so very troublesome in
some gardens— first, on the Tomatoes, and then on
a variety of other plants — that friends of mine have
discontinued house-culture of Tomatoes on account
ot it. I have tried a variety of remedies for it, but
have concluded that frequent fumigation with
tobaoco-paper is the most certain preventive. It
should be repeated at least two nights in succession
to destroy the bulk of the old insects, which cun-
ningly drop to the ground, and again when many of
the eggs deposited on the leaves are hatched.
W.I.
Radish for winter. — Salad plants are never
over-plentiful in winter. In many gardens they are
decidedly scarce, and although Lettuce, Endive,
Mustard and Cress, &c., may be secured with very
little trouble, they are often neglected. While all
of these subjects named require a little protection
in severe weather. Radishes only require to be sown,
and, as a rule, they do not fail. They are the easiest
of all winter salads to grow, and every garden owner
might have a supply of them throughout the greater
part of the winter. The summer varieties are too
tender for winter, the best of all for that season
being the China Kose, the bulbs of which wiU grow
in November and December, or, indeed, all through
the winter. It is well, however, to have them of
moderate size by the end of October, and the present
is a good time to sow a quantity of seed. It is
better sown in rows than broadcast, as should the
weather prove very severe, some protection can easily
be placed along the sides of the rows in the form of
manure or leaves, but when broadcast this cannot
be done. The drills should be opened to a depth of
2 inches and the seed sown thinly, as when they
come up thickly they do not form bulbs freely. If
the rows are kept 1 foot apart they wUl not become
crowded, and a few short rows will keep up a supply
until young Radishes come again in the spring-time.
— Cambeiax.
THE BOREATTON PEAS.
AiioxG the new varieties of Peas that were favour-
ably mentioned by the fruit committee when in-
specting those grown at Chis wick during the present
summer were two varieties, viz.. Heroine and Echo,
raised by ilr. Henry Eckford, Boreatton. These
two nearly gained the coveted honour of three
marks in a season not at all favourable to the
development of the best qualities in Peas. Calling
at Boreatton a short time since, on my way from
Manchester, I had an opportunity of inspecting
Mr. Eckford's new varieties. He is such a pains-
taking florist, that it is scarcely necessary to say
his edible, like bis new forms of sweet Peas, are all
obtained from the most careful crosses, and the
parents employed are only those from which good
results might be anticipated. They are grown well
at Boreatton. The seeds are sown thinly in good
soil, so that the indiWdual plants might have full
opportunity to develop their best character, and the
plants are mulched with short manure during the
prevalence of dry weather.
Heroine is a very promising garden Pea, second
early, 2\ feet high, producing large and handsome
pods, containing ten Peas in each on an average,
wrinkled, a great cropper, and extra fine for exhibi-
tion and mai'ket purposes. This is likely to become
a standard variety. Echo is dwarfer still — about
2 feet — bearing green square-pointed pods, large,
full, and fine, promising to make an excellent second
early variety. Quality is a fine Pea, of the Xe Plus
Ultra type, and may be regarded as an early form
of this with increased size of pod, which are dark
green, and fine for exhibition purposes ; height
i feet. Fame and Shropshire Hero were both
awarded certificates of merit when growing at
Chiswick in ISSG. Fame is of the same character
as Quality, and yet distinct and later in bearing:
height about 3 feet: pods large, long, handsome, and
well fiUed. Shropshire Hero is dwarfer stUl — about
2,1 ft. — bearing remarkably fine square-topped pods.
This promises to make a reliable exhibition variety.
The Doctor is a dwarf variety, 2 ft. in height, bearing
large, long, handsome pods of unusual dimensions.
This Mr. Eckford regards as a very great acquisi-
tion, and it is his intention to rigidly select it, so as
to have the stock as fine and pure as possible. The
pods of this variety are curved at the point. Su-
perb, another very striking variety bearing very
fine straight pods, blunt at the point, large, dark
green, handsome, bearing a delightful bloom, and
promising to make a very fine exhibition variety,
is about 4 feet high. Salopian, height 5 feet, one
of the latest of Mr. Eckford's Peas, is of the
British Queen type, and bears large greenish
white pods, with eight to ten Peas in each. This wiU
make a fine show Pea for late exhibitions. Bore-
atton. the result of a cross between Telephone and
Ne Plus Ultra, but earlier than either — in fact,
nearly as early as WiUiam the First — bears large,
pale green, square-topped pods of handsome form,
and should juake a fine exhibition variety. Comet
also grows to a height of 5 feet, and comes into
bearing with Boreatton ; it is a very promising Pea,
bearing freely long and handsome pods. Renown
is a dwarf form of Fame, but distinct from it ; it is
a dwarf Xe Plus Ultra, but very much earlier. It is
a second early, and promises to make a first-class
market Pea. Lastly, comes Herald, so named be-
cause of its earliness. coming into bearing with
WiUiam the First, is of the Xe Plus Ultra type ; the
seed in the dry state is green, wrinkled, but rather
rounder inform than that of Xe Plus Ultra; pods long,
handsome, and well fiUed ; a variety that crops well
in addition to its being so early. Progress, one of
Mr. Eckford's varieties distributed last season, was
seen here in the best form ; it is a very fine late
variety of conspicuous merit.
It must not be supposed that Mr. Eckford will
put all the foregoing varieties into circulation.
Some of them are yearlings ; others are being tested
the second season. Mr. Eckford finds, as other
raisers from fertilised varieties have found, that a
single pod so obtained will produce seedlings of
varying character, some of marked distinctness, and
a most rigid test and selection are necessary in order
to properly appreciate and fix th'e character of those
selected as acquisitions. Mr. Eckford is fully aware
of this, and puts his Peas to a severe test before
finally selecting the varieties to be sent out.
R. D.
HAR'V'ESTIXCt OXIOXS.
ALTHoroH the whole of the summer has been
much against many crops, it has been in favour in
autumn-sown Onions, which we have never seen
better than they were in July. The hot weather
has also suited the spring-sown ones, and if the
drought has prevented them growing so large as we
have seen them, they are yet very firm and well
matured, and, if properly harvested, will keep sound
and good for the next nine or ten months. In wet
seasons they have generally grown on until the end
of September, and many of them were very thick in
the neck and quite green then, and when they are
in this condition they are not very suitable for har-
vesting or keeping. There are few of this stamp
this year, as the great majority of them are small in
the neck and already withered in the stems. As soon
as they are in this condition they are in capital
order for harvesting, and they should be taken in
immediately afterwards. If they are matured in
the drought and left out until rain comes many of
them will begin to grow, and then they ^"ill be of
no use for keeping. At the same time the largest of
the bulbs will split or show an indication of dividing
in two, and this also spoils them. In such a season
as this it will therefore be well to harvest them
before the ground in which they are growing be-
comes saturated with wet. The best of all ways of
treating them is to puU them all np and take them
into any open shed or somewhere under cover. They
will soon dry, especially if spread out. After being
in a fortnight or so they should all be cleaned.
This is done by rubbing them slightly with the
hands, merely to remo%"e the loose skin, and the top
growths should be twisted ofi: near the crown of the
bulb. They are then ready for storing, and we
never found them better anywhere than in a dry,
cool shed. We have stored them on the floor in the
.ipple room and found them keep admirably, and
they have done equally well in a loft over the pot-
ting-shed. It is very desirable that they should be
kept away from damp and a high temperature, as
the former will cause them to decay, and the latter
starts them into growth at a time when they should
be quite dormant. We have tried the plan of
tying them on to ropes, and they look well and
are convenient in this way, but do not keep any
better than when spread out on the floor or on a
shelf. CA3IBKIAX.
SHORT JfOTES.—KITCHMN.
Muslirooras. — We have received a small box of
MushrootQS from the Scottish Mushroom Company,
whose interesting exhibit at the recent Edinburgh Ex-
hibition was commented on in our report of the show.
Mushrooms for profit. — I can erect at a small
cost suitable houses for growing Mushrooms and To-
280
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 24, 1887.
matoes. I am close to a good market. Are these crops
remunerative when well gi'own ? and what would be
considered a good yield per square yard of the former,
or per plant of the latter?— Tyro.
Hughes' Earliest of .AH Potato.— This is
without doubt the earliest variety in cultivation. I
planted a few rows on a south border on May 4, and
commenced lifting the tubers on June 28. The Ash-
leaved varieties tried for the sake of comparison were
not to be compared with them. It is well adapted for
forcing and early borders, as its haulm is very dwarf
and stout. — J. H.
Orchids.
•W. H. G 0 W E R.
PILUMNAS.
A SMALL genus establislied by Lindley, whioli
is nearly allied to Trichopilia, but with some
few botanical distinctions of little importance to
the cultivator. They are mostly found in
Columbia and New Grenada, and thrive in a
cool house. They grow naturally upon the
ground amongst Moss and light fibrous material,
and under cultivation are best treated as pot
plants. The material in which they are placed
should be loose and free, the drainage kept
open, and in good order. "When growing give
an abundant supply of water, but when growth
is mature a slight season of rest is beneficial,
but avoid shrivelling the bulbs.
P. KOBiLis. — The leaves and pseudo-bulbs of
this plant are all deep shining green ; the latter
are oblong and compressed. The flowers appear
during the autumn and early winter months,
after growth is completed, and are some 3 inches
or 4 inches across, pure white, except a pair of
orange-coloured spots at the base of the lip.
They are very fragrant, and last a long time
when cut. We recently noted this species
growing very freely under cool treatment in Mr.
Shuttleworth's nursery at Clapham.
P. FEAGEANS. — As its name implies, this is
sweet-scented, and, like the previously named
kind, is an autumn and winter bloomer. It
diflfers from P. nobilis in having longer and
more slender pseudo-bulbs and smaller flowers,
which are pure white, stained towards the base
with pale orange. The above are two charming
plants for autumn blooming, having the addi-
tional recommendations of being low in price,
easily managed, and profuse bloomers.
Lselia Bayana. — Some very fine forms of this
lovely dwarf Lielia are now flowering with Mr. Salter
in Mr. Soutbgate's garden at Streatbam. They are
grown in small hanging baskets, with very little
potting material about them. The temperature is
somewhat higher than that of the Odontoglossum
house, whilst the plants are kept close to the glass.
In the best variety noted the sepals and petals were
deep rosy purple ; the lip intense deep purple-ma-
genta. The growing season of this plant is in spring,
and the flowers are produced when the bulb is about
half matured, so that it requires careful watering
whilst in bloom, and after the flowers have faded
until the pseudo-bulbs are quite ripened. — W. H. G.
Oncidiutn lianceanum. — This richly-coloured
Oncid is now flowering in Mr. Soutbgate's collec-
tion at Streatbam, affording a pleasing contrast to
lighter coloured flowers with which it is surrounded.
This species is destitute of pseudo-bulbs, but has
large fleshy light green leaves, dotted all over with
purple. The flowers are produced upon an erect,
branching spike, and are nearly 2 inches across ; the
sepals and petals greenish yellow, profusely blotched
with brownish crimson ; lip violet in front, intense
deep violet at the base. It enjoys strong heat and
moisture in conjunction with light and aif . 0. Lance-
anum Louvrexianum is a charming variety which
differs in the flowers having a vanilla-like fragrance,
and in the lip being pure white in front, and rich
magenta suffused with violet at the base. An ex-
cellent variety of this plant is now blooming in Mr.
Buchan's collection, Wilton House, Southampton. —
W. H. G.
DISA GRANDIFLOEA AND ITS VARIETIES.
EvEE since my late friend, Mr. Charles Leach, of
Clapham Park, now more than a quarter of a cen-
tury ago, astonished the horticultural world at the
opening of the Eoyal Horticultural Society's Gar-
dens with what had before that not been really
seen in England, a well-developed and fuU-flowered
specimen of this lovely terrestrial Orchid, I have
had an acquaintance with it in my small way, been
interested in it, and have grown it with more or less
success. The plant which Mr. Leach kindly gave
me perished through, I believe, its being potted in
peat unsuitable for it; but I shortly afterwards
procured a clump from the Colchester Bulb Co.,
and being more careful in the selection of peat have
fairly succeeded with it. Since those days I have
seen it in many places, but, as a rule, I may say
most miserably done. I was at a very prosperous
flower show in the west of England lately. I asked
two of the most successful growers of Orchids there,
one a nurseryman, the other a gardener, about their
plants of Disa, and the reply in both instances was,
" We can do nothing with it ; " while they could grow
their Cattleyas, Vandas, and Dendrobiums to per-
fection, this little Cape Orchid bothered them ; and
yet how successfully it can be grown, witness, for
instance, Mr. Bedford's account of his plants,
or that of those at Chatsworth. I have never
seen the Straffan plants, but I have seen those at
Chatsworth and Glasnevin, and also those grown
by my friend Mr. Tymons, and I may therefore be
supfiosed to have some slight acquaintance with it.
And now with regard to
Ctiltube. — The grand mistake made by most
persons about it is that because it is an Orchid it
must require some amount of heat. This is an
absolute mistake; its habitat is, as is well known, in a
guUey on the top of Table Mountain at the Cape, at
a very high altitude, where even frosts are not un-
known, and this clearly indicates that it does not
require heat, and yet how very hard it is to persuade
people that this is so. When I saw it at Chatsworth
it was by the door of the Heath house, and my own
plants have always been grown in a small green-
house near the door; this greenhouse only just
manages to keep out frost, but the Disas thrive in
it ; and when I say that last year I had a pan
9 inches across with ten flower-stems in it, I cannot
be accused of want of success. There is but little
dififerenoe of opinion as to the material in which
Disas are to be potted ; some use Sphagnum, and
others use charcoal with their peat ; but all are
agreed that the one thing to be sought for is good
sound peat broken up into pieces, but not sifted.
I myself use charcoal with the peat, but that
either suits them is evident from Mr. Bedford's
account of the success which he has obtained.
Then, with regard to pots, I find that some ad-
vocate deep pots, others pans. I use the latter, and
find that it they are those of Mr. Dominy with
holes at the sides the plants send out their shoots
through the holes ; but perhaps the most knotty
point about culture is that of repotting. I have
generally disturbed them as little as I could help
while giving them plenty of fresh peat, but, seeing
that Mr. Tymons stated they liked being torn about
and separated, I did so with mine last year, and I
was the more inclined to treat it in this way, as I
wished to give some pieces to friends. Well, the
result has been that I have had only one flower
this year. The plants are exceedingly healthy. I
see now the young shoots appearing which will form
the plant for next year, and I have every hope, it I do
not disturb them too much, that I shall have a good
bloom next season. I find a writer in one of your
contemporaries stating : —
At one time we repotted plants annually after ilower-
ing, and found that the practice was necessary to
maintain sweet material about the roots. We used at
that time ^Sphagnum Moss to the extent of one-third
amongst the compost, and found that it was thoroughly
decayed in the course of twelve months. This method
of culture has been discontinued, and repotting done
less freijuently.
How, then, are two such opposite systems of
treatment to be reconciled 7 I have an idea (but
may be wrong) that it is a question of varieties.
That which I saw with Mr. Tymons seemed to me
to be coarser in fibre and of a more vigorous habit
than that to which I had been accustomed. The
same was true of the stock at Glasnevin, for where
Mr. Tymons had originally obtained his plants it
withstood what the more refined varieties resented,
the treatment. This may be a mere fancy, but it is
a "fiction founded on fact." I have found that
very frequent syringing is beneficial, and, consider-
ing the constantly humid atmosphere to which it is
exposed in its natural habitat, this is not to be
wondered at.
Like many other Orchids, I have long been per-
suaded that Disas vary much in colour in their natu-
ral habitats, and there are certainly four well-defined
varieties in cultivation — there may be others. There
is, first of all, the ordinary form ; in this the sepals
are of a light crimson colour, and the colouring gene-
rally somewhat fainter than in the two following
varieties : —
D. GRANDIPLOBA SUPBEEA.— In this the COloUT
of the sepals is a true scarlet, without any shading,
the flowers being of a very thick texture, and some-
what smaller than those of the next variety.
D. G. s. violbscens. — This seems to be an in-
termediate flower between the ordinary form and
superba, having a deeper shade of violet in it, while
it is also more scarlet. The flowers are large, and
they are produced more or less abundantly. I do
not know what form of Disa is in cultivation at
Chatsworth, but, as far as my recollection of it goes,
it was this form that I saw there some years ago,
and we have heard lately that it has produced
twelve flowers on one stem. I have never had more
than six. Mr. Bedford has recently recorded his
wonderful success at Straffan with it, and one's
small efforts are hardly worth mentioning alongside
of it, but I last year had ten flowering stems, in a
pan 9 inches wide, with some twenty-four blooms.
This year, alas ! as I have said, I have only one
bloom. Besides these, there is what is known
as the
Glasnevin variety. — This (although I may ex-
cite the indignation of my good friend Mr. Tymons)
I consider to be a most inferior variety, and, in com-
parison with the others, I hardly think I am exagge-
rating when I call ithardlv worth growing. Doubtless,
had we never seen the other two varieties, we might
have thought it pretty enough, but when we have
them,'and can have them in sufEcient quantity, I do
not think, except for curiosity, one would care to
keep it. Mr. Tymons is an Auricula fancier and
a good grower of the flower. If I ask him his opi-
nion of General Neill or Colonel Champneys, pro-
bably he would reply, "Not worth growing when
you can have Colonel Taylor, Prince of Greens, or
George Lightbody. I may keep one or two just for
variety, but 'do not care to increase them." This
Glasnevin variety has flowers of a washy salmony
red colour, and its colouring in all its parts is much
fainter; while it appears, like the inferior Auriculas
I have named, to be more sturdy than the others.
In writing this, I do not pretend to treat the
matter otherwise than in the simplest practical
manner, and if I have made blunders, I hope they
may be condoned in my endeavour to urge upon those
who desire to cultivate this very lovely flower a simple
treatment of it. Amongst its other qualities which
I have omitted to mention is its long endurance, the
individual blooms remaining fresh in a cool house
for five or six weeks. Delta.
Spathoglcttis augustorum. — This new ter-
restrial Orchid is now in flower in one of the
Orchid houses at Kew. It proves to be a very
beautiful plant, and far finer than the coloured
illustration given of it in one of the Continental
periodicals. In growth it looks like a species of
Phaius, the pseudo-bulbs being about the size and
shape of a hen's egg, and the leaves from 1 foot to
2 feet long, comparatively broad, and prominently
plaited or ribbed. The flower-stem rises about
2^ feet high, and is terminated by an umbel-like
Sept. 24, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
281
cluster of from twelve to twenty flowers, which are
each about 2 inches across, with broad sepals and
petals of a delicate pale pink, while thelabellum
has reddish brown wings and a rose-pink lobe.
The flower strongly reminds one of PhaliBnopsis
Lowi in shape, size, and colour. The topmost
flower-buds expand first, and are followed in quick
succession by the rest of the buds, so that when the
whole cluster is fuUy expanded the spike is very
showy. Like the other species of Spathoglottis, it
is quite terrestrial in habit, and needs a strong com-
post in order to grow it well. The Kew plants are
grown in a warm, moist stove in company with
Phalsenopsids, which, by the way, are better grown
at Kew now than ever they have been before. — W. G.
ORCHIDS AT CHELSEA.
Cattleya pokphybophlebia is a distinct and
handsome hybrid raised in the nursery by crossing
C. intermedia with C. superba. The sepals and
petals are a lovely purplish blush ; the lip a deep
purple colour, suilused with crimson ; it is also
peculiarly crisped and wavy. There are light and
dark-bulbed varieties amongst the seedlings, and all
from the same pod of seed.
CypBiPBDiUM MACROPTBEUM is a handsome
vigorous-growing hybrid raised by crossing C. super-
biens with the pollen of C. Lowi. The dorsal sepal
takes the form of that of C. Lowi, but is broader ;
the laterals are slightly curved and dependent,
spotted with chocolate. It has the tall, two-flowered
scape of 0. Lowi, and the slipper intermediate be-
tween the two.
Odontoglossum Hakeyanum was also in flower,
and a good variety of it. The sepals and petals
are barred, and spotted a maroon colour on a rich
yellow ground. The front part of the labellum is
also rich yellow. This is a distinct and handsome
species, and a great acquisition to cool-house Orchids.
AUGE^CUM Ellisi, also in flower, is a very hand-
some plant. It has produced a spike of flowers
18 inches long, and twenty of them on one spike.
Saccolabium ccelestb is a beautiful species,
with small rich blue and white flowers — a most lovely
combination of colours. They are produced on up-
right spikes about 6 inches long.
The Cattleya house is gay with very distinct and
handsome species, notably C. gigas with its large,
rich-coloured labellum. C. speciosissima in several
forms, one of them with a rich crimson lip. C.
Harrisoniana with as many as five flowers on one
spike ; the sepals and petals are of a lovely rosy
purple colour, with a cream-coloured lip. C. velutina
has pale orange-coloured sepals and petals, spotted
with purplish maroon, and is distinct and very
pretty. C. bicolor in various forms was also very
distinct, with brownish sepals and petals and rich
crimson lip. Lselia elegans, in three or four distinct
forms, including the celebrated variety Turneri,
make a brave display of colour.
A large specimen of Maxillaria lutea alba was in
fine flower. Its sweetly perfumed flowers are very
attractive with the long, narrow sepals and petals
of a tawny yellow colour, white at the base.
CoELOGYNE Massanqeana is also in great beauty;
its long, drooping spikes are freely produced, and
at least twice a year from the same plants. Scores
of varieties and species of Oypripedium are in flower,
and other choice Orchids too numerous to par-
ticularise. J. Douglas.
Dendrobium formosum giganteum.— This
is a fine variety of one of the most handsome of
Dendrobes, and is now flowering in several collec-
tions. At Devonhurst, Chiswick, the residence of
Mr. Watts, there is an excellent specimen in a bas-
ket. It is a plant of easy culture, and will even
grow well in a house not specially devoted to Or-
chids. The flowers measure nearly 5 inches across,
and are produced at the apex of the stem, some-
times as many as seven together ; they are snowy
white, relieved with a golden blotch on the lip, and
for choice decorations invaluable, as they stand and
look well under artificial light, — E. C.
miltonia bicolor. — This is a rare and lovely
species, in the way of M. spectabilis, yet quite dis-
tinct. The sepals and petals are white ; the large
lip is also pure white, with a sharply-defined violet
blotch at the base. It is now blooming in Mr.
Southgate's collection at Streatham, where the fol-
lowing other species of Miltonia are now in great
beauty, M. Clowesi, Regnelli, Moreliana, and spec-
tabilis. These plants are aU growing in an inter-
mediate house, and their growths do not present that
sickly yellow appea,rance usually so conspicuous in
the members of this genus. This may be accounted
for by their being well exposed to the light, but
judiciously shaded from the sun. — W. H. G.
Saccolabium Blumei. — This autumn-blooming
species and its variety majus arc just now flowering
in great profusion in Messrs. Jackson's nursery at
Kingston-on-Thames, numerous plants, bearing two
and three racemes each, being upwards of a foot in
length and very dense. The waxy white sepals and
petals are delicately flushed with rose and sparingly
dotted with magenta, the narrow lip being a rich
magenta-rose. These Saccola,biums are grown
in a lower temperature than many would think
judicious, but the cool treatment for eastern
as well as western Orchids is on the increase. I
look forward to its general adoption when orna-
mental Vandas, Aerides, and other distichous-
leaved plants will be in great demand. The
system of cool treatment for Saccolabiums at
Kingston is not new, for it originated there many
years ago, when the collection was far more ex-
tensive than it is at the present time. Years ago
these Vandas, Aerides, and Saccolabiums were kept
at 50° to 60° during the winter months, and under
this treatment retained their foliage in a healthy
condition and bloomed profusely. — W. H. G.
Iiselia elegans prasiata. — This lovely variety
is now flowering in several collections round Lon-
don, and it is undoubtedly one of the very finest
autumn-blooming Orchids. There appears, however,
to be a tendency to confound it with the Laelia
Turneri of " Select Orchidaceous Plants " (t. 13),
from which it is quite distinct. L. elegans prasiata
is figured in the " Orchid Album " (t. 97), the sepals
and petals rosy purple, flushed with green, with
wavy margins ; lip three-lobed, side lobes elongated,
rolled over the column, and pure white, middle
lobe transversely-reniform, rich magenta-crimson in
colour, and slightly crenate on the edge. In L.
Turneri the flowers are larger, the sepals and petals
are deep purplish rose ; whilst the three-lobed lip is
very long in front; the side lobes are elongated,
rolled over the column, white, suffused with rose.
The middle lobe is upwards of an inch long, narrow
at the base, becoming distinctly spathulate, almost
round in front, whilst the colour is an intense violet-
rose. It also is an autumn-blooming plant, but the
true form is very rare. — W. H. G.
SHORT NOTES.— ORCHIDS.
Cypripedium prsestans. — We have received
from M. Linden, of Ghent, a coloured plate of this
new and beautiful Lady's SUpper, but it scarcely con-
veys a true idea of the rich markings of the boldly
shaped flowers. This Orchid was described in The
Garden, August 2" (p. 185).
Odontoglossum bictonense album. — A very
fine variety of this Orchid is flowering in Mr. Laing's
nursery at Forest Hill. The spikes are erect, bearing
innumerable flowers ; sepals and petals bronzy red ;
lip large, cordate, and pure white. This plant likes
cool treatment, hut being a native of Mexico, it enjoys
exposure to sun and light more than the New Grena-
dian kinds.— W. H. G.
Caterpillars destroying Potatoes.— Here
with I enclose a Potato, which you will find is being
destroyed by a caterpillar which will be found along
with the tuber. I shall be glad if you can inform
me what it is, and what plan you would advise in
order to eradicate the same. — W. Eobinson.
*m* In reply to the above, the caterpillars at-
tacking your Potatoes are those of the common
dart moth (Agrotis segetum). It is a very common
insect, and a great pest sometimes in flower gar-
dens, and often among Turnip, Mangold, and other
crops of plants of a similar nature, , but I never
heard of it attacking Potatoes before. I do not
know of any cure. Many insecticides would be
useful if they could be brought into contact with
the insect, but when insects work underground this
is very difiicult to manage. Soot, guano, or salt
scattered round the plants and hoed in has been
found useful. In your case I should dig the Pota-
toes as soon as practicable, and when doing so
destroy every caterpillar or chrysalis you can find ;
then collect all the unsound tubers, haulm, weeds,
and rubbish and burn them ; give a good dressing
of lime and then trench the ground well ; by these
means the caterpillars in the soil will be killed or
starved. Rooks, jackdaws, starlings, peewits, part-
ridges, and moles are most useful in destroying
these caterpillars. They should always be allowed
to work undisturbed, as they get at the enemy in a
way human beings cannot, and they seem at once
to know if a plant is attacked or not. But crops
often suffer from pests from which they might be
spared if their natural enemies were more encou-
raged.—G. S. S.
Destroying wasps. — The best and most
effectual method of destroying these troublesome
and dangerous garden pests which I have yet come
across is by the use of a preparation now being sent
out by Messrs. Barclay and Sons, Farringdon Street,
London. Till recently I have been in the habit of
using at night squibs with good results, but by
using the above preparation the nests are easily
destroyed in the daytime. I obtained a box of it,
and to give it a fair" trial I used the first dose in the
morning, when the wasps were busy. I took a little
of the powder on a tin, and dropped it just at the
entrance to the nest, and stood a few yards off
watching its results, and, to my astonishment, not
a single wasp escaped death. In a very short time
there was scarcely a wasp to be seen alive. A
second nest only a few yards away, and a very
strong one, too, I gave a similar dose with equal
results. If "May Blossom" (page 173) will Tgive
this preparation a trial, I feel the results will be
highly satisfactory.— H. MaekhAM.
Seeing your correspondent (page 237)
advocating the destruction of wasps with paraffin
oil, I beg to say that the simplest method is to pour
the oil in the hole of the nest, and leave the bottle
for a day after in the hole, having the earth closed
around the bottle. The strength of the oil is quite
sufficient to kill them, and there is no labour in
digging out the nests. I use tar, and find it very
effectual. Pour a drop of tar in the nest, and put
a bit of turf over the hole, and that is sufficient. _ I
quite agree with your correspondent in mentioning
that night is the best time to destroy wasps' nests.
— G. S.
Insects on 'Vines. — I enclose herewith shoots
of Vines, Impatiens, Bouvardia, and Begonia, which
are infested with a most destructive insect. I have
shown it and its results to several people, but can
learn nothing concerning it. It seems to thrive and
increase most in heat. I trust you will be able to
give me some information about it. — John Reiner.
*^* I have very carefully examined the shoots of
various plants which you sent, but could not find
the insect you allude to. The only insects I could
find were one scale insect, one thrips, one greenfly,
two larvffi of one of the snowy flies. Some of
the leaves were attacked by mildew, but they
could not be said to be infested with any insect.
Could you send another shoot, making sure that the
insects are on it ? — G. S. S.
The plague of wasps.— These pests, gathering
up strength through delay, have at last come on the
tail of August and on the head of September with
irresistible force and in incalculable numbers. Late
Gooseberries and Currants, hard Pears and soft
Peaches, juicy Plums and semi-mellow Apples are
besieged, goldened over by these ravenous and angry
assailants. They are accompanied by fully their
usual complement of hornets, which the drought
and the heat have swollen alike in numbers and size
beyond their average strength. On the contrary,
theur following of bluebottles are longer, thinner,
greyer, fewer, but more persistent than usual. I
also noticed that the blue or greyish bottles pre-
ceded the wasps this year, and undertook the pre-
liminary operation of piercing the rinds of the
282
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 24, 1887.
fruits, instead of, cuokoo-like, devouring the luscious
flesh already skinned for them by the wasps and
hornets. The latter are not only very numerous,
but more angry and hungry than usual. So much
and so generally excited are they in temper, that it
has become a risky matter to snatch Gooseberries,
Plums, Peaches, and Pears from their persistent
attacks. We are busy tarring them into every nest we
can find ; but the result hitherto has hardly sensibly
lessened their numbers. On the contrary, they seem
rapidly increasing to such an extent, that the air
in the neighbourhood of Gage and other Plums and
red Warrington Gooseberries seems filled with golden
points, as the wasps and hornets ply their work of
swift destruction.— D. T. F.
Hollyhock leaves diseased.— Will you kindly
inform me as to the cause of enclosed spots on Holly-
hock leaves P — B.
^ *#* Your Hollyhocks are attacked by the Hollyhock
disease, which has in many places almost exterminated
these handsome plants. I believe that there is no cure.
You had better burn the plants, and ti^y by this means
to stamp the disease out. — G. S. S.
Books.
EDINBURGH APPLE AND PEAR CONGRESS.*
Late in the summer of 1885 the council of this
healthy society decided upon holding an Apple and
Pear congress in connection with the Edinburgh
winter show, and so heartily did these earnest pomo-
logists go to work, that in the short space of three
months the finest collection of fruit ever beheld by
man was staged in the Waverley Market. Coming,
as the show did, so quickly after the Chiswick Con-
ference, one might have supposed, and many did
suppose, our friends over the border were playing
an old tune on seconds' instruments. But no such
thing ; they knew well what they were about, and,
more than that, the working members were well
backed up by gentlemen who love horticulture for
horticulture's sake. The Chiswick show of Apples
was a very important step in the right direction.
The Pear Conference was another, and the able re-
ports got up by Mr. Barron will be found of immense
value to all English fruit growers. Hardly, however,
had the handy little volume on Pears been placed
by the side of a similar book on Apples, than the
painstaking Malcolm Dunn, of the Palace Gardens,
Dalkeith, sent forth bis jubilee contribution to en-
rich still further the pomologist's library.
Unlike the Royal Horticultural Society, that of
Edinburgh cast its net far and wide, when the
Apple and Pear season of 1885 being a remarkably
good one, the draught of collections from all parts
of the United Kingdom, including fine examples
from Ireland, as well as the colonies, must have
astonished the most practical members of the
society, as most certainly they appalled the jurors
when first they beheld them.
Turning to the report now before us, after allud-
ing to the magnificent collection of Apples exhibited
by the government of Nova Scotia and the splendid
and highly instructive collection of Apples and
Pears sent by the Royal Horticultural Society of
England, Mr. Dunn goes on to say, Scotland contri-
buted a total of 8000 dishes, of which about 1000
were Pears. Towards this total, Mid Lothian con-
tributed 147.5 samples; Roxburgh, 76.5 samples; East
Lothian, 715 samples ; Perth, 614 ; and Orkney
brought up the rear with a most interesting exhibit
of 21 varieties grown in the island of Shapinshay.
Wending our way homeward over the border, we find
England contributing about 4000 dishes, including
specimens of all the popular varieties of Apples and
Pears, and as these fine and highly coloured fruits
were of great use to the jurors, the compiler has not
gone a whit too far out of his way in acknowledging
the society's indebtedness to the growers who so
readily held out the hand of good fellowship.
Although the contributions from Ireland amouuted
to only about 560 samples, they represented a wide
* " Royal Caledonian Society's Report of the Apple
and Pear Cougi-ess." Edinburgh: Maclachlan and
Stewart. |
range of country, extending from Antrim in the north
to Wexford in the south, and from Galway in the west
to Dubliu in the east. Many of the Apples and Pears
were exhibited in great perfection ; large, smooth, and
clear in the colour, which was generally paler than that
of the same varieties grown in England. Most of the
collections contained some excellent specimens of
Apples of Irish origin, many of which appear to thrive
well in their native country. The contributions, as a
whole, formed the fiuest display ever seen in Great
Britain of Apples and Pears grown in Ireland.]
In the arrangement of the report Scotland quite
properly occupies the first part, simply because the
special examination of Scottish Apples and Pears
formed the primary object of the congress. The
compiler, too, maybe congratulated upon the simple
alphabetical arrangement of exhibitors and counties,
which enables the fruit grower to find just what he
wants in an instant. Another very important part
of the work will be found in the ample details
given by the contributors, including altitude, soil,
and subsoil ; stocks, where and how grown ; season
and bearing qualities, with observations compiled
from notes by the jurors.
The selections of the best varieties of Apples and
Pears for each county, each country, and the United
Kingdom have been compiled from the returns sent
in by experienced growers residing in the different
localities, and furnish the most valuable record that
has yet beeu obtained of the best varieties for cultiva-
tion. To suit various wants, these selections have
been arranged in eight lists or classes of fruit, as
follows : —
1. Ten dessert Apples, in the order of ripening.
2. Teu culinary Apples, do.
3. Ten dessert Pears, do.
4. Twelve Apples forgi'owing as dwarf bushes, &c.
5. Twelve Apples for growing in orchards.
0. TwelvePears for gi'owing as dwarf hushes, &c,
7. Six Pears for growing in orchards.
8. Three stewing Pears.
The demands of all classes of fruit growers are thus
met. The varieties named in Classes 1, 2, and 3 are
specially designed for private gardens, where a regular
supply of the best fruit has to be provided throughout
the season, or say, generally, from August to May ;
the season varying in earliness and duration in accord-
ance with the circumstances of each locality.
Profit is the main object of Classes 4 to 8, and these
selections are therefore the best Apples and Pears for
general cultivation.
The selections for the various parts of the country
bear a remarkable similarity. The teu or twelve va-
rieties at the top of the poll for the United Kingdom
appear to be the most suitable for cultivation from
Land's End to John o' Groat's, and from Cape Clear
to Giant's Causeway. The lists for the different
counties are never exactly the same, some little known
or favourite local variety being often included in the
selections ; but apart from these trivial exceptions the
majority of the varieties selected are identical.
Passing over one hundred pages teeming with
useful matter, at pp. 105—6 we find a summary of
Apples and Pears from 77 selectors, with the number
of votes given to each, best suited to the climate of
Scotland. King of the Pippins, as at Chiswick,
heads the list ; but here is the list divided into eight
sections : —
1. Dessekt Applks. — Irish Peach (4.3), Aiiqiifit;
Osliu (15), Septemher; Thorie Pippin (2i) , Orioher ;
Ken-y Pippin ('14), November; King of the Pippins
(63), Decemhi^r; Cox's Orange Pippin (41), January ;
Ribston Pippin (48) , Fehritary ; Blenheim Pippin (53),
March ; Court of Wick (24) , April ; Duke of Devonshire
(16), May.
2. Culinary Apples. — Keswick Codlin (54), .4m-
gnst; Lord Suffield (61) , September ; Echlinville (66),
October; Hawthornden (31), November; Stirling
Castle (62), December; Tower of Glamis (25), January;
Warner's King (55), Fehrnary ; Alfriston (51), March;
Wellington (51), April; Northern Greening (21), If ay.
3. Dessert Pears. — Jargonelle (56), August;
Williams' Bon Chretien (44), September; Beurre
d'Amanlis (28), October; Louise Bonne of Jersey (32),
Noreiiibcr ; Marie Louise (55), December; Wiuter
Nelis (20), Javuary; Haeon's Incomparable (22),
February ; Glou Moroeau (27), ilfarc?i; Easter Beun-e,
(40), Apiril; Beurre Ranee (24), May.
4. 12 Dessert Apples for bushes, &o. — Blenheim
Pippin (25), Canibusuethan Pippin (24), Court of 'Wick
(28),Oox's Orange Pippin (43), Golden Pippin (17), Irish
Peach (48), Kerry Pippin (47), King of the Pippins
(55), Oslm (22), Ribston Pippin (29), Thorie Pippin
(31), Worcester Pearmain (33).
5. 12 Apples for orchards.— AUristou (43), Blen-
heim Pippin (39), Echlinville (56), Golden Noble (22),
Hawthornden (24), Keswick Codlin (44), Lord Suffield
(47), New Hawthornden (22), Stiriiug Castle (58),
Tower of Glamis (32), Warner's King (53), Welling-
ton (46).
6. 12 Dessert Pears for bushes, &c. — Beurre
d'Amanlis (28), Beurre d'Ai-emberg (17), Beurre do
Capiaumout (10), Beurrg Diel (19), Easter Beurri^ (16),
Haeon's Incomparable (22), Jargonelle (27), Louise
Bonne of Jersev (36), Marie Louise (21), Moortowl's
Egg (22), Swan's Egg (12), Williams' Bon Chretien
(35).
7. 6 Pears for orchards. — Autumn Bergamot (12),
Ci-awford (17), Hessle (43), Louise Bonne of Jersey
(13), Moorfowl's Egg (27), Swan's Egg (13).
8. 3 Stewing Pears. — Catillac (45), Uvedale's St;
Germain (19), Verulam (16).
Again, at pp. 173 — 4, from nine selectors, Mr.
Dunn has compiled a similar list of the best varie-
ties, with votes attached to each, for giving a regular
supply throughout the season in Ireland. This list,
which we venture to publish, should be of great use
to planters in the Emerald Isle; but how it happens
that a second-rate Apple like King of the Pippins
still tops the poll is an enigma.
1. Dessert Apples. — Irish Peach (6), August;
Devonshire Quarreuden (4), September ; KeiTy Pipr
pin (8), October; King of the Pippins (9), November;
Cox's Orange Pippin (8), December; Ribston Pippin
(6), January; Blenheim Pippin (8), i^'cSciiar?/ ; Court
of Wick (4), March; Court Rendu Plat (i), April r
Duke of Devonshire (4), May.
2. Culinary Apples. — Keswick CodUn (7), Auguat;
Lord Suffield (4), September ; EchlinriUe (7), October;
Hawthornden (6), November; Tower of Glamis (4),
December ; Warner's King (4), January; Yorkshire
Greening (5), February; Golden Noble (4), March;
Alfriston (9), April; Wellington (8), May.
3. Dessert Pears. — Jargonelle (8), August; Wil-
liams' Bon Chretien (7), jSepfember; Beurre d'Amanlis
(5), October; Louise Bonne of Jersey (6), November •
Marie Louise (8), December; Winter Nelis (5), Janu-
ary; Haeon's Incomparable (5), February; GIou
Morceau (8), March; Easter Beurre (9), April; Ber-
gamotte d'Esperen (6), Jlfai/.
4. 12 Dessert Apples for bushes, &c. — Blenheim
Pippin (5), Court of Wick (5), Court Rendu Plat (6),
Cox's Orange Pippin (7), Devonshire Quarreuden (5),
Golden Pippin (5), Irish Peach (4), Kerry Pippin (9),
King of the Pippins (9), Ribston Pippin (3), Sam
Young (4), Worcester Peai-main (4).
5. 12 Apples for okchaeds. — Alfriston (8), Blen-
heim Pippin (5), Echlinville (6), Hawthornden (7),
Keswick Codlin (6), King of the Pippins (4), Lord
Suffield (5), Northern Greening (5), Stirling Castle
(4), Warner's King (5), Wellington (7), Yorkshire
Greening (4).
6. 12 Dessert Pears for bushes, &c.. — Beurre
d'Amanlis (7), Beurrg d'Aremberg (4), Beurre Diel
(5), Beurre Superfin (5), Comte de Lamy (4), Doyenne
du Comice (4), Easter Beurre (3), Haeon's Incom-
parable (6), Louise Bonne of Jersey (6), Marie Louise
(5), Napoleon (4), WiDiams' Bon ChriStieu (8).
7.6 Pears for orchards. — Aston Town (4),
Beurre d'Amanlis (4), Haeon's Incomparable (4),
Hessle (7), Louise Bonne of Jersey (7), Williams' Bon
Chretien (8).
8. 3 Stewing Pears.— Catillac (9), Uvedale's St.
Germain (6), Verulam (7).
The remainder of the report, some thirty pages,
is devoted to Apples from the United States and
Nova Scotia, and, judging from a hurried glance,
much interesting and valuable information will be
found therein.
Like Mr. Barron's report, the paper on which it is
printed is good, the print large, clear, and legible,
and it can be bought for two shillings. W. C.
metropolitan Public Oardens Association.
— The Earl of Meath, the chairman of this associa-
tion, has appointed Mr. William Goldring, land-
scape gardener, Kew, to be honorary inspector of
the gardens and open spaces of this association in
London. There are now many of these public gar-
dens distributed about the metropolis chiefly re-
Sept. 24, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
283
claimed from waste places. Their area amounts to
nearly seventy acres, and their cost of construction
has exceeded £15,000.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
We have received from the Royal Gardens, Kew, the
Bulletin of Miscellaneous luformatiou for September,
containing " Notes on articles contrihuted to the Kew
Museums from the Colonial and Indian Exhibition of
1886."
We leam that an exhibition of Italian arts, manu-
factures, and resources will constitute the attraction
at Earl's Court next year, and will be conducted in the
same style as the American exhibition now being held.
Roman games, &c., will take the place of the " Wild
West."
White Plumbago.— Mr. B. S. Williams, of Hol-
loway, has sent us flowers of the white Plumbago ca-
pensis, a plant that makes a capital companion to the
blue-flowered type, and is now fast becoming estabhshed
in our gardens.
Plumbago capensis in Laxenburg.— Owingto
the hot and dry summer we have had this year. Plumbago
capensis is now a mass of the finest blue. Old specimens
from 3 ft. to 10 ft. in height are very teUing. They are
planted out in the open air at the end of May, and
remain to the end of September ; in fact, imtil frost
begins to hurt them. — Louis Keopatsch, Laxenhurg.
Flowers from Newry. — We have received from
Mr. T. Smith, Daisy Hill Nursery, Newry, an interest-
ing gathering of hardy flowers, showing that our gar-
dens need not be so dull at this season as they so often
are. There was an exceptionally fine bunch of the
scarlet Delphinium nudicaule and blooms of the riclily
coloured Lobelia Milleri.
Flowers from Ireland. — We have received from
Mr. Hartland, of Cork, flowers of Vallota eximia, Col-
ehicumspeciosum, and a double Abutilou. Itis strange
that the two former are not more often cultivated, the
Meadow Saffron, or Colchicum, thriving well in moist
places by the margins of lakes and similar spots,
though it is seldom grown in this natural and beautiful
manner.
Single pink Asters. — I send you a bunch of
single pink Asters, a variety that has been grown here
for some years. It makes a fine bed edged with yellow
Marguerites, and you can judge of its value for decora-
tions by the sample sent. I have tried to get other
colours, but so far have not found them distinct
enough. — W. N.
*** The flowers are like those of Pyrethrumroseum,
but more vivid in colour. It appears to be a useful
type. — Ed.
Early Chxysanthemums. — I herewith enclose
you a few Chrysanthemnm blooms of Madame C.
Desgrange and its yellow sport, just to show you
what a beautiful variety it is when given a little
extra attention. The plants from which the en-
closed have been cut are not grown on the single-
stem system, but in bush form, and carry from
twenty-five to thirty-six blooms equal to the
enclosed. In my opinion it has no equal as a really
useful Chrysanthemum. — J. Machae, Corona.
*^* The flowers sent were the finest we have ever
seen, the form excellent and the colour perfect.
—Ed.
Some pretty fruits.— Amongst the many floral
beauties now adorning our hardy gardens, I think
the following may be reckoned as amongst the fore-
most and most striking, viz., the Box Thorn (Lyoium)
making shoots in one season on a wall over 12 feet,
the entire length covered with vermilion-coloured
berries, occasionally double, at intervals of about
an inch, admired by all who see it ; the rough Rose
of Japan (Rosa rugosa), now both in flower and
fruit, is sure to arrest the attention of any admirer
of Nature's gems ; the Cape Gooseberry (Physalis
Alkekengi), with its quaint Chinese-lantern-like
edible fruit, containing amongst the bulk some
irregular-shaped seeds in the shape of dumb-bells,
the produce of which I do not know ; the Thorn
Apple (Datura Stramonium), with its beautiful
white, sweet-scented flowers and hedgehog-like fruit,
which, by-the-by, if not poisonous, would make a
very attractive, cheap, and succulent pickle; and
the Colchicum autumnale. These are amongst the
many that drew my attention in my garden this
morning, and, thinking some of them may have been
passed over liy you, I herewith send specimens of
each. — J. S. C.
The Japan Bose (Rosa rugosa). — This is be-
coming- well established throughout the country,
but it is not often we find such specimens as the
one at Chiswiok, which is placed on a portion of the
rookery. It is covered with scarlet fruits, and is
flowering with moderate freedom — the colour rich,
and the fragrance powerful. The white variety is
also here, and the two together make a welcome
feature in the garden.
We have received from Mr. T. Brankston, St. Ger-
man's Place, Blackheath, a bloom of the lovely
Cattleya gigas, cut from an imported plant. The
flower is of huge size, the sepals displaying great
width and substance, but the lip lacks that intensity
of colouring characteristic of first-class varieties.
The fragrance of this Orchid more resembles that of
freshly-gathered Violets than anything we know of,
and, although strong, is agreeable and refreshing.
Epidendrum prismatocarpum. — We have
received from Mr. R. H. Measures a photograph of
an exceptionally well-grown specimen of this re-
putedly shy -blooming Orchid. The plant has
twenty-two leads and has flowered from twent3'-one
of them, the aggregate number of flowers being 244,
produced on twenty-one spikes. Mr. Measures re-
marks that " the large plants do best, as my next
plant with thirteen leads has only eleven spikes. A
smaller one with eight leads has five spikes, whilst
another with six leads has only two spikes."
Cassias planted out. — There is at Kew a group
of two or three kinds of Cassia that are flowering
well now, and have an uncommon and very bright
effect. The showiest is C. Ifevigata, a common
greenhouse shrub; it has pinnate leaves, broad
leaflets, and clusters of large flowers of a very rich
yellow. C. alata also has large yellow flowers, and
a third species is C. Sophora, which is less showy.
Groups of such shrubs as these that bloom during
autumn when hardy shrubs are flowerless are not
without value, and, moreover, they are all the better
for free root-extension. — W.
Perennial Sunflowers. — We send you here-
with four varieties of perennial Sunflowers, viz. :
Helianthus multiflorus pi., H. m. major, H. m.
giganteus, and H. m. grandiplenus. The first three
mentioned are grand, andourbedsarequite a feature.
The last-mentioned is quite a novelty, being without
the guard petals which are so characteristic of the
old (louble kind. H. m. grandiplenus is an excel-
lent summer plant, and is now past its best ; it
forms a welcome addition. The plant is not in com-
merce.—Messbs. Collins Beothees and Ga-
BEIEL.
*^* An interesting gathering of these useful bor-
der plants. The last-mentioned is an excellent
variety, showy, but not coarse. — Ed.
Saponaria Crimson Queen. — This an-
nual is most useful for the garden at this sea-
son. There is a row of it at Chiswick in full
perfection, and its habit is so neat, that at a short
distance it might be mistaken for a tufted alpine.
The height is about 5 inches, and the dense, com-
pact growth is almost hidden by the rich crimson
flowers, of a depth of colour by no means common.
It would make a fine edging to a border or bed,
and a few plants here and there on the rockery
would not be out of place.
Hichaelmas Daisies. — These are among the
gayest plants in the garden, and one of the most
beautiful of all is the dwarf variety of A. Amellus,
known as bessarabicus, which is seen most naturally
when growing in its own way on the rockery, as it
is at Devonhurst, Chiswick. When surrounded with
Japanese Anemones and hardy flowers of spreading
growth, the rich purplish blue colour of the large,
well-formed flowers is intensified. It is also a use-
ful border Aster, as the habit is dwarf and com-
pact, so that it may be planted in positions where
the more unruly kinds would be entirely out of
place. The list of Michaelmas Daisies is a long one,
and Isevis, they are of little use, except, perhaps, to
hide unsightly spots, where things of more fasti-
dious character cannot exist.
DEATH OF MR. C. M. HOVEY.
We regret to announce the death of a very well
known American nurseryman, Mr. C. M. Hovey,
of Boston. He was a nurseryman who took a great
interest in the progress of agriculture in his country,
and an enthusiastic gardener who really liked his
art. He introduced a great many things from
Europe to America, and himself raised some very
important plants, particularly Camellias (some of
which we figured) and the Hovey Seedling Straw-
berry, which became a great favourite. For many
years Mr. Hovey edited the American Magazine of
//orft'('7(?fKrf^ and he also published the "Fruits of
America." The last work was not, however, carried
beyond the 27th part. Mr. Hovey, who was a
hearty, enthusiastic man, frequently contributed to
The Gaeden. American horticulture has lately
made great strides, and it is surprising what an
increased interest in gardening of all kinds is shown.
But gardening had not a very great place in America
fifty years ago, and we doubt if during that time it
has had a more energetic friend than Mr. C. M.
Hovey, of Boston.
Beautiful names. — The following have been sent
to us in response to the note inserted in The Garden,
Sept. 3 (p. 210) :— ,
Acanthopanax quinque-
folia.
Wacheudorfia thju'siflora.
Muhleubeckia complexa.
Catoblastus prremorsus.
Scorzoneracalcitrapifolia.
Erythrochiton hypophyl-
lauthus.
Calyptrogyne Ghies-
breghtiana.
Coccocypselum campanu-
liflorum.
Helmholtzia glaben-ima.
Heptapleurum polybo-
tryum.
Korolkowia Sewerzowi.
Grabowskia hoerhaaviae-
folla.
Schizophragma hydran-
geoides.
Cienkowslda Kirki.
Sideroxylou chrysophyll-
oides.
Xanthorhiza apiifolia.
Bismarkia nobilis.
Anisophyllea Gaudichau-
diana.
Chloroeyathus Mon-
teiross.
Cyrtandromfea mega-
phylla.
Homonia symphilliffifolia.
Lasiococca symphilliae-
folia.
malac-
cense.
Notothixos malayanus.
Oligocarpus acanthosper-
mus.
Cattleyaporphyrophlebia.
Cypripedium porphyro-
Tyro.— The book can he obtained at 171, Fleet Street.
Names of plants. — Waxfiover. — 1, Hoya Pax-
toni; 2, H. bella. Jfan-i/.- Exacum zeylanicum.
Fernie. — 1, Adiantum cristatnm; 2, A. hispidu-
lum; 3, A. assimile ; 4, A. setulosum ; 5, Pellisa has-
tata. 6. L., Somerset. — Amasonia punicea.
Vulcan.— 1, 2, 3, all slight variations of Zygopetalum
maxillare; 4, Lopholepis vaccinifolia. C. 0 , Harro-
gate.—StreUtzisi reginte. Gertrude.— 1, Hymeno-
phyllum asplenioides ; 2, Trichomanes trichoideum ;
3, Asplenium alternans (not Ceterach) ; 4, Doryopteris
sagittifolia ; 5, Adiantum Feei. Jin-eius.— 1, Antro-
phyum reticulatum ; 2, Dictyogramma japonica.
T.'F.— Yes, it is Odontoglossum Harryanum, but a
very small flower. H. T. TF.— 1, Xiphopteris seri-u-
lata;2,Drymoglo3sumpiloselloides. N.Macdonald.
—1, PleurothalUs prolifera ; 2, Octomeria Loddigesi ;
3, Stelis racemosa. G. G.— Funkia cordata.
M. C— Hedychium Gardnerianum. /. C. Colraine.
—1, Castanea sativa; 2, Rhus typhina; 3, Populus
balsamifera; 4, Populus nigra; 5, Berberis New-
manni; 6, Symphorlcarpus vulgaris. E.F. Soiverhy.
— Campanula lactiflora var. cserulea, a very fine form.
/. £).— Bladder Senna (Colutea arborescens).
Stroud Nisbet. — Cannot name from leaves only.
E. Pearson.— 1, OxaHs eorniculata; 2, Polygonum
Brunonis; 3, Chelidonium majus ; 4, Lamium purpu-
reum. F. K. — Podocarpus chinensis. Largs. —
Dianthus deltoides. if.D.— l,Oncidinm Marshalli-
anum ; 2, Louicera tatarica.
Names of trait.— Mrs. Ch. ff. Green.— Apple,
not known. Mrs. Cuthbert Harrison. — Apple,
Golden Winter Pearmaiu. Alpha. — 1, Knight's
Monarch; 2, Vicar of Winkfield; 3, Doyenne du
Comice; 4, Duehesse d'Angouleme. — —Horius. — 1,
Summer Golden Pippin (true) ; 2, Cellini ; 4, King of
the Pippins. The Rev. J. G. Flint.— 2, Dumelov
but with the exception of such kinds as the above Seedling. John Crmclashan'k. — Peach, Belle de
and longifolius formosus, Townsendi, Novffi- Anglic, ik>ue. T. — Apple, Hamhledon Deux Ans
284
THE GARDEN.
[Sept. 24, 1887.
WOODS 5i FORESTS.
DEER FOREST PLANTING.
Now that the planting season is almost at hand,
and as early autumn planting, especially upon dry,
hilly ground succeeds best, planters should lose no
time in having everything prepared in order to
enable them to commence operations as soon as the
young trees have matured their growth. In plant-
ing exposed ground at high elevations it is a matter
of the utmost importance to see that the plants
used are thoroughly ripened, otherwise they run
the risk of being shrivelled and cut down by frost
during winter, when failure is then almost certain
to be the result.
I see by the papers that the Marquis of Bute
contemplates planting and otherwise improving
part of one of the larger Cumbrae Islands, in the
Firth of Clyde. Although these islands are ex-
posed to the full sweep of the blast across the Irish
Sea, yet by a proper selection of trees judiciously
planted and cared for I have every reason to
believe that the work will be successful, and add
immensely to the scenic grandeur of the Firth.
The select committee employed by the government
to inquire as to the advisability of establishing a
school of forestry in Great Britain have recom-
mended in their report lately issued that a great
deal of the barren ground in the islands and high-
lands of Scotland, as well as the west of Ireland,
should be planted at the public expense. On the
other hand, it has been suggested that deer forests
would be a great barrier to such undertakings being
carried out ; but this can only be the case to a
limited extent, as many of the deer forests at the
present time could be greatly improved by a judicious
grouping of trees in masses here and there to afford
shelter to the animals during winter. The high-
lands in the centre of Scotland are, as a rule, better
wooded for shelter than the islands and highlands
along the west coast. In the Mar district of Aber-
deenshire I have planted in the deer forest to
within a distance of some two miles of the base of
Lochnagar. The hill planted here is of a conical
shape, and now that the trees (Scotch Fir) are
thoroughly established, the deer can find a cosy
shelter from the storm, no matter from whatever
point of the compass it may come. The plants used
here were two-year-old seedling Scotch Firs, one
year transplanted, and as they were allowed plenty
of space in the nursery lines, they were well fur-
nished with roots and branches — a point of much
importance in the successful planting of forest
ground at high elevations.
It has been suggested that the deer is so hardy
and well clothed with a long thick coat of hair,
that it requires no shelter. This is altogether a mis-
take, as I knowof no other animal morefond of shelter,
which can be seen by the way in which the whole
herd will shift their grazing ground to the lee side of
a hill during a gale. The experienced deer-stalker,
from the direction of the wind, can tell almost to a
certainty the part of the forest where the deer will
be found at that time. In the winter, and during
a time of hard frost and snow, the deer gather to the
Pine-clad parts of the forest from all directions, and
I have often known them live for weeks upon the
twigs and Ijark of young trees, so that in case of
emergency the trees become valuable as forage
plants as well as the shelter which they afford.
With regard to the cost of the formation of such
plantations, I may briefly state that I have planted
several thousands of acres at a rate of from 30s. to
40s. per acre. In some cases where the ground was
not exposed, and where two years' seedling plants
could be used without Ijeing transplanted, the cost
was even less than that named. The expense of
fencing and preparing the ground is included in
the estimate, so that the amount per acre is not so
heavy after all. In Ireland there is a' vast area open
for planting, and as it is now proposed to plant a
considerable portion of such at the public expense,
I trust that the authorities will lose time no time
in making a commencement. According to the
Registrar-General's return forthis year(18S7), there is
an area of 4,869,573 acres of bog, marsh, and barren
mountain land. Although this cannot be all planted,
yet a great deal of it can, and as the extent of
ground under woods and plantations at the present
time is only 330,073 acres, it wiU be seen at a glance
that the extension of plantations in the country is
really urgent.
I have just been looking at a series of plantations
which I formed in Ulster some years ago, and al-
though some of these have only a depth of 18 inches of
soil above the water line, yet the trees are in perfect
health and making rapid progress, which is a clear
illustration of what can be done it the way of plant-
ing and otherwise improving barren, bog and marsh
grounds. A great deal of the mountainous wilds of
Donegal in the north and along the west coast can
be successfully planted by the notch system of
planting, and as the price of plants and labour at the
present time are cheap, it can be carried out at a very
moderate outlay of capital. J. B. Webster.
NOTABLE TREES IN THE NEW FOREST.
In that part of the New Forest known as the
Knightwood Enclosure is a tree well known to
visitors as the Knightwood Oak. It is encircled by
the beaten track of carriages containing sightseers
to the great historical Hampshire forest. This aged
monarch of the forest is more remarkable for size
of trunk and limbs than it is for extent of branches
or symmetry of outline. The girth of the trunk at
3 feet from the ground is 21 feet 6 inches, and pro-
ceeding from this in an upward direction, at about
12 feet from the base, are eight large limbs, each in
point of size a tree in itself. At the Earldoms —
the outskirts of the forest and 9 miles from Salis-
bury— stands, within 40 yards of the high road from
Bramshaw to the Wiltshire capital, an Oak more
famous for its great spread of branches and symme-
trical appearance than for the thickness of its
straight and handsome trunk, the former being
114 feet in diameter, and the circumference of the
latter 16 feet at 3 feet from the ground. In the
grounds at Northerwood, Lord Londesborough's
beautiful place near Lyndhurst, is a grand specimen
tree of the Plane, having a nice clean trunk and a
spread of branches (which brush the ground all
round) 315 feet in circumference. In the same
grounds are several fine healthy specimens of Abies
Smithiana, Picea Pinsapo, Pinus insignis, Crypto-
meria elegans (very fine), and Araucaria imbricata.
These and many other coniferous trees, being fur-
nished from the ground with branches well clothed
with luxuriant foliage, are very ornamental. Many
of the choicest varieties of Conifers at Northerwood
are planted in prepared soil, additions of which are
made about the roots as the trees progress in growth,
so as to keep the roots from penetrating the sub-
stratum of cold clay ; otherwise, I was informed by
Mr.J.C.Macpherson, Lord Londesborough's steward
and gardener, that the said trees would lose their
freshness and richness of growth as soon as the
roots pushed into the clay. At either side of the
avenue of Boulderwood, formerly the residence of
the Marchioness of Londonderry, are luxuriating,
great numbers of various Conifers, including
Wellingtonias ranging in height from 15 feet to
about 50 feet, and, notwithstanding the fact that
these trees are closely surrounded by Scotch Firs,
they are, nevertheless, clothed from the ground
with rich growth. I may add, in conclusion, that
the sylvan beauty of the New Forest, with its ex-
panse of purple Heath, avenues of Beech, Fir, and
Birch, gras.sy knolls and pleasant valleys, is very
charming just now, and well worth a visit.
W. H. W.
Amongst the legielative business on which
the Parliamentary session is to be congratulated, there
is one which is noteworthy from an industrial point
of view, and that is, the issue of a report of the
Committee on Forestry, which, though short, is
very much to the purpose. It appears that, although
the word " forest " does not convey to the modern
Britisher the same impression that it did to our
forefathers, there are still 27,810,000 acres of wood-
land in these islands, some belonging to the State,
but the majority, private property. Timber, is
timber, and is therefore comparatively well looked
after, generally speaking, as being worth more or
less money ; but possibly no department of agricul-
ture is so deficient in any systematic knowledge or
treatment as that of our trees, and the science of
forestry is evidently limited to very few. The State,
indeed, appears to be the most deficient tree-owner
in the whole country, and a lamentable account of
the Deputy-Surveyor of the New Forest, England's
grandest possession of its kind, is a proof that the
State is no more to be trusted than anybody else in
the conservation of its property. There are 40,000
acres lying worthless and unprofitable, because by
the Act of 1877 no planting may be done there.
Large enclosures of beautiful Oaks are over-ripe
and doing actual harm, because the same Act for-
bids their removal. Now, it must be remembered
that this same Act was passed by a body of worthy
gentlemen who knew nothing about arboriculture,
and consequently though really desirous of pre-
serving the forest, defeated their own object from
sheer ignorance. The appointment of a Forestry
Board and School, such as is recommended in the
present report, would prevent aU this. Ours is one
of the few countries which never attempts to take
care of their woods; and though it is true that the
age of wood is very much, though not entirely,
superseded by iron and steel, very valuable addi-
tions may be made to English acreage, not only by
looking after and improving the trees that still re-
main, but by re-clothing our bare hills in Ireland
and Scotland, if the recommendations of the com-
mittee be attended to in good time. — Builder.
GROUPS OF TREES IN PASTURES.
I WAS specially pleased to observe the seasonable
note on the above at page 262. The heat and
drought of the past summer tested the value of
shadow in pastures to the utmost. One of the
most striking features of several runs for long
distances during the intense heat was the groups
of live stock hugging closely the shady sides of
trees and fences to find temporary deliverance from
the fierce glare of the sun. Unfortunately, the
majority of clumps in pastures are fenced round.
This minimises the value of the shade to the utmost.
The clumps, too, are mostly planted on the verge
of the pastures ; hence they can only afford shade
during a portion of the day. It is most affecting
to see cows and horses go round and examine the
fences in all directions to see if, mayhap, they
can find a shadyrnook or corner ; but often the
search is all in vain, and they resign themselves
to their fate, that of semi-scorching with direct sun-
heat, and perpetual teasing and tormenting by flies.
In contrast to innumerable such sights of live
stock in a state of restless torment, it was most
refreshing to witness, at times, live stock cooling
themselves in running brooks, and enjoying the
cool shadow of trees, in the few cases in which
unfenced clumps afforded them complete shelter
from the cloudless sun's broad glare from dawn
to dark. Hunger is sure to prompt the stock forth
to feed, and there is no fear whatever of healthy
live stock preferring even cooling shelter to good
victuals when they need the latter. But cows and
other stock prefer to feed at night, or in the cool
of the morning or evening during very hot weather,
and to lie in the shade and chew the cud during the
burden and heat of the day. This rest and con-
tentment, as you justly observe, is as favourable
to the production of milk of the best quality as to
the laying on of meat, and when the effects of rest,
peace, freedom from anxiety, and all soothing influ-
ences on the milk and meat supply are duly appre-
ciated, then will every grazing mead have its
unfenced clump of shelter and for shade duly
provided for it. These are as gratefully welcomed
by horses as by cows and bullocks of all sorts and
sheep, though the latter suffer less from direct sun-
shine than the two former.
When we get so far as to furnish each pasture
with its clump or clumps of trees for shelter and
shadow, the first step will be taken to combine land-
scapebeautywiththeeconomyof grazingandfarming
for mere profit, and experience wUl probably prove that
in this, as in other matters, beauty may be as profit-
able as the baldest, barest utility. HoETtrs.
THE GARDEN.
285
No. 828. SATURDAY, Oct 1,1887. Vol. XXXII.
" TMs is an Art
Which does mend Natiire : change it rather ; but
The Art itself is Xatitre." — ShaX-eipeare.
Fruit Garden.
W. COLEMAN.
GRAPES r. CHOICE PEARS.
If Grapes no longer pay tlie grower and Toma-
toes have seen their best days, to what purpose
can we devote the miles lineal of glasshouses
which have been erected within the past few
years / "When energetic market growers found
early Grapes barely paid for fuel, and mid-season
crops were produced at a positive loss, many of
them pulled up or grafted the Tines, and in a
very short time flooded the markets vrith Ali-
cantes, Marocs, and Cohnans, Lady Downe's, and
a few Muscats. These for a time realised pay-
ing prices, but soon a great falling off took place,
and samples which in March a few years ago
would have sold readily at a guinea a pound
can now be purchased for one-third of the sum.
So much the better, many will say, for the con-
sumer, but the question arises. Does this sweep-
ing away of fancy rates benefit the fruit-eating
public to its fullest extent .' I think not, for if
we watch the wholesale and retaU markets and
strike the difl'erence, we can only arrive at the
conclusion that the dealer has a very handsome
profit, the grower can barely make both ends
meet, and the consumer stiU pays a fancy price
for a good average article. The output of good
Grapes at the present time is enormous, and so
long as growers persist in keeping all their eggs
is one basket— in other words, foUow up the
planting of Vines, and endeavour by the aid of
manure and other stimulants to produce two
bunches where formerly they only produced
one, prices all the year round must rule low.
Good summer and autumn Grapes in the Chan-
nel Islands and favoured spots on the south
coast can be grown without the aid of fire-heat,
but, try all we may. Lady Downe's and Gros
CoLoian fit for keeping or eating cannot be pro-
duced or kept in the store-room without fuel,
and plenty of it. But why should growers who
have acres of glass over Vines cling to Grapes
when we are paying many thousands of pounds
annually for dessert Pears sent over by our Con-
tinental neighbours. Many of the monster span-
roofed vineries, by increased ventilation and a
minimum of fire-heat just when the fruit is set-
ting, might be turned into magnificent Pear
houses, from which fruit equal to the finest
samples from abroad could be grown at very
little cost. By this change the supply of late
Grapes might be balanced to an extent that
would induce the fruiterer to inquire for good
samples where now he declines them, and the
grower having a good stock of extra fine Pears,
now lamentably deficient, putting the reduced
cost of production against his returns, should
find his balance-sheet at the end of the year im-
proved.
Although fine early and autumn Pears sell in
our seaside towns and fashionable inland resorts
at 3d. to 6d. each, these are not the varieties
for culture imder glass, and for this reason a
Bon Chretien, say, from an orchard house is
not so well flavoured as a Bon Chretien from an
open wall, and from a south wall it is not so
rich as from a pyramid, bush, or standard. AU
the autumn and early winter Pears, of which we
have too many varieties, shordd be discarded
from the glass orchardist's lists, and he should
plant by the hundred or thousand duplicates of
the few good sorts that come in from Christma.s
down to the end of March. Many of these
against waUs in the best Pear counties some-
times produce good crops of fruit, but owing to
spring frosts and cold, unfavourable summers,
very few, if any, of them find their way into the
market ; consequently the masses of well-to-do
consumers are obliged to dispense with their
favourite fruit, or enrich the Continentals with
money which we ought to keep at home. With
exhaustive reports from the pens of Barron
and Dunn on every pomologist's bookshelf, the
days for asking or giving detailed lists of sorts
suited to certain districts or seasons have gone
by ; but, now our pen is primed, we wiU quote
the baker's dozen named by the accomplished
Bunyard for use through January and March.
His first favourite is the good old Josephine de
Malines ; then follow Bergamotte d'Esperen,
Easter Beurre, Beurrfi Ranee, Olivier de Serres,
Duchesse de Bordeaux, Beurre d'Aremberg,
Beurre Sterckmans, Broom Park, Doyenn§
d'Alengon, iSIadame Millet, Marie Benoist, and
Xouvelle Fulvie. Of these, few would think of
planting aU ; but assuming that they confined
themselves to the first four on the Ust, they
would not go far wrong, or, requiring but
one, I should not object to Easter Beurre.
Should anyone feel disposed to try the experi-
ment the result miglit very soon be ascertained,
as pyramids, bushes, and cordons, worked on
the Quince and covered with flower-buds, can
be obtained from any good nursery. For large
span-roofed houses the pyranud and bush
shovdd be selected ; whilst back waUs of
lean-to houses or existing trellises near the
glass might be covered in a very short time with
cordons.
VINES ON WALLS.
I HAVE never before seen gardens look so bad at
this season of the year, bnt possibly we may have
suffered exceptionally from the drought, as the
whole of the rain during June, July, and August
was not sufficient to lay the dust. StiU, there
are a few notable exceptions to the numerous
failtires in gardens, and one of the most conspicu-
ous is that of open-air Vines, which are gene-
rally grown on cottages and garden walls. Un-
fortunately, I cannot give a very satisfactory
description of their management, for their strength
is often allowed to become wasted in the production
of useless wood. I have met with several instances
lately of careful culture, and in every case the
owners are being rewarded with a heavy crop that
already evinces signs of ripening. If we are going
to have seasons as hot and dry as the past three
have been in this district, then there is no fruit in
cultivation that would yield a better return on sunny
walls than the Vine. It is also easily managed if
the simplest rules of culture are observed. In the
first place, the Vine can be more readily propagated
than any other fruit. A piece of ripened wood of
the preceding year's growth, cut off while the sap
is dormant, and inserted in the soU, is almost cer-
tain to root and make a good plant. If put in a
pot for a year, and kept in a frame, success is also
assured. The Vine also thrives freely in any kind
of soil that will grow kitchen garden crops, and its
roots spread amongst old mortar and brick-rubbish
as freely as in the most carefully constructed border.
In yards where the rooting area is covered with
flagstones one often finds noble Vines that year
after year carry excellent crops ; yet some will say
it is only in very hot seasons, or in the southern
counties that the Vine can be successfully grown.
But, in nine cases out of ten, it is through lack of
the necessary attention that the Vine faUs to bear
satisfactorily. Without proper stopping and train
ing, the Vines, even on the south coast, and at the
end of one of the hottest and driest seasons on
record, are in little better condition than if they had
been grown north of the Tweed. The pruning in
winter consists of catting back all the fruiting wood
to one or two eyes, and shortening the leading
shoots, and such young canes as are intended to
replace old ones. There should every year be a
certain number of young rods selected, and care-
fully trained in, ready for replacing the oldest
wood, for if this is not done the bunches produced
will in time become very small ; whereas, young
rods, even on very old Vines, invariably bring
finer bunches. What may be termed a com-
promise between the long-rod and the close-
spur system of pruning is, in my opinion, the
best for Vines grown in the open air. As soon
as the buds swell up, preparatory to bursting into
leaf, disbudding should be done, and every bud not
needed rubbed off. Then, as soon as the bunches
are visible, pinch out the point of the shoot, only
leading one bunch on a shoot, except in the case of
the leading ones and such as are selected for grow-
ing on. These should not be cropped at all, but
allowed to grow at full length, or as far as space
will permit, when they must be stopped. It is of
the utmost importance to preserve this first lot of
foUage intact untU the end of the season, and on
no account cut off a single large leaf. If they
shade the fruit too much I would rather tie them
aside. The practice of cutting off the main leaves
cannot be too strongly condemned, as it is by them
that the Vine is kept in health. Pinch out laterals
directly they are observed. I prefer removing a
few at a time better than having fixed dates for the
operation. Never neglect this work so far as to
necessitate taking off any quantity at one time, and
this can best be done by timely attention. 'When
the berries are as large as small Peas they should
be thinned out, the same as in the case of indoor
crops. Kemove the centre berries that would not
have space to swell if left, for only by thinning
can good sized berries be obtained. Mulching the
roots is of great importance in seasons like the
present, and it must be remembered that Vine roots
are like Vine shoots — they travel a lorg way, and if
mulching is to do any good it should be used
liberally. Good stable manure is the best of aU
mulchings, as the nutriment gets washed down to
the roots by successive waterings, but if this
material cannot be had, any substance that checks
evaporation may be used, and the food supplied in
liquid form. Some of the best crops that I have
seen this year have been grown solely by the aid of
the drainage from cowsheds, diluted with twice the
bulk of wa^er, and any kind of house sewage if well
diluted may safely be applied to Vine roots. As
the fruit approaches maturity wasps and flies are
very troublesome, and little muslin bags are
certainly preferable to covering the whole of the
Vine, as the foliage suffers, but when thoroughly
ripened. Grapes from the open air are able to hold
their own as regards flavour with any grown in cool
houses. As regards varieties, the old Sweetwater,
Muscadine, and Foster's Seedling are amongst the
best white or amber-coloured kinds, for in hot
summers they have a beautiful tint. Black Cluster,
Esperione, and Black Hamburgh are the best black
sorts, and they always colour most satisfactorily
when well covered with foUage ; therefore never
remove the leaves. J. Gboom.
Gosjyort.
Perehore Plum. — In the great fruit garden at
Petworth, in Susses, where the gardener, Mr. Breese,
grows everything that is good, I saw this Plum last
week in great perfection, carrying a finer crop this
season than any other sort. Young trees of it,
planted about five years, were quite borne down
with fruits, which hang in dense strings on every
branch. Mr. Breese, than whom few know fruits
better, thinks highly of it, and considers it ought
to be more grown in his neighbourhood than it is.
This Plum has an oblong yellow fruit, like a Magnum
Eonum, but smaller, and has a tender flesh of plea-
santly acid flavour, which makes it an excellent cook-
ing sort, but of course not quitenp to dessert quality.
As its name implies, this sort is named after a town
in the Evesham Vale, in 'Worcestershire, the district
that supplies the chief market garden produce to the
286
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 1, 18S7.
manufacturing districts of the midlands. The Plum
is there one of the principal standard kinds, being
always reliable for prodmctiveness. It is a free-
grower, particularly in the balmy climate of West
Sussex. — W. G.
GOOD EARLY DESSERT APPLES.
Whilst agreeing generally with Mr. Coleman's se-
lection and estimate of the qualities of these (p. 189)
it may prove interesting and useful to offer a few
remarks on a few of them. The Irish Peach is a
good Apple, but has neversucceeded well with us. The
quality is good, but the tree has never proved prolific,
not even on the French Paradise. We, however,
evidently have Mr. Coleman's larger variety, which
he admits is not equal to the smaller one, and pos-
sibly is not so prolific. It is fair and beautiful to
look upon, its beauty being enhanced by its rich
bloom or down, a peculiarity rare among Apples.
Duchess of Oldenburg, as we grow it, has all the
good looks and beauty that Mr. Coleman credits it
with, and proves attractive in the market through
September, but its richly painted, delicately-striped
" face is its fortune." The quality is fair when
cooked or eaten off the tree or soon afterwards, but
with us it never rises above third-rate quality, and
the fruit when kept has the very unsatisfactory
habit of rotting from the core outwards, with the
result of leaving the beautiful rind intact, while all
within is flavourless or rotten. Those who grow
this Apple for market should sell so soon as gathered,
or clear out at the latest by the end of September.
Kerry Pippin, without the garish red glow of the
D uchess of Gloucester or the Devonshire Quarrenden,
an equally red and far better Apple, may be said to
carry all before it, so far as clearing off most, if not
all, the first prizes at our great Apple shows at
Kensington, Manchester, and other places, as well
as at our Apple congress. Take the Kerry Pippin
for all in all, we are hardly likely to meet with its
like, now the Ribston is so often conspicuous by its
absence, or appears in a russety-like garb of sober
grey, the latter mostly denoting a low or inferior
flavour, as well as a lack of that crisp flesh which
characterises a perfect Ribston. The Kerry Pippin,
however, is even a match in flavour for the Ribston
Pippin at its best, as Mr. Coleman, who calls the
Kerry delicious, would probably allow. But I
totally differ with Mr. Coleman's demand for more
red in its cheeks. This is akin to the attempt to
enhance the charms of the Lily with the paint-
brush. More red in the Kerry Pippin would but
rob it of full half its unique charms and reduce it
to the level of no end of common-place glaring
beauties. In the Kerry Pippin we have a matchless
groundwork of pale gold running into russet where
the shadows lie deepest, pencilloi and streaked
with almost e\-ery conceivable ehade of red and
crimson. The amount and depth of these brilliant
colours vary widely in different soils, seasons,
localities, and climates. For example, the drought
has increased the brilliant colouring this year, but
the chief charm of the fruit now, as ever, is the
rich, luscious look of the golden background rather
than the area or intensity of the brilliant colouring.
Were it possible to extend the crimson all over the
fruit, the Kerry Pippin would be spoilt, and one of
the most charming additions to the rich mellow
colouring of the dessert table disappear from our
dining-rooms. This season's experience gives special
emphasis to our protest against a further addition
of red, crimson, or scarlet to our Kerry Pippins.
HOKTUS.
American Blackberries. — I am sorry I
cannot endorse the glowing account given by Mr.
Coleman on the American Blackberries (p. 222).
With me they are quite a failure so far as fruiting
qualities are concerned, but their growth is vigorous,
and yet the fruits are miserably small and not worth
eating ; in fact, they are sour and disagreeable to
the taste. When the late Mr. May introduced them,
some fifteen years since, we found the summers too
short and too cold for the fruit to develop satisfac-
torily in this north country, and, so far as my
experience goes, it is the .same now. Although we
had very hot days at their flowering season, the
nights proved too cold for the fruit to grow well.
■\Ve gave the plants one of the best positions in the
garden, viz., under a south wall. I shall transplant
them to the woods, where the plants will make a
grand covert for game, and almost impregnable to
dogs. I have some seedlings crossed with the
Baumforth Raspberry; the latter is the parent.
They are doing well, and appear to be fixed; no
doubt others have done the same, but mine wore
crossed in 1886, — Willi.\m Culveewell, Thorpe
Perron'.
STORAGE FOR APPLES.
One of the easiest and most rapid profits that
can be made by a horticulturist and farmer
is in properly storing the Apple crop. The
October and November prices of good keeping
varieties are seldom more than one-third ts one-half
what the same fruit commands in the latter part of
winter and early spring, so that a moderate amount
of shrinkage from rotting, &c., may easily be met
in the largely increased profit when the Apples are
sold late in the season.
In earlier times quantities of Apples were pre-
served for the spring market by simply burying-
them in conical heaps, first placing straw over the
heaps, then enough earth to prevent freezing ; and
even at the present time some of the choicest
Apples that reach our late spring market are pre-
served in this well-known manner. Simply a modi-
fication of this old and well-tried process is the
method that is here described.
Down a hillside an excavation, which may be
several feet deep and 8 feet or more wide at the top,
is made. In the bottom of this, and extending its
full length, a trough is placed, made of a board
1 foot wide for the bottom, and boards 8 inches
wide for the sides, with a little drain immediately
below.
This trough, extending up the full length, and in
the bottom of the excavation, is covered with slats
1 inch or 2 inches wide, nailed across not over 1 inch
apart. The sloping sides are then covered with
Rye-straw, and Apples by the wagon-load are placed
therein and covered with straw and earth from
above to prevent frost from reaching them, as is
done in the old way of burying fruits.
The trough below gives a circulation of cold air
through all the Apples stored above it, and ends
in a draught chimney at the upper end. In the
very coldest weather the mouth at the lower end of
the excavation may be closed, though while the
thermometer remains 12° or 15° above zero it has
proved an advantage to let the cold air circulate
through. But in warm weather it is an advantage
to keep the draught closed, thus retaining the cold
that is already there. This simple and inexpensive
arrangement has preserved Apples until late in the
spring with scarcely any loss, and they came out
for market bright, crisp, and fresh, with no appre-
ciable loss of flavour, and brought often treble the
price they would have commanded in the bestautumn
or early winter market. — Pojiular Oardeniiuj .
Fig tree infested with scale.— In answer to
"Gardener" in The Garden, Sept. 24 (p. 275),
persistent syringing with hot water at a tempera-
ture of 120° will destroy scale, and in its present
state do no harm to the tree. The scale, it must be
understood, clings to the wood for some time after
it is killed, but eventuallj' falls off. Paraffin and
water— a wineglasstul to a gallon — is equally effi-
cacious, but of the two I give preference to the
water. Your wood and leaves being nearly ripe you
will soon be able to cleanse the trees thoroughly,
first, by washing every bit of wood, yonng and old,
once or twice over with strong soap water; then,
having washed and painted the trellis and wood-
work, and dressed the walls with hot quicklime,
paint with Gishurst compound -1 ozs. to the gallon
of warm water, slightly thickened with a few hand-
fuls of fine stiff loam. If efliciently performed this
harmless dressing will clear the tree without in-
juring the embryo fruit. If the brown has white
scale or bug as companions, you had better apply
the tar dressing as recommended for Vines in lieu
of the Gishurst. Prepare it in the following way :
To one gallon of dry, finely sifted loam add a tea-
cupful of tar, add boiling water, a little at a time,
and mix thoroughly until the whole mass is reduced
to the consistency of paint. 'When nearly cold
apply with a half-worn paint-brush. Having fre-
(juently applied these insecticides in a much stronger
form, I can vouch for their efficiency and safety,
always provided the trees are allowed to become
dormant before the dressing is used. — W. Coleman.
JAPANESE PLUMS.
Fifteen years ago the Japanese Government, ever
eager to improve the country, first formed the Kai-
ta-Kushi, or Department of Agriculture, for the in-
troduction of foreign varieties of grain, fruits, &c.
The exjieriments were mostly carried on in the
island of Y'esso, which, up to that time, had been
visited by but very few Europeans. The branch of
horticulture was placed under the management of a
first-class European horticulturist, who formerly had
occupied the position of manager of the Royal Gar-
dens of Hanover, All desirable fruits, such as
Cherries, Apricots, Peaches, Plums, Green Gages of
all European sorts and varieties, were brought to
Japan, and cultivated with more or less success.
B'rom the island of Yesso these trees were, in the
course of years, distributed to the mainland, a good
many finding their way to the city of Tokio, among
the many Japanese nurseries existing there.
Through ignorant parties these European varieties
were bought up, and for the past three or four years
have been exported under various names as natives
of Japan. The only varieties of Plums, natives of
Japan and worthy to be exported, are theBotankio,
better known as Kelsey's Plum, and the Hattankio,
both varieties similar in every respect except the
bloom, which in the first-named is of a rich red ;
the last-named a yellow.
The Nagate, of which there is two varieties —
the largo red round, called Botan, and the more
egg-shaped yellow Plum, called Ogou (by some
nurserymen misnamed " Ogden "), the Urvase, a
rather large, globular, greenish red Plum, and the
Shiro-Smomo, meaning white Plum (,s7( /ro, white ;
smomo. Plum), a medium-sized, sweet, whitish
yellow, round fruit, are the only varieties which,
under good cultivation, produce fine fruit. The
Prunus Mume, so much used by the Japanese
themselves as pickle, is an acrid fruit of very poor
flavour. It is called Haname by the Japanese, cul-
tivated everywhere, and pickled in salt, somewhat
like our Olives.
There is no Peach or Apricot, native of Japan, fit
to eat. The Pears, which are evidently of the same
origin as the Chinese Sand Pear, arc^ very hard,
watery, and only edible if canned — never in a raw
state. For grafting fine varieties upon, the stock is
invaluable, the seedlings being of the most vigor-
ous growth, totally free from blight or any other
disease, and very hardy. These I'ears, as seedlings,
cannot be too highly recommended ; they are very
hardy.
Among the Plums, Botankio and Hattankio are
not quite so hardy as the two varieties of Nagate,
which can stand a good deal of frost. As we have
all our stock propagated in our nurseries worked
by Japanese, under the supervision of a good Euro-
pean horticulturist, we can vouch for all and every
tree imported by us to be true to name, which, if
bought up indiscriminately from Japanese gar-
deners, cannot be said. — II. H. Berger, in Fcirm
rind (iiirdcH.
*^* Fruits of Kelsey's Plum were exhibited before
the fruit committee of the Royal Horticultural
Society by Mr. Bull, of Chelsea, on behalf of Messrs.
Lusk, California, on October 18, 1884. It is of a
conical shape, and resembles in size and colour a
highly-coloured Nectarine. — Ed.
liane's Prince Albert Apule. — This variety
appears to be bearing remarkably well this season.
It is one of the very best of the culinary Apples,
and it also makes a good table variety. The
Oct. 1, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
287
fruit is large and handsomely striped, and keeps
sound for a long time. :Messrs. George Bunyard
and Co., in theirfruit catalogue, say of this variety
that "it is not suitable for orchard culture, as the
weight of the crop causes the trees to droop, and
thus bring it within the reach of cattle, but for
plantation work it is highly recommended, and is
indispensable for small villa gardens ; while cordons
or pyramids on the Paradise stock produce grand
exhibition samples." — R. D.
Diamante traube Grape. — In the Royal Hor-
ticultural Gardens there is a cold house devoted to
Grapes that either have some peculiar character, as
the Grapes known as the Currant, Strawberry, &o.,
or are varieties scarcely known at all, except by
authorities on the matter, as Mr. Barron. There
is a white variety named Diamante traube, which is
above the ordinary level, and seems likely to prove
of value. The bunches are small, but the house is
entirely of wood, never heated, and therefore both
draughty and cold, so one cannot properly criticise.
The berries are large, oval, greenish yellow, and
similar to those of the Duke of Buccleuch variety.
The flavour is sweet, sugary, with a faint trace of
musk, and the flesh solid. The berries of Foster's
Seedling which is planted next to it are not half
the size. — E. C.
A notable Apricot tree. — I do not know
whether the ancient Apricot tree which flourishes
so admirably near to Mr. Kneller's house, in the
gardens at Malshanger, Basingstoke, has at any
time previously been mentioned in The Garden.
Apricot trees are notoriously so short-lived, that we
learn with wonder of a strong, healthy tree reputed
to be 100 years old. Of course it is difficult to
prove that such is really the tree's age, but ample
evidence is forthcoming that it was as long ago as
70 years a large, robust tree, whilst its stems
would indicate that the tree must be very old. The
variety, Mr. Kneller states, is the Turkey, and it is
believed to be on its own roots. Probably, whilst it
most resembles the Turkey, it is in reality a seed-
ling; indeed, its fruits seem almost equal in size to
those of the Moorpark. I cannot give the exact
dimensions of the tree, but probably it covers a
length of wall equal to 40 feet run, and in height
is about 8 feet. The tree is now never pruned, or
indeed only in the roughest sense, as the wood
stands out from 12 inches to IS inches from the
wall, only the main branches being secured. Whilst
so robust, and it probably owes much of its vigour
to its free growth and ample leafage, yet it is most
fruitful, having during the present year borne some
150 dozens of capital fruits. I saw the remainder
of the crop a few days since, and could well imagine
how heavily the tree was laden earlier. It is
worth inquiring whether seedlings from this vener-
able tree would not make good stocks for choicer
kinds which die so rapidly. The subsoil at Mal-
shanger is a dense bed of chalk. — A. D.
Elton Pine Strawberry. — Looking over the
reports of the fruit crops from Scotland, I have
been interested to note how many gardeners write
favourably of Elton Pine Strawberry and grow it
for latest crops. Judging from these reports, I should
think this fine old kind was both popular and largely
grown in the northern kingdom. It is remarkable
that, in spite of the numerous varieties of Straw-
berries introduced during the past forty years, a
kind in cultivation pretty well fifty years ago should
still be regarded as our best late sort. Not only in
Scotland, however, but in some of our English gar-
dens Elton Pine still holds a high position and pro-
duces crops equal to those obtained from the best
new sorts. The Elton Pine has two merits : it fruits
late, and is most serviceable for preserving. Ob-
jection may be taken to its acidity, for it is not so
sweet as some other kinds are, but when it is the
custom to use sugarand cream liberally with Straw-
berries,a little acidity may be welcomed. We have
too many mid-season kinds and too few first early
and really late ones. It is on this account that
Elton Pine has been kept so long, and it is just
possible that fifty years hence it will be as widely
grown as now. Market growers are making in-
quiries for it, as any late sort is now of more V3,lue
ttfrfn those varieties that ripen in the o'rdiriary season.
The solidity or firmness of the fruits resembling
somewhat in that respect the sub-acid fruits of Sir C.
Napier render it a good kind for packing — a very
important matter, and no one complains that they
are subject to mildew. It is interesting to find
Elton Pine fruiting so well and producing fruits of
fine flavour in the extreme north, even so far up as
Moray, thus showing that it has very hardy
qualities, and readily adapts itself to climate. — A. D.
SQUIRRELS AND PEACHES, GREEN GAGES,
AND OTHER PLUMS.
Mh. R. F. Waed calls attention to the ravages of
squirrels among Apricots. This warning is much
needed, for the squirrels prefer these to most other
stone fruits. But no sooner are the golden Apricots
one than they turn their attention to Gages and
other Plums, or Peaches and Nectarines, preferring
the Gages and the Nectarines to Peaches and Plums.
Birds, wasps, hornets, and even bluebottles have
like preferences, as well as not a few connoisseurs.
When the fruits are large, or heavy, or specially soft
and luscious, the squirrels are not above eating their
dessert on the spot; but, as a rule, they prefer carry-
ing it ofE to their dining dens, and eating it at
their leisure. This habit of stealing and carrying
off thus hastily often causes much trouble in gardens ;
for the thefts are so dexterously accomplished, that
not a trace of the thief remains, and an expe-
rienced squirrel will dodge and hide on the other
side of the wall when anyone is near or in sight,
and pounce down and ofl: with a fruit in a moment
when the coast is clear. So adroitly is all this
accomplished, that a pair of nimble squirrels, old
hands at this sort of work, wUl clear the wall or
trees of a dozen or a score of fruit in a single day.
They do not eat them all at once, possibly few or
none of them at the moment, but hoard them up
for future use or noxious decomposition. But it
matters not to the owners of the fruit, who must
wage war to the death on the squirrels it they
would enjoy the pleasure of eating their most
luscious fruits themselves.
Trapping, shooting, and nesting are the surest
methods of destroying the squirrels. It need hardly
be added that Filberts form the most alluring baits
for the traps. The shooting should take place out-
side the garden, as the shot often does permanent
injury to the trees. Squirrels' nests are so large,
and often so prominent, that they are easily found
and destroyed. As the presence of squirrels in
gardens forebodes evil, and only evil, and that con-
tinually, it may be hoped that no one will be pre-
pared to take up the pen on their behalf.
We all know they are clever, agile, beautiful, and
can chatter, but they live at our expense, and the
injury they inflict on fruits and trees, and the havoc
they work among our Nuts make them too expensive
luxuries for us to keep in or contiguous to our
gardens. Hoettjs.
Pears at Heckfleld. — The arched cordon trees
at Heckfield are again this year carrying remark-
able crops of Pears, and apparently as fine as ever;
indeed, there can be no doubt but that the recent
heavy rains will help to swell up the fruits materi-
ally. It would seem almost as if there must be
some magic in the arched method of training, but
Mr. Wildsmith can point to the various bush, stan-
dard, and trained trees on the walls as evidence
that all forms of trees are carrying heavy crops, and
that Heckfield seems this year to have even more
Pears than ever. This abundance is not confined to
Pears, for some dwarf bush Apple trees on Paradise
stocks are carrying very fine fruits; indeed, I never
saw King of the Pippins finer on small trees. How-
ever, Mr. Turton can show at Maiden Erleigh re-
markable crops of fine fruit on similar bush trees,
so that it would seem as if we have only to plant
these dwarf trees in good soil, and mulch and water
them liberally in dry seasons, to always ensure
good Apple crops. Pears are, however, at Heck-
field a speciality this year, as in no garden
have I seen anything equal to what may be seen
there. Pitma^ton Duchess on a west wall has a
wonderful crop of sviperb fruits, affording splendid
dessert samples. I cannot give a list of the sorts of
Pears grown at Heckfield, but they include all the
best in cultivation. The ninety dishes of Pears ex-
hibited by Mr. Wildsmith at the Pear conference
two years ago, and pronounced by the committee to
be one of the most meritorious collections, prove
that Pears at Heckfield receive careful attention. —
A. D.
FRUITS UNDER GLASS.
CUCUMBEES.
Fresh, young plants put out in August for keeping
up a good supply until the commencement of the
new year will now be showing and swelling plenty
of fruits. As one-tenth of these will give the plants
quite enough work, the others, as a matter of daily
routine, must be cut or pinched off before the
flowers open. Male blossoms in like manner must
be removed, and the closer the side shoots are
pinched now the more space will they have for ex-
tension, when in dark, cold weather continuous
growth becomes one of the main factors in success-
ful winter crdture. When early autumn plants have
the run of hills or ridges, they invariably go away
with a rush, making immense leaves and strong
laterals, which one feels strongly tempted to check
by heavy cropping at the outset. But this is a mis-
take, as plants so treated generally show signs of
falling off, when in November and December their
produce to the private consumer becomes valuable.
To avoid this over-luxuriance, the plants from the
seed onwards should be grown with an abundance
of light and air, and when put out, the smallest
quantity of soir possible, and that not over-rich,
should be used for forming the hills. If light
turfy loam is used, a little old plaster or lime rubble
will keep it sweet and open and healthy; white
roots will soon weave a network over the exterior
ready to penetrate every bit of fresh turf as little
and often it is given to them.
Old plants which it may be necessary to keep
going until Christmas must be divested of old vines
and failing leaves to make room for young growths,
which, like the preceding, will show more fruit than
it will be wise to allow them to carry. If infested
or even touched with spider or mildew, a bold effort
should be made to free them from these pests before
daylight is counterbalanced by darkness. Sulphur
in various forms is considered the best destroyer of
either, but unless the roots are well cared for with
good rich compost and plentifully supplied with
warm diluted liquid, a clean bill of health can
hardly be expected. Cleanliness at all times is im-
portant ; in winter it is imperative ; and the better to
secure this, the glass on fine, mild days should he
well washed to free it from accumulations ; a run
round the walls with a wash of lime and sulphur
will sweeten the atmosphere, and frequent renova-
tion of the bed with fresh fermenting leaves whilst
stimulating the roots will produce genial moisture,
when syringing is impracticable, if not injurious.
Young pUnts from seeds or cuttings intended to
follow late Melons must be kept steadily progressing,
shifted into larger pots if necessary, and trained to
sticks within the full influence of light and air.
Although it is unwise to start fruiting plants in
large masses of rich soil, stock plants, on the other
hand, should never become pot-bound. Better
throw them away and make a smaller number fill
the pits, or, as an alternative, shift them early into
the fruiting pots and devote a small compartment
to their growth until their winter quarters are ready
for them.
Frame Cucumhers will soon be over, and, pro-
vided the early autumn plants are in bearing, the
Cucumbers they are likely to yield will hardly pay
for time devoted to linings and covering. Their
maintenance in a healthy and fruitful state is, of
course, possible, and where these form the only
stop-gap, a brisk heat must be secured by frequent
renovation of the linings, by keeping the frames
sweet and clean, and the reverse of crowded in the
vine and foliage.
Melons.
The best Melon season on record is now drawing
to a close, and soon the pits and houses will have
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 1, 1887.
been cleansed and turned to other purposes. A
few growers mete out a supply through October and
November, but the fruit, like late clingstone Peaches,
too often leaves an unfavourable impression upon
the palate. A good Pear at any time is better than
an indifferent Melon, and for this reason alone it is
always best to close the year with fruit of good
quality. New Melons, as usual, have been plentiful,
and some of them are very handsome, but, taking
the shows throughout the country where good, bad,
and indifferent have been brought into competition,
the good old sorts have held their own. Benham
Beauty, a rich, deep-fleshed orange scarlet, is a free-
setting, handsome Melon, and with those who like
the scarlets either for home use or exhibition is
sure to be extensively grown. It has powerful
opponents in Read's Scarlet, Sutton's Invincible,
and Blenheim Orange. Sutton's Perfection, a real
green-fleshed variety, has taken first honours two
years in succession at Bath, the stronghold of good
Melons, and is well worthy of a place in the front
rank. La Favorite, the most handsome Melon of
the year, is beautifully netted ; the skin is thin, and
the flesh deep in substance and colour — all go to
prove that mongrels were out of the way when its
parents were in flower. Although it sets well it
requires good management, and is likely to do best
as a pot Melon. The same may be said of Longleat
Perfection, a fine handsome variety of the hybrid
Cashmere or Heckfield hybrid type. It passed
through South Kensington with high honours, and
is, no doubt, a most delicious Melon, but, having a
very thin rind, which is apt to split when ripening,
I would suggest pot culture and very little water
through the last stage of its growth. Mr. Gilbert,
of Burghley, has given us some excellent Melons of
the true green type, than which few are better than
Burghley Pet and Her Ladyship's Favourite. In
catching the latter right for a certificate he has
been unfortunate, but for all this it is a quick,
handsome, and delicious variety worthy of a place
in any selection. Melons, no doubt, are too
numerous, and many of them are neither a good
red, white, nor green ; but, partaking of all three
tints, the raiser of a good sort does not know his
own child when it has been a year or two in culti-
vation. If raisers of new Melons would succeed they
should go back to the old Beechwood, the original
Egyptian green flesh, Spencer's Bowood, Bromham
Hall, and the old Victory of Bath. Cross-breds
should have no place on the bybridiser's premises,
and when he gets a good one he should stick to it.
Peaches.
The Peach season being pretty well over and the
trees in every house, early and late, unusually
promising, notes on root-pruning, planting, and
other operations should now be carried into execu-
tion. If the trees in the earliest houses have done
well and are not too strong, all they wiU require is
the removal of old mulching and top-dressing,
judicious watering to keep the roots right, and fresh
surfacing with new compost. Good calcareous
loam, old lime rubble, burnt earth, and crushed
bones form a compost that cannot be surpassed
either for top-dressing or planting. This in quantity
equal to the demand should now be made up and
kept dry until it is wanted. Healthy young trees
do not require solid manure, but old one.s, which
have been enervated by hard forcing and heavy
cropping, may be the better for good feeding. Some
give them heavy autumnal dressings of rotten
manure, or repeated waterings with diluted liquid,
but it Is much easier to make them too strong than
to strike the happy medium ; at least on our soil
we find it so, and our weakest trees always respond
when the compost I have named is supplied in the
autumn and mulching is deferred until after the
fruit is set. When fruiting trees of four or five
years' growth have to be transferred from later to
early houses, the work should be finished by the
end of September. I have moved them much" later
— at all times, in fact, up to the flowering stage, but
the safest and best time is immediately after the
flower-buds are properly formed and the foliage
shows signs of changing. The compost at that
period being warm and moderately dry, the roots,
well washed home with warm water, at once lay
hold, and the trees never look behind them.
Succession liouses. — These, like the preceding, are
quite forward enough for the annual overhauling of
borders and top-dressing before morning frosts
force plants of various kinds into them for tempo-
rary shelter. If the lights are portable and require
painting, October is, perhaps, the best month for
stripping, as the wood, now thoroughly ripe, will
stand any reasonable amount of frost, and the
borders which should be internal, will derive
great benefit from copious showers of rain, now
overdue. It will not, however, do to depend
upon the clouds for our immediate wants, as
external borders, which have received all the rain-
fall of the past and repeated drenchings from
the hose are now crying for more, and more
they must have if bud-dropping in the spring is to
be prevented. The rainfall in this locality since
the drought broke up amounts to about 4 inches, but
this is not much on borders often sheltered by
buildings, and from which the foliage is most
actively draining a supply of moisture. With two ex-
ceptions all our Peach borders are inside, and having
given up stripping the roofs as soon as the fruit is
gathered, our Peach watering is not a matter of
feasting to-day and fasting to-morrow.
Late liouses. — If the trees in these have not been
pruned, every spare bit of wood should now be cut
out, and that left regulated to let in light and air.
Ripe enough it .will be, but the best earnest of
future success is foliage that measures out its
allotted span and crimson twigs the colour of red
Osiers. Too much air cannot be given to the trees
both by night and day, and the syringe must not be
laid aside. We generally feel that spider has done
its work by the middle of September, but this year
it is not only present, but active every where and
upon every plant, from the stately Vine to the
humble Violet. This, no doubt, will go on so long
as the earth remains hot and dry, but the time will
come for its total destruction in the open air, and
persons having charge of forcing houses, old brick
walls, and the like must soon decide whether it is
to survive the winter, or, by the judicious use of in-
secticides, be rendered as harmless as the Hessian fly.
The Oechard Hottsb.
If the early house is wanted for Chrysanthemums,
a complete clearance of all the pot trees must now
be made. Having had plenty of time to fill the
new pots with fresh roots, all the attention the trees
will require is deep plunging in old tan or ashes
on a sound bottom impervious to worms, a rough
mulch to keep the surface roots moist, and liberal
supplies of water. If fresh trees have been selected
for potting, the time is at hand for lifting, an ope-
ration that cannot be too carefully performed.
Trees of home growth should be well watered to
moisten the baked ground before the roots are dis-
turbed, and again after they are potted, when they
may be plunged, where they can remain until the
time arrives for housing. Maiden trees still stand-
ing in distant nurseries must remain there for the
present, but when rain has reached their lowest
roots the advanced state of the wood will justify
lifting. Peaches and Nectarines make the best
trees in the shortest time when they are taken from
the nursery and potted before their leaders are mu-
tilated by the knife, or their side shoots are short-
ened. If well grown 'they will be from 2 feet to
4 feet in height, straight as arrows and well fur-
nished with laterals, having buds at the points, and
one or two near the main stems. Some of the
leaders it may be necessary to shorten ; others may
be left full length to form cordons and pyramids.
If plunged in the open air they will pass through
the first part of an ordinary winter in safety, but a
glass structure of some kind being necessary to the
formation of perfect trees, they should be taken in
not later than Christmas, well watered, and kept as
cool and airy as possible. Towards March, the buds
having commenced swelling, all the side shoots must
be cut back to one eye, when pinching in due course
will follow. Plums, Pears, and Cherries, loaded
with flower-buds, can be bought in, potted, and
kept in the open air until established and ready for
fruiting.
Mi.i'cd seleciions, so frequently met with in the
amateur's garden, will now be ready for overhaul-
ing. If very late Peaches, Plums, and Pears have
not been cleared of their fruit, they must stand over
for the present, but every fruitless tree will now be
in fit condition for potting or top-dressing. When
trees require a shift the pots should be clean, dry,
and well crocked, and about 3 inches wider than
those they have occupied. The compost likewise
should be dry enough for sound ramming, otherwise
water wUl pass without entering the old balls,
which, by the way, should be soaked in a tub of
water for an hour a few days before the trees are
potted. When turned out of the pots, all old and
impoverished compost, also the crocks, should be
picked out with a sharp-pointed stick, and long
straggling roots cut back to induce the formation of
fresh feeders. If treated in this way once in two
years, pot trees can be kept fruitful and healthy for
an unlimited period, but, once allowed to go wrong,
nothing short of shaking out, washing the roots by
dashing the balls up and down in a tub of water
and re-potting in smaller pots will restore them.
To some who are afraid of disturbing a root this
treatment may appear severe, but it is correct never-
theless, for I have a set of late sorts, including Wal-
burton and Late Admirable, Barrington, Lord Pal-
merston (the handsomest, but not the best. Peach
grown), and Desse Tardive, which were washed out
last autumn, started in pure calcareous loam, burnt
earth, and lime rubble, and are now carrying one
and a half dozen large fruits each. Pure loam alone
acts like magic on all stone fruit trees, especially
when they have been overdone with animal manure
in a solid or liquid form, or, from other causes, the
foliage lacks depth of colour and substance. Large
trees planted out in internal borders, unlike kindred
varieties in pots, require a check every year, not by
over-cropping, but by root-pruning and renovating
with fresh loam before the leaves fall. The balls of
these trees soon become a mass of fibrous roots
some 18 inches to 2 feet across, and the only way in
which the heads can be kept within bounds and
fruitful consists in throwing out a circular trench
with a spade, knifing back every root to within 2
inches of its starting point, re-filling the narrow
trench with fresh loam, and ramming until the new
soil is as solid as the old ball. This operation should
always be preceded and followed by copious water-
ing, as dryness at the root in winter as well as sum-
mer is the most common cause of the buds dropping.
To such trees a good mulch of rotten manure should
be given as soon as the fruit is set and thinned, but
on no account should it be allowed to mingle with
the new soil when the trenches are made up in Oc-
tober ; indeed, having completed its work and sun-
heat being essential to the ripening of the roots as
well as the wood, every particle of manure and inert
soil shoidd be removed out of the house before the
roots are disturbed. Border trees can be kept in
the pyramidal form, but short standards carrying
round heads not only give the fullest crops, but,
being well up to the glass, the bulk of the fruit
colours better than when grown closer to the soil.
We thin the heads of our trees as soon as the crop
is gathered, and shorten back the strongest shoots
conjointly with disbudding in the spring. Some
very old trees of Crimson Galande, Magdala, and
Nectarine Peach and Napier Nectarine here in a
cold house of the roughest build have each pro-
duced about ten dozen fruits, and look like going on
for years to come. W. C.
The Banana (Musa Cavendishi). — Referring to
the note respecting the Banana in The G.iiiDEN, Sept.
17 {p. 243), I remember that while travelling in Ger-
many I visited the Royal Gardens of Nymphenburg,
where I saw .a house containing from twenty to thirty
plants of the Banana, the fruits of which, being a
favourite dessert of the late King of Bavaria, were
required to he during the whole year in a fresh state
for the table. — Louis Kuopatsch.
American La'Wton Blackberry. — This hears
large black fruits like those of Wilson Junior iu size and
appearance, and the flavour is the same as that of the
common Blackberry of the hedgerow. At Wimbledon
House in the kitchen garden it is rambling over
a fence, and with its cut-leaved foliage and abundance
of black fruits has a picturesque appearance. This is
a somewhat novel, but commendable way of growing
Blackberries. — E. C.
Oct. 1, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
289
A STREAM GARDEN.
The accompanying engraving represents a
stream garden which Mr. Goodhart has lately
added to his other gardens at his residence of
Langley Park, in the county of Kent. It was
made last winter, and the object was to get
suitable localities for aquatic and bog plants,
while the stones and wall could be used for
alpines. The original intention has been fully
realised and a good deal extended. As regards
aquatics, the Cape Pondweed (Aponogeton dis-
tachyon) grows well and flowers freely. These
were planted in old baskets and dropped to the
pedium spectabile, Habenaria chlorantha, H.
viridis, Gymnadenia conopsea, Drosera rotundi-
folia, Pinguicula vulgaris, and many varieties of
Ferns. On the stones and in the interstices of
the walls are planted Sedum Ewersi, S. brevi-
folium. S. atro-purpureum, S. dentatum, S. Sie-
boldi, S. glauciim, and others, besides varieties
of Saxifrage and Sempervivum, and numerous
other rock plants. One of the banks sloping
from the lawn and built up against the wall
has been made with limestone underneath and
light soil above. On this have been growing
Cypripedium Calceolus, Trillium grandiflorum.
A stream garden. Engiuved for The Garden from a photograph, sent by C. E. Goodhart, Langley
Park, Beckenham.
bottom of a deep pool. Stratiotes aloides and
Calla rethiopica are growing in the same pool. By
the margin of the stream, and in some cases in
the water, are Arundo Donax, Calla pahistris,
Gunncra scabra, Osmunda regalis (a large bed
of these in specially prepared ground), Spiraea
palmata, S. Arunous, Polygonum cuspidatum,
Acorus Calamus, Butomus umbellatus, Nierem-
bergia rivularis, Gentiana Pueumonanthe, Lo-
beha cardinalis and others. An exceedingly
handsome plant of Cyperus longus stands against
a stone promontory, and makes quite a feature
in the stream. Further removed from the water,
but in damp and shady places, there are Cypri-
iSro. For tliis season one bank is covered
with Portulacas, which, in consequence of the
warm and dry summer, make a magnificent
display.
The stream garden is approached by rough
stone steps from the lawn. The steps are
already overgrown with Sedums. A gravel path
winds along the banks of the stream, which is
crossed in one ]3lace by stepping stones, and in
another by a massive trunk of an old Willow
tree blown down in the park the winter before
last, but which has sprouted and makes the
pretty foliage on the edge of the bridge observ-
able in the foreground. On the left of the
engraving may be observed various spring-
flowering trees and shrubs, which greatly en-
hance the beauty of the garden. C. E. G.
Flower Garden.
HARDY FLOWERS : A RETROSPECT.
The following notes refer mostly, or indeed
almost exclusively, to plants which have come
under my notice within the last two or three years,
and are discursive rather than comprehensive.
Amateurs in search of novelties may possibly
find some things mentioned which they have
not got, and persons of an economical turn of
mind may pick up hints as to where the ex-
penditure of half-crowns may prove dangerous
or undesirable; but people about to set up a
hardy garden must not look for a "complete
guide."
To take an interesting class — the herbaceous
Anemones — first, I may say that among the less
common of these A. narcissiflora is one of the
most easily cultivated ; it grows slowly, but
strongly in common loam, and, indeed, appears
to me, like many other plants of this Order, to
require something rather stiff into which to stick
its roots. On the other hand, Alpine Windflower
(A. alpina), the finest (with one exception) of the
whole group, requires a warm soil composed of
peat andgrit. Ibelieve I have at lastgot a plant of
this established, though it has not as yet flowered.
A. sulphurea I have hitherto totally faOed to
grow, though I have bought it time after time
from different sources, and once, if I rightly
recollect, flowered it. As far as my experi-
ence has hitherto gone, "established plants
in pots " die if you venture to look at them,
much less to plant them out. The nuance of
distinction in the beauty of these two may be
compared to the distinction in the styles of the
archbishops. A. alpina is the most beautiful of
herbaceous Anemones. A. sulphurea is the
most beautiful of all herbaceous Anemones.
Both are, in my experience, among the most
difficult subjects of alpine gardening. A new
plant of A. vemalis flowered with me in the
spring, and in spite of the drought of the recent
summer has, I hope, got established. There are
few spring flowers more interesting than this, or,
in a quiet way, more lovely. Pasque Flower (A.
Pulsatilla), to which it is nearly allied, repays, or
rather requires, liberal treatment. This is a
plant which is difficult to propagate, and which
greatly resents being moved, and, still more, be-
ing divided. There appear to be several varieties
of this species to which specific botanical names
are assigned, but as I do not possess any of
them, I cannot say how far they are really dis-
tinct. A. Halleri is said to be very well worth
growing. A. decapetala has disappeared from
my garden ; it is not worth replacing, though
not a bad thing. There is no more beautiful
spring flower than the common Snowdrop Ane-
mone (A. sylvestris), but its weedy habit makes
it an awkward subject to deal with in small
gardens, and attempts to confine its roots appear
to be detrimental to its flowering.
Of the white Buttercups, R. amplexicaulis,
although I have not got it, is, I think, a good
deal the best, quite " a plant for the million."
Some of the othersare bettercalculated to interest
the cultivator than to strike the imagination of
people who cannot get up an interest in Latin
names. I had a plant of R. parnassifolius grow-
ing strongly in a hot, dry position in pure grit, but
as it did not flower to my satisfaction, I trans-
planted it into peat and shade, and thereby kiUed
it incontinently. Moral — as in many other gar-
dening crises — to let it alone. The yellow alpine
Ranunculi are, for obvious reasons, less well
290
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 1, 1887.
worth the attention of English gardeners. The
only cue I have, 1 think, is R. gramineus, whioh
has given up flowering with me. A pretty plant
with a distinct habit, but not apparently a vigo-
rous grower.
To take another genus of plants of the same
Natural Order — the Delphiniums, I may say
that the Dwarf Red Larkspur (D. nudicaule), in
spite of some evidence to the contrary, appears
to be entitled to be considered a half-hardy
perennial. I have planted this out in diiFe-
rent soils and situations in my garden, and
left it during the winter, with the result that I
have never seen a sign of it again ; but by tak
ing the plants up in August when the flowering
is over, washing the tubers, which are usually
covered with vermin, and potting in fresh soil,
they may be kept for some years. The plants
start in the late autumn, and can then be placed
in a cold frame during the winter and planted
out again in April. They are easily raised from
seed, which comes true. D. cardinale I have
long ceased to trouble myself about. I believe
it to be a biennial pure and simple, though if
any of your readers have ever proved it to be
anything better I should be interested to hear of
it. Of the blue tuberous-rooted Larkspurs of
North America I have had no experience ; they
are interesting botanically, but species of this
race need some special distinction to make them
worth growing in the face of the magnificent
garden varieties now in cultivation. Such, how-
ever, is D. triste, to which anyone caring for re-
markable hardy plants should give a place. D.
Brunonis, which I saw at Kew, struck me as
being good and distinct. It is not quite within
the scheme of these remarks to deal with florists'
flowers, but I may say that two double Larkspurs,
which have grown into fine plants, have espe-
cially struck me during the past summer. These
are Madame H. Jacotot (sky-blue) and Pompon
Brilliant (dark blue). If there are varieties which
can beat these in richness of colouring and in
the furnishing of the spike, I should be glad
to hear of them. A quite wondrous ultramarine-
blue is the double variety of D. chinense, sold
as the old Siberian Larkspur, and sometimes
rather absurdly called D. grandiflorum fl.-pl. A
relative, who recollects the old double Siberian
Larkspur more than fifty years ago, tells me I
have not got the right thing, which was darker
considerably in shade. Anyhow, it is a plant of
extraordinary beauty, and has probably the
same weak constitution as the single variety,
which, partly from the ravages of slugs (which
eat out the eyes) and partly, it seems, from consti-
tutional want of hardiness, appears to rot if left
in the ground during the winter. By taking up
the plants and potting them, however, they may
be easily saved, and will flower stronger and
earlier the next year, as the young shoots can
thus be guarded against slugs.
Among the less common spring flowers I have
been especially pleased with the Dentarias ; of
these I have four vars., D. glandulosa and D.
polyphylla, which come into flower together
about the 1st of April ; D. pinnata and the
better -known D. denticulata, which flower
about three weeks later. Of these, the first has
rich purple flowers, the second creamy white or
very pale straw (Messrs. Proebel's list calls it
" jaune 3ouS"re"), the third is white, and the
fourth very much like the first, though perhaps
a trifle less rich in colour. AH grow well in
light soil (I grow mine in peat, which is not per-
haps necessary), and all have lovely bright
green foliage ; but D. polyphylla is the pick of
the lot, while D. pinnata is perhaps a little too
much like our own Cuckoo-flower in the tone of
its white. Two other varieties are oftered in
Messrs. Froebel's li.-it, but they can hardly be
Very distinct from those already mentioned.
Grecian Rr.ADDWR pod (Vesicaria grreca) is
an almost brighter yeilow than the commoner
Alyssum saxaiile. It is quite worth having.
Helianthemum umbellatum is a lovely little
rock Rose, and appears to be hardy grown in
light peaty soil.
TuE CiNNABAK PiNK (Dianthus cinnabariuus)
is the only new Pink I have come across
within the last few years with which I can
do any good. It has a distinct and remark-
able colour, with a sufliciently hardy con-
stitution, though bad foliage. The habit is like
that of D. cruentus, but does not appear to repro-
duce itself so freely by seed. The most beautiful
of all alpine Pinks are D. alpinus and its near
congeners, the Grass Rose Pink (D. negleotus)
and the Glacier Pink (D. glacialis). It is,
however, as far as my experience goes, quite
hopeless to attempt to establish these thing.s
permanently as hardy flowers ; indeed, they are
hard enough to manage with frame cultivation
— that most uninteresting of all pseudo-garden-
ing entertainments. The same may be said for a
beautiful little plant. Lychnis Lagascse, which I
believe to be a biennial pure and simple, and
for two interesting, but quite hopeless, N.
American plants, Silene virginica and S. regia,
with both of which it seems to be impossible to
do any permanent good.
The Mountain Kidney Vetch (Anthj'llis
montana) is a beautiful plant which resents be-
ing moved, having, like most of its order, long,
searching roots, which go a great depth into the
ground.
Lathyrus rotundifolius (the scarlet Peren-
nial Pea) is perhaps the finest of its class. This
is one of the many good things which appears
to be over-burdened with synonyms, of which
perhaps the commonest is L. Drummondi.
ViciA pyrenaica (though I do not possess it)
is quite worth growing, though it seems to be
somewhat less floriferous than many others of its
order.
Of the order of the Rose, Potentilla rupestris,
a rare native plant with white flowers, is a very
good thing, though it may be hoped that any
of your readers who may chance to light upon it
in the neighbourhood of P n will not
commit the vandalism of digging it up. Another
plant of extreme beauty obtained from Messrs.
Froebel under this name is P. speciosa. The
flowers are said to be white, but its foliage,
which is silvery white on both sides, is what
gives it its special beauty. It grows slowly,
and has none of the rambling habit common to
the order.
The finest of the spring yellow composites is
unquestifinably a plant which I beg to be
allowed to gratify you, sir, by boldly calling
" Harpur Crewe's Leopard' s-bane," but as this
has already received an ample meed of praise,
I wiU say no more about it. There are, how-
ever, a few others on which I have a note or
two to ofl'er. The first of these is Erigeron
aurantiacus, a plant which, having been re-
suscitated once or twice when nearly dead, is,
I am much surprised to fitud, growing now in
tolerable vigour in my garden. I have it
planted in full sun in almost unmixed grit.
The colour of the flowers — so far, at least, as
perennials are concerned — is, no doubt, distinct,
being of the same shade as those of Hiera-
oiuui aurantiacum, and a darker orange than
the majority of yellow Daisies ; but this is
about all that can be said for it. It would be
an over-praised plant, even if it could be gene-
rally grown, as figured in The Garden some |
three years ago. It appears to me to be a
plant with a thoroughly bad constitution, and
by no means worth the attention of the geueral
ciiltivator. A thing as well, or better, worth
growing, in my judgment, is Hypochieris ma-
culata. It is true that this is simply a British
Dandelion, which may be found in certain
habitats by those whom it may concern ; but
its foliage is fine, its flowers large and full,
and it possesses, moreover, the habits of good
society, for it does not appear to seed itself
about at all, a proclivity which makes so many
of the genus a nuisance. In the month of
June, one of the most beautiful things in my
garden is Hieracium villosum, a plant which
I owe (as indeed I do half the best things I
have) to the kindness of Mr. WoUey Dod. It
is figured in Sowerby, but its claim to be a
subject of H.B.M. is, I believe, more than
doubtful. The plant offered by Messrs. Back-
house under the name H. valde-pilosum is, I
apprehend, substantially the same. A hand-
some summer-flowering plant is Senecio (alias
Erythrochfete) palmatifida. J. C. L.
DWARF AND SELF CARNATIONS.
I HAVE no desire to unduly praise my own children,
but am so greatly interested in really good Carna-
tions, and in their improvement, that I may perhaps
be allowed a few words ti projirx of what " A. D."
wrote lately (p. 171), and of other remarks upon
Carnations which had appeared lately in The
Garden. My Carnation is, indeed, no child of
my own, except by adoption. I did not raise it, and
can claim no credit unless for having recognised a
good plant when I fortunately chanced upon it. It
came, as I have before explained, from a cottage
garden in an out-of-the-way AVorcestershire village,
and I believe it to have sprung up as a chance
seedling from the old Clove.
" A. D." says he has raised dwarf scarlet, white
and salmon Carnations. Now, will he tell us
whether these have proved themselves absolutely
hardy, and, above all, whether they are fragrant?
To my mind, a Carnation is entirely condemned by
absence of the rich clove scent, and this want alone
makes nearly all the florists' Carnations valueless. I
am not without experience of these dwarf plants
from French and German seed, but I have never
yet obtained from it a flower with satisfactory
fragrance. Moreover, I have a neighbour who
spares no expense in obtaining the best strains of
seed, and among all his seedlings I have never yet
found a really fragrant flower, or a good, dark,
crimson self. And this last winter and spring de-
stroyed almost the whole of his stock, while in a
still colder garden I did not lose a single plant of
my dwarf Clove. As to scent, I can say quite
truthfully that it is decidedly sweeter than the old
Clove, that a bed of it perfumes my whole garden,
which is a largish one, and that two years ago when
my stock was comparatively small, some old women
of my village, who were weeding in an adjacent
field, told me how much they enjoyed " the smell
of my Clove Gillyflowers from over the wall."
I am not one of those who run a tilt against the
florists proper in every department of their work ;
but I do heartily agree with what Mr.Herrington has
said (p. litS) about the false taste hitherto prevalent
among Carnation growers, and the neglect of selfg.
I would go further, and say that the florists have
worse than wasted half a century and more of
energy upon the Carnation. Many of the most
valued and prize-winning kinds are simply detestable
in colouring, e.ij., Arthur Medhurst, instanced by
Mr. Herrington. I wish Mr. Herrington had said
something about fragrance as a requisite of a good
Carnation. When the judges at our flower shows
refuse prizes or certificates of merit to scentless
Roses and Carnations, we may begin to hope for the
spreading of a truer taste.
Let me advise all who have good, fragrant self
Carnations to make a point of raising seedlings
from them. I remember no such year for the free
Oct. 1, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
291
production of Carnation seed as this ; the great
heat and the desperate searching of the bees for
food have fertilised the flowers in a quite extraordi-
nary way.
In connection with this subject we are asked
every year, " What is a Gillyflower .' " The real
explanation of the word is that it means simply
clove. Sir John Maundville (born 1322) tells us
that in the Spice Islands he saw trees bearing
" Clove-gylofres," i.e.. Cloves. Therefore, a Gilly-
flower, or a Clove Gillyflower, may mean any flower
which is clove-scented. I believe this has been
clearly stated in The Garden several times.
G. H. Englbhbakt.
NOTES FROM NEWRY.
I SEND a gathering of Irish flowers, of whicli we
now have an abundance.
DiANTHUS Accident is a natural hybrid that
appeared here in a bed of Sweet Williams. It is a
true perennial, of free growth, and continues in
bloom when placed in damp and generous soil.
Diauthus gallicus has continued in bloom all through
the season. D. superbus nanus is quite fairy-like,
and delioiously sweet. It is never without flowers
from June till October.
J.THiONEM.i PEESicuM gTows here with the ut-
most luxuriance, and has been a sheet of rose colour
for four months, and has still buds in all stages.
Delphinium sinense is a charming bit of blue.
The dwarf red Larkspur (D. nudicaule) is most
luxuriant, and a flne patch of scarlet.
Theee-birds' Toadflax (Linaria triornitho-
phora) is a good perennial and one of the most
continuous blooming plants I have. It grows 1^
feet to 2 feet high, and never ceases to flower from
July until stopped by frost.
Fukkia Sieboldi blatior has smaller foliage
than the type; the flower-scapes are taller. It is
an almost constant bloomer ; note the charming
blue tint on the buds.
Clematis stans, although not a showy plant, is
still very pretty. It has a quiet beauty of its own,
and is by no means devoid of perfume.
The old Gbum coccineum plenum can still
hold its own as a richly-coloured, constant-bloom-
ing plant; it is as hardy as a Dock.
CE-VOTHBEA Feaseri is perhaps the best of the
group. Young plants never cease flowering from
early summer until late autumn. On the other hand,
old-established plants give a great mass of colour
during July and early August, and then go to rest.
Coreopsis lancbolata varies a good deal in
colour from seed. I send a richly-coloured form,
and there is no brighter yellow or more constant
blooming plant in the garden.
Lobelia Milleri is distinct in its rich crimson-
purple tint. It does not grow very tall, and is hardy
anywhere.
SiLENE maeitima PLENA never ceases to bloom
here from spring until autumn, and is one of the
very best plants to overhang a rocky ledge.
Genista capitata is the most continuous
bloomer of the family, and makes a fine bush in
the open border; it is also useful on a wall.
Linaria Anticaria picttjeata is a seedling of
accidental origin, and I think the type crossed with
L. tristis, as there is the dark throat of the latter
and clear traces of its sweet perfume, more obvious
at evening-time than during the day. It is more
continuous lilooming than the type, and in dampish
soil in a partly shaded position grows in the most
luxuriant manner and nearly 1 foot in height. It
is quite an acquisition. When planted in full ex-
posure its brittle stems are liable to get broken off
at the base by the wind. T. Smith.
into flower. For many weeks they will beautify
the ground with their bright pink blossoms, and
then win follow a fine display of exquisitely
marbled leaves. Who can tell me of another hardy
plant of such low growth that offers so many dis-
tinct characters the whole year through? — J. C. C.
Hardy Cyclamens. — Within the last few days
these have begun to show a few flowers. They do
not appear to mind either heat or drought, for,
notwithstanding they have had a full share of both,
the plants are not a day later than usual in coming
YELLOW BEDDING FLOWERS.
As long as masses of colour in flowers are admired,
there will be found some who care for bold yellow
hues. It is rather odd that whilst in passing by
rail, or otherwise, through agricultural districts we
often admire a broad expanse of golden hue as dis-
played in some distant field by that troublesome
weed Charlock, or possibly evince a momentary
burst of undisguised enthusiasm when a mass of
brilliant yellow Gorse is in view, yet in gardens we
decry yellow hues as tawdry or common-place, and
even as vulgar. Take, again, the charm found at
any moment when a brilliant breadth of the field
Poppy suddenly breaks upon our sight, and how
intensely we admire the rich scarlet colouring
which tells so efi^ectively amidst Nature's wealth of
green. Oddly, again, do we admire these weed
masses, although they are harmful, and ought in
due course to be speedily eradicated. Criticise as
we may the garishness of bright yellows and
scarlets, and profess as we may appreciation for
grey, mauve, pink, and other soft tints, human
nature will assert itself, and in unguarded moments
the inherent love for glowing hues and broad,
striking colours will manifest itself. Because of
this weakness, yellow Calceolarias have so long
been bedding denizens of our gardens, and bid fair
yet to remain such. Rarely have these plants found
a hotter and, for them, more unpropitious season
than the passing one has been ; and, on the whole,
they have done badly and have proved very ineffec-
tive. Still, they have had to pass through some
trying summers before, and at those times under-
went much adverse criticism, yet they survived,
and will survive, because we do get some summers
when Calceolarias thrive well, and when they do
they give rich masses of colour. Some forty years ago,
the pretty, but yet ungainly kind, amplexicaulis
was, with Tom Thumb Scarlet Pelargoniums, Purple
King Verbenas, white Petunias, a favourite bedding
plant. Pegged down it made a gay bed, and only
gave place to more robust compact-habited plant.s
when such free-bloomers as Prince of Orange,
Grolden Gem, and aurea floribunda came on the
scene. From that time till now, these vigorous
free-blooming yellows, and the latter especially,
have ranked amongst the most popular of bedding
plants in spite of the adversities which hot, dry
seasons sometimes cause them to encounter. But
with all this passion for the Calceolaria there is yet
a desire to have not only yellow bedders which will
prove useful during all sorts of seasons, but also
which both in form of flower and variation of hue
will help to make our flower gardens in summer all
the more attractive.
Two plants seem to stand out specially for their
brilliant effectiveness in almost all seasons, but par-
ticularly during warm, dry ones. The first is Gazania
splendens, and the other the double dwarf French
Marigold (Calendula aurea floribunda). Gazania
splendens, so easily propagated from cuttings, put
in at this time of the year and again in the spring,
has for years, almost for generations, formed a
prominent bedding element in the flower garden at
Dropmore, where masses of this plant with its showy
blooms are very attractive. The flowers of the va-
riety of Gazania called splendens grandiflora are
fully 3 inches across and very handsome. The close,
dense-growing habit of the plants renders the
Gazania specially beautiful when in a mass, and it
seems to thrive best in soil of moderate quality and
in fairly dry seasons. The dwarf yellow Marigold,
aurea floribunda, whilst as a tender annual incapable
of increase by cuttings, is yet so easily raised from
seed sown under glass early in the month of April
that its propagation entails very little trouble.
Well-grown plants reach to a heightof from 12 inches
to 14 inches, and some 15 inches through. If, how-
ever, to form a dense mass, the plants be put out in
the spring 12 inches apart each way, there will be
no reason to complain of want of effect later. In
the production of flowers few plants excel them, for
they soon become densely studded with very hand-
some double blooms. It is but needful, having
raised the plants in a frame and well hardened them,
to lift them carefully and plant out about the middle
of May, watering them well once or twice if the soil
be dry. The plants will bloom very freely until
frost cuts them off. Violas and Pansies make very
showy summer-bedding plants, also in deep rich
soils and where there is ample moisture, but these
conditions are seldom found in flower gardens in
the hot, sunny south. For spring bedding, Violas
cannot be excelled for the production of yellow
hues, and not infrequently they will, if planted in
November, begin to bloom at once, and continue
more or less to do so until after the following mid-
summer. On the whole, there seems to be no lack
of effective yellow-flowered bedding plants.
A. D.
Crinum Mooreanum. — " G." (p. 236) did well
to draw the attention of cultivators to this plant.
In addition to the qualities named, it will remain
in a house in good condition longer than any flower-
ing plant lam acquainted with without injury, and
the flowers are richly scented. Our specimens rest
all the winter in a warm greenhouse ; they are
potted in the spring and placed in the second early
vinery, after which they are taken back again to a
greenhouse. As they show flower they are taken
to a house with a north aspect, if it is necessary to
retard them. They are easily increased by offsets.
When established in a 9i-inoh pot, potting need
only be done every other year, but a top-dressing is
etsential in order to keep the foliage a nice colour.
~W. A. Cook.
Hot-weather plants. — With us, among the
plants which the hot summer has suited best are
Agapanthus umbellatus ; the white-flowered one
planted out last autumn and unprotected has a head
with sixty flowers ; the blue form and A. Mooreanus,
the small- flowered one,whichhadawicker coop, with
Bracken placed through the bars, over them in win-
ter, are now in bloom. Crinum Powelli has bloomed
beautifully. A friend having given me C. Mac-
owani, I planted offsets, which stood the winter,
but were too small to flower. A Belladonna Lily on
the top of a mound bad two stems, one with eight,
the other six flowers ; but perhaps the different
varieties of Lilium speciosum have gained most
from the long heat, as they have bloomed earlier
than usual, and so have escaped frost injuring the
flowers. — Geoege F. Wilson, Heatheriank, lle//-
hruhjc.
A beautiful picture. — The chief subject of this
beautiful picture was the hardy Indian Balsam
(Impatiens glandulifera). It is a plant rather com-
mon, perhaps, being frequently met with in cottage
gardens, but, nevertheless, pretty. The one under
notice is situated in a London back garden, and is
the finest specimen I have ever seen. It is fully
8 feet high and 6 feet through, and absolutely
covered with rosy lilac flowers, not only at the tips
of the shoots, but in the axil of every leaf. It rises
from among some old bricks which form a little
rockery, furni.shed with hardy British Ferns, which
make a nice carpet, graceful and refreshing. A
small wooden fence runs along the back and flanks
one side. This was covered with Virginian Creeper,
which gave a finish to the whole. Moreover, the
leaves of the Ion?, graceful shoots were just assum-
ing the beautiful and glowing tints of autumn.
There had been no plants of this Balsam in
the garden before. Last year there were some
in the garden adjoining, but none this year. The
seed got carried over by some means. In due
time the plant sprang np, and, finding something
highly conducive to its welfare, grew into this beau-
tiful specimen. — A. H.
Hydrangeas and dry weather.— Dryness at
the root does not suit Hydrangeas. There are many
plants growing in the open air here; several of them
are fine bushes from S feet to 12 feet in diameter. In
favourable seasons they bloom profusely, and open
huge clusters of bloom. I have seen these develop
so freely as to make the whole plant one mass of
292
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 1, 1887.
blossom, with hardly any leaves visible, but that
was in a damp season. This year the clusters are
no larger than one's fist, and the plant has a stunted
appearance. Watered freely they would no doubt
do well, but cultivated like ordinary shrubs exces-
sive drought tells sadly against them. The colour
of the pink ones is very striking, but the blue ones
have had a faded appearance for some time past. —
J. MuiR, Mwrgam.
EXHIBITION ASTERS.
One of the leading features of the Bath Floral Fete,
an annual exhibition held early in September in
the Sydney Gardens, Bath, in which cut flowers are
shown to great advantage, was the two classes for
German and French Asters. By German Asters are
understood the delicate, symmetrical, and refined
types of the quilled varieties that have been so
much improved in this country of recent years; so
much so, indeed, that it is high time they should be
mentioned in schedules of prizes simply as Quilled
Asters. By French Asters are meant any of the
flat-petalled varieties, though, strictly speaking,
wliat is known as TrufEaut's Pseony-flowered, with
large balls of incurved petals, a race of Asters of
bold and striking character, but which have had to
give place to a large extent on the exhibition table
to the fine, full, and symmetrical Chrysanthemum-
flowered varieties. Now, I hold the opinion that
it is much more diflicult to get a stand of fine
flowers of TrufEaut's type than it is of the Chry-
santhemum-flowered type, but when they are shown
together the latter are almost always preferred be-
fore them. I think, therefore, that while one class
only is required for Quilled Asters, there should be
two for the flat-petalled varieties — one for the
PfEOny-flowered or incurved type, the other for the
Chrysanthemum-flowered or reflexed type, and then
the former would have a chance of being seen. At
the recent Bath show there was a class for twenty-
four blooms of French Asters, and out of some four-
teen or so stands, I do not think there was
scarcely one of the Pseony - flowered varieties.
The twenty-four German Asters shown by Mr.
G. S. Walters, nurseryman, Calne, were of smaller
size than is sometimes seen, but as individual
specimens they were perfect — clean, symmetrical,
and very bright ; some of them having a zone
of purple, crimson, rose, lavender, &c., form-
ing the base of the flower and then a large cir-
cular disc of pure white. What one likes to see
in these Quilled Asters is a circle of guard petals
standing out regularly from the base of the flower,
and then the centre of quilled petals perfectly
formed — pure, regular, and without flaw. I think
the Quilled Asters are not nearly so much grown as
they deserve to be for cutting purposes. Perhaps
the fact that good strains are not easily obtainable
is one reason, but only let a good strain be once ob-
tiined, and there is no reason why it should not be
continued by the grower, for he will find no difli-
culty in getting seed of some of the best varieties.
Of the flat-petalled Asters, what is known as the
Victoria type of the Chrysanthemum-flowered has
quite usurped the place of all others for exhibition
purposes. It is a very fine Aster indeed, producing
large and handsomely reflexed flowers, full, and of
the most symmetrical shape and perfect in the
centre. This Aster, when well grown — that is,
planted in rich soil and the buds judiciously thinned
— can be had of a large size. But in judging be-
tween stands of P;cony-flowered and reflexed Vic-
toria Asters, a point or two should be yielded to the
former, on the ground that they are more diflicult
to get of a large size. Some of the colours of the
Victoria type are very striking, such as the blue,
purple, mauve, crimson, carmine, rose, and pink
flowers, while the parti-coloured flowers are also
very handsome, the petals being banded with blue
and white, crimson and white, &c.
The Washington Asters, a very fine type of the
Victoria, are very handsome also, but when grown
to a large size they appear apt to become coarse.
Still, the varieties are very handsome, and a fine
stand was seen at the recent Bath show. One of
the finest of the reflexed Asters I have seen this
season is named Comet ; it is either of the Victoria
or Washington type, I am not quite sure which, and
the broad, ribbon-like petals are handsomely banded
with pink and white. A stand of this at the Reading
show a month ago was most deservedly awarded a
first-class certificate of merit.
Those who grow Asters for exhibition find it
necessary to give them high culture. In the case
of a deep and rather light, sandy loam, the seeds
might be sown thinly in shallow drills, thinning out
the plants to 15 inches or 18 inches apart when
large enough. The plants must be encouraged to
make a free growth, and if the drills are filled in
with fine manure from an old Mushroom bed they
are greatly helped thereby. But, whether the seeds
be sown in the bed or the plants transplanted from
a bed in a cold frame, the soil should be deeply dug
and well manured, and the plants kept well watered
in dry weather. Occasional top-dressings with fine
manure are found of great advantage, and some
growers for show purposes give their beds occasional
waterings with liquid manure. The grower may
also find it necessary to disbud, and this process
will be more necessary in the case of the quilled
and Pffiony-flowered than in that of the Victoria or
Washington types. E. D.
NOTES FROM BADEN-BADEN.
OSTROWSKTA MAG-NiFicA. — This tuberous-rooted
Campanula, introduced by Dr. von Regel, has flowered
here for the first time in Europe. It is a magnifi-
cent plant, with satiny bluish lilac flowers 4 inches
in length and as much across. It is a native of
Bokhara, and quite hardy.
Arnebia coenuta, an annual from Central Asia,
made a beautiful show during several months with
its golden yellow and black-blotched flowers.
Delphinium Zalil, introduced by Dr. Aitchison
from Afghanistan, is likely to become a great
favourite. The observer is struck by the magnifi-
cent spikes of its large, pleasing, sulphur-yellow
flowers, which are all open at once and render this
plant very decorative and showy.
The much-talked-of Verbena sulphurea, a really
sulphur-yellow, I have at length succeeded in re-
introducing, and although not a very showy plant,
may have a future for hybridising purposes.
Aemehia undtjlatA, with its pretty heads of
white flowers on wavy stalks, is a showy little plant.
So also is Stachys lavandulsefolia, the little spikes
of deep purple flowers being enveloped in silvery
down.
For the first time in Europe, Olearia insignis,
from New Zealand, has produced its large Daisy-
like flowers, and promises to become a fine shrub.
It has leathery leaves, and may perhaps prove haidy
in England.
Agapanthus intbbmedius, a hybrid between
A. umbellatus and A. minor, has with very slight
protection stood the past winter very well. On
account of its hardy character and its early and
very rich flowers, it will be a desirable plant and
well worth cultivation.
Iris troyana, in the way of germanica nepa-
lensis, is a very showy species ; the falls bright deep
violet, the standards brilliant sky-blue.
Among Kniphoflas, K. Leichtlini aurea and auran-
tiaca are splendid varieties, their bright yellow
and orange flowers contrasting well with the apricot
colour of the typical form. MAX Leichtlin.
Baden-Baden.
African Marigolds.— I have had to transplant
a large number of these when in full bloom from a
remote part of the grounds to near the house to
protect them from birds, which persistently as
autumn draws on make havoc of the huge double
flowers. Although only moderate balls of soil
could be kept on the roots, yet the plants have not
suffered, and having had a good watering when re-
planted, are doing well. This is worth knowing,
because few plants give such striking and glowing
masses of colour in the dull autumn days as
these orange and golden African Marigolds. The
strain includes several tints of orange, yellow,
golden, lemon, and others, of which, perhaps, the
orange and golden are the most striking, but all are
very beautiful. Why birds should attack them
here I cannot understand, except that the flowers
being so large apd double harbour insects. I do
not hear that birds do the same elsewhere. Some-
times they attack the flowers of the dwarf French
Marigolds also, but not appreciably. African Mari-
golds are both so large and so good that it is rather
surprising to flnd such rubbish grown in some gar-
dens, the product of inferior Continental seed. The
bulk of these have semi-double flowers, of no great
size, and produced on tall stems. The flowers of a
fine strain do not exceed 18 inches to 20 inches
in height, the blooms being as densely double and
perfectly formed as anyone can desire. Apart
however, from any question as to whether big
double blooms are desirable or not, it is certain
that clumps of these African Marigolds studding
the garden give welcome colour at this season. —
A. D.
'Veronicas. — All who are fortunate enough to
live where Veronicas will pass through an ordinary
winter safely should take the precaution to put in
about this time a good quantity of cuttings in the
open ground, for I have proved often that cuttings
winter far better than established plants. In the
autumn of 1880 I put in some hundreds of cuttings;
the following winter was a severe one, and all the
old plants — many of them over 10 feet high — were
killed. The cuttings wintered well; in fact, none
of them were killed by frost, though they were not
protected in any way, and had far less shelter than
many of the plants. The same thing occurred at
the same place last winter, and but for the fact of
the cuttings having been put in, a valuable collec-
tion would have been lost. Among the varieties is
a capital one, which was thought to be meldensis;
the colour of the bloom is magenta, leaves narrow,
and the habit dwarf, and it is a most persistent
bloomer. — John C. Tallack, Livermere, Suffolk.
SHORT NOTES.— FLOWER.
Canna Premices de Nice. — This has yellow
flowers, which are produced freely throughout the
summer. It is used for bedding with good effect at
ChisKick, and we have also seen it in the London
parks. It is the best of the Cannas in its line of
colour. — B. C.
Helianthus decapetalus. — A noble specimen
of this is now a feature in one of the herbaceous bor-
ders at Chiswiek. It needs a strong stake and tie to
keep its unruly stems, which often reach a height of
5 feet or C feet, within hounds. The flowers are small,
bright yellow, and cover the head of the plant. It
thrives in any soil, and is only fitted for the back-
ground of a wide border or a wild corner in the garden
where rambling growth is encouraged. — E. C.
Gloire de Nancy Carnation.— This is one of
the finest of the white varieties, the flowers large, full,
and of great substance. One or two plants were in
bloom (Sept. 25) at Dover House, Roehampton. The
growth is very vigorous, and Mr. Forbes, the head
gardener, thinks highly of it. In the same garden we
also saw a variety known as Florence, which has pale
buff flowers of medium size that are sometimes pro-
duced as late as October. — E. C.
.Asters and Zinnias as dry -weather flowers.
— These have done uncommonly well this summer. At
all the shows I have visited Asters have been exhibited
iu large numbers and in first-rate condition. Here
the plants made good growth from the beginning, and
they have bloomed with the greatest freedom. The
Zinnias evidently delight iu warmth, as the plants
have attained large proportions and produced blooms
of excellent form and colour. These plants would no
doubt do well in dry localities, and in a season like
this they are more valuable and showy than any other
flower. — J. MuiR, Marcjam, S. Vales.
Canary Creeper (Tropa;olum canariense). —
Climbing up a pole at the end of a border at Temple-
ton, Roehampton, there is a vigorous plant of this
yellow-flowered creeper, the foUage light green and
abundant. In a cottage garden in the village we saw
it rambling over a fence and making a delightful
feature. We should like to see the^ Canary Creeper
more often planted than it is, and it is not diflicult to
grow if position and soil are suitable. — E. C.
Oct. 1, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
293
LILIUM AURATUM.
These fine autumn flowers have done well here
this summer. They are now in full bloom, and
have been for some weeks. In a large bed they do
not flower all at once, but some keep opening every
few days, so that the flowering season is prolonged
for six "weeks, or even two months if the weather is
fine. Although the summer has been so dry, we
only watered them twice during the whole time,
but that was done thoroughly. They seem to have
enjoyed the bright sun and heat, and no doubt that
is the right sort of weather for Lilium auratum.
We tried planting these bulbs in many positions —
flower beds, borders, among Rhododendrons, and
other places — but never met with real success until
we made beds especially for them, and now anyone
who saw them would say they were in the right
place. Two crescent-shaped beds were made in a
large clump of Rhododendrons and other American
shrubs, one facing south and the other north, each
bed just partitioned, as it were, from the larger
clump by large, irregular sandstone rooks. The
latter are planted with choice Ivies, and look very
pretty in winter. When these beds were made
three years ago they were deeply trenched, and a
large quantity of rotten manure, leaf soil, sand, and
burnings from the rubbish-heap worked in the soil
during the operation. The bulbs (imported ones)
were planted three in a group 2 feet apart ; each
group had an Oak stump put in the centre to mark
the spot. About 2 inches deep of rotten manure was
spread over the bed, and the latter finished ofE with
a sprinkling of Cocoa fibre to give a better appear-
ance. The first season the flowers were not very
fine, but last year and the present summer they have
been all we could wish. Some of the stems are
nearly 8 feet in height, and have borne from twenty
to fifty flowers on a spike. Each season, after cut-
ting down the old stems, we clear ofE some of the
old surface manure and put on a fresh dressing of
3 inches or i inches of the best rotten manure we
have at hand, and cover all up with Cocoa flbre
This leaves them warm and safe from frost for the
winter. We usually plant between the bulbs Canter
bury Bells, Sweet Williams, or anything we may
have that will flower in spring and early summer
This takes o£E the bare look the beds would other-
wise have during a part of the year. Great care
should be taken in putting stakes to these Lilies, as
many fine bulbs are spoiled, if not kiUed, outright
by pushing the stakes down close to the stems,
when it often goes right through the bulb, and the
most ignorant on the subject must know what that
means. Stakes should not be driven closer than
6 inches to the stems. We have lost but very few
bulbs since planting. Anyone who can give special
treatment to LUium auratum in the way described
will not have cause to complain of want of success.
ReAleaf. W. Holah.
ing hardy annuals would give very gay effects
in the autumn if sown towards the end of July or
early in August. — A. D.
therefore, perhaps, my note will not be in vain. If
elegance and beauty are a consideration, I would
advise all to try this plan.— R. Gilbert.
PRATIA ANGULATA.
This useful little plant may be grown with per-
fect success in the open air, in a position that
suits the European Money-wort (Sibthorpia
europasa), Cloudberry (Rubus Chamremorus),
and other plants of like character. We have
grown it for years under the north side of a
clump of Scotch Firs, keeping it always moist
during the summer season with regular water-
ings. It is very important to keep the Pratia
moist, as it will not stand being dry on our light
soils. The bank on which it does best is com-
posed entirely of peaty soil, and it spreads as
freely as a Hydrocotyle ; indeed, so quickly
does it increase, that we find it makes an excel-
lent groundwork for damp-loving terrestrial
Orchids. It does not form so dense a carpet as
Veronica serpyllifolia or repens, and is equally
charming when in flower. The effect of the
Orchids coming up through the pretty turf com-
posed of this Pratia is well worth imitating. It
flowers all through the summer. This Pratia,
together with P. macrodon and others, is also
effectively used as pot plants for the decoration
of the cool greenhouse or conservatory, thriving
beat, however, on the shady side where it can
be kept moist. The stems often grow a foot or
Plants for dry weather. — No list of dry-
weather plants can be complete that does not con-
tain the names of Phygelius capensis (Cape Fig-
wort), Lathyrus latifolius, and L. latifolius albus.
The former has been throwing up wonderfully fine
spikes of its attractive flowers for several weeks
past, and the foliage is remarkably healthy. The
white Pea has also bloomed well, and it is now
swelling off a nice quantity of seed. None of the
above have had any assistance from the water-pot
throughout this remarkably dry summer. — John C.
Tallack, Livermere.
Fhacelia campanularia. — This beautiful blue-
flowered annual has this year given two distinct
crops of plants and bloom in one season. The first
sowing was made early in April on a south border
owing to the drought, the plants ripened the seed
earlier than usual, and some of it was wasted. The
ground was then very lightly forked over and sown
with Polyanthus seed in beds, but had to be kept
well watered during the prevalence of the heat,
oftentimes three times a day. The result, however,
was that not only did the Polyanthus seed germi-
nate freely, but so also did the wasted seed of
Phacelia, and now the latter is lovely; indeed,
even more lovely than is usually the case in
the summer. No doubt many of our qiiick-bloom-
Pratia angulata.
more in length, and when hanging from the
shelf or edge of the stage, have a very pretty
appearance ; the flowers, small and white, re-
semble those of a Lobelia, and are produced at
almost every joint along the stem. It is said to
be very variable, although I have rarely seen but
one form in cultivation. The fruits render the
plant very interesting when produced in quan-
tity. P. repens is nearly allied to angulata, but
smaller ; the others are macrodon and arenosa.
THE HARDY JAPANESE ANEMONES.
The forms of Anemone japonica appear to be
flowering very finely this season. In the case of my
own plants, and of others seen elsewhere, the flowers
appeared to be larger than usual; perhaps the diy,
hot summer accounts for this. The original type,
A. japonica, differs materially from its two varieties,
alba and hybrida, because of its dwarfer growth,
deeper colour, and more pointed petals. They
are admirable plants for massing. They are as
hardy as can well be imagined, and when esta-
blished they are very free. If anyone is desirous of
making an effective ribbon border for late summer
and autumn, let them plant a line of Anemone
japonica alba, and in front of this one of hy-
brida, with its pale lilac-purple flowers, giving each
ample space in which to spread. Or these two can
be planted in the form of a broad band, mixed to-
gether, and in front, because of its dwarfer growth,
the original type, with its deeper-coloured blossoms.
In the case of the previous two there is but one
circle of petals ; but if anyone will examine a flower
of A. japonica they will find there is a circle of
smaller petals within the outer ones, which gives the
blossoms a semi-double appearance. I gave a lady,
a few days ago, a bunch of blossoms made up of
the flowers of each, and she frankly confessed that,
though a lover and cultivator of flowers, two out of
the three were previously unknown to her, and
would be added to her collection. In front of A.
japonica I would have a line of the white Chrysan-
themum Aster, and finish up with a marginal row
of Aster alpinus. I think this would make an excel-
lent late summer ribbon border. In addition, these
Anemones can be isolated in clumps in many spots,
for they are not at all fastidious as to soil and posi-
tion. On the south side of my dwelling, in a light
soil, and on the north side, where there is but little
sunshine and a heavy clay, they flower finely and
continuously ; on the north side the flowers come
much later. I mulch every autumn and spring with
some refuse potting soil, and they derive benefit
from it. And what a large quantity of flowers can
be taken from an established clump. At this season
of the year the white variety is found very useful
for memorial wreaths, and it can be employed in
many ways for house decoration. When bunches
of hardy flowers are shown during the last weeks in
August and early in September, posies of these
Japan Anemones have a telling effect in a stand.
R. D.
Staking Carnations and Dahlias. — The
orthodox manner of securing these beautiful flowers
is simply by placing one, or more stakes to each
plant, and tying, in the case of Carnations, the
flower - stems in bundles to the stakes. My
plan is to support them with small, bushy stakes,
nicely arranged round each plant. When the
flowering spikes reach the top, the buds ar-
range themselves, and as the buds swell they drop
into their places between the clefts of the brush-
wood, thus having a very elegant appearance.
Dahlias are done in precisely the same manner, but
the stakes are, of course, very much stronger. I
have, within a dozen yards from where I am writing,
several DahUas which, staked in the manner
described, are the picture of good health and
beauty. These plants have not one single tie in
them, and the gales of wind we have experienced
for the last week have not broken a single shoot.
Doubtless there are numbers of gardeners who do
, what I try to describe, and also many who do not ;
An effective combination.— A handsome bed
may be formed with Roses, Asters, and Mignonette.
We noticed one lately on a spacious lawu, the ground-
work being formed with the Mignonette, amongst
which at regular intervals were China Asters, the latter
partly hiding from view the stems of the Roses. The
bed was edged with the tufted Daetylis glomerata
vanegata. — E. C.
Scarlet Coebsoombs.— These are not often
bedded out, hut that they are well adapted for such a
purpose ia well shown at Wimbledon House, where
there is a circular bed filled with them. When put out
early in the summer the plants were small, the combs
measuring about half an inch across, but now the
whole of them are not less than 1 foot in length and
6 inches wide. They are dense and compact, and the
colour is of the richest crimson. — E. C.
Statics miniata.— This is well uamed, and is the
smallest of aU the Statices, scarcely rising more than
an inch in height, the leaves narrow, oblong, and with
blunt, roimded edges, and produced in a dense mass, so
as to give the plant a tufted rosette-like appearance.
The flower is home on a slender stem rising about
2 inches, and the colour is a cheerful blue. Collectors
of pretty rock plants will prize this Statice, which we
should think is safer in a small pot than on the open
rockery. — E. C.
Sweet-scented Tobacco (Nicotiana afSnis). —
This is a useful plant in many ways, aa it blooms
continuously, and towards evening the fragrance ot
the creamy white flowers is delicious. At Templeton,
Koehampton, there are lines of this plant on each side
2.94
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 1, 1887.
of a terrace walk, the effect when the whole of the
plants were in full bloom being somewhat novel. It is
well adapted for large beds, relieving their flatness,
and speoimens here and there in the border look well.
—B.C.
VERDANT LAWNS.
The difference between green and brown as a back-
ground for flowers, shrabs, and trees was never
more conspicuous than this year, nor was the tired
eye ever more weary of brown in all its shades of
dull insipidity. Now and then, and less rather
than more, brown may be welcome at times. For
example, the eye turns with a sense of relief from
the exuberant greens of French landscapes to find
repose on the borders of brown that occasionally
fills in the margins. But closer acquaintance with
French lawns, and the floodings applied to keep
them green, may correct our notions about the
verdure of the paintings in the Louvre and other
galleries. The Grass itself seems different, and it
is diiferently treated. A good many lawns one
meets with seem sown annually. The Grass is
stimulated by daily or bi-daily waterings. The
growth is strong, almost rank. It refuses to
tiller out into the velvet lawns so highly prized in
England ; but it is verdure itself ; green as a Leek,
as the Scotchman and Welshman would put it.
The past season has tried our lawns to the utter-
most, and as in most cases it was utterly impossible
to water them, the majority of them became
brown and bare, the only green things surviving
being Daisies, Plantains, or other weeds. This
survival of the unfittest is one of the greatest trials
of horticulturists, and even between the two most
common of lawn weeds the worst — that is, the
Plantains — survives the longest. Two practical
suggestions occur to me in relation to the brown
lawns during the twelve weeks' drought. The first
is the effects of better soil and deeper tilth in
heightening and preserving the verdure of lawns,
and the second the selection, if possible, of better
drought-resisting Grasses. As to the first, there is,
no doubt, very much to be done. One could deter-
mine the depth and the quality of the soils of most
lawns by the time and intensity of their brownness ;
the thinnest and the poorest felt the drought in
ten days, and were done brown in a fortnight or
three weeks at latest ; whereas on deep, fairly rich
tilths the lawns held on to their verdure for sis
weeks, or even two months.
Again, many of the latter were disfigured with
broad lines, patches and blotches of brown in the
midst of the surrounding verdure. Pierce these with
crowbar or spade, and you will find old water drains,
foundations, buried roots of trees, or patches of
shallow soil, mortar rubbish, sand, kc, all pro-
claiming the absolute necessity of forming lawns as
near as may be of soil of equal depth and of uniform
quality if they are to possess the chief charm of a
perfect lawn — an-all-over equality of verdure.
There is nothing within the whole domain of
horticulture more scamped than the making of
lawns. This is as if the builder scamped his foun-
dations for the decorations on the walls. Grass
lawns are the foundations of our landscapes, the
permanent source of fully half the pleasures of gar-
dening ; and no forecast, skill, labour, or expense
that will preserve their verdure throughout the
year can be deemed wasteful or extravagant.
Besides, it is really about as easy to make good
lawns as bad ones, provided we start with the twin
watchwords, one depth and one quality throughout.
The last point is one of greater doubt and un-
certainty to which I would most respectfully invite
the attention of our seedsmen and others. We
have lawn mixtures galore of admirable quality,
but most of these are rightly compounded to suit
average seasons. But would it not be possible,
without seriously interfering with these average
season mixtures, to add a portion of the best
drought-resisting Grasses, of course always omit-
ting Couch, which can neither be burnt noj- drowned
out, nor assimilated with any other Grass in the
formation of a proper Grass lawn 1
The family of the Grasses is so large and so di-
verse, that the problem of drought-resisting species
should hardly prove insoluble to those who have
made the family a special study. Certain it is that
a great number of the finer Grasses perish in such
seasons of exceptional drought. And in this
perishing of the finer Grasses through exceptional
seasons doubtless the deadness and degeneration of
many Grass lawns have their origin.
If, as some aflirm, we are to have a drought series
of seasons, the question of drought-resisting Grasses
becomes a matter of urgent importance alike in
field and garden, and merits the prompt attention
of Messrs. Sutton and others who have made
Grasses and Grass seeds a special study.
D. T. F.
Stove and Greenhouse,
T. BAINES.
SCARLET-FLOWERED SKULL-CAP.
(SCUTBLLAKIA MOCCINIANA.)
Amongst the various evergreen stove-flowering
plants of small or medium growth that have
come into cultivation within the last twenty
years, few are so useful as this Scutellaria. The
plant when in bloom resembles an Eranthe-
mura, and has lanceolate, acuminate leaves,
which in colour are a peculiar shade of green.
In habit it is somewhat erect, though it branches
freely when the shoots are kept properly stopped
whilst the plants are young. The growth is
compact, usually attaining a height of 2 feet or
2| feet. The densely packed flower-spikes are
erect, and produced at the extremities of the
shoots ; the flowers are tube- shaped, scarlet in
colour, with the inside of the lip yellow. It is
remarkably free-flowering, being scarcely ever
out of bloom from one end of the year to the
other, provided it is in a temperature that will
maintain a continual growth, and the roots have
the necessary supply of nutriment. This last
is frequently neglected in the case of plants
that keep on growing and blooming. It often
happens that plants fail to bloom continuously
through the poverty of the soil, which in time
naturally becomes exhausted, unless means are
taken to keep up its fertility by surface-dressings
of concentrated manure, or by a supply of
manure water. It is a gain, especially to those
who need a continual supply of flowers, and
have only a small space wherein to grow the
plants, to use stimulants, as the latter encourage
greater freedom of blooming and a stronger
growth.
As soon as a shoot of this Scutellaria with the
spike it bears is cut, the eyes immediately be-
low the point of severance start into growth,
and the shoots soon produce flowers. For stove
decoration the plant is very effective, blooming,
as it does, in any stage from small examples to
full-sized speoimens. The exceptionally bright
appearance of the flowers makes it very telling
among fine-leaved subjects.
It is easily propagated, and equally easy to
manage afterwards. Cuttings will strike at any
time of the year when to be obtained in a half-
ripened condition. They may be inserted several
together in .5-inch or 6-inch pots filled with sand.
Cover with a glass or confine them in a propa-
gating frame, keeping the material and the at-
mosphere sufficiently moist to keejs the leaves
healthy, and shade when necessary. When the
cuttings are well rooted move them singly into
3-inch pots, which should be drained and tilled
with good free loam to which some rotten manure
and sand have been added. Keep the plants close
for two or three weeks to encourage the roots
to move, after which gradually give them more
air. Pinch out the points of the shoots when
the plants have grown somewhat, otherwise
the latter will be thin at the bottom. If the
propagation is carried out in autumn it will
be best to let the plants remain in the small
pots they occupy until spring, keeping them
dtiring the winter in a moderate stove tempera-
ture, so as to maintain a constant growth.
Early in spring they may be moved into pots
4 inches or 5 inches larger. This is a larger
shift than some things would bear, but this
Scutellaria roots readily. As soon as the growth
begins to move freely again stop the shoots, and
as the weather becomes warmer increase the
temperature, keeping the atmosphere sufficiently
moist to assist growth. Give a moderate amount
of air in the middle of the day when the weather
is warm, but not so much as is often supposed
to be necessary for stove plants. Give shade
when the sun is powerful, and let the plants
stand where they will get plenty of light ; this
is essential if they are to thrive well. Close
the house early, and syringe overhead at the
same time. The plants will now soon begin to
flower, producing spikes from every shoot that
has attained sufficient strength.
By the middle of summer most likely another
shift will be required. Use soil of a similar
description to that employed at the first potting,
and when the roots have got well hold manure
water should be given once a week. This will
enable the plants to go on making fresh growth.
Keep the soil somewhat drier in winter, and
about the end of February shorten the branches.
Later on, when the plants have again started
into growth, turn them out of the pots and re-
move as much of the old material as possible
without injuring the roots. Give pots a size or
two larger, using soil such as before ; after this
treat as in the previous spring and summer.
During the growing season the roots require to
be kept fairly moist, and as no second potting
should be attempted this summer, manure water
must be given freely from the time the pots are
fairly filled with roots. The branches should again
be shortened back in winter and a portion of the
soil renewed. The plants will, if required, last
for a considerable time ; but as this Scutellaria
is easily propagated and quickly grown to a
flowering size, it is best to strike a few cut-
tings annually. By so doing, the old plants that
get bare at the bottom may be thrown away and
their places taken by young specimens. The
plant comes from Mexico, and may be grown in
a somewhat lower temperature than that recom-
mended ; but under such conditions it will not
come into flower so early in spring or keep on
so late in autumn.
Cockscombs. — Although I have seen well-grown
Cockscombs, I think I have never seen plants which
pleased me so much as some Mr. Bowerman has
grown at Haokwood Park during the summer. The
plants were in li-inch pots, and whilst in height
about 10 inches, had combs of the most perfect
double form, measuring over from point to point
from 15 inches to 20 inches, forming not half-flat-
tened combs, but purely crescent-shaped, the points
curling down on either side elegantly. Too often
Cockscombs have a lumpy and almost an inelegant
appearance. Those at Hackwood, on the other hand,
seemed exceptionally handsome and effective. But
there was also about them a charm in colour which
I have not before noticed, for the deep crimson hue
common in all good strains was richly sufliused with
a rosy magenta tint, rendering the heads excep-
tionally striking. No special cultivation was be-
stowed, the plants being simply raised in a gentle
heat and kept on a shelf near the glass in a span-
roofed house, until the combs were formed, when
the plants were shifted into larger pots. In order to
secure dwarf plants it is absolutely necessary that
the combs should he allowed to form before the
final shift into the flowering pots takes place. Too
many growers of Cockscombs make the mistake of
shifting ere the combs are formed, and hence the
plants get tall and are of little service. Cockscombs
Oct. 1, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
295
do best in rich soil, but with moderate root space ;
a little feeding as the combs develop is useful. —
A. D.
PRAISE OF THE BALSAM.
I WAS glad to see "A. D.'s" commendation of these
old favourites on page 250. They are not only
beautiful, but delightfully fragrant, which neither
of their saperseders, snch as t'elosias, Gloxinias, and
Begonias, can be said to be. Of course, there are
fragrant Begonias, but the fragrance is conspicuous
by its absence from the most popular bulbous-rooted
section. Notwithstanding the popularity of these
and other modern favourites, niches could still be
found in most gardens for few or many Balsams,
especially as "A. D." points out, they can be grown
very suocessfnlly in the open air. I can hardly,
however, endorse "A. D.'s" opinion that Balsams
are of quite as fine quality out of doors as under
glass, although I heartily endorse the latter half of
the sentence — a bed of plants of some half-a-dozen
bright colours makes a beautiful feature in a flower
garden. Balsams also do well as a sub-crop under
Roses, as the rich soil and liberal feeding in which
Roses delight also stimulate the growth of the
Balsams and develop the colour and size of the
flowers. Some of the finest open-air Balsams ever
seen by the writer were grown between and under
standard Roses, though it may seem a slight .to the
garden queen to add that many admired the Balsams
the most.
The Balsam is also most accommodating as a pot
plant, and may be flowered successfully in all sized
pots, from 4 inches to 12 inches, or even larger.
Perhaps, on the whole, they never look better than
in 6-inch or 9-inch pots, such as "A. D." describes.
Still, huge pyramids in 12-inch pots, with the side
shoots pegged dovra or rooted into the soil, and the
centre and successional shoots running up to a
height of 2 feet, the whole trained into broad -
based pyramids full of shoots and smothered with
blooms, were sights not uncommon in our best
gardens less than half-a-dozen years ago. These were
grown in rich soil, closely-dug pits, and a bottom-
heat of from 70" to 80° during all their preliminary
stages, and formed magnificent furnishing for the
conservatory or glass corridor when finished and
full of bloom. The foundations of strength and
beauty being so well and truly laid, these lasted
long in bloom, and were second to nothing, ancient
or modern, in decorative value.
Special prizes were offered for the best six Bal-
sams and Cockscombs in those days, and these
doubtless assisted in developing the special culture
and abnormal skill that resulted in such huge
Combs and Balsam plants as are unknown to younger
cultivators. One thing was greatly against the
Balsam : it was comparatively useless for cutting
and aifficult to manage, or well-nigh impossible, for
va.=es or baskets. But the single flowers were ad-
mirable in shallow dishes, and would equal most
Begonias or other blooms for the forming flat
designs on the dinner-table in vases of green or
variegated foliage now so fashionable. The great
variety and richness of colouring referred to by
" A. D ," the shape and size of the flowers, fit thi m
admirably for these purposes, while their pleasing
fragrance adds greatly to their value in such
savoury positions. A good many flowers are ob-
jectionable for their disagreeable odours, more still
for the lack of scent, while the fragrance of Balsams
is of that mild and medium character as to please
all tastes, while filling the dining-room with its soft
and subtle fragrance. D. T. F.
Cyrtanthus McKeni. — This Cyrtanthus is one
of the most persistent flowering plants that we have
among greenhouse bulbs, for without any particular
care or attention it will bloom from now till spring
is well advanced. C. McKeni forms a bulb about
the size of a very large Snowdrop, from whence are
produced long. Grass-like, evergreen leaves, while
the flower-spike reaches a height of 9 inches to 1
foot, and is terminated by a cluster of flowers gene-
rally about half a dozen together. The individual
blooms are tube-shaped, about 2 inches long, and
agreeably scented. They are of an ivory-white tint
and slightly curved. It is of just as easy culture as
a Pelargonium, and unlike many other bulbs it may
be increased rapidly. We began with half a dozen
bulbs and have now a couple of pans 8 inches in
diameter full of bulbs, and rapidly pushing up
flower-spikes. One pan has already half a dozen
spikes with expanded blossoms. The principal
thing to bear in mind when potting this Cyrtanthus
is that thorough drainage is essential to its well
doing, and given that, with a good open soil that
keeps fresh and sweet, the less the roots are dis-
turbed the better it will flower. Fibrous loam, with
a liberal admixture of silver sand, suits it perfectly.
As the foliage is evergreen the bulbs must at no
period be submitted to a drying-off process, but kept
moist all the year round. — H. P.
CrSSUS ANTARCTICA IN FRUIT.
The fruiting of the Kangaroo Vine (Cissus
antarctica) is of so rare occurrence that when it
does happen it is, I think, well worthy of notice.
On account of the vigour of its growth, the
handsome dark green colour of its leaves, and
also their persistency, this peculiar New Hol-
land plant, whose introduction dates so far back
as 1790, is very largely used for the decoration
of conservatories, where it is generally employed
for covering pillars or walls. In such positions
this accommodating climber flourishes without
any trouble, provided it is kept clean. It is
especially in London and other smoky towns
that such a plant is found of immense value and
duly appreciated, as it is not in the least aflected
by its exposure to the deleterious influences of
the fogs, smoke, and gas, so highly injurious to
vegetable life. It is true that the Kangaroo
Vine is rather subject to the depredations of
mealy bug, but its leaves being large and flat,
and of a leathery texture, they are easily
washed ; and as the plant is by no means of a
delicate constitution, it may be kept thoroughly
clean by occasional syringings of some insecti-
cide. Red spider and thrips sometimes attack
the Cissus antarctica when the plant is exposed
to heat or growing in a dry atmosphere. When
planted out in the border, its growth is very
rapid, and it is then that in a short time it
Covers a very large space. But although large
plants of the Kangaroo Vine are frequently met
with, it is very unusual to hear of its flowering
in this country ; indeed, this is the first time
that it has come under my notice. It is all the
more surprising, as the subject now in fruit is
only a specimen 5 feet high and grown in a
6-inch pot, and not a plant by any means star^'ed
to make it flower ; on the contrary, it is as
vigorous as small pot culture will allow, and
bears now ten perfectly round berries, borne on
short stalks, and disposed either singly or in
pairs. The fructification of the Cissus difiers
from that of the Vitis and Ampelopsis, to which
it is closely related that, instead of being axil-
lary, or produced in the axils of the leaves and
in bunches, these fruits succeed to some flowers
which are borne on short peduncles developed
opposite the leaves, which are alternate through-
out the plant. .\t the present time these berries
are quite green and show no indication whatever
of changing colour, and, to all appearance, will
not ripen before the end of the year. It is most
interesting to watch their development, the
more so that several of the flowers which have
produced these berries were impregnated by the
pollen of Ampelopsis Veitchi, growing close by,
although one is unable as yet to ascertain if a
cross has been effected. S. G.
Lilium Harrisi. — Plants of this Lily that
flowered in the early part of the summer are just
now bearing their second crop of blossoms on stems
that were pushed up after their first blooming, and
very useful they are at the present time for the de-
coration of the greenhouse. An additional merit
possessed by these autumn-floweredspecimens is that
as the weather is now cooler they last in beauty
mucli longer than was the case with those the
flowers of which expanded during the hot weather of
summer. Though L. Harrisi is but a form of L.
longiflorum, and is by some authorities regarded as
synonymous with the variety esimium, it is cer-
tainly far more prolific in a second crop of blooms
than eximium, which occasionally, but very seldom,
pushes up flowering stems at this season. L. Harrisi
can be readily increased by means of scales, and
under favourable conditions they soon form flower-
ing bulbs. In the case of imported bulbs, which are
now in a dormant condition, it will be mostly pos-
sible to take off a few of the outside scales without
injuring the bulbs before potting them. Then if
these scales are treated as seeds, and sown thickly
in pans or boxes of sandy soil, and kept in a green-
house temperature, they will push up above ground
soon after the new year, and if then potted off and,
as soon as danger from frost is over, planted in a
prepared bed, they form bulbs the first season suffi-
ciently strong to flower. Of course, it is only the
strongest bulbs that reach that stage the first sea-
son, and as a rule they only produce a single bloom,
so that the better way is to prevent them from
flowering till they have reached a reasonable size.
That this Lily is superior to the other varieties of L.
longiflorum, and also to the type, is shown by the
continually increasing numbers of it that are now
cultivated. — H. P.
Begonia fuchsioides. — This is generally
spoken of as a winter-flowering Begonia, but it
blooms so continuously, winter and summer alike if
favourably situated, that the merit of being a per-
petual bloomer might well be claimed for it. As a
pillar plant in a warm greenhouse or cool stove it
has few equals, for the beautiful wax-like, bright-
coloured blossoms which hang in such profusion aie
greatly enhanced by the pleasing tone of the foliage.
Other Begonias of this class now in flower are
ascotensis, a vigorous-growing, free-branching kind
with medium-sized foliage and huge clusters of
beautiful pink blossoms ; semperflorens, with pale
pink-coloured flowers, which, as well as the white
and red varieties of this species, are quite a mass of
flower. The strong-growing forms known as B.
semperflorens gigantea, carminea, and rosea are bold,
showy plants, a good deal in the way of the older
B. Lyncheana. B. metallica, whose foliage is so
ornamental (especially earlier in the season), is now
quite laden with its pretty pale pink blossoms. B.
weltonensis, though common, is still one of the
very best, being neat in habit, very free-flowering,
and attractive in foliage. Another variety, hybrida
coccinea, is much like the last, but is rather less
vigorous in constitution, and the flowers, instead of
being pink, as in weltonensis, are bright red. —
H. P.
SHORT NOTES.— STOVE AND GREENHOUSE.
Anthurium Seherzerianum Devansay-
anum. — This very distinct variety is one of a number
of fine Anthurinm specimens at Burford Lodge, Dork-
ing. The spathe is narrow, oblong in form, mottled
over and edged with scarlet on a dull green ground ;
the spadix is yellow. It is finer than A. Rotliscliildi-
anuni, and the peculiar colouring and shape of the
spathe make it distinct and attractive. — E. C.
Cissus discolor. — We have few, if any, stove
climbei'S with richer and more striking leafage than
this, and we were gratified to see an exceptionally
handsome plant in the most vigorous health in a stove
at Wimbledon House. It almost covered the back wall
of the structure, the brilUantly coloured leaves as regu-
larly disposed as those of Ampelopsis Veitchi. It is
planted in a tub, and needs careful training to ensure a
tidy growth. — E. C.
Variegated India-rubber plant.— Uuless the
variegation is well developed this plant is far from-
c rnamental, hut grown as it is at Dover House, Ri ee
hampton, it rivals many things cultivated for the
brightness of their leafage. The leaves are about the
same size as those of the tvpe, the centre deep green,
shading to a lighter hue, and finished with an irregular
296
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 1, 1887.
oreamy white border, whioli aets off the other colours.
When aiTanged amongst green-leaved subjects it has a
distinct appearance. — E. C.
AUaxaauda Hendersoni. — There is a fine speci-
men of this clothing the roof of one of the houses in
the garden of Sir Henry Peek at Wimbledon. The
plant is one mass of flowers, which are of a bright
shade of yellow. There is no need to recommend this
climber for the conservatory or greenhouse, as its
sterling merits are well recognised, but it is not often
we see a specimen so vigorous as this. — E. C.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
WiNTBE-PLOWERING STOVE PLANTS. — The various
kinds of stove plants, such as Plumbago rosea,
Centradenias, Eranthemums, and Thyrsacanthus
rutilans, that are often kept in pits during the
summer will now, when the season is so far
advanced that the weather is likely to be cooler,
require attention to prevent their getting in-
jured by cold. Where there is the means of
heating the structures the plants occupy, a little
warmth should be kept up in the pipes. If the pits
are not heated the plants should at once be moved
to where they can have the necessary warmth.
This is essential, as if plants of this description get
chilled it interferes with their flowering. Quick-
growing subjects of this character make large
quantities of roots that quickly exhaust the soil,
even if it is as much enriched when they are put
into it as they will bear ; consequently the regular
use of manure water is now more necessary than
earlier in the season, especially when the plants are
large in proportion to the pots they occupy. In
using stimulants of this sort to the kinds of plants
named it is best not to confine them to one thing
alone. An occasional application of soot water has
a marked effect in assisting the growth, particularly
in its later stages when the flowers are forming.
Euphorbia jacquini^floba. — To do justice to
t'lis fine winter-blooming stove subject it requires
to be treated diflEerently to the things above-named,
as from the time the cuttings are put in they require
to be grown freely in a brisk heat. Where this is
wanting the plants never attain more than half the
requisite strength. Keep them in a house where a
warm stove temperature is maintained, standing
them with their tops close to the glass. This
Euphorbia is naturally an erect grower, not inclined
to branch out much. Where required bushy the
plants will have been stopped ; it is, however, best
not to interfere with them in this way, but rather to
let them run up with a single stem. No plant that I
have ever grown is more influenced by the use of
manures than this. Clay's fertiliser seems to suit
it exactly. If this is supplemented with soot water,
using both until the flowers open, the strength that
the plants will attain and the quantity of flowers
produced will surprise anyone who has hitherto
given it ordinary treatment.
JESCHYNANTHUS. — Plants that have bloomed late,
such as M. splendidus and M. grandiflorus, should,
as soon as the flowers have faded, have the shoots
cut well in, not leaving more than 6 inches or
8 inches of stem above the collars. If a greater
length than this is retained, the plants soon get into
a straggling, unsightly state, especially the droop-
ing-habited sorts that are so useful for growing in
baskets. It is much better to cut these plants in
when they have done blooming than defer it until
spring, as when the latter course is adopted they
make more or less young growth that has to be
sacrificed. After they are cut in, they should be
stood in a house where there is enough heat to
cause the shoots to break, and to keep the young-
growth moving slowly. In spring, just as they
begin to push freely, they should be repotted.
Aphelandea cristata. — The time during the
latter part of summer or autumn of the flowering
of this useful plant depends on how it is treated
in respect to stopping the shoots, and on the
warmth it receives in the early part of the growing
season. When the specimens are liirge it i^ a suit-
able subject for conservatory decoration, but, like
most other plants that require heat, it must not, at
this season, be kept too long in a cold house, or its
health will suffer. Should the weather become
chilly, the plants ought to be moved to where they
can have some fire-heat, and as soon as the flowers
begin to fade, the shoots should be immediately cut
back. In the case of large examples, shorten them
to within two joints of where they were cut in to
last year. After this, the plants should have enough
warmth to enable them to grow away slowly. Ma-
naged in this way, they will be in a suitable condition
for potting early in spring, at which time a good
deal of the old soil may be removed and replaced
with new.
Abutilons. — The natural disposition of Abuti-
lons is to keep on flowering so long as they make
growth, regardless of the time of the year. Though
the plants do not yield such a quantity of bloom at
any particular time as some things, this is made up
for by the length of time they continue to flower.
The old white variety Boule de Neige is still one of
the best, the flowers being useful for cutting, and also
efilective on the plant. There are likewise several
dwarf -growing yellow kinds, the flowers of which are
useful for cutting in the winter when blooms of this
colour are scarce. Strong, good-sized specimens are
the most serviceable for winter work. Where ex-
amples of this character happen to be at hand, they
will most likely have been in cool quarters during the
summer. Before the nights get so cold as to
check the growth they should be moved to a house
or pit where they will have sufficient warmth to
keep them growing so long as they are required to
bloom, bearing in mind that the production of
flowers will be ruled by the progress that the shoot-
growth makes. At no time is it so necessary to
keep such things that are to continue growing and
flowering near the glass as in the short dull months
at the end of the year. Plants of this description
that have been growing and blooming during the
summer invariably extract most of the nutriment
which the soil originally contained, and unless
something is done to restore its fertility they will
not flower much, even if the necessary warmth is
used. I should not advise anything in the way of re-
potting being carried out now, but the plants must
have manure in some form, either applied in the
shape of top-dressings to the surface of the soil, or
manure water. The latter is the quickest in its
action when care is taken not to give it too strong.
Chrysanthemums. — The late-flowering varieties
of Chrysanthemum should again be gone over, so as
to further reduce the buds, which now when they
have grown larger will show better what further
thinning is necessary. When the plants are re-
quired for ordinary greenhouse decoration, or for
the production of cut flowers for ordinary purposes,
it is not advisable to thin the buds to anything like
the extent that is practised by those who grow for
exhibition. At the same time it is necessary to
bear in mind that particularly when strong and
well grown the plants will set a larger number of
buds than will make fairly formed flowers, and
where insufliciently thinned the greater portion wiU
be wanting in size and substance. For general use
it is a mistake to grow the very large-flowered show
varieties that are only able to perfect a few big
flowers ; whether the plants or the flowers are wanted
for ordinary purposes, the medium -sized, freer
blooming sorts will make a much better display. To
know exactly the amount of thinning that the buds
of the different varieties require, it is necessary to
be acquainted with them. As a rule, the kinds
that produce medium-sized flowers in which the
petals are more inclined to recurve than to incurve
will carry more blooms than the globular, more
formally shaped sorts. Enough sticks and ties
should be used to each plant to prevent the shoots
getting broken, but avoid giving them a stiff, un^
natural appearance. Now when the roots will have
completely filled the pots, and to a great extent
have exhausted the fertility of the soil, it is more
than ever necessary to keep the plants regularly
supplied with manure water or surface-dressings of
some fertiliser, or both of these combined. Any in
attention in this respect will much interfere with
the quality of the flowers and the quantity the
plants are able to bear. Amongst other things
so3t water is an excellent stimulant, as it not only
invigorates the plants, but it imparts a dark green
shade to the leaves which adds much to their
appearance. And, in addition, if there happens to
be any worms in the pots it will banish them, as
they have a greater dislike to it than anything
else I ever tried, Chrysanthemums will bear
soot water in a stronger state than most plants;
nevertheless, for those who have not used it, it
is well to give too little than otherwise until ex-
perience has been gained. The same holds good if
ammonia in any of its various concentrated forms is
used, or guano, or nitrate of soda, all of which are
very powerful and require using with caution,
otherwise more harm than good will follow. A
good look-out should now be kept on the weather, for
though Chrysanthemums are much hardier than
most plants that are grown in pots, still, where high
cultivation has been followed, and the plants from
the first have been liberally treated, this tends to
make them less able to bear frost. Means should
be at hand for giving some protection when there
is an appearance of cold nights, as it is better to
keep the plants out so long as they can be made
safe from the reach of frost. T. B.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 616.
THE AURICULA.*
It is nearly nine years since a plate of show and
alpine Auriculas appeared in The Garden, and
with the plate appeared a full descriptive account
of all the classes (Vol. XIV., p. 398). Since that
time the whole of the classes have been greatly
enriched by the addition of vastly improved
seedling forms. Mrs. Moore (Douglas) is depicted
with an edge almost white, but it is really a grey,
the meal not being laid on the heads sufficiently
thick to place it in the white-edged section.
Prince of Greens (Trail) is one of the best
green-edged varieties in cultivation ; indeed, it
was so fine when exhibited at the National Au-
ricula Society's exhibition at South Kensingtonin
April last, that it was awarded a premier prize as
the best Auricula of any class in the exhibition.
Charles J. Perry was raised by Mr. C. Turner,
of Slough, and is one of the very best violet-
coloured selfs, free in growth, and most readily
increased by ofisets.
Since writing on the cultural requirements of
the Auricula, &c., at page 199, I have seen the
celebrated collection of the Rev. F. D. Homer
at Lowfields, Burton-in-Lonsdale. The owner
of this collection is well known as one of the
most successful cultivators in Great Britain and
Ireland. Nearly the entire collection of plants
are seedlings raised by Mr. Horner himself. The
varieties so dear to the florists of the old school
have gradually disappeared as the recently raised
seedlings have taken their places. At the recent
exhibitions held in London and Manchester, Mr.
Horner has exhibited his own seedlings, and has
taken the highest prizes with them against other
growers showing the best-named varieties in
cultivation. The seedlings were raised by cross-
ing the very best varieties in the various classes.
Green-edged varieties are crossed with others in
the same class ; grey-edged are crossed with
grey, &c. He states that his method of culture
is of the simplest kind. Turfy loam has been
considered indispensable, but tliis is not used at
all. The potting soil is taken from the Potato
ridges in the kitchen garden ; two parts of thia
easily obtainable material, one part of leaf-
mould, and some sharp sand. The bulk of the
plants are re-potted when they go out of bloom,
about the end of April or early in May. Others
are re-potted as late as September, and some
* DraT^Ti for The Garden in the gardens at Great
Gearies, Ilford, by H. G. Moon, May 7, l^S?, and
printed by G. Severeyns.
THE GARDE
A "GROUP OF AURICULAS
1 M-M\^OORE. 2. PRINCE OF GREENS (Traill). 5. CHARLES PERRY.
Oct. 1, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
297
are not re-potted more tlian once in two years.
When the drainage is good they make excellent
flowering plants. It may be interesting to add
that the full-sized plants are grown in two lean-
to houses facing south, and they remain in those
houses all the year round. The seedlings in-
tended to flower next season are grown in the
open ground during the summer, and are placed
in the pots wherein they are to flower during the
months of August and September. This system
of culture saves a vast amount of labour and
watering during the summer months, and very
little attention as to watering is required after
September. I entered very fully into cultural
details at page 109, and need not add any more
on that point. The whole of Mr. Horner's seed-
lings have been raised during the last ten or
twelve years, and as I have had good oppor-
tunities of seeing them in his own garden and at
the exhibitions, I venture to give a complete
list of the best of his productions up to the pre-
sent time.
He has worked up to a well-recognised stan-
dard of excellence, and in none of the classes
has he failed to reach a higher point than any
yet attained. Taking the classes in their order,
the green edge is placed first. There are very
few really good green-edged varieties in com-
merce, except Prince of Greens and Simonite's
Rev. F. D. Homer. The first named has a pale
tube, which is a serious fault in a show Auricula.
The following six varieties have quite revolu-
tionised this class : —
Dragon has a handsome truss of well-formed
flowers, the edge quite green, black ground
colour, pure white paste, and rich yeUow tube.
Endymion is very distinct, and has a reddish
ground colour, good green edge, and white paste
with yellow centre.
Monarch is similar to the old Booth's Free-
dom, but has a round instead of angular paste.
Verdant Green is quite novel in character,
has a light green edge, very dark ground colour,
good paste and tube.
Pearl is best described as an improved Page's
Champion; the reddish ground colour does not
fade early, as that of Champion does.
Attraction, medium green edge, black body
colour, good paste and tube. It is worthy of
remark that no green-edged varieties have
mealed foliage.
The next class comprises the grey- edged va-
rieties, and perhaps Greyhound ought to head
the list ; it has green foliage and a remarkably
handsome truss of well-formed pips ; a refined
George Lightbody, in fact.
Grayling has beautifully mealed foliage, and
quite a sparkling grey edge, black ground, pure
white paste and rich yellow tube.
Seamew has green foliage, a heavy grey edge,
black ground, fine white paste and orange tube.
Deerhound, a handsome variety with green
foliage, and larger pips than those of Grey-
hound.
Atalanta has light green, slightly mealed
foliage, and a broad silvery grey edge on the
well-formed flowers ; a maroon ground colour,
white paste and clear yellow tube.
Sea Belle, foliage deep green, pips well
formed, black ground colour, with a silvery
grey edge.
Wliite-edged varieties are a greatly improved
section, and one of the most distinct and beauti-
ful is Magpie ; it has green foliage, a handsome
truss, and well-formed pips ; the ground colour
black, with a very pure white edge ; white
paste and gold tube.
Radiance is probably an improved Magpie ;
if so, it wiU be the best white edge. The ground
is black and the edge very white ; the foUage is
mealed.
Miranda may be described as a white-edged
George Lightbody, except that it has beautiful
heavily mealed foliage.
Elaine is a handsome variety from the same
seed-pod as Miranda ; it has also heavily mealed
foliage.
Amanda has also mealed foliage ; the pips
have a blue or violet ground colour, a good
white edge, and rich yellow tube. It is rather
curious that the blue ground varieties have all
pale coloured tubes.
Fairy Ring, green foliage and violet-red
ground colour ; pips quite round and a good
white edge.
Self-edged varieties have received quite as
good additions to their class as the others.
Heroine may well be described as the fore-
runner of quite a new strain. Its well-rounded
pips, rich dark edge, and large white centre
are admirable. It has light green foliage.
Kathleen has partly mealed foliage, maroon
or reddish edge, good white paste and tube.
Auricula, grey-edged.
Florence has fully mealed foliage, and is of
the Heroine strain ; the edge is reddish plum,
pure white paste, very broad.
Melanie, fuU mealed foliage, very dark,
almost black edge, with good paste.
Rubra, densely mealed foliage, the edge
crimson velvet, good white centre.
Mrs. Potts is probably the finest violet self ;
it was raised by Mr. Barlow, of Stakehill
House, from a Mrs. Douglas and Heroine cross.
All the above have been selected by Mr.
Horner from seedlings raised by himself, except
Mrs. Potts, but it is considered the best yet
raised in its particular colour ; hence I have
included it in this list. J. Douglas.
The gardener with a secret. — The days of
secrets in the trade are gone. Still occasionally you
will find some moss-back carefnllyguarding some old
chestnut of a method of culture under lock and key.
It matters not that his "secret" method has been
long since tried and discarded by more advanced
cultivators, and that it was years ago spread broad-
cast over the land through the horticultural press.
He seldom reads, hence he is not aware of the fact,
and he still rests under the impression that he will
carry his "secret" with him to the grave. The man
with the " secret " seldom has a prosperous appear-
ance, strange as it may seem. His " secret " does
not seem to profit him, though he is holding it for
nothing but profit. He spends so much time guard-
ing it that legitimate methods suffer. — American
Florist.
Kitchen Garden.
W. WILDSMITH.
KITCHEN GARDEN NOTES.
Memoranda for another season. — Even though
all goes well, and there is an abundance of vege-
tables of aU kinds in their season, it does not follow
but that improvement may still be made, and to
this end I — at least once a year — take a retro-
spective survey o£ crops in general. To this work
part of my evening leisure has lately been devoted,
and note made accordingly for future use. All the
kinds of Peas I have grown, considering the
drought, have done well, but the best — by which I
mean those that continue in bearing longest, pro-
duce most, and are of good quality — are, beginning
with the earliest, Extra Early, Ringleader, William
the First, Telegraph, Veitch's Perfection, Sutton's,
Duchess of Edinburgh, British Queen, and Latest of
All. The last-named continues in bearing for a
longer season than any variety I have ever grown,
and is of extra good quality. The best runner Bean
is Ne Plus Ultra, and the best French Bean Canadian
Wonder. Early Dwarf Erfurt is the best early and
midseason Cauliflower, and the latest are Walcheren
and Autumn Giant. Of Beet, none surpasses Prag-
nell's Exhibition for handsomeness and quality. In
Carrot Early Champion, the acme of perfection has
surely been reached, and the same is true in regard
to the two new Onions, Abundance and Main Crop,
sent out by two different firms. Tomatoes Read-
ing Perfection, Hackwood Park, and Main Crop are
excelled by none. Cabbages All Heart, Hill's In-
comparable, and EUam's Dwarf are all of them
perfect garden Cabbages, as they take up little
room, mature early, and are deliciously tender and
sweet. The only kinds of Lettuces I grow are the
Cos varieties and the old Paris White, and the
Brown or Bath Cos are as yet unsurpassed. Celery
Major Clark's Red and Defiance White stiU main-
tain their position. Amongst all varieties of Brussels
Sprouts, Reading Exhibition still holds its own, and
is the truest stock I have ever grown. Cottager's
Kale is the hardiest and sweetest of winter Borecoles,
and the handsomest is Veitch's Dwarf. Amongst
Broccoli, Early Penzance, Leamington, Cooling's
JIatchless, and Late Queen are far in advance of any
other kinds I have ever grown.
General work. — Tomatoes have ripened and
are ripening well in the open air, but such fruits as
are not Ukely to ripen outside I intend to cut very
shortly and hang up in the vineries to ripen ; the
flavour of such fruit is, of course, not so delicate as
when the latter is ripened on the plants, but it pro-
longs the season, and in my case this will be a
great advantage, as the plants in the houses are
late. The recent cold nights have caused the col-
lapse of ridge Cucumbers, and, there being a good
number of fair-sized fruits on many of the vines,
these have been pulled up and the roots stood in
water, in hope of keeping the fruit fresh that they
may help out the rather scanty supply of frame
Cucumbers. The plants in the house are going on
satisfactorily, but they will not be in good bearing
for a month to come. There is still some thinning
out and pricking out of seedlings to be done.
Turnips and Spinach are ready for this operation,
and Cabbage and Cauliflower plants are also ready
for pricking out where they are to stand for the
winter. Except the latest sowing, the Pea crop is
exhausted, and, as fast as it can be done, the old
haulm and sticks are being cleared off and the
ground made neat until trenching can be started.
Other work consists of hoeing, of which we have
always plenty to do, and of maintaining the garden
in the neatest possible state by timely clearing away
of all refuse matter, particularly the dead leaves
from Cabbages and Brussels Sprouts, which in wet
298
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 1, 1887.
weather smell so disagreeably as to make a walk
through the kitchen garden anything but pleasant.
GAEDEN PEAS.
The continual introduction of new varieties of
Peas affects some of the old ones, and drives
them almost, if not quite, out of cultivation. Cer-
tain old-fashioned sorts of Peas are still in de-
mand in certain localities, but as far as sales can be
taken, as showing a decline in the cultivation of
certain sorts, it is evident that the following varie-
ties are much less grown than they were a few
years ago, viz , Alliance, Alpha, Bellamy's Green
Marrow, Biirbidge's Eclipse, Blue Scimitar, Dickson's
Favourite, or Auvergae, Early Emperor, Hundred-
fold, Sangster's No. 1 (common stock), Taber's Per-
fection, Prizetaker, Sharpe's Invincible, Paradise
Marrow, Princess Royal, and Woodford Green Mar-
row. Certain sorts, many somewhat old and a few
comparatively new, yet remain in pretty general
demand, though sales may be expected to decline
in the years to come, viz. : Beck's Gem, or Tom
Thumb," Advancer, Bishop's Longpod, Champion of
England, Dr. Maclean, Dillestone's Early, Day's
Early Sunrise, First Crop Blue, Fortyfold, Harrison's
Glory, Laxton's Prolific, Laxton's Supreme, Laxton's
Omega, Market Favourite, Maclean's Little Gem,
Pride of the Market, Tall Green Mammoth, and
Victoria Marrow. But as a set-otf there are sorts
that have become standard varieties, for which
there is an increasing demand year by year: Ameri-
can Wonder, which has quite taken the place of
Beck's Gem or Tom Thumb ; British Queen, Duke
of Albany, a variety that is becoming most popular,
and therefore largely grown; Kentish Inviota, Ne
Plus Ultra, Prince of Wales, Stratagem, increasing
very rapidly in popularity ; Sangster's No. 1 (im-
proved stock), "relegraph. Telephone, the demand
for wliich also increases by rapid strides ; Veitch's
Perfection, William Hurst, a new dwarf variety that
promises eventually to take the first rank among
the dwarf early varieties of the Beck's Gem type ;
William the First (selected stock), a useful early
variety and in great demand ; and Yorkshire Hero.
The last named fourteen varieties furnish as de-
sirable a list of garden Peas as can well be imagined,
but there are new varieties in course of introduc-
tion that it is expected will eventually displace
some of the best now grown. But time will show
the truthfulness or fallacy of this statement. A
large number of new Peas are announced every
year, but out of every dozen not more than two
at most can be expected to become popular, and
many new ones that are announced are simply
old forms under new names. R. D.
quality is all that could be desired ; the flesh when
cooked is white and floury. White Elephant has a
heavy crop of large tubers ; the sample is rather
rough and the tubers uneven, but the quality is
good. Dalmahoy has a medium crop of fair sized
tubers, but rather uneven in shape. The late varie-
ties, such as Magnum Bonum, Dunbar Regent,
Schoolmaster, and Scotch Champion, all look strong
and healthy in the haulm.— Wm. Cheistison,
Homen-wd, Ch isle/i iirsf.
Notes on Potatoes. — The early \arieties of
Potatoes bore a heavy crop of medium-sized, clean
tubers, Myatt's Ashleaf Kidney, Rivers' Ashleat
Kidney, and Early Bird being the best. They were
of a very superior quality when cooked. The
drought affected the growth of Early Rose con-
siderably, the tubers being small, rough, and un-
even. This variety generally proves one of the best
croppers we can grow in our light soil, but this sea-
son it is the lightest crop of any. Covent Garden
Perfection has yielded a good average crop of clean,
well-shaped tuber.^, and the quality is good. This
Potato deserves to be more extensively grown than
it is, for I fmd the tubers keep a long time in good
condition for table use after being harvested.
Beauty of Hebron proves itself to be one of the best
second early varieties in cultivation ; even this sum-
mer when our light, stony soil was dust-dry, it bore
large, well-shaped tubers, and when cooked was
beautifully white and floury. Beauty of Kent is a
variety which generally does well in our light soil,
but this season the crop has suffered greatly, being
light and the tubers small. Reading Russet is one
of the very best varieties in cultivation, and al-
though growing in a particularly dry part of the
garden, the crop is an average one, the tubers
large and clean, and when cooked 6t extra line
quality. Porter's Excelsior has a good crop of
clean, even sized tubers. This is one of the best for
exhibition. Snowdrop is bearing the heaviest crop
of any variety we are growing this season, and the
MARKET CELERY.
One of the most interesting of market garden crops
to be seen in this locality now is the huge lireadth
of Celery which Mr. W. Poupart has at Twickenham.
I believe this grower has some eig'oteen or more acres
of ground under Celery and all looking wonderfully
well. When I say that a large number of men are em-
ployed on the earthing, literally banking up the rows
of plants, which were so low down that their heads
only could be seen over the tops, it will be understood
that not only is the Celery of a very robust charac-
ter, but also that the earthing up is a very costly
and serious work. The rows are not so very wide
apart, soil for banking up being taken out deeply.
When this large area of land is thus worked from
year to year no wonder that it grows fine Celery.
But this particular portion of the extensive area of
land which Mr. Poupart cultivates is almost always
under Celery, for the good reason that it can be
readily irrigated. I use the term irrigated because
it differs appreciably from watering as usually
practised. Watering signifies downward filtration ;
irrigation means lateral percolation through the
soil, or water finding its level. To hope to grow
Celery well, especially during such a season as
the passing one has been, without an ample
supply of moisture from some source would be ab-
surd, and in a big way practically impossible.
Close to Mr. Poupart's ground are the Twickenham
sewage works, and the grower is at liberty to utilise
any amount of the effluent water, which is, of course,
at all times, even in dry weather, considerable.
Many lengths of open wooden troughs are employed
to carry this water across a meadow to the Celery
grou.nd, the drippings proving beneficial to the Grass.
As the troughs have to be shifted from time to time,
no one portion of the meadow is over-saturated.
The sewage water, however, is not poured direct into
the Celery trenches. At intervals of half a dozen
rows broad trenches are dug, the soil being banked
up on either side, and later on used to earth the
Celery plants. These trenchesare flooded about twice
a week during dry weather, and as aresult the whole of
the subsoil between the trenches becomes thoroughly
moistened. That is irrigation proper, and has the
merit of keeping a saturated subsoil whilst the sur
face remains dry and friable. Because the soil is
always so deeply worked the moisture percolates
freely throughout, as is evident, for the rows next the
trenches arenotbetterthan are those fartherremoved
Whilst this method of watering encourages deep-
rooting, it prevents the sewage water from coming
into contact with the Celery. Watering is not
checked by earthing, for the moistening of the soil
can go on as long as needful, and the surface soil
always remains sweet and clean for earthing. Mr,
Poupart grows chiefly what is locally known as the
large market red Celery. It is less compact than
Clarke's Red, but produces heavier sticks or heads.
It is very firm, solid, and sweet, and seems to give
every satisfaction. Seed is sown in frames early in
spring, and the plants when strong got out into the
trenches early, the liberal cultivation given prevent-
ing bolting. This form of cultivation is, of course,
costly, but Celery culture will only pay when well
done, and we may take it for granted that being
well done, Twickenham growers — for Mr. Poupart is
not the only one there — find it pay. There are many
pri\'ate gardens in which the same system of irriga-
tion might be introduced with great advantage.
A. V.
■Winter Spinanh. — In a great many oases
Spinach was killed by the severity of the past
winter, but this is not often the case, as the prickly-
seeded or winter Spinach is very hardy, and will
survive any ordinary season. I have had it very
luxuriant during November, December, and January,
when it was injured a little and almost disappeared,
but the roots were quite sound, and the leaves came
up again in March and the crop proved very valuable
in April and May, and, indeed, until the spring-
sown seed had produced plants from which leaves
could be gathered. I consider winter Spinach one
of the most valuable of all crops where superior
vegetables are appreciated. It has the advantage
of attaining useful size in a very short time after
being sown. Seed put in now will produce plants
that will furnish gatherings in five weeks, or six
weeks at most. This ought to be taken into con-
sideration by all who are in any way deficient of
winter vegetables, and I doubt there will be many
such in the coming winter, as winter crops generally
have not done well with the excessively hot and
dry weather. It is important that it be in good leaf
before the days are too short, and to have it well
established by November it should be sown at once.
Any moderately rich soil from which Potatoes or
other crops have been cleared will suit it. The
ground need not be dug over, but merely levelled
and cleared of weeds ; then open drills 2 inches
deep and ] 6 inches apart ; sow the seed rather
thinly, cover over carefully, and the young plants
will be visible in less than a week ; hoe between
them as they grow to keep them free from weeds,
and begin to gather the leaves when they are half
the size of the open hand. — J. MuiR, Marrjam.
Horseradish. — This useful plant suffers from
being able to exist without any cultivation. When
once it gets established it is difficult to eradicate.
Consequently it is left in an out-of-the-way corner
of the garden for a long period. Although one can
be sure of finding some pieces fit for use, even under
these conditions they are very different to what may
be had with little trouble if it is cultivated like any
other vegetable, and each plant is kept distinct
from its neighbour. As a market garden crop I
feel sure that a good deal of land now lying waste
might be profitably turned to account by growing
Horseradish in quantity, as there is a demand all
the year round for it. In the winter it may be
kept for months after being lifted by packing it in
sand or any other moist substance to keep it from
shrivelling by exposure. It is in private gardens
that I would plead for a little more attention being
paid to this useful article. There are many ways of
growing good Horseradish, such as from crowns,
which is largely practised. Where old beds already
exist I have found it an excellent plan to trench up
a portion each winter as soon as growth ceases, and
from even a small piece a great number of long,
straight young sticks, with crowns and roots entire,
maybeselected. Although they areuselessat the time,
they make splendid sticks if put out on good soil for
one year. Trim off all side growths and make a
large hole with a crowbar, drop them in at full length
at one foot apart in the rows, and 2 feet from row
to row. and the next winter you will have Horseradish
very different from the old crowded-bed plan. —
J. G., JIants.
Liate Potatoes. — There is such a universa
supertubcration going on with all late Potatoes'
that there seems to be no other course open but to
leave them to do their best. The tops now are
almost everywhere strong and full of growth, and if
we have yet a month or five weeks free from frost,
the newly forming tubers may accomplish much in
the time. So tar as my experience has gone, super-
tuberating seems to be far more prevalent than
sprouting" or the making of new stolons with tubers
following. The need for allowing the breadths to
stand as long as they will is all the greater, because
the plants whilst making good growth had yet
made far more roots and fewer tubers than usual ;
indeed, the instinct of self-preservatinn seems to
have com]ielled the plants to send roots down
deeply to the neglect of the usual process of tuber-
production. I write not of small breadths growing
in deeply trenched and highly manured gardens in
which Potatoes have hardly felt the drought, but
rather of the field breadths which are the producers
of tubers for the masses. The early and second
early kinds have been cleared off at considerably
Oct. 1, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
299
enhanced prices, but still the real test of the cota-
paratira shortness of the crop has not been felt yet.
All depends now upon the behaviour of the late
breadths during the next few weeks, and should
big crop of new tubers result, much leeway may be
made up. In any case we can hardly expect to
have Potatoes cheap during the ensuing winter.
A. D.
JU'SHROOM-GROWING IN EDINBURGH.
Ix the report last week of the fruit show held in
Edinburgh, mention is made of a fine lot of
Mushrooms from the Scottish Mushroom Company,
grown in the Scotland Street railway tunnel, which,
owing to some defect, has not been in use for the
last twenty years. In the early part of the present
year a company was formed with the idea of con-
verting the tunnel into a Mushroom cave, and, judg-
ing from the results so far achieved, right well have
they done. Being lately in that town, I had much
pleasure in looking through the tunnel, and a few
remarks on the mode of cultivation adopted might
not be amiss to many readers of The Garden. The
tunnel is 1100 yards long by 21 feet wide. On
one side of the tunnel is laid a double line of rails,
upon which the engine and trucks travel when tak-
ing the manure and soil in. This is done in trucks
containing six tons each, and conveyed to a distance of
500 yards, where the first part of preparing the ma-
nure is performed — that of fermenting. To prevent
nuisance to the inhabitants in the locality, the ma-
nure in a half -prepared state is deposited in heaps,
to be again made ready for the beds. At the time
of my visit liOO tons of manure and soil were in
use, and it was estimated that quite 2000 tons would
be required to complete thepreparation of beds in the
whole tunnel. The first 200 yards are divided from
the remainder by a wood partition, as the tunnel was
found to be too draughty. In this part were arranged
flat beds some 8 feet wide, while others were 4 feet.
These beds are not considered the most suitable, as
they are inconvenient in working operations, and
require more space than ridge-shaped beds. Inside
of the partition the beds are in ridges and run
crosswise of the tunnel. They are lij feet long,
3 feet wide at the base, 2J feet high, and 1 foot
wide at the top. Boxes of this shape and size are
used to facilitate the formation of the beds, in a
firm manner. At the time of my visit there were
over 1100 yards of ridge-shaped beds. I counted
210 in various stages, making a total of ik miles.
The company commenced in May last. The beds
were in all stages of development, from the prepara-
tion of the manure to the formation and spawning
of the beds. Some were just soiled, and others
were showing the Mushrooms in a young state, but
those in full bearing were a grand sight, as many as
eighty-two Mushrooms being counted in a square
foot; in fact, JIushrooms could be seen by the
thousand when the beds were uncovered. The
spawn is specially prepared for the company, as
much as sis tons having been used since the com-
mencement. E. MOLTNEUX.
and is good in form, but it is too small for a main
crop variety. — .John C. Tallack, Lh-ermerc.
SHORT NOTES.— KITCHEN.
Vegetable Marrows. — Will any of your con-e-
spondents kindly say if they have known Vegetable
Marrows to attain to a weight of 40 lbs. or 50 lbs., and
if not, what has been the greatest weight attained ? — T.
Chou de Burgliley. — This is a hardy and pro-
ductive Cabbage, sweet and tender when cooked, and
of fine flavour. There is a batch planted out at Devon-
hurst, and Mr. Wright, the head gardener, says that it
was the mainstay last winter, Broccoli and other
tender vegetables being kiUed by frost. — E. C.
Tomatoes. — After a fairtrial of several varieties
of Tomatoes this year, I find none to equal a good
selection of the old large red. The fruits are of
good shape and size, flavour and colour excellent,
and it is an abundant cropper. Chiswick Red has
pleased me much ; it is rather late, but it leaves no-
thing to be desired in form or size ; the crop also is
good. Unfortunately, it has developed a decided
tendency to crack since the late heavy rains. Pre-
sident Garfield is decidedly coarse ; the same may
be said of Conqueror. Earliest of All bears well
LETTUCES.
What a number of Cabbage and Cos varieties we
now possess. A list published fifty years ago gives
eleven Cabbage and seven Cos Lettuces, and I am
disposed to infer from this that the former were in
larger demand than the latter. In the present day
the popular taste appears to run in favour of Cos
rather than Cabbage Lettuces. Messrs. Vilmorin
and Co., in their book on the " Vegetable Garden,"
state that —
Good authorities appear inclined to refer all the
cultivated varieties of Lettuce to two distinct botanical
types, from one of which have been derived the Cab-
bage Lettuces, properly so called, which have roundish
or flattened heads, while the other has been the parent
of the Cos Lettuces, in which the head is tall and
elongated in shape. We find it diflicult to assent to
this view of the two-fold origin ; in the first place, be-
cause the two kinds pass into each other through
almost imperceptible gradations ; and, secondly, as
soon as they run to seed they present no difference
from each other, which is the most conclusive proof-
of the identity of their origin.
But there is one peculiarity about Lettuces that is
of interest, especially from a botanical point of
view, namely, as to what principle regulates the
colour of the seeds — l:>lack, white or yellow. Many
Cabbage Lettuces are white-seeded as well as black-
seeded, and the same holds good in Cos Lettuces.
The Bath Cos, for instance, includes white and black-
seeded types, and so do others. Thirty years ago
there was in the London seed trade a variety of the
brown Dutch Cabbage Lettuce with yellow seeds,
but I cannot now find it in any list, home or foreign,
nor, indeed, a yellow-seeded one at all. The yellow-
seeded Dutch was said to be a good Lettuce at the
time, and I have sometimes wondered that no one
had re-introduoed it as a novelty.
It has been said that a crop of Lettuce enriches
rather than impoverishes the soil. One certain ad-
vantage about a crop of Lettuces is that it arrives
early at maturity, thereby affording a considerable
bulk of food when grown on good land, and the
Lettuces may be removed, when sown early in the
season, in time for a crop of something else the same
season. Many of the London market gardeners plant
out Brussels Sprouts, Coleworts, Scarlet Runners,
Tomatoes, &c., to follow Lettuces. The best soil for
Lettuces is a light, rich one resting on a dry sub-
stratum, and the less check the plants get the
better. Autumn-sown Lettuces for early spring are
not so much grown as they used to be, probably be-
cause they are a risky crop, unless in a favourable
position and well protected. Many gardeners sow late
in summer on a warm border to ensure Lettuces in
late autumn, and they sow in frames in mid-winter
to have an early crop. The market gardeners
plant out at the end of the summer on early
ground in the open to stand the winter, and in
the case of an early genial spring they secure a
remunerative crop, but it is always a risky one.
Many of the Lettuces planted out to stand through
last winter, though maintained alive, lost their
hearts, and when they commenced to grow put
forth a number of small hearts that were disap-
pointing. They now sow largely soon after Christ-
mas in frames, and plant out in the open as soon as
it is safe to do so. The Lettuce most grown in the
London market gardens is that known as the Ful-
ham, or Hardy White Cos, which, being of a hardy
constitution, and, as a rule, standing through the
winter, soon hearts in for market. In one large
market garden in my neighbourhood this Lettuce
is being gathered in large quantities from late sow-
ings for market, and appears to find a ready sale.
The Londoner believes in Lettuce, and enjoys it
when it can be obtained fresh and crisp. The later
Lettuces are sown in drills in the open ground, and
the plants thinned out and transplanted. The plants
that are allowed to remain where they are sown come
to maturity sooner than the transplanted ones, which
is not to be wondered at. I have heard it stated
that they are crisper also, but that is perhaps only I leaves are much tinted with reddish brown. I
imagination. A market gardener who transplants | should have said that All the Year Round does not
on a large scale, generally does this during what he
terms a " dripping," i.e., a showery time, and then
the plants soon become established and grow
without receiving any check. Lines are drawn,
and an active man, by using a dibber, soon puts
into the ground a large number of plants. If
this work has to be done in dry weather, such as
prevailed during the past summer, water is poured
along the lines and the plants dibbled in, and they
soon take root and become established. In some
gardens, where old-fashioned notions still prevaO,
one can sometimes see the young plants of Lettuce
pulled out of the seed-beds, and then taken and
dropped at regular distances along the lines marked
out for planting, and this, too, on a hot day. By
the time they are dibbled in the plants are one-half
withered, and they are a long time recovering, if,
indeed, they recover at all. How much better it is
to employ a shallow %'essel, at the bottom of which
is a layer of liquid mud, and the plants placed in
this just sufficient to cover the roots until such
time as they are planted.
Of the new varieties of Lettuce, a few are worthy
of special notice. There is a type of the Black-
seeded Bath Cos named Cooling's Leviathan that
makes a fine exhibition Lettuce for early summer,
and it is a very fine selection of the old broad-leaved
Bath Cos. The Sugaj-loaf Bath Cos is not new,
but it is an excellent variety for gardens, compact,
self-folding, and forming good hearts, as well as
being hardy. One of Messrs. Vilmorin and Co.'s
Cos Lettuces, the Balloon Cos, is also known as the
Black-seeded Paris White Cos ; it resembles the
latter in general style, but the leaves are rounder
and more recurved, and it is said to be hardier, and,
therefore, adapted for autumn sowing. Webb's
Exhibition Cos appears to be this under a more
modern name. It also comes near to Dickson's
Champion Cos, but is a more compact grower and
self-folding. For a useful winter Cos Lettuce, be-
cause so hardy and standing the winter so well, let
me commend Jefferies' Little Queen Cos, a dark
green-leaved type, very dwarf and compact, and
requiring no tying in spring. It is a Lettuce well
worthy the attention of gardeners who have to pro-
vide early salads. Dimmick's Victoria Cos, though
by no means new, deserves mention, becaufe it
appears to be of a distinct character from the Paris
White Cos, though thought by some to be identical
with it. It differs in having a peculiar curl in the
leaves that form the centre of the plant instead of
folding over to the centre ; it comes to a great size
when grown well, and tells on the exhibition table
at early shows. In all stages of its growth it
appears to be distinct from the Paris White Cos.
I may say of the Fulham or Hardy White Cos that
it is one of the best Cos Lettuces for sowing to
stand the winter. Ivery's or Dickson's Champion
Cos should be grown where a large Lettuce is re-
quired, or one for feeding purposes. Both in this
country and on the Continent Lettuces were at one
time grown for feeding pigs, but now not so much
as formerly. The usual practice in fleld culture is
to sow the seeds in drills about 14 inches apart, and
to thin the young plants out with the hand to the
distance of 8 inches or 10 inches in the rows ; the
seeds may also be sown in beds and transplanted by
dibbling. This practice is mostly followed when
Lettuces are grown on a small scale, as by cottagers
who keep only one or two pigs. But the soil for
field culture should be both rich and well pul-
verised.
Perhaps for garden culture, as far as the Cabbage
Lettuces are concerned. All the Year Round and the
Leyden White Dutch are the two best for all pur-
poses. For the midland districts of England espe-
cially the latter is well adapted, being hardy and
vigorous. All the Year Round can be sown almost
at any time in frames as well as in the open. One
of the earliest of the Cabbage Lettuces for spring
sowing is Tom Thumb, a compact selection probably
from the old Tennis Ball. It is also a good variety to
stand through the winter. Brown Dutch, white seed,
an old, but little known variety, is an excellent one
for summer work, a fine crisp-eating variety, but the
300
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 1, 1887.
readily run to seed. One known as Blonde de
Berlin is simply a black-seeded form of All the Tear
Round. Veitoh's Golden Queen, which greatly re-
sembles Ely's Tom Thumb, is a very early and dis-
tinct Lettuce, of the style of All the Year Round,
but paler in the leaf, and smoother also. It is a
variety well worthy the attention of gardeners. The
Victoria Perfect Green and Green Unctuous are two
very fine summer Cabbage Lettuces that grow to a
large size ; they appear to be identical, and are very
distinct from others both in colour and type. A
very large Cabbage Lettuce is one named Ameri-
can Gathering, a curious crisp-leaved variety, much
tinted with brown, quick-growing, and attaining to
a great size. Tlie Bossin Cabbage Lettuce, a very
useful summer variety, has apparently received the
name of Scott's Favourite, for it is oitficult to trace
any difference between them. Lee's Immense Cab-
bage Lettuce is a very good winter variety, quite
distinct from the Hammersmith Hardy Green, and
reported to be much better in every respect for
winter work. The old Drumhead, or Malta or Ice
Cabbage Lettuce, one of the oldest varieties, is stiU
a good useful sort ; it grows rapidly and bears hot
weather well, but does not stand a great while. It
is a variety recommended for warm climates.
E. D.
Ferns.
■5V. H. GOWEB.
COOL HOUSE FILMY FERNS.
"Sheffield" asks, "What kinds of these
Ferns will succeed in a cool house without much
fire -heat ?" Now, the fact is that the majority
of Hymenophyllums and Trichomanes, which
are popularly known as Filmy Ferns, from the
pellucid nature of their fronds, are mostly
natives of cool regions, even the tropical kinds
being found at considerable elevations, so that
under cultivation the majority of them thrive
best \inder cool treatment. If "Sheffield" is a
beginner in the cultivation of FUmy Ferns, I
should advise him to obtain those sorts which
are indigenous to New Zealand, and of which
fine collections exist in the nurseries of Messrs.
Backhouse, of York, Mr. Williams, of HoUoway,
and the Messrs. Veitoh, of Chelsea, and through
whom these plants have been mainly introduced
to cultivation.
They must be kept quite cool, and I have
seen them occasionally exposed to a temperature
as low as 28° Fahrenheit, and come uninjured
Trichomanes radicans.
through the ordeal ; but the fronds should be
wet when they are frozen. I do not, how-
ever, think it is judicious to carry the cool sys-
tem to such an extreme. A temperature as near
40° during winter, which will naturally run up
higher in summer, will be found congenial to
these plants, and by so doing very little arti
ficial heat is necessary ; indeed, in the summer
months every available means will have to be
exerted to keep the heat down, for if it rises
much above 65°, FUmy Ferns are apt to decline
in health. Perpetual exclusion from the sun's
rays, but a fair exposure to light and an atmo-
sphere well charged with moisture, are the
special conditions requisite to grow them satis-
factorOy. The kinds with creeping rhizomes
should be fixed upon blocks of sandstone of
various shapes and sizes, with a very small por-
tion of mould. Over these the plants wOl soon
spread, and clothe them with a charming
drapery of vivid green ; whilst those having
erect stems should be potted in nearly all
drainage material, sandstone broken into small
lumps being preferable for this purpose, and the
surface lightly covered with turfy loam and
rough peat. The atmosphere of an open green-
house is far too arid to suit Filmy Ferns ; they
should therefore be accommodated in small
glass cases ; or, if the shady side of a house can
be enclosed and glazed in front with sliding
frames, a very pretty effect may be obtained by
producing miniature mountains and glens, all
covered with dilFerent forms of these delicate
and beautiful plants. If grown in glass cases,
the latter may be kept in the dwelling-house,
and thus those living in towns without a yard
II} u eu pi jlluiu ilt^iiiissum
of ground to devote to gardening may feast
their eyes upon the delicate beauty of the pel-
lucid fronds. The following maybe accepted as
amongst the most distinct and beautiful of the
New Zealand kinds : —
H. DILATATUM. — This is one of thelargestandmost
beautiful root-creeping species ; fronds from 1 foot to
18 inches high, and 5 inches to 6 inches wide, three
times divided ; segments broad, and lengthened out
into tail-like points ; virid pale green in colour.
H. POLTANTHOS. — This species is widely distri-
buted over the Tropics. The form found in New
Zealand has graceful fronds some 6 inches or more
high, and about 2 inches wide, usually densely fer-
tile, deep green and root-creeping.
H. DBMlSSUil. — A very beautiful species producing
fronds from 1 foot to 18 inches high, and about
5 inches wide ; these are three times divided, the
ultimate division being finely cut ; colour deep
green.
H. CEISPATUM. — This is a very pretty species
with fronds from 6 inches to 9 inches in length, and
4 inches in breadth ; these are three times divided,
very dense and curled, rich green, and winged.
This would appear to be a common species in the
woods of the Northern Island of New Zealand, where
it is frequently found clothing the trunks of the
forest trees.
H. Ltalli. — Tills is a singular little species which
is found tolerably abundant on the trunks of trees
and upon moist rocks in the Middle Island, New
Zealand. It is said to be exactly intermediate be-
tween Hymenophylliun and Trichomanes, and is,
therefore, interesting. The fronds are produced
from a slender, thread-like rhizome, the fronds
from 1 inch to 2 inches high, somewhat flabeUate
in outline ; the sunken involucre is peculiar, being
nearly as broad as long. This species is rare in
cultivation ; the only example I ever saw of it was
in Messrs. Rollisson's nursery at Tooting, from
whence it passed into the late Mr. Cooper Forster's
collection.
H. BIVALVE. — This is another rare species, pro-
ducing fronds which are triangular in outline, three
times divided, and some 9 inches high in fine ex-
amples, but more frequently but half that size ; the
segments are finely cut, and the spiny involucres
large and numerous. The only specimens of this
species I have seen were in the Holloway Nursery.
H. BARirsi. — Another pretty little pendent species
introduced by the Messrs. EoUisson, of Tooting,
about ten years ago. The creeping rhizome and
stems are very slender; fronds from 3 inches to
6 inches long, twice divided, the segments being
broad and -n-inged (bipinnatifid), and the colour
pale green.
H. ^EUGINOSUM. — This is a free-growing beauti-
ful species, fine examples of which were to be seen
in the Backhousian collection at York. Its fronds
are pendent, somewhat ovate-lanceolate in outline,
and 6 inches to 9 inches long, and about 2 inches
broad, densely clothed with short white hairs, which
become of a ferrugineous red with age.
H. FLABELLATUM. — A beautiful pendent species,
with thrice-divided dense fronds some 6 inches to
a foot long, and intense deep green in colour, and
shining.
H. SCABBUM. — This is a charming species, pro-
ducing fronds from 6 inches to 20 inches high, and
3 inches to 6 inches wide ; the pinnae are much-
divided, and the segments densely fertile ; colour
deep green. I have found this plant enjoys more
shade than the majority of the kinds.
Trichomanes elongatijm. — This has rhizomes
sub-erect, somewhat stout; fronds about a foot high,
ovate or triangular in outline, very dense, and deep
green in colour. The chief feature of this species
is the great length of the hair-like vein or recep-
tacle. It appears to be plentiful in the Northern
Island, New Zealand, but is by no means common
in cultivation.
T. COLENSOI. — This is another species from the
Northern Island, but which is not yet very plenti-
ful in collections at home. It is a slender and
elegant plant ; fronds narrowly oblong, about 4
inches long and less than an inch broad, and pin-
nate, with the segments deeply lobed. The cup-
like involucres are erect, and the receptacle is very
much exserted ; colour deep green.
T. HTTMILB. — A very delicate little species, which
grows about 2 inches or 3 inches high, and forms
dense, but very elegant tufts ; the fronds are very
finely divided and deep green.
T. VENOStrM. — This is one of the commonest
species, clothing the stems of Tree Ferns with
drapery ; its fronds are pendent, from 3 inches to 6
inches long, once divided, the segments being linear
and light shining green.
T. BENIFOEME. — The form of this species is quite
unique in the genus ; the rhizome is creeping, the
stems wiry, and 6 inches or more high, bearing
nearly round or kidney-shaped fronds, wliich are
almost 3 inches across, and of an intense deep
green. When fertile, the cup-like involucres, which
protrude all round the margin, form a dense and
ornamental fringe. This plant thrives best upon a
block of sandstone imder heavy shade.
To the above should be added the Irish represen-
tative of this family, popularly knomi as the Killar-
ney Fern (Trichomanes radicans), which is as
handsome as any in the whole family ; and also the
two beautiful species of Hymenophylhims which
are indigenous to these islands, viz. : H. tun-
bridgense and H. unilaterale. Respecting other
I kinds I will offer a few remarks later on.
Oct. 1, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
301
SPECIMEN SELAGINELLAS.
We see the beautiful Selaginellas grown in a
variety of wars, in pots, pans, or boxes, and as
edgings or carpets. I liave a recollection of having
once seen them turned to good account in a large
plant stove. Beneath the stage and in front of the
hot-water pipes, instead of the useless waste of
space generally seen, a bed of soil had been made, in
which the different Lycopods mth a free admixture
of bright-leaved Fittonias had been planted. They
were kept moist and thrived remarkably well. The
plants above on the stages doubtless benefited
thereby, as in consequence of this bed beneath and
the watering required, the hot air from the pipes
was more humid and less conducive to thrips or red
spider.
The object of this article, however, is to call at-
tention to their effectiveness as specimens, and the
easy manner in which they can be produced. Seven
good specimens were recently exhibited by Mr.
Wright, the gardener at Devonhurst, Chiswick,
before the committee of the Royal Horticultu-
ral Society, and were worthily awarded a silver-
gilt Banksian medal. Mr. Wright is very successful
in the production of these specimens. For several
years they have been a feature at the shows of the
Chiswick Horticultural Society. His method is as
follows : Procure a good large pan, the size depend-
ing upon how large a specimen is required. In this
case they are 2 ft. across. Four -n-ires are put across
the top of the pan and a wire hoop run round out-
side the rim of the pan, resting on the wires. Four
ends are then bent upwards and connected at the
top, not in a point, but fastened to another little
wire hoop 4 inches in diameter. The object of
having the top flat is to facilitate watering. If
carried to a point it cannot be kept sufficiently
moist without too frequent waterings, when the
lower portion gets soddened. The remaining four
wires are carried up three parts of the way, and the
whole bound round with finer wire about every
4 inches. The centre is hollow, being fiUed with
inverted flower-pots, leaving room for about 2^ inches
of soil in which to plant the Lycopods. It is well-
known they are of the easiest cultivation ; almost,
any shady comer will suit them, or even beneath
Vines.
There are many kinds suitable. Mr. Wright's
specimens were composed of the following: Kraus-
siana, which is of dwarf, close-growing habit,
makes a neat, compact specimen; its variety
aurea makes another one, distinct and good, a
pretty contrast to the green form. In the variety
Kraussiana variegata we get an elegant combina-
tion of two colours. The matured growth is
green, but the tips of the young growing shoots
are white deepening to yellow with age.
A grand specimen indeed is made by S. unci-
nata. The shoots hang in long festoons, elegant
in themselves, but there is another charm, a colour
peculiar to this variety of a steel-like hue, well
defined and telling, causing one to single that plant
out for special admiration. This variety must not
be syringed overhead, as wetting the growth mars
its beauty.
S. Martensi, its variegated form, formosa and
stolonitera, are the other kinds that composed the
group. The latest noted kind made a specimen
§3 feet across. It represents a difllerent type of
growth ; the beautiful sprays grow outwards,
arching gracefally. Moreover, the fine chisel-
lings of their apparently delicately formed sprays
rival in baauty the lovely Ferns. I said apparently
delicate, because in reality they are more enduring
than Ferns, and commend themselves to anyone
requiring easily grown, graceful greenery as a sub-
stitute for Ferns in making up choice floral arrange-
ments. A. Hereington.
it was, indeed, a pretty foliage effect, that could be
enjoyed without the necessity of using several pots in
the arrangement. — A. H.
Orchids.
LONG-TAILED LADY'S SLIPPERS.
(CTPBIPEDIUilS.)
A FEW years ago only about twenty species
of this genus were in cultivation, but so
rapidly have fresh forms been imported, and
so readUy liave they lent themselves to the
hybridiser, that ia one collection I counted
a few days ago nearly 250 named varie-
ties, a striking proof of the popularity of
A pretty mixture. — Growing two kinds of Ferns
together in one pot is often done, and pretty combiua-
tions obtained. We were struck with the beauty of a
mixture seen in Mr. May's nursery at Edmonton.
The plants used were Doryopteris palmata and Adi-
antum cuueatum. The effect of the erect palmate
r-^.'ds of the former, rising from among gracefid tufts
•of delicate Maiden-hair, was both novel and beautiful ;
cultivation it appears to enjoy strong heat, or at
least the warm end of an intermediate house.
It has somewhat erect, ligulate, light, shining
green leaves, arranged in a two-ranked fashion
(distichous). The scape is erect, and bears from
two to three flowers ; the dorsal sepal, as also the
connate lower sepals, are broad, nearly 6 inches long,
tawny yellow, streaked with brown ; the petals are
narrow, lengthened out into tail-like appendages,
reaching to a length of some 2 feet or 3 feet. I
have never grown them, however, much over 2 feet,
although I have been frequently assured that they
do attain to 30 inches and 36 inches in length.
These tail-like appendages are nearly of the same
colour as that of the sepals, but become darker
towards the tips, and are not fnlly developed
until several days after the flower opens ; the slipper-
hke Up is oblong, yellowish white, tinged with
green and streaked with brown ; in the variety
roseum it is beautifully suffused with a dark rose
colour. The flowers open during the months of April
and May, and if kept from damp, last several weeks
in perfection. C. caudatum has been crossed with
other species, and has produced
C. SoHBCEDER-E, which was named in honour of
Baroness Schrceder, originated in the establish-
ment of the Messrs. "S^eitch, of Chelsea, and is
the result of a cross between C. caudatam and C.
Sedeni, the latter a Veitchian hybrid. The result has
been to shorten the petals and infuse a greater
amount of colour into the whole flower. Its habit
of growth resemble s that of C. Sedeni ; the sepals are
soft reddish green, streaked with greenish purple : the
petals are broad and pendent, some i inches in
length, greenish white snffased with purplish crim-
son ; the large lip retains the form of that of 0.
caudatum, and is of a dull crimson hue. The plant
is robust and vigorous in constitution, and produces
its blooms in mid-winter.
Long-taUed Lady's Shpper (Cypripediuni caudatum).
these Slipper Orchids. The introduced species,
which have obtained the name of Long-tailed
Slippers, from the unusual length of their petals,
are C. caudatum, its variety roseum, C. longi-
fclium, C. Pearoei, C. Roezli, C. Stonei and its
variety platytajnium, C. lasvigatum, 0. Ro-
balini, C. Walliai, C. Parishi, and C. Sanderi-
anum. Hybridisers hare worked largely with
these long-tailed kinds, and many very orna-
mental forms have resulted from their labours ;
it maybe of interest, therefore, to many of your
readers to enumerate the kinds which have
emanated from this particular section of the
genus, commencing with
C. CAUDATUM.— This remarkable plant was origi-
nally introduced from the mountain regions of Peru,
where it is said to inhabit boggy places, but under
FRAGRANCE IN ORCHIDS.
Orchids present such virid and xmusual colours,
that in our admiration of these we sometimes for-
get there is quite as much variety in the odours of
the flowers; in truth, no family possesses such di-
versity of fragrances which vary both in strength
and sweetness, some refreshing and delicate, others
overpowering and unpleasant. In stove plants
there is a striking resemblance between the scent
of the blooms, those of the Tuberose, Gardenia,
Stephanotis, and some of the Bouvardias, especially
B. longifolia, differing but comparatively little,
though not identical. In the Orchids we may seek
diligently before finding two species with fragrance
the same, and the odours do not bear a simi-
larity to those of flowers belonging to other
families. The flowers of some of the British
species are richly scented, especially the Butter-
fly Orchis (Habenaria chlorantha), which is one of
the loveliest of our wildings, and has so strong a
perfume that even when the flowers are dried it is
not entirely lost. The other day I had a spike of
the Swan Orchid (Cycnoches ventricosum), which
was very delicate, and a blossom of Cattleya gigas
scented a large room, the fragrance like that of
freshly plucked Violets, sweeter if possible, and
decidedly stronger. In this genus there are several
species that may be recommended for this special
quality, the best known being C. citrina, or Mexican
Tulip," as it is appropriately called. The perfume
of this is very rich and spicy, something like the
fragrance of Limes, and almost too strong if there
are more than three or four plants in a house; C.
Walkeriana is also very sweet. The lovely Bur-
lingtonia fragrans, one of the most delightful of
Orchids, is well named: its perfume is like that of
Hawthorn, and the scent of the Bird's-biU Orchid
(Oncidium ornithorbynchum) may be compared to
ttiat of freshly broken cinnamon; this is in full
bloom now, and a large specimen when well flowered
is not wanting in grace, as the spikes are light and
elegant. The old Dendrobium nobile, also the
delicately scented Dendrochilum glumaceum. must
be included in the list. The Aerides are al-
most as highly prized for their sweet odour
as their intrinsic beauty ; and we have the former
quality well developed in A. suavissimum. The
302
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 1, 1887.
flowers of all the Vandas have a strong per-
fume, and the same may be said of those of
Pilumnas, especially P. fragrans, while in both
Angrseoums and Saccolabiums the scent is very
marked. Huntleyas must be included, and Lajlias,
the best of which in this respect is L. albida,
a deliciously fragrant Orchid. Zygopetalum aro-
maticum has a strong aromatic perfume, and the
powerful odour of the Stanhopeas is unpleasant if
there are many plants in the house, but when not
overdone the perfume is spicy and pleasant. Cata-
setum Bungerothi smells of aniseed, and throughout
the Orchid fandly we have odours almost iden-
tical with that of certain substances, as in the
case of the last-mentioned species. This does not
pretend to be a complete list of fragrant Orchids ;
far from it ; but I have given a few of the best as
examples of flowers exhibiting as wide a range in
their perfume as in their forms and colours.
E.G.
SHORT NOTES.— ORCHIDS.
Oneidium flexuosum. — This fine old Brazilian
species is blooming freely now ; the sepals and petals
are sparsely spotted with brown ; the lip bright yellow.
The flower- spike is of considerable length, and lasts
fresh for some time. The plant is readily grown, being
best adapted for pot culture. — E. C.
Oneidium. Iianeeanum. — This is blooming
freely in several collections, and there are three or four
specimens of it at Wimbledon House. The large
flowers, borne on an erect spike about 1 foot or more
high, display a charming combination of colours; the
sepals and petals are dull yellowish green, thickly
spotted with brownish crimson ; the lip rosy crimson
in front, with the basal portion of a deeper and richer
shade. The leafage is beautifully spotted, and reminds
one of the foliage of 0. Papilio. — B. C.
Catasetum Bungerotlii. — This species is
blooming in the nursery of Messrs. Veitch at Chelsea.
The plant l.iears a strong raceme of about seven
flowers, which when opening are of a cream colour,
but become pure white with age; the sepals and
petals are narrow, and the two erect petals form a
hood to the flower, displaying the spoon-shaped
beautifully serrated lip, which is relieved in colour
by an orange spot at the mouth of the thickened
sac, and around this portion there is a faint trace
of mauve. The glistening whiteness of the column
adds to its beauty, and the fragrance is powerful,
like that of aniseed. It is certainly a splendid
addition to this curious and interesting genus. — E. C.
Propagating.
MONTBRETIAS. — It may now possibly be desired to
increase some of the new varieties of these, which
produce fewer suckers than the older kinds, and
where these newer varieties are planted out they
should be carefully lifted, and after being divided
potted into small pots and kept in a greenhouse
temperature. When lifting the bulbs, it will pro-
bably be found that some of them have pushed out
one or more long underground shoots, a good deal
like those of the Couch Grass, but somewhat stouter.
In most cases they will have a few attendant fibres,
when they can be potted at such a depth that the
point of the shoot is just below the surface of the
soil. Under favourable conditions these shoots will
continue to root during the winter, and in spring
grow away freely. The bulbs proper will show no in-
dications of starting till early in the spring, when the
chances are that, besides the stout growth from the
centre of the bulb, quite a crop of young plants
will be pushed up around the sides of the pot,
having their origin in these creeping underground
shoots. As they make their way to the outside of
the ball of earth, if turned out of the pots, it is often
possible to take ofE every one, with attendant roots,
and without disturbing the ball of earth in which
is situated the parent Ijulb. These rooted suckers,
after being taken off and potted, quickly push forth
more fibres, and are soon ready for a shift into
larger pots or for planting out. Many will fiower the
first season, and all will form good bulbs that may
be relied on to bloom the following year. Mont-
bretias also ripen seeds occasionally from which
young plants maybe easily raised, all that is needed
being, after cleaning the seeds from the outside
husks, to sow them in pots or pans of rather light
soil and keep them in the greenhouse. During the
following spring the young plants will make their
appearance, when they may be either potted or
planted out. The length of time these Montbretias
remain at their best when in bloom, combined with
the beauty of their blossoms, will certainly cause
them to become more popular than at present.
Cuttings of the different indoor plants, whether
stove or greenhouse, that have been in some time,
and as yet show no indications of rooting, may be
often made to strike very quickly by removing them
from the soil, and if a callus is formed, cutting off
one or two small pieces, then without delay insert-
ing the cuttings in fresh soil and treating them alto-
gether as if just separated from the plant. By this
means many difficult subjects may be often rooted,
which if allowed to remain undisturbed would pro-
bably stand for months, and perhaps die at last, as
in the close, humid atmosphere of the propagating
house the soil becomes sour after a time, and not at
all congenial to the young and delicate fibres. By
putting them in fresh soil when on the verge of
rooting, the cuttings may then be struck without
hindrance. Another incentive to root in the case
of cuttings that have stood some time is to plunge
the pot in a gentle bottom-heat, provided this has
not already been done, when if the soil is not sour
the period of rooting is greatly hastened. Though
most cuttings of indoor plants should have been
put in before this, yet, as it is not always possible
to carry out one's wishes just at the proper season,
there may remain some that have not been taken
yet. Where this is the case no time should be lost
in getting them in, as a week just now is of far
more benefit than a month would be later on, added
to which, an attenuated growth is the result of con-
finement in a close propagating case during the dull
autumn days. In all propagating operations
thorough cleanliness must be observed, and a sharp
eye should at all seasons be kept for insect pests.
Caloeolaeias that are required for bedding
purposes should be now put in without delay, and
with them, generally speaking, the propagation of
the summer bedding plants is at an end till the
return of spring. The Calceolaria cuttings may be
put in pots, or, if a considerable number are re-
quired, the better way is to take an ordinary garden
frame, and having put about 6 inches of soil in the
bottom and pressed it down pretty firmly, the cut-
tings may be dibbled therein. Unless signs of
decay set in on the foliage the lights should be
kept close till the cuttings are rooted, when plenty
of air must be given ; indeed, the principal items to
bear in mind during the winter are to give plenty
of air whenever possible, and at the same time
keep the plants protected from frost. A soil con-
sisting of two parts loam, with one each of well-
decayed leaf-mould and sand, sifted through a sieve
with an half-inch mesh, will suit the Calceolarias
perfectly, and if a good watering be given when
first put in very little more will be required through-
out the whole winter.
SoLANUMS of the Capsioastrum« section that are
so valuable as berry-bearing plants may be propa-
gated now from cuttings of the young growing
shoots, dibbled into pots and kept close in a gentle
heat till rooted, when they should be potted off
into small pots, draining them thoroughly and using
a soil consisting of two-thirds loam to one of well-
decayed leaf-mould. A good place for the young
plants during the winter is on a shelf in the green-
liouse, where the little growth that takes place will
be short and sturdy. In the sj^ring they may be
shifted into larger pots.and afterwards either planted
out or again potted. Plants raised in this way are
preferable to seedlings, as they fruit more freely in
a small state, and the cuttings may be taken from
only the very best varieties, while there is often a
considerable amount of variation among plants
raised from seeds. T.
The Castor-oil plant and flies. — Observa-
tions made by M. RafEord, a member of the French
Society of Horticulture, show that the Castor-oil
plant (Ricinus) having been placed in a room in-
fested with flies, they disappeared as by enchant-
ment. Wishing to find the cause, he soon found
under the Castor-oil plant a number of dead flies,
and a large number of bodies had remained
clinging to the under surface of the leaves. It
would therefore appear that the leaves of the Castor-
oil plant give out an essential oil, or some toxic
principle which possesses very strong insecticidal
qualities. Castor-oil plants are in France much used
as ornamental plants in rooms, as they resist very
well variations of atmosphere and temperature.
Considering the great annoyance flies and other
insects cause in the summer time, M. Rafford's ob-
servations certainly merit that a trial should be
made of the properties of the Castor-oil plant for
their destruction.
Rose Garden.
FRENCH COLLECTIONS OF ROSES.
It is frequently a source of wonder to amateurs,
and, indeed, to all Rose growers in this countrj',
that in France it should be possible (apparently
to any cultivators) to exhibit such an immense
number of varieties of Roses. In the current
issue of the Journal des Roses there are reports
of two horticultural shows, at one of which a
collection of over 1000 varieties of Roses was
exhibited ; while at the other, collections of COO
and of 200 varieties respectively were staged,
both by amateurs '. There is little doubt that
almost any English amateur would be very much
put to it to exhibit simultaneously as many as
100 varieties, and a class that was once formed
at a midland show for 100 varieties, three trusses
of each, was considered too great a tax, even for
the great Rose-growing nurserymen who com-
peted, ever to be repeated.
The first question which occurs to one is, Of
what kind of varieties must the bulk of these
great Rose collections consist > For, when it is
observed that one of the largest and most cele-
brated Rose nurseries in England, in which a
large collection of all kinds of summer Roses is
kept up, catalogues only 530 names all told ;
while another foremost grower, who more or
less ignores the summer Roses, totals only just
over 300 sorts ; and when, moreover, it is noto-
rious that it would be an unheard-of pheno-
menon for every variety in either nursery to be
in good and characteristic bloom at the same
time, it is apparent that a large proportion of
these extensively varied French collections must
be made up of Roses which generally are not
considered worth growing in England.
By " Roses not worth growing" are not neces-
sarily meant the old-fashioned summer Roses,
many of which are among the most attractive
plants in the garden, and which even exhibitors
have been encouraged to grow of late, by the
formation, at the National Rose Society's metro-
politan show, of classes for garden Roses and
Moss Roses, but rather Hybrid Perpetuals, &c.,
which are either inferior to or are too much like
established varieties. For, among the few names
of Roses quoted as meritorious in the two
French collections above referred to, there are
several which have been long since discarded in
England for lack of quality or for inferiority to
well-known sorts in the same line, and it would
certainly appear that our neighbours set the
utmost store by mere varietj', and could hardly
throw away any Rose that they had ever culti-
vated. No doubt, some Roses are finer in France
than with us, as, for instance, the Victor Verdier
family attain to a condition of perfect beauty in
the neighbourhood of Lyons which is rarely
achieved in England, but this is not likely to
apply to many varieties, considering the as-
tonishment that Continental growers always e.x-
Oct. 1, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
303
press at the development of the blooms they see
exhibited at the English shows.
The reluctance of the French growers to dis-
card varieties even when they fail to prove first
rate, and the consequent vast number of sorts
which is kept in cultivation, makes it reasonable
to suppose that it would be in their collections
that there would be the best chance of finding
some of the old-fashioned Roses which went
out of vogue and were lost sight of soon after
the introduction of the Hybrid Perpetual, but
which, nevertheless, many growers would be
glad to recover. In collections which contain
apparently twice as many varieties as some of
the largest in this country it might faii'ly be
expected that there would be some Roses of
value that are not generally known here, and a
few that were old enough to prove interesting,
and, if so, there might further be a chance of
finding them still named, for the lack of names
greatly enhances the difficulty of tracing the old
Roses. No doubt there exists in many gardens
in England numbers of examples of curious and
interesting old Roses, of which, however, the
names have been lost ; and consequently, unless
someone who is familiar with the old-time Roses
happens to be on the spot when they are in
flower, they may continue unidentified for years,
or until they are destroyed. If the formation
of classes for gigantic collections of Roses at
French horticultural shows has tended to the
preservation, correctly named, of some of these
older and desirable varieties, a good work will
have been done ; but it is to be feared that the
main tendency of encouraging the exhibition of
such myriad sorts will have been to induce the
cultivation of numerous Roses of little value,
and to afford an excuse to the French raisers for
sending out any seedling "novelties' which
they may raise.
ROSE CHENEDOLE IN THE SUN.
" T. W. G." hits off a happy thought in his re-
view of Rivers' "Rose Amateur's Guide" in The
Garden, Sept. 17 (p. 240), where he writes of
" the unique and so-to-speak penetrating crim-
son colour of Chenedole in the light of the set-
ting sun." The phrase may do something to
check the rage for dwarf Roses, which threatens to
swamp not only the tall standards, but the once
fashionable pyramids and tall bush Roses and
climbers out of gardens. Hardly half the beauty of
Roses can be seen when looked down upon. Raise
them above the eve and set them between the line
of vision and the sun, and then, and then only, can
you fully " read, mark, and inwardly digest " their
marvellous wealth of beauty. This is especially so
with such brilliantly coloured Roses as the CheniS-
dol(5. Place it between the eye and the sun, and
the charmingly cupped petals become semi-trans-
parent, throwing up and out a prodigality of the
richest, softest vermilion — not crimson, as your re-
viewer has it. We have a fine plant of the Chen(5-
dol^ covering an arch 10 feet high and of 9 feet
span, and nothing can well be more charming than
the appearance of this Rose looked at against either
the rising or the setting sun. Not a few visitors
have been more charmed by this sight than with
thousands of standard Roses in roseries, borders,
and beds in other parts of the grounds. Before
proceeding too strongly to recommend the Chen^-
doU as still one of the very best Ro.ses for the
clothing of arches, pillars, or walls, it may be well
to gaard against the mistake of supposing that it
really stands in need of distance to lend enchant-
ment to its merits. No ; it will bear close scrutiny and
the mioutest inspection. In a half-ojiened state
this Rose, with its fine foliage and spiny wood, is
one of the most useful for the furnishing of vases,
baskets, &c. Chenedole is perhaps the very best of
the constantly diminishing class of Hybrid China
Roses. This is high praise, considering that this
class is enriched by such popular favourites as I
Brennus, Blarri No. 2,Fulgens, General Jacqueminot,
Mdme. Birriot, and Vivid. Chenedole is a most
vigorous grower, a profuse bloomer, the flowers
large and beautifully cupped, of a delicate vermilion
colour. It is also emphatically a good doer, as, in
fact, the majority of this section are, and strong
enough to resist rust and mildew. In rich soils
and sheltered places it grows too fast and too far,
but give it its head up a pillar or over an arch,
and do not forget to look through it, so far as may
be, at the sun, and, fresh from this full sight of its
beauty, hasten to name another Rose to equal or,
to make a word-picture, of half the beauty you
have seen in the Chenedole. D. T. F.
Suzanne Uarie Bodocanachi. — The tho-
roughly autumnal character of this handsome addi-
tion to the Victor Verdier group of Hybrid Per-
petuals, contributed by Leveque in 1883-4, was
well indicated last month (September) by the
substantial and well-coloured blooms which have
been steadily produced in considerable numbers.
Although not of the rich, glowing rose colour that
renders them so immensely attractive in July, the
flowers are, nevertheless, pure and fresh in tint, and
are among the brightest of the red Roses now in
bloom ; and as soon as the variety is better known
it is sure to become popular and to be widely culti-
vated.—T. W. G.
Souvenir de Qabrielle Drevet. — Amongst
the many Tea-scented Roses that have flowered
fiaely this autumn, this beautiful variety of GuiUot's
has been exceptionally conspicuous. Every plant
carries flowers even on the smallest twigs, and
throughout last month its exquisite tints of mingled
rose and yellow were as pure and fresh as at
high summer. Its constitution also continues satis-
factory ; about a dozen plants, which were so small
and weak that they were hardly considered worth
saving, were ultimately planted late in spring, after
lying about all the winter ; but in spite of the sub-
sequent cold, drying east winds, followed by the
scorching, rainless summer, they have made very
respectable plants, and have all continued flowering
freely until now ; and there is no doubt the variety
may be safely included among the best and most
beautiful Tea-scented Roses. — T. W. G.
Chrysanthemums.
E. MOLTNBUX.
Amongst cultivators of Chrysanthemums an
anxious time is fast approaching when their la-
bours will be crowned with success if all has gone
well during the recent trying season. Plants,
no matter for what purpose they are required,
will require great care in watering at this stage
of growth, more particularly in showery weather,
for it often happens that showers do not wet
the soU sufficiently through, and consequently
the plants suffer for want of water at the roots.
The flower-buds are now swelling fast, and the
plants should, whenever water is required, be
assisted by liberal applications of the various
stimulants previously recommended. The nights
being now cold and accompanied withheavy dews,
syringing the foliage is not necessary, neither is
it wise to do so. Mildew on the foliage is more
troublesome now than at any time of the year.
It attacks the under side of the leaves, and
often makes much headway before its presence
is detected. Upon its first appearance strong
measures, such as syringing the plants with the
mixture named in a former issue, or dusting the
leaves with sulphur, ought to be at once applied.
Terminal buds, that is, those at the extreme
points of the shoots, will now be forming in
nearly all cases where the plants are grown to
produce large blooms. Disbudding of these
should take place directly the buds are large
enough to handle, retaining only the central
bud upon each shoot, and removing all others
clustering around this by means of a sharp.
narrow-pointed knife. Where the buds are
large enough they can be easily i-emoved with
the forefinger of the right hand, giving them a
sudden sharp bend while holding the stem
firmly in the left hand. The full force of sap
will be concentrated in the central bud by the
removal of the side buds, which, if allowed to
develop, would spoil the whole flower where
size is aimed at. See that the buds which are
now upon long, and in some instances slender,
peduncles are made secure from strong winds,
or they are liable to get damaged. Late-flower-
ing plants of Madame Desgrange and its golden
sport will now require housing, giving them a
light position as near to the glass as possible.
By having these two varieties in batches, a
longer succession of flowers can be maintained.
The two kinds named are by far the best for
early work, and if allowed to flower freely with-
out disbudding are always acceptable. A grand
addition to this class is the yellow sport pre-
viously noted. The flowers are of a soft prim-
rose-yellow, more full and deep than those of
its parent, while the habit of growth is exactly
the same. The flower-buds of Lady Selborne
wOl in some instances be showing colour, and if
the plants are placed under cover at once they
will succeed those named above, and will be over
before the bulk of the November kinds are in
perfection. The earliest struck plants intended
to be grown in small pots, bearing one flower on
each, will now be ready for removal from the
hotbed to a shelf close to the glass in a cool
house, keeping them rather close for a few days.
The strongest plants in single small pots will
do better if removed into pots one size larger,
using soil light and rich. Use every available
means to preserve the foliage in good condition,
as much depends upon the appearance of the
leaves.
Provision wUl shortly have to be made to
place under cover the whole stock of plants.
The cultivator must be guided in this by the
locality in which he resides, as frosts are much
earlier in some districts than in others. Gene-
rally they take place fairly regularly in the
same district each year. 'The flower-buds are
easily crippled by exposure to these early au-
tumn frosts, and it is therefore much better to
house the plants one week sooner than to run
the risks of frost. Where vineries and Peach
houses are the structures in which the jilants
are placed, the vines should have all their
lateral growths shortened back to admit air and
light as freely as possible, so that the plants do
not become drawn up weakly, as they invariably
do when no other convenience can be had for
them. W"here the Peaches have been gathered
some time and the trees are well ripened, a few
of the leaves may be taken off without injury to
the trees and with very great advantage to the
Chrysanthemums. Commence by housing the
late-flowering kinds, such as Boule d'Or or
Grandiflora, first, as they require so much more
time to develop their flowers. Prince Alfred
(incurved) and Madame Bertie Rendatler (Ja-
panese), when grown on what is termed the
" crown-bud principle," often begin to develoi?
the colour of their flowers much too soon before
housing. Many cultivators allow such as those
named to remain out of doors after the colour
of the flowers can be seen, in the hopes of re-
tarding them ; such practice is wrong, because
the moment such flowers become thoroughly
saturated with both rain and dews, the petals
are sure to rot later on, when the flowers should
be developing. In cases of early development
it is much better to house the plants, allowing
the flowers to expand properly. Plants grown
for late blooms will soon need protection. This
is best done by the erection of canvas or an
304
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 1, 1887.
awning, so that a clear draught can blow
amongst the plants. Under such jjrotection the
plants may remain out of doors quite three weeks
longer. The buds having been formed late,
they stand more cold and damp without injury
than when the flowers begin to unfold before
their remov.-,! inside. Where the soil in the
pots has become washed off the roots by the ap-
plication of water during the summer, a light
top-dressing of soil and bone-meal (about two
parts of fibry loam to one of the bone-meal) may
be applied. Put about half an inch of this top-
dressing on the surface of the pot, first stirring
the old soil to remove Moss or any crust formed.
To prevent the new soil again becoming washed
off lay on the soil a small piece of slate or broken
pot, on which the water can be poured, and thus
prevent the rapid waste which otherwise would
follow. Flower-buds will soon be forming on
those plants growing at the foot of, and trained
up, walls, and if a few larger blooms are re-
quired, disbudding must take place as soon as
the buds can be seen. Keep such plants care-
fully fastened to the walls to prevent injury
by wind.
Early Chrysanthemums. — These are few in
number, but now that an interest in this class has
arisen, we shall doubtless soon have a greater range
to select from, especially if the National Chrysan-
themum Society still continues to afford encourage-
ment, as it has done, by holding exhibitionsespeoially
devoted to these varieties. Madame Desgrange and its
golden sport continue far the best, and they are
this year flowering with their wonted freedom.
Amateurs may well take note of these two kinds,
and plant them liberally, as they are dwarf and bushy
in habit, and very free blooming. We sawthem used
tastefully in the flower garden at Templeton, Roe-
hampton, the residence of Mr. Holland, and there is
a collection of the best of the early varieties, Mr.
Kendal, the head gardener, giving special attention
to this section. Amongst the sorts the most
noticeable were Madame Picoll, rosy crimson, small
aad neat ; Frederick Pele, deep red ; Chromatella,
yellow tipped with bronze ; and Preoocite Japonaise,
the flower of medium size, and pinky white, deepen-
ing to crimson in the centre. There is plenty of
s3ope for the hybridist, and those who have no glass
cin take them in hand, as they do not require shel-
ter at all, the flowers opening and developing well
ia ordinary seasons. — E. C.
VILLAGE GARDENS.
To THE Editor of The Gaeden.
Sir, — Whj should not our large villages have their
garden? A garden owned by villagers; cultivated
by them ; worked on co-operative principles. A
garden full of lovely flowers and plants, with a
broad walk of Grass— seats, tables, cosy nooks, an
arbour or two, a greenhouse, a fountain. Com-
bined with it might be a recreation ground for
young men. In this village, where there are
rows of houses without a bit of ground attached,
there are hundreds of mothers who have no place
to sit but a hot front room or a close kitchen on a
summer's eve. As for the young men, unless they
play cricket, what amusement have they in sum-
mer, except idling and the pubhc-house? The
garden might be managed on co-operative prin-
ciples, each member of the society giving labour,
and perhaps taking shares, and the surplus produce
sold on commission at the nearest market. Such a
garden should be strictly self-supporting— not a
matter of charity. Next year, when I have started
mine, if I am spared, I shall ask gardening friends
to send me spare plants and seeds, but no money,
It would not be a public garden, but free to all
members of the Village Garden Society on payment
of Is. per annum or more. If anyone has tried such
a scheme, I should be very glad to have the benefit
of their advice and criticism. C. O. Miles,
Sunny Hill, Shirehanqrtmi.
Trees and Shrubs.
W. GOLDRING.
THE HONEY LOCUST.
(gleditschia triacanthos.)
This tree, sometimes called the Sweet Locust
as well as Honey Locust, is common in the
fertile soils of the Southern States of North
America, particularly about Kentucky and Ten-
nessee. It is one of the oldest of English orna-
mental trees, but scarcely among the best known.
We owe our first knowledge of it to the tree-
planting prelate. Bishop Compton, who first grew
it in this country, and probably was the means
of introducing it, as he did so many others. The
first account of it as a cultivated tree dates as
far back as 1700, for at that time Bishop Comp- j
ton had it growing in his celebrated tree garden
at Pulham Palace. But it has never become a
very common tree ; in other words, one does
not meet it everywhere, as is the case with the
Robinia Pseudacacia (the common Locust or
False Acacia), which maybe called a companion
tree to the Honey Locust. The fact is, it is
not a tree for this country — not a tree that one
can plant in any locality and in any soil. This
is why you never see a Gleditschia in really
vigorous growth, except in a sheltered or mild
locality, and never in any but a fertile soil.
and I consider it in every way more ornamental.
It has one fault even when enjoying everything
it requires, and that is its lateness of coming
into leaf. The month of May is usually quite
past before the Gleditschia is fully in leaf in
the midlands, and further north it ia much
later. Then, again, it does not, like other late-
leafing trees, the Plane, for instance, keep its
leaves tiU late autumn to compensate for late
budding, but begins to turn yellow and drop
before autumn is over. These may not be con-
sidered faults by some who look upon late
leafing trees with more interest than those that
unfold their leaves in the ordinary time.
The specific name, triacanthos, is given to
the tree on account of the formidable spikes
with which the branches and trunks are beset.
These are often as much as 3 inches in length,
and are sometimes as simple spikes, but usually
are branched. On this account, the tree was
years ago recommended as a hedge plant, but it
was soon found unsuitable for the purpose, as
the constant cUpping and pruning it required to
keep it in hedge-like form so weakened the
growth, that the hedge became thin at the
bottom, and, moreover, the spines dropped off,
so that the hedge was no longer impenetrable.
But if trees of it are planted tolerably close
they make an effectual barrier, as the dagger-
The Honey Locust (Gleditschia triacanthos) . Flowering branch, fruiting branch, and branch showing spines.
Travellers in the United States tell us that the
Honey Locust invariably grows in rich soils at
the foot of hills or rising grounds, or, in any
case, not exposed to winds. It delights most in
the well-watered valleys near streams or rivers,
and here it may be often seen of a great size,
with massive trunks and spreading heads, rising
70 feet to 80 feet in height. Such being the
behaviour of the tree in its native wilds, it is
folly to attempt to grow it in this country with-
out duly taking these necessary conditions into
consideration. Under the most favourable cir-
cumstances— that is, a rich soil and a shel-
tered spot in our southernmost counties — the
Honey Locust attains to almost as large a
size as it does at home, and one may see
at this moment some magnificent examples
of it in the Duke of Northumberland's famous
arboretum at Syon House, near London.
There are fine specimens in various other old
gardens, but the best are always to be found in
good soil. In light, poor soils and in exposed
places the tree is a failure, always looks sickly,
never makes vigorous growth, and has a thin,
straggling head. A finely developed Honey
Locust is a beautiful tree, extremely elegant on
account of its pinnate foliage, which is pale
green and shining. It may be best compared with
the False Acacia, but is never so dense in growth.
like spuies, as sharp as a needle and tough as
well, will not be faced by man or beast. There
is a variety of this Gleditschia which is almost
spineless, and is called inermis, and is as often
seen in this country as the original. There are
several other varieties more or less distinct, but
there are many more names of Gleditschia in
gardens than there are distinct varieties to cor-
respond. For instance, we find such varietal
names as purpurea, ferox, latifolia, hybrida,
macrantha, latisiliqua, and others, which only
represent slight variations from the original
type ; and the same names may be seen stand-
ing for varieties of G. sinensis, a totally distinct
species. There are several species o: Gleditschia
in cultivation, but the best known are G. tria-
canthos, the subject of the present remarks ;
G. monosperma, another American species, pos-
sessing the distinctive character of having but
one seed in its pod, whereas in other species the
seeds are numerous ; and G. sinensis, the
Chinese Honey Locust, an old introduction and
a valuable ornamental tree, to which I shall
refer on some future occasion.
The best time to plant Evergreens.- When
conversing a few days since with a nurseryman of
some experience, who has done a great deal of
planting in his time, he remarked that the best time
Oct. 1, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
305
of the year to plant coniferous plants and Evergreens
is in the month of October. He holds the opinion
that if the work can be done then during a showery
time, the plants rarely fail ; but when planted out
in spring and a dry summer follows, as in the case
of that now closing, there are many losses. I saw,
not long since, a large piece of Hollies that had
been transplanted in the spring, with the result
that numbers had perished from the drought. In
the case of soils such as those resting upon the
gravel autumn planting is certainly most desirable.
— K. D.
Amygdalus communis pyramidata. — This
is a very ornamental variety of the common Almond
tree. In habit it somewhat resembles Eobinia
pyramidata, but is more graceful, being more coni-
cal and less tapering. The branches are nume-
rous, nearly erect, and stand close together. The
leaves are very much pointed and of a handsome
green colour. The fruit is soft-shelled, large, sweet,
and well flavoured, and is produced even when the
tree is small and young. The habit of the tree
renders it a suitable subject for planting along the
sides of avenues in the same way that the Robinia
is often used. — W.
Ceanothus. — In any selection of shrubs that
bloom at this season of the year some of the Ceano-
thus should be included. First amongst them I
should place Gloire de Versailles, whose clusters of
beautiful blue flowers are borne in such profusion,
and with us it has proved to be the hardiest
of all the different kinds of Ceanothus during the
trying winters of the last eight years. The princi-
pal colours are different shades of blue, some having
quite a greyish tinge. There are some varieties with
pink blossoms, and a most pleasing change they
make from the blue-tinted kinds. One of the best,
if not the very best, of this tint is Marie Simon,
which is equally as free-flowering as any of them.
It is matter for surprise that this variety is not
grown more frequently, as it is by no means a
novelty. I find it in Van Houtte's catalogue for
187i. The different kinds of Ceanothus are fre-
quently treated as wall shrubs, and very well suited
they are for that purpose, as they flower abundantly
and suffer but little, if any, injury during the winter
in our southern and western counties. There is no
reason why they should not be grown as open
bushes in the south of England, for, if cut back
rather severely by the winter's frost, they quickly
recover and are seldom killed outright. I have also
seen them grown very successfully in pots and used
for the embellishment of the conservatory during
the spring months. They were kept in pots, and
when no longer required indoors were slightly
pruned and plunged in the open ground till on the
approach of winter they were removed to a struc-
ture in which a number of hardy shrubs were being
prepared for forcing. As plants raised from cut-
tings flower more freely in a small state, those
intended for growing in pots should be raised in
this way. — T.
Ampelopsis Veitchi as a basket plant.—
This lovely plant, popularly known as Veitch's Vir-
ginian Creeper, of Japanese origin, and whose
leaves colour so beautifully in autumn, is now sufii-
ciently known to need no further description. Its
value has been so thoroughly appreciated, that
there is hardly a house in the suburbs of London
ao'alnst which it is not planted so soon as the build-
ing is finished. No doubt its principal recommen-
dation has until now been its naturally clinging
character, which dispenses with labour in training,
for, as is well known, when once planted in fairly
good soil it requires no further attention, as it will
of itself cling to wood, brick, stone, or indeed any
other material, provided that it is not surfaced with
lime. An entirely novel usage, however, is probably
in store for it as a hanging plant for a basket. At
first sight this may appear a strange suggestion,
but it is none the less practicable, for we noticed
lately in Messrs. Veitch's nursery an example of
how Ampelopsis Veitchi will grow when placed in
a position where there is nothing for it to cling to.
In that case it formed a most striking object. This
season during the month of June a shoot had when
very young passed through a square of glass of the
house situated just below the waU where the origi-
nal plants brought home by the late Mr. John Gould
Veitch are planted, and at the point where it enters
the house it branched out and grew downwards in
the empty space, having nothing whatever to cling
to, until the branches reached the length of 8 feet,
which they now measure. The branches form most
elegant festoons, and, judging from this accidental
specimen, one feels greatly inclined to give Ampe-
lopsis Veitchi a trial as a creeper to be planted in
baskets with flowers for summer decoration, and
thus it would perhaps occupy a place which it is
sometimes difficult to fill satisfactorily with the
creepers and climbers now generally in use. — S. G.
The Poison Ivy, as Rhus Toxicodendron is
popularly called, asserts itself at this season beyond
all its congeners, on account of the rich garb its
decaying leafage puts on. In the plantation of the
different kinds of Sumachs at Kew it is the only
one that has changed leaf colour, and is conse-
quently very conspicuous. Its leaves are of various
tints of red and crimson, mingled with yellow and
orange, and these in contrast to the surrounding
greenery are extremely striking. Even the foliage of
its near neighbour, R. radicans, is as green as in sum-
mer,and shows no signs of leaf-colouring. R. Toxico-
dendron is a climbing species that grows and
flourishes almost anywhere, but is never so luxuriant
as when growing among other shrubs in semi-shade.
It then climbs and rambles in a most luxuriant
way. It is a capital subject for planting in bold
rockwork or on large roots, but being deciduous
should be mixed with Ivy, especially when used as
a screen. — W. G.
Societies and Exhibitions.
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL.
Septembee 27.
The meeting on Tuesday last was small, but there
were several things of interest, comprising Dahlias,
Gladioli, and other- flowers in season. The falling
off was most marked. in the_ fruit section, as, beyond
a collection of Tomatoes and cool-house Grapes
from Chiswick, there were only a few "dishes. It is
plainly evident that the popularity which was once
manifested in these meetings is rapidly on the de-
cline, and likely to cease altogether unless some
definite measures are adopted.
First-class certificates were awarded as under : —
Dahlia Frank Peaecb. — This is a large, full
flower of even outline, and a fine addition to the
fancy varieties. The ground colour is rosy lUac,
over which are irregular flakes and stripes of velvety
crimson. The mixture of colours is curious and
effective. From Messrs. Rawlings Bros., Romford.
Dahlia Henet Pateick. — This is classed with
the decorative varieties, and is as pure in colour as
the snowy white Constance. The flower is of average
size, the form somewhat flat, and the petals shell
shape. It appears to be very free-blooming, and if
so will be a welcome addition to this now important
section of Dahlias. From Mr. T. S. Ware, Totten-
ham.
Dahlia PLtrTAECH.— A fancy variety of singular
colouring, the flower comparatively small, but of
neat and finished form. The ground colour is
yellow-buff, which is relieved by deep crimson flakes.
It wiU be valued for its distinctness. From Mr.
C. Turner, Slough.
Dahlia Cantekbuet Tales.— A fine single
variety of massive character, the flower of flnished
outline, with the petals broad and well-shaped.
The colour is crimson, shaded with violet, the effect
of the two combinations being rather novel. Ex-
hibited by Messrs. Paul and Son, Cheshunt.
Dahlia Mes. Haeey WniTEiELD.^There is not
much to choose between this single variety and the
old lutea grandiflora, the colour being identical,
and the only perceptible difference is in the size, the
new variety having a slight advantage. From Messrs.
Paul and Son.
Dahlias constituted the principal feature, and
the flowers of all sections were well exhibited.
Messrs. J. Cheal and Sons, Crawley, had a represen-
tative collection, the single varieties best shown
being Mrs. Bowman, rich pink and fine form; Amos
Perry, deep velvety crimson ; White Queen, one of
the best of the whites ; Formosa, scarlet ; Negress,
deep maroon ; and Paragon, which still remains the
finest in its line of colour. Amongst the Pompons,
Lady Blanche, pure white; Duchess, maroon; and
Gem, dazzling scarlet, were the most noticeable.
The same firm also had a box of seedlings, some of
which seem to be the forerunner of a new type. A
bronze Banksian medal was awarded. Messrs. Raw-
lings Bros.,Romford,also had a collection of Dahlias,
and a similar award was made, the blooms well
developed, fresh, and finely coloured. Mr. C. Turner,
Slough, exhibited several show varieties — James
Kirtland, yellow-buff ; Diadem, rich velvety crim-
son ; and Plutarch, described above, deserving notice.
A collection of show kinds was staged by Mr. J. T.
West, gardener to Mr. W. Keith, The Cornwalls,
Brentwood, the varieties most worthy of mention
being Mrs. G. Rawlings, rich pink, good outline ;
Wm. Rawlings, deep maroon-purple ; Mrs. Langtry,
yellow-tipped crimson ; R. T. Rawlings, a very bright
yellow, fine flower ; Mrs. Gladstone, delicate pink,
white centre, one of the best of all the show varieties ;
Bamaby Rudge, a thickly flaked fancy variety ; and
Mrs. S. Hibberd, pink, tipped with crimson. The
blooms in this stand were of excellent form, and
showed careful attention and high skill in the cul-
ture. Messrs. Paul and Son, Cheshunt, were awarded
a silver-gilt medal for a large collection, comprising
such fine varieties as the old scarlet Cactus Dahlia,
Germania nova, rich pink, closely quilled ; Cochineal,
crimson ; and Mrs. Hawkins, bright sulphur. All
these belong to the Cactus or decorative class, which
is becoming mixed, some of the newer additions
approaching the show type, and differing widely
from the well-known Juarezi. Of show varieties
there were good flowers of Lady Golightly, pure
white, delicately tinted with violet ; Joseph Green,
scarlet ; Peacock, crimson, tipped with white ; and
Pelican, white, flaked with rose-purple. There were
also fine flowers of single and bouquet varieties ;
in the latter class, the best were White Aster, pure
white ; Glow-worm, light buff, tipped with scarlet ;
Lady Blanche, white ; and Louis Rodani, light lilac.
Messrs. H. Cannell and Sons, Swanley, showed a
collection of Cactus Dahlias, of which Black Knight,
very deep maroon-purple ; Magenta, bright ma-
genta ; Brilliant, deep crimson ; Lady Hume Camp-
bell, bright purple ; and Lady Brassey, scarlet, were
conspicuous. Mr. G. S. P. Harris, Orpington, Kent,
showed Morning Star, white, shaded with yellow ;
and Yellow Queen, rich yellow. Mr. T. S. Ware,
Tottenham, exhibited Dahlias and hardy flowers.
There were bunches of the bladder-like fruits of
Physalis Alkekengi, blooms of the richly coloured
Lilium speciosum rubrum, and also of Montbretia
crocosmisefiora. Amongst the Dahlias, Henry Pat-
rick, previously mentioned, and William Pearce, a
decorative variety, were of good colour. Of the
single kinds, Amos Perry, like Paragon, but larger,
was fine. Messrs. J. Peed and Sons, Roupell Park
Nurseries, showed Royal Jubilee, a Cactus Dahlia of
a deep crimson colour.
Mr. R. Dean, Ealing, sent flowers of Gaillardia
picta and a plant of Dianthus Heddewigi Snow-
ball, with large white flowers. A basket of Viola
Snowflake was shown by Mr. J. Chambers, Westlake
Nurseries, Isleworth ; the flowers white, with a yel-
low eye ; it seems a useful sort. Mr. M. Smith,
Kilmarnock, exhibited very fine spikes of Gladioli,
the flowers large and well coloured ; Le Vesuve,
scarlet ; and Etendard, white, the lower segments
striped with rich violet-crimson, were among the
best.
Oechids were not plentiful, but of great interest.
From Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., Burford Lodge,
Dorking, came a fine variety of Cattleya Gaskel-
liana named superba; this is one of the most
variable of Orchids, and in this form the sepals and
petals are rose-lilac and spreading, the lip being of
the same hue at the margin, but in the centre is
rich purple, which changes to a golden colour at
the entrance to the tube. There was a good speci-
men of Coeliopsis hyacinthosma, which has narrow
306
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 1,-1887->
ribbed leaves, the flower-stem produced in the same
way as in the Staahopea, and bearing at the end a
dense cluster of white flowers, the throat of the lip
yellow, and the fragrance identical with that of
the Hyacinth. Epidendrum santhinum was also
well shown ; this bears numerous bright orange
flowers, small in size, but showy ; the lobed lip is
distinctly frilled. The finest specimen from the
Barford collection was that of Odontoglossum
Reichenheimeri, a variety of 0. Ireve, and very
closely resembling the type. The plant carried a
strong panicle of upwards of fifty-six flowers ; the
sepals and petals are thickly barred with rich
chocolate on a yuUowish green ground ; the lobed
lip is deflexed at the base, where it is of the same
peculiar colour as we find in Miltonia Morel
iana, but shades to a lighter hue towards the
front ; it is, however, very variable as regards the
lip colouring; the leaves are narrow, glossy, and
handsome. Mr. F. G. Tautz, Studley House, Shep-
herd's Bush, showed Catasetum costatum, the
flower-spike bearing thick, fleshy, greenish flowers,
neither ornamental nor pretty; its curious form and
appearance are its only merits; and Cypripedium
marmorophyllum, a hybrid between C. Hookerfe
and C. barbatum, possessing the mottled leafage
characteristic of the first-mentioned Lady's Slipper,
while in the flower we can detect similarities to
both parents ; the dorsal sepal has green nerves, and
there is a suffusion of the same colour on the lower
half, the upper portion being of a rosy colour; the
petals are rose-purple, with spots or warts here and
there of rich brown, a portion of the edge being
lined with hairs; the lip is brownish and conspicu-
ously veined. The same exhibitor also had a plant
of the beautiful Miltonia Rognelli purpurea, which
is like the type in habit, but the spike is longer and
there is more colour in the flowers; the sepals and
petals are rose, and the wide lip is of a deep velvety
purple-crimson, with the centre ridge at the base
yellow; the fragrance is sweet and strong. Mr.
A. S. Smith, Silvermere, Cobham, showed a well-
flowered plant of Dendrobinmforniosumgiganteum,
one of the finest Moulmein Orchids. It is a splendid
variety, the flowers measuring i inches or 5 inches
across, and with sepals and petals of the purest
white, the only colour being a large yellow stain on
the centre of tlie lip.
Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, Chelsea, exhibited
Begonia John Heal, a most useful variety, the re-
sult of a cross between B. socotrana and a seedling.
The parentage of the first-named is plainly marked,
the flowers small, rose colour, and borne freely on
slender stems ; they remain fresh on the plant for a
period of twenty-one days, and even when cut will
last quite a fortnight ; the leaves are neat, light
green, and ornamental. Mr. F. Perkins, The Nur-
series, Leamington, had several plants of Solanum
capsicastrum elcgans, which resembles the variety
Little Gem, and has small scarlet berries of an ob-
long shape. It appears a desirable variety for its
ornamental appearance. Mr. S. Allen, The Nur-
series, Northenden Road, Sale, Cheshire, exhibited a
fine specimen of Nephrolepis DutS, which is tho-
roughly distinct, but has not the elegance of N. ex-
altata ; the fronds are stiff and erect. Adiantum
cuneatuin Hartleyanum, a form which does not differ
much from the type, the fronds perhaps denser and
richer in colour, was contributed by Mr, A. Duncan,
Summerhow, Kendal.
The fruit committee had, as has often been
the case of late, light work, the main contribution
to this section being the collection of Tomatoes
grown for trial in the Royal Horticultural Society's
garden at Chiswick. There were many sorts, a large
number very much resembling each other, and Mr.
Barron has classilled them so as to sift out those that
are merely synonyms. A few of the best we noted
were Golden Queen,a smooth, large,andfinolyshaped
fruit of a clear yellow colour; 'J'rophy and Conqueror,
both red varieties ; Horstord's Prelude, a .small, coni-
cal-shaped red fruit, produced freely in clu-ters ;
Hathaway's Excelsior, one of the very best; Perfec-
tion, a smooth, handsome scarlet fruit of fine colour;
and The Mikado, light red, but rather coarse. From
Chiswick there also came a coUiiction of Grapes
grown in a cold house. There were good samples
of the sweet, but small-berried Royal Muscadine,
Foster's Seedling, Black Hamburgh, Ferdinand de
Lesseps, white ; Esperione, black ; and Diamante
traube, a pleasantly flavoured white variety with
large, oval, well-shaped berries. A dish of Nectarine
Pitmaston Orange, the fruits well coloured, came
from Mr. C. Bowers, Castle Hill Gardens, Cerne ;
and Messrs. Cheat and Sons sent the cut-leaved
American Blackberry, the fruits large, black, and
like the common Blackberry in flavour; the foliage
is deeply cut. Messrs. G. Bunyard, Maidstone, con-
tributed Apple Graham's Royal Jubilee, a large va-
riety of handsome shape ; the skin yellow, flushed
with rose.
CHISWICK TRIALS OF TOMATOES.
The result of the Chiswick trials of Tomatoes has
tended to reduce the chaos of names to something
like order. The plants were grown out of doors on
a south border under a wall, and as all received the
same treatment the experiment is a conclusive one.
The name printed in italics is the original under
which each variety was first introduced, and the
fruit committee of the Royal Horticultural Society
have adopted it as the standard by which the variety
shall henceforth be known, all the others being
synonyms.
Those marked * received a first-class certificate.
1. Open, Air (Lixtou); Faultless Early (Farquhar) .
2. Early Dwarf (Vilmorin) ; Orangefield (Veitch) ;
Orangefield Improved (Rutley &■ Silverlock) ; Little
Gem (Veitch) ; Conqueror (Veitch) ; Early Red
(Vilmorin).
3. Large Red (Veitch) ; No. 1 (J. Banstead) ;
Sensation (Webb) ; Canada Victor (Farquhar) ; Gla-
morgan (Hurst) ; Cooper's Dwarf Prolific (Cooper) ;
Wheeler's Prolific (Wheeler) ; Nishet's Victoria
(Sliarpe).
*4. Horiiford's Prelude (Horsford & Pringle).
6. Paragon (Farquhar) ; Eclipse (Sharpe).
6. Chiswiclc Red (H.R,S.); King Humbert (Rutley
ii Silyerlock) ; King Humbert (Veitch).
7. No. 1 (Watkins & Simpson).
8. Peaer-shaped (Farquhar) ; Nishet's Victoria
(Veitch).
9. Oherry-sliaped (Farquhar).
10. Hathaway's E.ecelsior (Farquhar); Emery (Far-
quhar) ; Hathaway's Excelsior (Veitch) ; Key's Pro-
lific (Veitch) ; Large Smooth Red (Farquhar).
*11. Perfection (Farquhar); Livingstone's Perfec-
tion (Rutley and Silverlock) ; Livingstone's Favourite
(Farquhar) ; Livingstone's Favourite (Dean) ; Perfec-
tion (Veitch) ; Reading Perfection ; President Cleve-
land (Farquhar) ; Cardinal (Farquhar) ; Stamfordian
(Veitch) ; Mayflower (Veitch) ; Optimus (Benary) ;
Red Tomato from Sandwich Islands (Carter) ; Webb's
Jubilee (Webb); Jubilee (Nutting).
12. Hachwood Parle Prolific (Veitch) ; Invicta
(Veitch) ; General Grant (Farquhar) ; No. 3 (Watkins
and Simpson) ; Trentham Early (Veitch).
13. Trop/iT/ (Farquhar) ; Trophy (Veitch).
14. JJepper's Goliath (Veitch).
1.5. Acme (Veitch); Acme (Farquhar); Acme!
Brookwood A 1 (R. Lloyd) ; Early Essex (Farquhar) ;
The Pomegranate (Sharpe); No. 2 (J. Banstead);
Livingstone's Beauty (Farquhar).
16. Viclc's Criterion (Veitch).
17. The Mikado (Watkins and Simpson) ; The
Mikado (Farquhar) ; Universal (Veitch).
18. Pluin-stiuped (Farquhar).
19. Yellow Cherry (Farquhar).
20. Green Gage (Farquhar) ; Green Gage (Veiteli).
*21. Golden Queen (Williams); Yellow Tomato (J,
Smith).
22, Blenheim Orange (Carter).
23. Prince of Orange (Hurst),
21. Large Yellow (Farquhar); L;irgo Yellow
(Veitch).
25. While Apple (Farquhar).
20. Currant or Grape (Farquhar).
At a meeting of the fruit and vegetable committee
held at Chiswick, September 21, the collection of
Potatoes growing in the gardens was examined, and
the following varieties, selected as possessing good
appearance and cropping qualities, were tested by
cooking, and first-class certificates awarded, viz. : —
Lord Te./int/so}i (Fletcher), — Round flattenedj
purple-flaked, rough skin, white flesh, good quality.
Bay's Sitnrisi', (Day). — Early white round, clear
rough skin, white flesh, good cropper.
Ma incroj) Kidney (Johnson), — White kidney, clear
rough skin, white flesh, good cropper.
Early ]nii-/e lleauty (Webber). — White round,
clear rough skin, white flesh, good cropper.
The committee inspected the collection of Toma-
toes grown in the open ground, the following
varieties being selected as "types," and awarded
three marks each, viz. : —
Perfeetion. — Fruits large, smooth, round, red.
Horsford's Prelude. — Fruits medium, oblate,
smooth, deep red, very freely produced.
OjJen Air (Laxton). — Fruits medium, flattened,
and somewhat corrugated, early and free bearing. ■
King Ilumhert or Chisn-ieli lied. — Fruits oblong,
angular, red, great cropper.
Golden Queen. — Fruits large, smooth, orange-
yellow.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
Lapagerias.— The red and white varieties of the
Lapageria are in perfection now in the corridor form-
ing the entrance to Messrs. Veitch's Chelsea nursery.
There are hundreds of flowers, and such a display is
not often seeu. We have few finer conservatory,
greenhouse, or corridor climbers than the Lapageria.
Rose La Fran ee. — Last week wheu looking round
Gunton Park I could not but help admiring this Rose
as it was flowering profusely, the growth being strong.
If the buds are cut wheu half opened, they will not
only expand, but last longer than if cut when more
fully developed. This is the first time I have noticed
this grand variety in flower in the autumn. — Stephen
Castle, West Lynn.
Almond-fruiting at Torquay.— By this post
I send you specimens of Almond grown in the
public gardens here without shelter or protection of any
kind since the tree was planted three years ago.
So far as I know, this is a very unusual thing, and
especially so wheu it is cousidered that the tree had no
attention, &c., for fruiting, but was planted solely for
ornament. — Joseph Hall.
Cape Bladder Senna (Sutherlaudia frutescens).
— This rather uncommon plant is flowering with great
freedom at Pendell Court, Bletchingley. It is a showy,
half-hardy shrub, with pinnate foliage, and is allied to
the Colutea, but botauioally separated from that
genus. It has inflated, bladder-like seed-pods as in
the Colutea, and the flowers are rich scarlet, the colour
showing up well at this comparatively dull season. It
is a native of the Cape of Good Hope.
The Fringed Gentian. — I have sent you flowers
of the rare Fringed Gentian (Gentiaua ciliata), the
flowers of which are as beautiful as any of the species
of this genus. In general appcarauco the plant
resembles Gentiaua pueumouanthe, hut is much
stronger and taller in habit. The loaves are long and
narrow like those of a Pentsteraon or a Phlox. The
flowers are deeply and finely fringed. I also enclose
flowers of the Goat-root (Ononis uatrix), good for rock-
work during the late autumn months. — W. H. Stans-
FIELD.
Crinum americanum.— This is such an ex-
ceedingly chaste and beautiful bulbous plant, that
one could wish that it were not so rare, or, rather,
so seldom seen in private gardens. It is one of
those graceful-growing kinds having long recurving
foliage, and tall spikes, stout and erect, supporting a
cluster of flowers with reflexed petals of the purest
white, and stamens of purple ; while their perfume
is delicious. What a pleasing efl'ect a spike of this
Crinum would make on a dinner-table or in a
drawing-room if accompanied by a frond or two of
Maiden-hair Fern. But gardeners have not yet
found out the beauty of this and other Crinums,
such as Mooreanum, ornatum and others. If nur-
serymen were to make a fuss about them and ex-
hibit them, they would become as popular as Orchids,
with the advantage of being more easily grown.
The one under notice is a native of the Southern
United States ; therefore, only w£ints a grefe'nKbtise
Oct. 1, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
307
temperature, though it is grown sometimes in a
stove, as at Kew, where plants of it may be seen in
bloom in the Palm house. It is a very old plant,
introduced 135 years ago.— W.
Oncidium crispum. — We have received flowers
of this fine Brazilian Orchid, which is one of the
best of the genus. The flowers are borne in a
panicle, and measure about 2 inches across; the
sepals and petals rich brown, wavy at the margin,
with the cordate lip of the same colour and with
the same crisped edge, the base being relieved with
a yellow blotch. The blooms last well, and though
deficient in bright colouring, look well both on the
plant and when cut.
Begonia Princess Beatrice. — We have many
Begonias, but few are adapted for edging beds.
This is, however, one of the best of those few, and
we were particularly struck with its thorough use-
fulness at Chiswick, where it forms the finish to a
round bed. It is similar in habit to ascotensis, but
neater and more spreading. The small pinky white
flowers are produced in profusion, and at this
season, now that things of this character are far
past their best, have a surprising freshness and
beauty.
A pretty Chinese plant is Coryopteris masf
acanthus, which may be seen in bloom now in front
of the museum (Xo. 1) at Kew. It is a half-shrubby
kind of plant, with small, hoary foliage, and with
dense clusters of flowers borne at the tips of the
shoots. They are violet-purple, and last a good
while in perfection. It grows about i feet high,
and makes a dense bush, which is covered with
bloom. It is not a perfectly hardy plant, but with
protection may be grown successfully out of doors
in the southern counties. Though not a new plant,
its re-introduction of recent years has made it better
known. It comes from China.
Rose Hies Ethel Brownlow. — This new Tea-
scented Rose, sent out this year by Messrs. Alexander
Dickson, of Newtownards, is now (Sept. 27) flower-
ing freely, and appears a most charming variety.
The flower is very distinct, being of a telling clear
salmon colour, inclining to yellow towards the base,
and it has the great merit of displaying itself to
advantage, being held erect on a sturdy, upright
stem. The variety is obviously a very free autumnal
bloomer, and, considering also the fine form and
finish of the flowers, there is little doubt that it will
soon be ranked among the best of the Tea-scented
Roses.— T. W. G.
Blue-flowered Lead-wort (Plumbago Lar-
pentffi). — This is one of the finest of autumn
flowers, and most ornamental when the plant has
grown to a large specimen, as then the lovely deep
blue flowers, similar to those of its greenhouse rela-
tive, P. capensis, make a glow of colour on the
rockery. They nestle amongst the dark-coloured
leaves, which are abundantly produced, and give
the plant a dense tufted character. There is a bold
mass on the rookery at Chiswick clothing a jutting
ledge, where this Plumbago is thoroughly at home,
revelling in the sunshine, to which it is fully ex-
posed. It loves a moderately rich soil, but will
succeed in an ordinary staple, as testified by a
thriving clump in the border. We sometimes hear
complaints of its tenderness, but at Chiswick it has
stood unharmed through the severest winters.
Bomarea Carderi. — This noble climber, a
climbing Alstroemeria it might be called, is a great
attraction to visitors to the Cactus house at Kew
just now, for at one end of the house the roof
is quite festooned with its twining stems, which
here and there send down large umbel - like
clusters of flowers. Each flower is some 2 inches
long, in shape like that of a Lapageria, while the
colour is a deep rose-pink with the inner sepals
pale green heavily spotted with a dark purple-
brown. It is a very showy as well as a graceful
plant, and for a cool greenhouse suSiciently large
for a rampant growing climber there cannot be any-
thing finer. But to succeed well it must be planted
out ina brick box. It cannot toleraterestrictionin pots
or tubs, and if the plants flower in such the blooms
aje poor, lacking the size and colour of those pro-
duced on plants in free soil. It is a Columbian
plant, imported about ten years ago. We remember
seeing it a few years ago in great perfection at
Pendell Court, when the late Mr. Charles Green was
there. He had it planted out in a cold house and
trained up the supporting pillars and then along
the roof, and the flower clusters it bore were 4 feet
in diameter.
Clematis Davidiana.— This belongs to the
erecta section, and is a hardy, free-blooming, de-
sirable shrubby plant, growing when favourably
placed to a height of 2 feet or 3 feet. Its delicate
blue flowers, of the same delightful shade as those
of the Plumbago capensis, make a fine feature at
Pendell Court, where it has stood out during the
recent winter unharmed. It is certainly entitled to
more recognition than it obtains, as we may visit
many gardens without finding it. Further north it
would probably require slight protection, such as
a covering of dry Fern in winter, the same as is
done in the case of tender Tea Roses. It was
figured in The Garden, Feb. 12, 1887.
Fragrant Garland flower (Hedychium coro-
narium). — There is an excellent specimen of this
lovely plant in full bloom by the edge of a tank in
the aquatic house at Pendell Court, Bletchingley.
The flowers are large, snowy white, and of exquisite
delicacy, with the fragrance as powerful as that of
a Gardenia. They are borne in long, dense racemes,
which on strong plants measure quite 12 inches in
length and almost as much in width. The stems
frequently attain a height of 8 feet, and are clothed
with lance-shaped green leaves, not unlike those of
the Canna. It loves a rich, boggy soil, plenty of
water, and a moist atmosphere. When given the;c
conditions the growth is vigorous and the flowers
plentiful.
Passiflora Constance Elliott. — This new
white variety of the favourite hardy blue Passion
flower (P. Cferulea) is becoming more and more
popular, and already it may be seen adorning the
sunny walls of villas in the suburbs of London. It
cannot be said to be prettier than the common blue
kind, but novelty and variety which everybody seeks
are what makes it popular. It is certainly a plant to
be recommended as a wall covering wherever P.
cierulea succeeds, and if it can be associated with
some bright-coloured Creeper, such as Clematis
Jackmanni, the ivory whiteness of Constance Elliott
is emphasised. In the greenhouse (No. 4) at Kew
this white Passion-flower forms with Plumbago
capensis a delightful curtain of flower and foliage
close to the south door of the house.— G.
Flame flowers. — These are now very handsome,
and flower at a time when they are much needed to
give colour to our groups of Michaelmas Daisies,
&c. The many varieties of Kniphofia aloides now
in cultivation give us a much larger choice than we
had a few years ago, and as many of the most dis-
tinct bloom at different times, their value to gar-
deners is much enhanced. K. Macowani, corallina,
and the one Mr. Gumbleton has sent out as hybrida,
which we saw in flower at Kew, are three really
useful plants. The two former are nearly allied to
each other, but they bloom at different periods vrith
us, and the new hybrid, which is by far the strongest,
promises to be a great acquisition ; the pretty re-
flexed flowers are of brilliant hue, and have the
robust nature of the aloides group. The plants are
very effective when grown in large clumps in the
border or beds, but isolated specimens with a
dense bush as a background are remarkably strik-
ing.—K.
A new yellow Water Lily has for some
weeks past been the object of nnich interest in the
Water Lily house at Kew. It is labelled Nymphrea
Marliacea Chromatella, but since it has proved to be
variety of a North American Water Lily (N.
tuberosa), it is proposed to call it N. tuberosa flaves-
cens, in allusion to the yellow or rather yellowish
colour of its flowers. There is no need to describe
the plant, seeing that it differs but little from the
common white Water Lily (N. alba), except that its
leaves, which lie flat on the water, are blotched
with purple on their under surfaces. The flowers,
or at least their petals, are of a soft primrose-yellow
Colour, scarcely bright enough to be called canary
yellow, though the central tuft of stamens is of the
latter hue. Such a beautiful water plant is the more
valuable, inasmuch as it is without much doubt
perfectly hardy, seeing that N. tuberosa is itself as
hardy as our own Water Lily. It was but a few
years ago that the lovely rose-coloured variety of N.
alba was added to the list of hardy aquatics, and
this is scarcely less valuable. We shall soon be able
to get as much variety of colour in hardy Water
Lilies as there is in the tropical kinds. We want a
blue now, and we do not despair yet of seeing one.
This new yellow kind has been raised by Mods.
Marliac, and let us hope that he will endeavour to
raise a blue-flowered \ariety. — W. G.
A new Thunbergia is now one of the most
attractive among the climbers that festoon the roof
of the Palm house at Kew. It is named Thunbergia
afiinis, and the label states that it was sent to the
Royal Ciardens last year by Dr. Kirk, from Zanzibar,
where the plant grows wild. It is very beautiful
^A lien in flower, and has all the appearance of being
a first-rate stove shrub, being of free growth and
extremely free-flowering. The flowers remind one
of those of Meyenia erecta, a now well-known
stove shrub, also an Acanthaoeous plant and a native
of Tropical Africa. The Thunbergia flowers have a
rather long tube, which is a warm yellow, the rest
of the flower, which expands as much as 2J inches
across, being of a brilliant rich purple. They are
borne at the ends of the branchlets as well as from
the axils of the leaves, and one small pot plant has
flowers from almost every leaf-axil. The leaves are
small, lance-shaped, and narrow. The plant is alto-
gether so unlike an ordinary climbing Thunbergia,
that one would scarcely think it belonged to the
same genus. The habit of growth is half-climbing,
so that the long, slender shoots are tied to their
supports. A pot plant on one of the side stages is
of bushy growth, and shows no tendency or inclina-
tion to climb. It is in bloom now, but has been a
good deal finer. We may expect to see this come
out as a new plant, and then, perhaps, we shall
hear more about it.
BOOKS RECEIVED.
"Fresh Woods and Pastures New." Sampson Low
and Co., Fleet Street, London.
" Petroleum (Illustrated), Valuable Hints to those
who use it."
"Asa Gray's Lessons in Botany." Revised,
don ; Triibuer & Co.
Lon-
Namin? fruit. -
fruit via kiiidlii hear
'of tlu tariittj sint of,,
assist ill iikntijicatic.
local ffroicers, and ari
undertaK-e to name fo
the above conditions a
, olmrnd.
at a time, and these only vho
Names of plants. — Dr. Paterson. — Eria flori-
buuda. No I«i/(a?.— 1, Nephrolepis sp. ; 2, Asple-
uium, probably nitidum ; 3, Pteris tremula; 4, Pell^a
hastata. ,4. P. H. — Bryophyllum calycinum.— —
F. Young. — Your Cattleyas have been infested with
the black and brown thrips. TFraif/i.— Crinum
Powelli. Geo. DicJison. — Mandevilla suaveolens. —
Wm. Giicftrisf.— Staphylea pinnatifida. E. M. G.
— Dimorphotheoa (Caleudula)pluvialis. No In itia Is.
Campanula lactiflora var. H. C. B.— Oncidium
crispum. G. D. J. — Adiantum digitatum. Mrs.
Kdbj. — The one with large fruits is Pyrus chiuensis,
the other Crata;gus cocciuea.
Names of fruit. — Burrow Abbey. — 1, Celliui;
2, Emperor Alexander; 3, Cox's Orange Pippiu ; 4,
Williams' Bon Chretien ; 5, Louise Boune of Jersey.
Amateur. — 1, GlouMorceau; G, Doyenne d'Alen-
9on ; others not determiuable. W. NicoU.—l, Bar-
ringtou Peach ; 2, Elruge Nectarine ; 3, Noblesse ; 4,
Victoria; 5, Apple, Rhode Island Greeuing; 6, Hau-
well Som'ing. J. G. M. G. — 1, Clapp's Favourite ; 2,
BeuiTe Bosc ; 3, Flemish Beauty ; 4, not recognised.
Alpha. — 1, Scarlet Nonpareil; 2, not known; 3,
Old Pearmain; 4, New Hawthornden. E. L. (Sar-
reti).—2, not recognised, worthless; 3, Manks Codlin.
— — C. H. if.— 1, Ribston Pippin; 2, Scarlet Non-
pareil; 3, HoUandbury; 4, New Hawthornden; 5,
Gravenstein; 6, King of the Pippins. — _— /. D. N. — 1,
not Louise Bonne, but unable to determine at present
2, Passe Colmar ; 3 and 5, Nouvelle Fulvie ; 4, not re-
cognised ; 6, Thompson's.
308
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 1, 1887.
WOODS & FORESTS.
DEEP KICK SOIL FOR CONIFEROUS TREES.
Most experienced growers of these highly-orna-
mental trees know the value of a deep, rich soil for
their healthy development in this country. No
doubt there are some estates where the soil is natu-
rally poor, and where the trees are tine, healthy
specimens ; but the fact is that in planting these
trees the poor soil and subsoil were dug out and a
quantity of rich, friable mould was substituted. In
renovating old plantations, and in planting Coniferfe
in places where the soil was poor and exhausted, I
have found wood ashes to be a good and safe fertiliser.
In trenching and preparing the ground for the trees,
a quantity of ashes was incorporated with the soil
as the work proceeded, and, from the way in which
the trees have continued to grow for a period of
some twenty years, I can safely recommend the
practice to others. Wood ashes may be used as a
fertiliser in a variety of ways. Coniferous trees
that have been planted upon poor, thin soil, and are
now beginning to show signs of distress by their
stunted appearance, may be restored and brought
into health and vigour by a top-dressing of this
manure. There are few foresters or gardeners but
can prepare this manure at a trifling cost, and it is
a good plan to have a quantity in store ready for use
at any time it may be wanted.
In The Garden of the 10th nit. (p. 238) there
is an interesting article on the big trees of Cali-
fornia, and in dealing with the subject the writer
gives a faithful sketch of what he saw there in the
natural forest, and in which he says : —
On the very summit of the Sleri'a Nevada the vege-
tation is not luxuriant. When you see a solitary Pine
that has been hold enough to plant itself among the
boulders and rocks of the high summits, it is usually
so contorted that it looks as if inhabited by demons.
. . . But go a little lower down, and most probably
you will find a noble group of Pieea, startling from the
size and height of the trunks. . . . To the flanks of the
western slopes of the great chain of the Sieri'as one
must go to see the noblest trees and the richest verdure.
The descriptive particulars set forth here are
exactly in keeping with what we see in the natural
forest in this country. The largest and finest trees
are always to be found on the slopes and angles of
the hills, where they have the advantage of deeper
and better soil than such as have planted them-
selves on bare rooky places, so that we find a deep,
loose, open soil to be an important factor in the pro-
duction of large timber. Further on, the writer asks
What it is that causes the tree growth to be so noble
there. There can be no doubt that the climate is al-
most the sole cause. Soil has very little to do with it.
This statement is alike at variance with his former
remarks as well as the recognised principles of
vegetable economy. We fancy no one wiU deny
that climate is an important factor in promoting
the growth and healthy development of timber
trees, but to say that soil has little or nothing to do
with it is directly against the testimony of the trees
themselves. In conclusion, the writer makes the
following startling announcement : —
Tliis should draw our attention to the fact that in
ornamental planting, and especially in the planting of
coniferous trees, we pay far too much attention to sup-
plying them with rich and deep soil, and far too little
consideration to the capabilities of the climate in which
we have to plant.
The experienced planter of ornamental coniferous
trees will know without any hesitation what value
to attach to such a statement, and there is no dan-
ger of such being influenced in the smallest degree
by this teaching ; but there is a large class of gentle-
men proprietors in this country, many of whom are
anxious to plant and otherwise improve their pro-
perties, and as many of them have not acquired a
practical knowledge of tree-planting, they are apt
to be led astray by such advice at the time of the
formation of their plantations. Practical expe-
rience, therefore, teaches us that in all cases where
the soil is of a poor, thin texture, it should be broken
up and the hard impervious sub-soil pulverised me-
chanically in order to bring it into proper condition
as food for the roots. In many cases it is likewise
necessary to cart a few loads of good soil to improve
the ground at the places where the trees are to be
planted. I have occasionally seen the native Scotch
Fir of considerable size growing upon dry rocky
places where there was very little soil of any de-
scription, and we all know that coniferous trees
derive a great deal of nourishment from the atmo-
sphere, but this by no means disproves the utility
of planting coniferous trees upon deep rich soil in
order to encourage their growth and development as
ornamental trees.
I have always noticed that where trees of this
class were planted upon poor, thin soil without
being properly prepared, that they never came to
much, and in place of being an ornament, they were
simply a lot of poor, half-starved things, and a de-
cided eyesore. J. B. Webster.
An effective rabbit temedy. — A correspon-
dent of the Iterne Horiicole states that he has been
completely successful in saving both his Vines and
Haricot Beans from being totally destroyed by
the rabbits which swarm in this district by using a
remedy which he terms the " BouUlie bordelaise."
This consists of a mixture of sulphate of copper
(bluestone or blue vitriol) and fresh slaked lime,
in the proportion of 3j lbs. of the former to ih lbs.
of quicklime in twenty-one gallons of water. The
bluestone is first dissolved in a bucket of water, the
quicklime is then slaked, and when cool it is
thrown along with the dissolved bluestone into a
barrel or other vessel of sufiicient size; water is
then added to make up twenty-one gallons, and the
whole is well stirred up. The mixture is conve-
niently applied with a whitewash brush, and in
fine, dry weather only should it be used. The
object of the lime in the mixture is to counteract
any ill efl^ects that the sulphate of copper or blue-
stone might have on the vegetable tissues, and also
to indicate that no part of the stem or plant which it
is intended to protect has been passed over without
receiving its proper share of the application. — W. M.
Tlie Tulip tree for timber. — I was surprised
to observe this tree recommended for timber at
page 262, for if its trunk is anything like as brittle
as its branches, it can hardly be of much use for
timber, unless for inlaid work. With all that is
said of its beauty as an ornamental tree I heartily
concur. The form and size of its leaves are so
unique, as to produce a striking effect in juxta-
position to other trees. The colours of its leaves are
also special and peculiar in all stages of growth.
The golden tints of dying leaves contrast admirably
with the fiery crimson of the Liquidambar, and
some very rich effects in landscape result from the
contrasting of these two trees. The Tulips — that
is, the bloom of the tree — give it great additional
interest to most people, as from the comparative
rarity of the tree so few have seen them, and the
leaves give no promise of Tulip-shaped flowers.
The less said about their colour or other Tulip-like
qualities the better, but as they stand up on the
stems they are Tulips in form without doubt or
quibble. The tree grows fast in good soils and
in sheltered places, and is fairly hardy in the
southern and eastern portions of England. I have
not met with it further north than Yorkshire or in
Scotland. As to the suggestion to group the Tulip
tree with the Purple-leaved Beech, it is hardly prac-
ticable, for the following reason : The Purple
Beeches all revert more or less to green in the late
autumnal months ; while the Tulip tree hardly puts
on its golden foliage till towards the middle or end
of October. The Scarlet Oak matches the Tulip
tree better in point of time of colouring, though, as
already observed, I prefer to marry it to the Liquid-
ambar for a brilliant contrast resulting in a pleasing
harmony of colour. — Calbdonicus.
Tbe Weymouth. Fine as a timber tree in
Britain. — Next to the Corsican Pine (Pinus Laricio)
I consider the Weymouth Pine (P. Strobus) as the
most valuable of the genus that has yet found its
way into this country, whether viewed in an orna-
mental or commercial sense. On the Continent
too, it has of late attracted considerable attention,
and formed the gubject of discussion some years
ago at the German Forest Congress, when much
useful information regarding the capabilities of the
tree was recorded. In the interests of arboriculture
it would be a step in the right direction would
owners of this tree, whether as single specimens or
in clumps, relate their experience of it, but particu-
larly the value of home-grown timber. 'What about
the magnificent specimens at Longleat, or those in
the still colder south Scottish counties ? There are
numerous large trees at Hopetoun. ^Vhole woods
of it have been planted on the Continent. I have
numerous notes and observations on this Pine, but,
previous to publishing such, would esteem it a
special favour if any person would communicate
their experience of the tree, its behaviour under a
diversity of circumstances being what is most
wanted next to the value of home-grown timber.
Foresters and gardeners are so diflident about com-
municating notes on the newer Conifers, that many
of the finest specimens in this country are never
heard of, and therefore much difficulty is experienced
in getting a true idea of how any particular kind
is likely to succeed, save indeed in one or two dis-
tricts. As it is not at all unlikely that the Wey-
mouth Pine will turn out a most valuable tree for
general forest planting in this country, it is to be
hoped that every person whether interested or not
in our future timber supply will record their ob-
servations regarding it — size of trees and age, kind
of soil on which they are growing, and quality of
timber produced. — A. D. Webster.
PINE WOODS.
The writer on page 262 catches up the poetry that
may be found among the Pine forests and weaves
it into a poem of praise, which, after all, falls far
short of the reality, for the sights and sounds of
Pine woods, the comfort and delight of walking in
them, cannot be half told in a short paragraph.
They are also as sanitary as they are pleasing and
beautiful. It is said "that the air of the Black
Forest does more to revive and cure weakly patients
than gallons of medicine ; and from experience of
the odours of Pines at night, or in the early morn-
ing and dewy eve, I should say they were not only
antiseptic, but strengthening as a dose of quinine.
The living leaves, as well as the dead and slowly
decomposing needles, redolent of healing and
strengthening odours, bring back the colour to pale
cheeks, and strength to semi- exhausted constitutions.
The shelter of Pine forests is also perfect. No ■
matter how the wind thunders and roars among the
tops, calm prevails on the surface of the ground.
Just as the waves of the ocean are, after all, limited
to its surface, while a perpetual calm rests on its
deeper depths, so the turmoil of the storm exhausts
its force on the tops of the trees, while the base of
the boles are hardly moved by it. Hence the super-
lative value of Pines in masses for shelter. The
shelter of a large Pine wood is unique in character,
providing a local atmosphere as genial as it is
pleasant. The elasticity of the dead needles seems
to get into one's spirits, and enables one for the
nonce to bid adieu to the cares and the ills of life.
One saunters along under the shadow of tall Pmes
without fatigue, and can rest on the clean, sweet
carpet of dead needles and leaves with little fear of
noxiousweeds,insects, or malaria; andthewholeairis
deodorised and charged to the full with health-giving
properties by the odour-distributing Pines, that not
only provide warmth and shelter, but health to all
who walk under or linger among them. Pine woods
in England are mostly too small to furnish to the
full all these advantages : but the black forests of
Scotland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Russia
are massive enough to furnish shelter, shadow, rest
and health to those wise enough to seek for either
amid their grand trunks, or under their dense, dark
masses of branches and leaves. Caledonicus.
A fine Oak tree. — Noticing in The Gakden for
August the description of an Oak tree, and a suffges-
tiou of illustrating healthy types of forest ti-ees, I eu-
close the photogi'aph of an Oak tree, the trunk of which
is not large, the gu'th at 5 feet high being 8 feet
11 inches, but the foliage has a breadth of 120 feet with
a proportionate height. — John Handley.
*** A fine growhig tree, hut not large or picturesque.
—Ed.
THE GARDEN.
309
Ho. 829. SATURDAY, Oct 8,1887. Vol. XXXII.
"This Is an Art
Which does mend Nature : change it rather ; but
The Aut itself is Nature." — Shaktspean.
Fruit Garden.
W. COLEMAN.
BUSH FRUITS.
The Goosebehrt. — la a green state for cook-
ing, or when ripe for the dessert, not only is
the Gooseberry one of our most wholesome and
useful fruits, but coming within the reach of all
it is alike popular with the emperor and the
peasant. We sometimes hear the wealthy say,
"I do not care for Grapes or other hothouse
fruit beyond the gratification they afford to the
eye ; " but, for myself, I can safely assert that
no one in my hearing has expressed a dislike
for Gooseberries. A native of Britain, the tree
itself is very hardy, the fruit only being liable
to injury from spring frosts ; more, it is very
accommodating, as it grows and fruits in any
good soil, from the level of the sea to an altitude
little short of 1000 feet, and is quite at liome in
any garden from the Land's End to John o'
Groats. Of the two, the latter or intermediate
places may, perhaps, suit it better than the
first, as experts assure us that the finest flavour
is secured where the temperature favours slow
maturity, whUst size is greatly dependent upon
an abundance of atmospheric as well as root
moisture. In the northern counties famed for
big Gooseberry shows, the exhibition varieties
are grown, to an enormous size, by thinning and
feeding, and by suckling, not with milk, but
with small saucers of water placed on a level
with the snouts of the fruit. The object here
is size, as exhibitors' specimens are weighed to
the nicety of a grain, flavour being of secondary
consideration. With consumers the aim should
include richness of flavour, good size, as a matter
of course, and a plentiful supply annually. In
the coldest parts of the kingdom, warm, sunny
borders may be devoted to the trees ; in hot,
arid districts, deep cool soils, east or north
borders, as well as the walls by which they
are shaded, may be turned to the most profit-
able account. We do not often hear of root-
pruning and renovating, at least beyond the
ordinary mulch, and yet there exists but little
doubt that a change from the annual top-
dressing with manure and random digging to
the careful \incovering of the roots and sur-
facing with fresh sweet compost would greatly
benefit the trees, and not unfrequently break
up the home of the devastating caterpillar.
How often in many old gardens do we find
decrepit trees the age of a man simply strug-
gling for existence. Started originally on the
old lines of propagation, their multitudinous
stems have died ofl' one by one until, perhaps,
one solitary Moss-covered branch ready to go
over at a touch with the foot, represents aU that
remains of the original. And still these wretched
trees, on a cold sour piece of ground, are al-
lowed to remain when healthy young plants of
the best sorts standing well upon one stem can
be purchased for a few pence each. Grudging
those pence, provided with suitable wood, the
handy labourer can manufacture from cuttings
just as well as the nurseryman ; but then time re-
presents money, and few would care to wait
when a large garden can be stocked with
approved named varieties for a very small
sum.
Assuming that the plants are to be purchased,
now is the time to see for oneself the quarters
upon which they are growing, for if Convolvulus
and Lichen have place and the shoots and stems
look hard and stunted, there they should be
allowed to remain, as no amount of good culture
will restore a starved tree. These remarks
apply to slow, out-of-therway nurseries, and not
to large establishments, where quick demand
necessitates good culture and rapid progress,
where the Gooseberry is as well treated as the
Pear, the Apple, or the Peach. Fresh, young
trees from these stocks will not only save two
or three years, but propagated by men marching
with the times the best sorts in their different
colours can be depended upon, and the sooner
they are planted in good soil the better will be
their progress next season.
In large gardens containing a good selection
it is usual to put in a few cuttings of each sort
annually and grow the trees on in the home
nursery until they are wanted for filling up — a
bad practice, or better by far for making new
plantations. Cuttings can be put in at any
time from October to March, but autumn is the
best time, as the heels then have time to callus
before the warmth of spring excites the buds
into growth. Rather strong, straight, well-
ripened pieces of the current year's wood taken
ofl' close to the branch from which they started
make the best plants, but, being thickly studded
with very ^small wood-buds close to the base,
these should bo carefully removed ; also the
larger buds up to within four eyes of the top of
the cutting. If the cuttings are not a foot or a
little more in length, and contain but few buds
above ground, then the leader must be pinched
to make it throw out side shoots when the
shoots below can be trimmed off to secure a
clean, suckerless stem. When ready for inser-
tion we select a light, rich, and partially moist
border well open to light and air and insert
them 4 inches or 5 inches in depth a foot apart,
and 18 inches from row to row. Many put
them in with a dibber, but I prefer taking out
shallow trenches with a spade, as each cutting
is then placed at a uniform depth, and having a
firm resting-place the vacuum sometimes formed
by the dibber is avoided. When this happens
the cutting either drops too deep or the roots
from the bases, which should be the best, strike
downwards and get mutilated when lifted for
transplanting at the end of the first or second
year. Beyond keeping clear of weeds and the
pinching of an extra strong shoot, the cutting
plants require very little attention the first
season, but by the end of the second they
will requii-e lifting, disbudding to destroy
every underground sucker, and transplanting a
yard apart every way. When out of the ground
the roots also should be trimmed, when all up-
right growers best adapted for forming pyramids
or cordons should be planted together, well
staked, and in due time spurred back to force the
sap upwards into the leaders. Others intended
for bushes will require shortening back to secure
a suflicient number of shoots for firming the
framework of the tree. When the trees are in-
tended for training upon walls or trellises they
can be grown as single cordons, but they last
longest when by pinching the leader they are
induced to form two more shoots, one on either
side of the stem. These at first should be
trained almost upright, but when by judicious
pinching of the leader they have become equally
strong they may be made to take a horizontal
line a foot eaoh way outwards, then upright
until equally together the three reach the top of
the wall or trellis.
In the selection of varieties for private use
the following twenty-four taken at all points
will be likely to give satisfaction : —
Red.
1.3. Early Hairy.
14. IrOTinionger.
15. Keen's Seedlirg.
10. Champagne.
17- Warrington.
18. Scotch Nutmeg.
19. Speedwell.
20. WUmot's Early.
Cireen.
21. Grascoigne.
22. Walnut.
23. Early Hairy.
24. Pitmaston Greengage.
^Yhite.
1. Bright Venus.
2. Crystal.
■3, Lady Leicester,
4, Snowball.
5. Champagne.
0, Whitesmith.
Yellou-.
7. Broomgirl.
8. Leader,
9. Rumbullion,
10, Champagne,
11, Sulphur,
12, Tellowsmith,
Although specially adapted for the dessert,
these varieties in a green state are equally suit-
able for tarts, and No. 9 for bottUig ; whUst
thinning for these purposes improves the quality
of the fruit left to ripen.
Size and appearance ha\'ing so completely
taken possession of the public mind, it is more
than probable the cultivation of the best of the
show varieties might suit the grower for market
as well as the exhibitor. If so, the annexed
two dozen may be relied upon : —
White.
Red.
Snowdrift,
Dan's Mistake.
King of Trumps,
London.
Freedom,
Clayton.
Careless,
Wonderful,
Antagonist,
Conquering Hero,
Hero of the Kile.
Duke of Sutherland
Green.
Yellou-.
Telegraph.
Catherina,
Stockwell.
DrUl,
Thumper,
Criterion,
Shiner,
Peru,
London,
Mount Pleasant.
General,
Leveller.
Fig8 without water in th.e open air, — The
extraordinary drought of the past summer has given
a severe test to what may be called the arid culture
of the Fig in the open air. The plants already de-
scribed in The Garden as wholly unprotected have
ripened their crops earlier than usual by a fortnight
or three weeks. The Brunswicks especially, which
began to ripen on the 20th of August and are just
finished (Sept, 21), were larger and finer, as well as
earlier than usual. This was all the drought did
for them, though they had nearly three months of it,
ahnost wholly dewless as well as rainless. Another
curious result of the drought is that the Brunswicks,
which have mostly been a week or more later than
the Brown Turkeys, have this season been fully a
fortnight in advance of the smaller variety. While
the latter are smaller than usual, the Brunswicks
have been larger ; in fact, the finest I have ever
seen. The roots had no water during the drought,
nor any for years, unless what may pass through a
stoneyard, mostly on a slope sufficient to shed off
the rain almost as fast as it falls; but the crop this
exceptional year, as well as the promise for next,
shows tliat Figs in our climate enjoy the arid treat-
ment and do well on a starving regimen. — Hoktus.
Apples from cuttings, — I was pleased to read
the account of the Oslin Apple in The Garden,
Sept, 24 (p. 274), and the mode of propagation by
shoots or branches that appears to have been some-
what largely practised in Scotland many years ago,
and I can testify to the certainty with which large
branches not only take root, but produce fruit the
first season after being cut from the tree. From
two dwarf bushes I have in a short time got several
rows of fruitful young trees, and they all show the
same characteristic of producing burrs, or knots of
roots along the branches, I always take off any
branches I wish to strike early in the winter
directly the leaf falls, as the embryo rootlets are
more prominent at that season than at any other
time — at least when the trees are grown on the
south coast, where the atmosphere is much drier
than in the western or northern parts of the king-
310
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 8, 1887.
dom. On close examination of a tolerably large
number of varieties, I have found some that ap-
peared inclined to make roots on the old wood, and
I have succeeded in rooting that good old late-
keeping sort, the French Crab, and a few others
fairly well. But the smooth, shining-barked sorts do
not appear to sh ow any disposition to make roots. It
is rather singular that this mode of increasing the
most useful of all fruits, although by no means a
new discovery, has not been more generally prac-
tised— in fact, is not believed to be practicable by
many ; and as the best time for putting it to a test
is now close at hand, I would urge all who are
sceptical to give it a trial. Roses on their own roots
are now an established fact, and I doubt not but
that Apples, at least of many kinds, may be equally
as well grown on their own roots as on stocks of
various kinds. — James Geoom, Gosport.
VINES IN THE OPEN AIR.
It is refreshing to read Mr. Coleman's commen-
dation of these at page 242, after the cold water
that has recently been thrown on viticulture in
the open, even by horticultural editors. Pos-
sibly the drought, and the amazing crops of
Grapes it has helped to develop into ripeness,
may cause a reaction in favour of hardy Grape
culture. The crops in East Anglia are enor-
mous, and promise to ripen should we be
favoured with a few more weeks of genial
autumn weather.
Mr. Coleman is on very safe ground in
specially recommending the Grape Vine as one
of the most useful of our hardy creepers. For
whatever risks we may run in regard to the safe
landing of a crop of ripe Grapes fit for eating or
drinking, there is no risk nor uncertainty in
regard to the free growth and graceful covering
of any area of space by Grape Vines in the open.
In addition to the list given by Mr. Coleman,
the Claret, from its purple foliage, forms a
unique addition and a striking contrast to all
our other foliage plants. On warm aspects, too,
the West's St. Peter's, Alicante, and other
richly-coloured hothouse varieties will colour
more or less richly out of doors. The old
Parsley-leaved Muscadine that Mr. Coleman
recommends contrasts admirably with these or
other varieties. Some of the entire-leaved
American varieties, such as the Strawberry,
give great variety of form as well as of colour
from the downiness or otherwise of the leaves.
This reminds me of seeing a large collection
of American and other species of Grape Vines
at Chiswick some two years ago. Probably Mr.
Barron may have something to say how these
turned out, and whether any of them are im-
provements on existing species and varieties for
foliage or fruit in the open air in our climate.
Neither must the exceptional sweetness of the
Grape Vine be overlooked in considering its
merits as a hardy climber. We have nothing
to equal it among climbers or plants and
flowers of any sort. And it is comparatively
seldom that the weather hinders their free
blooming, though the fruit may be blighted or
kept from ripening afterwards. Some years
since I strongly advocated the clothing of
cottages, outhouses, and especially cow houses,
stables, and piggeries, with Grape Vines,
Honeysuckles, Jasmines, Roses, Sweet Briers,
Spice plants, etc., as sanitary and disinfecting
agents. And there is hardly a doubt — in fact,
Professor Tyndal's experiments seem to esta-
blish the fact beyond cavil — that could we circle
our houses round with sweet odours throughout
the year, we should be safe from fever or other
malarious diseases. And in the establishment
of such cordons of safety and fragrance the
Grape Vine will be found to be one of our most
beautiful and potent allies. Only those accus
tomed to live in districts where Grape Vines on
cottage homes are comparatively common, as in
East Anglia, can conceive of the amount of
odour they diffuse, or the immense area of air
that they suffuse and fill with their sweetness.
Again and again when driving through East
Anglia the welcome odours of Vines in bloom
have been realised at very considerable distances
from their source. And when cottage homes or
outbuildings have been neared on damp days
the whole air has been almost as fragrant as an
enclosed vinery in bloom. Hence the important
part the Grape Vine is likely to play in the
future and new crusade against disease, that of
fighting foul odours or poisonous microbes with
sweet and sanitary ones. There is nothing to
add to Mr. Coleman's instructions about culture,
only I would give an emphatic caution against
over-feeding the roots, and over-pruning or
over-training the tops. On most of these
points the culture of Vines in the open should
be a contrast rather than a copy of that adopted
under glass. I heartily endorse all Mr.
Coleman has advanced on the possibilities of
open-air culture, as I have eaten Hamburgh,
Muscadine, Sweetwater, Frontignan, and other
Grapes ripened in the open equal to those
ripened under glass. Erontignans do not even
shank in the open ; the three varieties. Grizzly,
White and Black, have been finished in superb
condition in East Anglia.
The greatest barriers to success in the culture
of the Vine in the open of late years have been
over-feeding, over-cropping, and the non-thin-
ning of the berries and bunches. This will be
readily admitted when it is added that in prac-
tice all the bunches that show are left and there
is no thinning of the berries. Out-of-door Vines
have thus been fearfully over-weighted, and the
berries have been crushed into a semi-jelly-like
mass of small berries by the sheer strife of
numbers struggling for the area that would be
more profitably occupied by one. Not only may
very fair open-air Grapes be ripened in average
seasons, but as good or better wine is made to-
day from Grapes in the open as was ever made
in old times, as the experience of Mr. Darkin,
of Bury St. Edmunds, of Mr. Fenn, of Wood-
stock, and others abundantly proves. Vir-
tiially, there has been no deterioration of climate
and but little improvement in the culture of
Grapes in the open air within the historic
period, and I quite agree with Mr. Coleman that,
by the aid of the latter alone, good Grapes can
be obtained from carefully manipulated Vines
in average seasons. D. T. F.
Early market Apples. — Without delay per-
mit me to assure " Hortus " that I would not on
any account add vulgarity to the charms of my
especial favourite Kerry Pippin by even wishing the
presence of a little more vermilion. Whilst ad-
miring the glowing picture he has so ably painted,
I must remind him that my remarks were intended
for market growers of this early and fleeting section
of Pomona's gifts, and not for gentlemen who know
that beauty and quality lie more than skin deep,
and derive more pleasure from looking upon than
eating a perfect Apple. It is needless to say that
the large class of producers for market must live, or
that nine-tenths of the consumers who draw their
supplies from the fruiterer's shop go in strongly for
colour, high quality being often set aside or accepted
as a very small item. Such being the case, from the
grower's point of view I was justified in saying "want
of colour is against this delicious Apple." As I do not
make statements unsupported by facts, I will give
"Hortus" my grounds for making the assertion.
Some four years ago a friend having a few bushels of
Kerry Pippin really good and a like quantity of the
garish, jovial Tom Putt to dispose of, I advised him
lo send them to Manchester, a place with which
'' Hortus " is familiar. The first he was requested
to discontinue sending, as pale Apples did not suit
the market, but for Tom Putt, an Apple which we
make into unpoetical puddings and grind down for
cider, he received 6d. per dozen. Not only can I
endorse all that " Hortus " has said of the handsome
bronzed beauties of the present year, but I can con-
gratulate him upon having been absent when I
was present at a great fruit show, where Messrs.
Cut, Munch, and Splutter cut open every fruit from
a Peach downwards to a Keswick Codlin Apple, and
did not spare sundry plates of the most perfect
Kerry Pippins man ever set eyes upon. This ex-
planation will, I hope, convince "Hortus" that I
neither wish to paint the Lily nor the Apple ; he
knows I am a stickler for colour, and so long as the
public will have it I am quite justified in advising
the market grower to consult his own interests by
producing it. — W. Coleman.
TRANSPLANTING PEACH TREES.
In this district Peach houses will shortly be
as common as vineries. Nor am I surprised
that this should be so. There are no more lus-
cious and generally popular fruits grown than
Peaches and Nectarines, and the more prolonged
their season the better pleased are lovers of good
fruit. With ordinarily good treatment failures
under glass rarely occur ; whereas the open-air crops
are most uncertain. Even if the latter do well the
fruit usually ripens too late to meet the require-
ments of many establishments where choice fruit
is most in demand during July and August. It is
true. Peaches will ripen in the open air during
August, but it is only in warm localities they do
this, and nowhere can they be depended upon
much before the end of the month. Those who
stock their houses with quite young trees have to
wait two or three seasons before they obtain much
fruit ; but, as a rule, this little diificulty can easily
be surmounted. In most gardens where there are
sunny walls these are partly covered with Peach
trees, with occasionally one or more Nectarines.
Some of these may with advantage be introduced
into the new house and fruited the following season.
It does not matter if the trees are ugly'; they will
answer their purpose until a good selection of young
trees, either grown in the same house or against a
sunny, open wall, are ready to occupy their place.
Whether the trees shall be moved now, while yet
in full leaf, or in the spring, just before tbej' are
starting into growth, must depend upon circum-
stances. If the house is ready for thtm, I should
much prefer to transplant them at once, as in this
case a quantity of fresh root fibre will be formed
before the leaf falls. Being thus paitially re-esta-
blished admits of the trees being gently forced
the next season, and they are the most capable
of perfecting a good crop of fruit. Large trees
may also be safely transplanted in the spring, and
out of a lot that I saw moved last March, not one
tree failed to bear a moderately good crop during
August and September. I should always prefer
house-grown trees for furnishing a new house to
those reared against an open wall, the former being
the best ripened, and, therefore, the most fruitful
and lasting.
The owners of new vineries very frequently plant
Peach and Nectarine trees against the back walls.
For a time, or while the Vines do not wholly cover the
roof, the Peach trees thrive and fruit satisfactorilyj
but eventuall}' the Vines get the upper hand and the
Peach trees cease to be profitable. This is no ima-
ginary case, as I have either assisted or superin-
tended the transplanting of many large Peach and
Nectarine trees at different times from vineries to
new Peach houses, the last time being in September,
188G. The latest was also the most successful
operation of the kind I have ever taken part in,
though I shoidd not have been surprised if it had
been a complete failure. I had been puzzled by
these trees for several seasons. They formed strong
healthy wood, flowered fairly well, but rarely per-
fected many fruits. The owner did not care to have
them partially or wholly root-pruned, being also
nervous as to the effect this would have had on his
Vines, not believing in the fact that this would have
Oct. 6, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
311
benefited both Vines and Peach trses. About the
middle of last September, when we came to trans-
plant these trees to a new house built specially for
them, we found they were rooting in little besides
ashes, these being introduced into the border when
first made to make up for the scarcity of compost.
I mention this partly by way of a hint to other
owners of unsatisfactory Peach and Nectarine trees
as well as unhealthy Vines. Depend upon it, one of
the principal causes of failure lies at the roots,
and now is the time to examine into and rectify any
defects in the construction of a border. Even the best
of borders become exhausted in time, and a part
of the soil may well be removed and replaced with
good fresh compost. The roots preserved soon take
possession of this, and a marked improvement in
the trees or Vines is quickly apparent. To return to
the tree-moving, it may be instructive to add that
the Peach and Nectarine trees planted over the bed
of ashes had very few roots indeed, and not a
peck of soil could be moved with either of them,
yet some of the trees covered a space of trellis
13 feet by 9 feet. They were carefully replanted in
a good loamy compost and well watered in. We
preserved as many leaves as possible in the removal,
care being taken "to shade them from sunshine, and
to frequently moisten them with a syringe, the
house also being kept rather close, they did not flag
very badly. Evidently this preserved foliage did
good service, for on subsequently examining the
roots a fair amount of iibre bad formed and the
wood also remained plump. This spring all the
trees flowered freely, and a fairly good set resulted.
Hale's Early perfected a grand crop, but Early
Alexander, or what was planted for such, dropped
every fruit when about the size of Peas. The tree
of Stirling Castle perfected some of the finest fruit
I have seen this season, not excepting any shown at
Taunton, Bath, Trowbridge, and other good shows,
and they easily secured the first prize at our local
exhibition. Plenty of the fruit weighed 8 ozs., and
all were highly coloured. Royal George, Barrington,
and Walburton Admirable, which complete an ex-
cellent selection, all did equally well, and Elruge
and Lord Napier Nectarines also perfected fairly
good crops. I suggested the introduction of a few
maiden Peaches and Nectarines, these being planted
between the old trees, but the latter, in addition to
fruiting well, have pushed a quantity of back growth,
this improving their appearance, and will eventually
well cover the trellis space, so that the young trees
may yet have to make room for them. What was
done in this case might well be imitated elsewhere ;
but I must add, by way of warning, that these trans-
planted trees require a lot of attention, for they
must on no account be allowed to get very dry at
the roots. They have comparatively few roots, and
these for a time depend wholly upon supplies of
water from the surface.
In another garden in this neighbourhood a Peach
house was built early in the year 1885, and finished
in time to admit of its being planted before the
trees outside commenced active growth. Acting on
fiiy advice, this had been anticipated fuUy a year,
several trees having been prepared against a sunny
wall. In addition to these, one large Royal George
Peach was introduced, and the same season this
tree perfected four dozen handsome fruits, some of
which gained a good prize at a local show. This
year it carried fifteen dozen medium-sized, highly-
coloured fruit, these being ripe late in July. In
spite of the heavy crop it has formed excellent
growth, and promises well for another good display
of bloom. The younger trees all bore fairly heavy
crops of fruit, and the whole of the trellis is thinly
covered with bearing wood. In 1886 all spare treUis
spaces were covered with Tomatoes, these giving
very heavy crops. This year the young Vines esta-
blished between the trees on front trellises are each
carrying three or four heavy bunches of Grapes, the
sorts being Black Hamburgh, Foster's Seedling,
Alicante, Gros Maroc, and Muscat of Alexandria.
A shelf was also occupied earlier in the year with
Strawberries in pots. Altogether, the owner has
every reason to be proud of and satisfied with the
results following so quickly upon building. It is
only fair to state that the border was formed prin-
cipally of good tnxfy loam, and I feel certain the
trees and Vines have never been in want of water or
liquid manure.
In the gardens xinder my charge we have annually
had cause to shift a few or several Peach and Nec-
tarine trees. Sometimes they have been brought in
from the outside ; at others, only shifted from one
house to another, but in every case it has been done
when in full leaf, and a failure has never occurred.
Young trees brought in from the open walls are
not adapted for forcing, nor do they often fruit well
the first season after 'removal in a late house.
Young trees for the forcing and successional house
ought, if possible, to be prepared in a later house,
where they ripen their wood better and earlier than
they would outside, this fitting them for gentle
forcing when required. We never attempt to move
them with a large ball of soil about the roots, hav-
ing long since found that masses of soil are not easily
held together by the roots, and are liable to break
away in large pieces, carrying a portion of the roots
with it. The aim with us is to save as many good
roots and fibres as possible, and these distributed
in good compost are not long in starting afresh.
The nearest approach to failure occurred after
nearly a new border had been formed in the earliest
and succession house. All the trees had been re-
planted and re-arranged, and soon after this was
completed, the Chrysanthemums for furnishing ex-
hibition blooms were set along the back part of both
houses. The plants received unlimited supplies of
liquid manure, the greater portion of which passed
through into the border and literally poisoned it.
Not one of the trees did well the following season,
but those along the front of the house and where
no Chrysanthemums stood thrived admirably.
Either Vine or Peach borders well filled with roots,
and, as a consequence, partially exhausted of their
fertility, will be benefited by having a few rows or
banks of Chrysanthemums set on them, but I would
strongly advise those in charge of newly formed
borders to endeavour to flower the Chrysanthemums
elsewhere. W. I.
A good Apple. — I enclose two Apples, one of
last year's crop and the other just from the tree.
It is tree which usuaUy bears well, and the fruit is
often much finer than the specimen. It is one of
the best for cooking, and, as you will see, for keep-
ing. The last year's fruit may not now be of much
worth, there being plenty of fresh. I am not aware
of any tree of the kind elsewhere, and the only
history I can give of it is, that quite seventy years
ago my father, who was curious about fruits, planted
the orchard, and it was his custom to obtain shoots
for grafting of any Apple he met with of special note.
I have four trees of the kind, which are all large
and still vigorous. The stalk, you wiU observe, is
short. Can you kindly teU me the name of it, if it
has one? The Apple of last year was kept in a
cellar which is dry and tolerably airy. — V.
*if* The name of the Apple is Hambledon Deux
Ans. It is a most valuable cooking Apple, and may
also be used for dessert. — Ed.
Sqiiirrels v. stone fruits. — These beautiful
creatures this year, it appears, have been unusually
troublesome to the fruit grower, and much as I
detest taking life, I am constrained to admit that
here we have been obliged to shoot them. Having
an unusually heavy crop of Cobs and Filberts, I was
quite willing to let them have a share, but finding
they had pushed their way into an adjoining Peach
house, the breechloader was brought into requisition.
A few shots drove them away from this part of the
garden, and thinking the change to cooler and
moister weather had appeased their thirst, if not
their hunger, I most gladly gave the words " cease
firing." In this matter it afterwards appeared I had
reckoned without the squirrels, for on looking along
a carefully netted Cherry wall in a distant garden
sheltered by Conifers, I found quite 40 lbs. of
Morellos had been carried off in as many hours. So
clean and neatly had they done their work, that I at
first suspected a different class of marauders, but
the assurance that one or two fine old squirrels had
been seen leaving the trees convinced me that
Morellos were included in their menu. Their
taking the best Peaches and Apricots and Green
Gages in preference to ordinary Plums is nothing
new, but this is my first experience of their making
free with Morello Cherries. Birds as well as animals
this year have been sorely pressed by hunger, and
nets, which in ordinary seasons have scared or
kept out these charming friends, recently have been
quite useless.— W. Coleman.
MELON PLANTS CANKERING.
This disease is the most destructive of any that
attacks the Melon plant, and unless every precau-
tion is taken it is very certain to make its appear-
ance. This is generally when the plants have covered
their allotted space and are swelling off their fruit.
If a plant begins to flag under the sun's power at that
stage, no remedy that I know of wOl stay the progress
of the disease ; the plant may linger and the fruit
swell a little, but it is never good in flavour. It is
clear, therefore, that the disease has been injuring
the plant some time before; consequently the
grower's efforts should be directed towards prevent-
ing its attack, and make a daily examination
of the coUar of the plants. The disease may be
discovered and its progress stopped by the following
method : Draw the soil away from the plant down
to the roots, and allow the stem time to dry. Then
get a few lumps of grey, or as some call it, stone
Sme, fresh from the kiln, and slake it with a few
drops of water until it runs down very fine, which
it wiU do in a few minutes. Rub it round the stem
with the finger while it is hot, allowing it to remain
exposed for twenty-four hours. Give another appli-
cation with some fresh slaked lime, after that a few
handf uls of powdered brick or some coarse sand with
the fine portion washed out. Do not replace the soil,
and avoid moistening it in any way. I have never
known this to fail if taken in time, that is, when
the plant is first attacked. This can be seen by a
small brown spot appearing at the junction of the
stem with the soil immediately above the roots.
As it is best, if possible, to prevent these attacks,
the following things should be avoided. Do not
plant in too great a bulk of soil. It is surprising
what a small amormt of soil a plant will thrive in,
provided other conditions are favourable, such as
bottom-heat and a free drainage. Melons like
plenty of water in the early stages of growth, but it
must pass away quickly. Rich soil is nearly certain
to bring canker, and a light one encourages a loose,
straggling, and unfruitful growth. A rather heavy
loam that has been laid up some time made firm
and without manure suits them best. It is prefer-
able to plant shallow on a ridge ; no water should be
allowed to settle about the stems. Wide variations
of temperature favour canker ; cold water must be
avoided. Melon plants require plenty of sun and
only slight shading to prevent their being scalded,
I have found some sorts more liable to canker
than others. The green-fleshed sorts seem to es-
cape it more than either the white or scarlet-fleshed.
My remarks so far have alluded to Melons grown in
houses with hot-water pipes for bottom-heat. In
manure frames, however, they are grown equally as
well, and owing to the manure less moisture is
needed, whether by syringing or at the roots.
Often watering round the sides of the frame is
sufficient, but a free drainage is equally as neces-
sary. This can he provided by various simple
means. Thomas Record.
SHORT NOTES.— FBiriT.
Pershore Plum. — When lately visiting the gar.
dens at Famborough Grange, I noticed dwarf bushes
of this favourite variety loaded with fruit. Mr. Crook
considers it a very fine variety, and very suitable for
kitchen use. — S.
Apple Blue Pearmain. — This Apple is a per-
fect picture of beauty, the handsomely-shaped fruits
of even outline and fine Pearmain-hke shape being
entirely covered with a dense blue bloom as thick as
that which imparts such loveliness to the Hoary Morn-
ing variety. The eye is closed, inserted in a narrow
base, and the stalk is short. A good sample looks
well on the dessert table. The flesh is yellowish white,
firm, and juicy. — E. C.
Damsons. — While the early-frrdting Farleigh or
Crittenden Cluster Damson has been a drug in the
312
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 8, 1887.
market, and could be disposed of first-hand only at a have some now that are quite firm, and promise to
price that scarcely paid for gathering, the late Prune, keep up the supply under glass. One can hardly
Or Shropshire Damson, is realising good prices, and m expect the quality to be equal to that of earlier
Boston market growers are making 2s. 9d. to -Ss. per | kinds. — J. G. H
peck of 18 lbs. This is the best Damson grown in re-
spect of quality; well-ripeued fruit is good enough for
dessert purposes. It is said by some that this variety
is an uncertain cropper, but it has borne well this
season. — K. D.
UNPRUNED FRUIT TREES.
Mr. Gboom's note on this subject (September
24, p. 274) deserves the serious attention of fruit
growers. The season now drawing to a close
has been a test and a trying one for fruits
in various ways. Fruit -dropping has been spe-
cially prevalent, alike from the drought, the
maggot, over-crops, and winds. Someone has said
that windfalls must not all be credited to the wea-
ther, as the wind only sweeps ofE those already
damaged by maggots or virtually starving off through
short supplies of food. Such writers must have
scant or no experience of Apple, Pear, Plum, or
even Cherry orchards in exposed localities. Like
Mr. Groom, I have these almost cleared of fruit by a
severe hurricane of wind, and quantities of the green
leaves are torn off or rent into fragments. Hence,
the advice to avoid exposed, windy sites for orchards,
and also to depend for our main supplies on small
rather than large trees, unless the sites of our fruit
gardens and orchards are fully protected either by
the natural disposition of the surrounding ground,
by walls, or hedges, or deep belts of trees and shrubs.
Even with these the effects of sudden storms of
wind were often most disastrous this year. We
have a small orchard outside our kitchen garden ;
the trees are comparatively young, but of standard
form, and are allowed to extend without pruning.
These were almost wholly stripped of their fruit by
the first high wind that followed the rain on the
breaking up of the long drought. The same wind
cleared off many of our Plums and even Gages
grown on orchard-shaped trees ; but it scarcely
afEeoted pyramidal Pears, Apples, and Plums grow-
ing within a few yards of the others ; while all our
forms of cordons, such as spiral, diamond, and hori-
zontal ground ones, escaped without harm or loss.
The diamond cordon is 6 feet high, placed on the
side of an open vegetable breadth in the kitchen gar-
den, and, though thickly laden with fine fruit, 1 do
not think one was either bruised or dashed down by
the wind.
It was also most pleasing to turn from the masses
of bruised and battered Plums under the standard
trees to the crops intact on pyramids, and to enor-
mous crops all uninjured on a row of cordons that
■ fringes the walk by the side of the Peach border.
The crops here were so heavy that some of the
supports of the single wire gave way, but the
wind did them no harm.
Of course, the position is sheltered, but it is the
form and the proximity to the ground that enable
ground cordons to defy the wind. Mr. Groom is
also quite right in saying here that Apples and Pears
on the old espaliers were safe against wind. It is a
pity that so many of them were cleared off even to
make room for pyramidal fruit trees, though the
latter, of compact form and sturdy habit — say, 6 feet
high and i feet through — are also virtually proof
against storms. I also prefer diamond cordons to
the old espaliers, for many reasons, one of them
being that the natural grafts formed where the
branches cross, constitute them a living fence and
barrier of sufficient strength and rigidity to resist
the force of the wind to such good purpose as to
retain their crops through the most violent storms.
HOKTTJS.
Iiord Palmerston Peach. — This is decidedly
a very fine variety, and where appearance is of im-
portance, as it certainly is in the case of fruits as
well as other things, this Peach ought to find a place.
I cannot, however, say that when one comes to the
real test of what a good fruit ought to be that Lord
Palmerston can be placed very high in the list, at
least with really good mid-season kinds. Although
considered a mid-season sort, it has with me proved
one of the latest varieties, and in a cold house I
HARDY FRUITS.
Gatheeing and Stoking.
A TEOPICAL autumn having followed a tropical
summer, the ripening of Apples and Pears, owing no
doubt to the dry and warm condition of the sub-
soil, has been unusually rapid, and, notwithstand-
ing the satisfactory effect produced by the 4 inches
of rain which broke up the ten weeks' drought, we,
in this part of the country, have been obliged to
gather many of the heavy varieties quite a fortnight
earlier than we did last year. The terrible hurri-
canes which accompanied the rain cleared many
exposed orchards of a large percentage of the finest
fruit, but, fortunately, that left is bright and clean,
highly coloured, and, on the whole, much larger
than we at one time anticipated. In ordinary sea-
sons we are obliged to watch for favourable oppor-
tunities for picking, as it is very important that
Apples and Pears be perfectly dry when gathered
and taken into the store room. So far, with a firm
glass and very little dew, picking may be carried on
for twelve hours out of the twenty-four, and wise
will be the man who pushes harvesting on to the
close, for once this second spell of dry weather
breaks we may reasonably expect most acceptable,
if less agreeable weather. Next to gathering dry,
all fine fruit should be very carefully handled, laid
in shallow baskets, and at once conveyed to the
shelves, where to make up for quantity it may be
laid one layer thick to ripen. Carried in warm and
full of sun, sweating will be a short process ; still,
provision must be made for the escape of moisture
and the glazing of the fruit by keeping the room as
cool and airy as possible. When stored, the fruit
will require looking over occasionally, but the less
it is handled the better, and when faulty samples,
which by the way should never be admitted, have
been removed, the time of year if not wet weather
will render closing necessary. The sweating pro-
cess over, picked samples of Apples and Pears may
then be selected, folded in silver paper, and put
away in drawers, boxes, or, better still, clean earthen
ware vessels, to prolong their respective seasons. In
ordinary fruit stores subject to fluctuations, espe-
cially to warmth and confined moisture, storing away
even in barrels will add weeks, if not months, to the
period over which many varieties can be kept. But
where light is excluded, and a low, even tempera-
ture is niaintained, the gain perhaps is not quite so
great. A good fruit room built upon approved
principles and 'facing the north, or driven into a
deep solid bank of dry earth, should carry Apples
through the sharpest of our winters without the aid
of fire or internal covering of any kind. Bare lath
shelves of hard, flavourless wood answer best, and
on no account should straw have place above or
below the fruit. The temperature of a really good
Apple room being too low for Pears when they ap-
proach maturity, a brighter, drier, and warmer place
should always be provided for their reception some
little time before they begin to ripen.
they must not forget that September and October
are the months for commencing another year's cul-
ture—first, by a thorough cleansing of the foliage
as soon as the fruit is gathered, and the application
of water to the roots to fit them for underground
operations. When clean— no matter how well they
may have been disbudded— a number of shoots,
those especially from which fruit has been gathered,
must be cut out and those left moved and regulated
to let in sun and air. The wood this season in
moderately managed trees will ripen, but this is an
exceptional year, which may or may not recur
again ; therefore, to prevent the establishment of a
bad precedent in detailed management, there must
be no neglect of the smallest item which might be
absolutely necessary in less propitious years.
Jloot-jJrumni/.— Although the borders have been
well mulched and repeatedly watered, the soil
generally is too dry and hard for root-lifting to be
carried on successfully. One step, however, may be
taken, and that is the removal of the heavy mulch-
ing to let in autumn warmth, and rain likewise
when it comes. I allow my trees a wall path 5 feet
in width, and with the exception of the semi-circular
trench some 6 feet or 8 feet from the stems, which
is opened every year, disturb this solid mass as little
as possible. This trench is carried the -n-idth of the
spade outward each season, and all roots that have
passed into the vegetable border are cut back to
the face of the new loam put in the previous au-
tumn. Every root so shortened then sends out
several feeders, which ramify in the narrow strip of
fresh loam and lime rubble; we know to a few
inches where they are, mulch and water accordingly.
As we never allow a particle of manure to mingle
with the compost, the old mulching some time be-
fore we commence is turned off to the front walk
ready for spreading and forking into the vegetable
soil when root-pruning is finished. Treated in this
way the trees never get too strong, neither do they
suffer from the check, and whenever we wish to
move one or more bodily we can do so without
jeopardising or reducing the quality of the succeed-
ing year's crop. Although I have moved and root-
pruned trees of large size early and late, I find Oc-
tober is the best month, as the ground at that time
retains a little warmth, when a thorough watering
starts fresh rootlets before the leaves fall. My
winter covering for the wall paths is a good inch of
old lime rubble, which makes them clean and fur-
nishes a very important element of food to the roots,
for no matter how calcareous the loam may be, they
must have a good supply to carry the fruit through
the process of stoning. In January we unnail and
wash the trees, and dress the walls with a wash of
quicklime, soot, and Venetian red, which gives them
a pleasing old brick-red appearance and seals up
insects. The borders are then covered with fresh
stable litter, and training is deferred until the
flowers show colour. To some these details^ may
appear expensive and tedious, but such really is not
the case, for the quantity of fresh loam used annu-
ally is trifling ; four or five men used to the work
soon run over the trees and borders— and, after all,
results as well as labour must be taken into con-
sideration.
The Fruit Garden.
Peaclies and Nectarhies. — Of late sorts still hang-
ing on the wall trees, we have Prince of Wales, a
fine, large, deep purple Peach of most delicious
flavour, Walburton, and Late Admirable, Albatross, a
large thick-skinned variety related to and not unlike
Princess of Wales, and Lord Palmerston, also large
and very handsome. One or two correspondents
speak highly of ,this Peach when gathered from
trees under glass, but discourage its growth on
open walls. Here it does extremely well, and, com-
ing in late, is worthy of attention. I cannot say it
is rich and as good as Alexandra Noblesse, for wood-
lice never attack it ; whilst this and its near neigh-
bour Prince of Wales are liberally patronised by
these out-of-sight marauders. Wall Peaches in^ May
never were later ; the same in September, within my
memory, never were earlier, and the trees too are in
splendid condition for another year. If growers of
this fruit would keep their trees well up to their work,
Apricots. — Under the impression that trees on
south walls had all they could possibly require, it
was at one time the custom to take all they would
give, and leave the roots to take care of themselves.
In due course, the roots left the borders, which had
become as hard and poor as mud walls, and
having worked their way downwards and outwards
in search of the moisture denied them at home, the
trees made gross watery wood in cold wet seasons,
cast their flower-buds after dry autumns and
winters, and still further resented their treatment
by withering up to the extent of one-fourth of their
main branches about stoning time. This treatment,
fortunately, has been reversed, and well-managed
trees, although the fruit commercially is less
valuable than the Peach, now receive similar treat-
ment. If we would succeed with the Apricot, the
Moorpark especially, we must make sound calcare-
ous borders a shade deeper than those for Peaches ;
they must be well drained, but unless the subsoil is
wet they need not be concreted, as no modern
Oct. 8, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
313
grower of stone fruits defers lifting and relaying
the roots in a horizontal position after the second
or third autumn from planting. Once laid in the
position we wish them to occupy, annual mulching
and copious watering will soon make the wall path
a wig of surface fibres, and the semicircular trench
thrown out every autumn will keep gross roots out
of the vegetable portion of the border. Worked
upon a kindred stock, the root treatment which
suits the Peach agrees with the Apricot, but when
we turn our attention to the shoots and branches, a
most decided deviation in point of management
becomes necessary. From Peaches on walls we
always obtain our main crop from the wood of the
preceding year. From the Apricot for years in suc-
cession the bulk of the fruit is gathered from spurs,
and as these are formed artificially as well as
naturally, we secure fruit-bearing wood in the Peach
by disbudding, in the Apricot by persistent pinch-
ing. When the young wood in the Apricot is well
ripened it also produces fruit of the finest size and
quality, but when the tree has filled its allotted
space, the spurs, which should be kept close to the
wall, have to be depended upon ; and as these pro-
duce an enormous number of leaves which perspire
freely, the first care should be an abundant supply
of water throughout the growing season. Many
fruit trees, notably the Apple and Pear, which do
not mature the crop before September or October,
generally plump up their buds under the influence
of autumn rains, but the Apricot, precocious in the
spring, often undergoes the ordeal of the two hottest
months of the year after the fruit is gathered, and
although the practice is too common, the with-
holding of water during that period starves the
roots when they ought to be feeding freely. Apri-
cots that have been well mulched and watered and
now have the run of thoroughly moist borders will
finish their buds and start well in the spring ;
where they have been neglected and the substratum
is dry, better late than never, the hose should at
once be turned upon them. If the borders are
poor as well as dry, the mulching may remain;
otherwise it should be removed, as moisture of a
non-stimulating nature will feed the flower without
forcing the wood-buds. AVhen old trees become
barren and the spurs wild, if otherwise sound and
healthy, they will pay for careful lifting and relay-
ing in fresh compost. October is the best month for
the performance of this work, always provided the
borders are properly moistened beforehand, other-
wise the best of the few fibrous roots embedded in
hard clods get broken off during the operation.
When trimmed, shortened, and relaid on a new bed
of loam, with a few inches of fine soil cast over
them, the roots should be well washed home with
pure water, finally covered to the proper depth and
mulched with fresh stable litter. A few of the
worst spurs may be shortened back at the winter
pruning; but, a double check being undesirable,
the chief onslaught should be deferred untU the
autumn following. I lately saw a set of very old
trees which I had advised a friend to lift and reno-
vate ; but he went beyond me, for he carried
them bodily to another garden, and so well have
they done, he is now wishing for another set to ope-
rate upon.
Planting. — Koot-pruning and renovating, as a
matter of course, take precedence of planting.
Strawberries excepted; but when this work is
finished, preparations for young trees should be
made without delay. October and November are
the best autumn months for planting, as the roots
then take to the soil before the summer warmth is
exhausted, and, provided they are well mulched,
such trees pass through dry springs, if not with
impunity, certainly with a minimum of attention.
The wood being ripe, the leaves will fall early ; but
it will not be wise to disturb young trees, especially
in trade nurseries, until the soil upon which they
are now growing, as well as that to which they are
to be transferred, is fairly well moistened by rain.
At the present time the surface only is moist, whilst
a few inches down the soil is as dry as a limekiln ;
but, with the exception of increasing the labour,
this condition will not interfere with trenching and
getting the compost intended for the roots wheeled
or carted to the ground, ready for future use. In-
deed, those who can now turn up these hard clods
to the influence of the atmosphere will by and by
find the soil working as it has not worked for some
years. Where trees are now growing in the home
nvirsery, the water-cart or hose will soon fit them
for removal ; and the same appliances in like manner
will soften the soil and the bottoms of the stations
where dry weather is the only hindrance. Taken
in a methodical way, bush fruits come first, then
Plums and Cherries, and, last of all, the Pear and
the Apple.
Strawberries. — August no doubt is the best month
for making permanent beds, but this has been an
exceptional year, and I question if many broad
breadths will not be planted in October. This, I
must admit, is our position, bat the plants being
good and the soil warm, it is just possible they will
overtake August beds, especially where the latter
have not been well supplied with water. Spider
having been unusually troublesome, the plants
should be dipped before they are turned out, well
watered home, and mulched immediately. The
best and cheapest dip for catching spider and mil-
dew is a tubful of soapsuds, to which a pound or
two of flowers of sulphur, first reduced to a paste,
has been added, and the best i^reventive of their re-
appearance is a deep, rich soil, freely mulched and
copiously watered. If pot plants cannot be put
out at once, after being well soaked and cleansed,
they will take least harm and give least trouble in
well-prepared nursery beds, where they may re-
main till March or AprU. Early plantations will
now require looking over, and if any of the plants
have failed, all gaps must be made good, runners
and weeds removed preparatory to the application
of the winter mulching. To say what must be used
would be absurd, as the mulch must depend upon
the state of the manure heap, and where this fails,
an old Mushroom bed or the discarded soil from a
Vine border will do no harm. Old beds in like
manner will pay for a good coating of rich soil well
worked into the stools, if not all over the surface,
the preliminary, as a matter of course, being the
removal of weeds and late runners. October water-
ing is an unusual operation, but better pump out
the liquid manure tanks, or give the old stools pure
water than allow them to feel the ill-effects of the
drought throughout the winter. W. C.
Orchids.
ORCHIDS AT STUDLEY HOUSE.
This is a dull season for Orchids, but there are
several things of interest in bloom in the represen-
tative collection of Mr. Tautz, and among them a
few Lady's Slippers, which are here a specialty and
occupy the best portion of a large house. Of this
genus in bloom, one of the most distinct is C. mar-
morophyllum, which is the result of a cross between
C. Hookerte and C. barbatum biflorum, described
in our report of the last South Kensington meeting,
October 1 (p. 306). There are also very good forms
of C. barbatum biflorum and C. conoolor, the latter
varying considerably in respect to the spottings of
the flower. In this variety they are neat and thickly
spotted with small dots on a yellow ground. A
variety of C. Dayanum named superbum was also
in bloom; the foliage is attractively variegated, and
the dorsal sepal is narrow and tapers to a point,
the ground colour being white overlaid with bright
green veins; the petals are about 3 inches long, the
greenish colouring changing to dull pink at the tips,
the margin lined with hairs. One of the finest of
the Cypripedes is C. Spicerianum magnificum, which
has much larger and finer flowers than those of the
ty pe ; the dorsal sepal is of great width and sub-
stance, snow-white, save a pale suffusion of pink in
the middle, and a conspicuous crimson stripe down
the channelled centre; the petals are greenish
striped with brown, and the lip is a rich shade of
the latter hue, the form bold and shapely; it is
appropriately named. C. superciliare, of which
there is a good specimen, has the character of C.
superbiens with the foliage handsomely tessellated ;
the petals are greenish and have conspicuous warts
on the surface, while the dorsal sepal is coloured
vrith green and crimson stripes; the lip -is deep
brown. C. Harrisianum was in bloom, and the vare
C. Tautzianum and C. Marsballianum were also
showing flower; the foliage of the latter is mottled
with deep green on a lighter ground, and is some-
thing like the mottling on the leafage of a Phalaj-
nopsis, but not so bright. The beautiful C. Fairie-
anum will shortly be in full beauty; it blooms
freely, and thrives well in this collection. There
was also a plant in flower of C. Roezli grandiflorum,
which has certainly larger flowers than the parent,
but they are greener and less beautiful. It they
were of the same lovely rose hue as the type this
variety would be a decided acquisition. There is
also a distinct variety of C. insigne; the dorsal
sepal narrower and more freely spotted than in the
typical form.
Besides Cypripediums, there are several other
Orchids blooming now, and one of the brightest is
Lfelia marginata, which is like the beautiful L.
Dayana, and also in its compactness of form
similar to L. priestans. It is larger than L.
Dayana, the sepals and petals warm rose, with a lip
of an intense velvety purple. It does well suspended
from the roof. The line Brazilian Cattleya bicolor
was represented by an excellent variety. When the
flower first opens the sepals and petals are green,
but change with age to a curious bronzy tinge,
which intensifies the vivid purple colouring of the
lip, margined with creamy white. The blooms of
reaUy good forms are very handsome. Cattleya
Dowiana and the autumn-liowering C. labiata are
also showing flower. We noticed a late bloom of
C. Mendelli with a beautifully frilled lip, white at
the margin, and purple in the centre, the base being
yellow ; the sejials and petals are bright pink.
Zygopetalum Gautieri was bearing robust spikes of
bloom ; the sepals and petals are narrow and
pointed, green, heavily blotched with dull brown,
while the lip is purple at the base, shading to a
paler hue, the curious toothed process near the
column being of a richer tint. A specimen of
Acineta Barkeri was carrying a strong pendent
spike of its large rich yellow flowers. Miltonia
Regnelli purpurea was also blooming, and the
flowers, in addition to being larger than those
of the type, ha^■e more colour. Oncidium prjetex-
tum, with its brownish blooms, was noteworthy,
owing to its having been flowered out of doors.
0. crispum had also been treated in the same way,
and, judging from their condition, this system of
cultivation is very successful. The plants are sus-
pended from the branches of the trees, and never
suffer from their change of condition during the
summer months. It seems, from Mr. Tautz's ex-
periments, that Orchid growing out of doors is not
such a delusion as some would have us think.
Mr. Cowley, under whose care the Orchids are
placed, is also hybridising, so that in time we may-
expect some treasures from a collection so rich in
rare species and varieties. E. C.
Cattleya Wag eneri. — This rare plant is a white
form of C. Mossise, and occasionally comes in
an importation of that species, but it still remains
very scarce. It was first exhibited by the Messrs.
Jackson, of Kingston, at the June show at the Re-
gent's Park Gardens, in 1857. During the past
summer I saw it flowering in the Holloway Nursery,
and a fine illustration of it appeared in the August
number of the Oirliid Alhum (t. 295). Mr. Wil-
liams says his plant was rather more deeply stained
with yellow in the throat than the original form,
but it is none the less beautiful. — AV. H. G.
CypripedlTim Fairieanum. — This is a very
uncommon member of the Lady's Slipper family,
and as beautiful as rare, which cannot with truth
be said of all rarities. Some years ago a very fine
specimen of this species, measuring upwards of 2
feet across, existed in the Kew collection, but it
has long since disappeared, and it may now be
reckoned amongst the rarest of this now j^opular
genus. A very finely coloured variety of this plant
is now flowering with Mr. Measures, The AA''oodlands,
Streatham, who esteems it as one of the greatest
gems of his rich collection. The plant is supposed
to grow wild in Assam but none of the numerous
314
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 8, 1887.
latter-day collectors appear to have found it, and it
yet remains very scarce in Orchid collections. Who-
ever first succeeds in introducing a goodly number
of it in a living state will reap a rich harvest. A
figure of this .species appeared in Vol. III. of The
Garden (p. 431).— W. H. G.
Trichopilia Wagneri. — This is a distinct, but
scarcely beautiful Trichopilia, as it lacks the fra-
grance and colour characteristic of many of the
species of this charming genus. The ilowers are
comparatively small ; the sepals and petals narrow
and greenish, with a thin white margin ; the lip,
the upper portion of which overlaps the column, as
in T. crispa and other kinds, is pure white, the only
colour being a sufEusion of yellow at the entrance
to the throat ; the margin is delicately fimbriated.
There is a specimen in bloom at Kew. — E. C.
Vanda Amesiasa. — This distinct new species
was introduced by Messrs. Low, of Clapton, some
few years ago, but only one plant was found pro-
miscuously in a consignment from the Indian
islands. It is quite a new type, and has been
named by Prof. Reichenbach after Mr. F. L. Ames,
of Massachusetts, who is one of the largest Orchid
growers in America, and to whom I believe this
unique plant is about to be sent, so that English
growers should urge upon the Messrs. Low to re-
introduce this beautiful species. A fine figure of
this plant appeared in the August number of the
Orchid Album, t. 296.— W. H. G.
Vanda cserulea. — There are three or four well-
grown specimens of this lovely Orchid in bloom at
Kew, and it is curious to note the comparatively
wide difference as regards the colouring and shape
of the flowers. In the best variety the flowers are
of a delightful paUid blue, veined with a deeper
shade, and the linear oblong lip is still richer. To
associate the flowers with more vividly coloured
Orchids destroys the delicate soft tint, but placed
with a background of deep greenery the delightful
colouring is brought out. Vanda caeralea is one of
the many fine Indian Orchids, and is found on the
Khasya Mountains. — E. C.
Angrascum Scottianum. — This distinct and
interesting Angrfecum was introduced by Sir John
Kirk from the Comora Isles, and is now in flower at
Kew. It is at once distinguished by the terete or
thong-like leaves, which in the specimen under
notice were 4 inches or 5 inches in length. The
peduncle springs from the axil of the leaf and the
flowers remind one of those of A. eburneum, but
are smaller ; the sepals and petals are narrow, and
almost hidden by the large shell-shaped lip of glisten-
ing whiteness. As in A. Kotschyi, the slender spur
is of considerable length and light brown in colour.
It is a choice and valuable species, though apparently
not very robust. — E. C.
SHORT NOTES.— ORCSIDS. .
Oneidium Lanceanum liouvrexianum. —
This variety flowered in the collection of Mr. S.
Brown, DigswcU House, Welwyu, in July of the present
year. My experience of this Orchid agrees with that
of " yr. H. G." in The Garden Sept. 24 (p. 280), viz.,
that it enjoys strong heat and moisture in conjunction
with light and air. I grow it in a hanging basket with
very little potting material . This, like its allied species,
O. Cavendishianum, is remarkable for the absence of
pseudo-bulbs. — A. J.
Oneidium Jonesianum.— This finely-coloured
Oncid is blooming now in the Kew collection. The
leaves are dark green and slender, and the flowers are
home in graceful racemes. The sepals and petals are
■wavy at the margin, and light sulphur, spotted with
rich brownish crimson, and there are a few irregular
spots of the same hue on the base of the bi-lobed,
wavy, pure white lip. The crest is white, and on either
side of the column there is a yellow-coloured winged-
like process. — E. C.
Scutiearia Steell. — This ia in bloom now in
several collections. It is an epiphyte of very distinct
character, the whip-like leaves attaining a length of
4 feet when the plant is in vigorous health, and the
colour is of the deepest green. The scape bears one
to three flowers, which are fragraut and large, the
sepals and petals being blotched more or less with deep
chocol!).te-brown ; the obovate lip has a white ceutr
and the latei'al lobes are lined with crimson ; the
toothed crest bright yellow. It does best on a block.
— E. C.
Plial^nopsis Marie. — This is in bloom at Kew,
and in its rich spottings resembles the lovely P. suma-
trana, a sppcies not so often seen as its rare beauty
would lead us to expect. In P. Marie the flowers are
produced in a pendent raceme, the sepals and petals
finely barred with chestnut on a white gi'ound ; the
lip is bright violet, and at the apex has a dense hairy
tuft. It is now becoming well established in collec-
tions.—E. C.
Public Gardens.
BATTERSEA PARK.
The sub-tropical bedding system, for which this
small, but well-wooded park is famous, is well
carried out this season, and a few of the designs
are exceedingly tasteful without approaching
in any degree that uniformity and unnaturalness
characteristic of the geometrical style of garden-
ing happily now fast going out of favour. At
the entrance to the sub-tropical department the
Ghost tree, or Acer Negundo variegata, is used as
it ought to be, that is in association with dark-
leaved subjects so as to bring out the brightness
of the leaves. This ornamental tree is far too
often used in vDla gardens where the bricks are
frequently of a similar colour to the foliage,
the result being an incongruous effect. Near
by this bed there is a picturesque old Yucca
supported with stakes, up which Virginian
Creepers are climbing, the foliage now assuming
rich colours. A border set off by trees and
shrubs is filled with scarlet-flowered Cannas as a
background, then the Love - lies - bleeding
(Amaranthus), the drooping crimson racemes
having a quaint appearance ; it is a curious
mixture, but one bed is sufficient in a garden.
Another bed, which we thought the prettiest of
all, by reason of its free, natural character, was
one filled in the centre with Vitis heterophylla,
mingled with it being the variegated Japanese
Honeysuckle, then edgings of Alternanthera,
Spergulapiliferaaurea, and Stoneorop. To relieve
the flatness of the arrangement. Acacia lophantha
was planted in the middle, and the result was a
happy effect. Single Dahlias were in full flower,
and seen in the form of large banks, their useful-
ness and showiness are well displayed. We
wish that in some of the odd spots where there
is space for flowers, but which is not utilised, that
some of the handsome, bold-growing perennial
Sunflowers, which make a brilliant show of
colour, were planted. If hardy perennials of
this kind, together with a good selection of the
dwarf and free-blooming Michaelmas Daisies,
were used, our parks would not look so ragged
as is usually the case in the autumn, when they
might be almost as gay as in summer. The
Sweet-scented Tobacco (Nicotiana aflinis) was
tastefully worked in, and in a conspicuous posi-
tion there was a plant of the compact variety of
the Giant Knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum)
It was flowering freely, the leafage denser and
more crinkled than in the type, and forming a
dense bushy specimen, but it lacks the grace and
elegance of the vigorous growing parent. This
would be more often used were it not such a
rampant weed. A large bed had a fine sub
tropical appearance planted with well-grown
specimens of the Blue Gum tree (Eucalyptus
globulus), hiding partly the stems of which were
blue Ageraturas, the edging being the useful
Veronica Anderson! variegata, which also makes
a useful plant for pots. White Phloxes made a
good display, and there were fine India rubber
plants, the leafage vigorous and of deep colour.
In a shady nook overhung by trees and covered
with grassy slopes. Ferns of various kinds were
made to look as natural as possible by effective
planting. There were tall-growing specimens of
Areoa lutescens, Latania borbonioa, Stag's-horn
Fern, Bii-d's-nest Fern, Zamias, and the noble
Dicksonia antarctica. A delightful feature was
the Canary Creeper, one mass of yellow bloom
and clambering over a hedge with Clematis. It
was like what we saw at Boxhill, where the
Traveller's Joy smothers the hedges. There
were a few clumps of the Jajjanese Anemone,
but not so many as we might expect considering
the beauty, hardiuess, and vigorous character of
this lovely autumn flower. The foliage of the
trees is almost as fresh as in early summer, and
this is remarkable considering the past season
and the nearness of the park to London.
E. C.
Proposed park for Brixton. — The Marquis of
Carmarthen, M:P., presided, on Saturday last, at a
large open-air meeting, the object of which was to
secure the grounds of Ealeigh House as a public
park. It was decided to raise a subscription towards
the purchase of the grounds, in order that the
matter might be reconsidered by the vestry on dif-
ferent terms than at the meeting on the previous
Thursday. It was also arranged to memorialise the
Metropolitan Board of Works to assist in the
scheme.
Surplus plants from, the London parks. —
We learn that the Commissioners of Her Majesty's
Works and Public Buildings will, this autumn, dis-
tribute among the working classes and the poor
inhabitants of London the surplus bedding-out
plants in Battersea, Hyde, the Regent's and Victoria
Parks, and in the Royal Gardens, Kew, and the
pleasure gardens, Hampton Court. If the clergy,
school committees, and others interested will make
application to the superintendent of the park nearest
to their respective parishes, or to the director of
the Royal Gardens, Kew, or to the superintendent
of Hampton Court Gardens, in the cases of persons
residing in those neighbourhoods, they will receive
early intimation of the number of plants that can
be allotted to each applicant, and of the time and
manner of their distribution.
PRIZES FOR BORDER CARNATIONS.
Seeing in our garden the great beauty and
value of self-coloured Carnations for summer
flowering, we propose, in order to encourage the
raising of flne kinds, to give prizes to the raisers of
the best self or border Carnations which shall be
sent to be tried by us.
There will be three equal prizes of £3, one for
each group of colour.
(1) will comprise whites, creams, and yellows.
(2) reds, embracing cloves and purples.
(3) embracing all colours in which the flakes or
markings are harmoniously blended ; show Carna-
tions and Picotees may be included in this group.
For the best Carnation sent, not embraced in these
colours, an extra prize of £3 will be given.
Selfs and harmoniously coloured kinds are mostly
desired, but no kind or class will be refused a fair
trial. 'The best Carnation in each class will be
figured in The Gabdbn if it prove sui^erior to or
distinct from kinds already known.
Not less than six plants, rooted this year, of
each should be sent in during the month of
October. A''arious kinds may be sent by any one
person.
Each variety should have its name (or a num-
ber), the colour, and the sender's name clearly writ-
ten on the label, and be forwarded by parcel post to
Carnuticnt, care of Mr. Bond, West Hoathley, Sussex.
The prizes will be awarded next August. The
plants will be judged by the editor of The Gabden
entirely from the point of view of their beauty in the
flower garden, and without reference to any pre-
viously accepted standard. They will be all grown
fully exposed in the open air, away from a wall
or any other shelter.
Oct. 8, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
315
Rose Garden.
T. W. GIRDLESTONE.
BOULE DE NEIGE.
The year 1867 was a notable one for light Roses.
The arrival at that date of such celebrities as La
France and Baroness Rothschild, not to men-
tion EHe Morel, still often a very useful pale
Rose, seems to have been foreshadowed by the
distribution the previous season of Mdlle.
Th&ese Levet, Monsieur Noman, and Princess
Mary of Cambridge, but it was in 1867 that Rose
amateurs were excited by the announcement of a
pure white Hybrid Perpetual, and there were
classed with the Hybrid Noisettes, of which
there are now a good many; but although it
was one of the first, it is also still the best of its
class. It is not often seen at exhibitions, be-
cause its flowers lack the depth and perfection
of form requisite in show Roses now-a-days ;
but any white Rose that is to supersede it as a
garden plant or for furnishing large trusses of
bloom for cutting will have to possess a great
many good qualities,'for Boule deNeige makes an
exceptionally handsome plant, having very deep
green lustrous foliage, and producing its snowy
flowers in great clusters, which, if cut entire
with good long stalks, make a very teUing dis-
cidedly climbing habit of growth in the case of the
second and third, which make useful pillar Roses,
as do two more recent seedlings from Schwartz,
namely, Madame Alfred Carridre and Fanny de
Forest, the latter an erect-growing, rather rosy
white, the former an immensely vigorous
climber, producing an abundance of most
charming white flowers, tinted with pale yellow
at the base. Madame Louis Henry (Vve.
Ducher, 1879) and Caroline Schmidt (Schmidt,
1882) complete the list of Hybrid Noisettes
that are worth growing ; and for a small collec-
tion anyone wanting the best three would do
well to select Coquette des Blanches and
Kose Boule de Neige. Engraved for The Gakden from a photograph.
then sent to this coiintry three white Roses
which are still unsurpassed in their respective
lines. Of this trio, by far the most important
was one sent out by the great raiser (who has given
the world more first-rate Roses than anyone else)
Lacharme, under the name of Boule de Neige (of
which an engraving is here given), a Rose whose
whiteness has never been excelled, and not even
equalled among large-flowered Hybrid Perpe-
tuals untU the arrival of the progeny of Baroness
Rothschild — Mabel Morrison in 1878, and
White Baroness and MerveUle de Lyon in
1882.
Presumably Boule de Neige originated from a
cross with some Noisette, and it is generally
play in large vases. The plant is hardy enough,
free-flowering, and one of the most constant
autumn bloomers, its flowers being as pure in
September as in July ; whUe it succeeds admir-
ably either as a bush, or as a standard, or trained
up a pillar, growing on Brier stock or on its
own roots. In the latter state, however, it is
not always easy to obtain, as cuttings of this
Rose do not strike at all readily.
Coquette des Alpes, Coquette des Blanches,
and Perle des Blanches were also sent out by
Lacharme, and Perfection des Blanches by
Schwartz, and all four are white Roses with
rather small flowers, but a similar inflorescence
to that of Boule de Neige, but with a more de-
Madame Alfred Carriere in addition to Boule
de Neige.
Autumn Roses.— Grand as nearly all the Tea
varieties have been this autumn, none have been
finer than Catherine Mermet, Eubens, and Souvenir
d'Elise Yardon, which throughout the month of
September have afforded an unfaUing supply of
flowers. The first-named especially has constantly
produced glorious blooms, which would even have
gladdened the heart of an exhibitor in July, their
perfect form and purity of colour not haviug been
marred by the attacks of thrips, which early in this
month disfigured some of the handsomest flowers of
Souvenir d'Elise. Catherine Mermet this year
316
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 8, 1887.
occupies the proud position of the Tea that has
been most siicoessfally exhibited during the season,
and the claim that has often been put forward on
its behalf, that it is the best of all non-climbing
Teas, is certainly supported by the fact that it pro-
duces finer and more perfect flowers in autumn
than any other variety — flowers, moreover, which
rarely fail to expand, and are always quite in cha-
racter, not lacking colour, as is so often the case
with Roses late in the year.^T. W. G.
BEAUTIFUL ROSE FRUITS.
It is satisfactory to find Mr. T. Smith, of
Newry, drawing attention in The Garden, Sept.
10 (p. 235), to the beauty of the harvest decora-
tion of many of the single and semi-double
Roses, whose gay heps in not a few instances
make a far more brilliant and lasting display
than the autumn bloom of some vaunted Per-
petuals. A few of these single Roses are pretty
well known, such as the varieties of rugosa,
which are exceedingly handsome now with their
great crimson hep.s, and their foliage just begin-
ning to turn to gold ; but there are many which
deserve to be far more generally grown, as well
for their autumn display of fruit as for their
flowers in summer. In addition to the usual
forms of R. rugosa, there is the immensely
vigorous R. kamtschatica, whose heps, though
smaller than those of rugosa, are rather brighter
in colour, and, being found in clusters of three
to seven, are also effective. Then R. pomifera
is another species bearing immense heps of a
deep crimson colour, which give the plant a most
striking appearance.
Of all Roses, perhaps none are more fruitful
than the common Sweet Brier and its numerous
varieties, and at the present moment a hedge of
this delicious Rose of the fragrant leaf is simply
a mass of scarlet heps, in vivid contrast to the
prevailing green of the so-called Perpetuals,
which it borders ; while the giant of the family,
the great double marbled Sweet Brier, is covered
with proportionately large oval heps, rather
more of an orange-scarlet in colour. R. pul-
verulenta, too, has a magnificent hep, generally
borne singly, but of great size and of a distinct,
clear orange colour. This Rose makes a very
effective plant on the rockery, where, owing to
its growth being somewhat less vigorous, the
orange heps show out with even more telling
distinctness than where the plant grows
vigorously.
Rosa rubrifolia is an exquisite single Rose
which ought to be grown in every garden. Even
when leafless its red stems are more ornamental
than those of most other Roses, but when the
plant is in flower it is quite irresistible, the
tender and unique shade of rose colour of the
numberless blossoms with the pervading bluish
tint of the foliage making the most delicate and
harmonious combination of colour conceivable.
Nor does the attraction of the plant cease with
the shattered petals, for now the autumn sun is
caught by the more or less globular crimson
heps, which hang all over the plant in bunches
of from fifteen to thirty almost after the fashion
of Mountain Ash berries. Among the best half-
dozen single Roses, either for flower or fruit,
Rosa rubrifolia (which deserves an attractive and
descriptive English name) should unquestionably
occupy a prominent positicm.
The heps of the various forms of R. Beggeri-
ana are too small to be very decorative on the
plant, altliough their brilliant and wax-like
surface renders them extremely beautiful indi-
vidually ; but those of R. macrautha are very
handsome, ripening and hanging the latest of
all. There are, however, few Roses whose
fruits are more beautiful, either individually or
collectively, than some of the North American
species. R. Woodsi, for instance, holds erect
on its smooth red shoots branching bunches of
heps, each bunch consisting of from seven heps
upwards, and each globular hep gleaming as
though its shining surface were composed of the
finest scarlet sealing-wax rather than of any
fugitive vegetable tissue. The foliage of R.
Woodsi also becomes beautifully variegated
with red and yellow during the autumn, afford-
ing additional attraction and greatly enhancing
the value of the fruit-bearing branches when
these are employed in the cut state for the
decoration of vases. Another valuable species
is R. lucida, whose fruits, though bearing some
resemblance to the last-named, are even brighter
and deeper in colour, while its glossy leaves are
so persistent that the plant may almost be
ranked as sub-evergreen. The fruits of these
two species in particular make an exceptionally
pretty dinner-table decoration if hep-bearing
shoots are arranged in the usual small glasses
about 5 inches high, and some of the coloured
leaves are allowed to lie on the cloth, for the
heps being of moderate size are not top-heavy
in slender glasses, and both they and the colotired
leaves light up wonderfully well at night.
Now that all these beautiful single Roses are
so easily obtainable, there is no longer any
excuse for their being neglected, and it cannot
be reasonably urged against them that they are
not "autumnals" when they provide such a
brilliant display of fruit, while many a so-called
Hybrid Perpetual produces some solitary flower,
in all probability utterly out of character and
hardly able to expand for mildew. The single
Roses can at any rate be recommended for pro-
fusion of flower and fruit, for their exemption
from the ordinary Rose diseases, and for a dis-
position to flourish exceedingly in any soil or
situation with a minimum of attention.
T. W. G.
ROSES FOR BUTTON-HOLES.
It is a not uncommon failing with a great many
people to think that any Rose bud is good enough
and graceful enough for a button-hole, when as a
matter of fact the number of varieties furnishing
buds suitable for this purpose is extremely small.
In a majority of cases the bud selected for a button-
hole by the amateur bouquetist is some plump ex-
amiDle of a Tea Rose that normally produces large
flowers, such as Souvenir d'un Ami or d'Elise, or
even (linrrihik dictu!) of Gloire de Dijon, too large
for common decency to admit of more than one
being used, and the employment of only one neces-
sarily involving a lumpish and inelegant appear-
ance. Any such undesirable effect, however, may
be a\oided by using only the buds of Roses which
have not many petals, and whose buds consequently
are long and pointed rather than at all globular, or
else, better still, by taking buds so small that two
or three may be used together. The great difficulty
in the latter case is to find varieties whose buds
while still small enough are yet sufficiently matured
to show their colour eiTectively ; but there are,
nevertheless, some Roses which api^ear specially
adapted for this purpose, and which are very well
worth cultivating in considerable numbers where
button-holes are in constant requisition, or where
made up for competition at Rose shows. It is
among the Tea-scented Roses that the most useful
varieties are to be found, and the best and most
beautiful of all is Ma Capucine, which furnishes the
most bewitching buds imaginable, of that colour
which the French call oapucin, but so shaded with
apricot and orange-red as to be very difficult to
describe. These buds, however small they may be,
are always attractive, because their petals are
coloured throughout— that is to say, the back of the
petals is as bright as the inner side ; indeed, they
get sun-painted on the outside, when they resemble
nothing so much in colour as the side of a ripe
Apricot which has caught the sun and has got a
red cheek. The plant is not of climbing habit, but
grows and flowers freely, and is, like most of its
race, a good autumnal, and where it has been once
grown it is not likely ever to be allowed to go out of
cultivation.
Another very beautiful variety is Madame
Francois Janin, of similar habit and florifcrousness,
but with buds of a pure orange-yellow tint, rarely
shaded or marked with any other colour ; these are
freely produced, and are also \ery bright while still
quite small. Madame Perny is another Rose with
beautiful buds of a rather paler and more tawny
yellow colour, which are available for the purpose
under notice, although one of the most attractive
features of the variety lies in the development of
the flowers upon the plant, for in spite .of the
decided tawny yellow colour of the buds, the full-
blown flowers are quite white, and being only semi-
double, with immense round petals, they have
earned the name of the Butterfly Rose, from their
appearing exactly like great white butterflies setting
on the tree. However, the variety is a free and
perpetual bloomer, so that a large supply of buds
may be cut without sacrificint;- the unique appear-
ance of the plant bearing expanded blossoms.
The smart little buds of the deep tawny yellow
Hybrid Polyantha Perle d'Or make charming button-
holes, and are small enough to be etlectively
employed two or three at a time. It is a pity that
the buds of all the other varieties of these miniature
Roses are too globular and lacking in finish to be
available, as the plants are most convenient to
cultivate, taking very little room, requiring no
pruning, and blooming incessantly. There is, how-
ever, a small-flowered pink Rose, three of whose
buds cut in a very young state make a good button-
hole, namely. Rivers' Musk, from a single plant of
which, owing to its immense vigour and to the
enormous clusters of flowers it produces, an unend-
ing supply of buds may be obtained without
detracting from the appearance of the tree. ;
For button-holes that are to consist of only one
Rose bud there is no variety to approach Madame
ChiSdane Guinoisseau, whose long, pure canary-
yellow buds are simply perfect. It is a great pity
that this lovely Tea should be burdened with such
a terrible name, but the incubus happily does not
prevent it from growing freely, nor from producing
continuously throughout the season its delicious
fiowers, too thin except in a cool or wet summer for
exhibition, but in the bud state most beautiful.
L'Elegante is another charming long-budded Tea,
with white petals edged with rosy-pink, a very
pretty combination of colour, which is recalled in
the recent Marquise de Vivens, a new Tea whose
buds wUI be found acceptable for bouquets, though
neither variety is large enough nor full enough for
exhibition. Of course, Safrano and Mdme. Falcot
are too well known to require more than naming,
and for forcing in winter Sunset may also be in-
cluded for its extreme freedom, though its colour is
hardly so fine as the fore-named pair. There is one
class of Roses whose buds appear perfectly adapted
to the making of button-holes, but which, neverthe-
less, should be carefully avoided. These are the
single Roses, whose buds, however elegant in form
they may be when cut, develop so rapidly, even in a
few hours, that the wearer of what was originally
the daintiest of bouquets may before long, when
his three tiny buds have expanded, find himself with
button-hole enough to make him as conspicuous as
a flunkey on drawing-room days, and yet not quite
sufficiently expansive to cover his modest blushes.
There is no doubt that there has been a tendency
among rosarians more than among the special devo-
tees of any other florist's flower to make one class
of Rose serve all purposes. The same variety is ex-
pected to make a good bedder and also to be a good
climber ; to furnish flowers large enough for exhibi-
tion while yielding graceful buds for sprays and
bouquets ; and if a Rose fails, naturally enough, to
prove itself the Admirable Crichton of its race, it is
sure to incur complaints. The unreasonableness of
this kind of expectation is obvious, and as long as
attempts are made to get the great and glorious
back-row" flowers for the exhibition and the
Oct. 8, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
317
button-holes for dinner from the same plant, dis-
satisfaction must ensue ; either the flowers for the
show will not be large enough or else the buds will
be much too lumpy for bouquets, and in the mean-
time the exquisite varieties so eminently suited to
the latter use will go out of cultivation or be lost
sight of. If people would only pay a little more
attention to the adaptability of the Roses they plant
to the purposes for which they plant them — would
give up trying to cover arches with comparatively
dwarf-growing Hybrid Perpetuals instead of the
splendidly rampant Ayrshires, for instance ; and for
the furnishing of button-hole bouquets would grow
Ma Capucine instead of Gloire de Dijon — there
would be fewer disappointments, and the Rose gar-
den would be made productive of infinitely more
beautiful effects than is at present generally the
case. T. w! G.
Boses and bulbs. — I quite agree with "Ve-
ronica," in The Garden, September 2i (p. 267),
that the two kinds of plants named may be grown
well together. I prefer Hyacinths to Daiiodils, for
the reason that the Roses (dwarfs) if thickly planted
interfere a little with the foliage of the Daffodils,
as this is larger than that of Hyacinths. Where
standard or half standard Roses, however, are
planted, then the Daffodils are in the right position.
It is merely a matter of taste as to how Hyacinths
are planted as regards the colours, whether they be
mixed indiscriminately or one separate colour al-
lotted to each bed. Where the beds are small this
latter plan answers best. In the winter a covering
of rotten manure is laid over the beds, and over
this for appearance sake some Cocoa-nut fibre.
Through both these coverings the Hyacinths grow,
and a capital effect is produced during the spring
months when the Hyacinths are in flower. — S.
SHORT NOTES.— ROSBS.
Grloire des Eosomanes.— This old, but brilliant
semi-double Rose is now among the gayest things in
the garden. The flower has not very many petals, but
a dependable autumnal Rose of such telling crimson
colour, bright and fresh on Michaelmas Day, is not
to he despised, especially when the plant is a very
vigorous grower and makes a big bush or a good
climber.— T. W. G.
The two new Roses, The Bride and ComtesSe
de Prigneuse, continue to furnish beautifid blooms
(Sept. 26), which afford no excuse for believing these
varieties to be otherwise than very first-rate additions
to the Tea-scented Roses, the former as one of the
best creamy white varieties, and the latter as a most
beautiful rich yellow, both very free blooming and easy
to obtain perfect flowers of.— T. W. G.
Homere Rose.— In The Garden, September 24
(p. 264), " D. T. F." rightly describes this Rose— it is
a gem for cutting from. On a south wall here (Hants)
it flourishes well, and is scarcely ever without blos-
soms. Its rosy pink-tipped buds are grand for any
purpose in a cut state, while as button-hole flowers
they are first-rate. As a bush plant it grows and
blooms very freely. It can be readily propagated by
cuttings, inserted either in a cold frame or out of
doors during this month. — S.
Storage of rain water.— I called the other
day at Malshanger, Basingstoke, Mr. Wyndham
Portal's beautiful place, and there saw cut out from
the solid chalk a huge tank, which was intended to
form a store for the water which fell on the adjoin-
ing farm buildings. Malshanger had suffered much
from the drought, and water had given out ; hence
some provision for a future dry summer is being
made. I do not know what the tank may hold, but
it will cost some £300. The storage of rain water
is easily done if money be forthcoming to provide
tanks and reservoirs, but that is the difficulty, and
the outlay is also discounted by the fact that excep-
tionally dry seasons come only about once in ten
years. Water-storage to be of any special value in
dry seasons must be extensive, for a few hundred
gallons are soon exhausted. If water- storing is
worth doing at all it should be done well, and as it
can only be stored satisfactorily beneath the sur-
face, the cost of providing these stores must be
great. The water is cheap enough, but to keep it
is quite another thing, and cannot be done for
notiiing. — A. D.
Chrysanthemums.
E. MOLYNBUX.
By the Cth of October all Chrysanthemums, for
whatever purpose they are grown, should in
low-lying districts be housed, as early frosts in
those parts are more severe than in higher
localities. The latest flowering batch may be
allowed to remain outside somewhat longer, but
in this case the plants should be well protected
with canvas or other material. In higher and
drier places most of the general stock, too,
should be placed under cover, as about this
time sharp frosts occur, which would harm the
flower-buds of those plants which have burst
the calyx or green covering over the petals.
After this takes place the flowers are not secure
from either frost or rains, which cause the petals
to damp, perhaps not at the time when first
placed under cover, but when the flowers are
partly expanded they sometimes go off. This in
many cases I attribute to the fact of their getting
wet after expansion takes place. Place all plants
in houses as light as possible, and as near to
the glass as circumstances will allow, even if
they must be raised on temporary stages to
effect this, untU the flowers are nearly expanded,
when they may be removed to a more convenient
position to be seen. Light and proximity to the
glass add greatly to the colour of the flowers.
It ought to be a primary consideration to have
each variety in its natural colour. When the
plants are grown to produce large blooms very
often more plants are grown than space for
housing can be found. In such cases the plants
are crowded together, and very little light reaches
the foliage of those in the centre of the group.
If the wood of such plants at housing time was
ripe and mature, as it ought to have been, the
loss of much of the foliage in the middle by
overcrowding will not be felt nearly so much as
might be expected, but should the plants not be
in this condition, it would not be wise to over-
crowd them. Air should be given night and
day in abundance when the plants are first
housed. Water will not be required at the
roots nearly so often as was the case when the
plants occupied an outside position. After the
watering, which should be always done in the
morning, has been finished, any surplus water
that has drained from the pots should be at
once removed, wiping the floor (if atones or
bricks) quite dry, thus preventing the spread of
mildew. In plants that have been looking
yellow in the foliage during the past summer,
owing in most cases to the water given them
being cold and hard, a gradual change will take
place soon after being housed, as the plants not
requiring nearly so much water can be supplied
from the tanks in the houses, so much not being
needed for the regular occupants, such as Vines
or Peaches, when the Chrysanthemums are
placed in these houses. Where such houses as
those named or a greenhouse can be devoted
entirely to blooming the Chrysanthemums, a
nice effect can be produced by arranging the
plants neatly. A broad, sloping bank is the
best means of seeing the flowers of each in the
best manner, placing the tallest plants at
the back. This also is much better for the plants
than huddling them into the house without
any consideration for effect, as is sometimes
done. The back walls of vineries, where other
plants such as Figs or creepers are grown, can
be made to receive a few of the taUest plants by
cutting in any superfluous growth. This can
easily be done where such subjects as Plumbago
capensis are gi-own on the back walls of a vinery
as it is here. At this season of the year we
prune close in any breastwood, the flowering
period now being past, and by keeping the
plants drier at the roots no harm happens to
them by covering them with the stems and
foliage of the Chrysanthemums which are spread
out on the walls. By such means what would
otherwise be almost bare walls are rendered"
quite gay with the Chrysanthemums when in
flower. It is a good plan to have all the Japanese
section by themselves, and the incurved also in
one house by themselves — that is, if exhibiting
is an object, as more heat can be given to the
former at the time the flowers are expanding,
which is an advantage, as artificial heat applied
to the latter in excess makes the petals reflex
instead of incurve, as they ought to do.
EARLY-FLOWERING CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
A BATCH of these planted out in Mr. Owen's nur-
.sery. Castle Hill, Maidenhead, and all in flower,
afforded an admirable opportunity for getting the
names of a few that are very suitable for garden
decoration in August and September. The very
best of all is Flora (Pompon), deep golden yellow
in colour, and a variety so early that it commences to
bloomin July and always withremarkable freedom. I
think some of our flower gardeners might do wonders
with this variety as a bedding plant to succeed
Violas, &o., that hold on longer than the spring-
blooming bulbous plants, for it is of dwarf, com-
pact growth and most persistent in bloom. Anas-
tasio (Pompon) is of a soft violet-purple colour, dwarf,
and very free. Fleur d'Ete (Japanese), violet-rose,
is also very pretty, and of great decorative value.
Illustration (Pompon) is blush white, very free,
and a good bedder. La Vierge (Hybrid Pompon)
is a free blooming white variety. Madame C. Des-
grange is so well known as to need no description ;
it is a very early flowering Japanese variety, bear-
ing white flowers tinted with yellow. Madame
Jolivart (Hybrid Pompon) is of a pretty blush
colour. William Piercy is a very fine and free early
flowering Chrysanthemum of the Pompon section,
bearing numerous trusses of reddish orange flowers.
Mrs. Cullingford (Hybrid Pompon) is pirre white, very
free indeed, and an excellent late variety for cutting
from. Lastly, comes St. Crouts (Pompon), a charm,
ing pink-flowered variety, very free and remarkably
pleasing. Whatever may be said to the contrary,
and there are some who decry the early flowering
Chrysanthemums on the ground that they are not
wanted until the autumn, I contend that they make
charming beds, and they are also well adapted for
planting out as isolated specimens in the mixed
borders, where they are not only bright and effective,
but also supply a nice serviceable lot of cut blooms
when required. R, D.
Chrysantbemum coronarium Cloth of
Gold. — Calling at Mr. Owen's nursery. Castle
Hill, Maidenhead, I saw some bushes of this
fine single Chrysanthemum that he said were two
years old. The plants are taken up in the autumn
and potted. They flower in a greenhouse all the
winter, and they grow in the cpen ground again in
spring. The flowers are of a fine, clear yellow
colour, of excellent form, and freely produced ; and
the plant seems to bloom with remarkable freedom
summer and winter alike. As it does not seed it has
to be propagated by means of cuttings, which strike
readily enough. I think this makes an excellent
plant for cutting, and especially through the mid-
winter months when flowers are scarce. — R. D.
Two fine Sea HoUies.— The subjects of this
note are Eryngium csruleum and E. tripartitum, both
of which now make a feature in the herbaceous ground
at Kew. The first-mentioned is similar to B. planum,
with the bracts narrow and short, and the flower-heads
small, the colour being of a rich steel-blue. The leaf-
age is leathery, deep green, and with a white margin.
The other kind is of a very rich blue, both the flower-
318
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 8, 1887.
heads and stems being highly eolonred. The plant
forms a dense head, and is most effective at this sea-
son, when there is none too much colour in the garden.
There are several Sea Hollies that are better than
those in general cultivation. — E. C.
Propagating.
Roses. — This is a very suitable time for putting in
Eose cuttings — that is, where no protection can be
afforded them, as they strike better if taken now
than later in the season. The vigorous and hardy
varieties can be struck in the open ground, provided
the surrounding conditions are favourable for the
purpose. A sheltered border where the soil is of an
open, sandy nature is a very suitable spot, but it
must be worked to a good depth, otherwise the
cuttings will perish during dry and harsh winds.
Though a sheltered border possesses great advan-
tages over an exposed spot, it must be quite free
from overhanging trees or neighbouring shrubs, as
the roots from these quickly find their way into
newly dressed soil, and will soon choke the cuttings
and deprive them of a proper amount of moisture.
The cuttings intended for this purpose should be
stout and well ripened, and if they can without
injury to the plant be taken off with a heel so much
the better. A very convenient length for the cut-
ting is about a foot, and of this two-thirds should
be buried in the soil, the leaves being taken off as
far as required for this purpose. As the weak
shoots seldom succeed when treated in this way,
for they are generally in an unripe state and soon
perish, the upper portion of the long ones had
better be cut off. It is necessary to put the cuttings
in very firmly in order to guard them as much as
possible against the trying weather that is sure to
be experienced before they are struck. A very good
way is to make the soil firm, and at one end take
out a notch to the depth required, when the cuttings
may be put in about a couple of inches apart and
the soil trod firmly in its place. In this manner the
cuttings can be put in much more securely than if
inserted by means of a dibble. Under favourable
conditions they will strike root during the spring
and summer, and all the attention needed after that
till they are transplanted is to keep them clear of
Hibiscus steiacus.— This beautiful autumn-
flowering shrub can be increased in various ways,
viz., by seeds, grafting, or by cuttings. Seeds are
often produced in considerable quantity, especially
if the specimen is in a sunny spot and not too much
dried up at the root. The earliest expanded blos-
soms furnish the best seeds, as the later ones are
often injured by frosts before they come to maturity.
The seeds may be either kept till spring or sown at
once, but in either case the best way is to sow them
in boxes or pans and keep them under glass till
the plants are above the surface. When large
enough they may be planted out, and under favour-
able conditions soon make rapid progress. Plants
raised in this way cannot, however, be relied on to
perpetuate any particular variety, of which there is
such a long list now in cultivation ; therefore they
must be propagated either by cuttings or grafts.
Cuttings can be taken now and inserted firmly in
the open ground, the principal consideration being
to see that good, clean, well-ripened shoots are
chosen for the purpose, and that they are put in
firmly. Another way to increase them is to graft
the shoots on to pieces of the root, selecting for the
purpose if possible those with a few attendant fibres.
This is best carried out in spring, when a union is
soon effected.
Conifers that were grafted a month or more ago
will in many cases need attention, as in some the
union will be so far complete that the head of the
plant (which was only slightly, if at all, shortened
in) may with advantage have some' more of the
branches removed before taking them off altogether
and leaving the scion in undisputed possession.
The plants will need to be looked over in order that
the advanced ones may be removed to quarters
Where more air can be given to them than is re-
quired by those in which the union is not quite
complete. T.
Flower Garden.
MICHAELMAS DAISIES.
Autumn flowers are not so plentiful as those of
the spring and summer, but we have sufficient
to render our gardens exceedingly bright at
this season, though it is commonly remarked
that there is a lack of material. It is in the
autumn that our gardens become ragged and
uninteresting, as it is a rare occurrence to find
a good selection of hardy perennials that bloom
now even in well-kept places.
One of the most important groups of autumn
flowers is that made up by the Michaelmas
Daisies. These have been much improved of
late years, and there is no need now to use the
wild weedy kinds which take up a lot of room,
and give but little return in the way of flowers.
It is very easy to plant them freely without
introducing sameness of view. They do well in
a variety of positions, and produce a most happy
eft'eot when in company with Rhododendrons
Michaelmas Daisies.
and Azileas, the elegant arching growth laden
with blooms spreading over the shrubs in a wild,
natural manner. They woiild form a succession
to the gorgeous flowers of L. auratum, with which
Rhododendronbedsare nowmadegay in latesum-
mer. We have seen the dwarf A. bessarabicus, a
fine variety of the well-known A. Amelias, on the
rockery, and there are few better plants for
such a position, as the flowers, of a rich purplish
blue, are large, and borne in elegant spreading
panicles. It does not grow more than about
2 feet high, and may, therefore, be planted with
excellent effect. The type is also dwarf and
neat, flowering freely in September, and making
a most useful plant for odd spots in the garden,
the border, rockery, or a round bed. Dis-
color is a variety I think highly of for con-
spicuous positions, as it forms a neat dense bush
about 1 foot in height, the stem being crowded
with white flowers which change to rose with age.
I have seen this used for bedding, and during
October such a featui'e in the garden is most wel-
come. Ericoides, which is here figured, is another
variety that may be recommended for its neat-
ness, and it does well as a background to a small
border, the plants attaining, when in good soil
and position, a height of 3 feet. The flowers
are sma,ll, very freely produced, and clear
white with a yellow eye. Eormosissimus is a
distinct kind, 4 feet high, and with rosy purple
flowers. A good specimen in full bloom is
Aster ericoides.
remarkably ornamental. A very pleasing dwarf
variety is longifoliusformosus, which forms dense
bushes about 2 feet in height, and is smothered
in the autumn season with rosy coloured flowers.
It is fine for a bed or border, and when planted
judiciously on the rockery adds beauty and
colour to this portion of the garden. Novije-
Anglise and Novi-Belgi are two strong-growing
perennials, excellent for the background of a
wide border, or for half-wild spots. They are
too robust for small gardens. A. Townsendi
produces a mass of rich purplish flowers, and
grows freely in ordinai-y soil.
Turbinellus, of which an illustration is here
given, is a free-blooming, late summer and
autumn Aster, the flowers of a lovely shade
of mauve, and borne in spreading panicles.
It grows about 3 feet high, and associates
well with handsome border plants. Aster acris
is now a mass of flowers, which quite hide
the neat foliage. It is one of the best. The
late - blooming A. grandiflorus and Isevis,
Chapmanni, paniculatus, Reevsi, versicolor,
and Shorti are also worthy of cultivation. There
are few plants of more easy culture than the
perennial Aster, though some of the varieties
are slow of increase. The soil should be
well prepared in the first instance, and the
plants must not be left too long in the same
position, as they are apt to become untidy
and weak. The best way to propagate is by
division of the roots, which should be done
when the plants are just commencing to make
new gi'owth in the spring. They are also
readily raised from seeds, and in France the
Oct. 8,1887.]
THE GARDEN.
319
latter are sown in the spring, the plants flower-
ing the same autumn. One tiling must be
avoided in growing these plants, and that is, not
to stake them in a stiff and formal manner, as
then their elegance and natural appearance are
destroyed. To those who require plenty of cut
flowers the finer kinds of Michaelmas Daisies
may be strongly recommended, as the graceful
sprays work in well amongst choice decorations.
A bouquet of autumn flowers is incomplete with-
Mauve Star-wort (Aster turbinellus).
out the Daisy-like flowers of the Star-wort, and
that they make pretty arrangements may be
seen by the accompanying illustration.
E. C.
AHertfordshire wedding^. — " Veronica's" War-
wickshire wedding reminds me of a charming sight
seen at one of the off nurseries of Mr. George Paul,
of Cheshunt — a tall Yew hedge gracefully gar-
nished, rather than thickly covered, with the Tro-
pffiolum speoiosum. The effect was charming, and
possibly might have been enhanced by the addition
of the Canary Creeper, or the Clematis flammula, or
a sparse intermixture of both. By the way, the
Canary Creeper matches well with the crimson Tro-
pseolum, and these two should be noted as another
happy wedding. Perhaps Mr. George Paul will kindly
report on the Hertfordshire wedding in this year of
drought, 1887. I understood him to say that the
bulbs of the Trop^olum were left at the base of the
Yew hedge throughout the winter, the dry position
and the massive top affording sufficient protection.
In relation to " Veronica's " brilliant Warwickshire
wedding the suggestion occurs, which, I trust, some
of our hybridists may act upon until they can give
us a blue and bright purple, pink, or, better stih,
crimson or scarlet (I fear a yeUow is quite out of
the question) Clematis flammula to match the
white in habit, shape, size, and profusion of bloom.
Already I think there is a sort of dull red flammula,
by no means equal to the white. What is wanted
for consummating a good, happy wedding, in which
the true flammula would ever and always be bride, is
any number of equally fragrant and beautiful varie-
ties identical with flammula in aU but colour. —
D. T. F.
ANNUALS AS BEDDING PLANTS.
One of the prettiest gardens that I have seen for a
long time was filled with annuals of various kinds.
There was not a single plant of any of the so-called
" bedders " in it. There were Balsams, Asters of
various kinds, fragrant Ten-week Stocks, dwarf and
climbing Tropaiolums, Everlastings with their many
curious tints, Grasses, and other things too numer-
ous to mention. Roses here and there, with a few
good hardy perennials, completed the display, which
was very instructive, as it illustrated admirably the
value of half-hardy annuals, and proved that a gay
garden in summer is a possibility without the aid of
those plants that are costly and troublesome to keep
through the winter. The fact seems to be that the
capabilities of annuals are known to but very few
flower lovers. The primary outlay is small, the cul-
ture is simple, and the results are out of proportion
to the expense incurred. With the exception of the
zonal Pelargonium, annuals equal bedding plants in
brilliancy, whilst they exhibit greater delicacy of
tint. The soft shades of colour of Ten-week Stocks
are particularly pleasing, and in Drummond's Phlox
we get great brilliancy as well as refinement of tint.
Annuals are too often grown in a haphazard way.
Sown thickly in pans, and left in them till the
"bedders" are in place, they become drawn and
spindly, and are then hastily consigned to positions
that may want filling up. These are often in the
impoverished soil in the foreground of shrubberries,
where they cannot obtain a fair share of either
moisture or nourishment. Asters with highly
developed blooms, and Balsams 18 inches high, with
proportional lateral development, cannot be grown
in this way. It is only in deeply-stirred, well-man-
ured ground that the true characters of the plants
are displayed. To those who have hitherto grown
annuals in a haphazard way, the sight of them in
the grounds of some large English or Continental
seed grower would be a surprise. I shall never for-
get the impression created by the apparently endless
lines of Asters and Balsams in the seed grounds of
Messrs. Haage and Schmidt, at Erfurt, in Prussia.
Acres of Phloxes dazzle with their brilliancy, and
every other annual worth growing was there in its
highest state of development. This last-mentioned
annual is for effect undoubtedly at the head of the
others. It runs the zonal Pelargonium hard for
premier honours as a summer decorative plant;
indeed, it is only the very brightest tints of this
bedding plant that can surpass the most pro-
nounced tints of the Phlox. Drummond's Phlox is
a host in itself, and every bit of good culture be-
stowed on it has its reward. The true nature of it
is too often suppressed by a meagre diet. It wants
plenty of good rotten manure, worked in the ground
at planting time. Put this down to a depth of a
foot, and you will have no reason to discard this
annual for its fugacious character. If there is a
summer-blooming plant that needs generous treat-
ment, it is this one. If it does, in a dry time, show
signs of exhaustion, give a top-dressing of some
stimulant, and wash it well in and you will get a
good display of bloom up to the advent of frost.
Give annuals the same good culture as bedding
plants ; give them a place of honour instead of just
using them as stopgaps, and you will have no cause
to complain of their want of effectiveness. It
should, moreover, always be borne in mind that the
same good treatment that gives perfect flowers en-
sures their remaining in beauty for a considerable
time.
French provincial gardens are, as a rule, not so
well provided with glasshouses as in this country.
The pleasure grounds are, however, often of consi-
derable extent, and it is surprising to see how well
they look in summer, when, perhaps, the only means
at command is one orangery and some frames.
These latter, however, the French gardener always
has plenty of, winter salads and Melons being classed
among the indispensable requisites in a French
household. Thus he has the best means of raising
and bringing on sturdily any amount of Asters,
Marigolds, Balsams, &c. The attention thus being
more concentrated on this class of flower, most of
the French growers of them take great interest in
improving the standard of excellence. In looking
through some country gardens the gardener will
probably point out some particular strain of Aster,
Balsam, cfcc, which he will tell you has been worked
up to a high state of excellence by careful selection
over a period of years. I have seen wonderfully
fine strains of Asters in such places, and I never saw
such good double and single Petunias as in French
gardens. The owners of these are chary of parting
with seeds. In conclusion, I would urge awarding
to half-hardy annuals a more important position
than they now occupy. Their beauty in the adorn-
ment of the summer garden is great, and the
pleasure they confer is obtained for a slight outlay.
J. CORNHILIi.
The Jasmine Nightshade.— Will " J. G. H."
say whether this plant when grown in the open air
is white or so suffused with blue or purple, as very
much to mar its purity and beauty ? It is a very
old favourite of mine, but the aphides get trouble-
some under glass, as "J. G. H." points out, and
it has succumbed to this and other causes, the
change of colour in very light, cool arcades being
one of them. It did best in a rather dark Camellia
house, where it bloomed with wonderful profusion,
and the flowers were almost as white as the Jasmine
itself. Some also objected to its odour in bouquets,
but this is avoided if carefully handled and the
blooms cut and mounted a few hours before use.
They should also be oarefuUy handled and not
bruised in the making up or afterwards. So treated,
and if of pure white colour, few flowers can give a
finish of more elegance and grace to bouquets than
a fringe of the Jasmine Nightshade resting on a
border of Maiden-hair Fern. The latter needs to
be somewhat stiff and strong, to bear the drooping
bunches of the Jasmine Nightshade. — HoETxrs.
New Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums. — On several
occasions during August and September, Mr.
E. Owen, of the Floral Nursery, Castle HiU, Maiden-
head, has exhibited blooms of his two very fine
double Ivy -leaved Pelargoniums, Souvenir de Charles
Turner and Robert Owen. These and some others
were obtained by Mr. Owen from a cross between
Mr. George's Masterpiece, a fine single variety, and
Comtesse Horace de Choiseul. It is difficult to
imagine any improvement upon the two fine new
varieties above named. Robert Owen is perfectly
double, being in colour bright rosy cerise with a flush
of magenta; the flowers when fully developed are
large and very full. Souvenir de Charles Turner is
much in the same way, yet quite distinct, and also
finely double. Both these surpass any other double-
flowered variety I am acquainted with in regard to
their brilliant colours, large size, fine shape, and
symmetry of appearance. Another from the same
cross has been named Prince of Wales ; it is also a
very fine double variety, the colour rosy purple,
fiushed with crimson, and the blossoms produced
in fine trusses. Jubilee is of a rosy cerise
colour, flushed with magenta. Other seedlings
came from the cross, but these were the most
striking up to date. A fine Continental-raised va-
riety also claims notice, the flowers of a rich
bright rosy cerise colour. All the varieties I have
described appear to be of bold and vigorous habit,
and I think that lovers of Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums
wiU find these well worthy of attention. — R. D.
Killa biflora. — This charming bulbous plant
possesses, in addition to its beauty, the great
merit of continuing to flower for a considerable
time ; in proof of which I may mention that a
couple of dozen bulbs were planted here in a
light, warm border, and they have not been
without flowers for the last two months ; while
to-day (September 23) I counted eight expanded
blossoms and a great many more unopened buds,
which bid fair to carry on the season for some time
longer. This Milla is certainly one of the most
attractive plants now in flower in the open ground,
the dazzling whiteness of the large star-like blos-
soms being very marked. In planting, it needs a
320
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 8, 1887.
well- drained spot, as stagnant moisture during
winter will often prove fatal to the bulbs. — H. P.
Scilla sibirica. — As this is the season in which
the supply of bulbs is laid in for forcing purposes,
it may not be out of place to call attention to the
readiness with which this Scilla can be forced into
bloom very soon after Christmas, and the distinct
feature presented by its beautiful blue flowers.
Their colour is different from that of all the other
bulbous plants which are treated in this way, and
on that account they stand out quite alone ; for
though some of the Hyacinths are called blue, it is
a very different tint to that of the Scilla. To force
this, the bulbs should be potted up and treated in
all respects as a Due Van Thol Tulip, that is,
plunged out of doors until well rooted (for it is use-
less to force them with bad roots), and shift them
by degrees into a warmer structure. — T.
Transplanting the white Iiily. — To all about
to transplant this queen of Lilies either in July, Au-
gust, September, or October, I would say. Do not
do it at all, unless compelled. We had the finest
row perhaps ever seen ; in an evil hour I was in-
duced to take up the Lilies, divide and re-plant into
fresh rows and groups. Wo found cartloads of huge
flowering bulbs, and from that day to this our
stock might be packed into a good wheelbarrow.
These were lifted so soon as the flowers faded. Be-
fore this they flowered in battalions; since, very
sparingly, and with many blanks in the best rows
and groups ; hence my advice anent these and most
other Lilies — leave them alone, unless compelled to
lift them. They can be kept in robust health by
surface dressing of rich compost or decomposed
manure ; but the white Lily hates disturbance or
removal from its old holding, and should ne^'er be
disturbed if expected to remain in robust health
and develop its full percentage of beauty and fra-
grance.— HOETUS.
P.S. — Since writing the above I have read " Vero-
nica's " note on Roses and bulbs (p. 267), and would
like to quote a sentence therefrom to clinch my
plea for the non-disturbance of white Lilies, by
showing that other bulbs likewise do best when left
in their old haunts for a long series of years.
"Veronica" also recommends top-dressings for his
DaflEodils, as I do for the white Lilies. Most lovers
of Daffodils will be able to endorse " Veronica's "
sentence from their experience : " The finest clumps
of white Daffodils I ever saw, single as well as
double, were grown in beds of Moss and Cabbage
Roses, and I was told that neither the Roses nor the
Daffodils had been disturbed for the last twenty
years."
Mr. Engleheart is correct in stating in The
Gabdbn, Sept. 24 (p. 267), that it is rather late to
transplant the white Lily with safety, but the note
to which he takes exception was written in August
when the soil was as dry as dust, although itdid
not appear in print until early in September, when,
rain having fallen copiously, growth was active. I
have always urged on everyone the importance of
replanting Lilies directly they die down naturaUy,
but I do not think it necessary to hasten the time
by cutting oft the stems while they are green. Our
main stock was transplanted in August, and, as a
general rule, I think that is the safest month of the
year, as without any very special attention they
vield grand spikes of bloom every season without
fail.— J. G.
Shrubhy Calceolarias.— No time should be
lost in putting in the necessary number of cut-
tings of whatever variety, or varieties, of the Cal-
ceolaria that is used or bedding-out purposes,
I find the first week in October — a few days
earlier or later according to the weather — is a
good time to put the cuttings in. The sturdiest
cuttings, having three or four joints, should be
selected. A frame on a hard bottom, in a sunny
aspect, having between 2 inches and 3 inches thick
of waste or enriched garden soil placed therein,
and a surfacing of sand, is a capital place to strike
the cuttings in. They should be inserted in the
bed at about 6 inches apart, be watered, and
afterwards shaded from bright sunshine. When
they have callused the shading should be discon-
tinued, and the sashes should be drawn off the
frame for a few hours daily during favourable
weather to prevent the plants from making a weakly
growth, as well as to save them from injury by
damp. In order to prevent the frost from getting
through the frame, tlie sides should be banked up
with fine coal ashes, and the glass should be covered
with mats and Fern during frosty weather. We
used to grow C. aurea floribunda. Golden Gem, and
the old Kayi, but, finding that we could not always
count upon having well-filled beds of them in
August and September, as the plants used to
" go off " in an unaccountable manner, we therefore
confine ourselves to one variety, namely, the good
old C. amplexicaulis. This is a sure-growing and
free-flowering variety, and, being of a straggling
habit, the shoots should be pegged down. Plants
thus treated make a very pretty bed when in bloom,
the masses of the large lemon-coloured flowers
being very effective just now. — W. H. AV.
THE CARDINAL FLOWER.
" E." does good service to one of the finer subjects
for all styles of decorative gardening in calling atten-
tion to the Cardinal Flower (p. 239). Twenty years
ago this fine old Lobelia was comparatively com-
mon in gardens ; now it is seldom seen. There
were also several improved varieties with larger
and higher coloured flowers. One especially, L,
cardinalis splendens, had flowers much deeper
coloured and larger than the type. The foliage was
also larger and deeper coloured. Another, named
St. Clare, as far as I remember, was also a great
improvement on the normal form. Surely some
of our nurserymen and florists still hold the finer
forms of the Cardinal Flower in bulk, and might
gain a ready market by advertising it at reason-
able rates per dozen, score, or hundred. Few
revivals would give greater freshness and variety
to our gardens] than that of the Cardinal Flower.
It is not only stately and striking in bed, group,
or border, but also useful for cutting, not only in
spikes, but as single blooms. The flowers last long-
in water, and as the lower ones fade on the spike,
the higher ones come out in succession for several
days, or even weeks, when carefully attended to.
Those who know this showy plant will readily
admit how unique it is in form and brilliant in
colour. Both these qualities give it a special value
for dining-room decoration, as also for use in button-
holes, or other bouquets, wreaths, &c. Cardinal
blooms in single file, or in rows of threes or fi^-es,
or groups of five at regular intervals on a base of
the pure white Clematis flammula, the latter resting
on a margin of dark Coleus, Perilla, or brilliant
Alternanthera, or Iresine leaves, would equal or
excel most of the combinations in use in our dining-
rooms. One bloom or so in a button-hole of Tube-
roses, Stephanotis, large Jasmine, or other white
flower forms a telling and attractive contrast. The
plant, on the whole, is easily grown, though in the
olden times it was rather gi^en to rust off in winter
or early spring. This, no doubt, often arose from
keeping the stock too dry in winter. The two species
f ulgens and splendens, with the improved splendens
atro-sanguinea, are preferred by most growers to
the type of all this herbaceous section cardinalis,
as the flowers are much larger as well as the leaves.
The stems are also of a darker colour, and the
plants are sufficiently rich and striking to be worth
growing for their fine foliage.
Few plants pay better for liberal culture than the
Cardinal Flower in all its varieties. It cannot be
depended on to ripen seeds in the open, unless in
the more favoured and sheltered places. When it
does ripen seeds these should be sown as soon as
ripe in pans or boxes of light, rich soil, and either
potted off before winter, or left intact in the seed
beds till the spring. They should be pushed for-
ward in moderate heat, and finally jilanted out in
deep, good soil, and in a sheltered, moist nook, if
possible, towards tlio end of May. The plants
may throw up a spike the first season ; they will
certainly form a stool like herbaceous Phloxes, or
plants of similar character, only tlie shoots are far
more fleshy and strong.
Only in the warmest places should these Lobelias
be left out for the winter, and where this is done a
foot of Cocoa fibre refuse over them is a better
frost-proof cap than coal ashes, sawdust, or any
other material. Whatever is used, it ought not to
be wholly removed till the middle or end of May,
and on the removal of the covering a top-dressing
of fresh soil should be given, or a little of the finest
fibre left as a top-dressing. But the safest mode
of wintering the Cardinal Flower is to cut down the
flowering stems as soon as they have finished
blooming, and lift the stools early in November at
the latest, and either pot them separately in 6-inoh
or S-inch pots, or pack a dozen or so in a cutting-
box. This mode is preferable to placing them in
cold pits or frames or on the floors of cool houses for
the winter for several reasons. For example, the
plants placed in heat in the early spring have one
or more crops of cuttings obtained from them, the
first crop, being terminal shoots, being the strongest
and the best, and yielding the most bloom next
year. Then the stools may also be broken up into
as many shoots as roots can be obtained for.
These, potted singly and pushed on under genial
conditions, will each become stools with several
shoots before planting time. There is another ad-
vantage in beheading the Cardinal shoots early in
the spring. Each eye under the cut breaks, and
these young shoots form admirable as well as easily-
rooted cuttings ; while if they are all left, the one
shoot necessarily broadens into a stool with several
shoots before the planting-out season arrives.
Plant.s thus treated are later than those not be-
headed ; but this simply gives a longer succession of
Cardinal Flowers, which no one who has once seen
their beauty can object to.
But all this cutting, carving, and dividing may
be avoided if cultivators are content to increase
their stock of Cardinal Flowers by seed, or by leaving
their stools to spread out and increase in bulk
according to the laws of Nature. Those who adopt
this latter course will be surprised to find how the
stools spread out into wider and yet wider masses of
beauty if carefully lifted and stored in frost-proof
quarters and planted out in rich, deep soil every
year.
In dry seasons the Cardinal Flower is wonderfully
improved by mulchings of manure and occasional
delugings of manure or clear water. These add
greatly to the stature of the spikes of bloom, and
thus prolong the blooming season. The stimulus of
pure water and liquid manure likewise causes side
breaks from the base of the stems, or later ones
from the stools that often carry the blooming season
almost into the winter. Hortus.
Striking Pelargonium cuttings. — These do
not always strike as freely as could be wished.
This season we chose a fresh place for ours, and in
consequence have met with success. In a narrow
span-roofed house a lot of young Crotons were grow-
ing in small pots. Among these were placed the
Pelargonium cuttings, some singly in small pots,
others six cuttings in a 3-inch pot, and so on. The
cuttings, short, stout, and well ripened, were in-
serted in sandy soil in the middle of August. The
soil in the pots was kept moist, but not wet, mainly
by the syringing of the Crotons overhead twice
daily. This and the slight shade formed by the
plants, and a gentle warmth which was necessary,
quickly caused the Pelargoniums to form roots. At
the present time most of them have been potted off
singly into small pots and are now stocky little
stuff, promising well to form desirable plants by
June next year. — S.
Lemoniatrifoliata.— In The CtAeden, Sept. 17
(p. 2-15), Mr. Webster says that Lemonia trifoliata
is no longer allowed a relationship with the Citrus
family. I think they must be connected. I have
a plant here which I grafted many years ago when
it was scarce on a seedling Lemon stock. It is
quite as healthy as those on their own roots. I
thought the influence of such a stock would pro-
bably render it evergreen, or at least sub-evergreen.
It loses its leaves, however, like the others, but is a
month or so later in doing so. While on this sub-
ect I may add that I have hero on one of the trees
Oct. 8, 1887.j
THE GARDEN.
321
o£ Citrus Mandarin, a fruit differing entirely from
the ordinary character of this Orange, whose fruits
are a compressed or flattened sphere in shape with
a rather smooth rind. The fruit in question is
oblong with a large, nipple-like protuberance resem-
bling a Lemon, and with the rugged exterior of the
Citron. This particular tree I did not graft myself.
It was bought forty years ago at the Clapton Nur-
sery as an imported plant, so I do not know on what
stock it is worked, but it seems to me this fruit is a
reversion to it. Have such changes been known to
occur .' — J. M., C/ianiimith, Dorset.
Edelweiss. — The Kohiisclie VolltszeHung calls
attention to the expieriments which are being made
to make this beautiful plant grow among the Eie-
sengebirge of Bohemia. It seems that similar ex-
periments have been for a considerable time in
course of trial in the Eifel, especially among the
ruined castles of Niirburg, not only with Edelweiss,
but also with other rare alpine plants. But it is a
question whether the plant is not changing its
character and being transformed, in fact, into a
new species. Such a transformation has occurred
in the mountains of Upper Austria, where also an
attempt was made to acclimatise the Edelweiss.
The plant throve, but it has lost its beautiful ermine-
like bloom, and is no longer white, but red.
SHORT NOTES.— FLOWER.
Lily note. — I have some seed from Lilium Marta-
gon album , and dalmaticmn hybridised with pollen
from L. Hansoui. Will any of your readers kindly say
when aud how it should be sown ? The seed is now
quite ripe. — W. S. B.
Lobelia Milleri. — This is in bloom on the Kew
rockery. It is a handsome j)laut, risiug from 18 inches
to 2 feet high. The foliage is light green, and the rich
purple flowers are borne iu lengthy spikes. It is of
the same character as L. syphiUtica and L. cardinalis.
— E. C.
Asarum-leaved Grass of Parnassus (Par-
nassia asarifolia). — We saw a tuft of this marsh peren-
nial in bloom at Kew a few days ago. It was about
6 inches high, and the Buttercup-like flowers are pure
white, veined with bright gi-een. It is one of the most
interesting of North American marsh plants for the
bog garden or moist spots on the rockery. — B. C.
Aster acris. — This is a maguificeut Michaelmas
Daisy, the head of bloom being of great width and
entirely hiding the foliage. There is a fine specimen
in the herbaceous ground at Kew, and its dense, neat
habit, together with the profuse display of flowers, place
it far above any of the other numerous varieties of the
perennial Aster. — E. C.
Australian Flea-bane (Erigeron mucronatus).
— This pretty Daisy-like plant is nearly always in
flower, and at Chiswick it is planted on the rockery
with the best results. The flowers are pinky white,
very similar to those of the common Daisy, and pro-
duced freely. It looks well in a nook on the rockery,
and it is a pleasing plant for a pot or shallow pan,
though its beauty is of a quiet kind. — E. C.
Showy Coneflower (Rudbeekia speeiosa). — This
is blooming freely now, and there are few neater or
more showy border plants. The leaves are hairy and
ovate, the flowers being rich yeUow, with a black disc.
It looks well in the first or second row of the border, and
gi-ows freely iu ordinary soil, but appreciates a sunny
position. It is surprising that such a useful autumnal
flower is not made more use of. — E. C.
The red Japanese Anemone. — One of the
most effective varieties is that known as Anemone
japonica rubra, the growth denser and dwarfer than
that of the common type, while the flowers are of a
pink colour. There are few fiuer autumn flowers than the
Japanese Anemone, and this is a good form for giving
colom' to the garden at the present season. It looks
well with the white kind.— E. C.
White Cape Marigold (Dimorphotheca fruti-
cosa). — There is a mass of this interesting plant
spreading over a portion of the rockery at Kew. It
produces an abundance of ovate hairy leaves, through
^hieh the flowers peep up. The latter are in shape
like those of the common single Marigold, the petals
being pure white, save a ring of purple at the base, and
a suffusion of the same colour on the under side ; the
disc is light purple. — E. C.
' Meadow Saffrons (Colchicums). — These are
amongst the finest of hardy flowers now in bloom. A
lovely kind is C. variegatum tesselatum, which has
medium-sized flowers beautifully chequered with rosy
purple ; but the finest of all is thj Caucasian C. spe-
ciosum, with flowers like those of a large florist's Tulip.
C. byzantinura and the varieties of C. autumnale are
also of great beauty. Plant Colchicums iu large- clumps,
and then a mass of colour is obtained iu autumn. —
E. C.
SELF CARNATIONS.
Mr. Rowan, in The Garden, Sept. 24 (p. 267),
does not care to believe that self Carnations
have been neglected, although it is one of the
truest assertions ever made, and one to which I still
adhere, in spite of his quotations from cata-
logues. When I referred to the meagre lists
met with in some catalogues, I had before me
that of Messrs. Cocker, Aberdeen. It contains 111
bizarres and flakes and two selfs. Since then I have
had Mr. Turner's catalogue sent me, which, as Mr.
Rowan says, " contains a list of thirty-six selfs."
He does not say that the bizarres and flakes number
120 ; that they exist in the proportion of more than
three to one of the selfs ; consequently his figures
only help to strengthen the too apparent evidence of
neglect.
After carefully compiling from various catalogues,
he says there are over 180 diiferent varieties of selfs.
Are these all distinct ? Perhaps some of these may
be what are termed " run " flowers. When bizarres
or flakes revert to some unicoloured type, it is a
practice with some nurserymen to propagate the
reversions and sell them as border Carnations. How-
ever, if we accept his list of 180 selfs, he says :
" More than one-fourth of the total have been the
contribution of a single florist." Consequently, Mr.
Dodwell, who has worked long and well, stands
exempt from reproach of neglect, but Mr. Rowan
uses his varieties to help swell the total aud make
his case good. How many of these varieties does
Mr. Rowan grow ? Moreover, if we have such a
wealth of selfs, surely the National, " with whom
selfs are an object of special solicitude," could pro-
vide a class for twenty-four blooms in as many va-
rieties instead of mixing them up with fancies and
yellow grounds ? Mr. Rowan says " selfs were well
recognised," but a lover of selfs, who went to the
show, informs me he was disappointed and in no
way impressed by the selfs exhibited. It is useless
to argue what the society ought to do. That has
been done before in the pages of The Garden, but
societies will have their own way, and frame sche-
dules as they think best. I venture to predict a
great future for selfs.
Exhibiting is one thing, and growing them
another. I would strongly advocate their extended
cultivation. There are acres and acres of ground
in the country now devoted to flower gardening
where not a Carnation is to be found. Is not this,
too, evidence of neglect ? Anyone possessing Car-
nations must have proved what beautiful effects
can be had iu the garden at a very small cost, a
mere nothing compared to the trouble and expense
many people" go to for the sake of a fleeting sum-
mer display. " If a few plants are bought for a
start a large stock can be worked up in cue season
by layers. From five strong plants of Raby Car-
nation I secured 100 rooted layers. Moreover,
immediately the layers are rooted they can be trans-
ferred to permanent positions, and one has the
satisfaction of knowing their beds are ready for
the next summer.
I believe it is a practice with some who grow
Carnations out of doors to take up the layers and
keep them in frames all the winter. The Carna-
tion is not a frame or half-hardy plant. One thing
is necessary ; layer early, then planting can be
done in September, when fresh root and top-
growth takes place, and the plant gets a firm
roothold before frost sets in. I am convinced
from experience that many Carnations are killed by
frost from late and loose planting, and thus they
have got the reputation of being tender. When
planted late and loose, the plants do not make fresh
roots, a succession of frosts and thaws works them
out, or nearly out, of the ground, a cold, drying
wind sets in in February or March and does the
rest. The plant gets a bad reputation, as plants
often do from us when it is ourselves and our
mode of treatment wc should first look to. Only
last spring I saw Carnations that had been worked
out of the ground by frost, lying upon the surface,
and under the uncongenial influence of a biting
east wind they were putting forth numbers of little
roots in search of moisture, a rather scarce com-
modity at that time. If they could, as they did,
exist under such conditions, surely there is no
lack of hardiness. Young well-rooted layers planted
firmly — as firmly as it is possible to make them —
will endure the frosts we get. When large tufts
are killed during winter an examination will
show that it is not the young shoots that have
suffered, but the trailing, naked, woody stem
that creeps over the ground in two or three-year-
old tufts.
When people find out their vigour of constitution,
their freedom of flowering, their purity of colour,-
they will grow them as they have never been grown
before. As I said previously, a border in some out-
of-the-way spot, perhaps in the kitchen garden,
has been considered quite good enough. Plant
them in beds, and they will not require half the
attention now bestowed upon some of the ordi-
nary bedding plants, and even when not in flower,
especially in winter, how much better it is to see
beds covered with their beautiful Grass than to look
upon bare earth. The extended culture of selfs is
perhaps the most sure way of getting rid of the
many unharmoniously coloured varieties. There
has been too much trusting to chance seedlings, or
reversions for our selfs, but if someone having
scope as well as enthusiasm can take them up, great
will be their reward. Not long ago Mr. Turner
took up the Tree Carnations. He has raised some
excellent varieties, and most of them selfs. By
hybridisation and selection of the best, we might
soon have a lot of good selfs, totally eclipsing any-
thing we have at present. " Hortus " refers to a
system of sub-cropping Roses with Carnations. The
finest lot of old Cloves I ever saw was grown
between and under Roses. "E. C." alludes to
my " wild and erratic statements," but I do not
know what they are, and he has not pointed them
out. He disagrees with my condemnation of
bizarres and flakes, but, like him, I love harmonious
Mendings, as, for instance, in some of Mr. Douglas's
new yellow ground Picotees. Harmonious colours
sometimes become too mixed to be effective in
bizarres. "E. C." lays great stress upon symmetry,
but the eye gets tired of extreme symmetry, and
surely he would not despise a Carnation -with a tell-
ing colour if, instead of the petals being flat and
symmetrical, they were erect, imbricated, or fringed.
In conclusion, a strong plea has this year gone
forth for Carnations ; may we not hope to see the
day when they will be considered as essential to
the garden as Roses. A. Herrington.
Mother of Thousands (Saxif raga sarmentosa).
— This is a very old favourite, and is so generally
admired that almost every cottager grows it. It is
generally used for hanging baskets, and for such is
well suited. The variety called tricolor, however, is
the prettier of the two for the above purpose, the
gorgeous and peculiar colouring of its rough leaves
being always a source of interest. We would be
glad to see this variety more largely grown than it
is at present, as few plants surpass it either for
grace or beauty. We have had them growing on
the rookery for a great number of years, and where
the position is sheltered and moist we get a luxu-
riant growth, the long Strawbeiry-like runners
forming a graceful drapery as they creep over the
ledges. It is not diflicult to propagate, as the run-
ners root at every joint, forming young plants,
which if taken off and carefully potted will soon
make good plants. It might be more often used
for greenhouses than it is at present, as it makes an
excellent plant for stages, &o. It is a native of
Japan, China, &c., and flowers -with us in June and
July.— K.
Hybrid liObelias.— Among the tall-growing,
herbaceous Lobelias that flower so grandly at this
season a variety known as Queen Victoria, with red
322
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 8, 1887.
stems and foliage, combined with intensely glowing,
crimson-coloured blossoms, is well known, and de-
servedly a popular favourite, but it is by no means
the only one of its class available for planting, as
there have been of late years a great number of
varieties raised, the result of crossing this with the
purple-flowered L. syphilitica. Several of these
kinds that were announced as new about a couple
of years ago are characterised by dull-coloured,
lilac-tinted blossoms, but still, if a selection of the
best be made, some very ornamental varieties may
be chosen. Out of a number I recently saw in
flower, the best would include Amethyst, purplish
blue ; Orion, cerise-scarlet ; Vesuvius, deep crimson,
shaded violet ; Nizza, a beautiful shade of crimson-
purple ; and Stromboli, bright purple. These Lo-
belias are easily protected during the winter by a
little ashes or leaf -mould placed over their crowns
They can be readily increased by division, which is
best carried out in the spring before growth com
mences. — H. P.
FORCING SOLOMON'S SEAL.
Few subjects are more attractive than this hardy
plant when forced into bloom early in the season,
and in this stage the long, arching shoots, studded
with their small drooping blossoms, are especially
useful, not only from their beauty when the plants
are grown in pots, but also for use in a cut state for
furnishing vases and similar purposes. When re-
quired for forcing, the better way is to take up any
established clumps that may be at hand and divide
them up into single crowns, selecting only the
strongest for growing under glass. The others may
be again planted out in a prepared bed, and will
then after another year be available for the next se-
lection. Very useful little specimens may be formed
by potting seven or eight of the crowns in a pot 6 in.
in diameter, and placing them at such a depth that
the top of the crown is about an inch below the
surface. After potting they may be placed out of
doors, and covered sufficiently deep with ashes to
keep out the frost till the new year, when they may
be forced gradually into bloom. The same treat-
ment as that given to the Lily of the Valley also suits
Solomon's Seal, but fully-developed shoots cannot
be had so early in the season as can the flower-
spikes of the Lily. From the time forcing com-
mences the soil must be always kept moist, as
dryness is very injurious to the growing plants.
The crowns should be potted as soon as the shoots
have died down (which in most cases will be about
the present time), as then the roots will have a
period of activity before they are taken in to the
forcing house. As the display depends to a great
extent upon the strength of the crowns that are
available, a good way is to grow them especially for
the purpose, and by liberal treatment in the matter
of manure, and water when necessary, large, fully-
developed crowns, or eyes as they are often called,
may be secured. H. P.
MARKET GARDEN NOTES.
Aster Queen of the Market. — Judging from
what has appeared concerning this strain of Aster
in English and Continental gardening papers it
ought to prove an acquisition. Its characteristics
are said to be early flowering, the plants coming
into bloom a month in advance of other kinds, and
a compact habit, which renders it well suited to pot
culture. For some years this Aster has been brought
rather largely into the Paris flower markets, its cul-
ture being a monopoly of a few individuals in a mar-
ket gardening district near that town. The possessors
of this strain were naturally reluctant to let it pass
out of their hands, as it enabled them to forestall
by some weeks those who grow the ordinary kinds.
The report of its trial at Chiswick this summer
shows that it has at length reached this country.
Growers of Asters for market should make a note
of it.
Chrtsanthemtims. — What a treasure Madame
Desgrange has proved to market and other growers.
Very few plants raised within the last twenty years
have given such universal satisfaction. A friend
who grows plants rather largely for the supply of
an extensive district tells me that he has hitherto
had some difficulty in getting enough of it. Its
habit fits it for pot work ; the flowers are so fine for
cutting, whilst with a little management its season
may be made a long one. Amongst late kinds
there are some new sorts that are likely to be wel-
comed by market growers. Curiously enough,
three of these are sports from Princess Teck, which
as a late-flowering kind to come in at Christmas
and the new year holds premier rank with the
Covent Garden Chrysanthemum growers. One of
these named Mrs. Davis is described as identical
in all but colour with the type. It has yellow bloom,
and when seen growing side by side with its parent
is not distinguishable from it. Jubilee is a blush
or pink sport from the same kind, and Mr. Brockle-
bank is another yellow form of it. Ethel, that fine
late Japanese variety, has at length produced in
two places, and apparently simultaneously, a yel-
low sport. They are named respectively Golden
Ethel and Mrs. Jones. I have long been surprised
that the tendency to variation shown by Ethel in
the frequent production of clear yellow petals
amongst the others had not resulted in a pure
yellow sport. We have it now, and, provided
these yellow forms give the same good results
under a rough-and-ready treatment, they will
prove most valuable additions to that limited
section of Chrysanthemums that can be relied on to
supply the markets from Christmas to the new
year. In Miss Marechaux, Boule de Neige, and
Golden Gem we have three dwarf-habited kinds
that will prove equally useful for pot work as for
cut bloom. The last named is a remarkably late
kind. It may be had in good condition far into
February. Boule de Neige is of very dwarf, com-
pact habit, and admirably fitted for growing in
small pots. There is no doubt but that it is one of
the best of the late-blooming kinds for this pur-
pose. The old grandlflorum is still one of the best
for late work, and Meg MerriHes may, I think, be
retarded until a later period than any other
Chrysanthemum in cultivation. There are various
ways of keeping back the plants, but one that a
large grower practises Is worthy of note. His
plants are all put out into the open ground in May
and remain there until they have done blooming.
The houses that shelter them are so constructed as
to be movable at pleasure. As soon as the necessity
for shelter arrives they are placed over the Chrysan-
themum beds. There is, no doubt, a considerable
saving of labour in this way, for everyone knows
that the task of watering some thousands of Chry-
santhemums in pots all through the summer is about
as arduous as any work connected with plant cul-
ture can be. The potting, and repotting, too, are
done away with. There is, however, another great
advantage derivable from such a method of culture.
It allows of certain valuable kinds that are not very
manageable under ordinary pot culture being grown
to a high state of perfection. Some kinds may be
grown well on the labour-saving principle of plant-
ing out and lifting in the autumn. But others,
notably the incurved kinds, such as Princess Teck,
are not so satisfactory. The check occasioned by
the lifting operates prejudicially on the expansion
of the flower-buds. Treated as above mentioned,
the buds swell up and open without a check, much
better, indeed, than in a general way under pot
culture. Moreover, the best system of pot culture
can never give quite such good results as when the
roots get freedom of extension. By the way, I
wonder what kind of exhibition blooms would be
grown in this way. I should fancy that an exhibi-
tor who would adopt it would have a good record at
the end of the season.
Christmas Roses. — I doubt if anything in the
way of flowers pays much better than these at the
present time. Fortunate is he who has a good stock
of blooming plants of the large-flowered H. maxi-
mus. I know of a market grower who has a large
bed of this, which he covers with frames, and from
which he one year cut upwards of £60 worth of
blooms. The value of this kind lies not only in the
superior excellence of the blooms, but in their early
flowering quality, as they open quite six weeks
before the typical form. The Bath variety, so called
from being brought into notice by market growers
of that town, is a better form of the common
Christmas Rose for market culture, being more free-
flowering, and the blooms are rather larger and,
if possible, purer in colour. I do not think that
this variety comes quite true from seed ; at any rate,
a large batch of seedlings would show considerable
variation, as is the case with imported plants. I
know that one of the largest market growers at
Bath keeps up his stock by division, and no doubt
this is the right way. In a quantity of seedling
plants some are sure to produce small flowers, and
in some cases do not throw them up well. To grow
such is to reduce the profits considerably. It takes
some time to work up a large stock of Christmas
Roses by division, but once you have got it it is
very easy to keep up a good supply of blooming
plants. The grower above referred to has two lots
of plants — one, which is allowed to rest, whilst the
other is being utilised for cut bloom. The plants
are simply lifted in the autumn and laid in soil in
low span-roofed houses. A little warmth is applied
in cold weather, so that from Christmas on through
the early part of the year many thousands of blooms
are cut. Some market growers keep their plants in
pots all through the year, plunging the plants and
shifting on now and then or dividing them when
they get too big. There is an advantage in keeping
the plants in pots, as they can then be put in any
spare corners to fill up space, and coming on with-
out a check they are rather earlier than when lifted
from the ground. A grower of my acquaintance
obtains a quantity of blooms through the winter in
a very simple manner. He lays the plants in under
his greenhouse stage. They occupy a place that
cannot be so profitably utilised in any other way,
and they flower very well, although at some distance
from the light. The easiest, and therefore the most
profitable, way of aU is to set the plants out per-
manently in beds that will admit of their being pro-
tected by lights that may be disengaged during the
winter. With boards nailed to stout stakes, closing
in the back and front and with a gentle slope to
throw ofE wet, an abundance of good blooms may
be gathered at a time when they are much wanted.
J. C. B.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 617.
ODONTOGLOSSUM CERVANTESI DE-
CORUM.*
The typical Odontoglossum Cervantesi has been
grown in our plant stoves for nearly fifty years,
being first introduced in a living state by the
Messrs. Loddiges, of Hackney. It grows natu-
rally in the mountains of Oaxaca, at from 7000
feet to SOOOfeetelevation, occurring further north
than almost any other species of the same genus.
The pseudo-bulbs of the typical plant, of which an
illustration is given, are somewhat small, ovate,
and compressed, bearing a single oblong-acute
leaf, which is from 4 inches to 6 inches long and
bright green. The scape rises from the base of
the pseudo-bulb when the growth is mature, and
bears from three to six flowers, each of which is
nearly 2 inches across ; the sepals and petals are
oblong- obtuse, the latter much the broader,
white, having the basal part ornamented with
numerous concentric lines of bright brown ; lip
white, bearing an occasional Hne of reddish
purple towards the base.
There are several named varieties of this
species, but undoubtedly the most beautiful is
the variety decorum, of which we here give a
coloured illustration, and which is imported
from time to time amongst masses of the typical
form. In this variety the flowers measure
nearly 3 inches in diameter, aU the segments,
and especially the Up, being much broader and
fuller than those of 0. Cervantesi. In addition.
* Drawn for Thk Gakden at Baron Schroder's,
March 21, 1887, by H. G. Moon, and printed by G.
ODONTOC-LOSSUM CERVANTESI DECORUM
Oct. 8, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
323
the margin is more or less fringed or lobed, and
is decorated with irregular spots and streaks
of purple ; the concentric rings at the base of
the sepals and petals are also more numerous
and broader, and are of a rich crimson-purple,
rendering it one of the most attractive of the
small-growing kinds of this deservedly popular
genus.
The cultivation of this plant is not attended
with difficulty if it is not subjected to strong
heat ; indeed, I am succeeding well with the
species treated as a window plant, where it en-
joys the bright sunshine half the day. The
Mexican Odontoglossums do not thrive unless
exposed to bright light, and therefore they
should be hung up near the roof in small, shal-
low pans, but the temperature must be kept
cool by judicious ventilation.
With the present species and its variety may
be associated O. Rossi and O. Rossi majus,
which produce large flowers and vary consider-
Odontoglossmn Cerrantesi.
ably in the intensity of their markings. They
are also natives of Mexico, and bloom through
the winter months. O. Oerstedi majus is a
pretty flower with waxy white sepals and petals,
the lip ornamented at the base with a yellow
crest, spotted with orange. It must be kept
quite cool and moist all the year round.
W. H. G.
Stove and Greenhouse.
T. BAINES.
ACROPHYLLUM VENOSUM.
This is one of the most distinct and eflective
of all greenhouse hard-wooded plants. The
leaves, which usually appear in whorls of three,
are much larger than those of the majority of
the New Holland or the Cape plants, and in
form they are not unlike those of Chorozema
varium nanum, but larger and harder in
texture. The flowers are produced in densely
packed erect spikes on the extremities of the
shoots, and in colour and substance they much
resemble those of the common native Meadow
Sweet (SpirEea Ulmaria). The plant flowers
very freely, blooming from the weak as well
as from the stronger shoots. There are
certain peculiarities about this Acrophyllum
that are noticeable in a few other hard-wooded
species that succeed under pot culture. Whilst
it cannot be said that the plant is easy to grow,
it does not die off suddenly without any per-
ceptible cause, as in the case of some kinds. If
through any defects in the treatment the extre-
mities of the roots die, the stronger portions
usually retain life, though they often seem un-
able to form more feeding fibres in the place of
those that are decayed. In this way the plants
will frequently remain in a lingering condition
for several years.
This Acrophyllum differs in one important
particular from most others that come from the
same or adjacent parts of the world, and which
succeed best with an abundance of light and
sun. The plant under notice seldom does well
if it is exposed to the full force of the sun
during the spring and summer months, espe-
cially when it is stood near the glass iu a weU-
constructed house that admits plenty of light.
I have seen large healthy specimens which had
been grown in indifferent houses that admitted
comparatively little light die off in a year or
two after being located in structures where the
plants were more exposed to the sun. The
larger extent of leaf surface which it presents
to the action of the sun as compared with many
greenhouse species has, no doubt, sometliing to
do with this and with its suffering if the soil is
ever allowed to become so dry in the summer
as many things require it to be before water
is given. The requisite conditions to keep
it in health are to choose a place for it in the
greenhouse where it will not be too near the
glass, and where it wUl be less under the influ-
ence of the sun than the generality of other
hard-wooded kinds ; in cases where the house
does not afford these necessary conditions it is
essential to give a thin shade in the middle of
the day. The plant is well worth all the atten-
tion it requires, either when required for ordi-
nary decoration or for exhibition ; for the latter
purpose when well managed it has few equals,
as it never fails to carry weight with those who
are practically acquainted with the cultivation
of this class of plants. One thing in its favour
is, that from the character of the growth it does
not admit of the stiff, formal training too often
present in exhibition plants. It can be propa-
gated from well-ripened cuttings, which can
generally be obtained towards the latter part of
summer
The plant when it has attained some size
usually produces more or less young shoots
about the collar. If the smallest of these are
selected — say, such as are about 5 inches or
6 inches long — and taken off with a heel, few
will fail to strike ; or, where a branch has been
cut back, the young shoots that are produced
from the joint below where the cuttings were
taken are equally suitable. These also must be
taken off with a heel. Put them 2 inches or
3 inches apart in 6-inch pots filled with sand ;
keep close and moist through the autumn, and
so far into winter as necessary to admit of their
getting caUused ; after which move them to
where they will have a moderate amount of
heat ; here they wUl root sufiiciently to ad-
mit of their being potted off singly in June.
Three-inch pots will be large enough. Drain,
and fill them with sifted peat, to which must be
added some sand. Keep the little plants mode-
rately close until they commence to grow in a
like temperature to that in which they have
been struck. After they have begun to move,
give more air and pinch out the points. It is
necessary to attend to the stopping in good time,
as the plant is naturally an erect grower, and
will not branch sufiiciently of its own accord.
Shade in the daytime when the weather is
sunny, stand the pots on a damp bottom, and
syringe overhead at the time the house is closed
in the afternoons. As the autumn approaches,
give more air and cease syringing and shading.
A temperature of 45° to iS'^ in the night during
winter shoidd be maintained ; it is not advisable
with young greenhouse plants of this character
to allow the temperature to get too low, as it
cripples their growth. If the plants are kept
warm they will grow away much more freely in
spring, and time is saved in getting them up to
a flowering state. Early in spring they should
have a shift into pots an inch or two larger,
using soil of a like description to that in which
they were first placed. Again stop the shoots
and tie them well out ; this must not be delayed,
as if the plants do not get sufiiciently furnished
at the bottom during their early stages, it is
diflicult to effect it later on. As the sun gets
more powerful, give shade in the daytime ;
stand the pots, as before, on some moisture-
holding material, admitting a moderate amount
of air. Syringe overhead in the afternoons.
By midsummer both root and top-growth should
be moving freely, after which no fire-heat will
be necessary, simply keeping the atmosphere a
little closer, with somewhat more moisture in it
than is needful for ordinary greenhouse stock
of larger size. In autumn treat as before.
Early in spring again repot, giving pots
2 inches or 3 inches larger. The peat, which
ought to be of the best quality, should now be
used without sifting, puUing it in pieces by hand
and rejecting all the loose earthy matter ; one-
sixth or seventh of sand may be added. Pot
firmly and keep the atmosphere a little close for
a few weeks until the roots and tops have begun
to move freely, give a moderate amount of air,
syringe daily, and damp the surface on which the
plants stand. From the time when the little
plants were first potted they must be carefully
watered, applying the water before the soil has
got so dry as many hard-wooded subjects require
it to be. This spring it will not be necessary to
stop the shoots further than to remove the points
from any that are taking an undue lead, and
which, if allowed to grow, would starve the
weaker portion. Again, train out the growths,
securing the strongest in nearly a horizontal
position, leaving the weaker ones erect. In this
way a more uniform condition of the whole wiU.
ultimately be secured. Treat through the
summer as hitherto advised for the season of
active growth, and when the autumn comes
round admit more air in order to prepare them
for winter, during which manage as in the pre-
ceding. In spring give larger pots, now using
the soil in a little more lumpy state. Be care-
ful to ram the soil moderately firm in the pots.
The plants wUl fiower this spring, and even at
this size will be very effective, the distinct charac-
ter of the fiowers contrasting well with anything
else with which they may be associated. As
soon as the flowers are decayed they must be
removed before there is time for seed to form,
as this interferes much with the season's growth.
In its mode of growth this plant differs from
most things, as the shoots push from the extreme
points immediately above the flower-spikes,
which, if cut away altogether when faded, as
customary with most plants, would compel them
to break back from below the spike, the effect of
which would be to interfere much with the
season's growth, and also cause the production
of a crowd of weak shoots that are not wanted.
This being the case in removing the decayed
flowers, care must be taken that the young
growth, which will now be pushing, is not in-
jured. A small pair of scissors are better than
anything else that I have tried to do the work.
The treatment henceforward requires to be
such as already advised, giving larger pots
each spring, and being careful not to let the
plants have too much sun in spring and
summer. Standen's manure applied in the
shape of a surface-dressing two or three tirnes
during the season while the plants are in active
growth increases the strength very much. It
324
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 8, 1887'.
may be safely applied at the rate of a large
tablespoonful at each dressing to a 10-inoh or
12-uich pot. The best specimen I ever had or
saw was grown, with the help of the ma-
nure named, from being in a 6-inch pot until it
occupied one 20 inches in diameter ; it measured
over 5 feet through by as much in height, and
continued for some time afterwards as full of
vigour as it ever had been, the young shoots it
pushed up from the collar attaining a length of
from 3 feet to 0 feet in a single season, the
strongest growing right through the top.
The plant is mostly increased from seed,
which should be sown in autumn as soon as it is
ripe. When to be propagated in this waysow in
pans in a mixture of sifted peat and sand, cover
the .seed lightly, and stand in a temperature of
about 50*^ in the night. Keep the material
slightly moist, being careful not to over-
water. Du'ectly the little plants appear stand
them where they will get a fair amount of
light, and through the winter give them similar
warmth to that in which they have been raised.
In the spring prick them oflf singly into small
pots in sifted peat with some sand added, and
stand the pots on moisture-holding material.
An intermediate temperature will be best during
the summer, shading them carefully from the
sun, and admitting a moderate amount of air
daily. The subsequent treatment shovild be of
a like character to that advised for the young
stock raised from cuttings.
Acrophyllums can be raised in far larger num-
bers from seeds than from cuttings, yet the latter
are much to be preferi-ed when they are taken
from a good variety ill which the flowers are com-
posed of quantities of iine hair-like filaments
closely packed together. . Amongst seedlings
there are quantities in which the flowers are very
inferior.
possession of the new soil. The soil used is peat
and loam, with a good dash of sharp silver sand.
Good drainage is necessary, as abundance of water
should be given to the plants during the summer.
By the time the plants are well established in the
largest-sized pots they should be placed in a light,
cool house, keeping them near the glass. When the
roots have thoroughly filled the last pots, liquid
manure should be freely given to them. The points
of shoots are not pinched ; tying out of the growths
is commenced when the plants are in their second
pots. Red spider, which is likely to attack the
lower leaves if the plants are allowed to become
dry at the roots, spoils their appearance, and should
be guarded against.— E. Moltnetjx.
TYD^AS IN BLOOM.
Neriums in small pots. — Neriums when
grown into small bushy plants in G-inch pots are
useful for conservatory or room decoration. Better
spikes and finer blooms can also be secured than
from older plants which have become pot-bound.
Short, stout, half-ripened cuttings inserted singly
in small pots early in February and plunged in a
brisk bottom heat readily strike root. When rooted
l^lace into 4-inch and again into 6-inch pots as
required, using good flbry loam, with some leaf-
mould and a dash of bone meal. Grow the plants
in an ordinary greenhouse temperature, and when
about 6 inches high pinch out the point of each
shoot. Some may be again topped, when additional
branches will be formed, while others may be
allowed to grow on without stopping. During the
summer apply water both to the roots and the
foliage liberally, and thus check the attacks of red
spider. — S.
Celosias. — I can readily endorse all that "A. D."
says in The Garden, September 24 (p. 2G9), re-
garding the Celosias grown by Mr. Wills. I have
seen plants grown by him for several years past. It
is seldom large finely flowered specimens with a free,
dwarf habit of growth are now seen. The advantage
of a good strain is exemplified when small single-
stemmed plants are required for grouping or other
kinds of decoration. Mr. Wills annually saves his
own seed, always selecting the best plants for seed-
bearing. Seed is but sparsely obtained, beyond the
two colours named by " A. D." (crimson and scar-
let). Mr. Wills has also orange and yellow varie-
ties. He has kindly furnished me with the follow-
ing notes on his method of culture. The seed is
sown early in March in light sandy soil, and the pots
plunged in a gentle bottom-heat. As soon as the
seedlings can be handled they are potted off sepa-
rately into small pots (2?r-inch), placed in a Cucum-
ber frame, and kept close to the glass, so that they
do not become drawn up weakly. The plants re-
ceive four shifts into larger pots, the last time into
12-inoh ones, potting them as fast as the roots take
By varying the season of potting and the temi^era-
ture they are grown in, these pretty Gesneraceous
plants can be had in flower at almost any time, but
perhaps they are most valuable in a general way
when so treated as to be just now commencing to
unfold their blossoms, as under favourable condi-
tions a succession will be maintained nearly through-
out the winter. Their culture is very simple ; all
that is necessary to obtain plants to flower now is
to make a start in the early part of the year either
with seeds or dormant roots. The seed should be
sown about the end of February in pans of light
sandy soil and placed in a stove temperature. Owing
to the minute character of the seed it must not be
covered in any way, except by just laying a pane
of glass over the pot or pan. As soon as the seeds
germinate this must be removed, and by keeping
the young growing plants in a light position, a short
sturdy habit will be ensured. When the young
plants are large enough they must be potted off,
using for the purpose a compost consisting of about
equal parts of loam and well decayed leaf-mould,
with a liberal admixture of silver sand. Owing to
the fragile character of the young roots, the opera-
tion is more conveniently performed if the soil is
sifted sufficiently to extract the rougher particles.
After the plants are potted they must be kept in
the same quarters till they become established, when
they should be gradually hardened off, and by mid-
summer they may be placed in a cold frame. Their
first shift, which should be into pots 4 inches in
diameter, should be given before this time. As soon
as these pots are filled with roots, the plants must
be shifted into their flowering pots, a very suitable
size for the purpose being those 6 inches in diameter.
The soil for this re-potting should be much the
same as before, except that the addition of a little
well-decayed manure will be an advantage. During
the summer the plants should be shaded from bright
sunshine, but plenty of air may be given, in order to
encourage as sturdy a habit of growth as possible.
Towards the end of August, as the pots get filled
with roots, a little weak manure water occasionally
will be of service, and if the plants have done well
they will be by now showing plenty of flower-buds,
when they may be removed to a structure where there
is just a little artificial heat in which they will
rapidly come into bloom. In the temperature of an
intermediate house or the cool end of the stove,
they will flower during the autumn months and
well on into the winter, at which time their beautiful,
but quaintly marked blossoms are most attractive.
In the case of a batch of seedlings, some are greatly
improved if the top is just pinched out to encourage
a branching habit, while in the case of others this is
q\iite unnecessary, as they are naturally more sturdy.
There are a great many named varieties of Tyda?a,
and where it is intended to grow them they may be
obtained at any time, but the better way is to start
with dormant roots in early spring. The Tydreas
form scaly caterpillar-like rhizomes, which if ob-
tained about February or March, should be potted
as soon as received and treated the same as seed-
lings. The rhizomes should in potting be covered
with about half-an-jnch of soil. Though a batch of
seedlings will give a great variety of blossoms, the
named kinds are propagated l)y means of cuttings,
and the best time to do this is in the spring as soon
as the young shoots are sufficiently long to furnish
a cutting, and still leave a few buds at the base
from whence other shoots will spring. The cuttings
should be taken off at a joint, and the bottom leaves
havingbeenremoved,be dibbled singly into small pots
filled with light sandy soil. After a" good watering
they may be placed in a close propagating case, and
by a month will be rooted sufficiently to be gradu-
ally hardened off. This mode of propagation must
only be resorted to during the first half of the year,
as cuttings struck late in the season will not "form
any rhizomes, and consequently after flowering they
perish. When the flowering season is over the
plants .should be rested for a time, but on no
account must the roots be allowed to become too
dry, whether they are intended to remain in the
soil or turned out and stored in silver sand, both of
which modes of treatment are in common use. If
allowed to become too dry, a kind of rot often
attacks the roots and causes many of them to decay.
In makmg a selection of a few good named varieties
the following may be relied on as a representative
lot: Madame Heine, Eobert le Diable, gigantea,
M. Richard Larios, Lady Caroline Kerrison,Cratere,
and tricolor. A very pretty Tydfea-like plant is
Isoloma hirsuta, with tubular flowers of an orange-
vermilion colour. The name of hirsuta is derived
from the fact that brown silky hairs are distributed
thickly over the whole plant, flowers as well as
foliage. The treatment accorded to TydiEas will
suit this plant perfectly. T.
LACHENALIAS.
"E. B. L.," in The Garden Sept. 24 (p. 249), objects
to the " instructions " I gave in The Gaeden Sept.
10 (p. 200) for these plants, aUeging that with
what he terms " more rational treatment " they
will do better. I have potted and basketed the
bulbs at different times from soon after the period
of their going to rest until they had made a little
growth, and found the last the best, and by carry-
ing out the operation then, and giving manure
water and adding rotten manure to the soil I have
had larger spikes bearing larger individual flowers,
without any excess of leaf growth than ever I could
get or saw anyone else able to get by potting earlier
and withholding manure. The roots of Lachenalias
do not suffer by being disturbed after they have
begun to move in the way that Lilies and some
other things do ; this I have proved for more than a
score of years. No doubt if the mass of bulbs were
torn to pieces without any regard to the fibres being
broken, injury would follow. But that is not the
way I treat plants or advise others to treat them.
By withholding anything in the shape of manure
until the flower-spikes appear, as recommended by
" E. B. L.," three-fourths of the advantages arising
from its use are lost, as stimulants given at the
time he names are too late to have the slightest in-
fluence in increasing the number of flowers on the
spikes, though the individual flowers may be bene-
fited . The colour or want of colour present in the
flowers when forced that " E. B. L." speaks of is
dependent on the forcing being skilfully or unskil-
fully carried out. These Lachenalias are very old
acquaintances and favourites of mine, and in their
cultivation, as in that of other things, I have not
felt disposed to jog along in the old ruts without
trying the effects of different courses of treatment,
and what I advise is the outcome of that which I
have proved, not resting on suppositions of what
would or would not be the result of untried pro-
T. B.
Cape Pelargoniums. — There is a small class of
Pelargoniums usually spoken of as Cape varieties,
which title is at best a very vague one, as this ap-
pellation might with equal correctness bo bestowed
upon all our garden forms. Those under notice are,
however, descended from Pelargonium cchinatum,
which is a very pretty kind, and one that must always
be included in any selection of this class. P. echi-
natum has woody, sparely-branched stems, clothed
])lentifully with short, but sturdy prickles. It also
forms tuber-like masses at the roots, and in that
respect differs greatly from most of the varieties in
cultivation. The flowers are borne in good-sized
clusters well above the foliage, and though not large,
Oct. 8, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
325
they form a very attractive feature, especially during
the' autumn months, as if the plants are grown on for
the purpose they may be had in bloom throughout the
greater part of the dull wintry season. The flowers
of P. echinatum are pure white with the exception
of a feathering of maroon on the upper petals,
which contrasts markedly with the spotless purity
of the rest of the flower. Another pretty variety is
Ariel, with rosy crimson-coloured blossoms, which
are borne in equal profusion with those of the last-
named, so that they form a desirable pair, and
though there are several other names to be met
with in various lists, the varieties are so much alike
that two sorts are quite sufficient to grow. Where
the plants are required for blooming from now
onwards, they should be potted on as required and
grown out of doors in a sunny spot duriog the sum-
mer, the result being that by the end thereof they will
be laden with flower-buds, and when taken indoors
will soon be studded with blossoms. Cuttings of
this class of Pelargoniums do not strike root so
readily as any of the others, the best time to put
them in being during the spring months. No es-
pecial treatment is needed in their case, all that is
necessary being to allow them to remain undisturbed
till rooted.— H. P.
LAPAGERIAS AT CHELSEA.
As is usually the case at this time of the year, the
conservatory or corridor leading from the King's
Road entrance to the tree fernery at Messrs. J.
Veitoh and Sons' nursery is again remarkably gay
with these lovely flowers, which, owing to the white
and red varieties being intermixed in about equal
quantities, produce a most charming efliect. To
those unacquainted with the structure it may be
described as a straight house, about 90 feet long by
20 feet wide, extending from east to west, and re-
sembling two opposite lean-to houses, one facing
north and the other facing south, connected by a
covered path, surmounted by a glazed lantern, and
with walls on either side of the same height as the
roof itself. It is on both sides of this path that
the red and white Lapagerias are planted alter-
nately on each side. Some seven years ago,
plants of a fairly ordinary size were planted, none
of them of such sufficient height to reach the glazed
roof. Since then they have grown with such vigour,
that after they had been planted three years, the
whole length was covered, sparingly it is true, but
sufficiently so to be rendered very attractive. Some
of the shoots carried as many as from twenty-six to
thirty-two flowers and buds. As the plants grew
older, however, they naturally became more crowded,
and, though still producing their blossoms in large
numbers, they are more evenly distributed over the
whole wood, and not produced in such continuous
strings as was formerly the case, clusters of eight to
ten on a shoot being about the largest in number seen
at present. Through the plants having been put in
alternately — red opposite red, instead of red oppo-
site white, and so forth — it has taken the plants
longer than was at flrst anticipated to become inter-
mixed, but at the present time the blending of the
fed and white flowers is perfect, and their pendent
character renders them exceedingly attractive. The
house where these handsome plants are doing so
remarkably well, and where it is proved that in
point of vigour and also of freedom of flowering,
the white is in no wise inferior to the red form, is a
perfectly cool one, in which during the winter the
temperature is allowed to go down to freezing point,
and where in exceptionally severe seasons the frost
cannot even always be entirely kept out. The La-
pagerias are in well-drained beds, in which about
15 inches of soil only are placed abo\e the drainage;
and the compost in which they appear to luxuriate
so well is composed of two parts of fibrous peat, one
part of sand, and one part of lime rubbish, which
seems to suit their fleshy roots. The watering is
undoubtedly a point of the greatest importance in
connection with the culture of these plants, and
must be attended to very carefully if success is to
be obtained. Provided that the place be well
drained, the watering can hardly be either too
copious or too frequent, as these lovely climbers in
their native Chilian habitat are found growing natu-
rally in swampy places, where their roots are kept
constantly moist.
At Chelsea the Lapagerias never receive stimulants
in any shape, and no manure of any kind has ever
been administered to them; but during all the time
that their blossoms last — that is to say, from the
beginning of August to the end of October, when it is
injurious to the flowers to keep the foliage wet to a
great extent — the plants receive a more abundant
supply of water at the roots, and a thorough water-
ing is given them regularly every other day, which
tends to prolong the flowering season. At other
times, besides being kept permanently moist at the
roots, the foliage is syringed every day from the
beginning of April until the flrst blooms open,
when it is found advisable to cease syringing. That
the Lapagerias dislike excessive heat, either arti-
ficial or otherwise, is unmistakably shown at this
moment by the way in which the plants flower.
The blossoms of those specimens growing against
the wall looking north, and on which the sun has
had but little, if any, power at all during the hottest
days of this last season, are far superior as regards
size, substance, and colour to those produced on
the shoots more exposed to the influence of last
summer's heat. But those growing, or rather trained,
on the surface of the wall exposed to the sun's rays
all the day, though in the same house and other-
wise subjected to the same treatment, have only
produced a few flowers, which rarely open perfectly,
and cannot bear comparison with the others. Yet
the flowers against either wall are not produced
by separate plants, but are borne on plants which
are simply layers from the others, and the defect
in their quality can only be attributed to the posi-
tion. Then there is, again, another proof in fa-
vour of a cool temperature, and that is, that this
season the first lot of flowers produced were of so
inferior in quality, and altogether so poor in colour
and substance, that they had to be picked off as
they made their appearance ; and yet these worth-
less blossoms were produced by the same plants
and on the same shoots as the fine ones developed
on them later on, when the temperature was natu-
rally cooler. Another advantage derived from per-
fectly cool treatment is found in the cleanliness of
the plants subjected to it, for when grown in that
way the worst enemy which occasionally attacks
them is a little green fly, which is easily and effec-
tually disposed of by slight fumigations ; whereas
the serious complaints which are frequently heard
of Lapagerias being infested with thrips, scale. Sec,
arise from the plants being kept too warm. Where
the house in which the Lapagerias are grown is un-
avoidably exposed to the full influence of the sun, it
is advisable to have the plants lightly shaded during
at least the hottest part of the day, and syringings
should then be given to them every night and morn-
ing- G-.
The Neilgherry Lily (Lilium neilgherrense).
— When the Lily season is so far advanced that
there are but a few scattered blooms of L. specio-
sum, auratum, and tigrinum splendens, the Neil-
gherry Lily commences to unfold its earliest
blossoms, and where several are grown the probabi-
lity is that some will be much later than this, thus
prolonging the Lily season till well on towards
Christmas. The Lily in question needs the protec-
tion of a greenhouse at this season, otherwise the
blooms do not open properly, and the bulbs are often
injured by the heavy autumnal rains. The blooms
of the Neilgherry Lily are long and tube-shaped,
their colour being creamy white, and they are re-
markably thick and wax-like in texture, so much so
that they appear to be chiselled out of some solid
material. Owing to the massive character of the
blooms, combined with the time of the year at
which they open, the flowers of the Neilgherry
Lily last in perfection much longer than any of
those that open earlier in the season. Considerable
numbers of this Lily are imported every year from
their native habitat (the Neilgherry Hills), and
they always flower better the first year after
importation than at any subsequent period. A good
way to treat this Lily when received (say in
February or March) is to pot the bulbs in a soil
consisting of equal parts of loam, peat, and silver
sand, for the roots revel in a liberal quantity of this
last. The pots used may be 5 inches, 6 inches, or
7 inches in diameter, according to the strength of
the bulbs, which should be about an inch below the
surface when the potting is finished. A very good
way is to put them in a frame till the sharp spring
frosts are over, when they may be plunged out of
doors, and allowed to remain there till the middle
of September or thereabouts, when they must be
removed under glass for the flowers to expand. — ■
H. P.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Stove. — Nepenthes. — These most interesting
plants can be struck at different times of the year,
as the cuttings require to be made from the firm,
ripened shoots, not from partly matured growth.
Nearly all the Nepenthes, whether species or
hybrids, when they have made shoots of consider-
able length begin to produce pitchers very different
in either form or colour to those which were
formed on the lower part of the stems. The
pitchers that are borne on the upper part of the
shoots are much inferior to the lower ones. It thus
becomes necessary when these indifferent-looking
pitchers begin to appear to head the plants down,
so as to cause them to push fresh shoots from the
bottom. These will continue for two years or more
to bear pitchers of the normal shape. Another
advantage gained by heading down the plants is
that it keeps them densely furnished down to the
bottom with healthy leaves ; whereas if left alone
they become bare and naked. In addition, cut-back
plants, if strong, usually push up several growths
that form handsomer specimens than those con-
sisting of only one or two shoots. My own practice
has been to head the plants down in autumn after
these defective pitchers have begun to show them-
selves. When the work is done at this season
the cuttings get rooted before spring, and the
young plants have the summer before them
in which to become established. The stems may be
headed down to within 6 inches or 8 inches of the
bottom, allowing any leaves below to remain until
after the young growth has made some progress.
Keep the plants after being cut back in a brisk
stove heat. It is useless attempting to grow
Nepenthes where a high temperature cannot be
maintained, for though they may live where only a
medium heat is kept up, still under such treatment
they are never seen in good condition. The cuttings
should consist of two joints each, with at least a
portion of the leaf attached. They strike best
inserted in crocks broken fine with a little sand
added, and they may be put singly in small pots or
several together in shallow pans, confining them
closely under propagating glasses or in a cutting
frame. Keep the material wet, and shade from the
sun. A strong heat is necessary to induce the
cuttings to strike. If all goes well they will be
well rooted before spring, when they can be potted
on singly.
DiPLADENiAS. — Where these are required to
bloom in spring, it is necessary to head them back
now, and after the stools have started into growth
to give them heat enough to keep them mov-
ing through the winter. The branches should be
cut back to within a few joints of where they were
last shortened to — that is, supposing some G feet or
8 feet of stem has been retained before, as these
plants do not like cutting in closer than this. My
treatment has been to turn them out of the pots as
soon as they were cut in, not waiting to repot until
they had started, as is practised with most plants.
The best brown peat should be used, selecting such
as is full of vegetable fibre ; pull it in pieces by the
hand and shake out a portion of the earthy matter,
add a liberal quantity of clean sharp sand, and pot
moderately firm. Syringe the plants overhead once
a day, but give no water until the buds have started
and some shoot growth has been made, after which
water must be applied sparingly all through the
winter, so as to keep the soil drier than other stove
subjects like. Treated in this way the young growth
comes comparatively weak at first to that which it
would if the heading-down was deferred until spring
and the plants not potted till after they had started,
326
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 8, 1887.
but there is plenty of time for them to gain strength
before spring, which they will not fail to do, pro-
vided the heat is kept up sufficiently. They should
not have less than 65° by night through the winter ;
if a few degrees more can be given it will be still
better. The advantage of heading the plants back
about this time and keeping them going during the
winter is that they will flower two months earlier
than by following the ordinary method of cutting in
and re-potting later. Plants so managed will go on
for a dozen years or more, being as vigorous at the
end of that time as at the beginning. The treat-
ment here advised applies to all the kinds of Dipla-
denia, both species and hybrids, except D. bolivi-
ensis, which should not be severely cut in, as on the
size that the heads attain depends the quantity of
flowers produced.
DiPLADBNiA PBOPAGATION. — Cuttings made of
the half-matured wood, such as obtainable in quan-
tity now when the plants are cut back, will strike
readily. They may consist of either a single joint
with 2 inches or 3 inches of shoot attached, or of
two joints ; I prefer the latter. Put them singly in
small pots, half filled with a mixture of peat and
sand, the top all sand. Keep them moist and placed
under propagating glasses in a warm house
They will soon make roots and push top-growth,
when dispense with the glasses. After the pots are
moderately full of roots move the plants into others
3 inches or 4 inches in diameter, using soil such as
advised for the old plants, but finer.
Caladiums. — As soon as the leaves of these
plants begin to turn yellow, water should be gradu-
ally withheld until the soil gets quite dry, in which
condition it ought to remain till the tubers are again
started into growth. Complaints are often made
of Caladiums perishing in winter ; this frequently
comes by withholding water in the autumn too
suddenly before the tops have had time to get
matured, whilst, as a matter of course, the tubers
were in a similar immature condition. Another
cause to which the decay of the dormant roots is
traceable is, that they are kept too cold during
winter. The tubers should not be allowed to be in
a temperature much under 60° during their season
of rest. Well-ripened roots stored where they
will have this amount of heat will rarely die.
Hbdtchiums. — Though these handsome Ginger-
worts are usually classed as stove plants, they will
do well during a good part of the year in a green
house, but under such conditions they bloom much
later, often not flowering before the end of August
or September. Plants that have been subjected to
cool treatment of this kind, and have only now
finished blooming, should have the flower-heads cut
away, leaving the stem with its leaves intact until
the young growth which it will push up from the
base has made some progress, after which the old
growth may be removed. The plants should now
be put where they can have an intermediate tempe-
rature, in which they should remain during the
winter ; if kept too cold the growth is poor and weak.
iMANTOPHYLLtTMS. — In some cases these plants
are kept all the year round in more or less heat
with the soil constantly moist ; in this way they
have no stated season of blooming, producing
flowers at various times. Where the plants are
allowed to rest when they have made growth after
blooming by keeping the roots dry, they may be
had in flower early in the year if subjected to heat
and the roots given a soaking with water at the
same time. The flowers of Imantophyllums are
much prized on account of their colour and their
distinct form ; consequently it is best where a suffi-
cient stock is available to bring them on at different
times. Now when the plants have completed their
growth it will be well to allow the soil to get dry,
in which condition the plants will do in a green-
house for the next three months, after which a few
may be started at intervals in this way. With a
sufficient number and proper attention a succession
of flowers may be depended on. For this kind of
work it is better to have a number of medium-sized
specimens than a few very large examples, as the
spring with a little heat and getting it quickly into
bloom, it will flower a second time. When grown
out of doors, as soon as there is no further danger
of frost in spring, it also flowers late and comes in
very acceptable for conservatory decoration. Plants
that have been treated in either of the ways named
will now have ripened their tops and should
be cut down close to the collar ; at the same time
the soil ought to be allowed to get into a half dry
state, giving no more water than will prevent the
roots suffering. In this condition the plants should
remain until they are again started in spring in
a little warmth, or be allowed to come on with the
increase of solar heat. During the season of rest
the plants will be quite safe in a house or pit where
frost can be kept out. T. B.
Ferns.
W. H. GOWER.
ANTIGRAMMA DOUGLASI.
This is a very rare Fern ; the only plant I have
ever seen growing was introduced by the late
Messrs. Rollisson from San Paulo, in Brazil, with
coriaceous in texture, and bright green in
colour ; the sori are confined to the free veins,
and open face to face, the veins round the mar-
gin being netted. It appears to enjoy an abund-
ance of heat and moisture, and should be
grown in a mixture of loam and leaf-mould, to
which may be added some sharp sand.
OUR ISfATlVE FERNS.
Antigramma Douglasi. Engraved from Natiu'e for
The Garden.
some plants of Oncidium varicosum, but I have
never been able to discover into whose hands it
passed when the collection was dispersed. The
accompanying engraving affords a capital idea
of this Fern ; it would be an Asplenium if the
veins were not reticulated near the margin, and it
has also been named Soolopendrium planta-
gineum and Asplenium Douglasi. It grows upon
footstalks some 0 inches high ; the root is tufted.
and the crown of the plant is furnished some
latter often throw up more spikes than are required. I what densely with jet-black, chaffy scales ;
Ekytheina Cbista-galli.— Where the most is fronds about C inches long and nearly 3 inches
made of this fine old plant by starting it early in ' broad, ovate in shape, cordate at the base,
THE BLADDEE ferns.
The Cystopteris form a small, but very interesting
genus, the popular name being derived from the
fact that the indusium, or mass of spores, is inflated
like a bladder. It is exclusively composed of plants
of comparatively dwarf growth, all of which, except
the North American C. bulbifera, are of British
origin and well adapted for planting in the open
rockery, as they are nearly all found on high eleva-
tions. This genus only comprises three species — the
AlpineBladder Fern (C. alpina), the Mountain Bladder
Fern (C. montana), and the Brittle Bladder Fern (C.
fragilis), and, with the exception of C. montana, the
others produce their slender fronds in great abund-
ance from a tufted crown or a very decumbent rhi-
zome. All are, on account of their delicate appear-
ance, well adapted for pot-culture, either under glass,
in a coolframe, orwithoutglassinashelteredposition.
C. montana and C. fragilis, with its several varieties,
become, however, most beautiful when grown in the
close atmosphere of a frame. The dormant crowns
must not be kept too damp during the winter. AU
the kinds are easily propagated during March and
April by the division of the crowns whenever more
than one has formed.
The Alpine Bladder Feek (Cystopteris alpina).
— This is also known as C. regia, and is one of the
very rarest Ferns of Great Britain, so rare, indeed,
that for a long time it appeared very doubtful if it
could be classed among the British species ; but
that it is one of our native Ferns is quite certain
now, as in the second edition of Kay's " Synopsis,"
published in 1696, we find that a Mr. Lhwyd first
discovered it on Snowdon. Later on it was again
found in Wales, this time by Mr. Griffiths, on Cwm
Idwell ; while Mr. W. Christy met with it at Knares-
borough, where it was growing on rocks. It was
also found in 1793, at Low Layton, in Essex, by
Mr. Forster, who notified his discovery at the time
in Symon's " Sinopsis." The Alpine Bladder Fern
was again found at the same spot in 1835 by Mr.
Pamplin.and also in 1840 by Mr. E. H. Bolton. Later
still, Mr. T. Moore received some specimens of it
from Mr. Shepherd, of Liverpool, who stated that
these had been gathered in Yorkshire and Derby-
shire, but without any further information ; and we
also find that, on the authority of Mr. Maughan,
Hooker states that it has been found on Ben Lawers,
in Scotland. A further and very interesting con-
tribution to the discovery and history of this rare
species is furnished us by the late Sir J. E. Smith,
who says that —
The lowland station of this Fern, close to a much-
frequented road at Low Layton, where I have, in com-
pany with the late Mr. Forster, seen it covering great
part of a brick wall, may he supposed analogous to its
place of growth in France ; hut we seek in vain for any
information on this head either in Vaillant or Lamarck,
nor is it evident that the latter ever found the plant.
The wall at Low Layton has been repaired and the
Fern almost destroyed. On Snowdon it is said to be
very scarce, though Mr. Wilson, with his usual bounty,
has sent me an ample supply of specimens of various
sizes. He describes it as " varying greatly in size and
appearauoe, hut always distinct from C. fragUis." It
is unquestionably distinct from any other British Fern,
though the proper name and syuonyms were not dis-
covered till after its appearance in Engl. Bot., where
I fell into the same error with some foreign botanists.
Linnaeus ouce thought it a Swedish plant, hut eiTO-
neously, nor had he an original or authentic specimen.
The Mountain Bladder Fern (Cystopteris
montana), known also as C. myrrhidifolia, is quite
distinct in habit from all other species and varieties
belonging to the same genus, for its lovely fronds,
which are delicately divided and strikingly triangular
in outline, instead of emanating from a crown like
in other kinds, are produced on very slender under-
Oct. 8, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
ground rhizomes, such as are noticed in Lastrea
Thelypteris, or, again, those of the more common
Oak and Beech Ferns (Polypodium Dryopteris and
P. Phegopteris). They are borne on long, stout
stalks, which are perfectly smooth, except near their
base, where there are a few light-coloured scales.
It was only in 1836, when it was first discovered by
Mr. W. Wilson on Ben Lawers, one of the Bredal-
bane Mountains, that it was accepted as a British
species, though it had long been known as a Fern
peculiar to the high alpine districts of Europe. The
history of the Mountain Bladder Fern is so very
interesting, that we cannot do better than quote the
observations made by the late Mr. Moore, to the
effect that —
The headquarters in Britain of this very rare and
local Fern are the highlands of Scotland, where it was
found first on Ben Lawers by Mr. Wilson, in company
with Professors Hooker and Graham, in 1836, and sub-
sequently by Messrs. Gourlie, Adamson, Borrer, and
Little, and Dr. Walker Ai-nott in 1811, 1850, and 1851
in a ravine called Corrach Dh'Oufillach, or Corrach
TJachdar, between Glen Dochart and Glen Lochay, in
the Mhiel OufiUach Mountains, in Perthshire. It is
reported to have been found in North Wales by
Plukenet, and we are informed that the existence of
the species in Wales has been recently confinned,
though the information is incomplete. It is not, how-
ever, improbable, as the species is met with in the
Alps of Eui'ope, occun'iug most frequently in the north,
and generally on rough, stony ground. It is also a
native of the Rocky Mountains of North America. This
is strictly an alpine plant, and requires treatment
similar to that recommended for other species, with
perfect rest in winter.
As will be seen from the above remarks, Cystopteris
montana is essentially a local Fern, which cannot,
it is believed, be grown satisfactorily in the hardy
fernery. This is probably owing to failures through
having only small plants to begin with. It is still
so very scarce that large plants of it could not be
obtained, and small ones require particular care for
some time. In trying it, a sheltered, moist, and
sunless part of the hardy fernery must be chosen
Devote to it a level spot a foot square, remove the
soil 10 inches in depth, half fill it with broken bricks
or other porous material, and the remaining portion
with very fibry peat, mixed with a little loam and
silver sand. Plant in this, and cover with a bell-
glass, the latter having its rim raised an inch or so
above the surface for ventilation, but beware of
snails. Keep the soil always moist while the plant
is growing, and remove the glass as soon as the
Fern appears sufficiently well established. When
it has made vigorous growth it will need no further
care. The above advice is that which was given me
by the late Mr. Sims, who at Foot's Cray was most
successful in the cultivation of all British Ferns,
and principally those considered exceptionally deli-
cate and difficult to manage. To this generous
advice we entirely owe our success in growing satis-
factorily that beautiful species which, with us, had
always proved unmanageable, and strongly advise
Fern lovers to give it a fair trial.
The Beittlb Bladdee Fern (Cystopteris fra-
gilis) is by far the most common species, and is
found in the most widely distributed habitats. It
flourishes in mountain districts, especially on old
walls and chalky, damp, shaded rocks. It has been
found growing plentifully at Richmond and Settle,
in Yorkshire; near Buxton and Matlock, in Derby-
shire; at Cheddar, in Somersetshire; near Hyde, in
Gloucestershire; near Bristol, at Exwick, near
Exeter, and in other places in England. It is also
a native of Ireland, being found in Kerry, at Lough
Inn, and Lough Derryclare, Connemara, and in
Wales, where it has been frequently gathered in a
cave at Clogwyn Coch, Snowdon, on rocks above
Cwm Idwell,near TwU Der, and near Wrexham. It
has also been collected in Sutherland and on the
Kincardineshire coast; near Killin; in Aberdeen-
shire, Moray, Ross-shire, near Maens, and in Berwick-
shire. Cystopteris fragilis is readily distinguished
by its fronds, which are usually produced abun-
dantly, being borne on smooth, reddish brown
stalks of a very slender and brittle character. They
become towards the autumn almost black, and show
a few sparse scales at their base. It grows gene-
rally about 6 inches in height, though in warm,
327 1
moist, and shaded situations its fronds wiU attain
from 10 inches to 12 inches in length. This inte-
resting species, however, requires a suitable situa-
tion to develop its true character, as it is liable to
alter in growth according to its position. This
species, besides being the one most plentifully re-
presented in Great Britain, is also the one which
has produced the most constant varieties, some of
which are so very striking as to appear as really
distinct species, as, for instance, C. fragilis furcans,
the fronds of which have their points all more or less
forked ; C. fragilis intermedia, a very pretty, small-
growing variety resembling partly C. fragilis and
partly C. alpina; while in C. fragilis interrupta
we have a Fern with narrow fronds, of very irregu-
lar outline and peculiar appearance. The varieties
of the Brittle Bladder Fern which are most distinct
are C. fragilis angustata, dentata, and Dickieana.
The Dbbp-cxjt or Red- stalked Bladder
Fehn (Cystopteris fragilis angustata), sometimes
also called rhseticum, on account of its having
first been discovered in Rh^thia, is a much stronger
grower than C. fragilis proper, its fronds frequently
attaining 15 inches in height. Their stalks, which
are of a dark red colour, become quite black in the
autumn, and half their length only is furnished with
pinnfe and pinnules, whose segments are always long
and narrow, and sometimes cloven at the end. It has
been gathered near Llanberis, in North Wales, and at
Gordale, in Craven, Yorkshire, where it is found in
wooded places on mountains and on shaded rocks ;
in many parts of Scotland, occupying similar situa-
tions ; on the mountains of Westmoreland ; on the
summit of Glyder Mountains, on the side overhang-
ing Glyn Ogwen Lake ; and on the Leek Road about
a mile from Buxton.
The Toothed Brittle Fern (Cystopteris den-
tata).— Although a form of British origin, this ap-
pears to have been passed entirely unnoticed by the
earlier botanists, but about 1781 Mr. Dickson found
it in clefts of rocks in the Highlands of Scotland.
In England it has been gathered between Widdy
Bank and Caldron Snout, in Durham ; while in
Wales, several places boast of its presence, as it has
been collected in Denbighshire, on rocks north of
Trejorwerth, in Anglesea, and on Snowdon, in Flint-
shire, at Llangollen, and at the foot of the walls of
Castle Dinas Bran. Its fronds seldom exceed 8
inches in height, and are not quite so brittle as those
of Cystopteris fragilis ; the stems are brownish
purple, smooth and shining.
The best and most distinct fixed form of Cysto-
pteris fragilis is undoubtedly that named Dickieana,
to which some authorities are inclined to accord the
rank of species. However, whether species or variety,
this lovely little plant, which was found as far back
as 1846 by Dr. Dickie in a cave upon the seashore
in Aberdeen, appears to have but a very limited
habitat, as there is no record of its having at
any time been found in any other place. It is dis-
tinct from the above species by its much denser
and more ovate fronds ; the height of each is about
5 inches, with horizontal pinnae disposed so close
that the pinnules overlap one another. They are
borne on stems thicker than those of any other
kinds belonging to the genus. It is altogether a
perfectly distinct plant, neither monstrous nor dis-
torted, and is freely reproduced from spores, re-
taining all its distinctive characters.
A compost of fibrous peat and loam, with the ad-
dition of a little thoroughly decayed leaf -mould and
sand, is the one which suits all Cystopteris best,
and they prefer a comparatively moist place in the
rockery. For pot culture it is advisable to add to
the above mixture a small proportion of old,
crumbled mortar or finely broken sandstone, and
also to give thorough drainage. The Bladder
Ferns are generally propagated by division made
in the early spring, but they are also easily raised
from spores sown in autumn in a cold frame.
S. G.
Table Ferns. — By these I mean elegant Ferns
adapted for table decoration. One of these is As-
plenium cicutarium, a very lovely Fern, with bright
pale green, plume-like fronds. Another is Adian-
tum cornubiense, said to be as hardy as A.Capillus-
veneris, and which can be best described as a green-
house farleyense. Adiantum Oweni, which I saw
at Mr. Osven's nursery at Maidenhead, a supposed
cross between A. cuneatum and A. amabile, is a
very pleasing and distinct variety. Mr. Owen says,
that in order to keep this true it must be increased
by division; the fronds are double the length of
those of A. cuneatum, have greater substance, and
last much longer in a cut state. Small plants of
this make most desirable table specimens. I also
saw at this nursery a very elegant form of Pteris
serrulata with exceedingly small fronds. How it
originated Mr. Owen was not quite certain, but he
thinks it came as a seedling. This also will make a
most delightful table plant. — R. D.
Kitchen Garden.
CHOICE PEAS.
The number of sorts of Peas is a great trouble
to amateurs and others, many of the new
varieties sold at high prices possessing no par-
ticular excellence over many of our old-esta-
blished favourites, and yet, as in all other
classes of vegetables, we have made considerable
strides, certainly in size, and in some instances
in quality. As very few gardeners care to test
a great number of sorts of vegetables, the Royal
Horticultural Society, in this department, has
done us great service in the trial grounds at
Chiswick ; first, in determining duplicates, or
old friends under new names ; second, in placing
their seal upon those which their able super-
intendent considers an acquisition ; and, third,
in warning us off varieties which, however good,
are no better than they should be. These trials
having enabled seedsmen to introduce a fair
number of heavily lettered novelties into their
lists every year, all who have a few spare rods
of ground may, if they will, make small selec-
tions and test them on their own premises. As
representatives of the medium and tall sections
of Marrows, Veitch's Perfection and Ne Plus
Ultra are bad to beat, and so strong is my im-
pression upon this point, that for a good number
of years I have sown about 30 yards run of the
first once a fortnight throughout the Marrow-
season. Of Ne Plus Ultra, all who can
grow high class tall Peas should have a con-
tinuous supply from the middle of July onwards.
But very many gardens are too smaU, or too
much infested with birds, for the culture of tall
Peas to be made practicable or profitable. This
bird nuisance having increased to such a serious
extent, I am now obliged to net my quarters,
and much as I object to sowing more than two
rows side by side, to economise time as well as
nets, consecutive drills from 4 feet to C feet
apart have now become my only alternative.
Very dwarf Peas are easily netted, but then
they are too fleeting ; and tall varieties with
nets cast over them look unsightly. To strike
the happy medium, I this year devoted a piece
of well prepared ground to a row each of
Veitch's best black-letter varieties, and the fol-
lowing is my selection of a good half-doz3n.
Veitch's Selected Extra Early.— Compact
and very prolific, sown with William the 1st in
January, beat the old favourite by a week and
is quite equal, if not superior, to it in quality.
It does not grow quite so tall, and for this
reason alone is best adapted for sowing on south
borders where shade is injurious to fruit trees.
Of William I. and Advancer, hitherto I
have always made sowings on an open quarter
for leading up to the best Marrows, but this
season seeing William II. highly recommended,
this also was sown in January. Thinking a
selection from the original might vary a little in
328
THE GARDEN.
height or earliness, I was agreeably surprised to
find I had a deep green wrinkled Pea in No. 2,
more prolific than Advancer, and quite equal to
this delicious Marrow in point of flavour.
Criteuton is an excellent second early Mar-
row of the Ne Plus Ultra type, but comes in
much earlier, and growing as it did this year
5 feet in height, with haulm literally loaded
with large, well-filled pods, it is fit for any gar-
den, large or small, and the quality is unsur-
Gladiator is not quite so tall as the preoed-
ing, but it carries an immense number of large
pods, slightly curved on its branching stems,
which require very few sticks, and those wide
apart, to admit of the plant's full development.
These pods are exceedingly well packed with
medium-sized Peas of a deep green colour and
delicious flavour. It stands dry weather well,
and, like many of the branching Peas, continues
a long time in beariog. When better known.
Gladiator will become a general favourite with
all consumers, those especially who prefer
medium-sized Marrows. Requiring but few
short sticks, it will be grown extensively for
market.
Prodigy, well named, is a very fine green
wrinkled Marrow, raised by Mr. Culverwell,
the result of a cross between his Giant Marrow
and Stratagem, and embodying all the good
qualities of its parents. High-sounding words,
but not a wit too high for this grand midseason
variety, which once grown will never be lost
sight of. It is one of the 5-foot Marrows, robust
and branching, and produces an abundance of
long, straight pods in pairs well filled with about
ten Peas in each pod, and of exquisite flavour.
Having but a pint of seed I had the Peas
planted, not sown in a double row, 4 inches to
C inches apart, staked thinly, and although the
season was unfavourable the crop was heavy
and the haulm free from mildew. The last on
my list of sterling varieties is
Sturdy, a cross between my old friends
Veitch's Perfection and Ne Plus Ultra. It is a
very late Marrow, growing about 3 feet in
height, requiring but few short sticks, and is well
adapted for netting. Although a dwarf grower,
it branches immensely, and there appears eo
end to its season. Some rows with which we
thought we had finished since the rain came
having started again, are now in flower and pod,
and look like giving a good supply until frost
overtakes them. The names of the parents are
a sufficient guarantee for its superior quality.
The small grower who cannot test for him-
self and trusts to a chance selection from fat
catalogues, will not go far out of his way in or-
dering these six varieties. There are, of course,
many more equally good, but with these he will
commence early with Veitch's First Early and
the excellent William II,, and march into the
region of frost with Sturdy. He will avoid the
use of unsightly, gawky sticks, and have Peas fit
for exhibition or the connoisseur's table. The
great mistake which many growers make is
thick sowing in narrow drills, and forcing the
too numerous stems still closer together by
tight moulding. When the ground is pro-
perly prepared, a flat draw-hoe 9 inches in
width should be used for drawing the drills,
and all the small early white Peas should
be dexterously cast over the bottom not
less than 2 inches apart. The Marrows we
never sow, but plant in double lines in each
drill, as the cottager plants his Broad Beans.
Form a good ridge of soil on each side, but not
too close, before staking, and mulch imme-
diately. If extra good cultivation is the object,
ground in good heart cannot be too deeply
[Oct. 8, 1887.
broken, when rough' trenches thrown out with a
spade as for Celeiy, and filled or partially filled
with refuse from the soil yard, road-scrapings,
or parings, anything fresh, with a sprinkling of
soot added, will form a seed-bed not easily af-
fected by drought, and convenient for mulching
and flooding — three conditions antagonistic to
mildew. W. Coleman.
KITCHEN" GARDEN NOTES.
Looking ahead. — Having completed the harvest-
ing of Potatoes, Onions, Beet, and early Carrots, we
arc now making provision for autnmn and winter
supplies of as many varieties of vegetables as our
limited space and labour admit of. Tomatoes are
still abundant, and as all the fruits will not ripen
in the open air, the fruit that is fully grown we
shall shortly out and hang up in the vineries and
other warm houses to ripen ; the flavour is not
nearly so good as in the case of those that ripen
naturally, but they are Tomatoes, and pass as good
fruit during November and December, when they
are scarce. The plants Intended for winter fruiting
indoors are now being potted into fruiting pots, and
as soon as the now ripening Melons are all cut
they will be arranged in that house and trained
to Melon trellises, in which position they do well, as
we can apply whatever heat we think necessary. It
is now all over with frame Cucumbers, and atten-
tion has to be given to getting the plants in the
Cucumber house into full bearing. Artificial
warmth is more essential now than it is even in
springtime, and the plants will bear a greater
amount of it. A night temperature of 75° is none
too much, and on sunny afternoons, with a free
amount of humidity, the temperature may with
advantage run up to 90° ; a free growth is about
the best preventive of attacks of fly, thrips, and
spider, and a sluggish temperature one of the
surest causes of their production. French Beans
in frames that are planted out on a bed of leaves
may, as soon as the roots have taken hold of the
heating material, be freely supplied with water,
both at root and by syringings, and the top heat
ought never to be less by night than 55°, and at
closing time the temperature may be run up to 80°,
or even more. Suocessional sowings are being
made in pots, this being the best way of growing
the plants in midwinter, at which season it is
difficult to attend to them in pits and frames, but
the pots can be shifted about from one house to
another as circumstances may require. The variety
Canadian Wonder forces equally as well as the so-
called forcing varieties, and as it crops equal to
any, one may as well have large Beans as small
ones ; it is merely a question of waiting a week
longer for supplies ; the difference in attaining
maturity does not take longer than this. If there
are movable frames to spare, a well sheltered, yet
sunny spot should be selected on which to place
them, and in these should be sown or pricked out
Cauliflower plants for final transplanting in early
spring, and, of course, for the time being the lights
would not be required. Such frames are also
invaluable for ensuring supplies of Lettuce,
Endive, and Parsley in all weathers, and the plants
may at once be transferred to them, and the lights
be placed on ;is soon as necessary. We have a fine
plot of French Beans and several rows of Peas just
coming into full bearing; the latter we are com-
pelled to net over because birds rob tliem so much,
but the nets afford protection from cold too, so that
the covering is of double service. As protection
for the Beans, which on two sides are well protected
by walls, we are having hooped sticks placed, and
on these, when the night is likely to be frosty, we
shall spread stout canvas in hope of continuing the
supply of Beans until we are able to gather them
from frames. Cauliflowers at present exceed our
demand, and to prolong the supply a quantity of
fully matured heads have been given a check by
partial upheaval with a fork, and later it may be
desirable to lift some entirely, and lay them in by
the heels until required for use.
General work. — This consists principally in
keeping all crops free of weeds, either by hand-
weeding or hoeing. It is also desirable that all
decaying vegetable matter, such as old Cabbage
leaves and the large leaves of Brussels Sprouts,
should be removed, and in the case of the latter,
even if not decayed, they should be cleared off the
stem part of the plants, so that the sprouts may
have the fullest amount of air and daylight. Then
there are Lettuces and Endive to tie up for blanch-
ing, and saladings generally will now need to be
taken note of at least once a week that supplies of
Chicory, Dandelion, and Mustard and Cress may be
regularly forthcoming. W. W.
MID-SEASON AND LATE POTATOES.
Which crop shall we lift or rely upon ? That is
the problem confronting thousands of Potato growers
towards the end of this September — a problem
which I trust Messrs. Gilbert, "A. D.," and other
experienced growers will assist us in solving. Mr;
Gilbert relates his experience of three varieties on
page 253. But what has he to say about Magnum
Bonums, late Eeds, and others, the tops of which
being still as green as Leeks, a yard or more long,
and the tubers few and in a most disorganised
state ? Some cases are worse still, and no tubers
worth lifting are to be found. These, of course, are
left in the ground to see what may turn up during
the late autumnal months. The disorganised tubers
are found in three conditions. In some the young
tuber has started into fresh growth at the eye end,
so that we have young Potatoes of two ages in the
same tuber. On cooking these the older part is
found mealy and good, while the nfewer portion is
insipid and watery — totally unfit for eating. In
most of these cases the older portion of the tuber is
the largest, and, on the principle that " a bird in
the hand is worth two in the bush," it seems the
wiser course to eat the edible portion without wait-
ing for the finishing of the newer portion at the
eye end. It seems also probable, that were one to
do so the younger portion would injure the older,
as the two portions form but one tuber developed
at different times. So far as I remember, I have
never seen this peculiar feature of the development
of a newer addition to the portion already fit for
food until this year.
A second abnormal condition is the development
of underground stems from the young tubers ; this
is different from the usual character of supertubera-
tion common after sudden rains or changes of
weather. It differs chiefly in this, that these white
running stems are longer than in ordinary cases of
supertuberation, and more, that they have few or no
embryo tubers on their tips. There seems now little
hope of a fresh crop on these, and as these numerous
stems must needs draw much of the virtue out of the
tubers, it seems most reasonable to lift crops in this
state as soon as possible. This is the more needful , as
the quality has already suffered. The third feature
of the Potato crop this season is supertuberation in
its most virulent forms. Some of our Potatoes have
crops three deep in succession, first and second
tubers, and the second tubers, when little larger
than marbles, breaking into third. These are the
most puzzling of all, and as in most such cases the
first tubers are few or small, there seems little for it
but leaving the plants to fight it out with the sea-
son. This the tops seem prepared to do, as they
are breaking into fresh growth at every joint since
the rain, and are growing as Potatoes have never
done before. It almost seems as if a few seasons
such as that we have just experienced would en-
tirely unsettle the tuber-bearing properties of the
Potato and convert it into a climber or a huge foli-
age plant, producing little but leaves, not even
apples, for even the bloom has set badly this hot,
dry season.
Will some reader who knows the Potato in its
native home say whether it conducts itself thus
there, or it any of the species or varieties settle
down into solid tubering as thev mostly do with us 1
' D. T. P.
Tomato ]y[ikado. — I expect J. Muir, who con-
siders this a worthless variety, has not obtained the
right sort. It is described in catalogues as a
novelty of last season, thus : "A fine new American
Oct. 8, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
329
variety, the fruit of which grows to an enormous
size, and frequently weighs as much as 1 lb. to
1\ lbs. The foliage is whole or entire, instead of
being cut or serrated, as in nearly all other sorts.
It has given great satisfaction in the United States
where the Tomato attains its highest perfection."
A gardener in this neighbourhood procured seed of
this American novelty, and sowed it in the third
week of March ; he bloomed a quantity of the plants
in i|-inch pots, and then shifted two plants each into
very large pots, and placed them on the top stage of
a span-roofed conservatory, wherein he also grew
Fachsias, Pelargoniums, &c. The vigorous growth
and tine foliage of the plants were the admiration
of all beholders, and the first week in July fine
ripe fruit was produced. Six plants have continued
to bear for seven weeks, more than 28 lbs. of fruit
having been gathered, some fruit weighing 12 ozs.,
and, no doubt, this weight could have been doubled
by shortening the crop. So much for productive-
ness, now for flavour. It is by no means coarse,
but fine and rich. Even those who have to acquire
a taste for Tomatoes pronounce this variety deli-
cious. I firmly believe from the many reports I
have received that it is the Tomato of the future for
indoors ; out of doors it does not succeed so well as
some other sorts. The shape is not everything that
can be desired, but it has a fine rich colour, and
does not crack unless burnt by the , sun. — John R.
Box, Croydon.
*^* We quite agree with the above. We have
seen it recently in the Horticultural Gardens, and
both indoors and out it has proved a first rate
variety ; in fact, as seen at Chiswick, it does as well
planted out as grown in pots, and is bearing and
ripening a very heavy crop of fruit. — Ed.
CRACKING OF TOMATOES.
This topic formed the subject matter of an inter-
esting conversation recently at South Kensington,
when the idea was broached that sutured fruits
were less liable to crack than smooth ones, for the
reason that the suture really formed a sort of fold
or reserve of skin, which freely distended as the
fruit enlarged. I have since then submitted the
suggestion to a market grower, who has grown
several kinds during the past few years, including
the large red which is materially sutured, and he
gave a very diverse judgment. He stated that the
cause of cracking in the smooth kinds so largely
was to be attributed in the first place to the
greater body or solidity of the flesh of these as
compared with the older sutured forms, and
secondly, that the former had thinner skins. The
best test of the truthfulness of the first assumption
is found in the fact constantly repeated in weigh-
ing up punnets of 4 lbs of fruits, that while sutured
fruits rendered a heaped measure needful, the more
solid smooth fruits filled the basket only to its
level. But handling them tested this matter not less
clearly, for whilst the large ripe fruits of the sutured
kinds seemed soft and watery, those of the smooth
kinds were firm and almost hard. I noticed especi-
ally how very firm, indeed almost hard, so densely
packed were they with flesh, were fruits of Living-
stone's Favourite, and yet these fruits had burst for
an inch in length in some three or four places
close to the stem. Cracking, by the by, assumes two
diverse forms. There is first the suture crack round
the calyx, which is the common form, and is always
found in the shallow sutures which surround the
stem even in the smoothest of fruits. That fact
leaves the impression that in the suture the skin
is rather thinner than elsewhere, and is probably
thinner still close to the stem ; so that when inter-
pal pressure is .exercised the weakest part of the
skin goes first. Then there is the erratic or hori-
zontal crack, which resembles somewhat the split-
ting common in Grapes, and is to be credited to
pretty much the same cause, viz., the bottling'up in
the house of moisture, instead of giving the house
ample air, especially during the ripening period.
There can be no doubt that cracking in Tomatoes
is a serious disfigurement, and any cure for it will be
hailed with satisfaction. Exhibitors of fruits inva-
riably turn the lower sides of the fruits as they han
looking ever so perfect and beautiful, be lifted the
probabilities are great that cracks will be found
around the stem. Not only do these disfigure, but
they detract from the market value as well as from
the keeping qualities of the fruits ; indeed, mould in
some form soon appears in the cracks, whilst but
for these the fruits might be kept sound for several
weeks after gathering. It is interesting, however,
to find that we have so far improved upon old
sutured sorts, that fruits now are rather morsels of
vegetable flesh than bags of mawkish liquid. Some
other growers of Tomatoes, especially of several
kinds, may be able to add something interesting
and practical towards the discussion of this topic.
A. D.
VEGETABLE MARROWS
Owing to the exceeding coldness of the late spring
it was not safe to expose plants turned out of pots
to the night air until the beginning of June, whilst
seed sown in patches in the open ground germinated
slowly, the earliest sowings indeed in many cases
refusing to grow at all. Where the pot plants had
when turned out the protection of handlights,
cloches, or some other form of shelter, they obtained
a fair start of the seed-sown plants ; but, generally,
very little is gained by the turning out, as the seed-
lings are well rooted and make rapid growth later.
The crop of Marrows has not been exceptionally
large, but stiU enough. Prices ranged from Is. 2d.
to Is. 6d. per dozen, according to size. In some
seasons they have been sold at 9d. per dozen, and
in this case the cutting, loading, and sending to
market absorb all the money realised, and leaves
nothing for rent, culture, &c. It is, therefore, ob-
vious that when Marrows drop to the price they
have this season, they are cheap enough for the
grower's good. But if Marrows as a ground crop
give little trouble when once in fruit, they neces-
sitate soil specially prepared, well manured, and
not available for any otlrer crop for the best six
months of the year. Thus it is seen that the Mar-
row crop has to bear the chief burden of cost of
the land on which it grows for nearly the whole
year. Thus the grower has need to extend his pro-
duce over as long a time as possible. In some cases
where frames are plentiful plants turned out quite
early under these and on warm beds will produce
numerous fruits, even ere the plants for outdoors
may be safely turned out. Later, these frames
lifted ofE, or for a few weeks tilted up on bricks,
will allow the plants to ran out freely, and thus
continue to crop for a long season.
It is the rule where there may be specially hold-
ing soil to use that space for the summer-cropping
Marrows, making holes at intervals, filling with short
manure, adding and mixing soil, and then putting
out strong plants raised under glass. In dry seasons,
such as that through which we have just passed,
watering liberally is absolutely needful, but in ordi-
nary summers if the soil be liolding the plants
thrive well and bear abundantly. All goes on well
enough until September brings cold nights, which
partially blacken the leaves, though doing no serious
harm. The real mischief is done when, as on
Michaelmas Day morning last, it is found that some
4° or 5" of frost have been registered, and a few
hours' sunshine shows the plants utterly destroyed.
A visitation of that sort is all the more annoying
when the plants, being in full fruit, promise to con-
tinue in a bearing condition for some time longer.
Whilst the Marrow plants on the damp holding soil
invariably suffer most from these frosts, those on
drier soils and partly sheltered escape somewhat.
This is particularly seen where, to guard against
early autumn frosts, plants are put out beneath
overhanging orchard trees, as these serve to shelter
the Marrows efilectually until the end of October.
A month taken off the Marrow season is a serious
loss, especially when, as in large breadths, 100
dozen per week of fruits are being cut ; whilst it
may be worse to utilise the moist, open soils as
usual, for summer dry weather must always be
anticipated. It is well also to prepare spaces be-
neath standard fruit trees, and having prepared the
holes as usual, sow seed at the end of June. Plants
afforded should bear late crops ; indeed, some time
after frost has killed the plants out in the open.
Market growers adhere closely to the long white
for their purposes, and none other seems to be in
request in the market. Occasionally a few long
green or green-striped fraits may be sold to lend
colour to the shop displays, but the great bulk are
of the long white. This, too, seems to be the
favourite Marrow for private gardens, some diverse
introductions notwithstanding. Equally in the
kitchen and on the exhibition table medium-sized
handsome samples of the long white are most
favoured. Marrows, as a rule, have but little flavour.
We cannot claim for Vegetable Marrows valuable
properties as food, but they are pleasant eating none
the less, and indispensable in vegetable gardens.
^__ A. D.
Mushrooms in trenches.— Although not gene-
rally practised, I feel sure that the cultivation of
Mushrooms out of doors in trenches might be most
successfully adopted. I have lately seen beautiful
crops that have sprang up in Celery trenches by
reason of a good layer of horse manure having been
buried beneath the Celery plants. The hot and dry
season favoured their formation, and now that plenty
of rain has fallen. Mushrooms are springing up
abundantly. One of the most successful growers of
Mushrooms in open-air trenches never uses any
spawn, but relies solely on horse manure, and I
have never known him fail to have an abundant
crop. His plan is to dig out a trench about 2 feet
wide and li feet deep, and fiU it full of manure
collected on the road with a good proportion of road
grit in it. It is trodden down as firmly as pos-
sible, and the natural soil of the garden put on about
2 inches in depth. The beds made up in spring
begin bearing freely about midsummer, and continue
a long t ime, the Mushrooms being excellent in quality.
Beds made up at midsummer keep bearing very late
in the autumn; in fact, with a covering of litter over
them, I have seen fine crops gathered from them
after sharp frost has set in. Those who have not a
Mushroom house might still enjoy this favourite
dish by adopting the open-air trench plan. By
it the heat is retained as long as by any plan I have
yet seen tried, and, I may add, greatly benefits the
land on which it is carried out.— J. G. H.
demonstrate pretty clearly two things : first, our
uppermost on the show table, but if these fraits, I so raised wOl come on, and with the protection assumed kinds of Tomatoes are reducible to a very
SSORT NOTES.— KITCHEN.
Gilbert's Savoy.— I am very pleased to hear the
high praise bestowed on this early Savoy. I find that it
IS very distinct, dwarf, quickly tm-us iu, and is very firm-
hearted. It is good for the table.— Stephen C.\sti,e.
Vegetable Marrows.— In answer to " T.," who
inquires about the weight of Vegetable Marrows iu
The G.iKDEx, Oct. 1 (p. 299), I beg to say that my
gardener has grown one this summer in the open air
which when weighed sealed 6-2{ lbs.— C. B. Melchees.
Tomatoes good for liver complaints.— I
herewith send you a dish of ripe Tomatoes grown in
the open air in my garden, a proof of the warm summer
we have had. I would, fi-om long esperience, advise
every sufferer from liver complaints to eat Tomatoes
daily ; they have a very beneficial effect upon all liver
complaints.— Alexanuek Pateeson, M.D., FernHeld
Bridge of Allan, N.B.
Strawberries and Onions at Gunton.— I
shall always remember the latter, which were perfect
samples. Strawberries were growing with them
planted as I never saw before. Prom what I gathered
from the courteous gai-dener, Mr. Allan, the groimd
after being wellmanm-ed is trenched and left rough for
the wiuter._ Ou this ground Onious are sown in Unes
at 2 feet 6 inches apart. The first rauners are pegged
and made secure before any Strawberries are gathered,
these runners being all taken from one-year-old plants.
The former, when sufiiciently rooted, are planted out
between the rows of Onions. Undoubtedly these
splendid i-unners can only be obtained from one-year-
old plants. — Stephen Castle, West Lynn.
Tomatoes. — Whatever merit there may have
been in the large and interesting collection of out-
door-grown Tomatoes exhibited at South Ken-
sington on the 27th ult., at least they served to
330
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 8, 1887.
few distinct sections ; and, second, the best fruits
grown outdoors are after all a long way behind
those grown indoors. We have had an exception-
ally favourable season for outdoor Tomatoes, ample
heat, soil warm and dry, plants fairly clean and
free from disease, and little rough wind — more con-
genial surroundings can hardly be looked for at any
time. But to secure the very best results it has
been needful not only to grow in the warmest and
most sheltered places, but also to have plants
raised in heat, and induced to become strong and
tall before being planted out. The very best of the
Chiswick-grown samples showed spots and cracks
such as would have materially detracted from the
market value of the fruit, whilst tasting showed a
lack of the softness and sweetness found in fruits
grown under glass, and in some a lack of solidity.
Turning to diversities of character, however, it was
obvious that the Perfection, Excelsior, or Favourite
type included nearly all the more popular named
sorts ; indeed, all fine, round, smooth fruits became
members of this section. Next, perhaps, came the
brick-red, round, smooth kinds as found in Acme
and Dedham Favourite; the larger sutured forms as
found in the old London market red, still largely
grown in the trade ; the large, smooth yellow so
well rejiresented by Golden Queen, the smaller
yellows of the Green Gage and Yellow Currant
kinds, the Pear or Plum-shaped, such as Chiswiok
Ked or King Huniljert, and the Red Cherry. Out-
side of these sections it would be difficult to find
anything new. Some kinds will set better than
others, some are more solid than others, but as to
flavour all are much alike. — A. D.
Trees and Shrubs.
W. GOLDBING.
THE TREE OF HEAVEN.
(ailanthus glandulosa.)
As the planting season is at hand it may be well
to direct attention again to the merits of this
hardy Chinese tree, which, though tolerably
well known, cannot yet be called a common tree.
That it is a beautiful tree everyone will admit
who has seen vigorous and well-developed speci-
mens of it, for both in a young state and at
maturity it possesses an elegance of growth
peculiar to itself, and stands apart from all other
hardy trees. Beyond this its exceptionally rapid
growth in its early years and in almost all kinds
of soil makes it of great value, especially to those
whose aim is to produce immediate efl'ect in
ornamental tree-planting. During the first few
years of its growth— say up till about its twelfth
year — a young Ailanthus grows at an astonish-
ingly rapid rate, making shoots from 2 feet to
as much as 6 feet in length, according to the
nature of the soil, situation, and other circum-
stances ; hut after it has got beyond its teens its
annual rate of growth gradually diminishes,
until in old age there is not a perceptible differ-
ence in its growth from year to year. In its
native country the AUanthus grows to a great
height, but in this country the tallest trees range
from 60 feet to 80 feet high. An old Ailanthus
has a strong resemblance to an Ash at a distance,
but, coming nearer to it, one can see the longer
leaves and straighter branches. A young tree,
if allowed to develop a straight stem, always has
a wide-spreading head with leaves from 2 feet
to 3 feet in length. Trees about ten years old
have a most stately, yet elegant, appearance,
and whether in garden, pleasure-ground, or park,
produce a beautiful and distinct effect. Whether
planted singly, in groups, or intermixed with
other trees, it looks equally fine. As a single
specimen it almost always grows symmetri-
cally, and makes a capital shade tree, as it
does not, as a rule, throw its branches very
low. when a number are planted in a group
by themselves, they will, if planted of difterent
sizes, form themselves into a charmingly pictu-
resque mass, and by pruning the outermost trees
occasionally, a mass of elegant foliage may be
obtained from the turf upwards to a height of
40 feet or 50 feet. In mixed planting the
Ailanthus always asserts itself, for it invariably
thrusts its spreading head above the others, and
when once it has made headway it keeps it.
There has been a good deal of talk about the
Ailanthus as a street tree, but its fitness for
planting in parallel lines, unless the streets or
roads are very wide, is doubtful, though of
course a good deal can be done in restricting
the wide-reaching branches by pruning. In
some of the United States cities it was a few years
ago planted in street avenues, but it has been
abandoned chiefly on account of the disagree-
able odour of the trees vrhen in flower. But
the offensive effluvium is confined to the male
flowers, and the nuisance is of short duration,
not worth taking into consideration in orna-
mental planting in this country, as the trees do
not flower so freely. It is one of the best of all
trees for town gardens and parks, inasmuch as
dust and smoke do not appear to aflfect it, or
even a long period of drought, and it retains its
foliage in a fresh green state till the frosts
come, but then their defoliation is a very short
the following season's shoots from a few large,
plump buds near the base of the plant. The shoots
are long and slender, the tallest under favourable
conditions reaching a height of about 6 feet. This
plant is seen to great advantage when a few of the
principal shoots have a slight support afforded
them, as the minor ones will dispose themselves in
a very graceful manner, and the whole form a most
elegant mass. The shoots are rather thinly clothed
with trifoliate leaves, and terminated by large,
crowded racemes of rosy purple, pea-shaped
blossoms. It is a native of Japan, and is quite
hardy, but the blooms are often injured by early
autumn frosts, more especially in districts north of
London. Propagation can be generally effected by
division, which may be carried out at any time
during the winter. The roots of this Desmodium
penetrate deeply into the soil, and on that account
it has withstood the long-continued drought better
than many other subjects, and is now grandly in
flower.— H. P.
Aralia spinosa. — This stately, yet elegant
shrub is one of the few objects of interest in these
autumn days. For the last month it has been slowly
developing its huge panicles of white bloom that
terminate the tall stems often crooked or turned
in such a peculiar way that the shrub looks very
Japanese or Chinese-like. The great spreading
leaves are really the most admirable point about the
The Tree of Heaven (Aihmthus glandulosa) in flower.
time about. The fruits or seed vessels, which
much resemble those of the Ash, have an ex-
tremely pretty efl'ect in autumn, as they are
then tinged with a deep ruddy hue, and being
borne in clusters give the tree a coppery red
tinge. Taking advantage of the noble leafage
the Ailanthus produces when vigorous young
plants are out down annually, it has been used
with striking effect in public and private gar-
dens where sub-tropical gardening is carried
out. The annual shoots of these cut-back speci-
mens are sometimes enormous, as much as
6 feet in length with proportionately long, broad
leaflets. The soil most suitable for the luxu-
riant growth of the Ailanthus is a deep loam on
a gravelly subsoil, but it thrives on chalk or
sand, and even on clay it succeeds, though it is
apt to become injured during severe winters on
very heavy soil. It likes a situation sheltered
from high winds, but I have seen it struggling
bravely on wind-swept hUls on the south coast.
Desmodium penduliflorum. — The dry, open
weather we have experienced during the latter half
of September has been very favourable to the
development of this plant, which is just now in
great beauty, and when seen at its best should rank
high among autumn-flowering subjects. It is a
plant of a half shrubby character, that after flower-
ing dies down nearly to the ground, and pushes up
plant. They are both massive, yet elegant, being
composed or made up of a multitude of leaflets, the
stalks of which are ruddy-tinged, as are also the
main stalks. These great leaves only clothe the
upper part of the stem, the rest being naked, or at
least only furnished with short, stiff spines. A
plant of this Aralia ID feet, 12 feet or even 15 feet
high makes a beautiful feature on a lawn, but it
should be associated in some way with other shrubs,
and it never looks better than when its tall stems
rise out of a groundwork of dwarf Evergreens. It
is a far flner plant than its relative, A. mandschutica
(called also Dimorphanthus), being more vigorous
and hardier, and retaining its foliage later in the
season. There are other Aralias that closely resemble
A. spinosa, but none are so suitable for our climate
as this North American species, the others being
Chinese or Japanese. All the hardy Aralias grow
best in a light loamy soil, and should always be
planted in sheltered spots, as the wind damages the
foliage so much. — W. G.
The hips of the B amanas Bose (Bosa rugosa)
are this year exceptionally large and brightly col-
oured, and a good sized bush of it studded with hips
is a beautiful object, and quite as attractive as
in early summer when covered with bloom.
Rosa rugosa and its white variety have, without
question, a great future before them, and
I observe that it is being more largely planted
every year. Later on in the season its foliage
will be turning a bright golden yellow, so that for
at least six or seven months the plant is in great
Oct. 8, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
331
beauty. It is one that no one need hesitate to plant
in any soil except clay or sand, and in any position
except shade. — W.
THE TUPELO IN AUTUMN.
Some American friends have described to me this
year the glories of their native trees in the "fall,"
as they call it, and all seem to agree that for splen-
dour of decaying leaf-colour none excel the Tupelo
tree (Nyssa multiflora), which grows wild all through
the South-eastern States, where it is known by
several names. Snag Tree, Horn Pine, Pepperidge,
and Gum Tree being among them. In those parts
it is a conspicuous and important feature in the
autumn landscape, for every tree is there arrayed
in the most gorgeous tints of crimson and gold, that
vie in brightness with the Liquidambar that assumes
its richest tints after the Tupelo is past. Often, they
say, the Tupelo trees are laden with bright blue
fruits, which are egg-shaped and about the size of
Peas. It is always a medium-sized tree, generally
under 20 feet high, but in extraordinary specimens as
high as 50 feet, and even 60 feet. This same Tupelo
tree we have in this country, introduced a hundred
and fifty years ago, but it is far too rare, and it is only
in old collections that it can be found. A small
tree in the arboretum at Kew is just now one of the
brightest ornaments of the place, and may be seen
a quarter of a mile away. It is but a small tree,
10 feet or 12 feet high, but every leaf on it glows
with a bright crimson-red, and will continue so for
some time, when the decaying leaf -beauty wUI be
continued by the Liquidambar and a host of other
trees. The Tupelo is certainly a tree that one should
have no difficulty in obtaining, though the contrary
is the case. When more attention is paid to tree-
planting for autumn effect perhaps its good qualities
will be recognised. The Tupelo must be planted in a
moist place in order to thrive well, and no betterplace
could be found for it than a sheltered spot by the
side of an ornamental lake. Small plants may be
obtained of it at a reasonable price from a few of
the best tree nurseries in this country. W. 6.
SHORT NOTHS.— TREES AND SHRUBS.
Chinese Pagoda Tree (Sophora japoniea). —
There is a fine specimen of this tree in bloom at Kew,
near the rockery. It is smothered with flowers, which
show up well above the dense Acacia-like foliage of
the richest green. The Sophora is one of the most
ornamental of trees, and does not lack popularity. —
E. C.
Almond fruiting in England. — In answer to
Joseph Hall in The Garden, October 1 (p. 30fi), the
fruiting of the Almond tree is not such a rare occur-
rence in this country as he supposes. It ripens its
fruit only in the south or west of England, and this
often very sparingly. This year, however, the trees in
this neighbourhood are laden with fruits, a proof of
the remarkably fine warm summer we have experi-
enced.—John E. Jackson, Siclnnond, Surrey.
Abnormal growth of Abies nobilis (/. p.).—
Theabnonnal growth on shoots of Abies nobilis, is due
either to the effects of frost, or of an insect, most pro-
bably the former, as we can detect no traces of the
latter. Perhaps your tree is growing in a situation
and soil where growth is excited too early in the season,
and before late spring frosts are past. It is not serious,
and will, in all probahiUty, die out entirely with the
growth of the tree.— A. D. W.
Cornus mascula variegata. — This plant,
which was some months ago alluded to in The Garden
as forming an exceedingly pretty and interesting ob-
ject when in full bloom during winter and the early
spring months, is now a handsome variegated bush or
tree, and, notwithstanding its specific name (mascula),
it is now sparsely clothed with its nearly ripe fruit,
which are of a purplish red colour, and of about the
same size as the heps or seed-vessels of the Dog Rose.
—P. G.
Deciduous Cypress (Taxodium distiehum). —
This is not a rare tree, but it is by no means common.
There is a good specimen near the principal entrance
to Kew Gardens, and' a still finer one facing the con-
servatory at Wimbledon House. It is of considerable
height and a picture of graceful, feathery, and orna-
mental tree growth. It is like a lovely giant Fern, and
as winter approaches the foliage assumes rich colours
that give brightness to the garden scenery. It is a
useful tree for planting in proximity to spacious lawns
or to stand out by itself in some conspicuous portion
of the grounds. — E. C.
A new Norway Maple with purple foliage
originated some time ago in Mr. Maurice Young's
nursery at Milford, Godalming, and, judging by its
present appearance, it is likely to pro\'e a valuable
ornamental tree. It differs in no way from the
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides) except in the
colour of its leaves, and I presume that the growth
and habit are the same. The leaves are of a deep
coppery red on both surfaces. How beautiful this
purple Norway Maple will be associated with other
coloured-leaved Maples, such as the Corstorphine
and the golden-leaved Worleyi, one can imagine.
This novelty is called A. platanoides Youngi. — W. G.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
Fruit show at Manchester.— We understand
that Mr. B. Findlay has made arrangements for hold-
ing an exhibition of Apples and Pears on October 14
and 1.3. A large and thoroughly representative display
of these fruits is expected.
Eose Duchess of Albany. — We have received
from Messrs. W. Paul and Son blooms of this Rose, a
sport from La France, and flowers of the latter for
comparison. The flowers of the former are of a bright
pink shade of colour, large and full, and are quite dis-
tinct from and much better than those of La France.
Fuchsias. — Mr. James Lye, Clyffe Hall Gardens,
Market Lavington, has sent us flowers of his seedling
Fuchsias of this year's raising. The flowers are of
great substance and the colours well defined. Loveli-
ness, a brightly eoloui'cd variety with white sepals and
rich pink corolla, is one of the best.
Violets. — We have received well-grown plants
from Mr. D. Uphill, Moreton, accompanied with the
following note: "I am now engaged getting my
plants into their winter quarters. I have several
hundreds of plants similar to those forwarded.
Our first gathering was made on September 1, since
which we have been picking quantities of fine blooms
daily."
United Horticultural Benefit Society. —
The twenty-first anniversary of this society wOl be
commemorated by a dinner, which will take place
at the Caledonian Hotel, Adelphi Terrace, Strand,
on Tuesday nest, Oct. 11. The chair will be taken
by Mr. Harry Veitoh, and tickets can be obtained
from Mr. H. C. Foil, S, Salisbury Pavement, Putney,
or from any member of the committee.
Gladiolus, early-flowering, Anna Paul-
owna. — This [will be found very useful for catting
from June until now. It is quite distinct, being a
hybrid from the weU-known type floribundus. The
flowers are of the same colour as those of VOle de
Versailles, viz., cerise-pink and white. The bulbs
become very large, and the constitution is very
vigorous and hardy. The successional bloom has
been maintained from two plantings, one having
been made in November, the other in March.
Market growers should grow it largely. — W. B.
Hartland, Cork.
Kose Comtesse de Paris. — The brightest bit
of colour now in the Rose garden is furnished by
three rows of Comtesse de Paris (Levcque, 1882) —
not to be confused with the Dowager (?) sent out by
E. Verdier in 1861. This Rose is of a charming
bright rose colour, a distinct and beautiful exhibi-
tion variety in the summer, and a thorough autumnal
bloomer. Alfred Damesnil (Margottin, 1S79) is
also flowering well now, and is a first-rate Rose ;
rather dwarf in habit and with thorny wood, but
with very large bright carmine flowers, and free-
blooming and perpetual. — T. W. G.
Royal Botanic Society. — We understand that
this society has offered a gold medal, along with a
purse of fifty guineas, for the best essay on the
plants and vegetable products introduced into the
United Kingdom for use in the arts, manufactures,
food, and domestic economy during the reign of
Queen Victoria. The essay, written in the English
anguage (scientific names and terms excepted),
bearing a motto, and acoompanined by a sealed
envelope, with motto outside and name and address
of writer inside, must be sent in addressed to the
council on or before December 31, 1887. The essay
to wliich the prize may be awarded is to become
the exclusive property of the society, to be used as
the council may determine.
Spreading St. John's - wort (Hypericum
patulum). — This desirable St. John's-wort is flower-
ing freely, and with its graceful, spreading, slender
stems makes a most ornamental feature on the
rockery or border. The plant grows readily under
ordinary conditions, preferring a fairly light soil.
It bears a large number of its rich yellow flowers,
which show up well above the wealth of neat, deep
green fohage.
Aster longifolius formosus. — This is one of
the very best of the Michaelmas Daisies, as it is of
neat, dwarf habit, and at this season one mass of
flowers, the colour of which is a delightful rosy
pink — very uncommon amongst hardy perennials.
There is a batch of plants in the nursery of Mr.
T. S. Ware that has been struck from cuttings
this year, and they are only about 1 foot in height.
In this condition the plants would form an excellent
edging to a bed, or, if planted in a mass, would
make a bright and pretty feature. The rosy pink
flowers are produced so freely as to quite hide the
dense leafage.
Eelianthus leetiflorua. — There is a large
batch of this handsome perennial Sunflower in full
beauty in the nursery of Mr. T. S. Ware at
Tottenham. It is of robust growth and distinct
habit, the leafage being both broad and abundant,
and the reddish stems heightening the rich yellow
colouring of the flowers. These are somewhat like
those of Harpalium rigidum, but they have more
petals, and these in shape resemble those of the
Cactus Dahlia, having the same curled character.
It wotdd form a very imposing background to a
wide herbaceous border, or a clump planted singly
would also make an agreeable variety. The flowers
are produced as freely as in the case of H. de-
capetalus, and stand moderately well when gathered.
Dendrobium bigibbum. — There is a very fine
variety of this Orchid in bloom at Kew. It is allied
to the lovely D. Phalienopsis, and is a native of
Australia, this particular plant being, we believe,
brought from Thursday Island, a small isle off the
New Guinea coast ; it is also found in Northern
Australia. Like many other species, it varies in
the depth and richness of the colouring ; the sepals
and petals are of an intense purple colour, and
edged with a thin white line, the petals being broad,
beautifully shaped, and of even outline. The lobed
lip is of even a richer colour than the sepals and
petals, the side lobes folding over the column ; the
crest is white.
Exacum macranthum. — This lovely Gentian-
wort is again brightening one of the stoves at Kew
with its brilliant bloom of gentian-blue. The plant
is so easily grown, so neat in growth, flowers so freely,
and lasts such a long time in perfection, that gar-
deners ought to give it a trial, as they would find it
invaluable for flowering at this season when there
is not a large number of stove plants in bloom. It
is, as we have said, an extremely neat plant in
growth, and every stem carries a large cluster of
flowers, each measuring 2 inches across. The con-
trast of the bright yellow cone of stamens with the
rich ultramarine-blue of the petals is most striking,
and, associated with white flowers, the colour is in-
tensified. It averages about a foot high, and con-
tinues to bloom throughout the winter. It is a
native of the Ceylon hills, and, though introduced
over thirty years ago, is scarcely known outside of
botanic gardens. It is by some considered a biennial,
but at Kew it is found to be quite a perennial. It
was figured in The Gaeden in 1882.
The Amoor Maple (Acer Ginnala). — This hardy
Maple puts on in autumn the richest leaf tints im-
aginable, and on that account is one of the most
beautiful of hardy trees at the present time. The
leaves are lobed, and are now of a brilliant ruby-red,
the effect of which, particularly in sunlight, is most
glowing. This autumnal tinting lasts for quite a
fortnight, so that a tree well placed is as attractive
332
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 8, 1887.
as a 'flowering tree in spring. The growth of this
Maple is elegant, the twigs being slender and the
branches open. It attains from 15 feet to 30 feet in
height, but I have not seen a specimen abo\'e 15 feet
high, and as it is perfectly hardy in this country it
will no doubt attain its full size. Botanists rank it
as a variety of the Tartarian Majile (A. tatarica),
but it is distinct from that species in appearance,
and makes a prettier tree. The Amoor Maple is now
in great beauty in the various tree nurseries about
London, and particularly at Mr. W. Paul's, Wal-
tham Cross, where it grows luxuriantly. It comes
from Ajnoorland, and is not by any means well
known or commonly planted at present in this
country. — W. G.
Rose Opliirie. — At this time of year the beau-
tiful warm-tinted coppery Noisette Ophirie always
asserts its claim to be considered one of the best, if
not the best, of the autumnal-blooming climbing
Roses, and on walls and fences it is still affording a
good supply of its unique-coloured clustered buds
and blossoms, delightful alike on the tree and in
the cut state. The plant is not absolutely hardy,
but is very well worth the slight protection of a few
fronds of Bracken, which is all that is necessary to
preserve it, even through such severe weather as
that of last winter.— T. W. G.
Colchicums, Cyclamen hedersefolium and
Sternborgia angustifolia make the most pleasing-
effect now in my garden . A bed of them is at pre-
sent in great beauty. What a picture ! The golden
flowers of the Sternbergia, seen through the Ivy
leaves of the Cyclamen which is now in bloom, form
a lovely contrast of pink and yellow, with white
Colchicums at equal distances over a raised bed 15
feet in diameter. Under this lot we have bulbs of
the Horsfieldi Daffodil, and the bed is left undis-
turbed. The Daffodils are magnificent in March
and April ; the foliage disappears naturally, and in
the autumn we have the effect described. I send
you blooms of the rare double white Colchicum and
Sternbergia angustifolia.— W. B. Haetland, Corlc.
Catasetum Bungerothi. — This singular, dis-
tinct, and beautiful species is now flowering in
various Orchid collections round London, and its
large ivory-white flowers will! doubtless tend to
bring this genus into favour again. They certainly
are worthy of more attention than they have recently
obtained, for there are many numerous quaint and
beautiful forms in the family. This grand species
appears to grow vigorously and flower freely in an
intermediate temperature. The pseudo-bulbs are
fusiform, bearing several strongly-ribbed bright
green leaves, which are deciduous. The spike,
which bears from three to seven of its large white
flowers (reminding one of those of a gigantic Angrie-
cum superbum, with a circular orange-coloured
cavity^in the centre), rises with the young growth.
Flowers of an excellent variety of this plant were
recently sent by Mr. Buchan, Wilton House, South-
ampton, in whose collection it appears to be already
thoroughly established. It is a native of Central
America. — W. H. G.
Chirita Mooni, a handsome Ceylon plant
allied to Gloxinia and Gesnera, is at present
most attractive in the stoves at Kew, It is only
about 2 feet high, with stout, erect stems, inclined
to bo woody, and produces its light green and thick
leaves in whorls of three and four. From the axils
of the leaves the flowers spring and these are very
showy, being tubular with a widely opened mouth
some 2 inches across. The colour is a pale mauve-
purple with a dash of yellow in the throat. It does
not seem to bear many flowers at once, but still it is
worth the consideration of those who notice showy
plants only. It requires stove treatment, and seems
to succeed without particular attention. It was
brought from Ceylon to this country some forty years
ago, but another generation may pass before it finds
its way from the botanic garden to general cultivation.
Indigofera floribunda.— At this season when
so very few shrubs are in bloom, this pretty and
elegant Himalayan ])lant is smothered with flowers
where grown against a sunny wall. It has for some
time been an object of much interest to the
visitors to Veitch's nursery, at Chelsea, where there
s a bush of it entirely covering the end walls of a
hothouse, its neat, bright green, feathery foliage
and profusion of pink blossom rendering it very
beautiful. Every young twig seems to be tipped
with a dense raceme of bloom, so that the whole
shrub glows with pink. It is quite a hardy shrub,
but prefers the shelter of a wall, and a more beautiful
wall covering could not be named, seeing that from
spring till autumn it is attractive. It is a common
shrub, and known also under the names of I.
coronillajfolia and Gerardiana, which latter is its
true name.
Combretum purpureum. — Now that this beau-
tiful old creeper is adorning the roofs of many
stoves it may be well to mention it as being one of
the most graceful and brightest climbers one can
have for a stove or warm greenhouse. Its broad
luxuriant foliage is always handsome, and for several
weeks in summer and autumn it sends out from its
stems broad flat clusters of rich crimson-red flowers.
Being a free grower and free bloomer, it is far more
satisfactory for adorning a hothouse roof than many
that are commonly planted.
Exacum affine is quite a different looking plant
from the large blue-flowered E. macranthum, inas-
much as it is much dwarfer in growth and smaller
in all its parts. The plants are of tufted habit, from
6 inches to 9 inches high, and its flowers are abun-
dantly produced in broad, loose clusters. The flowers
are about the size of a shilling, of a pale mauve-
lilac, with yellow stamens. They are agreeably
scented, and last a long time in perfection, flower-
ing, in fact, throughout the autumn. It requires
warm greenhouse treatment, and, being a perennial,
is easily cultivated. It is now most attractive in
the Begonia house at Kew. It comes from the
island of Socotra, whence it was introduced about
five years ago ; it is, therefore, what may be called a
new plant. It is, we believe, obtainable from some
of the best London nurseries.
Cyrtanthus hybridus.— In this new hybrid
we have a most valuable addition to autumn-flower-
ing greenhouse bulbs. It is the result of inter-
crossing Vallota purpurea and Gastronema san-
guineum, which, as botanists say, is a true
Cyrtanthus ; the new hybrid has been named C.
hybridus. It was raised in Sir Trevor Lawrence's
garden at Burford Lodge, Dorking, and last year
when exhibited at Kensington evoked much
interest and was greatly admired. The plant some-
what resembles the common Vallota purpurea, but
the flowers are smaller, less open, and more funnel-
shaped. The colour is a bright glowing scarlet in
the original, but there is a variety with rosy scarlet
flowers, and both may be seen now at Kew in the
Cape plant house. The hybrid seems to be remark-
ably free-flowering, as no fewer than half-a-dozen
flowers are borne on one stem. It appears to be an
Evergreen like Vallota, and, no doubt, is as easily
cultivated.
Law.
DAMAGE BY SMOKE TO GARDEN PRODUCE.
The awards of the arbitrator in the case of
Andrews r. The Great Eastern Railway, have been
published.
Mr. Edwin Andrews, the claimant, carries on
business as a nurseryman, florist, &c., at Temple
Mill Lane, Stratford New Town. The Great Eastern
Railway Company extended their works in the years
1879 and 1880 at Stratford, close to the grounds of
the claimant, and owing to the smoke, &o., from the
locomotives, the claimant's flowers. Grapes, and
other products were seriously affected. The claimant,
about two years ago, obtained £500 damages against
the company for the injury thus caused from 1880
to 1884, and this year he entered a second action
for the damage done from 1884 to the present time.
The case was referred to Mr. Christopher Oakley,
surveyor, to arbitrate upon. The parties then came
to an agreement that the company should take over
Mr. Andrews' garden at a valuation, also to be fixed
by Mr. Oakley. That gentleman first investigated
the claim of damages at the Royal Courts of
Justice. The following nurserymen and gardeners
gave evidence on behalf of the claimant as
to the extent of the damage done from the
smoke of the locomotives: John White and
John Newman, assistants to the claimant ; Mr.
Alfred Tyrrell, of the Cottage Nurserv, Mary Street,
Alfred Street, Bow Road ; Mr. Edward Wilson, of
Leyton and Forest Gate ; Mr. Amos Matthews, of
Covent Garden Market; Mr. George Perry, of 11,
Lawrence Road, Green Street, Enfield ; and Mr.
John Hayes, of Cuckoo Hall, Lower Edmonton. A
large number of flower dealers and residents in the
neighbourhood deposed to the effect of the smoke
upon the flowers, and a number of scientific wit-
nesses gave evidence as to the chemical nature and
effect of the deposit upon the claimant's flowers
and Grapes. For the company the following nur-
serymen and gardeners gave evidence to show that
the damage was largely due to other causes besides
the smoke of locomotives : Mr. James Sweet, of
Leyton and Walthamstow; Mr. J. Eraser, of Lea
Bridge Road, Leyton ; and Mr. Samuel Wilkinson,
of Bow Road, E. A''arious scientific witnesses, also
flower-sellers, and several of the company's emjiloijcs
were called on behalf of the company to show that
all due precaution against causing nuisance had
been taken.
In the second arbitration, as to the value of the
land, buildings, trade fixtures, plant and stock,
several professional witnesses called on behalf of
the claimant valued the property at the following
amounts : £6251 2s., £63G0 14s., and £i;285, with
£3000 added for value of trade profits at three years'
purchase. Mr. A. Dashwood, horticultural builder,
of Wimbledon, valued the greenhouses, and evidence
as to the value of the Grapes, Tines, and Vine bor-
ders was given by Mr. Edward Bennett, consulting
nurseryman, florist, &c., of Potter's Bar; and Mr.
John Hayes. The professional witnesses for the
company allowed nothing for purchase of trade
profits, and agreed in a valuation of £2435 12s. for
land, buildings, and fixtures ; while the A'ines,
Grapes, and Vine borders were valued at £(;35 10s.
Mr. Deards, horticultural builder of Harlow, Essex,
valued the greenhouses and plant ; and Mr. James
Eraser and Mr. James Sweet gave evidence as to the
value of the Vines, Grapes, &c.
The arbitrator has awarded £800 and costs for
the smoke damage, and £4537 for the land and
buildings, and costs ; the stock and plant to be taken
by valuation.
Death of Mr. Johnstone. — We learn with re-
gret of the death of Mr. George Johnstone, who for
many years has had chargfe of the extensive and well-
kept gardens at Glamis Castle, Forfar, N.B.
Fungus amongst manure (17. P.).— The
fungus is Peziza vesiculosa. It is not injurious to
plants and will soon exhaust itself. It is a very com-
mon fungus in gardens. — W. G. S.
TStamvug il-ait.— Readers vho ilrsire our help in namiag
fruit will kindly hear iii mi>t>l that iwl l< s.^ Utein three specimens
ofthevariet7/sentoi'ii:rnre:'t .^h^U'.^ "/ ';,ii,vr and size greatly
assist in identijic'ilieni. L^e,r/ eu,-<ifi'.< i^hnv.ld he named by
local growers, and ari nt'tt a l-newn to rl^^n' edone. We can only
vndertale to name four varieties at a time, and these only iche'n
tlw eehot-e conditions are obsen'ed.
Names of plants. — R. Yesey. — 1, Begonia wel-
tonensis; 2, Begonia Schmidti. E. B., 'Dunfermline.
—Single flower, Odontoglossum tripudiaus : small
spike, Oncidlum incuvvum. (?'. JT., Dorkiiui. — 1,
Adiantum fulvum ; 2, Ceterach cauariense ; 3, Asple-
nium pnlcliellum ; 4, Doryopteris pedata ; 5, Trieho-
nianes rigidum. W. B. F. — A very good form of
Cattleya gigas. Tom. — Your Ltclia is not ele.eans
Turneri, hut elegaus prasiata ; the Oncidium is Kra-
meri, one of the Butterfly Oucids, hut uot O. Papilio ;
small Orchid, Octomeria Loddigesi.. W. S. B. — 1,
Pellrea adiantifolia ; 2, Adiantum fulvum ; 3, not re-
cognised; 4, Doryopteris palmata. A. Young. —
Probably Populus alba.
Names of fruit. — Dr. Francia. — Louise Bonne
of Jersey ; 2, Easter Beurre ; 3, Vicar of Winkfield ; 5,
ditto (.simall) ; 4, too small ; (i, Glou Morccau.
(.'. F. (I. — 1, Yellow Ingestre ; 2, Claygate Pearmain ;
3, Cox's Orange Pippin; 4, Reinette du Canada.— — ■
Th'.i'. — 1, Emperor Alexander; 2, Wyken Pippin; 3,
Mere de Menage ; 4, Blenheim Orange. W. Francis.
3 and 4, Beurre d'Amanlis. Alplia. — 1, Fondante
d'Automne : 3, Ducliesse d'AugouMme ; 2, Doyenne
d'Alencjon; 4, Autumn Colmau. Bartholomew. —
Pear, Vicar of Winkfield.
Oct. S, 1887.;
THE GARDEN.
333
WOODS & FORESTS.
WHY SOME PLANTATIONS DO NOT PAY.
This arises in a great measure from a variety
of causes, over some of which there is very little
control, but others we can control to a certain
extent, or at any rate lessen the evils which
generally follow a system of insufficient tree
culture. In the first place, then, as the prices
offered in the market are always iluotuatiag we
have little or no control over them further than
this, that the material we have to sell is of
clean growth and of a size to meet the requii'e-
ments of any particular place or district ; and,
if so, we can then ask and realise the highest
prices. This, then, should be a strong induce-
ment to plant and rear, as far as possible, the
species of trees that are generally wanted in the
locality in order to lessen the expense incurred
by sending them a long distance to market. As
the expense of carriage often decides the ques-
tion, whether or not the undertaking is to pay
the proprietor, the planter should give it his
careful and deliberate consideration. On the
other hand, there are few plantations of any
considerable size which do not contain different
classes of soil as well as aspects, and it would
be bad economy to plant all indiscriminately
with one species of tree without taking into
account the capabilities of the soil and situation.
In order, then, to lessen the risk of failure
and loss to the proprietor, and increase the
future value of the plantation it is often neces-
sary to have recourse to the mixed system of
planting. When a mixture of hard-wooded
and other trees is decided on, the former should
be planted at a proper distance apart for a full
crop, always using the species that are known
to thrive and attain their full size on soil in
which the trees are planted. Coniferous trees
— say Larch — should then be planted among
the hard-wooded varieties, and although the
ground may be unsuitable for the healthy growth
of the former to a large size, yet in most cases
they can be grown to useful dimensions, and as
they have to be cut out to allow space for the
hard-wooded trees, I have found them to give
a better return to the proprietor than any
other class of ti-ees used for the same purpose.
This system of tree culture I have found to be
very remunerative, but I often find that vast
tracts of woodlands are almost completely ruined
during the first twenty years of their growth for
want of timely thinning and pruning.
On large estates it is sometimes advisable to
adopt the group system of planting — that is to
say, in place of mixing the trees to plant the
different species in groups by themselves, ac-
cording to the texture and capabilities of the
soil. This system of tree culture is most suit-
able for the outlying hilly districts of the estate,
and instead of planting the trees at a distance
apart of from 3 feet to 4 feet, which is a com-
mon practice, I plant them at 6 feet apart and
allow them to grow up like a crop of corn or
Wheat until such time as they have attained a
useful size, when the whole block may then be
sold and cleared off the ground at once. By
this system there is no risk of having the trees
destroyed by neglect or mismanagement, as
neither thinning nor pruning are required ; con-
sequently the only expense incurred after the
formation is keeping the fences and drains in a
proper state of repair. By this system the pro-
prietor knows what he is doing and can tell the
value of his plantations at stated times during
their growth, and when once the trees have
reached the size and dimensions of clean-grown
spars — a class of timber that is always wanted —
the trees can be sold oft'. Coniferous trees, as a
rule, are best adapted for grouping in such situa-
tions, and it sometimes happens that 6 feet
apart is too wide a distance in exposed positions,
but the planter must take this into considera-
tion at the time of the formation and work out
his plans accordingly. Old heavy timber is not
the class that pays the proprietor best, as I have
found that timber of a quick growth and medium
size gives a quicker and better return than the
former, and in many cases the cultivator places
himself at a disadvantage by allowing liis trees
to stand too long after they have attained a
profitable and saleable size. In many cases
heavy timber, unless exceptionally good and
suited for any particular purpose, will not pay
for its removal from rough hUly ground at a
considerable distance from the road.
J. B. Webster.
THINNING A PLANTATION OF ABIES
DOUGLASI.
Theee is now an operation in progress at Tay-
mount that is specially worthy of the attention
of landed proprietors, foresters, tmiber-mer-
chants, and all interested in arboriculture, viz.,
the thinning for the first time in Scotland, if
not in Great Britain, of a plantation composed
entirely of Abies Douglasi. Even those who
have but a very limited knowledge of trees have
been struck with the remarkably rapid growth
of this variety of Fir, which outstrips the Laixh
— hitherto regarded as the quickest-growing
timber tree in Scotland — in a most astonishing
way. Perhaps the best specimens of Abies
Douglasi are to be found at Lynedoch and
Scone, where they were planted in 1834, and
some of which have already attained a height of
over 90 feet, with a girth of about 10 feet. All
over the country, however, there are to be found
individual specimens scattered throughout
policy grounds, or planted in the woods with
other varieties, but generally they have only
been regarded as beautiful ornamental trees,
and little attempt has been made to rear them
purely for timber purposes. It has been left
to Mr. William McCorquodale, the father
of forestry in Scotland, to make the experi-
ment of growing them solely for timber,
and from the success which has aheady
attended it there is no doubt that the Abies
Douglasi is destined to change the character
of the woodlands of this country. The tree
was sent home by Douglas, the well-known
botanist, and a native of Scone, about the year
1830. It is a native of California, where it
grows to the enormous height of 300 feet, the
timber being superior to the best red Deal. In
the pinetum, and also in the woods of Scotland,
the new tree showed such a wonderful adapta-
bility to the climate of this country, that, with
the permission of Lord Blansfield, Mr. M'Corquo-
dale, who this year reaches his jubilee as forester
on his lordship's estates, determined to test it
as a plantation tree. For this purpose a tri-
angular piece of land, 8 acres in extent, was cut
off the farm of Taymount, near Stanley, and
planted in the spring of 1860 with Abies Douglasi
as a permanent crop. The soil is moorish in
character, with a clayey subsoil. The plants
were reared in Logiealmond Nursery, being two
years seedlings and two years transplanted be-
fore being planted out. The plantation was en-
closed with an upright paling, proof against
game, but the land did not require draining.
The young trees were planted in lines 9 feet
wide, and having 9 feet between each tree in
the line. Larch nurses were placed between
each tree, a row of Larches being also placed
between the lines as nurses. From the first the
trees took kindly to their new situation, and
speedily shot away from their nurses. About five
years after the plantation had been laid down
the bordernext the Highland Railway caught fire,
but was extinguished before much damage was
done, the fire originating in the dry Grass beneath
the trees. To avoid the possible destruction of
the plantation by sparks from passing engines,
square ditches were formed along the side next
the railway, the earth being turned over so as
to confine any fire that might arise to the square
where it originated. Frequently these squares
have caught fire, but, thanks to the measures
taken, comparatively little damage was done.
The Larches were gradually thinned out as they
were found to interfere with the A. Douglasi, and
by the time that the plantation was seventeen
or eighteen years old, all the Larches had dis-
appeared, and since then the plantation has
been solely composed of Douglasi — the first
purely Douglasi plantation, it is believed, in
the country. Observant travellers on the High-
land Railway could scarcely fail to notice the
distinct difference which this plantation makes
on the landscape on the west side of the line
about one mile north of Stanley. The sombre
green of the Scotch Fir, the bright needles of
the Spruce (Abies excelsa), and the light tresses
of the Larch in the surrounding district, beauti-
ful ;is they undoubtedly are, are completely
thrown into the shade by the soft emerald of
the Douglas Fir, lighted up, as it were, by
patches of burnished silver, that glitter bril-
liantly in the sunlight. Since the nurses were
removed, the plantation has been allowed to
grow without interference, and the trees have
developed all that gracefulness of form and
beauty of foliage which are so greatly admired
in the single examples to be seen in the pinetum
or policies. Many of the trees are of great size
for their age of only twenty-seven years. The
best of the trees reach a height of about 70 feet,
and girth 6 feet 2 inches at 1 foot from the
ground, 5 feet 5 inches at 3 feet, and 5 feet
3 inches at 5 feet.
The trees have now grown to such an extent
that a general thinning became necessary. The
operation was begun in the course of the sum-
mer, and is just being completed, the wood (600
poles) to be disposed of by private oft'er. The
trees have been trimmed and classified into four
difl'erent sizes. The first-class, or largest tim-
ber, is suitable for fencing, temporary sleepers,
and for mining purposes. This class comprises
a lot of very fine timber, averaging about 35 feet
in length, and measuring about 3 inches in dia-
meter at the small end. The second-class lots
are fit for fencing and mining purposes ; while
the trees in the third class are suitable for pit-
wood and fencing, and those in the fourth class
can be utOised for pit- wood.
As to the quality of the Abies Douglasi grown
in Scotland, it has already been pretty well
tested. Field gates, posts, and strainers have
been made from this timber with the most satis-
factory results, and it has been extensively used
for wire-fencing. Wire-fencing posts from this
wood have been in use on the Scone estate for
about eleven years, and are still wearing well,
although they were cut from blown trees only
seventeen years old. The posts stand the driv-
ing into the ground better than Larch, even al-
though they had been previously exposed to
wet weather. With such high quality as this,
the tree is sure to come into demand as it
becomes mature ; and as it grows three times
quicker than Larch, it is pretty certain to com-
mend itself to landlords as a remunerative crop.
There are specimens of Abies Douglasi at Lyne-
doch, fifty years of age, containing 150 cubic
334
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 8, 1887,
feet of timber, and as Larch at the same age
rarely contains more than 1 cubic foot of timber
for each year of its existence, it is not unlikely
that the Abies Douglasi will gradually supplant
the Larch as the most profitable of our soft-
wooded forest trees. The timber now lying out
in Taymount plantation is all thoroughly sound
at heart, and even at this early age it forms
beautiful red wood. Another great advantage
this wood has over other varieties is that it has no
disease or injurious insect peculiar to itself, such
as is the case with Larch, Spruce, and SUver Fir.
Advantage is being taken of the thinning out to
prune all the tiers of dead branches off the trees
for the permanent crop with the saw ; and as
light and air will now be able to play freely
throughout the whole plantation, the trees are
consequently expected to make even greater pro-
gress. As illustrating the opinion held of Abies
Douglasi on the Scone estates, it may be men-
tioned that within the past few years several
other plantations have been made, extending
altogether to about 80 acres. — Perthshire Con-
stitutional Journal.
THE CHILI PINE.
(AEAUCAEIA IMBKICATA.)
Peehaps no other tree is at present so much sought
after for ornamental planting as the subject of the
present paper, while, at the same time, there is no
more ill-used and wrongly placed subject amongst
the whole of our forest trees. Every cottager must
have his Araucaria, be the soil and space suitable
or not, while the town garden is in many instances
adorned with this tree, which is unable to withstand
for any length of time the deleterious efEeots of an
impure atmosphere. The Araucaria is frequently
crowded amongstEvergreens, and thelower branches
are deprived o£ light and air, and consequently die
off prematurely. It is, again, often planted in cot-
tage gardens, where a fair-sized specimen of the
common Laurustinus could not, for want of space,
become perfectly developed ; and, again, it is
found in damp, low-lying situations, beneath the
shade and drip of other trees ; and, lastly, in soils
where even the hardy Privet fails to grow properly.
These are no exaggerated statements, but facts, the
truth of which could, unfortunately, be vouched for
not in one, but in hundreds of cases, and such cases
come daily under the notice of the tree-lover who
keeps his eyes open in his travels through various
parts of the country.
That the Araucaria is, on the whole, a tree well
adapted for culture in the British Isles cannot be
denied, for already the fine specimens to be seen in
nearly every part of the country, from the highlands
and islands of Scotland to the southern portions of
England and Ireland, clearly testify that during
the full ninety years of its growth in this country
no bad use has been made of the time. From its
stiff, rigid, and peculiarly constructed leaves and
branches, this tree is capable of withstanding the
effects of wind in a most commendable manner ;
indeed, in this respect it is far superior to such
trees as the Douglas Fir, Redwood, and Welling-
tonia. No doubt, the finest and largest Araucarias
in this country are occupying sheltered lowland
sites, but many others in the most vigorous health
may be found where the winds tell a tale on other
so-called hardier subjects. I do not wish it, how-
ever, to be thought that the Araucaria will put on
its best appearance on exposed, high-lying grounds,
and hold its own with such hardy foreigners as the
Austrian and Corsican Firs ; but it is, nevertheless,
a formidable rival of almost every other Conifer
I know in point of general hardihood, and as a
tree that can do battle in a very satisfactory way
with even the worst winds to which our eastern
coast is subjected.
Where the first brunt of the storm is broken up
there the Araucaria seems quite at home, and
notable examples of this may be seen not many
miles from John o' Groat's (the Duke of Suther-
land's place) as well as on one or more of the
breezy outlying islands along the Scotch coast. Its
power of withstanding violent and long-continued
gales is certainly remarkable, but this is perhaps
not to be wondered at when we consider how small
a surface the tree exposes to the blast. But the
Araucaria, like most other trees, has its peculiarities,
for, as before stated, it will not long survive in
smoky localities, neither when hemmed in closely
by other trees, nor when planted in cold, damp,
or too stiff soils. Its inability to thrive in too
close proximity of other trees, or where the drip
from other taller growing subjects falls upon it, will
ever be a drawback to the cultivation of the Arau-
caria as a forest tree in this country, for the space
required to keep it in a healthy, well-furnished con-
dition is too great to allow of a profitable return
from the land so planted. I had occasion to ex-
amine not long ago an old Oak plantation, which
was planted twenty-three years since with the
Douglas Fir, Weymouth and Swiss Stone Pines,
Cedars, and Araucaria, so that eventually these
might take the place of the Oaks, but sorry was I
to find that nearly all the Araucarias had died out,
only a few of those planted in the most open and
airy situations having survived.
Wherever the branches of the Oaks had interfered
in the least with those of the Araucaria, the latter
showed signs of distress, the bottom branches gra-
dually dying away one by one until in some in-
stances there were but bare poles, with a tuft of
green foliage at the top. Usually, however, the
dead branches are remarkably persistent, and re-
main intact for many years, thus causing the trees
to present anything but a tidy appearance. That
the Araucaria will ever be a valuable forest tree in
this country must not be expected, for its slow
growth and dislike to confined situations render it
anything but remunerative for general forest plant-
ing. The timber as produced in this country is,
however, of excellent quality and of a most beautiful
and desirable yellow colour, not unlike that of Box
or Lancewood. It is fine-grained, works easily, and
takes a nice polish, and would, I have little doubt,
be useful in the manufacture of fancy work, furni-
ture, and wherever a clean-grained and prettily-
marked wood is in request. For withstanding
damp we have found it ill-adapted ; whereas
some fancy workboxes manufactured from it and
kept constantly in the dry, warm air of a room have
stood a ten years' test in a very satisfactory man-
ner. There are many fine specimens of the Arau-
caria to be seen in various parts of Britain, the largest,
perhaps, being the perfect and well-branched tree
at Ballynetray, in Ireland, which four years ago was
66 feet in height, and with a clean, well-formed
trunk 6 feet in girth at 2 feet from the ground.
This, I may state, is the result of the growth of half
a century. Another fine tree, perhaps the largest-
stemmed in Scotland, is growing at Duart Castle,
in the island of Mull, and which in 1882 girthed at
1 foot, 3 feet, and 6 feet — 6 feet 9 inches, 5 feet 10
inches, and 5 feet 6 inches respectively. The far-
famed Dropmore tree is not, as usually stated, the
largest Araucaria in this country, for its height in
1881 was stated to be 61 feet; neither can it be con-
sidered as the most perfect specimen, as that grow-
ing in the gardens at Ballynetray is branched to the
ground and regular throughout, the branch circum-
ference being about 76 feet. Growing in gravelly
soil near the shores of Lough Neagh, in Ireland,
there are several graceful and fast-growing speci-
mens of the tree in question, some of which are
60 feet in height, and with stems girthing at a yard
from the ground, from 5 feet to T-^- feet.
At Canon, in Ross-shire, with a southern exposure,
and growing in good vegetable soil, there is a fine
specimen which was planted in 1824. Many others
growing at high altitudes in the northern Scottish
counties might be pointed out, but perhaps suffi-
cient instances have been given to show that the
Araucaria is a tree well adapted for planting as an
ornamental subject, even in the coldest and most
wind-swept portions of the British Isles.
Though the Araucaria is of stiff outline, still there
is something remarkably pleasing and distinct
about a well-grown and well-furnished specimen.
The drooping sweep of the branches in old and
healthy trees serves to a great extent to soften the
usual rigidity of the foliage, which neither flutters
in the breeze, nor yields to the most sudden of our
storms. For all this, when suitably placed and
with careful attention to its surroundings, the
Araucaria serves in a great measure to impart to
our lawns and grounds a distinctly foreign aspect,
and it associates well with such easily grown sub-
jects as the Indian Cedar, the Weymouth Pine, and
the weeping Spruce. In planting, a good open
space of not less than 30 feet in diameter should be
allowed for the Araucaria, and this for the reasons
above stated. The soil in which this tree seems to
thrive best is a free, rich loam, not too damp, nor
yet too dry. The finest, best furnished, and
healthiest specimen I have seen is growing in a rich
sandy loam, resting on gravel, and where the aspect
is northern ; but another, not many yards distant,
and in almost equally good health, occupies the site
of a disused gravel pit, but it is only fair to add
that previous to planting the gravel was freely
mixed with road scrapings and decayed vegetable
matter at least for a space °of about 6 feet around
the stem of the tree.
I have seen fairly good specimens of the Arau-
caria growing in prepared peat bog, but the healthy
look that is characteristic of the tree when growing
under unusually favourable circumstances was, to a
great extent, wanting in the peat-grown plants. It
has been stated more than once in our horticultural
papers that the Araucaria will not succeed In the
vicinity of the sea ; but this is surely a mistake, for
one of the deepest green-foliaged and perfectly
furnished specimens that I can at present recall to
mind is growing within a hundred yards of the
Irish Sea, and from the saline blasts of which it is
only partially defended by a narrow strip of thinly-
planted deciduous trees. This tree is fully 50 feet
in height, grows in rather stiff and dampish loam,
and is the most perfectly-furnished specimen I have
ever seen, the lower branches, which are long and
lithe, freely sweeping the greensward. For with-
standing the dire influences of a town atmosphere it
is, however, ill adapted, in such situations soon
assuming a sickly, wan appearance, and ultimately
succumbing to the unfavourable surroundings.
The decay of the lower branches in the Araucaria
is an evil that, unfortunately, is far too prevalent,
and hardly a week passes without the question
being asked, " What can be done to prevent the
gradual dying off of the branches on the Arau-
caria?" To this I would reply, unhesitatingly,
Give the tree plenty of room, so that no drip from
surrounding specimens can get at it ; attend to the
drainage, and see that the soil is neither too stiff nor
too moist. Stem-pruning is often of great service
to trees that have lost their lower branches, and this
is particularly the case in young trees ; by cutting
off close to the stem dead and dying twigs, it not
unfrequently happens that numbers of fresh young
growths are given out, thus improving the appear-
ance of the neglected specimens. Few animals
care to intrude on the Araucaria, its spiny leaves
keeping all marauders at bay. I have seen trees, or
rather the lower branches, quite destroyed by hares.
It is rather a difficult, or troublesome, undertak-
ing to raise the Araucaria from seed, the seedlings
requiring special care, and being of very slow growth
for the first half dozen years of their existence.
From British grown seeds I have, however, raised
some nice plants of this tree, but many years
elapsed before they were of a size suitable for plant-
ing out permanently.
Female cones have been produced in many
cases, but the male or pollen-bearing cones are
few and far between, so that the seeds are
usually worthless for the purpose of reproduction.
In some instances only male cones or catkins have
been produced such as on a ^tree at Kenfield Hall,
Canterbury, on others only female cones, and these
instances are common enough; while in others both
male and female have been produced on the same
tree and at the same time. The male cones, judg-
ing from those produced in this country, are cylin-
drical in shape, 7 inches long by 2 inches in diameter,
while the female cone is about the size of a large
Melon. . A. D. Wbbstbb. .
THE GARDEN.
335
No. 830. SATURDAY, Oct. 15, 1887. Vol. XXXII.
" This Is an Art
Which does mend Nature ; change it rather ; but
The Akt itself is Nature."— iSAafesjjeore.
Chrysanthemums.
E. MOLTNEDX.
PROSPECTS OF THE SEASON.
That many lovers of the Chrysanthemum will
be anxious to know what the prospects of the
season are will admit of no doubt. For the
information of those who have no opportunity
of judging for themselves as to the prospects at
the present time of the coming Chrysanthemum
season, I give the following notes : —
My opinion is that the coming season will be
a good and an interesting one as well ; with so
many new varieties under trial interest will
attach to them as to their respective merits.
Plants of all sorts, generally speaking, look
well where the necessary attention has been
given and everything favourable, but where
difficulty has been felt in jiroviding them with
sufficient water the plants do not look quite so
well ; all kinds of insects have this season been
very prevalent. With these two exceptions,
plants never looked better than they do at the
present time. Except in a very few instances,
plants are not so tail as they were last and
other years. This applies particularly to the
Queen type. This may be attributed to the
cold, sunless spring, as the plants did not for
a long time make the same progress in their
earlierstages as they have done before. Again, the
scorching hot weather may have had something
to do with this shortness of the plants ; the air
was not so moist during the evening and night,
as night dews for a long time were very scarce.
What plants have lost in height ihey have made
lip in solidity where the necessary treatment
has been given them, such as allowance of ample
room between the plants for the ripening of the
wood tissues, which, in my opinion, is of vital
importance, as flowers of the finest quality can-
not be had unless the wood be thoroughly
ripened. It is, however, possible to have the
wood too much ripened, as when the plants have
been deficient in root moisture the tissues are
contracted instead of being filled out to their
utmost capacity.
Japanese varieties will preponderate very
considerably, as they are far more easily ob
tained from seed than are those of the incurved
section. A robust dwarf habit, which is so
desirable, seems to be the chief characteristic
of new sorts, while tall-growing varieties are
not wanted. Edouard Audiguier, a new kind,
which was grown only in a very few instances
last year, must be looked upon as a coming sort ;
the flower is large, of a beautiful maroon-claret,
and possesses the same kind of curl in the florets
which characterises Madame C. Audiguier,
which is looked upon as the best Japanese
variety in existence. If the buds of E. Audi-
guier develop as we expect them to, this variety
should be popular amongst growers of large
blooms. Golden Meg Merrilies will, I have no
doubt, sustain the promise it gave last year, and
as a goodly number of plants were sent out this
spring, no doubt the blooms wiU be seen in
good condition. Mr. Winkworth, the raiser,
has a large stock of healthy plants which pro-
mise well for flowering.
Referring a^ain to new varieties which pro-
mise fairly well, it would not be wise to condemn
such as being worthless after the first year's
trial, because it may happen that the stock had
been so weakened by propagation that justice to
this particular sort could not be done. Any new
flower which has the centre well filled with
florets is capable of improvement durmg another
season if the colour is desirable. The utmost
care should be exercised in naming the plants
correctly when it can be done, as mistakes occur
sometimes even when the greatest care is taken.
Much disappointment often ensues through this
neglect in another season, when some other
person receives cuttings from wrongly named
plants. Much confusion is thus averted by cor-
rectly naming the plants, and there is no time
so good as when the plants are in flower. It is
the wish of all Chrysanthemum specialists to
keep their stocks true to name. I fancy a race
not new exactly, but one that will be cultivated
more than in the past, will assert itself during
the coming season. I alhide to the fimbriated
class. Now that new colours are added, this
section, with its deeply serrated or fringed
flowers, is sure to meet with admirers. Where
cut flowers are much in demand for the decora-
tion of epergnes or other centre-pieces, single
Chrysanthemums will be sought for freely, as
they are by far the most suitable for this style of
arrangement. Added to this is the delicate
perfume emitted from some kinds. These single
varieties have only to be seen to be appreciated,
and as they require so little space to show them-
selves oft' to the best advantage, they are worthy
of cultivation.
Anemone Japanese varieties are sure to be
appreciated, as they are so charming in charac-
ter, drooping so gracefully, and quite distinct
from the prim old-fashioned show Anemone va-
rieties. Several new kinds have been raised, and
if their merits are satisfactory, will be sure to
meet with a hearty reception.
of each should come exactly together. No particu-
lar treatment is necessary after the operation, ex-
cept that the plants should be kept rather close for
a few days in the same temperature as the plants
were growing in, and also secure the graft to a stake
directly it begins to grow for fear of breakage.
E. M.
GRAFTING CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
This is an operation that can be performed with
advantage if it is done in the right way and with
the object of improving the growth of weakly grow-
ing sorts, which upon their own roots are naturally
of a delicate ooDstitution, as, for instance, Balmo-
reau. This is the weakest-growing sort I am ac-
quainted with. To those persons who cultivate a
large number of varieties some of these weak-grow-
ing kinds are indispensable ; therefore any means
which can be brought to bear upon their welfare
advantageously is eagerly grasped by the cultivator,
who strives to overcome all difficulties, that the best
results may be obtained. The object I have in
view now on the subject of grafting is simply to
improve the growth of weak-growing varieties, not
in any way connected with the operation of grafting
several kinds on to one plant to produce an effect of
variable colours in a small space. I lately saw in
the gardens of Childwall Hall, Liverpool, this form
of grafting carried out on a rather large scale, Mr.
Winkworth, the gardener, being evidently much in-
terested in the growth of Chrysanthemums and
their peculiarities. He has tried many varieties as
stocks to graft upon, but the Elaine variety is the
best. Upon this variety a better union is formed
between the stock and the graft, the whole swelling
uniformly together, while in some instances the
scion has enlarged considerably over the stock. An
even balance of both stock and graft is what should
be aimed at. The operation is a simple one — what
is commonly known as wedge-grafting is the best
method and the one mainly adopted. Any time
from February to May wiU. do, but the sooner the
better, and this mainly depends upon the state of
the stocks. If the cuttings are struck at the usual
time, say in December, then they will be in good
order during March. About 6 inches above the soil
the scion should be put on, simply tying with bast,
care being taken that a neat fit is made of the union
between the stock and the graft— that is, the bark
Early varieties after flowering.— Where a
collection of early-flowering kinds is cultivated,
many of them will now be past, and the plants will
have to be removed out of the way of the ordinary
November-blooming sorts. What to do with them
so that the cuttings for next year's supply of plants
may be obtained at the proper time is the question
which suggests itself. Very often some plants have
a number of suckers, many of which are drawn up
weakly, and would be useless as cuttings two months
hence. Cut away such as those named, thus giving
more space to those remaining, which will grow
more sturdy. It the stock of cuttings promises to
be far in excess of the requirements of another
season, thin out the tallest and weakest ; in fact,
anything which tends to promote sturdy growth
should be done, as on this much of the success of
another year depends. A sheltered corner out of
doors is the best position for the plants to occupy
until fear of frost compels their removal to a cold
frame, which will be found suitable until they can
be accommodated with the regular batch of plants
reserved for the production of cuttings.— S.
Japan Anemones. — It would be no easy task
in the whole range of summer bedders to find a
plant at all to be compared with A. japonica and its
two varieties. They come in just at a time when
their flowers are most needed to tone down the
almost overwhelming yellows and purples of the
late American composites. No position comes amiss
to these Windflowers, whether for bed or border. A
few of the large beds at Kew have been planted
entirely with Japan Windflowers, the white and
pink mixed. The effect is most charming, and is
certainly a step in the right direction. Apart from
the question of expense and the time taken up in
attending, planting, taking cuttings, &c., of bedding
plants, the whole character of such a bed or beds
composed of these Anemones is superior to any-
thing that can be done with ordinary bedding
subjects. The question of economy, if nothing
else, should induce lowers of their gardens to give
more attention to such charming hardy flowers.— K.
The Cape Tulip is the popularname for Hieman-
thus coocineus, one of the oldest and best known of
Cape bulbous plants. We draw attention to it, as
it is not made use of in gardens so much as it might
be. It is one of those species that flowers without
the leaves, and sends up its bloom in dense club-
like clusters on stout stems about a foot high. It
has a naked appearance if seen unaccompanied by
foliage, but if, just before it flowers, a few Ferns
are dibbled in the pot around the bulbs the mix-
ture is charming. One of the prettiest uses I
have seen made of it was in a drawing-room,
where in a vase was a plant of the Cape Tulip with
about a dozen scarlet spikes rising out of a mass of
Maiden-hair Ferns. Such an uncommon arrange-
ment, of course, attracts attention, and many who
saw this particular plant did not even know what
it was. Such easily grown plants as this and other
greenhouse species of Hajmanthus should be grown
if only for autumn flowers. In the house at Kew,
devoted chiefly to Cape plants, it may be seen in
bloom in company with others, including H. tigrinus,
another scarlet-flowered species. — W. G.
Veronica Andersoni. — Seldom, indeed, is this
Veronica treated as a wall plant. In such a position
it seems quite at home, and has a better chance of
surviving a severe winter than when growing in the
open. We have it planted at the foot of a south
wall. In early spring, when frost destroys the
points of the shoots, we prune it hard in— in fact,
cut it almost down to the ground line. It has now
made a number of shoots from 1 foot to 3 feet long,
all of which are studded with flowers and buds,
which contrast beautifully with its dense green
foliage, which when the plants are in a young state
336
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 15, 1887.
is very handsome. Young ))lants can quickly be
raised from cuttings taken off in tlie spring, tlie latter
being inserted in sandy soil, and if treated to a gentle
bottom heat they soon make useful little specimens.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
Golden Gem Chrysanthemum. — Amongst
summer Chrysaiitlicmums, Golden Gem, which I got
some years ago in Scotland, is earlier than Madame
Desgrango. I find it a most useful kind both for
garden decoration and for cutting. — C. M. Owen.
Cattleya gigas. — We have received from Mr.
William Holland, Linwood, Liverpool, a very fine
photograph of a good variety of this splendid Orchid.
The plant bore a spike of seven flowers, with the lip
of rich colouring.
Brunsvigia Josephinse. — I have now this
plant in flower, and it has twenty-five blooms
open on a stalk l-i feet high, and the truss of bloom
is about 8 feet in circumference. I have tried to
llowor it for sonic years, but until this hot summer
have never succeeded. Nerines and Ha3manthus
are also blooming well, and I have a fine lot of
Colchicums in flower as big as Tulips. I have been
very busy with all my bulbs lately, as I had several
thousands up and could not plant on account of the
very dry weather.— CiiABLES E. Nelson, Holme
Lndifp, Godalmin;/ .
Flowers from Ireland. — Mr. Gumbleton has
just brought us a gathering of double Begonias from
the open air, including Arnoult Condourcet and Sir
Bealby, both exceptionally fine. He also brings us
Crousse's novelty in Begonias of this year, namely,
a variety called Mrs. Hall, a very double creamy
white-flowered kind ; also a splendid spike of Kni-
phofia Leichtlini, and a scape of Amaryllis reticu-
lata Mrs. Wm. Lee, bearing six flowers. The
same bulbs of this variety produce two spikes every
year, while those of the old reticulata can hardly
be induced to bloom.
Stokesia cyanea. — This fine autumn flower is
something like a China Aster in general expression,
and grows from 1 8 inches to 2 feet in height, the
leaves dark green and of thick texture, and the
flowers of a lovely shade of blue. It blooms so late
that it is sometimes necessary to cover the plant
with a hand-light to preserve the freshness and
character of the flowers. Although seldom seen
grown in pots in the gardens of amateurs and others,
it is well suited for this purpose, and well-cultivated
specimens give variety and interest to the green-
house or conservatory. Propagation is readily
effected by division of the plants.
The trailing Sunflower seems a very appro-
priate name for a charming little annual known in
gardens as Sanvitalia procumbens. It is one of the
most beautiful and free-flowering annuals I have
ever seen, and is amenable to almost any treatment
or position, but appears so far to be confined to .a
very select circle. The flowers very much resemble
those of a miniature Sunflower, and are produced in
such quantities as to completely smother the leaves.
It began to flower early in the summer, and has con-
tinued until now. The double-flowered forms are also
in cultivation, but I do not think them so pretty as
the single. — K.
The large white Funkia grandiflora is not
generally grown in pots for the greenhouse, but this
is really the best way to grow it if its long, white
sweet-scented flowers are to be seen in perfection,
for out of doors they soon get spoilt at this season.
This old plant is still a stranger to most gardeners,
who, as a rule, disdain to grow a hardy plant in a
pot, but where is there a notiler plant at this season ?
Its large, bold leaves, often a foot across, of a
delicate pale green, make a handsome plant without
the flowers. These are produced on spikes over-
topping the foliage, .and each is 3 inches or 4 inches
long, snow white, and delightfully fragrant. On
light, warm soils this Funkia is hardy enough and
sometimes flowers well out of doors, but it is flnest
when grown well in pots, plunged in a bed of ashes
during the summer, wintered in a frame and taken
to the conservatory or greenhouse when in flower.
Being a native of Japan it is often called Funkia
japonica and Henierocallis japonica, and some may
know it under these names.
Hose Ophirie. — I have here a very fine plant of
this Rose in full bloom. The flowers are very large. I
have known it more than thirty years, and it has
always grown very strong and been jjruncd very
hard. There is also growing in close proximity a
Homfrre Kose, which has |produced a great quantity
of bloom this season, and looks as if it will continue
to flower for some time if frost keeps away. The
position, protected by a hedge, is nearly on the top
of a hill about 200 feet above the sea level. — W. C.
BoseUdme.BarthelemyLevet. — Thisclimb-
ing Tea of Gloire de Dijon race has been beautiful
this autumn, and in colour is the best yellow of the
family. It is not quite so free or so rampant as
some, but it is still a thorough climber. The flowers
in early summer are of moderate size, circular, and
of somewhat cupped form, as in Gloire de Dijon, but
in autumn they are much deeper with a well-built
centre, and their pure canary-yellow colour among the
deep red stems and foliage is very telling. — T. W. G.
Breedia hirsuta is the name of a particularly
attractive little plant now in bloom in the green-
house (No. -t) at Kew. It is very dwarf, the tallest
being only about 15 inches high, and the growth is
tufted and very dense. The whole plant is a
rounded mass of rosy pink flowers, each about halt
an inch across. It has been in bloom for some
time, and has the appearance of lasting for some
weeks longer. It is a Japanese plant, therefore
half hardy, and is one of the few plants of its
family (Melastomacea;) that can be grown in a cool
greenhouse. It is perennial, and inclined to be
shrubby. It has not yet found its way into
nurseries, but it will, without doubt, before long.
It was only introduced in 1870, and was figured
recently in the Botanical Magaivne.
Blue Marguerite (Agathaja caalestis). — This Is
a very pretty plant, the Daisy-like flowers of a clear
sky-blue colour appearing freely in the autumn,
but they are soon spoilt by frosts. It is not very
showy, but of a kind of beauty appreciated by those
who do not care for the garish colours of a large
number of our autumn-blooming perennials. The
habit of the plant is dwarf and compact, with the
dense foliage of a rich green colour. Agatha3a
caelestis is not hardy, except in warm, sheltered
places such as may be found along the south coast.
So the usual course is, when the beauty of the plants
is over, to lift and cut them down, then putting
them in pots of appropriate size. They will not
harm in the winter if stored away under a green
house stage or some similar place.
Senecio pulcher. — This splendid hardy border
plant is blooming well now, though past its best.
We have no finer perennial for adding to the beauty
of the garden in September and October than this,
as its richly coloured purple flowers, of handsome
form and telling appearance, are a relief from the
continual glare of yellow with which we are con-
fronted in almost every place during the autumn
It is quite hardy, though some regard it as tender,
and its coarse leafage is thoroughly characteristic.
Either on the border or rockery this line plant looks
well, and we should like to see it more often in
small gardens. It is now cheap, so there can be no
excuse for its comparative neglect owing to its ex-
pensiveness. It should have a light soil, and pre-
fers a moist position.
Bigelow's Daisy (Aster Bigelowi). — Next to
A. Amellus, the above Daisy, A. Bigelowi or A.
Townsendi, is certainly the most handsome of the
early-flowering kinds. At best, however, I think it
is scarcely a true perennial, and our treatment of it
as a biennial appears to be the most successful,
although in some cases it forms crowns at the base
or near the base of the flowering-stems, and these,
treated as cuttings, may be successfully grown into
specimen jilants. It grows about 2^ feet in height,
with very leafy, much-branched stems, terminating
in large, showy heads of purplish violet flowers. A
coloured plate ajipeared in A'ol. XVII. of The
Gaeden, ji. .'!l(j. It .seems to do best in a south
border, and where in a good, warm summer such as
the past it ripens seeds quite' freely. It is a native
of South Colorado and New Mexico, and is certainly
worth cultivating. — K.
Hibiscus syriacus Celeste. — Of the old
shrubby Mallow, or Althaea frutex, as it is also
called, there are many varieties more or less distinct
from the original, though a good many are so much
alike that it is a difficult matter to tell the difference
between them. Of the newer sorts that have come
to us from Continental raisers there are some very
distinct and beautiful sorts, and that named Celeste,
in allusion to the bluish colour of its flowers, is one
of the most striking. The colour is almost a true
blue, with only a suggestion of the prevailing purple
tint, and the flower being large and single is showy.
Tliere is another noteworthy sort called lotus albus,
which has pure white single flowers. The blue and
the white mixed would produce a charming efi:'ect.
The double sorts are not so beautiful as the single,
though the flowers last rather longer, and as the new
kinds are no dearer than the old-fashioned sorts,
they should be preferred. They only place I have
seen the blue and pure white varieties is the Knap
Hill Nursery, where there is a large collection of sorts
grown, and the plants have for the last few weeks
been quite a feature in the nursery.
Spirsea Bumalda. — This is a charming little
new shrub, and particularly noticeable just now, as it
is about the only shrub in good bioom. It is
apparently a variety, or at least a very near relative,
of S. callosa, but it is different in growth as well
as in flower. It does not grow more than 15 inches
or IS inches high, and makes a rather dense bush,
and every twig carries a broad flat cluster of
tiny flowers of a deep carmine-rose. It begins
to bloom in June and does not cease till the
end of October. I saw it the other day in the
Knap Hill Nursery, Woking, where it is considered
a good thing and worth growing by the thousand.
A large number of plants had an extremely pretty
effect, being so uniform in growth. Mr. Waterer
has a variety of it very much darker in colour than
the original, and is in fact almost a crimson ; it is,
I believe, to be called atrosanguinea. Being such a
hardy shrub and so neat, it is sure to become popu-
lar. Also in bloom at Knap Hill I saw the va-
riety of S. callosa called eximia, which is also a
pretty shrub, but more straggling in growth than
S. Bumalda.— W. G.
PRIZES FOR BORDER CARNATIONS.
Seeing in our garden the value of self-coloured
Carnations, we propose, in order to encourage
the raising of fine kinds, to give prizes to the raisers
of the best self or border Carnations which shall
be sent to be tried by us.
There will he three eqtial prizes of £3, one for
each group of colour.
(1) mill comprise rvhites, creams, a/iid yelloKS.
(2) reds, embracing cloves and purples.
(3) embracing all colours in. n-hirh the faltcs or
mar/lings are harmonioiishi hlcnded : sham Car-
nations and Ficotees may In- included' in the grmip.
For the best Carnation sent, not embraced in these
colours, an extra prize of £,3 ivill be given.
Selfs and harmoniously coloured kinds are most
desired, but no kind or class will be refused a fair
trial. The best Carnation in each class will be
figured in colour in The Gaeden if it prove supe-
rior to or distinct from kinds already known.
Not less than six plants, rooted this year, of
each should be sent in during the month of
October. Several kinds may be sent by one person,
but the competition is reserved to kinds not at
present in commerce.
Each variety should have its name (or a num-
ber), the colour, and the sender's name clearly writ-
ten on the label, and be forwarded by parcel post to
( 'arnation, care of Mr. Bond, West Hoathley, Sussex.
The prizes will be aw.arded next August. The
plants will be judged by the editor of The Garden
entirely from the point of view of their beauty in the
flower garden, and without reference to any pre-
viously accepted standard. They will be all grown
fully exposed in the open air, away from a wall
or any other shelter.
Oct. 15, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
337
A SCHOOL GARDEN.
It is unfortunate that no engraving, which must
be confined to the limits of a page of The
Garden, can give anything more than a very
partial view of the gardens and buildings of
Bromsgrove School. Tlie accompanying picture,
indeed, however cliarming in itself, does not
give the most familiar and characteristic view
which is afforded by the old Ivy- mantled school-
house ; and many old Bromsgrovians who look
on it here will not recognise the building on the
left hand side, which was only completed at the
close of 1882. Alike in the gardens and build-
ings. Ivy is the predominant decorative feature ;
it completely clothes every side but one of the
school-house, and has converted a bad piece of
architecture of a nondescript style into a beau-
tiful home. Ivy also clothes all the sloping
banks which surround the middle garden, while
here and there bands of the best golden and
trim turf edges ; and yet neither flower nor
turf over suffer harm. Though nominally the
head master's garden, it is really a part of tlie
school, and all find conscious or, more often, un-
conscious enjoyment from the beauty of their
surroundings. H. M.
A STREAM GAEDEN.
Pheasb, picture, description (in The Garden,
October 1, p. 289) set one longing for the murmur-
ing of water, the waving or floating of water plants,
and the fringes of verdure, foliage, or rocks, that
suggest rather than fully express the charms of the
stream garden at Langley Park, Beckenham ; for
however successfully you may catch the general
impression by pen or photo, the dripping freshness,
the mobile charms of a stream garden, must be
seen, heard, felt to be thoroughly appreciated.
Perhaps, after all, it is the motion and sound of the
water that impart the most subtle pleasure and the
Paris, or such exquisite combinations of flowers,
plants, and water as are formed by Nature along the
banks of thousands of streams in Scotland and
elsewhere, must admit how much more beautiful
beauty seems when accompanied by the soft, sweet,
satisfying sounds of running water. The plants
that grow on the fringes of the stream, as well as
those that venture to anchor on its surface, beat
time to every ripple and current of the water, and
add their beauty of form as well as of colour to
the soft sounds of stream gardens. And then the
motion of the water is almost as cheering as its
sound. It can also be made to vary alike in its
character and its speed almost to infinity. By
varying its depth, and width, and fall, the water
may be made to rest here, linger there, rush on
impetuously further on, then sink suddenly into
rest in a calm pool. Again it slowly flows on, or
lazily coils or links round, or creeps along through a
series of curves, passes swiftly through narrow
straits, or leaps over a waterfall, and loses itself in
a cloud of froth or foam, the perpetual motion
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A school garden (Bromsgrove School, Worcestershire). Engraved for The Garden from a photograph.
silver varieties prevent any sense of sombreness
or monotony. Another characteristic feature
of the gardens is the beautiful graduation of the
slopes which lead from one to the other. In the
furnishing of the borders herbaceous plants
take the foremost place ; only four small beds
are devoted to bedding out, and with these
care is taken to produce soft harmonies rather
than strong effects of colour. Not a few choice
alpines and perennials find a congenial home
here ; but what, after all, is really remarkable
about the grounds is, that all these floral beau-
ties—Daffodils, Lilies, Anemones, Irises, choice
Rhododendrons, and Azaleas — thrive and luxu-
riate in the very midst of English public school
boys ; and that instances of destruction, either
by design or accident, are practically unknown.
Every time the boys go from class-room to
class-room they pass amid well-kept borders
crammed with flowers, and tread on walks with
fullest joy to the possessor or beholder of the stream
There are three main features in which the stream
garden is superior to the lake or pond garden at
their best— sound, motion, change. Some would
add other points, such as purity ; but it is possible
to have a still lake, or even a stagnant pond or pool
pure ; but unless of considerable extent, and with
wide areas of surface, kept clear of vegetation, still
waters are necessarily silent as well as still. Even
the Water Lilies as well as other water plants sleep
on the placid surface of lake or pond. The beauty,
great as it is, is that of death rather than of life.
But fix the same Lilies or plants in the murmuring
stream, and their incessant motion seems to suggest
a deep undertone of harmony, or a soft duet with
the running brook as the two beat time on the
banks, as the stream flows on and on for ever.
Anyone who has seen such stream gardens as
that engraved at p. 289, or such an one or
more as may be found in the Buttes Chaumont,
resulting from incessant change. Nor are the
changes exhausted through the varying depths,
volume, velocity, or lines of the stream. The
clothing of its banks, the planting of its beds, open
up prospects of infinite change and endless variety.
Every yard of the ground covered by the stream
from its source to its finish invites distinct or
separate treatment. Along almost the entire
courses of our most perfectly furnished natural
or artificial streams many yards of them are
seldom alike. Every step we rise or fall suggests or
admits of a different treatment, or some specific
addition to or subtraction from its furnishing.
In this case, though the stone wall has been made
the most of, the stream garden as such would be
better without it. The small stream garden in
the Buttes Chaumont is only a very .small one,
supported with some artificial rock, and fringed
rather than furnished with vegetation, and it is
nothing more. Still, it is very fresh, full of life, and
charming. Perhaps one of the most magnificent
338
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 15, 1887;
stream gardens ever seen by the writer was formed
through a gorge of overhanging Birch trees. The
stream leaped over a waterfall at the top of the
gorge, and the spray nurtured long tangled masses
of Ferns that almost filled the narrow glen with their
verdure. After a time it opened wider, the water
passed slowly and almost silently along, and huge
masses of many sorts of Heather clothed its wider,
tamer banks. Again, it was supported by Whin
and Broom, flanked by Birch and Scotch Fir, and so
on far away down the hillside towards the Firth of
Cromarty.
But we must not cull such wild— albeit, semi-
forbidden— fruit even for the pages of The Gaedek.
Suffice it if these mere glimpses of art or Nature
in regard to stream gardens will set these growing
.and running in the very many gardens where they
can possibly be formed. To many the stream garden
will prove a new pleasure in horticulture, not only
for the novel plants it will enable them to cultivate,
but also for the soothing sounds, perpetual motion,
and incessant changes that it will bring within reach
of all true lovers of new touches of Nature and of
art in our garden landscapes. D. T. F.
Rose Garden.
THE HARDY ROSE GARDEN.
The Rose season just over has been, I think,
the shortest on record. The first show of flowers
was quickly over, and there has been no second
crop worth speaking of from the Hybrid Per-
petuals, to wliioli class we very naturally look
for a reasonable number of flowers in the early
autumn months. But if we want a few Roses
at the present time we must turn to other and
less popular classes for them.
With us the Bourbons are the Roses of the
season, and I have before me as I write a box of
flowers from an extensive grower. The oreat
merit of Bourbon Rosea is that they flower
twice a year, and some of them, such as Bourbon
Queen, Acidalie, and Sir Joseph Paxton, are
scarcely without flowers from June to October.
Others of this class well worth growin» are
Souvenir de la Malmaison, Baron Gonella" and
Catherine Guillot. These will furnish colours
varying from white to the deepest rose ; most
of them make good standards, and all may be
grown as dwarf bushes. They are also hardy
and of free growth.
China Roses are, no doubt, the next most
useful and hardy class, and, being dwarf in
growth, they are suitable for planting in beds or
for marginal lines to a rosary. The most free-
flowering Rose in our collection is Mrs. Bosan-
quet. I am aware that we must not look to the
China section for full, well-formed flowers, but
■we shall find that they possess some of' the
brightest crimson Roses we have, and some are
very fragrant. For isolated beds on the lawn,
where a constant succession of flowers is de-
sired, there is no other class of Roses to equal
them.
Gloire de DIJO^f as a bedding Rose.— Al-
though this Rose is so largely grown as a stan-
dard and as a climber, it is very rarely seen
occupying a bed by itself. I venture to say
there is no Rose better adapted for the purpose.
It flowers continuously, and produces full, well-
formed flowers. I do not know of another Rose
that makes such vigorous growth without any
■ special preparation of the soil. In a clergyman's
garden not far from here this fine Rose has been
trained very much in the form of an espalier
tree. A single plant on its own roots was first
put m, which soon began sending up long, thick
shoots. Instead of shortening them back, they
were pegged down in a direct line on each side
of the plant. Tbese pegged-down shoots took
root in time, and sent up other slioots, which
were dealt with in the same way, until a perfect
hedge had been formed. One can imagine the
number of flowers it produced from early sum-
mer until mid-winter, and it is not diflicult to
foretell what the efl'ect would be if a few plants
were put into a bed and treated in thejsame
way.
Austrian Brier Roses.— These are all yel-
low Roses, and, although they only flower once
a year, they make an interesting feature when
grown together. They are thoroughly hardy,
and wUI thrive in any fairly good situation and
soil. Austrian Yellow is a single Rose of a
bright yellow colour, and the flowers are freely
produced. Austrian Copper is also single, with
coppery, yellow-coloured flowers. Harrisoni has
double flowers of a deep yellow colour. On a
well-grown plant the well-laden branches arch
over in the most graceful manner. Persian
Y'ellow also has flowers of the deepest yellow
colour. All these make moderate growth, and
require no pruning when grown in masses, ex-
cept that when they get too thick some of the
old stems should be cut out. The Scotch Roses
are admirable companion plants to these yellow
Roses, as they are much alike in habit of growth,
and an isolated bed, or a rather large group
placed alternately with other Roses, has a very
attractive appearance. The common pink Moss
Rose is another hardy sort that deserves to
occupy a bed, or be planted in good sized
groups in the hardy rosery. Then there is the
Cabbage Rose, the York and Lancaster, the
Maiden's Blush, and the old Tuscany, with its
singularly dark clusters of maroon-coloured
flowers. All these are hardy and so thoroughly
distinct from each other, that they are capable
of making an interesting feature in any garden.
—J. C. C, in Field.
THE ROSE AND ITS CULTURE.
A very excellent practical paper on the above sub-
ject was read by the Rev. J. A. Williams, Alder-
minster Lodge, Stratford-on-Avon, before the mem-
bers of the Birmingham Gardeners' Association on
September 28, in the course of which he treated upon
"Soil and Manure," "Buying Plants," "Planting,"
and " Pruning." Taking " Soil and Manure " as his
first subject, he said that it was a common fallacy
that Roses cannot be successfully grown only in a
clayey soil, not that Roses on their own roots like
such a soil, but those on the Dog Brier do. Since
the introduction of the Manetti stock by the late
Mr. Rivers, it has been very generally used, but it
often perishes in a cold clay soil. Mr. Williams'
advice is to discard the Manetti and plant Roses on
the Brier stock. Where light soils exist, adopt
deep trenching when practicable, and place rather
deep in the trench 4 inches of cow manure or fish
refuse, chopped earth and road-scrapings, adding
lump charcoal and bones in the top spit. Use
liquid manure often and regularly, but always very
diluted and in a clear state, and when ordinary
water is used let it be clear. In mulching, use
plenty of manure, but not raw and strong.
In bdyinc Roses, buy from a nursery close at
home if the plants are good and true to name. If
from a distance, to be sent by parcel post or pas-
senger train quickly, with the roots carefully
preserved so as not to get dry.
In planting, Mr. Williams recommended early
autumn planting, making a good sized hole to admit
plenty of good prepared soil for the roots to
run into, and by planting in October or November
root action at once sets in. Roses on the Manetti
stock to be planted 3 inches below the junction, and
on seedling Briers, quite U inches and even :i inches,
just trimming the decayed portions of the roots.
Examples of dwarf Roses, Hybrid Perpetuals and
Teas on the seedling Brier, and Hybrid Perpetuals on
Brier cuttings were used to illustrate this portion of
the lecture, those on the Brier cuttings showing a
greater abundance of more fibrous-feeding roots!
In pruning, how to prune, and when to prune
is an important question. Prune in closely the first
year, and not so severely afterwards. Mr. Williams
exhibited the dwarf Roses as examples of a well
pruned Rose, and a badly pruned one where a foot
of growth had been left which produced unpro-
ductive wood.
As TO budding Roses, the selection of shoots
which had produced first quality flowers, and
budding from such shoots, were strongly recom-
mended ; to shorten back long growths in Novembei;,
and finish pruning in March. Still, early and late
pruning depends a good deal on soil and situation.
Mr. Williams cultivates Tea Roses well at Alder-
minster, and considers them as hardy in good situa-
tions as Hybrid Perpetuals, and to much better resist
mildew and other pests, and to give a plentiful supply
of blooms from April to December. A splendid lot
of blooms from Mr. Williams' garden was placed
upon the table, and it was explained that the plants
are grown in an exposed situation, but with plenty
of water close at hand, and he cuts freely up to
Christmas it it is a mild and open autumn. From
one plant of Marie Van Houtte Mr. Williams had
out fifty blooms on the morning of the lecture,
and he recommends buying Tea Roses on the
seedling or root Brier, and in severe weather pro-
tecting with a little Bracken or other material.
W. Dean.
WORKED ROSES 1'. THOSE ON THEIR OWN
ROOTS.
This subject was well ventilated at the late conven-
tion in Chicago by able and experienced growers,
and the tide certainly set strongly in favour of
Roses on their own roots. In the case of Roses
under glass there may be an excuse for occasionally
working varieties which are weak, but with Hybrid
Perpetuals for oat-of-door culture a great deal of
harm has been done and but little good accom-
plished by planting grafted or budded Roses.
Indeed, so much disappointment has been experi-
enced by amateurs from planting worked Roses,
that to my own knowledge some who used to be
anxious to secure all the new sorts have well-nigh
given up the idea of ever having a Rose garden, and
I consider the use of worked Roses to be one cause
of the scarcity of Rose beds in this country ; I for
one have sworn against them. We have such a
large number of good sorts that do well on their
own roots, that there is no necessity for growing
worked varieties.
If we grow and sell Roses on their own roots we
need not fear that after the first bloom, or after the
first season, they will throw their whole strength
into suckers. I remember a case where the strong
Briers were carefully pruned and tied up, and what
little wood of the worked Rose that was left was
pruned away by the not too well posted cultivator.
Result, condemnation of the florist as a fraud, and
discontinuance of the cultivation of Roses. Sell
Roses on their own roots if you want them to give
satisfaction and your trade to increase. However
valuable they may be in other countries, they are
valueless here, and the sooner we give up their
cultivation, at least outdoors, the better it will be
for us. — H. A. Siebrecht, in -Imcrican Fhr'nf.
SHORT NOTES.— ROSES.
Yellow Rose from Cashmere. — In a note sent
by Mr. Max Leiclitlin to Tun Garden of July 1, 18Si,
he says, " There is some prospect that we shall have a
new double yellow Rose from Caslnnere aud Little
Thibet, seeds of which have been introduced lately by
Mr. I. Anderson-Henry, of Edinburgh." Has this
prospect ever been fulfilled, aud, if so, can the Roges
be procured? — Y.
Book on Tea Eoses. — Cau you recommend me a
book about the construction of a house for Tea
Roses and the management of Tea Roses therein ? —
Enquirer.
*.»* An excellent book on Rose houses and the
culture of Roses under glass is Mr. IVilliam Paul's
"The Pot Rose," published at 2s. by Messrs. Kent
and Co., 23, Paternoster Row, E.G., wherein will be
Oct.' 15, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
339
fonnd full instructions for the Ijuilding of Roso
houses, and for the management of the plants therein.
—Ed.
Oloire de Dijon Hose for hedges and
screens. — I lately saw this Hose in the garden of
Mr. A. Pease, Hummersknott, Darlington, used as
hedges and screens. In spite of an exceptionally
dry summer, this Rose was growing and blooming
as'if nothing unusual liad occurred. In one place
in this garden it was planted at the foot of a rough-
boarded fence about 30 yards long, as near as I
can remember, and in another position it was grow-
ing as an hedge of nearly tlie same length. Its
growth was not so rampant as is sometimes the
case, but the foliage was of a very fine colour, while
in both instances the plants were covered with
flowers in all stages of development, thereby proving
once more that it cannot be surpassed for general
I^urposes. — E. M.
Fruit Garden.
W. COLEMAN.
SELECTIONS OF APPLES AND PEARS.
Ti'KNixG again to the Royal Caledonian Horti-
cultural Society's report, a copy of -which by
this time should be on every advancing fruit
grower's shelf, we cull the following notes which
may be of use to planters intending to take
advantage of the present season. Beginners
and those with limited accommodation should
select the varieties they intend to grow from
among the ten or twelve at the top of each list, as
they arc undoubtedly the varieties which wUl
give the greatest satisfaction. A notable feature
in the selections is the high position maintained
by many of the favourite old varieties. Among
dessert Apples, King of the Pippins heads the
list, closely followed by Blenheim Pippin, Rib-
ston Pippin, Kerry Pippin, and Irish Peach ;
while of the newer varieties. Pott's Seedling
and New Hawthornden are the most prominent ;
but Lane's Prince Albert, Ringer, Golden Spire,
Frogmore Prolific, Lady Sudeley, Red Winter
Reinette, Lord Derby, Grenadier, Peasgood's
Nonsuch, Sandringham, and Lady Henniker
are rapidly and deservedly coming into favour.
Among Pears, the old standard varieties still
hold their own, and Jargonelle, Marie Louise,
Louise Bonne of Jersey, Williams' Bon Chre-
tien, Easter Beurre, Glou Morceau, Winter
Nelis, Beurre d'Aremberg, Beurre Diel, and
Beurre Ranee appear to be as popular as ever.
Beurre d'Amanlis, Hacon's Incomparable, Jose-
phine de Malines, and Bergamotte d'Esperen
also are stamped as first-class useful varieties.
Of newer Pears, Doyenne du Comioe, Pitmaston
Duchess, and Olivier des Serres appear to be
most popular. As orchard Pears, Hessle,
Williams' Bon Chretien, Louise IJonne of
Jersey, Beurre d'Amanlis, Hacon's lucompar-
ahle, and the useful new variety Fertility are
fast superseding many of the older and compa-
ratively worthless varieties.
To the majority of British pomologists the
excellent qualities of all these Apples and Pears
are well known, and to those who wish to be
guided by others' experience, we have no hesi-
tation in saying there is not a second-rate sort
amongst them. But what about cultivation !
The well-known Mr. G. Bunyard, chairman of
the jurors, in his usual concise way, says : —
All damp and cold soils should be deeply drained
and every encouragement given to the trees to
make surface roots. Where practicable, root-prun-
ing should be carried out, and when a crop is set,
heavy mulchings of stable manure should be ap-
plied, or, failing that, such artificial manure as
dissolfed bones or other stimulants that contain a
liberal supply of phosphates and nitrogens. A few
stones, pebbles, or brickbats in the soil would also
enable it to retain much warmth. As the force of
the tree is, so to speak, feeble, it should be hus-
banded and directed by the skill of the pruner, and
the usual style of the trees might with advantage
have at least half of their branches as well as half
of their fruiting and leaf-spurs removed, which
would force the sap to flow direct to the fruit, and
withal admit the sun and those free winds which
give flavour and finish to the crops. In these opera-
tions, those branches and spurs which lie up to the
sun should be retained. In planting young trees
the roots should be kept as near the surface as
possible. Pears on the Quince and Apples on the
Paradise stocks may even have the upper roots ex-
posed without injury. Manure from the pigstye is
very valuable for fruits, and is better placed there
than on garden crops. Old orchards may be con-
siderably improved by keeping pigs or sheep in
them, and penning them ofl', so that the soil is satu-
rated with manure. Pruning old orchards is better
performed in the autumn, as all the dead pieces can
then be well seen and taken out, and the cuts from
a sharp knife will commence to heal at once; if a
saw is used, the ragged edges should be smoothed
with a chisel or knife. I need scarcely advocate
the thinning of the fruit. This should be done as
soon as they are large enough and safe from insect
attacks. There is a time when those which are
pierced by the Apple moth caterpillar drop off,
and it would be well to wait till after this has taken
place. Leave the fruit in the best possible posi-
tions, and at the same time stop the vigorous
shoots.
PEARS AS BUSH TREES.
While we are looking about for some profitable
crop, there are few that have a good word to say for
Pears. Mr. Coleman in The Gaeden, October 1
(p. 2So), makes out a strong case for growing some
of the good late-keeping sorts under glass, and I
fully endorse all he says ; but I think that quite
as strong a case can be made out for trying to com-
pete with the foreigner not only with late sorts, but
with early ones as well. In order to grow early
Pears, no glass roofs or walls are necessary in this
part of the country, as the very best-flavoured Pears
we grow are on bushes fully exposed to sun and air
all round. In this locality there are many private
gardens well stocked with dwarf bush Pear trees,
and the crops they annually bear are surprising.
The soil, viz , a friable loam of moderate depth
resting on gravel, produces prolific rather than
large trees. With care in summer as regards
mulching, watering. &c., these little bushes produce
fruit quite equal to that from walls, and certainly
of better flavour. There can be no doubt but that
what is gained by the cultivation of the Pear on
walls in the way of clear skin is lost in flavour. I
have just gathered fruits of the Marie Louise from
both bush and wall trees, and although the wall-
grown ones are clear, without speck or blemish, and
are selected first by those that do not know what
denotes good flavour, yet it will be found that the
russety-skinned ones from bush trees have the
highest flavour. Other examples might be enume-
rated, but it is to such sorts as Williams' Bon
Chretien that I should like to direct attention, as
this variety, which is imported and sold in large
quantities in this neighbourhood, proves that many
acres of farm land might be profitably employed in
the cultivation of fruit. In these days of companies
and co-operation. I presume it is only by their agency
that the thing could be done ; but of one thing I am
certain, that if done well it must succeed.
I need not giv3 a catalogue of sorts, but may
mention that a bush tree of Pitmaston Duchess in
my own collection is certainly a more profitable
subject than any of my Vines, as the fruits sell
freely at from 3d. to (Id. each. They are not so large
this year, owing to the excessive drought, but still
they serve to illustrate what may be done with
careful culture and a favourable site. In the south
of England there are many fruit orchards more
favourably placed than mine, which, being within
sight of the salt water, the leaves of the trees get
seared as if scalded. This was the case about a
month ago, and it gives vegetation of all kind a
severe check. But a little more inland, not only do
the growers get more complete shelter, but a better
soil; and I need only refer to the splendid examples
of outdoor Pears that are exhibited from time to
time by Mr. Breese, of Petworth, Sussex, and Mr.
Wildsmith., of Heckfield, Hants, to prove that out-
door Pear culture is no imaginary thing in the
south of England. Of course, these great private
gardens have fine walls devoted to Pears, and
although market growers might not go in for these,
there is no reason why they should not adopt their
system of bush trees, trellises, and other accessories
to good culture, and I have no doubt but that walls
of a mere temporary description, such as the French
employ, and which I have seen beautifully clothed
vrith trees at the celebrated gardens of Mr. Roger
Leigh, in Kent, and from which Jlr. Haycock used
to exhibit such fine examples, would prove a good
investment. What is wanted is fine fruit, and to do
this good culture from start to finish must be given.
We have been too much used to letting the tree
take care of itself. But this will not do. We must
take some of the superabundant attention that
has been lavished on Grapes, Orchids, Sec, and try
what effect it will have on things we fail to grow
as -well as they might be, and of which the foreigner
still holds the monopoly. I have no doubt what-
ever but that we can grow equally well the
kinds that are so largely imported. That the
requisite skill is ready no one can doubt, but those
possessing it have unfortunately not the means of
putting their knowledge into practice. Landlords
find their land a drug on their hands because the
old cereal crops fail to return profit, and they do
not appear to have any idea that there are other
crops that can be grown far more profitably than
com. And the large sums annually sent abroad for
fruit to countries with no better climate than our
own offer a ready means of investing both idle
capital and labour to good effect ; and although
Pears are not so largely imported as Apples, the
home industry might be largely improved by raising
them to supply our own wants. J. Geooji.
Gosjmrt.
Trout Pear. — This is better known as Forelle,
but the name Trout is suggestive, the crimson
spottings on the sunny side of the fruit which over-
lay the bright suffusion of the same hue resembling
very much the markings on the trout ; the rich lemon
colour on the shady side affords a splendid contrast.
The form is obovate, and the skin smooth and
shining, the flesh being white and melting with a_
sugary flavour. It deserves to be classed amongst
the best of the winter Pears, and highly coloured
fruits are excellent for the dessert by reason of
their brilliant beauty. — B. C.
Scale on Fig trees. — In answer to the inquiry
of " A Gardener " in The Garden, Sept. 24 (p. 275),
as to the best means of clearing his Fig trees from
scale, in my opinion there is nothing better than
paraffin mixed with water and used properly; it is
the misuse of paraffin that makes it dangerous.
Add one and a half wineglassfuls to a pailful of water
(three gallons). To mix it thoroughly and apply it
to the trees two persons are required, one with a
syringe, keeping the oil constantly mixed with the
water in the pail, while the second person with
another syringe applies the liquid to the trees or
plants. Directly the mixing ceases the oil floats
upon the surface, and it is then that injury resrilts.
IE the first application is not suflicient to kill all
the scale give a second washing in a week's time.
In this manner our Crotons and other stove
plants are kept free from all kinds of insects. Fir
tree oil applied according to the instructions given
upon the tins is a capital insecticide for all purposes.
— S.
Decrepit fruit trees. — In many gardens and
orchards old trees are permitted to linger on long
after they are almost useless. When a tree ceases
to bear good fruit of its kind in sufficient abund-
ance, if the cause of its unfruitfulness cannot be
removed by top-dressing or pruning, the best thing
to do is to take it up, renew and refresh the soil by
trenching and mixing, and when it is settled plant
a young" healthy tree. No one plants too many
young fruit trees. In every garden there should be
340
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 15, 1887.
young trees in training to fill up vacancies on walls
or espaliers, so that blanks may be filled up quickly.
But if a young tree is planted on the site from
which an old tree of the same species has been re-
moved, the soil should be changed, as rotation orop-
ing is just as important in fruit culture as it is in
vegetable growing ; indeed, more so, as fruit trees
occupy the land under ordinary circumstances for a
longer time than most crops. One can tell now in a
quiet look round which trees should be condemned,
and which should be manured and left for another
year. The manure that Bacon recommended for
fruit trees was old rotten turf, and the same advice
still holds good. — H.
NECTARINES.
It is very doubtful if there is a better Nectarine
grown than the Elruge. There certainly is not
another variety that bears so freely or that sets its
fruit in such numbers, whether grown under glass
or in the open air. It is, in fact, so free in that
respect that it almost amounts to a fault, because
there is a tendency on the part of most cultivators
to leave more fruit than can be satisfactorily de-
veloped. I find that when the trees are j udiciously
cropped the frait grows as large as that of any
other variety, and that when well exposed to the
light it is very highly coloured and of superior
flavour. The Pine-apple Nectarine also is both
large and handsome and the flavour excellent, and
the tree bears well. Lord Napier is a distinct and
useful sort, and the fruit grows to a large size, but
I am of opinion that the flavour is not equal to that
of the Elruge. The Victoria is later in ripening
than either of the preceding, the fruit being large
and of a distinct greenish yellow colour, with crim-
son spots next the sun. The flavour is also very
good. Even in a large garden I do not think it
would be desirable to extend the list. In small
places where it is desirable to extend the season as
long as possible, the first and last-named sorts are
sufficient, but if only one is wanted I should prefer
the Elruge to any other.
I cannot understand the reason of the Nectarine
cracking so much this season. I have always under-
stood that cracking of the fruit was caused by an
excess of moisture at the roots, and that syringing
of the trees after the fruits had finished stoning
also produced it. This season, however, it has been
quite the reverse, as never in any previous season
have the trees received so much -water, and yet I
have only seen one cracked fruit. I believe that
cracking of the fruit is caused by sudden fluctua-
tions of temperature, such as bright and warm
weather suddenly succeeding two or three dull,
cool days. J. C. C.
Pear Fondaiite d' Automne.— Is this fine early
summer Pear appreciated as it deserves to be ? It
is of medium size, the skin lemon-yellow, overlaid
with green ; the flesh is white, melting, tender in
the grain, juicy, and decidedly superior to that of
Williams' Bon Chriitien. It is a Pear entirely free
from grittiness, and it has no hard core. The won-
der is that this Pear does not appear much more
frequently on the exhibition table during the month
of September, for in all cases where fruit is tested by
quality it must take a high place. It is a great bearer,
doing well in any form, and making a handsome
pyramid on the Quince. It is also suitable for walls
or for growing as a standard, and yet in the poll for
the best Pears selected from the whole of Great
Britain on the occasion of the Pear Congress, Fon-
dante d'Automne stood twenty-eighth on the list
only.— R. D.
Keeping: fruit. — The great secret for preventing
decay in fruit through autumn and winter is to
preserve a uniformly low temperature. If the tem-
perature changes and fluctuates, the fruit quickly
rots. Currents of air are bad, because they make
changes in temperature. We find that Apples keep
longer in winter by merely wrapping each specimen
in tissue paper and thus excluding air. Hence
the advantage of packing in any soft, powdered
substance, such as dry sawdust, bran, ground
plaster, or Moss. Oa a large scale this cannot
be done, and large fruit rooms must therefore be
kept cool without changes of air. Much may be
accomplished by ventilating windows, admitting
cold air in the night, and excluding warm air in the
daytime by closing them. — Country Gentleman.
CANKER IN FRUIT TREES.
Thompson in his " Gardeners' Assistant" says: —
Canker, it is well known, attacks gome varieties more
than others growing in the same soil ; hence it must
be inferred that some varieties are constitutionally
more disposed to thia disease than others. Again, in
some soils, almost every variety is more or less subject
to canker, while in others the whole of the trees are
comparatively free from it. The cause is imperfectly
understood, and so consequently is an effectual
remedy.
The above is a fair summary of the general views
as to canker at the present time, yet while it ignores
the existence of, in reality it indicates the effectual
remedy. Each plant to attain perfection of growth
requires its own proper food, even each variety of
a species may have its special requirements ; diffe-
rent soils contain the elements of that food in vary-
ing proportions sufficient for some, but insufficient
for others; consequently in a particular soil some
flourish and others are stunted in growth, or grow
freely for a time and then fall a prey to disease.
Canker generally attacks the plant after it has made
free growth and formed a framework too large to be
any longer supported by the soil within reach of its
roots, the previous growth having exhausted the
necessary food elements and left the soil barren ;
the consequence is, sufficient of them is left to main-
tain only a portion of the framework, and parts of it
not receiving the proper nutriment perish. If this
view be correct, the health of an affected plant may
be restored by adding to the soil the food elements
which are deficient. To illustrate this some ex-
periences in the culture of Pear and_ Apple trees
may be narrated.
A Citron des Carmes Pear tree after growing and
fruiting well for ten years began to canker, and
then only with the object of utilising a bud, Pit-
maston Duchess was budded on the lowest bough ;
the bud grew freely, but the canker of Citron des
Carmes increased, until the tree became a wretched
object and ceased to bear fruit, when it was cut
down above the bough budded with Pitmaston
Duchess, which continued to flourish, assumed erect
growth, and now after ten years is a symmetrical
pyramid, splendidly healthy, and bearing regularly
fine fruit. This case clearly proves that canker is
not a disease of the roots, and it equally proves
that one variety of a species will grow where
another requiring different food element will not,
although the soil be equally in situation and
mechanical composition suitable for both, for
the Citron des Carmes made perfect growth and
fruited well for the ten or twelve years, and the
Pitmaston Dachess has for another ten years
flourished on the same roots and in the same soil
which had ceased to maintain Citron des Carmes
in health. Other Pear trees commencing to canker
were treated by the orthodox, but costly method of
digging out trenches round them, which were filled
with fresh soil, with the effect of temporarily
renewing health and growth, but after a time the
fresh soil in turn became exhausted, and the disease
returned ; this confirms the statement that canker
is a disease of malnutrition. A large number of
Apple trees, through canker increasing from year to
year, had become eyesores, and were last year
marked for destruction ; when in the course of
studies on the composition of plants and the effects
of artificial manures, the composition of the ash
of the Apple tree and its fruit came under notice,
and it was observed that it contained an unusually
large proportion of soda and lime. This suggested
the idea that the deficient element in the soil which
caused so much canker might be either soda or
lime. This idea was confirmed by observation of
the exceptionally healthy growth and beauty of the
fruit of three Apple trees, which far surpassed that
of any others in the same garden. These three
wore growing on the edge of an Asparagus bed,
which had been freely top-dressed with an artificial
manure, containing, among other ingredients, soda
and lime. In consequence of the idea, it was
decided, instead of destroying the cankered trees,
to give them and all the other Apple trees in the
garden, 140 in number, a top-dressing with a
manure consisting of
Calcic superphosphate ... 35 lbs.
Potassic nitrate . . . . 21 ,,
Sodic nitrate . . . . 23 ,,
Calcic sulphate .... 28 ,,
in the proportion of a quarter of a pound to the
square yard. The dressing was given during the
winter, and now the whole of the trees have been
repeatedly and carefully examined, and not a trace
of active canker can be found on one of them, only
the soars of old wounds, with the bark granulating
and growing on their edges, and the trees have
made healthy, new growth. This still further
proves that canker is the consequence of malnutri-
tion, and if the elements required for the perfect
growth of the plant are within reach of its roots it
will not suffer from this fatal disease. It may be
objected that this season is abnormal, and that
some of the supposed causes of canker, such as
cold and wet at the roots, are in abeyance. But
inquiries have been made as to the condition of
Apple trees in the neighbourhood in a better soil
than that above referred to, and it has been ascer-
tained that there canker is as rife as ever.
An excellent fertOiser for fruit trees generally is
Ville's No. 4 normal manure, consisting of
Calcic superphosphate ... 12 parts
Potassic nitrate .... 10 ,,
Calcic sulphate .... S ,,
to which, for Apple trees, should be added, with a
top-dressing of lime,
Sodic chloride (common salt) . 6 parts
to be applied at the rate of a quarter of a pound to
a square yard, and repeated at intervals of a year
or more, as the growth, or rather the deficiency of
growth, indicates. Edmund Tonks.
Paeltwood, Knowle.
Rivers' Orange Nectarine. — This beautiful
variety is well suited for those who delight in rich
colouring. It is certamly one of the handsomest of
fruits, and, unlike many others of showy exterior,
it is of first-rate quality when fully ripe, being very
rich and sugary. With us it is a most prolific kind.
In a cool orchard house it has supplied us with a
lengthened gathering of fruit owing to the long
time it took for them to ripen from the top and
hottest part of the house down to the base, where
the tree received but little sunshine. A gentle-
man admiring this tree wdien full of fruit said
he should like to have a house planted with this
variety alone. It has large showy blossoms, and in
autumn the rich colour of the fruit peeping out
from dark glossy foliage is a pretty combination of
useful and beautiful qualities. — J. G. H.
American Blackberries. — Permit me to en-
dorse Mr. Culverwell's estimate of the worthless
character of these as stated on p. 2HG. I have,
however, fared much worse than he, as the Lawton
and other largely illustrated varieties have refused to
grow to any useful purpose. As a rule, they seem
mere impostors in our climate, and the money in-
vested in and the space devoted to them have been
thrown away. Had half the attention been bestowed
on selecting the finer strains of our own Blackberries
and cultivating them on better soil, doubtless the
results would have been far more satisfactory. On
fair soils and without culture not a few of these are
greatly prized alike for eating rawand preserving. In
regard to the latter, I have known more than one
mansion where Blackberry jam has been preferred
to all others, including even Green Gage and Apricot,
whilst for tarts and puddings Blackberries are
simply perfection to those who know how to cook and
eat them. It is high time to speak out against the
impostors and do more and better for our own native
fruits. Only thus are we likely to get pleasure and
profit out of Blackberries in these hard times. I
trust that we shall hear more of Mr. Culverwell's
cross between the American Blackberries and the
Baumforth Seedling Raspberry. Shculd these give
Oct. 15, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
341
ns a Easpberry equal in quality to this best of all,
and of the size of the American Blackberries, then
shall we forgive the latter for all the worry and dis-
appointment they have caused so many British
cultivators. This is just possible, as, so far as I re-
member, the late Mr. T. Rivers believed that his
black Raspberry, which, however, never became
popular, was about half a Blackberry. — Hortus.
AUGUST PEARS.
Those varieties that are in season in August are
not cultivated very largely, and this is not sur-
prising, as in this month we have many kinds
of fruits that are thought more of than even
luscious Pears. There is, however, another
reason, and that is, with few exceptions the
fruits are small and soon over, though when
gathered and eaten at the proper stage they want
none of those qualities which make up a de-
licious sugary Pear. But there are those wlio
Jargonelle. — This is a popular early variety,
the fruits of large size, with the skin of a yellowish
hue, enlivened with a flush of reddish brown on the
sunny side. The flesh is sweet, melting, and juicy,
and the flavour pleasant, with a faint trace of musk.
This tree does well as a standard, as it is a free
grower, the branches being long and straggling. It
will not succeed as a pyramid, but does well against
a wall, and in a warm, sheltered position the fruits
attain a large size. It requires root-pruning occa-
sionally to check its vigorous growth. Where there is
not space for Citron des Carmes and Doyenne d'Et^
this tree should certainly be cultivated, as it pos-
sesses splendid qualities, and a ripe, juicy Pear in
August is a delicacy appreciated by all who can
enjoy delicious fruit.
Souvenir du Consres. — This handsome Pear
ripens at the end of August, and though not so
popular as Williams' Bon Chretien, which it re-
sembles, is a desirable variety.
Williams' Bon Chretien. — This is perhaps the
Citron des Carmes Pear.
require and appreciate early varieties, and the
most popular with them are the following, all
of which possess good qualities : —
Citron des Caemes, represented in the annexed
cut, is a well-known variety, ripe at the end of
July and August, and a most delicious Pear. The
fruit is very small, obovate in form, and with a
smooth green skin that assumes as the fruits ripen
a yellowish tinge, whOe they are borne together in
small clusters. The flavour is very sweet and
agreeable ; the flesh yellowish white and juicy.
This tree makes a handsome pyramid, and may also
be grown as a standard.
Doyenne d'Etb is another fine early variety
sometimes catalogued as Summer Doyenne. The
fruit, when eaten in the proper stage, is of delicious
quality, but unless picked before fully ripe is very
second rate. Like those of Citron des Carmes, the
fruits are unfortunately of small size, the form
roundish and neat, and the colour a fine yellow-
green, which becomes of a clear yellow as the fruit
attains maturity. It makes a good pyramid or
standard, and bears well.
best known of all varieties, and is largely grown in
the orchards round London. It comes in late in
August, and has a short season, though we find so-
called WOliams' on the barrows long after the fruits
of the real variety are over. A good many varieties
go under the name of this famous Pear, and are
palmed off on unwary customers. The tree makes a
good standard, pyramid, or espalier. The flavour is
rich, melting, sweet, and delicious, though some
object to the musky aroma. E. C.
Deux Sceurs Pear. — There are several flne
Pears only found in gardens where fruit culture
forms a speciality, and this is a variety that deserves
to be largely grown, though it is comparatively un-
known. It is a constant bearer and carries hand-
some fruits of oblong shape and above medium size.
The skin is smooth and yellow, the flesh white,
melting, and juicy, and with an aroma character-
istic of Marie Louise and Williams' Bon Chretien.
We saw a handsome tree at Devonhurst, Chiswick,
; and Mr. Wright, the head gardener, told me it
' never failed to carry a crop. It is in season at the
end of October, and would prove of value for the
market. — E. C.
FRUITS UNDER GLASS.
Pines. — If the final arrangement of the fruiting
plants for the winter has not yet been made no time
must be lost, as October is passing away and winter
will soon be upon us. I have often pointed out the
advisability of making a complete clearance of
plunging material, and thorough cleansing once at
least in the year. Springtime is out of the question,
but early autumn, when nearly all the summer fruit
has been cut, oSers every facility for Ihis work.
Assuming, then, that war has been levied upon im-
purities and insect pests, and the bottom-heat beds
are satisfactory, the latter must be very closely
watched, as a return to sharp firing sometimes
raises the temperature several degrees in the course
of a few hours. If, on the other hand, this work
has not been carried out, better late than never.
Advantage may stiU be taken of favourable weather
for putting, say, the first house in order, then the
second, and so on until all the plants at least in
fruiting pots are accommodated. Where plants,
especially Queens, are still settling slowly to compara-
tive rest in a bottom heat ranging from 75° to 80° a
sudden check must be avoided by continuing a
little longer the supply of guano water to the roots,
damping the floors on bright days, and the admis-
sion of air for a few hours whenever fire and solar
heat combined will allow. If November is con-
sidered early enough to transfer the first batch of
Queens to the newly prepared beds, the latter, be they
formed of tan or leaves, should be mild and steady,
and possibly slightly on' the dry side, as moisture can
always be supplied when a rise in the bottom heat is
wanted. The plants most likely to start having
been selected, it will be necessary to firm the soil
about the stems with the potting stick, and pack
them with a few pieces of fresh turf, not only to
keep them steady, but also to catch the stem roots
and to throw moisture outwards to the sides of the
pots. As this move will be the last until after the
fruit is cut and dark days are upon us, the Pines can-
not be placed too near the glass, provided the points
of the leaves do not touch it. Some place them
much closer than they have been growingthrough the
summer, arguing that the remainder of their life
will be confined to the production of fruit ; but thgre
is another matter to be considered, and that is the
supply of suckers. A drawn sucker never makes a
good plant, and for this reason alone the crowding
of the stock in any stage should never be counten-
anced. Another disadvantage attends crowding,
and that is the inability to examine the pots in the
centre rows after they are plunged, where, if any-
where, the bed is most likely to become too hot or
heat to a condition of dryness. Few private families,
now require a great number of Pines, but, like all
other fruits, they wish them to be good, and the
only way to secure quality is by the admission of
plenty of light and air.
Late and winter-fruiting plants, so long as the
weather continues fine and mild, wiU make fair
progress in a night temperature of 70°, with a rise
of 10° to 15° by day, and, provided the house or pit
is not too high or inconvenient, much dry fire-heat
may be saved by covering the whole or a portion of
the roof through the night. Atmospheric moisture,
as a matter of course, must be in proportion to the
amount of heat and light, and as the former can
be secured by syringing the paths and walls and
over the surface of the bed, the baneful practice
of overhead syringing will not be requisite. As the
fruit shows signs of changing colour, Cayennes
and Rothschilds, the two varieties principally
grown, may be lifted out and placed in a drier
place to ripen. When quite ripe the Cayenne will
keep for several weeks if cut and hung up in a
temperate, airy room.
Successions and suckers which it is desirable to
keep moving forwards through the winter, like well-
managed fruiters, cannot in reason have too much
room, neither can they be kept too close to the
glass so long as the points of the leaves do not
actually touch it. In order to carry out winter
342
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 15, 1887.
growth successfully, and find in the spring that
size has not been obtained at the expense of
stamina, the pits should be clean, light, and bright ;
they should be accessible in bad weather, and a
body of fermenting material that will not soon
decline should be provided. Good tan, where it
can be obtained, is generally considered best for
this work, but well-harvested Oak leaves that have
been kept dry are a host in themselves, as the
warmth and moisture, which in a decaying state
they give off, are alike acceptable to the roots and
leaves of the plants, when for weeks together
syringing is impracticable.
Compost. — Without good turf of a fibry nature
and not too heavy, peat, and other correctives, the
attempt to grow Pines is worse than useless. The
first on some estates is fairly plentiful; the second
is not always attainable, neither is it absolutely
necessary. Still, many good Pine growers, especi-
ally where the loam is heavy or soon loses its fibre,
admit that a moiety of peat is acceptable. The
past summer has been much too dry for getting
turf in good condition ; consequently stocks in manj
soil yards until recently have ebbed lower than
usual. Now, however, is a good time for cutting
and storing, and although still on the dry side the
5 inches of rain which have fallen since the drought
broke up has greatly improved its condition for
immediate or future use. Quality being of more
consequence than quantity, sods not more than
2 inches in thickness are preferred, and these,
according to the nature of the fibre, may or may
not be improved by lying for some months before
the loam is fit for use. Tough, fibry turf which
wears for a year or two is often improved by lying
in an open-air stack capped with cow manure for
that length of time, whilst turf, which loses its
fibre in a few months, keeps best in an open shed
or otherwise protected from wet, and then it should
be used quickly. The potting of Pines having been
disposed of for the remainder of this season, suffi-
cient of the new turf for spring use, just now in
good condition, should be placed under cover : the
remainder may be stacked in long, narrow ridges
and thatched to throw off rain and snow through
the winter and keep in moisture during the
summer. All soils are improved by exposure to
frost, and for this reason long, narrow ridges are
better than solid cubes, which are apt to heat or,
becoming too wet, turn sour.
Vines.
The work in vineries just now is light, the prin-
cipal operations being root-lifting, renovating, and
top-dressing. The weather, so far, has been all
that can be desired for working amongst the roots,
for mixing and getting in fresh compost, and the
Vines, where they have the run of internal and ex-
-ternal borders, are in proper condition for under-
going one or all of these operations. Here, as in the
open garden, as I have lately observed, the only
drawback is insufficient moisture. Vine borders,
we all know, should never be dry, but this has been
a most trying season even where water is plentiful.
Should the roots be found in a dry condition the
work should be deferred for a few days until such
time as water from the hose can pass through the
bordtrs. Meantime the compost and fresh drain-
age can be prepared, as work of this kind once
commenced cannot be performed too quickly. When
the formation of new external borders is brought
to a close, the compost being on the dry side and
most likely warm, a moderate watering before the
final layer is laid on will do no harm, when a
good covering of fresh stable litter will make them
sate for the winter. Where top-dressing is still in
arrear, all inert soil and manure should be carefully
removed quite down to the young roots ]ireparatory
to the application of a good sowing of bone-dust,
unless the latter is mixed with the compost, which
need not be more than 2 inches in thickness. In
many gardens it is the practice to fill in all vacant
parts of the border area with fresh fermenting
leaves, and perhaps a little m.nnure, not only to
sthnulate the roots, but also to give the whole space
a finished appearance. In due time the roots find
their way into this decaying matter, and the "\'ines
enjoy the contents of their larder. Anxious to
leave well alone, the young beginner may be in-
clined to allow this leaf-mould to remain, but this
step, I must tell him, may lead to bad consequences.
A taste the first season may and does often put a
good finish on the fruit and wood, but on no account
should its removal with the mulching be neglected.
When taken out, roots being plentiful, the proper
course will be the addition of 1 foot or 2 feet of
new drainage, a partial forking down of the old
turf wall, and relaying the points in an equal width
of new compost. By this piecemeal system the
roots in course of time may be led out to the utmost
limit of the area ; the warm lining put in and taken
out every year will be found a good servant, and
decaying manure will never become a bad master.
Earhj Vines' intended for starting in November
should now be pruned and dressed or washed and
the house in perfect condition for closing. Old
Vines which have been forced for a number of years
may be tied up to the wires at once and have the
full benefit of perfect rest, also of fresh air, up to
the day fixed upon for syringing. Young ones, on
the other hand, should be suspended with their
points on a level with the front wires, and in that
position remain until all the lower buds have
started.
Pot Tines in a few places are still grown for
giving the earliest fruit, but the present value hardly
justifies devoting two houses to one crop of Grapes.
Still, where this plan is adopted, the canes should
now be shortened back to the proper length,
divested of all laterals, and dressed with styptic to
prevent bleeding. The pots as well as the canes
must then be well washed, the crock apertures
enlarged to make free drainage a certainty, when
the Vines may be placed in position for starting.
It will be necessary to top-dress with good loam
and a liberal dash of bone-dust, a compost pre-
ferable to manure at the outset, but this can best
be done after the pots are placed on their pedestals,
and the balls, in the event of their requiring it,
have been well watered.
Suevess'um Jioiises, in which the wood is now ripe,
but the foliage still hanging, cannot be kept too
cool and airy. If not wanted for plant store-
houses, the ventilators may be left wide open
by night and day, as "\'ines in a comparatively
dry state will stand very sharp frost, and start all
the better for a decided check to the sap. The
daily syringing of the foliage must not be continued,
but an occasional wash out with the hose will do no
harm, and an inch of water through the borders,
especially if freely drained, will be beneficial. It
is too much the practice to relax watering as soon
as the crop of fruit is cut — indeed, as scon as other
crops, exclusive of Grapes, are gatliered ; but this is
a great mistake, and never has it been more pal-
pable than in this season of drought and heat now
fast passing away. If we have a wet season, we do
not object to 30 inches of rain passing through the
borders. How many under glass it might be inte-
resting to learn, through no fault of the gardener,
liave been deprived of half this quantity simply
because he had not the water to give, and yet we
know that dryness at the roots is one of the most
common causes of shanking.
Zirfe riiteries. — If the Grapes in these have
coloured well and the wood is ripe, a gradual re-
duction of fire-heat will now be necessary. The
decline, as a matter of course, must be gradual, as
more or less artificial heat will be needful, especially
during the fall of the leaf. A temperature of 60°
by night and 70° with a circulation of air through
the day will improve the quality of the fruit and
keep out damp so long as the leaves are attached to
the Vines, but so soon as they are ofi: and cleared
away, 50° by night and 60" by day will be quite
high enough from the fall until the time arrives
for cutting. Internal borders should not require
more water, neither must they be allowed to become
dry, as Grapes, no matter how well they are ripened,
cannot be expected to retain their plumpness where
a proper degree of moisture is not secured — first, by
judicious watering on a bright, fine morning, and
second, by well covering with some dry, non-con-
ducting material. Where it can be obtained there
is nothing better than a thick layer of well-harvested
Bracken, which keeps down dust and gives the face
of the border a warm and comfortable appearance.
From this time forward it will be necessary to look
over the bunches occasionally for decaying and
other faulty berries. All that are not in every way
sound and perfect may as well be cut out first as
last, as no amount of skill will carry them through
December.
T/ie Grape room. — Although this structure for its
legitimate purpose will not be wanted for some time
to come, it should now be cleared and cleansed and
fired occasionally to keep damp out of the walls.
In many places this room is made a general dry-
store in summer, and, lacking other convenience, it
is not to be despised for storing and ripening up
Pears in the autumn. A good Grape room should
be dry, cool, and airy, not subject to sudden fluctua-
tions, and capable of resisting at least 20° of frost
without the aid of fire-heat. Thick, hollow walls, a
thatched or double roof, shuttered windows and a
dry ground-floor, with perfect ventilation, are the
main factors in the construction of a Grape, Apple,
or Pear store. W. C.
Stove and Greenhouse.
T. BAINES.
POLYGALAS.
The various species or varieties of Polygala that
find favour with cultivators are hardwooded
greenhouse plants. They belong to an ex-
tensive genus, the majority being indigenous
to the Cape of Good Hope, whilst a few
come from North America and Australia. The
flowers are Pea-shaped, the prevailing colour
being purple of various shades, and they are
borne freely on the extremities of the current
season's shoots. In former times several of the
leading kinds were much used by exhibitors of
stove and greenhouse plants, but latterly they
have given place to things that are more difficult
to grow, and consequently require more skill to
bring them out in good condition. But it is
more on account of the merits of the plants for
conservatory and greenhouse decoration that
they deserve attention at the hands of culti-
vators, especially as they grow quickly and
bloom very freely, so that with fair treatment
they soon attain a useful size. Another thing in
their favour is that they require little training,
a very few sticks and ties suiBcing to support
the long, slender branches, which look best
when allowed to droop naturally. There is still
another important feature of these plants, and
that is the colour of the flowers, which are of a
tint indispensable for giving the requisite eft'ect to
a collection of plauts in bloom. Unlike some of
the si:>ecies and varieties of hardwooded green-
house plants, Polygalas are not liable to get out
of condition. They are struck from cuttings
made of the .young shoots when the wood is not
too far matured. Cuttings in right condition may
generally be had in spring, or when the plants
have bloomed late were cut back afterwards,
the shoots will lie in a suitalile condition about
the end of summer. Put them an inch or two
apart in .'i-inch or (l-inch pots filled with sand ;
stand them wider propagating glasses, or in a
close frame in genial warmth, keeping them
moist and shaded when necessary. If the cut-
tings are put in at the last-named period, it may
lie well to allow them to remain in the pots they
are struck in until earl}- in spring. Such as are
struck in spring should be potted oft' as soon as
they are well rooted. In either case, put them
singly into small pots. In the matter of soil, Poly-
galas are not so particular as some things, as their
roots are not so tine and delicate in character as
those of many of the hardwooded species. The
plants thrive either in loam or peat. The latter
gives a deeper tiat to the leaves. A fair amount
of sand must bo mixed with the soU. After pot-
Oct. 15, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
343
ting, keep the atmosphere close for two or three
weeks until the roots have begun to move freely.
An intermediate temperature is necessary until
the little plants have got fairly into growth,
when the tops must be pinched out. Unless
this is attended to early, the plants will be
leggy. To correct tliis disposition to make
tall growth a second stopping will be necessary
about midsummer. Sj'ringe overhead daily in
the afternoons, and shade when the weather is
bright.
■ Young plants of Polygalas and other hard-
wooded greenhouse subjects should be placed
where they will get plenty of light, and during
the first season whilst in small pots they should
stand on a moist bottom, without which they
never thrive so freely, as the small quantity of
soil the pots contain dries so quickly. Small
stock of this description should, if possible during
the first season, be located in a small house or
pit that can be kept a little closer, and with
more moisture in the atmosphere than it would
be advisable to subject older plants to, as the
object with the former is to get a sturdy,
short- jointed growth ; whilst in the case of
older examples it is necessary to look to
the ripening of the wood with a view to the
production of flowers. As autumn comes on
give more air and cease shading and syringing.
Through the winter an ordinary greenhouse
temperature will be sufficient. These plants
will bear the soil keeping a little moister in
the growing season than in the case of some
of the moredelicate-rooted, hard-wooded species ;
in the winter less will be required.
Before the growth begins to move the shoots
must be cut back to within about 3 inches of
where they were last stopped to. This annual
cutting back is necessary with aU kinds of Poly-
galas, as they make long, somewhat loose growth,
which, if not out closely in, results in a thin,
stragglLcg plant. After cutting in they should
be stood where they can bo kept at a tempera-
ture of about 45° in the night. This will enable
them to break more quickly, and in this way
admit of more growth. The increased warmth
here advised is not absolutely necessary, but
where there is the means of giving it it is an
advantage. As soon as the plants have made
an inch or so of young growth they will require
a shift. Pots 3 inches or 4 inches larger will
not be too much, as they may now be expected
to grow apace. Treat as in the previous summer
in the matter of syringing, &c., with the addition
of more air than was advised for the preceding
season. About midsummer the whole of the
shoots must be stopped. This will cause them
to break double, by which means a more bushy
condition of the plants will be secured. The
branches should now be tied out, keeping the
strongest well down, thus equalising the strength
of the whole, as the weaker ones being left in a
more erect position will draw more support from
the roots. Treat subsequently through the
summer and autumn as advised for the preceding
season, and winter as before.
Again, previous to the growth beginning to
move much, cut back the shoots, this time
leaving about 6 inches of wood above the point
where they were stopped in summer ; after this
keep the plants a little warmer if means to do
so are at hand, and when the young shoots have
begun to move freely give larger pots. Use the
peat in a more lumpy state, mixing sufficient
sand with it to keep the whole in a porous
state, as the plants will not bear any shaking
out and renewal of the soil. The treatment
during the ensuing summer should be such as
recommended for the preceding, again stopping
the shoots about midsummer, at the same time
regulating the branches by keeping the strongest
tied well out. A little less shade will now be
required than when the plants were smaller, but
continue to use the syringe freely every after-
noon on the under as well as the upper surface
of the leaves, especially about the bottoms of
the plants, for these Polygalas, in common with
a good many other hard- wooded subjects, are
liable to the attacks of red spider, which, it left
undisturbed, quickly causes the leaves to turn
yellow.
The plants will be large enough to flower the
ensuing spring so as to be eflfective. To help
the ripening of the wood it will be necessary to
turn them out of doors at the beginning of
August. It will be well to stand them for a
week or so at first where they will not be
exposed to the full force of the sun in the
middle of the day, after which the foliage will
not be likely to suffer from its eftects. Here
they may remain for about six weeks, during
which time the syringing should be continued.
The winter treatment should be. the same as
hitherto. A few sticks and ties will be needed
to support the principal shoots, and preserve a
fairly uniform condition of the heads of the
plants. Polygalas flower in the spring, accord-
ing to the temperature they are kept in during
the winter and early spring. They will bear a
lower temperature than many hard-wooded
species, as they are not subject to mildew, the
attacks of which are much increased when the
plants it infests are kept too cold in winter and
spring.
The time of Polygalas blooming may be de-
layed until summer by pinching out the points
of the shoots early in spring before the flowers
have set ; treated in this way, a second growth
is made, which does not usually extend far be-
fore showing bloom. The flowers last in good
condition for several weeks. When the bloom-
ing is over the shoots must at once be cut back,
shortening them to a similar extent to that re-
commended each spring before the plants had
attained enough size to allow them to flower.
After this it will not be necessary to give them
more warmth than an ordinary greenhouse
affords, but the syringe should be used to help
them to break, when they will again require
larger pots. This operation of repotting will be
necessary every second year until they have as
much root room as it is desii'able to give theni ;
manure water, or some other stimulant, will
greatly assist them from the time they cease to
have a shift every year. In fact, with these
plants, as with nearly all that are grown in pots,
assistance of this kind becomes a necessity if
anything like a vigorous healthy condition is to
be maintained. The three sorts of Polygala
that are best worth growing are P. Dal-
maisiana, a hybrid ; P. oppositifolia ; and P.
acuminata ; these will be found sufficient for
ordinary use whether required for exhibition,
or for conservatory or greeuliouse decoration.
P. Dalmaisiana is the strongest and most
robust grower, and altogether the most desir-
able sort.
being light green and the flowers white ; and B.'
Saundcvsi, which has red flowers and leaves edged'
with scarlet ; it appears to be a rather stvagglmg'
grower. — E. C.
Begonias. — In the Paston house in the Royal
Horticultural Gardens at Chiswick there are several
Begonias in bloom, which are, by reason of their
excellent habit and freedom of flowering, very use-
ful for pots. The best varieties were the well-known
B. semperflorens, B. Bruanti, which has light green
leafage and white flower.;, with a tinge of pink; B.
Cairieri, dense habit, dark green leafage, and white
flowers ; B. Princess Beatrice, noted in The Gar-
den, Sept. 24 (p. 307) ; B. Smithi, deep green hairy
leaves and small pinky white flowers ; B. Eichardsi-
ana — flowers pure white and freely produced ; B.
validissima, a variety of dense growth, the leafage
AMARYLLIDS NOT FLOWERING.
Will any reader kindly give me a few hints on the
culture of the Amaryllis, with which I have been
very unsuccessful ? The bulbs seem firm and good,
but still I find it impossible to obtain flowers. Last
year they were kept in a vinery and did not do any
good. This season they were again kept there after
having been potted in pure leaf-mould. During the
summer they were placed in a cold frame, and in the
month of September kept in a greenhouse close
up to the glass. Some have lost all their leaves,
while others are quite green. Would it do to winter
them in a cold frame, or would they be better on
the top shelf of my greenhouse, where there is a
little heat during the winter ? Is it essential that
Amaryllids be started in bottom-heat, or can I
manage to flower them in my greenhouse ? —
Macedon.
*^* When these plants are cultivated by amateurs
who have but little knowledge of hothouse plants
they often fail to do well, owing perhaps to the
neglect of some very small details in their culture.
In this case the bulbs had been potted in pure leaf-
mould, and they were grown in a vinery. Mealy
bug had also got upon the plants and established
themselves in the loose material at the crowns.
In the first place, I would object to the potting
material. Leaf-mould by itself is not good for any-
thing. The best potting soil is three or four parts
loam, one part leaf-mould, and one part decayed
manure, with a sprinkling of sharp sand. A little
fibrous peat is a good material to add to the com-
post if leaf-mould cannot be obtained. I have been
very successful in flowering Amaryllids in a mixture
of loam, decayed manure, and sand only.
In the second place, the general treatment com-
prises a season of rest of a very decided character
and a season of growth. During the resting period
the bull-is must be kept quite dry ; mine have not
been watered for a mofith past, nor will they receive
any until about three weeks or more after they have
been repotted in January, I always plunge the
pots containing the bulbs in a tan bed where there
is a nice bottom-heat of about 85°. Unless
Amaryllids have a gentle bottom-heat to start the
roots into growth after repotting, a larger proportion
will produce the flowers without the leaves. A
better effect is produced when flowers and leaves
come up simultaneously. When fresh roots have
been formed after repotting, and the compost be-
comes too dry, water may be applied, using it of
the same temperature as the material in which the
pots have been plunged. Water must be used very
sparingly, and not at all until it is really needed.
Although the Amaryllis succeeds best when a bot-
tom-heat can be obtained, this is not absolutely
necessary, as they may be placed in any hothouse
or in a vinery. Start them at the same time as the
Vines either in January or February, and as the
temperature is increased for the Vines it is exactly
what the Amaryllids require. By the time the Vines
have grown sufficiently to cover the roof the plants
underneath will require some shade, as many of
them will be in flower. They may be removed to a
warm greenhouse, where the flowers will last longer
than they would in a warm, moist atmosphere. The
flowering period extends through the months of
March and April, but the plants will grow freely in
a warm house until the end of July, when the bulbs
ripen and the plants pass into a season of rest
again.— J. DOUGLAS.
Oleanders. — It is strange that these beautiful
flowering shrubs have never become popular in this
country, yet for large conservatories and such struc-
tures they are extremely useful, not only from the
beauty of their flowers, but also from the succession
that is maintained. Their culture is very simple, as
they succeed well under much the same conditions
as Camellias, but, unlike those popular plants, the
344
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 15, 1887.
Oleanders can be easily propagated by means of
cuttings, so that no grafting is necessary. Cuttings
of the young Oleander shoots will root in bottles of
water, in saucers of sand kept wet, and also if put
in as ordinary cuttings in pots of soil. This last
plan possesses one great advantage, inasmuch as
the roots that are formed in water or in wet sand
are so fragile that it is a difficult matter to pot them
without injuring them, while those that form roots
in soil are far less liable to be broken in potting.
As these Oleanders are apt to grow straggling during
their earlier stages, they should be freely stopped
when young if it is desired to encourage a bushy
habit of growth. — T.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Htacinths. — The large-flowered varieties of Hya^
ointh should now be potted, as unless the bulbs
have time to make plenty of roots before being put
into heat they will not succeed well. Even where
very early flowers are not wanted it is much better
to pot in good time, as Hyacinths, in common with
aU other bulbs, suffer through being kept out of the
soil after the proper time. This favourite flower is
now more simply treated than in the days when the
exceptionally deep, narrow pots that the bulbs were
grown in were looked upon as necessities. Like most
bulbous plants. Hyacinths are deep rooters, pushing
their roots naturally far down in the soil, and in
the process of preparing the plants for blooming
a deep root-run is no doubt an advantage. But in
the growth they make immediately previous to
their flowering this is quite unnecessary, provided
the roots are sufficiently supplied with nutriment
and never want for water. This is fully exemplified
by the practice of the most successful growers for
exhibition who use ordinary pots comparatively
small in size, and also by the market growers whose
Hyacinths are remarkable for the size and evenness
of the spikes they bear in small pots. Quality more
than quantity is the chief essential ; the soil should
consist of the best fresh loam, well enriched with
rotten manure, and with enough sand added to
allow the water to pass freely through it. The
loam and manure are best when mixed and laid to-
gether for some months in the way practised by
Pelargonium growers who make a specialty of the
large-flowered and fancy varieties. But where pro-
vision of this kind has not been made, the manure
must be incorporated with the loam at the time of
potting. It should be rotten and have been well ex-
posed so as to become sufficiently dry. When manure
is added to the soil immediately before using, it is
best to pass it through a sieve, as when reduced to
a fine state it can be more evenly mixed with the
soil than when it is at all lumpy. To the un-
observant this even distribution of the manure
through the soil may not appear of much moment,
but with plants of this description that make
quick growth it is essential that the roots as they
extend are from the first continuously well fed.
After potting the bulbs are best plunged out of
doors. The mistake that private growers of Hya-
cinths often make is in cultivating too many varie-
ties, many of which are not sufficiently decided in
colour to be effective, and will not yield flowers
equal to those produced by the best sorts, on which
it is much better to depend.
To come in early the following half dozen may
be relied on as unsurpassed ; they are all single
sorts, which, from their general superiority to the
double ones, threaten to wholly supplant them : La
Prficoce, pure white ; Blanchard, pure white ; Grand
Vainquer, white ; Homerus, red ; Charles Dickens,
blue ; Orondatns, porcelain blue. For later bloom-
ing the undermentioned are desirable in every way :
General Pelissier, light blue ; King of the Blues, dark
blue ; Lord Derby, light blue ; Grand Lilas, light
blue ; Lord Macaulay, red ; Gertrude, red ; Prince
of Orange, pink ; and Sultan's Favourite, delicate
rose. The white sorts named in the earliest set are
equally suitable for later work. However large the
quantity grown, I would much rather confine the
varieties to something like those named than crowd
the list in the way that is often done.
Polyanthus Naecissus and bablt Tulips. —
The single and double-flowered varieties of Poly-
anthus Narcissus should now be potted, giving them
soil of a like description to that recommended for
the Hyacinths. Three bulbs will do well in a 6-inch
pot, plunging the pots out of doors in the same way
as the Hyacinths, in all cases putting a sufficient
depth, say 3 inches or 4 inches, of the plunging
material over the pots to prevent the bulbs rising
out of the soil in the way they frequently do when
this precaution is not taken. Tulips should be
treated in like manner.
Crocuses, Snowdrops, and Scillas.— The
large-flowered and most distinct coloured varieties
of Crocus, of which there are now plenty to select
from, should likewise be potted. Half a dozen
corms will do in a 6-inch pot. It is not well to
crowd them together in the way that is sometimes
done, which is wasteful, as it prevents the young
corms that are produced after the plants have
flowered attaining a useful size for planting out of
doors. See that the Crocuses are put deep enough
in the pots. Snowdrops and Scillas are very effec-
tive when mixed together in the pots in equal pro-
portion. For growing in this way nothing but
large-sized roots should be used, particularly of the
ScSlas, as the larger they are the better they will
flower.
Narcissus. — The early-flowering varieties of
Narcissus poeticus and most of the Daffodils,
single and double, are now largely used for pot
culture, and deservedly so, as they answer
perfectly for this system of cultivation. N
poeticus, especially the variety ornatus, is one of
the best of all bulbs for early forcing, as it comes
into bloom early in January and February when
brought on in heat. Not the least of the merits of
the early section of Narcissus is that the bulbs cost
little as compared with those of the Hyacinth, and
the flowers are more useful for cutting. And, in
addition, the bulbs of the Narcissus, with ordinary
attention after they have flowered, do well when
planted out of doors; whereas the Hyacinths,
though they wOl live and flower outside after they
have been forced, are so far inferior to newly-
imported bulbs that very few care for them. It is
not well to crowd the bulbs of Narcissus of any
kind too closely in the pots, but in most cases three
roots may be put in a 6-inch pot. The large-
flowered, trumpet-shaped Daffodils are equally fine
when grown in pots, particularly the bi-coloured
sorts, of which bicolor Empress and Horsfieldi may
be taken as leading representatives. These splendid
varieties, especially the former, bear moderate
forcing weU, but as the roots are valuable it is best
not to hurry them too much, as it naturally tends to
weaken them, and consequently they take longer
to recover. If not over-forced the bulbs wiU be
little worse for a season of pot culture, neither will
it interfere seriously with their powers of increasing
afterwards. Pot them now, and treat subsequently
as advised for the different kinds of bulbs already
mentioned. The large, double-flowered Daffodils do
well in pots, and they afford an acceptable contrast
to the smaller-flowered sorts, whilst the flowers of
the double white form of N. poeticus are nearly
equal in appearance to Gardenias, and the former
will last three times as long as those of the latter.
All the larger-bloomed section of Narcissus that
have plenty of substance in the flowers are invalu-
able for cutting, as they stand well. By having a
sufficient number of the early and the later bloom-
ing varieties a succession of flowers may be kept up
for three months during the dull, winter season
until they come in out of doors. In this way a
desirable succession may be had for nearly six
months.
flower aU the year round by giving small batches in
succession the rest which will induce flowering.
This requires a certain amount of watchfulness, but
the attention is well repaid by having something
like a continuous supply sufficient to meut the de-
mand. Plants that bloomed in spring or early in
summer, and have since made good growth in a
warm house, may now be moved to somewhat
cooler quarters, drafting a few at a time at inter-
vals of a fortnight or three weeks, previous to which
it is well to let the soil become nearly dry. I should
not by any means, especially at this time of the
year when the temperature is regularly declining,
advise the plants being stood in a cool house, not
even for a short period. Much mischief has been
done through resting this Eucharis by keeping it
too cool. What it requires is a slight reduction of
heat, with the roots kept as dry as they will bear
without causing the leaves to flag. Five or six
weeks of this treatment will generally cause the
production of bloom when the plants are again
moved to where they will have a brisk heat. In
this way a crop of flowers may be obtained at the
beginning of the new year, at which time they are
very acceptable. Respecting the other kinds of
Eucharis that have made their appearance in recent
years, they have turned out disappointing, for,
although the flowers are pretty, the plants do not
appear to thrive like the old species, and the flowers
have not so far been produced in such quantities.
T.B.
Stove. — Eucharis amazonica. — To some ex-
tent the time of flowering with this plant may be
regulated by the treatment it receives, yet this can-
not be calculated on with the amount of certainty
that applies to many things, especially if the plants
are kept continuously in a stove temperature. In
this case they either frequently throw up a crop of
flowers when not wanted, or keep on grovring in-
stead of blooming at the desired time. Where there
is a large stock of the plant, such, for instance, as
requires a small house or pit principally devoted to
it, there is not very much difficulty in having it in
Garden Flora.
PLATE 618.
WOOD WINDFLOWERS.
(with a coloured plate op large white and
Robinson's blue.*)
Scarcely any other genus of hardy plants con-
tributes in such a striking way to the adorn-
ment of onr gardens in spring, summer, and
autumn as that formed by the Windflowers.
Apennine Windflower (A. apennina).
They begin to bloom with A. blanda about
Christmas, and end with the Japanese Anemone
(A. japonica) and its varieties without a single
break during this long season. It is to the
spring section, however, and to the nemorosa
group in particular, that we wish to draw atten-
tion. Illustrations of two of the best in this
group will be found on the accompanying plate.
Travellers never seem to tire of recounting the
beauty of the Windflowers in the Riviera,
passing over the quiet beauty of our own native
kinds as unworthy of notice altogether, although
in my opinion they are equally beautiful, and
* Drawn for The Garden at Munstead, Godalming,
by H. G. Moon, May 2, 1887, and printed by G.
SevereyuB.
FORMS OF TFIE WOOD WINDFLOWERF ANEMONE NEMOP.OSA.)
LARGE WHITE AtTO ROBINSON'?; BLUE.
Oct. 15, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
345
certainly easier to manage. Robinson's Blue has
been frequently noticed in The Garden, and
even yet is not so often met with as it ought to
be. It is easily managed, and the marvellous
beauty of a well-grown group is not equalled by
any other hardy plant I know.
The following embrace the group Anemo-
nanthe : —
Apennine Windflowbk (A. apennina). — Al-
though this species, which is well represented
in the accompanying cut, has found a place in
most works on British plants, it is not a true
tinct from our native wood Anemone, and with a
tint that harmonises so well with it if planted to-
gether, that its adoption as a subject for naturalising
in our woods, &c., should only be a question of time
now that it has become so plentiful in the trade.
It is also a most useful plant for edging shrubberies
and planting underneath deciduous trees in the
open ; it is readily increased by division.
Wintee Windplowbr (A. blanda). — One of
the most beautiful as well as the most useful
of our alpine Windflowers, almost formiug a
connecting link between the late autumn and early
spring-flowering kinds. A. japonica has barely
Anemone Robinsoniana (Robinson's Blue).
native of our island. It has, however, been
naturalised in various plantations in difEerent
parts of this country, and though a native of
sunny Italy and Turkey, it seems to stand our
severe winters fairly well, vieing with our own
native species in the adornment of our wilds.
The flowers are of the most lovely sky-blue, star-
like, and produced in such abundance as to make a
rare display in March and AprU. It is a welcome
sight in the rock garden in early spring, the flowers
being of such substance as to stand a considerable
amount of rough weather unharmed. It is so dis-
settled in its winter quarters, when, like the Snow,
drop, this charming flower forces its way through
the hard ground. It is not unusual to see many of
its flowers open and bright as early as Christmas,
and it keeps on blooming until the flowers of its
near relative of the Apennines appear in March.
Such a rare flower should not fail to find a place in
every collection of hardy plants, and though not so
robust or quickly increased as the others, it has a
hardy constitution, and stands our climate well.
The leaves axe of a firmer or more leathery texture,
and scarcely suffer from the cold, cutting east winds,
It differs from A. apennina chiefly in its deeper
blue flowers and slightly broader rays, and also in
the carpels being topped with a black-pointed style.
Owing to its earlier flowering, it does well on a
sheltered spot of the rookery. Native of Greece.
The Wood Windflowee (A. nemorosa).—
Although a native of our own and indeed every
other country in Europe, and found growing
under almost every condition in a wild state, it
is surprising how seldom it is met with in ordinary
gardens in the neighbourhood of London, yet it is
plentiful in the woods and copses close by. No
Windflower is easier to cultivate than this one. It
seems to do equally well in either a sunny or shady
position, or in a bed or border, and for grace and
beauty it is far superior to any of the Pulsatilla
section so much thought of. By the woodland walk
few sights are more pleasant than this pretty Wind-
flower dotted here and there among the turf, or
edging large shrubberies in the pleasure ground.
When once fairly established it is well able to take
care of itself. Among the numerous varieties of
A. nemorosa, the large white represented in the
accompanying plate is certainly the most worthy of
attention ; the flowers are of good form, pure white,
and produced freely. A. n. bracteata fl.-pl, alba
fl.-pl., rubra fl.-pl., and the single kinds, together
with other minor forms, are those most generally
grown ; most of them may be had in quantity for
naturalising, and where space can be given to this
form of gardening, the results will well repay the
trouble.
Robinson's Windflowee (A. Robinsoniana). —
This, represented in the annexed engraving, is con-
sidered by botanists to be only a variety of the Wood
Windflower, which, indeed, it somewhat resembles,
although in many respects it is very distinct from
that species, and when the plants are grown side
by side the distinctions are more readily seen. To
me, however, it appears as distinct from A. nemo-
rosa as A. trifolia. It was found growing wild by
the gentleman whose name it bears, and, although
rare in a wild state now, it has happily gained such
a hold in our gardens that there is little fear of its
ever being lost. It is certainly a great acquisition,
and far superior to any of the numerous varieties
to which A. nemorosa has given rise. There is a
variety called csrulea which, I believe, is often
passed for Robinson's Windflower, but it is not to
be compared to it for beauty and distinctness of
character. In the former the flowers are smaller
and of a lighter blue, and the flower-stems are
much longer. Another form, apparently between
the two, is tinged with a reddish colour on the out-
side, and is also inferior to A. Robinsoniana. The
latter is seen at its best in a light, well drained,
but rich soil, fully exposed to the sun. In such a
situation the plants assume a dwarfer habit than
those of A. nemorosa, the large handsome blue
flowers, exquisite in form, and just rising above
the ample foliage, making a most lovely picture.
Although it has many advantages over A. nemorosa
and its varieties, the best of the latter should also
be grown near by. Robinson's Blue comes into
bloom later, and thus continues the flowering season
over a much longer period. I have no doubt that
could this plant be got in quantity it would make
a handsome addition to the wild garden if planted
in company with A. nemorosa and its varieties, the
only disadvantage a shady position has, being to
lengthen the flower-stalks. Great care should be
taken in digging near this plant ; the roots lie very
near the surface of the soil, and are so brittle as to
be very easily damaged. Like the other kinds, it
may be readily increased by division of the roots.
Yellow Wood Asemone (A. ranunculoides). —
This species somewhat resembles both the common
Wood and Apennine Windflowers in habit, but is per-
fectly distinct in its clear golden yellow flowers, and
certainly worthy of a place even in the most choice
selection of alpines. It abounds amongst the
mountains north of Mentone, Mount Ceppo, Mount
Bignone, near San Remo, &c., and though not so
free in growth or easily managed as apennina, blanda,
and other allied kinds, it does well when grown
into good established tufts on the rockery, where I
find it always succeeds best. It will not thrive on a
346
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 15, 1887.
heavy soil, and where such is the case lime rubbish
should be added to it. Our tufts are growing on
the east face of a rockery, on steep sloj^es, with a
few projecting stones to keep the soil up, and be-
hind which each tuft seems quite at home. It may
be increased by root-division. The variety pallida
of gardens has larger flowers than the above, and
of a pale or sulphur-yellow.
Thebe-leavbd Wood Anemone (A. tritolia). —
A pretty little species closely allied to A. nemorosa,
but distinguished readily from that species by its
very regular toothed leaves, while those of the other
are irregularly serrated and more like those oE the
yellow kind. Mr. Moggridge in his charming book
on the "Flora of Mentone" says this species re-
places our English Wood Anemone along the shore
from Remo to Genoa. A. nemorosa usually grows
higher up amongst the mountains, though he only
saw one small patch in the Vavena valley, near
Pegli. It grows so freely under cultivation and is
withal so neat, that it is well suited for naturalising
in_ our woods and plantations. It rarely exceeds
4 inches to 6 inches in height, and care should be
taken to choose a spot where the herbage is thin.
The flowers are about the same size as those of the
English kind, and are produced in April and May. I
have tried it in pots, and find it answers admirably
for verandahs and cool houses. D. K.
Flower Garden.
SINGLE DAHLIAS.
The crael frost has come and has cut off the
Dahlias, in many cases literally in the bud of their
days. AVhat with the cold spring, the hot summer,
the autumn gales, and the early frost, the jubilee
year will probably be remembered as the worst
Dahlia season on record, and of all classes none
have suffered more than the singles. The planting
had to be deferred until late owing to cold nights,
and then the long, burning drought set in, and the
plants, in spite of assiduous watering, never suc-
ceeded in making anything like a normal growth
until after the autumn rain. Even this came too
late for the majority, and though a few were attain-
ing their usual state of beauty just before the end,
hundreds of plants are now cut off without having
been able to flower at all. What will be the con-
dition for keeping of the tubers, whether of show.
Cactus, or single forms, which have been cut off in
the green lush state, which should have characterised
them in July rather than in October, is hardly more
pleasant to consider than the question of where
next year's seed is to come from.
It was a great disappointment that such an un-
genial season should have followed on the attempts
of the National Dahlia Society to encourage the
cultivation of the single Dahlias by the institution
of special and extra classes for them at the ex-
hibition at the Crystal Palace, where, however,
amateurs found it impossible to compete, and the
generality of the prejudicial effects of the drought
was further indicated by the fact, that in the lead-
ing class for nurserymen only one competitor was
able to exhibit. Some amateurs have, no doubt,
formerly been deterred from exhibiting single
Dahlias by the tedious nature of the process of
arranging them in the necessary bunches ; but all
trouble in this matter has now been removed by the
device of employing a light wire frame designed by
Mr. Ware's Dahlia foreman at Tottenham. This
simple and ingenious arrangement consists of a
strong central wire, with ten short flexible wires
attached, each terminating with a ring just large
enough to hold the calyx of the flower, whose stem
is then tied to the main wire at the base ; thus the
bunches, which formerly took an immense lime to
make, may now be arranged with the greatest
rapidity; buds and foliage can be easily tied in
wherever desired, and the finished bunch completely
conceals its supporting frame. ,
Of course in such an untoward season the exhlbi-
lion of new varieties, of which, perhaps, there is not
a large stock of plants, is rendered especially diffi-
cult, but some attractive additions have nevertheless
been seen. There appears to be a genuine improve-
ment in general character and habit of recent seed-
lings, and there are fewer coarse-leaved gigantic
growing plants among those selected. It is not a
bad plan for those who are disposed to preserve
flowers that are in any way distinct, however coarse
the plants, to resist temptation by pulling up all
seedlings that are unduly coarse and rough in habit
even before they bloom, since their preservation is
not the only undesirable point ; their influence is
sure to make itself felt in any seedlings raised from
their neighbourhood, for, owing to the incessant
industry of the bees among these flowers, bad habits
are catching, even amongst Dahlias. The worst
fault, however, in a single Dahlia, and one which un-
fortunately all raisers do not sufficiently set theirf aces
against, is that of having pendulous or weak-necked
flowers, for if the stems be not stiff enough (there
is no need for them to be thick — the thinner the
better) to hold the flowers erect, these are neither
ornamental on the plant nor of any value in the cut
state. It is very desirable that, with a view to the
exclusion of such flowers, the Royal and other horti-
cultural societies should insist, in the case of single
Dahlias brought before them for certificates, that
in addition to the usual bunch arranged for the dis-
play of the variety to the best advantage, there
should also be shown a few blooms un-wired, in
order that the committee may be convinced that
the stems are not weak-necked, but are sufficiently
stiff to carry the flowers erect. There is still a great
lack of good fancies, of which first-rate varieties do
not seem readily obtainable ; some French ones
were exhibited early in the season (although they
were shown again later under fresh English names,
a confusing proceeding which cannot be too much
deprecated), but they are quite worthless, owing to
the hopeless roughness of the flowers, whose petals
are almost quilled.
The work has gone on of raising the dwarf varie-
ties, of which mention was made last year, and of
which there is now quite a family. These are not
plants of the gracilis type, with long-stemmed, star-
shaped flowers, such as those raised by the late Mr.
Thomas Moore, but make little round bushes from
6 inches to 9 inches high, which are covered with
moderate-sized flowers, perfectly erect, though car-
ried but a few inches above the foliage, and of the
usual circular exhibition type. A good white is still
lacking, but there are good varieties with scarlet,
orange, crimson, dark maroon, and bright yellow-
coloured flowers, and it is hoped that soon all the
leading shades will be obtained. A second strain,
averaging from 18 inches to 2 feet in height, has
also been preserved, and, in fact, most of the more
recent seedlings are dwarf er in habit than formerly ;
thus Maude Millett (first-class certificate. Royal
Horticultural Society, and at the Aquarium show),
Sunningdale Yellow, and Snowflake of this year
are none of them more than two-thirds the height
of Marion Hood, an 1S81 seedling.
The mention of Maude Millett recalls an instance
of the powers of endurance of these flowers in the
cut state which it may interest some of those who
are never tired of inveighing against the single
Dahlia's fugitive nat\ire to put on record. Three
bunches of blooms were cut on Monday morning
and staged during the day, went by train to London,
and on a four-wheeled cab to South Kensington,
where they were exhibited all day on Tuesday;
thence Mr. Pearce kindly undertook to convey the
box to the Aquarium the following day, but this in-
volved its going down to Tottenham in the evening
and back to London on Wednesday, and that it was
not handled with special care with a view to the
preservation of its contents may be inferred from
the fact that the men who had charge of it were
under the impression that it was an "empty."
Nevertheles.s, on its arrival at the Aquarium not a
bloom was found to liave shattered, and by replacing
two flowers, of which one had had its head broken
(iff and the other had been rubbed in travelling, it
was found possible again to stage the same identi-
cal three bunches in such good condition, in spite
of their wanderings by rail and road, that again a
first-class certificate was awarded.
Of the varieties bo.^t woith growing, Amos Perry |
is undoubtedly the handsomest of the dark flowers
with a crimson edge, and in its dwarfer and more
bushy habit, as well in both form and colour of its
blossoms, it is an immense improvement on Para-
gon. Enchantment is well named, and is to many
people the most exquisite single Dahlia yet raised;
the habit of the plant is good, not dwarf, but
branching and bushy; it is exceptionally free-
flowering, and every bloom is perfect in form, well -
displayed on the plant, and of a unique and charm-
ing soft, yet bright Chinese red colour, with a clear ■
lemon ring round the golden disc. Mr. Kennett is
still the one first-rate fancy, good in habit and form,
very free and constant, and having bright yellow
flowers evenly striped and flaked with rich crimson.
Maude Millett is also a most perfectly formed
flower and very distinct, the disc being surrounded
by a ring of white, the outer halt of the petals being
bright rosy pink, while the plant is very free-flower-
ing and dwarf in habit, not exceeding 2^^ feet in
height. Walter Ware is not yet surpassed as a
dark self for dwarfness of "habit, freedom of
bloom, and for the erect and effective way in which
it carries its numerous beautifully smooth maroon
or brownish crimson flowers. Mrs. Ferguson was
considered the best yellow, but this year Sunning-
dale Yellow has far surpassed it, being almost
exactly similar to Maude Millett in form and habit,
only differing in being a pure yellow self in colour.
Formosa and Evening Star are two beautiful, very
smooth velvety crimsons, of admiralale form;
Marion Hood remains the only pure pink (without
any lilac shade). Chilwell Beauty is the most dis-
tinct of single Dahlias, with its orange-scarlet-
edged flowers, which ne\"ertheless lack finish and
do not seem to harmonise very readily with other
colours. Marie Linden is the most refined and
constant of the bright crimson flowers with a lighter
edge, and has graceful foliage and habit in place of
the coarse growth of former varieties. Beauty of
Uplands is a very distinct and telling scarlet with a
golden tip to each of its petals, whose form, how-
ever, is somewhat too pointed, an objection which
lies against the rather thin-petal led, but otherwise
attractive buff and red-flaked fancy, Scotch Lassie.
Monte Cristo is one of the most striking \'arieties,
especially in the garden, owing to its dark foliage
and stems and the bold manner in which its distinct
rosy scarlet flowers are upheld; and Paragon, in
spite of its rather too tall stalky habit, must still be
included .
The perfect white variety is still a desideratum.
Duchess of Westminster is very pretty, but hardly
smooth enough and rather too much recurved for
its size. Sunningdale White is very handsome, but
this year, perhaps only owing to the season, has
hardly been free enough; while Snowflake, which
has been a mass of purest white, has scarcely a
sufficiently substantial petal. Anyone who will
raise a pure white as perfect in form and habit as
Enchantment, free-blooming and stiff-stemmed,
will deserve the thanks of all lovers of the beautiful
race of single Dahlias. T. W. G.
Tufted Eansies.— Generally, in spite of the
drought of the past summer, tufted Pansies have
stood fairly well, some kinds of which I have lost
nearly every plant in previous years standing well
whilst others have died too readily. Every plant of
the robust variety named New Guinea died, whilst
that flne yellow, George Rudd, stood very well, the
roots just now thro\\'ing up growths again. That
good early yellow variety Yellow Boy — probably
the very earliest kind to bloom — stood well, not a
single plant having died, and yet two or three sea-
sons ago I had but one plant left alive. A large .
batch of old seedling plants of Mrs. Gray which
bloomed wonderfully in the spring have been much
thinned, whilst some propagated plinits from one of .
the best stood fairly well. That fine northern blue
Pansy Archie Grant went off wholesale, but Blue
King, Blue Bell, and some others inured to our sum-
mer heat have stood fairly well. Good fancy
Pansies have been kept alive only by constant
watering, and even then not satisfactorily. It is
wise with these to have a batch of seedlings raised
every year from a sowing made early in August,
Oct. 15, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
347
where possible, to give strong seedling plants to
dibble out iato beds now. I have just made a con-
siderable sowing in a frame to raise plants to go
out in the spring, as our soil if the winter be wet
hardens so much. The best propagated plants as a
rule of all kinds for rough work are those obtained
by divisions of the young growth. Still further, a
batch of seedlings should always be raised yearly.
Of course, in the case of bedding self kinds seed-
lings are not satisfactory, but a good bed of mixed
Pansies or Molas will never be despised in any
garden arrangement. — A. D.
LILIUM AURATUM.
To THE Editor op The Garden.
Sir,— This season has given some hints as to
the outdoor cultivation of L. auratum. When
a few bulbs, or even a few dozen, are grown,
there may be chances of error, but with hun-
dreds, if the same results occur with most of
them, I think the experiments may be trusted.
AVe have L. auratum in all sorts of places, but
only large quantities in three or four. One on
a hill-side in light loam, the soil naturally moist,
but moderately drained, a certain amount of
shelter from wind being given by cut Furze
fences. The second in a shady part of a wood,
grown in a mixture of old vegetable soil and
light loam, moderately moist. The third in a
very dr}' wood, the natural soil being hungry
sand ; in this large holes between 4 feet and
5 feet deep were dug out and filled with good
LUy soil. In No. 1 the Lilies bloomed well, but
showed the efi'eots of the long drought a little.
(I should mention that we do not give water.)
They have continued to look well, showing hardly
any signs of spot after the cold damp weather.
In No. 2 the early blooms were especially fine,
some of them equal to those of any flowers of
L. auratum macranthum ; but when the cold,
wet weather came, spot showed itself in many.
In some parts of the beds almost every LUy in
flower or large bud was affected ; in other parts
many were injured ; in others fewer ; and in one
very sheltered part quite out of the wind hardly
any were touched for some time, and some have
still escaped. In No. 3, during the long drought
the flowers were fine, but looked as if rain
would have improved them. When the rain came
the blooms improved and have continued verj'
fine ; some of the stems are 9 feet high. It
would thus appear that, quite apart from drip,
cold wet weather in damp situation? is the
cause of spot and mould, and perhaps accounts
for the difliculty of growing these Lilies in
places where the climate is usually cold and
moist. I believe in these, the shelter of a
Rhododendron bed to be especially valuable.
U'eijbiklfje. George F. Wil.son.
Self Carnations. — Complaints are occasionally
made in the columns of The Garden that the
growers of the Carnation for exhibition purposes
do not sufficiently regard the excellences of the
self varieties. I am afraid that a good deal of
ignorance, both of what has been grown and exhi-
bited, underlies this statement. Take Jlr. E. S
Dodwell, of Oxford, for instance, one of the most
noted raisers of the day. Every season he sends
out in the way of new flowers a much larger number
of self and fancy Carnations than he does bizarre
and flaked varieties. This statement ought to disarm
the hostile criticism of writers like Mr. A. Herring-
ton. This autumn Mr. DodweU offers for sale as
many as twenty-five new selfs. I have seen some
of them when in flower at Oxford, and I think I am
justified in stating that they are both fine and
striking. They consist of Calliope, soft scarlet ;
Captain Cattle, carmine-purple ; Dogberry, deep
plum-purple ; Effie Deans, rich rose ; Florizel, rich
ruby maroon ; Glady.=, delicate fleshy pink, a lovely
flower; Ganymede, bright pink; Hermione, deep
rose; Heroine, rosy salmon; Imperator, bright
mauve-purple ; Jeannie Deans, rich rose ; Joe
Willett, rich deep scarlet ; Mauve Queen, bright
mauve ; Mr. Toots, crimson ; Mrs. Alfred, bright
pink ; Mrs. George, pink, a beautiful soft shade of
colour ; Mr.s. Phillips, bright rosy pink ; Mrs. Price,
delicate peach - pink ; Mrs. Wilfred, bright rose ;
Perdita. flesh tinted with rosy scarlet ; Reuben
Butler, rosy scarlet ; Sparkler, bright scarlet i The
Moor, rich dark maroon ; Verger, rich mulberry
purple; and Vesta, white. I have added the de-
scriptions in order that Mr. Herrington may see
how much variety of colour there is in them. In
addition, Mr. Dodwell offers seven new fancy varie-
ties, and these are flaked and striped on coloured
grounds. Mr. Dodwell also offers twenty-seven
fancy varieties of last and previous years' sending
out, and fifty-one additional selfs, and all being of
his own raising ; they are in addition to what Mr.
T. S. Ware, Messrs. Veitch and Sons, Mr. 0. Turner,
and others are distributing. Add to these the fine
new yellow Picotees and amber and yellow selfs
raised by Mr. J. Douglas and others, and I think
Mr. A. Herrington will feel that the varied tastes
of lovers of the Carnation are amply provided for.
— R. D.
NARCISSUS YELLOW KING.
I AM extremely sorry to have to differ with the
Hon. Sec. of the Daffodil Committee and Mr. Bair
about the naming or registry of this Daffodil. Mr.
Dickins says, in The Garden (p. 269), that Golden
Spur, Yellow King, Blondin, and Henry Irving were
named at conference sitting of April 14, 18S5;
but if he looks to the report of April li, 1886
(not 1885), in The Garden (p. 369),he will find that
it was Dr. Wallace, of Colchester, who introduced
Golden Spur, and at same sitting Henry Irving was
registered at the instigation of Mr. Barr. In 1885
this Daffodil, Henry Irving, was not rci/istered, but
got a floral certificate as General Gordon from the
Royal Botanic Society, April, 1885, and^ was not
registered until April 14, 1886.
Then, as regards Yellow King, this is purely an
Irish Daffodil, having been first brought to notice
through the instrumentality of an Irish Daffodil
grower as Ard-Righ, or Irish King, in conjunction
with Rev. Wolley Dod. If your readers will look to
the columns of The Garden, at p. 66, Vol. XXIX.,
they will first get notice of this Irish DaffodO.
Then, again, at p. 101, same vol., Mr. Dod gives its
history, mentioning how he first had it from the
county of Cork ; and then at p. 139, same vol., a
long notice appears of its introduction ; and at
p. 176, where the editor of The Garden says : " It
was put before the Daffodil committee in 1885 (not
registered), but rejected as unworthy of notice."
So" that in the following matter from Mr. Dod's
pen we have something contradictory of what is
stated in your last week's Garden, p. 269. Daffo-
dils may certainly be jiJarcd on a tahle for naming;
but this is not registration ; they must meet the
approval of the whole sitting.
Daffodil Yellow King, from The Garden, 1886.
(p. 191):-
Referring to editorial note in G.\kden' (p. IP!), in
which my name is meutioued, allow me to say that I
had nothing to do with namiivj this variety, though I
believe I vas the first to introduce it to England,
and to give it to Mr. Bavr. It is not quite correct to
say that the flowers, when presented to the floral com-
mittee of the Royal Horticultural Society last April
{1885) were rejected as unworthy of notice. The fact
is that they were nearlij u-itliered, and Mr. Barr was
advised to send better specimens next year (viz., 1SS6).
I will undertake to say that Daffodil growers will not
think it unworthy of notice, whatever the floral com-
mittee may decide about it.— C. Wolley Dod, Edje
Hall.
Now, It is for the public to judge whether a
Daffodil that was rejected as withered and con-
sidered unworthy of notice in 1885 could have been
registered during the same year; and it was not
produced in 1886, no one having a sufficient stock
of this Irish subject to be interested in its registry.
But w-hen Golden Spur was brought before the
sitting of April 14, 1886, Yellow King was not pro-
duced, but Golden Spur, sent by Dr. Wallace, was
actually passed round the Daffodil table as the Irish
subject, until Mr. Hartland, of Cork, saw the error,
and became instrumental in having the name Golden
Spur registered, and not in April, lss5. As I said
before. Daffodils may be placed on a table and_ a
name suggested. T/iis is not registri/, as I know it.
The prior claim to a name should be with the
stocMotdor. An introducer may get a fiower
through the post and submit it for naming, and
have no stock, where the holder may have 50,000.
This may be the case with this Irish King Daffodil.
NEilO.
THE TULIP.
It will soon be time to plant out bulbs of the late-
flowering Tulips, and a few words on their culture
and general management may be useful. This is
one of the old-fashioned flowers, and was very
popular a hundred years ago and later. Parkinson
wrote about it, and gave illustrations. Dr. John
Hill in his "Eden," published in 1773, gave the
Tulip a very prominent place, and was careful to
add, that his remarks, descriptive and cultural, were
not made " from the repeated pdlagings of authors,
but from experience." The period in which the
varieties recorded by Dr. Hill produced their fiowers
extended from the first week in May to the third
week in June. The descriptive remarks of all the
old authors were very long and tedious, extending
to the form of the bulbs, their colour, and the num-
ber of the fibres. A very good idea is given of what
the Tulips were in those days from an excellent
plate of Tulips in the "Eden," page 398. Six
varieties in the different classes had been painted
by the celebrated Van Huysum. There is one
self only, all the others being flamed. The variety
marked No. 1 is the " Changeable Tulip." There is
probably no Tulip in existence at the present time
like this 'variety painted by Van Huysum and de-
scribed by Dr. Hill. He says: —
The colours are three, a fleshy crimson, a_ pearly
white, aud a very bright yellow. These are laid on in
an inexhaustible series of various forms, and thence from
one variety make a thousand.
Bizarres, bybloemens, and roses are described, but
those definitions were probably not known to Dr.
HiU ; at least he does not use them.
The raising of Tulips from seed is strongly re-
commended by most of the old authors, and in this
case the instructions as to seed-saving, sowing the
seeds, and subsequent treatment of the plants are
most elaborate. A very singular instruction is
given in the following sentences by Dr. HUl. He
says : —
The French first discovered two particularities in
the TuUp— that the seed succeeds best if sown when
the wind is in the north, and when the moon is in her
decrease. The Dutch tried this repeatedly, aud de-
clare with one voice they have found it tine ; what
experience I have had also confii-ms it. Therefore,
whatever says philosophy or fancy, let the gardener
foUow this practice; the advantage is certain, and per-
haps some time the cause may he understood.
The " breaking " of Tulips, as it is termed, was
discussed as early as the time of Clusius, and that
painstaking author came to the conclusion that if
the best marked Tulips were allowed to remain
years in the same places without removal, they lost
all their beautiful markings and returned to the
original plain colour; but frequent removals and
planting in rich garden soil brought the " stripes
and paintings."
The raising of seedling Tulips has been long
practised by amateurs ; indeed, no one with a real
love for any of these choice fiorists' fiowers can rest
contented with the labours of others, but must
make some attempt, however humble, to raise seed-
lings on his own account. The Rev. F. D. Homer,
Mr. S. Barlow, and others are still working in this
fair field of Flora's domain. It is easy enough to
save seeds, and equally so to obtain plants, but it
takes a long time for the bulbs to grow to a flower-
ing size, and equally long before they pass from
the self or "breeder" state to the refined bizarre,
byblcemen, or rose, flamed or feathered.
The seeds may be sown in pots, pans, or boxes in
autumn or early spring; they will vegetate, the
348
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 15, 1887.
plants will grow to the full yearling size, and the
leaves decay by the middle or end of June. The
bulbs will be of small size, and may be planted out
in boxes or in beds in October to make another
season's growth. In five or six years the bulbs will
have grown to the flowering size. Some of them
may flower as a perfect flame or feather, but this is
unusual; they are selfs first, and it may take many
years before they are rectified.
I should very much like to see the Tulip grown
near London, as it used to be up to the year 1854.
Mr. Groom, of Clapham Rise, was the principal
cultivator at that time, and charged very high prices
in his catalogue, from ten to one hundred guineas
per bulb. The following year Messrs. Protheroe
and Morris sold all Mr. Groom's Tulips as they stood
in the rows at very low prices. Mr. Groom's collec-
tion comprised over 200,000 bulbs. The system of
culture followed was to prepare a piece of ground
about fl feet (J inches wide, and long enough to con-
tain the number of bulbs in the collection. I pre-
pare the ground in September before it is saturated
with rain, trench it 2 feet deep, and give a good
dressing of manure. On the surface place a good
layer, say, 3 inches deep, of decayed turf if it can
be obtained. This should be spread over a width
of 4 feet on each side of a centre alley 18 inches
wide. These two beds can easily be shaded by a
light awning placed over them in the form of a
span roof, and high enough to allow a person to
walk underneath. The shading must be thick
enough to keep out the rain, which does more harm
to the flowers than sun. It scatters the pollen over
the base of the petals in the form of a pasty mass
and in'etrievably damages the flowers. The shading
should be placed over the beds in early spring to
protect from severe frost, and in May to shelter from
rain and sunshine. The shading must be removed
when it is not required, but it may be necessary to
shade at night to keep the plants from being injured
by frosts.
My own plan is to prepare a bed [and to plant out
the bulbs in rows according to their size — that is, the
large-flowering bulbs together and the smaller ones
also by themselves, the large bulbs being 8 inches
apart and the smaller ones ij inches. For the last
six or seven years I have not covered the beds at
any time, and the plants have generally made strong,
healthy growth and flowered well.
The Tulip is hardy enough, and there does not
seem to be any reason why the late-flowering va-
rieties should not make quite as gorgeous a display
in the parks as the early-flowering kinds. They
can be propagated quite as easily ; they are equally
hardy, and are not more expensive to cultivate.
Being taller-growing plants, it may be thought they
are more easily injured by the wind; but I do not
find this borne out in my experience with them.
If they are planted deep enough they stand up quite
erect, and do not fall over, although no sticks are
used to support them. There are very few persons
outside the circle of Old World florists who have
any knowledge of the markings in the various classes.
Bizarres, byblccmens, and roses are an unknown
language to them ; but in time they would become
better known, and it is not only interesting, but
instructive to study their various characteristics.
Every Tulip flower is a study in itself.
The point I wish to lay stress upon is the little
trouble required to cultivate the whole race of late-
flowering Tulijis. The fugacious character of the
flowers is a point against them ; they soon pass
away after they have attained their full size, wind
and rain aiding in the work of destruction.
I obtained ;i short list of the \ery best exhibition
Tuli|)S from the Kcv. F. D. Horner; they are tlie
varieties mostly to be dejiended upon to win prizes
at the exhibitions. Mr. Horner generally holds the
premier position as an exhibitor in the north for
Tulips as he does in the .south for Auriculas. He
has built a light glasshouse over his Tulip beds, but
the glass lights can be removed altogether if neces-
sary. The soil is trenched to the depth 'of li feet
and is well manured. Some seasons, instead
of manuring heavily, marly clay is mixed with
the soil. This is spread out and fully exposed to
he summer's sun before \i,sing it in the autumn,
The bulbs are planted about the !)th of November.
It is a mistake to leave them out of the ground
much later than this, as the roots push out from the
base of the bulbs, and they may be injured in
planting ; moreover, they are attacked in the boxes
by a dull green-coloured species of aphis, which is
also injurious to the small rootlets.
The following is the list, divided into six
classes : —
Feathered bizarres. — Masterpiece, Commander,
Sir J. Paxton, Nonpareil, Royal Sovereign.
Flamed bizarres. — Sir J. Paxton, Dr. Hardy,
Orion, Polyphemus, Ajax, William Lea.
Feathered bybl<emens. — Mrs. Cooper, Talisman,
William Parkinson, Beauty of Litchurch, John Hart,
Hepwortli's Bessie.
Flamed byblcemens. — Talisman, Duchess of
Sutherland, Wm. Parkinson.
Featheeed koses. — Annie McGregor, St. Aniaud,
Nanny Gibson, Industry, Heroine, Charmer.
Flamed koses, — Aglia, Mrs. Lea, Mrs. Loraax,
Lady Sefton, Triompho Royale.
Some varieties are similar as to name in the
feathered and flamed classes; they are the same
really, as some strains come flamed and others
feathered. J. Douglas.
CACTUS AND DECORATIVE DAHLIAS.
I AM one of those who think it is nearly time the
question was put and answered, Where are we
drifting to in the matter of Cactus Dahlias 1 It is
felt that, in the case of a majority of the new
flowers, we are getting away from the type of
Juarezi, which created such a sensation some years
ago, and, for convenience sake, they are termed
decorative varieties, meaning thereby, it is sup-
posed. Dahlias suited for the decoration of the
garden. This being so, it is only fair the public
who buy should know something of the habit of
growth, whether tall or dwarf, and also if the flowers
are freely produced, and thrown well above the
foliage, so that the plants may be of real decorative
value. But it unfortunately happens that too many
of the Cactus Dahlias, so called, are not only of tall
growth, but they have the defect of hiding their
flowers down among the foliage, which is most ob-
jectionable. Such plants are of little value for
decoration, especially if they do not bloom freely.
Not a few of the newer flowers are of a character
that take us back to the period of Dahlia improve-
ment fifty or sixty years ago. Let anyone compare
the flowers that were figured in the FloriouUural
Cahinct and other illustrated floral publications of
that day with the decorative Dahlias of the present
time, and he will find they are simply reproductions
of that period. Practically, our florists of the pre-
sent day who make a speciality of Cactus and
decorative Dahlias are simply travelling over the
same ground that our forefathers did until the
flowers they produced with so much care developed
into the large double show and fancy varieties
staged at our Dahlia exhibitions, and it can be seen
that slowly and surely these decorative Dahlias are
acquiring form and symmetry, developing size and
rotundity of petal at the same time, and that this
is a certain outcome of any attempt at improve-
ment.
Anyone who looks upon a collection of blooms of
new v.-irieties of so-called Cactus Dahlias will per-
ceive that but few of them follow the type of
Juarezi. Those that do so are in a kind of transition
state, intermediate between the Cactus and the show
type. The particular form of Juarezi, with its
curious petals rolled over at the side and pointed at
the ends, is scarcely shown in any of its progeny.
If a race of Dahlias similar in all respects to this
brilliant species, but with flowers of varied colours
and the habit of growth of Cochineal, could bo ob-
tained, then they could be termed decorative Daldias
in a correct sense ; but our decorative Dahlias
are fiat-petalled, coarse, and ugly, and, as bc^fore
observed, sadly deficient in habit. It is said that
with rich culture some of the varieties, like Mrs.
Hawkins, that hide their flowers in a most lament-
able manner, will display their flowers better ; but
that course will only add to the height of the plants,
and some of them are over-tall already ; in fact, if
these decorative Dahlias are to be valuable in the
garden as well as for cut purposes, there must be a
dwarfing of the habit nearly all round. It is an
unfortunate thing for the floral committee of the
Royal Horticultural Society that they see flowers
and not the plants of these new decorative Dahlias,
and, therefore, they are utterly unable to judge of
their habit of gi-owth, and I have no hesitation in
stating that there are among our show and fancy
Dahlias many varieties of dwarf and compact growth
very free of bloom, and that display their flowers
well above the foliage ou erect stems, that are ten
times more deserving of being regarded as decora-
tive Dahlias for border and cut purposes than a large
number of the half double varieties now being pro-
duced. But of the decorative Dahlias, I can name
a few that well deserve the name, because they are
of moderate growth, very free, and dispilay their
flowers on erect stems to the best advantage. They
are Cochineal, rich shaded crimson, a fine, bold, and
striking variety ; Empress of India, deep crimson
and maroon, shaded with black ; Mr. Tait, white ;
Glare of the Garden, fiery scarlet, very free ; Flam-
beau, very bright scarlet, with distinct orange shade,
a model variety in this class ; and Prince Imperial,
shaded crimson, the centre of the flower pale purple,
but it does not display its flowers quite so well as
the others.
Some of the leading varieties shown this season
will be found in the following list : Annie Harvey,
deep shaded crimson, flowers much hidden ; Con-
stance, white, but not so good as Henry Patrick, the
flowers in the case of the latter being a purer white,
and it is also a much more profuse bloomer; Lady
Kerrison, amber-yeUow, with a Picoteeedge; King
of the Cactus, pale crimson, apt to become coarse ;
Charming Bride, pale ground, tipped with rosy pink,
tall habit of growth ; Beauty of Chichester, pale
scarlet, good form ; Lady Brassey, rather deeper in
colour than the foregoing, a good showy variety
Lady M. Morsham, orange and red, shaded with
deep salmon, bad habit; W. T. Abery, like a single
Dahlia that has developed into a semi-double form,
the petals having a stripe of white down the centre,
the sides margined with bright scarlet, distinct and
striking, and apparently very free; Lady Thompson,
crimson, flushed with magenta, pleasing because of
its peculiar hue of colour ; Lady E. Dyke, pale bright
yellow, one of the best of this colour; Prince Albert
Victor, maroon-crimson ; and Black Knight, very
dark, nearly black.
I daresay that the great desire on the part of
raisers to rush their new flowers into the market
has led to very little regard being paid to the habit
of growth. But it is quite time this important
quality was recognised. So long as certificates of
merit are given to fiowers quite irrespective of habit
of growth of the plant, so long will this matter be
overlooked. A good decorative Dahlia should be a
thing of beauty in the garden, and this implies a
good and appropriate habit of growth and a free
production of acceptable blooms. R. DBAS.
"Where to plant Lilies. — As the season is at
hand for transplanting Lilies, this seems a good
time for discussing the question of position. The
selection of the site for a group or a series of groups
of Ijilies will have an important bearing upon their
future condition and success. In the first place,
they must have shelter from strong winds, for the
flowers are too fragile to stand a gale in an exposed
situation. The beauty of a cluster of Lilies is gone
when the petals are torn and shattered by the wind;
therefore, it must be understood that the large-
flowered Lilies especially must have shelter. Lilies
always look best when springing out of a base of
some other plant. At the same time, whatever
plant is used to take off the nakedness of the stems,
it must not steal all the daylight from the base of the
stems up which will flow the nutriment to support
the flowers, and around which later on will cluster
the leaves, which by their action will supply the ex-
hausted bulbs with new matter. Lilies and Rhodo-
dendrons always seem to associate well together.
The one is a proper complement to the other ; the
Oct. 15, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
349
dark green leaves of the Rhododendrons .ire just
the foil the Lilies require to bring oat all their
eflEectiveness, and the Lilies in their turn light up
the sombre foliage of the shrubs with various tints
of silver and gold and ruby. Wliere the Rhododen-
dron does not thrive (and it does not succeed in a
limestone district), openings might be left when
planting shrubberies generally, or created, for plant-
ing groups of Lilies of various kinds in groups of
shrubs already in existence. And the Lilies which
may be purchased cheaply are just as effective as
the more rare species. The soil, if inferior, must be
improved by the addition of turfy loam or leaf-mould,
and, if the natur.il soil be adhesive, add sand or
charcoal dust to help to make it more porous. Lilies
must not be transplanted too often ; therefore, it
is not well to crowd too much at first. A mulch of
old leaf-mould is beneficial after planting. The
nature of the soil will have some influence upon the
depth of covering for the bulbs, but in most places
from 2 inches to o inches of soil over the bulbs will
be ample.— H.
Callirhos involuorata. — The past hot summer
has been in every way congenial to the develop-
ment of this charming plant, and, unless in the case
o£ Calandrinia umbellata, we have had nothing at
all to equal it for brilliancy of colour. Strasburg, in
his account of the expedition to Great Salt Lake in
18-19, remarks that the valley of the " Little Blue "
has not presented any great novelty in the way of
flowers, but a splendid variety of the Mallow of a
bright carmine colour. Its trailing stems, sending
up flowers in little patches of a few yards square,
presented a rich and beautiful appearance, and en-
livened the monotony of the prairies by its rich and
brilliant hues. The same might be said of this
plant even in a garden of beautiful flowers, as the
length of time it continues in bloom, together with
the almost unique tint of its handsome flowers,
renders it very valuable as a summer plant. This
year it has ripened seed freely, and whether it
stands the winter or not, there will be no fear of
losing it. The Indians are said to dig and eat
the roots, which somewhat resemble those of the
Parsnip. — K.
SHORT NOTSS.— FLOWER.
Liatris elegans. — This is au ornamental feature
iu mauy borders at the present time. It grows about
2 feet iu height, aud has sleuder stems clothed with
narrow Lily-like foliage. The purple flowers are
aiTanged in dense lengthy spikes. It likes a well-pre-
pared moderately rich soil, and grows readily. — E. C.
A variegated Lily. — The variegated variety of
the common Lilium candidum Is very conspicuous now,
by reason of the bright colouring of the ample foliage.
This is broadly margined with a tine, rich yellow
colour, set ofi by a deep green centre. It is a showy
plant for a knoU oa the rockery or a weU-placed
mound. — E. C.
Italian Arum (A. italicumpictura). — This variety
has foliage of the liuest character, more like that of some
of the boldly marked Anthuriums. The ground colour is
deep rich green, and the nerves and veiiiings of a
creamy white, which stand out iu flue contrast. The
berries are larger, aud of a brighter scarlet than those
of our common Lords and Ladies of the hedgerows. It
is very effective on the rockery in Mr. T. S. Ware's
nursery at Tottenham. — E. C.
Gaura Lindheimeri. — Referring to the note in
The G-\rdex, September 24 (p. 269), re Gaura Lind-
heimeri, this was planted with excellent effect in the
garden of the Hotel des Invalides, Paris. In the
long geometrical bed on the main walk, scarlet Gera-
niums were used as undergrowth, the white flowers of
the Gaura resembliug a waving cloud over the other oc-
cupants. Here it is used iu groups with a groundwork
of Iresiue Lindeui. — Locis Kropatsch, Laienlnirij.
Seedling alpine Auriculas. — I am now bloom-
ing a number of these from plants obtained by Mr.
James Thurston by crosses between a few of the best
varieties in his collection. The seeds were sown in
July, ISSC, and a large number of them will flower this
autmnn. It is delightful to watch the e.xpanding pips.
All that are of a promising character are marked, aud
the flower-stem pinched out. I am pleased to see evi-
dences in the progeny that Mi'. Thurston has the blood
of that fine old white-centred variety, conspicua, in
his stiuin. We are yet weak in good persistent white-
centred alpiue Auriculas, and I think it is a difficult
tvp." to get up to the level of the goldeu centred varie-
ties.—K. D.
Ferns.
W. H. OOVTEK.
NEW ZEALAND LINDS.EAS.
This is a large tropical and siib-tropical genus
of Ferns, all of which are extremely interesting,
and most of them remarkable for their beauty.
The majority of them require stove heat, but
those kinds from temperate regions thrive best
Lindsaja trichomanoides. Engraved for The G.^rden
from Natm-e.
in a greenhouse fernery. Of these latter, the
New Zealand kinds are notable examples.
LindsKas somewhat resemble the Maiden-hair
Perns (Adiantums) in general appearance, but
there are marked characteristics to distinguish
them. The sori are situattd upon the anterior
margin, and are for the moat part uninter-
rupted ; wliilst the indusium is attached on the
inteiior side of the receptacle, opening out-
wardly, and in the majority the stems are light
coloured, and entirely destitute of that black,
polished appear.ince which is so marked a cha-
racter ill the Adiantums.
The cultivation of these plants has hitherto
been attended with a certain amount of diffi-
culty and luicertaiuty, and this has to some ex-
tent prevented them obtaining that popularity
amongst Peru-lovers to which, by their extreme
beaut)', they are really entitlecl. There, how-
ever, is little doubt but that the difficulties
chiefly arise from their peculiar requirements
being ignored. Most of the Lmdsi^as grow-
naturally in rocky, stony places where the
moisture trickles rapidly away from the surface,
leaving the scaly rhizomes free ; whilst under
cultivation the plants are usually consigned to
the stereotyped ngiinen of Pern growers, i.e.,
a potful of peat and a little sand, conditions
under which Lmdsreas cannot long x'etatn health
or life, aud because the plants succumb under
such mismanagement, Lindsreas are voted diffi-
cult to grow and are rejected. What success I
have had with Lindsajas I attribute to the use
of a large amount of drainage and a very thin
covering of turfy loam for soil, and that little
placed on the surface lightly. I believe they
love limestone, and this mixed with medium-
sized nodules of sandstone should be used to
quite three parts fill the pots in which Liudswas
are planted. In the matter of watering, little
care wUl be necessary when the pots are drained
as previously directed, as it will be impossible
to over-water, and the atmosphere should be
kept fairly well charged with moisture.
These New Zealand Lindsieas will also prove
handsome adjuncts to a Wardiau case, provided
an elevated rocky position is chosen for them,
and stronger-growing plants are not allowed to
overgrow and smother them.
L. LiNEAEls is an elegant plant, with erect, bright
green fronds, which are said to attain a height of
1 foot, and in some oases 18 inches. I have, how-
ever, never seen the plant more than about 10 inches
high. The fronds are once-divided (pinnate), linear-
acuminate in outline, and somewhat coriaceous in
texture ; the pinna; are opposite or sub-opposite,
about a quarter of au inch broad, fan -shaped, and
toothed on the margins, bearing the sori in a con-
tinuous row on the upper edge only. This species
is found plentifully in the Middle and Northern
Islands of New Zealand, but is not confined to
these localities, as it also occurs somewhat plenti-
fully in Tasmania, Australia, aud New Caledonia.
L. MlCROPUTLLA. — This species, when well
grown, attains a height of about 18 inches, but is
more frequently to be met with about half that size.
The stems are purple, wiry, and flexuose, twice or
three times divided, the ultimate segments being
divided into nairow, somewhat triangular lobes,
which are bright light green, the upper edge bear-
ing a continuous line of sori. This plant is found
in Australia as well as New Zealand.
L. TEICHOMANOIDKS, of which we here give an
illustration from a specimen grown in the nmseries
of the late Messrs. Rollisson's, at Tooting, by whom
all these New Zealand Lindsreas were introduced
in a living state some ten years ago, is a very hand-
some plant, which appears to have been found in
the Fiji Islands, Tasmania, and Australia, as well
as in the Middle and Northern Islands of New
Zealand.
L. Lessosi is a variety of the preceding, in which
the fronds are pinnate; pinnie oblong-lanceolate,
obtuse, and bright light green ; sori marginal, often
continued round the lower edge.
SEountain Bladder Fern (Cystopteris mon-
tana). — Referring to your notes on the difliculty of
cultivating this beautiful Fern, I believe the ex-
planation of our want of success is that we are not
sufficiently careful to copy the conditions under
which it grows naturally. I have met with it from
time to time in Switzerland, but I have observed
that wherever it was really flourishing it was always
growing in JIoss, and not in soil. A month ago, on
the south side of the Lake of Brienz, about 2000
feet above Interlaken, I found a little damp hollow
in a dark Pine wood full of it. The ground near
the trees was covered with thick Moss, and in this
350
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 15, 1887.
the delicate black rhizomes of the Cystopteris were
creeping about in all directions. I observed both
the Oak and Beech Ferns, as well as the Asplenium
viride, luxuriating \mder the same circumstances
with plants like Polygala Cham.'ebuxus, Pyrolas, &c.
These last-mentioned Ferns are, as everyone knows,
accommodating enough to grow under almost any
conditions ; but not so the little C^ystopteris montaua,
which, you say, " cannot be successfully grown in
the hardy fernery." I wish, however, someone who
has the chance of trying the experiment would
plant a piece of it in a shady wood where the Moss
is thick and damp. I shall be very much dis-
appointed if he is not delighted with the result. —
F. W. Harmbu.
Orchids.
W. n. GOWER.
HABENAEIA MILITARIS.
This superb plant is a terrestrial Orchid, and a
very near ally of the species of Habenaria
indigenous to the British Islands. It was
originally discovered by M. Godef roy-Lebeuf in
Cochin-China, but more recently it was intro-
duced in a living state by M. Regnier, of
Fontenay-sous-Bois, France, and from whom
we have just received what had been a splendid
spike of its brilliantly coloured flowers, but it
had travelled badly, and consequently it was
not available for figuring. This species flowered
last autumn in the nurseries of Mr. Williams,
and a coloured plate of it appeared in the
" Orchid Album," t. 281. Mr. Williams
says : —
In its native habitat it usually lies dormant from
November until the following May; therefore, as
its time of flowering in this country appears to be
in September and October, its season of rest
naturally comes during our winter months. During
its resting period the tuberous roots should not be
allowed to become quite dry, but the soil should be
kept in a nice friable condition, as it should be
borne in mind that, although there are no leaves to
sustain, the tubers are liable to shrivel and die if
the soil becomes parched, as it assuredly would in
a pot when water is entirely withheld for months
in succession. The members of this genus belong-
ing to our native flora lie dormant in a similar
manner during the winter months, at which time
their condition is certainly not one of drought.
The soil for Habenaria militaris should consist of
equal portions of turfy loam and fibrous peat, with
a small quantity of rough, sharp sand added,
whilst the drainage requires to be kept open and
free.
The inflorescence received from M. Regnier
was a foot high ; the lower leaves some 4 inches
or 5 inches long, greyish green in colour, the
veins darker, causing them to appear tessel-
lated ; the scape bearing upon its summit an
ovate raceme of a dozen or more flowers, of
"which tlie large, flat lip is the most conspicuous
part, it being as brilliant as a guardsman's
jacket, whilst the long spur is filiform and
greenish yellow. It is a showy and distinct
plant, and its brilliant, pleasing flowers are
said to remain in full beauty for several weeks
if kept free from damp.
Kodrlguezia seeunda. — This belongs to a small
geuu3 allied to Biirlingtonia, and is an interesting
species found in Trinidad and New Grenada. It thrives
well on a block in the cool house, where it is grown at
Kew. It is very free-flowering, the scapes G inches in
length, and carrying several bright red glistening
flowers. It is of a colour not very common amongst
Orchids.— B. C.
Cypripedium Canhami. — This is the last no-
velty in Lady's Slippers distributed by the Messrs.
Veitch. It is, I believe, a seedling of Mr. Douglas',
raised between C. A^eitchi (superbiens) and C. villo-
sum. It is a fine bold flower, and also has the great
merit of being thoroughly distinct from any other
form of this now numerous and popular genus. The
foliage is broad, but shorter than that of C. villosum,
and the upper surface of the leaves is faintly tessel-
lated, a character it has derived from C. Veitchi. The
flowers are large, the colours of the parents beauti-
fully blended and suHased ; dorsal sepal large and
broad, streaked with purplish mauve and bordered
with white ; petals slightly varnished, broadest to-
wards the ends, brownish purple clotted with choco-
late, and fringed on the edges with black hairs;
lip similar in shape to that of G. A'eitchi, but much
larger. We recently saw this fine hybrid flowering
in Mr. R. J. Measures' collection, Cambridge Lodge,
Oamberwell.— W. H. G.
Odontoglossum madrense. — This very hand-
some and distinct species is often to be found in
collections under the name of 0. maxillare, and
under which name, indeed, it was figured in the
Botanical Matjazlne (t. G141). The spikes are erect,
produced after the growth is matured ; flowers pure
white, the base of the sepals and petals bearingalarge
bi-lobed blotch of brownish crimson at the base ; lip
white, pointed in front, and stained at the base with
orange. We noted this as one of the conspicuous
plants in Mr. Measures' collection at Camberwell,
where it seems to be kept in a slightly warmer
atmosphere than the majority of Odontoglossums,
although as a window 'plant this season I have had
it make very fine growth, which will, I hope, pro-
duce flowers when finished. — W. H. G.
Cattleya Bowringiana. — This new and
charming species is just now blooming in the Cam-
bridge Lodge collection, and a very pleasing flower
it is. It i.s likely to become valuable, as it comes
into bloom at a time when Orchid collections are
somewhat deficient in variety of flowers. This kind
much resembles Epidendrum ciliare in growth, but
is somewhat stronger. In the young state the base
of the pseudo-bulb is enveloped in very large cup-like
sheaths, which form large frills round the stems, the
whole plant being of a pale glaucous green colour.
The flowers are round and full, in shape resembling
the best forms of those of C. Skinneri, to which
Bowringiana appears to be nearly allied ; sepals
and petals soft clear purple ; lip convolute over the
column, the spreading front portion rich amethyst ;
throat creamy-white veined with purple. — W. H. G.
Cattleya bieolor. — This is a vigorous-growing
and very free-flowering species, especially useful
for autumn blooming, and numerous varieties
of it appear from time to time. Notable
amongst these are two forms, named rubens
and Measuresiana, now in great beauty in Mr.
Measures' collection at Cambridge Lodge, Camber-
well. The former has flowers 4 inches across, with
rich bronzy-green sepals and petals, and a lip en-
tirely deep magenta-purple, with a purple column.
The sepals and petals are of a soft olive-green
colour, the lip large, rosy magenta, broadly bor-
dered with white, the large-headed column being
white, which affords a charming contrast. The
spikes bear some eight or ten flowers each, and
thus a fine display is produced. It thrives in quite
the cool end of an intermediate house. — W. H. G.
GALVANISED WIRE T' TWINE NETTING.
Tub Act of Parliament for the protection of small
birds, together with the stringency of the law in
connection with gun licenses, has done a great deal
to increase one of the many pests gardeners have
to contend with, and the question arises. How best
and cheapest to protect the fruit buds in winter,
and fruit in summer from the ravages of destructive
birds? Covering with old fish netting is a most
expensive and unsatisfactory process ; for, exposed
to all weathers and entangled in the bushes, it soon
goes to pieces, or badly stored in winter it quickly
rots, so that fresh supplies have to be purchased at
the cost of several pounds each season, thus making
a heavy item in the garden disbursements, besides
the trouble and annoyance of having to remove the
nets whenever a dish of fruit is wanted. AVhat I
would advise, and what I intern! to try, is a perma-
nent covering of wire netting, which is at present
exceedingly cheap; 1-inch mesh, No. 19 gauge,
medium strength, and SiS inches wide, may be
bought for less than 3d. per yard, and will prevent
the tits and bidlfinches getting at the buds in
winter, as well as preserving and protecting the
fruit during summer.
A rough framework of small poles or refuse
wood can be fixed at a very cheap rate by a
labourer. The uprights should be 6 feet high, and
from 10 feet to 12 feet apart each way, with cross-
bars over the tops for stretching the net upon.
Light, rough framed doors, covered with some
material, may be introduced wherever wanted for
getting in and out to pick fruit, or work the quarter,
which should be specially devoted to growing bush
fruits and Strawberries. Padlocks may be attached
to the entrances in the fruit season to prcA'cnt
stragglers wandering where they are not wanted,
and would relieve gardeners of a great anxiety
both in summer and winter. Such a framework
would stand many years, and prove in the end more
satisfactory and much cheaper than buying half-
rotten fishing net every year. W. Sa'ngwin.
TreUssich, Truro.
Kitchen Garden.
W. WILDSMITH.
KITCHEN GARDEN NOTES.
General woek. — There is now no work of any
special character, so that the word " general " ex-
presses our doings during the past week. The
weather continues dry, and the soil being also in
that condition, we are reluctant to begin the hard
work of the autumn season, namely, trenching,
until rain has softened the ground and rendered it
easier to work, but all the vacant ground there is
has had the dressing of soil or manure wheeled on
in readiness for a commencement after the first
good rainfall, and meantime we continue to clear all
the ground possible by housing whatever roots it
may be desirable to get in before frost and rain set
in. As a rule, we do not pull up Beetroot until it is
in danger of injury from severe frost, but as the
roots are getting rather too large we are having them
up and shall presently stack them in a cool, damp
cellar, free of frost. The foliage we remove to
within about a couple of inches of the crowns. If
cut clean away at the crown the wound never seems
to heal, and when in this state much of the colour is
lost in the boiling. As to preserving them in the
freshest state tliroughout the winter and spring
months, we have come to the conclusion, after
trials in various compositions, that to simply stack
or build them together on the floor of a cellar or
shed free from frost is the best, for whilst the roots
keep plump and fresh there is no loss from de-
cay. There was always considerable decay when
we used soil, Cocoa fibre, sand, or sawdust. Having
large quantities of Tomatoes in the open air, and the
house plants for winter fruiting being late, makes us
anxious to preserve the open-air plants from frost.
With the plants on walls this is an easy affair, as
they will be rapidly covered up witli mats, but the
cordon plants on the open border, as soon as
danger is perceived, we mean to cut off at the base
and suspend them to the trellis in the vineries.
We have just completed the planting of Cauliflower
plants in hand-lights and at the foot of south walls,
and the remaining spare plants will be allowed
to stand where sown. Sometimes they stand
the severity of the winter, and when they do,
they are ger erally better planted out in spring than
are the early sowings that are made in heat. Pre-
ciutionary measures are now necessary in regard to
protecting Cauliflowers that are fit for use, and a
ready way of doing it is to break down the long
leaves and lay them over the flowers. The vegetable
man is given this work, having a standing order to
see to it whenever frost seems imminent. Saladings,
Lettuce more especially, have a flrst place in our
arrangements for winter supplies. Lettuces we
have in all stages of growth, and the principal batch
for midwinter is on a south border, and is about
half grown, and presently frames will be placed
over it and the lights be kept closed or open as the
weather may necessitate ; Endive is treated simi-
.Oct. 15,-1887.]
THE GARDEN.
351
•larly. Very little trouble is taken as to artificial
-blanching ; to grow the plants to the largest size is
;the most natural way of blanching, and there is no
comparison as to quality. Dry as the weather has
been and still is, the weeds seem to be growing as
^freely as ever, and as hoeing is now of little service in
regard to their destruction, we are having recourse
to hand-weeding all young crops, as Lettuce, Spinach,
autumn-sown Onions, young Carrots and Turnips.
The latest planted Celery is being earthed up, and
the work in immediate prospect is the completion
of earthing up all the winter greens, to keep them
■-in an upright form, and the cutting down of Aspara-
■gus stems and weeding the ground.
POTATOES.
Round Potatoes are, as a rule, of much better form
'this season than are the long-shaped tubers. It is
a curious fact, but of any given number of seedlings,
no matter from what strain, the bulk will give long
. tubers. For that reason there are always fewer
-really round kinds ia commerce than kidney-shaped
; or long ones. Possibly, in that respect, the Potato
is but developing its specific form of, tubers, as
Solanum tuberosum seems to be a long, flattish-
tubered kind, although the tubers are somewhat
imperfect. There is, nevertheless, a great resem-
blance between the best shaped tubers of the species
and inferior ones of the American Eose, and it
would seem as if the American family of Potatoes
was far less removed from the original species than
- is ours. However, there can be no doubt but that
■ constant selection has developed to its present form
the true round-tubered Potato, and I have seen in
Schoolmaster, London Hero, The Dean, Snowball,
and some similar ones, tubers really as round as
cricket balls. These, too, have smooth handsome
tubers, differing most appreciably froai the best
' round tubers of Regents, Champions, &o., all
of which have deep eyes. There is again a
pebble-shaped class of rounds of which the
• old Scotch Blue was one of the handsomest,
as also is Porter's Excelsior. Abundance is also
-of the- same type, and good tubers of Vicar
of Laleham and Fidler's Prolific come into the
same section. This is a very handsome class and,
like the real rounds, has kept very fair form indeed
during the past trying season. Of course, the best
. have suffered more or less from hardness of soil,
and roughness and scab, incidental to exceeding
dryness ; but, on the whole, very good -form has
been maintained, and waste from "bad form has been
very trifling. The long or kidney-shaped tubers
" have done badly generally, especially all of the
Magnum type, although these, again, where making
" a second and late growth, have done their best to
throw in the now moist and open soil very handsome
samples of new tubers. But where, as was the case
so very frequently, the tubers renewed their own
,' growth, then we find extraordinary shapes, which,
. howsoever good the tubers may be in other respects,
: yet spoil the sale appreciably. Even where long
■tubers have continued to grow without check they
have been strangely contorted. In hard soil the
. true round tubers seem to have the power of in-
creasing all over alike, and thus the force exerted
on the soil is general; whilst with long or kidney
tubers it is chiefly at the bud end of the tubers,
. and, therefore, resistance is more difticult to over-
. come. As to the merits of round and kidney
Potatoes, there is little to be said, otherwise both
, bear heavy crops and cook well. A. D.
Tomatoes at Bridge of Allan, N.B.— Lest
anyone may be disappointed through trying to
ripen Tomatoes in the open ground in Scotland, it
should be stated that the Bridge of Allan is a spe-
cially warm locality. There are many gardens in
the Lothians and elsewhere where Tomatoes may
be ripened on south walls ; but this is quite a diffe-
rent matter to ripening them right in the open
ground, and, unless in the most sheltered localities
and such dry, hot .summers as the present, this can
seldom be done north of the Tweed. We very
much need hardier and quicker-swelling varieties
of Tomatoes before they could be relied upon to
ripen in the open in England in a wholesale profit-
able way, to say nothing of Scotland. The crops
on most existing varieties, especially where heavy,
drag along very slowly indeed, and this is especially
noteworthy when one is waiting for them. Varieties
to swell fast and finish rapidly are still much needed
for standard crops in the open air. — Hortus.
TRENCHING.
It is interesting to find in an article devoted to
agriculture in one of the daily papers that farmers
are now becoming alive to the fact that in liurying
down deep, through the agency of the steam plough,
the fertile surface soil and bringing up the sour in-
fertile subsoil to the surface they have been making
a grave mistake. If this be so, then it shows how
ignorant of the simplest details in ground culture
most farmers have been, and how late have they
been in learning what are held to be ordinary ele-
ments of garden work. Gardeners discovered gene-
rations since that, whilst a deeply broken subsoil
was invaluable in garden cropping, the bringing that
subsoil to the surface in exchange for the fertilised
and pulverised surface soil was wrong in fact and
in results. Deep trenching in some gardens, con-
ducted from year to year, and by which perhaps
the whole area of a garden may be deeply worked
every three years, has by persistent labour made
the whole of the soil to a depth of 3 feet purely
vegetable and identical in character. That result,
however, can only be accomplished where soils are
naturally deep and good, and not where clay, chalk,
or gravel form the base. But there is generally
found between the surface of productive soil and tlie
harsher subsoil or lower stratum a neutral stratum,
which may in time become fertile if gradually
brought into use, but which in its raw, natural c<jn-
dition is sour and unproductive. To bring such
stufl" to the surface in bulk, or even t(j the thickness
of a few inches, would be madness and productive
of grave evil; indeed, some three or four years of
hard, patient cultivation would have to elapse wliilst
Nature, allied to human labour, was doing its best
to correct the defect. When a mistake in trenching
of that kind is made in gardens, the only course
open is to grow strong-growing Potatoes, Broad
Beans, Broccoli, or Seakale upon the sour soil. To
sow seeds would be to reap disappointnaent. The
farmer, however, is in Averse case tlian the gardener,
because the bulk of his crops is produced from
seed, and a sour seed-bed must result in failure.
No wonder, then, that farmers have found the
bringing of the sour subsoil to the surface in con-
siderable quantity has been a mistake.
In ordinary gardens the cultivation which results
from the constant use of spade and fork is produc-
tive of remarkable good, but when to that is added
trenching in the form of a casting over of the sur-
face-soil to a depth of 12 inches and the breaking up
deeply of the subsoil to an equal depth, almost the
highest form of soil culture is attained. In that
case the fertile properties of the cultivated surface
will gradually penetrate into the subsoil, and in
time that too will become thoroughly fertilised, and
may in moderate quantities be brought to the sur-
face. It is also well aerated because frequently
and deeply moved. The farmer's method of culti-
vation by the plough serves at once to harden
materially the lower soil, and the more it is thus
hardened or pressed the less capable is it of re-
ceiving air or fertile constituents. It is because of
the exceedingly diverse treatment of subsoils in
gardens that we see such wondrous crops — wondrous
indeed as compared with those found in fields, and
were the farmer wise he would perceive that his
only hope of success in culture lies in the adoption
of methods which have long become indispensable
in gardening. Some garden soils have been by deep
trenching and the addition of vegetable matter
transformed into almost masses of manurial humus,
and have become rich beyond imagination. Where
deep trenching Is carried out almost anything may
be buried if some 15 inches to 20 inches beneath
the surface. I remember being in a garden where
all garden refuse was thus disposed of. A broad
trench 3 feet in depth was always kept open, and
as soon as a dense layer of refuse was formed the
next trench was thrown out, and thus in time the
entire garden was not only deeply worked, but
heavily manured. Ordinary gardeners perhaps
would hardly care to do that, but at least they do
dispose of immense quantities of vegetable matter
in this way as well as of manure. Market gardeners
having foul soil, especially that subject to Couch or
Twitch Grasses, prefer to bury this rubbish deeply,
as making good manure. Even old Strawberry
plants. Asparagus roots. Cabbage stumps, and simi-
lar sturdy stuff have gone the same way with re-
markable results to following deep-rooting crops.
The great moral of all this is that in soil cultivation
whatever we do should be done well, but with
judgment, and in adding to our fertile surface-soil
annually but trifling portions of the subsoil we are
acting wisely, whilst to bring up a large portion of
the latter to the surface at once is an error which
years of hard work only can correct. A. D.
SCARLET RUNNERS FOR MARKET.
I THINK the London market gardeners are at their
wits' end what to grow in order to make the crop
pay. I have been much interested in a large
breadth of runner Beans planted out by one of
them at Ealing. Some ground that had grown an
early crop of Cos Lettuce was well manured and
ploughed, and as soon as the weather was favour-
able for its being done, the Scarlet Runner plants
were planted out. The plants were obtained by
placing a runner Bean in a 5-inch pot, and raising
it in a little warmth. The plants were then
hardened off in a cold frame, and planted out in
the form of a triangle. By this time the plants
were from 2 feet to 3 feet long, and a stake between
3 feet and i feet in length placed against each
plant, the vine being curled round it, and the
sticks tied together at the top. Then the soil was
drawn up round the plants, leaving a hollow in the
centre, and they were kept watered during the dry
weather. The drought prevented them from
making a good start until the rains came, about the
middle of August, and then the plants commenced
to grow at a great pace, and the jioints of the
leaders were pinched out so as to keep them a little
above the level of the tops of the sticks and cause
lateral growths. When they got into bearing the
yield was, and is still, very large, and though there
is a large plantation in the open, the frost of a few
days since, that laid low Tomatoes, Vegetable
Marrows, Dahlias, &c., left the Beans almost
unscathed. Some portion of the plantation consists
of the giant white, or white-flowered Scarlet
Runner, the dry seed being white ; the great
majority are the ordinary Scarlet Runner, with
their bright red blossoms, and among these there
can be noticed a good sprinkling of the Painted
Lady Runner, so-called because the blossoms are
partly scarlet and partly white. I should think
this plantation of Beans has proved highly re-
munerative, as very large quantities have been
gathered. If open weather should continue, and no
frost happen. Beans will be produced for many
days yet. — R. D.
*^:* Having lately been in the vicinity of Ealing,
we were much struck with the plantation of runner
Beans alluded to, and can bear ample testimony to
the method adopted. In addition to their being
easily picked when required for market, we con-
sider that there is not that amount of loss whicii
ensues when runner Beans are allowed to trail over
the ground, as is generally the case in market
gardens. We think growers may well take a lesson
from the above practice, seeing that, in addition to
its other good results, the plants are in a measure
rendered free from frost. — Ed.
Destroying wasps' nests.— The season for
wasps is fast drawing to a close. We have this year
destroyed sixty nests within six hundred yards of
the garden here. I am happy to say the old-fashioned
plan of suffocating them at night with gunpowder
and sulphur, and the after trouble of digging them
out and mixing water and soil with them to
thoroughly stamp them out, has given place to more
expeditious methods. Cyanide of potassium is
excellent for their destruction, but I have lately
352
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 15, 1887.
tried a liquid preparation, called " Haddock's Kill
Wasp," which is even more effective. By pouring a
little into the hole the fumes arising appear to suffo-
cate the wasps in the nest, and also all those that go
in. The advantage of this preparation is, that it can
be used in the daytime as weU as at night. —
E. MOLTNETTX, Smanmore Park.
Trees and Shrubs.
THE HONEY LOCUST TREE.
(gleditschia triacakthos.)
This tree, of which an illustration was given
on p. 304, is well known by name, but it is com-
paratively rare, except in choice, well-stocked
arboretums. One of the finest specimens in the
environs of London we can recall to mind is at
Devonhurst, Chiswick, the residence of Mr.
E. H. Watts, and in the "Arboretum Britanni-
cum" of Loudon it is mentioned that plants
were planted in 1835 in the garden of the London
Horticultural Society, and this is probably one
of the number, as the grounds formed part of
the Royal Horticultural Society's garden, but
when the latter removed their quarters to South
Kensington this portion was given up. Tree
lovers must regret this rash step, as Devonhurst
contains a fine collection of trees but little
known, except to arboriculturists, and the
buUder seems to threaten their existence, as
this charming retreat is being entirely built in.
The Honey Locust is at once ornamental and
graceful, the delicate pinnate foliage, like that
of a Robinia, and the elegant picturesque form
of the tree imparting beauty and dignity to
the scenery of an English park. The spiny
character of its growth is a distinct feature, and
the specimen at Devonhurst is covered with
lonw pendulous pods of a reddish brown colour
that light up the landscape when the sun shines
full upon them. I was particularly struck with
its beauty one early morning when a ray of
sunshine caught one side of the tree and in-
tensified the colour of the fruits. It requires
shelter, as, like the English Elm, the branches
are soon broken by the wind if exposed to its
full strength. In its native home it attains a
height of 70 feet or 80 feet, and there are ex-
amples in England quite as high. It does best
in the southern counties, and grows with
moderate rapidity. E. C.
Trees for shade. — The Walnut is an excellent
tree to place a seat under in hot weather, as under
its shade the air is always refreshingly cool, and
there are not many of those species of insects which
delight in torturing poor humanity. I do not say a
stray fly may not be found under a Walnut tree, but
they come and go, and arc never at any time suiE-
ciently numerous to become an annoyance. The
Weeping Lime is another good shade tree. The
foliage is larger than that of the common Lime, and
the under sides of the leaves are lighter in colour, and
have an agreeable effect when flickering in the breeze.
The flowers are also much larger, and the blossoms
come about a fortnight later than those of the com-
mon species. The Weeping Elm and the Weeping
Ash are useful trees in suitable situations for afford-
ing shade. The Abele Poplar, when placed near
water, is a peculiarly Interesting tree to sit under ;
towards the decline of day the whispering of its
leaves always seems suggestive of repose. The
Beech is a gond shade tree, but the Elm is dan-
gerous to sit under, as it has a habit, when of large
size, of casting off its branches without warning. I
have seen branches fall from old Elm trees on a
calm, still day when there has not been a breath of
wind stirring. — H.
The Sweet Pepper Bushes, as the pretty
North American Clethras are called, are among the
best of late blooming shrubs, and are especially
suitable for planting in damp spots where there is
no actually stagnant water. Clethras are particu-
larly partial to peat, and if grown in this and given
plenty of moisture they make very beautiful bushes,
which every autumn will be covered with dense
clusters of white flowers, which in most sorts are
very fragrant. There are several species grown in
our gardens, but there is not much difference
between them, except in a botanical sense. The
commonest is the Alder-leaved (C. alnifolia). It is
called White Alder in the States, because its leaves
resemble t!iOse of the Alder. It makes a dense,
round bush, and bears a profusion of upright spikes
of flowers. The pointed-leaved Clethra (C. acumi-
nata) has drooping spikes, and is a larger growing
shrub, and sometimes at home makes a respectable
tree. There are others grown in collections, such
as C. paniculata, Michauxi, and tomentosa, but the
Alder and pointed-leaved kinds really represent all
the others, and, moreover, these two are sold in
most of our best nurseries. During the planting
season the Clethras should be remembered by those
who wish to have a few uncommon shrubs in their
gardens. — W. G.
DECIDUOUS TREES WITH ORNAMENTAL
FOLIAGE.
In many gardens these are not valued so much as
their merits deserve. When they are effectively
planted they lend a great variety to the shrubberies
or parts of the garden in the autumn when flowering
shrubs are scarce. Many varieties also are very
ornamental during the summer months, and form
capital contrasts with those shrubs that are in
bloom. & the time Is close at hand for planting
such subjects, I will give a few notes on some kinds
that I know to be effective. Some plants do not
thrive in soil impregnated with chalk, and as I have
had ample opportunities to test many in this class
of soil, a hint on this subject may not be out of
place to intending planters.
Acer Negundo variegata is very showy where
effect is required during the summer months ; its
silvery foliage shows to advantage when standard
trees are employed to mix among dark- coloured
evergreen shrubs, such as Yews, Laurels, or Thujas,
which are often planted to screen buildings or blank
walls. Tall plants of this Acer brighten up such
places wonderfully. Dwarf plants also are useful
to mix among any other kinds of shrubs in the
fronts of the borders. They should be pruned close
in annually to one or two eyes ; this means keeping
them dwarf. This plant objects to chalk strongly ;
a light sandy soil enriched with some manure at
planting time suits it better.
The Purple Beech. — Even in a small state for
the shrubberies it has no equal in its colour of
foliage. As a standard growing on the Grass, with
a shapely head, which it quickly assumes if treated
liberally to some good soil and manure at planting
time, is the position in which it is seen to the best
Wild Cheery produces a flne effect if planted
on poor ground in a sunny spot. In the autumn
the leaves assume a most brilliant crimson hue,
which is very conspicuous at a distance.
Castanea attrea (Golden Variegated Spanish
Chestnut). — This plant is effective during summer
it planted in a mass of, say four or six together, if
the plants are small ; otherwise one good specimen
is sufficient. A sandy soil, free from chalk, suits
this plant best.
Purple Hazel when growing freely is most
effective in a mass of from six to ten plants, if not
too large. Its dark coppery-coloured foliage shows
to the best advantage if it is planted close to a large
mass of Golden Elder. It can either be grown into
large trees or kept as dwarf bushes, if judiciously
pruned annually in either winter or early spring.
The more luxuriant the growth the deeper is the
colouring of the leaves ; therefore some manure to
the roots at planting time is of advantage.
Golden Elder when planted in a mass in a
sunny spot, backed up by dark green shrubs or
by the side of Purple Hazel, produces a rich effect.
It is of easy cultivation and grows in almost any
kind of soil. It can either be kept in a dwarf state
by pruning the growths close in to a single eye any
time after the leaves have fallen, or it may be al-
lowed to grow into a larger tree, as circumstances
require ; if pruned and kept pinched into shape it
makes a handsome bush when planted singly.
The Silver Elm, grown as a standard, is another
white-foliaged tree which is effective when growing
over the tops of dark evergreen shrubs. If the
branches are pruned annually the tree can be kept
to a convenient size for many years.
The Honey Locust (Gleditschia triacanthos) is
a very ornamental tree, having a semi-weeping
habit with finely cut leaves. As a standard tower-
ing above other things it shows to the best ad-
vantage. It is not particular as to soil. A little
manure renders the growth more luxuriant, and
consequently gives a better effect.
Aralia canescens is best grown with a single
stem. Its spreading leaves are seen to the best
advantage in this form. The spines on the stem
of the tree and the dark-coloured ribs of the green
leaves, which also assume a purple hue, render it a
desirable tree to plant anywhere in the mixed
shrubbery.
Dimorphanthus mandschuricus soon grows
into a large tree, and the stock can be quickly in-
creased by the numerous suckers, which, if taken
off with roots attached, soon become useful plants.
A free growth should be encouraged, as upon this
much depends the beauty of the plant.
LiQuiDAMBAE STTRAciFLUA is best seen when
growing by itself on the Grass in a sunny spot,
backed up, if possible, by green trees. The leaves
in the autumn assume a bright red tint, and remain
on until injured by frosts. It grows freely in good
loamy soil free from chalk. Here and there among
the shrubs it is effective in the autumn.
KOELEEUTEEIA PANICULATA is just now assuming
its autumn tint of light, red-coloured leaves. During
the summer its green leaves, which are deeply
toothed with reddish-coloured stems, are very effec-
tive.
The Tree op Heaven (AUanthus glandulosa) is
a vigorous-growing tree. In some places it is
annually cut down to the ground, springing up
again vigorously and growing in one season to the
height of 5 feet where the situation is warm and
humid, the deep green leaves then being most effec-
tive.
The Golden Oak is very ornamental, and re-
quires careful planting in a good loamy soil, as it is
not so free in growth as some subjects. It will not
thrive in chalky soils.
Sumach. — The common varieties of this grow
freely anywhere, and look well both during summer
when the leaves are green, and in the autumn when
the leaves change to a rich crimson.
The Maiden-hair Tree (Salisburiaadiantifolia)
grows freely in almost any soil, with the addition
of some manure, which induces a more vigorous
growth, and renders the colour of the leaves of a
deep rich green.
Hickory. — No tree at this season of the year
produces a more gorgeous effect than does the
Hickory with its bright golden-coloured leaves,
which seem to change all at once. When planted
in a sheltered position in good soil rapid growth is
made. Protection from south-west winds is neces-
sary, as if the leaves get battered and broken by
storms, as they invariably do when exposed, the
effect is spoilt for the season.
E. MOLTNEUX.
The Claret Vine (Vitis vinifera purpurea). —
During the first half of the season the name of
purpurea, as applied to this Vine, appears some-
what of a misnomer, but towards the end of the
summer the leaves become of a rich claret colour,
and in this stage are very attractive, while just
before the fall of the leaf they are even more
brilliantly tinted, and remain in this condition till
they drop. It is certainly a very distinct and hand-
some Vine, but is by no means the only one worth
growing for the sake of its ornamental foliage, as
Oct. 15, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
353
mention may be made of the huge-leaved North
American Vines and the equally large Vitis amu-
reusis, the cut-leaved variety (apiifolia) of the
common Grape, as well as the pretty Japanese Vitis
Thunbcrgi. No mention of 'N'ines at this season
would be complete without the small, but bright
blue berries of X. humula^folia, which during a hot
summer are borne far more freely than when the
weather is dull and cold. — T.
Parsley-leaved Bramble. — I lately saw a
good way to grow this Bramble, which was planted
singly at the corner of the vegetable quarters close
to the path. Trained to a stake about 7 feet high,
it had a good effect when loaded with fruit from
top to bottom. In such a position the plants do
far better than when they are planted in rows, as
they are by the former method exposed to a free
circulation of light and air on all sides. This va-
riety is one of the most ornamental of the Bram-
bles, and fruits very freely. — S.
The autiunn tints of the Yellow Wood
(Virgilia lutea) are unsurpassed by any other large
tree we have in this country, and this year the
colour of its decaying leafage seems to be unusually
bright. Nothing could well surpass the golden glow
of a tree I saw this week in the Knap Hill Nursery.
It is a large, round-headed and densely branched
tree, 40 feet high or more, and the entire foliage
from top to bottom was of a uniform clear rich
yellow, with an entire absence of rusty or brown
patches which detract from the beauty of the
tints of several other trees. Wherever I have seen
this tree lately the foliage has been unusually
brilliant, but that of the specimen at Knap Hill
excels them all, and is really worti going all the
way from London to see alone. How few know
this grand hardy tree, and how seldom is it planted
in private gardens ! Yet it is one of the finest
ornamental trees ever introduced. It is extremely
elegant in growth ; its foliage is of a pleasing pale
green in summer, and always turns in autumn to a
yellow, more or less deep, while it is perfectly hardy,
and may be grown on almost any soil, though it
prefers one not too light or too heavy and a sheltered
situation. One peculiarity of the tree is the suscep-
tibility of its foliage to frost, for no sooner does the
first white frost come than all the leaves drop in a
few hours. Those who would like their gardens or
pleasure-grounds to contain trees of interest and
beauty should make a note of the Yellow Wood. —
W. G.
SSOBT NOTES.— TREES AND SHRUBS.
Evergreen Thorn (CratajErus Pyraeantha). — A
large specimen of this on a wall at Chiswiek is one
mass of scarlet. The berries are produced in large
bunches, and to preserve them from the birds in win-
ter the plant has to be netted. The Evergreen Thorn
is beautiful at all seasons. We have the white flowers
in spring and the berries in winter, while the leafage
is always fresh and ornamental. — E. C.
Variegated. Privet. — The variegated variety of
the oval-leaved Privet is one of the brightest-leaved
plants we have. It is not so vigorous as the common
kind, but more compact in growth, and the foliage is
broadly margined with yellow, so much so as to leave
but a small blotch of green in the centre. It is espe-
cially conspicuous when associated with green-leaved
shrubs, as it is in the Epsom Nursery. In a large
mass of it only one or two branches had reverted to
the normal type. — E. C.
Almond fruiting. — Mr. Joseph Hall in The
Garden, October 1 (p. 306), seems surprised that
Almonds should fruit near Torquay. They fruit here
in South Hants every year quite freely, and it is quite
likely that the crop of fruit would be heavy but for
the fact that many of the flower-buds are annually
picked out by the birds, bullfinches and tomtits being
the most troublesome. Ahnonds grow very freely, and
where not subjected to the depredations of birds in
the spring are very showy when in flower. Planted as
standards in an open position, they flower much more
freely than when closely pruned. — S.
Abelia rupestris. — This is oftenerfound growing
under glass than outdoors. I fancy it is only in the
south of England where it will succeed well without
greenhouse treatment. We have a small plant which
has hitherto not made much progress, although it has '
been planted three years at the foot of a south wall.
It has lately begun to grow, and its pretty pink
coloured shoots and green leaves make a good contrast
with its almost snowy white flowers, which at the
present time are very freely produced on the points of
the young growths. It strikes freely in the spring in a
gentle bottom heat if the cuttings are formed of half-
ripened shoots about 2 inches long. — E. M., Htint<.
Pomegranate in flower. — Last winter a speci-
men of the single red Pomegranate trained to a
wall here was severely injured by the frost, but with
the return of spring it quickly recovered, and is now
completely studded with its showy blossoms. It
had been in its present position half-a-dozen years,
during which time it scarcely suffered at all from
frost till last winter, when the young growth was
aU killed, and, strange to say, the blooms are ten-
fold more plentiful than ever they have been before.
It certainly forms a remarkably showy object when
in flower, and is rendered still more striking from
the fact that it differs widely from any other com-
monly planted wall shrub. The double-flowered
varieties are still more showy than the single, and of
the latter the forms most commonly met with are
the double white, red, and bufE. — H. P.
Propagating.
Cuttings of hardy deciduous trees and shrubs may
now be put in ; indeed, it is the best time of the
year for the purpose, as a greater measure of suc-
cess may be reasonably expected than if they are
put in later on, though it is often done, especially
where help is a very important consideration.
As there are so many things to do just now, this
work is often delayed till bad weather sets in, when
the cuttings may be made under cover, tied up into
convenient-sized bundles, and laid in till the wea-
ther is favourable for inserting them properly. In
taking cuttings, good clean shoots should be chosen
in preference to stunted and distorted ones, as not
only do they strike more freely, but also form more
vigorous plants when rooted. Some subjects, such
as many Willows, Poplars, the common Mulberry,
and others will strike root, even if good-sized
branches are chosen, but the best cuttings should
be formed of shoots not more than two years old,
while at the same time young and immature twigs
must be rejected. A good length for cuttings of
most subjects is from 1 foot to 15 inches, two-thirds
of which should be buried in the soU. In forming
the cuttings they root better if a heel be left at the
base, but as this cannot be often done, the shoots
must be so fashioned that there is a good eye at the
base of each cutting. The selection of the ground
is a very important consideration, and where pos-
sible it should be a spot fairly sheltered, but at the
same time quite free from overhanging trees or any
that are likely to send their roots into the soil occu-
pied by the cuttings. If it can be carried out, the
soil chosen should be of an open sandy nature, but
as it is not always possible to arrange these things
as one might wish, should the soil be stiff and heavy,
the effects of this may be to a great extent neutra-
lised by putting a little sand in each row with the
cuttings when they are being inserted. A very im-
portant item towards success is to see that each
cutting is inserted firmly in the ground, the best
way to effect this being to cut out a notch with a
spade to the depth required, then put the cuttings
in their place, pressing them against the perpen-
dicular side of the trench. When the soil that has
been removed is replaced and trodden firmly, each
cutting is fixed securely in position. The next row
may then be inserted and finished in the same way
till all the cuttings are put in. The after treatment
consists in keeping them clear of weeds during the
following summer, when by autumn they will be
ready for transplanting. There are a great many
subjects that cannot be struck with any measure of
success from cuttings, so that it is necessary to pro-
pagate them from layers, which operation may be
carried out at almost any season, but the early
months of the year are the best for the purpose.
Cypeeus alteknifolius. — Plants of this raised
from seed form much more attractive specimens I
than if increased by division, or by bringing the
heads of foliage in contact with the ground, when
young plants are quickly produced from the axils of
the leaves, but they do not form such neat speci-
mens as seedlings. It is by no means a difficult
matter to obtain seeds, as, if a large plant or two be
potted on and allowed plenty of room to develop,
seeds will be produced in abundance ; all that
is necessary is to sow them when ripe, and keep
them in a stove during their earlier stages. The
variegated form will not come true from seed ;
therefore it is necessary to increase this variety by
division. T.
Societies and Exhibitions.
CRYSTAL PALACE HARDY FRUIT SHOW.
The exhibition of hardy fruits held at the Crystal
Palace, on October 6, 7, and 8, was of large extent,
considering that the classes were comparatively
few, but in some there were upwards of thirteen
competitors, and throughout there was a sharp
contest for the awards. Taken as a whole, it
was a surprising exhibition, especially in the
case of Apples, which for splendour of colouring,
shape, and size were unexcelled. Noticeable for
high quality was Gascoigne's Seedling, an Apple
that for beauty of appearance stands alone ; Mere
de Menage, Emperor Alexander, the large and hand-
some Peasgood's Nonsuch, Cox's Pomona, Warner's
King, and Blenheim Orange. The exhibition occu-
pied the whole of one end of the building, and there
were sufficient vegetables and flowers to give variety
to the display.
In the class for a collection of Apples, kitchen
and dessert varieties, six fruits of each, Messrs.
G. Bunyard and Son, The Old Nurseries, Maid-
stone, were first, with fruits of brilliant col-
our and general excellence. The whole of the
exhibits were of even quality and in thorough
character. The Red Astrachan Apple was of vivid
colouring, and there were fine samples of Yellow
Ingestrie, Tower of Glamis, Red Hawthornden, pale
yellow flushed with rose ; Peasgood's Nonsuch,
Blenheim Orange, Duchess of Oldenburg, with beau-
tifully striped skin, Alexander, Cox's Orange, Cel-
lini, Queen Caroline, and The Queen, a very hand-
some variety, the skin striped and flushed with
crimson on a yellow ground. Mr. J. Watkins,
Pomona Farm, Hereford, was a good second ;
the fruits were noticeable for richness of colour,
the best in this respect being the Crimson Costard,
Worcester Pearmain, Yorkshire Beauty, Duchess of
Oldenburg, Blenheim Orange, and the famous Tom
Putt. There was good competition in the class for
twenty-four dishes of Apples, the winner of the
first prize being Mr. J. McKenzie, Linton Gardens,
Maidstone, who had finely-developed fruits of
Gloria Mundi, the showy Cox's Pomona, Emperor
Alexander, Eohlinville, Peasgood's Nonsuch, Mere
de Menage, and Gascoigne's Seedling. The fruits
of the latter were of delightful colour, the skin very
pale yellow, with a brilliant flush of rose on the
sunny side, and overlaid with a deep bloom like
that of the Hoary Morning variety or Blue Pear-
main. Mr. A. Waterman, gardener to Mr. H. A.
Brassey, Preston Hall Gardens, Aylesford, was
second. In the class for twelve dishes of Apples,
Mr. F. Smith, Loddington, Maidstone, was first,
staging Warner's King, The Queen, Cox's Orange
Pippin, Loddington Seedling, and Gascoigne's Seed-
ling in splendid condition, especially in the case of
the last-mentioned variety. The second award was
made in favour of Mr. W. Jones, gardener to Mr.
J. R. Brougham, Wallington Bridge, Carshalton,
who had excellent fruits of Cox's Orange Pippin.
Peaks were eclipsed, as far as appearance goes, by
the Apples, but we have seldom seen the Louise Bonne
of Jersey variety more brilliant in colour, the fruits
being large, flushed, and speckled with crimson as in
the Trout and Windsor Pears. In the class for a col-
lection, the first place was occupied by Mr. J. Butler,
gardener to Mr. A. J. Thomas, Orchard Lane Gar-
dens, Sittingbourne, The fruits were of good finish,
size, and colour. Louise Bonne of Jersey was the
finest in the latter respect, and there were excellent
354
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 15, 1887.
samples of Calillac, Beurre Hardy, Drirondeau>
General Todtleben, Duchesse d'Angouleme, Pitmas-
ton Duchess, Doyenne Boussoch, and Beurre Clair-
geau. Messrs. T. Rivers and Son, The Nurseries,
Sawbridgeworth, was second, showing capital
fruits, some of them fine in colour and full of
character. Mr. C. J. Goldsmith, gardener to Mrs.
C. A. Hoare, Kelsey Manor, Beckenham, was to the
front for 12 dishes of Pears, the whole of the fruits
characteristic samples. Beurre Clairgeau was splen-
did, also Louise Bonne of Jersey and Uvedale's St.
Germain, while the fruits of Pitmaston Duchess and
Doyenne Boussoch were noteworthy. Mr. W. Chis-
holm, Oxon Heath Park Gardens, Tonbridge, was
second, showing amongst others Brockworth Park.
Vegetables formed an important feature of the
show, and represented skill of a high order. In the
class for the best collection arranged for effect, Mr.
A. Waterman headed the prize list, the whole
arranged in a tasteful and careful manner. Drum-
head Savoy, Major Clarke's Celery, Perfection To-
mato, Pragnell's Exhibition Beet, and New Inter-
mediate Carrot were worthy of mention. Mr. J.
Neighbour, gardener to Mr. E. J. Wyther, Bickley
Park, Chislehurst, Kent, was second. The last-
named exhibitor was to the front in the class for
twelve dishes, not less than six sorts, and especially
good were the samples of New Intermediate Carrot,
Autumn-protecting Cauliflower, White Globe Onion,
Pragnell's Exhibition Beet, and Hollow Crown
Parsnip. Mr. A. Waterman also exhibited well in
this class. Messrs. W.Wood and Son, Wood Green,
London, offered prizes for six dishes of vegetables,
the silver cup going to Mr. C. J. Waite, gardener to
Col. the Hon. W. P. Talbot, Esher, who had credit-
able produce.
An interesting class was for the heaviest Gourd
or Pumpkin, and Mr. S. T. Wright, gardener to Mr.
C. L. Campbell, Glewston Court, Ross, was first,
showing a specimen weighing 140 lbs. Mr. C. Osman,
Sutton, Surrey, had the best collection of orna-
mental Gourds, but though grotesque in shape and
showy, the monstrous forms of Gourd are certainly
ugly. Mr. J. Squire, Upper Norwood, was the most
successful in the class for a collection of Pampkins
and Gourds. Some of the former were of large
size.
The miscellaneous class was strongly represented.
Messrs. Sutton and Sons, Reading, staged a large
and interesting collection of Tomatoes. The plants
had been grown solely in the open air, and the
fruiting stems, which were fastened on wire stands,
showed the extraordinary productiveness of the
Tomato, and the large size the fruits attain when
the plants are properly cultivated. Messrs. T.
Rivers and Son, Sawbridgeworth, had fine samples
of Pitmaston Duchess Pear and Grand Duke Plum.
There were also pot trees in fruit of the last-men-
tioned Plum and the Monarch variety. Gladstone,
Sea Eagle, and Lord Palmerston Peaches were re-
presented by good samples. Messrs. W. Paul and
Sons, Waltham Cross, had a representative collec-
tion of Apples, in which were excellent fruits of
King of the Pippins, Cox's Pomona, Mere de Men-
age, and Mabbett's Pearmain. Magnificent Pears
were shown by Mr. J. Butler. There were heavy and un-
usually large fruits of Pitmaston Duchess and Beurre
Hardy, and those of Louise Bonne of Jersey were
for colour unequalled, the crimson spottings and suf-
fusion being of the most vivid description. Messrs.
Jas. Veitch, Fulham and Slough Nurseries, showed
a large collection of Apples and Pears, the whole of
the fruits good samples of their kind. The Ribston
Pippin was in perfection, also the Sandringham
variety, an Apple of handsome appearance and even
outline, the colour deep green flushed with a bronzy
hue, overlaid with dull red stripes. Messrs. G. and
J. Lane, St. Mary's Cray, Kent, had a collection of
well-coloured Apples, Warner's King, Cox's Pomona,
and Hoary Morning being well shown ; the fruits of
the latter were covered with a deep bloom, through
which could be seen the brilliant crimson streaks.
It is one of the mast beautiful of all.
The fruits of Messrs. G. Bunyard and Co., Maid-
stone, were arranged in patterns, a relief from the
piled-up dithes of samples in other collections. An
edging was made of the pretty Yellow Ingestrie,
and there were brilliantly coloured fruits of the
Worcester Pearmain, Peasgood's Nonsuch, Cox's
Pomona, and Glory of England, a pale yellow va-
riety, flushed and speckled with bright red.
Messrs. Hooper and Co., Twickenham, showed
single and double Begonias and a collection of
winter-flowering Carnations, of which Mdlle. Carle,
a lovely pure white variety, F. Raspail, scarlet, and of
full, handsome form, and Louise Chretien, pure
white flaked with crimson, were the best.
Messrs. Cheal, of Crawley, had a collection of
single Dahlias ; and from Messrs. Paul and Son,
Cheshunt, came Michaelmas Daisies and other
seasonable flowers.
A prize list wOl be found in" our advertising
columns.
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL.
October 11.
Dahlias, Chrysanthemums, fruit, and vegetables
constituted the main features of the meeting on
Tuesday last. There were a few novelties, and the
following plants and Apples were certificated : —
Cypbipedixtm Habhisianum stjpbbbum.— This
is a splendid Lady's Slipper, much finer than the
parent, and with flowers of great boldness of form.
The polished leaves are tessellated in a similar
manner to those of the type, and the rich brown
hairy scape supports a bloom of fine propor-
tions. The dorsal sepal is broad and richly suffused
with a deep brownish hue, which shades into crim-
son, and brings out the whiteness of the margin ;
the stripes and veinings are of a deep chocolate
colour. The firm and shapely petals are of similar
colouring to the sepal, with a conspicuous band of a
deeper shade down the centre, while there is a trace
of green, and the margin is fringed with black
hairs ; the lip is dull red, except the base, where
there is a suffusion of green ; and the whole of the
flower has a highly polished appearance that greatly
adds to its richness and beauty. From Mr. F. G.
Tautz, Studley House, Hammersmith.
Chbysanthemtjm Wm. Cobbbtt. — This is one
of M. Delaux's seedlings, and gives a distinct
colour. It belongs to the Japanese section, though
the flowers have none of that wild, rugged appear-
ance characteristic of the majority of these varieties
which we consider a fault, as the tendency is to
create a stiffness and flatness not altogether desir-
able. The colour is of a peculiar salmon-rose,
shaded with a bronzy hue. It is desirable for its
novelty of hue. From Mr. G. Stevens, Putney.
Chbtsanthemum L'Afhicaine. — This is an old
and well-known kind, of which the variety George
Gordon is a synonym. It is unfortunate that such
an error of judgment, as certificating an old thing,
should be made, as it leads to confusion. From
Mr. Holmes, Frampton Park Nurseries, Hackney.
Apple Bismarck. — This is of the character of
the Emperor Alexander variety, but flatter in form,
and, unlike that fine Apple, is a late keeper, as it is
fit for use in March. It is a fine addition to the
kitchen Apples, and is of excellent quality. The
colour in typical samples is of a deep red, with a
suffusion of green on the shady side, but varies
considerably, some fruits being almost white, with
a bright flush of crimson. From Messrs. J. Veitch
and Sons, Chelsea.
Apple Gascoigne's Scablet Seedling. — This
variety may be used for either the dessert or kitchen,
and, as regards appearance, stands in the front
rank. As exhibited at the Crystal Palace fruit
show, the fruits were the most beautiful in the ex-
hibition, being of large size and somewhat angular
and flattened shape. The brilliant flush of crimson
in contrast to the pale yellow, almost white, of the
sunny side is delightful, especially when the lovely
bloom, which is as deep as in Hoary Morning, is
preserved. It has been raised some years. Exhibited
by Mr. Gascoigne, Maidstone.
Chrysanthemums were well shown, and the pro-
spects of a fine season for this flower are most bril-
liant. Mr. W. Holmes exhibited a stand of excellent
blooms, including A. J. Quintus, a Japanese variety,
with thread-like petals of a pinky hue ; the lovely
Mdlle. LacroLx, and Romeo, a deep crimson Japa-
nese kind. Mr. G. Stevens, St. John's Nursery,
Putney, exhibited four stands of Mdlle. Lacroix
variety, the whole of the flowers of the purest white,
with the centre of a pale sulphur colour. The form
is somewhat flat and formal. It is one of the best
of the early whites. The same exhibitor also
showed the deep crimson-coloured Mons. H. Jacotot
and several of M. Delaux's seedlings of this and last
year, some of which are of considerable promise,
and display new tints. A Pompon, named Mrs. L.
Stevens, deserves notice ; it is a plant of dwarf
habit, and freely produces quilled flowers a little
larger than those of a common white garden Daisy.
Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, Chelsea, were awarded
a bronze medal for a small group of plants, com-
prising a collection of seedling Rhododendrons,
the brightly-coloured Begonia John Heal, and
Phrynium variegatum, a handsome plant, with
neat leafage, boldly variegated with creamy white.
Amongst the Rhododendrons a few varieties were
worth noting ; one, of a deep buflf-yellow, had
flowers of great substance, and borne in a large
truss ; and another, of a lighter shade, was also an
acquisition. There were many shades of colour, the
pale pinks telling well. The same firm also ex-
hibited the variegated form of Impatiens Sultani.
From the Royal Horticultural Society's garden at
Chiswick came several specimens of Hedychium
Gardnerianum, a Canna-like plant, with flowers o£
flue colour and delicious fragrance. It should be
more often grown. Messrs. H. Cannell and Sod,
Swanley, exhibited a basket of the double white
Begonia Octavie, and cut blooms of double and
single varieties.
Dahlias were represented by a collection of show
varieties from Messrs. Rawlings Bros., Romford, the
flowers being of excellent quality, especially those
of Queen of the Belgians, George Rawlings, Frank
Pearce, Mr. G. Rawlings, Ethel Britton, and R. T.
Rawlings, the latter a most effective golden yellow
colour. Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, exhibited a
few flowers of considerable interest. There were
cut spikes of Tritoma Macowani and Metschi, a
garden hybrid; the flowers are borne in a dense
small spike, and have short cup-shaped tubes with
long scarlet stamens. Unlike other kinds, they open
downwards. The same firm also had blooms of the
light purple-flowered Stokesia cjanea, which re-
semble those of a China Aster, and plants of Nerine
venusta and the Guernsey Lily, N. sarniensis, the
richly coloured flowers of which sparkle in the sun-
light as if dusted with gold. Mr. George Prince,
Oxford, exhibited plants of Tea Roses; and Mr. R.
Dean, of Ealing, showed Dianthus Heddewigi
Snowdrift, a pure white double variety with fim-
briated petals, and blooms of the lovely gentian-
blue-flowered Phacelia campanularia.
Orchids, although not plentiful, were of great
interest. From the collection of Mr. F. G. Tautz
came Cypripedium Harrisianum superbum, above
described, and a plant of C. Fairieanum, a Lady's
Slipper of extreme beauty and delicacy. The
dorsal sepal is comparatively large, and overlaid
with a network of deep purple veins on a greenish
white ground ; the petals, curled like the horns of a
bull, are lined with green in the centre and with
crimson at the margin, which is crinkled and dark
purple ; the lip stands out at almost right angles, and
is greenish in colour.
Baron Schroedcr, The Dell, Egham, exhibited
Cattleya porphyrophlebia ; the plant bore a spike
of two flowers, which are of medium size, and have
rose-coloured sepals and petals, and a neatly formed
lip, of which the tubular portion is of the same
colour as the sepals and petals, while tlie spreading
front is purple, fading to a lighter shade at the
margin. From the collection of Mr. J. Southgate,
Selborne, Streathara, came Aerides Lawrenccanum
(Southgate's variety), a remarkably fine variety of
the typo, bearing a handsome raceme of flowers
over 2 feet in length ; the sepals and petals are
tipped with a deeper shade than in those of the
type, and there is a suffusion of rose-purple on the
spur, which is bright green at the base. The
flowers have a powerful honey-like fragrance. Mr.
Oct. 15, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
355
Southgate also showed a species of Oncidium w th
brown and yellow blooms of dull colouring.
Fruit was more largely shown than at the last
meeting. Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons exhibited a
large collection of Apples and Pears, and were
awarded a silver Banksian medal. Amongst the
Pears, the fruits of Doyenne Boussoch, Marie
Louise, Pitmaston Duchess, Beurr6 Clairgeau,
Emile d'Heyst and Beurre Superlin were good
and of the Apples, Bismarck, Ribston Pippin,
Warner's King, Hoary Morning, and The Queen
were excellent samples. Mr. W. Roupell, Harvey
Lodge, Roupell Park, showed a Vine of Muscat
of Alexandria Grape, grown in a pot on warm
pipes, and ripened chiefly with sun heat. The
Vine was well cropped with large handsome
bunches, the flavour and colour both being excel-
lent. There were also good clusters of Madres-
field Court Muscat, and a Dake of Bucoleuch
Vine was exhibited grafted on White Frontignan
to check the vigour of the Buccleuch Grape, and
induce earlier ripening of the wood and a dwarfer
habit. It is an interesting experiment. Messrs.
W. Johnson and Sons, Boston, Lincoln, showed
a collection of Apples and Pears ; and Mr. W.
Divers, near Maidstone, exhibited fine fruits of
the Brunswick Fig. Excellent models of Apples
and Pears came from Victor Durfeld, Olbernhau,
Germany, and Mr. Thomas Perry, SouthaU, showed
a Melon from the Soudan, of a deep green colour,
banded with white.
Special prizes were numerous and well contested.
Messrs. Sutton and Sons, Reading, offered prizes
for a collection of vegetables, and there were several
competitors. The premier award was made in favour
of Mr. W. Pope, Highclere Castle Gardens, Newbury,
New Intermediate Carrot, Reading Exhibition Brus-
sels Sprouts, and Autumn Giant Cauliflower were
remarkably well grown. Mr. C. J. Waite, Glenhurst
Gardens, Esher, was a good second. The same firm
also offered prizes for Sutton's Scarlet Runner Bean,
the first prize going to Mr. R. Lye, Newbury,
and the second to Mr. W. Palmer, The Gardens,
Thames Ditton House, Surrey, both exhibitors
showing well-grown produce. Messrs. J. Carter
& Co. offered prizes for their Champion Runner
Bean, the first prize being awarded to Mr. J.
Bunting, Enfield, and the second prize went to
Mr. C. J. Waite, Esher. There was one com-
petitor for the prizes offered for Onion White
Emperor, viz., Mr. F. W. Edgcombe, who was placed
third. Messrs. Webb and Sons offered prizes for
Onion Improved Banbury, and the principal award
was made in favour of Mr. E. S. Wiles, The Gardens,
Edgcote, Banbury, the second prize going to Mr.
T. A. Beckett, Amersham.
mums of such quality and colour as Wm. Cobbett,
the society is doing useful and practical work. We
want Chrysanthemums in October of the same
character as those now seen in November, and this
is the way to promote their production.
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM.
A FLORAL committee of this society was held at the
Koyal Aquarium on Wednesday last, when there
was a good attendance and a moderate show of
flowers. At each meeting of the committee a silver
and bronze medal are offered for the best twelve
cut blooms of new Chrysanthemums of varieties not
offered in nurserymen's catalogues before November
30, 1886. On the present occasion there were two
entries, and the silver medal was awarded to Mr.
G. Stevens, Putney, whose stand contained blooms
of Macbeth, a rich golden yellow Japanese variety ;
Elsie, a beautiful creamy white, reSexed; Wm.
Cobbett, which was certificated, and will be found
described in our report of the Royal Horticultural
Society ; Rose Stevens, the petals white and pink ;
and Feu de Bengale, a bronzy yellow Japanese, all
of which are of great promise. The same exhibitor
also had a fine stand of blooms of the lovely MdUe.
Lacroix variety. Mr. Owen, Floral Nursery, Maiden-
head, showed blooms of new kinds, and also double
and single Begonias; and Messrs. H. Cannell ex-
hibited Begonia Octavie, double white, also cut
blooms of single and double varieties, and Chrysan-
themums, one of which, namely, Li Ti Licon, seems
promising, the colour being of a deep crimson.
Mr. W. Holmes, Frampton Park Nurseries, Hackney,
showed finely-coloured and well-developed blooms of
L'Africaine and Mdlle. Laorotx. By encouraging
the raising of new varieties of early Chrysanthe
UNITED HORTICULTURAL BENEFIT SOCIETY.
The twenty-first anniversary of this society was
celebrated on Tuesday evening last by a dinner at
the Caledonian Hotel, Adelphi, Strand. A large
company of gardeners was present, also several
gentlemen interested in horticulture and anxious to
further the welfare of this excellent and deserving
institution, which is founded on a broad basis, and
worthy of the strongest support of gardeners in all
positions. The chair was taken by Mr. Harry
Veitch, who expressed his warmest sympathy with
the objects of the society, and wished it continued
prosperity. In the course of his practical remarks
the chairman mentioned that the institution was
founded in 1866, and at first had a struggle to
maintain its place. In the first year only 21 mem-
bers were enrolled, and it was not until 1883 that
great progress was made, when the number was 96,
and at the present time it is over 200. He remarked
that this great jump was due in no small measure
to the gardening press, which has always mani-
fested an interest in the welfare of the society,
and helped it to become a power for good
amongst the special class to which it appeals.
He said it only wants to be known more how
cheaply and moderately the affairs are managed, and
the many benefits accruing from joining the institu-
tion. It was not very satisfactory that there was
only the number of members named, and he hoped
that by means of the able assistance of the press and
the distribution of concise circulars the roll would
be increased. He also paid a tribute to the untiring
energy and unselfishness of the late secretary, Mr.
McElroy.
Mr. Hudson said he regretted to have to announce
the death of Mr. Heal, and the satisfaction that he
felt in being able to hand over to the widow the
sum of £50. He felt that it was a great encourage-
ment to be able to record the great prosperity of
the society, and that the members continued to in-
crease rapidly. Mr. Philbrick proposed the horti-
cultural press, to which he said we owed a great debt.
We wish the society all possible success, and it
certainly now seems to have established a firm hold,
and likely to become a great power for good in the
gardening circle.
A CONVENIENT ORDER SHEET.
We give herewith an order sheet in use by Frank
Whitnall & Co., Milwaukee, which should recom-
mend itself to every florist. The use of this or a
similiar sheet greatly facilitates the handling of
orders, and reduces the chances of aggravating errors
to a minimum.
In handling cut flowers and plants, much depends
upon their being delivered at the right time
to give satisfaction, and anything which will reduce
the chance of mistakes should be adopted.
ORDER.
188...
Deliverto
Address
Time to be delivered
Article Price
Card No order book folio Amount paid..
Charge to
taken off until the order is filled. This provider
effectually against the possibility of one customes
getting another customer's order, which is not so
rare an occurrence as it might be.
When the customer giving the order wishes his or
her card to go with the same, the card is placed in a
small envelope, which is numbered, and the same
number placed in the blank space after " Card No."
This provides against any error being made in send-
ing a card with the wrong order, which is a source
of great annoyance to the purchaser when it hap-
pens, as it often has, in a rush of work. It is
also a reminder that there is a card to go with the
order, and assures that it will not be overlooked.
Many a florist has lost a customer from some little
oversight in this matter.
This order sheet should be about 5 inches by 8
inches in size, and can be got up by any printer
at slight expense. — American Florist.
Silver cups as prizes at flower shows. — At
almost every horticultural show of any pretentions
one or more of the principal prizes consists of a cup
or vase, generally neither ornamental nor useful. I
have never been able to discover the wisdom of offer-
ing cups as awards, as in nine cases out of ten they
are won by men who can put them to no appro-
priate use, and the designs are often wanting in taste
and elegance. I remember a prize of this descrip-
tion, valued at over 20 guineas, being won by a man
not earning more than £2 a week, and though it
may give joy to the winner for a time, the novelty
soon wears off, and then the owner is troubled in
mind as to the means of turning it into hard cash.
At one exhibition the winner of the first prize could
choose anything he liked, provided it did not cost
more than a certain amount, and a good handy
microsorope was selected, which has proved a source
of amusement and instruction to him ever since.
This is one of the best ways of bestowing prizes, as
there is often some book or instrument which the
winner might like, but is unable to obtain owing to
its expensiveness. — T. W.
BOOKS RECEIVED.
" Practical Papers on Gardening." Cornish Brothers,
.37, New Street, Birmingham.
" Flora of Howth." By H. C. Hart, B.A., F.L.S.
Hodges, Figgis & Co., Grafton Street, Dublin.
" Kew Bulletin of Miscellaneous luformation."
No. 10. Onion disease at Bermuda.
" Vines and Vine Culture." New and revised edition.
By A. F. Barron, Royal Horticultural Gardens, Chis-
wick.
BOX LABEL.
Address .
Card No.,
As will be noticed, the label or tag to go with the
goods is attached to the order sheet, which is not
Names of plants. — B. B. D. — Berries of the
wild Guelder Rose (Viburnum Opulus). Sub-
scriber.— Ajuga reptans, -T, X, Cltester. — 1, Ly-
caste Schilleriana ; 2, Coslogyne speciosa Dayaua ; 3,
Cypripedium venustum, F. IF, — Your tuberous
Begonia flowers are fairly good ; cannot name them.
G.Mills. — 1, Quercus lyrata; 2, Q, austriaca; 3,
Q. rubra; 4, Q. lanuginosa. Fritz. — 1, Linnsea
borealis; 2, Adiantum pedatum. Fanvy Fern. — •
1, Lastrea lepidota; 2, L. Filix-mas aerocladon; 3,
HymenophyUum uuilaterale. X X. — 1, Odonto-
glossum Insleayi Leopardinum ; 2, Oncidium cuculla-
tum ; 3, Epidendrum seeptrum ; 4, Cattleya velutina.
T. JeiiHns. — 1, Masdevallia Sohlimi; 2, M.
coriaeea, Smallwood. — Datura Stramonirmi,
L. E. B. D. — With scarlet flowers, Phygelius capensis ;
in fruit, Phytolacca deeandra; Daisy-looking flower,
Erigeron mucrouatus ; in again sending specimens
please number them, Sir H. Maxivell. — Cotoneaster
bacillaris, H.D. I. — 1, Pelargonium eehinatum; 2,
Zygopetalum Gautieri ; the others were not numbered;
the raceme of bloom is Miltonia Clowesi, and the single
flower is apparently a form of Odontoglossum luteo-
purpm'eum, but it was bruised in transit. Irwin. —
The bloom with a pale lilac lip is a good variety of Odon-
toglossum bictonense ; the other was too shrivelled for
identification.
ITaines of ftuit.— H. F. D.— Vicar of Winkfield.
Ardenza. — 2, New Hawthomden ; 3, Worcester
Pearmaiu ; 4, Duke of Devonshire ; 5, Stubtou Non-
pareil. G. T. Blomfield. — Apples. ^1, New Rock
Pippin; 2, Wyken. Pears. — 1, Comte de Lamy; 2,
Beurre d'Amanlis ; others not recognised. Balies.
— 1, Rymer ; 2, Orange Goff; 5, Betty Geeson ; 10,
Beauty of Kent ; 17, Brabant Bellefleur ; 20, not
21, Reinette du Canada.
356
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 15, 1887.
WOODS & FORESTS.
THE CORSICAN FIE.
(PINUS LAEICIO.)
Much has been said for and against, this Pine, and
one would almost be inclined to think that the
subject was nearly exhausted. This, however, is
not the case, as the planter is always anxious to
know as much as possible regarding the merits and
demerits of trees of recent introduction in order
to find out whether or not they are acquisitions
as timber trees for utility, or for ornamental pur-
poses only. With regard to the quality of the
timber of this tree as produced in this country,
little is as yet for certainty known, as the trees
have not matured in sufficient quantity to enable us
to judge of their merits. It is a hardy and rapid
grower, and attains large dimensions in a given
space of time, so that we may class it as a first-rate
forest tree in that respect, and well worthy of a
fair trial in so far as we are warranted in doing so
by the extra expense incurred during its treatment
in early life, and before it can be established as a
forest tree. The fact is that it is always deficient
in roots at the early stages of its growth, and
although I have planted it in nursery lines with the
greatest of care, yet, after all my trouble, I found
that about one-half of the plants perished in spite
of my efforts to save them. This is very dis-
heartening, and, taking into account the loss of time
and capital, I question whether it can be cultivated
as a forest tree for profit. I thought at one time
that perhaps my trees were an exception, but I soon
found that the losses sustained by others were
equally as bad, if not worse than my own. In the
formation of plantations for profit everything must
be carried out with the greatest economy, and in
planting barren heather ground the cost should
never exceed 40s. per acre, and if I can establish
a forest of Scotch Fir and Larch at that price, and
sometimes less, it will never do to pay three or
four times that amount for Corsican Pine. This I
consider to be the great barrier against the exten-
sion of this tree, and the only way of surmounting
the difficulty would be by sowing the seeds in the
places where the trees were to remain, by which
means there would be neither loss of plants nor
nursery expenses incurred during the early stages
of their growth. By adopting this system of culture
all sorts of vermin require to be kept within due
bounds, otherwise the seeds as well as the young
plants run the risk of being destroyed. It would
be a pity if this tree could not be established in
the forest at the same cost, or, at any rate, not
exceeding that of the Larch or Scotch Fir, as it is
of quick growth when once established, and not
fastidious as regards soil and situation. A great
many of the largest and finest plantations of Larch
and Scotch Fir in the north of Scotland have been
formed and established by employing two years'
seedling plants without being transplanted at all.
The plants are simply raised from the seed bed
and sent to the planting ground as they are wanted,
where they are then inserted by the notch system
of planting. This simple, inexpensive mode of
treatment, however, is altogether unsuitable for the
Corsican Pine, and unless it can be established at
a moderate outlay of capital, that is, by sowing the
seeds in place of using plants, it is doubtful
whether it can be ever used in quantity as a forest
tree in this country. Owing to the great fnU in
the price of land and its produce of all kinds,
everything in connection with estate management
must be carried out with the greatest economy, and
gentlemen cannot afEord to give fancy prices for
fancy trees and plant tliem out as forest trees when
others can be obtained and established at less than
half the cost. J. B. Webster.
not expect to find. Associated as this plant is with
many more of the same family which are remark-
able for their stately growth and noble proportions,
this Spruce stands out conspicuously by its refined
character. When seen in company with Pinus
insignis and Abies Nordmanniana, both of which are
in splendid condition, the Hemlock Spruce is a
still more striking tree ; in fact, I doubt if there is
another in this country that can surpass it. Larger
and taller trees there may be, but I have never seen
one either large or small so handsome in its bearing
as the tree in question. Its outline from the ground-
line to the topmost branch is perfect ; only at a small
portion of the top is the bole visible, so regularly
are the branches set on the stem. The height of
this specimen is between 40 feet and 50 feet, and as
it is growing in a sheltered position and in a rich
deep soil, the colour of the foliage is much darker
than is usual in this variety. — J. C. C.
The Eastern and Hemlock Spruces. —
These two Conifers are in fine condition at The
Grange, Kingston, near Taunton. From their ap-
pearance I should imagine they had b.een planted
from twenty-five to tliirty years. The first-named
is a very hamlsome specimen, being perfect in its
outline from top to bottom, with a growth that one
who only knows this Conifer in a small state would
THE DRAINAGE OF LAND.
The primary work in all operations to do with the
cultivation of crops, either of the farm, garden, or
forest, is to see that the land is well drained.
Should it be found that the soil is overcharged with
water, then something must be done to relieve it of
a large proportion of this water if anything is to be
grown besides rank Grasses or aquatic plants. The
drainage of land is therefore necessary to enable
our plants to grow more successfully, and should be
the first thing attended to. Draining in itself is a
heavy item in the cost of cultivation, but when once
properly done, the land will remain for years with-
out any more attention other than keeping the
mouth of the main drain clear of rubbish.
The first thing to do when commencing the
work of drainage is to go over the ground, select
the spot for the mouth of the main drain ; then,
if necessary, test with the spirit-level and staves
for any variations in the height of the ground, by
which you will be able to lay out the direction
of the main drain, which should be in the lowest
part of the ground, with a fall suflScient for the
water to run away. After having marked out the
position of the main drain, then proceed to mark
out the direction of the side drains. These should
run in the same direction as the slope of the ground
and towards the main to which they are united,
and by which they are emptied. Some prefer deep
drainage, others shallow. I think the depth of the
main drain should be about 4 feet, the intermediate
ones 3 feet 9 inches, thus allowing them to empty
their water into the main from the top. The dis-
tance between the intermediate drains will vary
with the nature of the soil to be drained. Thus, in
stiff clay 5 yards or 6 yards would be sufficient, and
in light land as many as from 10 yards to 12 yards,
according to the character of the soil.
Some years ago turf drains were largely used.
These were formed by digging to the required depth,
and ramming the top turf into the hole as low as it
would go, then filling in the soil above the turf
This acted very well for a few years — say about ten
years — but it then required to be done again. Next
came the use of tile pipes. These pipes have gone
through a variety of shapes and conditions since
being first introduced. The plain cylindrical pipes
now in use are, I think, sufiicient for any ordinary
work of drainage, and in the end are by far the best
and cheapest, as they work well for a great many
years. The mole-draining is being practised now
in several parts of the country very largely, and,
besides being very cheaply performed, is effective
for a few years. Some people when draining fill in
stones or faggots on the pipes before filling in the
soil, but as the water enters the pipes from below, I
cannot see the necessity of so (loing. In draining
a piece of ground intended for woodland, open
ditches are considered the best for the purpose, but
as it sometimes happens that an open ditch cannot
always be formed, owing to the depth required in
some parts to form an exit for the water, and the
great width required at the surface to form a suffi-
cient slope on the sides, I think the best method is
to use a tile pipe to carry it off, young plants being
I more apt to suffer from want of drainage than esta-
I Wished plantations. Trees, particularly the Pine
tribe, when they have become sufficiently advanced
to form a cover to the ground, have a tendency to
dry it by intercepting the showers and ordinary
humidity of the atmosphere, so that drainage which
may have been necessary at the first establishment
of -the plantation may not afterwards be of such
utility. As this is one of the best times for drain-
ing operations, I hope these few remarks may not
be out of place. A. T. Pateeson.
Xew Hall, Salisbury.
THE ENGLISH ELM.
The Elms may be classed among the most useful
and ornamental of our timber trees. They range in
height from the dwarf species of Siberia, which
seldom exceeds 4 feet, to the towering tree of our
English plains, which sometimes rises above 100 feet
in height. The toaghness of Elm wood renders it
of great value in the arts, and its durability under
water or in situations where it can be kept per-
fectly dry is another strong recommendation. The
English Elm (Ulmuscampestris) flourishes in a deep
loamy soU, moist, but not wet. It is very common
in this country as a hedgerow tree. The wood is
generally of a rich brown colour, hard, tough, and
crooked in the grain, being consequently difficult to
split or to work up. Its medullary rays are either
altogether wanting, or else very difficult to distin-
guish. This tree may easily be known by its dis-
tinct habit of growth, each succeeding year's shoots
springing in alternate order from the sides of those
of the previous year. The leaves are also similarly
placed. These are unequal at their bases, rough, and
doubly serrated. The English Elm is common to the
central and southern parts of Europe, and particu-
larly to France and Spain, and it is also found in the
western parts of Asia. When the timber has to be
kept unused for any length of time after felling, it is
better immersed in water. The strength of its lateral
fibre causes it to be much sought after for making
blocks for ships' rigging. It was formerly used for
keels of ships and as gunwales for men-of-war. Now
it furnishes naves for wheels, furniture, coflin boards,
pumps, and piles, and is used by carpenters and
wheelwrights generally. The timber is not liable
to shakes of any kind, and its sapwood proves to be
nearly as durable as the heartwood. Without great
care, Elm planks warp very considerably after saw-
ing. The pruning of Elm trees is generally followed
by rapid decay of the stumps, and when these are
of large size the timber soon becomes injured. In
some of the midland counties the trees are kept
closely pruned up from the time they are young,
and though they are thus rendered very unsightly,
the practice is supposed to be favourable to the
growth of tough and gnarled nave timber. This
tree but seldom thoroughly ripens its seed in Eng-
land, and consequently nurserymen obtain a great
part of their supply from the Continent. The
appearance of the blossom in early spring before
the leaves unfold gives to the tree a cheerful appear-
ance in the park, the hedgerows, and the woodlands.
It proves very effective as a decorative tree on
account of the great masses of light which the con-
formation of its branches and its dense foliage
enable it to reflect. It is supposed to be a native of
Britain, as nearly forty names of places given in
Doomsday Book include the word Elm. The
timber should be felled during the winter, and is
best cut down between November and February.
It was formerly extensively used as weather-board-
ing in the construction of liouses in Kent and
Essex, and wherever fuel for burning bricks was
scarce. The narrow-leaved Elm is only a variety of
campestris, and there are several other varieties
more or less distinct from each other.
A. J. B.
American Beecli (Fagus ferruginea). — This is
a deciduous species, introduced from North America
in 1706, and grows from 40 feet to GO feet in height.
This is probably only a variety of V. sylvatLoa, which
it very much resembles, the chief dift'ercnces being
the reddish brown bark, and the short obtuse leaf-
buds. It has a similar habit of growth to the com-
mon species, and, as far as I have observed, is quite
as hardy in this country. — F.
THE GARDEN.
357
No. 831. SATURDAY, Oct. 22, 7887. Vol. XXXII.
" This Is an Art
Which does mend Nature ; change it rather ; but
The Aut itself is Nature." — Shakesveare.
to take eaoli fruit in its best season, and,
avoiding very large specimens, select well-
grown, characteristic examples of each.
OUE STANDAED FEUITS.
AVe have too many Apples and Pears, and as
the power of raisers to add to their number
is unlimited, merely raising more without
some definite object would lead to no good
end. While it may be well to try many
sorts that are raised, there seems to us reason
for something like finality of selection being
adopted. Tlie continual introduction of
novelties without sound motives does not
advance our fruit culture.
While there are far too many kinds in cul-
tivation, certain real wants are not met. For
instance, in the case of our English Apples,
we want keeping kinds. The evil of having
too many kinds is seen in most gardens. It
would be easy to write an essay on the result
of the gardener being bothered with a lot of
fruits, some of which he does not even know
the name. We propose to adopt a standard
of our own, which may perhaps be an aid to
the beginner. Wo hope to figure life-size
and engrave in the best manner our most
valuable fruits. We mean the very best only,
not those merely distinguished by fertility
alone, or colour, or size. We will not accept
the popularity of a fruit as a test of its merit.
We shall not follow the example of the Apple
Congress in putting King of the Pippins at
the head of the list. As Apples and Pears
are grown to be eaten, the true test of all is
the flavour or quality when eaten or cooked.
To present to us new Apples not having
this quality is only adding to our embarrass-
ments. We wrote to Mr. Coleman the other
day on the proposal, and he welcomes it.
He suggests that some of our fruit-growing
readers would be likely to help us by selecting
and sending specimens of the kinds we seek.
If it were merely taking the nurseryman's
selection of best Apples, that would be an easy
matter. Some of these well-known kinds are
precious, some of no value. We will take
some, and reject others. Some local and
little-known kinds are better than the popular
nursery series. Before adopting as a standard
fruit any little-known kind, we will ask our
readers if they have any objections to urge to
its reception in our gallery. No fruit second-
class in flavour will be included, no matter
what its other merits may be.
We should be glad to receive opinions from
all our readers, but as regards the final
selection we shall please ourselves, judging
by taste only, and cooking the fruit when
desirable. We feel sure that some of our
fruit-growing readers who care about the
future of our fruit gardens will tell us their
thoughts on the subject, as to the selection of
high class kinds, first in quality, and adapted
for cultivation in our country. We propose
Flower Garden.
TOO PEW FLOWERS.
We have been surprised lately, in travelling
about the country, bj' the paucity of flowers,
even in some of the great places whei'e there is
every facility for their culture. In one famous
place in which carpet gardening became the
fashion there was literally nothing to cut, or
smeU, or draw. Carpet gardening, while the
meanest in point of picturesqueness of any
hitherto tried style, is the most barren in the
ends for which flowers have hitheito been cul-
tivated— that is, form, or beauty of colour or
scent. In some places, where people are evi-
dently tired of the bedding system, no scheme
to supplant it has yet been adopted, and pro-
bably not a few are at sea what to do. . Unless
the gardener is a man trained in sympathy with
the hardy flower movement, and acquainted
with the great variety of vegetation, he may not
be able to furnish a garden in a beautiful way
apart from the common system of bedding out
and carpet gardening. We would not exclude
the bedding wholly from the garden — its exclu-
sive and wrong use we have fought against —
when suitable beds might be retained ; but what
we want to impress on our readers now is the
need of growing certain plants which they fre-
quently do not, or which, if grown at all, are
grown in a starved and unsatisfactory manner.
For instance, among the finest flowers for their
blooms in the autumn, and also for their eflect
in the garden, are the Japanese Anemones, the
white and pink kinds — not the purplish one,
which is a poor distorted flower. We have
lately seen a very beautiful and famous garden
where there were two miserable tufts of this in a
corner, whereas there ought to be healthy groups
of both kinds. Whatever style of gardening is
adopted, or whatever people may think or do
about flower garden decoration, there is one
thing clear, that we cannot have a variety of
beautiful flowers unless we grow the best kinds
well.
Windflowers, beautiful in spring and autumn,
are excellent for cutting. Kingcups (Caltha)
ought to be profusely cultivated in spring,
as also the Cape Pondweed (Aponogeton)
where it can be grown ; this is excellent
where there is a spring, or where the water
is not very cold. Carnations, self and border
kinds, are most important, and hitherto
greatly neglected in gardens. To many of our
readers who go to their gardens in autumn,
these flowers are the most valuable of all. We
were pleased to see a fine lot in the gardens at
Greystoke the other day, quite late in Septem-
ber, and they were the fairest flowers for cutting
or any other use at the time. Christmas Roses,
where they grow well, are most important, and
are beautiful for weeks. Chrysanthemums —
numbers of early kinds are now grown, and
efforts should be made to secure for the open
air those which flower a little earlier than the
old house kinds ; we mean those that will flower
before the hard weather comes in the open air.
Clematises are most important, especially the
Indian white montana and the chaiming, sweet-
scented, autumn flammula, often seen in a cot-
tage garden, but frequently missed from an
The blue Cornflower should never be
grow for cutting, or for their efl'ects in the open
air, are the rich and varied forms of our com-
mon Primrose, Oxlips, and Cowslips, which are
easily raised from seed, and also easily obtained
from nurseries. They are beautiful for many
weeks in spring, and should be grown in every
garden. The Narcissi have become so popular
of late years, that it is not perhaps so necessary
to insist on them. The Poet's, the common
English, the Star Narcissus, and some of their
forms yield a succession of flowers for weeks in
spring and early summer.
The common Mezereon, seen in cottage gar-
dens, is often absent from the gentleman's
garden. It is perhaps the most beautiful bush
of the early spring. We have ourselves planted
several large groups, and should advise every-
body to have it. It will grow anywhere. Some
of the Day Lilies (Hemerocallis) are hardy, grace-
ful, and excellent. The evening Primroses are
very easily grown, and last a long time in flower,
and certainly should not be neglected by those
who care for flowers. The white Everlasting
Pea, too, is a splendid plant, and most of the
Everlasting Peas are good. The different Flags
or Iris are very easily grown, and give charming
bloom in early summer. The Flame flowers, or
Tritoma, are gems of the autumn garden. In
districts where they perish, a good way is to
take them up arid store them in a dry cellar for
the winter ; then they flower better.
Foxgloves should be sown in woods where
they do not grow naturally. The common
English Snake's-head and its varieties are
beautiful flowers, which should be plentiful.
The hardy Fuchsias are constant bloomers over
a large area, and, being perennial and hardy,
may be grown with a small amount of trouble.
Stocks everybody likes, but they want a little
care and to be sown every year, which care and
attention they richly deserve. We like the
Globe flower of the north of England, and all
other Globe flowers as early as summer tilings.
Perhaps the most useful hardy flowers are the
varieties of Pansies which are called Violas by
gardeners, but which are just as much Pansies
as any others. They differ in being more tufted
and enduring in habit. In ordinary years they
flower during the greater part of the year ; even
this dry year they are beautiful. They remind
us, in their simple cool colours, of the beauty
of the Violas on the high Alps. Ariel, Mrs.
Kinnear, and Bessy Clarke are typical of the
kinds we have now in bloom. One of the most
delightful series of plants for the early autumn
is that of the Heaths, different kinds of British
and European dwarf shrubs, which have an ex-
cellent effect in the garden, and are particularly
good in bold groups and masses. Honeysiickles
should not be left to the woods. The red Dutch,
the Japanese, the variegated, all deserve a good
place for their welcome and long-produced
flowers. In many districts the Hydrangeas
form a charming feature in the autumn garden,
and should not be omitted.
The director of the Arnold Arboretum at
Boston remarked to us the other day that in
English gardens much less seemed to be made of
flowering shrubs than their merits deserved, and
he mentioned the Lilacs and Spiraeas as cases in
point. Now, the Lilacs alone, to those who
enjoy their gardens in the early part of the year,
are most important, and they are very much
neglected. The common way of putting all the
shrubs in a mixed shrubbery is the ruin of the
flowering shrubs. Beautiful flowering shrubs,
from Lilacs to Tree Pteonies, should be grown
for their own sakes in groups, away from the
earl's. „ . . .
omitted ; sow it every year as soon as the seed influence of trees or hungry common shrubs'
is ripe. Some of the most delightful things to | like the Privet.
358
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 22, 1887.
The Lily is a storehousa of beauty of late
years— the Japanese, European, and American
kinds. Especially tine have been the large
.Japanese forms of the Tiger Lily — splendid
things. Juat now in our gardens one of the
prettiest effects — perhaps the prettiest effect —
of the season is that of the Michaelmas Daisies.
There are a great many plants grown under this
name, and one must be careful in selection ;
but there are eight or ten kinds quite indispens-
able in eveiy garden, and which would furnish
great quantities of beautiful bloom, which
would last a long time in the house. They are
more indispensable to the outdoor autumn gar-
den than the Chrysanthemums. As we write,
several kinds are in flower, the best, perhaps,
the large Amellus, which is a sterling hardy
plant.
We have lately visited several of the gardens
most famous in England, and in some could
not find a handful of Roses ! Now, in the
south of England there ought to be plenty
of Roses in every garden in the month of
September. As we write there are many
beautiful Roses in flower in our garden,
mostly of the Tea and Noisette class,
and they woidd have been better still if the
month of September had been as warm and
genial as usual. The old Souvenir de la Mal-
maison is perhaps the most valuable Rose ever
raised for those who want a continued bloom,
and there are others of the highest value for
late as well as early blooming. Rove d'Or has
been full of fine flowers lately, and so have
many of the hardy Teas.
The common Snapdragon is generally spoilt
by the "variegations" of the nurserymen.
One of the nicest things we know is a good clear
yellow kind grown by itself. There are also
some beautiful and curious orange-reds and good
whites. It is a good way to separate and grow
a pure race of one colour instead of the usual
weak mixtures of variegated kinds. We are
passing by various beaiitiful plants like the
Lavender and the Rosemary, which, not typical
of a class like many other things that we have
mentioned, are nevertheless almost indispens-
able in a good garden.
There are some Sunflowers that are extremely
valuable. A splendid plant is the single peren-
nial Sunflower (H. multiflcirus). Among the
brightest and prettiest of all the plants of the
Sunflower race is one of the American prairie
flowers. Coreopsis lanceolata. It is now in
bloom with us, and more refined and beautiful
than any of the larger and more vigorous Sun-
flowers. As a flower in the house, arranged in
free bunches by itself, we have not seen a
better thing.
The common Sweet Pea should never be for-
gotten ; it should always be sown in autumn as
well as in spring. A good line in rich kitchen gar-
den soil, sown in autumn, is, when it escapes the
winter, one of the most precious things lor cut-
ting that a lady can have in her garden.
The Gladiolus, like the Lily, should be used
in groups among shi-ubs. On a'l warm walls
the old trumpet creeper, Bignonia radicans,
should be grown. We noticed it very handsome
near Ipswich the other day, and suggest that
over a very large extent of England this beauti-
ful autumn climber can be grown on walls. Our
walls are too often given to the Virginian and
similar creepers, which, while they have some
beauty of leaf, have no treasure gf flower. It
is decidedly better to have a .Jasmine, from
which one can cut good flowers, than a thing
which merely produces leaves, and that, like
the Virginian Creeper, for a very short time
only. The common old white Jasmine is a most
precious plant, as graceful in its foliage as some
things which never flower in any conspicuous
sense, like the Virginian Creepers. On warm
walls the yellow summer Jasmine — not the
winter one— should not be forgotten. It does
beautifully in Essex — we mean Jasminum revo-
lutum. The Wallflower in its different colours
should never be missed from a garden where
spring flowers are wanted. Careful annual
sowings should be made. For table decoration,
for its odour and associations, it is the best of
our spring flowers.
We repeat, whatever style of gardening is
adopted or whatever doubt people may be in
about their garden, there need be no doubt as
to having plenty of those above named. If we
have these well grown, we need not trouble so
much about the style adopted for arranging
them with any others that may be cared for. —
Field.
NOTES ON HARDY PLANTS.
Sunflowers are a noble class of plants that
could be ill-dispensed with for autumn decoration.
Groups planted about in various places are very
effective in the distance, and add much to the
beauty of the landscape in large as well as small
gardens. Helianthusrigidus is over now, but we have
its very couiiterpait in H. Isetiflorus, of about the
same stature, similar leaves, stems, and flowers, but
with a yellow disc instead of a purple. As in the
Harpalium, this is a good garden character, and one
by which the plants may be easily recognised. H.
multiflorus in its small state, with single and double
flowers, is a really useful plant ; but a form called
giganteus reaches a height oE from S feet to 10 feet.
Dr. Gray, in the "Synoptical Flora" of North
America, says this plant is of garden origin, and
gives decapetalus as the source. With the plants
side by side, however, H. doronicoides seems the
more probable source, more especially when multi-
florus attains the height given above. H. occi-
dentalis and mollis are two little-known Sunflowers,
and yet their dwarf habit renders them very suitable
for the second or third row in the mixed border.
The Tickweeda (Coreopsis), especially C. lan-
ceolata and auricidata, are very useful plants for the
rockery or border ; they do not require staking,
flower freely from early in the summer until now,
and do not become unsightly. C. lanceolata is dis-
tinguished by its narrower leaves, longer stalks, and
somewhat larger flowers. C. auriculata seldom
justifies its name, although some few of the older
leaves may be found to have auricles at the base.
It is neater in habit, and more leafy than the other.
Cosmos bipinnatus, though an annual, is such
a beautiful plant as to well merit attention. The
flowers are deep rose, over 2 inches in diameter, and
very pretty as seen mixed amongst theFennel-like foli-
age. It is a much better plant tban C. atropurpurca,
now called Dahlia Zimapani, with its almost black
flowers. The latter, however, is also worthy of a place.
It is superior in habit to any of the other .single
Dahlias, such as Mercki, glabrata, &c., added to
which the (lowers are of a fine deep velvety purple
not seen at this season of the year.
The Great Ox-eye (Pyrethrum uliginosum) is
an excellent plant for borders, the large white flowers
making it very attractive. Few plants are more
effective wben planted in groups in the wild garden
folanum tisymbrifolium, known long ago in
gardens as S. Balbisi and figured as such in the
Jloliiuiffil Jteghiicr (t. 110), makes a very useful
plant for sub-tropical work ; the leaves are prettily
cut and crisped, and these, as well as the stem, are
covered with light brown prickles; the white flowers
are handsome, and at this season replaced by bunches
of vivid scarlet fruits. It may not be cjuite hardy in
the open in exposed places, but stands when pro-
tected by a wall. It is easily raised from cuttings.
It is also known as S. Jacquini.
The New Holland Violet (Viola hederacea or
Erpetion reniforme) is flowering more freely now
than I have ever seen it before. The plants are in
the open bed fully exposed, and growing in light,
sandy soil. There are about 200 flowers on a clump
l.j feet in diameter. It is a charming plant for
the rockery.
Xanthisma texans, a rare annual Composite
with largo golden-rayed flowers, is desirable on
account of its flowering now. It grows about 2 feet
high.
Primula obconica and floribunda have not
been harmed so far in the open ; both are desirable
plants, and though unfortunately not hardy enough
to stand our winters outdoors, they will continue
flowering in a dry cool hou.se.
Aconitumi Foiturei (A. chioecsis of PaxioiCs
jVcjf/azine) is the last of the Monkshoods to flower.
It is a neat-habited plant, and a very suitable one
for prominent places on the rockery.
Many of the Delphiniums are yet blooming freely,
the result of cutting the stems down as soon as the
first crop of flowers was over. It does not seem to
harm the plants in the least, and is both a con-
venient and profitable way of getting rid of useless
flower-stems. K.
TRANSPLANTING LILIES.
CONCEENING the transplanting of Lilies no better
advice can be given than that of your correspondent
on p. 320, viz., "leave them alone unless compelled
to lift them," for however careful one may be it
takes years for some kinds to recover their former
vigour, when an established clump has been dis-
turbed. Some species are far more affected by
removal than others, a few of the principal being
the Madonna Lily (L. candidum), L. pomponium, L.
pyrenaicum, L. pardalinum, L. Humboldti, and L.
Szovitzianum. Of this last I obtained about six
years ago some imported bulbs, and planted them
in good, well-drained, loamy soil, surrounding the
bulbs at the time of planting with sand. They were
planted at such a depth that when finished the top
of the bulb was 6 inches below the surface dt the
soil. The first year after planting the only display
made by these Lilies was a puny attempt on the part
of one or two bulbs to bloom, but the flower-stem
died away when but a few inches above the surface.
The following year there was a fair show of bloom,
but the third season yielded far better results.
Unfortunately, owing to some alterations that were
being carried out, it became necessary to remove the
bulbs, which was done as soon as the flower-stems
decayed, but notwithstanding the fact that it was
carried out very carefully, and the bulbs were above
ground but a short time, the following season they
did no better than the first year after importation,
while they improved again the second, and this year
they reached about the same state as before removal.
L. pomponium behaves in much the same manner,
except that it yields a better display the second
season than L. Szovitzianum. The North American
kinds, notably those with rhizome-like bulbs, are
very impatient of removal, and to these must I'e
added llumboldt's Lily (L. Humboldti), while
L. Washingtonianum I can never bloom in a satis-
factory manner. The best time for transplanting
Lilies is, in my opinion, just as the flower-stems
decay, for at that period there are in most cases a
few stout roots just discernible at the base of the
bulb. As these roots grow away at once it is evident
that when the removal is delayed later they are in-
jured and the bulbs must suffer thercliy. Though
in the case of some Lilies a bulb will flower the
first season even if these roots at the base are not
well developed, it is greatly weakened thereby,
in proof of which I may mention that having occa-
sion to pot a quantity of L. auratum late in the
season, I found on turning them out of their pots
after flowering that there w,as a great difference
in the condition of the bulbs, some being, despite
their late potting, pretty good, while others had
almost disappeared. Further investigatinns re-
vealed the fact that the soundest bulbs had all
pushed forth a considerable quantity of roots at the
base, while in the case of the others these roots
were imperfectly developed. The flower-stems
would thus appear to be supportetl at the expense
of the bulb, while the latter from the insufficiency
Oct.
1887.]
THE GARDEN.
359
of roots would suffer thereby. The roots around
the bottom of the stem are often present in greater
numbers when the bulb is decayed than when
it is perfectly sound. Though many Lilies are
so impatient of removal, there are, on the other
hand, some that are but little affected thereby,
the most prominent among which are L. tigrinum,
davuricum, speciosum, longiflorum, elegans or Thun-
bergianum, and auratum. Given conditions favour-
able to flowering, they may be relied on to bloom
the first season, and on that account are often
grown for flowering in pots, in which they do
well. I once saw a quantity of L. pomponium
the growth of which, while the other kinds with
which they were associated all did well, barely
appeared above the ground. I advised the plunging
of the pots outside without disturbing the bulbs
in any way, and this treatment was well justified by
results, for the next season they flowered beau-
tifully. Pretty though L. pomponium be, the
disagreeable smell of this Lily prevents it being used
indoors for decoration. H. P.
Japanese Toad Lily (Tricyrtis hirta). — I had
sent me the other day a few flowers of this interest-
ing Japanese perennial, which is seldom seen except
in gardens of enthusiastic cultivators of hardy
plants. The plant grows 2 feet or 3 feet high, and
the stem is clothed with ovate, light green leaves,
which set off the curious, but beautifully coloured
flowers, the latter being spotted like those of some
of the Odontoglossums. The colour varies in inten-
sity, sometimes the spots being quite pale. It will
live out unharmed in a sheltered place, but the
flowers, owing to their late appearance, are fre-
quently spoilt by frosts. If you wish to have it in
full perfection, it is best to grow the plant in a pot
and give the shelter of a cold frame. The flowers
are of a quiet kind of beauty seldom appreciated;
except by enthusiasts, and that is the reason of its
rarity.— T. W.
Tigridias as annuals. — It may be interest-
ing to some of the readers of The Gaedbn to
learn that these handsome flowers can be raised
and bloomed from seed in one season. In the
month of April I sowed, in a hotbed, some seed
which had been ripened during the previous Oc-
tober. The seed germinated in about a fortnight,
and as soon as the plants were large enough they
were potted three in a 3-inch pot, and returned
to the hotbed. After this, they were potted
into 6-inch pots. The plants were kept well
watered and shaded from the hot sun, and when
strong enough transferred to the open border,
where, to my surprise, they began to develop
flower-spikes. On seeing this I had them lifted
in order to flower them indoors. It appears to
me that the raising from seed would be a good
way of cultivating these striking and gorgeous
flowering plants, as I have planted out a quantity
or offsets of last year which have made good
bulbs, but which do not look as if they would
flower. — TV. A. Cook, Holme Wood.
Tridaz bicolor. — I enclose you a few flowers of
a pretty new composite named Tridax bicolor, which
I think will be found a useful acquisition in gardens,
and is a close ally of the old genus Galinsogea. It
has been treated as a half hardy annual, but is quite
likely to succeed if sown in the open border. It
grows about 15 inches to 18 inches high, forming
a much branched bush, blooming at every point
and continuing in flower throughout the summer.
The flower-heads are borne singly, well above the foli-
age on long footstalks, and are fully 1-i inches across,
and sometimes nearly 2 inches, the three-toothed ray
florets, fifteen to eighteen in number, being of a
rather deep rose colour, which in the partially
expanded bud is of a deep crimson , and the involucral
scales are also deeply stained with this colour. The
foliage is somewhat rhomboidal in form and strongly
ner^'ed, varying from 1 inch to 2 inches in length, and
almost entire. The plant has a thoroughly good
constitution, is of the easiest cultivation, and seems
quite at home in my sandy soil. The specimens
sent are picked from plants which have been flower-
ing for nearly three months, and have ripened a
relatively considerable quantity of seed, or they
would be finer. Should the weather continue open
I have no doubt that it will remain in flower another
month or longer. It is of Mexican origin, and is
entirelynew to cultivation. — TV. TH0MPS0N,/y««-;(7(.
*tf* A pretty and distinct flower, which we should
like to see grown in the garden. — Ed.
AMERICAN NOTES.
Clematis fanicdlata from Japan is now in
full bloom at Woolson's, Passaic. It is a
white-blooming vine in the way of C. flammula,
and being very free-tiowering and pretty and
blooming so late as September, it is a desirable
plant.
The Mist-flowee (Conoclinium cMlestinum)
is now in bloom. Its violet-purple flowers much
resemble those of the blue Ageratum. But the
plant is a hardy perennial. The Ageratum is
perpetually blooming ; while the Mist-flower
blooms only in the autumn.
Clematis tdbtlosa is another species in the
way of and blooming at the same time as C.
Davidiana, but it is not so free-flowering, showy
or fragrant. When Mr Parsons, superinten-
dent of Central Park, saw it here last summer he
admired it as an appropriate plant to use as a
margin to shrubberies.
Autumn Phloxes. — In Augu.st and Septem-
ber, how magnificent ! We have masses of white
5 feet across. The coloured varieties are less
useful for cut flowers, but perhaps more showy,
in the garden. The following, new to me, are
lovely : Liervalli, pink and white, striped,
capital ; Coccinea, deep red ; Ball of Fire, bril-
liant red.
Montbretia CKOC0SMI.EFLORA. — I keep the
bulbs over winter in moderately dry earth or
sand. In May I plant them out thickly in rows
in beds. From July till October they bloom in
great profusion, and the flowers, which are orange,
are well fitted for cut purposes. JI. Pottsi has
darker, even prettier flowers, but it is such a
shy bloomer as to be hardly worth gi-owing.
And for florists' use especially such things as BI.
Pottsi, Schizostylis coccinea, and some otliers
that yield but few flowers, do not pay for their
room and the trouble besto^Ved on them.
Tritoma.s. — Among many species of these now
in bloom at Woolson's, T. corallina is the prettiest.
Thorburn sent it out as a novelty among his
flower seeds this year. I got a packet of seeds
of it from him, and from it now have a boxful
of thrifty little plants. Tritoma Uvaria is gi-owu
in quantity by some of the large florists of Long
Island. If one can get the true T. Uvaria grandi-
flora he will have a very superior form. Wool-
son in his catalogue speaks of Tritoma caules-
cens : "Flowers in great profusion." This is
contrary to my experience, and I flnd that it
very often dies ott' in summer. I see some of
Mr. AVoolson's have gone in the same way.
Tritomas are easily raised from seed, and if well
cared for blooming plants can be had in two
or three years. — AV. Falconeb., in American
Florist.
Coreopsis Drummondi. — Anyone requiring a
free-flowering border plant almost yellow in colour
could not do better than grow this Coreopsis. By
sowing seed in a cold frame in the first week in
April the plants are soon ready to transplant, which
is best done by pricking them into some light soil
in a cold frame, where they can have the protection
of the lights for a week or two until new growth has
commenced. The plants should be kept as stocky
as possible, and, when fit, planted out where re-
quired, either in the herbaceous borders or in a row
in front of shrubs. The plants will soon come into
bloom, and will continue to flower until late in the
autumn. , Through the very hot supimer just past
this plant did not fail to flower, and is at the pre -
sent time smothered with its golden-yellow bios -
soms having a small dark centre. Af te r having bei n
put out the plants were freely watered until esta-
blished. The floAvers when cut last a long time in
water, and are very light and effective either by
themselves or mixed with other things. — S.
The Golden Snake'e-beard.— This Grass-like
plant forms a very pretty object in the greenhouse
at this season, the leaves being striped with yellow
and green, and as they reflex in a graceful manner,
the plant is quite devoid of any stiffness or for-
mality. An additional feature is imparted to it
during the autumn months, as at that season the
plants push up spikes of deep blue flowers, the
colour of which contrasts in a marked degree with
the tints of the foliage. The plant under notice is
of easy culture, as any ordinary potting soil will
suit it perfectly, and though it is by no means neces-
sary to protect it, yet the marking of the foliage is
brought out much better when the plant is grown
under glass than in the open ground. — H. P.
Dahlia, single. Improved Pantaloon. —
AVhat an exquisite bit of colouring matter, and for
button-hole flowers, how unique, backed with a
portion of Adiantum Pacotti. Add to this its ex-
traordinary vigour and freedom of bloom, and you
have a plant that everyone should grow. It was
the only variety, with the exception of Thos. S.
Ware, that withstood the scorching summer's sun,
and did not get attacked by insect life. The Cactus
Dahlias have been a great failure up to the present,
but if we get through October and November with-
out frost, we shall have, as usual, a good ."ihow of
them. The best up to the present are King of
Cactus and our old-fashioned sort. Crimson Pompa-
dour ; the latter has been a mass of the richest
velvet — in fact, magnificent. This fine old relic of
primitive Dahlia introduction with the variety
picta formosissima have been growing into trees,
if I may so use the expression. Indeed, I know
of some clumps at Headfort, Killarney, that are
20 feet in diameter, notably those of picta formo-
sissima.— W. B. H., Corli.
Dwarf Carnations. — Whilst I have not the
slightest desire to detract in any way from the
merits of Mr. Engleheart's dwarf Clove, ytt he
should not assume that he only has the strain, or
that other Clove Carnations are not perfumed. I
have found my seedling self-coloured kinds,
whether tall or dwarf, to be deliciously fragrant.
They have been raised from home-saved seed of
white and scarlet Clove Carnations, and have given
many colours, including some fine crimson, purple,
scarlet, white, and other flowered varieties. Seed
from the dwarfest kinds has been carefully saved,
and I hope the result will be a specially dwarf
strain, not of one, but of se\-eral colours. I
call those dwarf which have stout, erect stems
from 12 inches to 14 inches in height, and bloom
profusely. I can quite agree with Mr. Engleheart
when he refers to the free seeding qualities of
Carnations this season. The produce has been a
remarkable one, and will, I fear, have to satisfy us
for some time. Only during very hot, dry summers
do double Carnations seed freely, thus proving that
both warmth and dryness of the atmosphere are
necessary for the production of pollen, and of con-
sequent fertilisation. One result of the season's
fine seed crop is that I have already under glass to
stand the winter where sown several thousands of
seedlings from seed saved in colours, and which I
hope will largely perpetuate the fine qualities of
the parent flowers. Carefully saved seed of Carna-
tions germinates readily, and as plants under the
ordinary form of layer propagation increase slowly,
it is a matter for congratulation that through seed
we can add occasionally to our gardens laige
quantities of beautiful hardy flowers. — A. D.
A note from Shirehampton.— Do any of your
readers know of a lovely very light blue Crocus
with a gold ring round the centre now in bloom ?
It is labelled Crocus zonatus. I have crossed it with
a dark blue autumn Crocus. Sternbergia lutea,
the broad -leaved kind and also the narrow are in
bloom; the former has a much larger blossom.
Amaryllis Belladonna alba is blooming well. None
360
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 22, 1887.
of the Crinums have bloomed here this year,
perhaps for want of water. Nerine undulata and
Fothergilli are in flower in the open. The
Eacryphia pinnatitida bloomed freely, but the blos-
soms dropped without expanding, owing, I believe,
to the heat and drought. Almonds are setting
fruit, but I saw quantities of fruit on a tree at
Nottingham last year, so that it is not so unusual
as a correspondent from Torquay thinks. Max
Leichtlin sent me a collection of seedling Gladioli,
finer than any I have seen before ; the best are over.
I have now some fine seedling plants of Iris stylosa
alba ; the seed throws up a thread, and then the
plant is formed from the top of the thread. The seed
has been sown tsvo years and is still perfect, hang-
ing on to the young plants. I am anxious about
some boxes full of white Daffodil seedlings — they
came up profusely in March— sown at Christmas.
Then they got no water during the drought by an
oversight. How long should I leave them in the
boxes ; My impression is they ought to be grown
on hardier, but one never likes to disturb seedlings.
AVhat is Narcissus elegans sent here from Algiers ;
I have a small bulb which has made a growth of
6 inches in a cold frame.— C. 0. Miles.
EARLY-FLOWERIXG GLADIOLI.
Although my affections are very decidedly placed
on what are called the gandavensis varieties, and I
cannot for a moment allow that any others can bear
comparison with them, yet I am not insensible to the
charms of other sections. The hardy hybrids which
owe their origin to the successful crossing of G.
purpureo-auratns by M. Lemoine, of Nancy, are very
pretty, and with further hybridising may perhaps
develop large spikes. I find that they have been
taken up by Messrs. SouiUard and Brunelet, succes-
sors to Mons. Souchet, at Fontainebleau, and
amongst their novelties for last autumn was one
called L'Esperance, very pretty, and having more
flowers expanded at one time than in any of Le-
moine'sseedlingsthat I haveseen. They are perfectly
hardy, and may be left in the ground without any
fear of loss through frost. I find that in my garden
at least they prefer shade rather than sun. But the
sections to which I wish to direct attention now are
the early-flowering varieties, and that more espe-
cially for pot culture. One of these. The Bride, we
all know is largely cultivated and greatly prized,
but although it occupies the place which all white
flowers are sure to usurp, yet there are a number of
others which are well worthy of cultivation, and it
is for these I plead now. The autumn catalogues
of bulbs have just reached me from both Holland
and our own country, and in them will be found
lists of these, but, as far as I know, that of Messrs.
Ant. Roozen and Son is the only one which marks
the fact that there are two distinct types. They
are generally spoken of as those of the ramosus
section, but Van Roozen divides them into those of
the nanus and ramosus types, and as I have grown
those of both sections, I can bear witness to their
beauty and desirableness for the decoration of the
greenhouse. They come in well after the Hyacinths
and other bulbs are over. I am writing of a small
amateur's house, where there is no forcing, and
where things come on in their natural course, the
only thing I profess to do being to exclude frost.
The cultivation of these bulbs is very simple, as
they will thrive in any fairly good potting soil.
Leaf-mould or peat they evidently like, and I always
put a certain amount of charcoal in aU my bulb-
potting material. Our Hop growers are in the habit
of making their own charcoal for drying their pro-
duce, and I can generally manage to get some of
the remainder, too small for burning, but large
enough for my purpose, and this when swept up
contains a certain quantity of the coarse sand with
which the wood is surrounded for burning, and I
find it makes an admirable addition to any com-
post. I put about three or four bulbs in each pot,
place the pots in a frame where frost will not get at
them, and then after a time remove -them to the
greenhouse.
Of the two sections I prefer the forms of nanus,
They are, as their name implies, somewhat dwarfer
in habit, while the flowering spike is longer; at
least, more flowers open at once. The flowers of
both sections have the same character in build, and
the colours in each are not unlike.
Of the hybrids of ramosus the following are
desirable varieties : —
La Yille de Versailles. — Red and purple, very
bright in colouring, vigorous in habit.
Ne Plus Ultra. — Deep red, ilaked white and crim-
son ; this is certainly the largest.
Eamoscs imperialis. — Purple and white; improve-
ment on the older form.
FoRMOsissiMrs. — Deep scarlet, flaked with white ;
a good-sized flower.
QfEEX Victoria. — Scarlet, with large white flake ;
a very pretty variety.
Eosi McxDi. — Deep rose, with large white flake.
Of the nanus section the following are good and
well worthy of cultivation : — ■
Ardensor Fire King. — These are the same ; indeed,
oue finds in most Dutch bulbs that different houses
have different names for the same things. This, I
suppose, is inevitable, hut it makes one keep to one
firm in ordering, or otherwise you have a chance of
getting the same thing twice over. This is certainly
the most bnlliant of this section ; it is a rich salmon-
red, with red splashes or flakes on the lower petals,
with magenta-coloured lines on them.
Blushing Bride. — White ground, deUcately flaked
with pink, while the lower petals are fiaked with deep
rose ; this is a very pretty variety.
Delicatissimus. — A flower somewhat in the same
style, but the lower petals are flaked with carmine and
pink.
Rosy Gem. — A beautiful rose-coloured flower, with
flakes of rosy carmine.
There are other varieties, but I think these are
sufliciently distinct to give variety ; if more are
required, they can be easily added.
When these have done flowering I generally give
them a good baking on some hot shelf in the green-
house, as I am persuaded that most of this kind
of bulb, grown year after year in pots, require to be
well ripened before being put by. When they have
remained in this position for three or four weeks I
take them down, turn the pots on their sides some-
where out of the way, but free from damp, and
leave them there until they are required for re-
potting. Delta.
MiUer, it is true, seems to identify it with 0.
Tourneforti, but this latter plant, as described and
adopted by Sibthorp, is thought to be a true species.
The 0. pcdchellum of E. Boissier is probably
identical with 0. hybridum of gardens, but has not
been certified at Kew for want of specimens.
Dittany of Amorgos. — On page 269 I observe
a note signed "E. C," the writer of which seems to
possess in cultivation Origanum Tourneforti (Dittany
of Amorgos). I was not aware that it was in culti-
vation, but, if true, I am sure Kew Gardens would
be glad of a live plant. I have for many years had
in cultivation two kinds of Dittany — one, the genuine
Origanum Dictamnus, or Dittany of Crete, a plant
of great interest from its classical associations, but
tender, and always requiring the protection of a
frame in winter ; the other, which is a more orna-
mental plant, is common in collections of alpines
under the name of Pink Hops, and is perfectly hardy.
It came to me with the name of 0. pulchellum.
For a year or two I caUed it 0. Tourneforti, believing
it to be that species, but for several years I have
returned to the former name. A correspondent of
The Gaeden who signs himself " K." or " D.," or
sometimes both, and whose information on hardy
plants is generally to be trusted, lately pointed out
that the common form in cultivation of Pink Hops
is not a species, but probably a garden hybrid.
Having compared the characters, I believe it to be
the kind described by E. Boissier ("Flora Orien-
talis," vol. iv, p. 517) by the name 0. pulchellum.
He assigns no habitat to it, but says that he found
it in the Jardin des Plantes at Paris named 0.
Pseudo-dictamnus, and that it was supposed to have
come from the East. If this is so, the name pul-
chellum would have precedence over that of hybri-
dum, which seems to have been given to it at Kew.
I am sending a specimen to Kew for identification.
— C. WOLLEY DOD, Edije Hall, Jfaljias.
P.S.— Since writing the above I hear from Kew
that the common Pink Hops of gardens is the O.
hybridum of Miller's " Dictionary," and that it
seems originally to have been called 0. hybridinum
NOTES FROM MID-NORFOLK.
Delphiniums. — " S. E. L.'s " delightful garden
must be subjected to a sterner climate than even
that of Mid-Norfolk. With me DelphiDium
cardinals is perfectly hardy. A plant purchased
in 1881 has withstood every winter since that
date with no protection beyond a shovelful of
ashes over its crown ; but, until this year, truth
compels me to add, it never bloomed.
D. NUDICAULE receives just the same winter
protection, and flowers well every year. D. de-
corum, which blooms a month earlier, is well
worth growing ; in fact, what Larkspur but
amply repays its cultivator for the little trouble
and much patience (it is so slow in growth) be-
stowed upon it ?
Clematises. — Need " D. T. F." despair of a
scarlet Clematis flammnla > Would it not be
quite possible to cross C. coccinea with C. flam-
mula I With its wondrous capacity for ripen-
ing its seed and long duration of bloom, we may
reasonably hope to see the former the father, or
rather the mother, of many glorious hybrids.
She may intermarry with the earlj- C. montana
as well as the late C. flanimula or C. Vitalba. I
find that my C. coccinea, still (Oct. 10) yielding
a few sparse blooms, has been in flower since
the last day of June. It luxuriated in the late
drought; its pea -green fohage and almost
dazzling blossoms were then a model of healthy
vigour. With the rains came mildew. Of a
few seedlings, sown three years back, two
bloomed this year ; one I consider a slight
improvement upon the beautiful mother plant.
Win not C. graveolens satisfy " D. T. F." as a
yellow C. flammida I
Autumn Crocuses asd Colchicums. — These
are doing well this autumn. Of the Crocuses,
none does better with me than C. hadriaticus ; it
spreads fast, but I wonder if mine be rightly
named, for I can barely, if at all, distinguish it
from C. cancellatus, growing in another part
of the garden. I fancy that the petals of my
C. cancellatus are more pointed, and the flower-
stalk is a trifle taller and more slender. In
colour the two Crocuses are identical — white,
with a few outside purple lines, and a yellowish
tinge on the upper part of stalk and on the
lower part of the cup. Of the few other
Crocuses which I possess, I would give the palm
in point of interest to C. iridiflorus, of beauty
to C. zonatus, of fragrance (resembling that
of Pansies) to C. speciosus, which, I imagine,
might well dispute their titles \Yilh C. odorus
and C. suaveolens.
Cyclamen heder.efolium. — Why not more
grown >. 'VMiat more useful and lovely plant
than this, charming us from August to April
with the chastest of bloom and foliage ! Can
anyone tell me how long the corms will live f
Some of mine are over twenty years old, and to-
day I hear of one that was put out forty-seven
years back (it must therefore be full fifty years
old) still delighting the eyes of its planter.
R. M. G.
Claikias. — It is some sixty years since the
Clarkias were introduced into English gardens.
Clark, who did a great deal as a collector, lost his
life in obtaining one of our popular and showy
annuals. In his eagerness to get at a flower that
was growing on the edge of a precipice, he ventured
Oct. 22, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
361
too far and fell over, losing his life on the spot. His
brother collectors named the flower after him,
Clarkia. From the North American C. pulchella we
seem to have gained much more than we have from
the Californian C. elegans, for from the former was
derived the whole-petalled types, the first being
named integripetala. All the Clarkias are pretty
hardy annuals, easily grown, flower freely, and can
be employed in many ways. They can be sown in
the open ground in March and April in suitable soU,
and the varieties of C. integripetala will be found
remarkably showy and useful. One of the newest
varieties of this section is Mrs. Langtry ; the flower
has four well-rounded petals, the colour white, with
a blotch of the most brilliant carmine-crimson at
the base of each. C. limbata is a very effective
variety, dark rose margined with white. Purple
King "and Salmon King are the two best forms of
the taller growing C. elegans, and there are double
varieties also. A few successional sowings will
keep up a good display all the summer. The seeds
are rather small, and a packet will suffice for several
sowings. — R. D.
SELF CARNATIONS.
Me. Hebeington, I grieve to see, declines to be
comforted. His wail of lamentation at "the almost
total neglect of the selfs " was responded to with
an offering of 180 varieties taken from four lists
alone, but Mr. Herrington stsrnly refuses to be pro-
pitiated. Mr. Herrington seems to have forgotten
that he made it a special count in his indictment
that Carnation raisers " laboured towards the fur-
therance of a false taste, with the results which
are now being deplored — the almost total neglect
of the selfs." My reply to this would have been
very incomplete if I had omitted to show that the
chief raiser of bizarres and flakes is al^^o the fore-
most raiser of selfs in the country, Mr. DodweU's
new list, lately received, brings the total number of
selfs of his own raising to seventy-six — a suflicient
refutation of the charge of the neglect of the selfs
by the Carnation raiser. I fail to see why this
notatle contribution should be excluded from con-
sideration in a discussion on the neglect of the
selfs by Carnation raisers. Mr. Herrington is sus-
picious of the quality of the feast. "Are the 180 all
distinct.'" he warily inquires. Perhaps some of
them may be run flowers !
It is well known that a run flower cannot be de-
pended on to retain this character, but may revert
to its original bizarre or flake condition at any
time. No Carnation raiser or grower ever puts run
flowers into his list of selfs, which are distinct
varieties from seed. Now and then there are what
several seasons' trials show to be fixed sports of the
flakes and bizarres, as in the case of the fixed sport
of Florence Nightingale, a fine purple self. But
flowers of this sort, which are also good enough to
name, are not common. The 180, or, as we must
now call it, the 207 selfs to be found in the four
lists named are every one of them distinct varieties,
and no mere run flowers.
With all this wealth of selfs, says Mr. Herring-
ton, how is it the National does not provide a class
for twenty-four instead of mixing them up with
fancies and yellow grounds .' No one would be
better pleased than the members of the National to
be in a position to have separate classes for selfs,
but they cannot overlook the fact that money would
be needed for the prizes, and at present their
wealth of selfs is greater than their wealth of funds.
Finally, Mr. Herrington, unable to maintain his
former misstatements as to the neglect of the selfs
by the society and its exhibitors, instead of frankly
acknowledging the error into which the incomplete
reports in the papers had led him, endeavours feebly
still to discredit the society by bringing forward
the second-hand evidence of some nameless " lover
of selfs " who went to the show, and was not " im-
pressed" with the flowers he saw exhibited. The
value of this statement may be measured by the
fact that there were five stands of twenty-four selfs
and fancies, such well-known names as Turner,
Douglas and Hooper leading. The amateurs' class
for twelve brought eleven exhibitors, those well-
known and genuine lovers and raisers of selfs, Messrs.
Lakin, Mr. Huson Morris, and Mr. Aubrey Spur-
ling, being conspicuous. If better varieties of selfs
than were exhibited exist, let them be produced for
our delectation and instruction at the society's next
exhibition.
Mr. Herrington wishes to know how many varie-
ties of selfs I grow. They numbered this season, I
find, forty-one, and I am increasing them. In beds
and in pots I may have had something over 200
plants. It may interest some town-dweller like
myself to know the sorts which are all, with the ex-
ception of the three numbered seedlings of Mr,
Dodwell and my own two, to be found in the lists
of the four well-known growers I have mentioned.
They are as follows : —
DTiife— Bride, Gloire de Nancy, W. P. Milner.
Flesh — Governor, Mrs. Page.
Yellovj — Bell Halliday, ChevaUer, Chromatella,
Edith, Florence, Mrs. Lazenhy, Niphetos, PoUy
Cheetham, Pride of Penshurst.
Pink — CeUa, Mabel, Mary Morris, Maud, Miss
Jolifie, Muriel Fanny.
Saliuon — Mrs. Dodwell, Wm. Harding, seedling.
Carmine — Mrs. A. Medhurst.
Scarlet — Cardinal, Joe WiUet, Orion, Sparkler, seed-
hug (Dodwell) 2375, do. 2377, do. 2379.
Crimson — Beppo, Black Knight, Euby May.
Maroon — Gurth.
Purple — Che Sa, F. Nightingale (fixed sport), Cleo-
patra, Miranda, Tynan Queen, seedling.
M. RowAif.
SHORT NOTES.— FLOWER.
Carnation Lady Agnes. — Can anyone tell me
where to get Lady Agnes Carnation? I have tried
several nurserymen, and I cannot see it in any list. — Ida.
Seedling Gladiolus. — We herewith send you a
spike of a new seedling Gladiolus, raised by Mr. G.
S. Patey, Saleombe, Kingsbridge, Devon. The spike
is a somewhat weak one, but otherwise it is a very fine
and distinct sort. — Barr and Son.
*** The specimen sent consisted of a short spike,
with large magenta-shaded scarlet flowers, having
a prominent white hand along each petal. A very
fine variety, — Ed.
Veined Verbena (Y. venosa), — Abed of this old
favourite in the flower garden at Osterley Park,
Southall, the residence of the Earl of Jersey, is note-
worthy, as the plants have been unharmed by the frost,
while surrounding subjects are completely spoilt. This
Verbena has bloomed splendidly in several places this
season, and seems to have profited by the drought like
the single Petunias. — E. C.
Balearic Sandwort (Arenaria halearica). — This
is one of the neatest and prettiest Moss-like rockery
plants in cultivation, as it makes a free growth and
clothes the facings of the stones with a dense carpet of
greenery. At this season it is as rich in colour as the
Grass, and gives beauty and cheerfulness to the rock
garden now shorn of its summer and autumn splen-
dour. As seen rambling over the stones on the rockery
at Kew it is delightful.— E. C.
Helianthus grandiplenus. — What is this ? I
thought it might he the same as cultivated in England
as the Perennial Sunflower (Helianthus multiflorus
fl.-pl.). This variety has been in flower since July,
but was finest in August. It is of rather a dwarf habit
of growth, and most free-flowering, and the colour is
rich orange yellow. With the evening sun playing on
the ray florets, it is most charming. It is not the
Anemone-flowered variety of English gardens, with
the outer guard petals. — W. B. H., Cork.
The Jasmine Nightshade (Solanam jasmin-
oides) .— " Hortus " in The Garden-, October 8 (p. -319) ,
inquires if the flowers of this beautiful plant are
white when grown out of doors, or sufiused with blue
or purple. This very much depends on the weather,
for if tine, as at present, the flowers are of a beautiful
creamy white ; but if storms of rain and wind prevail,
the blooms get shghtly suffused with colour, as in the
ease of Madame Vaucher Pelargonium when grown in
the open air. It is a great favourite, and does exceed-
ingly well in gardens so close to the sea, that many
other creepers cannot be grown. Like the majority ot
climbers, it looks best when not too stiffly trained^ It
is at present in beautiful bloom. — J. G. H.
Books.
VINES AND VINE CULTURE,''
This most popular and exhaustive book on Grape
culture in all its bearings having most deservedly
become a standard work in all parts of the civilised
world wherever this queen of fruits is grown, it is
by no means surprising to hear that a second edition
has already been issued. Favoured by rare oppor-
tunities, and the ability to turn them to profitable
account, Mr. Barron did good service to Grape
growers generally when he put the papers he had
been for a number of years writing into a handy and
cleverly illustrated volume, and it is gratifying to
find that his labour has been so quickly and tho-
roughlv appreciated. One drawback to the sale of
the first volume was the cost — not that we think the
price was in excess of its value to those who could
afford to pay for it, but it was too high for the
masses, especially for young gardeners, who, as a
rule, work very hard for inadequate wages. The
author fortunately has seen with our eyes, and very
wisely he has not only got over the difficulty, but
he has added considerably to the matter by the
introduction of several new and highly important
subjects not hitherto included, and that for a sum
which will not exclude it from the hand of the
poorest journeyman. By a different arrangement
of the original woodcuts, and a slight reduction in
the size of the type (still excellent), the author has
unproved and added a plate of the wild Vine
(\\t\s. vinifera) to his historical sketch— a most in-
teresting chapter, but not absolutely essential to the
practical growth of Grapes.
Turning to p. 20, borders, their formation, manures,
&c., we come upon more important matter, for, after
going well into the selection of soils, and defining
the character of loams of every sort and substance,
from sandy to clayey, from virgin to fibry, he leads
us through the manure-yard to the laboratory. Of
organic'manure for mixing with the soil we were
anxious' to hear Mr. Barron's opinion, and breathed
more freely after learning that he says it is objec-
tionable on this account, that it very rapidly decays
and its influence is soon exhausted. As a feeding
or root-protecting mulch stable manure is invalu-
able, but for mixing with loams, especially those of
a clayev nature, we are quite at one with the author
in saying it is objectionable. Many express growers,
we know, now use immense quantities of the best
animal manure, but in proportion to the pace the
race is short; and then the question arises. Are
Grapes from these express manure beds as good as
others of their kind from good loam enriched with
inorganic manures ?
We also quite agree with the author in saying
bones, as containing phosphate of lime, constitute
one of the best manorial ingredients for A'ines,
provided they are reduced to a small size, or even
to meal, before being mixed with the compost.
Of inorganic or chemical manures the author says : —
Potash manures are of special value for Vines; in-.
directly, potash is applied with other manures, of
which it forms a part — the value of wood ashes as a
manure arises from this. For direct application to the
soil, nitrate of potash, otherwise nitre or saltpetre, in
a powdered state may be used. Sulphate, or chloride
of potash, answers the same purpose; one pound of
either of these salts mixed with an equal quantity of
sulphate of lime, otherwise gypsum, will make an
excellent top-dressing for a small Vine border ; this
should he slightly forked into the soU and well
watered. Superphosphate of hme is also to be recom-
mended for occasional appHcatinn, in the same manner,
during the growing season. Mr. Bashford. of Jersey,
uses a mixture of half -hundredweight of the super-
phosphate to one hundredweight of nitrate of potash,
giving one pound of this mixture to the square yard. The
foUowingmixtnrehas also beenfoundhighlyefficient :—
Dissolved bones .... 2 ewt.
Nitrate of potash . . ■ 1 „
Sulphate of lime . . • 1 •>
Using two pounds to the square yard, and repeating
the application at intervals of three or four weeks
during the season, according to the appearance ot the
* " Vines and Vine Culture." Second Edition. By
A. F. Barron, Eoyal Horticultural Gardens, Chiswick.
And all Booksellers.
362
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 22, 1887.
Vines. Many patent manures hare been recommencled,
mostly at extremely high prices, and which are mainly
composed of the ingredients we have enumerated —
or others of lesser importance and value. The best of
these prepared manures that has come under our
notice, and which we have used with very great
success, is " Thomson's Tine Manure." One hundred-
weight of this manure to every four tons of soil is
recommended for making a new Vine border, and for
top-dressing one pound to the superficial yard twice
during the season. Much, however, in regard to the
application of manures must be governed by the
character of soil used; by experience alone can the
requisite knowledge be acquired.
This excellent chapter treats of the size of bor-
ders, inside r. outside borders, drainage, terraced,
heated, and aerated borders; watering and cover-
ing, and finishes with brief, but sound remarks on
the renovation of old or exhausted borders. Young
gardeners should make themselves thoroughly ac-
quainted with the additional matter contained in
this part of the work, as a good border is un-
doubtedly the foundation, if not the keystone, of
success in Grape culture ; and the renovation of
animal manure borders, if we mistake not, will give
ample employment to the rising generation.
Passing familiar cuts and plates illustrative of
pruning, stopping, and training, at page 57 we
again come upon interesting and possibly highly in-
structive matter relative to the fertilisation of the
flower.s, for, no matter how satisfactory every other
operation, the grower labours in vain where a good
" set " does not crown his patient attention. Here,
we are told, some cultivators consider it absolutely
necessary to maintain a continuously high tempera-
ture for the setting of Grapes ; that this may be
desirable for forcing them forward, but not for set-
ting, as Grapes in cool houses and on open walls
invariably set well often at a temperature ranging
as_ low as 40° Fahr. Quite right ; and the author
might have added, a continuously high temperature
under the drying influence of sun-heat often dis-
tresses the Vines and injures the delicate parts of
the flowers before they can properly perform their
functions. Warmth in moderation, of course, is
necessary, and the artificial fertilisation of shy va-
rieties is the grower's sheet anchor ; but what about
the roots ? If these are actively working in warm,
sweet, well-drained borders, the daily routine must
indeed be bad it shy sorts do not set sufficient
berries for the crop. This is a practical grower's
theory, but what says the scientist ? Why, he says
the free setters have their stamens erect, whilst in
shy setters they are deflexed; but this is new matter,
and to show how thoroughly the author has gone
into every detail, we will quote his own words, and
refer our readers to the book for an illustration of
bad setting.
Scientists have pointed out that the pollen and the
stigma in some varieties do not ripen at the same time,
so that fertilisation cannot take place, and the action
of foreign pollen becomes necessary. In some cases
also the pollen is found to be inert ; stress has also
been laid on the peculiarity of some sorts— having the
point of the stigma exceedingly moist, notably Black
Morocco, and so preventing fertilisation, a condition
generally supposed to be favourable for the reception
of the pollen.
Herr Stefan Molnor, director of the school of Vine
culture at Buda-Pesth, has observed that the "free-
setting ' ' varieties of Grapes have the stamens erect,
forming a cluster round the stigma; whilst the
"bad-setting" varieties have the stamens deflexed or
falling away from the pistil, so that the pollen does
not so readily reach the stigmas. Dr. Engelmann has
also observed the same peculiarity, and states that
"the fertile plants are of two kinds— some are perfect
hermaphrodites with long and straight stamens, the
others bear smaller stamens, sliorter than the pistil,
which soon bend downwards and curve under it ; these
may bo called imperfect hermaphrodites, and do not
seem to be as fruitful as the perfect hermaphrodites
unless otherwise fertilised."
The chapter on thinning need not be touched
upon, as the letterpress and the unthinned bunch
remain unaltered, but on turning over .to page (j2,
we are constrained to congratulate the writer on the
improvement he or the draughtsman has made in
the production of a well-thinned bunch since the
first edition left the press. There the thinned
bunch represents what Mr. W. Thomson would
term a spoiled Gros Colman ; here we have a good
pattern for the tyro to follow in the thinning of
Hamburghs. We agree with him that the art of
thinning is purely mechanical, and can only be ac-
quired by great practice and a thorough acquaint-
ance with the variety, as well as the capability of the
Vine. Passing over the art of keeping late Grapes,
we arrive at another step in advance of theoldsystem
of packing just now in great favour with London
fruiterers. After describing the Chiswick and East-
nor methods, under which Grapes can be sent in
safety to all parts of the world, and telling us about
pot Vines, ground vineries, and Vines on open
walls, the writer introduces a new chapter on com-
mercial Grape culture, or commercial suicide, for
after assuring us that one salesman disposed of
40,000 baskets, or 150 tons, and a private fruiterer
sold to his customers upwards of 40,000 lbs. within
the past year, the wonder is where purchasers are
found to take Grapes at any price. The large
growers of these English Grapes, amounting to
about 400 tons, could dine at a table laid for twenty
persons, for counted over the fingers they do not
exceed a score names ; but these are only a tithe of
the producers, as there are a number of smaller
men who turn out their Grapes by the ton. Cross-
ing the silver. streak to the Channel Islands, we
learn that nine growers sent last year over 500 tons
to the English markets, and the supply there, as at
home, is ever increasing. Talk' of the "Grape
cure," at home we now have it with a vengeance, but
whether prices will deter Mr. Ladds from adding to
his five miles of glass, or Mr. Kay to his 100,000
superficial feet of vineries, is a question for those
gentlemen's consideration.
We would willingly dwell upon this astounding
chapter, but time and space forbid, and this notice,
with a few brief remarks on the basket system,
must be closed for the present. The baskets used
in Covent Garden Market are known to mothers and
exhibitors as baby baskets, and when filled contain
from 15 lbs. to 20 lbs. each. These are placed in lid
hampers called " flats," and are much used by
growers living within twenty or thirty miles of Lon-
don, but unless the railway servants on through
lines are well acquainted with their work, they can-
not be made generally available.
For long journeys, not only from all parts of
England, but also from the Channel Islands, cheap,
strong handle baskets, capable of holding about
11 lbs. each, are employed, and so used are the
carriers to their easily damaged contents that injury
to berry or bloom rarely overtakes them. The book
is printed on good paper; the type, though smaller,
is clear and excellent; it can be bought for 5s.; and
whilst congratulating and thanking Mr. Barron, we
wish him great success in the sale of this second
edition, which must soon find its way into the hands
of every Grape grower. w. C.
PRACTICAL PAPERS ON GARDENING*
This is the title of a book issued under the auspices
of the Birmingham Gardeners', Association, being a
series of essays on practical horticulture by various
members of the association, with one exception,
that exception being a paper on " Plant Food," by
Mr. Edmund Tonks, B.C.L. This paper is in reality
of as practical a nature as any of the essays, inas-
much as the writer makes the scientific subscr\'ient
to the practical ; for, throughout the whole of his
paper, which is of the most elaborate description,
the greatest care is taken to show in what manner
the various descriptions of plant food affect certain
plants. It is to be feared, however, that f^ardcners
have, and are ever likely to have, too much work of
a practical nature to admit of them ever being able
to add to their labours the work of compounding
their own chemical manures, which Mr. Tonks re-
commends on the ground of economy; but it is
doubtful whether such would prove to be the fact.
We are inclined to think not, for if time and ability
to compound the same could be afforded, the result^
would probably be such as Mr. Tonks, on page 22,
"Practical Papers on Gardening." Messrs. Cor-
nish Brothers, 37, New Street, Birmingham.
admits happened to himself, namely, injury from
giving an overdose, or from repeating the dose too
soon. The entire essay is of a very fascinating
nature, and young gardeners will find in it food for
study for many long evenings during the coming
winter. The next paper bears the title of " Mush-
room growing made easy," and is by Mr. J. Crook,
gardener to Mr. W. Milward, Calthorpe Road, Bir-
mingham, and is simply the record of his own
practice, which seems to be of a successful
character. The next paper is on " Carnivorous
Plants," by Mr. W. B. Latham, Carat or of the Bir-
mingham Botanic Gardens. This essay gives in
the most concise manner the whole history of the
subject, and Mr. Latham is evidently a strong
believer in the insect-devouring capacities of these
plants; not — if one may so put it— for the mere
gratification of appetite, but as nourishment for
the plants, that are said, at page 38, to feed on such
decomposing insect matter through their leaves.
Mr. E. Cooper, gardener to the Right Honourable
Joseph Chamberlain, Highbury, discourses on " The
Cattleya, and its culture," a class of Orchids that
he has made a special study, and hence his right to
be heard. Mr. Cooper gives us the fullest details of
his practice, and lays particular stress that no
manure of any kind be applied directly to the
roots, preference being given to its application by
means of evaporation. The next is a short paper
on the " Chrysanthemum," by G. Page, gardener to
Mr. C. J. Beale, Maple Bank, a local grower of some
repute. There is nothing calling for special re-
majk in the paper. It is what may be described as
severely practical, and therefore reliable. Mr. Pope,
nurseryman, of Birmingham, a noted bouquetist,
discourses on " Contrast and Harmony, with special
reference to flowers." By the general tone of
his remarks he ought to have left the word con-
trast out of his paper — harmony, or what we
prefer to call quiet colouring and mixtures,
being Mr. Pope's favourites ; indeed, he grows
quite eloquent on the qualities of certain old-
fashioned flowers for bouquet-making, amongst
them being the Forget-me-not, Nerium Oleander,
Plumbago capensis, and Bougainvillea glabra. This
paper contains many hints of great value that are
likely to be of service to any disposed to look
favourably on gaudiness and calling it beautiful.
Mr. J. R. Fetch (now of Messrs. Richard Smith and
Co.'s Nurseries, Worcester) has a lengthy paper on
"The Grape Vine," giving particulars of his own
practice in the growth of Grapes whilst serving as
head gardener at Eingwood Hall, Chesterfield,
wheire, as is well known, he was most successful in
the production of Grapes. The next essay is on
" The Cyclamen and the Bouvardia," by Mr. C. H.
Herbert, who discourses, from a nurseryman's point
of view, on their value as winter-blooming plants.
The cultural hints are of the most reliable descrip-
tion, and, if followed, cannot fail of being success-
ful. " The Chinese Primula " is the subject selected
by Mr. J. H. Horton, gardener to Mr. Richard
Chamberlain, Edgbaston. Mr. Horton is the cham-
pion grower of the district, and never fails to carry
oif the bulk of the prizes at the local shows, which
fact adds to the value of his paper from a cultural
point of view. The last essay of the series is the
" Cape Heath," written by Mr. Walter Jones, gar-
dener to Mr. C. E. Matthews, Edgbaston, who, like
the foregoing with the Primula, is very successful
in the cultivation of Ericas. We have been
going at such a rapid rate of late years, that slow-
growing plants and plants diflicult of cultivation
have been left in the background, but revived in-
terest sooner or later takes place in whatever thus
becomes neglected, and it will be so in this case ;
and meantime we can but echo the wish of the
writer, that Ericas may soon be " more gene-
rally grown than they are." The whole of the
essays have been revised and edited by Mr. William
Dean, of Walsall, who has done his work in a most
thorough manner, and the same remark is applicable
to the historical notes on the founding of the
society by the secretary of the association, Mr. J.
Hughes, and who is virtually founder, director, and
commander-in-chief of the society, and deserving
of — as indeed he gets — the fullest credit for his
successful achievement.
Oct. 22, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
363
WEEPING HEMLOCK SPRUCE.
(adies canadensis pendula.)
The accompanying engraving is a reproduction
of a photograph sent to iis recently by Mr.
S. B. Parsons, of Flushing, Long Island,
U.S.A. It shows a magnificent specimen of the
Weeping Hemlock Spruce growing in Mr.
Parson's garden , and nothing need be said of its
gracefulness and beauty, as the picture speaks
for itself. It is well known that the Hemlock
Spruce is one of the most elegant of all coni-
ferous trees, but this weeping variety (pendula)
surpasses the original in this respect. As no
Kilmarnock Willow, for example. But the great
expectations of securing an evergreen tree form of
unique and incomparable grace thus reasonably
entertained have not been fulfilled. It may be
readily grafted on high stocks, but it does not
thrive as well, the naked stem cracks and sufEers,
and the massive foliage, like that of most Ever-
greens perched upon high stems, is too heavy for
grace and proportion, and is beaten and tossed by
the winds.
For our part, we do not regret that the
attempt to make mop-headed trees of tliis natu-
rally graceful tree has failed, for nothing to us
Garden lately respecting the soil and situation
suitable for the Hemlock Spruce, we need not
refer to the subject here, for doubtless this
weeping variety will thrive under the same
conditions as the common form. W. G.
Rose Garden.
T. W. GIRDLESTONE.
ROSES IN 1887.
The " Queen's weather," for which the fiftieth
summer of Victoria's reign wUl long be me-
seems so absurd and hideous as trees of this morable, was unquestionably better adapted to
The Weeping Hemlock Spruce (Abies canadensis pendula). Engraved for The Garden from a photograph sent by S. B. Parsons, Flushing, Long Island, U.S.A.
one probably knows this weeping tree better
than Mr. Parsons, it may be well to repeat
what he wrote about it to The Garden several
years ago. He says ; —
In my opinion the Weeping Hemlock is the
Qaeen of Evergreens. Its sprays have a permanent
beauty that we see only equalled in a fleeting way
by some stray forms of the common Hemlock.
In another note respecting his favourite he
writes : —
Its habit of growth is so decidedly weeping and
the leaves and branches so thick that it was at once
suggested to graft it upon high stocks, like a
character which most nurserymen too often aim
at producing. We can well understand that the
Weeping Hemlock perched mop-handle high
would not gain much in beauty. The Weeping
Hemlock is, we are glad to note, a stock plant
in most of the best tree nurseries in this
country, and may be bought at a moderate
price. It is singular that this variety, so dis-
tinct and so important, should be omitted from
the latest work on cultivated Conifers, viz.,
Veitch's "Manual of Coniferse," as it was
known long before that work was published.
As a good deal has been written in The
the pomp and splendour of human royalties
than to anything like a jubilee display on the
part of Queen Rosa, whose pageant, indeed,
was rather curtailed than otherwise (in the
south, at any rate) by the glorious and un-
interrupted sunshine which so materially helped
to make the celebrations of Queen Victoria's
Jubilee one continuous triumph ; but though
the summer of 1887 cannot be regarded as
having been a particularly brilliant Rose season,
it has nevertheless proved in many respects a
highly interesting one. The previous winter '
had been severe, but was probably not answer-
364
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 22, 1887.
able for more of the damage subsequently
observable among the plants than was the very
unseasonable -weather -which -was experienced in
the spring, at the time -when the Rose trees'
gro-wth should have been actively commencing.
It seemed as if the plants never -would move,
so persistently did the east wind continue, and
-when at last they did start they -were promptly
checked by recurring frosty nights. Grubs of
all kinds, with the exoeijtion of aphides, were
either abnormallj' abundant, or else appeared
to be so from being collected on so small a sur-
face through the scarcity of any developed
foliage or shoots upon which to subsist, and at
the very end of IVIay there were so few signs
of being within measurable distance of Roses,
that many committees of shows were seized
with panic, and wanted to postpone their
fixtures for fear there should be no flowers. In
spite of its being strongly insisted that when
the Rose' time came there would be certain to
be abundant Roses, and in spite of vigorous
protests against the conspicuous impropriety of
altering dates long since fixed and advertised,
several exhibitions were postponed, with how
little wisdom events only too quickly proved.
For the weather changed suddenly from con-
tinuous cold to continiious heat, and the Roses,
having at last got away after several false
starts, were going ahead in good earnest ; but
the hot Sim and the absence of rain soon began
to tell ; the growth seemed to slacken, flower-
buds were formed and quickly developed, and
by the 1st of July the Roses were at their best.
The growth was short, and the flowers inclined
to be small and thin, which was not to be
wondered at, considering the rapidity with
which they had been forced on ; but the plants
were sheeted with bloom, and the garden was
gorgeous with a simultaneous display almost
unprecedented. The season thus, so far from
being abnormally late, became a decidedly early
one, and there is little doubt, not to mention
other postponed shows, that if the Crystal
Palace had adhered to their original date,
July 2, they would have had by far the
most magnificent exhibition of the year, and
one of the finest ever held there.
By the third week in June, Grace Darling,
Hon. Edith Giflford, and Jean Ducher were in
the greatest perfection, the blooms being not
only very large, but also well formed and
characteristic in colour ; they were soon joined
by the other Teas, and before the end of the
month the beds of Tea-scented varieties pre-
sented a display of bloom which they have
never previously equalled, including a good
many rough flowers, but mostly large and fine
in colour. The great heat made this feast of
beauty as fleeting as it was glorious, for before
the end of the first week in July the flowers
were spent ; nevertheless, the fact remains that
iu spite of the hard winter and the ungenial
spring, in spite of the fact that about half the
plants were entirely unprotected in any shape
or way, and that they were all (with the excep-
tion of the climbers) cut right down to the
ground at pruning time, the first Roses to bloom
as well as the finest throughout the season were
the Tea-scented varieties, which used so often
to be described as delicate, shy, requiring a
south wall and the treatment generally of half-
hardy plants. It is no new thing that the Teas,
in addition to being the n-iost beautifiil, are
among the most easily grown of Roses, but the
past season ought to have removed from every-
body's mind the last lingering doubt, that in
the south of England at any rate they may be
treated similarly to the Hybrid Perpetuals with
the most complete success, with the additional
advantage, moreover, that the Teas are the ti-ue
and genuine Perpetuals, of which, although
they furnished the first and finest flowers in
June, such varieties as Perle des Jardins, Anna
OUivier, Marie Van Houtte, Marechal Niel,
Souvenirs d'Elise and de Gabrielle Drevet, &c.,
are still (Oct. 10) aflfording beautiful blooms in
abiindance.
The Teas this year were out as soon as the
single Roses, which, however, mostly flowered
with the utmost profusion. The climbing single
Polyantha was a more glorious sheet of snow
than ever, while the Austrian Briers, especially
the brilliant Copper, surpassed themselves in
their wealth of bloom. Rosa berberidifolia
Hardyi was again most attractive, both on the
rockery and in the open bed, and did not this
year get early disfigured by mildew. It was
even found possible to exhibit a bunch of its
flowers at one Rose show, where they created
great interest. Rosa macrantha and Hebe's-
lip continue two of the most beautiful single
Roses in addition to the above, and R. lucida,
rubrifolia, Woodsi, the climber Brunonis, the
Macartney, &c., have been as charming as
formerly.
Among the Hybrid Perpetuals one of the first
to open was the faithful A. K. Williams, but
the heat was soon too much for its refined type
of beauty, and before long the lighter-coloured
Roses held almost undisputed sway. There
were a few brilliant exceptions, such as Louis
Van Houtte, which was unusually fine and likes
a hot season ; Alfred Colomb (or Marshall P.
Wilder), Victor Hugo, the brightest of all
Hybrid Perpetuals, and Prince Arthur, one of
the best and most constant of dark Roses, which
might well be more generally grown ; but the
great masses of bloom were furnished by such
varieties as Madame Gabriel Luizet, whose in-
numerable perfect silvery rose flowers were for
a time the glory of the garden; Duchesse de
Vallombrosa, one of the most constant tinted
white Roses ; Violette Bowyer, the most beau-
tiful white Hybrid Perpetual ; Lady Mary
Fitzwilliam, Marguerite de St. Amand, and the
deliciously fragrant Heinrich Schultheis, of any
of which it was possible on several days to cut
thirty or forty first-rate blooms. Perhaps the
freest of all was Monsieur Noman, of which one
group of plants furnished on one morning up-
wards of seventy flowers in their state of most
perfect beauty, Marquise de Castellane being
hardly less gay close by, yielding some five
dozen blooms at the same time. The freest and
most constant of the later Tea-scented varieties
after the Hon. Edith Gifibrd and Jean Ducher
were passed, were Catherine Mermet and Inno-
cente Pirola, which vied with each other in the
production of large and perfect blossoms, the
one conspicuous absentee in this class during
the early summer being Marie Van Houtte.
Rose shows individually suffered from the great
heat, no doubt, but the National Rose Society
may fairly be congratulated upon having cele-
brated the great year by successfully holding
an exhibition, in spite of the diflicult .season, in
the two capitals, London and Edinburgh. The
London show will be remembered as an exhibi-
tion of Teas, which were staged in immense
number and in great beauty, the blooms of
Comtease de Nadaillac (to instance only the
most exquisite of all Teas) being of almost un-
paralleled perfection. The show at Edinburgh
was the first occasion of the National Rose
Society crossing the border, and though in some
quarters there had been slight misgiviugs with
regard to the great distance, the enthusiastic
support which the experiment received from the
northern rosarians ensured a complete success.
There is no doubt that many exhibitors, espe-
cially among the trade growers, found the sea-
son a trying one, even where there were fine
flowers, owing to the great heat ; but the con-
tinual sunshine made the Rose garden abnor-
mally gay, owing to the brightness not being
marred by the presence of dirtj' flowers soiled'
by rain, and to the fact of all the flowers being
expanded at once.
The new Roses that were most conspicuous at
the shows were the magnifloent Her Majesty,
Bennett's beautiful Hybrid Tea Viscountess
Folkestone, the two fine Teas Comtesse de
Frigneuse and The Bride, and Alexander Dick-
son's handsome dark novelty Earl Dufterin.
Viscountess Folkestone is one of the freest and
most perpetual Roses yet raised, and it may be
pointed out that Her Majesty flowers in far
greater perfection as a maiden on dwarf Brier
cutting stocks than on Manetti ; mildew began
on plants of it on the latter stock, and these
plants were leafless before those on the Brier had
nearly finished growing.
In this, however. Her Majesty is not singular,
for all the plants on Manetti stopped growing
long before those on Brier cutting or seedling
stocks, and were nearly leafless and quite flower-
less, while the latter continued green and flower-
ing ; and though plants on Manetti have the
one merit of blooming a little earlier, yet even
this year the Teas on Brier were in blossom
before the Hybrids on Manetti, so that the dif-
ference is not great, and if early flowers are
wanted it will be much better to grow more
Teas rather than Hybrid Perpetuals on Manetti.
The Tea Roses ought to be extensively grown
wherever the climate admits of their successful
culture, and the dwarf Brier is the best stock
for all Roses. If only the season of 1887 has
forwarded the establishment of these two facts,
its somewhat abnormal character may be for-
given ; nay, more, may be considered to have
been eminently beneficial and to have contri-
buted largely to the advancement of Rose
growing.
NEW ROSES RAISED IN LYONS.
Tea Duchesse d'Aueustaedt (Bernaix). — A
very vigorous variety resembling the Noisette Rfve
d'Or ; the buds are of very fine shape, full, bright
yellow, with somewhat darker centre, and produced
very freely.
Tea Yiviaxd Mokel (Bernaix).— Dwarf and
vigorous ; the buds, of medium size, are dark rose,
and when expanded of a lighter shade, and borne
freely.
Tea Madame Joseph Godieb (Fernet fils).^.
Of dwarf and bushy habit, very free bloomer ; buds
yellowish rose, with a dark pink centre ; distinct
and pretty.
Tea Peincesse de Saoan (Dubreuil). — Plant of
very vigorous liabit ; tlowers dark bright crimson,
slightly shaded purple ; a unii|\ie colour in Teas.
Tea Souvenir de JIadajik ^Ietral (Bernaix).
— Of very strong growth ; flowers large, of fine form
and full, of a dark pink or cherry-red colour, with
a darker shade.
Tea HExniETTE de Ebadveaxj (Lacharme). —
Plant of vigorous habit, very free- flowering ; buds
of medium size, stronsly perfumed, pure yellow.
Hybrid Tea Madame (.'arle (Bernaix). — A
vigorous and free-blooming -\-ariety, with flowers of
medium size, of a rich vivid crimson, slightly edged
with light pink.
Hybrid Tea Geematnb Caillot (Fernet fils).
— A stroDg-firowing variety, with large flowers
resembling in shape those of Captain Christy : the
colour is a very light pink, with a slight tinge of
yellow in the centre.
Hybrid Perpetual Souvenir de Madame
Fauke (Bernaix). — Of vigorous habit, blooms freely
OoT. 22, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
365
in the autumn ; flowers large, of fine, globular fornii
and bright crimson, slightly shaded with purple.
Dwarf Peepetual Poltaxtha Geoege
Pernbt (Fernet fils). — Of the same dwarf habit as
Misriionette, a constant and profuse hloomer ;
flower of very handsome form ; colour fine pink,
slightly shaded white ; a very pretty variety.
Lyons. JEAN SlSLET.
ROSE FELICITE-PERPETUE.
Assuredly no Rose's name has hitherto been more
mutilated than that of the climbing Kcse "Ft51ioite
et Perpi^tue," or " Felicite-Perpetue." In looking
through the catalogaes, old and new, which we
have been able to collect — and they are very numer-
ous—we meet with the following additional varia-
tions:—
Felicite perpetue
Felicit« Perpetue
Felicite Perpetue
Felicite Perpetue
Felicite perpetuel
Felicite parpetue
Felicite Perpetue
Felicite perpetuee
Felicite perpetuee
Felicite perpetuelle
There we have twelve more or less different names
for one and the same Rose ! Most people write
" F(51icite perpetue." Now, this last word written
with a small p and joined as an adjective to the
name Felicite has no meaning; moreover, there is
no such adjective as perpetue in the French lan-
guage. It is this that probably determined other
rosarians to vrnie. perpetueUe,t\iViS, "Felicite per-
petuelle," hoping by this means to make it at least
grammatically intelligible. But in their desire to
save the grammatical construction by the adjective
j)erpriuelle instead of perpetue, they have entirely
changed the true meaning of the Rose's name, for
in that case the word Felicite could not, strictly
speaking, he considered as a name, and joined to
the adjective perpctueUe it would be merely equiva-
lent to honlieur perpetuel.
Now, all becomes clear if we write Felicite-Per-
petue or Felicite et Perpetue, two women's names.
As a mitter of fact, Perpetue and Felicite are two
celebrated women of Christian antiquity, filling a
glorious page in ecclesiastical history; two saints
almost inseparable, who together suffered martyrdom
for the faith at the beginning of the third century
of the Christian era. They were bound up in the
closest friendship; they were arrested and im-
prisoned at the same time, and subsequently (203
a.d.) were thrown to wild beasts in the amphi-
theatre at Carthage, and together received the palm
of martyrdom. This is why the Roman Catholic
Church also never separates them, but annually
does honour to their memory on the same day, and
everywhere, as in the list of martyrs, in the breviary,
&c., the two names are found united. For these
reasons and in consideration of the views above ex-
pressed, we think we may formulate our deliberate
opinion in maintaining that it is highly probable,
not to say certain, that the original name of the
Rose in question, dating from 1827, was Felicite-
Perpetue; Perpetue with a capital Pand joined to
F(5licite by a hyphen, or else Felicite et Perpetue.
Then this Rose's name is intelligible enough. The
pious intention of its raiser, M. Jacques, gardener
to Louis Philippe, who was subsequently King of
France, undoubtedly was to [dedicate his Rose to
these two celebrated saints, so closely united in life
and death. And the Rose itself, if we consider its
qualities — the evergreen bush with white flesh-
tinted flowers — was perfectly suited to this dedica-
tion; the white typifying the innocence of these
two Christian heroines; the flesh-tint their martyr-
dom ; and the evergreen tree, their immortality. —
Ketten Freres, Luxemhourg (in the Journal des
Hoses for October).
Sose Dachess of Albany.— In reference to
the note on this in The Garden, Oct. 8 (p. 331), it
is comforting to think that, as no Rose but La
France can be its equal, it is only bea,ten — if beaten
it be — by a sport of itself. I presume the flowers
of the type and the sport were gathered from the
same site, as, otherwise. La France changes greatly
in colour at times in the late autumn. The other
day I was startled with the sight in the garden of
a huge semi-double Rose of an open, cup-like
form, and a new and specially deep shade of pink.
Hastening towards it, I found it a monstrous La
France of a distinct colour. Unfortunately, I was
so pleased and surprised with it, that I cut it at
once before reflecting on its capabilities for cross-
breeding or hybridisation. It was too late for a
seed-bearing parent, though pollen might have been
got from it. There were but two rows of petals,
and these formed an open cup of a brilliant pink
colour. Should the Duchess of Albany prove
a La France of deeper dye, then it cannot fail
to have a future as popular as its parent, while
adding one more to the numerous family that have
sprung from sports. — HOHTUS.
ROSE BOULE DE NEIGE.
Thanks for celebrating the semi-majority of
this charming Rose in The Garden October 8
(p. 315). It can hardly, however, be sufficiently
honoured until its unique beauties are ciuly set
forth by a coloured plate as well as the charm
ing engraving. It may, however, seem like a
"bull" to call for a coloured plate of one of
the most useful and perfect of all our white
Roses, and yet every rosarian knows that white
is mostly a relative term among Roses and
other ilowers, and that there may be whites
with numerous additions and variations —
Boule de Neige is no exception to this — and the
pinks on the outer or covering petals are a de-
lightful study, alike in their variety of tints and
extent of area. The whiteness of the more
fully expanded blooms contrasts so admirably
with the soft green verdure of the glossy foliage,
as to form a most pleasing combination of colour
even when the pink flakes or blotches on the
outer petals have disappeared. Some of the
buds, too, are often almost surfaced with pink
lines, narrow fringes of colour on the extremities
of the petals before unfolding, that intensify
the blanched purity of the older blooms. All
this would help to make your coloured plate of
Boule de Neige one of the most chastely deli-
cate and softly beautiful that has yet appeared
in The Garden. Almost as well try to paint
the LUy as to add to Mr. Girdlestone's catalogue
of merits of the Boule de Neige Rose ; suffice it
to add that its merits are so great, and its habit
and character so unique, that it ought to become
the founder of a new family of the most useful
and fragrant of all Roses. It is wholly out of
place among Hybrid Perpetuals alike in size,
habit, foliage, fragrance, and it is also widely
different, as well as head and shoulders better
than any or all other Hybrid Noisettes. For
these reasons, as well as for its superb merits
and matchless usefulness, I repeat that Boule
de Neige ought to become the head of a new
family, instead of being absorbed in any other
class of Rosea.
The extreme doubleness of its blooms places
an obstacle in the way of its use for button-holes,
but this our hybridists wiU doubtless be able to
overcome. Hybridised with some of our more
slender-budded Teas willgive us a longer-flowered
Boule de Neige, and thus fit it better for such
work ; whQe its peculiarly soft and satisfying
odour might be poured into some of our beauti-
ful, but almost odourless Tea varieties.
But, in the absence of these children of Boule
de Neige, we may all endeavour to increase our
stock of the parent variety. There are few
gardens that could not find room for double,
treble, or ten times the number of this choice
and fragrant Rose. As Mr. Girdlestone points
out, it does not root very readily on its own
roots. Buds of it, however, may be rooted
pretty readily. Well-ripened buds may be pre-
pared as follows, and inserted in heat in July or
August, or Deceinber or January : Pieces of
wood about an incli long should be chosen.
Cut the section straight across at each end,
leaving the bud in the centre. Then remove
about a third of the circumference of the wood
from the under side of the bud. Place these on
the surface of a pot or pan, and cover all but
the bud over with fine soil or sand, making all
as firm as possible. Cover with a bell-glass or
plunge in a close hot-bed at a temperature of
65° or 70°. Keep close till rooted, then gra-
dually expose to more air ; pot off when fairly
rooted, and grow on in a close genial atmosphere
till quite established.
A better mode still, where genial space is
plentiful, is to place a single Intd in a small pot,
and proceed as before. Each bud having its own
root-run from the start, the risks and delay
incident to division of tender and newly-formed
roots are avoided.
This mode of rooting bud cuttings is use-
ful for many sorts of Roses and other plants
besides Boule de Neige. It is a convenient way
of multiplying new Roses, such as The Bride,
Puritan or other novelties, as every bud may
readUy be converted into a plant ; whereas two
or three buds are needed to form a cutting of
the ordinary sort. D. T. F.
ROSES FOR 'WINTER FORCING.
Chas. Anderson, of Flushing, Long Island, read a
paper upon "Roses upon Stocks for Winter
Forcing" at the Chicago meeting of florists. He
reasoned that failure came from several causes : 1.
Roses expected to grow continuously were worked
upon stocks that naturally rested in winter. 2.
Roses were worked too high. 3. The abandonment
of the old-fashioned bed of 2 feet of earth for a
shallow bed of 3 inches. A proper stock was
ditflcult to find. It should be a variety with plenty
of fibrous roots and Tea blood enough to make
winter growth. A good plan to follow was to bud
the Roses that did worst upon the variety that did
best. His plan for getting stocks was to grow
cuttings of the most vigorous Tea and Noisette
Roses in March. Cut out all buds but the top one,
graft the following January — preferred grafting to
budding, as the stub in budded Roses rarely
healed. He prepared the stocks for two weeks by
subjecting them to a heat of 60° in order to start,
the sap freely. Shake out the soil ; cut the stock
just below the top bud, graft and keep beneath the
soil for two or three weeks at a temperature of
85° or 90°. The plants can then be potted, and
roots will frequently start above the graft. Hybrid
Teas, so liable to black spot and rust, are made
healthy by grafting on thrifty Teas. American
buyers of foreign worked Roses should insist on
low budding. It was diflicult to bury a 1 5-inch root
in a fi-inch pot.
Peter Henderson could not agree that the
Manetti was not adapted for working Teas upon..
Last winter he took some Manetti stocks from the
open frozen ground, and worked them after the
usual plan. 'They were potted in 3-inch pots, and
at this time showed a wonderful growth. He
imported some Niphetos Roses upon Manetti stock,
and forced them successfully for three years. The
graft junction was not so perfect in some varieties
as in others. He did not think that grafted Roses
were more suitable for forcing than Roses from
cuttings.
Henry Bennett said there were only two Roses
suitable for stocks, the Manetti and Dog Rose. The
former was not a suitable stock for Teas, as the
union was not perfect, but nothing was better than
the latter. He preferred high budding. If a Rose
was worked and then allowed to root above the
junction, one object of working was defeated.
Where stocks were favourable there would be but
little suckering.
Mr. Jordan, of St. Louis, failed to see where any
advantage was gained by budding or grafting. Ex-
perienced nurserymen would pick out difilerent kinds
366
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 22, 1887.
of grafted Apples by looking at the roots, which in
each kind resembled each other. He thought we
might as well grow the variety from a cutting as to
grow a stock and be at the trouble of grafting.
Mr. Anderson said he had photographs taken of
Kose plants proving his position. He explained
that his grafting was done with shoots in a growing
condition, therefore the need of starting the stock
into growth.
Mr. Bennett said there was one advantage in
grafting or budding, and that was in rapidly in-
creasing a new variety. A dozen buds put into the
branches of a large Rose would in a surprisingly
short time give us a thousand buds, which placed
in a thousand stocks would give us that number of
the new variety. A show Rose with a hundred
blooms could be made in a short time by budding a
large plant.
J. N. May, of New Jersey, said there were not
twelve varieties that did better worked than on
their own roots. Imported grafted Roses are not
nearly so valuable at one year old as our home-grown
from cuttings.
E. G. Hill thought it a backward step to advocate
grafting. In the nursery business it was considered
the source of many drawbacks on health, hardiness,
and vigour, and nurserymen would hail with
delight any system that would enable them to
grow trees from cuttings as easily as most Roses
are grown. He thought the high pressure system
of propagation was at the bottom of most of our
Rose troubles. If, as some thought, the trouble was
with the soil, it would be cheaper to ship the
small amount of earth needed than to trouble with
grafting.
Peter Henderson said his own experience was
that grafting upon Manetti stocks which had had a
growth of three or four months gave the Roses a
vigorous start that could be got in no other way.
During the discussion the frequent use of the
expression Rosa canina seemed to bother some of
the florists, and several of them breathed easier
when they found that it was merely the Latin for
Bog Rose. — L. B. P., in Country Gentleman.
Roses from cutting's. — I have now flowering
some very nice little plants of Tea Roses that
were struck from cuttings in April and Maj' of the
present year ; they are now in 8-inch pots, such
varieties as'Catherine Mermet, Clothilde, Devoni-
ensis, Marechal Kiel, Souvenir d'un Ami, &c., being
amongst the number. They are easily struck in a
frame with a moist bottom-heat, and should be
grown on in the same place until they receive their
second potting, when they should be transferred to
a more airy position, and kept well syringed in
order to keep down spider. A few should be grown
on in this way every season, and there would then
be little difficulty in keeping up the stock of Roses ;
in fact, one often wonders why more is not done
in this direction. — W. A. C, Holme Wood.
Rose Cannes la Coquette. — This beautiful
daughter of La France is, as usual, flowering freely
this autumn, and is even more effective in the gar-
den than its celebrated parent, owing to the erect
habit of growth and to the greater substance of the
petals, which do not get stuck together by wet.
The flowers, coloured alitor the fashion of La France,
but more llesh-linted and without the lilac (inge
which so often detracts from the brightness of the
autumn blooms of the latter, are produced in great
abundance throughout the season, for Cannes la
Coquette is always one of the earliest to open,
blooming about the third week in June, and one of
the last to leave off flowering. It is surprising that
it should not be more grown, for the blooms are
amply large enough for exhibition, and it is an in-
valuable light variety for the early shows, while for
cut flowers it is charming in all stages. — T. W. G.
A new Rose. — There is .another new Rose to
chronicle; this time Mr. Welsh, of RamSeys, is the
fortunate owner. It is a white sport from Souvenir
d'uu Ami, possessing all the characteristics of the
parent except the colour. The tint is an ivory-white,
and the fragrance is exquisite. Perfume is always
half the battle; no matter how beautiful a Rose may
be in other respects, it can never reach the highest
rank in public estimation without this desirable quality.
— American Florist.
Chrysanthemums.
E. MOLYNEDS.
NOTES ON CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
By the time these lines are in print the whole
of the Chrysanthemum plants, for whatever
purpose they are grown (if I except the very
latest batch of plants intended for supplying
late flowers, and these must be protected in
some way, otherwise they will not be safe from
frosts) will be safely under cover. The weather
has been quite favourable during the last fort-
night, being warm and dry, except, of course,
where early frosts have come suddenly, as a
finish to outside growth by assisting to plump
up the late-formed buds and render the young
growths more solid than they would have been
had we had a continuance of wet and cold days.
Mildew has not spread nearly so fast as it
would have done had the weather been of a
different character ; this is all in favour of the
plants producing a fine show of bloom later on.
Mildew is a dreaded pest to the Chrysanthemum
grower, more especially if his plants are intended
for specimens, as by allowing mildew to spread
over the foliage, it causes a disfigurement of the
plant and checks the growth. Mildew in some
localities is much more prevalent than in others,
owing, perhaps, to the kind of soil used in potting.
Again, the kind of water used often causes mil-
dew. In those districts favourable to the spread
of the pest, early attention must be given if the
plaats are to be kept clean. Dustings of sul-
phur applied at once wUl check its spread, but
the attention must be unceasing, or the attempts
to stamp it out will be futile. Where a large
number of varieties is grown, and the object in
some instances is the production of large blooms,
many varieties will now be unfolding their
petals from the earliest formed buds. One of
these is Comte de Germiny, with its broad,
loosely incurved petals. Flowers of this class
will need watching at nights to prevent ear-
wigs disfiguring them. A hole eaten through
one of the broad petals of the variety named
spoils the appearance of the flower at once, as
these large-petalled kinds show the ravages of ear-
wigs much sooner than those with narrow florets.
After a season like the past, when earwigs were
so numerous upon the plants out of doors, one
may look for a corresponding number inside ;
therefore, to preserve the plants free from these
pests, extra attention is needed. The slightest
shake of the plant upon which the intruders
are feasting disturbs them. By going cautiously
to work in the evening they may be kept down,
so that the harm they manage to perform is not
serious. The usual plan of placing empty
flower-pots, inside of which some Moss is placed,
upon the tops of the stakes cannot so well
be used ; therefore I have Broad Bean stems
out in lengths of about 8 inches, and placed
among the leaves of the plants. Woodlice are
sometimes very troublesome to the flowers,
particularly when the plants are standing in
vineries, the borders of which have generally a
covering of manure at this season. Tliis being
dry, woodlice find a favourable hiding-place.
Some vineries are more subject to this pest than
others ; where they abound they crawl up the
stems of the plants and cluster on the under
sides of the flowers. Hand-picking is the only
remedy I know to clear the plants when once
attacked. Green-fly will sometimes attack the
flowers during expansion. If they are allowed
to remain they quickly disfigure the white varie-
ties by making the petals dirty-looking. On the
first appearance of the pest a gentle smoking of
the house with tobacco-paper for two successive
nights is the best remedy. Much can be done to
eradicate all these pests by timely attention to
details.
Where a good collection of plants is grown
and arranged in a block by themselves much
can be done to improve their appearance after
the plants have been placed in position by de-
voting a little time to arranging the flowers.
This is always the case where the appearance of
the group in the conservatory or other house is
the first consideration.
A single row of Pompons placed around the
edge of the group greatly enhances its appear-
ance. Where dwarf plants have not been speci-
ally prepared, a row of plants of Sreur Melanie,
which is a variety generally clothed with foliage
of a dense green colour along the stems, will
answer the same end. Over the top of some of
the flower-buds a hard, scaly, green covering is
sometimes formed and refuses to split natiu:ally to
allow the petals to unfold. When this is noticed
assistance should be given by cutting such scales
across two or three times, thus freeing the
petals. Any faded or decaying leaves should
be removed at once ; and any Moss or weeds
growing upon the soil should be cleared ofi' by
stirring the surface soil if not too closely matted
with roots, thus rendering aU sweet and clean.
Any suckers now throwing up from the base
need not be cut off, as no harm will accrue from
their growth, and the means for providing
another year's stock of plants wiU be at hand.
Never allow the plants to suffer for want of
water ; neither should they have too much.
Keep the air sweet and clean by drying up sur-
plus water from the paths and by ventilatiDg
liberally both night and day.
Single varieties should be arranged by them-
selves where possible. Plants of these should
have more room between each than the large-
flowered kinds, because numerous buds are
produced at the sides of the main stems, and
often develop into useful blooms, and add
considerably to the appearance of the plants
later on.
Pompons and Anemone Pompons should be ar-
ranged by themselves, in order to show oft' the
forms and colours of the flowers to advantage.
Anyonehavinglimitedspace to flower their plants
in (if they grow all the classes) can arrange them
as I have suggested, even if more than one sec-
tion has to occupy the same house. A system of
having all the plants properly named should be
carried out, as this is not the least interesting
part of the cultivation or management. Where
a large collection, or even a small one is grown,
visitors like to know the names of each. I pre-
fer a plainly written wood label placed in the
front part of the pot to the system of having
printed cards attached to the top of each plant.
This latter is probably the more convenient way
where the public are concerned, as, for instance,
the Temple Gardens, London. All available
means should be taken to have the plants cor-
rectly named, as disappointment may ensue to
others who wish to obtain the same kind ; this
is impossible if wrong names are given at the
first, and a season therefore is lost to the would-
be possessor of a favourite variety.
The shoots of specimen, pyramid, and stan-
dard plants should be tied at once, in order
that the leaves may right themselves before
the plants flower. The bloom buds are much
easier got into position now than later when the
peduncles have become harder, and consequently
not so pliable. The final staking of all bush
plants should be completed for the same reasons
Oct. 22, 1887.1
THE GARDEN.
367
as stated above ; the size of the plants and posi-
tion they are to occupy must guide the operator
in determining how the shoots must be placed.
Fruit Garden.
PINE STOVE AT CHATSWORTH.
Good as is the illustration, it but faintly por-
trays the reality of the picture — the fruiting
Pine stove presented on my visit to these gardens
a few weeks since. Owing to the importation
of such fine fruit from Jamaica, either discon-
tinnation or degeneracy in regard to Pine-grow-
ing has of late years been the rule, but neither
have as yet reached Chatsworth, and there is
no immediate prospect of such being the case.
A larger and healthier lot of plants in all stages
of growth I have not seen for many years. In
the fruiting house at the time of my visit (end
of June) there were iipwards of 100 Queens,
ripe or ripening, none of which could weigh
less than 4 lbs., and many, I feel sure, would
Thomas considers is very firm potting in fibrous
loam, which at Chatsworth is somewhat of a
peaty nature, the only added ingredients being
a small percentage of charcoal and quarter-inch
bones. The plants get very little, if anything,
in the way of stimulants till the fruits are
swelling ; but at no stage of growth, after roots
have got a firm grip of the soil, ai'e they allowed
to lack moisture ; then there is no check or
irregularity of growth, and consequently mal-
formed and but partially developed pips are all
but unknown. A brisk bottom-heat throughout
every stage o: growth, and especially for fruiters,
is always kept up, 85° to OC being the rule.
Shading is rarely applied to fruiters, but Mr.
Thomas has a belief that a thin shading is bene-
ficial to successions in rapid growth, and accord-
ingly his faith finds expression in practice.
Hed-field. ' W. Wildsmith.
PLUMS.
Although ordinary fruit when the trees make a
great hit is of little valrie, the crop from a well-
selected score of the best varieties is always invalu-
Pine Stove at Chatsworth. Engraved for The Gakden from a photograph.
weigh down the scale at 5 lbs. , and Rothschilds
and Smooth Cayennes in the same house would
weigh from 6 lbs. to 8 lbs. The plants of the
two last-named kinds for autumn and winter
fruiting were quite on an equality with the
more matirred fruit, the "shows," in respect
of thickness, being on stems as thick as
broom-handles, and these on plants that were
potted as suckers only nine or ten months pre-
viously— twelve or thirteen months at the most
being the longest period allowed from the in-
sertion of suckers to the cutting of the fruit.
The attainment of what I shall call this ideal
and rapid mode of Pine-growing begins, like
everything else that succeeds, by the insertion
of stout suckers only, weaklings being discarded,
or rather, I should say, unknown at Chats-
worth, because only a couple of suckers are
allowed on each plant, and, as a matter of
course, their development must be more sturdy
than suckers from plants producing half-a-dozen.
Mr. Thomas thinks this a point of so much im-
portance— i.e., good suckers to commence with
— that he often allows them to remain on the
parent plants, even at the risk of slight robbery
of the swelling fruit. The next essential Mr.
[ able to every owner of a garden, and yet how often
it happens that a glut in these private places com-
I mences late in the summer, and scarcity sets in early
in the autumn. Apples and Pears, their names, their
culture, and their season, have been recently brought
well to the front, but few of late have had much
to say in favour of the Plum. If the varieties were
scarce and their culture difficult, many would insist
upon having the earliest and the latest in their
gardens or orchards ; but the reverse is the case,
and, as everyone knows, the lists are a great deal
too large ; and so plentiful are the very choice mid-
season sorts, that a great number of growers never
extend their selection beyond them. Then, as to
culture and training, the Plum, provided the situa-
tion is above the line of spring frosts, can be grown
anywhere, facing every aspect, and, provided it is
kept in check by biennial root-lifting, it vrill fruit
profusely under any system of training. Trees
ready for bearing fruit can be bought very cheap,
and they can be cultivated as standards in orchards,
as extension-trained trees against east, west, or
north walls, as espaliers trained to rough trellises, or
as pyramids, bushes, and cordons. South walls, as a
rule, are more profitably occupied by Peaches and
Pears, and in some few places by Apricots. Indeed, if
I had my choice of a south or west wall for the Plum
I should choose the latter, and for this reason, the
flowers, which open very early on the south aspect,
unless they are carefully protected, in nine seasons
out of ten get cut ofE by spring frosts, whilst those
on the west are later and remain some hours in the
shade, when bright sun after a sharp frost does not
destroy the gradually thawed flowers. I recollect
some years ago planting three trees of Jefferson's
against a south wall, and although the young fruit
sometimes attained the size of horse beans they
always got cut, and I decided upon moving the
trees to colder quarters. The change was beneficial,
and their produce ever since has been satisfactory.
Fruit from a sunny aspect no doubt is better than
from a north wall or a standard, but for the latest
and best sorts a west wall is quite good enough.
From this aspect this year — in fact, in less favour-
able years— our best Gages and Jefferson's have been
gathered ; whilst Golden Drop on a cold limestone
wall facing east, as well as on a brick wall standing
to the north, just now are perfect. Many persons
believe this fine Plum must have the best place in
the garden, but, unless the fruit is wanted for the
dessert, this reaUy is not absolutely necessary.
Others think it is too good for kitchen use, and for
this reason plant the tree sparingly. By all means
let us have Victorias and Egg Plums, Orleans, Prince
of Wales, Prince Englebert, and Belgian Purple
from pyramids, bushes, and standards, and when
they are gone the richest tarts, stews, and compotes
may be made from Golden Drops throughout the
month of October. The late Mr. Rivers always
said Plums might be pinched to any extent, and
then they would bear full crops ; but pinching means
biennial root-pruning, and unless this can be regu-
larly attended to and properly performed, the in-
experienced should plant fewer trees and try his
hand at extension training. All that is needed is
the annual thinning out of the shoots, an occasional
tip to keep luxuriant shoots in balance, and with
half the trouble one such tree will beat a dozen
cordons.
Plums being early in spring and early to rest,
now is the time to plant, and, provided well-budded
trees are procured, they will bear good crops next
season. The tree is by no means fastidious as to
soil, but it must be well drained and bottomed with
rubble to prevent the roots from striking down-
wards. If light, marl may be added ; if heavy, the
usual correctives, such as sand, burnt earth, road-
scrapings, or lime rubble, will be of use. If sound
calcareous loam, the tree will take care of itself,
like aU other hardy fruit trees.
In addition to the varieties I have named. Rivers'
Early Prolific for the kitchen, and De Montfort for
the dessert, should be planted. Angelina Burdett
is a good early Plum. Kirke's is a host in itself,
and Denniston's Superb, which comes in earlj, is
also excellent. Of Gages, the name is legion, and
the following are especial favourites: The old
Bryanston, McLoughlin's, Transparent, and Oullin's,
a very early variety. The Reine Claudes, which
come in much later, should not be planted unless
the situation is good or a wall can be devoted to
them. Of these. Autumn Gage, Guthrie's Late,
Purple or Violette Hiitive (a most delicious Plum
when allowed to hang till October), and Reine
Claude de Bavay are very good, and the two last in
good seasons do well as pyramids. From Rivers'
seedlings. Autumn Compote and Late Rivers, the
best late Plums grown, should be selected. The
Czar and Grand Duke aie strongly recommended.
As companions to Golden Drop, the Blue and lok-
worth Imperatrice should be planted against a good
wall. W. Coleman.
Good rules for buying trees and plants.—
In a paper read at the last meeting of the Michigan
Horticultural Society, E. H. Scott summed up, in
substance, as follows : 1. Take good papers to keep
abreast of the times. 2. Live men advertise. Study
advertising columns and study catalogues. 3. Know
that your man is reliable. 4. Be sure yourself what
kinds you want to plant. 5. Find out what kinds
do best in your own locality. 6. Be careful of new
varieties, they are generally over-estimated ; old
varieties treated as well would often do much better.
7, Do not buy nursery stock beC(inse it js cheap
368
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 22, 1887.
—cheap prices mean cheap quality. 8. Pay first-
class prices and insist on getting the best. 9. Have
stock properly packed, even if at an increased cost,
li). Examine on receipt and report its condition to
nursery at once. Plant young trees, preferably not
over two years old.
NOTES FROM SUFFOLK.
A FORTNIGHT siuce, when visiting a well-watered,
highly-cultivated fruit garden, I was struck
with our resources of defence against the trying
seasons to which the gardener is heir. On a
sunny hill, where every breeze blows as if it
were welcome, the trees were literally laden
with Apples and Pears of the most valuable
kinds ; splendid Blenheim Oranges vied in
beauty with King Pippins, while Emperor
Alexander and Warner's King were also very
fine. The Pears less gaily painted by autumns
touch were no less numerous ; the Plums had
borne equally satisfactory crops, and the Nut
bushes, which clothed one portion of the hill-
side, were weighed down by their j^retty and
heavy burden of Kentish Cobs. The direct
causes of these munificent displays of fruit
wealth were simple enough — deep trenching,
plentiful manuring, and abundant watering.
Everywhere were pipes and taps to which, at
will, hose was fitted, the water being supplied
by neighbouring waterworks. But everyone is
not equally fortunate in having so ready and
liberal a supply of water at hand, especially in
a season like that through which we have just
passed. But would it not be possible to guard
in some measure against the effects of drought
in a country like our own, where in autumn
and winter the rainfall at least is liberal ? Could
not "February fill dyke " and April showers meet
with such welcome and housing as to counter-
balance the dry scorching of succeeding months >
Tanks might be constructed, and even homely
water-butts placed at every angle where sloping
roof and judiciously placed gutter promised
their share in the good work of soft-water
economy. We have had so many dry seasons
of late, that perhaps a contrary phase of
weather may be hoped for or predicted ; stiU it
would seem wise to provide for a recurrence of
the drought. With vivid recollection of the
beautiful sight of home products lately enjoyed,
I venture to write these linos in favour of
irrigation in a fruit garden.
SUFFOLKIAN.
Outdoor Grapes.— With all that Mr. Fish urges
in favour of Vines being planted in the open for the
production of foliage effects I agree, but the real
gist of their capacity to produce well-ripened
crops of Grapes outdoors is the fact of the Vines
starting into growth too late. It is just there
wherein lies the difficulty. If outdoor Vines
could be protected with glass covers during the
months of April and May, so as to induce much
earlier starting and blooming, such a glorious
ripening autumn as we have had could be then
utilised to the utmost. I had a number of Vines on
a hot south wall further sheltered by trees ; indeed,
it was as warm a position outdoors as could be
found anywhere near London, and yet only Sweet-
water ripened its fruit at all, and then only during
hot summers. I had high hopes at one time, but ex-
perience has put them all to flight. It is not fair to
assume that failures of this kind are caused by
the dense laying in of shoots or over-cropping.
Without doubt such poor kinds as Sweetwater and the
Ciotat might be a little improved in size of berry
by thinning; but it is obvious that a fairly ripened
sample of fruit obtained once in three or four years
is not successful culture, neither is tlio game worth
the candle. Even cold-house Grapes, fair as they
may be, are poor indeed compared with forced or
only half-forced Grapes, and open-air Grapes are
even farther behind cold-house Grapes in the matter
of quidity. ^'ines as merely ornamental plants find
powerful competitors in Clematises, Roses, ^'irginian
Creepers, &o., but without doubt where their long
shoots have run up into and amongst tall trees the
effect is very pleasing. Madresfield Court especially
gives rich colour in the autumn. I think it would
be wiser to encourage cottagers to plant Pears and
Apricots on their cottage walls if they desire profit-
able fruit, or if they wish for flowers, then have
Roses. — A. D.
FORMATION OF VINE BORDERS.
As I am having a new vinery built, I shall be glad
if any of your readers will advise me as to the for-
mation and depth of the borders, as the space I
have to spare for them is only 6 feet wide and 4 feet
deep. The intention was to confine the Vine roots
to the inside border. My opinion is that there will
not be room for the roots in a few years' time in
that space. — R. S.
*** In answer to the above, my experience in
the formation of Vine borders has led to the con-
clusion that it is best to have the borders made out-
side and inside, and that 3 feet is a sufficient depth,
9 inches to be deducted from it for brickbats or any
rough stones that may be available for drainage.
In my time I have had to plant many vineries with
young Vines, and have always preferred to have a
width of about 4 feet inside and as much outside.
The Vines are planted inside about 18 inches or 2 ft.
from the front wall. Now, it is but reasonable to sup-
pose that the roots will run into that part of the
border best adapted to the needs of the plants they
are intended to support, and on examination at the
end of the season it will be found that by far the
largest proportion have run into the outside border.
No one having any knowledge of the physiology of
plants will be surprised at this, as the reason is ob-
vious. The usual position of a vinery is such that
the glass roof is well exposed to the influence of the
sun. A vinery generally faces south, south-west, or
perhaps west, but in nine cases out of ten a southern
aspect is chosen, as conserving the largest propor-
tion of the sun's rays. The outside border is there-
fore well exposed to the sun, and is undoubtedly
warmer to a certain depth from the surface than
the inside border can possibly be, and has the fur-
ther advantage of being more perfectly aerated. If
it is not possible to obtain the advantages of an
outside border, and there is only a width of 6 feet
inside, I would have no hesitation in accepting the
conditions, and would make a border that width,
but would excavate to a depth of 4 feet, which
would give a depth of 3 feet 3 inches of soil. This
ought also to be made richer than would be thought
necessary if the borders were much wider. A liberal
proportion of crushed bones should be mixed up in
the compost, as being the most lasting stimulant
that can be applied. I may also add from expe-
rience that the best Muscat Grapes I was ever able
to grow were from a Vine planted in an inside bor-
der 3 feet wide, and the roots could not possibly
escape at the ends or front, so that it was really a
case of restriction of a very limited kind. The Vine
continued in bearing for many years, and may be
yet bearing freely, for anything I know to the con-
trary. I left it at Loxford Hall.— J. Douglas.
Select lists of fruits.— The amateur who wishes
to plant a garden with a good selection of fruit
trees too often finds himself embarrassed with the
number of varieties presented to him for selection
in nurserymen's catalogues. To him, doubtless, one
sort seems as good descriptively as another, but if
left to his own devices it is just possible that his
selection might be a bad one, or at least not so
good as it might have been. The amateur, if he
has carefully preserved his gardening publications,
might perhaps find somewhere in their columns the
needful information, but it would be much more
serviceable were that information given in the cata-
logues themselves. Before me lies an admirably
compiled fruit list. It is no one's specially, but is a
sample of the sort of work in this direction turned
out by a Scotch house, and the compiler of the lists
of fruit has boldly advanced in the desired direc-
tion. Thus we find fully described, with season of
ripening added, twenty -five best kitchen and twenty-
five best dessert Apples. Then there are the best
twenty Pears, in the order of ripening, includirg all
the best kinds; the best twenty Plums, and two best
Damsons ; the best ten Cherries, twelve best Peaches
—an ample variety— Nectarines, Apricots, &c., being
selected in the same way. Such a trade list must be
most helpful to beginners at this season of the year.
— A. D.
FIGS ON WALLS.
The Fig tree deserves to occupy a more conspicu-
ous position than it does at the present time.
Some people say they dislike fresh Figs, when
they have probably never tasted a properly ripened
fruit. To a certain extent the taste for Figs, like
the taste for Tomatoes, is an acquired one, but I
have never met anyone who had tasted a well grown,
well-ripened Fig refuse them a second time, and
Figs are certainly more sought after now than they
were a few years ago. The time is coming when it
will pay better to plant bare walls with Fig trees
than with other kinds of fruit. In the first place,
the Fig has one special advantage over other fruit
trees. It is very rarely troubled with insects,
unlike the Peach or the Plum. No special insecti-
cides are required to kill aphides; neither is it
necessary to be always on the look-out for maggots
or grubs, as in the case of the Pear, the Apricot,
and the Apple. The chief requisites in Fig culture
are a well-drained site in a fairly good aspect (east
or west will do as well as south), and thin training
of the branches. To bear well the wood must be
well ripened, and to this end the wood of a large
foliaged plant like the Fig must be so trained that
the air and sunshine can penetrate to every part, so
thatall the young wood ripens and becomes firm, and
in due time puts forth abundance of Figs. It is always
wise to keep touch of the roots, as in this way, when
we find they are getting too deep in the earth, we
can undermine them in front, and bring them back
to the right position. When the plants begin to
make long-jointed wood and very large luxuriant
foliage, it may safely be concluded the roots are
going astray, and the next autumn or spring they
should be brought back in the way suggested, by
opening a trench in front, and getting under them
and lifting them nearer the surface. It is well to
remember that the best soil is a medium loam from
a limestone or chalk district if possible, though
lime rubbish may easily be added where that neces-
sary material is deficient in quantity. The time
to prune Figs is in summer, by thinning out the
young wood, so that only enough is left to bear the
next year's crop ; but there will always be a branch
or two to cut out or to shorten back in the spring
when the trees are re-trained. This acts beneficially,
as tending to keep every part of the tree well
supplied with young bearing wood. The Fig in the
open air will only bring to perfection one crop in a
year ; therefore all young fruits showing in August
and September should be picked off when quite
small. Protection (north of London at any rate) is
necessary in severe winters, and as we can never
tell when a severe winter is coming, wise people
protect lightly every year. But the protection of
Fig trees is a very simple — I had almost said a
primitive — matter. The trees are unnailed towards
the end of November or beginning of December,
and we do not in a general way have frosts sharp
enough to injure Fig trees before. The branches
are drawn together and covered with evergreen
branches if in a conspicuous jiosition ; if otherwise,
dry straw will do. They remain covered till March,
then are partially uncovered, and the covering is
finally removed and the trees pruned and trained in
April. The Fig is easily propagated from cuttings
and layers, and seedlings are easily raised. If the
culture became more general, new varieties would
be raised ; but at present the best outdoor Fig is, I
think, the Brown 'Turkey, and the White Mni'seilles
is a good companion for it. Many years ago I cul-
tivated Figs in the south ; but I have gatliered as
fine and as luscious fruits here (ten miles north of
London) as I ever remember getting in my earlier
Oct. 22, 1887.
THE GARDEN.
3G9
davs. Yig culture is less a question of climate than
of " management. The chief thing, as I have before
observed, is to keep the wood thin and to never lose
touch of the root.— H., in FieM.
DAMSONS.
Damsons are selling at 12s. a bushel in this part of
the west of England, and, comparing the price of
Damsons with that of Wheat, I find the latter is
only worth 3s. 9d. a bushel. Yet the Damson wants
but little, if any cultivation, as it will even grow in
hedgerows and in many other situations where no
one would think of sowing Wheat. If the price of
Damsons could be reduced one-third or one-half,
there would be a much greater demand for the fruit
than there is now ; and surely if it pays to grow
barley at 3s. (id. per bushel, which requires an annual
outlay in seeds, manure-saving, harvesting, &c., it
would pay to plant a few odd corners about the
farm with Damsons. The trees would not perhaps
always produce a crop, but it is not often they fail
altogether. With regard to the cultivation of the
Damson, there is probably no other fruit that needs
such little attention, as it will thrive in any soil or
situation where Apple trees grow. So far as I
know, the trees in this part receive no special cul-
ture ; the few growers who supply the local markets
and private families are mostly cottagers, who hap-
pen to have a rather large garden or an orchard.
These raise their own trees by digging out the
suckers that rise from the old specimens. The
former are planted about in some odd corner until
they are large enough to be planted where they are
to fruit.
The sort generally grown alxiut here is a variety
of the common Damson with rather large oval-
shaped fruits, and it is much esteemed by many for
preserving. The Cluster, or what is better known
as the Crittenden Damson, is not often met with
here, but both fetch the same price in the market ;
as a matter of fact, all Damsons meet with a ready
sale. In my opinion the common sort, which has
rather small, roundish fruit, is the sweetest in
flavour, and witli regard to productiveness it is
equal to any. My first acquaintance with this sort
dates many years back, when as a lad I was engaged
in picking the fruit from a long line of standard
trees that grew in the middle of a Thorn hedge, the
Damson trees having been apparently planted at
the same time as the Thorns, for they had straight
boles reaching above the top of the hedge, which I
should mention was kept neatly clipped. The Dam-
son trees grew out above the hedge in their own
way, and as there was a walk close to the hedge on
the garden side and a ditch on the other, the trees
did not interfere with anything, so that neither the
roots nor the branches occupied any space that
could be devoted to other things. I mention this
case to show what an accommodating subject this
Plum is. All can grow it who have a garden or an
orchard. It does seem surprising that no effort has
yet been made to extend the cultivation of this and
similar fruits, which, if not always reliable, are suffi-
ciently so to merit more attention than they now
obtain. J. C. C.
SHORT NOTES.— FRUIT.
The Bid^well Peaches. — The several varieties
raised by Mr. Bidwell and attracting attention in Florida
are said to be peculiar in having: skins almost as smooth
as Nectarines. — Gardenerti' Monthlij.
Manuring with basic slag. — Will any prac-
tical Vine grower kindly inform me when is the best
time to manure an inside border with patent manure
(viz., basic slag), and would 1 ton for 33 square
yards he too much ? — C. S. M.
Wire netting. — Referring to Mr. Sangwin's note
in The Garden, Oct. 15 (p. 350), in certain cases
where his idea of covering up the plantations of Goose-
beiTy and Currant trees has been carried out, the birds
have not been able to clear off the insects and grubs,
so the trees have been denuded of every leaf. — X.
Lifting Morello Cherries. — I have here some
Morello Cherry trees that never ripen a crop of fruit.
Every season the trees are loaded with fruit till the
stoning period, when the latter falls oti. I intend lifting
hem, but would |like some advice as to whether lime
or marl would be the best to mix with the soil, and in
what quantity either should he used. The soil is a
light sandy loam.— T. S.
Lofty names of fruits. — Among the inflated
and magniloquent names of new fruits (evidently given
to crowd their way into the notice which on their
simple merits they would not he likely to receive) is
"The Golden Beauty of Paradise," given to a new va-
riety of Crab Apple, about the size of the yellow
Siberian Crab, and, according to Samuel Miller, of
Missouri, in no respect any better than the latter. In
other words, it is of no value as a new frait. and, as we
should naturally expect from the application of so
bombastic a name, an imposition or swindle. — Country
Gentleman.
Lord Palmerston Peaeh. — Before reading the
note in The G.\uden concerning this Peach, I never
heard that it was considered a mid-season variety;
with me it comes in after the Admirahles, and I con-
sider its size and lateness its only recommendations.
Certainly no judge of a good Peach would eat it
when such sorts as Royal George, Bellegarde, Dymond,
Noblesse, <tc., could be had. I have fruited my tree
for six seasons without having a fruit fit to eat.
This season the fruit has been slightly improved by
having some lights placed in front of the tree ; but
even now it is worthless except as a show dish for
the table. I would advise those with limited wall
space not to invest in such an article. — E. B. L.
Preserving Walnuts and Filberts. — In-
quiries are often made at this season of the year as
to the best way of preseridng these nuts. This can
be easily done with very common-place appliances.
Fill some clean flower-pots 5 inches in diameter
with the nuts as soon as they are taken from the
shelves, placing a piece of slate over each pot to
keep out dirt and insects. The pots may then be
taken to some comer out of doors, and covered over
with coal ashes 6 inches deep. This covering ex-
cludes the air and keeps the nuts i^roperly moist,
and they turn out with the kernels plump and fresh
and remain so until the natural temperature rises
sufficiently for them to begin to grow. They may
be also kept in jars, if the latter are tied down and
kept in a cool cellar. The nuts, however, commence
to gi'ow sooner in cellars than in the open air. —
J. C. C.
ENGLISH STANDARD FRUITS.
Pear TTondante d'Automne. — As we propose
to engrave this Pear as a first-rate kind, we shall
be grateful to any grower who approves of our
decision sending us fair specimens. If any
reader of The Garden feels bound to take the
part of the Devil's advocate, now is his time !
We will hear all the bad as weU as all the good
things that can be said of it.
FRUITS UNDER GLASS.
Steawbbeeies.
If a hot, dry summer is favourable to Strawberry
plants intended for forcing, our crops next season
should be extremely good, for never perhaps have
the crowns been better ripened than they are at the
present time. We do not often find it necessary to
continue almost daily watering through October,
but this operation this season is absolutely impera-
tive, as it is a well-known fact that dryness at the
roots at any time throughout the long period of
their culture is injurious, if not fatal, to the plants.
Judicious watering, then, must be continued, and
the plants still standing out of doors must be kept
free from weeds and runners, and moved occasion-
ally, not only to prevent them from rooting through,
but also to favour a free circulation of fresh air
amongst the pots. In this position and under this
treatment we allow onr plants to remain until the
approach of severe weather, when they are plunged
quite up to the rims in coal ashes, either on an open
quarter or in a cold pit as close to the glass as pos-
sible. Complete rest being quite as essential to
success as perfect ripening, many of our most suc-
cessful forcers object to the plants being wintered
under glass; whilst others, equally successful, ob-
ject to their becoming saturated with cold snow
water and afterwards converted into lumps of ice.
That much may be said on both sides there exists
not a shadow of doubt ; but two things have to be
considered : first, the period at which ripe fruit is
wanted ; and, second, the convenience at com-
mand. If plants in very small pots are to be taken
into the starting-pit in December, they should now
be plunged on a dry sloping bank of ashes, fully
exposed to the elements, where they can have per-
fect rest until ther are wanted. If, on the other
hand, later sorts in larger pots are intended for
coming on later and good cold pots are standing
idle, they may be plunged in these and fully exposed
by the daily removal of the lights to all weathers
except drenching rains and intense frost. To pro-
tect them from the rain, the lights can be fully
tilted every day and thrown off when the weather
is fair, and a few fronds of dry Bracken spread over
the crowns will save the old leaves as well as the
rims of the pots, although the spring may be swal-
lowed up by a winter of unusual severity, as it was
last season. As nothing can be gained by exposing
the plants to extremes, slight shelter, if only from
mats resting On laths, should be provided for blocks
plunged in the open air, and coddling or undue
excitement as strenuously guarded against where
cold pits are judiciously used for winter protection.
Peaches.
If ripe Peaches are expected in May next, all
root and border operations would be performed in
September at latest, and a general run over the
trees with the knife, before or after they are let
down from the trellis, will carry the routine on to
cleansing. Summer pruning having done away
with November thinning, careful paring off and the
removal of any faulty shoot, overlooked when the
leaves were upon the trees, will form the sum and
substance of knife work at the present time.
Assuming that the lights are portable and have been
taken in for painting, no time should be lost in
getting them replaced, but not closed, as shelter
during the operations of cleansing and tying in is
necessary, especially where this work is performed
in bad weather. If the roof is fixed and insects
have been troublesome, a coat of good oil and
turpentine paint will be found the quickest and
most economical mode of treating all woodwork
and trellises, and quicklime, with sulphur and a
little soft soap added, will make a suitable wash for
the walls. The next operation, the cleansing of the
trees, is a matter which requires careful considera-
tion, for if carelessly performed brown scale and
spider escape annihilation, and spring into new life
early in the spring, whilst severe measures very
often tend to the destruction of many of the
flower-buds. Years ago it was the practice to
make up a mixture of clay, lime, soap, sulphur,
tobacco water, and other dangerous substances
with which to coat the wood, young and old, and
then, notwithstanding the loss of many of the best
buds, it was found a remnant of the enemy had
escaped. This system, fortunately, has been given
up, and we now find very careful washing, not
once, but twice over, with warm soap water safer
and more effectual than closing the pores and bury-
ing the buds in an abominable compound. A
quarter of a pound of brown soap to a gallon of
warm, soft water makes a safe and excellent wash ;
a hard scrubbing-brush may be plied upon the old
stems and branches, but not upon the young shoots,
which, supported on the palm of the left hand,
should be carefully washed with a half-worn paint-
brush, the hands in unison constantly working out-
wards from the base to the point. When washing
is finished the old wood, if it is so willed, may be
painted, but a double wash is quite suflicient for
the destruction of the two insects I have named.
Once thoroughly dry, the trees may be tied in at
leisure — first the main branches to form the frame-
work, then the wood of the current year, care being
taken that each young shoot is at least 5 inches
from its neighbour, and calculated in due time to
shade the bare stems with foliage. Many Peach
growers, under the correct impression that the sap
tiows best in a loose tree, defer the tying of the
young shoots, also shortening back until the buds
begin to swell. The last operation I always defer
until the fruit is stt, then, conjointly with dis-
370
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 22, 1887.
budding, shorten back where absolutely necessary,
not otherwise. Tying: in is sometimes performed
after the house is started, but where work is press-
ing, time is gained by leading the way until each
house in its turn is finished.
Succession liouses. — If not already finished, no
time must be lost in getting all vacancies filled up
with fresh trees ; those on open walls this year are
now quite fit for removal to the houses where, if
carefully handled and managed, they will give full
crops of fruit next season. Top-dressing with fresh
and rather heavy loam, lime rubble, and crushed
bones at the same time may be brought to a close,
as there is always an advantage in getting fresh
roots on the move before the trees sink to com-
parative rest. Trees that have been moved, or
it is the intention to transfer to other stations, vrill
start best if left unpruned until the buds begin to
swell, and aided by one or two good waterings, fresh
roots are at once induced to take hold of the new
compost. Aged, but healthy trees that have carried
heavy crops of fruit and show signs of weakness
may be greatly assisted by a thorough watering with
diluted liquid after the old mulching is removed
and before the new top-dressing is placed over the
roots. Where Peach borders are composed of light
sandy, or what is termed hungry soil, it is not un-
usual to lay over the roots a good mulch of well
decomposed animal manure immediately after the
trees are washed and tied, but this practice is
always attended with danger, as it is much easier
to feed after the fruit is set than to check a too
vigorous growth of wood and foliage. To the heavy
loam used here I find the addition of lime rubble is
all that is needed, and then the wood in well
cropped trees is always, if anything, too strong. To
counteract this tendencyto grossness a semi-circular
trench round the extremity of each ball is opened
every year, and when the roots have been shortened
back to within about 6 inches of their starting
point, the trench is filled in with the above com-
post, firmly rammed and watered. Treated in this
way, a number of our old trees planted in 6-foot
borders nearly thirty years ago still give heavy
crops of fruit quite equal to the best they produced
when we frequently took the " front seat " at the
leading shows. The assertion that old stagers have
been put back by younger exhibitors is not quite
correct. Judges and gardeners who never occupied
front seats have had their say ; mine is included in
a single sentence. Fresh exhibitors advanced when
old ones retired upon their laurels.
Late Iwiises. — In ordinary seasons we find it
necessary to apply a little fire-heat to our latest
trees, but this has been an exceptional year, as we
found when pruning a fortnight ago that the
strongest wood was quite ripe and the colour of
crimson Osiers. To such trees flxe-heat would have
been injurious'; we, therefore, threw wide open the
houses, and commenced the autumn campaign with
the borders. It is pleasant to find really good
late varieties of Peaches and Nectarines are now
commanding the attention they deserve. It is
hardly reasonable to expect the thin-skinned
luscious Mignonnes equalled by sorts that ripen in
October ; as well might we look for perfect vinous
Hamburgh Grapes in February; but when well
managed the following are front-row Peaches any-
where. Walburton and Late Admirable, Barrington,
Sea Eagle, Raymackers, the Nectarine Peach, and
Desse Tardive. Of Nectarines we now have a large
family sparkling with the unique Stanwick flavour,
but minus its bad propensity to cracking ; Hum-
boldt, Dryden, Spencer, Albert Victor, Dante, and
Victoria this year have been excellent. To have
them fine and good they should be well fed up to
their^fuU size ; then a little less water to the roots
and a dry, warm atmosphere should be insisted
on. The finest dish of Nectarines I have seen
this year was the good Victoria.
Figs.
Where the first crop of fruit is obtained from pot
trees, say in April, a few of the best early sorts
should now be well washed, tied out, 'and top-
dressed with rich light loam, old cow manure, and
lime rubble. Potting and pruning having been per-
formed soine weeks back, the roots will be in a
satisfactory condition for starting when bottom-heat
is applied. Meantime the house, or, better still, a
light span-roofed pit, must be well cleansed and
limewashed ready for their reception. When all
is finished the trees may be housed at once and
placed upon some solid supports that will raise
them to their proper height, and at the same time
keep them steady when the fermenting material
requires turning over and renovating through the
winter. It will not at present be necessary to give
them any water, as Figs in a dormant state will
stand a great deal of drought; but when, like many
succulents, they get fairly into growth, be they in-
doors or in the open air, a regular supply of liquid
food becomes absolutely necessary. Once settled
in their forcing quarters the pit must be kept as
dry and airy as possible until the time arrives for
putting in the fermenting material, when a series of
moderate supplies of tepid water will penetrate the
driest balls, and the daily use of the syringe, aided
by warm vapour from the leaf bed, will produce
favourable starting conditions with a minimum of
fire-heat. Although Figs are capable of standing
more heat than would be good for Vines, the start
should be made at or about 56°, and gradually in-
creased by day, especially as the fruit and foliage
become developed. Trees growing in borders of
limited area and trained over fixed trellises require
similar treatment as to heat, water, and atmospheric
moisture, but the roots being imbedded in solid
cubes of compost, they do not respond quite so
quickly to the influence of bottom-heat. The race
in the long run, however, is nearly, if not quite,
equal, and when it is borne in mind that a well-
drained border is more easily managed than a pot-
bound ball full of roots, whilst every fruit well up to
the light attains the largest size, it matters little
whether the earliest fruit is obtained from trees in
pots or in borders. Brown Turkey, still one of the
best, has been grown here for years under both
systems, and from the two sets of trees we generally
commence gathering about the 10th of April. The
border area in which our trees are grown is 5 feet
wide, 2 feet deep, and cemented with a sharp fall
to the front for favouring the escape of water after
it has passed through the drain^e. The whole of
this area is not, however, filled with drainage and
compost, but each tree has about 4 feet each way
or 16 superficial feet of border given to its roots.
This is supported by turf walls, which are forked
down, as a rule, every year and rebuilt with fresh
sods of light turf, burnt refuse, and lime rubble.
The unoccupied portion of the area is filled with
fresh fermenting Oak leaves when the house is
closed, and so soon as the border is properly
moistened with tepid water, from 4 inches to 6 inches
of warm leaves are cast loosely over the surface.
All the water the roots afterwards receive passes
through this mulch, and by the time the fruit
reaches the critical or dropping stage the bite the
young feeders have taken not only of the mulch,
but of the decaying vegetable matter in the pit,
ensures a steady supply of food, although watering
for a few days may be overlooked or neglected.
Succession houses. — The trees in these having
given the last of the second crop and lost all their
leaves may soon be cleansed and regulated for the
coming season. Here, as in the early house, con-
finement of the roots is of the utmost importance,
for once they get beyond control the chance of a
full crop of fruit becomes extremely doubtful. In^
deed, so readily does the Fig submit to root-prun
ing, that we have frequently removed three-fourths
of the old and replaced with new compost with the
greatest possible advantage. The roots put right,
every tree should be let down from the trellis,
pruned if necessary, and well washed with strong
soap-water at least twice over. The glass, the wood-
work, and the trellis in like manner must be made
perfectly clean, when tying-in at once may follow.
This wash is quite strong enough for trees that one
may pronounce free from the worst class of insects
— white scale and mealy bug, for instance. When
these, as frequently happens, gain a firm hold dur-
ing the period the second crop is ripening, every
operation must be conducted with the greatest care
and determination. The trees themselves, as many
Fig growers full well know, can be made free from
every bug and scale, and yet these pests agiin and
again put in their unwelcome appearance. The
scale may be introduced by plants and so may bug,
but in nine instances out of ten the breeding stock
of the latter has been overlooked in cleansing the
house or the trellis. To these then the most careful
attention should be given, first of all by syringing
every part of the house, trees included, with water
at a temperature of 120°, just to prevent active in-
sects from becoming disseminated with theprunings
and rubbish. Washing, as previously advised, must
then precede painting the trees with the usual tar
mixture — half a pint of tar to the gallon of earth.
Every bit of loose soil and mulching having been
conveyed away to the refuse fires, a thorough
syringing of the border with sulphide of potassium
— halt an ounce to the gallon of water — will prepare
it for the reception of new top-dressing, and so far
the trees and their roots will be free from a living
bug. But now comes the rub : the walls must be
scalded (if old, pointed) and then washed with
quicklime, soap, and sulphur. The woodwork and
trellis will require one, or, better still, two coats of
oil and turpentine paint, which must be thoroughly
worked into every crack and hole throughout this
part of the structure, and the work, as far as cleans-
ing goes, may be considered complete. Still bearing
in mind the good old adage, that the " best laid
schemes" sometimes fail, armed with a bottle of
methylated spirits and a small brush, the attendant
must keep a sharp look-out on fine days in the
spring for any solitary insect that may have escaped
this ordeal. W. C.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 619.
SELECT EPIDENDRUMS.
(with plate of e. maceochilum album.*)
This is a very extensive Tropical American
family of orcliidaceous plants, and whilst it con-
tains many which produce elegant and hand-
some flowers, it must be confessed that the
blooms of a great number of the species are
very insignificant. For horticultural pui-poses
of distinction Epidendrums may be divided into
several distinct groups or sets of plants, and the
members of each group for the most part require
a different method of treatment. The most
obvious divisions of this genus are, first, those
having sub-globose or ovate pseudo-bulbs, of
which the species represented in our coloured
plate is an excellent example. Then there is
another set of plants in which the pseudo-bulbs
are more or less club-shaped, of which E. auran-
tiaoum, ciUare, and Stamfordianum may be
taken as types. A large section of these Epi-
dendrums has more or less slender reed-like
stems, often attaining several feet in height, and
which in many instances produce dense panicles
of superb flowers. Another group containing
but a few kinds, distinguished chiefly by the
formation of their flowers, is represented by E.
bicornutum. Orchid growers, however, recog-
nise this plant by its fusiform, hollow stems, by
the chaste beauty and peculiar shape of its
flowers, and also as being one of the few Orchids
which is not amenable to the atmosphere of an
Orchid house or the arts of the cultivator.
Another group is represented by a single example,
E. funale, which is also a most singular plant,
as it never produces any leaves, but simply forms
a mass of worm-like roots, in the centre of which
the crown is formed, and from which issue its
long-spurred, white, fragrant flowers. The
whole of the family, saving the group with tall,
reed-like stems, are epiphytes, and the majority
of them under cultivation thrive best upon
* Drawn for The Gakden at Baron Schroder's by
H. G. Moon, March 20, 1887, and printed hy G.
THE GARDEN.
:pidendrum macrochilum album
Oct. 22, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
371
blocks of wood or in hanging baskets. Some
kinds requii-e the heat of the intermediate house,
while those from high mountain diutriots must
be kept quite cool. The majority of the club-
stemmed section require intermediate tempera-
ture, whilst the reed-stemmed kinds will speedily
die if subjected to heat. In one thing, however,
Epidendrums are all alike, and that is, in
their love of freedom for the roots. In blookiDg
or potting the plants, therefore, avoid using
much material about the roots. Judging by
the appearance of many kinds of Orchids which
I have had sent home on their native blocks,
this is a point in which we, as cultivators, sadly
err, although 1 fear the atmosphere of our houses
is seldom sufficiently charged with moisture to
ensure good development of root and stem with-
out some slight assistance being given the plant
in the shape of Moss or fibrous peat, the quan-
tity of which should be reduced to the minimum
in the case of Epidendrums. These plants all
enjoy an abundance of water during the grow-
ing season, but after growth is finished the
water supply should cease and the plants be
allowed a period of rest, which can be brought
about best by a reduc-
tion both in heat and
moisture. To the fore-
going rule, however, the
reed-stemmed group are
an exception, as they
are usually active all the
year round, and, there-
fore, although the water
supply may be reduced
with advantage during
the winter, it must never
be entirely withheld.
GROtrp I.
E. MACKOCHILrM AL-
BUM (atro - purpureum),
admirably represented in
our plate, blooms during
the spring and summer
months, and lasts several
weeks in beauty. It thrives
best in the cool end of
an intermediate house.
Native of New Grenada
and Guatemala.
E. ATBO-PUEPUEEUM BOSEUM resembles the pre-
ceding, but its large lip is of a wholly deep rose
colour, passing into crimson at the base.
E. DICHBOMUM produces branched spikes from 1
foot to 2 feet high, bearing numerous flowers, which
have pure white sepals and petals, with a rosy red
lip. It requires the temperature of an intermediate
house. Brazil.
E. EETJBBSCENS requires a very cool house and
an abundance of moisture. The raceme is large and
dense; flowers delicate mauve in the sepals and
petals ; lip rosy mauve. It should be grown upon a
block. Oasaca, at upwards of 8000 feet elevation.
E. NEMOBALB MAJtTS. — A magnificent species ;
sepals and petals rosy mauve ; lip white, margined
with rose. Cool house. Mexico.
E. VITELLINTIM MAJTTS. — No collection of cool-
house Orchids should lack this brilliantly-coloured
variety. It is easily grown, but must be kept very
cool. The flowers are deep orange-scarlet ; lip
bright yellow ; they last for many months in perfec-
tion. Mexico, at 9000 feet elevation.
Gboup II.
E. AUEANTIACTJM. — In growth this much re-
sembles Cattleya Skinneri. The flowers are bright
orange and produced in spring. Intermediate house.
Guatemala.
E. Bbassavol^. — stems flask-shaped ; sepals
and petals tawny yellow ; lip white at base, deep
mauve in front. Cool house. Chiriqui, 8000 feet.
E. peismAtocAEPUM. — Growths flask-shaped ;
scape erect ; raceme dense, nearly a foot long and
many-flowered ; sepals and petals yellowish green,
blotched and spotted with dark purple ; lip rosy
pink. Late summer and autumn bloomer. Inter-
mediate house. Central America.
E. SCEPTEUM. — Similar in habit to the preceding.
Flowers yellow, tinged with green, and spotted with
dark purple ; lip white, streaked with bright purple.
Autumn bloomer. Cool end of intermediate house.
Venezuela.
E. StAMFOEDIAnum. — This species differs from
all other Epidendrums in producing its spike from
the base, and not the apes o£ the pseudo-bulb ; ra-
ceme dense ; sepals and petals greenish yellow ; lip
yellow, with a violet spot at the base, and dotted
all over with red. Spring bloomer. Intermediate
house. Guatemala.
GEOrp III.
E. AEACHNOGLOSSUM,— Stems tall, producing on
Epidendrum bicornutum.
the ends of the branches racemes of violet-crimson
flowers, the lip being ornamented with orange-yellow
tubercles. Blooms aU the year round. Cool house.
New Grenada.
E. CATILLUS produces long, drooping panicles
of flowers, which are bright cinnabar, the lip bear-
ing a white fringe. Spring bloomer. Cool house.
New Grenada.
E. cnbmidophobum attains a height of 5 feet or
more ; panicle drooping, upwards of a foot long ;
sepals and petals china-white at the back, pale yel-
low in front, streaked and blotched with brown ; lip
creamy white, tinged with deep pink. Spring
bloomer. Cool house. Guatemala, 8000 feet eleva-
tion.
E. ciNNABAElNtTM. — A tall, slender plant, pro-
ducing dense racemes of flowers, which in the sepals
and petals are bright scarlet; lip orange-yellow,
dotted and spotted with red. It blooms during the
spring and early summer, and lasts a long time in
perfection. Cool house. Venezuela.
E. ebueneum. — A distinct and handsome plant
which seldom exceeds 2 feet or 3 feet in height ;
the flowers are ivory-white, tinged with pale green
in the sepals and petals. Intermediate house.
Panama.
E. EEECTUM.— Stems i feet or 5 feet high, slender,
and producing dense panicles of rich magenta-purple
flowers. Cool house. New Grenada.
E. Feedeeici-Gulielmi.— A bold-growing, tall
species, bearing dense panicles of rich chestnut-
brown or crimson flowers; base of lip white. Summer
bloomer. Cool house. Peru, 6000 feet elevation.
E. IBAGUBNSE. — An elegant and distinct kind,
producing globose heads of orange-scarlet flowers.
Winter bloomer, lasting all through the spring
months. Cool house. Peru and New Grenada,
4000 feet elevation.
E. MTEIANTHUM. — A slender plant growing 3 feet
or more high, bearing at the ends of the stems erect,
dense panicles of rich magenta flowers. Summer
bloomer. Cool house. Guatemala.
E. PANICITLATUM.— Stems some 4 feet or more
high, bearing on their summits dense pendent-
branched panicles of flowers a foot long; the flowers
are rosy lilac, and yield a delicious perfume. It
flowers in the spring, retaining its beauty many
weeks. Cool house. Peru, at nearly 9000 feet
elevation.
E. EHIZOPHOEUM. — A slender plant, which is said
to grow amongst Grass and other low herbage. It
is a somewhat shy bloomer, but when in flower it
continues for several months ; racemes corymbose ;
flowers rich orange-scarlet. Cool house. Guate-
mala and Mexico.
E. SXEINGOTHYSSUS. — A taU, slender plant, pro-
ducing dense racemes of deep lilac or reddish
purple flowers ; lip white in the centre, bearing three
yellow protuberances on the disc. Spring bloomer.
Cool house. Bolivia, at 8000 feet elevation.
E. Wallisi.— A tall, bold plant, producing ter
minal and lateral panicles of bloom, the lateral ones
appearing downwards in succession after the ter-
minal flowers are past ; the flowers are large, and
yield a grateful perfume ; the sepals and petals are
golden, or almost orange-yellow, dotted with light
crimson ; lip white, feathered with numerous radiat-
ing lines of deep magenta. Autumn and winter
bloomer, lasting months in beauty. Cool house.
New Grenada.
Geotjp IV.
E. BICOENUTUM. — This is a plant of a totally
different aspect to any of the others previously men-
tioned. It has been removed from this genus by
Bentham under the name of Diaorium, on account
of its lip being disunited from the column, as in
the other species. Its pseudo-bulbs are a foot or
more long, fusiform, and hollow. The flowers (see
illustration) are very large, pure ivory-white; the
lip freckled with crimson dots. It is a difficult
plant to retain in collections. A plant growing in
a basket, hanging close to the glass and close to a
ventilator, has grown and flowered weU for three
years in succession in Mr. Stevenson Clark's garden
at Croydon, and Mr. Carr thinks he has at last
succeeded in solving the mystery attending its
cultivation. It should be grown on a block of wood
or in a basket in a warm house. Summer bloomer.
Guiana. W. H. G.
Suggestions to florists.— Mr. W. Simmons in
his remarks in The Gaedbn, September 24 (p. 266),
does not seem aware of the distinction between
florists and nurserymen. A florist's catalogue is a
very unpretentious affair,being no more than a simple
list of the particular plants to which he devotes his
attention. It seldom exceeds a couple of pages —
space not being wasted in description, except in the
case of new introductions, where it is absolutely
372
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 22, 1887.
necessary. Mr. Simmons' suggestions as to classifi-
cation in nurserymen's catalogues are excellent, and
that his final remarks are nut uDcalled for I quite
agree. There are those who bluw the trumpet very
loudly and shatter the Queen's English at every
blast; but this sort of performance is excep-
tional. It may with perfect truth be said that
there is no trade wholly dependent on the favour of
the public whicli is conducted in a quieter or more
business-like manner than that of a nurseryman
and seedsman. — H. P. B.
Stove and Greenhouse.
T. BAINES.
SPHzEROGYNES.
Amojmg.st the dift'erent Melastomads that are
remarkable for their noble foliage the Sphfero-
gynes hold a leading place, especially S. latifolia.
A first inspection of the leaves of this remark-
able plant conveys an idea that the whole of the
lateral nerves, which closely intersect the entire
leaf, have through some cause become con-
tracted, whilst the intervening spaces have kept
on growing, so that they had all bulged or risen
up in such a manner that the surface became
very much corrugated. So decided is this, that
the undersides of the leaves have a honeycombed
appearance. The upper surface of the leaves is
of a peculiar green colour, and is closely covered
with minute hairs, which give the whole a rich
velvety look. The under surface is deep reddish
crimson. The leaves are opposite and ovate in
shape, attaining in a well-grown specimen some-
thiug like a length of 18 inches and 12 inches or
14 inches in width ; the outer edges are much
contracted, so that the upper surface is nearly
as much rounded as the shell on the back of a
tortoise.
The plant is a remarkably free grower when
grown in a warm house and with plenty of pot
room, and it is much benefited by frequent ap-
plications of manure water during the sum-
mer when the soil gets full of roots. S. latifolia
comes from South America, and is by far the
finest kind, though there are others, such as S.
ferruginea, S. cinnamomea, and S. imperialis,
that bear handsome leaves, and are deserving of
the attention of those who grow collections of
fine-foliaged plants. On those about to under-
take the cultivation of Sphierogynes, particu-
larly S. latifolia, I would impress the necessity
of cleanly cultivation, as the formation of the
leaves is such as to afford more than ordinary
facilities for the increase of insects. On the
undersides of the leaves thrips and mealy bug
find the security they so much like, and wherever
these pests happen to be present in the house
where the Sphasrogyne is grown, unless the
undersides of the leaves are kept frequently
syringed the insects are sure to take up their
quarters, and if left undisturbed for ever so
short a time they will greatly disfigure the
plants. The bugs will also, where numerous,
establish themselves on the upper surface of the
leaves, but are easily removed by syringing with
clean water, besides which little else can be used
to remove these or other insects, as if sponging
is resorted to, unless great care is used, the
velvety look of the leaves is liable to be spoilt.
Sphmrogynes strike readily from cuttings, which
may consist of about three joints of the tops of
old specimens that have got bare of leaves at
the bottom and require heading down. Plants
that have had their tops removed in this way
generally break back from the joints lower
down the stem ; when the shoots thus produced
are about G inches long, if taken off with a heel,
they rarely fail to root quickly.
Where stock is an object, an old plant or two
will afford a number of cuttings, for as each
pair of shoots that are produced from a joint are
taken off the next joints immediately below will
break. If old plants are headed down at once
they may be cut in to within 9 inches or 10 inches
of the collar, after which they usually make
several shoots, which should all be taken off but
one, as the plants ought always to be confined
to a single stem. The cuttings should be put
singly m 3-inoh or 4-inch pots, half filled with a
mixture of finely sifted peat and sand, the rest
all sand ; kept moist and shaded, and enclosed in
a propagating frame or under glasses in a tem-
perature of 70°, they will strike in a few weeks,
when gradually give more air, with a con-
tinuance of brisk heat and shade, during
spriijg and summer. Before the pots get
crowded with roots the little plants must have
a shift ; they are free rooters, and will bear
moving into pots 3 inches or 4 inches larger.
It is necessary to give such plants as these more
root room in their early stages than would be
required by some things, as the object is to get
them sufficiently vigorous to produce large,
handsome leaves at the base, without which
they are wanting in appearance. The peat
should be of the best quality, containing an
abundance of vegetable fibre ; it should now be
pulled to pieces by hand ; mix some rotten
manure with it, and sand as well. Pot mode-
rately firm. These Sphoerogynes do not usually
retain their bottom leaves more than two years,
which necessitates the plants being headed
down, when a considerable portion of the old
soil can be removed. As soon as repotted the
plants should be kept near the glass, where they
will get plenty of light, which is requisite to
keep them short- jointed and to give enough
substance to the leaves to enable them to retain
their vitality as long as possible. A moderate
amount of air should be given in the daytime ;
keep the atmosphere moist, and syringe in the
afternoons at the time the house is closed.
Supposing that the cuttings have been struck in
spring, they should be kept until the autumn is
somewhat advanced in a brisk stove tempera-
ture, for to have the plants in good form with
full-sized leaves they require warm treatment.
Give a little more air for a few weeks in
autumn, when the weather is fine, but
avoid carrying this to the extent that is
often 25ractised with these and other warm
stove plants by which the atmosphere is ren-
dered much too dry for them. In the winter
the night temperature should be from 00° to
65° ; two or three degrees more than this will
not do any harm, but the reverse, as the plants
even in winter are better for being kept moving.
Towards the end of February begin to increase
the temperature a little, and in March move the
plants into 12-inch or 13-inch pots, giving soil
of a like description to that advised for the last
potting. Raise the heat as solar warmth in-
creases in summer ; 70° to 75° by night will not
be too much, with proportionately more in the
daytime. Give shade and air as in the preced-
ing season, with a like amount of moisture in
the atmosphere. The plants must never be
allowed to suffer for water at the roots, as any
deficiency in this respect would injure the leaves
to an extent that would hasten their decay. By
autumn the plants will be about at their best,
having attained a handsome size, with large,
fully developed leaves. Winter as before, and
if towards spring there are signs of the lower
leaves decaying it will be best to head the plants
down, as when at all bare at the bottom much
of their good appearance is gone. The heading
down should be done early in spring, so as to
give time for the new growth getting firm dur-
ing the ensuing summer. Previous to cutting
down allow the soil to get drier than ordinary.
After the tops have been removed, syringe the
plants daily ; they will break into fresh growth in
a few weeks. When the young shoots are about
G inches long, turn the plants out of the pots
and remove about half the old soil. It will be
best now to put them in pots, in good rich soil,
a size or two smaller for a time. Reduce the
shoots to one, retaining that which is best placed.
Treat in every way as advised during the earlier
stages of the plant's existence. After being cut
down they will make better heads, with bigger
leaves at the bottom than it is possible to have
on young stock. When the roots have got fairly
hold of the soil, move into pots of the same size
as those they previously occupied.
Plants of these Sphferogynes may be re-
peatedly headed back, reducing the roots at the
time they are shaken out, or, when smaller
specimens are preferred, the old ones may be
destroyed and their places taken by younger
stock, which for ordinary use will often be pre-
ferable. To meet this it is well to strike a few
cuttings every year.
APHELANDRA MARGAEIT.E.
All the Aphelandras are very much alike, the
blossoms of the whole of them being very showy,
and in most cases combined with handsomely
marked foliage. In the kind under notice the
broadly lanceolate leaves, which are of a deep olive-
green on the upper surface and purplish beneath,
have the principal veins marked with a silvery
stripe, which against the ground colour of the
leaf stands out very conspicuously. The upper
surface of the leaf is thickly studded with hairs,
but on the under side the latter are limited
to the larger veins. The flower?, which are
borne in a spicate cluster, are of a bright orange-
vermilion colour, their vivid tints thus rendering
them remarkably conspicuous, especially at this
dull season. The bracts that in some kinds form a
very conspicuous part of the inflorescence, are in
this of a bright green colour tipped with brown. A
species in which the bracts contribute at least an
equal share with the blossoms towards the em-
bellishment of the plant is A. chamissoniana or
punctata, whose blossoms, which are about 1 J inches
long and of a bright canary yellow colour, each
protrude from a large bract of the same hue, which
retains its beauty for a long time after the flower
has dropped. The leaves of this kind are lanceo-
late in shape, and very prettily marked by a broad
silver band down the centre, and the remainder of
the surface is irregularly freckled with silvery dots.
This species is more slender in habit than most of
them, and very apt to become naked at the base,
but this can be obviated by striking cuttings of
good growing tops that are likely to flower soon,
and if large specimens are required, grouping them
in a pot or pan after they are struck. About the
largest growing of all the Aphelandras, and a very
pretty flowering one withal, is A. chrysops, which
last year was awarded a first-class certificate by the
Royal Horticultural Society. This has the inflo-
rescence arranged in a decussate spike, the bracts
as well as the flowers being of a rich golden colour.
Like the preceding, the bracts retain their colour
long after the flowers are past, and another feature
common to both is the variegated leaves, which in
A. chrysops have the principal veins marked with
creamy white on a bright green ground. Besides
these there are A.aurantiaca(wliich should be found
in every garden where a structure exists suitable
for it) and its variety Roezli, A. cristata, A. fasci-
nator, and A. nitens. All the members of this
genus are of easy propagation and culture, for cut-
tings will strike at almost any time of the year,
provided .suitable ones can be obtained. The best
cuttings are furnished by plants that have run up
naked, as when their tops are taken off and struck
they mostly soon flower. The better way is to put
each cutting singly in a sm.nll pot, as when struck
the plants may be grouped in any manner that is de-
sired. They strike root readily enough in light
Oct. 22, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
373
sandv soil if kept for a little time in a close pro-
pagating case. In potting use a mixture of two
parts lofim to one of well decayed leaf-mould, with
ust a dash of sand. Some of them ^'lU Produce
seeds reidily if the blooms are artiliciaUy fertilised,
and when that takes place the seed should be sown
as soon as it is ripe and kept in the stove, when
with reasonable care and attention the y^ng
plants quickly make their appearance. H. ir".
CELOSIAS, OR FEATHERY COCKSCOMBS.
I ^v AS pleased to see these beautiful plants receiv-
ing some notice, and both " A. D." and Mr.Molyneux
deserve the best thanks of gardeners generally tor
bringino- to the front a beautiful race of plants too
often kept in the background. The cultural details
(n 324) are exactly similar to those which were
practised years ago at Stoke Park, Bucks, and since
that time! have never seen such beautiful Celosias.
The plan of saving our own seed was, I well remem-
ber very carefully performed. If one wished tor a
really good strain they would have a difficulty in
gettino- it, as, unlike manv beautiful flowers raised
from s'eed, such as Calceolarias, Primulas, &o., there
are verv few who grow Celosias largely, ^ou can
get the seed of any of them, but it produces a difie-
ient style of plant altogether to what I consider as
one of" the most beautiful races of pot plants in
cultivation, and remember the splendid effect they
produced. It has often surprised me that these
Celosias are not more generally grown well, for they
come in at a time when flowers are comparatively
scarce, and anything so distinct and graceful as the
Feathery Cockscomb makes a good change from
Pelargoniums, Fuchsias,&c.,that are generallybegin-
ning to have a jaded look in the autumn. Although
a good many years have elapsed since I assisted in
the cultivation of these beautiful Celosias, I feel
sure that it would be difficult to surpass the effect
produced by them as they were ranged in a long
span-roofed house with one of the best collections
of LUium lancifolium I ever saw in any private
garden, with a few massive plants of Salvia splen-
dens lighting up the background with their fiery
spikes Torenias in hanging baskets were sus-
pended along the roof, and even now, with all our
improvements, I question if a more beautiful floral
picture could be seen in many gardens. Certainly
we could add that gem of early white-flowenng
Chrysanthemums, Madame Desgrange, to the list.
If you have hitherto been unfortunate in getting
only a weedy strain, do' not give up the attempt, or
get hold of the idea that there is nothing better ;
for what has been done can certainly be done again,
and such Celosias as I have in my mind's eye now
prove that there is still something to learn even m
the cultivation of an annual. J- Gboom.
Gosjiort.
SHORT NOTES.— STOYE AND QREENHOUSE.
Begonia Martiana.— I send flowers of Begonia
Martiaua which seems well worth growing, either out
of doors in summer or under glass. When grown
indoors with the pot in a saucer of water it is a very
effective plant, and flowers freely for a long time.—
C. M. Owen, KnockmuUen.
The Mexican Butterwort (Pinguicula cau-
aata).— Will any reader of The Garden kindly say
-whether the pretty Pinguicula eaudata is deciduous,
like the hardy common species ? Also, what is the
best temperature to keep it in during the winter ?
—A. J.
Bouvardias planted out.— This is the best way
to deal with Bouvardias if a free display of flowers is
required Plant them out in a prepared bed m a house
maintained at a moderate temperature. If kept
pinched back they will continue to produce flowers m
great profusion throughout the winter. A fevr speci-
mens will supply a large quantity of Hoom if such
free-flowered varieties as the white Vreelandi are
selected. — E. C.
AUamanda grandiflora.— This is one of the
most useful of the Allamandas, and there is a large
hatch of it, some of the plants being m bloom, in the
Isleworth Nursery of Messrs. Chas. Lee and bon. it
has smaller leafage and flowers than A. Hendersoni,
but the flowers are of a purer yellow. Ihey are
produced abundantly, and when cut may be used
for decorations of choice character. The whole
of the plants are grafted on A. nerifolia. — E. C.
POTTING PLANTS FROM OPEN GROUND.
At the approach of winter numerous plants claim
our attention as regards lifting and potting prepara-
tory to storing them away under glass for the win-
ter. As a rule, there is little fear of making any
mistake in the operation, for the object is chiefly to
keep the plants alive for another year, and many of
the kinds employed for summer bedding are very
tenacious of life, and with anything like ordinary
care very little loss may be expected. But there are
many plants which will well repay a little extra
care and be found useful for indoor decoration dur-
ing the winter months. Many of the foliage plants
used in sub-tropical bedding are especially useful,
as also'a few of the flowering plants. I need not
give an exhaustive list, for anyone can try the ex-
periment on whatever they have in their beds or
borders that promises to be worth preserving. At
this season of the year there is generally ample
space in vineries or other fruit houses, where the
partial shade wiU suit newly lifted plants. One of
the first considerations is to injure the roots as
little as possible, and to do this care is neces-
sary. It will not do to simply plunge a fork or
spade down beside the plant and wrench it out of
the ground, for, if the plant is to bear the removal
and retain its flowers and foliage intact, the roots
I must be carefully treated. It is not necessary to
take a great mass of earth, for if the small fibrous
roots are preserved the plant will soon recover.
Having pots of suitable size prepared, the next most
important matter is the soil, for if that is hard arid
lumpy, the plants will not thrive. I always keep in
reserve a good supply of moderately dry, friable
soil, leaf-mould, and rotten manure. If this is
sifted so as to get it very fine, the roots can be care
fully worked into the pots and the fine soil shaken
in amongst them, and made tolerably firm. If the
plants are put into a shaded house and well watered,
not only at the root, but overhead as well until they
get over the check, they soon recover, and will bear
full exposure and do good service in meeting the
heavy demand for plants and cut flowers that in-
variably comes on the gardener during the short,
dark days. If they help to tide over the time until
early forced bulbs and plants come to his aid, the
worst of the winter as regards keeping up a supply
wiU be past, and if some things fail, others wiU
succeed and more than repay the work expended on
them. J- G- H
these plants have been kept in a cold frame all the
year round, and they are only removed from this
position to the greenhouse when their leaves and
spikes begin to push up. This system has been
practised with these plants for several years, and
although in previous years the show has been
grand in the extreme, this season's display of
flowers is far superior to that of any previous year,
so that the treatment must be accepted as perfectly
congenial to them. The pots are full of large and
stout bulbs, from which I infer that the less Nerines
in common with many other bulbous plants are
disturbed, the better they bloom. The soil used for
them is rich loam with the addition of a little peat
and leaf-mould. The plants are carefully, but freely
watered during the growing season, and afterwards
kept perfectly dry. These plants are well deserv-
ing the attention of all lovers of gay flowers at this
dull season of the year, and more especially of
amateurs, who have but little glass accommodation.
— W. H. G.
Schubertia grandiflora.— I enclose you some
trusses of Schubertia grandiflora exhibited at South
Kensington, September 13, and awarded a first-class
certificate. "When it is remembered that seed sown
in gentle bottom heat in January, and grown on
under the most ordinary greenhouse treatment, will
become by September a plant bearing more than
twenty trusses of from four to nine such flowers in
each truss, one cannot but hope it will not again be
allowed to go out of cultivation. In its own country
it flowers during seven months of the year, rivalling
in this point also, as it does in colour, size, and
scent, the Stephanoti3. As the introducer, or re-
introducer, of this beautiful plant through the
kindness of a friend in South America, I should be
glad if its merits became more widely known.—
A. C. Bartholomew.
Nerines at The Dell, Egham.— If there were
nothing but these plants in the charming garden
of Baron Schroder's, the display they are now
making would amply repay a very long journey to
see. Imagine the effect produced by nearly 600
spikes of N. Fothergilli major all opening together,
and backed by an abundance of their glaucous
leaves. The trusses are very large, and I noticed
one grand specimen bearing nineteen of these
trusses, whilst other plants were in some instances
bearing two spikes from a single bulb ; the flowers
are rich, bright vermillion, over which is a beau-
tiful spangling resembling frosted gold, and the
effect produced is very fine, and really requires to
be seen to be appreciated. Mr. Ballantine says
PLANTS FOR ROOM DECORATION.
The universal custom now prevailing in most esta-
blishments of having a few plants in addition to
cut flowers dotted about the different rooms induces
me to write a shoit paper thereon, not only because
it has developed into a very important part of the
gardener's work, but it likewise requires a fair share
of taste in the arrangements as well as suitable
plants for the purpose. Generally speaking, each
room being differently furnished will require a
different class of plants for its adornment, but, as a
rule, plants with stiff, upright growth are objection-
able to the eye, as they do not hide the pot or
stems unless others of a dwarfer growth are asso-
ciated with them; therefore they should only be
used when possessing special features either m
flower or foliage. Too many plants in a room are
objectionable, because they detract from rather
than elevate or enhance the effect, especially if the
room is elaborately furnished; for instance, plants
assigned to the front hall or corridor would be un-
suitable in a drawing-room or boudoir. Another
important matter to study is the various kinds of
receptacles provided for the use of plants; these
vary in size and shape greatly, but are generally of
a fanciful, elaborate, and artistic design, and the
plants for these should be selected with the greatest
care and taste, so as to add a completeness and
finish, and in no way hide or diminish the effect of
their appearance. I have often found, however, a
great difficulty in getting plants to go in them
without taking them out of the pots, and in many
cases I have found it necessary to reduce the ball of
roots in order to fit the latter in properly; this quite
ruins the plants, for in the case of choice or delicate
growing subjects it is almost impossible for them to
recover But in order to meet this difficulty it is
advisable to make a selection of plants, grow
them in suitable sized pots, and use them for no
other purpose. To do this it requires a sufficient
number for three changes; say, if twenty plants are
required at ore time, sixty should be grown, and
duplicates of all to be grown to follow on.
The atmosphere of rooms is generally dry, though
warm, and impregnated with gas and other enemies
to plant life. So different is all this to the healthy
atmosphere of a plant house, that it is necessary
that every plant used should have completed its
growth, or some injury will follow. Take the
different varieties of Adiantums, for instance. If
used for the decoration of rooms in a growing state
the young fronds would most certainly be injured,
yet when properly prepared there are no more
popular or suitable" plants for the purpose, and they
can be grown to a useful size in small pots.
Nepbrolepis exaltata, though not so choice as
others, is a most handsome Fern to use ; its long
and gracefully drooping fronds are an ornament in
any position, while many of the Pteris family have
a fine and graceful appearance, and may be used
freely. Nice plants of Spirfea japonica with or
without flowers are verv ornamental. The different
sorts of Lycopods make perfect plants for small
vases, as also do the Artillery Plant (Pilea muscosa)
374
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 22, 1887.
and tbe little Caladium argyrites ; in fact, there is
no lack of either foliage or flowering plants suit-
able for a tasteful arrangement either in a drawing-
room or boudoir, while for more commodious places,
such as the entrance hall, corridor, or staircase,
and where larger plants are admissible, there is the
beautiful Caladium esculentum, with noble foliage
and which stands well, several sorts of Palms, the
larger fronded Ferns, Curculigo, Ficus elastica,
Hibbertia volubilis, and the Calla or Ethiopian
LOy, all of which have a reputation for retaining
their beauty better than many others, and therefore
should be grown for the purpose. But to avoid as
little injury as possible, frequent changes are neces-
sary, and it is a very good rule to water every
plant well before it is][used, and when it again needs
water change it for another. Let all pots and
plants be kept very clean, and avoid letting tlie
plants remain long enough to make growth in the
different positions, for such growth when brought
out to the light is generally very weak.
Folldngtmi Manor. Thomas Reooed.
Bhododendrou. Lady Alice Fitzwilliam.—
I think that, as a greenhouse Rhododendron, this
very fine and striking form is deserving of the
highest praise. I saw it last spring in one of the
plant houses at Gunnersbury Park, Ealing. The
flowers are white, highly fragrant, and produced in
clusters of four and five blooms, and some of them
were at least 4 inches to 5 inches in diameter. It
was flowering in an intermediate house, and it evi-
dently does not require hard forcing. — R. D.
Specimen Azalea amoena. — Mr. Roberts has
some very fine plants indeed at Gunnersbury Park,
and in the late winter time and early spring they
produce masses of bloom. The treatment is simple
enough. As soon as the weather wiU admit of its
being done, after they have done flowering they are
turned out of doors in a warm, sunny spot, where
they are plunged in Cocoa fibre and housed at the
end of the summer. Not only is the growth
vigorous, but the trusses of bloom are very fine, and
the plants are not only very fine for the conservatory
when in bloom, but they are also invaluable to cut
from.— R. D.
Xiaclienalias. — In answer to my few observa-
tions on the instructions given by " T. B." for the
management of these plants, he declares that he
has had better results from repotting them after
they have made a little growth than by repotting
them at any other time. I have more than once re-
potted after growth has commenced ; but my ex-
perience is just the reverse of •' T. B.'s," and I de-
cline to believe that any deciduous bulbs are the
better for being repotted after they have made a
little growth, much less such things as Lachenalias,
■which make so many offsets. These offsets cannot
be removed after growth has once fairly commenced,
and the result is a potful of useless roots, which are
a great drawback to the flowering bulbs. " T. B."
tells us that by withholding anything in the shape
of manure until the flower-spikes show, three-fourths
of the advantages arising from the use of the manure
are lost, as stimulants given at that time have not
the slightest influence in increasing the number of
flowers on the spike ; but he admits that it may in-
crease the size of the individual flowers. This is
all \ claim for it ; but is it true that an earlier appli-
cation of stimulants will have the effect of increasing
the number of individual flowers on a spike ? Until
reading " T. B.'s " last note, I was under the im-
pression that once formed in embryo the flower
would be a perfect formation, and that it would be
out of the cultivator's power to increase the number
of flowers ; but in this I suppose I am wrong. The
Lachenalias I have grown have been admired by
many good gardeners, and the finest spikes I have
had carried twenty-two flowers. — E. B. L.
Cherry plant (Solauum capsicastnim). — There is
a fine stock of this useful plant in the Isleworth Nur-
sery of Messrs. C. Lee and Son, and the -dry weather
seems to have promoted the production of a profusion
of ben-ies, as the plants are well laden. One way of
growing this Solanum to induce robust leafage and
large berries is to thin out the shoots, hut the
result is a less elegant and stiffer specimen.— K. C.
■WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Tuberoses. — By bringing a portion of the stock of
this sweet-scented flower on in heat, and allowing
tbe other plants to come on slowly, there is a con-
siderable difference in the time that elapses between
the bulbs being potted and their coming into bloom.
Yet even when thus differently treated in the mat-
ter of heat, the succession from one pottuag will
not be so long as desirable;- consequently it becomes
necessary to pot the bulbs at different times. The
nature of the Tuberose is such as to admit of this,
for the roots do not suffer through being kept much
longer out of the soil after the ordinary period of
their starting into growth in the way that most
bulbous subjects do ; therefore, where the flowers
are required for as long a season as possible, the
roots must be potted at intervals, beginning by get-
ting some in as soon in the autumn as they are
obtainable, potting others at intervals to succeed
the earliest. The treatment of this plant is possibly
less generally understood than that of other bulbs
that succeed under pot treatment, through which
many failures occur. One of the most frequent
causes of their not doing well is through the soil
getting too wet before the bulbs have made roots,
the presence of which is indispensable before much
water is given. If it is as moist as many bulbous
subjects require it to be previous to young fibres
being present, they decay as fast as they commence
to move. The material I have always succeeded
best with for growing the plants in is good, sound
loam, with a little leaf-mould and sand added.
Large pots are not necessary, those 6 inches in
diameter being big enough for the largest bulbs.
Some of the successful cultivators put two or three
bulbs in pots of this size, but, so managed, more
attention is required in watering after root and
top-growth are well advanced. Drain the pots suf-
ficiently, and press the material moderately firm,
leaving the tops of the bulbs a little above the
surface. Care must be taken that the soil is not too
wet. After potting, little water should be given
until the bulbs have got well rooted ; if none at all is
found necessary, the plants are more certain of doing
well. The best way of keeping the soil in right
condition, without having to give water, is to stand
the pots on a slightly damp surface — not wet, other-
wise too much moisture will be absorbed. As soon
as young fibres are plentiful, water may be given to
an extent such as the majority of plants will bear ;
top-growth will then begin, after which the bulbs
should be put where they will get plenty of light.
Those that are wanted to come in early may be placed
in moderate heat ; but it is not well to hurry them
too much. Some growers make up a gentle hot-bed
in a pit or under an ordinary garden frame, in which
they plunge the bulbs that are required to bloom
early, giving enough air night and day to keep the
top-heat low, so as to get the roots to move without
exciting the leaves into growth. Another batch
may be potted in about two months, with others to
follow at one or two like intervals still later.
Chetsanthemums. — The stock should be looked
over from time to time to see that the plants are
not affected vrith mildew or aphides ; the former, if
left to itself, soon does irreparable injury to the
foliage, the unsightly appearance of which spoils
the look of the plants, and it is also equally
injurious to the flowers, which always suffer pro-
portionate with the extent to which the leaves are
affected. Immediately the parasite appears dust
with sulphur, or syringe with water sufficiently im-
pregnated with sulphur, being careful that neither
the dry material nor water charged with it get
into the soil in any appreciable quantity, as either
is highly injurious to the roots of plants of all
kinds. For aphides it is best to fumigate. There
is this season a good deal of the black species of
this insect which is much more difficult to destroy
than the ordinary kind, so that strong and repeated
applications are often required before the pest is
got rid of. Tobacco powder kills the aphides
whenever it comes in contact with them, but there
is a difficulty in reaching all the insects in the way
that the smoke does, and unless nil are destroyed
the work has to be repeated. Plants of the late-
llowering varieties tliat were headed dpwn in
August with a view to induce them to bloom in
January and February must be well attended to.
The chief essentials to their blooming satisfactorily
are a position well up to the glass in a well-con-
structed light house, and plenty of air on all favour-
able occasions. Under these conditions the plants
will bear the necessary manurial stimulants being
more freely used than where they are housed less
favourably.
Tdbeeous-eooted Begonias. — So long as this
section of Begonias makes growth the plants continue
to liloom more or less, but where the bulbs were
started early in warmth they will now mostly have
got tall and shabby in appearance, and, even in the
case of those that were brought on later, it will be
best to treat them so as to induce them' to rest, for,
as it usually happens, houses and pits are more
crowded during this and the ensuing month than at
any other time of the year, so that the room these
Begonias occupy will be found useful for other
things. If a bed or a corner in a vinery or Peach
house can be spared where the plants can be stood
it will answer, gradually withholding water to get
the tops to die down, after which the tubers may be
shaken out of the soil and stored away anywhere
out of the reach of frost, and where they will be
dry.
Pelargoniums. — Large-flowered varieties of
Pelargoniums that were kept blooming after the
ordinary time for heading down and, as a conse-
quence, were not cut back until late, will now have
broken sufliciently to be ready for re-potting. When
the work has thus been delayed it is not well to
shake quite so much of the old soil away as advis-
able with those that were cut down earlier, for now,
when the season is so far advanced, the plants are
proportionately longer in getting over the disturb-
ance of their roots that is unavoidable. Neither
should the roots be now shortened in further than
by detaching those that are down amongst the
drainage material. The soil should be rich, and,
as advised for such as were potted earlier, made
quite firm in the pots. After potting give no water
for a time ; it will be well to stand the plants in a
house or pit with little air admitted for two or three
weeks, and when there is an appearance of frosty
nights a little warmth in the pipes will help the
roots. The earlier potted plants of this section, and
also the fancy sorts, that are yet in frames, ought
to be at once moved to their winter quarters, giving
them a good position, where they will be close to
the glass, and get all the light that can be given
them. The roots should by now be moving freely,
so that more water may be given ; at the
same time, it is necessary to bear in mind that
these kinds of Pelargoniums require to be kept
drier from this time till the spring than other soft-
wooded plants. Any excess of root-moisture has
the double effect of stopping the formation of roots,
and causing the production of coarse watery shoots
and leaves, both of which should be avoided. See
that tbe plants are quite free from aphides, which
on detection must be killed by fumigating.
Cyclamens. — Plants that were raised from seed
sown some fifteen or sixteen months since, and that
have been well managed since, will now have
attained a useful size and be furnished with an
abundance of healthy leaves that half hide the pots.
Although the foliage is impatient of direct exposure
to the sun, what they will get after this time will
not do any harm, however near to the glass the
plants are. To do justice to them they should be
kept in a house or pit where they will have all the
light that it is possible to gi\e them, with a little
warmth turned on at night, and also in the day-
time when the weather becomes cold, especially
in the case of such as are required to bloom early.
The plants should be closely examined to see that the
leaves are quite free from red spider, which, owing
to the unusual dryness of the past summer, has
been more than ordinarily troublesome on these
and other things that are liable to its attacks. The
little pest does not increase fast after this time, but
where it is present, if even only in limited numbers,
the leaves soon show the effects. Syringing the
undersides of the leaves, to get at which the plants
should be laid down on their sides, or, where there is
Oct. 22, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
375
not a large stock, sponging with clean water will
be found the readiest way of dealing with it. It is
equally important to see that the plants are free
from aphides. Fumigation, repeated two or three
times at short intervals, will efEect a riddance of the
insects.
Fibrous-booted Begonias. — The different kinds
of this section of Begonias will now require atten-
tion. As soon as the weather becomes cold they
must be located where they can have enough warmth
to keep them moving slowly. If the pots are full
of roots, manure water should be given from time to
time, as, however much they may happen to be
underpotted, it is best not to sliift them at this
time, or it will be likely to do more harm than good.
An intermediate temperature from this time on-
wards is what these Begonias require, as they do
better with a moderate amount of warmth than
when kept hot. T. B.
THE GARDENER WITH A SECRET.
The choice extract from the Ameriean Florist in
The Garden, Oct. 1 (p. 297), carries some of us
back further than we would like to say. Gardeners
with secrets have almost died out. They were
plentiful as Blackberries in the days when some of
us were young. As the American writer remarks,
the men, if not the secrets, were mostly weedy.
Though they charged high in money, they never
prospered on the proceeds. I never went shares in
the purchase of a secret but once. Some of us — all
apprentices — clubbed together a shilling each to
purchase the greatest secret in propagation. It
turned out a very good one, and as not every good
gardener knows it yet, it may be worth repeating
here — of course, minus all the exaggerated flourishes
that made it wonderful to our youthful eyes. The
secret vendor, however, not only made the most of
his secret, but he succeeded — shall I say in spite of
or in consequence of his many flourishes — in making
the matter plain and clearly understood.
Beginning with tlie aflSnity of roots and of the
parts of plants about to form roots for the sides of
pots, he showed us how to multiply the area of
this favourite rooting space by the placing of one
pot within the other, leaving any interstice from a
quarter of an inch to 2 inches or more between the
two pots. This space, whether narrow or wide, was
the rooting ground for the cuttings or young plants.
Draining the larger pot in the ordinary way, he
placed a smaller one in the centre of it and filled
the space between the two with pure silver sand or
very light soil. The centre pot might also be filled
with soil or sand, and throe rows of cuttings inserted
in this double or treble rimmed (for a small third
pot might be placed in the second) if desired. The
first row of cuttings was placed against the inner
side of the outer pot ; the second against the outer
rim of the second pot, and a third immediately in-
side the rim of the second pot. The cuttings were
carefully made, inserted, and made firm, flrst by
well ramming in the soil, and then watering it home
alike before and after the insertion of the cuttings.
This was a secret, but not his great secret that
was to cure for ever after all practical difficulties in
the watering of cuttings by superseding any need
oE watering them directly until they were rooted.
A lump of good holding clay was needed to reveal
this secret. After considerable delay a piece was
obtained and worked up into water-proof condition.
With this the holes in the bottoms of several small
pots were sealed up. The small pots were then in-
serted within larger ones, and the interstice be-
tween the two pots filled with sand or compost,
sand being preferred ; the cuttings carefully in-
serted, and the centre pots filled to the brim with
water. A bell-glass, of which there were but few
in those days, and especially at the place I refer to,
was after much trouble found. It was washed
clean, wiped dry, and placed over the cuttings, left
resting on the level surface of an extemporised bed
of sand ; and the revealer of secrets finished with a
flourish of his arms and a loud " There, leave that
pot for six weeks to itself, and every cutting will
have grown into a plant ! " The secret-monger had
well earned his money, and taught us several other '
secrets, none, however, so valuable nor so well re-
membered as the flrst one in the art of propagation.
It was my first horticultural object-lesson, and
hence it has never been forgotten. At that time,
too, there was a place — possibly a living — for the
horticultural secret-monger. The majority of them
were ignorant charlatans, but not all, and know-
ledge was scarce. Our only press was Loudon's
Gardener's Maijaz'me, published once a month at
2s. 6d. or 3s. (id. a number. No Gardens, Chronicles,
Journah, Magazines, Records, limes in those days.
No one need keep — no one should attempt to sell a
horticultural [secret now by private adventure ; it
becomes old news, obsolete intelligence, almost
effete practice, unless we hasten to print it for the
good of all at once. The more we hoard up horti-
cultural secrets, the fewer and the less worth keep-
ing they will become from day to day. The wider
and the more promptly we scatter our secrets
abroad through the press, the more knowledge we
shall obtain for ourselves ; for there are those that
give and yet increase, and others that hoard up
their secrets with miserly grip all through their
lives, and in the end only have poverty of spirit,
littleness of heart, and leanness of head and fortune.
_^^ HOETUS.
Ferns.
W. H. GOWEE.
EUROPEAN NOTHOCHL.EN'AS.
Amongst the numerous plants which are re-
ferred to this genus, I recognise a score or more
which are distinct species. Most of them stand
Nothochlsena lanuginosa. Engraved for The Gakden
from Natui-e.
in the first rank amongst elegant Ferns, and
the whole of them are well deserving the care
and attention of Fern growers. Some species
of Nothochlrenas (and these by no means the
most inelegant in the family) are to be found
wild in Europe and the adjacent islands, yet,
strange to say, although they are indigenous to
localities so near our own shores, these particu-
lar kinds are comparatively rare as cultivated
plants in English gardens. The various species
here enumerated inhabit for the most part dry,
stony situations or rocky ledges on mountains,
an item which must be taken into consideration
if success is to attend their culture. Kotho-
chlsenas thrive well in the temperature of a green-
house, and are thus rendered available for
numbers of Fern growers who have no stove
accommodation for plants, and thi.s fact alone
should lead to their more extended cultiva-
tion by lovers of elegant and delicate Ferns.
These plants should be kept in rather small
pots, which must be well drained. The plant
itself should be inserted between the chinks of
a small block of sandstone, and by raising it
slightly above the rim of the pot, the rapid
draining away of water from the crown of the
plant will be secured. The soil best suited
for them is a mixture of loam, peat, old
lime rubbish, and pieces of sandstone, broken
small, the whole well incorporated. In water-
ing, carefully avoid wetting the fronds, as from
their woolly nature the water is very liable to
disfigure them (more especially in winter),
but if the pots are well drained and the soil
previously named used, copious waterings dur-
ing the summer months will be beneficial, re-
ducing the quantity in winter. The plants
should be placed upon a ledge or shelf in the
Fern house, just on a level with the line of
vision, in which manner their beauties are best
seen.
N. LANUGINOSA, admirably depicted in our en-
graving from a small frond grown in Mr. Williams'
nursery at Holloway, is an exquisite plant. When
fully developed the fronds attain a length of 6 inches
to a foot, by about 1 J inches in breadth ; these are
about twice divided (bipinnate) into small seg-
ments, which are deep green above, but beneath
they are densely clothed with long white woolly
hairs, which turn brown with age, and which pro-
ject beyond the edges in all directions. This plant
is found in most parts of Southern Europe, but
more plentifully in Madeira, TenerifEe, and the Cape
de Verde Islands. It is also found in various parts
of Australia, and in Cashmere and Afghanistan,
but probably plants derived from these sources
would require a higher temperature than those
from Europe.
N. Maeant^. — This is a bold, erect-growing
plant, the creeping rhizome and crown being clothed
with ferruginous hairs. The fronds, which attain
a height of from G inches to a foot and from
2 inches to 3 inches in breadth, are oblong-lanceo-
late in outline and twice-divided; the segments are
oblong and entire for the most part ; in texture they
are thick and leathery, pale green on the upper
side, but underneath they are densely covered with
bright chestnut-red hairs or scales, as also is the
stem. Native of the south of Europe, Madeira,
Teneriffe, the Azores, and Cape de Verde Isles. It
is also found in Abyssinia and the Himalayas up to
1.5,000 feet elevation.
N. canARibnsis is a plant very similar, if not
identical, with the preceding. From the Canary
Isles, and may perhaps only be an extreme form of
N. MarantEe.
Filmy Ferns from Jamaica. — Will you be
good enough to name the three kinds of Ferns I
have received from Jamaica, and give me some idea
how to manage them ? I may say I have both a
small stove and a greenhouse. — F. Mueller, Man-
chester.
*if* No. 1 is Trichomanes crinitum, a very fine
specimen. The peculiar glaucous colour is natural
to it, caused by the numerous soft white hairs with
which the fronds are clothed. Its fronds seldom
exceed S inches in length, and are frequently less.
Plant it in a small pot with abundance of drainage,
using peat and turfy loam in small quantity for
soil. No. 2, Hymenophyllum abruptum, from its
slender creeping rhizome — the position for this
should be a block of sandstone or piece of Tree Fern
stem. Naturally it grows upon mossy trees and
rocks. The fronds are nearly 2 inches long, and
quits full size. No. 3, Hymenophyllum asplenioides.
This is another creeping species, and should have
the same treatment as No. 2. The size, 2 inches, is
by no means its full development, as I have fre-
quently seen it as large again. When these plants
have been attached in the manner described they
376
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 22,1887.
should bs placed in a glass case ia the stove and
the atmosphere kept well charged with moisture, so
that the fronds are always kept in a moist state.
This is far preferable to allowing them to become dry
and then wetting them with a syringe. The plants
may have a fair exposure to light, bat must be cire-
fuUv shaded from the sun. — W. H. G.
OUR NATIVE FERNS.
(THE POLTPODIES.)
The genus Polypodium, which is exceedingly rich
in species of foreign origin, only contains five species
native of the British Isles. Four out of these five
species are entirely deciduous, and, consequently,
require a treatment totally difEerent from that
allowed to the fifth, which is evergreen, and as
highly ornamental in midwinter as it is at any
other' time of the year. This evergreen species,
Polypodium vulgare, which is popularly called
the common Polypody, is universally distributed
throughout the United Kingdom, where it is
found growing naturally on walls, on roofs of
cottages, in the hedges, on shady banks, and par-
ticularly on old trees and branches. It is one of
the very oldest Ferns accepted as truly British, for
Dr. AViUiam Turner, in the second part of his
"Herbal," published as far back as 1562, gives, be
sides its description, a very fair woodcut of Poly-
podium vulgare, which he designates as the "Eng-
lishe Polypody, the Walle Feme, or Oke Feme."
It is, of all the Polypodies, the most ornamental, as
it is also probably the most generally known. It
is found most useful for adorning the hardy rockery,
where it is most effective when growing in a mass,
and the great ease with which it can be managed,
coupled with its evergreen nature, also greatly adds
to its value as a hardy decorative plant. Polypodium
valgare differs from all other British Polypodies in
the coriaceous texture of its fronds, which average
from 10 inches to IK inches in length, according to
the suitability of the position and nature of the soil
in which it is grown, and in habit, through its rhi-
zomes, which, instead of being slender and strictly
underground like those of the other species, are
stout, creeping horizontally on the surface of the
ground, and which, when left undisturbed, become
very closely matted together. The spore masses,
usually disposed on the upper portion of each fertile
frond, are at first much depressed and hardly notice-
able, but when they approach maturity they be-
come very attractive through the orange-tawny
colour and the shining nature of the little knobs
•which ai'e disposed in two regular rows on each
pinna. Besides their cultivation out of doors, the
common Polypody and its several varieties are par-
ticularly well adapted for the ornamentation of the
cool fernery under glass, where they may be used
with great advantage and effect, and in which place
nearly every position suits their requirements,
although the more elevated parts of the rockwork
are preferable, and the shady parts also more suit-
able than those exposed to strong light. The only
position in which these plants do not thrive is one
in which they are continually exposed to the drip-
ping of water, for even occasional thorough dryness
at the roots does not cause the immediate destruc-
tion of the fronds, which remain on fresh until mid-
summer, but diminishes the vigour of the plants ;
in fact, as Mr. Stansfield, who makes a speciality of
hardy British Fems, and who has most carefully
studied their varied wants, truly remarks ; —
No Penis are more patient of neglect than the Poly-
■podium vulgare, though the cultivator will hardly be
tempted to neglect it, or any of its most beautiful varie-
ties, which are perhaps the freest growing. They all
particularly delight in the decaying trunks of old trees,
so that in forming a rookery either in or out of doors
it is well to introduce some old stumps for the purpose
of fixing their rhizomes upon them and filling the
crevices with a compost of fibrous peat, leaf-mould,
and silver sand. In order to help the establishing of
the Ferns, which should be planted in close proximity
to the decaying wood, they should he securely fastened
to the ground with wooden pins in the first instance,
taking care that the spot where they are planted be
thoroughly drained. In the greenhouse they also
thrive equally well in shallow pots or pans filled with
the same compost, provided that these heweU drained.
Polypodium vulgare and varieties are usually propa-
gated by division, which may be made at almost any
time of the year, although spring is the most suitable
season.
Some of the varieties of the common Polypody
differ from the species only through the crested
character of the fronds, which in most cases
attain a greater development than those of the
common kind ; other varieties are rendered more
or less distinct by the serrated nature of their pinnii;,
or by the plumose appearance of their fronds, while
others, on account of the fronds becoming tripinna-
tifid, or even decompound, are so unlike tho^e of the
typical plant as to appear to possess no relation to it.
The Welsh Polypody (Polypodium vulgare
cambrioum) may be consid-ered not only as the
most distinct, but also as one of the most beautiful
forms in cultivation, being of a dense habit, though
its fronds attain as much as 18 inches in length, and
frequently measure quite 5 inches in width. Through
their divisions being broadly toothed next to the
midrib, and almost suddenly lengthening into a tail
about half an inch long, these fronds, which are
of a broadly ovate shape, are rendered particularly
plumose by the overlapping of the part of these
divisions over one another, which thus gives the
plant a peculiarly leafy appearance so thoroughly
difli'erent from anything else in cultivation, that it
seems more like a distinct species than a mere
variety. The Welsh Polypody is no new or modern
form, for it was known as a British variety as far
back as IfiSd, when we find it mentioned in the
" Historia Plantarum," by Ray, who says that he
received it from Sir Hans Sloane, and that it was
first discovered near Dennis Powis Castle, near
Cardiff, in Glamorganshire. Since then it has been
gathered in various stations, notably at Chepstow,
in Jlonmouthshire, near Dundry Church, in the
neighbourhood of Bristol, and also at Braid Hall,
near Edinburgh. On account of its thoroughly
sterile character, it is difficult to imagine how that
beautiful Fern managed to spread to localities so
far apart ; for, although it has always proved
constant under cultivation, like other plumose
forms of Ferns, it has never been known to pro-
duce any fertile fronds, either in culture or in a
wild state Although quite hardy, it makes a
splendid pot plant when grown in the cool frame
or in the greenhovise, the pleasing pale green
colour of its foliage being particularly noticeable
and attractive among other Ferns. Polypodium
vulgare Prestoni, a fine variety gathered in Silver-
dale, is one belonging also to the same group as the
Welsh Polypody, but its fronds are shorter, more
triangular, and also more closely imbricated than
those of Polypodium vulgare cambricum. Again,
we have in P. omnilacerum a most lovely form,
pinnatifid throughout, showing great affinities with
the Welsh form, which it resembles in general ap-
pearance, but from which it is essentially distinct
by its being at all times fertile. Its fronds, which are
of the same size as those of P. vulgare cambricum,
have the apex of each of their piona;^ nearly an inch
wide for two-thirds of their length, and very deeply
cut into slender lobes, the remaining portion termi-
nating in an attenuated point. It is altogether a
very handsome form originally found wild in Here-
fordshire. The Irish, or Dargle Polypody, Polypo-
dium vulgare semilacerum, or hibernicum, also
belonging to this group, is exceedingly distinct. Its
long-stalked and nearly erect fronds, from 12 inches
to 15 inches long, and about (1 inches wide, are very
deeply bipinnatifid in their lower part, and become
fertile and pinnate towards their apex, where the
pinnfe are irregularly dentate. This curious form,
which, like the preceding one, is quite constant in
cultivation, was originally gathered in the Dargle
'\'alley, in County Wicklow, where to this day
it is frequently found wild. In Polypodium
vulgare pulcherrimum we have a truly hand-
some and distinct Fern, equal in beauty to
P. omnilacerum, or even cambricum itself ; it may,
indeed, be considered an intermediate form be-
tween these two lovely kinds, .showing to a great
extent the beautiful bipinnatifid character of the
latter, though its fronds seldom attain more than
12 inches in length, but possess the same divi-
sions of the lobes and the imbricated pinnules
On the other hand, ^instead of being constantly
sterile, they are abundantly fertile, like those of
omnilacerum and semilaceram, and like them also
are of a thicker and much firmer texture thaii
those of the Welsh Polypody. This lovely variety
either originated with Messrs. Stansfield and Sons,
of Todmorden, Lancashire, or was by that firm
simply distributed at least some fifteen years ago ;
but even now, when it is seen in good condition,
it proves of the greatest interest.
There are among the crested forms of the com-
mon Polypody some plants of great decorative
value, notably the P. vulgare cristatum, of Irish
origin, and whose fronds, about 15 inches long by
about 3 inches wide, have the points of all their
pinnfe crested and curled ; the apex of the frond
itself is more or less ramose or frequently branched,
and each of these branches being again frequently
forked, forms a sort of tufty head not at all un-
like those produced at the ends of the fronds of
Lastrea FUix-mas cristata. The variety cristatum
minor is simply a diminutive form of the preceding
one. P. valgare ramosum is a very showy and ro-
bust form, whose fronds instead of being simply
crested at their top are several times branched from
about half-way up their stem ; the pinnfe are equally
twice-divided all through the plant. In the variety
called ramo-oristatum we have a fine, densely crested
dwarf plant, with fronds from 6 inches to 0 inches
long, the third part of which has only a narrow
wing on each side of the stalk ; from about the
third of their length they are divided, becoming re-
peatedly forked, and finally producing a dense,
curled crest, measuring from 3 inches to 4 inches
across. The common forked Polypody, P. vulgare
bifidum, which occurs frequently in the north of
England and has been found in a wood near Bing-
ley, in Yorkshire, and also at Chepstow, in Mon-
mouthshire, is again a crested form, with fronds
of about the normal size, but differing essentially
from the typical plant through the furcation of its
segments, which sometimes are even bifurcate and
spread away from each other.
The common toothed Polypody (P. vulgare
serratum) is a form long ago discovered and adopted
as a true British variety, for, in 1T24, Dillenius, in
his edition of Ray's " Synopsis of British Plants,"
says that it had been found on the walls of Windsor
Castle. It has also been gathered near Bristol, in
the Ashton JIanor and Leigh Woods. P. vulgare
acutum — which has been found on rocks in North
Wales, in the meadows near Maiden and Ewell, in
Surrey, and in Cobham Park, Kent — is a variation
with segments more pointed ; whereas P. vulgare
auritum differs from the type by having its pinnje
auriculate, their lower divisions usually bearing on
the upper edge of each next to the midrib an ear-
like projection. The fronds of this variety, which
was originally found in the north of England and
Wales, though attaining 15 inches in length, are
seldom more than 2 inches wide. In P. vulgare
elegantissimum, also known under the names of P.
cornubiense and P. Whytei, we have a most remark-
able form in which hardly any traces of the common
species are left ; indeed, if it were not for a few
occasional fronds reverting sometimes entirely
and sometimes partially to the typical form, it
would be difficult to discern that the two plants
are related to each other. By the uncommon
shape of its finely divided fronds, which, however,
are not transparent, and rarely exceed 10 inches in
length, this beautiful variety, which originated in
Cornwall and was distributed some twenty years
ago by Messrs. Stansfield and Son, of Todmorden,
resembles the well-known Killarney Fern, and al-
though exquisitely delicate in appearance, it is
nevertheless a free grower and by far the most
distinct and beautiful variation of the Polypodium
vulgare.
The above are all the most handsome forms of
the common Polypody, but there are also others ex-
tremely curious, which are cultivated especially on
account of their strange appearance. Among them
is the P. vulgare variegatum, of very normal shape
and size, but whose fronds are distinctly striped and
spotted with yellowish white. Unfortunately, when
the plant grows vigorously the variegation is not very
Oct. 22, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
377
constant, but when in character it is very. pretty.
P. vulgare suprasorif erum is another curiosity, which
when barren appears nearly normal, but having
when fertile a particularly strange aspect, on ac-
count of the spore cases being: in many instances
produced on the edge of the pinna;, and being dis-
posed on the margins of the upper surface of its
peculiarly narrow fronds. This curious form was
originally found in the south of England. But the
most curious of all varieties is undoubtedly P. vul-
gare compositum, from the Lake districts, which
appears to embody all the different variations shown
by other forms, and combines the characters of
several varieties in itself. As a truly composite
sport it is particularly interesting, some of its
fronds, which reach is inches long, being, like those
of P. vulgare ramosum, furcate for two-thirds of
their stalks ; others are partly forked, as in the
variety bifidum, and partly serrate, as in the forms
serratum and omnilacerum ; while others again are
either much enlarged, like those of P. vulgare semi-
lacerum and cambricum, or sometimes eared, like
those of P. vulgare auritum. S. G.
Kitchen Garden.
W. WILDSMITH.
KITCHEN GAKDEN NOTES.
Winter. — Twelve degrees of frost on the morn-
ing of the 1.3th caused one involuntarily to exclaim,
" What a year of extremes I no summer till mid-
summer, then tropical heat without a day's notice,"
and the end has come as suddenly. We have to
begin winter work in earnest, which, so far as
our kitchen garden labours are concerned, is of a
varied character.
. Salads. — Our demands in this line are not exces-
sive ; Tomatoes, Beet, Endive, Mustard, and Cress,
and Cucumbers are all we require. A'ery fortunately
we cut, a few days prior to the frost, all Tomatoes,
and hung them up in vineries, and these will give us
supplies for several weeks, by which time the young
plants will be in full bearing, as they are growing
away freely in a strong heat, being trained to the
trellis in Melon houses, and, in fact, treated much
the same as we do Melons when in full growth.
Present supplies of Lettuce are from the open
border, but this sudden frost has injured them,
and movable frames will be put over the next batch,
which are just hearting up; others will be lifted
with good balls of earth attached, and be planted
closely in turf pits, and covered with straw hurdles
whenever weather conditions demand it. Endive is
given exactly the same attention, though if space be
limited, any that is fit for use we put in a darker
place — cellar or shed, which would hardly be suitable
for Lettuce, which does not take so long to blanch
as Endive, and, in fact, soon decays in a dark place,
however dry it may be. Beet is all safely stacked
in the root shed and causes us no anxiety, the place
being dry, dark, and frost-proof, it is seldom that a
root decays. Mustard and Cress we sow once a
fortnight in shallow boxes which are placed in any
out-of-the-way place where there is sufficient
warmth to cause germination. Cucumbers from
this time to the new year are most difficult to
obtain, and it is only by incessant attention to keep-
ing the plants free of insects, and the heat, top
and bottom, at the highest allowable maximum, 75",
that the plants can be kept in a healthy, fruitful
growth. Sunlight is the one great factor to the
production of Cucumbers in perfection, and as this
is obviously not likely to be forthcoming, we spare
no pains to get the greatest amount of light, by
having the glass frequently washed outside and in.
The plants during winter are never allowed to bear
more than one fruit at a joint, but all the foliage
possible (so long as each shoot and leaf gets a full
share of light) is allowed to remain. There can
be no doubt but that the healthiest root action goes
on where there is plenty of leaves and wood.
Cauliflowers and early Broccoli.— These
we never had better or in greater quantity. Why, is
not hard to see. The ground is good, there was no
delay in planting because of the heat, and having a
good supply of water, it was given without stint, and
the abnormal heat has done the rest. All the heads
that are ready we have well covered up by breaking
down their own foliage over them, and some that
are not quite so advanced we have lifted, headed
over, to retard them, in case there is a break in the
supply before our next succession. "S'eitch's Pro-
tecting, Sutton's Michaelmas, and Early Penzance
are ready. The varieties now in are Dwarf Erfurt
and Veitch's Autumn Giant Cauliflowers, and Purple
Cape Broccoli. In this part of the country lifting
or heading Broccoli over with their heads to the
north for safe wintering is not required, and I very
much doubt whether the process is worthy of
adoption anywhere ; certainly it will not be needed
this year, for the great heat has tended to mature
the growth, so that a similar collapse to that of last
winter is almost impossible.
General work. — Clearing away all refuse vege-
table matter. Pea sticks, &o., weeding, growing
crops, such as Spinach, Onions, Cabbages and
Savoys, and to finish the earthing up of Celery
whenever the foliage is sufficiently dry to admit of
the work being done in comfort. The maintenance
of neatness is now a difficult matter, but we make
it a rule that at least once a week there shall be a
general clearing up and rolling of walks.
MUSHROOM GROWING IN TRENCHES.
" J. G. H ," in The Garden October 8 (p. .129),
has done good service in advocating the growing
of Mushrooms in trenches ; nevertheless, I can
scarcelyunderstandgrowingthem in Celerytrenches,
unless the Celery is grown for soups rather than for
salads. I have here for a number of years past
cultivated Mushrooms in trenches ; in fact, the
trenches are utilised for growing Marrows in
summer, and Mushrooms through the winter.
My system is plain and practical, and the cottager
can grow them if he will only take the trouble.
The plan I practise and recommend is as follows :
I force large breadths of Seakale and Rhubarb in
April, and after the forcing is over take out trenches
4 feet wide and 1 foot deep, then wheel in all the old
forcing material, leaves, manure, &c. After tread-
ing it well down and giving it a few days to
settle, a slight warmth arises, which at the time of
spawning must "not exceed 70°. I insert the spawn
in the usual way, and about the first week in May
earth up the beds with the ordinary soil taken
out of the trenches, place the hand-lights on the
middle of the ridge for the Marrows, and when the
soil is warmed through, tarn out the plants, which I
always grow in pots. Little more cultivation is
needed beyond the usual watering and airing.
When the plants fill the glasses a brick is placed at
each corner of the glass, and the shoots are pegged
out. About the middle of September the Marrows
will have run over the ground, and the foliage
shading it, the Mushrooms will then begin to make
their appearance, and this season I have been
gathering in abundance.
When the frosts have destroyed the Marrows I cut
the fruits off, but do not pull the plants u]d, then care-
fullv clean the surface of the beds, give a slight top-
dressing, and, if dry, water sparingly ; finally cover
the beds over with mats, and by this method I gene-
rally gather up to Christmas should the weather prove
favourable. If otherwise, as a safeguard I put
straw on the top of the mats. In [conclusion, I
may add that the Mushroom beds proper here
for outside work have always been on the ridge
system, but this season I have thrown out trenches
exactly the same as for Marrows, filling them up with
well-worked manure, and having already several
beds at work, I will not fail to report progress.
Buryhley. R. GILBERT.
Mushroom bed beeoming dry. — Would any
Mushroom grower inform me if it is usual for a
new bed to become dry after lieatiusr ? I have a bed
6 feet by 4 feet, made last month. The heat in a few
days ran up to 130°. On examining the bed I find the
manure is rather dry and white in appearance. —
L. K.
TRIAL OF EARLY POTATOES.
Hating for some years grown sevei-al varieties of
early Potatoes, I determined last autumn to have a
fair trial this year with a view to reducing the
number of varieties hitherto grown. With this
object I saved seed of all the varieties I had. The
names and the results are given below. I was
careful to use home-grown seed in all cases, know-
ing that fresh seed has often a decided influence on
the resulting crop. The flat on which we planted
them was double dug last winter, and the ground
thrown into ridges a yard apart as the work pro-
ceeded. It had previously received a good dressing
of old hotbed compost, fully half of which was
rotten leaves. I may mention that my object in
throwing the ground into ridges a yard apart was
that I intended planting Brussels Sprouts between
each row after the Potatoes were hilled. The
sprouts have done well this year— much better than
some planted on the flat alone. Doubtless this was .
brought about by the trenches in which they were
planted having been more moist during the dry
season, while the partial shade from the Potato
haulm helped them as well. The Potatoes were
planted on the 13th of April. Previous to doing so
each hollow space between the ridges had a dressing
of charred garden refuse lightly forked into it. As
the planting proceeded the ridges were levelled
down so as to cover in the sets. These were all
furnished with two or three strong sprouts about
1 inch in length. We usually place all our early
Potatoes endways in old Pelargonium boxes in Feb-
ruary, putting the latter under the stage in a cool
greenhouse until planting time. From the time the
Potatoes were hilled until they were dug no rain
fell worth mentioning. When we began lifting we
were careful to take the daily supply from each row
separately, so that no one variety had any advantage
over its neighbour in having a longer time for
growth, as the Potatoes had not finished growing
when we commenced lifting. Strange to say, my
previous experience had not proved that the variety
which heads the list this year was a good cropper.
Doubtless the late hot, dry season just suited it. I
never remember seeing such large early Potatoes as
it produced this year. The number to each root
was small compared with the second on the list,
which is usually our best cropping kind. I may
mention that the rows were each 62 feet long, and
ran from north to south. The following is the
weight of usable Potatoes in each row. The pro-
portion of what are usually called chats was much
smaller than in ordinary seasons : Old Ashleaf,
111 lbs.; A^eitch's do., 109 lbs.; Racehorse do.,
108 lbs.; Sandringham Kidnev, 104 lbs.; Mvatt's
Ashleaf, 104 lbs.; Mona's Pride", 102 lbs.
Grimston Gardens, Tatlcaster. H. J. C.
Supertuberation. of Potatoes.— " D. T. F."
has the consolation of knowing that his difficulty
withregard to the eccentrictuberingof his laterobust
Potatoes is general. I find almost everywhere a
resolution shown to give the breadths the full benefit
of the glorious weather we are yet experiencing in
October, and permit the roots to do their best ere
frost comes. With robust tops in full growth and
myriads of new, yet growing tubers, what course can
be taken except allowing the breadths to remain
in the ground as long as they safely can ? I am
not at all sure that this supertuberation affects
the first formed Potatoes injuriously, as it is the
plants and not the tubers which are furnishing the
material for increasing the new tubers, although the
older tubers are the mediums through which that
material is conveyed. The longer the roots remain
untouched the more will the new tubers harden, and
even if in the end they are found too soft for table
use, they will with somelittle exposure to the air make
first rate seed. Here the soil is still warm and dry —
indeed, considering the rain which has fallen, it is
remarkably dry — so that tubers are far better in the
ground than out of it. Of course, I have lifted all
the kinds which had ripened off. I have referred
elsewhere to the interesting fact that round kinds
are less subject to supertuberation than kidney or
long-shaped tubers are, and the fact is noteworthy
378
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 22, 1887.
As to the Potato plant becoming converted into a
climber, I do not think "D. T. F." need be in a state
of alarm. — A. D.
Trees and Shrubs.
W. GOLDBING.
KOELEEUTERIA PANIC CLATA.
This really beautiful Chinese tree is seen now
and again in gardens, but it cannot be called
common by any means. In some old places
fine specimens may be seen of it that were
planted early in the century. It is very elegant
in foliage and somewhat picturesque in growth,
as its head is generally unsymmetrical, spread-
ing, and loose, and when in flower the tree has a
very fine appearance. The flowers are borne in
erect spikes, terminating the branchlets in the
manner shown in the accompanying woodcut.
They are small, but being numerous and bright
yellow are very showy. The flowers are suc-
ceeded by bladder-like capsules or seed vessels,
and these are most conspicuous on the tree at the
present time. As soon as the frosts come the
long, graceful pinnate leaves will turn various
shades of yellow and ruddy brown before they
our gardens a great many shades of colour are
represented, yet this Tartarian species stands out
distinct from them all by reason of the colour of
its flowers, which are of a pale yellow tint. It is
an extremely pretty species, lacking, of course, the
gorgeous blossoms of some other kinds, but
possessing a quiet beauty of its own. It is quite
an autumn-flowering species, for the blossoms are
rarely produced before the end of September, and
under favourable conditions a succession will be
maintained for some time. The silvery clusters of
seeds are later on scarcely less attractive than are
the blossoms at the present time. — H. P.
THE TREE OF HEAVEN.
(AILANTHUS GLA^-DULOSA.)
This noble tree is a native of Northern China,
where the Chinese express their admiration of
it by designating it the Tree of Heaven. It
was introduced to this country more than a
century ago, but it is even now less common
than it might be expected to be considering its
beauty as a park tree, and its being so well
suited for the purpose of planting in the streets
of towns, (fee, where it associates so well with
such species as the Oriental Plane, the Lime,
Chestnut, &c.
Koelreuteria paiiiculata. Flowering shoot with flowers (detached) natural size, and shoot with fruits.
fall oft', and this is a beautiful phase of the tree.
When of good size the Koelreuteria is rarely, if
ever, harmed by our severe wet and cold win-
ters, but young trees are damaged by frosts,
and, like the Ailanthus and other Chinese trees,
the shoots are liable to be killed back. But as
the tree gets older the growth is less vigorou.s
and soft, and becomes better ripened before
winter. There are some fine trees in and about
London, especially in some of the old tree nur-
series. Knap Hill, for instance, where I saw this
week a tree between 20 feet and 30 feet high,
carrying a large crop of seed bladders. The
largest tree that Loudon records of Koelreuteria
was in 1835 at Ham House. It was 42 feet
high, with a trunk diameter of IG inches. In
the Victoria Park, Bath, I noticed lately some
very fine trees of it, and it seems to like that
locality, judging by its vigorous growth. On
the Continent it seems to grow even finer than
here, which is perhaps owing to the summers
being more favourable for the ripening of the
late summer growths. It is a very .old tree,
having been introduced from China in 1703.
Clematis graveolens. — Among the long list
of garden varieties of Clematis now cultivated in
There are several tine specimens of the Ailan-
thus in and about the town of Bury St. Edmunds,
the finest of which is in the Abbey Gardens, or
the so-called Botanic Gardens, where it is said
to have been planted about the time of the for-
mation of the gardens, or about the year 1831.
It is now some 80 feet or more in height and of
very fine form, the circumference of the stem
at 3 feet from the ground being 8 feet C inches.
There is also a younger, but very handsome
specimen in the garden of a residence in the
Guildhall Street. This latter specimen is not
quite so tall, and has a circumference of stem
at 3 feet from the ground of 5 feet 8 inches.
This tree was planted as a small sucker between
thirty and forty years ago by a lady who is stUl
alive — the widow of the late Mr. Charles Smith.
These trees are generally much admired on
account of their fine umbrageous aspect as
well as for the beauty of their foliage, each
compound leaf being 18 inches or more
in length and consisting of some ten or
twelve pairs of opposite leaflets. The trees
have also this season produced in great
abundance their singularly twisted and very
pretty seed vessels, which are of a rich shining
brown colour, and render the trees unusually
attractive. These seed vessels are most freely
produced on the south side of the trees, or where
the greatest amount of sunshine is obtained,
but whether ' seed will ripen or not cannot as
yet be ascertained. Unfortunately, in this
country the male flower, which is somewhat
fcetid, is seldom developed, conseciuently
seed is rarely produced. The tree, how-
ever, is readily increased by cuttings or by
suckers, which are freely produced. Of the
value of the tree as regards timber I am
unable to furnish any information, but, as has
been said, its rapid growth and beauty as a
park and town tree ought to secure for it more
extensive cultivation, especially since it has
been found to endure with impunity the smoke
and other atmospheric impurities of towns. It
is perfectly hardy, although the young shoots
being somewhat succulent are apt to be slightly
injured by late spring frosts. P. G.
The Sea Buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides).
— Among the great number of our trees and shrubs
whose showy fruits form such an attractive display
during the autumn, a prominent position must be
assigned to the Sea Buckthorn not only from the
beauty of its berries, but also from the fact that
they differ widely in colour from any of their asso-
ciates. The twigs of the Sea Buckthorn are slender,
and crowded for about a foot of their length with
densely packed clusters of berries about the size of
Peas, and of a bright orange colour. These fruiting
branchlets are terminated bv the present year's
shoots, clothed with Willow-like leaves of a silvery
hue. The Sea Buckthorn is not planted so frequently
as its merits deserve, probably owing to the fact
that by many proximity to the seacoast is con-
sidered essential to its well-doing, but it appears
quite indifferent in this matter, as in inland dis-
tricts it succeeds remarkabl_v well, provided it is
not too much dried up during the summer. The
Sea Buckthorn is dioecious ; where it is raised from
seeds, a fair percentage of male forms may reason-
ably be expected, on which berries wiU be sought
for in vain. — H. P.
Azalea mollis in autumn, — Here, where we
have a breadth of ground stocked with seedling
bushes of this Azalea, it is interesting to watch the
great difference that exists amongst them from a
foliage point of view alone, and at no time is this
distinction more marked than just before the fall of
the leaf, for some die off beautifully tinged with
bright crimson, while others assume a rich golden-
yellow hue. This by no means exhausts the list,
for, besides the various shades of the above, in some
cases the leaves retain their normal green tint till
they drop, while the decaying foliage of some is of a
sombre brown hue. Though a considerable amount
of variation is to be found in the flowers, the range
amongst them is not so great as in the autumn tints
of the foliage. The crop of seedlings under notice
was obtained in this manner : Some bushes of this
Azalea were grown in pots for indoor decoration in
spring, and when in the conservatory nearly every
flower became fertilised, so that the plants quite
bristled with seed-pods, which ripened earlier in
the season than if the plants bad been planted out
in the open. The seed was sown as soon as ripe in
a frame, a few inches of sandy peat being placed
therein for the purpose. The only covering was a
little dry sand, and that not sufficiently thick to
hide all the seeds. During winter the soil was kept
free from frost and in a fairly moist condition, the
result being that the young plants made their ap-
pearance the following spring, and as the summer
went on they were pricked off into a bed of soil
prepared the same as for sowing. The following
season they were planted out, and have since made
very satisfactory progress. In planting out from a
frame to the open ground, dull, showery weather
should, if possible, be chosen. The close, compact-
rooting character of this Azalea, combined with its
remarkably free-flowering qualities, renders it one
of the most useful of all shrubs for forcing early in
the season, as no preparation is necessary provided
Oct. 22, 1887,]
THE GARDEN.
379
the plants are grown under favourable conditions.
All that is needed is to lift the plants soon after the
fall of the leaf, pot them into suitable sized pots,
and take them into the forcing house whenever they
are required. — H. P.
A fine seedling Oak (Quercus coccinea major
nova). — This is a seedling raised in the Isleworth
Nursery of Messrs. C. Lee and Son, who grow a
large and representative collection of Oaks, but for
splendour of autumn colouring this is one of the best.
It makes a good standard, and the foliage is broad,
large, and finely lobed, while it is of a uniform
bright claret, that when seen in the sunshine is
most vivid. Colour may readily be obtain.iid in the
garden at this season by judiciously planting trees
of this character, whose brilliant leafage atones
for the lack of flowers. — E. C.
Small-leaved Cotoneaster (C. microphylla). —
A well-grown'specimen of this Cotoneaster, when
laden with its bright scarlet Holly-like berries, is a
far too uncommon feature, but one that always
gives pleasure, as the small, crowded, and rich green
leaves have a polished, ornamental character, so
that the plant has a twofold beauty. I have seen it
trailing down over large boulders on the rockery,
and this is one way to display its characteristic
growth, but it may also be used in the shrubbery
and for pots. When this Cotoneaster is grafted
on the common Quick at a height of about
15 inches, the stifE branches, covered with the
brilliant berries, hang down over the pot, and
in this desirable way it is often cultivated in
Belgium. Handsome specimens of this description
would no doubt realise good prices in the market.
There are several clumps in the grounds of Osterley
Park, and they are a relief from the Aucubas and
other common shrubs. — T. W.
Deciduous Cypress (Taxodium distichum). —
In The Gaedek October 8 (p. ij.jl) attention is
caUed to the ornamental qualities of this tree, and it
certainly is one of those subjects that might with
advantage be more often planted than it is. The
delicate green of its Fern-like leaves when first
expanded causes it to stand forth prominently at
that season, while the peculiarly reddish brown tint
of its foliage in autumn is no less distinct from that
of any of its associates. The deciduous Cypress is
by no means particular in its requirements, for
it does well in the gravelly soil at Kew, and is
also one of the best of trees for planting in water-
logged spots ; indeed, it is the only Conifer that
may be relied on to thrive in such a situation.
Notwithstanding the beauty of the deciduous Cy-
press, the tree is by no means of common occur-
rence, and does not appear to be in demand in our
ntuseries. In a moist spot its rate of growth is
far more rapid than in drier places, while a pecu-
liarity belonging to this tree is only found in speci-
mens that are in close proximity to the water.
I allude to the conical-shaped protuberances that
form on the roots, and which in some specimens
are present in great numbers. At times they reach
a height of a couple of feet, but as generally seen in
this country are much smaller. — T.
SHORT NOTES.— TREES AND SHRUBS.
Veronica buxifolia. — This is a capital plant for
ed^ng, as it spreads into a dense dwarf bush, and i
quite hardy, making a free growth in ordinary soil. A
few beds filled with smaU shrubs and finished with this
useful Veronica would keep the gardea cheerful dur-
ing the winter months. — E. C.
Cupressus Lawconiana ereeta viridis has
several varieties, and a fine sport is in the Isleworth
Nursery of Messrs. C. Lee and Son. It has tlie same
erect, handsome habit as the type, hut the foUage is
coloured with yellow, which seems to he constant.
A specimen in the border shows up well in contrast
with green-leaved shrubs. — E. C.
The Chinese Honey Locust (Gleditschia sin-
ensis).— There is a very fine specimen of this growing
in the paddock attached to the vicarage grounds at
Ealing. Itis lofty, well furnished, and handsome, andis
an object of great natural beauty when furnished with
foliage. The vicarage house, outbuildings and a belt of
trees shelter it on the west and south-west, and though
it occupies a somewhat isolated position away from
other trees, it is little harmed by gales. — E. D.
HAUDY RHODODENDRONS.
It is interesting to notice how some varieties of
hardy Rhododendrons hold a place in collections,
notwithstanding that it is a long time since they
were first introduced. Take, for instance, a variety
called Blandyanum, that bears deep rosy crimson
flowers, and is still a striking variety. This was
raised at Bagshot Park by the late Jlr. John
Standish when he was in the gardens there under
Mr. Toward, and in the present day if a selection of
twenty-five choice varieties were made, I think
Blandyanum would be one of them. The fact is,
a good many Rhododendrons were raised by
John Standish himself, or when in association
with his partner, Charles Noble, and later the
latter has produced, and indeed continues to pro-
duce, some fine sorts.
The latest varieties raised by Mr. C. Noble are
Charles Noble, or The Tocsin, a really fine orna-
mental plant, as every shoot produces a fiower-bud;
colour deep cherrj'-red, with large y'eUow eye; a
most imposing flower. Prometheus, intense scarlet-
crimson, very free-flowering, and of good habit:
one of the finest of this colour. Lord or Sir Garnet
Wolseley, brilliant orange- scarlet, very free-bloom-
ing, large and handsome foliage : and Lady
Strangrford, bright peach blossom, with intense
dark claret throat ; free and distinct.
The raising of seedling Rhododendrons is a
process requiring some patience.
When visiting Mr. Noble's nursery this year dur-
ing the flowering season, I saw a large number of
seedlings raised from seed obtained by a cross be-
tween Blandyanum and erectum. The seeds are
sown in the open ground, and the soil is first deeply
trenched, and then the beds are made 2 feet 6 inches
in width, the surface of the beds being 3 inches be-
low the ground-level. As the beds are generally
formed during a dry time, they are well watered,
and the seeds are sown the next day. When sown
broadcast (and as the seeds are very small, it is in-
evitable that they are somewhat thick on the sur-
face) they are covered with sprays of Fir, supports
being placed across the beds to prevent the branches
from resting immediately upon the seeds, and they
remain there until germination takes place. It
is necessary that the surface of the bed be kept
moist, for drought is fatal to them. After the
second year the patches of seedlings are broken up
and again planted out and carefully looked after,
and the seedlings begin to flower when they are
five and six years old. The seedlings are sold, and
anyone buying can hardly fail to secure some gems
among them. Aftertheseedlingsare planted outfrom
the seed-beds they require to be carefully shaded
untU they become established. It may be stated that
Mr. Noble has been engaged in raising seedling
Rhododendrons since 1846. A peaty soil is in-
dispensable to the successful culture of the
Rhododendron, as the delicate roots require some-
thing soft and spongy to root into. Attempts
have been made to grow Rhododendrons with-
out peat, and that, too, with a considerable
amount of success, but if fibrous loam is employed
for the purpose, it should be plentifully mixed with
good leaf -mould, and some well decomposed cow
manure will be found a valuable addition. Some
persons have mixed with their loam the ashes from
a fire of garden refuse, and found them of consider-
able advantage. Peat soils are so suitable for Rho-
dodendrons, because of their capacity for retaining
moisture, and also for the quantity of vegetable
matter contained in them. I have seen Rhododen-
drons do fairly well planted in forecourt gardens in
the suburbs of London with no peat about the
roots, but they are apt to suffer from drought in
dry, hot, summer weather. I find they do best on
the north side of a dwelling where the soil is
moister and cooler. One good quality about the
Rhododendron is that it can be transplanted so
readily. It forms a compact ball of fine fibrous
roots, that preserves the plant, even though it ffiay
be out of the ground for several days ; and when
planted, with some suitable soil for the roots to
work into, root action soon sets in and vigorous
growth follows. R. D.
Hedera maderiensis variegata. — There are
many varieties of Ivy, but one of the best of those
with variegated leafage is maderiensis variegata.
This has leaves more white than green, and at the
present season has a bright appearance in the gar
den. The growth of the plant is vigorous, and
those who require a cheerful edging for a border,
or an ugly wall bidden, may be advised to use it.
I saw the other day this Ivy forming a band to a
narrow border, at the back of which wire hoops
were placed for the Ivy to climb over. It was a
happy piece of tasteful planting. — E. C.
Dwarf Japan Holly (Ilex crenata). — At the
first glance this differs so widely from a Holly, that
few would suspect it to be in any way related
thereto ; indeed, its affinity to the Box would be
more readily suspected. It forms a low, dense,
compact-growing evergreen shrub, thickly clothed
with sharp-pointed, lanceolate leaves about an inch
long, and of a deep green tint. It is a first-rate
subject for furnishing flower beds during the
winter, as the roots form a close mass, so that it
can be transplanted at almost any season without
injury. It grows slowly, and on that account it
may be associated with the choicer and more
delicate shrubs without any risk of overgrowing
weaker neighbours. Another purpose for which it
is well suited is as a pot plant for furnishing
window boxes, balconies, and similar spots where
the cold draughts would prevent the employment
of any delicate subjects. As a proof of its adapta-
bilityfor the purpose, I recently saw some speci-
mens that had been for the last three years in the
same pots, and still remained quite fresh and
bright. There is a variety of the above (Fortunei)
in which the leaves are much rounder than those of
crenata, but it is not so desirable, as the style of
growth is more upright and less compact, while the
foliage is not so dense as in the other. The varie-
gated variety of Ilex crenata is, however, a very
pretty shrub, being altogether a counterpart of the
type, except that the leaves are irregularly marbled
and mottled with rich golden yellow, which forms a
very effective contrast to the deep green ground
colour of the leaf. I am not aware of this little
Holly having fruited in this country ; therefore seeds
are not available for its propagation ; but, unlike the
larger-growing members of the genus, it can be
readily increased by means of cuttings. The best
time of the year to obtain these cuttings is during
the late summer and early autumn months if kept
in a close frame, as they form roots before the
severe weather sets in. — T.
Propagating.
CoMBBETtJM PtjBPUBBtrji. — This handsome old
climber, recently noted in The Gabdex, is far
from common, one reason of its scarcity being pro-
bably the fact that it is very difficult to strike from
cuttings, and, such being the case, the method
generally employed for its increase is to graft
pieces of the shoots on to portions of the roots,
selecting for the purpose, if possible, those with a
few attendant fibres. The graft may be inserted
by fashioning the lower portion in the form of- a
wedge, and splitting the upper part of the stock.
When tied securely in position it must be potted,
and at such a depth that the point of union is
quite covered with the soil. After this is done the
plants will need to be treated as cuttings, viz.,
placed in a close propagating case till a union is
complete, which is shown by the shoot commencing
to grow, and when that takes place the grafted
plant must be inured to the air by degrees.
Pelaegonithms. — If it is desired to put in any
cuttings of these now, which is sometimes the case,
especially with the bedding varieties, the principal
care will be needed to guard against decay, and in
order to prevent this as far as possible the soil
must be kept much drier than would be necessary
380
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 22,-1887.
earlier in the season. The best position for the
cuttings now is on a shelf in a structure kept some-
what warmer than an ordinary greenhouse, but
even then they take much longer to strike than
would have been the case in the open ground during
the summer. The selection of the cuttings is also
of more importance now than it was then, the best
cuttings being furnished by the short, well-ripened
shoots. T.
THE HORTICULTURAL CLUB.
The first monthly dinner of the club fur tlie
present season took place on Tuesday evening,
October 11. There was a good attendance of
member.?, Mr. John Lee being in the chair. In
the evening Mr. Geo. Bunyard read a paper on
October Pears, and. an interesting discussion
took place.
Mr. H. Balderson, of Comer Hall, brought
ten bunches of beautifully finished Grapes,
which had all been grown in one house without
any partitions. The collection included such
kinds as Muscat of Alexandria, Black Ham-
burgh, Golden Queen, Mrs. Pince, Muscat,
Trebbiano, and Buckland Sweetwater. Mr.
Balderson detailed his mode of culture, and it
was considered by all present that it was very
successfttl. While all the Grapes were good,
the bunch of Mrs. Pince was considered equal
to any that had been shown this year as regards
colour, size of bunch and berry, and finish.
The thanks of the meeting were given to Mr.
Bunyard and Mr. Balderson.
The following is Mr. Bunyard's paper : —
In bringing before you the above subject I
should, at the outset, observe that I feel there is
little to be added to the present sum of knowledge
on the subject, by the few remarks I am about to
make in the limited time allowed me for the
purpose. Owing to the late spring and the pro-
tracted drought the Pears of September will, in
some cases, be in season in October, but as this is
abnormal, I will coniine myself to those usually in
season in the present month.
It has been observed by competent judges that
all the good Pears may be counted on one's fingers,
which, in a degree, is true. Mr. Barron's Pear Con-
ference report gives fifteen varieties only which had
over fifty votes, as the selection of 100 exhibitors
at the 188G Chiswick Conference, and Mr. Dunn
gives fifteen as by the exhibitors at Edinburgh
having over twenty votes ; of this number the cream
(nine varieties) are in season in the southern
counties during October — viz., 1, Louise Bonne of
Jersey ; 2, Marie Ijouise ; 3, Beurre Superfin ; 4,
Beurr^ Hardy ; 5, Pitmaston Duchess ; 6, Fondante
d'Automne ; 7, Thompson's ; 8, Comte de Lamy ; 9,
Emile d'Heyst. I intend to confine my remarks to
the above, being those suited for dessert, and
which no connoisseur of Pears would himself object
to use.
1. Louise Bonne of Jersey. — This succeeds on
the Quince and makes a fertile pyramid. The fruit
is of very refreshing flavour, juicy, the best flavoured
coming from standards on the Pear stock, on which
it succeeds well.
2. Marie Louise. — Best flavoured from open
trees, but seldom bears freely, as the blossom is
tender ; very fertile as a wall Pear and as an espa-
lier ; requires much root-pruning as a pyramid, and
is not happy on the Quince.
3. Beurre Sui-ebfin.— Very fine as a pyramid
on the Quince, producing handsome richly flavoured
fruit, fertile, also a good grower.
4. Beurre Hardy, — This possesses a rich, unique
flavour ; a beautiful grower as a pyramid, and very
fertile ; fine on a wall ; succeeds on the "Quince.
5. Pitmaston Duchbss. — Large, not always of
fine quality, but yet so handsome as to be worthy
of culture in any form, hardy and a free bearer ;
succeeds on the Quince.
6. Fondante ijAutOMNs. — One of the sweetest
and best melting Pears ; forms a fertUe pyramid on
the Quince, and is good in any form.
7. Thompson's. — One of the finest Pears; very
melting in texture ; thin-skinned, of delicious
flavour, distinct, and valuable ; succeeds on the
Pear, but requires double working on the Quince.
8. Comte deLamy. — Particularly rich in flavour;
very fertile on the Pear or Quince ; rather an awk-
ward grower, as it bears on the points, and has
much bare wood, as many eyes fail to start.
9. Emile d'Heyst. — In shape like Marie Louise ;
very fertile both on the Pear and Quince ; little
known, but most desirable ; of rich honeyed flavour.
In use towards the end of October.
All the above form good cordons except Comte
de Lamy.
In order to make the October Pears complete, the
following may be added as worthy of a place in the
garden ; though not always of choice flavour or
texture, still some are valuable substitutes when the
better sorts fail to bear : —
1. COLMAE d'Etb. — A very sweet rich Pear, pro"
fuse bearer.
2. Graham's Autumn Nelis.— Small, but deli-
cious ; a sweetmeat crowded out by larger sorts.
3. Doyenne Boussoch. — Fertile, of refreshing
acidity.
4. DuEONDBAU. — Large and fertile, and fairly
good.
5. SECKEL.^Small, but delicious.
6. Bbtjeeb Bosc. — Of rich flavour.
7. Eybwood. — Bon Chretien flavoured ; a very
good small Bergamot kind, most fertile.
8. Bburee Diel. — Of peculiar richness (end of
October).
The market varieties for October would be Beurrfi
de Capiaumont, Duohesse d'Angouliime, Rivers' Fer-
tility, Marie Louise d'Uccle, Louise Bonne of Jersey,
Pitmaston Duchess, Beurre Bosc. These are for
growing as standards, or better as half-standards,
crop being all-important.
I cannot let this opportunity slip without a word
as to culture. It is most important that the roots
be kept near the surface, that they may have the
benefit of the sun's warmth in the soil, for it is
mainly on these surface roots, which are, in fact,
the foragers for size and flavour (as against the tap
roots, which provide for the woody growth and ex-
tension of the tree), that the fruit depends. To
this end root-pruning is a valuable aid ; and al-
though from the general overworked condition of
many gardeners this is not so regularly carried out
as could be desired, still, as it does away with much
top-pruning, the operation is all-important and
saves labour in other ways. October is the best
time.
Mulching is valuable, but should only be carried
out when the tree has a good crop, and it extra
sized clean fruits are desired, "a previous dressing of
Clay's fertiliser or a similar stimulant will be useful.
The Moss manure now so much in use is valuable,
as it contains fertilisers in a high degree, and is
neat in appearance and handy for use. We employ
it with great benefit — e.g , our Pears gained third
prize against competitors who have grand walls and
aged trees at the Crystal Palace, October G. Upon
this mulching a liberal or rather copious supply of
soft water should be given once a fortnight in the
dry season. Some foliage may also be removed
where it shades the fruit, and the summer removal
of inside spray will further assist the ripening of
wood and add size to the fruit.
Thinning must be carried out with caution until
the fruit is safely set, when all double bunches may
be .reduced to one (unless the tree is partially
cropped, when it will carry them). As regards
stocks upon which the trees should be, for garden
work, except in very light soils, the Quince is pre-
ferable, as its surface-rooting character is more
amenable to treatment, and it also takes nourish-
ment more readily.
In sandy soil those on the Pear stock alone should
be tried, though a few choice sorts on the Quince
might be grown in tubs or large pots sunk into the
ground.
PRIZES FOR BORDER CARNATIONS.
Seeing in our garden the value of self-coloured
Carnations, we propose, in order to encourage the
raising of fine kinds, to give prizes to the raisers of
the best self or border Carnations which shall be
sent to be tried by us.
There will he three equal prizes of £3, one for
each group of colour.
(1) Kill comprise whites, creams, and yellorvs.
(2) reds, emhracing cloves and purples.
(3) embracing all colours in n'h ich. the flakes or
markings are harmoniously Mended; shorn Carna-
tions and Picotees may he included in the group.
For the best Carnation sent, not embraced in these
colours, an extra prize of £3 Kill be given.
Selfs and harmoniously coloured kinds are most
desired, but no kind or class will be refused a fair
trial. The best Carnation in each class will be
figured in colour in The Garden if it prove supe-
rior to, or distinct from, kinds already known.
Not less than six plants, rooted this year, of
each should be sent in as early as possible. Several
kinds may be sent by one person, but the com-
petition is reserved to kinds not at present in
commerce.
Each variety should have its name (or a number),
the colour, and the sender's name clearly written
on the label, and be forwarded by parcel post to
Carnation, care of Mr. Bond, West Hoatbley,
Sussex. The prizes will be awarded next August.
The plants will be grown by the editor of The
Garden, and judged entirely from the point of
view of their beauty in the flower garden, and
without reference to any previously accepted stan-
dard. They will be all grown fully exposed in the
open air, away from a wall or any other shelter, and
will be taken every care of for their owners, and all
returned when desired, barring accident of the
winter and the attacks of their insect enemies.
Plants have been received from Mr. Douglas,
Messrs. Dickson & Sons, of Edinburgh, Mr. Hooper,
of Bath, the Honourable Mr. Eden, Mr. Rogers, of
Whittlesea, and other growers.
Carnations diseased. — The Clove Carnations
here have for several seasons past been badly at-
tacked in the autumn with a disease that literally
kills off the whole of the stock. I send a plant for
your inspection, in the hope that you will be able
to tell the cause of the disease, and recommend a
remedy. As you will observe, it first makes its
appearance as a black spot, gradually spreading till
the whole plant is covered and killed. Strange to
say, plants of Gloire de Nancy Carnation last
winter, growing near old Cloves that were com-
pletely killed with it, remained quite healthy. Until
this disease made its appearance here, old Cloves
would remain in the borders year after year, making
in two or three seasons plants 3 feet across. This
disease is by no means confined to this place, as I
have seen it in several places, and have heard of
great destruction in others. Coming, as it does,
with the revival of Carnation culture, it is quite
alarming. — William Allan, (junton.
*j* In reply to the above, the disease attacking
your Carnations is evidently a fungus. I should
destroy all the plants at once, and entirely re-make
the beds with fresh earth, or try planting the Car-
nations in a different part of the garden. — U. S. S.
Shelter for plants. — I am now trying at
Wisley a new slielter for plants, which promises so
well that I think it is worth noticing. Last
winter I protected some plants (among them being
an Agapanthus umbellatus) with coops having
Bracken interlaced. This answered, but after a
time the Bracken did not keep in its place. We
now cover the osier coop with green scrim, sold
by the Willesden Paper Company at Is. a yard. It
is 54 inches wide ; therefore not dear. This makes
a light, nearly waterproof, covering, which lets
sufficient air through, and the coops, when out of
Oct. 22, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
381
use, take little room if stacked one over the other.
I believe this will prove a really useful, easily
movable, protector, and it has the advantage of
being less unsightly than most shelters are. —
Gbob(;e F. Wilson.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
Finsbury Park. — We are informed that the
usual auuual display of Chrysanthemums in this park
will be open to the public to-day.
Gardenias. — We have received a small gathering
of Gardenias from Mr. William Culverwell, Thorpe
Perrow, cut from plants growing in a large border
The foliage was both clean and healthy, and the
flowers of great purity.
Grolden Aurora summer Chrysanthemum
— I find this by far the best for garden decoration and
for cutting. It has been in bloom from the middle of
July until now, and there are stUl some late planted
patches of it yet to come. Can it be the same, I
wonder, as Miss Owen's Golden Gem? Mr. Holmes is
the authority for my name. — W. Wilks.
BirQ's-bill Orchid (Onoidium ornithorhynchum).
— This fragrant species is in perfection now, and
there are several pans of it in full beauty at Messrs,
Veitch's Chelsea nursery. The racemes are of great
elegance and crowded with small deep rosy flowers,
which are powerfully fragrant. This is an Orchid for
the amateur, as it is easy to grow, and when in
bloom surprisingly delicate and beautiful.
Ccelogyne Hassangeana. — There are several
fine specimens of this handsome species in the
Chelsea nursery of Messrs. Veitch. The plant
is of vigorous growth and blooms freely, the droop-
ing racemes, which are about IS inches in length,
bearing numerous flowers of a distinct and quiet
colour. The sepals and petals are buff-yellow,
and the lip is of a brownish hue, with a ridged
surface coloured with yellow.
Boyal Horticultural Society. — In connec-
tion with the meetings of the floral and fruit com-
mittees on Tuesday next, 25th inst., at South
Kensington, an extensive display of vegetables is
expected, special prizes being offered for competi-
tion by the following firms : Messrs. James Carter
and Co., for collection of vegetables ; Mr. H. Deverill,
for Onions, Celery, and Brussels Sprouts ; Mr. C.
Fidler, for Potatoes ; Messrs. Sutton and Sons, for
Onions, Potatoes, Celery, Beet, Carrots, Leeks, and
Parsnips ; Messrs. Webb and Sons, for Potatoes ;
and Messrs. W. Wood and Son, for Potatoes.
Bed Winter Cherry (Physalis Alkekengi). —
This is the brightest plant in many hardy gardens
at the present time, as now its cheerful orange-red,
bladder-like fruits are conspicuous, and have but
few flowers to tone down the brilliancy of their
hue. There are specimens of it at Chiswick, and it
does well either on the rockery or border, requiring
a warm and light soil, as it is not very hardy. The
showy fruits have the appearance of small Chinese
lanterns when hanging from the epergne, and if
tastefully used they are most effective in dinner-
table decorations.
Foliage of wild Cherry. — I send you a few
leaves from a tree of the wild Cherry growing here
to show how rich the foliage is in the autumn.
The tree has an head about 15 feet across, and is
growing on shallow soil resting on a bed of chalk,
and is quite exposed. It can be seen for nearly a
mUe when the leaves are coloured. Doubtless the
poorness of the soil and the exposed position have
much to do with the intense colouring of the
leaves. Where autumn tints are admired nothing
can excel this Cherry for a gorgeous effect. — E
MOLYNBUX.
Anthurium Andreanum. — One of the very
finest plants of this species is now to be seen at
The Dell, Egham, the residence of Baron Schroeder.
Mr. Ballantine has planted it against one of the
centre columns of a large stove, and it has entirely
surrounded and enveloped it in its dense leafage.
The plant is some 6 feet or 8 feet high, and the same
in circumference, and bears at the present time up-
wards of three dozen of its brilliant scarlet bullate
spathes. These are very persistent, and therefore
the plant is likely to last in its full beauty for
several months. This is a capital idea of Mr. Bal-
lantine's. The large-growing kinds of Anthuriums
would form handsome objects fastened to the cen-
tral columns of large stoves, and in this manner
would grow freely and develop their true characters
far better than under pot culture. — W. H. G.
Indian Crocus (Pleiones). — These brilliantly
coloured plants are already unfolding their charms
in the collection of Mr. Southgate at Streatham. In
my young days I had been used to see these in mid-
winter, and thus was not quite prej^ared to welcome
these flowers three months before Christmas. One
notable feature about them, however, is the fact
that these early blooms are set off by the leaves,
which add materially to the effect. — W. H. G.
Cattleya liOddigesi. — There is a plant of this
beautiful Brazilian Orchid in bloom at Kew. The
leaves are thick, leathery, and pale green, the flower-
stems supporting three blooms of delicate expression,
and in shape somewhat like those of the richly-
coloured C. marginata, having the same compactness
of form. The sepals and petals are warm rose-pink,
the latter wavy at the margin, while the lip folds
loosely over the thickened colour and is tinged with
rose, which passes into pale sulphur at the crisped
margin of the expanded portion ; the lip is pale rose
and yellow, and has crested lobes.
The Tiger Flower (Odontoglossum grande). —
What a superb old plant this is, and how easily it
can be managed ! It is indeed an Orchid which
everyone can grow and ensure a grand display of
blooms in autumn. A similar and nearly allied
species is 0. Insleayi and its varieties, also now
blooming. The plants grown in either pots or
hanging baskets enjoy light, but not much sun ;
whilst the house can scarcely be kept too cool for
them. In numerous collections round London these
plants and their varieties are now in great beauty.
As the flowers last a long time in good condition,
they produce a brilliant display during the dull
autumn days. — W. H. G.
A note from Scotland. — I send you flowers
of the MarSchal Niel Rose, to show how well it is
flowering out of doors so far north in the third
week of October. The tree is about twelve years
old and flowers freely every summer, but this year
it has scarcely ever been without blooms since the
beginning of May. The warm season also seems to
have prematurely ripened the frait-buds. A Pear
tree here has several bunches of blossom on it.
Strawberries are also in bloom. — J. Walkee,
Dollar, X.B.
*ii* The flowers of MarSchal Niel Rose arrived
in excellent condition, and were extremely fine in
quality, considering the lateness of the season. The
colour was a clear yellow, and the fragrance strong.
—Ed.
Jasmine STightshade. — I send you a few
flower-sprays of the Jasmine Nightshade taken from
a plant that covers a very large space of a high wall,
that is now, and has been for months, completely
smothered with flowers. We have several plants of
it here that stood the severe frosts of last winter
quite unprotected. The flowers sent will answer
the question asked by "Hortus" (p. 319) as to
colour, but I doubt if the white would be so pure
if the plant was grown indoors. It is a most ram-
pant grower and, I believe, sufficiently hardy to stand
the winter in any part of England with a mat just
large enough to cover the main stems. It will break
again freely if closely cut back in spring.— W.
Sangwin, Truro.
*t^* The flowers received were pure white and
of frail texture. — Ed.
Oestrum aurantiacum nearly allied to, and
very much resembling, Habrothamnus, is a green-
house shrub worth noting just now at Kew. One
of the pillars of the greenhouse (No. 4) is adorned
with a large bush of it, and is now hung in profu-
sion with long loose clusters of bright orange
flowers, which in all, except colour, are scarcely
distinguishable from those of the common Habro-
thamnus. It continues to bloom for some weeks,
and being evergreen does not look bare in winter.
Being such a strong grower, it needs little or no cul-
tivation, beyond pruning it severely after flowering,
so as to produce flowering shoots. We could not
name a more useful shrub for a cool greenhouse
than this. It may be grown as a pot plant, but its
place is against a pillar. Though introduced from
Guatemala five-and-forty years ago, it has not been
widely cultivated.
A new Cassia named C. coquimbensis may be
seen in flower in the Cape house at Kew. We draw
attention to it, as it may prove suitable for open-air
culture, as its relatives, C. corymbosa and Ijevigata,
and others are. It is a shrub with foliage
resembling that of Coronilla glauca, and flowers
like those of C. corymbosa, and produced in the
same loose, clustered way, but of a much brighter
yellow, quite a deep orange, in fact. It may be
heard more of in future. It comes from Chili.
Torenia concolor rubens is a stove basket
plant that all should make a note of who want a
plant that would flower for weeks in succession, and
bear a profusion of large, showy flowers of a rich
purple and violet. It has been greatly admired by
the visitors to the Victoria Lily house at Kew, and
the stoves where it is grown in hanging baskets. It
is a low creeping plant, sending out numerous slen-
der shoots, which root as they run along and flower
at the tips in a very free way. It makes a most
elegant basket plant, but it is also used at Kew for
draping the ugly bareness of large pots wherein are
grown tall plants such as Palms. By dibbling in a
few plants in the soil in spring, they soon grow and
make a charming fringe around the pet rim.
The Urn Flower, as Urceolina pendula is
called, is a plant one ought to be able to buy
cheaply, so that it could be more commonly grown
than it is, for who would not like to have such
a singularly beautiful flower at this season and
throughout winter. The form of the flower is as
remarkable as its colour. It resembles an inverted
urn with an elegant open top, and the flowers, from
four to six in a cluster, dangle on slender stalks
from the top of a stem about a foot high. The
colour of the flowers is a bright canary-yellow,
tipped with pea-green. Its leaves are like those of
the Euoharis, and its treatment is much the same as
required by that plant. It is a Peruvian bulb, and
therefore needs a temperature higher than that of
an ordinary greenhouse, but not so hot as that of a
stove.— W. G.
Death of Mr. W. O. Rattray.— We are sorry
to hear of the sudden death through heart disease on
Oct. 11 of Mr. W. 0. Rattray, nurseryman, Ash Vale,
Aldershot. He was formerly gardener to Mr. Bach
at Aldershot Park, and in 1872 commenced business on
his own account. He was 62 years of .nge.
Apples decaying (Allen L. Crocl-ford).— Some
Apples are especially liable to decay in the manner
mentioned, the variety Blenheim Orange being note-
worthy in this respect, of which some of the samples
appeared to be.
Chrysanthemum Mr. K. Broeklebank.—
This Chrysanthemum is not, as stated in The Garden
(p. .322), a sport from the incurved variety Princess
Teck, but is in reality a form of that late flowering
Japanese kind Meg Merrihes. It originated in the
gardens at Childwall Hall, Lancashire, the residence
of Mr. Ralph Broeklebank, after whom it was named.
Like the variety of which it is a spoit, this will no
doubt turn out to be one of the most valuable Chry-
santhemums we have for late flowering. — H. P.
Wames of plants. — -4. C. Bartholomeu:. — Den-
drobium Gibsoni. James Carter aiid Co. — Auten-
naria species. G. F. G. — 1, Athyrium Michauxi; 2,
A. Filix-fcemina ; 3, A. F.-f. corymbiferum ; 4, A. F.-f.
crispum. H. Grieve. — Calceolaria caledonioides.
Naiaies of fruit. — James Clark. — 1, Souvenir de
Congi-es ; 2, Glou Morceau ; 3, Worcester Pearmain ;
4, Blenheim Orange. Sajidfield.— 20, 25, Bergamot
d'Esperen; 13, Glou Morceau. Alpha.— 1, Marie
Louise ; 2, Glou Morceau ; 3, not known ; 4, Autumn
Bergamot. S. Knowles. — 1, not known; 2, French
Crab; 3, Blenheim Orange; 4, Fearn's Pippin.
Ardenza, Yorks.—S, Fearn's Pippin; 11, Small's Ad-
mirable; 14, Hanwell Souring. H. Wand, Brink-
burn. — 1, Gloria Mundi; 2, Sturmer; 3, Gravenstein.
J. H. Eeere.— Apple, Cellini.
382
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 22, 1887.
WOODS & FORESTS.
A NOTE ON RABBITS.
Few proprietors seem to see tlie need of effec-
tually controlling rabbits, but to those who do,
the following note — part of an agreement with
a gamekeeper— may be interesting. We observe
that the gamekeeper is generally at the bottom
of rabbit preservation, and, therefore, an enemy
of garden, wood, and field : —
I am willing to try you as gamekeeper for this
estate. I require you not only to "keep the rabbits
down," but to destroy them utterly. I dislike them,
and dread their destruction of trees and shrubs, and
waste and pollution of pastures. If the rabbits stay,
you will have to go. Their holes and stabs are to be
filled in in the woods, and particularly in pastures.
The wire fence round the central parts of the estate
will have to be kept in order, and the burrows beneath
it stopped. The rabbits not to be used for food by
you or any person on the estate, but to be delivered up
to some person appointed by me. If not fit for table
or market, they must be buried.
We feel some stringent rule like the above
should be carried out at least in the gardens
and pleasure-grounds of all country places, and,
indeed, in all places where planting is going on.
Among the instances of destruction we observed
during the present year are many fine Beech
and forest trees in the north barked very high
up owing to deep snow around them ; also some
spjendid Beech barked all round the base.
Numbers of young Ash saplings planted during
the past spring in some underwoods near us
have been nibbled and barked during the sum-
mer. Young Ash, half barked by these pests,
never grows well. Numbers of Cherry Plum
planted early in the year have been bitten clean
off at about a foot high. In one place we saw
several acres of underwood eaten clean down
and killed. In places where woods, trees,
coverts, meadows, orchards, hedgerows, gardens,
and pastures are cared for, a shilling's-worth of
rabbit often means ten shillings'-worth of mis-
chief.
WOODLAND SCENERY.
One of the driest seasons we have experienced for
many years is now drawing to a close, and although
crops have suffered by the heat and drought in
some parts of the country, yet tree growth as a
whole may be said to be fairly satisfactory, and the
fine autumn which we have been favoured with has
been highly beneficial in maturing the young wood
of the leaders and branches. Various insects have
had a busy time of it, as the weather during the
season has been exceptionally favourable to them,
and in many cases tree leafage has suffered con-
siderable damage by these pests, although at the
same time I am glad to say that it has not been so
serious as to destroy the scenic beauties of the land-
scape at this particular time of the year. Many
estates and properties may be vastly improved by
the introduction of new and ornamental species and
varieties of trees along the margins of established
plantations, more especially where seen from the
principal roads and drives. As the planting season
is now at hand, proprietors should lose no time in
making their plans. From the particular tints and
colours of the leaves of established trees it can be
seen at a glance what is wanted for contrast of
colour and variety in order to give a richer and
more brilliant tone to the picture. In preparing
the sites for the trees it is In many cases necessary
to destroy old contorted trees and stumps, and as
the proper preparation of the ground is a matter of
vital importance, it cannot be too carefully attended
to. In stubbing out roots and stumps of dead trees
great care should be taken to collect all chips and
pieces of wood in order to render the ground as
clean as possible. When pieces of wood" are mixed
up with the soil and become decayed, fungi of
various kinds spread rapidly and often attack the
roots of young trees recently planted. My practice
is to burn up such rubbish with fire and use the
ashes as a fertiliser for poor, exhausted soil, and as
it is a very safe manure, part of it may be mixed with
the soil at the places where the trees are to be
planted, and in some cases a little fresh earth may
also be added, which will be beneficial in promoting
the growth of the trees and giving them a good
start. At many places where ornamental trees had
been planted among old trees for the sake of con-
trast and variety and to improve the scenic beauties
of the landscape, I am sorry to say that very often
the trees had made very little progress, and some
thought they were unsuitable for the climate, or at
any rate for the particular locality in which
they had been planted, while others blamed the
nurseryman. Now the fact is, that in most cases
the trees were insufficiently nourished through the
encroachment of the roots of the old trees, which
take the goodness out of the soil. In order to pro-
tect the trees as far as possible in this respect, my
practice for many years has been to out a narrow,
deep circular trench around the tree and at a reason-
able distance from the stem, by which means the
roots of the old trees are effectively out off. The
trench is not filled up with soil until the trees are
thoroughly established.
In planting and renovating groups of trees upon
the lawn and in the vicinity of the residence, it is
not only necessary to study the contrast of colours,
but likewise the height which the different species
of trees are known to attain. In selecting the sites
for new groups great care and skill should be dis-
played in order to make sure that the trees when
fully developed will not interfere with any fine
view. A solitary tree growing on the greensward
gives variety to the place. Great improvements
may in many oases be effected by cutting out well-
chosen vistas here and there in old plantations and
having the ground trenched and sown with Grass
seeds. It is likewise desirable to see these openings
from the principal roads as well as the windows of
the house, and although this cannot be always at-
tained, yet such should be the aim of the planter.
Openings of this kind through plantations of any
extent are highly . appreciated by sportsmen in
search of game. With regard to planting trees in
groups upon the lawn, it is important to allow the
trees space for their full development. I have often
seen groups of ornamental trees that have been
planted so close to each other as to become crowded
when they attain a height of 10 feet or 12 feet, the
consequence being that some of the branches must
be cut out. Under ordinary circumstances where
the soil is properly prepared and of good texture, I
allow from 30 feet to 35 feet between the trees, and
from the appearance of trees which I planted in
this way some thirty years ago, I find the above
distance is not too much. Some kinds, however,
that do not attain large dimensions may be planted
closer to each other.
Specimen trees that are to be planted here and
there along the sides of roads and drives should not
be planted too near the edge ; otherwise the side
branches in course of time will require to be cut
back, and the beauty of the specimen partially de-
stroyed. Fine old standard trees in the park should
be examined, and such as are showing signs of
decay should have a top-dressing of rich compost,
and in cases where the soil is of a heavy, stiff cha-
racter a dressing of lime will be beneficial.
J. B. Webster.
SIIOBT NOTES.— WOODS AND FORESTS.
"Weymoutll Pine. — Professor Sargent has lately
been praising to us the value and beauty of the Wey-
mouth Pine in Germany, and elsewhere on the Con-
tinent, as well as in America. We shall be greatly
obliged if any of our readers will tell us how it behaves
on a large scale in this country, as we have never seen
auy very striking results from it.
Trees and Boils. — Pines and their companions-
the Birches, indicate a dry, rocky, sandy, or gravel
soil ; Beeches a dryish, chalky, or gravel soil ; Elms
and Limes a rich and somewhat damp soil ; Oaks
and Ashes a heavy clay soil ; and Poplars and Wil-
low a low, damp, or marshy soil. Many of these
trees are found growing together, and it is only
when one species predominates in number and
vigour that it is truly characteristic of the soil and
that portion of the atmosphere in connection with
it. — Sristol Mercury.
THE PLANTING SEASON.
Few will be inclined to dispute that the best time
for planting and transplanting forest as well as
ornamental trees, whether deciduous or evergreen,
is just when the leaves have fallen or are about to
fall ; but where planting has to be done upon an
extensive scale, it has to be proceeded with at all
times when the weather is open and favourable
throughout the winter. Still, the sooner a com-
mencement is made the better, and one condition is
essential to the success of such operations, more
particularly when they are performed at somewhat
unfavourable seasons — viz., that the plants should
have been properly prepared for removal in the
nursery before being "sent out," and, if this has
been the case, planting may be performed with little
risk at almost any season. Young trees and shrubs
of all kinds should be moved or transplanted every
season while in the nursery, and this has generally
the effect of inducing them to root near home, as it
is called, or near to the boles or stems, and there to
form dense masses of fibrous roots, which neces-
sarily retain a considerable portion of soil. When
this is the case, the moving and transplanting in
reality inflict but a trifling check upon the plants.
With regard, however, to the transplantation of trees
or shrubs which have attained considerable dimen-
sions, and to which these remarks are intended
more particularly to apply, the case is somewhat
different, as they will probably have occupied the
positions in which they now stand undisturbed for
years, but from which, owing to some cause, it
may nevertheless be desirable to remove them. In
cases in which this removal has been for some time
decided upon, and in which the trees have been judi-
ciously root-pruned some twelve months ago, their re-
moval will be comparatively easy, and little risk will
attend the operation, which may be proceeded with
at once, even in the case of deciduous trees. The
leaves of these have now accomplished their mission,
or nearly so ; the young wood is in a comparatively
ripe state, and the buds have also arrived at that
condition when they will be the least affected by
the temporary check which is necessarily sustained
through the mutilation of the roots. If the opera-
tion, however, is performed now it will afford ample
time for reparation before the soil and the atmo-
sphere have become so cold as to retard the pro-
duction of fresh roots. In all cases in which it is
inconvenient to attend to the final remova of trees
at present, or soon after the leaves have fallen, it
will be advisable (more particularly if the specimens
to be moved are valuable) to defer the performance
of the operation until somewhat late in the spring,
when it may be accomplished with more probability
of success than at any time during the winter or
late in the autumn, however favourable the weather
may be. There are, however, one or two points
which it is quite necessary should receive attention
in the case of late spring planting — viz., keeping the
plants as short a time as possible out of the soil, so
that the fibres may not, to any great extent, become
dried up, and the giving of abundant and frequent
supplies of water to the roots, as well as mulching
the surrounding soil to prevent undue evaporation,
and the syringing of the plants every evening dur-
ing dry weather, until there are suflicient indica-
tions of their having become established in their
new situations, when that attention may, of course,
be discontinued, especially if the weather be damp
or cloudy. It has been frequently shown that ever-
green, and even deciduous plants may be success-
fully transplanted at almost any time of the year;
and, as regards Evergreen.s. many planters prefer
early summer, say the beginning of May, to any
other season for the performance of this operation.
The only drawback or objection to the selection of
this period is the very considerable amount of labour
which it necessarily entails, in the form of water-
ing and other attentions, at a busy time of the
year. Early autumn may in most cases be regarded
as the most suitable period for this work.
P. G.
THE GARDEN.
383
No. 832. SATURDAY, Oct. 29,1887. Vol. XXXII.
" This is an Art
TVliich does mend Nature : cbanere it rath
The Art itself is Natoke."— £/(aAi'sj/can'
ENGLISH STANDARD FRUITS.
I HAVE been protesting for years against fat
catalogues, and not only the introduction of in-
ferior new varieties of fruit, but, -what is still
worse, the dishonest practice of sending out old
sorts under new names. Confining myself to
Apples alone, I could enumerate an immense
number of new or comparatively new sorts for
which hundreds of fruit growers have paid their
3s. 6d. or 5s. for tiny maidens, and after de-
voting much time and patience, exclusive of
expense, to their culture, they have found to
their great annoyance that old friends, smartened
up to the last sixteenth of an inch of their
extreme height and breadth by extra attention,
fresh soil, &c. , have been foisted upon them.
Having read these remarks, you will quite well
understand that I fully approve the step you
are taking both with regard to Apples and
Pears. Many people have been struck by the
way in which King of the Pippins has been
elevated to the post of honour lay the congress,
but in my opinion the solution is simple.
When in 1884 the first congress was held, Apple
crops were partial ; the season, as it happened,
suited the King of the Pippins ; everybody
could send samples, and better sorts being
scarce, they cried, the King is King ! In fact,
they made the King the bell-wether, and we
have lately seen how at Edinburgh the whole
flock followed him. I have often thought I
should like to take up the so-called new sorts
and append to them their old names, but the
step might cause unpleasantness. — W. Coleman.
Your leader hits the right nail on the
head. We have too many Apples and Pears,
but we are a conservative people and have a
liking for old trees. And the advanced section
among us are like the people of ancient Athens,
constantly seeking for something new. There
are plenty of good kinds of Apples in the
country if they were sorted over and ticketed to
suit diflferent districts. To do this effectually
we want a few large-hearted individuals with a
little spare cash to start experimental orchards
or fruit gardens in half a score different counties
wide enough apart to be representative, and
after doing the land well to plant all the known
kinds of Apples and Pears, and as they begin
to bear re-graft with the best until they are
reduced to about fifteen or twenty kinds. In
this way only can we find out the best kinds for
each district, and then we may plant fearlessly
and grub up all the old unprofitable trees which
ai'e now everywhere cumbering the ground.
Then, and not till then, we shall be able to hold
our own in competition with the foreigner.
There is, I feel convinced, a large demand
coming for good fruit. In every little town
more Apples, Pears and Plums could find a
ready sale. There may be occasional gluts in
the fertile districts, but this arises chiefly
through the heavy railway rates, and the hard-
and-fast system of the railway directors, who,
if they were wise, when tons of perishable fruit,
such as Plums, are unsaleable in any particular
district, should meet the growers and help to
open up new markets. — E. Hobday.
In carrying out your resolve to engrave
the best of our fruits you will confer a great
boon on many of your readers. In many
gardens much confusion prevails as to names,
and many worthless sorts are grown — worthless,
at least, in our climate unless the best walls are
given up to them. Appeals to the eye, such as
good engravings, are far more helpful than the
best descriptions found in catalogues, &c.,
which are generally meagre and sometimes
incorrect. Anything which makes it easier to
know the best of all our fruits must be wel-
come.— J. C. Tallack.
Pear Fondante d'Automne. — Referring
to your note in The Garden, Oct. 22 (p. 369),
I gladly send you fair specimens of this
fruit. We have larger and we have smaller,
but those sent are about the average size,
and are from bush-trained trees grafted on
the Quince, and are growing fully exposed to
all the wind that blows. As regards fertility, I
place it in the front rank, for it never fails to
bear abundantly every year, which quality may
in part be attributable to the late expanding of
its blossoms and the early formation of the
leaves that protect the blooms from the frost.
Taken at the right time, it is in quality equal to
the best Doyenn6 du Cornice, but (and this is
its only failing) it soon turns mealy, which state
is quickly followed by decay at the core. Its
season of maturity, and therefore time of use
for dessert, may be greatly prolonged by gather-
ing the crop at vaiying intervals. Up to date
(Oct. 24) we have had it in use a month, and
the fruit last gathered — a fortnight since — will
not be ripe for at least another week, so that we
are sure of a supply for another fortnight or
more. Thus, by gathering them at varying in-
tervals, we shall get a supply of ripe fruit for
something like six or seven weeks. The tree
makes a handsome bush, and on the Quince
virtually needs no pruning other than that of
summer pinching, which perhaps may more
appropriately be called restriction of growth to
induce the formation of fruit buds. Taking into
account the whole of its excellences, "the
Devil's advocate " would act wisely if he threw
up his brief. — W. Wildsmith.
• In reference to this Pear, upon which
you invite opinions, it is a variety I should
place amongst the best six October Pears, but
it would come last on the list. Marie Louise,
Louise Bonne of Jersey, Beuri6 Superfin, and
Beurre Hardy I consider are all superior to it
in flavour, size, and colour, and Thompson's in
flavour only. We have some pyramids of Fon-
dante d'Automne which yearly produce good
crops, and the flavour is always good, but I
should not consider it a first-class Pear for a
very select list. — Arthur Barker.
This Pear is of medium size, good speci-
mens weighing from 7 ozs. to 9 ozs. ; deliciously
sweet in flavour ; but oh ! fatal defect, the
moment it is perfectly ripe it begins to decay at
the core. Always appreciated when in perfec-
tion. Its too short season is the one drawback
that will always be an obstacle to its being largely
grown. — Wm. Allan, Gunton Park.
I find that here this Pear does not
come up to the high standard of excellence
claimed for it by "A. D." in The Garden,
October 15 (p. 340). Grown as a pyramid
it has borne well and the fruits have been
fine, but I should not place it before WOliams'
Bon Chretien for quality.— John C. Tallack,
Lire^'inere.
refined flavour, and yet a delicate flesh — not
hard and leathery, as many Apples are. With
such Apples as these coming into our markets
it will be perfectly impossible for us to compete
with them unless we grow the very best that
Nature has given us. It is perfectly useless to
try to compete with the Americans, with their
splendid climate and fruits, unless we take the
greatest care in selecting and growing only the
best.
Apple American Bibston. — I think the
American Kibston is inferior to the EngUsh-
grown fruit. — J. H. Reeve.
Rose Garden.
T. W. GIRDLESTONB.
ROSE SEED.
Apple King of Tompkins County.—-
A23ropos of our notes on good fruit last week,
Mr. J. H. Reeve, Walsham, fends us good
imported specimens of this very large and
handsome fruit. Its qualities are not those of
size and beauty alone, as it has a most high and
The recent sharp frosts have efiectually checked
the growth of the Roses, and now that the leaf
is beginning to fall it is becoming more clearly
apparent that there will this year be a goodly
supply of heps for the raising of seedlings from
the Hybrid Perpetuals at any rate. Of Tea-
scented varieties the seed saved out of doors in
this country seems so invariably infertile that
even where it occurs freely it is little worth
gathering. In collections where the flowers are
much cut, especially for exhibition, a cold,
frosty spring is indirectly productive of an extra
harvest of Rose heps, for when the plants are
checked in their early growth by a sharp frost a
number of flowers are sure to come faulty in
colour or form, or with some defect which
renders them unfit for cutting in the sight of
the eclectic exhibitor, who nevertheless is
willing that they should make the garden gay,
so that they remain uncut and develop seed.'
The heps will now soon be ready to gather,
and as soon as they are harvested they should
be placed in layers in boxes of damp sand, in
which they should remain during the winter.
In the spring the succulent parts of the fruit
wUl be found to have rotted ott', and the contents
of the boxes may be rubbed through the hands
to separate the seeds, which should then be
sown, sand and all. This will be found a much
less tedious process when there is a large
quantity of heps to deal with than cleaning out
the seeds as soon as gathered, but if there are
but few heps, it is best, perhaps, to remove their
fleshy covering, and separate and sow the seeds
at once. In this case the readiest method of
proceeding is to cut off the top of the hep with
a sharp knife and to squeeze the lower part,
when most of the hard little achenes packed
together inside will come out all separated, and
the then hollowed husk may just be slit down
lengthwise and laid open in order that any
individuals adhering to the inner side may be
removed with the point of the knife. Even if
there are a good many heps it will be found
that proceeding in this way does not take longer
than the crushing or rubbing through a sieve
sometimes recommended, btcause the time is
saved that must then be occupied in removing
the pulp and drying the seed, which, when once
it has been all mixed up with the crushed
husks, is very difficult to get dry and clean
again.
In any case it is important to get the seed
into sand or soil as soon as gathered, and then
many seedlings will come up the following
spring, a result equally well attained by either
of the above methods. When the seed is sown
in the open it is best to sow rather thickly
broadcast in beds about 3 feet wide, which are
all the better if surrounded by a good stout
board on edge to prevent either soil or feed
384
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 29, 1887.
from being washed away, and upon which a
short plank may at times be laid across to facili-
tate such operations as weeding, &c., among
the seedlings without trampling upon the beds
should they be wet. Nevertheless, as soon as
the seed is sown, the surface of the beds should
be made firm with the flat of the spade, and
worms as far as possible guarded against. If,
when the seedlings come up, they are found too
much crowded in certain spots in the beds,
which may often arise from the seed being
washed by a storm of rain to the lowest point
or into a hollow, they will be found as amenable
to transplantation as Cabbage plants, and
should be carefully di^awn out and planted else-
where in rows about 9 inches to 15 inches apart,
according to their size. Some of those that
come up during the first summer will produce a
flower sufficient to give some idea of their
colour almost immediately, and as it is clear
that these must be thoroughly perpetual, it is
well to get in a bud or two on some stock as
soon as possible, as they will be almost certain
to flower as maidens the following summer. At
the same time the French raisers are inclined to
hold that these precocious bloomers are liable to
be varieties lacking constitution, though this is
not always the case.
The greatest enemy of Rose seedlings is mil-
dew, and as this seems absolutely unpreventible,
the only thing to be done is to keep the plants
strong, so as to ensure their growing through it.
Now, the greatest trial to any seedling plants in
a young state is excessive drought, a condition
also highly favourable to the development of
mildew ; the seed-beds, therefore, should face
east, or be situated where they can be shaded
after the morning, in order that the seedlings
may not be baked by the trying afternoon sun
in summer.
The above remarks apply equally to Rose
seeds and seedlings of garden varieties raised
with a view to obtain novelties, and to those of
common species raised in quantity for use as
stocks, &c. In raising seedling Briers in con-
siderable numbers for stocks, however, it is
better to sow the seed in drills rather than
broadcast, in order that the hoe may be easily
worked to destroy weeds, and to keep the sur-
face of the ground open. From seed sown lasi
autumn there will now be a considerable pro-
portion of seedlings ready for transplantation
these should be carefully drawn out with the
least possible disturbance of surrounding seeds
that may not yet have germinated, and should
be root-pruned and heeled in in some sheltered
spot until they can safely be planted out on
a showery day in March, or even April. If
they were planted at once they would be liable
to be drawn out of the ground by the frosts
in winter, whereby many of them might perish,
and no time is lost by deferring their move
into permanent quarters until spring, for they
will be making roots all the while where they
lie, and so eventually go out with a mass of
active fibres, and grow away without check.
It is very desirable that all Rose growers
should endeavour to raise a few seedlings in
addition to the usual cultivation of established
varieties. When it is cfinsidered how few really
perfect Roses yet exist, it behoves all amateurs
especially, who have more leisure than the trade-
growers, and to whom it is of less importance to
grow only what pays, to do their utmost to add
to the still limited number of Roses that iJossess
all the highest qualities.
is not disfigured even by the more insidious red
rust. Unlike a few others of its class that escape
mildew, it has magnificent flowers early in the
season, and is a good autumnal bloomer, and it may
unquestionably be included in the dozen Hybrid
Perpetuals best adapted for universal cultivation,
whether for show or garden. Mr. Benjamin Cant
says of it : "I consider this variety the most valu-
able sort introduced for many years." From so
good a judge this is high praise, but few growers
will consider that it is not well deserved. — T. W. G.
THE PURITAN ROSE.
Xririch. Brunner is almost the only Hybrid
rerpolual Rose now in the garden that is perfectly
^rjen. It appears to be proof against mildew, and
It is somewhat unfortunate that both the name and
the description led us to expect that this new Rose
was pure white — "the grandest white Rose ever
produced." Apart from these first impressions,
there is no incongruity in a soft, pale primrose
Puritan ; and this it undoubtedly is all through the
earlier and more charming stages of each of its in-
dividual blooms. It is hardly until the blossoms
begin to enter into the sere, though not yellow leaf,
of old age that the petals are blanched into whiteness.
The Puritan is none the less charming on this
account, though the liberal dash of yellow is apt to
give those in search of new whites the "blues" at first
sight.
But, fortunately, the form and fragrance of the new
Rose are well-nigh all that can be desired. It is said
to be a cross between Mabel Mon-ison and Devoni-
ensis, and if so, the Tea variety seems to have been
the most potent factor in its production, impressing
a good deal of its form, and yet more of its fra-
grance on the Puritan. While the white Perpetual
has done little more than give to this popular
novelty its ultimate colour, other blood, possibly a
dash of Triomphe de Rennes, must surely have been
concerned in the imparting of the soft primrose
colour of the Puritan.
The fragrance, too, is unique in its character and
sweetness. It is not even that of Devoniensis,
though a reproduction of its odours in one or many
other Roses would prove most welcome to all who
can appreciate the sweetest smelling Roses and dis-
criminate among Rose odours rich and rare. We
are told the Puritan smells like a Magnolia. This
does not help us much, as there is more difference
among the odours of Magnolias than of Roses, and
the scents of both families differ very widely indeed.
But the phrase conveys a truth nevertheless, which
is, that the Puritan is not only one of themostfragrant,
but one of the most distinct smelling Roses we
possess. And this is saying a good deal, for I fancy
I could determine such Roses as the old Cabbage,
Devoniensis, Boule de Neige, Marechal Niel, and
several others in the dark by their odours alone
It is also said that the Puritan is equal in size to
Merveille de Lyon. It may prove so, but the earlier
blooms have not reached to the size, nor revealed
any features suggestive of this variety, and, I would
venture to add, so much the better for the future
popularity and usefulness of the Puritan.
D. T. F.
Boses on their own. roots. — It is very gratify-
ing to find that so many of the leading Rose growers
of this country speak so emphatically of the value of
Roses upon their own roots above those that are
worked. For some time I have been convinced by
personal experiment that ihere is nothing to be
gained by the grower of Ro.ses for cut flowers in
growing budded or grafted Roses. At the present
time I have a quantity of La France Rose, all in a
vigorous growing condition. Half of these have
been worked upon the Manetti stock; the other
half are on their own roots. For nearly two years
they have occupied the same position, and are now
as luxuriant and as promising as ever. During this
time (lose observation was given as to whether the
worked Roses really grew more vigorously or llowered
more almndantly, with the conclusive result that
the difference is so slight as not to be worth men-
tioniug; what difEerence there is is in favour of
those grown from cuttings. The same experiment
has been tried with the Beauty and Perlc, but with
a similar result. This question may easily be solved
to the satisfaction of each grower by simply trying
the same experiment. But what more evidence do
we need that there is no benefit to be derived by
planting " worked " Roses ? Look at the authorities
we have in favour of growing Roses from cuttings !
May, Asmus, Siebrecht, Hill, Taplin, and Craig — all
men of extensive experience and leading Rose
growers. — Alfbed E. WHITTLE, in American
Florhi.
Rose American Beauty or Mme. F. Jamain 1
— A correspondent who has recently visited a num-
ber of rosarians in Germany has been positively
assured by several that they have grown and care-
fully compared jDlants of American Beauty and
Mme. F. Jamain, and that undoubtedly they are the
same. They stated that there was no difference
whatever in either growth, habit, or bloom. In
Europe Mme. F. Jamain has not proved to be a first-
class Rose, while here American Beauty is one of
our most admired and useful Roses. If the climate
can make such a difference in a Rose as there cer-
tainly is in this (provided the two are the same) the
thought is suggested that there may be others
among the Roses which have failed to give satisfac-
tion in Europe which may still suit perfectly the
requirements of growers in this country. — American
Florid.
Marie Van Houtte. — No Rose surpasses
Marie Van Houtte as an autumnal, whether for the
purpose of yielding cut flowers or as furnishing a
beautiful plant in the garden. The praises of this
exquisite Tea Rose, which is still the most attrac-
tive thing now in the rosery, cannot be too loudly
or universally sung, and it deserves to be planted in
abundance everywhere. The variety is so vigorous,
that it quickly makes a handsome plant ; it is so
free, that it is never out of flower ; it is so constant,
that even at the end of October its blossoms are
characteristic and well coloured ; and its blooms
are so beautiful in form and in their exquisite com-
bination of lemon and peach, that while exhibitors
count it among their most valuable and reliable
Tea Roses, no one who appreciates cut flowers in
their rooms would willingly (as long as they knew
any means of obtaining them) be without a bunch
of the buds and blossoms of the peerless Marie Van
Houtte.— T. W. G.
Marechal Niel. — Although plants of Marechal
Niel out of doors were too much injured by last
winter to bloom to any extent in the early summer
this year, they have — probably for that very reason
—produced splendid flowers this autumn. Through-
out September on a south-east aspect a good supply
of first-rate blossoms was maintained, and an
exceptionally handsome example, amongst others,
was cut from a south wall as late as the 10th of
October. It is a great loss when the glorious
golden harvest, which, after a mild winter, Marechal
Niel affords in May and early June, cannot be
gathered, but considerable compensation is afforded
by the autumn blooms ; for it is notorious that
when the great Rose flowers its best in early
summer it is not very free in autumn, but when the
plants have not sutliciently recovered the effects of
a hard winter to flower freely in June, their energy
appears to be devoted to the development of an
extra supply of fine blooms late in the season. — ■
T. W. G.
Two new Yorkshire-raiied Koses.— One of
these is a flower that created a sensation at the
Rose shows at Edinburgh and Manchester in July,
viz.. Sir Rowland Hill, which early in the season is
a kind of bright, ruby, claret-coloured flower,
shaded with maroon, but which later on becomes
much suffused with a pleasing shade of purple. It
is very distinct in colour, large, full, and of excel-
lent shape, and will be a good accession to our
exhibition Roses ; it is also a good grower. Another
is Duchess of Leeds, a seedling raised from La
I'rance, but .several shades deeper in colour, the
greatest beini;' on the reverse side of the petals ;
the habit of growth and character of the foliage
are similar to those of La France. It is satisfactory
to see that English raisers of Roses are so successful
in the production of good novelties, and growers of
the queen of flowers are becoming to a large extent
Oct. 29, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
385
independent of the French producers, who appear
to send a few good ones among a collection that
includes too many of an indifferent character. —
R. D.
THE GARDEN ROSES OP INDIA.
The principal garden Roses cultivated in
Europe and in India may be traced to "Western
Asia and China. The old-fashioned slimmer
Roses, which were the ornament of gardens in
Europe forty to fifty years ago, are mostly
referred to Rosa gallica, which has its home in
South Europe and Western Asia, and to Rosa
centifolia and damascena, which probably came
from the moimtains of Armenia and Northern
Persia. All these are distinguished by the
incomparable delicacy of their aroma, and of
the two last-named kinds one or the other is
cultivated on a large scale in Southern Prance,
Italy, Macedonia, Asia Minor, Persia, and
Northern India, for rose-water and essence of
roses (attar). The flowering season of these
kinds is short, lasting a few weeks only, and it
was an important event for horticulture when,
towards the close of last century, the China
Roses were introduced into Europe. The most
important of these was Rosa indica, thus called
by Linnasus because it was brought from India,
where it Las long been grown in gardens. Its
home, however, is not India, but China, and its
great value consists in this, that it flowers
throughout summer and autumn, hence the
name autumnal Rose, also monthly Rose
(Monatsrose). Por this reason a variety was
called Rosa semperflorens. Another variety,
described under the name of Rosa fragrans, dis-
tinguished by its strong, though not always very
delicate scent, became the parent of the Tea
Roses. By crossing these kinds and other
species with the old garden Roses, the number-
less varieties of Hybrid Perpetuals and Tea
Roses have been obtained which now ornament
our gardens in Europe as well as in India.
In India nine or ten species of Roses
are indigenous, but with the exception of
Rosa moschata, a magnificent climber of wide
distribution, none have contributed to the
production of garden Roses. All have their
local names in the language of the district
where they grow, but — and this is a most re-
markable fact — the Rose has no name in San-
skrit. In some dictionaries "Java" is rendered
as Rose, but this is an altogether different shrub,
Hibiscus Rosa-sinensis, the well-known Shoe-
flower (used for blacking shoes) of Indian gar-
dens, believed to be indigenous in China, and
possibly also indigenous in tropical Africa.
As far as known at present, the Roses of
Western Asia have no Sanskrit name, and were
not known in ancient India. Yet Rosa damas-
cena is extensively grown on a large scale for
the manufacture of rose-water and essence of
rosea throughout Northern India, as far as
GhazipAr, in 25° N. lat. Hermann Schlagin-
tweit was, I believe, the fLrst to draw attention
to this remarkable fact. It is not impossible
that the western Roses were introduced into
India by the Mohammedans. As there is no
Sanskrit word, so is there no original term for
the Rose in Hindi. In most Indian languages
the cultivated Rose is called gul, which is the
Persian name. It is also called gulab, which
■ really means rose-water, unless, indeed, as
sometimes stated by Munshis in India, db in
this case is a suflix with no separate meaning.
In addition to their local names, some of the
wild Roses of the Himalayas are often called
giiUib, ban gii^ab(the Rose of the forest, or wild
species are cultivated in India. The origin of
one of the Indian garden Roses, however, is
doubtful: this is Rosa glandulifera, well de-
scribed by Roxburgh in his "Flora Indica."
It is a white subscandent cluster Rose, which
has erroneously been referred to as Rosa alba.
In Hindi and Bengali it is called Seoti, Sivati,
Shevati. According to Piddington (" English
Index to the Plants of India," 1832), this Rose
has a Sanskrit name, Sevati, pointing to shyeta
(white). This, however, requires verification.
Roxburgh believed its origin to be China. —
D. Bei>'DIS, in Nature.
Besides Rosa indica, several other Chinese
RECENT ROSES AT WALTHAM CROSS.
In the course of a visit to Mr. William Paul's great
nursery at Waltham, although paid rather late in
the summer, an inspection of some of the newer
Roses was found to be highly interesting, and to
confirm the impression that not only the Waltham
seedlings, but also those from France, include
several promising varieties. Of the former, Mr.
Paul has been fortunate in obtaining a fresh break
of colour in the three Hybrid Perpetuals distributed
in 1884, one of which was sent out as a show Rose,
whOe the other two were described as garden Roses.
The show Rose, Ella Gordon, is now pretty well
known, and her acquaintance has proved very well
worth making, for her bright cherry crimson flowers,
globular and smooth-petaUed, are very handsome
and distinct. Charles Lamb, however, one of the
garden Roses, is even brighter and more telling in
colour, for though its flowers are hardly as full as
those of the last-named, they are of a brilliant and
quite distinct clear red tint, which, especially when
the plants are in full sunshine, is conspicuous at a
great distance in the garden ; and the variety, more-
over, is hardy, thoroughly free-blooming and per-
petual. The same may be said of Garden Favourite,
which is also of a similar type of colour, only lighter;
in fact, almost a bright pink, but very attractive.
There was a French variety of the same date,
Francisque Rive (Schwartz), which was flowering
very well at the time, and produced good circular
blooms of a bright rosy cerise colour and very fra-
grant, but, unfortunately, the pendent habit of the
flowers militated against their effective appearance
on the tree. The same raiser's General Appert,
however, of the following year, seemed a very pro-
mising dark Rose, which is highly thought of in a
good many quarters. This variety may best be
described as an improved and brighter Pierre Net-
ting, without the dingy shade which so often dis-
figures the latter, and it is exceedingly free-flower-
ing, a character which will be likely to render it
highly popular. From Lfiveque, who has sent out
so many very dark or brUliant coloured Roses, there
were two promising seedlings, Laurent de Rille, a
bright cherry-red, of imbricated form, and Duke of
Marlborough, a brilliant crimson, shaded darker, of
good form, and a very likely addition; while Chas.
Verdier's Baronne Travot is a fine light rose, very
full, and perpetual; and E. Verdier's Eugenie Fremy
is a pretty flower, with petals of a bright, fresh
rosy colour with silvery margins. Most of the
Roses that were first distributed in this country in
the spring of 1886 having been sent from France
the previous autumn, have been recently described
more or less, but mention may be made of Rosieriste
Chau\Tv (Gonod) as confirming the good impres-
sion made by this fine bright red seedling of Victor
Verdierrace, and of American Beauty, only to again
endorse the already general opinion that it is not
distinguishable from the dreary Madame Ferdi-
nand Jamain; but Madame Gemot (Liabaud), of a
pleasing satin rose colour, if full enough will prove
an addition.
The best display of all, however, at the time was
made bv some of "the most recent of the Waltham
seedlings. • Florence Paul (W. Paul, 1886) is a beau-
tiful crimson-red Hybrid Perpetual, with large,
well-built-up flowers and gracefully recurved petals.
The vigorous habit of the plant renders it particu-
larly valuable in the garden, although the fine form
of the blooms, which stand well, makes them
equally available for exhibition. An even more
valuable novelty is the seedling of the following
year. Grand Mogul (1887), which certainly appeared
to be the most free-flowering of Roses. In all
directions, dwarfs and standards alike were covered
with blossoms, which, in spite of the great heat,
were not burnt brown, hke so many dark Roses, but
which maintained their shaded dark crimson colour
in full exposure to the sun. Grand Mogul is a seed-
ling from A. K. Williams, deeper and richer in
colour than its parent, and, though quite distinct
from that best of all red Hybrid Perpetuals, yet
happilv resembling it in its freedom and constancy.
A good portrait of this Rose was published in Mr.
William Paul's catalogue of last year, and in the
current issue for the present season there is another
admirable plate and excellent likeness of the newest
of the Waltham contributions. Duchess of Albany,
announced for distribution next May. This beauti-
ful Rose is in the way of La France, but deeper in
colour, and, though the plants were flowering pro-
fusely, there was an absence of the lilac shade in
the blooms which often spoils La France. The plants
were literally covered with flowers, and their growth
appeared vigorous and good in spite of the dronght
which was stopping so many others ; and, in fact,
rosarians generally will probably very soon endorse
the opinion that in the two last-mentioned varieties
the Waltham firm have made two of the most valu-
able of recent additions to our Rose treasures.
T. W. G.
Public Gardens.
CHRYSANTHEMUMS AT FINSBURY
PARK.
The Chrysanthemum season has now com-
menced, and one of the finest public exhibitions
of this popular autumn flower is that in Fins-
bury Park, where an excellent display has been
arranged by Mr. Cochrane and his foreman, Mr.
J. Mardlin. The plants are finely grouped in a
house 100 feet in length, with a pathway down
the centre, so that visitors can have ample op-
portunities of seeing to what perfection Chry-
santhemum culture has attained. It will be,
perhaps, about a week before the exhibition is
at its best, but when we were there a few days
ago there was a creditable show of blooms, and
a splendid promise, as the rapidly developing
buds, by reason of their fulness, healthiness,
and evenness, evinced. There are altogether
about 1600 specimens, and a reserve supply of
some 300 late varieties to maintain the display
as others fade. The banks of plants are
edoed with mixed Pompons of about equal
size, and these have been grown in the open
ground so as to preserve a bushy character,
which gives a finish and neatness to the arrange-
ment. Some of the early-flowering varieties
were in perfection, especially the popular and
strikingly distinct variety Comte de Germiny,
with the petals rolled round, as to make a well-
built, even bloom of immense size. Unless
the flowers of this kind are in thorough charac-
ter, they are not of much account. Mors.
Moussillac is afine variety, and there were several
excellent specimens, the flowers being of a deep
crimson, with the reverse of the petals of a
golden hue. A kind in the same way of colour-
ing is Mons. Henri Jacotot, which was well
represented ; the colour is a brilliant crimson,
with rich yellow shading. Flamme de Punch,
a variety of distinct expression, is of a light
bronzy yellow hue, and shows up well aniongst
white and pink forms. Elaine, which is the
most popular perhaps of the whites, was un-
excelled ; the flowers are very double, and of
handsome proportions. Joseph Mahood has
drooping florets of an orange hue, coloured with
red at the base ; it is a good flower when well
developed. The variety Lady Selborne was in
perfection at the time of our visit, and this is
perhaps the finest of the pure white Japanese.
386
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 29, 1887.
kinds, aud a companion to the lovely Mdlle.
Lacroix, which has been well shown this season,
and at Finabury Park is especially good. The
rosy pink flowers of the variety Princess Beatrice
were in an early stage, but gave variety, and
the same remark applies to the Japanese kind
labelled Gorgeous, a bright, clear golden-yellow.
There were even-shaped and finely-coloured
blooms of Mr. Bunn, and also of I'Africaine,
known to some as George Gordon, which, when
in perfection, is one of the handsomest of the
reflexed section. At the upper end of the house
are arranged with good efiect well-flowered speci-
mens of Gloire Rayonnante, which has spike-
like quilled florets of a rose colour. We noticed
handsome flowers of the bright lilac Mons. Tarin,
the rich lake-coloured Refulgens, and the bright
yellow Phoebus. The following varieties were
also seen to advantage : Mastic, buff yellow ;
Katherine Talfourd, which has evenly formed
bronzy yellow blooms ; Prince of Wales, deep
crimson, incurved ; Golden George Glenny, Mrs.
G. Rundle, and Mrs. Forsyth. These are but a
few varieties, as the collection comprises aU the
best of the Chrysanthemums now in commerce.
INNER TEMPLE GARDENS.
The eighteenth display of Chrysaiithemums
was opened last Thursday week in these gar-
dens, and Mr. Newton has again provided an
excellent show. The plants to be seen' there
are a witness of the adaptability of the Chry-
santhemum to unfavourable circumstances, as
the plants are located in gardens by the side of
the river, and in the centre of buildings, smoke,
and dust. There are about 900 plants and over
500 varieties, and although somewhat late,
there are many flowers open. The specimens
are well arranged, and the large, healthy, and
well-coloured foliage is as noticeable as the
flowers. Mons. Planchenon, which is the same
as Bouquet Fait, was in full flower, and the
rosy pink colour tells well ; there were also
handsome blooms of the reddish crimson M.
Delaux and the pure white Elaine. The yellow
incurved variety Mr. Bunn was good, also the
niauve-ooloured James Salter and the white
Jeanne d'Aro. Some specimens of the beauti-
f il Golden Queen of England were showing
excellent blooms, and the incurved White
Beverley was creditable. Other varieties that
were quite up to the average were Golden
George Glenny, W. Holmes, Cry Kang, a
migenta-ooloured Japanese variety, Maiden's
Blush, blush white, one of the best of the
Japanese section ; Jewess, in the way of I'Afri-
caine, and Mandarin, which has thread-like
petals of a dull red, the centre of the bloom
yellow.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
' Eueharis Masters!.— Thia appears to be a free-
flowering kind, and, moreover, its blooms are delicately
fragrant, which will considerably enhance its value for
bouquet-making ; whilst its size being small renders
it available for a coat flower. It is now blooming in
Mr. Bull's nursery at Chelsea.
The mildness of the season. — While staying
a few days ago at Trewodden, in Cornwall, I was
surprised to find a splendid dish of new Peas served
for dinner. On going to the garden in the morning
I found the Telegraph Pea growing vigorously,
flowering and budding abundantly, with more the
appearance of the 24th of Jane than the 24th of
Ojtober !— Alex. MoKk.nzie.
Two usefal Primulas are P. obconica and P.
floribunda, both of which are flowering with their
wonted freedom in the house devoted to alpine
flowers at Kew. The first seems always in bloom,
aiil Ihu other ij also remarkable for its continuous
display of fl jwers, the cjlour of which is a c'.ear and
rich yellow. We have seen these plants succeeding
well on the rookery during the summer months, but
they are not hardy enough to withstand the vicissi-
tudes of winter. They, however, keep the green-
house gay at this season, and many appreciate the
sweet mauve flowers of P. obconica and the more
garish colour of those of P. floribunda. Plants of
this kind that bloom so freely and continuously
should be highly prized by amateurs who have only
a cold house.
Crinum Powelli in London. — The finest of
all Amaryllids considered as hardy plants is Crinum
Powelli. It cannot be injured by weather or frost.
One in my little Chelsea garden withstands all its
London difliculties, and has sent up in succession
this autumn three huge stems of many blossoms.
It would grow in an area and bloom. Sir Charles
Strickland has just given me a seedling of his own
Crinum Moorei x longifolium. It is exactly in leaf
and flower a counterpart of C. Powelli. — F. Miles.
Oncidium bracteatum. — There is a handsome,
vigorous specimen of this Oncid at Kew, and by
reason of the rich colour of the flowers it is at once
distinct and beautiful. The plant is crowded with
racemes of bloom, the individual flowers being
about the size of those of 0. incurvum, and thickly
blotched with chocolate on a greenish yellow
ground; the combination of colouring is striking
and effective. It is valuable for its autumn-bloom-
ing character and affords variety.
Dendrobium Phalsenopsis.— The beauty of
this Dendrobe is proverbial, but the plant is not
seen so often as one might expect. There is a
specimen in bloom at Kew, and the flowers, of the
D. bigibbum type, are borne on long peduncles,
displaying a compactness and neatness of form such
as we find in the last mentioned species ; the broad
petals, of a rich magenta-purple hue, give a fulness
to the bloom, and the sepals are of a paler shade of
the same hue ; the lip is rich rose-purple, with the
veined throat of a crimson colour, and the spur is
dull purple.
The Purple Sweet Sultan (Amberboa mos-
chata) is grown at Kew as a pot plant for the con-
servatory, and an extremely pretty and deliciously
fragrant plant it is when well grown ; its silvery
foliage goes so well with the tassel-like flower-heads
of lilac-mauve tint, and then the fragrance is like
that of Marie Louise Violets. Some gardeners
think that such common border flowers as Sweet
Sultan, Purple Scabious, and the like are scarcely
worth the trouble of pot culture, but how enjoyable
it is to have such plants in bloom just now, the
dullest season for flowers for the greenhouse. — W. G.
Catasetum longifolium. — There is a fine
specimen of this interesting species in bloom in the
East India house at Kew. The plant is growing on
a raft hanging against one of the pillars, and bears
a pendulous raceme, which springs from the base
of the large fusiform pseudo-bulbs cased with
whitish sheaths. The lip is shaped like a pitcher,
and is brownish green, which passes into rich choco-
late at the upper margin ; the sepals and petals are
roundish in form, erect, and pale olive-green, edged
with a brownish hue ; while the small beak-like
column, together with the interior of the lip, is
yellow. The foliage is over 2 feet long, pale green
and narrow.
The cluster-flowered Fuchsia (F. corymbi
flora) is one of those beautiful .species of the
genus that form themselves into a distinctsection, all
bearing long, tubular flowers with short petals, and
usually produced in dense clusters. The best known
of these in gardens are F. corymbiflora, dependen
boliviana, and serratifolia. The two first-mentioned
are now in flower at Kew, and at this dull season
they are particularly attractive. F. corymbiflora in
flower in the temperate house is a pot bush plant
with large pale green leaves. Its flowers are each
about 3 inches long, of a bright carmine-crimson, and
borne several together in a drooping cluster. The
other, F. dependens, has for some weeks past been
one of the attractions of No. 4 greenhouse, for a
large plant of it trained under the roof is carrying
a profusion of flower clustcis that hang most
elegantly on slender twigs from 1 foot to 2 feet in
length. The flowers being a deep rich carmine are
very showy. These and other cluster-flowered
Fuchsias deserve more attention from gardeners,
seeing how rarely one finds them in private
gardens. For a conservatory that is only heated
to keep out frost they are just the plants, par-
ticularly for draping the pillars or rafters. Messrs.
Cannell are, we believe, paying attention to them,
and we hope they will be able to make them
more common. But let us plead their exemption
from the hybridist's and improver's hands ; they are
so beautiful, that we are afraid that if any attempt
were made to cross them with others they would be
spoilt. — G.
Autumn tints. — I send you autumn foliage of
Andromeda arborea, perhaps the most brilliantly
coloured of any deciduous tree, and, what is better,
this glorious colour lasts for weeks. I send also
sprays of a very old Rose I found in the neighbour-
hood. I do know its name. It, however, grows
vigorously, making shoots 5 feet or 6 feet long in
the season, and bears profusely large terminal panicles
of semi-double pink flowers. However, this is not
its best feature ; the deep rich purple-crimson bark,
coupled with the richly tinted foliage, make it even
more ornamental now than in the summer. The
purple-leaved Euonymus is not to be despised as an
autumn-tinted shrub. — T. Smith, Ncnry.
The white Brugznansia suaveolens is one
of the flnest greenhouse plants now in bloom, and a
well-flowered specimen is one of the noblest objects
one can have at this season for a conservatory. The
great trumpet-like flowers of snowy whiteness give
out such a delicious fragrance, too, that for its scent
alone it is a valuable plant. A few flowers arranged
in a bold vase with suitable foliage have a fine
effect in a room, and if kept cool will last for a
week or more. It may be either planted out or
grown in a pot or tub. It does equally well in
either case, but it is best planted out, as it is more
vigorous and floriferous, and requires less attention.
B. suaveolens is the best of the three whiteBrug-
mansias ; the others (B. arborea and Knighti) have
not such noble flowers or so sweetly scented. ,
Gunnera scabra in fruit.— On one of the
large plants of Gunnera scabra here was a fruit,
which, I think, is of unusual size. It is .Si feet long
and 'i\ feet in circumference, with a stalk 8 inches
round, and weighs 27 lbs. The points on it are
forked, near the base several times forked. This
plant was moved to its present site three years ago ;
it is in a sheltered nook, with a deep, moist — I may
almost say wet— soil. Some of the leaves on it are
2 yards across, on massive stems over 4 feet long.
This noble plant will not flourish on a dry soil, and
unless the spot is sheltered the huge foliage is cer-
tain to be disfigured by winds. Coming from the
Andes, it is not hardy everywhere in England, and
would probably perish or be severely punished dur-
ing hard winters in most places. Here, the only
precaution taken is to lay the leaves over the crown .
Thus protected it never sustains the slightest in-
jury. G. manicata, a distinct and equally grand
species, alike prospers here under similar condi-
tions.— J. M,, Charmovtli, Dorset.
Ipomaea rubro-cserulea. — I saw this lovely
climber in bloom the other day in one of the stoves
in the Manchester Botanic Garden, where it is
grown to perfection. A large plant, apparently an
old one, is trained to a pillar, and its long, slender
stems leap from pillar to pillar in a most graceful
way. The floweis are 3 inches across, in shape like
those of the Morning Glory or Convolvulus major,
as it is called, and the blue tint is most exquisite,
and may be best described as cobalt running into
white. The flowers last a good while in beauty,
and die off a purple-red tint. A plant of such great
beauty as this should not be so uncommon, seeing
that it is of simple culture. The roof of a stove or
warm greenhouse could not be festooned in a more
charming way than by this climber, and flowering as
it does in autumn it is the more valuable. It is
curious to see in the plant at Manchester the
singular corkscrew-like growth of the main stem.
It has twisted itself, snake-like, so tightly around
its support, that the stick is quite embedded in the
stem itself. — W. G.
Oct. 29, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
387
NOTES FROM HEMSTED PARK.
Midwinter was naturally a bad time to visit
this beautiful Kentish residence of Viscount
Cranbrook, but in most places there is_ some-
thing to admire, visit them when you will, and
such proved to be the case at Hemsted Park.
In this fertile part of the country many kinds
of trees and Conifers grow very rapidly, but I
was scarcely prepared to see such wonderful
progress made by some of the trees since I last
saw them. There are many noble Conifers to be
seen, some of them forming good landmarks,
but probably the most noteworthy are two
grand specimens of Cryptomeria japonica, grow-
ing in a comparatively sheltered spot in proxi-
mity to the flower garden. They are about
tinuously produced, and the growth is also of
less vigorous character. Near to this is an im-
mense plant of Lamarque Rose, which during
the season produces large clusters of blooms of
from twenty to thirty in each. It has two main
stems, each being 16 inches in circumference at
their thickest part, and from these several
vigorous young shoots have recently started.
According to my experience, this variety is one
of tho best for the conservatory, as it never
looks unsightly, grows strongly, and is not
so liable to be infested .either by insects or
mildew as most Roses are. In another wing of
the conservatory the Marechal Niel Rose is or
was luxuriating. It is still a very fine plane,
but the signs of decay are evident enough. The
old one. For covering high walls the now
seldom seen Pleroma macrantha is effectively
used at Hemsted, abundance of attractive
blooms unfolding through the autumn and
winter months. The plants used for grouping
in the conservatory comprise many good Camel-
lias, Palms, Poinsettias, Cypripedium insigne,
Arums, and Ferns. A specimen of the Austra-
lian Elk's-horn Fern (Platyoerium alcicorne) is
worthy of mention. It is nearly 7 feet through,
and hasbeen growing undisturbed in a 12-inch pot
during the last twenty years. It is syringed twice
daily, and this appears to be all that is necessary
to keep it in excellent health. There are many
fruit and plant houses in the kitchen garden, all
being utilised to their fullest extent. Only the
View in the conservatory at Hemsted Park, Staplehurst. Engraved for The Garden from a photograph.
60 feet high, 30 feet through, and well furnished
throughout.
The conservatory, a view in which is represented
in the annexed engraving, is a noble structure,
and from this is commanded a good view of the
large flower garden and the best portion of the
pleasure grounds. Although lofty, and in other
respects not at all favourable to good general
. plant culture, not much of this is apparent to
the ordinary visitor, everything being in excel-
. lent condition. Among the various climbers in
or out of flower I observed a very fine plant of
the good old Mandevilla suaveolens, and also
fine examples of Lapagerias. A superior form
of Habrothamnus elegans was flowering beauti-
fully. The flowers of this variety are of a
brighter red than the type, more freely and con -
Brier stock has frequently been blamed for the
premature collapse of the Mar6chal Niel, but in
this case the plant is on its own roots, and has
not lasted so long as numbers on the Brier
and Manetti stocks. If I remember rightly,
the tree has not been planted more than six
years, and has been liberally treated from the
first. It grew very rapidly, and has perfected
thousands of blooms. I have seen a good many
large plants in a similar plight, and in each
instance they grew very rapidly at the outset,
and it may be the wood thus formed is not of
a lasting character. Well knowing the uncer-
tainty of a strong plant remaining in a healthy
state, Mr. Stalker wisely anticipated a break-
down, and another healthy young plant has
been planted near in readiness to supersede the
very latest Grapes were left on the Vines, and,
judging from what I saw, the crops must have
been heavy and good in quality. Camellias for
afi'ording abundance of cut blooms at a time
when flowers are most in demand are being
established against the back walls of the lean-
to vineries, and there they will undoubtedly
succeed admirably. . Only the most useful
Orchids are cultivated, the most conspicuous
being a large and very healthy batch of Den-
drobium nobile, while La3lia anceps was flower-
ing strongly. Among the many Ferns grown
were several good examples of Gymnogramma
decomposita, which originated in the fernery at
j Hemsted about ten years ago, and was found to
be identical with a variety introduced about
that time. Mr. Stalker has long recognised the
388
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 29, 1887.
value of Asparagvis plumosus nanus for vases,
bouquets, and table decoration, and part of the
roof of a span-roofed forcing house is well
'covered with it. Several plants are massed
together in a rich loamy border, these con-
stantly push up strong rambling growths,
■which in time afford almost unlimited supplies
of elegant branclilets. This plant in a cut state
proves more durable, whether in or out of water,
•than any kind of Fern, and is a formidable rival
to the common Maiden-hair Fern. In the same
house are to be seen plenty of useful table
plants, including such serviceable and effective
Palms as Geonoma gracilis, Cocos Weddelliana,
Areca lutescens, and Kentias in variety. Large
and healthy batches of Eucharis amazonica and
Imantophylhim miniatum are cultivated, both
being found invaluable for yielding an almost
never-ending supply of cut flowers. They do
well in heated pits, the Eucharis requiring the
most heat. The Eucharis usually flowers strongly
either three or four times in the year, while the
Imantophyllum blooms most freely in the
spring, also throwing up odd flower- scapes at
different times in the year. At Hemsted the
Eucharis have not been repotted for six years,
and the Iraantophyllums are evidently very
rarely disturbed. W. I.
Chrysanthemums.
B. MOLTNEUX.
Where Chrysanthemums are grown for the
purpose of being exhibited either as cut blooms,
groups, or specimens during the early and
middle of November, they should now be un-
folding their flowers. If any doubt exists in
the mind of the cultivator that the flowers will
be late for a specified date, it is better to keep
the houses warmer in which the jjlants are
growing from now onwards than it is to wait
until nearer the date and then be obliged to
hurry on the flowers in a strong heat. Chrysan-
themums being hardy,theysufler from too much
heat, and the flowers lose much of their colour
when expanded. Plants which need pushing
on should be taken in hand at once, giving just
sufficient heat to warm the air and dissipate
moisture. At the same time the ventilators should
be open a little both at the top and bottom, thus
maintaining a current of sweet, fresh air. Great
attention is required in watering, which should
always be performed in the morning, so that
the superfluous moisture is dried up before
night when the houses are closed, or nearly so.
Endeavour to keep all sweet and clean about
the plants by the removal of dead leaves and
decayed florets, which in a measure prevent
the damping of the flowers. Japanese varieties
will stand more heat than the incurved
section without being injured, as they take a
longer time to develop their petals owing to
the mass of florets in some, and the twisted
manner in which they unfold their flowers.
Where it is necessary to place any plants in a
\ house heated at, say, 60° at night, and in
which cockroaches are troublesome, the latter
are sure to find the fiowers and quickly
disfigure them if not destroyed. By examin-
. ing the plants after dark cautiously, the
. cockroaches are easily seen, but are difficult to
; catch. The best method is to give the plants a
shake, when the cockroaches will fall to the
ground and can then be easily destroyed. As
, the incurved varieties develop their flowers
they gain additional weight, which is often too
, much for the peduncle to bear, the consequence
being that the stem snaps in two and the flower
is lost. Timely attention should be given to
this detail by looping each flower about which
there is any risk securely, yet lightly, to a
stake. The Japanese varieties having stouter
peduncles are not so likely to meet with an
accident through this cause.
Those cultivators wishing to become exhibi-
tors, and who have not had any practice, will
require to provide themselves with stands where-
on to show their flowers, also with boxes to con-
vey the flowers to the exhibition. In matters of
detail it is well to look ahead. All societies stipu-
late that the stands shall be made of one uniform
size, so as to obtain uniformity, and utilise the
space to the best advantage.
Some writers agitate strongly against the
present system of staging cut blooms of Chrysan-
themums singly on green boards. Whether a
reformation is needed or not matters little to the
intending exhibitor, who must conform to the
rules laid down by the society where he intends
to exhibit. The sizes of the stands are plainly
given in most schedules, but for the information
of those who do not know, I will describe them.
The stands for twelve blooms are 2 feet long,
18 inches wide, 6 inches high at the back, and
3 inches in the front. For twenty-four blooms,
two of these stands are used, and so on for
forty-eight blooms. Seldom, indeed, are they
made larger than what is known as a twelve
box for convenience of transit, while for six
blooms one stand half the size is required.
Most societies stipulate that the stand shall be
painted green. The form of box in which the
stands shall be taken to the shows is a matter of
convenience, as any kind of box which will safely
carry the flowers to and fro is sufficient. Some
exhibitors ha^e stands made without a front
board, thus exposing to view the cups which
contain the water. The stand looks much neater
if made with a front board, thus hiding every-
thing.
Arranging the blooms in the stands is an
important part which the beginner should study.
Good flowers have often been spoiled by being
badly arranged in the stands. Fixing them too
low on the board is the great fault of beginners ;
much of their size is thus lost in appearance.
The correct method of arranging in stands is to
place the blooms at such a height from the
board that the size of each is displayed to the
best advantage. Cups to hold the water, by
which means the flowers are kept fresh, and
tubes to support and arrange the blooms in
their proper positions, are necessary, those made
of zinc being the best. Cups and tubes can be
had from Chrysanthemum specialists. When
cutting the flowers the stems should be 1 inch
longer than the tube, thus allowing for the
elevation of the blooms to a proper height.
The stems require wedging into the tube firmly,
which is best done with a piece of cork. The
blooms should not be too tightly cupped, but
just enough to show off to the best advantage
the long outer drooping florets of the Japanese
varieties. If the drooping kinds were to be so
cupped that^the florets were placed in a hori-
zontal position, the flowers would look very
much out of place.
If the staging of Chrysanthemums without
supports is to be established, the Anemone
.Japanese kinds are the best kinds to commence
with, as they are generally borne on stout stems,
and the guard florets hang in a naturally grace-
ful manner. The conditions imposed in each
society's schedule guide the manner in which
Pompons, Anemone Pompons, and single va-
rieties shall be arranged in the stands. Some
societies ask for throe blooms of each variety,
while others require the flowers to be shown in
bunches. In either case they are much im-
proved in appearance if their own foliage is
staged with them. If three blooms only of each
sort are required, the bi;ds will have been rer
duced to one on each stem, with the result that
the bloom will be much larger and more pro-
perly developed. In cutting the flowers of this
section 7 inches of stem should be allowed to
each for the back row, 5J inches for the middle
row, and for the front row 4^ inches ; the blooms
are placed in a triangular position, two at the
top and one below, just low enough to allow of
the bottom flower being seen plainly without
interfering with the blooms above. Wire about
the thickness of small knitting needles is best
for supporting the flowers. These wires should
be cut the same length as the flower-stalks.
About 3 inches from the top give the wire an
easy bend of, say, 1 inch from the straight.
This gentle curve holds the blooms free from
each other. By binding fine wire around the
stem of the flower and the stout wire the blooms
will be kept in the proper position and can be
set into the cups at will. In all cases an har-
monious arrangement of colours should be
effected. When the blooms have to travel a
long distance, about the last thing to do before
starting is to see that all the cups are supplied
with water, large sappy stems absorbing much
moisture when first placed in the cups, and par-
ticularly if the cups are narrow. When the
flowers have to be staged in bunches they
should be arranged as neatly as possible without
ci'owding. Regarding the staging of Japanese
varieties, the beauty of each flower is seen
best when staged singly, as a full development
of all the florets is necessary to show each
variety off to the greatest advantage.
Chrysanthemums and the ffost.— The un-
usually severe frost of October 12 appears in many
instances to have been attended with disastrous
results to late Chrysanthemums. The practice of
keeping late-blooming kinds in the open to the
latest possible moment, in order to retard the
flowering period to Christmas and the new year, is
becoming more general. The fine dry weather
experienced during the latter end of September
and .beginning of October induced many to keep
their whole stock of plants out till a later period
than usual. The consequence is, that many were
caught napping and have experienced severe losses.
A friend who grows for market has lost the whole
of his late blooming plants, and I thought that mine
were completely ruined, but I am pleased to
find that only a percentage of the buds is in-
jured. In my case the plants were protected by
two thicknesses of canvas raised (i inches above
them. In spite of this every leaf was frozen hard,
and the shoots nearest the canvas were killed. If
we are likely to get such sharp frosts as this at so
early a period it will not do to trust to so thin a
protective material as ordinary canvas. A good
bast mat would undoubtedly have protected my
plants, and nothing less than this can be regarded
as a safeguard when plants are left in the open
until nearly November. My friend puts his loss at
£20 at the least, and doubtless one-fourth of
that sum would have bought mats enough to have
efliciently protected them, as with care these mats
would last four seasons. I shall certainly take care
not to run any risk another year. There is one
point in connection with the action of the frost on
my Chrysanthemums that is worthy of remark.
I could not at first understand why some of the
plants had suffered much more than others. Of
two growing side by side one was partially crippled,
the other wholly escaped. I find that the buds of
those having comparatively immature or weakly
shoots are destroyed. The stronger the growth the
less forcibly has the action of the frost declared
itself on the buds. Therefore one guarantee against
freezing is well-grown plants with ripened wood.
Oct. 29, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
389
The buds partake of the character of the wood, and
if this is vigorous and hard the buds will possess
greater powers of endurance. — J. C. B.
Stove and Greenhouse.
GREENHOUSE RHODODENDB-ONS.
Thb Javanese race of Rliododendrons, as tlie
R. javanioum section lias been popularly desig-
nated to prevent confusion with the Himalayan
class, is rising into favour, and as the range of
selection becomes wider, the admirers of these
interesting and beautiful flowers will doubtless
rapidly increase. It is to the Messrs. Veitch
that we owe so much in the development of this
greenhouse plant, and at the present time there
are several varieties of fine colouring, excellent
habit, and other good qualities in bloom in their
Chelsea nursery. During the past few years
the advance has been most marked, and, as testi-
fied by the seedlings exhibited by the firm at
South Kensington on October 11, the colours of
the flowers are becoming more diversified, the
result of careful hybridisation. We have now
rich pinks, pure whites, and vivid scarlets
with beautiful intermediate shades. The
original types of this race were R. javanioum
and R. jasminiflorum ; the former a native of
the mountains of Java, and introduced in 1847.
It is a handsome plant, with flowers of an orange
hue, and borne in well-packed trusses, which
are set off by glossy green foliage ; jasmini-
florum has pure white flowers. With these two
excellent species a start was made, and the first
seedling was the variety Princess Royal, which
has fiowers of a beautiful shade of pink, and is of
fine, compact habit — indeed, very few are faulty
in this respect, the variety Maiden's Blush being
perhaps the finest as regards character of growth.
Then the former was employed as a parent, and
crossed with such species as the Bornean R.
Brookeaniim (an introduction of 1848) and
its variety gracile, and R. Lobbi, and from
thence such splendid varieties as Duchess of
Edinburgh, &c. , were obtained. Many years have
elapsed since the foundation of this section was
laid, and for some time the building up was
slow, as the seedlings obtained were nearly
alike, but with the arrival of such colours as
yellow and red the variation became more diver-
sified, and before these Rhododendrons have
reached their full glory the flowers will no doubt
include almost every conceivable shade, from
the deepest crimson to the purest white. Every
new set of seedlings includes colours not repre-
sented before, and when the plants become less
expensive they wOl doubtless find their way to
the greenhouses of those in moderate circum-
stances. In The Garden, Nov. 28, 1875 (p. 436),
the parentage of some of the earlier varieties
is given, and in the issue of November 1, 1879,
three of the leading varieties are represented by
a coloured plate. These are. Prince Leopold,
Duchess of Teck, and Maiden's Blush, three
kinds now thought much of and indispensable in
■a choice selection, the last having received a
first-class certificate from the Royal Horticul-
tural Society in 1876. There are several advan-
tages possessed by these Rhododendrons, and
there is also a disadvantage, but the former far
outweigh the latter. They bloom almost conti-
nuously, the best seasons being autumn and
winter ; but they are more tender than the
Himalayan varieties, and, although called green-
house, it would perhaps be better to describe
them as intermediate, as they need more warmth
than that afibrded by an ordinary greenhouse, a
temperature of about 50° or 55° suiting their
requirements admirably. If the atmosphere is
not kept too moist the individual blossoms last
well, and it is almost needless to say that for
button-holes and choice decorations they are
invaluable, as a single flower, when properly
mounted, by reason of its colour, shape, and
substance, rivals that of the Stephanotis, though
lacking its powerful perfume, which some may
think an advantage. A great point in this class
of Rhododendrons is that the plants bloom when
in quite a small state, such as in 4-inch, 5-inch,
or 6-inch pots, and even in smaller sizes than
these, as some were flowering before the cut-
tings were almost properly struck, thus showing
the extreme free-blooming character of the
plants.
As regards propagation, there are three ways
of efl'ecting this, namely, by seeds, grafting, or
cuttings, but the usual plan is to increase the
stock by cuttings, which strike readily when
yoTing, half-ripened growths are selected . These
should be inserted singly in small pots filled
with a light peaty soil in which there is a mode-
rate proportion of charcoal, and placed in a
brisk heat to induce the ((uick formation of
roots. Owing to the free growth of the plants,
they soon make progress and develop into sturdy
specimens. Grafting was the method commonly
employed wlien the stock, was limited. The
raising of seedlings is, of course, an important
item, and there is no trouble experienced in ob-
taining seeds. The work of hybridising is being
carefully carried out, and it seems likely we shall
have a collection of double varieties equal in
brilliancy and variety of colouring and substance
to the flowers of the singles. The best of the
double Rhododendrons are'.balsamiflorum, pure
white, the flowers in form like those of a double
Balsam ; and aurea, a fine yellow-coloured
kind. Plants of all kinds have their enemies,
and the special pest of this class is the thrips,
which may be easily kept down by watchfulness
and syringing the j)lants freely when it appears.
Bushy, neat- habited specimens, with every
branch terminated liy a corymb of well-deve-
loped flowers, are as ornamental as almost any
plants for adding colour and beauty to groups
in the conservatory or at exhibitions, and for
both these purposes the greenhouse Rhododen-
drons have doubtless a great future.
The best time to pot the plants is as soon as
they have done flowering, and the soil should be
composed of fibrous peat, silver sand, and a fair
amount of charcoal. Avoid over-potting, and
the specimens when they have become thoroughly
established may remain for some time in the
same pots without harm, but in a small state
these Rhododendrons need an annual shift.
It will be of use to enumerate a few of the
best varieties, and it may be useful information
to mention that, as a rule, the dark-coloured
varieties have greater strength than those plants
bearing pale flowers. The selection should in-
clude Taylori, bright pink, tube white, and
one of the first seedlings, being raised several
years ago in the Messrs. Veitch's nursery
at Exeter ; Duchess of Connaught, a vivid
red, but not a very satisfactory grower ;
Duchess of Edinburgh, a tine scarlet ; Maiden's
Blush, blush colour ; Princess Royal, pink,
and with the flowers borne in large shapely
trusses ; Princess Alexandra, white, changing
to pale pink, very free ; jasminiflorum, pure
white ; Princess Frederica, flowers of good
quality, and creamy yellow in colour, with the
lobes edged with a reddish hue ; Queen Vic-
toria, yellow flowers of handsome shape, and
with a tinge of red ; jasminiflorum oarminatum,
carmine ; President, bronzy yellow ; and Gloria
Mundi, a new variety with flowers of a yellow
colour. E. C.
Abutilon vexillarium. — J'his slender-growing
species of Abutilon is very distinct from the hybrid
varieties that have of late years become so popular,
for the stems are thin and wiry, the leaves much
smaller, and the flowers are not of the same shape.
From its quick rambling habit of growth, it is well
suited for growing as a pillar plant in the green-
house or conservatory, or it may be trained to the
roof, in which position the pendulous blossoms are
seen to the greatest advantage. Though pretty, the
flowers can scarcely be called showy, yet they are
borne in such profusion as to form a very prominent
feature. This Abutilon is also very handsome when
treated as a wall plant outdoors, but succeeds best
if trained against a house, especially if it be a stove,
as then the heat therefrom will enable it to resist
the frost, and, with the protection of a mat, pass
through the winter with little or no injury. There
is a variety in which the leaves are mottled more or
less with yellow, and which is very pretty when
well coloured. — H. P.
Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums. — Now that the
sharp frosts have cut oS all Pelargoniums out of
doors, the blooms of some of the plants that have
been especially grown for winter flowering come in
very useful, and appear even more bright and glow-
ing at this season than they are during the summer
months. Most of the varieties are well adapted for
autumn flowering if the plants are well exposed
during the summer and the blooms pinched off until
the end of August, when they will commence to
flower freely, and if kept in a structure with a tem-
perature of from 55° to 70°, will continue to bloom
for several months. Some of this class are well
adapted for climbers in the greenhouse, and if a
reasonable amount -of root-room is allowed them
they will flower more or less throughout the greater
part of the year. Of course, they cannot be used
where large-growing climbers are required, but for
the end of a greenhouse, or some such spot, they
are well suited. I will give the names of a few that
had been treated as above recommended, and which
I recently saw finely in bloom. They were Abund-
ance, lilac-mauve ; Madame Crousse, salmon-pink ;
Souvenir de Charles Turner, huge flowers of a bright
carmine-magenta shade ; Emile Lemoine, light scar-
let ; Alice Crousse, magenta-purple ; Gloire de
Nancy, cerise-scarlet ; Madame Thibaut, bright
rose ; and Jeanne d'Arc, pale mauve.— T.
Sipladenia boliviensis. — As far as showy
flowers alone are concerned, this old-fashioned
species cannot be compared with many of the
brightly coloured varieties now in cultivation, yet
the flowers possess a quiet beauty of their own, and
under favourable conditions are borne long after
all the others are past. The blooms of this Dipla-
denia do not open so well as those of the other
sorts ; in fact, they are nearly funnel-shaped, about
a couple of inches in diameter, and of a beautiful
clear white hue, except the interior of the throat,
which is orange. The dark green, glossy foliage
also adds considerably to the beauty of the plant.
This species is evergreen in character, and therefore
must not be rested during the winter, as many of
the others are. It may be used as a roof or rafter
plant, or it can be trained to a wall, in which posi-
tion should the surface thereof be rather moist, it
will often push out roots in various parts of the
stem, and by these means cling to the wall. The
robust character of this species is everywhere appa-
rent, for not only does it grow much faster than the
others, but cuttings of it root more quickly. It will
thrive in almost any kind of soil, provided it is well
drained, this last being very necessary, as the plant
is greatly benefited by an occasional dose of liquid
manure during the growing season. — H. P.
Clerodendron speciosum. — This is a good
old-fashioned stove climbing plant, yet it is very
rarely met with, being no doubt ousted by later
introductions, though in many instances the
latter are inferior in beauty to this, which is
now beautifully in flower; indeed, a specimen here
has been but a little time without blooms during
the last twelve months. It is a free-growing cUmber,
and like many others of that class is seen to far
greater advantage when planted out than it .is in
pots, as the growth is more vigorous and the -plant
390
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 29, 1887.
is not so liable to insect pests, besides which it
flowers quite as freely. The blooms are borne in
large clusters, and their colour (deep crimson)
readers them very conspicuous. This species is
propagated by cuttings of the growing shoots dur-
ing the summer months, but it is necessary to
choose the cuttings when in a half-ripened condi-
tion, otherwise they cannot be depended upon to
strike. Apart from their beauty on the plant, the
blooms of this kind are very useful when cut, as
they last a considerable time. — H. P.
WOEK IN PLANT HOUSES.
FoECiNO Tulips. — Where these flowers are re-
quired as early as possible some of the bulbs that
were first potted should be placed in heat, provided
enough roots have been made, for unless this is the
case it is useless to attempt forcing, especially so
early in the season. The early sorts, such as the
single varieties of Van Thol, will stand a brisk heat,
and it may be taken as a rule that the more root
fibres the bulbs have made the warmer they will
bear keeping. Well-managed Tulips, even when
forced to come in before the end of the year, wiU be
as compact in the foliage as if they had been grown
under cool treatment; but this is only attainable
when the houses or pits in which the work is carried
out are low, and afford plenty of light, so that the
bed on which the bulbs are stood is well up to the
roof, so that the heads of the plants will not be
more than 15 inches or 20 inches from the glass.
In a structure of this character bulbs of the various
kinds with Lily of the Valley and other things that
are subjected to early and hard forcing, will do
with a much higher temperature than would other-
wise be the case. The large market growers who
now have their bulbs in bloom so early have
structures of the kind described. In place of
potting early Tulips in the ordinary way it requires
much less space if the bulbs are put thickly in
shallow boxes and forced in them, putting them in
pots when the flowers are about to open. Managed
in this way each pot can be filled with bulbs that
have the blooms in the same stage of development.
Narcissus. — The white bunch-flowered Nar-
cissus can also be had in bloom early. Some cf
these bulbs should soon be put in heat. They
will succeed under similar conditions of warmth
and light as recommended for Tulips. A little air
should be given each day when the weather is mild,
but take care not to admit it too freely so as to in-
jure the tender foliage. Where these and other
plants are grown close to the glass in good
houses, as here advised, much less air than is often
supposed to be necessary is required, particularly
in the winter.
Hyacinths. — More bulbs of the small Roman
varieties should be introduced into heat so as to
keep up a succession of llovvers. These small-flowered
varieties, from the less massive character of their
flower-spikes, are better adapted for bouquet? and
other floral combinations than the large-bloomed
sorts. Where the latter are wanted in flower early,
it will shortly be time to put them into heat ; but
when to be brought on thus quickly, the bulbs must
have been potted correspondinf<ly early, so that they
may have had lime to make plenty of feeding fibres.
The sorts chosen must be such as naturally flower
early. Those who happen to have had little expe-
rience in the forcing of bulbs will do well to bear in
mind that the leaves now in course of formation
must not be suddenly exposed to the light, or they
will refuse to make proper growth. When the
Hyacinths are removed from the jilunging material,
I have found nothing better than placing [pots
over them a size smaller than those in which the
bulbs are growing. These will admit enough light
to enable the young leaves to gain their natural
green colour. After this has been partially attained
the pots must be removed, otherwise they will cause
an undue lengthening of the foliage.
Lilt of the Valley.— Those who Require this
favourite plant in flower about the close of the year
should lose no time in procuring the roots that are
to be forced. To have it in bloom at the time men-
tioned, none but the best selected German crowns
should be used, as the climatic conditions under
which they are grown favour hard early forcing
better than such as are cultivated in other parts of
Europe. In many private gardens, as well as by
those who grow the plant for market, the crowns
are now put thickly in the forcing-bed, where they
remain until the flower-spikes are sufficiently deve-
loped, after which the bulbs are potted. The
advantage of this plan, like that named for early
Tulips, is that the plants that are equally advanced
can be put together, whilst others that may happen
to be a little backward may also be kept by them-
selves. It is necessary that the bed in which the
crowns are brought on should be close up to the roof
of the house or pits where the work is carried out,
especially where the very high temperature now
adopted by the most successful growers of the plant
is maintained. Where this is not attended to, the
flower-spikes and leaves are sure to have the drawn
appearance so often noticeable where early forcing
has 'been attempted. As soon as the roots are re-
ceived, they should be covered with damp soil and
kept cool until the time comes for starting them.
Camellias.— Comparatively little can be done
in hastening the time of Camellias flowering after
the plants have been subjected to cold treatment.
When the temperature is thus lowered, even if no
more than an economical use of sun-heat has been
attempted, the buds seem for a time to become
all but stagnant, and if much heat is used it
usually ends in most of them falling off instead of
opening. Nevertheless, the plants will bear a little
warmth — a temperature of 45° in the night may be
relied upon to help the flowers on, and when no more
heat than this is used I have never known it to do any
harm, provided the atmosphere of the house is kept
sufficiently moist. Anything like a dry, arid condi-
tion of the air brought about by the use of fire-heat
is siire to cause the buds to drop, particularly in the
case of the best varieties, such as the old double
white, even when the plants are in the best health
and furnished with an abundance of healthy roots.
In the case of plants that are weak, either through
having got into a stunted state or from being al-
lowed to bear too many flowers, anything in the
way of hurrying on the blooming at this season is
more likely to end in failure. Plants that are late
and have comparatively small buds are in a much
worse condition to bear anything that tends to
cause them to drop than such as are more forward
with the buds large and prominent.
Azaleas.— Where a sufficient stock is grown
there is scarcely anything that will, submit to pot
culture which will afEord such a lengthened succes-
sion of flower, for they may be had in bloom with-
out difficulty from the beginning of the year up to
July, or even earlier and later than this period.
Azaleas, like the Camellias, only to a less extent,
are dependent in the time they may be had in
flower on the early or late growth they have made
and on the way in which the plants have been
treated after their last blooming. Such as flowered
early last winter, and were subsequently en-
couraged in heat to make growth and set their
buds early in summer, will again flower with com-
paratively little forcing, especially if the plants
were kept in heat until the buds were prominent. By
prolonging the time they are kept warm after bloom-
ing, a month or six weeks may be gained each year
until they come in in December if required. With
no intention to disparage the flowers with fine
colours that so many of the fashionable varieties
produce, there are none amongst them that are so
generally useful for early forcing, or that combine
so many properties that go to meet the requirements
of those who grow Azaleas for cutting, as the old
varieties; the less formality in the outline of I heir
flowers and the length of shoot growth they make,
particularly the white-flowered sorts, enhance their
value for decorative use, added to which the plants
are free growers, and with anything like fair treat-
ment live longer and attain a much larger size than
the more popular kinds. As a matter of course, the
plants that bloomed first last year should again be
used to produce the first crop of flowers. A tem-
perature of 55° in the night, with a proportionate
rise in the daytime, is better than subjecting them
to more heat. They should be well syringed over-
head once a day. This will be found better than
repeating the operation oftener, as when the foliage
and wood are kept constantly moist the texture of
the flowers is proportionately thin and soft. A
house where the plants can be kept well up to
the glass is essential to the flowers lasting well.
Before they are put in heat they should be
closely looked over to see that they are quite
free from thrips, particularly if they were affected
with them last summer, for if the insects or their
eggs are present, even in small numbers, they
will increase rapidly when they come into warmer
quarters, giving more trouble than if means are
taken for their early destruction. Washing and
dipping with tobacco water, though entailing more
labour in the first instance than fumigating with
tobacco, are much more effectual. T. B.
Crotons grafted. — A very novel system of
growing Crotons is to be seen in Mr. Williams'
nursery at HoUoway, and it may commend itself to
some who have little space in which to grow a col-
lection of stove plants. This is no other than the
grafting of several varieties upon one old plant of a
common sort; one specimen treated thus I saw
with nine distinct kinds, all growing vigorously.
The effect is very novel and pleasing, but some care
is necessary in arranging the positions of the various
kinds, otherwise the specimen is apt to grow ugly
and ill balanced. The strongest growing kinds
.should be selected for the central parts and the
weaker ones near the outside, and then it may
happen that one or more kinds may require cutting
back from time to time, in order to keep the speci-
men properly regulated. — W. H. G.
Nepenthes at Chelsea. — The Pitcher plants
in Messrs. Veitch's Chelsea nursery are now in fine
condition, the whole of the plants being in thorough
health, and bearing many pitchers in various stages
of development. N. Mastersiana is represented by
several specimens, and the deep brownish colour of
the pitchers tells well. Of this there are two forms,
adarkanda light coloured one, but the foimeris the
more striking. N. Noithiana is another kind with
rich colouring, the large pitchers being thickly
blotched with deep crimson. N. bicalcarata is
noticfable for the two horn-like processes at the
base of the lid. There were also excellent plants
of N. Rafflesianaand N. Rajah, both of which pro-
duce immense pitchers of attractive appearance. —
E.G.
SHORT NOTES.— STOVS AND QREENHOUSX.
Begonias. —I should be greatly obliged if you could
give me any information as to the introduction of
the first Begonia into England and where from.^
Leakneu.
*#* The first Begonia introduced into this country
was B. nitida (known under the names of_B. obliqua,
13. pulchra, and B. purpurea), from Jamaica in 177'.
—En.
Amaryllis reticulata, — When kept starved in
a small pot this plant flowers profusely. I saw an in-
stance of this the other day. There were several
specimens in a cool house, and for some time they
had been neglected, hut, nevertheless, bloomed pro-
fusely, three of the scapes bearing altogether over
fourteen flowers. — T. W.
Heliotrope White Lady.— This free-blooming
variety produces large corymbose heads of pure white
blooms nearly all the yearround. Its fragrance is deli-
cate and grateful, which renders it valuable for cutting.
Large plants of this variety are just now exceptionally
good in Baron Schrceder's garden.— W, II. G.
Ficus elastiea variegata.— This appears to be
a free-growing plant, and although not quite so robust
as the normal form, it will undoubtedly become a very
popular window plant when it becomes more known.
The leaves of this variety are beautifully mottled and
variegated with creamy white and yellow, producing a
very bright effect. We recently saw large quantities
of this plant in Mr. Williams' nursery ; he evidently
believes there will be a brisk demand for it as soon as
it can be sold cheaply. — W, H. G,
Oct. 29, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
391
TUBEROUS BEGONIAS.
This season has been one which has put the
tuberous Begonias on their trial, and severely
tested their capabilities as subjects for out-
door decoration, and they have come through
the ordeal in the grandest style, I believe I
im right in saying that these plants thrive
best and show to the greatest advantage in
dripping weather, but this season when the
Messrs. Laing planted out their enormous
batch of seedlings (nearly a hundred thousand),
they were exceptionally small, owing to late
sowing, and no sooner were they planted
than the severe drought set in, yet in spite
of this the little seedlings grew rapidly and
whites, the yellows, and the pink and rose-
■■ coloured forms ; the yellows, however, are still
at the bottom of the list for size, although a
great many grand forms have been obtained
this season. It must not, however, be sup-
posed that the fine large pendulous-flowered
■ kinds have been discarded, as they arefound tobe
excellent subjects for planting in baskets (an
example of which is given in the accompanying
engraving from a photograph of a specimen grow-
; iiig in Mr. Laing's nursery at Forest Hill), and
suspending from the roof of a house, in cor-
ridors, or in the open air during summer, where
j suitable places for their accommodation exist.
For amateurs and gardeners who wish to en-
Hanging basket filled with tuberous Begonias. Engi'aved for The Garden from a photograph
sent by Messi-s. Laing & Co.
soon commenced to flower. The Begonias,
assisted by a little liquid manure from time
to time, grew immensely and flowered pro-
fusely ; indeed, the sight during the whole
summer was perfecly marvellous ; the enor-
mous flowers, round and full in shape
and thick and fleshy in texture, standing
stifiiy upon their short footstalks, showed
to the full aU the charms of the wonderful
variety — deep crimsons, bright scai-let, red,
salmon, yellow, bronze, rose, pure whites,
and, indeed, almost every intermediate shade
of colour. This season has seen a great
advance in the size and substance of several
of the colours, and nearly all the seedlings
showed how carefully they had been crossed
to produce a race of upright flowers. Specially
notable were the improvements in the pure
liven their gardens with these flowers it is not
well, however, to trust entirely to seedlings of
the same year, for there must necessarily be a
blank time whilst the seedlings are getting
sufficiently large to bloom, whilst the first
growth from the previous year's seedlings pro-
duces flowers at once, and continues to do
so untU frost cuts the plants down. This,
unfortunately, has come upon us early this
season, and it therefore behoves the gardener to
at once set about lifting the tubers and storing
them for the winter ; and here lies another
great advantage of the Begonia — ordinary soft-
flowering plants which are used iu the open air
during summer required a considerable amount
of space under glass to store them during
winter. Begonia tubers may be kept soimd in
any dry and cool situation. The stems should
be cut down to within some 2 inches of the
ground and at once lifted, after which the
tubers must be spread out in the sun to dry.
When this is effected, and the old stems and
all the earth have been cleaned away, the
tubers can be placed in boxes with dry Cocoa-
nut refuse about them, and stored in any
dry position secure from frost. The large
tubers, which have been produced from the
specimens grown in pots, appear to keep better
if left in their pots, which may be stored upon
their sides to keep away moisture underneath
the stages. As window plants I find these
Begonias are very effective, as the same plants
have been blooming profusely all through the
season until the first snow of the season, which
fell on the 12th inst. In storing these tubers it
will be of great advantage if the colours are
kept separate, so that in whatever position they
are required the following season the exact
effect can be obtained with certainty.
W. H, G.
Flower Garden.
CACTUS AND DECORATIVE DAHLIAS.
I HAVE been wondering for a long time past
how long florists of the good old school of days
gone by would stand the introduction of the
so-called decorative Dahlias without a protest,
for they offend against all the most highly-
cherished rules and axioms of the true florist's
Dahlia. At last Mr. Dean asks, "Where are
we drifting to ?" and he seems himself to answer
his own question, "Back to the port from
where we started fifty years ago " (p. 348).
I hardly think that is quite a correct descrip-
tion. We maybe picking up some waifs and strays
which had previously been passed over, giving
another trial to what our predecessors had con-
demned, but that has been proved with other
classes of flowers to be of distinct advantage, arid
it may be so also in the case of Dahlias. The way
this state of things has come to pass ajjpears to
me to be this — we had all been brought up in the
implicit faith that such and such points were
absolutely essential in any Dahlia worthy of the
name, and aU that did not possess these points
were thrown away. Then came Juarezi (brought
prominently into notice only a few years back),
such a glorious flower that it carried aU our
points and articles of faith before it, and esta-
blished itself unquestioned as a splendid Dahlia.
It is somewhat of an Irishism to say that the
defences which dogmatic rules and articles of
faith erect around a class of flowers are abso-
lutely impregnable as long as they remain un-
broken ; but once allow them to be broken
through and the breach can never be repaired.
Juarezi was, and is, an awful sinner against the
points of a florist's Dahlia ; yet Juarezi was ad-
mitted to be a first-class Dahlia (though not to
be classed as a show flower), and that admission
once made, it was impossible but that a number
of claimants should assert themselves and say,
" I am a first-class Dahlia, though I haven't one
of the points of a show flower. You admitted
Juarezi ; admit me." And it is by no means
strange that some of such claimants should find
supporters ; among them, indeed, is Mr. Dean
himself, for he gives the highest praise to " a few
of these decorative Dahlias."
The fact is, I think, as I have put it : Juarezi
cut us adrift from our old moorings, and taught
us that, after all, a first-rate Dahlia need not
possess the points in which hitherto we had so
trusted, and we have not yet quite made upour
njiiids what points it now need have, or if it
392
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 29, 1887.
need have any. Poiuts are useful in distin-
guishing and determining what class a flower
belongs to ; but some of us are lieginning to see
that beauty is above points, and that no flower
can be condemned by any artificial rules, but
must be judged simply and solely as to whether,
and how far, it comaiends itself to the eye.
I have never been bitten with the single
Dahlia fever. I admire them, of course, in their
way, but consider them decidedly inferior to the
show Dahlias as garden flowers. White Queen
is with me the very best of them in habit, size,
and purity. But I have been taken to a certain
extent with the decorative Dahlia fever, and
have grown most of them. Taking them as a
whole, I fully admit they cannot compete with
the show flowers ; but they exhibit such a va-
riety of form and habit, which, though a fault
in the florist's eyes, commends them to me.
Variety of form is, I think, a great point in
making a garden beautiful and interesting, and
I unhesitatingly assert that a j udicious minglLug
of all the sorts of Dahlias, show and single.
Pompons, Cactus, and decorative is infinitely
more pleasing to the eye than a selection of show
Dahlias only. The inferiority of the individual
flowers (which I fully admit) is far more than
made up for by the variety of growth and form
and foliage.
I am so astounded with Mr. Dean's judg-
ment of some of the Cacto-decorative varieties
which he mentions, that I could almost doubt
whether he had had them true or personally
grown them side by side. For instance, he
praises Mr. Tait, Prince Imperial, and Lady E.
Dyke as being "amongst the best"! I call
thsse amongst the worst. Of the two first
I do not say you never get a good bloom, but it
is very very seldom that they have not great
big yellow eyes of an unpleasing description.
Of Lady Dyke I have only one season's experi-
ence, and it is wrong to condemn her ladyship
on so slight an acquaintance, but this year, at
least, her eyes have been very prominent, and
she has seemed so ashamed of showing them
that every bloom has been set on at almost right
angles with the stalk, and looking fixedly at the
ground. Constance is very fine, though Henry
Patrick promises to be a still further improve-
ment, but I hardly fancy he will ever have the
size of Constance, but we shall see next year.
Charming Bride Mr. Dean labels "tall habit" ;
in my garden it has been the dwarfest of all and
very lovely if only it had a shade less green in
the centre ; I fear this will condemn it. Lady
M. Marsham, again, Mr. Dean labels " bad
habit" ; whereas the lady has with me been per-
fect in habit, a bush 4 feet high, .3 feet through,
clothed with foliage to the very ground, and a
mass of exquisite glowing rosy, terra-cotta
blooms. Mrs. Hawkins' ex(iuisite Primrose
fading into pale pink is not even mentioned in
Mr. Dean's list, and yet it is the very best of all
for habit and flower. It and Lady Marsham
have excited the greatest possible amount of ad-
■ miration in everybody who has this year visited
my garden. They are the nearest to Juarezi in
form of flower of any of this class, but they have
not its tall and somewhat ungainly growth. I
have been told that Mrs. Hawkins is a shy
bloomer and hides her flowers beneatli the
leaves. Well, she does not here, that's all.
She has been one of the most striking objects in
the garden. Let no one who loves variety and
beauty fear to cultivate .Juarczi, Lady M. Mar-
sham, Mrs. Hawkins, Constance, Fire"lving(syn.,
Glare of tlje Garden), Cochineal and Henry
Patrick. Some of the others I must try again
before I can commend or condemn, but several
years of Mr. Tait and Prince Imperial have
decided me to throw them both away, and I fear
Lady E. Dyke must bear them company unless
she acquits herself better in 1888. I find that
all wh(j have Cactus blood in them require more
time to grow, and therefore want starting earlier,
and helping on more before planting out than
sufiioes for the ordinary Dahlias. They also
like very rich feeding. W. Wilk.s.
Shiiieij J'icarage.
ANNUALS.
What is an annual ? I am afraid this is a hard
nut to crack, for I find many contradictory opinions
exist about it, many holding that some biennials so
called are in reality annuals. At the recent exhibi-
tion at South Kensington by members of co-opera-
tive societies, the general opinion of the exhibitors,
as illustrated by what they exhibited, was that any
flower that can be had in bloom within a year or so
after sowing is an annual. I think the same con-
clusion must have been present in the minds of the
framers of the schedule. Had the judges on that
occasion done what not a few thought they
ought to have done : disqualified all collections
that contained biennials and perennials so called,
nearly every exhibit of cut flowers would have been
ruled out.
The popular definition of an annual is a plant the
seed of which is sown in the autumn, and the plant
blooms in early spring, like Limnanthes Douglasi or
Saponaria calabrica, both of which are used for
spring bedding ; or in the spring and blooms the
same season, and then closes its period of floral
existence. This is what is known as an annual
proper. A biennial is a plant that is sown at mid-
summer or thereabouts to bloom the following year,
a plant that is supposed to require a twelvemonth's
growth before it can develop its inflorescence, and
having done that, its period of floral service is over
also. I do not set these up as correct definitions ;
I simply state that these definitions are popularly
held. A perennial is a plant that goes on blooming
year after year. The most difficult point is to de-
cide between a biennial and an annual. One writer
thus describes an annual : —
An aunual is a plaufc that is sown, growu, bloomed,
produces its seeds, and dies in one year, becoming by
the end oir the summer a complete bundle of withered
straw, over which, for propagating purposes, we have
no control.
But I think this might be stated of some biennials
also. The Phlox Drummondi is generally regarded
as an annual, but I have known a plant last for four
years grown in a pot, and flower profusely each
year. I remember, thirty years ago, a beautiful
striped variety of P. Drummondi, named Marechal
Radetsky, that was always propagated by means of
cuttings taken from stock plants in spring. Senecio
elegans is classed as a hardy annual, but it will
flower for two or three years if grown in a pot. The
annual Chrysanthemums will live several years and
flower from the same roots. The Scarlet Runner, it
lifted in the autumn and potted, will grow the fol-
lowing year ; indeed, this was formerly an old
fashioned method of culture. 1 might name several
more, but the above illustrations will suffice.
But while discussing the question of what are
and what are not properly annuals, I do not desire
to be thought' blind to their great service in the
garden. 1 think we fail to see the beauty of some
of them unless the seeds be sown in the autumn for
flowering in spring. I think of the wonderful dis'
play of Eschscholtzias that Mr. Anthony Waterer is
in the habit of making at Knap Hill from seeds
sown in the autumn. I never before saw these gor-
geous Californian annuals so fine as when treated
in this way. A few good, showy, hardy animals for
sowing in autumn to stand the winter will be found
iu Bartonia aurea, all the Candytufts, the Tom
Thumb varieties of Clarkia, Caoalia cocoinea, Col-
linsias (the true form of C. verna should always be
sown as soon as the seed is ripe), Gilia tricolor, Lim-
nanthes Douglasi, Malope grandiflora, Nemophila
insignis, the white variety, and maculata, Platyste-
mon californicum, Sphenogyne speciosa, Silene
pendula and pseudo-Atooion, red and white Vir-
ginian Stocks,- and Whitlavia grandiflora. As a
rule, the ground on which they are sown should be
rich, and well pulverised to the depth of a foot or
more, and in sowing the surface should be made
fine, and some finely sifted potting-soil be placed
upon it before the seeds are sown, and quite to the
depth of half an inch. The seeds need to be sown
evenly and covered with a little fine soil to the
depth of an eighth or quarter of an inch, according
to the size of the seeds. When through the ground
and large enough, the plants should be well thinned
out, and be left 3 inches or i inches apart. This is
all worth doing ; it means good culti\'ation, and the
size and beauty of the plants and flowers are greatly
enhanced.
There are so many annuals that can be sown in
spring that it is scarcely worth giving a list, except
of some that are exceptionally choice, such as the
Acrooliniums, that do well when sown in the open
on light sandy soil; Alonsoa Warscewiczi, Anagallis
grandiflora, blue and red, Browallia alata grandi-
flora, which also makes an excellent pot plant;
Calandrinia speciosa, the Giant Carmine Candytuft,
and the very fine Giant White, known also as Iberis
Empress; the tall and dwarf Convolvulus, Eutoca
viscida, the dwarf Godetias of the newer types, the
dwarf Globe Amaranthus, the Helichrysums, Hibis-
cus africanus major, the Jaoobiuas, the dwarf
Rockets, Larkspurs, Mesembryanthemum tricolor,
the finer Mignonettes, Nigella damascena, Oxyura
chrysanthemoides, Phacelia oampauularia. Phlox
Drummondi, dwarf French Poppy, Papaver umbro-
sum, the Rhodanthes, the gorgeous Salpiglossis,
Schizanthus, Sweet Peas, Thunbergias, that do well
in warm, light soil in the open ground, Trop^olum
canariense, and the showy Zinnias. I think this
list may be said to comprise the very cream of the
hardy annuals, which if well grown cannot fail to give
satisfaction to cultivators. But annuals are too
often starved instead of being well grown, and bad
cultivation is a prolific source of failure and disap-
pointment, R. D.
SINGLE DAHLIAS.
"T. W. G.'s" interesting paper on these in
Tub Gabdbn (p. 346) is tantalisingly too late.
Just three days before it appeared, that is, on
the 12th of October, the whole were swept
ofE by the frost. The worst of this loss was
that the Dahlias were in the heyday of their
beauty and pride— more like July than October,
as " T. W. G." points out. Thus, being full of sap as
well as crowned with beauty, the frost has had an
easy victory over them. The rapid transitions from
gay to grave one often notes are as nothing to this
Dahlia transformation scene. Only a tew hours
from unseasonable freshness and abnormal beauty
to absolute blackness and sudden decomposition,
of death and corruption. ^Perhaps the transition has
never been so sudden and complete as this year. Every
cultivator knows that the Dahlia in all its classes
and forms continues to maintain its tenderness in-
tact. There is no proof that acclimatisation has
added by a hairsbreadth to its power of withstand-
ing cold during all the years it has been grown in
our climate. This is a hard nut for the acclinia-
tisers to crack, but the experience of practical men
convinces them of its absolute truth. In late sea-
sons, such as this, condition renders Dahlias and
most other tender or semi-hardy plants more sus-
ceptible to cold than usual. Hence the Dahlias,
full of growth and of sap, went down before the
first frost as snow melts under the sunshine.
Altogether, Dahlias, and especially single ones,
have developed some peculiar characteristics this
season. Many of them did not make less growth,
as might have been expected, but more, under the
almost three months' drought. The only efliect it
had on ours was to run them up to almost double
their usual height and to stop them from bloom-
ing. Hence, hardly till after the rain did the tall,
vigorous plants attempt to flower ; but no sooner
had the rains cooled the surface of the ground and
cooled the atmosphere than the Dahlias set
about blooming, and, singularly enough, they did
this long before the rain reached the roots in such
quantity as to have much sensible effect on ^them.
Oct. 20, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
393
As more rain fell the plants showed more and yet
more blossom until they became a mass of bloom
just before the frost came and killed them to the
g-round line. But the paucity of bloom in the early
part of the season seemed to arise from the dryness
of the air rather than aridity of root-run. Similar
syinptoms were observed among garden and Sweet
Peas. These were forced to grow with the hose and
watering-pot, but they could not be forced to bloom
nor set their blossoms in the arid air of East Anglia
during the continuance of the long drought ; and
it was very much the same with Dahlias, espe-
cially the single ones. Neither bouquet, bedding.
Cactus nor other Dahlias developed the same cha-
racteristic feature of non-blooming to anything like
the same extent. Most of these where liberally
watered bloomed fairly well in spite of the drought,
but the .<iingle ones only grew, and either showed
no blossom, or failed to open the few that were
shown. I shall be glad to hear the opinion of
"-T. W. G." and- other readers upon this abnormal
growth of single Dahlias and almost entire absence
of bloom during the drought. There seems hardly
anything to add to this able writer's lucid remarks
on other points, such as the vital importance of
dwarfness of habit, stiffness and verticality of
flower-stems, more, and better, and purer whites and
so-called fancies, careful and prompt harvesting of
tubers, the prompt garnering of the scant supplies
of seed ripened, and greater staying properties in
the single blooms. D. T. F.
Crocus speciosus. — Why is not this lovely
autumn Crocus grown e\'erywhere, or, at least,
much more commonly than it is ? It is not dear,
and it is not fastidious as to situation. I have
grown it with Ixias on a south border which is sup'
ported with bricks, and where it gets every available
ray of sunshine, and is baked in summer ; it also
flourishes amongst Grass on a steep bank, facing
north, where it never gets a glimmer of sun, and
where the clay would make tolerable bricks. Those
exposed to strong light flower earlier and are
dwarfer than those on the grassy bank. Another
good point is the length of time this species
remains in bloom. A clump of less than a dozen
bulbs, planted in 188G, has bloomed continuously
for over three weeks, keeping up a constant suc-
cession of beautiful porcelain-blue flowers. There
are many other pretty autumn and winter species,
more or less cheap, but, so far as I know, none can
be called common in gardens. I first saw C. spe-
ciosus in the Trinity College Gardens, Dublin, in
1885, and I immediately obtained it. G. Imperati
is an exquisite species, pale buff and lilac, and
flowers in January. — Geebnwood.
Passiflora Constance Elliott. — I was pleased
_ to notice, a week or two since, a commendatory
note on this pretty outdoor Passion-flower, and can
fuUy confirm aU that was then said of its good quali-
ties. Tastes may differ as to its relative beauty as
compared with that of the type, but it is certainly a
very free bloomer and the pure ivory white forms
a remarkable contrast to the tints usual in the tribe.
A small specimen wasplanted in my garden last spring
against a south wall, where it has thriven wonder-
fully, and, although it is but a little over sis months
since it was turned out of a small pot, ithas flowered
almost continuously since June. The typical P.
cserolea usually requires to be fairly strong before
it does much in the way of flowering. As to the re-
lative hardiness of Constance ElUott, I cannot as
yet, of course, form an opinion ; but if not more
tender than the old form, it must prove a great
acquisition in mUd districts. — Geeeswood, Dublin.
Gaillardias. — Amidst the wreck caused by the
frost of the morning of the 13th it is satisfactory to
note that Gaillardias have come out almost unin-
jured. Marigolds, Asters, Zinnias, Balsams, Dah-
lias— indeed, everything fairly tender growing out
in the open was blackened almost beyond recogni-
tion, and a general clearance had to be made at
once of the refuse. Still, Gaillardias have shown
how much hardier they are than the great majority
of tender summer flowers, and with me a considera-
able number of plants are blooming most cheerfully.
This is especially satisfactory, as, because of the
late blooming, the plants seed late, and it pulled
and hung up, the seed will ripen quite late in the
autumn. The September rains, whilst giving to the
flowers greater richness and beauty, also promoted^
free growth, and the young shoots thus made fur-"
nished the best of material for cuttings, which strike
readily. Thus any specially good form may be pro-
pagated with the certainty of ensuring continuity of
quality ; whilst seed from the same is certain to
produce very beautiful, if somewhat varied forms.
All, whether double or single flowers, are most ac-
ceptable for the furnishing of cut flowers, which in
the autumn in the cooler temperature are much
prettier than are those formed' in the summer
months. Those who have seen blooms exhibited at
South Kensington and elsewhere in the month of
July cannot but have noted that many of them had
a drawn, washed-out look, as though shaded from
the sunshine. — A. D.
THE GLADIOLUS.
I HAD an excellent opportunity this year of
inspecting the exhibitions of Gladioli held at the
Crystal Palace, London, and in the Jubilee Exhi-
bition Grounds, Manchester; also at Newcastle-
upon-Tyne at the great exhibition there. At each
of these three places the superiority of the northern
flowers was very marked. Mr. Campbell, of
Gourock, was clearly ahead of all other competitors,
especially at Manchester. Many of the spikes
were marvellous examples of skilful management,
some of them being of great length, and furnished
with as many as a dozen fully opened flowers.
I am not prepared to say whether it is entirely in
the management, or climate and culture combined,
that the Scotch gardeners are enabled to grow
better spikes than we are able to produce in the
south, but there is no gainsaying the fact. Many
years ago Messrs. Stuart and Mein, of Kelso,
brought°just such spikes to London as Mr. Campbell
has done during the last few years, but not so
many of them ; still the quality was as good. The
object of the exhibitor is to make every effort to
produce long spikes, with as many weU-foimed
flowers upon them as he possibly can. By far the
largest proportion of the varieties were French,
and some of the more recent varieties are certainly
superior in form and colour. They are termed
hybrids of G. gandaveiisis, but are merely improved
forms of that variety. Hybrids were exhibited at
Manchester by Messrs Dickson, of Chester, and
Mr. Barlow, of Stakeliill House, near Manchester.
They were raised by crossing varieties of G. ganda-
vensis with G. purpureo-auratus. This species has
not received so much notice from cultivators as it
ought to have done, but it is the most distinct
species recently introduced ; its flowers are rich
yellow, blotched with maroon— unusual colours in
this genus to be combined together. The crosses
with G. gandavensis have produced, as might be
expected, some very distinct and unusual colours,
but the spikes are not nearly so vigorous as those
of the old-established favourites. There is a wide
field open to the hybridist, even if G. gandavensis
is left out altogether. The introductions during the
last twenty years give us ample material to work
up Take, for instance, the handsome G. cruentus,
which created such a sensation when first intro-
duced about 1868. The large spikes of bright
scarlet flowers of this species are quite distinct in
their markings. About the same time G. Saundersi
was brought into prominent notice : this is nearly
as handsome, the flowers are also scarlet, o£ a
peculiar form, and deflexed on the stems.
Another very singular species, which many persons
would select as a parent because of itspeculiarcolour,
is G. dracocephalus. The flowers, which are arranged
on long spikes, are of singular form and colour ;
the ground is greenish yellow, thickly striated all
over with dull reddish purple lines. These are per-
haps the most likely species recently introduced
that would be worth trying as subjects to raise
hybrids from. During the last century perhaps 120
distinct species have been figured, but many of
them — more than half, perhaps— have now been lost
to cultivation. No one has done more in this field
than Dean Herbert did in his time. He crossed
nearly all the hardy species that he could obtain,
and grew them quite hardy in his own garden at
Spofforth. They must have made a gorgeous dis-.
play during the summer and autumn months. He
says : —
These hardy crosses are between G. cardinalis, '
blandus, carneus, inflatus, augustus, and tristis, and'
they vary with every shade of colour from whita to :
scarlet-rose, eoppei-y and blackish purple, and some are
exquisitely speckled in consequeuc-e of the cross with
tristis. They succeed best when grown into a thick
tuft, in which state the profusion of bloom is ad-
mirable, the clusters of bulbs and the old skins of
decayed bulbs permitting the wet to drain away.
Clusters have now stood undisturbed at Spofforth
above twenty years, with the precaution of covering
them with leaves from November to March or April.
Dean Herbert states further that the whole genus
agrees in constitution, liking a clear air and a very
moist soil. The earliest volumes of the Botanical-
Magazine contain many plates, well coloured by
hand, of species of Gladioli, nearly the whole of
them being now lost to cultivation. About fifty-
three species and sub-varieties have been figured in
the Botanical Mafiazine smce 1787, but G. ganda-
vensis is not amongst them.
The weather at the present time is well adapted
for ripening the bulbs. If the ground where the
plants are growing has become wet by watering, or
hard and close by treading upon it, the surface
ought to be lightly broken up with a fork. This
aeration and drying of the soil tends to more"
rapidly mature the corms. Indeed, from a rather
lengthened experience, I am prepared to say that
this is so.
I have in previous numbers urged the importance
and also the wealth of real enjoyment that may be
obtained from the raising of seedlings. The very
small one-year-old bulbs raised from seed sown in
April should now be dried off if they have been
grown in pots, or dug up from the open borders. It
is astonishing how soon the tiny bulblets will start
into growth after the leaves have decayed if the
soil in the pots has been dried oS and becomes wet
again. This must be avoided ; keep the soil dust-
dry and quite cool. The bulbs taken up from the
open ground should be dried and put into papsr
bags, with a small portion of dried sand. They
must also be kept cool and in a dry place. It is
now (or will soon be time) to dig up the old flower-
ing bulbs. The best way to deal with them is to
dig them up with a portion of the soil and all the
spawn, as it is termed, attached; cut off the stalks
close to the crown of the bulbs, and place the foots-
in empty flower-pots to be cleaned at any conve-
nient season. The small bulbs attached to the
roots may be planted early in the spring in the
same manner as the seedlings. I have always been
most successful with the culture of these bulbs
when the ground was prepared early in the previous
autumn by being deeply worked and some rich
manure added to it. The surface during the winter
also ought to be lightly forked over two or three
times. The bulbs must be kept in a cool room, but
frost should not be allowed to reach them. I have,
kept them in empty bags or in flower-pots during
the winter months. If the corms are placed in sand
or dry soil there is a greater tendency of their start-
ing into growth before the time.
J. Douglas.
Marigolds for dry banks.— There are few
plants that make such a brilliant display of colour,
especially in poor soil and in dry positions, as the
Marigolds. They are now very bright, having been
refreshed by recent rains, so that when the autumn
sun shines out the banks or borders of Marigolds
are very striking. I frequently notice them doing
good service at railway-station gardens, and right
well are they adapted for the purpose, for, when
once established, they reproduce themselves so
freely from seed that there is little danger of losirg
them. In this locality they keep on flowering
through the greater part of the winter. The only
attention thev need is cutting off the old flower-
heads occasionally. On the south coast the winter
appearance of these embankment gardens is fre-
quentlv superior to that of summer, when drought
394
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 29, 1887.
and its aooompanying dast mar the look of flowers
in dry positions. At the present time I observe our
railway embankment gardens are gay not only with
Marigolds, but also Antirrhinums, Stocks, Veronicas,
Fuchsias of the old small-flowered kind, and many
other things that are able to take care of themselves
when once planted ; while the foliage of evergreen
shrubs looks especially fresh and glossy. Euony-
mus. Bay, and Arbutus are planted largely, the
last, covered with Strawberry-like fruits and pretty
flowers, being one of the best of shrubs ; while
Hollies, that thrive in our light sandy soil, are
getting brilliant with coral berries. — J. G., Hants.
Besting plants by drought'. — We have at
present in bloom many beautiful plants that are
usually in flower much earlier, owing, no doubt, to
the intense drought having retarded their blooming.
Autumn Anemones, that couldj not be watered dur-
ing July and August, and which, when the rain did
come, looked nearly dead, have lately sent up a
great quantity of flower-spikes, and are now in full
flower. Tlie Cactms Dahlias, both red and white,
although they hardly opened a bloom until rain
came, are now flowering freely, and promise, if
frosts keep off, to give a late autumnal display.
We have, in fact, more kinds of outdoor plants
in bloom now than we have had at any period this
year, and the autumn promises to make up for some
of the summer faOures. It is surprising how plants
that looked almost dead at the end of August have
recovered. — J. G., Hants.
The Mullein-leaved Lobelia (Lobelia Tupa).
— A plant of this species has been in flower for
some time past at Kew in the herbaceous ground.
It is a tall-growing plant nearly 10 feet in height,
with numerous flowers of a dull red colour. The
flowers cannot, of course, be compared with those
of L. cardinalis for colour, but the plant certainly
forms a most striking and conspicuous object, and
is a plant well worth cultivating. It is a native of
Chili and Peru, and perfectly hardy in this country.
An interesting account of L. Tupa and other allied
species occurs in " Notes of a Naturalist in South
America," by Mr. J. Ball, F.R.S. (a book lately pub-
lished), from which it appears that the plant is
poisonous, although not to the extent credited to it
by Father Feuillee. This fact will perhaps account
for its being so little seen in gardens. It would be
interesting to know whether the Kew plant is
identical with Tupa salicifolia (Lobelia gigantea)
or with that of Tupa Berteri, which was found by
Mr. Ball at Cauquenes.— John W. Odell, Barrow
Point, Finner.
SHORT NOTES.— FLO WUR.
Carnation Lady .Agnes.— Perhaps " Ida" may
be able to get Lady Agnes under the name of Raby , as,
so far as I have seen, they are almost, if not exactly,
alike. Raby, as I have seen it, is a free grower and
profuse bloomer; in colour a beautiful pink. — A. H.
• In answer to " Ida," in The Garden, Oct. 22
(p. 361), I can supply the above variety of Carnation.
— T. Smith, Daiay Hill Nursery, Neiory.
Lilium testaoeum seeding.— In answer to W.
Shoolbred in The Gauden (p. 194), I once got a good
seed-pod of this. It was exactly between Lilium can-
didum and L. chalcedonicum. L. eandidum and L.
testaoeum both seeded under the same circumstances ;
the stems were cut off in flower and put into a pot of
water in the open air. It is said if eandidum is cut
and the stems hung topsy-turvey they will seed. —
F. Miles.
Two fine Aubrietias.— We have so few flowers
at this season in the open ground that a note may be
made of Aubrietia deltoidea olympioa and A. deltoidea
Henderson!, which are very bright on the Kew rockery,
notwithstanding the wet and frost. The flowers of
the former are pale purple, while those of the latter
are of a richer shade and larger. When planted
between Lichen-covered stones these Aubrietias have a
telling appeai-ance. — E. C.
Autumn -flowering Tropseolunjs. — Some
plants of climbing Tropaiolums in large pots were very
striking and showy in my forecourt garden this sum-
mer. I pinched out the leading shoots twice and thus
developed a nice bushy habit and the formation of
capital specimens. As soon as frost threatened, the
plants were taken into a greenhouse with a south
aspect, and they have made fresh growth and are
putting forth plenty of flowers. It being a cold house,
they will go on blooming until frost destroys them,
which, I trust, will not be until the end of the year. —
E. D.
New race of Gladioli. — That indefatigable
hybridist, M. Lemoine, has added another to his
long list of successes in the creation of a new race
of Gladioli. It is stated in the journal of the French
National Horticultural Society that one of the pa-
rents is G. Saundersi, and that this new race is
really promising as regards size of bloom ; whilst a
mixture of tints and the numerous spots on the
flowers impart quite a new feature to this valuable
family of flowering plants. With these were exhi-
bited at the August meeting of the above society a
series of new forms of hybrid Montbretias. They
axe named respectively Etoile de Feu, Phare, Sol-
faterre, Gerbe d'Or, and Pottsi grandiflora, and are
said to be handsome varieties. — J. C. B.
DOUBLE PRIMROSES.
I HAVE found P. Croussi fl.-pl. one of the best to
keep through the summer months, and the purple
also has done well. I kept the plants in pots
plunged in Cocoa flbre on a north border, but they
felt the dry heat of the summer very much, owing
to my garden being a small one and confined be-
tween walls. I find a little Cocoa fibre in the bot-
toms of the pots and mixed with a strong loam of
great assistance during a time of drought. The
roots appear to like it, and when they reach it they
put forth a number of fibres of a helpful character.
But I keep as few as possible through the summer
because the heat is too much for them, not having
a sufficiently cool, moist spot to carry them through
successfully.
But, hot and dry though the summer was, still
double Primroses appear to be by no means scarce.
I am glad to find that the old rich-coloured crimson
velvet is much more plentiful than for years past.
Mr. T. Smith, of Newry, writing to me in January
last, says : — ■
We have at last discovered the art of growing the
old double crimson, and now get it into almost as free
a condition as an ordinary P. japonioa — leaves 5 inches
to 9 inches long.
This is good news indeed, but I wish growers in
the south could score the same measure of success.
At the same time I am persuaded a great deal more
can be done in the way of growing and flowering
these double Primroses than is imagined.
This is a good season of the year to get plants.
Fine young stuff can be had, and when received I
find the best thing to do is to cut away as much as
possible of the old tap root and rootlets, leaving
only the younger roots nearest the leaves. Then I
put them in store pots, four or five plants round the
edge of a 6-inch pot, using a compost of good yellow
loam, leaf-soil, and sand. I stand the plants on an
ash bed on a north aspect, and they soon begin to
put forth not only fresh roots from the main stem,
but also fresh rootlets from the roots, and when
they get fairly active they are potted singly into
rather small pots (keeping as much soil as pos-
sible about the roots when shifting from the store
pots), and placed in a cold frame for the win-
ter. I use soil for potting fairly moist, and then
the plants do not require water for ten days or a
fortnight. I think losses occur through water being
given before it is needed, and then rot sets in at the
collar. If water is necessary I find the best way is
to place the pots for a time in water nearly up to
the rim, and allow them to thoroughly drain before
returning the plants to the frame. If they winter
successfully, and there are a few plants of each
sort, it is an easy matter to place three or four
plants in a larger pot, and so make up exhibition
specimens, for made-up plants of this character are
admissible under the schedule of the National
Auricula Society. It is a great mistake to allow
the soil about the roots to become too dry during
the winter. I think plants are lost from this cause
when they are kept in pots during the winter.
I am writing in the interests of southern growers
°f double Primroses. In the north, plants can be
treated differently, and, indeed, can be grown in
the open ground all the year round. In my garden
at Ealing I do not think a plant of a double Prim-
rose would last two months if planted out, and
therefore I am obliged to cultivate in pots.
Other good sorts that are obtainable at a mode-
rate cost are Late Giant Yellow, or Cloth of Gold,
the early sulphur, the blush, a sport from the double
white, and very pretty indeed ; the purple, with its
large, full flowers, the crimson-purple, the white,
lilac, platypetala plena, and Croussi. Add to these
the double velvet crimson and we get ten varieties,
making up a good and interesting collection.
Most of the double Primroses bloom early, and
anyone desiring to exhibit in April, the third week,
experiences some difficulty in keeping the plants
back. The latest appear to be the Crimson Velvet,
Late Giant Yellow, Purple, and Croussi, and thus,
in order to make up six varieties, the white, lilac,
platypetala plena, and others_ have to be retarded
as much as possible. R. D.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 620.
THE GREAT AND COMMON JONQUILS.
(with a coloured plate of narcissus odoeus
AND N. JONQUILLA, SINGLE.*)
The two Jonquils represented in the accompany-
ing plate are two of the old bulbous plants cul-
tivated long ago by Gerard and Miller, and
although the number of improved varieties of
Daffodils has been more than doubled since then,
these two forms still hold a foremost rank.
They are both easily grown, thriving and yield-
ing a fair return where most of the others refuse
to grow at all. Although it is true that Daffo-
dils generally succeed best away from roots of
trees, &c. , I have seen N. odorus and JonquiUa
thriving near an old Elm, where Tazettas and
pseudo-Narcissus never flowered at all. They
may be used with effect in almost any position,
borderingmixedclumps,groupedonthe lawn, &c.,
or grown in pots, &c., for the decoration of the
greenhouse or conservatory. In the latter case
they wUl have to be turned out annually, choos-
ing the largest bulbs for the following year, and
putting chits, or small newly-formed bulbs in
rich soU in the reserve ground for future use. In
fact, the same may be said about all Daffodils
when lifted to dry and clean.
The common Jonquil (N. JonquiUa), of which
there is an illustration on the left-hand side of the
accompanying coloured plate, is remarkably fragrant,
and highly appreciated, even considering the vast
numbers of this interesting class of bulbs now grown
in our gardens. The Jonquil, we are told, was cul-
tivated by Gerard as early as 1597, and although
Daffodils are grown in such quantities, and new
varieties swell the numbers annually, the modest
single and double Jonquils are as eagerly sought
after in Covent Garden Market as they were many
years ago. The [plant begins to flower about the
end of April, and continues into May. With the
protection afforded by a cold frame it may be had
in bloom some weeks earlier, and it is found at this
time extremely useful for greenhouse and conserva-
tory decoration. In the open air it is perfectly
hardy, however, and being one of our favourite
flowers, we have it growing in various positions and
exposures. In this way the flowering season is
continued over a considerable time. It thrives in
almost any soil or situation, although the growth is
more vigorous and satisfactory in fresh, but not too
stiff loam ; the bulbs should also be lifted and
cleaned occasionally. Many of our clumps have
been undisturbed for a number of years, and are
* Drawn for The Garden at Munstead by H, G.
Moon, May 7, 1887, and printed by G. Severeyns.
GARE
v^. J
■"^^^^ftftj.
^ARCISSUS ODORJJS ANL
Oct. 29, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
395
only now showing signs o£ overcrowding. I do not
think it would be wise to accejit a hard-and-fast
rule as to the number of years Jonquil bulbs ought
to remain without lifting. Much will depend on
the nature of the soil, the locality, and the condi-
tions under which they grow. Some advise lifting
every year, others at longer intervals, but our
largest growers are not at one on the point. The
leaves, which are about 1 foot long, are produced
two to four on a stem, and are of a lively green
colour. The flowers are produced from two to four
in an umbel, the segments bright deep yellow and
spreading, but scarcely overlapping, crown small,
cup-shaped (parvi-coronati), of the same colour as
the segments. The varieties major,media,andminor
were cultivated in the garden at Chelsea ; the two
former differ a little only in stature, while the
latter, which is also the N. Webbi (Pare), is a very
dwarf form with slender leaves and smaller cup.
The variety stellaris has reflexing segments and a
distinctly six-lobed corona. Natives of Spain,
France, Italy, Algeria, &o.
The sweet-scented or REEiT Jonquil (N.
odoms) was grown by Philip Miller, at the garden
at Chelsea, in 1758, although he does not appear to
have taken any special notice of it except as a
variety of the common Jonquil, from which, of
course, it differs widely. Parkinson says it bears
two or three very large fair flowers, with a large
and more open cup than any other of the rush
Daffodils. Both of a fair yeUow colour, yet the cup
is a little deeper and a little crumped about the
edges. The flowers are as large again as those of
the common Jonquil; the segments oval-shaped,
spreading, but not overlapping ; corona bell-shaped,
with six deep, blunt lobes. Most of the varieties
belonging to the above species are well defined in
Herbert's " Amaryllidaceae." For those Interested
it may be as well to give them as they stand : —
Vai. 1, oamperiwlliana, or campernelU, a fine va-
riety, with scape often four-flowered ; flowers equal
to, if not exceeding, the variety called calathinus
of Sotanioal Magazine, and rather more brilliant in
colour.
Var. 2, calathinus (_B. M., 24,934) is very near, if
not the type odorus; at any rate it is not well
defined by Herbert.
Var. 3, calathinus minor, flower considerably
smaller, but similar in its proportions.
"Var. 4, riigtihsus, leaf rounded and not keeled on
the back, strongly nerved, more concave than that
of heminalis, segments wider and more patent, cup
more distinctly lobed, flowers three or less.
Var. 5, interjeetus, leaf like the above, lobes of the
cup more curled.
Var. 6, heminalis, leaf one-fourth of an inch wide,
keeled, strongly nerved on the back, flat, with
upstanding margins in front; scape roundly two-
edged ; tube narrow, slender at bottom, much en-
larged upwards; limb nearly an inch long, cup
half an inch or more, plaited irregularly, and not
deeply six-lobed ; perianth of a deeper yellow than
any other variety, very fragrant. Sub-species h.
minor similar in all its parts, but smaller.
Var. 7, trilohus, leaf as in rugulosus, cup half an
inch or more, slightly three-lobed. Sub- variety lacta
(Ourtisi), rather smaller than the last, less conspicu-
ous, and only distinguishable as an inferior variety.
. The above is as they were defined by Herbert, and
although modifications may have been made lately,
the descriptions give a good idea of the variable
nature of the species. There are also double
forms known as Queen Anne's Jonquils often to
be seen in Covent Garden. The double Rose-
shaped variety, of a clear golden-yellow, is very
charming, though not more so than the form some-
what resembling capax plenus. In the neighbour-
hood of London N. odorus and its varieties
commence to flower early in April, and continue for
a considerable time. It is a most useful bulb for a
garden, and the flowers last well in a cut state.
Natives of Spain and France to Italy and Dal-
matia. D. K.
"Wanted, a name.— Can you give the name of a
Cape bulb known locally as the Book Plant? — B. D. K.
Fruit Garden.
W. COLEMAN.
GRAPES SELDOM MET WITH.
If Grapes were grown to please the eye only
one could readily understand how it happens
that tons, nay, hundreds of tons of Gros Colman
and other large-berried sorts are produced
annually, but when it is borne in mind that
they are intended ultimately to be eaten, it is
not a little surprising to find how nearly some
of the most delicious varieties have been
shouldered out of cultivation. Not only is the
Vine one of our most graceful and ornamental
trees and its produce the most nutritious, but
the latter can be placed on the table every day
in the year, and,'unlike many other fruits, it can
be kept for months after the clusters are cut
from the parent stems.
Last year I drew attention to one of the
newer varieties, Mrs. Pearson, a round, white
Grape of the finest quality, a good grower, a
good setter, and last, but not least, a good
keeper. Since my remarks appeared several
growers have borne testimony to its good points,
and Mr. Wildsmith, of Heokfield, assures me
that he in many respects likes it better than
the Muscat of Alexandria itself. I did not
venture to go to this length, but having recently
seen the Heckfield Vines, I must say the
bunches and berries are magnificent, the quality
superb, and worthy of this well-known grower's
skill. Mr. Barron in his book on Vines says it
takes more heat and more time to ripen than
the Muscat, but at Heckfield and with me it
starts and finishes with Lady Downe's, and re-
quires no special treatment. As a companion
to the Muscat and for bottling with Lady Downe's
for spring use this delicious Grape should be
planted in every Muscat vinery. This, how-
ever, is not the Grape I had in my mind when I
sat down to pen these lines, but having again
seen and tasted it so fine, I must give it a place
at the head of this notice. The Grape to which
I wish to draw attention is the old West's
St. Peter's, sometimes called Oldaker's St.
Peter's, only a few years ago considered the
nearest approach to the Hamburgh in point of
quality, and when Grapes were allowed to hang
on the Vines till March, it was placed at the
head of the list of choice winter varieties worth
eating. At Chatsworth, Frogmore, Strathfield-
saye, and a few other old places veterans doing
good service may still be found, but I question
if a score of young canes have been planted since
Gros Colman and Gros Maroc became popular
with consumers who do not produce their own
Grapes. At Strathfieldsaye the other day Mr.
Bell, who manages an old Vine extremely well,
assured me that the produce was most highly
appreciated, not for the size of the bunches or
berries, but for the quality of the fruit, which
comes in so useful after the Hamburghs and
the less luscious Alicantes are over. Many
growers might object to this winter Grape on
the score of smallness of berry, but under
modern, especially express culture, the fruit
from young Vines might be greatly improved,
certainly in size, without undergoing deteriora-
tion in quality. The Vine is a free, but not a
strong grower, making hard wood, which always
shows a profusion of bunches. The leaves are
barely medium size, hairy, deeply toothed, and
die oflf a beautiful nankeen colour, veined and
marbled with crimson. Berries always black,
roundish ovate, and covered with a thick bloom.
Skin thin for a winter Grape; flesh tender,
juicy, and very sweet. The "Vine will grow and
fruit with the Hamburgh, also with the Muscat,
but the best, and perhaps the proper place for
it is with Gros Colman or Lady Downe's, as the
fruit, which always sets well, then has plenty of
time to ripen, and under identical treatment
improves in quality up to the time for cutting
and bottling.
Another Grape — I may say small family of
Grapes— I believe, still exists, and for which I
would fain plead, but fear I may be told their
day has gone by. In the commercial Grape
world they never existed, as they would not pay
for thinning, but for use on the connoisseur's
table, I believe no Grape ever stood higher
than the Frontignans. The Black Frontignan
is sometimes met with on walls and in cool
vineries, but it does not compare with the White
or the Grizzly, now less frequently met with.
Of the two, the White, I believe, is most grown,
and not so many years since, Mr. Douglas, with
a large-berried variety, took many prizes for
white Grapes (not ;Muscats). The Grizzly Fron-
tignan is the most delicious of all Grapes, but is
hardly known to the rising generation of gar-
deners, and Barron does not give it a plate in
his book— in fact, he gives it a bad name ; but
for all this hundreds of gentlemen old enough
to remember West's St. Peter's will bear me
out in saying it is the cream of the cream, and
worth a place where quality takes precedence of
quantity. It is one of our oldest Grapes, hav-
ing been introduced more than 200 years ago,
but no one has thought of growing it extensively
for everyday use, as the masses use Hamburghs,
and the speed in these times is too great for
men who might spare a single rafter to give it
notice. The Vine is a good grower, does best
in a warm internal border, also in pots ; sets
and swells its fruit well, but does not keep long
after becoming fully ripe. The great complaint
against it is a tendency to shanking, but this is
the fault of the grower, and not the Grape. Give
it proper treatment in warm vineries, and plenty
of water through the growing season. Never
allow the roots to become dry, as of old, when
the Grapes are ripe, and this bad character wiU
disappear. AU Grapes shank under bad manage-
ment, and more from want of water than many
people imagine. I shall be glad to hear the
commercial grower has condescended to give
West's St. Peter's— if only a single rod— a trial,
and private growers will assist in keeping the
Frontignans, especially the White and Grizzly,
in existence.
Wintering young Strawberry plants.— Al-
though it may not be necessary in an ordinary
winter to provide shelter for a newly-planted Straw-
berry bed, it may interest some people to know how
certain batches of backward runners are treated
here. Should it be found unsuitable to leave the
plants where they have been layered, the following
method may be adopted with advantage. Select
the best rooted plants, and after trimming off surplus
growths remove the former with some soil to a shel-
tered corner, where on a friable rich loam they may
be placed upon the surface of the ground at a fair
distance apart so as not to injure the crowns. Earth
up round the outsides, for which purpose half de-
cayed turves are most suitable, and there let them
remain throughout the winter. At the first oppor-
tunity in spring the runners must be planted out in
their permanent quarters. The abundance of healthy
fibres made by the roots during their stay in this
position will be of great advantage to the plants in
spring. Should unusually severe weather be preva-
lent during the winter months, a light covering of
straw or of mats wUl be of much benefit in pro-
tecting the plants from frost. The advantages of
this system are many. The ground for the perma-
nent bed may not be ready early enough in the
autumn for successful planting, or it may require a
winter's fallow. The space occupied by the plants
is small, and affords great facilities for the slight
superintendence they may require. The massing of
396
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. .29, 1887.
the plants together is a source of warmth and pro-
tection from the cold. The roots are encouraged by
being kept comparatively dry and airy to make a
fibrous growth, especially useful to spring-planted
runners. Where autumn planting is unavoidably
deferred, much may be gained by adopting the
foregoing method ; whereas in planting out late in
the autumn, or obtaining weaker plants in spring,
many are lost entirely, thus leaving the bed patchy
and unprofitable.— J. Lovell, DritHeld.
trained horizontally along the whole length of the
house. These three Vines bore and finished well
4ii bunches of Grapes last year, and this year they
have 440 bunches equally weU finished. The Vines
are seven years old, and are strong and vigorous,
and show no signs of overcropping. I may add
that the Peaches do equally well, and bear heavy
crops of well-ripened fruit. The Vines are planted
in the natural soil, no border whatever having been
made for them. The bunches are quite up to the
usual size for this kind of Grape.— G. A. P., Camis.
CASTLE COCH VINEYARD.
The experiment initiated by the Jlarquis of Bute,
and ably carired out by his lordship's head gardener,
Mr. A. Pettigrew, of growing Vines in the open air,
with the idea of competing with the French vine-
yards, if not quite a pecuniary success, is by no
means a failure. Far from it, or it would not have
to be chronicled that the vineyard under notice is to
be considerably enlarged, and another established
as soon as possible. For the benefit of those who
may not have noticed what has been previously
published on this subject, it should be stated that
Castle Coch is Welsh for Red Castle, and is situated
about 5 miles from CardifE Castle, one of the Marquis
of Bute's country residences. The site was selected
by the noble marquis, and fully approved of by his
gardener after the latter had been on an instructive
tour in France. It is on high ground in a beautiful
locality, and is sheltered by hills and woods from
north, east, and west winds. The soil, about 1 foot
in depth, consists principally of red clayey loam,
with numerous stones interspersed, this resting on
mountain limestone rock. Evidently it suits the
Vines, for they could not well be in a more healthy
state. They are all planted 3 feet apart each way,
and angled, and as none of the plants are more than
4 feet high, they do not unduly shade each other.
All are annually cut down to within two joints of
their last starting points, and most of them are
allowed to form about four leading growths, which,
neatly tied to strong stakes, are stopped when near
the top of the stakes, and have all lateral growth
cut away as it is formed. The Grapes are in small
clusters, varying in number from six to twelve
bunches, the topmost of them not being more than
18 inches from the ground. They might probably
ripen better at times if ijroduoed at a greater
height from the ground ; but it is found that the
heavy overhanging leaves serve to protect the
fruit from both cold rains and frost. Several
varieties have been tried, all procured from French
vineyards, but the Gamay Noir, or Black Gamay, is
the only reliable one, and this at its best is only fit
for making into wine, for which purpose all are
grown.
Two acres of Vines have been established about
twelve years, and the vintage of 1 887 will be by far
the heaviest yet secured. 'The vintage in the year
1881 was a very good one; then followed two com-
parative failures. In 1884 four hogsheads of wine
were made, in 1885 three hogsheads, in 188(i two
hogsheads, and, unless unforeseen circumstances
prevent it, there will be about eight hogsheads made
this year. This does not partake of the character
of " home - made " wine ; on the contrary, good
authorities liken it to the best " still " champagne.
In order to thoroughly test its marketable value,
much of the earliest made wine has been sold, and
that made in 1881 realised (iOs. per dozen quarts.
The 1884 vintage will shortly be bottled off, and, it
is thought, will eclipse any previous efforts. Nor is
Castle Coch the only spot in this country where
Grapes for making into wine could be successfully
grown. Eventually the Marquis of Bute will have 8
acres of Vines at the Swanbridge Vineyard, situated
close to the Bristol Channel (Castle Coch being 4
miles distant), and there are plenty of equally
suitable positions in the southern counties of
England.— W. I., in Field.
A heavy crop of Grapes. — I have an orchard
house 50 feet by 20 feet in which are a row of
standard Peaches (six trees) and three Black Ham-
burgh Vines. The Vines have three rods each,
METHODS OF STORING APPLES.
Apples appear to be plentiful and good in most
districts, and in the sunny south they never
were better coloured than they are this year.
At present they are of no great value ; later on
they will be much prized ; and the aim should
be, therefore, to store them as much as possible
where they will keep in good condition longest.
After mid-winter in very, many instances the
Apples supplied for the dessert are in anything
but good condition. Instead of being plump,
juicy, and briskly flavoured they are more often
shrivelled, tough, and indigestible, and un-
worthy of being placed before quite an ordinary
judge of what an Apple ought to be. The
faulty treatment very frequently commences
with the gathering. The novice, especially, is
apt to pick all the fruit directly a few have
dropped, overlooking the fact that these may
be insect-eaten or injured in some way, and no
criterion as to the ripeness of the whole crop.
No Apple is fit for storing before the pips or
seeds are brown, or before it parts from the tree
readily on being raised from its natural position.
Directly any variety is found to comply with
these conditions it should be gathered at once,
for if left longer on the tree I believe the
quality is sometimes impaired, and, in addi-
tion, there is the risk of having all the crop
blown down. It is a dread of the latter con-
tingency that leads to so many gathering their
fruit before it is tit, and even when they have
to quite drag them from the trees. The method
or methods of storing the fruit ought to have
been decided upon before it was gathered, as
the more Apples are handled the less likely are
they to keep satisfactorily. Some of the very
best places for keeping Apples are the badly
lighted and apparently rather stuffy fruit
rooms that many gardeners and amateurs have
contrived to form out of a back shed, and some
of the worst places are the modern fruit rooms
that are very light and ventUated, and heated
on C£uite scientific principles. The fruit will
not long remain plump and juicy when stored
thinly on a latticed shelf, with a current of dry
air constantly passing through it. On the con-
trary. Apples keep best in heaps, excluded fi'om
light and currents of air, being protected, as a
matter of course, from frosts. I have seen
hundreds of bushels stored in a disused Mush-
room house, and also in large heaps formed on
well-drained ground and protected with straw,
and turves on this. These were culinary sorts,
which, if not stored in either of the ways indi-
cated, may yet be placed in much larger heaps
in rooms, sheds, or dry, cool cellars than many
people seem to think advisable.
With the dessert fruit I would take much
greater pains, for the simple reason that these
may be kept jjlump and juicy and yet be spoiled
as far as flavour is concerned. Apples are of a
very porous nature, and readily become tainted
by any aroma near which they are confined.
Thus if stored in a strong-smelUng shed or
cellar, or on any substance, such as hay or
straw, which, though fresh and clean at first,
soon becomes damp and musty, the taint is
soon commnnicated to them. Anyone fond of;
Apples can soon detect if they choose whether
the fruit has been stored in perfectly pure,
and clean c^uarters or not ; hence the necessity
for great cleanliness in a fruit room and the,
banishment of hay, straw, or Moss. Clean-
boards or clean paper (not newspapers) on the
boards are best, and no other substance should
come into contact with them. If they must be
placed on shelves, let them be stored in heaps
and darkened with paper. Drawers are capital
places for storing Apples in, as in these they keep
well, and turn out much fresher, plumper, and
more tempting in appearance than they do from
open, airy shelves. Next to drawers in a cool
room I can recommend clean boxes and tubs ;
in fact, they frequently keep far longer in
these than by any other method of storing I
have yet tried. The Apples should be closely
packed in these as they are gathered, and after
the lids are closed, be stored in a cool, but not
damp, outhouse or room. I have had them
from' boxes a month later than the respective
sorts are supposed to be in season, and it is a
capital method to adopt by those who have a
great variety of sorts in rather small quantities.
One important detail to be observed in all cases
is this : never store an unsound fruit or any that
fell from a tree. It may be very much "against
the grain '' to discard apparently only slightly
injured fruit, but if these are stored with the rest
the chances are tliat they will quickly decay and
spread the evO all round before it is discovered.
Constantly turning and re-turning the heaps are
no doubt necessary when large quantities have
to be collected from orchard trees, but when-
choice fruits are gathered byresponsible persons
there ought to be no necessity for any further-
handling. W. I. M. ■
'Wire netting for fruit quarters. — I would
remind Mr. W. Sangwin (October 15, p. 350) that
birds are not the only enemies gardeners have to
deal with. If it were so, there could be no doubt of
the expediency of providing for all our bush fruits,
Strawberries, .&o., some permanent protection such
as he describes. But, unfortunately, wire netting
would be no protection from snails, slugs, cater-
pillars, aphides, and other pests. On the contrary,
all these being safe here from their natural enemies
would, I fear, very soon increase to an unbearable
extent. I well know how troublesome and annoying
birds are when the buds are swelling and the fruit is
ripening, but we must also give them credit for
doing much good ; indeed, we scarcely know how
much they benefit us. I am not writing from any
experience of a permanent protection, but these are
thoughts which occur to me on reading Mr.
Sangwin's letter. Some reader of The Garden
may ha\e tried the plan, if so, perhaps he will
kindly tell us with what result. — D. Uphill,
Morpton, Vorchesier.
Fear Glou Morceau. — This Pear is often re-
commended as one of the best for planting, and In
the report of the Royal Caledonian Society I find it
is placed near the top of the list. That it is a
first-rate Pear as regards quality I am well aware,
but I have no hesitation in saying that I have seen
more failures and disappointments from this variety
than from any other that I know, either new or
old. With me it is by no means .■satisfactory, as it
is liable to crack and spot, and I could pick out
scores of fine trees in various counties that year
after year do not produce a dish that could be
called fit for table, and I would never recommend
it, except to those who have glass copingsj &c., for
their walls, as I consider it too tender-skinned for
everyday use. Perhaps others may be more fortu-
nate, and I should like to hear if gardeners rely on
this variety, for it is clearly as necessary to know
what to avoid as what to select in the planting
season now at hand. — J. G,, fftiiifs.
American Blackberries. — In a trade list of
American Blackberries which has just come to hand
Oct. 20, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
397
I find it is stated in reference to the Parsley-leaved
Bramble (Rubus fruticosus laciniatus) that, owing
to its being a trailer, its productiveness can never
approach some of the newer forms of American
Blackberries. As I have grown the Parsley-leaved
Bramble, and always found it very producti\e in-
deed, I hesitate to accept this statement. And I
am confirmed in my idea by what I saw some years
ago at Castle Ashby, Northampton, when the late
Mr. George Beech was gardener there. He had a
large upright bush of it in the form of a dense
pillar, and I remember being struck by its marvel-
lous productiveness. It was growing on elevated
ground in an open, sunny position, and the quality
of the fruit was remarkably good ; in fact, Mr. Beech
said that he found it very useful when he had to
make up a large dessert, and that it was much
appreciated by the company. As Mr. Beech sent me
a few rooted suckers, I am certain I have his stock
of it. I often wonder that this Bramble is not
more frequently grown both for its fruit and its
ornamental character. — R. D.
QUINCES AND MEDLARS IN THE GARDEN.
In a farm garden in Sussex the other day we were
admiring a heavy crop of Quinces borne on some
old trees, and regretting that so useful and hand-
some a thing as the Quince should have gone out of
fashion in gardens. Perhaps it was never planted
freely enough in the warmer parts of England, and
we may be mistaken in supposing that Quince trees
were once more common than they are now. How-
ever, it is of little use to discuss the question : it is
clear that they are much too little planted. If
there were no room in our gardens for the Privet,
Laurel, American Arbor-vitoj, and a great deal of
common stuff of the kind, we should perhaps plead
the cause of the Quince in vain ; but, considering
the quality of what we generally see in the muddle
mixture of the common shrubbery, a place might
well be found for so good a thing as the Quince.
It is pretty in flower, though not showy, and the
fruit, we need hardly say, is valuable to the good
housewife. The form, too, of old Quince trees is
very beautiful ; at least, they were at the farm in
question.
■ DouTitless there are soils where Quinces would
not do weU, and in gravelly places to plant them on
the edge of a pond or beside a stream would be best ;
but where the soil is moist this would not be neces
sary, we think. In the same garden, leaning over the
wall between two sheds, was a mass of Medlars
with the leaves just beginning to colour, and as we
thought very pretty. This fruit, like many, is cer-
tainly well worth growing for its fine colour in
autumn and flowers in spring. We search the whole
world for novelties, but we shall never get anything
more beautiful than our hardy fruits and the trees
allied to them, as the Quince and the Medlar. No
kind of ornamental or flowering tree is so pretty as
the trees of the orchard when well grown ; and the
garden which would show the blossoms of the
Apple, Pear, Plum, Cherry, Almond, and those
above mentioned would seldom fail to be pretty in
spring and autumn too ; for all the year their beauty
and interest are with us, for to some like ourselves
the winter forms of old trees of this kind have a
beauty quite as valuable in its way as at any other
season.
The fashion of the common landscape gardener is
to remove all these things from near the house, in
order to be prim and formal and straight, and to
form undulations of the ground too often iU-graded
and now and then ridiculous. Anything so beau
tiful as a group of fruit trees near the house does
not enter into his plans, as a rule ; but he will never
produce anything half so pretty as an orchard
ground or a good garden of fruit trees growing in
. the Grass ; if on a picturesque spot with pretty sur-
roundings, all the better. — Field.
American Apricot Peach. — Mere size is not
sought for in a good dessert fruit. One of the
smallest of Grapes — the Delaware — is one of the
most profitable. Among Pears, the small Seckel
heads the list for popularity, and the Lady Apple
brings better prices than any other because it is
always welcome as a dessert fruit. We have had
nothing of this class among Peaches. AVe have
had small Peaches, to be sure, but they are nearly
all stone. Their sole merit has been in extra
earliness. We have now the pleasure of intro-
ducing to our readers a new variety, which we
think will take the same rank among Peaches
that the Lady does among Apples. The fruit is
of medium size, of a golden apricot colour, with
rich red shading on the sunny side, and of deli-
cious flavour. It is a chance seedling, raised in
the grounds of H. P. Walker, "The Postern," Sum-
merville. South Carolina. — Gardeners' Mmitlihj.
CANKER IN FRUIT TREES.
Me. Tonks's contribution (p. 3iO) upon this subject
is interesting, as illustrating what has so long been
held as correct, that canker in trees results chiefly
from the roots getting down into sour subsoils, and
thus failing to perfect the wood of the trees. It is,
I imagine, less a question of manure, artificial or
otherwise, than of first inducing trees to make roots
near the surface and in the sweet cultivated soil ;
and, in the second place, promoting a healthier and
more effectually matured growth . It must, of course,
beconoeded that some kinds canker more than others,
this arising, perhaps, from hereditary predisposi-
tion, but that predisposition varies according to cir-
cumstances. An old Ribston Pippin tree here got
into bad condition through canker a few years
since, and I cut it hard down, compelling it to make
an entirely new head. At that time we had had
cold and wet summers, and, without doubt, those
seasons checked the proper maturing of the wood.
I found exactly the same ill effects in the form of
canker on a younger tree of the Northern Spy, and
I also cut that hard back. Beyond the ordinary
cultivation of the soil nothing was done to the
roots, which were a long way from the surface ; but
the trees soon produced robust clean wood, and
now are full of vigour and very healthy. We have
had drier summers with more warmth and the
wood of all kinds of hardy fruit trees has been
well ripened, and to that more than to any other
cause I attribute the present absence of canker, not
only from these specified trees, but also from all
others. Still, in these cases I have no doubt but
that the heading back, and thus compelling new
growth, also gave a stimulus to the roots and induced
greater activity. I think in discussing this matter
it is worth asking whether, not merely locally, but
generally, there has not been during the past three
or four years a decline in canker in our fruit trees.
We must not forget that one authority has ascribed
canker to fungoid attacks, but scientists are some-
times apt to take effect for cause, for the simple
reason that they have not that practical knowledge
of vegetable ills which gardeners have. Given
plenty of warm seasons and no exceptional wet or
cold ones, it will be found that there will be little
trouble from canker, but that if the evil is seen on tree
in cold, sour soils, the only remedy will be found in
lifting and replanting the trees, so as to bring the
roots nearer to the sun's warmth and into the
sweeter surface soil. Some seven or eight years
ago when we had intensely severe hoar-frosts fol
lowing upon a wet, cold summer, trees even of
assumed hardy kinds were terribly injured, canker
like huge wounds breaking out in the limbs in al'
directions. This was a visitation that neither dress
ings of manure nor of decoctions could cure, but was
absolutely due to climatic disturbances. Thousands
of trees so injured — indeed, nearly killed — are now
as healthy and vigorous as ever, thus showing that
in their case it was not the roots even, but the sea
son which was solely at fault. A. D.
Pear trees unhealthy. — Woidd you kindly
give me any information as to what the insects, a
sample of which I send you, are, and also any
remedy for their destruction ? They are devouring
all the foliage of the Pear trees on the south-west
and south-east walls, while those on the north-west
waU are not affected at all.— James Caktek.
*^* In reply to the above, the insects attacking
your Pear trees are slug worms, the grubs of the
Pear sawfly (Eriocampa adumbrata). Syringe the
trees with soft soap and water and a little tobacco
water. When full grown the grubs descend to the
ground, and burying themselves some 2 inches
below the surface become chrysalides within a thin
papery cocoon. Remove the soil in the course of
the winter to a depth of 3 inches or i inches from
under the trees, and bury it not less than 'J inches-
or a foot deep. When the sawflies leave the cocoons
they wOl not be able to make their way through
such a thickness of earth ; or break up the ground
so as to let the birds get at the cocoons, and quite
early in the spring give a heavy dressing of lime or
soot in case any should be still left in the earth. —
G. S. S.
FRUITS UNDER GLASS.
CUCUMBEES.
The cold wave which has already passed over the
country most emphatically reminds us that the
period of extremes is not yet over ; further, that no
time must be lost in getting all our winter arrange-
ments completed. Frame and pit Cucumbers, never
better than throughout the past summer, being over,
we must again settle down to winter culture, and at
the same time decide upon our line of treatment.
The satisfactory growth of Cucumbers through the
winter months being so thoroughly a matter of
detail, more or less governed by conveniences and
appliances, it is hardly possible to lay down a fixed
course of procedure, but one thing at the out-
set we may advise, and that is the avoidance
of high roasting temperatures from fire heat.
With an abundance of piping, fermenting ma-
terial, and good covering the express mode may
be carried out, but minus these in plenty, a high
pitch at the commencement of the season should
be carefully avoided. If we could have everything
to our minds we might fix upon a bottom heat of
80°, a minimum air temperature of 70"^, and a maxi-
mum of 80°, and then we might fail, as there are
many matters, trifling in themselves, which none
but the experienced on the spot can catch and regu-
late. If these figures can be sustained the young
beginner may start with them ; if they cannot, he
must sink an octave lower, and it is more than pro-
bable the plants will prove grateful, and handsomely
repay him after the turn of the winter. Here I have
the advantage of a large house that by the aid of
fire and fermenting leaves can be kept at a
very high temperature ; another divided into small
compartments, in which we sometimes find the
thermometer marking 60" on cold mornings. From
the first we cut the greatest quantity of fruit in a
given time, but the plants in the second, having
more rest through the dead months, when Cucumbers
really are of little value, beat them in the long run.
Quick growth, no doubt, produces the best flavoured
fruit and pays best, especially where convenience
favours the working of several compartments through
the summer months and the replacing of old with
vigorous young plants when the first show signs of
failing health and quality. In private gardens this
plan is not so often adopted as it might be, neither
in winter is it practicable ; hence the wise precaution
to start at a steady pace and husband the vigour of
the plants until after the turn of the year. When
this period arrives, the stems, by earthing up, can
be induced to form fresh sets of roots in new com-
post, and feeding with warm liquid will enable the
plants to swell off plenty of fruit when Cucumbers
are valuable, but not always attainable. When
surplus Cucumbers are sent to market, varieties of
the Telegraph breed, also the now popular sort
Cardiff Castle, should be grown. The latter, a most
prolific and comparatively hardy variety, is alike
good for winter and summer, but it is not without
a fault, and that is, a tendency, no doubt owing to
its cropping proclivities, to become rather thick or
seed-ended. When this sign of distress becomes
apparent in the winter house, relief must be given
by lighter cropping, by the application of good
turf, lime rubble — a most excellent absorbent of
surplus liquid on its way downwards — and bone-
dust, or a dusting of guano. In private gardens
where a small fruit every day is wanted, varieties
of the old Sion House breed, especially Veitch's,
398
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 29, 1887.
Masters' Prolific, should be selected, as one small
fruit fresh from the plant is always better than the
second half of a large one when the latter is made
to serve for two or more days.
Late Melons.
It any of these still cumber the house, plenty of
dry fire heat should now be applied, not only to the
roots, but also to the structure, otherwise the flavour
will be poor, and the last fruit of the finest Melon
season on record will leave a bad impression on the
palate. Some water to the roots may be necessary,
especially when they are confined to pots, but this
should be most carefully poured in close to the rims
on dry mornings when a chink of air can be ad-
mitted, and under similar conditions should atmo-
spheric moisture be supplied. November Melons,
however, at their best are not worth their head
room, and the sooner they are cleared out to make
room for January Cucumbers, the better for con-
sumers and producers.
Orchard Houses.
In nine out of every ten well-managed gardens
this structure, no matter how slightly heated, will
have been cleared of its legitimate occupants, and
filled most likely with the now popular Chrysanthe-
mum. Where the trees are fixtures, i.e., planted
out, perfect rest being- absolutely necessary, any
attempt at crowding with these giants or forcing to
get them into bloom must be strictly forbidden, at
least where next year's crop of fruit is of more im-
portance than bushels of flowers. From these re-
marks it must not be inferred that the dormant
Peach trees and the Chrysanthemums, which are
nearly hardy, cannot be successfully managed to-
gether; always provided conditions favourable to
the trees are first secured and well fed, the Chry-
santhemums are allowed to come on slowly. In
these houses the work up to Christmas will not be
heavy, but certain operations, such as watering the
Peaches to prevent the soil from becoming too dry
and washing the wood in mild weather, must not be
neglected. Another important matter is the
cleansing ; it may be the painting of the woodwork
of the house will now claim attention. Externally
this work can be performed in summer or autumn,
but internally the only favourable opportunity
follows immediately after the fall of the leaf. This,
then, should be carried out at once, and if any
aphis breeding plants are introduced, the house
should be heavily fumigated after they are removed
to make room for the fruit trees. Turning to the
pot trees now in the open air, and all of them in a
satisfactory condition as to compost and drainage,
the question arises, What is best for them during
the resting period ? Being so thoroughly ripe, no
ordinary frost will hurt them, but one enemy worse
than frost will, and that is drought at the roots.
To guard against this, trees after they are removed
to the open air should never be allowed to stand
about. Indeed, a sound, dry-bottomed site in a
sheltered, but open part of the garden, previously
made worm-proof, should be furnished with them as
they are removed. Then, if necessary, they may
be well watered and top-dressed with a layer of
rotten cow manure previous to the application of
Fern or litter for the protection of the pots, not
only from frost, but from the drying efilect of a
long period of rainless weather. The trees at some
time will have to be carefully washed with strong
soap water, but with advantage this work may
stand over until every leaf is off and rest is com-
plete. I say rest, but It is questionable it the roots
of a Peach tree ever do rest, for if we pot them to-
day in moist, genial soil, and examine them a month
hence, without the aid of leaves, we may rely upon
finding that the young roots have made considerable
progress. On the other hand, trees left indoors and
kept, as formerly, on the dry side, not only remain
inactive, but very often cast their best flower-buds
in the spring. The preventive here, as in the open
air, suggests itself : cover up the pots to shield them
from drying droughts, keep the balls moist, and let
the house have plenty of air.
Sii.j>j)7emeMfari/ stock. — To keep an orchard house
well up to its work it is necessary to introduce
fresh trees, it not new varieties. The name of the
very best old varieties is legion, but so keen are
growers after something new, that manufacturers
only have to send forth notice of a startling novelty
at a high price, and orders soon turn in. If we
never had new sorts we have enough and to spare
to select from, and now is the time to obtain the
trees from the nursery. It not previously marked
an early visit should be made, and none but clean-
worked, handsome trees free from germ or blemish
should be selected for potting, indeed for any
purpose. The new beginner may purchase fruiting
trees established in their pots at a very reasonable
price, carriage to a distance being the drawback.
He may obtain what are termed cut-back trees
from the open ground, but unless they were trans-
planted last year and the wood below the knife-cut
has not died back, he should pass them for the
quarter containing the maidens. Some varieties
grow much stronger than others, but the strongest,
unless they are well ripened, are not always the
best, especially if they are intended for forming
pyramids well furnished down to the union. Gross
trees generally form a number of buds a foot or so
upwards from the working, and as these cannot be
induced to break without cutting back the leader,
the medium tree, which merely requires the
removal of its unripe point, always makes the most
compact pyramid.
Potting. — Trees intended for potting should be
very carefully lifted without injuring the fibres,
which, by the way, must not be allowed to become
dry, and after shortening back all strong or injured
roots they may be placed in clean, dry, well-crooked
pots varying from 9 inches to 11 inches in diameter.
As everyone now knows, strong calcareous loam
and old lime rubble, with perhaps a dash of bone-
dust and soot, make a most excellent compost not
only for stone fruits, but for fruit trees of all kinds.
It is only necessary to say it is best used dry, and
the sounder it is rammed the better for the trees.
We sometimes use a smaller pot for maidens, and
give them a shift during growth the following
summer, but where this kind of work is not con-
stantly on hand it is best to use a larger size, and
leave an inch and a half unfilled for the reception
of mulching and water, and then take a crop of
fruit before the first shift is given to them. Either
way, the secret of success consists in making the
compost very fine, and at once watering to settle it
about the fibres. Newly potted trees may be
placed in a cold house where the balls can be com-
pletely covered with fibre or litter, as this pre-
caution saves watering and injury to the pots by
severe frost, but, lacking this convenience, they
wiU be perfectly safe plunged out in the open air.
Root-pnming. — Turning back to the large pyra-
mids and bushes planted out in the orchard house
borders, it is hardly necessary to say a moderate
and fertile growth of wood can only be secured and
maintained by regular lifting. Like potting, this
work should be performed as soon as the fruit is
gathered and the superfluous wood has been cut.
Space being limited, root-lifting every autumn may
be necessary, but otherwise the finest fruit is ob-
tained from trees that are checked every alternate
year. The whole mass of these borders being com-
posed of good loam, which will last for a number of
years, it is only necessary to work well round each
ball, and after cutting back all strong roots, to fill
in with two-thirds of the old and one-third of the new
compost. Here, again, the rammer must be brought
into use, and when the trench is nearly full, a few
gallons of water will make the trees safe for the
time being. I may say every particle of mulching
that would mingle with the soil should be removed
before the spade is introduced, and a day or two
should be allowed for water to pass downward
before the final covering of soil is placed in the
trenches. Here we have Peaches and Nectarines
formerly in tubs standing on the hard fioor. Years
ago the hoops were cut and the sides fell away, but
the bottoms and crocks were allowed to remain
We then surrounded each ball with a thin wall of
new turf, pure and simple ; mulched the top with
rotten manure, and although they have only th
shelter of a glass and weather-boarded shed, the
crops they produce every year are enormous. In
spring, as soon as the fruit is set, we throw in a
quantity of fresh stable litter, ply the hose to this
and the stems daily, but seldom wet the foliage.
From this shed we have been gathering for two
months, and some three dozen fruit of the Nec-
tarine Peach wni hang till November. The heads
of some of these trees are 8 feet through, and the
method of pruning is very simple. Some object to
bush trees, as the fruit, they say, does not lay on
its best colour, but when they are well thinned out
and the shoot nearest home is left intact, we find
none but the lowest fruits are pale, and what
they lack in colour is compensated in clearness
of skin and the long period the trees remain in
bearing.
Stran-herries intended for the ordinary orchard
house or for earlier forcing should now have hard,
ripe crowns and short petioled leaves capable of
passing through the sharpest winter. It not already
done, all side buds which throw up weak flowers to
the detriment of the principal truss should be care-
fully removed — that is, if quality is the object — the
tops of the balls kept clear of small weeds, and light
and air being so essential to the ripening of the
roots, more room should still be given to them. A
general turn-over at this time of year is beneficial
in more ways than one, as it not only changes the
position of the plant, but it checks the crock roots,
which not infrequently find their way through the
apertures and prevent worms from getting into the
balls. Watering will now be nearly over, but should
the weather continue dry an occasional soaking will
still be necessary. When the autumn frosts and
cold have stopped all growth the pots will need to be
plunged for safety from frost. Queens and Sir
Charles Napier, which with us sometimes suffer
from exposure to too much rain, may be kept in
cold, shallow, airy pits where the lights can be kept
over them in wet or very severe weather, but ripened
as ordinary varieties are this year this protection to
them is unnecessary. These at anytime during the
coming month may be plunged to the rims in ashes
or Cocoa-nut fibre quite out in the open, and there
they may remain until they are wanted. It was at
one time the practice to fill all vacant shelves in
the orchard house with pot Strawberries on the
approach of bad weather, but the trying ordeal of
drought, which rendered winter watering necessary,
brought many hundreds of good plants to grief, and
we now find they keep and fruit best when these
unsuitable positions are avoided. W. C.
SBORT NOTES.— FRUIT.
The test Cherries. — Will someone kiudly namo
three of the best juicy Cherries to grow as bushes?
The soil is strong loam, with a clay subsoil. — P. S.
Pear Marie Louise. — I have this season gathered
from one tree of this most valuable Pear, planted on a
wall with an eastern aspect, and covering about 20
square yards, 700 fruits weighing in all thirteen stones.
The soil is of a lightish nature with a gi-avelly subsoil.
— W. Fky, Bolm mil, Carlisle.
Early Peaches. — I am not aware if any of the
readers of The Garden gi-ow Peaches Precoce de
Halle (Early Market) and Hative Lepere (Lepere's
Early) , but as these two kinds are apparently receiving
attention at the present time from the Paris gi-owers,
they ought to be worthy of a good trial in this country.
That the great Peach grower of Montreuil should give
his name to a variety of this fruit ought to be a guaran-
tee that it possesses superior and distinctive quaUties.
— J. CORNHILL.
Assorting: fruit for market. — Tkc Catiadian
JIoiiicuHurist speaks of different modes for assort-
ing fruit intended for market, recognising the
importance of separating the largest and finest
from the medium specimens, and throwing the
bad away. A full basket is set between two
empty ones, and as the fruit is carefully picked
up the best are placed in the right hand basket
and the second class in the left hand, throwing
the poor aside till the middle basket is emptied.
None of it is thus handled more than once. Another
way is to empty the basket on a broad canvas
OoT. 29, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
399
table, where the fruit is spread out and is easily | Orchids improved in appearance by this associa-
seen for assorting. These methods apply to all j tion, but they also thrive much better. This
large fruits. system I adopted and advocated many years
ago, but could never induce many grovrers to
Orchids. foUow my advice; but I am fully convinced
that the mixing of various Orders of plants in
the same house with the Orchids tends to pro-
duce a better and more congenial atmosphere.
However perpetual a bloomer a plant, or any although I am quite willing to admit that the
class of plant, there is sure to be some particular Orchids are more liable to the attacks of insects
time in the year when there is a slight diminu- when thus treated, and require to be well looked
tion in the supply, and amongst Orchids the after in order to check the increase of bug,
present is now perhaps the dullest season of thrips, and such like pests. This little extra
the whole year. Nevertheless, I was rewarded labour is, however, fully returned by the in-
by a journey to this very beautiful and charm- creased vigotir of the plants and the superior
W. H. GOWER.
FLOWERING ORCHIDS AT THE DELL.
Sketch of the first flowered plant of Vanda Sanderiana.
ing garden of Baron Schrccder's by the sight of flowers which they develop. The cool system
numerous superb varieties. On the grand plants , for many of the East Indian kinds, too, I see,
not in flower I will for the present say nothing,
hoping to make a few notes upon them later on
when they are in bloom. Suffice it j ust now to
say that the whole of the collection is in a very
flourishing condition, many of the plants form-
growths of exceptional merit, and that the
finds favour at The Dell, for in a house in which
was a quantity of grand Vandas of the tricolor
and suavis sections — plants upwards of 5 feet
and 6 feet in height — I found the thermometer
only as high as 62° at mid-day, and some of
The verdict here is, that
I this was sun heat,
plants and everything surrounding them are not only do these Vandas thrive better, but
very clean, and the whole place is in a thoroughly that they flower more freely, and that the flowers
smart and orderly condition. I was particularly are larger and of firmer substance, and con-
pleased to see that the system of growing Orchids | sequently retain their full beauty for a greater
with ornamental-leaved and flowering stove length of time. Aerides LawrenceEe — the enor-
plants is being carried out vrith marked ad- j mens raceme of fragrant, highly-coloured flowers I of all there is a very fine collection of Masde-
vantage by Mr. Ballantine, for not only are the rendering it very conspicuous, especially at alvallias in rude health; they are only just pushing
time when the most of its congeners are past-
was flowering freely.
There were also nice examples of the sweet-
scented A. suavissimum, a most useful and
welcome kind at this season. Amongst Vandas
were some nice specimens of V. cserulea, grown
cool ; whilst in a higher temperature were seve-
ral plants of the rare and magnificent V. San-
deriana, here illustrated. A coloured plate of
this Vanda, the flowers of which are so tho-
roughly distinct from those of every other known
Orchid, appeared in The Garden, Vol. XXV.,
p. 104. It is almost an indescribable plant, and
how it must have rejoiced the heart of its dis-
coverer if he_ saw it in flower. Mr. Ballantine
says this species Hkes all the heat and moisture
possible ; and certainly, judging from the vigour
and free-flowering character of these plants, the
treatment is quite congenial. The plant's
native habitat still remains a close secret, and so
we do not know under what conditions it exists
in a wild state. Amongst the host of Dendrobes
a few kinds are just now conspicuous. Notable
are D. Dearei, wonderfully free-flowering and
chastely beautiful, its snow-white flowers, which
are tinged with green in the Hp, lasting for
months in full beauty, whilst it appears to grow
as freely as the old D. nobile. D. formosum
giganteum is also a beautiful kind for autumn
blooming ; whUst D. rhodostomum, which is a
hybrid between D. Huttoni and D. sanguino-
lentum, is extremely beautiful. The flowers are
waxy-white, the sepals and petals tipped with
amethyst, the whole front portion of the lip
being rich, deep rosy-magenta. Amongst
Slipper Orchids, several kinds are now gay ; but
the large collection of these plants must be seen
by-and-by to form an opinion of its richness.
At the present time that lovely gem, C. Fairie-
anum, is in full beauty; so also is its hybrid,
C. Arthurianum. C. cardinale, 0. Sedeni, C.
purpuratum, 0. selligerum, C. marmorophyllum,
0. concolor, C. callosum, C. Spicerianum, and
numerous others are now in flower. Of Cattleyas
there was a magnificent form of C. maxima,
called peruviana, in which the flowers are large
a,nd broad, sepals and petals deep rosy-purple,
lip very large and long, frilled on the edge,
rosy-purple tesseUated with magenta, and orna-
mented along the centre with a broad streak of
orange. Another beautiful little hybrid Cat-
tleya is C. calumnata. In habit the plant
resembles a very large form of C. Aclandiie. The
flowers are large and spreading and waxy in
texture ; sepals and petals soft white, dotted
and spotted with purplish violet ; the lip is
rich purple, passing into violet towards the
base. The charming C. Mossiie alba was also
blooming, and struck me as being a very
peculiar season of the year for it, whilst another
pure white flower is C. Harrisoniana alba. The
beautiful Ltelia Dayana was also flowering freely,
some forms being exceptionally good, backed by
the large-growing, but exquisite L. elegans.
Amongst Oncidiums I noted the pretty dwarf
O. cheirophorum, the bold, large flowers of 0.
tigrinum, with its bright yellow lip and fra-
grance of Violets ; O. incurvum, which is a
charming old species flowering regularly at this
season ; the trailing spiked U. superbiens, and
the ever beautiful O. Lanceanum, here certainly
growing in perfection. Of miscellaneous Orchids
in flower there were examples of Galeandra
Baueriana grown warm, Peristeria elata (the
Dove flower), bearing numerous spikes and as
many as twenty-six flowers on a spike, grown
also in a warm house ; whilst the lovely Mesos-
pinidium sanguineum and Zygopetalum Gau-
tieri were in a cool position. In the coolest house
400
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 29, 1887.
up their flowers, so that no adequate idea cai)
be formed of their beauties yet ; ihe kinds
already blooming are M. Veitchi, macrura,
Davisi, tovarensis, and polysticta. In a small
house the principal of the Phalfenopsids are
grown, and although only the lovely P. Lowi is
now flowering, they are rooting and growing
well. The ground over which the Phalfenopsids
are hung is planted with Gymnostachyum ; this
is growing very strongly, and forms a nice cosy,
moist bed for the Orchid roots. In the same
house also is a nice example of the rare and
little known Trichocentrum albo-purpureum,
which also appears to enjoy a good deal of
warmth. The Odontoglossums are growing in
a marvellous manner; many are already pushing
up their spikes ; these, I anticipate, will require
a day devoted entirely to them by-and-by. The
new species, Udoiitoglossum Sohrfederi, was just
passing out of flower. It has a striking resem-
blance to MUtonia Clowesiana both in growth
and flower ; the sepals and petals are yellowish
white, transversely barred with chocolate ; lip
white in front, constricted in the middle, and
purplish violet at the base.
SHORT NOTES.— ORCBIDS.
Twin-flowered Cypripedium Lawrenoea-
num. — Is it not rather unusual for a Cypripedium
Lawrenceanum spike to be t^vin-.flowered? — B. D. K.
Lselia Perrini nivea. — An elegant and chaste
form o£ the species, but a very rare plant. It is now
flowering in the collection of Mr. Measures, of The
' Woodlands, Streatham. The whole of the flower is
pure white save the margin of the lip, which is bor-
dered with pale rosy-pink, whilst there is just a tinge
of pale yellow in the throat. It is a native of Brazil,
and requires intermediate house temperature. —
W. H. G.
Oneidium excavatum, perhaps better known
by the name of 0. aurosum, is a hue, showy, and bold-
growing plant from Peru, and deserves more extended
cultivation on account of its flowering in the month of
October. It has pale gi-een leaves and pseudo-bulbs,
and a tall, erect spike bearing a much-branched panicle
of flowers, which are large and numerous, and golden-
yellow blotched with chestnut-brown. A fine form of
this species is now flowering in The Woodlands collec-
tion.—W. H. G.
Coelogyne oebraeea. — There is a good variety
of this old, but desirable Indian species in bloom at
Kew. It has lanceolate foliage and comparatively
large flowers, which have the sepals and petals more
spreading than in typical forms. They are pure
white except the lip, which has a conspicuous band of
yellow, bordered with orange, at the apex ; the throat is
pencilled with brownish crimson. The flowers are
both chaste and beautiful, and the sweet fragrance
adds to their value. — E. C.
Cypripedium niveum. — lam a .young Orchid
grower, and in my small collection I have a plant
named as above ; it has leaves beautifully marbled
with shades of green and white, and is extremely hand-
some. I have not yet bloomed it. I was recently
shown a picture of Cypripedium niveum in a
number of some large Orchid book, in which the
leaves are represented of a dull plain green, without
any of the beautiful marblings exhibited by my plant.
Is this a new variety, or is my plant not the true kind P
— Inquirer.
LsBlias at the York !N"urseries.— When walk-
ing through the houses at the above-named nurseries
the other day, 1 noted the promise of a fine show of
bloom on the large batches of Lselia anceps, a. alba,
and L. autumnalis and its varieties growing in the
long Mexican house. Some large pieces of L. a. alba
were throwing up flower-spikes almost as thickly as
the typical variety, thus showing that under good
treatment it is not such a shy flowering Orchid as
. some assert it to be. I leara that the plants had been
exposed to the full sun all the past summer, with
abundance of air when the weather was at all genial.
— C. G.
Cypripedium Arthurianum.—TBisis a garden
hybrid obtained from a cross between the small-grow-
ing C. Fairieanum and C. insigne, and the appearance of
the flowers reminds one of those of C. insigne, while the
petals aredeflexed as in the formerspecies. The dorsal
sepal is large, and has a gi-eenish ground colour, on
which the regular deep crimson spottings stand out
boldly; the petals are veined with crimson, and the li^D
is yellowish green with a suffusion of brown. There
is a plant in bloom in Messrs. Veitoh's Chelsea nur-
sery, and a coloured plate of it appeared in L' Orchid o-
pliilciov July, 1887.— E. C.
OCTOBER ORCHIDS AT HOLLOWAY.
This, the dull month for Orchid flowers, would
seem scarcely to be understood in Mr. Williams'
nursery, for on a recent visit I noted nearly a
hundred species and varieties in bloom, whilst nu-
merous other kinds are showing signs of assisting
after their rest to contribute to the winter display.
Such a condition of things is brought about by
rational treatment. Here I see the system of grow-
ing Orchids with other classes ' of stove plants is
being adopted. Calanthes of all kinds will soon be a
perfect exhibition in themselves. They ha-i'e made
growths of an enormous size this season, and are
sending up numlserless flower-spikes. These plants
have been potted in loam, cow manure, and leaf-
mould, and kept quite close to the glass, but have
been shaded from the hottest sun during summer,
and the result is certainly marvellous. In the East
India house were blooming fine examples of Amanda
suavis, its flowers perfuming the whole structure ;
also plants of V. cajrulea and the beautiful "\'.
lamellata Bosalli ; the scape in this form is much
longer than in the typical plant, and bears in strong
specimens as many as twenty flowers ; these are white
flushed with magenta, and stained with chestnut-
brown. There were also numerous iilants of Phabu-
nopsis rosea, Luddemanniana, Esmeralda, and Lowi,
Dendrobium superbiens, and the rarer D. Goldei, D.
bigibbum, the pure white D. Dearei, the long-
bulbed form of D. aureum, called pbilippinense,
which, although its flowers are much larger, they
lack the perfume, so marked a character in the old
form, and the beautiful May-flower of Ceylon, D.Mac-
Carthi;i3, which still appears to remain scarce. Amongst
theSlipperOrchids(Cypripediums),numerous fine ex-
amples are in fall beauty, such kinds as C. Stonei, Spi-
oerianum,callosum,Dayanum, superbiens, andpurpu-
ratum being conspicuous, and smaller plants of such
kinds as C. SchrocderEe, Crossianum, barbatum, bi-
florum, argus, Harrisianum, conchiferum, Lawrence-
anum, selligerum rubrum, Sedeni candidulum, Mor-
gani;e, calurum, microchilum, oenanthum superbum,
and concolor were numerous, besides several others.
In the cooler houses were the beautiful pure white
Lycaste alba and the equally beautiful white
Cattleya Eldorado, called virginalis, the whole
flower being very pure, saving a stain of yellow in
the lip ; C. Eldorado rosea is also a pretty form
flushed with the colour which gives rise to its
name. Other Cattleyas now blooming are C. gigas,
Schilleriana, and various forms of the beautiful old
C. bioolor, which is deservedly coming into favour
again. Amongst Laslias is a grand specimen of L.
elegans prasiata, by far the finest form of this plant
I have ever seen ; there is also a plant of the true
L. Turner!, its spoon-shaped lip being so thoroughly
distinct from any other variety that has hitherto
come under my notice ; here also are numerous,
varied, and beautiful forms of L. Perrini, from those
with a broad and intense border of crimson-purple
round the lip to those in which the colour becomes
a soft rose, and the fine L. Schilleriana, which is
now blooming upon the growth made since it
flowered in May, it being a peculiarity of this
plant to flower twice in one season. Amongst
Oncidiums were fine varieties of the violet-scented
O. tigrinum, the rich yellow O. varicosum and its
large-flowered variety Rogersi, 0. divarioatura, and
others. Odontoglossums were represented by
several forms of 0. Pescatorei and Alexandr;c, the
fine old showy 0. grande, and its near ally 0.
Insleayi, the pretty 0. Krameri, and the curious 0.
purum. In close proximity to these were numerous
Masdevallias, which will apparently soon yield a
fine display of colour. Amongst miscellaneous
species I observed some fine Miltonia Moreliana of
the atrorubens form, the beautiful Maxillaria
grandiflora, the brilliant little Sophronitis grandi-
flora, a very dark-flowered Anguloa, which some-
what resembles Ruckeri sanguinea, but is yet
apparently different from that variety, Paphinia
grandis, Pescatorea cerina, Galeandra Baueri, and
various other kinds too numerous to mention.
W. H. G.
Odontoglossum hastilabium. — This is a
plant which appears to like a slightly higher tem-
perature than the majority of its congeners. It is
a very distinct plant, and its flowers are very long-
lived. A fine example of it is flowering at The
Woodlands, and bears as many as thirty-seven of its
large flowers upon a spike. Three months have
now elapsed since these blooms began to expand,
and even now they appear to be fresh and good. —
W. H. G.
Ccelogyne Massangeana.— This very beauti-
ful basket plant is now flowering in several collec-
tions round London, and a fine spike of a very good
variety of it has just been received from Mr. Buohan,
Wilton House, Southampton. He .says : —
The plant has sixteen good bulbs, and has now five
spikes of bloom in full beauty, this being its second
crop of flowers this season, and yet some folks would
have us believe that Orchids are very shy bloomers.
This Ccelogyne is a plant which appears to like
strong heat and good exposure to the light. —
W. H. G.
Cypripedium vexillarium.— This beautiful
Lady's Slipper Orchid is in bloom in Messrs. A'eitoh's
nursery at Chelsea. It is the result of a cross be-
tween C. Fairieanum and C. barbatum, and has the
petals curled in the same characteristic manner as
in the former species. The flowers are about the size
of those of C. barbatum, and are brightly coloured ;
the dorsal sepal is greenish at the base and suffused
with pale purple, against which the deeply-coloured
veins make a good contrast. The petals are rose-
purple at the tips, and have also a greenish tinge,
with the margin wavy and lined with hairs. The
lip is veined with green on a pale brown-coloured
ground. — E. C.
Zygopetalum aromaticum. — This is one of
the gems of the autamn-blooming Orchids, but is al-
most as rare as it is beautiful. It belongs to the sec-
tion which is variously called Huntleya and Warsce-
wiczella, and is somewhat more difficult to manage
than those with stout pseudo-bulbs. The flowers,
produced on an erect scape, are very fragrant ;
sepals and petals pure waxy white, the large lip
being azure-blue, passing into dark blue or purple
towards the base, whilst in front it is margined
with white. It is now flowering in Jlr. Measures'
collection at Cambridge Lodge, Camberwell, where
it is treated as a pot plant and grown in an inter-
mediate hou=e. — W. H. G.
liSelia elegans nyleptha. — This is a grand,
perhaps the very grandest form of Lselia elegans
which has yet been discovered ; certainly it is by far
the finest form which has hitherto come under my
notice. The growth is very robust, surmo\mted by a
pair of broad leathery leaves, which each measure up-
wards of a foot in length. The scape is erect, bearing
a raceme of ten flowers, the individual blooms mea-
suring upwards of 7 inches across ; sepals pale sul-
phur; petals similar to the sepals, but tinged with
rose, and sparingly dotted with crimson ; lip rolled
over the column, where it is white flushed with rose,
the acute lobes being slightly turned back, where
they are deep crimson-lake ; middle lobe of lip
2 inches across, wholly deep rich crimson-lake,
slightly paler at the edges. This magnificent plant
is now flowering in the collection of Mr. Measures,
The Woodlands, Streatham.— W. H. G.
Dendrobium Gibsoni. — This magnificent
species is in bloom now, and has large flowers of a
clear apricot colour, relieved only by two velvety
purple eye-like blotches at the base of the beautiful
lip, margined with a lovely lace-like fringe. The
sepals and petals are of fleshy texture, and the
whole flower is in general appearance like that of
D. fimbriatum, to which species it is allied. The
pendulous stems are about 2 feet in length, and from
the apex are produced the racemes, each of which
carry about twelve flowers, that give a brilliant glow
Oct. 29, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
401
of colour to the Orchid house at this season. It is
a native of the Indian jangles, growing frequently
■upon Mango trees, and was first flowered iu the
Chatsworth collection. — E. C.
Kitchen Garden.
W. WILDSJIITH.
KITCHEN GABDBN NOTES.
■Clearing exhausted crops.— During the last
few days this has been our principal work, and the
ground" being so dry wheeling over it has been as
easy as it usually is daring frost, so that nearly all
the vacant ground has been given the required
dressing, and trenching has been commenced.
Though Pea sticks, runner rods, and the like are
easily obtained,, we have always some difficulty
with woodmen about getting the quantity required,
80 that we take pains to throw none aside that are
likely to serve another year ; hence, in clearing off
crops, sticks and stakes are carefully sorted, and
the good ones are tied in small bandies and stacked
upright to throw off rain; the remaiader serve for
lighting fires, and are stacked iu a dry place with
that object. The continued dry weather has been
most favourable to the clearing off the large and
decaying leaves from Brussels Sprouts and other
.greens, as also for stirring the soil amongst them,
which process is both a destroyer of weeds and a
cultivator of the land.
Trenching and draining.— The ground was
never so dry at this season as it is now, but ours
being light and sandy and easy to work, we have
determined to wait no longer for rain before pro-
ceeding with these operations. Of the latter — drain-
ing— we have little to do other than to examine
the outlets in the lowest part of garden to see
that they are clear, as after heavy thunderstorms
they are apt to become choked up with sand.
Trenching of such land is not a formidable under-
taking, but even if it was, seeing that crops — worthy
of that name — cannot be obtained without it, the
operation becomes a necessity, and, indeed, a posi-
tive duty ; therefore we thus treat the land after
each long standing crop has been cleared off. By
" long standing," I mean such crops as Brussels
Sprouts, Broccoli, and Cabbage, all of which were
planted on ground that was previously cropped with
Peas, Beans, Onions, and Potatoes without any
other preparation than clearing ofl! the weeds — no
digging even — so that virtually two long-season
crops are taken off the ground for one trenching.
Oar land varies in depth from 2 feet to i feet, and
OUT rule is to go to the bottom of it and break that
up, but no soil of an inferior nature is brought to
the top. The best dressing of manure or fresh soil
that is at command is given, this being applied in
two layers, the inferior, weedy, and long material
being spread over the broken-up bottom spit, and
the best immediately under the top layer of soil.
Should the ground be required for what is termed
root crops, we are content to put all the long manure
at the bottom of the trench, and soot, burnt ashes, or
artificial manures under the top layers. We thus
make the most of our short supply of animal
manure, and at the same time treat the ground in
the most suitable way for the clean production of
root crops, which, as a rule, come mis-shapen in
ground that is full of long manure.
Weeding, hoeing, and thinning. — This is un^
usual work for the end of October, yet we have
lately had an abundance of it, and there is more to
be done. All autumn-sown seeds have come up
well ; winter Spinach we have had to thin out freely,
and the plants pulled out being large enough for
use, the.general plot is still untouched. Onions we
have had to partially thin, and as we do not care to
transplant until spring, both surplus Onions and
weeds were pulled out together, and the ground was
afterwards hoed and ought now to require no fur-
ther attention till spring. Hoeing of all growing
■crops, as Coleworts, Savoys, Cabbages, and all Broc-
- coli, is now being done for the last time this sea-
-son. The ground cropped -with Lettuce, Endive,
and Parsley on borders over which frames are
shortly to be placed is also being deeply stirred
with the hoe, and all dead and decaying leaves
picked off. To Cauliflowers on borders and in
frames the same care in respect of keeping the
plants thin and the ground open is necessary, and
artificial protection should be withheld as long as
it is safe to do so.
Forcing. — To French Beans that are planted out
in frames more heat is necessary ; the minimum by
night ought now never to be less than G0°, and 65°
by day. Until the plants are in flower, syringe with
tepid water, then it must be discontinued, but root-
moisture will be more than ever necessary to ensure
a good set of fruit. Pot cultivation is best from
this time until Feliruary, when frame cultivation
may again begin. Tomatoes in fruit and setting
enjoy warmth and a fair amount of humidity. We
grow our plants in pots placed on the old Melon
beds, into which they are allowed to root very much
to their advantage. They are fruiting and flowering
well, and, being trained to the Melon trellis, they
get plenty of light, so that we hope to keep them
in good fruiting form all through the winter. That
terribly severe and sudden frost of the 13th inst.
brought down the leaves of Limes, Elms, and Chest-
nuts so freely as to enable us to make up a hotbed
frame or two, in which can be raised a successional
supply of French Beans in pots. Mustard and Cress
in boxes, and cuttings of various kinds, after which
by a turn over and the adding of fresh material
they can be made available for the forcing of the
first lot of Asparagus, Radishes, Onions, herbs, &c.,
for salads.
Tomato leaves diseased. — I send you some
leaves of Tomatoes which seem as if they were
affected with mildew and die off very quickly. Can
you inform me as to the cause and also recommend
a remedy? — J. Pbeece.
*,* Your Tomato leaves are attacked by a fungus.
Syringe the plants as soon as the spots appear with
half an ounce of sulphide of potassium dissolved in 1
gallon of water, or dust them -with flowers of sul-
phur.—G. S. S.
Early Rhubarb. — I notice in the Rhubarb
fields in this neighbourhood that the earliest-
gathered stalks are always from that part of the
plantation that is sheltered from the east, north,
and north-west, and where the sun gets most play.
Now, it is a gain to have early Rhubarb, but I find
in the case of many gardens it is grown in a moist,
cold, and shady spot, where it is certain to be late.
It is all very well to have the main crop in such a
place, supposing it does well, but anyone may
gather Rhubarb a week before his neighbour if some
roots of the Early Nonpareil be planted against a
wall or fence having a south aspect. If plants are
established in such a position, earliness is assisted
by loosening the soil, and covering each crown
with some light peat earth in the autumn. — R. D.
Staked Scarlet Runners. — The breadth of
market Runner Beans referred to (p. 351) is without
doubt the same to which I made reference in The
Garden some ten weeks since, and questioned the
possibility of this method of culture paying. I saw
the breadth about the middle of July. The plants
evidently had made little growth after being
turned out, and it seemed, having regard to the
labour and expense involved in raising them in pots
and planting out into hills, as at the time described,
that the eflEort to secure specially early cropping
had failed ; indeed, I very much doubt whether at
any time the plants were earlier than those sown
under ordinary conditions in the open field. When I
commented upon what must have been the cost in-
cidental to providing stakes to each and labour of
fixing them. Sec, I did not imagine that to that
must be added the expense incidental to pot-raising
the plants, removing them to the field, planting out,
and watering. Neither did I take into consideration
the cost of removing the stakes after the cropping
was over. I find growers do not consider that
much is to be gained by getting out runner Beans
exceptionally early, because as long as good Peas
are in the market preference is given to these.
Still farther, late spring frosts effectually prevent
very early starts, and plants from seed sown in the
open ground come away -with great rapidity the
moment the weather is really warm and safe.
Runners if not to be followed by any other crop
that season are usually sown in drills 3 feet apart,
but if Brussels Sprouts or Giant Cauliflowers are to
be planted out with them, then in rows from
StV feet to 4 feet apart. In this way they are easily
cleaned, and gathering is also easy. Usually such
rows of Beans are compact and erect, not lying on
the ground, and the Beans being covered with leaf-
age, they are sheltered from late frosts. — A. D.
TOMATOES.
The old large or rough red. — Mr. Tallack's re-
marks in The Garden, October 1 (p. 299), on the
superiority of this old variety, both in quantity and
quality, to most of now existing sorts, entirely coin-
cide -with my own experience as well as that of
many others who have communicated with me on the
subject. In Tomatoes, as in Potatoes, we have paid
far too heavy a penalty for a smooth skin and even
face. Doubtless the abolition of eyes as well as of
wrinkles had its merits, and was worth some-
thing. "But when quality and productiveness dis-
appear in the race after a smooth face and a per-
fect form, then assuredly the game is not worth the
candle. And this is very much what has happened
in such results as International, Hathaway's, and
other Tomatoes. Tomatoes are eaten either raw or
cooked, or as sauce, and it can hardly be said that
their form or colour are of vital import to their
enjoyment either way. For profit it is the gross
weight alone that mounts up the value. Not that
all Tomatoes are alike good in quality ; they vary
very considerably, the quality, hnwever, by no means
running parallel with their smoothness of surface
or perfection of form, but very much the reverse,
for not a few of the finer shaped kinds have the most
leathery rinds and the most insipid flesh. It seems
a pity to have travelled so far in search of outward
beauty to so little purpose ; and even had the modern
form been equal in quality to the old rough red,
there is mostly a falling off in the gross yield of
from 25 to 75 per cent. This is an enormous and,
as profits go now, a ruinous price to pay for mere
smoothness of surface and beauty of form in pro-
ducts in which such qualities are of little moment.
Even so-called mild or sweet Tomatoes are by
no means the best for culinary purposes, nor for
consuming raw by those who have acquired the
Tomato taste. Possibly, too, those who suffer from
indigestion, and have turned to the Tomato for re-
lief, derive more benefit from the rougher and more
acid varieties than from the softer, milder, and so-
called sweeter soits. There is also less rind on the
rough red than on most of the smoother and more
shapely varieties. The thick-skinned varieties, while
favourable for keepingand travellin g, form very harsh
"eating, and are a serious drawback to easy diges-
tion. Neither is the firmness of flesh in many of
the more novel varieties all gain, or a gain at all
from the sanitary side of Tomatoes. The sparkling
juice of the rough red is more valuable than the
firm, almost cheese-like flesh of some of the others.
For these and other reasons, and, towering above
all, for its gross weight, doubling or trebling most
others, and its good, sound quality for all purposes,
I stUl commend the old rough red. Hortus.
Radishes. — Can any reader of The Garden give
me the name of a very large purplish black Radish
which^ I had and relished very much in almost every
restaurant in Sweden? I believe it is gro-wn in English
gardens, but I do not know how to obtain the seed.
All I could make out there was that it was called
Retteka.— James H. Reeve.
Gro-wn-out Potatoes.— This day (the 18th of
October) I have been lifting a breadth of a late-left
Potato, Prime Minister. With the view of testing
the effects of late growth upon robust-growing kinds,
I purposely left Chancellor and Prime Minister —
both strong-growing late varieties — to do their best
under the difliculties which the unusual drought of
the season had created. When the September rains
came, the tuber produce in each case was but
moderate, and, of course, far from being ripe. The
402
THE GARDEN.
earlier frosts did the haulm little harm, but the
later ones of the 12th and 13th rendered it black
and pulpy, as if scalded. Of course, it was useless
to allow the Potatoes to remain long in the ground
after this, and as the soil is still very dry and admits
of clean lifting, I have been getting the crops up.
Of Prime Minister, the only one yet completed, I
find that the crop has been fuUy doubled by the
supertuberation since the rain, and on one breadth
even an increase equal to two-thirds of the whole
has been added, very many of the new tubers being
half a pound in weight. I think that result amply
justifies the advice given earlier, to allow the late-
growing Potatoes to remain as long as they with
safety could. Perhaps the late tubers will lack
that quality found in the earlier ones, but, no doubt,
keeping will improve them, whilst the smaller new
tubers, if well exposed and hardened before storing,
will make first-rate seed. — A. D.
[Oct. 29, 1887.
Ferns.
W. H. GOWER.
FAN-LEAVED SPLEENWORT.
(asplenidm flabellifolicm.)
This is a small-growing, elegant Fern, which
cannot be mistaken, for it is perfectly distinct
from any other species. It forms a very pretty
object for clothing the outside of a large hang-
ing basket, in which some large Fern, such as
Davallia polyantha, with arching fronds is
planted ; or it is a capital subject by itself
planted several together in a medium- sized
basket. If a single plant only is used, then a
small basket should be selected, when, planted
in the half of a Cocoa-nut shell, it may be used
advantageously for suspending from the roof of
a Wardian case. The fronds on well-grown
plants are from 1 foot to 18 inches long and
pendent, but more frequently they do not ex-
ceed 9 inches or a foot in length ; they are
simply pinnate, as will be seen by our illustra-
tion, the pinnje being fan-shaped, serrated on
the edge.s, and of a beautiful bright green, and
bear on the underside very prominent dark
brown sori, which add materially to the beauty
of the plant. The upper portion of the rachis
is destitute of leafage, and is proliferous at the
apex. The soil should be peat, Moss, and a little
fand well mixed together. It is a native of
temperate Australia and New Zealand, where it
is said to grow in the crevices of rocks and in
stony places, and thrives under cultivation in
a greenhouse temperature.
Brainea insignia. — This is an elegant, smal-
growing Tree Fern, which in its wild state appears
to be confined to two localities, viz.. Hong Kong,
and on the Khasja Hills, in Eastern Bengal. It
was first introduced to cultivation about thirty years
ago, and for a long time was extremely rare, but I
now find it thriving in several collections where
choice Ferns are prized. The stem is stout and
' short ; the largest examples which have come
under my notice have not exceeded 3 ft. in
height, and the plant appears to grow slowly.
The crown is furnished with numerous ferru-
gineous chaffy scales ; the fronds, from 1 foot
to 3 feet in length and nearly 1 foot broad, are
once divided (pinnate), and bear two or three
dozen linear, lanceolate, acuminate pinna;,
which are serrated on the edges, coriaceous in
texture, and deep green on the upper side, the
under .surface being somewhat paler. In the fertile
fronds the pinnae are much contracted, and the sori
appear to issue from the whole surface. This Fern
makes a dense head of fronds, which, being arranged
in a vase-like form, renders it a very elegant object
in a fernery. It appears to be allied to Lomaria ;
from which genus, however, it differs "by its veins
anastomising, and forming a row of curious little
open spaces running parallel with the midrib. This
Fern requires stove-heat to develop its beauty, and
an abundant supply of water to maintain its head
of fronds in perfect condition ; at the same time
the drainage must be good, as it dislikes stagnant
water about its roots. In one or two instances I
have seen the plan of partially withholding water
during winter in order to rest the plant ; but this
thia species. The plant is dwarf iu habit, and the
fronds, in addition to their variegation, are regularly
and evenly tasseUed or crested at all the points. It is
Hkely to become one of the vei-y finest market Ferns,
and no greater proof of its popularity can be given. I
recently observed an immense stock of this Fern in
Mrs. Dickson's nursery, Amlierst Eoad, Hackney,
where it receives cold treatment. — W. H. G.
Fan-leaved Spleeuwort (Asplenium flabellifolium).
Engraved for The Gaeden from Nature.
system usually results in the loss of many fronds
and the disfigurement of others, so that I cannot
accept the system as being useful. The soil which
appears to suit this Brainea best is half loam and
peat, with a good portion of sharp sand. — W. H. G.
Pteris cretica Mayi.— This variety is at onco
the most beautiful and free-gt'owiiig of all the foniis of
Propagating.
Compost foe cuttings.— As an illustration of
the success attending the use of pounded charcoal
and finely broken crocks when mixed with the soil
in which cuttings are inserted, I may mention that
I have recently carried out an experiment with a
quantity of Rhododendron cuttings, putting about
an equal portion of each into three different kinds
of compost. The first was sandy peat, the propor-
tion of sand being about the same as in that used
for potting purposes. The' second was peat and
sand in about equal proportions, while the third
was the same as the last,' with the addition of a
quantity of pounded charcoal and crocks sufiB-
ciently fine to go through a sieve with a quarter of an
inch mesh. Now that nearly all the cuttings are struck
and potted ofE, I have had ample opportunity to com-
pare the relative value of the different kinds of com-
post. By far the best rooted cuttings were those in
the soil containing charcoal and crocks, the young
and delicate rootlets clasping the small nodules so
tightly, that the latter did not drop off when turned
out of their pots and repotted. Whatever be the
reason, contact with the pot either around the sides
or in the shape of broken crocks at the bottom will
undoubtedly hasten the formation of roots, as may
be often seen in turning out a pot of cuttings, when
those on the outside that are in contact with the
pot will be rooted, and should one be longer than
the others and rest on a broken crock, the chances
are that it will be struck as well as the others, while
the bulk of those in the centre of the pot will not
have reached that stage. In putting in Rhodo-
dendron cuttings the best are furnished by the
shoots of the current season, and when they are not
more than 4 inches long the entire shoot can be
taken as a cutting, being separated just at its base
where it starts from the older wood. Should the
shoot, however, be much longer than this it may be
shortened, for in most cases the season's growth
consists of a shoot with a quantity of leaves on the
upper portion, and a considerable amount of bare
stem below. Therefore, should a long shoot be
separated at its base and put in as a cutting, wht n
struck it would be at best a leggy plant, and how-
ever it might be pinched back it would not break
from the lower portion of the stem. In fashioning
off the base of a cutting, it is far better to do so by
means of a sloping cut, as there is then a larger
surface for the production of roots. I have fre-
quently made use of crocks and charcoal for cuttirgs
that were difficult to root, having among other
things struck some of the Cape Silver Tree (Leuco-
dendron argenteum) in this way, and it is by no
means an easy subject to strike.
Lapagbeias. — The flowering time of these beau-
tiful climbers reminds one how readily they can be
raised from seeds, and when grown in this way
there is always the pleasure of anticipation, though
when the plants bloom the result is often disappoint-
ing. There are already in cultivation some varieties
in which the flowers are beautifully mottled, and
one of the finest marked blooms of this class that
I have seen was a seedling. The flowers intended
for seed should be artificially fertilised, as then the
finest alone can be chosen for the purpose. The
pods take a very long time to ripen, but when that
happens the seeds should be taken out and rubbed
up with a little dry sand, when they may be sown at
once. The soil best suited for the purpose is sandy
peat, and the pots or pans in which the seeds are
sown must be well drained. If plunged in a gentle
bottom heat the seeds very soon germinate. 'When
above ground a sharp look-out must be kept for
slugs, which even in a single night will do con-
siderable damage to a crop of seedlings. They
will sometimes eat off the young plants just as
Oct. 29, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
403
they make their appearance through the soil, so
that one may watch for them in vain, and till
very closely examined the cause of the delay will
not be discovered. Aphides, too, do nearly as
much damage, as in a few days they will cripple
the young plants to such an extent that they will
take a long time to recover. When the seedlings
are sufficiently strong they should be potted off into
sandy peat, using for the purpose as deep pots as
possible, for the roots of the Lapageria run down-
wards at once. In order to flower them as soon as
possible they must be grown on without delay,
never allowing them to become stunted. If planted
out when large enough, they will make more rapid
progress than when confined in pots. T.
Trees and Shrubs.
THE SCARLET-LEAVED HORSE
CHESTNUT.
(iESCULUS FLAVA.)
Of all the trees that Nature tints for us in the
autumn, few can compare, to my fancy, with the
scarlet-leaved Horse Chestnut when it is at its
best. The clusters of scarlet leaves at the tips of
the branchlets are relieved by the greenery that
surrounds them. The festoons are lovely in a
favourable season. In the rector's grounds at
Sigglesthome, in Holderness, such a tree, fully
20 feet in height, is seen on the lawn. It is the
ornament of the grounds. It is said to be a
native of North America, where it must add
even to the beauty of the many-tinted things
that are scattered so freely throughout the
woods and forests of the Far West. The spike
of flowers is yellow, and this is succeeded by fruits
that are less echinated than are those of our com-
mon Horse Chestnut. It seems, indeed, to be
allied to both ^aculus and Pavia. The leaves
of the ilSsculus proper, as Mr. Baker informs me,
fade to yellow in the autumn, those of the Pavia
to red, so that our earlier writers regarded the
tree in question as a Pavia, owing to its crimson
foliage. The tree is nowhere common, though
it has been introduced since 1764. I infer that
it may be propagated by being grafted, as is the
case, I believe, with Pavias, on the Horse Chest-
nut stock, or by seeds ; and thus it seems a
pity that it is not met with more commonly in
our pleasure grounds. I should be glad to learn
more of its history from those who are ac-
quainted with it in cultivation, and I should
take it as a kindness if anyone would give me
a reliable biography of this beautiful tree.
Petek Inchbald, F.L.S.
Grosvenor Terrace, Hornsea.
Almond fruiting. — Planted over a gravel sub'
soil at Ealing I find that the Almond fruits quite
freely when the trees are at all sheltered from the
early spring frosts. Not long since I saw a tree
from which half a peck of fruit at least could have
been gathered. There are many Almond trees in
this district, and they all do remarkably well,
flowering with great freedom, and being objects of
considerable beauty in spring. It can also be said
of the Almond that the leaves hang on the branches
until quite late in the season. — R. D.
The Ghost Tree (Acer Negundo variegata) —
There are certain positions in which the cheerful
beauty and character of this tree are fully diS'
played ; but, like the too popular Araucaria imbri-
cata, it is often planted where Nature never intended
it to be, namely, in villa fronts. In some cases the
Ghost Tree has a telling effect in small gardens, but
very seldom, as the colour of its brightly varie^
gated leafage is too light for the bricks of most
villa residences, and we thus obtain an incongruous
and displeasing contrast of colour. I know one
street where there are several specimens of this
Acer, and instead of making the gardens more
beautiful and home-like, they have an opposite
effect. In a broad shrubbery that skirts a spacaous
lawn, the Ghost Tree adds colour to the garden
scenery, brings out the rich foliage of its neigh-
bours, and affords a relief to combinations, where
deep gresn predominates. I was much struck with
its beauty in a garden this season where it was used
in front of a fine dark hedge of Box, and it is only
by such happy arrangements as this that the real
utility of the tree is seen. The leaves are far too
white to justify the liberal use of this Acer in sub-
urban gardens. — E. C.
Weeping deciduous Cypress. — Beautiful as
is the ordinary form of the deciduous Cypress, the
weeping form of it (Taxodium distichum pendulum)
surpasses it in elegance of growth. All the nume-
rous branchlets are decidedly pendulous, so that a
large specimen has an extremely graceful appear-
ance. I saw a fine tree of • it the other day in the
Milford Nurseries, Godalming, and admired its
beauty. It is about 15 feet high, and as at this
season its foliage was becoming bronzed previous to
falling, it was one of the most striking trees in the
nursery. It is as yet very rare, but those who ad-
mire the old deciduous Cypress will no doubt be
anxious to plant it. — W. G.
The Heath-like Betinospora (R. ericoides)
asserts itself more prominently at this season than
at any time of the year, as it has changed its sum-
mer garb of pea-green to one of a most subtle tint of
coppery violet, much in the same way as Crypto-
meria elegans does. R. ericoides is at all stages of
growth an exceedingly neat little shrub, rarely at-
taining more than 3 feet or 4 feet high, and the
whole bush, on account of the profusion of twigs
and foliage, is a dense mass, usually conical in form.
Such a choice little shrub is hardly suitable for the
shrubbery, and yet not big enough to stand on a
lawn by itself. But there can always be found a
suitable place in a garden for this and other small
and choice shrubs. They lend themselves admirably
to any set pattern of beds, as they do not soon out-
grow their allotted space. This Retinospora is one
of the very few of the genus worth growing. — W. G.
Abies Engelmanni glauca is, in the opinion
of most Conifer lovers, the most ornamental of all
the Spruces. There is, in fact, no Spruce that can
compare with it in the beautiful glaucescence of its
foliage, and there is only the glaucous form of the
Atlas Cedar among all the Conifers that can rival
its silvery foliage. In the Knap Hill Nursery may
be seen hundreds of this Spruce in one mass, and
their effect can only be compared to trees covered
with hoar-frost. As all the plants in the mass are
seedlings, they vary a good deal in their whiteness.
The most highly prized are those that do not show
the slightest tinge of green, and there is every de-
gree of glaucescence from these to the typical
green form, which may be seen in masses also.
Engelmann's Spruce is not only beautiful both in
the silvered and green forms, but is an extremely
hardy and vigorous growing tree, perfectly suitable
for our climate, as it begins to grow late and so
escapes the spring frosts. It is likely to prove a
tree of the future, and no one need hesitate to
plant it because it is new. It comes from a cold dis-
trict in the Rocky Mountain region. — W. G.
Hhus succedanea is one of the Japanese Su
machs, and, though not a shrub to recommend for
shrubbery planting on account of its tenderness, is
not without value as an indoor plant. Its chief
beauty lies in the glowing tints of its decaying
leaves, and very few leaves are so beautiful
as those of this Sumach. I have jast seen some
plants of it in the temperate house at Kew among
the surrounding greenery, and the effect of the
brilliant scarlet leaves was most striking. All the
leaves are uniformly bright in tint and last in that
state for two or three weeks before they fall off.
The foliage, moreover, is elegant, each leaf being a
foot or more in length, and divided up into several
pairs of leaflets. The plant never gets to a large
size, therefore may be grown well in a pot, and a
more charming bit of colour for the conservatory in
the dull season just before the Chrysanthemums
come in could not be found. It would succeed well
planted out, and requires little or no attention. — G.
Canadian Poplar Van Geerti. — This va-
riety of Populus canadensis is often noted in
catalogues as a golden-leaved tree, but, as far as
my experience of it extends, the only time of
the year when such an appellation might be truth-
fully applied to it is during the last two or three
weeks that the leaves are retained on the tree. The
leaves are then very attractive, but their beauty is
only short-lived, as the first sharp frost causes them
to fall. Daring the first days of its leafage the
colour of the foliage is but a yellowish green, which
at best gives it a sickly appearance, and this hue is
retained throughout the summer. Our plants were
growing in a rather dry position and one well ex-
posed to the sun, so that they had every opportunity
to colour well; indeed, where they were at aU
shaded, the foliage was quite green. This could be
noticed even on the side of a specimen that was
shaded from the sun. — T.
Japanese Euonymus. — This shrub is espe-
ciaDy useful for seaside towns, as, like the graceful
Tamarisk, it relishes the salt spray, which along
such stormy coasts as Brighton frequently dashes
over the plants. In several of our seaside towns it
would be far wiser to plant such things as the
Japanese Euonymus than Lime and Sycamore trees,
which, before the summer is half over, are browned
as if passed through fire and wind-swept in the
most pitiable manner. At Brighton, the Japanese
Euonymus is trained up the houses as the Virginian
Creeper is in our suburban districts, and with ex-
cellent results. — E. C.
Common Holly (Ilex Aquifolium) has several
varieties, and that named hybridum deserves a note
for its fine character of growth and usefulness as a
garden shrub when grown in pyramidal form.
There is an excellent specimen on the Grass turf
near the house in Finsbury Park where the Chrysan-
themums are displayed, and it is abundantly fur-
nished with ovate, leathery leaves, of a rich green
colour, which intensifies the colouring of the nume-
rous bunches of scarlet berries. The plant has a
broad base, and is of faultless, but not unnatural,
pyramidal form, as if subjected to severe pruning.
Shrubs like this make noble adornments for the
garden, as the leafage is handsome, and the berries
of cheerful hue. — E. C.
The Cedar of Lebanon bearing cones.— In
the gardens at Billingbear Park, in Berkshire, is a
good-sized, healthy specimen of the Lebanon Cedar
entirely covered with cones. On one branch 6 feet
long I counted twenty-six young cones ; both old
and young ones were growing on the same branch,
the older ones containing ripe seed. The cones,
Mr. Ashman told me, began to form in April, and
are ripe in the second September following, thus re-
quiring a period of one year and five months to
perfect seeds. The tree in question was about
40 feet high, having been planted about seventy- five
or eighty years. In the same garden were growing
two Quince trees over 200 years old, quite healthy,
and bearing every alternate year fine crops of fruit.
— E. M.
SHORT NOTIIS.—TMEES AND SHRUBS.
A book wanted. — Would any reader of The
Garden give me the name of a practical, hut not ex-
pensive book on trees and shrubs with English-Latin
and Latin-English names ? — J. K.
Iron tree (Parrotia persioa). — This is very hand-
some in autumn by reason of the hrightaess of its leaf-
colouring, which assumes shades of glowing crimson
set off by orange and green. The growth is somewhat
straggling, and the tree attains about the height of 10
feet. It was introduced from Persia in 1S4S, and de-
serves to be classed amongst trees adapted for enrich-
ing the gardeu scenery during the month of October. —
B.C.
Frederick the Great and tree-planting.—
In a proclamation, dated 1708, he wrote : " We deter-
mined that in all the lands subject unto us all young
married persons at the time of their marringe should
plant at least twelve trees at some convenient spot, six
being fruit trees and six being Oak trees. As we find,
to our great displeasure, that this order has not been
obediently observed, we now further ordain anddecree .
that this shall be done before the marriage, and that
404
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 29, 1887.
until it is done the parisli clergy of our lands shall not
join any person in wedlock ; and to the end that we
have a satisfactory assurance that this our edict is
L'arried out, we require all pastors to send in a full
specification of all marriages celebrated in their
parishes."
Thuja Lobbi aureo-variegata. — This is a
Continental novelty, and is regarded as one of the
most beautiful of all the variegated Conifers that have
ever been introduced. It is in perfect colour all the
year round, and is quite distinct from Thuja Lobbi
semper aurea, which is only golden at the tips during the
summer. It is said to be as hardy and vigorous as the
green type, and a good-sized specimen forms a very con-
spicuous feature in the garden. — R. D.
Societies and Exhibitions.
KOYAL HORTICULTURAL.
October 25.
Theke were few flowers at South Kensington on
Tuesday last, but the conservatory was filled with a
splendid show of vegetables, in competition for the
special prizes offered by several of the leading
firms. The produce was, on the whole, most satis-
factory, and the Potatoes in the winning exhibits
clean, handsome, and well shaped, but rough
samples were not unrepresented. In some of the
classes there were over twenty entries, and as
the productions were of fairly even quality there
was keen competition.
Only three first-class certificates were given, and
these went to the following : —
BouvAEDiA President Cleveland. — This
shows a great advance on others in its line of
colour, and will undoubtedly prove a most valu-
able variety, as the habit is compact and neat, and
the flowers of a vivid crimson, which quite eclipses
the bright colouring of those of Hogarth and
Dazzler. They are borne freely in bold, handsome
trusses. From Messrs. James Veitch and Sons,
Chelsea.
Chrtsanthemtjm Mrs. J. Wriqht. — This is a
magnificent addition to the Japanese section, and is
of the Mdlle. Lacroix type, but the flowers are
fuller, broader, and more solid than those of that
variety. As shown, the blooms measured about
8 inches across, with the slightly curled, pearly white
petals beautifully arranged, and forming a flower of
high finish, handsome proportions, and great mas-
siveness. If it maintains its character as exhibited
it will be classed amongst the best of our white
Japanese exhibition Chrysanthemums. Exhibited
by Mr. G. Stevens, Piitney.
Chrysanthemum Marie Ouvary.— A distinct
full, and handsome Japanese Chrysanthemum, of a
somewhat novel colour, being wholly of a deep
lake-crimson. The flower is of medium size, and
approaches the reflexed style in character. From
Mr. W. Holmes, Frampton Park Nurseries, Hackney.
A botanical certificate was awarded to Mr. F. G.
Tautz, Studley House, Shepherd's Bush, for Cirrho-
petalum ornatissimum, a flower of great botanical
interest, but of foul odour, and no particular
beauty.
Amongst the flowers exhibited was a small group
from Messrs. ■\^eitoh, of Chelsea, comprising seed-
ling greenhouse Rhododendrons, of which we have
given particulars in our present issue, and Begonia
John Heal, which is remarkable for the brightness
of its flowers. The same firm also showed Begonia
Adonis, a hybrid between a seedling summer-flower-
ing tuberous Begonia and John Heal ; it has larger
leafage and (lowers than the last-named; the colour
is not so bright, nor is the plant so free-blooming.
Amaryllis solandraeflora, a New Grenada form, was
also exhibited. This has long-tubed flowers of a
creamy white colour, and each of the segments, on
the outside, has a band of dull brown down the
centre; the tall scape bore two blooms.
A large and handsome group of winter-flowering
Carnations was contributed by Messrs. Hooper and
Co., Maida Vale and Twickenham. The plants were
well grown and finely bloomed, a few of the best
varieties being Vesuvius, rich scarlet, large and
full ; Louise Chretien, pure white, flaked sparsely
with crimson ; Souvenir de la Bruyere, scarlet, and
remarkably free-blooming ; Mdlle. Carle, the best of
the whites; Jean Naturelle, a handsome buflf-yellow,
richly flaked with carmine ; Dr. Raymond, fine
habit, and with flowers like those of the old Clove ;
F. Raspail, bright scarlet; and George Paul, which
has flowers heavily bordered with red on a yellow
ground. A silver Banksian medal was awarded.
Mr. William Holmes, Frampton Park Nurseries'
Hackney, exhibited three stands of Japanese Chry-
santhemums, all representing new varieties. Amongst
the best were Macaulay, for which a special vote of
thanks was awarded, but as there was only one
bloom no first-class certificate could be given ; it is
an interesting flower, of flattish form, but with a
dense mass of small, narrow, twisted petals, which
are bright yellow, shaded with red. Amongst
others of note were Wm. Cobbett, recently certifi-
cated; M. Canet, a distinct flower of a bronzy red
colour; Macbeth, bright yellow; Samuel Morley,
something like I'Africaine, but smaller; and R.
Abbott, pure white and full.
Cattleya Loddigesi and Cypripedium obscurum were
shown by Mr. Tautz. The first-named bore a flower
of similar form to that of the type and almost pure
white, but there is a faint trace of rose in the sepals
and petals; the base of the lip is sulphur, and the
margin white with crinkled edge. The fiower of the
Cypripedium was very much like that of C. insigne,
having similar markings, colour, and form. Theplant
of Vanda Sanderiana, shown by Mr. Cobb, Sydenham,
bore a spike of eight flowers, which are of good pro-
portions, with the upper sepal rose, and the others
of the same ground colour, but thickly spotted with
dull crimson. The petals have a few crimson spots
at the base, and the ridged lip is dull purplish red,
with a suffusion of bronzy green at the apex. Mr.
G. F. Wilson, Weybridge, showed an osier hencoop,
covered with the Willesden Paper Company's cheap
scrim as a protector or shade for plants. A note
appeared respecting this in The Garden, Oct. 22
(p. 380). Flowers of Trichinium Manglesi, which
has a bloom like a ball of wool with crimson skeins,
and of Primula obconica purpurea, which has a
purple tinge, came from Mr. J. Crook, Famborongh
Grange Gardens, Hants.
The fruit committee was fully engaged, and
there were several interesting exhibits brought
before them. Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons showed ex-
cellent fruits of Bismarck, The Sandringham, and
Baumann's Red Winter Reinette Apples. From Mr.
C. Ross, Newbury,came three Smooth Cayenne Pines,
models of careful and skilful culture ; they were the
finest fruits we have seen for a long time. A Pear
named Backhouse's Beurre was sent by Messrs. J.
Backhouse and Sons, of York, and some exceptionally
fine samples of the richly flavoured Seckel Pear were
shown byMr.W. Divers, Wierton, Maidstone. Aseed-
ling Apple of brilliant colouring came from Mr. S.
Ford, The Gardens, Leonard slee. There were besides
these several other dishes of Apples of minor import-
ance, while the fruits of Doyenne du Cornice,
Beurre Superfin, and Conseiller de la Cour Pears
exhibited by Mr. J. Crook were very fine.
VEGETABLiosformed the principal display. Messrs-
Sutton and Sons' prizes were well contested and
brought together a large exhibition. In the class
for twelve Onions of the Reading variety Mr. E. S.
Wiles was first, with fine well-grown samples ; Mr.
Hughes, Eydon Hall Gardens, Byfield, North Hants,
was second ; and the third prize was awarded to
Mr. J. Baker, Bampton, O.\on. Mr. E. S. Wiles was
also first for twenty-four Onions, four varieties to be
represented ; Crimson Globe and Silver Globe were
noteworthy. The second prize went to Mr. Hughes,
and the third to Mr. T. A. Beckett, Cole Hatch
Farm, Amersham. There was sharp competition
for live dishes of Potatoes, the number of entiles
being nineteen. The first prize went to Mr. Hughes,
who had clean, band.'iome, well-shaped tubers, Mr.
E. Chopping, Milton, Kent, was a close second, and
the third prize was awarded to Mr. E. S. Wiles.
There were also nineteen competitors in the class
for six dishes of Potatoes, and Mr. Hughes was
again first with smooth, handsome, and clean tubers
of Forty-four, Prizetaker, Twenty-one, Reading
Ruby, Favourite, and Reading Russet. Mr. E. S.
Wiles occupied the second place, and the third
prize was awarded to Mr. W. H. Smith, Harpit,
Wanborough, Shrivenham. For the best three
sticks of White Gem Celery, Mr. R. Lye was
first, followed closely by Mr. J. Bunting, Holt
White's Hill, Enfield, and Mr. R. Timbs, Hammers-
ley Lane, Amersham, all exhibiting creditable pro-
duce. There were also classes provided for Beets,
Carrots, Leeks, and Parsnips, and in these Mr. J.
Neighbour, Bickley Park Gardens, Kent, Mr. C. J.
Waite, Mr. R. Lye, Mr. W. Pope, Mr. J. Mnir,
and Mr. J. Spottiswood were the most successful.
There was keen competition for the prizes offered
by Mr. H. Deverill, Banbury. For eight samples of
Onion Rousham Park Hero Mr. E. S. Wiles was
first, and Mr. G. Neal, Bampton, Oxon, second,
these exhibitors taking the same awards in the
class for the Anglo-White Spanish variety. The
winner of the first prize in the class for the
variety named Improved Wroxton was Mr. T.
Doherty, gardener to Lord North, Wroxton Abbey,
Oxford, who had handsome and finely coloured
bulbs ; Mr. G. Neal and Mr. S. Haines, Coleshill
House Gardens, Highwortb, were second and
third respectively. Classes were also provided for
Celery Aylesbury Prize Red and The Wroxton
Brussels Sprouts, and in the former Mr. H. Win-
grove, of Oxford, was first, and in the last Mr.
Slarke, Manor House Gardens, Brockley, was the
most successful, Mr. C. J. Waite coming second.
Messrs. J. Carter and Co., High Holbom, offered
prizes for the best collection, of vegetables, and
there was a large competition. Mr. W. Pope, High-
clere Castle Gardens, Newbury, was first. There
were good samples of New Intermediate Carrot,
Autumn Giant Cauliflower, Little Pixie Cabbage,
and Chancellor Potato. Mr. R. Lye, Sydmonton
Court Gardens, Newbury, occupied the second
place, the Autumn Giant Cauliflower, Dark Red
Beet, and Early Six-weeks Turnip being finely
grown. Mr. S. Haines was third.
Messrs. Webb and Sons offered prizes for six dishes
of Potatoes, and the first award was made in favour
of Mr. C. Ross, gardener to Mr. G. B. Eyre, Welford
Park, Newbury, who had handsome, well-shaped
samples of Red King, Renown, Schoolmaster, Sur-
prise, Kinver Hill, and Discovery. Mr. E. S. Wiles,
Edgcote Gardens, Banbury, was second, with clean,
shapely tubers ; and the third prize went to Mr.
W. Pope.
Mr. C. Fidler also offered special prizes, and
in the class for nine dishes of Potatoes, Mr. E. S.
Wiles was again to the front with well-grown,
shapely tubers ; the second prize going to Mr.
Hughes, and the third to Mr. G. Allen, Bamsbury
Manor Gardens, Hungerford. For six dishes the
prizetakers were Messrs. J. Hughes and G. Allen,
in the order named ; and the first-mentioned ex-
hibitor was also the most successful in the class for
three dishes of Potatoes, Mr. E. S. Wiles being
second, and Mr. E. Chopping third. The prizes
offered by Messrs. W. 'Wood and Son, of '\Vood
Green, for four dishes of Potatoes brought together
a good competition. Mr. J. Hughes won the silver
cup, and Mr. W. Ellington, Suffolk, and Mr. E. S.
Wiles occupied second and third places, both being
fairly matched.
There were many miscellaneous exhibits. A
collection of Potatoes and also of Turnips came
from the Chiswick gardens of the Royal Horti-
cultural Society, and there was a large show of
seedling Potatoes, together with standard varietie.=,
from Messrs. Sutton and Sons, of Reading. A silver
Banksian medal was most deservedly awarded the
firm for their fine display. Mr. H. Deverill received
a like award for his excellent show of Onions, two
of the best varieties being Rousham Park Hero and
Anglo-White Spanish, a fine exhibition kind. A
variety named Cocoa-nut was noticeable for its
handsome .shape and silvery skin. Mr. G. Fidler
was awarded a silver medal for a fine exhibition cf
seedling Potatoes not yet in commerce, and named
varieties. There was also a dish of Webber's Early
White Beauty, a Potato certificated by the Royal ,
Horticultural Society on -Sept. 21, 1887. Messrs.
Webb and Sons also contributed to the exhibition.
Oct. 29, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
405
by an interesting collection of Potatoes, for which a
bronze medal was given. Mr. C. Eoss showed four
promising varieties of seedling Potatoes ; and a
collection was staged by Mr. John House, Peter-
borough, including good samples of Edgoote Purple.
Mr. E. Dean exhibited tubers of Potato Prime
Minister, which have grown since Sept. 1. They
were large, clean, and handsome. From Mr. R.
Gilbert came Chou de Burghley Cabbage and other
interesting novelties, as Chon d'Universal, with
large sprouts, and Universal Savoy, a small variety
with compact heart.
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM.
A GENERAL meeting of the members of this society
was held on Monday evening last. The secretary
read a list of the various successful exhibitors at
the early-flowering show in September, and the
amounts of their prize money, which he stated had
now been paid over to them. The affiliated societies
having made application for twenty -two silver
medals, eighteen bronze ones, and sixty-eight certi-
cates, it was resolved that the secretary be authorised
to supply them. It was announced that there were
now 449 subscribing members to the society's funds
A floral committee of the above society. was held
on Wednesday last at the Royal Aquarium, and
there was a finer show of flowers than on the pre-
vious occasion, as we may now consider the Chry-
santhemum season has fully commenced. The
attendance of members was also large. There were
five first-class certificates given, and these went to
the following : —
Elsie. — A beautiful reflexed variety of neat, full
form and medium size, and of a soft pale yellow
colour, which deepens towards the centre of the
flower. From Mr. Owen, of Maidenhead.
Duke of Berwick. — A variety of great promise>
and of thorough Japanese character. The petals
are long, narrow, and somewhat drooping, while the
colour is dull white, with a faint trace of rose. A
handsome flower. From Mr. G. Stevens, Putney.
Mrs. J. Wright. — This was certificated by the
Royal Horticultural Society on the previous day, and
will be found described in the report.
Macatjlay. — An exceptionally distinct Japanese
variety with a mass of small crisp florets that make
up a neat, full flower. The colour is a clear golden
yellow, with bronzy reverse. From Mr. Holmes,
Frampton Park Nurseries, Hackney.
Marquis of Downshirb. — A Japanese Chrysan-
themum in the way of the variety W. Robinson.
The flower is thoroughly characteristic, and is of a
deep rich buff, with the petals both long and
broad. From Mr. Sinclair, Easthampstead Park,
Wokingham.
At each meeting a silver and bronze medal are
offered for the best stands of new varieties not
offered in nurserymen's catalogues before Novem-
ber .30. The silver medal went on this occasion
to Mr. G. Stevens, of Putney, who had a fine stand
of blooms, in which were such varieties as Elsie,
previously described ; Ormonde, with curiously
twisted florets of a clear golden colour, with a
brown reverse ; Middle Temple, clear rose, good
form ; Duke of Berwick, certificated ; and Ralph
Brocklebank, a yellow Japanese, with twisted petals.
The bronze medal went to Messrs. Davis and Jones,
Camberwell, who put up Miss Gorton, a creamy
yellow Japanese variety ; Duke of Berwick ; Mina,
full, pretty Japanese variety of a rosy colour, with
the centre yellow; Anna Eondiere, rose; M. MoUe,
a fine buff-coloured variety. Mr. Holmes had a
st-and of fine flower.- ; especially noticeable were
Marie Ouvray, in the style of Hiver Fleuri ; R
Abbott, deep lake-ciimson Japanese ; and Macaulay,
previously noted. Mr. Robert Owen, Maidenhead,
showed a stand of fresh blooms, in which were Amy
Furze, a fiue reflexed variety, the petals white, with
a lilac tinge — the blooms were not, however, fully
developed ; and Miss Stevens, a rose-pink Japanese.
Mr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Totten-
ham, had several flowers, of which M. Canet, a deep
bufi Japanese ; William Cobbett, a fine salmon-rose,
with shading of yellow; and Lincoln's Inn, buff,
were amongst the best. Messrs. H. Cannell and
Sons exhibited Japanese varieties Marie Louise and
M. Canet, the former of great promise, white, with
rose shading. Messrs. James Carter, Holborn, had
a reflexed variety named James Carter, which was
commended for its rich orange colour, with a tinge
of red. Some seedlings from Mr. H. Elliott, Spring-
field Nursery, Jersey, were also exhibited.
FOUL GROUND.
A NEIGHBOUR of mine who last autumn took posses-
sion of a considerable area of market garden land,
which had been much neglected and become full
of weeds, has just found out that he has committed
a serious mistake. There is much to learn in the
management of foul ground so as to clean it with-
out its being laid fallow, and hardly a more ex-
pensive course could be adopted than was followed
in this case. A crop of early Potatoes was taken
off in the summer, the ease with which Potatoes are
cleaned 'and the season's drought serving in com-
bination to keep the weeds in check ; but after the
Potatoes were removed the ground was, as is usual
for seeds, ploughed, harrowed, rolled, and harrowed
again until a very friable surface was secured, then
sown with Lisbon Onions and winter Spinach.
Alas ! for the gardener ; he sowed good seed, but
seems to be reaping tares. Still, these are minor
troubles and soon got over, whilst my neighbour's
case seems to be that the cost of labour required
for keeping his Onions and Spinach — but the former
especially — clean will eat up the prospective profits
of the crop long ere it is assured. The previous
tenant has fully reaped the results of his shameful
neglect in dismal failure ; but his neglect seems to
have a very prospective operation, thus seriously
compelling successors to suffer for the sins of their
predecessors. This case only serves to illustrate how
enduring are the evils which result from neglecting
land. Certainly here was found soil in a most tempt-
ing condition for the seeds as put into the ground so
largely, and they so far justified the sowing, because
there were good plants in each case. Some two or
three times have these breadths been hoed, men
going down between the rows with small long-
handled hoes, and women following behind — almost
on their knees — with the little hand hoes so useful
in market garden work; and should the winter
keep the weeds in check there can be little
doubt that the spring will furnish a new crop,
and the costly work of hoeing and cleaning will
have to be gone over again. Ground so foul as
this will probably take several years to get mode-
rately clean, and with a knowledge of the dangers
involved probably the present crops of small seeds
will be the last sown on it for some time to come.
Without doubt there is no more useful and profit-
able method of cleansing weedy soil than in culti-
vating it with coarse growing crops. If the Potatoes
had been followed by Brussels Sprouts, Autumn
Giant Cauliflowers, or Drumhead Savoys, the weeds
would have had no chance once the plants got good
hold. Cleared of these green crops in the spring,
manured and replonghed, the land would have done
admirably for Scarlet Runners, which, if sown in
rows 3 feet apart, would in a few weeks have
covered the ground with leafage. Runner Beans
hold on late, usually indeed till the end of October,
and too late for a successional crop the same year,
but the soil would be amply rich enough to carry a
crop of Magnum Bonum Potatoes, and thus three
years in succession the soil would be covered with
foliage, smothering weeds entirely. The Potatoes
might be followed by a sowing of Tares, which
could in the spring be sheep-fed or ploughed in
with a light dressing of manure, and a sowing of
main-crop Peas made .3 feet apart, and between
these could go out later Cauliflowers or Brussels
Sprouts, so that the weeds for another year would
be entirely checked. The crops named being all
sown or planted in rows wide apart, and admitting
of the free usu of the horse a.s well as hand hoe
would be easily cleaned. Possibly at the end of
the fourth year the soil would have become fitted to
receive small seeds, but it is obvious that much
judgment is needed in a matter of this kind. Deep
burying of the surface-soil by trenching only
aggravates the evil, for the weeds will be found thick
enough even from a lower stratum, whilst the buried
seed will spring into life later on. Smothering by
growth and by long clean manure are the safest
methods to cleanse foul soil. A. D.
Silver cups as prizes at flower shows. —
"T. W." is quite right in his remarks under this
heading in The Garden, October 15 (p. 355). As
the secretary of a flower show, I frequently have
offers from gentlemen to give cups as prizes, but I
will not accept them unless with the proviso " or
any other piece of plate or money, at the option of
the winner." If persons are desirous of offering
special prizes of this character, let it be in the form
of useful things, like a tea or coffee-pot, sugar-basin,
Sec, but not a useless cup. Cups of this character
are simply ornamental, and frequently, as " T. W."
remarks, " neither ornamental nor useful." I put
medals in the same category, especially all large and
ugly ones. One might excuse those of the National
Rose and National Chrysanthemum Societies, be-
cause they are small and of proportionate value to
their cost. Especially is this remark applicable to
the gold medals of these societies. The medals of
the Royal Horticultural are large and comparatively
worthless, and they have to a very large extent lost
the significance attaching to them years ago when
the society could have claimed to be a national one.
In my own locality I am fortunate in getting a great
deal of support from the local tradesmen, but they
at flrst wished to give cups ; now they give some-
thing in kind, and I flnd this class of prize very
acceptable indeed to cottagers. A tradesman who
would not be inclined to subscribe more than a few
shillings in money will give double and treble the
amount in kind ; and when one tradesman can be
prevailed upon to do this others soon follow. I
ought to say that I always give tradesmen tickets
to the show to the full value of their gifts, just in
the same way as I should to a subscriber in money.
Even tradesmen in fancy goods can always find
something useful in the household — work-baskets,
albums, &c. I even get sewing-machines, and the
competition for them is always very keen indeed.
I hope when the next Turner memorial prize is
offered for competition (if another is to follow) it
will be in the form of something more useful than
a cup. Let us get rid of cups as far as possible and
substitute for them something far more useful and
acceptable. — R. Dean.
ITaines of plants. — J. E. D. — Akebia quinata.
Snowdrop. — Gleditsohia species; impossible to
name from such a specimen. C. A. Monro. —
Choisya temata. /. Taylor. — Epidendrum species.
Anon. — 1, Achillea filipendula ; 2, Bupatorium
purpureum. Capt. Hopegood's Gardener. — Cata-
setum EusseUianum is the greenish flower, Stanhopea
Wardi var. the one with orange blooms, and the other
is Epidendrum variegatum. Collins Brothers and
Oabriel. — 1, Thuja orientalis ; 2, Cupreesus Law-
soniana var. ; 3, Cupressus macrocarpa. /. F. —
Curcuma Roseoeana. John Thompson. — 1, Adian-
tum setulosuni; 2, A. afline; 3, A. mundulum; 4, A.
formosum. -B. B. — 1, Thunbergia HaiTisi ; 2, T.
fragrans ; 3, Aristolochia elegans. Juno. — Primula
floribunda. Muriel. — 1, Athyrium Pilix-fcemina
apua^forme ; 2, A. F.-f. Friselliai ; 3, A. P.-f. Grantia; ;
4, A. F.-f. marinum; 5, A. F.-f. glomeratum. J.
McDougal. — 1, Rodriguezia plauifolia; 2, Oucidium
janeriense ; 3, O. miorochilum. G. F., Brighton. —
1, Dieifenbaehia regina; 2, D. splendens. Japan. —
Your Chrysanthemums are very good ; cannot under-
take to name them. R. N. W. — Oucidium exca-
vatum.
Names of fruit.— T. H. Archer-Hind.— Fea.T,
Beurre Clairgeau. Ardenza. — 21, Beurre Bosc ;
33, Striped Beaufin ; y, Wheeler's Russet. C. H.
Eijles. — Apples : 1, not known; 2, Grange's Pearmain.
Pears : 3, Marie Louise ; 4, Huyshe's Victoria ; 6,
Autumn Bergamot ; 7, Beun-e d'Amanlis. M. Bird,
Sunninghill. — 1, Cox's Pomona; 2, Reinette du
Canada; 3, not known. W. O.P. — 1, Dutch Codliu;
2, Shepherd's Newington ; 3, Duchesse d'AugouIeme ;
4, Van Mons Leon Leclerc ; 5, Emile d'Heyst; (J,
Gilogil; 7, General Todtleheu. — -S. Knou<les. — Pear,
Doyenne du Comiee ; Apples, 5, Fearn's Pippin ; 6,
Flanders Pippin ; 7, Nori:'olk Bearer ; 8, Worcester
Pearmain. Robert Goodall. — 1, Thompson's; 2,
Beui-re d'Aremherg ; 3, Gloii Morceau; 4, Doyenne du
Cornice ; 5, Beurre Hardy.
406
THE GARDEN.
[Oct. 29, 1887.
WOODS & FORESTS.
THREE ORNAMENTAL COVERT PLANTS.
The planting season being again upon iis, a few
■words regarding three highly ornamental, but much-
neglected plants may be opportune and prove
interesting.
The Pampas Gbass (Gynerium argenteum), with
its gracefully recurved leaves and wealth of silvery
panicles, is certainly a most striking object when
rightly placed. But not only in an ornamental
sense do I wish to recommend the extended cul-
tare of the Pampas Grass, for its value in the for-
mation of game coverts can hardly be sufficiently
appreciated, it being one of the closest and driest
with which I have yet become acquainted.
Planted in bold, irregular masses, but particularly
in close contiguity to some of the sombre-leaved
shrubs, the Pampas Grass never fails to attract
attention and produce the most pleasing effect ; in
fact, it imparts, as it were, a warmth and furnished
look to the landscape that can hardly be supplied
by any other plant. In using it for covert purposes
it is preferable to plant small-sized tufts at 4 feet
apart, and in three years every alternate one can be
removed, the remainder being left at such distances
as will allow of the foliage becoming perfectly
developed, and yet not too close to produce over-
crowding.
Open portions of the woodland, particularly
along the margins, should be chosen in which to
plant the Pampas Grass, and all the better if the
soil is somewhat dampish and of rich, heavy tex-
ture. In propagating the Pampas Grass, I have
been most successful by dividing up the old plants
in early spring, and planting the divisions in rich
loam of a sandy nature in the nursery border.
Here they should be allowed to remain for two
years, by which time single crowns will have deve-
loped into nice bushy plants with plenty of fibrous
roots, and be in the best possible condition for
planting out permanently.
By such a course of treatment I have succeeded
in propagating and planting the Pampas Grass in a
most satisfactory manner ; and as it is highly orna-
mental, perfectly hardy, of the easiest culture, and
not at all particular as to soil or situation, if the
former is rather moist and the latter not too windy
or exposed, it is well worthy of extended culture.
Bambusa Metakb is another excellent Grass for
planting in the milder and more sheltered portions
of the British Isles. From this it must not, how-
ever, be inferred that the plant is at all tender, for
not many days ago I was agreeably surprised to
see fine, broad masses of this most ornamental
plant growing and flourishing to perfection on a
by-no-means sheltered estate in North Wales.
Some of the clumps were about 6 feet through and
fully 8 feet in height, and had been planted fully
ten years, and then only as single crowns in
pots as procured from a public nursery. These
were planted expressly for the purpose of game
shelter, and admirably had they fulfilled the most
sanguine expectations, for they not only flourished
and grew apace, but spread about over the ground,
thus forming dense jungles of the warmest and
driest of covert. One large and stately plant
looked exceedingly ornamental standing alone, but
at no great distance from several fine clumps of the
Colchic Laurel and Strawberry tree. The soil was
not extra good, being but a limy loam lying
on gravel, but, at the same time, it may be well to
mention that one of the largest and handsomest
masses was growing within a couple of yards of an
artificially formed pond, wherein the choicest col-
lection of aquatic plants I have ever seen, at
least out of doors, was growing freely. As this
Bamboo spreads about rapidly, an abundant supply
of young plants can soon be raised by dividing an
old-established mass, and thus, cheaply enough,
sufficient procured for forming several clumps in
well-chosen situations in the more open jjortions of
the woodland. The leaves are dark green, very
narrow and acute, while the strongest stems rarely
exceed (i fett in length, thus rendering the plant
peculiarly vreh suited for planting where space is
rather confined, or where larger-growing shrubs
would be out of place. It is quite hardy in most,
perhaps all, parts of the country, and although I
have known it for many years in Northern England,
not a twig has been injured by frost.
The Dogwoods. — Amongst these are some of
the best and most ornamental of deciduous covert
plants. Unfortunately, however, their value in this
particular line has never been fully appreciated by
the British planter, for seldom, indeed, is a well-
established clump of any of the perfectly hardy
species seen, and that even where shrubs are grown
in quantity. The red Osier Dogwood (Cornus stolo-
nifera) is perfectly well adapted for growing as
shelter for game, and I have never seen it turned
to better account in this way than the other day,
when whole masses of it were pointed out to me
growing most luxuriantly along the margins of a
lake, and in company with such plants as the Rho-
dodendron, cut-leaved Alder, Darwin's Barberry,
and other plants that favour moist, though well-
drained situations. It increases rapidly by under-
ground suckers, and for this reason is just the plant
for game covert purpsses, while its tangled masses
of shoots render it a safe and warm retreat even
during the winter months when foliage is wanting.
As an ornamental plant, and apart altogether from
its use in the formation of game preserves, this
species of Cornus is well worthy of more extended
culture than it has hitherto received, the bright
pinky shoots being highly attractive as well as
offering such a contrast to the dark-coloured bark
of the generality of our trees and shrubs. It is a
plant also that is not at all particular as to soil,
although it evidently prefers that of a vegetable
nature and somewhat damp, for I have seen it
doing well on a poor clayey gravel, and where fully
exposed to a keen and searching south-western
blast, as well as on a mound cf soil that had been
thrown up when a gravel pit was in course of for-
mation.
There is another and far more ornamental Dog-
wood than that just referred to, viz., C. mas aurea
elegantissima, which is certainly as beautiful and
desirable a shrub as one could imagine. The
leaves constitute the principal beauty of this
shrub, they being of a deep green and encircled by
a broad band of golden yellow, while the whole sur-
face is suffused with a bright pink, which adds
much to their effective appearance. Altogether
this shrub is of more pendulous and graceful habit
than the last mentioned, its pliable shoots hanging
limp and long, and causing the plant to put on a
semi-drooping habit of growth, which is particularly
pleasing and anything but stiff. A clump of this
particular form placed in front of a mass of sombre-
foliaged shrubs has a most telling effect. In C.
mas variegata will be found another pretty and dis-
tinct variety in which the leaves are broadly mar-
gined with silvery white, and not unfrequently
dotted and striped with the same. The small, but
telling yellow flowers, which are produced in rich
clusters in early spring, render the plant interest-
ing even during the time when it is devoid of leaves.
Being quite hardy and at home in most soils, I
would recommend its use in the formation of clumps
where dark-foliaged shrubs are in excess, but even
in any position it will be welcomed and prove one
of the most interesting and beautiful of the family
to which it belongs.
C. florida must on no account be omitted from
our list, for certainly a prettier or more desirable
shrub or little tree for the garden or lawn could
not be chosen. When the leaves are dying off
the different shades of purple and pink co-
mingled with yellow are simply beautiful, while
in a fruit-beaiing stage when covered with the
clusters of bright red, oval-shaped drupes, it is well
woithy of a first place amongst ornamental shrubs.
Hailing from the American woods, it may be relied
upon as being perfectly hardy in this country, to
which may be added its ornamental aspect and
non-fastidiousness about soil, all of which should
serve to make it a favourite with tree planters
generally. The greenish flowers, surrounded by
a large and showy involucre, are perhaps not very
effective, though usually produced in great .nbund.
ance and before the leaves, yet other qualities
contribute to render it one of the most desirable
shruljs we have yet received from the American
woodlands. A. D. Webster.
The saw in tree pruning'. — I am among those
who object to the use of the saw in tree pruning.
Where timely pruning with the knife has been
neglected, rendering the use of a saw necessary, I
question whether it would not be better not to
prune at all, unless it be for the purpose of admit-
ting light and air. A large wound made by cutting
off a limb of a tree may heal over, to outward
appearance, leaving no defect, but when the tree
comes to be sawn up for use, the injury to the
timber will be perceptible.— J. J. G.
Large trees near houses. — In too many
instances large trees may be seen towering over
dwelling houses and other buildings, threatening
too surely their destruction or serious injury in the
event of a storm occurring of sufficient violence to
uproot them. No tree should be planted nearer a
building than the height to which such tree will be
likely to attain ; thus, a species which may be
known to reach an altitude of say 80 feet should
not be planted at a less distance than that from a
building. As regards suburban residences, it might
seem that the application of this rule would exclude
the planting of many of the finest Conifers and
other ornamental trees, but there exists abundance
of handsome trees and shrubs of dwarf growth in
all respects better suited to such situations than
tall ones.— P. G.
Spring V. autumn planting. — From long and
extensive experience in planting in different situa-
tions and soils, I am in favour of autumn planting
of forest trees, and also evergreen shrubs, unless in
cold, bleak situations, when the latter do best when
planted in spring or early summer. There may be
situations where the soil is too wet to admit of
early planting, but such is unfit for planting at any
season till drained. There is an old saying, which
in practice I find to be correct, viz., " Plant a tree
in autumn and command it to grow, but in spring
you must coax it." Some are of opinion that severe
frost will injure early planted trees ; this I have
proved to be a fallacy. In order to test it, I left
young trees with their roots uncovered during
severe frost, and planted them when thawed, and I
found that they sustained no injury. — J.
The Tulip Tree.— In The Garden (p. 308)
" Caledonicus " says : " I was siirprised to observe
this tree recommended for timber at page 2G2,
for it its trunk is anything like as brittle as
its branches, it can hardly be of much use for
timber, unless for inlaid work." With regard
to this statement, I would merely remark that
it is unfair to judge of the value of the matured
wood of the trunk by the brittle character of the
branches. This tree is not largely grown through-
out the country; consequently there are very few
who have had an opportunity of seeing the timber
cut up for use, but those who have, recommend it
highly. The branches and twigs of the Oak are
rather brittle, and are often broken off and con-
torted by the wind, yet the matured timber of the
stem is well known for its great strength and dura-
bility. We could give many more examples, but it
is unnecessary. As to the suggestion of grouping
the Tulip tree with the Purple-leaved Beech, " Cale-
donicus" thinks it is hardly practicable for the
following reason: The Purple Beeches all revert
more or less to green in the late autumnal months,
while the Tulip tree hardly puts on its golden foli-
age till towards the middle or end of October. This
statement with regard to the Purple-leaved Beeches
is rather decided, as I find there are several varietic s
of them, the foliage of some being slightly green
for the greater part of the season, while others re-
vert partly back to green in autumn ; the finest and
dark - coloured varieties retain their pretty dark
purple hue to the last. In grouping trees of this
class for scenic effect, I have found it a good plan
to grow them in a home nursery previous to plant-
ing them out, when the best trees can then be
selectee! and the others discarded. — J. B. Webster.
THE GARDEN.
407
No. 833. SATURDA K, Nov. 5, 7557. Vol. XXXII.
" This is an Art
Which does mend Nature : change it rather ; but
The Art itself is Nature."— .S/<inAT5i>c«)'c.
THE JARDIN D'ACCLIMATATION AT
GENEVA.
Perhaps a few words may be admitted about
an institution at Geneva, which ought to be
well known to all those who grow alpine plants.
I have brought my girls to Lausanne to finish
their education, and it has seemed to me that I
might as well avail myself of the opportunity
for advancing my own. My ecole superieure is
the Jardin d' Acclimatation at Geneva, and my
teacher is its director, M. Henri Correvon.
The only drawback to the benefit I receive is
that trains in Switzerland crawl like caterpillars,
and it takes two hours to get from one place to
the other.
I wish I could congratulate M. Correvon on
the sort of garden over which he so worthily
presides. It is a most uncanny little spot, not
half an acre, I should think, in extent ; it is
surrounded by buildings or high walls, and
without one single point of interest of its own
which I could discern. I suppose that the
selection of this particular site was entirely
governed by its proximity to the environs of a
large town, and that one consideration must
have outweighed everything else, but I could
have wished for alpine plants a more congenial
and picturesque home. The soil is of a light,
dry, hungry description ; it is rather sandy in
texture, but it has no depth about it so as to
tempt flowers to grow, and what is worse than
this is that the atmosphere lacks moisture, and
during the hot months of summer everything
has a parched appearance about it, and seems
to say there are many difliculties here to be
overcome.
These observations are not at all meant to
imply that the choice of this particular garden
by the founders at the beginning was, in the
least, an unwise one, and stUl less would it be
true to assert that the seedlings and plants
which come from this establishment are not
very good. I have often noticed that what is
sent out from a spot where great disadvantages
prevail seems to pluck up heart and go away
grandly (to use a gardener's expression) when it
meets with more favoured conditions, while a
plant which has hitherto had everything it can
possibly want knows well enough when its
blessings are taken away from it. Plants are
more like sentient beings than we sometimes
take them to be. But if this is the case, then
would-be purchasers of rare and interesting
alpines should betake themselves to M. Correvon
as soon as they can. It is well known to many
to what objects his efforts are mostly directed,
but his cause is so good that, at the risk of
some little prolixity, I should like just to advert
to it. It is only too true that alpine heights
are being denuded of some of their richest
jewels as quickly as possible. Plants are torn
off the mountain-side in multitudes merely to
perish on their transit to England, or very soon
afterwards, and it was thought by the promoters
of the Jardin d'Acclimatation at Geneva that
this might be stemmed if seedlings (which are
much better than anything else) could be offered
at low prices to those who desire to have them.
I am sure it is only a cause for wonder that
some special favourites are existing at all. The
Edelweiss is an illustration of what I mean.
The run after it all through the summer is
something tremendous. Any young girl who
comes out to Switzerland thinis that she has
acquired a testimonial for hazardous adventure
if she can say she has gathered it. Guides are
continually sticking it into their hats as a badge
of their oflioe. Vendors of natural curiosities
put a potful of Edelweiss in their windows,
which is replenished every day, to show that
they have wonderful things to dispose of witliin.
It only needs that an Edelweiss League should
be established in Switzerland, and that politics
should intrude into the domain of flowers, or that
floral services — which set up ravages more than
anything else — should be held in the churches
on Sunday, and this quaint and curious flower
would have to go its way ; its doom would be
sealed. But why they care so much for it,
and why fashion bears so strongly on Edel-
weiss, it is not very easy to say. It very much
resembles a starfish made out of fine flannel ;
and as for expressive beauty, it cannot be men-
tioned in the same day with Aquilegia alpina,
which is not so much thought of. Of danger,
there is nothing required to get it ; and if poets
have sung of Edelweiss (which is sometimes the
reason given for its vast popularity), they have
sung of other things as well which are still in
the shade. But Correvon can supply Edelweiss
and innumerable other things at very low
prices, so that the mountains might just as well
be spared. He collects the seed of all sorts and
kinds of things on the heights at some risk to
himself, and he knows very well indeed how to
treat it when it has been once gathered in.
Let me say that his familiarity with alpine
plants must seem very wonderful indeed to an
outsider. If only the tip of a leaf is brought
before him, he can generally run ofl' its name
and the species and genus to which it happens
to belong. I have seen him do this over and
over again, and even the dried seed vessel which
might have been had for corroborative evidence
was not wanted at aU. He has been so much
among alpine treasures, that he claims them for
his own, and he can identify any specimen at
once. Of course, such an one must be the right
man in the right place for watching over the
Jardin d'Acclimatation at Geneva. He has now
a kind of instinct for growing plants from seed,
and he has succeeded wonderfully with them.
As a rule, his operations never can be carried
on in a wholesale general manner. There are
great difierences in his way of treating difterent
thinga, and he only knows these from expe-
rience.
The main principle on which he depends is
the following : He seeks to sow the seed of an
alpine plant so that it will not germinate before
winter, and he likes it to lie quite quiet tiU
spring comes round again. The expression
which he uses is that he wishes it to " stratify "
during the dark days of the }'ear, and he thinks
it has gained by doing this, and that it would
not be half so well ofl' if it were sown in March
or AprU as when it has been attended to long
before. Of course, different seeds have very
different properties of their own, and this is the
very thing of which a knowledge only can be ob-
tained after practice. The seed of any of the Caryo-
phyllacese will, for instance, germinate quickly,
and therefore if it is sown too soon, the tender
seedlings will not get through the winter at all.
The seeds of Gentians take a longtime to germi-
nate, and so are comparatively safe whenever
winter comes on. The seed of Anemones should
be kept for only a very short time — it should
be sown as soon as it is gathered. Primulas
are rather obstinate sometimes. These and
very many more hints may be picked up in
abundance from Correvon. He is running over
with information about alpine flowers — e.g., he
says that Androsaces come up with very great
ease indeed ; the seed germinates easily. It
seems to be all plain sailing with them at first,
but then a very dangerous stage indeed is sure
to supervene, and they require the greatest
attention and care just then, or they wUl do
nothing at all.
The soil which M. Correvon uses for his seeds
is mostly a compost of one-third chopped Sphag-
num, one-third peat, and one-third leaf-mould.
The Sphagnum is run through a sieve when dry,
and it is of the utmost use, as it contains just
enough moisture for the seed to be quickened by
it. He does not water at all, as he finds it is
not required in the process he follows. When
the days begin to lengthen his reward begins to
be evident, and the little seedlings grow as the
light grows.
I must not take up any more of your space
by retailing the good instructions I have re-
ceived. Let one thing, however, be borne in
mind. Patience is needed for this work. But
what good gardener can expect anything else ?
It would be very nice if we could always tear
off plants from the rocks and then find Gentians,
Primulas, Androsaces, Saxifrages, and what not,
all prospering with us immediately ; but this is
not at all likely to happen, and the percentage of
failures with old and imported plants is sure to
be much greater than when seedlings are used.
There is a notable instance of this not so very
far from where I am writing. Unlimited space
is being devoted to an alpine garden ; an un-
limited amount of money is being spent on the
enterprise ; an unlimited quantity of plants is
being constantly brought down from the moun-
tains, and those who know more about the
matter than I do predict that unlimited failure
is sure to be the result. Everything must be
done at once in the garden to which I refer.
There is no time there to be lost. Seedlings
cannot be waited for. Plants with long tap
roots which cannot bear to be disturbed must
be made to put up with it. The wilderness
must offhand rejoice and blossom as the
Rose. It will be curious to inquire what it will
all come to in the course of a year or two. I
shall be glad if the few notes I have put together
lead others also to go to school under his care.
Laiisanne. H. E,
Chrysanthemums.
E. MOLYNETJS.
HINTS TO BEGINNERS IN EXHIBITING.
The ranks of exhibitors of Chrysanthemums
are being yearly added to in large numbers.
Exhibitors of Chrysanthemums know that to
cater for the public in this branch means a lot
of hard work and anxiety, as it is doubtful if
any plant grown has to pass through so many
phases of culture before it can be presented in
that condition which has done much to make
it so popular with a flower-loving public. There
appears to be more general enthusiasm over ex-
hibitions of Chrysanthemums than almost any
other class of flowers in cultivation. There are
many growers of specimen plants and plants
for grouping, but there is no doubt that cut
blooms are most admired by the public, as it is
in that manner that the different forms, colours,
and peculiarities can be seen to the fullest ex-
tent. The beginner in exhibiting wants to
know what sort of blooms he should have to com-
pete with and stand a reasonable chance of suc-
cess. Much surprise is often evinced at the poor-
ness of some new exhibit, which in reality would
408
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 5, 1887.
be better away from the exhibition room, but in
many cases it is a lack of knowledge of what is
required. To show as clearly as I can what
young exhibitors ought to strive at in producing
blooms for an exhibition, I will give the mea-
surements of a few flowers as a guide, as I know
of no better mode of conveying the approximate
requirements of flowers than by measuring their
size. The sizes I give are medium ones, and
anyone staging blooms of this description need
not be ashamed of them. Of course, if the cul-
tivator is enabled to produce them larger and
of good quality, so much the better, because
size combined with other requirements is a lead-
ing feature at the present day.
To commence with the Japanese section, which
I will place first, as being the most popular with
the general public : Mme. C. Audiguier, 0 inches
by .5 inches ; Meg Merrilies, 8 inches ; Pair
Maid of Guernsey, 7J inches ; Comte de Ger-
miny, 0 inches by 4 inches ; Elaine, 6 inches by
4 inches ; Baron de Frailly, 8 inches ; Jeanne
Delaux, 0 inches ; Mile. Lacroix, 7 inches by
4 inches ; Peter the Great, 5 inches by Sj inches;
Thunberg, Oj inches by 3k inches. Inc'urrcil.—
Lord Wolseley, 5 inches ; John Salter, 5 inches ;
Princess of AVales, 5 inches by 3 inches ; Jeanne
d'Arc, 5 inches by 4 inches ; Queen of England,
5 inches by 3j inches ; Empress of India, 5
inches by SJ inches ; Golden Empress, 5 inches
by 3 inches ; Hero of Stoke Newington, 4^
inches by 3i inches ; Princess Teck, 4 inches by
2i inches; Refulgence, 5 inches by 3 inches ;
Jardin des Plantes, 5 inches. Rcjiceed varieties.
— King of Crimsons, 5 inches by 3^ inches ;
Golden Christine, 5 inches by 3 inches ; Dr.
Sharpe, 4J inches by 2^ inches ; Mrs. Forsyth,
4 inches by 3 inches. Anemone Japanese. —
Mme. Cabrol, 7 inches ; Eabian de Mediana, 7
inches ; Mme. Clos, G inches. The natural size
and form of the other kinds can be gauged by
the cultivator in comparison with those named.
Larger examples than those given might be
named, but sufiicient has been said to show what
13 meant. When measuring the flowers, do not
overstretch the size — better be rather under
than over. The best way to measure the blooms
when on the plants is to place the left hand
under the florets and gently raise them to a
horizontal position, then, with a rule passed
under, the size can be determined ; the depth
of the blooms is very important, and those
flowers which are thin and coarse in the petals
having mere size in diameter only, ought to be
rejected. The first figure following the name
in the list above denotes the diameter, and
where a second figure is given, that signifies the
depth of the bloom. The quality in a Japanese
bloom is composed mainly of size, depth, bril-
liancy of colouring of each variety, and freshness
generally.
An incurved bloom diS^ers somewhat in its
requirements from those of the Japanese varie-
ties, as it has more poiuts to be considered,
namely, size, depth, solidity, breadth of petal,
finish, freshness, and colour. What is meant
by solidity is that tlie petals should be so close
together that the wliole flower should feel so
hard and solid as to leave no impression when
squeezed gently by the hand. The petals should
be as broad as possible for the variety, but it
often happens that the very broad - petalled
flowers are neither solid, nor the flowers so
deep as some narrow-potalled blooms. A bloom
which is the least faded loses points in a compe-
tition, also when the colour is inferior, as, for
instance, a pale-coloured Alfred Saltet is not so
worthy of recognition as a rich pink-coloured
one. Flowers being as I have described them
will be approaching perfection, and the be-
ginner who is able to stage such will assuredly
improve as time goes on and his knowledge
increases. It is a good plan to arrange the
blooms in the stands before leaving home for
the show, so that the colours may be har-
moniously blended; never place two yellows
together or two bronzes, but make them con-
trast as well as possible with each other ; the
largest flowers should be arranged at the back
of the stand. Naming them is best done at
this time by fixing on to the stands in front of
each flower the name plainly written on narrow,
adhesive paper labels. Should the blooms re-
quire shifting for convenience of packing for the
journey, no difficulty will be felt when the show
is reached in again arranging them, as the name
being fixed will denote the position of each
flower. This is a great saving of time when all
is generally hurry and bustle at the show room.
Always endeavour to reach the exhibition in
good time, thus allowing ample opportunities
for any arrangement that may be necessary at
the last moment. See that the blooms are
staged in their proper position on the tables by
the appointed time, so that the judges can care-
fiiUy examine all the exhibits. Judges are
often hurried far too much over their awards
owing to the lateness of some exhibitors in
completing their arrangements. Every compe-
titor should carefully read the rules of the show,
so as to avoid disqualification on any point.
SOME NEW EARLY-FLOWERING
CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
These are mainly Japanese varieties, for the ma-
jority of our October-blooming Chrysanthemums are
found among them. I give a foremost place to
Mons. William Holmes, a grand, rich, chestnut-
crimson flower of large size, full substance, and
singularly bright, and a very fine exhibition variety.
It has also a peculiarly rigid and vigorous habit of
growth, and is of moderate height. I'eu de Bengale
is another fine variety, a large, full flower of a
bronze and gold or cinnamon and gold colour. The
earliness of this variety is shown from the fact
that I siw it in flower about the third week in August.
Ormonde, which is quite new, promises to make a
popular variety. It is of a fine orange-yellow hue,
the exterior petals drooping and, at the same time,
numerous, and the flowers are of good size. It is
likely to make a good exhibition variety. Rose
Stevens is one of a batch of new varieties raised by
Mr. George Stevens, St. John's Nursery, Putney.
It will not be large enough for exhibition purposes,
but it is a charming, early-flowering, decorative
variety, novel and distinct in colour. Miss Stevens
is another of Mr. Stevens' seedlings, of a delicate
lilac-pink colour, and if it proves large enough will
tell in a stand of cut blooms. Mons. J. H. Laing,
sent out two years ago, has an orange centre, the
outside petals broad and of a delicate blush tint,
sometimes splashed with puri^Ie. Martha Harding
was new last year, colour yellow, suffused with
reddish bronze ; it is both an early and late variety,
for, as in the case of others, it can be retarded by
taking out the crown buds ; it is large, full, and
handsome. And what shall be said of Mrs. J.
Wright '.' This is one of a batch of seedlings raised
by Messrs. .1. Laing and Co., of the Stanstead Park
Nurseries, Forest Hill. It is blush white, with a
lovely pearly petal, with most of the blush in the
circumference rather than in the centre of the
fiower,and becoming pure white when the blooms are
fully developed ; it was greatly admired when shown
as a seedling last autumn, and it can be set down as
a very line white variety, having only a defect in
habit ; it is a very tall grower. Another startling
new variety is found in C'arew I'nderwood ; this is
generally known as a bronze sport from the line
Baron de Frailly, but this does not do justice to its
colour. It will be variously described, but I should
say gold changing to orange-cinnamon, with orange-
red on the exterior petals. This is a very fine and
striking variety, and, curiously enough, the sport
originated nearly at the same time in two places
far apart. Elsie is a lovely reflexed, large-flowering
Chrysanthemum introduced by Mr. H. Cannell, and
of a beautiful soft primrose tint ; it promises to
make a very fine exhibition variety. William
Cobbett, a new Japanese variety of the present
year, is a very fine one ; colour salmon or pale
cinnamon, with a dash of \iolet thrown over the
petals ; a most pleasing and distinct flower that
cannot fail to become a great favourite. Thomas
Stevens, delicate bufE-yellow dashed with rose, is
bright and pleasing. Lastly, Pynaert Van Geert is
a very early-flowering October variety ; colour
orange-red, tipped with bright yellow, and it might
be described as an early Red Dragon, and very
much resembles it in its stvle of growth.
B. D.
CHRYSANTHEMUMS AT PUTNEY.
The gay Chrysanthemum has its full share of ad-
mirers in the Putney district, and one of its best
homes is in the nursery of Mr. G. Stevens, where
the plants are grown with skill, and at the present
time are in their most interesting stage. There are
two large houses devoted to them, and the plants
are grouped thickly together, so that there is a mass
of varied colours, from the purest white to the
richest crimson, with innumerable intermediate
shades. In the early house, a structure about
60 feet long, the plants are in full perfection, and
mostly comprise Japanese varieties, some of which
are splendid specimens. A grand addition is
Edward Molyneux, a Japanese variety imported
from Japan by Mr. H. Cannell. The flowers measure
fully 8 inches in diameter, and are of a thoroughly
distinct character, partaking somewhat of t he Comte
de Germiny type. The form is good, petals broad,
with those in the centre curled and showing a bronze
reverse, the remainder forming a fine base to the
bloom, and being of a deep rich crimson, such as
we find in the variety W. Holmes. Another fine
variety is Carew Underwood, which is of great
width, and exhibits a distinct combination of
colouring; the long, cturly, and spreading petals
are salmon at the base, running into a brownish
hue and then yellow. There were many specimens
of the rich crimson W. Holmes, a fine October
flowering variety, whose popularity is ensured.
Miss Stevens, with something of the character
of Bouquet Fait, is of a pleasing pale lilac hue, the
petals short, and making up a fuU ball-like bloom.
Near by these we noticed a specimen of i\Irs. J.
Wright, which has created a small sensation by rea-
son of the extreme handsomeness and beauty of the
pearly white flowers. The plant, however, has the
fault of growing too tall, the height attained being
about 7 feet, and if its strong-growing character is
held in check, the flowers lack quality. C. Orchard
is a variety that promises well ; it is of the Thunberg
character, with long, broad, spreading florets, brick-
red shaded with bronzy orange. Lady Cave is a
beautiful kind, with the small twisted florets of a
clear white, the centre being yellow. Mrs. C.
Orchard is of the reflexed class, and its deep orange-
coloured flowers are most effective in a group, but
it is too small for an exhibition stand. H. Alde-
bert has tassel-like florets of a rich crimson, and
Thomas Stevens seems likely to prove an acquisition
to the decorative class, its pearly white petals
shaded with rose-pink showing up well in a group.
The rosy mauve flowers of Ferdinand Feral were
conspicuous, also those of the rich crimson Mons.
H. Jacotot, the pure white Mile. Lacroix, the rich
purple-rose Mme. de Sevin, and the bold yellow-
coloured Thunberg. Mr. H. Matthews is a clear
terra-cotta Japanese, with the florets broad and
handsome.
In another house, which will in a few days pre-
sent a great show of bloom, were flowers of the
deep rich crimson reflexed variety Cullingfordi,
Duke of Berwick, with long tasselly petals, and
recently certificated; Maiden's Blush, blush white ;
and the beautiful Belle Paul, the drooping florets
of which are white with rose-purple edge.
Amongst the incurved were several linely-de-
veloped flowers of the golden-coloured variety Mr.
Bunn, the delicate Jeanne d'Arc, the pure white
Beverley, the maroon - coloured Refulgens, and
Nov. 5, 18S7.]
THE GARDEN.
409
Yellow Globe, a sport from White Globe, the colour
being of a clear sulphur yellow. Mr. Stevens also
has about 500 specimens of Elaine, which are
grown for cut flowers for market.
Mr. Forbes, gardener to Mr. Morgan, Dover
House, Roehainpton, has also a large collection of
Chrysanthemums, many of which are now in bloom.
About 800 plants are grown, and these are well
arranged in a convenient house. There were several
excellent specimens of the snow-white Elaine,
which is the best of the early varieties in its line of
colour, and Soleil Levant, a Japanese kind with
beautifully proportioned blooms, having large,
yellow, quilled, and slightly curled florets. M.
Freeman, which has violet-rose flowers, Val
d'Andorre, orange, shaded with red, and Thunberg
were also conspicuous for their fine quality. The
incurved Mr. Bunn appears to be in good condition
everywhere this season, and it is grouped here with
Charles de Montcabrier, a rose-coloured and full
Japanese variety. Belle Paul, Maiden's Blush,
Jeanne d'Arc, James Salter, and Wm. Robinson, a
sport from Bouquet Fait, with flowers of decided
Japanese character, and handsome form ; the colour
is of a telling orange-bufE.
Close by Dover House is the residence of Mr.
D. B. Chapman, whose gardener (Mr. Sullivan)
manages Chrysanthemums with commendable skill.
There are two large groups of plants comprising
many superb blooms, noticeable for their colour,
size, and general good quality. Mrs. J. Wright, the
new pearly white Japanese variety, was represented
by an excellent bloom ; also the beautiful 1' Adorable,
a handsome Japanese Chrysanthemum with yellow
drooping florets, shaded with a violet hue. Belong-
ing to the same category is D. B. Chapman, a rosy
magenta kind with full, beautiful flowers ; and
another variety of exquisite beauty is Florence
Percy, a full flower with pure white, crisp florets.
There are also splendid blooms of Acquisition, a
well-named Anemone variety of the large-flowering
section ; Sceur Dorothee Souille, a beautiful Japanese
Anemone ; Hiver Fleuri, Barbara, Val d'Andorre,
Queen of lUngland and Peter the Great. E. C.
CHRYSANTHEMUM SPORTS.
It sometimes happens that the best varieties of
Chrysanthemums are obtained from sports. More
particularly does this apply to the incurved sec-
tion, as seedling plants are not so easily raised
as in the case of the other classes. Many good
new sorts of other sections are also obtained
from sports. As the season for securing new kinds
by sports will quickly be at hand, an outlook
ought to be kept for any variations that may
appear. The present mode of growing the plants
simply for the production of large blooms is not
conducive to the development by sports of new
sorts, as all the lateral growths or side branches are
removed as fast as they appear, in order to throw
the whole strength of the plant into the few blooms.
From these side shoots some sports occur. When
one is discovered which has the necessary qualities,
that is, distinct form and colour, and it is deemed
worthy of perpetuation, the question of increasing
the stock immediately suggests itself. I have found
the ^following plan answer well : If one branch
only produces the new bloom, cut away all the
other branches and remove the dead blooms, but
not the leaves, from the shoot on which the sport
is ; turn the plant out of the pot and lay it on its
side in a propagating house or frame which has
bottom-heat, and cover the roots and branches with
Cocoa-nut fibre, burying the buds, but not the leaves.
This induces shoots to break at each joint, and when
these are long enough, take them ofl: as cuttings
with a sharp knife, but do not cut them too long, as
that might prevent other young growths springing
from the base. Insert the cuttings singly in small
pots, using sandy soil, place in a propagating case
with bottom-heat, and water and shade carefully.
Plants which are thus established should produce
flowers of the new variety. Some growers cut the
stem into lengths, but roots are not freely produced
from the old wood, and a very small number of
plants can be raised in this way. It is also ad-
visable to strike all cuttings growing from the base
of the sported plant, carefully marking them for
future reference. E. M.
PEIZES FOE GARDEN CARNATIONS.
Seeing in our garden the great value of Car
nations as flower-garden plants, we propose, in
order to encourage the raising of fine kinds,
to give prizes to the raisers of the best kinds
which shall be sent to be tried by us. Apart
from their attractions as blooms on a show
table. Carnations are of all plants, save the
Rose, the most precious for the flower
garden. Erom it they have for many years
been almost banished. It is not for its flower
only we seek to give the Carnation its
true place in the garden, and put it where
crowds of " carpet bedding " and other half-
hardy rubbish without form or fragrance
waste the ground. The splendid bright blue-
grey of the evergreen leaves throughout the
autumn and long winter makes it worth grow-
ing for its leaves alone. But it is only where
the plant is in bold groups that this eftect
can be well seen. During the present autumn
we planted over 1500 layers in the flower
garden in October in sheets and groups, and
the effect of the healthy rosettes now is ex-
cellent. Talk of winter gardening, no ground
looks happier than ground so planted.
There can be little doubt that for truest
beauty in a garden the self-coloitred Carna-
tions are the best — the scarlets, whites, clarets,
salmons, ajjricots, and yellows making telling
and charming eifects. Of the striped kinds,
the best are those where the ground colour
and the marking are not in violent contrast,
as in the case of the reds flaked with lighter
and darker, and the warm buff grounds flaked
with red or rose. The least satisfactory are
the white grounds cut with hard wedges of
strong or dark colour, the sharp, harsh mark-
ings destroying the shape of the flower.-
Many of the yellow and white ground Pico-
tees are beautiful, and the whites with
thread-like scarlet lines. Among colours
most to be desired are good clear buffs and a
lemon-white. If the time and care given to
the production of colours, merely eccentric
and sometimes ugly, had been given to the
raising of tender and beautiful shades, what
lovely things we should have had ! It is not
too late ! Although we at present see most
beauty in the selfs for the open air, it is
likely that if persons with a sense of good
colour were to watch among seedlings, that
many varieties could be raised in which the
colour might be harmonious without being
uniform.
There mill he three equal prizes of £3, one for
each group of colour.
(1) mill comj)rise whites, creams, and yellows.
(3) reds, emhracing cloves amd pwrples.
(3) embracing all colours in which the flakes or
markings are harmoniously blended; shorn Carna-
tions and Picotees may be included in the group.
For the best Carnatio^i sent, not embraced in these
colours, an extra prize of SJi will be given.
Selfs and harmoniously coloured kinds are most
desired, but no kind or class will be refused a fair
trial. The best Carnation in each class will be
figured in colour in The Garden if it prove supe-
rior to, or distinct from, kinds already known.
Not less than six plants, rooted this year, of
each should be sent in as early as possible. Several
kinds may be sent by one person, but the com-
petition is reserved to kinds not at present in
commerce.
Each variety should have its name (or a number),
the colour, and the sender's name clearly written
on the label, and be forwarded by parcel post to
Carnation, care of Mr. Bond, West Hoathley,
Sussex. The prizes will be awarded next August.
The plants will be grown by the editor of The
Garden, and judged by him entirely from the point
of view of their beauty in the flower garden, and
without reference to any previously accepted stan-
dard. They will be all grown f uUy exposed in the
open air, away from a wall or any other shelter, and
will be taken every care of for their owners, and all
returned when desired, barring accident of the
winter and the attacks of their insect enemies.
Plants have been received from Mr. Douglas,
Messrs. Dickson & Sons, of Edinburgh, Mr. Hooper,
of Bath, the Honourable Mr. Eden, Mr. Rogers, of
Whittlesea, Miss Erskine, Rev. G. H. Engleheart,
Mr. W. H. Divers, Mr. J. Lakin, of Oxford, Mr.
Hutchinson, Beauparc, and other growers.
Fruit Garden.
W. COLEMAN.
THE ORCHARD.
The trees being now clear of fruit, but still
more or less holding their leaves, a most favour-
able opportunity for deciding upon alterations,
removals, and additions now presents itself.
New orchard work within the past few years
has made good progress, but I question if all
the young trees planted would outnumber the
old ones that have done their best work and
now ought to be cut down. Be this as it may,
it is quite certain that we are a long way off that
happy condition which will justify us in saying
we can now defy the colonial grower. Our
quality as well as our quantity are still below the
mark, and the only way in which we can get
over these difficulties is bound up in planting
more young trees and renovating the best of the
old ones. To undertake the restoration of a
large orchard a century or so old, no one can
shut his eyes to the fact that he must be
possessed of a large amount of perseverance and
patience, for this work is not done in a few
days, and when it is done we have to wait for
the leaf, the shoot, and the fruit. Still, there
are no two ways of looking at the question ; our
old Moss-eaten trees are worth resuscitating or
they are not. A naturally drained, well-sheltered
field or paddock may be admirably adapted for
Apples, Pears, or stone fruits, which may pay
much better than Grass or grain, and now is the
time not only to decide what is to be done, but
how it is to be done, and who is to do it. Ten-
ants cannot be expected to do much, but tenant
and landlord together surely might do something
that must tend to their mutual interests. This,
however, is not the question ; my business is
with the operator, and to him I would say, un-
limber your old orchards by grubbing every old
and inferior tree and sort of tree ; burn all roots
and rubbish ; leave it for some other crop if
possible and break new ground for fruit. If
this cannot be reduced to practice, having cleared
the orchard, settle about draining, not over-
looking the fact that orchards usually wet this
year are as dry as an old limekiln, and that it is
possible to overdrain. Stagnant water is objec-
tionable and injurious, but a liberal rainfall
passing through 3 feet or 4 feet of good soil,
thence away to the natural watercourse, is
highly essential to size and quality of fruit. All
410
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 5, 1887.
that has to be done, then, is to make provision
for the escape of water after it has filtered
through the soil, which, by the way, may be
broken up nearly as deep as the drains are
placed beneath the surface. When in good con-
dition young trees — the different sorts in lines
by themselves — may be planted from 40 feet to
60 feet apart in every direction, and allowed to
extend until they meet. Sun and air will then
have full play on all sides, and in due course the
produce from one of such trees will be of more
value than that from half-a-dozen that have
been half stifled from their youth upwards. I
need not go into all details of selecting, lifting,
and planting, as I have often stated that the
best is the cheapest. Early autumn is the best
time to plant, and good trees should be properly
staked and protected from animals.
But supposing we cannot get away from the
old orchard and pastures new, why, then, we
must make the best of Apple or Pear-sick
ground by top-dressing with manure and bones,
wood ashes, and the like, and avoiding spots
upon which old trees stood in our selection of
new sites for young ones. But here, in this
case, I wovikl reverse the order of things cer-
tainly for planting. I would throw out at once
the surface and the subsoil to the depth of
2 feet 6 inches or more, and each station should
be at least 10 feet in diameter. I would then
leave all open to the elements for the winter,
taking favourable opportunities for carting any-
thing fresh from the roadside or elsewhere for
improving the staple. In February or April, in
preference to January or March, the trees
might be planted, staked, and protected.
Much, however, would depend upon the weather
and the nature of the soil as well as the season.
Frost or the dry weather we are now having is
necessary to the amelioration as well as the
pulverisation of stiff soils, and the longer
the more stiff, sour stuff, especially in old plan-
tations, is turned about and exposed the better
will it be for turning in again.
Next, as to pruning old trees, a period ex
tending over four months may safely be allowed
for this work ; in fact, pruning is in season
whenever the trees are leafless. The best time,
however, is immediately after the fruit is
gathered and before the leaves fall, as one can
then see every dead, decaying, or paralysed
branch whilst the check with receding sap is
less severe than when it is rising. Much judg-
ment is essential to judicious pruning, or, pro-
perly speaking, to thinning out the heads of old
trees, otherwise the rough-and-ready way of
lopping off large limbs and trimming every twig
out of the centres may hasten their decline past
recovery. To avoid this and produce an oppo-
site effect, the pruning of neglected trees should
be performed piecemeal and extend over two or
three years, but once this work is finished all
robber shoots and crossing twigs should be
taken out annually. Washing, scraping, and
dressing the trunks and limbs with soot, lime,
salt, and the invaluable soapsuds is work for
the men in bad weather when pruning would
neither be wise nor practicable.
The early Purple Qean Cherry. — This ap-
pears to be the earliest Cherry grown. In the
Cherry house at Gunnersbury it is nine or ten days
before Early Rivers, which comes next in point of
earliness. This is a Cherry that is well worth
growing for its earliness and flavour, and it is also
a free cropper. The fruit is pale yellow, much
tinted with red on the side next the sun. Mr.
Koberts entertains a very high opinion of this
variety, and in the west end of the Cherry house it
produces a very heavy crop. It is also known
under the name of the Eirly May Dake, but it
scarcely belongs to the Duke class. Dr. Hogg
states that it should be grown on the Mahaleb
stock, and Mr. Roberts is strongly in favour of this
stock for Cherries under glass. It is quite an old
sort, having been received by the London Horticul-
tural Society from De CandoUe as far back as 1822.
— R. D.
KELSEY PLUM.
I PLANTED out in February, 1885, the first trees of
this variety that ever came to Baker County, and
among the first in the State. They comprise only
six very small trees, having been budded the June
previous. During the following summer I budded
a large number of young Peach trees in my nursery
from these six, and planted out about 200 of these
(dormant buds) the following winter.
The trees all made a rapid growth last year, and
the original six produced a few fruits, which was
more than I expected from trees so young. During
last summer and autumn all the Kelsey trees in the
orchard were cut back severely for bud wood, and
still again last winter they underwent further
amputation to furnish grafts.
They set an immense crop of fruit, which bore down
the branches to such an extent that it was necessary
to prop the trees up. One of the fruits weighed
5i ozs. and measured in circumference 8J inches the
largest way. I had quite a number of these Plums
that measured 8 Jnches and over in circumference
the smallest way, and of which three of them would
very nearly weigh a pound, while four would con-
siderably overrun it. •
The 200 trees set out in orchard in February,
1886, and then only dormant buds, have also borne
some fruit this year, in some cases as many as ten
or twelve on a tree, and the fruit was uniformly
large and fine. - '
Some of the fruits still remain on the trees, and a
few of them wiU probably do so for about two weeks
longer, but the time of ripening averages much
earlier this year than it did last. From the 1st to
the 15th of September is about the average time of
ripening (specimens remaining on the trees last year
as late as October 11), but this year they have com^
menced ripening much earlier, and a large portion
of the fruit has been gathered. I think that during
ordinary seasons the fruit will ripen herefrom July
20 to August 10, and earlier farther south.
To summarise the matter, my experience with this
fruit has been highly encouraging thus far, and I
can quite agree with Calitornian growers in their
estimation of this excelleiifPlum, viz. ; —
Its wonderful productiveness is unsurpassed by any
other Plum, either uative or foreign. It comes into
bearing at the age of two to three years, blossoms
appearing frequently on yearling trees. . The fruit is
of extraordinary size, being from 7 inches to 9 inches
iu eircumfereDce. It has a remarkably small pit. It
is very attractive in appearance, being of a rich yellow
nearly overspread with bright red, and with a lovely
bloom. It is heai-t-shaped. It is of excellent quality,
melting, rich, and juicy. Its large size renders the
pairing of the fruit as practicable as the Peach, which
is quite a novelty, and it excels all other Plums for
canning. In * texture it is lirm and meaty,' and it
possesses superior qualities for shipping long distances.
In connection with this last statement please
allow me to quote from a letter just received from
Professor H. E. Van Deman, chief of division of
Pomology of the United States Department of
Agriculture. The letter is dated Washington, D.C.,
July 15, and is an acknowledgment of Kelsey Plums
sent by mail on July (i. " The Plums were in per-
fect condition ; two of them were coloured slightly,
the other not at all. I did not try them until the
llih inst., when they were slightly mellowed, but
when cut they were as firm as an Apple. They were
evidently picked too green to ripen up to eat at once,
but would have been very fine for cooking. They are
certainly a great acquisition to the list of Plums for
the South."— G. L. Tabek, in Florida JJisjiatc/i.
*tf* Having seen and tasted, we can fully cor-
roborate Mr. Taber's statements regarding the
remarkable growth, vigour, and productivenessof the
Kelsey trees in his orchards and nurseries, and
confirm his estimate of the superior quality of this
fruit A taste for it does not have to be acquired
and it does not require to be introduced into market
like some of our new fruits. Everybody likes it
and it wOl sell well. — Ed.
TWO FINE APPLES.
Owing to the dry season, the fruits of Blenheim
Orange Apple are smaller than usual, and in much
exposed orchards a large quantity of the largest fruit
has been blown down. In the vale of Taunton Deane
there are probably more trees of Blenheim Orange
growing than in any other county. In several orchards
long lines of trees may be seen, and in favourable sea-
sons they are very profitable; but this well-known va-
riety is not a sure cropper, nor will it ever be while
the trees are grown as high standards, for the reason
that in two seasons out of three very much of the
largest and highest coloured fruit is blown down by
wind. The present season has been one of unusual
severity in this respect, for in walled gardens and
sheltered orchards the loss of fruits through its being
blown off by wind has been very great. I do not
wish to underrate the value^ of this form of tree
generally ; all that I isish to do is to chronicle
the facts as I have seen them, and also to state
that in seasons when orchard trees have been di-
vested of much of their fruit, low-spreading trees in
the fruit gardens of Devonshire have been carrying
full crops. The Blenheim Orange is not a sure
cropper, and it is only suitable for the deepest
and richest land. If planted on poor ground that
retains much moisture during the winter, it is not
satisfactory. It makes very good cordons, but in
this form it is a shy bearer. The nature of this
variety is to send out long branches, and therefore,
if a large amount of fruit is wanted, as little prun-
ing as possible should be done and the branches
allowed to extend.
King of the Pippins. — There are several
opinions respecting the merits of this Apple. At
the Apple congress in Edinburgh last year it was
placed first on the list of dessert varieties. Whether
it is deserving of such a distinction is doubtful.
It is a more reliable bearer than the majority of
the dessert kinds, whether grown as an espalier
or as a large spreading bush. 1 have always seen
this sort bearing better crops grown in this way
than as standards, and as the tree is a fairly vigorous
grower, it does remarkably well as an espalier in
' deep, alluvial soils, the branches frequently extend-
ing 6 yards or 7 yards each way. Trees of this kind
I will produce several bushels of Apples. When
1 large quantities of fruit are wanted, it is of very
little use to attempt to grow this sort in the form of
small trees, as it wiU not bear pruning well. — J., in
Field.
Useful Pears. — The culture of the Pear forms a
speciality at Dover House, Eoehampton, as the loamy
soil suits the trees, which are healthy and vigorous.
The varieties chiefly ^rown and most highly prized are
the Marie Louise, which Mr. Forbes places first on the
list, D :)yenne Boussoch, Winter Nelis, Louise Bonne
of Jersey, Beurre Eance, and Brockworth Park, of all
of whi jh he has splendid samples. — E. C.
Negro Largo Fig. — Mr. Roberts grows this Fig
very successfully in pots at Gunnersbury Park. The
plants, standing upon the front stage of the Fig
house, had the branches trained against the glass
front. Mr. Roberts states that he cannot fruit it
when planted out, but in pots it is remarkably free,
and gives him large quantities, picking as many as
from seven to nine and ten dozen fruits from a tree,
some of the fruits weighing 7 ozs. each. — R. D.
Cultivating an eld orchard. — The Canadian
Iloriicutturist states that an orchard twenty-five
years old had been seeded down and in Grass the
last ten years, and had become unthrifty and un-
fruitful. Last year one half of it was thoroughly
ploughed, wood ashes were applied, and the trees
were caref vUly pruned. The other half was not culti-
vated. This treatment was continued this year.
The result was that the trees on the cultivated por-
tion resisted the drought perfectly and bad dark
green foliage, and were heavily laden with Baldwins,
Greenings, and Golden Russets. In cultivating an
old orchard which has been long in Grass, it should
be remembered that it should be done while the
trees are dormant.
Nov. 5, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
411
POT VINES.
The Vines represented in the accompanying
illustration were grown in 10-inch pots, and
started on the 15th of January, coming into
fruit on the 11th of June following. Seven pot
Vines bore forty-seven bunches of Grapes, and
from each Vine I cut on the average 8 lbs. of
fruit, and the average weight of each bunch
was 1 lb. The plants occupied a three-quarter
span-roofed pit 7 feet high and 13 feet long. To
the well-ripened wood was this excellent result
due. The plants broke at every eye, and were
liberally syringed, as Mr. Coleman advised, to se-
cure free setting of the Grapes. The berries
swelled satisfactorily and the bunches finished off
as well as possible. As to the soil used, I may
sun shines and lights up the various shades of colour
in the leaves no handsomer sight can be seen in
October. — R. Warner.
DESSEET APPLES.
I HAVE here three dessert Apples classed as first-
rate, neither of which would be helpful during the
present or ensuing months in a competition. These
are Sam Young, Keddleston Pippin, and Cockle
Pippin. I very much doubt whether amongst
really late-keeping kinds there are three superior
in briskness and flavour, but neither of them gives
colour, and all are small. The variety Sam Young
is bearing the thinnest crop, and it resembles
the smaller Russets, being flattish-round in shape
and brownish on the skin, but also gives a little.
Pot Vines. Engraved for The Garden from a photograph sent by A. Trail.
state that it was good turfy loam with a mixture
of lime rubbish and a little charcoal, as no
liquid manure was given, but an occasional
dressing of artificial manure and fresh horse
manure. Alexander Trail.
Falshaw Hall Gardens, Cheshire.
Pear foliage in autumn.— In The Garden,
October 15 (p. 352), E. Molyneux gives a list of de-
ciduous trees having beautiful foliage in autumn.
I can recommend the following in addition, viz..
Desire Corn§lis, Napoleon . Savinien, Comte de
Lamy.and Suzettede Bavay Pears on Quince stocks.
Golden Russet on Pear stock is best of all. I have
a tree which is now in beautiful leaf. When the
colour. Keddleston Pippin is a little more conical
in shape, but of a greener hue, although this year
the fruits are beginning to assume a yellowish
tint. The fruits are of fair dessert size, handsome
in outline, and of very crisp, piquant flavour.
Cookie, Pippin is well known to all for its delicious
flavour, in this respect being superior to most other
kinds. These sorts, with some few others not so
popular as they deserve to be, should be in all
private collections, because they furnish, when well
preserved, delightful quality. The best of imported
fruits cannot compete in flavour with Sam Young
or Cockle Pippin. I think we shall find, as
the best dessert Apples ripen, that quality is
this year exceptionally marked, whilst the flesh is
soft and yet crisp. Many find in good dessert Apples
wonderful enjoyment indeed ; it is doubtful whether
other fruits, however soft and sweet, can rival
the best Apples. Possibly, the month of Novem-
ber is the best season for dessert Apples, as just
then the unrivalled Ribston and Cox's Orange
Pippins are at their best,'and to these may be added
the ever popular Blenheim Pippin. Beyond these,
opinions vary, although few collections of six dishes
will fail to include the favourite King of the Pip-
pins and the good old Margil. Any selection of a
dozen kinds may include such as Fearn's Pippin,
American Mother, Nanny, Court Pendu Plat,
Golden Reinette, Pine-apple Russet, Cornish Gilli-
flower, Cornish Aromatic, Pitmaston Golden Pippin,
and Scarlet Nonpareil. Generally, during the
November exhibitions I find colour makes a strong
feature, a natural result just then, perhaps, as any
little colour in fruits is very welcome. Still, it would
be unfair to ignore quality in dessert fruits, but,
putting aside the three or four first named, there is
less choice in the remainder, for all are more or less
excellent. A. D.
SUCCESSFUL FRUIT CULTURE.
Those who stiU believe in the truth of the old
saying about planting Pears for one's heirs ought
to pay a visit to CardifE Castle Gardens, there to be
convinced of the utter worthlessness of the asser-
tion. No doubt, under the old hard and fast lines,
when the pruning knife was much too freely used,
it did take many years to rear a really profitable
tree, but, now-a-days, those who profit by the
sound advice frequently given in these pages ought
to have discovered how short a time really elapses
before even a maiden tree can be brought into
excellent bearing condition. At the gardens just
alluded to there are rows of perfectly - shaped
pyramid Pear trees fully 24 feet high and 12 feet
through that eleven years ago were newly planted
maidens. Scores of equally handsome trees are
from 18 feet to 20 feet high, the crops in many
instances being counted by bushels. Pears planted
against the garden walls have done equally as well,
plenty of them being perfect specimens of hori-
zontal training, and as much as 12 feet high and
20 feet through. No doubt the climate is favour-
able to the free growth of Pear trees, but the soil is
by no means of a nature one would expect to suit
the trees so well. It may be described as a light,
sandy loam, scarcely 12 inches in depth, and as it
rests on a gravelly subsoil, trenching is out of the
question, but the depth has been increased by the
addition of good mould from whatever quarter it
could be obtained. Undersuchoonditionsthedwarf-
ing or Quince stocks are simply worthless, and
what few Mr. Pettigrew, the well-known gardener
so many years in charge of this place, tried are
miserable failures. Large, vigorous, and long-
enduring trees being desired, the Pear stock was
principally relied upon, and wisely so, as the result
proves. Maidens or trees with one young un-
pruned shoot were preferred to trees two or three
years old, as being found the quickest and surest
in the long run to arrive at a profitable size. They
were cut freely back soon after they were planted,
in the case of the pyramids, which we will first
describe, to within about 3 feet of the ground.
Four or five well placed shoots resulting from this
shortening were reserved, and the rest removed.
The following autumn or early in the winter these
well-developed shoots were cut back to a length
of about 12 inches, and another vigorous break
and great increase in the number of branches
resulted, and laid the foundation of a good
tree. One shoot was selected as a leader and duly
staked, the rest, unless either of them were too
vigorous, being allowed to grow unrestricted.
Gross shoots, being liable to spoil the shape of the
tree, were checked, either by having their points
taken out or some of their leaves removed, the
former being the most effective method. At the
next pruning time the central or leading shoot only
was cut back to a length of about 12 inches, none
of the rest being shortened, unless it was necessary
to procure more shoots for furnishing the trees,
and a somewhat similar course was adopted at each
pruning. Any lateral growths not required for the
formation of main branches were spurred back close
412
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 5, 1887.
to the old wood, but as the "letting-alone" treatment
of the main brandies quickly resulted in the forma-
tion of abundance of fruiting spurs, not much
lateral growth is formed on these trees. The resisting
the temptation to cut back the branches all over the
trees is one of the greatest points to be observed.
No doubt the gradual " building up " of the main
branches of a pyramid tree causes them to be much
stouter and better able to support a great weight of
fruit if this can be induced to form with the aid of
root-pruning or wholly lifting the trees, but neither
of these practices were necessary in the case of
Mr. Pettigrew's more naturally grown trees. If the
branches are liable to be weighted down to the
ground with fruit, as happened at Cardiff this and
other seasons, it is a very simple matter to prop
them up.
In the case of those maidens planted against the
garden walls, these, after the first pruning, were
allowed to form three good shoots — one central or
leader, and two side shoots, one each side. At the
ne.xt pruning the leader was cut back to a length of
about 12 iuches, and again allowed to develop three
shoots, as before. The trees being in good health,
the shoots formed were extra strong, and as soon
as the leader had hardened somewhat this was
shortened back, as at the winter pruning. Three
shoots were .selected as before, and these invariably
grew strongly and ripened well, two pairs of main
branches being thus secured in one season. This
was the annual routine until the top of the wall
was reached. The side branches for a few years
were trained obliquely, all being gradually brought
down to an horizontal position, and are of nearly
equal strength throughout. No stopping was re-
sorted to in the case of the side branches, and these
soon came into full bearing. During the summer
all the lateral growth is lightly stopped, being, how-
ever, rather closely spurred back at the early winter
pruning. Vegetable crops are kept well clear of
the fruit trees, and the latter further get the benefit
of the manure freely applied to the vegetable
quarters. Abundance of fibrous roots throng the
surface soil, and where this is the case fruitf ulness
is usually the rule.
■ ■ There are two fruit and vegetable gardens at
Cardiff Castle both equally well stocked with grand
trees. Mr. Pettigrew has formed no fanciful collec-
tion of varieties ; only what he believes to be the
best are grown, and these in numbers of six each
and upwards. The pyramids are ranged in rows,
but the varieties in the case of wall trees are more
distributed so as to secure a longer succession of
the favourites, such as Jargonelle, Pitmaston
Duchess, and Beurre d'Amanlis. The trees of Pit-
inaston Duchess are the finest in the garden, and
this remarkably fine Pear is wonderfully productive
as well as of exceptionally good quality during part
of September and October. No collection maybe said
to be complete without it. Beurrg d'Amanlis is also
an excellent September Pear. It forms a handsome
pyramid or espalier, and rarely f .ails to bear well . The
same remarks apply to Beurre Superfin, which ripens
in October, and is much liked by Mr. Pettigrew.
Fondante d'Autoinne, which also ripens in Sep-
tember and October, is another deservedly popular
sort, and the well-known Brown Beurre finds a place
in this collection. Louise Bonne of Jersey and Marie
Louise d'Uccle, both of which form handsome pyra-
inids and rarely fail to crop heavily, are worthy of
a place in most gardens. Both are October Pears.
Doyenne du Comice, which ripens rather later than
these, is a most delicious variety, and strongly re-
commended for all positions. It is a most reliable
sort,^ second only in point of quality to the popular
Marie Louise. The latter is extensively grown in
the gardens. Marechal de la Cour is also a fine,
highly-flavoured Pear, in season during October and
part of November. BeurrB Clairgeau is always a
free-growing, prolific sort, its principal merits being
the large and handsome fruit. General Todtleben,
another fine sort, which ripens in November, is[
if eaten at the right time, of delicious quality!
The old Knight's Monarch, which usually ripens in
December, is a great favourite ; and the delicious
little Winter Nelis is also extensively grown. Beurre^
Dial, or Beurre Magniflque as it is also named, I
always does well either against walls or as pyramids,
and at Cardiff the quality is usually good. Beurre
d'Aremberg, a December Pear, crops heavily, and is
of fairly good quality. Glou Morceau is one of the
best and most reliable mid- winter sorts ; and Jose-
phine de Malines, also a good cropper, is usually
good in January and February. Bergamotte Esperen
yields enormous crops, the trees being much
weighted down with the fruit, which are useful
from January till late in March. Beurre Ranee,
Easter Beurr(;, and Ne Plus Meuris are three late
and, when well grown, excellent sorts, 'all usually
cropping heavily. Olivier de Serres and Madame
Millet complete a selection hard to find fault with
or improve upon.
Apples are equally as weU grown at Cardiff Castle,
though, strange to say, the majority of the trees this
season are badly infested with red spider. They
are scarcely so fine as the Pears. No attempt has
been made to grow them in a pyramidal form, but
all have a short, clean stem and branching, well
thinned out heads. The bulk of them are on the
natural or Crab stock, those on the Paradise or
dwarfing stock presenting an unhealthy, stunted
appearance. The trees were reared and pruned in
much the same manner as the Pears, a sparing use
of the knife ensuring the early production of good
crops. Worcester Pearmain crops heavily, the fruit
being handsome and serviceable in August and Sep-
tember, and other good early dessert sorts grown
are Irish Peach and Quarrenden. There were
capital crops of such good successional sorts as
King of the Pippins, Cox's Orange Pippin and Gra-
venstein, the last-named being most reliable and
good either for dessert or culinary purposes. Court
Pendu Plat is a sure-bearing late sort, and Rushock
Pearmain, in season from January to April, is also
highly spoken of. Annie Elizabeth, another late
keeper and also available for cooking, succeeds ad-
mirably. Court of Wick, a variety in season from
October to March, ought to be generally grown, and
Sturmer Pippin, one of the latest of all, is a sure
cropper.
The favourite culinary varieties, most of which
were bearing good crops this season, are Lord Suf-
field. Pott's Seedling, which much resembles the
first-named fine sort ; Manks Codlin, which at Car-
diff is good enough for dessert ; Keswick Codlin,
Tom Putt, a showy sort long grown in the south-
western counties ; Stirling Castle, a sure-bearing
early sort ; Eohlinville, a most profitable variety in
season from October till late in December ; Beauty
of Kent, a grand sort ; Blenheim Pippin, a general
favourite ; Reinette du Canada, good in every re-
spect ; Waltham Abbey, a good bearer, large and
handsome ; Alfriston, Dumelow's Seedling, Bess-
pool, Nelson's Glory, and French Crab — all good
late-keeping sorts. I had nearly omitted Emperor
Alexander, a handsome free-bearing sort in season
during October and November; and the finest of
all Apples, viz,, Peasgood's Nonsuch, this being
good alike for cooking or dessert purposes during
November and December. W. I.
small, late, deep red, very hairy, keeps well ; Rough
Red, red, hairy, small, and of excellent flavoui-; Star-
ling, large, red, early, smooth, first rate; Rifleman
red, hairy, large, a good late variety; Warrington
medium size, hairy, very late, red; Scotch Jam, red
hairy, small, of good flavour ; Hedgehog, medium size
late, pale red; Ironmonger, red, hairy, good flavour
Porcupine, small, midseason, white, very hairy, of e.x
quisite flavour ;_ Whitesmith, white, hairy, large ; Snow
ball, white, hairy, medium, exeelleut flavour; Whin
ham's Industry, very heavy cropper, red, large, good
for market purposes. — P.
Good Gooseberries. — Having resolved to make
a plantation of Gooseberries this season, I shall be
glad if any reader of The Garden will kindly give
a list of the best varieties. — X.
*,* In answer to " X.," I herewith append a list
of Gooseberries which will, I think, answer all his
requireinents, and will enable him to have this
delicious fruit for a lengthened period : —
Aston Hepburn, a Small early variety, dark greenish
yellow ; Broom Girl, large, early, gi'eeniah yellow,
very fine : flavour; Early Sulphur, an early variety of
mediumsize, very hairy, bright yellow ; MountPleasant,
large, midseason, greenish yellow; Keepsake, large,
e;irly, whitish green ; Topgallant, very largo, mid-
season, whitish green ; Gretna Green, very large, early,
dark green, of exquisite flavour; Green Globe, large,
early, pale green, of good flavour ; Roseherry, medium,
midseason, pale green, excellent ; Glenton Green or
Langlcy Green, medium size, midseason, light green,
very hairy, excellent; Green Gage, medium, early, dull
green, good flavour ; Sir J. B. Warren, very large, late,
red, very fine quality ; Roaring Lion, large, late, pale
red ; Lancashire Lad, large, midseason, red, very hairy ;
Ploughhoy, red, smooth, flavourfirst rate, late; Overall,
IN A MARKET ORCHARD.
The ordinary notion of an orchard is that of tall,
over-hanging fruit trees standing on a surface of
Grass. That is a pretty, alinost, indeed, a pastoral
conception, and one often realised in rural districts.
The market orchard, however, . usually lacks the
surface of verdure, and frequently includes a base
of vegetables or of flowering plants, especially of
bulbs, Wallflowers, Violets, Sec, or of bush fruits.
Strawberries, &c. It was in one of these latter,
some 10 acres or 12 acres in extent, I found myself
the other day seeking a friend who was busy gather-
ing Apples, and hard, indeed, it was to find him.
The lines of top or standard trees, some 20 feet
apart, ran east and west, and between these and
also in the same rows were lines of Currant and
Gooseberry bushes, forming a dense thicket of under-
growth through which it was diflicvdt to penetrate,
and over which in places it was hard to see.
Especially was this the case in the breadths of
Black Currants, which, fully 6 feet in height and as
much through, meet each other, and form a dense
body of undergrowth such as when in full fruit must
be worth going far to see. The orchard has been
planted some twenty years, and the bushes beneath
nearly as long, and now needing some severe thin-
ning, for it has not been the custom, although kept
scrupulously clean, to use the knife freely. As a
result, the bushes have become too dense, although
still producing large crops of fine fruits. The whole
tree and bush produce illustrates what, under orchard
culture, fairly good soil will carry, for the soil here
has no exceptional merit, and is far from being
deeply cultivated. In the first place, the ground is
too heavily weighted with bushes for the good of
the top trees, many of which have felt the pressure
of drought during the past summer, and every bush
in the tree rows should be ruthlessly grubbed out.
Were that done, and the soil forked and heavily
manured, with the heads of the trees materially
thinned, the orchard would make a new lease of
life and go on producing fine crops. This year
Black Currants have been thin, but so they were
generally in this district, whilst Red Currants were
fine and plentiful. Gooseberries, again, were fairly
abundant, the grower in this case, who has thousands
of huge bushes of Crown Bob and Lancashire Lad,
preferring a somewhat dense growth to hard-
pruned bushes, because the birds do less harm
to the buds then, and frost is less harmful to
the bloom in the spring. In spite of the density
of the growth a liberal dressing of manure is given
to the bushes during the winter, but not till after
the pruning and forking are done. Perhaps the
general freedom on the part of the bushes from
caterpillars is due to the fact that fowls make
the orchard a favourite run, and as they scratch
so freely about beneath the bushes, it seems obvious
that much insect life, active and dormant, is being
converted into useful fowl diet. Certainly, here at
least, the scratching so objectionable in a garden is
quite harmless, and nmst also be productive of much
good. The overhead crops have been and are mode-
rately good. Many of the Apple trees have wonder-
ful crops, so far as quantity is concerned, but sadly
wanting in size. Thus that beautiful early Apple
Duchess Favourite has its trees all a-glow with their
blood-coloured fruits, wonderful in colour and glow-
ing with marvellous beauty in the sunlight. How
beautiful these fruits look in clusters on the boughs,
and yet how tame they are singly. The season has
given to them colour seldom seen before. Then
close by are trees of Dawson's Scarlet Incom-
parable literally laden with the small, richly
Nov. 5, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
413
coloured conical fruits. This is a little-known
Apple, but it succeeds the rosy Duchess admir-
ably, and is much lilted. Very bright, too, are
several trees of Scarlet Nonpareil, although the
more russety skins of the fruits detract from the
effect the body of colour would otherwise t;ive. The
Nonpareils will follow later in the order nf ripeness.
Sadly missing now, because gathered, is the golden
hue of the Ingestres — such favourites for the dessert
when well matured. These, with the Juliens, Manks
Codlin, Lord Suffield, and other early sorts, have
all been sold. At the time of my visit fruits of King
of the Pippins werebeinggathered, and in spite ot the
drought it is worthy of remark that they were richer
coloured and finer than usual. Walking down the
rows of trees from the east, I was not struck with
the fruits, but when from the other end the sunny
side of the trees is looked on, then the size and
beauty of the fruits st.and out with striking effect.
No wonder the King of the Pippins still remains
the favourite dessert Apple of the London market
growers, although many of these same trees were
nearly killed, some being quite killed, by frost a few
winters ago. Cos's Orange Pippin has sadly suf-
fered from drought, except where a few trees on
clay have held out well. The fruits are well coloured
and of fair size. Blenheims are few, but good ;
whilst Wellingtons, but half a crop, show on the
sunny sides some beautiful colour, such as to make it
to be regretted that the fruits are not fitted to
adorn the dessert table. The delightful September
weather has produced early maturity, and this fact,
combined with fear of another windstorm at any
moment, is promoting early gathering, such kinds
as Stone Pippin and New Hawthornden being
quite cleared. Amongst latest sorts the old Royal
Eusset is fruiting well and has good samples. Pears
are limited, the most largely grown being the worth-
less, yet free-fruiting and popular Hessle. Wil-
liams' Bon Chretien has fruited well this year, so
also has Beurre de Capiaumont, a favourite orchard
sort, and the big Calebasse has fair crops of its
loEgrussety fruits. The props which held up the Vic-
toria Plum trees still stand, but all other kinds were
none too heavily cropped. On the whole, this or-
chard presents a very fair sample of the manner in
which fruit for the million is being produced around
London. A. D.
HARDY FRUITS.
As yet we have neither change nor sign of change.
■ The weather is bright and clear, and the ground is
as dry as it was in August. The weather, it is true,
is colder, and the leaves on many of the trees
caught suddenly by the sharpest October frost on
record look as if they intend finishing up this re-
markable year by hanging until Christmas. Sea-
sonable work in the spring was delayed by drought,
and drought delays it now, but this is not the most
serious matter, as the season for root-pruning and
planting will in due time become moist enough for
those who can wait. Something more, however,
than a 'moist surface is wanted — rain, steady and
persistent, that will reach, not 1 foot, but 4 feet in
depth must fall over many, if not all, parts of these
islands before the deep-seated roots in our orchards
and woodlands can make a new and vigorous start
next year. We had thought of commencing root-
pruning and planting, but having occasion to make
a deep drain across an old orchard, we found the
soil — a stiff marl — dust-dry to the depth of 4 feet ;
below that depth it was fairly moist, but in a con-
dition 'quite unfit for planting. Gardeners, unfor-
tunately, are not the only people likely to be incon-
venienced, as there are thousands of impractical
purchasers of trees of all sorts, who will pester the
nurserymen with peremptory requests for the im
mediate execution of their orders, and many will
blame them for deaths, which the tradesman, by a
little delay, wished to avoid. To some people this
delay in executing orders is accepted as a slight,
but no greater mistake can possibly be made, as
nothing more completely upsets trade of all kinds
than an unseasonable season, and nurserymen in
these cutting times are not likely to defer till to-
morrow what with safety they can do to-day. With
these remarks, then, I must beg readers of The
Garden to do nothing rashly, but wait, as all the
most experienced practical gardeners are doing, for
a suitable time to plant, especially their recently
ordered fruit trees. This delay, it must be borne
in mind, does not mean enforced idleness— no-
thing of the kind ; the weather is simply grand for
preliminary operations — for trenching, for instance,
and bringing the hard dry subsoil to the influence of
the atmosphere by-and-by to that of softening and
ameliorating rain. It offers facilities for preparing
new stations, for getting out the old and in the
new compost, also for mulching, manuring, and
top-dressing. Home-grown trees may, of course,
be planted, but they should be well watered before
and after lifting, and carefully staked to secure
them from wind-waving. Peaches and Nectarines,
to which supplies of water have been given
throughout the summer, may be root-pruned if the
work is not already finished, and so may Apricots,
Plums, and Cherries, especially where the operator
keeps within touch of the roots, and never allows
them to get down into the subsoil. When this
work is finished, pruning and nailing or tying in
may be taken in hand and pushed forward before
bad weather sets in. We generally commence with
bush and wall Currants, then proceed to Cherries
and Plums, now quite ripe enough for the knife.
It too often happens that these varieties of fruit,
which many people choose to call common, do not
receive the attention they deserve, and yet I should
like to know how they can be dispensed with, or
whether the loss of any crop is more felt than that
of the Currant and Gooseberry. These, then, if
growing against walls, should be detached and well
washed with soapsuds to free them from Moss and
insects. When dry they may be nailed in, but not
until the walls ha^'e been scrubbed with the same
material or brine, and all old mulching has been
removed, and the ground well dusted with soot and
quicklime. In gardens infested with caterpillars
we invariably find them commencing their depreda-
tions near the ground, or perhaps where a very bad
piece of brickwork has harboured the larv;i3 through
the winter. If these breeding grounds are neglected
the washing of the wood is a farce, on a par with
washing Vines or Peach trees infested with bug
and scale and leaving the structure uncleansed.
We do not hand- wash our bush trees, but, imme-
diately after the prunings and old mulching have
been removed, with an old syringe we thoroughly
drench the stems and spurs with a mixture of soot,
lime, and soapsuds ; repeat once or twice during
the winter, and in this way keep the enemy in sub-
jection.
Raspbbeeies may now be staked, tied in, and
mulched, with plenty of light, rich manure, or leaf-
mould, for the two-fold purpose of protecting the
surface-roots from frost and allowing time for stimu-
lating food to get washed down through the winter.
We never shorten back our canes until the spring,
neither do we allow fork or spade to be introduced
amongst the stools, and for these reasons : The cane
of the Raspberry being very pithy and not always
ripe, autumn shortening lets in wet and eventually
frost, and digging destroys all the best roots which
run along the surface. When grown upon the old
stool system, and timber is an inexpensive material,
good Larch or other rustic stakes should be used in
plenty. Three, four, or five are not too many, as
they can then be driven in a foot or more from the
stool, when from one to three of the best canes can
be tied to each without producing a crowded con-
dition of foliage and fruit in summer. The planting
of stools on the block system on light soils answers
well, but on cold, heavy loam single lines. give the
best results. To those who have not tried this me-
thod the following brief hints may be useful : A
trench, 2 feet wide and 2 feet in depth, at any time
in winter or summer may be thrown out across an
open quarter. Into this all prunings, sweepings,
scrapings, odds and ends of soil, manure, &c., may
be wheeled as these encumbrances accumulate.
When full, lime and soot must be added to destroy
slugs and other enemies, and it will be ready for
covering up with the soil previously thrown out
preparatory to planting. When all is finished, the
ridge will be 18 inches high and 3 feet in depth
along the centre. Stout rustic stakes, 7 feet in
ength, must then be driven down to the sub-
soil, in pairs 10 feet apart, thus to form the frame
work for a V-shaped trellis. Along each side of this
two wires must be strained, one at top, the other
half way down, and provision for the next ten years'
training will be secured. The canes, at the proper
time, may be planted 18 inches apart, along the
centre of the ridge. In due time cut down, ard
when the young growths require training for bear-
ing fruit they must be divided and turned, some to
the right, some to the left, securely tied out to
the top wires and knifed back to the approved
level. When well furnished these trellises look very
ornamental; they 'give a profusion of the finest fruit,
which is easily gathered ; and the canes for the suc-
ceeding year, whilst producing slight shade, grow
upright from the lowest point of the trellis com-
pletely out of the way. In wooded districts where
rustic stakes, which look best, are cheap, and birds ; re
troublesome, this V'Shaped trellis answers admirably
for Currants and Gooseberries, as the sides can I e
covered in a very short time ; the rows are easily
mulched, and the matter of netting is a simple
operation.
Steawbeeeies. — The season having been so
favourable for getting amongst plantations both for.
cleaning and top-dressing, every operation in this
important department should now be finished for
the winter. Opinions vary as to the best materials
for the winter mulch, but all agree that something
acceptable to the young roots, which start annually
from every stool, should be provided. On light or
warm soils good rotten manure and marl may be
freely used at any tirne throughout the season,
winter as well as summer. But on the deep unc-
tuous loam upon which the Rose and the Peach as
well as the Strawberry are at home, I prefer
lighter dressings of fresh soil, old Mushroom
manure, lime rubble, road-scrapings and parings,
anything sweet, fresh, and friable, for placing rourd
the collars in the autumn, as I find they like it better
than fat manure, which tells best when used during
the season of growth. Young plantations are still
making runners, and the soil, it is needless to say,
is producing weeds, but never perhaps have we had
a better season for their destruction with the hoe,
the only implement which should be used amongst
Strawberries. If not already done, all young beds
should now be dressed with the remains of an old
Mushroom bed made upon modern principles, with
plenty of turfy loam in it. The beds, it is more
than probable, do not yet require feeding, but a
quantity of this material cast roughly over them
affords great shelter to the crowns and leaves
through the sharpest winters, and although many
may be half buried, it is a pleasure to watch them,
aided by the elements, reducing the sternest lumps
of loam to their requirements. Although it is now
late to plant, the weather and the soil so far are
quite favourable, especially for putting out home-
grown plants. Quite recently we put out two large
breadths, but then the young plants, early runnel s
of the current year, had large balls of earth filled
with white roots, and they never felt the moving.
Fresh, healthy young plants no doubt can be plante d
at any time whenever the soil is in good working
condition. In November, as a rule, it is cold, wet,
and heavy, but this season it is dry some 2 feet to
3 feet from the surface downwards, and it contains
a great deal of our fierce sun-heat which must and
will hasten root growth, until the snow and rain so
much wished for force it still deeper. W. C. '
"Wire netting. — The fears expressed by " X."
in The Gaeden, October 22 (p. 3(;9), will not deter
me from carrying out my proposed plan of perma-
nently covering the fruit bushes and Strawberries
with wire netting, for I have often seen whole
plantations of such bushes denuded of every lepf
where birds have had unchecked access to them.
I know of several gardeners who have adopted the
permanent plan of protection, and one of them,
after three years' experience, tells me that he is
highly pleased with the results, and in the last
week of September showed me Red Currant bushes
laden with fine fruit in splendid condition, and said
that he had been gathering good dessert Goose-
414
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 5, 1887.
berries up to end of the previous week, and that for
the future he would be able to dispense with at
least one-third of his trees. I also saw under the
same covering several dwarf Pear trees laden with
very fine fruit. I have often been at my wits' end
to devise schemes for protecting buds and fruit
from the birds. Gooseberry bushes I have had tied
up and daubed over with a mixture of soot and
lime several times through the winter, but even then
the tits and bullfinches have stripped every bud
they could get at, and if you succeed in preserving
buds sufticient to give a good crop, the birds and
squirrels will destroy them before they have a
chance to ripen, unless you go to great expense and
trouble to protect with twine netting, which, being
exposed to all weathers, soon gets rotten and ragged.
I shall try the wire, and will give results at some
future time. — W. Sangwin.
Flower Garden.
SEA. HOLLIES.
(EKVNGIUM.)
Thls is a geniis belonging to the Umbellifers,
but so unlike that class of plants in general
appearance as to be often mistaken for Thistles
and such like, which, indeed, they very much
resemble. For general garden purposes, whether
the decoration of the rockery, the border, or the
lawn, few such ornamental genera yield a greater
The Ivory-leaved Sea Ilolly (E. ebmiieum).
variety in the shape and length of leaves or size
and brilliancy of involucres and stems. The
latter in many cases are so singularly beautiful
. with their vivid steel-blue tints, surmounted
with an involucre even more brilliant, that the
striking effect of good large groups is hardly
excelled by any plants that stand the rigours of
our climate so well. Some few, and notably the
gigantic Sea Holly (E. giganteum), show very
little blue unless under the involucres, and can
only be described as of a light glaucous grey
colour. The great diversity in the cutting of the
leaves is very interesting, ranging from the great
Pandanus-like foliage of E. pandanifolium to the
very small Thistle-like leaves of E. dichotomum.
Those belonging to the Pandanus set, such as
E. Lasseauxi, eburaeum (see illustration), brome-
lipefolium, and others, are useful in sub-tropical
arrangements ; their leaves being mostly of a
thick succulent or leathery nature, are not
liable to be damaged by the cold nights in
early autumn ; indeed, in all but very damp
useful. E. alpinum may be made an exception
to the above directions, as we find, in the south
of England at any rate, that it prefers a shady
spot in a good stiff soil, and much the same
treatment will also answer in the case of E.
Olivierianura. The only really safe way to in-
The Common Sea Holly (E. maritimum).
places or heavy soils they continue effective as
regards foliage all through the winter season.
E. alpimim, Olivierianum, giganteum, (fee, are
very useful for furnishing the mixed border or
rockery, and all are enhanced for this purpose
by the length of time they continue in bloom,
and in the latter set especially by the long time
they retain their handsome blue tints. A good
rich, but well-drained soil suits inost of the
species ; the latter especially should be most
attended to, as damp carries off more of the
The Amethyst Sea Holly (E,
iuum).
tender species during winter than cold. We find
that coddling is a great mistake ; they will stand
any amount of exposure so long as the drainage
is perfect. In localities where the rainfall is
great, a square of glass over the crown is very
The Alpine Sea Holly (E. alpinum).
crease these Sea Hollies is by means of seed.
Some few sorts may be increased by division or
root cuttings, but we find they take such a long
time to recover, that a healthy, vigorous batch
may be raised from seed in about the same
time. We sow the seed in pans as soon as
gathered and place the latter in a cold frame.
The seeds germinate in spring, and if properly
managed are ready to plant out the following
year.
The undermentioned are a few of the most
suitable for ornamental purposes : —
The alpine Sea Holly (E. alpinum). — This
(see illustration) is found in the alpine pastures of
Switzerland, Piedmont, &o., and, when well grown,
is certainly not surpassed in beauty by any plant in
the genus. In addition to this, we find it does weU
in shady borders, developing a tint almost equal to
that when the plant is fully exposed to sunshine.
The lower leaves are produced on long petioles,
deeply cordate at the base and toothed ; those on
the stem are palmately lobed and serrated ; invo-
lucre bracts, ten to twelve, rather soft to the touch,
a little longer than the flower-heads, and with
numerous spines on their margins. The involucres,
as well as the stems, are of a beautiful blue, making
a handsome group. Its flower-stems, averaging about
2 feet high, are produced during July and August.
There is said to be a white variety, which we have
not yet seen.
The Amethyst Sea Holly (E. amethystinum).
— The plant here figured has been unaccountably
confounded with the much more robust E. Olivieri-
anum, although they have little in common. The
former rarely exceeds 1 foot to i}, feet in height, is
of a somewhat straggly habit, and has flower-heads
and stems of the finest amethyst-blue. The lower
leaves are pinnatifld, the divisions being again cut
and spiny. Stems smooth, branched at the apex,
carrying numerous flower-heads ; the seven to eight
involucre leaves are lance-shaped, much exceeding
the flower-heads in length, and with a few spines at
the base only. Apart from the great beauty of its
flower-heads and stems, this plant is chiefly wel-
come on account of its pretty dwarf habit. It
answers well tor a first or second row in the border,
and makes on the rockery one of the most charming
little groups that could be desired. In can be in-
creased by division, but is so easily raised from seed,
that disturbing the established plants is hardly de-
sirable. It flowers during July and August, and is
a native of Dalmatia, Croatia, &c.
The Giant Sea Holly (E. giganteum). — The
plant here figured is deservedly appreciated on
Nov. 5, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
415
account of its amenity to almost all positions and
varieties of soil. The large flower-beads are also
greatly appreciated for winter decoration, and al-
though not highly coloured like many of the others,
they make pretty bouquets arranged with Grasses,
&c." It is an excellent plant for grouping, and in
large masses, as we have frequently seen it, it forms
a very picturesque object. It gro«s from 3 feet to
i feet in height, with stout stems and numerous
deeply-lobed, spiny glaucous leaves. The involucre,
of eight to nine large, oval, spiny leaves, pale grey
or glaucous, is very effective. A native of the
Caucasian Alps, Armenia, Siberia, &o.
The common Sea Holly (E. maritimum). —
This plant (see illustration) is still found grow-
ing along the coast in company with the Oyster
plant (Mertensia maritima). It, however, requires
no special culture, and does well on a rockery in a
stiff, loamy soil. It is one of the most glaucous of
the species. Flowers July to October, growing from
G inches to lA feet.
there is a very beautiful variety, dichotomum, tri-
quetrum, creticum, glaciale, spina-alba, &c.
THE PANDANUS GROUP.
To this group, cLiefly natives of Mexico,
Brazil, ifec, belong some of the most curious
and extraordinary as well as some of the most
useful forms in this highly ornamental genua.
Beginning with serra, we have a large, broad-
leaved species with curious double spines ;
Carrierei, said to be the iinest of all, a compact
habit combined with large, beautiful leaves ; E.
bromeliiefolium is a charming plant, striking
and distinct in habit, and forming elegant
Yucca-like tufts, with its graceful leaves sur-
mounted with whitish flower-heads ; it stands
fully exposed. E. pandanifolium is a noble
habited plant, very effective Avheii grown as an
isolated plant on a lawn, &c. ; E. Lasseauxi is
nearly allied, and perfectly hardy in the open
a plant ? I only know three Japanese Anemones —
A. japonica, A. japonica alba (sometimes called
Honorine Jobert), and A. japonica hybrida. The
first of these is the deepest in colour, though far
from red, while the last is a counterpart of the
second, but of a soft pink. If he means either of
these, the appellation is surely incorrect, besides
being unnecessarily misleading in departing from
the ordinary names. — E. H. E.
The Bock Knotweed (Polygonum vaccini-
folium). — This pretty Himalayan species is quite
different from the giant members of the Knotweed
family, and while in their case the most prominent
feature is the bold and ample foliage, the principal
recommendation of this is the pretty pink blossoms,
which are borne in great profusion, and at a time,
too, when outdoor blooms are getting scarce. The
species under notice forms a spreading mass, thickly
clothed with very deep green leaves of a firm texture,
and bearing a general resemblance to those of a
A''accinium. It is well saited for planting on the
The Giant Sea Holly (Eryugium giganteum). Engraved for The Gakden from a photograph.
Olivies's Sea Holly (E. Olivierianum). — This
variety can be highly recommended. It is of easy
cultivation, and the abundance of its highly-
coloured flower-heads renders it very attractive in
the flower border. It has often been, and is even
yet, confounded with the Amethyst Sea Holly.
E. Olivierianum grows 2 feet to 3 feet, and often
4 feet in height, with the lower leaves on long
stalks often three-parted, roundish in outline, and
with a cordate base. The stem leaves are also
thiee-lobed and deeply lobed. The ten to twelve
bracts composmg the involucre are longer than the
head of flowers, and have about half a dozen teeth
on each side. In habit and general appearance it is
more nearly allied to E. alpinum than any of the
others. It, however, appears to be constant to the
above characters even under good cultivation. It
ripens seed freely, and in this way it may be readDy
increased. Native of the Levant.
Others equally attractive and desirable are E.
Bourgati, campestre, CK;ruleum, planum, of which I
air. E. ebumeum, aquaticum, virginianum,
Leavemvorthi, and others are all -worthy atten-
tion for sub-tropical purposes. K.
The Guernsey Lily (Nerine samiensis). —
Simultaneously with the note which appeared re-
specting the grand display of N. Fothtrgilli major
in Baron Scbrce.der's garden, I met with an equally
charming sight produced by N. sarniensis (the
Guernsey Lily) in Mr. Bull's nursery at Chelsea,
where the plants had been grown in the open air,
plunged in Cocoa refuse, between the plant houses.
There were hundreds of spikes of blooms, the
colour being a soft red suffused with rosy pink.
These bulbs deserve far more attention than they
receive at the hands of amateurs and gardeners. —
W. H. G.
Ked Japanese Anemone. — "E. C," in The
Gaeden, Oct. 8 (p. 321), speaks of the red Japanese
Anemone (.\nemone japonica rubra). Is there such
rockwork, and when drooping over a ledge thereon
is very pretty. By far the finest display of this
that has come under my notice was a number of
plants that were employed as an edging to a Rhodo-
dendron bed. The soil was light, being principally
composed of decayed leaves, and in it the roots of
the Polygonum ran about with great freedom, and
the plants grew luxuriantly, the foliage being of
that rich green colour that betokens perfect health.
During the flowering season the plants were quite a
mass of spikes of bloom. — H. P.
The Bassion flower (Passiflora cjerulea). —
Rarely, indeed, have we seen this pretty plant in
better form, or flowering more abundantly than in a
cool greenhouse on the seaside at Rhyl. Even out-
side the glass structure it was blooming quite as
freely as under the more genial temperature of the
house in which it was planted. It struck me on
seeing this prolific and healthy specimen how well
suited it is for covering the interior or treDis-work
of any amateur's greenhouse, for its easy culture,
416
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 5, 1887.
free growth, and blooming qualities are what should
be most looked for in choosing suitable plants for
embellishing such a structure. For covering a ver-
andah it is, likewise, well suited. In one situation,
at least, that I know of along the coast of Carnar-
vonshire this plant has stood unharmed for the past
eight years, but then the frosts in that particularly
favoured spot are not so severe as elsewhere through-
out Britain, save, perhaps, in Southern England or
the Channel Islands. — A. D. Webster.
THE CROCUS.
The Crocus is one of the most prized of our
spring flowers, and when it is fully in bloom
it may be said that spring has come. What can
be gayer than a mass of Crocus blooms expand-
ing under the rays of the warm spring sun — blue,
lilac, white, striped, and golden ? Some of the Dutch
catalogues give lists of over thirty varieties of
Crocus vernus, but I find catalogues differ in regard
to names ; so it is just possible that the same
variety is mentioned in catalogues under diilerent
names. Still, if twenty-five varieties be grown,
they will be found to differ in some small particular.
Of what are known as blue-flowered varieties
there are several, but they vary in tint from the
black-purple of Flos niger to the soft lilac of lila-
cina. A few of the finest blue Crocuses will be
found in Baron Brunow, deep violet-blue; Brunei,
purple, a large and fine variety ; David Rizzio, an
old, but useful Crocus; Flos niger, black-purple;
Grande Vedette, considered by some to be the finest
purple Crocus grown ; Othello, violet-purple; Prince
of Wales, a very fine large dark blue-purple ; pur-
purea grandiflora, large, and extra fine; Sir John
Franklin, black-violet; and Vulcan, purple. One
of the prettiest among the blue Crocuses is Ne Plus
Ultra, the blue flowers being distinctly bordered with
white, which imparts to them a very pleasing ap-
pearance, and though this variety has been in culti-
vation so long, its type increases but slowly, as far
as I am aware, one named Vernee coming near to
it according to the description given, but I have
not seen it in flower.
Of striped varieties there are several of very fine
character. I can name Albion, having thick stripes
of blue upon a white ground, the flowers very large ;
Argus, Bride of Lammermoor, large and effective;
La Majesteiise, another very tine striped variety,
but the skin comes away from the bulb much more
than in any other variety I know ; Madame Mina, a
pretty, delicately striped Crocus; President Grant,
a large new variety, handsomely striped with blue
on a pure white ground; Van Speyk, and Sir
Walter Scott, one of the very best of the light striped
Crocuses.
Of good white varieties there are Caroline Chis-
holm, Madame Catalini, Mammoth, very large,
Mont Blanc, and Queen Victoria.
In the way of yellows we do not appear to get
beyond the fine selected varieties of Crocus aureus,
or the Large Yellow, as it is termed in catalogues.
I observe in one Dutch list a yellow named Temple
d'Or.but it will probably be a selection only from the
Large Yellow. I have in times past grown several
new yellows, but I never succeeded in finding one
distinct from the old yellow of our gardens. The
old Cloth of Gold is quite distinct. The wholesale
houses offer a Crocus they term the Scotch ; this is
really C. biflorus, a very early small- flowered striped
variety that is an excellent forerunner to the later
Dutch Crocuses. C. Cloth of Silver is also a species.
I think it should be known as C. versicolor, a good,
useful, striped Crocus, with bulbs of large size
and a peculiar smooth, shining skin. In planting
Crocuses for permanent effect, it is a good plan to
put in with them some bulbs of the Scotch and
Cloth oE Gold Crocuses, for the simple reason that
they flower in advance of the others.
Some years ago it was the custom to plant
Crocuses in Grass plats and lawns, either scattering
the colours indiscriminately over a given space or
working out some design. I have l^nown cases
where this was done, but the bulbs died nway in
course of time, simply, I think, because the Grass
was frequently mown and the foliage c\it nway. I
think if Crocuses are planted in this way it should
be in semi-wild places where it is not necessary to
mow the Grass, and where the foliage can develop
itself, mature, and,then die away naturally. When
it is intended to plant Crocuses in a Grass plat
the turf should be removed, the soil dug out to
the depth of 8 inches, and 4 inches at least of sitt-
ings from the potting bench jait in to form a bed
in which the bulbs are t(j be planted. The bulbs
should be at least i inches below the surface,
covered with some finely sifted soil, andaportion of
the old soil returned after being beaten fine and the
turf relaid. I think that when Crocuses are planted
in this way the most natural effects are produced by
mixing the colours indiscriminately.
Permanent plantations of Crocuses can be made
next to Grass verges and walks. All that is re-
quired is about 9 inches or 12 inches width of
soil that shall hereafter remain undisturbed.
Flower-beds might in many cases have a perma-
nent outer circle of Crocuses. Only flower gar-
deners want to cut the foliage away before
it has properly matured. Botanists tell us that in
the economy of Nature the foliage acts upon the
bulbs or roots, and the latter are helped by the
foliage being allowed to mature properly. Hence
it is that those who plant Crocuses for permanent
effect should bear with the disadvantage of the
foliage for a time — which is not a prolonged one —
and allow it to mature and die away naturally.
In planting for permanent effect, dig out a trench
at least 12 inches deep ; put at the bottom of this
2 inches of good fibry loam ; then 2 inches of old
Mushroom-bed manure ; on this an inch of fine
siftings from the potting bench, and then plant,
say, two lines of bulbs, allowing 2 inches square for
each root, mixing up the colours — yellow, blue,
white, and striped. Only sound bulbs should be
planted, so that no failures may interfere with the
continuity of the band of colour at flowering time.
When the bulbs are planted, cover with 3 inches of
siftings, and fill up with the ordinary soil. October
is the best month to make a plantation of this kind,
as then the bulbs are fresh and plump. Decay soon
sets in in the case of Crocus bulbs, especially if
they become heated during their transit from
Holland to this country. If planted early in autumn
they will fiower well the first year, but magnificently
the second and succeeding years, and when planted
in good soil it is surprising how rapidly the bulbs
increase. Such a plantation will go on flowering
well for a long period, and when the bed or border
is dug care should be taken that the Crocus bulbs
are not disturbed.
In my forecourt garden I have a circular bed, in
the middle of which is a pillar Rose. Round the
outer edge of the bed is a permanent plantation of
Crocuses of different colours, but no yellows, and
among them are some bulbs of the charmiugautumn-
flowering' C. speciosus. The remaining portion of
the bed is planted wiih the large yellow Crocus and
blueScillasibirica. When planted, plenty of manure
was placed at the bottom of the bed, and the
Crocuses have flowered grandly ever since and
thrown up the mo.st luxuriant foliage. The charm-
ing violet-purple C. speciosus is blooming now. If
anyone could be disposed to find faidt with it, it is
that its large flowers are produced on tall stalks,
and their weight, or rain, or a puff of strong wind
will blow them over, and they do not rise again.
Crocus bulbs of the best varieties are moderate
in price, and it does not cost much to make a
good plantation. The sooner they are purchased
the better, and if not convenient to plant them
at once, they should be laid out thinly in a dry,
cool place until they can be placed in the ground.
It is a good plan when planting to allow the base
of the bulbs to rest upon a mixture of finely sifted
Cocoa fibre and sand. E. D.
Note on -white Afiican L-lies.— Replying to
some questions of ours about Agapanthuses, Messrs.
Smith, of the Caledonia Nursery, Guernsey, write as
follows: "Our opinion is that this genus is terribly
confused. Judging from our many small purchases
of this family, we conclude that any plant not
absolutely blue is allowed to do duty as Agapanthus
maximus albus. We have bought many such lots.
Recently a London firm's representative was here
and saw our pure white Agapanthus in flower. He
said their stock was the same. We then ordered a
sample six. They came, but not true, as ours is.
Having faith in the value of the pure white form,
we are ready buyers of true stock, but are sorry to
say we have never succeeded in getting but one
plant, which we received from Mr. J. L. Mansell,
Guernsey. From that we have raised seedlings (we
think due to flower next year). The plant sent out
some years since as A. umbellatus-albiflorus is a dis-
tinct, but useless thing. Its distinctivecharacters are
— first, quite herbaceous both in pots and in the open
air; second, glaucous green foliage; third, small head
of flowers on rather long, slender stem ; and, worst of
all, it very rarely flowers, so that among Agapan-
thuses it is what Nerine sarniensis is among Nerines
— just a plant that takes a long time before it tells
the tale, ' This is wrong to name.' "
DWARF AND SELF CARNATIONS.
If " A. D." will look back to my notes, I think he
will find I did not assume that I only have the
strain of dwarf fragrant Carnations. I simply
spoke of my own experience, which has been that
no strain of seed in commerce will yield dwarf and
yet fragrant flowers, and of the similar experience
of many of my friends, some of whom are large
growers. I still think that if "A. D." possesses
dwarf fragrant Carnations in several colours, he
has a more rare and valuable treasure than he
appears to think.
As to the general question of the importance and
past neglect of selfs, I think Mr. Herrington has
decidedly the advantage in his discussion with Mr.
Rowan, however cleverly the latter may manipulate
his figures. Mr. Dodwell has given us a number of
fine selfs, it seems; but how many are ordi-
narily seen in our gardens or at our shows .' To
assert that selfs are not in an entire minority at the
principal shows or in most catalogues, is to assert
what is very manifestly incorrect. I have just
looked at Mr. Cannell's catalogue, and find it con-
tains 45 selfs and 171 parti-coloured flowers.
Moreover, I think the issue has scarcely been put
fairly. I am sure that what is in Mr. Herrington's
mind is something like this : " What we want is
plenty of good, strong, clear-coloured fragrant
border Carnations, instead of striped and spotted
flowers or weakly-constituted, scentless kinds." At
all events, I and niany others would state our case
somewhat thus. Now, observe Mr. Rowan's list of
selfs. Quite his largest section is that of yellows,
which are the weakliest, most scentless, and there-
fore most useless of all Carnations. Of crimsons,
which are perhaps the sweetest and hardiest as a
rule, he has only three, and I doubt whether those
are all fragrant. The old Clove he either does not
value or does not mention, as something outside his
list of beauties. Of whites he has only three, as
against nine of the feeble yellows.
I said, rather hastily, that the florists had worse
than wasted halt a century of labour at Carnations.
That, I own, was an exaggerated remark, but I hold
that it contains much truth. What I meant was
this : It is possible to build up laboriously a very
large and showy edifice, which takes the eye and
causes people to exclaim, " How grand I " But it
may be built on entirely erroneous principles, and
may occupy ground which might have been covered
by something infinitely better. Who shall say what
inheritance of delightful garden Carnations might
not now be ours if the florists had started from
such types as old Clove and Gloire de Nancy, flowers
of rich scent and that beautiful half-broken out-
line which is so much lovelier than the prim, cir-
cular, imbricated florist's ideal ? And if half the
energy which has been employed had been directed
into a better channel we should now have an
abundance of large fragrant flowers of vaiious clear
colours on shoit stiff stems. Can Mr. Rowan
reasonably deny that the aim of the florist, until
quite recently, has been bent wholly upon the pro-
duction of formal, paper-like flowers, perhaps only
Nov. 5, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
417
hree or four from a plant, to choke with a paper
collar and stick into a green board ? He may not
know it, but he is putting himself on the side of
those who wish us to be ruled as to our taste by the
paper-and-scissors Carnation, by the lumpy Dahlia
on its dreary board, and by the dressed Chrysan-
themum. G. H. Englbheaet.
WINTER IN THE FLOWER CJAEDEX.
How these early frosts accentuate the essential dif-
ference between one style of gardening and another !
The ordinary garden, full of tender bedded-out
plants and annuals, awoke one morning and found
itself, like Sennacherib's army, " all dead men,"
and in a few hours it was a pappy mess of corrup-
tion. But in the ideal garden, such as one I
visited in Sussex a few days ago (on October 18),
there was no damage done at all. Some things
were changed, but it was a natural and healthy
and beautiful change, such as the woods and
fields exhibit ; the breath of the grave had not
passed over it. Why should we make gardens
which the first step of winter leaves offensive or
desolate .' There are innumerable lovely flowers
on which it has no such effect— flowers more beau-
tiful as a class than the tender ones. In the garden
I speak of there are, among other fine things, wide
beds planted with bush Roses of choice kinds, and
these interplanted with Carnations (magnificent
French selfs such as are probably not to be found
elsewhere in England), and these again have Pan-
sies of the tufted tribe among them. The Carnations
and Pansies, indeed, are newly planted and have
only beauty of foliage to show, but the Roses have
still some flowers among the different shades of
green. Look at our beautiful native or naturalised
trees and shrubs, how they put to shame the favour-
ites of the unconverted gardener ! The leaves of
many of them have come down with a run, but the
falling and fallen leaves are sweet and wholesome,
and the bared boughs are only a little less charming
than the clothed ones were. The wild herbaceous
plants are still sound, though less riotous (so to
speak) than they were, and beginning to retire in-
wards. None of them have been caught napping.
Look now at the slimy putridity which has to be
cleared ofl" from where your Dahlias, and Nastur-
tiums, and bedders were lately taken unawares 1
and then consider the trouble and cost you incur
every year to protect or procure plants which even
in their short flowering time are not to be named
for beauty or perfume with the Rose, Anemone, Car-
nation, Snapdragon, Foxglove, and a host of others.
W. SiMMOKS.
SHORT NOTES.— FLOWER.
Galanthus octolorensis. — In 1885, Galanthus
oetobrensis was in bloom November 1 ; in 1886, Oc-
tober 10 : and this year, October 28. Can any of your
readers account for this great variation ? — Jay Aye.
Crambe pinnatifida. — I have lately seen this
largely used as single specimens, aud have been much
struck with its fitness for such a jiurpose. Have any
readers of The G.\kden tried it? — D.
Clematis Jaekmanni. — The late Mr. Jaclrman
told nie he raised Clematis Jaekmanni when he was a
youth. His father so vehemently disapproved of his
wasting his time over Clematis experiments, that he
dug up his bed of seedlings, but Jaekmanni, Star of
India, and rubella (best of all) were saved from the
rubbish heap. — Frank Miles, Shire)taiiipiou, Brifto!.
Scarlet Lobelia (L. fulgens). — This with flowers
of a rich crimson colour has been one of the brightest
things in the garden. It will bloom for a long time,
and the flowers will stand a fair amount of wet and
frost. Herbaceous Lobelias of this character look
well in beds, aud a good position to plant them in is in
a sheltered, moist comer of the rockery, where their
brilliant beauty can be seen, and at the same time the
plants are partly sheltered from nipping frosts and
heavy rains. — T. W,
Dittany of Amorgos (Origanum Toumef orti) .
■ — In reply to the interesting note respecting 0. Tour-
neforti (p. 300), the plant described by me at p. 269
is fairly plentiful aud known generally under the name
O. Toumeforti. I have seen it this summer labelled
thus in the Royal Horticultural Gardens at Chiswick,
and several other places. It was shown in a choice
collection of plants from Kew Gardens at the end of
last summer under the name of hybridum with Toume-
forti in brackets. The plant is undoubtedly the com-
mon pink Hops, and usually regarded as 0. Toume-
forti ; but now, under the new nomenclature, is called
0. hybridum.— E. C.
THE AUTUMN-FLOWERING SPECIES OF
CROCI.
The species alluded to in The Garden, Oct. 22
(p. 359), is certainly C. zonatus, which is the most
beautiful of all the autumn-flowering species, and
should be in every garden. It increases more
rapidly than any of the others; even C. speciosus
does not grow more freely. It is also very hardy,
being " a high alpine species, limited to the moun-
tains of Cilicia north of the Cilician Gates, the
Pylfe Ciliciis of classical authors, and the Lebanon"
(Maw). We have a beautiful tuft of it now in
flower in the open garden. There are many other
species in flower. C. nudiflorus and the very showy
C. speciosus have been in flower for six weeks, and
are not yet over. C. pulchellus is now in flower ; it
is a very lovely species, the petals of a pleasing lilac
colour, marked with purple lines. The white va-
riety, which opened its flowers in our garden quite
three weeks later than the normal form, is very
lovely; the flowers are of the purest white, with
just a deep orange stain at the base of each petal.
The great charm of this species is its continuous-
flowering character. It flowers from early in Sep-
tember up to the middle of November with us.
C. medius opened its lilac-purple flowers, marked
with a purple feather, early in October ; the feathery
bright scarlet stigma is a conspicuous part of this
flower. It is also a free-giowing species, and should
be planted in a sunny part of the rock garden.
Crocus asturicus opened its medium purple flowers
in the second week of October. It is also very free
in growth, and soon establishes itself. C. hadriati-
cus we are also greatly pleased with ; the flowers
opened fully for the first time on October lo, and
are now, on the 22nd, in great beauty ; internally
the flowers are pure white, with yellow base ; ex-
ternally, slightly marked with purplish lines. Mr.
Maw and the late Dean Herbert referred this species
to C. sativus. It may be established quite freely
in the open garden.
Colchicum speciosnm has lingered long in flower,
being planted in different positions. Its large, hand-
some flowers are conspicuous at a distance. The
more common C. autumnale has been flowering in
hundreds ; and Sternbergia lutea has become esta-
blished in a sunny part of the rock garden. Its
deep yellow flowers nestling amongst the glossy
green leaves are distinct from those of other bulbous
plants.
All the Crooi are easily grown, and can be pur-
chased cheaply, so that they may be cultivated in
the cottage or villa garden. J. Douglas.
A pretty bed.— At Hindlip Hall, near Worces-
ter, the ordinary summer bedding plants are fast
giving way to the less gaudy, but infinitely more
beautiful as well as more serviceable herbaceous
and bulbous-rooted plants. One arrangement struck
me as being jjarticularly good and well worthy of
imitation. In the autumn of 1883 a large circular
bed was planted with a good selection of Spanish
Irises (Iris Xiphion) and alpine Auriculas. The
bulbs of the Irises were planted thinly in threes
and fully 6 inches deep, and their position was duly
marked. The surface was then thinly carpeted
over with alpine Anrieidas, both these and the Irises
being given little besides good garden soil to grow
in. Where at first only three Iris spikes were pro-
duced at least a dozen sprung up last season, and
these, besides being most beautiful in the beds, are
also of great service for cutting from. The different
varieties give a long succession of bloom, extending
from early spring till past midsummer. All are
more or less beautiful and delicately scented, but
Gold Cup is singled out as worthy of special men-
tion. Very few need to be told that a good strain
of alpine Auriculas is also beautiful and serviceable,
and they grow and flower very strongly at Hindlip.
Mr. Barker, the gardener at this fine old place,
usually lifts, divides, and re-plants both Irises and
Auriculas every third or fourth year, the month of
October (sometimes earlier) being the time chosen.
If they are ret\irned to the same sites, the soil is
freshened up with a liberal addition of fresh loam
and cow manure, which soon re-invigorates the
occupants of the beds. If need be, the beds during
the summer may also be thinly planted with Portu-
lacas, Mesembryanthemums, or other ornamental
plants that form few roots. — W. I.
Rose Garden.
T. W. GIRDLESTONE.
ROSES IN AMERICA.
In an interesting paper on Roses, by E. G. Hill,
read before the Chicago meeting, and published
in the American Florist, there is a good deal
that would have considerably surprised an
audience of English Rose growers. But the
first thing to be done before studying the
writings of American florists on Rose culture is
to obtain a firm grasp of the fact that the opera-
tions of Rose growing out of doors in England
and in America are totally difterent, and that
the basis upon which the merits of a variety are
estimated are widely dissimilar in. the two
countries. Thus, while readily endorsing Mr.
Hill's list of desirable qualities in a first-rate
Rose, viz. : " 1st, colour, form, size, texture of
bloom ; 2nd, vigour of growth and healthy leaf-
age ; 3rd, freedom and continuity of bloom," as
far as it goes — for, be it observed, that the im-
portant point of the necessity of the blooms
being carried erect upon the plant is overlooked
— few English growers woidd be prepared to
admit among the twenty-five ever-blooming
Roses best adapted for cflective massing in the
garden, Catherine Mermet and Souvenir d'un
Ami, two pendulous Teas which frecjuently only
show the backs of their flowers on the plant,
the di-eary white Marie Guillot, in shape like a
flat Onion ; Comtesse de Labarthe, a weak-
growing, semi-double little scentless Tea, long
.since discarded in this country; Rovelli Charles
(they invert his name in America), a plant ab-
solutely without a constitution in Europe ; La
Princesse Vera, a beautiful Tea truly, but also
pendulous ; Sombreuil, always lacking in
quality ; Countess of Pembroke, of delicate
habit, and, though a good flower, lacking in
colour ; and Pierre GuUlot, a fine flower, but
of so ditU a tint as to be quite ineligible here
for making a bright display iji the garden, an
objection which may also be lodged against the
very moderate Papa Gontier and Antonine
Verdier.
Then in a second list intended to contain va-
rieties not quite worthy of being included in
the first flight we find Bladame de Watteville
and Francisca Kruger, here two of the freest
and most perpetual-flowering Roses yet raised ;
Hon. Edith Gifford, the best of all white Teas
in the garden ; Camoens and Grace Darling,
two unsurpassed pot Roses, and beautiful out
of doors in all stages ; and Madame Lambard,
the best and brightest of the rose-coloured Teas
in the garden on account of its vigorous and
erect habit ; while it looks odd in this country
to see recommended for the same purpose
Etoile de Lyon, which wants all the sunshine
it can get to develop its fullest beauty ; and
Madame Falcot, which even in the cool days of
autumn can liardly disguise the fact that it is
only semi-double. A third list follows, which
reads like a meeting of duchesses and dairy-
maids, so oddly assorted appears the company,
including Vallee de Chamouni.x, Souvenir de
418
THE GARDEN.
Therdse Levet, La NuancSe, Princess of Wales,
Nathalie Imbert, and Comtesse de Nadaillac,
accompanied by the remark : "Of course these
could be dispensed with, and I predict that at no
very distant day list 3 will be almost unknown.''
Princess of Wales and Souvenir de Therese
Levet unknown when there are twenty-four
trebles of Teas to be staged ; and Comtesse de
Nadaillac to be dispensed with ! Where is Mr.
Prince ?
But then, again, it appears that in America
Rose blooms are only or chiefly estimated in
the bud state, an impression strengthened by
the fact that Luciole— a beautiful bud Tea,
bright enough, as its name implies, only with
but few petals — is referred to as " the premier
Eose of the present year," and, of course, if
only buds such as are here employed for bou-
quet work are wanted, it matters little whether
they would ultimately show themselves to con-
sist of some half-dozen petals, like Nathalie Im-
bert, or develop into full and fine flowers, like
the incomparable Comtesse de Nadaillac. And
yet the American growers seem to pick out the
good ones among the new Roses very quickly,
and Mr. Hill already selects, as among the best
of these, Guillot's beautiful new yellow Tea
Comtesse de Frigneuse, the handsome pale rose
Tea Reine Nathalie de Serbie, and Bennett's
charming Hybrid Tea Viscountess Folkestone,
which continues the race of Cannes la Coquette
— a Rose, by the way, which might have been
expected to prove a valuable variety in America,
and especially amenable to the methods of cul-
ture in vogue there.
Mr. Hill goes on to ask, "Why grow Madame
Bravy ? " to which the answer is, simply, that
in this country it is one of the freest, easiest to
grow, and most constant of all the white Teas,
and that though its flowers are pendent it still
grows high enough on a wall to render that
habit unobjectionable, and the proposal to
replace it by Marie GuOlot would make English
growers smile. In the selection of red Teas the
one valuable red variety. Souvenir de Th^rfese
Levet, which has been well described as a
crimson Niphetos, is omitted, and although the
chosen Duchess of Edinburgh is the best of the
sorts enumerated, and is pretty, it is really
little more than a China.
It is questionable how far it is worth while
to attempt to classify the Tea-scented Roses
under particular types, but among the varieties
mentioned as belonging to type 1, under
Buchesse de Brabant, there are none that are
considered first-rate in England, and the same
may be said of those of type 2, of which Marie
Arnaud is the best. Type 3 includes one first-
rate Tea in Caroline Kuster one of the finest
pale yellows, and type 4 includes two in Madame
Bravy and Madame Ang^le Jacquier. Under
type 5 Mr. Hill classes all the varieties "marred
by disagreeable touches of duU violet," all of
which, as he says, may be willingly discarded,
except Madame Welch and Madame de Watte-
ville ; but the imphed inclusion of these two
varieties under such a type shows the hopeless-
ness of the attempted classification at once.
Type 6 appears to be that of most of the Teas
that are worth growing, and in reference to two
of the sorts included, it would be interesting to
ask Mr. Hill whether he can distinguish between
Perle de Lyon and Perle des Jardins, and if
so, in what particulars ?
Occasionally the remarks made on well-known
varieties of Roses are calculated to produce the
impression that they cannot always be grown
true to name in America. For instance, Mr.
Hill says : —
Souvenir d'Blise Vardon, known as Laurette,
Clothilde, Madame Adelaide Eistori, Southern Belle,
and perhaps 'other names useful in this country
only to fill the pages of Rose catalogues, but in
England said to be one of their finest varieties.
Now, Laurette is a very vigorous Tea, sent out
by V. Verdier in 1852, with yellowish flowers,
often good, but not first-rate, and no more like
Souvenir d'Elise than the old red Provence is
like Mme. Gabriel Luizet ; Clothilde is a synonym
of Boug^re, a cupped rosy Tea recommended
elsewhere by Mr. HiU ; Madame Adelaide
Ristori is not a Tea at all, but an old Bourbon ;
and Southern Belle does not occur in Euro-
pean catalogues . Consequently, as the demand
in Europe for Souvenir d'Elise Vardon is pro-
bably always in excess of the supply, is it not
possible that at some time or other different
varieties may have been sent out in lieu of the
popular favourite, and that thus what is grown
in many places as Souvenir d'Blise Vardon may
not be that variety at all ?
There is no doubt that if two of our great
Rose giants were asked to name the best Tea,
Mar6chal Niel excepted, one of them would say
that but for the invariable perfection of Souve-
ner d'Elise Vardon there would be nothing to
surpass Comtesse de Nadaillac ; whilst the reply
of the other would be to the eflfect that in the
absence of the unsurpassable Comtesse de
Nadaillac, the palm would have to be awarded
to Souvenir d'Elise ; and yet of these two varie-
ties Mr. Hill says that one may be dispensed
with, and that of the other its only useful part
is its name for catalogue-filling !
Apropos of names, the orthography of Rose
names in America seems to be of that casual
kind calculated to promote anything but an
accurate nomenclature. It cannot surely be
necessary that the printer should in the course
of a single paper of about two pages make up-
wards of a couple of score of mis-spellings of the
names of the Roses mentioned. If, however,
they spell their names anyhow, the Americans
are so much nearer to Paris than we are, that at
least they use the proper abbreviations Mme.
and Mile, of the courtesy prefixes Madame and
Mademoiselle, and leave us the monopoly of the
barbarisms Mad. and MadUe.
In the brief references to some of the more
recent Hybrid Perpetuals it is satisfactory to
find that some of our best varieties are thought
well of ; thus Ulrich Brunner is highly com-
mended ; Mr. William Paul's handsome Ella
Gordon is worthily described as "a finely
formed scarlet-crimson, excellent ia colour, fine
in form, and of good habit" ; while the intima-
tion will be welcome that " Mrs. John Laing is
perhaps the freest blooming Rose in the class
and very sweet. A Rose of very great merit,
and from indications will do finely in the forcing
house, splendid in pots, and valuable in the open
ground." Of the particoloured sport from
Countess of Oxford, Pride of Reigate, Mr. Hill
can only say that it "is very unique in colour,"
a distinction which it may be hoped it wlU lone
enjoy. They seem to be pretty prompt in
America in proving synonyms, and already
American Beauty is universally called by its
original name of Madame Ferdinand Jamain,
though there is occasional reference to Marshall
P. Wilder instead of Alfred Colomb.
It is obvious that the paper under notice is
written by an able grower determined to culti-
vate only the very best Roses, and inclined to
spare no sacrifice for the attainment of that end,
but the frequent commendation of varieties
which here are worthless, and the accompanying
disparagement in many cases of our greatest
treasures, produce, in spite of the fact that the
princijile of "What care I how fair she be, if
[Nov. 5, 1887.
she be not fair for me," applies to horticulture of
all things, a sense of bewilderment in an English
gi-ower which leaves only one idea clear enough
to make a vivid impression, namely, that the
conditions of Rose growing in England and
America are so little similar that nothing short of
actii al trial wiU prove the value in the one country
of what are considered the greatest triumphs in
the other, and vice versa.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 621.
STAR OF BETHLEHEM.
(with a COLOUKED plate of OENITHOGALDM
NDTA^TS. *)
The group of bulbs, of which the accompanying
plate gives an illustration, is a very large one,
numbering in all about 80 species, of which a
very large number are in cultivation in EngKsh
gardens. About forty belong to the Cape, and,
of course, require house treatment, and three-
fourths of the remainder belong to Southern
Europe, and may be accommodated in the open
air, where they contribute in no small degree to
the beauty of our gardens in spring. Many of
the more robust kinds may be naturalised suc-
cessfully in our woods and waste places, and
only a little fresh soil put in at planting time
will be needed to give them a start. The dwarf
species are easily accommodated in the rockery
and border. We find 0. umbellatum, comosum,
and exscapum invaluable for such places. All
may be cultivated with ease in ordinary garden
soil, and may be readily propagated by oSsets.
Others not mentioned in detail are 0. fimbria-
tum, montanum, orthrophyllum, divergens,
tenuifolium, &c.
The Great Staeee-plower op Arabia (of
Parkinson) (0. arabicum) is included amongst the
European group, though extending to Algiers,
Arabia, &c. It is one of the most charming flowers
of this large genus, and though unfortunately too
tender to withstand the cold of our winters in the
open air, it may be grown satisfactorily with cool
treatment, i.e., in a frame or cool greenhouse. Miller
says that he had never seen the flowers, though he
had often tried to procure them ; that the bulbs are
frequently brought over from Italy for sale, and
that he had not heard of any having flowered.
With us, however, and under cool treatment it
rarely fails to flower. If potted in good, rich soil
covered with ashes or some loose material, and
taken into the house in batches as required, it will
be found very useful. The flowers, which are pure
white, with yellow anthers clustered around the
jet-black seed-vessel in the centre, are produced
in many-flowered corymbs. A very fine cut of this
appeared in The Garden, August 20 of this year
(p. 145).
Hairy Star op Bethlehem (0. comosum). — A
pretty dwarf plant about 4 inches to 6 inches high,
neat, and very useful as a variety ; flowers white, in
a corymbose head. Native of Southern Europe.
O. EXSCAPUM is, perhaps, the dwarfest of all the
forms of this large genus at present in cultivation .
It rarely exceeds more than an inch in height, with
umbels of large white flowers just produced above
the neck of the bulb. The leaves are a little longer
than the flower-stem, and are narrow and reflexed.
It is a native of Genoa, &c., and flowers during
March and April. This species will be found very
useful for ledges, &c., on the rockery, where it does
very well when there is a good depth of soil.
Naebonne Star op Bethlehem (0. nar-
bonnense). — For general cultivation, whether for the
rockery or mixed border, few of the South European
section surpass this and its varieties for usefulness.
* Drawn for The Garden at Munstead by H. G.
Moon, May 6, 1887, and printed by G. Severeyns.
THE GARDEN.
ORNITHOGALUM NUTANS
Nov. 5, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
419
Its robust habit, usually about 3 feet high, and
numerous pure white flowers make it very attrac-
tive in groups. In this species also the leaves turn
yellow about flowering time. It is a native of
Southern Europe, and blooms during April and
May. 0. pyramidale is now placed as a variety of
this ; the leaves, unfortunately, also wither during
the flowering season. This, however, can be
remedied, and a handsome group made by planting
it amongst Heath, dwarf Koses, or any such close-
growing plants. The variety pyramidale is taller
and stouter than the above, with prominently
keeled leaves of a dark and attractive green ; the
flower-stem, '2 feet to 3 feet in height and often
more, is terminated by a longish spike of large pure
white flowers. Native of Spain and Portugal ; long
cultivated in English gardens ; flowering May and
June.
The Nodding Star of Bethlehem (0.
nutans), of which an illustration is given on the
accompanying plate, is now naturalised in many
parts of this country, though not considered a true
native by our most eminent authorities. It was,
we are told, grown in English gardens as early as
1638, and the rapidity with which it increased
soon brought it into general cultivation. It was
highly appreciated, more, perhaps, on account of
its graceful, drooping spikes than for any real
floral beauty which it possesses. Its nattu-alisa-
tion would only be a question of a short time,
as the rapidity with which it increases by means
of offsets and its naturally robust habit would
enable it without difliculty to subsist amongst
or even outgrow our native plants. On account
of its hardiness and robust character it is a very
useful bulb for planting in woods and unculti-
vated places ; it soon fills up its allotted space,
and when seen in large groups in this way lends
a charm to the wild garden. It is, perhaps,
not advisable to introduce it into small gardens
where space is limited, but if a place can be found
in a shrubbery where it can grow at will it will
certainly be found worthy of cultivation. It is a
native of Italy, growing abundantly near Naples,
and flowers during April and May. In Continental
books this plant has been transferred to another
genus called Myogalum, and to which another
species, M. Boucheanum, is added. The latter has,
however, been placed by Mr. Baker as a variety of
0. nutans and differs only in a few minor details ;
the var. prasandrum we have not seen in cultivation.
Pybeneau Star op Bethlehem (0. pyrenai-
cum) is a charming species, with a pyramidal spike
of rather small, white, green-striped flowers, but
produced in such quantities on the stem as to make
it a really attractive plant. The leaves are from
1 foot to 2 feet long, narrow, concave, and glaucous,
but, unfortunately, generally wither at flowering-
time. It is a native of many parts of our ovm
country in pastures between Bath and Bradford, &c.,
and in the former place the young shoots are said
to be sold and eaten under the name of French
Asparagus. The var. flavescens, known also as 0.
sulphnreum, has also a yellowish green flower and
the same robust habit.
One-lbavbd Stab of Bethlehem (0. unifo-
lium) is a native of the districts near Corunna, and
flowers with us in May and June. It is much
smaller in growth than comosum, and perhaps
more curious than useful as a garden plant.
Common Stab of Bethlehem (0. umbellatum)
is one of the most useful and attractive bulbs that
could well be grown in a garden, and is perfectly
hardy, being found apparently wild in one or
two localities in this country. It may be planted
effectively in large patches in uncultivated places, <S:c.
and will be found to succeed well. The flowers are
borne in large umbels, pure white, and very hand-
some when seen in quantity. The var. Leichtlini is
an improved var. D. K.
Carnations diseased. — The name of the fun-
gus which causes the death of Carnations (see p.
380) is Heterosporium echinulatum. The ravages
of the fungus have greatly increased during the
list four or Ave years. A very near ally has at-
tacked and destroyed the Ornithogalum, and two
close allies have destroyed the Tomato. All these
fungi belong to the one set, and are comparatively
new to this country. Destruction of the host
plants, as recommended by " G. S. S.," is advisable,
but the spore production of the above-named fungi
is enormous. — W. G. S.
Stove and Greenhouse.
T. BAINES.
CASSIA CORYMBOSA.
This plant belongs to an extensive genus, many
of which have important medicinal properties.
The numerous species are widely distributed,
being foundboth in the eastern and western hemi-
spheres, but only a few of them have any merit
as cultivated flowering plants. The species
under notice is the best. It comes from Buenos
Ayres, and has been in the country nearly a
century. It is very distinct and efl'ective; the
flowers, which are bright yeUow in colour, are
produced freely in large corymbs at the ex-
tremities of the current season's shoots, and a
well-managed specimen blooms for a consider-
able time. The plant thrives in a greenhouse,
but will bear a little more warmth ; the time of
blooming varies from early summer to autumn,
according to the temperature that it is grown in.
This Cassia may be grown in various ways,
either as a trained pot specimen, or for pillars,
but it is seen to the best advantage when cover-
ing the back wall of a conservatory or green-
house, where it can have room to extend its
branches. When so cultivated it wUl cover a
large space and look bright and cheerful for a
long time. The best effect that I have seen
produced by the plant was when it was trained on
a wall in company with Bougainvillea glabra.
The clear, bright yellow bloom of the Cassia
and the delicate mauve-shaded flowers of the
Bougainvillea harmonised perfectly.
This Cassia is easily propagated and culti-
vated. Cuttings put in early in spring, say in
March, will root readily ; they should consist of
the young shoots, which should be 5 inches or
6 inches long. In this state the wood is quite
soft, and it is much safer to take the cuttings
off with a heel and then few will fail to strike.
They may be put several together in a 6-inch pot,
or singly in small ones filled with sand. Stand
them in moderate heat and under propagating
glasses, or in a cutting frame, keeping the cut-
tings moist and shaded from the sun. When
they are well rooted, move them singly into
3-inch pots. The plant is not particular as to
soil, thriving in either peat or loam, but with
me loam gave the best results. Enough sand
must be used at every potting, as the roots do
not bear shaking out well. After potting keep
the plants in a genial growing temperature, so
as to get them established, and push them on
without delay. As soon as a few inches of top-
growth have been made the points must be
pinched out if the plants are to be grown as pot
specimens, so as to induce them to break, for if
left to itself this Cassia is somewhat straggling
in habit. Shade from the sun in bright weather
and stand them well up to the light ; keep the at-
mosphere moderately moist, give air daily,, and
syringe overhead every afternoon. The plant
is a free grower, making roots faster than many
things ; consequently, if all goes well, it will be
necessary to give a shift during the summer ;
pots 2 inches larger will do. After potting
treat as before, giving enough water to the soil
to keep the roots moderately moist, but not too
wet. At the end of August or a little later,
admit more air and discontinue shading. A
greenhouse temperature will sviffice through the
winter, during which time keep the soil drier.
Early in March move the plants into pots
2 inches or 3 inches lai'ger. Drain them sufii-
ciently, using the soil in a more lumpy state,
and adding sand as before, also some rotten
manure in the proportion of about one-sixth of
the whole. Pot firm and pinch out the points
of the shoots, which should now be secured in a
horizontal position to cause them to break back
freely from the lower eyes. As soon as the
plants are potted increase the night temperature
to 45° or 50" with a proportionate rise by day.
By these means more progress wiU be made, but
I should not advise the plants being kept
warmer than this, or the growth will be longer
than desirable. When the roots begin to move
in the new soil and top growth commences give
more air when the weather is favourable, but
when cold, cutting winds prevail little should
be admitted, as at this time it is too cold.
Syringe overhead, and give a little shade in tlie
middle of the day if this is found necessary.
By the end of June pinch out the points of the
shoots. If left unstopped now the plants would
flower this autumn, but it would interfere with
the size it is desirable they should attain. As
soon as they have again started into growth give
them pots 2 inches larger, and continue to treat
as previously advised until autumn approaches,
when give more air, and cease syringing and
shading. Winter in a temperature like the
preceding. Before spring tie the shoots in posi-
tion, so that the plants may form moderately
compact bushes, but not so as to give them a
stiff, formal appearance.
A similar shift to that which, the plants had
previously should be given in spring ; after
this a Uttle extra warmth will be an assistance.
Manage generally as in the previous summer,
except that the shoots must not be stopped ;
otherwise their flowering will be interfered with.
During the time the plants are in bloom they
will be useful for conservatory decoration, giving
them a fairly light position not too much crowded
or shaded. In autumn when the plants have
finished blooming, remove them to the green-
house and treat as before. Previous to growth
commencing in the spring, it will be necessary
to shorten the shoots, cutting them back to
within two or three joints of the point where
they were last stopped ; this will probably re-
duce the plants to about half their size. Each
spring give a little more pot-room until the
specimens have attained sufficient size, after
which remove as much of the surface of the
balls as can be done without injuriously dis-
turbing the roots, replacing it with new soil to
which a liberal addition of manure has been
made. Give manure water during the time the
plants are in active growth to maintain them in
a flowering condition.
When the plants are to be turned out in a
bed, the latter must be well made in the first
instance, using good loam to which enough sand
has been added to keep it porous, as when this
Cassia is used for covering a wall it may be ex-
pected to last a considerable time. In preparing
plants that are to be used in this way the shoots
need not be so closely stopped as when required
to form bushy specimens, yet the stopping must
be repeated as often as found necessary to se-
cure enough branches for clothing the lower
part of the wall. If this is not done at first it
will be difficult to cover it afterwards. It is
also necessary to exercise a little forethought in
shortening back the shoots each spring before
growth commences, so as to secure an even
growth over the whole surface of the wall, or the
flowering wood will be mainly confined to the
upper part of the plants. A surface dressing of
loam, manure, and sand each spring, with
420
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 5, 1887.
manure water later on, will keep up the strength
of the specimens.
TWO ELEGANT BIETHWOBTS.
The genus Aristolochia contains some gigantic
climbers, many of which produce liandsome flowers,
some being noted for their great size, but the ma-
jority of the species possess such an offensive odour
when in bloom, that they can only be tolerated in
large structures. Two species, however, which are
now and have been flowering for the last three
months in Mr. Bull's nursery, possess several good
qualities, which will render them indispensable to
those having small houses only. These plants are
of very free, but not strong growth, and flower pro-
fusely in quite small pots ; whilst the flowers are
singular in contour, beautifully marked, and quite
inodorous. The first, A. elegans, is a free-growing
climber, producing a profusion of flowers upon all
the young twigs ; the leaves are small, somewhat
heart-shaped, green on the upper side, slightly glau-
cous beneath ; flowers pendent and tubular, the tube
being suddenly turned up and developed into a large
heart-shaped, cup-like limb, the ground colour of
which is rich velvety purple, and through which
runs a regular marbling of creamy white, the mouth
and throat of the tube being golden yellow. The
next species, A. ridicula, is similar in habit to the
preceding ; the leaves are somewhat reniform, or,
perhaps, nearly round, bright green and, like the
stems, furnished with numerous hairs ; the tubular
flowers resemble a donkey's head in outline, the
limb being divided into two ear-like lobes, which
are more or less elevated or depressed in the various
stages of development. The colours are tawny-
brown and cream colour, reticulated with brownish
purple, the ear-like lobes being furnished with dark
brown hairs. Both are natives of the Brazilian
forests. W. H. G.
Erica gracilis and caffra. — The pretty little
bushes of these now being brought into Covent Gar-
den Market are good examples of Heath culture,
and they also show the adaptability of these
two kinds for growing into neat specimens in
the comparatively small pots that are so much in
vogue with our market growers. They are among
the least fastidious of greenhouse Heaths, so that
their successful culture is attended with lessdifBculty
than is the case with many other kinds. Cuttings of
either may be taken during the growing season, and
if dibbled into pots of sandy soil, covered with a
bell-glass, and placed in a frame shaded from the
sun, they will soon root, and can be then be potted
oft. The cuttings may remain during the winter
in the small pots (a good spot being a shelf in a
greenhouse), and in spring may be shifted on. By
occasionally stopping, a good bushy habit is en-
sured, and by the following spring the jilants will
be fit to place in pots .5i inches or (i inches in
diameter. A great recommendation possessed
by these Heaths is the length of time they remain
in flower, a remark, indeed, that might be applied
to most of the members of this genus. AVhen all
danger from frost is over, these Heaths do better
in the open air than under glass ; indeed, the richly
coloured specimens that one occasionally meets with
owe their greater depth of colouring to the fact
that they have been thoroughly exposed till the
blooms are just on the point of opening. Like
all the other members of the genus, these Heaths
must be carefully attended to in the matter of
water, though tbey are about the least delicate of
any of the cultivated species. — T.
Asparagus plumosus. — This ornamental
species of Asparagus quickly became popular, for
its extremely delicate foliage at once marked
it as a plant of quite a different character
from the usual occupants of our houses. It may be
grown either in the shape of little bushes in small
pots, or treated as a climber and trained to a trellis
or on the roof of the stove. We have a specimen
so planted that it covers the cool end of a ttove
with a mass of delicate greenery, and in this posi-
tion it always .attracts a considerable amount of
attention, but more so just now, as it is studded
with small drooping white blossoms, which, al-
though by no means showy, yet nestling among
the feathery foliage, possess a quiet beauty of
their own. This is the first time the specimen
under notice has flowered, and whether it will ripen
seeds remains to be proved. We had one that
flowered in a potand yielded a number of seeds,from
which a quantity of young plants was raised. Apart
from seeds a ready means of increasing this kind is
by means of cuttings, which will strike without
difficulty, notwithstanding the assertions that have
been made to the contrary. It is the variety nanus
in which the bianchlets are arranged in a flatter
and more frond-like manner, that cannot be in-
duced to form roots however treated. Most of the
plants of this now in the trade have been raised
from seed, which will often lie some time before germi-
nation takes place. In proof of this I may mention
a specimen of the drooping Asparagus decumhens
which was last winter laden with berries, and formed
a very pretty object for some time. Early in the
spring the berries were gathered and, after being
rubbed with a little dry sand, which from their
pulpy character was necessary, were at once sown.
Though kept in a stove ever since, the young plants
are only just appearing above ground. — H. P.
CLERODENDKON FALLAX.
Tins is a very accommodating plant, for though a
large, bold-growing subject, it can be successfully
flowered in the shape of dwarf specimens in small
pots, and on this account it can be turned to a
variety of uses, especially at this season of the year.
So free-flowering is it even in a small state that
some little plants here in pots only i inches and
5 inches in diameter are each bearing a large, loose,
terminal cluster of their intensely bright crimson-
coloured blossoms, and they stand out conspicuously
among all their associates of the stove, or rather
intermediate house, for in this last structure they
remain a longer time in beauty than where it is
warmer. The plants under notice were struck from
cuttings in the early part of the summer ; but there
is a variety of methods hy which this Glerodendron
can be increased. In the first place, cuttings of the
shoots are easily obtainable if there are a few old
plants in stock, and they strike very easily if put
singly into small pots and kept close for about a
fortnight. One precaution must be observed, and
that is, where small, dwarf plants are desired they
must not be kept in the close atmosphere of the
propagating case any longer than is necessary,
otherwise they will become drawn. To prevent this,
directly they are rooted the young plants must be
removed to a lighter and more airy part of the
stove. Another method of increasing this Glero-
dendron is by means of root cuttings, for, like
several other members of the genus, it can be in
creased to almost any extent in this way. All that
is necessary is to cut a few good stout roots into
pieces 1 inch or 2 inches long ; dibble them into
sandy soil at such a depth that the upper portion
of the root is just below the surface. If they are
then i^lunged in a gentle bottom-heat in the stove
young shoots will soon be pushed up from the top
part of the roots, and fibres will quickly be formed.
When sufficiently advanced the young plants may
be potted off and grown on in the same way as
those raised from cuttings of the shoots. Another
species that can be increased very readily by means
of root cuttings is the hardy C. trichotomum, of
which I have seen a great number of young plants
make their appearance in the open ground, having
their origin in a few roots that were broken ofE
when a specimen had been removed from the spot.
In returning to C. fallax, there is yet another way
by which plants can be obtained, and that is from
seeds, for it fertilised (more especially the earlier
blossoms) they seed readily : if the seed is sown
as soon as ripe young plants quickly make their
appearance. Given a few good stock plants to start
with, I should, however, prefer to propagate this
Glerodendron by cuttings of the shoots. The fogs
that are so prevalent in the neighbourhood of
London during the autumn months piny sad havoc
with the flowers of lliis Glerodendron, as indeed
they do with most other blooms. Last autumn we
had a goodly show,'and a few days' dense fog rather
later in the season than this caused every expanded
blossom and advanced bud to drop. H. P.
AMARYLLIDS.
As regards Mr. Douglas's interesting article in
The Garden (p. 250) about Amaryllids, I expect
he referred to a statement of mine regarding
Amaryllids being grown in the open air at Kel-
way's nursery at Langport. What I did say
was that a vast number of hybrid Amaryllids,
or rather Hippeastrums, were grown under large
unheated frames, removed in summer and
covered by mats in winter. The leaves remain
on all winter, though kept in the dark all through
the frost time, and only exposed to the light in
warm weather. So treated the plants' flourish
amazingly. A. Ackermanni puloherrima, how-
ever, which has furnished so many seedlings to
Messrs. Veitoh, is grown quite in the open at
Oalke Abbey, in Derbyshire, where there is a
border 200 feet long of it, and in winter it is
only covered with Bracken. I gather that Mr.
Douglas thinks the Chelsea strain partly comes
from solandriflora,but I doubt if that Ajnaryllid
has flowered in England for many years. It is
tender, and I found I could not grow it in a
greenhouse. When did this come into their
strain, if at all I Many hybridisers think they
have got some of Si^rekelia glauca or Ama-
ryllis formosissima into their strain, but this is
very improbable, and remains to be proved.
Has Mr. Douglas ever seen the rare and
sweet-scented Hippeastrum Harrisoni, a seed-
ling from vittata / I lost it by lending it,
and should much like to get it again. Amaryllis
procera is blue, and I hope the large bulb at
Kelway's will flower. The bulb and growth
are something like those of a Brunsvigia.
Frank Miles.
Svnityhill, ^liirelwmptuii, Bristul.
Aphelandra chrysops. — Numerous examples
of this beautiful plant are now flowering in Mr.
Bull's nursery, its ornamental character being such
as should commend it to the attention of everyone
possessing an intermediate house. The leaves are
large, opposite, and deep green, banded with white
upon all the principal ribs and veins. The inflo-
rescence is terminal, erect, and nearly a foot long,
composed of four rows of large, persistent, imbri-
cated golden yellow bracts, .which are freckled
with light green towards the tips; from these bracts
are produced large golden yellow flowers, which fall
away long before the bracts lose their beauty. It
is a plant of recent introduction from Brazil, and
should be grown by everyone. — W. H. G.
A few good Crotons. — Although these plants
ha\e lost the great popularity they held some few
years ago, their beauty is so great that they cannot
well be dispensed with in a stove, or for the temporary
embellishment of the table or apartments. It is a
somewhat difficult task to choose the best from
amongst the numerous varieties now cultivated,
but the following half dozen kinds I recently noted
in Mr. Williams' nursery at Holloway as being ex-
ceptionally beautiful and well deserving the atten-
tion of those about to commence the culture of
these plants. Mrs. Doiman is a very elegant plant,
with long drooping leaves, which are deep rich
orange-scarlet bordered with bright green, through
which at irregular intervals appear spots and
blotches of orange. Warreni is a very line kind with
drooping spiral leaves upwards of 2 feet in length,
deep green, mottled and blotched with orange-yel-
low and carmine, which turns with age into rich
crimson, rendering the plant a most conspicuous
and beautiful object. Rodeckiana is a drooping-
leaved form with leaves about 18 inches long and
about an inch in breadth, deep green, mottled with
creamy white and suifused with deep rose; Lady
Zetland is acompactgrowingkind,with leaves about
a foot long and an inch broad, deep shining green;
-Nov. 5, 1887.J
THE GARDEN.
421
the midrib is rich orange, the margins blotched
with yellow and edged with crimson. Prince of
Wales has spiral leaves, drooping, and undulated at
the edges, pale yellow, edged and mottled with
bright carmine and a few blotches of light green,
whilst the midrib is bright magenta. Queen Vic-
toria has leaves about a foot long and 2 inches broad,
ground colour rich golden yellow, changing with
age to brilliant crimson mottled with green. Lord
Belhaveu is a broad-leaved form, with a groundcolour
of rich golden yellow, irregularly marbled with
bright green, which with age is suffused with rosy
carmine. Crotons should be potted in loam, adding
a little peat and sand ; the drainage should be good,
as during the growing season they enjoy copious
supplies of water both from the watering-can and
the syringe, whilst to bring out their beautiful tints
in the brightest manner they should be kept near
the glass and be fully exposed to light and sunshine.
—V,'. H. G.
CaUicarpa purpurea. — This intermediate
house plant owes its beauty not to flowers or foliage,
but to the brightly coloured berries, which are
borne in the greatest profusion and retain their
ornamental qualities for a considerable time. This
CaUicarpa is, when small, of a loose and by no
means desirable habit, but when larger, the long,
flexible branches which dispose themselves grace-
fully on all sides render the plant totally devoid of
any stiffness or formality. These branches will
attain a length of more than a yard, and from
every axil of the leaves will be produced clusters of
purple berries. The individual fruits are small, but
they are borne in much-branched clusters, and for
nearly the whole length of the long shoots. Perhaps
this CaUicarpa is seen to the greatest advantage when
grown as a standard, as the long, flexible shoots
have then plenty of space to dispose themselves in
a graceful manner. About the month of February
when the berries have lost their brightness, the plants
must be pruned back, again started into growth, and
grown on throughout the summer. In this way
fine fruiting examples are obtained. Propagation
is readily effected either by seeds or cuttings, but
I prefer the latter, and they root without any diffi-
culty if simply put in sandy soil and kept close for
a few days. — H. P.
Pinguicula caudata. — In reply to " A. J." in
The Garden, Oct. 22 (p. 373), I would say that the
resting habit of this beautiful Butterwort is not so
much a deciduous one as a great change in the type
of foliage. The hardy species subside into little
more than a folded bud, often only very slightly
anchored to its holding on the soil. P. oaudata,
however, forms a lively and pretty rosette in winter
of many bright, succulent, short, recurving leaves,
from around which the large glutinous summer
foliage falls away. A strong plant will make a
winter rosette of 2 inches or more across. With its
earliest growth in spring, flowers will rise from the
centre, and a succession of them accompany the
expanding summer leaves. The blooming period is
a lengthened one, and it is curious to see the flowers
arranged in two changes of leafy raiment. From
an experience of some years, I have found this
plant do well in a winter temperature of generally
50°, and not below 45°. In summer I keep it near
the door of the cool Orchid house, with Nanodes
Medusa;, a crisp, cool neighbour, overhead. I have
several times tried it in the Cattleya house, but
each time it has shown signs of thriving less. In
much heat the flower-stems are apt to become drawn,
and the foliage is liable to damp off at the base.
It grows in a pot with lumps of very porous sand-
stone, with pieces of fibry peat between. The neck
of the plant is well above the level of the pot, and
is embedded in a surface of live Sphagnum, among
which the pale delicate fibres luxuriate. — F. D.
HoKNEE, Burtun-in-Lonsdale.
SHORT NOTES.— STOVE AND QREENEOUSE.
SeliuTDertia grandiflora.— Will A. C. Bartho-
lomew kindly tell me where seeds or plants of this can
be obtained 'i I do not see it offered in any catalogue.
—J. M.
HeatiBg an intermediate house. — Will any
reacler kindly inform me what proportion of 4-iucli
pipe per cubic yard of space is required to maintain
the temperature necessary for an intermediate house ?
—J. P.
Bouvardia President Cleveland.— Those
who desire brilliant-coloured flowers iu their gi-eeu-
bouses and conservatories should not lack this variety ;
it is by far the richest coloured form that we have
yet seen. It is very free-flowering even in quite a
small state ; the trusses are large, and the flowers a
rich deep crimson-scarlet. — W. H. G.
Tillandsia liindesi vera.— This is a superb
Bromeliad, and flowering at this dull season of the
year it is doubly valuable. I have recently seen
this in flower in various gardens, but seen in quan-
tity, as it may be just now in Mr. Williams' nursery
at Plolloway and Mr. Bull's at Chelsea, the effect is
very charming. A coloured figure of T. Lindeni
appeared in The Garden, Nov. 11, 187(), but it
would appear by the revision of this order, it was
the variety splendida there figured ; the true Lin-
deni is a plant with narrower leaves, the scape is
shorter, and the distichous bracts are much broader
and rosy mauve in colour, tinged with pink, whilst
the flowers are soft blue, nearly or quite destitute
of any white markings at the base of the petals. It
lasts a very long time in full beauty, and it and its
congeners have a strong claim upon the attention
of English gardeners. — W. H. G.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Winter flowers. — The most pressing matter in
most gardens during the winter months is to keep
up the requisite supply of flowers. Where the work
is done in a haphazard way the result is a glut at
times and then a scarcity. The only safe course to
follow is to observe and note the length of time that
it takes to bloom the various plants that are forced.
It is almost needless to say that plants of all kinds
that do not naturally flower until spring move more
slowly during the last months of the year than later
on. One thing that should be guarded against is any
delay in starting the plants that are to be forced
that would necessitate their being hurried on in a
temperature higher than it should be. This applies
to all but a few kinds, such as Lilac and Lily of the
Valley, the blooms of which suffer little from
being subjected to strong heat.
Roses. — Where there is a house large enough for
Roses there is little difficulty in keeping up the re-
quisite supply, provided the stock of plants is suffi-
cient and well managed. The Tea varieties, which
alone can be depended on for winter flowers, move
much more quickly than most things. Plants that at
the time of being taken indoors were strong and well
furnished with bloom buds will be in flower by the
end of the year if subjected to a temperature of 50"
or 55" by night, with a little more in the daytime.
The favourite white variety Niphetos does best with
a few degrees more. A Rose house should be so
constructed as to admit as much light to the occu-
pants as it is possible to give them, in addition to
which the plants should be kept with their heads
well up to the glass. By no other means can
successional flowers be secured during the short,
dull days of winter. Where these conditions are
wanting three-fourths of the shoots come too weak
to bear flowers. Roses are proverbial for their par-
tiality for manure, not alone, such as is given in a
solid state in the soil in which they are potted, but
also in the form of liquid stimulants or surface
dressings of concentrated manure. An application
of one or other of these at short intervals is neces-
sary to properly strengthen the young wood, even
in the case of such as is produced in winter, although
a mistaken idea often prevails that assistance of
this kind is not wanted, unless in the spring and
summer when growth is more active.
StJCCESSiONAL Roses. — Plants that are intended
for forcing, so as to come in after the flrst batch is
over, will be better for being kept in a house or pit
where they can have a night temperature of 40° or
a little more. So treated, their growth will keep
moving slowly, and be in a condition to quickly
produce flower when the time arrives for giving
them more heat. The whole stock should be
frequently looked over to see that it is free from
aphides and mildew, the presence of either being
fatal to success. Dip in or syringe with tobacco
water if aphides are present, and dust with sulphur
for mildew. Respecting the last, prevention is better
than cure, and there is no way of guarding against
its inroads except by the exclusion of air, either
entirely or nearly so, admitting it in very small
quantities at the ridge of the roof. Anything in
the way of side currents is almost certain to affect
the young leaves, which, under glass, are at all
times tender, but necessarily more so vrhen produced
in winter.
PoTTise Roses. — Roses that have been grown in
the open ground and that are intended to bloom
indoors should now be lifted and potted. More
than ordinary care should be exercised in taking
them up, so as to injure the roots as little as
possible. Roses at the best are somewhat straggling,
spare-rooted plants, and suffer proportionately if the
small feeding fibres are destroyed. Use a fork in
place of the spade, the implement so often employed
in taking up plants of most kinds, and by which most
of the fine rootlets that principally sustain growth
are cut away or broken. This seriously weakens the
plants for whatever purpose they are required , and in
the case of Roses that are wanted to bloom in pots be-
fore they have had time to make good the injury they
have suffered the worst effects are seen. Whatever
flowers they make the season following are produced
at the expense of the shoots rather than from the
mutilated roots, hence the puny growth which
Roses that are lifted and potted often make the
summer following. The Hybrid Perpetuals are
mostly to be depended on for using in the way
under notice, and no attempt should be made to
have them in bloom early, as at best they are not in
a state to bear early or hard forcing. After potting
the shoots should be at once shortened moderately,
being careful to avoid the very close pruning some-
times practised with pot Roses newly moved from
the open ground. Good rich loam of a strong
nature with a liberal addition of manure is the best
soil to grow them in. Drain well and pot flrm,
avoiding either over or under-potting. Nothing is
gained by the use of pots larger than will hold
enough soil to sustain the growth which the plants
with careful treatment and liberal feeding may be
expected to make during the ensuing summer. If,
as sometimes happens for appearance sake, too
small pots are used, it necessitates the plants having
a shift after they have bloomed, in the absence of
which the growth suffers. The best place for the
plants after pottirg is a cool house or pit, where
they can be kept at a greenhouse temperature until
nearer spring, by which means they will make
growth slowly, and produce more and much finer
flowers than if pushed on earlier.
Gardenias. — At no time are the flowers of these
favourite plants more prized than in winter. Neither
is there any period of the year when there is so
much difliculty in having them in bloom. This is
shown by the price that the flowers fetch in January
and February, during which time it is no unusual
thing for the leading London florists to get 7s. (id.
each for the blooms. Skilful treatment, the best
houses, with plenty of heat and a suflicient stock of
plants are the essentials necessary to have Gardenia
flowers in the depth of winter, at which time, as
those who have had much to do with the plants
know, the buds, however, large and prominent they
may be, have a provoking tendency to remain
stationary or to fall olf . The latter mishap usually
follows when the plants are kept in a high tempera-
ture, say 70° in the night, unless they get as much
light as can be given by having their heads close to
the roof of the house in which they are grown.
This can be easily managed in a low span-roofed
stove, but where the house is high there is some
difficulty in getting large examples sufficiently up
to the glass, yet something may be done to meet
such cases. If cuttings made of the ends of the
branches composed of several shoots and set with
large prominent buds are now taken from strong,
healthy plants and put in 4-inch pots, drained, and
three-parts filled with sandy soil, the surface all
sand, they will strike directly if stood in a brisk
heat. The cuttings must be kept close enough to
prevent their flagging, but not more than this, or
422
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 5, 1887.
the buds will be liable to drop. As soon as they
are well rooted gradually expose them to the air of
the house, and stand them on a shelf over the path
where their tops will be within a few inches of the
roof. I have seen over a dozen fine flowers pro-
duced in this way between Christmas and the end
of March from little plants treated in the manner
described. The extra amount of light they get
when so near the roof of a light house makes up
for the absence of the sun's rays through the dull
days of winter. Gardenias root so readily in a high
temperature that there is no difficulty in striking
them in the way mentioned, but care is required in
regulating the atmosphere in which the cuttuigs
are kept during the time they are rooting, so that
the two extremes of giving too much air or keeping
them too close may be avoided. In the latter case,
the superabundant moisture will, as already said,
cause the buds to drop. T. B.
Trees and Shrubs.
HAEDY HEATHS.
Even in the open ground the various hardy Heaths
may be had in bloom to a greater or less extent
nearly throughout the year, for soon after the
late-flowered ones are past, should the winter be
mild, the earliest blossoms of the pretty little Erica
carnea or herbacea put in an appearance. Though
we have experienced some pretty sharp frosts, it
has by no means destroyed all the remaining
blossoms of the Heaths, for there are a few still
left. Those that are in the freshest condition at
present are a couple of varieties of our native
Ling or Heather (Calluna vulgaris), neither of which
are by any means novelties. They are Alporti, a
bold, bushy-growing kind with dark purple-coloured
blossoms, and Searlei, which is a fine white-flowered
form, and of this especially I have been able
during some winters to gather blooms till nearly
Christmas. Except these two, the numerous and
beautiful varieties of Heather are nearly over, but
one whose most attractive feature is not the flowers,
but the tint of the foliage, is now as conspicuous as
ever. I allude to the golden variety (aurea), of
which there appears to be two distinct forms, the
foliage in one being of a deep golden hue, while in
the other it is more of an orange tint, and in the
most exposed portions suffused with bronze. These
golden-leaved forms of the Heather retain their
bright colouring throughout the year, and as an
edging to some of the larger Ericaceie or for plant-
ing on the exposed parts of the rockwork they
stand in the front rank of those that are adapted
for the purpose. The Cornish Moor Heath (Erica
or Gypsocallis vagans) is another late-flowering
form, and one in which the blooms are borne in the
greatest profusion. It is a free, vigorous-growing
Heath, reaching a height of 1 foot or 2 feet, and the
colour of the flowers is a pale purplish red. There
is a variety (rubra) in which the blooms are of a
deeper colour than in the normal form, and also one
in which the flowers are white. Perhaps the most
continuous blooming of all hardy Heaths is the St.
Dabeoc's Heath (Daboicia or Menziesia polifolia),
which, under favourable conditions, will bloom
throughout the summer and well on into the
autumn. The comparatively large, bell-shaped
flowers are borne rather loosely on the spikes, but
when seen in a mass or clump they make a goodly
show. I have seen a bed filled with this Heath
which during the summer yielded a display equal
to that furnished by tender bedding plants, and
being quite hardy no protection was needed, besides
which the flowering season extended over a longer
time than would have been the case with any tender
subject. Besides the ordinary form with purplish
blossoms there is a beautiful variety with pure
white flowers, and another, strange to say, bears
both purple and white flowers, not only on the same
plant, but even on the same spike. I have also seen
the early-blooming Erica carnea or herbacea used
for the embellishment of the greenhouse d«ring the
first two or three months of the year, and very
bright and cheerful it was under glass. Where this
Erica is required for this purpose the plants should
■be potted up without delay, and plunged in a
sheltered spot outdoors till sharp weather sets in,
when they must be removed under cover, either
direct into the greenhouse, or kept in a cold frame
till the flowers are sufficiently advanced.
H. P.
STAKING TREES.
All newly planted trees should be staked or in
some way made firm directly they are planted.
This is particularly the case with large-headed stan-
dard trees, such as Chestnuts or Limes, when
planted in an exposed position in the open, or in
the case of large evergreen shrubs. There are
various methods of securing the trees. Trees with
6-feet stems and large spreading heads of about
6 feet to 10 feet in diameter cannot be kept firm by a
single stake placed by the side of the stem, but
must have three stout wires placed in a triangular
form and fixed to notched posts driven into the
ground at from 6 feet to 8 feet from the stem. The
stumps should be allowed to stand out of the
ground about 1 foot, when, if after the wire should
stretch or the posts become loose, the wire can be
again tightened by driving the stumps a little
further into the ground. Each of the three wires
should be fastened around the stem of the tree
about 5 feet from the ground in the case of medium-
sized trees. They should be so placed that they
support the weight of the tree in the best manner;
something should be placed around the stem to
prevent the wire cutting through and damaging the
bark by friction. Nothing is better than a piece of
sacking cut into strips about 6 inches wide and
wrapped neatly around the stem. Over this four
strips of wood 6 inches long and 3 inches wide,
according to the size of the tree, should be placed,
in order to prevent the chafing of the bark and also
the wires cutting into the bark as the stem thickens
in growth.
Small standard trees, also Evergreens up to 8 feet
high, which have not too heavy heads, can be se-
cured by one stake driven into the ground close to
the stem at from 3 feet to 5 feet high. At the top
of the stake the tree should be secured, using sack-
ing around the tree and tying it to the stake with
tar twine. If a piece of the stake is left above the
place where the tree is tied, the bark is almost sure
to become bruised by the constant moving to and
fro in windy weather. Trees treated in this man-
ner can be so done that the stake is seldom noticed.
Another method where the neat appearance is not
of so much importance is by driving the stake into
the ground at a distance of about 1 foot from the
tree, and securing the stem first with some sacking,
then tying securely with a withe made from a stout
Willow or Hazel twig. By giving the withe a twist
in the middle, and securing to the stake, the plant
is kept firm without any fear of chafing the bark by
contact with the stake. Such withes will last for
one year. S.
SHORT NOTES.— TBEHa AND SHRUBS.
Variegated Elders. — The golden and silver-
leaved Elders have been used with good effect in the
Winter Gardens at Rhyl, and as they do well as sea-
side plants should be largely used for planting in mari-
time gardens. The effect of a nice hush of the golden
Elder when placed outside, or in the outer line of a
shrubbery, where the prevailing tints are green, is very
pleasing. Then, as it hears hard trimming in with im-
punity, it may be kept to any size, and proportionate
to the position in which it is planted. Cuttings root
freely ; the plant is thoroughly hardy, and it forms an
excellent subject for wind-swept districts. — A. D,
Webster.
Transplanting trees. — Formerly it was com-
mon in giving directions for transplanting trees to add
instructions how to stake them, to prevent blowing
over or becoming twisted by the wind, which was
really one of the worst things that could happen to
them, and such staking was always essential if the top
was larger than the roots. But a better way is to
obviate the necessity of all staldng by taking up a
sufficient breadth of roots to hold the tree iirmly in
position when properly planted. Long and ample
roots will hold the tree better than any staking.
Purchasers of trees should thei-efore make this
requirement of the nurseryman. It is particularly
important for trees set out in autumn and subject to
November winds. — Country Gentleman.
The Giant Ivy (Helix Eiegneriana). — Amongst
the many forms of Ivy cultivated in this country,
none are so striking in appearance or more worthy of
a place in our gardens than this. It would seem to
be partial to a seaside district. — at least, I have never
before seen it so plentiful and so luxuriant as in and
around Rhyl. In some places it is growing within
a few yards of the sea, and where the salt-laden
spray must bedew its immense leaves at frequent
intervals. Nowhere, however, does it seem more at
home or growing in such luxuriance as in the
winter gardens, where I saw several fine masses of it
a few days ago. The leaves are thick and leathery,
nearly half a foot in length and the same in width,
and of ■ a deep green colour, with distinctly marked
veinings. The only wonder is that so distinct and
hardy a plant is not more commonly cultivated, for
rarely is a specimen seen even in rich and well-
furnished gardens. — A. D. Webster.
Orchids.
W. H. GOWER.
CYPRIPBDIUMS AT THE WOODLAJSDS,
The varied forms of these Slipper Orchids,
combined with their free-blooming qualities,
and in many instances with beautifully marbled
foliage, render these plants great favourites
among Orchid growers. Beautiful as are the
imported kinds, the skill of the hybridiser at
C. Fairi.
L its native habitat.
home has produced in the majority of oases a
race of still more beautiful varieties, and where
these plants are grown to any extent a good
display of their blooms can be easily maintained
nearly the whole year round. As a proof of
their utility just now, when Orchid flowers are
very scarce, I last week noted some three dozen
kinds flowering in the gardens at The Wood-
lands. Notable amongst these was the beautiful
C. Fairieanum (here figured), introduced some
years since from Noj'thern India, but now very
rare, and much sought after by Orchid culti-
vators. It has somewhat short, plain green
leaves, and the flowers in the best varieties
have a white dorsal sepal, which is faintly
veined with green, and broadly striped and
Nov. 5, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
423
bordered with criiuson-piirple ; tlie pouch is
large, greenish brown, netted with purple
veins ; petals similar in colour to the dorsal
sepal, bent down, and sharply curved upwards
like the horns of a bison. Most cultivators
complain of the difficulty in its management,
but I am inclined to think that it is somewhat
too much coddled in a high temperature, the
high price it commands preventing its being
treated so freely as it would be were it more
readily obtainable. Tsvo hybrids are in culti-
vation from this plant, viz , C. vexUlarium and
C. Arthurianum, and it is curious to observe that
each of these forms retains the peculiar feature
remarkable for its short petals, in some forms
has the dorsal sepal pure white, while in others
the white is traversed by sundry purple streaks.
0. javanicum is noteworthy for its very pale
green, tessellated leaves and somewhat greenish
flowers. The new hybrid raised between C.
javanicum and C. superbiens, and in which the
colours and markings are beautifully blended,
has been named C. javanico-superbiens. C.
Crossianum, Asliburtonire, porphj-reum, and
concolor are also well represented, the latter by
some forms with beautiful leaves and thickly
dotted flowers. Here also are some excellent
varieties of the prim and beautiful C. Spiceri-
Cypripedium Fairieanum.
of Fairieanum, in the sharply recurved petals,
the latter, however, having the character least
strongly marked. Another novelty in the
Woodlands collection is C. regale, in which the
foliage is slightly tessellated, and the whole
flower is of a bronzy hue, the large dor.'ial sepal
being broadly bordered with creamy white and
flushed with crimson. A very fine form of C.
cenanthum superbum, one of the brightest
coloured and prettiest of the Slippers, is also
now blooming, as well as numbers of line
varieties of C. Harrisianiim. C. aurosum is
another pretty form which popularly may be
described as a superb C. venustum. C. pur-
puratum, an old, but somewhat rare species
anum, some with the dorsal sepd plain r.nd
others bearing a broad central stripe of deep
crimson. C. tonsum, in which the large, bold
flowers are nearly nankeen colour, is associated
with C. cilophyllum, C. calurum, C. gemmi-
ferum, C. callosum, C. lo, C. selhgerum
rubrum, C. conchiferum, C. Sedeni, C. cardinale,
C. insigne Fraseri, and many others. The last-
named is a fine form of the old species, in
which the upper half of the dorsal sepal is
wholly pure white. These plants at The Wood-
lands (as in the case of most of the gardens
which now contain large collections of Cypri-
pediums) are kept very warm, but I cannot help
thinking that when the various kinds become
more plentiful and a second plant can be spared
to experiment upon, many of them wiU be
found to thrive better in a much lower tempera-
ture than they are now subjected to.
Aerides virens Ellisi.— This is a superb form
of the well-known species. The racemes are some
20 inches long, bearing many flowers, which are
large and very fragrant ; the sepals and petals are
delicate French white, flushed with rose and tipped
with bright amethyst, lip similar in colour, bearing
a serrated tongue of deep amethyst in front. An
excellent figure of this variety appeared in the last
number of the " Orchid Album," where Mr. Williams
says it is a very great improvement on the typical
plant, the habit of growth being stronger and
the spikes very much longer. It was first
bloomed at the Holloway Nurseries, and named in
honour of the late Rev. W. Ellis, of Hoddesdon,
who did Eo much towards making us acquainted
with the strange and wonderful vegetation of Mada-
gascar.— W. H. G.
Masdevallias at The Woodlands.— Where
Masdevallias bloomed early and the plants are
vigorous, a second crop of flowers is usually pro-
duced in the autumn. Such is the case in
Mr. Measures' garden at Streatham, where the
Masdevallias are just now makuig a grand dis-
play. Such varieties as M. ignea, Davisi, Veitchi,
Harryana, amabilis, Lindeni, and 'N^eitclii grandi-
flora have dozens of flowers upon them. These are
all grown in quite a cool house, and are treated as
pot plants. Most or all of these kinds, I believe,
are terrestrial in a wild state, growing at the base
of large trees, and ascending the trunks a short
distance only amongst the growing Moss. Such
kinds, however, as il. gorgona, chimajra, Wallisi,
and bella (which are also now floweriog here) are
grown in hanging baskets. These last naturally
grow upon the branches of trees ; otherwise no
difference in temperature is made for either group.
— W. H. G.
Dendrobium polypWebium. — The September
number of the " Orchid Album " gives an excellent
portrait of this new Dendrobe, a plant of which
appeared at one of the exhibitions held at the
Regent's Par's Gardens this season. It appears to
have been discovered by General Berkeley in Bur-
mah some ten or eleven years ago, since which
time various other plants have been found in diffe-
rent localities, and these, it appears, vary to some
extent in colour, which is not a matter for surprise,
as we find the same thing occurs at home amongst
seedling plants from the same cross. Professor
Reichenbach considers this plant to be a natural hy-
brid between D. Pierardi and D. rhodopterygerum.
The stem-like pseudo-bulbs are about 18 inches long,
nearly the same thickness throughout, and decidu-
ous. The flowers are slightly fragrant and abundant,
sepals and petals bright rosy purple, lip deeper in
colour, veined with purple, and narrowly bordered
with white.— W. H. G.
Calantlies. — These are now showing their flower-
spikes and will be very useful towards the end of
the year. Water should not be withheld until the
foliage has nearly decayed, for if the plants are
allowed to become dry, the roots perish and render
the pseudo-bulbs much smaller next season. If a
little manure water has been given to them occa-
sionally the spikes should be strong, and produce
good -coloured, well-formed flowers. After the
fljwer-spikes are visible, water should be carefully
applied until the flowers are fully developed, de-
creasing the amount from now until the foliage has
decayed, very little being required during the
flowering period. If the surface compost is desti-
tute of nourishing food, it should be removed and
some fresh compost applied. I believe this to be
an important agent in the successful cultivation of
this class of Orchids, as the compost that is used in
their cultivation is of such a nature as to become
exhausted by frequent waterings and atmospheric
moisture. Some cultiyators may think that this
will retard the ripening of the pseudo-bulbs, but if
all shading has been dispensed with and the plants
fully exposed to the influence of the sun, the prac-
424
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 5, 1887.
tice of top-dressing will give satisfactory results in
the production of strong, well-developed pseudo-
bulbs.— A. LiNDEIDGB.
Cattleyas.— Shading must now be dispensed
with in the case of Cattleyas, the object being to
secure well-ripened pseudo-bulbs. Water should be
carefully applied during active growth, and when
watered the plants should receive sufficient, so as
to thoroughly soak the whole compost, and no more
should be given until the plants approach a dry state.
It is by far the best plan to keep the plants on the
dry side instead of giving too much water, which if
injudiciously applied renders their appearance any-
thing but satisfactory.— Alfred Lindkidge, ,Sfa-
ORCHIDS AT CHELTENHAM.
At the present time there are many Orchids flower-
ing at Mr. J. Cypher's nurseries, and the display
will be further improved in the course of a few
weeks. In the Cattleya house not many blooms are
now open, but the Lselias and Cattleyas are forming
large numbers of grand sheaths, one pan of Cattleya
Mossiiij alone having twenty-five. There are whole
rows of specimens equally as promising, and nest
spring they will be worth a long journey to see.
Cattleya maxima Backhouseana, a great improve-
ment on the type and fine for the autumn, was
flowering freely, and there were a few fine "stray"
flowers of C. Mendeli. C. speoiosissima grandis, a
superior form not unlike the finest C. gigas, was
very lovely. Onoidium Jonesianum is singularly
beautiful. One piece was carrying three lovely
spikes, and other plants were also doing well. It is
not often seen in good condition, and Mr. Cypher's
treatment ought, therefore, to be taken note of.
The plants are simply fixed to a flat piece of wood,
no Moss or any kind of compost being used, and
are kept suspended not far from the glass in the
Cattleya house. About every other day they are
taken down and dipped in water, the greatest care
being taken not to wet the foliage. La3lia elegans,
also grown in the Cattleya house, invariably makes
two growths, flowering twice in the year, and is a
very desirable Orchid. The Mexican house con-
tained many valuable autumn-flowering Orchids,
including a large batch of Laelia anceps alba. This
is found very shy-flowering until the plants become
established, but this season Mr. Cypher has several
fine spikes unfolding their handsome flowers, and
there were many spikes of the old L. anceps. Maxil-
laria grandiflora was flowering abundantly, and this
useful autumn species is very sweetly scented and
durable. Gypripedium puuctatum violaceum, con-
sidered the finest of the insigne type, is grown in a
cold frame all the summer, and introduced into the
Mexican house to flower during winter. The plants
are very robust, and showing abundance of flowers,
and the ordinary C. insigne under similar cool treat-
ment invariably gives much finer blooms, many twin
flowers also forming. I have previously alluded to
the fine batch of Masdevallia tovarensis at Mr.
Cypher's, and these are usually at their best at
Christmas when choice white flowers are in de-
mand. All are crowded with flower-stems, even
those in 3-inch pots having as many as fifteen
flowers showing. They are always grown at the
warmest end of a cool house. In another cool
house I noticed a grand lot of Oncidium varicosum,
or Rogersi, as it is sometimes called. It almost
equals the spring-flowering 0. Marsballianum, and
is probably one of the most serviceable wiuter-
flowering Orchids in cultivation. Quite the tiniest
plants produce a spike, and some very small pieces
were carrying four spikes. A strong spike will
have as many as IdH flowers on it; colour a rich
golden yellow. The plants are found to succeed
best when set on a stage not far from the glass in
preference to su.spending them.
Ang'r;ccum Leonis in an East Indian house was
carrying one strong spike of pure white and very
sweet-scented flowers, and is undoubtedly a valuable
variety. Aerides Hohanianum has a line spike of
pale buff-coloured flowers, and the grand Aerides
Lawrenceanum, flowering late, was in good condi-
tion ; Vanda Lawrenceana is also in a very
flourishing state, good stock being worked up.
Oncidium sarcodes suspended in pans is doing re-
markably well in strong heat, this grand Orchid
having many spikes of flowers opening. Oncidium
Lanceanum is also doing well, one small plant
in a 4-inch pan having four spikes of flower. Very
beautiful is Dendrobium formosum giganteum, this
growing and flowering grandly on blocks without
any Moss or compost. Among the heat-loving Cy-
pripediums the most conspicuous are C. Sanderi-
anum, perhaps the finest of the Slipper Orchids ; C.
Spicerianum, a little gem, and very free ; C. Law-
renceanum, foliage and flowers alike handsome;
and C. Parishi, very vigorous and free. One house
is largely filled with Dendrobium bigibbum, and a
better lot of plants cannot be found. W. I.
Cattleyas at Mr. W. Bull's.— The early days
of November are scarcely a time to expect much in
the way of flower from this genus, but the very
large stock in Mr. Bull's nursery at Chelsea bids
fair to produce a grand display later on. These
plants, as well as the whole collection, appear to
be in the rudest health, far more so e^en than
usual, and when it is taken into consideration
that they are growing in London, it proves that
Orchids, despite the supposed difficulties attending
their management, are essentially town plants.
Among kinds now flowering in quantity are numer-
ous varieties of the beautiful C. Gaskelliana and
the equally fine C. Eldorado, the old yet beautiful
C. bicolor, and the dwarf-growing and distinct C.
luteola. Associated with these were L;\;lia Perrini,
several fine forms being in great beauty. The
charming L. Dayana, remarkable for the size of its
flowers and the richness of colour, and a grand
form of L. anceps atro-rubens were also noteworthy.
— W. H. G.
Vanda Batemanni. — If I were asked to point
out a few shy-flowering Orchids, this species I think
would be one of the first I should name, for,
although I have had the management of a con-
siderable number of plants, I never could succeed
in flowering it. When it does bloom, however, the
flowers will remain quite three months in beauty.
Apart from its flowers, it well deserves a place in
every collection of Orchids for its stately habit. In
the earlier days of Orchid growing this plantdEas
rarely to be met with, and, if I mistake not, Mr. J. G.
Veitch was the first to introduce it in quantity and
popularise it. The plant is erect in habit, with a
stout stem bearing broad, leathery, pale green
leaves, which are some 2 feet in length, and
arranged in a regular two-ranked fashion. The
spike, which is considerably longer than the leaves,
bears from ten to twenty flowers, each 2^ inches
or more across ; these are flat, thick, and fleshy in
texture. The ground colour of the sepals and
petals is rich golden yellow, profusely blotched and
spotted with crimson, the reverse side being of a
uniform rosy purple, tinged with violet ; lip saccate,
purplish crimson. A fine specimen of this plant is
now flowering in Mr. Bull's establishment at Chelsea,
— W. H. G.
Comparettia macroplectron. — This plant be-
longs to a family of handsome small-growing
Orchids, which has not hitherto, however, re-
ceived that amount of attention to which its
beauty entitles it. They are usually looked upon as
difficult to establish and hard to retain in a satis-
factory condition, and few succeed in flowering
them a second year after their importation. The
species above named is now opening its flowers in
Mr. Bull's nursery at Chelsea, and appears to be
thoroughly at home in a cool house. Formerly
Comparettias were treated to the temperature of
the East India house when growing, and removed
to the intermediate house to rest, but I never could
succeed with them until I grew them at the coolest
end of a Cattleya house, and after growth was com-
pleted removed them into the Odontoglossum house,
and never allowed them to suffer from drought.
This species appears to be a free bloomer, The
pseudo-bulbs are small and bear a single, large,
thick and fleshy deep green leaf. The flowers are
somewhat similar in shape to those of an Oncidium,
the lip being the most conspicuous part ; they are
furnished with a spur nearly 2 inches in length,
within which is a second shorter spur ; this double
spur is one of the peculiarities of the genus. The
sepals and petals are small, rose-coloured, dotted
all over with rosy purple ; lip large, rosy magenta,
paler towards the margin, and dotted towards the
base with rosy purple. It is a native of the moun-
tain regions of New Grenada. — W. H. G.
Butterfly Oncidiums. — The two species, 0.
Papilio and 0. Krameri, which are popularly known
as Butterfly Orchids, would appear to have been
somewhat at a discount. They have, however, al-
ways been great favourites of mine. It is, therefore,
with much pleasure I see that lately they are being
eagerly sought after ; while the numerous fine
varieties which are now blooming in various gar-
dens prove that the fine forms even in our older
known kinds of Orchids are not exhausted. Both
these species thrive best upon blocks, and in
this manner their flowers are most effective. O.
Papilio enjoys the temperature of an intermediate
house, or even an East India house, during the sum-
mer months, but I have found that 0. Krameri thrives
best in a much lower temperature. Has this been
the experience of other growers ? — W. H. G.
Kitchen Garden.
W. WILDSMITH.
KITCHEN GARDEN NOTES.
Asparagus. — The stems having died off naturally,
all have been cleared away, and after hand-weeding
the entire pl.antation, a good dressing of old vine
and Peach border soil will be wheeled on some bard
frosty morning, and by-and-by, before renewed
growth commences in spring, we shall hope to give
a supplementary dressing of any kind of manure
that is available. Salt is an excellent fertiliser for
Asparagus, but it is a mistake to suppose that the
plants cannot be produced as well without it. I use
salt for this crop, more especially for the prevention
and destruction of weeds, which, by reason of the
thicket formed by the Asparagus stems, are apt to
overrun the ground, and, being out of sight, are
liable to escape destruction. The raised bed fashion
of growing Asparagus seems to me so unnatural,
that one wonders why the practice came into vogue.
A plant that above everything delights in a deep,
rich soil and abundance of moisture, so long as such
moisture is not of the nature of a stagnant pool, is
surely cruelly treated when elevated a foot, and
sometimes more, above the ordinary ground level,
with a good part of the roots protruding from the
sides of the beds, owing to the shovelling out of the
orthodox alleys between every two rows of plants.
I plant in fairly deep trenches a yard apart, and
cover the crowns to a depth of 6 inches, and as the
plants get older, the yearly top-dressing of fresh
manure and soil keeps the crowns well under the
soil, and there being no alleys, the roots have full
run of the land without liability to injury from ex-
posure, as is the case when the rows are dressed
with the soil taken from between the lines of plants.
The foregoing remarks, so far as concerns top-dress-
ing, are only applicable to young and permanent
plots. To any that are to be used for forcing dur-
ing the forthcoming season such top-dressing is, of
course, unnecessary.
SeakALE. — Unusually early and severe frost gave
the flnal touch to growth, and we have therefore
weeded the ground and pulled off the most decayed
leaves, and lifted a few of the largest crowns
for forcing. The roots lifted will be afforded a
fortnight's rest by laying them in thickly in dry
soil, under shelter of a wall or tree, where rain can-
not reach them ; by this enforced rest they will
force just as easily as if the roots had been well
matured and rested before being dug up. Our rule
is to have three plots— one, the oldest, for forcing
by lifting the roots from this time onwards to about
February ; the next oldest is retained for forcing, or
rather allowing it to come on naturally as the season
advances, by covering up the crowns with ashes,
light soil, or Cocoa fibre ; and the third, being a
young plantation, instead of thoughts of forcing,
the ground will shortly be treated pretty much the
Nov. 5, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
425
same as that of Asparagus plots, so as to get the
crowns in good form for forcing next year.
Globe Artichokes. — The old fruiting stems
have been cut away as well as the dead foliage, and
as soon as possible a good dressing of manure will
be lightly forked into tl-;e ground, care being taken
not to mutilate the roots. After this is done, and
before we are likely to get a prolonged frost, each
stool will have its own wrap of long stable litter in
order to ensure safe wintering. I write " safe win-
tering," but mean by that term wintering without
injury. The roots live through a great amount of
frost, but are injured by a very little, and as that
little is so easily prevented by the covering men-
tioned, it becomes a positive duty to put the plan
in practice. Seeing that stress is laid in respect of
the necessity of applying covering, a word of caution
is perhaps needed that such protection be not over-
done ; that is, it should not be put on in such bulk
as to cause decay of the centres, an error that I
have seen and also made myself more than once.
Collecting leaves. — Stable litter is not over
plentiful with us ; consequently, for vegetable
forcing purposes, we have to rely somewhat largely
on tree leaves, and just now is a busy time getting
them together. The soft, rapid-decaying leaves,
such as Lime, Birch, and Elm, we store as much as
possible together, and, with about a third of their
bulk of litter, these make most excellent hot-beds
for vegetable forcing, and form an excellent manure
after forcing is over for crops of Lettuce, Radish,
Turnips, and Potatoes. The harder leaves of Oak,
Beech, and Spanish Chestnut we reserve for Pine beds
and Strawberry pits, and use these without litter, as
they heat, if not too wet, better and more lasting by
their own bulk than if litter were added. The hot-
beds lately made for vegetable forcing are at present
utilised for propagating purposes ; but this branch
will shortly be succeeded by sowings of Carrots and
'Kadish, and by planting of Potatoes.
• General work, — Trenching on cold mornings ;
-to dig up the main lot of Carrots and to house them
as soon as dug ; to prick out Cabbage, Coleworts,
■and Cauliflower ; thin out Lettuce, ihake up hot-
beds for vegetable forcing, and, if need be, plant
one frame with the earliest Potatoes.
the temperature of the bed falls to 90°, an inch or
two of loam being spread on the surface and beaten
down firmly. The bed alluded to by "L. R." has
become overheated, and is worthless. The manure
should be turned over every day in an open shed for
ten days before making the bed up with it. — J.
Douglas.
A good Potato. — Ajiropos of what you say .in
The Garden, Oct. 22 (p. 357) about well flavoured
fruit versu.i showy fruit, how about Potatoes ? I
should like to send you White Elephant, which is
becoming a popular market variety, owing to its
inimense size and white, floury appearance. It has
about as much flavour as pure starch. I have also
a rough, medium-sized, rather waxy, red-skinned,
yellow-fleshed Potato from the Channel Islands—
not in commerce, and one which would not be looked
at at a show. But we eat scarcely any other here —
it is like a sweet Chestnut. — G. H. Enoleheart.
American mode of growing Tomatoes. —
Mr. Forbes, Dover House Gardens, Roehampton,
this year adopted an American method of cultivat-
ing a portion of his Tomatoes, and with such pro-
fitable results as to justify further trial. A piece
of ground was well trenched, at the bottom being
placed a good layer of manure, and above this 6
inches of soil. Then trellises resting upon 8-inch
pots were placed over the plants, which grew vigor-
ously, and as the shoots appeared through the open-
ings in the woodwork they were carefully trained.
The result was a great crop of splendid fruit, which,
being produced on a flat surface with full exposure
to the sun, was ripened quickly and well. This plan
seems worthy of adoption in other places. — E. C.
Temperature cf Mushroom bed. — In The
.Garden, October 22 (p. 377), Mr. Gilbert says that
the heat of a Mushroom bed at the time of spawn-
ing should not exceed 70°, and that the spawn
•should be inserted in the usual way. I think it de-
■sirable that some opinion should be expressed by
.successful growers of Mushrooms on this point.
■Our plan is to insert the spawn deep enough to
■allow of its being covered to a depth of 2 inches
.with the manure. The beds are rather shallow, not
being more than !■? inches deep. We spawn when
TOMATOES.
In The Garden, October 8 (p. 3-19), " A. D." invites
information upon the cracking and comparative
fleshiness of Tomatoes. As I have grown Tomatoes
for a good many years, and have paid great atten-
tion not only to different methods of culture and
the varying results obtained thereby, but also to the
individual characteristics of the varieties, I can en-
tirely agree with nearly all of the observations con-
tained in "A. D.'s" note. I have not the least
doubt but that " cracking " in Tomatoes is caused,
as he (or rather his friend the market gardener)
states, by the greater solidity or fleshiness of the
improved round-fruited varieties, in which the
mawkish pulp of the older ribbed or sutured sorts is
to a large extent displaced by solid flesh, combined
with the thinness of their skins. It will generally
be found that the cracked fruits are invariably
the best and finest flavoured. Cracking, in fact,
denotes the highest development of the solid or
fleshy part of the fruit, in conjunction with a thin
and delicate skin. Again, the smooth round fruits
undoubtedly weigh heavier than the others, owing to
the greater amount of flesh which they contain,
and in addition they almost invariably possess a
much finer flavour.
Up to the present season I have always found a
good strain of Hathaway's Excelsior to produce the
finest flavoured fruits, and when growing for sale I
have always been able to obtain a better price for
this variety than any other, owing quite as much to
its superior flavour as to the handsome appearance
of the deep red, almost perfectly round and mode-
rately-sized fruits. Next to this variety I always
preferred the larger smooth-fruited sorts, including
Trophy, Acme, Conqueror (now apparently synony-
mous with the Early Dwarf and Orangefleld), and a
selected strain of the old Large Red. Perfection
(syns., Livingstone's Favourite and Perfection, Jubi-
lee, &c.) I have never grown myself, but have seen
it two or three times in grand condition.
A great source of trouble and annoyance in grow-
ing Tomatoes is the difficulty there is in obtaining
seed true to name and unmixed, while, unless by
saving one's own seed, it appears to be quite im-
possible to secure a properly " selected " sample of
any one kind. The variation in the quality of some
strains, notably that of the old Large (market) Red,
is surprising, and I have had under the same name
some samples that were really not worth house
room, others that were neither better nor worse
than a dozen other kinds, and here and there some-
times I have obtained a carefully selected strain of
this variety that in size, form, and flavour could
hardly be distinguished from Trophy, but possessed
the additional advantage of being a heavier crop-
per. I see the Chiswick authorities consider a
variety known as the Glamorgan to be identical
with the above (Large Red). I can only say that
having grown a row of it this season in the same
house with several other kinds, I can only see the
slightest resemblance to any form of the Large Red
that has ever come under my notice. The fruit
was certainly of the same form (moderately ribbed)
and colour as an average strain of the other, but
the growth much longer and more wiry, the foliage
different, and the leaf-stalks much longer. In fact,
this variety ran up the roof in a manner more re-
sembling that of Excelsior than anything else I
have seen, though both the foliage and fruit were
entirely different.
Besides the Glamorgan, I this season grew a
batch of plants from seed of four or five other varie-
ties, including Hathaway's Excelsior, Trophy, and
Conqueror. Though each batch was kept strictly
separate, the seed proved to be so mixed that out of
each packet I obtained about half a dozen distinct
sorts, and there was not a true Excelsior among the
whole lot. The majority of the plants, however,
turned out remarkably well, and among them was a
large proportion bearing fine round fruit of a pinky
or carmine-red colour similar to that of the
Mikado.
Whether this was the true Mikado or not I have
been unable to determine, but both in habit of
growth and productiveness, and in the weight, ap-
pearance, and flavour of the fruit it is certainly a
grand variety, and though I have hitherto enter-
tained a prejudice against these pinky-skinned
fruits, the experience of this year has proved con-
clusively that in solidity, fleshiness, and flavour
(the latter particularly) they are undeniably superior
to any of the scarlet or true red-coloured kinds.
I do not believe that first-class Tomatoes can be
grown in houses unprovided with side or front
ventilators, as is too often the case. In suitable
weather a thorough current of air is of the greatest
importance to Tomatoes, causing the plants not
only to make a short-jointed growth, but the trusses
to come larger and stronger and the fruit to attain
a larger size and superior substance and flavour.
Plants thus grown afford huge trusses, weighing
ssveral pounds each, of large fruit at frequent dis-
tances up the stem, and produce a very different
appearance to the straggling bunches of two or
three small fruits scattered here and there on the
long rambling stems of plants in an imperfectly
ventilated structure. B. C. R.
VEGETABLES AT SOUTH KENSINGTON.
The superb display of kitchen garden products
staged at South Kensington on the 2.5th ult. must
have suggested doubts in the minds of some pre-
sent, other than gardeners, whether all the reports
of the drought of the summer were not myths.
Certainly, from the end of August things changed
appreciably for the better, but whatever the growth
made since, there were times as the end of August
drew near when many believed that autumn and
winter crops would prove absolute failures. The
rain, though so late, came in good time to save many
things, and especially the deep-rooting things, so
that when it fell the effect was almost magical, and
with soil so heated growth was exceptionally rapid.
Distressing were the accounts on almost every hand
some three months since of the prospects of the
early Potato crop, but here, at South Kensington,
were not only Potatoes in vast quantities, but show-
ing in the bulk remarkable size ; indeed, the dimen-
sions of most were in excess of what has been seen
in good growing years. Still, the dryness of the
soil had left its mark on the majority of the tubers,
for skins were very rough and rusty-looking, evidence,
as some will have, of quality, but really of having
had to be half-baked for weeks in super-heated soil,
which was dry beyond all previous experience.
Some favoured exhibitors, and notably those from
the midland districts, who took the leading prizes,
had clean, refined, handsome tubers, but even these
were larger than usual. Without doubt a hot, dry
summer favours some localities appreciably, and
thus it is we hear of great quantities of fine and
handsome Potatoes coming into the London market
now from the north and bringing down the previous
prices quite 30 per cent., a good result for the con-
sumer and a bad one for the southern grower. It
is again obvious that in spite of denunciations of
size in tubers, big growing sorts are both more
widely grown, and more in favour with the million
than are small ones. The heap of gigantic tubers
shown by Mr. Fidler were appropriately named
Reading Giant, and the renowned White Elephant
was not less bulky. Presently we shall have a race
of Brobdignagian Potatoes, which will doubless be
christened Og, Gog, Magog, &c., until the nomen-
clature of the mythical giants is exhausted. It has
been the year of big growing Potatoes ■without
doubt, and bushels have from the late crops been
filled abundantly. How late the growth of many of
the tubers had been made was evidenced by the
fact that monsters almost yet had their skins as
thin and tender as the finest tissue paper. We owe
very much indeed to the autumn rains as far as
the Potato crop is concerned ; indeed, but for them
426
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 5, 1887.
we should have been lifting poor stocks. The fre-
quent appearance of that fine main crop kind, "\'icar
of Laleham, in the collections which admitted some
sorts not specially named led me to count the
dishes of the Vicar, and I found twenty-eight, whilst
the nest most popular of open kinds seemed to be
Chancellor, with sixteen dishes. This latter has now
become the most popular of all late white kidneys
and for cropping or sample has no equal. It was very
noteworthy that of the four dishes shown by Mr,
Hughes for Messrs. Wood and Co.'s cup, and which
won it out of some twenty collections, really the
finest and handsomest samples in the whole show.
Chancellor, London Hero, and Vicar of Laleham,
emanated from Bedfont, a fact of which I have
some reason to be proud, but I have always laboured
to send out kinds that, in addition to being good all
round, were also really distinct and easily recognis-
able. The collection of vegetables of twelve dishes
each were marvellously good, although each one had
some weak points. It was satisfactory that the
kinds to be shown were specified, and were all lona
fide vegetables, so that Tomatoes and Mushrooms
were excluded. I am one of those who do not re-
gard either of those latter thir.gs to be proper vege-
tables, and at autumn shows nothing should be
recognised as such which have not been grown under
ordinary conditions in the open air. It may be
difficult, perhaps, to put up twelve dishes of such
vegetables all distinct at this time of the year, but
the donors of the prizes in this case liberally
allowed three sorts of Potatoes to be included in
twelve dishes ; hence the remarkable cbihpetition of
some 120 dishes of vegetables. Of Cauliflowers, all
had Autumn Giant, and generally wonderfully good
samples. Cabbages varied, but were small and
good. Carrots were almost exclusively the New
Intermediate, , wonderfully fleshy and handsome.
Onions were chiefly of the fine White Spanish type.
Turnips, the Early Snowball. Leeks, the Lyon or
Prizetaker, varying in size and depth of really white
blanched stem, but generally excellent. Parsnips
Student or HoUow-orown, most of them remarkably
fine and clean, handsome and fleshy. Beet was
rather coarser than usual, the best being good,
though moderate-sized, samples of Dell's Crimson ;
and the Celery included Leicester Ked, Standard-
bearer, and Grove White, but none of exceptional
size or quality. The chief Potatoes in the collec-
tions were Chancellor, Schoolmaster, Ashtop Fluke,
Magnum Bonurh, and Cosmopolitan. Many of the
Onions staged for special prizes were of inordinate
dimensions, yet very firm and weighty. They were
also as handsome as Onions could be. The flat
forms known as Rousham Park and Main Crop, the
more globular Anglo-Spanish White, or the egg-
shaped Wroxton indicated exceptional culture.
Surely we have Onions big enough and varied
enough now. It is certain that these big bulbs
keep badly, and only good, naturally-grown, hard
samples of these sorts will stand without growing
till the spring. The Reading Selected Onions were
smaller and apparently harder than were the Ban-
bury forms, the Blood-red especially looking as
though it would keep firm for a year. No less than
nine assumed different Onions were invited in the
competitions — strong evidence of the popularity of
this savory vegetable. Of specially named things
the Dwarf White Gem Celery, apparently a dwarf
selection from the Dwarf White Incomparable, calls
for notice, being very solid and massive, if short in
the plant. This, generally, was remarkably well
shown. When shall we he privileged to see such
another display of vegetables at South Kensington ?
Certainly, here was ample evidence that competition
has done much to promote perfection in cultivation.
A. D.
Saving Cabbage seed. — When in Lincolnshire
not long since I was very much interested in the
method adopted for saving Cabbage seed. The
favourite Cabbage is what is known as the Rainham,
a fine type of what we know best as the Enfield
Market in this part of the country. When a large
breadth of Cabbage is grown for market purposes the
custom is to go through the plantation and place a
stickagainst the handsomest and finest types. This
is done in order that these may be reserved for seed
purposes ; then the Cabbages are cut for market, and
by-and-by when the ground is cleared it is found
that all the marked Cabbages have put forth
sprouts. As winter approaches these are carefully
lifted and then planted out in deeply trenched
ground, leaving only the tips of the sprouts visible
above the soil. This is done in order to preserve
the plants from the effects of frost. In the spring
the sprouts grow, and eventually bloom and produce
seed, and in this way a very fine stock is secured.
A fine stock of the Nonpareil is also grown in this
county. R. D.
Ferns.
W. H. GOWER.
LINDS^A CULTRATA.
This plant is a member of a somewhat large
family of very Adiantum-like Ferns, from which
they differ, however, in lacking the polished
Liudsica cultrata. Engraved for The Garden
from Nature.
black stems so prominent a feature in that
genus, and also by the arrangement of the sori,
which are placed usually in a continuous line
near the upper edge of the segments, but in the
present plant are broken up into short lobes. In
L. cultrata the fronds are erect, simply pinnate,
and the segments are developed on one side of
the mid-rib only ; the fronds are erect, pro-
duced from a short creeping rhizome, and are
usually about C inches high, although in well-
grown examples they sometimes attain double
that size. The fronds are pale green in colour,
and yield a fragrance similar to that of the
Sweet Vernal Grass of the meadows (Anthox-
anthum odoratum), a property they retain for a
very long time when dried. This plant requires
stove heat and a very moist atmosphere ; the
pots should be nearly filled with drainage ma-
terial, and what little soil is used should consist
of rough turfy loam, with a small portion of
peat and sharp sand added. It is an evergreen
species, common in the East Indies and various
of the Malayan Islands.
CUSHION-LIKE SELAGINBLLAS.
This section of the SelagineUas includes about
a dozen known and recognised species, and
nearly an equal number of varieties, several of
which have not yet been introduced to our
gardens. The roots are confined to the base,
and the frondules spread out in a circular
manner, closely overlapping each other, and
thus form pretty little cushion-like masses.
Like all other kinds of SelagineUas, this set
enjoys a liberal supply of moisture, but they
do not long continue in a healthy condition if
water is allowed to lie amongst their closely-
imbricated leaves ; the drainage also must be
good, so as to prevent any stagnation about
their roots.
This section is somewhat more difficult to
increase than most of the other kinds, but
young plants may be obtained by pulling away
the back frondules, securing some roots to each
one. These should be planted several together
in small pots, and placed in a somewhat close
and warm frame until growth commences. The
soil should be peat and sand, with a little loam
added.
S. INVOLVBNS is a large handsome kind, and
suitable for a cool Fern house. The frondules are
deltoid in outline, two or three times divided, and
very leafy, and the colour is bright green.
S. INVOLVBNS VAEIEGATA resembles the above,
saving the creamy white branchlets, which are
freely interspersed amongst the bright green. This
form was introduced from Japan a few years ago
by Mr. Bull, of Chelsea, and fine examples are now
to be seen in his nursery. The typical plant is
found wild in various parts of Japan, the Philip-
pine Islands, a,nd in the Eastern Himalayas.
S. LEPIDOPHYLLA. — This species- is popularly
known as the Resurrection Plant. The plant when
dry rolls its frondules inwards, and thus forms a
ball ; these have the power (even when dead) if
put into water of unfolding in a natural manner,
and assume the appearance of life, and large num-
bers of dead plants were imported a short time
since by the Messrs. Hooper and Co., and sold as
curiosities. The plant when living is very hand-
some ; its frondules are very leafy and finely
divided, and soft pale green in colour. It grows
naturally in exposed situations, and is widely
distributed throughout Tropical America ; under
cultivation it thrives best in an intermediate tem-
perature.
S. PIHFERA. — For the introduction of this pretty
species I believe we are indebted to the Messrs.
Veitch. It somewhat resembles the last-named
plant ; its frondules are deeper in colour, and the
leaves are terminated by a bristle-like point ; more-
over, it thrives best in a cool house or Wardian
case. Native of Texas and Mexico at considerable
elevations.
S. cuspiDATA.— This is not only the most beau-
tiful species In this section, but really one of the
very handsomest of the genus, which is saying a
great deal for it when we take into consideration
that upwards of three hundred species are recog-
nised and described. It is sometimes found in
gardens under the names of S. pallescens and S.
circinalis. The frondules are erect, much-branched,
and elegantly divided, attaining a length of from
6 inches to !) inches, the colour a brilliant, soft,
light green. The variety elongata attains to double
the length of the typical plant, with narrower
frondules. S. Emiliana, a plant of somewhat
recent introduction, is also a form of this plant. It
requires stove temperature. The various forms are
found wild throughout New Granada, Guatemala,
and Venezuela.
Nor. 5, 1887.J
THE GARDEN.
427
S. CONVOLTJTA, also known as S. paradoxa, re-
sembles S. lepidophylla in habit. The frondules are
somewhat rigid in textnre, deep green on the upper
side, paler beneath. It is a native of Brazil, and
requires stove temperature and a very moist atmo-
sphere to develop its beauties. W. H. G.
DickBonia Berteroana. — This is a noble Tree
Fern, which one sees far too seldom in our collec-
tions. The stem is stout, and is said to reach a
height of from 10 feet to ] 5 feet. The fronds are
rhomboid in outline, gracefully arched and spread-
ing, tripinnate ; the segments finely divided, coria-
ceous in texture, and rich bright green in colour.
Independent of its attractions as a greenhouse orna-
ment, it has an additional interest in being found
only in the celebrated island of Juan Fernandez,
from whence it was introduced to England a few
years ago by the Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea. — W. H. G.
Polysticliuni viviparum. — An elegant dwarf-
growing species, and well deserving of general
cultivation. The stems are densely clothed with
large dark scales ; the fronds, arching and arranged
in a vasiform manner, range from 1 foot to 18 in.
in length, simply pinnate and gemmiferous near the
points ; the segments are lanceolate, terminating in
a short, stiff point; the edges somewhat deeply
lobed, coriaceous in texture, and deep shining green
in colour. I recently noted some excellent spe-
cimens of this plant in Mr. Bull's nursery, where it
is grown under comparatively cool treatment.
W. H. G.
Propagating.
Root cuttings. — A great many plants can be pro-
pagated by cuttings of the roots, and in some cases
this mode of increase is preferable to any other, as
the plants grow away more freely than those raised
from cuttings of the young shoots, and a few roots
can be often taken off when moving or repotting a
plant without injuring it in any way. As hardy
plants are generally moved during autumn, winter,
or early spring, a supply of roots of any plants that
it may be desired to increase in this way should be
obtained. Hardy trees and shrubs that can be
readily propagated by means of root cuttings in-
clude among their number Paulownia imperialis,
the Catalpas, several kinds of Rhus (including the
beautiful out-leaved form of Rhus glabra), Aralia
spinosa, Xauthoceras sorbifolia, Koelreuteria pani-
culata, and the Poplars, Alders, and Willows.
Should any of these be transplanted it will be easy
to obtain a few roots if required ; indeed, in some
cases the broken pieces that remain in the
ground will push up shoots the following season.
The roots may be cut up into lengths of i inches or
5 inches and inserted in a sheltered border of
light sandy soil, or they may be protected by a
frame, which, of course, is of great assistance to
them. The cuttings should be buried at such a
depth that the upper part is about a couple of
inches below the soil when they are inserted in an
open border, but when protected by a frame they
need not be buried so deeply, as the protection
afforded by the frame is sufficient to keep off dry-
ing winds, which in the open ground very much
check the growth. Several greenhouse plants can
be propagated by root cuttings, perhaps the best
known examples being the different kinds of Bou-
vardia, which grow readily treated in this way;
indeed, some cultivators pin their faith to this
mode of increase, while others prefer plants raised
from cuttings of the shoots. Some of the Acacias
grow readily enough in this way, as also the
C!erodendroDS, and a very singular member of the
Sundew family (Drosera dichotoma) can be quickly
increased by cutting up the thickest roots and in-
serting them into pots filled with sand, peat, and
chopped Sphagnum. If this is done in the spring,
and the root cuttings are kept in a close propagating
case, they soon push up leaves and quickly form
plants. Among herbaceous plants there are seve-
ral for which this mode of propagation is very
suitable, and by which great numbers are increased.
Those two pretty autumn-flowered plants, Stnecio
pulcher and Stokesia cyanea, grow readily in
this way, as also the various Gaillardias and the
different forms of Anemone japonica. The hardy
species of Statice may be included, as also must
several of our hardy Primulas ; indeed, by this
means the many beautiful varieties of P. Sieboldi
can be increased in quantity. In the case of the
last I repot during the winter, and at that time
take off any roots that may be required. They are
then cut up into pieces about an inch long, taking
care that they do not get mixed up so that it is
impossible to distinguish between the top and bot-
tom of the cutting. They are then dibbled thickly
into pans of sandy soil, at such a depth that the
top of the cutting is just below the surface of the
soil, and placed in a close structure employed for
propagating soft-wooded plants. In this way the
young plants quickly make their appearance, when
they must be hardened off. The show and French
varieties of Pelargonium strike easily from cuttings
of the roots. This mode of increase is, however, sel-
dom resorted to, as many of the forms have origi-
nated from sports, and there is consequently a ten-
dency to revert to the type, while plants propagated
from roots often run up weak and tall after the
manner of seedlings. T.
MARKET GARDEN NOTES.
This is a busy season with market growers in the
south of England, clearing off crops that must be
stored before frost penetrates the soil to any depth,
and getting the land cropped again directly.
The first crop that claims attention as a field
crop is the Potato. The season having been so ex-
cessively dry retarded the swelling of the tubers
until very late in the season. At the beginning of
September there were no tubers larger than marbles
in fields of the late kinds, but as soon as sufficient
rain to wet the soil fell the tubers swelled up
rapidly, and growers deferred lifting as long as
possible to allow these late growths to mature.
That the quality of these late crops will be below
the average, I think there can be little doubt, but
probably they will improve after being stored a few
weeks. All "the early kinds that were lifted before
second growth was made are of excellent quality.
I find the Magnum Bonum that has usually been so
reliable in this part of the country is this season
one of the most variable. Potatoes require frequent
changes of varieties, as new kinds appear far more
prolific for a few years than those that have been
cultivated for any length of time. Change of seed
works wonders, and many growers in this district
get their seed from the north cf England or Scot-
land, and find it of great advantage.
Next to Potatoes, the largest crop grown is that
of Cabbages. As fast as the land is cleared of
Potatoes it is manured, ploughed, and rolled down
tolerably firm and Cabbage plants put out at once;
enormous quantities have been planted during the
past month, and I question if there is any crop
more reliable than Cabbages, as they are in demand
during the whole year, and good prices are realised
in spring when there is little variety in the way of
green vegetables.
This season the Broccoli crop must be a light
one, by reason of the difficulty experienced in get-
ting the plants in at the proper time. The varieties
of Cabbage that are most in favour here are
Wheeler's Imperial, Early Rainham, and Early Ful-
ham, and I doubt if better stocks could be found
in any gardens in the kingdom than are to be seen
in the open fields here. Broccoli, winter Savoys,
and Kale, that looked very poor a few weeks ago,
are growing rapidly. The horse hoe has been kept
going all through the fine, dry, autumnal weather,
so that the surface is clean and mellow, and if open
weather prevails, there will be better crops than
appeared possible at one time.
Turnips have been receiving a great deal of atten-
tion, but a great many crops were sown too late to
yield roots of marketable size. They wUl, however,
be utilised for Turnip-tops ; and when severe win-
ters cut off the Brassica tribe, these late-sown Tur-
nips yield a valuable crop in spring, as they can
be cleared off in time for the main spring cropping.
Autumn -sown Onions, Lettuces, Spinach, and
similar crops look very promising, as the exception-
ally dry weather in October made the work of keep-
ing down weeds easy, and I have seldom seen
market gardens look cleaner at this time of year
than they do at present. J. Gkoom.
Gosport.
A LONDON MARKET GARDEN.
In the foremost rank of market gardens in the
neighbourhood of London stands that of the Messrs.
Beckwith at Tottenham. This position is due not
alone to the enormous quantity of plants grown
there, but to the high degree of perfection to
which they are brought. About forty houses are
fiUed to overflovring with pot plants, and I may say
without exaggeration that not a score of indiffe-
rently grown specimens were, at the time of my
visit, to be seen in them. This uniformity of
quality is all the more remarkable, as the plants are
grown so thickly that not an inch of space appears
to be lost. The importance of allowing plants
grown under glass ample space for development is
so much insisted upon generally, that the apparently
overcrowded condition of Messrs. Beckwith's houses
strikes one with surprise. I venture to assert that
few would think of growing such things as Fuchsias
Pelargoniums, Bouvardias, &c., so thickly as is the
case in the Tottenham market garden. That they
are brought to a very high degree of perfection
under such circumstances shows what unremitting
care and a thorough knowledge of their needs will
accomplish. At the time of my visit (about the
middle of May) Fuchsias were well in bloom. House
after house was fiUed with plants in -tf-inch pots,
whilst thousands of young stuff were coming on to
take the place of those sold. Looking down one of
the long narrow houses in which the Fuchsias are
grown, the stages on either side had the appearance
of solid masses of foliage thickly studded with
graceful blooms. The plants stood so close that
they touched each other on all sides, and yet they
were in no way drawn, and were clothed to the
base with healthy foliage. Although many kinds
of Fuch.sias are tried, few are found to fulfil the re-
quirements of the market grower. Although up-
wards of 50,000 plants are grown annually at
Messrs. Beckwith's, this large number is composed
of less than a dozen kinds, and these were, with one
or two exceptions, single-flowered kinds.
The double-flowered varieties generally are either
not free enough of gron-th, or do not bloom with suffi-
cient freedom. For market purposes it does not
suffice that a plant in a 4i-inch pot bear a dozen
good expanded flowers, the plants must be studded
from the base upwards with bloom. Unless they
naturally flower with such exuberance they are use-
less for market culture. Great as the improvements
are that have been effected in the Fuchsia during
the last few years, the doubles leave much to be
desired. Size of bloom and perfect doubleness have
been obtained at the sacrifice of those qualities that
render this plant so valuable to the grower for
profit. As soon as the plants have attained nearly
the maximum height obtainable in smaU pots, they
have each one a neat stake fixed to them to which
the main stem is attached. Later on they are care-
fully tied up so as to form nice little pyramidal
specimens. Pelargoniums were in full beauty,
and although I have seen at various times
many thousands grown in small pots, I never
before witnessed such high uniform quality.
Although this class of plant is not grown here
to so large an extent as formerly, it never-
theless forms one of the principal features of this
establishment. The so-called show and fancy kinds
that are thought so highly of generally find no
favour with market growers. The many thousands
of weU-grown plants either in or coming into bloom
banged to the decorative class, the blooms of
which, if not so perfectly formed as those of the
other sections, are much more abundantly produced.
Nothing could look finer than these plants, the
foliage overlapping the pots, the blooms numerous
and perfect.
It is noteworthy that the ideal of a market plant
is more frequently realised in this class of Pelar-
428
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 5; 18&7.
gonium than amongst Fuchsias, which is the more
remarkable, as the former are, of course, of more
recent creation. As before mentioned, not more
than a dozen kinds of the latter are grown at Tot-
tenham ; whilst so many varieties of Pelargoniums
are more or less largely grown there, that the houses
devoted to them exhibit much variety. Fashion,
rather more than the intrinsic merit, influences the
cultivation of certain kinds. The variations in
this respect are so great and rapid, that a particular
kind that stands at the present moment in the fore-
most rank of market plants will in the course of a
season or two be no longer in demand. At one
time bright tints are most in request ; at another,
mauves or pinks are most saleable ; while at the
present time flowers having a white ground, with a
more or less decided bordering of pink, are fashion-
able? It is, therefore, absolutely necessary that
the-ilnarket grower be up to the times, and this
would alone account for the keeping in stock of so
many varieties, so as to be in readiness for any
sudden freak of fancy that buyers generally may
display. The great speciality of this market garden,
however, is the Bouvardia, of which upwards of
100,000 are grown. The blooming time of this
plant was, of course, over, but it was pleasant to
see the vigorous healthy condition of the plants in
various stages of growth, from the small plant in a
2-inoh pot to that already well established in a ^i^-inch
pot, with an ample spread of foliage and ready for
removal into its blooming pot. The method of pro-
pagating Bouvardias is worthy of note. The points
of the growing shoots that are stopped to promote
a bushy foundation furnish the cuttings. These
latter are indeed but the points of the terminal
branches with one pair of leaves only, and it is said
that they strike much more readily than larger cut-
tings. Where such an immense stock of plants is
required and a succession of blooms has to be kept
np from October till April, it is evident that the
method of propagation usually practised would not
suffice. Quite a large number of cuttings were
being put in towards the latter end of May, and
these would form the earliest lot of marketable
plants the following year. I was told that a plant
in a 5-inch pot would carry quite a dozen good
heads of bloom by late autumn. In one low span-
roofed house I saw about 17,000 young plants in
2-inch pots that were just ready to be shifted on.
The plants were so uniform in size, that they formed
a thick and level mass of verdure.
To my mind the most charming sight was that
furnished by several houses full of Lilium longi-
florum. I do not know of any flowering plant that
excels, and very few equal this Lily in the
wonderfully deep lustrous green of the foliage.
The exceptional purity of the flowers has, therefore,
just the setting that will display it to the greatest
advantage. There is no wonder that this Lily
should find such high favour in the London
markets, for, with the exception of the Calla, it has
no rival. Doubtless it would be much more largely
grown than is now the case, but I fancy that it is
not given to everyone to finish it ofl: well. I know
that it is rarely to be seen in the condition that I
saw it at the Messrs. Beckwith's. Foliage down to
the rim of the pot, each plant carrying from three to
s's flowers, perfect in size, form, and colour, and
the plants withal standing so close as to form an
impenetrable thicket, formed a floral sight worth
going many miles to see. The market value of this
Lily is regulated by the (luantily of flowers on the
plant, the average price being in the spring months
(id. per bloom. Of L. Harris! a large stock was
apparently being worked up. The great value of
this kind consists in its furnishing such a quantity
of flowers for cutting, their elegant form causing
tliem to be highly esteemed for floral decorations.
Another plant that has been taken in hand is
Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora. A large span
house was full of fine plants in 5-inch pots, bearing
individually from three to five finely developed
flower-heads.
Those who had the good sense to realise the capa-
bilities of this as a market plant have doubtless
found it to pay well. Up to the present it has made
good prices, but its culture will not long remain in
the hands of a few, and then it will share the fate of
other things. Tuberoses are largely and as well
grown as other flowering plants, but they have a
curious appearance when coming into bloom, all the
leaves being shortened to about two-thirds of their
length. Why this is done I cannot say. I was told
that greater facilities were thereby afforded for
watering, but I fancy that there must be some
other reason for this leaf-decapitation. Perhaps it
helps to throw a stronger flow of sap into the flowers,
which on these mutilated plants were of excellent
quality. It does, however, seem contrary to Nature
to deprive a plant of a portion of its foliage, al-
though we have in the stopping of Vine laterals
something analogous. We may, however, take it
for granted that whatever is done at Messrs. Beck-
with's there is a good reason for. Fine-leaved
plants of the usual description are grown in limited
numbers. It does not appear that we shall ever
acquire that love for handsome foliage plants suit-
able for rooms that the French and Germans dis-
play. At one time the tide of fashion did seem to
be setting in that direction, but I doubt if ten times
as many plants of this description are not grown
for the Paris markets than for those of our more
populous metropolis. One house containing large
stock plants of Ileus elastioa shows, however, that
the demand for this is tolerably brisk. There is no
stated time for propagating this plant, cuttings
being taken off as they can be obtained.
Bulbs of various kinds are grown in enormous
quantities, and Chrysanthemums, too, are largely
grown, some being brought on in the ordinary way,
but a great amount of cut blooms is obtained from
plants that have been planted out for the summer,
and are lifted and laid in where the stages are
simply beds of earth at a low level. In a very large
lean-to house were many thousands of Niphetos
Roses, consisting of flowering specimens in large
pots and young plants that were being brought
along to stock the houses of another place of Messrs.
Beckwith's. About 30,000 plants, large and small,
this house . was supposed to contain, and it shows
how varied are the phases of market culture, that
the once prime favourite Marechal Niel found no
place therein. Fine as is this Rose, it has had to
give way to Niphetos, both because the latter is
better in the bud state for button-holes, and on
account of the longer duration of its season. It Is
wonderful the amount of buds that can be cut from
well-grown plants of Niphetos. The season may
be made to commence in December and will last all
through the winter and spring months. In the
same house were the largest Arum Lilies I ever
saw. They were quite i feet high, and remained, I
was told, in pots all the year through.
Jiy./!eef. J. C.
Nurserymen, and the poor-rate.— The com-
mittee appointed at the meeting held at the
Horticultural Club in June last met, under the
presidency of Mr. H. J. Veitch, at the offices of the
Nursery and Seed Trade Association, Limited, on
Monday last, to consider the advisability of taking
up a test case in lieu of appointing a deputation to
the President of the Local Government Board, as
suggested at the meeting. The secretary of the
association reported that since the last meeting he
had placed himself in communication with nursery-
men and market gardeners in various parts of the
country with a view to ascertain their opinions, and
it was found that there was an almost universal
feeling on their part that if the matter were left to
a deputation much valuable time would be lost, as
Parliament would not meet till probably February
next. On the other hand, if a test case were taken
up, much might be done by that time towards ob-
taining an authoritative decision on the subject. It
had been rumoured that it was in contemplation to
introduce an Act of Parliament next session dealing
with the subject of assessments to the poor, and a
member of the committee suggested whether, under
the circumstances, it would not be the wisest course
to await the result ; but it was pointed out that if
that course were adopted, nurserymen and others
would probably be passed over and their interests
not considered ; whereas, if the agitation were con-
tinued, they would probably be consulted in the
framing of the Bill so to be introduced. Ultimately,
it was unanimously decided that a test case should
be taken up and fought out. Several additions
have been made to the guarantee fund, but in order
that the expense may be distributed amongst as
large a number as possible, the secretary stated 1 e
would be glad to receive the names of any nursery-
men or market gardeners who were willing to cor -
tribute to the fund. Mr. Butcher, the solicitor to
the association, stated that the proper course would
be to appeal against an assessment to Quarter
Sessions, and thence to the Queen's Bench ; and the
secretary having invited particulars of assessments
to be sent in to him, so that the most flagrant case
might be selected, the meeting concluded.
NATIONAL AURICULA AND PRIMULA
SOCIETY.
As the time is now arriving when the rules for next
year's spring show will be in course of settlement, I
have the following suggestions of amendments in
those rules to make, as the result of my recollection
of the past year's show. Mr. Douglas, I believe, gene-
rally approves of these suggestions or most of them,
but thinks it well that they should be ventilated in
your columns, and, agreeing with him on that point,
I venture to invite criticism and improvement of
them from the readers of The Garden.
1 . That at least in all the Primrose classes ex-
hibitors should be invited to show any quantity of
each kind, and this not only in pots (which should
be optional), but in baskets or boxes surfaced with
Moss, or otherwise naturally set, for instance, in
herbage. The effect would be incomparably better,
but, as the rules at present stand, exhibitors would
not feel free thus to exhibit. Similar advantages
might accrue from a like invitation in the species
Primula class.
2. That to avoid all doubt and ambiguity, and to
disqualify from the classes for double Primroses
any of the duplex (hose-in-hose) varieties, the words
" fiore-pleno " should be inscribed in brackets, as
descriptive of the double flowers intended. It is diffi-
cult to deny that a duplex is a double, for it is the
literal translation of the word. As obviously the
two varieties ought to be kept quite distinct, as
they always, in fact, have been.
3. The difference between a Primrose and a Poly-
anthus requires definition, and that very carefully,
for there is scarcely a Primrose which does not
occasionally, even frequently, produce bunched
blooms, and thus become a Polyanthus. I am mis-
taken if Polyanthuses were not shown as Primroses
this year in quantities. Certainly they are popu-
larly thus confused. The whole of Mr. Waterer's
exhibit of Primroses were, in fact. Polyanthuses, and
(if Polyanthuses be distinct from Primroses) were
the former only. I apprehend that the difference is
that the Primrose, however it may at times yield
bunch blooms, normally produces single blossoms
(on each stalk) only, or at least produces some
such blossoms. Either there should be a condition,
that from plants shown in Primrose classes any
bunch blooms should be removed, or alternatively
(without exacting this) some such definition as
above of the true Primrose should be laid down, or,
as a further alternative, if so thought well, it should
be laid down, that, for purposes of the exhibition,
every Polyanthus may be deemed a Primrose.
-1. My last suggestion is perhaps rather for an en-
largement of the scope of the society and of the
show than for an addition to the rules. It is,
that Androsaces and Anemones (at least species of
Anemones) should be hereafter included in both.
If this extension were adopted, my above suggestion
No. 1 would be, in my view, additionally applicable,
mutatis mutandis. H. Selfb Leonakd.
Hrtherhiiry, Quildfonl.
A book wanted.— In answer to " J. K." in TuE
Garden, October 29 (p. 403), I can recommend
Mongredien's " Trees and Shruljs for Eiiglish Planta-
tions" (.Tohn Murray, 1870), now out of print, but a
BCcond-hand copy may possibly be had for about £1 by
inquiring at second-hand booksellers. The S. P. C. K
Nov. 5, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
429
also publishes at 5s. "Tho Forest Trees of Britain,''
by Kev. C. A. Johns— B. E. J.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
Lapageria rosea (Nash Court variety). —
Messrs. J. Laing and Co., of Forest Hill, have sent
us a spray of this splendid variety, which the firm
is now distributing. The flowers are larger, more
massive, and of a deeper shade of red than those of
the type. It is undoubtedly a superior form, and
will make a fine conservatory or greenhouse plant.
The tube measured 4 inches in length.
Salvia splendens. — This is an old favourite,
but none the less worthy of cultivation, as there are
few plants that make such a glow of vivid scarlet at
the present season. In the greenhouse at Kew it is
used plentifully and makes a great show ; more-
over, the habit of the plant is bushy and neat,
which is not the case with all the Salvias. S.
splendens is a plant that amateurs might more
often use for the adornment of their greenhouses.
Pleroma raacrantha. — This is also known as
Lasiandra macrantha, but, whatever its name, there
can be no doubt as regards its merits as a green-
house climber. It is one of the most beautiful of
Brazilian climbers, with flowers of great width,
handsomeness, and richness of colouring, and often
they measure 5 inches in- diameter, presenting a fine
display of deep violet-purple of a depth and rich-
ness very uncommon. It blooms most abundantly
when the plant has grown to fair dimensions.
The Prophet flower. — Arnebia eohioides may
fairly be considered the most perpetual rockery
plant in existence. Having begun to flower in May,
it has continued incessantly until the present time,
and its charming yellow, quaintly spotted blossoms
are almost the only ones in the garden that have
successfully resisted three frosts of 12° without
losing texture, for the flowers continue to expand
as bright and fresh as possible, and fresh trusses
are still rising from the base of the plant, even now
that November is here.
November flowers. — We have received from
Mr. Woodall, Scarborough, a gathering of November
flowers from the open ground, amongst which are
lovely blooms of the early-flowered Christmas Rose
(Helleborus maxim us), Escallonia montevidensis,
the same as E. floribunda, which has white flowers
produced in clusters at the extremities of the
branches, clothed with rich, green, small leaves ;
and Veronica Gloire de Marseille, a beautiful va-
riety, the flowers being of the richest purple.
Cuphea eminens is one of the least common
of the plants in bloom in the greenhouse at Kew,
and it is noticeable because it is different from the
ordinary run of greenhouse plants, as well as from
the common kinds of Caphea. Its flowers are an
inch long, tubular, colour yellow of various shades,
deepening to red towards the tips. The flowers are
produced on long leafy shoots, but are not numerous.
Those who wish to have easily grown and uncommon-
looking plants should make a note of this Cuphea,
which is also known as C. macropetala. — W. G.
Cymbldiam elegans. — One of the rarest
Orchids in bloom at Kew now is this Cymbidium,
introduced many years ago from Nepaul. It has no
bulbs, and its leaves are long and narrow, and ar-
ranged in a graceful tuft. The flowers are about the
size of those of C. Mastersi, but as they do not open
more than half way they look small. The sepals and
petals are quite pellucid, and of a pale yellowish
green. The spike is dense and nodding. Those
who take an interest in rare Orchids may Uke to see
it.— W. G.
Phaleenopsis Lowi. — There is at Kew sus-
pended near the glass and associated with stove
plants a fine specimen of this lovely species, which is
eclipsed by few Orchids for grace and elegance.
In its Moulmein home it luxuriates on the surface
of rocks fully exposed to the fierce heat of a
tropical sun and to the heavy storms of rain
characteristic of the wet season. The flowers,
measuring about 1} inches across, are like butter-
flies when the plant is suspended so as to allow the
slender racemes plenty of space. The broad, evenly
shaped petals give the flower a full, handsome ap-
pearance, and in colour they are, together with the
sepals, of a rose-purple shade, which intensifies the
deeper hue of the small lobed lip ; the crest is
orange. It has not the bold, exquisite beauty
of P. amabilis, but is a species thoroughly worth
cultivating.
Xiselia autumnalis atro-rubens. — This bril-
liant Orchid, one of the finest forms of L. autumnalis,
is in bloom at Kew, and the flowers, of richer colour
than those of the type, exhibit a beautiful combina-
tion of purple and white. They are from 3 inches to
i inches across, and in well-grown specimens several
are borne on a scape. The sepals and petals are
rich rose-purple, which shades into white at the
base, and the lateral lobes of the lip are also
white.
Angreecum caudatum. — I have a plant of the
somewhat rare Angnccum caudatum at present
in bloom ; it bears a spike about 14 inches long,
and seven of the singular flowers. These are
correctly enough described in Williams' " Orchid
Growers' Manual" (sixth edition, p. 114) as "of
greenish yellow, tinged with brown ; the labellum
pure white, with a long point, and furnished with a
tail of pale olive-green colour about 9 inches long."
Mine are hardly so long ; nor will I believe, until I
see one, that the tail of its gigantic congener, A.
sesquipedale, in this country ever does quite
deserve its Latin name by growing to a length of
18 inches.— C. Hawkins Fisher.
Autumn Roses. — Among the freest-blooming
Koses this autumn, after the Teas, were some of the
pink Hybrid Perpetuals. Heinrich Sohultheis was
especially fine, and on October 10 about a dozen
blooms were cut, some of them of almost as fine form
and colour as in July, and without that dreary, lack-
lustre appearance which characterises so many pink
Koses in autumn. Marquise de Castellane, usually
not a very free autumnal, produced throughout Sep-
tember magnificent flowers quite in character, in size,
form, and colour, and both Monsieur Neman and
Marguerite de St. Amand were exceedingly free
and, at the same time, pure in colour. One of the
most useful, however, and the latest was the under-
rated Sophie Fropot, an attractive pink Rose of
good habit too seldom seen.
Rose Sirs. Hamilton-Gell. — Ipately received
from Messrs. Alex. Dickson, Newtownards, a
beautiful bloom of a flne seedling Tea-scented
Rose called Mrs. Hamilton-Gell, which was raised
from a cross between Mrs. Wm. Crawford (a
white-flowered sport from Souvenir d'un Ami)
and Souvenir de Paul Neron. The flower of Mrs.
Hamilton-Gell is large, well formed, and deep
petalled, and appears quite distinct, its colour
being deeper in the centre, rosy with a yellowish
base, and creamy petals outside, the disposition of
its tints being, perhaps, more analogous to that in
Anna Olivier than in any other well-known variety.
There is ample room for a few more first-rate Teas,
and the novelty certainly appears a promising one.
— T. W. G.
The blue Salvia (S. azurea) cannot be too
highly praised as a late autumn-flowering green-
house plant, and it is the more valuable because
it is about the only blue-flowered plant in bloom
just now. It is a North American species, inclined
to be shrubby in its growth, and of rather slender
habit. It has long, narrow leaves of pale green,
and its flowers shoot up like spikes of Lavender.
They are small, but, being numerous and in dense
clusters, they are showy. Their colour is a deep
azure-blue with a whitish centre, and, being on
long stalks, are excellent for cutting. The plant
lasts a long time in bloom, and being almost hardy,
may be grown well in a frame with very little
trouble. Cuttings taken in spring will flower in
autumn if grown on well through the summer. This
is the same plant that was shown a few years ago by
Messrs. Cannell, of Swanley, under the name of S.
Pitcheri — a] name given to it by the American
botanist, Torrey ; but azurea, being the older name, is
the one by which it is known. At Kew in the green-
house (No. 4) there is a fine display of it, and being
intermixed with some fine plants of Marguerites
(Chrysanthemum frutescens), the effect of the two
is charming. It is named at Kew S. azurea var.
grandiflora.
Bipladenia boliviensis is a stove climber that
does not appear to be much grown, though it is
such a beautiful plant, being easy to grow and free-
flowering, and in these respects it is different from
the 'commoner Dipladenias, which are difiicult to
grow and flower well. This Bolivian species has
long, slender, and fast-growing shoots ; broad,
shining leaves ; flowers about 2 inches across,
funnel-shaped like those of other kinds, pure white,
with the inside of the tube stained with reddish
yellow. The blossoms are produced three and four
together in loose racemes, but can be picked
off singly, and being small, are suitable when cut.
I have seen it in bloom in a few gardens lately,
and at Kew a fine plant of it is adorning the
roof of one of the stoves. It likes a warm, moist
house, and is suitable for pot culture or planting
out. It was introduced about twenty years ago, so
that it cannot be called new.
The Burmese Pleione. — The deciduous Coe-
logynes or Pleiones are so beautiful, and so much
prized by everyone who possesses them, that any
addition to the little family is welcomed. The Bur-
mese variety (P. birmanica) may be called a novelty,
although it has been known and described some
time. It may be best compared with P. Wallichiana,
as it most resembles that species. In both the
flowers are of equal size, the sepals and petals of
the most delicate mauve; the cylindrical lip is
white, blotched with reddish brown interiorly. In
Wallichiana the lip is much fringed, while in bir-
manica it is almost absent, being, in fact, more like
short irregular teeth. Indeed, the absence of the
lip seems to constitute the chief difference between
the two kinds. It has been stated that they flower
in succession, but at Kew they are both in full
bloom, side by side, in company with their charming
relatives, P. maculata, P. lagenaria, and P. humilis.
These are all called Ctclogynes, but it will be long
before the name Pleione will be suppressed.
The Spindle Tree (Euonymus europseus). —
An old writer, who admired the common Spindle
tree when beset in autumn with myriads of
coral capsules, remarks that the sight of a
flnely-fruited Spindle tree "recalls to remem-
brance the fine days of summer, and sheds some
rays of brilliancy over the departing season."
The writer could not have seen this tree finer
than it is this season, for everywhere it is loaded
with fruit, making hedgerow and thicket aglow
with its rosy red capsules and bright orange-
red seed. It is indeed a beautiful autumn shrub,
but we value it so lightly, that it is rarely planted
as an ornamental shrub. I intend to plant it where-
ever I have an opportunity, as I find it totally
indifferent to soil or situation, thriving alike in sand
and clay, in sun or shade. A most interesting group
could be made by planting the common Spindle tree
and its varieties together with E. latifolius or Broad-
leaved Spindle tree, which is a finer shrub even than
E. europiBus when it succeeds, and grows larger
and taller. I have seen bushes, or rather small
trees of it, as high as 15 feet, and when covered
with red capsules they are highly attractive. Of
the several varieties of E. europiBus the best is the
white-fruited (fructu-albo), which has also orange
seeds. There is also a dwarf - growing variety
(nanus), one with broad leaves (latifolius), and an-
other with variegated leaves. The Spindle Tree
should be planted here and there in the open parts
of woods near walks and drives as well as in shrub-
beries.— W. G.
Vine leaves affected.— The leaves of our Vines
are much affected like those I send you. Will you
kiudly tell me the cause ? — H. H.
*jt* In answer to the above, as far as we can see there
is uothing specially wrong with these autumnal leaves.
Some of the small blisters and discolorations may have
been caused by insects— others have been caused by
heated moisture. There are faint traces of mildew.
Names of plants.— B. E.— Madame Desgrange
is the best. G. T.— Tigridia pavoma.— — ii. 1>.--
LasUa Perrini. D. D., 8ittiiujbourne. — Biss.ss-a.wola.
acauhs, Odontoglossum madrense.
430
THE GARDEN.
Woods & forests.
THE DOUGLAS FIR.
(abies dodglasi.)
This tree is both very ornamental and useful,
and it is gradually attracting the attention of
the planter. Ever since its introduction into
this country by Douglas, about the year 1810,
its culture has been yearly extended to a
remarkable extent. At first it was only planted
here and there as an ornamental tree, but
the large size which the trunk attained under
ordinary circumstances in a short time soon
made it apparent that the tree might be
planted for utility and profit. In its native
country (California) it is said to attain a height
of about 300 feet, and although we do not
expect it to attain such dimensions even under
favourable circumstances, yet, in places where
the soil is of good texture and not too much
exposed, it can be grown to a useful and valu-
able size. The only diflioulty which I have
experienced in the culture of this tree is its
liability to lose its leader by the wind. I have
planted it in situations at less than 100 feet
elevation above sea level, and found that many
of the trees had their leaders broken, twisted,
and contorted. This is a serious drawback to
its profitable culture in exposed places. In
many parts of Scotland the tree is being
introduced pretty extensively by experienced
foresters, and, among others, Her Majesty's
intelligent forester, Mr. Mechie, who showed
me considerable numbers planted in the Bal-
lochbuie Forest and elsewhere. As the plants
are partly sheltered by some old trees in the
vicinity the undertaking appears to be a great
success. A good many foresters and others are
under the impression that this tree will
gradually supplant the Larch, and in some cases,
and under favourable conditions as regards
shelter, I have no doubt but that it will do so.
It never, however, can take the place of the
Larch on the exposed, bleak side of a hiU, nor
among the recesses of the rocky bluffs which
crown the summits of many of our Scotch hills,
where the Larch thrives and attains a useful
size. The Larch is a tree of the misty mountain,
and delights in a damp, moist atmosphere and a
loose, open, porous soil.
On well-sheltered ground, however, I have
no doubt but that the Douglas Fir will take the
place of the Larch, and should the wood of
matured trees prove to be of good quality, it will
be a matter of great importance in its favour.
The Douglas Fir produces seed abundantly in
this country, and as the cones gradually open of
their own accord, they should be looked after
in time, otherwise the seeds will fall out and be
lost. In spring the seeds are sown in nursery
seed-beds about 4 feet wide, and treated in every
way similar to other hardy coniferous tree seeds.
The young plants generally make good roots,
and as it is so easily propagated, its extension
in this country is only a question of time.
In The Garden, Oct. 8 (p. 333), there is an
interesting article on the thinning of a planta-
tion composed of this tree growing upon the
property of Lord Mansfield, Perthshire. We
are told that a piece of land, 8 acres in extent,
was cut off the farm of Taymount, and planted,
in 1660, with Abies Douglasi as a permanent
crop. The soil is moorish in character, with a
clayey subsoil ; the plants used were two years'
seedlings two years transplanted. On the whole,
the paper is highly interesting and instructive,
and we only wish it had gone a little further
and told us something about the exposure of the
site, and whether the ground previous to plant-
ing had been under a system of tillage, or
[Nov. 5, 1887.
whether it was merely a piece of hUl pasturage.
The planter is always anxious to gather any
information regarding the culture and man-
agement of trees of recent introduction, and it
would have been likewise interesting had we
been told if the trees were planted in pits dug
for the purpose, or inserted by the notch system
of planting, as there is a wide difference in the
cost at the time of the formation. We are told
that another great advantage which this wood has
over other varieties is that it has no disease or
injurious insect peculiar to itself, such as is the
case with Larch, Spruce, and Silver Fir. This
may be true to a certain extent, but trees which
I have planted upon stiff clay ground produced a
series of blisters along the stem ; and with re-
gard to insects, I have never seen any peculiar
to them, but have seen them attacked by the
Pine weevil eating the bark on the twigs and
branches. J. B. Webster.
THE USES AND ABUSES OF HEDGEEOW
TEEES.
The flookmaster this season has had ample oppor-
tunity of forming a proper and correct estimate
of the high value of trees growing in the immediate
vicinity of his pastures, as they afEord a cool, whole-
some shade for his cattle during summer, by screening
them from the burning rays of the strong noonday sun.
But trees are not only useful as a place of retreat
for cattle during a time of heat, but also highly
beneficial for the shelter which they afford during a
storm ; and it is not only interesting, but highly
instructive to notice how the animals take advan-
tage of the presence of trees during such extremes
of the weather. Notwithstanding the usefulness of
this class of trees, there are some few who advocate
their destruction, although upon what grounds has
never been made very clear. For my part, I would
rather see hedgerow trees planted wherever possible.
Trees, like other crops, require a certain amount of
care and skill in order to reap the best advantages. In
planting the trees it is therefore necessary to break
up and pulverise the ground in order to render
it soft and pliable for the roots. In lifting the
trees, care should be taken not to in any way
cut or damage the roots ; although at the same
time it sometimes happens that the roots do get
damaged even in cases where a reasonable amount
of caution has been exercised in their removal.
When the trees are placed in the pits made to
receive them, the roots should be spread out to
their full length in a regular manner. Some fine
fresh soil should then be placed upon the roots, and
worked in between them by moving the tree back-
wards and forwards to enable it to stand solid ; the
remaining soil should then be filled in and made
firm. The trees should never be planted deeper
than they had formerly stood when in the nursery.
Trees of any considerable size require to be staked
and tied to keep them firm in their position until
they become established.
Trees that produce a number of leading shoots at
the top should have them cut off, leaving the best
for a leader ; strong, rambling side branches should
be cut back in order to preserve a proper balance of
the top, and in doing so the part to be removed
should be cut off at the base of a lateral twig, care
being taken that the wound has a clean, smooth
surface to prevent the lodgment of water. Trees
managed in this way in early life seldom require
much pruning in after years, and are not liable to
be destroyed by rough winds. Hedgerow trees are
not only valuable for the shelter which they afford,
but when properly managed and cared for they form
a source of profit to the owners, as the ground they
occupy could not be utilised for any other crop.
The abuse, however, which this class of trees re-
ceives at the hands of ignorant people is lamentable,
as they are often seen hacked and destroyed for the
sake of a few branches to fill a gap in a hedge, or,
perhaps, for some other purpose. At some places,
again, the trees are'destroyed by the party in charge
allowing paling-rails to be nailed to the stems of
the trees, the consequence being that as these nails
are never all removed from the stems, the trunk is
thereby permanently damaged, and about 4 feet of
the best part of the stem is lost, as it cannot be cut
up with a saw, and the wood merchant will not pur-
chase it at any price. Proprietors," therefore, should
insist on these trees not being used as posts for
fences. Deep-rooting deciduous trees are best
adapted for hedgerow planting, as the roots do not
extend to any considerable distance into the fields
and exhaust the ground. Coniferous trees, with
the exception of the Larch, are not to be recom-
mended, as they are generally surface-rooting trees
and are easily upset by the wind in exposed places.
The Larch, however, is a thrifty, useful tree, and,
being deciduous, it can weather the blast during
winter with impunity, even although the situation
is fully exposed. No other tree, perhaps, is better
adapted for planting on grazing ground than the
Larch, and it can be planted with advantage either
as single specimens or in groups. In autumn its
pretty golden-coloured foliage falling on the ground
is permanently fixed among the herbage around
the tree, and as it is not apt to be blown away by
the wind, the Grass thus receives an annual top-
dressing, which enables it to remain in a green,
nutritious state.
Fruit trees might likewise be grown with advan-
tage as hedgerow trees. Some farmers are beginning
to see the utility of this, but it certainly has never
received that amount of attention which its merits
deserve. When once the trees are planted and esta-
blished, they require very little further attention,
and as the ground which they occupy cannot be
utilised for any other purpose, the income from
such is purely and simply one of profit.
J. B. Wkbstee.
Tree planting in to-wns.— In his last annual
report on Cheltenham, Surgeon-General Eoch calls
attention to the important subject of tree planting
in our streets and highways. He repudiates the
vandalism of ruthlessly cutting down existing trees,
but at the same time he urges that very great
benefit would arise from the substitution in future,
and wherever practicable, of the Pine tribe, for those
trees which only favour us with their foliage during
the summer, and part with it entirely in the autumn,
create thereby a nuisance injurious to health, if the
leaves are allowed to lie for any length of time, and
sometimes render the pavements dangerous and
slippery. It is not, however, upon grounds of beauty
or convenience alone that Mr, Eoch advocates the
substitution gradually, and, where practicable, of
the Coniferfe, but for sanitary reasons ; for, apart
from the elegance and beauty of the Spruce Pine,
Wellingtonia, Silver Fir, Deodar, &c., it is now
acknowledged that this tribe exercises a most bene-
ficial influence on health, from its balsamic odours,
while it also acts as a disinfectant and purifier of
the atmosphere, by a combination of its elements
with the oxygen of the air, to a degree not gene-
rally known. This advice seems to have been
already appreciated at Cheltenham, where the
Spruce and other Pincshavebeen employed byprivate
individuals in the laying out of new grounds. — The
Sanitary Ilecord,
Old Elms.— These, like all other old trees, add
much to the beauties of parks ; but when they get
very old they are dangerous near buildings. Some
time ago, when carrying out some improvements
contiguous to the house here, I was anxious that
some decayed Elms should be felled and some more
serviceable trees planted in their stead ; but as their
removal was objected to, we planted our shrubs and
finished our alterations, and all went well for some
years, until a strong gale came, breaking boughs
and overturning trees in all directions, and amongst
the rest one of the Elms just mentioned, containing
upwards of 150 feet of timber. Upon examination
its roots were found to be thoroughly rotten, with
the exception of 3 inches or 4 inches of an outside
shell and a few surface roots, and I have no doubt
that the majority of them were Ivy roots, as the bole
of the tree was encased in Ivy, which must have
been the means of keeping it in its right position
for some time.— J. M.
THE GARDEN.
431
No. 834. SATURDAY, Nov. 12,1887. Vol. XXXII.
" This is an Art
Which does mend Nature : change it rather; but
The Art itseu- is Natpee."— S/inJ-fsjuorc.
Rose Garden.
T. W. GIRDLESTONE.
ROSES FOR MASSING.
The Rose-plantiag season is again at hand, and,
as nsual, there will soon be myriads of Rose trees
planted, either in the extension of existing
roseries or in the formation of new ones. As
usual, too, most of them will probably be
planted in the conventional straight rows at
equal distances ' from each other, the trees equi-
distant in the rows, with the possible culmuiat-
ing contingency of innumerable varieties planted
singly, instead of bold groups of a few well-
selected sorts. There is no doubt that for the
exhibitor to whom time is often a most vital
consideration, and who has frequent occasion
rapidly to compare large numbers of blooms,
these rectilineal Rose plantations are the
simplest and most convenient, but where exhi-
bition is not the only object, and where Roses
are planted for the beautifying of the garden,
this geometric arrangement is entirely inexcus-
able. In the first place, it is rarely necessary
that the Rose beds should be formal ; but even
if there should be an unavoidable formahty
about them, it is quite unnecessary that the
plants in them should be formally arranged.
The great object in planting a Rose garden
should be to group together a sufficient number
of plants of any variety to display the character
of that particular Rose to the best advantage,
and as hardly any Roses are exactly similar in
habit and stature, it is impossible that the
planting of all sorts of varieties at equal dis-
tances in straight lines can be otherwise than
formal and ineffective. The mixing together of
solitary individuals of different varieties should
be as far as possible avoided, but from half a
dozen upwards of dwarf plants of the same Rose
should be planted together, not all in a straight
row, but arranged so that when they are at their
best they may just meet each other and make a
group completely covering the ground.
Of covirse, it does not follow that the varieties
most prized by the exhibitor, who estimates a
Rose's merit solely by its individual flower, will
be the most valuable for making beautiful
groups in the garden, for which purpose the
additional qualifications of a free and hand-
some habit of growth, of freedom of flower-
ing, of blooms borne erect and perpetually
produced throughout the season, are of the
utmost importance ; but, nevertheless, the
majority of the exhibitors' greatest treasures
will also be found to be among the best and
most beautiful for making striking masses in
the garden ; and anyone who is now about to
plant Roses, and is anxious to make the best
and most persistent display, will do weU to
plant groups of not less than six dwarf trees on
Brier cutting or seedling stocks of each of any
of the following Tea-scented varieties : —
Marie Van Houtte naturally heads the Hst,
as from the great beauty and vigour of the plant,
and from the profusion and constancy with
which its charming lemon-yellow, peach-tipped
flowers are produced, it is unsurpassed, if not
unsurpassable. The flower is beautiful in all
stages, whether quite as a bud with its lemon
exterior marked with bright crimson where it
has been sun-painted between the sepals, or in
the most perfect phase of its development when
deep-petalled and faultless in form its combi-
nation of yellow and peach is irresistible, or
when, full blown, it becomes entirely suffused
with tenderest rose, like a soft cloud in the
east at sunset. The plant rarely gets disfigured
by mildew, and, in fact, this is one of the chief
excellences of the Tea-scented Roses as a class
for making effective Rose masses in the garden,
that they continue growing and full of foliage,
when Hybrids are often stopped and flowerless
— frequently even leafless — from mildew. More-
over, their comparative freedom from this pest,
and also the fact that it does not much matter
how they are pruned, renders the Teas excep-
tionally good subjects for beginners in Rose
culture in the south of England to start with,
for it appears impossible to prevent Teas from
growing and blooming by any method of prun-
ing. If it is a hard winter, the frost does all
the necessary work, but if it be mild, and the
shoots are not injured beyond the tips, fine
blooms may be obtained whether the shoots
are left almost their entire length, or whether
they are pruned right down to the ground. In
groups of dwarf plants, however, it is found
more convenient to prune hard, at any rate, for
the first year or two, as then the growths are
stouter, and carry the blooms better out of
reach of the dirt in case of rain heavy enough
to splash up the mud.
The next best Tea for massing is the Hon.
Edith Gifford, almost pure white in early
summer, and white, with a blush centre, later
in the season. The habit is not quite so strong
as that of Marie Van Houtte, but it is erect
and sturdy, with handsome dark red stems
and fine foliage ; it is extremely free-flowering,
constant, and perpetual, and is unquestion-
ably one of the great achievements of its
celebrated raiser, GuiUot, who has sent us
many of our finest Tea-scented Roses. The
wers, whether large or small, are always
well formed, and never fail to expand ; if the
plants are but little pruned they will be
covered with innumerable comparatively small
buds and blooms well adapted for bouquets'; but
if they are pruned hard, splendid blooms of great
size win be easily obtained.
Anna Ollivier is another magnificent Tea Rose
which is quite indispensable in the garden, being
of fine habit and great freedom. Its colour,
generally a pale flesh tint with a deep flush of
bronzy rose in the centre, is very variable and
not easy to describe ; but its flowers are certain
to be highly appreciated wherever it is planted
in abundance, and whoever plants it is not in
the least likely to fail of seeing it bloom in
character.
The Tea, however, that in a fine season pro-
bably produces more perfect blossoms than any
other is Jean Ducher, also very variable in
colour, but most constant in form. Its prevail-
ing tint is a tawny or more or less coppery
yellow, and the strong, sturdy shoots carry the
handsome blooms erect upon the plant and dis-
play them to the best advantage. The habit
of the plant is very vigorous, though not tall,
and it is an early bloomer as well as a free
autumnal.
Madame Lambard, one of the few Tea-scented
Roses that the veteran Lacharme has sent out,
is worthy of its raiser's fame, and is still the
best of the rosy-coloured Teas. Not unfre-
quently during the early part of the summer no
two flowers are exactly alike in colouring, though
all are charming ; but in the autumn the rose
colour deepens and the blooms become more
uniform in tint, while the abundance in which
they are produced and the vigour of the distinct
branching plant render the variety indispensable.
Its presence, moreover, aftbrds a desirable varia-
tion of colour in a collection of Tea Roses,
among which good rose colours are as yet
scarce. This fact would make the temptation
to include the beautiful Grace Darling among
the best six 'irresistible, but that the experience
of another season has served to confirm the
suspicion that this Rose, charming as it is with
all its recommendations of hardiness, extra-
ordinary freedom and continuity of blooming,
complete distinctness and great beauty, cannot
fairly be regarded as a pure Tea, but miist take
its place among the Hybrids.
This being the case, the best variety to com-
plete the half-dozen most valuable Teas for
eflective massing in the garden will probably be
the fine golden yellow Perle des Jardins, a Rose
which, even when not in flower, is still attrac-
tive by reason of its handsome red stems and
foliage. The blooms, though not so invariably
reliable in summer as the above-named, are
generally very striking, and are especially free
and good in form in autumn, and the variety
has an immense recommendation in being the
only non-climbing Tea that has anything Kke
the pure rich colour of Marechal Niel.
This list of Teas that are available for making
an effective display in the garden could, of
course, be greatly extended even without in-
cluding those varieties whose effectiveness, in
spite of their producing magnificent blooms, is
marred by their pendulous habit ; but the object
is not mere variety, but to induce those who
may be planting airesh to consider the desira-
bility of broadening their eflects by the arrange-
ment in separate groups of a greater number of
examples of a few carefully selected sorts instead
of growing all mixed together a great number
of kinds, each represented only by a single in-
dividual.
The Teas also are specially advocated because, in
addition to being the true autumnals and com-
paratively exempt in the open from mUdew and
red rust, they will thrive on light and sandy soils
far better than other Roses, and are therefore bet-
ter adapted for universal cultivation, except, per-
haps, in the coldest parts of the midland and
northern districts in England. The groand, of
course, must be deeply trenched, carefully
drained, and well manured, and if a site can be
chosen sheltered from the north and east, so
much the better. Should the winter prove
severe, a few fronds of Bracken twisted among
the plants afford all the necessary protection
from frost, and even this is rarely essential.
There is no doubt that under such conditions'
by planting a dozen or even half a dozen dwarf
trees on Brier cutting or seedling stocks of each
of Marie Van Houtte, Hon. Edith Giabru,
Anna OUivier, Jean Ducher, Madame Lambard,
and Perle des Jardins, a display might be
effected and a supply of bloom ensured through-
out the season, even in a small garden, which
would put to shame many a collection of in-
finitely greater extent, but composed of solitary
examples of innumerable varieties.
Prtmiiig Gloire de Dijon Bose. — When at
Elvetham Park, Hants, the seat of Lord Calthorpe, the
other day, I was much struck with the magnifi- ,
cent growth of a very large tree trained under
the roof of a greenhouse. The stem, planted
close to the front, was thick and old, but clean
and vigorous ; it took a perpendicular course to the
trellis, where it divided, the one branch running
towards the east, the other towards the west in a
horizontal position along the bottom wires. These
also were clean, thick, and healthy, showing beyond
432
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 12, 1887.
doubt that the apparently severe treatment to which
Mr. Jones, the gardener, subjects them as well as
the roots has not produced gout or any tendency to
disorder. From this T-shaped stem a number of
strong growths of the current year liad been trained
from near the front wall plate quite up to the top
of the trellis, where they had been stopped to plump
up the buds. Upon making inquiry of Mr. Jones,
he stated that about the end of May every year, or
as soon as the tree has done flowering, he cuts it
hard back to the old wood forming the horizontal
arms, and lays in young shoots for giving the next
crop of flowers. These pieces of yearling wood about
9 inches apart, strong but not gross, were well fur-
nished with healthy leaves, these showing signs of
ripening and the buds looked most promising, fully
bearing out to any practical gardener the statement
that every bud produces a perfect bloom, whilst by
spurring and training, cross-grained and often very
ugly pieces of wood are dispensed with. All Rose
growers knowhowfreely rampant Teas and Noisettes
flower on long well-ripened pieces of young wood,
which may or may not require tipping back to a
good bud, but in my travels I do not remember
having seen a Gloire under glass so skilfully and yet
so easily managed. Indeed, a couple of scores of
young, straight, osier-like shoots, rising side by side
and beautifully furnished with fine leaves and bold,
pinkish-looking wood buds, gave me more pleasure
than the sight of many badly managed trees when
they are in full flower. — W. C.
LIFTING AND PLANTING ROSES.
The inexperienced amateur too often imitates the
method of the professional Rose grower ; at any
rate, I know it is so with regard to lifting Roses in
the autumn with a view to check vigorous growth.
The amateur visits a garden where the lifting of
Roses is practised or recommended, and at once
treats his Roses in the same way. This is entirely the
wrong treatment to give those Roses that have only
been planted a year or two, or to those that are in
a weakly state of growth. If the autumn-lifting of
Roses is to be practised with advantage, care must
be taken that the plants are in vigorous condition.
This method was adopted many years ago by those
who had to deal with Roses growing in exception-
ally favourable soils, and in such cases the lifting
checks that excessive growth which long-established
plants are apt to make when in strong, deep soils.
The work should be carefully done. If it is a bed
or border filled with Roses that are becoming too
vigorous, a commencement should be made at one
end by taking out a trench at least IS inches deep.
Shorten back the long roots, and, if the growth is
already too strong, the soil will only need well
stirring up. No manure will be necessary, but a
little fresh earth should be placed round the roots.
With regard to the preparation of the ground for
Roses, all who are experienced in their culture are
well aware that they succeed best in a deeply dug
soil. A free and open soil is necessary where Roses
are expected to thrive for a number of years. It
does notfollowfrom this that where the lowerstratum
of soil is bad it must be brought to the surface.
There are good reasons why it should not, because it
gives no extra trouble to have a wide trench when
digging over the ground and to stir up the bottom.
This attention is necessary for whatever purposes
Roses are required ; but as regards the treatment of
the soil in other respects, that must depend entirely
on the purpose for which the plants are grown. If
exhibition flowers are wanted, a heavily manured,
deep, loamy soil is indispensable ; but when the
flowers are only wanted for the decoration of the
garden, the cultivator need cot be so particular
about the character of the soil, although it may be
well to mention that a sandy loam well enriched
with manure is in every way jireferable. A soil
that will grow good vegetables will, with the assist-
ance of some well-rotted stable manure, grow Roses
in a satisfactory manner.
The best time for planting Roses is the.flrst week
in November. I have sometimes planted in October,
and have had reason to regret doing so ; for if mild
weather has prevailed up to that time Roses will be
making growth, and if they are moved in that con-
dition the growth withers if drying winds and early
autumn frosts are prevalent. If the weather
remains mild and moist, the growth will remain
plump and fresh. The usual advice for planting
Roses is that they can be moved at any time be-
tween November and March with safety, but I have
found that greater success has attended planting
early in November than at any other time, for the
reason that it gives the plants a longer time to
become established. I am aware that the roots do
not make much progress during the winter, but they
make some ; and if I could not place them in their
permanent quarters I would get the plants home
and lay the roots carefully in fine light soil. Careful
planting is an absolute necessity. It is very impor-
tant to tread the soil firmly about the roots. Stan-
dards should be staked and securely fastened as
soon as they are planted. — C, in Field.
Chrysanthemums.
B. MOLTNEDX.
NOTES ON CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
The blooms intended for exhibition will now
be developing fast, being favoured by such ex-
cellent weather as the past three weeks have
been, the air being clear and frosty, with an
absence of damp, muggy weather so unfavour-
able to the safe keeping of the blooms after they
are thoroughly expanded, or even during the
time that the petals are unfolding. Many other-
wise handsome flowers are lost owing to the close,
foggy weather often experienced at this season
of the year. Continue to apply stimulants to the
plants, as directed previously, until the blooms
are about three parts expanded, as until that
point is reached the plants require assistance to
enable them to develop first-class blooms. After-
wards sufficient nutriment will be contained in
the soil to finish off the flowers. The preserva-
tion of the flowers from damp in any form, such
as condensed moisture, drip from the roof
through defective panes of glass, or moisture
arising from the drainings from the pots, must
be well attended to. Plants cultivated for sup-
plying a large number of blooms do not suffer
so much from damp as do the plants grown
for large blooms, owing probably to the fact
that they are not grown quite so much upon the
high pressure system of cultivation.
Bush-grown plants, except the latest batch,
will be commencing to unfold their flowers, and
will require assistance at the roots to withstand
the strain put upon them of carrying two or three
hundred flowers on each plant. The last dose of
soot water they will require may be given them
now ; this will help to keep the foliage of a good
colour, as upon this much depends how the plants
look when in full flower. The late lot of plants
of Elaine, grown specially for supplying later
blooms in a small state, will require protection
with canvas or mats during cold winds and
frosty weather. In this way flowers can be had
in succession to the regular varieties for some
time longer. The plants being struck, say, in
May, planted out in the open ground, and if the
tops are pinched out twice, bushy specimens
from 1 foot to 2 feet high will be the result. If
these plants are lifted and potted carefully, and
the foliage kept moist for a few days until the
roots have taken possession of the new soil,
they will be found very useful. The habit of
this variety is well suited to this method of cul-
tivation, being upright, stiff, and short-jointed.
Plants grown to cover walls should now re-
ceive the last supports prior to blooming. The
buds are swelling apace, and tlicse should be so
arranged as to be under the protection of the
wall-coping, so that rains are warded off the
flowers, as when kept dry they last so much
longer, and frost does not afl'ect them nearly
so much as when saturated with moisture.
By .securing them thus early the leaves have
time to get righted, as all must face one way.
Good foliage enhances the appearance of the
plants considerably. As the weather, generally,
has been dry for the last month, the plants
will be benefited by a good soaking of liquid
manure at the roots. This will be sufficient
to carry them through the flowering stage.
Any plants which have flowered early, among
the general collection, and have been cut down,
should be placed in such a position that they
do not have their young growths drawn up
weakly, as they are sure to do at this early
stage if allowed to remaui among other plants
still in flower. A cold frame with protection
from frost answers best.
ARRANGEMENT OF GROUPS.
Groups of Chrysanthemums are important
features at nearly all Chrysanthemum shows, as
they lend variety, and persons may see what
can be done with this plant in a decorative way.
A large, solid, formal bank of flowers of good
quality, combined with good foliage and a taste-
ful arrangement of the colours, so that they
blend with each other nicely, is what is required
at nearly all exhibitions. Before the group
can be set up in the best style some forethought
and experience are required, even if the ma-
terial is at hand. Some societies stipulate for
semi-circular, or nearly so, shaped groups.
Whatever the conditions are, they must be
studied by the exhibitor previously ; indeed, it
is wise for young cultivators to arrange the
plants at home in the same form as required at
the exhibition, Intending exhibitors in the
group classes will have cultivated their plants
for this purpose by what is known as the " cut-
ting-down " method, which reduces the height
of the plants and at the same time preserves
good foliage. Without such plants a first-class
group cannot be arranged in competition with
others where the plants are specially adapted to
this purpose. If the stems of the plants are
secured by thin wires the flowers can be more
easily placed in any particular position by bend-
ing the wires than when stakes made of Hazel
or laths are used. The idea, when the condi-
tions are unlimited, should be to form a repre-
sentative group, consisting of incurved, Japan-
ese, Anemone, and reflexed varieties, although
some societies stipulate for separate sections,
such as all Japanese in one group and incurved
in another. In a mixed group the Japanese
varieties will naturally predominate, as by their
light and graceful forms they are particularly
adapted to this kind of work. The reflexed
varieties will be the fewest in point of numbers,
owing to their somewhat stiff appearance. In
this section there are several varieties which
are very useful for grouping on account of the
colours obtainable, notably King of Crimsons
and Cullingfordi, the latter being scarlet-crim-
son. The former kind usually produces solid,
huge blooms and also carries good foliage,
which is of considerable importance. Groups
of this class are seldom arranged for effect only,
quality of the flowers being also taken into con-
sideration ; therefore a full, .solid bank of
flowers, without being too crowded, should be
aimed at. Each flower should stand clear of its
neighbour, so that each blossom is seen dis-
tinctly. Some growers arrange one row of
Pompon varieties around the front of the
group. This I in no way recommend, as it
simply spoils the effect by mixing such flowers
with larger ones. Many an otherwise good
Nov. 12, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
433
group is spoilt by a defective front line. If the
plants have been chosen specially for the pur-
pose, the height of the front row of plants
should be about 2 feet 6 inches or 3 feet,
measuring from the ground, and the back row
of plants about 6 feet, sloping evenly from this
point down to the front, and from the centre
line from back to front the plants should slope
a little down to the sides of the group. This
variation causes a relief to the otherwise flat-
ness of an even sloping bank from back to
front. The arrangement of colours is a matter
of taste ; never place two plants of one colour, or
nearly so, together. Decided colours, such as
that of Elaine, pure white, and Cullingfordi,
scarlet-crimson, go well together ; or an orange-
yellow alongside of a dark red, as, for instance,
Jardin des Plantes and Jeanne DSlaux go well
together.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
Lapageria rosea. — I send a bloom of Lapageria
for your inspection. I consider it a sport from the
white form.— C. Lucis, Taunton.
*** We see no difference in the flower from an ordi-
nary form of Lapageria rosea. — Ed.
Crimson Cluster riower (Habrothamnus ele"
gans). — When at Lessness, Abbey Wood, Kent, the
other day I was much struck with the beauty of a grand
plant of Habrothamnus elegans in the conservatory.
Its rich clusters of deep red blossoms are welcome.
At Lessness it is allowed to grow in its own way,
and, as a result, it blooms more freely and looks
more at home than where pruning and tying are
excessively practised. — D. C. T., Uelredere, Kent.
Clerodendron. nutans.— This elegant stove
shrub, which was brought into prominence last
year by Mr. Head, of the Crystal Palace, when he
showed a finely flowered specimen of it at Ken-
sington, is flowering in the stove at Kew in quite a
small state. It makes a neat little bush with rather
large leaves. The flowers are large and white, pro-
duced in drooping clusters, terminating the branches.
Every stove plant that flowers in November has its
value, and this one is decidedly worth notice. The
specific name nutans is given in allusion to the
drooping flower clusters.
The early Christmas Rose. — The earliest and
finest of Christmas Roses is Helleborus niger maxi-
mus, or, as some call it, H. altifolius, and at this dull
season when the hardy garden has scarcely a bloom,
its large Eucharislike flowers of pure white colour
are very welcome. When suitably arranged with
feathery material, the chaste flowers are lovely in
the extreme, but they require to be tastefully
grouped, as the stems are stiff and sturdy. Though
perfectly hardy, thriving well in sheltered bays and
recesses, it is wise to cover the plants with a hand-
light as soon as the flower-stems begin to rapidly
develop, to preserve them from heavy autumnal
rains and nipping frosts, and keep their purity of
colour unspotted. This splendid plant is the fore-
runner of the real Christmas Rose (H. niger), and,
considering its bold beauty, might be more often
cultivated, rendering our gardens richer and more
interesting in late October and the early days of
November.
A new Anomatheca (A. grandiflora).— This
new bulbous plant is now in flower in the Cape
house at Kew for the first time since its introduc-
tion, though it was described and named more than
ten years ago by Mr. Baker, who, as a rule, is very
chary of giving this superlative name to a new
plant unless it be, as in this case, the finest flowered
species of the genus, so far as is known. The new
bulb is really a handsome plant, and, judging by
the specimen at Kew, is likely to grow into a much
finer plant than it is even now. The only Ano-
matheca hitherto well known in gardens is A.
omenta, the other, A. juncea, being very rare. A.
grandiflora is quite different from the charming
little A. craenta, and more resembles a Sparaxis.
The foliage is Gladiolus-like, and the star-shaped
flowers, about IJ inches across, produced on
stems overtopping the foliage, are numerous, and
open one after the other from the base upwards.
They are of a bright cherry crimson colour, but the
three petals, which are broader than the sepals, are
adorned with a heavy blotch of carmine-crimson
much in the same way as those of A. cruenta. If,
as is supposed, this species flowers habitually at
this dull season its value as an ornamental plant
will be increased. It is a native of Tropical South
Africa, and will, no doubt, require similar treat-
ment to that of other Cape bulbs.
Crinnm augustum. — This is one of the noblest
of a noble genus of bulbs which I am pleased to
learn are coming more into general cultivation than
hitherto. It is of large growth, having broad,
deeply channelled leaves over a yard long, and a
stout flower-stem 3 feet or 4 feet high, surmounted
by an umbel of from a dozen to twenty flowers.
These are from 4 inches to 6 inches long, and have
broad sepals of a deep blood-red on the outside,
pale pink within. It grows in marshy places in the
Mauritius, and therefore requires moist treatment
in a stove. Planted out beneath the Palms in the
Palm house at Kew it grows luxuriantly, and has
been an attraction for the past week or two. — W. G.
Witsenia corymbosa. — Why is not this beauti-
ful old plant more commonly grown for the green-
house or conservatory ? At this dull season, when
very few plants besides Chrysanthemums are seen
in greenhouses, its Gentian-blue flowers have a tell-
ing effect. Most likely gardeners do not know it, or
it would be more often seen. To those who do not
know it it may be described as of dense growth, with
tufts of narrow foliage like that of a miniature Iris,
arranged in an irregular mass ; an abundance of
spikes of tiny flowers of the richest blue are pro-
duced. Years ago it used to be grown to perfection,
specimens a yard high and as much across being
common. It is not such a difficult plant to grow as
some hard-wooded Cape and Australian plants. It
requires a peaty soil, plenty of drainage, a cool, airy
house or pit, and an abundance of water. For some
weeks past some specimens of Witsenia in the
greenhouse (No. I) at Kew have been the admira-
tion of visitors.
liigurian Harebell (Campanula isophylla alba).
— Although not so often seen as many of the Hare-
bells, this is one of the best and most useful, as it
blooms for a long time, and the spotless purity of
the flowers adds to their value at all seasons. The
type is also known as C. floribunda, and has blue
flowers of salver-like shape, as in the variety, and
both are bold and handsome. These two Harebells
or Bellflowers may be grown on the open rockery
and in the border, and prefer a sunny position and
somewhat dry soil, flourishing to perfection in the
crevices and chinks that should abound in every
well-constructed rock garden. The white variety
also makes a good pot plant, and last summer
several plants flowered splendidly and over a long
period in one of the pits in the Royal Horticultural
Society's garden at Chiswick. The growth is, per-
haps, rather straggling, but white Bellflowers at any
time are beautiful, and especially during the dull
month of November.
The new race of Begonias now being pro-
duced by the Messrs. 'S'eitch seems likely to prove
extremely valuable, as it supplies the long-felt want
of a class of bright and showy plants that will flower
naturally throughout the dull winter months. The
foundation of this new race is B. socotrana, a very
distinct species, discovered by Dr. Balfour in the
island of Socotra, and distributed from Kew some
five years ago. This Begonia flowers naturally in
autumn and winter, and bears a profusion of rose-
pink flowers on stems rising well above the round
or peltate leaves. As soon as this flowered at
Chelsea the hybridist commenced. He crossed it
with B. insignis, the result being a pretty hybrid
with flowers smaller than those of socotrana, but
brighter in colour. This was called Autumn Beauty,
because it always flowers in autumn. Then soco-
trana was crossed with a tuberous-rooted variety
with deep crimson flowers, and this happily pro-
duced the desired result by infusing rich colour into
B. socotrana. The hybrid obtained was the variety
John Heal, an extremely beautiful plant, producing
a profusion of rich carmine-crimson flowers in
autumn and winter. The foliage of John Heal
bears a resemblance to that of both parents, the
peltate form of socotrana being quite apparent.
Now we have the second remove from the original
cross between socotrana and the tuberous variety in
the beautiful plant named Adonis, which was
exhibited at South Kensington on Tuesday, and was
unanimously awarded a first-class certificate by the
committee. This is a cross between B. socotrana
and B. John Heal. It is of bold growth, the leaves
being almost as large as those of soootrona, and not
much different in form, substance, and colour. The
flower-stems, borne erect well above the foliage, are
branched and carry numerous flowers, each 2 inches
across, of regular shape, and of a rich cherry-
crimson colour, which looked particularly cheerful
even when seen through a London fog. Now that this
new race is fairly established, there is every proba-
bility that before long we shall have winter-flower-
ing Begonias exact counterparts of the summer-
flowering tuberous-rooted race which is now so
universally popular. — W. G.
Aphelandra Chamissoniana. — This beau-
tiful winter-flowering stove plant is represented in
the Palm house at Kew just now by a particularly
fine specimen, which shows what a valuable plant
it is at this season. It is a good deal like the A.
chrysops described in The Garden, Nov. 5 (p. 420),
as the whole inflorescence is of a beautiful bright
chrome-yellow. The bracts of floral leaves, which
look like rows of shells piled one above the other,
are as showy as the flowers, which only protrude
from the uppermost bracts. The plant is not
much more than a foot in height, and the fiower-
spikes are 6 inches or more in length. It is as
beautiful as any Orchid, and more easily grown.
Aralia Sieboldi in flower. — Many who have
not seen this common half-hardy shrub in bloom
have no idea how noble and beautiful it is when so
well fiowered as a large specimen of it now is in the
temperate house at Kew. This plant is some 8 feet
high, and each branch is terminated by a large
branching inflorescence, each branchlet of which
ends in a dense round umbel of white flowers; the
whole inflorescence, in fact, is of ivory whiteness,
and associated with the noble foliage has a flne
effect. It is only when this Aralia attains its maxi-
mum size that it blooms, and as this usually occurs
in late autumn it cannot be seen out of doors. For
large, cool conservatories this Aralia is an invaluable
plant, and instead of being cut down when it gets
" leggy " it should be allowed to flower. It is called
Fatsia japonica at Kew, but it will doubtless always
be known by the name Aralia.
A yellow Bouvardia is in prospect. It has
not been obtained yet, though the name flava,
indicating yellow, has been given to a sort whose
flowers are yellowish, not true yellow. Perhaps the
next advanced step from this flava variety will
bring what is wanted — a pure canary-yellow
Bouvardia. We have almost every shade ranging
from crimson through pinks to whites, and we may
yet see a race of yellow varieties. On Tuesday
Messrs. Veitch showed the most complete collection
of sorts we have yet seen. There were about
sixteen distinct kinds, including two species, B.
triphylla and leiantha, both with small, bright
carmine flowers. The richest coloured single was
President Cleveland, which is the flnest of all
the high tinted sorts. Priory Beauty and Maiden's
Blush are both very delicate in tone, while umbel-
lata alba and the double Alfred Xeuner are the best
whites.
Adhotodea cydonisefolia. — In the dull winter
days one naturally takes more notice of indoor plants
in flower, and every plant that habitually flowers now
is more appreciated than if it bloomed earlier. The
Adhotodea is an old-fashioned stove climber, but
exceedingly beautiful, the flowers being bicolored —
a bright violet-purple and white. They are borne
in short clusters, and the foliage being broad and
dense shows them to advantage. This ]ilaut may be
grown in a pot or planted out in a small brick com-
partment, and should not be allowed too much root
434
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 12, 1887.
room or it will not flower freely. It may be trained
on the roof or against a pillar — in fact, anywiiere
where it can get plenty of light.
Orchids.
W. n. GOWBR.
L^LIAS AND CATTLEYAS AT ST.
ALBANS.
The houses in Mr. Sander's establishment are
so large and the quantities of each particular
plant so great, that they do not present
such a blaze of beauty at this dull season as
may be found in smaller places, more especially
as no portion of the nursery is devoted to
flowering plants alone; nevertheless, on walk-
ing through I found much bloom. Amongst
Lfelias and Cattleyas there are just now some
beautiful varieties of L. elegans, whilst the
dimensions of some of the masses, if mentioned
only a very few years ago, would have been
pronounced incredible. They are to be seen
growing in pots, in baskets, on blocks, and on
rocks, and all are thriving and blooming in a re-
markable manner. Associated with L. elegans
are numerous charming forms of L. SchQleriaEa,
which is usually confounded by Orchid growers
with L. elegans. Here are also to be seen in
great variety numbers of that richly coloured,
although somewhat fugitive species, L. Perrini,
as well as some grand masses of L. purpurata (a
most extraordinary season to see this fine plant
in bloom). There is also to be seen in bloom a
fine example of the rare L. amanda. This is
supposed to be a natural hybrid, and it has been
suggested that Cabtleya maxima is one of its
parents. If this is so, I should imagine La;lia
Schilleriana to be the other, that is, if the two
supposed parents occur in the same district.
The blooms appear in shape to be midway be-
tween those of these two plants, the colour of
the sepals and petals being of a rosy flesh colour ;
lip deep rose, prominently veined with purple.
The Mexican Lselias are growing upon the rooks
in enormous raasscB, and later on wUI be very
gay; at present, _L. autumnalis atrorubens is ! the ever welcome 0. Alexandra) and 0. Pescatorei,
the only one of this section open, but its large | the dwarf, large-flowered 0. Rossi, which pro
and richly coloured blooms are very grand ; duces such an immense number of varieties and is
whilst the dwarf-growing L. Dayana, as usual, so easily managed that it is essentially an amateur's
however, are shorter than those of caudatum, being
only about G inches in length and much twisted.
It bears three flowers on a scape, and usually blooms
during the summer months. — W. H. G.
Cypripedium microchilum. — A veritable gem
amongst Slipper Orchids, and now flowering in Mr.
Williams' nursery at Holloway. It is the result of
a cross between C. niveum and C. Druryi. The
leaves are beautifully tessellated, after the manner
of those of niveum, and the flowers are larger and
broader; the dorsal sepal is roundish or ovate, white,
with a central dark crimson stripe, which it inherits
from Druryi ; it is also flushed and streaked with
finely dotted lines in the lower portion ; petals very
broad, deflexed, white, freckled with crimson, and
ornamented with a central stripe of dark crimson
dots ; lip very small (shorter than the white connate
lateral sepals), white, slightly freckled with minute
specks of crimson ; staminode large, hirsute, white,
with a yellow stain in the centre. It is said to be
a free-growing plant, and to enjoy strong heat and
moisture. — W. H. G.
Odontoglossum Earryanum. — We have not
yet seen this plant in character, and probably some
three or four more years must pass over before the
plants have recovered from their importation.
Enough, however, has been seen to prove it to be
one of the grandest plants of the day. It has also
been said by those who wish to depreciate the
merits of this species, that there are a good many
bad varieties amongst the imported plants, but the
same can be said of any other kind — 0. crispum, for
example. 0. Harryanum is said to be by no means
common in its native country, so that cultivators
should not hold their plants too cheaply, but endea-
vour to grow them on as well as possible. I recently
noted a very nice variety flowering in Mr. Sander's
nursery at St. Albans. The plant was small, but
there were thirteen flowers upon the spike all ex-
panded at one time. — H.
Odontoglossnms at Chelsea. — Various mem-
bers of this family are now assisting to make Mr.
Bull's nursery unusually gay for November ; con-
spicuous amongst them may be noted 0. madrense,
its pure white flowers stained at the base of the
sepals with chocolate-brown, quantities of the tiger-
striped C. grande, amongst which are some superb
varieties, 0. Insleayi superbum, numerous forms of
presented an endless variety, all of them charm-
ing in the highest degree. Cattleya Gaskel liana
is grown here in large quantities, and by the
manner in which the grand newly imported
masses are bursting into growth, it appears to
be quite at home ; a few plants still remain in
bloom, keeping company with C. maxima and the
chastely beautiful C. speciosissima. All these
plants are grown under cool and moist treatment ;
they are never rested, in an Orchid grower's in-
terpretation of the phrase ; they have the water
supply diminished somewhat after the growths
are completed and whilst they bloom ; after this
fresh growths begin to push up, and these are
encouraged by an increase of the water supply,
and thus with most plants two growths and two
flowering seasons are secured.
Cypripedium Dominiannm. — This is one of
the earlier hybrids, and a handsome and distinct
plant it is, but it has become somewhat rare.
A very fine example of it, planted out on some
rockwork and appearing to be quite at home, is now
flowering in Mr. Sander's nursery at St. Albans.
This form is the result of a cross between C. carici-
num (Pearcei) and C. caudatum, and there cannot
be a doubt but that this genus has quite set aside
the botanist's idea as to the limitation and restric-
tion of species. This hybrid appears to have re-
tained every character of the parents ill an inter-
mediate manner. The leaves, whilst being similar,
are much broader than those of C. Pearcei, and the
flowers are about intermediate in size, whilst they
resemble those of C. caudatum in colour; the petals.
Orchid, and the beautiful 0. hastilabium. There is
also at the present time a grand display of the
section which has recently been transferred to the
genus Miltonia, viz., 0. Roezli, vexillarium, and
Phalajnopsis— W. H. G.
Hiltonias. — The various forms of this genus are
now exceptionally gay with Mr. Bull, amongst
which specially worthy of note are numbers of M.
spectabilis in great variety, also numerous examples
of M. Moreliana and its variety atro-rubens ; both
these species will be found admirably depicted on
a coloured plate issued with Tub Garden, April 23
(p. 374), and which affords a better idea of the
extreme beauty of these plants than a volume of
words. In addition to the above are many well
grown examples of M. Candida, M. Clowesiana, and
M. Regneliana. All these plants are notable for the
deep colour of their foliage, which is not of that
sickly yellow hue so usual with them. They have
been grown moderately cool and with partial
shade, conditions under which some growers assert
them to be shy bloomers. — W.
lonopais utricularioides. — Under this name
there is now flowering in Mr. Bull's nursery a
charming little plant, one that I have previously
known as I. paniculata, and it may be that the
latter is only a form of I. utricularioides. Some
years ago the Messrs. Low, of Clapton, imported
quantities of this plant, which, when bloomed, pro-
duced considerable variations of colour. The plant
now blooming at Chelsea has a branched .scape
about a foot in length, and bears a profusion of
delicate flowers ; the sepals and petals are small ;
lip large, bilobed in front ; ground colour white,
flushed with mauve, the former slightly streaked
with purple, and the latter stained on the disc with
violet-purple, behind which is a tinge of yellow.
The plant has quite minute pseudo-bulbs, and bears
a solitary fleshy leaf, sharply carinate behind. It
should be grown in a cool temperature, upon a
block, with just a small portion of Sphagnum about
the roots to retain moisture. The plant should be
kept near the glass, but not exposed to bright sun-
shine during summer, and never allowed to become
dry. The flowers last a long time in perfection, but
on account of the small size of the plants the large
panicles of bloom weaken the plants, and sometimes
even kill them ; therefore, those who wish to main-
tain the vigour of their plants should take care that
the spikes are not left too long upon them. — W. H. G.
THE YELLOW-FRINGED ORCHIS (HABE-
NARIA CILIARIS) AT HOME.
Having often wished to see this Orchid growing
wild, I took the opijortunity one August after-
noon to do so, passing on my way hedges
overrun with the American "Woodnut (Apios
tuberosa) and quantities of the Meadow Beauty
(Rhexia virginica), always in full sunshine
patches of bright colour. I have some recollec-
tion of mention being made of Houstonia cseru-
lea preferring a shady position. Here it is found
everywhere, but fields where it grows fully
exposed are blue with it in early spring, well
meriting the popular name of " Bluets." The
white form also occurs frequently. I reached at
at last the home of Habenaria ciliaris, and the
sight I beheld was truly grand. Many acres of
swampy ground were tinged with the golden
yellow of the flowers of this Orchid, varying
in colour from lemon-yellow to deep gold. It
is a wonder that it is so seldom seen in culti-
vation, as its requirements are few and are
easily met. Given a moist peaty soil in a warm
situation and left alone, it thrives well. It does
well here growing in peat in a cool house in
pans, and flowers six weeks earlier than the
plants outdoors. The Grass pink Orchis (Calopo-
gon pulchellus). Lady's Tresses (Spiranthes sim-
plex), Habenaria tridentata, and Snake's-mouth
Orchis (Pogonia ophioglossoides) were found
in company with the above ; also the beautiful
Sabbatia chloroides, which is almost aquatic,
being found only in places where the roots were
submerged. On my way home the Pennsylva-
nian Wind-flower (Anemone pennsylvanica) was
noticed. This is a fine plant for naturalising ;
its flowers are pure white, much larger than
those of A. nemorosa, and appearing later.
Lilium superbum and canadense, dotted among
the dwarf brush, formed bright bits of colour
here and there. The Rattlesnake Plantain
(Goodyera pubescens) is plentiful under trees,
with its prettily variegated leaves, reminding
one of those of the Anasctochilus.
Passaic, N.J. Edward Orpet.
Pilumna nobilis. — The Pilumnas are often
associated with Trichopilias, to which they are very
similar in general appearance. Pilumnas differ,
however, in the lip being joined to the column
throughout its entire length, and various other
minute details. This species is terrestrial natuially,
but may be grown in either a pot or a hanging
basket. The drainage must be good, and the soil
consist of rough fibrous peat and Sphagnum.
During the growing season this plant enjoys copious
supplies of water, which should not be entirely
withheld at any season. It thrives in the cool
house, and the flowers last many weeks in full
beauty. The pseudo-bulbs are oblong-ovate, com-
pressed, and bear a single broadly-oblong leaf, the
whole plant being of a deep bright green hue. The
scape rises from the base of the pseudo-bulbs after
growth is mature, and bears from four to live large,
pure white, fragrant flowers, the lip having near
the throat two blotches of yellowish orange.
Numerous fine examples of this species are now
flowering in Mr. Bull's nursery at Chelsea. — W.
Nov. 12, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
435
ADELAIDE BOTANIC GARDEN.
This beautiful view of tlie Adelaide Botanic
Garden, whicli is under tlie care of Dr.
Scliomburgh, brother of the celebrated tra-
veller and botanist. Sir R. Scliomburgh, was
sent to us by W. B. Weger, and it seemed
to us so pretty and so unlike the common
stiff garden that one often sees, that we
engraved it in the best way we could, although
tropical gardens are not nearly so instructive for
us as scenes embellished with vegetation of our
own countries. Still, the question of effect and
grouping and form is pretty much the same.
The graceful way in which the water is fringed is
worth noticing, and so is the fine group of Calla
Lilies in the foreground. By the way, we be-
as a view of part of a railway locomotive yard
would be. It describes the cut, and says that the
style (something that sticks up in the middle like
the Tower of Pisa) is " about 10 inches in diameter,
and is a timber wound with Moss and earth, and then
planted with the Eoheveria " ! A comparison of
this cut with that of the Adelaide Botanic Garden
we publish this week might be worth making.
Flower Garden.
HARDY FLOWERS— A RETROSPECT.
Among the rarer dwarf alpine Harebells (Cam-
panula), I regard C. Waldsteiniana as one of the
most likely subjects for English gardens. I
have had and flowered C. Allioni, but I can de-
View in Botanic Gardens, Adelaide. Engraved for The Gabden.
lieve this fine plant is often grown pietty freely
in the south of England and Ireland in similar
conditions. These gardens are admitted to be
the finest south of the Line, both in point of
beauty and arrangement. The Victoria Regia
blooms niagnificentlj' and is the centre of attrac-
tion for many weeks.
■ We are charmed to see the spirited progress
shown in American horticultural journalism
within the past few years— some of the journals,
indeed, being similar to The Gabdbn in form
and plan and type. But the ideas of art
in floral decoration and gardening that they
occasionally show are amusing to see. The
American Florist has an illustration of a sundial in
t"he South Park, Chicago, which is about as beautiful
vise no soil in which I can permanently establish
this, or keep it alive during winter. I may say
the same of C. Zoyai, although the latter made
a somewhat longer struggle for life, or rather
for existence, in my garden.
I think I remember reading a note in this
paper to the effect that Edraiantlms dalmaticus
cannot be relied on to survive more than three
years at the utmost. I can only say that I have
had two plants of this growing and flowering on
one of my rockeries for five years running, and
they have at present every appearance of doing
as well or better in 1888. They are planted on
the top of a small rockery, with plenty of common
soil under them, into which the long tap-roots
may dive. I valiie them and pay them attention,
but they appear to me to suffer less from damp,
drought, or even slugs than many other less
choice alpiues. Another charming little species
of the same genus is E, pumiliorum ; the genitive
plural being intended, I presume, to indicate
some indistinguishable distinction in stature or
shade between this and E. PumUio. If planted
out at the proper time, and kept shaded for a
whUe, this easily becomes established, although
its ability to stand the winter — at any rate, a
winter in my soil and climate — has yet to be
proved ; for I must admit that the present ap-
pearance of the plant — now in late October — is
not quite so healthy as could be wished.
A plant of C. Tenorei sent me some years ago
by Mr. Wolley Dod is still alive here. It
flowers regularly in August, and I dig it up and
put it away under glass every October. It can-
not be said to flourish and never increases, but
the flowers are beautiful, and one can only re-
gret that so good a thing should be so lacking
in vigour. Probably fine specimens of tliis are
not to be found in the open much nearer than
the Bay of Naples.
In the south of England at any rate I doubt
if Cyananthus lobatus can be permanently
grown on a raised part of a rockery with a sunny
aspect. A few years ago, in a .summer that
happened to be wet, I had a plant flowering
well in such a situation, but it died of drought
in the early part of the following summer.
Planted in peat in a south-east aspect slightly
below the surface of the soU, it has grown with-
out flagging and flowered well, even during
the extraordinary summer just over. To the
life of this plant moisture at the roots is abso-
lutely essential, but to have flowers you must
also have a certain amount of sun.
I have lately given up troubling myself about
new Gentians, though if I knew where to get
G. Kurroo I should be glad. It would seem
that G. ornata does well in the north of Eng-
land, but I can do no good with it, although I
have tried it, and even flowered it, in all soils and
situations. Two other species which I have
bought several times over are G. Frcelichi (the
European claimant to the honour of the name)
and G. Burseri. I doubt indeed whether the
former has ever been successfully established
and grown in English gardens— at any rate I
have never sei n it, though I have come across
moribund plants of it in the gardensof someof my
friends. The finest of the summer-flowering
Gentians is unquestionably G. septemfida; it is
also perhaps the easiest grown, although it is a
mistake to suppose it will do in common soil,
unless ample moisture during summer can be
secured round the roots. Plants of the species
which are comparatively easy to raise from seed
vary greatly in shade of colour, but luckUy it
has not as yet occurred to any nurseryman to
offer them with " atropurpurea," " pallida," &o. ,
tacked on to their name.
The Marsh Fel-wort (Swertia perennis)
grows 2 feet high in pure grit and in full sun.
In peat it appears to be rather less vigorous. I
like to see a fine spike of this coming into
flower at the end of July when alpine flowers
are getting scarce, but it is not perhaps a flower
to be recommended, unless, indeed, slate colour
be " high art " as well as half-mourning — a point
which I am not suflicient of an"sesthete" to
decide.
Among the dwarf Phloxes, P. amcena is to be
noted as of quite exceptional beauty; as has
already been stated in these pages, it suffers
from cold, and especially, I think, from the dry
cold of the early spring. People interested in
Phloxes will do well to read some notes by Mr.
Wolley Dod which appeared in The Garden on
the 11th of last June. They may there learn
436
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 12, 1887.
(infer iilia) how to avoid buying the same thing
under half a dozen different names.
I have never yet succeeded in flowering
Polemonium confertum, having bought it and
lost it some five or six times. My present
plant appears to be doing well ; it certainly
needs a little peat, and appears also to do better
in sun, and as I have killed one or two of my
plants by moving them, my own experience
would lead me to recommend letting it alone as
a sound horticultural precept.
There is a fine herbaceous border plant— a
great improvement on the common Jacob's
Ladder — pretty generally di.stributed as P.
Richardsoni, a name which is, I believe, entirely
unauthorised. It -would be as well to get the
point settled on authority, for the plant to
■which I refer is, I apprehend, undoubtedly a
genuine botanical species.
I look on the Lithospermums as quite the
crhne de la crSme of the alpine flora. Including
our own blue species (L. purpureo-c»ruleum),
one of the rarest and most beautiful of British
plants, and not, I am sorry to say, including
the well-known L. prostratum, which has
thought fit to go over to the majority since
these notes were originally written, there are
four established here. L. petrwum (for which I
am sorry to see an alias has been attempted) is
a dwarf shrub and hardy, but a slight screen
from the bitter blast of the north-east wind in
spring wUl do the prospect of flowers in June no
harm. L. graminifolium is herbaceous and
quite a little gem ; it is not a vigorous grower,
but does well in light soil in a sheltered situa-
tion. My own plant is unluckily somewhat
overgrown, and obscured by a more showy and,
perhaps, more beautiful blue flower, Linum
provinciale, which is, by the way, the finest of
the blue Flaxes. L. olei^folium is a plant of quite
exceptional beauty and merit. If it stands the
cold as well as it withstood the drought of the
summer of 1887, I should consider it one of the
most valuable as well as most beautiful dwarf
alpine shrubs that have been introduced for
many years. It is, I believe, a native of the
Pyrenees, where it is probably not abundant.
L. tinctorium I failed to establish, though this
is a failure that time may retrieve, and L.
Gastoni I am tired of buying, as it remains
about the most expensive hardy plant in com-
merce, as no doubt it has a right to be, being
the rarest hardy plant in Europe. The North
American L. canescens I cannot get, and if I
could, it is, from all I can gather, extremely
unlikely that I could get it into flower. It is
figured by Paxton, and is very desirable to look
at.
A pretty thing which I came across in the
garden of a friend is Pulmonaria arvernensis,
introduced by Blessrs. Backhouse. The flowers
are a beautiful blue, and the habit of the plant
is far less coarse than that f)f most of its family.
Its name is, I imagine, lacking in the stamp of
official authority.
I liave been trying for the last ten years to
find and grow a blue Pentstemon, but no one,
not even Mr. W. Thompson, seems to be able to
help me to gratify this harmless ambition. If
there are such things, here at any rate they all
turn or ' ' run " to red-purple. The nearest ap-
proach to a good blue that I have ever come
across, though I have not had it, is P. acumi-
natus, a ragged, unsightly plant, however. P.
heterophyllus, generally said to be the bestj
always turcs purple with me. P. Jaft'rayanus
appears to be almost lost to cidtivation, though
its name appears still in the seed catalogues. All
these lack the first essential of hardy plants, viz.
hardiness. P. nitidus is a rather pretty dwarf rock
plant, perfectly hardy. The flowers, however,
are unmistakably "nurseryman's blue," or, in
plain English, lilac-purple. The scarlet P. bar-
batus is of little merit, and is, morever, a shy
bloomer. Its var., known as P. b. Torreyi, is
in all respects a handsomer and better plant.
I had Digitalis obscura for three years, a
period which is, I apprehend, quite its allotted
span. The foliage is better than the flower
which are of a dull orange. I do not think it
worth replacing ; and, although it seeds freely,
young plants are evidently very difiicult to raise.
OuRisiA cocciNEA used to flower (though not
well) on the north side of a rockery, wedged
between stones, but did not grow. PlaDted
now in a shady peat bed it grows, but does not
flower.
WuLFENiA CARlNTHiACA is a pretty plant,
with rich green foliage like that of a Primula. It
grows freely in peat, but takes a little time to
become established.
Euphorbia capitata was kindly sent me as a
present by a nurseryman. It is, I should say,
a plant admirably adapted for gratuitous dis-
tribution.
I have never attempted much with Primulas,
for which my soil and situation, and, for the
matter of that, the climate of the south-east of
England, appear to be unfavourable.
Almost anyone, I suppose, can grow P. rosea
—quite the head of the family as a garden sub-
ject ; while if anyone can keep P. cashmeriana
from converting itself into shaving-paste during
the winter without covering it with a cap-glass
he must be a far more skilful gardener than I
am. I regret that two good plants of P. sikki-
mensis failed this spring to put in an appear-
ance. I regard this as in many respects the
most remarkable and distinct of the genus, and
though it is evidently difficult to keep, it is
always worth getting.
The Bear's-ear Sanicle (Cortusa Matthioli),
which I have had for years, has suddenly taken
to growing and flowering, much to my surprise,
and the same may be said of the Himalayan
P. Munroi, which for some years has maintained
a furtive existence in the same peat bed.
I have never attempted to cultivate any of the
European Androsaces,but of the two Himalayan
species grown here, one (A. lanuginosa) appears
to be a perfectly hardy plant, provided it is
planted in a position where the shoots may rest
on stones and so prevent its rotting during
winter. A. sarmentosa appears to be somewhat
more susceptible to the action of cold rain than
the former, and the plants require to be more
frequently renewed. This, however, is a matter
of no difficulty whatever, as the stoloniferous
runners root at the joints and can be taken up
and potted for the winter to any extent. The
flowers of A. sarmentosa are, I think, somewhat
finer than those of A. lanuginosa, though the
latter as a plant is the more beautiful of the two.
I believe I once gave 5s. for Orchis foliosa,
and saw no more of it after planting ; nor have
I ever succeeded in growing Cypripedium Cal-
ceolus in any of the orthodox methods. I have
been very much pleased, however, this summer
with a rare and remarkable Orchis, Epipactis
gigantea (or americana, as it is sometimes
called). This appears to have a good constitu-
tion, and is well worth growing by anyone who
has a little peat. I have it planted close to
another remarkable Californian plant, Trillium
sessile, a larger and somewhat more vigorous,
though perhaps less beautiful, species than the
better known T. grandiflorum.
People with a taste for quaint and bizarre
members of the vegetable world should get
Scoliopus Bigelowi (also a North American
orchidaceous plant), and perhaps you may like
to add its name (if you have not already done
so) to the "Friendship's Garland of Cacophony,"
which you have been lately WTeathing for the
brows of the botanist.
A somewhat miscellaneous plant (a Bignoniad)
is the new Incarvillea Olgfe, which does not
appear to have attracted much attention. It is
apparently quite hardy, throws up herbaceous
stems about 4 feet high, and is a true perennial.
The flowers, which are produced about the end
of August, are not very numerous, and of a dull
pink, not unlike those of Chelone obliqua. It
is withal a plant of no very conspicuous merit.
J. C. L.
Primrose Harbinger.— I have grown this in
pots for the last three or four years for greenhouse
decoration and for cutting from and find it most
useful. The plants are now throwing up a few of
their sweetly scented flowers, and will continue to
do so until towards February, when they will be in
perfection, and are then very effective. It is very
easily managed. After the plants have done
flowering I turn them out of pots, divide them, and
plant them on a north border in the kitchen
garden. Here they are left until autumn, when
they are taken up and again potted. I have not
tried it for spring bedding, but intend doing so this
season. — J. H.
Yellow Carnation Qermania. — On the occa-
sion of the exhibition of the National Carnation
and Picotee Society at South Kensington in July
last, some blooms of a deep yellow Carnation were
sent from Erfurt, Germany, by M. ErnestBenary. The
flowers had suffered in the transit, but they were
very favourably commented upon at the time. This
yellow self is now under course of distribiition by
M. Senary under the name of Germania. As it
appears to seed, I think that it is likely to
prove very useful indeed as a parent. I hold the
same opinion of Mr. Turner's new yellow self, Will
Threlfall. I think it is possible to discern in this
flower possibilities of produce that will go some
way towards improving our yellow self Carnations,
especially as it is of a good robust habit of growth.
— R. D.
Mina lobata. — I considerably underrated the
value of this plant earlier in the season, the reason
for which was that it did not jiroducea sufficient
number of flowers to be effective, but for the last
six weeks the growth has increased so rapidly, with
a corresponding increase in the number of flower-
spikes, that the plants, which were thin, are now a
mass of leaves and flowers — so much so, that visitors
are struck with its handsome and singular appear-
ance. The plants alluded to are trained to a single
wire close under the glass in a cool Peach house. I
regret now I did not risk a ]ilant or two in the open
air, as I have an idea that it would make a fairly
good annual climber for a pillar or bower in a shel-
tered position. From my experience, I feel certain
that one must not be in too great a hurry in the
early part of the summer to see it fill up space, but
must allow the plants time to get well hold of the
ground. The growth later on advances so rapidly
and it blooms so freely, that sufficient reward awaits
those who treat it well. — J. C. C.
Prizes for border Carnations. — This is surely
one of the best moves in the interest of hardy out-
door border flowers that has yet been made. You
cannot but have observed that the tendency is to
grow the best bizarres and flakes indoors from the
seedling state, so that in this way what is naturally
a perfectly hardy flower becomes more or less ten-
der and coddled. I have had proof of it repeatedly.
I got some three years since from a noted grower in
Kent three named varieties of the several sections
of both Carnations and Picotees and planted them
outside. The plants were fairly well rooted from
plants indoors, but the majority of them died during
the subsequent winter, and only half-a-dozen out of
forty now remain, though the soil, aspect, and
treatment were, I think, favourable. Now what I
jSTov. 12, 1887. J
THE GARDEN.
437
contend is, that had those superior varieties been
grown from the seedling state outdoors the cuttings
or layers rooted therefrom would not have suc-
cumbed so readily. On the other hand, I raise a
batch of seedlings, generally what is known as
French Perpetual, every year. I sent you a large
box of the flowers therefrom more than once. Your
note in reference to the last was . . . . " Beautiful
Carnations in every respect." Some were fringed,
some were not, but in almost every case the plants
produced blooms by the hundred. — W. J. Muri'HT,
CJonmel.
WINTER TREATMENT OF HARDY GARDEN
FLORISTS' FLOWERS.
The dark days of winter may be supposed to be a
dull time for the florist — at any rate, for him who
has no enthusiasm for any class of plants in par-
ticular, and only cares to look at his plants when
they are in flower. The man who really loves
flowers, and whose life is bound up with them,
has a particular interest in his favourites at all
seasons. It is resting-time with the Auriculas,
but yet they are extremely interesting to those
acquainted with the peculiar character of each
variety. Some of them have foliage of snowy
whiteness, others have it dusted with different
thicknesses of farina. Some have grass-green
leaves of various shades. The plants ought now
to be removed to an open position in the garden
exposed to the sun. Place the plants close to
the glass, in order that they may have a free
circulation of air when the lights are over them.
Of course, the lights should be removed alto-
gether from Auriculas in fine weather ; in-
deed, it is only necessary to protect them from
heavy rain. Cold weather is best now, and frosts
are not injurious. Clear the plants from all decayed
leaves, and be careful not to apply too much water.
The small offsets, scarcely established, also require
a light position, as also the small seedlings
just coming through the ground. October and the
early days of November are two busy seasons with
the Carnation and Picotee growers. The plants
grown in pots should be established by the end
of the month. The lights are kept rather close
over them for some days, and when the plants have
made roots air is admitted freely, the lights be-
ing altogether removed in fine weather. Many
persons do not grow their Carnations in pots at
all. Planting out should, I fancy, be finished in
October, but it is noteworthy that the best growers
in the north of England do not plant out their
Carnations in the open ground until November. One
would fancy that the frosts and wet, rough winter
weather would injure them before they had taken
hold of the ground ; but it seems that they have no
injurious effect. Probably the plants are better
rooted in November; and, further, do not suffer from
the drying, warm days of early October. Badly
rooted plants are sure to suffer if taken from the
parent plants and set out immediately in the open
ground early in the autumn. The northern growers
use plenty of rich manure, and trench the ground up
deeply. The late Mr. George Rudd, of Bradford, and
other good growers assured me that the sweepings
from a cattle market form the best manure for Car-
nations. I have found stable manure from a yard
where the horses are bedded with peat litter
excellent, and a useful stimulant in the spring
is Jensen's fish guano, applied early in May
when the flower buds are forming. It is an
excellent plan to scatter some short stable
manure amongst the plants when frosty weather
sets in. Frost and thaw alternating throw the
plants out of the ground, or at least loosen them.
It is therefore riecessary to be watchful in winter,
and if necessary the plants should be pressed firmly
into the ground.
Nine degrees of frost about the middle of
October annihilated the Dahlias. Leaves and
flowers were quite destroyed, and two days after-
wards the roots were all dug up and stored for
the winter. A fine sunny day is best in which to
dig the plants out of the ground. Cut the stems
clean over, and place the roots in an inverted
position in the sun to allow any water that may |
have gathered in the hollow stems to drain out
They should be stored in a dry, airy place where
frosts cannot reach them. Pot roots must also be
placed out of the reach of frost, and they need no
water all through the winter. It is better not to
turn them out of the pots. The best place for
them is on the ground or on a stage in a vinery or
Peach house at rest ; they can be wintered under
the stage of a greenhouse if the pots are laid on
their sides so that no water can get at the roots.
In the case of ground roots see that the labels are
securely tied to the stems, as it is important that
the whole are correctly named. This should be
seen to when the plants are in flower.
This has been an excellent season for ripening
the corms of the Gladiolus; rain fell rather freely
after the excessive drought, but it was not too
much, as October has been comparatively dry, and
now the plants can be taken out of the ground in
capital condition. The best way is to dig them up,
cut off the stems close above the crown of the
corms, and place each sort with the mould and
spawn attached in clean flower-pots. They may be
placed in any dry, airy place until it is convenient
to clean them and to separate the spawn from the
old bulbs. The old corms should be cut off from
underneath the new ones with a sharp knife. No
delay should now take place in getting them out of
the ground, as if cold, wet weather sets in the bulbs
suffer very much. The seeds of" disease may be
sown, which will certainly increase in due course.
The Hollyhocks also crave attention. The young
plants propagated from eyes or cuttings during the
summer and autumn must be looked over. See
that the leaves are free from insect pests, mildew,
or any other fungoid growth. Most of the plants
should be potted into 3-inch or 4J-inch pots for
the winter, and afterwards they may be placed in
cold frames. The old plants may pass safely
through the winter out of doors, butitisjustpossible'
that they may be killed by the severity of the
winter. It is better rather to dig up one or two
plants of each variety and either pot them or plant
them out in light compost in a cold frame. Cut-
tings may be obtained from these old plants in
January or February, which if potted singly in
2i-inch pots and placed in a gentle bottom-heat
will soon form roots and grow into sturdy, compact
plants by April.
Pinks and Pansies should be planted out at once
if this has not been already done. They like a rich
deep soil, and I find that cow manure is better for
Pansies than that procured from the stables. To
provide against accidents, a plant or two of each
variety may either be potted up or they may be
planted 3 inches or 4 inches apart in boxes, so that
they may be sheltered in cold frames.
I have recently written about the Tulip, and
would merely remind cultivators that the bulbs
should be planted out on the prepared beds any
time before the middle of November.
J. Douglas.
Crinum Powelli.— In The Gaeden for Octo-
ber 29 (p. 386) Mr. Frank Miles speaks of the free-
blooming properties of this Crinum, and I have
stated several times that it is a seedling from C.
longifolium, crossed with the pollen of C. Moorei. It
is never seen at its best till it has been planted for
some years, for I have just taken up clumps of it
planted in 1881 which one man could barely lift,
and the roots had penetrated to a depth of from
4i feet to 5 feet. Mr. Miles tells us that Sir C.
Strickland has raised seedlings from the same va-
rieties which are identical in foliage, but he would
oblige by stating. Has the grower bloomed them
yet, and which variety was the seed-bearer ? — C. B.
POVTELL.
ITarcissus Yellow King. — In replying to
" Nemo " in The Gaedbn (p. 347), I can but re-
peat that the three Narcissi I mentioned in The
Gaeden of September 24 (p. 269), viz., Yellow
King, which at the Daffodil committee meeting,
spring, 1885, on the proposition of Mr. Elwes, I
think, was passed as no improvement on exist-
ing varieties. Henry Irving was accepted, and
the name I had given to the third on the sug-
gestion of Mr. Engleheart was changed to Golden
Spur, and accepted, so that Henry Irving and
Golden Spur were registered as accepted, and Yel-
low King, I^ suppose, registered as rejected. Pro-
fessor Foster occupied the chair, and Dr. Lowe was
secretary. The committee was one of the most in-
fluential and enthusiastic of all the Daffodil meet-
ings I have attended. Mr. Hartland's name being
introduced, it may as well be noticed that in 1885
he sold Yellow King Daffodil under the name
Golden Dragon, and in 1886 sold the same Daffodil
under the name of Ard-Righ (Hartland), Yellow or
Irish King. I hope when the Daffodil report ap-
pears all these matters will be made clear. — P. Bare.
MARIGOLDS.
During the late protracted drought the merits of
the common Marigold have been very conspicuous.
The hotter the sun the better the plants bloom, and
they seem to be quite indifferent as to the amount
of root moisture at their disposal. For dry banks
and bare places among low-growing shrubs I know
of no more useful flowering plant than the common
Marigold. It is only necessary to ensure the seed-
ing of a few plants, and year after year young ones
will come up. In the course of a season or two the
ground gets so full of seeds that they continue to
germinate through the summer, so that as soon as
any plants become exhausted they may be pulled
up to make room for the younger ones. It takes,
however, some time to exhaust a Marigold if the
seed-pods are kept picked off. It is interesting,
too, to note the variety of tint and form they ex-
hibit. As regards fulness and colour, scarcely two
are alike. Some of the shades of buff are very
pleasing, and the introduction of the new variety
Meteor, which has beautifully striped petals, has
imparted quite a new feature. With me this pretty
kind soon lost its character, and I thought its
pleasing characteristics were not suflSciently fixed
to be of any value. I now find, however, that it
affected the general stock, as I this year see many
more or less striped flowers, which by reason of the
contrast they aiiord are most welcome. In many
gardens I see nothing but the old orange-flowered
kind, and I fancy that the variety of tint contained
in this family is unknown to the generality of
flower lovers. In such cases I would advise that
seed of a good strain be obtained. A fact not to be
lost sight of in connection with this plant is that
its flowers witness the close of the flne weather and
welcome the first rays of the early spring sun.
After a winter not too rigorous, and in some cosy
sheltered nook, the Marigold expands its bright
blooms in a March sun. The French and African
Marigolds are deservedly popular. They are among
the best of the half-hardy annuals, as they bloom
for so long a time, and do not suffer from either
drought or wet weather. There are various strains
of French Marigolds, differing much in habit of
growth. The most useful are those that do not
attain a height of more than 9 inches. The plants
form compact little bushes suitable for small beds
or for any situation where dwarf things are indis-
pensable. I have a selected strain of French Marl-
golds, the plants of which do not exceed 6 inches in
height. The flowers are thrown up well above the
foliage, and are numerously produced. For edging
small beds I know of nothing better. What is com-
monly termed the Scotch strain grows much higher.
The object in this instance seems to have been to
attain perfection of bloom without much regard to
manner of growth. In this parlicular strain the
plants run up to a height of 18 inches and the habit
is not very compact. The flowers are distinguished
by symmetry of form and regularity of marking,
but I would rather have greater freedom of bloom-
ing and compactness of habit, with less perfec-
tion in the individual blooms. The flowers of
the African Marigold are too coarse to satisfy
me. They are, however, very bold-looking, and
well suited for positions where they do not come
immediately under the eye. They are of a remark-
ably vigorous nature, resisting drought well, and
therefore are well fitted for planting among low-
growing shrubs, or in mixed borders of tolerably
438
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 12, 1887.
large dimensions. Of the Corn Marigold we have,
strange to say, had a dearth this year. Usually the
cornfields are covered with it. This season I have
seen scarcely any. This and the common garden
Marigold make good pot plants for early spring,
They require about the same treatment as winter
Mignonette. I have never grown the French Mari-
golds in this way, but see no reason why they should
not do equally well. I once lifted some large plants
early in October, and they bloomed well until the
end of November in a cool house.
We are probably never so well able to appre-
ciate the merits of the Marigold as during the autumn
months. In the case of tender summer-blooming
plants generally, the tattered remnants of a rich
feast of floral beauty are all that remain to us after
a visit from the equinoctial gales. The bedraggled
condition of the zonal Pelargonium is pitiable to see,
but the Marigold only takes a fresh lease of its bloom-
ing powers, its flowers showing wonderful indifference
to the heavy washings which they get from the
autumn rains. J. Cornhill.
SINGLE DAHLIAS.
The tendency, referred to by "D. T. F." on page 292,
of the single Dahlias to "bolt" without flowering
during the drought was conspicuous also among our
plants from the middle of July to the middle of
August; but the tall, flowerless stems were promptly
cat down to within a few inches of the ground, and
though this proceeding did not ultimately result in
dwarfer plants than usual, the growth became bushy
and normal. A few varieties that were allowed to
grow on without being cut down became taller
than in ordinary seasons, and continued practically
without flowers until after the September rains";
but then they became very gay. As the flowers
were so quickly developed after rain, which, never-
theless, was hardly sufficient to wet the ground
much, perhaps they would have been expanded
before had the plants been syringed as well as
watered at the roots.
Another peculiarity of the season that has be-
come apparent since last writing on single Dahlias
is that, owing to the disadvantageous growing con-
ditions, a number of plants which were made from
cuttings in the spring, although having grown to
their usual size and having flowered freely, have
made no tubers at all, but are provided only with a
mass of fibrous roots, a condition very little favour-
able to their preservation during the winter. Of
course, this does not apply to seedlings nor to
parted-up ground roots, but only to plants made
from cuttings in heat in the spring. However, it
will be interesting to see if they can possibly be
kept alive during the winter, as the collar is, no
doubt, the vitally important part rather than the
tuber, whose essentiality to the plant growers have
already questioned. T. W. G.
A new Indian Lily.— May I make it known,
through your widely-circulated journal, that a Lily,
something like the Tiger Lily, but belonging pro-
bably to an undescribed species, is to be found in
abundance on both sides of the Rajpootana State
Railway, where it runs along the Arivalli Hills, in
Eastern Rajpootana? My son discovered it in
1879 when engaged in constructing the railway,
but as he was far more ambitious of building the
longest railway bridge in the world than of sending
home new plants, he failed to secure specimens
then, and since then has had no opportunity of
doing so.— C. Wolley Dod, Edge Hall, Malpas.
Crocus speciosus.— "Greenwood," in The Gar-
den, October 29 (p. 393), gives two or three in-
stances where he has found this charming autumn
Crocus succeed well. Besides its seeming indiffe-
rence to situations sunny or shady, I can add that
it is at home whether in dug borders or with its
bulbs embedded in a hard gravel walk. About a
month ago I saw in the Milford Nursery, Godalming,
coming up everywhere in the shrubberies and out
of the hard-trodden paths, and Mr. Young assured
me that such has been its behaviour for many years.
The flowers that sprung from the bulbs in the gravel
were in no way inferior to those on the dug ground
and were actually more numerous. Perhaps the
hard-baked path conduces to the better ripening of
the bulbs and causes their freer flowering. Mr.
Young says it is a weed, but how many would like
to have such lovely weeds in their gardens. This
Crocus is certainly one of the sturdiest of all the
autumn kinds, and will take care of itself under
any conditions. It is, therefore, one of the best for
naturalising. Its greatest enemy is the mouse. —
W. G.
HOLLYHOCKS.
Now that a revival of the Hollyhock has in
reality taken place, the cultivators of the flower
will doubtless rapidly increase, with benefit, I
need scarcely add, to our gardens, which profit
by the stateliness, quaintness, and picturesque-
ness of this bold and showy perennial. It is
Hollyhock Princess of Wales. Engraved for The
Gakhen.
unnecessary to mention the disease which has
attacked the plants, and which has not even now
ceased its destructive work, as in The Garden
of August 27 will be found notes respecting the
Hollyhock in general. A few seasonable re-
marks, however, may be made, and I may
refer, in the first place, to the illustration
of the variety Princess of Wales, which was
taken from a plant grown in the nursery of
Mr. J. C. Blundell at West Dulwich. This is a
good type of a show flower, and when seen in
perfection the blooms have fulness, evenness,
and compactness to recommend them ; moreover,
the salmon-pink colour is pleasing and telling.
Of course, to obtain Hollyhock flowers as here
portrayed, it is necessary to thin the spike
rather severely so as to throw the strength of
the plant into the blooms that remain. But this
is only the method pursued in the case of most
plants that are grown so as to obtain size and
quality in the blooms.
There are several things that demand atten-
tion from the cultivator at the present season,
and what has to be done must be done quickly.
The cultivation of the Hollyhock is simple, but
it requires good treatment to secure flowers of
the high degree of excellence which I saw last
summer in Mr. Blundell's nursery, and one of
the points now to consider is the advisability of
lifting the plants previous to winter. In some
places the plants will live and battle successfully
with the vicissitudes of winter, and I have now
in my mind's eye two long rows, forming a back-
ground to a large border and the dividing line be-
tween a small orchard. Here the Hollyhocks have
remained out for several seasons unharmed, grow-
ing vigorously in spring and flowering magnifi-
cently in autumn. In many parts in the midland
and northern counties it is, however, prudent
to winter the plants under glass ; this does not
mean to give artificial heat, as from first to last
in the culture of this flower one leading point
should be carefully considered, and that is the
hardihood of the Hollyhock and the debilitation
and weakness that ensue from employing a high
temperature at any stage in its culture.
The present time is the best for planting
where it is the object to obtain immense spikes
next year, and as regards soil it is important to
have it well prepared in the first place, so as to
provide a good foundation for the plants. The
soil of Mr. Blundell's nursery is rich loam on a
clay bottom, and when a liberal quantity of cow
manure and sand is incorporated with the soil,
the Hollyhock succeeds admirably. As regards
where to plant, of course that must rest with
the ciiltivator, but it is well not to have Holly-
hocks too near the house or in too great a
quantity, as their beauty is of a coarse kind,
best viewed at a distance. They form a
noble background to wide borders, and give a
charm to old-fashioned gardens where hardy
perennials are the speciality. Seed may be sown
now or in February, and the usual plan is to
sow in shallow pans. Sow thinly, and place the
pans in a greenhouse, giving sufficient heat to
keep out frost ; and when the young plants have
been potted off, gradually harden them off, as it
is essential to encourage a stocky growth. In
the early days of summer the seed may be sown
in the open.
Another way is to propagate from cuttings or
offsets. These may be secured from the stools by
removing each separate growth with a heel, if pos-
sible, and these short, stubby pieces form the best
cuttings, as they have strength and firmness.
Remove sufficient of the leaves to secure the
proper length for inserting in the soil, which
should be poor than otherwise, as manure and a
stiff compost are apt to engender decay. In many
cases the cuttings will have to be inserted in
pots ; but some prefer a frame, which must be
well drained and proof against wet and drip.
Make the cuttings firm and water gently, but
not too much ; yet they should not sufler from
over-dryness. In the spring, if everything has
been properly carried out, the cuttings wOI
grow away vigorously and may then be planted
out. In the case of potted plants, it is wise
to stand them on a layer of coal ashes to
prevent worms becoming troublesome and to
keep damp at bay. I append a few of the best
varieties, all having flowers of fine finish and
good colour : —
Princess of Wales, previously mentioned ;
Mrs. Sharman, maize colour, one of the best ;
Mrs. Barron, rose-pink, and with very smooth
petals ; Ettie Beale, flesh colour ; Her Majesty,
which is a strong grower, and has a large,
Nov. 12, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
439
delicate rose flower ; Princess Beatrice, lemon,
large show flower ; W. G. Head, deep cardinal;
Henry Irving, rich deep purple ; Shirley Hib-
berd, bright crimson, very distinct, and of fine
finish ; and Venus, pure white, an excellent va-
riety for wreaths, by reason of the splendid
guard petals. E. C.
Fruit Garden.
ENGLISH STANDARD FRUITS.
Gloa SEorceau Pear. — This Pear is a great
favourite in this neighbourhood, and, so far as my
experience goes, I consider it to be the best late
Pear in existence, and equal to Marie Louise for
flavour. It comes into use from the middle of
December to middle of January. This season it
is, with me, exceptionally large, clean, and bright,
though in some seasons I have known the fruit to
crack and spot badly. The fruit should always be
left upon the trees as long as they will hang, for if
gathered before the last week of October they
shrivel, and the flavour is spoiled. Mr. Coleman
advises a higher temperature and different aspects
for ripening different sorts of late Pears. This, I
think, is of the greatest importance, and very little
understood or acted upon. No Pear should be con-
demned until it has been tried in various aspects,
both for growing and storing. Some years ago a
gentleman gave me in splendid conditian at Easter
a dish of Beurre Ranee Pears which had been
grown on a wall facing south-east, and stored in
front of a south window fully exposed to light and
sunshine. I never tasted such good Beurr^ Ranee
before or since. Another gentleman, a great
amateur Pear grower, told me his latest and best
Pear was Duchesse d'Angoulfime, and that he often
had it in prime condition as late as the middle of
February, whilst I have never been able to keep
either of the above sorts later than the middle of
December. — W. Sangwin, TreUssick.
The best Pears. — We should be glad if Pear
growers would give us their views as to what they
consider the very best Pears. We think a great
many are over-estimated as to flavour. Many Pears
which find a place in our gardens have a very poor
flavour and are not worthy to be grown. What we
mean by a good Pear is the Duchess (not the Pit-
maston !) well grown. Winter Nelis at Christmas
and Easter Beurre in spring.
Pear Fondante d'Automne. — Mr. Allen and
other good gardeners have sent us good specimens
of this, and we are in a doubtful attitude of mind
about it. The flavour does not seem to us of the
very best, and the quality of rotting at the core is
bad. We believe it is an utter mistake to have
a Pear of second class quality cumbering the ground.
Have any of our readers anything to say against
this decision?
Pear Harie Louise. — We have received some
most beautiful specimens of this from Shrublands.
Growing over such a large area in perfection, it
is beyond doubt that this Pear is one of the best
twelve for cultivation in England. We intend to
stick to twelve, as a dozen would include all that
are necessary.
Pear Duchesse d'Angouleme.— Believing
this to be one of the best Pears for flavour, we shall
be glad if any of our fruit-growing readers will
kindly say over what area of the British Islands this
Pear may be relied on to succeed.
The Blenheim Orange Apple.— This noble
Apple is now in fine condition for use, and is a type
of what a good English Apple should be. Here we
have a fruit which is beyond all doubt good in
flavour, size, and has every essential quality.
Even in colour and form it is more beautiful than
most showy Apples. If, instead of trying experi-
ments with many new Apples and Pears, people
would plant a good breadtli of a kind like this, we
should be in a better way to supply our own mar-
kets. The Blenheim has the rare quality among
Apples that it supplies its own juice, so to say, as
we think every first-rate Apple that is used for cook-
ing should, and the Blenheim, if stewed or cooked
simply as it is without any addition whatever, has
an excellent wholesome flavour. This, we take it, is
the test of a good Ajiple. Its appearance when
well grown is also very fine ; it brings a good price,
too, and so we think that here, instead of the eternal
hunt after novelty, people have something they can
depend upon and grow.
Apple Claygate Pearmain. — This in its best
season has struck us as a fruit of fine flavour, and
which we propose to figure if no faults are found
with it. We should be glad of samples from diffe-
rent parts of the country.
Apple Alfriston is another variety we should
like to receive samples of from different parts of the
country.
GOLDEN DROP AND OTHER PLUMS.
I WAS interested in Mr. Coleman's communication
on Plums in The Gaedbn (p. 367) because my ex-
perience of growing Plums on walls with a north
aspect exactly coincides with his. The trees not
only bear as regularly, and carry as large crops as
when occupying apparently more favourable aspects,
but the fruit also hangs a considerable time longer.
We gathered our last lot of fruit of the Golden
Drop Plum on October 24, and from a north wall
fruits of the variety Jefferson would have probably
kept as long had we wanted them to do so ; at any
rate, in the first week of October this sort was as
fresh and plump as anyone could desire, both kinds
being much valued for cooking. They are also not
to be despised for the dessert, for, although the
skins are rather tough, the flavour is fairly good.
With regard to other sorts of Plums, their season
may be very much extended by making a judicious
selection of both early and late sorts, and bv grow-
ing them on walls with different aspects. We com-
menced the season here on August 22 with Rivers'
Prolific from an east wall ; then followed Belgian
Purple, Rivers' Early Favourite, Diamond, Pond's
Seedling, Victoria, and others. Had Rivers' Pro-
lific been grown on a wall with a south aspect, the
fruit would have been a fortnight earlier.
From experience I do not find that the Plum
bears more regularly in one aspect than in another,
but I have always found that the trees bear more
regularly on walls than otherwise. With regard to
the form of the trees, I think that if the roots and
the branches are properly balanced, they will bear
as well in one form as another. The Plum, how-
ever, is averse to hard pruning — for that reason, a
judicious system of root-pruning to check excessive
growth is necessary to secure fruitful trees.
The cordon form, when properly managed, is as
useful as any ; but each cultivator should select the
form of tree that suits his requirements best. If there
is no likelihood of cordons and pyramids receiving
the attention they require, it is better not to have
them. If there are good walls and fruit in quantity
is wanted for preserving, large fan-trained trees are
best. With varieties suitable for dessert the case is
different. For that purpose the fruit is wanted to
extend over a longer time and to be had in smaller
quantity, and it is in such cases that cordons or
bush trees give the growers a chance of obtaining
a greater number of varieties. These should include
early, midseason, and late sorts. But I have found
that, except in the case of two or three sorts,
the Plum crop is the most uncertain of any. In
my early experience here I took great trouble to
protect the blossoms by nets and Fir branches
every spring, until I found it was of no use. Now
I let the trees take their chance, and we get as
good crops and as regularly without protection as
with it. The most certain varieties are the purple
and white Magnum Bonums and the old Green
Gage. From these sorts we always get more or less
of a crop.
My opinion is that much depends on the con-
dition of the wood in autumn and the character of
the weather after the fruit is set as to whether the
crop is a full one or otherwise. When we get dry,
sunny weather in the autumn the wood becomes
thoroughly ripened and the" fruit buds properly
matured, and in this condition the trees are more
likely to produce a crop than when the wood is not
sufficiently hardened. With regard to the behaviour
of the trees after the fruit is set, there are few
more disappointing subjects than the Plum. To all
appearance, when the blossoms fade there is every
promise of an abundant crop ; but very often this
promise ends in a partial or total failure. Whether
this arises from imperfect fertilisation of the blos-
soms or through cold, ungenial weather is not quite
clear to my mind ; but I know on many occasions,
after I thought that the crop would be an abundant
one, that the young fruit first turned yellow and
then fell off, which is my reason for believing that
we are more dependent on climatic conditions for
securing a supply of Plums than anything else. If I
am wrong in this matter, I shall be glad if anyone
can give a better explanation how it is that the
Plum crop is such an uncertain one.
I should like to say a few words about growing
the Green Gage as a standard, as it is not seen in
this form very often. It would not be wise to de-
pend upon it in this form to any extent except in
the south and west of England, but in all sheltered
gardens in these favoured counties it is quite safe
to plant it ; and from what I have seen of its be-
haviour I do not think it would often prove a
failure, at least not more often than other sorts. I
have seen handsome standards of this variety
producing very satisfactory crops of fruit which
ripened perfectly. Unless the trees are worked on
long stems they do not attain a great height,
but make a close head very regular in its out-
line. A plantation of standard trees 10 feet
apart would, I think, prove a very good investinent
if care was exercised in selecting a warm, mode-
rately dry soil and a sheltered situation. I have
never known birds to peck out the fruit-buds on
trees growing against walls, although I have known
them to almost spoil the year's crop on pyramids
and other trees growing in the same garden. The
birds also did not interfere with the buds or the
ripe fruit on Gooseberry trees trained to straight
wires. J. C. C.
GRAPE GROWING AT CLARENDON PARK,
SALISBURY.
Owing to Mr. Charles Warden, gardener to Sir
Frederick Harvey Bathurst, Bart., having lifted the
Vines and re-made the Vine borders, the Grapes at
Clarendon Park, Salisbury, have greatly improved,
not only in size of bunch, but in generally good
finish during the last few years. Mr. Warden, in
finding the Vines did not produce quite so good
Grapes as he could wish, and knowing that the cul-
tural details were attended to as they should be,
therefore very naturally concluded that the condi-
tion of the roots and borders was not satisfactory.
As soon, therefore, as the Grapes were ripe in each
house they were cut and bottled. The soil was then
carefully removed from the roots, which were tied
up separately in damp mats, the house having been
heavily shaded in the meantime and for a week or
two after the process of replanting the Vines had
been completed. This done, the drainage was re-
arranged, and a new border, consisting of about
three parts of the best loam obtainable on the place
and one of old mortar rubble and horse-droppings,
with a liberal sprinkling of wood-ashes added, was
made to the proper depth. The roots were then
spread over the bed, cutting back all straggling or
damaged ones before covering them with 6 inches
thick of the compost indicated, following this with
a surface-dressing of short manure to the thickness
of 3 inches and an application of warm water, and
keeping the house rather close and the Vines
syringed overhead morning and afternoon for a
few weeks until the roots had taken to the new soU.
Thus treated, the Vines got re-established before
they shed their leaves, and were allowed to bear a
fairly good crop the following year, only one house
being operated on in the year. Hamburghs, Madres-
fleld Court, and Buckland Sweetwater are capitally
grown in the same house ; Muscat of Alexandria and
Black Alicante do very well together in another
house; while the late vinery, having a west aspect
and an inside border (the others being all outside
ones), contains Gros Colman, Lady Downe's, a young
440
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 12, 1887.
Vine each of Gros Guillaume, Gros Maroc, and
Alnwick Seedling, and several Vines of Black Ali-
cante, carrying a beautiful lot of large, well-coloured
bunches, varying in si z 2 from 3 lbs. to 6 lbs.
VlTIS.
LIFTING AND TRANSPLANTING MORELLO
CHERRY TREES.
In reply to " T. S." in The Garden, October 22
(p. 369), I would recommend him to lift and trans-
plant his trees forthwith. The trees should be
taken up carefully with as much soil adhering to
the roots as possible. To do this, a trench should
be opened at 3 feet from the stem of the trees to be
lifted, working the soil from under and around the
ball of earth and roots with a fork until the tree
can be lifted bodily by two or three men, while
another places a mat underneath and secures it to
the stem, the better to preserve the soil about the
roots. Upon the manner in which planting is car-
ried out depends in a great measure the idtimate
condition and fertility of the trees. Mark the
central position of each tree, at 15 feet from each
other, then excavate holes extending 2^ feet on
either side of the mark on the wall, 5 feet therefrom
and i feet deep, the outline of the hole partaking of
the form of a half circle. Into the bottom of each
hole put 9 inches thick of brickbats, stones, or
clinkers, whichever material may be most conve-
nient. Over these a sufficient thickness of coarse
gravel should be laid to fill in the chinks, and fol-
lowing this a layer of turf. Grass side down, to
secure good drainage. Should water, however, be
likely at any time to rise nearer to the surface than
4 feet, it will, of course, be necessary to reduce the
depth of the hole to such an extent as will prevent
the possibility of the roots of the trees being at any
time submerged. Seeing that the natural soil in
" T. S.'s " garden is not such as is calculated to
promote and afterwards sustain satisfactory growth,
the fresh soil should consist of four parts sound
calcareous loam, and one of old lime-rubble and
wood-ashes, well mixed. This should be got into
the holes in a moderately dry state, so that it may
not stick to the feet in treading on it. In planting
the individual trees make due allowance for the soil
subsiding 5 in. or 6 in. within as many weeks from
the time of planting. Having placed each tree in
position, spread the roots out in every direction
from the wall, with a slight inclination downwards,
shortening back at the same time any straggling
roots, and cutting clean away with a sharp knife
any portion of the same that may have sustained
injury in the process of lifting. With the object
of encouraging the emission of young feeders, make
a series of incisions along the principal roots
previous to covering the latter with G inches of
the compost indicated, and before treading the
latter gently over take hold of the tree by the stem
and give it a few good shakes in an upward direc-
tion, so as to allow of the soil mixing among the
roots. This done, lay on 3 in. or 4 in. thick of
rotten manure as a mulching. This will maintain
the roots in a more equable condition than could
otherwise be secured. The trees so planted should
be temporarily secured to the wall with nails and
long shreds to allow of their sinking with the soil.
Trees thus planted, provided the after treatment be
good, cannot fail to yield satisfactory results during
ordinary seasons. The trees should be transplanted
sufficiently early in the autumn to become re-esta-
blished before they shed their leaves, and they should
be watered at the roots when planted to settle the
soil about the former.
TitAiNiNd THE TREES. — The shoots should be
trained at from 3 inches to 4 inches apart on the
wall, the princi]ial branches being first distributed
over the wall at the same angle from the centre of
the tree on either side, filling in with the shoots of
the current year's growth at the distance indicated.
Shreds half an inch wide, of light substance, shciuld
be used for securing the small shoots to the wall,
using wider ones and of stouter material in propor-
tion to the size of tlie leading branches, in every
case allowing sufficient room for the proper develop-
ment of the branches. In spring one young shoot
should be laid in between those of the previous
year's growth with the tops of thin flower sticks or
twigs from an old broom, cutting back to within
two joints of their bases aU foreright shoots. An
alley 3 feet wide from the wall should be allowed,
and the remaining width of the border should be
cropped with summer Lettuces, for cutting say in
July, after which Coleworts or dwarf Savoys could
be planted. In burying the annual dressing of ma-
nure in these north borders, the first 2 feet wide
from the outline of the alley should be simply
worked under the surface with a five-pronged fork ;
the remaining portion of the border may be dug
with a spade in the ordinary way, as any stray roots
pushing beyond the radius of the space excavated
for the trees— and they will be few that do so —
will be all the better for being out off in the process i
of digging.
Insects affecting the tkees. — Black fly is,
as a rule, very troublesome on all Cherry trees in
the spring, and attacks the young growths in the
most vigorous manner. If prompt measures are not
taken to eradicate these, serious injury to the trees
will result. Therefore, upon the first appearance of
aphides on the trees, the latter should be syringed
in the morning with a solution of Tobacco juice and
water at the rate of one quart of the former to four
gallons of the latter, repeating the application until
the enemy is completely vanquished. Brown scale
and thrips are sometimes troublesome, and these, if
not taken in hand in time, wiU soon cripple the
trees ; therefore, prior to nailing any trees that are
infested with brown scale or thrips, thoroughly
paint the branches with a mixture of soft soap and
petroleum at the rate of 4 ozs. of the former dissolved
in a gallon of water to two wineglassfuls of the
latter, to which sufficient clay and a handful of fresh
soot should be added to give it the consistency of
paint. Care must be taken not to knock the buds
off, and that the mixture must be well worked into
the crevices about the spurs, so as to reach every
insect. This is certainly a tedious process, but I
find it is more effectual than merely applying the
solution with the syringe.
We have about 150 yards of wall covered from
top to bottom with strong, healthy trees of the
Morello Cherry which annually yield a heavy crop
of excellent fruit. They have not failed to do so
once ; indeed, at the present time (Oct. 24) several
of the trees are covered with fruit. During the
past spring and summer the trees, as is our custom,
were heavily mulched, and received copious supplies
of liquid manure during the months of July and
August. H. W. Wakd.
Lunriford Castle, Salishiinj.
by no means ripe. The fruit is immensely superior
to the native Blackberry for tarts and preserves, as,
owing to its brisk flavour, there is no need to
employ the sharp Apple or other fillip required to
counteract the rather sickly sweetness of the wild
frait when cooked. It is perfectly true that Rubus
laciniatus is a very ornamental plant, and would be
quite worth growing on that account, even if it
never fruited at all ; but it is perfectly preposterous,
merely because it is good looking or requires
support, to deny its immense fertility or the great
value of its fruit. The plant, moreover, has the
further good qualities of being perfectly hardy,
very vigorous, thriving in any soil, and coming true
from seed — a most valuable characteristic, whereby
an abundant supply of strong, healthy, lusty young
plants may always be obtained without any trouble
or subsequent fear of their lacking roots, and not
starting to grow away at once when planted out.
T. W. G.
AMERICAN BLACKBERRIES.
" R. D." may (pp. 396-7) well hesitate to accept the
statement that Rubus laciniatus (by no means
happily called the Parsley-leaved Bramble) is not
as productive as some other sorts, owing to its
being a trailer! If no fruits are to be grown
because the plant stems require artificial support
we should soon be ill off for Grapes, Hops, and a
multitude of fraits that are produced upon similar
weak-stemmed plants. As "R. D." justly points
out, however, a lack of productiveness is about the
last charge that can be substantiated against this
Blackberry, which is annually smothered with fine
fruit when the plants are properly grown. The
simplest plan is to treat them exactly like Rasp
berries, annually cutting out the wood that has
fruited and tying in the young canes ; the plants
may be grown against any tolerably high fence in
the open, or in the absence of such an even better
plan is to set up posts from 8 feet to 10 feet high,
and to stretch strong wires or strips of wire netting
between them, when, especially if this skeleton
fence run north and south, an equal crop of fruit
may be gathered from each side. It is well to
plant in an open, sunny situation, in order that the
fruit which develops somewhat late may be
thoroughly matured, and in gathering for dessert
especial care is needed to see that the fruit comes
off at the slightest touch, for the berries colour
early, and disappointment has sometimes been
caused by a gathering of fruit, black, indeed, but
FRUITS FOR NAME.
We often receive specimens of Apples and other
fruit from different parts of the country, that we
may furnish the names. We aregladto accommodate
our correspondents in this way when practicable,
but many appear not to be aware of the difficulty
that attends the attempt. Take the Apple, for
example. There are over 3000 varieties named,
described, and published, and as many more known
by local names in different neighbourhoods which
have not been published. To recognise them all
would require more knowledge and skill than that
possessed by the shepherd who knew individually
every one of his 3000 sheep, for the fruits vary in
quality and appearance with soil, climate, season,
culture, treatment, &c., so that a single variety may
be so changed as not to be recognised under these
various influences, except the common and familiar
sorts. Some persons, claiming a knowledge of fruits,
often pronounce readily and promptly on the names
of varieties on seeing single detached specimens ;
but careful pomologists, in order to make a reliable
decision, will require to see the tree, its manner of
growth and peculiarities of appearance, and also to
examine the fruit in different seasons and as grown
under different influences, before making a confident
decision.
Hasty judgment has led to many errors in the
names of fruits, and the want of carefully fruiting the
varieties propagated by nurserymen has greatly
increased the difficulty. The editor of one of our
contemporaries published an article a few weeks
since, asserting that it was impossible for nursery-
men to avoid numerous errors in propagation, or in
fulfilling the orders of purchasers. There is no
doubt that this is true so far as it applies to some
nurserymen who depend largely or wholly on hired
labourers and agents, but our own experience in
procuring trees from nurseries proves that, however
frequent mistakes were many years ago, they are
now of rare occurrence in some establishments of
reputed accuracy. We have seen the proprietors
of one of our largest nurseries cutting under their
own eyes all the scions for propagation, with assist-
ants at hand for labelling and packing; and another
smaller nursery was conducted for many years on
the principle that the proprietor never propagated
or disseminated fruits which he had not proved in
bearing. A distinguished fruit cultivator procured
at this same nursery 1000 trees for a general home
collection, and in subsequent years, after a careful
examination of all as they came successively into
bearing, he pronounced every one true to name.
A fruitful source of blunders and confused
nomenclature is the hurried manner in which many
carry on their business, and so largely extend their
operations in making haste to become rich, that
rigid accuracy is to them a matter of inferior im-
portance. Failures financially often result from this
confusion and haste, and inaccuracy always. —
Country Genthman.
Wire netting for fruit quarters. — I use wire
nettingrather extensively for quarters of Strawberries
with the best results. 'The wire (6 feet wide) is laid
on a rough framework of laths on posts 5 feet high
Nov. 12, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
441
but after the fruit is gathered I roll up the ends,
leaving the top intact, thus allowing free liberty for
the birds to feast upon innumerable slugs, &c., un-
til the time for protecting the fruit comes round
again. This rolling up the ends and reflxing them
is bat the work of a few minutes annually. I may
add my opinion that strained wire would he far pre-
ferable to the laths, as the latter are liable to get
broken by high winds and heavy snowstorms. At
any rate I mean trying strained wire on the next
quarter to be thus protected. I also think wire net-
ting is by far the most economical in the end. —
J. KoBBBTS, I'a.n-y-hn-lch, X. Wales.
CANKER.
The views of "A. D." in The Garden, Oct. 22
(p. 3St7), well illustrate the confusion of ideas as to
the cause and treatment of canker; he holds that it
results chiefly from the roots getting down into sour
subsoils, and yet, when he endeavours to remedy
the mischief, he leaves the erring roots undis-
turbed, and cuts his trees hard down to compel them
to make new heads, and states his belief that prun-
ing back gives a stimulus to the roots and induces
in them greater activity. I am quite at a loss
to understand how pruning back induces greater
activity in the roots, but I admit that it is pro-
bable the new growth upon a tree so cut down
would for a time be free from canker, as that is in
accordance with my hypothesis of its cause. I
suggested, among other causes of canker, that the
framework of a tree may become too large to be
supported by the soil within reach of its roots, and
this is quite consistent with the same soil being
sufficient to maintain in healthy growth a smaller
head. " A. D." imagines canker to be less a question
of manure, artificial or otherwise, than of inducing
trees to make roots near the surface and in the
sweet cultivated soil. If be does not know the
effect of a properly compounded chemical manure
as a surface dressing, let him try it on a pot
of Tomato, or other free-rooting plant, and his
doubts will be dissipated by the appearance in a
few days of a thick network of roots on the surface.
Every good gardener encourages surface roots, but
is there any method more effectual for attaining that
object than supplying to the surface soil the food
required by the plant ? " A. D." holds that the main
cause of canker is the penetration of the roots into
the sour subsoil. How is this to be prevented ? The
amateur may transplant and root-prune, but the
grower cannot do so with his orchard trees ; besides,
large trees require anchoring roots, which must
penetrate the subsoil. 'Why is the subsoil " sour "?
Sweet and sour are terms used very indefinitely, and
certainly when applied to soil do not bear their
ordinary signification. Perhaps what is meant by
those expressions is pervious and non-pervious by
air and water — very necessary qualifications as to
the capacity of soils' for plant growth. Even when
the elements of plant food are present in soil not
pervious to air and water, they are frequently not
available by the plant, as the circulation of air and
water is necessary to enable the roots to take up
the food supply. " This circulation is more perfect
in cultivated surface soil; consequently a plant
with roots well developed in the surface soil
flourishes, while another, the roots of which by sur-
face digging or otherwise are driven into the subsoil,
does not perfect its growth. Complaints are often
made that f rtdt trees carefully trained on excellent
■walls do not produce satisfactory crops, while the
well-dug sunny borders, in which the trees are
planted, furnish excellent crops of the choicest
vegetables; if the latter were sacrificed, and the
wail trees allowed a little space, in which their sur-
face roots might luxuriate, the crops of fruit would
well repay the loss of the vegetables. It may be
inferred from the above that my hypothesis of the
cause of canker is not inconsistent with the en-
couragement of surface roots.
" A. D." suggests that the action of frost on un-
ripened wood is another cause of the disease ; un-
questionably that action is most injurious; but
does the supply of sufficient and appropriate food
to the plant aggravate this condition ? Does it not
rather tend to the earlier development and ripening
of the wood in even unfavourable seasons ? Again,
is the wood attacked by canker generally of last
season's growth ] and is the extension of canker
limited to unfavourable seasons ] It might be found
that " decoctions " have some beneficial effect even
in such seasons, when it is more necessary than ever
to encourage maturation of growth to enable the
plant to withstand the injurious efEects of the season.
But why "decoctions?" I fear "A. D." uses the
harmless term in disparagement of the formula re-
commended by me. He would speak of it with more
respect if he had any experience of its efEects; for
even if the compound, which is not a " decoction,"
did not cure the canker in my trees, the growth it
produced would gladden the heart of any lover of
plants. Ediitjsd Tokks.
Apple name -wanted.— I have sent you four
Apples to see if you can describe the variety, as I be-
Ueve them to be seedlings. I had a few last year
lih inches round. They are not nearly so large this
season, owing to the drought. They have never had a
tinge of red on them before. I think it has been
caused by the very hot sun.— Joseph Hodgkinson,
Cuddinqton, l\orthv;ich, Cheshire.
*,* Tour Apple is AJfriston, one of the largest and
best culinary Apples, coming into use at the beguming
of November and continuing until April. The tree is
of very vigorous growth, and bears abundantly. — En.
Flavour in Apples.— Do any of the Apples which
I have this day sent you come up to your idea of first
class in flavour? 1, Trumpington ; 2, Pine Golden
Pippin; 3, Archduchess Sophie ; 4, King Apple. This
last was received fifteen years ago from the late Mr.
Scott, of Merriott, under this name. In appearance it
is somewhat like Whorle Pippin, but in 1SS5, when I
had both, it kept much longer than the latter. This
year my Whorle Pippins are a failure, otherwise 1
would have sent a specimen for comparison. — H. H.
%* None of the Apples you send are what we call
first-class m flavour. Trumpington is past its best, and
has been, no doubt, very good. — Ed.
FRUITS UNDER GLASS.
Cucumbers.
Feom this time forward direct syringing must be
entirely discontinued and the supply of atmospheric
moisture secured from other sources, than which
there is nothing to surpass a substantial bed of fer-
menting Oak leaves. The roots of winter plants
requiring so little soil, it is by no means diflicult to
find space for a good body of these, and, provided
they are regularly turned and renovated from the
store-heap, I question if the food and moisture
which they continuously supply can be equalled
from any other source. As aids, the evaporating
pans mav, of course, be kept full of pure water,
diluted liquid, or guano water, and the floors may be
damped two or three times a day, but the constantly
decaying vegetable matter must be considered the
mainstay through the dark winter months. Clean-
liness is another important matter, for when it is
borne in mind that ventilation in indifferently
heated structures is as uncertain as it is difficult,
one cannot overlook the fact that vigorous health
cannot be sustained where offensive filth is allowed
to remain, or even to accumulate. To secure this end,
it is a good plan to run the limewash brush over
the walls at short intervals, to keep the glass and
floors scrupulously clean by washing down, and the
surface of the soil sweet by light top-dressings of
pure loam, charcoal and old lime rubble. The
latter, indeed, is a host in itself, not only as an
absorbent, but also as a feeder, and for this
reason it should be very freely used at all times,
in winter especially. Watering, it must be recol-
lected, is quite as necessary in winter as it is in
summer, and although less frequent it must be
equally thorough ; indeed, I have no hesitation in
saying driblets or surface watering, which never
reach the drainage roots, are the main cause of half
the failures amongst winter Cucumbers. Drainage,
as I have so often stated, is imperative, and where
this at the proper time was well provided, warm
diluted liquid when necessary may and must now
be given with a liberal hand. If anyone doubts
this let him plunge a pot plant immediately over a
bottom-heat pipe and give just sufficient water to
reach, but not to pass through, the drainage, and he
will soon find how quickly red spider, thrips, and
mildew lend their ready help by attacking the
foliage. One of these pests in winter is enough,
but when a starving patient is attacked by two or
three, these alone, "without the aid of antidotes,
speedily put an end to winter culture. All stopping
of the shoots having been discontinued, the advan-
tages attending their planting and extension train-
ing will now be apparent, for not only will the
continuous development of fresh leaxes keep the
plants vigorous and healthy, but tying out will be
found as simple as it is expeditious. If fruit is not
yet wanted, all shows and male blossoms may be
pinched off, otherwise a few of the best fruits
nearest home may be allowed to swell. In this
case it will be necessary to stop the shoot at the
joint beyond the fruit, and shorten it still more
after it is cut for use. Winter Cucumbers should
always be cut before they attain full size, and, pro-
vided they are not wanted for immediate use, they
may be kept for a long time with their stalks
placed in saucers of pure water.
T/ie temperature, as days now rapidly decrease not
only in length, but in brightness, in like manner
may be allowed to decline to the minimum pre-
viously fixed upon. I stated some time ago that it
is a mistake to start at a high figure which cannot
be maintained, as plants so treated often lose their
best foliage if they do not perish in December.
Better start at a speed that can be maintained or
exceeded without putting too much pressure on the
heating apparatus in severe weather, and the plants
will well repav this care when their fruit becomes
valuable after the turn of the year. Many good
growers are obliged to allow the temperature to fall
as low as 60° at night, but had they their choice
they would most likely take US" as the minimum in
sharp weather, 68*^ when mild, and run up 10" to
15'^ if only for a short time once during the hours
of daylight.
Insects. — Having directed attention to cleanliness
in the structure, I must not omit this important
matter of freedom from insects which prey upon
the occupants. AVhen the Cucumber house is sup-
posed to do duty for all sorts of heat-loving plants,
every known pest finds a home and multiplies, but
where it is confined to its legitimate use. spider, fly,
and thrips are the insects usually met with. The
first does not make much headway under good
culture with fermentmg leaves, and the last two can
always be kept down by fumigation. It is not,
however, a good plan to smoke heavily in winter —
indeed, at any time; therefore, prevention being
better than cure, I alwavs make a point of render-
ing the foliage distasteful by running through with
Bloxham's fumigator once a week, when a few puffs
answer the purpose, and the consumption of tobacco
paper is trifling.
Vines.
All houses in which the relics of summer Grapes
are still hanging should now be cleared, if only on
the score of economy in firing. This, however, is-
not the only advantage. The removal of the Grapes
favours the restoration of internal borders to a
thoroughly moist state by the application of moderate
supplie°s of water at short intervals. It favours com-
plete rest, as the lights and ventilators can be thrown
wide open to let in rain and air, when otherwisethe
clingino- foliage would keep up languid circulation ;
and last, but not least, the Grapes will keep best
with least trouble and loss when suspended in the
store room.
The earhi lioicse being now ready for forcing, it
must be kept cool and airy until the time ariivts
for closing, and on no account should plants subject
to troublesome insects be admitted. If pot Vines
are to give the earliest crop of new Grapes they
should now be on the move, other-wise the only
excuse for devoting two houses to one crop will 1 e
a very poor one. Infixed, as some time ago advised,
on solid pedestals, the fermenting leaves should be
cast looselv into the pit until the lower parts of the
pots are partially buried, and, provided the points
of the rods are kept on a level with the roots, the
moisture from the leaves aided by slight syringing
442
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 12, 1887.
with warm water will secure an even break without
the aid of much fire-heal This stage reached, the
canes must be tied up to the wires and disbudded
when the best shows become prominent; meantime
it may be necessary to renovate the bed by the ad-
dition of more leaves and a complete turn over. It
will not, however, be wise to raise the leaves much
above the bottoms of the pots, as the warmth drawn
in by the crocks will cause suiEoient excitement,
whilst exposure to the atmosphere of the house or
pit favours giving water. This latter element, by
the way, must be very carefully used at first, other-
wise the best laid plans will prove a failure. When
i 1 leaf and fruit the well-drained Vine wiU take any
quantity of tepid water ; when starting into growth,
just enough to keep the soil in a moist state is aU
that is wanted. As the young leaves become de-
veloped and circulation increases the best of food
iQ a liquid and solid state must be regularly sup-
plied, and the better to provide the latter, good
loam, bone dust, and one-third their bulk of well
r jtted manure should be thoroughly mixed up in a
dry state and kept in that condition for use as
wanted. All top-dressings in a fresh state, as a
matter of course, may be given to Vines as well as
other fruit trees, but the best results always
follow their use after they have lain for a few weeks
in a state of gentle fermentation and the loam has
become well charged with ammonia.
Fot Mnes intended for planting in the spring
should now be selected and placed where they will
be cool and thoroughly at rest until the time arrives
for starting. If they are to be cut down to the lowest
available bud, they should be kept slightly on the dry
side for a time, otherwise they will be apt to bleed
when the roots are excited. The Vine in itself
being so thoroughly hardy wintering it under glass
is a mistaken kindness. The best place for those for
planting and fruiting until they are wanted is against
a well-coped, lofty wall facing the south or west, and
thus, provided the canes are weU secured from wind
aid the balls from frost, by good packing they will
pass through the sharpest winters with impunity.
Late vineries. — November being considered, and
quite justly so, the worst month in the year for
keeping Grapes on the Vines, an efiort should be
made to keep the fioors and atmosphere dry, and
slightly on the warm, but airy side, by allowing a
gentle circulation in the pipes until all the leaves
have been cleared away. It is not wise to pull the
leaves off the Vines before they have performed
their office, neither should they be allowed to lie
about after they have fallen, as no sooner are they
down than they gather moisture, and more or less
charge the atmosphere with impurities. When the
Vines are thoroughly at rest, and the borders have
been well covered with dry Fern to keep down
moisture as well as dust, a temperature ranging
from 55° to 58° will not only suit, but improve
Grapes up to the time of cutting for bottling.
Many houses, I know, often fall lower through the
night, and some persons on the score of economy in
fuel do not try to prevent it, but sudden depressions
chill the berries and they in due course attract and
condense moisture ; mould soon follows, and many
of the clusters, especially the large ones — although
the Grapes are too far advanced to shrivel — show
all the characteristics of shanking by turning per-
fectly black and sapless in the stalks. Cold, wet
external borders, no doubt, aggravate — indeed, often
produce — this disease or disorder, and although the
specific remedy is lifting and re-laying the roots in
new compost, much mischief may often be pre-
vented by placing glass lights or shelters over the
roots. Kain, so long as the leaves are on the Vines,
seldom does any harm, often much good, but so soon
as they are off and external borders are thoroughly
moistened through, there should be complete con-
trol over the elements, as many people think an
excess of water dilutes and weakens the saccharine
matter contained in the ripe berries. Whether this
be so or not, I am unprepared to say, but I know
Grapes never keep well in a very dry border, and for
this reason, provided it is well drained and water
cannot become stagnant, there can be little danger of
going wrong by the maintenance of a growing con-
dition or striking the happy medium.
The Geape Room.
If not already in use, this should now be got in
readiness for the reception of any Grapes that it
may be necessary to remove from late autumn Vines,
and the bottles or other vessels intended for the
general cutting of Lady Downe's and Gros Colman
tested, if not filled ready for use. It will not, of
course, be wise to think of cutting the main crop of
Grapes before Christmas ; meantime the bunches
will require looking over frequently for faulty or
decaying berries, as one bad berry soon affects
many. Moreover, it is not one jot of use putting
away for keeping bunches that contain stoneless,
shrivelled, or shanked berries. All must be perfect
in every way, and, above all things, they must be
ripe. Small bunches keep better than large ones,
and the more they are thinned in reason, the less
they are likely to be affected by damp or mould.
In the preparation of the Grape room a few hand-
fuls of sulphur should be used with the lime for
washing down the walls. It should be well fired to
drive out and keep out damp, and ventilation se-
cured without creating a draught. When the Grapes
are cut, the less fire-heat they have the better they
will keep, but Gros Colman must be very closely
watched, as the large fleshy shoulder stalks some-
times damp off, especially when they are not
thoroughly ripe. This in some measure may be
prevented by hanging this variety in the driest and
airiest portion of the room, but the great secret in
keeping Grapes is an early start in the spring and
early ripening in the autumn. W. C.
attention from now onwards to carry them over the
coming winter. The best place for them is on a
shelf in the greenhouse or in some such a spot, as
there the young plants are not so liable to damp off
as in a cold frame.
CuBCULiaos.— These useful Palm-like plants are
increased by means of suckers which are in some
cases freely produced, but usually the variegated
kinds are not so prolific in this respect as the
green-leaved forms. In the case of a variegated
specimen, should any good marked suckers make
their appearance, they can generally be taken off
without disturbing the ball of earth, as they mostly
push up around the sides of the pot, and in conse-
quence are easily separated from the parent plant
then. As the suckers are mostly rooted before
taking off, all that is necessary is to pot them and
keep them close for a little while till they become
established. T.
Propagating.
EuCHAEis CANDIDA. — Apart from the usual way
of propagating the different species of Euoharis by
means of division, I raised a quantity of this kindfrom
seed, the blossoms having been artificially fertilised
when in the properstage. Theseedgerminatedfreely,
and the young plants being potted on when required,
many of them flowered the second season after the
seed was sown, and reproduced exactly the charac'
teristics of their parent. The seed was as soon as
ripe cleared from the seed-pods and sown in well-
drained pans of sandy loam ; when in a stove
temperature the seedlings soon made their appear-
ance above ground, and when the first leaf was well
developed they were potted off, using for the
purpose the same soil as they were sown in. The
young plants were grown on without resting till
they attained sufficient strength to flower.
The Bkttsh Bush (Eucryphia pinnatifolia). —
This beautiful hardy shrub is still very scarce,
no doubt owing to the fact that it is by no
means an easy subject to propagate, for cuttings
strike only with difficulty, and a good sized
specimen is needed before it can be layered to
any great extent. I have tried cuttings under dif-
ferent conditions, and formed of the shoots in diffe-
rent degrees of firmness, but I obtained the greatest
success by taking as cuttings the young growing
shoots just as they lost their succulent character
and became somewhat firm. They were then
put in after the manner of most soft-wooded
cuttings, in some sandy soil and placed in a propa-
gating case kept at a warm greenhouse temperature.
In about a couple of months a few cuttings were
rooted, being, indeed, the only ones that struck.
The young plants need careful treatment for a year
or two, as the damp weather during winter often
proves fatal to them. As a proof of the advantage
of keeping the stock plant rather warmer than
usual, so that the young growth is somewhat
weaker than it would be under normal conditions,
I may mention that the cuttings which rooted had
been so treated, while some put in at the same time
and in the same condition from a plant in the open
ground failed to root.
Another rare and handsome shrub, Carpentaria
californica, strikes root much more readily than
the Eucryphia, and that I have found is more
readily propagated from growing shoots during the
summer than at any other time. Both, however,
that have been rooted this year will need careful
Garden Flora.
PLATE 622,
BOKONIAS.
(with a plate of b. heterophylla.*)
These plants belorg to the Natural Order of
Rue-worts, and are all natives of Australia,
where they assume the proportions of moderate-
sized shrubs and commence to bloom in a very
young state. Large plants will continue to
maintain a grand display for two or three months
in succession.
Boronias, like many other hard-wooded green-
house plants, had to a great extent lost their
popularity until the introduction of several new
and handsome kinds gave an impetus to their
cultivation, and again restored them to public
favour. These plants are by no means difficult
to manage, as they root more freely than the
majority of hard- wooded plants, and with a little
care and attention may be quickly grown into
handsome specimens, and being of free growth,
must be allowed a fair amount of root-room.
The leading shoots should be cut back annually
to prevent the plants becoming lanky and bare
of leaves at the base, and also to encourage the
growth of side shoots, and thus produce a bushy
and well-furnished specimen. B. crenulata and
B. serrulata, however, are exceptions to this
rule, as they grow much more slowly, and,
therefore, the points of the shoots only of these
kinds should be pinched out to assist in the de-
velopment of lateral growth. This operation
should take place immediately after the flowers
have faded, and if the plants require repotting
that is the best time to do it. Boronias require
to be potted firmly, the soil used being rough
fibrous peat and sharp sand, to which may be
added a small portion of light loam . The pots
must be thoroughly drained, and then water,
which these plants delight in, may be freely
given ; but if it does not pass quicldy away the
soil becomes sour, and the plants rapidly decline
in health. My experience in growing large
quantities of these plants is adverse to putting
them in the open air, as when thus treated the
foliage becomes discoloured and the plants per-
manently disfigured, but when the growth is
nearly finished they should be well exposed to
the sun and air in order to mature the wood,
Boronias are easily propagated by cuttings of
the half-ripened wood inserted in sand under a
bell-glass. The glass or glasses will require
wiping every morning to prevent the cuttings
decaying, which they are very liable to. When
roots have been formed the glasses may be re-
* Drawn for The Garden in Messrs. Veitch's
nursery, Chelsea, by H. G. Moon, and printed by G.
Severeyns.
"C"
JRONIA HETEROPHYLLA.
Nov. 12, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
443
moved entirely, and shortly afterwards the
young plants may be potted oil" separately into
small pots.
B. HETBEOPHTLLA, the Subject of our present
illastration, is the most recent addition to our cul-
tivated Boronias. It appears to have been disco-
vered near the Swan River, Western Australia, by
James Drummond, nearly fifty years ago, but it was
not cultivated until ISSl, when living seeds of it
were sent to Kew Gardens by that intrepid and
celebrated traveller and artist, Miss North. These
seedlings, having been carefully tended, flowered in
the early spring of 1885, and this year the plant
has found its way into commerce through the
Messrs. Veitch and Son, of Chelsea. It is an erect
shrub, producing numerous twiggy leafy branches,
the leaves being subject to considerable variation,
but they are always slender and narrow. The
flowers, which are produced in the greatest profu-
sion during the spring months, are pendent, bright
carmine-scarlet in colour, deliciously fragrant, and
last many weeks in full beauty. The plant here
illustrated appears to be a form of the species
named brevipes.
B. BLATIOK is another remarkably handsome and
free-growing species, introduced by the Messrs.
Veitch, of Chelsea. It requires hard pruning after
flowering to keep it in good condition, and therefore
the plant is not injured by having sprays of bloom
it makes a handsome specimen for the greenhouse.
The flowers, rosy pink or red and very fragrant, are
freely produced.
B. PINNATA. — The leaves of this plant consist of
three or four pairs of leaflets, and the flowers are
pink and very fragrant.
B. TETRANDRA, Sometimes called microphylla, is
a compact plant, bearing a profusion of pale pink,
sweet-scented flowers.
B. SERRTJLATA. — This plant has small, smooth,
trapeziform leaves, which are set on edge and are of
a bright pale green and full of glandular dots ; the
flowers are soft clear rose colour and delicately
fragrant. Other species of Boronia which are seldom
seen in collections are alata, poljgalsefolia,pilonema,
viminea, and crenulata. W. H. G.
Stove and Greenhouse.
T. BAIKES.
AFRICAN HEMP.
(SPARMANNIA APRICANA.)
This fine plant has during recent years become
much more popular with plant growers than it
used to be, for though something like a century
has elapsed since it was first introduced it was
Boronia megastigma.
cut from it. The flowers, similar in shape to those
of the preceding, and forming dense racemes of
rosy purple blooms, are produced abundantly at
the axils of the leaves towards the upper part of the
branches.
B. MEGASTIGMA (see illustration). — Seeds of this
plant were first sent from South-west Australia by
Baron Von MiiUer to the Messrs. RoUisson, of Toot-
ing, by whom it was distributed, and shortly after-
wards it was also sent to the Royal Gardens at Kew.
I do not know if these seeds were both derived
from the same source, or if they were gathered in
different localities, but it is quite certain that there
are two forms of the plant in cultivation. Neither
are conspicuous for their beauty of colour, but the
delicious aromatic fragrance, resembling the odour
of Violets, yielded by their flowers has made the
plant a general favourite. It is a slender Heath-
like plant, and bears a profusion of pendent, bell-
shaped fiowers towards the ends of the shoots.
These in the best variety are blackish purple on the
outside and yellow within; in the other variety
the colour is of a rusty brownish purple ; both, how-
ever, yield the same grateful perfume. It is a plant
that bears cutting well, and therefore small sprays
may be utilised for glasses for the table, one or two
flowers being sufiicient to fill an apartment with
the pleasant odour, especially if the sun shines upon
them.
B. Dkummondi is a compact plant, not so well
adapted for cutting as those previously named, but
seldom met with until recently, and its condi-
tion where an attempt was made to cultivate it
was unsatisfactory. The fact of this Spar-
mannia attaining the size of a small tree in its
native country not unlikely led to the supposi-
tion that it was of little use as a pot subject,
and so deterred many from undertaking its
cultivation. But experience proves that there
is no occasion for misgivings on this head, as,
like many other flowering plants that naturally
attain a large size, it can be kept for many years
to a moderate size, so as to admit of its being
grown in even a small greenhouse. At the
same time it is only right to say that in a roomy
conservatory where a considerable number of
large specimens are required to give effect and
form a kind of background to the various small-
growing subjects, the plant is seen in its best
form, yet, nevertheless, it naturally flowers so
freely that small examples, the result of a single
year's growth from cuttings, will bloom nicely.
The white flowers are produced in large clusters,
and they last for a considerable time if the
plants whilst they are blooming are kept cool
and in a moderately dry atmosphere.
The plant usually blooms in spring, often
remaining in good condition until the end of
May ; still no exact time can be assigned for
its flowering, as I have met with it blooming
well in October. The treatment given, especi-
ally as regards the amount of heat the plant is
subjected to, is most likely the cause of such a
wide difference in the time of flowering.
Where it blooms in the autumn it is not
unlikely that it has been placed during the
previous winter in a temperature that was
warm enough to keep the growth moving freely
with a continuance of more or less heat
through the spring. There are a fair num-
ber of plants that if treated in the way described
will flower at the opposite end of the year to
that in which they bloom naturally.
The Sparmannia is easy to propagate and
grows freely. Cuttings may be struck at any
time when they are to be had in right condition,
that is, when the wood is about three parts
matured. If shoots in this state when some
6 inches long can be had in spring they should
be put singly into 3-inch pots, drained, and
half filled with a mixture of loam and sand, the
remainder all sand. When the cuttings can
have a temperature of 70^" and be kept in a
frame or under propagating glasses mode-
rately close, moist, and shaded, they will root
in a few weeks, after which they may be gradu-
ally exposed to the air of the house. Still keep
them in a temperature similar to that in which
they were struck, giving more light. As soon
as a litt'.e top growth has been made pinch out
the pouits. It is neces«ary to do this in good
time, as this Sparmannia if left to itself will
grow up without branching out until it has at-
tained a considerable height, in which case the
plants will have an unsightly appearance. Give
the plants plenty of light, shade moderately
when the sun is powerful, and syringe over-
head in the afternoons. Move the little plants
into 6-Lnch pots when they have got well esta-
blished. This Sparmannia is not particular as
to soil. It will thrive in either peat or loam,
but, taking all into account, loam of good quality
will usually give the best results. A moderate
amount of sand and some rotten manure should
be mixed with the soil. Pot moderately firm
and continue the treatment hitherto given until
the roots begin to move in the new soil, after
which reduce the temperature to that of an
ordinary greenhouse, stUl shading when the sun
is bright, and continue to syringe in the after-
noons. The shoots should now again be stopped.
The plant is a free rooter, and anotlier shift
wiU be required during the summer." This
must be given before the roots get too much
matted together ; 12-inch pots wiU not be too
large if the plants have made the progress that
may be expected. Now use the soil in a more
lumpy state, selecting that with plenty of vege-
table matter in it, and add a little more manure,
as the plant requires rich material to grow it
strongly, and the quantity of flowers forthcoming
wUl be proportionate to the size attained.
Keep the plants a little close until the roots
again begin to move, after which treat as before.
Free-growing subjects like this require
plenty of water when in active growth, especi-
ally when the pots are full of roots. Care must
be taken that the soil does not at any time
get so dry as to cause the leaves to flag, or the
lower ones will be likely afterwards to turn
yellow, and drop off before flowering time, leav-
ing the bottoms of the plants bare. Continue to
treat as already recommended until autumn,
when give more air, and cease syringing and
shading. Winter in a temperature of about 40°
by night ; it is better not to allow the heat to
go down lower than this. Less water will be
required through the dormant season. In the
spring, as soon as the plants begin to move, give
manure water at short intervals, keeping on
444
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 12, 1887.
until they come into flower. Even in this size
they will be effective in a greenhouse or con-
servatory. The distinct character of the flowers
differing in appearance, as they do, from those
of other plants, always makes them noticeable.
When the blooming is over, head the shoots
down to within 0 inches or 8 inches of the collar,
and directly they Iiave again made growth a few
inclaes long turn them out and remove a portion
of the old .soil, giving pots from 2 ia. to 4 in.
larger, according to the strength of the .speci-
mens and the size they are wanted to attain.
Encourage the roots to move in the new mate-
rial by keeping the house closer with a little
shade and a moist atmosphere. As soon as the
shoots have made some progress, pinch out the
points of any that may be taking an undue lead
of the others. After this, all that is needed is
a repetition of the treatment advised for last
summer, giving manure water at times during
the season of active growth when the soil has
got well filled with roots. Winter as before, and
when the plants have again bloomed and made a
little growth after being cut in, more of the old
soil should be removed to admit of their being
again placed in the same pots with the requisite
amount of new material. By a continuance of
this treatment the plants will last for a good
many years with pots no larger than those they
have already occupied. To keep them going
with the requisite strength and vigour, manure
water should be used in larger quantities than
has hitherto been advised.
Piper ornatum. — Among the less vigorous stove
climbers this should find a place, for regarded from
a foliage point of view it is extremely pretty. The
leaves are heart-shaped, of a pleasing- shade of dark
shining green, and spotted and freckled with pale
silvery pink. Like the more slender of the climbing
Aroids which it much resembles, this I'iper has the
foliage better marked when in a shaded part of the
stove than when fully exposed to the light, and on
this account it is especially valuable for associating
with a few things of like character in clothing walls
and similar spots. It is of the easiest culture, for
cuttings strike without any difficulty, and the plant
will grow freely in any light soil, the principal re-
quisite for its well-doing being a fairly moist
atmosphere. — H. P.
Heliotrope blossoms in winter.— The best
way to obtain an abundance of these is to plant the
Heliotrope on a wall, or part of a wall, at the back of
a light greenhouse, vinery, or early Peach house. If
strong plants are set out i feet or 5 feet apart in the
border, and trained up the wall, they will soon cover
it. Heliotropes may be planted without fear in
any fruit-forcing premises, as they are not very
liable to insect attacks. The old Peruvian variety
is a rapid grower, and is the best for covering a
wall quickly, but that variety need not be planted
exclusively; White Lady, President Garfield, Swan-
ley Giant, Sensation, Duchess of Edinburgh, and
Lady Molesworth are excellent for culture under
glass. A wall covered with the above half dozen
would be a pleasant feature in winter. Prane the
plants back early in August, and the new growth
will be covered with fragrant blossoms from Novem-
b3r onwards. — H.
OriSBnia hyacinthina. — Where a few speci-
mens of this beautiful S. American Amaryllid are
grown they will be seldom without flowers during
the autumn months, if in good health. Very few
things better repay any care and attent ion bcstowod
upon them, for wliilo they are somotimes met with
in such a condition that they barely exist, at others
the handsome, dark green foliage indicates perfect
health, and the scapes of bcxutiful bluish violet
flowers rise well above the foliage. The white stripe
which is present down the centre of each ]ietal
stands out conspicuously from the ground colour of
the flower. In cultivating this GriHinia it must be
borne in mind that it is evergreen in character, and,
consequently, does not reqiiire to be dried off after
flowering as many bulbs do ; indeed, when the
blooming season is over the plants make their
growth, and, therefore, on the treatment accorded
them at this season will, to a great extent, depend
the future display of bloom. The soil best suited
for the Griffiuias is a good yellow loam with su2i-
cient silver sand to keep it sweet and open. The
temperature of an intermediate liouse suits them
perfectly, and during the winter they should have
as much light as possible, in order to encourage a
sturdy habit. No doubt, owing to the fact that
many of the plants of Griflinia hyacinthina in cul-
tivation are raised from seeds, a certain amount of
variation exists in the flowers, some being a good
deal superior to others, so that in purchasing any,
care should be taken to have as good a variety as
possible. That known as G. hyacinthina maxima
is about the best. — T.
TOO FEW FLOWERS.
The spirited article which, under the above head-
ing, appeared in The Gaeden, October 22 (p. 357),
is a step in the right direction, and should, if studied
in a practical way, be the means of restoring to our
gardens many of our most beautiful hardy flowers
which have been so long neglected and, in many
instances, quite forsaken. The remarks I have to
make are the outcome of careful thought, though
in a different direction, yet with the same object
in view, that is, to increase the supply of flowers.
Why should not gardeners practise a more frequent
system of planting out in the houses under their
charge? It would answer better than depending
upon flowers for cutting from pot plants only.
Growers for market are a long way ahead of gar-
deners in this respect, and would find it most diffi-
cult to meet their demands if the pot system only
were depended on. I have nothing to say against pot
plants, because they are a necessity in any place, also
they are very beautiful when well grown and satisfac-
torily flowered; but the quantity of flowers would be
doubled, or even trebled, if the most suitable plants —
and there are many such — were given more root
space as well as room for the branches to extend.
What I want to see is plants grown not for one
supply of flowers only, but so as to be able to cut
and come again. I am aware that all plants are not
amenable to, and will not thrive for any length of
time on, the planting-out system, but there are
many that positively do better than when cramped
in pots. Take a few greenhouse plants, such as
Heliotropes, se\'eral sorts of Fuchsias, scarlet,
white, and pink Pelargoniums, Abutilons, Plum-
bago capensis, and some others, which become
almost perpetual bloomers when planted out.
Coming now to a more choice assortment, a most
suitable plant is the Rhynchospermum jasminoides,
Lapageria rosea and alba, Habrothamnus elegans,
Tropa3olums of the climbing section, Bignonia
jasminoides, Kennedyas, Tacsonias, Mandevilla sua-
veolens. Tea Roses, and others equally beautiful
and free-flowering upon walls or under the roof
of any suitable structure. Among stove plants
mention must be made of Clerodendron Thompsoni
and G. Balfouii, Ipom.-ca Horsfalli, Bougainvilleas,
Stephanotis floribunda, Thunbergia Harris!, and
some of the Passion Flowers. All or any of the
above may be relied on to flower well if due at-
tention be paid to them in their season of growth
and rest ; but whichever are chosen for the above
object, positions where plenty of light and sun can
reach them, and where there is sufficient space for
the development of their branches, must lie assigned
to them. The space for the roots need not be large
or deep, but if a bed of suitable soil be well drained
and made firm when planting takes place, and the
plants are well supplied with water when growing,
and occasional top-dressings of fresh soil given,
success will follow. The plants will require occa-
sional thinning of the shoots! in order to encourage
an evenly balanced growth, and must be kept very
clean. To more plainly illustrate my meaning anil
the advantages of the planting-out system, I will
name two plants. Habrothamnus elegans and Abu-
tilon Boule de Neige when kept in pots are shy
bloomers, but when planted out they grow and flower
abundantly. A plant of the last-named in the con-
servatory here is covering a wall space of 25 feet in
height and 15 feet or even more broad, and has been
in full bloom for sis montlis, and at the present time
is in good condition. THOMAS RECORD.
Folkinrjton Manor.
POLYANTHUS NARCISSUS.
There are some persons who object to these fine
fragrant flowers, on the ground that their perfume
is too strong ; while others appreciate them for
their rich scent. In addition to the property of
being very sweet-scented, they are easily grown,
and as two or three bulbs of any one variety
can be put into a comparatively small pot, a dozen
or two pots do not take up a great space. And
this is the season of the year in which to pot
the bulbs for spring blooming. One grower in my
neighbourhood, who grows bulbs largely for market,
imports quantities of Polyanthus Narcissus, and
when they are received in the month of August
they are potted, two or three bulbs in a pot. accord-
ing to their size ; for some have small bulbs, like
Soleil d'Or, or White Pearl ; and some large ones,
like Grand Prime. The pots are then stood in the
open, and covered with a layer of some (i inches of
spent Hops and short manvu-e, and there they remain,
exposed to all weathers, until they are sufficiently
advanced to be taken indoors, and forced into
bloom. A great many trusses of bloom are sent to
market in a cut state, and find a ready sale. This
method, carried out on a large scale, shows how the
Polyanthus Narcissus can be treated by private
growers. The grower to whom I have referred pre-
fers a covering of manure and Hops, because the
plants are not only kept snug and free from harm
under such a covering, but the rains carry down to
the soil in the pots fertilising influences gathered
up in course of percolating through the manure,
and he finds this a great advantage. Cocoa fibre
or finely sifted cinder ashes also make a good
covering, but they are mechanical rather than active
agents in furthering growth.
Polyanthus Narcissus will do in any good Hya-
cinth soil. The bulbs root freely, and in order to have
good trusses of flowers a rich compost is necessary.
Those who grow for exhibition purposes feed some-
what, and are rewarded with fine heads of bloom.
Some of the finest examples of exhibition Poly-
anthus Narcissus I ever saw were grown three and
four bulbs in a pot according to their size ; but pre-
vious to potting the drainage holes at the bottom of
the pots were considerably enlarged, and a layer of
Moss was used in the place of drainage. When it
was seen that the pots were full of roots, a layer
of manure that had lain together for some time
was placed on the bottom of a frame heated with
flow-and-return hot-water pipes, and the pots stood
upon this bed. The roots came through to the ma-
nure and seemed to riot in it, and the result was
heads of remarkably fine proportions. When the
show day came round, a table-knife was passed
through just underneath the pots, severing the
roots, and the specimens were taken to the exhibi-
tion place none the worse for any disturbance of the
supplementary roots, and they were the admiration
of all who saw them.
Of known varieties of the Polyanthus Narcissus,
one of the very finest is Bazelman major, white,
with a pale lemon cup. For some reason this fine
form has become very scarce of late years, and it
commands a high price. A smaller variety known
as Bazelman minor is a good and free variety for
pot culture. Gloriosa is also a very fine white
kind, producing large trusses of bloom, and mak-
ing one of the best exhibition varieties. Grand
Monarque and Grand Prime are two fine old va-
rieties, differing but little from each other. Groot-
voorst is a good variety, and Muzart Orientalis is a
very showy variety, having n rich, deep-coloured
centre like the Pheasant-eyed Narcissus. Jaune
Snpn'nie is a good yellow ; Lord Canning, a good
sulphur; Queen of the Netherlands, white and
yellow, is very pleasing indeed ; Staaten-Gencrale,
Golden Eagle, Sir Isaac Newton, and White Pearl
are good standard sorts. New \arieties are also
freely produced. Of white varieties— that is to say,
the perianth is white and the cup variously coloured
Nov. 12, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
445
—there are Alexandra, Belle Aurore, Gloria Mundi,
La Majesteuse, Qneen A^ctoria, and Transparente.
Of yellow varieties— Belle Princesse, Grand Duo,
King of the Netherlands, Queen of the Yellows,
Regina, and Superbissima. Of salphur varieties —
Argus, Felicitas, Ganymede, La Noblesse, Meri-
ditates, and Perfeota.
For pot culture I am strongly in favour of newly-
imported roots. I have saved roots with great care,
and flowered them the second year, but with in-
different results. Now I adopt the practice of
planting the bulbs out under an east or west wall
as soon as they have gone out of bloom, turning
them out of the pots with great care and placing
some finely sifted soil about the roots, and then
pressing the earth firmly about them. I find they
flower nicely when treated in this way, but in course
of time the bulbs perish. Perhaps this is traceable
to some peculiarity in the soU in which they are
planted. R. D-
Abutilon vexillarium. — " H. P.'s " note in
The Gaeden, Oct. 29 (p. 389), reminds me that three
years ago I observed a pod of seed ou one of the
large-flowering kinds growing by the side of A.
vexillarium. I sowed the seed the following spring,
and nearly all the seedlings partook of the character
of the pollen-bearing parent, namely, exceedingly
slender, wire-like stems, and small foliage and flowers,
which, however, were of different colours. I send
three which happen to be in bloom now — a pink, a
rose, and a yellowish one; others were deep red,
and one orange with a very dark centre — pretty
varieties, suited for the same purpose as A. vexil-
larium, and suggestive to the hybridiser. — J. M.
Wintering Carnations and Picotees. — The
only safe plan, in order to successfully winter these
plants, is to put the layers singly into 4-inoh pots,
and keep them in a cold pit or frame until it is
time to plant them out. For all the strongest plants
I like a rather large pot, because it gives them space
to increase. Here in the west of England we have
to provide as much against damp as frost, and, as a
rule, I may safely say that in three years out of five
the frost is not severe enough to do them serious
injury if they are placed in a sheltered situation
out of doors. It is the dampness of the soil that
works mischief. When the plants are protected by
glass lights, I find it necessary to water sparingly
and to keep dead leaves removed. Stir up the
surface soil in the pot, and give the plants plenty of
air when it is not actually freezing. I may men-
tion that it is a rare occurrence for old plants to
stand through the winter after they have once
flowered, as they generally damp off at the collar
before winter is over. — J. C. C.
SHORT NOTES.— STOVE AND GREENHOUSE.
Plants for shaded wall. — Will any reader of
The Garden kindly give the names of some creepers
and climbing plants (preferably those having effective
foliage or flowers, or both) suitable for covering a wall
much shaded by Palms, Tree Ferns, &c., in a large and
warm conservatory ? The plants must also bear frequent
stopping to prevent their running up into the light. —
B. D. K.
Good Pelargoniums. — Will any reader of The
Garden Idndly give me a list of the best Pelar-
goniums for flowering indoors, also the names of a few
good bedding varieties ? — P. L.
*** The following will be found good selec-
tions: Twelve large -flowered Pelanjoniunis. — Gold
Mine, bright orange ; Improved Triomphe de St.
Mande, intense reddish maroon ; Mr. John Hayes,
soft rosy pink-tinted salmon ; Decorator, red, dark
blotch on each petal ; Duchess of Edinburgh, fine
white ; Duchess of Bedford, fringed white ; Kingston
Beauty, white and purple ; Digby Grand, blush white ;
Fortitude, shaded orange ; Prince Leopold, bright
orange-scarlet ; Dictator, dark maroon and rosy purple ;
and Man at Ai'ms, dark shaded crimson. Good
hedding Telar (ioniums. — Vesuvius and its white
variety, Henri Jacoby, West Brighton Gem, Rebecca,
Lord Gilford, Have'lock, John Gibbons, Cannell's
Dwarf, Triomphe de Stella, and Indian Yellow.
Name wanted. — I sliiU feel much obliged if
you will name the enclosed plant for me in the first
convenient issue of The Garden. It has been grown
in a stove from a few seeds which were brought from
South Africa, but no name has been given. The plant
is two years old, and has flowered each year, but the
flowers fade the same day that they open. I wonder
whether they would stand in a cooler house. It has
been in bloom for two or three mouths and now seems
to be going to seed. — E. F., Sowerhy.
*** Your flower is that of Clitoria ternatea. It is
a common plant in most tropical countries, and was
originally introduced from the island of Ternate. The
root is reputed to he as powerful a purgative as jalap.
As you say, it is a lovely flower, but the individual
blooms do not last long. You appear to be cultivating
it well.— Ed.
Crotons. — In the stove at Dover House, Eoe-
hampton, are several Crotous which deserve to he
classed amongst the most select varieties. Queen
Victoria is a kind that for depth and richness of
colouring is most useful , and other good f orms_ are
variegatum, with deep green and yellow variegation ;
Weismanni, of similar colouring, but with narrower
leaves ; and Tan Osteerzi, a small-leaved variety,
barred with yellow and green ; it is well adapted for
table decoration. These give a bright appearance to
a collection of stove plants. — E. C.
FEEESIAS.
Having obtained a collection of bulbs, amongst
them being two dozen bulbs of Freesias, I venture
to ask of you a few hints as to the culture, soil,
time of potting, time of flowering, &c. — Amateub.
*^* These pretty bulbous plants were only grown
by comparatively few cultivators until within the
last few years, as little was known of their require-
ments, and those who have taken them in hand
have made not a few mistakes in their treatment.
Like most other bulbous subjects, Freesias suifer if
the roots are kept in a dry state too long after the
time has come for growth to commence. Through
this it often happens that imported roots that are
not potted until long after they have been brought
over turn out indifferently. Another cause of failure
is traceable to over-watering before the bulbs have
had time to make suflicient roots. Like Tuberoses,
the Freesias are impatient of too moist a soil until
they are well rooted ; but, in common with Tube-
roses, they require a plentiful supply after the tops
begin to move freely. Hard forcing with insufficient
light during the time causes the flower-stems and
the flowers to become drawn and too soft in texture
to either look well on the plants or to answer pro-
perly for cutting. An intermediate temperature —
say from 50° to .55° — answers much better for them
than more heat.
Early in August is a good time to pot. Eight or
nine good-sized bulbs are enough for a 6-inch pot.
The soil should be good loam, with which ought to
be mixed a fair sprinkling of sand and a liberal
amount of rotten manure. They like rich soil, and
as the object is not only to produce a crop of
flowers, but also to improve the jcondition of the
bulbs for use in after years, it is necessary to supply
their wants in this respect. If the soil is fairly
moist at the time of potting, no water will be re-
quired for a short time, especially it the pots are
placed in a pit or frame with a moisture-holding
bottom. Newly potted bulbs of this character
should never be stood on dry shelves, as it necessi-
tates the use of more water than it is safe to apply
until roots are present, yet it is requisite to avoid
the opposite extreme of allowing the soil to get too
dry, as this is obviously unfavourable to the produc-
tion of roots. After potting, stand the pots, as
already recommended, in a cold pit or frame, and
give an abundance of air. When the tops appear
above the soil, give more water and let the plants
have plenty of light.
A long succession of flowers may be had by start-
ing portions of the stock at intervals in moderate
heat, letting some come on in a cool greenhouse or
pit. When the flowering is over, the plants must
be carefully watered as long as the tops keep green,
after which allow the soil to get dry, leaving the
bulbs undisturbed in it until they are again potted.
By following this course with imported bulbs, I have
found that they are always larger and stronger the
second and subsequent years than the best of foreign
growth.
An all but unlimited stock of these plants may
soon be secured, as if the flowers are not cut seed is
produced freely. The seed germinates readily and
the seedlings soon get strong enough to flower.
Small bulblets are produced in considerable numbers
by the roots that flower. These at the time of pot-
ting should be potted by themselves, giving them
sufficient room to gain size and strength. — T. B.
AMAEYLLIDS.
I HAVE carefully read the remarks by Mr. Frank
Miles in The Garden (p. 420) on Hippeastrums
grown in Mr. Kelway's nursery at Langport, and it
seems to me very surprising that even South African
species of Hippeastrum should not only grow, but
(" flourish amazingly") under such conditions. I pre
sume they flower freely year after year, but nothing
is said about that. What a sight, too, must be a
border of A. Ackermanni pulcherrima 200 feet long.
It does not seem to increase freely with me
under hothouse treatment. It is only five or six
years since I gave two guineas for a flowering bulb
of it, and I have not obtained a single plant from
the old bulb in that time. It would be interesting
to know whether anyone else has been able to
propagate it so freely as to plant it out in beds and
borders.
It is an undisputed fact that hybrids have been
raised from H. solandriflorum and flowered in
Messrs. Veitch's nursery at Chelsea last year. If
Mr. Heal had not carefully preserved the parentage
there was no diSiculty in recognising it in the off-
spring. Why should Mr. Miles doubt if it had
flowered in England for many years .' It was in
flower in Messrs. Veitch's nursery two weeks ago,
and was also exhibited by the firm at the Royal
Horticultural Society's meeting at South Kensing-
ton in October. I have tried to cross Amaryllis
formosissima with the ordinary garden varieties,
but always failed to do so. H. Johnsoni or Regio-
vittatum was supposed to be a cross between H.
vittatum and A. formosissima, until Dean Herbert
raised the same plant by crossing H. reginum with H.
vittatum. There is no evidence, I believe, to prove
conclusively that A. formosissima has been crossed
with any variety or speciesof Hippeastrum. Mr.Miles
inquires if I have ever seen H. Harrisonise. I have
not ; but why does Mr. Miles say it was a seedling
from H. vittatum ?
H. Harrisonije is figured in the Boianical Ilegister,
12, 9S8, and it is also described at page 137 of
Herbert's " AmaryUidacea; " as having a greenish
tube ; limb obtuse, doubly striped, with red within ;
said to grow near Lima. At page 143 Herbert
describes another variety under the name of
Harrisonise, raised by Mr. R. Harrison by crossing
H. reticulatum and stylosum. Dean Herbert and
his brother, the Earl of Carnarvon, raised many
hybrids at Mitcham, Spofforth, and Highclere from
H. solandriflorum. A very handsome variety raised
both at Spofforth and Highclere was named Car-
narvoni ; it was a cross between H. solandriflorum
and Johnsoni, the last-named itself a hybrid. Hay-
locki was raised at Spofiorth between H. solandri-
florum and bulbulosum, Herberti between solandri-
florum and stylosum. The two last were named by
Sweet.
Besides the above, many distinct and beautiful
crosses were made by Sweet, Colville, and others
some sixty years ago from distinct species. Thirty-
one are described in the " Amaryllidacefe." When
the crosses got mixed up and the original species
could not be determined they were designated
semi-species, and had florists' names given to them,
such as Juno, Ceres, Camillus, Napoleon, Alompra,
&c. These were omitted by Herbert as having no
place in a botanical arrangement. Of course, these
beautiful plants raised and carefully nurtured at
the time would soon disappear from cultivation.
Probably if we had them now we would not care to
grow them, as there cannot be any doubt but that
the garden varieties raised within the last few
years are far in advance of anything that could
446
THE GARDEN.
possibly be raised from the species known in
England fifty or sixty years ago.
J. Douglas.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Stove. — Allamandas. — The different varieties of
AUamanda are really evergreen, retaining most of
their leaves in a healthy condition through the
winter, provided the roots are regularly supplied
with water. By following this course the plants
may be successfully grown, especially when they
are turned out in a bed or border, in which case
there is no absolute necessity for subjecting them
to the severe drying-off process usually practised
with pot specimens that are grown on the system
of being annually cut back and repotted in fresh
soil. In the case of the former all that is necessary
is to withhold water, so as to induce a condition of
rest. From pot plants that are to be started early,
water should now be withheld until the leaves flag
a little, then give some, but not so much as will
moisten the soil to anything like the extent that is
required when the plants are in active growth. By
repeating this a few times shoot-extension will be
stopped, and most of the leaves will gradually turn
yellow and fall off ; whereas if the water supply is
wholly withheld at once the foliage will shrivel up
whilst green, and if this occurs the plants will
suffer.
BoiiGAiNViLLBAS. — B. glabra is the most useful
variety for general cultivation, for though the
flowers are not so rich as those of one or two
other sorts, they continue to appear at intervals
through the season. The method sometimes adopted
with this species in winter is to keep the specimens
during the resting period in a temperature only a
little above that of a warm greenhouse, but in this
way plants that have been grown in brisk heat
through the summer get chilled in a way that does
not induce them to grow freely when again started.
This Bougainvillea will bear the soil being kept per-
fectly dry whilst theplantis at rest, but thiscondition
must be brought about gradually in the manner
advised for Allamandas. Treated as here indicated,
Bougainvillea glabra does not show any inclination
to grow until water is again given, even if placed in
a stove where a high temperature is maintained.
The larger growing kinds, B. speciosa and B. spec-
tabilis, are best planted out, and there is no neces-
sity for their being grown in the very high tempe-
rature and with the root-roasting treatment that is
more or less requisite to subject the plants to when
they are kept in strong heat. A Warm conservatory
where a few degrees more warmth is maintained
than in a greenhouse answers well for them. Under
such conditions the soil should now and during the
first two months of the new year be kept dry, by
which means the necessary rest will be secured,
most of the leaves coming oS during the time.
Needless to say that these two last-named species,
flowering as they do from the mature wood of the
preceding year, must not be pruned until after they
have bloomed, further than cutting out any weak
shoots that are not strong enough to flower.
Clbrodbndeons.— C. Balfouri and C. Thompsoni
can be had in bloom at any time during the spring
and summer by varying the time the plants make
their growth. Those that were started early and
flowered in spring should by now have ripened up
their shoots and be at rest, and may be kept nearly
dry at the roots until within about seven or eight
weeks of their being wanted in bloom, provided the
plants are placed in a warm stove from the time
they are started. Others that flowered late and
were so treated as to induce strong growth will only
be finishing up their shoots. Plants in this condi-
tion must not have their growth stopped too sud-
denly by drying the roots, as upon the shoots being
gradually and thoroughly ripened depends the
flowering. The largest and best-flowered specimens
I ever had did not complete their growth until to-
wards the end of the year, at which time'the shoots
— trained to strings stretched under the roof — were
20 feet long. After this water was gradually with-
held until the leaves died off, leaving the plants
quite naked, when no more water was given than
was necessary to keep the soil from getting quite
[Nov. 12, 1887.
dry until the plants "were again started. When the
growth is well matured the bark does not shrivel in
the least through the soil being kept almost dry for
three months. These Clerodendrons will not bear
being wintered in too cold a temperature. About
55" at night is the right heat for them. With
a sufficient number of plants a long succession
of flowers may be had. C. Balfouri is the best of
the two sorts under notice. C. splendens, being
an evergreen species, with stout foliage, is quite
different in character to the above-mentioned
kinds. The growth in most cases will have been
finished some time back, so that the roots may now
be kept somewhat drier than during the growing
season, but whether the plants are grown in pots or
planted out the soil should be examined from time
to time to see that it does not become too dry.
Shrubby Clbrodbndeons. — Old plants that,
after flowering, were cut back, or young ones that
have been raised during the present year from seeds
or cuttings, should be stood in the warmest part of
the stove, so as to keep the growth gently moving,
standing them well up to the light to induce short-
jointed shoots, and give the necessary substance to
the leaves. The latter, when produced in winter by
plants that are insufficiently exposed to the light,
are too thin in texture to last as they should
through the summer, the lower ones dying off before
their proper time, leaving the plants in an unsightly
condition.
ViOLBTS. — If those plants that are required to
flower late in frames before they come in out of
doors are not already under cover, they should be
at once put in any spare frames that may be at
liberty, filling the latter up with soil so that the
plants will be near the glass. Stock of this kind
must have an abundance of air by drawing the
lights off in mild weather, and by tilting them
when it is wet. Where a continuous supply of these
flowers is wanted, it is well to make sure that suffi-
cient plants are prepared, as in our doubtful climate
it is impossible to judge at what time the outside
supply in spring will be at hand, especially if we
get a repetition of the winter-like weather during the
spring months that we have had for several seasons
in succession.
Haedy shrubs for forcing. — a sufficient
quantity of these that are to be forced should
now be taken up and potted, and got under cover
where accommodation can be found for them.
Where room is not at present available, the pots I
should be so far protected as to keep the
soil from being frozen. Amongst the various
things that are most useful for general deco-
ration and for giving a supply of cut flowers
are Azalea mollis and the Ghent varieties.
The former in their varied shades are ex-
tremely beautiful ; still they do not afford
the diversity of colours that are to be had in
the Ghent varieties. Medium-sized, shapely
plants that are well set with flower-buds
will give more satisfaction than larger
examples that have fewer buds in proportion
to their size. There is another advantage
connected with the use of moderate-sized
plants for the purpose in question. Small
pots will answer, and as the plants are often
required to be stood whilst in bloom where
large ones would be unsightly or not ad-
missible, well-flowered specimens of small
size are preferable.
Rhododendrons. — In selecting Rhodo-
dendrons, compact, bushy-headed examples
should be chosen, being careful to have
varieties that are naturally inclined to bloom
early. Through losing sight of this matter,
it frequently happens that the plants stand
in heat for many weeks with the buds quite
motionless, in some cases the flowers failing to open
at all. Some of the old varieties with caucasicum
blood in them flower early in winter with very little
heat. For furnishing spacious conservatories large-
sized specimens are very effective. Where these
are used, it is better to put them in shallow baskets
made of Osiers, with the bark on, as if jiotted it
either necessitates the roots being cut away to an
extent that hurts the plants and affects their
flowering, or pots of an unsightly size have to be
used.
DOUBLB-FLOWBEBD CHINESE PLUM (Prunus
sinensis flore-pleno). — This small white-flowered
Plum is one of the best shrubs for forcing, when the
plants have been properly prepared for the purpose
by cutting the shoots close in after they bloomed
each spring. Without this the plants are often too
tall and straggling to look well.
Andromeda floeibunda and A. japonica are
both desirable plants for forcing in pots, especially
A. japonica, which is not so well known as many of
the Andromedas. It is not largely cultivated out
of doors, except in favoured localities, owing to its
flowering before the frosts are over. But for pot
cultivation this inclination to early flowering is an
advantage. If the plants are kept through the
wioter in a cool house with no more beat than wiU
keep the advancing flowers from getting frozen,
this Andromeda is a beautiful object in spring.
The profuse flowering habit and compact growth
of A. floribunda make it an excellent shrub for pot
work.
Choisya teenata. — When this fine plant gets
better known it is likely to become a general
favourite for forcing, particularly in such parts of
the kingdom where it will grow out of doors. The
distinct appearance of the flowers is worth taking
into account.
Lilacs. — To have these plants in the most satis-
factory condition when flowered in pots they require
to be prepared beforehand by stopping the shoots
so as to form compact, bushy heads. Where a
succession of these pot-bloomed plants is required
a sufficient stock should be provided. Deutzia
gracilis, Launistinus, Kalmia latifolia, and Hy-
drangea paniculata grandiflora are also desirable
for forcing in pots. T. B.
Ferns.
OUR NATIVE FERNS.
THE polypodies.
Of the four native species of Polypodies with de-
ciduous foliage, the Polypodium Dryopteris, or, as
it is popularly called, the Oak Fern, for which
appellation there is no reason, unless it be that it is
so named from being eometimes found among the
Oak Fern (Polypodium Dryopteris).
Moss about the roots of Oak trees, is undoubtedly
the one most generally known, as it also is the one
growing most abundantly in a less restricted habitat.
On account of the peculiarly bright pea-green colour
of its short triangular fronds, which seldom exceed
10 inches in height, and also of its compact and
close habit, it is much admired and generally used
for forming in the hardy fernery edges which all
the summer possess a freshness looked for in vain
Nov. 12, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
447
among any other Ferns o£ dwarf habit. These
fronds have, when only partially developed, a very
peculiar aspect, as the pinna3 on each branch are
rolled up, resembling so many small Green Peas ;
they are, Hte the fronds of all the other Polypodies,
produced on slender, creeping rhizomes, which,
contrary to those of the evergreen species and va-
rieties, "are strictly underground. The Oak Fern,
though not known to Kay in 1(370 when he published
his "Catalogus Plantarum Anglise," in which no
mention of it is made, was, however, discovered by
him near Tintern Abbey before 1685, when he pub-
lished his " Historia Plantarum," and when the first
notice of its being certainly a British Fern is re-
corded. It is found particularly on shady mountain-
sides ; in Ireland, on Moume and Turk Mountains,
Mam Turk, at Killamey, Connemara, TuUamore
Park, and other mountain districts. It is common
in some parts of Scotland, such as Aberdeenshire,
Forfarshire, and Perthshire, and also found, though
less abundant, on the banks of the White Adder,
between the Retreat and the Elm Cottage, Berwick-
shire ; at Moray, in Ross-shire, Hawthorn Dean,
near Edinburgh, and at Langholm and Broomholm,
in Eskdale. Notwithstanding the yearly depreda-
tions of tourists and of Fern hawkers in general,
the Oak Fern is still plentiful in some parts of
North Wales, and also frequently met with at Craig
Breidden, Montgomeryshire ; near Tintern Abbey,
near Llangollen on a slate rock, and in Carnarvon-
shire. In England, to the present day, it is found
at Richmond and about North Bierley, in York-
shire; in Combury Quarry, in Oxfordshire; in TVed-
wood Forest, near Yoshail Lodge, Staffordshire ; at
High Cliff, Cheshire; at Boghart Hole Clough and
Prestwich C'lough, in Lancashire ; in Barrowfield
Wood, near Kendal, near Durham; in Leigh Woods,
near Bristol ; on Frocester Hill, in Gloucestershire;
among rocks at the Fall of Lodore, Derwentwater,
in Cumberland ; above Langley Ford, near the
Cheviot Mountains, and many other stations, but
always in perfectly cool, sheltered, moist places
where the temperature is subjected to very little
variations during the summer. In planting the
Oak Fern, a spot where moisture and shade can
always be depended upon should, if possible, be
selected, and a shallow bed made of a compost of
two parts of fibrous peat, one part of leaf-mould,
and a free admixture of silver sand, or, better still,
of broken sandstone. If grown in pots for a cool
frame or the greenhouse, where it makes most
pleasing objects, the above mixture wiU be found
equally suitable ; but in either case avoid putting in
too much soil ; a depth of 3 inches to 4 inches is
quite sufficient. It is also indispensable that a
thorough good drainage should be secured, for,
although the growing plant delights in an abundant
supply of water, yet water remaining about its roots
is very injurious to it. In planting, great care must
alio be taken to pre%'ent the rhizomes being buried
too deeply, in which case they seldom grow ; they
must be only just below the surface of the soil,
which should only cover them lightly, and through
which it is advisable to let the tips protrude. After
the planting, which should take place about April,
is done, a moderate watering must follow, after
which the soil requires to be kept constantly moist
until the new fronds begin to unfold, when, as they
increase in size, a free supply of water wiU be neces-
sary to keep the atmosphere always moist about
the plants. This Polypody is readily increased by
division. Although totally deprived of foliage
during four or five months of the year, the Oak
Fern should never be allowed to get dry at any
time, for the rhizomes soon shrivel up and the
spring growth then only produces small or deformed
fronds, and the plants are very much weakened. It
is also advisable to give plants grown in pots a slight
covering during the winter, though not requiring
the same attention when planted out. This species
does not appear to have produced any constant
variations. Several multifid and other curious forms
of it have from time to time been noticed, but none
of these remained constant under cultivation.
The Beech Feex (Poljpodium Phegopteris) is
next in importance to the Oak Fern. It is alto-
gether a strong- r grower, its beautiful fronds,
which have a peculiarly hirsute appearance, fre-
quently attaining 15 inches in height. These are
produced on very slender and strictly underground
creeping rhizomes, which are equally hairy ; they
are somewhat of a triangular shape, tapering to a
long point, and of a particularly dark green colour.
The Beech Fern is, further, easily distinguished
from all other Polypodies by the basal pair of
pinnte of each frond being suddenly defiexed or
thrown back, and by the hairy aspect of the whole
frond. It is diflicult to understand why this plant
should bear an appellation so singularly inapplicable,
for the name has no reference to either its shape or
its haunts, as it is more rarely found in woods than
on mountain sides, where it chiefly grows in clefts
of rocks, and always in places abounding in
Beech Fern (Polypodium Phegopteris).
moisture. We find the first record of Polypodiam
Phegopteris as a British plant being included by
Morrison and Bobart in their " Historia Plantarum
Oxoniensis," published in 16.S0, and it is stated by
Bobart that it had been found in the northern
parts of England. It is also described by Dillenius
in the third edition of Ray's " Synopsis Stirpum
Britannicum," published in 1724, where it is given
as " the smaller British Fern with paler stems aiid
lower wings looking downwards." It is found in
Wales, near Llanherris : at Capel Curig, North
Wales, and in Carnarvonshire. Close to the Powers-
court Waterfall, and at the Waterfall above Lough
Eske, County Donegal, in Ireland. In Scotland on
Ben Lomond, at Rubrslaw, and Jedburgh ; at
Campsie, near Glasgow ; on the Grampians, in
Aberdeenshire; on Red Caird Hill, in Inverness-
shire ; in Forfarshire, Sutherland, and other parts
of the Highlands. But it is principally in England
that the habitats of this beautiful Fern are most
numerous and most varied. Thus we have had it
gathered at Lidford Fall and Beckey Fall, Dart-
moor, Devonshire, as well as on rocks above
Langley Ford, at the base of the Cheviot Hills ;
also at Prestwich Clough and Boghart Clough, in
Lancashire : at Egerton Moss, near Bolton ; and
Settle, in Yorkshire ; as well as near Keswick, in
Cumberland ; and at Cawsey Dean, Durham. Like
the Oak Fern, it may with advantage be planted out
in the open fernery or grown in pots, and the same
compost as that which has been recommended for
that pretty dwarf species is equally suitable for the
Beech Fern ; but a greater depth — about (j inches —
must be allowed, as it roots much deeper Into the
ground. Great care must equally be taken in
planting not to bury the rhizomes deep, but to keep
them barely below the surface of the ground. A
moist, shady place is indispensable, as the plant is
particularly partial to an abundant and constant
supply of water, and also frequent syringings during
the growing season. When grown in pots in a cool
house the Beech Fern is nearly evergreen, as its old
fronds, though discoloured and generally broken at
the base, remain on the plants almost untU the new
ones make their appearance. The only variety
belonging to that species with which we are
acquainted is the one called interruptum, a very
interesting and quite constant sport, showing
primary divisions here and there shortened, or some-
times even totally absent, their parts being more or
less toothed. Both species and variety are usually
propagated by division in early spring.
In the Limestoxe Polypody (Polypodium cal-
careum), also extensively known as P. Robertianum,
we have at least one species whose name is indica-
tive of its habitat, as it is found in a wild state only
on a limestone soil, on mountainous heaths, and in
wooded places. Its natural presence in any parts
of Ireland has not until now been recorded, and it
has been found only very sparsely and accidentally
in Scotland and iii Wales. But in England the
Limestone Polypody is comparatively plentiful and
widely distributed, as it has been gathered about
Matlock Bath and on the roadside under the
Lover's Leap at Buxton, in Derbyshire ; near Settle,
in Yorkshire ; and also at Arncliff, Gordale, White
Scars, near Ingleton ; at Shedding Clough, near
Burnley, near Lancaster ; in Leigh Woods, near
Bristol : and on Cheddar Cliffs and Box Quarries
near Bath, in Somersetshire, Although it was only
first recognised as a native of England by the late
Sir J. E. Smith, formerly president of the Linnean
Society, the Polypodium calcareum was known to
such old authors as Clusius, Tabernsemontanus, and
in Johnson's edition of Gerard's " Herbal " it is
figured and described as Dryopteris Tragi. Its
fronds, which are produced on dark brown rhizomes
stouter and less widely creeping t han those of the Oak
and Beech Ferns, are erect, of a mealy dark green
colour, and average from 6 inches to 12 inches in
height; they are bipinnate, and the margins of
their divisions are obtusely crenate. It is of easy
cultivation, and prefers a free open compost of fibry
peat, loam, leaf-mould, and small pieces of lime-
stone. As in the case of the two species above
described, good drainage is most essential in the
cultivation of the Limestone Polypody, which may
be grown with equal success either in pots in the
greenhouse, where it thrives remarkably well, or on
the rockwork, where it will bear a moderate amount
of exposure to the sun, provided a free supply of
water be given. It is most essential that its rhizomes
should, like those of the Oak and Beech Ferns, be
kept only just below the surface of the ground.
Tolypodium calcareum is usually propagated by
division in the months of March and April.
The alpine Polypody (Polypodium alpestre),
also most appropriately named, as it is found only
at high elevations, is the least known of the whole
genus, probably on account of the restriction of its
habitat, which appears to be limited to a few spots
only in Scotland, where, however, it is found in
great abundance, growing generally in company
with the Lady Fern. It is probablv also, on account
of possessing a general aspect similar to that of the
448
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 12, 1887.
Lady Fern, that its existence as a British species has
been ignored until a comparatively recent date, for
its first discovery in the British Isles is attributed
to Mr. H. C. Watson, who in 18 11 found it on Ben
Aulder, in Inverness-shire, and in Caulocken Glen,
Forfarshire. It has more recently been found in
Perthshire, in Aberdeenshire, and one or two other
places in the Scottish Highlands, where it grows in
quantity, especially on the Clova Mountains, where
Mr. Backhouse observes that the Lady Fern (Athy-
rium Filix-foemina) accompanies it up as high as
from 2000 feet to 3000 feet, but from the latter
height and up to 4000 feet the alpine Polypody is
alone. It is, therefore, a thoroughly hardy Fern,
with dark green fronds from 20 inches to 30 inches
high, disposed in circular tufts at the ends of the
rhizomes on which they are produced, and which in
a wild state are completely underground and much
branched. These fronds, of a narrow, spear-head-
shaped outline, have a peculiar appearance, through
their stems being rather swollen at the base, and also
through their being furnished with pinnie down
nearly to their base, the part which remains bare
having a few brown, broad, pointed scales. Though
erect in habit, Polypodium alpestre is really an
elegant Fern, and may be grown well in a green-
house where it can have plenty of light, or outside
on the rockwork, where it prefers an open situation,
although it does not like the direct rays of the sun.
If grown in any fixed position, thorough drainage
is of the utmost importance. It should be planted
firmly on a shallow bed of compost made of two
parts of turfy peat, one part of leaf-mould and
loam, and one of silver sand and small crocks, or
such porous substance, broken very small. In plant-
ing them the rhizomes may with advantage be in-
serted between two pieces of sandstone. This, with
a few pieces of porous stone or old mortar scattered
about the surface, will be found beneficial to the
newly planted subjects. The alpine Polypody dur-
ing its growing season requires an abundance of
water at the roots and occasional waterings over-
head. This interesting species has only produced
two varieties of note, the most singular of the two
being the one called interruptum, a very curious,
dissimilar, and hitlierto barren sport, raised in Sim's
late establishment at Foot's Cray, Kent, some
twenty years ago. It has the habit and general ap-
pearance of P. flexile, from which it is issue, but
has many of its primary divisions or pinnEe much
and in various ways shortened, their divisions or
pinnules appearing much toothed or torn. In P.
alpestre flexile we have a delicate form of the
species, with fronds from 8 inches to 12 incheslong
and about 2 inches wide, almost stalkless, linear
lanceolate in shape, and nearly prostrate in habit,
with reflexed pinna3. These fronds, of a very light
green colour, arc arranged in such a peculiarly sym-
metrical manner as to give the plant the appear-
ance of a vegetable star. It requires dense shade
and abundance of air to develop the beauty of a
plant which, on account of its peculiar habit and of
the delicacy of its parts, is quite unique among
small-growing Ferns. These varieties and the
species from which they spring are increased by
division of the rhizomes in the early spring.
S. G
hole would be necessary in the flagstones. The
variegated Ivy grows too slowly, I believe, to be of
much use for my purpose, which is to cover the
house as quickly as possible. Virginian Creeper is
out of the question, as it is so untidy. For the back
of the house Ampelopsis Veitchi would, no doubt,
be well adapted. Passion Flower looks well, and I
understand that it grows fairly quickly, but should
it have a south aspect ? Clematis seems to grow
almost anywhere, and to flower easDy. What about
Mar^ohal Niel Roses ? could they be trained up a
wall facing west 1 Advice in this matter will be
much esteemed, particularly as to when and how
the above subjects should be planted. — A.
Hybridising Fuchsia corymbiflora. — In
The Garden, October 29 (p. 386), it is remarked that
any attempt to hybridise Fuchsia corymbiiiora a
others of that section would most likely spoil the
Can this be effected? I have tried over and over
again to cross F. corymbiflora with fulgens, cordifoUa,
and other kinds both wayp, but have not succeeded, yet
I do not quite despair, and mean to try again. I
should like to know if such hybridisation has been
accomplished. I am inclined to think that they cannot
be crossed.— J. M., Charmontlu Doritet.
Creepers for a London house.— Will any
reader of The Garden kindly give me the names
of the plants most suitable for covering the outside
walls of a small London house ? The house stands
hio-h and faces east, and the front is rather exposed.
My idea is to grow Ivy on either side of the two
bow windows from boxes of soil placed on the
side ledges. If this is not feasible and the root
must be in the ground, I presume that only a small
Kitchen Garden.
W. WILDSMITH.
KITCHEN GARDEN NOTES.
General work. — The rain, so much required, has
at length fallen most copiously. This is but the
4th, and since November began we have registered
a trifle over 3 inches ; at the present rate, therefore,
the 10 inches due to us will soon be made up. The
storms have for the present put a stop to all ground
work, such as trenching, digging, and harvesting
roots, but between the storms we have found plenty
of work in the way of cleaning out drains and
traps on gravel walks, and turning the gravel on
parts of walks that have got dirty or Moss-grown,
so that presently, when wheeling and other heavy
work that necessitates a good deal of trafiic is
finished, the walks will be ready to have the
finishing touch of neatness applied in the form of a
light surfacing of new gravel over the whole. Leaf
carting and stacking is at present our principal
item of labour, and the weather is this season
aiding the work materially, for the storms of wind
drift the leaves together, and the moment a calm
ensues all hands are told off to get them carted to
the frame ground, where they are stacked in two
heaps, the hardest and cleanest for Pine pits and
Strawberry forcing, and the soft and most rapidly
decaying for vegetable forcing and for rotting down
for use as leaf-soil. To be accurate, I perhaps
ought to add that a third quality is made, consist-
ing of sticks, Chestnut husks. Beech Nuts, and
Acorns ; these are carted to the rubbish heap to be
burnt with any other vegetable matter, such as
Cabbage stumps, &c., that does not readily decay,
but which, when turned into ash, makes a valuable
fertiliser for almost every description of crop.
Forcing. — The dark days of November are
proverbially the worst of the whole year for forcing.
Vegetation is at the lowest ebb, and thick fogs or
heavy rains are prevalent, and increased artificial
warmth is therefore a necessity, and it is under
these difiicult weather conditions that ventilation
becomes (or should) a matter of special study.
Take French Beans for instance; they will stand a
fair amount of rough treatment so long as they are
kept fairly moist at the root and sufficient air is
given to prevent the atmosphere of the pit getting
completely saturated, but there is a difference be-
tween this state, which I call mere existence, and
that of growth for produce; the'latter at this'season
can only be attained by supplying heat with judg-
ment, by which I mean according to the state of
the weather. Ventilation is always most required
when it is most difficult to apply it, that is, when
the outside atmosphere is over-charged with mois-
ture; it is then that firing is of most service, because
it lightens the internal atmosphere and makes ven-
tilation possible despite the heaviest external
atmospheric conditions, and growth of Beans con-
tinues unchecked, slower certainly, but just as
vigorously, considering the season, as in brighter
weather. In respect of a healthy winter growth of
Cucumbers and Tomatoes much the same as regards
ventilation is true of both, but they will bear a
greater amount of heat with less ventilation than
French Beans. Tomatoes set their fruit best in
winter in what many would call an arid atmosphere,
and when many of the plants are flowering we
strive to maintain such aridity, but the moment the
fruit is set the moisture is increased, or the plants
would be quickly attacked with spider or thrips, and
this would be worse than a partial non-setting of
fruit. Cucumbers that have a bottom-heat of not
less than 70° and that are kept constantly moist
at the root will set and swell their fruit in a moist
atmosphere; nevertheless, it is desirable to keep the
atmosphere drier rather than wetter, as the latter
state is liable to engender mildew. We have potted
and put into heat the first batch of Seakale, the
pots being plunged in the leaf stack and covered
with ordinary Seakale pots that are again covered
with leaves. We have no need of Rhubarb, or this
we should force in the same way. Mustard and
Cress we now sow in shallow boxes once a fortnight,
and place in any out-of-the-way place in heat.
ChervD we sow twice during the winter in the same
way. Tarragon and Mint roots we pot as often as
required; the first lot has just been put into heat.
Frames have been placed over Parsley, Lettuce,
and Endive, but are only closed when the weather
is frosty.
Tomatoes from cuttings. — I am very much
in favour of propagating Tomatoes by cuttings. If
a gardener has a good variety, and is not certain
that it will come perfectly true from seed, the best
plan is to keep up the stock by cuttings. The
earliest fruits in spring are readily secured from
plants rooted as cuttings in the autumn, and grown
during the winter as store plants. At the present
time, Tomatoes that are about to cease bearing are
producing numerous shoots, and if these are taken
off and inserted at the rate of from four to six in a
i-inch or 5-inch pot, they will turn out well during
the early spring months. The pots should be
plunged in a little bottom heat until the cuttings
are rooted, then harden them off a little, and keep
them afterwards with Pelargoniums or plants of
this sort. They winter better in a cool place, away
from frost, than in much heat ; but they may be
potted singly and started into growth very early
in spring, and it is then the cuttings have the
advantage over seedlings. The latter are always
inclined to make very long stems ; but cuttings are
always dwarf, and I have proved them over and
over again to be earlier and produce more fruit than
seedlings. All will admit that it is an advantage
to have strong Tomato plants early in spring, and
autumn propagation by cuttings is a certain way of
securing them. — J. MuiR, in Fiehl.
Tomatoes. — There can be no doubt but that the
old large red Tomato stands pre-eminent as an abun-
dant cropper, and if a really good selection of this fine
old variety can be secured (though this is by no
means an easy matter) there is probably no other
sort to equal it for productiveness. But is not
" Hortus " (p. 401) going rather too far when he
tries to make out that it is superior in quality and
flavour as well? I willingly admit that different
strains of this variety vary to an almost incredible
extent, and also that the flavour of the fruit varies
to some extent as well as its form, &o. But the
finest strain of this kind with which I am
acquainted, the fruit being fully as handsome as
that of Trophy and scarcely to be distinguished
from it, possesses a flavour decidedly inferior to
that of Excelsior, Criterion, or any of the highly
bred, round- fruited kinds. Again, I cannot imagine
anyone who knows at all what a Tomato is pre-
ferring the mawkish pulp of the older and deeply
sutured kinds to the pure delicate flavour with that
pleasantly acid taste which is the acme of perfec-
tion of the rounder and more fleshy sorts. This
sickly pulp, full of seeds, is with a thick and tough
rind the distinctive feature of the foreign (imported)
fruit, and surely no one would hold this up foradmira-
tion. Further, surely "Hortus" must be aware that
a given bulk of any of the round, flrm-fleshed kinds
weighs considerably heavier than the same of the
large red or any other soft or pulpy sort, and this
fact, combined with the higher prices that are
always obtainable for handsome, round, finely
flavoured fruit, goes far to counterbalance the ad-
vantage in the matter of actual quantity produced
by such as the variety in question. The large red
may be superior in productiveness and hardiness,
Nov. 12, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
449
but if we want finer quality or flavour we must lose
to some extent in other points. — B. C. R.
Garden Destroyers.
A RETROSPECT.
In many ways the summer season of 1887 has been
a very remarkable one. First and foremost, the
great drought, lasting from the end of May until
the middle of August, was very unusual, and the
eflEect it had on vegetation, though not so disastrous
as might have been anticipated, was very marked.
Few, if any, plants made their usual annual growth,
and their flowers, though plentiful, were very soon
over. They appear, howe\'er, to have seeded or
fruited well, and their fruit, berries or seeds have
been very abundant (I am not alluding to cultivated
fruit). The Mountain Ashes and the Briers have
been perfect pictures. The former, at any rate,
round Tunbridge Wells have been most beautiful,
and their branches quite weighed down with the
number of heavy bunches of bright coral-red berries.
The berries on the Whitethorn, Elder, and Privet
are no less plentiful. Oaks, too, have borne an
abundant crop of Acorns, and the Hollies, now
their berries are colouring, show how useful they
are for enhancing the beauty of shrubberies.
Another unusual circumstance connected with the
season has been the great abundance of our
common butterflies, the ordinary white ones in
particular. It is supposed by many persons that
when an insect appears in unwonted numbers, as is
the case from time to time, that most of the indi-
viduals have migrated here from other countries.
I do not believe this to be the case. If, as some
assert, these insects have a migratory instinct, why
should not our English specimens migrate? If in
sects migrated equally from all countries, nowhere
ought there to be a superabundance.
Nearly every year there are quite enough of the
caterpillars of our common Cabbage butterflies, if
the majority came to maturity, to provide the num
ber of butterflies which we have seen this year. But
usually the mortality among caterpillars is so great
from parasites, &c., that a comparatively small per-
centage becomes butterflies. A writer in a recent
number of the JEidompIogisfx Moiithhj Macfazine
mentions that out of flfty full-grown caterpillars of
this insect only one-third became chrysalides, the
others falling a prey to parasites. As the chrysa-
lides are by no means free from the attacks of
various foes, the number of these insects which
reached maturity would be still smaller. But if
from causes unknown to us their parasitic enemies
are few in number, and the season is favourable to
their metamorphoses, the butterflies will be found
in large numbers. To judge from the numerous spe
cimens sent me from all parts of the country from
various persons who wanted to know what they
were, the grubs of the common dart moth (Agrotis
segetum), which are so destructive to the roots of
Turnips and other plants, have been particularly
plentiful this year, so that should an unusually
large percentage undergo their transformations
safely, we may expect large swarms of the insect
next year. The gall-fly (Spathegaster baccarum),
whose grabs form the Oak spangles which are com-
mon enough in most years on the undersides of Oak
leaves, must have been particularly abundant this
year, to judge from the enormous numbers of the
spangles. In some places it is almost difficult to
find a leaf on an Oak plant in a hedge or underwood
that has not some of these galls on it ; and I have
found several which were so covered with them that
the spangles quite overlapped one another, and
hardly any part of the under side of the leaf was
visible. They are also very abundant on the lower
leaves of Oak trees. When trees are infested in this
way they must suffer considerably.
Wasps have been very plentiful in some places,
and in others very scarce. Considering their rarity
in 1886, it is remarkable that they should be abun-
dant anywhere this year, but should only a small pro-
portion of the queen wasps which have been flying
about searching for winter quarters this autumn
survive and form nests next year, there will be a
regular plague of them.
The season, so to speak, terminated in a most
tragical manner here, at Canterbury, and many
places in the neighbourhood on the night of Octo-
ber 12. We had had a slight frost the two previous
nights, but were not prepared, on looking out the
next morning, to And that the garden was a wreck.
There had been a sharp frost, and Dahlias, Begonias,
Japanese Anemones, Pelargoniums, and many other
plants were things of the past. One night had
changed a gay, well- filled garden into a mass of
corruption. The autumnal tints were in their full
glory on Saturday evening, the 29th ult. ; -the next
morning the trees were bare. The gale had done
its work. G. S. S.
Trees and Shrubs.
AUTUMN PLANTING.
The end of October is at hand and yet the ground
is, just below the surface, dry almost beyond all
precedent for the time of year. The intense dry
ness of the soil for so great a depth soon absorbed
all the valuable rains which fell early in September
and at intervals since, and, barring the heat, we
find an earth dryness now little less marked than
was experienced at the end of August. We have
been enjoying some delightful dry weather, with
occasional stormy days and frosty nights, but
throughout the whole of the southern districts rain
has been markedly absent. Thus there has been
absorption of moisture by the atmosphere, and not
less a terrestrial absorption of the exceedingly dry
subsoil, which in many localities is literally baked
hard dry to a depth of 3 feet or 4 feet. It is hardly
possible to estimate the amount of rainfall now
needed to thoroughly saturate the soil to a planting
depth. During the past two or three seasons many
newly planted trees and shrubs have died. That is
not a matter for wonder, having regard to the great
heat and drought we have experienced, but the
difficulties of the case have been greatly intensified
by the exceeding dryness of the subsoil, and possibly
more of the harm done is due to that cause than to
any other. Without doubt trees, and especially
newly planted ones, find in a moist base remark-
able assistance during a hot summer. We may
mulch the surface and keep that surface moist by
frequent waterings, but that assistance lacked the
good found in the terrestrial moisture, which, when
existent, will rise to the distmrbed soil about the
newly planted trees and help to keep it moist and
fertile. Even in the winter months some such
natural moistening of the newly planted trees and
shrubs is helpful, and renders great service in keep-
ing all the parts of the tree or shrub in a state
of what might be termed passive or restful activity.
Whilst we are now at the very best of all seasons
for planting, there is the drought difficulty staring
us in the face. The difficulty is not momentous as
far as concerns young or small stuff, but large trees
and shrubs transplanted and needing the soil to be
broken up to a depth of from 20 inches to 30 inches
cannot have their welfare lightly regarded, and
when in excavating holes for these it is found that
the subsoil comes out much like baked earth, it is
but too obvious that roots will need much artificial
moistening or have to take a poor chance. The
trees and shrubs will lift dry and go in dry, and if
left dry their chance of life will be poor indeed.
There is one remedy, a light one, but better than
none. It is that, in planting, holes larger than
usual should be made ; the top or fairly moist soil
thrown on one side, and the baked subsoil taken
out to the needful depth on the other, and, where
possible, the holes so taken out flooded with water.
Such precautions are worth taking in the case of
valuable trees or shrubs. That moisture will per-
colate through the surrounding soil, and in twenty-
four hours the planting may be done, the top soil
being used to fill in round the roots and other top
soil from the immediate surface added whilst the
dry subsoil is distributed around where it can be-
come during the winter thoroughly moistened and
pulverised.
Whilst the enforcing of so much care and labour
in present planting may seem detrimental to the
interests of nurserymen, it is equally obvious
that they suffer more in the end when disaster
follows upon planting. To show practically that
good things may be removed from a nursery, taken
to a long distance, be replanted, and all without a
single loss is something of which any trader may be
proud. Equally losses incidental to bad planting or
a dry season are harmful, and all traders wish to
avoid the discredit incidental to such mishaps. Of
course it can be urged that heavy rainfalls are
inevitable shortly, but there is nothing assured on
that point. We may have a dry, cold winter, and
indications now point in that direction. Last
winter we found the bulk of atmospheric moisture
fall in the shape of snow, but the result was most
disappointing, as whilst snow water hangs about
and floods the surf ace, because it cannot passthrough
the frozen soil beneath, but also soon runs off, while
rain falling in open weather penetrates direct into the
soil and little is wasted. Snow water, again, terribly
lowers the .soil temperature; rain falling generally
when frost is absent has no such harmful effect.
What is certain, now is that the heavy snowfalls of
. last winter did not in any way compensate us for
the absence' of rain, and especially followed as that
' winter has been by a remarkably dry summer, we
really, need a couple of wet winters to bring the
earth's surface back to its normal condition of
moisture, and although established frees and shrubs
have generally ' suffered little during the recent
drought, it is obvious that they cannot endure pri-
vation from needful moisture much longer. Newly
planted trees and shrubs of course may be watered
in, but that can hardly be done on a large scale,
whilst flooding newly moved soil with -water, es-
pecially about the roots of trees, is of doubtful good,
and later may result in harm. On the whole, it
seems as if transplanting just yet was attended
with risk, whilst waiting for rain might put off the
work until too late. A. D.
The Virginian Sumach (Rhus typhina var.
frutesoens). — This highly ornamental Sumach
occurs in a few of the gardens and shrubberies at
Hornsea. It is a native of North America, and
was introduced into England in 1629, and, as its
name implies, it is a reputed antiseptic in cases of
typhoid fever, much after the fashion of Eucalyptus
in malarial fever. As a shrub it grows gracefully
compact. It throws up its scarlet spikes of flowers
in the autumn among its glossy, deep green, pin-
nate leaves, that are glaucous on the undersides.
During a breeze the pale hue of the underleaf be-
comes very conspicuous, and reminds us of that of
the grey Willow when exposed to like influences. I
am indebted to Mr. J. G. Baker, of Kew, for the name
of this Sumach, which appears to adapt itself, as
well as the Japanese Euonymus, to a sea-side home.
I think we should really study more intimately the
adaptability of vegetation to localities bordering on
the sea-coast, and it would be a boon to dwellers by
the sea if a reliable list of such plants were made
out for the benefit of such, not omitting, of course,
the nature of the soil which is favourable to their
growth and development. Personal observation on
this subject would, I am sure, be most gratefully
appreciated. — Petbe Inchbald, F.L.S., (rrosi-eiwr
Terrace. Hornsea.
Evergreen hedges. — October is the best month
to plant Evergreens, and the earlier in the month
the work is done the better. At present the un-
moved ground with us is very dry a few inches
from the surface, and the work of moving large
specimens is more difficult than it will be when
more rain has fallen. But this need not delay
the planting of evergreen hedges if the site has
been well prepared by trenching and intermixing.
The Lawson's Cypress makes a very elegant sepa-
rating line or hedge; it will bear pruning to put
and keep it in shape as well as the old American
Arbor-vitse, which this Cypress should now super-
sede. The plants, of the same size and height,
should be carefully selected, and must have been
trained from the first to one main stem, as plants
with two or more stems when they grow up give
450
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 12, 1887.
diate neighbourhood. If, however, the hedge js I C^*'''P''i.go '"''"11 together, for both delight in a the heights and dimensions of some of the
kept well trimmed they do cot travel far. The I ™oistj richsoil,and two more suitable trees for a largest Snowdrop trees in this country at that
Yews for hedge-planting should also be confined, Jj^^e or stream margin could not be named. The time, and as these trees may still be alive it
to plants having only one main stem. The green
Holly, where the soil is suitable, is one of the
most ornamental of hedge plants. When one
thinks of a Holly hedge, one's mind naturally re-
verts to Keele, where what is supposed to be the
finest Holly hedge in the country exists. I 'got
the dimensions when I saw it some years ago,
but they are gone from my memory now. I never
saw so perfect an evergreen fence ; but the labour
to keep it in such perfect condition must be very
great. Here, again, selection must be largely exer-
cised, so that the fplants may all start equally,
and, though the hedge may grow slowly, it may
always be regular and even in outline. The Holly
should have a well prepared site, and manure
should be given if the plants are required for a
■ ' -H., in Field.
Snowdrop tree arrays itself in myriads of pearly
white bells in spring ; while the Catalpa is about
the only tree thatilowers in August and September.
The winged fruits of the Snowdrop tree, being
about an inch long and very numerous, have an
interesting appearance during summer and
autumn.
The pretty cut of the Snowdrop tree which
THE SNOWDROP TREE.
(halesia tetbapteea )
This is one of those interesting old-fashioned
trees that one meets with now and again in very
old gardens. It is far from being common, foi
though it is stOl procurable from our best tree
nurseries, it is, nurserymen tell me, seldom
asked for, so seldom in fact that it hardly pays
them to keep what little
stock they grow of it
in a condition for trans-
planting. "Why such
apathy prevails in re-
gard to these old trees
is not to be accounted
for, except from the fact
that the majority of
landscape gardeners, will
have more opportunity
for planting than any
body else, are ignorant
of trees and shrubs be-
yond the ordinary stock
in nurseries. This tree,
besides a host of others,
should be planted in
every important garden,
and it such were the case
what a great amount
of interest and beauty
would be added there-
to.
,;„'it is not often that on<
'inetts with the Snow
drop tree in a perfectly
happy condition, and it
is only where it has
been planted in a moist
and sheltered spot that it seems quite at home, ^e here give we saw in Vick's Maqadne, and
A dry soil or an exposed position is foreign to have to thank Messrs. Vick for the use of it.
Its nature, and from the fact that it grows jt giyes an idea of the beauty of a flowering
wild on river banks m Carohna and Virgmia, it ^p^ay of a Snowdrop tree when it blooms in per-
should always be planted in a moist spot. The faction, and as every branch and twig are laden in
hnest Snowdrop tree 1 have ever seen 1 think ^ ntg manner, one can imagine the appearance
was growing at Trentham by the margin of a of a tree 20 feet high in full bloom. The form
lake, where Its roots must have been perpetually of the flower, its size, its snowy whiteness,
m very moist, if not absolutely wet soil. This and its always drooping form suggested, no
particular specimen was a beautiful tree of doubt, the pretty name, Snowdrop tree, as the
graceful habit, having a dense head about flowers resemble Snowdrops. In America it is
20 feet across and as much m height and boro also called the Silver Bell tree. It blooms in
that appearance mdicatmg rude health. April and May, and American friends tell me
_ In a dry soil, such, for example, as the hungry that the trees which fringe the rivers in the
light soil in the Kew Arboretum, it "is a miser- Southern States ha%'e much the same appearance
able tree, growing certainly, but never thriving I as our Hawthorn trees do in bloom, so abundant
luxuriantly. Besides moisture, it set ms to revel ] are the flowers. It was one of the earliest
in a rich soil, such as the alluvium of river foreign trees introduced to this country, as it
The Snowdrop tree (Halesia tetraptera). Flowering twig, natural size.
would be interesting to see what growth they
have made in fifty years. There were at Syon
House and Purser's Cross trees 30 feet high with
stems from 16 inches to 18 inches in diameter.
At Bagshot Park growing in sandy loam was a
tree 20 feet high after twenty years' growth ; at
Trentham 15 feet high, planted twenty-six
years ; at Alton Towers ten years planted, 15
feet high ; at Ampton Hall, Suffolk, 8 feet high,
ten years planted. In Scotland there were trees
at Thainston, Aberdeenshire, Toward Castle,
Aigyllshire, Huntly Lodge, Banffshire, but none
were over 12 feet high, the tree not being per-
fectly hardy so far north. In Ireland there
was a good tree at BaUyleady, Co. Down. It
would afford valuable information if these same
trees could be measured now, and I should be
glad if any reader could furnish me with it. It
may be gathered from this statement that the
average rate of growth of the tree is about 1 foot
a year, so that it is as rapid in growth as most
trees. Loudon states that the price of the tree
m the London nurseries fifty years ago was
Is Cd., and, taking up the first tree catalogue
to hand, I find it is just the same price now.
It is easily propagated by seed, which ripens in
this country in most seasons, and seed is also
imported from the United States.
The Halesia tetraptera is the best known
species, but there are two others, H. diptera
and H. parviflora. Both resemble H. tetrap-
tera, the difference in H. diptera being chiefly
the two-winged instead of four- winged seed
vessel. H. parviflora, as its name implies, has
smaller flowers than H. tetraptera, and may be
only a variety of that species. As neither H.
diptera nor H. parviflora can be bought in Eng-
lish nurseries, little need be said about them,
especially as H. tetraptera is the most orna-
mental. W. G.
Ivy on and under trees. — One of the chief
merits of the Ivy is that it will live and thrive
where no other plant will grow. Under the dense
shade of the Horse Chestnut, where no gleam of
summer sunshine penetrates, it steadily makes its
way until every inch of bare earth is covered ; and
then, nothing daunted, it mounts the bole of the
tree. We have a wide-spreading Cedar of Lebanon
growing on the lawn, with its lower branches
drooping on the turf. So dense is the shade, that
not a blade oE Grass will grow within more than
12 feet on all sides of the trunk, and some years
ago this bare patch was planted with Ivy. In two
or three years the ground was all covered with a
green carpet of foliage, and the creeping shoots
began to ascend the trunk of the tree ; these, of
course, were cut oflE at once, as we did not wish the
tree injured ; and there is no doubt that when the
Ivy takes possession of a tree, if let alone the tree
must ultimately succumb, no matter how lofty or
strong it may be. Some years ago there stood near
where I am writing a very fine specimen of the
Locust tree (Eobinia pseud-Acacia), whose trunk
had been for some time covered with Ivy, and year
by year, after having covered the trunk to its top-
most bough, the Ivy spread along all the main
branches, until at last only a few feet of the ends
of the branches remained uncovered. It was a
source of interest to watch the tree's decreasing
annual growth, and speculate upon the time
required for the Ivy to complete its work of strangu-
lation. Coming out one morning early after a
stormy night, I found the tree uprooted and lying
prone upon the ground. The Ivy offered so much
resistance to the wind, that the tree gave way
under the pressure. When I visited Battle Abbey
Nov. 12, 1887]
THE GARDEN.
451
some years ago, I remember, on my way to the
kitchen garden from the other grounds, walking
through a grove of trees, all the trunks of which
were covered with Ivy. The trees were tall and
without branches till near the top, and the green
covering had a picturesque appearance. It is dis-
counting the future, no doubt, but the future is a
long way off, and in the meantime not only the
owner, but others may see how Nature, when aided
or only left to herself, adorns her temples. — H.
Japanese Evergreen. Oak. — Now that all true
deciduous trees have lost their leaves, the ever-
greens and semi-evergreens stand out more promi-
nently. There is at Kew an Oak, named Quercus
glandulifera, which, on account of its dense, sym-
metrical growth, reminding one of a huge clipped
Bay, is most conspicuous at this season, and through-
out the winter until spring, when it sheds its old
leaves and becomes very shabby-looking. For the
sake of its deep green foliage during the time we
most appreciate it, it is most valuable. It has been
planted at Kew somewhat profusely, for it meets
one at every turn. The largest specimens are not
more than 15 feet or 20 feet high, but are almost as
broad as high, and always very dense in growth.
Mr. Nicholson says that this Japanese Oak is iden-
tical with that grown and sold in nurseries under
the name of Q. austriaoa sempervirens, so that it
must be 'asked for under that name. It seems to
be quite at home in the dry soil at Kew, but, no
doubt, it would appreciate one heavier and richer.
It is certainly a tree that deserves more attention
from nurserymen and planters generally. — W. G.
Staking transplanted trees. — There are two
sides to this question as well as most others.
The writer of the note quoted from the Country
Gentleman in The Gaeden Nov. 5 (p. 422),
in denouncing the practice of staking newly
planted trees surely cannot mean trees that one
buys at a nursery, unless American nurserymen
sell trees with roots as large as the tops. If
a tree can be transplanted with a large ball of
earth around its roots, then its sheer weight would
keep it in position and staking would be unneces-
sary, but it is impracticable to do this except in
transplanting short distances with proper appliances.
Large deciduous trees from a good English nursery
carry a large mass of small fibrous roots that do
not spread far, and therefore are incapable of hold
ing a heavy top against a strong wind unless the
soil is rammed harder than it should be. It is
obvious that a tree that is being continually shaken
by the wind cannot root well, and how is a tree to
be kept steady without staking ? There is a right
way and a wrong way to stake trees, and perhaps
the best and most effectual plan is that known as
tent-pegging described by " S." on the same page.
If this is done well, nothing is better for strength
or neatness. The clumsy way in which trees are often
staked shows that a lesson on this subject is needed,
and it might be useful if illustrations of the right
and wrong ways were given in The Gaeden.-
W. G.
SHORT NOTHS.—TMEEa AND SHRUBS.
Giant Lomtardy Poplar. — - Mr. Charles
Fisher, of Sheffield, writes to us in praise of this, and
says it is as robust again as the old variety. It must
be very fine indeed, because we have all seen giants of
the old variety along the river valleys where it grows
well and is almost fortified with enormous projecting
bosses at the base.
Sycamore leaves diseased. — Can you teU me
the cause of the curious black blotches on the Syca-
more leaves which I have sent you P The leaves of
nearly all the trees here are spotted in a similar way,
although some are quite free from it. — A. M. DuN-
STEE.
*** In reply to the above, the ink-like spots on your
Sycamore leaves are caused by a fungus (Rhytisma
acerinum). The best means of getting rid of it would
be by collecting the leaves and burning them, other-
wise as the fungus disseminates its spores in the spring
when the young leaves are unfolding, it is likely to
make its appearance next year. — G. S. S.
The giant Ivy. — I can scarcely agree with A. D.
Webster (p. 422) that Hedera Rsegueriaua is the true
giant Ivy, as there are two others, as I believe, more
deserving of the name, viz., H. dentata and the largest
form of H. canariensis. H. dentata (known also in
some collections as H. algeriensis) is one of the_ largest
leaved Ivies 1 know, and it grows very rapidly in suit-
able positions. I wish some one with a good collection
of Ivies would name the best twelve varieties. — F. W . B .
Societies and Exhibitions.
CRYSTAL PALACE.
Nov. 4 AND 5.
The Chrysanthemum season was ushered in by a
brilliant exhibition of this gay flower at the Crystal
Palace on Friday and Saturday last, when there
was a sharp and interesting competition for the
liberal prizes offered. The show was too early for
the incurved varieties, which are unquestionably
late this season, but lovers of the Japanese section
must have been well satisfied, as these varieties
were in fall splendour — size, colour, fulness, and
other points that constitute quality and general ex-
ceUence all being present in the winning flowers.
The six blooms of the lovely Belle Paule, shown by
Mr. J. P. Munro, gardener to Mr. E. J. C. Paul,
Cambridge House, Twickenham Meadows, were
models of skCful culture, and the beauty of the
Japanese Chrysanthemums was there displayed to
perfection. Amongst the incurved, Jeanne d'Arc
and Mr. Bunn were perhaps the most conspicuous,
as these were exhibited in many stands, and were
generally of good finish and colour. A word might
also with advantage be said of the groups of speci'
men plants, which were admirably arranged, and
produced close competition by reason of the even^
ness and excellence of the several exhibits.
Cut blooms were the great feature, and there
were upwards of ten entries in the great class for
forty-eight varieties, twenty-four incurved and
twenty-four Japanese. The first-prize flowers of
Mr. C. Gibson, gardener to Mr. J. Wormald, Morden
Park, Surrey, were fresh, well coloured, and finely
finished, except that his incurs-ed would have been
better for a few more days to develop. The Japanese
section was represented by good blooms of such
fine varieties as Mme. C. Audiguier, Mile. Lacroix,
Thunberg, Maiden's Blush, M. Ardene, I'Adorable,
Fair Maid of Guernsey, Hiver Fleuri, and Comte de
Germiny. Of the incurved, the finest were Empress
of India, Novelty, Refulgens, Prince Alfred, Jeanne
d'Arc, Queen of England, Lord Alcester, and Bar-
bara, the last-mentioned being of excellent colour,
In the second prize lot, put up by Mr. H. Shoe-
smith, gardener to Canon Hodgson, Saltwood
Rectory, Hythe, there was a falling off in the
Japanese, but an advance in the incurved, which
were neat, full, and clean, especially such flowers
as Empress of India, Jeanne d'Arc, Mrs. Heal, Mr.
G. Glenny, Prince Alfred, and Cherub. ,Mr. J.
M'Kenzie, gardener to Mr. T. S. W. Cornwallis,
Linton Park, Maidstone, who was third, had, on
the other hand, an excellent display of Japanese
varieties, but the incurved were rough and uneven.
The stand contained a splendid bloom of F. A.
Davis, having the velvety crimson colour of great
richness. There was again a keen contest in
the class for eighteen Japanese varieties, the
winner of the premier award being Mr. J. P.
Munro, who had flowers of fine development, but
wanting in freshness ; Belle Paule, Fair Maid of
Guernsey, Mme. C.'Audiguier,' Baron de Prailly, Cri-
terion, and Val d'Andorre were the best. Mr. W.
Packman, gardener to Mr. C. E. Shea, The Elms,
Foot's Cray, Kent, was second, putting up M. Astorg
and Mme. C. Audiguier in good form. This section
was also fairly well represented in the class for
twelve blooms in which Mr. James Wyatt, gardener
to Mr. J. Perry, Braddenhurst, Caterham Valley, was
the most successful. His flowers were rather small,
but satisfactory, especially those of M. Ardene, Val
d'Andorre, Belle Paule, Mme. C. Audiguier, and
Boule d'Or. The second place was occupied by Mr.
E. Mawley, Rosebank, Berkhampstead, Herts, who
had noteworthy blooms of Baron de Prailly, Elaine,
Fair Maid of Guernsey, and the narrow-petaled
Agrements de la Nature. There were about sixteen
exhibitors in the class for six Japanese, one variety,
and, as previously mentioned, Mr. Munro was first ;
the second prize went to Mr. H. Shoesmith, who had
the snow-white Mile. Lacroix in good condition ;
and Mr. W. Packman, who put up fine blooms of the
spotless Elaine, was third.
As has already been stated, the incurved were not
up to the mark, by reason of their earliness, and in
the class for eighteen the first prize was withheld,
the second going to Mr. J. Horsefield, gardener to
Lord Heytesbury, Wilts ; and the third to Mr. J.
Snow, gardener to Mr. J. Bruce, South Park, Wad-
hurst. There were, however, ten competitors in the
class for twelve, and the blooms on the whole were
nicely finished, clean, neat, and of good colour,
especially in the first-prize stand of Mr. J. Wyatt,
who showed creditable blooms of Jeanne d'Arc,
Prince Alfred, Empress of India, Mr. Bunn, Mrf.
Dixon, Mrs. G. Bundle, Lord Wolseley, John Salter,
Alfred Salter, and Lord Alcester. Mr. C. Slade,
gardener to Lady Bowater, Richmond Park, Peters-
ham, was second, staging good flowers of Jeanne
d'Arc, Mr. Bunn, Barbara, Mrs. Heal, Refulgens,
and Jardin des Plantes. The delicately coloured
variety Jeanne d'Arc was well exhibited by Mr. J.
Snow in the class for six blooms of any incurved,
and rich flowers of Mr. Bunn were put up by Mr. G.
Stevens, the exhibitors coming in the order named.
The reflexed type of Chrysanthemum was well re-
presented, and in the class for twelve blooms, the
winner of the flrst prize was Mr. C. Gibson, who
had even, well-shaped, and exceDently-coloured
flowers of King of the Crimsons, Chevalier Dcmage,
Amy Furze, and Cullingfordi.
The Anemone-flowered find favour with a great
many, as testified by the competition. Mr. A. G.
Hookings, gardener to Sir H. Thompson, Hurstside,
West Moulsey, was first for twelve blooms, and
there were beautifully formed flowers of Lady
Margaret, Mrs. Pothers, Acquisition, and Gliick, the
second prize going to Messrs. W. and G. Drover,
Fareham, Hants, who also exhibited creditable
blooms. Mr. C. Gibson was well to the front for
twelve blooms of Pompon Anemone, staging capital
flowers of Antonius, Marie Stuart, Mr. Astie, Miss
Nightingale, and . Mme. Montels. When well
shown, as they were on this occasion, the Pompon
Anemone Chrysanthemums have great beauty,
though of a quiet kind. The single varieties were,
however, not well shown, but they deserve en-
couragement, as the flowers, especially those with
thread-like petals and refined colouring, are valuable
for cutting and other purposes. Mr. G. Duncan,
gardener to Mr. C. T. Lucas, Wamham Court, Hor-
sham, was well to the front in the class for twelve
Pompons, staging Black Douglas, a deeply coloured
variety, Comte de Morny, Mile. Marthe, Golden
Mile. Marthe, and Mrs. Wheeler; Mr. Jas. Mitchell,
gardener to Mrs. Arbuthnot, Brigden Place, Bexley,
was second. An interesting class of flowers is that
formed by the Japanese Anemone, and their
characteristics were well displayed in the blooms
put up by Mr. M. Sullivan, gardener to Mr. D. B.
Chapman, Downshire House, Roehampton. The
varieties shown were Ratapoil, chestnut-brown,
Sceur Dorothee Souille, and Margouline, which has
rose-crimson petals.
Plants were not numerous, but those exhibited
were well grown and densely flowered. The class
for a group of Japanese varieties arranged for
effect was perhaps the most interesting, as the com-
petition was remarkably keen. Messrs. Davis and
Jones, Camberwell, came first; Messrs. J. Laing,
Stanstead Nursery, Forest HiU, second ; and Mr. G.
Stevens, Putney, third— the last having splen-
didly flowered plants of Elaine. In the corre-
sponding class for incurved, the second prize went
to Mr. G. Stevens, the first prize being withheld.
The collection included good specimens of the rich
yellow variety Mr. Bunn. For a smaller collection
than the above Mr. W. Webster, Livingstone Road,
Thornton Heath, was the winner of the first prize,
with an excellent arrangement ; Mr. T. Ball, gar-
dener to Sir H. Doulton, Woodlands, Tooting Com-
mon, coming second. In the class for four trained
specimens, Mr. W. Clark, gardener to Mr. J. H. Lile,
was well to the front, his specimens of Mrs. G
452
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 12, 1887.
Rundle and Guernsey Nugget being good examples
of careful training ; Mr. C. Portway, gardener to
Mr. B. B. Portal, Daventry House, Tooting, was
second. The last-mentioned exbibitor was first in the
class for six trained specimens of Japanese varieties,
exhibitingLaNyiuphe, Bouquet Fait, Source d'Or, and
Mme.B.Rendatler, the specimensbeing neatly grown,
and showing a good head of bloom. For six trained
specimens, incurved varieties, Mr. E. Cherry,
gardener to Mrs. Gabriel, Norfolk House, Streatham,
was first with good examples of Mrs. Haliburton,
Queen of England, and Mrs. Dixon. Mr. Portway
was successful in the class for four trained speci-
mens of Japanese varieties, amongst them being a
good example of Dr. Macary. In the class for six
Pompons Mr. W. Clark came well to the front,
exhibiting carefully grown specimens of the pure
white Mme. Marthe, Calliope, and Sultana. There
were also classes for red and white-flowered varieties
of Chinese Primula, Mr. J. Rodbourn, gardener to
Baroness Heath, Coombe House, West Croydon ;
Mr. C. Welstead, gardener to Mr. J. Lodge, Hope
Villa, Croydon; and Mr. A. Carter, gardener to
Alderman Evans, The Grove, Ewell, being the chief
prize-takers. Messrs. J. Carter and Co. also had a
display of various kinds of Chinese Primulas.
First-class certificates were given to Messrs. J-
Laing and Co. for the reflexed variety Amy Furze,
a characteristic flower of a blush colour, overlaid
with a suffusion of lilac-magenta, and shading to
yellow in the centre of the bloom, and for Edouard
Audiguier, a Japanese variety of a deep rich
crimson colour, with the reverse of the florets
of a silvery white. Messrs. Davis and Jones
received a first-class certificate for Mrs. Garner, a
rich yellow-coloured Japanese, and Edouard Audi-
guier. A like distinction was made to a variety from
Messrs. J. Carter and Co. called Mrs. Beal, which,
if not identical with, very closely resembles Mrs. H.
Cannell, both having pure white florets of good
texture and substance. Mr. T. Winkworth, Child-
wall Hall, Liverpool, showed the Japanese variety,
Mr. R. Brocklebank, a rich yellow flower of the Meg
Merrilies type, and a variety named C. Orchard,
recently described, was also certificated; this was
shown by Mr. G. Woodgate.
A collection of 177 varieties of Apples was staged
by Mr. Austin Killick, Weavering, near Maidstone,
and gave interest to the exhibition.
A prize list is given in our advertising columns.
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL.
November 8.
The meeting of the Royal Horticultural Society at
South Kensington, on Tuesday last, was the smallest
held this year, and the plants shown comprised few
things of either rarity or general interest. This
may be due partly to the enthusiasm displayed over
Chrysanthemum shows, which are now being held
all over the country.
First-class certificates were awarded as follows: —
ClIRYSANTIIBMUM EdOUAED AUDIGIJIEE. — This
is another addition to the Japanese section, and has
medium-sized, dense, full, and handsome flowers,
with the petals curled, narrow, and in the centre
folding inwards, showing a silvery white reverse,
which is in bold contrast to the deep rich and effec-
tive crimson of the other portion of the bloom. The
foliage is distinct, strong, and deep green, while the
plant has a strong and not too tall a habit of
growth. From Messrs. Veitch and Sons, Chelsea.
Begonia Adonis. — This is a hybrid between a
seedling of the summer-flowering tuberous section
and Begonia John Heal. Its characters show it to
be intermediate between these two races, the latter
having B. socotranaforone of its parents. The flowers
are as large as those of many of the ordinary summer-
blooming Begonias, and of a bright crimson-pink
colour such as is valued at this season of the year.
The flower-stems stand up well above the leaves,
which are large, smooth, and of two shades of
green. It is a stronger grower than John Heal, to
which it forms a suitable companion. From Messrs,
J. Veitch.
Chuysanthemum R. Beocklbbank. — This is a
sport from Meg Merrilies, and has the same charac
teristic appearance, the florets spreading, curled,
and forming a thin, somewhat papery, bloom. As
exhibited, the flowers certainly lack robustness,
fulness, and substance, which are faults that may
possibly, however, be remedied. The colour is
of a pleasing yellow that many will appreciate.
Exhibited by Mr. T. Winkworth, The Gardens,
Childwall Hall, Liverpool.
Calanthe Halli. — This is of the C. Veitchi
character, and is a cross between that hybrid and
the beautiful variety C. vestita luteo-oculata. The
flowers, as in the last, are of a charming creamy
white hue, but without a blotch of yellow in the
centre of the lip, having instead a very faint suffu-
sion of pale lemon. It appears to be very free-
blooming, as the plant, although not particularly
strong, carried two arching racemes, each of which
bore several blooms. For bouquets and other
choice work it will no doubt be valued. From Mr.
W. Hall, Upper Tulse Hill.
A small group of plants came from Messrs-
Veitch, of Chelsea, comprising many things of
interest. A basket of the Bouvardia President
Cleveland was shown, and several trusses of other
varieties, but for brilliancy of colouring this is
unsurpassed. A pretty kind is rosea oculata,
delicate blush white ; also Reine des Roses, deep
reddish pink ; Maiden's Blush, blush ; umbellata
alba, pure white; President Garfield, double pink;
Dazzler, bright scarlet ; and Vreelandi, pure white,
one of the best of all, as it produces its pure white
flowers in great profusion. The same firm exhibited
Chrysanthemum Olympia, a Japanese variety with
medium-sized blooms of a bronzy red colour ; C.
Lady Brassey, which has delicate pink flowers of
reflexed character ; and C. Marquise de Mun, a
Japanese variety of fiattish form, the flowers full,
and rose-pink in colour.
A handsome group of Persian Cyclamens was
shown by Mr. John May, Gordon Nursery, Twicken-
ham, and a bronze medal was awarded. The
exhibitor has evidently secured an excellent strain
of flowers, and the condition of the plants showed
skilful culture.
Chrysanthemum plants were shown by Mr. W.
Holmes, Frampton Park Nurseries, Hackney, the
varieties comprising Salmonea plena, a salmony
red Japanese variety ; Ornements, bright crimson ;
and Charlotte de Moncabrier, a Japanese variety
with spreading florets of a rose colour.
Coleus Hart's Conqueror came from Mr. A. Hart,
Guildford. The plant has broad, brightly coloured
leaves, white at the base, then crimson and dark
bronzy brown. It seems a distinct and bold va-
riety.
An interesting group of Begonias was sent from
the Chiswick garden of the Royal Horticultural
Society. There were good plants of B. Saundersi,
a somewhat straggling growing variety with scarlet
flowers; insignis, semperflorens gigantea carnea,
which had large leaves edged with crimson and
pinkish flowers; and Carrieri, an excellent Begonia
for winter flowering. Several densely flowered
plants having a compact habit and neat, deep green
leaves were shown.
The Orchids exhibited besides the Calanthe cer-
tificated were Cypripedium Lawrenceanum, wliioh
bore a twin-flowered spike, a condition by no means
of unusual occurrence; this was exhibited by Mr.
Lawrence, gardener to Mr. B. D. Knox, Caversham,
Reading, and Ccelogyne Gardneriana from Mr.
G. W. Cummins, The Grange Gardens, Carshalton.
This is an Indian species, with smooth, flask-shaped
pseudo-bulbs of a greenish white, and arch -
ing lanceolate foliage deep green in colour, which
brings out the chasteness of the flowers. These are
tliickly set in a pendent raceme, and have a half
expanded appearance, the sep.ils and petals being
long and of a transparent whiteness; the only
colour in the flower is the greenish yellow lip, and
on either side there is a white ridge running into
the centre of the bloom.
There was very little fruit. A bunch of the
Black Monukka Grape was sent from Chiswick.
This variety is not often seen, but is not without
merit. The berries are of a curious oblong shape.
dull chestnut in colour, and with a firm, juicy flesh;
moreover, they are without seeds. The bunches
are large, tapering, and fairly handsome. Messrs.
W. Paul and Son, Waltham Cross, showed Fondante
Thiriot Pear, an obovate-shaped fruit, something
like Fondante d'Automne; the stalk is very long
and the skin greenish yellow ; the flesh is white,
juicy, and richly flavoured ; and John Mannington
Pear, a stewing variety, pyriform in shape, small,
and green. There were a few other exhibits of
minor importance.
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM.
NOVEMBEK 9 AND 10.
The annual exhibition of the National Chrysan-
themum Society is looked forward to with more
than ordinary interest by specialists and lovers in
general of this gay and popular flower. It is to
them the great horticultural event of the year, and
the thoroughly national character of the society is
shown by the widely separated localities of the
exhibitors, who on this occasion appeared in
such force as to produce a close, interesting, and
remarkably keen competition. The society is
accomplishing a grand work, as testified by the
enthusiasm displayed in the Chrysanthemum, and
the high condition to which it has been brought.
We only hope that it will continue to spread as it
has done in the past, and increase in vigour, so that
the character of this flower may be maintained by
the sifting out of worthless introductions and the
encouragement of early and late and new deserving
varieties. The arrangements were admirable, due
to the energy and tact of Mr. W. Holmes, the
honorary secretary, to whom the society owes so
much. As usual, the exhibition was held at the
Royal Aquarium, which was well filled, though,
owing to the bad light, the colour of the flowers
was not well brought out.
Incurved blooms were not of such perfect finish
and size as they are sometimes seen, but the late
season accounts for this fact. Great interest was
centred in the leading class for forty-eight blooms,
not less than twenty-four varieties, and there was a
close competition, Mr. C. Gibson, gardener to Mr.
J. Wormald, Morden Park, Mitcham, whose flowers
were of splendid finish, clean, and even, being
first. The best were Empress of India and its
golden- coloured sport. Lord Alcester, John Salter,
Novelty, Jardin des Plantes, White A'enus, Mrs. W.
Shipman, .Jeanne d'Arc, Princess of Wales, Lady
Hardinge, Lord Wolseley, Beauty (fine deep pink),
Barbara, Golden Eagle, Venus, and Alfred Salter.
The second award went to j\Ir. Doughty, Angley
Park Gardens, Cranbrook, the flowers being smaller
than those in the first prize lot, but of clean, neat,
and highly finished character. Amongst those best
exhibited were Empress of India, Jeanne d'Arc,
Empress Eugenie, Eve, Mrs. W. Haliburton, Lord
Alcester, Prince of Wales (splendid colour), Barbara,
Baron Beust, and Cherub. The third prize went to
Mr. A. G. Hookings, gardener to Sir H. Thompson,
Hurstside, Moulsey.
In the class for twenty-four, the first award went
to Mr. E. Saunderson, Felix Villa, Harlesden, who
had small blooms, but beautifully finished, fresh,
and of good colour and quality. Jeanne d'Arc was
finely shown, also Princess Beatrice, Refulgence
(splendid colour). Princess Teck, Mr. Brunlees, and
Mr. W. Shipman. The second went to Mr. J. R.
Wildman, Oaklands, Clapham Park ; and the third
to Mr. A. Ives, gardener to Mr. E. C. Jukes, Hope
House, Winchmore Hill. The winner of the premier
prize in the class for twelve was Mr. T. Bettisworth,
Burton Grange, Cheshunt, the flowers large, but
somewhat rough and uneven, Mr, G. Burnett, gar-
dener to Mrs. Fenton, The Grange, Ilillingdon,
coming second. There was a keen contest for the
prizes in the class for six incurved, distinct, open
only to new exhibitors ; Mr. S. Tadd, gardener to
Dr.'Southey, Sutton Valence, Staplehurst, was first
and showed creditable blooms ; Mr F. Davis, gar-
dener to Mr. Tautz. Castle Bar, Ealing, being second.
There were splendid flowers exhibited in the class
for six incurved, only one variety. Mr. Doughty
had the first prize stand, staging Lord Alcester; the
Nov. 12, 1887.J
THE GARDEN.
453
flowers were large, full, and splendidly finished, and
the pale, yellowish-white colour well brought out.
A close second was Mr. H. Shoesmith, gardener to
Rev. Canon Hodgson, Saltwood Koctory, Hythe, who
put up nicely-coloured, clean, and handsome flowers
of Mrs. Heal. The third place was taken by Mr.
J. Hewett, gardener to Mr. A. B. Mackeson, Hillside
House, Hythe, with Hero of Stoke Newington, one
of the old varieties not very often seen. Jlessrs.
Davis and Jones, Camberwell, offered a silver cup
for the best sis blooms of the variety Mrs. Norman
Davis, an incurved flower of bright yellow colour
with a tinare of bronze, Jlr. J. Horselield, gardener
to Lord Heytesbury, Wilts, gaining the prize. As
shown the blooms were somewhat rough, but were
not fully open.
The Japanese varieties were exhibited in splendid
character in the winning stands, and, as in the case
of the incurved, produced a spirited competition.
The great class was for forty-eight blooms, and the
first-prize stand, put up by Mr. W. Packman, gar-
dener to Mr. Shea, The Elms, Foot's Cray, contained
admirable flowers, fresh, full, and of even quality.
The best were Mme. C. Audiguier, Golden Dragon,
Belle Paule, Elaine, ^'al d'Andorre, Fernand Feral,
Mons. Delaus, Baron de Frailly, Criterion, Mons.
Astorg, Peter the Great, Fair Maid of Guernsey, Mons.
Tarin, Meg Merrilies, Thunberg, and Jeanne Delaux.
The second prize went to Mr. J. McKenzie, gardener
to Mr. F. S. W. Comwallis, Linton Park, Maidstone,
who had Fair Maid of Guernsey, F. A. Davis,
Maiden's Blush, Mme. de Sevin, and Mons Astorg
in fine condition. Mr. A. Elphick, gardener to Mr.
J. Glutton, The Orchards, Eeigate, was first in the
class for twenty-four, showing excellent blooms of
Maiden's Blush, Jlons. Tarin, Golden Dragon, Boule
d'Or (very fine), Baron de Frailly, and grandiflorum.
There was, again, good competition in the class
for twelve Japanese flowers, Mr. Bettisworth winning
the principal prize, staging fresh, handsome blooms
of Meg Merrilies (which is comparatively seldom
seen in first-rate condition), Val d'Andorre, Dr.
Macary, Thunberg, Mile. Lacrois, and Mile. Moulise.
Mr. J. Hewett was second. A class in which mag-
nificent blooms were shown was that for six flowers
of any white variety, Mr. "W. Green, gardener to
Mrs. Hyde, Manor House, Hadley, Barnet, being
first with splendid examples of Elaine, the flowers
well built, large, and like snow in their purity of
colour. A capital second was Mr. D. Hill, gardener
to Mr. D. Brookbank, Beachborough Park, Hythe,
who had excellent flowers of Mile. Moulise. For
six Japanese, any colour, there was a sharp contest,
Mr. W. Packman heading the prize list, and putting
up model blooms of Mme. C. Audiguier, characterised
by splendid form, freshness, and rich colour. Mr.
■West, gardener to Mr. E. Wright, Halston Hall,
Oswestry, Shropshire, was second, and seldom have
we seen the Boule d'Or variety shown in such fine
character.
The prizes offered by the Veitch Memorial trustees
produced a good competition. Mr. R. Strong, Wel-
lington College, Wokingham, was well to the front
for twenty-four incurved varieties, showing credit-
able flowers of Cherub, J. Salter, G. Glenny, and
Mr. Brunlees; the second prize going to Mr. H.
Shoesmith. In the corresponding class for Japanese,
Mr. W. Wildsmith, Heckfleld, was first, showing
clean, even, and meritorious flowers, especially of
such varieties as Jeanne Delaux, Thunberg, Comte
de Germiny, and the new R. Brocklebank; Mr. G.
Trinder, gardener to Sir Henry Mildmay, was a
good second. The reflexed class was well filled,
and blooms in thorough character were shown by
Mr. A. G. Hookings, especially full and noteworthy
being Dr. Sharpe, King of Crimsons, White Chris-
tine, Pink Christine, Cullingfordi, and Distinction;
the second prize went to Mr. F. Moore, gardener to
Mr. W. C. Pickersgill, Blendon Hall, Bexley. The
Japanese Anemone class was not well represented,
but the flowers of Mr. M. Sullivan, gardener to Mr.
D. B. Chapman, Roehampton, who was first for
twenty-four, showed considerable skill in the cul-
ture of this particular class; Sccur Dorothee Souille,
Mile. Cabroi, Fabian de Mediana, and Ratapoil
were excellent. Mr. A. Ives was to the fore in the
class for twenty-four large- flowered Anemone varie-
ties, and the first prize-winner for twenty-four
Pompons was Mr. G. Duncan, gardener to Mr. T.
Lucas, Warnham Court, Horsham, who had well
finished blooms.
The Pompons and Anemone Pompons in the other
classes were exceedingly fine, having size, neatness,
and quality. In the class for twelve Pompons Mr.
G. Dancan was the most successful, followed by Mr.
W. Aldridge, and in the last-mentioned class the
principal prize-winner was Mr. R. Whibley, South-
wark.
Amateurs were fairly well represented. The
Japanese varieties in the class for twelve put up
by Mr. T. Carruthers, Keigate, were highly satis-
factory, and the same exhibitor was also the most
successful for six blooms of the same class. For
twelve incurved, Mr. Walker, Wimbledon, came to
the front. An interesting and useful feature was
the metropolitan classes, originated for the purpose
of encouraging metropolitan growers of the Chry-
santhemum, which all know is a famous town
flower. For twenty-four incurved, Mr. Frank Bing-
ham, Stoke Newington, was first, exhibiting flowers
of high exhibition standard. The second was Mr.
S. Gilbey, gardener to Mr. B. Booth, The Cazenoves,
Clapton. Mr. R. Nichols, Clapton, was first for
twelve, the flowers fresh and excellent in colour and
shape. A special prize was offered by M. Delaux,
France, for a collection of Japanese blooms, only
those varieties sent out by him in 1887 to be staged.
The first place was occupied by Mr. W. Holmes,
Frampton Park Nurseries, Hackney, and the second
by Messrs. Davis and Jones, Camberwell, both hav-
ing finely developed blooms. Special prizes for cut
blooms were also offered by Mr. B. Field, Old Kent
Road, and Messrs. H. Cannell and Sons, Swanley.
Plants were not largely shown, and it seems that
the culture of specimens is on the decline, though
the plants on this occasion were excellent examples
of their kind. The groups made a splendid feature,
and the first prize in the great class for a group
arranged in a space of 100 square feet went to Mr.
George Stevens, Putney, whose plants carried flowers
of high excellence. Mr. G. E. Edwards, Balham
Nursery, was second. In the class for a smaller
group, Messrs. J. Laing and Sons, Forest Hill, were
to the front ; the plants dwarf, well flowered, and
with fine foliage — W. Holmes. Gloriosum, Feu de
Bengale, Mile. Laoroix, and Mme. de Sevin being
conspicuous amongst the several varieties. The
second award was made in favour of Mr. J. Towns-
end, Providence Nursery, Putney.
M. Delaux offered prizes for a group of Japanese
Chrysanthemums, only those varieties sent out by
him this year to he exhibited. Messrs. Davis and
Jones were first, and Mr. G. Stevens, Putney, second.
For nine trained specimens, incurved varieties, Mr.
W. Davey, gardener to Mr. C. C. Paine, Cedar House,
Stamford, was first, showing carefully trained plants
of Golden G. Glenny, L'Africaine, Elaine, and
Source d'Or ; Mr. C. Fortway being second. There
was fair competition for four standard specimens,
Mr. S. Gilbey coming first. The plants were splen-
didly flowered, and included Dr. Sharpe, Bertie
Rendatler, and Source d'Or. Mr. J. Mitchell, gar-
dener to Mrs. Arbuthnot, Brighton Place, Bexley,
came second. Mr. S. Gilbey was first for four
trained specimens, any variety, and showed well-
flowered and skilfully-grown plants ; the second
prize going to Mr. H. Lovegrove, gardener to Mr. H.
Spicer, Highbury. Messrs. W. Wood and Son,
Wood Green, offered prizes for a single trained
specimen, any white variety. Mr. James, Castle
Nursery, Norwood, was first with a fine plant of
the snow-white Elaine ; followed by Mr. S. Gilbey.
A special prize for a specimen plant was also offered
by Mr. W. M. Colchester, of Ipswich.
Feuit and vegetables filled the St. Stephen's
Hall, and the produce was of excellent quality.
Messrs. George Bunyard and Co., Maidstone, put up
150 dishes of brilliantly coloured Apples, especially
of such varieties as Cellini, Cox's Orange Pippin,
Peasgood's Nonsuch, Cox's Pomona, the lovely Gas-
goyne's scarlet seedling. The Queen, Blenheim
Orange, Hoary Morning, and Wealthy. Apples
were remarkable for colour, especially the first prize
lot of six dishes of dessert varieties put up by Mr. '
R. Dean, Ranelagh Road, Ealing. Mr. J. McKenzie
was second ; and in the corresponding class for
culinary varieties Mr. J. McKenzie was again well
to the front, showing magnificent fruits. Mr.C.Ross,
gardener to Mr. G. B. Eyre,WeUord Park, Newbury,
was a good second. In the classes for Pears there
was the same keen competition as for the Apples.
Mr. W. Allan, Guuton Park Gardens, Norwich,
was first, having fine fruits of Marie Louise
d'Uccle and Doyenne da Cornice. The Grapes
were splendid, especially the bunches staged by Mr.
W. Pratt, gardener to the Marquis of Bath, Long-
leat, Warminster, in the class for a collection, the
Gros Colman, Trebbiano, and Muscat of Alexandria
varietiesbeingunsurpassed ; Mr. W. Allan wassecond .
Mr. W. Pratt was again first for three bunches of
white Grapes, showing excellent samples, fine both
for finish and colour, of Muscat of Alexandria. The
winner of the premier award in the corresponding
class for black Grapes was Mr. A. Smith, gardener
to Mr. H. Sewell, Warren Hall, Loughton, who had
magnificent bunches of Gros Colman, fine both in
berry and finish, and of a lustrous black, such as we
find in the Black Hamburgh.
Vegetables were well shown, and there was
sharp competition for the prizes offered by Messrs.
Sutton and Sons, Reading, for a collection. Mr.
W. Pope, Highclere Castle Gardens, Newbury, was
first, and the principal prize-winner for the prizes
offered for a collection by Messrs. Webb and Sons,
Stourbridge, was Mr. J. May. Mr. E. Chopping,
Sittingbourne, came first for twelve dishes of Fota-
toes, and Mr. W. Ellington, West Row Gardens,
Mildenhall, was the most successful in the class for
six varieties. Messrs. Sutton and Sons, Reading,
had a large and interesting collection of Potatoes,
comprising the finest of their named kinds and
seedlings, the tubers being clean, handsome, and of
good size. Messrs. Webb and Sons, Stourbridge,
also had a collection of Potatoes, including well-
known varieties and novelties. A large collection
was also staged by Mr. C. Fidler, including Potatoes
grown under ordinary field culture, and also for
exhibition.
Amongst the various miscellaneous exhibits was
a collection of cut Pelargonium flowers. Begonia
Octavie, a lovely double white variety with yellow
centre, and Japanese Chrysanthemums imported
from Japan, from Messrs. H. Cannell, Swanley.
The last included several certificated varieties,
noteworthy being Mrs. H. Cannell, white ; Lady
Lawrence, a flne broad-petalled, white variety ; Mr.
E. Molyneux, deep crimson, gold reserve to the
broad petals; and Mr. H. Cannell, a yellow form in
the way of grandiflorum. Messrs. Hooper and Co.,
Maida \a\e, had winter-flowering Carnations,^ and
Chrysanthemums were shown by Mr. Owen, Maiden-
head.
BOOK RECEIVED.
" Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information." No. 11 —
Colonial Fruit. Royal Gardens, Kew.
Names of fruits. — H. Broivn. — Your Apple is
HoUandbury. Joseph Hodijkinson. — Apple, Alfris-
ton. — Gloriation. — Your hunch of Grapes was received
in fcuch a rotten condition that it was utterly impos-
sible to give any opinion about it. W. J. Mitchison.
— 1, Beurre Capiaumont; 2, Glou Morceau ; 3,Seckei;
4, Souvenir du CougrSs; 5, Beurre Clairgeau ; 6, Fon-
dante d'Automne. — £. Asliton. — PearPondante d'Au-
tomue. G. J. — 1, Blenheim Orange ; 2, Sam Young;
3, Downton Pippin; 4, not known. D. A. J. — 1,
Stibhert ; 2, Catshead ; 3, Cockpit ; 4, Winter Peach.
Others next week.
Uames of plants. — Anon. — 1, Pellionia, probably
P. pulchra ; 2, Pellionia Daveauana ; 3, Asclepias
mexicana. M. W. — Crattegus coccinea. Ardenza,
— 1, Liriodendron tulipiferum ; 2, Juniperus Sabini-
ana : 3, Juniperus virginiana. D. C. — 1, Ahelia ru-
pestris ; 2, Spirtea hyperi^ifolia; 3, Thuja orientalis.
• P. R. Birks. — The Ivy enclosed is usually called
aurea elegantissima. Polyanthus. — Helianthus de-
bilis var. oueumerifolius, not fasciated, only more than
usually branched. tf. F. Wil.'ion. — Kindly send
better specimen. A. C. BartholomL'ic. — Fajonia
arietina var. G. J. Warren. — 1, Aster Novi-
Belgi ; 2, Euonymus eui-opaeus ; 3, white Ligurian
Harebell (Campanula isophyUa alba) ; 4, Sedum re-
flexum glaucimi ; 5, Maxillaria media lutea; 6, Poly-
podium sp. L. E. D. — Kaulfussia isophyUa.
454
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 12, 1887.
WOODS & FORESTS.
THE FORMATION OF PLANTATIONS ON
EXPOSED SITES.
Laying out the BorNDAEY. — Sound judgment
and good taste may be considered as the primary
requisites in deciding the outlines of any planta-
tion, but particularly that on exposed ground and
at high-lying altitudes. To illustrate my meaning,
I will suppose that a plantation of average dimen-
sions is to be formed on an exposed moor, where
the prevailing wind is south-west, and at altitudes
ranging from 800 feet to upwards of 1000 feet above
sea level, and it will at once be seen that many
considerations must necessarily tend to determine
the positions of boundaries as well as directions in
which it will be found most desirable to plant. At
the same time it is also well to bear in mind that a
careful combination of the useful with the beautiful
is all-important, and should never be lost sight of,
as, unfortunately, it too often is, in the formation
of our woods and plantations, for charming wood-
land effects may be produced without in any
way adding to the actual cost of the plantation or
the profits likely to accrue from the same. Boun-
daries must be laid out with a due regard to the
shelter to be afforded to the plantation itself, and
to do this effectually no continuous straight lines
must be allowed, particularly on the exposed sides;
for by presenting a convex side towards the
south-west the storm will expend its force in two
opposite directions, and thereby occasion little or
no damage. It is also desirable, where the boun-
daries of plantations are not regulated by streams,
roads, or the limits of an estate, to lay these off in
such a way or with such curving lines so that a
series of recesses, which act most beneficially as a
shelter to flocks during inclement weather, may
be formed.
Drainage. — Whether this operation or that of
fencing in the ground should take precedence is
simply a matter of taste and of no moment ; indeed,
where plenty of labour could be employed. I have
frequently carried on both at the same time, and
with perfectly satisfactory results. It is expedient
to first of all fence in the ground where farm stock
are roaming about, as by their encroachments
on the drainer's plot many of the sods removed
from the drains are replaced therein by the ani-
mals' feet, and so unnecessary labour in scouring
out is occasioned. Drainage should always be con-
sidered as one of the most important items in the
formation of a plantation, for on this to a very great
extent depends whether or not success will' crown
the efforts of the planter. Large tracts of ground
in many plantations may require no drainage at all,
and here it may be well to point out a fault that is
frequently committed by the inexperienced in such
matters, viz., over-draining, for, be it remembered,
that this is productive of quite as great evils as
non-attention to the opposite extreme. The position
of the main outlets should first be determined, and
every fall of the ground taken advantage of in the
formation of secondary drains, while much good
work may be done by straightening and scouring
out existing watercourses. Without a correct
knowledge of the fall of the ground, its soil and sub-
soil, and a hundred other minor details, it is quite
impossible to give one word of advice as to how
drainage should be carried out. Generally speak-
ing, the drains may be formed 2i feet to 3 feet wide
at the top, 2 feet to 2 feet 6 inches deep, and 8 inches
broad at bottom, or of sufficient size so that the
draining spade may be freely used in cleaning.
It must be borne in mind, however, that the half of
these dimensions will in many cases suffice, and
quite as good results follow on particular grounds ;
while in some instances — take, for example, peat
bog or a semi-quagmire — it will not be too much to
double the sizes before a sufficient space for the flow
of water is obtained . The soil taken from the drain s
may, when dry, be spread evenly over the surround-
ing ground.
Fencing. — The particular kind of fencing to be
employed is simply and purely a matter of taste ;
while at the same time particular fences for parti-
cular situations are very important. On exposed.
high-lying ground and where stones are fairly
abundant, a substantial, well-built wall is preferable
to any other structure I know of. The only other
fences that could with propriety be erected are
posts and rails or wire, and it is well known to those
who have had to deal with exposed mountain
ground that such afford little or no shelter, and are
at the same time very liable to be damaged by cattle
and falling trees. The first expense of forming a
stone wall is certainly great — not much greater, how-
ever, than that of continuous iron and wire fencing,
but the cost of repairs and durability far more than
compensate for this in the long run. If well built,
a dry stone wall, with a rough coping set in mortar,
is all that is required, but this is often " shammed "
by the workmen, and an inferior fence with quite
as good and substantial an exterior appearance, but
wanting in the solidity and durability of that pro-
perly formed, substituted instead. The forester or
other person in charge of the erection of the walls
should pay a visit to the workmen daily and see
that a proper job is being made, and that binders,
or stones passing through from one side of the wall
to the other, are frequently used, this being con-
sidered, in my own opinion, one of the most im-
portant matters in connection with the erection of
a dry stone wall. Where stones cannot conveniently
be procured in sufficient quantity to form a wall, a
bank faced with stones (the ditch from which the
soil was taken to form the bank being on the side
farthest from the plantation) will serve the same
purpose, although less durable, but forming and
affording an excellent shelter and fence at the same
time. No fence is, however, cheaper or more sylvan
in character than that erected of poles thinned
from an adjoining wood, but such are not always
to be got, and it frequently happens that the
cost of cartage of these to upland situations is
excessive, owing to bad roads, or, perhaps, no
roads at all, and nearly as much as that of one
erected with stones where these are fairly abun-
dant. Wire fences, I have long ago found out,
are not to be recommended for surrounding moun-
tain woodlands, hillside stock being more difficult
to keep in check than those in lowland grounds.
Wire fences, too, afford little or no shelter, and are
constantly getting out of order. Should it be found
necessary, from whatever cause, to erect wire fences,
the first step to be taken is to prepare inside
the fence a patch of ground about 3 feet or 4 feet
wide, and sow it with Gorse seeds, as when the
young plants have attained to full size, they form a
wonderful shelter as well as prevent to a great ex-
tent the ingress of farm stock to the woods where
the fencing is faulty.
Preparation of the ground.— Great differ-
ence of opinion exists as to what method of
planting should be adopted in high-lying ground,
whether pitting or notching, and much must
depend on the nature of the soil. For my own
part, I am strongly in favour of the more expensive
method of pitting ; indeed, experiments carried
out at high altitudes warrant me in saying that
such a course fully compensates for the first
cost in the quicker growth of the trees and less
percentage of deaths amongst these. The pits
should be opened at 4 feet apart, and of sufficient
size to hold the roots of the plants without
crowding or cramping, for this is an evil that
cannot too well be guarded against. For mode-
rate-sized plants of, say, a foot in height — larger
should never be used on exposed ground — the
pits may be 15 inches in diameter and nearly
12 inches deep. The top turf should be cut off in
two semi-circles and placed alongside the pit ; if on
sloping ground, on the lower side and the soil on
the higher — this for ease in planting. In some
cases, more especially where planting is to follow
in the wake of pitting, it may be wise policy to
chop up the turf of one pit and place it in the
bottom of the adjoining or one prex-iously made.
Not only should the pits be opened of the dimen-
sions stated, but the bottom and sides of each
should be well loosened with a pick so as to give a
free space for the spread of the roots. If time
permits, it is advisable to have the pits opened for
at least three months previous to planting taking
place, as the soil by being fuUy exposed to the
atmosphere is ameliorated and sweetened, and left
in the best possible condition for the reception of
the young trees. Rough surface herbage, such as
Gorse, Broom, Bramble, &c., may all be cut over
by a person in advance of those forming the pits —
grubbing out of such being a useless waste of time,
not to speak of the disadvantage caused to the young
plants by the non-presence of these in the way of
shelter, and their value likewise for game covert
purposes generally. Burning Heather or rough
Grasses on the ground intended for planting is a
practice that can hardly be too highly commended,
for it serves the double purpose of destroying
objectionable vegetation and supplying the sur-
face with a rich and valuable manure in the form of
ashes, by which the succeeding crop will be bene-
fited in no small degree. A. D. Webster.
PRUNING.
Notwithstanding what has been said and written
upon this subject, the principles upon which the
operation is conducted seem to be but imperfectly
understood by many. In The Garden, Oct. 29
(p. 406), " J. J. G." says—
lam among those who object to the use of the saw
lu tree-pruning. Where timely pruning with, the
knife has been neglected, rendering the use of the saw
necessary, I question whether it would not be better
not to prune at all, unless it he for the piirpose of ad-
mitting light and air.
In cutting off branches and rival leaders at the top
it is a matter of no importance whether the imple-
ment used is a saw, knife, or chisel, provided the
wound has a smooth, clean, sloping surface to prevent
the lodgment of water. Branches and rival leaders
of from 1 inch to 2 inches in diameter at the base
may be cut off in this way with impunity, and in
cases where the saw has been used the surface of
the wound should be made smooth with a sharp
knife. Leaders that have been neglected and
have attained a large size should be cut back
in order to lighten them and lessen the risk of
being torn off by the wind as well as to throw
the sap as much as possible into the main stem. I
cannot understand what "J. J. G." means by "prun-
ing forest trees for the purpose of admitting light
and air." I can well understand the iitility of prun-
ing the top of a standard fruit tree in order to admit
air and light for the sake of the fruit, but this rule
cannot be applied in the cultivation of forest trees
for the production of useful timber ; and, moreover,
from the low price of timber, no proprietor could
afford to pay for such a system of management ; and
besides, by removing and cutting away leafage from
the top in order to admit air and light the tree would
actually be retarded in the formation of timber.
Tree leaves are a most important appendage in pro-
motingtheir growth and healthy development; there-
fore, they should never be lessened in quantity
except imder exceptional circumstances such as
have already been named in regard to pruning.
When forest trees require more light and air they
should be thinned, and it is astonishing how soon
the branches of the trees left upon the ground will
extend and occupy the open space thus afforded.
Further on " J. J. G." tells us that
A large wound made by cutting off a limb of a tree
may heal over, to outward appearance leaving no de-
fect, but when the tree comes to be sawn up for use, the
injury to the timber will become perceptible. .
In this I consider " J. J. G." perfectly right, but he
should remember that cutting off large limbs with
a saw is not pruning trees for profit and utility, and
no experienced forester would ever think for one
moment of practising such a system, the proper name
for which is mutilation. I know a forester who has
practised pruning with the saw for a period of fifty
years, and has never found any bad result from its
use, but certainly he never cuts off large limbs un-
less they are fractured by the wind, when their
removal becomes necessary. A great many trees
are to be seen throughout the country in a mutilated
state by the removal of large limbs and branches
with the saw, and this is to be deplored. I think
"J. J. G." has done good service in directing attcL-
tion to the evils resulting from the practice, and
perhaps it may be the means of saving some fine
old trees from destruction. J. B. 'Webster.
THE GARDEN.
455
No. 835. SATURDAY, Nov, 19,1887, Vol. XXXII.
" This is an Art
Which does mend Nature : change it rather ; but
The Art itself is Nature." — Shakc&iKarc.
Fruit Garden.
ENGLISH STANDARD FRUITS.
Glou Moreeau Pear. — A correspondent, W.
Sangwin, Nov. 12 (p. 439), saj-s this Pear is a
^reat favourite in his neighbourhood, and he
considers it the best late variety in existence.
Where it does well there is no gainsaying the
fact that this fine, buttery variety is worthy of a
place in the front rank, but, like many others,
it is partial, the soil more than the climate
affecting it. Before I came to Eastnor trees on
west walls in a less favourable district produced
bushels of clean, highly flavoured fruit, in
flavour equal to the finest russety Marie Louise
I ever tasted. Here I have tried it on south as
well as west walls, also as a pyramid, but the
fruit invariably was spotted, comparatively
flavourless, and only fit for stewing. Annoyed
with a variety which I knew ought to be good,
I had some of the trees grafted with other sorts
which grow well and do not inherit the tendency
to fungoid spotting. In gardens not more than
two miles away, but on a different soil, the old
red sandstone, the fruit is excellent. I do not
consider a Pear that ripens in November and
the early part of December a late variety.
The best Pears. — In reply to this request,
permit to say the following stand well in this
locality. Taken in the order of ripening we
cannot pass the old Jargonelle, Beurr6 Gifl'ard,
Williams' Bon Chretien, Beurr6 d'Amanlis, and
Fondante d'Automne, early varieties which
should be gathered before they commence drop
ping, otherwise they eat mealy. Sir. Wild
smith's plan of gathering a few at a time is a
very good one, as it not only prolongs their
respective seasons, but mealiness and rotting by
fermentation at the core are avoided. Tliere is,
of course, a limit to the keeping of all Pears,
especially of early ones, and 1 think you, Mr.
Editor, are hardly justified in assuming a doubt-
ful attitude over Fondante d'Automne after
the end of October. Beurre Superfin, White
Doyenne, Louise Bonne of Jersey, BeurriS
Hardy, and Doyenne du Comice are excellent
autumn Pears. Gansel's Bergamot, double
grafted, well mulched, and watered, is delicious,
and free from grit. Marie Louise, Pitmaston
Duchess, and the good old Thompson's are a
host in themselves. Passe Colniar, or the im-
proved variety Nouvelle Fulvie, from a good
west wall, also Knight's Monarch, are excellent.
Winter Nelis, Josephine de Malines, Jean de
Witte, Beurre Ranee, Van de AVeyer Bates,
Zephirin Gregoire, Bergamotte Esperen, and
Easter Beurre complete my list of twenty-four,
which, well grown upon favourable aspects, will
give a supply of first-class fruit throughout the
Pear season.
Pear Marie Louise. — You are quite right in
selecting this grand Pear for figuring in your
list of a dozen, for not only is it one of the
most delicious varieties, but being so thoroughly
hardy, its good qualities have made it a general
favourite throughout the kingdom. Our finest
fruit we gather from trees trained against walls,
but for rich fiavour and keeping qualities give
me fair-sized russety fruit from pyramids and
standards. I wish I could endorse your opi-
nion of
Duchesse d'Angouleme. — In the south of
England, and on favourable soils in the west, I
know it is excellent ; but here, indeed, in this
part of the country, although it grows to a large
size and is clean and bright, I find the quality
inferior. Here I grew it on good walls for some
years, but the flavour was always disappointing.
In large places where the cook is always glad of
half-melting Pears for stewing this variety is
invaluable, as it comes in before the Catillac is
ready.
Apple Blenheim Orange. — Last year I sent
you a few specimens of our Herefordshire Blen-
heims, and, all well, I will do so again this
season. As an all-round Apple, this variety is
extremely hard to beat, as it is large, handsome,
symmetrical, a good keeper, a good kitchen and
table Apple, and always commands a good price
in the market. The best Blenheims in this and
the adjoining counties are grown upon standard
trees, which, by the way, should have an abund-
ance of room for the full development of their
heads without becoming crowded, or even touch-
ing each other. Young ti-ees are rather shy,
but when carefully thinned and allowed to ex-
tend naturally they bear freely.
Apple Clayg'ate Pearmain. — How many
bushels of this variety, it may be interesting to
learn, are sent to market under the name of
Ribston Pippin ? The answer to this question
wUl prove whether you have not selected one of
the best varieties for your dozen. The old
Ribston and Cox's Orange Pippin stand first on
the list ; but Claygate Pearmain with us bears
heavily when the two former either fail or pro-
duce only light crops. The tree is hardy, a
good, but not a gross grower, and fruits well as
bush, pyramid, or standard. The best proof of
my opinion of this Apple will be conveyed in
the statement that I planted 100 young trees
last autiimn. — W. C.
*^* We like much in the above, but we want
Mr. Coleman to reconsider his verdict about
Pitmaston Duchess and Louise Bonne of
Jersey. We have never tasted in either of
these the fine refreshing quality which is pos-
sessed by a Pear of the highest class.— Ed.
Standard Peach trees. — The exceptional heat
of the past summer is forcibly illustrated by the
gathering of nearly half a bushel of fruit from a
standard Peach tree. The tree in question was
planted about ten years ago, and has once before
borne a small crop, but in quality not nearly equal
to that of this year. The fruit was large, highly
coloured and really good in flavour ; quite as good,
indeed, as ordinary samples grown under glass.
This tree does not even stand within walls ; it has
the shelter of a high hedge on one side only, being
quite open to the south and east. — J. C, Surrey.
Quinces and Medlars. — I was pleased to see
in The Garden, Oct. 29 (p. 397), the attention of
planters called to these useful fruits, as I have
lately been surprised at the difficulty people have in
obtaining them. There is really no attempt made
in this country to supply the want, and when the
foreigner steps in and does it for us, there is an
outcry about being undersold and in need of pro-
tection. If there were any difficulty in the culture
of Quinces and Medlars, or they were liable to be
cut oflE by our spring frosts, one could understand
it, but the fact is, they are not planted at all, or in
such a limited quantity as to be of no use whatever
for market purposes. I do not think there are any
fruits more suitable for planting as lawn trees, and
they certainly do best when allowed to grow with
out any pruning or training. The Quince is espe
oially handsome when loaded with its beautiful
lemon-coloured fruits, which are much sought after
for making marmalade and other culinary purposes.
Medlars are not in such request as Quinces, but
they form a very agreeable change in the dessert at
a time when there is not much variety. This is
the time to plant, and those who have a spare
corner in which to put a useful, as well as an
ornamental tree should not omit these from
the list, as with little attention they yield very
useful crops when many of the choicer fruits fail.
Standards are the best, as then the fruitful branches
are well above the dwarf shrubs or plants by which
they are surrounded. — J. G. H.
WHY FRUIT TREES AEE NOT PLANTED.
The best season for planting fruit trees has now
arrived, and perhaps a few notes on the subject
may not be out of place. My object is not to tell
how to plant or what to plant, but simply to record
a few objections which are made to the planting of
fruit trees, as I frequently get both the owner's and
tenant's ideas on the subject. I can fully under-
stand why the great majority of gardens go from
bad to worse in the matter of being stocked with
fruit trees or bushes. The reason is that the laws
relating to fixity of tenure or compensation for un-
exhausted improvements are very defective, and an
industrious tenant, who has worked for years to
improve another person's property, is liable to re-
ceive no compensation whatever for his outlay. I
will briefly give a case that has come under my own
observation within the past few days. A private
gentleman had taken a house with a large garden
attached to it, with the primary object of finding
amusement in the cultivation of the garden, but the
owner will not grant any lease ; therefore the con-
tract can be cancelled on either side at three months'
notice. The owner said he would make a provision
that the tenant could remove any of the trees or
bushes he planted. But here an opportunity oifers
for any unscrupulous successor to the owner to de-
feat this contract. Supposing he gives the tenant
notice to quit at Lady Day, how could he remove
the trees between that date and Midsummer? The
only object in mo%dng them, except during the
time the trees were at rest, would be simply to pre-
vent the owner of the property from having them or
gaining any advantage by the transaction. Some
say that owners are, as a rule, honourable men.
The tenant in this case said he had no doubt the
owner had good intentions, but, as he remarked
aU contracts of this kind should not be left to
chance, or to whether the parties are honourable or
otherwise. That one man should plant or sow and
another possibly reap the harvest is manifestly un-
fair. Of course, gardens are comparatively small,
and whether they are cropped to their fullest capa-
city does not afEect the welfare of the country to
the extent that the condition of agricultural hold-
ings does. But we are rapidly devoting the agri-
cultural holdings to horticultural purposes in some
form or other, and I think the question of fixity
of tenure and compensation for improvements
ought to receive the serious consideration of
all interested in a subject of really national im-
portance. In the case above referred to, the
tenant, if he could have got any agreement to
make him safe, would have at once started planting
the very best trees and bushes that were procurable,
but under present conditions he will probably only
go in for annual crops that he can make sure of
getting some recompense for, and in this way gar-
dens are very poorly supplied with trees and bushes.
In this locality, where the inhabitants, by reason of
being connected with the naval or military service,
get very short tenancies, no one cares to add value
by planting on other people's property. But if
gardens are left in this precarious condition of
doubt and uncertainty, surely the larger holdings
of market growers ought to claim some attention
from the legislature, as, unless leases are much
longer than they are generally granted, or some
provision is made for ensuring to the tenant some-
thing like a fair value on his outlay in case of the
tenancy being broken, we shaU look in vain for any-
thino- like a full supply of home-gTown fruit of the
highest quaUty. Planting either orchard or fruit
gardens is expensive work, and I have seen a good
456
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 19, 1887.
many tenants very hardly dealt with in the fruit-
producing counties of England, and many an ener-
getic cultivator of the soil has had good cause to
regret the step he took in improving land held even
on fairly long lease by planting, for just as the
trees began to yield profitable returns, he has had
to make room for a stranger to receive the fruits of
his labour. It is, therefore, not at all remarkable
that little advance is made in fruit culture, as com-
paratively few are able to put their knowledge into
practice. But if we are to compete with the
foreigner in the production of first-class fruit, there
can be no question about a thorough change in our
present system of orchard management being neces-
sary, as what we want is garden culture of the most
advanced kind. Orchards of common kinds of fruits
are plentiful enough already, but they occupy the most
profitable land in the kingdom at present. To plant
an acre of first-rate sorts of dwarf Apples or Pears,
and tend the trees properly afterwards, would take
more capital and more skilled labour than the old-
fashioned orchard of standard trees at from 20 feet
to 30 feet apart ; yet there is a good prospect of
even better returns than from the old plan, as no
matter how plentiful common fruit may be, really
choice samples always command a ready sale and
the top price in the market. J. Gboom.
Gosport.
OUTDOOR GRAPES.
I HAVE often been asked by cottagers and others
as to what I considered the best kind of fruit trees
to plant on the walls of or near to their residences.
Where the situation is in the south or south-
eastern counties of England and the aspect of the
wall to be covered is south or nearly so, I have little
hesitation in recommending the Grape Vine.
The following are some of my reasons for so
doing : In the first place, the Vine is during the
greater part of the year exceedingly ornamental.
When in bloom its perfume seldom fails to be
highly appreciated, and the bunches of fruit when
in their stages of development are very interest-
ing, while in the autumn the foliage of some of the
varieties which are adapted for open-air culture
will rival in beauty the foliage of the Virginian
Creeper, or any of our climbing plants. A Vine
can be made to clothe a portion of wall in much
less time than any other kind of fruit tree, and
when properly trained and attended to will ripen
its fruit during most seasons. To secure this, how- 1
ever, it is necessary to thin out the berries as well ^
as the bunches of fruit. All the varieties that will
be recommended will, in ordinary seasons, ripen
their fruit so as to be fit for table. It cannot, of
course, be expected that such fruit will equal in
flavour, &c., forced or hothouse Grapes ; but it
will often be found preferable to the imported
fruit of the shops. In less favourable seasons,
which occasionally occur, the fruit may, never-
theless, ripen sufiiciently for wine-making.
Cottagers have been recommended to plant good
varieties of the Pear or the Apricot in preference to
the Grape Vine, as being likely to prove more profit-
able to them. Without, however, wishing to oppose
this recommendation, there may, nevertheless, be
different opinions on the subject. The Pear is pro-
verbially long in attaining to a fruitful condition,
and in many cases the cottager can hardly afford
to wait so long. In some instances the Apricot
may even be found more profitable than the Pear.
On the south side of a cottage I have seen fine
Apricot trees which annually produced an abundant
crop of good fruit, for which I doubt not the owner
found even a more ready market than either for
Pears or for Grapes. The Vine also comes into
bearing in a much shorter time, and will continue
in a fruitful condition as long as the Pear tree, and
very much longer than the Apricot usually does,
and may be trained either vertically or horizontally.
If the latter method is adopted, the rods should be
trained at not less than IS inches apart, and the
spurs should be nailed in vertically at about 1 foot
apart. All superfluous shoots should be rubbed off,
and the bearing shoots should be stopped at the
eye beyond the embryo bunch, and no shoot should
be allowed to bear more than one bunch ,
If the vertical method of training by which a given
space may be more quickly covered is practised, the
rods should be trained at not less than IS inches
apart, and the bearing shoots should be regulated in
the same manner as has been recommended in the
case of horizontal training, selecting the strongest
and best placed shoots. All the varieties of the Grape
■\'ine strike root freely when inserted as cuttings in
the open air, so that in the absence of rooted or
established plants strong cuttings may, early in the
autumn, be inserted in the soil at the base of the
portion of wall it may be desired to cover. These
cuttings may be inserted at about 18 inches apart,
as in most cases every cutting will grow, and each
allowed to produce one shoot, which should be
trained to the wall vertically, and the surface of the
same may thus be speedily covered. In cases
where the natural soil is heavy, in order to facilitate
the rooting of the cuttings, a portion of light friable
soil or a mixture of leaf soil and sand may be intro-
duced at the base of the wall. Great luxuriance in
the Grape Vine when grown in the open air is not
desirable, as this may tend to diminish or retard
the ripening process of the fruit during our some-
times very short summers. It will be readily ad-
mitted that our summers are, generally speaking,
too short for the ripening of Grapes in the open air.
My object, however, is to show that under favour-
able circumstances and with the necessary atten-
tion, this may to some extent be accomplished.
Near to where I now write, on a wall facing
south-west, is a healthy Vine of the variety known
as Buckland Sweetwater, which has been planted
about six years. Some three years since a shoot or
branch from this Vine was introduced into an
adjacent cool glass structure. This season as well
as the last the Vine has borne heavy crops of fruit
inside the structure as well as outside. The fruit
produced inside has been ripe for some six weeks,
while that outside ripened in the early part of
October. The Grapes under the different condi-
tions are exceedingly dissimilar, and might well be
mistaken for two distinct varieties, those produced
in the open air being decidedly the best, both as
regards the size of bunch and of berry, and
although not so sweet as those ripened under glass,
might nevertheless be preferred by some. " A. D."
in The Garden, October 22 (p. 368), suggests the
use of glass covers during the months of April and
May, with the view of inducing an earlier expansion
of the bloom, and steal a march, as it were, on a
backward season. These glass co\ ers might also be
used with similar or even better effect in assisting
the ripening of the fruit during the latter part of the
month of September or the early part of October.
The varieties of the Grape Vine which may with
anything like confidence be recommended for open-
air culture in this country are, it is true, but few in
number, and the best variety, or that most likely to
ripen satisfactorily, is the Royal Muscadine ; next
to that the common or Dutch Sweetwater. Buck-
land Sweetwater has been mentioned as hav-
ing done well during the present season, as also
that of 18.S6, but I should nevertheless hesitate
to recommend it for this purpose, as I have found
that the Royal Muscadine will ripen under condi-
tions where the former has failed.
Among black \-arieties I would recommend with
confidence the Esperione, an excellent hardy
variety, nearly equal to the Black Hamburgh when
grown under glass, and much hardier. The Black
Cluster may also be mentioned, as it seldoms fails
to ripen its small black bunches of sweet fruit in the
open air.
It is said that the French are in possession of
various hardy varieties of the Grape Vine which
have not yet found their way to this country, and
in the south of Germany varieties are said to exist
which ripen their fruit as early as the month
of August, and if this is the case, such varieties
might be reasonably expected to do so in the south
of England by the middle of October. P. G.
Hiinj St. liilmuiKh.
Gooseberiy Whinham's Industry. When
I was in Lincolnshire recently I found that this
Gooseberry was being largely planted by market
gardeners. One fruit grower in a large way told
me that he regarded it as the coming early red
market Gooseberry, for it is said to ripen three weeks
before any other variety is considered marketable,
and it is also of large size. These are important
qualities. Another is, that the bush is of vigorous
growth, and produces its leaves before its blossoms;
consequently the latter are protected from frosts,
thus making a crop more certain. It is also a very
free cropper. The demand for it has been antici-
pated by fruit tree cultivators, and it can be had at
a moderate price. Any amateur desirous of plant-
ing this Gooseberry should obtain three-year-old
plants. — R. D.
Grapes at Gunnersbury House.— The vinery
in this garden contains a fine rod of Gros Maroo
bearing several bunches which are heavy, but little
shouldered and with large, oval, blue-black berries
covered with a thick bloom. The foliage is also
very handsome, and this reminds me of the great
value at this season of the leaves of the "\'ine,
which form such beautiful and appropriate accom-
paniments to the fruit. Alnwick Seedling, of which
there are some splendid clusters at Gunnersbury
Park, Alicante, West's St. Peter's, Gros Colman, Lady
Downe's, and Madresfield Court also had richly
marked leafage. The Black Hamburgh leafage
turns to a clear yellow, while the others display
various shades of crimson and scarlet. The
foliage of Barbarossa is of exceptional beauty
when fading.
FRUITS UNDER GLASS.
Peaches.
The most pressing work in this department will he
the annual cleansing both of structure and of trees,
tying in and getting everything in working order
for another year. Pruning, as I lately observed,
under the modern method of management is a light
operation ; still, it will be necessary to go over every
tree, not only to smoothe and pare down all im-
perfect work, but also to remove unsatisfactory
shoots that escaped notice when the leaves were
upon them. When large trees have filled their
allotted space, it is sometimes necessary to shorten
back the terminals to triple buds, or, better still, to
cut them out altogether and allow the next promising
shoot to form the leader. By adopting this plan
all point buds can be retained ; there is no fear of
dying back to a wood bud, and the extension system
is maintained in all its integrity. Opponents of
this method at one time told us trees so treated in
course of time would become naked, if not positively
destitute, of fruit-bearing shoots in their centres ;
but after many years' experience I am enabled to
say this is not our case, as we now have trees 30 feet
to 40 feet across the breast which are perfect in
every respect. Indeed, like all extension trainers,
we find these trees, which never receive a check, at
least from the knife, require abundant thinning
through eveiy part, and although half or full stan-
dards, the walls from base to coping are as com-
pletely covered as though they were clothed with
cordons. As soon as the trees are pruned and
loosened from the trellis they should be well
washed— the first time with warm soap water; the
second time with a solution of Gishurst compound,
1 ozs. to li ozs. to the gallon of soft water. Scale is
the most troublesome insect we have to contend
with, but by giving it the dual bath, always draw-
ing the brush, it must be borne in mind, over the
shoot resting on the palm of the left hand firmly,
but carefully outward, not one in a thousand escapes
disturbance, and once moved, scale is no longer
dangerous. The old-fashioned method of painting
with a thick mixture of lime, soap, sulphur, tobacco
water, and clay, fortunately, has had its day, and
this, no doubt, is well, as a concoction of this kind
strong enough to kill the insects not only injures
many buds, but, sealing as it docs every pore, checks
the flow of sap also. The mischief, however, does
not end here, for, independently of the fact that a
weak paint keeps many an enemy snug and warm,
its daily dispersion by the syringe marks the
woolly-coated fruit to an extent that renders it dis-
tasteful.
Nov. 19, 1887.1
THE GARDEN.
457
Late /louses. — If the final arrangement of the trees
in late houses and Peach oases has not been brought
to a close, advantage should be taken of this ftne,
open weather. Want of rain in many parts of the
country having thrown root-pruning and lifting
into arrear, we are now engaged upon work usually
accomplished in October. The wood as well as the
roots, fortunately, is ripe and well furnished with
buds ; consequently, provided the operation is con-
ducted with care and dispatch, there is no reason
why such trees should not bear full crops nest
season. It is not a little surprising to find some
writers, professing to be practical, still advocating
the addition of manure to the soil used for all sorts
of fruit trees. When this is really necessary the
soil must indeed be poor and quite unfit for its pur-
pose, but given a good stiff calcareous or heavy
sandy loam, the addition of a corrective in the
form of old lime rubble, burnt earth, and, perhaps,
a dash of bone dust, where money is flush, is all
that is needed. This compost cannot be used too
dry; it cannot be too firmly beaten in the forma-
tion of the substratum, or part lying beneath the
roots, and the latter being fairly covered, water
to settle it will be found the best rammer. When
all-the roots are washed home, and this layer has
become firm and the reverse of puffy, the final
covering may be placed and well beaten, and then
comes the time for the use of manure, not as a
mixture, but as a moisture-retaining mulching.
These remarks apply to all vigorous young trees,
which, under these conditions we always experience
difficulty in restraining, but when we take in hand
Old ones which require invigorating or resusci-
tating, the bones may be used with decided advan-
tage. Good virgin loam, to which crushed bones
and lime rubble are added, will restore any other-
wise sound, but enervated tree, and, strange as it
may appear, the fruits from these old, but carefully
lifted and replanted trees always attain the fullest
size and the finest quality. Too much manure
forces wood and foliage, but it does not produce
the largest fruit, and for this reason, a compost
that will ensure fine, short-jointed, but the reverse
of gross shoots should always be selected.
Toiuiff stoc7t. — If young trees have not been bought
in, not a day should be lost in making a selection,
as first-comers who know what they are about in-
variably choose the most promising. The strongest
trees, it must be borne in mind, are not always the
best, especially when some nurserymen, by the aid of
manure and purposely omitted root-lifting, make
larger trees in one season than other growers do in
two. Where this system is practised, the manufac-
turer should be allowed a wide berth, as gross, half-
ripened shoots, with hardly any fibrous roots beneath
them, seldom make good trees ; whilst others with
eight or ten short-jointed and well-balanced shoots
supported by a wig of roots never look back, but under
good management increase in strength and stature,
and make sound old timber. In the selection of a
Peach tree the first point should be a clean union
of bud and stock ; the second, a well-balanced head
minus a leader, as Peaches, be they dwarfs or riders,
should always be trained on the fan principle, and,
provided the leaves have not fallen, the pur-
chaser, by the glands or their absence, should be
able to tell whether the tree of his choice, if not
true to name, at least belongs to any given section.
Trees cannot be too carefully lifted, and they should
never be laid in in the nursery, but conveyed at
once to their destination. All mutilated roots
should be carefully cut back, also extra strong ones,
to sound wood, and, provided the compost is fairly
dry, the sooner they are planted the better. If the
weather is very wet or frosty when the trees arrive,
they may be unpacked and placed on a dry, sheltered
border, where they can be well protected, root and
shoot, until a favourable time for planting offers.
Fruit trees cannot easily be planted too shallow, es-
pecially in cold, low-lying gardens, and although
secured to a wall, fence, or trellis, it should
always be done in a way that will allow for settling.
Supernumeraries which require moving at the end
of the first, or at latest the second year, we very
often place on the surface of the border, spread the
roots out evenly in a horizontal position, and lay a
barrowful or two of compost over them ; a good
mulch immediately follows, and the wig of roots
they send upwards instead of downwards is always
satisfactory. The varieties of Peaches and Necta-
rines, unfortunately, are too numerous, and some,
as a matter of course, are better than others.
Many of the new ones have been sent out with very
high characters, but,earliness excepted, few, if any,
of them have yet beaten the old ones.
Plums.
The Golden Drop and other late-hanging sorts by
this time will have been gathered, and the trees if
in pots may be placed in the open air, certainly for
a few weeks, with decided advantage. If planted
out in internal borders or trained on trellises, the
roof-lights (which, by the way, should always be
portable) may be taken in for cleansing and paint-
ing. Should any of the late pot trees require a
shift, or reducing and repotting in fresh compost,
the removal of the last fruit should be the signal
for the commencement of operations. Once re-
duced to the restrictive mode of culture, the Plum
is one of the most accommodating and patient,
enduring trees we have to deal with. It may be
shaken out or washed out, root-trimmed and re-
potted in fresh compost ; or it may be pared down
with a sharp knife, divested of its crocks, and started
again in a pot smaller than the one it has been
taken from. Like the Peach, indeed like all stone
fruit trees, it rejoices in sound calcareous loam,
lime rubble, burnt earth and bones, and the firmer
this mixture is rammed the better it likes it. When
these late trees are taken out of the house, we first of
all ascertain that the balls are thoroughly moistened ;
then, if they do not need a fresh pot, we see that
the drainage is satisfactory and place them on a
dry, well-sheltered border, where frost and drought
can be kept out by a plentiful packing of Fern or
long litter. In this position they will brave all
weathers until the buds begin to swell, when nets
must be cast over them to keep off feathered ma-
rauders ; or, better still, they may be returned to
the newly cleansed house, where they cannot be
kept too cool and airy.
Early forcing trees that were potted in July or as
soon as the fruit was gathered may be left out
until they are wanted for starting. Meantime, ad-
vantage must be taken of dry, mild days for thinning
out the spurs where too thick, and careful washing
with strong soap-water. January is quite early
enough to commence forcing Plums, but they may
be housed before that time, always provided they
are kept as cool and airy as though they were out of
doors.
Chbbeibs
in so many respects require precisely the same treat-
mentas Plums — at least after the ripening stage — that
it is hardly necessary at this season to separate them.
Being very precocious and highly excitable, the main
points in their winter management are a very low
temperature, a thoroughly moist condition of the
roots, and protection from birds. When started,
say in January, they come away well together,
flower and set about the same time, and are subject
to attacks from the same kinds of aphis. Cherries
and Plums in full flower are most delioiously
scented and delightful objects, and it is to be re-
gretted that more of them are not grown specially
for greenhouse and conservatory decoration, where,
independently of the chances of fruit, they are quite
as ornamental as a host of early-flowering shrubs
from which only flowers are expected. With these,
however, as with Apples and Pears in hedgerows
and pleasure grounds, the English public do not
seem to fall in, and why ? — simply because their
delicious produce can be used for culinary or des-
sert purposes when their less profitable companions
are roasting in the sun or resting under north walls.
In how many conservatories might a set of standard
Plums and Cherries be made ornamental and useful,
and all this at a very trifling outlay. Good trees
set with flower-buds can be secured at a very low
rate, and now is the time to pot them. Money
being an object, younger plants can be bought in for
planting on open quarters, where by annual lifting
they soon become models of fertility.
Figs.
The earliest house may now be closed, well watered
with warm water, and syringed once at least daily.
Fire heat for the first ten days will not be necessary,
but the fermenting material, be it leaves pure and
simple or leaves and manure mixed, must be regu-
larly moved to set warmth and genial moisture at
liberty. We always start our first set of Fig trees
and the early vinery at one and the same time, and
although the first will stand the most heat through
all its stages. Muscats perhaps excepted, the two
always receive identical treatment, and the fruit of
the Brown Turkey commences ripening about April
10. Pot trees may be induced to ripen up their
first shows a little earlier, but large fan-trained
trees whose roots are confined to small cubes of
compost surrounded by warm leaves run them very
close, and being less liable to checks, their produce
is not only finer, but more abundant. We have now
a great number of varieties of Figs, many of them
comparatively new, and some no doubt will prove
equal to the old ones, but until their good points
are thoroughly proved we have invaluable material
in Brown Turkey, Early Violet, White Marseilles,
Osborne's Early Prolific, and Negro Largo. Early
Violet is considered by many too small, but it is a
most delicious and prolific %'ariety, often producing
three crops in a year under glass. When grown in
pots it cannot be too highly fed, but for size and
quality this, like the others, should have a limited
root run in an internal border. There is at Bear-
wood, under the care of Mr. Tegg, a single trained
standard tree which fills a house. Through the
summer it is always in fruit, and the quantity may
be counted by the bushel.
Later Jioiisea intended for starting in January
should now be cleansed and painted, the trees
pruned and washed, and, if dry, repeatedly watered.
Figs under complete control are easily managed,
but once the roots are allowed to get away, they are
as troublesome as they are unprofitable. The best
time to root-prune is immediately after the last of
the crop is gathered, but, better late than never, in-
ternal borders may still be operated upon. When
all inert soil and mulching have been removed from
the surface, the external edges of the allotted space
of border should be forked down and the roots
shortened preparatory to re-packing with a narrow
turf wall intermixed with rich calcareous compost.
It is not an unusual plan to trim down the ball with
a sharp edging iron, remove the roots and old com-
post bodily, and replace with a corresponding bulk
annually. Whatever method is adopted, the great
secret of success lies in keeping the roots close at
home, watering and feeding freely throughout the
growing season.
Frojjagating the Fitj. — This is by no means a diffi-
cult matter, as it can be increased by the insertion
of dormant, but well ripened buds, like Vine eyes,
by rooted layers sometimes met with at the base of
a many-stemmed old tree, or, best of all, by well
ripened cuttings. When eyes are used, they are in-
serted in small pots firmly filled with light rich soil,
which in due course are plunged in the vine propa-
gating pit. They make clean, straight stems the
first season, and, being free from sucker-buds, they
can be grown on into single-legged trees upon
orthodox principles. Cuttings selected at pruning
time should have a small piece of two-year-old
wood attached, as it does not readily rot, and be
about 1 foot in length, with a plump wood-bud at the
apex. These are sometimes inserted in the ground
against south or west walls, but the best and most
expeditious method is disbudding as we always dis-
bud Gooseberries and Currants — potting singly and
plunging in sharp bottom heat. Cuttings may
now be put in, but they must not be started before
January. W. G.
"Wire netting. — I tried mre netting as recom-
mended by W. Saugwin over Cherries, Plums, and
Apricots for many years, but never got a good crop. —
R. Warnek.
The best Fears. — I believe that soil and seasons
infiuence the flavour of Pears a good deal. Our
ground is rather heavy, with a cold and badly
drained subsoil. Taking an average of seasons, the
458
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 19, 1887.
best flavoured sorts here are Jargonelle, Williams'
Bon Chretien, Louise Bonne of Jersey, Comte de
Paris, Marie Louise, Winter Nelis, Beurre Superfin,
Josephine de Malines, and Easter Beurre. The late
Mr. John Soott once told me that he considered
Josephioe de Malines the best flavoured Pear in
cultivation. It is certainly a very superior variety,
onlv rather too small to please some tastes. —
J. C. C.
Plums. — Some judgment seems necessary in
selecting varieties of Plums for walls v?ith a north
aspect. Peine Claude de Bavay, one of the very
best Plums, was this year absolutely flavourless on
the north side of a wall here, while, grown on the
south side of the same wall, the flavour was excel-
lent. Jefferson's was equally good on east and
south aspects— the tree on the east being slightly
sheltered from south-east winds. Coe's Golden
Drop was good on south and west walls, and also
as a standard in the open, but in the latter case
the fruit did not get the true colour, but was
green, mottled with crimson. Green Gage as a
standard was one of the very few standards which
gave any fruit, the other exceptions being Victoria
(Denyer's) and Golden Drop. The only other
standard that fruited was a medium-sized red Plum,
unknown to me. This was in the wall garden, and
the lower branches only — below wall line — had any
fruit, plainly showing that exposure was the cause
of failure in this case, for the lower wood was no
better ripened than that of the rest of the tree.
The Green Gage was somewhat sheltered by other
trees.— John C. Tallack, L'n-ermere.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
Spring flowers.— Mr. Hartland, of Cort, wi-ites
to us that " spring delights are all reviving," and sends
U3 garden Primroses, the sweet-scented Hose-in-hose,
the old double mauve Primrose, and the scarlet Wind-
flower. We fear the interval between November and
spring is too long to he safely got through by his early
Eucharis house at Aintree.— Mr. J. Garnett.
Fir Grove, Aintree, Liverpool, has sent us a photo-
graph showing a portion of the Eucharis house at
i'ir Grove. This is the third time of flowering this
year, and some of the plants have eleven spikes of
flowers. The same specimens bloomed three times
last year.
Dendrobium formosum giganteum.— We
have received from Mr. H. Kruse, Dean Farm, East
Farleigh, Kent, flowers of an excellent form of this
splendid Orchid. The flowers are borne at the top
of the stems, and in fine varieties measure fully
5 inches across, the sepals and petals being snow-
white, save a large yellow spot on the lip. It is one
of the finest of the genus.
The Arum Lily.— We have received from Mr.
T. E. Fenwick a photograph showing the Arum Lily
(Calla aithiopica) growing along the sides of the main
street in Albany, West Australia, where it is con-
sidered a perfect weed. The photograph shows a
magnificent growth, but the shadows are so black
that the form of the foliage is barely seen. In our
illustration of the Adelaide garden, Nov. 12 (p. 435),
the plant is shown very well in the foreground.
Chrysanthemums.— Mr. E. Molyneux, Swan-
more Park Gardens, Bishop's Waltham, has sent us
flowers of Chrysanthemums Avalanche and Edwin
Molyneux, two highly promising varieties, and both
belonging to the Japanese section. The flower of
Avalanche was the perfection of beauty, measuring
fully 7 inches across, and of great solidity and
depth. The colour is white and the petals short,
forming a bloom something of the character of
that of the lovely Hiver Fleuri. The other variety
will be valued for its rich crimson hue.
An Apple and Pear Congress for Harpen-
den.— The committee of the Harpenden Horticul-
tural Society have made arrangements for a congress
to take place on December 7, when there will be a
competition among the subscribers to Vhe society
in the several classes for Apples and Pears, and
papers will be read and discussed on such subjects
as the " History of the Apple ; " on " Kipening,
Gathering, and Storing Apples and Pears ; " on the
"Diseases of the Apple;" on the " Culture of the
Apple and Pear ; " and on the " Importation of
Foreign Apples and Pears, and the influence on the
British Fruit Trade." Several leading fruit tree
nurserymen have promised collections of Apples
and Pears. A great deal of local interest is being
taken in this congress, and the gathering is likely
to prove both interesting and instructive.
Amasonia punicea. — A good specimen of this
brilliant stove plant is flowering at Gunnersbury
House, where Crotons and things of this character
are well cultivated. The leaves are about 1 foot
long, deep green, lanceolate in shape, and boldly
serrated at the margin, the terminal inflorescence
with the deep red stem being remarkably bright,
owing to the brilliancy of the coloured bracts,
which bring out the creamy white colour of the
tubular flowers. It is a most cheerful plant at the
present season, and is not difiicult to grow. A
coloured plate was given in The Garden of
Feb. 14, 1885, together with interesting notes
respecting the plant.
Sport from lladame Desgrange Chrysan-
themum.— I send you two flowers of a sport from
Madame Desgrange Chrysanthemum which has
occurred here. I think the flower somewhat dif-
ferent from the sports I have already seen, but shall
be glad of your opinion regarding it. — W. T. HiND-
MAESH, Ahihanlt, Ahiwick.
*,t* Several Japanese Chrysanthemums with
small white flowers similar to those of the variety
sent have been introduced during the past three or
four years, therefore we should not like to say
positively what variety it is. It, however, partakes
strongly of the character of the one known as
Blanche Fleur. It is certainly not a sport from
Madame Desgrange, as it is not only two months
later than that fine variety, but the flowers are
quite distinct in character. — Ed.
The Purple Polygala (P. Chamsebuxus pur-
purea).— I saw a quantity of this charming little
alpine shrub in flower the other day in Messrs.
Bunyard's nursery at Maidstone, and amidst all the
surrounding .dreariness the carpet of foliage and
flowers of the plants were most attractive. But what
I wanttonotice is theluxuriance of itsgrowth in ordi-
nary loamy soil, and without receiving any particu-
lar attention. The position in which it is growing
is high and exposed, and there is no fuss made
about surrounding each plant with stones in imita-
tion of a rockery, as is usually the case. As with
a good many other alpine plants, amateurs make
too much fuss about putting them in this soil and
that soil, under the impression that the plants re-
quire it. One often sees this little Polygala growing
in a hungry peat bed, and sometimes people will
go out of their way to make a limestone or chalk
bed for it, and otherwise coddle it in various ways.
The plant is as easily grown as Box ; all it wants
is a good deep soil, a perfectly open and exposed
position, and time to become established. This
purple variety, with its dense cushions of purple and
gold flowers, looking like miniature Pea blossom, is
much prettier than the typical kind, whose flowers
are unattractive. — W. G.
Notes from Baden-Baden.— Bright and cheer-
ful in these dull days is a well-flowered specimen of
Paranephelius uniflorus. It is a native of the Peru-
vian Andes, and a perennial herb, forming dwarf
rosettes of dark green, curled, thick leaves. It pro-
duces a large Sunflower-like, bright yellow bloom
from 3 inches to 4 inches across. Among other in-
mates of the greenhouse, Nerine pudica, with its
white, and N. humilis major, with its crimson-rose
flowers, as well as a hybrid between these and N.
amabilis (flowers bright rose), are among the
showiest kinds of this genus. A golden yellow-
flowered ofEspring of Kniphofia Leichtliui still
throws up some flower-spikes, and also Kniphofia
natalensis, which has its brick-red flowers loosely
distributed along the spike; the tube is narrow, and
the mouth of it wide open. Outside, a new Meren-
dera from Pamphylia, which has rose-coloured
flowers, Osalis lobata, foliage bright green, very
pleasing, and large yellow flowers, and Iris stylosa
are blooming here ; besides, of course, Hellebores,
the most important being H. niger prsecox, which is
still in great beauty, and I have proved that plants
from carefully selected seeds produce flowers three
times as large as those of the typical form. It is
always in full flower before altifolius comes on, but
it appears that it is nowhere grown largely, and
that its good qualities are scarcely known to horti-
culturists.— Max Leichtlin, Baden-Baden.
■Winter-flowering Salvias for the greenhouse
are not grown so extensively as one would imagine,
having regard to their easy culture, their brightness
when in flower, and the long time they are attrac-
tive. There are about half a dozen kinds that
certainly deserve the attention of all gardeners,
and well-grown specimens may now be seen in
the greenhouse at Kew. The most brilliant of
all is the old S. splendens, and there is not a
showier greenhouse plant now in bloom, its vivid
scarlet flowers being more conspicuous than those
of anything else. Next in importance is S. azurea
grandiflora (S. Pitcheri), which was described in a
recent number of The Garden. The long spikes
of this Sage being of a bright blue, are particularly
attractive when associated, as they are at Kew, with
white Marguerites. A third Salvia is S. involucrata
Bethelli, a variety that a few years ago was thought
much of when Messrs. Cannell used to exhibit it so
finely. This has bright magenta flowers, borne in
large dense clusters, accompanied by large and
brightly coloured bracts, and surmounted by a knob
like tuft of bracts. S. Greigi and S. Grahami are
somewhat similar, both being of a dense and bushy
habit, and having large showy flowers of diffe-
rent shades of carmine-crimson, but they are suffi-
ciently distinct in appearance to justify both being
grown. S. patens is, of course, too well known to
need description.
Public Gardens.
A new recreation ground. — Last Saturday
week the Lord Mayor opened a recreation ground,
the gift of the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and to
be maintained by the corporation. The ground is
about midway between the Kensal Green and
Queen's Park railway stations, and comprises
30 acres, 20 of which will be devoted to sports, and
the remaining 10 have been laid out and planted.
The name of The Queen's Park is given to this
open space.
Hampstead Heath extension. — Earnest en-
deavours are being made to secure Parliament Hill
and the extension of Hampstead Heath, the total
sum required for the 265 acres of land being
£305,000. From a letter, signed by the Duke of
Westminster and Mr. G. Shaw-Lefebvre, we learn
that of this sum £50,000 has been promised by
the two vestries of Hampstead and St. Pancras,
£50,000 will be forthcoming from the City of Lon-
don Parochial Charities Fund under the special
powers obtained last year from Parliament, and
£152,000 has now been voted by the Metropolitan
Board, leaving £53,000 still unprovided for, which
the committee have undertaken to do their utmost
to raise by public subscriptions. It is hardly
necessary to point out the immense public advan-
tage to London of securing the land in question
before it is built over. Hampstead Heath is one of
the most beautiful and healthful of all the open
spaces round London ; it is also one of the most
popular. But it owes much of its value to the fact
that the adjoining land which overlooks it is unbuilt
on. The acquisition of Parliament Hill, and the
other lands lying between Hampstead and Higbgate,
and their addition to the heath, will form an open
space of about 500 acres, in a part of London very
deficient in secured open spaces, and where the
population is increasing at an enormous rate. The
view of London from Parliament Hill is unequalled
in range and beauty, and would alone afford a good
reason for its acquisition by the public. Under all
these circumstances, there is no doubt but that the
public will respond to the appeal made, and that the
required amount will be raised without difficulty,
Already the committee have received numerous
promises of assistance, the total amount so sub-
scribed being £24,000.
Xov. 19, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
459
Rose Garden.
T. W. GIRDLESTOSE.
ROSE LAMAEQUE.
If a Rose grower be asked what is the most
beautiful, the most free flowering, the most
perpetuil, the most Tigorous, the purest white
climbing Rose in cultivation, there is but one
variety that he can conscientiously name as pos-
sessing all these good qualities. He may look
back and think of some old house half hidden
behind a snowy curtain of Felicitc-Perpetue,
but that is a Rose that blooms but once a year ;
or the recollection may revive of some fence all
smothered with huge masses of Madame Plan-
Ko, there is no other Rose to fulfil all the above
conditions but one raised some threescore years
ago, and which, though men have been raising
Roses ever since in all parts of the world and
have sent out innumerable varieties, is still
unsurpassed, namely, Marcchal's great gain,
distributed in 1830, tlie exquisite Noisette La-
marque.
Lamarque is one of the most beautiful of all
Roses ; of white climbers, the best. The flowers
being produced in clusters, the plant continues
well furnished for a considerable time ; •while its
thoroughly perpetual character ensures a re-
newal of the display almost as soon as the first
blooming is done. For cutting, its flowers are
delightful, whether for vases or (in the bud
very bright and cheerful green, constitute a con-
siderable additional attraction, although never
of the red-brown tint so much admired in many
of the Noisette-Teas.
The exhibitor is the only Rose grower to
whom Lamar(|Ue is not the most invaluable of
all white Roses, for its flowers cannot easily be
obtained large enough to compete successfully
in the keen struggles and eager encounters of
the wars of the Roses of to-day, but for every
other purpose for which Roses are appreciated,
its pure and exquisite blooms are universal fa-
vourites ; and while there might be a white Rose
hardier, one with larger flowers, one even more
vigorous, there is no white climbing Rose of
comparable beauty which combines so many
Rose Lamarqne. Engraved for The Gaeden from a photograph.
tier like a great snowdrift, dazzling white in !
the sun, but who shall recognise the snowdrift
in September ! Or, if he has been an exhibitor,
he may recall the triumphs at the shows of his
darling Niphetos ; but vigorous ! — liow would
Niphetos fulfil the fourth condition ? Perhaps
memories of the delight in Boule de Neige when
it was new may invest it with an interest that
enhances its abundant charms, but to include
this the expression "vigorous climber " w ould
need to be somewhat stretched. Then why
not Rosa polyantha, the rampant, the incredibly
profuse, the white of whites ? Alas 1 there is
no sign of bloom in autumn, and, besides, to
how many people is a " single " any Rose at all (
state) for bouquets, and the amount obtainable
for the latter purpose from a good-sized plant is
surprising. The plant, unfortunately, is not per-
fectly hardy, but if planted on a south or south-
easterly aspect, where the wood may get well
ripened, and where in exceptionally hard weather
a mat can temporarily be tacked over it, it will
not receive permanent injury, even in such a
severe winter as that of 1886-87, when there
were several times registered as much as 25^ of
frost. It is preferably planted — like all other
Teas and Noisettes — on Brier seedling or cutting
stocks, when in a favourable situation it will
soon cover a large area. It has the true Noisette
tendency to retain its leaves, which, being of a
fiist-rate and essential qualities, or which has so
good a claim to admission among the few
"everybody's Roses" as Lamarque.
SHORT NOTES.— ROSES.
Eeine Marie Henrietta is a very valuable
climber for the fine flowers it produces late in the
autumn, although its first flowering is about the ear-
liest of all. It is undoubtedly the most beautiful red
climbing Rose, not only for its vigour and freedom, but
also for the pure colour of its flowers, which are not
iu the least tinted with lilac.
Ainiee Vitaert is one of the most valuable of all
climbing Koses, owing to the lateness of its time of
flowering, whereby it comes in most usefully after
460
THE GARDEN.
nearly all other climbiDg Roses are past. It is im-
mensely vigorous and free growing, with the additional
advantage of being almost an evergreen, and the
beauty and effectiveness of the great trusses of small
white flowers upon the plant are greatly enhanced by
their being displayed against such a dense green back-
ground.
Jules Finger is a Tea-scented Rose, about which
very diverse opinions have been expressed, and its
rather unusual rosy tint is not equally attractive to
everyone, but it has undoubtedly won many admirers
during the past season. It was constantly good in
form and well coloured, and was especially fine in Sep-
tember when its somewhat metallic tint becomes less
conspicuous, and both in shape and colour the variety
approaches more nearly to Catherine Mermet.
Cornelia Koch is another Tea (or Noisette,
though not flowering in clusters nor of climbing habit)
which is not often seen, although it is a good Rose
and has this year been exceedingly attractive. The
Tp-hite flowers, tinted with lemon at the base, are large,
very full, and well formed, and being produced freely
in the autumn render the plant eminently worthy of
cultivation. Oddly enough, as Jules Finger in autumn
resembles Catherine Mermet in colour, so does the
new sport from the latter (The Bride) exactly recall
the colouring of Cornelia ICoch.
MAKING GROUPS OF ROSES.
Fashions as regards other flowers may change, but
the Rose willalwayshold its own,andthequestion has
often been asked in my hearing, why cannot the
beds and borders of Roses be placed in more con-
spicuous positions .' The question has generally
been met by stating that the Rose is very oapri-
cious. It must have rich food and generous stimu-
lants, and the odours emitted from these are some-
times not pleasant. But this answer does not carry
conviction. A bed of Roses need not necessarily
be a heap of littery manure, and there are now
plenty of stimulants which do not emit an unpleasant
smell, and, whether we like it or not, Roses must
again, as they did in the old days, form the most
conspicuous objects of the fjower garden. The
main thing is to thoroughly prepare the site. Half
the attacks of insects are due to the want of pre-
paration in the beginning. No one who plants a
mass o£ Roses should be content with less than S
feet in depth of good soil. If the subsoil is gravel
or sand, place a layer of strong clayey loam, or at
any rate the heaviest soil obtainable, in the bottom.
This will prevent all the strength being wasted
away in the necessary waterings during hot weather.
It will also keep the soil in a more equable condi-
tion. None but strong, vigorous growing Roses
should be planted, and there are now plenty to select
from. I woulil rather have duplicates of a really good
thing than be tempted to plant a weakly grower
because occasionally it produces a grand bloom. If
standards are planted they should only be used
sparingly near the centre of the group, and the
stems should be hidden by dwarf bushy plants, if
possible on their own roots. To ensure continuous
blooming, the buds must be thinned early and plenty
of nourishment must be given. The beds should
be heavily mulclied in spring, but the manure
should be covered deep enough to keep it from be-
coming an eyesore. A mulch covered with soil is
just as efficient as if exposed; indeed, I sometimes
think that the heavy mulch of manure encourages
the spread of mildew, by preventing t!ie necessary
freshening up which the stirring of the surface with
the fork and hoe gives. Surface stirring, as we all
know, does tend to keep up a healthy atmosphere
around the plants.
This is the right season to prepare the beds ;
when time has been given for settlement, send the
order to the nursery, and when the Roses arrive,
shorten back the longest roots and plant imme-
diately. It is better to pay a little more for strong,
healthy plants than to buy weakly ones because
they happen to be cheap. If budded or grafted
plants must be used, give preference to those on the
Brier. Some kimls, especially among tBe new Roses,
cannot be obtained on their own roots. In planting
worked Roses bury thewhole of the stockand in due
time roots will be emitted from the Rose about the
point where the bud has been inserted. Atter-
[iS'ov. 19, 1887.
wards cuttings can be rooted and a stock of own
root Roses created.
If the beds have been well prepared in the first
instance, and are well cared for afterwards, a few
summer-floweringplants such as Stocks, Mignonette,
or other sweet-scented showy annuals may be
planted over the surface. Beds in simple shape,
such as circles or ovals, are the most effective.
Tea Roses, which are the most beautiful as well as
the most continuous bloomers, should be largely
planted, though I always think they are best
grouped by themselves. — H., in Field.
PLANTING BRIERS AND ROSES.
Haedly have we broken ground in this direction
than we are confronted with a unique difficulty, the
legacy of the late drought. The ground within
varied distances of 6 inches to a footof the surface
is found as hard as iron and as dry as dust. This
physical condition of the earth renders it abnor-
mally difficult to get the Briers out or the Roses
into the ground. The former leave all their roots
behind them in the banks and hedgerows, and the
latter go into a parched root run. In an experience
of many years I never found the soil and subsoil so
hard and dry in November as this year. It is asto-
nishing how closely correlated these two physical
conditions are — the drought, in fact, causing the
extreme and almost impenetrable hardness. Any-
one engaged in planting operations, or in breaking
up ground for Briers or Roses, will quickly dis-
cover how the two qualities go together. Not
only is the subsoil in many cases immovable,
unless with crowbar or pick, but all the lower
portion of the cultivated tilth as well. Soil of
almost inferior character is found soft and easily
workable till the line of moisture is reached.
Beyond this line it is almost as hard as the sub-
soil itself. As to the loss of the Brier roots
through the drought, some will say this matters
but little. They are mostly so barbarously treated
either in lifting or afterwards, that practically,
and so far as benefit to the Briers is concerned,
they are about as well left in the bank, as frost
and air dried on the Briers. That, however, is
not my view of the matter, as I have found that
few things pay better in Brier hunting than due
care of the roots in lifting and prompt planting
of Briers, as the only sure way of giving them fair
play afterwards. But if the roots are left behind
through the sheer dryness of their runs, either of
these methods of husbanding the vital natural
resources of the Briers becomes impossible.
The next best thing to do is to finish Brier
hunting and planting at the earliest possible
moment. November seems the great re-rooting
month for plants in general, and Briers and Roses
in particular. November fogs, if they do not
stimulate to new root growth, at least conserve the
fluids and growing powers of the Briers, while
fresh roots are being produced, mutilated ones
repaired, arrested fibres fresh starteil, growing
forces, resources thus conserved are equivalent to
fresh powers imparted. Nay ; possilily tliey are
yet more potent in resuscitating the arrested grow-
ing powers of the Briers. Be all this as it may,
experience demonstrates beyond possiliility of
doubt that he who would bud the finest Briers
next summer must plant them betimes the
previous November. Nor is early planting all,
though probably the most powerful factor in com-
manding success. Very much also depends on the
root-runs. The worse and more scantily rooted the
Briers the better and more stimulating the root
runs should be made. No surer road to failure
could be pointed out than the planting of rootless
Briers in hard, dry, poor tilths. Hence the super-
lative importance this year of breaking up the hard,
dry tilths, enriching them with compost or manure
if poor, and watering them if dry, which much
of the soil I have recently seen is. The advice
to water soil for Briers or Roses in November will
sound strange to many readers. Bat, then, most of
us are familiar with a most useful canon in horti-
culture— that exceptional conditions demand excep-
tional treatment; and as to plant in parched up
root-runs is to invite failure— and that is the state
of much ground about to be devoted to Briers and
Roses this November— it follows that it may be as
needful to water before or after planting this
November as if it were June. And just as gentle and
alterative rather than forcing stimulants should be
given when they are most needed, that is, when the
patient is in the weakest and most hopeless condi-
tion, viz , when the Briers and Roses have lost their
finest roots, or have suffered the most from the
vicissitudes of the most uiigenial Rose season of
recent times. Hence the special importance of early
and skilful planting in specially enriched root-runs
this season. The great lesson of last year's drought
in regard to Roses and most other garden plants
was the enforcement of the superlative importance
of deep cultivation. Success crowned the deep
tilths everywhere, and cruel failure dogged the
course of the shallow ones with blighted foliage, the
non-production of flowers, or absolute barrenness.
Hence let all who have given their Briers and Rose s
2 feet of good soil give them 3 feet, and the Briers
will grow the stronger, and the Roses more sweet
and beautiful "ever afterwards," to use the true
formula of our popular novelists. Hoetus.
PLANT GROWING FOR MARKET.
There are few nurseries where Fern growing as a
commercial enterprise is carried on to the extent it
is by Mr. May, of Edmonton, As one wanders
through house after house, the quantity of Ferns is
quite bewildering. Adiantums, Pterises, and Phle-
bodiums may be seen in countless thousands and
in all stages, from small plants in 2A-inch pots to
good-sized specimens in U-inch and 7-inch pots, all
looking vigorous and healthy. Pteris Mayi, which
is now becoming very popular as a market Fern, and
deservedly so, may be seen in quantity. Without
doubt, it is one of the most distinct forms of Pteris
of recent introduction. The Golden Polypody
(Phlebodium aureum) is a handsome-looking Fern,
distinct and effective, and now very popular in the
market. The Maiden-hair Fern is always in request,
and several large houses at Edmonton are entirely
filled with it, every inch of available space being
utilised. In addition to the stages being thickly
covered with plants, pans are suspended from the
rafters, and in these are placed (i-inoh pots, each
containing a Fern. The beautiful specimens of
Adiantum farleyense, A. rhodophyllum, and A.
Yictoriic grown in this manner showed how well
this treatment suited them. Nor was this mode
restricted to Ferns only. In one house was a fine
lot of young Crotons, strong, dwarf, and brilliantly
coloured, and here the roof also had to carry its
share of suspended plants. Of course, this method
would only answer in houses of the modern style,
where the rafters are small and a greater amount of
light is obtained. In another house was a lot of
theclimbingFern(Lygodiumscacdens). Large plants
stood in a long row at the edge of a raised bed, a
cord was run along the length of the house just
beneath the roof, and from this, strings, to which
the growths were trained, were carried downwards,
three or four being provided for each plant. Treated
in this way this Fern is found to be very valuable
for cutting, as by cutting the string w-ith the Fern,
sprays can be obtained to any length desired.
Asparagus plumosus nanus is also grown very
well. In one large house it is planted out in
beds on either side and trained up to the roof. It
had only been planted a short time, but it was
sending up numbers of fine, strong shoots, and,
with plenty of root-room and head-room, no doubt
it will grow to a great size, keep healthy for a long
time, and furnish an unlimited quantity of elegant
sprays for cutting, for which purpose it is very valu-
able. In a cut state it will keep fresh for as many
days as delicate Fern fronds will hours, and it is
quite as beautiful.
Plants of the old double white Primula filled an-
other large house. It would be impo.^sible to find
another batch of plants stronger, healthier, or giving
greater promise of quantity of flower than these
were. They had already begun to bloom, and as
the flowers are gathered daily the plants will not
Nov. 19, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
461
become eshaustocl, but continue to give a plentiful
supply of white flowers throughout the winter
season.
Tree Carnations, especially Miss Joliffe, are grown
on a very large scale. The beautiful pink flowers
of this variety are very popular in the market. Mile.
Carle was in flower, and undoubtedly this is the best
white variety of recent introduction, and one likely
to become a great favourite. The habit of the plant
is strong and vigorous, the foliage being broad and
distinct, and the flowers, very chaste in appearance,
are freely produced. The colour of the flower is
white, with just a faint creamy tint. Nothing but
self-coloured kinds are grown, as for market work
the flowers must be distinct and efEeotive.
A. H.
Stove and Greenhouse.
ROGIERA GRATISSIMA.
This remarkably pretty and free-flowering green-
house shrub is more often seen in an unsatis-
factory condition than in the shape of a fine
healthy specimen, notwithstanding the fact that
it is of very easy culture, provided a few simple
points are borne in mind. In the first place, it
is essentially a greenhouse plant, succeeding
well in the company of and under the same con-
ditions as Camellias, Heaths, and others of this
class. In a warm, stutiy atmosphere the growth
becomes weak and the plant flowers but sparingly,
and the foliage becomes infested with insect
pests. In the next place, good open soil must
be used and thorough drainage ensured, for
stagnant moisture around the roots is very detri-
mental to the health of the plant. In the case
of large specimens, a very suitable compost for
them is equal parts of good turfy loam and
fibrous peat, with a liberal admixture of silver
sand and a few nodules of charcoal mixed
through the soil ; while, for young plants, less
loam may with advantage be used. A few small
bushes of this plant here have been in flower for
weeks, and, from the number of unopened blos-
soms, will continue a long time. Where a
cluster of bloom has been cut ofl^, the secondary
branches immediately below are already showing
flower-buds. The blossoms are very useful for
cutting, as they answer so well for bouquets or
button-holes. Though the natural habit of the
plant is that of a much-branched bush, I have
seen it trained to the root of a greenhouse, and
also employed for covering the end of a struc-
ture, in each case with perfectly satisfactory
results. Both these specimens were planted out
in a brick enclosure prepared for their reception,
and in much the same kind of soil as above re-
commended.
The propagation of the P,ogiera is by some
regarded as diflicult, but I have never found it
to be the case, provided the proper kinds of cut-
tings are obtained. By far the best are those
furnished by a plant that has been shortened
back and kept rather warmer in order to en-
courage it to break freely. When these young
shoots are about a couple of inches long, they
may be taken off and inserted in pots filled to
one half of their depth with broken crocks and
the remaining portion with sandy peat. They
will require to be kept in a close propagating
case at an intermediate-house temperature till
rooted, when air must be given and the young
plants gradually inured to a cooler structure.
If a couple of plants are cut back in order to
supply cutting.s, and one of them is kept in the
greenhouse and the other placed in a warmer
structure, the shoots that are produced in the
case of the last-named strike more readily and
with a greater measure of success than those
that have grown in tire greenhouse. This pecu-
liarity may be noticed in the case of most plants ;
hence the propagator with any difficult subjects
will prefer as cuttings the shoots that have been
drawn out, as it is called. Without this the
propagation of Heaths would be a far more diffi-
cult matter than it is at present, but in most
cases the young plants are, as soon as possible,
sufficiently hardened off to be again placed in a
greenhouse temperature. T.
IMPATIENS HOOKERIANA.
Ii' this Indian Balsam were as free-flowering as
Impatiens Sultani or I. Hawkeri it would un-
doubtedly be more cultivated than it is, for in the
beauty of its blossoms it is surpassed by none, and
it blooms during the dull winter months when
showy flowers are scarce. To this latter circum-
stance may to some extent be attributed the reason
of its flowering so seldom, for although buds may
be formed, the probability is that should the
weather be dull and foggy they will drop without
expansion. This Impatiens is a stout growing-
species, with fleshy stems and rather thick succu-
lent foliage. When growing freely in a moist
atmosphere, roots nearly the thickness of a straw
will be pushed out from various parts of the stem,
and more particularly from the under side of the
principal branches. They quickly reach the soil
and soon become established. The flowers are
borne on the upper parts of the shoots and are
nearly a couple of inches across. They are pure
white in colour, with irregular blotches of crimson
on the lower petals and towards the interior of the
throat. A very conspicuous feature of the flower is
the long curved spur, which reaches a length of
nearly 3 inches. The blooms are stout and wax-like
in texture, and last in beauty several days. To
flower this Balsam it rerfuires particular treatment,
for under the same conditions as the ordinary run
of stove plants it will flourish and keep in good
health for years without ever producing a single
flower bud. The treatment by which I succeeded
in flowering it was to take a few cuttings about the
end of February, choosing for the purpose the upper
parts of the very stoutest shoots, and when put
siDgly into small pots of sandy soil and kept close
for a few days they soon pushed forth roots. As
soon as sufficiently rooted to be hardened off the
plants were shitted on, and placed in a light posi-
tion in the stove, where they were liberally syringed
and encouraged in every way to make rapid growth.
By midsummer the plants, having been shifted on
when necessary, will have reached a considerable
size, when they must be moved into a cooler struc-
ture and kept somewhat drier in order to ensure a
season of rest. By the end of August or beginning
of September they must be returned to their position
in the stove, and, of course, more water given.
After a time the ilower buds will make their ap-
pearance, and then is a critical time, for the buds
drop without any warning. So liable to fall are
they, that for two seasons I had many buds, but not
a s ingle flower, while last year several blossoms
opened beautifully, and a fine show of bloom was
promised, but a few dense foggy days worked sad
havoc among them. Mr. Lynch, of the Botanic
Garden, Cambridge, was the first to point out the
propertreatment f or the flowering of this Balsam, and
he succeeded in producing some handsome flower-
ing specimens. H. P.
Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums as pillar plants.
— I never saw Pelargoniums used in this manner
more efllectivelythan in one of the long span-roofed
houses at the "Chilwell Xurseries. The plants were
trained up the pillars that support the roof on
either side of the walk. The house is a low span-
roof, 100 feet by 12 feet, and is an excellent one
for the growth of plants. The Ivy-leaved Pelar-
goniums are in 8-inch pots, and when in full
flower a little weak manure water is occasionally
given. The plants bloom with marvellous freedom
in full exposure to the light. Of double varieties
there were Madame Thibaut, deep pink; Emile Le-
moine, orange-scarlet; Abel Carri&re, soft magenta;
and Comte Horace de Choiseul, pale rosy pink. Of
single varieties, Madame Reiterhart, very free and
fine; Mens, de Bovinge, magenta-crimson; and
I'Elegante. This does not exhaust the list of varie-
ties used, but the names include the best varieties
in bloom on the occasion of my visit. — R. D.
HARDY PLANTS SUITABLE FOR FORCING.
Many hardy shrubs and herbaceous plants supply
a variety of choice cut flowers during the winter
and spring months, and among them may be noted
the following: —
Azalea mollis.— This is one of the best as
well as most easily managed hardy plants now
used for forcing purposes. The flowers range in
colour from primrose to red, and are more or less
fragrant. Nice plants well furnished with flower
buds can now be had from any of the metropolitan
and provincial nurserymen at from 24s. to 36s. per
dozen. As soon as the plants are received from the
nursery they should be potted into well-drained
7-inch pots, using a compost consisting of three
parts light loam and one of sweet leaf-mould, with
a liberal sprinkling of coarse sand added. This in
the process of potting should be worked well round
the ball of earth and roots with a flat rammer. The
plants should then be stood in a cool house or pit
and given sufficient water to settle the soil about
the roots ; they may be afterwards introduced into
the forcing house in small quantities as required.
Where there is no regular forcing house at hand, an
early vinery or Peach house will suit the plants
until the Amines and trees come into leaf, when the
Azaleas should be removed to an intermediate
house or a warm greenhouse.
Deutzia cebnata fl.-fl. and gbacilis are so
well known as to call for but few remarks, further
than saying that the best results are secured from
plants which have been planted out in a sunny
aspect in prepared soil two years before being potted
up at the end of August for forcing. As a decorative
plant, the Deutzia, when growing in pots ranging in
size from 3 inches to 12 inches in diameter, has
but few equals. Young plants which have been
repotted as soon as they have done flowering in
spring and afterwards gradually hardened oft before
being plunged out of doors early in June, where
they should be kept well supplied with water at
the roots during their growing period, come in very
useful for supplying early flowers. Plants thus
grown make a less luxuriant, but more short- jointed
and consolidated growth earlier in the season than
would otherwise be the case. Hence the advisa-
bility of growing a small percentage of the plants
in pots for early forcing.
The common Lilac and many of its varieties
are very easily brought into flower during the winter
and spring months, the best of which, however, are
the French varietie s S. rubra de Marley and S. Souvenir
de le Spath. The Mock Orange (Pbiladelphus coro-
narius and Gordonianus), with Viburnum Opnlus
(Guelder Rose) and V. plicatum, are also most
desirable plants for forcing, as also are Prunus
sinensis flore-pleno, Weigela hortensis nivea, a
beautiful free-flowering, pure white variety, and
Kalmia latifolia.
Rhododendrons. — Within the last few years
great improvements have been effected in this popu-
lar class of American plants, which produce flowers
of the most gorgeous scarlet, crimson, and allied
colours ; consequently there are few gardens of any
pretensions in which the improved types of the
Rhododendron are not more or less extensively
grown for the winter and spring embellishment of
the greenhouse and conservatory. The following
varieties will flower with comparatively little forc-
ing : Buule de Neige, white ; Blandyanum, rosy
crimson ; Fair Rosamond, pink ; Purity, white,
faint yellow eye ; limbatum, white, edged scarlet ;
Bouquet de Flore, blush, spotted ; fastuosum fl.-pl.
mauve, double ; Sir Robert Peel, spotted crimson ;
Kate Waterer, rose, yellow centre ; Brayanum, rosy
scarlet; Miss Owen, blush, red spots; and Mar-
chioness of Lansdowne, pink spotted.
Spie-EA (Hoteia) japonioa. — In many gar.den-
ing establishments this useful and effective plant i.s
grown extensively and systematically for house and
462
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 19, le
conservatory embellishment. Annually from April
to July, as the plants have done flowering they
should, while thoroughly moist at the roots, be
divided and planted in a favourable situation out-
of-doors in rows from 15 inches to 18 inches apart
according to the size of the plant aimed at, and at
the same distance asunder in the rows. The plants
should then be watered and mulched, after which,
with the exception of lieeping them free from weeds,
and in the event of the summer being a dry one,
giving them frequent supplies of water at the roots,
they will take care of themselves for sixteen or
seventeen months. Where batches of the Spirsea
were thus treated in the summer of 188fi, the pre-
sent is a good time to take up a batch and pot them
in suitable-sized pots. This done, water and stand
the plants on coal ashes in a cold pit, from whence
they can be taken to the forcing house as required.
In the meantime it will be advisable to put a small
batch of plants in the Mushroom house or other
suitable place for early work, and as soon as the
plants have started into growth they should be
gradually inured to light and be finally removed to
the forcing house proper to develop their flowers.
When the plants are growing they should be fre-
quently watered with manure water. The rose-
coloured Spiraia palmata, although inferior to the
Astilbe barbata — as the Spirsea japonica of old is
now called — for general usefulness, should also be
grown, if only on account of its colour, but it will
not, unlike A. barbata, bear hard forcing.
DiBLYTEA SPBCTABILIS is a most beautiful herba-
ceous plant. The spikes of pale rose-coloured flowers
render it a charming plant for conservatory decora-
tion. It is also useful in a cut state for filling large
vases, fringed with its own graceful foliage. The
plant must not be hurried into flower, but should be
brought on gradually in a Mushroom house, or early
vinery, or Peach house, in which case a flower-pot
sufficiently large to cover the crown and to allow of
the plant making 8 inches or 9 inches of growth
should be placed over each plant. This will induce
the flower-spikes to push well above the foliage.
The pots so placed should be gradually removed to
inure the plants to light.
Pot Eoses having been pruned as soon as they
have shed their leaves, and the surface soil removed
and replaced with a top-dressing of three parts sound
calcareous loam and one of horse manure (the
drainage having been previously examined), may be
stood on ashes in a cold pit, or, failing the latter
accommodation, plunged below the rims in coal
ashes in a sunny, dry situation. A few of the earliest
varieties may be put into heat at once to supply
early blooms, supplementary batches being intro-
duced at short intervals. H. W. W.
Ardisia crenulata. — When at Messrs. J. R.
Pearson and Sons' nursery at Chilwell some time
since my attention was called to some plants
of this grown from seed sown about the end of
March. It takes four years for the plants to grow
into flowering size from seed, so as to secure
the first crop of berries. Jlr. Pearson told me that
plants raised from cuttings take from ten to twelve
years to grow into good size and become laden with
berries ; and he further stated that since they have
raised jjlants from seed they have never been with-
out stock. The Ardisia is an admirable plant for
decoration, as it comes out so brightly by gaslight,
and coming in with the Chrysantliemums is use-
ful for mingling with them. — R. D.
Sichorisandra thyrsiflora. — Where a glass
structure maintained at a stove temperature has to
be kept gay at all seasons, the merits of this Dicho-
risandra as an autumn and winter-flowering plant
will be fully recognised, for just now it forms a
very conspicuous feature in the stove, and is withal
a plant of easy culture ; indeed, its cultivation may
be summed up as that accorded to the general run
of stove plants. It is a thick fleshy-growing subject,
whose stout stems reach a height of about a yard,
and are clothed with very handsome foliage. The
flowers are borne in dense terminal clusters, and are
of a deep violet-purple colour. They last a long
time in perfection, and as a succession is main-
tained a few specimens will yield blooms for several
months. There are other members of the genus.
but this old-fashioned species is the best, while one
(D. Aubleti) is a pretty blue-flowered climbing
plant that requires a stove temperature. — H. P.
Nerine crispa. — This is a desirable species,
although it has not the brilliant colour and gold
spangling of N. Fothergilli major, but is yet very
useful, especially when cut. In the society's garden
at Chiswick several plants, each of which bears a
close head of bloom on a slender stem, are flowering
profusely. The segments are narrow, crinkled, and
pinky white, and, owing to their delicate refined
character, may be made vise of for choice decora-
tions. The plant is of easy cultivation, and succeeds
well in a cold house. It is not rare, but very seldom
seen where it ought to be, viz., in small greenhouses
in which flowering plants at the present time are
generally absent.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Hkkbaceous Calceolaeias. — Young plants raised
from seed sown in summer should now be in con-
dition for potting on. On no account niu.st they be
allowed to remain too long in the small pots, as if
the roots become cramped the plants will not grow
freely afterwards. These Calceolarias like rich,
moderately light turfy loam, with plenty of rotten
manure and some leaf mould mixed with it, adding
to the whole a moderate sprinkling of sand. If the
plants have made fair progress they will require
4-inch pots. They do best if stood on some mois-
ture-holding material, such as fine coal ashes, shell
gravel, or sand, which should be kept quite moist,
by which means the edges of the leaves will be
moist in the mornings — a condition that not only
promotes free growth, but also tends to keep down
aphides that are always troublesome if the plants
are stood on dry shelves or stages.
Shrubby Calceolaeias. — The shrubby varieties
of Calceolaria are not so much used for greenhouse
decoration as they were at one time ; nevertheless,
there are few plants more effective or that give
such a long succession of flowers when they
get large and are well managed. This espe-
cially refers to the yellow varieties, such as the old
and well-known aurea floribunda. With fair treat-
ment the plants will last for many years, increasing
in size and flowering profusely. When they have
attained sufficient size to show their shrubby
character the tendency that the plants have when
young to die off suddenly during spring and summer
disappears. Pot specimens that have been used
through the past summer should now be cut in
freely, shortening the shoots well back to keep the
plants compact and bushy. After cutting in give
less water, simply keeping the soil slightly moist
until new growth appears. They should be stood
in a house or pit where a greenhouse temperature is
kept up for the winter, giving them plenty of light,
with air, when the weather is favourable. Stout
examples that have bloomed in beds during summer
if taken up and potted any time in autumn before
they are injured by frost make moderate-sized
specimens the summer following. Seedlings of the
shrubby kinds of Calceolaria require to be treated
similarly to those of the herbaceous section, giving
them soil that is well enriched and containing plenty
of vegetable matter. Stand them during the winter
in a house or pit where they will not be too far
from the glass, for as the plants necessarily have to
make much of their growth in the dark winter
months, if at all short of light, the foliage is thin
and deficient in the substance essential to the pro-
duction of a good crop of flowers.
Primulas. — The early batch of Primulas will
now be pushing up their flower stems; the plants
should be stood where they will be exposed to all
the light possible. The nearer they can be placed
to the roof of the house or pit they occupy the
better, especially if a low temperature is kept up.
Primulas do better with a night temperature of 45°
in the winter than when kept much lower, as then
more air can be given them ; but when, as usually
happens in private gardens, the stock lias to be
grown with other things, less heat has often to
suffice, and under such conditions the extra light
corrects the disposition that Primulas have when
lept cool in the winter to damp off at the bottom.
If any of the early sown plants are wanted to bloom
in spring the flowers should be pinched out as they
appear, for if they are allowed to bloom con-
tinuously now, they will be so far exhausted
before the time they are required as to cause the
flowers to come poor and weak. Where a sowing
was made with a view to the, plants coming later
into bloom, if not already in the pots in which they
are to flower, they should be at once moved ; 5-inoh
pots will in most cases be large enough for late
stock of this description. There is nothing gained
by giving too much root-room, as whatever assist-
ance may be required later on can be given by sup-
plying manure water.
Double Primulas. — These Primulas are most
useful when treated so as to have the plants large
and strong enough to bloom well during the early
months of the year, at which time their flowers
come in useful for bouquets and button-holes and
for arranging in small stands. Their lasting pro-
perties adapt them for cutting better than the
single sorts. A temperature of from 45" to 50'
should if possible be given these double Primulas,
as they are more impatient of cool treatment than
the single forms, and if the plants are placed where
they can have something like the warmth named
they will yield a much larger quantity of flowers.
If the pots are full of roots, weak manure water
may be given at times. Younger plants of double
Primulas that were raised from cuttings or divided
crowns put in later in summer must have a tempe-
rature not lower than that mentioned, as without
this they will make little progress and be liable to
damp off. Plenty of light during the dull season is
important in growing double Primulas; conse-
quently they should be stood as close to the roof of
^he structure in which they are kept as possible.
Large-flowered Pelargoniums. — The time
of shifting these Pelargoniums into the pots in
which they are intended to bloom depends on
whether the plants were headed down when the
principal crop of flowers was over, or they were
kept on blooming until later in the summer.
Such as were cut down early will already have re-
ceived their final potting and have made propor-
tionate progress. I'he object should be to so treat
the plants in the early stages of their growth that
they will require very little support by sticks and
ties. This is best effected by tying the strongest
shoots well out, leaving the weaker ones in a more
erect position. By this means the growth of the
whole will be more equal and the specimens be kept
bushy and stout. This applies more particularly to
the exhibition varieties, many of which are naturally
longer-jointed and weaker in the wood than the
newer section of market kinds. One of the leading
features in the latter is the stout, exceptionally
short-jointed shoots tliey make, which, when the
plants are grown near the glass in light houses, re-
quire little tying. Plants that were headed down
late, and were consequently later in being repotted,
should shortly be moved into their flowering pots.
The root-room given requires to be regulated by the
size of the plants. Such as were raised from cut-
tings during the past summer will not need more
than 5-inch or (i-inch pots, confining the weaker
growers |to the former, whilst the more vigorous
varieties will do better in the larger size. For older
examples 7-inch or 8-inch pots will be ample, giving
the larger size to such portion of the stock as in-
tended to be kept on flowering through a good part
of the summer, and which, consequently, will do
better with a little more room.
Early-floweeinq Pelargoniums. — Where the
early-blooming varieties are grown with a view to
have them in flower in March, the plants should be
kept where they can ha\e a temperature of from
45° to 50° in the night. But so treated they must
oe stood with their tops close to the glass in a well-
constructed house or pit that admits plenty of light,
otherwise they become drawn and fail to produce
an even, dense head of bloom. Managed in the
way indicated, this section of Pelargoniums requires
no further support than three or four small incon-
spicuous sticks to each plant, to keep the shoots in
position when they com ' into flower and during the
time of their removal to a conservatory or elsewhere.
A\iv. 19, 1887.J
THE GARDEN.
4G3
whilst they are in bloom. The stock of these and
the other "soft-wooded plants mentioned should be
frequently looked over to see that they are quite
free from" aphides, to discover which the under side
of the leaves should be examined. This is well-spent
labour, as it usually happens that not more than
two or three odd plants are in the first instance af-
ected, and if the insects are destroyed before they
have time to spread, much work is saved, indepen-
dent of the stock being preserved in better condi-
tion. Dipping in Tobacco water or dusting the
leaves with Tobacco powder is preferable to fumi-
gating when only a few plants are attacked.
T. B.
TREE (^R WINTER-FLOWERING CARNA-
TIONS.
Althocgh Tree Carnations are termed perpe-
tual flowering, it is too much to expect that the
same plants wUl keep up a succession of bloom
tlu-oiighout the winter. There is a great differ-
ence in the varieties ; some flower much more
freely than others ; but I believe that most of the '
varieties that are usually catalogued in this sec-
tion ivill flower at mid-winter, provided the
plants ha^-e been grown in such a way as to give
them the best chance of throwing up their
flower-stems at the proper time, and that they
receive proper treatment afterwards. Where a
constant supply of bloom is required, the plants
should be grown on in two or three separate
batches, for even Miss Jolifl'e, which is perhaps
the most prolific
of all, will not \
flower continu-
ously. Miss Jo-
lifl'e will usually
bloom a second
time about six
weeks after the
first crop of
flowers is over ;
whUe many of
the sorts that
begin to expand (gB
their blossoms wV
in the autumn
will be exhaust-
ed just at a time when the weather is very
dull, and consequently they do not flower
again until the spring, or if they do the flowers
are very poor.
The best plants for mid- winter flowering will
be those that are propagated about the end of
March or beginning of AprU. They should be
potted off as soon as sufficiently rooted, and
after they have been kept close for a few days,
so that they may take hold of the new soil, they
should be exposed as much as possible ; and if
grown in a pit, the lights may be taken oft' alto-
gether on all favourable occasions. The plants
may then be potted on into 6-inch pots, and
placed out in an exposed position, where they
can remain until they are likely to be damaged
by heavy rains in the autumn. After they are
housed, their main requirements will be plenty
of light and air, just sufficient fire-heat to keep
out the frost or dry the atmosphere in wet
weather, and careful attention in watering. In
case of green-fly or any other insects making
their appearance, the plants must be thoroughly
fumigated, as if once the insects get a hold the
blooms will suft'er very much. Those who wish
to succeed with winter Carnations will do well
to bear in mind that they cannot be forced into
flower, but must be grown on with as little
artificial heat as is consistent with their natural
requirements.
IVhife varieties. — I should select Mile. Carle
as the best white variety, especially for winter
flowering; it is very distinct in habit of growth ;
the flowers are of medium size, very pure, and
are produced freely, iu addition to which they
open well, and do not split the calyx. Puritj'
is another good variety, of good habit, and very
sweet-scented. La Belle is also a popular
variety ; it is of a tall, slender habit of growth,
with fringed flowers. A^'hite Swan, a vigorous
grower, with rather thin flowers ; this variety is
still grown to some extent, but I cannot say
much in its favour. Other good sorts are
Louisa Ashburton, The Bride, and for early
spring flowering W. P. Milner, though a bor-
der Carnation, may be recommended for pot
culture.
Scarht I'lirieties. — Although the scarlet varie-
ties of this section are somewhat numerous and
most of them have some merit, yet few of them
are to be relied upon to give a successional
supply of good blooms during the winter
months. It would be useless to say that any
one particular variety should be grown in pre-
Cavnation Miss Jolift'e.
ference to all the others, for while one may prove
best one season, or in one locality, another
variety may take the lead at another time or
place ; and it is on account of this inconstancy
and variation that it is difficult to decide which
are the best. However, I have no hesitation in
selecting Lucifer, especially for winter work.
It belongs to the dwarf section, and although
not a very vigorous grower, it is remarkably
free flowering ; the flowers are well formed, and
very brilliant in colour. A. Alegatiere is
another useful sort, and must not be discarded
for any of the newer varieties ; like the first
named, it is of dwarf habit and very free, but it
is somewhat inclined to produce flowers flaked
with white, especially if the plants are not
healthy. Huntsman is also a good old variety.
Rufus may be included among the useful sorts;
I have seen this very fine, especially in the
autumn-time. Other good scarlet sorts are
Duke of Albany, Worthington G. Smith, Lord
Rokeb}', Raspail, and Sir Charles Wilson, a
very distinct variety, of vigorous growth, and
with large fringed flowers.
Pi)tl: rarietics. — Miss Joliffe. — This variety
(here illustrated) has now become eo popular
that it needs no description, being of a soft,
delicate shade of colour, which is not only rare
among Carnations, but seldom found in other
flowers. It has become one of the most useful
of all market plants, and is more extensively
grown for that purpose than any other Carna-
tion. Magnifica, deep rose-pink, large full
ttowers,free, and of good habit; Mrs. Llewellyn,
light rosy pink, very distinct, the foliage being
of a pale glaucous green ; Juliette, Seraph, and
Annie Casey are also very good pink varieties,
but none except Miss Joliffe are likely to
be of much value for market work. I must
not omit Laura, a good variety with large
fringed flowers, and nearly approaching Miss
Joliffe in colour.
Yelluir varieties. — Pride of Penshurst. — This
is the most popular yellow Carnation at the
present time, and when sent out was considered
to be far in advance of any variety then known ;
but is it distinct from Mrs. George Hawtrey >.
I have seen the two growing side by side, the
last-named (as I am informed) being propagated
from stock obtained before Pride of Penshurst
was heard of, and, as I saw them, they appeared
to be identical, or, if there was any difference,
Mrs. G. Hawtrey was a little deeper in colour.
Andalusia has pale yellow, large-fruiged flowers.
Where cut blooms are required this is one of the
most valuable of all the winter-flowering Carna-
tions. It does not make an eft'ective pot plant,
as it is of a straggling habit of growth, but it is
remarkably free-flowering, and the blooms open
well during the dullest days of the year. Tissot's
Yellow is another useful variety with smooth,
well-formed flowers.
Crimson varieties. — Dr. Raymond, somewhat
after the old crimson Clove in coloiir, but rather
brighter, is a very useful sort, being of dwarf
habit and very free flowering ; Valencia, large,
full, fringed flowers, distinct and good ; Indian
Chief, deep crimson, of slender growth ; Mrs.
Keen, rich crimson, large, full flowers, tall,
vigorous habit.
Stri23eit, Jial-ed, am!, edged varieties.— Few of
these are of any value for cutting purposes, but
some of them are very pretty, and well worthy
of a place in a collection. The following are
among the best that I am acquainted with :
Prince of Orange, yellow, edged with rose,
flowers large and full ; Chevalier, bright yellow,
lightly striped with red ; Attila, pale flesh,
broadly striped with scarlet ; "Whipper-in, scarlet
and crimson-striped,vigorous grower ; La Zouave,
pink and scarlet flaked, very free ; Jean
Sisley, buff and crimson, dwarf habit ; Empress
of Germany, white, lightly tipped and striped
with red, the flowers large and full. A.
SHORT NOTES.— STOVE AND GREENHOUSE.
Croton aneitensis.— Atine plant of this Crotou
is in the stove at Gunnersbury House, where this
class of plants forms quite a speciality. This kind
is in the style of "Weismanui, the nan-ow leaves light
yellow and barred with deep fjreen. It is a bright and
handsome Croton, and of good habit.
Begonia Carrieri. — This is an excellent variety
for pot culture, and at the present time there are
several large plants in bloom at Chiswick. It has not
the straggUug, loug-jointed habit of insignis and
those of that character, the growth being dense, with
the leaves small and deep green. The flowers are
white with a trace of pink, and produced in abundance.
464
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 19, 1887.
At this season it is most valuatle, as Begonias in gene-
ral of this class are becoming untidy, while Carrieri
maintains a fresh and healthy appearance.
Stipfmaphyllum ciliatum. — Anyone making a
selection of choice climbing plants suitable for a
stove should note this as a beautiful free-flowering
subject, and one, too, that blooms during the
autumn months. The somewhat peculiarly shaped
blos.soms are about a couple of inches in diameter,
and of a clear yellow colour. It is a quick-growing
plant and attains considerable dimensions when
liberally treated, so that it may be used for the
roofs of large structures ; indeed, when growing in
such a position, and depending therefrom in grace-
ful festoons, its golden blossoms are seen to the
greatest advantage. It is by no means common,
but is generally kept as a stock plant in a few of
the more extensive nurseries.— H. P.
Orchids.
W. H. GOWEK.
CYPRIPEDIUM VENUSTUM, ITS
VARIETIES AND HYBRIDS.
This would appear to be the iirst tropical species
of the Slipper-worts cultivated in our gardens,
having been introduced in 1816, although the
hardy kinds from North America were known
long before. Of these, an old writer says "they
are not easily increased, but will sometimes
perfect seeds in favourable situations, particu-
larly if pains be taken to apply the pollen to the
stigma;" so that it would appear some of the
old gardeners had commenced to fertilise these
plants, although they have not left any hybrids
upon record. C. venustum was one of the first,
if not the very first Orchid I knew, but even
then it had become the fashion to look upon it
as a common plant, and it was soon pushed on
one side to make room for more showy Orchids,
which were then being introduced in quantities.
It is not a very showy flowering plant, the
flowers being mostly green and dull purple, more
or less flushed with yellowish green ; the foliage,
however, is handsome, the upper side being
ligbt green, tessellated with deep bottle green.
It is a winter-blooming plant, and thrives in a
low temperature, being a native of Sylhet.
Some few years ago Mr. R. Warner, of Broom-
field, Chelmsford, flowered a beautiful form of
this species, which he called spectabile, and a
figure of it appeared in the second series of
"Select Orchidaceous Plants," t. 24. The leaves
are beautifully marbled with different shades of
green, and the flowers are very much superior to
those of the typical plant. The peduncle, which
is longer, carries the blooms well above the
foliage ; the dorsal sepal is white, beautifully
streaked with light green ; petals white, streaked
with pale green, and tipped with bright rosy
red ; lip large, yellowish green, veined with a
deeper green, and sufl'used with rose colour.
The advent of this form led to the reinstating of
the species to public favour. About the same
time the variety pardinum (by some considered
a distinct species) was introduced from Northern
India to the Royal Gardens at Kew ; at least, it
was there I saw the plant first. It is chiefly
remarkable for producing two and three flowers
on a scape. C. venustum would appear to have
been a great favourite with Mr. Warner, as it
appears to have been one of the parents of most
of the Broomfield hybrids, and from the beauty
of some of thera I suspect the variety spectabile
was the form used. Of the hybrids now in
our gardens which have had C. venustum for a
parent, the following are the most notable : —
C. roMTUM is a cross between barbatum, super-
bum, and venustum. The foliage of this more
nearly resembles that of C. venustum, but the
marblings of dark green are smaller, and the under-
side is dull reddish purple. The flowers are of
medium size and very handsome ; the dorsal sepal
white, suffused with reddish purple at the base.
The ground colour is of a bright vinous red tinged
with green at the base, and ornamented on the
lower half with numerous purple warts; lip pale
green, veined with dark green, and suffused in front
with the same vinous red as the petals. This is one
of the Broomfield hybrids, but the parentage, other
than venustum, is somewhat doubtful.
C. CALOPHTLLUM. — This is a Veitchian hybrid,
having for its parents C. barbatum and C. venus-
tum ; the leaves are beautifully marbled, and the
flowers combine the colours and beauties of the
parents in a very marked manner.
C. Meibax. — It is not recorded how this plant
was obtained. It has dark and conspicuous mar-
blings, with the upper surface of the leaves dark
green faintly tessellated with lines of a darker hue,
and of a uniform dull purple beneath. The llowers
are medium-sized, bright, and handsome; dorsal
sepal broadly ovate, white, tinged with flesh colour,
broadly striped with purple, and between the
stripes are smaller lines of bright green ; petals of
a deep vinous purple, faintly lined with green, quite
destitute of spots, and fringed on the edge with
long black hairs ; lip green and veined with dark
green, suffused in front with purple. It is also one
of the Broomfield hybrids.
C. Amesiantjm. — The result of a cross between
venustum and villosum, and, as may be supposed,
the last-named plant has increased the size of the
blooms; the dorsal sepal is white, veined and netted
with green; petals unequal-sided, the upper half
deep chestnut-brown ; lip large, resembling that of
villosum, and the whole flower has the appearance
of being freshly varnished. It is a winter bloomer,
and, I believe, originated in the Victoria Nursery at
HoUoway.
C. Ceossiaxum. — The parents of this plant
were C. insigne and C. venustum ; the leaves are
pale green, blotched with deep green. The flowers
are distinct, but not showy ; dorsal sepal white,
streaked with green; the petals are of a bronzy
hue ; lip brownish yellow veined with green.
C. AMAKDUM. — This plant was raised in Mr.
Bull's establishment at Chelsea, and would appear
to have the same parentage as the previously
named kind ; the dorsal sepal is oblong-acute,
bordered with white, ochre-coloured in the middle,
stained with red on both sides ; the lip is slender,
light yellow, suffused with brown in front.
C. CHLOEONEURON. — The parents of this plant
are not known, saving C. venustum. It is another
of the Broomfield hybrids, and the pollen parent
is not known. The leaves are marbled in the way
of those of C. venustum, bvit in a lighter degree ;
the dorsal sepal is of a bright light green, netted with
dark green, and bordered with white ; petals green,
the upper half suffused with dull purple ; lip large,
green, suffused with vinous purple, and veined with
deep purple. It is a winter bloomer.
C. Measueesianum. — This is a fine bold form,
the result of crossing venustum with villosum ; the
foliage is deep green above, destitute of any mar-
blings, but the under side retains a great deal of
the purplish markings of the first named parent ; the
flowers are like those of villosum in size and shape,
yellow, the dorsal sepal bordered with white, and
the upper half of the petals stained of a bronzy hue.
It is said to increase in depth of colour with age.
This plant I have only seen in The Woodlands collec-
tion, Streatham.
C. rvcNOPTEEUM is said to liave been obtained
between C. venustum and C. Lowi. I have not
seen this plant, but imagine it should be some-
thing good and distinct.
These hybrids are all of them likely to be plants
of good constitution and suitable for cool-house
culture. They flower freely, and as they bloom
mostly in the winter, they become doubly valuable.
Aerides Sanderiana. — This is a noble plant,
eclipsed only by its near relative, A. Lawrenceic, and
being, like it, a winter tlowerer, it is doubly valuable.
I recently noted this amongst the numerous Or^
chids blooming in Mr. Sander's nursery at St.
Albans. The racemes of bloom are very long and
the individual flowers large ; the sepals and petals
are creamy white, tipped Vv-ith bright magenta; the
side lobes of the lip are soft yellow, crisp at the
edges ; and the middle lobe is also fringed and pur-
plish magenta. It ajipears to enjoy a high, moist
atmosphere. — W. H. G.
ORCHIDS AT HALLOW PARK, WORCESTER.
At this establishment Orchids are very extensively
cultivated, and no expense is spared either as re-
gards the erection of suitable houses or the purchase
of valuable species and varieties. House after house,
including one long range of rather low three-quarter
span-roofed divisions, are principally or wholly filled
with Orchids, and it is computed that the total
number does not fall far short of 4000 plants. The
collection is especially rich in C'attleyasand Odonto-
glossums, neither of which comprise many autumn-
flowering species. Nearly every house contained a
few Orchids in bloom, and these I give much in the
order I came across them. In the Cattleya house
there were several well-flowered plants of the pretty
little Pleiones, or Indian Crocuses, and in another
somewhat cooler division thcTare L^lia anceps Daw-
soni was developing strong spikes of flower, plenty
of L. anceps also showing bloom. The lovely Vanda
Sanderiana was carrying six flowers on a spike, and
a grand plant of Yanda Lowi had three fine spikes.
Vanda C'athcarti is growing vigorously, and appears
to be very free, several spikes being borne on a
plant. Zygopetalum maxillare, established on an
old Tree Fern stem, was bearing seven spikes of
handsome flowers. Oncidium Jonesianum, attached
to a board and suspended, was in fairly good health,
and had one spike of its lovely flowers expanded.
The valuable Lycaste Skinneri alba, of which there
are two good plants, is doing well, though of course
not in flower. Cypripediums are plentiful, among
them being a batch of seedling Spicerianum, which
are flowering this season and are identical with the
parent plant. There is a fine phant of C. Lawrence-
anum flowering strongly. C. longifolium appears
to be a good autumn-flowering variety, one strong
plant having six spikes, each of which produce
about twenty flowers, which open in succession, and
are perhaps more curious than pretty. Coilogyne
barbata was carrying six spikes of bloom, and the
Butterfly Orchid (Oncidium Papilio) was in good
condition. Several Masdevallias, including stray
blooms of atro-purpurea and Davisi, macu!ata and
bella, were in flower, and there are many good plants
of this pretty genus. Other cool Orchids in flower
were Odontoglossum Alexandra^, 0. Pescatorei, and
0.grande,Mesospinidium vulcanicura.and Oncidium
incurvum. The majority of the Orchids arc set very
thinly on clean unplaned and unpainted deal
staging, this holding sufficient moisture without
afl'ording harbour for insect pests. I.
Aerides Leeanum. — This is a member of a
genus that has in some unaccountable manner lost
favour with Orchid growers. There appears, how-
ever, to be a reversion in taste, and the much-ne-
glected Aerides and Vandas are likeiy to be in de-
mand ; this they deserve, for even without flowers
the majority of the kinds are extremely ornamental.
A. Leeanum is not one of the most gorgeous, but it
is distinct, and being a winter bloomer it is valu-
able. In habit of growth it somewhat resembles A.
quinquevulnerum. The flowers are of a uniform
deep amethyst colour and sweet-scented. A very fine
example was recently to be seen blooming in Mr.
Sander's collection at St. Albans.
MaE.devallia Shuttleworthi. — An unusually
good form of this lovely plant is now flowering in
the Selborne collection at Streatham. It is so dis-
tinct that it never fails to attract the attention of
all beholders, and being one of the cool alpine
Orchids, it should be grown by everyone. M.
Shuttleworthi is a dwarf-growing and free-blooming
species, of tufted habit, with elliptic-oblong leaves,
which are some 1 inches or 5 inches high. The
peduncle is about the same length as the leaf, and
Nov. 10, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
465
bears a single flower, which is about 2 inches across.
It has a short gibbous tube, and the upper sepal is
hooded, yellow, suffused with rosy red, marked with
lines of claret colour. The two lower segments of
the flower are rosy red, profusely dotted with reddish
purple ; each segment is suddenly contracted into a
long slender, tail-like point, which is yellowish green
in colour.
Mormodes pardinum. — The various members
of this genus have for a long time been ne-
glected, but recently Orchid growers have awakened
to the fact that there are many beautiful plants in
this much despised family, and the subject of our
present note is by no means the least beautiful. A
fine example of this plant was recently blooming in
Mr. James's nursery at Norwood, where it was
growing in the intermediate house. The spike was
upwards of a foot high, and bore numerous large
flowers of a rich bright yellow, dotted with brown.
Barkeria Lindleyana. — T his is blooming at
Kew, and deserves a note, as its flowers, though of
quiet beauty, make a bright display of colour.
They are of various shades of rose-purple, the palest
portion being the upper half of the apiculate lip,
which at the apex is richly colovired ; the column
rests upon the lip, and is faintly tinged and also has
a few crimson dots at the side. Barkerias may be
grown in the cool house, and need a light position,
succeeding well on a block to which the fleshy roots
can cling. At Kew this Barkeria is grown with the
Odontoglossums.
Cymbidiutn elegans. — This rare Indian species
belongs to the bulbless section, and is distinct in
appearance owing to the nodding character of the
raceme, which displays the curious half-expanded
expression of the clear sulphur-yellow flowers of a
hue very uncommon, but nevertheless pleasing and
refined. They are borne several together, and the
lip has a raised ridge of an orange colour. As seen
against the background of abundant, tufted, rich
green foliage the soft tint is well brought out. A
plant is in bloom at Kew, where it is named
Cyperorchis under the new system.
The blue Vanda (V. cserulea). — Several fine
examples and excellent varieties of this beautiful
Orchid are now blooming in Mr. Southgate's garden
at Streatham. They are not grown in the East
India house, but suspended near the glass in a
rather cool intermediate house. Under these con-
ditions the plants grow freely, and the leaves are
quite free from the cankerous spot which so fre-
quently disfigures this charming species. They
also bloom freely and regularly ; this should con-
vince those who still adhere to the hot system in
the culture of V. casrulea that the sooner they
conform to the conditions here stated the greater
will be their success.
SHORT NOTES.— ORCHIBS.
Masdevallia abbreviata. — This is very similar
to M. polysticta, but differs in its leaves having longer
petioles, and in the flowers being pure white outside,
sparingly spotted within with rosy pm-ple, the long
filifoi'm tails being yeUow. I recently observed this
elegant little species blooming in Mr. Measures' collec-
tion at Streatham.
Cattleya Dormanniana. — A beautiful plant of
this distinct hybrid, the result of a cross between C.
labiata and C. amethystina, is blooming at Kew. The
richest colour is at the front portion of the lip, which
is deep purple, the latei-al lobes folding over the column
being of a lighter hue with darker veins. The sepals
and petals are acute and olive-brown, the combmations
of colouriug making a handsome bloom.
Mormodes pardinum unicolor. — Although
scarcely so attractive as the typical plant, this variety
is a charming addition to November-flowering Orchids.
The flowers are somewhat smaller than those of M.
pardinum, and are of a uniform clear lemon-yellow
and quite destitute of any spotting. Nice examples of
this form are now flowering in a cool house in Mr. BuE's
nursery at Chelsea, and in Mr. James's nursery at
Norwood, in an intermediate house.
Bulbophyllum hirtum. — The Bulbophyllura
genus is famous for the curious character of the
flowers, as few kinds are of great beauty, and B. hirtum
is no exception to the general rule. This rare form is
in bloom at Kew, and has small pseudo-bulbs, the
racemes of flowers appearing without the leaves. The
slender stem carries many small tooth-like blooms,
which are creamy white and coated with glistening
hairs.
NOTES FROM KENWOOD.
The Orchid season is just commencing, and for the
next six months the numerous houses will be more
or less gay with flowers. Here the Lajlia anceps are
the first to bloom in quantity, and this year there
will be about 400 spikes open at one time. The
white varieties always flower later in the season.
The flowers of Cattleya Trianas are just opening.
This species is earlier than C. Percivaliana ; conse-
quently the latter is of little value, especially as there
are so few good varieties amongthem. The first batch
of Cypripedium insigne is just in bloom. This species
is very useful for cut flowers, as they last such a long
time in water. The plants of Vanda caerulea are
developing strong flower-spikes, and these should
by no means be hurried, as this tends to weaken the
spike and cripple the flowers. The Calanthes pro-
mise well for flower, and some of the earliest are
already showing the buds. Among the noteworthy
Orchids in flower is Angraicum caudatum with a
twelve-flowered raceme. This is a most curious and
rare variety with greenish brown flowers, the lip
pure white, spur about 8 inches long and of olive-
green colour. It is apparently free-flowering and
grows freely with the general collection of Vandas and
Aerides. It needs abundance of water at all seasons.
Aerides Eohanianum is a handsome free-growing
species, and is apparently a hybrid between quin-
quevulnemm and Reichenbachianum or nobile, both
of these being in bloom. Its fragrance is that of A.
nobile. A number of Phalfenopsis Lowi are in bloom,
and are greatly appreciated at this season. This
species is easy to cultivate, and does better when
its leaves are retained all the year, which is done by
giving it abundance of water and heat at all seasons.
The seedling intermedia Portei is in fine flower,
with a strong branched spike. Several Esmeraldas
tend to brighten the house, and rosea is develop-
ing bloom in quantity. Among the novelties are
fasciata, a very distinct variety in the way of suma-
trana, and Valentinei, a purple variety of Cornu
Cervi. Cattleya Bowringiana is just going out of
bloom, so also are the exoniensis varieties ; these
are very useful Orchids to say nothing of their
beauty, coming into flower as they do at a season
when Orchid flowers are scarce. The autumn-
flowering labiata is also a grand species, but it is a
rarity. Two good varieties of Ladia elegans in flower
are alba and enspatha. Numerous examples of
Dendrobium Dearei are in flower, some of the blooms
havingbeen open since July; D. Lowi is also in flower.
In the Cypripedium house there is always a good
show of bloom, and there are so many good species
that it is hard to discriminate for especial mention.
There are numbers of C. Spicerianum, and among a
batch of seedlings of this species are some fine
varieties. Among the hybrids from the barbatum
section are Arthurianum, vexillarium, a large plant
with a dozen flowers, lo, tonsum, politum, euryan-
drum, marmorophyllum, oenanthum, and selligerum,
as also a plant of Havrisianum with more than twenty
flowers, and among the Sedeni hybrids are cardinale,
Schri'-ederse, calurum, candidulum, and albo-pur-
pureum; a %'ery fine spotted variety of Godefroyaj is
also in flower. Among the many thousands of cool
Orchids grown here it is singular that so few are
in bloom, but there is grand promise of abundance
of flowers later on. A fine plant of the beautiful
0. vexillarium is in flower, also a few plants of Ada
aurantiaca and Mesospinidium vulcanicum.
Kenwood, Alliany, y.Y. F. GOLDEING.
AngreBCum Kotschyi. — This charming plant
is now flowering in Mr. Southgate's collection at
Streatham. It somewhat resembles A. Ellisi at
first sight, but is nevertheless very distinct
from that species. The leaves are broadly spathu-
late, coriaceous in texture, and deep shining green
in colour. The racemes are pendulous and many
flowered ; flowers white, with a pandurate lip, and a
long spirally-twisted spur, which is almost cinna-
mon-brown. It is very remarkable that all the
introduced species of Angrfecums are either white
or white tinged with yellow or greenish white.
There is not one highly coloured member of the
genus ; is there any reason for this .' Mr. Salter
yrows this species suspended fiom the roof of the
East India house, in which position it obtains
strong light. It requires abundant supplies of
water.
Cattleya Bowringiana. — As an autumn
bloomer, this Central American Cattleya will prove
a great acquisition. It appears to be most nearly
allied to C. Skinneri, but blooms at quite a different
season. The scape bears from five to ten flowers,
each bloom measuring 2^ inches across ; the sepals
and petals are rich rosy purple, streaked with netted
veins of a darker hue ; the front portion of the lip
is deep purple-maroon, white at the base. Nume-
rous examples of this plant are now in full beauty
in The Woodlands collection at Streatham, where
they appear to thrive in a cool intermediate honse.
Chrysanthemums.
E. MOLYNEDS.
PROMISING NEW VARIETIES.
Those interested in these flowers will be on the
look-out for new sorts with a view of adding
desirable ODes to their list and discarding some
of those not considered good enou'jh to retain
now that there are so many fresh kinds broiiglit
before the public. Having seen most of the
new varieties, I will describe them in order that
those interested may, if they choose, care to
add them to their collections.
Japanese Vaeieties.
Avalanche, a pure white Japanese variety
having large, very full, rounded flowers, remarkable
for the solidity of the florets, which are long, thin,
and of a flat character. One of the best features
of this variety is the dwarf, sturdy habit of growth.
As an exhibition flower it is sure to be much sought
after for its fine build and purity of colour ; in my
opinion it is the finest white Chrysanthemum in
existence.
Maggie Mitchell, a variety of American
origin, is of a dwarf, sturdy habit, and produces
fine flowers on plants 3 feet high. The flowers,
7 inches in diameter, are heavily striped and
suffused with rosy lilac on a light ground ; florets
broad, fringed at the points, and forming a full,
solid flower quite distinct in character and colour.
FiMBElATUM, also of American origin, has the
outer florets white, delicately tinged with pink ; the
centre until fully expanded is creamy white,
changing to pure white. The points of the florets
are notched somewhat after the style of those of
Meg Merrilies.
Caeew Undeewood, a sport from Baron de
Frailly, which it resembles in character, has long,
partly drooping florets, bronzy lilac, striped and
mottled with amber, deepening to a golden hue in
the centre. A first-class variety, and sure to be
largely grown.
Mrs. J. Weight, one of last year's new sorts,
stiU maintains its position as one of the best white
kinds. It produces large full blooms, the florets of
which have a somewhat drooping character, render-
ing it most graceful. Its only fault is the extreme
height to which it grows.
Edwin Moltkeux is a massive flower when well
grown, and of a very telling rich crimson colour on
the inside of the florets, while the reverse is a
bronzy straw shade, which, as the flower expands, is
almost hidden, except the tips of the florets, which
in some cases curl upwards. A full expanded
bloom shows off the rich colour to perfection. The
plant is of a dwarf, yet robust, habit of growth.
Me. C. Oechaed has broad, bold florets, which
curl inwards somewiat at the points; it is a full
flower, somewhat resembling Japoraise in colour,
46C
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 19, 1887.
but having more gold and less bronze than that va-
riety. It is quite distinct in both form and colour.
Me. H. Wbllam. creamy white, faintly striped
and splashed with light purple, is a very effective
kind.
Mrs. Lewis Castle has narrow florets of a lovely
soft peach colour ; it is very distinct.
Edotjaed Audiguiek is a finely formed floweri
having long, drooping, slightly twisted florets of a
rich purple-maroon colour; it is a full, deep flower
of quite a new colour, and cannot fail to be attrac-
tive. It is also of a robust habit, and not too tall.
Ralph Brocklebank (a sport from Meg Merri-
lies) still maintains its character. It is of a soft
yellow or deep primrose colour. The only fault is
that the flower is rather thin, but no doubt this will
be overcome when better plants can be had to start
with earlier in the season.
Bertha Flight is a blush white; the florets, of a
semi-drooping character, are narrow and slightly
rounded. It is a full-centred flower, well worthy of
a place, if only for its colour, which is quite dis-
tinct.
Me. H. Cannell is, to my mind, one of the best
of the yellow varieties, and a worthy rival to Thun-
berg. The form of the flower is somewhat like that
of Thunberg, except that the florets curl more
closely over, rendering the blooms more massive in
appearance. The colour is a soft yellow, without an
orange shade. It differs from grandiflorum in hav-
ing florets that are not serrated, as in the case
of the latter variety. The florets are also longer.
Mes. H. Cannell has flowers of a snowy white
colour ; the florets, which are massive, incurve
closely. On account of its enormously broad florets
and compact build, no doubt it will become a
favourite sort.
Lady Lawebncb differs from the above, the
outer florets lying closer together than in the case
of Mrs. H. Cannell, and the flowers are ivory-white,
instead of snowy white, as in the former case.
Incurved Varieties.
Mrs. Norman Davis is a sport from Princess
Teck, being the exact counterpart of its parent in
growth. In colour it is a deep orange-yellow ; the
reverse of the petals is striped and splashed with a
light bronze ; the petals are stout, of good sub-
stance ; and although the blooms staged at the
Aquarium show were rough, showing a want of
finish to them, it will become a standard variety
when a better stock of plants can be had. In my
opinion it will take the place of Mr. Bunn, a variety
most difficult to present in the best manner.
Bronze Queen of England has been shown
upon several occasions during this season in fairly
good condition. It is a desirable colour, and on a
stand gives variety to the many lilacs, bronzes, and
yellows. Any extra labour devoted to this variety
will be well repaid.
earlier than Elaine, and so we possess two very fine
and useful early-flowering white Japanese Chrysan-
themums. As a matter of course, Chrysanthemums
can be made later by stopping, and thus it is that
a second batch of Elaine Mr. Stevens had suc-
ceeded those which bloomed in October, the retarded
plants having been stopped twice. Altogether, Mr.
Stevens grows about eight thousand flowering spe-
cimens, and among them all the new varieties of
the present year, and so an excellent opportunity
for comparing notes is afllorded. — R. D.
Chrysanthemum Elaine.— Fancy eight hun-
dred specimens of Chrysanthemum Elaine, and all
of them in 12-inch potsl And yet this is what
could be seen at Mr. George Stevens' nursery, St,
John's, Putney. The cuttings from which these
specimens were grown were put in at Christmas
last, but they could hardly be said to have formed
roots until February. Then they were potted
on and grown into size, and finally placed in
12-inch pots, two plants in a pot. The plants were
only stopped once, and each main stem produced
three branches, one flower only being allowed on
each. Thus for each pot six very fine flowers have
been obtained, and when marketed — for the speci-
mens were grown for the production of cut flowers
for market — they fetched good remunerative prices.
The plants were placed in the flowering pots in May,
and stood in a Chrysanthemum house the first
or second week in September, Elaine is thus an
excellent October Chrysanthemum. It -Mil be re-
membered that at the meeting of the Royal
Horticultural Society on October 11, Mr. Stevens
staged a lot of very fine blooms of a white Japanese
variety named MUe. Lacroix. Now this is rather
CHRYSANTHEMUMS AT FOREST HILL.
The houses so recently gay with tuberous-rooted
Begonias are now filled with Chrysanthemums— not
tall plants some 9 feet or 10 feet high, nor yet
formal trained specimens, but dwarf examples from
18 inches to 2 feet high, with an abundance of large
deep green foliage and handsome, characteristic
blooms. These plants were cut down to within a
few inches of the pot in the first week in June, when
the plants sent out strong lateral growths, which
were thinned out to about three, or in some in-
stances four, shoots. The Chrysanthemums were
then potted into their flowering pots and supplied
with all the necessaries to induce vigorous growth,
these shoots again being only allowed to carry one
flower, and the result of this treatment is that the
plants are of such a convenient size that they can
be placed in any small conservatory. The foliage,
moreover, is ornamental, and the flowers, although
not quite up to exhibition standard, are sufficiently
large to exhibit all the characteristics of the varie-
ties. In fact, there is not a question but that this
system should commend itself to everyone who
grows Chrysanthemums for home decoration.
Amongst new kinds I noted a great improvement in
the colours. This is a matter that should be kept
in view by raisers of new forms, for we do
want a brightening up in colour amongst them.
The most striking amongst the new Japanese
were Lucien Baltet, amaranth-purple, with silvery
reverse ; William Earley, rosy violet, yellow reverse ;
M. J. A. Laing, reddish salmon, silvery reverse ;
Anna M. Payne, rosy carmine, creamy white centre ;
Moonlight, yellowish white ; Phoebus, rich golden
yellow ; White Dragon, very fine ; Feu de Bengale,
orange- red shading to yellow, large and fine ; Marie
Ouvray, violet-amaranth shading to carmine, vrith
a white centre; Edouard Audiguier, rich deep
purple-maroon ; and Duke of Berwick, ivory white,
very handsome. Amongst the older Japanese kinds
conspicuous were William Robinson, a grand sul-
phur-yellow flower tinged with -rose ; William
Stevens, bright orange-red, reverse golden yellow ;
Commandante Bacoho, deep crimson-maroon ; Bou-
quet Fait, rose and white, with golden centre ;
Belle Paule, white, shaded purple, very fine ; Char-
lotte de Montoabrier, white, rose centre ; Coquette
de Castile, creamy white suifused with violet- rose;
Mr. W. Holmes, deep red, yellowish brown reverse ;
Mme. Laing, delicate rose suffused with white ;
Mile. Lacroix, large flower, [sulphur white ; M. H,
Elliott, salmon, with deep yellow centre ; and
Ornements, red shaded salmon. The incurved and
reflesed kinds were equally good, but mostly of
well-known kinds. The following, however, were
especially worthy of note : Angelina, amber shaded
orange ; Lord Alcester, pale primrose ; Pietro Diaz,
garnet and gold ; Mrs. W. Shipman, fawn colour ;
Lord Wolseley, reddish bronze ; Cullingtordi, bright
rosy crimson ; Empress of India, white, large and
fine ; Beethoven, Indian red tipped with yellow ;
Pommone, saffron-yellow; and Plenipo, rosy purple.
W. H. G.
Chrysanthemums and Mahonia foliage.—
For absociatiug with white Chrysanthemums, I know
of no better leafage than that of the Mahonia. Its
rich purplish colour brings out the lovely whiteness of
the flowers.— T. W.
The sportiveness of the Chrysanthemum.
— A year or two ago the white and tinted-flowered
incurved Chrysanthemum Princess Teck produced
a yellow sport, which was named Mrs. Norman
Davis, and which promises to make a fine late-
E. Mizen, of Mitcham. The yellow sport in its turn
has produced a bronze-coloured one, and Mr. Mizen
is sanguine it will have all the good properties of
Princess Teck. I saw it a few days ago when only
partly developed, but there was the promise of a
finely inciirved flower. In the hands of Mr. Wild-
smith, of Heckfleld Gardens, Princess Teck two
years ago produced a very fine white sport, which
he named Lord Eversley. This was shown in fine
form at the Royal Aquarium last week, and was
awarded a first-class certificate of merit. Mrs.
Norman Davis, as seen at the recent exhibition of
the National Chrysanthemum Society, appeared to
be in two forms — one a bright, pale, clear yellow ;
the other, gold, much tinted with bronze. Surely
the latter is a spurious form of it, as it had the ap-
pearance of being essentially distinct from the
former, though the prizes wore awarded to what I
regard as the spurious form. It is a remarkable
fact that not a few of our most approved incurved
Chrysanthemums have originated as sports, and, as
sometimes happens, the sport from a particular
variety will originate the same season in different
localities. — R. D.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 623.
PASQUE FLOWERS.
(with coloured plate of anemone
pulsatilla.*)
The Pasque Flowers, though not by any means
the most attractive section of this large, hand-
some family, are nevertheless very interesting
to the true lover of rare alpine gems. With
the melting of the snow the Pasque Flowers
begin to bloom, and carry us into April without
a break. Tourists, I believe, bring home, only
to die, quantities of these plants which they
have collected whUe travelling in the Alps.
The pains and time required to get their long
roots out of the ground are grudged, and the
consequence is that a root rarely more than an
inch in length is obtained. Seed is not only a
ready means of transferring these gems of the
Alps to our own gardens, but it is a safe one,
and if sown soon after they are gathered they
rarely fail to germinate.
In our gardens I believe these plants suffer
far more from drought than anything else, and
experiments with a view to test this will soon
satisfy the grower that he must supply them
copiously with moisture in spring when the
flowers begin to show themselves. Another very
important item is drainage ; Pasque Flowers re-
quire plenty of water, but it must not be allowed
to become stagnant, and the drainage should be
such as to allow the water to pass freely away.
They can be propagated by division of the
crowns, but it is not a safe way of treating
them, and seed is much more preferable when it
can be had good.
The following are those of this section at
present in cultivation : —
The alpine Pasque Flower (A. alpina). — Al-
though belonging to this section and closely allied
to our Pasque Flower, it is almost too robust in habit
to be classed with those plants usually termed
alpines. It is, however, well known in gardens, and
is amongst the most useful of this important genus.
It is met with plentifully among the high mountains
of almost all northern and temperate regions, and
every importation of plants to this country is almost
sure to include A. alpina. On the high altitudes,
of course, the plant is very much dwarfed in habit,
but on the lower terraces and in the valleys where
it is always found in abundance, it grows with much
the same vigour as it does under good treatment at
* Drawn for The Garden at Woodeote by Miss
flowering variety. This sport originated with Mr. I E. Lowe, April 27, 18S7, and printed by G, Severeyns.
THE GARDEN
THE PASQUE FLOA/VE P. (ANEMONE PULSATILLA)
Nov. 19, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
467
home in our gardens. Apart from the striking beauty I species. In the case of A. montana the flowers
of its flowers and seeds, theformeryaryingsomewhat [ droop, while those of A. Pulsatilla are upright, and
in tint, according to the soil in which the plants ! the former has the divisions of the leaves both
may be growing, the graceful, finely-divided foli- I broader and longer. The flowers are dark violet, and
age of a pretty dark green always make an attrac- j produced in early spring. It is a native of dry,
five group, whether in the rockery or border. The ' hilly places in Switzerland, &o.
beauty of the foliage is much enhanced too, by the ' ^^^ ^^^^^^ p^ p^^^^^ ^ patens).-Thi.s
arp, handsome seed heads produced towards the ^^i^^ a„„^^^ ^^^^ ^^^j i^ ^j^^^^'^^^^'^^^ ^„^„^^j „j
latter end of summer. I have grown this plant in this alone.iscertainlyaverydesirable addition toour
pure peat on an eastern exposure, and by watering jj^^ ^^ ^^.^^^_ ^^ thrives remarkably well in ordi-
copiously throughout the dry season, the large /^^ ^„i, j^ .^ ^^^^^^ be a little raised
white, bluish-tinged flowers were^produced as freely ^^ /^f^^^ ^^j^J^ drainage. It resembles A. Pulsa-
and m as great pertection as when the plants are . -n „ „, 4. i, i u i, 1 «„„ „ „^a
S .^ u- u -i ■ -J 5 u J. tiUa somewhat, but has much larger flowers and
grown on limestone on which it is said to be most , „ a i- c <-. r
It home. Another nearly allied plant, and which I : ^''^'"'^- ^ °^''^^ °^ Germany, &c.
believe to be nothing more than a mere variety of > Nuttall's Basque 1'lowbe (A. Nuttalliana) —
A. alpina, is the A. sulphurea of Linnseus, having A. P. var. oohroleuca of Sotanioal Magazine, — is
sulphur-coloured flowers. We are told that this considered a variety of patens, and properly so, as
plant requires loam, leaf-soil, &o., in which to grow, it differs little from that plant, unless in the colour
but under exactly similar conditions as given for A. of its flowers, and in having the leaves at the same
alpina, the result was all that could be desired. A time, though this is not a constant character. This
good, deep, well-drained soil in a cool situation ap- , variety flourishes in the most bleak and exposed
pears to me the chief desideratum for both the , places, and in its native home is generally found
above plants. The seed ripens freely, and is an ' growing under the scattered Pines or in the Rocky
easy means of propagation, but it should be sown Mountain valleys. It grows best in sandy soil, and
as soon as gathered. The plants flower in the appears to vary much both in a wild and cultivated
state.
The Meadow Pasqtjb Flowbe
(A. pratensis) is a native of most of
the northern parts of Europe, and in
some places grows abundantly in dry
meadows. It is somewhat similar in
outward appearance to A. montana,
with drooping flowers of a very deep
purple colour, and smaller also than
those of the last-named kind ; the
leaves are very finely cut, and in this
way the variety can readily be distin-
guished. It flowers during April and
May. The variety called obsoleta is
said to be distinguished from the type
only in the colour of the flower, which
is much paler, and in having broader
leaflets, terminated by a distinct,
longish bristle. The type as well as
the variety may be easily accommo-
dated on the rockery in well-drained
soil. Native of Central Germany.
The common Pasqub Flower (A.
Pulsatilla) is distributed throughout
Central Europe, Northern Asiato Dahu-
ria, and is (or used to be) very plenti-
ful on the chalk downs and limestone pastures of
many of our own counties. It is the Pulsatilla
anglica purpurea, Pasque or Passe Flower of Parkin-
son, and although it may be somewhat variable, the
quaint description he gave so long ago answers well
at the present time : —
It hath many leaves lying on the ground, somewhat
rough or hairy, hard in feehng, and finely cut iuto
many small leaves of a dark green colour, almost like
the leaves of Garrets, but finer and smaller ; from
among which rise up naked stalks rough or hairie also,
set about the middle thereof with some small divided
leaves (involucre) compassing them and rising above
these leaves about a span, bearing every one of them
one pendulous flower made of six leaves of a fine violet-
purple colour, but somewhat deep withal. In the
middle thereof stand many yellow threads set about a
middle purple pointell. After the flower is past there
Cometh up in the stead thereof a bushie head of long
seeds having at the end of every one a small haire,
which is grey likewise. The root is small and long,
growing downwards into the ground with a tuft of
haire at the head thereof.
As represented in the accompanying coloured
plate, it shows the cultivated state of this most
charming of alpines, very different indeed from the
stunted and starved appearance it presents in its
wild haunts. It is one of the few really true alpines
that can be left to take care of themselves in the
bed or border. It soon produces large healthy
clumps, which flower vigorously during the early
spring months. The soil in which it will grow best
should be light, deep, and well drained, with full ex-
posure to the sun. It can be propagated either by
seeds or division of the roots. There are red, lilac.
The Alpine Pasque Flower (Anemone alpina).
neighbourhood of London from t"ae ead of April
to the middle or end of May.
Hallee's Pasque Flower (A. Halleri). — First
found by the gentleman whose name it bears in the
valley of St. Nicholas, in the Upper Valais, and
since found, though sparingly, in Daupbiny, Pied-
mont, Eastern Pyrenees, &c. It is one of the
noblest and most charming, as well as perhaps the
rarest, of our alpine Pasque Flowers. The flowers
are produced singly on longish, slender stems of a
deep lilac, and are much larger than those of any
of the others. I find it grows more robust and
flowers more profusely when cultivated in a position
exposed to the east in well-drained soil, the latter
rich and not too heavy. It may be grown on a
border with ease, and when healthy and doing well
makes a very beautiful tuft. It flowers in April.
Hackel's Pasque Flower (A. Hackeli) appears
to me a mere form of A. Halleri, with broader
flower segments, somewhat larger flowers, and a more
woolly or silky stem. The leaves also are somewhat
larger, and not so finely cut as those of Haller's
Pasque Flower. It is a most useful plant for
rockeries or rocky banks, and as it thrives on the
most exposed situations it can well be left to take
care of itself. Like the others, it requires plenty of
moisture during the flowering season, and should be
watered artiflcially if the air should be dry about
this time. It is a native of Mur, in Styria, &c.,
and flowers in early March.
The Mountain Pasque Flowee (A. montana)
is now placed as a distinct species, though by many
considered as a variety of A. Pulsatilla. It seems to
differ by fairly good characters from the last-named
and white varieties, as well as a double one, but
they are rare in gardens now.
The spring Pasque Flowee (A. vernalis). —
This is one of the most charming little alpines we
possess, and is perhaps the first flower to be met
with on the high Alps when the snow begins to melt,
appearing in company with the Soldanella and in-
variably before the vernal Crocus makes its appear-
ance. This flower is said to attract the attention of
tourists by the changeable tints of the silky hairs
on the outside of the flowers. Violet, red, and blue
are alternately reflected, and with greater intensity
early in the morning or at sunset. The inside of
the segments is white, prettily veined with blue ; the
outer, dull purplish, and thickly set with long
brown silky hairs. The leaves are small, few, very
thick, and hard to the touch. This species has
given more trouble than all the others to flower
successfully. In many instances it refuses to throw
up flowers at all, and often again the flower-bud
appears only to shrivel up as it becomes older. This,
I find, is caused by insufficiency of moisture, for, on
being placed close to a fountain where the atmo-
sphere was continually saturated, it flowered very
freely, and is certainly full of interest and beauty.
It was cultivated by Philip, in 1732, at Chelsea, and
is plentiful in a wild state, but generally on the
granite formation. D. K.
Flower Garden.
PERENNIAL ASTERS.
If perennial Asters are to hold a place in
gardens a great reform is wanted in naming
them ; they also require to be better selected
and more carefully cultivated, and when this
has been attained we may hope for further
improvement in garden varieties. A friend
who knew very little about this class of plants
once told me he could not think how people
could grow such rubbish when there were such
splendid flowers as Chrysanthemums, which
might occupy their room. He lived in a very
warm spot in the soutli of England, but here,
as in many other jilaces, no variety of Chrysan-
themum indicum, whether summer-flowering or
autumn-flowering, will ever thrive, and most of
them are killed by winter without showing a
symptom of a bud. In such gardens as mine
autumnal Asters are invaluable ; they do not
mind frost, some kinds having the colour of
their flowers decidedly improved by it, and now,
in the first week of November, after a series of
cold weather such as October seldom bring.s,
every border in my garden is bright and gay
with masses of flower.
I am sorry I cannot give the names of the
kinds. There is no class of flowers for which
a good set of English names given by some
central authority is more needed. At present
nobody knows what anybody else means when
he speaks of an Aster by name. There are
hardly any two nurseries from which you would
get the same Aster under the same name. Asa
Gray's species, even if we can make tliem out,
help us very little, because a large proportion of
the best garden kinds belong to none of them,
but are hybrids of cultivation, getting more and
more remote from any type in each generation.
When these plants find their way to nurseries,
they either retain the name under which they
came, which is most likely wrong, or a new one
is coined for them, such as Aster Novi-Eelgi
floribundus albescens major— a name with which
a very estimable foreman lately proisosed to
honour one of the plants I gave him. Two
names I often see mentioned are A. longifolius
formosus and A. Chapmanni, the former given
to an Aster not at all resembling longifolius,
the latter the name of a plant which has never
been in cultivation in England, but wrongly
assigned to a variety of A. turbinellus. But,
468
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 19, 1887.
supiiosing a name to be botanically correct, some
of the S2>ecies of Asters vary wonderfully in
height, colour, and habit. We have A. Novie-
AngliiB of every sliade, from dark purple to
light pink, and A. versicolor of every height
from 0 inches to 6 feet, and so on. The only
way to meet these difficulties is to have fancy
names in English for tlie best vai'ieties. It is
difficult to get these given, but if we could get
a few yards of ground in some public garden
like Chiswick, where Asters could be sent for
trial, it might be done. I have always thought
that this would be a far greater benefit to horti-
culture than trying to adjust the names of the
interminable and indeterminable varieties of
white Trumpet Daflbdils.
In the next place. Asters had better be alto-
gether excluded from gardens than be grown in
the shabby way in which we generally see them.
Some increase so fast at the base as to require
replanting every second year. A few good kinds
do so, but a plant must be very good to deserve
so much trouble, and a running habit covmts
for many points against the merits of a species.
The best habit in an Aster — as, indeed, in most
hardy plants — is that which admits of being
planted and remaining untouched for several
years in the same spot without deterioration.
Such are some of the varieties of A. undulatus
and A. cordifolius, both of them very wide
names. Such is A. sericeus and the Amellus
class, and some others, but some of the best of
these are difficult to obtain in nurseries. Max
Leichtlin gave me an Aster a few years ago
which he called by mistake A. ibericus, which
comes up year after year with one stalk. He
considers it his best Aster.
In conclusion, I am sure that if anyone should
think it worth while to try to improve Asters
by selection of seed from the best varieties he
would be successful. Chance seedlings which
come up in this garden often show characters
distinct from those of the seed parent, being
probably crossed by accident ; but I have never
happened to find any worth perpetuating, the
greater number of the seedlings being weeded
out before flowering. Cottage gardens, how-
ever, occasionally furnish excellent novelties in
this class, and if some central collection could
be formed we should soon have more of them.
Eilge Rail, Malpa,. C. Wolley Bod.
were sown and soon came up, and began to make
goodprogress.butsbowed a gooddeal of variety in the
breadth of the leaf. I think that it was in the third
year that they began to flower, when some proved
to be white and some blue. The flowers varied very
much in size ; in both colours there seemed to be
a large set as well as a small one ; not only was the
whole umbel finer, but the petals were compara-
tively so much broader, and in some cases almost
imbricated. When not in bloom the different varie-
ties could in nowise be distinguished, as I found
to my cost after having forgotten to mark them at
the right time, but the colour of the white was white
and nothing else, without any tinge of green or
other shade. If they flower satisfactorily nest year
I shall be glad to send some to the Caledonian Nur-
sery, Guernsey, to be compared with theirs, and I
hope they may find it the true thing. I did not know
that the white form is so valuable for placing in a
garden as one would have thought. It is nice some-
times as a contrast to the common blue, and also
for standing among pots of Ferns in a greenhouse
or conservatory during the summer, but for those
who have to deal with out flowers it ought to prove
of great value, as it lasts well and the head may be
pulled to pieces as required. — C. K. Scease-Dickins.
Planting hardy flowers in autumn. —
The recent storms, accompanied by heavy rains,
have helped to thoroughly moisten the surfiice soil,
.ind the transjilanting of all hardy plants may pro-
ceed apace. Those who have bad to lift and send
off or transplant large quantities of things of this
character have found the soil so loose and dry that
it was almost impossible to induce it to adhere to
the roots. Now all is changed for the better and
plants lift with good balls of soil, or, if divided, may
be dibbled out with perfect safety. It is better to
do work of this kind now than in the spring, as the
plants get well hold of the ground in a short time,
and the spring (inds them well established. In the
else of A'iolets, where the previous drought had
checked growth, the late runners may be taken off
and dibbled thickly into a bed, and a capital lot of
plants for |)utting out next autumn will be the result.
Pansies, A'iolas, Aubretias, Primroses, and Polyan-
thuses, indeed almost anything hardy, had better
be lifted, divided, and replanted now than kept
waiting. Spring bedding plants for making garden
displays will be none the worse for transplanting
now. With the soil in its present state and the
temperature mild, plants will get hold very quioldy.
—A. P.
White African Lilies. — Referring to the note
in The Gauden Nov. .0 (p. 410), about six years
ago I was given a packet of Agapanthus seed which
had been brought home from South Africa. They
CARNATIONS AND PICOTEES.
The task of potting off the rooted layers is over;
they are now either in pairs or singly in pots accord-
ing to their size, and they occupy a cold frame on a
north aspect, which is perhaps the best during the
autumn and winter months when it is desirable to
keep the plants easy and somewhat stationary.
Air is given by night and day, and when the weather
is bright the lights are fully opened. No heavy
showers of rain or drip are allowed to fall upon the
plants, and the soil about the pots is kept fairly
moist. When in pots I can winter them in safety,
which is a great deal more than I can do when they
are left in the open ground. Owing to the peculiar
nature of the soil in my small garden being reten-
tive of moisture, harsh and sour, it is death to the
Carnation and Picotee during the winter, however
vigorous the growth or common the variety. In
the open ground the foliage becomes affected with
spot, and the heart of the plant becomes quite
rotten. Even the common white garden Pink goes
off in this way. I note with pleasure that Mr.
Dodwell's newer varieties of the Carnation and
Picotee are generally of good vigorous constitution,
and winter well.
It is a good plan for the plants not to be crowded
in the frames during winter. If set too thickly
together they are apt to become drawn and
spindly, and I am in hearty agreement with Mr.
Dodwell, who says that "one vigorously established
and well wintered is worth in the spring more than
three attenuated and sickly from confinement;" and
the best preservatives from the dreaded spot— a
form of disease that eats its way into the leaves,
disfiguring and destroying them — are cleanliness
and plenty of air. Any dirt or dust deposits should
be swept off with a brush as an aid to cleanliness,
and a current of air allowed to pass over the plants.
On all occasions during the winter, if the air is
drying and not frosty, and when milder weather
gives occasional bursts of sunshine, it is well to
draw off the lights entirely as long as it can be
done. Opportunities are thus afforded for the grower
to go through his plants, giving them those little
attentions that have so much to do towards winning
success. Some growers appear to be of opinion
that when the frames containing the plants are in
a south aspect it is not well to allow the sunshine
to fall upon them, because it may excite the plants
into premature growth. This consideration does
not affect my own collection, as the frames face
northwards, and on the brightest winter day the
s>in scarcely falls upon them, but it warms the
atmosphere which circulates among the plants.
Watering is a matter of importance, and w.ater
should during autumn and winter l)e administered
with care. When applied it should only be to plants
needing it ; a good soaking should be given, and as
early in the day as possible. I lift my plants from
the frame, water them, and then return them when
the water has well drained itself from the roots. It
is difficult, however, to do this in the case of a large
collection. R. D.
NOTES ON HARDY PLANTS.
Sedum Ewersi. — I am glad somebody has spoken
a good word for this pretty Stonecrop, for it richly
deserves it. The Sedums are much neglected — al-
most despised by many — but there are few which
may not be employed with good effect for certain
purposes, and some are so pleasing that they might
well have a place among the choicest dwarf plants,
and this is one of them.
Androaace foliosa, as yet rare, proves to be a
splendid seed-bearer ; at any rate, plants grown
both in pots and in the border have seeded well
during the past brilliant summer. The habit of the
plant would not seem to point to much affinity with
A. sarmentosa. On two-year- old plants I do not
notice the slightest sign cf any shoots of the form
of a stolon ; foliar growths appear in just the same
way as with the Auricula, from below the collar,
and erect in some cases, and in others from the
axils of the older leaves, as often happens with
leggy Auriculas. Some half-dozen plants flowered
profusely, and in all cases secondary scapes pushed
from out of the umbels of blossom, and in two in-
stances several small secondary scapes issued from
one original truss. I may mention that my plants
came from two different sources and were, I believe,
raised from seed, but most likely from the same
district.
Megasea purpurascens. — If we have two
rather sunny and dry days together, this very dwarf
species is all aglow with gold and bright red on
some of its leathery leaves. For spring and autumn
it is an excellent plant for the open air. It is a
safe subject to plant, for it is quite hardy, and not
at all difficult to grow. Moreover, it has few or no
enemies. Noticing it the other day, I was struck
with the charming effect produced by a mingling of
its rigid and bright-coloured leaves with spreading
tufts of the silvery-leaved Achillea umbellata. Both
are better for a dryish position, and they would not
be amiss as companions at any period of the year,
especially in spring when the silvery Achillea would
make a pleasing ground for the deep purple clusters
of Megasea flowers.
Saxifraga cuscutseformis is just now one of
the most pleasing plants as regards flowers. Here
it is a persistent bloomer, for all the rough usage it
gets. Grown in pots in sandy stuff, no matter
where it gets pushed to, it makes vigorous summer
growth, running over the sides of the pots, and being
anything but neat in its habit. As the flowers appear
later, they attract notice, and the pots have a place
assigned them in a cold frame, where, until near the
end of the year, the pretty and cuiious flowers are
produced in succession. The plant certainly needs
no further protection than that of a cold frame in
winter, where it should be kept dry. It shrivels to
a remarkable extent, but every minute crown comes
into foliage again in late spring.
f hlox piloaa. — This erect-growing. Aery dwarf
and half-shrubby species is worth growing for the
rich fragrance of its dead stems and leaves.
Sisyrinchium convolutum has charms in
November. On strong and well-fed plants there is
still a good sprinkling of bright yellow flowers ; but
it is when the pale green grassy foliage for half its
length takes on the peculiar, but rich, autumnal
tints that the tufts cannot but be admired. The
hue is a sort of glaucous purple, with a metallic
eft'ect. I believe this is a plant of doubtful
hardiness. It is safe in Ireland ; it lived here last
winter, but in colder seasons I have lost it. It cer-
tainly is so pretty, distinct, and free as to merit a
place, and is also worth the risk and a little extra
care.
Saxifraga geranioides is another interesting
]ilant just now. The bold, rigid cushions are bright
in colour; the palmate leaves glow with yellow,
and their edges are tipped with bright red. For
permanent planting, as on the fides of drives, on
Kov. 19, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
469
large rockwork, or in public parks, it is one o£ the
very best of the genus. It is bold and neat, and
even gav, during its flowering period. Old plants
do not, "like sonje, die off in black patches, and they
assume somewhat of a shrubby habit. It only wants
a sandy, well-drained soil and a sunny position. I
have seen near the coast grand specimens, which
at first glance anyone might have classed as shrubs.
Harpalium rigidum. — In future my plan of
dealing with this runaway plant will be to cultivate
it in pots, even if the pots are plunged in the ground
for the sake of giving the bordeis effect with this
splendid Sunflower. The advantages are — you can
keep it within bounds. It is pretty certain that
some pulling up and replanting must be done every
year, and when the roots have been confined in pots
they are far more easily dealt with. It is proved
that the plants so treated flower even better than
those planted out. J. WOOD.
Mondi-aie, All-Mali.
BORDER PINKS.
There is a group of these that are quite distinct
from the laced Pinks of the florist, generally good
growers, and much varied in colour, and while they
are good growers and free bloomers, they are also
nicely fragrant, which adds to their usefulness for
cutting purposes. If some strong plants are potted
up in autumn and wintered for a time in a cold
frame, they are found very useful for giving a sup-
ply of flowers under glass in spring, but they must
be forced very gently. They do best in a cold
house, and brought on into bloom by the help of solar
heat only. The group of varieties consists of Alice
Lee, creamy white, a neat and compact grower;
Ascot, soft fleshy pink; Anne Boleyn, deep rose,
with dark centre; Clove Pink, deep rose, the flowers
deeply fringed ; Derby Day, deep pink, laced with
purple; Early Blush, a pretty pink self, very hardy ;
Emerald, a "deep, bright laced variety ; Fimbriata
alba and its large variety major, both very hardy,
and excellent for cutting; Lord Lyon, deep rosy
purple with darker lacing, a very fine and pleasing
variety; Mary Auberton, rich ruby red, also finely
laced; Mrs. Moore, white, laced with light purple;
Mrs. Sinkins, large pure white, very hardy, and re-
markably free; Paddington, red, with dark centre
and fringed edges; Suowdon, a late white variety,
large flowers, and very free; Stephanie, pure white,
the centre rosy lake ; Rose Perfection, light cerise,
free, and very hardy; and Mrs. J. M. Welsh, an im-
proved Mrs. Sinkins, but with a better pod and
■without the green centre that disfigures this good
old variety.
A selection of the best eight varieties would con-
sist of Ascot, Anne Boleyn, Derby Day, Lord Lyon,
Mary Auberton, Mrs. Moore, Mrs. J. M. Welsh, and
Rose Perfection.
Anyone growing some of these Pinks only for
the purpose of cutting from would probably raise
sufficient stock by dividing the plants at the end of
the summer. To facilitate the production of side
shoots, it is well to top-dress the plants occasionally
during the summer with some good gritty soil. Pinks
like a little grit, and root freely into it. I had in the
spring two plants of the variety Lord Lyon, and by
top-dressing them and keeping them watered dur-
ing dry weather when divided they made fifteen
plants. They are now in pots in a cold frame, and
they will be planted out in the open in early spring.
When Pinks are planted out in the autumn, it is a
good plan to raise the bed somewhat above the
level of the soil, as this allows of a little natural
drainage during the time that heavy rains prevail,
and it is best to secure the leading shoots in posi-
tion, as they are liable to be broken off by the action
of rough winds.
Those who grow their Pinks for purposes of sale,
or any who may desire a rapid increase of any
variety, should propagate by means of pipings. This
can be done as soon as the plants have gone out of
flower. As many cuttings as possible should be
taken from the plants and be placed in 3-inch pots
or 4w-inch pots, which should be previously nearly
filled with a nice sandy compost, but leaving room
for a thin layer of silver sand on the top. The
pipings can then be inserted in the soil, which
should be pressed firmly about them ; the pipings
should have a good watering, and then be placed
in a frame where there is a gentle bottom-heat.
Keep the soil moderately moist and shade them
from the sun; and keep them also close, and during
the day give a little air. Those who cannot com-
mand a little bottom-heat will find hand-glasses the
best substitute. R. D.
THE CROCUS.
I HAVE been pleased to read of the Crocus being
highly spoken of by "R. D." in The Gaedex,
Nov. 5 (p. 41(i). The numerous varieties of Crocus
vernus now in cultivation are splendid ornaments
of the flower garden. Some of the old varieties
named are very beautiful, and are not surpassed by
the best of the new forms of the same colour. I
grow them all side by side, both planted out and in
pots, so that I can select only the best old and new
varieties. I grow the very best in pots, and my list
for this year is as follows : Blue varieties — Dandy,
President Lincoln, Bleu Flammee, Albion (purple),
Purpurea grandiflora. King of the Blues, Baron
Brunow, John Bright. Mliite rarieties — Mammoth,
Mont Blanc, La Grandesse, Anna, Reine Blanche,
La Neige. Stripeil rarietie.i — La Majesteuse, Presi-
dent Grant, Sir Walter Scott, Bathurst, Albion
(striped). Some of these are named by " R. D." and
some are not. The precautions suggested in
the way of preparing the ground would doubt-
less give good results ; but who could go to the
expense of taking the turf from a lawn, and
remove 8 inches of soil and spread over at the
least i inches of sittings from the potting bench .'
Four inches depth of soil spread over even
a small lawn would mean many cartloads. There
is no need to cart loam on to the lawn at all ;
if the ground will grow anything, it will grow
Crocuses. Is it right to plant them so deep as
"R. D." recommends? We planted several thousands
on our lawn some four or five years ago. The lawn
was very uneven, and as the turf had to be skinned
off to level the ground, it was merely forked over
3 inches or i inches deep. When the ground had
been made quite level the bulbs were merely pressed
into it, and the turf, which had been pared off
thinly in the usual way, was rolled back over them.
They would be about 2 inches deep in the soil, and
they have flowered well ever since ; in fact, they do
better than Snowdrops or winter Aconites. The
bulbs of Crocuses have a tendency to work deeper
into the ground, although the new bulbs form over
the old ones. There is, therefore, no need to plant
them deep in the first place. I have planted this
year the selection I have named on a Grass bank in
the same way, and they are very beautiful, as they
star the ground with their brilliant flowers.
J. Douglas.
Auricula Page's Chaixpion. — From the asser-
tions which have recently appeared as to the ground
colour of Page's Champion, I am inclined to doubt
if it is really this fine flower which is now being
grown. In The Gaeden of October 1, Mr. Douglas
says, in describing Horner's Pearl, " the reddish
ground colour does not fade so early as that of
Champion does." And, again, in 1886, in an article
on " Faults of Auriculas " he says, " the edge
emerald green, and the ground colour reddish."
Sweet, in his " Florists' Guide," published sixty
years ago, gives both a descriprion and a portrait
of Champion, about which there can be no mistake,
as he must have been contemporary with the send-
ing out of the plant and quite familiar with its
appearance. He describes the ground colour as
" deep velvety black," and the portrait shows this
colour decidedly. I myself got a plant of Champion
in 1862, which I bloomed for three or four years,
and I have a distinct recollection of its deep black
ground colour. Unfortunately, but quite in keep-
ing with its character, it never gave me an offset,
and I could never get it replaced. I think it is im-
possible to contradict Sweet's description and por-
trait, and I do not think any satisfactory explana-
tion can be given as to Champion's ground colour
having changed to red. I believe that anyone grow-
ing a plant with a red ground colour under the
name of Champion is not growing Page's. I may
mention that his Waterloo of the same type is not
far behind Champion, but, curiously enough, this
finevariety seems not to be much known in Eng-
land.— John Moreis, Ifij Cottage, Dundee.
NEW MONTBRETIAS.
The beautiful coloured plate of these plants that
appeared in The Gabdex, May 28 of this year
(p. 490), was no doubt a surprise to many, as the
range of colour there represented was considerable,
and the three varieties therein depicted were all
alike beautiful. M. Lemoine, of Nancy, to whom
we are indebted for the many different forms of
Montbretia crocosmia^flora, announced last spring
two new varieties of it, and, in addition, a variety
of the older M. Pottsi under the name of M. Pottsi
grandiflora. This last did not flower with me, but
the other two did, and very pretty they are, though
they did not appear so striking as the three varieties
illustrated in The Garden— Bouquet Parfait,Gerbe
d'Or, and Etoile de Feu — which were sent out last
year. Of those flowered for the first time this year
Phare has the upper part of the petals orange-red,
inner part rich yellow, the partially expanded buds
being bright orange-scarlet at the top. It has
broader petals, and is consequently a less starry
flower than Bouquet Parfait or Etoile de Feu, and
in colour is about midway between the two. The
other — Solfaterre — is a large round flower with broad
petals of a lighter yellow than those of Gerbe d'Or.
These Montbretias may be readily grown in pots,
and so treated they flower freely, and are very useful
for indoor decoration during the summer months,
as they differ widely from the subjects usually em-
ployed, and they also last a long time in perfection.
Planted in the open ground, too, they grow and
flower freely; indeed, we have a couple of clumps of
M. crocosmiaeflora that have been outside some
years, and every season they flower profusely. There
were several good spikes of blossoms till cut off by
the sharp frosts about a fortnight ago. These
Montbretias can be easily increased in the case of
established kinds by simply dividing up a mass or
clump, while the newer forms, of which perhaps one
may have but a single bulb, can be j^ropagated in
the following manner : In turning the bulb out of
its pot it will probably be found that there are a
few underground shoots, like those of the Couch
Grass, curled round the bottom of the ball, and if
they are taken off and potted in some sandy soil at
such a depth that the point of the shoot is just
below the surface of the soil, they will soon push
out fibrous roots and quickly become established.
They will require keeping close till that takes place,
and where no convenience exists for this purpose
the better way is to leave the plant in the pot till
the spring, when these before-mentioned shoots will
find their way to the surface around the outsides of
the ball, when it may be turned out of the pot, and
it will then be found that many of these young
plants are well furnished with roots of their own,
and if this is the case they can be taken off and
either shifted into larger pots as they require it, or
planted out. They quickly gain strength ; indeed,
I find that the strongest of them will flower the first
season. H. P.
8B0RT NOTES.— FLOWEIi.
Cheiranthus mutabilis.— There are a few hardy
plants flowering now, and this is one of the number.
A specimen in the most robust health is in a recess on
the rockery in the Chiswiek gardens, the habit of the
plant beiug dense, with the leaves ahuudautly pro-
duced, naiTOw, and of a glaucous greeu. Even without
blooms it is omameutal, as the leafage is fresh and
pleasing- The flowers remind one of those of the
Lady's Smock, and are pile lilac.
Weeds on lawns. — Will some reader of The
Garden kindly advise as to the best way of freeing
lawns from weeds, especially Plantains ? — J. W. R.
*:j^* By far ihe most efi'ectual way of clearing lawns
of Plantains is to uproot them with a sharp-pointed
kuife, and then fill up the holes with soil in which
Grass seeds have beeu mixed. Sulphuric acid is also
a good remedy ; a drop applied to the crown of each
470
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 19, 1887.
plant soon withers it up. TLie liok's may be filled
up, as in the previous case. — Eii.
NEW TUFTED PANSIES.
Among the newer varieties claiming attention this
autumn are Dawn of Day, lilac and white, a fine
and distinct variety ; Ethel Baxter, bright rosy
puce, veined with a darker shade of colour, the top
petals slightly tinted with lilac ; Mrs. Henry Child,
rich violet centre, with a distinct light blotch on
each lower petal, and lighter top petals ; Mrs.
Baxter, rich rosy purple lower, and light top petals;
Merchiston Castle, rich crimson, shaded with violet,
and a thin margin of white, very distinct and
novel; Max Kolb, rich shaded dark blue; Spotted
Gem, rosy purple, blotched with blush-white, very
pretty ; Sir Joseph Terry, rich black-violet, dwarf
habit, and very free ; and York and Lancaster,
white, distinctly striped with rich rosy purple.
Tufted Pansies are propagated, either by cuttings
during August, September, and October, and later
by pulling to pieces the plants that have bloomed the
previous summer, when it will be found that a great
number of them have put forth roots, and if these
are planted in a nursery bed of suitable soil they
will grow into good plants by the spring. Cuttings
can be put in at any time during the summer ; a
sandy bed on a shady border will suit them well.
I saw the other day in a private garden hundreds
that had been struck in this way. In the southern,
western, and more favoured districts in regard to
climate Pansies will stand well out of doors during
the winter, but in cold, wet districts and very
exposed situations, and especially in the Black
Country, it is best to keep the young plants in cold
frames, where they can be fully exposed, but
covered from severe frost and drenching rains. The
frame bed should be well drained ; on this put a depth
of 6 inches to 8 inches of fine soil, brought up near
the glass, and the plants placed in it from 2 inches
to .3 inches apart, so that they can be lifted with
nice balls of roots and soil and planted out in
favourable weather in March or early in April. The
plants should have plenty of air on all favourable
occasions during the winter.
The bed should be prepared by digging it deeply
and working in at the time a good dressing of cow
manure if possible, throwing the soil up rough for
the frosts to act upon it. The ground should be
prepared in the same way for autumn planting,
putting out the plants in October or November so
that they may get a good roothold before winter
sets in. A mulching with a mixture of leaves and
rotten manure will protect the plants during the
winter, and it is always well to keep back a small
reserve in case of any failures occurring. Too
often Pansies are put into poor soil, with the result
that the plants grow weakly, and then they are
subject to the attacks of brown aphis in the
summer. The more vigorously they can be grown
the better they will bloom. E. D.
to divide any large plants that need it. Previous to
planting, the ground should be deeply dug and
manured, and the divided portions firmly planted.
Established plants will be benefited by a little
mulching. Slugs are apt to attack the plants dur-
ing winter ; coarse sand or fine ashes placed round
the stems are the best preventives. — R. D.
THE CARNATION.
It is not given to everyone who grows Carnations
to admire the beauty of the foliage as well as the
flowers, but the remarks November 5 (]>. -109) on
this part of the beauty of our favourites deserve to
be pondered over by those who scarcely look at their
Carnations except when they are in flower. The
foliage is not only beautiful in itself, but there is as
much variety in it as in the flowers. The flowers of
every variety when unfolded in their pride at mid-
summer are distinct, as also is the foliage at mid-
winter. In fact, it is almost as easy to name the
plants from their foliage as it is from the flowers,
and one can almost tell by the colour of the foliage
whether the flakes and bizarres have " run " or
sported to selfs. If a self, the foliage is very much
darker in colour, and a " run " flower has foliage of
a tint intermediate between the two. I have always
advocated the raising of seedlings, as there is not
only a large amount of pleasurable excitement in
watching the development of their flowers in the
season, but it is interesting to trace the parentage
in the foliage now. The plants are fully developed
and are much more beautiful than the named va-
rieties, being much cleaner ; the glaucous bluish
tint is not injured in the least, as is the case with
plants newly set out. It is astonishing, too, how
much variation there is in seedlings from the parent
type.
I was anxious to raise some Picotees with a
fine wire edge, and for that purpose selected one
named Her Majesty, well known for its glisten-
ing pure white petals and a fine wire edge of purple
round each. I had a number of fairly good Pico-
tees, but amongst them at least six very good rich
purple self Carnations. One of them was exhibited
by Mr. Turner, of Slough, and received several lirst-
class certificates, and is now being sent out from
the Slough Nurseries under the name of Purple
Emperor.
From Janira, a peculiar buff ground Picotee, I
raised several rose-coloured self Carnations. I have
thought that this reversion to the self state from a
variety like Janira must have been owing to some
other seeds getting mixed with it, as it is so remark-
able. I will flower some more Janira seedlings next
year, and of them there can be no mistake.
These changes are so interesting, that I thought
them worth mentioning, and also for another reason
— I have received letters from persons who had pur-
chased seeds of Picotees and expected that they
were going to have all the plants raised from them
to be the same. J. Douglas.
Double PyrethrumB. — That these useful sub-
jects are being much grown for cutting purposes
there can be no doubt, and I do not wonder at it,
for in suitable soil they are easily grown, and
flower with great freedom. When in Oxfordshire in
the summer I called upon a friend, who is a culti-
vator of choice hardy plants, and in his garden he
had several beds of Pyretbrums for cutting purposes,
he selling the flowers. From one bed he had already
cut over 5000 flowers, and there were many blossoms
in the bed then. He had a deep and fairly strong
sandy loam, and it suited the Pyretbrums exactly.
The plants grew strongly, and bloomed with extra-
ordinary profusion. A few good and distinct double
varieties for cutting will be found in the following ;
Captain Nares, bright crimson ; Imbricatum, purple-
carmine ; La Vestale, delicate blush ; Mons. Barral,
deep rich crimson; Mont Blanc, pure white; Ne-
mesis, carmine-rose ; and White Aster, pure white,
but quite distinct from Mont Blanc. Single varie-
ties : Coccinea, rich reddi.sh purple ; Hamlet, fine
rich pink ; and Sherlock, vivid crimson-scarlet. But
the double varieties appear to be more popular
when out than the single ones. Now is a good time
Propagating.
WiTSBNiA COEYMBOSA. — This pretty blue-flowered
greenhouse plant is not a difficult one to cultivate,
provided reasonable care and attention be bestowed
upon it, but the propagation thereof is by no means
easy ; indeed, however well versed in the matter
one may be, the cuttings take a long time to form
roots. The best time to take the cuttings is just as
the young growth is completed, and each cutting
must be formed of one of the fan-shaped tufts of
leaves with a heel of older wood at the base thereof.
Very frequently the best cuttings are to be found
at the base of a plant where quite a cluster of young
growths often occurs. The cuttings may be either
put singly in small pots, or a few around the edge
of a larger one ; but as it is absolutely necessary to
cover with a bell-glass till rooted, the better way
will be to plunge the pot or pots containing the cut-
tings inside a larger one, and cover with a bell-glass
that (its neatly, just inside the rim of the pot. Very
sandy peat is a good soil for the cuttings, and ail
pots used must be thoroughly well drained. The
cuttings should be inserted as firmly as possible^
but not too deeply in the soil, otherwise decay is
apt to set in just at the base of the leaves. A good
plan is to secure each cutting to a small stick in
order to hold it securely in position. When a pot
is filled with cuttings a thorough watering must be
given, snflicient, in fact, to settle the sand (a layer
of which should be on the top) into one unbroken
mass. When all is completed, the cuttings must te
kept in a greenhouse temperature, and so situated tht t
the sun does not shine directly upon them ; while
the position assigned them should be as free from
draughts as possible. The principal attention now
needed will be to remove the glasses occasionally to
dry up any superabundant moisture, and at the same
time to water when requisite. When the yourg
plants are rooted, air must be given by degrees, until
after a time they can be inured to the temperatuie
of an ordinary greenhouse, and, when required,
potted off or shifted into larger pots.
Yuccas. — Where any alteration is taking place
that necessitates the removal of the different hardy
Yuccas, an opportunity often arises to increase one's
stock, if it be desired, without injuring the plants
in any way. I refer to the stout rhizome-like roots
that are generally present, to a greater or less ex-
tent, in the case of all Yuccas, and more particularly
on the strong-growing hardy kinds. i?hese roots
may be cut oS to a length of 3 inches or more with-
out injuring the plant in any way, and can then be
potted in such a way that the point of the root
from whence the future plant will be pushed forth
is uppermost, and just below the surface of the soil.
If they are sheltered by a frame, growth will take
place more quickly than if in the open ground, but
still they will grow if plunged outside ; or a place
may be prepared for them in a sheltered border,
where they may be laid in without the intervention
of pots. Where these Yuccas are grown in pots for
furnishing pedestals or such purposes, these stout
rhizomes will often make their way to the outside
of the ball, and if the plant be turned out of its
pot, they may be removed without in the least dis-
turbing the specimen. T.
Propagating Carnations in winter.— At
the end of the autumn last year I put in some
Carnation cuttings in a cold frame. They were
taken off plants that I had not had time to layer
the preceding summer, and as old plants are so
liable to go off I decided to make cuttings of them.
They were taken with a good bit of old wood to
them. Air was given during the winter, except when
the weather was frosty or drying winds prevailed.
In this simple way quite 0.5 per cent, formed roots by
the spring. By April they were sufliciently well
furnished with roots to be planted out in the open
ground, and having such a long season they, of
course, made fine specimens by the autumn. This
is a way of propagating Carnations that is not
likely to be extensively utilised, but it is well to
know that Carnations can be thus increased. Some-
times press of work causes old, straggling plants to
be neglected in the layering season. Old plants
with prostrate stems are almost sure to go oft or
suffer severely in an inclement winter, and it is far
better to split them up and put in the cuttings. In
the case of choice kinds I should certainly do so.
And here I would impress upon would-be Carna-
tion growers the absolute necessity for annual pro-
pagation. The reputation for tenderness that
Carnations possess is mainly due to the fact that
the old woody stems that trail on the damp ground
are liable to bark rupture. The double action of wet
and frost induces rot. I have seen whole plantatiors
of such a hardy kind as the old Clove go off in this
way, the foliage remaining fresh and green all the
time. Young plants will pass the winter intact
when old ones become injured by inclement weather.
—J. C. B.
Veronica salicornoides.— lu answer to Ed.
Moir iu TiiE G.vrdex, July "A) (p. 7fil, who asks if this
blooms frc'fly iu its native country, it flowers very
freely here, and I have seen it so covered with bloom,
tliat you could not see the foliage. A soil composed
of decomposed volcauic rock, with a little black vege-
table mould in it, seems to suit this plant best. — A. C.
PvRDiE, Bvneclin.
Nov. 19, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
471
Ferns.
W. H. GOWER.
SOME WEST AFRICAN SPLEENWORTS.
AsPLENiCM Main'ni. — The illustratiou of this
noted some Kood examples of this new variety io lanse the localities in winch it is found, as it is
Mr Bull's nursery at Chelsea. It is said to be a met with on barren heaths and under the shelter of
hybrid between P. trem Ilia and P. serrulata cristata, ! woods in almost any soil, though more luxuriant
but I am rather sceptical as to its hybrid origin, when the latter is of a sandy, siliceous nature. Of
more especially as I recently noted a crested , all our numerous native Ferns the Bracken is un-
form of P. tremula amongst some seedlings in the doubtedly the one which is put to most profitable
usages, for it possesses a tew undeniably good
very elegant an^' distinct Fern is taken from Zl^er^^llL^SZi'^^^^plt U°f a h^'nd'om'e , qualities. As aVegetable manure it has f ew,_ if any
some specimens gathered at a considerable eleva-
tion on the Cameroon Mountains, in West Africa,
where it is said to grow upon the trunks of
Ferns and other trees. This species is still, I
believe, not in cultivation in this country, but
cool-house Fern and deserves to be grown by ! equal, for its ashes if burnt, w-ill yield double the
everyone ! quantity of salt to that produced by the burning of
' most other vegetables. Dr. Sprengel, who recom-
mends this Fern as a specially good manure, says
that it is most valuable through its richness in
_ _ _ OUR NATIVE FERNS
iTirwell"deserving of introduction in a "living the common Bkacken (Pteris aquilina), which is 1 nitrogen, having found that 100 lbs. of its dry foli_
state, as it would be a charming object to esta- : one of the very commonest of all the British Ferns, age contains no less than 16-lOOths of a pound ot
blish upon our growing Tree Ferns, &c. The is a species thoroughly distinct by its habit as weU nitrogen. On account of its particularly strong,
pantis^epresented in°its natural size in our , as thr^ough its peculiaf mode of growth which is not ^ as ringentn^^^^^^^^
illustration The rhizome is very slender, and shared by any other native Fern. The fronds, which places abroad m preparing and dressing kid arid
illustration, ine inizome is veiy siencier, auu j j triangular in ! chamois leather. Its use as a good Utter m
It becomes proliferou.s at the distance of a few i ^^^^ f °"L - somethnes trirtnnTte are disposed the stable and the fold is known to every
inches apart; the fronds are twice^dmded ! ^^h^ape and ^o- ^P^,,. ,,,^,,_ ,^ i ^Iso used in very large quanti-
somewhat coriaceous in texture, and bright , ^^^^^ creeping rhizome, which in rich sandy soils ties for packing purposes, where it forms an
green in colour. i 1^^^ ^^^^^ ^^ ^ § tl, o£ 3 fg^t and is very tenacious , excellent substitute for shavmgs or other more ex-
A. BR.iCHYPTER0N is another beautiful Spleen- ' Sf life. The Bracken is not nearly so particular as : pensive materials The fattening qualities of this
wort from the same looaUty. It is found also to the place in which it grows as are most of our! Fern are so well known that at Nettlecombe, in
, , L c ±1. -i-KT L A 1. A Somersetshire, it is, or it was, customary
m other parts of the West Coast, and ' - '- - - ■'
has been in cultivation many years.
It is, however, seldom seen in fine
condition through being kept too hot
and close. The fronds are somewhat
oblong in outline, slightly tapering to
a point, from 6 inches to 1 foot long
and nearly 2 inches broad, although
as usually seen it is seldom more than
half that size. The fronds are twice-
divided, the pinnfe being partially cut
away on the lower side, the ultimate
segments being narrow and more or
les3 forked ; intense deep green on the
upper side ; the under side occupied
by a single line of brown sori. It
thrives best at the cool end of an in-
termediate house, and loves deep shade
and a very moist atmosphere.
A. ERECTiiM Barteri. — With the
above I have also received this plant,
but not in a living state. Many forms
of this variable, hut beautiful Fern
are to be found growing in our col-
lections. In this variety the fronds
are about 1 foot long and 2 inches
broad , simply pinnate and bearing some
twenty pairs of sub-opposite pinna?,
all of which are of nearly the same
siz?, but the long terminal segment is
very narrow and proliferous, giving the
frond a peculiar truncate appearance.
The fronds are rich deep green above
and slightly pale beneath, This form
is found in the Sierra del Crystal
dbtrict.
Asplenium Manni. Engraved for The Garden from Nxtnre.
to gather the young shoots of it and to
simmer them in water for a couple of
hours, when, after cooling, it forms a
strong jelly very useful for feeding pigs.
It is acknowledged by nearly everyone
who has tried the experiment that the
common Bracken can rarely be grown
successfully in pots, however large these
may be ; but it forms a very noble orna-
ment when planted in a northern border
of deep, sandy soil where the development
of its fleshy rhizomes is not interfered
with. In such a position it should be
covered with old leaves every winter, or
with its own, if these are not required for
any of the purposes enumerated above.
Its propagation takes place naturally by
seedlings, but it is frequently done by
the taking up in the early spring of the
creeping main roots which are laid thickly
and covered over with soil to the depth of
from 4 inches to 6 inches. Several varie-
ties of Pteris aquilina are known in cul-
ture, such as the curiously and interest-
ingly crested form bearing the name of
cristata Gloveri, or the one called grandi-
ceps, which has much larger and also
more tufted crests. Although I have
not seen it, I have also heard of a ramose
form of this Fern, and Mr. B. S. AA^lliams,
in his excellent work on " Select Ferns
and Lycopods " (p. 325), states that he
also received specimens of a variegated
variety from Yorkshire. But none of
these forms appear to have remained con-
stant under cultivation, and the one most
generally found in a wild state is the
common crested form, of which I per-
sonallv observed great numbers during one
A. LOXGICAUDA.-This is a large, bold Fern other native Ferns ; i^ f-^l^t will thrive in any soil , of my recent ^^^^^^^
r .1 J.-J.-C ji?i. •■.• excent a chalkv one, and, despite its somewhat woods attacnea to tne Marquis oi Aoergavenny s
from the mountain at Fernando Vo, where it is ^^^P^^ appellation, it is, when growing luxuriantly ! noble mansion at Bridge Castle, Tunbridge Wells,
- - - ■ ' Kent, in which woods native Ferns of all kinds are
most abundant.
The small - leaved Gxmsogeam (Gymuo-
gramma leptophylla) is a particularly pretty Fern,
which, though it had long been known as a native
of the southern continent of Europe, its adjacent
islands and Madeira, was not until 1852 included
among the British flora. The first information
said to grow upon trees and to be found at an ^.^^^^ ;^ a sheltered or in an exposed situation one
altitude of some 2o00 feet, to oUOO feet. , and is ^j ^.^^ ^^^^^ handsome of the British Ferns. In the
still a rare Fern in gardens. The fronds, from g^^j case, the pale green colour of its light feathery
1 foot to 18 inches long, and upwards of 6 inches fronds, which under the influence of shade and
broad, are simply pinnate, the pinnae being moisture attain their maximum of growth, renders
0 inches long and nearly 2 inches broad, the them particularly effective; whereas the growth
terminal segment being very much lengthened of the plants exposed to the effects of full light
out and proliferous at the apex. The sori are makes up for its deficiency in size, its beautiful „ ,. , . ,. t *i, r) •*• i,
bold, and situated on the upper portion of the foUage then assuming a glowing yellowish red , that we possess of its being a native of the Bri^^^^^^
vem; near the margin. It^is a distinct Fern, tint which it retains for a very long time. The Isles dates from that year when Mn
and worfchv of more extended cultivation Bracken has from immemorial times been known as found it m the island of Jersey in various localities,
ana wortny ot more extended cultivation. ^ ^^^^^^^ ^^^^^ Turner, in the second part of his | besides near St. Aubyn's and St. Lawrence, " where
"Herbal," published in 1562, gives a lengthy, but I it was growing on moist banks with a southern
Pteris tremula grandiceps. — This is a very interesting description of the various supposed . aspect and where the Marchantia flourishes." It is
beautiful Fern, retaining the same stately habit as virtues attributed by the superstitious people of his the only species of the genus which is of British
the typical plant, but having in addition all the time to the influence of Bracken seed when gathered origin, and it is aU the more singular and the more
ends of the fronds and pinnules beautifully crested on midsummer eve; statements which are all more interesting on account of its being only ot annual
and tasselled, these being gracefully pendent. It or less ludicrous and have been completely refuted duration, and therefore requiring frequent renewal
forms a grand plant for greenhouse decoration ere this. It is so generally distributed all over the by means of spores, which germinate freely and
where crested varieties are admired. I recently United Kingdom that it is unnecessary to particu- come up of their own accord every successive season
472
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 19, 1887
when planted in a very moist and sheltered part of
the cool fernery. Although generally considered
quite hardy, the small-leaved Gymnogram thrives
best in either the cool or the warm house, where
one frequently finds seedlings growinj;- spontaneously
on the surface of the pots containing other plants.
A warm shady nook in the rockery is therefore the
most suitable situation, and the compost which it
prefers is one made of equal parts of leaf-mould,
peat, and loam, with a little sand. It also requires
an abundant supply of water, but must have
thoroughly good drainage. If grown in the open
air, a sheltered situation must be selected where it
will at all times be sufficiently protected against
cutting winds and the burning rays of the sun,
which are always in j urious and frequently fatal to
its delicate fronds. The barren and fertile fronds
are entirely dissimilar ; the former ones are only
half the length of the fertile ones, and have from
one to three fan-shaped leaflets variously lobed and
at first resting on the ground. Its pretty, but very
brittle little fronds, borne on stout, pale brown,
glossy stems are of a pale pleasing green colour and
finely cat, somewhat oval in form, and their wedge-
shaped pinnules are bluntly lobed. They are pro-
duced from a small crown, which totally dies away
when they fall, at which time it is advisable to keep
the surrounding soil constantly moist to induce the
germination of the spores which may have fallen
around it. In that way, that interesting Fern is
generally kept from year to year, but it is safer to
gather some spores which are specially intended for
the ensuing season's crop of young plants, which in
the course of six or eight weeks attain their full de-
velopment. S. G.
Platycerium biforme and P. Stemmaria
— ^Will you tell me, through the pages of The
Garden, at the first convenient opportunity, if
Platycerium biforme and P. Stemmaria are distinct
plants, or synonymous ? At a recent flower show I
competed in a class for six Ferns, distinct, but was
placed second to an exhibitor who staged the two
plants above-named in his six, which 1 contend are
the same thing, and, therefore, his six plants were not
distinct, and that he was not qualified to take a prize
at all, not having conformed to the regulations of
the schedule.— W. W., Kent.
*^* It is impossible to answer your question
definitely without seeing the specimens, but it is
very probable that the plants you refer to are the
same, and, if so, both in all probability are P. Stem-
maria, for I have frequently seen this species grow-
ing in collections under the name of P. biforme, but
the latter is a very distinct plant, and cannot pos-
sibly be mistaken for P. Stemmaria. It is, however,
very rare, if it really is in cultivation at all. Sub-
joined are brief descriptions of the two plants. In P.
Stemmaria, the infertile frond, or shield, as it is
popularly called, is sub-ascending, nearly entire,
from 1 foot to 2 feet across, and usually dies every
winter, but remains upon the plant for years. The
fertile fronds are pendent, two or three times
forked, the sori are situated near the bottom of
the depression of the broad divisions, and extend
up the sides of the lobes. It produces young ijlaiits
from its roots somewhat plentifully, and soon
makes a large mass. Native of West Africa. P.
biforme comes from the Malay Islands and various
of the Philippines; the barren shields are stout and
much forked on the upper edge ; the fertile fronds
are frei|uently from (! feet to 10 feet long, much
divided into narrow strap-shaped segments, whilst
near the base of the frond is developed a distinct,
reniform segment some (> inches broad which is
wholly fertile. P. Willincki more nearly resembles
P. biforme in the narrow strap-shaped segments of
its frondii, but in this species the sori are confined
to the tips of the narrow segments. — W. H. G.
themums, were given tickets to vote. This only
shows the absurdity of such a system if it were
to be carried out to any extent, and as it has
been once given a trial, will never, from the
curious results, again receive consideration. It is
certainly a novelty in the way of judging, and it is
amusing to think of the scene created by the whole
of the committee judging the flowers in the various
stands at such an extensive and splendid show as
that of the National Chrysanthemum Society. There
may be many successful cultivators of this popular
flower and many that have a wide knowledge of the
several sections, but such acquirements do not con-
stitute a good judge of the quality of the (blooms
when exhibited so plentifully and of such all-round
excellence as they were on this occasion. — An
E.XHIBITOE.
Judging by ballot. — This is the new system
of juilging tried in the case of some fpe,oial prizes
offered at the Aquarium, the awards to be made
only by the floral committee. I watched the pro-
ceedings, and, strange to say, several of the persons
standing round the fl iwers at the time, although
neither on the committee nor specialists in Chrysan-
EXHIBITING PRIMROSES.
I HAVE an impression that the suggestion made by
Mr. Selfe Leonard, November 5 (p. 428), with
respect to the exhibiting at the National Auricula
Society's shows of Primroses, Primula species, &c,, in
Moss rather than in pots or pans individually as
now is not quite new, and that it has more than
once in years past been advocated in The Gaeden.
It is very kind indeed to invite the public to give
expression as to the wisdom of adopting the
suggestions made or otherwise, but it will occur to
most readers that the matter is absolutely in the
hands of the executive of the Auricula Society, and
if that body prepares its schedule accordingly the
thing so far is done. As to how many of the late
exhibitors of Primroses will care to send to South
Kensington an unlimited collection of these bulky
and somewhat precious hardy flowers set up in
baskets or boxes and all carefully and neatly massed
in the hope of winning the miserable sum of 15s.
for a first prize, time will show. Really the Auricula
men have a good deal of contempt for the beautiful
Primroses just because everybody can grow them
out in the open garden, whilst the show Auriculas
must have exceeding care, be grown under glass,
and are so miffy that they may all collapse should
the grower be for a short time absent. Look at the
encouragement given to Primroses as compared
with Auriculas. I exhibited last year twelve large
plants in 8-inch pots, solid and beautiful clusters
of flowers and of leafage ; the prize awarded was
15s. In the class for six show Auriculas, plants
turned out of 4i-inch pots, each plant having one
truss of bloom, consisting of from six to eight pips,
and the whole when so turned out easily carried in
a bonnet box, and yet this infinitesimal bulk of
floral beauty receives as a first prize the sum of 40s.
Why, if the suggestion of unlimited collections of
Primroses and Primula species be acted upon, the
first prize in each class should be raised to CiOs. To
set up three or four dozen clumps of Primroses in
Moss would to each exhibitor mean trebling his
already considerable expense, great risk in losing
his plants later because of the lifting, and great
inconvenience.
Exhibiting Primroses, or, indeed, any other garden
plants, to the extent suggested means not only great
labour, but great robbing of the garden of floral
beauty just at a time when that is so precious.
To have Primroses exhibited in their natural form
they must be lifted direct from the open ground,
and that means injury to the plants at the most
critical moment of their growth. Plants set into
pots or pans or planted out in frames soon show
evidences of their confinement. The foliage and
flower-stalks become drawn, the flowers lose their
usual freshness, and the plants soon have a faded or
washed-out appearance, although the worst feature
is found in demoralisation of form or habit, with-
out which Primroses are Primroses no longer. Mr.
Leonard is concerned lest Hose-in-hose or ordinary
duplex flowers be shown as doubles. That seems to
be needless trouble. No one will make so absurd a
blunder, as even the merest tyro knows that the
term double applies to something different from
Hose-in-hose or duplex form. We all know what
the term double means when applied to Primroses.
Still further, there are few really duplex Prim-
roses, although the Hose-in-hose form is common
enough in Polyanthuses, which, as a rule, have no
doubles.
Mr. Leonard's difliculties with respect to the defi-
nition of Primroses and Polyanthuses arise, doubt-
less, from the common rule of calling all Primulas
Primroses, and yet one would have imagined that
the habit of the wild Primrose in the one case and
the habit of the Oxlip in the other would have sup-
plied the needful information. We find in the one
flowers borne singly on stems which originate from
the crowns of the plants ; in the other, flowers borne
in scapes or clusters on stout, erect stems. Surely
that is clear enough to all minds. So far as I have
seen at the National Auricula shows, there has been
little difficulty in determining which is which, and
it seems superfluous to raise the point now. It is
beside the matter to refer to Mr. Anthony Waterer's
occasional collections of spring flowers as evidence
that Polyanthuses are here termed Primroses,^ be-
cause these have never come into competition ;
whilst some will term the strain one thing and some
another, just as it suits their fancy. Those who do
exhibit for competition know what is what. Out in
the garden, where the Primrose and Polyanthus
forms give extra early blooms, they are most wel-
come, but a true Primrose strain is always some
three ^or four weeks earlier in blooming than is a
strain of Polyanthus. A. D.
Kitchen Garden.
W. WILDSMITH.
KITCHEN GARDEN NOTES.
Almost continuous rain ever since the month
began has necessarily hindered ground work, and
consequently my notes under this heading are this
week very meagre. No outside work has been
possible except the getting together of tree leaves
and making up beds for forcing Asparagus,
Radishes, and Potatoes, as also for striking cuttings
of various soft-wooded plants that by reason of
the sudden frost were not put in earlier, the plants
being killed to the ground line, so that instead of
cuttings the old plants were lifted, and are now
throwing up shoots from the bottom. On these
leaf beds Lobelias, Heliotropes, and Ageratums
will quickly strike, and afterwards the beds by a
little addition of fresh leaves and litter will be
available for salads and the raising of seedlings of
various kinds, such as Brussels 15prouts, Cauliflower,
Cabbage, and Lettuce. Repairs to walks, the clear-
ing out of drains and traps on same, we have been
able to get nearly finished. Such jobs are best
done in showery weather, as then it is that defec-
tive drains and soft parts of walks are most
apparent. For walk mending, though we have
plenty of coarse gravel, we prefer to use rough
ashes or clinkers as a foundation for the gravel,
because on walks thus made we have never been
much troubled with weeds, and rarely indeed do
walks so made get discoloured or Moss grown, but
thi.s they do when gravel alone is used. Though
not strictly within the province of these notes, the
work we have been doing between the showers this
week is sufficiently important to be alluded to. I
mean root-pruning of sundry fruit trees that occupy
positions on borders that arc cropped with vege-
tables. In some instances when the trees— Pear
trees— are small they are forked right out, the
thong, fibreless roots shortened, and after trenching
the ground, more especially for vegetable croppmg
rather than for the fruit trees, they are firmly
replanted and mulched thickly with good manure.
The borders are being given n rich dressing of
manure, but none is applied nearer than 2 feet to
where the fruit trees are to be replanted. Older fruit
trees that may be growing too robustly as to render a
check desirable have a few of their strongest roots
cut as trenching proceeds, and care is taken not to
put manure too close to the trees, else it were use-
less to check growth. Manure must be given for
the vegetable crops, but this system of deep cultiva-
tion—if practised annually, as is the case here-
even in such rich borders, keeps the fruit trees in
free bearing, and, what is more— ensures the pro-
jS^v. 19, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
473
duction of fine fruit. As soon as new roots are
made, they make straight for the richest part of the
ground, and there get established before the fruit
makes the greatest demand on the trees, and this
demand is satisfied weeks before trenching time
again comes round, when curtailment again takes
place. Thus, by feeding and starving, fruitfulness
of the first order is secured, and the growth of good
vegetables is at the same time rendered a certainty.
Root stores. — If hindered by bad weather
from doing open-air work, sucli hindrance is
often very desirable lest inside work gets ne-
glected. Our stores of Potatoes, Beet, and Onions
have this week benefited by such enforced labour.
Potatoes, though not diseased at all, are all the
better for the turn over they have had, and each
variety has been sorted into two lots, namely, for
cooking and for seeil, and the latter have been laid
as thinly on the shelves and floor as space affords,
and presently, when room is available, such seed
tubers will be laid in single layers only. Beet was
housed some three or four weeks since in a perfectly
dry condition, but, notwithstanding this, fresh leaves,
had pushed considerably, plainly showing that
growth had not become matured. This fresh foliage
has been screwed off and the roots re-stacked in
heaps of moderate bulk — no soil or other material
being used amongst them. A drier place than that
required for either Potatoes, Beet, or Carrots is de-
sirable for Onions, though, if thoroughly matured,
this does not greatly matter. Ours keep perfectly
on the floors of fruit rooms, and there is no smell
other than that which is sometimes occasioned by a
decaying bulb. These have also been sorted into
two lots — those for immediate use, such as any that
seem likely to make fresh growth, and, conse-
quently, would not keep well ; and those that show
no signs of growth. The bulk are in that state now,
but as the season advances growth is sure to begin ;
therefore, as room is ample, we lay them out in
single file now. Carrots we must house as soon as
weather permits, also a few Jerusalem Artichokes,
and another lot of Sea Kale roots.
TOMATO CULTURE.
In The Gaeden, October 8 (p. 349), " A. D." gives
his opinion respecting the cracking of Tomatoes.
I have grown a large quantity of Tomatoes for
many years, and, from close observations, I quite
agree with " A. D." At the same time I think the
method of culture has something to do with
cracking, as I very seldom had a cracked fruit, and I
have grown almost every variety that has l>een
introduced for the last thirty years. For a general
crop I have stuck to one sort, which, having been
recommended to me as an excellent strain, turns
out to be a very fine form of the old large red,
almost free from ribs, and as all the fruits swell to a
nniform size, they are very suitable for market
purposes. Every year 1 carefully selected a stock
of seed for the following season from the most
promising plants. Well-ripened seed is the main
feature to success. Tomatoes, as a rule, will almost
grow and fruit in any sort of compost provided it is
sweet and open, but for quantity and quality I
found nothing so good as strong, open, turfy loam,
fresh lifted and roughly choppeil up with the Grass
on. I always found that the fresher the turf the
more rapid was the growth of both roots and
branches. In preparing for the plants I lay
a ridge of chopped turf along the front
of the house, as for Cucumbers, and put in
the plants 15 inches apart. In a few days the
roots will show through the turf all over
the ridge, which must be constantly covered with
fresh turf till the space allowed is full. Only one
branch or rod must be allowed to each plant, and
every lateral must be rubbed out as it appears,
keeping a close, moist atmosphere. By removing
all the laterals tiU the fruit is ripe, the foliage is
strengthened, and the fruit is of a richer colour. As
soon as the fruit begins to swell, a regular supply
of weak manure water must be given. Xever give
more air than the state of the weather necessitates.
This treatment must be continued until the fruit is
ready for cutting. This keeps the skin soft and
elastic, and prevents the fruit from cracking. Where
a supply is only required for family use more air
may be given, which will ensure a better succession
and lengthen the supply. James Smith.
^\'lIterf!ale.
VEGETABLES FOR MARKET.
Ix this neighbourhood runner Beans are grown in a
very simple manner. The seed is drilled in rows
3 feet apart, with a larger space between every two
rows to admit of easily gathering the produce. The
plants are not allowed to run, but are kept in the
form of bushes from IS inches to 2 feet in height
by boys or women, who go along the rows from
time to time and switch oft' the tender-growing tops
with sticks. I feel sure that in ordinary years this
is the only way by which any profit can be made
from runner Bean culture, and 1 much doubt if the
grower, whose practice was described in a late
number of The Garden, will find that it pays in
the long run. The cost of stakes for a large field is
great, added to which is the labour of inserting and
storing them when the crop is over. Last summer
runners were in the full season fetching 3s. per
bushel only, and this is a price that in ordinary
favourable seasons they are sure to drop down to.
We know that high prices have been obtained this
year, as many large breadths did not yield a Bean
fit for market until the early autumn months ; but
for some years to come this vegetable is not likely
to fetch so much in the London markets. At the
ordinary market rates the costly method of staking
cannot pay, and as to raising the plants under
glass, I cannot see any advantage to be derived
therefrom.
As " A. D." justly remarks, runner Beans are only
wanted when Peas are over. All the time these are
fairly cheap and good runners will go begging. It
is, indeed, the development of Pea culture that has
so materially lessened the value of runner Beans.
It is only a few years ago, when midseason Peas in
the neighbourhood of London were over, that the
demand for runner Beans arose. The fir^t gather-
ings made from 10s. to Kis. per bushel, and through
August they did not drop much below 6s. per
bushel. Xow Peas are so largely produced in the
north of England, that their season of plenty has
been much extended. After the Pea crops here
were done, I have known as many as 500 bushels
come into Covent Garden in one morning. As with
all other things that have been found to pay well,
the area devoted to this vegetable has been enor-
mously increased, so that growers have to face over-
production as well as competition from a more
highly esteemed esculent. Where runners were
planted in good holding ground, I have no doubt
that they have paid very well this year. The early
autumn rains brought out their comparatively dor^
mant bearing powers, the result being a larger yield
during September than usual. The great drought,
too, had the effect of seriously diminishing the
yield of late Peas even in the cool north, so that
this season Bean growers had during the late
summer and early autumn months the field to them-
selves.
Turnips. — Those who had good Turnips in Au-
gust and September this year were very fortunate.
At that time they realised from is. to .js. per dozen,
a really first-rate price for a vegetable that costs so
little to raise. The early-sown Turnips that proved
of any value were, however, rare. In the majority
of instances, after the young plants appeared they
fell a prey to fly and beetle. The latter scourge
seems indeed to have developed exceptionally potent
powers of mischief this season. L^nlike the fly, it
comes as a thief in the night, and in less than a
week will render a field of healthy young plants a
desert waste. The way in which whole fields of
healthy young plants disappear in a night or two is
enough to discourage the cultivator, and there is, so
far as I am aware, no remedy for this, the most
formidable pest that the Turnip grower has to con-
tend with. 1 know of places where the ground has
this summer been three times sown, and now there
is but a sprinkling of plants on it. So irregular
have been the early crops in this district, that where
they have done fairly well £8 10s. per acre has been
given, the purchaser taking on himself all expenses
incidental to marketing them. There is apparently
a knack in sowing Turnips in a dry time, for whilst
the generality of the growers hereabouts have
scarcely any Turnips, one of the largest of them has
had for a couple of months twenty hands constantly
employed pulling the roots for market. This man
has undoubtedly done remarkably well this year.
The great point in sowing is to get a fine surface,
putting the harrows on the moment the ground is
ploughed, keeping them at work until the seed is
drilled in. In this way the seed gets the benefit of
any moisture that may be in the soil, and the inch
or two of fine mould acts as a mulch in helping to re-
tain it until germination takes place. This is the
method followed by the grower above referred to,
and he seems tn get crops when most people fail.
Another important item is to have the ground in
good heart. A plant will make progress in a dry
time if there is plenty of food for it. In poor ground
it gets stunted, and even the advent of a genial
growing time will not induce free growth. There
is, moreover, a vast difference in the appearance,
and consequently marketable value, of quickly-grown
Turnips of such that have taken much over the due
time to bring to a selling size. A more plentiful
supply seems now to be forthcoming, but good
samples are worth from 3s. to 3s. Gd. per dozen
bunches.
Caerots. — These have, owing probably to the com-
parative dearth of green vegetables, been in good
demand during the autumn. In a general way it is
of but little good sending Carrots to the London
market before the middle of November. This year
a good breadth of them in a fit condition in Sep-
tember was worth a good deal. What they will
realise later on it is hard to say. "\'ery much will
depend upon the condition of the crops in the eastern
counties. If they are only moderate, prices must
average higher through the winter than has been the
case for some years past, for the yield in this Carrot-
growing country is very light. The fly took off a
great percentage of the plants, and where they escaped
the roots have not come to average size. The Surrey
lands on which Carrots are grown are light, and
consequently feel the drought acutely. The Essex
Carrots are mostly grown on holding ground, and if
growers can only get the seed to germinate well
they are almost sure to get good roots, no matter
how dry the season may be. In times past it was
useless to grow Carrots for market on heavy ground.
Symmetry, length and colour constituted the points
of excellence, and they can only be obtained in a
sufficiently high degree on a certain description of
light sandy loam. The long Surrey Carrot is, how-
ever, now no longer in much favour. For once
consumers in London have exercised a wise dis-
cretion and recognised superior merits in the less
attractive Intermediate, which is more tender and
altogether of a better flavour. This is the kind
that is exclusively grown in the eastern counties.
J. C. B.
Parsnips. — By no means a high class vegetable,
yet we find at this season of the year Parsnips are
admittedly a strong feature in any collection of
vegetables staged for exhibition. This year, whilst
in many soils they came out somewhat unshapely
and devoid of true form, yet plenty of very hand-
some samples have been lifted, and it is noticeable
that whilst of good size in many cases, there is little
of that bulk which in rapid growing years denotes
too much water and insolidity of flesh. So far as
I have tried Parsnips, I think I have rarely found
them firmer of flesh and pleasanter eating than
now, and it is evident that if a dry season does in
some cases pinch the roots, it also renders them
much more enjoyable as food. Happily, in Parsnips
we have little variety; hence, in obtaining .=eed, one
is little troubled in the matter of selection, and
whether the order be for Hollow Crown, Elcombe's
Improved, Maltese, Jersey, or Student, it is pretty
certain that there will be little difference found,
whichever may be bad. Probably an order for
quantities of the fine so-called sorts would puzzle a
seedsman somewhat, or if that trader was at no loss
to supply them, the grower might find it difficult to
474
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. ly, 1887.
discover differences. Parsnips require ground deeply
worked, not so much that it is desirable to obtain
long, tapering roots as that a hard base induces
forking and the roots are spoiled. Some 10 inches
of good soft, fleshy matter is enough, whilst a hard
core is very much to be deprecated. It is better to
sow on old manured soil than upon a fresh dressing
of strong manure. — A. D.
THE CLEANING OF FOUL GKOUND.
Seldom have words in season been more wisely
spoken than those of "A. D." (p. 405) in last week's
Gaeden. The past season has been peculiar in
many things— in nothing more so than in its fos-
tering of weeds. In this, as in so many other
things, the unexpected happened. Two months of
drought afforded a rare opportunity of getting rid
of the weeds, only, somehow, it did not. Never did
autumn tilths reveal the presence of so many. The
weeds ran to seed, and produced successional crops
that did likewise with amazing rapidity and perti-
nacity, and this not only on land previously foul,
but on fairly cultivated crops and on tilths of ave-
rage cleanliness. The writer's "experiences with
winter Onions and Spinach were, in fact, identical
to the case so graphically described by "A, D."
Neither the Onions nor the Spinach seemed as if
they could get up freely for the weeds, and hardly
had they got through when they were overtaken and
half smothered by the weeds. In an experience ex-
tending over many years, I have never .seen the
crop of weeds equalled either in strength or num-
bers. Successional crops of weeds come up on each
other's heads, as it were, and the more they were
pulled out or hoed up the faster they seemed to grow
and the more densely the ground seemed covered by
weeds.
Fortunately, part of our Spinach ground was
furnished with summer Spinach. This sprang to
the front after the rains as if by magic, and over-
ran and possessed the ground. Unfortunately,
hardly had this happened when an insatiable de-
mand was made upon it. So soon as the covering
leaves were removed up sprang the weeds afresh,
and neither hoeing nor hand-weeding have been
able to quite master them since. This gives pecu-
liar force to " A. D.'s" recommendation to grow out
the weeds or smother them in with a succession of
gross-growing earth-covering plants. A fine piece
of Veitch's Autumn Gi4nt Cauliflower hard by has
taught the same leeson. During the month or more
these were struggling with the drought the ground
was poisoned with weeds. So soon as the tips of
the leaves between the plants and the rows met the
weeds succumbed. A yet more forcible example
occurred on a border devoted to Brussels Sprouts.
These were got out early, grew in spite of the
drought, met, and smothered out, or off, the weeds.
A portion was left for a few hundred summer Cab-
bages. The drought checked the latter severely,
and the weeds proved most troublesome even dur-
ing the drought, whilst they almost overtopped the
Cabbages within a week of the rain.
Two borders of Potatoes side by side gave equally
emphatic evidence in favour of growing out weeds.
One was of an early and short-topped variety, the
other of the Magnum lionum. The first made less
top than usual this season, and the ground was hoed
over several times to keep the weeds within bounds.
The latter did little but make top, and the latter
long and strong choked out or off all the weeds. In
these cases the tilth was normally clean, and prac-
tically all alike clean, and they alTord incontrover
tible evidence of the potency of the growing-out
cure for weeds.
Wider experience but convinces me of the costli-
ness as well as failure of most other methods of
destroying or preventing weeds. Pulling them up,
cutting them down, is but a weariness to the flesh
and a leanness to the pocket. Digging them under
or trenching them deeper down but furnishes the
weeds with a richer, wider feeding ground, that
conserves their vitality and stimulates them to a
more iirepressible, vigorous growth. There is some
hope of the seeds of weeds being destroyed on the
surface by sheer cold and unseasonable attempts at
growth. But buried a foot or a yard under ground
most of them sleep in safety until favourable condi-
tions awake them into growth, their growth and
vigour being mostly the greater the longer they rest
before setting about it.
We greatly need data to show how long seeds
may remain buried without destroying their vitality.
Until it can be proved that it can be so destroyed
it will be safer not to trust to the digging or trench-
ing in of the seeds of weeds as a means of clearing
foul tilth. A far safer, surer method may be found
in the double-barrelled system of prevention, viz ,
the destruction of the plants before seeding, and
the growing in the weeds bythe prompt covering of
all foul tilth by gross growing crops, such as Cole-
worts, Spinach, Mustard, Cauliflowers, runner
Beans, and long-haulmed Potatoes, &c. Even in
pastures weeds have often been eradicated by
the mode thus pithily pointed out in the At/ri-
cuHural (jozette, October 31, by Mr. Hunter
Pringle. " If you sow the right Grasses, especially
the coarse or strong-growing Grasses, such as
Cocksfoot, Timothy, Meadow Fescue, tall Fescue,
Meadow Foxtail, these Grasses, by virtue of their
robust growth and powers of sitting upon a rival,
will eradicate all weeds." Just so; and surely it is
much easier thus to clear gardens than permanent
pastures of weeds, as the garden crops will prove
so much larger and more succulent, and hence
more potent extinguishers. Hoetus.
Trees and Shrubs.
AUTUMN COLOURING.
Exceptionally brilliant appear to have been the
varied and always beautiful autumn tints assumed
by so many of our best native and naturalised de-
ciduous trees this season. This is probably one
result of the unusually hot and dry summer, and in
addition to having imparted wondrously rich effects
of colour to many a lovely woodland scene, the
fact has undoubtedly attracted a large amount of
attention to those subjects which afford such rich
and varied colouring at a time when floral treasures
are becoming scarce.
It is in open country districts, where the soil
is comparatively poor, and fresh air and sun-
light are abundant, that the finest effects and
richest hues of the autumn leaf-tints are to be
found. Low-lying and moist or rich land is not
nearly so productive of this kind of Nature's
painting, for there the leaves usually fall while
still green, or only faintly tinged with yellow;
but on hillsides, where the soil is scarcely good
enough for either arable or grazing purposes, these
beautiful autumn tints are frequently seen. In the
course of a recent journey through part of South
Wales and the west of England this was particu-
larly noticeable; among the Welsh hills, in the
beautiful scenery around Bath, and even up as far
almost as Reading, the leaf-colouring was very re-
markable; but on entering the Thames Valley
little but green with an occasional touch of brown
and yellow could be seen. Many of the Welsh
hillsides are covered with extensive forests of Fir
and Pine, Larch and Oak, the soft shades of green,
gold, orange, russet, and purple contrasting well with
the dark and pure pale greens of the former trees ;
while here and there a few examples of Beech, Birch,
Maple, or Chestnut trees added a touch of brighter
colour to the scene, and huge bushes — almost trees,
in fact — of the common Hawthorn, laden with
crimson fruit, still further brightened the picture,
the tops of the mountains being generally clothed
with purple Heather or gold and russet- coloured
Bracken.
I noted the following of the many kinds of de-
ciduous trees that are remarkable for the rich tints
usually assumed by the leaves on the advent of
the first slight frost. The gorgeous colouring
of the Tupelo (Nyssa multiflora) in autumn has
already been alluded to in Tub Garden, Oct. 8
(p. iiSl), and so has that of the Amoor Maple
(Acer ginnala); but the Cotton Tree (Gossypium)
does not appear to be so well known, though
its leaf tints are quite as brilliant as anything
else. The Hickory becomes a lovely object in
October, as also several of the Maples besides A.
ginnala, though perhaps not quite so bright. The
American or Red Oaks (Quercus rubra, coccinea,
palustris, and tinotoria) assume most beautiful hues.
The Liquidambar is so attractive in this respect as
to be now fairly well known. The foliage of the
Catalpa (C. syringsflora) puts on a lovely clear
golden colour, and the intense orange of the common
wild Cherry tree, now and then flecked with red,
must be a familiar object to any observer of wood-
land scenery.
On the railway embankment a short distance
outside Bath Station, I noticed about half-a-dozen
young trees 12 feet or 15 feet in height, every leaf
of which was of an intense crimson-red, and here
and there tipped with yellow. The train was going
too fast to enable me to identify them, and I shall be
glad if any reader of The Gaeden will kindly say
what they are. B. C. R.
Golden-leaved Privet. — There are several
different variegated Privets, but this is the best of
them all, and at this season the rich golden colour
of its foliage stands out conspicuously. It is a
variety of the Oval-leaved Privet (Ligustrum ovali-
folium) having the foliage of a golden hue, and is
less vigorous than the ordinary type. This yellow
variegation extends from the margin inwards and
covers the greater part of the leaf to such an extent
that a bush of this variety appears at a little dis-
tance to be wholly golden. As cuttings of this Privet
strike quickly, and under favourable conditions soon
form effective little bushes, they are very valuable
for furnishing at this season the otherwise bare
beds from whence the summer occupants have been
removed. Last year I employed it for this pur-
pose, and during the autumn the plants were greatly
admired, but the long-continued frosts seared its
beauty and caused many of the leaves to drop.
With the return of spring, however, the plants again
recovered their golden appearance. Most of the
Privets form large clusters of roots, and this is no
exception to the rule ; consequently, the plants can
be transplanted without injury. I recently saw a
quantity in pots, and as they were good bushy
stuff and well coloured, they were very effective.
In order to obtain fair-sized plants at a quicker rate
than usual, in planting out the cuttings three or
four had been put together, and they soon grew so
as to form one plant, and did not show any trace of
their divided origin when grown in this way. It is
not necessary to pinch the young plants back so
many times as when one starts with a single shoot,
and consequently a season is gained. — T.
Osmantbus ilicifolius, dififarent forms of.
— The Osmanthuses form a group of dwarf, much-
branched. Holly-like shrubs, but instead of their
being near relatives to the Holly, the Osmanthuses
are closely allied to the Privets and Olive; indeed,
their blossoms much resemble those of the green-
house Olea fragrans, and, like that kind, are
agreeably scented. Of green-leaved Osmanthus
there are two distinct forms, the most ornamental
of the two being free in growth, forming a well-
proportioned bush, with dark, almost olive-green
foliage, deeply cleft, and the bark of the young
shoots almost black. The other is slower in growth,
the leaves of a jialer tint, and the young bark want-
ing the dark hue of the preceding. The variegated
forms are represented by one in which the leaves
are edged more or less irregularly with white, and
another in which the markings arc yellowish. A
third variety (latifolius marginatus) is stouter and
bolder-growing than the others, and forms a very
ornamental bush. A variety that dift'ers widely
from the rest is that usually known as 0. myrtifolius.
It is a dense, twiggy bush, furnished with dark
green, spineless leaves, very similar to those of the
Myrtle. All the forms of Osmanthus can be readily
struck from cuttings if dibbled into a frame during
the early autumn months, or they all readily unite
with the Privet if grafted thereon. They form a
dense mass of roots, and can thus be shifted at
almost any season of the year without injury. By
Nov. 19, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
475
a judicious use of the knife they may be kept to a
small size and in a good healthy condition for years,
and are thus very useful for furnishing window
boxes, balconies, and such-like places ; also for win-
ter bedding, as in spring they can be shifted without
injury. As town plants, too, the varieties of
Osmanthus are worthy of a place, for I have known
the dark green-leaved form hold its own and flourish
for years in London. — T.
The Purple Beecli. — Those who order this tree
from nurseries should take care that they get the
best variety, not one of the multitude of inferior
seedlings that are to be seen in some nurseries dur-
ing the summer. The best tree nurserymen pride
themselves upon their stock of the true Purple
Beech, but in a large number of the smaller nur-
series it is represented by seedling sorts having
small, narrow leaves of a washed-out tint, not the
rich vinous purple hue which characterises the
finest varieties. There is a difference, too, in the
size of the leaves as well as the colour ; the best
sorts have leaves fully twice the size of the inferior
seedlings. The finest varieties of the Purple Beech
are, of course, grafted, but this evil is better than
finding that one possesses an inferior kind. I have
been deceived in Purple Beeches myself, and wish
to caution others. — Q.
The upright "White Poplar is likely to be-
come a most important tree from an ornamental
standpoint. It has proved itself perfectly hardy, as
it has withstood without injury the severity of the
pa.st few winters, and is, moreover, as rapid in
growth as the Lombardy Poplar. It may, in fact,
be called the white-leaved Lombardy Poplar, as it
has precisely the same upright habit of growth ;
while the leaves are like those of the White Poplar,
or Abele, being dark green above and mealy white
beneath. I find that in all the important nur-
series the value of this new Poplar is fully appre-
ciated, and all seem to be working up stocks of it.
It grows at the rate of 18 inches to 2 feet in a sea-
son, so that it will not be many years before we see
trees of it as tall as the Lombardy Poplars. It will
create quite a distinct feature in garden and park
landscapes, for, in addition to its slender, erect
growth, the silvery sides of its leaves are upturned
with the slightest breeze. P. Bolleana was intro-
duced a few years ago from Turkestan, and is
undoubtedly only a variety of the Abele. Those
who want a distinct tree should include it in their
lists this planting time. It is now almost as cheap
as the Lombardy Poplar. — W. G.
SHOMT N0TM8.— TREES AND SHRUBS.
Ivy for porch. — Will any reader kindly say
whether Ivy will thrive on a porch made of dead wood ?
— J. B.
The Irish Yew as a hedge plant.— I shall
he glad if any reader of The Garden will inform me
whether the Irish Yew wiU made a good hedge ?—
J. H. T.
Aralia Sieboldi. — Plants of this in the open
ground as well as in pots in a cold house show as yet
no signs of blooming. Hitherto the plants have
generally bloomed at the end of October or early
in November. I have a fine plant that has stood out
unharmed for the past four winters in the centre
of a Grass plot. It should this season carry four or
five heads of bloom, but, as I have before said, there
are no signs of its flowering at present. — R. D.
Crataegus Pyracantha. — In the western suburbs
of London these plants are grandly berried this season.
Some plants of large size have every branch covered
with their coral berries. It is a capital subject for
planting against dweUings in an open, sunny position,
as it appears to fruit much more freely than in a
shadier and colder spot. There is no other hardy ben-ied
plant so brUUant at this season of the year. — E. D.
Death of Francois Lacharme.— The an
nouncement of the death of this celebrated rosarian
win be received with great regret, as few men have
done so much in the improvement of the Rose. He
was born on the 28th of January, 1817, at St. Didier-
sur-Charony, Aix, France, and died at Lyons. His
father was an agriculturist, and wished his son to
follow the same business, but at an early age the
Roses in his father's garden had already inspired
him with a desire to become a cultivator of them.
At last his father yielded to his desire, and ap-
prenticed him to M. Poncet, a horticulturist at
Lyons, where he made the acquaintance of M.
Plantier, the well-known rosarian, who advised him
to go to Paris, and gave him an introduction to M.
PiroUe, the founder of the " Bon Jardinier." This
gentleman obtained him a situation in a large hor-
ticultural establishment in the neighbourhood of
the Palace of the Luxembourg, where M. Hardy, a
great amateur of Roses, was director of the gardens.
In 1840, M. Plantier, desirous of retiring from busi-
ness, offered M. Lacharme his Rose establishment,
which he accepted, and returned to Lyons. He soon
began to cultivate Roses, and, assisted by M. Plan-
tier's advice, he quickly obtained a very fine variety,
which he called Madame Ernestine de Barante. It
was one of the first Hybrid Perpetuals, and was
sent out in ISIS. From that date he continued
to raise seedlings, and with great success, as nearly
all of them are still in collections of Roses.
Societies and Exhibitions.
CHRYSANTHEMUMS AT THE PEOPLE'S
PALACE.
The Chrysanthemum has become essentially the
" people's flower." It is the one of all others that
can be grown to the highest perfection without arti-
ficial heat, and the Londoners of Whitechapel,
Stepney, and such-like smoky regions are as enthu-
siastic in its culture as those amateurs living in
more favoured districts. The show at the People's
Palace, which was opened on Wednesday last, could
not be called the show of the East Londoners
solely, but the splendid flowers there staged will
give them an object to aim at and achieve. Though
the majority of the exhibits came from gardeners
well skilled in the culture of the Chrysanthemum,
there were some plants that had been grown in the
East End, and showed what may be done if the
cultivators persevere, and are not discouraged by
the poor quality of their blooms against those that
have the skDl and attention of the gardener, besides
country air and suitable houses. The exhibition
was held in an iron building about 200 feet long,
and was well filled, a group from Mr. B. S.Williams,
of Holloway, occupying the centre, and in this
were fine specimens of the Violet-scented and
richly-coloured Oncidium tigrinum and the deep
chestnut-brown 0. crispum, both handsome Orchids.
Messrs. J. Laing and Sons, Forest Hill, also had
a good arrangement ; and scarlet Pelargonium
blooms, Violets, and white Hyacinths were arranged
in small bunches and with excellent taste by Messrs.
Hooper and Co., of Covent Garden. Mr. E. G. Smith,
Kingsland, showed bouquets, &c.
There were good prizes offered, and for a group,
Messrs. Davis and Jones, of Camberwell, were first,
staging flowers of high quality, and Messrs. J. Laing
were second, having also an excellent arrangement,
the blooms large and finely coloured. The cut
flowers were fresh, full, and solid, and thoroughly
characteristic of the varieties they represented
The largest class was for thirty-six blooms, twelve
Japanese, twelve incurved, and twelve Anemone va-
rieties, and there was good competition in this as
well as in the other classes. Mr. W. Packman,
gardener to Mr. C. E. Shea, The Elms, Foot's Cray,
Kent, was first, and he showed all the sections well.
Baron de Prailly, Fair Maid of Guernsey, and Mr.
J. Laing, salmon-pink, were the best of the Japa-
nese kinds; and of the incurved. Princess of Wales,
Golden Empress, and Mrs. Heal were the neatest and
most highly finished. The second award went to
Mr. Thomas Betsworth, gardener to Mr. E. Ewing,
Burton Grange, Cheshunt. For twenty-four blooms,
half Japanese and half incurved, Mr. Alfred Elphick,
gardener to Mr. John Glutton, The Orchard, Reigate,
was to the fore, and he had flowers of great excel-
lence. Amongst the Japanese varieties were splen-
did blooms of Moonlight, a dense, full flower, white,
and with lovely crisp florets ; Val d'Andorre, Baron
de Prailly, and Fair Maid of Guernsey. Mr. T. Bets-
worth was second. The twelve incurved flowers
shown by Mr. S. Gilbey, gardener to Mr. B. B. Booth,
The Cazenoves, Upper Clapton, were well finished,
fresh, and of fine colour, especially those of Barbara,
Princess of Wales, and Empress of India. The
Japanese varieties staged by Mr. W. Packman in
the class for twelve were also satisfactory, and in
the class for twelve blooms, any colour, a stand of
lovely flowers of Mile. Lacroix, the perfection of
culture and of perfectly pure colour, was staged by
Mr. J. Brown, gardener to Mrs. Waterlow, Great
Doods, Reigate. There were also several bouquets
and baskets of Chrysanthemums, some coming from
the East End, but the leading exhibits were from a
distance. Mr.W. A. Holmes, Clapton Park, had the
best basket of flowers, and the flnest bouquet came
from Mr. F. Perkins, of Coventry.
There were other groups besides the one above
mentioned, and classes for specimen plants, in
which Mr. S. Gilbey and Mr. G. Brooks, gardener to
Capt. Gibbs, Upper Clapton, were successful ex-
hibitors.
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY.
Floral committee. — A meeting of this body
took place in the Royal Aquarium on the 9th inst.
Mr. B. Sanderson, president, in the chair. A large
number of flowers having been sent for considera-
tion, first-class certificates were awarded to the
following Chrysanthemums ; Mrs. M. Russell, a
large Anemone-flowered, bright golden sport from
Madame Godereau ; Lord Eversley (Wildsmith), an
ivory white incurved sport from Princess Teck ;
Edwin Molyneux (Japanese), a bold and striking
variety of the character of the Comte de Germiny,
colour rich shaded crimson, with golden yellow re-
verse; Lady Trevor Lawrence (Japanese), pure
white, full and pleasing ; and Putney George, a deep
crimson reflexed variety between King of Crimsons
and CuUingfordi ; Mr. Matthew (Japanese), orange
yellow, was commended. All from Mr. G. Stevens
Putney. From Messrs. J. R. Pearson and Co,
Chilwell Nurseries, Nottingham, and also from Mr.
Shoesmith, Saltwood, Hythe, came Thorpe Junior, a
large-flowered Anemone, rich gold of a deep shade,
very flne and striking ; a first-class certiflcate being
awarded in each case. The same award was made
to the following varieties from Mr. Martin, Dartf ord :
Mrs. H. Cannell (Japanese), pure white, very fine and
striking ; Mr^ H. Wellam (Japanese), orange-chestnut;
and David Windsor, single, deep crimson, a fine addi-
tion to this class; Mr. Matthew was also commended.
From Mr. R. Owen, Floral Nursery, Maidenhead,
came Japanese Anna M. Payne, a pretty and promis-
ing variety, commended; Sarah Owen, an attractive
sport from Madame J. Laing; and Amy Furze, a
pretty, pale purple-coloured, reflexed Chrysanthe-
mum, commended. Mr. J. P. Kendal, Roehampton,
had Gorgeous, a showy yellow Japanese variety,
which was awarded a first-class certificate. From
Mr. E. Molyneux, Swanmore Park, Bishop's
Waltham, came blooms of Edwin Molyneux and
an attractive Anemone - flowered variety named
Margouleme, which _ the committee wished to see
again. A first-class certificate was awarded to
Charles Dickens (Japanese), a delicate pinkish purple
reflexed flower of decided promise ; this and some
other seedlings shown by Messrs. James Veitch
and Sons were raised by Mr. Alfred Salter. The
same award was made to Messrs. Cannell and Sod,
Swanley, for a bright scarlet zonal Pelargonium
named Hyacinth, large and of fine form. Mr. H.
Elliott sent from Jersey a box of seedling Japanese
Chrysanthemums from seed sown in January. Some
of them appeared to be of a very promising character.
TTames of plants.— Ban- ujkZ So?i.— Hedychium
Gardueriauum. Mrs. W. C/irts<i/.— Ruscus hypo-
glossum. B.— The best Chrysanthemum for your
purpose is Elaine.
Names of fruit.— 4. P. Thomley.—l, Pondante
d'Automne ; 2 and 3, Gilogil ; 4, Marie Louise.
,/. J. Craven.— 1, Beurre Clairgeau; 2, Pitmaston
Ouehess ; 3, Souvenir du Congres ; 4, Pondante
d'Automne; 5, Napoleon; 6, Vicar of Winkfield.— —
M. S. B.— Apples : 1, Court of Wick ; 2, King of the
Pippins ; 3, Nonsuch ; 4, Pearn's Pippin. Pears : 1,
Forelle ; 2, Brown Beurrg ;- 3, not known ; 4, Bezi
Goubault. T. S. H. G.— Apples not recognised.
Others next week.
476
THE GARDEN.
WOODS & FORESTS.
FORESTRY.
At this season of the year the woodman is very
busy. Old timber trees that are to be cut down
have now matured their growth for the season, and
may be felled at any time, and plantations that are
getting too crowded will require attention in the
way of thinning. Tree seeds that are ripe should
be collected and stored away in a dry, airy place
till wanted for sowing in spring. Drain and water
channels that have got choked up with leaves will
require to be cleaned out, and many other matters in
connection with forestry demand attention. Where
the extension of plantations, however, is con-
templated, planting operations should take pre-
cedence, as far as possible, of all other work, as
the ground is now in splendid condition. Timber
trees can be cut, and plantations thinned, during
a time of hard frost when planting operations are
at a [standstill ; consequently, my practice is to
push forward the planting of waste land as fast
as is consistent with the proper execution of the
work. Dry, hilly ground and rocky places on
exposed situations should be planted iirst, and
before the cold wintry weather sets in, while
ground on low-lying sheltered situations may be
planted later on. There are, however, some classes
of ground in low-lying situations that do not ad-
mit of being planted in autumn or winter to the
best advantage. It has been suggested by some
to plant indiscriminately all classes of ground in
autumn, and if the ground was too wet to be
planted at that season it was not fit to be planted
at all. This, however, is a great mistake, and
those who advocate such a practice must have
gathered their experience within a limited area.
There are some classes of ground that cannot
be efficiently drained at once, and such soils
had better be left unplanted till spring. Stiff,
plastic clay that is interlaced with small hair-
like roots of aquatic plants belongs to this
class of soils, and I have always found the best
results here after spring planting. Such ground
should not only be drained, but it is also vastly im-
proved in texture by being broken up and exposed
to the ameliorating influence of the weather during
winter. It is best to dig the pits for the plants at
once, and by leaving the soil upon the surface, it will
by the spring be in a fine pulverised condition for the
roots. _ Peat and Moss ground likewise retain excess
of moisture after having been drained, and from the
well-known cold, wet, antiseptic properties of peat, it
is by no means advisable to plant in it before spring,
otherwise a great many of the young trees are sure
to perish. In Ireland I have planted a considerable
area of this class of ground with the best results,
and my practice has always been to plant in April.
When the plants are inserted in spring they com-
mence to grow at once, and there is no risk "of the
roots being killed by the cold, wet properties of the
peat, as is the case when the plants are inserted in
autumn or winter. Pits, however, should be dug
for the plants, and the soil removed in so doing left
fully exposed to the weather during winter, and if
a little clay or soil can be got conveniently, it will
be an advantage to mix a little with the peat
when the trees are planted. Coniferous trees and
Birch are best adapted as a first crop upon this
class of ground, as they are hardy, and will make
useful timber even if the soil be unfavourable. I
have occasionally drained the bog and sown Scotch
Fir and Birch seeds broadcast \ipon the surface
in spring. This is a cheaper mode than that of
planting the trees, although not so rapid in its
results. When once the ground has carried a crop
of these hardy trees it will be in a better condition
to produce a crop of more valuable timber. Where
planting is to be carried out on an extensive scale
the complex character of the soil Is often so widely
different that the planter is often at a loss how to
proceed. In illustration of this I shall now briefly
glance at a class of soil totally different in every
respect from the former. The site here is about
900 feet above sea level, fully exposed from all
quarters, with the exception of a few straggling
Birch trees of no importance. The soil is composed
[Nov. 19, 1887.
of a thin layer of black mossy stuff about 2 inches
in depth, resting upon a crust of hard till, or black
iron pan, about 4 inches thick, with shingle and
gravel underneath. The surface herbage is com-
posed of Heather about 1 foot high. A few Birch
had made an attempt to grow here from seed, but
as soon as the roots reached the hard tilth their
further progress was arrested, so that the trees
only attained the size and shape of bushes. It
was therefore evident that before any tree could
make progress in such a soil the hard bottom
would require to be broken up, and in doing so
I first had the Heather pulled from the spots where
the trees were to be planted, which was at a distance
of 4 feet apart. The Heather between these spots was _
allowed to remain, in order to shelter the young
plants. The ground was then broken up with a
pick, and any hard lumps that could not be pul-
verised brought to the surface. The black, mossy
stuff at the surface was mixed with the loose stuff
thus obtained, by which means the ground was
rendered soft and pliable for the roots of the plants.
The trees used here were Weeping Birch and
Aspen Poplar, both of which are very hardy, and
although the Birch, from seed sown on the spot,
never attained a useful nor ornamental siz?, yet the
trees planted on broken-up soil have grown well.
The lesson taught here is simple enough, and shows
clearly that without breaking up such a soil plant-
ing and sowing are of no avail. Hard- wooded trees,
generally, are unsuitable for this class of soil, even
although it has been thoroughly prepared by trench-
ing, as it is deficient in clay and organic matter to
attract and retain moisture. Elm, Ash, Chestnut,
Maple, Sycamore, &c., which I have planted by way
of trial, never grew satisfactorily, and by the
month of August the leaves turned quite yellow,
and in a short time after fell to the ground.
Some of the hardy Pine tribe, however, can be
planted or raised from seed on the spot with ad-
vantage, and perhaps none are more suitable than
the Scotch Pine and Pinus Cembra, both of which
are hardy mountain plants, and may be grown upon
poor soil, and in situations where most other trees
would perish. The seed of the latter sometimes does
not germinate till the second year after being sown,
so that the cultivator need not be surprised if no
plants make their appearance the first year.
J. B. Webster,
Undergrowth for covert.— There is nothing
better for harbouring game than Bos and Rhodo-
dendrons, as they afford secrecy and shelter without
being too dense or difficult for rabbits, hares, or
pheasants to run under. Pampas Cirass, too, if
planted in groups in front, or in isolated patches
here and there, will look very ornamental, and will
entice the game to sit under the shelter of the dead
and decaying foliage which bends over and forms
arch-like cavities that are always dry and inviting.
A great advantage with Box and Rhododendrons
is that rabbits never eat or bark them in the way
they do other shrubs, and R. ponticum will grow
and flourish almost anywhere, provided the soil is
not too stiff or much impregnated with calcareous
matter, which, however, is what Box likes. It will
succeed, indeed, in a soil almost wholly chalk. — Old
Forester.
Drying wood, — Thoroughly dried wood remains
for a long time unaltered while in a dry situation,
more especially so when dried by so strong a heat
that it becomes browned. When timber has to be
put into a damp situation, it should, after having
been well dried, be first coated with a suitable
substance to prevent the moisture penetrating into
the wood. This purpose is attained by coating the
wood with linseed oil, so-called Stockholm tar, coal
tar, creosote, and other hydro-carbons. Hutin and
Boutigny adopt the following method to prevent
the absorption of moisture by wood that is put
into the ground. The portion of the post or wood
to be buried is first immersed in a vessel containing
benzol, petroleum, photogen, &c., and when taken
out is ignited and thus charred. When extin-
guished, the wood is put to a depth of from
centimetres to G centimetres into a mixture of
pitch, tar, and asphalte, and then the entire piece of
wood is thoroughly painted over with tar.— N.
Timber felling.— The felling of hard-wooded
trees should be done in the winter season and be
finished before the buds begin to expandinthespring,
except in the case of those kinds of trees which are
to be peeled. The axe is the best tool to use for
felling in the earlier stages of a plantation's growth,
but after trees get to forty years old the saw should
be used. When this work is done by the forester's
own men he can generally have the work done to
his satisfaction, but when the work is done by the
piece by a timber merchant's men, this is not so
easily done. Care has to be taken to have the trees
felled close to the ground. This is more especially
necessary where the suckers are desired to grow up
as underwood, or to come in for a succeeding crop.
In felling trees grown from old stools, portions of
the old stool imbedded in the bottom of the tree
are often found, and as these are always partly de-
cayed and of bad colour, they spoil the sale of the
timber ; whereas when a tree is grown from a stool
cut close to the ground it cuts off sound and good.
Another important point to be attended to in felling
is to do as little damage as possible to the standing
trees by the fall of those being felled. When
felling hardwooded timber of large size, in the case
of trees that have several large Hmbs, care must be
taken to prevent the weight of the fall being on one
particular limb, otherwise it will probably splinter
and render it useless. In hard frost especially
timber is very liable to splinter with falling;
therefore extra care is needful under the circum-
stances.— V.
Screens and windbreaks. — Almost every tree
has been used for screens and windbreaks. It is
difficult, however, to get the young seedlings to
withstand the force of the wind long enough to
become firmly established, as staking only partly
overcomes it. It is a considerable gain, therefore,
to be able to commence planting near to and parallel
with a stone wall or other fence, whether to lee-
ward or windward, especially if the fence runs
from nearly north to south. I have lately noticed
a screen round one side of a park where there is a
stone wall, and growing over this a Hawthorn hedge.
Above this a screen of Larches and Poplars has
now grown. These two trees, although quickly
reaching a good height, are not well suited when
young to withstand much pressure. The wall and
hedge gave them the necessary protection, and they
are now able to withstand heavy gales. Where
protection is not possible there are few things more
useful than the common Cherry Laurel. This
planted on the north-western edge of a plateau
430 feet above sea level on stony soil thrives ex-
ceedingly well. As it increases in size there is no
doubt but that many other things which previously
failed will receive sufficient protection and become
established. Another tree which does fairly well
on many doubtful situations is the Beech. It is
true that it often becomes stunted, and is not of
much value for timber, but when it takes this form
there are generally more branches, and consequently
an abundance of foliage. The gales of the last
week have severely tested the capabilities of trees
used as screens ; therefore it would be Interesting
to know their behaviour under various conditions
D. J. Yeo.
SHOnr NOTES.— WOODS AND FOBESTS.
The Wheatley Elm is a fine tree ; it keeps its
leaves longer than most other kinds, and is of a lively
green colour. — Ch.\rles Fisher.
The Douglas Pir.— In The Garden (p. -130) Mr-
Webster states (no doubt by a slip of the pen) that
Abies nnuglasi was introduced about the year ISlOi
but as Douglas did not go to North Amei'ica before the
year 1823 and returned in 182", it is probable that the
Douglas Fir did not reach England before he brought
it. The date of introduetiou of this fine Conifer is
important, as the age of mauy of the oldest trees will
he dated from the tirst introduction, as in the case of
the Ceda.v of Lebanon. The Douglas Fir thoroughly
deserves all the praise Mr. Webster bestows upon it,
for there is little doubt but that it will be a tree of the
future, both for ornament and profit. — W. G.
THE GARDEN.
477
No. 836. SATURDAY, Nov. 26,1887. Vol. XXXII.
" This is an Art
Which docs mend Nat\ire : change it rather ; but
The Art itself is Nature." — ShoMsjKare.
Fruit Garden.
■W. COLEMAN.
UTILISATION OF NORTH WALLS.
Not so many years ago there prevailed an
opinion that the Morello Cherry and the Cur-
rant were the only fruits that could be induced
to succeed on north walls. In many old gar-
dens it was by no means unusual to find these
walls partially clothed with decrepit fruit trees,
and, judging from their forlorn appearance, it
was quite certain that anything approaching the
shadow of a crop of fruit was quite beside the
question. If we inquired into their antecedents
we were told the fruit they had produced within
the memory of the oldest inhabitant had not paid
for the prrming of the trees, but having been
found there— upon the principle that a patchwork
of foliage was better than bare bricks— these old
stagershadbeenaUowedto remain. Could wehave
made an examination of the borders, they would
have been found wet, and minus drainage ;
whilst Pears on the Pear stock, with roots the
thickness of one's arm, might be drawing their
supply of aqueous food from marl or clay some
4 feet or 5 feet beneath the surface. To make
matters worse, the walls, some 2 feet in thick-
ness, with coping sloping to the north, had been
for half a century or more depositing every
drop of water that fell upon them, first upon the
wood and foliage, then upon the cold clay, for
want of a more suitable name, called the border.
This is no imaginary picture, for twice in my
lifetime trees in the condition here described
have been placed at my disposal. Renovation
or resuscitation was simply out of the question, J
but something in this ago of progress must be
done. In each case I had the run of good loam ; I
in the last, old lime and brick rubbish were abun- *
dant. A complete clearance of the trees to the
fire-heapwas the first operation; thenfollowed the
cleansing and pointing of the walls, the removal
of the clay being allowed to stand over UDtU the
following winter. This — 6 feet in width and
2 feet in depth — was removed bodily to the open
quarters, where it was burned with rough wood
for future use. Drain-pipes laid in a trench a
few inches deeper than the bottom of the area
were carried the whole length of the borders,
and we were ready for building up again. Al-
lowing the roots of the next set of trees to de-
scend through the drainage being no part of my
programme, I did not lay down concrete, but
having bank-screened the rubble, a foot of the
roughest formed the drainage, the finer particles
being reserved for mixing with the loam. Rough
sods placed Grass- side downwards raised my
structure to 'ndthin 9 inches of the surface of
the old border, and upon this 21 inches of com-
post— pure calcareous loam and at least one
fourth of rubble — gave an elevation of a clear
foot above the ground line. In course of time,
rather late in the spring, the compost having
settled, young trees were planted, but instead
of taking out pits for the roots they were placed
on the surface, mounded over with a few inches
of loam, and left unnailed the first season. One
wall was planted with sweet Cherries, another
with Morellos, a third with Currants, and the
fourth with Plums and Pears. All grew well^
and not only have they i^aid for the labour ex.
pended upon them, but many of the ti-ees pro-
duce excellent crops of fruit, when, bitten by
spring frosts, their fellows upon warm, sunny
aspects faO.
Of sweet Cherries which have done best, the
old May Duke, Governor Wood, Bigarreau
Napoleon, Elton, and Black Eagle may be men-
tioned. Of Pears, WiUiams' Bon Chr6tien is
not only a sure cropper, but coming in late it
prolongs the season, and the flavour is equal to
the best from pyramids and bushes. Amongst
Plums, Jeflerson's, Coe's Golden Drop, the old
Orleans, Drap d'Or, Victoria, Sharp's Emperor,
and Belgian Purple have proved satisfactory,
whilst Washington and Imp6ratrice have failed.
When fruit trees are planted in raised borders
against north walls, their successful management
may be summed up in a few words. First, they
should be lifted and replanted again on the
surface at the end of the second year, and the
roots, well shortened and relaid in a horizontal
position, should never be allowed to extend
beyond the outside margin of the drainage ;
second, they should be planted a good distance
apart to allow for full extension and thin train-
ing of the shoots, root-lifting being the unvary-
ing remedy whenever the trees show signs of too
much vigour. May Duke Cherries will stand
spur-pruning, but the others do best and show
least disposition to gumming when the main
branches are thinly trained, and the young wood,
after the June pinching, is laid in full length
upon the principle foUowed with Morellos. The
latter, when in full bearing, will take liberal
mulches of manure and an occasional soaking of
water. Pears on the Quince also require manu-
rial dressings and water in dry seasons. Plums
and sweet Cherries do not require manure ; in-
deed, they do best without it, but they enjoy an
annual top-dressing of burnt refuse and old lime
rubble. Last, but not least important, they
must be kept free from insects, not only by
dipping and syringing with diluted tobacco water
in the early summer, but also, as a preventive,
by frequent washing with soapsuds from the
laundry throughout the autumn and winter.
Wire netting for fruit quarters. — With
reference to this in The Gahdbn, Oct. 29 (p. 396),
I know a garden in Surrey where a large square in
the kitchen garden, perhaps a quarter of an acre in
extent, was enclosed by an elaborate and neces-
sarily very expensive arrangement for keeping
away birds from fruits by means of a permanent
netting. But it was found in a year or so that the
trees and bushes were so infested with all the
insect enemies that attack them that the netting
was taken away, and as soon as the quarter was
free to the birds the trees recovered. Birds may be
troublesome in the fruit season and destroy the
buds in the spring, but why do we so begrudge them
their just tribute for the pleasure they give us?
What would a garden be without the birds ? — W. G.
Good Pears — Note from Scarborough.- —
Do you know President Mas Pear ? It is with me
an excellent December variety, and particularly
hardy and fertile. Pears behave so differently in
different climates and situations that I dare not
air my views as I would do. For instance, while
quite agreeing with you that Duchess Pears as one
buys and eats them in town are best of all Pears, I
never tasted an English grown one that deserved
the name, however handsome the fruit might look.
WOliam Pears abroad are delicious ; here they are
mealy or musky, not melting and juicy. Doyenne
Boussoch, said to be a second-rate Pear, is with us
for a few days quite first-rate. Marie Louise and
Jargonelle are alone good everywhere, but the
bloom of the first is sadly tender. Then you scorn
Pltmaston Duchess, which is with me second only to
Marie Louise, and quite an invaluable Pear, being
so handsome and so good. Broadly speaking, I
think that in a very open and exposed, not to say
cold situation like mine, flavour is developed at the
expense of texture, and unless the Pears be naturally
extra soft and melting when ripe, they here rot
before they are juicy and melting, and so the
flavour goes for worse than nothing. Then the
bloom of some varieties is more tender than that
of others, that it is not worth while growing (here)
that good Winter Nelis, while nest to it Easter
Beurrfi is constant and excellent. — Edwabd H.
WOODALL.
NOTES ON PEARS.
Now that this subject is occupying an important
place in the columns of The Gaeden, I think the
experience and in all cases the locality in which the
writer lives should be given. It is not uncommon
to hear amateurs say, I would plant some Pear trees,
but I do not know what sorts to plant. Trade lists
are not of much assistance to people of this kind. It
is to be regretted that good walls as well as other
positions are often occupied by trees that produce
very inferior fruit, and this is the more to be re-
gretted seeing that in many cases three or four
years elapse before the trees come into bearing.
The number of sorts now in cultivation is confusing
to the inexperienced, and for the assistance of this
class I will mention a few kinds that produce reaUy
good fruit up till December.
Although only a small garden, a large number of
kinds is grown, many of which have been planted
within the last eleven years. Situation has a good
deal to do with the flavour of many sorts in this gar-
den. The flavour of Jargonelle, of which I have an
old tree on a north wall, is poor. In a garden close
by a large old tree of this Pear is grown on a south
wall. Its roots have gone into the road over which
heavy wagons pass, and they get no assistance in
any way. In this position the tree is in the best of
health, and the quality of the fruit is first rate.
Beurre de I'Assomption I have tried in various posi-
tions on walls, and the flavour has been always in-
ferior. I almost despaired of it and thought of des-
troying the tree. But being at Heckfield this autumn,
Jilr. Wiklsmith gave me a fruit, and I at once de-
cided to give the tree another trial and have planted
it again in another aspect. The fruit of Bon Chretien
from trees that are trained on walls is bad, from
bush or standards good, although it soon decays.
Madame Treyve I was induced to plant two years
ago, and I am well pleased with its flavour, but the
fruit does not keep well. Comte de Lamy is bad ;
Colmar d'Ete is good when grown in bush form,
Beurre Superfin when grown in bush form is large
and handsome, but the flavour is only second-rate.
Louise Bonne of Jersey I grow in two aspects on walls
and two bush trees ; on an east wall it is large and
handsome, while on a north wall the flavour is very
bad. The fruit of this Pear from bush trees, although
not so handsome nor so large as from wall trees, has
a very fine flavour.
I object to the decision of those who consider
Fondante d'Automne one of the best Pears. Here
on bush trees fruits of it are of medium size and of
good flavour when caught at the right moment, but
it only keeps a few days. I cannot speak well of a
Pear the season of which is so short. Out of a
large number of sorts this is the first chosen by
the tom-tits, and the fruit must be preserved in a
canvas bag to obtain any of it at all. Gansel's Berga-
mot is a fine Pear to look at, but a bad cropper.
Emile d'Hejst is large and of very good flavour
when from "bush-trained trees. This is a melting
Pear and large. Marie Louise is acknowledged by
most people as a Pear of the highest excellence ;
from bush and standard trees the fruits are grand,
but in a neighbouring garden the fruit from walls
are very large and of showy appearance, but lacking
in flavoiu:. It is to be regretted that the season of
this, one of the best Pears, is so short, although
much can be done by gathering at different times ;
even then it is soon over. Marie Louise d'Uccle is
larger than the former, but keeps no longer, and I
can see no improvement, except in size. DojenniS
du Cornice grown on a west wall is grand. It is
too tender for growing in bush form here. The
fruit is of large size, fine in flavour, and the trees
bare well. I should strongly recommend it for
478
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 2G, 1887.
planting. The fruit realises good prices when sent
to market. General Todtleben on a west wall is
very large ; it was never until this season fit for
anything but stewing. Beurre Clairgeau, too, is
only fit for stewing. Beurri^ Diel is large and good
from walls. Although the fruit is not so handsome
from bush trees, yet the flavour is much better than
from walls. Glou Morceau. — This is one of our very
best Pears. I have a large tree on a south wall, and
from this tree I get very large fruit, rather more russety
than is generally seen. I have a standard of it in a
very bad position. In good seasons I get some
fine clean fruit, but however poor the fruit may be
the flavour is always good. This is a Pear that I
think highly of when it does well, as it remains a
long time in season. One year when the crop was
heavy I began using it the last week in November
and continued till the middle of February. This,
like many other Pears, is variable, according to the
situation in which it is growing. I know several
large gardens where it is grown with varied
results ; in one or two it is decidedly bad, but I
have always observed that when bad the fruit is
pale in colour and without the russety markings.
Farnhorough Grange, Hants. JohnCeook.
FLAVOUR IN FRUITS.
To those who grow fruit for market, flavourjs not
of so much importance as size and colour, as fruit
possessing the two latter qualities, although of
inferior flavour, will always command a ready sale.
With those who grow for home consumption flavour
generally stands first, and if size and colour can
also be had, so much the better. Writers in the
gardening papers have often brought forward
instances to prove that colour is not necessary to
good flavour, and occasionally a case of the kind
does occur, but for one such, a hundred can be
found where flavour and colour go hand in hand.
Taking Grapes first, I find that all varieties are
not afEected alike by want of colour. Mrs. Pince
and Black Morocco are two varieties that will often
be found of good flavour when the berries are red
(if quite ripe). Hamburghs taste sweet and refresh-
ing when claret-coloured, but they lack the fine
flavour of those that can truly be called Black
Hamburghs. Madresfield Court is soft and insipid
when not well finished, and of a most objectionable
colour — mostly dirty brown. All white Grapes are
inferior when the amber tint is absent, more
especially that noble Grape, the Muscat of
Alexandria. However large the bunches or fine
the berries, if the golden colour is wanting, the
berries will be soft and the flavour poor, and
shrivelling will follow. When nicely finished they
are firm and crackling, and will keep plump well
into the new year.
Peaches and Nectarines are fruits in which good
flavour is most desirable, and it is most often found
in those which are best coloured. I am aware that
well-flavoured fruits are sometimes gathered from
the underside of the trees, and that these are pale ;
the reason for this is that, being the last gathered,
they have the advantage of a double supply of
food. The first fruits that ripen on a tree are
usually a little inferior, and as the tree is relieved of
its load so the remaining ones improve in flavour.
A light shading in the hottest part of the day
is always requisite fcr Peaches which are fully
exposed to the sun when they begin to ripen. I
have seen large fruits when this precaution has not
been taken after a hot day or two entirely lose
their flavour ; whereas if shaded a little during the
hottest part of the day the colour is not afEected in
the least, and the flavour is preserved.
Pears are greatly influenced by the stock on
which they are grafted and the aspect they are
grown in. Eirly Pears are best flavoured from
standard trees, or those grown on bush or pyramid
trees ; if grown against a wall, they are larger, but
in point of flavour not so good. This does not
apply to those that ripen after Novenjber, as all
late Pears are improved by being grown against a
wall. Flavour must always depend a great deal
upon the varieties which are grown, some being indif-
ferent at their best ; I might instance Gros Colman
amongst Grapes, and Beurr6 Clairgeau amongst
Pears.
Good cultivation will always repay the grower.
When there is a deflciency in flavour, if the variety
is good it can generally be traced to one of the fol-
lowing causes: Over-cropping, defective root-action,
or injudicious ventilation. The first I consider the
greatest evil. When a Vine is over-cropped the
Grapes refuse to colour, shanking ensues, and the
plant becomes weakly. If Peaches are over- cropped
the fruit only grows to one-half its proper size, and
is characterised by an absence of that lusciousness
which belongs to a good Peach or Nectarine. No
fruit pays better than the Strawberry for judi-
cious thinning; if we 'thinned our Strawberries
before swelling commenced, those fruits left would
be far superior in flavour than if all that had set
were allowed to ripen. It is a mistaken idea,
but one that is yet very prevalent, to leave the
final thinning until after the stoning period. This
is the stage which taxes most the energies of the
tree, and to leave from three to four dozen fruit
more than the intended crop until after they have
stoned onlyincreases the evil we are seeking to avoid.
If the tree is healthy, the fruits can be thinned to
nearly the desired number soon after swelling begins ;
a few misshapen or misplaced ones can be taken off
afterwards. I am aware it requires a good deal of
courage to thin a crop sufficiently. When I was
with Mr. Coleman, at Eastnor, the fruit used to be
thinned soon after the trees were out of bloom.
After this thinning, and when the fruits had grown
a little, they were again gone over. This operation
was repeated two or three times before the crops
were considered thin enough ; and however much
I sometimes regretted having to cut off promising
bunches of Grapes, well-placed Peaches, &c., I
always thought how much better the remaining
ones would be, and never had cause to repent it
either in weight of crop or quality of fruit.
Next comes defective root action. If the roots
have not a well-drained border of suitable soil to
grow in, it is hopeless to expect well-flavoured fruit.
Although the roots cannot be so closely observed as
the tops, the cultivator should be familiar with their
whereabouts and condition.
If trees or vines make gross growth which does
not ripen well, it is a sure sign that the roots are
rambling away. If the shoots are weak and yellow-
looking, the soil is exhausted, and no time should
be lost in renewing the border and bringing the
roots under command again. It has often been
proved that loss of a crop need not be feared, and
that if the borders are carefully attended to at the
right time, better crops will be the result. No gar-
dener should rest contented until his borders are
full of healthy roots. These operations require a
great deal of labour, also material in the shape of
loam, lime rubble, &c., and the man who has not
command of them cannot be expected to produce
first-class crops of fruit year after year.
Ventilation.— Want of air, or air given at the
wrong time, is a frequent cause of inferior flavour.
Many young men in charge of houses have an idea
that no ventilation is required from the time of
closing the houses in the afternoon until the sun
raises the temperature the next morning, and this is
continued until the fruit is ripe. Under such treat-
ment good results cannot be expected ; size may
perhaps be gained, but it will be at the expense of
flavour and colour.
Forcing should be done during the early stages of
the fruit, and as soon as the ripening commences,
air should be given on all favourable occasions
night and day, and gradually increased as the ripen-
ing advances. The safest way is to put a little on
the last thing at night and increase it the first
thing in the morning, always keeping the ventila-
tion in advance of the temperature until after mid-
day, when a higher figure may be indulged in for a
few hours after closing. Disasters from scoi-ching
are avoided by this system.
lliiulVqi. Abthuk Baekeb.
ate, has sent us during the week some beautiful speci-
mens of the Blenheim Orange Apple, some of them —
andnotthelargestorhea^iest — weighingl2 ozs. They
were very high in colour, the flavour was very good,
the flesh more delicate than that which we often
find in similar specimens ; in fact, the flesh was al-
most melting. Taken all in all for size, form,
flavour, cooking qualities, and eating (for the Blen-
heim is one of the Apples of good flavour for the
table in its season), there is not a better Apple
grown anywhere. It is, we think, a fruit that
English growers pay far too little attention to.
Among the many new kitchen Apples brought out
of late years in England, there is not one equal to it.
If this really fine Apple were grown in great
quantity it would have the preference in our mar-
kets over the imported fruit.
A great English Apple.— Mr. Coleman, whose
writings on fruit culture our readers seem to appreci-
QUINCES AND MEDLARS FOR LAWNS.
There is a good deal of truth in what is quoted
from the Field, Oct. 29 (p. 397), about having these
and other fruit trees near a house ; but it is not
altogether the fault of the landscape gardener that
they are so generally relegated to the orchard and
kitchen garden. There seems to be a prejudice
against having anything eatable near the house, or,
in fact, anything that is suggestive of the kitchen.
As an instance of this, I proposed the other day to
plant a few Morello Cherries, Medlars, and Quinces
in some prominent tree groups near the dwelling-
house, but my proposal was met by the reply.
Who wants more than one Morello Cherry or one
Medlar and Quiuce about the place ? I do not want
my place to look like a farmhouse stuck iu an orchard.
This shows that it is not always the landscape
gardener who is to blame. There is so much beauty
in fruit trees, especially in the Apple, Plum, Cherry,
Medlar, and Quince, that they should be more
valued as ornamental trees. They are extremely
graceful in growth, andhavedistinctphases of attrac-
tiveness, viz., in spring and autumn, and 1 am quite
sure that it is only prejudice that banishes them to
the orchard. There are some sorts of Apples more
graceful in growth than others, and I should be
glad if some gardeners would send a list of a few of
the best to The Garden. The Blenheim is always
good in growth ; some, again, have showier flowers
than others. The Victoria Plum is an elegant tree,
and we all know how picturesque old Medlars,
Quinces, and Mulberries are. I noticed recently at
Petworth, in Sussex, some fine old Apple trees on
the lawn near the house, and I was told they were
highly prized. They were once in an old orchard,
and the extension of the lawn took them all in, the
most elegant in growth being left. Such an interest-
ing branch of ornamental planting deserves more
attention, and perhaps the aversion to trees whose
fruits are eatable will die out. — W. G.
Medlar fruits are not very much appreciated,
but still there are a few people who like them, and
they generally give preference to the fruit that
hangs on the tree until it is ripe or nearly so. The
longer the fruit remains there, so that it does not ■
fall from the tree of its own accord, the better the
flavour. The fruit will not readily fall until it is
quite ripe, and as it is proof against rough winds or
a moderate degree of frost, no one need feel any
anxiety about losing the crop, especially as birds do
not appear to care for it. I am not so much inte-
rested in the fruit as the tree, for I have never seen
what I may call a handsome specimen, unless a
one-sided, irregular-formed example can be con-
sidered handsome. I have seen some very curiously
grown trees, the form of which it would be difficult
to describe, and for that reason I think the Medlar
is deserving of some notice. I once noticed a fine
old tree, planted very many years ago as a compa-
nion to a Mulberry tree in one corner of a not very
rge lawn. The tree was an object of beauty owing
to the grotesque character of the trunk and main
branches. In growth it is very distinct, and
the foliage is conspicuous for its bronzy green
colour. For a small lawn it is also well suited, and
in such a position it Is an attractive object through
the autumn, owing to the fruit remaining on the
tree after the leaves have fallen. With regard to
Nov. 26, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
479
the different varieties, I believe there are three in
cultivation. The broad-leaved Dutch has the largest
fruit, but the Nottingham, although smaller, is con-
sidered the best flavoured. There is a variety named
Stoneless, on account of its being destitute of
seeds and a woody core, but the fruit is small and
inferior in flavour to that of either of the others.
This, however, is the best variety for planting on
lawns, as it makes a spreading head. Nurserymen
are working these trees on stems much too high for
planting in any but the most sheltered situations.
As the tree forms a thick, heavy head, it is more
likely to be blown down than a dwarf specimen. I
think that the height of the stem should not exceed
5 feet.^J. C, C.
ENGLISH STANDARD FRUITS.
I SEE you intend to limit your selection of Pears
for figuring to twelve. In large gardens where
a constant succession has to be maintained, it
would hardly be safe to rely upon so few va-
rieties, as Pears, more so than Apples, vary
greatly on difterent soils and iu different locali-
ties. Again, many varieties are good in some
seasons and worthless in others. No doubt
twelve can be selected which are almost always
good in all seasons, and have a wide area in
which they obtain their true qualities. I send
you a list of twelve which I have always found
first-rate in the west of England. The first
point considered is flavour, and most of them
will rank first in size and appearance. All are
good croppers. They are Jargonelle, Bon
Chretien, Beurre Hardy, Louise Bonne of
Jersey, Marie Louise, Doyenne d\i Cornice,
Duchesse d'Angouleme, Glou Morceau, Winter
Nelis, Josephine de Malines, Bergamotte d'Bs-
peren, and Beurre Ranee. It is absolutely
necessary with the two last to place them in
warmth to ripen, or they will not attain their
rich and full flavour. I think you are quite
right in deciding not to figure Fondante d'Au-
tomne, as it would fall far behind the best
twelve. — A. Barker, Hkidllp, Worcester.
ftuality of Pears. — From a goodly number
grown here I have found none to equal a good
Marie Louise, and would unhesitatingly place
it at the top of the list. In its season good
samples of it are really first-rate. The flesh is
white, buttery, and simply delicious, although
soils, climates, and aspects have undoubtedly
a great deal to do with the flavour of all fruits.
Seldom do we hear of the Marie Louise getting
the cold shoulder. Louise Bonne of Jersey
growing on a west aspect yields yearly plenty
of delicious fruit, and I find this Pear is very
highly appreciated. I consider this as one of
the best I grow. I have in Doyenn6 du Cornice
a Pear of great excellence the quality being all
that could possibly be desired. Thompson's
Pear is remarkably rich, and is a great favourite
with me; but one fault in it, and which is of
great importance, is that it does not grow so
freely as I should like. This may, however, be
owing to the position in which it is planted.
For this reason, therefore, I would leave it to
others who may have it growing in better form
to decide. Then there is Glou Morceau, and in
its season there is no Pear to equal it here.
The flesh is white, buttery, and very sweet ; the
fruit keeps good for a long time. Madame
Treyve on espaliers never fails to bear a good
crop of pretty shaped fruit, and most delioiously
flavoured. Of this variety I am planting more
this autumn on account of its being so well
liked. Autumn Nelis, though not large, is pro-
bably one of the best for flavour. I have had
some handsome fruits of Vineuse gathered from
young standards, and I noted this as a first-rate
sort, being exceptionally rich and pleasing to
the taste. Beurre Superfin is good, and those
who have grown it will, I think, agree with me.
Winter Nelis is not large here, but most deli-
cious notwithstanding. I like Passe Colmar
very much, and for early sorts. Jargonelle and
WiUiams' Bon Chretien. I must not forget to
mention Emile d'Heyst. I do not know if this
is generally grown, but I consider it a very de-
serving kind. The flesh resembles greatly that
of a Marie Louise. Duchesse d'Angouleme I
have not to my recollection seen well grown,
but from a sample fr\iit sent me I purchased
a young tree, which has this season borne
fruit, not large, but exceptionally rich, and I
expect in it to have a good Pear. Excellent
samples of Doyenne du Oomice were shown at
Maidstone at the autumn show, and in a good
competition secured the premier award for
flavour. — H. Markham, Mereworth Castle, Kent
Doyenne du Cornice Pear is, as one of your
correspondents happily called it, facile princeps
and Pear of Pears. I consider it from all points
the best Pear in cultivation. It beats Marie
Louise in both size and flavour, and ripens here
in the open in seasons when Marie Louise is not
fit for table. The specimens forwarded were
grown on a west wall on the Quince stock, those
from the south wall being on the Pear stock.
The Quince stock suits this Pear best. I have
had them up to 15 ozs. and 17 ozs. from it ;
whereas from the Pear stock 11 ozs. is the
heaviest I have ever gathered them. Perhaps
with a rich loamy subsoU the result might be
exactly opposite. Pears that ripen here and
deserve to be in the front rank for flavour are
the following : Striped WOliams' Bon Chretien
ripens on wall or in the open; Comte de
Lamy, wall or open ; Marie Louise, wall ;
Thompson's, wall; EmUe d'Heyst, wall, a
grand new Pear, that should be looked after
by planters, weight 10 ozs. to 12 ozs., fine
flavour, will become a standard variety. BeurrS
Superfin, wall or open ; Doyenne du Cornice,
wall or open ; Beurre Hardy, wall or open ;
Josephine de Malines, wall ; Winter Nelis, wall ;
Soldat d'Esperen, wall or open ; Glou Morceau,
south or west wall. If I were in a warmer
county I would add to this choice list for a
west or south wall Passe Colmar, Ne Plus
Meuris, a grand Pear when tasted in perfection j
Knight's Monarch,Bergamotte d'Esperen, Beurre
Diel, and Ollivier de Serres. The last-named
six Pears very seldom ripen here, although they
grow to a large size. Nouvelle Fulvie, I have
heard in some situations, is a grand flavoured
sort ; grown on a south wall here it is only fit for
stewing. — Wm. Allan, Gunton Park, Norwich.
SHORT NOTES.— FRXHT.
Pear Eyewood.— This is a very distinct Pear,
with a good flavour, though slightly musky. People
mistake the value of size. All known Pears should be
searched for the well-flavoured kinds.
Pear Duchesse d'Angouleme from Scot
laud.— We have received some very fine samples of this
Pear from Mr. J. Day, The Gardens, Gallo-n'ay House,
Garlieston, who says that it has finished well with him
this season ou young trees.
Thompson's Pear .—I send you two fruits of this
variety, which;does not appear to be generally grown or
even known. 'Those sent are from a tree gi-owiug on a
west wall. The tree usually hears a good crop of fruit.
Iu ordinary seasons it comes into use in December, but
this year is much earlier. When in good couditiou my
employer regards it as the best of all Pears. I hear,
however, from various sources that it is rather capri-
cious in its growth, though not so here.— John Craw-
ford, Coddington Hall, Neu-arl--on-Trent.
Washington Apple. — Mr. George Buuyard
sends us a few large and somewhat handsome Apples,
which bear this name, and were, he said, grown by
him in his orchard house. Before tasting the Apple
we were not so much impressed, because growing an
Apple in an orchard house iu England is not a wise
or necessary proceeding. On tasting it we found the
Apple very tender, hut very poor in flavour. It may
not have been at its best, but, in any case, it was
very insipid. The responsibility of nurserymen with
a reputation for fruit growing is great. They, of
all others, should not waste, and cause others to waste
ground with third-rate fruit. The ground and atten-
tion they give to such fruit should be given to
healthy stocks of really first-class Apples suited to
our country.
HARDY FRUITS.
At last the ground in the fruit garden proper is in
excellent working order, and we have taken advan-
tage of the past dry week for putting the roots of
various kinds of trees into satisfactory condition
for another season. Our first care is for the Peach,
this year unusually promising both as regards wood
and buds, and already quite bare of foliage. The
wood the trees have made is not overstrong, but
quite strong enough, and some of them possibly
might go through another season without becoming
gross, but having before now been caught or rather
deceived by appearances, I never omit opening out
the trenches, cutting back the roots that have got
into the rich vegetable part of the border, and
giving them just a taste of fresh loam. Many
gardeners on warmer and drier soils may not fl.nd
this course necessary, but here, where necessity is the
mother of invention, we find annual root-lifting our
only safeguard. Another operation is never ne-
glected, and that is the removal of all rich mulching
from Peaches and Apricots, and its replacement
with a good dressing of old lime rubble, which
produces a clean, crisp footpath through the winter.
Our compost being, if anything, over-rich and
heavy, allowing the manure, although partially
exhausted, to remain, renders it pasty and im-
pervious to the ingress of water and air, whilst the
rubble keeps it sweet and open, and impregnates
the whole mass with calcareous matter, not only
essential, but absolutely necessary at stoning time.
Biish trees generally have been re-arranged, and
the quarters made good where deaths had made
gaps, and a little fresh top-dressing has been given
to them, not so much to force rampant growth as to
keep the most useful roots close to the surface. I
have sometimes seen men digging amongst bush
trees with spades, apparently under the impression
that the amputation of nine-tenths of the roots is
the mainspring of successful culture, but this cruel
work is a grand mistake, as trees so treated soon
lose their balance, become stunted and mossy, and
becoming paralysed break off like rotten sticks a
few inches above the ground. The soil beneath the
radius of the tops of Gooseberries and Currants
may be lightly pricked up with forks to check weeds
in the spring, and other parts of the quarters
may be turned over to the usual depth, but on no
account should the well-mulched fibrous rootsbe
mutilated. The same remarks apply to Raspberries,
which may now be staked, thinned out, and made
secure, topping, which lets the weather into the
pith, being deferred until the spring. Birds having
become so numerous and troublesome, we now find
it necessary to grow all the invaluable small fruits
in blocks, or long single or double rows, for the
convenience of netting. Fishing nets, at first sight
cheap enough, are generally used for circumventing
these cheerful marauders, but they wear out apace,
especially when for any length of time they rest
upon the ground, and this means ^the outlay of a
good round sum when the well-known driver of the
spring-cart puts in his appearance once or twice in
the course of the year. In order to reduce this
outlay, I have for some time increased my stock of
galvanised wire-netting, with which the trees to
their average height are securely surrounded, and
being well fastened to neat stakes, the first outlay
is a saving in the long run. Early in the summer,
when the fruit becomes tempting, fishing nets are
cast over the tops of the Raspberries, and this season
I intend to net my Gooseberries before the bull-
finches attack-them. Immediately after the young
berries are safe the nets will be turned up at the
ides to let in the grub- devouring birds, and back
gain they will go when the blackbirds put in an
480
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 26, 1887.
appearance. As soon as the crops are over all
perishable nets are put away dry, and the birds
have free access through the autumn and winter.
I once saw in a nobleman's garden a very long and
fine wall of Morello Cherries, the border — a broad
one — being planted with Gooseberries. Cash being
plentiful, small-meshed galvanised wire-netting,
supported by light scantlings, completely enclosed
the trees from Box edging to coping. Not a bird
could get in or out winter or summer. The Cherries
■were good, bat tlie Gooseberries had not a leaf upon
them. Caterpillars innumerable had done their
work, and the trees once good, were well-nigh
ruined. Had the gardener thrown open the en-
closure throughout the winter, insect-eating birds
would have proved invaluable allies. Thousands of
fruit growers who suffered so severely last year will
be early at work this, and knowing how easy it is to
overdo a good thing, I mention this circumstance
by way of caution.
Prunbuj and nailing. — Advantage should be
taken of this open weather for pushing forward
pruning and nailing. Apples, Pears, Plums, Cherries,
and bush fruits are now leafless and quite fit for
operating upon; moreover, as all young men can
testify, a much greater amount of work can now be
got over in a given time, and that with more com-
fort than when frost and snow chill the whole body
and render the extremities lifeless. Pruning of all
fruit trees is best performed in open weather, and so
is washing and dressing, which should never be
neglected. Taking these fruits in their order, the
Apple, even in smaU gardens, is very often badly
infested with American blight or woolly aphis, a
most troublesome insect, which spreads rapidly and
soon injures the trees. Summer dressings may
check it, but the leafless or dormant season is the
only available time for destroying it. Various
dressings have been recommended, all of them no
doubt eflicacious where their application is per-
sistently followed up, but many people after one
dressing rest satisfied, and in due time find that
they left ofl" where the war of extermination in
reality should have begun. Infested trees, old ones
especially, should be well scrubbed with strong
Gishurst, 8 ozs. to 12 ozs. to the gallon of warm
water. All cankered parts should then be scraped
and cleared out with the knife, when a second dress-
ing with Gishurst, to which a pint of paraffin to the
gallon has been added will be necessary. No fear
of hurting the trees, as I have often used it neat with
the painter's brush, and then it has been necessary
to look over them occasionally throughout the fol-
lowing summer.
are not unf requently infested with white scale, and
although very small (hardly perceptible to the
casual observer), it is very injurious, and soon checks
the expansion of the stems and leading branches.
Here, again, the scrubbing bush should be brought
into full play, and when the enemy has been dis-
turbed a thorough painting with the Apple mixture,
to which a little fine loam has been added, wiU not
only clear away the scale, but it will give the bark a
bright, smooth, healthy appearance, and the wood
will again swell freely. When Apples and
Pears have been scrubbed and dressed, the surface-
soil and old mulching should be removed to the
refuse fire, as these parasites, woolly aphis espe-
cially, not unfrequently descend below the ground
line and spring up fresh and vigorous in the spring.
Fresh compost, consisting of fresh loam, lime rubble,
burnt earth, and perhaps manure, must then be
spread over the roots of all trees worked on the
Qaince stock, as these cannot easily be over- fed;
whilst others on free stocks may be kept most fruit-
ful without the addition of the manure. When old
trees have been severely checked by the scale, it is a
good plan to thin out the spurs, not only to induce
the formation of fresh flower-buds near home, but
also to enable the operator to work his brush well in
amongst them.
Plums and Chereies
suffer most from the attacks of green and black
aphis when the trees are in full growth. Tobacco
water, from half a pint to a pint to a gallon of
water, or soapsuds is the usual summer remedy ;
but, prevention being better than cure, now is the
time to wage the war of extermination. If the
labour of unnailing Plums is too heavy for the
strength, the trees and walls should be repeatedly
washed with soapsuds, driven with some force from
the garden engine, and this will generally produce the
desired effect. Detachment, however, is safest, and
I question if it is not cheapest in the long run.
Cherries, on the other hand, should always be un-
nailed — in fact, treated as we treat Peaches on the
opposite side of the wall. These we not only detach
and wash, but we wash the walls also, and all admit
that it pays, as trees attacked by aphis, spider, or
curl are now rarely met with. Cherries may not be
quite so valuable, but in their way they are equally
useful, and for this reason they should receive
proper attention. Whatever is worth doing at all is
worth doing well ; but how often does it happen
that the Morello, one of our most useful fruits, is
not only eaten up with black-fly in summer, but
barely existing in cold, wet, badly-drained north
wall borders, it is not nearly so profitable as it
might be. A correspondent, Mr. Ward, has recently
given sound advice to a person whose trees are un-
satisfactory, and I can endorse aU he has written.
Let the roots as well as the branches be looked
to ; let them have ample drainage, and good, sound
elevated borders ; keep the roots to their allotted
space, and not only will the crops pay, but the trees
will be an ornament to any garden.
The Feuit Room.
Apples and Pears, this year unusually clean and
well ripened, as might be expected, are keeping
well, and many varieties in good fruit rooms will
overlap their allotted season. When fruit keeps
well, the less it is disturbed or handled the better ;
but for aU this the different shelves should be
looked over at short intervals, as one decaying fruit
soon affects all that touch it. Moreover, the shut-
ters and ventilators may be opened for an hour or
so on each fine day ; not otherwise, when the tem-
perature touches 45° and the atmosphere is dry.
Touching the eating quality of Apples and Pears, it
is pleasant to be able to credit the hot, dry season,
over which so many people have grumbled, with one
good point at least, and that is the superior flavour
of aU the varieties I have yet met with. When the
least observant individuals take this matter of qua-
lity alone into account ; when they examine their
trees already bristling with plump flower-buds, and
turn up the once baked, but now mellow soil, surely
they wiU admit that a season like the past is worth
thousands of pounds to cultivators in the future.
The Orchard.
Rapid as has been the progress within the past
seven years, freely as orchardists have cut down the
old, grafted the inferior, and planted young trees,
we still have much to do before we can be relieved
of the reproach so justly cast upon us. In old
orchards the saw and the grubaxe must still be
plied, and the drainer and the grafter must ply their
trade. Pruning, thinning, scraping, and scrubbing
with lime water, with brine and with soapsuds,
must still go on. The crop, although lighter than
usual, also is better than usual ; the trees, which
sometimes hold their leaves till Christmas, already
are bare of foliage, and now is the time to set all
these operations in motion. To those who have
already made some progress in this work it is hardly
necessary to say the first operation each autumn is
the removal, root and branch, of every old tree that
has been condemned — then follow draining where
absolutely necessary, thinning out, cleansing, and
clearing away all rubbish to the fire heap, there to
be reduced to ashes and, mixed with fresh soil and
manure, again restored in the form of top-dressing.
Draining on low, water-logged ground is the most
important operation, but it must be borne in mind
that the Apple likes a deep, moist soil, always pro-
vided it does not contain stagnant water, rendered
putrid by decaying vegetable matter. Also, that
many Lichen-clad trees are not so much indebted
to a wet soil as to overcrowding, as we frequently
see trees literally stifling each other and completely
shutting out every ray of sunshine. In cases of this
kind, light and air should be let in and all superior
varieties should have full play, with plenty of room
for the extension of their branches and the fuU ex-
posure of their fruit. When this has been done,
Lichen will decline, but time being precious, scrap-
ing and washing should speedily follow, and ex-
perience justifies my saying many an old orchard
in a few years will repay the labour expended on it.
There are, of course, orchards and orchards, for in
some we find trees past restoring ; in others, in-
ferior varieties, that no amount of labour will in-
duce to produce good fruit. Upon these I would
spend very little except in grubbing, but would turn
my attention to pastures new, and there, above the
line of fog and spring frost, but sheltered from the
north and east, I would plant young trees, if not
for myself, for the rising generation. This work,
it is gratifying to know, is going on in aU parts
of the country, and it is to these new planta-
tions that we must look for fruit of the finest
quality. This change, however, cannot be wrought
in a year ; therefore, we must make the best of our
old trees until the young ones grow into full profit.
Turning, then, into the old orchard in which the
grubber and the grafter have been a few years at
work, and in which young standards have been in-
troduced for filling up gaps, the latter must be
kept upright by means of stakes or props ; they
must be protected from stock and the leading
branches, where necessary, must be drawn into
position by means of soft-tarred twine made secure
to the protectors. A few of these shoots may require
tipping with the knife to maintain the proper balance
of the heads, and crossing branches may have to be
removed bodily. So much for the heads ; now for
the stems and roots. Game or sheep must not get
to them ; suckers must be removed, and the roots,
kept clear of Grass and weeds, must receive the
annual top-dressing of fresh compost. A handy
man will overhaul an immense number of trees in
a few days ; many will not require touching, others
will, and it is this slight attention whUst the twig
is young and pliable that will lead to the formation
of orchards worthy of our skill. In the same orchard
there may be a number of trees that have been
grafted and are doing well, perhaps already bearing
fruit. If over twenty years of age the cautious
operator will have put on more scions than are now
needed, but why this extra labour ? His reasons
are threefold. Three or four grafts fixed upon one
large branch soon cover it with sap wood, and so
keep out the weather. They produce an abundance
of twigs and leaves, and so form numerous channels
for the outlet of superfluous sap forced up by the
roots, which have not been checked or disturbed —
at least beyond the check produced by heading back
the trees, and last, but not least important, they
maintain that balance when otherwise the trees
might die. In addition to these precautions, all
spray thrown out by the stocks the first year, and
sometimes in extra large ones throughout the
second, is allowed to grow. In due course this
spray is trimmed out ; then, as the heads increase
in size, the superfluous grafts, especially those grow-
ing in the centre, are cut away. By these means
paralysed root action is quickly restored, if not pre-
vented ; dying back, which so many dread, is re-
duced to a minimum, and this superfluous double
graft wood is the best of all for future operations.
Now is the time to go over these trees ; if two years
grafted, the spray only must be taken ; if three to
four years worked, then a few of the surplus grafts
may come away also. It is needless to say which or
how many, as the pruner, who knows what he is
about, will be the best Judge. As this work is
carried on a sharp eye must be kept on crossing
branches or chafers, and on American blight, so
frequently introduced with fresh scions. The first
should be cut out bodily, and the aphis, before it
has time to spread, should be annihilated by strong
insecticides, of which the name is legion. Soft
soap, tobacco water, soot, lime, and clay well mixed
make a good ordinaiy dressing, but I give preference
to Gishurst compound, a pound to a gallon of hot
water; as much fine loam as will thicken it to the
consistency of paint, and a pint of paraffin, well
worked in before the iron pot in which the dressing
is mixed is taken off the fire. Gas tar (an equal
quantity) may be used in lieu of paraffin. W. C.
Nov. 26, 1887.
THE GARDEN.
481
This
ABDDARHOCH.
harming little demesne (a portion of
whicli is here engraved), belonging to Mr. R. B.
White, is situated on the outskirts of Dum-
bartonshire and fringes the waters of Loch
Long. Arddarroch, though somewhat limited in
size, has been made the most of. Trees luxuri-
ate with great freedom, and the giant Arau-
carias form perfect models and Cryptomeria
japonica is equally beautiful. These appear to
could possibly be finer than the leafage of these
plants, and when the leaves die off in autumn,
to say nothing of their flowers, they must be ex-
tremely beautiful.
The house itself commands a splendid view
of Loch Long and the mountainous country
around it, and is festooned with a variety
of climbers, prominent among them being the
Holly-like-leaved Desfontainea spinosa, Garrya
elliptica, clad with dwarf drooping racemes of
View in the gronnds at Arddarroolij N.B. Engraved for The Gakden.
have been planted about forty years. The Cali-
fornian and the Crimean Silver Firs, the Douglas
Pine and the Mountain Pine as well as Menzies'
Pine, the Lawsc;in Cypress, the Eastern Thuja,
as well as Lobb's and conical Cypresses, are all in
rude health, and Rhododendron arboreum is cer-
tainly here worthy of the name, many plants
being from 20 ft. to 30 ft. high. It must be a sight
to see the Rhododendrons in flower, and equally
so the Ghent and mollis Azaleas. Nothing
flowers, very captivating indeed in a climate
of this kind as a wall plant, and, notleast, Tropteo-
lum speciosum . The showy character of the flowers
of this is well known and then its indigo-coloured
Pea-like seeds are also very beautiful. This
plant does splendidly on cottage as well as
mansion all through this division of the country.
The planting of trees is more encouraged in
this demesne than in many others, and there is
leas of the bedding out.
Close to a rather old-fashioned kitchen
garden stand the Orchid houses. The first
is a long span-roof in two divisions, the one
for tropical, the other for semi - tropical
plants. These are constructed on the most
approved principle with double stages, the
lower one for charcoal and water, the top one
for the plants. Every precaution is here taken
against the inroads of slugs or cockroaches, as
each pot is on an island or rather moat and might
be surrounded by water. The Chessington
new Orchid stands, which are all but universally
used here, and combine the saucer, pedestal
and the rest all in one piece, are pi'oof against
marauding insects of the character above named,
and they look neat as well. The Cattleyas and
La^lias here are a very grand clean lot. To
name them would be to reproduce a catalogue,
but the collections contain nearly every good
thing in commerce, and the plants are in excel-
lent health and clear of vermin. Lselia elegans
and its varieties are conspicuous, particularly
L. Wolstenholmife, which flowered first in the
Meadowbank collection some twenty years ago,
being feathered in the segments like a bybloemen
Tulip. It is rarely to be seen in a healthy con-
dition, but the plant here is growing well, and
so are the varieties of L. purpurata. The
specimens of Cattleya Dowiana are clean and
beautifully grown, as are those of C. Trianje.
Dendrobium Wardianum is doing well among this
crowd. Vandas are well represented, and so are
the more prominent Oncids, as well as Mor-
modes and Catasetums ; in fact, the plants on
tables as well as suspended from the roof above
the paths are inconveniently crowded and de-
mand additional room, which Mr. AVbite is to
have soon provided. His large stock of Cattleya
Mendeli will require a house for themselves.
The Odontoglossum bouse stands at right
angles to the pair noticed and . is fuU of plants
of that fine dark pleasing colour which delights
the eye of the admirer of cool Orchids. " Among
the plants of Alexandrse, Pescatorei, triumphans,
mulus, Andersonianum, elegans, and such
like are some marked varieties. One very
peculiar Pescatorei attracted attention. ' The
leaves have white marginal bauds not unlike
in character and colour those of the variegated
Aspidistra lurida. \Miat the flower may be
one does not know, but the plant is very singular
indeed. Here also Odontoglossum Harrya-
nuni was first flowered . north of the Tweed.
It is a welcome addition to a much-admired sec-
tion of the genus. The same system of double
staging is adopted here and the same rest for
the potted plants. The moisture at command
serves well to keep these alpine Orchids cool in
the height of summer, and is an excellent stimu-
lus to sturdy growths of proper constitution.
There does not appear to be many weaklings in
the large assortment grown here.
One or two houses of a miscellaneous charac-
ter are mainly used for recruiting imported
plants under the shadow of AUamanda Heuder-
soni, associated with the sweet-smelling Taber-
naemontana. The Geranium house was a blaze
of bloom, and the conservatory adjoining the
house was full of showy plants, the hand-
some white and red Lapagerias festooning
the roof. Mr. White is ably seconded in all liia
designs by his gardener, Mr. Kidd. J. A.
The blue Nerines. — Those who took the
trouble to hybridise the Nerine so as to infuse a
bine or purplish tint, might have spared themselves
the laboar, for the results are anything but satisfac-
tory. These so-called bine Nerines are simply the
beautiful carmine-rose and flesh-tinted kinds spoilt
by an unhealthy-looking bluish tint. The flowers
put one in mind of a beautiful child's rosy face
482
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 26, 1887.
when nipped with cold, and flesh-blue is perhaps
the best name to give the tint. The leaden look of
the flowers contrasts harshly with the loveliness o£
the pure tinted kinds, such as N. Fothergilli, Planti,
and others, and one called atro-cajrulea is painful to
behold.— W. G.
Orchids.
W. H. GOWEB.
ORCHIDS AT SHEPHERD'S BUSH.
Close upon a hundred kinds of Orchids in
bloom in a London garden in the middle of No-
vember, i.s a sight well worth a long journey to
see, and worthy of record, and such was my
experience when I recently looked in at Mr.
Tautz's collection at Shepherd's Bush. Inde-
pendent of bloom, the whole collection is so
clean, that to see the plants would alone amply
repay a visit. The houses in which Mr. Tautz
grows his Orchids may be termed small, yet
they aflbrd the plants a large amount of sun
and light, and are kept very clean and ex-
tremely cool, so that the atmosphere is tho-
roughly enjoyable, whilst the superb growths
which many of the tropical kinds have made
during the past summer, and the vigour with
which the more alpine kinds are now pushing,
amjtly prove that the treatment they receive
and their surroundings are thoroughly conge-
nial. It is with the blooming plants that I
wish more especially to deal, and the Slipper
Orchids (Oypripediums) stand in the first rank.
In this garden Cypripediums are a specialty,
and there exists a very complete collection,
several of the kinds being quite unique ; nume-
rous kinds, of which only a'few can be named
here, are flowering. The most notable just now
are a very highly coloured form 'of C. vexil-
larium, several good examples of the ^rand va-
riety, called C. Leeanimi superbum, and the
•distinct and beautiful C. Sanderianum. This
kind bids fair, when it has become thoroughly
established, to be one of the very finest of its
race. CouhLnot Mr. Sander give us a few hints
relative to its requirements and its natural sur-
roundings, in order to facilitate its establish-
ment in our gardens ? In C. Sanderianum the
dorsal sepal is oval, very hairy on the outside,
ground colour creamy yellow variegated with
broad stripes of dark chocolate (reminding one
of the markings of a zebra) ; the petals are
lengthened out into long tail-like appendages,
and their colour is a somewhat curious combi-
nation of cinnamon and purple, with numerous
black spots on the edges, where they are fringed
with long black hairs ; lip large, projecting for-
ward, shaped somewhat like a Turkish slipper,
and soft cinnamon-brown in colour. Another of
the gems now flowering here is that lovely little
species, C. Schlimi, and it is very seldom the
plant is to be found in such good condition
imder cultivation. The variety albiflorum,
however, does not thrive, even here, with the
amount of vigour that is shown by the typical
plant. Amongst other kinds of Slippers, notable
are the fine bold C. superciliare, the prim and
beautiful C. Spicerianum, with various richly
coloured forms of Harrisianum, Sedeni, Aina-
worthi, callosum, Petri, Ashburtoniie, cfec. Ly-
castes are also very popular plants, and,
although somewhat early in the season, a good
many varieties were in bloom at the time
of my visit. All are grown very cool.
Amongst them I noted several grand forms
of the useful L. Skinueri and its exquisite
white-flowered variety alba, L. plana, and L.
leucantha, the latter being often called the
white-lipjied L. plana. L. lanipea is an old
sort, which produces an immense quantity of
large, creamy-white ftowers, and is a plant far
too seldom met with ; whilst the rich yellow
flowers and spicy fragrance of L. aromatica
should commend this variety to every plant
grower, as one of its blooms, when cut, is suffi-
cient to impart a delightful and agreeable odour
to a large apartment, especially as the plant pro-
duces a very great quantity of flowers annually.
Lailias and Cattleyas are not just now very
gay; the majority of the plants, however, are
promising well for a large display later on, and
they evidently will demand a special visit. The
chief kinds of interest amongst those now bloom-
ing are 0. exoniensis, an exquisitely coloured
form, although I have seen it larger. As the
plant, however, is onlyyoung, no doubt increased
size will come with age and strength. C. Dor-
manniana, also, though not large, is very effec-
tive ; so also is a good example of 0. speciosissima
and the Backhousian form of C. maxima.
Loelias are represented by a superb form of L.
priestans, just [passing out of bloom, L. Schil-
leriana, and the beautifvil soft-coloured L.
amanda ; whilst L. autumnalis atro-rubens is
the only representative at present of the
Mexican section yet expanded. Oncidiums
contribute several fine forms to brighten
the display, their various shades of yellow
being especially valuable at this dull season,
most conspicuous amongst them being numer-
ous O. varicosum, the Violet-scented O. tigri-
num, a very fine form of the old O. bical-
losum, a plant now seldom met with ; O. crispum,
O. Jonesianum, &o. Of Odontoglossums, the
chief were numerous excellent forms of In-
sleayi, grande, and tripudians, and several
of the charming O. Phahenopsis. Amongst
miscellaneous kinds I noted a grand form of
that most magnificent of all the Vandas,
V. Sanderiana, the fine Aerides Sanderiana,
and a superb Ansellia afrioana ; numerous Pha-
Irenopsids, Sophronitis, Dendrobium formosum
giganteum, Coslogyne ocellata maxima, Tri-
chocentrum albo-purpurexim, quantities of the
beautiful fragrant Trichosma suavis, and many
other kinds too numerous to enumerate were
blooming in profusion.
BUTTERFLY ONCIDS.
I AM exceedingly pleased to see that these beauti-
ful and interesting Oncids are again becoming
popular. Having had a large number of these
Oncidiums, 0. Papilio and its variety Krameri, under
my charge for the last few years, I have been enabled
to try a number of experiments in their cultivation,
&c., and in answer to " W. H. G." Nov. 5 (p. 424),
I offer the following remarks : I used to grow
Oncidium Papilio and its variety Krameri on
blocks along with East India plants in tlie inter-
mediate house. Under this treatment the result
was anything but satisfactory. The mode of cul-
ture I now adopt and with great success is as
follows : The plants are grown in pot.s in a structure
the temperature of which in midsummer often ex-
ceeds that which is laid down as the medium for
an East India house. The plants are placed upon
inverted pots, amongst which a dwarf vegetation
composed^of Cyrtoderias, Selaginellas, Tradescantia,
&o., is lusuriating,andwhichis instrumental in retain-
ing about the plants an atmospheric moisture condu-
cive to the well-being of these as well as most other
Orchids. The syringe is liberally used among the
pots during the day, and great care is exercised
to prevent water touching or remaining upon the
leaves at any time, as a preventive against scalding
in sunny and damping in dull weather. Very
slight shading is used even in thehottestsun, a liberal
amount of air being given at all times, but more so
in summer when all the ventilation available is
given. The compost used is two-thirds fibrous peat
and the remainder Sphagnum. Under this mode of
treatment I have been rewarded with healthy vigor-
ous plants, the leaves that last appeared measuring
from 0 inches to 14 inches long and 3 inches to
6 inches broad.
Some leave the spike upon the plants, allowing it
to flower even for two or three years. This is a mis-
take, as experience has taught me that the plants
cannot perform at the same time with good results
the functions of flowering and growing. Directly I
see a plant pushing a new growth I immediately
cut off the spike within an inch or two of its base.
By so doing I am sure of securing a strong vigorous
growth. F. W. A.
WINTER TREATMENT OF ORCHIDS.
We are now in the dullest, dreariest part of the
year when vegetation is as nearly dormant as it is
likely to be, and, under these conditions, it is
well not to allow the plants to make unnatural
growth. The large family of Cattleyas, Lielias, &c.,
are now, as a rule, at rest, and the best treatment
when they are in this state is to keep them com-
paratively dry at the roots ; indeed, large specimens
with a mass of peat in the pots may not require
water more than once in a month during the winter.
On the other hand, there are some species that
require repotting even now ; the pretty little Pleiones,
for instance, are passing out of flower, and as soon
as the flowering time is over they push into active
growth, new roots are formed from the young
growths, and before they push to any great extent
they ought to be repotted. Oars are potted every
second year, but where the object is to obtain a
good stock of healthy plants, it may be as well to re-
pot them annually. These plants produce a large pro-
portion of roots for their size, and should be given
a good depth of peat and Sphagnum. I fill 5-inch
or 6-inoh pots half full of drainage, and mix good
fibrous peat and Sphagnum in equal portions with
some crocks and charcoal to keep it open. Another
plant in vigorous growth at this time is Cymbidium
Lowianum. When it is supposed that they require
repotting at this time, I fancy it is better not to do
so, but rather surface-dress with some pieces of
fibrous loam mixed with decayed stable manure.
This will be sufficient to throw a vigorous develop-
ment into the flower-spikes, which are now pushing
out with the new growths. Weak manure water is
also very useful in promoting growth at this season,
but it must be weak, and should be applied only at
each alternate watering. The best time to repot
these and similar plants is in May, as if any of the
active roots are injured they soon recover and push
on more freely than ever. Some good growers say,
repot Disa grandiflora at this time, but I believe
some of the most successful growers repot them
when in flower. The Rev. F. D. Horner, who grows
it very well, told me that was the secret of success.
The roots are very easily injured at this season, and
take a long time to recover. When we have passed
the shortest day, any plants really requirmg repot-
ting may be attended to, but even then great care
is necessary during the operation and in watering
afterwards. Surface-dressing isan operation that may
be performed at any time, and is not likely tohaveany
injurious effects. In the gardens of Mr. Partington
at Oheshunt there is an exceedingly well-grown
collection of cool Orchids, principally Odonto-
glossum crispum. I called in there on November 11,
and found that the plants had but recently been
surface-dressed with good fibrous peat and Sphag-
num. They would be kept sufficiently moist during
the winter to cause the Sphagnum to grow.
Indeed, I have proved from experience that the
cool-house Orchids may be safely repotted dujing
the autumn, winter, and early spring months. The
fact is where a large collection of Orchids in all the
sections is grown it will not do to discontinue re-
potting during the whole of the winter months.
We have been busy during the last few weeks
thoroughly cleaning the plants from white scale,
which sadly disfigures the plants if it is not
removed by hand-washing with soft soapy water.
Greenfly is rather a troublesome pest where it is
not safe to use tobacco smoke. It seems to lurk
about the plants, and as soon as any flower-buds
develop they become smothered with it. The
flowers of Lycaste Skinneri are now freely de-
veloping, and the greenfly seemed to come with
Nov. 26, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
483
them, increasing at the most rapid rate. It was
taken in time, and destroyed before it got inside
the flowers.
We last year repotted our plants of Lycaste
Skinneri in leaf-mould, with the addition of a very
little peat, and the result has been very satisfactory.
Lar^e plump bulbs have been formed, which in
their turn are producing large numbers of handsome
perfectly developed flowers. The first that opened
had two upon one stem. Some persons have stated
that these plants have a tendency to degenerate
under cultivation. I do not find that this is so in
my experience. The plants I bought twenty-three
years ago cannot now be distinguished from those
that we have had for only four years. A not un-
common cause of the leaves becoming of a yellow
tinge is an attack during hot weather of red spider,
which is very injurious to the plants if it is not ob-
served in time. We have L. aromatica amongst
them, and the same plants have been growing
vigorously for twenty years or more. This species
is a great favourite, owing to its delightful cinnamon
aroma.
It is needless to say that the glass and woodwork
of the houses should be kept quite clean, especially
in the Cattleya house. Indeed, it is almost an
established rule with Orchid growers that the glass
should be kept quite clean in all the houses ;
and, believing in this both in theory and prac-
tice, I was rather surprised to see the glass
in Mr. Partington's Phalsenopsis house at Cheshunt,
about the middle of November, still obscured by
some sort of white wash. As far as I could make
out from Mr. Searin, the gardener, he is always
careful not to allow the sun to shine on his plants.
Williams' shading for Orchid houses is used, and
in hot weather a mat may be thrown over the
shading in addition to the darkening obtained by
the white wash. The Phala;nopsids are marvels of
skilful management. I was anxious to know
something of the winter treatment, and called in
one afternoon in November. The atmosphere of
the house was not at all moist, and the temperature
ranged from ^^0° to (55°. Careful attention to
watering is also insisted upon. The plants are all
allowed to become comparatively dry before being
watered, the Sphagnum being quite on the dry side
before water is applied to it. Another important
detail is sprinkling the gravel of which the floor is
composed with salt three times a year. The gravel
on the stage is also periodically washed with salt
water. I believe this is according to nature.
Orchid collectors have testified to the greater
vigour of Phalasnopsids near the coast line than
they are inland. At all events the treatment
has produced the finest plants I have ever
seen. Most growers of these Orchids are aware of
their tendency to lose their leaves ; but a careful
inspection of those under the care of Mr. Searin
would lead one to believe that none of the plants
have lost a leaf since they came under his care.
There are the small back leaves first produced, and
piled up over them other leaves of increased size,
until as many as fifteen can be counted on one
plant. On such a plant of P. amabilis there is a
spike with fifty- one flowers.
P. Sanderiana has ten and twelve leaves on one
plant, with leaves 9 inches by 4^ inches ; P. amabilis
has leaves 13^ inches by 3 J inches; P. Schilleriana
has the largest leaves of any. I measured one 15
inches by 5 inches. One plant of P. violacea had
thirteen leaves 12 inches by i^ inches. The leaves
of P. grandiflora were 12 inches by i inches.
As might be expected, such plants as Oncidium
Lanoeanum would do well near the glass in this
house. It is merely an ordinary lean-to, facing
south. The plants are suspended near the glass in
baskets, or the baskets are placed over inverted
pots on the stages round the ends, back and front.
J. Douglas.
the upper segments spotted with purplish red, has been
discovered.
Oneidium eheirophorum. — Although the gol-
den-yellow flowers of this Oncid are small, they are
borne in such profusion and so thickly together on the
short, sturdy racemes as to show up even against hand-
somer species ; moreover, the fragi'anee is sweet and
refreshing. The plant is of dwarf habit, and both
leaves and pseudo-hulhs are small. It does well in a
pan, and should he grown into a vigorous specimen, as
when there is a crowd of racemes effect is obtained.
Oncidium tigrin-um. — This grand Mexican
species now brightens the Orchid house, and there
are few things" that can rival the brilliancy of
yeUow displayed in the large boldly-shaped lip.
The leaves are lanceolate, and from the base
of the ovate pseudo-bulbs springs the lengthy
panicle, 'carrying flowers of great beauty, richness
of colour, and sweet violet-like fragrance. The
sepals and petals are both acute and wavy, and
heavily barred with rich brown on a yellowish
green ground. It will do well in a cool house, in
company with Odontoglossums and such like sub-
jects.
Calanthes at Gunnersbury Park. — The
Calanthes are commencing to bloom freely at
Gunnersbury Park, and comprise such kinds as
C. Veitchi, C. vestita, and its varieties luteo-ocu-
lata and rubro-oculata. The two last-mentioned
are charming varieties, the first with white sepals
and petals, and a yellow blotch in the centre of the
flower, and the other instead of yellow is coloured
with rich crimson. Of C. Veitchi, several plants have
foliage on the flower-stems, and in one instance
the spike was emitting roots at its junction with
the pseudo-bulb. This is an unusual occurrence.
Flower Garden.
SSOMT NOTES.— ORCBJBS.
Catasetum Bungerothi var. Pottsiana.
We learn from the " Liudeuia " that though such a
short time has elapsed since the iutroduction of this
Orchid, a variety be.iring the above name, and having
SELF CARNATIONS,
I HAVE been not a little amused to note the
shifts made to minimise the effect of the plain
facts which 1 presented to Mr. Herrington in
response to his complaint of the barrenness of
the land in regard to the self Carnation. Shown
that he might have 180 distinct sorts any day
for the asking, he threw a doubt on their
genumeness, thinking apparently that as " some
nurserymen" sell run flowers for the borders,
growers of the repute of Turner, Veitch, ifcc,
would give names to " runs " and palm them on
their patrons as true selfs ! This suspicion
having been easily brushed aside, now comes
Mr. Engleheart to' suggest that I have "cleverly
manipulated" my figures. Before impugning
the accuracy of my statement, I think Mr.
Engleheart might have taken the very slight
trouble needful to test it. It is open to
him to try to show that the 200 and odd
varieties of selfs to which Mr. Dodwell's new
list brings the number are a myth. When
he has done that he will be entitled to assert
that the selfs are almost totally neglected
and unobtainable, that Mr. Herrington has
decidedly the advantage in this discussion, and
has discovered something bettor than a mare's
nest— but not till then.
Mr. Engleheart makes a critical examination
of the list of selfs which I grow, and, finding no
mention of the old Clove, thinks I do not value
it. Last season was the first that I have been
without it. No variety I have found to be so
impatient of the effects of a London winter as
the common Clove, and, valuing it equally with
other sorts, I have latterly given it the same
advantage of protection from the saturating
winter rains. Last year I left the layers once
more in the border to find them so maggot-eaten
and crippled that I had to clear them all out.
My neighbours had the like experience. Re
speaks of them as " feeble." Chromatella,
Chevalier, Mrs. Lazenby, and Niphetos, if they
do not come like Thistles are of sound and
healthy growth, while to call Bell Halliday,
Edith, Florence, Polly Cheetham, and Pride of
Penshurst "feeble" is quite ludicrous. Of
crimsons I agree that I had too few, and have
added Mr. Dodwell's Dominie Sampson, and
Florizel, and Mr. Lakin's Black Knight (a
different flower to Messrs. Veitch's of the same
name) to them.
Now, Mr. Engleheart 'asks me whether I can
reasonably deny that the aim of the florist until
quite recently has beenbent wholly on the produc-
tion of formal, paper-like flowers. Speaking from
an Ultimate knowledgeof florists and their flowers,
which Iilr. Engleheart, I suppose, wiU not claim
to possess, I do. indeed, deny it absolutely. It
is very evident Mr. Engleheart has in his mind
the dogmatic teachings of the late Mr. Glenny,
unconscious of the fact that they were denounced
by florists from the outset.
Mr. Engleheart dilates on the "erroneous
principles" of the florist, and contrasts them
with what he believes to be the superior truth
and breadth of his own.
Just let us examine this for a moment.
Nature, though she has denied to the Carnation
the sumptuous beauty of the Rose, has be-
stowed lavishly on her the precious gift of
variety. The florists, following the beckonings
of Nature, have developed this quality in every
direction, giving us the masculine force and
grandeur of the scarlet bizarres, the tenderness
and grace of the rose and purple flakes, the
delicacy and refinement of the edged Picotees,
the rich and glowing colouring of the selfs, and
the picturesque beauty of the fancy and yellow
ground flowers. Almost all this wealth of varied
loveliness, which Nature in her bounty has
given to man, is to be thrown away, at the
bidding of Mr. Engleheart, as "useless"— all,
indeed, but what may be found in one single
section of the flowers, which he will magnani-
mously permit us to retain because they happen
to be fragrant !
When Mr. Engleheart asks me on which side
I, as an amateur, will place myself— on the side
of those who have brought to us these noble
flowers, or on the side of those who produce
nothing, but would keep us tethered within the
narrow bounds of personal predilection and
prejudice— can he wonder what my reply must
be 1 M. Rowan.
The Lotus Lily. — A correspondent at Minne-
apolis says that Professor Lewis, of St. Paul, fur-
nishes the following account of the Nelumbium as
o-rowing in Western waters ; " The aquatic plant
now being sold about the streets of our Minnesota
cities, and claimed by some to be identical with the
Lotus of theNile, is not a Water Lily (NymphiEacens),
but belongs to another order differing somewhat
from it, that of the Nelumbiaceas, or Water Beans.
This latter order has only two species, the Nelum-
bium speciosum and the Nelumbium luteum. The
former is pink in colour, and is supposed to be the
Lotus sacred in the eyes of the Egyptians and the
Hindoos, and around which so many interesting
myths are clustered. The latter (greenish yellow in
colour) is the Minnesota flower referred to, which,
though but lately brought to notice in this region,
has long since been described in botanical works as
growing near Philadelphia, Lake Erie, and Lake
Ontario. Here in the north-west it is found on the
Minnesota Elver near Mendota, at Lake Minnetonka,
and along the Mississippi River, at the head of Lake
Pepin, just above La Crosse, and also at least as far
down as the head of Bock Island Kapids. It seems
that our indigenous Nelumbium luteum grows mcst
.,^y .„.-. .„ ..„v. ..... — r — .profusely in summers when a combination of low
ferring to my yellow selfs, Mr. Engleheart ! water and high temperature furnishes extra heat to
484
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 2G, 1887.
the roots, and thus forces the plants. The present
profuseness with whicli it is met in fully developed
perfection, is proof that this is no ' off year ' for its
kind." — Gardeners' Montlihj.
HORNSEA MERE AJSTD ITS WILD
FLOWERS.
The mere at Hornsea is the largest in the county,
covering an area of 407 acres, as Poulson, the
historian of the Holderness district, tells ns in
his most interesting local history. It is fringed
round -with the beautiful Reed, Phragmites,
which forms a green border to its basin. The
output of springs, drains, and sluices maintains
a fair balance in the depth of the water, tliough
it naturally varies. The soil of the mere and
its banks is alluvial in character, and it thus
oflers a home to special vegetation. Of the
plants I have identified as occurring in the
mere or on its banks, the following may be seen
in a day's ramble in the summer by the lover of
wild flowers of interest. Our largest Butter-
cup (Ranunculus lingua) grows among the Reeds
that belt round the edge of the mere, rising to
the height of 4 feet or 5 feet, and opening to
the sun its bright, large, yellow flowers. A
contrast in colour, the Flowering Rush (Bu-
tomus umbellatus) reminds one, in the form of
its umbel, of the blue African Lily. Its flowers
are rosy red, and numerous. You may have to
wade, probably, to get it. The Arrowhead
(Sagittaria) is a lover of the deepest mud. Its
leaves are formed like an aiTow head, and the
whorl of flowers is of a delicate rosy white. It
belongs to the family of the Water Plantain,
and is certain to attract the eye by its growth
and conspicuous leaf. Here, again, we find the
pretty Skullcap (Scutellaria galericulata) with
its lovely blue flowers produced profusely on the
alluvial banks of the mere. The little capsule
closes over the seeds like the vizor of a helmet
of the Middle Ages, opening again when the
seeds are matured. One of the Primrose tribe,
the Water Violet, as it is called (Hottonia
palustris), rises fairy -like above the water in
May and June. It may be readily recognised
by its finely divided leaves, which remain
submersed. The flowers are in whorls and
of a delicate pink. It often grows side by
side with the Lesser Water Plantain (Alis-
ma ranunculoides). The flowers of this plant
are in umbels and of a lurid purple. Two of
the Umbelliferss, Slum latifolium and OSnanthe
Phellandrium , w ill win the notice of the botanist,
and though the blooms are aot very attractive,
they must be numbered among the flowering
plants of the mere that call for remark. The
frail little flower-spike of the Water Milfoil
(Myriophyllum spicatum) just rises above the
surface of the water, the deeply- cut leaves being
submersed. It would seem to be a favourite
with the swans and other water-fowl. The
Persicaria (Polygonum amphibium) adapts itself
to both land and water ; its rosy spikes just peer
above the water, its leaves lying flat upon the sur-
face after the manner of a Pondweed. It feeds
little colonies of Cecids, generically allied to the
Hessian fly. The Frogbit (Hydrocharis) must not
be left out of the list of showy water plants
occurring in the mere. The delicate white
flowers grow two or tliree together. The plant
is not very generally difi'used. The Meadow
Rue (Thalictrum flavum) occurs fairly abun-
dantly in the deep black soil on the margin of
the mere, where its roots are free to permeate
at will. It blooms at the end of May and be-
ginning of June. The spike is panicled, and
the flowers of a yellowish white. A few more
plants, and only a few, merit notice, and these
are found among the Grasses and Sedges
(Cyperacese). The Reed Meadow Grass is one
of the tallest of our British Grasses, rising to
the height of 6 feet. It is common in the fena
of Lincolnshire, and there forms the chief
winter fodder, being sometimes cut thrice in
one season. The Club Rush (Scirpus triqueter)
grows in company with the flowering Rush, and
is readily recognised by its many-flowered ter-
minal spike and its triangular stem.
Peter Inchbald, F.L. S.
Givsvenor Terrace, Hornsea.
THE RANUNCULUS.
Amongst hardy garden flowers that command ad-
miration when well grown, this is by no means the
least. We had a long bed quite filled with the best
named varieties this year, and they were very beau-
tiful indeed, and quite distinct from any other class
of hardy flowers. They are very easily grown, but I
find they like a rich deep loam in which to grow.
When this is afforded them, in conjunction with
sufficient moisture, they grow with great vigour.
The Ranunculus had attained to a high state of
perfection at least 200 years ago. It was cultivated
by John Gerard in 159G. Parkinson gives a list of
eight double varieties in 1629. In 11)65, Ray enu-
merates twenty sorts, and in 176-1 Justice gave a
list of 100 Persian Ranunculuses, and eighteen va-
rieties of what he calls the Turkey Ranunculus ; and
coming down to the time of Maddock, we find it
stated that there were more varieties of Ranun-
culuses than of any other flower ; he enumerates at
leajt 800 varieties ; and it is further stated by the
old florists at that time that a variety will wear out
in from twenty to twenty-five years. I have watched
the character of the named varieties for many years,
and I find that they degenerate very rapidly with
ordinary treatment, but if the tubers are planted
in rich loam and care is taken not to allow the
growth to be checked by drought when the hot
weather sets in, they continue to grow with greater
vigour than they do in ordinary garden soil.
When we admire the symmetrically formed
flowers, the rich and varied colours of the best
varieties, the question naturally arises, to whom are
we indebted for them 1 The answer would be, not
to commercial growers, who naturally expect to
make a profit from the plants they cultivate, but
from amateurs who take a fancy to some particular
favourite and cling to it perhaps for a lifetime,
whether it is a favourite of fashion or not. By the
courtesy of the superintendent of the department of
Botany, Natural History Museum, South Kensing-
ton, I had the pleasure of inspecting a very remark-
able series of drawings of Ranunculi and other
hardy flowers made in the year 1720; it had been
specially prepared for a certain Count Klevenfeld.
The Ranunculus is particularly well represented.
Some of them are of large size, semi-double, yellow
and cream-coloured varieties, others crimson, striped
and spotted. Amongst them are a few quite double ;
a particularly pretty one has rose-coloured flowers.
These very double varieties can readily be recog-
nised as the progenitors of the lovely varieties pro-
duced by Mr. Tyso, of Wallingford, in England;
Mr. John Waterston, of Paisley; and Mr. George
Lightbody, of Falkirk, in Scotland. I can well
recollect the lovely varieties that were cultivated in
Scotland about thirty-five years ago, many of them
being now lost to cultivation. The only way to
keep up the quality of these flowers is to raise seed-
lings from the best varieties that can be obtained.
From a bed of quite double and semi-double varie-
ties it is easy to obtain a good stock of seed. The
time of sowing is from October to the end of
January. Sow the seed thinly in boxes and place
the boxes in a cold frame. It will vegetate during
the spring, and the plants produced will flower in
June of the summer following. The nest season
they flower very strongly and in great profusion.
Of course, the system of digging out the old soil
of the garden to a depth of from is inches to 2 feet,
and filling up the space with a mixture of good
loam and manure would be sure to give good re-
sults, but who would care to go to so much expense 1
All this trouble is not at all necessary. I merely
dig and manure the soil well, placing on the sur-
face about 3 inches of good compost. I find a great
deal as regards success or failure depends upon the
depth at which the tubers are planted. We have a
long measuring rod about an inch in thickness.
This I merely press into the soil to the depth of
2 inches, and it forms a drill uniform in depth and
width. The tubers are carefully pressed into the
soil at the bottom of the drill, leaving the crowns
protruding ; we place the tubers about 3 inches or
i inches apart, and place a pinch of clean sand
over the crown of each ; the driU is closed in over
the crowns, leaving them at a uniform depth of
2 inches below the surface.
The time of planting is also of some importance.
The tubers may be planted with the Tulips if the
variety is of vigorous constitution ; but, as a general
rule, it is better to defer planting until February. I
remember one season when we did not plant any
of them until the end of March, and they suc-
ceeded very well. I do not intend to give any in-
structions about protecting the beds from frost,
rain, sun, or wind. No protection is necessary. Let
the plants be grown without undue coddling, and
they will remain healthy and flower well in their
season, which is usually in June. At that time this
year the weather was excessively hot, and almost
before the flowers decayed the leaves also became
yellow, and when this takes place the best thing to
do is to dig up the tubers, for if a heavy rain falls
at that time, after continued drought, they are
almost certain to start into growth again. The
Ranunculus increases very rapidly. Many of the
tubers will produce four or five, and they will all
flower well next year ; they do not require even one
season to grow into a flowering size.
J. Douglas.
DAFFODIL YELLOW KING.
Me. Bark does not answer my question. Surely if
a Daiiodil is " registered as rejected," this is not
registry as to name. What I want to contend
against is this thing of increasing " names " unless
with the sanction of the Daffodil committee. If
this Daffodil Yellow King was passed over in 1885
as no improvement on existing varieties, how was
it that at the sitting of April 14, 1886, a most dis-
tinguished flower — a magnificent one, viz., Golden
Spur, was passed around the table as Yellow King ? In
fact, twice inspected and called Yellow King by
Mr. Barr until Mr. Haxtland, of Cork, detected the
error. I was at this sitting and quite remember
the transaction, and on this day both Golden Spur
and Henry Irving were registered — ride otficial
report in garden literature of that week. It wiU
be time enough to disregard such a fine early flower
as the Yellow, or Irish King Daiiodil when the
grand trumpeters of the conference list of 1884 see
the light. At the rate we see them commercially
offered, I am afraid many of us will have to wait
still more patiently. I do not care so much for the
incomparabilis class, their differences are so slight,
but I certainly would wish for a few of the bicolors
and lorifolius varieties, numbering thirty or forty,
that are said to be so distinct and so minutely de-
scribed in 1884. No wonder the Daffodil com-
mittee would act cautiously in extending names,
and I wish that they continue so to do while such
grand introductions are in store for them, particu-
larly In bicolors. — Nemo.
I do not think I am to blame in calling
and vending my Ard-Righ Daffodil as Golden
Dragon in the summer of 1885. I was not then
honoured by being a member of the Daffodil
committee. The garden papers of 1885 gave us
no information as to what was done with out-
siders' flowers. I sent blooms of Ard-Righ to
South Kensington in 1884 and l.'i85, simply by a
marginal number kept in my book. I got no in-
formation of result until Mr. Barr asked me (in
1885) to quote for it by the thousand. I then had
my list published, and could not alter the name until
I bought one bulb (second hand) of Y'ellow King
for 2s. 6d., and found it my Irish subject. I never
yet heard a complaint uttered against this Daffodil, _
and now that the United States want it, and that
we are allowed to ship direct from Queenstown to
Nov. 26, 1887.J
THE GARDEN.
485
New York and Boston, I recommend holders of Irish
King to keep their stocks, as the demand will be
great for forcing.— William Baylor Habtland,
Corh
CARNATIONS.
What does Mr. W. J. Murphy mean in The Gar-
den, Nov. 12 (p. -136), when he states —
That the tendency is to grow the best bizaiTes and i
flakes indoors from the seedhng state, so that in this
way what is naturally a perfectly hardy flower becomes
more or less tender and coddled?
He says he has had proof of it repeatedly, and he
goes further and tells us that he got from a noted
grower in Kent plants "fairly well rooted from
plants indoors." The impression he leaves upon the
minds of your readers is that Carnations and Pico-
tees are grown indoors, under glass, in heat, and
that consequently the plants are thereby weak-
ened in constitution. Will he give me the name of
any noted grower in Kent, or elsewhere, who treats
his Carnations and Picotees in this way ? On the
very next page Mr. J. Douglas says that Carnations
should be planted out in the open in October, and
that many persons do not grow their Carnations in
pots at all. The only Carnations grown during the
winter in a warm atmosphere are the Tree or winter-
flowering varieties, and it is necessary to give these
some warmth to assist in the expansion of the
blossoms at the dullest season of the year, but,
unless the weather is frosty, air is freely given at
the same time.
Mr. DodweU sows his seed in April in a frame
on a raised bed with a gentle bottom heat. When
the plants are large enough they are planted out in
the open, and there they remain until they flower,
braving all the vicissitudes of weather. That
Carnations and Picotees are wintered in cold frames
to preserve them from drenching rains is a fact,
and Mr. Dodwell puts the case exactly when he
says : —
January. — The plants being in their quarters —
3-inch or 2|-inch pots, in a cold frame or a cold house,
and well established — the work of the cultivator will
he at its minimum. Give plenty of air, never, indeed,
closing the frames or house day or night, excepting
during the severest fro.sts.
There is no coddling here. I can assure Mr.
Murphy that the only reason why I do not plant
out my Carnations in the autumn is because I have
to grow them in a soil so retentive of moisture that
the commonest Clove or Pink will die in it during
winter, and so I pot up the plants in autumn, large
and small, keeping them in a cold frame all the
winter, giving air on all occasions, and plant them
out in the open as early as possible in spring.
R. Dean.
always attractive. The Winter Clover (Mitchella
repens) fruits but rarely ; it, however, forms a fine
evergreen carpet, and is certainly worth including.
A few of the Pernettyas might with advantage be
planted on e\en the smallest rockeries,and if pegged
down they fruit very freely, and show the intensely
coloured berries o& to the best advantage. — K.
dows gay should remember these two Campa-
nulas, at once distinct and beautiful.
E. C.
WHITE LIGURIAN BELLFLOWER.
There are many beautiful Campanulas, and one
of the number is C. isophylla alba, of which an
illustration is given, and wliich well shows its
characteristic flowers. All who admire Bell-
flowers should not forget this form, as its flowers
are of spotless hue, more like a salver in shape
than a bell, and borne several together in a
compact cluster, terminating the procumbent
stems, which are clothed with toothed, heart-
shaped leaves of distinct character. A plate of
the type associated with the white variety was
given in The Gardes for January 1, 1887, and
from this it can be seen what a delightful effect
can be produced by the blending of the two ex-
quisite colours, so delicate, yet so decided — the
\>.\^ V*
Berried plants for the rockery.— The num-
ber of plants of this description available for
rockeries of the ordinary size is very limited indeed,
but for those of large dimensions a very large selec-
tion amongst dwarf shrubs is at disposal. Coto-
neasters and such-like plants may be used with
telling effect, but on the small rockeries to be found
in many 'gardens enough plants to be effective
would occupy the entire space. Amongst the plants
avaOable the American Mountain Tea (Gaultheria
procumbens) must take a first place, not only on
account of its great beauty during winter, but also
on account of the ease with which it may be esta-
blished. In a half shady position it produces its
bright red berries in the greatest profusion, and
when little else is to be seen the bronze foliage helps
to heighten the effect. I have seen it used effec-
tively for edgings ; indeed, we can hardly have too
much of such a good aJl-round plant. Vaccinium
Vitis Idffia is also a good plant when it fruits freely.
v. macrocarpa is a profuse berry-bearing trailer,
sending its light, elegant stems far and wide, and
forming fine tufts, amongst the foliage of which the
red berries are very showy. V. (Oxycoccus) palus-
tris may also be grown, though not quite so free as
the above. The Bunch Berry (Comus canadensis)
is also very suitable, and if it does not fruit freely,
its various coloured leaves, many quite scarlet, are
The White Liguriau Harebell (Campanula isophylla
alba). Engraved for The Garden.
one intensifying the other. These twoBellflowers
are now often used for fiUing hanging baskets in
the greenhouse, and they create a happier eflect
than many of the stove trailers so often used, and
so often seen in bad condition. Both these Cam-
panulas are useful on the rockery, and, to show
their beauty oft", plant them near a piece of
rockwork, so that their rambling stems may
hide its bare facing, and from early summer
until frosts occur clothe it with flowers. I had
a few of the blooms of the white variety sent to
me the other day, and during my visits to
gardens this season I have especially noticed its
freedom of flowering. The flowering season may
be spread over a considerable period if a supply
of plants in pots is secured. It does best in a
light, moderately rich soil, and a sunny situa-
tion is essential ; therefore select a corner well
exposed to the sunshine, and where there is a
good depth of moist, well-jirepared compost.
As in the case of many rock plants, a watch must
be kept for slugs, as these small marauders
appreciate the somewhat succulent leafage, and
soon inflict injury on the plants. Both the type
and its variety may be propagated by seeds or
cuttings, and those who try to keep their wia-
HARDY FLOWERS— A RETROSPECT.
Of the early - flowering spring Iris there
appear to be three that are distinctly avail-
able for English gardens. These are I. reticu-
lata, I. tuberosa, and I. caucasica. Of the
first, there are, as is pretty generally known,
several varieties more or less distinct, and
Mr. Ware has, I think, obtained a first-class
certificate for a variety said to be sky-blue.
I hare not seen this, but if it comes into
flower as early as January, it is obviously useless
as a hardy plant, whatever may be its value for
greenhouse or frame culture. I know nothing
of the history of Mr. AVare's plant, but the fact
that it flowers so much earlier than the type
would seem to show that it must be a natural
variety, if not a distinct species. The culture of
I. caucasica difi'ers from that of the others in this
respect, that it seems to require a considerable
amount of ordinary soil near the bulbs ; whereas
in many gardens the two others wUl only thrive
in artificial soil mostly composed of grit. Grow-
ing in this sort of stuft', I. tuberosa has become
almost a weed in my garden. It is a very strange
and remarkable flower. There are, I believe,
several Irises in cultivation which are very near
to I. caucasica in habit and general appearance,
but these are as yet almost entirely in the hands
of a few specialists. Of the rhizomatous species
I propose only to mention two — I. tenax (a
North American) and I. arenaria, which is, I
believe, a native of the Carpathians. The
former is one of the most distinct and remark-
able species I have ever come across, and it is
certainly the most hopeless plant I have ever
hitherto had any dealings with. I myself
cannot even keep it alive in a pot, much less
establish it in the open. I have never yet
even succeeded in hearing of any authentic
instance where it has been so established, nor,
indeed, have I ever seen it anywhere except in
one of the houses at the Hale Farm Nurseries
in May, when the remarkable beauty and dis-
tinctness of the red-purple flowers at once
arrested my attention. If any of your readers
can tell me how this may be successfully esta-
blished out of doors, I should be much obliged,
for there is no Iris species I would rather see
growing in my garden. Iris arenaria — to bor-
row the jargon of the prospectuses of new news-
papers— "supplies a want that has long been
f elt. " It is a dwarf Iris which is " really yellow.' '
For be it known to the unwary that the "flavas"
and " luteas " of the I. pumila type are at best
only "straw colour;" while the majority of
these are merely " ochro-leucous " — a ghastly
crew ! I. arenaria flowers some tliree weeks or
more later than pumila, and is consequently not
a companion to the dark and light blue varieties
of that type. It appears to grow freely in sand
or grit, which, as its name implies, it probably
I can do nothing with I. persica in the open.
The bulbs are perfectly hardy and increase
rapidly, but wUl not flower. It is managed
easily enough in a frame. Ixias grow freely
here, and flower well even when the Grass has
been burnt up by winter frosts ; but, "for cul-
ture, see Ixia," has not in my case proved a
guide to success in the case of Babianas, which
never flower, although they live and take room
which I can Ul afl'ord them.
The notes and papers on the culture of Lilies
that from time to time appear in this periodical
are useful, and to me, at any rate, always highly
interesting; all the same, I am disposed to
486
THE GARDEN.
think that amateurs who take to growing Lilies
must to a great extent buy (and pay for) their
own experience. I myself sliould be sorry to
attempt to formulate more than one general rule,
and this was stated with sufficient conciseness
in a recent number (Oct. 22, p. 358), viz., "that
all (or nearly all) Lilies of the Martagon or
lurks-cap type greatly resent moving." As to
soil, it IS not unfrequently stated that the ma-
jority of Lihes " prefer loam ;" but it must be
borne in miud that what passes for " loam" on
(let us say) the Hog's Back is very different
from the stuff that does duty for the same when
overlying the Kentish rag. In cold and stiff
soils (such as I i-egret to say mine is) you cannot
go far wrong m digging in lots of sand and as
much peat as you can afford. The past season
would probably be considered a bad one for
Lilies generally ; nevertheless, I can trace none of
the failures which occurred in m v garden (except
only m the case of the Madonna Lilies) to the
drought ; on the contrary, some of my Lilies,
notably L. Szovitzianum, bloomed more finely
than i have ever seen them, but then these have
occupied the same position for three or four
years. L. chalcedonicuim and the white and
Clark purple or Dalmatian Martagons were all
moved m the autumn of 1880, and they all
failed more or less completely. A newly-pur-
chased bulb of L. Hansoni failed also, doubtless
for the same reason. This, by the way, although
still expensive, is a distinct as well as very beau-
tiful yellow Lily, and is well worth getting
even if it takes (and I believe there is no reason
to suppose that it does take) some little pains to
grow It .successfully. On the other hand, I be-
lieve it to be mere waste of money, space, and
temper for amateurs to whom space and half-
crowns have some appreciable importance to
attempt to cultivate L. Humboldti. I do not
remember that any single contributor to this
journal who has written on Lilies during the
present year has claimed success in the culture
ot this species ; but even if success could be
fZ'^'^^.'J'"' ^'^ horticultural purposes there is
little difference in the colour and general effect
of the flowers between this and L. pardalinum,
a Lily withm the reach of all who can aive it
peat, or, possibly, even a moist situation in li<^ht
soil. These two Lilies are perfectly distinct in
habit of growth, and, botanioally of course, there
IS no question about the matter. Another Lily
ot extraordinary beauty which does not appear
to be very generally known or grown is L
Farryi. Next to L. Szovitzianum, I look on
this as the finest yellow Lily in cultivation. The
petals are long and separated in the manner of
those of L Washmgtonianum, of which itis almost
a.fac-svm,ik m golden yellow, but whether itis to
be classed in the Eulirion or Martagon group I
do not know ; nor, indeed, do I care. L Wash-
ingtonianum has disappeared from my garden,
1 SQr q/^J- ''"''«f ens, planted in the winter of
1880-86, flowered this year feebly, and imme-
diately disappeared again underground, as if
ashamed of its audacity. I doubt if I shall see
it again. It is much to be feared that
these exquisite .species are not to be per-
manently acclimatised and established in this
country. Of L. pardalinum, I have three va-
rieties exclusive of californioum, which has
not yet flowered with me. They are all three
distinct in growth and to some extent in foliage
and shade of colour, but I have never troubled
myself to mquire whether they are severally
entitled to specific honours. L. "i„anteura
grows strongly in the centre of a peat bed, and
IS evidently quite hardy. It has not yet flowered
here, but its magnificent green leaves are them-
selves highly ornamental. L. Browni, planted
last autumn, showed but feeble vitality durin.'
the recent summer, but a fine variety of L.
longiflorum (sold to me as Takesima, but with-
out the dark stems said to be peculiar to that
variety) was magnificent. This is about the
best floral speculation I ever made, a bulb for
which, I believe, I paid Is. in 1886 having this
year thrown up five flowering stems. Experi-
ence has taught me that, at any rate in my soil,
it IS useless to attempt to treat these as hardy
to the extent of leaving them in the open
ground during the winter. Their culture, how-
ever, IS perfectly simi^le to anyone possessincr
even a frame. They can be dug up with as
little disturbance as possible (except where it
rnay be necessary to divide the bulbs) towards
the end of October or in November, when the
stalks are beginning to wither, potted and
planted out again in April. The difficulty in
their culture seems to consist in the fact that
they make a precocious growth in the early
winter which gets damaged by frost, and the
forces necessary for the production of flowers
thereby get dissipated, but by lifting the bulbs
and keeping them over the winter in a frame or
cool house the necessary check seems to be
administered, and the conservation of force is
duly secured. L. tenuifolium is a beautiful
httle scarlet Lily, but I have not had it long
enough to pronounce on its hardiness and
durability under the not very favourable condi-
tions in which alone I can grow it. L. Krameri
I have never tried, although it has always been
within the scope of my ambition, but writers in
The Garden have " established a funk " in my
mind about it, and I continue to let it alone.
Probably something of the same sort might lead
me to fight shy of L. Leichtlini, but as my
habits of life generally turn me into an absentee
during late August and September, I have for-
sworn all autumn-flowering plants, includino-
auratums. It seems pretty clear, however, that
L._ Leichtlini is by no means a " Lily for the
million." With the exception of these and a few
of the rarer Chinese and Indian Lilies, such as
concolor and polyphyllum, I believe I have, or
have had, all the leading varieties, but there is
no use in mentioning them, especially as the
majority are well known and of easy culture.
A plant which attracts more attention than
almost any other on my rockery in May is L.
kamtsehaticum, or nigrum, which probably
should be more properly classed with the Pritil-
laries. It grows with great freedom in a dry
position along with Edraianthus, Glossocomia
ovata, and such like things. I know no black
flower so striking and desirable as this.
One of the very finest of spring bulbous plants
m my opinion, is Eritillaria pallidiflora. There
are few plants of this sort that produce such rich
glaucous foliage ; and although the colour of the
flowers (which are greenish yellow) is, perhaps
most admii-ed by those who draw their artistic
inspiration chiefly from the exhibits of the
Grosvenor Gallery, they are produced in great
profusion, a fine bulb throwing up as many as
ten or twelve large pale yellow bells. It o-rows
readily in light soil. A beautiful and very°valu-
able little plant of the same order is P. armena
bulbs of which, if let alone, will increase in
strength from year to year, throwing up in early
spring stalks 3 inches or 4 inches high, with
lovely little flowers like yellow Snowdrops.
This plant, as its name implies, comes from the
East, and it is, as far as I can .see, fully as good
m colour as the Californiau F. pudica, a plant
which seems to me to have conclusively proved
its worthlessuess for English gardens. I fear
the same must be said for the scarlet Fritillary
(P. recurva), which, as far as I can learn, has
never been successfully established in the open
[Nov. 26, 1887.
Some years ago, in The Garden, the late Mr.
Harpur Crewe asked this very question, but it
has never, I think, been answered in the
affirmative. I look on the Ixiolirions as among
the most beautiful of blue flowers of this order.
Writers m this paper from time to time speak
of these as perfectly hardy, but I regret to say
that this IS certainly not the case here ; with me
they always die if left in the open. Flowers of
this plant appear to be especially agreeable to
snails.
Tbiteleia lasa is among the best garden
plants, but I can see no great value or beauty
in the Brodiasas, most of which have disap-
peared here. B. cocoinea, however, is beautiful
as well as very distinct. As far as my own ex-
perience goes, I can grow this neither in pots
nor m peat, but it readily establishes itself in
pure grit. Unluckily, my own bulbs seem to
have got m among an aggressive plant of Swertia
perennis, which has secured the survival of the
fittest in its own person.
The straw-coloured CaUiprora lutea, nearly
allied to the Brodiseas, appears to grow very
freely in light soil ; it is quite hardy, distinct,
and pretty. There can be no doubt that one of
the incidental disadvantages of the Russian
aggression in Central Asia is the appalling
names which thereby get annexed to some of
our best spring bulbous plants. Fortunately,
the advancing Slave has not as yet (except in
the case of a gentleman with a name beginning
with M., but which, in the absence of a garden-
ing dictionary, I cannot attempt to spell) laid his
hand upon the Lilies.
" Lilies my masters 1 Garlic serves his need."
I commend this quotation to the "B— g
Society" (Limited) for identification and dis-
cussion during the coming winter— all the same.
Allium Octrowskianum is well worth growing.
J. C. L.
Carnation Pride of Pensliurst.— In answer
to "A." (p. 463), I may mention that in 1867 I
sowed a packet of Carnation seed. The seedlings
were put out in the borders at Penshurst Place, and
amongst them I found a good yellow self, which I
propagated until I had large beds of it. Some
time after I found it had been taken from the gar-
den and exhibited at Brighton and other shows
under different names. It was sold in Covent Gar-
den under the name of Primrose Yellow. Is Mrs.
Hawtrey also the same ? " A." thinks they are
identical. Will someone kindly tell me the true
origin of Mrs. George Hawtrey and Primrose Yel-
low? — F. Bbidgbr.
aSOMT NOTES.— FLOWER.
^^ Sweet red "Water Lily.— The red variety of
Nymphsea odorata has been supposed to be confined to
one locality in Massachusetts. But a correspondent of
the Canaduin Horficulliirlst says it is abundant in
the small lakes in the northern counties of Ontario,
particularly m the Muskoka district.
Pinks Ifapoleon III. and Highclere.—
I he former is very much esteemed by all true lovers
ot hardy plants. The plant is dwarf, and produces its
bright scarlet flowers in great profusion. It is very
useiul for forcing. We have bad a diffloidty to obfcun
stock till this year. Highclere is a little better grower,
but the flowers arc not so bright.— John Ckook.
Carnations diseased.—" W. G. S.," at p. 419,
has supplied us with tlie name of the fungus that
destroys the Carnatiou. I lind the old Clove suffers
most from this deadly enemy. Now we want the
antidote to prevent its ravages. Up to the present I
have entirely faded to find anything that will arrest
its progress. I have repeatedly dipped our plants in
strong sulphate of cahoura without any beneficial
ettect. ' G. S. S." advises planting on fresh ground,
and to destroy the old plants. That is just what I have
been obliged to do for the past six years, having had
to buy in new plants every spring, which contmue
Nov. 26, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
487
liealtliy and flower well through the summer till the
disease makes its appearance in the autumn. — Wtt.
AlL.\N, Ounton Pari;.
Rose Garden.
T. W. GIBDLESTONB.
ROSES OTHER THAN TEAS FOR
GROUPING.
Although the pick of the Teas are unquestion-
ably the best of all Roses for producing a con-
tinuous and effective display in the garden, yet
there will be many growers who will be desirous
of brighter colours than the Teas are at present
able to afford, and there is no reason why in
the meantime other Roses should not also be
grown. The Hybrid Perpetuals cannot be con-
sidered as a class to be as happily exempt from
mildew and red rust and to be also as free
blooming in autumn as the Tea-scented varieties ;
but there are some among them that are hardly
inferior in either respect, and by making a very
careful selection good results may be obtained
both early and late in the season. Moreover, it
may be borne in mind that in a small collection
mddew may often be checked if as soon as it
appears the plants be well syringed with a solu-
tion of sulphide of potassium made by dis-
solving half an ounce of sulphide in a gallon of
water.
As a variety that is least liable to be dis-
figured by mildew, and that, nevertheless, is a
reliable autumnal and first-rate Rose during the
summer, Ulrich Brunner stands conspicuous.
It cannot fail to become universally popular ;
indeed, the fineness of its flowers, from the ex-
hibitor's point of view, may be regarded as
firmly established, seeing that this year, of all
the Hybrid Perpetuals exhibited in winning
stands at the South Kensington show of the
National Rose Society, only one other variety
was more frequently staged. Two blooms of
it carried ofl' the two silver medals offered for
the best bloom among the amateurs' exhibits
and the best among the nurserymen's— a dis-
tinction it has several times before achieved,
and during the season it was constantly to the
fore in the open classes for twelve trusses of any
variety. So much for the fineness of its flowers ;
but, in addition to good looks in the blossom,
the plant is very vigorous and hardy, resisting
mUdew, and consequently continuing green till
late in autumn, and producing in abundance
both early and late its bright, full, cherry-red
flowers, which are carried perfectly erect upon
the plant, and consequently are displayed to the
utmost advantage.
Hardly less eflective or to be recommended
is the universally popular La France, which, if
not quite so vigorous or impervious to mildew,
has, nevertheless, inherited from its Tea parent
a freedom of flowering throughout the season
and a beauty of form quite suflicient to account
for the innumerable worshippers at its shrine.
It is so easy to obtain in perfection that it is
always a great favourite with exhibitors, and
taking the average for the last ten years it is
found to maintain its position among the four
most frequently staged in winning stands. The
form of the tender pink flower with the pale re-
curved margin of the petal is singularly grace-
ful, and almost every bloom comes in character.
It is not entirely exempt from mildew, though
it does not get seriously disfigured by it ; but it
is a curious fact, by the way, that the worst
victims to this pest are some of the so-caUed Gioire de Margottir.- Judging from a col-
Hybrid Teas, descended, on one side at any rate, oured plate recentlv received from Paris, this new
from the Teas, which as a class are so little liable Hybrid Perpetual seems to justify its description
to be badly attacked. I as the most brilliant red Rose yet raised. The
Alfred K. Williams, again, is one of the most
reliable of all Roses and is invariably among
the first three at all shows. The charge of
delicacy at one time brought against it seems
entirely to have broken down and is now seldom
heard of, and the plant grows and blossoms
freely, its bright crimson flowers always coming
perfect in form both in summer and autumn.
It is undoubtedly far the freest autumnal of its
colour, and is not readOy stopped by mildew ;
while grown upon Brier cutting or seedling it
appears quite hardy and vigorous and makes a
most beautiful group.
Madame Gabriel Luizet would undoubtedly
head the list of Roses most effective in the gar-
den, as it this year for the second time heads
the list of winning Roses at the exhibitions
but for its unfortunateproneness to mildew. The
immense vigour of the plant, the size, abund-
ance and perfect form of its exquisitely tender,
silvery, pink flowers; the establishment of its
autumnal character, its hardiness and disposi-
tion to grow in any soil or situation, all point
to it as the best of the Hybrid Perpetuals for
making a display in the garden. Indeed,
these recommendations involve its inclusion
even in the most select list ; but the admission
must, however reluctantly, be made, that if
there is mildew to be had, by the end of July
Madame Gabriel Luizet will have got it.
The same objection may also unfortunately
be urged against the best and most beautiful
of the white Hybrid Perpetuals, Violette Bouyer.
But for this softness of foliage, yielding so
readily to the invading fungus, all is admirable ;
hardy, vigorous, with large and most lovely
wers freely produced early and late, and
boldly displayed upon the plant, the variety is
one of the most telling and attractive in the
whole Rose garden. It must be grown for its
great beauty and good qualities, and the only
thing is that the grower must be on the look-out
to check the progress of mildew if possible the
moment it appears.
For a bright red , General Jacqueminot is stUl
unsurjsassed in all the qualities essential to a
Rose for making an effective display in the
garden, a result assured by its hardiness, vigour,
and freedom. Charles Lefebvre is often in-
cluded in the best six, and is, of course, superb
early in the year, but it is not a free autumnal,
and is more liable to red rust.
If, however, anyone making a start in Rose
growing were to plant a group of a dozen dwarf
plants on Brier of each of the above varieties
in addition to the Teas previously recommended,
and should fill up any spare corners or gaps
with the pink ever-blooming miniature Hybrid
Polyantha Rose Mignonette and the white
Paquerette, or even with the lovely Hybrid Tea
Grace Darling, which produces its delicately
pink-tinted blossoms so incessantly, to stand as
a connecting link between the pure Teas and
the Hybrid Perpetuals, a Rose garden would be
formed which would be infinitely more effective
and from which far greater pleasure would
almost certainly be obtained than if planted in
the conventional way with a similar number of
plants in a hundred or more varieties. Con-
siderable variety is important to those who
exhibit extensively, but for the general garden,
and especially for beginners in the culture of
Roses, there cannot be too much stress laid
upon the desirability of growing more plants,
but fewer varieties.
iiower appears in form and type of colour more
in the way of Louis Van Houtte than any other
variety, but it is brighter in the lighter part's of the
flower. The chief failing of these brilliant Roses is
generally a lack of substance ; but a raiser must be
pretty well convinced of the excellence of a variety
to name it as M. Margottin has done this his latest
seedling.
NEW CONTINENTAL ROSES FOR 1887-88.
The announcements of the new Roses for the
coming season have now been made, and the fol-
lowing is a pretty complete list of the novelties
coming from abroad. It will be seen that the in-
crease in the number of new Teas which has been
so conspicuous of late years is more than main-
tained, the number of the Teas and Noisettes
offered this year being almost equal to that of the
Hybrid Perpetuals, and admirers of the former
section will be glad to notice that an addition is
made by Lacharme and one also by Guillot, two
raisers whose novelties are nearly always worth
growing.
The Roses are all described as vigorous or very
vigorous, with large, full, and well-formed flowers,
except where otherwise specified.
Teas.
Agathe Eoiix (Nabonnand). — Globular flowers of a
tender rose colour.
Claire Jmibert (Nabonnand). — Flowers in panicles,
nearly full, with large petals of a shaded, tawny-yellow
colour.
Clara Pries (Pries). — Fragi'ant flowers, creamy
white, centre yellowish. Seedling from Madame
Berard.
Comtesse Anna Thun (Soupert et Netting). —
Flowers cupped, of an orange-yellow colour, shaded
saffron.
Ducliesse d'Auerstadt (Bemaix). — Flowers with
large petals, bright golden yellow, slightly tawny-
yellow in the centre. A climbing Tea.
Sdoiiard' PaiUeron (Nabonnand). — Flowerwith fine
petal of shaded coppery rose, the reverse bronze.
Elie Beaurilain (Beauvilain). — Flowers imbricated,
white, shaded silvery rose, with coppery base, veined
with red. A climbing Tea.
Slisa Eebotd (Eeboul). — Flowers moderate size,,
cup-shaped, outer petals pure white, centre canary-
yeUow, very fi-agrant, moderately vigorous.
Gioire deLihour7ie{Beauyi\a,hi). — Imbricated flowers
of a deep canary-yellow colour, apricot centre. A
climbing Tea.
Henriette de Beaurait (Lacharme). — Flowers large,
full, well formed, globular in shape and well displayed,
colour clear yellow. Said to be a superb variety,
worthy of the reputation of its great raiser.
Jeanne Cuvicr (Nabonnand). — Flowers shaded Hor-
tensia-rose.
Madame Hoste (Guillot fils). — Flowers with large
thick petals of a yellowish white colour, deep yellow
at the base.
Madame Joseph Godier (Pernet fils — Ducher). —
China- rose, tinted with carmine, and shaded with cop-
pery yellow.
Madatne Max Singer (Bou'peYt et Notting). — Flowers
of moderate size, clear yellow, shaded orange, centre
golden yellow. "The second Tea of the name.
Madame Phih'mon Cochet (S. Cochet).— Flowers of
moderate size, cupped, clear rose colour, with salmony
white reflex, shghtly suffused with bluish violet.
Magdeleine Beauvilain (Beauvilain). — Flowers im-
bricated, clear yellow, coppery at the base, and slightly
tinted with rose. A climbing Tea.
Miss Lizzie (Nabonnand). — Flowers pale yellow,
passing to white.
Monsieur Rosier CSabormand) . — Bright rose-coloured
flowers, cup-shaped, transparent yellowish white at
the base.
Princesse de Sagan (Dubreuil). — Flowers of mode-
rate size, cup-shaped, expanded, colour velvety crim-
son, shaded blackish purple and amaranth..
Souvenir de Madame Melral (Bernaix). — Flowers of
graceful form and bright chcriy-red colour, brightened
with crimson and vermilion. A climbing Tea.
Soureyiir du Gi'iu'ral Charreton (Ch. Eeboul).—
Flowers opening well, outer petals white, lightly edged
pale rose, centre China-rose, sometimes shaded red,
with yellow base.
Th<'ri-fe Lomhcrf (Soupert et Notting). — Flowers of
a tender rose colour', with yellowish red base and orange
centre.
^'i viand Morel (Bernaix). — Cnmson and deep scarlet,
ightened with carmine, shaded with rosy yellow.
488
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 26, 1887.
Noisettes.
Baronne de Hoffmann (Nabonnand). — Flowers
shaded coppery red over a yellow base. A climber.
Comte George de Roquette-Buisson (Nabonnand). —
Imbricated flowers of a bright shaded rose colour. A
climber,
L'Abondance (Moreau — Robert).' — Flowers of me-
dium size, pure white slightly rosy on opening, bloom-
ing in corymbs of 50 to 100 flowers. A climber.
L'ld^ale (Nabonnand). — Flowers semi-double, of
yellow and metallic red colour shaded with touches of
bright gold. A climber.
Madame Jules Franlce (Nabonnand). — Flowers of
medium size, imbricated, pui'e white passing to yel-
lowish white. A climber.
Triomphe des Noisettes (Fernet pere). — Flowers very
fragrant, nearly full, produced in corymbs, colour very
bright rose. A climber.
Bengal.
Laurette Messimy (GuiUotfils). — Flowers of medium
size, nearly full, colour brilliant China-rose with very
bright coppery yellow base.
Hybrid Teas.
Docteur Pasteur (Moreau — Robert). — Flowers glo-
bular, bright carmine-rose shaded currant red. Always
in bloom.
Germaine Caillot (Fernet fils — Ducher). — Flesh-
coloured Rose, with slightly yellowish shade towards
the centre. Raised from Baroness Rothschild x Mme.
Falcot, and a very free and promising Rose.
J^lIes d'Assonville (Soupert et Netting). — Imbri-
cated flowers of medium size, lilac-rose on a pearly
ground, centre bright rose.
Madame Andri! Duron (Bonnaire). — Very fresh,
clear red. Yery perpetual.
Madame Carle (Beruaix). — Carmine-rose, petals
paler at the edges, flowers of medium size, centre
bright red.
Madame Ernest Piard (Bonnaire). — Flowers cupped,
bright red, bordered with silvery rose.
BOUEBONS.
Claire Truffaut (Eugene Verdier). — Flowers of
moderate size, colour very soft fresh rose. Very
perpetual.
Lt'a Lt'vcque (Leveque). — Flowers white lightly
shaded with carmine, passing to pure white. The
second of the name. Seedling from Louise Odier.
L^turtfe de Colnet (Vigneron). — Lilac-rose, margins
of petals silvery. Free.
Marie Drivon (Veuve J. Schwartz). — Flowers of
moderate size, of variable bright peach colour marbled
with carmine.
Princesse Imperiale Victoria {=■■ Kronprinzessin Vic-
toria) (L. Spath). — Flowers mili-white outside, inside
sulphur-yellow, very free. ' Said to be a yellow counter-
part of Souvenir de la Malmaison.
PoLTANTHA (not perpetual).
Claire Jacquier (Bemaix) . — Flowers small, produced
in immense corymbs, colour nankeen yellow, changing
but little on expanding. A climber.
PoLYANTHA (perpetual).
George Fernet (Fernet fils — Ducher). — Bright rose
shaded with yellow, and passing to peach colour
shaded with white. Very dwarf and perpetual.
Gloire des Polyanthas (Guillot fils). — Bright rose
with white base, the centre of each petal often lined
with red. Dwarf and very perpetual.
Jeanne Ferron (Veuve J. Schwartz). — Flowers large
for the class, centre satin-rose, edges flesh colour. A
climber.
Kdthe ScTiultheis (Soupert et Netting). — Yellowish
white, salmony-coloured flowers in trusses of three to
five, and as large as a 5-franc piece.
Hybrid Perpetuals.
Albert la Blotais (Fernet pere). — Flowers globular,
nearly full, bright red passing to crimson. The second
of the name.
AugudePerrin (Veuve J. Schwartz). — Bright cherry
red, shaded amaranth.
Bardou Job (Nabonnand). — Flowers semi-double,
velvety scarlet, shaded black. A seedling from Gloire
des Rosomanes.
Ca;cilie Scliarsacli (Geschwiud). — Flesh white, pass-
ing to white. From Jules Margottin.
Charlotte Walter (Moreau — Robert). — Flowers
cupped, bright shaded satin-rose colour.
Conseiller Stochert ( Soupert et Netting) . — Flowers of
moderate size, imbricated, of silvery satin rose colour,
very free-flowering. '
Virecteur Tisserand CLiwi^iwo) . — Bright carmine-red,
shaded deep scarlet and crimson.
■Due d' Audiffret-Pasquier (B. Verdier). — Purplish
carmine red with brigh'er centre.
Duchesse de GalUera (E. Verdier). — Flowers globu-
lar, of a very fresh bright carmine-rose colour.
Francois David (Pemet pere). — Bright red, shaded
with crimson and violet.
Glcire de Margottin (Margottin) .^Flowers of mode-
rate size, nearly fuU, very bright cherry-rose.
James Bougault (C. Verdier). — A white-flowered
sport from Augusts Mie.
Eatkoff (Moreau — Robert). — Flowers imbricated,
colour bright cheiTy-carmine.
L'Ami Loury (E. Verdier). — Scarlet-crimson, shaded
purple and maroon, like velvet.
Louis Donadine (Gonod). — Dark velvety maroon,
shaded crimson, very perpetual and fragrant.
Louis Lille (Dubreuil). — Flowers cupped, bright red.
From Baron Rothschild x Firebrand.
Madame Alphonse Sense (Liabaud). — Tender rose
colour, sometimes brighter.
Madame Cisar Brunier (Bemaix). — Flowers of
moderate size, bright China-rose.
Madame de Terrouenne (Vigneron). — Flowers globu-
lar, currant-red. From J. Margottin.
Madame Beine-Furtado (Lev^que). — Flowers glo-
bular, bright rose shaded lilac.
Madame Ricliausi (Liabaud) . — Very fresh tender
satin rose.
Marquis d'AUgre (L^veque). — Vermillion shaded
with brown and deep scarlet.
Monsieur Chevallier (Fernet pSre). — Flowers nearly
full, cherry-red, tinted lilac.
Monsieur Jourdan (C. Verdier). — Flowers_brilliant
red.
Monsieur Niogret (Liabaud). — Brilliant amaranth-
red with puiple centre.
Morph.de (Veuve J. Schwartz). — Flowers globular,
bright velvety crimson, shaded blackish purple.
Pierre JAahaud (Liabaud). — Flowers velvety purple.
Prince Charles d'Aremberg (Soupert et Netting). —
Silvery rose flowers with large petals.
Heine Isahelle II. (Leveque). — Flowers imbricated,
of a soft transparent flesh colour.
Roi Francois d' Assise d'Espagne (Leveque). —
Flowers imbricated, very bright deep scarlet, shaded
with violet.
Scipion Cochet (E. Verdier). — Flowers of moderate
size, very velvety purple-maroon, brightened with bril
liant scarlet-crimson.
Sophie Stern (Leveque). — Flowers globular, of a
bright, clear carmine-rose colour.
Souvenir de Madame Faure (Bemaix). — Flowers
crimson, shaded with dark velvety puiple.
Suzanne Chavagnon (Gonod). — Bright rose-coloured
flowers with stout petals. Seedling from Baroness
Rothschild.
Moss Rose.
Chevreul (Moreau — Robert). — Flowers globular, of a
bright satin rose colour.
RuGosA Hybrid.
Madame G. Bruant (Bruant). — Raised from Rosa
rugosa, fertilised by Sombreuil (Tea) ; very perpetual,
blooming early and late ; the flowers, in trusses of six
to twelve, are large, semi-double, of the purest white,
and delioiously fragrant.
allowing for the normal tendency of those who figure
Roses on the Continent always to represent the
flowers rather more fully blown than English
growers consider the best phase, a good full flower.
It is said to have been raised from Baroness Roth-
schild crossed by Madame Falcot. It has been
awarded a gold medal and a first-class certificate in
France, and its portrait certainly constitutes by far
the best plate published in the Journal des Itoses
for a long time.
SHOMT NOTES— ROSES.
Roses for liancashire.— Will any reader of The
Garden kindly give me the names of a dozen good
Roses that will succeed in North Lancashire, and
that will be found suitable for show purposes? —
J. D. W.
Tea Eose The Bride.— This seems likely to be-
come a very popular Rose. The fact that it obtained
a first-class certificate so early in the season (March 8)
proves it to be a good Rose for early work. I have
seen very good blooms this autumn, and I should say
it will make a valuable addition to the limited number
of Roses that are to be depended upon for winter-
flowering. I do not suppose it will ever entirely super-
sede the old favourite Niphetos, but for some purposes
it will be more valuable, as it opens well and is of
a fine globular shape ; while in the bud it is very
handsome. I believe that some of the market growers
have already taken it in hand, and if it is found to
answer their purpose no better proof could be had of
its value. — A.
Oermaine Caillot. — The plate in the Journal
des Doses for this month shows an attractive Hybrid
Tea Rose now being distributed under the above
name by its raiser, Pemet fils — Ducher. The va-
riety carries on apparently the race of Cannes la
Coquette, and perhaps Viscountess Folkestone. In
colour it is a very desirable clear flesh tint, and evi-
dently very free and perpetual in character, and
Garden Flora.
PLATE 624.
[POLYANTHUS NARCISSUS.
(with a coloured plate or n. tazetta
VARIETIES.*)
The various forms of N. Tazetta have a very
wide geographical distribution. Commencing
with the Canary Islands and Portugal, they ex-
tend through Southern Europe to Syria, Nor-
thern India, and 'into China and Japan. The
principal headquarters of the forms of N. Tazetta
are, however, in Italy and South-eastern France,
where they are said to flower from January to
May, and where they present some of the most
beautiful pictures that can well be imagined.
Judging from their great beauty and delightful
fragrance, and also the comparative ease with
which the majority of them may be grown in
the ordinary garden, it seems a pity that their
cultivation should be so very limited as it is at
present. In the neighbourhood of London at
any rate, N. Tazetta requires no more attention
and certainly gives as satisfactory a result as
many of the other forms which are grown and
considered hardy. They do not by any means
lack the beauty and grace that have made Daffo-
dils so deservedly popular with the public, and,
generally speaking, they are of such a free-
flowering habit, and produce their bouquets
ready made in such abundance, as to recom-
mend them to all lovers of hardy flowers. Of
course, it will be necessary to make selections
for the various positions, &c., where it is in-
tended to grow them. This will, however, be
an easy matter, considering the very large num-
ber now introduced from all parts of Southern
Europe, &c. A choice must be made of those
from localities with a somewhat cool tempera-
ture, avoiding those from the warmer districts,
and which it would be useless to expose in the
open air in this country. For instance, those
from the Canaries, Algiers, Syria, (fee. , will have
to be grown under glass, or otherwise protected
during winter and spring. In China, forms of
N. Tazetta are grown in flat dishes with water,
pebbles or sand being put in to .steady the bulbs
and keep them apart, but this mode of treat-
ment is superseded by soil in growing all the
varieties of this group. They are so numerous,
that it is quite impossible to give a detailed list
here, many of the leading nurserymen's cata-
logues containing tlie names of something like
twenty-five or thirty of the best kinds, and a
suflicient choice will be found here for all ordi-
nary purposes. AIL that has been attempted in
the present instance is to give the sub-species,
all of which come under the heading of N.
Tazetta, and to three or four of tliese most of
the numerous Dutch varieties belong. Haworth
describes forty-six kinds, Parlatore twenty-six
wild ones, Jordan and Fourreaus fourteen, the
distinguishing features of the majority of which
are so unreliable or small, as to make a proper
classification an almost impossible task.
* Drawn for The Garden in Messrs. Barr's grounds
at Tooting, May 12, 1887, by H. G. Moon, and printed
by G. Severeyns.
THE GARDEN,
POLYANTHUS NARCISSUS, ( N.TAZETTA.)
Nov. 26, 1887.
THE GARDEN.
489
N. AtTRKTjs, figured in Moggridge's " Flora Men-
tone," tab. 22, is perfectly hardy in the open air
around London, and is certainly one of the most
beautiful and useful of the bunch-flowered Daffodils.
It is one of the earliest of this group to bloom, the
flowers often being produced in January. In severe
seasons, from the middle of February to the begin-
ning of March, is the usual period. In southern
counties it may be planted anywhere in the open,
but in the northern districts it may possibly require
the shelter of a wall or clump of shrubs to ensure
its blooming in safety. Grand Soleil d'Or of gar-
dens seems to be a form of aureus with larger
flowers, a rich yellow perianth, and orange cup. In
N. aureus the segments, when fully expanded,
measure about 2 inches in diameter, oval, over-
lapping each other, and lemon coloured. The
corona or cup is quite entire, of a deeper colour
than the segments. Allied to this are Hermione
luteola, H. zanthea, H. chlorolica, H. amoena, H.
setulosa, H. flaveola, H. trifida, H. sublutea, &c.
Regarding its habitat, Mr.Moggridgesays : "Whether
it may claim to be a native of Italy or even Europe
I do not know. I am only able to state that it
grows where there is no likelihood of its being
planted, and there is no Mentonese plant with which
the present can be confused if colour be allowed
to be a specific character." Eastern Bay, near Men-
tone. Others mentioned in garden catalogues may
be traced to N. aureus, I have no doubt.
N. Bbetoloni is a smaU-flowered species, which
I have tried in the open air, as yet with little
success. It does well, and fiowers annually with
the protection of a wall, and where it gets plenty of
warmth during summer and autumn. The flowers
vary from three to six to a stem, segments
yellow, crown orange-yellow. It is found on the
terraces at San Remo flowering in December, but
rarely flowers here untU late spring. N. Bertoloni
is also found in the neighbourhood of Lucca and
Pisa. N. chrysanthus, distinct in catalogues, is now
included under this species, though it differs from
the latter in having larger flowers in a much looser
bunch of nine to twelve to a stem ; segments yellow,
with an orange cup. It is a native of Grasse, and
flowers in March. Mr. Moggridge mentions a hybrid
which he considers the offspring of N. remopolensis
and N. Bertoloni, amongst clumps of which it
appears to have been found. The flowers are
yellowish white ; the divisions prolonged, as in N.
remopolensis, and having a deeper tinge of yellow
at the base.
N. CANAEIENSIS requires the protection of a cool
house, and, at best, is not by any means a free-
flowering bulb. The segments, which when fully
open measure about 1| inches in diameter, are very
narrow, and white as well as the small crown. It
is nearly allied to Hermione micrantha (Jordan).
Native of the Canary Isles.
N. COBCTBENSIS is another plant nearly allied to
the typical K. Tazetta, but has smaller flowers and
narrower segments, white ; cup yellow. It was
found wild in Corfu, and is nearly, if not quite,
hardy, the only parts injured being the points of the
leaves. It is represented in gardens by mediter-
raneus (perianth white, cup tinged orange) and
ganymedoides (perianth sulphur-white, cup orange).
It has narrow reflexed segments and a lobed cup.
N. remopolensis, Hermione insolita, H. ^quilimba,
sulcicaulis, debilis, H. discreta, H. contorta, &c., are
forms.
N. CUPULARIS {Botanical Magazine, tab. 925) I
have not seen in cultivation, although it probably
may be. Five forms are described by Haworth
under the names of Hermione aperticorona (spread-
ing orange cup), H. Solaris (starry orange), H.
perlutea (full yellow), H. latifolia (broad-leaved,
orange cup), and H. multiflora. H. nobilis, H. calli-
chroa, H. fulgida, &c., are also forms.
N. DUBius is another of the small-flowered kinds
described by Moggridge. It is found growing in
wild, rocky situations in mountains near Toulon
and Hyeres, and rarely, if ever, in cultivated
ground. Burbidge gives Marseilles, Avignon, and
Nice. The flowers are pure white when fully open,
three to five blooms to a stem ; segments over-
lapping and oval; cup distinctly three-lobed. Ic
flowers in March, and is hardy in the South.
Herbert described three forms of N. dubius.
N. ITALICTJS, I find, requires the protection of a
cool frame. It is one of the large-bunched kinds,
with from ten to a dozen flowers on a stem, and
well worth the space it takes in the frame or house.
It will also, however, bloom well close to a south
wall in rather light, well-drained soil. The leaves
are longish, green, and almost flat, with a sharply
two-edged flower-stem. The segments when fuUy
expanded are rarely less than 2 inches in diameter,
oblong, and slightly overlapping, whitish or pale
lemon, with a sulphur cup more or less lobed.
Nearly allied to the above are H. obliquus, H. stylo-
sus, &c., flgured in Botanical Magazine, tab. 1188.
N. LACTICOLOB Seems to be the most variable of
all, judging from the very great number of forms or
varieties now included under the above sub-species.
From Tazetta proper the following differ very little,
many of them being in cultivation: varians, elatus,
Tenori, neglectus, spiralis, syriaous, Biancje, Ascher-
soni, Cypri (Haworth)— figured in Sweet's " British
Flower Garden," ii., t. 92— citrinus, floribundus,
monspeUiensis, &c ; flexiflorus, subcrenatus, and
crenulatus (Haworth) are about 2 inches in diame-
ter, cup half an inch in diameter; grandicrenatus, a
deeply lobed cup; oorrugatus, large, crisped orange
cup. Hermione Trewiana (Haworth) also belongs
to this section. It is figured in the Botanical
Magazine, tab. 940, as orientalis, which seems to be
a mistake. _ N. orientalis of Linnaeus is the Schi-
zanthus orientalis of Haworth, under which name
it is known in gardens at the present time. It is a
totally distinct plant, and is probably a hybrid,
though of this I am not able to speak definitely.
N. orientalis of Botanical Magazine is also known
as Bazelman major, a synonym given in the descrip-
tion at tab. 940, and it is probable that this was
the very figure on which Haworth founded his H.
Trewiana. It is, however.'a charming plant, by far
the best and showiest of this group.
N. OCHEOLEUCUS, figured in Botanical Magazine,
tab. 1298, is a very curious form, connecting N.
Tazetta with gracilis, and intermedius with its
deeply channelled green leaves and nearly flat
flower-stalk. The segments, when fully open, are
1 inch to 1| inches in diameter, overlapping, milk-
white ; cup lemon-yellow, entire.
N. PAPTEACBtrs (paper white) is one of the most
handsome and attractive of this large genus, and is
all the more valuable as it blooms at a time when
flowers of this description are rather scarce. It is
a most valuable bulb for early forcing, and with a
little forethought may easily be had in full beauty
and fragrance as early as November. It will do in
the open, but requires a very sheltered position.
The flowers when expanded are about li inches in
diameter ; the cup is white, emitting a most deli-
cious fragrance. Unicolor, niveus, and chione are
synonyms, and Hermione jasminea (Haworth), H.
Gennari and H. virginea differ but little. In the
" Flora Mentone," a variety called H. incurvata is
figured, with fewer flowers in a bunch, the segments
of which are all incurved inwards. From the true N.
papyraoeus this variety differs most markedly in its
time of flowering. The type, as before stated, may
be had in flower in November; the variety very
rarely shows flower before the beginning or middle
of February, thus giving a long succession. Native
of Pegli, near Genoa, San Remo, and Sestre de
Ponente.
_N. Polyanthus is a well-known garden plant,
with large, broad, overlapping segments, white, and
having the cup faintly tinged at first with sulphur,
but finally white. Allied to this, but with smaller
flowers, are H. Luna (Haworth), N. Barla;, and
hololeuca.
N. Bachtbolbos. — An Algerian species requiring
protection in a house. It is figured in Botanical
Magazine, t. 6825. It has rarely less than a dozen
flowers in a bunch ; the segments, when fully ex-
panded, three-quarters of an inch in diameter, white,
as well as the cup, which is very small.
N. PATULUS is nearly allied to the type, but
dwarfer and less robust. It has pure white seg-
ments, and a small lemon-yellow cup; nearly allied
to this are etruscus, Ricasolianus, siculus, fistulo-
sus, to.
N. Panizzianus is another of the smaU-fiowered
section. This, however, has the merit of having its
flowers in a compact head or umbel. It is, perhaps,
most nearly allied to Polyanthus, but distinguishable
by its smaller flowers and blight green leaves. The
segments, when fully expanded, are nearly an inch
in diameter, a little overlapping, white, as well as
the entire cup. Only known to grow at San Remo.
D. K.
Stove and Greenhouse,
CALIFORNIAN PITCHER PLANT.
(darlingtonia californica.)
Thi.s is an herbaceous perennial nearly allied to
the Sarracenias. It is one of the most singular
plants ever brought under the notice of culti-
vators. The leaves are hollow, like those of the
various species and varieties of Sarracenia, and
in form they come nearest to S. variolaris, the
extremity of the tube-shaped leaves, similar to
the species of Sarracenia named, being hooded
at the top, but they are much longer, attaining,
in a well-grown example, a height of 18 inches,
and are stout in proportion. The hood is fur-
nished with a pair of conspicuous appendages that
hang down like the wattles of a fowl ; the hood
and upper part of the tube is beautifully coloured
with white, mottled and sufFused with red, like
the tops of the pitchers of Sarracenia Drum-
mondi. One of the causes that may have had
something to do with the plant being now so
seldom met with is that when it was first intro-
duced most of those who attempted to grow it
failed through over-cultivating it. An impres-
sion seems to have prevailed amongst those who
undertook to grow the Darlingtonia at first,
that it required a confined, close, warm atmo-
sphere ; hence, it was usually subjected to more
or less heat continuously. Under this treat-
ment it grew for a time, but in most cases,
unless when exposed to more than an ordinary
amount of light with its top close to the
glass it dwindled away, each succeeding growth
coming smaller than the last, until the plants
succumbed altogether. For a time after its in-
troduction it fetched a high price, which,
coupled with the want of success, deterred many
from giving it a second trial.
The worst effects of submitting the Darling-
tonia to warm treatment are seen when the
plants, as soon as imported, are at once put in
heat ; this excites top growth, though under
such conditions it is usually weak. If plants
that have been thus treated are examined, it
will be found that the roots have not moved at
all, and the leaves that have been produced
generally dwindle away before the return of the
growing season.
Newly imported plants that arrive even in the
best condition are unavoidably much weakened,
and require careful treatment to help them to
regain their strength. As soon as received
they should be at once potted, giving them no
larger pots than will admit the roots without
unduly crowding them. Though the plant
grows in swampy ground, still, in common with
some others of a like nature, it must have the
pots sufficiently drained to admit of the water
passing freely away. The potting material must
also be porous and open ; good Orchid peat
pulled in pieces about the size of Walnuts, with
most of the earthy matter removed, to an equal
part of chopped Sphagnum, and a liberal
sprinkling of small potsherds with some sand,
form a suitable compost to grow it in, as this
keeps fresh and clean, even with the large
490
THE GARDEN.
quantity of water required by the plants during
the growing season. When the Darlingtonia is
at rest the soil must never be allowed to get
dry, and in potting press the material lightly,
and put a small stick to several of the leaves so
as to keep the plants steady. At once give a
moderate watering, but until the roots are in
motion do not apply so much as established
specimens would bear. If the plants are
received in spring or early in the summer an
ordinary garden frame will be the best place for
them, plunging the pots in some kind of loo.se
moistm-e-holding material which should be kept
damp. They should have a thin shade to
protect them from the sun until they get fairly
established. Air ought to be given freely at the
back of the frame in the daytime, so as to keep
down the top-heat till the roots are started.
Syringe overhead in the afternoons, leaving a
moderate amount of air on at night. When
the roots and young leaves have begun to move
freely dispense with the shading. The leaves
made the first season will naturally be much
smaller than the old ones, but if the plants
have formed many roots they may be con-
sidered safe, as when once well established
the Darlingtonia is easily grown. The plants
may either remain in the frame through the
winter or be moved to the end of a greenhouse,
standing the pots on damp material, and where
they will be away from cold, dry currents, for
though when fully established and strong they
will bear an abundance of air, it is better not
to subject them to so much until they have
commenced to make their second season's
growth. If allowed to remain in the frame
during the winter means must be taken to keep
out frost by thick coverings over the lights and
round the sides and ends.
In the spring before growth commences the
soil should be examined, and if there are any
signs of its getting too much decomposed and
retentive it must be replaced with new, being
careful not to break or injure the roots. If the
roots are few it will be best to replace the plants
in the same pots, again securing the leaves with
sticks and ties to prevent their falling about
loosely, as if this happens the young roots that
start from the collars of the plants just below
the surface are liable to become injured. Should
imported plants come to hand in autumn when
it is too late for them to make growth, they
ought to be potted as already advised, and
placed in a greenhouse or pit on a damp bottom,
giving enough water to keep the soil moist. In
spring, when the weather begins to be warm and
the frosts are over, the plants wiU be best in a
frame, treating them as before recommended
for stock that arrives in spring. If all goes
well, the growth that is made the second season
will be considerably larger. To gain colour the
heads of the plants must be near the glass, and
no more shade must be used than may be found
requisite to prevent scorching, which rarely
occurs if the plants are strong and get plenty of
air. Of this they must not be stinted, espe-
cially whilst the growth is active. After the
leaves have attained their full size and solidity
the plants may be taken from the frame and
placed in a greenhouse or conservatory, care
being taken that they are stood where tliey
will get plenty of light. When once they are
fully established they may be grown in a green-
house, but when this course is followed they
shouhl be stood close up against the glass at the
front or end of the house that happens to face
the south, as without plenty of sun the leaves
will be deficient in colour.
The Darlingtonia may be increased by divi-
sion of the crowns, separating them with a
knife, and being careful to secure a fair amount
[Nov. 26, 1887.
of roots to each piece. The division must take
place before root-growth has commenced. The
roots begin to move before top-growth com-
mences, and the plant so dislikes any disturb-
ance after it has once commenced growth, that
even repotting without any attempt at division
will cause the leaves to come small and often
deformed. Hence the necessity for carrying out
the propagation, or repotting early enough.
After the plants have become fully established,
it is better to remove all the old soil every year
at the time of repotting, replacing it with new,
as the saturated condition it requires to be kept
in during the greater part of the year tends to
make it so decomposed that the roots will not
keep healthy in it. During the growing season
a slight syringing once a day in the evening will
be of service in helping to keep the plants free
from insects ; but in carrying out the work
care must be taken that the water does not get
into the pitcher-like leaves, or the weight will
break them down. Through the time of active
growth the roots should be watered daily ; in
winter twice a week will suffice.
Black thrips are the most troublesome insects
to the Darlingtonia. These may be destroyed
by fumigating with tobacco if the insects make
theu- appearance when the leaves are matured
or nearly so, but when the last mentioned are
soft and growing it is safer to use the sponge.
Nepenthes Northiana. — This is perhaps one
of the most distinct and beautiful species of this
now numerous and varied family. The pitchers
when fully mature are upwards of 1 foot in length,
and from 3 inches to 5 inches in breadth, winged in
front; colour greenish red, striped and spotted with
crimson. The mouth is oblique, and is ornamented
with a narrow striated margin. A nice example of
this rare plant is now producing pitchers in Mr.
James's nursery at Norwood, where the Nepenthes
are a speciality, and are admirably managed. —
W. H. G,
Brachysema lanceolata. — This Australian
member of the Leguminosse does well when treated
as a rafter or pillar plant in the greenhouse or con-
servatory, the loose rambling habit of growth ex-
actly fitting it for use in such positions. The leaves
with which the long flexible shoots are clothed are
so thickly covered with silky hairs as (especially
when young) to be almost of a silvery whiteness.
When to this pleasing feature is added a profusion
of bright red pea-shaped blossoms, it will be seen
that there are many less 'desirable subjects often
grown in situations where this might be advantage-
ously employed. It is by no means an easy plant
to strike from cuttings, but in the case of an esta-
blished plant seeds are often produced in quantity,
from which young plants can be readily raised. The
seeds should be sown when ripe in pots filled with
soil consisting of peat, loam, and sand, and when
the first leaf is well developed the seedlings must be
potted off, burying them during that operation to
such a depth that the cotyledons are just clear of
the soil, otherwise they are apt to fall over and die.
— H. P.
Anthurium ferrierense. — This hybrid Anthu-
rium was one of the first raised by the intercrossing
of the brilliant-coloured A. Andreanum with any
other species, for the interval between the introduc-
tion of Andre's Anthurium and the appearance of
the hybrid therefrom was not long. Since then,
however, wo have bad several other hybrid va-
rieties announced, but a good form of A. ferrierense
is at least equal to the best of them. It was
raised by M. Bergman, gardener to Baron A. de
Rothschild at Ferrieres, in France. The parents
are the white-flowered A. ornatum and the brilliant
scarlet A. Andreanum, while the progeny is in
appearance about midway between the two, though in
one respect it surpasses both, and that is in its free-
flowering qualities, for with half-a-dozen plants
here, in pots S inches in diameter, I am rarely
without bloom, and have just now three finely de-
veloped spathes, which during the dull autumn
days appear more richly coloured than they do in
the summer ; at all events, they are more valuable
now than at that time. It is now some four or five
years since this Anthurium received a first-class
certificate from the Eoyal Horticultural Society, but
as yet it seems far from common. Like the rest of
its class, it is of easy culture, and grows well in a
warm and moist atmosphere, and keeps up a succes-
sion of its carmine-red spathes for months. A
soil principally composed of j^eat and Sphagnum
seems to suit its requirements perfectly. — H. P.
BOUVARDIA PRESIDENT CLEVELAND.
In the United States of America Bouvardias are
very popular, and we are indebted to the western
continent for the first double-blossomed variety,
viz., the white-flowered Alfred Neuner, which origi-
nated as a sport from the single Davidsoni, and was
sent out in the spring of 1881. The variety under
notice (President Cleveland), which also originated
in America, is a single form, remarkable for the
bright hue of its blossoms, which in this respect
surpass those of all the older kinds, such as elegans,
Dazzler, and Hogarth. The flowers of this kind are
large and well formed, borne in good-sized trusses,
and of a rich scarlet colour. The beauty of the
individual blooms is still further enhanced by the
sparkling coruscations that overspread the petals,
and during sunshine give them the appearance of
being frosted. The habit of the plant is good, and
altogether it promises to be one of the greatest
acquisitions we have had for some time among
Bouvardias, and well deserving the first-class certi-
ficate recently bestowed upon it by the Royal
Horticultural Society. No doubt it will in another
season become a popular market plant, as its
superior brightness of colouring will cause it to
supersede the older varieties. The above are not
the only two kinds we have received from America,
for the year after the double Alfred Neuner charmed
all with its little rosette-like blossoms saw the
advent of its pick counterpart, which under the
name of President Garfield soon became extensively
grown. This, however, is liable to sport, some
plants having flowers of a deeper colour than others,
but the best type forms a good companion to the
white-flowered kind, and one that is equally vigor-
ous in growth. Thomas Meehan was the third
double form hailing from the States, the flowers
being reddish, but it has never become very popular,
and is now almost, if not quite, superseded by some
from M. Lemoine, of Nancy, who has devoted con-
siderable attention to this beautiful class of plants.
The varieties from this source sent out nearly three
years ago are A'ictor Lemoine, a vigorous growing
kind with glowing crimson - coloured blossoms.
They are very double, but one drawback is, the
plant is liable to run up thin and tall ; in fact, it has
this character mere pronounced than any other of
the garden varieties of Bouvardia. The second is
Sang Lorrain, of a lighter shade of colour than the
preceding, and not so tall growing, and the third
Triomphe de Nancy, a sort of salmon-red. In these
three kinds the leaves are very hairy, and in a smoky
neighbourhood the flowers are more liable to damp
off during the winter than those of the smoother-
leaved kinds. From M. Lemoine I obtained a couple
of new varieties last spring, one of which, Etna, has
not yet flowered ; while the other, flavescens flore-
pleno, is in colour just a counterpart of the straw-
tinted B. flavescens, while the flowers are double.
There are several different ways of growing Bou-
vardias, but whatever method be followed, they
are certainly among the most useful plants we
possess at this season of the year, as their blossoms
are so chaste and of so refined a character that they
may be employed in the choicer arrangements of
cut flowers, such as button-holes, sprays, and similar
purposes. In selecting a few of the best, besides
the above-named varieties, the following must be
included : With white flowers — Vreelandi, The
Bride, jasminoides, and Humboldti corymbiflora.
The blossoms of this last are deliciously fragrant,
and this circumstance, combined with the size of
Nov. 26, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
491
the flowers (which are the largest of all), seems to
render it a very popular variety, and one that is
brought into Covent Garden Market in considerable
quantities during the season, both in the shape of
little bushes laden with bloom, and also as cut
flowers. The blossoms of this are perhaps more
pleasing when all are not fully expanded, as the
large club-shai^ed buds stand out very prominently.
Among pink-flowered kinds may be noted Priory
Beauty, one of the best of its class, being a good,
free grower, very free-flowering, and the colour of
the flowers a pleasing shade of soft pink. Others
are Qaeen of Roses, Maiden's Blush, and rosea
oculata. This last will produce flowers on every
shoot ; indeed, so freely does it bloom, that it will
continue until it is quite exhausted. Of bright-
coloured flowers most of the best are noted above,
but to those whose names are given may be added
one of the original species, viz., B. leiantha, with
small flowers of a bright vermilion colour ; and
Unique, said to be a hybrid from B. Eoezli, and its
appearance suggests that such is the case. The
flowers are a sort of carmine-purple colour, which
renders it very distinct from the other varieties, but
I find that it does not retain the leaves well during
the winter. The merits of the different Bouvardias
as winter-flowering plants are now well known and
fully recognised, but the fact that they will yield a
considerable quantity of bloom throughout the sum-
mer months with but very little care or attention
seems to be generally ignored, though occasionally
one meets with them where their summer-blooming
qualities are taken into consideration. I once saw
a bed filled with plants of the white-flowered B.
Humboldti corymbiflora that had bloomed during
the preceding winter, and after flowering were
shortened back a little, when they soon commenced
to grow. After this they were repotted and gradu-
ally hardened off, so that by bedding-out time they
were fit to be planted in the open ground with the
other subjects commonly employed for such a pur-
pose. By the middle of August the bed was quite a
mass of bloom, the scent from which during the
evening and early morning was most delicious. As
a few choice flowers that can be used for button-
holes and such purposes are always valuable even in
the height of summer, a very good way is to plant
out in the reserve ground any old Bouvardias, such
as those that bloomed during the winter, or old
stock plants, where, with a little attention in the
matter of watering and occasional doses of liquid
manure, they may be relied on for a greater or less
quantity of bloom till cut off by frost. Where little
bushes are required for flowering in pots, some pre-
fer to plant them out and lift them early in the
autumn, but as this often leads to a loss of a con-
siderable amount of foliage, the better way is to
grow them entirely in pots, as is done by the London
market growers. They are as easily grown as Fuch-
sias, and need much the same treatment. There is
a small white mealy fly that is at times very trouble-
some to Bouvardias, especially the more hairy-leaved
kinds, and it must be kept in check by continual
fumigating and liberal syringing, especially on the
undersides of the leaves. H. P,
handsome, and when the free-flowering qualities
of one compared with the other are taken into
consideration, the balance is certainly in favour
of the older kind, though if the double form could
be induced to open its flowers as freely as the other,
a place might well be found for both. — T.
HIPPEASTRUMS AT THE LANGPORT
NURSERIES.
The Hippeastrums alluded to by Mr. Frank
Miles in The Garden, Nov. 5 (p. 420), at the
Langport Nurseries are hybrids of vittata, and
have been extensively grown and propagated
here for upwards of twenty-five years. Mr.
Douglas, Nov. 12 (p. 445), is quite right in pre
suming that they flower freely year after year.
The offsets as soon as they are fit to be taken
from the matured bulbs are planted about
4 inches by 6 inches apart in a good compost of
loam, sand, and well decomposed old hotbed
manure in span frames. They are encouraged
to make all the growth possible for three or
four years ; by this time they generally com-
mence to bloom. As soon as the foliage has
died down, which is about the beginning of the
year, the bulbs are taken up, the large ones
sorted out, potted up, and plunged in a light
compost in a span house for blooming in March
and April ; the small bulbs are returned to the
span frames after renewing the soil. At the
present time there are upwards of 200 yards of
these frames 10 feet wide, containing over
20,000 bulbs of named varieties and seedlings in
full vigour, the foliage averaging 2 feet high, and
quite healthy and green. There is no artificial
heat applied, and the only protection they have is
a covering of mats in very severe weather. This
mode of culture has been adopted here for
many years. No failures wUl occur if they are
kept thoroughly wet during the growing season —
that is from May to October. When treated in
this way the flowering season is much later than
when grown in heat, as they rarely commence
flowering before May, continuously throwing up
their spikes until October.
The best named Continental varieties during
the last twenty years have been added to the
collection; the pollen from the best of these, as
well as from the most perfect flowers raised
here, have been used for fertilising those
possessing the best form and distinctness of
character. Amongst the numerous varieties
which have been sent out from these nurseries
the following possess good constitution, breadth
of petal, and distinct markings : —
ACHILLB. — White veined with red.
Agnes. — White suffused with red.
Albion. — Pure white.
Bacchus. — Scarlet with white lines.
CONSPICUA. — Scarlet with white lines, " and
mottled with white.
Duchess op Connaught.— White marbled with
carmine.
Elycbs. — Crimson-scarlet.
Her Majesty. — White veined withj carmine,
black centre.
Maxbntius. — White blotched with crimson.
NiOBB. — Orange-scarlet with white lines.
Semblb. — White veined with crimson.
Zbno. — Reddish purple with white throat.
Gladioli Villa, Lanrjjjort. JAMES Kelwat,
Double SpaTmannia africana. — In the very
interesting article on Sparmannia africana in The
Garden Nov. 12 (p. 443) no mention is made of the
double-flowered variety, yet I am sure a little advice
from so able a cultivator as Mr. Baines as to the best
way to induce it to flower in a satisfactory manner
would be of great interest, not only to myself, but
also to others, as after several seasons' trial I have
quite failed to induce it to open its blooms pro-
perly, and the experience of all I have spoken to on
the matter is the same. The variety under notice
was sent about half a dozen years ago, I believe, from
the Continent, and at that time was spoken of as a African Hemp. — In The Garden, Nov. 12
valuable novelty and one destined to become a (p. 44;!), the name African Hemp is given to Spar-
popular conservatory plant ; but time has proved mannia africana. I have always understood African
otherwise, and it now seems to have almost dropped Hemp to be the fibre of a Liliaceous plant, and on
out of cultivation. Though plenty of flower-buds referring to Dr. Masters' last edition of Henfrey, I
make their appearance, it is seldom that any open, find (p. SSU), as I expected, various species of Sanse-
as they nearly always drop. The common Spar- viera mentioned as supplying African and Bow-
mannia is such a distinct and handsome plant, string Hemp. It is true that the TiliaceiB, to
that it is very questionable which is the more | which Sparmannia belongs, give us jute and bast. I atThis
The only fault of S. africana, an old favourite of mine,
is, that to let it develop its full beauty it requires
more than its due share of space. — F. Capes.
Witsenia corymbosa. — A note on this fine old
plant, now seldom seen, appears in The Garden of
Nov. 12 (p. 433), and two or three specimens are
blooming with great freedom at Gunnersbury
Park, where, arranged amongst Epacrises and other
cool house plants, they have a bright and cheerful
appearance. We want things of this character at
this season, as for the cool house we have very few
plants that an amateur who has no stove can grow
except Chrysanthemums. The Witsenia comes in
before the Ericas, Primulas, and Cyclamens are
in their glory, and the brilliant gentian - blue
colour of the dense heads of fiowers gives a va-
riety at once distinct and welcome. It will do well
with Heaths, &c., and requires a peaty soil, good
drainage, but plenty of water, and light and air.
The flowers last well when cut, and when bunched
are unequalled for brilliancy.
Amaryllids at Langport. — In The Garden
for November 12 (p. 445) Mr. Douglas refers
to Mr. Frank Miles' communication respecting the
planting out of Amaryllids in cold frames at
the above-named nursery. The first time I saw
them I was as much surprised as Mr. Douglas was
to read of their being treated in that way. The
last time I saw them some thousands of bulbs had
passed through a long and severe winter with no
other protection except plenty of external covering,
and they had just commenced to start into growth,
the time of year , being May. I was astonished to
see the vigour with which the plants were growing,
and am fully convinced that the finest bulbs
can be obtained in a shorter time under the cool
treatment than when they are grown in pots in a
higher temperature. With reference to A. Acker-
manni pulcherrima, my experience of its behaviour
is similar to that of Mr. Douglas. I have had a
plant for the last six years, and it has only pro-
duced one offset during that time. The old bulb
generally flowers twice during the season. Is it
usual for it to do so ? — J. C. C.
Salvia Pitcheri. — There are very few blue
flowers to be compared with those of this Salvia, and
they will last fairly well when cut with a good length
of stem. The blue colours show up well amongst
Chrysanthemums. It is one of the most free-flower-
ing plants we have. I find the best way to propagate
it is by division, as when increased by cuttings the
plants do not flower freely till the second year, for
they must become pot-bound before they will bloom
satisfactorily. Our plants are potted every other
year in good turfy loam and leaf soil in equal parts,
and a little dry cow manure added and plenty of
sand is used to keep the soil porous. After flower-
ing the stems are cut down close to the pot and the
plants stood in a cold vinery. Very little water is
given them until they commence to grow ; I then
increase the supply of water, taking care not to
give too much, as the roots are apt to rot. When
the Salvias have made a couple of inches of growth
they are taken to a cold frame, there to remain
until May, when they are plunged out in a sunny
spot. I give them an abundance of water through
the summer, and as soon as they show their flower-
spikes, I give them weak doses of manure water
and of soot and cow manure. The points of the
shoots of this Salvia must not be pinched out, or
the crop of flowers wiU be lost. — T. Arnold.
SHORT NOTES.— STOVE AND OREENHOUSE.
Aphelandra Chamiesoniana and A. chry-
sops. — It was stated in The Gakden (p. 43.3) that A.
Chamissoniana is a good deal like A. chrysops. Hav-
ing since seeu the two together, I fail to see any
difference between them ; in fact, I consider them
identical. As Chamissoniana is the older name, it
must, of course, have precedence. Anyone who wishes
to obtain this Aphelandra should hear in mind that
the two names represent one species. — W. G.
Brovyallia elata. — This pretty blue - flowered
annual is very valuable for greeuhouse decoration
during the winter, as the flowers are produced in great
profusion, and supply a colour but little represented
season. For winter blooming the seed should
492
THE GARDEN.
be sown soon after midsummer, and sheltered by a
frame. As soon as tbe yonng plants are well above
gi'onnd plenty of air must be given, the object being
then to encourage as stout and sturdy a gi'owth as
possible. As the pots get full of roots a little liquid
manure occasionally will be of service, and in order to
maintain a succession of blooms throughout the winter
three or four sowings should be made at intervals of
about a fortnight. — H. P.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Stove. — Ixoeas. — These plants produce large quan-
tities of flowers, which are highly effective both on
the plant and when used for cutting. Isoras are
looked upon by some cultivators as difficult to grow.
This is so far a mistake, as when they receive
the treatment they require there are few things that
thrive so fast or that may be relied upon with so
much certainty to yield an abundance of flowers of
a lasting character. The various species in culti-
vation, coming as they mostly do from the hottest
parts of the eastern hemisphere, naturally require a
corresponding amount of artificial heat to grow
them in a way that will show their free-growing
and profuse flowering character. The mistake
usually made in the cultivation of these plants,
through which only indifferent success is attained,
is both in the winter as well as the summer manage-
ment, but more particularly the former, owing to
keeping them too cold and too dry at the roots, as
well as maintaining a drier condition of the atmo-
sphere in the house in which they are grown than
they like or is necessary for stove plants in general.
Through December and January is the period when
Isoras are most at rest, but even during this time
they should be kept slowly growing. If the plants
ever get into a completely stagnant state it takes a
long time to again get them to grow freely. A
night temperature of about 70° is requisite if the
plants are to be well grown, especially in the case of
I. cocoinea and some of the numerous hybrids now
in existence. Even during the time the plants are
making little top growth the soil should not be kept
nearly so dry as required for many things.
RONDELBTIAS. — When Rondeletias are well grown
they will give two crops of flowers during the year.
The plants do not need to be kept nearly so warm
during the winter as Ixoras, an intermediate tem-
perature answering well, but where there are not
the means of thus accommodating them there need
be no hesitation in wintering them in a warm stove.
So treated the plants make some growth in the
winter, which enables them to bloom early enough
in the season to admit of a second crop of flowers
being produced during autumn. Plants that were
cut back after their second blooming will, where
kept warm, have made a little shoot-growth, and
should have enough water at the roots to enable
them to keep growing.
TABEENvBMONTANAa. — The time of flowering
varies with the amount of heat the plants are sub-
jected to. When grown in a warm temperature,
other matters connected with their cultivation being
such as required, they flower early in the season,
giving more or less bloom until far on in autumn.
Medium and full-sized specimens that have flowered
late may now be cut in freely, shortening the
branches well back, so as to keep the plants com-
pact and bushy. If this is not attended to, in a
short time they get too tall, and the branches are
thin and insufficiently furnished with flowering
wood. It is much better to thus reduce the heads
now than in spring, as when the operation is de-
layed it necessarily takes time for the formation of
fresh growth before the plants are in a condition to
bloom. Young plants that were struck from cut-
tings during the past summer should have any
strong shoots that have been formed stopped, so as
to equalise the strength of the branches, for though
the plants will be growing very little, those that are
now regulated in this way will be in better condi-
tion for pushing into free growth later.
Mbdinillas.— These will now be quite at rest,
with the past season's growth hard and well ma-
tured, a condition that is best secured by the plants
having been exposed during the summer to full
light with less shading than is generally given to
[Nov. 26, 1887.
many stove subjects. The soil should be kept as
dry as possible, but without causing the leaves to
get limp, as if this occurs the lower ones often turn
yellow and fall off, though it frequently happens
that the bare, hard wood pushes out numerous
panicles of flowers. The plants should be kept well
up to the roof, so as to be under the influence of all
the light that is available.
HOYAS. — The different kinds of Hoya will now
be in a dormant state. The plants will for some
time require keeping drier at the roots than many
evergreens. They make fewer roots than many
things, and are somewhat impatient of the soil
being wet when there is no growth going on ; this
especially is the case with the small bushy kinds,
as H. bella and H. Pastoni. Do not allow the
plants to be too dry, even during the resting period,
or where the temperature is too low, especially if
they have been grown with a good deal of heat and
moisture.
Hibiscus sinensis. — Pot specimens that have
attained a good size and have flowered through the
autumn will require to have their branchesshortened,
an operation that must be annually atten<led to, as
most of the kinds are free growers, and if the knife
is not sufficiently used the plants become thin.
Before shortening them in, allow the soil to get as dry
as the plant will bear without causing the leaves to
droop ; this is necessary, particularly in the case of
any that may be kept in a somewhat lower tempe-
rature for the time being than they like. Examples
of these Hibiscuses that are planted out and used
for covering back walls require similar cutting in,
or they soon become too full of wood. If the work
is carried out about this time, the plants start into
growth more readily than if cut in later, as the
buds get plump and ready to burst as soon as there
is an increase in the temperature.
Cleaning stove plants. — Where there are
many plants that require more or less artificial heat,
much of the labour expended in their cultivation
consists in the incessant warfare against insects,
which increase in numbers proportionate with the
amount of heat used, especially that worst of all
pests, mealy bug. Where this is allowed to get
numerous it is useless to expect the plants to do
well, as the constant sponging, brushing, and
syringing seriously affect their condition. Where
the specimens are not very large they may more
easily be completely freed from these insects by
careful and persistent dipping, syringing, and
sponging with some or other of the different
Insecticides. Now, when most of the plants are at
rest and others making little growth, and when the
insects increase the least is obviously the best time
to eradicate the pests. Where the collection is
extensive the task is a formidable one ; nothing less
than repeated dipping, syringing, or sponging will
suffice, as, however carefully the work is done at the
first application, some of the insects are sure to
escape. And to get rid of mealy bug more is
required than simply freeing the plants from them,
as when numerous they lodge in the woodwork and
walls, every crevice in both of which must be made
up with putty, paint, and mortar, previous to which
the whole of the woodwork and walls should be
dressed with paraffin, giving a second application
with the oil. Anyone who has had mealy bug to
contend with, and perseveres so as to effect its
complete destruction, will find the labour well spent,
not alone in the reduction of the work attending
the cultivation of the plants, but still more so in
their improved condition. Scale is more easy to
deal with, as it confines its attacks to the plants
alone, not taking up its quarters in the material of
the house.
Gebenhousb.—Cineeaeias.— Plants raised from
the earliest sowing and intended to bloom about
the end of the year will now, if all has gone well,
be pushing up their flower-stems. The soil should
by this time be quite full of roots, so that the plants
will require frequent applications of manure water.
They must not be hurried into flower by the
use of fire-heat, as few things so much dislike
forcing. When subjected to more than an ordinary
greenhouse'temperature the flower-stems are drawn
up so as to make the plants look unsightly, in addi-
tion to which the large leaves at the base, the
presence of which are evidence of a well managed
Cineraria, generally die off or get shabby before the
blooming is over. Plants raised from later sowings
and intended to give a succession of flowers during
the winter and spring months should be kept where
heat can be turned on to exclude frost in the event
of hard weather. Yet tbe stock of Cinerarias
collectively is better for being without fire-heat
further than above indicated, as where artificial
heat is used it unavoidably has the effect of drying up
the atmosphere more than the foliage will bear, es-
pecially if the plants have been well grown, in
which case the ample leaves are more susceptible of
injury from this cause than such as are small and
stunted. T. B.
Books.
THE COMMERCIAL ASPECT OF GRAPE
CULTURE IN 1887. '
Revekting to Barron's recently issued second
edition of " Vines and Vine Culture," my first
business is to advise all readers who are in-
terested in the growth, the sale, or the con-
sumption even of Grapes to make themselves
the possessors of this cheap and valuable
volume. My second effort must be directed to
the selection of matter which may be of use to
friends who, though living at the antipodes,
still read their Garden, and take a lively
interest in our doings. In my previous notice
I stated that I should return to the subject,
notably to that part of the work illustrative of
packing for market, but before I proceed, with-
out detriment to the author, I must first of all
give readers an idea of the enormous quantity
Pig. 34. A handle basket, as used for packing
Grapes for Covent Garden Market.
of Grapes the growers have to dispose of, and
also remind them that next to the actual pro-
duction of the fruit good packing is one of the
most important operations connected with this
great commercial industry. Taking this chapter
scrii(fim, the author at p. 88 says ; —
The extraordinary increase in the cultivation of
Grapes for sale or market purposes, and the rapid
development of the trade in this fruit during the
past few years, is of a very remarkable character.
No fruit has advanced more rapidly in public favour,
or has become so popular as the Grape. A few
years ago Grapes could only be obtained by the
wealthy in small quantities, and at high prices;
now they form a staple article of commerce, and
may be obtained at all seasons and at moderate
prices. As to the causes that have contributed to
this result, we may note the following: 1, the
knowledge of the art of keeping Grapes in bottles ;
2, the introduction into cultivation of good late-
keeping varieties ; and 3, the development of Tomato
cultivation. Extraordinary as it may appear, there
is no doubt but that the great and ever-increasing
popularity of the Tomato — this crop requiring some-
what similar accommodation to Grapes — has enabled
Nov. 2r., 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
493
growers to invest their capital in so much glass,
Tomatoes producing an immediate return for the
outlay whilst the A'ines are becoming established.
Extraordinary indeed, but nevertheless true,
is the fact that the Tomato, now so popular,
has induced a gi'eat number of growers to erect
acres of glass for the cultivation of the Grape,
the Tomato being dropped or relegated to other
structures as soon as the Vines commence
bearing. To this wholesome fruit, to the intro-
duction of late-keeping Grapes, and to bottling
we are partly, if not entirely, indebted to
English and Scotch growers for the 400 tons of
hothouse Grapes which now find their way into
our open markets. Their ultimate destination
and the prices they realise is highly interesting.
Many feared that the enormous increase of the
Grape trade would swamp the market and ruin
the growers. On the contrary, however, more
money in the aggregate is now realised by the
growers than was formerly the case with high
prices. But what aboiit prices ; how do they
run ? The author shall speak for himself.
frequently two-thirds '. Higher prices, we can
bear the author out in saying, are occasionally
received for extra good produce, but having
shown that a fair profit or a serious loss hinge
on good packing, I will pass over soils,
manures, structures, and culture to the
Gkape room, an indispensable structure
often described and illustrated in the pages of
The Garden. All the Grapes, it must be
borne in mind, are not bottled, but
a very great portion of the late Grapes sent to
market are cut and kept in bottles of water, as de-
scribed at p. 05, many of the growers having Grape
rooms erected for that special purpose. One of the
largest and best we have seen is that at Mr. Bash-
ford's, St. Saviour's, which contains, when filled,
10,000 bunches; it is IHG feet long and 20 feet
wide, having four double and two single racks the
entire length of the house. Mr. Kay, of Finohley,
prefers keeping his Grapes on the Vines, shading
the houses with mats and keeping a cool dry atmo-
sphere, if possible without fire heat; in this way
they are kept fresh and plump until the very end
Fig. 33. A flat basket, as used for packing Grapes for Corent Garden Market.
Favoured by Messrs. Webber, he quotes from
their sales-book for 188G the prices obtained for
Grapes received in good condition during that
year.
Per lb.
January ... Best Black 3s. Oi. to Is. Od.
February
March (began)
„ (ended)
April (old) ...
„ (new) ...
4s. Oi.
OS. Od.
93. Od. to 12s. Oi.
;>3. Od. to 123. Od.
lis. Od. to 8s. Od.
May
June
lis. Od.
3s. 6d. to 5s. Od.
July
2s. Od. to 3s. Od.
August
Is. 6d. to 2s. Od.
September , . .
October
Is. 6d. to 2s. I5d.
Is. 6d. to 23. 6d.
November . . .
2j. Od. to 3s. Od.
December
2s. 13d. to 3s. Oi.
These prices, wholesale, as a matter of course,
are for Grapes received in good condition, i.e.,
well grown and well packed. Well packed —
there's "the rub;" for do not these leading
salesmen tell us that common Grapes badly
packed or damaged in transit lose, as a rule,
about one-half their value, whilst "best "lose
of March most successfully, and the Vines do not
suffer when pruned, but start again apparently full
of vigour.
Next as to varieties grown for market, the
chief for early and summer use up to December
is the Hamburgh ; succeeding this is the Gros
Colman. No other Grapes command the market
to the same extent. Lady Downe's Seedling,
formerly a great favourite, is now of little value.
Black Alicante commands a fair price up to a
certain period, and Madresfield Court stands
well as an early variety. Amongst white Grapes
Muscat of Alexandria is first favourite, Foster's
Seedling and Buckland Sweetwater being second.
A few other sorts, notably Gros Maroc, a worthy
companion to Gros Colman, are extensively
grown, but it is only the late keepers that re-
quire bottling.
Packing.— When from two thirds to one-
half value is sometimes, nay, I fear frequently,
lost by bad packing, it at once becomes evident
that a cheap, simple, and expeditious method is
of the first importance,
as the prices that may b: realised greatly depend'
upon the condition in which the fruit is received in
market. An immense quantity of good fruit Is
spoOed in transit through inefficient packing by
amateur cultivators ; regular growers of Grapes for
sale seldom make any mistakes of this sort, but
send their fruit to market in good condition in
baskets specially adapted for this purpose. Of
those used in Covent Garden Market, fig. 33 repre-
sents what is termed a " flat," that is, a tlat hamper
containing a basket in which the Grapes are placed,
this basket being generally known as a " baby "
basket, and such as is used for displaying the Grapes
in shop windows. The Grapes, when cut, are
simply placed in this basket stalk end upwards, a
layer or two of tissue paper being placed over the
bottom, or some soft dry Moss ; cotton wool is ob-
jected to, as being too heating in warm weather,
and it is not so elastic as Moss; this is then placed
in the square shallow hamper, as shown, and the
lid closed down. This mode of packing is used for
transit by rail from places at a distance of about
twenty miles or thereabouts, where the raUway
guards and porters are accustomed to the handling
of the goods by a regular service. Fig. 34 represents
what is termed a " handle basket," recommended by
Mr. Webber as suitable for travelling from gardens
where only the surplus stock is sold and no regular
supply is sent to market. This basket is used for
the transmission of all the Grapes from the Channel
Islands, no packing is ever used beyond a sheet of
paper ; the handle is found useful to lift by, and it
also serves as a guard, preventing any other
packages from being placed upon the Grapes. In
the Channel Islands service, they are packed on the
steamer in layers ten or twelve deep, hurdles being
used to separate them from each other, and are
generally received in excellent condition. They
leave Guernsey by the steamer at about midday,
being delivered in London the same evening, in
time for market the following morning.
N.B. — Never send Grapes to market on Saturday.
These notes have been selected from one
chapter, but when I state that the revised
edition now before me has been greatly enlarged
and contains eighty-six illustrations (two of
which by the kindness of Mr. Barron we here
give), including thirty varieties of Grapes, the
bunches one-third, the berries their natural size,
that the paper and printing are good, and the
cultural directions first-rate, it will at once be
seen that Mr. Barron's book for 5s. is the
cheapest and most exhaustive work of its kind in
any language. W. C.
A MANUAL OF ORCHIDACEOUS PLANTS.*
This, the second part of ^this work by the Messrs.
Veitch, comprises the genera Cattleya, Lselia,
Lseliopsis, Schomburgkia, Sophronitis, and Tetrami-
cra, the latter genus more familiar to Orchid growers
by the name of Leptotes. The work extends to
108 pages, and is accompanied by three coloured
maps showing the geographical distribution of the
plants treated on. The letterpress is also illustrated
by numerous excellent engravings typical of the
groups into which the various species and varieties
are divided. There are full generic and specific
descriptions, conveyed in such language that ama-
teurs and gardeners may readily comprehend,
accompanied by synonyms and references to works
where each kind has been figured. The work also
contains full historical records ; shows the natural
surroundings of each plant in a state of nature ;
gives dates of introduction, and ample cultural
details. This latter subject the authors, from their
long experience with vast quantities of these plants,
are peculiarly qualified to handle, and their instruc-
tions and remarks can be accepted as thoroughly
reliable. The supposed natural hybrids which have
been introduced, as well as the garden hybrids, are
severally grouped by themselves in alphabetical
order. It is well printed on excellent paper, and
* " A Manual of Orchidaceous Plants cultivated
under glass in Great Britain." Part II. By Messrs.
Veitch and Sons, Royal Exotic Nursery, King's Koad,
Chelsea. PoUett & Co., Pann Street, London. _ .
494
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 26, 1887.
contains a capital index, and is, without doubt, the
most valuable and comprehensive contribution to
our Orchid lore that has hitherto been published in
this country. W. H. G.
Kitchen Garden.
W. WILDSMITH.
KITCHEN GAEDEN NOTES.
Neatness. — These notes are written from the
standpoint of what is deemed desirable in a private
garden, without reference to cost. This point,
however, I do not at this time propose to discuss
further than to say that neatness in the roughest
work is not incompatible with economy if the will
to attempt its performance on these lines be present.
Our kitchen garden is surrounded with trees, and
what with leaves falling and decaying vegetable
refuse the aspect presented has been anything but
pleasant to those desiring neatness. The late
severe frosts have, however, given the finishing
stroke to the leaves, and the work of clearing them
up has occupied our kitchen garden hands the
greater part of the week.
Asparagus beds. — On the mornings of the Ifith
and 17th inst. we registered 13° and 15° of frost,
just what was required to enable us to wheel ma-
nure on to Asparagus and Strawberry plots. The
former are now well mulched for the winter, and in
spring the manure will, by the action of frost, have
become reduced to a powder, when a rake over and
the application of any spare soil there may be on
hand will keep the plants in vigorous growth
throughout the summer.
Globe Artichokes, &c. — The dry frost has been
favourable to the work of protecting these; they
will winter without this attention, but more than
12" cripples them seriously, and, therefore, we
always protect the plants either with leaves or long
litter, working the material well amongst the leaves
to a height of about 2 feet. If leaves are used it is
desirable to finish up with some long litter to pre-
vent the leaves being blown about. As we prefer
to winter Jerusalem Artichokes in the ground, be-
cause deterioration of quality takes place when
they are housed after the manner of Potatoes, it is
necessary to give the ground a coating of litter,
which serves two purposes, namely, that of protect-
ing the tubers frotu injury by frost, and being able
to dig up a dish if wanted in frosty weather. '^Roots
of Rhubarb, if likely to be wanted for forcing, we
serve in the same way ; as also Horse Radish, Par-
snips, and summer-sown Carrots, that we always
send to the kitchen as new Carrots till those shortly
to be sown in frames are ready.
General work. — To lift or otherwise protect
the heads of Broccoli as soon as the leaves round
the head of the fiower fail to do this. The entire
stock should be looked over with this intent at
least twice a week. Cauliflower and Lettuce plants
in frames and hand-lights, so long as frost lasts,
should be kept closed up, and coverings for glass
are needed when the temperature sinks lower than
25°. To prevent damping o£E of Lettuce and Endive
in frames, it is necessary to air freely whenever
weather conditions admit of it, and it is well to re-
member that by exclusion of frost, the first great
cause of damping at this season is prevented. The
present is a most trying time for French Beans
planted out in pits. To keep them in good bearing
condition, the temperature ought never to be less
than 65°, and 75"^ when the outside temperature is
above freezing point. Successional crops that it
may be intended to have ought now to be sown
and grown in pots ; they can then be conveniently
moved from one place to another, according to the
circumstances and requirements of the plants. We
have now potted and placed for forcing in the leaf
stack a second batch of Seakale roots. Strong crowns
are essential if Kale worthy ot the name is wished
for; hence if home-grown crowns are not>up to the
mark, it is good policy to defer lifting till next
year and buy a supply of stronger roots, which may
be had at a cheap rate of any respectable seedsman
or grower for market. When through bad weather
indoor work becomes a necessity, root stores and
particularly Potatoes, should be examined, bad tubers
removed, and those intended for seed belaid as thin
on the shelves or floors as space will admit of.
Peas, Blue Boilers. — This is a section of Peas
devoted to a particular use, of which the dwellers
in the south are comparatively ignorant. The
county of Lincolnshire is one in which both garden
and field Peas are very largely grown, but princi-
pally those known as Blue Boilers. They are of
the Blue Imperial and Harrison's Glory type, and
are used for boiling in a dry state. I mean in that
state in which they are sold for sowing purposes,
and they are principally consumed in the manufac-
turing districts of Lancashire and Yorkshire, in the
north of England, and Scotland. When used as an
article of food, the Peas are soaked for twenty-four
hours in water, then boiled and served up in the
same way as green Peas. Dry Peas will swell to a
large size when soaked in water for some hours.
Let anyone try the experiment with the smallest
sized wrinkled marrow Pea he is acquainted with,
and if the Peas are soaked for twenty-four hours
they will swell out largely and become perfectly
round, and retain their size after they are boiled. But
it is not all varieties of Peas that make good boilers.
The wholesale seedsmen when they have an accumula-
tion of old Peas, the growths of which are uncertain,
have them boiled, and if they prove good boilers
they are converted into split Peas. If they do not
boil well, then they are sold for cattle and poultry
food. The Blue Boilers are retailed mainly at fairs
and markets by itinerant dealers, and they are very
largely used as winter food by the working classes.
— R. D.
Autumn Cauliflowers. — Since the drought
broke up Cauliflowers have made rapid progress,
and are now being supplied in excellent condition
by market growers. The Autumn Giant is the
greatest favourite, as it is a strong grower and pro-
duces splendid firm, white heads. The routine of
culture is simple, viz.: seed is sown in open-air
beds in Marcli and April, and as soon as the plants
are large enough they are planted out on well en-
riched soil in open fields about 2^ feet apart each
way, and well supplied with sewage or water until
they get established. It is surprising how rich soil
full of manure holds the moisture, even while crops
on poor soil side by side are perishing from drought.
The soil is frequently stirred with the horse hoe
until the leaves spread too far, after which
weeds do not make much headway, as the leaf
growth is too dense, and from September until
Christmas a full supply of this valuable crop is
secured. If early frosts prevail the leaves are
either tied up over the heads or they are broken
down, so as to shelter the flower head and keep it
perfectly white and sound. Early London Cauli-
flower is as good for late as for early crops,
and if planted out and treated like the Giant, it
makes short, stocky plants with more abundant
foliage and of a more protecting habit of growth.
Although none of the true Cauliflowers will stand
severe frost, they are not injured in ordinary seasons
on the south coast before December, when the rem-
nant of the crop is lifted and replanted in any
empty pits or frames, or on the floors of cold houses,
where the Caulifiowers continue to yield a supply
until after Christmas, when Snow's and other early
winter Broccoli are coming into use. — J. G., Hants.
SHORT NOTES.— KITCHEN.
"Well-grown Endive. — I have taken the liberty
to forward you a sample of the broad-leaved Batavian
Endive and the green curled Endive. Of late years I
have grown all the varieties of Endive, hut to carry
one safely through the winter there are no varieties to
equal the two mentioned. I always blauoh tlie plauts
iu the Mushroom house, putting in from fifty to 100
heads every week. Lettuces are tied up and stored
away in pits. — Richard Nisbet, Aswarhy Parle Qar-
dens, Lincoln.
"Vegetables in trenches. — In growing vege-
tables in trenches many growers fall into the error
of making tliem far too deep. I lately saw trenches
for Celery and Leeks that had been taken out
between 2 feet and 3 feet deep, and the crops were
wretched, for all the good soil was piled up in
ridges while the roots were struggling for existence
in hard soil that had never been broken up.
Trenches if used of moderate depth are valuable
aids to the kitchen gardener, but even for Celery
they need not be more than 1 foot deep, as plenty
of soil for moulding it up for blanching to any
desired height is procurable between the rows. For
summer crops, such as runner Beans, Peas, or
Cauliflowers, a trench G inches below the ordinary
level is sufficient to retain the water that is arti-
ficially supplied to the roots, and if a good mulching
of manure is spread on each side of the trench the
severest drought may be defied, provided the supply
of water is sufiicient. For winter crops these deep
trenches are unsuitable, as they retain all the rain
that falls on the sides, and the crops are completely
water-logged. I would advise all amateurs to
avoid deep trenches, and to get their Celery or
Leeks moulded up to the level of the soil before
the heavy autumn rains come on, otherwise these
vegetables may keep very badly. Although plenty
of moisture is essential to its growth early in the
season, it is safest to guard against stagnant water
in the trenches when winter sets in. — J. G.
— Ed,
»* Well-grown plants, showing skUful culture.
IN A MARKET ORCHARD.
In The Garden, Nov. 5 (p. 412), "A. D." very
correctly describes the ordinary market orchard,
and I think we shall not have far to seek for the
cause of English or home-grown fruit too often
taking the second place in the market. It has been
amply demonstrated that the best Apples and Pears
can be grown in this country ; but how is it that
but little first-class fruit is always being put on the
market ? Simply because the trees are crowded
above ground and starved at the roots. It is quite
impossible to grow two good crops on a piece of
land that can only support one. "A. D." says
that in looking for his friend who was gather-
ing Apples he had great difliculty in finding
him from the dense growth of bush fruits
under the trees. I have no hesitation whatever in
afiirming that for every shilling's-worth of bush
fruit gathered from this orchard quite double that
value was taken off the Apple trees growing over-
head. Bush fruits are such gross feeders and strong
rooters, that they will live and thrive while larger
trees with less feeding roots will languish and
starve. If anyone is sceptical on this matter he
can easily p'ut it to the test by giving a trial to a
small space. I have tried it on more than one
occasion, and can testify that the trees were more
profitable without than with the bushes, and I feel
sure that anyone giving the plan a fair trial will
soon be of the same opinion. It is altogether
different with young orchards, in which the trees
do not occupy half the space, for then it would be
waste to let the intermediate space lie idle ; but
after the tops of the trees meet, the bushes should
be grubbed up and burnt and the ashes spread over
the soil, after which a good dressing of manure
should be given, and some less exhausting crop
than bush fruits planted. It is impossible to say
what will be the most suitable crop, as that will
depend on the locality and the demand.
If cut flowers are in request, there is nothing
yields a better return. Bulbous plants are well
suited for planting under partial shade, and now
that there is such a demand for Daffodils, Narcissi,
Jonquils, and similar flowers, they may be very
profitably grown in such a position as an under-
growth for cultivated orchards. Then there are
Violets, and countless other things that may be
grown most successfully in the same way. Even if
the surface is left bare, I feel sure that well-grown
fruit trees will pay better without than with the
bushes. My own experience is that bush fruits are
getting overdone, and the margin for profit, after
allowing for all expenses of cultivation, marketing,
&c., is very small; while for good Apples and
Nov. 26, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
495
Pears the chances of obtaining a good profit are far
brighter. Second-rate, specked, small fruit will not
pay at all, and the only way to get good clean fruit
is to feed the trees liber.ally and let them have the
undisputed possession of the soil. I am well aware
of the heavy rents, rates, &c., that market cultiva-
tors have to contend with, for in few places are
they heavier than here. Having tried the crowding
system as well as the ample room one, I can safely
say that it is to the latter that market growers
must look for the best results. As regards thinning
the heads of the trees, great caution is necessary,
for a tree that has been allowed to run wild for
many years is more often injured than improved by
anything like a good thinning out. I would suggest
that at first only the centres of the trees be cleared
of small, useless spray, and no large limbs cut ofiE
on any account. Although trees that have been
annually pruned ever since they were planted are
certainly benefited by the operation, those that
have never been so treated show a decided aversion
to the saw and pruning-knife. A little and often are
safer maxims for orchard pruning than any more
radical measures. Clear the stem and branches of
parasitic growth, and if any insect pests exist, dress
with paraffin while the buds are dormant, and a
marked improvement will soon be found in the
quality of the fruit. . J. GROOM.
Gosjmrt.
Trees and Shrubs.
TWO BEAUTIFUL IVIES.
It is, I suppose, due to the fickleness of fashion
that the best of the varieties of the Ivy are
seldom seeu, though the English and Irish
forms are universally admired and cultivated in
all gardens worthy of the name. Although
these two Ivies are entitled to the consideration
they receive, there are other forms, and many of
them that would, if generally known, create
quite as much interest and give more beauty to
the garden. The English Ivy has many varieties,
and I have no wish to despise the parent plant,
which carpets many a country bank, and clothes
many a dark, damp spot in the garden that
would go bare witliout its cheerful covering of
green, now almost purple,^ small veined leaves.
The English Ivy, however, like many of its
forms, is hard to grow in some places, though at
all times hard to kUl. I have seen it under
several conditions, and nowhere better than on
a shady bank or on a damp wall, where it sel-
dom receives a ray of sunshine, but rejoices in
a moist soU. In cold, bleak positions, or in full
exposure to dry, cutting winds, or in full blaze
of the sun, the Ivy never thrives to perfection,
and it is through ignorance of its likes and dis-
likes, and through the mistaken notion that it
will live in any soil, that there are such starved,
ill-grown specimens. I remember once collect-
ing the English Ivy from the hedgerow in the
spring, and planting it carefully in a draughty
position, but not with full exposure to the sun.
The plants, however, never throve, though they
received the most careful attention as to water-
ing in summer and cutting down to induce
stronger growth, simply because the bleak as-
pect was unnatural, as the Ivy of the hedgerow
is generally, if not always, found under the
shade of trees, or creeping amongst grassy tufts
by wayside banks. The reason the outline
of this trextment is given is to show that the
Ivy will not grow under any condition, but re-
quires good cultivation to ensure healthy and
abundant foliage.
There are two Ivie? that I strongly recom-
mend as deserving luiiversal culture, and these
are Emerald Gem and maderiensis variegata,
both distinct, free-growing, and effective va-
rieties. From a large collection I have singled
these out as the very best for general pur-
poses, though, of course, there are others pos
sessing as unique characters, but which will be
more highly prized by the specialist than the
amateur. The nomenclature of this class
proverbially mixed, and Emerald Gem has other
names besides this, frequently being designated
Emerald Green. It belongs to the Irish section,
and has larger leaves than the type, these show-
ing are freshing green surface, with a trace
of blue. Not only does it cover a wall with a
breadth of greenery in a comparatively short
time, but it is one of the hardiest of all, and
with a few days' mild weather after the severity
of winter, oonuiienoes new growth. I remember
planting tliis Ivy near a porch in a jiosition not
especially favourable, and though of the same
size as many others planted on the very day, it
soon made headway, quickly reaching the top of
the porch, while others had a hard struggle for
existence. The growth is dense, and requires
no naUing after the first start, as it clings closely
to the wall. Cuttings may be readily struck in
the early autumn from the small shoots that are
not required, and care must be taken not to
remove those that hide a naked stem.
To give variety, and as a companion to
Emerald Gem, H. maderiensis variegata will be
found useful. This, for brightness of varie-
gation and hardihood, is perhaps the finest of
all. There are seve:-al variegated varieties, but
some are so weakly in constitution as to be
useless for the quick covering of a wall. I
once planted one in a capital position, and
gave the plant a good loamy soil to grow in,
but it failed to thrive, and was therefore
pulled up and something better substituted.
Maderiensis variegata has large leaves, abun-
dantly produced, and brightly variegated with
white. If there is any amateur or gardener
troubled with an ugly wall let him try this, and,
provided the situation is not too bleak and
cold, it will soon prove a handsome covering.
A narrow border of this and Emerald Gem
would create an interesting and distinct feature
in the garden. Tlie green-leaved Ivy could be
used for the wall, and as a groimdwork the
variegated variety. At the edge place small
hoops, like those used for croquet, and train
the stems over them, then the bright variega-
tion will be displayed better than on the surface
of the soil. 1 saw such an arrangement as this
the other day, and considered it a novelty, for
which gardeners, as well as other classes, are
always craving.
Remember when growing the Ivy for the first
time to plant well-established pieces, not miser-
able scraps, which take a long time to make
headway, and in nine cases out of ten never
grow at all. E. C.
The Blue Spruce. — I am reminded that in my
note about the Blue Spruce, October 29 (p. 403), I
made a blunder about the name ; I called it A. En-
gelmanni glauca, whereas the genuine Blue Spruce
is Abies Parryana glauca. 1 made my note at
Knap Hill, forgetting at the time that Mr. Anthony
Waterer repudiates the name Engelmanni glauca for
the Blue Spruce, or rather what should be more
correctly called the Silver Spruce. There are two
Spruces somewhat resembling each other, but
quite distinct. One at Knap Hill is called A.
Parryana, and the glaucous form of this is called
A. Parryana glauca. The other Spruce is called
A. Engelmanni, and of this also there is a glaucous
variety, but very much inferior to Parryana glauca,
which, as I said previously, looks like a pyramid of
frosted silver. Parry's Blue Spruce, therefore, is
the genuine, and is more valuable than Engelman's.
It is pardonable to make a mistake in the names of
these Spruces, seeing that their nomenclature is
perplexing among the authorities on Coniferte. For
instance, in Veitch's Manual, A. Engelmanni is
stated to be synonymous with A. Parryana, Picea
pungens, and Pinus commutata of Parlatore, and
these names are all to be found in some nurseries
represented by the same plant. Gordon in his
"Pinetum " does not mention A. Parryana, and gives
A. Engelmanni as a synonym of A. commutata of
Parlatore. That there are two distinct Spruces at
Knap Hill bearing the names Parryana and Engel-
manni is apparent to everyone, and the former is
said to be the hardiest, and likely to prove one of
the handsomest and most valuable of all ornamental
Spruces. — W. G.
THE CRIMEAN LIME.
(TILIA I'ETIOLARIS.)
Of all the Limes this one is, I consider, the hand-
somest, being very fine in foliage and extremely
graceful in growth. It is the same as the Lime
known in nurseries as T. americana pendula, but as
it is a native of Eastern Europe and not of America,
this name is misleading. It is not an old tree,
as Loudon states that in 1838 it was not known
in England, though it was cultivated in the gardens
at Odessa at that time. It was then considered to
be only a variety of the Hungarian Lime, T. alba, or
T. argentea, as it is also called, which is the only other
silver-leaved Lime. T. petiolaris is distinct from
it, and no one could mistake the one for the other
after they had seen both, despite their similarity of
leaves, both having the under surfaces of silvery
whiteness. But the common white Lime is erect in
growth and its twigs always point upwards ; whereas
every branch and twig of T. petiolaris are pendulous
and hang equally on all sides of the tree in a most
elegant manner. In T. alba the silvery surfaces of
the leaves are only seeu when upturned by the
wind, but in many others the leaves are twisted so
as to show the silvery sides at all times, and when
stirred by a breeze the whole tree is as silvery as
the Abele. One might call the Crimean Lime a
weeping tree in the truest sense, and now that the
leaves are off, one can see the graceful outline of
its head and weeping branches more so than in
summer. It is a strong grower, and seems to grow
rapidly even on light, poor soils ; whereas T. alba
does not thrive well except in pretty good soil.
Nurserymen ought to pay more attention in work-
ing up stocks of this fine tree, for when its merits
become better known there will undoubtedly be a
demand for it. In some of the best nurseries good-
sized trees may be bought, but it is not grown
in quantity, as the common and other Limes are.
There are some good medium-sized trees of it at
Kew, where it grows to perfection on a dry, gravelly
soil, and it was remarkable that through all the
drought of the past summer its leaves kept their
deep green appearance, and showed not the least
tendency to change colour, as did all the other
Limes ; and young trees of it in the collection of
Limes were conspicuous for their luxuriant verdure.
The finest Crimean Lime I know, and which is pro-
bably the finest in the country, is that growing in
Mr. Maurice Young's nursery at Milford, Godalming,
and it is most likely one of the first planted in this
country, for the Milford Arboretum was even fifty
years ago one of the most celebrated in England.
This specimen is some 60 feet in height, and has a
diameter of stem at breast high of about 18 inches.
It has the characteristic dense head of the species,
and is as stately as it is graceful. It stands by
itself, so that it has had plenty of space to develop.
The sight of this Lime would be sufficient to recom-
mend it to everyone who takes an interest in trees.
Taking into consideration every point of this Tilia,
it is not too much to say that it is one of the most
valuable ornamental trees we have. W. G.
Siberian Crabs give colour to the garden now,
as the fruits are of the most brilliant red and, hang-
ing from the leafless branches, make a cheerful
■low, especially when the sun shines direct upon
the tree. There is a specimen at Kew in a shrub-
bery, and at the present season, when the foliage
has fallen, it is one of the most beautiful features of
the garden. It is surprising that trees of such
elegant spreading growth and beautiful character
496
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 26, 1887.
as the Siberian Crabs are not more frequently intro-
duced into our gardens. Tliey would make excel-
lent trees for skirting a spacious lawn, or isolated
in a position where their free growth would not be
interfered with. We have many things of this
character that are not appreciated half so much as
one would expect. At any rate, the Siberian Crabs
come into the category of beautiful garden trees.
They are pretty when first budding into growth in
spring, and throughout the year display characters
both ornamental and elegant.
The Garland Flower (Daphne Cneorum) is
usually considered difficult to grow well, or even to
keep alive; therefore when one sees it growing
" like a weed," a note should be made of the condi-
tions under which it is growing so luxuriantly. In
Messrs. Bunyard's nursery, Maidstone, I saw the
other day a quantity of this charming little ever-
green shrub growing as vigorously as one could
wish to see it, and, moreover, in bloom. The plants
formed quite a dense carpet of foliage, although
they had been transplanted a year or two ago. The
position is high and completely exposed; the soil
is well drained and a deep sandy loam, into which
the roots of the Daphne penetrate deeply. The
mistake is too often made of planting it in a hungry
peat soil, though sometimes it will thrive in this.
The pretty rosy-pink colour of its flowers and their
delicious fragrance make it a most enviable plant,
but many give it up in despair after the first at-
tempt to grow it. It is in flower now, but is best
in April and May. — W. G.
Autumn colouring. — I was interested in
" B. C. R.'s " remarks upon this in Thb Garden,
Nov. 19 (p. 471), as the ground he speaks of is very
familiar, and from Swansea to Reading, rin Severn
Tunnel, a great many phases of tree growth are to
be seen. I notice, however, that " B. C. E." believes
that the first slight frost produces the beautiful tints
of which he speaks. My observations during the last
and the present autumn lead me to doubt this. It
will be remembered that we, this season, had some
sharp frosts very early in the autumn, and after this
some weeks of mild, open weather. As a result of
these frosts, if the old theory was right, one might
have expected an immediate change in leaf colour-
ing. This did not happen, as the only apparent
effect of the sharp nights was to shrivel the
leaves where the frost was most severe. It was, at
the least, a fortnight after this before any general
change of colour tcok place, the weather at the
time being, as 1 have said, comparatively mild. The
same change took place last season when there was
little or no frost.— D. J. Y.
SHORT NOTES.— TREES AND SHRUBS.
Large Spanish Chestnut. — A few miles from
Nantes the largest Spanish Chestnut known, I believe,
exists. The trunk is 4(; feet in circumference, and the
treehasheenkuownforsix centuries. It will accommo-
date six persons at breakfast inside the trunk. I am
afraid it will not last long now, as it has been very
much mutilated lately.— D. Gi'iheneuf, Nantes.
Vaceiniums in autumn. — Some of the
deciduous Vaceiniums furnish about the brightest
hits of autumn leafage that are to be found, for the
decaying foliage assumes a rich crimson-scarlet hue
that renders it very conspicuous. When in rather an
elevated position and lit up by the rays of the autumnal
sun their prominent characteristics are then seen to
the gi-eatest possible advantage. — T.
Rhododendron Nobleanum was in flower
with us in the open in the middle of November. This
is the earliest date on which I have known it to
blossom. I never recollect having seen it in flower
before the beginning of January. This does not apply
to one plant, but to three, all of which are growing in
diffei'ent aspects. Tlie cause of its flowering so early
is, no doubt, to be attributed to the hot, dry summer,
which caused the flower-buds to mature earlier than
usual. — J. C. C.
The Wych Hazel (Hamamelis virgiaica) is the
last flowering shrub of the year. It is in bloom now
at Kew, and has been for some time past. There is
not much to be said about it, because it is not a shrub
for every garden. Those who lUce curious things,
whether showy or not, would perhaps plant it. It is
a dense branching shrub, and with leaves Hke those of
the Hazel, and with singular flowers, having nan'ow
curly petals of a pale yellow colour. It is not nearly
so beautiful as H. japonica. — W. G.
Bronze-leaved Sycamore. — This is rather a
new kind of Sycamore called Worieyi, and is with-
out question a " good thing." The foliage is of a
pale yellow, and in spring, when newly expanded,
it is very striking when seen associated with the
Purple-leaved and common Sycamore. It is thought
a good deal of in the Knap Hill Nurseries, evidence
of which may be seen in the large quantity of fine
trees of it already. — W. G.
Ferns.
W. H. GOWER.
NOTHOCHL.ENA DISTANS.
This appears to be a common Fern in Western
Australia, New Zealand,' and New Caledonia,
whilst it is, at the same time, the only repre-
Nothochla3na distaus.
sentative of the genus in New Zealand. It
appears to vary much in size, as I have now
before me specimens from ISew Caledonia, dense
tufts with hairy fronds not more than 2 inches
high, whilst otliers from New Zealand measure
upwards of 10 inches ; under cultivation, how-
ever, I have never seen it more than about
G inches. The rhizome is short and stout,
either prostrate or sub-erect ; fronds tufted,
linear-oblong in outline, twice divided, bright
green on the upper side, the whole of the under
side being densely clothed with chaffy, hairy,
ferrugineous scales, which extend beyond the
margins of the pinnas, and add materially to
the beauty of the plant. It is an evergreen
greenhouse Fern, which should be grown in
poor stony soil, in a somewhat small pot, and
placed in such a position that its fronds are not
Subjected to sprinklings of water from the
syringe during the winter mouths. It enjoys a
copious supply of water, which, however, should
rapidly trickle away from its roots. Thus
treated, it forms an elegant little specimen for
the greenhouse. It may also be utUised for
adorning jutting prominences in a Wardian
case where the above-named requirements can
be provided. Although introduced to this
country upwards of sixty years ago, this species
has never been plentiful, and upon several
occasions I have seen the South African N. pro-
fusa doing duty for it, the latter plant in its
young state being somewhat similar to N.
distans.
Two good basket Ferns (Goniophlebium ap-
pendiculatum and G. loriceum). — The first-named
is a native of Venezuela and Mexico, and may be
grown in either a warm or cool fernery. The fronds
are oblong in outline, deeply pinnatifid, a foot or
more long, and from 4 inches to 5 inches wide.
When young, the fronds are of a rich vinous crim-
son, which changes with age to a pale green, except
the rachis and veins, which retain their deep crim-
son colour. When grown in a warm house the
colour is most intense, but in any situation it is an
extremely handsome plant. G. loriceum is similar
in habit to the preceding, and is a native of Tropi-
cal America. The fronds, produced from a stout,
creeping rhizome, are oblong-lanceolate in outline,
deeply pinnatifid, from 1 foot to 2 feet or more
long, and from 6 inches to 9 inches broad, pendent,
and dull green in colour. The sori are yellow, freely
produced on the under side. These plants are ex-
cellent subjects for large hanging baskets, but they
should not have a large quantity of soil about them;
Fine examples of these Ferns are now to be seen in
the Fern house at Kew.
Nephrolepis rufescens tripinnatifida. — This
form of the species has been iutroduced from the
Fiji Islands by the Messrs. Veitch, of Chelsea, and
is not only the most beautiful member of the genus
yet introduced to cultivation, but is certainly one of
the most beautiful of all Ferns ; the fronds, some 2
feet or 3 feet long, are three times divided ; the very
dense segments are beautifully arched and plume-
like, reminding one of the fronds of Todea superba
in appearance. It appears to be a free growing plant,
and may be used with advantage either in a hang-
ing basket, or as a pot specimen, or for scrambling
amongst rockwork in a naturally constructed fernery.
In this latter situation the majority of the Nephro-
lepis thrive admirably, and produce a grand effect.
Treated as a basket plant, I recently noted this
plant growing freely in the Fern collection at Kew.
Propagating.
Desmodidm pendulifloedm. — This pretty
autumn-flowering shrub may be propagated by
cuttings of the roots if put into sandy soil and
sheltered by a frame, but where only two or three
plants are required and there is an established
specimen at hand it is often possible to divide it
into three or four well-rooted portions, each, in fact,
a plant in itself. Where this cannot be done, some
of the small-rooted shoots towards the exterior of
the plant may be taken off, and if placed under
favourable conditions, they will, on the return of
spring, grow away freely.
Tree Carnations. — To obtain those beautiful
flowering specimens of these plants that one meets
with at this season they must be struck early in
the year, and this fact should be borne in mind as
the plants go out of flower, for the best cuttings
are furnished by those that are now in bloom.
When their flowers are over those intended for
stock must not be placed anywhere out of the
way, but in such a position that their growing
shoots will remain stout and sturdy, otherwise an
attenuated growth will be the result, and the vigour
of the future plants thereby impaired.
Anomatheca crubnta. — This pretty little
South African bulbous plant recently alluded to in
Nov. 26, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
497
The Garden is remarkably easy to increase, for
not only can it be propagated by division, but the
seed ripens readily even if the plants are turned out
of doors after flowering. 'We grow this Anomatheca
in pans for greenhouse decoration, and after the
blossoms are past the plants are stood outside
under the shelter of a south waU to ripen the bulbs,
when under the summer's sun the seed is soon fit to
gather. It may be sown at once, or kept till the
early part of the new year. In either case pans of
light loamy soil should be used, and care should be
taken not to cover the seed too deeply. By sowing
in the early part of February I get plants to
bloom the same season. The seeds are placed in a
gentle heat (under the same conditions as tuberous
Begonias), and when large enough are either
potted six or eight in a 5-inch pot or pricked off
into pans. In either case they are, as soon as suffi-
ciently advanced, shifted into the greenhouse in
order to encourage as sturdy a growth as possible.
T.
NOTES FROM SUFFOLK.
Have any readers of The Garden remarked on
the somewhat, I believe, unusual formation and
ripening of seed-pods or berries on plants, trees,
and bushes wHoh rarely fruit here ? To name a
few : seeds have ripened on the Magnolia pur-
purea ; on the Deutzia and Box trees ; and
glaucous cones relieve the sombre foliage of the
Cedar of Lebanon. It may be in this latter in-
stance that the age of the tree had some in-
fluence on its fruit-bearing, but I was told by
an observer that she had known the tree for
twenty years, and had never seen cones on it
before. Hereabouts the Almond tree bears
every year a more or less plentiful crop of nuts,
but the shells are very hard and the kernels
sUghtly bitter.
Only a few weeks since the cottage gardens
were bright with flowers ; now there is scarcely
a Chrysanthemum to brighten the chUl, short
days of November. Yet it is pleasant to dwell
on the memories of floral beauty ; and driving
through a neighbouring village last month I
noted a pretty method of growing Fuchsias com-
mon enough abroad or in conservatories, but
rarely practised in humble gardens in England.
I mean trained standard Fuchsias grown in in-
verted umbrella shape, a form peculiarly adapted
to the graceful pendent flowers. In Belgium,
Holland, France, and Germany trained speci-
mens of difierent shrubs are no rarities when
Nature is not too cruelly curtailed, but only
"mended." The prettily trained plants which
exhibit not only their own beauty, but the deft
skill of the gardener are surely most desirable.
I have seen a beautiful back line to a border of
white standard Roses alternated by standard
Heliotropes, and the efl'ect was charming. At
Cologne, rows of standard trained Roses fes-
tooned by Maurandia, which, twisted round
wire or string, formed pretty garlands of lilac
flowers.
But though an advocate for trained plants, I
do not favour trained flowers. Is it as desir-
able, as it is allowable, to curl and corkscrew
the soft petals of the Japanese Chrysanthemum
tUl the flower looks like the glorified present-
ment of a ham or lamb ornament ? I have seen
the guard petals of an Anemone Chrysanthemum
made to close in, veiling thus the pretty if for-
mal florets of the centre of the flower.
There is another subject I should like treated
of in The Garden, viz., the advisability of
spring shows. Never are flowers so welcome to
dwellers in towns, and, I might add, in country,
too, as when, stern winter having passed away,
the sun summons the bright-hued sleeping
beauties of the hedgerows, waking them to life
and beauty. Of these, in all flower-loving
localities, the horticultural societies should
make high festival, inviting to exhibitions the
sweet short-lived belles of spring, which are too
numerous to name in full, but grant me space
to plead for a few — Auriculas, Primroses, Cy-
clamens, Anemones, Hyacinths, Narcissi,
Cinerarias, Azaleas, &c. As matters are at
present, half the pleasure of garden growth is
lost to provincial residents, and "full many a
flower is born to blush unseen."
SUFFOLKIAN.
Chrysanthemums.
E. MOLTNETJX.
PROMISING NEW VARIETIES.
MoNS. H. Elliott. — A Japanese variety with
ribbon-shaped petals, which are long and pointed.
The centre half of the petals is of a rich orange-
brown, while the remainder is much lighter in
colour. The points are tipped with pale gold or
primrose. A full flower, and a promising variety.
MaesA. — A full, solid Japanese flower above
medium size ; lower half of petals purple-magenta,
shading to a lighter colour toward the centre of the
flower, where the florets are splashed with light
purple, each one being tipped white.
Agnes Flight. — This variety is best described
as a white Agr^ments de la Nature ; the petals are
long and thread-like, pure white. A promising
variety.
L'Oe du Japon. — Japanese ; large, bold flower'
with long, flat, horizontal-formed florets ; golden
bronze in colour.
Sarah Owen. — A Japanese sport from Mme.
Laing, which has appeared in three places this
season. It is more after the style of Criterion in
form than its parent, except that the petals are
broader than in Criterion. It is a rich golden
amber, and promises to be a full, bold flower.
Sam Henshaw may not be a new variety, but it
is not grown nearly so much as its merits deserve.
It is a full, bold flower of the Comte de Germiny
type, diilering from that variety in colour, which is
a shade lighter than that of Mme. C. Audiguier.
Don Quixote is Japanese in form ; the drooping
florets are silvery rose, speckled over the surface
with a deeper tint ; each floret tipped white, the
reverse violet ; a full, solid flower.
Stanstbad White is white with an ivory shade.
The outer florets are quilled, while the centre ones
incurve at the points, which are broad, thus giving
the flower a neat, full appearance. It is quite dis-
tinct in form from any other variety, the habit of
growth being strong, though not taU.
Mrs. M. Russell Is a sport from Mme. Goderaux,
which it resembles in every way, except in colour.
The centre of the flower is pale yellow, with sulphur-
coloured guard petals. A promising Anemone va-
riety.
Mrs. Burrell is a sulphur-coloured sport from
that early-flowering variety Mme. C. Desgrange. It
is remarkably dwarf, free-flowering even in small
pots, and is a capital variety for supplying out flowers
early in the season.
Charles Gibson. — Since writing my notes on
the new varieties of Chrysanthemums, I have seen
flowers of this new incurved variety, which pro-
mises to be a decided acquisition both to the exhi-
bitor and to those persons interested in the growth
of late-flowering Chrysanthemums. The name
undoubtedly is most familiar to all Chrysanthemum
growers, and I trust the new flower will prove
worthy of its name. The colour is a rich bronze, and
the petals are well incurved, as in the case of Prin-
cess Teck, from which it is a sport.
to the dryness of the past summer. In shape and general
expression it is the exact counterpart of the type.
Chrysanthemums Thunberg and Queen of
England. — Mr. J. Hudson, of Guunersbury House, has
sent us two splendid blooms of these popular exhibition
varieties. Both were of solid character, full, finely
coloured, and showing cultural skiU of a high order.
SHOMT NOTES— CHB TSANTHEMUMS.
Chrysanthemum Yellow Ethel.— We have
none too many really late Chrysanthemums, but this
is a most valuable acquisition to the list, as it is of a
clear bright yellow colour that wiU please many. It is
POMPON CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
Chrysanthemum fanciers seem to centre their
thoughts chiefly on the large-flowered sections, and
we constantly hear about them, but there can be
found in the small-flowered or Pompon section so
many charming forms, that a word in their favour
now and then seems necessary. At the Ealing
autumn show held on the 16th inst., four dozen
bunches of blooms were staged in one class, and all
of more than ordinary excellence ; indeed, at no
other of the suburban shows have I seen better.
There is a special class for bunches unthinned, but
in this case all the flowers had been thinned to one
only on a stem, with the result that the blooms
were fine and very perfectly developed. Of the
four dozen bunches, two were Anemone-flowered
varieties, and as there was a special class for
these, they should have in this case been omitted.
As it was, out of the forty-six bunches of really
Pompon forms, no less than twenty-five were
diverse, and that is probably more than could
have been found in any four dozens in any other
class. There is in some sorts a tendency to
become large, which is not desirable ; this fault
is especially seen in Perle des Beaut(5s, which may
be termed a small CuUingfordi, yet a large Pom-
pon. Very different, because having erect petals, is
Fremy, golden bronze, but also rather too large.
Still, these two can hardly be omitted from any
selected twelve varieties. The golden and the
white Mile. Marthe are both so perfect in form,
that neither can be omitted. Neither can that
admirable white, Soeur Melanie. A very charm-
ing kind is Rose d'Amour. So also is Rosi-
nante, which has a pleasing shade of rosy pink.
Deeper than the first on the list in colour is
Black Douglas, which is of a maroon-crimson hue
and of excellent form. Prince of Orange is a good
orange-buff ; Toussaint Maurisot, rosy lilac, and
the ever-welcome Marabout, flesh white, are both
of the fimbriated section, and very handsome.
Elise LayeiUon, though last on the list, is one of the
prettiest, for it is a perfect reflexed flower, flat in
petal, and of a delicate rosy puce colour. As
shown at Ealing, it was rather later than most of
the others, but was very beautiful. The above I
regarded as the very best of the collection, which
further included Charles Dickens, La Purete, St.
Thais, Rose Trevenna, Fimbriatum, Adele Presette,
Elenore, Nelly Rainford, Guillaume Delaux, Pygma-
lion, Adonis, St. Justin, and St. Michael.
It is very possible were the excellence of form
now found in the Pompon Chrysanthemums more
generally known that we should see good plants of
them more frequently than now. A very good class,
indeed, might be made of twelve Pompons in 8-inch
pots grouped into large, round baskets, the plants
being untrained, the class to be judged solely by
good culture, quality, and general excellence. The
advantage of such a class would be that it would
give Pompons a decorative status now hardly
recognised, and the plants after the exhibitions
would still be fully available for all ordinary decora-
tion. The class would also be one in which small
growers could compete on good terms with larger
ones. StiU farther, there would not be that sacrifice
of bloom which is seen when in a box of twelve
varieties some thirty-six beautiful flowers which
would otherwise endure fresh for a month are
entirely lost. The legginess of the large-flowered
sorts greatly detracts from their value as decorative
plants. Good Pompons have the desirable dwarf-
ness in character, and alone, or used as margins for
groups of tall varieties, render excellent service.
A. D.
Out in the North-west. — The illustration of
Anemone Pulsatilla reminds me that this pretty
flowering rather early this year, a fact, no doubt, due I flower is abundant just where my daughter is
498
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 26, 1887.
located in the North-west territory of Canada, near
the Kocky'Mountains, and within a few hundred miles
of the Pacific. The locality is eminently prairie, of
which there are millions of acres, and during the
summer the earth is wonderfully gay with flowers.
It is interesting to learn that so recently as October
23 the temperature suddenly fell to i° below zero,
freezing the water in the ranche bedrooms and pro-
ducing many other discomforts, and yet on the
30th the weather again became of summer warmth,
rendering fires needless and compelling the throw-
ing open of all the windows. Such are the sudden
changes of temperature incidental to that far-off
region. It is worthy of mention that last winter
the temperature fell to the unusually low level of
40° below zero, an intensity of cold which we
know nothing of here, but the dryness of the atmo-
sphere out there renders this severe cold far more
endurable than are our damp frosts. The Indians
and old residents out there predict a mild winter,
and should such be the case, possibly we may share
in that blessing. Whether due to the proximity of
the Rocky Mountains to the prairie, or to the near-
ness of water, mosquitoes are exceedingly trouble-
some in the summer; indeed, the place has the ap-
pellation of Mosquito Creek, and this in spite of
the intense winter cold. — A. D.
Societies and Exhibitions.
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL.
At the meeting of the council of the Royal Horti-
cultural Society on the 8th inst., an informal offer
from the Royal Commissioners of the 1S51 Exhi-
bition to let the gardens and conservatory at South
Kensington to the society at a " guaranteed " rent
of £1000 a year was discussed. The council felt
that on financial grounds it was impossible for
them to accept the offer, as the cost of mainten-
ance, with rates and taxes, would amount to at
least another £1000, making an expenditure of
£2000 a year for South Kensington alone, without
counting office charges or the cost of Chiswick
Gardens. It was also decided that no advantage
c luld accrue to the society from the continuance of
negotiations, of which the end could only be delay
and disappointment.
The council decided to issue forthwith an appeal
on behalf of the society to the horticultural public
of the kingdom. The terms and conditions cf this
appeal were discussed and settled generally.
Subsequent to the meeting. Colonel R. Trevor
Clarke and Major F. Mason resigned their places on
the council, and Mr. William Haughton gave notice
that he should resign at the end of the year, these
gentlemen having been in favour of continuing the
connection of the society with South Kensington
and the Royal Commissioners of the 1851 Exhi-
bition. The council will not take any steps to fiU
these vacancies without consulting the Fellows.
Scientific Committee.
Brynr/min species as hee flmrers. — With reference
to Mr. AVilson's observations on E, giganteum being
a good bee flower, Mr. Henslow remarked that a bee-
keeper in North Wales had ascertained that E.mari-
timum was also a good plant. Observations were
made upon honey scented by particular flowers,
Mr. Maclachlan remarking that the Lime gave a
remarkable flavour to it at Blackheath. Mr. Smee
added that the honey from near Mitcham was so
strongly flavoured by Peppermint as to be uneatable,
Professor Church called attention to the fact that
many specimens of "scented honey " had long been
in the Bethnal Green Museum, obtained by placing
the hives near to particular plants. He believed
they came from Russia.
Nam mctlunl of (ihihifi. — Mr. Smee reported upon
the specimen sent by Messrs, Newton to the last
meeting, and corroborated the impressions then ex-
pressed, especially with reference to the allowing for
due expansion and contraction.
Weei'U. ill Orchids. — Mr. Pasooe exhibited a speci-
men of Paris eburifera found on Vanda teres, and
requested that all such discoveries of foreign insects
might be sent to him.
Frost and trees. — Professor H. Marshall Ward
drew attention to the fact that several notices had
lately been made upon the injury which trees sus-
tain when growing on a south sloping bank, but
that it had long ago been noticed and recorded by
Gilbert White. The interpretation is that the roots
are stimulated by the warmth due to the position,
so that the proper ripening of wood does not follow
before frosts set in.
Cladosporinvi fulvum. — Mr. W. G. Smith brought,
and Mr. Plowright, of Lynn, sent, specimens of this
fungus on Tomatoes. The latter forwarded the fol-
lowing communication : " I herewith send speci-
mens of Cladosporium fulvum on the fruit, leaves,
and stems of Tomato. I have had them In my pos-
session for six weeks and the Tomatoes have turned
red. so that the zone of green colour which sur-
rounds the fungus in its earlier stages, while the
Tomato is changing colour, has disappeared. This
maintenance of colour in and around the parasite is
found with several of the Uredines, and is due to the
presence of the mycelium of the fungus causing de-
lay in the normal processes of maturation of the
host-plant's tissues."
Monstrous Jfon-ers, ,?-c. — Mr. Smee exhibited two
flowers of Vanda cserulea, with the dorsal sepal
aborted in one case, and drawn out to a slender stalk
with a cup-like extremity in the other. Bulrushes,
with two and three " heads " to them ; also a Chry-
santhemum of the Anemone-flowered type, with
supernumerary heads below the ray, or " Hen-and-
chickens " variety.
Solinmm comieulatmn. — Mr. Ridley exhibited the
curious orange-coloured fruit of this plant ; it is
about the size of a hen's egg, with four or five
horns proceeding from the base. They are protru-
sions, the central tissue of which is common with
that of the mesocarp of the fruit. It is an intro-
duced plant, and used for liver complaints in Fer-
nando Noronha.
Cactus species. — This, like the preceding, was
brought from Fernando Noronha, but it is endemic.
It had large oval crimson fruits, scented and edible.
The flowers only expanded at aljout 10 p.m.
Erytlirina sjiecies. — He also showed a drawing of
a native tree in blossom. It is the only one left, as
all the large trees are cut down lest the convicts
should make rafts.
Croci. — Mr. Lynch exhibited the following autumn-
flowering species from the Botanic Garden at Cam-
bridge : C. Pallasi, tingitanus, Tourneforti medius,
canoellatus var. cilicus, and longiflorus.
Ziliiim poJyjiJiyllum. — Mr. G. F.Wilson exhibited
a stem grown at Wisley, to show the difference
between the cultivated form, which had thirteen
blossoms, and the wild one bearing only four to six.
He stated that a Dutch missionary, a friend of Mr.
Hufhlen, of New York, describes L. polyphyllum in
its own country (the Neilgherries) as a very hand-
some Lily, 5 feet or 6 feet high, with from four to
six flowers. Mr. Gamble has seen it on the hills
about Simla, but has never seen wild any so big as
we describe.
Carlouised Coqmlla nut (Attalea funifera). — Mr.
Wilson also exhibited nuts or fruits of this Palm
which had been dug up in the City. They are
much used for turnery purposes. The three internal
septa and the ovary walls were completely changed
to coal. It had doubtless been formed under great
pressure. Similar results had been found after the
great fire in Tooley Street. Professor Church re-
marked upon the remarkable hardness of the Cocoa-
nut, which, as charcoal, had an extraordinary power
of absorbing gases.
Manderilla suarcolens. — The Hon. and Rev. Bos-
cawen sent fruit-pods of this Apogynaceous plant,
which are not often seen in this country, though
Mr. Lynch said they found it at Cambridge. In
the .llotanical Iteyister (2G, 7) it is described as
fiowering in conservatories, but not fruiting.
Baskets of hardy autumn foliage with or
without berries. — This was the title ot one of the
classes in the schedule of prizes of a Chrysanthemum
show at Devizes on Nov. 15 in aid of the benevolent
society of that town. There were no fewer than
twenty-five of these baskets, and nearly, if not quite,
all had berries mingled with foliage, and in some
the woolly seed pods of Clematis Vitalba. So richly
tinted was the foliage, of which a good deal was
gathered from the hedgerows, that the baskets made
a brilliant show. The competitors were mostly
ladies,and the majority of the baskets were arranged
in excellent taste. This is a feature ot Chrysan-
themum shows that should be considerably extended.
Exhibitions of cut blooms of Chrysanthemums, like
those of Dahlias, have a somewhat monotonous
appearance, and something is needed to give effect
to yards of stands of cut flowers. Another excellent
feature at Devizes was for twelve blooms of incirrved
Chrysanthemiuns,with 4 inches of stem and foliage.
The flowers stood up well above the stands, but
they need to be securely fixed in them to maintain
an efl'ective appearance. They were remarkably
well shown at Devizes. — R. D.
HULL CHRYSANTHEMUM SHCW.
The fourth annual exhibition of this, the leading
northern Chrysanthemum show, was held in the
Artillery Barracks at Hull on November 17 and 18,
and proved quite successful, the entries being so
numerous as to necessitate the erection of an addi-
tional building to accommodate the increased num-
ber of really superb plants and cut blooms that
were sent for competition. The financial results
may even prove more satisfactory than those of last
year. Mr. Cannell, of Swanley, showed for non-
competition cut blooms of sterling novelties in
Chrysanthemums and Pelargoniums. A great at-
traction was an immense and very tastefully ar-
ranged group of stove and greenhouse plants, coni-
fers, and shrubs, from E. P. Dixon and Sons, Hull.
Th« same firm also showed a fine collection of over
200 dishes of Apples and Pears.
The most interesting class was that for forty-eight
blooms, twenty-four incurved and twenty-four Ja-
panese, the first prize consisting of a challenge vase
and £15. The winner was Mr. Mease, Wyncote,
Liverpool, who, having won the vase for two seasons
in succession, is now entitled to it. Mr. A. Wilson
was second. Mr. Mease again came first in the class
for twenty-four blooms, and also for twelve blooms
incurved, distinct varieties, and for twelve blooms
of distinct Japanese kinds. In the class for twelve
blooms, large hybrid Anemones, Mr. G. Bohn,
Tranby Park, Hessle, was the most successful,
the second place being occupied by Mr. F. W.
Jameson, Eastella, near Hull. The last-named
exhibitor was also first in the class for twelve
reflexed blooms, Mr. J. Fisher coming second.
In the class for the best collection of cut blooms,
any varieties, but distinct, Mr. T. B. Morton,
Mowden Bridge Nursery, Darlington, was to the
fore, and Mr. G. Cottam, jun.. Alma House, Cot-
tingham, came second. For twelve bunches of
single varieties with foliage, 5Ir. R. F. Jameson was
first. In the class for twenty-four blooms, twelve
incurved and twelve Japanese, Mr, J. P. Leadbetter,
gardener to Mr. A. Wilson, Tranby Croft, was first ;
and Mr. John Wilson, Manor House, Willerby,
second. In the competition for tlie special prize
oiiered for twelve blooms, incurved, Mr, H.H.Briggs,
J,P,, Elmfleld, Cottingham, was first, and Mr. G.
Bohn second ; and in the class for twelve Japanese
the fu'st place was occupied by Mr, G. Lawson.
Amateurs were well represented, and in the class
for twelve blooms, six incurved and six Japanese,
Mr. A. W. Stanley was the winner of the first prize,
Mr. G. Kidson coming second. Mr. S. Higham
secured the premier award for sis blooms, three in-
curved and three Japanese, and Mr. A. W. Stanley
was second. The last-named exhibitor was first for six
blooms, reflexed, Mr, J. P. Raby occupying the second
position. For twelve blooms, any variety, Jlr. A. W.
Stanley was the most successful exhibitor, the second
award being made in favour of Mr. G. F. Grant,
Jlr. J. P. Raby occupied the first position for six
blooms, any varieties : and in the class for twelve
incurved blooms, the first prize to consist of £1
and silver cup, Mr. A. W. Stanley was the most
successful, the second award being made in favour
of Mr. G. F. Grant; and Mr. A. W. Stanley was also
to the fore for twelve Japanese flowers.
Nov. 26, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
499
Plants made a fine feature, and in the open
class for a group, the first prize, to consist of a silver
challenge cup and £5, was awarded to Mr. A.
Wilson, the second prize going to Mr. G. Cottam.
For six bush-grown plant.'=, but not formally trained,
Mr. G. Miller was awarded the first place, the
second prize going to Mr. J. Fisher. For three
trained specimens, any varieties, each plant on a
single stem, Mr. G. Lawson was first and Mr. Thomas
Smith second ; and in the class for one trained
specimen the last-mentioned exhibitor was the most
successful.
Amateurs also showed well in the plant classes,
and Mr. A. W. Stanley secured the first prize in the
class for a group, Jlr. S. Higham coming second.
In the class for twelve plants M. G. F. Grant headed
the prize list, the second place being occupied by
Mr. J. P. Raby. The last-mentioned exhibitor was
to the fore for sis plants ; and the premier award
for three plants, any varieties, was made in favour
of Mr. J. Miller; Mr. G F. Grant was second.
For one Chrysanthemum, Mr. J. P. Raby was the
winner of the first prize, Mr. E. Bartle coming
second.
NATIONAL CHRYSANTHEMUM SOCIETY.
A MOST interesting meeting of the floral committee
was held at the Royal Aquarium on Wednesday
last, and there was both a large attendance of mem-
bers and a good display of flowers, many of which
were novelties. The following received the award
of a first-class certificate: —
Chaeles Gibson. — This flnwer will prove worthy
of the name it bears, and is an acquisition to the
late-blooming incurved varieties. It is a sport from
the highly finished Mrs. Norman Davis, having a
broad, well-recurved petal, good form, fulness,
evenness, and a decided light bronzy colour, re-
lieved with a shading of yellow, especially towards
the centre of the flower. It was shown by Mr. E.
Mizen, of Mitcham.
Maggie Mitchell. — This is another addition to
the Japanese section, and is entitled to a place for
its pretty colour, the somewhat pointed florets
having a rose-salmon shading, which tells against
the white. It is of good build, but as shown is
rather rough, a fault that may be remedied by cul-
tivation. From Messrs. W. and G. Drover, Fare-
ham.
Miss Annie Lowe. — A large Anemone-flowered
variety, a sport from one of the finest of this sec-
tion, viz.. Lady Margaret. The flower is about the
same size as that of the parent, with the centre rich
yellow, and the outer florets of a pale primrose tint ;
the blending of the two colours produces a pleasing
harmony of colour. Shown by Mr. Joseph Lowe,
Uxbridge.
Agnes Flight. — A lovely Japanese flower of
perfect purity, and in the style of Mile. Jloulise.
The colour is of the purest white, the florets thread-
like in character, and forming a bloom of delicate
expression. Those in the centre curl inwards, and
give a good finish to the flower. From Mr. F. W.
Flight, Twyford.
Alba fimbeiata. — This is of the same character
as Elaine, pure white, full, globular, and with the
sharp-pointed florets deeply fimbriated. It seems
to be a useful exhibition flower. Exhibited by Mr.
F. W. Flight.
OsiEis. — This is a Pompon variety, like a double
Zinnia in shape and of a warm rose colour, with the
reverse of the florets of a yellowish tinge. It is of
neat character, full, and apparently very free flower-
ing. Shown by Mr. Buss, of Epsom.
The silver medal offered for the best stand of
new flowers was won by Mr. Stevens, of Putney,
who had fresh, full, handsome blooms of several
varieties, amongst which were Putney George, a
reflexed variety of the character of CuUingfordi
and King of the Crimsons, the colour deep crimson
with the florets tipped with gold, and showing a
reverse of the same hue; R. Brocklebank, the
primrose-coloTired sport from Meg Merrilies; Lady
Lawrence, pure white; and Miss Nichols, a rich
rose-pink variety of considerable "promise. The
same exhibitor also had a stand of the new incnrved
variety Lord Eversley, which was certificated at the
last meeting ; it is a sport from Princess Teck, the
flower pure white, full, neat, highly finished, and of
medium size. It has been raised by Mr. Wild-
smith, Heokfield.
Mr. Owen, of Maidenhead, was awarded the
bronze medal, and showed amongst others M. Gar-
ner, a Japanese variety with Buttercup-yellow
centre, and outer florets of a rich brown; Mrs.
Norman Davis, R. Brocklebank, and Yellow Ethel,
here labelled Mrs. J. H. Jones. The same exhibi-
tor was commended for a white variety, apparently
of the reflexed type, and named Mr. Glover.
Mr. T. S. Ware, Tottenham, exhibited a variety
named Governor of Guernsey, very much like
Peter the Great, but of a richer yellow and with a
broad petal. From Messrs. Carter and Co., High
Holborn, came a variety labelled C. H. Sharman,
imported from Japan, the flower of a warm rose
colour, with silvery reverse to the florets, and of
promising character ; and Mrs. Dannett also a pro-
mising Japanese variety, the colour blush-pink.
Mr. Geo. S. Addison showed Pompon Paroquet, a
dull purple variety, fimbriated and full; also other
kinds.
A variety named Mrs. S. A. Lee was sent by
Messrs. Fromow and Sons, Chiswick, but was too
close to Lady Hardinge to merit special distinction.
Flowers of the old tasselled variety were sent by Mr.
Craigo, Falmouth, and the plant has been growing
in a Cornish garden for the last forty years. The
narrow, tubular, fluted florets are white shaded with
pink. It is far more beautiful than many of the
single varieties, and was regarded with interest.
Mr. Guilbert, Guernsey, exhibited a sport of Belle
Paule; but this variety is variable, and the sup-
posed sport was not sufiiciently distinct from the
parent. A variety named Mrs. Wheeler was
commended. It is of the Comte de Germiny type,
the florets broad, well incurved, and rich brown in
colour; and there was also another Japanese variety
of promising character sent ; the colour is warm
rosy white, the form full, and it is said to be a
very dwarf grower, which is certainly a recom-
mendation.
Mr. Buss, of Epsom, showed Lady Dorothy, of a
similar character to Charles Gibson, but paler in
colour and narrower in the petals, and other new
varieties ; also a variegated Solanum capsicastrum.
Messrs. H. Cannell, of Swanley, contributed single
Primulas, one of which, named Emperor, a salmony
rose flower of good substance and shape, was certifi-
cated.
HARDY FRUITS AT THE ROYAL AQUARIUM.
Special interest attached to the Apple exhibits
at the recent remarkable show of the National
Chrysanthemum Society by reason of the fact
that some of the best Nova Scotia-grown Apples
were staged. Those accustomed to the fine Apples
so frequently sent over here from North America
were hardly prepared, however, for the truly
grand specimen fruits which came from Linton
Park, where Mr. McKenzie certainly beats record
in his superb productions. The Nova Scotian fruits
comprised some thirty-three dishes, and were just
fresh imported, though probably specially picked
samples. Especially good were Ribston, Cox's Orange,
and King of the Pippins, of English kinds ; so also
were Golden Russet, Gravenstein, and Blenheim
Pippin, although these latter were still a long way
below our finest samples of this famous kind. Of
native sorts. King of Tompkins County, glowing in
colour ; Fallawater, conical, not unlike a good Prince
Albert ; Northern Spy, conical, and striped red ;
Cayuga Redstreak, red striped ; Evangeline, coni-
cal, yellow skin ; and Blue Pearmain, deep red
colour, much speckled with russet, were the best.
Whilst, however, the Kibstons were about equal to
our best samples. Kings were also nearly as good ;
and Cox's Orange was here full of colour ; indeed,
so very red as to render it difficult to recognise this
popular kind in its Nova Scotian coat. Mr. G.
Bunyard's superb collection of some 120 dishes and
baskets of sorts from Maidstone presented an almost
brilliantlv marked contrast to the American collec-
tion, for many sorts were not only very fine, but
wondrously rich in colour. Of these, Blenheim
Pippin, Peasgood's Nonsuch, Gascoyne's Seedling,
Cox's Pomona, and Cellini Pippin all gave brilliant
colour, and, being in bulk, were very attractive. Of
other kinds very fine were Lord Derby, Warner's
King, Prince Albert, Red Hawthomden, Stirling
Castle, Lord Suffield, Emperor Alexander, Graham's
Royal Jubilee (like fine fruits of Manks Codlin), Salt-
marsh's Queen, Tower of Glamis, and Stone's Pip-
pin. Beautiful samples of dessert kinds were found
in Worcester Pearmain, Gipsy King, Cox's Orange
Pippin, Wealthy, a rich coloured North American
kind, but very soft in flesh ; Melon Apple, Jersey
Pippin, rich colour— something like the Nanny
Apple ; Shepherd's Pearmain, not unlike Rosemary
Pippin ; and the old Nonsuch. These are but a few
selected from a splendid collection of home-grown
fruits.
Turning now to the competition for six kinds of
kitchen Apples, of which ten lots were staged, it
must be admitted that six dishes of finer and, for
their size, handsomer samples than those Mr.
McKenzie staged have never been exhibited in
one collection at this or, perhaps, any other show.
The lots averaged (5 lbs. each, and were very even,
and showed what culture of a high-class order can
accomplish. Mr. McKenzie not only occasionally
root-prunes his bush trees at Linton, but he
realises that trees so treated must not be dis-
tressed by even too profuse blooming; therefore,
when bloom seems too abundant it is properly
thinned. Then, in addition to giving the trees a
liberal mulching with long manure, they are kept
well watered should dry weather ensue; for it is
held that once the skins of the growing fruits are
set by dryness at the roots, fine samples cannot
be produced. Even finer samples than those
staged were on the upper part of these bush trees,
but the fierce winds of the autumn laid many a one
low, and the lower fruits had on this occasion to
do duty. Cannot some of our keen Apple growers
try on Mr. McKenzie's lines of cultivation to beat
him a year or two hence ? The kinds staged were
Gloria Mundi, Peasgood's Nonsuch, Bedfordshire
Foundling, Emperor Alexander, Alfriston, and Mere
de Menage. Perhaps the best coloured of this
latter Apple— not always first-class certainly in
quality— came from Newbury, for Mr. Ross always
sends "it up in grand form and colour. This exhi-
bitor had besides Peasgood's Nonsuch, Annie
Elizabeth, Cox's Pomona, Prince Albert, and that
capital cooking Apple, Waltham Abbey Seedling.
In other collections were Hollandbury, Lady Hen-
niker, Reinette du Canada, Golden Noble, Stone's
Pippin, Warner's King, and Winter Hawthornden,
all excellent. Of large kitchen Apples, none can
excel in the combination of perfection of form,
beauty, and size Peasgood's Nonsuch, and it was
both largely and finely shown, although in one or
two cases its popular antitype, Blenheim Pippin,
nearly equalled it. Of dessert Apples, the fourteen
collections of six dishes staged included, with beau-
tiful samples, yet a motley group, some sorts that,
whUst showing good colour, were unquestionably
not of dessert quality. Some exhibitors seem to
entertain the notion, due probably to weak judg-
ment in other directions, that colour is everything
in dessert samples on the show table. In this case
the six dishes which took first place, all good sized
clean fruits, were almost the best coloured in the
competition. They comprised Ribston, Blenheim,
Cox's Orange, King and Rosemary Pippins, with the
good old Margil. In the second prize collection
the old Nanny Apple was highly coloured, according
to its wont, and it is one of the best dessert kinds
to give colour. Of other sorts. Court Rendu Plat,
Adam's Pearmain, Fearn's Pippin, Melon Apple,
Golden Pippin, and a pretty flat, round sort, Norfolk
Pippin, were well shown. Of the fourteen lots
staged Cox's Orange Pippin was found twelve times,
Blenheim and King Pippins eleven times, and the
Ribston Pippin five times, showing that good samples
of the fine old Ribston Pippin are not so readily
found as of the other popular Pippins named.
Judging by the samples both of kitchen and dessert
Apples sho-mi on this occasion, it is obvious that
we have fruits in this country second to none in the
500
THE GARDEN.
[Nov. 26, 1887.
world, at this time of the year at least. It would
be very interesting if next year prizes could be
ofEered for collections of twelve dishes of North
American or Canadian-grown varieties, so that in
every way the products of home and the American
continent would be fully and fairly compared.
Whilst Pears properly come under the designation
of hardy fruits, it is probable that nearly all the
excellentsamples shown at the Aquarium were grown
on walls, and it detracts from enthusiasm for Pears,
that only by such method can we secure the most
finished fruits, although some sorts will produce
fine samples on dwarf trees or on ordinary cordons.
The Apple needs no wall culture ; hence it appre-
ciably excels the Pear in hardiness. In the Pear
competition Mr. AUan fully sustained the reputa-
tion of Gunton as a Pear garden, his samples of
Beurre Diel, Beurre Clairgeau, Marie Louse d'Ucole
(a fine Pear too seldom seen), Pitmaston Duchess
(in this case rather small for the kind), Marie
Louise, and Beurre Bachelier being excellent. Pit-
maston Duchess and Beurre Clairgeau, although
neither are first-class kinds, are yet very tempting
for exhibition ; Mr. Goldsmith, of Kelsey Manor,
also showing them in his second prize (six dishes),
but he also had Doyenne du Comice and the true
Duchesse d'Angouleme (capital samples); and al-
though Mr. Osman, of Chertsey, who came third,
left out Beurre Clairgeau, he had Durondeau and
Forelle, neither high-class fruits. Beyond the kinds
mentioned were Beurrfi Superfin, Beurre Beauchamp,
Doyenne Eoussoch, Haoon's Incomparable, and
British Queen. November is too late for many of
our finest Pears, as so many soft fruits evidenced
pretty conclusive proof that if we are to have a
supply of good Pears for winter consumption we
need a new race of late keepers. A. D.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
Cypripedlum Sedeni. — In the plant stove at
Burtoubm-y, Cirencester, there is, at the present time,
a very tine specimen of Cypripedium Sedeni. It is
4 feet through and has eighteen flower-stems, each
stem carrying from four to five flowers and buds in
various stages of development. — T. A.
Marie Louise Violets. — I send you a few
Marie Louise Violets that you may see how well our
plants have done in spite of the past dry summer. I
should like your opinion of them. — John Ceaw-
FOED, Coddvngion Hall Gardens, JS'en-arlt-on-Trent.
*j* Very fine samples indeed. The flowers were
of delicious fragrance. The recent hot summer
does not seem to have affected the plants in the
least. — Ed.
Primula floribunda and obconica, al-
though proof against cold in an unheated house, have
suffered very mush from the fogs of the last few
days. The flowers have all damped off and a large,
healthy batch a week ago is now completely de-
stroyed. For the winter season at least these two
plants to be satisfactory must have the protection
of a greenhouse, where the atmosphere is always
more or less dry. They are handsome plants, and
under the latter conditions would continue flower-
ing all through the winter. They are both easily
raised from seed, which indeed seems to be the only
way of increasing them, as they cannot be divided
successfully.
Two new Chrysanthemums. — We send you
blooms of two new Chrysanthemums, which it
is our intention to send out next season, and which
give promise of being really fine exhibition sorts.
The plants from which these blooms have been
cut have had no special cultivation beyond the
usual thinning out of buds, and each plant has
developed from fifteen to eighteen blooms equal to
those sent. The habit is robust and sturdy and
the foliage abundant. Kindly express your opinion
of them.— Daniels Beos., A'orn-ich.
*^* The flowers sent represent two varieties of
great promise, as the colours are decided and rich,
and the form excellent. The best is the one called
Superbe Flore, a name that might be altered with
advantage. It belongs to the rcllexod class, the
flower well finished, full, solid, and of a dull rose-
crimson colour, with the florets whitish at the tips,
and silvery reverse. The other is a Japanese va-
riety, of a dull crimson hue, and will probably make
a good exhibition flower, but is rather small, though
not wanting in substance. The scent of the blooms
is sweeter and less pungent than in many of the
Chrysanthemums. — E D.
The African Daisy (Lonas inodora), known
also under the name of Athanasia annua, makes a
pretty winter-flowering plant for the greenhouse or
conservatory. It is closely allied to the Artemisias,
and in the open air flowers well and effectively in
the late summer and autumn months, but as one
sees it now in the greenhouse in combination with
other flowering plants the effect is highly orna-
mental. If required for pots it must be sown later
than when grown outdoors, and must be kept grow-
ing on slowly in a cool place (a north aspect prefer-
able) and shifted to the house on the first approach
of winter. With a little forethought it might easily
be had in full bloom at Christmas, and it is cer-
tainly worth the trouble. The flowers, which are
orange-yellow, are borne in bunches.
Tagetes Parryi. — For an intermediate or cool
house this comparatively rare plant is certainly a
very great acquisition at this season of the year.
It flowers profusely all through the autumn and
early winter months, and when well grown makes
a fine specimen. The leaves are bright green, three
to five in number, foliate, and very fragrant when
touched; flowers an inch or more in diameter, and
with both rays and disc of a fine soft orange colour.
It is not quite hardy in the open air, although it does
very well during the summer months, and produces
an abundance of flowers. The plants, however, if
lifted in the autumn will continue flowering well
into the succeeding year, or cuttings taken early
and potted on as soon as rooted will make fine
flowering subjects by the latter end of October or
November. It requires liberal treatment and plenty
of pot room. It is a native of California.
A note from Brisbane. — I forward a photo-
graph of an extraordinary development of a Petunia.
It is a seedling of this year's growth, grown on a
dry stony soil made rich with manure. A short de-
scription of this curious inflorescence may be of
interest. The stem supporting the flowers is 11
inches high, and, instead of being round, is flattened
out and covered with small modified leaflets or
bracts. The width of the stem at the base is half
an inch, and gradually expands until at the top it
is 2^ inches across, at the extremity of which the
flowers are arranged. Some are nearly sessile,
others with extended flower-stalks ; the flowers are
about the usual size, and when photographed thirty-
four were fully expanded and forty-three unex-
panded. Another inflorescence on the plant shows
the same character, which will be fertilised and the
seed carefully saved. — Wm. Souttee, Son-en Parlt,
Br'tshane.
Begonia Amaliee. — I much admired this Be-
gonia on seeing a well-flowered plant of it the other
day in the stove at Kew. It is a good deal like
that named Lynchi, and perhaps it is the same, but
as it is labelled differently we must accept it as
distinct. B. Eoezli was the old name for Lynchi,
and it is well that these changes are made known,
as it may save disappointment and annoyance to
purchasers at nurseries. This B. Amalisc, whatever
it may be, is very beautiful, having large leaves of
a luxuriant green, very thick and glossy. Its
flowers are borne in close bunches, the buds are of
a deep carmine, but the f uUy opened flower is much
paler in tint. It is a strong grower, and appears to
be a free flowerer, and if it continues to bloom
through the winter, as B. Lynchi does, it is valuable.
A curious thing I noticed about this plant at Kew
was a spike of bloom borne on the leaf— at least
the flower-stalk was a continuation of the leaf-
stalk.
The Mocha Coffee tree (Cofl'ea arabica) is
now one of the interesting attractions in the Palm
house at Kew. There is a specimen some 12 feet or
more high having every branch and twig heavily
laden with berries ; so heavy is the crop, in fact,
that the branches bend under the weight. The
tree is a most graceful object, and later, when all
the berries have turned red, as some of them are at
present, it wiU be even more attractive. Those
who have never seen the Cofiiee tree bearing fruit
are greatly interested in this specimen, which is the
best I have seen. Opposite to this specimen of C.
arabica is a large one of the newer Liberian Coffee
tree (C. liberica), but, unlike the Mocha, it has
scarcely a berry upon it. The leaves are very much
larger, some being a foot in length and half a foot
in breadth. It is not nearly such a handsome
specimen. — G.
Alonsoa incisifolia.- Although a very old
plant, this Alonsoa is, nevertheless, of great service
at this season for the enrichment of the greenhouse.
There are several examples flowering in the Swanley
Nursery that have been lifted from the open ground
and potted for a supply of bloom through the
winter. The plant is very Pea-like in its character,
bearing numerous terminal racemes of scarlet
blossoms with a dark centre, and their bright
colouring is appreciated at this season. The foliage
is feathery and abundant. There are many old-
fashioned plants that deserve recognition, but
obtain none. Here is a useful greenhouse plant
that few grow, but which is capable of giving effec-
tive colour to the greenhouse at a time when it is
needed.
Salvias at Swanley. — The Salvia is one of the
brightest of all winter flowers, and it finds a good
home in the Swanley Nursery, where several of the
best varieties are now commencing to bloom freely.
The most vividly coloured of all is the old scarlet
splendens, which is now very fine at Kew, and it is
strange that amateurs do not make more use of such
an ornamental and showy plant. The beautiful
azure blue flowers of S. Pitcheri are delightful, borne
several together on branching stems, and in bold
contrast to those of Bethelli, which are of a purple-
lilac colour. Angustifolia is in the way of Pitcheri,
the flowers being of a lighter hue, and the spike is
not so compact, although longer; leucantha is one of
the most distinct ; its rosy mauve flowers are
encased in a woolly covering, and the abundant
foliage when bruised emits a pungent, sage- like
odour.
Xpomaea rubro-cserulea is at the present time
the chief attraction in the way of flowers in the
Palm house and other stoves at Kew, for it seems
to be a favourite, and a number of specimens have
been grown for brightening the houses in winter.
A lovelier plant could not be, the flowers combining
as they do exquisite form with delicate colour.
They change from a clear cobalt-blue to a porce-
lain-blue, and then to a purplish red. The Kew
plants are mostly trained in a conical shape, the
plants while growing in summer being interlaced
among branches stuck in around the pot at a height
of about 4 feet. Though the plants do not look
nearly so graceful trained in this way as they do
when growing in a natural way in festoons under
the roof of a house, they are most attractive. It is
such a relief at this season to look upon flowers
of some other colours than those common to Chry-
santhemums, that this climber is worth growing on
that account alone.
Single Chrysanthemums.— These are never
likely to attain great popularity, as the flowers of
many of the varieties are far too flimsy and small,
but they have their own special admirers, and as
improved forms are introduced the number of culti-
vators will undoubtedly increase. Messrs. H.
Cannell, of Swanley, have several varieties of great
excellence which will be valued for cutting, and in
some instances they make most pleasing pot plants.
Amongst the best are Snowflake, or Jane, as it is
called in some collections, a lovely variety of the
purest white, with beautifully fringed, twisted
flowers of refined and delicate expression; Miss
Gordon, of the same character and quite as beauti-
ful, but of a rich pink ; Admiral Sir T. Symonds,
deep yellow, very large; and David Windsor, a deep
reddish crimson kind. Other varieties that may
come into a careful selection are Miss Ellen
Terry, bright magenta ; Miss Cannell, pure white ;
Catherine Wheel, with creamy white-fluted fiorets ;
and Gus Harris, the last of all making a pretty
Nov. L'G, 1SS7.]
THE GARDEN.
501
specimen, the habit dwarf, and the flowers of a lilac
hue. For amateurs who require flowers of fine
colouring and quiet beauty to fill their epergnes
in the dull November days the single Chrysanthe-
mums may be recommended.
Crimson Cluster Flower (Habrothamnus ele-
gans). — Amongst the many climbing plants used
for draping the pillars and rafters of the conser-
vatory, this is perhaps the most popular, and when
in full flower a healthy specimen is at once elegant,
showy, and imposing. There is a very fine plant in
the conservatory at Gunnersbury House, and Mr.
Hudson adopts a simple plan to ensure plenty of
young growth, while yet dispensing with the harm-
ful pruning so frequently indulged in with the ob-
ject of securing a free display of blossom. He lays
in the young wood and never systematically prunes,
so that plenty of laterals are produced which bear a
large quantity of the rich crimson clusters of flowers.
The plant is trained o^'er a large half-hoop-shaped
trellis, which it has almost furnished with a cover-
ing of luxuriant foliage. This Habrothamnus blooms
nearly all the year, and is even now moderately full
of flowers.
Abutilon Boule de Neige. — This Abutilon
is largely grown and its culture is increasing,
as the flowers are eagerly sought for by reason
of their purity of colour, boldness of character,
and adaptability for bouquets. In almost every
nursery we find thriving specimens, which never
seem without blooms, having almost as many now
as in the height of summer. A useful way of
dealing with the plant is to put out a weU-grown
specimen in a cool house, or a structure from which
the frost is just excluded, and train the branches
against the wall. It is astonishing what a large
supply of bloom such a plant will give once it be-
comes thoroughly established, as it spreads freely
and has handsome, luxuriant foliage of a fine green
colour. A favourite way of preparing the flowers
for wreaths, or arrangements in which white is
essential, is to remove the golden-coloured anthers
and gently bend back the petals. We have then a
beautiful Eucharis-like flower.
Christmas Boses from Dorset.— Once more
I allow myself the pleasure of sending you a
bouquet of my Christmas Roses. Last year some
one said that the lovely rose tints of one of three
stems of blossoms were only due to their being the
late and last flowers produced on the plant, so I
send you the very first flower cut still with the
same blush upon them. I wish I could show you
the mass'instead of the stem ; you would realise
then why we call it " sunset on snow." I have just
cut ninety-four bloom-stems, no choice among them
for unstained beauty, though they have been open
to the skies without any shadow of protection all
this fitful weather. I believe the pink tinged to be
what Miss Hope calls altifolius. I think you de-
cided the great white to be maximus. A friendly
gardener said to me just now, " Ah, you've a got the
right soil, madam, as they likes." If so, I told him
" it was brought to them in a wheelbarrow." — Mes.
Chaeles Axtell, West Zod/je, SorcJiester.
*^* Handsomely formed flowers, some 4 inches
in diameter when spread out, but naturally present-
ing a fine cup shape. Two or three flowers on a
stem 10 inches long, leaves about 15 inches across
on stalks a foot long. It would be very interesting
to see a good photograph of such plants. — Ed.
Bullfinches destroying fruit-buds. — I have
a large fruit garden which is chiefly stocked with
pyramid trees and are yearly pestered with bullfinches,
which have already begun to destroy the fruit-huds.
Can anyone recommend a wholesale manner of destroy-
ing them, not shooting on account of glass. — A Con-
stant Readeh.
Vine leaves affectsd. — Will you kindly tell
me the cause of the Vine leaves which I herewith
send you becoming spotted and withered ? They
appeared aU right at first, but after four or five days
they began to wither. There has been air on the
house night and day. — F. King.
*** In reply to the above, I cannot find any traces
of insects or disease, except a certain amount of
mildew, on the Vine leaves you sent. I should
imagine from their appearance that they have re-
ceived a check from cold, or perhaps are sufliering
from want of moisture at their roots. Have you
given them more air at night than they have hitherto
been accustomed to ? The weather lately has been
very treacherous. — G. S. S. „
Diseased Vine roots. — I am sorry to trouble
you further concerning the Eucharis mite. I am
still doubtful if this is that insect, for after giving
it a fair trial to live amongst the Eucharis bulbs I
found it died in a short time. I have, however,
cleared out my Vine border, and send you a few
roots with the insects on them for your opinion. —
James Lindsay, Morrern.
*^* In reply to the above, I have carefully exa-
mined the Vine roots you sent, and I am sorry
to have to tell you that they are undoubtedly
attacked by the bulb mite (Rhizoglyphus echinopus)
and by Phylloxera. The former are in far greater
numbers than the latter on the roots sent to me, but
I think it is quite possible that the Phylloxera may
be more plentiful on other roots. They may easily
be distinguished from the mites, as they are flattish
insects, of a yellowish brown colour, and not more
than half a line in length, with stout, clumsy
antennas. The mites are globular, and of a tran-
sparent milky white colour, with the head and legs
of a reddish brown colour. They much resemble
rounded grains of sand, and are considerably larger
than the Phylloxera. I am afraid that no half
measures are of any use with either of these
creatures. The most certain way of extirpating
them would be by destroying the Vines and taking
away every particle of earth which might have come
in contact with the Vine roots, and burn it or bury
it somewhere away from any Vines or bulbs. Then
re-make the border and plant new A^nes. If you
are not prepared for such heroic measures, lift the
Vines, cut away all the roots which show any signs
of attack, particularly any which have small gouty
swellings on the rootlets, astheseswellings are caused
by the Phylloxera, and wash the others with a
strong solution of sulphide of potassium (3 lbs. to
1 gallon of water), or soak them in hot water at a
temperature of 115° Fahr. for a quarter of an hour,
and treat the border as suggested above. — G. S. S.
USES OF SOOT.
Some time since I happened to ask one of our best
market growers what he thought of soot as a stimu-
lant for pot plants. " Not much," he replied ; " it is
too drying." Although this individual may have
undervalued soot, it is certain that there is truth
in his assertion regarding the parching influence it
exercises on the soil. In moderation one does not
perceive any evil effect from its use, but persistently
employed as a top-dressing or with water it seems
to bring the soil into a dust-like condition. In a
moist season soot will do much good, but in sum-
mers so hot and dry as the past one, it does, I
believe, more harm than good. Being short of
manure, I last spring well dressed ground for
Strawberries with soot, forking it in just before the
plants were set out. Those plants never did well ;
the ground got so dry, that no amount of watering
seemed to make an impression on it. A great many
of the plants died oflE towards the latter end of the
summer, whilst others by the side of them that had
not been dressed with soot did very well. Had we
been blessed with frequent rains I do not doubt
that the difference in the two sets of plants would
have been in favour of those that had the soot. I
shall, however, be reluctant to employ soot again in
the early part of the year, for we never know what
the season will be like. Much was written some
time ago respecting the autumn manuring of Straw-
berries, and used towards the end of the growing
time when the air is cooler and there is more mois-
ture in the ground, I believe soot to be just the
right stimulant for this fruit. I have always main-
tained that Strawberry plants should be fed up to a
later period than it is customary to do. The crowns
take on their substance and the fruit germ forms
from the middle of September till the end of Octo-
ber. If nourishment fails during this time they
cannot possess their proper fruit-bearing powers.
It is not, however, a strong manure that is wanted
then, but one that will give substance without pro-
moting much growth. There is no manure that-
does this better than soot. For this reason I do
not think that one can err much in using it, even
during the resting period of plants. I feel sure
that Camellias and many of the so-called hard-
wooded greenhouse plants are benefited by occa-
sional waterings with weak soot water through
the winter months. As a fact, evergreen -
flowering plants that come into bloom in spring
or in early summer never do completely rest
unless the temperature remains some time below
45°. Aphelexis, Boronias, Pimeleas, hard-wooded
Heaths, [such as the forms of ventrioosa tricolor,
Massoni, Cavendishiana, depressa, and others, are
in a course of bud development through the winter.
The embryo flowers are imperceptibly, but surely
gaining size and substance, and when the plants are
root-bound weak doses of soot water increase their
blooming capabilities. The same may be said of
Azaleas and of such soft-wooded things as Primulas,
Cyclamens, Cinerarias, &o., which really require help
from the time the roots are beginning to run round
the pots. Chrysanthemums, too, are undoubtedly
benefited by soot, especially if used alternately with
other kinds of manure. Briefly, I consider soot to
be of most value during the autumn, winter, and
early spring months. It is, however, noteworthy
that some plants are but little sensible to the in-
fluence of soot. I am told by an experienced agri-
culturist that for corn crops money spent on soot
is money lost. Although I fancy that my friend is
to a certain extent mistaken, I know that all ma-
nures do not influence the growth of a plant alike.
I have certainly manured plants with soot that
seemed little or none the better for it, whilst in
other instances the effects have been very patent.
A mistake often made is in using it too strong. The
water should be only coloured, and at this strength
it cannot hurt the most tender roots. In this con-
dition it may be safely and beneficially used through
the syringe. J. C. B.
Table decoration.— Could you give me the
name and where it can be obtained of any hook on the
decoration of the table ? — W.
*#*" Table Decoration." By William Low. London;
Chapman and Hall.
BOOKS RECEIVED.
" Memonals of Coleorton." Two volumes. Edited,
with Introduction and Notes, by William Knight, St.
Andrew's University. Edinburgh ; David Douglas.
" La Coleur des Raisins." By Charles Baltet.
"Handbook of Couiferae." By Q. Busimer. Er-
furt : Ludwig Moller.
"Die Hasellnus ihre arten und ihre kultur." Von
Franz Goeschke. Berlin : Paul Parey.
"A Manual of Orchidaceous Plants." Part 2 —
Cattleya and Lcelia. James Veitch and Sons.
ITames of plants. — R. 0. — 1, Chrysanthemum
Leucanthemum ; 2, Chrysanthemum frutescens.
T. M. F. — Probably a Coelogyne, specimen in had con-
dition. F. Q. — 1, Ccelogyne Gardneriana; 2, Pleione
maculata. T. M. — 1, Cypripedium Ashburtoniae ; 2,
Trichosma suavis ; 3, Oncidium bicallosum. Hortus.
— 1, Gesnera cinnabarina; 2, Impatiens Hawkeri; 3,
Amasonia punicea; 4, Dipteracanthus Herbsti.
T. W. F. — 1, Restrepia elegans ; 2, Oncidium in-
curvum ; 3, Mesospinidium vulcanicum ; 4, lonopsis
panioulata; 5, Barkeria elegana. Nora. — 1, Calli-
carpa purpurea; 2, Bouvardia Alfred Neuner ; 3,
Lachenalia tricolor; 4, Salvia Pitcheri. C. B,
Hants. — Pleione maculata. F. W.B. — Dendrobium
formosum giganteum, with lemon-yellow stain in lip.
T. Jenkins. — Lselia prasiata. A. K. — 1, the
Snowherry tree (Symphoi*icarpus microphyllus) ; 2,
Euonymus europseus.
Wames of fruit.— J. T. 3f.— Apple, Adam's Pear-
main. .7. Dai/. — Two with no numbers, Beurre
Hardy and Louise Bonne of Jersey; 2, apparently
Vicar of Winkfield ; 3, Gansel's Bergamot ; 4, Doyenne
du Cornice. Jackson. — 1, Lord SuiSeld ; 2, not
known. /. G. M. O. — 1, Brabant Bellefleur; 2 and
4, King of the Pippins; 3, Goff. Inquirer. — 1, Ne
Plus Meuris ; 2, Hacon's Incomparable ; 3, White
Doyenne; 4, Passe Colmar; 5, Old Colmar; 6, The
Fairy.
502
THE GARDEN.
WOODS & FORESTS.
THE FORMATION OF PLANTATIONS ON
EXPOSED SITES.
Roads and BEiDLE-rATiis.— For the removal
of timber, access to the woodlands, and sporting
purposes, roads and patlis are absolutely necessary,
and shonld be pegged out previous to pitting opera-
tions being taken in hand. Such roads require
merely to have tlieir surfaces levelled, as 'this,
without the application of metalling, combined with
perfect drainage, is all that is necessary. The soil
or gravel taken out in forming these drains may be
spread on the surface of the road to level inequali-
ties, and should sufficient for this purpose not be
procured therefrom, a pit may be opened and the
most suitable material thus obtained utilised for
completing the work. Roads in woods need not
exceed a width of 15 feet, while paths 5 feet or
6 feet broad are ample. The roads should be made
as nearly parallel to each other as possible and in-
tersected by cross-rides formed at right angles to
these, and at about equal distances apart. Wood-
land Grass seeds may be sown on all roads and
paths in early spring.
Choice of trees.— Experience has proved that
certain kinds of trees require, or rather prefer, cer-
tain soils, certain situations, and certain methods
of treatment, and in no case is this more fully ex-
emplified than in planting high-lying and exposed
grounds. Many trees that succeed well and pro-
duce profitable timber at low altitudes and in
sheltered sites are totally unfitted for resisting the
fierce storms that frequently sweep along our ex-
posed hillsides, and thus in planting such grounds
the most careful selection of only such as are
suitable is very important. From this I do not,
however, wish it to be inferred that in the more
sheltered portions of the woodland, or where the
direct influence of the blast is spent on the outer
lines of suitable trees, that the majority of our
woodland subjects will not succeed and attain
to average proportions, but it is in the choice of
those trees that will succeed along the outskirts and
in the outer zones to which I at present particu-
larly refer.
Amongst Conifers, the Austrian, Corsican, Scotch,
and Cluster Pines (Pinus austriaca, P. Laricio, P.
sylvestris, and P. Pinaster) take first rank, and may
be depended on to give the utmost satisfaction
wherever used in these islands. Eight years ago
I formed a plantation at 800 feet altitude on one
of the Snowdon range of hills in Carnarvonshire,
and where fully exposed to the much-dreaded
south-western blast, which at times sweeps along
the hillsides with terrific fury, and in so doing used
the Austrian and Corsican Pines largely along the
outskirts on the most exposed sides particularly
with the most promising results. The Corsican
in particular has shot up straight and strong,
even in the very teeth of the blast, the annual
growths being long and stout and the branches
freely produced.
In another wood at less altitude, but where
the wind exerted its full force, the Cluster Pine
was used with the best possible result along
the outskirl.s; indeed, it is questionable if any
other tree could have so successfully battled with
the hard-hitting and prolonged blasts of that
particular locality. Inwards from the Pinaster
the Sycamore did fairly well, which might also
be said of the Oak and Mountain Elm, but none
of these could have withstood the blast had
not the shelter derived from the Pinaster been
afforded. The common Spruce (Abies excelsa)
should likewise enter largely into the composition
of plantations at high altitudes, it being a capital
shelter tree, and one that is well fitted" for doing
battle with cold winds. Then, again, it is valu-
able for planting in dampish portions of the
woodland where few other trees. Conifers at least,
could succeed in anything like a satisfactory way!
As to the value of tlie Scotch Pine for planting in
wind-tortured di&trictp, I need not say one word
in its favour, its qualities in this particular way
being fully recognised by the generality of planters
[Nov. 26, 1887.
Of hard-wooded trees for planting in exposed sites woods, for if this be performed in the best and most
the Sycamore is one of the most valuable I have j practical way, good results are sure to follow,
tried, as it not only succeeds well at high altitudes. Haphazard planting will not do, for when the attend-
but m such places forms a good shelter and pro- ing evils of such a method of work in low-lying and
duces a fair quantity of valuable timber. It should i sheltered grounds are considered, how much must
be planted in conjunction with the above-named | these be augmented on the exposed mountain-side,
Pines, allowing the latter to occupy the outer line ^ and where the plants have to do battle with hard-blow-
or lines. The Winged Elm (Ulmus alata) is one i ing and cold winds, not to speak of the numerous
of the best trees I know of for planting where the I other disadvantages under which they are placed,
storm beats hard and long ; and although it never j In the first place, none but the stoutest and bushiest
attains to a large size, nor, perhaps, produces timber I of plants must be used— those with an abundance
of great value (in its native country the wood of j of fibrous roots and that have been reared on par-
this tree is highly prized), yet this is no drawback I tially exposed ground, not at low altitudes and
to its extended use in such situations ; for what is screened on every side from the least blast of wind,
first of all wanted is trees that can do battle with , for such could never be expected to succeed in any-
the fiercest storms, and so afford shelter to other thing like a satisfactory way when transferred to
less hardy and more valuable timber-producers. , the bare hillside. Lean, lanky, imperfectly-branched.
Not long ago I was called upon to inspect a long ! scanty-foliaged, and badly-rooted plants had far
and narrow strip of plantation that had been formed i better be consigned to the rubbith-heap and burned
with a view to afford shelter to a mountain farm at , than transplantedintothesituationsunderconsidera-
nearly 1000 feet above sea-level, and where the wind [ tion. In lifting the plants from the nursery ground,
across a vast tract of ridgy moorland beat full upon : preserve every rootlet that is possible, and this can
it, and great was my surprise to find that amongst I only be accomplished by careful lifting conducted
the various trees that had been tried experimentally by an experienced hand. Immediately the plants
this Elm was one of the best, its strongest branches
being pushed forward into the very face of the
blast.
In the Birch (Betula alba) will be found another
excellent tree for planting along the outskirts of
exposed woodlands. It is also a good timber-pro-
ducer; indeed, at the present time there is little
difficulty in disposing of almost any quantity for
the manufacture of clog soles, bobbins, &c. The
Hornbeam (Carpinus Betulus) is also another tree
that can be recommended for planting where
cold and long-continued blasts render the cultiva-
tion of most other trees a difficult matter. As a
timber-producer it is certainly not very valuable,
but this quality can be entirely dispensed with
where that of shelter is of paramount importance.
In connection with the Winged Elm, it might
have been well to note another member of the
family that can put on its best form even at high
latitudes and where severe storms are very pre-
valent. I refer to the Mountain or Scotch Elm
(Ulmus montana), a grand, hardy subject, and one
of our most valuable timber-producing trees. It may
safely be planted along the very outskirts of the
woodland and in conjunction with other such well-
tried trees as the Sycamore, Birch and Hornbeam.
The common Holly (Ilex Aquifolium) must on no
account be omitted from the list of trees that can
brave fearlessly the mountain-side storms, and being
an Evergreen, it affords a great amount of shelter
to birds and animals at high altitudes, as well as
decks our deciduous woodlands with a bit of green
during the winter months.
I have tried with a great amount of success the
Evergreen Oak (Quercus Ilex) for planting, in con-
junction with other trees, on high-lying grounds.
It^ is very hardy, of free growth when fully esta-
blished, and affords a greater amount of shelter,
from its dense bushy evergreen head, than almost
any other tree.
Both the Oak (Quercus pedunculata and Q. sessili-
flora) and Beech (Fagus sylvatica) grow well and
produce a fair quantity of timber at high altitudes,
and act as nurses to other and less hardy kinds of
trees.
With the above list of well-tried and excellent
trees around the margin of any plantation, be it
even at the highest limits of tree growth and where
are lifted, they should be placed in a trench and the
roots covered with at least 6 inches of soil, there to
remain until wanted for the final planting out. In
conveying the plants from the nursery ground to
the plantation, every care should be taken to pre-
vent the roots becoming dry, a matter that is easily
accomplished by spreading some damp straw or
other covering over them ; and when they arrive at
their destination and previous to being planted the
roots must be kept in a moist condition .
When about to insert the plants, place the turf,
previously removed from the surface of the pit, in
the bottom of the same, and chop it up finely
with the spade, adding sufficient soil to bring the
level of that within the pit up to 4 inches or 5 inches
from the surface or ground mark. Now insert the
plant with its strongest roots towards that point from
which the worst winds blow, spreading them evenly
around the stem and filling in the rest of the soil,
which, with a firm trampling, completes the operation
of planting. Never Insert the plants at a greater
depth than that at which they stood whilst in the
nursery border, and this is a matter that should be
strongly insisted upon, as many planters labour
under the erroneous impression that the object on
exposed ground, so as to keep the plants from
being blown over, is to insert these deep in the
soil, not considering that if properly planted at the
right depth they are quite as secure, and have at
least double the chance of succeeding.
In about a fortnight after planting I have found
it advisable to give a general look over the
plants and trample the soil firmly around each, but
especially such as have inclined to leeward from
the effects of wind. Should any of the plants have,
by continual rocking to and fro, formed holes
around the stems, these must be carefully filled up
and firmly trampled, so as to prevent the egress of
air to the roots. Stones should never be placed as
wedges in the holes thus formed ; they cause irre-
parable damage to the tree stems when these are
agitated during severe weather.
A. D. Webster.
The White Aeh.. — Apart from its probable
value as a timber tree, the White Ash (Fraxinus
americana) is a much more ornamental and striking
f, llv 7,Zt^T,i. f -^ growui ana wnere ^ ^^ ^ur native Ash. The large and handsome
,lfect?H , f,?= . worst winds to which we ^re : ^^ ^^^ ^^^^-^ distinctly whitish under surfaces
in™ hP t V '^."""t^y- "''^°st.^7 kind of plant- and the vigorous growths, place this North American
■^ua cZmJt.V"^'"'^'^ *"^^"V''^ ^'"'r'''" tree in the first rank of ornamental trees for the
and quality produced. In the outer line or lines .^ „, j^^.^.^ „„,,^ ^s its timber places it.
plant the Austrian, Cluster, and Corsican Pines, and
inward from these the Scotch Fir, Birch, Elm
(mountain and winged). Sycamore, and Beech.
After that almost any tree may be used, but I
would prefer the Larch and Spruce Firs, Spanish
and Horse Chestnuts, Ash, English Elm, Oak, and
Hornbeam.
throughout the districts where it grows wild, in the
first rank from a purely economic standpoint. It is,
moreover, a quick grower, and quite as hardy as our
common British A.sh. The wood is light, tough,
very strong and elastic, and is extensively employed
in the manufacture of agricultural implements,
carriages, oars, cabinet-work, &c. It attains a height
Planting.- Next to a careful choice of trees, i of GO feet to SO feet, with a trunk i feet to (i feet
planting is the most important operation in connec- ' in diameter. It has grey furrowed bark and smooth
tion with the formation of high-lying and exposed i grey branchlets, with rusty coloured buds.
THE GARDEN.
503
No. 837. SATURDA Y, Dec. 3, 1887. Vol. XXXII.
" This ia an Art
Which does mend Nature : change it rather ; but
The Art itseu is Nattibe."— SAaJ-csjicarc.
Rose Garden.
T. W, GIRDLESTONE.
LACHARME'S ROSES.
Lacharme is dead. No other announcement
could cause sucli universal regret throughout
the Rose world, for in him we have lost the
greatest of all our Rose raisers. Wherever
Roses are cultivated the name of Lacharme has
for years been familiar as a household word,
and no name has ever been more eagerly looked
for in the lists of novelties annually distributed.
" What is Lacharme sending out this season ?"
has year after year been the fir.st question as
soon as the subject of new Roses has been
mooted, and anything coming from the famous
grower was always certain to obtain immediate
attention and trial. For Lacharme not only has
sent out more great Roses than any other
raiser, but also sent out hardly any that have
not proved thoroughly well worth growing.
Herein no doubt lay the reason of the greatness
of his reputation compared with that of other
raisers, namely, that while they, though sending
out some iirst-rate Roses, have accompanied
them by many indifferent ones, he has sent out
few that have not been in their day among the
best of their class, and therefore his name
attached to a seedling became recognised as a
guarantee of excellence.
If anyone were to be confined to growing no
other Roses than those of Lacharme's raising
it would be a comparatively slight hardship in
consideration of the fact that his seedlings com-
prise first-rate varieties of so many types, and,
in fact, his productions may be said almost to
epitomise modem Rose culture. For though
his greatest triumphs have been among the
Hybrid Perpetuals, yet he will also be remem-
bered as the raiser of the first and best Hybrid
Noisette, the first climbing Hybrid Polyantha,
as well as of Teas, Hybrid Teas, Bourbons,
and Chinas, and therefore a collection of his
seedlings alone would afford abundant variety,
while being of the best quality.
Thatanianshouldhavebeenableforcloseupon
half a century to occupy the most prominent
position in the field of Rose-raising, in which
the workers of late years have been so numerous,
indicates the strength of purpose, skill, and
determination to make the last achievement
only a point from which to start fresh triumphs
that ^characterise a great worker and entitle
Lacharme to the respect as well as to the endless
gratitude of all rosarians.
As soon as he had obtained a nursery, La-
charme lost no time in setting about raising
seedlings. He took over M. Plantier's Rose
establishment in 1840, and as early as 1843, only
six years after the distribution of Madame Laf-
fay (generally accounted the first of the Hybrid
Perpetuals), he sent out Ernestine de Barente,
a Hybrid Perpetual which enjoyed a great re-
putation in its day. This was followed the
next year by Louise Peyronny, a beautiful
light Rose, still popular and worth growing,
and one season later by M^lanie WHlermoz,
more commonly called Madame Willermoz, a
fine white Tea which, though giving consider-
able evidence of Bourbon blood, continues in
extensive cultivation.
During the next ten or twelve years some
score of varieties were distributed, of which La
S6duisante (18.50), Colonel de Rougemont(1854),
and Pteonia (1855) are now the best known, and
in 1858 the still beautiful and very distinct
Anna de Diesbach appeared, accompanied by
Virginale, also occasionally met with even yet.
In 1859 an epoch was marked in Rose-growing
by the introduction of Victor Verdier, a Rose
which, either by itself or by means of its des-
cendants, of which there is now quite a large
famUy, has attained universal celebrity. The
origin of this Rose has been a theme of frequent
discussion. In it some have seen the first of
the modern Hybrid Teas, and certainly the
habit, foliage, and smooth wood appear to indi-
cate a strong Tea, or perhaps Bourbon influence.
It may well have caused excitement when it
first appeared, for although in some districts
the plant is not so vigorous as might be desired,
its flower is still unsurpassed, and at its best
holds its own among the most recent varieties.
Through Victor Verdier we are indirectly in-
debted to Lacharme for its numerous progeny,
such as Etienne Levet, Countess of Oxford,
Mrs. Baker, Marie Finger, &c., all of which
follow it closely in habit and form, and are
among our most valuable Roses. Madame
Gustave Bonnett was sent out in 1860 ; and
then, in 1861, appeared a Rose which alone was
suflicient to make its raiser famous for all time
— namely, Charles Lefebvre. This glorious
Rose has probably given more pleasure to Rose
growers than any other of its class. In it were
revealed the possibilities of the Hybrid Perpe-
tual, for in the combination of size, form, and
colour it is not yet superseded ; and though it
made its appearance among a perfect galaxy
of beauty that rendered the year 1861 for
ever memorable in Rose annals, it is still,
as it always has been, the brightest star of all
that brilliant constellation. Unlike Victor Ver-
dier, Charles Lefebvre, although numberless
seedlings have been raised from it, has yielded
no varieties so good as or better than itself, so
that there is no Charles Lefebvre race, but the
great Rose stands alone. It may be mentioned
in passing that the dates of the introduction of
both the last-named Roses are incorrectly given
by Mr. H. B. EUwanger in his valuable book,
"The Rose." The year 1862 witnessed the
production of further useful Roses in Baron
Adolphe de Rothschild, Lady Emily Peel,
Alfred de Rougemont, and also Madame Alfred
de Rougemont, another valuable Hybrid Noisette
following the first of the type, Louise d'Arzens,
of the previous season ; and among the additions
of the next two years Lacharme gave the world
another gorgeous Rose, stUl unsurpassed, in
Xavier Olibo (1864), a Rose which is not over
vigorous, but which is very free-blooming, and
of which it is a greater pleasure to obtain a per-
fect flower than of almost any other variety.
Alfred Colomb, still one of the best three reds,
made 1865 notable, and quite eclipsed all its
companion novelties, in spite of these including
Souvenir de Dr. Jamain, a unique colour, but
hardly large enough to satisfy the exhibitor, and
hence, unfortunately, far too seldom seen ; 1866
brought Thorin, 1867 the best of the Hybrid
Noisettes, the evergreen (in every sense) Boule
de Neige, as well as Coquette des Alpes, with
Pitord, the best purple, while in 1869 came
another celebrity in Louis Van Houtte, a grand
dark Rose, whose maroon-crimson colour has yet
to be matched; 1871 saw Coquette des Blanches
added to the Hybrid M oisettes (Perle des Blanches
coming the following year), and Lyonnais and
President Thiers to the Victor Verdier race,
which does not seem to flourish over here as it
does in the neighbourhood of Lyons. In
Madame Lacharme a Hybrid Tea appeared in
1872 among others, followed the next season by
the even liner one, Captain Christy, said to
have originated from Victor Verdier and a Tea ;
in 1874 the reliable Hippolyte Jamain and the
fine-weather Comtesse de Serenye were the chief
additions, while those of 1875 included the
splendid dark Rose Jean Soupert, unaccoxmt-
ably seldom seen, and Henry Bennett, a dark
Bybrid Perpetual with a beautiful petal, but
not full enough. Lacharme's best Tea, Madame
Lambard, came to us the following season, and
has proved the most valuable addition to the
rose colours ; 1879 brought Catherine Soupert
and the very useful autumnal Hybrid Tea Jules
Finger, in the way of Captain Christy ; while in
1881 came Helen Paul and the most beautiful
white Hybrid Perpetual Violette Bouyer, and
in 1883 another fii-st-rate Rose in Alphonse
Soupert. Clara Cochet, the new Hybrid Per-
petual of 1885, has not been much seen yet, but
the climbing Hybrid Polyantha Max Singer of
the same date is a promising red climber, and
much is hoped of the new Tea only just an-
nounced, Henriette de Beauvau.
Thus it wiU be seen what a giant's work that
of Lacharme has been in raising Roses, and
though he will doubtless have many successors,
they will need to possess great ability, great
judgment, and to achieve great success in order
to excel or even to attain to equal rank with the
great benefactor of Rose lovers all over the
world who has just passed away.
ROSE LAMARQUE.
Me. Girdlestonb's brilliant rhapsody on this fine
old Rose is as welcome as refreshing. So much can
hardly be well and truly said of any other Ros3
almost three score years old. The exquisite en-
graving, notwithstanding an undue preponderance
of mass and of darkness in the vase, but adds to
the chasteness of the word -picture so ably and
truly drawn. It is hoped that such able portraiture
by pen and pencil will give a much needed stimulus
to the culture of this Rose, for it may be safely
asserted that no Rose of the same age and of equal
merit has been or is so little grown. It is, in fact,
seldom met with, and still more rarely in anything
like good condition.
The most probable cause of this is its one fault
referred to by Mr. Girdlestone— its semi-tenderness,
and as nothing can be gained by under- ?stimatiDg
its constitutional inability to resist severe frosts in
winter or the cutting winds of spring, it may be
stated at once that Lamarqne is considerably more
tender than Margchal Kiel or Celine Forestier, and
is about on a level with Triomphe de Rennes.
The effects of cold on these two Roses are also
almost identical. The root stocks of both pass
through ordinary winters with little or no apparent
injury. But the cold penetrates the shoots, espe-
cially the stronger ones, at different points with
but little apparent injury at the time. By and by,
however, spots appear, and these spread into blotches
of different lengths from less than 1 inch to 6 inches
or more. At first they seem mere discolourations
of bark, but as the season moves on they deepen
into apparent bruises, or a species of gangrene,
penetrate yet deeper and deeper, reach the pith,
sometimes go right through the shoots, and gene-
rally destroy them.
Hence the importance of early and eflioient pro-
tection for Lamarque on open walls throughout
East Anglia and aU equally or more ungemal
localities. No protection has proved so efficient as
a thin thatch of dry Bracken fronds. These, to pat
the matter practically rather than soientifical^,
keep out the cold and keeps in the heat more effi-
ciently than other more dense and ponderous cover-
ings. The extreme porosity of the Bracken also
proves a sure antidote to any excess of moisture or
to its presence in a stagnant condition, which is
equally or more fatal to tender Roses than any
ordinary amount of cold.
504
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 3, 1887.
One fact must be mentioned in favour of
Lamarque in connection with its liability to injury
from cold. Few Roses will bear treating as annuals
better than this old favourite, for while the old
shoots will break into blossom, and produce almost
any number of sprays of fine buds and bloom,
breaks from the root-stocks of' the current year
will also rush up during the all too brief period
of our summers, and crown themselves with fine
bunches of blossom in the autumn. This peculiar
merit of blooming in so brief a period on the
current year's shoots is generally turned to com-
pound account in the culture of this fine Eose on
walls. Breaks from the root-stock or main stem
are encouraged annually for the double purpose of
furnishing the plant with fresh shoots and yielding
some of the finest bunches of bloom in the autumn.
These suocessional shoots also permit, and, indeed,
necessitate, a vigorous thinning out of the older
and semi-exhausted branches, and thus the youth
of the plants is renewed annually, and they are
clothed with blossom from base to summit.
It would be interesting to hear the experience of
different growers as to the conduct of this fine Rose
under glass. My own on this point is somewhat
disappointing, for, while this Rose thrives well,
grows to any length, and blooms once at least pro-
fusely under glass, neither the quality of the flowers,
their number, nor the length of the flowering period
have equalled those grown under favourable condi-
tions in the open air. Possibly the same may be
truly said of Marechal Niel, while as for Triomphe
de Rennes, I have never seen it very successfully
cultivated under glass. Is this experience general ?
and, if so, "what are the probable causes of it ? and,
further, how are these most likely to be over-
come ? One more question in regard, not to La-
marque, but our best golden Eose, that has obviously
a great deal of similar blood in its veins — Marechal
Niel : How is it that while under glass, as a rule,
it blooms but once, in favourable sites in the open
air it becomes perpetual, and blossoms twice and
occasionally thrice ? — D. T. F.
I was very pleased to see this fine old Eose
so well figured in The Gaeden, November 19
(page 4511), and it was equally gratifying to read
" T. W. G.'s " praise of it. In the west of England
this Rose still finds many admirers, especially
amongst amateurs. I have met with it on many
occasions in company with the Cloth of Gold, and
always doing well. The last-mentioned, I am told,
is being planted again pretty generally as a creeper
in places where Marechal Niel has failed. I have
known it stand 2(1° of frost quite uninjured as a
standard without any protection. Climate may have
a good deal to do with it, but I fancy that
"T. W. G." rather underrates its merits as an ex-
hibition Rose, especially with regard to its size, as
I have seen many very large and splendid blooms in
a garden in this neighbourhood. If these flowers
possessed one fault it was their flatness, and unless
caught just at the right time showed an objection-
able eye. — J. C. C.
Grafted and own-root Boses. — The experi-
ment of Mr. F. F. Smith, of Normal Park, lU., with
two lots of Niphetos planted side by side — one lot
grafted and the other on own roots — shows so far a
decided advantage with those on their own roots,
as they have better foliage and a much heavier and
better quality of bloom than the grafted plants.
Both lots are receiving identical treatment. Mr.
Smith, however, has some grafted Gloire de Dijon
Roses which are doing much better on Manetti
stock than on their own roots. — American Florist.
The Japan Rose (Rosa rugosa). — I have heard
it recommended not to buy worked Roses of this
variety. Why, I wonder ? The largest specimen
of Rosa rugosa I know is, or was, worked on the
Manetti. It is now nearly 10 feet wide and pro-
portionately high, and was planted with the bud
just covered. It is now, to aU intents and pur-
poses, on its own roots. I know a smaller and more
recently planted specimen, whose shoots have been
left upon the ground, rooted there, and are coming
up in all directions. In this case, the Manetti stock
is not dead, but annually sends up a crop of shoots
of its own, but they are so weak in comparison
with the more vigorous shoots and ample foliage of
the foster child, as to be absolutely of no import'
ance. I know of others equally successful. —
T. Smith.
Koae Boule de Neige.— The praises of this
beautiful and most useful Rose were lately loudly
sung, but no case of its extreme vigour was, if I
remember aright, mentioned. In the stable-yard
of Narrowater Castle, County Down, is a specimen
covering a wall space 3(1 feet by 10 feet. It is in
the most vigorous condition, annually making
shoots a yard long over the whole surface, these
shoots forming branching masses of beautiful
flowers. When I saw it in the summer there could
not have been less than .500 flowers upon it. There
is something either in the soil, or situation, or both,
very suitable to the Rose, for close by is an example
of the Marechal Niel variety which threatens to
overrun it. This se.ison it has made shoots 10 feet
long right across the top and front of the older
tree. Next season, all being well, the mixture of
white and gold should be very beautif ill. — T. Smith.
Rose variegated Niphetos.— Mr. Wilson has
a new Rose— a variegated form of Niphetos ; not
variegated flowers, like our old friend Amerioan Banner,
hut green and white flowers, pi'ettily marked. — Ameri-
can i'lnrisf.
Chrysanthemums.
B. MOLYNEUX.
PREPARING PLANTS FOR CUTTINGS.
As soon as the plants have done flowering they
should be cut down and the cuttings prepared
for supplying the plants which are to flower
next season. Where a collection is grown on
what is termed the large bloom method, the
plants are generally packed closely together pre-
vious to coming into flower, so that as many as
possible can be got into the smallest space. The
consequence of this is that the suckers growing
from the base of the plants which are to supply
the stock for another season are liable to become
weakly and unable to produce suitable cuttings.
Directly the flowers are faded cut the stems
down close to the soil in the case of those varieties
that produce cuttings freely. Sorts that are shy
growing, or new or scarce varieties of which it
may be difficult to obtain a sufficient stock of
good cuttings, should not be cut down lower
than within 2 feet of the soil. Cuttings pro-
duced from the stem are not nearly so good as
those taken at a distance from the stem, but
stem cuttings must in some cases be secured, or
none at all may be available. The objection to
stem cuttings is that plants so created are liable
to show flower-buds prematurely, in some in-
stances as soon as the plants commence to
grow.
The best position for the old roots or stools is
the next consideration. Any cool house where
the plants can be placed as close to the glass as
possible to prevent the growths becoming weakly
is the best iiositioii. No situation is better for
them than a vinery or Peach house at rest where
plenty of light can be had now that the foliage
of the Vines or Peaches has fallen. I make
up over the vinery border a temporary stage, on
which the plants are placed, and get an abund-
ance of light and air, which induce a stocky
growth. Some growers place the old roots in
cold frames, which answer very well, except in
the case of severe frost, when the plants need
protection or the young growths will be injured.
It sometimes happens that some varieties throw
up cuttings very freely, so much so that they
become crowded, and if allowed to remain so
the cuttings become very weak, and consequently
not at all desirable for stock. In this case
thinning the cuttinfcs should be resorted to, re-
moving the taUest and weakest, and retaining
just enough for the purpose required.
Some varieties will refuse to throw up a single
cutting. In this case loosen the surface soil,
and if the roots are bare through the continued
drenchings of water given previous to the plants
blooming, cover the roots with light gritty soil,
composed principally of leaf mould and sand.
Examine the drainage to make sure that the
plants are not water-logged, and give occasional
waterings of weak liquid manure, which will tend
to strengthen the growths. Water must be given
carefully, as too much causes a yellow, sickly
growth which must be avoided. Those plants
that do not show signs of any cuttings at all
must be placed in a gentle bottom heat, and the
stems syringed occasionally. Those starting
freely into growth will not requu-e any heat,
but merely protection from frost, with plenty of
air on all favourable occasions. Green-fly occa-
sionally attacks the points of the shoots, and
can easily be got rid of by fumigating with
tobacco, or, if not convenient to fumigate the
house, dust the shoots afi'ected with tobacco
powder, and afterwards syringe the shoots to
clear them from both fly and powder.
A capital method of securing a stock of cut-
tings of any new or scarce variety is by striking
the side shoots that are often produced in excess
during May and June when the plants are
grown for large blooms. Many side shoots that
are produced at that time and are generally
thrown away do well if inserted singly in small
pots in sandy soil, placed in a gentle bottom
heat until rooted, and afterwards removed to a
cold frame. As soon as the pots are well filled
with roots shift the plants into 5-inch pots,
using moderately rich soil and pressing it down
firmly, thus inducing a short, stocky growth.
Stand the plants out of doors, allowing one
stem only to grow from each plant. According
to the variety, the plants will grow from 1 foot
to 4 feet high and produce one bloom, which
will be useful for side stages or where dwarf
\ plants are required. Directly the blooms have
' faded cut the plants down close to the soil, and
cuttings of a short, stocky nature will be pro-
^ duced. As the main object in growing the
plants in this manner is to obtain good cuttings
rather than large blooms, any side shoots are
removed during the time summer growth is
being made, thus concentrating the whole energy
of the plant into the stem and the roots.
Chrysanthemums and Falme. — TheBrighton
and Hove Chrysanthemum Society offers prizes for
groups of Chrysanthemums and Palms, not more than
twelve of the latter. The first prize arrangement
was of pyramidal form, the top being surmounted
by a good specimen of Areca lutescens, and several
others of the same kind dotted here and there,
which gave grace and lightness to the group. The
Chrysanthemums were grown on the free-flowering
system, being literally loaded with blossoms. The
only fault was that the Chrysanthemums were too
crowded, as had they been more freely disposed
the efl^ect would have been better. Dwarf Chrysan-
themum plants bearing flowers of good quality,
if associated with Palms of a light character, would
make a very effective group. — S.
Single Chrysanthemums at Heckfleld. —
Some of the best grown plants of single Chrysan-
themums that I have seen were grown at Heokfield,
Mr. Wildsmith evidently appreciating the merits of
this section when grown under favourable condi-
tions, as they are in the present instance. These
single-flowered Chrysanthemums are well adapted
for the decoration of vases, as they associate so
well w'ith other things. The scent from some
of them is particularly agreeable, the flowers
of the variety named Mrs. Langtry perfuming
a whole house. The plants in question were
Dec. 3, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
505
struck in the usual way about the middle of
January; the leading stem, when about U inches
high, was pinched, all succeeding growths being
allowed to develop, the result being plants i feet to
5 feet high, freely branched, and with ample
foliage, and a profusion of blossom, the plants
showing that they had received all the necessary
requirements during the summer in the shape
of water accompanied with stimulants when needed.
From such plants abundant .supplies of flowers can
be had for some time to come, as Chrysanthemums
when grown in this manner continue to throw out
side flowers after the top blooms have been taken
off.— E. M.
SELECTION OF VARIETIES FOR VARIOUS
PURPOSES.
Those persons who contemplate the cultivation of
Chrysanthemums during the year 1888 will now
require to select the varieties best suited for their
purpose, and those who have had a collection under
their charge during the season now drawing to a
close will have to re-arrange their lists. As new
sorts come into favour older and worthless kinds
must be discarded to make room for the newer
and, in some cases, better varieties. It often hap-
pens, however, that many of the so-called new
varieties are Inferior to many older varieties. It is
neither necessary nor wise now-a-days to be ham-
pered with sorts that are not of the best quality for
whatever object they may be grown. Cultivators
should remember that inferior varieties occupy as
much time and labour as deserving sorts. The cul-
tivation of new and improved varieties is a very
interesting phase in Chrysanthemum growing. It
is not wise for beginners, who have not had experi-
ence, to burden themselves with varieties little
known to them, unless these sorts have been recom-
mended by some person who has opportunities of
judging of the qualities of individual varieties. For
the information of beginners who do not know
I purpose to give lists for a variety of purposes
suitable for all cultivators, large or smaU. Those
not requiring all or half of the numbers given may
select as many as they choose, commencing from
the top of each list, as I have arranged the varieties
according to merit. Of course, personal taste will
influence the cultivator somewhat in the selection
of varieties if the plants are grown mainly for exhi-
bition purposes. My advice is grow plenty of varie-
ties that a good margin may be allowed for selection,
because seldom it is that all the sorts are equally
good the same season. Japanese being the more
popular section and the varieties most numerous, I
have made this kind the longest in point of names.
With the intention of being more useful, I have
added the colour of each variety in a simple manner
without any attempt at elaboration.
Fifty Japanese varieties for cut hloonis. — Mme. C.
Audiguier, deep mauve ; Belle Paule, white, edged
with rosy purple; Boule d'Or, yellow and bronze;
Jeanne Delaux, dark velvety brown ; Edwin Molyneux,
purple-crimson and gold; Mr. H. Cannell, soft yellow;
Mrs. H. Cannell, snowy white; Avalanche, snowy
white ; Fair Maid of Guernsey, white ; Triomphe de
la rue des Chalets, salmon-red; Meg Men'ilies, white,
sulphur centre ; Ralph Brocklebank, primrose-yellow ;
Criterion, amber; Thunberg, orange -yellow : Mrs. J.
Wright, snowy white; Duchess of Albany (Jackson),
orange-huff ; Mr. C. Orchard, golden bronze ; Val d' An-
Jorre, chestnut, shaded orange ; Baron de Prailly, rose ;
Carew Underwood, bron/.e-amber, shaded rose : Lady
Lawrence, ivory-white ; Mile. Lauroix, white ; Golden
Dr.igou, rich yellow ; Edouard Audiguier, purple-
maroon, silver reverse; ilargarct Marrouch, crimson-
veJ, tipped irold ; JImc. Liiiug, white, flamed rose ;
Martha Hardiuge, orange-yellow, tipped crimson ;
SoleU Levant, pale yellow; Mons. Astorg, silver white,
blush centre ; Mons. H. EUiott, orange-brown, pale
yellow tips; Japouaise, bronze-yellow; Gloriosum,
sulphur-yellow ; Comte de Germiny, nankeen-yellow,
striped crimson-brown ; M. Burnet, lUac-mauve ;
Maiden's Blush, white, tinted blush ; M. Delaux,
reddish crimson ; Bertha Fhght, blush-white ; I'Ador-
ahle, canary yellow and bronze ; Gi-andiflora, yellow ;
Hiver Fleuri, cream, white, and rose ; Balmoreau,
rose-purple; Sceptre Toulousain, yellow, striped crim-
son ; Mr. John Laing, reddish brown ; M. Ardene,
rose-Hlac ; Elaine, white ; Peter the Great, lemon ;
Fernand Feral, rosy mauve ; Album plenum, creamy
white ; Mons. Freeman, rosy violet ; and Stanstead
White, snowy white.
Forty Incurved varieties for cut hlooms. — Lord
Alcester, pale primrose ; Queen of England, blush ;
Empress of ludia, white ; Golden Empress, pale yellow ;
Alfred Salter, rosy hlac ; Golden Queen of England,
canary yellow ; Princess of Wales, blush, tinted rose ;
John Salter, golden chestnut; Jeanne d'Arc, blush-
white, tipped purple ; Prince Alfred, rosy carmine ;
Lord Wolseley, bronzy red ; Bronze Queen of Eng-
land, bronze-lilac ; Mrs. Heal, creamy white ; Jardin
des Plantes, orange-yellow; Hero of Stoke Newington,
rosy pink ; Priocess of Teck, blush-white ; Barbara,
orange-amber ; Empress Eugenie, rosy lilac ; Lady
Hardinge, silvery rose; Refulgence, claret; Mrs. W.
Shipmau, fa^vn ; Mrs. Norman Davis, oi"ange-yellow ;
Cherub, orange, rosy bronze shade; Nil Desperandum,
dark orange-red ; Lady Carey, pale rose ; Mr. Bunn,
golden yellow; Nonpareil, rosy lilac; Princess Beatrice,
deep lilac ; Mr. Brunlees, Indian red, tipped gold ; Sir
Stafford Carey, chestnut-red ; Beauty, blush ; Novelty,
pale blush; Baron Beust, chestnut-red; Mabel Ward,
golden yellow; Eve, creamy white; White Venus,
white ; Lady Slade, deep lilac ; AngeUna, amber ;
Golden Eagle, bronze, tipped gold; Golden John
Salter, golden amber.
Twelve Refcved rarieiies for cut hlooms. — Culling-
fordi, scarlet-crimson ; King of Crimsons, dark crim-
son ; Amy Fm-ze, lilac, mottled rose; Dr. Sharpe,
magenta ; Cloth of Gold, rich golden yellow ; Golden
Christine, yellow and bronze : Pink Christine, pale
pink ; Peach Christine, peach ; White Christine, creamy
white; Phidias, rosy blush ; Distinction, golden yeUow,
outer centre bronze ; Felicity, lemon-white.
Twelve Anevione Japanese for cut blooms. — Fabian
de Mediana, deep lilac ; Mile. Cabrol, Idao centre,
blush guard ; Scear Dorothee Souille, blush ; Souvenir
de I'Ardene, rose ; Mme. Bertha Pigmy, lilac centre ;
Marguerite Villageoise, lilac; Mme. Clos, rosy lilac
fringe, centre yellow; Margouline, pm-ple-rose; Rata-
poil, bronzy red ; Bacchus, rich velvety crimson ; Minnie
Chate, rose-lOac ; and Mme. Ghys, lilac.
Twelve large Aneynone vaj^eties for cut hlooms. —
Fleur de Marie, white ; Lady Margaret, white ; Gliick,
yellow; Grand d' Alveole, pale blush; Georges Sand,
bronze-red ; Cincinnati, pale lilac ; Empress, rosy lilac ;
Acquisition, Ulac ; Mrs. Pothers, deep lilac; Nouvelle
Alveole, bronzy lilac ; Mme. Goderaux, creamy white ;
Mrs. M. Russell, pale primrose.
Twelve Pompon varieties for cut blooms. — Comte de
Momy , bright purple ; Black Douglas, dark crimson ;
Mile. Elise Dordan, rose-pink; Golden Mme. Martha,
golden yellow; Mme. Martha, white; Marabout, white ;
Mustapha, bronzy red; Nelly Rainford, hufi^-yellow ;
Prince of Orange, orange-red ; Rosinante, blush-rose ;
President, purple ; La Purete, white.
Twelve Anemone Pompon varieties. — Queen of
Anemones, rose - crimson ; Mme. Moutels, white,
yellow centre; Antonius, bright yeUow; Mr. Astie,
orange - yellow ; Regulus, brown; Calliope, ruby-
red; Mai'guerite de Coi, blush; Perle, rose-Hlac ;
Marie Stuart, blush, sulphur centre; Sidonie,^ lilac,
blush centre; Aglaia, blush- white; Eugene Laujatdet,
yellow.
Twelve Japanese for specimens. — Peter the Great,
lemon ; Mme. Bertie Rendatler, bronze ; Fair Maid of
Guernsey, white; Val d'Andorre, orange-red; Lady
Selborne, white; Bouquet Fait, rose-pink ; Som'ce
d'Or, orange-red; Hiver Flem-i, creamy white, and
rose; Roseum superbum, rose-lilac; Mile. Laeroix,
white; La Nymphe, peach; Triomphe du Nord, crim-
son-maroon.
Tu-elve Incurved for specimens. — John Salter, golden
chestnut; Mrs. G. Bundle, white; George Glenny,
primrose; Mrs. Dixon, orange-yellow: Lord Alcester,
prinu'ose ; Queen of England, blush ; Golden Empress,
yellow; Prince of Wales, claret; Mrs. Sharpe, rose-
pink; Lady Hardinge, silvery rose ; Prince Alfred, rose-
carmine ; Venus, pink.
iS'i.i' Reflcred .for specimens. — Cullingfordi, sc.irlet-
erimson; Dr. Sharpe, magenta; Peach Christine,
peach ; Mrs. Forsyth, creamy white ; King of Crim-
sons, dark crimson ; Chevalier Domage, orange -
yeUow.
Twenty-four Decorative varieties. — Lady Selborne,
white ; Mrs. G. Rundle, Mrs. Dixon, George Glenny,
James Salter, mauve-lilac; So3ur Melanie, white;
Mons. H. Jacotot, crimson and gold; Source d'Or,
King of Crimsons, Bouquet Fait; Mme. Desgrange,
white; Mrs. Burrell, sulphur- white ; _G. Wei'mig,
primrose; Triomphe du Nord, I'Africaine, crimson-
red; Margot, rose-chamois; Progne, purple; Culling-
fordi, Simon Delaux, crimson ; Peter the Great, Mme.
de Serin, rosy purple; Comet, Elaine, Mons. Astorg,
silver white, blush centre.
Tieelve varieties, single. — Lady Churchill, brick-
red; Jane, white; Mrs. Langtry, pale pink; Mrs.
Wills, white, suffused pink; America, blush; HeUan-
thus, bronze yeUow; Mrs. Dr. Duke, pale lilac;
Crushed Strawberry, Patience, amaranth, tipped white ;
White Perfection, white ; Oriflamme, reddish brown ;
Queen of Yellows, yellow.
Four Scented varieties. — Dr. Sharpe, Progne, Mi-s.
Langtry, Dick Turpin.
Thii-tij varieties for grouping. — Val d'Andorre,
Triomphe du Nord, Mons. Henri Jacotot, Mme. de
Serin, Criterion, Boule d'Or, M. Astorg, Cullingfordi,
Japouaise, Mile. Laeroix, George Glenny, Jeanne
Delaux, Meg MeiTilies, Elaine, King of Crimsons,
Jardin des Plantes, Prince Alfred, Bouquet Fait, Mr.
Burm, Princess of Teck, Chevaher Domage, Mme. C.
Audiguier, Simon Delaux, Mrs. G. Rundle, Dr. Macary,
Mrs. Dixon, Hero of Stoke Newington, Alba plena.
Fair Maid of Guernsey, Mme. Bertie Rendatler.
Eighteen late varieties. — Princess Teck, Ceres, Hero
of Stoke Newington, Mrs. Norman Daris, Meg Merri-
lies, Grandiflorum, Mrs. C. Carey, Golden Gem, Thtm-
berg. Fan- Maid of Guernsey, Miss Marechaux, Fanny
Boucharlet, Ethel, Mrs. Jones, Miss Margaret, Non-
pareil, Lady Carey, Pehcan.
New Varieties.
M. Garnar. — Japanese, long drooping, naiTOw
petals, bright golden eolom- ; a most promising variety.
Primrose League. — Pompon, eridently a sport from
Snowdrop, which it resembles in every way except in
colour, which is pure primrose ; most desirable free-
flowering variety, useful for button-hole flowers.
E. M.
Pompon Chrysantheinuins. — For supplying
cut flowers in abundance, the method adopted by
Mr. WUdsmith, at Heckfield, is specially to be re-
commended for this section of Chrysanthemums.
The cuttings are inserted about the middle of
January in the ordinary way, and the plants are
not stopped by pinching the points, but are allowed
to grow until they reach a height of say 2 feet,
when they branch out naturally and grow freely
without any stopping, the result being a mass of
flowers upon all the branches, which are most useful
for cutting in long lengths if required. The pure
white variety, La Purete, is a special favourite
there.— E. M.
Chjysantliemuin R. Brocklebank.— I read
with much interest at page 466 of The Gaeden
(Nov. 19) Mr. Molyneux's notes on the new Chrysan-
themums. He says that the fine yellow sport frorn
Meg Merrilies, viz., R, Brocklebank, has produced
rather thin flowers, as it has done with other noted
growers, but in my experience I have found it to do
the reverse. I have grown it side by side with the
parent variety, and find it to be a stronger grower
and not so subject to mildew. I may mention that
I had three fine healthy plants from the raiser, Mr.
Winkworth, last April, and aU grew well, and two
of them have produced flowers superior to the
parent variety. The other plant, strange to say, has
produced blooms of quite a different character,
with long thin petals having a peculiar twist towards
the centre, and of a jialer yellow than those of the
other plants, and altogether inferior. The plants
have had the same treatment throughout, and they
all set their buds about the same time, liz., the
1st of September, and I am of opinion that there are
two varieties. Has this been the experience of any
of your readers .'—J. M. Corona.
A gold cup for Chrysanthemums.— It is
not often that a gold cup is offered as a prize at a
horticultural exhibition — indeed, it is a very rare
event : but it was done at an exhibition of Chrysan-
themums recently held at Devizes for a benevolent
purpose. Mr. C. N. May, of Elm Lodge, Devizes, is a
gentleman who takes a great interest in horticulture,
and he conceived the idea of celebrating in part
the Jubilee of Her Majesty by offering a gold Jubilee
cup as a prize for the best twenty-four blooms of in-
curved Chrysanthemums, in not less than eighteen
varieties. It was a gold cup of the nominal value of
ten guineas, but it must have cost something more ;
it was small, but of excellent workmanship, and
worthy of the occasion. There were nine competi-
506
THE GARDEN.
tors for the trophy, and it was won by Mr. Wild-
smith, gardener to Lord Eversley, HeckBeld, Hants,
who is well known as a successf al exhibitor of the
Chrysanthemum. But the contest was keen, for
Mr. Wildsmith was run close by Mr. Trinden, gar-
dener to Sir H. Mildmay, Bart., Dogmersfleld Park,
Hants, who received as a second prize a handsome
silver cup, given by Mr. Alderman Chandler, ex-
mayor of Devizes. While it is to be wished that
some article of value likely to be more useful than
a cup could be [given in its place, I can but
acknowledge that the cups given at Devizes were
worth the money value attached to them. — R. D.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
We have received a photograph from Mr. C. J.
Partington, Heaton House, Cheshunt, of Phalaenopsis
plants, showing a wonderful vigour of growth, and
testifying to great skill in cultivation.
Eoyal Horticultural Society. — A special
general meeting of the Fellows of the Eoyal Horti-
cultural Society will he held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday,
December 13, in the conservatory, to receive a report
from the council, and to consider the statements and
proposals contained therein.
Azalea Deutsche Perle. — Flowers of this
lovely variety have come from Mr. Denman, and
remind us of its great usefulness during the winter
and early spring. > It is the finest of all the white
Azaleas and forces well, a consideration to those
who need early flowers.
Cypripedium insigne.— There are several luxu-
riant specimens carrying well marked flowers in the
Orchid house at Kew, where they are arranged, as
usual, at the end facing the small annexe. There
are few, if any, more useful Orchids than this, or
that have kept their hold so well on a flower-loving
public, as the colours are not only fairly cheerful
for Cypripediums, but the culture is very simple.
At Messrs. Veitch's Chelsea Nursery there is a batch
of plants of C. Leeanum, a hybrid between the well-
coloured C. Spicerianum and C. insigne Maulei, the
last-mentioned being a fine variety of the parent.
Blue marguerite (Agathsea coelestis). — This
is often considered scarcely worth growing, but
this opinion would be quickly changed if the
plants were always seen in the same condition
as those in the greenhouse at Kew. They are
kept in pots the whole year round, and are now
spreading, vigorous specimens of dense growth, the
leaves small, neat, and deep green, intensifying the
rich blue, more like that of a fine Lobelia, of the
small Daisy-like flowers, which are borne well above
the foliage. Amateurs and others who wish for a
cheerful plant for their greenhouse at this season
should make a note of this blue Marguerite.
Oncidium Bogersi. — If this is not a variety
of 0. varicosum, it is similar, but whatever its re-
lation there can be no doubt as to the beauty of the
flower, which has a lip of unusual size and of the
most brilliant yellow, deeper in some instances
than in others. The branching panicle is of great
length and carries dozens of flowers, each measuring
over 2 inches across. The only hue besides yellow is
a few bars of reddish brown at the base of the small
sepals and petals. A good specimen suspended in
the plant house gives a glimmer of gold at this
season ; in truth, it is one of the showiest and most
useful of all Orchids, and it is a pity it is not more
largely grown.
Ijate Chrysanthemums. — The season for
Chrysanthemums has now, owing to the exertions
of specialists in this flower, become greatly ex-
tended. At Messrs. Veitch's Chelsea nursery are
a few varieties that will keep up the display for
some time, among which the following are excel-
lent : Mrs. Norman Davis, a bright yellow, well
shaped, incurved variety ; Princess Teck ; Yellow
Perfection, an old kind, but very pretiy, the flower
being bright yellow ; Margaret of York, an Ane-
mone-flowered variety, the centre yellow, with the
guard petals of a softer shade ; Pelican, a white
Japanese Chrysanthemum, with large flowers ;
Fanny Boucharlet, white, with pinkish tinge ; Bi-
color, a Japanese, the colour reddish bronze and
[Dec. 3, 1887.
brown ; Yellow Ethel, clear yellow, and sometimes
called Mrs. H. J. Jones; Maid of Athens, white,
of the character of Fair Maid of Guernsey, but very
late ; Robert Bottomley, Japanese, white, in the
way of Lady Lawrence ; Grandifiorum, golden yel-
low ; Gloriosum, pale sulphur ; White Ceres, pure
white ; the eld Japonaise, Angelina, neat and f uU,
the upper portion of the flower of a yellow colour,
the other of a bronzy tint ; and Orange Quill, a
small Daisy-flowered Pompon, with bright yellow
quilled florets — it is very free blooming.
Kose Slarie Van Houtte in Wigtonshire.
— This gem of autumn Roses is the most continuous
flowering of any grown here. The plant from
which the enclosed blooms were taken is growing
against a south-east wall, and although 12° of frost
have been registered on several occasions, it still
continues to open its beautiful yellow flowers and
highly coloured buds. — J. Day, Galhrvay House,
Garlieston, iV.B.
*jf* A striking testimony to the value of the most
beautiful of Tea Roses for the open garden. — Ed.
Winter Gladiolus (Schizostylis coccinea).—
The English name of this is appropriate, as the
whole expression of the plant reminds one strongly
of a Gladiolus, the leafage being narrow and sword-
like, and the rich carmine cup-shaped flowers are
borne in a lengthy spike. This is a most useful plant
for the winter decoration of the greenhouse, and
a good way is to grow it all the year round in pots,
so that the rich green colouring of the leaves may be
preserved, which is not the case if the plants are ex-
posed to the full blaze of a summer sun or allowed
to become nipped by frost. They may, however, be
lifted from tlie open, ground and will then flower
satisfactorily, but the best way — as we have had an
opportunity of noting — is that stated above. The
difference between those lifted and those potted is
most apparent.
Early Lily of the Valley flowers. — The
flowers of the Lily of the Valley are appreciated at
any season, but more so during the winter months,
and a capital method of producing them is that
adopted at Messrs. Veitch's Chelsea Nursery. Some
plants that were inserted on Nov. 5 are now in full
bloom, the spikes strong, and the bells large and
of the purest white ; moreover, the leaves are
fairly plentiful. The batches that are inserted
later are more[regular, but even those placed in heat
very early do not show many backward crowns.
The pots are put close together in a warm frame,
and over them is placed a thick layer of Moss to
keep in the moisture. A temperature of 90° is
maintained and plenty of , water given, this being
warmed over the pipes so as not to check the de-
velopment of the plants. It is certainly a simple,
practical, and ready way of ensuring plenty of lovely
pure white bell flowers of the Lily of the Valley
during late autumn and winter.
Beinwardtia tetragynum. — There is no
doubt that this plant, which was figured in The
Garden Sept. 3 (^p. 200), is a "good thing," and
it has just commenced to enliven the stove at Kew
with its array of golden blooms. It is not a new
plant, to use a nursery ' phrase, having been intro-
duced for some years, but somehow it has not come
into general cultivation. It was sent out by Messrs.
^'eitch, who introduced it. The old Linum trigynum,
or Reinwardtin trigynum, nsit is now called, is such
a great favourite with every gardener that its newer
relative cannot fail to become so when it is known.
It is a good deal like R. trigynum, but the flowers
are larger, and their colour is a clear chrome-yellow
instead of orange. They are, moreover, more nume-
rous in the cluster, and the foliage is larger. The
plate (1112) in The Garden shows the character of
the flowering branches admirably, but the foliage
is represented of too dark a green. It requires
much the same kind of treatment as R. trigynum,
but as it is said to be a native of the hilly districts
of India, it may not perhaps require such a high
temperature during its growing season. — W. G.
Odontoglossum Insleayi leopardinum. —
This strong-growing and handsome variety of a
noble Orchid is flowering now at Kew, where there
is a good specimen in the cool house. The leaves
are ovate, deep green, and leathery, the thick
pseudo-bulbs being of a glaucous colour, and from
their base springs the sturdy scape, which bears
several blooms of fijne colour and substance. The
sepals are banded with rich brown on a pale yel-
lowish green ground, and thepetals are of the same de-
cided colouring, but narrower. The column is bright
yellow, as also the forked crest, while the golden
coloured lip is enriched with short, bright crimson
bands at the margin, this encircling of vivid colour
giving great beauty to the flower.
The great Christmas BoEe in Scotland.—
Helleborus altifolius is earlier and somewhat finer
this year than usual. The hot summer appears to
have suited the plants, as the foliage has a healthier
and more vigorous appearance, while the blooms are
larger and in greater numbers than I ever remember
having seen them in former years. — J. DAT, Oallo-
nay House, N.B.
*^* Finely formed cups 3 inches across with
delicate rose on some of the outsides. It is
pleasant to see that such fine things can be grown
out of doors in November so far north. — Ed.
Green-flowered Narcissus (N. viridiflorus). —
This is a curiosity, and to those partial to Narcissi
a most interesting flower. In a sunny west aspect
at Kew it is in bloom now, and the bulbs have
been planted since 1885, so that it is not so tender
or fastidious as some suppose. The bulbs are in
light sandy soil and have never been disturbed, the
only protection ever given being a hand-light, or
piece of rough glass, to rest against the wall to keep
off heavy rains at the end of summer, and to afford
protection to the bloom. The flowers, almost of
the same colour as the slender, grass-like leaves,
but a trifle deeper, are star-like in shape and
small, with the segments narrow and pointed. It
will also be interesting to mention that the rare N.
Broussonetti is about to^bloom in a warm house.
Christmas Boses. — I send you my first blooms
of Hellebore, the " St. Brigid's " variety. It is quite
distinct from the Manchester variety from its large
size and earliness ; indeed, in constitution and vigour
it is better than any other I know. The Manchester
variety with me does not bloom so early, and
naturally does not grow so large. Maximus out of
doors is pink. This out of doors or under glass is
snow-white. All my large 2-feet diameter clumps
are in tubs permanently, and the tubs have been
now a week in a cold house, from which the blooms
sent were cut. The Riverston variety (Mr. Poe's) 1
shall cut in same position next week. This is also
a fine thing. — W. B. Haetland, Temple Hill, Cork.
*if* The flowers were of the purest white, and
very similar to those of H. angusttfolius. — Ed.
Arctotis arborescens. — This, one of the
numerous kinds of greenhouse plants that are out
of the ordinary run, is used at Kew for the adorn-
ment of the conservatory (No. 4) with good effect.
It is as interesting as it is beautiful, being quite
different in growth and flower from the majority of
Compositse. It is semi-shrubby in habit, and makes
a much-branched bush about 2 feet high, the foliage
being deeply cut and curled, and the flowers, like
magnified Daisies, are white inside, purplish out-
side, and with a large yellow centre. It does not
produce many flowers at once, but it continues to
bloom for weeks, and even for months, in succes
sion. Like the rest of the species of Arctotis, it is a
native of the Cape of Good Hope, and, therefore,
requires only frame or greenhouse culture, and this
is simple enough. Two other species likewise de-
serve attention for the greenhouse, these being A.
grandiflora, called also A. aureola, with large yellow
flowers, and A. speciosa, also with yellow flowers.
It is singular that these handsome plants, which
were introduced into this country during the last
century and beginning of the present, should even
now be seldom seen outside botanic gardens.
The Edelweiss. — Can any reader of The Garden
tell me if seed of the Sikkim variety of the Edelweiss
and that of its New Zealand representative is to be
had in England ? I have raised plenty of the European
plant from Austrian seed ; the flowers seem to me
larger than the Swiss ones.— M. P. F.
Dec. 3, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
507
BROADLAJSTDS, ROMSEY, HANTS.
In the accompanying engraving (from a photo-
graph) we have a picture of one of the most
beautifully situated mansions in the British
Isles. It is the seat of Lord Mount-Temple,
the stepson of the late Viscount Palmerston,
who, being the last of his race, left the bulk of
his property to his wife's son, who with the in-
heritance also assumed the family surname of
the late viscount — namely, Temple — thus be-
coming Mr. Cowper-Temple. On being raised
to the peerage in 1880 he assumed the title of
Lord Mount-Temple, an honour well won, if
kindness, benevolence, and a generous regard
for the happiness, not only of liis tenantry and
dependents, biit for all with whom he has occa-
sion to associate, are traits worthy of a peer.
The mansion is a handsome building of mode-
rate size, and was built about the middle of last
river, of a slightly undulating character. Per-
haps the most formal bit — which, however, does
not look nearly so formal as seen from the man-
sion and from distant parts of the pleasure
ground as it does in the picture — is that in front
of the house. The water in the foreground is
part of the River Test, which runs right through
the park and pleasure grounds, and is one of
the most beautiful trout and salmon streams in
England, the water at this pomt being literally
as clear as crystal. The formal stretch in our
picture is mostprobably due not only to the desire
of some former resident to see as much water as
possible from the windows of the mansion ; and
hence the widening of the river at this point,
but at the same time forgetfulness to finish the
picture in a natural manner by planting the
opposite bank with low-growing vegetation to
break the straight line, that looks worse because
lands, gave me the dimensions — his own mea-
surements. The trunk at 4 feet from the
ground is 27 feet in girth ; at 12 feet from the
ground it divides into two immense stems, both
of which tower to a height of 140 feet. It is
in the most vigorous health ; some of the small
branches would by many be considered as large
trees. The tree is close to a little rivulet that
runs across the grounds and empties into the Test,
and the main roots of this vegetable giant must
be much deeper than the bed of the Test —
an aquatic Elm ! for the roots must be en-
tirely surrounded by water. Does anyone know
of a similar instance ? There are Several other
Elms, Planes, Oaks, and Beeches alongside the
river bank of proportionately large size, and a
sickly-looking one is quite the exception, prov-
ing, as I think, that they all like plenty of
water.
View in the grounds at Bro idlands, Hants. Engraved for The Garden.
century by the grandfather of the late popular
"Pam'' on or near the site of an older one.
The grand portico, so prominent in the picture,
and giving such a noble appearance to the
whole structure, has columns of Portland stone,
with Doric capitals, the foundation being mas-
sive stone steps, that lead to the principal en-
trance, or what may best be described as the
principal private entrance. The carriage en-
trance is on the opposite and north side of
the house, an arrangement that is as it should
be, for the south and west aspects — as they are
in this instance — should always be reserved for
the most generally used rooms, and, I would
add, the most beautiful outlook. With respect
to Broadlands, there has been no mistake in this
matter.
The park scenery, though flat and in places
rather monotonous, along the course of the
of the beauty of the trees and thick, shrubby
backgroimd of the picture.
On the mansion side of the river, the lawn, a
truly velvety carpet, slopes in the most natural
manner right down to the water's edge, and there
are no flower beds to attract or ofl'end the eye,
but, as I remarked at the time of my visit, there
are found repose, quietness, and naturalness.
On the left of the picture the two most interest-
ing objects are, first, the late Lord Palmerston's
study, which is slightly lower than the other
part of the mansion — this the great man had
built that he might enjoy quietness at his work
and at the same time take an occasional walk
by the river's bank, and enjoy the grandeur and
richness of vegetation. The other is a large
Ehn, a veritable giant ; a part of its branches
seem to be overhanging the left side of the man-
sion. ' Mr. Thirlby, the gardener at Broad-
TLe flower garden, no part of which is visible
in the engraving, is situated immediately under
the windows of the west front, on the right-hand
side of the picture. Its formation, though purely
geometrical, is simple, and in strict keeping
with the architecture of the house. It consists
of a series of round and oblong-shaped beds on
turf, the whole being enclosed or shut out from
other parts of the pleasure ground by a Yew
hedge, which is kept as low as 2 feet, so that
the distant scenery is viewed just as easUy
as if the tiirf had extended right up to the win-
dows. The uppermost thought of " capability"
Brown — who is said to have laid out Broadlands
— when taking his survey for planting this part
of the park must have been, How shall I pla,nt
here and yet preserve that distant grandeur,
that looks right away into the New Forest ? It
was done, however, and anyone with but the
508
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 3, 1887.
faintest smattering of knowledge as to wliat con-
stitutes beauty in landscape scenery would be
sure to say, How natural the spiral Junipers
look ! bow graceful tbe Beech and Birch trees,
and how venerable the Cedars of Lebanon, yet
all so placed that no vista is intercepted, and no
view blocked ! But, to return to the flower gar-
den, the only drawback is that it is piirely a
bedded-out garden, but Mr. Thirlby plants it
well and by no means after the strictest type of
summer bedders, as he makes good use of small
shrubs, graceful Palms, Aralias, and other stan-
dard plants, and so breaks somewhat the un-
avoidable formality of a geometrically formed
garden. At the time of my visit (August) the
garden was in great beauty, there being an entire
absence of gaudiness, the preponderance of
colours being whites, pinks, and blues— white
tufted Pansies, Ageratums, Heliotropes, and
pink Pelargoniums being the plants most gene-
rally used. Of course, other branches of flower
gardening, to which allusion will be made in
another paper, have attention. The dimensions
of some of the most notable trees, accompanied
by other pictures of trees and scenery, will be
given later on. W. Wildsmith.
Stove and Greenhouse.
T. BAINES.
PIMELBAS.
When competitive exhibitions of pot-grown
plants first became popular, the result was that
a high standard of cultivation was aimed at.
Plants that had naturally a compact bushy
habit of growth and that were profuse bloomers
were selected. Amongst these the Pimeleas
stood in the front rank, for they came up to
the required standard as regards growth and
freedom of flowering. There is much dissimi-
larity in the growth of the different species,
and equally so in the character of their flowers,
varying, as they do, from the large, white,
rosy- tinted heads of P. spectabilis rosea to
the small globular ones of P. elegans, the form
of which is not unlike that of those borne
by the well-known Chilian shrub, Buddleia
globosa.
For greenhouse and conservatory decoration
the Pimeleas are well adapted, both their
growth and flowers being distinct from those
of all others. They possess another good pro-
perty, and that is, they need but few sticks
and ties, as if the shoots of the preceding
year are cut well in after they have flowered,
the branches need little support. There is
one thing connected with the cultivation of
Pimeleas that it is necessary to impress upon
those who undertake to grow them, and that
is, they reqiiire the soil to be kept moister,
especially tlirough the growing season, than
in the case of many plants that come from
the same country, viz., New Holland. The
water supply must also not be confined to the
roots alone, as from the time that growth
commences, after the plants have been cut
in, subsequent to their flowering they must
be well syringed overhead daily, and not
merely a sprinkling given which will only reach
the upper surface of the leaves. Without this
the plants become a prey to red spider, owing
to which they do not grow with the freedom
natural to them, the shoots coming too tliin
and wiry, whilst the foliage is deficient both
in size and substance.
All the species can be propagated from cut-
tings, which strike easily when the wood has
got a little firm, but not hard. Such kinds as
P. spectabilis, that make growth freely before the
flowers open, aflbrd cuttings in spring, and these
may be put 1 inch or 2 inches apart in 5-inch
or 6-inch pots tilled with sand. Cover them
with bell-glasses, or stand them in a propagating
frame ; keep them moist and shaded, and
admit no more air than is necessary to prevent
the leaves damping. As soon as the cuttings
have made roots gradually give more air, re-
moving the glasses altogether when they can be
dispensed with. When well established move
the plants singly into small pots drained and
filled with peat and sand, this being better than
loam and sand to start them in. Keep the
atmosphere close and moist until the roots begin
to move in the new soil, after which give more
air, but continue to shade when the sun is
bright. After a little top growth has been made
pinch out the points of the shoots. It is neces-
sary to attend to this in good time, otherwise
the plants will become too leggy, a condition
that spoils the appearance of the future speci-
mens, especially when they get old, as then
the defect is more evident. Stand the pots on
sand or other material that will hold a little
moisture ; keep the plants well up to the glass,
and maintain a genial-growing temperature.
As the summer advances give more air and
cease shading. The shoots that are formed
after the plants were stopped should be trained
out horizontally before the wood gets too hard.
During winter the night temperature should be
about 46°. Again in March pinch out the
points of the shoots, and give 6-inch or 7-inch
pots, using loam in preference to peat where
the former can be had of good quality and with
plenty of vegetable matter in it. Keep the
atmosphere fairly close until the roots begin
to move, and all through the spring and
summer have more moisture in the air than
would be necessary for older stock, using
a thin shade when the sun shines on
the plants. Syringe freely every day, giving
water before the soil gets too dry. Again
train the shoots out, bringing the strongest
down to the rims of the pots ; if this is not at-
tended to whilst the plants are young it cannot
afterwards be done, as the wood becomes too hard
to bend. In autumn, as before, give more air
and dispense with shading. Winter as pre-
viously, and early in spring again give a shift,
this time using pots about 3 inches larger than
those the plants have already occupied. The
soil may now be used in a little more lumpy
state, mixing a liberal amount of sand with it.
Drain the pots well, and make the soil firm. It
will be best not to stop the shoots early this
season, as so treated tlie plants will be likely to
set their flowers too soon, and when well
managed the young stock should bloom nicely
a year hence. If vigorous, it is not unlikely
that the shoots of the last summer will show
bloom ; if so, it will be better to let the flowers
alone until they are close upon opening. When
strong most of the shoots will have pushed
young growth just below the flowers, but this
must not be allowed to remain, as it would
leave last year's growth too long and straggling
to admit of the plants being sufticiently fur-
nished. To avoid this, cut the shoots back
about half way between where they were stopped
the preceding year. After this encourage the
plants to break and make growth by shading
from the sun and throwing water about the
floor and stages, closing the house early in the
afternoon whilst the sun is on the glass and
syringing freely overhead at the time. Treat
as hitherto when the autumn comes round, and
place them for the winter in a temperature
not much lower than has been advised for the
dormant season. Pimeleas do not like being
kept so cold as many greenhouse subjects. They
should be stood during the winter where they
will get plenty of light. A few small sticks
may be required to keep the branches in their
right places, so as to secure an equal distri-
bution of the shoots, but, as already said,
comparatively little in this way will be found
necessary.
In ordinary cases where there is no special
reason for growing the plants on to a large size
with as little delay as possible, it will be advis-
able to let them flower the following spring, as
they will then be effective for greenhouse or con-
servatory decoration. They will bloom in May,
and when in flower should be shaded from the
sun, as without this the flowers will not last so
long as they should do. When the blooming is
over, shorten back the shoots as hitherto. By
keeping the plants a little close and using the
syringe freely, they will break into .growth
quickly, after which they must liave a shift. If
all has gone on satisfactorily, tliey will now bear
pots 4 inches larger. The treatment after pot-
ting and subsequently through the summer re-
quires to be similar to that so far advised, except
that when the plants have attained a larger size
they will not need to be so closely shaded in bright
weather. It is better, however, not to expose
them too much to the full rays of the sun dur-
ing the early part of summer whilst the young
gi'owth is soft and tender. More air should be
given than was necessary whilst they were
younger, and shading must be dispensed with
earlier in autumn, as the object now is to get
the young wood and leaves fully matured. Each
season when the plants have started into growth
after being cut in subsequent to their flowering
they must have additional root-room until they
are in pots as large as it may be thought desir-
able to give them, after which the necessary
vigour must be kept up by the frequent use of
manure water, or by surface-dressings of con-
centrated manure during the growing season.
There are two forms of P. spectabilis, one
with white flowers, and the other with flowers
tinged with rose ; the last is the best. Both
attain a much larger size than those of any of
the other species.
P. Hendersoni is a beautiful kind with rose-
coloured flowers, which it bears in profusion
when the plant is well managed. The wood of
this sort is more slender than that of most of
the other species.
P. DECUSSATA AND P. MiRABiLi.s make stouter
growth and have smaller leaves. The flowers of
both these species are produced in the greatest
profusion, so as to almost hide the foliage. In
colour they are rosy pink.
P. HispiDA is a small-growing species, very
distinct in character. It blooms two or three
times in the season when it is well grown.
Colour blush.
P. ELEGANS is a newer species than any of
those previously named. It is a remarkable
plant, quite distinct from any of the others in
the appearance of its flowers, which are smaller
in size and more compact, being almost globular.
They are creamy white in colour.
P. Neippergiana is a small and more weakly-
growing species with white flowers.
All those named can be propagated in the
way described, but ciittings of some of them,
such, for in.stance, as P. decussata and P. elegans,
are not usually obtainable so early in the season
as those of the two varieties of P. spectabilis
and P. Hendersoni. The subsequent treatment
required is similar to that recommended, except
that the smaller growers do not need so much
pot room.
Pimeleas are not very liable to the attacks of
Deo. 3, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
509
insects, except red spider, from which they are
easily kept clear by the free use of the syriiige.
Asparagus plumosus nanus. — In a cut state
this is very valuable for decoration, the light,
frond-like appearance of its branches being very
efEective for all kinds of floral arrangements ; it
has an additional advantage of lasting well, and on
this account is becoming very popular. There are
two distinct kinds in cultivation ; the dwarf,
slender-growing form is the most elegant as a pot
plant, but for cutting from, the tall, vigorous-grow-
ing variety is the most useful. The former can
only be obtained true from division, while the
latter may be grown from seed, which is produced
freely after the plants attain a certain size. In
growing plants on for cuttiog purposes they should
be treated liberally, giving them good, rich, porous
soil and plenty of pot room, or, where convenience
admits, they may be planted out with advantage.
In either case plenty of drainage should be used,
for, although the plants like a fair amount of
moisture at the roots, they will soon suffer if al-
lowed to get too wet and the soil becomes sour. Bed
spider is its greatest enemy, and it is also subject
to mildew. To prevent the former a moist atmo-
sphere must be maintained, and all cold draughts
or sudden changes must be avoided, or mildew will
be sure to make its appearance. — A.
Dracaena Lindeni. — This is so distinct from the
commonly cultivated varieties of Dracfena, and so
beautiful withal, as to occupy a foremost place among
fine-foliaged plants that require the temperature of a
stove, and especially at this dull season display their
bright colours to the best advantage. D. Lindeni is
of a stout sturdy habit like the old-fashioned green-
leaved D. fragrans, of which it is apparently
but a variety. The gracefully recurving leaves are
beautifully variegated with rich yellow, which
covers the major portion of the leaf, being divided
into two portions by a greenish stripe down the
midrib. This central band is broken up into diffe-
rent shades of green varying from a deepish hue to
a pale greyish green tint. To grow it well this
Dracaena must have ample room, and at the same
time it must be kept in a fairly light position, as if
too much shaded the leaves lose a good deal of the
brightness of their colouring. Like the rest of its
class, this Dracaena is not difficult to increase, for if
a specimen happens to run up leggy the top will
soon strike if taken off and kept close till rooted,
while the old stump will push forth shoots which
when sufficiently advanced may be taken off and
inserted as cuttings. In this way an old plant
will continue to furnish cuttings for years. Pieces
of the roots may also often be taken off without
injury to the specimen, and if put into small pots
and kept close they soon grow away freely. — T.
New Ivy-leaved Pelargoniums. — This beau-
tiful class of plants has now become so popular
that we are likely to be inundated with so-called
new varieties, many of which differ more in name
than in any other respect from the older kinds,
while there are a few that show a decided advance
on those already in cultivation. The following notes
taken of some of the latest novelties when in flower
may be of interest. Berthelot is a kind of bright
magenta shaded with violet ; petals crisped, semi-
double. Cuvier, a large, double, violet-coloured
flower, good truss, and free habit, in general
character resembling JI. Dubus, but flowers and
trusses larger, and the colour of the blooms much
deeper. Flourens, of strong habit, and with large,
rosy salmon, loose-looking flowers. Galilee, of good
habit and very free-flowering, a clear, bright rose,
slightly feathered with crimson on the upper petals :
individual blooms large and fairly douljle. Gay-
Lussac, of very dwarf and sturdy habit, semi-
double ; petals prettily crimped, colour rich ma-
genta shaded violet. Laplace, crimson-lake ; the
edges of the petals reflex when in a bud state, some-
what like those of the old double zonal Pelargonium
Jewel, but when fully expanded the blooms are
nothing remarkable, and, besides this, they fre-
quently do not open well. Lavoisier, a strong-
growing variety with orange-salmon coloured flowers.
Newton, large trusses of fairly double carmine-red
flowers. Souvenir de Charles Turner, a beautiful
shade of deep rose-pink, and huge trusses of large
showy blossoms. Out of the above I should select
three as well worthy to be added to any collection,
viz., Cuvier, Galilee, and Souvenir de Charles Turner,
the last mentioned being of a sturdier habit, and
partaking more of the zonal type than the other
two.— H. P.
xVOTES ON BOUYARDIAS.
The Bouvardia is one of those plants the gardener
is compelled to have it he wishes his houses to look
well during late autumn and throughout the winter.
They are the great feature at the present time at
Gunnersbury Park, where Jlr. Roberts manages
them in a way not often seen, as the whole of the
plants are in the most vigorous health and flower-
ing with great freedom, always appearing crowded
with blooms, although frequently cut from largely.
There are about 3iiO specimens in one of the houses,
and comprise most of the best varieties, the two
most highly thought of being the double pink
President Garfield and the brilliantly coloured
Dazzler, a variety which is, however, now super-
seded by the showy President Cleveland, a Bou-
vardia that will, no doubt, be extensively grown, as
we have no kind so vivid, free-flowering, and of
such excellent habit. The trusses of bloom are
large, and a smaU, well-grown plant makes an effec-
tive show. Other useful kinds are Yreelandi, single
white, and one of the best of all, as it blooms
freely, and the flowers are valued for cutting ; and
Alfred Neuner, the double white. If we could
only obtain a double variety with flowers of the same
size and colour as those of the variety President
Cleveland it would be a great advance. A most
interesting collection of Bouvardia flowers was
shown by Messrs. Veitch at the last meeting of
the Eoyal Horticultural Society at South Ken-
sington. The above-named were shown, also Priory
Beauty, Reine des Roses, two beautiful flowers of
delicate hue. and umbellata alba, pure white. The
plants at Gunnersbury Park are grown almost
naturally, and so have not that prim look too often
seen. They were raised from cuttings in the spring,
and from first to last have been grown in pots,
shovring from their condition skilful culture. After
the plants had made a few leaves the leading shoot
was stopped, which induced a vigorous growth. When
the Bonvardias had made some progress and were
potted, the shoots were pegged down, and the plant
threw up strong stems in the centre, which were in
their turn stopped to encourage a bushy habit. The
specimens are now in .S-inch pots, and an abund-
ance of bloom has been obtained from them, with a
great promise of an endless supply throughout the
winter. The Cyclamens at Gunnersbury Park are
also blooming freely. Some of those plants raised
from seed about twelve months ago will soon be a
mass of bloom, and will, when at their best, make a
grand display.
Phyllantlius nivosus. — One of the brightest
bits of leafage in the stove just now is furnished by
this Phyllanthus, for though beautiful at all seasons
the colouring of the foliage seems to be intensified
by the dull weather we are now experiencing. It
is a plant of easy culture, forming a loose growing
bush with dark-coloured wiry branches and pin-
nate leaves. The flowers play no part in the em-
bellishment of the plant, but the foliage is beauti-
fully mottled with white and green in varying pro-
portions. The young leaves on the upper parts of
the shoots are often almost white, but become much
greener with age. When well exposed to the light
the variegated portions assume a pinkish tinge, and
the young bark is of a reddish hue. Another kind
(roseo pictus) has the variegation arranged in much
the same manner, but the whole of the coloured
portion is heavily suffused with red. In atro-pur-
purea the leaves are purple when matured, but the
young growing shoots have the foliage of a bright
crimson colour if well exposed to the light. When
lit up by a few rays of the winter's sun the rich
tinted foliage of this kind is very attractive. The
loose, open habit of these Phyllanthuses admits of
their being employed for furnishing screens, pillars,
or similar spots, but they also form pretty little
plants in small pots that are very useful in many
ways. Cuttings strike very readily, and if in potting
them off two or three are put together, less stopping
will be required to form a neat little specimen. — T.
Pelargonium Volonte Nationale alba. —
This belongs to the regal section of Pelargonium.
The flowers are somewhat cup-shaped and of the
purest white, save in some cases a slight feathering
of purple-rose on the upper petals. It has a
good habit, but one fault, and this is the shortness
of the flower-stem. It is, however, a variety that
all should grow. The market gardeners to induce
a long flower-stem place the plants close together,
so as to force them, as it were.
Celosias at Biimingham. — In a miscellaneous
group of plants arranged by Mr. T. B. Thomson,
Spark Hill Nursery, Birmingham, at the Chrysan-
themum show in that town some pyramidal plants
of Celosias were used with capital effect, surrounded
as they were by a mass of Ferns, Roman Hyacinths,
&c., the brilliant crimson plumes being very effec-
tive. It was not the size of the individual flowers
that was remarkable, but the superior strain or
variety possessed a brilliancy of colouring: some of
the plants were about i feet high, 3 feet through at
the base, well furnished with green foliage and
covered with spikes of flower. Small plants about
1."^ inches high, with one central spike and about
fifteen smaUer side branches are capital subjects for
grouping where a bright colour is desirable. — E. M.
Pelargoniums at Swanley.— Pelargoniums
are grown at Swanley to the highest perfection, and
the zonal section is now the great feature, giving an
endless variation of colouring in the flowers, some
pure white, others of quieter shades, and a few of
the most vivid hues, especially the brilliant scarlet
varieties, of which there are several grown. Amongst
the double zonal Pelargoniums a few of the best
are Goldfinder, bright scarlet ; Swanley double
white ; Grand Chancellor Faidherbe, deep crim-
son ; and Madame Leon Dalloy, pinkish lilac, and
well-formed truss. Of the singles there are many
varieties, and thosewho love a gay greenhouse should
cultivate them largely, as they are bright and can be
cut from freely. A few of the finest are the follow-
ing : Mr. H. Cannell, jun., a fine crimson variety,
large truss; Lady Rosebery, rich salmon, medium
size and bearing a handsome truss ; Now Then, dark
crimson, very handsome ; Swanley Gem, salmon-
scarlet, white eye : Queen of the Whites, pure
white ; Sissy, rich salmon-scarlet ; David Saunders,
purple-pink ; Commander-in-Chief, rich red ; Cato,
bright red ; Aurora Borealis, scarlet ; and Fer-
dinand Kauffer, deep crimson-purple.
Primulas at Birmingham. — The annual ex-
hibition of the Birmingham Chrysanthemum Society
has long been noted for the excellence of the
Primulas staged there in competition for the liberal
prizes offered, but those shown on the IGth idt.
eclipsed anything seen before; the varieties, too,
have been much improved. The following, staged
by Mr. T. B. Thomson, Spark Hill Nursery, who suc-
ceeded in winning several prizes in the leading
classes, were noteworthy: Her Majesty, a Fern-
leaved variety, the flowers of capital quality, colour
rosy pink : King of the Blues, a near approach to
that colour, flowers of good substance; Sensation,
bright red; Marquis, scarlet, grand variety; The
Queen, deep pink, fine trusses and foliage; and Prin-
cess Louise, also very fine. The above are all single-
flowered kinds. One of the best double varieties was
Lady Martineau, a free-fiowericg, compact-growing
variety, and which throws the crimson - coloured
blooms well above the foliage. — S.
Potting Laclienalias. — With respect to what
has been written on this subject in recent numbers
of The Gakdek, I may mention that I find no
difference in the growth of plants that were potted
up when the bulbs were quite at rest and when they
have formed roots. I should, however, prefer to
pot before growth commences, because the young
roots are brittle, so that in the shaking out from
the old earth and repotting they are liable to be-
come injured. This year I found that at a com-
paratively early date the roots were actively
510
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 3, 1887.
growing. I think, through the unusual warmth
of early autumn, and partly because the pots were
laid on their sides in the open, where they got
sprinkled with water almost daily. When I potted
them they had roots 2 inches long. With Lache-
nalias, as with all spring-blooming greenhouse bulbs,
I believe in early potting. If the pots are crammed
with roots at the present time so much the better.
Through the winter the plants can have a little soot
water, and with the return of brighter days their
vigour can be kept up by means of a stronger stimU'
lant.— J. C. B.
AMASONIA PUNICEA.
The excellent qualities of this new winter decora-
tive plant are becoming more manifest every season,
and it is now evident that, as the plant gains in
strength, it will prove a formidable rival to the
well-known Poinsettia pulcherrima, which is now
grown to a very considerable extent for winter use
by the majority of our market growers. All new
plants have to pass through a severe ordeal, and in
the case of flowering kinds their full beauty is not
generally developed until two or more years after
their importation into this country. This inevitable
drawback is in a great measure due to the constant
cutting down for the purpose of rapid propagation
of plants. Another reason consists in the results of
the repeated trials to which a new plant is sub-
jected before the most suitable treatment is finally
discovered. As it is, this is undoubtedly one of
the most beautiful stove-flowering plants of recent
introduction, and as the season during which it
is in perfection lasts from November until Feb-
ruary— a space of time during which there is the
greatest paucity of flowers— it will in the future
occupy a prominent place in any establishment
where winter decorations are necessary. It is a
plant of shrubby habit, native of British Guiana,
and the inflorescence is rendered particularly striking
through the beauty of the spreading bracts which
accompany the flowers. These bracts, of the richest
vermilion-crimson colour, are arranged in pairs
along the entire length of the racemes, and measure
from 12 in. to 18 in. in length. These gorgeous
bracts, the lowermost of which are from 3 inches
to 4 inches long, make the feature of the "plant, as
the flowers, although rendered conspicuous by the
contrast formed by their creamy white colour with
the other parts of the inflorescence, last a very short
time ; whereas the bracts themselves remain in per-
fection for fully two months. The culture given to
Gardenias and Ixoras suits this handsome plant,
which is readily propagated by means of cuttings
of the young shoots, which start soon after the
flowers are over. These cuttings never fail to flower
well during the following autumn. S.
Peruvian Trumpet Flower (Brugmansia
suaveolens). — This, when trained in an umbrella
shape with stems from i feet to 5 feet high, makes
a grand specimen for planting in the centre of a bed
in summer. I saw during this last summer in Miss
Baring's well-kept garden at West HOI, Titchfield,
two magnificent plants carrying respectively 114
and 151 blooms. Mr. Musk, the head gardener,
told me the plants were five years old. After they
have finished blooming, and before there is any
danger of frost, they are carefully taken up and
potted, placed in a cool house, and with just
enough water given during winter to keep them alive.
In the spring the plants are shortened back to the
desired shape and placed in gentle heat. They are
grown on to make large heads by the time the
planting season comes round. This Brugmansia is
a native of Mexico and Peru, and is propagated
either from offsets or cuttings taken from the old
wood and placed in a gentle bottom heat. It
succeeds best in a compost of loam, peat, and
decayed manure, with a sprinkling of wood ashes
and sharp sand. A liberal use of the syringe is
necessary in the early stages of growth in order to
keep down red spider, to which it is very liable. —
J. A., Hants.
Gesnera zebrina.— At the late Brighton and
Hove Chrysanthemum show several plants of this Ges-
nera were staged, each plant having from four to six
handsome spikes of bloom, the rich colour of which
coutrasted well with the very fine bronzy red foliage
and the surroundings of variously coloured Chrysan-
themums with which they were associated. — E. M.
£pipliylluius in bloom. — These remarkably
free-flowering succulent plants are especially valu-
able from the fact that they bloom during the dull
winter months and are, in addition, of very easy pro-
pagation and culture. Their bright-coloured flowers
last some time when separated from the plant, and
on that account thej' are available for the various
arrangements of cut blooms. They may be grown
either in the form of dwarf bushes or as standards
by grafting on the Pereskia, with which stock they
readily unite. Perhaps, however, they are seen to
the greatest advantage when grown in suspended
baskets, as cultivated in this way thorough drainage
(the one great essential to success in their culture)
is readily secured. In any case they flower more
freely when the root run is restricted than when
the plants are growing in large pots. So readily
will pieces of the branches strike root when sepa-
rated from the parent plant, that should it be de-
sired to furnish the bottom or sides of a suspended
basket, freshly broken off pieces may be stuck in
the positions they are intended to occupy, when they
will root and soon become established. Epiphyllums
may be grown in a greenhouse during the summer,
but require an increased temperature in the winter
to bring their flowers to perfection. — H. P.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Winter - floweeinq Cabnations. — Steiking
CUTTINGS. — During the autumn months and up to
the end of the year is a better season for propa-
gating these plants from cuttings than in spring, as
then there is time for the young stock to get well
established, so as to admit of the shoots being
stopped long before cuttings put in during spring
are rooted. In this way the autumn-struck plants
get a start which enables them through the next
summer to gain size and strength that later struck
Carnations are not capable of. The larger the
plants are when autumn comes round the more
flowers will be produced. The cuttings should be
kept in gentle warmth, not only whilst they are
rooting, but also after they are rooted, so as to
keep the growth slowly moving. Stand the young
plants as near the glass as possible, as without
plenty of light they get drawn, a condition that
must be avoided.
Flowebing stock. — In many gardens at the
present day Carnations are required all the year
round. To secure an unbroken succession of the
flowers, especially from the time the plants cease
blooming in the open ground up to spring, some
judgment is necessary. To have the plants in
flower during the winter months it is not only
necessary that the requisite number of strong,
well-grown examples be at hand, but the stopping
of the shoots during the latter part of summer
must be carried out at the right time. If in
autumn the buds were not sutticiently forward
little can now be done to push them on. It will be
well for inexperienced growers to now note the
state of their stock, so as to be in a position
another year to regulate the growth of the plants
they require to bloom at the time they are wanted,
and, what is of equal importance, to watch the
difference in the time of flowering in the different
varieties cultivated. This is important, for in the
case of these Carnations, as with any plants that
happen to become popular, a whole host of varieties
have made their appearance that have caused much
disappointment and inconvenience through their
being described as perpetual and winter bloomers,
whereas they possess neither of these properties, as
those who grow them with this intention find out
to their cost. It is much better to confine the
cultivation to well-proved kinds that can be
depended on as winter bloomers. Plants that now
have the flower-buds large and prominent should
be kept in a temperature of about 50" by night,
standing them with their heads well up to the
glass, and giving air in the middle of the day when
the weather is suitable. The stock should be
looked over from time to time to see that it is free
from aphides and mildew ; if the plants were at aU
affected with the former at the time they were
housed the genial temperature kept up will soon
cause them to increase. When aphides take up
their quarters on tough-leaved subjects like Carna-
tions, that have comparatively little sap in them,
they are much harder to kill than when they feed
on more succulent things, and it is only by repeated
fumigation that the pests can be effectually
destroyed. Two or three smokings at short intervals
are often necessary to completely get rid of them.
Mildew if allowed to go unchecked soon spreads.
When detected dust the affected plants with
sulphur, being careful to remove any that reaches
the soil, as if allowed to remain there when water is
given it gets washed down to the roots, to which
it is highly injurious.
Cheysanthemums. — The advantage of having
Chrysanthemums well furnished with foliage at the
time they are in flower does not only add to their
appearance, but the plants are capable of producing
better flowers. I have always found that the best
way to have well-toliaged plants is to have strong
and sturdy cuttings, and to root them without
heat. This naturally necessitates their being
put in early, the rooting of the cuttings being
much slower than when heat is used. If, on the
other hand, drawn, weakly cuttings are put in, and
they are struck in heat later on, the young plants,
stems and leaves alike, are soft and so far deficient
in substance, that no amount of after attention will
suflice to keep the leaves healthy until the time of
flowering. The cuttings are best put in small pots
singly, or in pairs if to be ultimately grown to-
gether. A mixture of sifted loam, leaf -mould, and
sand is best, filling three parts of the pots with
the material and having the surface all sand.
They should be placed in a cold house or pit,
standing the pots on a moisture-holding medium
of some sort, and covering them with ordinary
hand-lights or, better still, with cloches, if these
are at hand, as they afford more light. This is a
consideration, the object being to discourage all top-
growth until roots are formed, when the glasses
must be removed, giving the little plants plenty of
light, so as to keep them short-jointed and sturdy.
In the rage that now prevails for very large flowers
of the incurved and Japanese varieties, there is some
danger of the reflexed sorts being neglected. These
are the most generally useful, either when the
plants are wanted for ordinary decoration or when
the flowers are required for cutting, as they are
capable of yielding more fully developed blooms
than are the largest kinds. Neither should the
Anemone-flowered varieties be lost sight of, as in the
estimation of many they are second to none in ap-
pearance. There is now such an endless number of
varieties in cultivation, that many are perplexed as
to what sorts to grow and what to reject, but in
making the choice it is well to have a fair propor-
tion of moderately early as well as mid-season and
late varieties. The popular white sort, Madame
Desgrange comes early enough.
Bulb foecing. — Narcissus. — More bulbs of
the different varieties of the bunch-flowered Nar-
cissus should now be put in heat. It is well to
always start these, and other things of a like nature,
in time, so as not to hurry them too much, for when
pushed on in a high temperature the flowers are
wanting in substance. Amongst the many kinds of
Narcissus that will bear forcing, N. poeticus ornatus
is much superior to the common form. Moreover,
it is naturally an early bloomer, which is a fairly
safe guide to follow in choosing the varieties of the
different groups of Narcissi that are to be forced
early. In the whole of the Daffodils now in culti-
vation, it is a question if there is any sort so gene-
rally useful as this form of N. poeticus, especially
for cutting.
Feebsias, — The most useful of these is F. re-
fracta alba, which, after being for so long but little
known, promises to be now grown by everyone who
does much in the way of bulb forcing. The plant
succeeds best when not subjected to a high tempe-
rature, as when much heat is used the flower-stems
become drawn up, and the flowers are wanting in
substance, thus preventing their standing well
Dec. 3, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
511
when cut, or lasting well on the plants. A tempe-
rature of 50° or 55" is enough for them, but, like all
other plants of a similar nature that are forced in
winter, it is not simply a question of submitting
them to a given amount of heat, but also of their
having all the light that it is possible to give them,
by keeping them close to the glass in a light house
during the time they are being brought into ilower.
Under these conditions more heat may be given
without any injury being done. Unfortunately, in
private gardens it often happens that the houses
wherein the forcing of winter flowers has to be
carried out are not constructed so as to admit as
much light as possible, in which case it is better to
be content with slower progress. T. B.
Flower Garden.
TLIRELLA CORDIFOLIA.
It is a strange fact that while many plants of
doubtful value are widely distributed in gardens,
j a beautiful and delightful plant. All the care
I it needs is division every two years, the plants
I being at their best the second year after
division. It is a valuable plant to pot in
autumn, and force from a cold frame in early
spring. G. J.
SELF CARNATIONS.
Bbingj greatly interested in all that pertains to the
Carnation and Picotee, I have read with interest the
various letters in The Garden on the discussion
begun by Mr. Herrington. I believe Mr. Rowan, in
his excellent reply in The Garden (p. 483), has
struck at the root of the discussion when he says,
" Mr. Bngleheart has in his mind the dogmatic
teachings of the late Mr. Glenny." Doubtless he
had, but I cannot go so far as to say that his teach-
ings were denounced by florists from the outset. This
statement scarcely agrees with the history of the
Carnation and Picotee from the date of Hogg's
treatise in 1839 up to the date of the first exhibi-
tion of the National Carnation and Picotee Society
The Foam J'lower (Tiarella oordifoUa) .
some real treasures, for no apparent reason, are
overlooked. Such has been the fate of the
lovely little Foam Flower, and though it is a
perfectly hardy plant of rapid increase, flourish-
ing in almost any soil and position, and has
been in our botanic gardens for 150 years, it is
only now that it is becoming known. It is a
plant of great beauty both of leaf and flower ;
the little stany flowers are creamy white, the
buds delicately tinged with pink, a good mass
of them seen a few yards oflf having a close
likeness to a wreath of foam. The young
leaves are of a tender green, daintily spotted
and veined with deep red, while the older ones
at the base of the plant are of a rich red-bronze.
Whether planted in rock garden or border it is
(Southern Section) in 187(5. Since that time the
demand for selfs has increased, and I have no hesi-
I tation in saying that they are more popular than
flakes and bizarres. Let anyone read the article on
" Podding, Carding, and Wiring," at page 47 of
Hogg's " Treatise on the Carnation," and say whe-
ther he was not as rigid a florist of the old school
as Mr. Glenny, of whom he was a contemporary.
He gives a list of 390 Carnations and one of 114
Picotees, but not a self Carnation amongst them.
Coming down to the year 1850, I find that that was
a great year for Carnation and Picotee growers.
Grand trial exhibitions, open to all England, were
held. One exhibition took place in the Royal Nur-
series, Slough, which had been but recently acquired
by Mr. Charles Turner ; the other in the County
Hall, Derby. Seventy prizes were offered, ranging
in value from Is. to 30s. Not one prize was offered
for selfs. The leading growers were Messrs. Tur-
ner, Keynes, Bragg, Schofield, Holland, Pope, Dod-
well, &c. In fact, up to the date of our southern
exhibitions, self Carnations were not thought
about. This has been brought about partly by
the exhibitions and partly by the persistent
advocacy of them in the gardening papers. For
my part, I do not hesitate to say that too many
new flakes and bizarres have been sent out during
the last few years, and we shall soon be flooded with
selfs. What is the use of placing a list of 200 selfs
before an amateur cultivator ? How is he to select
them 7 If the lists were cut down to about a score
or so of varieties in the various colours, they would
not be so bewildering.
I try to confine my collection to sis named varie-
ties in the different sections. Indeed, I have not
more than six named varieties of selfs and two
varieties of yeUow selfs. Owing to its want of per-
fume, I would not grow Pride of Penshurst.
J. Douglas.
EXHIBITING PRIMROSES AND PRIMULAS.
In reply to " A. D.'s " note upon this subject in The
Garden, Nov. 19 (p. 472), his only objection to the
suggestion that the flowers in question should be
shown well, that is, in quantity and naturally
(rather than staged in pots like Auriculas) is, that
the committee give prizes inadequate to induce
such better exhibits. I agree that that is so, but
surely that is a sufficient reason for the prize list
being amended or increased, not for the society
continuing to show the flower insufficiently. I rest
nothing on the fact that many persons show not for
money, but for " kudos," or even for mere beauty's
sake.
My second point was a small one, and is perhaps
hardly worth noting. I still think it would be
better to convey to the ignorant (if such we are)
that a duplex Primrose is in no sense a double one,
and may not be so considered. The addition of four
letters (fl.-pl.) would lay the doubt. What, then, is
to be said on the other side?
I venture to give a modest, but distinct nega-
tive to " A. D.'s" statement that " no one will make
so absurd a blunder " as that supposed, " and that
even the merest tyro knows that the term double "
does not include the duplex form. I did not know
it myself; a member of the committee to whom I
referred did not know it, for he had to ask. The
many who know that duplex is Latin for double
might surely think that a duplex Primrose or Poly-
anthus might be at least included in the double class.
I apprehend that the rules should be shaped and
chosen so that the general horticultural public, not
excluding novices, may understand them, and that
these rules should not merely represent the fixed
ideas and the nomenclature, perhaps arbitrary, of
the composers of these rules. The latter may be of
the many who think that language can only mean
to all others what it happens to have meant to
themselves.
I readily accept " A. D.'s " definition, so far as it
goes, of the difference between a Polyanthus and a
Primrose. My purpose was not to caU in question
any definition which the committee might lay
down, but merely to secure some definition. But
my recollection as against " A. D.'s " is that in the
Primrose classes at last year's show very many plants
which on "A. D.'s" new definition were Polyanthuses
only were exhibited in the single Primrose classes
and received prizes as Primroses, and this not in the
case of casual plants only, but whole exhibits.
Nor does "A. D.," nor do the present rules answer
the crucial question, whether those many plants
which have blooms of both kinds (both bunched
and single) are disqualified as Primroses. I have,
and care to have, no opinion whether they ought to
be thus disqualified. I only urge that there is a
real ambiguity which ought to be disposed of by
some means. The question is a practical one also,
if only for the reason that of the true single Prim-
rose there are perhaps but a dozen or so good named
varieties, and thfit encouragement is needed for the
512
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 3, 1887.
cultivation and extension of this class, as distinct
from the larger and coarser Polyanthus class.
Hitlierhurij, GuiUford. H. S. LEONARD.
Glory of the Snow (Chionodoxa Lucilia;). —
Those who are planting their bulbs and have not
yet a stock of this lovely spring flower should not
oanit it from their list. It looks well pl.anted in
small clumps on the rockery, or here and there on
the border, or to form a marginal line to a bed near
the house. It does well in ordinary situations, and,
if planted in good soil on the ledge of a jutting
stone in the rock garden, gives a brilliant glow of
sky-blue during the flowering season. The other
form, known as G. sardensis, is of a richer hue, and
forms a striking contrast to the flowers of the more
widely-known Chionodoxa Luoiliie.
The ripening of bulbs. — A correspondent
some time since who had recently visited Natal
gave it as his experience that many bulbs were
found at a great depth below the surface, and that
in all probability this was as necessary there as well
as here in order to ensure the proper ripening. I
believe that many Ijulbs are much more comfortable
at a considerable depth during their resting period
than they would be nearer the surface, but I cannot
see how the depth can in any way affect the ripen-
ing process. This to my niind is brought about
solely through a full leaf development and by the
season's work being completed. This completion is,
in fact, the ripening process pure and simple.
There is yet much to learn concerning bulbs and
bulb growth, and the experience of cultivators will,
I am sure, interest many besides myself . — T. Smith,
Newnj.
Iris alata. — The enclosed note from a friend-
who is a successful cultivator of Cape bulbs and
plants, gives such a hopeful account of the cultiva-
tion of this beautiful Iris, that I think others will be
glad to see it. My own experience after many years'
trial of it out of doors agrees with his, that it is not
an Iris amenable to true outdoor culture. The
"English Flower Garden" (p. 154) says it is easy
to grow in a warm, sunny border. Does not this
statement need some correction, when patient and
painstaking amateurs fail after many years' trial ?
— G. J., Wed Surrey.
Last year I dug up from a south border, where they
had been for some six years, but had never flowered,
some dozen bulbs of Iris alata, and placed them in a
little Capeborder, covered over with glass on the south
side of the greenhouse. Haring to raise that border
this summer to escape the rain washing in at the edge,
I removed these bulbs, and picked out three which
looked large and plump and potted them ; the other
nine were replaced in the Cape border. The three I
potted are now beautifully in flower, and nearly
everyone of the nine in the open is going to flower. I
thought you would lite to hear this, as it is such a can-
tankerous bulb.— A. C. B., Reading.
"Wintering Carnations.— I am told that in the
north of England it is a common practice to plant
in the open ground at the latter end of October
or beginning of November choice kinds of Carna-
tions, to stand the winter in the open ground. A
large trade grower there says that the reputed
tenderness of the Carnation is a mistake. At the
same time I funl growers in the warmer counties
recommending protection as the only means of en-
suring the safety of the best kinds. Is it the rain-
fall more than frost that influences the hardiness of
the Carnation ? I have an impression that if we
could keep off rain and melting snow from December
till the middle of March we should experience but
few losses. It is intense cold in combination with a
F.aturated state of the ground that causes such
destruction among many hardy flowers. Where the
rainfall is least there the Carnation has the best
chance, and as this varies so much in different jiarts
of this country, it may account for the apparently
contradictory advice given from time to time on
this subject in gardening papers. The safest way,
of course, in all cases is to winter the plants in cold
frames, and it is on this matter that I wish to give
what may prove to some a few useful hints. Those
who have written on this subject in The CiAKDEN
of late advise that the young layers be potted.
This 1 consider unnecessary labour. My plan is to
simply lift them carefully about the middle of
November and lay them in in frames. They will
then need no water through the winter and will
make more roots than in pots. At planting time
they can be lifted and planted out and will grow
more freely than when the roots arc confined to
pots.— J. C. B.
HARDY FLOWER NOTES.
The flowery path which " J. C. L." has been follow-
ing, has been, although I know him not, so much
my own ; and our experiences would seem to have
been generally so similar, that where these are not
in accord, it may be worth while that a cultivator
along the same line should note the divergence. I
would add a note or two anent the many interest-
ing plants, favourites for both of us, as indeed for
so many, on which he writes.
Campanula Waldsteiniana, I agree, is charming,
but I incline to think it rather more suitable for
pot culture than otherwise, for it is minute, easily
lost, and slugs will destroy it. 0. AUioni my chalky
soil seems to suit, and in this it has done well and
survived the winter, as with " J. C. L." it has de-
clined to do. Eut 1 have given it glass protection.
Being a native of the Tyrolean Dolomites (however
more extended may be its range), it may possibly
almost require chalk. C. Zoysi beats me, as it does
"J. C. L.," though a plant survives here. Will some
expert prescribe for us ? C. Raineri is a plant which
I have failed to get, but it seems a highly desirable
species. It is catalogued by many, and I have or-
dered it thrice ; once it was refused, once came for
it the said C. AUioni, an error I was well content to
overlook, and once C. Haylodgensis.
The Edraianthi seem to be genuine lime-lovers,
though, even so, I allow them glass overhead in a
wet winter ; and I suggest that " J. C. L.'s " anxie-
ties for E. Pumilio and its diminutive would be
relieved by the precaution indicated. With me,
that species thus treated is among the most satis-
factory of its tribe.
Campanula Tenorei is charming, and but too little
seen and appreciated, doubtless because it is indis-
putably tender. Campanula Burghalti, in the way
of C. Van Houttei, and, I believe, hardy enough,
and fine in habit and colour, is a comparatively new
Campanula, which, I think, wants making known.
My experience of the choicer and newer Gen-
tians is identical with that of "J. C. L." The game
is not for me worth the candle. It is a fortunate
circumstance that the species of Gentian most
easily grown happen also to be at least among the
most beautiful and decorative. For this may be
said not only of G. aoaulis and G. septemfida, but
of the lovely G. verna (of easy culture in loam and
limestone, starting with established roots or pieces)
and of that useful border plant, G. asclepiadea, in
its blue and white varieties.
The native G. Pneumonanthe has bloomed with
me this year, but while I should put it into the
category of the most beautiful, my experience of it
does not enable me to class itwith those easily grown.
G. sceptrum is a fine (and recent ?) North American
importation which I saw on the.Kew rockery for
the first time this year or last, and which will, I
hope, find its way into commerce and prove tract-
able. It is a more finished and shajjely beauty than
the purple-budded G. Andrewsi. which it somewhat
resembles, and which, by-the-by, is not, I think,
seen as often as it deserves to be. I have read
many garden notes on the Gentians from those who
have more or less failed with, at least, many of
them. I recall none from those who have at all
completely succeeded. If any of your readers come
into the latter happy category, and can prescribe
for " J. C. L." and myself, the value of a cultural
note from them would doubtless be widespread.
As regards dwarf Phloxes, Phlox amicna is a
rather shy bloomer here, otherwise I quite agree in
" J. C. L.'s " commendation of it. Another cognate
beauty, P. reptans (alias, as I make it, P. verna), is
also charming, and, to my thinking, Phlox cana-
densis, beloved of slugs, is excelled by none of the
genus. Like " J. C. L.'s " half-mourning Sweitia
perennis, this Phlox has a subdued and slaty tone
in its colour, which I own I find highly iesthetic in
every sense. Phlox procurrens (or procumbens ?)
is another charmer, but sparing in exhibiting its
charms.
I agree greatly with " J. C. L." in his praise of
Lithospermums, specially of the choicer ones. Why
are good plants of these latter so difficult to procure '!
L. oleicfolium I know not, though I shall now be
soon on its trail, as also upon that of L. Gastoni.
I believe this latter is no longer in commerce.
Seemingly, "J. C. L." does not know L. rosmarini-
folium, which, so far as I know, is the best of the
genus, though, alas ! tender. It is of prostrate
habit with upturned flowers, about thrice the size,
as I remember them, of those of L. prostratum, and
of the most superb blue imaginable. It is Italian,
and, I believe, Italian only. A plant has for the
last year been impounded for me in the garden of
a friend in Rome. Thus far I have failed to get it
"through the ofiicial lines," but I contemplate
personally conducting it thence this winttr. I
wonder whether " J. C. L.'s " Pulmonaria arvernensis
(which I do not otherwise know) is a native of
Southern Europe, for his description tallies with
that of a Pulmonaria which I fourd a few years
back in the Maritime Alps, near Cannes and Grasse.
It has not survived here.
A TRUE BLUE Pektstemon. — Either, as is most
likely, " J. C. L." has an abnormally high blue
ideal, or his failure to attain during ten years to
this very legitimate ambition must be found in the
soil with which he has worked, or in some such
removable cause.
His guide and friend in this matter, Mr. W.
Thompson, of Ipswich, is a very "apostle" of these
flowers, and was, I think, their first introducer. I
am hopeless, therefore, of adding anything to the
learning of the subject, which presumably has al-
ready been imparted to " J. C. L." The latter is
thus assuredly not ignorant of the existence of
Pentstemon glaber — P. speciosus (perhaps only a
very distinct and fine variety of the first), P. ovatus
and P. Brandegei, or some such name. Of the three
first of these (as also of P. heterophyllus and others)
I have had experience for years.
Now I own that they are all more or less sinntrs
in the direction indicated, to this extent, that they
cannot be relied on (out of special soil, at any rate)
to produce true blue flowers only and always ;
neither to run in the colour, nor to introduce to
your notice a rose-coloured throat where you looked
for a blue.
But subject to this, both P. ovatus, P. glaber, P.
speciosus, P. heterophyllus, and P. nitidus produce
with me flowers of a colour which, to my eye, is a
true blue, and nothing else ; and in many cases
and in some years a very fine blue.
P. ovatus (inferior to the others as regards habit
and form) deserves for the earlier days of its
flower life all, and more, that " J. C. L." can say in
its disfavour. Its youth is hopelessly unpromising.
Possibly "J. C. L." pulled it up at this stage, as I
nearly did. But the flower refoims ladically in
middle life, and it is the plant which I then choose,
by reason of its excellent bright blue, to associate
for contrast with a large planting of Poppies.
Of P. glaber, P. speciosus, and P. heterophyllus
(the latter least frequently) I have had flowers with-
out a particle of any shade but blue in them. It
should be added that the quality of the colour
varies (with me) with the season, as well as wiih
the soil. This year it was here almost unifoinily
inferior.
P. Jaffrayanus I have not got, but I saw it once
years since, and the flower was of the finest blue.
Ourisia coccinea most of us find diflicult to flower
freely. At best I imagine it is shy. In sun and
bog it does well at Kew, and fairly here. But here
it has bloomed best in a somewhat unlikely position,
viz., in almost complete shade at the foot of a dry
chalk bank, and with no great amount of watering.
Another semi-bog plant has behaved similarly, so
far as regards blooming best in compaiatively cry
quarters. I mean Niertmbergia rivularis. The ex-
Dec. 3, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
513-
planation is not perhaps far to seek, for the same is
not of course true of the foliage, though even this
is healthy, though not plentiful. I imagine that
plants instinctivelT make efforts to bloom and so to
seed (however, under too adverse circumstances
their efforts mav be commonly abortive) in some
proportion to their inability by other means (as by
root and leaf extension) to help to continue their
species.
Wulfenia carinthiaca grows well with me as re-
o-ards foliage, but it is inexplicably shy in showing
Sower. If " J. C. L." has more successfully wooed
her, I wish he would say how. I think of trying
the same experiment upon this as has accidentally
proved successful with the two last-named plants.
Pkimulas and Androsaces.— As I am making
my little effort with these, I am disconcerted ^to
hear from " J. C. L." that the south-east of England
is an unfavourable habitat for them. I consolemy-
self bv inferring that he generally rejects the aid of
cold frames, in which, for the most part, I grow
these plants. Their death rate under cultivation
and in some classes is, I own, alarming enough:
but with manv the birth rate is far more rapid, and
one is well satisfied with the result if he has courage
to multiply stock of the latter and to discard the
unreliable] which happily are not always or gene-
rally the most beautiful species.
One extra strong plant here, unprotected iri th^
open, of Androsace lanuginosa has sturdily resisted
the evil suggestions of many cruel winters that it
should joinlhe majority, though it has often looked
like yielding to their threats. But the plant is so
exquisite that I am wintering specimens under
glass, and they were still in bloom during this
month (November).
A. sarmentosa grows well even in full exposure,
but scarcely blooms at all. A. Chamaijasme I ad-
vise " J. C. L." to try in a soil surfaced with lime
chippings, and A. Laggeri and carnea in peaty staple.
Thus they succeed here.
Orchis foliosa fails to bloom with me, as with
him, though my roots seem healthy. They may
probably need time for reflection before taking the
step.
Cypripedium Calceolus he should find no difficulty
with, if protected by a tilted cloche in winter, and
perhaps aided by partial shade. Cypripedium
spectabile I mav say has done and flowered well
with me in a dry, chalky subsoil— an unavoidable
condition of things (as to part of my stock), which
occasioned me serious misgivings in planting.
There is, however, a good foot of appropriate soil
on the top, and the summer waterings have been
regular and frequent. H. Selfe LEONARD.
Mitherbury, Guildford.
SHOUT NOTES.— FL 0 H SR.
The Tree Tomato of Jamaica, so far as its
Tomato-yieldiug propensities are concerned, had better
stay in Jamaica; but as a bold, handsome plant, it is
well worth a place in our summer gardens. Kestricted
to pot culture and headed back, it has in two years
from seed formed a bushy plant 10 feet high, and is
well furnished with leaves as large as those on the
young shoots of Paulownia imperiaUs. — American
ilorist.
Mina lotata. — I quite agree with all that
"J. C.C." says about this beautiful climber in The
Gabden, Nov. 12 (p. 43G). I planted it out iu a bed of
mixed Clematis at the same time as the ordinary bed-
ding plants were put out, and through August and
September it was admired by everyone who saw it.
It was a perfect mass of bloom, and remained so till
frost came and cut the plants down. — "W. Townsend.
Red Japan Anemone. — I think that if
"E. H. E.," who in The Gabden Nov. 5 (p. 415)
complains that this Anemone is misnamed, werejto
see it under the influence of thorough good culture,
he would alter his opinion. The purity and brilli-
ancy of any flower are intensified by liberal culture,
and there are but few hardy flowers that suffer more
from poverty and want of moisture at the roots
tt.an the red Japan Anemone. The white form is
of such a robust constitution that it will flourish
and produce in quantity its fine-formed, pure white
blooms under circumstances which cause the red
kind to dwindle away. A tolerably deep, rich soil
is absolutely necessary, not only to the growth of
the red kind, but to the development of colour
in the flowers. If good moisture fails, the flowers
come of a poor washy colour, but give the plants all
they need and the colour is so bright, that only a
hard stickler for correct colour definitions would
hesitate to call it red. I had a large bed of this
Anemone last year that was the admiration of all
who saw it. The plants were established two years
and had been well mulched in winter, and during the
growing season they received an occasional soaking
of liquid manure, and bore thousands of brightly
coloured blooms. — J. C. B.
Ferns.
W. H. GOWEK.
NEW ZEALAND LASTREAS.
There appears to be a tendency amongst
amateurs to rest satisfied with just the few
kinds of Ferns which are to be obtained in the
market, and to seek for no others ; this is, how-
ever, a very objectionable practice, inasmuch as
a house so furnished must have a very monoto-
nous appearance, which is very wearying, and
ultimately causes lack of interest in the plants.
There is no need for a Fern collection to
lack interest for want of variety, for many
beautiful species and varieties can be obtained ;
take, for example, the few members of the genus
Lastrea which are here mentioned. They are
most desirable plants for a cool fernery, and are
very distinct from each other, yet they do not
appear to be generally known. They are all
natives of New Zealand; cou.sequently they
requii-e but little artificial heat, whilst most of
them are coriaceous in texture, and may be used
without injury for the embellishment of the
dwelling-house. Pot in loam and peat in equal
parts, adding a little sharp sand.
L. HiSPiDA.— In well-grown examples of this
species the fronds attain a height of 2k feet and a
breadth of 1 foot, and in such a condition it forms a
beautiful ornament in a large fernery. More often,
however, it forms pretty little specimens with fronds
from 9 inches to 1 foot high, these being quite
characteristic, although of smaller size. In this con-
dition it is well suited for a small house, and also
for planting in a Wardian case. The rhizome is
stout and creeping, densely clothed with rou
black scales ; the stems and rachis are also clothed
throughout with long black hairs ; the fronds are
somewhat ovate-acuminate, three or four times
divided, the segments being cut into small toothed
lobes; the texture is coriaceous, and the colour vivid
green.
L. VELUTINA. — This, although a common plant in
New Zealand, is by no means so in English gardens.
The fronds are triangular in outline, from 1 foot to
18 inches high, the lower pair of pinnie being nearly
as much across, all the divisions being very regular;
the texture is somewhat soft and flaccid, and the
colour light green.
L. GLABELLA.— An elegant small-growing plant,
producing fronds from 9 inches to 18 inches in
length, and triangularly elongate in outline. They
are smooth, the texture coriaceous, and the colour
light green. It is admirably adapted for Wardian-
case culture and for small ferneries.
L. DECOMPOSiTA. — This species somewhat re-
sembles L. velutina in outline, but differs from it in
its more robust habit and in being far less hairy ;
the fronds vary from 12 inches to 2 feet in height,
and are pale green in colour. It rapidly forms a
handsome mass, and is well suited for planting on a
rockery in the Fern house.
examples in the Kew collection, and would like to
see it more widely diffused in amateurs' ferneries.
It is not a quick-growing plant ; the rhizome is de-
cumbent and stout, but it does not grow rapidly.
The fronds are erect, from a foot to 30 inches high ;
the latter measurement is from a wild specimen
gathered in Jamaica, but I have never seen culti-
vated plants more than about 18 inches in height.
It is easily distinguished by the peculiar manner in
which the pinnaj are dwarfed; in the upper part of
the frond the pinnae are from 2 inches to 4 inches
long, and this is maintained for about two-thirds of
the length, the pinnfe on the lower third being
suddenly and abruptly reduced to about half an
inch, and which decrease downwards to near the
base; the texture is coriaceous and the colour deep
green. It is found in the West Indies and requires
stove treatment.
OUR NATIVE FERNS.
lia&trea deltoidea. — This is one of the most
distinct Ferns that I know, but, unfortunately, it
remains scarce in cultivation. I recently saw nice
The Lady Feen (Athyrium Filix-foemina) is, per-
haps, the most graceful of all the British species,
and it is probably on that account that from im-
memorial times it has been known by that deser-
vedly popidar appellation. The genus Athyrium
contains but one solitary species of British origin,
and even that one is of a very cosmopolitan charac-
ter, as it is equally found in many other parts of
Europe and North "America. It is first mentioned
as a British Fern by Johnson in his edition of
Gerard's " Herbal," when, referring to its discovery
in July, 1633, he says ; —
Never have I seen any figure resemhUug this plant.
It groweth abundantly in the shadowy moist rocks by
Mapledurham, near Petersfield, in Hampshire.
It is further described by the editor of Ray's
" Synopsis of British Plants," published in 1724, as
" the Male Fern with thin - set, deeply indented
leaves." There are indeed few localities where it is
not found in a wild state in greater or less quan-
tities. It is very common iu the southern and mid-
land counties of England, and s o abundant on the
bogs of Ireland, as to be used there, as the common
Bracken is in England, for packing purposes.
The most important requirements of Athyrium
Filix-fccmina are abundance of moisture during the
growing season and partial shade. The fronds, pro-
duced in abundance from a central crown, are
plume-like, and form a very beautiful mass of pale
green foliage, varying in height from 18 inches to
30 inches. In some cases the stalks are pale green,
whereas in others they are of a uniform claret
colour. About one-third of their length is deprived
of pinnaj and swollen at the base, and that part
of the frond is also usually covered with long brown
scales. In typical plants the general outline of
these fronds is invariably narrow and spear-heajJ-
shaped, but none of our native Ferns are perhaps so
variable in their forms, which are now so numerous
as to defy all classification. Some of these are so
very inconstant, that their description would be
useless ; while some of the most beautiful forms
are quite constant, not only in themselves, but in
their reproduction from spores.
Beginning with the most popular section — the one
comprising the crested forms — 1 find that among
the many named sorts none are of more decorative
value than the one called Athyrium Filix-fa?mina
Craiggi, a plant of particularly compact, yet not too
dense, habit, and whose fronds, from 12 inches to
18 inches long by about 2 inches in breadth, have
all their pinna; shortened and terminated in small
multifld cristations, while the apex of every frond
is densely cristate. Somewhat similar to it, though
perfectly distinct, are the varieties corymbiferum
and grandiceps, both having an aveiageheight of IS
inches. The variety corymbiferum, which is very
handsome when planted out, is a particularly strorg
grower, as we have it on the authority of Mr. B. S.
Williams, who has seen it 20 inches high and some
8 inches or more broad. One of the prettiest of all,
and at the same time one of the oldest known
among the sportirg forms of the Lady Fein, is the
little Athyrium Filix-fcemina crispum, which ap-
pears 1o "have been gathered by collectors Icrg
before Feins became fashionable. It was originally
514
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 3, 1887.
found on Orah Hill, Antrim, Ireland, by Mr. A.
Smith, and since then by Sir W. C. Trevelyan in Brae-
mar, Scotland. A figure of one of its dwarf, clus-
tered, and much-divided fronds, resembling a tuft
of crested Parsley, is given by Mr. Moore (" Hand-
book," p. 142). The whole plant seldom exceeds 8
inches in height, and, as regards form and colour,
has the appearance of a mass of densely curled
Parsley. This pretty variety makes an excellent edg-
ing for the rockerj', and a low position suits it re-
markably well. A. Filix-fccmina orbiculare, NeweUi-
ana and Elworthi are also very striking and constant
crested forms. The last-named one is an exceed-
ingly handsome plant, whose long and large fronds
bear at their extremity a densely crispy, flattish
crest, 3 inches to 4 inches in diameter. But the
best crested form is undoubtedly represented by
the variety acrocladon, found some few years ago in
Yorkshire, and the lovely fronds of which appear like
balls of Moss disposed on short stalks rarely exceed-
ing 4 inches in height. If we now turn to the plumose
kinds, which form a section of plants with fronds
fuUy as large as those of the typical species, we find
that the several forms of A. Filix-fcemina plumosum
are the most elegant amongst them. In the Ax-
mlnster variety the fronds, broadly lanceolate in
shape and submembranaceous in texture, are tri-
pinnate and very delicately divided. Its beautiful
fronds, which have the appearance of a feather,
grow up to 30 inches high and are frequently
8 inches or 9 inches in width. Then there is A.
plumosum elegans, the divisions of which are finer
stUl, and which frequently produces among its
seedlings a certain percentage of crested forms.
Bat the finest of all the British Ferns with which I
am acquainted is undoubtedly the Athyrium Filix-
foemina Kalothrix, a splendid variety, well deserv-
ing its name, which means beautiful hair. Its
fronds, of normal outline, have no equal in any
other species or variety for delicacy of appearance,
for they are of such a delicate texture and so finely
divided as to have all the transparency of fine green
silk, or that of the most finely divided among Filmy
Ferns. Whatever may be said to the contrary, it is
certain that this beautiful variety reproduces itself
true from spores, as I raised a batch of seedlings
some three years ago, among which there were no
variations worth noticing. Unfortunately, like
most plumose kinds, it is generally barren, and
fertile subjects are only very seldom met with';
it is not even certain that because it has borne fer-
tile fronds one season the same plant will show
signs of fructification either the following or in sub-
sequent seasons. The same remarks also apply to
the variety pulcherrimum, with fronds of normal
outline, but tripinnatifid and very delicately cut
and remarkable for the large and acute toothing of
its pinnules. In A. Filix-foemina clarissimum we
have a plant of exceptional interest, as it is remark-
able not only for the delicacy of its foliage,
which is light and particularly graceful, but also
for having been the means of showing a new way of
self-reproduction called apospory, recently dis-
covered by Mr. C. T. Druery and described at great
length in the Gardeiiers' Chronicle of March 18,
1885. That new mode of propagation has since
been equally remarked on several other kinds of
British Ferns, notably by Mr. Woollaston on Poly-
stichum angulare var. Pateyi. The varieties dissec-
tam, native of Ireland, and acuminatum, originally
found on Snowdon, are also very valuable additions
to the group ; both of them are pretty, small-grow-
ing kinds, seldom exceeding 12 inches in height.
The fronds of the former are ovate, with unequal
and irregular pinna; and pinnules, the latter de-
current and deeply incised; those of the variety
acuminatum have their pinnae densely set, each
ending in a long, tapering point, giving the plant a
very elegant aspect. A. Filix-fcemina todeoides is
a very beautiful form, with large fronds very deli-
cately divided and greatly resembling those of a
Todea hymenophylloides. A. Filix-fcemina Ver-
nonite is totally distinct from all other forms through
the massive appearance of its handsome fronds,
which frequently measure over 2 feet in length and
from 4 inches to (! inches in breadth, ovate in out-
liae, with large pinnules and very wavy divisions.
It is an erect-growing variety, and its broad, seroi-
pinnatifid pinnules render it conspicuous among all
the forms of the Lady Fern ; it has produced two
very beautiful and equally constant crested sub-
varieties, viz., corymbiferum with tufted, and cris-
tatum with flat crested fronds of normal size.
S. G.
HYPOLEPIS.
The various members of this genus for the most
part produce somewhat large fronds, whicli are
many times divided, and are developed from a
creeping rhizome. The Hypolopis are particu-
larly adapted for draping rockery in a Fern
house, as they are of a robust constitution, and
their decompound fronds form a pleasing con-
trast when associated with the more simple
fronds of the various Nephrolepis, which are so
frequently the sole occupants of the rockery in
such situations. Some few species, however,
are of dwarfer growth, and require to be planted
in prominent positions on a level with, or be-
low, the line of vision, in order that the beauty
of their fronds may be fully appreciated, or, if
desirable, they may be grown in pots, and in
this way are seen to the least advantage. These
plants should have rough sandy peat and light
loam to grow in and an abundant supply of
water, which must be carried away froui them
quickly by good drainage. The following kinds
are for the most part natives of temperate
regions, and are admirably adapted for the
adornment of a cool fernery, and .should receive
more attention from Fern growers than they
hitherto appear to have done : —
H. DISTANS. — This is generally a smaU-growing
plant which is plentiful in New Zealand, to which
country it is peculiar. The creeping rhizome is
rigid and clothed with numerous brown scaly hairs ;
fronds from 6 inches to a foot high. It is a charm
ing plant, and, independent of its beauties as a
specimen, its fronds are somewhat stiff, and last a
long time when cut.
H. Bbegiana forms an elegant specimen in a
pot. It is a native of Natal and other parts of
South Africa, but seems to be rare in cultivation.
I recently noted a nice example of this plant in the
collection of temperate Ferns at Kew. Its general
outline is triangular, reminding one at first of
Cheilanthes viscosa ; the stems are dark chestnut'
brown and woolly, the fronds being about four
times divided. It attains a height of from 1 foot
to 18 inches, and in the latter case the lower part
of the frond would be a foot across.
H. TENOTFOLIA.— This is another New Zealand
species, although by no means confined to those
islands, being found in various parts of Australia,
the Polynesian Islands, and Java. The New Zealand
form thrives well in a cool house. The rhizome is
long and stout, downy ; fronds from 1 foot to several
feet in length. Its ornamental character is best
developed when planted on a bold rockery.
H. EEPENS, although a handsome Fern, is not so
well adapted for the cool house, as it is a native of
various parts of tropical America. The fronds are
from 1 foot to 3 feet long ; the stems straw coloured
and slightly prickly.
H. MILLEFOLIA somewhat resembles tenu
folia, but it is less robust in habit, and forms a
pretty specimen in a pot. It thrives well in a cool
house, and I have found it to do well in deep shade.
A native of New Zealand. W. H. G.
A pretty climbing Fern ( Arthropteris tenella)
— When this Fern was introduced to our gardens a
little more than thirty years ago it' was con-
sidered a new and undescribed species, and it was
named Arthropteris filipes, but upon further ac-
quaintance it was recognised as the Polypodium
tenellum of Forst. It does not appear to have
found its way into many collections, the reason of
its neglect being, I believe, the difficulty there is in
getting it to grow from young plants. Fern growers
for the most part trying to make it a pot plant;
whereas it is a climber, ascending lofty trees in its
native country, and draping their trunks with its
drooping pinnate fronds. Those who have this
plant should at once place it in a position to climb,
when it will soon start away and grow rapidly,
otherwise it will continue for a long time to form a
little tuft of dwarf fronds, with neither character
nor beauty. This plant, in its true character, pro-
duces a long creeping rhizome, which is densely
clothed with ferrugineous chaflly scales, by which it
adheres to the trees ; the fronds are upwards of a
foot long and pendent, pinnate, and bear a single
line of brown sori on a free veinlet near the edge ;
the colour bright green. It is a native of New Zea-
land, where it appears to be abundant, and coming
from that country it does not require much heat. I
hope to see it in more general cultivation. — G.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 625.
HYBRID TULIPS.
(with a coloured plate of ^t. elegans,
viridiflora, and eetroflexa. *)
Among ordinary bulbs grown for the beauty of
their flowers alone, few equal, and, in my
opinion, none excel, the Tulips. They have been
cultivated for centuries, and in the olden times
prices as high as those at the present time given
for Orchids were paid. A fortune for a single
TuUp bulb has been, thanks to the exertions of
the florist, brought down to a few pence a
dozen, and Tulips are now within the reach of
all who have space to grow them. Unfortu-
nately, little or no care was taken to record the
hybrids, <fec., in those days, and the confusion
existing at the present time is very great, and
it is very doubtful if it wUl ever be cleared up.
Until Mr. Baker, of the Kew Herbarium, took
them up a few years ago, nothing whatever had
been done in the way of a classification, and as
no figures of any of these hybrids exist, the
most that could be done was to describe them
by the names under which he found them in
gardens. This he did ia the Journal of the
Linnean Society. Although many of these
hybrids have emanated from the garden T. Ges-
neriana, whether by hybridising or selection,
they keep true to their characters, and are each
quite capable, if taken in hand, of forming a
race of their own. This is perhaps more true
of T. Greigi, Didieri, Eichleri, and others with
robust constitutions and features quite distinct
from any existing race. The ordinary garden
Tulips are lifted annually, and I am of opinion
that it would be safer to treat the species in the
same way. In light, well-drained soils Tulips
will stand uninjured for two or three years, but
in soil of a heavy nature they dwindle, or, at
any rate, do not gain strength as they should
do. Most of them will succeed in ordinary
soil, but it must be well drained and free
from spongy matter. They always do best in
groups, planting the bulbs about an inch apart.
In the present article the Gesneriana group has
only been dealt with. Those not mentioned in
detail, many of which have an equal claim to a
place in the garden, and should certainly be
grown if space admits, are as follows : unclula-
tifolia, Elwesi, Kolpakowskiana, Osbrowskiana,
platystigma, Korolkowi, Borsczowi, Boissieri,
strangulata, bretica, Kaufmanniana, altaica, Al-
berti, maculata, iliensis, and others.
T. ACUMINATA. — This plant is well known in
gardens under the name of the Turkish Tulip. It
is also said to have been introduced into Parisian
gardens direct from Persia about 1811. Its native
country or how it originated is still a matter of
* Drawn for The Garden iu the Eoyal Gardens,
Kew, by H. G. Moon, May 25, 1887, and printed by G.
Severeyns.
w
\
i
w
Pec. 3, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
515
doubt, and it is just possible that it may be a hybrid
of which Gesneriana is one of the parents. At any
rate it is most nearly allied to that species, and no
doubt it has had to do with the origin of the Parrot
Tulip. It makes a most charming border bulb, and its
grotesque, variously coloured flowers, with long
pointed curving segments, 3 inches to 4 inches, often
divided, mark it as a curiosity. It is perfectly hardy
in English gardens, beginning to flower about the
end of April and through May. It is also known
under the names of stenopetala, cornuta, and turcica.
T. media is a variety nearly allied to this and
has white striped segments.
T. BiDiEEi. — This is certainly, hardly even ex-
cepting T. Greigi, one of the grandest Tulips in
cultivation. It is closely allied to the ordinary
Gesneriana, and agrees with it in general habit,
differing widely, however, by its narrower and more
pointed segments being furnished at the base with
a large purple, or purple-violet blotch surrounded
by a yellow border ; the segments are between
2 inches and 3 inches long, bright red, set off with
the large purple-black anthers. It is not considered
quite a wild plant, being found in cultivated fields
in the neighbourhood of St. Jean de ilaurienne in
Savoy, Sion in the Valais, Lto. This, crossed with
T. Gesneriana, may have produced many of the
handsome garden Tulips of the present day. It
seems, at any rate, to be a variable plant, some
nearly allied forms being very distinct in colouring
from the type. It begins to flower in May, and
makes a grand show in the border, being quite
hardy and rather easier to grow than the generality
of Tulips.
T. EiCHLEEl. — A native of Georgia, near the
borders of Persia, and belonging to the section of
Gesneriana called scabriscapa, but differing in having
hairy flower-stalks, otherwise it is near to GeS'
neriana. The flowers are bright crimson, with a
distinct black blotch at the base of the segments,
and open in April and May.
T. ELBG-iNS (see coloured plate 1) is another one
of the many garden forms of which we have no
history whatever. It is only known as a garden
flower, and from its appearance is probably a hybrid
between acuminata and suaveolens. It has the
pointed segments of the former and the pubescent
flower-stalk of the latter. It is, however, perfectly
hardy in the open air, and does satisfactorily in the
exposed bed or border. The flowers, rarely less
than 3 inches or 4 inches deep, are campanulate,
bright red, and with a fine large yellow eye. It
flowers about the end of April and May.
T. Gesneeiaha. — An old and well-known plant,
and doubtless the original of most of the late-
flowering garden Tulips. It is very widely distri-
buted, and is perhaps more variable than any other
Tn1ip in cultivation. A form known under the
name of T. Schrenki is said to be the typical form
of this species ; the flowers are more furmel-shaped,
the segments more spreading, and, like T. Gesneriana,
have a wide range of colour. Spathulata, also
called G. var. Strangwaisi in gardens, armena, and
fulgens, a charming large-flowered form, bright
scarlet with yellow eye, also belong here, as well as
many distinct forms grown amongst our florist
Tulips. T. macrospeila is nearly allied to Ges-
neriana, and may be a hybrid of which the latter is
one of the parents ; the flowers are large, bright
crimson, with a black blotch at the base, and
having a yellow-white border. It is a charming
flower, and well worth possessing.
T. Gbbigi. — This charming species, along with
Didieri, have, no doubt, been the means of making
our Tulip species amongst the most prominent bulbs
in the garden. Its large goblet-shaped flowers,
produced in April and May, are exceedingly at-
tractive, and when seen in groups, as displayed on
the rockery at Kew last year, their vivid orange-
scarlet flowers look like so many flames. Being a
native of the Boreldai Mountains at liCiOO feet above
the sea, it is quite hardy in our borders, and stands
our most severe winters with impunity. It is
easily recognised by its sturdy habit ; and the
broad glaucous leaves, covered with numerous
brown blotches, are attractive. It is a vigorous
grower, and although many people have faDed to
flower it, this is probably due to young bulbs more
than anything else, my experience being that the
older and stronger the bulbs, the larger and more
certain the flowers. It varies somewhat, as I have
seen flowers without the great black blotch, and
also some replaced with yellow. It has, no doubt,
a great future before it, and, if carefully handled
when it comes under the influence of the florist, a
distinct and beautiful race of new garden Tulips
rieing with, if not surpassing, the old ones may be
expected. Turkestan.
T. Kessebringi was first introduced to gardens
under the unpublished name of Holtzeri. It is a
native of Central Asia, flowering in April, and last-
ing rather longer than most other Tulips. It was
found by Dr. A. Eegel and sent to England about
1878, and is certainly a great acquisition to otir list
of bright yellowflowers. The leaves are narrow and
about 6 inches long, the di%"isions of the flowers being
from Ih inches to 2 inches long, bright yellow, and
stiffused with red on the outer side. Allied to this
is another Turkestan species, which has smaller
flowers with more pointed di%Tsions, and is figured
in the " Gartenflora," t. 1099.
T. PUBESCENS, the early sweet-scented Tulip, is
said to be a hybrid between Gesneriana and suaveo-
lens, and has, no doubt, something to do with the
origin of the April-flowering race of garden Tulips.
It was long known by florists under the name of
Claramond, Pottebakker, Bride of Haarlem, &c.
It is slightly fragrant, which quality it probably
derives from T. suaveolens, as well as the downy
flower-stalk. It goes through a wide variation in
colouring, and has blunt segments, as in T. Gesne-
riana.
T. BETEOFLEXA (see Coloured plate 3) is another
plant about which there is no history as to its
origin. It seems half way between T. acuminata
and T. Gesneriana, and is probably a hybrid between
these two plants. The flowers are campanulate,
deep bright, soft yellow in colour. It flowers early
in May, and produces a striking effect in groups.
T. SUAVEOLENS is the old Due Van Thol sweet-
scented Tulip of gardens, and the parent of the
well-known race of early Tulips. It is the T. dubia
Pnmilio of Clusius and the T. prfecox of Parkinson,
who in his " Paradisus " gives a long list dividing
them according to their colours. From the time of
Pallas it has hardly ever been seen in a wUd state,
and the type was entirely lost to cultivation until
its re-introduotion two years ago by Dr. Kegel. It
was collected in Asia and living btdbs sent to our
gardens by the above gentleman, to whom we are
very largely indebted for many new beautiful Tulips
from Turkestan. In the open air the above Tulip
blooms in early March and April, when its fragrance
is as welcome as the beauty of its flowers. This
race is largely used for early forcing, and it is not
unusual to see it in flower about Christmas. It is
figured in the Botanical Magazine, t. 839.
T. TRIPHTLLA. — This is a representative of a very
large number of Asiatic species lately introduced
to gardens by Dr. Kegel, the headquarters being in
Turkestan. The present species was discovered at
Siaram See, on the great Thian-schan range, and
somewhat resembles our native T. sylvestris, differ-
ing only in the absence of downy filaments. It is
a most charming plant, and flowers early in March ;
the leaves are narrow, 3 inches or 1 inches long ;
the f tmnel-shaped flowers bright lemon-yellow, tinged
with green on the outside.
T. VIEIDIFLORA, as figured on the accompanying
coloured plate 2, is one of those old plants of
which nobody seems to know the true origin. It
has long been grown in gardens under the above
name, and although it has no claim to beauty,
it is of interest as being a possible progenitor of
the far-famed Parrot Tulips of the present day.
Next to T. acuminata, this plant resembles the
Parrot Tulip more nearly than any other known
kind, and it is not unusual to find the flowers
entirely cut up and contorted as in the Parrot
Tohp. T. acuminata, the segments of which
are slightly cut, supplies the orange and scarlet,
while T. viridiflora gives the pale yellow and
green. There can be no doubt that our present
plant came originally from Gesneriana, but how it
came or when we do not know. It is a most useful
Tulip for the bed or border, and never fails to flower
rather later than Gesneriana. Another one known
as T. flava seems to be nearer the type than the
above, and is also a useful free-flowering Tulip.
D. K.
Fruit Garden.
W. COLEMAN.
HARDY AND ORNAIMENTAL VINES.
Some time ago I drew attention to the Vine for
planting against trees, walls, and cottages, and.
recently a correspondent who has seen more of
the fruit than I have has strongly advocated
the planting of the hardiest sorts in preference
to the Pear and the Apricot. In Suffolk, the
southern counties, and many parts of the west,
the Esperione, Black Cluster, the common
Sluscadine, the Sweet waters, Foster's and StU-
ward's especially, the Hamburgh and Black
Frontignan ripen their fruit in good seasons,
and over a wider area better results might be
secured were established Vines better tended.
When I took up the matter my object was an
inducement to the owners of landed property to
beautify their old trees, unsightly biuldings,
and cottages with climbers that should be at
once ornamental and in many favoured spots
useful. But many of the hardiest varieties
being comparatively tame in point of autumnal
tints, it has occurred to me that Gros Colman,
Gros Maroc, Barbarossa, Alicante, and the old
West's St. Peter's, which vein and colour so
well, might be planted where fruit is of second-
ary importance, the plain-leaved ordinary wall
varieties being introduced and extended where
they are most likely to succeed. In addition to
the above we have the Parsley-leaved, Sliller's
Burgundy, sometimes called the Dusty Miller,
and the Claret Vine, a variety with dark purple
foliage, which takes on early a most charming
crimson, and being so thoroughly hardy I see
no reason why it should not ramble and scramble
over other trees as vintage Vines do in France.
The fruit of this variety being very inferior, it is
of no use to the cottager either for eating or
alone for wine ; therefore, it should not have a
place against south walls where the better sorts
will ripen their fruit in ordinary seasons. By
us, then, this Claret Vine must be considered
purely ornamental ; by wine growers, I believe,
it is found very useful, the deep coloured fruit
being introduced as colouring to thin, pale wines
of inferior quality. In France the quality of
vintage fruit for edible purposes is disappoint-
ing ; the culture in many vineyards is simply
bad, and yet where Phylloxera has not reduced
the wine grower to the condition of our agricul-
turists, thanks to a fine climate, they make the
most slipshod cultivation pay. There, over-
shadowed by Poplars and the foliage of the semi-
lopped Sycamore and JIaple, to which the Vines
cling, the Grapes ripen well and make good
wine, the finest quality being obtained from the
dwarif hard-pruned bushes growing on sunny
slopes and well protected from the north. The
winters there are sharp enough to kill Pinus
insignis and Cupressits macrocarpa. Spring
frosts are not unknown, and although the
summers are hotter than ours, I question if the
mean temperature in many vineyards is much in
excess of that of the south side of one of our
snug, well-thatched cottages. But, even assuming
that the French Grapes in open vineyards do
get more heat than the cottager can husband, I
believe it is generally conceded that good
managers in isolated places at home grow ex-
516
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 3, 1887.
cellenfc des.sert Grapes, the best of all forms in
which they can be used ; therefore, I conclude
that our pruning, training, and timely stopping
are at fault. The correspondent whose initials
are so well known having at page 456 given lucid
directions to the pruner and trainer,! will avoid
repetition by passing on to preparations for
planting young Vines and the renovation of old
ones.
The renovation of an old wall Vine is an
operation possibly never heard of, and yet,
judging from the light that has been thrown on
the root-management of other fruit trees, it is
quite certain that the most skilful branch mani-
pulator will be heavily handicapped so long as
the roots are allowed to go down into beds of
cold marl or ramble under an air-tight pave-
ment. To renovation, then, as well as manipu-
lation, we must pay attention. If we cannot
convey sun heat to the deeply bedded roots, we
must draw the roots up to the sun. The ways
and means are well understood, and the experi-
ment is worth trying.
Vines, on the other hand, like Gooseberries
and Currants, are so easily raised from cuttings,
either in the nursery or where they are to re-
main and in due time bear fruit, that this no
doubt is the cheapest and quickest road to
success. Being liable to bleeding, the cuttings
should always be taken off soon after the leaves
fall, cut into proper lengths and laid in until
the borders are ready for them, autumn, as a
matter of course, being the best time for plant-
ing. The Frenchman makes his cuttings about
2 feet in length, leaving a piece of two-year-old
wood at the base, and buries two-thirds of the
whole in the ground. We prefer shorter pieces,
as we then have the roots nearer the influence
of sun heat and a smaller proportion of hard,
sticky stem, which does not swell so freely as
the young growth made after the roots are
formed. Rooted Vines in pots, as a matter of
course, can be obtained and time saved, but
whichever jjlan is adopted no time should be
lost if a start is to be made next season.
Assuming, then, that we have a south front
and a west gable to cover, the cottage being
thatched and well sheltered, but the soil bad,
a rich border, I can assert, is not wanted, for
within four miles of this place I know a very
fine Vine growing out of the chimney of a house
quite 10 feet from the ground. The base, some
5 feet square, is built of rough stone and
mortar, and the roots, no doubt, have worked
down to the soil, but there it is, facing the
west, and it ripens good crops of fruit almost
every year. This, of course, is an exceptional
case, but it proves that warmth and genial food
are important factors in outdoor culture, and
these I would provide by excavating an area
2 feet in depth and 3 feet in width. A good
tile drain should then be laid, and upon this a
foot of broken brick, stone, or rubble to form
the foundation of the border. The materials
for this might consist of turf from the sides of
roads, road-scrapings full of limestone grit,
sand, charred ti-immings from hedges, anything
light, friable, and porous. "When finished the
border should be quite 12 inches above the
ground line, which should fall away to prevent
flood water from getting into the drainage, for,
quickly as the drains might carry it away, this
excess would not only keep the drainage cold,
but it would soon entice the roots downwards
into the subsoil.
The selection of varieties, be they cuttings or
rooted canes, must be regulated by the aspect
and the purpose for which they are intended,
and when planted they should be well mulched
to prevent the borders from drying out and to
coax the roots upwards. Once planted and
growing, the training and manipulation recom-
mended by "P. G. " in due course must follow.
A well-drained border, as I have already stated,
whilst keeping a cottage drj' need not be given
over entirely to the Vines. It might be planted
with hardy Lilies, Pinks, Carnations, Hellebores,
Tea Roses, and other hardy favourites that would
give pleasure to the owner and profit to the
occupier.
ENGLISH STANDARD FRUITS.
The persistency that you display to confine
the list of Pears to twelve varieties only has
led me to make a retrospective survey of my
dealings with Pears in past years, and by the aid of
notes from my diary of years ago, I have managed
to compile a list of twelve varieties that I should
grow, supposing I was restricted to that number.
Before giving the list, much as I am in favour of
reducing the number of varieties of all our fruits to
something like reasonable limits, twelve kinds of
Pears are not nearly sufficient for every part of the
kingdom, for the reason that no fruit is more
susceptible of varying from local conditions as
regards soil, aspect, and traioiEg. Take, for
instance, your apparent favourite, Duchesse d'Angou-
leme ; it is always fairly good here, but in a
neighbouring garden not two miles distant it is
worthless, being so gritty, and is only fit for stewing.
Though, as remarked, it is always of fair quality
here, I could not possibly place it in a select list of
twelve varieties, nor in one of double that number.
Another instance occurs to me — Beurre Ranee ; in
the best of seasons it never here attains a higher
point in respect of quality than as an excellent
cooking variety, yet, as grown at Gunnersbury
House, it is rich and melting, and may truly be
classed as a first-class late dessert Pear. I expressed
my incredulity to Mr. Hudson, the gardener there,
as to the high-flown colours in which he painted it,
and he did not forget when the season of maturity
came round to turn the tables on me by sending me
fruits almost as delicious and meltii g as those of
Marie Louise. I could quote other instances tending
to the same end, but these will suffice to illustrate my
contention that twelve varieties are not sufficient,
i.e., for every part of the kingdom. Personally, I
would be glad to have it so, for there would te
much lessened labour as to labelling, grafting,
gathering, and housing. The nearest approach that
can be made in the direction of reducing the
number of varieties to a dozen is, I think, by as-king-
your readers in all parts of the kingdom to send
you their selection of twelve, that is, the names of
twelve sorts that they have practically tested over
a series of, say, six years. Such lists will serve as
data to work out a list of twelve kinds as the best
for every given district. All that undertake such a
task should be given to understand that the list is
to be inclusive of the British Pear season, namely,
from August 1 to March 31, that is, the possibility
of having a constant supply of dessert fruit from
the twelve kinds named over a period of eight
months. My list has been compiled from this
standpoint, and the names follow in order of ripen-
ing, and though I would not have it understood
that I claim to have accomplished the feat, I feel
safe in asserting that if twelve kinds must do it,
hese, taking into account productiveness, the length
of time during which they can be used, and high
quality, are the best.
Williams' Bon Cheetibn. — A Pear known to
everybody. In hardiness, growth of tree, and pro-
ductiveness it is excelled by none, and for an early
Pear the quality is superb; some do not like the
high musky flavour it has when fully ripe, and all
such should eat it before that flavour is fully de-
veloped, which is not perceptible till the skin has
attained a rich golden yellow, and, as a rule, the
fruit is eatable a week before that takes place. For
many years now I have made attempts to lengthen
the season of use, or, in other words, tried various
ways to prolong the period of keeping Pears after
I they had become fully ripe. I have wrapped them
I separately in tissue paper, placed them in air-tight
drawers, laid them on straw on the cold floor of the
fruit room, and even put them in boxes and placed
them in the passage to an ice house, but none of these
plans have proved of much service, though all have,
I think, helped a little. The plan of all others that
has proved an immense success is to gather the fruit
of any given tree at varying intervals, and prolonga-
tion of ripening is then a certainty. For early
varieties of Pears this mannrr of harvesting is a
necessity, else when once ready for use, the whole
becomes a mass of rottenness within a few days.
This variety is one of the very few that in this dis-
trict does best, and is of finest quality when grown
on open bushes rather than on a wall, a matter of
no little moment for market growers and others
that have no walls.
FONDANTE D'AuTOMNB. — Notwithstanding the
retrograde step you have taken in respect of this
variety, I maintain that if the season of gathering
be made to extend over, say, a month, with a view
of preventing the too speedy decay at core, to which
when fully ripe it is liable, there is no Pear of its
season to equal it, and, like the foregoing, it is of far
better quality when the tree is grown as a standard
than against a wall. This season the difference
was most mark ed ; the fruit from a wall was soft
and almost flavourless, while that from standards
was a firm mass of lusciousness.
Beuebe Sun hfin.— a fruit of the most superb
quality, and one of the best keepers with which I
am acquainted. It deserves a wall, as it grows to a
large size in .'=uch a position. It does moderately
well in pyramidal or bush form in the open garden,
but the fruit is generally small, though always
plentiful.
Marie Louise. — This I need not describe, as its
merits are too well known. We have it in various
positions and forms. On a west wall it comes the
finest and ripens soonest; on standards it fruits
just as freely, and on a north wall it looks good,
but is not really so, though of passable quality.
Gathering at internals is also advantageous with
this variety.
Thompsom"s. — The mfrits of this Pear are best
described by the wcr.-is, "better than Marie Louise."
Such is my belief — a f dth that is influenced perhaps
by the fact that I like the flavour of it better than
that of Marie Louise ; indeed, it is unique, for there
is no other Pear that is at once so refreshing and
satisfying. The tree is hardy, always fruitful, and
is best grown in the open. The fruit grows larger
and ripens earlier, and is of the same excellent
quality from walls, but it does not keep so well — a
failing of some moment when the restricted number
of varieties that are supposed to carry us through
the season is taken into account.
Doyenne du Comick. — To leave this variety
out, even in a list of six, I shall consider an un-
pardonable offence, and much as I like all the
foregoing, not even excepting Thompson's, this
has merits that Thompson's has not, and the
most important of those merits are appearance,
beauty of form, colour, and size — just what an
exhibitor is anxious to have, while there is
quality of the first order. What more need I say
in its favour, except it be that it deserves a wall,
and well repays all attention as to feeding and
training that can be devoted to it. It does not c'o
kindly in the open garden. It bears profusely
enough, but the skin is generally covered with
black specko, I think caused by cold in the early
stages of growth.
Glou Moeceau.— I have been puzzling as to
whether to place this on my list before Winter
Nelis, but on reference to memoranda of past years
I find that, as a rule, it has generally been ripe
before that variety, though for the most part they
generally ripen together; this being so, the only
reason that I can find for placing it first is the fact
that Winter Nelis gives us by far the longest succes-
sion of fruit. Glou Morceau is— as, in fact, all my
list of twelve kinds are— of great and regular pro-
ductiveness. Grafted on the Quince stock and well
cared for in the matter of feeding, particularly
when the fruit is swelling, no variety gives bettfr
returns. We have trees in various forms in the
Dec. 3, 1887.]
open, and some on waUs ; the latter produce the
finest and best flavoured fruit, but, as is the in-
variable rule, wall fruits ripen much earlier ; those
on the Quince nest, and those on the Pear stock
being the latest of all. The fruits from the trees
grafted on the Pear stock seldom turn yellow, or
more so than a yellowish green, while the fruit from
the Quince turns quite yellow, even before it is
ready for use.
WlSTEE Nelis.— I have often said that, were I
obliged to grow but one Pear, this is that variety,
and my reasons are sure fruiting, because the
blossoms are hardy and late in expanding; the fruit
is of first-rate quality, and of long duration after
being ready for use. We have it ripe now, and
shall hope to have it in use till end of January.
My advocacy of part gathering at varying intervals
is of peculiar service in respect of this variety. It
does weU on any stock and in any position.
Josephine de Malixes.— I am Inclined to ex-
claim, " It gets better further on." Yes, this is also
superb. I dare not trust myself to describe its
goodness lest you use your discretional scissors
and cut me short. I will, therefore, only say
that it is a late Pear of the finest quality; keeps a
long time after being ripe (the greatest merit in late
Pears),and is a sure fruiter. The tree is of straggUng
growth and requires a lot of pinching to keep it
within reasonable bounds and the spur full of fruit
buds. The Quince stock suits it best. It does well
in any position or form.
Htjtshe's Victoeia.— Another Christmas Pear
of the highest quality. Its only failing is that it is
generally a little gritty at the core, a small fault
this in a fruit that continues in use from December
to March, as I have frequently known this to do.
The flesh is firm, sweet, and of a rich vinous flavour.
In rich soil it grows to a good size, and is always
handsome and free of the specks that disfigure so
many of our best Pears.
Oliviee de Seeees.— I have always been in-
clined to class this with the Bergamot section of
Pears. It is certainly closely allied both in form
and flavour, this latter being rich and strongly aro-
matic. The tree grows compactly, and never ram-
pantly, and consequently there is never occasion to
restrict growth with a view of inducing f ruitfulness.
Trees on the Pear stock produce the finest fruit,
which in my experience is contrary to the general
rule. The season of ripening varies from the end
of January to the end of February.and I have had it
in good form a month later than that.
Beegamotte Espeeen.— Thus ends my list of
twelve, and were I desired to grow only one very
late variety this would be that one. Over a, series
of eighteen years I have never known a failure in
regard to its fruiting, and that freely. The quality
for a late Pear is of the best, and another of its
greatest merits is, that very rarely indeed have I
known the fruit to ripen out of its season, which is
from the end of February to April.
W. WlLDSMITH.
THE GARDEN.
517
not yet borne enough for us to judge of its
value as a fruit tree. The berries so far were
small, but may become larger, as it is said that
the fruit of the Russian Mulberry usually increases
in size as the trees attain age. The great merit
of this tree lies in its graceful weeping habit, en-
tirely unlike anything heretofore introduced, and
its being at the' same time a remarkably vigorous
and healthy grower, with a hardiness that with-
stands the severe cold of the far north, and the
still more destructive heat and drought of the south
and south-west, flourishing where tlie Kilniarnock
and other popular weeping trees entirely fail. We
first noticed this tree and budded from it in 18S3,
instead of 18S5, as stated. The original tree, always
healthy and thrifty, is less than 3 feet high, spread-
ing out on the ground.— J. C. Teas, in Ameru'an
Florist.
Pear rondante d'Autoa.ne.— I cannot agree
with the writer in The Garden of November 12
(p 439) as to Fondante d'Automne being of
second-class quality. Here it is pronounced to
be one of the very best grown out of about
thirty sorts. There is no doubt that soil and
situation have a great deal to do with the quality
of this Pear. Here it is grown on a wall fac-
ing east, and never fails to produce a good
average crop. Our soil is of a daik sandy
nature resting on a gravelly subsoil, and seems
to suit this Pear, which here usually ripensabout
the second week in October, and remains good
for about thiee weeks. I do not remember
seeing one or having complaints of one rotting
at the core. Indeed, the flavour here is of the
very best, and never fails to seciure high praise.
J. A., I'iiju'-M Hvuse, Wchrijn.
Tli6 Weepilg Multeiry.— In some notes
on our new Weeping Mulberry it is stated that
the fruit is above the average size of Russian
Mulbeuies. This is an error. The trees have
A ONE-APPLE MAN.
EXTEEMES meet. We have found a man content
with one Apple. For several years past we have
deplored and done our best to show the bad state
of our orchards and fruit gardens. Whatever the
cause, the way in British gardens is to have many
kinds (some of them frequently not known to the
Apple grower), and to pay little attention to spe-
cially good sorts, the only ones which have the
least chance in the market. People who travel
through the country and see the state of our or-
chards and gardens must know that this is the case.
There is no attempt to do what the Americans do
so well, viz., to find out the fruit adapted to the
country, the wants of the people, and their markets.
We see that the Americans, in doing this, find fruits
for other people besides themselves, and thousands
of barrels of their Apples come to our markets in a
single day. Nurserymen's fat catalogues are partly
to blame. Nurserymen continue to send out new
kinds of Apples, frequently of little market or any
other value, and the way is to consider the merits
of perhaps several hundred varietie s of Apples ! Now
this stops all progress. High merit in the Apple is
a rare thing. If there are a dozen Apples of the
highest class in England, that is the extreme num-
ber. The difliculty of cultivating any kind well, or
of having enough of it, occurs also under this sys-
tem. If the gardeners or growers are confused by a
great number of sorts of different habits and needs,
they cannot and they do not turn their attention
to the fruits that can be grown best in the situation.
If they happen to have a first-rate kind, very often
they have it in such small quantity that it is
scarcely woith gathering. The condition of things
that we speak of is well known to Covent Garden
talesmen, who are troubled greatly by the rubbish
tbat the British grower often sends them, and
which does not pay for its carriage. Visiting Mr.
Anthony Waterer at Knap HiU Nurseries, Woking,
the other day, we found him happy over some
very fine specimens of Cox's Oiange Pippin, and he
grows this kind only. Well, that itself is a striking
fact; but we, who have seen the way fruit growers
work in America, and see too much of the feeble
manner in which our people prepare to meet theiu,
were in a position to appreciate his wisdom. His
Cox's Pippins were as big as Blenheims generally
are ; and we couldnothelp thinking andsayingthat if
this noble Apple were grown largely, it would not
be so easy for the Americans to flood our markets.
Here we "have a fruit beyond all doubt of the
highest excellence; only the best American
Apples would equal it. It is handsome, it is good
in form, splendid in colour when well grown, like
those shown us by Mr. Waterer, and of the first
size, though we care nothing about size if the flavour
is good. The price it brings in the market for good
specimens is very high. If people are in the least
serious about supplying our own markets with
such an excellent and easily-grown fruit as the
Apple, what they should do is to take a kind like
this when they find their soil not unfit for it and
grow it in quantitv for the market. There is nothing
that an English farmer or gardener does grow that
wiU pay better. Growing a kind like this in quan-
tity, one gets to know its wants, and gatherings are
sufficient to be remunerative. It should be grown
by the acre, not by the tree. If it were sent in
abundance to our markets, weU grown and sorted,
there would not be much chance for foreign Apples,
even of the best class. It might even be exported
if the ports of the world were not shut against us.
An Apple, unlike a Pear, often owes its fine quality
to the climate it grows in. The famous Newtown
Pippin only has its rare and high flavour m certain
districts in America, and of late years has been hard
to get at any price. The Duchess Pear, on the
contrary, has its fine quality in California as well as
in France, so that in this we have another reason
for growing on a large scale a fruit so fit to be seen
on every table as the English Apple Cos's Orange
Pippin We commend Mr. Wateier's example to
the attention of our readers ; few know so much
about the beautiful hardy trees for our climate and
our gardens. In resolving- to grow only this Apple
in his nursery, he has helped to enforce the lessons
above all others needed in British fruit culture.
They are, to cultivate only what we know to be
first-rate (not in looks, but in flavour), and to grow
enough of it. — I'iehl.
Apples specked.— We have been overhauling
several of our large Apple trees, and every year shaU
do our best. There is one thing I cannot under-
stand—why trees planted in bad soil have the fruit
(Apples or Pears) specked with scab or Cladosponnm
dentriticum, a black mildew. Is it that the roots
do not make the fine hairs on the fibre ? It has
been discovered that the Conifers; roots are not
clothed with fine hairs. These fine hairs have some
function in dealing with ammonia, &c., in soils, and
pcisibly this is why Coniferse do not hke ammonia ;
and it is possible that where roots are unfurnished
with them, that they are not able properly to deal
with these and other matters in solution in the
soil We have a good deal to learn from trees. 1
find there is a daily rise and faU of sap m trees,
rising in the morning until 12 a.m., and then falling
in the afternoon until the evening. There is a daJy
rise and fall of the barometer, but it is so masked by
the ordinary rises and falls from atmospheric causes,
that it is not observable, but in the Tropics very
marked. — X.
Pear Louise Bonne of Jeisey.— Since for-
warding a list of Pears, I observe that this Pear, and
also Pitmaston Duchess, do not meet with the
highest approval. The first-named sort, as stated
in my notes, was taken from a clean, healthy tree
occupying- a western aspect, and which has appa-
rently been in bearing for some years. It has alwa-ys
been a favouritewith me,but I never before saw truits
of it so clean and so highly coloured. They were not
large, but most deliciously flavoured. I have ga-
thered from young cordon trees fruits of the same
kind which were much larger and not so highly
coloured, but which were much inferior in flavour;
neither did they keep so well. This strengthens my
belief that it is from older trees, so long as the roots
are in proper condition, that we get the best fla-
voured fruits, though not equal in size. I am very
sorry I cannot speak so highly of the Pitmaston
Duchess. Its noble appearance is very teUmg, and
the flesh exceedingly white and melting, but I find
an absence in sweetness. To improve it, if possible,
I am thinking of placing a few grafts on an Autumn
Nelis and Doyenne d'Ete. This may probably have
the desired effect.— H. Maekham, Merenorth Castle.
Apple Cornisli Gillifio-wer.— Mr. Girdlestone
sends us three fruits of this Apple, medium in size,
and of a foim which to many would not seem pretty
from its irregularity. Knowing its dehcious flavour,
we admire its colour too, the curious lemon-green
and russet top so distinct from the red-striped b^e.
People continually send us Apples, and ask if this
or that has a good flavour. If they would taste a
fair fruit of this kind it might settle the question
for them. It is a better Apple than the Ribston,
more dehcate in flesh, and of a fine distinct flavour.
The only question is that of the bearing qualities
and hardiness of this fruit generally, and our
readers would help us greatly by telling us their
experience of it. Is it worthy to rank among the
best twenty-five standard English Apples ? Otits
quality there can be no doubt, but the other im-
518
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 3, 1887.
portant point is the area over which it can be well
grown. The Dachesse d'AngoulGme, as sent from
Western France, is a Pear of the highest class, but
from what our readers say and send we think it is
not a Pear for England generally. The fact that a
fruit does well and is of the highest quality in cer-
tain quarters only would not justify in giving it a
place as a standard English fruit. We do not in-
tend to have more than twenty-five Apples and
thirteen Pears, and the choice must, therefore, be a
very careful one.
FKUITS UNDER GLASS.
Pines.
In this department for the next two months there
will be little doing, but that little must be done
well. In the fruiting house, naturally the warmest,
firing must now be regulated by external conditions
in preference to any hard-and-fast lines or figures,
at one time so strenuously insisted upon ; and
moisture in like manner must be in proportion to
the state of the weather and the amount of dry fire-
heat requisite to the maintenance of minimum tem-
peratures. If the structure be light and compact,
it may be kept at 70" by night and 10" higher by
day ; otherwise, a slight decline, especially on cold,
wet, and windy nights will be found in every way
preferable to incessant forcing. Of equal, if not
greater, importance is the bottom heat, as fruit that
is well advanced does not often go far wrong where
this from a good solid bed of fermenting leaves can
be kept about 85° at the bottoms of the pots, and a
covering, however thin it may be, is drawn over the
glass to prevent the too rapid escape of moisture.
A^entUation, as a matter of course, will now be on a
diminished scale, but a change of air should be
made every day, and a chink if possible should be
left on the front ventilators throughout the night.
In mild weather it is usual to open the top lights at
banking time and close them again when the fires
are stirred in the morning, but just now, when the
pipes must be kept highly heated and external and
internal differences of temperature are so great, a
flush of fresh air passing over the steaming trays
not only invigorates the plants, but checked at the
apex, it keeps the house full of moisture, when
otherwise it would pass away and a descent of cold
air would take its place. Plants in a bottom heat
here recommended will take an occasional watering
with warm diluted liquid, but the principal supply
of aqueous food in winter will be through the stem-
roots, which should be kept moderately and regu-
larly moistened by underleaf syringing, care being
taken that the axils of the leaves do not receive
more than can be taken up by the plants and atmo-
sphere in the course of the following twenty-four
hours. Good watering at all times is very important,
in winter especially so, as too little stints the fruit,
and too much produces black hearts. No rule, how-
ever, can be laid down, as the size of the pots, the
nature of the compost, the plunging material, and
the quantity of roots have to be taken into account,
and then it is best to err on the side of moderation.
To the inexperienced, a good test is the hollow ring
of the pots when tapped with the knuckles ; to the
experienced, the feel of the leaves is sufiicient ; but,
be the test what it may, water in sufficient quantity
to moisten every particle of soil quite down to the
crocks should be given whenever it is necessary,
and there should be no dribbling to keep want
away. Smooth Cayennes and Eothschilds, the va-
rieties now principally in fruit, it should be borne
in mind, take more water and stand a lower tem-
perature than would be good for Queens and the
old Jamaica, still one of our very best winter Pines,
but now seldom met with.
Succession plaovts intended for throwing up early
fruit may still be kept very quiet, as nothing is
gained by attempting to slart Queens too soon.
Meantime, a small compartment being at liberty, it
should now undergo a thorough cleansing from the
base of the pit to the exterior of the glass, when it
may be filled with fresh Oak leaves, now in excel-
lent condition. If in a fermenting state they can-
not be made too firm; otherwise they should be
left light for a time, in due course turned, and well
trodden ready for the reception of a small batch of
the most likely looking starters, towards the end of
December. The most suitable plants have thick
stems and a goodly number of small pointed leaves
in their centres, two reliable guides in making a
selection for starting before they make a growth. It
does not always follow that all of them will throw
up at once, as some in the best managed pineries,
according to the time they have been resting, per-
sist in making a growth when they give an early
succession.
The main Tiatch, from which the best fruit will
be obtained, may be kept at 55° to 60° by night
up to Christmas, and 10° higher by day when the
weather is mUd and favourable. If there is any
danger of the roots becoming too dry, an un-
likely event, a little warm water may be poured
into the leaves round the outsides of the pots, and
the latter may be completely mounded over with
dry material until the time arrives for the direct
watering of the roots. If the bottom heat stands
at 70°, well ripened Queens will take no harm,
and Cayennes will be safe at 65°, but below these
figures it is not safe to go, as a very low tempera^
ture very often checks the roots of Queens, and
causes them to throw up deformed fruit.
SiicJters having filled their pots with roots will
stand a still lower temperature, but much depends
upon the structure, whether it be light or dark,
their distance from the glass, and the nature of
the plunging material. In light, span-roofed pits
young plants may be kept progressing throughout
the winter, but it sometimes happens that rest is
of more importance than progress, as growth means
a supply of water to the roots, whilst rest, unless
the pots are plunged in near proximity to the
bottom-heat pipes, enables the grower to dispense
with it. Whichever course is adopted it will not
do to trust to appearances, especially where tan
is used, as an excess of moisture will force a
weak, elongated growth, whilst too dry a condi-
tion may cause the plants to start into fruit im-
mediately after they are potted on in February.
The Oechaed House.
As soon as the early structure can be cleared of
Chrysanthemums, and the fever they have produced
has been allayed, they must be thoroughly cleansed
with soap and water and the walls washed with
quicklime and sulphur preparatory to the housing
of the first batch of trees. In many good gardens
the first crop of fruit is obtained from trees in pots,
and earliness being its chief quality, such varieties
as Waterloo, Amsden June, Alexander, and the like,
much as we regret this backward step, are taking
the place of sorts, also early, really worth growing.
A Peach, however, with some is a Peach all the
world over, and so long as this class of fruit pleases,
semi-clingstones must have their run. Where the
trees have been properly prepared and well rested,
not by dryness at the roots, for this is fatal, but by
full exposure to sun and rain in the open air, a few
of the most compact and promising may be drawn
from the plunging material and carefully washed
with warm soap water. The pots also must be washed,
the apertures examined, and possibly enlarged to
set the crock roots at liberty. Pruning being a
slight, but important operation, it may be deferred
until the buds begin to swell or even break, when
there will be no danger of destroying a shoot by
cutting away the leaf-buds. Although Peaches re^
quire a very low temperature and resent dry fire^
heat, they enjoy gentle warmth from mild ferment'
ing material, which not only stimulates the roots,
but lessens the resort to incessant syringing. In
order to prevent the fermenting leaves from touch-
ing the pots the latter should be set on others in an
upside down position, or dry brick pedestals. If
these are capped with a thin sod of rich old turf
Grass side down before the trees are introduced, a
wig of fibrous roots will beformed bythe time copious
waterings with diluted liquid manure become neces-
sary. When the trees, according to their height,
have been arranged, the fermenting leaves, pre-
viously well turned, may be thrown in loosely until
they reach the tops of the inverted pots or pedestals.
A little air must be left on the highest part of the
house to let out steam, and unless the weather is
very severe, but little, if any, fire heat will be needed
the first fortnight. The roots being thoroughly
moist at the time of housing, watering at first will
not be a he.avy operation, but on no account must
dryness exceed a moist growing condition at any
time. When fire-heat is absolutely necessary to
the maintenance of a minimum of 45° to 50°, a
nice dewing over with the syringe, but more espe-
cially a thorough moistening of the walls as well as
the frequent turning of the leaves will be necessary.
By adopting this plan healthy established trees will
start quickly, a sloppy state of the house at the dead
of winter will be avoided, and the buds will always be
comparatively dry atnightfaU.Ventilation,asa matter
of course, is imperative. Many people run away with
the idea that leafless trees do not require air, but
this is a mistake, as Peaches should always be
forced with a circulation, not a draught, and when
this cannot be admitted without, the valves must be
opened for two or three hours every morning.
Siiccef:sions. — The main stock of trees may remain
out of doors until the first week in January, when
thej' also should be got under cover. Meantime,
should the weather be very severe, more covering
must be placed over the pots, a few Bracken fronds
may be thrown in amongst the heads, and the whole
block, in wooded or sparrow-infested districts,
securely netted. Full exposure after the end of
November is not absolutely necessary, but where
earlier housing is inconvenient, being well ripened,
the trees will take no harm for another month,
always provided the roots and buds are properly
protected. Figs, as a matter of course, will be
under cover, and where they wiU be safe from
severe frost. If in a cold orchard house, they may
be laid on their sides and buried in Fern, or they
will do equally well in a frost-proof shed or store-
room. All potting by this time will be finished, and
the trees, especially Plums, Pears, and Cherries, well
set with buds, will required protection from feathered
marauders.
CUCUMBBES.
These for the next six weeks vnil require very
great care and unremitting attention to every de-
tail. Plants that have been some time in bearing
will require liberal feeding and top-dressing, the
first in the form of clarified diluted liquid in
quantity sufficient to permeate the whole of the
compost; the second little and often, as the roots
appear on the surface of the pots or the sides of the
hills. Syringing having been discontinued, the
paths and walls only must be moistened, once or
perhaps twice a day, more or less according to the
state of the weather and the mode of producing
bottom-heat. Where this is obtained from hot-
water pipes lying in rubble or dry chambers the
constant maintenance of a moist atmosphere is ex-
tremely difficult ; hence the advisability of supple-
menting them with a good bed of fermenting leaves,
which not cnly economise fuel, but by frequent
attention to turning and renovating throw up a
continuous stream of warm vapour so genial at all
times, and in winter the keystone of success. Fruit
as yet being of little value, light cropping and early
cutting cannot be too strenuously enforced, neither
must male flowers be allowed to remain on the
plants. A flush of fruit in December is easily ob-
tained, but an abundance before Christmas means
scarcity, if nothing worse afterwards. A check to
the plants is bad enough, but when canker, mildew,
and spider, one or all, are the sure followers, it
behoves everyone who wishes to have a good supply
of fruit in February and March to look well to these
matters now, as no after management can restore
an unhealthy winter Cucumber. Assuming that the
plants so far are in satisfactory condition, and they
yet have trellis space to fill, the young growths
should be regularly tied down to the wires, but not
pinched, unless a promising fruit is wanted, when
they may be stopped one or two joints beyond the
show. The house as well as the glass must be kept
scrupulously clean, and, if avail.able, some non-con-
ducting covering for keeping in heat and moisture
should be placed over the roof at night. As few
growers care to fire through all weathers for the
sake of an idea, the heat in all Cucumber houses is
riEC. 3, 188?.]
THE GARDEN.
519
now regulated by external conditions and the means
at command. The express grower insists upon a
high temperature, a vapour bath, and the exclusion
of air, but the majority are content with a bottom-
heat of 75" to 80°, an air temperature of 1)5" to 70"
at night, and 70" upwards by day. They treat their
plants to a change of air, if only for half an hour,
at least once a day, and generally they come in well
at the finish. These remarks apply to the manage-
ment of a single set of plants that have to be kept
in fruit and progress from November until April, or
perhaps later, when i^its and frames again come
into use. Where one mishap means disaster, as the
grower has no later compartment to fall back upon,
and yet with inadequate means at command he is
expected to produce fruit throughout the most in-
clement winter. In many large forcing gardens
these perils are avoided by the division of the
Cucumber range into several compartments con-
taining as many sets of plants in difierent stages,
from the full fruiter to the late cutting or seedling,
and, strange as it may appear, these weaklings very
often turn out invaluable after the turn of the
year.
Old plants that have been a considerable time in
bearing and show signs of distress may have a few
of the worst leaves and weak growths removed at
short intervals, and, if necessary, the trellis may be
lowered to prevent the foliage from touching the
glass. If their removal about Christmas is antici-
pated, they may be well fed and allowed to carry a
heavy crop of fruit ; otherwise, nearly all the shows
should be cut off to induce fresh breaks, and the
roots well top-dressed with fibrous turf, rough lime
rubble, and charcoal, the roughest portion being
placed close to the stems to prevent canker. Should
this troublesome disease or mildew put in an ap-
pearance, a little quicklime and sulphur rubbed into
the stems affected will stop the first, and sulphur in
a dry state or through the syringe will kill the
second. Green and black fly are quickly destroyed by
smoking with Tobacco-paper, but unless very care-
fully performed the tender fohage suffers also. To
steer clear of a mishap from the fumes, the foliage
should be quite dry, the temperature low, and then
a series of light applications will be found preferable
to one heavy volume. Where young plants are
likely to be wanted early in January and a good
bottom heat near the glass is at command, clean,
healthy cuttings of any well-proved sort may be put
in, or seeds may be sown, two in a very small pot,
and plunged beneath cap-glasses. If cuttings are
preferred, short-jointed, stubby growths with a heel
attached answer best. Bleeding being the draw-
back, every leaf on each cutting should be left in-
tact, and the fibry turf, with all the small particles
beaten out of it, should be thoroughly warm when
used. If moderately watered home and allowed to
get dry before they are plunged under a close-fitting
glass, the cuttings will make roots before a second
application is needed. Plants from cuttings being
more wiry and fertile than winter seedlings, many
people give preference to them for putting out in
January.
Potting and x'^ontlng materials. — If a good stock
of light, rich fibry turf has not been got in and
stacked, no time should be lost, as the pastures —
neither too wet nor too dry — are just now in good
condition. Quality being of more importance than
quantity, both for these and Pines, the sods should
be cut with a turfing spade, rolled upas if for laying
a lawn, and then stacked in narrow ridges in the
open air. If suspicious of wireworm, it is a good
plan to make a moderate sowing of soot before the
turf is lifted, as each roll then gets an equal propor-
tion, and being a good stimulant, it adds greatly to
the quality of the compost. Next to this, a stock
of old hair plaster or lime rubble and rough home-
made charcoal should always be kept under cover
ready for use as correctives, drainage, or top-
dressing. W. C.
numerous I should advise the use of three or four nuni, or, at any rate, the only ones which have
cages, and as the birds are caught they can be kept I „ j. a ^
for decoys. I cleared my garden of bullfinches in this I yet nowerea.
way.— G. A. P., Camhs. \ ^- -Leeanum was obtained by Sir Trevor
Wire netting for fruit.— I daresay most people ; La^Tence between C. Spicerianum and C. in-
have noticed how much an open screen, even if made sxgne, and is a very handsome and well-marked
of fine wire, obstructs the heat from a fire grate. Why ' hybrid. It most nearly resembles Spicerianum
should not the same thing be true of the heat of the , in robustness. The dorsal sepal is white, stained
sun's rays having to pass through wire netting, and
account for non-success of those using it? — D. J. Y.
Orchids.
W. H. OOWER.
CYPRIPEDIUM SPICERIAI^DM AND ITS
HYBRIDS.
at the base with green, bearing along the centre
a dotted line, with numerous mauve spots in the
white portion ; lip reddish brown.
C. Leeanum SUPERB0M.— This is a Veitchian
hybrid, obtained about the same time as the
preceding form, between C. Spicerianum and C.
insigne Maulei. The dorsal sepal is large and
snow-white, with some radiating purple lines,
base green and sliining ; the petals and lip re-
semble those of C. insigne Maulei. Very fine
This plant, of which an illustration is here
given, is one of the most beautiful of the whole i r*""'" iTi!" ? i""'- 1''''^"® iviamei. v ery nne
family, especiaUy when seen in quantity, as I ^-^^"^l °\ tl^fs hybrid are now flowering with
saw it, a short time since, at Mr. Measures at ^^- T''"*^ ^^ Shepherd's Bush.
Streatham, where nearly eighty of its prim Cypripediam Sanderianum.-This hitherto
flowers were fully expanded. It belongs to the rare species has been imported in quantity by
plaia-leaved section, of which C. insigne may be Messrs. Low & Co., Clapton, and the plants appear
Bullfinches and fruit buds.— If " Constant
Reader," who inquires as to the destruction of bull-
finches without shooting them, will buy a trap-cage and
a decoy bird he can soon get rid of all the bullfinches
iu his garden. Put some Privet berries in the cage.
The cages c-^st about 33. 6d. If the bullfinches are
Cypripediuni Spicerianum.
taten as the type, and the scape is for the most to be in a fair way of becoming established. Many of
part one-flowered, although, upon more than them are now flowering, thus proving that they are
one occasion, I have seen twia flowers developed, t™^ to name, and convincing all those who see them
The flowers vary to some extent, but all are '"'^at a distinct and truly beautiful species this is,
good, and I think I am right in saying that, ^'^ crimson-red, tail-like petals rendering it very
beautiful as was the first spedmen seen in culti- f^:',;,Jl:^:^^,^l,'Ztir^^'^^tX^
vation, every variation since then has been and decaying vegetable matter. ^
superior to the orismal. Ihe flowers measure « -u-j - i.i ^-nr-ii. -n- „ ,,
some 3* inches across, and are quite distinct ^O"^^*^?,.^^^!"??^ f;*^^!^^^^^^
, - ,, 1 • J ■i-i I.- i T . ampton. — J<rom Mr. Osborne, gardener to Mr.
from any other kind with which I am ac- Buchan, comes a quantity of Orchid blooms, which,
quainted; the dorsal sepal is about 2 mches he says, are "sent to show that bright flowers
broad, erect, recurved, snow-white, bearing a though comparatively scarce, are not wanting even
broad central purple stripe ; the petals, slightly at this dull season." Amongst the most striking is
deflezed, are greenish yellow freckled with the beautiful violet-scented Oncidium tigrinum.
purple, and bear a pale purple stripe along the The plant is said to be carrying eighty flowers,
centre ; thepouch-Uke lip, large andfull, is bright ' The brilliant yellow of its large lip and its grateful
olive-green. The staminode is a pretty feature fragrance should commend it to all plant growers
in this flower, being bright purplish-magenta, ^^ a winter bloomer, more especially as it is a cool
bordered with white. It is said to be a native i'°"^.« plant. But as it is, however, a native of
of the mountainous parts of Assam, and thrives ^^^'''°' ^* 7?' J"! Ti '°f T^°^ ^ much larger
best under cool treatment during the winter share of sunlight than Odontoglossums. Next come
,,,.,. " ,, . ° I blooms of a very showy variety of Cymbidiumgigan-
months, which is its bloommg season. _ [ ^^^^^ ^^^-^ superior to those of the earlier imported
As far as I am aware, the two following hybrids plants, and most desirable flowers during the
are all that have been obtained from C. Spiceri a- winter months; also the beautifu Maxillaiia grandi-
520
THE GARDEN.
flora, from a plant bearing twenty-five blooms. This
plant, which is far too seldom seen, delights in quite
cool treatment, and is one of the easiest plants to
grow. The flowers may be likened to small blooms
of Lycaste Skinneri, with a slight aromatic odour ;
sepals and petals pure white, the latter faintly
flushed at the base with pink. The small lip is
erect and nearly hidden by the petals, yellow in
front, the side lolies crimson. Along with the above
were flowers of Spathoglottis angustorum, from the
same bulb, which produced spikes three months
ago, so that this little-known species would appear
to be a remarkably free bloomer, although not spe-
cially showy. In addition to those mentioned were
numerous Calanthes, spikes of the charming little
Oncidium cheirophorum, 0. Lanceanum in two va-
rieties, various small-flowered Masillarias, and a
•lovely variety of the somewhat rare Odontoglossum
Krameri, &c.
CYPRIPEDIUM SCHLIMI AND ITS HYBRIDS.
This beautiful species, which I recently noted as
being so remarkably fine in Mr. Tautz's garden at
Shepherd's Bush, was introduced by M. Linden, of
Brussels, and first flowered in his nursery upwards
of thirty years ago, but very little was known of
the plant in England until it bloomed in Mr. Bull's
nursery at Chelsea in ISHG. Until recently it re-
mained a scarce plant, and although it was
frequently imported it did not long survive, which
led to it's being considered a difiicult plant to
grow.
It is a native of New Grenada, in the province of
Ooana, where it is found wild at an elevation of
4000 feet, and from the appearance of the imported
plant I should imagine it grows in swampy or very
wet places, and in all probability the earlier intro-
duced plants received too much heat and too little
moisture. It is a dwarf-growing plant, the leaves
being from i\ inches to 8 inches long, and bright
green. The scape is hairy, branched, bearing from
three to eight flowers, but a few only are open
at once ; sepals greenish white ; the petals white,
much larger than the sepals, streaked and spotted
towards the base with rosy crimson ; lip round and
full, white behind, but rich deep rose colour in
front. Its natural time of blooming appears to be
the autumn and winter months.
C. ScHLiMi ALBIFLORUM differs from the type in
having the flowers entirely white saving a faint
flush of pink at the base of the petals, and a narrow
band of rose colour round the mouth of the pouch-
like lip. It comes from Columbia.
C. Sedbni.— This fine plant is a hybrid, having
been obtained in Messrs. Veitch's nursery by fer-
tDising C. Sohlimi with C. longifolium. The off-
spring of this cross is a truly beautiful variety, and
almost a perpetual bloomer. It is somewhat like
its last-named parent in its robust growth, and from
this one it also inherits size of bloom. The sepals
are 'ovate, white tinged with green ; petals much
larger than the sepals, and twisted white bordered
with purple ; lip large, much inflated, deep crimson-
purple. It is clearly intermediate, uniting the cha-
racter of both parents except in constitution, as
Sedeni is a free-growing plant, and thrives well in
an intermediate house.
C. Sedeni candidulum is the result of a cross
between Schlimi albiflorum and longifolium. In
this form the dorsal sepal is larger, white, flushed
with pale rose at the base, and veined with greenish
yellow; petals longer and narrower than those of
its prototype, twisted, ivory-white in front, flushed
with pink on the outside; lip large, pale rose colour.
It is a profuse and continuous bloomer.
C. ALBO-i'UiiPUEBUM is from Schlimi, crossed
with Domiiiianum; it still remains rare, and, I
believe, is somewhat more troublesome to grow
thanany of the other hybrids obtained from Schlimi ;
in general appearance it resembles Dominianum;
the flowers are about the same size, apd the petals
are some (! inches long and twisted, soft pink in
colour; the lip dull crimson, with the reflexed
borders of the mouth white freckled with rosy
dots.
[Dec. 3, 1887.
C. STENOPHTLLUM was obtained between Sohlimi
and caricenum. It is very pretty, but in my opinion
is one of the least important of the forms raised
from the beautiful C. Schlimi. W. 11. O.
Kitchen Garden.
W. WILDSMITH.
KITCHEN GARDEN NOTES.
Pbotection of wintee vegetables.— The ex
tremes of weather experienced this year, and of
which a fortnight since we had the last example,
namely, 11° of frost without the least warning,
have caused us to look up matters in respect of
winter sheltering and protection of whatever needs
that sort of assistance. We have had Celery earthed
up as high as it can be done without burying the
heads entirely, and between the rows is laid long
litter, ready to be strewn over should severe frost
set in. The same kind of covering is also at hand
for placing on frames and handlights containing
Cauliflower plants. Lettuce, Endive, Parsley, &c.
Next to lifting the plants altogether, which is not
always convenient, because the required shed room
is not always available, the best way of protecting
early Broccoli now turning in is simply to break
down the large leaves over the flower-heads ; thus
their own covering, laid four or five leaves thick,
carries them safely through the hardest frost, unless
it is of an unusually prolonged duration. Carrots
I prefer to house, and all but the autumn sown are
now in the root shed ; Jerusalem Artichokes,
Parsnips, and sometimes Turnips I mulch with
Fern or long litter, in order that there may be no
difliculty in getting up supplies when the ground,
if not mulched, would be frozen hard. Cabbage,
Coleworts, Savoys, and Brussels Sprouts are hardy,
and never get much damaged by severe frost, but it
is well not to cut the heads of the latter until all
the stem sprouts are used, as they form a sort of
shelter that doubtless in some degree protects the
sprouts from both damp and frost.
Tkenching.— I regret to say that drought first,
and afterwards exceptionally heavy rainfall, are the
causes of our being behindhand with this work, but
good progress is now being made, and, favoured by
open weather, all may yet be finished before the
close of the year. We have soil that may well be
described as "hungry"— sand and gravel are its
main elements, but having depth the only other
additions required are labour to bring the bottom
to top as frequently as possible, and abundance of
manure to mix with it. Of this the supply is some-
what restricted, but as any description aids the
fertility of such a soil, nothing is wasted— refuse,
green vegetables, sweepings of roads and walks, ko.,
are all worked in ; hence the annual trenching (not
simply digging) that is necessary to effectively bury
such rough material. It should, perhaps, be added
that a layer of the shortest and best manure is gene-
rally put immediately under the top spit ; the rough
is laid at the bottom, and the next, or year following,
this is brought to the top, and having become tho-
roughly incorporated with the soil, it frequently hap-
pens, particularly if the dressing has been of a libe-
ral description, that no manure is required for the
top spit in this instance. Of course, the rougher the
ground is left, the more readily does the frost pene-
trate, very much to the advantage of the soil, for,
though fine and loose naturally, such a soil is much
improved when it is still finer, and this the frost
does by reducing the dry, hard particles to a powder.
As to drainage, there is too much of the natural to
need any artificial, except at the lowest parts of steep
ground, where outlet drains are necessary, and re-
quire to be opened at least once a year, as by reason
of the sandy nature of the soil they get choked up
in that time ; in fact, I have had to do them twice
a year when the summer rainfall has been excep-
tionally heavy.
Forcing, &c. — I have just put a quantity of seed
Potatoes in shallow boxes of leaf soil, and placed
them in one of the vineries. As soon as they have
ro(jted they will be potted, three tubers in a lb-inch
pot, and be placed for forcing where the tempera-
ture does not exceed GO". This plan of growing a
first batch I have followed for years with excellent
results. Of course, I do not get the same quan-
tity as from frames, but they are got earlier, and
there is not the labour of covering and uncovering
and renewal of linings for warmth that crops in
frames require. With Peas in pots I have never
yet had much luck ; perhaps prejudice against pot
cultivation has had something to do with the
failure. A neighbour had a fine crop of the dwarf
American '^A'onder Bean in pots last year, and that
has induced me to make another trial, and they are
now sown and placed for the present in a late
Peach house, where there is only suflicient warmth
to exclude frost, by reason of our having winter
bedding plants. This temperature will suit the
Peas well, as there is little doubt but that slow
forcing is most sure, not only for Peas, but for vege-
tables of every description. " A third batch of Sea-
kale for forcing has been potted this week, and a
small batch will be put in weekly from this time,
there being some doubt as to whether a con-
tinuous supply of Broccoli can be maintained.
If there should be a break, a good supply of Seakale
would prove an excellent substitute. Asparagus is
not required till well into January, and therefore I
force none, but those who require it for Christmas
should now set about getting the roots in. The floor
of an early vinery, on which is built a bed of leaves
to promote a humid warmth for the benefit of the
Vines, makes an excellent forcing bed for Aspara-
gus, there being virtually no labour connected
with this way of forcing it, other than digging up
the roots and laying them on the leaves in a little
fine soil. Those who have not such a convenience
cannot do better than have recourse to the old hot-
bed and frame plan of forcing. Tomatoes in pots
and trained to Melon trellis continue to grow and
fruit remarkably well. They evidently like the dry
heat of 05°, which the temperature is kept at, and
I suspect that part of their vigour is also due to the
fact that their roots, having pushed through the
bottoms of the pots, have found a congenial
atmosphere and food in the old Melon bed. It
is not much water they require — about twice a
week — and one of these waterings is with liquid
manure.
General woek.— To keep up supplies of herbs
and small saladings by potting up a few roots, or
sowing seeds a few at a time and often. In cold,
frosty weather to wheel or cart manure to the nearest
point where it is likely to be wanted, also make up
hotbeds for forcing, renew linings to any needing
the same now that the leaves have fallen, and keep
all as tidy as means allow.
The Nantes Carrot.— We have received from
Mous. D. Guiheneuf, Nantes, very fine samples of the
true Nantes Carrot, some of which weighed as much
as 1 111. each. This varietyattains a length of 5 inches
or (i inches, and is very blunt at the base.
Muehrooms in the open.— In certain localities
Mushrooms are largely grown, more particularlv in
that portion of Middlesex known as South Acton.
Here a great many beds are made up in the open :
hence it is that it can be said that it is not only the
rich with clever gardeners who can enjoy Mush-
rooms during the winter season, but they can be
grown by the humble cottager if he can collect the
materials to form a bed. The market gardeners and
others who grow Mushrooms cart back from London
stable manure. This is well shaken together and
turned over until it is lit for use, and then it is built
up in the form of long ridges in the open or under
tall fruit trees. By the time the manure has settled
down it is in the form of a ridge 2i feet or so in
heiglit. When the heat has declined to a proper
temperature the spawn is put in in lamps. Then 2
inches of soil are placed all over the surface of the
ridge, and patted down with the back of a spade.
Then the long portions of the manure which have
been put aside for tlie purpose are placed over the en-
tire surface 4 inches or so in depth, and, to prevent
wind blowing the straw away, the bed is covered
with mats which are fastened down. In about six
weeks or so the Mushrooms will appear, but no
gathering is attempted if cold northerly or easterly
Dec. 3, 1887.]
THE GARDEi^.
521
winds are blowing. The beds generally run from
east to west, and one grower told me he otten
gathered the best crop from the north side. When
the Mushrooms are gathered they are placed m
punnets ; the latter are stacked in hirge open baskets
and sent to market. These beds are made up all
the year round, but chiefly in August and Sep-
tember. The Mushroom crop is found of great
assistance to the market gardeners, and good Mush-
roouis fetch remunerative prices. — R. 11-
readily enough from root cuttings, but I have not
succeeded in propagating Siebold's Aralia in this
way. ^ •
Propagating.
TiLLANDSiA LiNDKNl.— This plant, which forms
so conspicuous a feature when in bloom at this dull
season of the year, is increased by division when-
ever possible, but should any of the plants obtained
in this way not be weD rooted, they are much better
if kept close for a little while— indeed, till the roots
are again in active operation. In the case of a
plant consisting of one large crown of foliage,
sometimes a few small side shoots are pushed forth,
and if required for propagating purposes they may
be taken off as close to the main stem as possible.
They must then be potted into small pots, tho-
roughly drained, using a soil consisting of peat, sand
and pounded charcoal. Care must be taken not to
put the cuttings in too deeply, otherwise they will
decay ; while as it is difficult to make them firm
enough to stand alone without doing so, each one
should be secured to a small stick or two to hold it
in position. If the cuttings are then plunged in a
gentle bottom heat in a close propagating case,
roots will soon be formed, and when sufficiently
advanced, the young plants may be hardened off.
Should, however, a close case be available for the
purpose, the plants may, after their first shift, be
replaced therein till they take a firm hold of the
new soil.
Akalia Sibboldi.— As this blooms so late in the
season, the Ivy-like berries seldom ripen when the
plants are in the open ground, but in the case of a
large specimen under glass the fruits generally
come to maturity, and thus afford a ready means of
increasing this fine-f oliaged plant. The seed should
be sown as soon as ripe, that is when time is an
object, for it soon germinates, and by the spring
the plants will be established in small pots, when
they may be either shifted on or planted out.
Though seed-sowing at this season is in the case
of most subjects by no means desirable, this Aralia
is an exception, as, given a favourable position,
the young plants are by no means liable to decay,
even during the dull dark days of winter. Before
being sown, the seeds should be cleaned from all
husks or any pulpy matter that may be adhering
to them. Whether pots or pans are used they must
oe well drained, and filled to within half-an-inch of
the rim with rather sandy soil. The seed being
sown thereon and just covered with soil, the pots or
pans may be placed in an intermediate house,
or, failing that, the cool part of the stove. So
treated, the seeds will soon germinate, and when well
above ground, the young plants must be removed to
a cooler structure previous to being potted off. For
this operation use a soil consisting of about equal
parts of loam and leaf -mould with a good sprinkling
of silver sand. Seeds from the variegated-leaved
variety will not perpetuate the variegation, so that
it is necessary to propagate this form by means of
cuttings. Sometimes a few weak shoots are pushed
from near the base of the plant, and when they
occur, may be taken oS and inserted as ordinary
cuttings. They strike without difficulty— indeed,
easier than shoots from any other part of the plant;
but where there are none present and cuttings are de-
sired, any plants that may have run up naked and are
consequently but little valued may be taken, and if
the tops are removed will in time push forth shoots
from various parts of the stem. The tops may, in
the first place, be put in as cuttings, and also the side
shoots as they become sufficiently developed. In
common with most subjects, the weaker shoots strike
more readUy than the stout ones. The Japanese
Rice Paper plant (Aralia papyrifera) will grow
Winter propagation of Carnations.- 1 quite
agree with all "J. C. B." in The Garden, Kov. 19
(p. 170), says as to the plan of increasing this popu-
lar flower. In this locality the old Clove and border
Carnations usually stand the winter well, and some
very old specimens may be found with stems as
roughly barked as an Oak tree, but the last two win-
ters have been very destructive, especially to white-
flowered kinds, many plants dying off in spring
from the bark being split by alternate frosts and
drenching rains. The young plants stood the win-
ter well, even where they had scarcely had time to
form any roots, and under hand-glasses nearly all
made nice plants for transplanting in spring. I
generally put in a quantity of cuttings in cold
frames during September and October, and treat
them in the same way as bedding Calceolarias, and
they root quite freely. I have put in large numbers
during November and December on the floors of
cold vineries, and they have succeeded beyond ex-
pectation. I find good large cuttings are the best
—in fact, mine are fair-sized plants directly they
get root, being such shoots as from some unavoid-
able cause could not be layered. As the long,
straggling shoots are the first to suffer during severe
winters I utilise them by twisting them off with a
heel if possible and inserting them full length, and
they very seldom fail to root. I do not wish to
imply that this plan is better than layering, but I
think many will like to increase their stock of such
useful flowers in this simple way.— J. G., Nnnt-t.
Green growth on seed-pans.— The mossy or
fungoid growth that forms on the surface of seed-
pans is at this time of the year apt to be trouble-
some. Even in the warmer months of the year it
frequently materially hinders the free germination
of seeds, and many good things that require time to
come up are thereby lost. A favourite plan of mine
is to leave a space of about an inch from the rim of
the pot to the soil, filling it up with Moss and
covering with a pane of glass. This prevents the
air from acting directlv on the surface, which in a
general way remains clean. There are, however,
seeds that are too irregular of germination to admit
of the covering remaining on until all have come
through. These are about the most troublesome
kinds of seeds to raise, as for a considerable period
after the first young plants appear, the conditions
indispensable to free germination must be main-
tained. Primulas, the hardy kinds especially,
hardy Cyclamens, and Columbines are good in-
stances. Between the coming through of the first
and last plants there is frequently an interval of two
months or more. For this reason many fail to
raise such kinds of plants satisfactorily. Either
the pans are removed from the propagating frame or
a green growth spreads over the surface, hindering
the germination of the seeds. In the case of
Primroses and Polyanthuses, the plants that are the
slowest to germinate yield the finest flowers. Find-
ing it impossible to clean off this green growth
without injury either to the young plants or sprout-
ing seeds, I have adopted a remedy that has
hitherto proved efficacious. This consists of strew-
in" dry silver sand over the surface as soon as any
si °ns of mossy formation are seen . If taken in time
and the operation repeated if necessary, a clean
sweet surface can be maintained.— J. C. B.
in different localities, and the botanical name is the
only one which can positively be relied upon ; but
this can be overcome by the establishment of a
standard which shall be as authoritative as the
botanical one now in use. The true American is
nothing if not practical, and in addition greatly
appreciates brevity ; therefore any practical change
which will shorten the names now in use would
undoubtedly be quickly accepted. The characte-
ristic above noted has here resulted in the esta-
blishment of a vernacular wherein the names of our
leading Roses and many other plants are most
inelegantly abbreviated. If we are to have new
names, let them be as short as possible, that the
necessity for abbreviation may be reduced to a
minimum. — American Florht.
Englisli V. Xatin names for plants.— The
editor of The Garden strongly recommends the
use of English names by English-speaking people
wherever possible, and deprecates the use of bota-
nical names for any purpose other than international
reference. He suggests that English names be
given those plants which at present have none, and
expresses the belief that the Americans will assist
in establishing such a nomenclature. The change
would certainly be a radical one, but that it would
have the effect of bringing into closer relations
with horticulture many who now stand aloof, there
can be but little doubt. The great objection to
popular names as now used is that they vary greatly
Trees and Shrubs.
W. GOLDRING.
THE "WHITE BEAM TREE.
("PYRUS ARIA.)
Considering what a valuable ornamental de-
ciduous tree this is and how seldom it is planted,
it cannot be looked upon otherwise than as a
neglected tree. It is one of the very best trees
for plantLDg on wind-swept hills, and, moreover,
will orow and thrive on the poorest and thinnest
of soils. There are very few trees of which so
much can be said. In different parts of the
country I have noticed that wherever there is a
chalky or limestone soil the White Beam is
almost always to be found either as a hedgerow-
bush or tree; therefore, I conclude that it is
natural to a chalky soil. Being a deep-rooting
tree it, moreover, seems indifferent to drought,
and in the hottest and driest of summers it
seems unaffected. It is a highly ornamental
tree on account of its handsome and regularly
shaped head and its broad foliage, which is a
deep green above, silvery white beneath, so that
with the slightest wind the whole tree has a
silvery aspect. Its flowers, borne in dense
white clusters in early summer, are not un-
attractive, and these are succeeded by clusters
of bright orange-scarlet fruits, larger than those
of the^BIountain Ash. The berries are a favour-
ite food for birds and squirrels. It is a medium-
sized tree, rarely growing more than 40 feet
high, the largest trees I have seen being those
in exposed hedgerows or in narrow coppices.
On the Surrey hills about Dorking it is a com-
mon tree, and some very fine specimens may be
seen in the neighbourhood of Effingham. Being
a native, growing in the coldest of Highland
districts as well as in the south, it is one of the
hardiest of British trees. As a shelter tree _ I
think it is invaluable, for even when leafless in
winter its dense head of branches makes a good
break against strong winds. Though chalk is its
natural "soil, it thrives on every other, so far as I
can ascertain, provided it be dry and not too
heavy and cold. In the Bagshot sands I have
planted it successfully as well as in the heavy
soils north of London.
There is a good deal of confusion as regards
the name of this tree in nurseries. In some it
is called Pyrus Sorbus, but this is the name of
the true Service Tree. Sorbus vestita is also a
name given to it, but this confuses one with the
White Beam of the Himalaya with much larger
leaves, and altogether less hardy. The true
White Beam may be recognised when in summer
by its leaves, which are between 2 inches and
3 inches long, by half as broad ; ovate in out-
line, and doubly toothed around their upper
parts. This is the shape of the leaves of the
typical form, or that most commonly found wild,
but there are several varieties which differ in
the size and outline of the leaves. In winter
522
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 3, 1887.
the White Beam may be distinguislied by its
erect, smooth, trunk, numerous smooth-barked
branches forming a round or oval head, and
swollen green buds. The varieties are rarely
found in nurseries, but trees of the typical
knd which make an effect on an hillside at once
may be bought from 10 feet to 15 feet high.
It grows quickly until it gets some 20 feet
high, then, like a good many other trees, its
growth is moderate, and becomes slower with
age, until, when its maximum height is reached,
no apparent difference is seen in its size for
many years. The wood of the White Beam is
most ser^-iceable, as it is so hard and durable.
In chalk districts, where the tree grows wild,
the country wheelwrights will give a good deal
for a sound trunk, as it makes capital axletrees
and other parts of wheels. Amateur turners
also like to get it to work up in their lathes,
and at one time it was much used for cogs for
machinery wheels, but is now sui^erseded by
who cultivate it largely, disfiguring and deform-
ing the trees, as is their custom. It is certainly a
Pine that should be planted more often than it is,
for there is no doubt about its hardiness. — \V. G.
Tlie pyramidal Oak (Quercus fastigiata). —
Few seem to be aware of the existence of this tree,
which is to the Oaks what the Lombardy Poplar is
to the Poplars, as it assumes precisely the same
erect habit of growth. The pyramidal or Cypress
Oak, as it is also called, is a variety of our native
Oak, Q. pedunculata, but did not originate in these
islands. It grows wild in the Pyrenees, chiefly in
the western parts, in some districts in Spain, and
Southern France. It is a most remarkable tree, one
that everyone notices because so striking in appear-
ance and uncommon. It makes quite a dense cone
of branches, every one of which springs from the stem
at a sharp angle, as in the case of the Lombardy
Poplar. It is a most valuable tree in ornamental
planting, as its peculiar outline can be made to
contrast pleasingly with round-headed trees of
moderate size ; whereas the Lombardy Poplar grows
too fast and shoots its head above slow-growing
trees and destroys the intended effect. There are
now several forms of the pyramidal Oak in nurseries,
the commonest being that named viridis, the green
of whose foliage is brighter than in the typical form.
Then there is a variegated form and one with
cuouUate leaves, but neither of these are so desirable
as the viridis variety. Wherever the common Oak
thrives the pyramidal variety should find a place
when ornamental planting is carried out. Though
an uncommon tree, good sized specimens of it may
be bought in some of the best nurseries for about
5s. It is a capital tree for breaking the outline of
groups of large shrubs or small-growing trees. — G.
Pinus parviflora. — In ornamental planting one
often wants a small tree that will not as it grows
mar the effect it is intended to produce in associa-
tion with other trees. The Pines for the most part
are all large-growing trees and cannot be kept
within bounds. This little Japanese Pine even in
its own country does not exceed 40 feet high,
its average height being 30 feet. It is, therefore,
just the tree to plant in a position where a large
tree would be out of place, and is especially suitable
for small lawns where one desires to have as much
variety as possible without taking up too much of
the lawn space. It is a beautiful little tree in ap-
pearance, most resembling the Swiss Stone Pine (P.
Cembra), but not so dark in foliage. Its growth is
compact and dense, and assumes a pyramidal out-
line. The leaves are shoit, produced in dense clus-
ters, and being twisted give the tree a singular and
distinct aspect. The whole tree has a silvery look
on account of the glaucousness of the leaves. The
cones are oval-shaped, from 2 inches to 4 inches long,
and have broad scales enclosing wingless seeds. The
tree produces cones in quite a small state, and I saw
the other day a pair of fine specimens in Messrs. Bun-
yard's nursery at Maidstone, both carrying numerous
cones, containing good seeds. I was- much im-
pressed with the beauty of these trees at Maidstone,
which were growing luxuriantly in sandy loam on a
high and exposed part of the nursery. This Pine is
said to be a great favourite with the Japanese,
JAMESIA AMERICANA.
Flowering shrubs, such as represented in the
engraving, can be made to serve another purpose
besides that of beautifying our gardens, and
that is the useful one of shelter, especially in
the vicinity of rockeries, &c. When shelter is
required it would be no more trouble, and cer-
tainly not more expensive, to plant with flowering
shrubs, many of which are now at our dis-
posal, than it would be to use the Laurels,
Boxes, Rhododendrons, &c., that have so long
screened our tender things from biting winds.
These flowering shrubs may be divided into
evergreen and deciduous, and to the latter the
Jamesia belongs. It loses its leaves in winter,
but so close do the branches grow, that it serves
well as a screen, admitting a certain amount of
light when thai: is most needed. Though not
by any means a new shrub, it is comparatively
little known in gardens, and yet it is amongst
Jamesia americana.
the most graceful and sweet of those that
bloom early in spring. A near ally of the Saxi-
frages and a native of America, it stands the
rigours of our most severe winters with im-
punity, and never fails to yield an abundant
crop of its large pure white Megasea-like flowers.
We find this particularly useful as a rock plant,
and as it stands any amount of cutting, it is
easily kept within the required bounds without
interfering in the slightest with the flowers.
Pruning is perhaps best performed when the
blooming period is over, or as soon after as pos-
sible, and if done annually and judiciously, the
little trouble will amply repay the operator. It
may easily be increased by cuttings.
M.
The Japanese Hemlock Fir (Abies tsuga) is
an evergreen that I should like to direct attention
to on account of its beauty of foliage, elegance of
growth, and hardiness. In some respects it excels
the Canadian Hemlock Spruce, and though these
two Hemlock Firs somewhat resemble each other
they are abundantly distinct, the Japanese Fir
having longer and broader leaves, of a deeper green
upper surface and a more silvery under surface.
It may, moreover, be recognised by the notch at the
end of each leaf, as if a tiny piece had been chipped
out. At Kew the Japanese Hemlock grows much
stronger than the Canadian Hemlock ; hence I con-
clude that it is indifferent to a poor gravelly soil
such as that at Kew is. I have seen it in nurseries
and private gardens growing well in various soils,
but none I have seen are so fine as those in the Kew
arboretum. Like the Canadian Hemlock, it does
not grow very tall, but spreads out widely on all
sides, and where it thrives always has a dense
growth. Growing as it does naturally in the moun-
tain forests of Japan at great elevations, it is quite
hardy and perfectly suited for our climate. It is
particularly desirable for small gardens where there
is a limited lawn area, but there is no garden, large
or small, where if the soil were suitable I would
notplantit.— W. G.
Zelkowa crenata. — My attention having been
drawn to a request from you that anyone possessing
a living example in England of this curious native
of the Caucasus should give a description of it, I
beg to send the enclosed particulars. Two trees,
which, I beheve, are the largest in England, and
stand II feet 6 inches apart near the water in the
shrubbery, make a very picturesque group from the
house. The dimensions of the largest are — Circum-
ference at base, 20 feet ; 5 feet from the ground,
from whence spring five large perpendicular branches,
16 feet; height, 80 feet; number of feet of timber,
200 feet. Second tree — Circumference at base, 15
feet ; 5 feet from ground, 12 feet ; height, 85 feet ;
number of feet of timber, 140 feet. Four branches
spring from this one. — Edwahd G. Baldwyn-
Childb, Kyre Park, Tenhury, M'oi-eestershire.
Oaultheria Shallon on rocks. — We are
accustomed to see this fine and handsome ever-
green North American shrub growing on the out-
skirts of shrubberies, on banks, or as an under
shrub, but rarely is it seen purely as a rock shrub.
This fact induces me on this occasion to draw at-
tention to it, not because it is rare or little known ;
it certainly ought to be well known and fairly com-
mon in gardens, seeing the plant was introduced as
far back as 1826. A few days ago being in the
vicinity of Roundhay, near Leeds, I availed myself
of the opportunity to visit one or two of the gar-
dens, amongst others that of Mr. Barron, The Wood-
lands. In the garden here there is an old disused
stone quarry, which is now utilised as a portion of
the garden, and is beautified by being arranged in an
artistic manner, and planted with a variety of trees,
shrubs, Ferns, and a few flowering plants. It was
here the Gaultheria ShaUon was noticed growing so
profusely (apparently) on the very face of the cliflf.
The plants had evidently been planted when small
on the ledges with a few inches of soil ; they have
now, however, grown until the bushes measure from
20 feet to 27 feet long and from .3 feet to 6 feet
wide, which is a sufficient proof how thoroughly
they have enjoyed their rocky home. To see this
shrub, with its large, numerous deep green glossy
foliage, so luxuriant in such an unlikely position
interested me not a little. I examined the out-
skirts of the masses of foliage and found the young
growths of the plants still pushing forth in every
direction, which proves how thoroughly adapted
this plant is for such positions. The face of the
rock (millstone grit), which is somewhat shattered,
has a south-eastern aspect, and is slightly shaded by
trees during some portion of the day. — R. P.
Aralia (Fatsia) Sieboldi. — This is perfectly
hardy, and develops far finer foliage in the open air
than under glass. My Yorkshire climate is not one
of the most favoured, but the soil, naturally well
drained, is on the sandstone, and slopes gently to
the south. On the other hand, I consider that
being close to the river Aire, and flanked by a large
wood, are unfavourable conditions — at least, whtn
plants of doubtful hardiness are concerned. This
Alalia has grown with me in the open air for nine
or ten years in a southern exposure, and the worst
effects of the cold have always happened to the
points of the shoots that have not been matured
when the early frosts have occurred. This injury,
however, has always been outgrown the follow-
ing summer. For the past five or six years the
shrub under notice has always tried to flower in
November, and twice a few fairly good clusters of
Dec. 3, 1887.J
THE GARDEN.
523
blossom have been developed. The flowers, hov7-
ever, though welcome and interesting, were neither
showy nor otherwise of value. I never expect to
see the plants come into bloom, as from the lateness
of the season the early frosts give them little chance.
This autumn proves an exception ; there are bulky
buds at the ends of the branches, but though near-
ing the latter end of November, there is no further
promise of blossom. I believe this is due to the
dry siunmer, the specimen referred to having other-
wise suffered, as it has made fewer and smaller
leaves than formerly, and also cast a large number,
so that it is now less leafy than I ever before
noticed. No water was given it, as too many other
things less capable of surviving drought could
scarcely have the needful attention. Having occa-
sion quite recently to dig out other plants near this
Aralia, the ground was found to be still very dry at
no great depth. This dryness at the roots I con-
sider is the cause of the paucity of leaves and the
absence of the usual bloom at the present time. —
J. Wood, WoodriUe, Kirksfall.
Purple-leaved Ivy. — This is but a form of the
common Ivy, and during the summer when growing
freely there is nothing about it to attract attention.
In the autumn, however, the leaves become of a
bronzy purple hue, which is retained throughout
the winter ; indeed, till growth recommences the
following spring. The best coloured leaves are now
largely used in arranging button-holes, sprays, &c.,
and they are very pretty, a great recommendation
in their case being the fact that they retain their
freshness for a considerable time, and consequently
do not present that withered appearance which
many Ferns do when worn for a few hours. On
the bronzy ground colour of the leaf the lighter
tinted veins stand out like delicate tracings. In
making a selection of the best Ivies this variety
must be included, owing to the distinct tint of its
winter foliage. — H. P.
Eucalyptus citriodorus. — Most myrtaceous
plants have leaves that when bruised emit an
aromatic fragrance, and to this rule the different
Gum trees (Eucalyptus) form no exception. One of
them is far superior to the others in this respect,
for if a leaf of this Eucalyptus be just passed
lightly through the hand the perfume therefrom is
as powerful as that of the Lemon-scented Verbena
(Aloysia citriodora), which, indeed, it much re-
sembles. The fragrance is more pronounced in the
case of young-growing plants than in older ones,
and is noticeable as soon as the first leaves make
their appearance. It is not a very ornamental
species, for the plants run up taU and naked, and
as far as the flowers are concerned I cannot speak
from personal observation. The Citron-leaved
Eucalyptus requires the protection of a greenhouse
during winter ; indeed, even then a good many of
the leaves often drop. In order to always have
specimens well furnished with foliage it is well to
raise a few plants from seed every year. — T.
The Uonterey Fine (Finns insignis) is with-
out doubt one of the best evergreen trees for plant-
ing in an exposed situation, where most other
Conifers except the hardiest Pines would fail. In
Oxfordshire this week I saw a plantation of about
twenty years' growth of P. insignis mixed with P,
austriaca and Douglas Pine, the situation being
high and fully exposed to a cross country wind
from the south-west. The Douglas l"irs were a
complete failure, every tree having lost its
leader and the specimens looking unhealthy
generally. The Austrian Pines were healthy
and had made good growth, but they had not
grown into such well-balanced specimens as the
Monterey Pines, every one of which was a dense
mass of healthy branches. The sou was a heavy,
well-drained loam. On the same estate, down in a
sheltered valley, the condition of the Douglas Pines
was just the reverse of those on the hillside, every
tree being healthy, developing each year long and
stout growths. This proves that while Pinus
insignis is the tree for exposed places Abies
Douglas! is the tree for the valley or any situation
not exposed to strong winds. The success of
the Monterey Pine on this particular hill-top may
be accounted for by the good soil, good drainage
and the absence of late frosts, which injure the
growth of this and other Conifers from the mild
Pacific coast. — W. G.
DOUBLE LILACS.
M. VicTOE Lemoine, of Nancy, France, is to be
congratulated upon the fine varieties of double
Lilacs he has introduced to the lovers of hardy
flowering shrubs at home and abroad. It can be
said of them that, as regards freedom of bloom and
size of the flowers, they are quite equal to the fine
single varieties in cultivation. Indeed, so fine are
the flowers in the case of some, and so double, that
they may be said to resemble miniature double
Hyacinths, and they preserve their freshness for a
much longer period than the single types. The
two newest varieties are Alphonse Lavallee and
Michael Buchner, both raised by M. Lemoine, and
they show a decided superiority over aU other
double varieties. These two formed part of a group
of six varieties exhibited at the International
Horticultural Exhibition in Paris in 1885, and which
received a high award, the highest given to novelties
on such occasions. A remarkable progress has
been made in the improvement of the double Lilacs,
and the seedlings annually raised are improvements
upon those which preceded them.
Alphonse Lavallee is of a bushy, shrubby habit,
the individual flowers of large size, each branch
terminated by a large spike of blossoms, which are
formed of from twelve to fifteen petals, well
imbricated and of striking character, the colour
bright bluish violet, extra fine and distinct.
Lamarque has large flowersWormed of three or four
corollas fitting compactly into each other ; colour
bluish lilac passing to rose on the petal margins,
and a pale almost white centre. This variety is
said to force well. Mathieu de Dombaste has^flowers
of average size, very full, formed by two or three
corollas fitting into each other and composed of
from fifteen to twenty petals of a charming reddish
mauve colour ; the buds purple before they expand.
Michael Buchner is a somewhat dwarf-growing
variety, producing at the summit of all the branches
large panicles or pyramids loaded with blossoms
of perfect regularity and large in size, formed of
three corollas well imbricated ; colour pale lilac,
tinted with rose, especially on the least expanded
flowers and on the buds ; a very fine and handsome
variety. M. Maxime Cornu is a vigorous shrub,
producing pyramids of flowers of a compact
character and good shape ; the blossoms formed of
several corollas, tapered and fitting the one into
the other in the way of a double Primrose ; colour
rosy lilac, with reddish coloured buds, contrasting
well with the expanded flowers ; a good variety for
forcing. President Grfivy produces magnificent
pyramids of flowers of great length, with a pro-
portional width, the individual flowers being large,
and consisting of several rows of rounded petals,
which are of a cobalt-blue colour, shaded vrith
violet, the colour a little more brilliant on the
edges and tinted with rose ; the large, unexpanded
buds are of a reddish violet tint. This is a variety
of exceptional merit, and considered the flnest that
exists ; it is even striking at a long distance.
Another, bearing the name of Pyramidal, at the first
blooming forms a kind of clump of expanding
buds, gradually taking the character of a fine
panicle, very dense, the flowers large and full,
sometimes of very large size, and composed of three
coroUas, with reflexed petals of a charming rose
colour, the reverse of the buds pale crimson. Lastly
comes Toumefort, a dwarf, free - flowering shrub,
with large and compact panicles of bloom formed
of very double flowers, the lobes well rounded and
imbricated ; the colour soft lilac, tinted with blue
in the centre.
Possibly opportunities may be offered of seeing
these Lilacs in London during the spring and sum-
mer of the coming year. They appear to be such
fine novelties that there is no doubt that they will be
gladly welcomed in English gardens. R. D.
Spirasa venusta. — Mr. Momme, Wailingford,
Pa., writes: "Permit me to say that Spiraea venusta
is not a distinct species, but a garden sport of Spirsa
lobata. The difference is in the petals and stamens,
the colour of which is of a light rose in Spirsea
lobata, and of a purple-rose in S. venusta, and the
latter is of a stronger habit."— Garrfenor.s' Monthly.
Eugenia ugni. — When first introduced from
Valdivia, somewhere about thirty years ago, this
Myrtle-like shrub was regarded as one that would
occupy a prominent position as a fruit-bearing
subject, but the berries, though agreeably flavoured,
were too gritty to become popular, added to which
the plant is somewhat tender. It fruits freely in a
small state, and when grown in the shape of neat
little bushes, heavily laden with its purplish berries,
it forms a very ornamental object at this season in
the conservatory. This Eugenia will survive many
winters around London when trained to a wall,
but the berries ripen much better under glass than
in the open air, though further south, of course,
such protection is not necessary. There is another
species, E. apiculata, equally ornamental, but the
berries are not so highly flavoured as those of E.
ugni.— H. P.
National Chrysanthemum Society. — On
Monday evening last there was a large attendance
of the members of the general committee at the
" Old Four Swans," Bishopsgate,underthepresidency
of Mr. E. Sanderson. Mr. Holmes, the honorary
secretary, after having read the minutes of the
former meeting, announced that the Marchioness of
Downshire had kindly consented to become one of
the patrons of the society. After referring to the
two protests lodged at the recent show, and which
had been satisfactorily dealt with, it was stated
that the judges in class 1 had awarded three
specisQ prizes. The amounts voted were £3, £2, and
£1. Mr. Holmes then informed the meeting that
the sum of £286 5s. was due from the society to
prize-winners at the November exhibition at the
Aquarium. Twenty-nine new members, including
one Fellow, were elected, now making the roll of the
society up to 473. It was resolved that the annual
dinner be held on Tuesday, December 13. The ar-
rangements were referred to a sub-committee com-
posed of Messrs. Jukes, Wynne, Ballantine, and
W. Holmes ex-officio. Mr. Rundell inquired
whether, in case of a member representing two
affiliated societies, he would be entitled to two votes
on questions brought before the committee. It was
resolved that the question be answered by taking
the vote of the general meeting in January.
Coekroaehes in plant houses.— In answer to
" Derby," the specimens are those of the ordinary
cockroach, for the destruction of which we have found
Chase's beetle poison very efficacious. — Ed.
Insects on Apple trees.— Could you kindly tel'
me what the enclosed is ? I was pruning a young
Apple tree, from which I took the cutting herewith
sent. — F. SouTHCOTT.
*4f* In reply to the above, the Apple shoot is en-
circled by the eggs of the lackey moth (Clisiocampa
neustria). The caterpillars of this moth are very
destructive to the fohage of Apple trees, and should
always be destroyed. — G. S. S.
BOOKS RECEIVED.
"Roses for Amateurs." A Practicsil Guide to the
Selection and Cultivation of the Best Roses. Illus-
trated. By H. H. D'Omhrain, Hon. Sec. National
Rose Society. London : L. Upcott Gill, 170, Strand,
W.C.
"Bees and Bee-keeping; Scientific and Practical."
Vol. 2— Practical. By Prank R. Cheshire. London :
L. Upcott Gill, iro, Strand, W.C.
Names of plants.— H. D. B.—We do not name
florists' flowers. R. .S'.— Large Fern, Polystichum
capense; 2, Adiantum ful\-um; 3, Sciadocalyx Wars-
cewiczi ; 4, Phaedranassa Carmioli.
Names of fruits.-G. T. Blonljield.—l, Winter
Nelis; 2, Forelle. A. if.— General Todtlehen.
H. PownaU.—YouT Pear is more like Bergamotte
Cadette. G. J. TFnrroi.- Large Pear, Doyenne du
Cornice; 2,Fondanted'Autorane; -3,KingofthePippins.
J.r(i!enza.— 1, Hambledon Deux Ans; 2, Cockpit;
others not recognised.
524
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 3, 1887.
WOODS & FORESTS.
TREES IN TOWN AND COUNTRY.
There is an article in The Garden, November 5
(p. 430), quoted from the Sanitanj jRecord, on "Tree
Planting in Towns," by Surgeon-General Roch, who
calls attention to the important subject of tree-
planting in our streets and highways. He repu-
diates the vandalism of ruthlessly cutting down
existing trees, but, at the same time, he urges that
very great benefit would arise from the substitution
in future, and wherever practicable, of the Pine
tribe for those trees which only favour us with their
foliage during the summer and part with it entirely
in the autumn, creating thereby a nuisance, be-
coming injurious to health if the leaves are allowed
to lie for any length of time, and rendering the
pavements dangerous and slippery. The conser-
vation of old and remarkable trees, whether in town
or country, is to be desired, but when trees about
towns begin to show symptoms of decline through
the agency of smoke, the sooner they are cut down
and sold to the best advantage the better, as it is
impossible to restore such trees and bring them
back to a thoroughly healthy condition. There is
no better illustration of this than Glasgow and its
suburbs. The city is a busy mart of industry, and
has extended in a remarkable manner within a com-
paratively short time. New streets and little towns
have sprung up on the most elevated ground around
the city. In the erection of these new buildings,
the trees that were of any merit were spared by the
new owners ; but I am sorry to say that those trees
which were left soon began to decay from the
effects of smoke, and all that now remains is a tree
here and there either dying or dead. Now, had
these trees been cut down when they showed evident
marks of decline, they would have been worth a
considerable sum of money, although at the same
time I have no doubt that many people who had
not acquired a proper knowledge of tree life would
have considered it an act of vandalism ; whereas
they are now not only an eyesore, but in many cases
actually form a source of danger.
With regard to the substitution of the Pine tribe
in future in place of deciduous trees where
practicable, the question is, where is it practicable
Coniferous trees have and are being used with con^
siderable success for planting suburban villas
where the soil is suitable and well prepared, but for
street planting in towns no experienced planter
would ever think of introducing them in place of
deciduous trees, as he knows very well that
failure would be the result. Further on, we are
told that
it is not, however, upon grounds of beauty or con.
venience alone that Mr. Roeh advocates the substitu
tiou gradually, and where practicable, of the Coniferae,
but for sanitary reasons, for, apart from the elegance
of the Spruce Pine, Wellingtonia, Silver Fir, Deodar,
&o., it is now acknowledged that this tribe exercises
a most beneficial influence on health ... to a degree
not generally known.
I have seen the subject mentioned in the papers
often in connection with woodcraft in Germany,
and to my own personal knowledge the beneficial
influence of the Pine upon health has been known
and taken advantage of in the north of Scotland
for a period of at least fifty years. Doctors send
some of their patients up Deeside to Banchory,
Aboyne, Ballater, and Braemar to sniff the fragrant
aroma produced by the Pine forest and Weeping
Birch. The perfume of the latter after a shower of
rain in early summer when the trees are bursting
into leaf is delicious. The area of ground under
timber in upper Deeside is roughly estimated at
about 21,000 acres, the principal of which is Pine
forest and Birch.
The whole of Deeside has always been famous for
its Pine timber'; the soil and climate seem to suit it,
yet the Pine has never been used as a street tree in
Aberdeen, the capital of the shire. Edinburgh,
which is built upon a series of hills, with spacious
wide streets and open squares, is planted princi-
pally with deciduous trees which do tolerably well.
and some good coniferous trees are to be seen about
the outskirts of the city. Some good specimens of
this tribe of trees are to be seen at the Botanic
Gardens, yet they are wanting in that dark green,
glossy colour that characterises trees of the same
class. At some of the villas in the immediate vicinity
of Dundee, which is rather a smoky town, and ill
adapted for the growth of coniferous trees, some
fine examples of this class are found. The soil
here is of a loose," open, sandy texture, and admir-
ably adapted for the growth and healthy develop-
ment of the Pine tribe generally. A great many of
the Coniferje are surface-rooting trees ; conse-
quently when planted in streets and thoroughfares
where the roots are covered over with paving-
stones, the trees not only suffer severely, but
die out altogether. Mr. Roch's suggestions, no
doubt, are well meant, and it Is a pity that
they cannot be carried out, but as they
are not practicable, they cannot be entertained.
The Spruce and Silver Fir attain to too large a size
to be used for planting suburban villas, except in
cases where the grounds are large and extensive.
In suitable soil these trees will attain a height of
80 feet or 100 feet, and trees of such a size where
the grounds are of limited extent are not in keeping
with the surroundings of the place, and besides,
they are, to a great extent, surface-rooting trees,
and in exposed situations are easily upset by the
wind, and therefore form a source of danger. In
The Garden of the 29th ult. (p. 406) "P. G." gives
good sound practical advice on this subject where
he says : —
No tree should be planted nearer a building than
the height to which the tree will be likely to attain ;
thus a species which may be known to reach an alti-
tude of say 80 feet should not be planted at a less dis-
tance than that from a buildmg.
Happily, however, there is abundance of Pine and
other Conifers of small and medium size that can
be used for such purposes with the most happy
results in every way. In places where the Pine
tribe cannot be grown on account of smoke and
sulphureous vapours in the air, some of the follow-
ing trees may be substituted : Holly of sorts, espe-
cially the large-leaved varieties. Service tree. Moun-
tain Ash, Laburnum, Acacia, Maple of sorts. Oriental
Plane, Sycamore, Thorns of sorts, double-blossomed
Cherry, Birch, &c., and in cases where it would be
desirable to introduce a few shrubs, the Aucuba
japonica. Rhododendrons of sorts. Bay Laurel,
Elder of sorts. Briers, Box, Dogwood, Snowberry,
Skimmia japonica. Privet, flowering Currant, flower-
ing Raspberry, Lilacs of sorts, &c. The ground to
be planted should be well drained and trenched
about 20 inches deep. Stiff, heavy soil would be
benefited by a dressing of lime, care being taken
not to use it at the places where the Rhododendrons
are to be planted. Trees of 6 feet or 8 feet high
should be staked. Drive a stake into the ground,
leaving about 18 inches above the surface, place a
piece of soft material round the stem to prevent
chafing, and tie firmly, so that the tree can oscillate
in a natural way by the wind.
J. B. Webster.
from beneath the leaves look as if they were
silvered. The blue-tinted Abies concolor is not
well known. I bought it under the name of A.
concolor violacea, and the blue tint of the leaves is
very marked. I think it one of the most free
growing and beautiful of ConiferiE. All lovers of
Conifers; make a note of it when walking round
our garden. It really grows more freely than A.
concolor (syn,, lasiocarpa) planted near it. It is
merely mentioned, without any descriptive note, at
page 94 of " Manual of Conifers."— J. Douglas.
THE PARASOL PINE.
Abies ajanensis (syn., Alcoquiana) is not so
much grown as it ought to be. I saw it growing
freely in Mr. Pochin's garden at Bodnant, near
Llandudno, a few years ago, and admired it greatly.
Mr. Poohin also considered it to be one of the finest
Spruce Firs in his collection. It grows freely here
in the garden at ^Great Gearies, but the plant is
not large yet, as I could not obtain a good specimen
in 1884. This tree was introduced from Japan by
Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, of Chelsea, through the
late Mr. John Gould Veitch, but that indefatigable
traveller was not able to collect the seeds himself,
and two varieties or species seem to have been
mixed, but I believe the species described in the
" Manual of Oonif eric " as A. Alcoquiana is really A.
ajanensis. It is stated to be " one of the finest
representatives of the Spruce Fir in Japan, where
it is a lofty pyramidal tree from 90 feet to 120
feet high." The foliage is very glaucous on the
under side, so that when a branch is examined
(SCIADOPITTS VERTICILLATA.)
This Parasol Pine is quite unique, and forms a
beautiful specimen for the lawn. Many years ago
I tried to grow it in heavy, or perhaps it would be
better to say moderately, clayey loam, but under
those conditions it made very poor growth, not
enough to say that it was a picturesque object, for I
hold that the great point in our ornamental trees is
the attainment of vigorous health, and in this con-
dition almost any tree may be said to be beautiful,
whUe, on the other hand, unhealthy trees making
bad or uneven growths are a constant source of
annoyance. A few years ago I had to plant a
number of coniferous trees on ground where I
could plainly see that the common Scotch and
Spruce Firs languished. The soil was rather heavy
loam, the subsoil being in some cases clay and
unwholesome-looking gravel. Before doing any-
thing else I had a few holes dug out 2 feet deep,
and in twelve hours a considerable depth of water
had appeared in each. I found that the ground
had been drained twenty-one years previously, but
the drains were evidently choked, and it was neces-
sary to re-make them. The new drains were cut
3 feet deep, and this very speedily emptied the
holes of water. Thinking the wet subsoil was the
cause of the trees not doing weU, some were planted
in the ordinary soil, merely digging out circular
holes 2 feet deep and of the same width. The
upper portion to the depth of a foot was of good
quality, whOe the lower part was bad and had to
be removed. The bad subsoil was replaced with
good decayed turfy loam, in which some Coniferte
did very well. S. verticillata, for instance, will not
do at all in our loam. Subsequently I saw this tree
in remarkable health and vigour in a garden
where the soil was something of the same
nature as our own, and on making inquiry
I found that a hole of considerable dimen-
sions had been dug out and filled up with peat soil,
in which the tree was planted, the result being a
most vigorous, healthy-looking specimen. I planted
a good specimen in peat with the same satisfactory
results ; indeed, I find from experience that nearly
all the Coniferse like a little fibrous peat in the soil.
It ought to be peat from an upland pasture, and not
bog earth from marshy ground. If the tree was
small. It would not be necessary to make a large
hole to start with, as when the tree increased in
size, the root space might be extended. In all cases
the drainage ought to be satisfactory, for I do not
think any trees of this kind can be successfully cul-
tivated if stagnant water is underneath them. The
tree has one fault — it is of very slow growth and does
not succeed if exposed to north and east winds. It
is said to grow to a height of 100 feet, and has only
one natural habitat — Mount Kojasanin, in the
island of Nippon. It is an introduction of the late
Mr. John Gould ^'eitch, who sent it to England in
ISiil. About the same time the late Mr. R. Fortune
also sent it ; although it is only fair to say that Mr.
Thomas Lobb sent a living plant to England in
1853, but it never was healthy and ultimately died.
In " The Manual of Conifera;," we read of it that
it is
found wild only iu one locality of a limited extent,
and in proximity to a dense population, in a country in
which the forests are rapidly disappearing, the fate of
the Sciadopitys will not remain long iu suspense. It
will doubtless be preserved indefinitely by the hand of
the horticulturist, on whom alone the perpetuation of
the tree will ultimately depend.
J. D. E.
THE GARDEN.
547
No. 839. SATURDAY, Dec. 77, 1887. Vol. XXXII.
" This la an Art
Which does mend Nature : change it rather ; but
The Art itself is Natcke."— S/ioicsiicare.
Rose Garden.
T. yf. GIRDLESTONE.
NOTES ON ROSES.
Owing to the extreme dryness of the groiind in
many places, Rose planting could not be pro-
ceeded with as early as usual this year, but now
the soil being generally in good order and the
weather open, planting should no longer be
delayed, unless the Rose trees are to be reserved
for spring planting. In the latter case they
should be carefully heeled in under a wall or in
some such sheltered situation, and well pro-
tected overhead until mild showery days at the
end of March or in April indicate the advent of
real growing weather. This time and mode of
planting Tea Roses especially have been often
advocated and practised with success, notably
in the case of standard Teas, but for dwarf
plants, when it is convenient to plant them in
autumn, there is little danger of harm in the
south of England. A considerable number of
Teas on seedling and cutting Brier stocks — in
all 165 — were planted here (Berks) during last
November and December in a bed of stiffish
yellow loam, and were, of course, soon after
exposed, some quite unprotected, some with a
handful of Bracken fronds on each plant, to the
fuU severity of the subsequent hard weather.
The varieties were Souvenir d'Elise Vardon
(25), Rubens (38), Amazone (27), Souvenir d'un
Ami (35), Jean Ducher (30), Souvenir de Ga-
brielle Brevet (10), of all of which only four
succumbed, and it is not at all clear that their
death was not as much due to the drought of
spring and summer as to the cold of winter.
Of the four that died two were Rubens (pro-
tected with Fern), and two were Souvenir d'un
Ami (unprotected), while most of the surviving
majority produced good flowers in July and
throughout the autumn, and are almost all now
furnished with shoots 2 feet high, in the case
of Jean Ducher averaging 2j feet high.
Wliere, however, it is considered desirable to
protect Teas during the winter, there is no
better material than the dry fronds of Bracken,
which are both more efficient and less easily
displaced by wind than Spruce boughs or straw.
On wet heavy lands, an additional safeguard,
and perhaps the most thorough of all, consists
in drawing the soil up round the plants, -as in
earthing Potatoes, the beds not being levelled
down again until the trees are pruned in April
It is very desirable that all Rose beds, whether
newly made or established, should be mulched
at this time of year ; on light soil, perhaps pig
or cow manure is the best, but on land very
retentive of moisture it is reasonable to employ
stable manure, as being warmer, drier, and less
impervious to air and sunshine.
In protecting standard Teas with Bracken,
special precautions must be taken against the
danger of their being broken down by snow ;
for when the heads are packed with Fern the
risk from snow is greatly increased. The best
way of securing the safety of the plant is to
place round it during the winter three stakes,
all taller than the standard itself, and to these
tie firmly the head and the protecting ma-
terial. The larger the heads, of course the
greater the danger, and as it takes some years
to obtain a fine, wide-branching standard, while
its destruction is liable to be complete by
breakage at or below the point of junction of
stock and scion in a heavy snowstorm, the pre-
caution above described will not be thought
over-elaborate if it shall have proved the means
of preserving a handsome and favourite plant.
Even where the head of a large standard is not
rendered abnormaUy dense by the introduction
of foreign material, and thereby made certain
to aftbrd lodgment to a heavy mass of snow, it
is worth while to guard somewhat against
breakage. But in these cases it wUl generally be
found suflScient to see that the usual stake to
which the stem of the plant is secured reaches
some inches above the Brier, and has one or two
of the branches, as weU as the stem, firmly tied
to it.
Dwarf stocks of aU kinds should also now
be taken up, trimmed and root-pruned, and
laid in untU a showery day in spring, when they
can be planted. If they were planted at once,
they would have to be put in so deep as to be
extremely inconvenient to bud at all close on to
the roots, as when planted shallow in winter the
first hard frost draws them out of the ground.
The planting should therefore be deferred, and
this will be found to involve no loss of time in
the establishment of the stocks, as they will be
drawing root all the while they lie heeled in, so
that if carefully and quickly planted in favour-
able weather in March or April they will grow
away like Cabbage plants.
For making permanent plants, there is little
doubt that the dwarf Brier is the best stock,
though Manetti will continue also to be used by
exhibitors on account of its furnishing early
maiden blooms. But a stock that may well be
finally discarded is de la Grifieraie, upon which
no varieties succeed which will not do as well,
or better, upon Brier ; while the union which
most scions, unless of the greatest vigour, make
with it is liable to be itnsound, and its roots,
though abundant, frequently assume a dark,
unhealthy appearance. Moreover, the plant
itself is a great nuisance in the Rose garden, as
from its extreme liability to mildew it consti-
tutes a perfect hot-bed of that pest in the bud-
ding ground. Rosa polyantha, on the other
hand, continues for the fourth season to give
the greatest satisfaction as a stock. The ex-
treme facility with which it is propagated from
cuttings and with which it may be budded, the
soundness of the union which the bud makes
with it, and its immense masses of healthy
fibrous roots, combine to make it about the
easiest of all stocks to deal with ; while it has
tliis advantage over the other "lazy-man's
stock," as someone has called the Manetti, that
the Teas flourish exceedingly upon it. In fact,
it seems to suit these Roses, and all containing
Tea blood such as those of Victor Verdier race,
to perfection, and nearly two hundred plants
of such sorts as Hon. Edith Gifl^ord, Marie Van
Houtte, Jean Ducher, Etoile de Lyon, Comtesse
de NadaUlac, and Victor Verdier have recently
been worked, and are now being planted beside
the same varieties on seedling Brier, in order
that a close comparison may be made of the two
stocks under similar conditions. At present,
the plants on Polyantha are a good deal the
stronger.
Seed beds also should be looked carefully
over, and all seedlings large enough to handle
drawn out (the soU whence they are removed
being at once pressed firmly doivn again lest
any seed just germinating should be destroyed)
and laid in in a sheltered place until they are
planted out in spring, at which time it will be
necessary to bear in mind the slenderness of
their root-stock, and consequently to plant them
extremely firmly — a powerful thumb is an im-
portant member in seedling planting — or many
will die before they get hold of the ground.
Where there are tender climbers on walls,
such as Lamarque or Marechal Niel, protection
for them should now be secured, either by
means of mats or of Bracken, though the latter
is rather liable to be blown about in heavy
gales. A convenient arrangement has_ been
found, where the plants are not too high, to
consist in stretching mats or canvas upon light
wooden frames, which can be placed in front of
the climbers during hard weather and firmly
secured by means of a couple of permanent
staples fixed in the wall, but which can be
easily and quickly removed in case the weather
should become line and open. It is very un-
desirable to keep the plants unnecessarily
mufaed up in mild weather, as they are thereby
induced to make a precocious and weakening
growth.
Then with Roses planted and Rose beds
snugly mulched, cuttings made for stocks and
stocks laid back ready for planting, tender
plants protected and seedlings carefully sheltered,
the rosarian may sit down to his Christmas
dinner with an easy conscience in the conviction
that, let the winter be what it may, he has done
all that was possible for the welfare and comfort
of his favourites.
Cuttings of all Roses required for stocks,
whether Manetti, Brier, or Polyantha, should by
this time have been safely inserted, and cuttings
of most other Roses made of sound wood and
with a heel, if put in at the same time and in
the same way in plenty of sand, will grow just
as easily, in case Roses are desired on their own
roots.
Yellow Banksian Rose.— Seeing the article
in The ,' Garden, Dec. 10 (p. 529), on the YeUow
Banksian Rose, by Mr. T. W. Girdlestone, I write to
know if he or any of your many readers can give
me some information respecting two Banksian
Roses (one yellow and one white) which I planted
against my house in a due south aspect just eight
years ago. They were obtained from a well-known
Rose grower in the midland counties, and have now
reached a height of about 20 feet. The growth is
luxuriant but, as yet, has never bloomed. Most years
there have been a few buds, but these have always
turned yellow, and fallen off before reaching any
size at all. The year before last I had each of them
thinned out in the hope of inducing flower-stems,
but without any satisfactory result. — Henet Hall,
Ealing.
Lamarque Rose.— Some forty years since no
one thought of challenging the evident hardiness of
Lamarque Rose as a standard. In those days
Hybrid Perpetuals were comparatively few, and
standards of Noisettes and Bourbons were common;
hence, I well remember large specimens of such
varieties as Lamarque, Aimee A''ibert, multiflora,
and the rank-growing Jaune Desprez. In time
these found their proper places as pillar Roses, but
all seemed hardy enough when grown as standards,
at least, making less woody or robust growth than
is seen in these Noisettes when they have free play
on walls and pillars. I can also remember other
Roses then held in repute such as Souvenir de la
Malmaison, still a favouite ; the white Aoidalie, the
coarse-growing Blairi No. 2, and that lovely pink
hybrid Bourbon, Coup d'Hebe, a Rose which in form
has hardly been excelled. Of the Hybrid Perpetuals,
Geant des BataiUes, so soon to be excelled by the
yet considerably grown General Jacqueminot ; the
huge flaunting Baronne Prevost, old Ju'es Mar-
gottin, and that solid, but hard Rose, La Reine, were
grown. Few of these can be found in ordinary
Rose collections now. With respect to Lamarque,
I think it should never be seen in a full-blown
state ; when in a partly open or really in bud state
it is the purest and loveliest of all white Roses
548
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 17, 1887.
On strong wood it comes in such big clusters, not
an excellent way where button-hole Eoses are
needed, but on weak shoots singly it is perfect.
However, the growing demand for Mar(5chal Niel
and its greater value compelled me a few years
since to work the latter on to Lamarque, and a
grand stock this fine robust Noisette makes for the
French Marechal.— A. D.
WHEN TO STRIKE ROSE CUTTINGS.
It does not appear to be sufficiently known that
Rose cuttings may be put in at various times during
the year, and that if the work is fairly well done a
reasonable number of plants may be obtained. I
have put in the cuttings nearly every month in the
year, but the greatest success has been gained when
the work has been done in August and October. It
is surprising the difference in time saved by insert-
ing the cuttings in August. As a matter of fact it
is a season gained compared with those put in in
October. If the cuttings are to be inserted in
August, a gentle bottom-heat is necessary to be
thoroughly successful; either make up a hotbed on
purpose or use a Cucumber or Melon bed. I gene-
rally use the frame that has produced the first crop
of Melons, as the bed retains sufficient bottom-heat
for what is wanted. To obtain the cuttings I go
over the plants and secure a sufficient number from
the young wood, that is, the wood that has not
flowered. But if a sufficient quantity cannot be
obtained from this source, I take one cutting from
each shoot that has flowered, rejecting the soft
tops, make them 5 inches or 6 inches long, and leave
one or two leaves to each. The cuttings are then
inserted singly in :!-inch pots in some sandy soil,
and the pots are plunged to their rims in the bed
in the frame. They are then well watered and the
frame closed. B' or the first fortnight I shade the
frame with mats for at least nine hours during the
day. Every evening when the mats are taken off the
leaves are well sprinkled. The shading will have
to be continued when the sun is bright for two or
three weeks longer, but it may be discontinued in
dull weather. Very little air should be given until
the cuttings show signs of making growth, which is
an indication that they are making roots. It is
quite safe, in a general way, to say that the cuttings
will be sufficiently rooted to be shifted on into
other pots at the end of two months. When this is
done the plants can be placed where they are to
remain all the winter. If there is no greenhouse
available, a cold pit or frame will suffice, but
severe frost must not reach them. About the end
of the following May the cuttings may be planted
out in the open. It will now be apparent why the
month of August is chosen instead of October for
putting in the cuttings. If the last-mentioned
month is selected, the plants cannot be safely
moved for twelve months. It will, therefore, be
seen that the earliest lot has the gain of one sea-
son's growth in the open ground, because, according
to my experience, it is no advantage to use bottom-
heat for the October cuttings.
October is, all points considered, the most suit-
able time for the majority of cultivators. There is
less difficulty in getting the cuttings, and after they
are put in they give but very little trouble. I make
up a temporary frame on a border facing east or
west, and after mixing some sand with the soil I
dibble the cuttings in G inches apart. The lights
are then put on, and remain closed all the winter.
Early in the spring the plants are looked over, all
dead leaves and other rubbish being cleared out,
and the soil made firm between the cutlings with a
wooden rammer. About the end of April a block
of wood is put under the light at the back, so as to
raise it to a height of about (i inches. Towards the
end of May the lights are taken away, and, except
to give the cuttings water when the weather is very
dry, no other attention is necessary all the summer.
Early in November the cuttings may be planted out
where they are wanted, but it is best to let them
make two years' growth, and in ground that is fairly
rich and deep, and then they will make fine plants
for any purpose. At the present time I have a
frame filled with plants that were put in as cuttings
in the month of October last year, many of which
have flowered this autumn.
A fair number of cuttings will strike if taken
now and planted in nursery beds in the open in the
same way as Gooseberry cuttings are treated, but
only the strongest shoots must be used for this
purpose. They should be 9 inches long, and two-
thirds of the length should be firmly buried in the
ground. They must remain at least two years
before they are moved. When I pruned the general
stock of our Roses last spring I collected the
strongest pieces and made them into cuttings, and
had them planted in a north border. About
10 per cent, of them have grown, and some flowered
this autumn. J. C. C
Orchids.
W. H. GOWER.
CHRISTMAS ORCHIDS AT HOLLOW AY.
Flowers of every description are rather scarce
at the present time, and, judging by the mar-
kets, choice kinds especially so. My visits
during the past few weeks, however, have con-
vinced me that neither scarcity nor variety will
be wanting where a fairly good collection of
mixed Orchids is grown. Amongst other places
I recently looked in at was Mr. Williams' nur-
sery at Upper Hollosvay, and the houses there
are extremely gay, whilst the ijromise of other
plants leads one to suppose that a dearth of
bloom is not likely to occur there for several
months. The Calanthes are especially fine,
such kinds as Veitchi, vestita, both the red and
the yellow-eyed varieties, and Sandhurstiana
being the most forward. These plants have
been grown with as much exjiosure to the sun
as the plants could bear in safety, and they
have made marvellous growths, whicli are now
producing (juite a forest of flower-spikes. The
abuve will be succeeded by such kinds as C.
Regnieri, AVilliamsi, Turneri, Sanderiana, ni-
valis, &c. Next in importance are the Lady's
Slipper Orcliids, of which a great number of
kinds are now to be seen. In the first rank
stands that superb hybrid C. Morganias. I
had occasion some time back in The Garden,
Oct. 29 (p. 400), to remark upon this fine form
blooming in this establishment. Mr. Williams
seems to be particularly fortunate with this rare
gem, for there is now a plant bearing three
expanded flowers on the scape, and anotlier
plant bearing a spike, the blooms of which
should be open about the new year. The
flowers are large and beautifully marked, and,
to my mind, are equally as beautiful as the
mucli-coveted variety of C. Stonei, called platy-
tsenium. Associated with these are such kinds
as the vivid cenanthum superbum, Sedeni,
Sedeni candidulum, cardinale, many forms of
insigne, Die rare Sanderianum, Leeanum super-
bum, the new Fitchianum (which appears to be
a cross with Hookeree), selligerum rubrum, and
many others. A distinct and curious species
called C. tonsum is of a bronzy hue, with a few
scattered black dots on the petals ; it comes
from Sumatra, and is probably only the fore-
runner of a distinct and handsome race which
is to be had in that large island when we beoume
better acquainted with its flora. Anotlier superb
plant now flowering is Dendrobium Guldei, a
native of Torres Straits; the flowers, Mr. Williams
says, last three months in perfection ; they are of a
rich claret-purple, whilst the plant is a profuse
bloomer, pushing out flower-spikes from old and
new growths alike, so that those who adopt the
pruning system witli this species would lose half
the display. A nearly allied plant wliich comes
from the same country, D. superbiens, is also
flowering in profusion ; the colour is paler than
that of D. Goldei, and it differs in the shape of
the lip ; unfortunately, these two plants are not
amateurs' Orchids, as they revel in strong heat
and good exposure to the sun.
Vandas are also flowering freely, their grate-
ful perfume pervading the whole house, whilst
the plants themselves, even without their
flowers, are extremely beautiful, such kinds as
V. Buavis, various forms of V. tricolor, V.
casrulea, and V. lamellata Boxalli being most
notable. The last-mentioned plant has been in
bloom for the last two months and its flowers
are now quite fresh. Of Ccelogynes, several kinds
are in flower, but the fine plants of C. cristata
do not appear to be very early this season.
There are, however, nice examples of C. Gard-
neriana with several spikes of its snowy white
flowers, which have a stain of pale yellow on
the lip ; the bold and distinct C. barbata, white
with a crested fringe of sepia-brown round the
labellum; C. nitida, C. speciosa, &c. Amongst
miscellaneous Orchids now in flower may be
noted fine forms of Cattleya Dormanuiana and
C. Eldorado, Cymbidium Mastersi, Lycaste
Skinneri alba (a small plant bearing six flowers
upon one growth), the atro-rubens form of
Miltonia Morelliana, and Catasetum Bun-
gerothi. Odontoglossums are now rapidly push-
ing up their spikes ; the principal of those ex-
panded are numerous forms of the ever- welcome
O. Alexandrse, which has some flowers of the
purest snow-white, while others are heavily
spotted and blotched with reddish brown ; O.
Pescatorei, the curious 0. ramosissimum, and
some beautiful examples of the Leopard Flower,
O. Insleayi. Sophronitis graudiflora, with its
scarlet flowers, imparts brilliancy of colour at
this particular season. Masdevallias are pro-
mising well, but, with the exception of the
chaste M. tovarensis, wer-e not in flower. Alto-
gether I noted something about COO expanded
sjjikes of bloom in the houses at Holloway,
and the great majority of them are those of
kinds which succeed best in either a cool or an
intermediate house.
Oncidinm Bogersi or varicosum. — Among
the Oncidiums there are several valuable species,
but in my estimation 0. Rogers! or varicosum (for
they are evidently synonymous) is the most service-
able of the lot. It is as easily grown and flowered
as the summer-flowering O. flexuosum, and rivals
in beauty the spring-blooming 0. Marsballianum.
Quite tiny plants in small pots have at the present
time a pretty spike of bloom expanded, while
stronger pieces produce several spikes which branch
freely, and carry upwards of 100 flowers, The
effect of such glorious spikes of bright yellow
flowers can easily be imagined, and all Orchid
fanciers ought to have plants of this showy winter-
flowering species. — W. I.
Bleiones. — As the repotting of these pretty
winter-flowering Orchids has just been finished, it
may not be inappropriate to remark that the whole
of them that have passed out of flower should be
seen to without any delay. I repot them, as a rule,
every second year, and have found that they
succeed well in the Cattlei a house placed near the
roof glass. I generally plant the bulbs in 5-inch
and ()-inch pots, from nine to a dozpn in each, and,
as a rule, each bulb will make two for next season.
I have hitherto used the usual peat and Sphagnum
compost for them, but have this year tried a few
with the addition of a good sprinkling of leaf-
mould. I fancy the nature of the small fibrous
roots suggests that the addition of leaf-mould
might cause a stronger growth and a better quality
of the flowers. Has anyone tried loam or leaf-
mould for these plants ? Some of the later-flower-
ing species have not yet passed out of bloom ;
indeed, some are not in. Those who are acquainted
with the plants know well that as soon as the
Dec. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
549
flowers fade fresh roots are made, and that if these
are broken the further healthy development of the
plants is hindered. — J. Douglas.
THE VANDA LOWI AT FERRIERES.
Although this truly magnificent Orchid has been
grown in European gardens for nearly half a century,
having been imported from Borneo in 18i6, it is not
by any means plentiful, especially in England, where
for some reason or other it does not receive from
Orchid growers the attention that such a free-
flowering plant really deserves. It is, at all
times, a beautiful plant, even when out of flower,
as its long, vride, and bright green shining leaves,
which are produced abundantly, and which are
remarkable for their power of long duration, are of
great beauty. It may with advantage hold its own
among purely decorative foliage plants, as it is
quite as handsome as many other plants grown ex-
clusively for their foliage. The Ferrieres specimen
is undoubtedly the best illustration of this, as it is
also the most perfect example of what so skilful
and so attentive a cultivator as M. Bergman can
accomplish. This splendid plant, which in this
otherwise exceptionally rich collection forms a great
centre of attraction to all visitors, has been of
steady and remarkably regular growth, and at every
successive visit I noted that it had much improved
in appearance, until it has now reached over (i feet
in height above the basket. The latter is covered by
luxuriant foliage, and the plant has three main
stems, each of which has produced four, four,
and three shoots respectively, and forming a most
handsome mass of verdure composed of no less
than 170 leaves about 28 inches long and without a
blemish. This of itself is sufficient to show that,
even when out of flower, the Vanda Lowi is
not to be despised. But what must be the efEect
produced by twenty-six flower-spikes, each about
6 feet long, and producing the aggregate number of
650 flowers 1 It is really a unique sight, and here
I will quote M. Ernest Bergman's own words in
the Jieviie Horticole —
The successive development of the dimensions
of this "wonderful specimen coiTesponds also in some
degree with the increase in the production of its
flowers, as in 1880 there were only 2 spikes ; in 1883
II spikes, making up 280 flowers ; in 1885 there were
17 spikes, 420 flowers, and a total of 120 leaves ;
whereas now, in 1887, the quaint beauty of its 170
leaves is further enhanced by the brightness of no less
than 26 spikes, making a total of 650 flowers.
These flowers of two entirely distinct kinds are
disposed along very slender spikes, which, like the
peduncles and the underside of the petals and of
the sepals of the flowers, are covered with small,
stiff, brown hairs, which, if not in any way orna-
mental, prevent the flowers being destroyed. It is
singular that the two, and sometimes even the three,
first flowers at the base of the spikes are entirely
different from the others, inasmuch as their colour
is a light golden yellow, spotted with brown, while
their sepals and petals are short and broad, and the
lip is of a pinkish colour. The other flowers on the
same spike are longer and narrower, while their
colour is of a dark red, spotted with creamy yeUow.
It also frequently happens, and specially when, as
is the case at Ferrieres, the plant is in robust
health, that the first of the red flowers is inter-
mediate in colour, being partly yellow and partly
red. The flowers last fully a month on the
plant, though, on account of the excessive amount
of nourishment which such a mass of flowers re-
quires, it is not advisable to let them remain on the
plant the whole time. When cut the flowers remain
for a long time in a fresh condition. Although fine
specimens of Vanda Lowi are also found in several
Continental collections — notably in that of Baron
Hruby, of Peckau, in Bohemia, that of Comte de
Germiny at Gouville, and the Due de Massa at
Franconville, where all the plants collected with
such care by the late M. Luddemann have found a
permanent home — its comparative scarcity is no
doubt due to the difficulties which attend its im-
portation. It may appear strange, but, although it
has a more robust appearance than other species
from the same habitat, it is on all hands acknow-
ledged as a bad traveller, and most of the Conti-
nental specimens — as, indeed, the few which have
found their way into this country and into America
— are plants that have been propagated in French
gardens. When once established, Vanda Lowi,
which by Professor Reichenbach has been classified,
no doubt correctly, among the Renantheras, but
which will no doubt for a long time retain the
name which Lindley gave it when first imported,
is of very easy culture, its treatment being the same
as that required for other Vandas. The best pot-
ting material consists of a mixture of three parts of
Sphagnum to one part of good fibrous peat and
plenty of crocks, and the temperature most suitable
is that required by the AngrKcums and by the
Aerides, Vandas, Saccolabiums, and other East
Indian plants of similar habit. S.
THE ORCHID ALBUM.'
The November part of this work is just to hand,
and the illustrations still maintain their high stan-
dard of excellence. It contains faithful portraits of
Odontoglossum Pescatoebi Geemintanum,
a large and dense-flowered form, having the white
sepals and petals flushed with rose and dotted with
purple, whilst the lip is spotted in front with rich
purple, and banded at the base with rosy purple. 0.
Pescatorei does not appear to be subject to the
great variation that occurs in 0. orispum.
Ltcaste plana Measueesiana is anotherlovely
form of this old species, and appears to be as rare as
it is beautiful. It thrives under exactly the same
treatment as the other members of this genus.
Cattleta soeaeia. — In this we have the por-
trait of a beautiful slender-growing plant, which is
said to exist only in the collection at the Victoria
Nursery. It was imported from Brazil by Mr.
Williams with C. bicolor and C. velutina, but is
entirely distinct from any other Cattleya which
we have in cultivation. The plant attains about a
foot in height, the pseudo-bulbs being slender and
stem-like ; the flowers are some 3 inches across,
sepals and petals pale magenta, middle lobe of lip
streaked with deep magenta-purple, while the side
lobes are of a pale delicate rose. Tne slender
growths of this plant necessitate a somewhat more
careful treatment than is required by the majority
of Cattleyas.
Dendeobium foemosum giganteum is a well
known inhabitant of our plant houses, and its large
ivory-white flowers, which are stained with orange-
yellow in the throat, are always a welcome addition
to the Orchid display. Mr. Williams says that
although it does sometimes flourish for several years
in succession, it is not a long-lived plant under cul-
tivation, and he recommends the frequent importa-
tion of fresh plants to maintain it in perfection.
8E0BT NOTES.— ORCHIDS.
Calanthe Veitchi. — Will some reader of The
Garden kindly inform me, through its columns, of
the greatest number of flowers that has been known
on spikes of Calanthe Veitchi and Calanthe vestita
rubra ?— H. Y.
Odontoglossum cariniferum. — This is a use-
ful cool-house species from Veraqua, and found at an
elevation of 9000 feet. It has not the striking beauty
of some species and varieties of its genus, but the
flowers are pretty, especially when borne in a large
panicle. The sepals and petals are narrow, rich brown,
with a margin of gi'een, and the petals curl inwards ;
the crest is purple, and the three-lohed lip creamy
white. The colours are decided and contrast well,
though not showy.
Cattleya Loddigesi. — I send you two flowers of
what I call a very large form of Cattleya Harrisonise.
The bulbs and appearance of the plant are more hke
those of Cattleya amethystoglossa. What do you
think of it? — H. Simpkins, Camhridge Lodge, Camber-
well.
*:»* The flowers sent were those of an exceptionally
fine form of Cattleya Loddigesi, and measured nearly
*"Tho Orchid Album." Published by Mr. B. S.
Williams, Victoria and Paradise Nurseries, HoUoway.
5 inches across, and were of a clear, soft, rosy lilac
colour; the sepals and petals broad and waxy in
texture, with a large and prettily frilled lip. This was
the first Cattleya introduced to this country, and a
few years ago it had become the fashion to depreciate
it, but such a lovely variety must certainly place this
old favourite again in the front rank of a genus
which abounds in such beautiful species and varieties.
TrichoEma suavis. — If only for the delicious
fragrance of its blossoms, this Orchid would be
worth growing, but a well-flowered plant is also
showy. It has small creamy-white flowers, with
the lip striped with dull crimson and marked with
citron-yellow. The flowers are borne, about half
a dozen or more together, in short spikes. A few
years ago this was a very scarce plant, but now is
tolerably common. It was sent from India some
fifty years ago. It grows wild on the Khasya HiUs,
in the Chirra district, and is invariably found on
trees. It is a strong-growing plant, requiring a cool-
house temperature. The latter point is worth bear-
ing in mind, as it is generally by submitting this
plant to too high a temperature that cultivators are
unsuccessful with it.
Cattleya Dormanniana. — This singiilarly
beautiful Orchid has attracted the notice of visitors
to Kew during the past fortnight, as it is so distinct
in appearance from most others. It is a Brazilian
plant of comparatively recent introduction, and is
by no means common. Whether it be a true species
or not is an undecided point among orchidists,
some supposing it to be a natural hybrid between
Cattleya bicolor and Cattleya pumila, as it par-
takes of the characters of those species. It is,
however, more like C. bicolor, as it has similarly
thin pseudo-bulbs, which are from 9 inches to 12
inches high, each having one or two broad, thick
leaves. The flowers, about 3 inches across, have
narrow sepals of an olive-green, flushed with reddish
brown, marked and spotted with a deeper tint, and
shining as if varnished. The broad labellum is very
beautiful, as its broad lobe is coloured with a
brilliant crimson-purple, the lateral lobes being
paler. Flowering at midwinter, it is all the more
valuable. It was named by Reichenbach in com-
pliment to Mr. Dorman, of Sydenham, a great ad-
mirer and successful cultivator of Cattleyas and
LONDON FOGS AND THEIR EFFECTS.
Though at this time of the year all engaged in
plant-growing in large and thickly populated towns
must be prepared to contend with the injurious
effects of the fogs therein prevalent, it is a long
time since a visitation of such magnitude as that
which covered the metropolis on the 13th of
November and following days has been recorded in
London. It was not only unusual for its duration,
but also for the disastrous havoc that it played
among plants of aU kinds, affecting even some
which up to the present had been considered proof
against the baneful influence of the nauseous com-
pound of fog and smoke combined. It is only now
that the fog period appears to have gone, at least
for the present, and, let us hope, for the whole sea-
son. A clearer atmosphere of a couple weeks' dura-
tion enables us to see distinctly the ravages caused
by the annual visitation, and to fully realise its de-
structive effects. To those whose good fortune it
is to dwell in the country, where the air is pure and
where the fogs are white, this condemnation of the
plant grower's most insidious enemy may appear in-
consistent, as the earthy vapours which appear in
the country rather benefit the vegetation surround-
ing them than otherwise. They can, therefore,
have no adequate idea of the difficulties attending
the cultivation of plants in towns where the gaseous
emanations pollute the atmosphere to such an ex-
tent as to render it unfit for growing anything more
delicate than Chinese Palms and Aspidistras. That
such tender subjects as fully- opened flowers of
Cyclamens, Bouvardias, winter-flowering Begonias,
and many other delicate flowers should suffer is not
surprising ; the extreme delicacy of their texture is
such as to lead anyone to expect it; besides which,
although it is not very comforting, still the annual
destruction of these most welcome and useful
550
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 17, 1887.
winter decorative plants is so usual, that an acci-
dental escape from it is a circumstance too fortunate
for its realisation to be confidently expected.
These terrible fogs, however, appear to gain addi-
tional strength every successive year, and their
powers of destruction are such that not only
are flowers with delicate tissues affected by them,
but even the foliage of many plants of good
and firm texture suffers to quite an unprecedented
extent. The Crotons, for instance, have been very
seriously punished this season, young and old leaves
being alike affected and dropping from the stems
in great quantities. In reference to these orna-
mental plants, a point worthy of notice is that
the species and varieties with large leaves, and
either red or yellow variegation, such as C.
Morti, Disraeli, Veitchianus, and others, have
suffered much more heavily than those with
narrow foliage, of whatever colour their variega-
tion might be. In kinds with extremely narrow
leaves, such as C. angustifolius, Chelsoni, and
Johannis, the effects of the fog have hardly been
noticeable, which difference is no doubt due to a
larger surface being, in the case of the plants be-
longing to the former section, exposed to the dele-
terious action of the destructive agents. We had
previously seen the foliage of Bouvardias, also that
of Chrysanthemums, and fronds of certain kinds of
Ferns, principally Adiantums and Gymnogrammas,
affected by tlie fog, but we had never seen before,
nor had we ever heard of any report bearing on the
wholesale destruction of the foliage of Azalea in-
dica, which in some places has within the last
three weeks been completely stripped off the plants.
In this class of plants, all varieties — red, white,
striped, or pink — seem to have suffered in about the
same degree. In Orchids we find that, as usual,
the strictly winter-blooming kinds have been the
most seriously affected, for wherever the fog
demon has passed, notwithstanding the cover-
ing of the houses, no flowers and very few buds of
Calanthes, Phaltenopsids, and Angrajoums have been
spared, though the Odontoglossums and Cypri-
pediums in flower and in bud state do not appear
to have suffered much. Some blossoms of C.
Spicerianum and of the pretty variety produced by
the crossing of this entirely distinct species with
the old favourite C. insigue, and named C. Leeanum,
as well as some of the C. vexiUarium, which is
another rare hybrid variety ; also of C. Arthurianum,
calurum, conchiferum, Dauthieri, Lawrenceanum,
of the superbly coloured C. oenanthum superbum,
of the charming dwarf C. purpuratum Schlimi, of the
gorgeous C. villosum, and of many others, which were
fully open throughout the fogs, are as fresh now as
they ever were. The same remarks also apply to the
Bpiphyllums, plants which ought and deserve to be
grown on a much larger scale than they are at
present, for their flowers, all of lovely colours, are
produced freely, and fiU up a gap between the
natural autumn flowers and the production of forced
ones. The Monocbastons have all more or less been
injured, though M. Lemoinianum far less so than the
others. Even Lapageria flowers of exceptionally
thick texture have been unable to hold their own
against the fogs, and dropped off from the plants
long before their time. It is, therefore, as surprising
as it is a pleasing duty to have to record among
such calamities the wonderful behaviour of the
hybrid Rhododendrons from Java, which have thus
most prominently shown their lasting qualities under
circumstances affecting other flowering plants to a
much greater degree. As it is during the winter
months that these beautiful plants open most of
their blossoms, and as these vary in colour, from
the pure white of R. jasiuiuifiorum and Princess
Alexandra to the brightest scarlet of R. Duchess of
Edinburgh and Duchess of Connaugbt, and from
the lovely pale pinkish colour of R. Maiden's Blush
to the beautiful rosy tints of R. Taylori and Princess
Royal, besides a host of intermediate tints of yellow,
pale in Duchess of Teck, dark in Queen Victoria,
flamed with red in Prince Leopold, this lasting
quality is greatly in their favour. If the many
uses of their tubular or Stephanotis-shaped flowers
be taken into account, it is evident that a glorious
future is in store for them. As ornamental plants,
the more so that, although requiring during the
winter months a little more warmth than Azaleas
or Camellias, their culture is just as simple as that
of these deservedly popular subjects. S.
Aphelandra Chamissoniana and A. chry-
sops. — At p. 491 I made the statement that the
Aphelandras named above represented one species
only. Since then Mr. W. Bull, who introduced
both of the plants, wrote to the editor of The
Gakden pointing out that I had made an
erroneous statement, and that Professor Oliver,
of the Kew herbarium, had pronounced the two
plants represented by these names to be dis-
tinct. I have been to the Kew herbarium and
convinced myself that the two Aphelandras are
distinct, and that the plants I saw labelled respec-
tively ^A. Chamissoniana and A. chrysops (upon
which the note was founded) were incorrectly
named, and therefore the statement I made was
untrue. The two plants, though resembling each
other in bloom, being both yellow-flowered with
yellow bracts and vrith variegated foliage, are
specifically distinct, the chief points of difference
being as follows : A. Chamissoniana, known also in
gardens as A. punctata, has narrower leaves than
A. chrysops, and the silvery marking or variegation
is broader than the white marking on the leaves of
A. chrysops. The inflorescence of the two plants
is produced in much the same way, being terminal
and elongated. The bracts of both are decussate
or arranged in four rows ; they are a bright chrome-
yellow in both, but in A. Chamissoniana they are
narrow, decidedly pointed, and serrated or toothed
on the margins. The bracts of A. chrysops are
broader, not pointed, and not toothed. The flowers
of both are yellow, tubular, and curved, and pro-
trude from the bracts. These are the main points
of difference between the two, and, judging by the
specimens at Kew sent by Mr. Bull, A. chrysops is a
much finer plant than A. Chamissoniana. — W.
GOLDEING.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
Winter - flowering Carnations. — Messrs.
Hooper and Co., of Twickenham, send us a gather-
ing of winter-flowering Carnations, comprising
several varieties. The best were Mme. Massicault,
reddish bufl" ; Louis Bernhard, deep crimson ; Dr.
Raymond, like the old Clove in colour ; and Mme.
Comte, bright red, very good colour.
Algerian Iris (I. stylosa). — This beautiful Iris
is now flowering freely here in the open ground.
My plan is to cut the unopened buds and allow
them to expand in water in the house. My plants
are on a well drained raised bank facing south,
but were planted there some years before they
bloomed. This is one of the loveliest of the genus,
and even in summer would be striking, to say nothing
of midwinter. I enclose a bud, which I hope will
open satisfactorily. — Greenwood Pim, Duhlin.
Bhododendron Duchess of Connaught. —
This is perhaps the finest of the greenhouse
Rhododendrons. It is an abundant bloomer, and
and its long, tubular flowers, which are produced in
compact trusses, are of a brilliant vermilion-red.
For a pure waxy white kind. Princess Alexandra is
superb, whilst Prince Leopold is a fine variety with
fawn-coloured flowers, suffused with rose. These
kinds are now flowering with Mr. Williams at
Holloway, who finds that these Rhododendrons, in
order to better develop their blooms, require a little
warmth.
A pretty combination of colour may now be
seen at Kew, and is worth imitating, being both
pleasing and effective. It consists of a group of
well-grown double Tuberoses intermixed with a few
Poinsettias, the contrast of the brilliant scarlet with
the creamy white Tuberoses being most striking.
The Poinsettia is used with great effect in the green-
house at Kew, and it does not seem to be generally
known that it will stand ordinary greenhouse tem-
perature if the plants are not submitted to great
heat during their growing season. One sees the
Poinsettia so seldom outside a hot stove that this
fact is worth noting. The tasteful, and we might
say artistic, grouping of plants in the greenhouse at
Kew, so as to procure pleasing effects of colour,
harmony, or contrast, appears now to be made
quite a study, much to the delight of visitors.
Double Rose-leaved Bramble (Rubus ros^-
foliusplenus). — Thisprettywinter-fioweringBramble
deserves to be more grown. It is quite an acquisi-
tion to the greenhouse at the present time, and can
be grown out of doors all the summer, but care
should be taken to keep red spider from attacking
it ; the best preventive is liberal syringing. — W. A.
Cook.
Strobilanthus coloratus. — A plant of the
Acanthus family, and a native of Assam, is
conspicuous just now in the stove house at Kew on
account of its profusion of blossoms. It is a her-
baceous plant, with pale olive-green foliage, and
has long, loose clusters of tubular flowers of a deli-
cate mauve, pencilled with a deeper hue. As every
plant that flowers profusely in winter has a peculiar
value, this one should not be lost sight of. It lasts
in bloom for weeks, and requires ordinary stove
culture.
Winter-flowering Jasmine (Jasminum nudi-
florum). — This Jasmine is now flowering profusely
at the base of a warm wall, in which position
free growth was made during last season. Owing
to the extra hot weather during the past summer
the wood was thoroughly ripened, and this has
induced a free display of flowers. The branches
should be thickly trained to the wall. It will thrive
in any aspect, but, of course, a southern one is the
best, as it is for nearly all wall plants. — S.
A good winter-flowering Carnation. — One
of the best of the winter-flowering Carnations Is
the variety Indian Chief; it is as fragrant as the
old Crimson Clove, and very much like it in colour.
The habit of the plant is compact and dwarf, and It
has the additional recommendation of being very
free flowering. I have some fine plants in bloom
that were struck last February and planted out-
doors during the summer. They were taken up in
the first week of September. This has been a good
summer for winter - flowering Carnations. — W. A.
Cook.
The Tree Dahlia (Dahlia imperialis). — This
winter-flowering Dahlia is beautiful when seen in
perfection. I have noticed it in flower several
times, but not so fine as this year, and I attribute
this to the poor treatment given. In previous years
I have treated it well, and it has made shoots 10 feet
or 12 feet high, but with about two or three puny
flowers on the top of each. This season the plant
has been kept dry the greater part of the summer,
and this has caused a dwarfer and more compact
growth. The flowers are also twice the size, and
produced far more freely. The plant in question Is
in a 15-inch pot. — W. A. CoOK, Holme Mood.
Biose Grace Darling. — This comparatively new
Tea Rose ought to be grown by everybody. In
blossom it is lovely" and very distinct, the flowers
being creamy, tipped with bright rose, large and
full ; while for hardiness and persistence in bloom-
ing it is a worthy comrade to our old friend Gloire
de Dijon. I have a couple of tiny plants, one In
the open and one against a wall, and they are still
yielding buds almost as good as in summer, and not
rotting away like so many Rose buds do in our
dripping autumns. I think Grace Darling Rose
should prove a grand variety for pots at this time
of year.— Gbbenwood.
Fassifloia princeps (racemosa). — In August
of last year I drew attention to this most valuable
warm greenhouse climber. I now wish to add a
note as to its extraordinary free-flowering quality,
in which it is equalled by very few plants in general
cultivation. My plant opened its first flowers on
March 30 last, and has been clothed with an un-
interrupted abundance of scarlet buds and flowers ;
occasionally one day might pass without an ex-
panded blossom, but never two in succession, and
even now (December 14) there is but little check,
although, of course, the growth is not so vigorous as
in the height of summer, and the want of light has
washed out much of the colour. A shoot crept out
Dec. 17, 1887.J
THE GARDEN.
551
through a chink and blossomed in the open air
quite as well as those shoots in the house. The
latter has had scarcely any fire-heat till within the
last two months. In the same structure is a large
plant of Abutilon Boule de Neige, which is almost
as free-flowering as the Passiflora. The two form a
charming pair, hard to be beaten for the quantity
of flowers they produce. There are many lovely
Passifloras in cultivation, but I think P. princeps is,
all things considered, perhaps the best for a mode-
rate-sized house. — Geeenwood.
Rosy-flowered Leadwort (Plumbago rosea)-
— This Plumbago is a useful subject for supplying
flowers at this season of the year. It is easily grown
and does not occupy much space, as it is of close,
upright growth. It looks exceedingly well when
arranged among Calanthes and Maiden-hair Ferns,
as the warm rose-coloured blossoms contrast charm-
ingly with the pink and white flowers of the
Calanthes. Useful little plants can be grown in a
few months if cuttings of the young wood are taken
o£E with a heel in the spring and inserted in sandy,
peaty soil. Plunge the pots in a brisk bottom heat,
and pinch out the points of the shoots about twice
during the summer, to induce the plants to become
bushy. Cut down the latter after flowering to
within a few inches of the soil, and shake the old
compost from the roots in the spring, potting the
plants into (5-inch pots, and using a free, open soil,
consisting of loam two parts, one part peat, and
some charcoal and sand. Grow them in the stove
close to the glass, and pinch the shoots about twice
when 3 Inches long, afterwards allowing them to
flower. — S.
Nuiseiymen and fruit growers. — I have
sent on thirty-four sorts of Apples, all reputed
for flavour and quality in one way or another
as grown here, which I hope will amuse you. I
have read with interest your notes. I say, "We
do not want so many kinds, but our customers do,
and we are the servants of the public." We are
bound to keep up a coUeotion. I wiU try in Feb-
ruary or March to send you some more samples. —
Geo. Euntaed, JIaidstone.
*^* We have no doubt that it is true that nursery-
men are obliged to keep more kinds than they
really know to be good, and it should be for all who
have any in'iuenoe in the Press or otherwise to
correct opinion in this respect. Many kinds in the
garden is the sure road to a poor stock in the fruit
room. Also worse than aU, they prevent space and
care being given to the really precious Apples.
Hundreds are in cultivation, described as first-rate,
which have no claim to that distinction. We can
only account for it by people guessing of the flavour
from the colour. Perhaps nurserymen could get
over the difliculty by having a standard series of
Apples such as we are now establishing. We
mean Apples which, for the supply of our markets
and families, should be planted by the hundred
acres. This standard series might be slightly
changed by growers in diverse parts of the country
to suit their districts. — Ed.
Northern Spy Apple. — Our favourite New-
town is dethroned. Messrs. EUwanger and Barry
have sent us from Rochester, U.S., a beautiful
gathering of this great Apple Northern Spy, which
in flavour is, we think, the best we have ever tasted.
Messrs. EUwanger and Barry write : " Our Apple
crop here in Western New York is very large, but
owing to the excessive heat and dryness of the
summer the quality is not up to the average. Just
thirty -nine years ago our Mr. Barry took some barrels
of this Apple to England ; it had then been quite
recently introduced; he sent them to all the leading
pomologists in England, France, Belgium, &c. Mr.
Rivers and Mr. Thompson both declared it was the
best Apple they ever saw. A basket of them were
sent to the Queen at Mr. Rivers' request. It is now
extensively grown all over this country, but the
Baldwin is regarded as more profitable and is more
extensively grown than any other."
*^* It is a long trial, and nobly does the Apple
bear it — such high refined flavour. It is firm to
travel, and came beautifully in the barrel, while the
flesh was almost as yielding in the mouth as that of
a good Peach. This quality of digestibility is one
that will some day have to be considered by our
growers. Some good Apples are too hard to eat
raw. A sight of these handsome fruits would
teach people what they may expect if they try to
rival them, except with English fruits above all
doubt as to quality. Yet we by no means des-
pair of oux fruit culture if people will only keep to
the best and never mind the rest. — Ed.
The new Sean of Bochester.— As will be
seen by an announcement from the Times printed
elsewhere. Canon Hole is now Dean of Rochester.
Many of our readers will be well pleased to hear
this, as will all the readers of " A Book about Roses."
All wUl hope that the change wDl be for our friend's
happiness and usefulness. Those of them who have
Rose gardens in the south will be glad that his
duties bring him near them. It is a good many
years since some of us were cheered by the " Six of
Spades," as it appeared in the now long dead
Florist, and we owe the author many a bright
page since then. Our gratitude is none the less
because of late years higher work, and much of it,
has given him less time for his garden.
Chrysanthemnm sport. — I forward you a
sport I raised two years ago from the variety Etoile
du Midi. The few plants I grew last year were so
very fine, and the flowers so much appreciated, that
I cultivated fifty plants this season, and what I
send you is some of the produce. I propose sending
it out in spring next year (1888), and have named
it Hans Niemand in honour of the old firm. — W.
Spikks.
*tf* The flowers sent were of a very bright reddish
colour, the florets tipped with yeUow, and the lower
ones almost entirely of this colour. It is far too
small for exhibition, -but is an addition to the
Japanese decorative class as far as brightness
and neatness of flower are concerned. — Ed.
Chrysanthemums.
E. MOLYNEUX.
PROPER TIME TO STRIKE CUTTINGS.
There is a variety of opinions amongst growers
of Chrysanthemums as to which is the best time
to insert cuttings. I think there is no hard-
and-fast line to follow in the matter, as it occa-
sionally happens that cuttings of some varieties
cannot be had when desired. Some varieties
are so slow in the production of cuttings that
as much as a month sometimes elapses before
cuttings can be inserted. Nevertheless, good
blooms can be had from such plants that have
been struck later. Much, of course, depends
upon what object the plants are cultivated for ;
therefore this should be borne in mind when
preparing the cuttings. I will give the dates
that I consider the best for inserting cuttings
for the various purposes, although it is not ab-
solutely necessary to carry out the work at the
exact time named. It is not, however, wise to
defer the operation too long. The production
of large flowers is now the system most largely
adopted, the rage for size being on the increase.
With this object in view, any time from about
the 10th of December till the same date in
January is suitable for putting in cuttings.
When the cuttings can be had the former date
is desirable, as more time is then allowed for
steady growth in a cool temperature instead of
resorting to a warm atmosphere. Growths so
made have the best possible chance of becoming
solid, through the proper maturation of the
tissues of the plants. Some growers prefer to
strike the cuttings in bottom-heat as late as
February or March, but in my opinion plants
treated in this manner are never so good for the
production of high-class blooms as those that
are raised earlier, for the reason that there is
not sufficient time for their proper development
during the various stages of their growth. This
defect is more clearly seen in the soft, sappy
stems of plants struck late, and more particu-
larly when the cultivator resides in the north
of England, where the difl'erent growths are
formed much later than in the southern coun-
ties. The wood of late-struck plants never
ripens thoroughly, and unless this is the case it
is useless to expect blooms of the finest quality.
This is a decided disadvantage much felt by
growers in the extreme north of England. An-
other objection to late propagation is the space
required to preserve the old stools or roots for the
production of cuttings for two months longer than
is necessary when early propagation is adopted.
The cuttings, too, are in a much better state
at the date named for insertion, than they wUl
be two months later, as they are almost sure to
become drawn and weakened, which much in-
terferes with their future welfare. A good start
is of much importance, and a check to the plants
in any form is detrimental to their welfare.
Another source of trouble to growers, princi-
pally in the south of England, is the production
of flower buds instead of growth shoots during
April and May. This is caused, generally, by
striking the cuttings in November, which I con-
sider too early when large blooms are the chief
aim of the cultivator. Some varieties are much
more liable to this premature production of
flower buds than others. Growers in the
northern counties of England do not suffer
nearly so much in this respect, as the seasons
being somewhat later, early growth is not so
rapid. The cuttings of the weakest growing
kinds, such as Lady Hardinge, Criterion, and
Princess Beatrice, should be put in first. By
commencing with such varieties aa those
named, more time is allowed for a steady
growth. This is much better than deferring
the propagation untU a later period, and then
being compelled to place the plants in heat. The
propagation of more robust kinds, of wliich
Prince Alfred is a type, should be deferred
untU the last. For trained specimen plants of
various shapes to attain a large size, the early
part of December is the best time for propa-
gation, as it is quite necessary that such plants
should have a long season of growth. For the
production of bush plants, from the end of Janu-
ary to early in February wiU be soon enough to
strike cuttings. Pompons are so useful for
both the decoration of the conservatory or, even
when grown for large blooms, for exhibition pur-
poses, that a thoroughly representative collec-
tion of Chrysanthemums is not complete with-
out them. When exhibition is the object in
view, the end of December or early in January
answers best for their propagation, but for deco-
ration only, the end of January or early in
February wiU be soon enough.
Scented Chrysanthemums. — At the Chrysan-
themum show held in Hull on the 17th and 18th of
November, I observed that special awards were
offered and secured for sweet-scented blooms of the
Chrysanthemimi. The prizes were awarded, I be-
lieve, by the committee, and were open to all compe-
titors. In judging, the scent of the blooms was the
chief point considered. The show was a fairly suc-
cessful one, and beautiful groups were staged and ar-
ranged most efEectively. There were Japanese, in-
curved, reflexed. Anemone - flowered, and Pompon
varieties. The educing of perfume, however, from
blooms naturally destitute of odoriferous glands was
a puzzle I sought in vain to solve. Nature certainly
yields to art in regard to thef orms so happily brought
about by cultivation ; but the creation of odoriferous
glands where no such glands exist seems beyond the
power of art to accomplish and achieve. The con-
version of tubular into ligulate florets is a process
that may be attained by long and persevering mani-
pulation ; even the incurving and reflexing of the
552
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 17, 1887.
florets, marvellous as it may seem, art can effect,
together with those Japanese blooms whose multifid
florets are so charming to look upon, both as re-
gards form and colour. — Petbe Inchbald, F.L.S.,
Grosrcnor Tcrniee, Hornsea.
NEW CONTINENTAL CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
The unqualified success that the new Japanese
Chrysanthemums imported from Japan by the
Messrs. Cannell have met with, and the distribution
of several incurved and Japanese sports of English
origin, have contributed in no small degree to place
the new Continental varieties of 1887 somewhat in
the shade. From Pertuzes' there are none; from
De) Reydellet twenty-seven ; the two Lacrois con-
tributed nearly sixty ; three or four other raisers of
less importance about thirty between them ; while
D^laux announced the sending out of one hundred
new varieties in the various sections.
Of this enormous number it can hardly be ex-
pected that all are good, or that even half of them
will prove amenable to our method of exhibition
bloom culture. It is therefore always safer for the
amateur or small nurseryman to wait a season until
he can assure himself of the merits of the different
kinds that are advertised, and see them for himself
at the establishments of the importers, rather than
purchase indiscriminately a large collection of no-
velties which may possess nothing new or merito-
rious in themselves but a name.
When I refer to the short article on new Chry-
santhemums of ISSfi, written for this journal twelve
months ago, there would appear to be no reason
for regretting the selection of promising sorts then
made. They have all more or less been well repre-
sented this year, either on the show-board or in
such trade collections as I have been able to visit.
The list might have included others, but it was
only considered necessary to give the names of
those which appeared most likely to prove tho-
roughly reliable and good. It frequently occurs,
however, that some new varieties do not do so well
the first year as subsequently ; a fact attributable,
in all probability, to the artificial method of propa-
gation employed, first by the raiser and then by the
importer, to work up a stock, so that occasionally
we see in the second year of its existence some new
flower turn out better than we anticipated.
Of the 1886 varieties which have agreeably dis-
appointed us in this way, M. H. Elliott is one.
This has already been described by Mr. Molyneux
in one of hisrecont articles. Mme. la Marquise de
Mun, Mme. Marie CIos, Souvenir d'Angcle Amiel, all
last year's importations, appear to be not only attrac-
tive flowers, but of good size and substance.
The new flowers sent out by De Reydellet last
spring have not been seen to advantage, although I
have carefully looked out for them since the
beginning of the season. A few here and there
have been met with, and occasionally at the floral
meetings at the Aquarium one or two have been
staged. So far as this raiser is concerned, not one
variety of his has attained any prominence this
season, but it by no means follows that they are
devoid of value. To M. de Reydellet we owe
L'Ebourifffie, La Triomphante, Don Quichotte,
Marsa, Madeleine Tezier, Gaillardia, Carmen, and
a few others, which have been accorded a good re-
ception here, but it has seldom happened that the
merits of his flowers have been recognised the first
year of their introduction. It can only be added
that, so far as his 1887 varieties are concerned, we
are more likely to hear of them in a year or two
than now. The same rei]\ark is also applicable to
the other Continental growers, for although blooms
of their novelties have been seen at times, in no
case was there a really fine, well grown flower
staged that called forth any extraordinary amount
of satisfaction.
Mens. Dfilaux, however, has been a trifle more
fortunate. It would perhaps have been 'an excep-
tional event had it not been so, although his success
has been considerably less than in years gone by,
only four of this season's varieties sent out by him
having been certificated. Out of his hundred the
most attractive in my opinion are : —
Mons. J. A. Laing. — A very deep orange-red.
Lucien Bultet. — A fair sized flower, droopiug petals,
colour purple-amaranth.
Anna Roudiere. — Large, deeply luilt bloom of good
oubstance; light rose.
Feu de ISengale. — This flower was shown at the Sep-
tember exhibition, and has been staged at almost
every meeting since ; colour, yellow shaded bronze ;
narrow petals, full centre.
Macbeth. — This promises to be a good flower ; clear
jonquil yellow with slight bronzy tinge.
Olhello. — Large; dark yellow ground, shaded rust-
red.
Mr. Garnar. — Of all the new yellows this appears
to be the best. It may be best described as a yellow
counterpart of Edouard Audiguier.
C. Wagstaff. — A pure white, drooping-petalleJ Jap-
anese, which has been exhibited frequently, and nearly
always in good form.
Hamlet. — A distinct spreading-petaUed variety in
the way of^ W. Clark, but larger; the colour, too, is
deeper; brick-red suffused with rose, golden centre.
Ormonde .—-Long drooping yellow petals, medium
size, but distinct.
Lord Truro. — Very long petals, also a yellow, but
shaded with cinnamon.
W. Cobbett. — A semi-early sort, very attractive ;
rose-salmon and gold.
Duke of Berwick. — This is extremely promisiug ; large
flower ; slight rosy tint on milk white ground.
Bonnington. — A choice flower, but almost identical
if not quite, with Fernand Feral.
All the above are purely of the Japanese type.
There are others in M. Di51aux's collection which
can scarcely be classed as such, although included
in his list of those kinds. Of Pompons and Ane-
mones purely new there are none of importance in
this set. It is only fair to say that the opportunity
of seeing the above described flowers was accorded
me by Mr. Stevens, of Putney, and Messrs. Davis
and Jones, of Camberwell, and that subsequently
most of them, if not all, have been exhibited at
floral committee meetings at the Aquarium. Up to
the present, and considering that this is the first
year of their blooming in thiscountry, I consider
that the fourteen selectedarethe most promising of
the whole. . " . C. H. P.
NOTES ON CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
Pblicak. — This is naturally a pure white late-
flowering variety. It is a large bold flower of the
Japanese type, having long outer florets tubular
in form, while those in the centre are broader and
curve inwards at the tips. The plant is a strong
grower, producing large blossoms when the bulk of
the ordinary November varieties is past.
Lb Sobptee Toulousain is a full bold flower of
the Japanese section. The colour is yellow, heavily
striped with crimson, while in some cases pale yel-
low flowers are produced without any stripes of
crimson. The former, however, is the proper col-
our, and the one which is most admired. The
florets are long and drooping, sometimes in a
curled manner. A good flower of this variety has a
telling effect on a board in competition with other
varieties when it can be had early enough
for the shows. As a late-flowering variety it is
much valued. The plant is of a robust habit of
growth, always carrying good foliage of a deep green
colour.
_ Flambeau Toulousainb is a small-flowered,
lilac-coloured Pompon, and produces a large num-
ber of blooms, which last a very long time in perfec-
tion. One plant of this variety commenced to
flower the first week in September and continued
until the first week in December. The llowers be-
ing neat in form, they are found most useful for
cutting.
^ Cheysanthemums on walls.— At the present
time (Dec. H) a south wall here 7 feet high is covered
with plants of the various sections of Chrysanthe-
mums now in full flower, thus proving their adapta-
bility for supplying flowers even out of doors at this
dull season of the year. Many an otherwise bare
spot could be made to look cheerful by planting
either young plants or old stools of Chrysanthemums
instead of consigning them to the rubbish heap
after having done duty the previous season in pots.
Some of the most noteworthy varieties are Peter the
Great, lemon coloured ; this is a capital sort for this
purpose, flowering freely and retaining its foliage,
which is sturdy and of a deep green colour, well up to
the present date. Golden Christine is capital for
walls, and being a reflexed variety, rains do not in-
jure the flowers nearly so much as in the case of
incurved varieties. Dr. Macary, a lilac-coloured
Japanese variety, is very suitable for walls. Dick
Turpin, a small-flowered, bright-coloured Anemone
Pompon, is sturdy in habit and bears a profu-
sion of blossoms which are delicately scented.
President, a purple self-coloured Pompon of tall
growth, flowering abundantly in bunches at the point
of each stem, is also a capital variety for walls.
Patience, a light amaranth, single-flowered va-
riety, with the edges of the florets deeply serrated,
is one of the most free-flowering varieties that I am
acquainted with, lasting a long time in the best
condition.
The above are some of the best sorts for grow-
ing on walls. Our plants commenced to flower
early in October, and are likely to continue for
some time to come, provided a very severe frost does
not cut them down. The colours and various sec-
tions are mixed, thus rendering the effect more
pleasing when viewed from a distance. E. M.
Chrysanthemum Boule de Neige. — Al-
though there is an immense number of new, or so-
called new, varieties of Chrysanthemums now in
cultivation, yet after a season or two many of them
disappear. This fate, however, is not likely to befall
this extremely useful variety. It is somewhat a
difficult matter to assign it a place in any particular
class, but perhaps the mention of it as a large Pom-
pon with reflexed blossoms will convey a good idea
of the flower. Its great recommendation is, how-
ever, the stout, sturdy habit of growth, and the fact
that good profusely-bloomed specimens can be ob-
tained in comparatively small pots. The size and
shape of the blooms of Boule de Neige render them
good companions to those of the old crimson-
flowered Julie Lagravfere, but when the plants are
grown under the same conditions the blooms of
the former are rather later in opening than those
of the latter variety. — H. P.
To the grower for profit this ought to prove
of immense service. The plant is of dwarf, compact
habit, and produces its pure white flowers up to
Christmas. It appears to me to be one of the very
latest kinds in cultivation, and with a little manage-
ment could, I think, be had in good condition
through January. A good companion to it is Golden
Gem. With these the grower of Chrysanthemums
in pots may prolong the season until the approach
of February. — J. C. B.
Appointment of Canon Hole. — The Queen
has been pleased to approve the appointment of
the Rev. Canon Hole, chaplain to the Arcli-
bishop of Canterbury, to be Dean of Rochester,
in the place of Dean Scott, recently deceased.
The Rev. Samuel Reynolds Hole, wlio has been
appointed to the Deanery of Rochester, was
educated at Brasenose College, Oxford, and
graduated B.A. in 1844. He was ordained in
the same year to the curacy of Caunton, near
Newark, and has been vicar of Caunton since
1850. in 1873 lie was appointed rural dean of
Southwell, and two years later a prebendary of
Lincoln. He was Select Preacher to the
University of Oxford in 1885- 8G, and since 1883
has been chaplain to the Archbishop of Canter-
bury. In 1884 and the two following years he
was elected proctor in Convocation for the arch-
deaconry of Southwell. He is the author of
" A Little Tour in Ireland," illustrated by Leech,
1858 ; " A Book about Roses," ISGO ; " Hints
to Preachers, with Sermons and Addresses,"
1880 ; and " Nice and Her Neighbours," 1880.
— Times.
Dec. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
553
BROADLANDS, ROMSEY, HANTS.
The park of Broadlands extends over an area
of 500 acres, and over its whole extent vistas
and broad sweeps of greensward are visible.
That the guiding hand of an adept at landscape
eft'ect, and tlie beautiful stream, the Test, which
runs through the midst of tlie park aided the
artist in no small degree, the accompanying
picture will show. It is a view of the river as
seen from the nortli-west corner of the park,
but the view extends beyond its boundary — in
fact, right into the town of Romsey ; the bridge
at the extreme left of the picture being really
in the town, and close to the point at wliich
three streamlets join before entering the park.
Tlie division of the river into three streams
above the town of Romsey is no doubt due to
artificial means, that the water might be used
for flour-mUl purposes, as in fact the three
streams are, and the diversion has certainly
ticipate with him in the enjoyment of such gran-
deur ; and to show that they appreciate such a
privilege, I was informed that thougii the park
has been virtually constantly open to the public
for something like seventeen years, the damage
done is hardly worth mentioning. This is quite
different to that experienced in some parts of
the country, where the public have had to be
excluded by reason of tlie wilful damage com-
mitted. W. AVlLDSMITH.
Stove and Greenhouse.
T. BAINES.
PHCENOCOMA PROLIFBRA.
This is a plant that produces both beautiful
flowers and exceptionally singular foliage. The
leaves, which are thickly clustered on the shoots,
are quite unUke those of ordinary plants, being
Good Hope, and so requires the temperature of
an ordinary greenhouse. With suitable treat-
ment it makes vigorous, but not rapid growth,
rooting more freely than many hard-wooded
shrubs that come from the same country, or
than the generality of the New Holland species.
But, like them, it requires to be carefully
watered, as a stagnant condition of the soil is
followed by a stunted top-growth, from which
the plants are slow to recover. When the plants
are in this condition they may not die off alto-
gether like some things that are more delicate,
yet they bloom very little, as the stronger the
growth is the more abundant the flowers. The
Phcenoooma is not liable to either insects
or mildew. With these it is seldom troubled,
the foliage, from its naturally hard texture, offer-
ing little food for insects, and being also proof
against the inroads of mildew.
It is easily increased from cuttings made of
View on the river Test in the Park at Broadlands, Romsey, Hants.
added to the beauty of the scenery at this part,
where the one large stream gradually widens
into a river of some 70 feet or 80 feet across.
On its banks grow most luxuriantly every de-
scription of vegetation, from the common Butter-
cups and Daisies to massive Elms and Cedars.
If I may coin a word, I would say, that true
"gardensque" effect, i.e., a sort of refined
beauty, is the prevalent thought that one has
as he attempts to realise the grandeur of the
scenery, which is i-endered the more enjoy-
able by reason of the provision there is for
quiet contemplation by the formation of walks
and the placing of seats in the more shaded and
sheltered spots. That the present owner of
Broadlands should consider all that is necessary
to a f uU appreciation of such natural beauty is
only the outcome of the real regard that he
constantly manifests, that the public shall par-
nothing more than small, knotty, wart-like pro-
tuberances. It is an evergreen shrub with a
somewhat erect habit of growth, but this dis-
position is easily coi-rected by the timely stopping
and training of the shoots, so that the plant can
be grown into a dense, compact bush. The
flowers are like those of the Aphelexis, and of
the same dry and hard texture, retaining their
colour and general appearance for months ;
they, however, are larger and more showy
than those of the Aphelexis, the bright, shining,
rosy pui'ple scales setting them off to advantage.
The plant generally blooms late in spring or in
the summer, and keeps in good condition until
autumn. Even when out of bloom a well-
managed specimen in either a small or large state
is always a pleasing object in a greenhouse,
differing as it does so materially from all others.
This Phcenocoma is indigenous to the Cape of
the points of the young shoots when in a half-
matured state, such as they usually are about
August. , Those that are of medium strength
generally do best. They ought to be about 2
inches in length, and should be put an inch or
two apart in 5-inch or G-inch pots, drained and
filled with sand. Cover with propagating glasses,
and keep moderately moist and shaded in an in-
termediate temperature. So managed they will
strike in the course of the autumn, and when
they are sufficiently rooted dispense with the
glasses and give a little air. The cuttings
should remain in the pots in which they have
been struck tlirough the winter, during which
season they ought to be kept in a night tem-
perature of 50° ; in this the growth will go on
slowly. After the tops have begun to move
pinch out the points, and in March put the cut-
tings singly into small pots drained and filled
554
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 17, 1887.
with a mixture of sifted peat and sand. Stand
tlie pots on a moist bottom near the glass, and
keep up a genial growing temperature until the
plants bec(jme established. Keep the atmo-
sphere moderately moist, admitting some air in
the daytime, and give shade whilst the sun is on
the glass. I5y the end of June enough progress
should have been made to admit of the plants
being shifted into 3-inch pots. Use soil of a
similar description to that in which they were
put when transferred from the cutting pots, and
treat generally as hitherto advised. During the
summer look over the stock daily with the
watering-pot, as in hot [weather the .soil dries
up quickly. Towards the end of August give
more air, and cease shading unless! the weather
happens to be very bright, when a little may be
continued in the middle of the. day. A tem-
perature of 45° will answer best through the
winter, during which time give ■ less water, but
still keep the plants well up 'to the glass. In
March again pinch out the points of the strongest
shoo's, and give another shift into 6-inch pots
if the plants have grown freely. Use soil such
as before, and keep the atmosphere a little close
until the roots have begun to move, after which
admit more air than in the preceding spring.
The shoots should now be tied well out, bring-
ing the strongest down almost to the rims of the
pots. It is necessary to attend to the training
of this plant whilst it is young, as the branches
soon get too hard to bend.
Treat during the summer as before, keeping
the material on which the pots are stood damp,
so long as the weather is hot and the season for
active growth continues. In autumn, again,
give more air and cease to shade. Through the
winter a night temperature of about 40° will be
warm enough, and again early in spring give
a shift into pots 3 inches larger. In potting
during the various stages of growth make the
soil quits solid, as if light potting is adopted
the soil holds moisture in quantity, which is in-
jurious. Pinch out the points of the strongest
shoots and train them well out, allowing the
weaker ones to retain more of an erect position.
In this way they will gain strength, so that the
growth of the whole plantwill be betterequalised.
The treatment through this summer will be of
a routine character, s\ich as advised for the pre-
ceding season, except that as the plants now
gain strength more water will be required. The
condition of the soil as regards moisture should
be seen to daily, and in very bright, hot weather
the plants ought to be looked over in the even-
ings as well as mornings. Now, as they attain
more size and strength, little or no shade will
be nece.ssary. Manage them through the en-
suing autumn as before, giving more air both in
the day and at night ; keep them through the
winter in a light house with their heads well up
to the glass. A little growth is made during
the dormant season, and it will depend upon the
amount of light given as regards the iiower-buds
that will set. In spring, as before, rejaot,
giving a 3-inch or 4-inch shift, according to the
strength of the plants. The potting will not
interfere with the flowering, and it will now be
necessary tcj decide if the '.'plants are to be
allowed to flower or not. They will, when in
bloom, be effective in the conservatory or green-
house, and unless large specimens are recjuired
without any loss of time, it will be best to let
them bloom. If size is the first consideration, the
flower-buds should be picked off as soon as they
appear, removing any that may come later on
in the summer. Even when the flowers are
allowed to remain, it is better, whilst the plants
are small, not to let them stop too long. Six
weeks are long enough to allow them to remain,
as if left too long they will interfere with the
strength of the .shoots that are to produce the
following year's bloom.
Little, if any more stopping should now be
needed, unless in the case of any shoot that
happens to so far take the lead as to weaken
the othei-3, but this does not often occur after
the plants have reached the size they will by
this time have attained. The branches will,
however, need to be tied out from time to time
so lis to keep the speoiniens bushy. After this
all that will be necessary in the.way of general
treatment is to give larger pots each spring until
the plants occupy such as are considered large
enough ; full sized .examples should have not
less than 18-inch, pots, as if too much cramjied
at the roots the growth that follows is usually
weak.
There are one or two peculiarities about the
PhoDnocoma that it may be well to mention for
the guidance of those who- have not grown the
plant. It does not like water overhead. I
never used the syi'inge to either large or small
examples, and it is necessary to see that the
plants are not stood where any drip from the
roof will come upon them, as this quickly injures
the leaves, especially those in the centre of the
specimens. There is no need to stand the
plants out of doors in the latter part of summer
to harden up tlie shoots and leaves so as to
enable them to better resist the attacks of
mildew, for the Phoenocoma is not troubled
with this pest. Neither is exposure in the
open air needful to mature tlie growth to
induce the formation of flower-buds, for the
plant keeps on growing slowly all through the
winter, and blooms from the comparatively soft
immature extremities of the shoots.
Pentas carnea. — For keeping np a constant
supply of bloom throughout the winter there are
few more useful subjects than this, and an addi-
tional point in its favour is its easy cultivation.
It is equally free-flowering in all stages, for even
small plants that have been raised from cuttings,
and are but a few inches high, are topped by a
cluster of bloom, while some that had the top
pinched out in order to encourage a bushy habit
have pushed out two or three minor cluster.?. Given
a good, light position in the stove, no special care
or attention will be needed, and a few healthy little
bushes may be relied on to furnish a regular supply
of cut bloom for several months. A useful com-
panion to the blush-flowered P. carnea is the deeper
tinted P. kermesina, which, however, is not fo
robust in constitution as the better-known kind.
— H. P.
Cxalis prolifera is one of the prettiest tropical
Oxalises I have seen, and one that I hope will come
into general cultivation, as it will be found
valuable for carpeting rockeries or beds in stoves.
It is extremely elegant in growth, being much like
the common Sensitive Plant (Mimosa pudica), its
foliage being pinnate, but of a paler green. The
leaves are divided into leaflets, six and seven
together, arranged so as to form a circular outline,
Crowfoot fashion. The leaves are formed one
above the other on slender, wiry stems, which trail
and make a prostrate, spreading mass. The llowers
are not worth consideration, the foliage alone
making the plant valuable. . There is a plant of it
in the stove at Kew that shows what a beautiful
Oxalis it is, and how rapidly it spreads. It is
strictly a tropical plant, being a native of Ceylon.
It is now placed in the genus Biophytum. There
are numerous uses in floral decoration to which this
little plant could be put, and it would afford a change
from Ferns and Selaginellas. — 'VV. G.
Double Poinsettia. — Recently, in looking over
some of the horticultural papers of ten years since,
I was much struck with the highly eulogistic
notices of this Poinsettia, which at that time was
awarded a first-class certificate by the Royal Horti-
cultural Society, and was spoken of as a plant that
would be almost indispensable in every garden.
The perusal of more than one of such notices
prompted the question, how far have they been
realised ! and the answer to this must be, 1 think,
that the double-flowered Poinsettia has turned out
a great disappointment ; for while the single form
is grown in enormous quantities, the double kind
makes no headway! and is, in fact, seldom seen. The
reason is not far to seek, for the confused cluster of
small bracts is certainly far less showy than the
much larger and brighter coloured bracts of the
older kind. — H. P.
The Pine-apple scented Sage (Salvia ru-
tilans). — There are several Salvias eminently adapted
for furnishing blooms .during the winter months,
and this kind, in addition to its bright coloured,
blossoms, has the foliage very agreeably scented.
The leaves are rather rough in texture, and it just
passed lightly through the hand emit a perfume
very suggestive of . Pine-apple. Should, however,
the foliage be roughly handled, the strong scent
common to most Salvias then" becomes very notice-
able, in addition to the more agreeable perfume.
It is a sturdy, vigorous-growing species, and the
bright crimson-coloured blossoms are more slender,
and disposed in a more graceful manner than those
of most of the other varieties. Under favourable
conditions good healthy specimens will remain in
bloom a considerable time. — T.
Sericographis Ghiesbreghtiana. — This
showy winter-blooming subject does not seem to be
so much grown as it was a few years since, yet it
must not be lost sight of where flowering plants
are required at this season. It is very ef^sily grown,
as cuttings taken during the spring rodt in a few
days, and if well attended to throughout the
summer months, they will form good blooming
specimens by the autumn. The plants are rather
apt to become leggy, and, consequently, must be
stopped somewhat freely during their early stages,
and, at the same time, must have plenty of air in
the summer. In this way good plants showing well
for bloom will be obtained by autumn.' 'When in
the temperature of an intermediate house they will
quickly reach the flowering stage, and with atten-
tion will continue to bloom throughout the winter.
The dark green glossy foliage serves to set off the
gracefully disposed racemes of bright crimson
coloured flowers. — H. P.
Impatiens Hawkeri. — Too much cannot be
written or said in praise of this ne;w tropical
Ealsam, which proves to be invaluable 'for winter
flowering, as it blooms at a time when flowers of its
particular colour are scarce. Even it 'it did not
flower the whole summer through, as it does, it would
have been a great gain on account of its winter-
flowering character alone. For continuous blooming
it surpasses the now popular I. Sultani, but the two
are indispensable to every good gardener, for
though there is a similarity between them, they
are so distinct in growth, size, and colour of flower,
that they have quite a different aspect when asso-
ciated with other plants. Though Hawker's Balsam
is not so free-flowering as I. Sultani, the large size
and brilliancy of colour quite compensate for pro-
fusion of bloom. The colour, in fact, is equal to
that of the finest varieties of Masdevallia Harr.yana,
which produce such a telling effect when tastefnlly
arranged with foliage. Like I. Sultani, it has
spread with marvellous rapidity in private gardens
in all parts of the country. — W. G.
Coccocypselumrepens. — The number of stove
plants that are available for hanging baskets is
much greater than those which will thrive in a
lower temperature, but even among the wealth of
hothouse plants which may be so grown it is
questionable if one could find a prettier object just
now than this Coccocypselum, which owes its beauty
to the profusion of the bright coloured berries. It
is a plant of creeping habit, and when grown in a
suspended basket, the shoots hang down for some
distance, and are very thickly studded with berries
about the size of large Peas, and of a deep indigo-
blue colour. It does not require a great amount of
root room, and, consequently, in addition to being
used for hanging baskets, it may be grown so as to
form an edging to stages on which plants are stood.
Dec. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
555
This idea of furnishing plant stages might indeed
be more often carried out than it is, as there is no
dearth of plants available for the purpose, as, in
addition to the above-mentioned subject, may be
noted the variegated-leaved Pauicum, and the beau-
tifully marked Fittonias, Cjrtodeiras, Pellionias,
and others. — H. P.
Kueilia aflBnie. — This is very showy and
flowers freely at this season. It is of easy growth,
roots freely, and in a warm house will make plants
of good size the first season. It will do well in
good loam and sand, with plenty of water during
the growing season, and its bright shining leaves
contrast Well with the orange-red flowers. In order
to bloom it successfully the wood must be well
ripened in the autumn. A plant here trained to a
wire close to the glass under the eaves of a stove
blooms freely from November to March, and is
never shaded during the hottest weather. — John
Crook, l-'arnhorough.
Psychotria cyanococca. — The flowers of this
are unattractive, and the foliage possesses no very
strongly marked features, but for all this it is highly
ornamental just now by reason of the clusters of
bright coloured berries. These berries are of a rich
indigo-blue, and in the case of a vigorous plant are
borne as many as twenty together in a cluster.
Under favourable conditions they will keep in
beauty for months. This plant is of the easiest
culture, and may be propagated either from cuttings,
which strike readily enough, or from seeds. Though
seedlings grow the fastest, cuttings are preferable, if
the plants are required for fruiting in a small state,
as they form dwarfer specimens which fruit when
quite small. Being a native of Nicaragua, this Psy-
chotria needs stove treatment to grow it success-
fuUy.— H. P.
Strelitzia reginas. — It would be diflicult to
convey to anyone a correct idea of the quaint look
the blooms of this plant have, as they present
features quite their own. The flowers are blue and
yellow, and are produced from a sheath, several
blooms being produced by one sheath. The roots
are thick and fleshy, of a yellow colour. One of
the great merits of the Strelitzia is that it blooms
during the dull autumn and winter months. Each
individual bloom continues a long time in beauty,
and one sheath will keep on producing flowers for
three or four months. I find this plant does well
here in the intermediate house, the temperature of
•which is during the winter from Id" to 50° by
night and 55'^ to 60° by day, and in cold weather I
have seen it often as low as 36° in the morning.
Last year extra piping was added, and the plant
now does well, and I cannot see that the cold
has injured it in any way. As to soil, I use turfy
loam with just a little rough peat and a few lumps
of charcoal. It does not require much water, is
never shaded, not even in the hottest weather, and
is not much troubled with insects. — John Ceook.
SHORT NOTES.— STOVE AND QREENEOUSE.
Camellia buds dropping (Constant Reader).
— From the samples received it is evident that the
plants have at some time or other this season received
a serious check, and thus the buds have failed to
develop. The carbolic acid may have something to do
with the bumt-np appeavanee of the buds.
Iiaelienalias. — Jlay I supplement "J. C. B.'s "
note about Lachenalias in The Garden, December 3
(p. 509), by a recommendation to place the pots of
Lachenalias in shallow pans of water as soon as the
plants are in vigorous growth ? They take in an
immense cxuantity of water, and I find this plan helps
their growth wouderfidly. — H. R.
Hessea stellaris. — This is a small genus of Cape
bulbs, and a pretty species is H. stellaris, sometimes
known as Amaryllis stellaris. The umbel is borne
on a short, sturdy scape, and is crowded with small,
pretty flowers, having crinkled segments of a pinkish
tinge that glisten in the sunlight. It is interesting,
aud will suit those who make a speciality of Cape
bulbs.
The blue Iferines. — The note respecting these
at page 481 of The G.\rdex, Xov. 26, is to the point, as
the introduction of a leaden mauve tint into the
flowers entirely destroys their beauty of coloui-ing.
Such lovely hues as we find in N. Fothergilli and ama-
bilis_ need no interfering with; indeed, a race of
Nerines of the same dull mauve colour that has been
iufused into some of the kinds would soon shut out
this fine class of bulbs from the garden. Even now
they are by no means so popular as one might suppose.
GREEX HOUSE EHODODEXDROXS.
These plants do not bear rough treatment nearly so
well as Camellias or Indian Azaleas. They appear to
require a separate house, so that an even temperature
is maintained. There is nothing very difficult in
their management, but the less they are moved
about from one house to another the better, and I
find that they make more satisfactory growth in a
light, airy house which is only heated to keep out
frost than in one in which a higher temperature is
maintained. Thick, short-jointed wood produces
the largest heads of flowers. The plants do not
like being repotted very often, and in this respect
they resemble the Camellia, which every experienced
grower knows will not live if frequently disturbed
at the roots. I find that when greenhouse Rhodo-
dendrons reach pots 7 inches and more in diameter,
they make better growth if left alone for two
cr three years than when they are annually put
into larger pots. I have two large specimen
plants of R. Countess of Haddington, and they
have not been repotted for four or five years,
yet they are making satisfactory growth, and every
young shoot has formed a flower-bud. These
plants are more than twenty years old, about 6 feet
in height, and are now in 16-iiich pots. They do
not show by their appearance that they want more
root room, and they remain all the year in one
position. The only attention they get is plenty of
water as often as necessary, the supply being varied
by an occasional dose of liquid manure. With
reference to the newer varieties, it is much to be
regretted that their habit of growth is so straggling,
which renders many of them unfit for small houses.
We want more sorts with the compact habit of
esoniensis and Prince of Wales, such strong-grow-
ing kinds as Dalhousianum and javanioum, although
very striking when in flower, growing very thin, un-
less they have an abundance of room. I find that
all these Rhododendrons make very satisfactory
gro'tt'th it potted in good fibrous peat, and an occa-
sional syringing will keep them free from thrips,
which is the only insect pest that troubles them.
J. CO.
Callicarpa purpurea. — The usefulness of this
fine Indian plant is seen now that the stove is none
too full of flowers, as the berries are remarkably
bright and of an unusual purplish shade, such as is
welcome by reason of its distinctness. A plant in
the stove at Kew is just now crowded with
small bunches of berries, which are smaller than
Peas, shining, and of waxy appearance ; moreover,
they are borne on a short stalk just above the upper
nodes, so that the specimen is very attractive. It
is not diflicult to grow, and is evergreen, though
rather straggling in growth, this adding more to its
beauty than otherwise, as the stems bend slightly
with the weight of the berries, so that the outline is
neither stifE nor formal. Callicarpa purpurea would
look well arranged in a group, as it would impart
to it both lightness and variety of colouring.
The Malabar Glory Lily (Gloriosa superba).
— This by no means common plant is not grown
nearly so much as its merits deserve. By potting
the bulbs at difEerent seasons it may be had in
bloom during the greater part of the year. It is
neither difficult to grow nor shy to flower. If strong
bulbs are potted in a mixture of peat, loam, char-
coal, and sand, and abundance of heat, light, and
water given, good results will follow. The speci-
men now in flower here is growing in an S-inch pot
plunged in a bed in the stove, the temperature of
wiiich is kept about 55° to 60° by night, and 60° to
75° by day. The plant is trained to a wire close to
the glass, and the bulb only threw up one strong
shoot, and as soon as it attained 2 feet or 3 feet it
broke out into four strong growths, each having
from eight to fourteen of its lovely blooms, which
are about 3 inches long with crinkled margins. The
colour of the flowers is bright orange and red, and
the appearance : of a plant full of well-developed
flowers must be seen to be fully appreciated. It is
most valuable as an exhibition plant, as when
trained on a balloon-shaped trellis, it produces a
telling effect. The flowers are also very useful in a
cut state. Some blooms that stand in a vase before
me have been ten days in water and still remain
fresh. Our plants are watered as long as the foliage
remains, and afterwards they are allowed to dry off,
the pots being laid on their sides under the stage.
The bulbs are started into growth as required.
There are several other sorts of Gloriosa, but I have
oidy grown superba. — Johij Crook, Farnhorough.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Flowers that flag soon after being cut cause dis-
appointment, and are comparatively useless. The
majority of the flowers required during the first two
months of the year are produced by stove plants or
hardy kinds that are forced. In order to have the
winter flowers under notice of the necessary solidity,
the atmosphere of the house in which they are
brought on must be kept much drier than in the
summer, and the plants placed in the lightest house,
and stood so that their tops will be close to the
glass. It is also well to take into account what the
demand is likely to be, and to be so far prepared
that there will be no need for unduly hurrying them
on. It is unnecessary to say that when flowers are
forced on in a high temperature they do not last so well
as if produced under different conditions. Where, as
often happens, a number of things that require con-
siderable difference in temperature have to be grown
in the same house, those that want the least heat
shotdd be stood at the coolest end, and whatever
air is given ought to be admitted at this end. In
this way the needs of the warmer as well as the
cooler section will be better provided for than when,
as frequently occurs, the whole are mixed up to-
gether indiscriminately. Such things as Poinsettias,
Euphorbia jacquiniajflora, Sericographis Ghies-
breghti. Plumbago rosea, Eranthemum pulchellum,
Gesnera zebrina, Thyrsacanthus rutilans, and Aphe-
landras should have the warmest end of the house,
keeping Begonias, Centradenias, Hebecliniums,
Lasiandra macrantha, Meyenia erecta, Pentas
carnea, and the cooler varieties of Eranthemum at
the coolest portion. The above represent the prin-
cipal kinds of quick-growing stove species and varie-
ties that are usually cultivated for winter blooming.
If the plants have been well grown they will, com-
bined with the various permanent occupants of the
stove, give a long and continuous supply of flowers
more varied and effective in their character than
the limited number of kinds now often made to
suflice.
EuPHOEBiA splendens. — At a time when very
small flower-stands are more in fashion than large
ones, this old plant might with advantage be more
grown than it is. The best position for it is against
a wall, if this is available ; the plant should be
trained so that it will be well exposed to the light.
If crowded up by tall-growing things it will not
thrive. This Euphorbia does well when grown in
the form of a bush, in which case it should be kept
in a pot. The plant is a spare rooter ; consequently
it must not have so much room as many things
require. The pot must be well drained, as the
roots are impatient of stagnant moisture, and at
all times, but particularly in the winter, water
should be given cautiously. With moderate stove
heat the plant is nearly always in bloom. The
flowers stand well when cut, and when associated
with light colours their peculiar shade of scarlet is
effective.
Abtjtilons. — Though the Abutilons are mostly
grown for blooming in summer they are equally
adapted for winter flowering, for with the assistance
of as much heat as will maintain growth they keep
on blooming. Old plants that have attained a
good size are the best for winter flowering, for,
although under favourable conditions Abutilons
keep on flowering, they do not at any time bloom
so profusely as some things, and large specimens
naturally give a better supply than small ones.
b56
THE GARDEN.
[Deo. 17, 1887.
Abutilons require no more heat than ordinary
greenhouse stock ; consequently when they are
wanted to flower in winter they should not be
subjected to much heat; an intermediate tempera'
ture suits them best. Plants that have been grown
on from last spring without repotting or any renova'
tion of the soil will by this time reqviire manure
water, which should be given frequently. Amongst
yellow varieties, Golden Gem, Jliss Laura Powell,
and Canary Bird are useful. Of reds. Brilliant,
Lustrous, and Scarlet Gem are good sorts. Of the
whites, Boule de Neige is still the best. To the
above may be added Anna Crozy, deep pink, tinted
with lilac ; Lady of the Lake, pink ; and Silver
Bell, white, veined with red.
Anthubium Scheezerianum. — This species
does much better when grown with intermediate
warmth than when, as often happens, it is kept in a
stove temperature. Not only is the growth stronger,
but the flowers are larger when the plants are grown
in medium heat. Under this system the plant
makes its growth during the autumn months, gene-
rally maturing the leaves about the close of the
year. The time of flowering may be regulated by
the way the plants are treated subsequent to the
growth being finished. Where a number are grown,
it may be well to have a succession of bloom. This
is easily done by now putting such as are wanted
to come in early in a temperature of about 60° in
the night. Under such conditions the flowers will
begin to push in a month or six weeks. Keep the
roots fairly moist during the time, but not so wet
as necessary whilst the leaf growth was in active
progress. Specimens that are wanted to bloom
later may now be kept at about 50° at night.
Anthtjhium Andebanum. — Variable as are
seedlings of A. Scherzerianum, this species is
equally so, especially in the size the spathes attain
and in the habit of growth ; whilst some forms be-
come scandent, others are much more compact. In
whatever form this species appears it is better
adapted for cultivation in the shape of small or
medium-sized examples than it is for large speci-
mens. Where the latter are wanted it is best to
separate the crowns at times, putting as many to-
gether in a pot as will make a plant of the required
size. This species needs more heat than A. Scher-
zerianum. It has no particular season for flower-
ing, the time depending much on the way the
plants are treated in respect to heat and other
matters. Examples that completed their growth
early in autumn and have been for some time com-
paratively at rest will, if kept in a hot stove, soon
begin to grow. When the crowns have commenced
to run up in the manner already mentioned they
should be divided, as the spathes are usually in-
ferior to such as are borne on dwarf plants. Each
crown may be put singly in a pot sufficiently large
to admit the roots with the necessary amount of
soil and drainage material. In habit of growth
this Anthurium is epiphytal ; consequently the roots
do not like material that is of a close, moisture-re-
taining nature. Good Orchid peat mixed with
Sphagnum and some charcoal, or broken crooks and
a little sand is the best compost in which to grow
it. As in the case of A. Scherzerianum, it likes the
soil being kept wet whilst active growth is going
on, and even when at rest the roots must not be
allowed to get so dry as those of many things.
Muss^NDA FEONDOSA. — This remarkable plant
used to be met with in most places where stove
subjects were grown. It is, however, not so popular
now as it deserves to be. Its large, pure white
bracts are almost exactly like the leaves in appear-
ance, but are different in colour. On a well-managed
plant they almost cover the surface, setting ofi: the
yellow flowers to advantage. When grown in a
warm house it will bloom twice a year — once in
spring, and again in autumn. With ordinary stove
heat it begins to grow early in the new year. Plants
that bloomed in autumn, if not already cut in,
should have their last summer's shoots reduced to
about half their length. After cutting back, stand
the plants in a temperature such as is necessary for
the warm section of stove species. When the young
growth is about an inch long, the plants may be
turned out, and as much of the worn-out part of I
the ball removed without injuring the roots. Unless
the pots already used are as large as desirable, they
should have others an inch or two larger. This
Mussasnda is a small grower, and does not require a
deal of room, 10-inch or 12-inch pots being large
enough for full-sized specimens. Young examples
should now have their shoots tied out, bringing
them down to the rims of the pots, and if trained
in this way, before the branches get too strong to
bend, the foundation for close, compact bushes will
be formed. So managed, no sticks or ties wUI in
future be required.
The stock of herbaceous stove plants at rest, such
as Gloxinias, Curcumas, Gloriosas, Achimenes, and
Caladiums, should be looked over at times to see
that they are free from decay. If there happens to
have been any moist soil about the roots when they
were put away, it frequently causes them to turn
mouldy, and if this is allowed to go on it soon
destroys the whole. There is the most danger
from this cause where the bulbs are wintered in a
temperature that is lower than they need.
T. B.
CUT FLOWERS FOR MARKET.
Roses. — For home growers the Rose season has
been brought into a smaller compass. At any rate,
the period during which good prices can be made
has been reduced through the large importations of
this flower from the shores of the Mediterranean.
In spring these foreign imports very seriously affect
the price of home-grown blooms. I do not know
that the high-coloured kinds that are brought into
market in a half -blown condition at that time are
much lowered in value by the foreign flowers. The
Continental grower cannot send these in sufficient
quantity to glut our markets. It is the button
hole Roses of the Niphetos type that naturally come
in so early that are so largely cultivated abroad
These, in the bud state, travel well, and come into
the London markets in a really good condition. In
order to avoid this formidable competition as much
as possible, gathering must be commenced as soon
as it is practicable to get the plants into bloom.
Some of the London growers begin to gather in
December, the forcing process commencing early in
October. The great point with Tea Roses is to
grow them in the most liberal manner, when they
will be furnished with sufficient buds by the autumn
to give a crop of bloom through the early winter
months. This cannot, however, be done with plants
that are allowed to bloom during the summer.
When other Roses are blooming they must be
making a fresh growth, get a rest for a month or
two, and then be started in warmth. Niphetos is
still the great favourite, as it gives such a long sea-
son of bloom. Perle des Jardins is coming into
favour, and Safrano is also much grown. Among
Hybrid Perpetuals that are grown for spring bloom
Baroness Rothschild seems likely to take a high
position. It is of a soft pleasing colour, and the
buds are very elegant in form.
Aeum Lilies. — Nothing seems likely to lessen
the popularity of the Arum Lily. It so perfectly
fulfils certain requirements, that at various seasons
it seems almost impossible to glut the market with
it. At Christmas and Easter the demand for this
flower is very great, and prices that ought to be re-
munerative are easily obtained. At these seasons,
from f)s. to ISs. per dozen blooms are realised in
Covent Garden, and seeing how easily this plant is
grown, such prices should prove satisfactory. The
season for this flower has of late been considerably
extended. Formerly there was little or no demand
for it during the early winter months. The univer-
sal practice of decorating churches throughout the
year has made the Arum Lily an indispensable
flower, for no other can rival it in beauty of form
and purity of colour. It is especially at the time
of the Harvest Festival Services that Arum Lilies
are required. Although these fall at a period very
far removed from the natural blooming time of the
Arum, it has been found possible to get good flowers.
It always happens that a proportion of crowns do
not produce blooms; they just miss doing so by lack-
ing somewhat in substance. If these crowns are
grown on freely and put in warmth as soon as the
nights begin to get cool, they wDl throwup inautumn-
They ought to be grown in pots to avoid any check,
and should be put under cover by the end of August.
In marketing Arum flowers always put a good leaf
with each bloom. Be very particular to keep off
green fly, as nothing diminishes the market value
of the blooms more than the attacks of this insect.
Camellias. — The season for these has also been
shortened by imports from the Channel Islands,
where in some localities they bloom in the open air
in spring as early as they can be got under glass in
England. Being, however, most useful flowers,
they are always in demand, so that a good house of
Camellias pays probably as well as anything. Were
it not for the comparatively slow growth of the
plants. Camellias would be much more plentiful in
the London market, but unless there is a sufficient
command of capital to begin with old specimens,
the would-be Camellia grower has some years to
wait before he can get good returns. In order to
make the best of a Camellia house, the plants
should be induced to bloom freely from the end of
the autumn up to the beginning of April — a period
which is free from the lowering effect of foreign
imports. As the Camellias cannot be forced when
in bud, the plants must be induced to make as
early a growth as possible, pushing them along
during the spring, getting the growth well ripened
and the buds formed in summer ; then, with a con-
stant genial temperature not exceeding 55° from
September, they will expand without casting their
buds.
Cyclamens. — There is a fairly good demand for
these from December till April, after which time
they are of no value whatever. The price ranges at
from 2d. to 6d. per dozen blooms, the highest prices
being realised at Christmas and during January.
Most of the cut blooms of Cyclamens that come
to market are brought by the growers of pot plants,
who utilise the earliest blooms of a portion of their
stock for this purpose. As a well-grown plant will
carry four or five dozen blooms, many of these can
be cut, and then plenty will remain to sell the
plant later on.
Chetsanthemums. — There is at the present
time a brisk demand for good flowers of these.
The season begins with the autumn-blooming
Madame Desgrange and the earliest lot of Elaine,
and terminates about February with such late kinds
as Ethel and Meg Merrilies. The very popular
Elaine may be had ready for market in October, and
the plants be cut down, cleared out, and the house
filled with a late kind again. Those who make a
speciality of Chrysanthemums grow many kinds,
both incurved, Japanese, and small-flowered, taking
the season through. Many of the earlier-flower-
ing kinds are planted out, lifted in autumn, and
stored away thickly in any place where they
can be protected from rain and frost. The late
kinds to come in during December and January
must, of course, go into a heated structure. The
grower who wishes to make the most of his space
will best do so by giving his attention to these, as
one bloom at Christmas is worth a dozen a month
earlier. At the same time there is a sure demand
at good prices for really good blooms that approach
the exhibition standard, and those who want to
make good prices during December must grow their
plants thoroughly well. Among late kinds Princess
Teck is the best, Ethel is very late, and some
growers only cultivate these two kinds. Coloured
kinds are of no use at that time, but are in demand
at the new year again. Virginale is much grown
by some, as are also grandiflorum and Jleg Merrilies.
Among the numerous Japanese kinds being raised
we shall doubtless get some valuable additions to
the late-blooming section.
Double Peimulas. — I should hesitate to recom-
mend anyone not thoroughly up to the culture of
these to grow them for profit. It is a noteworthy
fact that, although this flower has for many years
been in great demand in the London markets,
growers of it are comparatively few. It appears to
be only here and there that it is grown well
and easily enough to make it pay. There are very
few flowers that are not eventually grovm in such
quantities as to cause a great reduction of price,
Dec. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
557
but the double Primula is never brought into Covent
Garden in sufficient bulk to bring it down to a low
figure. Various causes militate against this flower
becoming common. It is somewhat difficult to
grow, and it takes some years to woi'k up a stock.
It certainly is not a plant for a beginner in market
culture ; tlie returns are too slow ; but whoever can
afford to wait a while and wiU make up his mind
to thoroughly master its requirements, I recommend
the culture of the double Primula for cut bloom.
The two old kinds, alba plena and its fimbriated
variety, are still the best. The newer kinds do not
seem to be quite free-flowering enough for market
purposes.
Cheistmas Koses. — There is little danger of
glutting the market with these. They are so popular
and so suitable for all kinds of floral embellishment,
that it would seem scarcely possible to replace
them. At Christmas time and the new year they
are in great demand. Although of a hardy nature
and not particularly difficult to grow well, this plant
has not as yet been overdone. The demand is well
up to the supply, and will probably be so for some
time to come. No doubt the large-flowered maxi-
mus is ! one of the most paying plants in cultiva-
tion at the present time. Not only are the blooms
of great market value, but a supply of them can
be relied on to come in at the best paying time,
when a slight protection is given ; whereas in a
cold December, H. niger will often require a little
warmth to bring it up to time. I have no doubt
that the purchase of good plants would be repaid in
the course of a couple of seasons. In the course of
time it will undoubtedly be the kind most grown
for commercial purposes. The true Bath form is an
improvement on the common kind, and appears to
be getting tolerably plentiful. Plants are, 1 see, be-
ing offered at prices that admit of a good stock of
flowering specimens being soon worked up. In
growing Christmas Roses for cut bloom it is not
a good plan to depend upon imported plants or
seedlings. In both cases the plants exhibit much
diversity both as regards size and purity of bloom
and free-flowering qualities. In growing for profit
it is of the utmost importance that every plant
be good, otherwise space is lost. It is, therefore,
best to select plants exhibiting the characteristics
of this flower in the highest degree and propagate
by division.
Pelaegoniums. — Good blooms of the decora-
tive kinds are much in request during the spring
months. I do not, however, know of any grower
around London who grows expressly for cut blooms.
When the plants are well cultivated, as is the case in
London market gardens, they throw up more trusses
than are absolutely needful to sell them. Last
spring I went into a market garden where sixty
dozen bunches of blooms had that day been out, and
they were not missed from the plants. The best
way to send Pelargonium blooms to market is in
boxes having several false bottoms with holes in
them through which the stalks go. In this way
they travel well, and when the lid is removed they
are shown to the greatest advantage. Pelargonium
blooms are more easily injured than those of most
things. Every bloom must be gummed, or pur-
chasers will soon complain. Of the zonal class, an
immense quantity of bloom is annually marketed,
being only in brisk demand, however, when choicer
flowers are' scarce. To make them pay, the plants
must be grown so that they bloom during the dull
winter months. In the way of single kinds none
are better than Vesuvius and its white variety.
Bright semi- doubles are in great request, the in-
dividual pips being taken off and sold by the dozen.
Wonderful and F. V. Raspail are varieties largely
grown for this purpose, the latter especially.
TuBEBOSES. — There is a constant demand for
these. If they can be had all through the year, a sale
is sure to be found for them. The Tuberose is,
owing to its fragrance and purity, one of the
indispensable flowers for hand bouquets, and there
is no other flower that can take its place. For
market the blooms are done up a dozen together in
clean white paper. It is not everyone who can
grow Tuberoses thoroughly well, but when they are
well done they pay. Onelittlehintmay be of service:
never grow them on stages. Stand the pots prefer-
ably on earth beds from which a constantly rising
moisture strikes the underside of the foliage. If this
cannot be done, cover the stage with some material
that will hold moisture. The largest growers of this
flower adopt a method of this kind, some of them
plunging the pots in fermenting material to start
them into growth.
Besides the above many other flowers are brought
into Covent Garden at various times of the year.
Lilies of the Valley are grown in enormous quan-
tities. Violets, Mignonette, and Gardenias are in
great request. The latter fetch high prices in the
dead of winter. Narcissi are much grown still, but
now come in good and early from the Scilly Isles.
Tree Carnations are in great demand at good prices,
and I omitted to mention that there is now a good
sale for Marechal Niel Roses, Solomon's Seal sells
well early in the year. J. C. B.
Flower Garden.
WHITE HAIRBELLS.
Amongst the Hairbells there are several with
flowers of exqiiisite delicacy and spotless purity
White Hauliell (C impxmili [^
itulia ilha)
of colour, such as the variety of C. isophyUa
illustrated in The Garden of Nov. 26 (p. 485).
This is a Campanula all should grow who love
white flowers, and another that should not be
passed by is the one here illustrated and known
everywhere as the White Peach-leaved Hair-
bell, 'a lovely flower, invaluable for giving beauty
to the garden, and most useful when cut. This
may perhaps be accounted the most useful of
the group to which it belongs, and is entitled to
a place on every border, worthy of the name,
though there are many gardens from which it
is absent. The double form of this has many
uses, as the flowers are rosette-like, and when
mounted neatly on wires might be taken for
small blooms of the fragrant Gardenia. A very
good use to make of this Campanula, but one
to wHch it is not often put to, is to grow in
pots, and if properly cared for, flowers may be
obtained in spring if the plants are given a
judicious amount of heat. At that season the
flowers will hf^ve aji aclditiona,! freshness and
beauty by reason of tlieir tender grace and
purity. Both the single and double-flowered
forms are of free growth, and an easy way to
propagate is by division of the roots in winter,
and here I may offer a few remarks respecting
the culture. Neither the type nor its numerous
forms present any great difficulties in this
respect. One of the common faults, and most
noticeable when many gardens are visited in the
course of the summer, is that the plants are not
divided frequently enough. When it is seen
that they are becoming weakened, either through
the poverty of the soil or overcrowded growth, we
lift the plants carefully, divide them, and plant
in other positions that have undergone some
preparation. The tufts will then grow away
with vigour, and a free display of flowers will
soon follow. The best time to divide is the
winter, but it may be done in the early spring
without harm. Whichever term is selected,
plant quickly, so that the roots are not unneces-
sarily exposed to the atmosphere.
It is well also to remove decaying flower-
stems, as by prompt attention in this respect a
few blooms will appear throughout the summer
and early autumn, and the strength of the plants
will not be unduly taxed. Besides the above
varieties, there are several others that deserve
recognition, and amongst them is the variety
alba coronata, a semi double flower, pure white,
with the outer row of petals forming a kind of
frill to the bloom that renders it at once dis-
tinct and desirable. Then we have a blue
coronata, sometimes catalogued simply as C.
persicifolia coronata, and again asC. p. coronata
cferulea, these having blue flowers that present
a good contrast with those of its near relative.
There is also a double form of this blue variety,
which, if a select group of the persicifolia type
is desired, should find a place. Another that
is entitled to consideration is P. persicifolia
maxima, which, as conveyed by the varietal
name, is distinguished by its large flowers.
A group of this interesting ty]3e of Campa-
nulas would make a most interesting feature in
the hardy garden. The Campanulas, though
their merits are widely known, are not culti-
vated to the same extent as one might suppose
from their sterling usefulness, great beauty, and
diversity of habit. We might have many of the
Hairbells in a garden without producing same-
ness. Some are most at home on the rockery,
either on a jutting ledge that they can scramble
over, or in a snug, warm chink or recess.
Others, like the persicifolia group, display their
characteristics to most advantage on the herba-
ceous border, where with other homely plants
they give naturalness and great beauty to the
garden during the summer months.
Self-coloured Carnations. — I quite agree with
Mr. Douglas, in The Gabden (p. 511), respecting
self Carnations, and specially when he inquires the
use of putting a list of some 200 named sorts
before an amateur. That fact emphasises what I
have before urged, viz., that so rapidly are self
Carnations increasing, that naming them seems
absurd, and that they should be classed in colours
only. Out of thirty or forty good double crimsons
or scarlets how are they individually to be described
so as to make each one distinct from the other
unless they possess remarkable characteristics ? So
far as I can see the only real distinction now can
be looked for in dwarfness of habit, but even in
that direction we shall find dwarfness only with little
diversity in colour or character of flowers. — A. D.
Tlie white Hoop-petticoat Narcissus
(Narcissus Bulbocodium).— Among all the beau-
tiful bulbous plants that are in cultivation what
other one will give such lovely white blooms with
so little trouble in the month of December, as this ?
I h?,d it in bloom i^ a, coUl house this year on the
558
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 17, 1887.
1st of December, and it will continue till the
middle of February. For cutting for bouquets, &c.,
it is very useful. I pot the bulbs in September into
6-inch pots, putting seven or eight roots in each,
and give them little water until the growth begins.
AVater is given as long as the foliage continues
green, and when the bulbs have been thoroughly
ripened (this being the great secret of success) they
are placed in a cold pit close to the glass until the
time for potting again comes round. In purchasing
bulbs of this Narcissus the buyer should obtain
cultivated roots, as collected roots require to be
grown for twelve months before they will bloom. —
J. Cbook.
FLOWEE BEDS IN WINTER.
The most interesting flower beds I ever planted for
the winter were chiefly filled with plants that occu-
pied the beds during the preceding summer. They
included Dell's Ornamental Beet, which in the west
of England frequently stands the winter unharmed,
purple-topped Houseleek (Sempervivum californi-
cum), Sedum aureum. Creeping Bugle (Ajuga rep-
tans), Golden Thyme, and Euonymus radicans varie-
gatus. 'i'heseplants werearranged indifferentways in
a set of four beds. Beet filled the centre of one bed,
and then came a broad band of Golden Thyme and
a similar band of Sedum glaucum, with an edging of
Sempervivum. Another had acentral block of Euony-
mus, and then came a wide band of the bronzy
leaved Creeping Bugle, then Sedum aureum, and an
edging of Houseleek. The other materials were used
in much the same way, only that the position of the
plants was changed to give variety. I do not say
that these beds were striking in appearance all the
winter, but as they occupied a conspicuous posi-
tion, they were sufliciently attractive to deserve
notice. The beds were of course of a size suitable
to the plants used. 'Where there are large beds
that are not occupied with bulbs or other plants to
flower in the spring, there is no more satisfactoi^
plan than to fill them with evergreen shrubs of
various kinds, and the most striking of these should
be grown in pots. Of course the growing of such
subjects in pots means a little extra labour, which is
well compensated for by the condition of the plants
so dealt with as compared with those that are culti-
vated for the same purpose in reserve borders, and
which have to be moved twice a year. . Very few
Evergreens can stand moving aboutunless great care
is bestowed upon them at the time and subsequently.
Having some years ago to furnish a terrace garden
with evergreen shrubs during the winter, I remember
using withgood effect the variegated Hollies, Aucubas,
Laurustiniis, Phillyreas, Junipers, and Sweet Bays,
which were grown in pots specially for the purpose.
As the roots were not disturbed in the spring the
plants had time to make satisfactory growth, and
consequently the foliage was larger and brighter
than that of the other portion of the stock that
had to be moved from the beds in early summer to
the reserve border, and was then brought back to
the beds again in the autumn. The plants that had
been grown in pots I used for the most conspicuous
positions, filling in with others that had been planted
out.
I do not wish to underrate the value of plants
cultivated in the reserve border for winter bedding,
because I am aware that when they can be grown in
a shady position during the summer and a kindly
soil, very satisfactory results may be obtained ; but
losses are sure to occur, and some plants will not be
in a condition to be moved every year, which serves
to illustrate the value of growing them entirely in
pots. The furnishing of flower beds with Evergreens
during the winter, when the same beds are not
occupied with bulbs or other plants to flower in the
spring, becomes essentialwhenthe space they occupy
is within view of the house. Therefore plants with
the most striking foliage should be selected, and
there are several to be found in every well-furnished
nursery.
To name a few, I may mention the Dcoflar Cedar
(Cedrus Deodara), which, when well furnished plants
about 2 feet high are secured, forms a striking mass
of silvery grey, and as a contrast to it, either of the
dwarf-growing forms of the Lawson's Cypress, such
as erecta or erecta viridis, may be grown. Biota
plumosa, which has elegant feathery growth and
bluish foliage, when associated with Eetinospora
pisifera, which has golden leafage, is very pleasing,
even when only these two are used in one bed. But
the effect would be increased when greater variety
is added. Thuja aurea and Euonymus radicans
variegatus associate well together, as also the spotted-
leaved Aucuba and the common Yew or Sweet Bay.
A group of the golden or silver-leaved Holly is very
effective when surrounded with a wide band of the
common Barberry (Berberis Aquifolium). The Ar-
butus, Portugal Laurel, and the different forms of
Juniper are all available for this purpose when
great variety is required, and all the subjects I have
mentioned are so hardy, that no one need hesitate
to plant them. J. C.
*,f* We do not believe in it at all as a system.
It is a silly, wasteful way. If dwarf and graceful
Evergreens are desired, let them be grown in beds
near or among the flowers, and not grown in pots,
so as to add to the gardener's labours and per-
plexities. Many hardy plants are evergreen as well
as hardy shrubs. — Ed.
CARNATIONS.
Absence from home prevented my seeing the note
of Mr. E. Dean (p. IS;"), and the queries he addresses
to me, until this evening. It will be in the recollec-
tion of your readers that I spoke in commendatory
terms of the proposal of the editor to give prizes on
certain specified terms for Carnations and Picotees, to
be planted and grown in his garden, in the open air —
not under glass. 1 remarked (p. 43G), " the tendency
is to grow the best bizarres, flakes, &c., indoors from
the seedling state, so that in this way what is
naturally a perfectly hardy flower becomes more
or less tender and coddled." Now, Mr. Dean
does not deny this, but he asks me what do I
mean ? and proceeds to interpret my meaning by
saying, " the impression he leaves on the minds
of your readers is that the Carnations and Picotees
are grown indoors, under glass, in heat, and that con-
sequently the plants are thereby weakened in con-
stitution." With the exception of the " heat,"
which I did not convey or mean, I believe grow-
ing Carnations under glass does weaken their
constitution, and in the case of a large number
— not all — of the best varieties, there is no occasion
of even wintering them under glass, except in
rare cases, like Mr. Dean's. Probably the largest
outdoor collection of Carnations — I mean of the
best named varieties — I ever noticed in any garden
in England, Ireland, or France, and I have seen
many, was that of the Marchioness of Ormonde
at Kilkenny Castle. What would Mr. Dean think
of second-year cuttings bearing from 200 to .'JOO
blooms each ! and these were white, yellow, rose,
and purple " selfs," with a limited number of lakes
and bizarres ? Now, this is what I am sure the
editor desires to encourage. All my plants to the
number of 200, and nearly as many cuttings, are
now in the open air, the majority of the latter
rooted. I planted out in March, two years ago,
among others, several plants of Arthur Medhurst,
El Brillant, and Rembrandt. The two first lingered
and died — though strong-rooted layers — the last is
still a fine bushy plant. Of pinks and purples
similarly, Sir G. Wolselcy still survives ; while of
flakes, James Douglas alone exists. What I want
is, if possible, to have those, and hundreds of
similar varieties, grown in the open air. I do not
find fault with the grower. Like the editor, I
would like to see the best Carnations and Picotees
grown in flower beds. W. J. Muephy.
( 'lonmcf.
The disease attacking Carnations. — Having
grown the Carnation for many years in large quan-
tities, I find that the Clove varieties which have
been grown in lieds that have been freely manured
are more liable to fungus than those grown in beds
of fertile soil that have received no manure. Gloire
de Nancy is quite as li.able to this disease as the
old Clove. The position has also a great deal to do
with it. I should advise Mr. ;\llan in The Garden
(p. 486) to plant his Carnations in as open a posi-
tion as possible on a sweet, fertile soil that has not
been manured, and they then may prove sound in
the autumn. The best soil for Carnations is a
sound fertile loam, free from wireworm. The
blooms may not be so fine as from plants on rich
soil, but if sound, healthy layers are desired in the
autumn manure must be dispensed with. — W. R.
Giles, Cruydon.
CHRISTMAS ROSES.
A GREAT change has of late years taken place in
the cultivation of hardy plants. Formerly in gar-
dens where they were grown they were to be found
in the worst place, but within the last few years a
radical alteration has taken place, and perhaps no
hardy plant of such beauty and value has been
more badly treated than the Christmas Rose. This
is totally inexcusable, for from the common type, H.
niger, with its small white flowers, to the giant alti-
folius, they brighten up the garden during the
dullest months of the year. I was fortunate, how-
ever, a few days since to see some of the finest and
V)est grown Hellebores I ever beheld, viz., at The
Lodge, Bishop's Teignton, the beautiful residence of
Mrs. Huddleston. There were six fine specimens
of H. n. altifolius, a perfect mass of leafage and
bristling with flower buds. Mr. Gater, who is to be
congratulated on his system of culture, has them
growing on a specially prepared border facing
directly west, and protected from strong winds by
an Apple orchard immediately opposite. During
the hot summer months liquid manure is given them
freely. The soil is rich sandy loam, which suits
them admiraVily. The largest specimen of H. n.
altifolius was over 3 feetaoross.with aperfectmass of
healthy foliage and flowers. There were also equally
finespecimens of our Devonshire variety, H. n. major,
also of H. n. Mme. Fourcade, which is very free-
flowering, but in my opinion decidedly inferior to
several other varieties, notably Mr. Brockbank's
beautiful variety. I believe Mme. Fourcade is the
variety which is cultivated so extensively near Bath.
There were also some healthy plants of H. n. ver-
nalis (?), which would be in full bloom at Christmas.
Mr. Gater has a very high opinion of this variety : it
is very vigorous and free-flowering, and has the
pink pistil as in altifolius, which it approaches in
size.
Intermixed with the Christmas Roses were
several good varieties of Lenten Roses already
throwing up their flower-spikes. Amongst them I
noted H. Commissioner Eenary, H. Apotheker Bog-
ren, H. Willy Schmidt, H. colchicus, and H. puucta-
tissimus. H. S.
South Derail.
SHORT NOTMS.—FZOWEI}..
The great alpine Eoekfoil (Saxifraga pyia-
midalis). — The engraving of this plant in last week's
Garden (p. 53") was from a photogi'aph kindly sent
by Mr. A. A. Hatt, 11, Harefield Road, Brockloy.
Iris stylosa.— In addition to the note on Iris
alataiuTuE Gabuex, Decembers (p. .■>12), allow me
to put in a word also for Iris stylosa as a compauion
flower. I have now a plant planted out in a cool
frame ^vith ten or twelve open blooms, and it is most
lovely. As the flowers appear in the winter it cannot,
of course, be planted outside. I find snails are
exceedingly partial to the blooms. — A. R.
Saxifraga nepalensis.— Can any of your cor-
respondents give information as to the history and
native habitat of S. nepalensis 'i It is not, I believe,
a nntive of Ncpanl — is not mentioned in Pritzel's
Index, and I cannot fiud it figured iu any book. It is
referred to in Vol. XIII. of The Gaisiiex (p. 50.5) by
Mr. Brown, of Pusey House, who states that his plants
were brought from Corsica in 1S"6. It is a variety of
S. Cotyledon, and similar to the v.iriety pyramidalis,
but its leaf is shorter and broader, and it is more
tender. — W. Brockhank, Brockliurst, Didshiiry.
JPritillaria Meleagris. — The meadows around
CoppeJ Hall, Totteridge, are thicldy studded with the
flowers of this plant (mentioned in The Garden,
December 10, p. 53/) every year until the Grass is cut.
The flowers there are of endless variety and gi-eat
licauty, and tjuitc equal to those of many of the culti-
Deo. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
559
vated kinds. As Totteridge is only a good walk from
London, your renders both in town and in tlie suburbs
should bear this in mind and visit the spot in May
next; There is also in the churchyard at Totteridge a
very ancient and interesting Yew tree of groat size
which should be inspected at the same time. — Jajies
O'Bkikx.
HARDY PERENNIALS FOR CUTTING.
Gaedenehs who have a large demand for cut
flowers are becoming alive to the value of hardy
perennials for vielding a supply during a great part
of the year. Where a collection of hardy plants is
grown and depended upon for cutting, it is better
to grow those most adapted to that purpose on a
separate piece of ground or border where they can
be planted in quantity. The beauty of an her-
baceous border is soon spoilt by constant cutting,
and many small things are injured by treading on
them. For supplying flowers for cutting, those
kinds should be selected which stand well in a cut
state, are hardy, and free-flowering. In filling the
vases and glasses in the house too great a mixture is
often used. The easiest and simplest arrangements
are always the most pleasing, and these are gene-
rally composed of one or a few kinds of flowers.
What is more beautiful than a vase of Irises? the
colours, which are mostly shades of blue or yellow,
blend well together, and with a few pieces of green
or variegated Ribbon Grass or Periwinkle it is C3m-
plete, and will remain fresh and beautiful for a week
at least. All kinds of Narcissus make charming
arrangements ; their own foliage, than which
nothing is better for setting them up with, can
generally be spared. When the vases ha\e wide
mouths, a few pieces of any shrub, such as Phillyrea
or Cupressus maorocarpa, should be placed in first
as a groundwork. This helps to support the flowers
and keep them in place. Japanese Anemones and
a few Flame Flowers look well together, and peren-
nial Sunflowers with buds and foliage are sufficient
of themselves for large vases. Many other simple
and easy combinations will occur to the decorator
if he has the material for them. All the plants I
shall name will, if carefully jilanted and attended
to, stand for sis or seven years without requiring to
be divided or transplanted.
The edging to the border should consist of rough
pieces of stone, among which dwarf Campanulas,
trailing Phloxes, Saxifrages, and Sedums should be
planted to partially cover them. Next to these,
alpine Auriculas, coloured Primroses, Polyanthuses,
and Hepaticas, and the following bulbs in good-
sized clumps: Leucojum vernum. Snowdrops and
a few Crocuses, Chionodoxa Lucilise (charming for
small glasses), Scilla sibirica, S. bifolia, and Fritil-
laries. If these bulbs are planted rather deeply,
small surface-rooting annuals and succulents may
be planted over them during the summer months.
Narcissus and Iris must be well represented, how-
ever unsightly the dying foliage of these lieautiful
flowers may lie to some people. The period of their
glory should never be lost sight of, and due care
should be taken of them when out of sight and rest-
ing. It would, no doubt, he better to let them have
the spaces they occupy all to themselves, but I have
found that no great harm is done liy planting be-
tween them such things as German Asters, Dian-
thus and Stocks.
It is lietter to keep these Ijulbous plants some-
what together in groups, the position of each clump
being marked by a stout label or peg. For instance,
a group of Narcissus incomparabilis would consist
of one or several varieties planted in clumps of
about six bulbs each, 1 foot or 18 inches apart. A
few good varieties are Mary Anderson, Aurantiacus,
Cynosure, Stella, and John Bull. Similar groups
may be made of Leeds! and Barri varieties, such as
Golden Mary, Amabilis, Conspicuus, and Fanny
Mason.
N. pallidus pra^cox, obvallaris, and cambricus
can he grouped together, being early flowering.
Bicolor grandis. Empress, Horsfieldi go well to-
gether, as do rugilobus, maximus, major, princeps,
&c. Later on, poeticus ornatus, recuxvus, and the
double form will give an abundant supply of blooms.
English and Spanish Iris should lie planted in the
same manner. A good mixture of these will do
equally as well as named varieties. The remaining
spaces on the border can now be filled with some of
the plants I will name, allowing space for each
according to the habit of the plant : Harpalium
rigidum. Anemone japonica, Achillea Ptarmica
fl.-pl., and plants of like haliit are often objected to
on account of their rambling propensities. I am
inclined to regard this as a merit rather than a
fault, and rather than curtail them, would move
other plants out of the way, that their true charac-
ters might be developed. The Achillea above men-
tioned is a gem for cutting ; the stems are not
strong enough to support flower-heads without
sticks of some sort, and tying spoils the appearance
of the plant at once. Twiggy branches, such as the
tops ofl: Pea sticks, if inserted amongst the plants
before the flowers expand, will give all the support
needed, and will look neat. This is an easy and, I
think, the least objectionable method of staking
plants of similar habit of growth that are liable
to be beaten down by wind and rain, when the stems
become twisted and the blooms dirty, rendering
them unfit for cutting. A good selection of hybrid
Aquilegias will give some charming flowers. The
seedlings should either be planted out on the reserve
border and the best selected when in flower, or
planted thickly in their permanent quarters and
thinned, when the best can be chosen to remain.
The small Day Lily (Hemerocallis flava) is a general
favourite, on account of its graceful blooms and
sweet perfume. Anthericum Liliago and LUiastrum
yield numerous spikes of pure white flowers. Alstrce-
ineria aurea requires a well-drained position. If the
soil is heavy, some of it should be removed and re-
placed by lighter, mixing with it some coarse sand.
In planting, place the crowns about 4 inches under
the surface. The plant is quite hardy, and well re-
pays a little extra care.
Doronicums, of which Harpur Crewe is the best,
bloom at an acceptable time. Later on we have
plenty of yeUow composites. The Doronicums
flowering early are valuable on that account.
The following, of similar character, are almost
indispensable for cutting : Coreopsis lanceolata,
Buphthalmum salicitolium, Helenium pamUum, and
Rudbeckia Newmanni.
About twelve good varieties of German Iris, of
which there are many very beautiful, wiU be found
very useful.
Of Spirxas, filipendula plena, venusta, and
Aruncus are free-growing and free-flowering kinds.
Helianthus multiflorus and the double form, with
Harpalium rigidum, are all well known, and may be
grown in quantity.
Of Kniphofias, or Flame Flowers, until quite
recently only two or three varieties of these gorgeous
flowers have been known, except in botanic gardens
and a few places on the Continent. Now the list
has been considerably increased, and we may hope
soon to see them in greater variety and quantity in
our gardens.
A good, pure white variety of Campanula persi-
cifolia plena is most useful for cutting. The single
white and blue are also good, and C. glomerata
dahurica gives plenty of purple flower-heads early
in the season. Peonies require a good deal of room
and liberal treatment in the way of manure, but
they well repay for it. Two or three blooms cut
with long stems and foliage are all that are required
to fill a vase effectively.
Pyrethrum idiginosum and Chrysanthemum maxi-
mum are both good, but there is much confusion
respecting them. What I have for P. uliginosum
does not commence flowering until the end of
August ; the foliage is pale green, and it grows to
a height of from 5 feet to G feet. Chrysanthemum
maximum commences flowering in July, has dark
green shiny foliage, and grows about 3 feet.
Michaelmas Daisies are a fund of themselves, and
few varieties are needed. Amellus and the dark
variety of it called bessarabicus are well known as
the best dwarf ones. Another is longifolius for-
mosus, and one we have under the name of hori-
zontalis. We often use the light sprays of this
latter long before they are in bloom for mixing with
other flowers. L^vigatus is one of the best tall ones,
and there are two or three varieties of it, differing
only in shade of colour.
The Japanese Anemones are the most useful of all
for cutting. The white and pink are the strongest
growers, although some think the red one ragged; if
well grown, I consider the flowers very good.
Other really good things are double white Rockets>
double scarlet Lychnis chalcedonica, Lilium tigri-
num splendidum, Senecio pulcher, C'entaurea ma-
crocephala and montana (of various colours),
Erigeron speciosus superbus, Galega officinalis
alba, Geum coccineum plenum, and Hyacinthus
candioans.
Staking and tying are important items in the man-
agement of hardy perennials, and take up much time.
Always use as few stakes as possible, and commence
to tie before the stems are long enough to be beaten
down. The stakes should be straight and not larger
than necessary for strength. Hazel and Ash with
the bark left on look well. They should be inserted
about 1 foot or 18 inches apart, and three or four
flower- stems should be lightly tied to each stake.
An annual dressing, consisting of burnt refuse and
2 inches of rotted manure and leaves, should be
given to the border in the autumn when the dead
stems and foliage have been cleared off. In spring,
when the bulbous plants are well above ground,
lightly fork the border and cover the top-dressing,
while during the summer a sprinkling of Clay's
fertiliser will promote growth and prolong the
period of flowering. A. Babkeb.
Hhump.
Hornsea Mere and its wild flowers. — Mr.
Inchbald, in his interesting article on " Hornsea
Mere and its Wild Flowers," that appeared in The
Garden Nov. 26 (p. iS4), after giving a list of thir-
teen plants, says : " A few more plants, and only a
few, merit notice, and these are found among the
Grasses and Sedges.'' Now, if Mr. Inchbald's list is
intended to include all the plants found in the
mere or on its banks, it does but scant justice to the
flora of this place. The inhabitants of Holderness
are proud of their fine lake, and are somewhat dis-
posed to be touchy if it does not recei\'e all the
honour justly due to it, and I therefore supplement
Mr. Inchbald's list with the names of a few others
found growing in the mere or within a few yards of
it and equally worthy of notice : —
Orchis pyraniidaUs.
ustulata.
Morio.
mascula.
incarnata.
latifolia.
Potamogeton densus.
Ranunculus circinatus.
Rumex maiitimus.
hydrolapathum .
Scirpus Tahemaemontani.
Typha latifolia.
angustifolia.
Utricularia vulgaris.
Veronica scuteUata.
Bidens ceraua.
Blysmus compressus.
Cares acuta.
Daphne laureola.
Habenai-ia ^dridis.
Hippuris vulgaris.
Inula dyseuterica.
Juncus Gerardi.
Lemua trisulca.
gibba.
polyrrhiza.
Listera ovata.
Menyanthes trifoliata.
Nuphar hitea.
Ononis spinosa.
Ophioglossiim vulgatum.
I may mention that I have myself, on several occa-
sions, seen eight species belonging to the Order
Orchidacefe, in various stages of growth, in one
little field adjoining the mere. — E. A. Peak, The
Park, HuU.
"Wintering Carnations. — lagreewith " J.C.B.''
in The Gaeden, Dec. 3 (p. 51 2), that it is quite un-
necessary to pot up Carnations and place them in
frames for the winter. I grow large beds of them
yearly, both of seedlings and old stools, and very
rarely indeed lose any, except yellows, which I find
do not stand so well as others. Occasionally an
old stool perishes, but I think this is owing to the
plants not being set deep enough in the ground.
After the layering is completed, I turn what I want
to keep out of the large pots into an open bed,
planting quite up to the Grass, and there they
stand through all weathers unharmed. The seedlings
seem never to suffer at all. In spring when they
begin to grow spindly I cut back all but four shoots,
which are left to bloom, and the cutbacks give
abundance of young ttufl' for propagation. I merely
560
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 17, 1887.
pot up and place in frames for winter the choicest
sorts and a few selected seedlings of the current
year, which have been layered in autumn and have
proved worth a little extra care. To these I add
the yellow varieties, which are at present decidedly
less robust than the other sorts. I may add that
our average rainfall is 60 inches, and the ther-
mometer last year was as low as 12° without any
serious damage being done. While writing, I should
like to ask if any of your readers have had experi-
ence of raising seedlings from Janira, a very fine
Picotee. I had twelve plants this summer, the seed
being from a flower carefully hybridised in a netted
house. There was not a shade of yellow in a single
one of them ; two were pure single whites, and some
were selfs. — A. E., Windermere.
CLEMATISES.
It seems to me that the strong-growing and free-
blooming Clematises are not nearly so much appre-
ciated as they deserve to be. I miss them as I walk
round gardens. I see the Virginian Creeper, the
Jasmine, the common Passion Flower, climbing Roses,
the variegated Lonicera, and others, but few Clema-
tises. Why is it? They are so numerous, varied,
beautiful, and cheap, and yet one rarely sees them in
anything like good form,' even if they are met with.
I recently asked a lady who is very fond of her
garden why she did not plant Clematises, and she
replied that three or four had been planted, but
though they were treated as directed by the nursery-
man who supplied them, they never flowered. I
soon discovered the cause of this barrenness. The sorts
supplied were spring-blooming, not summer-flowering
varieties, and they were cut back in the autumn as
if they belonged to the C. Jackmanni type. As a
matter of course, the flowering wood was cut away;
how, then, could the plants be expected to bloom?
I think nurserymen are not sufficiently mindful of
the fact that the spring-flowering and summer-
blooming types require different treatment, and
this ought to be stated when they are supplied for
planting purposes.
The spring-flowering Clematises belong to what
we term the patens race, and they bloom on the
wood of the previous year; consequently, when
anything like training or pruning takes place in the
autumn, the wood of the previous season should be
trained in for blooming, that is to say, if the plants
are pruned or trained in November or December,
the shoots made since the AprU previous should
all be carefully trained out to bloom in the
spring. This section possesses several fine varieties,
and they are all hardy, but they appear to do best
when planted against walls, and especially so if the
aspect be south or west. Still, they make good
pillar plants, and they are very suitable for training
over wire arches, or, indeed, anything of the kind
which will support them. The varieties of this
section are also well adapted for growing in pots to
flower in a greenhouse or conservatory, and they
can be trained to oval wire frames or to stakes.
It is found by experience that the varieties of
0. patens, though blooming so early, are in
danger of, and indeed do get cut ofe by frost, and
this is the reason of their doing best when planted
against south walls or places where a little shelter
can be given to them. They are not fastidious in
the matter of soil, but to do the plants justice, it
should be rich and holding. When these Clematises
are planted out for permanent effect, a trench should
be dug at least 2 feet deep and a good dressing of
manure placed in it, mixing the dug-out soil with
it, and then the Clematises can be planted. They
put forth a number of rather thick, wire-like roots,
and soon establish themselves in good soil, grow-
ing luxuriantly and flowering freely and finely. A
Clematis in poor soil becomes starved, and is but a
sorry sight at blooming time; hence the necessity
for rich soil at the roots. A good mulching with
short manure in autumn and again in early summer
will be found highly beneficial, and the plants will
take copious supplies of water in times of drought.
The best spring-flowering varieties are Aureliana,'
porcelain-bluo, fine in colour, and well-formed
flowers; Duke of Edinburgh, rjch violet -purple.
large and striking; Fair Kosamond, blush-white,
with red bars, distinct and good; Lady Alice
Neville, rosy lilac, with pale mauve bars; Lord
Derby, reddish purple, with white filaments; Miss
Bateman, pure white, one of the best white Cle-
matises grown, very free, and of good form; Sir
Garnet Wolseley, bluish ground, tinted with bronze,
arid having plum-red bars ; and Stella, light violet,
with reddish plum bars.
In the C. patens section are included some very
fine double varieties, that if planted in the open
should be against a south wall or dwelling of this
aspect. They require just the same cultural treat-
ment as the single-flowered varieties. They are
Countess of [Lovelace, having large bluish lilac
flowers of a rosette-shape. Duchess of Edinburgh,
pure white, very double and highly fragrant ; Lucie
Lemoine, white vrith pale yellow anthers ; and Mrs.
G. Innes, pale lavender-blue, fully double, and very
fine.
The summer-flowering varieties are divided into
two sections ; one is known as the C. lanuginosa type
and the C. Jackmanni type ; both are summer and
autumn bloomers, the former blooming succes-
sionally on short lateral summer shoots ; the latter
also successionally in profuse continuous masses on
summer shoots. Of the C. lanuginosa type some of
the best are Duchess of Teck, pure white, with deli-
cate mauve bars ; Excelsior, rich deep mauve, occa-
sionally double ; Henryi, creamy white, large and
very fine ; Lady Eovill, greyish blue, very free ;
Lanuginosa nivea, pure white, very free and fine ;
Marie Lefebvre, pale silvery mauve, with deeper
mauve coloured bars ; Thomas Moore, pucy violet,
with white stamens ; Otto Frcebel, greyish white,
large and of fine form ; Robert Hanbury, blue-lilac,
flushed on the edge with red ; and William Kennett,
deep lavender.
Of the C. Jackmanni type the following are very
good : Alexandra, pale reddish violet ; Gipsy Queen,
bright dark velvety purple; Guiding Star, purple
shaded with crimson ; Jackmanni superba, bright
deep violet-blue, extra fine ; Lord Neville, rich dark
plum, large and finely formed ; Madame Grange,
velvety purple, extra fine ; Rubella, rich claret-purple ;
and Viticella rubro-grandiflora, bright claret-red.
Clematises are generally grown in pots for pur-
poses of sale, one advantage being that they can
be purchased at any time and planted out. A well-
established plant in a pot will be found to have the
roots coOed round the ball of soil, and in the
act of planting these should be carefully unwound
and spread out upon the surface of the soil. Lay
some fine soil over them, then fill up the hole, and
press the earth firmly about the roots. If planting
is done in winter when frost is imminent, some
mulching should be placed over the newly-planted
examples.
The spring-flowering varieties can be thinned and
trained in autumn, cutting away all the dead wood
and leaving the young shoots. It is best to prune
the summer-flowering varieties in early spring, if
necessary to do so ; they can be trimmed back in
the autumn, but the final pruning should be left
until March. R. j)^
NEW FRENCH HYBRID GLADIOLI.
I HAD fully intended sending some notes to The
Garden (as I have done during the first half of the
month of October for several years past) concerning
the respective merits and beauties of the set of
twelve new varieties of the above-named hybrids
distributed by M. Victor Lemoine, of Nancy,
towards the end of 1886. But though ten out of the
twelve actually bloomed in my garden during the
months of July and August, their flowers were so
injuriously affected by the long-continued nine or
ten weeks' drought with which we were visited this
summer, accompanied by an almost total absence
of any refreshing dews at night, that hardly any of
them came to proper perfection, and those that did
open hardly lasted more than a day or two in
beauty, but seemed to shrivel up with the fiery sun
and absence of moisture. I have therefore thought
it would be hardly fair to the real merits of these
beautiful flowers to attempt to describe the respec-
tive merits of these new varieties seen for the first
time under such exceptionally trying and unfavour-
able circumstances. I would, however, like to
mention two varieties of whose merits I was able to
form some adequate idea, and which in a less trying
season will, I hope, be even still more beautiful
than they were this year. Their names are V^suve,
a very beautiful variety which commenced to bloom
on July 12 ; it is of medium height in growth, and
produces flowers of a medium size, of a rich deep
shade of crimson, mottled with deep carmine
towards the edges of the petals, with a very
dark velvety blotch at the entrance to the throat
of the flower. It may be considered as a de-
cided improvement in both size of flower and
brilliancy of colour on that beautiful variety
Enfant de Nancy, sent out in 1883. The other
variety is Bossuet, which began to bloom on
July 24, and was a fine variety of medium height of
stem, with large, well-opened flowers of a most
brilliant shade of scarlet, faintly mottled with
carmine. From the flowers nearly all opening
simultaneously on the spike this was far the most
showy of this year's set. The names of the others
were Mme. Lemoinier, Mile. Therese Lambert,
M. A. Thiers, Marquis de Saporta, Montesquieu,
De CherviUe, Braconnot, Gounod, Gilbert, and Jean
Jaques Rousseau. Of this last, which began to
bloom on August 29, I may say that it is a well-
opened flower of medium size and of a pleasing
shade of light red, distinctly blotched with velvety
carmine on the two lower petals, each of which is
fringed with clear yellow. It is quite a pretty
variety. Of the other nine varieties named above I
shall hope to have something to say when they
bloom next summer, along with the ten novelties
sent out this year. M. Lemoine has now commenced
to breed from a new cross, using the beautiful
scarlet and white marked species, G. Saundersi, as
one of the parents, from which he hopes to obtain
excellent results, having already selected from his
seed bed two most beautiful varieties which he
hopes to introduce to the horticultural public at one
of the autumn exhibitions of nest year.
W. E. GUMBLETON.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 627.
GARDEN TULIPS.
(with a coloured plate of t. australis.*)
The group of [Tulips, of which the coloured
plate is a good representation, though of less
interest to the florist than the Gesneriana sec-
tion, is of great importance to the lover of wild
hardy plants, and gives as much pleasure as the
most handsome Tulips grown. This group
differs from the others chiefly in having a tuft
of hair at the base of the filaments, and also in
the habit, size of flowers, <fec.
The cultivation is much tlie same as in the
case of the Gesneriana section, and the re-
marks given with the plate of Tulips in The
Garden, Dec. 3 (p. 514), will apply to this
group also.
The southern Tulip (T. australis), a good
illustration of which is given on the accompanying
coloured plate, is certainly the most useful and
beautiful of this group for rockeries, &c. Most of
them are of low stature, with smaller flowers than
those of the Gesneriana group, and much more
suitable for exposed situations on the rockwork,
where the larger kinds would be out of place. T.
australis is somewhat variable in the colour of its
flowers, as well as in size, and is known in many
gardens under the name of T. Celsiana, figured in
the Soianical JUnf/nzine, tab. 71 T, as T. Breyniana,
and described in other works as maculata, narbo-
* Drawn for The Garden by Miss E. Lowe, at
Woodcote, Wiuibledon,'May 31, 1887, and printed by G.
Severeyns.
THE^ GARDEN
■^^TTTHEPN TULIP. (TULIPA A.'USTPJ\.LIS
Dec. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
561
nensis, lusitanioa, transtagana, and other names. It
is nearly allied to T. sylvestris, and differs from that
species chiefly in its more slender habit and nar-
rower leaves. The flowers differ also in having the
outer side of the segments flashed with red. It is
a native of the Savoy, Algeria, Spain, &o. T. alpes-
tris is a nearly allied form.
T. BlEBEBSTBiNiAXA is a handsome little species,
though somewhat rare at the present time. It is, I
tind, the most difficult of all the Tulips to keep in
the open air, and the only way with which I have
had any degree of success is that of planting the
bulbs on pieces of thin slate placed 3 inches or
i inches below the surface of the soil. It suffers
more from damp than anything else in the winter
season, and this I find a good means of keeping the
bulbs comparatively dry. Planted on shallow
shelves of rock, however, it does well, and its low
growth, &c., suits it admirably for such positions;
leaves three to four to a stem, shorter and narrower
than those of sylvestris, and the flowers rich yellow
with reddish green on the outside. Distributed
through Asia Minor, Siberia, Turkestan, &c. There
is a fine variety called aurantiaca.
T. BIFLORA, though not claiming the same title
to beauty as any of the others belonging to this
group, is none the less interesting as being the most
persistent flowering Tulip in cultivation. With T
turkestanica, which is a nearly allied species, it
begins to flower early in spring, and continues well-
nigh until the beginning of autumn, and bears
two, three, and in robust plants I have seen four,
flowers on a stem. The flowers are whitish inside,
with a yellow eye at the base, tinged green on the
outside ; all the segments oblong and pointed. It
seems to be the only connecting link between true
Tulips and Orithya, and under the latter name it is
often found in gardens. A native of the Caucasus
and mountainous parts of Siberia, and a useful bulb
for exposed situations.
T. FBAGEANS. — A doubtful species found by Mr.
Munby in Algeria, and mainly differing from our
native sylvestris by its fragrant flowers. It is of
about the same habit and stature as that species ;
flowers yellow, and about the same size, but, never-
theless, it is a welcome acquisition on account of its
fine fragrant flowers. It is only quite hardy on
warm, sunny spots, and when grown in the ordi-
nary way should be lifted and wintered in a cool
frame.
T. HUMiLis is nearly allied to the species on our
plate, but is of dwarf er habit. Buhseana andcrispa-
tola are mere varieties. Native of Persia.
T. PElMmiNA. — A handsome little Tulip found
by Mr. Elwes at GOOO feet west of Batua, in Eastern
Algeria. It is a very sweet-scented and a most
useful bulb for warm spots on the rockery. It is
nearly allied to T. australis, and Mr. Baker suggests
it may be a pale-flowered variety, which is very
probable.
T. SYLVESTRIS. — OuT own native species, and
which we are told is fast becoming extinct in all
localities open to the raids of collectors. It is a
beautiful yeUow Tulip, and should be in every
garden. Others of this group not mentioned above
are T. cretica, violacea, Orphanidea, Lownei, patens,
gallica, &:c. D. K.
Berried plants. — Anyone requiring ornamental
shrubs for windows can certainly have nothing nicer
than Pemettyas. I recently saw in pots quantities of
these plants densely laden with their large berries
(some kinds being purple, others lilac, red, white, and
black), which contrast beautifully with their neat,
dark, shining green leaves. The plants are perfectly
hardy, and the berries are quite innocuous. — W. H. G.
The American Florist continues its fearful
series of illustrations of the carpet-bedding in the
Chicago parks. The last one we have seen is "The
Mound in the Drexel Boulevard." It looks Hke a big
pork-pie with some fearful figure of a human creature
near the apes, which looked to us like Kobinson
Crusoe entering his hut, hut is explained in the letter-
press to he a girl in a swing. AVe have no doubt the
pretty American, Florist will soon get past this phase
of flower-gardening. The number contains other good |
cuts, especially one of an r)rchid ; hut eugraving the
most appalling and rubbishy of flower-gardening is a
waste of money.
Fruit Garden.
W. COLEMAN.
SELECTED STOCKS FOR FRUIT TREES.
As very few fruit growers work their owii trees,
they are almost entirely in the hands of the
nurserymen, and, greatly to their credit, tlie
majority of them spare neither pains nor ex-
pense in selecting and propagating stocks that
give mutual satisfaction. If we ask for Apples
on the Paradise, Pears on the Quince, or
Cherries on the Mahal eb, all we have to do is to
see that we get them ; but when we arrive at
Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots, and Plums, or
Apples and Pears on what are termed ' ' free "
stocks, we take just whatever is given to us.
If the nurseryman is well up to his business and
conscientious withal, certain varieties of Peaches
and Nectarines wUl have been worked on the
Mussel, others on the Brompton or Mignonne,
and then, with all his care the wood of the
Peach will swell faster than the stock, the
greatest enlargement taking place just above
the line of union. This enlargement no doubt
is objectionable, as it acts like a ligature in ob-
structing the descent of the sap, and not only
shortens the life of the tree, but it is an evU that
cannot be entii-ely remedied, as the Plum is the
only stock whose roots wDl stand the low tem-
perature of the soil in this country. StiU,
although only two or tliree sorts of stocks are
used, there is a decided difference in their action
upon the buds of certain varieties of Peaches ;
therefore, to reduce this unequal expansion to a
minimum, the operator should have his lesson
well learned before he commences the insertion
of his buds. In course of correspondence with
one of our best fruit tree nurserymen a few
years ago ho favoiu-ed me with the followLag
remarks : —
We work our Peaches and Nectarines on the
Mussel stock and the Brompton or Mignonne. The
stocks are raised from layers or root-cuttings. We
use the Mussel for most kinds, but find some varie-
ties succeed better on the Brompton. Amongst
these are your famous A Bee, also Bellegarde, Belle
Beauce, Chancellor, Koyal Charlotte, Malta, &c.,
and of Nectarines, Balgowan, Imperatrice, and Vic-
toria. For Apricots we use the Mussel, Brussell,
and common Plum. We find the Moorpark prefers
the Mussel. Shipley's or Blenheim, Turkey, Royal,
and a few others prefer the BrusseU or common.
The numerous varieties of Peaches and Nec-
tarines, also of Apricots, being so much alike, we
might readily suppose that one stock would suit
all, but this evidently is not the case ; there-
fore, as success or an expensive failure de-
pends upon the nurserymen, it behoves the fruit
grower to purchase from the very best source,
and although lie pay a little more he will never
regret the slight difference.
In Persia and the south of Europe they work
the Peach upon the Almond wheii the stock
swells as freely as the scion, but our soil is too
cold for its roots, at least in the open air, al-
though I believe it might be used for trees in-
tended for forcing houses, in which the root
temperature should be equal to that of France.
When very tall standards are worked 6 feet from
the ground, the enlargement at the union gene-
rally is greater than when the same variety of
Plum is budded 9 inches above the surface of
the soil. By way of getting over this difficulty,
in one nursery which I could name all the trees
are worked low, the stem of the standard being
formed of the wood of the Peach, but being
tender and subject to paralysis they never make
good trees, and for this reason I would no'-,
accept them for planting anywhere, certainly
not for open walls.
If the rapid increase of any particular species
was the only object, then the nurseryman might
take common Plums for Peaches and Apricots,
and seedlings from pips collected from the cider
and perry mill for Apples and Pears, as some
who offer tens of thousands of surplus stocks
annually to the trade are now doing. But if
there is anything in double-grafting or ennobling
fruit by working trees on the best instead of the
worst stocks, this is a step in the wrong direc-
tion. Gardeners — thanks to cheap glass and
timber, to improved ventilation and heating
apparatus — have made gi'eat progress within the
last thirty years. They have proved that certain
sorts of Vines used as stocks produce a most
striking effect upon the quality of the fruit ob-
tained from the scion. They have astonished
the world by the size and quality of their hot-
house fruit, and hardy fruit growers are not one
whit behind them, but until the haphazard
system of raising stocks from verjuice Apples
and Pears, which no one bites twice, is given up,
they must be heavily handicapped, and the
quality of their fruit wlU not be so good as it
might be.
The ennobling of fruit is a very old idea, as
we find English and German writers as far back
as the end of the last century strongly advocat-
ing greater care in the selection of stocks for all
kinds of fruit trees. Physiologists since that
time have devoted their lives to very important
experiments, which fairly prove that stocks are
affected by scions and scions by stocks ; hence
the imperative necessity for accepting none but
the best, as inferior quality is dear at any price.
If a dry, gritty Pear is improved by being
double-grafted on a Jargonelle, an Apricot or a
Peach by double-budding on a Green Gage or
Magnum Bonum Plum, a bunch of Gros Maroc
or Gros Colman Grapes by grafting on a Muscat
or Hamburgh, who shall say our choice Apples
and Pears would not be improved by budding
or grafting on stocks with, a pedigree ?
Pear Fondante d'Antomne. — A great deal
has been written both for and against this Pear.
Here it is one of the best flavoured Pears we have,
the only fault being its speedy decay at the core.
Our trees are grown as pyramids on the Quince
stock. The soil is a light sandy one, but is kept
well enriched with manure. I quite agree with
"J. A." in The Garden, Nov. 12 (p. 439), that
soil and situation have a great deal to do with
the quality of this Pear. — W. Townsend, Sandlntnt
Lodije, Wokingham.
Duchess Fears from Shrublands. — Mr. Blair
sends us, from Shrublands, two specimens of this,
which are surprisingly good, and have the fine and
refreshing flavour which is the best quality of this
excellent French Pear. We wish it could be grown
as well in England everywhere as it is in Western
France. Mr. Blair, we believe, grows his on walls,
as, no doubt, it will have to be grown in most parts
of England. This Pear seems to us almost to belong
to a different class from those having the musky
flavour of Williams' Bon Chretien.
Apple Northern Spy. — I send you three fruits
of Northern Spy Apple taken from cordon trees.
Here this Apple crops well, keeps weU, and is a
first-rate variety for cooking, and late in the season
is also useful for dessert. I should much like to
hear what other growers have to say about the
merits of this Apple. The soU here is very heavy
clay with the poorest clay subsoil. I grow nearly
100 sorts of Apples and the same of Pears, princi-
pally on the cordon system, but, of course, I en-
rich the ground where the trees are planted by
562
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 17, 1887.
puttiDg plenty of top spit taken from old pastures
for the trees to get a good start in.— W. Shep-
HBED, Ore7tehurst, Capel, TJorkhui.
APPLES, HOME-GKOWN T'. IMPORTED.
I WAS pleased to read in the report of the hardy
fruit show at the Royal Aquarium in The Garden,
November 20 (p. 41l!l), that our home-grown samples
could hold their ground against all comers, and that
the exhibits from the Maidstone district fully up-
held the reputation of that locality as the garden of
England, and more particularly in the cultivation of
hardy fruit. This exhibition should set at rest any
doubts about the postibility of our being able to
compete successfully with the foreigner, not only on
the exhibition table, but for the market supply, and
it ought to give an impetus to the planting of dwarf
bush trees. It is simply impossible to grow such
fruits as those above referred to, except by high
culture and keeping the trees under control. It is
useless to talk of fruit growers having to wait for
several years before they obtain a crop, as in Mr. G.
Bunyard's nursery the little trees that are removed
every year are crowded with fine fruits, and I have
many a time seen crops that in the aggregate would
be worth far more than those produced by full-sized
orchard trees. I do not think it either necessary
or desirable that every grower should endeavour to
produce Apples of the average weight of 1 lb. each,
but certainly better samples than those generally
sent to market ought to be grown. The question as
to whether it will pay can only be answered in one
way, viz., anything that is worth doing at all is
worth doing well; and now that good land can
readily be obtained, why not devote a good portion
of it to the production of first-class Apples, that
would realise the top price in the market, and deter
foreigners from sending their surplus to our shores?
The difference in price between the best imported
and the best home-grown samples gives a large
margin on the right side for the home grower, and
those who this year have good samples of Blenheim
Orange (or Wellington will not have to complain
about the price. Home-grown fruit is this year,
owing to the drought, decidedly below the average
as regards size. It is seldom that one finds such a
depth of good soil as is to be found about Maid-
stone, where some of the finest Apples in the king-
dom are produced. This, however, ought not to
deter intending planters in other parts of the king-
dom from carrying out their designs, as during the
last few years it has been amply demonstrated that
fine crops of the most beautifully coloured Apples
can be grown on even shallow soils by extra care in
mulching, watering, &o., and although shallow soils
will not produce trees of the size one finds in
Kentish orchards, there is no doubt but that small
trees will produce the finest fruit if the requisite
skill and careful culture are bestowed on them.
Those in the southern counties can always reckon
on highly coloured fruits.
The work of selecting our standard fruits is in a
fair way of settlement, as the best are getting pretty
well sifted out from those that only help to fill up
catalogues, and confuse both buyers and sellers.
Gosjmt. J. Geoom.
English standard fruits.— I see you invite
contributions on the subject of standard hardy
fruits, and I have therefore forwarded a short list of
good and reliable Pears and Apples as grown here.
They are arranged as used either for dessert or
kitchen purposes. As several of your correspon-
dents have justly observed, it is very difScult
to draw a hard and fast line in the matter of \'arie-
ties — the question of flavour, early ripening, or last-
ing qualities depending very much on soil, situation,
&c. Our soil is a sandy loam that has little fibre or
strength in it, and the sand lies about 2 feet from
the surface; our best Apples are grown in a low-
lying part of the garden where we have the greatest
depth of soil. It will be seen that we rely strongly
on one or two varieties that have receiveii at times
some rather hard knocks. I can only speak well of
the bridge that carries me safely and stick to my
reliable sorts until something better comes to the
fore. Apples, culinary : Keswick Codlin, Alexander,
Warner's King, Blenheim Orange, Dumelow's Seed-
ling, and Hambledon Deux Ans. Apples, dessert:
Keny Pippin, King of the Pippins, Claygate Pear-
main, Cornish Gilliflower, Balohin's Pearmain, and
Cockle Pippin. These are all well-known varieties,
except Balchin's Pearmain and Gilliflower; the first
named does very well with us, and is a wonderfully
handsome Apple, a good keeper, and of good
flavour; Cornish Gilliflower is without doubt about
the finest flavoured Apple in cultivation, and it is a
great pity it is not a better cropper. Of Pears our
most reliable sorts are Bon Chretien, Louise Bonne,
Brown Beurre, Marie Louise, Van Mens LeonLeclerc,
Glou Morceau, Beurr(5 Ranee, and last, although by no
means least, Forelle. This is a great and consistent
bearer, and although there is little flavour the flesh
is firm and very melting, and it has often come in
very handy when high class varieties are scarce.
Jargonelle, Duchesse d'Angouleme, and Beurrsi Diel
are very seldom of any use for dessert. — E. Bukkell,
CJaremonf.
PEACH TREES LOSING THEIR BUDS.
This rarely happens to young vigorous trees, unless
they have been badly managed. The chief cause
of bud-falling is dryness at the root through the
autumn and winter, perhaps accompanied by a
higher temperature than is desirable, but dryness is
the principal cause. Inside Peach borders should be
examinedand be thoroughly moistened if dry. Peach
trees with their roots growing in insideborders should
be watered as long as the leaves remain green. Last
season was exceptionally hot and dry all over the
country, and this lowered the water bed, and up to
the present we have not had the average rainfall,
and inside borders that were dry in October are
very likely too dry now. At any rate if there is any
doubt about the matter, the borders should be
examined and if dry moistened. When a border or
any part of it is allowed to get very dry, it will be
very difficult to moisten, as the water seems to avoid
the dry spot, and if there happens to be anything
for fungus to feed upon in the border in the shape
of decaying vegetable matter or unhealthy roots
there will probably be a more serious evil than
drought to deal with. This is, of course, a bad case,
and only comes after a series of dry summers and
autumns, or when the borders have for some
time been put upon short allowance — I do not
say that anyone would wilfully starve their Peach
trees : it arises through an error of judgment — and
when Peach trees are in this condition, if they be
worth it,theborders should be re-made, and the roots
placed in a healthy medium again. The wood of
the Peach always ripens well under glass ; therefore
when the buds are weakly and drop when touched
it may safely be inferred that the trees are too dry
at the root. Of course it is too late when the buds
are falling to save that season's crop, but it is
possible to either put the trees into condition to do
well in the future, or to root them up and start
afresh with young trees. E. H.
Select Pears. — The following Pears out of a
collection of about 40 varieties grown here I have
found good in flavour, and also good croppers, viz..
Jargonelle, Williams' Bon Chretien, Beurrt?
d'Amanlis, Louise Bonne of Jersey, a capital Pear
both on walls and bush trees : Marie Louise, Doy-
enne du Comice, and Winter Nelis; the last three,
in my opinion, considering all points, are the besti
Pears grown. Winter Nelismust be grown on a wall.
Last year I gathered fruit, each weighing 8 oz., of
this variety oil' a south wall, but this season they
do not run quite so large on account of the drought.
Passe Colmar is also a great favourite, especially as
grown here on a south and west wall. Glou Morceau,
Easter Beurre, Beurr^ Ranee, Ne Plus Meuris, and
Josephine de Malines are all first class kinds in
their season, — R. JIilnbb, Sundoriie Castle, Slircns-
Iniry.
Pears from Worcestershire. — I sent you by
rail this morning a few sorts of Pears. All except
Easter BeuiTe I consider first-class varieties. They
are rather under-sized this year, as we suffered
greatly by the prolonged drought. Beurre Diel will
no doubt be strongly recommended by some, as it is
a handsome Pear and of good flavour in some
seasons (this season it is), but I have more often
found it gritty and of poor quality than I have
good. Easter Beurre is a great favourite, but with
me it always ripens mealy, and I know many others
with whom it does the same. Beurre Superfin is
a first-class Pear in every respect, but it ripens at a
time when we have so many good ones, that it is not
required in a selection of twelve. Ne Plus Meuris by
some is considered the best late Pear, but unless of
good size— which it seldom is— it is gritty and a
great part of it stalk, which seems to run through
the fruit. Thompson's is a most delicious Pear and
always good. Pitmaston Duchess was of good
flavour this year, although it is usually second-rate
in quality. — Aethue Baekek, Hindlij? Hall Gar-
flens, WoTccslcr.
Pears at Scarborough. — Beurre Superfin has
been delicious with us this year. Beurre Diel has a
very high flavour, but is so solid and gritty, though
juicy, that it is only second class. Soldat Laboureur
is a smallish Pear of very marked character, almost
deserving the often misplaced eiiithet of " vinous."
It is a melancholy pleasure to hear that Doyenne
du Comice is the finest of all Pears. After seven
years' culture of it I am the proud possessor of two
beautiful looking fruits, which will, I hope, reward
the long wait ; but unless I can devise more
efficient means of protecting its bloom, or the
spring prove more kind, I fear it cannot be called a
good Pear for our conditions. — E. H. Woodall.
Fears in Surrey. — I have been much interested
in the discussion which has been carried on in
several of the recent numbers of The Gaedbn with
regard to the selection of twelve best Pears, and am
surprised to find no mention made either by Mr.
Coleman in your issue for Nov. 19, or by Mr. Wild-
smith in that for Dec. 3 of the Napoleon; for
flavour, facility of ripening and size I know none to
excel it. My first gathering was on Sept. 17; it
began to ripen the last week of September and
lasted well through October. It is a charming tree
for the lawn both in spring and autumn. The ad-
visableness of gathering at intervals as advocated
by Mr. Wildsmith I can fully endorse ; especially
wiU it apply to Williams' Bon Chretien, the Wind-
sor, Marie Louise, Napoleon, and Winter Nelis. One
of the best Pears, so far as my experience goes, is
Louise Bonne of Jersey, which with me as a stan-
dard bears well and gives fruit of fair size and ^ery
fine flavour. Glou Morceau is, as stated by your
correspondent, Mr. Crook, a very fine Pear when it
does well, which is seldom the case here; the same
will apply to the Duchesse d'Angouleme ; both kinds
as a rule are only fit for stewing. Beurr§ Diel (on
wall facing west) is a grand Pear to look at, but
with me it is always gritty, although it has been
less so this year. What a pity a little more size
cannot he introduced into Seckel ; for flavour and
aroma it has scarcely its equal. — W. Fkancis, Eh-h-
mond, Surrey.
Pears in Nottinghamshire. — In giving a list
of twelve Pears that do well here, I have avoided
all those which are quick ripeners, except in one
case, viz., Williams' Bon Chretien, which cannot be
left out of any list from here, seeing that it is the
pet Pear of the lot whilst it is in and at its best.
1. Jargonelle. — There is no variety equal to this for
general excellence at its season here. 2. Bon Chre-
tien (Williams'). — My people believe in this Pear
absolutely. By the way, there is too great a gap
between Jargonelle and Bon Chretien. I am try-
ing to bridge it over by growing Clapp's Favourite,
which is, however, only just coming into bearing
with me. ?>. Beurre d'Amanlis. — A Pear with good,
useful, if not brilliant, qualities; a sure bearer, and
of fair excellence as to size and flavour. 4. Fon-
dante de Charneu, — My own ideal Pear, and the
slowest ripener of the lot. I had a bushel off one
large bush this year, and the fruit ripened so slowly
that we were able to use every one. It is not un-
like Thompson's in some respects ; indeed, I have
had it called Thompson's, but the Pear Congress of
188.5 settled its correct name. 5. Louise Bonne of
Jersey. — This is a good cropper, very pretty to look
at, making up a nice dish, and is of most pleasant
flavour, li. Autumn Nelis. — This Pear has all the
Dec. 17, 1887.]'
THE GARDEN.
563
good qualities of its winter namesake. 7. Beurre
d'Anjou. — Large, juicy, and sugary; a very good
Pear. 8. ConseiUer de la Cour. — Whether from
wall or bush or stand.ird, this Pear is always good.
0. Beurr^ Diel. — This variety grown on a wall is
very fine, but not so good from standards and
bushes. 10. Easter Beurre. — I could not leave this
out, though we only get it of large size and clear-
skinned from the wall. 11. Winter Nelis. — Always
good. 12. Josephine de Malines. — The best late
Pear we have, both as to cropping and high eating
qualities. Beurre Sterckmans comes later, but it is
neither so reliable nor so good as is Josephine.
These. are the Pears we can rely upon year by year.
— N. H. PowxALL, Lentoii llall GardcnSy Xotis.
APPLE CORXISH GILLIFLOWER.
I SEXD you samples of Cornish Gilliflower
Apple, that you may judge them, from a widely
separate locality from Jlr. Girdlestone's. I consider
it one of the choicest eating Apples in existence. I
am bound to say that it took on far more colour
this Jubilee' year than it usually has. I find it a
satisfactory bearer. Indeed, in bad Apple years,
when the majority of trees have none, it has a fair
crop. But it must be left alone by the knife, as it
flowers at the very point of the shoots, It is of
slender and rather drooping growth, and must be
given space enough to extend without any other tree
touching it. I have not seen any tendency to
canker. I send also that delicious Apple, Sam
Young. It is small, but very properly you do not
object to that in a dessert Apple. Those I send are
rather smaller than usual, in consequence of a pro-
digious crop. In texture and flavour I consider it
unsurpassed, even by Cox's Orange Pippin. It
keeps well to the end of February, and is a sure
cropper. Like some other choice kinds, it is of
Irish origin. — F. Ttmons, Clorjhran, iJiihliii.
*j* We have had a very interesting consign-
ment of Apples. The Cornish Gilliflowers are
more beautiful than any we have seen about London,
and quite rich in colour ; most distinct in form.
This testimony from a widely difi^erent part of the
country from that in which we have before seen it
growing is most useful. We hope to figure the
Apple from Mr. Tymons's specimens. Sam Young,
too, is excellent. ' It is to be one of our twenty-five
for flavour. — Ed.
Your question as to the bearing qualities of
this Apple touches it in its weakest place. My ex-
perience of it has been that it is the shyest bearer
of all Apples. I have met with it in Cornwall,
Durham, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, and Suffolk,
and I know no Apple that varies less in different
localities than this one. It is always a rather weak
grower and should never be pruned, except by
taking out a branch now and then, as the tree gets
too thick, for it carries most of its crop on the
young wood. The best bearing trees I know are
orchard trees on Grass. Having spoken of its bad
points, I should now like to plead for it, as one of
your select twenty-five. There is something so
sparkling and refreshing about its juice, and the
aroma is so rich, and yet so delicate, that I prefer
it to all others, not forgetting Cox's Orange Pippin.
This shows the necessity of an election of varieties,
as proposed by you, for we hear little in a general
way of any but show kinds, and few exhibitors
would be bold enough to stage a Gilliflower Apple
or a Grizzly Frontignan Grape to compete with
more showy varieties, unless flavour was specified in
the schedule for the judges' guidance. Even the
shy bearing of this -Vpple is something of a recom-
mendation, for it never exhausts itself in a good
Apple year; consequently it seldom or never fails
altogether. I should be inclined to include it if
limited to half a dozen. — John C. Tallack, Lh-er-
mere, Snfolk.
There can be no doubt in the mind of anyone
who has tasted this Apple as to its first-class
flavour, but there its merits end. Its distorted ap-
pearance might be overlooked if the tree were a
better grower and bearer. I think in this respect
it bears the worst character of any Apple. Re-
grafted on a free-growing kind it makes plenty, of
wood, but even then with me refuses to form fruit-
ing spurs, although I have tried various forms of
pruning and pinching, and the letting-alone system.
Occasionally it may be found doing fairly well. In
a garden about two miles from here it succeeds, but
for a standard fruit, something more reliable is
wanted. — A. Babkee, HintUip Hall, Worcester.
I consider this variety second to none. I
have two trees that have borne fairly good crops
every season for the last twenty years. The shape
of its fruit is not handsome. Its flavour is excel-
lent, and the colour beautiful. With this variety
close pruning must at all times be avoided. —
Richard Nisbet, Asn-arhij, Lvu-ohi.
This does well here grown on the cordon
system. I find it a good cropper, excellent in
quality, though I do not consider it equal to the
Eibston or Cox's Orange Pippin in flavour. With
regard to its hardiness, I flnd it as hardy as most
sorts grown here, ;but how it wordd answer as a
standard tree I am not in a position to say, grow-
ing it as I do on the cordon system. I cannot,
therefore, pass an opinion as to whether it is worthy
to rank as one of the twenty-five best English
Apples, never having seen it as a standard. —
W. SHErHEBD, (irencliHrst, Borkiiir/.
HARDY FRUITS.
Planting.
Owing to the extreme dryness of the ground,
having been so tightly wedged into a short period,
that is to say, the generally admitted favourable
time for the performance of this work, one of two
courses is inevitable. The planter, on the one hand,
may push on so long as the weather remains mild
and open ; on the other hand, he may lay in fruit
trees already purchased, and wait until growth
again becomes active. In cold, wet seasons, espe-
cially on heavy soils, I should say, wait ; but this
autumn having been so mild and the rainfall so
light, barely enough to go down into the subsoil —
which, by the way, is warm and in fine condition —
I question if it will not be advisable to go on until
we have a decided change for the worse. As late
planting is proceeded with, the compost placed about
the roots should be dry and friable, and after every
damaged root and fibre has been pruned back, it
should be made very firm about them by careful
treading in preference to the use of water, the best
of all rammers when the sap is not entirely inactive.
Pyramids and bushes should be made secure to
short stakes driven home previous to the introduc-
tion of the trees ; and standards, in like manner,
will require supports to prevent the roots from rock-
ing or moving in the ground. This matter of
staking newly-planted trees of all kinds is a very
important operation, and yet it is often left to
hands who go about it in a clumsy manner. In all
cases the planting of the tree should follow the
driving of the stake, which should have a firm hold-
ing in the undisturbed subsoil, otherwise the stake
as well as the tree will be affected by wind ; not
that ■ndnd-waving does any harm — quite the reverse,
provided the lower part of the stem and the roots
are kept steady. When sawn off to the desired
height, say 2 feet below the first branch of the
standard, a short hay-band passed two or three
times round the support then round the stem, fol-
lowed by a tie of tarred twine, wUl keep all safe below,
and prevent chafing the first season. Pyramids and
bushes, Currants and Gooseberries even, are the bet-
ter for having a short stake driven to plant to, always
provided they are well padded withsome soft material
to render chafing an impossibility. Root-pruning,
like planting, may be carried on so long as the same
climatic conditions prevail, but instead of working
completely round a tree of any large size, a trench
may be taken out half way now, the remaining
half being left undisturbed until nest season. By
adopting this plan, the root-lifting period can always
be prolonged, and trees of the largest size, by the
addition of fresh compost and good mulching, can
be renovated with perfect safety. All newly planted
and root-lifted trees should be well mirlched with
manure or some material that will keep out frost in
winter and prevent the escape of moisture in the
spring, the quantity and quality being regulated by
the nature and richness or poverty of the soil, as
well as the exposure of the situation. On new soUs
manure is generally used, whilst in old gardens,
often too full of rich, decaying animal or vegetable
matter, other materials answer better. Here we
give preference to charred refuse, oM lime rubble,
and accumulations of turf and scrapings from the
sides of the roads, which correct soils already too
full of rich humus, and form an excellent compost
for top-dressing or planting purposes. All stone
fruit trees. Apples, and bush fruits revel in this
material, and whilst making a profusion of flower-
buds, do not readily become gross. To Pears on
the Quince, on the other hand, a yearly dressing of
good rotten manure is highly acceptable, and the
earlier in the winter it is put on the borders the
better the trees pay for this attention.
Pbuning and Training.
With the exception of Figs and Peaches, fruit
trees of all kinds may now be pruned, washed, and
trained. Knowing how acutely men suffer when
kept against cold walls in severe weather, and how
imperfectly at such times the work is accomplished,
1 cannot forbear again pleading for a push forward
now days are mild and the borders are dry. Judg-
ing from the appearance of the wood and the show
of flower-buds, the blossom at least next season
will be wonderfully good : therefore, knowing that
one fruit for every ten flowers represents a heavy
crop, the most careful attention should be devoted
to their training and cleansing with soapsuds now
the trees are dormant. Another important opera-
tion long acknowledged, but since dwarfing stocks
came into fashion absolutely necessary, is spur-
pruning. Pears and Plums on free stocks in course
of time form a complete thatch of spurs, which
produce weak flowers and put an end to exten-
sion. Trees on dwarfing stocks, cordons especially,
reach this condition within a shorter period, and
soon die out or become terribly stunted where spur-
pruning is neglected. This condition, now fine
fruit is so important, should not be allowed to con-
tinue ; therefore the sooner this part of the pruner's
work is taken in hand, and carried out systemati-
cally and gradually, the better for the trees and the
quality of the fruit they will produce. If these
neglected trees are closely examined, it will be
found that nine-tenths of the elongated spurs have
one or perhaps more flower-buds formed near the
base, and it is to these that a fair per-centage of
those growing away from the wall should be short-
ened every year. By this method, the most un-
sightly trees in a few years may be restored, whilst
others, taken in time, will never reach that condition.
Apricots being so well ripened will most likely
fruit freely on the young wood, but less fertile and
reliable it should not be too implicitly depended
upon. Still, with such a promising second string
to the bow, old spurs may be liberally thinned
without checking the trees or sacrificing a full crop
of fruit. Writers of sensational articles sometimes
stir up strife in well-managed gardens by drawing
wonderful pen-and-ink sketches of trees growing
2 feet away from the walls and producing hundreds
of dozens of fruit ; but these cases are exceptional,
and form no guide whatever to the mass of gar-
deners who find the Apricot the most wayward and
unsatisfactory tree they have to keep in a fruit-
bearing condition. When Apricots take good ways
we generally find the roots confined to fair sized
borders composed of a free loam resting on ample
drainage. An ample supply of water and liberal
mulching play an important part, and quality being
the test of merit, the fruit is kept clear of destroyers,
and as close to the heat-refiecting wall as possible.
The best fruit-producing trees I have seen for a long
time are at Heckfield Place and Badminton. In
each garden the spur wood is kept close to the walls,
the roots are kept within bounds, and they never
feel the want of water.
Peaches.
These are resting at present, but so soon as the
training of other trees has been completed, their
detachment from the walls may be proceeded with.
The Peach on all hands is admitted to be the most
564
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 17, 1887.
tender fruit tree, the Fig excepted, we have to deal
with, and yet, taking the country through, I
question if any other tree growing against walls is
better managed or produces crops with greater
certainty. Only a few years ago the trees were
eaten up by aphis in the spring ; blister and curl
followed, late growths never ripened, and they were
looked upon as expensive failures. The seasons
were condemned, but they were not worse than
they are now, and yet the yield of fine fruit from
handsome trees is yearly increasing. A few people
still say the crop is so precarious and the lives of
the trees so fleeting as to render them unworthy of
the attention usually devoted to the performance of
every detail, but these are the comforters who fail.
Others who look well to root-lifting, to autumn
pruning and cleansing, to retarding and fresh
training every spring are the persevering plodders
who succeed, as they know work that is worth
doing at all will pay for being done well. The un-
nailing, washing, and fresh arrangement of a set of
large trees no doubt is a great business, but it pays,
as insects rarely escape the ordeal ; consequently
the young growths, formerly killed back, start
away freely and continue their course until the
wood is ripe in the autumn. Ripe wood means
perfect flower-buds, which not only withstand
severe winter frosts, but set well, and freedom'from
insects favours the early development of fresh,
healthy foliage, which cannot become gorged with
crude sap, as this danger has been cut off by root-
lifting and a discontinuance of the use of animal
manure. We do not, as a rule, unnail our trees
until January, but this is an exceptional year,
therefore the work will be taken in hand at once.
Every bit of brickwork as well as the trees will
receive the annual course of treatment so often
described in these pages ; every old nail will pass
through the fire before it is again used ; fresh
shreds are now in course of preparation, and
nailing in will be delayed until the flowers show
colour. The walls in many old, and the majority of
modern, gardens are studded and trellised with
wires, but, notwithstanding their neat appearance
and adaptability in warm situations, they do not
answer well in low, damp localities. More than
once I have tried the plan, but tie and train as one
may the shoots cannot be kept quite close to the
walls, and although the distance may not exceed
half an inch the loss of heat occasioned by that
small space in touch-and-go seasons often tells
unfavourably.
Chebeies.
Ninety per cent, of fruit growers leave the prun-
ing and training of Morello Cherries until last.
Why, it is diSicult to explain. North walls, it is
true, are not quite a paradise in December, but, as
a rule, the longer the work is put off the worse the
weather becomes ; add to this the tenter hook, pro-
crastination, and north aspects become as intoler-
able as our best friends can wish. But why confine
one of our most useful and profitable fruits to a
north wall entirely, when others, even the old
Golden Drop Plum, in a well-drained, elevated bor-
der can be induced to ripen quantities of fruit, and
by ringing the changes, a tree or two of the Morello
on a west aspect will do good service in September.
There are two methods of managing the Morello
even against walls, and I question if the market
grower who takes the shortest cut does not secure
the greatest quantity of good fruit. He keeps all
the main branches tied or nailed in to the wall and
allows the annual growths to extend outward,
merely thinning where too numerous to let in light
and air, and netting where the birds are trouble-
some. He pays particular attention to the destruc-
tion of insects; he mulches well and lays on the
hose occasionally, but the wood and fruit having
more freedom summer and autumn rains are
powerful aids in keeping the foliage and Cherries
bright and clean. The gentleman's gardener, who
prides himself on straight lines, lays in every shoot
and branch to a nicety, but too often retains a
superabundance of young wood. Whichever plan
is adopted, and I must say I have a great liking for
a well-trained Morello, all faulty branches should be
cut out and the whole of the trees detached every
autumn. They can then be pruned precisely as we
prune Peaches on the opposite side of the wall,
care being taken that there is a regular relay of
young wood, which, as everyone knows, produces
the bulk of the fruit. When detached and pruned,
the Peach grower's care should be devoted to wash-
ing with strong soap water or a solution of Gishurst,
not only the trees, but the walls also. For the
latter there is nothing cheaper or better than soap-
suds driven in with great force from the garden
engine, and, provided black fly has not made its
rallying point in the old joints, this wash will de-
stroy every particle of Moss and Lichen which
help to harbour insects when they have gained
access. Cherries being so hardy and early, a much
greater variety might be obtained from good north
walls if a few of the sweet sorts were introduced.
May Duke, one of the best, does well; Elton,
Bigarreau Napoleon, Governor Wood, and Black
Eagle also succeed and prolong the season of dessert
Cherries well into the autumn. A well-drained
limited root-run is the main factor in border
management. The Mahaleb stock answers best for
low walls, and laying in at full length prevents
where spur pruning fosters gumming. When
trained trees take to gumming there is only one
remedy, and that is lifting and relaying the roots in
narrow, elevated, and well-drained borders com-
posed of free, but not over rich loam and old lime
rubble.
Figs.
Beyond a little litter thrown over the roots to
keep out frost, the non-protectionist leaves his trees
alone ; others less fortunate as to aspect and climate
protect with thatch. Fern, Spruce branches, and
other materials most convenient to their hands. A
thick covering does no harm through the dead part
of the winter, but a great number of Fig growers
state that serious mischief follows its removal, and
as they agree in saying they get better crops with-
out than with protection of any kind, they very
wisely forego much trouble and anxiety. Modera-
tion in all things, no doubt, is best, and as no one
is so simple as to abuse his trees by excluding dry
frost and fresh air, and then suddenly exposing
them, it remains for them to decide whether they
will risk having them killed to the ground or hoist
a rain and snow-resisting coping-board and draw in
a few fronds of Bracken or Spruce to retard the
swelling of the fruit in the spring. If the latter
course is preferred, now is the time to protect, cer-
tainly from rain and snow, and a front covering
being used, it should be thin enough to let in fresh
air through the winter ; moreover, it should be re-
moved piecemeal, as the successful Grape grower
uncovers his Vine borders in the spring. An im-
portant point in the management of outdoor Fig
trees, especially when they are grown in close
proximity to highly manured vegetable borders, is
annual root-pruning and keeping them close home
in well-drained soil. Early autumn is the best time
to check the roots, as cutting off the supplies checks
the flow of sap and hastens the ripening and harden-
ing of the young wood. If this operation has been
neglected, it is not too late to take out a trench,
drain if necessary, and ram it quite hard with pure
light loam and old lime rubble. W. C.
SHORT NOTES.— FBXTIT.
Pear "Winter Ifelis.-^We shall he glad if our
fruit-growing readers will kindly say over what area
of the British Isles this Pear may bo relied on to
succeed.
Pear Forelle.— We have received from Mr. T.
Blair, Shrublands Park Gardens, fruits of the Forelle
Pear. They were of brilliant colouring and beauti-
fully spotted ; the flavour is fairly good.
Grape White Frontignan. — I have a small
vinery in which I want to plant some White Fron-
tignan. Will this variety do with Muscat of Alex-
andria?—F. W. C.
*#* Barrou, on ** Vines and Vine Culture," says :
"The White Frontignan will succeed in any vinery;
when grown in a warm house the flavour is richer, hut
it will ripen well in a cool house, or in fine seasons
on the open wall." — Ed.
Pear President Slaa. — I have sent you to-day
one or two President Mas Pears on the chance of their
being stiU eatable when you get them. I find it is
an excellent Pear, not only buttery, but with a good
flavour when green, but as soon as the skin turns
yellow the flavour is gone. I did not think it worth
while to send you any before, for I thought many
nearer town would send it to you, but as it seems
so little known, I send the last of the crop, which I
discovered yesterday in the fruit room. — E. H.
WOODALL.
Ferns.
OUR NATIVE FERNS.
I HAVE been greatly interested in the papers
under this heading by " S. G.," and I look upon
it as a sign of the catholicity of The Garden,
that a series of articles upon these once fashion-
able, but now most undeservedly neglected,
plants has been admitted to its columns.
Fifteen years ago classes specially for British
Ferns were not uncommon in exhibition
schedules, but these are now in most cases
either dropped or replaced by the extremely in-
definite "Hardy Ferns," a term so vague that
disputes as to its meaning are almost as com-
mon as exhibitions. In this class also it seems
to be looked upon as a sign of inferiority if
plants are British, so that the very choicest
British kinds have no chance in competition
with such things as Adiantum pedatum, Os-
munda spectabilis, &c., which can be dug ready
grown in the bogs and woods of North America
and imported by the cartload at cheap rates.
Now I do not wish to decry or depreciate such
beautiful things as the hardy exotics I have
mentioned. I merely contend that British
kinds of quite equal beauty and of much greater
rarity and value should enter the lists on at
least equal terms with them. " S. G." has re-
ferred to that wonderfully beautiful form,
Athyrium Filix-fcemina kalothrix. Let us sup-
pose a plant of this grown to the very highest
development of which it is capable and exhibited
in competition with a plant of Adiantum pedatum
not grown to its highest development, but slightly
larger than the Athyrium, I believe that in 99
cases out of 100 the award would be made to the
Adiantum.
I have read with some surprise the statement
of " IS. G." that many of the varieties of Athy-
rium Filix-foemina are inconstant. I have been
among Ferns, especially British varieties, from
infancy, and have known very few varieties of
the Lady Fern which did not prove quite con-
stant when grown under fairly favourable con-
ditions. A. Filix-fcemina Frisellije and its
sub-varieties as generally seen are examples to
the contrary, I admit, but there are now strains
of even these which are almost perfectly con-
stant. With regard to varieties being inconstant
from spores, I believe there are very few Ferns
indeed (i.e., spore-bearing forms) which do not
produce a certain percentage of forms like the
parent from their spores. Statements to the
contrary should be received with caution, because
in sowing spores of Ferns one is never sure
that he does not unintentionally sow spores
of other kinds than the one he intends to
sow, and experience shows that the more care
there is taken in keei:)ing pure the spores sown
the larger becomes the percentage of charac-
teristic seedlings. I believe my brother and
myself were the first to raise A. Filix-foemina
acroeladon from spores; indeed, up to that time
(eight or ten years ago) it had been regarded
and described as a barren Fern. I remember
also raising the first batch of seedlings of Lastrea
pseudo-mas cristata augustata, and upon telling
the late Mr. R. Sim, juur., about it, he said,
" You must be mistaken ; it is probably inter-
Dec. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
565
media you have raised, as cristata angustata is
barren. " A few of the plants, however, soon con-
vinced him that it was the true angustata which
had been raised. I have hitherto failed in
raising L. p. -mas ramosissima from spores,
though plenty of crested forms have come in the
seed-pots. I have, however, never felt quite
sure that these were actually from spores of
ramosissima, and it is quite possible that it may
yet produce characteristic ofl'spring like its
analogue, A. FiUx-focmina acrocladon. In re-
ferring to A. Filix-fcumina clarissima, "S. G."
has omitted to notice what is perhaps its most
remarkable feature when taken in combination
with its exquisite delicacy of cutting, viz., its
large size. It is a veritable giant, having pro-
duced fronds fully 2 feet wide. If they will be
of any interest, I shall be pleased to send you
from time to time fronds of some of the more
distinct and beautiful varieties of British Ferns.
I believe that if the fraternity generally had any
idea of the beauty of the many forms which
have been raised, and the perhaps still greater
number which have been found wild, these ex-
quisite productions of Nature would receive the
attention and admiration which they un-
doubtedly deserve. F. W. Stansfield.
Sale, Cliediire.
THE ROYAL FERN.
(OSMUNDA BEGALIS.)
The Osmunda regalls, or, as it is popularly called,
the Royal Fern, is undoubtedly the most stately
of the numerous British species belonging to the
genus, as it attains proportions unknown to any
other native kinds, the usual length of its fertile
fronds being about 3 feet, but its barren ones, which
are much more numerous, attain an average of about
6 feet, and frequently double that height when
found growing in a particularly suitable spot. It
is recorded that Mr. S. Murray on the banks of the
Clyde measured a tuft which was Hi- feet high.
The Royal Fern is distinguishable at first sight from
all other native kinds through its peculiarly massive
fronds, furnished with broad, somewhat heart-
shaped and almost stalkless pinnaj of a light
glaucous green colour. It is equally distinct from
all other native Ferns by the peculiar conformation
of its fertile fronds, which have caused it to be
sometimes called, though erroneously, the Flower-
ing Fern. In these fertile fronds the upper pinnse
are divided and changed, as it were, into dense
The Royal Fern (Osmundi regalis).
clusters or spikes of terminal capsules which form
a compound, loose cluster or panicle, while the
basal parts of the said fronds are in all respects
similar to those of the barren ones. Both are borne
on smooth stems of a reddish hue when in a young
state, but turning with age to a pale green colour.
It is not alone by its foliage that this most noble of
all British Ferns can be recognised, for its peculiar
mode of growth is perfectly unique. Its fronds rise
from the crown of a root which, unlike that of any
other native Fern is tuberous, of a woody nature,
scaly, sometimes rising erect as much even as
2 feet above the ground, and forming then a
miniature Tree Fern of somewhat bulky appearance,
while at other times its root - stock extends
horizontally or nearly so for about the same length,
but it is, in all cases, furnished with numerous
strong, fibrous rootlets. ,The Osmunda regalis is
one of the oldest of all our native Ferns on record,
the first notice that we can find of it being in
Gerard's " Herbal" of 1597, where, speaking of the
existence of this handsome Fern, he says : " It
groweth in the midst of a bog at the further end of
Hampstead Heath, from London, at the bottome of
a hill adjojTiing to a small cottage, and in divers
other places ; as also upon divers bogges on a heath
or common neere unto Bruntwood in Essex." As
will be seen by the above extract, things have
greatly changed since the time of its publication in
regard to British plants of all kinds whose habitats
have been completely destroyed whenever they
were situated in close vicinity to large towns.
Fertile pinnEe of the Royal Fern (Osmunda regalis).
Though not by any means common in all parts of
the United Kindom, in places congenial to its
growth the Royal Fern is found plentifully, and in
such positions has grown into huge masses. In
Wales and in Ireland it is somewhat scarce, and is
only recorded in the former country as growing
wild near Llyn Traflwll, in the turbary at Trewilmot,
near Holjhead ; while in the latter, the only places
where it is stated to have been met with in a wild
state are in Kelly's Glen, county of Dublin, in
Castlebar, in Mayo, and in Mucruss Abbey. This
is all the more singular, as on account of the boggy
nature of a great portion of its surface, and also by
reason of its climatic conditions, the growth of the
Osmunda regalis would naturally appear to have
been favoured in the Emerald Isle. It is more
plentiful in Scotland, where it is found at the head
of Loch Fyne, to the north-east of Inverary, Argyle-
shire, and on the Dumbarton side, near Loch
Lomond ; at the side of the Loch at InolinedamfF,
Sutherlandshire, in Aberdeenshire, and on the coast
of Kincardineshire. But it is especially in England
that the Royal Fern is really at home, for it is found
there in a most extended area ; from the GoodhiHy
Downs, near St. Ives, and in the mouths of old
mines near Marazion and Cosgarne, in Cornwall, and
on the cliffs near Dawlish, near Chudleigh, on the
banks of the Teign, and at Ivy Bridge on the Erme,
in Devon, to Speke, between Crosby and Formby,
and on Chat Moss, near Liverpool, as well as from
Low-gelt Bridge, Allowby, and Keswick, in Cumber-
land to Leith Hill and near Dorking, in Surrey ; in
the New Forest, and at Freemantle, near South-
ampton; at WaltonMoss.near Warrington, in Lanca-
shire, near the Upper Mill at Nottinghamshire ; in
the Isle of Man, in the Isle of Wight ; near Parker's
Mill in Warwickshire, at Tunbridge in Kent, and in
many other places too numerous to be mentioned
here.
The Osmunda regalis is of most easy cultivation ;
for open-air culture it prefers a damp, shady situa-
tion, where it requires but little care, and when
planted in spongy peat and allowed abundance of
water at the roots, it grows vigorously and soon
makes a dense mass. When grown in pots it is in-
dispensable that it should have plenty of root-room
and abundant and continuous supplies of water,
even during the winter when the fronds have all
died off. In the case of pot cultivation, a compost
of three parts of peat and one part of fibry loam is
that which produces the most satisfactory residts.
Though sometimes propagated by the division of
its crowns in early spring, the Osmunda is more
generally raised by means of spores, which ripen in
July or August, and which if sown at once germi-
nate freely, and if grown in a cool pit or in a green-
house, form young plants in a short time. The Royal
Fern has produced several varieties, such as 0.
regalis undulata,furcans, purpurascens, and cristata.
The last named, however, appears to be the only
constant form. It is most beautifully crested, and
as vigorous and robust in growth as the species,
and apparently attains smaller dimensions, as I have
never seen or heard of fronds above 4 feet in length.
This remarkable form possesses the advantage of
producing itself true from spores, which it produces
freely when the plants are of sufficient size;
the cultural remarks bearing on the species are
equally applicable to this variety. S. G.
The Bat-winged Fern (Colysis spectra). —
Amongst the Ferns sent by " Colonist " for
identification are some very interesting plants, and
perhaps none more so than the above named species.
It is, I believe, peculiar to the Sandwich Islands,
and is, even if in cultivation at the present time,
very rare. Some years ago I had nice, healthy
plants of this species, but I have not seen living ex-
amples of it for a long time. It has a creeping
rhizome which is clothed with dark coloured, al-
most black, chaffy scales, and the stems, which are
a few inches only in height, support a curious
hastate frond some 9 inches or 10 inches long, the
lobes at the base being wider from tip to tip than
the height of the frond. These lobes are some 2
inches or more wide and taper to a point. The
surface of the frond is plain, and the texture some-
what thin, so that the beautifully netted veins are
very conspicuous. When fertile the under side is
profusely adorned from rachis to margin with
brown sori. It is a peculiar, weird -like plant,
and deserves the attention of all lovers of curious
Ferns. It requires intermediate house temperature.
— W. H. G.
SHOBT NOTES.— FERNS.
Adiantum Williamsi. — This is a golden
Maiden-hair Fern, and thrives well under cool treat-
ment, a fact which renders it doubly valuable. )t
makes a handsome specimen for the embellishment of
the fernery or for public exhibition purposes, whilst it
is an elegant plant for amateurs to grow with their
Orchids. I recently noted a large stock in various
sizes in the HoUoway Nursery.
Davallia foeniculacea.— This is an extremely
beautiful Fern, a native of the Fiii Islands, and
belongs to the group Loxoscaphe of Moore. The plant
was introduced to cultivation by Mr. 'Wilhams, who
566
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 17, 1887.
possesses^ some very hundsome specimens. It lias a
short, thick, creeping rhizome, and the fronds attain a
heiglit of 2 feet or more, and about 1 foot in width.
It is an exceedingly graceful Fern, and requires stove
temperature. — \V. H. G.
Arthropteiis obliterata.— A singular Fern
introduced some years ago by the Messr.s. Low, of
Clapton, whence it obtained the name of Linds;ca
Lowi. It has never yet developed itself satisfactorily,
appealing to want something to induce it to pro-
duce more vigorous growth. It is a climbing Fern,
the rhizome being slender and wiry. In a young
state the fronds are small, having the pinnie de-
veloped on one side of the rachis only, but when
these are fully developed, the fronds are upwards
of a fool long, the pinn;c being nearly 2 inches
long. I recently noted examples of this species
showing their mature fronds in Mr. Williams' nur-
sery, and when thus developed it is a very handsome
climbing Fern.— W. H. G.
BOLD-GROWING ADIANTUMS.
I AM asked to note a few kinds of Maiden-hair
Fern.s that will make a conspicuous object in
a naturally arranged fernery under glass. This
is to rae a most congenial task, as 1 am a great
admirer of the bold-growing members of this
genus, for, beautiful as are the small-growing
kinds of the cuneatum section, their more
gigantic relatives are equally hand.some, and
carry with them an unmistakeable stamp of
superiority when arranged witli Ferns of other
genera. There are but few of the larger-grow-
ing kinds of Adiantums that are at all delicate
in constitution, and therefore I am at a loss to
understand how it is tliat these plants having
such a distinctive character are so seldom met
with, even in ferneries where space is not a con-
sideration. To grow these plants into large
specimens, thorough drainage is of the first im-
portance, and potting material should consist of
turfy loam, fibrous peat in about equal parts,
with the addition of some good leaf-mould and
a large portion of sharp sand. This section of
Adiantuins enjoys copious supplies of water to
their roots. Frequent sprinklings of water from
the syringe when the sun is not shining upon
the plants is also beneficial. When the jilants
are planted out amongst rockwork, the kinds
that are natives of temperate regions should be
selected f i jr the coolest parts of the house, but,
if grown in pots, the jilants can be removed at
pleasure to whatever position suits them best.
A. rOLVpnYLLUM, perhaps better known by the
n.ime of A. cardiochhuna, is one of the most ma-
jestic of all the Maiden-hair Ferns. I once saw this
species growing in a naturally arranged fernery in
Durham, with fronds between 5 feet and G feet in
height and broad in proportion, and its appearance
was truly magnificent ; indeed, those familiar with
this plant as small specimens of l.S inches or 2 feet
high can form only the slightest idea of its beauty
when fully developed. I liave never myself grown
this plant over 4 feet in height, but this in most in-
stances will be found large enough, and as it readily
spreads and forms a large clump, ample space should
be allowed when it is planted out. The stems are
stout and shining black, and naked for about \h feet
of thidr length. The fronds are tripinnate^ the
pinnules large and obtuse, the upper and lower
edges parallel, the upper edge only being fertile.
It is a native of Columbia and Peru, and thrives best
in an intermediate temperature.
A. TKAi'ESCiFOEME. — In this species we have a
bold and distinct plant, seldom seen in its full
beauty, because it is usually .starved, and the fronds
seldom exceed 18 inches in length, whilst when
well grown they v.'ill attain to as much as 3 feet
and 4 feet in height. The fronds are three or four
times divided, the pinnules large, bright rich green,
and borne on long, slender, jet-black stalks. It
appears to be widely distributed in Tropical
America, and under cultivation thrives best in
strong heat.
A. MACEOP]iYLLUM. — This handsome species, if
planted out, should be assigned some bold position
towards the front, as it seldom exceeds 2 feet in
height,and more often attains to a foot or IX inches
only. The stems are shining jet-black, fronds erect
and simply pjinnate ; the large pinnaj are op])Osite,
the infertile pinnai ovate at the base and acute, the
fertile ones narrower, unequally wedge-shaped at
the base. When young the fronds are of a delicate
rosy pink hue, changing as they become older to
bright red, which again changes with age to bright
green. It appears to be plentiful in the We.st
Indian Islands, and also in Lrazil. The warm por-
tion of the fernery suits it best.
A. FEBUVIANUM. — A fine, well characterised
species with large pendulous fronds, which are
variously branched. The pinna;, unequally wedge-
shaped at the base and tapering to a point, are very
large, and borne on long, slender footstalks. This
species was introduced a few years ago by the
Messrs. Veitch from Peru, and is, I believe, peculiar
to that country.
A. VBLUTiNUM.— This is a noble plant from
Columbia, and was, I believe, introduced to this
country by Mr. Bull, of Chelsea. It thrives well in
an intermediate house, and attains a height of from
2 feet to '.', feet. The stems differ from the majority
of those of this family, for instead of being black
and polished, they, as well as the rachises, are
covered with a pale brown vehety pubescence, tlie
fronds being three or four times divided, the
pinnules closely set, and dark green. Other good
forms of large-growing Maiden-hair Ferns are tetra-
phyllum, Henslowianum, concinnum latum, penta-
dactylon, tenerum, formosum, intermedium, AVillesi-
anum, pulverulentum, and pedatum. The hist
species is a native of North America, hardy, but
deciduous, and if grown in a cool place under glass
its beauties are considerably increased.
W. II. G.
Kitchen Garden.
W. WILDSMITH.
KITCHEN GARDEN NOTES.
Aheangbmbnts fob nb.xt ybae's ceoppino. — It
is surprising with what tenacity early ideas and
practices cling to one, notwithstanding the fact that
their fallacy may have been demonstrated over and
over again. Such h.as been, and still is, my ex-
perience as regards the sowing of Peas and Broad
Beans in November and December. They are never
ready to gather earlier than when the sowing is
deferred till the end of January or early in Feb-
ruary, and yet the practice is still followed, partly,
in my case, out of respect to this early formed
opinion, and partly because of the longing one has
to see the earliest indications of spring, of which
there is no better sign than a good row of Peas.
There is another reason that has perhaps a little in-
fluence in causing this questionable practice to be
disregarded. It is that the ground is cropped, and
the work is that much forward. But, apart from
the question of present cropping, the long evenings
afford time for the planning of most of next year's
cropping arrangements. Those especially who have
limited help, and are anxious to do their utmost to
get the fullest supply of vegetables in the most
expeditious and economical way possible, should
make their plans beforehand. To carry out this
idea I find it necessary to keep a rough plan of the
garden by me, and on this the plots that are already
occupied are marked, also the vacant plots and
those that have either lieen recently manured and
trenched, or have been trenched or dug, but not
manured. The names of intended crops are then
inserted, and though some slight revision may be
necessary at sowing and planting time, there can
be no doubt as to the plan considerably aiding
the work at the busy season.
Peeparinc shelteeed boedees foe eaelv
CEOP.s. — As fast as pruning and nailing of Apricots,
Pears, and Plums are finished, the work of getting
the Ijorders ready for early vegetable crops is pro-
ceeded with. The ground is for the most part
trenched and heavily manured up to within 5 feet
or U feet of the walls, and as this work is for the
most part done every year, there are seldom any
large fruit tree roots to be cut away. What there
are should be cut neatly away at that distance, and
often nearer. This slight, but regular check pre-
vents the trees making strong, fruitless growths.
To keep the trees in a vigorous state it is necessary
to apply surface mulchings of good manure over
the undug part of borders, which is always looked
upon as sacred to the roots. As a matter of course
the roots again soon extend into the newly dug
ground, but not sufficiently so as to be any detri-
ment to the vegetable crops, but very much to the
advantage of the fruit trees. These borders are now
being prepared for Potatoes, Peas, Cauliflowers,
Lettuce, and Radishes. The soil is fight and dry,
deep trenching as well as high manuring being the
only way to produce vegetable crops worthy of the
name.
Best wintee gebens.— At present our Broccoli
supply is short, but winter greens are plentiful.
Brussels Sprouts take the first place with many, and
justly so, all points considered, such as hardiness,
productiveness, and good appearance. I, however,
give preference to nice young Coleworts, because
they are not so sweet to the taste, and are always
tender and mild in flavour, but as they lack the
hardiness of Brussels Sprouts, they are not so largely
grown as a winter green. The Kales, though mild
in flavour, are generally tough or stringy, but their
hardiness is unquestionable, and this is doubtless
owing to their being so largely grown. The best
variety, the most tender and delicious in flavour, is,
unfortunately, the worst in appearance. I refer to
the variety known as Cottager's Kale. It is highly
appreciated here, and is therefore more largely
grown than any winter green except Brussels Sprouts.
Not the least of its merits is, that when once the
heads have been cut for use, there is the quick produc-
tion of an enormous quantity of small sprouts, that
are just as hardy and equal in quality to the crowns
or tops. On this account — namely, its prodigality
of stem sprouting — we always sow early in order to
get stems of good height ; then a quantity of sprouts
is a certainty. Kales are sometimes advertised as
dwarf, as if that were a recommendation, whereas
the very opposite is the fact, for without a good
length of stem the returns as to produce are not
eijual to those of an ordinary Cabbage; whilst there
can be no question but that tall varieties will at
least produce three times the produce.
Geneeal woek. — To complete the digging and
trenching of all vacant ground, and, when ground
and walks are hard frozen, the wheeling of soil and
manure to where they are recjuired. Pot up herbs
as required, also Seakale for forcing. Plant Pota-
toes in frames, and others in shallow boxes of leaf-
soil, to sprout and root preparatory to their being
planted out in frames. Renew linings to hotbeds,
and mix and turn over leaves and litter that are in-
tended for forcing purposes.
Forced Peas. — Mr. Wildsmith intimates that
he docs not strongly favour the forcing of early Peas.
It is ^'ery possible that many attempts in that direc-
tion have so far failed that the produce has not
been at all commensurate to the labour involved.
When I was at Poyle Park, near Slough, last spring,
I noted a quantity of American AVonder Peas fruit-
ing admirably on a front shelf, which was fixed
some 1 2 inches from the roof. The Peas had been
sown in wooden troughs about (i inches deep and
I'l inches wide. Being near the glass the plants
were not drawn up, but were dwarf and stout. As
the pods filled, their weight drew the plants over
on to the side of the trough, in which position
they were easily gathered. By having a number of
such troughs made and successional sowings kept
up with ample shelf room a very considerable sup-
ply of Peas may be obtained. American Wonder,
because so early and dwaif, has the best reputation
for this kind of culture, but it is possible that some
of the home-raised dwarf kinds, such as W. Hurst,
Bijou, Little Gem, &c., might jjrove even more pro-
ductive. Low houses having broad stages on either
side of the path would suit this form of Pea culture
admirably; indeed, it is to be wondered at that a
Dec. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
567
Pea forcing house bas not ere now been made a
feature in most good gardens, as tbe same building
could bo utilised in many ways during the summer
months. Pea flowers seem to suffer more in great
heat and drought than in ordinary warmth and
humidity. There is no doubt but that i£ properly
conducted the forcing of Peas would be successful.
—A. D.
FORCING VEGETABLES.
The old-fashioned pigeon-holed brick pits and ma-
nure beds with frames placed on them, are still
used, in most gardens for the production of Aspa-
ragus, Carrots, Potatoes, Radishes, &c., during the
winter and spring months. These may, however,
also be grown satisfactorily enough in the ordinary
brick pits, filled to within 12 inches or ]."> inches of
the glass with Oak or Chestnut leaves, on which a
layer of light soil, 6 inches to 9 inches thick, is
placed.
Asparagus roots that have made well-ripened
Grass in the autumn are the ones from which the
best possible results in the way of large " Grass "
may be expected, not only during the forcing period,
but out of doors in the natural way in April, May,
and the first two or three weeks in June. The ne-
cessary (juantity of leaves having been got into the
pit and well trodden together, a couple of inches
thick of short manure should be spread over the
leaves, and a sprinkling of light mould applied
before packing the roots closely together on the
bed. The roots should be lifted with care, so as not
to damage the crowns, and covered with a layer
of light mould about G inches in depth. Afterwards
give sufficient water, at a temperature of HO", to
settle the soil, and keep the pit close day and night
until the Grass appears, after which plenty of
air must be admitted to prevent a weakly growth.
Mats or Fern should be put over the glass at night
to protect the Asparagus from frost.
Feench Beans. — Fire-heat must be used when
growing these, and they must be either planted out
in rows 2 feet apart in a hot-water pit in a bed not
more than 2 A- feet from the glass, or in Sii-inch
pots three parts filled with a rich compost. Place
five seeds in each pot, and cover with light mould.
Stand the pots in the Mushroom house (if room is
not at command elsewhere at the time) until the
seedlings appear through the soil, when they should
at once be removed to an early Peach house, vinery, or
any other structure having a night temperature not
lower than 50°. As soon as the Leans have grown
an inch or two they should be top-dressed, leaving
a space of 1 inch below the rim of the pots for
water. When the plants are (> inches or 7 inches
high, the points of the individual shoots should be
pinched, and afterwards a thin stake put to each
plant for support. The Beans must be damped
overhead more or less heavily with tepid water both
morning and afternoon, and be kept sufficiently
moist at the roots, giving alternate waterings of
weak liquid manure and clear water, otherwise red
spider will attack the plants. Sowings should be
made at intervals of about three weeks. The same
remarks apply to plants grown in rows in hot-
water pits.
Caeeots. — Early Nantes Horn and James's
Scarlet Intermediate Carrots are two excellent
varieties for forcing pun^oses. Before sowing the
seed, in rows 1 inch deep and from 0 inches to 12
inches apart, scratch a dusting of fresh soot into
the soil with the rake when levelling the ground.
This will prevent attacks of wireworm, and at the
same time enrich the soil, which should be light
rather than otherwise. If the soil is naturally
heavy, sufficient leaf-mould .should be incorporated
with it to render the compost suitable to the pro-
duction of clean, crisp Carrots. The seed should be
covered with half an inch of sifted soil. When the
plants are large enough to handle they should be
thinned out to about 2 inches apart; afterwards
every other one may be drawn for use as required.
Tepid water must be given when necessary, and the
soil kept moist rather than otherwise.
Lettuces. — Seed of such excellent summer varie-
ties as Grand Admiral and All the Year Round
Cabbage, and Paris Green and Paris AVhite Cos
Lettuces should be early nest month sown thinly
in soil prepared as recommended for Carrots. The
plants should afterwards be thinned out in due
time.and the thinnings, if necessary, be transplanted.
Potatoes. — No time must be lost in putting the
necessary number of sets of Veitch's Ashlcaf or
some other approved variety singly in o-inch pots
in light mould. Place them in an early vinery or
some such place to start. When the plants have
made 2 inches or 3 inches of growth they should be
put in a pit or hotbed in rows from 12 inches to
15 inches apart, and the soil should be in tbe pit;
or frames a few days before planting, in order to
become slightly warmed. In preparing the bed
plenty of space must be left for the development of
the haulm. When the plants have grown il inches
or 7 inches, they should be earthed up by placing
mould to the depth of 3 inches between the several
rows. When ripening commences discontinue
watering.
liADlSHES. — Seeds of Wood's Frame and Olive-
shaped Scarlet Radishes should be sown thinly over
the surface of the bed, which should be prepared as
recommended for Carrots, and then covered lightly
with soil. No air need be admitted to the frame or
pit, unless steam is likely to arise, until the young
plants appear. Then sufficient fresh air should be
given to prevent a spindly growth. The plants
must not be subjected to any check while growing,
either through too much air being given or by the
plants being kept too dry at the roots, otherwise
the latter will be wanting in crispness.
Rhubaeb. — Well-established roots of the Royal
Albert Rhubarb or any other good early variety that
may be at hand should be taken up at intervals of
three weeks during the next two months and be
placed closely together underneath one of the
bottom shelves in the Mushroom house. If there
is not this accommodation the roots may be put
into boxes and placed in some out-of-the-way corner
in one of the forcing houses, or the roots may be
placed on the border of an early vinery or Peach
house, putting some light mould round the sides
and among the roots. From such places we have
had supplies of large, crisp, and juicy Rliubarb.
Later on the required number of roots should be
covered in the open quarter with large deep pots or
tubs. If these are covered with a good thickness of
hot manure and leaves, the crowns will yield excel-
lent supplies of Rhubarb. Where none of the conve-
niences for forcing above-mentioned exist, crowns
should be so covered as soon as the leaves have
died down in the autumn, covering them at intervals
of a fortnight or three weeks, so as to keep np the
supply until sticks of the natural growth can be
pulled out of doors.
Seakale. — This delicious and much appreciated
vegetable may be forced in many ways, according
to the conveniences existing in the different gardens
for its production. The following methods may be
noted as being the most suitable and convenient.
The stock roots, whicli should consist of good large
crowns, with roots about li inches or 7 inches long,
should be packed about 3 inches apart in light
mould in suitable boxes, the soil being packed firmly
around the roots. These boxes may be placed in a
Mushroom house under a stage, or in any con-
venient corner in a forcing house. This method of
procedure is preferable to placing six or sei-cn
crowns in it-inch pots in a Mushroom or forcing
house, and covering them with other pots of the
same size, as nearly double the quantity of Kale of
equally good quality can be secured from a given
space. Light and air should be excluded until the
Seakale is fit to cut, say, when it has attained the
height of (i inches, otherwise it will be wanting in
crispness and good flavour. Another way, and one
from which the best possible results are obtained, is
to cover about half-a-dozen short rows of Seakale
with boxes about s feet long, 9 inches high, and
10 inches wide, covering the boxes with a 3-feet
layer of new leaves. Before putting the boxes
over the Seakale, which may be done as soon after
the leaves have died down as necessary, a dusting
of wood ashes should be put about the crowns of
the individual plants.
Hotbeds.— These should be made of fermenting
stable manure and leaves, which should have
been previously mixed together and turned over
a few times to allow of the escape of the rank
steam. The beds should be made 5 feet high at
the back and i feet high in the front to admit of
their subsiding a couple of feet during the next few
months, during which time the linings should be
frequently made up to the top of the frame, both to
keep out the cold and maintain the heat of the bed.
The short manure and proper quantity of soil should
be put on the hotbed as soon as the frame has been
placed upon it.
■\'entilation. — At first the frames will require
close attention as regards ventilation, and to pre-
vent steam rising it will be advisable to leave a
little air on day and night at first, and afterwards
give sufficient to prevent a weakly growth.
H. W. W.
Early and second early Potatoes.— Will
any reader of The Gakde.v recotumeud the best and
most profitable early aud second early Potatoes for
market ? I do not want uew aud expensive sorts, but
those readily procurable and good for the table. — W.
Rampions. — These are most useful as a winter
salad, and should be grown in every garden. The
sweet nutty flavour is highly prized, and the Ram-
pion may be said to fill up the gap between the
autumn and spring Radish supply. If (he seed is
sown at the end of April or first week in May the
plants are fit for use by the beginning of November
and may be used until March when the plants run
to fiower. The seed should be sown in very
shallow drills, and the reason Rampions are not
more often met with is on account of the great diffi-
culty in raising them. Snails often destroy the
whole crop unless special precautions are "taken
against their ravages. My plan is to manure the
ground well, trench it deeply, sow thickly, and do
not rake the soil after sowing, but simply smoothe
the surface with the back of a spade. A few dust-
ings of dry soot and lime will ward off slugs. The
leaves are usually eaten raw, but they may be boiled
and used similar to those of Salsify. This custom,
however, is not general in England. — J. T. W.
Propagating.
Beuonia socotkana.— This Begonia, which is
so different from all otherepecies, is just now beauti-
fully in flower. It cannot be increased liy cuttings
after the manner of the others, but Nature supplies
the means of reproduction in the shape of small
bulbil-like masses which form around the base of
the stem, and which will produce young plants
when placed under conditions favourable to growth.
It should be borne in mind that this Begonia after
flowering remains dormant during the greater part
of the summer, and only commences to grow towards
the end.
Delicate seedliscs. — In the case of seedlings
of any kind that are making their appearance above
ground at this season, the next two months will
be a critical period for them, and though it is, gene-
rally speaking, not desirable to have any in this
stage during the depth of winter, it cannot always
be avoided. In the case of some things it is abso-
lutely necessary to sow at once, and when such
happens the young plants may be just above ground
at this unfavourable period. When this occurs
everything as far as possible must be done to keep
the young plants free from damp and in as sturdy
a condition as possible, so that if in pots or pans
they should be stood on a shelf, or at all events in a
spot well exposed to the light, as this is a great
preventive of decay. Where, however, the young
plants become somewhat drawn up and commence
to damp oil', this may often be arrested by pricking
them into another pot or pan and burying them at
such a depth that the seed leaves are just clear of
the soil. No more water must be given during this
dull period than is absolutely necessary. Store pots
of seedling Ferns that are at all crowded will re-
quire considerable care just now to prevent them
568
damping off, and any Moss which makes its appear-
ance on the surface must be at once removed, other-
wise it will soon choke the more delicate kinds.
T.
Trees and Shrubs.
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 17, 1887.
The smaU-growing South American Berberis they remain in beauty, combined mth the robust
empetrifoha, though pretty when in a i3ourisli- character of the plant and its abnost total in-
ing [conditioji, IS of a dehcate constitution, its diflerence to soil or situation render it of
principal claim to recognition being the fact great value to the planter. There are a couple
that It is regarded as one of the parents of B. of varieties differing in the colour of their
stenophylla, which may well dispute with Dar- berries from the normal type one beiu" of
win's Barberry the honour of being the most
ornamental of all Barberries. Though always marked and valuable'variety is 'the purple-
. spoken ,.f as a hybrid, I must confess that its leaved form, wliich in a sunny spot acquires
^ early his^tory is unknown tn me, but perliaps a depth of colour equal to that of the purple-
.1 s"me of the readers of The Garden will be able leaved Beech. AVith the change in the colour
and early wmter-flowering shrub, for shouhl ^^ ^"PPy t«e mtormation. Anyhow, it is an of its foliage this variety maintains the vigorous
the weather be mild, it is often possible to iind extremely handsome shrub, and when planted character of the type. °
A large, bold-growing kind is tlie
A FEW GOOD BARBEKPJES
In addition to the gorgeous spring display fur-
nished by Darwin's Barberry (Berberis Darwini)
it is at times of considerable value as an autumn
whitish tint and the other purple. A well-
some specimens quite laden with bloom during
these seasons. It is, in fact, one of our most
ornamental shrubs, as, irrespective of flowers,
the dark, glossy evergreen foliage is very hand-
some, and towards the end of the summer an
additional feature is supplied by the purple
Berberis Wallichiana.
in such a position that there is plenty of room
Himalayan B. aristata, something
like an unusuallj' vigorous form of
the common Barberry, but it is
very much later in flowering than
that kind. The reddish colour of
the leafless branches during winter
causes it to stand out conspicuous
at that season, and this, combined
with the fact that it does not
bloom till most flowering shrubs
are past, renders it all the more
valuable. The flowers of the
Chmese Barberry (B. sinensis), a
thick growing bush densely clothed
with small roundish leaves, make
their appearance just as the
blanches are studded with the
delicate green, partly expanded
foliage. They depend in great
profusion from the under-
sides of the twigs, and in
colour are sulphur-yellow
inside and a sort of
brownish crimson on the
outside. It is altogether
a pretty little shrub, as
the neat fresh green foli-
age is very pleasing, and
in the autumn it assumes
a bright red tint. The
little oblong-shaped, seal-
ing-wax-like fruits are,
as a rule, sparsely borne.
To the evergreen species
mentioned in the first part
of this article must be added the little Hima-
layan B. concinna, which is well fitted for the
rockery, as it is of too fragile a nature to associate
with the other strong-growing kinds. The
slender branches are clothed with neat foliage,
light green above and of a beautiful silvery
whiteness underneath. The pale yellow flowers
are borne during the latter half of the summer.
B. Walhchiana, of which an illustration is here
given, is a seldom seen kind, yet it is a very
ornamental one. The stout, spiny branches are
clothed with deep glossy evergreen foliage,
which serves as a very eflective setting to the
clear yellow blossoms. This species is a native
of the Himalayas, and unless in very severe
winters is quite hardy around London.
The Mahonia section of Berberis includes
among its number some very ornamental
to display its true character, the long arching I'i"'^/' the commonest and withal one of the
shouts dispose themsehes in a very graceful
manner, and when wreathed with golden blos-
most valuable being M. Aquifolium, wliich is
one of the best shrubs for forming undergrowth
beneath trees. Besides this it is extremely
somsthey present a gorgeous sight. This may ^eneain trees, isesiues ims it is extremely
cases are borne in great be treated as a wall shrub, and if there is plenty handsome as a specimen shrub, that is if a good
about the size of large of space for the long shoots to develop them- f°"" ¥ S'*"^''"' ^°Ji ,'"'^f ''* ■''f. *'"°"' seed in
berries, which in some
profusion. They are about the size of large of space for the long shoots to develop
Peas, and covered with a delicate bloom like a selves, it is seen to yreat advantage grown in
well-finished Grape, Thougli discovered by the this way. Of the deciduous-leaved Barberries,
^^;.^,?^^- Vi,'^'*^^'''^'"''"'^ are indebted to Mr. a high place as an ornamental slirub must be
Wiliam Lobb for its introduction, and, not- assigned to the common kind, which, in addi-
witlistanding the great number of plants inlro- tion to the spring floral display, is so handsome ' rule, more numerous. The common Mahonia
duced by him to our gardens, it is impossible to when laden with fruit. The extremely bright when in an open position has the foliage more
point out a more useful one than this. colour of the berries and the length of time or less sufl'used with a bronzy hue, and in
(uantity it is possible to pick out some greatly
superior to others.
M. fascicularis is even stUl more showy when
in bloom, the clusters of flowers being, as
Dec. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
569
soiun specimens it is strongly marked. When
in this state it is very useful for cutting, as the
leaves last a long time in water, and look well
along with Chrysanthemums in vases or similar
purposes. Tliere are several tall, stately grow-
ing species among these pinnate - leaved
Mahonias, of which some of the Himalayan
kinds are rather tender. The hardiest, and
therefore by far the most useful to the planter,
is M. japonica, whose lemon- coloured blossoms
will, during mild winters, make their appearance
by the end of February, and be succeeded by
berries as large as small Grapes. At all times
the stately character of the plant and the long
pinnate leaves, of a stout leathery texture, stamp
it as quite distinct from the general run of
hardy shrubs. T.
The 'Weeping Aspen (Fopulas tremula pen-
diila). — If elegance of growth should make a tree
popular, then the Weeping Aspen should be one of
the commonest trees planted, but though it is
without question one of the most beautiful of all
ornamental trees, one seldom sees it in parks or
gardens. For planting by the margin of a lake,
pond, or stream — for the Aspen loves a moist soil —
no more beautiful or more suitable tree could be
chosen. As it is a moderate-sized tree, it is par-
ticularly suitable for small gardens, and its branches
being as pendulous as those of a Weeping Ash, it
may answer the purpose of an arbour. Like the
Aspen itself, it always has in summer a cool appear-
ance, for even on the most sultry days its leaves
quiver and tremble as if stirred by a breeze. It is,
therefore, interesting to have an Aspen near the
house, if suggestive of coolness only. It is a quick-
growing tree in a moist rich soil, for being a sur-
face rooter it does not go deeply for its food. Good
large specimens, which make an effect at once, can
be bought for a moderate sum in nurseiies. Were
it a new tree perhaps it would be more in demand,
but as it has been at least sixty years in cultivation
it shares the neglect of old trees. — W. G.
Skimmia japonica. — This little Japanese shrub
produces its berries in great profusion, and, as far
as my observation extends, the birds do not destroy
them. At all events, we have had the berries
stripped ofE the trees of Crataegus Pyracantha and
Holly, while those of the Skimmia close by were left
untouched. The C. Pvracantha appears to be an
especial favourite, for a specimen on a wall here,
which is every year laden with berries, has to be
protected by a net ; otherwise its beauty would be
at once lost. The Skimmia is not grown to the ex-
tent that one might suppose, probably owing to the
fact that it is, especially when young, of very slow
growth, and, besides this, it is liable to assume a yel-
lowish and unhealthy appearance. To be seen at
its best, the Skimmia needs a soil by no means
waterlogged, and yet one that is not parched up
during the summer. This plant also resents expo-
sure to full sunshine, and this should especially be
borne in mind when planting it. At the same time
it will fruit freely enough in a sunny spot, but the
berries are not nearly so effective when associated
with yellowish foliage as when the leaves are of a
leathery texture and deep green in colour. Some
of the finest examples I have seen were growing on
the shady side of a bank of large shrubs, but suffi-
ciently distant therefrom to be free from drip, and
also far enough away to prevent the soil from being
robbed by their larger associates. The Japanese
Skimmia is well adapted for potting up for decora-
tion during the winter, as the hardy character of
the plant admits of its being used without injury in
positions where more delicate subjects would perish;
wills, owing to the mass of roots that is formed,
the plants can be lifted at almost any time without
injury. This Skimmia can he readily increased by
seeds, which germinate quickly. A very good way
is to sow the seed in a frame, as the protection thus
afforded the young plants causes them to make
more rapid progress than would otherwise be the
case. Another species, S. oblata, is not a free-
fruiting kind, but it forms a neat evergreen bush.
It is altogether more vigorous than S. japonica.
forming as it does a sturdy, much-branched shrub,
with stout, leathery, dark green leaves, that retain
their colour well. It is a first-rate town plant, for
it will hold its own amid smoke and dirt, where
most other Evergreens would perish. Indeed, S.
japonica will stand a smoke-laden atmosphere bet-
ter than manv other shrubs. — T.
PRUNING SHRUBS AND TREES.
What are the main objects that should be aimed
at in pruning trees and shrubs ? Surely one of
them should be to sectire a symmetrical head by
lopping off straggling and irregular boughs or
branches, clearing away some of the shoots when
they are too thick in the top of the tree, and remov-
ing aU dead wood and unhealthy growths. The
other day I saw a gardener pruning a luxuriant
young specimen of the single crimson Thorn, and in
order to accomplish his purpose he climbed upon a
pair of steps, and with strong shears cut the head
closely aU round, much in the same way as the wool
is shorn off a sheep. I regret to state, this is done
annually, with the result that the head of the tree
is now a dense mass of branches, and very few
flowers are produced upon it. I daresay the occu-
pier of the villa residence wonders why his tree does
not blossom so well as that of his neighbour, which
is treated differently, but he appears to be very slow
in discerning the real reason. Here is a conspicuous
example of how not to do it. Another object to be
sought in pruning is to develop a handsome and
healthy main trunk, which will form branches only
at a given height from the ground. It is not an
uncommon sight, and especially so in the case of
suburban villa residences, to witness trees planted
so close together that they injure and spoil each
other. The same thing can be observed in thickly
planted woods. Nature has her ovm way of pro-
ceeding in such a case, and gradually denudes the
stems of the trees of their lower branches. It is
obvious that when trees and shrubs are planted so
close together, and more especially in the case of
trees, that there is a lack of air and deficiency of
light, and there is also the mechanical action of
friction of the boughs one against the other, and
these, added to the natural tendency of the sap up-
wards, cause the destruction of all but the lower
limbs of trees.
When suburban villa gardens are first planted, trees
and shrubs are put in thickly together in order to
give the grounds a furnished appearance as quickly
as possible, and as they approach maturity, no
attention is paid to thinning, and they become over-
crowded. I find a general reluctance to thin out
trees that are once planted, however much they
may be destroying each other by their close con-
tiguity.
In the case of a tall ornamental tree, a handsome
and healthy trunk is one of its chief glories, and
this desirable quality should be developed as far as
the gardener or forester can direct it. The loppiing
off of lateral branches depends a good deal upon
the extent of lateral space which some of them can
occupy, and the aspect it is wished that they should
present. Asymmetrical shape is also highly desira-
ble, and this can be attained to a great extent by
lopping off straggling boughs and branches, clearing
out some of the shoots that grow inside the head
where they are too numerous, and cutting away all
unhealthy, irregular, and dead growths, &c.
A modern writer has said : " If you want bushes,
not trees, do not prune. If you want trees, not
bushes, let them be trained to a single stem." This
remark applies, however, more to deciduous trees
than to coniferous plants. Jlost of the latter only
push out lateral branches from the lowest parts of
the stem, and are thus feathered to the ground,
without throwing up more than one main trunk.
But deciduous trees, especially when they have
sufficient room, frequently throw up two or three
stems, which rival each other, or strong shoots from
the lower part of the stem, which become large
branches in time. If the rival stems are not all ex-
cised but one, and if the branches springing low
from the stem are not lopped off, no tree will then
be formed, but only a large bush. In pruning a
tree, if the removal of a branch is necessary, it
should be cut away close to the trunk, and then the
bark will soon " callus " over and cover the scar.
In forest-pruning it is held that a branch should be
amputated at a foot or more from the trunk, or else
the excision will cause knots in the timber. How-
ever this may be as applied to forestry, it cannot
apply to the pruning of ornamental trees, for nothing
can be uglier than these " snags," as such projecting
old stumps are called. The proper time to prune
trees is between the cessation of their growth in
autumn and the movement of their sap in spring.
R. D,
Societies and Exhibitions.
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL.
Deceiibeb 13.
The last meeting for 18S7, held, as usual, in the
conservatory at South Kensington, was a pleasant
finish to a doleful year in the annals of the society.
Both committees had several interesting things
brought before them, as there were many Orchids
of rare beauty, several hardy and greenhouse plants,
and a few fruits. The main features were the
group of Calanthes from Sir Trevor Lawrence,
Burford Lodge, Dorking, and the bank of single
and double Primulas from Messrs. Jas. Carter and
Co., High Holborn.
First-class certificates were awarded as under : —
Adiaxtitm Regin-E. — This is a seedling Maiden-
hair Fern, approaching very closely to A. Viotorise
and A. rhodophyllum, but with more of the habit of
the lovely A. scutum. It has broader pinnules than
Adiantum Yictoria% and throws its fronds well up,
the growth being freer and the fronds more spread-
ing than in the case of either the dense-growing A.
Victori.'B or A. rhodophyllum, which is at once dis-
tinguished by the bright reddish rose tint of the
young fronds. Those in A. Reginje develop without
this colour. It was well deserving the award give n
it. From Mr. H. B. May, Edmonton.
Ptebis CLAPHAiiEjrsis. — This is a pretty Fein
with a foolish name. It is a hybrid between the
graceful P. tremula and P. serrulata, and is like a
dwarf seedling of the first-mentioned species. It
was shown in excellent condition, the plant being a
dense mass of small, refreshing green fronds, and
in this condition it has much to recommend it. In
a large batch of seedlings from P. tremula we
might, however, expect to find several as distinct
and desu-able as this. Such Ferns when in a small
state are very useful as table plants. Sent by Mr.
J. N. Dains, gardener to Mr. W. Soper, Clapham
Road.
Cheysasthbmum Lobd Evebslet. — Flowers
of this now recognised incurved variety were ex-
hibited both in a young state and fully developed.
■When young they show bright green tips to the
florets, this disappearing with age. The blooms
were the largest we have seen this year, and have a
neatness, fulness, and finish characteristic of a
well-incurved variety. It is certainly the most
valuable acquisition to its section for some time, as
it is so pure and late. Shown by Mr. G. Stevens,
Putney.
NEBiifE Masselli. — This is a Guernsey Lily
that ought to find many admirers, not only for its
late flowering character, but for its robust, even, and
large umbel of brightly coloured blooms. It is distinct
from the brilliantly scarlet-coloured N. FothergiUi,
being more of a rich carmine, but with the same
gold spankling that sparkles in the sunlight. The
scape is very sturdy, of considerable length, and the
leaves are long and strap-shaped. The flowers were,
however, somewhat faded and crushed. From Mr.
John L. ManseU, Somerset Terrace, Guernsey.
Peimula Beidesmaid. — A fine single variety,
but not of such robust growth as many of the single
Primulas. The flower-stem is sturdy and borne
well above the leaves, so as to display to advantage
570
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 17, 1887.
the lai^e blooms, that remind one of those of the
Queen variety. Individnally ther are of large size,
excellent form, and of a telling blnsh rose-pink,
relieved with a yellow centre. E^bited by Messrs.
H. Cannell and Sons, Swanley.
Calaxthe SA^^GOXAEIA. — This was the one
selected for a certificate ont of the seedling- Ca-
lanthes sent by Sir Trevor Lawrence, of Dorking.
It is of the character ot C. Burfordiensis, and is dis-
tinguished by the rich crimson, almost deep blood
colour of the flowers. The sepals and petals are
revolute, one of the latter ha\ing a shading of white
at the npper half. The lip is boldly lobed, and at
the base the colour deepens, rendering the plant
doubly attractive. The spike, though not fully de-
veloped, carried several flowers. It showed up well
in the group, by reason of its association with the
ivory-white C. nivea, the rosy coloured C. Veitchi,
the white C. Inteo-oculata, and other pale-coloured
varieties.
The most interesting feature, at any rate for
orchidists, was the collection of Calanthes from
Sir Trevor Lawrence, and amongst these were
several that deserve a note. C. dubia has flowers of
a very pale rose, the colour deepening on the small
column. C. Teitchi splendens is well named, as it
overshadows the type for beauty of colouring ; the
flowers are larger and of a rich crimson, with a
whit« spot at the base of the lip, giving a bright
contrast. C. porphyrea was well shown : this is the
lesult of a cross between Limatodes labrosa and
Calanthe vestita rubro-oculata ; it has flowers of ex-
quisite neatness, but small; the sepals and petals
are of a rose-pnrple shade, and the heart-shaped lip
is of similar colouring, the whole forming a flower
at once distinct and delicate. The charming
Limatodes rosea was represented, also C. amabilis,
the flowers rose, except the lip, which is very faint
pink, and this is set off by a sulphur-yellow base.
C. Veitchi lactea is a milk-white coloured form of
the type, ha's'ing a sulphur-yellow spot in the centre
of the flower ; it is very free, bearing many blooms
on a sturdy spike. C. nivea is like C. luteo-ocu-
lata, but is not of such a clear white, and the base
of the Up is more of a yellow than an orange
tinge; the raceme is more graceful than in the
case of C. luteo-oculata. C. rubro-oculata must
rank amongst the best of all the genus. A form was
exhibited named C. rubro-oculata nova; the flowers
were more of an ivory white than those of the type,
and the blotch in the centre was a trifle richer in
colour. From the same exhibitor came a variety of
the handsome CypripediumLeeanumnamedmacula-
tum, distinguished by its massive dorsal sepal, which
gives the flower strong character ; it is of the purest
white, freely adoraed with lake-coloured spots, the
base showing a bright green tinge; the petals are
crinkled at the edges, and together with the lip are
of a brownish red hue. A plant of Epidendrum
paUidiflorum was shown covered with the long ra-
cemes of pale greenish white flowers, whose chief
recommendation is their delicious aromatic fra-
grance; a cultural commendation was awarded.
Another interesting exhibit was JEranthus grandi-
florus, a Madagascar Orchid, with greenish white
Angr^cum-like flowers; although comparatively
old, it is not often seen.
The double and single Primulas staged by Messrs.
J. Carter and Co., High Holborn. were noteworthy
for the extreme free display of bloom they pre-
sented, and for the excellence of the varieties". The
whole of the plants were full of bloom, especially the
white Fem-leaved Primula, which produces a dense
truss of single flowers of a blush colour. The plant
is robust and the foliage deep green. Other good
sorts were Holbom Magenta, bright magenta, single ;
Holborn Blue, single, and a very near approach to
a true blue ; Holbom Carmine, single ; Holbom
Vermilion, rich colour, single ; Elaine, single, pure
white ; and Princess of Wales and Snowflake, two
free-flowering double kinds, the first having neat
sahnon-red flowers, the other blush. A silver
Banksian medal was awarded.
Messrs. J. Veitch and Sons, of Chelsea, had a
small group, which included another addition to the
new race of Begonias that is likely to take a high
place amongst our indoor flowers. This hybrid
called Winter Gem, has the same parents as the
brightly - coloured and free - flowering variety
John Heal, viz., B. socotrana, and a tuberous
summer - flowering Begonia. B. Adonis, which
was also shown, is the result of a cross be-
tween one of the last-mentioned section and John
Heal. The new hybrid is dwarfer and more com-
pact than either of its relatives; the leafage is
round, serrated at the margin, glossy green, with
lighter marbling, and the flowers are intermediate
in size between those of Adonis and John Heal,
showing up well above the foliage ; the colour is a
very rich crimson. Rhododendron hybrids of the
Javanese race were also sent ; noticeable were a
clear, light buff-yeUow, a reddish scarlet, and a
variety with large flowers, buff shaded at the edges
with lilac — a beautiful harmony of colour. These
Rhododendrons are always being improved, and one
great point is that the flowers are tmaffected by the
densest and most stifling of London fogs.
Orchids were fairly numerotis for the time of
year. Mr. F. G. Tautz, Studley Hotise, Hammer-
smith, showed a most interesting collection of Cy-
pripediums, many of the flowers being of rich
appearance. The following were shown : Cypripe-
dium nitens is a hybrid between C. -iillosum and C.
insigne Maulei, showing distinctly its parentage ; the
flower resembles that of C. insigne Maulei in the
dorsal sepal, and a likeness to C. vUlosum can be
traced in the petals and lip, which are of a glossy light
brownish red colour, and also in the leaves. C. lo is
of very rich colouring, the dorsal sepal displaying fine
deep lake-colotired stripes. C. argus Moensi is a dis-
tinct flower ; its great feature is the broad cowl-like
dorsal sepal, covered with deep chocolate blotches.
C. Amesianum was shown also, and C. Ashburtoniie
calospUnm, the most noticeable feature of the
flower being the reddish Up, which has a
distinct band down the centre. Several of
these Lady's Slippers '. have been noted in the
Orchid columns of The Gaeden this season.
From the same exhibitor came a plant of Odonto-
glossum Insleayi splendens, a bold, richly-coloured,
and well-named variety ; the flowers measure about
4 inches across, and are borne on a sturdy raceme.
The broad sepals and petals are rich brown, relieved
with a few narrow yellowish bars, and the lip is
deep yeUow, spotted with rich crimson at the
margin, this giving a desirable brightness of
colour to the flower. Mr. Tautz also showed Lycaste
plana rubro-glossa, a pretty form ; the light brown
sepals and petals are tipped with green, and the
ivory-white petals fold back at the margin, dis-
playing the beautiful, rich rose-crimson lip, which is
the chief glory of the flower. A Cjpripedium named
Harryanum, and described as a new species from
Siam, was shown by Mr. R.'J. Measures, Cambridge
Lodge, CamberweU. It is a supposed nattiral hybrid
between C. callosum and C. Lowi, having been im-
ported by M. Regnier in 16S6, with C. callosum.
It is like C. Lowi in the upper parts of the petals,
and is a bold flower, with the dorsal sepal striped
and suffused with green ; the lip is neat and dull
red ; the flower is borne on a tail scape. A twin-
flowered spike of C. insigne was sent from Mr. Bur-
nett, The Deepdene Gardens, Dorking, but this is
no novelty. Mr. A. S. Smith, Silvermere, Cobham,
sent two well-grown plants of Zygopetalum Mackayi,
a most handsome winter-fiowering Orchid. The
scape is about IS inches long, and when strong
carries six flowers, the great feature of which is the
spreading lip, that is spotted and lined with rich
bluish purple. He also showed the pretty LreUa
acuminata, bearing flowers of exquisite beauty and
soft colouring.
Mr. James, Woodside Nursery, Famham Royal,
exhibited cut blooms of PrimtUas that represent an
excellent strain, by reason of their high quality.
Plants of two varieties, named respectively Crimson
King and Empress, were also shown. The first has
well formed flowers of a bright crimson colour, but
the truss is too crowded amongst the leaves ; the
other is a good, pure white single variety with
a yellow centre. Messrs. H. Cannell and Sons
had Primula King of the Crimsons, a single
magenta - crimson variety, very free flowering,
and several seedling Cannas of the Continental
race. It will be strange if these do not find
favour, as the colours are of great diversity and
brilliancy, in some cases spotted, as in many
Orchids. One was orange - yellow, spotted and
chequered with red; another, deep red, margined
with yellow. A group would show surpassing rich-
ness of colour. Mr. A. J. Guilbert, of Guernsey, sent
a Chrysanthemum named Guernsey Hero, described
as a fixed sport from Mrs. Chas. Carey. It is appa-
rently of no value whatever.
ilr. T. S. Ware, Hale Farm Nurseries, Tottenham!
had Iris Histrio, which is quite hardy, but had re"
ceived the shelter of a cold frame to prevent damage
to the flowers. These are of a beautiful blue colour,
the lower segments blotched with a deeper shade,
and having^a bright yellow band down the centre-
The leaves are glaucous, channelled, and slender.
Plants of the purple Side-saddle Flower (Sarracenia
purpurea) were also exhibited ; these had been
lifted from the open ground, and were remarkably
healthy. Mr. Ware also showed Christmas Roses.
Helleboms altifoUtis is one of the best, and is run
very closely by H. cancasicus. A variety named
Mme. Fourcade might be dispensed with ; it shows
a mass of stamens, and the colour is dirty white
with a trace of green — a most inharmonious mixture.
The fruit committee had light work. Several
fruits of a new Apple, named Newtown Wonder,
were shown by Messrs. J. Pearson and Sons, Chil-
well, Notts. This variety is described as a good
cropper, keeps well, and is useful for cooking. The
fruit is roundish and resembles Dumelow's Seedling
in character, but with a deeper flush of red ; possibly
it is a seedling from this first-rate kitchen Apple.
An interesting contribution was a plant of Stachys
aflinis, a new vegetable from Japan, from Sir Henry
Thompson, Hurstside, West Moulsey. The tubers
are borne in the same way as those of the Potato,
and may be likened to a small white-ringed shell.
When cooked they are like boOed Chestnuts, but
when uncooked they are watery, though crisp, like
Celery. Under cultivation the tubers will probably
become larger, which would be an advantage. Mr.
John Nelson, nurseryman, Catcliffe, sent three va-
rieties of seedling Apples ; and from Dr. Walker,
Wimbledon, came Apples very like the Blenheim
Pippin. Mr. A. Miller, Ashton Park Gardens,
Trowbridge, had Rood Ashton Seedling Apple ; and
Pears were exhibited by Mr. John Gabb, Bewdley,
and W. Paul and Sons, Waltham Cross. A bronze
Banksian medal was awarded to Victor Diirfeld for
his models of fruits.
Special General Meeting.
An important meeting of the Royal Horticultural
Society was held on Tuesday afternoon last in the
East Crush Room of the Albert Hall, and there was
a large attendance of members, as it was felt that
some definite step must at once be taken to bring
about either a radical reform in the society or pos-
sibly a dissolution. The chair was taken by Sir
Trevor Lawrence, president of the society, and he,
in the course of his remarks, mentioned that the
council had made the best efforts to secure a site in
the city, and endeavours had also been made to ob-
tain a position on the Embankment or seme such
central situation, but, owing to the expense, this
was impossible. The position of the society was, of
course, unfavourable, and he did not think that the
Commissioners of 1851 had dealt generously with it,
as £100,000 had been spent on beautifying the gar-
dens, building arcades, &c., and the whole of this sum
had been practically wasted through the action of
the commissioners. The latter felt it necessary to
make an income out of these gardens, and in an
informal proposal intimated that a yearly rental of
£1000 would be required, and this for only the re-
mains of the gardens. This would involve the
society in an expenditure of £200li — more, indeed,
than its present income. The opinion of the conncU
is that the connection of the society with South
Kensington has been greatly disadvantageous to it,
and mentioned that the %iews of the council were
set forth in the sixth paragraph of the circular.
This is embodied in the resolution carried, and
will be found quoted below. The chairman further
remarked that the Chiswick Gardens had been in
existence now for sixty-five years, and if these
Dec. 17, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
571
were given up, it would not only be absolutely
destructive to the interests of the society, but
a national loss. The scientific committee, he re-
marked, have no intention of being dissolved, and the
fruit and floral committees were animated by a like
desire. There should be periodical reports published
of the work done at Chiswick, also of the society's
committees, as, if it were not for the gardening
press, very little would be known concerning the
work accomplished. At the end of the year the
society would be in debt about £1000, but in past
years the society had been in debt to larger amounts,
on one occasion there being a deficit of £17,000.
The chairman thought that the society should dis-
tinctly promote scientific and practical horticulture,
and should never place reliance on the fashionable
world, which will never give support, but this the
society had certainly done. A new charter is the
only feasible mode of reconstituting the society,
but it is very difficult to get rid of the old
one when once under it. It is necessary that
there should be funds to carry on the work. Hav-
ing regard to the great interest that is mani-
fested in horticulture in this country, he thought
£3000 a year, in order that the society might be
carried on, is not too much to ask for from the
horticultural world. The work had been hin-
dered through the council being at the beck and
call of the commissioners. He had promises of
£1100 towards establishing the society in a new home,
and offers of support from the trade if something
definite is done.
That this meeting requests the council to con-
sider the advisability of a supplemental charter,
and meanwhile requests them to vary the bye-laws
in such a way as •n-ill ensure the Fellows having full
control over the election of the oflicers and council
at the annual general meeting. This meeting pro-
poses the nomination of the following gentlemen to
form a committee to carry out the above resolution ;
Sir Trevor Lawrence, Bart., II.P., Baron Schrceder,
Dr. Masters, Professor Foster, and Messrs. G. F.
Wilson, Alfred Smee, H. Veitch, H. J. Pearson,
Shirley Hibberd, and G. Paul.
There was considerable discussion, much of which
was a mere reiteration of what had been stated at
the meeting on June 28 last ; and at length a definite
proposal was put forth by Dr. Masters, and seconded
by Mr. Pearson, which was to this effect : —
That this meeting approves of the proposals in
paragraphs 6 and 8 in the circular of the council
(here given) —
1. (Par. B.) The maintenance of the Chiswick Gar-
dens and the conduct of plant, fruit, and vegetable
trials there ; and possibly the establishment of a school
of gardening.
2. The immediate engagement of such premises in a
convenient and central situation as may snfiice for
office requii-ements, the safe housing o£ the Lindley
Library, the meetings of the society's committees, and
its fortnightly shows, to the maintenance of which
they attach great importance.
3. The pubUeation of periodical reports of the work
done at Chiswick, and by the society's committees, and
on horticultural subjects generally.
Par. 8. The council would recommend that the sub-
scription should be in future £2 2s. for Fellows, aud
thac a grade of member or associate, at £1 Is., should be
created for professional and practical gardeners, who
have rarely hitherto belonged to the society. They
calculate that the maintenance of Chiswick wUl cost
£"1500 a year, aud that for the other pui-poses of the
society a further sum of not less that £1500 a year will
be required. During ISS", 150 Fellows paid £4 4s.,
and G2.3 Fellows £2 2s., making a total of £193S Gs., a
sum altogether insufficient for the worldng and require-
meuts of the society.
And authorises them to take steps to carry them
out.
The National Anricula and Carnation and
Picotee Societies. — The annual meeting of the
members of these societies took place in the con-
servatory of the Royal Horticultural Society at
South Kensington on Tuesday, the 12th inst., the
Eev. H. H. d'Ombrain, chairman of the committee,
presiding. The usual report was read by Mr. J.
Douglas, the honorary secretary, and adopted, and
a statement of accounts was submitted by the
treasurer, Mr. Shirley Hibberd. There is a sub-
stantial balance in favour of each society. The
oflicers and committee were reappointed, and Mr.
H. Selfe Leonard was added to the latter body.
The revision of the schedule of prizes, the election
of judges, and the appointment of places for the
shows were left in the hands of the committee, more
especially in reference to the latter point. The
proceedings closed with a vote of thanks to the
chairman.
THE GARDENERS' ORPHAN FUND.
A WELL attended meeting of the executive com-
mittee was held at the Caledonian Hotel, Adelphi
Terrace, W.C, on the 2nd inst., Mr. G. Deal, chair-
man of the committee, presiding. The secretary,
Mr. A. F.Barron, reported that he had received since
the last meeting the names of sixty-six new sub-
scribers who had contributed in donations £15 9s.,
and in annual subscriptions £17 lOs , making a
total of £32 19s. Also that since the formation of the
fund the sum of just over £941 has been premised
as donations, of which sum £614 15s. have been paid,
and as annual subscriptions £211 10s. had been pro-
mised, of which £128 IGs. lid. had been received.
A copy of the Declaration of Trust was produced,
under which the trustees are proceeding to inves-
the sum of £5i)0 in 3 per cent, consols. The chair-
man then submitted a financial statement, premising
it by saying that under the rules the committee had
to find all donations, and having regard to the sup-
port given to the committee all over the coxmtry.he
thought they might safely assume that by the end
of the first financial year, which closes on the SOth
of June next, they would be in a position to invest
in the funds a second sum of £500. He then set
forth what might be reasonably regarded as the
sum available in July next for boarding out orphan
children under their rules after deducting all ex-
penses, and he put it to the committee whether
they should take action to place some children upon
the fund at the annual meeting in July. Where-
upon it was moved, seconded, and carried unani-
mously, " That in the opinion of the executive
committee the success which has attended the
establishment of the Gardeners' Orphan Fund is
sufficiently assured to justify them in inviting sub-
scriliers to the fund to submit the names of orphan
chUdren as candidates, and that at the annual meet-
ing in July next at least six orphan children shall
be elected on the fund." A sub-committee was ap-
pointed, consisting of Messrs. G. Deal, W. Eoupell,
C. H. Sharman, B. Wynne, and A. F. Barron (secre-
tary), to make the necessary arrangements for the
ensuing election, and submit the same to the exe-
cutive committee.
Letters were read from Miss Mason, an inspector
of boarded-out children under the Local Govern-
ment Board, and from Miss Akers, the secretary of
an organisation which takes the oversight of
boarded-out children, both of whom promised assist-
ance in the matters, ilr. Barron announced that
since the last meeting of the committee nine local
secretaries had sent in the sum of £29 10s. 6d. A
letter was read from the Eev. H. H. D'Ombrain of-
fering the use of the Horticultural Club for the
meetings of the committee. A hearty vote of
thanks was given to Mr. D'Ombrain. The secretary
also announced that some members of the nursery
and seed trades had taken between them 40,000
subscription forms for placing within their cata-
logues. A cordial vote of thanks to the chairman
closed the proceedicgs.
fessional growers' prize money in accordance with
Rule 10. It was resolved to form a National Dahlia
Society — the Eev. Charles Fellowes, rector of
Shottesham, Norwich, being made the first presi-
dent, with Messrs. James Mcintosh, W. CuUingford,
Shirley Hibbeid, and George Harris as vice-presi-
dents. A committee was appointed as follows:
Messrs. H. CanneU, H. Turner, W. H. WiUiams,
Arthur Rawlings, E. Mawley, J. T. West, J. Hen-
shaw, and T. W. Girdlestone, with Mr. Henry
Glasscock as hon. treasurer and secretary. Some
suggestions were made in reference to the revision
of the schedule of prizes, especially in favour of the
cultivators of small collections of Dahlias, and the
matter was referred to the committee. Mr. H.
Glasscock announced that the Crystal Palace Com-
pany had fixed upon September 7 and 8 next fox
ihe Dahlia show, and that he was commcnicating
with the company with a view to their contributing
the same amount to the schedule of prizes as last
year.
Death, of Mr. Georg e Eyles.— We regret to
announce the death of Mr. George Eyles, which
occurred at Kew on Thursday, December 8. He
was seventy-two years of age, and well known in the
horticultural circle for his associaticn with Sir
Joseph Paxton at Chatswcrtb, and his connection
with the Crystal Palace and also the Royal Hoiti-
cnltural Society. At one time he had the super-
intendence of both the Chiswick and South Ken-
sington Gardens, and it was under his direction
that the latter were laid out. When Mr. A. F.
Barron was appointed superintendent of the Chis-
wick Garden, Mr. Ejles retained his position at
South Kensington, and resigned in 1875.
Mr.. T. Smith, of Newry, would be glad if the
Austrian gentleman who recently wi-ote for catalogues
would kindly send a correct address, as the copies sent
have been rettimed.
Fuel for saddle boiler.— I have just put a
saddle boiler into my houses, and am in a fix to know
the best and cheapest fuel to use. Some have recom-
mended steam coals, others coal and coke, or coke
alone, and yesterday I was told there " was nothing
cheaper or better than anthracite coal." I shall be
glad if seme of your practical readers can enlighten me
on this point. Where I live, steam coals cost about
17s., coke £0s., and anthracite 2Cs. per ton. —
AVATEUB.
Grand Naiional Dahlia show. — The usual
annual meeting of the subscribers to this society
took place in the conservatory at South Kensing-
ton, Mr. Shirley Hibberd occupying the chair, there
being a good attendance of those interested in the
annual exhibition. The treasurer's financial state-
ment showed that the receipts from all sources had
amounted to £133 Is. Gd., inclusive of £62 os. Gd.as
aimual subscriptions, and £50 from the Crystal
Palace Company. The expenditure amounted to
the same amount, including £118 paid as prizes, a
small deduction having been made from the pro-
Uames of plants. — J. Ginders.—TIeeth rosea;
the large-leaved Begonia is B. insignis, the other is
B. ascotensis; the fine-fohaged plant is Acaljpha mu-
saiea ; other next week. In again sending pl.ints for
name, please number them. J. Asliford. — 1, Casua-
rina quadrivalris ; 2, Ehopala corcovadensis ; 3, next
week; 4, Ruscus androgynus; 5, probably Strelitzia
Eegina?, specimen insufficient ; 6, Pho?uix sp.
Liclia. — 1, MaxUlaria picta ; 2, Ca?logyne Gardneriana ;
3, Cjpripedium javanienm. Vulcan. — 1, Lojliapraes-
tans ; 2, Epidendrum ciliare. T. O. — 1, Trigonidium
obtusnm ; 2, send better specimen: 3, MaxiUaria Par-
keri. Jaines. — Adiantum lunnlatum : quite natural
for it to die down ; it will grow again in spring if
kept moist through the winter. H. B. K. — 1, Onci-
dium Phalfenopsis ; 2, Cymbiditmi giganteum ; 3, Mas-
devallia civiHs ; 4, Odontoglossum gloriosum , good
form ; its branched spike is its normal condition.
G. W. — 1, Odontoglossum Alexandra; ; we have seen
varieties with branched spikes, some of ttem good
forms ; yours is an excellent variety ; 2, 0. Insleayi
aureum : 3, Masdevalha Carderi ; 4, Pilumna nobilis.
Marian. — Tour Fern is Adiantum Fergusoni; the
Orchid, Dendrobiura bigibbum ; and the Pitcher, Ne-
penthes Sedeni. Fcirne. — Tillandsia Lindeni.
Cerves. — 1, Blechnum corcovadense ; 2, Adianttmi
caudatum ; 3, Leucostegia pulehra ; 4, Litahrochia ves-
pertilionis. H. F. — 1, Rhododendron Princess Alex-
andra : 2, Aphelandra Roezli; 3, Gesnera cinnabarina;
4, Pentas camea. T. J. — 1, Cyperuslaxusvariegatns;
2, Eeinwardtia tetragynum; cannot name leaves of
Crotons ; 6, Fieus barbatus. Querist. — An aquatic
Fern, Ceratopteris thalictroides. T. B. — 1, Acacia
platyptera : 2, Correa cardinalis : 3, Lachenaha tri-
color; 4, L. luteola. ilavd. — The smaU-leavedform
of the common Myrtle, called Jenny Reichenbach.
Names of fruits. — W. Francis, Richmond.^
Pear, Vicar of Wmkfield. P. 7J.— Apple, Minehal
Crab. J. H. Cults. — Apple, King of the Pippins.
Lt.-Col. Alexander.— 1, Carhsle Codlin; 2, Lady
Apple ; 3, Fearu's Pippin.
572
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 17, 1887.
WOODS & FORESTS.
rORESTRy.
In the formation of plantations on moorland
and hilly ground it has sometimes been
suggested to open pits for the young trees, in
order to give them a good start, and were it not
for the extra expense when compared with that
of notch planting, I should be slow to find fault
with the practice. Proprietors who have a tract
of moorland to plant will think twice before
they embark on such an undertaking if told
that it will cost some £8 or £10 per acre.
Economy, however, never should be purchased
at the expense of efficiency, and there are cases
where it is absolutely necessary to break up the
soil in order to bring it into proper condition
for the roots of the young plants. In carrying
out planting operations on such ground, I have
occasionally had to deal with spots where the
ground was of a hard nature, and consequently
had to be prepared by breaking up the hard
crust mechanically for the reception of the
plants. A cheap and very efficient way of per-
forming this work is by using the tramp pick or
borer, a powerful instrument in the hands of a
skilled workman. When the instrument is
inserted to the required depth it is then used as
a lever for breaking up and loosening the hard
ground at the places where the trees are to be
planted. The trees are then inserted by the
notch system of planting, and as I have found
the results to be in every way satisfactory, I can
with confidence recommend the practice. This
system is best adapted for hill planting where
the principal trees used are hardy Coniferse, and
as it is a cheaper method than making pits it is
largely taken advantage of in the north of
Scotland in cases where the soil is of a stubborn,
inimical character. Tree roots are powerful
pulverisers of the soil themselves, and when
once the trees are fairly started and established
it is interesting to notice the power which the
roots exert in this way.
It is sometimes desirable to establish a plan-
tation upon bare, stony, and hilly ground that
cannot be planted, and in such cases recourse
must be had to the sowing of seeds. Scotch Fir
and other hardy Pine seeds, as well as Birch,
are the most suitable for such situations, and
may be sown broadcast upon the surface, and it
is an advantage to allow the ground to be
pastured by sheep for a couple of years after the
operation. The moving to and fro of the sheep
helps to settle down the seeds among the rooxs
of the surface herbage, and is therefore bene-
ficial in this respect. Wet places should be
drained before sowing the seeds, and the soil
excavated spread out in a regular manner over
the surface. In sowing the seeds upon steep,
rugged, craggy places where there is very little
soil, except such as is contained in the shelves
and pockets of the rock, the better plan is to
break up the surface with a hoe or other instru-
ment and drop a few seeds into the place thus
prepared. The seeds should be then covered
with soil according to their size. In some cases
a man and boy can be employed at this work
with advantage ; the man breaks up the surface
at the proper spot, while the boy drops a few
seeds into the place, by which means the work
can be carried on in an expeditious manner.
There are, however, some exceptionally rough,
steep, rugged places where it is best to employ
but one person, such person to be provided
with a handy tool for opening the ground and a
bag containing his seeds. The tool I use in this
case consists of a small spade about 2.V inches
long by li inches broad at the mouth, fitted
and fastened to the end of my walking stafi' by
means of a socket. With this instrument I can
open up small holes, and deposit a few seeds in
them with facility. Trees in such positions never
attain a a large size, but they furnish the place,
give shelter, and improve the appearence of the
locality. In addition to the trees already named
the following may likewise be introduced into
this sort of ground : Tyrolese Larch, which puts
on its pretty golden orange colour in autumn
about a fortnight earlier than the common
Larch, Mountain Ash, Hawthorn, common Oak,
Quercus rubra, Q. coccinea, wild Cherry,
Aspen Poplar, HoUy, Sloe, Hazel, &c. I
should have been glad to add the common
Whin to the list, as it is a very pretty plant
when in flower, but as its hardiness cannot be
depended upon in exposed situations at a higher
altitude than 1000 feet, I have omitted it.
Planting tree seeds is a very healthy recrea-
tion, and some proprietors do a good deal in
this way themselves. I know an estate in the
province of Ulster where the late owner took
a personal interest in sowing tree seeds, his
principal favourite being the Evergreen Oak.
Pine, well-furnished, medium-sized specimens
of this tree are now to be seen along road-
sides, and here and there throughout the estate,
and as they are rather a novelty, they are
admired by everyone, and very justly so, as
they not only afford shelter, but also give a
fresh, furnished appearance, which is unequalled
in any other part of the country with which
I am acquainted. The Evergreen Oak is rather
difficult to transplant with safety. About
thirty j^ears ago I removed a quantity of
them to a distance of about nine miles, and
although every precaution was taken in their
removal and planting, yet a number of them
died. From my experience and observation,
I believe that the better plan is to raise them
from seed on the spot. J. B. Webster.
The Hornbeam and the Elm are sometimes
used for fences, but neither of these, I consider,
has anything to recommend it in preference to the
Beech. Indeed, the Hornbeam is, in many respects,
so like the Beech, that at a distance it is often mis-
taken for it. One consideration in favour of the
Beech over both these trees is that nurserymen
sell the plants at a few shillings less per thousand
than they charge for Hornbeam, and at a con-
siderably less price than what is demanded for
Elm.— G.
The Beech appears to have been a great fa-
vourite with planters eighty to a hundred years ago,
judging by the numbers of trees about that age. It
is a quick-growing tree, and thrives well on sandy or
light soils ; and even on clay soils, if resting on sand,
it grows freely. Twenty-four feet apart is' close
enough to plant it ; and it is better in a mixed plan-
tation than in masses by itself, especially if any
underwood or shrubs are desirable in the plantation,
as, owing to the iibrous roots running close to the
surface, it extracts all the moisture from the soil,
and renders the ground underneath too dry for
any vegetation. — X.
Trees and shrubs for wet ground.— I know
of nothing more profitable to grow, or that will
succeed better in wet land, than the Alder. ^A'tien
once the plants become established, it is astonish-
ing how quickly after being cut down they start
again and yield fine poles, that is, if protected from
the attacks of game, such as hares and rabbits,
which are fond of nibbling the young shoots as they
start into growth. Next to Alders in point of profit
and suitability for wet land stands the Ash, the
wood of which always meets with a quick and ready
sale. Elm, too, does well where it can get plenty
of moisture at the roots, and it is only wlien so
favoured that it keeps healthy for any length of
time, or acquires much size ; when sound and large
Elm trees are valuable. By planting the two last-
named at wideMntervals, the Alder will be found to
do well between them, and come in as a sort of
undergrowth, an arrangement by which there would
not be many years to wait before the ground would
yield some return. Evergreen Oaks interspersed
here and there, and some of the Conifers;, such as
the AustriauPine, Pinus Laricio, and Abies Douglas),
would also have a good effect, but if the land be
very wet, it may be necessary to plant these on
raised mounds. — D.
THE MADRONA.
(AEBUTUS MENZIESI.)
The Californian Arbutus or Madrona is a tree 25
feet to 50 feet in height, and about 12 inches in
diameter, with smooth bark, red or green, accord-
ing to the season of the year, and exfoliating in
thin flakes,' the new bark being green, and gradually
changing to a bright red. Hence, from its colour,
it is sometimes called in Eastern Oregon "Moun-
tain Mahogany." It is unbranched for some 7 feet
to 8 feet from the base, and forms an umbrella-
shaped summit, with a rather open growth like a
Maple. The port of the tree is rather crooked, and
with its glistening leaves and smooth mahogany-
coloured bark, and bright bunches of white flowers,
it presents a very striking appearance when seen in
the occasional openings of the dark Fir forests of
the North-west. It is not a social tree, being rarely
seen in more than one or two together, and then
only at considerable distances apart. It is cer-
tainly one of the most ornamental trees of that
region, and already, even in California, is cultivated
as such in private grounds and parks, and in the
clumps of shrubbery so commonly used to shade
dwelling-houses in San Francisco and other towns
of that State. Dr. Newberry remarks that the large,
thick, and lustrous leaves, and the smooth and
coloured bark, give this tree a tropical look, re-
calling, by its general aspect, the Magnolia grandi-
fiora of the Southern States of America. On the
Pacific coast the Madrona has a wide distribution,
being found over most of the State of California,
and to about the northern end of Vancouver's
Island. In the valley of the Sacramento it is com-
mon, and all through the Williamette Valley I saw
large trees of it. Here is is often called " The
Laurel." East of the Cascade Mountains it is rare,
but I am informed by Colonel Drew, and other
travellers who have gone across " the great descent
of Fremont," that on the isolated hills in that
region it is found in stunted forms here and there.
It is never found in the depths of the Pine forest,
but only in the sunny openings where light and
warmth now and then enter. It seems very indif-
ferent as to the soil in which it is found, preferring,
if any, dry stony soils, being often found on the
bare side of a mountain, on the edge of a cliff on
the sea shore (as about Victoria Harbour), or on the
numerous islands in the Haro Archipelago and the
Gulf of Georgia. It is not found at any great
elevation, being essentially a tree of the lowlands,
where it flourishes in great perfection. As an orna-
mental tree, I think it would soon be exceedingly
popular, being perfectly hardy anywhere in Britain.
In some of the places where I have seen it growing
in perfection, 3 feet or 4 feet of snow must lie for
months in the year, and the tree be often subjected
to a temperature at and below zero. The wood has
not been applied to any important economical pur-
pose, though from its hardness and Box-like cha-
racter, I think it might be used for the rougher
kind of cabinet-work, and even for wood-engraving
of the less artistic description — such as play-bills,
posters, &c. — in fact, any of the purposes for which
mahogany is now used. In California, the wood is
used to some extent for making wooden stirrups
so commonly used in the State. I have seen this
tree even larger and finer than it is described by
Mr. Brown in his " Horas Sylvante," and should like
to know how it succeeds in cultivation with any
of your readers. I have seen it at elevations of
5000 feet, and in company with trees and shrubs
quite hardy in our gardens, and it seemed to attain
a greater height than any Aibutus I have elsewhere
seen. A. B.
THE GARDEN.
573
No. 840. SATURDAY, Dec. 24,1887. Vol. XXXII.
" THb is an Art
Which does mend Natvire : change it rather ; but
The Art itself is Nature."— S*aJcs^ca?-e.
GRAPES AND FLOWERS TOaETHER.
Having in previous years given you the result of
my humble eftbrts, I venture again to do so,
more especially as the results of my enlarged ex-
perience tliis year have been most favourable. I
may again repeat that my three greenhouses are
aU vineries, to which are added a cooler house,
containing a Peach tree with a Gloire de Dijon
Rose covering the east end, and a small propa-
gating house. Tlie Vines— Black Hamburgh
and Buckland Sweetwater (roots outside) — have
doue as well as usual, owing to the borders
being covered with cow manure in late autumn,
and to meal bone-dust being carefully raked in
twice a year, and to one of the three old rods
(I allow three to each Vine) being cut away each
year. Perhaps the best way to show what one
gardener (who has other things to do also) can
effect with the help of a little advice is to say
what the houses now — a fortnight before
Christmas — contain. First of all, a half-span
house, used as a fernery, is filled with pot Ferns
and Callas just coming into flower, all standing
on sand in a shallow pit. The Callas are planted
outside all summer. Its back wall is lined
with clinkers set in Roman cement, in which
flourish other Ferns, the common green Trades-
cantia. Creeping Fig (always too rampant), and
ever-blooming Begonias. This house has on its
front shelf (a slab covered with sand) pots of
Daphne indica, struck from cuttings, in delicious
flower and scent, early Roman Hyacintlis, Cycla-
mens, Primulas, Grevillea robusta, and small
pots of yellow and white Pompon Chrysanthe-
mum tops, struck about July, for table decora-
tion, aU half buried in Tradescantia. The next
house — a taller half-span— is divided into two
parts, one always cool. In the cool part (kept
dry) the Cinerarias, Pelargoniums, Calceolarias,
Azaleas, and pot Roses are wintered, and three
or four small Camellias and pots of Triteleia uni-
flora are flowering, or preparing to flower. The
other part is kept as warm as it can be got, and
is now filled with Coleuses, white Begonias,
Primulas, and Bouvardias, the latter blooming
profusely, interspersed for effect with the sky-
blue spikes of Browallia elata. Seeds of the
last-named plant are sown in July, and the
seedlings pricked out into 3-inch pots, and
carefully stopped from time to time. There is
also a Pleroma macranthum, or Lasiandra flori-
bunda, which, ever since the plate appeared in
the Botanical Magazine, t. 5629, I have never
been without for winter decoration. In your
notes in The Garden, Dec. 10 (p. 528),
you speak of it at Kew Gardens, and call
it a Brazilian plant. When 1 saw it at
Kew in two places three or four weeks ago, I
was induced to compare the few sparse
blooms on the large, rambling plants with
my own. My specimens, grown in 8-inch
or 10-inch pots, stand out all summer, their
native habitat being 8000 feet up the Andes,
according to the Botanical Magazine, and are
literally as large and round as a Gooseberry
bush, and are for two or three months, that is,
from October to December, as thickly covered
with blossoms as a Dog Rose in July. Every
shoot has perhaps half-a-dozen buds upon it,
and no plant is more easily propagated from
cutting.^. In The Garden, Dec. 10 (p. 525),
" A. '■ has contributed a most valuable article
on Bouvardias. My plants are treated like
Fuchsias, but with a little more warmth.
Cuttings (inserted round the sides of the pot)
strike easily, and Bouvardias, like almost every
plant I possess, pass the summer sunk in
a sunny south border. Fresh air and mo-
derate heating apparatus ought to be the
desiderata of amateur gardening, but a golden
rule is never to open the side lights in winter,
the object of this being to save the plants
from cold draughts. Open the roof lights freely,
and the door, when possible. Next comes the
propagating house, in which I contrive (for ball-
room sprays) to grow a couple of plants of Eu-
phorbia jacquinipeflora, struck in the spring, three
in a pot ; a few Epiphyllums and Orchids, espe-
cially Zygopetalum, Dendrobium nobile, and
Cypripediums, which flower fairly well. The
Cypripediums receive cool treatment in summer
in the greenhouses. Next comes a lean-to house,
well filled with Pelargoniums, Marguerites, Abu-
tilons, Schizostylis, more Daphnes, Fuchsias, Be-
gonias, Acacia armata, Kennedya, Heliotrope,
Browallia, (fee. , and one plant of Sparmannia afri-
cana (too large for my purposes, though raised
from a tiny cutting last May) all in full bloom.
This effect is mainly produced by picking out
the earlier buds, and keeping the plants in the
open air until late. The back and side walls
of the lean-to house are clothed with Ficus
repens, Plumbago capensis, and Lonicera
sempervirens. The last house is the cooler
house, with a 2 -inch heating pipe only,
and this year by starting and keeping my
Chrysanthemums late, as an experiment, I am
having them now, and shall have them, I
trust, in greater perfection on Christmas Day
and New Year's Day, when they will be
most welcome. It is needless to say that the
flowers are not thinned out to one on a stem.
My idea is to get as many blooms as reason-
ably possible, to heap cow manure over the
pots and water through it, to give air during
the daytime, and to supply what warmth can
be kept up during the night. By these means,
and spare watering, mildew is entirely pre-
vented. Lastly, I hope that none of your readers
will think me an egotist. My sole object is
to show how much can be done at a slight ex-
pense by anyone who will really lake the
trouble to study his subject, and who has
patience to learn by his failures the way to
final success. North-west Cheshire.
until the sun is well above the horizon. The cover-
ing should not always be left on, except in heavy
snows or exceptional frosts, as the hardier the
inmates are kept by opening the lights, every day
if possible, the better chance will there be of avoid-
ing losses by damping off. I do not expect that
cold frames will ever occupy the position they did
in days gone by. But it is a mistake to let them
stand empty during the winter under the impression
that they are of no use, for how many half-hardy
plants are most grateful for a little protection.
Beds of Violets, winter Gladiolus (Schizostylis coc-
cinea), and similar things that ilower during the
short, dark days well repay the protection of a
movable glass shelter, and the early Primroses,
Anemones, and similar plants that flower in our
usually treacherous springs are all so much bene-
fited by a little shelter, that the uses of movable
cold frames are far too limited. Cold frames
are also useful for hardening off the many pot
plants that have been forced under glass.
J. G. H.
COLD PITS AND FEAMES.
Since the system of heating by hot-water pipes
has been brought to such perfection, the simple con-
trivances for keepirg tender plants through the
winter have fallen into disrepute by reason of the un-
ceasing care and attention necessary to keep the
plants healthy. There can be no doubt, however,
that many plants are not only kept equally safe,
but, what is more to the purpose, in even better
health than in any kind of heated structure.
Shrubby and herbaceous Calceolarias and Cinerarias
are examples of plants that delight in a cool, moist
atmosphere, yet are easily injured by frost, and show
dislike to fire-heat by becoming infested with green-
fly directly it is given. The plants, however, keep
perfectly clean in cold frames, and when exposed to
the atmosphere on all favourable occasions. During
the past two winters I have seen splendid batches
of plants kept in cold frames the whole winter by
means of outside coverings only, and for dwarf, well-
branched specimens they certainly surpassed any-
thing I have seen grown in heated structures. The
main point is to have the frames well protected at
the sides by banking them up with turf or coal
ashes, so that there is only the top for the frost to
act upon. A good covering is formed by a liberal
supply; of litter, or, best>f all, dry; Fern fronds.
Cover up securely directly frost comes on in_ the
afternoon, and do not remove the Fern or litter
Chrysanthemums.
B. MOLTNETJX.
PROPAGATION.
Striking the cuttings of Chrysanthemums is an
important item in the culture of these plants.
There are many methods practised, some people
finding one method best and some another. Con-
venience has much to do with the method prac-
tised. It should be understood clearly by all
that bottom-heat is not necessary to induce root
formation. Many persons imagine that appli-
cation of heat to the plants when striking is an
advantage, but in all cases it is more injurious
than otherwise, and tends to weaken the after-
growth of the plants. Sturdy growth should be
encouraged in all stages, care being taken that
the plants do not become drawn. A great deal
depends upon the quality of the growths to
begin with. A weakly-grown cutting can be
made to improve very much, but while that is
taking place much valuable time is lost ; there-
fore select good strong cuttings. What I should
call a bad cutting and one to be avoided is that
taken from the stem and showing a bloom-bud
in the axils of the leaves. The main object is
to select such that will start into growth at
once. The best cuttings are those taken at
some distance from the stem of the parent plant.
The cuttings should be about 3 inches long, cut
square across below a joint, and should not be
too sappy.
Having explained the kind of cutting to
select, I will now endeavour to show as clearly
as possible the best means of striking them.
The best of all methods is under hand-lights or
in a small propagating frame, placed in a cool
house kept, say, at a temperature of from 40°
to 50^. These should be on the side stages, and
as near the glass as possible, so as to prevent
the cuttings becoming drawn up weakly. Some
growers strike their cuttings in a cold frame,
which no doubt answers very well, provided it
is covered up securely in severe weather. Chry-
santhemums as cuttings may be frozen in the
pots and will not be killed, but a loss of time is
the result. Some persons strike them without
any extra glass covering except the ordinary
greenhouse roof, but under such conditions the
fcaves flag considerably and rooting is retarded.
Then, again, some are struck thickly together
and placed around the edges of a -t-inch pot.
Chrysanthemums root readily enough in this
way, but when they are potted ofl' singly into
other pots a serious check is given them by the
loss of soil from the roots. Some strike the
cuttings in a cold frame without pots, simply
dibbling them into sandy soil placed in the
574
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 24, 1887.
frame, raising the whole as near to the glass as
possible.
The best method, in my opinion, is that of
placing each cutting separately in a 2i-uich pot.
By using single pots no check is given to the
plants when potted off. Long, narrow pots
answer best, as a larger number of them can be
arranged in a given space. The pots should be
quite clean, and pay more attention to the insides
than is very often the case, as when dirty pots
are used the roots cling around the sides of the
pot, and when the plants require shifting into a
larger size the roots are often broken. This
does not occur when clean pots are used. For
drainage, one crock in the bottom of each pot is
sufficient, placing over this a little rough leaf-
soil, or, what is handier, the rough pieces taken
from the soil in passing it through a half-inch
sieve. The best soil for the purpose is about
equal parts of loam and leaf-soil, with a free use
of coarse silver sand thoroughly mixed together.
Fill the pots firmly with this compost ; on the
top sprinkle a small quantity of silver sand to
be carried down with the dibber for the cuttings
to rest on. Care should be taken that the cut-
tings rest firmly at the bottom of the hole.
After the cuttings are made firm, a gentle water-
ing to finally settle the soil and sand around the
cutting must be given. If the handlights or
frames be placed upon the stages of the house,
air should be excluded by laying ashes on the
stage, thus keeping the pots cool. The lights
must be kept closed until roots are formed, only
taking them off' for an hour in the morning to
allow of the escape of moisture ; and in the
evening the glass should be wiped dry, other-
wise damping might take place. No shading
will be required. In about a month some of the
cuttings will be rooted. The varieties which
grow strongly are generally those which make
roots in the shortest time. Admit air cautiously
then, increasing the supply as growth proceeds
until the lights can be removed altogether.
Very little water will be required while the
lights are kept close so long, but when roots are
formed, careful attention as regards watering
is necessary. If propagation takes place in a
cold frame, very little water will be needed to
the soil, and more air will be necessary to pre-
vent the damping oft' of the cuttings. Of course,
the frames will need covering each night when
frost is apprehended.
CHRYSANTHEMUM NOTES.
Madame Dbsgeanob. — A few years ago it would
have been thought almost impossible that a Chry-
smthemum flowering in early autumn would be
more largely grown than any of the late-flowering
kinds. How high Madame Desgrange stands in
the estimation of those who grow for profit is illus-
trated by the fact that a grower in this neighbour-
hood annually has two acres of it and its yellow
variety for the supply of cut blooms for Covent Gar-
den. It would be interesting to know the money
value of the flowers of this Chrysanthemum that
are yearly taken into the London markets, but as
this grower estimates that of his own growth at
about £5(l((, it must amount to a large sum. That
oae single kind of Chrysanthemum should be culti-
vated to such an extent affords a striking example
of the development of the cut-flower trade in recent
years. The cultivator above referred to sets his
plants out in such a manner that they can be pro-
tected with thick canvas from the autumn frosts,
the stopping of the shoots being so regulated as to
throw the blooming season into October, a time when
good flowers from the open are scarce. This year
has, however, been most disastrous. Ordinary pro
tection was of no avail against the severe frost of
October 12, and instead of a mass of white and
yellow blooms worth going miles to look at, there
was at the latter end of the month a blackened mass.
Very few of the flowers were good enough for
market. The damage done throughout the country
by that frost to late Chrysanthemums must have
been immense. The fine, late autumn led many
growers to keep their plants out to a much later
date than usual, and the frost came so suddenly
and with such penetrating power, that even under
canvas they were frozen stiff at an early hour in the
evening.
Cutting down the plants. — "J. C. C.'s" note
on this subject in The Gabden, Dec. 10 (p. 536), is
one of the most valuable that I have seen for some
time. If such a system as he describes were gene-
rally followed, it would be helpful in many ways.
Many of the late kinds are slow in throwing up
shoots, and the consequence is that the plants have
to be retained for a couple of months after bloom-
ing. When the market grower requires the house
immediately for Tomatoes or for any other purpose,
the enforced retention of many pot plants is a
source of inconvenience. The labour they involve,
too, has to be taken into account. It is an easy
matter to put in a few extra cuttings and plant
them out. If cut down in autumn, lifted, and put
in a frame, the stock required for a large house can
be compressed into a small space. Doubtless, too,
better cuttings can thus be obtained, as from the
first they get the full amount of light and can be
exposed to the air on mild days. When the plants
are crowded together, as must be done when it is a
question of profitable culture, the earliest cuttings
are apt to become rather drawn. The advantage
derived from the use of thoroughly strong healthy
cuttings is so well recognised, that if this were the
only one gained, the cutting down in autumn should
find favour with growers generally. The quick pro-
pagation of new kinds would also be thereby much
facilitated.
The latest Chetsanthemtjm. — Which is it?
Mr. Moljneux says, Ceres ; but I think he must
have overlooked the claims of Ethel, although he
includes it in his list of tried late kinds. It is true
that I have not grown Ceres, but if it is later than
Ethel, then we can have plenty of Chrysanthemums
in February. Last year I cut thousands of good
blooms during January, and should have had them
again this year had the plants not been injured by
the frost. I shall have many now, but not good,
I fear. Ethel is a free-growing kind, that as a
profitable Chrysanthemum will be hard to beat. I
will, however, try Ceres the coming year, and shall
then be in a position to speak with certainty. A
weak-constitutioned kind, however fine in other
respects, is of no use to the market grower. There
must be freedom of growth, hardihood, the habit
must not be loose, and, above all, the blooms must
be freely produced. We have good late white va-
rieties that are hard to beat, two good yellows at
least, but we are yet lacking in a good bright late
kind. What a gain one of the colour of Culling-
fordi would be ! After all, much may be done by
management to retard the blooming season of any
good kind.
Jubilee. — This was sent out last spring as a pink
sport from Princess Teck. With me it is neither
pink nor white, the outer edges of the petals only
being coloured. They have, too, a dried, contracted
appearance, as if water had failed the plant at ex-
pansion time. I thought that such had been the
case, but from the unfavourable report concerning
it when exhibited lately by the raiser, I conclude
this to be its normal condition. The growth of the
plant is weaker and the foliage neither so green nor
broad as in its parent. This sport evidently owes
its origin to a want of vigour and contracted condi-
tion of the sap-vessels of the petals. I am the more
convinced of this, as several blooms on the lower
part of the plant have reverted to the type, and
these are as fresh looking as could be desired.
Over-propagation may have something to do with
the quality. The first year in the existence of a
flower rarely suffices to give a true idea of its value.
I shall give it another trial, as a pink Princess Teck
is much to be desired. J. C. B.
an oversight, I omitted to place among the forty varie-
ties of incurved, and also among the varieties named
for late flowering, the white sport from Princess Teck,
Lord Eversley. It isa pure white, medium-sizedbloom,
incurving well, and forming a neat flower; more parti,
cularly is it valuable for late blooming. — E. M.
Chrysanthemum Lord Eversley.— In my
list of Chrysanthemums for various purposes, through
DWARF CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
Specimen plants "have had their day," is a
verdict we can pronounce without much fear of
contradiction. The gaunt Chrysanthemums, trained
as if to represent mops, that some acquire a taste
for, become fewer and fewer each year, thus benefit-
ing our shows, and testifying to the good sense of the
gardener. To mould a plant into the form of a
standard with flowers disposed in painful regularity
on the top may be a work of time and patience,
and in itself somewhat of an art, but it is un-
natural and unlovely, therefore deserving con-
demnation. This season there has been brought I
under notice a method of growing the Chrysan- i
themum that should have careful consideration, as i
a means of obtaining handsome, shapely plants at
little expense and trouble. I refer to the cutting-
down system that is likely to be largely carried out,
especially by those whose ambitions are not so high
as those of the ardent exhibitor. Messrs. J. Laing
and Co., of Forest HUl, have done much towards
popularising dwarf plants, and their group at the
National Chrysanthemum Society's exhibition had
a freshness that was quite a relief from the
tall arrangements of other exhibitors. One of the
reasons of the brightness of groups of dwarf
specimens is that the foliage is invariably rich in
colour, healthy, vigorous, and produced quite close
down to the pots, so that naked stems are absent,
and discoloured leaves few and far between. It
can be seen that for small houses, such as we find
in many gardens, dwarf plants are of the greatest
value, as they can be arranged without much skill
by reason of their compactness, regular stature, and
neatness. Tall plants, especially if they are 8 feet
high, as not unfrequently occurs, are troublesome
and ugly, while there is the risk of the stems
snapping from rough winds or the heavy storms of
rain that sometimes visit us in the early autumn.
But we must allow the exhibitor to have his tall
plants, as it is only upon these that the flowers of
the fine quality to be seen at the shows are obtained
through the growth not receiving any check, as is
the case where the plants are cut down as advised.
Where the cultivator is an ardent exhibitor and
makes a speciality of groups, a very good plan would
be to cut down a portion of the plants, as these
would form a first-rate front to the arrangement,
placing the taller specimens at the back.
At the first commencement the cultivation is the
same as required by those plants that are to be
grown without stopping. The cuttings should be
struck now, and they may be inserted in either
small pots singly or three together in 3-inch size. It is
important to select the strongest shoots, and, as will
be seen from the list of varieties given below, some
are better adapted for growing as dwarf plants than
others. A light soil will suffice and transfer the cut-
tings to a frame, where they can have a little warmth
to induce a quick formation of roots, while the water-
ing must be carefully attended to, as if the soil is
kept too moist they will damp off wholesale. When
the potting off singly into 3-inch pots is in progress
reject those plants that show weakness, and after
the cuttings have been shifted^ into 3-inch pots
place them in a frame, where they should have free
ventilation and the strictest attention to promote a
sturdy, vigorous growth. From this period the
culture is of the ordinary kind, details of which are
given in these pages at the proper time ; but in
the third week of May or the flrst part of June those
plants that are to be grown on the dwarf system
must be cut down to within about 6 inches of the
pots. The amateur who has not tried this plan
need have no fear as to its results if proper atten-
tion is given afterwards, because new shoots will
soon appear that will show great vigour and sur-
prising depth of greenness. Place the cut-down
Chrysanthemums by themselves, so that they
may receive the right treatment. Give very little
Dec. 24, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
575
water until growth Is commencing, and to induce
this, syringe the stems occasionally, the same as is
done in the case of Vines. It is the practice with
Messrs. Laing to select three of the most promising
shoots, each of which will produce a flower of
average quality and size. When these shoots have
made a growth of 6 inches the plants are transferred
to 10-inch pots. Nest year a smaller pot will be
used, as the 10-inch size is considered too large for
comparatively small plants such as the dwarf Chry-
santhemums.
There are, of course, some varieties better fitted
for this method than others, and I append a list of
those kinds that may be recommended.
Japanese. — Agi-i?ments de la Nature, Belle Pauls,
Blanc Preeoce, Bouquet Fait, Charlotte de Mont-
cabrier, Coquette de Castile, Cossack, Dr. Macary,
Edouard Audiguier, Elaine, Fernand Fei-al, Flanime
de Punch, Gloriosum, Hiver Fleuri, James Salter, J.
Delaux, Lady Selborne, I'Ebouriffee, lime. B. Een-
datler, Mme. de Serin, Maiden's Blush, Mandarin,
Margot, Mile. Lacrois, Mons. H. Elliott, W. Holmes,
Mons. Jacotot, Mons. Moussillac, Mons. Tariu, Source
d'Or, Val d'Andorre, and William Stevens.
Incurved. — Angelina, Barbara, Beverley, Golden
Beverley, Bronze Jardin des Plautes, Bronze Queen of
England, Emdy Dale, Empress of India, Eve, Golden
Empress of India, Golden Queen of England, Hero of
Stote Newington, Isabella Bott, Jardin des Plautes,
Lady Hardiuge, Lady Slade, Lady Talfourd, Lord
Alcester, Mabel Ward, Mr. Bunn, Mrs. 6. Bundle,
Mrs, Heal, Mrs. Norman Davis, Mrs. W. Shipman,
Princess of Teck, Princess of Wales, Queen of Eng-
land, Venus, and White Venus.
some roots, and they consequently make plants
more quickly than cuttings. That this mode of
propagation is not general is simply due to a wide-
spread notion that suckers do not make such good
plants as cuttings. I should like to know if any of
your readers who have made a special feature of
the Chrysanthemum can say for certain that such is
the case. When I have propagated plants in this
way, I have seen no difference in the quantity and
quality of the blooms. Last year I propagated
nearly all my stock from suckers, and I never had
such a strong lot of plants. It is much easier to
pull a plant to pieces and pot off the rooted offsets
than to take cuttings that have to be carefully
tended for some time. — J. C. B.
Rejiexed. — Cullingfordi, Dr. Sharpe, Phidias.
Large Anemone. — Acquisition, Fleur de Marie,
Gliick, Laing's Anemone, La Marguerite, Mme. Cabrol,
Margouline, Minnie Chate, Prince of Anemones, and
ScBur Dorothee SouQle. E. C.
TREATMENT OF CUTTINGS.
Those who have their Chrysanthemum cuttings
in cold frames, under hand-lights in cool houses,
or on the shelves of the greenhouse, or wherever
circumstances admit, will need to give them
every attention at this time of the year. Where
the pots are standing in cold frames much care
is necessary to keep the cuttings free from damp
during dull, cloudy weather, and very little
water will be required — just enough, in fact, to
prevent the cuttings flagging. Admit a little
air to the frame to dry up condensed moisture
by tilting the lights at the top for an hour each
morning and then shutting them up for the day.
Cover up the frame securely for the night in
case of frost. Any cuttings pricked out into
soil in the frame will scarcely require any water
until well rooted, as the soil is not so liable to
become dry as when in pots. The hand-lights
placed over those cuttings in a cool house should
be removed every morning for an hour to dry
up superfluous moisture which condenses upon
the glass. Wipe the glass dry again in the even-
ing with a sponge, as neglect in this matter often
causes the cuttings to damp oft". It sometimes
happens that slugs or caterpillars eat the cut-
tings. The points are generally first attacked,
and as the pests are almost sure to visit the
same place the second night, they are easily
caught and destroyed if looked for after dark.
Old roots or stools of Pompon, decorative and
single varieties that are kept to supjily cuttings
during January for growing as bush specimens
will have to be examined to see that the J'oung
growths are not becoming weakly by over-
crowding. Where danger of this exists, re-
course must be had to thinning the shoots so
that those remaining are sturdy and likely to
produce stocky plants. E. M.
Chrysanthemums from suckers. — The
easiest as well as the surest way of propagating
Chrysanthemimis is by pulling the stools to pieces.
The suckers that compose them have "generally
PACKING GRAPES.
The admirable illustrations of the best methods of
packing Grapes f ortransmission per rail, &c., given in
TheGaeden,Nov.26 (p. 493), recall to mindthevery
interesting competitions in fruit packing which
Mr. Webber promoted and encoturaged for several
years at South Kensington. The baskets illustrated
present just what found most favour with Mr. Web-
ber, whilst too often elaborate attempts to do too
much, which always turned out badly, elicited con-
siderable disapprobation. It is a notable fact and
all the more interesting, because the matter has
been so recently referred to by Mr. Coleman, that
Mr. Webber more than once lamented that so
experienced a packer as Mr. Coleman did not com-
pete, as his exhibits and methods wotdd have been
to the other competitors, as well as to onlookers, so
instructive. It was some reward for the money
spent in promoting these competitions to find that
although the competitors were few, yet great
interest was always displayed by gardeners present
at the shows, and there is little doubt that much
good resulted in greatly improved methods of
fruit packing. Towards the last, that improvement
in the competitive packing was all the more mani-
fest, although, so far as Grapes were concerned, Mr.
Webber was not always satisfied. Those who criti-
cally examined the baskets illustrated in The Gar-
den, Nov. 26 (p. 493), must have noted specially how
very simple were the methods of packing adopted ;
indeed it is hardly packing in the accepted sense,
for the Grapes are but carefully laid in, and are not
covered up in any way except by the ordinary
basket lid, or in the case of the cross hand-basket
by a stout paper lid covering.
When at the recent show at the Royal Aquarium,
I was present when Mr. George, of Putney, received
and opened one of the flat baskets as figured, and
the illustration presents the very fac- simile of
the one I saw then. This flat basket had come
from Clovenfords. It was, I believe, encased in
brown paper, and when this was removed and
the [lid opened, there was disclosed a "baby
basket" containing several bunches of grand
Gros Colman, neither of which were tied to the
basket, and all had arrived in the most perfect
form. Nothing could have been simpler, nothing
more satisfactory. The method adopted was such
as would have excited alarm in the minds of
many gardeners, because the tipping over of the
fiat must have had disastrous results. In this case
none such had happened ; and it would be very
interesting to learn from Mr. Webber whether
disasters ever do happen in transit to such a simple
system of packing. The flats are stout, and would
stand [many thousands of miles travelling by
rail if needed ; but I presume none of the baskets
go back again. In the competitions at South Ken-
sington the stems of the bunches were secured
in most cases to the sides of the baskets or boxes
by means of string, but that would seem to have
been a needless precaution. Everything depends
upon the fiats being kept throughout their journey
on their bottoms, and proper directions on the lids
doubtless secure this. Railway employes are
often blamed with respect to their handling of
goods and parcels, but, on the whole, it is found
that, when properly described, even the most de-
structible of articles come to little harm. When
confidence is established on the part of the sender.
it is obvious that the flat system of sending even
the finest Grapes to market is the simplest, cheapest,
and most satisfactory. ' A. D.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
Me. MacDonaid, AVoodlands House, Perth, has
sent a beautiful gathering of autumn-flowering
Orchids, including racemes of the lovely Pbalse-
nopsis amabilis and blooms of the now popular
Cypripedium Spicerianum. Enclosed with them
were sprays of Asparagus plumosus nanus, that for
associating with delicate flowers are almost as useful,
and certainly more lasting than Fern fronds.
The double "Wistaria. — We regret to see the
Rerne Horiicole with a coloured figure of this
worthless plant, which is in every way less beautiful
than the single form. We observed it carefully
when it first fiowered in this country, and, led on
by a cut in an American journal, hoped to figure it,
but found the double Wistaria on flowering an ugly
monstrosity only.
Lselia albida. — In the Orchid establishment of
Messrs. Sander and Co., St. Albans, there are two
marvellous specimens of this lovely Mexican species,
and they present a glorious sight with their crowd
of flowers that fill the house with an odour of Prim-
roses. The two plants bear in the aggregate 176
spikes, each carrying on an average six to eight
blooms, which represent an excellent form, as they
are nearly 3 inches across, approaching those of L.
autumnalis in size.
Ficus (Artocarpns) Cannoni. — This plant,
which has for some years been grown as an orna-
mental-leaved plant under the name of Artocarpus
Cannoni, has recently fruited at Kew, and has proved
itself to be not an Artocarpus, but a Ficus, the diffe-
rence between the two genera being founded upon
the fruit structure. The large leaves, beautifully
tinted with bronzy crimson, have made this plant
very popular, and no doubt the name Ficus Cannoni
will be adopted in nurseries. It was introduced
about ten years ago from the Society Islands.
A new Strelitzia is now in flower in the
Palm house at Kew. It is a variety of the well-
known S. ReginEB, from which it differs in having
pure yellow instead of orange- yellow bracts. The
flower itself is of the same rich purple colour as
in the typical plant, and the contrast of the yellow
with the purple is very beautiful and more pleas-,
ing than that of the orange and purple. It is
one of the plants brought from South Africa by
Mr. Watson last spring. It has been named S.
Reginse var. citrina.
BiUbergia Worleyana. — Under this name
there is a beautiful new hybrid Bromeliad flower-
ing in the stove at Kew. It resembles B. nutans
(which may be one of its parents) very much
in growth and mode of flowering. It has long,
narrow, spiny-edged leaves, which recurve on all
sides of the central tuft. The rather long flower-
stem is so slender that it droops in the same way as
that of B. nutans. The long, narrow bracts that
adorn the drooping part of the scape are rosy-pink ;
the flowers are produced on a short spike, each
being about 2 inches long ; the sepals are reddish,
while the three petals are of a deep indigo-blue, a
contrast of colour producing a singular, yet beauti-
ful effect. It was included, I believe, in the rich
collection of Bromeliads acquired for the Royal
Gardens belonging to the late Professor Morren, of
Liege.— W. G.
Crinum Hildebrandti. — Amongst the dense
undergrowth in the Palm house at Kew, and in
almost perfect shade, this lovely bulbous plant is
now flowering with such vigour and profusion as
are rarely, if ever, seen when it is grown in pots on
an open stage — a fact which proves that at least
some of the Crinums need shade besides warmth
and moisture for their perfect health. The speci-
men of C. Hildebrandti is a very fine one, having
leaves a yard or more in length, and a flower-stem
from 15 inches to 18 inches high, terminated by an
umbel of a dozen flowers. Each of these has a tube
fully 9 inches long and long, narrow sepals pure
576
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 24, 1887.
white, radiating in a beautiful star-like way, and
deliciously fragrant. Such lovely plants as the
winter-flowering Crinums are of great value, and
those who possess a stove should grow a few of the
best, such as Hildebrandti, Careyanum, giganteum,
Commelyni, and Moorei, all of which are of medium
size, and will thrive planted out as undergrowth.
C. Moorei is invaluable, as it can be grown in a
greenhouse, and has the loveliest flowers of all the
Crinums. The various kinds of Pancratium also
succeed at Kew under the same conditions as those
under which this Crinum is growing.
Old double white Primula. — At this season
of the year no plant is more useful for supplying
white flowers than the old double white Primula.
This variety has the advantage over other double
kinds, as it is far more free-flowering. The flowers
last a long time when cut, and are also much
esteemed for making into bouquets or button-holes.
A temperature of 50° suits the plants well.alsoaposi-
tion close to the glass. The atmosphere should be
dry, as the plants are apt to damp off at the collar
if grown in a close house. A good companion
is King of the Parples, being dwarf, yet robust in
growth, and flowering in profusion. — S.
Jasminum gracillimum, one of the most
valuable plants that Mr. Burbidge brought from
Borneo when collecting for Messrs. Veitch, is again
flowering profusely in many stoves, just at the time
when its lovely white clusters of fragrant blossoms
are most wanted. Those who do not possess this
Jasmine miss a great treasure, for in the opinion of
those who grow it there is no flower in winter to
compare with it for sweetness, elegance, and
purity. It is a free grower under ordinary stove
treatment, and never fails to produce an abundant
and continuous crop of bloom. It never looks so
beautiful as when grown against a pillar, with its
slender branches hanging loosely, but it may be
grown successfully in small pots. — W. G.
Centropogon Lucyanus as a climber. — It
does not appear to be generally known that this in-
valuable winter-flowering stove plant may be grown
as a wall-climber in a most beautiful way. In the
Water Lily house at Kew (near the Palm house)
there is a plant fully 6 feet in height and 8 feet
across, completely covered with flower-clusters,
and climbing against a glass partition. It is
so often grown as a pot plant, that it is strange it is
so seldom seen as a climber. The natural tendency
of the plant is to climb, and if assisted by supports,
the - drooping, slender, flowering shoots arrange
themselves in a most graceful way. The beauty of
the Kew specimen, with its clusters of carmine-
crimson flowers, may be better imagined than
described. — W. G.
Iris fctylosa (the Primrose-scented Winter
Iris). — Mr. Hartland charms us by sending some of
the beautiful Algerian Iris in fine flower. He does
not say where he grows it ; no doubt it is out of
doors with him, as with others. He writes : " This is
now in great perfection. I send you a few. It
should be always 'cut in the bud,' and placed in
small glasses for select room decoration in the cool.
The whole air becomes pregnant with that whiffy
freshness of ' spring delights.' My H feet diameter
tubs of the various sorts of Christmas Rose are a
wonderful display at present. I had the three
sorts, viz., ' St. Brigid,' major multiflorus (Irish),
and Riverstoni photographed yesterday. The plants
carry from 200 to 30(i blooms each."
Seedling Lapagerias.— In a batch of seedling
Lapagerias there are sure to be a number of inferior
varieties, but sometimes the reverse is the case.
Amongst some seedling varieties at Messrs. Laing
and Co.'s nursery. Forest Hill, were a few of con-
siderable excellence, showing a desirable distinct-
ness in the shortness of the tube and the spottings
of the flower. One was very short, but not lacking
in substance, and the interior was distinctly marked
with white. A race of Lapagerias with short-tubed
flowers would not be unwelcome, as the blooms
might be used with better effect in choice decora-
tions, though they would not perhaps have the same
value when in the conservatory. In such a situa-
tion the coarser flowers are better. There is also
considerable difference amongst seedlings of the
white Lapageria. Some are not pure white, but
have a flush of dirty yellow, which destroys the
chasteness and exquisite delicacy proper to them.
A good addition to these excellent plants is the
variety L. rosea superba, which has far bolder
flowers than those of the ordinary type, and is a
remarkably robust grower. There is a plant in one
of the houses at Forest Hill that shows a most
vigorous constitution. Notwithstanding that the
Lapageria is one of our best known greenhouse
climbers, it is strange that more use is not made of it.
There are many corridors and rafters now bare and
unsightly that might be beautified with Lapageria
rosea and alba.
Flatyclinis uncata. — The four little Orchids,
all with exquisitely graceful flower-spikes, known
under the generic name of Dendrochilum, have
lately been renamed and placed in the genus
Platyclinis. As this name has been adopted in
Williams' " Orchid Manual " and in other works, it is
well, perhaps, to adhere to it, although the two
older species, P. filiformis and P. glumacea, will
always be best known as Dendrochilums. The
newest of the four species, P. uncata, is not less
worthy of culture than the others, as it is extremely
pretty when in bloom. It is like P. filiformis in
growth, but the drooping spikes are a pale yellowish
green and not so long. There is a plant in ilower
in the Orchid house at Kew that attracts attention
just now. It was introduced a short time ago by
Messrs. Low from the Malayan Archipelago. It is
grown at Kew in the intermediate house.
■Winter-flowering Iris. — Two beautiful Irises
are I.Histrio and I.alata, both now flowering in Mr.
T. S. Ware's nursery at Tottenham. I.Histrio be-
longs to the reticulata group, and is of a cheerful
blue colouring. The lower segments are blotched
with a deep purple, and there is a band of rich yel-
low on the centre. It may be grown in pots, as
then the flowers are not damaged by rains, but it
will thrive in the open, preferring sandy soil, like
all the reticulata group. I. alata, or soorpioides,
has flowers of delicate fragrance, and appear out of
doors from November to January ; the colour is
rich blue, the lower segments being blotched with
a deeper shade, and there is a rich yellow central
band ; it is very free blooming. Another flne
winter-flowering Iris is the Algerian Iris (I. stylosa),
of which a note appeared in The Garden of Dec.
IT (p. 550).
Sobralia sessilis. — This rare and extremely
beautiful Orchid is so seldom seen in bloom, that
orchidists may like to know that a fine specimen
has been flowering for some weeks past in the Kew
collection, and is likely to continue in bloom for
some time. In its Reed-like growth it somewhat
resembles the common S. macrantha, but the stems
are shorter, ranging between 1 foot and 2 feet high.
The flowers are much smaller than those of S.
macrantha ; the sepals and petals are pure white,
the latter the broadest, and the pretty rounded-
lobed lip is tinted with the most exquisite shade of
rose-pink. Like those of most of the Sobralias,
the flowers are very fleeting, lasting only one day,
being at their best about noon, but as they are
succeeded by others almost every day, their short
life is compensated for. This Sobralia is an old
introduction, and was figured in the Botanical
Segister in 1841, and also in the Sotanlcal Maga-
zine, tab. 4570. It is a native of British Guiana,
and is grown successfully at Kew in the East Indian
house.
Christmas Roses are the flowers of the season
and find many admirers, as well they may, con-
sidering their delicate beauty and sterling useful-
ness. In Mr. T. S. Ware's nursery, Tottenham, there
are several kinds in bloom, comprising the follow-
ing, all of which present distinct characters that fit
them for every garden, whether large or small. The
first to bloom is H. maximus or altifolius, and this
often commences to make a show in October, giving
a free display of its beautiful clear white salver-
shaped flowers. This is followed by Mme. Fourcade,
which is also very free-blooming; when young, the
flowers are pure white, but they become of a
greenish hue with age. It is a Christmas Rose
that should come into the select list. H. caucasicus
is in full bloom at Christmas ; the flowers are of
good^shape and white, with a colouring of purple on
the outsides of the petals; in the variety major
there is less purple. A late kind is H. ruber, which
is possibly a natural cross between H. niger and
maximus ; the flowers are of a reddish colour, and
their lateness renders them valuable ; it is at its
best in January. A beautiful Hellebore is H. ver-
nalis, in the way of maximus, but has narrower
leaves and is less robust. The flowers, of a fine
white, are chaste, delicate, and sweetly scented.
H. caucasicus does well in a dry soil, while the
others require a damp position to ensure succefs.
The Christmas Roses are flowering well this season,
though the leafage is somewhat thin and ragged,
owing, no doubt, to the dryness of the past sum-
mer. The late kinds are bristling with buds, and
there is a promise of a good show of flowers on the
old H. niger.
We have received from Mr. W. Gater, The
Lodge Gardens, Bishop's Teiguton, flowers of H.
niger altifolius. The plants are evidently in the
most robust health, as shown by the splendid leafage
and blooms. The latter measured close upon 4
inches across, and were of surprising strength, some
of the stems having two well developed flowers.
We should much like to know how Mr. Gater treats
his plants, so as to obtain such vigour. He states :
" I consider there are nearly 1000 blooms of various
sizes on our six plants."
Bomneya Coulteri.— I notice in The Gaeden
(p. 534) a short note respecting the hardiness of
this lovely Tree Poppy, and am rather surprised
to learn that Mr. Wood's plants, although in
a frame, are injured by the frost. Our plants,
which are in an exposed posirion on the rockwork,
are perfectly green and still in a growing state.
The plants were planted out early last spring and
flowered beautifully late in August. — C. S.
At p. 534 of The Gaeden fears are ex-
pressed as to the hardiness of this plant. In the
nursery of Mr. T. S. Ware, of Tottenham, there is a
specimen on thc'rockery in vigorous health and un-
harmed by the treacherous weather we are experi-
encing. There is also a plant in a cold house un-
touched by frost. The statement of Mr. Wood,
therefore, needs qualifying, as in this part of
England, Romneya Coulteri is, at any rate, able to
withstand keen cold. Things may, of coarse, be
different in Yorkshire. — X.
Pleroma macrantbum. — In nine gardens out
of ten we may find this plant not in a cool house,
which is its proper place, but in the stove, and the
result is long, spindling growths that bear few flowers
and give little return for the attention given. In the
nursery of Messrs. Laing & Co.,Forest Hill,it is grown
in the form of trained specimens, and very hand-
some they appear when every shoot is tipped with
flowers of the richest purple. The plants are cut
hard back and kept somewhat starved, so as to pro-
mote a well-ripened growth. Then when the shoots
are of sufficient length they are carefully trained
round sticks, and the plants when in bloom are of
the greatest value for the enrichment of the green-
house, as they are not too formal and present a
glow of delightful colour. The foliage is also
robust, and this is a great point. One specimen
was trained on the same principle as the great
Wistaria, near the greenhouse at Kew. The stakes
are inserted at the outside of the pots, and the
shoots are trained round, so that we have a dense
mass of foliage, while the flowers are well displayed.
Gardeners and others who have hitherto regarded
Pleroma or Lasiandra macrantha as essentially a
stove plant, should try it under cooler conditions,
and it will be surprising if the results are not satis-
factory.
The illustrations in the American Garden are very
gi'aoef nl and show good flower-gardening ; they in no
way resemble some we have lately noticed in the
Florist, but the design on the cover of the American
Garden is not praiseworthy — a figure of a partially
draped female with a ridiculous expression and in an
impossible attitude. This should be changed. Why
not a good, clear title, and the contents below it ?
Deo. 24, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
577
BLICKLING HALL, NORFOLK.
This, a view of which is here given, is the
seat of Constance, Marchioness of Lothian,
and is well known to those who visit the
eastern coast during the summer, as they have
the privilege of seeing the beautiful house and
gardens every Tuesday. The view shows
the north and east fronts of the house. This
unique specimen of Elizabethan architecture is
situated in the valley at the foot of sloping
ground, and was once surrounded by water, but
the moat, although preserved, has been drained
for many years. Anne Boleyn resided here in
her youth, and Queen Elizabetli visited
Blickling during her reign. The reception
rooms are very fine, notably the library,
which is probably one of the finest rooms to be
found in any private mansion in the kingdom.
are very extensive, and are laid out in straight
walks and planted with avenues of trees, princi-
pally formed of the common and Levant Oaks.
At the back of the lines of trees are planted fine
collections of Rhododendrons (which grow well
here in the natural soil) and deciduous spring-
flowering trees and shrubs. Conifers, fine speci-
mens of Pinus nobilis, Abies Douglasi, Welling-
tonias, «fcc , may be seen among them towering
up to a great height. On the south side of
the grounds is one of the finest specimen
Scotch Firs that I have ever seen, its girth at
4 feet from the ground being 15 feet. It is very
lofty, and carries a fine head of foliage. Passing
down to the west side of the flower garden, on a
gently sloping lawn we find gigantic spreading
trees of the Plane and Turkey Oak sweeping
the Grass with their branches — the largest Plane
on the west side, typical of the place, an Ivy-
covered summer-house on one side, huge spread-
ing Cedars overhead (the largest girths 16 feet),
a Silver Fir, straight as an arrow, shooting up
120 feet, with a girth of 11 feet ; Weeping
Ashes, borders of German Iris, and hedges of
Fuchsia Riocartoni, Spireeas, &c. We reach
the kitchen garden, enter and pass through a
small Box and gravel garden filled and kept for
spring-flowering bulbs and plants, and come to
two straight pieces of water with sloping Grass
banks, rarely met with now in kitchen gardens.
A row of Lime trees that have been pruned for
centuries reminds the visitor of the innu-
merable changes that have take place since this
grand old demesne was laid out. On an east wall,
well sheltered from cold winds, Peaches flourish
and annually ripen heavy crops. On the walls,
It is 125 feet long, and the width and height
are in proportion to its length. Facing the
east front is the principal flower garden. This
was made by excavating the sloping ground
and surrounding it at a great expense by a
terraced wall. This was commenced by the
late Lord Lothian, and has been completed
and brought to great perfection by Lady
Lothian, whose marvellous taste in gardening
has kept everything in perfect harmony with
the style and character of the building. Every
good plant finds a home in this charming garden ;
hence the autumn Crocus, the winter Hellebore,
gay spring-flowering plants and bulbs, all the
best herbaceous plants, Roses, Carnations,
Gladiolus, Lilies, and annuals keep up a con-
tinual display of ever-changing beauty.
The grounds attached to the flower garden
Blickling Hall, Norfolk. Engraved for The Garden.
covering an area of 125 feet diameter, and girths
11 feet ; the largest Oak girths 14 feet, the
spread of the branches being 86 feet. Tlie large
Plane is a most singular and remarkable tree ;
the side branches spring from the trimk at from
12 feet to 16 feet from the ground, spread out to
a great distance on all sides, and then finally,
from their own weight, rest on the ground and
become rooted. Some of these rooted branches
are now trees of respectable dimensions. Pass-
ing to the north part of the mansion, and leav-
ing on the right the lake (a very fine sheet of
water in the shape of a segment of a circle, with
a grand bank of Beeches and giant Oaks on the
sloping ground running down to the water's
edge, and making a piece of English park
scenery unsurpassed in its quiet loveliness
and beauty), we come to a flower garden
Pear trees (of which there is a good collection)
are well cared for and the fruits attain a large
size. The garden is laid out in squares. Running
parallel with the walks are ancient espalier Apple
trees which are carefullypreserved as long as they
have any life left, and are then replaced with the
newer sorts and trained in the same style. Mr.
Oclee, the enthusiastic gardener, believes the
espalier-trained tree to be the best for obtaining
well-ripened wood and highly-coloured fruit.
In one corner of the garden is a very fine
Oak, probably spared when the garden was en-
closed ; the tree girths 16 feet at 4 feet from
the ground, and rises with a stem some 50 feet
without a branch. On the south side of the
garden there is a very fine range of houses,
divided into eight compartments ; the first three
are vineries. I noticed (Dec. 8) very good Mrs.
578
THE GARDEN.
Pearson Grapes lianging, plump and of good
colour ; some very good bunches of Groa Col-
man grafted on Madresiiekl Court, large, black,
and of excellent flavour. The Madresfield
Court Vine in this house is a very fine one, with
eight or ten rods, and since this house has been
treated as a midseason house, Mr. Oclee has
never had a cracked berry ; when devoted to late
Grapes, the Grapes were almost useless, from the
berries cracking. The finest bunches of Duke
of Buccleuch Grape that I have yet seen were
grown here this season, the V^ines being grafted
on the Mrs. Pince stock. Peaches and Pigs
occupy the next two houses, and are well grown.
These houses are at present filled with a good
collection of Chrysanthemums, disbudded for
fine flower, and grown naturally when wanted
for the rooms. The next three houses are
filled with a general collection of plants.
Cicli.gynes do well in baskets, and are brist-
ling with flower-spikes. An unusual feature in
these houses is that all wall spaces are covered
with cork and planted with Perns, Mosses, and
Begonias, which luxuriate to an extraordinary
degree, and give the whole a charming ap-
pearance. I must not forget to mention the
home-grown Lily of the Valley in full bloom
with thirteen and fifteen bells open from crowns
grown in the open ground. In a garden like
this, with such a rich collection of plants,
bulbs, trees, and fruit, it is only possible to
enumerate a few of the many good things, and
to touch on a few of its most salient and in-
teresting features. Wm. Allan.
Qunton.
Stove and Greenhouse.
DOUBLE CHINESE PRIMULAS.
There are few plants that have given more
trouble to cultivators, or against which so many
failures could be recorded, as the double forms
of Primula sinensis, yet, when a clean, healthy
stock is obtained and the plants receive favour-
able treatment, they will grow almost as freely
aa the single varieties As they produce such
a wonderful quantity of bloom, which stands
well after it is cut, they will, in spite of all
prejudice against double flowers, always remain
favourites. The stock can only be increased by
cuttings or division, and it is on this account
that they are more difficult to manage than are
the single varieties. Being of a succulent nature,
they are very liable to damp or rot off, and are
also subject to various pests in the way of
maggots, wireworms, &c
Propagating.— The time to commence pro-
pagating will depend upon the condition of the
plants. The best time is after the plants have
done flowering and started into fresh growth.
This will usually be about March or April. The
first thing to do will be to carefully clean the
old plants. All leaves that show any signs of
decay should be removed, taking them ofl' as
close to the stem as possible. After the plants
have been thoroughly cleaned they should stand
for a few days, so that any moisture or frag-
ments of leaf-stalks may get dried up. Instead
of taking cuttings I prefer to earth up the
plants — that is, to put some light, sandy soil on
the surface of the pots, pressing it moderately
firm around the stems and bringing it well up
to the base of the lower leaves. The plants
may then be placed in a warm temperature,
and lightly sprinkled frcjm time to tiiie to keep
the surface soil moist. In a short time they will
produce young roots from the portion of the
stems that has been covered up. In about a
[Dec. 24, 1887.
month after the plants have been surfaced they
will be ready for dividing. In dividing the
plants, all the lower portions of the stems with
the old roots should be cut away ; if only a few
roots can be obtained, it will be better than
leaving any part of the old stem. A little dry
sand should be applied to the cuts, and the
divisions potted with as little delay as possible.
If placed in a close frame and kept well shaded
1 he plants will soon start away freely. After
ihe first few days a little air may be given and
gradually increased, so that by the time the
plants are ready for potting on they may be
placed in a more exposed position.
General treatment. — In growing the plants
on they will succeed best during the summer
months in a pit or frame with a northern aspect ;
although they should be screened from the
bright rays of, the sun, they should be as much
exposed to the light as possible, and a free cir-
culation of air maintained. Before the damp
weather sets in in the autumn they should be
in a position where a little artificial heat can bo
given, in order to prevent too much damp
settling on the foliage. Although double
Primulas will not stand an excess of moisture,
it is a great mistake to suppose that they re-
quire to be kept very dry either at the roots or
overhead. Watering should always be attended
to carefully, as either too much or too little will
bring the plants into a bad condition. Another
matter of importance is that the plants be care-
fully cleaned from time to time. In removinc
decayed leaves they should be taken ofl" as close
to the stem as possible. Damping is more fre-
quently caused by neglecting to remove the
leaf-stalks of decayed leaves than anything else.
Varieties. — Beautiful as many of the newer
varieties are, the old double white is the most
popular, and is more extensively grown than
any other sort. Its blossoms are of snowy
whiteness, and produced in great profusion,
while they stand up better than the larger
flowers of the fringed varieties. There is a
larger form of the above called grandiflora,
which when I first saw it I thought was only a
vigorously grown specimen of the old white. I
find, however, on growing the two together that
they are distinct. P. candidissima, P. Fairy,
and P. alba plena fimbriata very closely resemble
each other ; in habit of growth they are similar
to the old white, but the flowers in addition to
being fringed are rather larger and are also
slightly stained with pink, especially after they
have been expanded a few days ; of the three
varieties I should give the preference to can-
didissima. The varieties raised by Mr. Gil-
bert are valuable additions, but the four varie-
ties— Marchioness of Exeter, Mrs. Barron,
Princess, and White Lady — are hardly distinct
enough to deserve separate names. They all
produce a large percentage of pure white flowers,
but all are more or less inclined to sport ; some-
times the flowers are very distinctly tiaked with
various shades from pink to purple ; the plants
are of vigorous growth, with dark leaf-stalks and
full, well-formed flowers. Earl of Beaconslield
is another variety from the same source, of
similar habit, with cerise-pink flowers, but these
also vary in colour ; when well exposed to the
light they are very bright and pretty. P.
Blushing Beauty, blush pink, a free-growing
variety, with large, well-formed flowers ; P.
Exquisite, of the same shade of colour, very
dwarf and compact; P. Annie Hillier is another
very pretty flesh-pink variety; P. Balfouri,
bright carmine-pink, very pretty. Peach Blos-
som, magniflca, and Carminata flore-pleno are
very similar to Balfouri. Of the dark varieties.
King of the Purples is one of the best. Rubra
grandiflora is also a good one. P. Miss Eva
Fish IS a very distinct variety, with soft lilac
flowers and of vigorous growth ; and P. Em-
peror is a Fern-leaved variety, with beautiful
rosette-like flowers of a rosy crimson. A.
Acacia platyptera. — In the peculiarly winged
stems this Acacia is totally different from any of
the others, while another distinctive character is
the fact that it is invariably the first of all this ex-
tensive genus to flower. While the majority of the
Acacias bloom during the early months of the year,
the above-named variety flowers during the latter
part of the autumn and the beginning of winter.
The flattened stems of this kind are so peculiar that,
irrespective of flowers, it forms an attractive speci-
men, and when studded with its little golden balls
it is very bright and cheerful, added to which the
flowers remain in beauty a considerable time. It is
one of the most difficult of the Acacias to strike
from cuttings, as one may well imagine from the
peculiar conformation of the stems. — H. P.
The Blue Marguerite (Agath^a Ciclestis). —
Too much cannot be said in praise of this bright
little plant for greenhouse decoration during the
dull winter days, and it is worthy of the best atten-
tion of gardeners, as its flowers are of a pale sky-blue
— a colour rare among winter-blooming plants. At
Kew it is grown in quantity for the greenhouse, and
special attention is paid to it in order to get good
plants for the winter. The plants are of tufted
growth, about a foot high and as much across, and
are all well flowered. The flowers are like those of
the Marguerite, about the size of a florin, with a
bright yellow centre and pale blue florets. Inter-
mixed with white-flowering plants, such, for ex-
ample, as the Paper-white Narcissus, the effect is
most pleasing. The practice at Kew is to plant the
Agathsea out in the open border during summer in
order to get a strong growth, and the plants lifted
in autumn'and potted begin to flower at once, and
continue for weeks in bloom. — W. G-.
IVCanettia bicolor. — This slender-growing, stove
twining plant supplies a bright bit of colouring just
now, being studded with its pretty little tubular-
shaped blossoms. They are in shape not unlike those
of some of the Heaths, and their colour is very bright
red, tipped with yellow. This Manettia is a native
of the warm parts of South America, and con-
sequently requires stove treatment, except during
the summer, when the plants may be kept some-
what cooler. The slender habit of this Manettia
scarcely fits it for employment as a rafter plant, but
in a small structure it may be used to form a screen
at the end or in some such a spot. When it is in-
tended to be grown in this way a few thin strings
should be fastened up for the growing shoots to
attach themselves to. It has also a very pretty
appearance when allowed to ramble at will over a
few branches stuck in a pot, as the specimen is then
totally destitute of any stiffness or formality. The
cultural requirements of the Manettia are simple, as
a mixture of loam, peat, or leaf-mould and sand
will suit it perfectly. During the growing season
it should be liberally syringed to prevent the attacks
of red spider. — H. P.
Begonia Madame Henri Oache. — Where
the difEerent Begonias of the Rex section are grown
for the sake of their handsome foliage, this variety,
if not already in the collection, should be noted as
a desirable addition, for it is by far the richest
coloured kind that I am acquainted with. It is by
no means a strong grower, and it usually forms
rather a close, compact plant, well furnished with
leaves. These leaves are generally about 5 inches
or G inches in length, and their colouring is arranged
in the following manner. A narrow margin is of a
brownish crimson tint, then inside that there is an
irregular band of bright green, while the major por-
tion of the leaf is of an indescribable shade of pur-
plish crimson, shot with a peculiar silvery metallic
lustre, while in the centre of each leaf the principal
veins are marked for a little distance with an irre-
gular stripe of reddish brown. Like the rest of its
class, this Begonia grows readily enough from leaf
Deo. 24, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
579
cuttings put in at any time during the summer. It
might also well repay the attention of the hybridist,
for Begonias of this class can be easily raised from
seeds and quickly form good-sized plants. We have
quite a large batch raised in this way, and though
none of the plants surpass existing varieties, it is
very interesting to watch their gradual development
and the great changes that take place in the mark-
ing of the foliage. The seed was simply sown in
the spring and kept in a stove temperature, when
the young plants quickly made their appearance,
and when large enough they were pricked ofE into
pans of light soil composed principally of well
decayed leaf- mould. When large enough they were
potted off, using much the same kind of soil as be-
fore, and being kept in a cool part of the stove, they
made rapid progress. — H. P.
FORCED BULBS AND ROOTS.
Old forced bulbs and roots of various kinds, such
as Lily of the Valley, Spirrcas, &c., are too often
thrown away, for the following reason, viz., that it
does not pay to keep them for another season, as
new ones can now be bought so cheaply. I am not
going to argue that old forced bulbs or roots are
better than new ones, but they are well worth
saving for at least two years, and certainly deserve
a little better treatment than they usually get after
they cease flowering. If they are placed out, without
any protection directly the flowers are over, in the
bitter spring weather that we get, it will be useless
looking for a second bloom; but if well treated, I
feel sure that no one will be disappointed who gives
them a trial.
In some gardens I have seen such things as Lily
of the Valley bloom year after year in the same
pots, and Spirreas and the ordinary Dutch bulbs
flower not only after one, but three or four years'
service. With extra care and attention devoted to
the plants in all stages of their growth, results far
beyond what many would consider possible have
been achieved. I do not think any plants are
better treated than these up to the time the flowers
fade. They are potted in the best of soil, and every
attention is lavished on them ; but with the fading
of the flower all this is changed, and this is the very
time when those that wish for a second display of
flowers from the same roots or bulbs should take up
their culture in earnest, and endeavour to perfect the
leaf-growth. Shelter under glass is indispensable
even in the case of the hardiest plant if it has been
pushed on into growth in advance of its natural sea-
son. If the plants have been used in the conservatory
or intermediate house while in flower, they should
be kept in the same temperature until, owing to the
increasing power of the sun, a cold frame will be
suitable for them. By the time spring is well ad-
vanced the bulbs may be set out in a sheltered
position to ripen off in full sunshine. Great care is
necessary in watering, for if they lack this no other
part of their culture will make up for it, as many of
the roots and bulbs require a liberal supply of mois-
ture during the growing season. If these simple
details are attended to, I feel sure that not only will
the plants yield a good supply of bloom the second
year, but they will flower in advance of those forced
the first time. J. G. H.
SHORT NOTES.— STOVE AND QREENHOUSB.
Freesias. — These beautiful bulbs should now be
showing flowers in abvindance if they have been
properly attended to. If shifted now to a warmer
house the blossoms will soon expand. I find that they
should he subjected to lieat very gradually, as by so
doing the flowers are stronger and last longer, especi-
ally if the bulbs were potted up early and grown out-
doors during the autumn. — W. A. CooK.
Dwarf Scabious in pots. — Within the last
few years the dwarf Scabious has been grown some-
what extensively for flowering during the winter, and
very useful the plants are for that purpose. With
more heat than that afforded by an ordinary green-
house, they will bloom for a considerable time, and
the long stalks admit of the flowers being used in a
cut state for a variety of pm-poses. The cultivation
of the plants is simple, all that is required being to
raise them early in the season, and grow them in pots
plunged out of doors until the cold weather sets in. —
H. P.
Camellia leaves dropping. — I shall be
obliged to you if you would say why the leaves drop
off some large Camellia and Orange plants. They
are in tubs in a cool conservatory. — Major .
It is impossible to assign a cause for the
dropping of the leaves of Camellias and Oranges
without knowing more of the treatment they have
received. It may be through neglect of watering,
or a poor condition of the soil. — Ed.
Vallota purpurea (Scarborough Lily).— The
secret of growing this bulb well is, perhaps, never to
disturb it. A plant in a 10-in. pot in one of my green-
houses has never been disturbed for ten or twelve
years, and it has had no fresh soil. The pot is full
of bulbs ; yet, last autumn, I had eleven strong stems
with from five to seven flowers on each, forming one
of the most beautiful masses of brillant colour that
can be conceived. The same pot is also full of the
little dark-leaved Oxalis, with yellow flowers, which
defles all attempts to extirpate it. Does it help to
nourish the Vallota 1 I have sometimes thought
so, for none of my other plants do so well. Sphag-
num Moss does not rob Orchids.— Nobth-west
Cheshieb.
Tropaeolums in winter. — In a structure which
is maintained during the winter at a temperature
rather above that of an ordinary greenhouse, the
rafters may be utilised by training thereon some of
the best varieties of winter-flowering Tropsolums
for keeping up a supply of bloom during that
period. The plants may be either grown in pots or
planted out. I prefer to keep them in pots, as they
will flower till quite exhausted, and can then be
easily replaced by a younger and more vigorous
specimen. There are some varieties now in culti-
vation with rich glowing colours, and the bright
colouring seems to be even more intensified when
the flowers are produced during the dull winter
months. The choice is by no means limited to
single-flowered forms, as there are now several
double-flowered varieties in cultivation. This class
of Tropfeolum is readily increased by cuttings taken
at any time during the growing season. — H. P.
Eucharis. — Taking into consideration the
ravages caused in many places by the attacks of
the mite, I should lie sorry to embark in the culture
of this plant to any great extent. The loss of a
thousand bulljs is so serious an affair, that only
those with some capital should risk incurring it.
There is no doubt, however, that Eucharis culture
is very profltable where the plants can be kept quite
healthy, and the grower can get his plants to flower
in the winter. Herein, however, lies the difiiculty.
It is easy enough to get them to flower as the days
are visibly lengthening, and when plenty of white
flowers are coming in, but it is not easy to have
them when the days are at their shortest. Pushing
them along quickly into vigorous growth and resting
judiciously constitute, of course, the elements of
success. Where a house is given up entirely to
them I would counsel planting out. Not only is the
saving in labour very great, but their vigour is greatly
increased. The question of a Eucharis bulb flower-
ing more than once in the year depends, I be-
lieve, mainly on its strength. The extra liberal
culture induced by planting out will soonest impart
this. I know of a grower who cultivates them in
this way. His houses are a grand sight, and most
of his bulbs bloom twice and many three times in
the year. The very same thing will occur with the
Vallota. I have often had two fine spikes from the
same bulb. — J. C. B.
Centropogon Lucyanus. — Throughout the
whole winter blooms of this can be obtained ; in-
deed, in making a selection of the best flowering
plants for the stove at this season the Centropogon
must occupy a prominent place on the list. It is of
very easy culture, all that is required to obtain neat
flowering specimens being to take a batch of cut-
tings in early spring and grow them on for winter
blooming. Cuttings strike readily enough if kept
somewhat close for a few weeks, but directly they
are rooted more air must be given ; indeed, they
should as soon as possible be inured to the atmo-
sphere of the structure they are to be grown in, as,
if kept too close, the young plants quickly become
drawn. When grown on freely and allowed plenty
of room to develop, the long flexible shoots are dis-
posed in a graceful manner, and the large clusters
of tubular-shaped blossoms, rosy carmine in colour,
make a goodly show. Besides growing them as pot
specimens, thriving plants of this Centropogon do
well in suspended baskets, and in this position they
not only flower freely, but their blooms are shown
off to great advantage. — H. P.
WINTER-FLOWEHING BEGONIAS.
One of the finest Begonias now in flower, and one
that from its robust character is eminently fitted
for supplying cut blooms during the winter, is B.
semperflorens gigantea carminea. Though sent out
and classed in the various nursery lists as a form of
B. semperflorens, and announced as the result of a
cross between this and B. Lynchiana, it bears a far
greater resemblance to the latter than it does to B.
semperflorens ; indeed, the principal difference is
that it is not so liable to run up bare as B.
Lynchiana, which does not break out at all freely
even if pinched back during its earlier stages, while
the variety under notice may be induced to form
quite a bushy plant. If grown cool during the
summer months, and as autumn advances shifted
into a warmer structure, the plants will flower freely
for several months. There is another form known
as gigantea rosea, but it seems to differ very slightly
from the previously-mentioned kind. The old-
fashioned B. semperflorens itself is also useful for
its winter-blooming qualities, or, indeed, for flower-
ing at any other season, as it will bloom throughout
the year, but, of course, is doubly valuable now.
This may be readily raised from seed, and, as a
rule, the progeny show a considerable amount of
variation in the colour of the flowers, some being
white and others deep pink. I have seen a remark-
ably good pure white-flowered form of this Begonia
under the name of Snowflake, but it seems to be
little known. Perhaps, however, the most useful
of pure white-flowered varieties is Carrieri, which
forms neat, busby little specimens that at this time
of the year flower with great freedom. There is a
form of this known as Carrieri villosa which grows
rather more quickly than the last, while the whole
plant is covered with hairs, but the lighter tint of
the foliage does not contrast so markedly with
the pure white blossoms as the deep green of
Carrieri. The old B. nitida is too well known to
need any comment as a winter-flowering kind, a
remark that will also with equal force apply to the
bright-coloured B. fuchsioides. B. ascotensis and
B. insignis are both in flower at the present time,
while B. manicata will soon reach that stage. Of
the last a variegated variety was sent out a year
or two ago, the markings on the leaves being in the
shape of large cream-coloured spots something like
those of Farfugium grande. The Begonia is, how-
ever, apt to lose a good deal of its variegation,
and on that account it is really less effective than
the ordinary green-leaved form. No collection of
winter-flowering Begonias would be complete with-
out B. socotrana, whose curious round Nasturtium-
like leaves, combined with large showy blossoms
that are borne in the depth of winter, render it of
great value.
So distinct and highly ornamental a kind has, of
course, engaged the attention of the hybridist, as a
result of whose labours we have B. John Heal, the
result of intercrossing this species with one of the
tuberous-rooted section. This, beautiful variety
flowers during the autumn and winter months ;
while another hybrid of B. socotrana, named Gloire
de Sceaux, does not bloom till February. This was
sent out by Messrs. Thibaut and Keteleer, and an-
nounced by them as the result of a cross between
B. socotrana and B. subpeltata. It is a bold, free-
growing variety well worth cultivation for the
foliage alone, which is of a dark metallic green tint.
Given room to develop its true character, it naturally
forms a pyramidal-shaped specimen, that retains its
leaves quite to the base. The flowers are large,
somewhat resembling those of some of the tuberous-
rooted varieties, and being borne in good-sized
580
THE GARDEN.
[Deo. 24, 1887.
clusters they make a very effective display. This
Begonia is seen at its best from February to
April. The whole of these Begonias are readily
propagated and easily grown, while, as a rule, they
are but little troubled with insect pests. Most of
those here enumerated will start into growth early
in the spring, and when the young shoots are about
3 inches or 4 inches in length is a good time to take
them ofE as cuttings if required. If dibbled into
pots of light sandy soil and kept close for ten days
or a fortnight, most of them will be rooted, when
more air must be given them, and as soon as possible
they should be potted off. T.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Roses. — Where plants of some of the Tea varieties
were put in heat some time back, as advised pre-
viously, they will now be coming into bloom. The
natural habit of this section of Roses Is to produce
flowers from all the strong growths that they make.
It is, therefore, necessary to regularly supply them
with manure water, but an idea prevails amongst
those who have not had much experience in Rose
forcing that if the plants are vigorous when they
have finished their summer's growth no assistance
of this kind is wanted. The quantity of succes-
sional bloom, however, will much depend on the
extent to which the plants are fed whilst the first
flowers are coming on. Additional plants should
now be brought in to follow the earliest lot. It is
better to start a limited number at shorter intervals
than large quantities only now and then, as then
a glut of flowers is avoided. If there is not a house
devoted solely to winter Roses and a continuous
succession of flowers is required, the supply is un-
certain, and can only be secured by forethought
and careful attention. In all cases too much re^
liance should not be placed on young stock that is
comparatively small. Large strong specimens will
usually give the longest succession of bloom, and
plants of this description should be selected for
giving the supply during the winter months, retain-
ing the younger portion for spring.
BOUVAEDIAS. — Where these plants were well
treated through the summer and were in good health
at the close of the growing season, they will keep
on blooming much longer than weakly examples.
Vigorous plants, however, get exhausted in time,
and those that have been flowering for the past
three months will now begin to show signs of ex-
haustion ; others should at once be placed where
they wiU have the requisite amount of heat to keep
up the supply. They ought to have the lightest
place in the house, as the flowers of Bouvardias,
when produced in winter, do not stand when cut if
at all deficient in substance. It is now time to
prepare the plants that are to provide cuttings, for
to have strong young plants it is necessary to pro-
pagate early in the year. The ordinary way of
propagation used to be by root cuttings, as unless
the plants have been specially prepared, cut-
tings made from the shoots do not strike freely.
Select a plant or plants of each variety to be in-
creased, and give them no water, allowing the
leaves to shrivel up and fall off ; after this the ends
of the shoots, so far as they are not fairly matured,
must be cut away ; then moisten the soil and stand
the plants in a brisk heat. Here they will quickly
break into growth, nearly all the buds will start,
producing a plentiful crop of shoots, which, when
an inch or two long, can be taken off and struck
So prepared, the shoots will root as readily as those
of Fuchsias ; whereas if cuttings are taken from
plants in an ordinary growing state few will strike,
and those that do form roots will not grow freely.
Nbrines. — Plants that have flowered must be
induced to make stout, healthy foliage. From the
time that the leaves appear the plants should be
kept well up to the glass ; sprinkle the foliage with
the syringe frequently, as this will encourage
growth. A moderate dressing of Clay's manure or
some other fertiliser will strengthen them. A little
air given on fine days will help to keep the foliage
strong. Keep the soil fairly moist, and see to the
drainage, which, in the case of plants like these,
that are not usually potted every year, is liable to
get out of order. If this occurs, Nerines will not
keep healthy.
Azaleas. — More plants should be put in heat.
Amongst white varieties, the old White and Fielder's
White are the best for forcing to come in during
the winter months, keeping the newer kinds for
later on. A few of the higher-coloured sorts may
now be started. In all cases plants that were
forced last year, or for a series of years, should, if
available, be selected, as these will have made their
growth and set their buds correspondingly early.
A few more of the mollis and the Ghent varieties
should also now be started, always regulating the
number according to the demand. In forcing these
plants it is necessary not to give them too much
heat; if at all hurried the flowers do not last well.
The best means of securing lasting flowers is to give
the plants plenty of light, and not to use the syringe
too much ; also, maintain the atmosphere of the
house a little drier than is sometimes thought
necessary.
Lilac. — White Lilac is much prized and is easily
obtained where the plants can be kept dark whilst
the flowers are coming on. Lilac differs materially
from other things in this, that the plants whilst
being forced will bear a high temperature and being
kept quite dark without the blooms being affected.
Where a suitable corner in the stove or forcing pit
can be found that will hold moderate-sized plants,
these may be taken up from the open ground and
their roots covered with soil. Anything, such as
light wooden shutters that are close in the joints so
as not to let in light, will answer for covering them.
In this way a supply of these useful flowers can
easily be had.
Jasminum gbacillimum. — This favourite winter
bloomer does best under pot culture, as then some
of the plants can be pushed on into flower whilst
others are kept back to come in later. This Jas-
mine will bear a high temperature, but it is best
not to force it too much, or the flowers will not last
well. If the plants are vigorous and furnished with
strong branches in addition to the flowers borne on
the extremities of the shoots, others will be pro-
duced from the lower joints of the past season's
wood. Give manure water at short intervals.
Fkbsh tan. — Where there is a bed of fermenting
matter in a warm stove, its effects soon become
apparent in the increased size and vigour of the
leaves of the plants. Of the different materials em-
ployed for the purpose tan is the best, as the
vapours, although promoting growth, are not so
powerful as to injure even the most delicate foliage.
Tan also retains its heat longer than other things.
Where a substantial bed about 3 feet deep is used
it will maintain a temperature of 85° for three
months, and in this way saving in fuel is effected.
The tan should be procured fresh from the vats and
before it has had time to ferment, otherwise much
of its value is lost. In making up a new bed it is
better to get rid of all the old material, for if a por-
tion of the old is mixed with the new a colony
of worms is sure to be introduced. Where tan is
not obtainable the best substitute is leaves, select-
ing those that are hard in texture, such as those of
the Oak or Beech, which are much slower in rotting
than the softer kinds, like Chestnut or Elm, and con-
sequently retain their heat longer. Now is the best
time to make up the bed, and where leaves are used,
they should not, if possible, be put together in a
very wet state. Whatever material is used, whether
tan or leaves, the bed should be well trodden down
as it is put together, so as to make it solid.
Gbbbnhouse. — VallotAS. — These autumn-
flowering bulbs require to be kept in a half dry state
during the winter, but it is necessary to look over the
plants from time to time to see what condition the
soil is in, especially it the pots are stood on dry
shelves or stages. If allowed to get so dry as to cause
theleaves to flag and shrivel much injury will be done.
EVEKOBEEN HippBASTRUMS. — These plants,
though they do not produce flowers of such beauty
as numerous varieties of the deciduous section, are
nevertheless well worth growing. They require to
be kept drier In winter than the Vallotas, but the
soil must not be allowed to get quite dry or the
leaves will suffer. If a place can be found for these
and other things of a like nature, where the pots
can be stood on a bed of earth, such as the inside
border of a vinery or Peach house, there is little
danger of the roots getting too dry. T. B.
Flower Garden.
POLYANTHUS NA.RCISSUS.
Mr. Engleheart, in The Gabden, Dec. 10
(p. 535), mentions the Narcissus Muzart. This
has been cultivated in Holland for many years
under the name of Muzart, or orientalis, the
name sometimes being corrupted into Mozart or
Muskett. It is a very fine Narcissus, but not
very abundant, so that sometimes other Narcissi
are sold under that name, among them Nar-
cissus biflorus, which can be offered cheap,
while the true Muzart always ought to fetch a
good price. I am not at present aware when
this Narcissus was first introduced or cultivated
in Holland. As for the name orientalis, besides
those varieties already mentioned by Mr. Engle-
heart, there are several of the Italian Polyan-
thus Narcissus, which are well known under
that name. Bazelman major is undoubtedly
one of the finest flowers of this class. To suc-
ceed with it it must be grown in rather a heavy
soil, and this is one of the reasons why it does
not succeed in many places where other sorts
grow luxuriantly. Another reason of the scarce-
ness of BazelLian major is its earliness; it pushes
earlier than the other Dutch varieties, and
therefore wants more care in covering and pro-
tection than these. The general stock of Bazel-
man major is not increasing, as the annual
demUnd keeps up the price and renders it very
scarce. Bazelman minor is another fine Dutch
Narcissus rather scarce, and therefore perhaps
not often grown. Other varieties, like Muzart
or Narcissus bifiorus, are sent out under this
name. Bulbs of the true variety can only be
obtained in restricted numbers. As for Chinese
Tazettas, I have never seen them, but Dr. Von
Siebold introduced from Japan a Narcissus
Tazetta which I cultivated for years under the
name of Tazetta japonica, a white variety of no
extraordinary qualities.
In 1870 there flowered at Leyden in the garden
of the late M. Rudbal-d a sulphur-coloured
Japan Polyanthus Narcissus which was men-
tioned as being of great beauty. I did not see
this, and do not know where it has gone to.
The Narcissus White Pearl, or White Perfection
of the trade, is found in two forms. That which
I consider to be the true form, and which is
rather valuable, is the variety known as Luna,
with a white, or at least nearly a white, cup.
The other form, which is often sold as White
Pearl, has a light sulphur cup, and is named
Louis le Grand, which name I now have adopted
to distinguish it from the other form. I have
reason to suppose that this form is an example
of atavism, as it is often found among badly
grown Grand Primo-Citronnier and similar late
white varieties. If once the inferior! form has
taken the place of the original much finer and
larger one, it remains constant, multiplying early,
and producing much smaller bulbs than the sort
from which it sprang. The white varieties of
Polyanthus Narcissus with white cups, coming
from the south, especially from Italy, are not of
easy cultivation, as in our climate and soil they
want extra care in order to grow them well. The
true ochroleucus does not seem to be in cultiva-
tion— at least I have not seen it. There is a sort
offered in the south as ochroleucus grandiflorus.
This, however, is the same as that sold as N. prie-
cox, and found also under the names of Tazetta
italicus, Narcissus subalbidus, &c. It has a
Deo. 24, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
581
rather curious form, with a twisted perianth of
a sulphur colour, and a citron cup. For general
cultivation, the genuine Dutch varieties of
Polyanthus Narcissus are doubtless the best.
If cultivated in masses, the distinctions of the
diflerent varieties can be better observed than
by comparing individual flowers. An extensive
collection of fine and well-marked varieties of
this section might be made.
Haarlem. J. H. Krelage.
An old Sussex Carnation. — Seeing in The
Garden, Dec. 10 (p. 525), the remarks of Mr.
Kowan concerning a bright pink Carnation that
of the variety referred to is of a deeper shade than
that of Miss JolifEe, and the plant is of stronger
habit, very free-flowering, and very hardy. — Nemo.
THE GOLDEN-RAYED LILY.
(LILICM AtTRATUM.)
The Rose and the Lily hold the highest places
in the list of favourite flowers. Both have a
beauty of form, freshness, purity, and fragrance
that compel admu-atiou and engender an interest
that amounts to enthusiasm. A garden without
Lilies and Roses, however rich in other attrac-
tions, lacks the homeliness and picturesqueness
and a fragrance sweet and refreshing in the open
air, but rather too powerful in the house. It is
grown under many conditions. Sometimes the
bulbs are planted amongst the Rhododendrons
for the sake of protection in spring, and then
the flowers appear in the highest perfection in
autumn, at a time when their undoubted beauty
can be fully appreciated. Again, the bulbs are
often planted in pots and tubs, so that when the
plants are in full blossom they may be used for
adorning the conservatory or some such situa-
tion. And occasionally a border of this fine
Japanese Lily greets the eye in a place where
these flowers are cultivated with an earnest love.
It is needless to enter here into lengthy details
respecting the cultivation of Lilies, as this
season there have been several notes on the
subject in The Garden. But we may refer to
the illustration here given of a Lilium auratum
growing in a tub, from a photograph kindly sent
by Mr. G. F. Wilson, Heatherbank, Weybridge,
who also gives the following particulars : —
This tine engraving of our Lilinm auratum in its
wooden box shows a numher of flowers on short stems.
A large bulb had broken up into small ones, producing
these flowers.
LiHum auratum in a tub in Mr. G. F. Wilson's garden at Weybridge. Engraved for The Garden from
a photograph by Miss L. Brown.
originated in a Susses garden some fifteen or twenty
years ago, I believe I have the same flower, or one
very simDar to it, which I raised from seed some
four years ago. Seeing in a Sussex cemetery a
plant of what I thought was the variety Miss Joliff e
bearing seed, I obtained all I could get and sowed it
in a frame, where the seedlings remained until the
following March, when they were transplanted to a
west border, where most of them threw up their
flower-stems during September. They were then
lifted and flowered in the greenhouse. About a
dozen of them were distinct, and I only kept two
sorts, one of which I am still growing. The colour
that belong to those where the two great flowers
obtain their rightful position. The Lily espe-
cially is now widely cultivated. In every cot-
tage garden worthy of the name can be found
clumps of L. candidum; and amateurs, even
where tried by the smoke and dirt of the
suburbs, often grow it successfully, never
losing heart through its somewhat capricious
temperament. The one species that is perhaps
the most eagerly sought after is L. auratum.
j Its flowers, especially when fine varieties are
I obtained, are magnificent, giving superb form
Wallflowers. — Plants of these sweet perfumed
flowers are smaller than usual this winter and wiU
give but little bloom before March. It is satisfac-
tory to market growers to have their plants very
large at this season of the year in order to obtain
some bunches of early flowers. When such is the
case, not only is a better price secured, but there is
less of a glut of flowers in the spring. However,
owing to the drought of the past summer. Wall-
flowers grew slowly, and although they have done
fairly well since the September rains, the plants are
not up to the usual mark. A good strain not only
gives the grower all the flowers of the desired
blood-red hue, but also good even growth and a
bushy habit, the plants throwing up a good head of
stems, which can all be cut as the breadths are gone
over, when it is the rule to select seed from some
plants which flower early as well as have the essen-
tial deep colour. I can see not far from here a
large breadth of Wallflower plants, the rows per-
haps a quarter of a mile long, and all look as if
clipped over, so wonderfully even are they. These
rows are 4 feet apart, and have between them lines
of single Violets, which are about 15 inches across,
and which by the end of May wUl be fully 2 feet
over. Wallflowers are amongst the very earliest of
hardy things grown, and seed is often sown, if the
weather be favourable, as early as February. It is
hardly possible to get the plants out too early for
securing autumn and winter blooming, but such
very early and large plants often suffer more during
hard weather than others put out later. — A. D.
Spotted Mimuluses. — Plants of these raised
from seed last spring and planted out at the end of
May had a short life, because of the unusual heat
and drought. To have these plants in perfect
beauty, it is needful that either the seed should be
sown in gentle heat early in the year and the plants
brought on rapidly in frames, or else to sow seed in
the late autumn and winter the seedlings in a cool
house. Mimuluses are fairly hardy, and under glass
win withstand some frost, but whilst yet quite small
it is easy, if the plants are dibbled out into shallow
pans or boxes, to throw a newspaper or two over
them should the weather be severe. I sowed seed
in pans at the beginning of October, and have from
such a sowing an ample number for my use. These
are now dibbled into a bed of soil near the glass
in a cool house, and although protected by a news-
paper on sharp nights, yet they hardly need it, as
only very hard weather wiU harm them. Plants so
treated make as the spring advances very robust
growth, and may be planted out far sooner
than spring-raised plants. Of course, in that way
blooming begins much earlier, and if the main stem
be stopped early, a greater number of blooming
shoots, which flower freely for a considerable period,
is produced. The varied marMngs to be found in
582
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 24, 1887.
any good strain of spotted Mimuluses are very
beautiful and indescribable. Only by growing the
plants and seeing the flowers can their beauties be
fully appreciated. — A. D.
THE PANSY.
This and the Pink were my first favourites when
quite a boy, and I used to grow them remarkably
well in our cottage garden. What they seemed to
delight in was a good light soil deeply worked and
well manured. It is pleasant to an old cultivator to
see that greater interest is being taken in these
lovely flowers than there used to be some years
ago. Pansies ha\e not been so long in cultivation
as some of our favourite flowers ; indeed, they
were not much noticed in gardening books until
about sixty years ago, when the Dahlia, Carnation,
Auricula, Anemone, Ranunculus, and other flowers
were great favourites. A writer in the earliest
volume of the 2<'/orie«Ittn-al Cabinet states : " That
within the past sis years (that was in 1833) nearly
200 distinct varieties had been raised," and further,
the editor says, " Judging from the past, we may
unhesitatingly say we are only in the dawn of the
Viola era, and that ere long they will become a con-
spicuous ornament to flower gardens in general."
If one can depend upon the coloured plates given
with the press matter, the colours of the named
varieties were very rich and greatly varied, but in
form they were not much superior to the wild
varieties of Viola tricolor.
Those who are able to refer to the coloured
plates of the Floricuttiiral CaVmei will observe
that the colours are quite distinct from any of the
modern forms. One named Prince George is quite
yellow with the exception of a large dark blotch on
each of the two upper petals. Thompson's
Favourite is black, deep blue, and yellow. Sky
Blue and Yellow is the name of a variety which has
clear light blue upper petals and the three lower
petals bright yellow. The centres of the flowers
are marked with lines, radiating from the centre to
half across the lower petals. During the next ten
years great progress had been made in the pro-
duction of well-formed flowers, but in this case the
rules laid down for the guidance of the raisers did
not admit of their retaining the peculiarly- coloured
varieties. They were divided into three classes,
viz., yellow ground, white ground, and selfs. The
yellow and white ground varieties were, as now,
distinguished by having the upper petals of a dark
maroon or deep maroon-purple colour, the three
lower petals white or yellow, with a regular belt of
colour round the margin of the same hue as the
upper petals. The selfs are of three colours, dark
maroon or maroon-purple as above, yellow, and
white. All varieties outside the above were re-
jected, until there came to be a considerable same-
ness about them verging on the commonplace.
While we were rejecting these peculiar marked
forms the Continental growers were improving upon
them.
It is scarcely worth while to moralise on the pro
babilities of what might have been if the work had
been carried on upon different lines from what it
has. We may well be thankful for the diversified
collections in all the classes now to be obtained at
a cheap rate in nearly every florist's establishment
Collections may bo obtained in an easy way by sow-
ing seeds from a good strain. A large bed of seed-
lings makes a gorgeous display for a very long
period. In fact, if good strong plants are put out
in a bed of rich, deep, and light soil, say about the
end of September, they will begin to bloom early in
the year and make a gorgeous display all through
the spring and summer months. Named varieties
are also very valuable for planting in beds and bor
ders for spring flowering, it the plants are put out
early in the autumn to give time for them to become
established before the winter. As they increase in
growth in the spring the shoots ought to be jiegged
out carefully into some light rich soil placed round
the plants. If this is done a large space of ground
is speedily covered, and the more vigorous the
growth is, so much the better will be the quality of
the flowers. Dividing the plants is rather a clumsy
method of increasing the stock, and does not give
such good results as propagation from cuttings.
The thick and pithy flowering growths do not make
i;ood cuttings. The best are the slender shoots
which come up from the base of old and exhausted
plants. They are taken ofE when of small size by
merely pulling them out with the fingers, and they
do best if a portion of white underground stem is
attached to them, and this part is also sometimes
furnished with small fibrous roots. Such cuttings
succeed best in the open air ; they are merely
pricked out in a shady place and kept watered if
the weather is dry. They may be planted at any
time between midsummer and the end of July, for
early-flowering plants that have time [to become
fairly well established before the winter do not
suffer much from bad weather, but if the plants are
not strong and have had insuflicient time to become
established, some of them may be killed outright.
-All things considered, it is best, perhaps, to pot up
at least one example of each variety, so that they
may be protected during winter in a cold frame.
Such plants do well planted out in March or April.
A frame full of Pansies grown in pots is a charming
sight. For pot culture the plants must be esta-
blished in their quarters before winter. A good-
sized plant will produce its flowers in a 5-inch or
6-inch pot. The flowers ought to be picked off in
the early stages of the plant's growth to allow of
the leaves covering the soil in the pots before the
flowers are allowed to open. Slugs are very trouble-
some pests all through the winter, and they are
fonder of the flowers either in the bud or expanded
state than they are of the leaves. The leather-
coated grub, with its tough, tawny skin, will
also establish itself in a pot ; it hides by day
in the soil and emerges at night to feed upon
the leaves and flowers. It can either be traced to
its lair in the daytime or be watched for at night
with a lamp. Green-fly is also troublesome, and
can readily be destroyed by fumigating with Tobacco
smoke. Whenever weather permits, it is very
desirable to admit air freely both at the back
and front of the frame. In mild and dry weather
pull the lights off altogether for a few hours daily.
Pansies in pots require considerable supjilies of
water, and when the plants have become well rooted,
weak manure water assists the more perfect de-
velopment of the flowers. J. Douglas.
The Canary Island Bellflower (Canarina
campanula). — This is an old-fashioned plant that is
seldom met with outside a botanic garden or in the
collection of some specialist, though the fact of its
being in flower just nowis a great point in itslfavour,
more particularly as the blossoms are by no means
unattractive. They are bell-shaped, drooi^ing, and
as large as those of an Abutilon. The colour is a
kind of yellowish red. The plant forms a fleshy
rootstock, from whence spring stout succulent
stems, about 3 feet high, and on the upper parts of
which the flowers are borne. The leaves are very
easily injured by fog and damp ; indeed, our^Dlants,
which for several years have been very attractive,
will scarcely flower at all this season, owing to the
recent fog. Chrysanthemums did not sufller much
from the fog, but many Bouvardias had their leaves
seared as if they had been in close proximity to a
furnace, while zonal Pelargoniums lost the greater
part of their foliage. Nothing, however, suffered to
the same extent as those two ever-flowering Prim-
roses (Primula floribunda and obconica), of which
we had a number in full bloom. So badly were
they injured that many have since died outright,
and it will be a difficult matter to get any of them
to live through the winter. — H. P.
A variegated Yucca (Y. gloriosa variegata).
— This is a handsome and boldly variegated variety
of one of the best of the Yuccas, and, unlike many
variegated plants, it shows no signs of weakness,
but is as vigorous as its parent. The leaves are
deep green in the centre, this shading to a lighter
colour, and the whole is set ofl^ by a broad margin
of yellow that gives a strong character to the plant.
There are several specimens in the nursery of Mr.
E. Morse, of Epsom, and one in the border shows
up well at this season now that flowers are over and
the trees leafless. It would make a fine plant for
the summit of a large rockery, or small pieces here
and there would give a variety that many rock
gardens need. There are often corners in a large
garden where a bed of variegated Y'uccas might be
formed with advantage, and be something out of the
common.
NOTES ON HARDY PLANTS.
Ulna lobata is doubtless a pretty climbing an-
nual,and, moreover, it is capal )le of standing (;° or 8°
of frost, an important quality in our climate of early
frosts, and especially in regard to a late-flowering
plant like this. As a pretty novelty, Mina lobata
will for a time probaljly receive all the care it re-
quires to render it useful, but it is doulitful if it
will take a permanent place in our gardens, owing
to the fact that the plants must be grown under
glass to fit them for making any display out of
doors.
Flame Flower, Tritoma (Kniphofia) Uvaria
and its varieties, are very uncertain in theirperiods of
flowering, and it is hardly less disappointing to have
no flowers at all than to see fine spikes coming up
in the last month of the year. Much of this late-
ness in flowering exists this autumn, and it may in
a measure be owing to the long summer's drought,
which, no doubt, would retard them, as happened
in the case of Dahlias and many other things. Every
year my experience is that most of the Tritomas
are erratic in this respect, and I have often
wondered how the flowering periods could be so
nicely stated as they are in some catalogues. Clumps
in ordinary flat borders, I find, may flower very early
one season, and be, as many are now, all too late
the next. The weather and the extra amount of
vigour that may have been expended in the previous
season may or may not have much to do with such
results, but I find that special planting of these
bold and glorious flowers may be relied upon to render
them more timely and early. When the soil is light
and the position sunny, only a thick mulching of
manure in summer may Idb needed, but if the land is
heavy and flat the position should be well raised by
the incorporation of sifted coal ashes in large
quantity. A mulching of manure and sunny expo-
sure would also be needful. Plants so treated have
answered the desired end, and I believe that those
who grow the Tritomas on the chalk and in sandy
soil generally have the flowers in good time. " The
Frost Report," by the Rev. G. Henslow, of the
effects of the severe winters 1879-81, shows through-
out that the texture of soil is of first importance,
and by changing the character of but a small
quantity about a plant, we get practically all the
advantages of a better climate.
The Bunch-berry (Cornus canadensis) is now
in charming foliage, distinctly veined, highly
coloured, of a bronzy red-brown, erect, and crisp.
Such things are capable of keeping up our interest
in outdoor gardening during the dullest season, and
they should, I think, be more grown. Moreover,
this happens to be a winsome, all-year-round plant
for running between stones on rockwork, though I
question if even when decorated by its pretty bracts
in summer it will be more admired than now.
Planted in light vegetable mould, I find it grows
freely, and, fortunately, it is one of those root-
running plants that one can tolerate to a great
extent.
The Hoop-petticoat Narcissus (Narcissus
Bulbocodium). — This Daffodil does not always
flower freely year after year in the open ground.
From many years' observation, I venture to say
that it will do better in the most porous and almost
dry soils. I have just been compelled to take up a
long-established clump, the produce of three bulbs
set in very stony soil seven or eight years ago, and
I never saw iiner and rounder bulbs. Decayed
tunics and circular hollow or jagged parts about the
neck are, I believe, common faults in this and several
other kinds. If the bulbs are examined they
look as if attacked by the Eucharis mite, and in
the case of this Narcissus, a dryish soil seems to be
the antidote.
Iris reticulata is already 2 inches above the
surface, and I should not be surprised if with fine
Dec. 24, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
583
weather it came into flower by Christmas Day, and
what other flower could be more welcome ? Much
more might be made of this bulbous Iris by potting
it largely and flowering it in midwinter in frames
from which the frosts were excluded. I do not say
forced, because I believe the flowers will not stand
any heat whatever. J. WOOD.
'Woodnlle, Kh-kstall
THE GLADIOLUS IN 1887.
I HAVE now grown the Gladiolus — hybrids of
gandavensis, as they are called — for upwards of
thirty years, have tried them under various con-
ditions of growth, and listened to much advice on
the subject, and I think that during the whole of
that time I do not recollect a more favourable, if so
favourable, season as that through which we have
now passed. It has been for all flowers a very
trying one ; the long-continued drought, especially
when there was any scarcity of water, made it difli-
cult to keep most things in any condition whatever
others perished absolutely, but the Gladiolus seemed
to defy it all. I am aware that there were places
where a different tale had to be told, where the
lightness of the soil or the method of cultivation
occasioned loss. I am thinking and writing now of
those collections which I have seen or know of, and
cannot answer for others. I do not think that it is to
be wondered at that the Gladiolus should have pro-
spered this year. Native of the south-eastern coast of
Africa it has there to experience a great deal of
heat, accompanied by drought in summer ; for a
region where the Coffee, Indigo, and Cotton flourish,
and where the Pine-apple ripens in the open air,
must be tolerably warm, and hence, I believe that
warm, dry seasons, which are of such rare occurrence
with us, are what the Gladiolus delights in, and
thus ic is that Fontainebleau, by its climate more
than by its soil, so favours its growth. Much the
same sort of weather prevails there as in the south-
east of England, and I have watched anxiously the
weather reports given by a correspondent of a daily
paper in Paris, who forwards them to me, to find
how very nearly the weather corresponds to what
we experience in this part of England (Kent).
There may be a difference of degrees of heat and cold,
but the character of it is mostly the same, and even
fogs, which we used to consider our special privilege,
aje now frequent in Paris. During that severe frost
we had a little while ago, which came so unex-
pectedly upon us, I had a letter from Fontainebleau,
in which Mons. Souillard said, "We are in the midst
of winter. "We have had a great deal of rain, and
now it freezes hard, making all gardening work
very difficult and unpleasant." I might have just
written the same back to him from the south of
England.
I think that this season has effectually disposed
of the degeneration and exhaustion theories by
which some accounted for the losses which every
Gladiolus grower had to lament. What degenera-
tion can there be in bulbs which have been grown
on for four years and produce plants 5 feet in
height with spikes of thirteen or fourteen blooms?
And it certainly doesnotlook like exhaustion either ;
in fact, neither of these theories will hold water,
and I think both practice and science agree here
that the losses are occasioned by disease. But it
would seem that disease is more prevalent in
wet than in dry seasons, and that the reason why
this year we have not experienced it so much is
owing to the dry, sunny weather. I have tried
every method I could think of or see suggested
by others, amongst other things that suggested by
a correspondent of one of your contemporaries —
potting them before planting out, but I found no
benefit from it and a great deal of trouble. The
person who has tiied it evidently thinks it to be a
success. I would not like to demolish his little
castle, but I believe the success is to be attributed
not to his plan, but to the season, and, as in many
cases, the result is attributed to entirely different
causes to those to which they are really due.
When I commenced my planting this year I had
bulbs from three different sources — imported bulbs
from France, some from Mr. Burrell, of Cambridge,
and some of my own saving; they were planted
under the same conditions and at the same time, viz.,
March, and in a part of the garden where the soil is
more tenacious than in any other portion ; and I
firmly believe that this is the kind of soil they like
best. I had another bed where the soil is lighter
and with more vegetable matter in it, and there
they did not do so well. This quite accords with
the observation of other growers, but is quite op-
posed to that which used to be entertained with regard
to their wants. Of these bulbs many had already
been grown three years from the time they were im-
ported, and, as when lifted now, they had again
formed good corms, it is clear that the idea of
degeneration must be discarded, and that, provided
you have suitable soil and a good season, home-
grown corms will be as vigorous as imported
ones. There were certainly more gaps in my
home-saved bulbs, but this was in a great measure
due to the fact that I planted several very doubt-
ful bulbs, and there are still some things about
them very puzzling ; thus a bulb that was so
badly diseased that I planted it on the garden
border threw up a good spike of bloom, and formed
a new and healthy corm. Then, again, bulbs came
up in a part of my Rose garden where I had not
planted Gladioli for ten years or more, and these
threw vigorous shoots and bore long and good
spikes of flower, although I took up out of the
same ground last season all that I could see ; yet
when one attempted to leave some in the ground to
see what they would do it was a miserable failure.
I adopted very generally the plan of cutting the
bulbs into two, and in some instances into three,
with the very best results, and even where this was
done I have had a couple of good corms formed on
the half bulbs. It is sometimes forgotten that the
old corm perishes, and that a new one is formed,
so that it is not strictly true to call a corm
three or four years old, although it amounts to the
same thing. I had very few instances of the bulbs
remaining in the ground without advancing in any
way, and none in cases where the corm was cut. In
one way I have deviated from my former practice,
viz., that of leaving the bulbs in the ground much
longer than I have ever done before. I finished
lifting them on November 28 ; whereas in former
seasons I have had all done by the end of Oc-
tober. As far as the appearance of the bulbs is
concerned, I am quite satisfied ; the only point that
makes me doubtful is that I find they have pushed
out a number of fresh roots, and the question to my
mind is whether this will not take away from the
strength of the bulb. Mr. Burrell assures me no,
and certainly the great size and vigour of his bulbs
bear out his view. There is yet one other dis-
advantage : by leaving them so long you are pretty
sure to get the ground heavier, and consequently
it is not so easy to dry off the bulbs. But perhaps
after all this may not be a disadvantage, as they
will dry more gradually ; still, it entails a good deal
of trouble, and I had occasion, owing to that
unusual sharp frost early in November, to throw
some litter over the beds. Although I do not think
the frost penetrated deeply, still after so much wet
one was anxious to be on the safe side.
There is one point of some interest in the cultiva-
tion of this flower, viz., the period at which the
different varieties bloom, and an attempt has been
made by Messrs. Vilmorin, of Paris, to give the
period of blooming. To a certain extent this is
reliable, but not entirely so ; at least if it is, the
conditions must vary in the two countries. For ex-
ample, one out of many, Horace Vernet, is put down
as a late-flowering kind, and with me this variety is
the very earliest, blooming, indeed, this year before
the one named Shakespeare. Eassim, again, another
variety marked as very late, was over long before
many of the others had begun to expand. Then,
again, where a number of bulbs of the same variety
are planted, you will find that, while the greater
portion will bloom at one particular time, one bulb
will lag beind the rest. Thus of Shakespeare, already
mentioned as an early-blooming one, I had one
bloom quite in the middle of October; while
Abricote, ranked as a late one, was with me amongst
the early blooming kinds. In drawing up the fol-
lowing list, then, I have given what I conceive
would be the normal period of blooming here in the
south of England.
A. — Varieties blooming at their best from
July 26 to August 10.
AH. — A curious flower; long spike, hut imperfect
shape, well arranged, pale rose and creamy white, striped
with red.
AmoUliee. — Large flower, white gi'ouud with large
violet spots, somewhat flimsy in textm'e.
Arcliiducliesse Marie Christine. — Large, white
ground deeply flaked with rose; foot-stalk of the
iower rather too long and slender, so the spike is not
compact.
Belladonna. — An early white flower, tinted with
lilac, lower divisions slightly marked with carmine.
Carnation. — A very pretty flaked flower, with a good
compact spike.
Demosthene. — Beautiful bright rose, very large, per-
fectly formed flowers, dwarf and very early.
Horace Vernet. — Very brilliant purplish red, good,
compact spike. Although marked as a late, I have
always found it one of the earliest.
Du.mont DurviVe. — Beautiful cheiTy-rose, deeper at
the edges ; white line in the centre of the petals.
Gloire de Fontainehleau. — Large spike of weU-
opeued flowers ; rosy carmine, striped with red on the
edges of the petals.
Mabel. — One of the most perfect flowers yet sent
out; compact spike ; gi-ound colour white, striped with
bright carmine on the edges.
Magdalena. — A very early flower; rather dwarf
habit; very pale lilac with carmine lines.
Opale. — Grand spike of large flowers, very tender
rose, very fresh colour, but with me it has been an
indifferent grower.
Factole. — An old, but pretty yellow flower, but, like
most of this colour, likely to go off by disease.
Shalceispeare. — A white flower with a deep rose spot.
I have hardly ever failed to find a good bloom of this
on July 26.
Victor Jdqup.mont. — Clear salmon-orange, richly
veined with scarlet ; a bright flower.
B. — Blooming from August 10 to 24.
Andre' Leroy. — Dark purplish red, white stripe and
blotch ; a good variety of fine form.
Baro7}ess Bnrdett Coutts. — Lilac tinged with rose
and purple ; large and fine flower, but a little thin in
substance.
Bicolore. — Very distinct ; top petals bright salmon-
rose, lower divisions white, edged with rose ; very close
spike.
Camille. — Pale magenta-lilac, flushed deeper colour;
large and fine.
Colhert. — Deep cherry-red, white Une.
Creiniscide. — Creamy white, tinted lilac; large,
vigorous, and good spike.
Valila. — One of the most beautiful grown ; bright
rose, blotched and striped with white; excellent spike.
Dr. Fonian. — Pale rose, richly flamed and striped
red ; good, compact flower and spike.
Flamboyant. — Bright crimson-scarlet; very large,
bright, aud good.
Hefperide. — Pale salmon ground, striped and flamed
red ; large, but somewhat loose in the spike.
Leandre. — Bright lilac, with large white blotch and
white lines ; a very bold flower.
Mascarille. — A very curious flower, medium size,
salmon-rose, lower divisions safiron-yellow, edged with
rose ; very distinct.
L' Unique Violet. — Dark lilac, shaded violet; very
large and fine.
Nereide. — Pale lilac-rose, small violet blotches ; very
compact, and good spike.
Guide. — Purplish ciimson, blotched and striped with
pure white; very fine.
Orphee. — Cherry-rose, purple blotch; fine spike of
medium. sized flowers, but very pretty.
Panorama. — Lilac mottled carmine, white centre,
beautifully arranged spike ; medium size.
Pasquin. — Bright crimson - scarlet, edge of petals
suffused with slate colour, centre striped white.
Pygmalion. — Cherry - red, blotched and striped
white.
Tamerlane.— S\a.ty red, largely blotched and striped
cream, tall spike, medium-sized flower.
Tour du Monde. — Dark cherry, shaded lilac, -nhite
blotches.
C— Varieties flowering from August 24 to
September 10.
J/ricai»ie. — Slaty brown, flushed scarlet, white
blotches, fine spike ; novel and good.
Anna. — Clear orange, blotched and striped white.
Arabi Pasha. — Dark brownish scarlet, with hrgj
ry-white blotch ; very striking.
584
THE GARDEN.
Atlas. — Pale porcelain, slightly tinted and striped
violet ; fine flower and spike.
Cameleon. — Slaty lilac, striped white, pale orange
blotch ; very fine and compact spike.
Caprice. — Pale ground, flushed purplish carmine,
white lines.
Cervantes. — Bright rose, tinted carmine, white
stripes, and orange-tinted lower petal; grand flower
and spike.
Chloris. — White, mottled and flamed carmine.
Colorado. — Bright orange, shaded red, large white
blotch ; good shape and very bright.
Selicahssima. — Slightly tinted white ground, bor-
dered and striped with carmine-lilac.
Gallia. — A fine flower and good spike, rosy white,
and tipped and blotched with cerise-carmine.
Orand Rouge. — A noble scarlet flower, much like
Meyerbeer, but larger and finer.
Jeannette. — Rose, striped and blotched with car-
mine ; very good.
Ju/piter. — Red, flaked and spotted with dark maroon ;
novel and fine.
Lacepede. — Lilac-rose, large and fine flower.
Mme.^ Desportes. — Very beautiful white flower, but,
unhappily, very subject to disease, so that, although
sent out twenty-five years ago, it is still as high-priced
as some of the newer varieties.
lions. Adolphe Brogniart. — Orange-rose, flamed
with red on white ground ; a grand flower, and when
at its best hardly surpassed.
Mount Etna. — Velvety scarlet, blotched white ; fine
flower and compact spike.
Murillo. — Cherry-rose, blotched white ; a very beau-
tiful flower.
Neige et Feu. — A good spike of medium-sized flowers,
bright cerise, with large white spot on lower petals.
Rayon d'Or. — Yellow, red stripes and purplish
blotch.
Teresita. — Very distinct; upper petals white, suf-
fused with rose, and blotched violet.
The'rhe de Vilmorin. — Splendid spike of creamy
white flowers, passing into pure white.
D. — Vakieties blooming from September 10.
Benvenuto. — Light orange-red, white blotch, me-
dium-sized flower, splendid spike.
Grand Lilas. — Very long and fine spike of well-
arranged flowers, beautiful shade of colour.
Le Vesuve. — BrUliant scarlet-red ; very fine.
Matador. — Bright chen-y-red, striped and blotched,
very fine.
Medicis. — Very long spike of Urge flowers, fresh
cerise-rose ; grand plant.
Oriflamme. — A beautiful compact spike, orange-rose,
with bright carmine-purple spots.
Phcbus. — A very brilliant late flower, fiery red, and
I think the latest flower we have; indeed, it often is
not open when frost comes and kills it ofl'.
I must defer notice of new varieties and a few
points connected with exhibition to another time.
Delta.
Propagating Carnations.— I am very glad to
see the discussion on this snbject in The Gardes
as anything that will assist in diffusing useful in
formation regarding these beautiful flowers is most
acceptable. With regard to layers for increasing
the plants, I do not think we can do without them
if we wish to secure plants that wOl flower strongly
the next year, especially in the case of the choice
varieties of Carnations and Picotees. With the
border kinds, however, I think that, with the assist-
ance of a cold pit or frame in which to keep the
cuttings during the winter, plants that will bloom
fairly well the next year can be secured. In order
to do this I find that the general practice of putting
in the cuttings at the same time as the layers are
made must be altered. Most cultivators like to
finish layering by the middle of August, but that is
too early to take cuttings with much prospect of
success. I have evidence in support of this state-
ment in the case of a batch of two or three hundred
cuttings which I put in last August. A great many
of these perished before they had been in a month,
while those which remained alive are showing more
vitality now than they have done at all. Five weeks
after I bad p\it in the cuttings from our own stock
I had some more sent me of sorts that I had not
got, and these I put in and placed th^m in a cold
frame. A fortnight ago they had made a sufficient
number of roots to bear potting off, while those of
my own stock put in several weeks before have not
made a single root. This is, I thick, suflicient to
[Dec. 24, 1887.
show that it is a loss to put the cuttings in early.
I also think that if the cuttings must be put in
early, that it is better to place them in the open
air than under glass. The cooling influence of the
dew at night and the lower temperature are evi-
dently more congenial than the confined air of
hand-lights or cold frames. In this matter I think
one might learn a lesson from the cottager, who
dibbles in the cuttings in the shade of a Gooseberry
or some other bush, where they are shaded during
the greater part of the day. — J. C. C.
HYACINTHS IN GLASSES.
This is an old-fashioned way of growing and
flowering Hyacinths, but it is not nearly so
much followed as it used to be, and yet it is a
very pleasant method. I have known very fine
flowers produced in this way ; but it is mainly a
matter of attention. Neglect Hyacinths, and failure
i? certain. I have seen the bulbs started into
growth in glasses, and grown on for a time until
they had put forth good roots, and began to make
an upward growth; then they were brought out
of the cupboard and placed in a living-room, only
to be neglected. Supposing the Hyacinth bulbs
were put into glasses at the end of October or
the beginning of November, and placed in a cool,
dry closet or cellar, where they have been excluded
from the light"; they will by this time have put
forth good roots, and partly filled the glasses
with them. When brought out into the light the
glasses should be examined to see if the water
wants renewing, and if so, it should be emptied
from the glass which, together with the roots,
should be well washed to thoroughly cleanse
them from any impurities. Then put them
back again, and refill the glass with clear fresh
water. I have always adopted the practice of
putting some small pieces of charcoal into each
glass, which help to keep the water sweet. The
glasses may now have the full benefit of the light
from a window, but on no account should they
be left in the window on a frosty night if there
is danger of the water becoming frozen. It is
always safest to move the glasses back on to a
sideboard or mantelpiece by night, replacing
them in the window by day. The goblet-shaped
glass with a broad, flat, circular bottom is the
best for growing Hyacinths. This cannot topple
over, as was the fashion with the old tall, upright
chimney-shaped glass. Neat supports are sold with
the glasses, by which means the inflorescence can
always be kept in position. These glasses can be
purchased cheaply in handsome patterns, and they
are very useful in the summer and autumn months
for cut flowers. Prizes used to be offered for Hya-
cinths grown in water, but it was seldom the real
thing was obtained. The exhibitors almost inva-
riably grew and flowered their Hyacinths in pots,
and then shook them out of the soil, washed the
roots clean, and placed them in the glasses a week
or so before the date of the exhibition.
E. D.
SBORT NOTES.— FLOWMR.
Flower gardening in Chicago parks.— Our
third view of the mound shows the giraife. This side
usually attracted the most attention from sightseers ;
the position of the figure, with head raised as though
about to browse on the Palm just above its head, was
most natural and gave an artistic finish to this not
possessed by the other figures. The figure was of
Echeverias on a field of Seduni acre ; the Palm at top,
Chamjerops filamentosa. The side facing the west
boi-e the figure of a harlequin, made of Echeverias in
same style as the others shown.
*#* The aiovc is not our own invention, hut serious
stuff from the American Florist. — Ed.
Haworth.'s Ifarcissi.— Haworth near the end
of his latest " Monographia " of the Narcissus, pub-
lished by Ridgway in 18.31 (two years before Haworth
died), tells us he had dried specimens of most of the
species and varieties, and of these he confidently
speaks as "vouchers for the truth" of his labours.
Can anyone now say if those specimens exist, and if so,
where they are preserved ? I shall also be very thank-
ful to anyone who will kindly refer me to any works or
books in which Narcissi are mentioned in prose or
poetry, or which contain illustrations. — F. W. BuB-
BIDGE.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 628.
ONOCYCLUS IRISES.
(with a COLODEED plate of I. PARADOSA.*)
Of all the numerous Irises in our gardens, not
even excepting the bulbous ones, none are so
interesting or peculiar as those belonging to tliis
group. Neither do tliey lack beauty, as the
accompanying plate wLU show, and yet very few
people trouble to give them the necessary
accommodation. Very few people care to take
up their culture, although there axe many in-
stances of their growing in the open border with
almost as much vigour and producing flowers
with as much certainty as the common German
Iris. This success, however, I believe, is con-
fined to certain localities only where the air is
pure and dry, and the rainfall very meagre
during the usual resting season of this Iris. In
what may be termed unfavourable localities,
success to a certain extent may be ensured by a
simple covering of glass, a handlight, or other
shelter during the resting season, allowing the
plants to take their chance, unless in the event
of a heavy fall of snow. A simny spot should
be selected, the ground well drained, and filled
up with a light rich compost. Where it is de-
sirable to grow the plants in frames, span-roofed,
light, portable structures are by far the handiest,
as they can be removed to any position at will.
Whenever the leaves show signs of turning
brown, water should be withheld and the plants
allowed to dry ofi'. As soon as the plants show
signs of life in autumn water sparingly, never
allowing them to be drenched. It will also be
better to so fix the lights that a free current of
air can pass through them. This section of Iris
does not require the protection of mats, ifec,
unless during very severe frosts, and coddling
must in all cases be guarded against. A few
new species belonging to this group have been
found lately, but they are so far vexy rare.
I. IBBEIOA is a most remarkable plant, variable in
habit and flower colouring, and when more largely
cultivated, which it doubtless will be when more
plentiful, may yet form a good subject for the
florist. At present it is confined to the frame,
whether in pots or planted out, but there is no
reason why it should not be planted out as in the
case of I. susiana, and with an equally good result.
To test its hardiness, &c., I planted a small piece
on the open rockery, and although no flower was
produced, the leaves were more robust and of a
healthier green than those grown in the frame.
The leaves are from four to eight to a tuft, about 4 in.
in length, and somewhat glaucous. The flower-stem
rarely exceeds 6 inches in height, and produces one
enormous and extremely curious flower. The falls
and standards are of about the same size and shape,
the former somewhat like those of I. susiana, and
closely netted with dark purplish brown, with a
dark blotch at the throat like velvet ; the standards,
which are without veins, are either lilac or white, the
latter being the most beautiful form. The variety
ochracea, which I have not seen, has whitish stan-
dards and falls of a dull yellowish or ochre colour.
I. Heylandiana is a near ally, lately figured for the
Sotanical Magazine, and resembling the forms of
iberica. Native of Northern Persia, Caucasus, &o.,
at 6000 feet to 7000 feet elevation.
I. PAEADOXA, of which a good illustration is
given on the accompanying coloured plate, is a
really choice variety. It is comparatively new to
* Drawn for The Garden in Mr. G. Paul's nur-
sery, at Broxbourne, May 8, 1887, and printed by G.
"HE GA-PDEIJ
para:
Dm 24, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
585
cultivation in this country, having been introduced
only recently. It flov?ered in the summer of this
year at various places, notably in the Broxbourne
Nursery of Messrs. Paul and Son, from whose plant
the drawing was made. It also flowered, we are
told, at Kew and elsewhere, and its peculiar beauty
was greatly admired. Plants of this description,
requiring special treatment, have hitherto been rare
in most gardens, but now that communication with
the Caucasus, ckc, is becoming more frequent, we
hope that the Onooyolus section of Irises will
receive attention from a wider circle of growers.
Their gigantic flowers, compared with their dwarf
habit and few and small leaves, give them a very odd
appearance, and render them interesting as well as
beautiful. The present species, so far as our expe-
rience goes, may be grown, and flowered with ease
under much the same treatment as that given to
the better-known members of the group. The great
diflioulty is damp in winter, and this is just the
stage in their growth when the treatment should be
on the dry side. It requires to be protected from
heavy rains, and when these are prevalent, even in
the growing season, the lights should be closed. Our
plan with this species, as well as with iberica and
lupina, is to place a square piece of thin slate on the
ground previous to planting the Iris in light, sandy,
and well-drained soil. Perfect drainage is an abso-
lute necessity, as when not attended to the rhizomes
are apt to damp off and rot. In habit, leafage, and
other points it very much resembles I. iberica, but,
with the exception of I. acutOoba (which I have
never seen alive), has the standards much larger
than the falls, as may be seen in the coloured draw-
ing. The standards are almost as large as those of I.
iberica, but the falls are narrow, strap-shaped,
about an inch long, and hairy. The figure in Regel's
Garienflora seems to differ from the above, pro-
bably from its being from a starved specimen ; the
falls are purple with black marking, and the stan-
dards lightish purple lined with black. It is a native
of the mountains of Georgia and Northern Persia.
I. Saabi is nearest to I. iberica, differing, ho weveri
by its bright lilac flowers and almost upright falls-
The variety lurida, figured in the Botanical Maga-
zine (tab. 6960), is a very beautiful Iris, and well
worthy of cultivation. The flowers are large ; the
standards striped and spotted with rich claret-purple
on a claret-white ground ; falls with a blackish
brown, dense beard, darker in colour than the stan-
dards. Native of Persia.
I. SUSIANA (the Chalcedonian Iris) is by far the
oldest and best known of this group. Clusius in-
forms us that it was brought from Constantinople
to Vienna about the year 1573. It was introdnced
into England in 1596, when it was cultivated by
Gerard, and has been grown in our gardens ever
since. It is certainly one of the most striking and
distinct, though not by any means the most beauti-
ful even, of this group, and although a native of a
much warmer country than our own, it is said to
give very satisfactory results planted in the open
border, although in the neighbourhood of London
the attempts in this direction were far from hopeful.
I believe, however, that, properly attended to, dried
off during the summer, either by placing handlights
over the rhizomes or by other means, it could be
induced to flower and yield a fair return for any
trouble and labour expended. It is said to be suit-
able for forcing, but I have so far had no means of
verifying this. The flowers open here in London
about the end of May or June, and although the
plant rarely seeds, it can be readily increased by the
rhizomes. The flowers are fugitive, almost scent-
less, two often being produced on the same stem.
The standards and falls are of about the same size
and shape, entirely covered with spots and lines of a
brownish black, the groundwork whitish grey with
a pale lilac tint. The leaves Miller describes as
being of a greyish colour, very finely striated, and
somewhat wavy. Native of Syria, Mesopotamia,
&c. ; and old writers say that it takes the name from
Susa, in Persia. D. K.
time. The walk was covered with weeds, but
the surface had bound well together. The
effect of hoeing was not only to loosen the sur-
face, but also, in the act of hoeing, to scatter
the stones in all directions, and especially on the
Grass plats by the sides. Surely it is better to hand-
weed ; it is more effectual, and with care, the sur-
face is only slightly disturbed, and a good sweep-
ing or two afterwards wiE assist in getting rid of a
good many of the seeds that have become scattered
over the surface. But when the walks are hoed, it
is like preparing a bed for the seeds; the latter are
mixed in with the loose soil and spring up plenti-
fully at the growing time. If a walk were com-
posed of sand, or any material that is loose upon
the surface, it would be a different matter as far as
the mere surface is concerned, as the next shower
of rain would assist to make it firm, but still the
seeds would be buried. A lad or a woman who is
at aU industrious can weed a good stretch of
gravelled walk in a day, and the walks should be
gone over thoroughly in the spring and again in
September and October. — R. D.
Cleaning garden walks.— When I saw a gar-
dener busily employed a few days since in hoeing
a gravelled walk, I thought what a waste of
Rose Garden.
T. W. GIRDLESTONB.
OLD GARDEN ROSES.
In his pleasant gossip about " Old Garden
Flowers " in the Christmas number of Harper s
Magazine, Mr. F. W. Burbidge naturally refers
to Queen Rosa a,s par excellence " the old English
flower from all points of view," and though but
few of the older forms are specifically mentioned,
the beauty of some of the lovely single types is
warmly eulogised. The article Is made addi-
tionally attractive by the exquisite drawings of
Mr. Alfred Parsons, with which it is illustrated.
Few painters are closer observers of Nature than
this thorough artist, and in all probability there
do not exist more life-like portraits of standard
Rose trees early in the year in Pseony time than
the two in the background in the picture of
'•■Pseonies." They are not by any means the
prim, round-topped plants that the illustrated
catalogue-maker loves to portray as the standard
of beauty and grace, but rather elderly trees
just as they would appear in late spring where
pruning was not done very early, the branches
bursting into leaf at the tips, leaving long stems
bare, as they always do in a mild season before
they are cut back.
In his Flower Calendar, Mr. Burbidge ad-
heres to convention in reckoning June as the
time of Roses, but it would be interesting to
discover in how many places in England a dis-
play of Roses can be seen in that month com-
parable in extent and variety to that in July.
What's the best thing in the world P
June Rose by May-dew impearled,
sings Elizabeth Barrett Browning, but a Rose
on the 1st of June is certainly rather the ex-
ception than the rule in this country. Why
this should be so is an interesting question. It
has been suggested that modern varieties of
Roses are later blooming than their predecessors,
and this may have something to do with it, but
it is hardly sufiicient by itself to account for the
increasing lateness, because not only newer, but
even the old-fashioned summer Roses are now-
a-days rarely at their best till in July. Perhaps
it really is that the spring-time is now habitu-
ally colder than formerly, and the growth of the
plants consequently liable to be more severely
checked. Anyway the fact remains, that few
garden Roses are at their best before the begin-
ning of July, not even excepting the Moss Roses,
to which Mr. Burbidge makes prominent allu-
sion, notably in a recipe for a posy quoted from
an old herbal as foUows : ' ' Take two Moss
Rose buds half open, a small spray of Rose-
mary, half-a-dozen heads of Lavender, to which
add a cluster of Mignonette, three old crimson
Clove Carnations, a small bunch of white Jas-
mine, and a sprig or two of sweet-scented "Ver-
bena." A slight difficulty that will at once
occur to many people will be that of obtaining
Moss Roses and crimson Clove Carnations at
the same time, as generally the former are over
before the latter are out ; and Mr. Burbidge's
own suggestion to "add to the above an old
Cabbage Rose or two" will hardly be universally
accepted as materially adding to the attractive
appearance of the posy, unless, indeed, the
white variety — still the purest white of all Roses
— be employed.
Moreover, why make use of the unpicturesque
appellation of "old Cabbage" in the designa-
tion of these most delightful Roses when there
is the infinitely more gracious name of the
" Provence Rose" ready to hand? It is a long
while now since Dean Reynolds Hole voted
"old Cabbage to the pigs;" but even his
eloquence has not yet succeeded in obtaining
the abolition of the uncouth appellation which
is so much more suggestive of the streets round
Covent Garden on market mornings than of the
delicious fragrance of the most sweetly-scented
of all Roses, the Provence Rose.
STRIKING ROSES FROM CUTTINGS.
Although this is not a new plan of raising Roses,
yet there is a proper season at which the cuttings
should be put in so as to ensure the greatest amount
of success. I have tried the cuttings in the months
of October and November, but have been much
more successful with them in December, as the
wood is then well matured, and if care is taken in
the selection of suitable wood and the cuttings
otherwise treated properly, fully ninety per cent,
may be expected to take root. I have never found
Rose cuttings do so well when frames are used, and
[ find it is much better not to give them any pro-
tection at all. Many years ago it was thought quite
sufiicient to level a piece of ground and put in a
single row by the side of kitchen garden walks, and
often under the shade of trees ; but they did not
strike well there, as from the adjoining grouiid
very often being disturbed, the cuttings were in
the way, and many of them became loose, thus
causing certain failure. A better plan is to select
an open piece of ground, dig in some rotten manure,
then form a bed by throwing the soil somewhat
higher than that surrounding it. After levelling
the soil, set out the rows 1 foot apart, and cut out a
narrow trench with the spade 6 inches deep. Fill
each trench with sand or road grit, then insert the
cuttings into this quite upright, and not less than
6 inches or 8 inches apart ; afterwards tread each
cutting in firmly, and return the soil thrown out,
levelling on the top. It is the sand and the firm-
ness which are the principal aids to success. After
this the cuttings may be left to take care of them-
selves, except when a thaw takes place after a
severe frost. This often loosens the cuttings,
which will require to be made firm, again taking
care not to disturb them. In selecting cuttings, I
prefer wood of mediu>a growth rather than small or
large, as it is generally better ripened and the buds
are more reliable. If possible, take them with a
small heel or a piece of the previous year's bark
attached to the base of the cuttings ; make them
about a foot in length, taking off the bottom eyes,
leaving about three at the top. If they root well
all the buds will make growth during the summer,
which should ripen well by the winter. The strongest
can be selected for taking up for pot culture or for
permanent beds, and the weaker ones planted out
on a fresh piece of ground to have another year's
growth. Those potted up ought, after getting esta-
blished, to be pruned back to three eyes, and
allowed to come on in a cool frame or pit, when
some fine flowers will be the result, and much
sooner than those outdoors. The above treatment
applies to Hybrid Perpetuals and the hardier kinds
586
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 24, 1887.
of Teas and Noisettes, but the tender sorts of Tea
Roses will be better with the protection of a frame,
all other conditions being the same.
I'oUdngio7i Manor. THOMAS Eecoed.
Yellow Banksian Rose. — The best plan to
pursue with regard to the plants referred to by Mr.
Henry Hall (p. 547) would probably be to have re-
course to root-pruning. It is almost incredible how
coarse the roots of a Rose tree will become in a
comparatively short time, and then an exuberant,
but infertile growth is the result. Of course, the
more the branches are pruned the more rampant
their growth becomes, and it is not until this exces-
sive vigour is checked that flowers are produced.
If, however, a trench lie opened in front of the
trees, and all very coarse woody roots be carefully
cut through with a sharp knife, the trench being
filled up with fresh soil to induce the rapid forma-
tion of new fibrous roots, the desired result will in
all probability be attained. Some skill and judg-
ment will naturally be requisite to avoid injuring
any fibrous roots there may be near the surface, or,
in their absence, to avoid permanently damaging
the plant by pruning all its roots too severely at
once. It may be necessary to make a selection, and
to leave some roots intact until another season ; but,
judiciously carried out, root-pruning is the treat-
ment that Mr. Henry Hall's plants appear to
require.— T. W. G.
New French hybrid Rose.— An interesting
new hybrid Rose has been obtained, and is now about to
be distributed by a well-known French nurseryman,
M. G. Bruant, of Poitiers, under the name of Mnie.
Georges Bruant. It is the result of a cross between
the distinct Japanese species, Rosa rugosa, and the
fine strong growing Tea Rose, Sombreuil. It is said
to be of extremely vigorous habit of gro-tvth and a
very free and continuous bloomer, being the first to
appear at end of spring, and the last to cease blooming
in late autumn. It is also deliciously sweet-scented,
and should be a decided acquisition to every garden. —
Fruit Garden.
W. COLEMAN.
STANDARD FRUITS.
The highly instructive and interesting discussion
upon Pears having become general, readers of
The Garden by thi.s time must have made them-
selves thoroughly acquainted with the fact that
the selection of twenty-four varieties alike suit-
able to all parts of the kingdom is a most difficult
matter. Certain established sorts, with varying
exceptions, are good in certain districts, and
these, as a rule, the majority of growers will
continue to plant, but so long as any one variety
is good, bad, or indifferent, not only in the same
parish, but in the same garden, the fable of the
old man and his ass is child's play compared
with the work now in progress. But why not
divide the country into sections and compile a
list of the best sorts for each district precisely
as we now make up lists of Peaches for open-air
culture in the north and south, or as the Con-
tinental Vine grower selects certain sorts of
Grapes for special soils and localities. The
southern grower might then have his Chau-
montels, Easter Beurres, and Colmans, which
never do well in the north, and northern
growers would have sorts equally good in their
way, but less likely to prove disappointing.
Pear Napoleon.— A correspondent (p. 562)
is surprised to find no mention made either by
myself ur Mr. Wildsmith of this Pear, which
with him is excellent. In making a selection of
twenty-four varieties, a great number of good
ones must be left out, and this I. purposely
passed over, simply because I have found it very
uncertain. Like Glou Moroeau, it requires a
deep, well-drained loam and a good aspect, and
then in many parts of the country, unless the
season is extra good, the flavour of the fruit is
flat, the flesh thin and watery. A Pear so
erratic cannot have place where Louise Bonne
and Pitmaston Duchess — two first- rate Pears
with me — are barely admitted. If Mr. Francis
is not satisfied with this explanation, I must
respectfully request him to consult Barron's
"Report of the Pear Congress held at Chiawick,"
and there at p. 180 be will find Napoleon ob-
tained 14 votes, whilst Louise Bonne, second on
the list, stands at 87, Marie Louise being first
with 93, and Pitmaston Duchess — a compara-
tively new and little-known Pear — comes in
fifteenth with 44 votes in her favour.
Pear Winter Nelis. — If the opinions of
practical fruit growers gathered from all parts of
the United Kingdom are worth anything, the
replies to your note will render the election of
this fine variety to the front rank of your in-
tended list a dead certainty. Free, fruitful, and
accommodating, it does well as pyramid or bush,
the finest fruit, as a matter of course, coming
from south or west walls. I have tasted it in
excellent condition as far north as Leeds,
moderate or even small size of fruit apparently
making very little difference in point of flavour.
From this remark it must not be inferred that
I set small value upon fine specimens of any
kind of fruit. Just the reverse. I consider
that good ordinary size must be secured if the
eye as well as the palate are to be satisfied ; but
I draw attention to this fact to show that Winter
Nelis is one of our most reliable, as it is one of
our best Pears, and for this reason I shall feel
nnich disappoLated if it is not elevated to the
post of honour. I wish I could give as good an
all-round character to
Apple Cornish Gilliflower, a variety I
have grown in Ireland and in Herefordshire,
but when I have said the flavour is excellent,
possibly equal to a first-rate Cox's Orange
Pippin, there my good word must end. Here I
have grown it on the Paradise and the Crab,
pruned and unpruned, and in an orchard I have
a tree probably forty years old, but all the fruit
gathered within tlie last twenty years would not
fill a 2-bushel hamper. I live in an Apple dis-
trict where all the leading sorts do well, and am
truly sorry I cannot agree as to its taking even
the twenty-fourth place in your list of two
dozen.
Sam Young, or Irish Russet, too, in Ireland,
but not in England, I have grown, and am quite
willing to give my vote in its favour. It might
be a trifle larger, but in these days of rapid pro-
gress. Paradise stocks, mulching and feeding are
doing wonders, and Sam Young, short, crisp,
juicy, and rich, and yet tender withal, must,
indeed, prove obdurate if it does not submit to
the modern orchardist's coaxing art.
Apple Curltail. — A dish of this Apple was
shown by Messrs. Cheal and Sous, nurserymen,
Crawley, at the recent Apple and Pear Congress at
Harpenden. It is described in the " Fruit Manual"
as "an extraordinary-looking Apple, which pos-
sesses little merit." That it is of singular shape
and appearance must lie admitted, being as high as
it is wide, with a curious enlargement of the stalk.
So far from possessing but little merit, Mr. Joseph
Cheal said that it is a good culinary Apple and a
heavy cropper, but not much grown, and that it
keeps well up to Christmas. Of its origin nothing
seems to be known. — R. D.
Apple Seek-no-farther. — This good old sort
is not often met with, but is yet well worthy of a
trial. On the Paradise or dwarfing stock it forms a.
healthy, very free-bearing tree, which would suit
the owners of small gardens. It produces medium-
sized, conical-shaped, and very highly-coloured fruit,
which ripens in October and keeps good till January
This season the fruits are not keeping so well, the
flavour at the present time having lost its briskness,
though the aroma, a marked characteristic, is still
retained. Altogether I consider it a most desirable
dessert variety, and more reliable than Margil, Rib-
ston Pippin, Adam's Pearmain, and Braddick's
Nonpareil — all high-class sorts — which are in season
about the same time. — I.
RENOVATION OF OLD PEAR TREES.
Will any reader of The Garden kindly advise me
as to the treatment of my Pear trees ? They are
old specimens trained against a wall, and have been
very much neglected. Last year I took them in
hand and found them in want of root-pruning,
which was done. They have got spurs almost as
close as they can grow. This year, after the root-
pruning the rapid growth ceased, and fruiting spurs,
which, I am afraid, are too weak to bear fruit, were
formed. Having only a few trees, I am unable to
destroy them all at one time. — A Constant Sub-
scriber.
*.f* In answer to the above query, the past sum-
mer having been so unfavourable to recently root-
pruned fruit trees, you may think yourself fortunate
in having kept your old and neglected Pears alive
So far matters are fairly satisfactory, and all you
now have to do is to mulch well with good rotten
manure, and see that the newly formed fibres do not
feel the want of moisture. Whether or not you wiU
succeed in restoring them to close-spurred profitable
specimens is a matter which an experienced person
might determine upon the spot — not otherwise ; but
upon the assumption that half a loaf is better than
no bread, an attempt certainly is worth the trial.
Having satisfied yourself that they really have made
ngw fibres and the weak spur buds are not the re-
sult of the last flickering of stored-up sap, proceed
as follows : First of all, cut out the worst of the old
branches if too thickly placed, then with a sharp
pruning-knife thin out a few of the largest and
weakest spurs, not quite home, but to the flower or
wood-bud nearest the base. Do not be too severe,
as old trees cannot be restored in one year or two,
but thin evenly and systematically every autumn
until all have been removed. If you look closely
into the trees, most likely you will find that many
of these old spurs have already formed a young
bud near their base. These cut back at once, and
leave others not so furnished until reviving vigour,
aided by Nature, comes to your aid. Spur-prun-
ing finished, wash the walls, also the stems and
branches, with strong soapsuds, to make a clean
sweep of Moss, Lichen, and the larva; of insects.
Nail in the main branches and tie down the old
spurs where practicable to Ijring the flowers within
the influence of reflected heat from the wall. If
the trees break weakly and the spring be dry,
syringe occasionally, but not when they are in
flower ; increase the mulching, and on no account
neglect the roots with water. Had you sought ad-
vice before commencing operations, our instructions
would have been to spur-prune first and root-prune
piecemeal afterwards, but it is of no use crying over
spilt milk, and as you cannot possibly spare the
trees, get what you can from them, and lose no
time in working up a fresh stock to take their
places should they fail. There is an old adage that
"planters of Pears plant for their heirs," but all
this nonsense has been exploded by the introduc-
tion of single or double cordons on the Quince
where it suits them, or double grafted where other-
wise. Any first-class fruit nurseryman will supply
trees from which fruit may be expected next year,
but given vacant spaces on walls, against trellises,
or on the open quarters in warm gardens, strong
maidens planted now will soon grow into fruit-
bearing condition. — W. C.
Apples and Fears for Hertfordshire. — At
the Harpenden Apple Congress, Mr. Norman, gar-
dener to the Marquis of Salisbury, Hatfield, staged
a collection of Apples and Pears which he had
found to do well in Hertfordshire, and which he
recommended for local culture. The principal
varieties were Gloria Mundi, Beauty of Kent, Bra-
Deo. 24, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
587
bant Bellefleur, Alfriston, Lord Suffield, admirably
preserved; Nelson Codlin, a very fine culinary
Apple, in use from September until January, and a
most abundant bearer; Hollandbury, Eymer, Cel-
lini, very good; Mere de Menage, Kound Winter
Nonsuch (very highly recommended by ilr. Xorman),
a fine-looking culinary Apple, of first-rate quality
and a good late variety, keeping well until Slarch,
and an excellent bearer (I caimot find this Apple
in Messrs. G. Bunyard & Co.'s excellent catalogue) :
Blenheim Pippin, Syke House Eusset, Lord Burghley,
Domelow's Seedling, and Cox's Orange Pippin. Of
Pears, Xouveau Poiteau, Duchesse d'Angouleme,
Uvedale's St. Germain, Beurre Clairgeau, Triomphe
de Jodoigne, Easter Beurre, Catillac, Beurre Eance,
Josephine de Malines, and General Todtleben. Mr.
Norman also had some fine fruit of GiUes-o-Gilles,
or Gilogil, a handsome-looking stewing Pear, but
he does not warmly recommend it for the district.
The soil at Hatfield varies somewhat, but is gene-
rally of a heavy nature. Most of the varieties named
were grown upon pyramids. — R. D.
THE BEST PEARS.
Haying cultivated Pears out of doors during the
last twenty-five years on light soil over a dry gravel
in Essex, and four years out of that number in a
garden where the soil is heavy, I ought to be able
to give some useful information on the subject. I
am the more inclined to give my experience be-
cause it differs somewhat from that of Mr. Wild-
smith in The Garden, Dec. 3 (p. 516). For in-
stance, in Mr. Wildsmith's list that most excellent
variety Louise Bonne of Jersey is left out. I would
rather leave out Williams' Bon Chretien than Louise
Bonne. No doubt this slight divergence of opinion
is due to climate and other reasons.
Soil has nearly as much influence as climate on
the character of Pears. I place first on the list
Williams' Bon Chretien, not because it is the earliest
to ripen, for Beurre Giffard is a really good early
Pear, ripening early in August. Mr. Wildsmith has
the advantage of us in Essex, as none of our
Williams' Bon Chretien ripen out of doors before
the end of August. It lasts into September, and
the only one way of prolonging its season is by
gathering the fruit at various times. It ought not
to remain on the tree too long, as the peculiar
musky flavour becomes in that way rather more
highly developed than some persons approve of.
Next to this I would place Louise Bonne of
Jersey, and I must say that it succeeded better in
the light soil than it does in the heavier loam. In
fact, neither this variety nor Williams' Bon Chre-
tien grow so freely as I would like. The trees of
both ought to be worked on the Quince ; Louise
Bonne especially produces its fruit as large again
from the Quince. Both the above varieties are very
free bearing.
Betjbee Supeefin did not succeed on' our light
soil; it does better here, and I would place it in a
list of the best twelve.
Marie Louise I consider the finest Pear in cul-
tivation from a wall, and I fancy a west wall suits
it best; care must be taken not to gather the fruit
too early, as it has a tendency to shrink a little
near the insertion of the stalk. It does not succeed
on the Quince, and if grown as a pyramid should
be worked on the Pear stock.
I reluctantly omit the Seckel, perhaps the richest
flavoured of all Pears, because the fruit is too small.
DOTBNNE DTJ CoiiiCB is a Superb Pear, most ex-
cellent as a pyramid on the Quince; it did better in
our light soil than Beurre Snperfin, but was not
altogether satisfactory. In the heavy loam it suc-
ceeds much better. I would place it second only
to Marie Louise, but I have not had a chance to try
it on a wall, but would not be surprised to hear that
in some cases it surpassed that good old variety.
Gloxj Moeceatj must also come in, although I
cannot say it is first-rate, except from walls. In
fact, on the light soil it is of no use at all; on hea\y
soil it does better, but in our district it is certainly
best from a wall.
I am sorry to have to omit Winter Nelis. I
could not grow it at all in our garden of light soil.
It bore fruit freely enough on pyramids, but it was
so small, uneven, and so badly cracked that scarcely
any of it was fit to use. I have not tried it here.
Van Mons Leon Leclbrc I must speak very
highly of; it is not only one of our largest Pears,
but excellent in quality, especially from a wall.
Josephine de Malikes was also worthless on
the light soil, but it succeeds well here; the fruit is
of good size and the quality first-rate. In both cases
it was grown on the Quince stock.
Bbueee d'Aebmbeeg is one of the most free-
bearing Pears we have. It is melting and ^■ery juicy,
and has a peculiar brisk flavour, quite distinct from
anything else.
Beubeb Rancb is with us the best of the late
Pears, and succeeds weU double-grafted on the
Quince. This with Easter Beurre and Eergamotte
d'Esperen I would recommend as the best trio of
late Pears. J. Douglas.
BRIGHT-COLOURED APPLES.
Having a very large number of varieties of
Apples, I last summer made some notes as to
their blooming qualities. The list would take
up too much of your space, but I may say that
the most remarkable were, with few exceptions,
not distinguished for their fruit, and I must add
that in beauty of blossom nothing came up to a
late wild hedgerow Crab. Taking fruit and
blossom together, I without hesitation put in
the first place Worcester Pearmain. I have
several hundred trees of it, and both in bloom
and fruit it forms a perfect picture. My own
idea is, that the only Apple trees that have a
chance of becoming popular for ornament are
those of which the fruit is good for eating off
the tree, and which are also pretty in blossom,
brilliant in fruit, and fair croppers. These
qualifications Worcester Pearmain possesses.
White Aslrachan would also be suitable. It is
one of the first to blossom and the first to ripen.
This year my earliest were fit to eat on August 1.
It will hang in good condition for several weeks.
The colour, a near approach to white, is an ex-
cellent contrast to that of Worcester Pearmam.
Irish Peach is also charming in blossom, and
although the fruit is not brilliant, it is pretty,
and its superior flavour may well secure it a
place. Though rarely a heavy cropper, it scarcely
ever, fails.
But if kitchen Apples are desired, New Bess-
pool produces a good light-coloured late blos-
som, the leaves being later still ; the fruit is
handsome, considerably above middle size, and
dark mahogany red.
Golden Spire is a profuse bloomer, colour
deep rose. Fruit middle-sized, conical, golden
yellow, a good contrast to the deep red of the
former.
Of course, you know all these, but I send
specimens of three sorts in case you do not have
them at hand. The time of the others is past.
Those sent are grown at different heights, from
300 feet to 600 feet above sea level, 52.42 N.,
3.10 W. Philomelos.
SHORT NOTES.— I^JJIT.
The Blenheim Orange. — It is worth noting the
great superiority of this to any other Apples of the
same season sent to us. What is the good of sending
otit new and inferior kinds (for " culinary purposes,"
as the phrase is) that ripen at the same time Pit would be
almost wiser for the "scientific hybridiser" to go ou
bloating the Tomato and robbing the Brussels Sprout
of its flavour and character.
Pear Winter Nelis. — By your note of inquiry, I
surmise that you intend to make this thu-d favourite
in your list of standard varieties of Pears. It deserves
the position. I know no variety that is more constant,
by which I mean of more regular fraitfoluess, high
quaUty, and long keeping. As to "what area of the
British Isles the variety may be relied on to succeed,"
I have never heard of, and certainly I have never
Icnowu it to be other than good in the several places
where I have lived in England and Wales. Our
Scotch and Irish friends will, I trust, send you notes
of their experience, for which I shall loot -with keen
interest, as the variety is a special favourite of mine.
— W. Wildsmith, Hccl-field, Hants.
FRUITS UNDER GLASS.
Figs.
When the trees started in November are fairly on
the move and the terminal buds have started into
growth it will be time to raise the mean tempera-
ture of the house by the addition of a little extra
fire-heat through the day and further additions to
the fermenting material, but, considering that all
the worst of the winter is still before us, it will not
be wise to attempt an increase during the night.
As January creeps along, and this dark weather is
succeeded by brighter days, the syringe may be
more freely used, not only about the walls and
stems, but also over the foliage, which, by the way,
should never be wet when night closes over the
house. Figs in a dormant state cannot easily be
kept too dry ; in growth they enjoy and absolutely
require an abundance of moisture, and as this can
always be secured in the best of all forms from the
fermenting leaves, the latter shotdd be turned over
at short intervals, not only to spare the use of the
syringe, but also to economise fuel. I have often
pointed out the advantages attendant upon the
placing of pot trees on solid pedestals or inverted
pots, and where the depth of the pit admits there
is nothing neater and better than 12-inch glazed
drain pipes placed socket end upwards for the re-
ception of the lower parts of the pots in which the
trees are growing. Inside these, assuming that the
bed is kept at 70" to 75°, the heat will never be
much less, and all know what progress trees make
under the magic influence of such ammonia-laden
warmth and moisture from decaying tree leaves,
whilst the lodgment of liquid about the crocks is
rendered impossible. Being free livers, the best
water for pot Figs is mild clarified liquid from the
frame ground, which may be used a few degrees
warmer than the mean temperattire of the bed, and
once they are in leaf as often as a thorough watering
is found necessary. Drought being fatal to the first
crop, there must be no dribbling or deceiving the
eye by a moist surface only ; therefore with the pots
in so favourable a position it will always be safe to
err on the side of plenty. Although the tempera-
ture of the pit must be regulated more or less by
the weather, it should now range about 50° at day-
light and (35° to 70° through the early part of fine
days, when a little air should be admitted. The
best time to syringe, at least for the present, is
about 12 o'clock, and, provided the brief winter sun
is shining, a few degrees from this and other sources
at command may sometimes be secured without
forcing the trees into a weak and flabby growth.
As well-managed pot trees always set a profusion of
fruit, the latter should be freely thinned, otherwise
they will perform this operation in their own way,
and we all know how resentful a Fig tree can be
when it commences dropping its finest fruit. We
thin Peaches, Grapes, and all other forced fruits,
leaving, perhaps, a small percentage of fruits or
bunches for removal later on, but why a Fig, always
a ticklish subject, should be handicapped with a
double load of fruit it is difficult to imagine. Good
Figs are highly appreciated, and skilful gardeners
succeed in producing fruit of the highest quality as
regularly as they produce Peaches and Strawberries,
but until the absvurd practice of overcropping to
secure a crop is given up, timid cultivators wUl
always suffer from the effects of their own want of
confidence.
Sticccssicm Iiouses. — Where two or three houses
are devoted to Figs, the trees growing in restricted
borders should now be well watered, not once only,
but twice or thrice to get them into good condition
for starting on the 1st of January. Unless the
trees are very large and have the run of the whole
588
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 24, 1887.
of the roof, it rarely happens that the roots occupy
the whole of the space allotted to them, and as this
vacant space offers great facilities for giving bottom
heat, the first watering should be followed by the
introduction of mild fermenting material. Sound
Oak leaves, newly harvested and well fermented,
answer better than stable manure, tan, or any other
decaying matter, as they contain all the food the
roots of the Fig require, whilst the moisture they
impart to the atmosphere is highly acceptable to
the fruit and foliage. When the house is started
the leaves should be regularly turned and renovated,
otherwise being new, they will settle down into a
sour, solid mass, injurious rather than advantageous
to the roots, whilst the strong heat they contain
will be lost when it should be economising objec-
tionable dry fire-heat. A minimum of 50° to 5G°
with a rise of 10° by day will suffice until the point
buds begin to push, when an improvement in the
weather and increasing daylight will favour better
speed, but until the turn of the season comes, de-
cidedly perceptible figures lower even than the
above will lead up to the most satisfactory results.
Propaijation of the Fig. — If young trees are
wanted, now is the time to select the wood and put
in the eyes or cuttings ready for introduction into
bottom heat in January. Single eyes from ripe
wood, put into small pots filled with light rich sandy
soil and treated precisely as we treit Vine eyes, soon
make nice clean-stemmed stock, but the quickest
and most common method of propagation is by
means of short, well-ripened shoots with about
an inch of two-year-old wood to form a heel, with
good plump points and about 9 inches in length. In
the preparation of these cuttings all side buds
should be removed to prevent the future formation
of suckers.when they may be firmly inserted in 4-inch
pots ready for plunging in bottom heat. Strong
bottom heat is not absolutely necessary, as cuttings
inserted in the front of south walls make plenty of
roots during the summer, when the most acceptable
can be lifted, trimmed, and potted ; but the
most approved method, also the quickest, will be
found in starting with pots and potting on as the
young plants require more root room.
CUCUMBEES.
If all has gone well, the latest plants will now
be coming into bearing, and good fruit in plenty
for the next three months will compensate the
grower who has husbanded their vigour through the
dull, dark months when Cucumbers were of very
little value. Although there will be no great im-
provement in the weather — indeed, it may be more
wintry — the turn of the year will soon become mani-
fest in the fresh healthy breaks the plants will
throw out, and, as all of them will not be expected
to produce fruit, an eye must be kept on the furnish-
ing of weak parts of the trellis, especially near
home, whilst others further away may be pinched
back to favour the swelling of the most promising
shows. As growth proceeds stopping may be more
freely practised at least two or three times a week,
a few shows being contiauously left to form a suc-
cession, and fruit in like manner must be regularly
cut before full size is attained. The rate of growth
will depend 'upon the bottom-heat, which should
range from 7.5° to 80° from fire-heat and fermenting
material combined, and as the latter tells so favour-
ably, not only in maintaining the air temperature,
but also in charging it with genial moisture, a good
supply of well-worked leaves should be kept con-
stantly on hand for introduction whenever it begins
to wane. Top-dressing and earthing, particularly
where the prudent grower has confined his plants
to a small body of compost, will now become a very
important matter. Little and often is the only safe
method ; whenever the white roots creep through
the surface, this little, thoroughly warm and not
over moist, must be supplied, and there matters
must rest until they again ask for more. Light,
rich turf, broken up by hand, rather rough lime
rubble or charcoal, a dash of bone dust and soot to
settle the worms, make an excellent- compost, and
the longer it lies in reason the better it answers,
but on no account should each layer exceed 1 inch
in thickness, as many promising plants have been
brought to an untimely end by overloading the hills
early in the season. Light top-dressing favours our
giving liberal supplies of warm diluted liquid, so
essential to the maintenance of a moist condition
at the base of the ridgejor bed, it fiUs quickly with
new roots, and every plant grower knows he can
feed with safety when they are asking for more
food. Syringing is another operation which may
be, and often is, sadly overdone. When the plants
look weak and sickly, or show traces of spider, it is
the too common practice to hasten the end by lay-
ing on with the syringe. Moisture, as a matter of
course, is necessary, but it should be produced by
damping the walls and floors, avoiding the hot-
water pipes by charging the evaporating pans every
morning, and last, but not least, by turning over
the warm leaves at short intervals. Then, by way
of keeping in this warm vapour, a light, non-con-
ducting material should be placed over the roof
through the night.
Spring plants. — As aU Cucumber growers prefer
having a plurality of strings to their bow, prepara-
tions may now be made tor raising young plants
either from seeds or cuttings. A light, compact
pit, heated by hot water and filled to within 18 in.
of the glass with fermenting leaves or tan, is essen-
tial to certain success, as the temperature from day
to day will not vary, and there will be no danger of
starving to-day and scalding with rank steam from
manure linings to-morrow. Moreover, a chink of
air can be given in all weathers. Without this con-
venience, seed-sowing at Christmas will be found a
hopeless undertaking. When furnished ready for
operations, the pit will contain a few clean 3-inch
and 4-inch pots, a small quantity each of light turf
and leaf-mould, also white sand it cuttings are to be
struck, and a vessel that will hold a few gallons
of soft water. So soon as the materials are
thoroughly warm, seeds may be sown two in a pot,
the weakest plant to be pulled out if both grow ; or,
better still, single seeds may be inserted in very small
cubes of the warm turf, and potted when showing
the first rough leaf. Water in quantity is unneces-
sary, but it should be as warm as the bed and always
close to the hand, as the operator cannot afford to
put out his hand, much more to let in a rush of cold
air by opening the door. The young plants at first
should be partly plunged in the bed, but later on
they may be raised above it and kept close to the
glass, which cannot be too bright and clean inside
and out. A command of 70° at night with covering,
and 80° by day without it, will suffice for Cucum-
bers, and also for Melons, which some few will now
be sowing. If plants from cuttings of an extra good
strain are preferred, sound firm tips, about 6 inches
in length, taken off just below the second leaf,
which must not be removed, may be folded in bits
of warm turf the size of the palm of the hand and
let into the surface of the bed, where, provided they
have not been bruised, nine-tenths will be rooted
and ready for potting in a few days. Cuttings from
unclean stock, it is hardly necessary to say, should
never have place in the seedling pit. The main
object with many in making a fresh start is getting
rid of troublesome company, but in this they must
not expect to be successful if a clean-looking point
is taken from a dirty plant.
Vines.
When the buds in the early house are fairly on
the move the rods should be tied up to the wires, as
delay in this matter not only gives the young
growths a vertical tendency, but being so far from
the light and too near the fermenting material they
soon become drawn. When all double breaks have
been reduced and the bunches become prominent,
direct syringing must be considerably slackened,
but all bare stems, the paths, the walls, and other
available surfaces may be damped two or three
times a day to ensure a proper degree of atmospheric
moisture. Many growers give up syringing as soon
as the buds are on the move, others continue it
until the bunches come into flower, and to this
baneful practice thin, flabby, warted foliage and
loose bunches which never set well very often may
be traced. Mild, fermenting material, on the other
hand, counteracts this tendency, as the vapour
rising from it is steady, continuous, and feeding,
and being warm it economises fire-heat, favours the
admission of fresh air, and acts as a powerful in-
secticide by maintaining the robust vigour of the
Vines. Assuming that the roots have the run
of an external border, and this is well covered
with dry Bracken or Oak leaves — either is better
than stable manure, which poisons the soU, and
kills the surface roots — shutters, or galvanised
sheets should be used for throwing off rain and
snow, but surface warmth being in favour, now is
the time to increase the body of leaves. If the
borders were well watered before the house was
started and none has been given since, a second
supply at a temperature of 80" will now tell
favourably upon the internal roots and strengthen
the shows, which should gradually be reduced to
one on each shoot as tying down is proceeded
with. Hard and fast lines in early forcing having
been discarded, the day and night temperature
should be regulated by external conditions, by
the amount of light admitted by the glass, and
the supply of piping. In light modern houses,
containing an abundance of 4-inch pipes, maximum
heats can be maintained without distressing the
Vines, but the gain in the long run is trifling;
therefore, it is safer to proceed cautiously for
the present, and redeem time apparently lost
when days become longer and brighter and the
Grapes are swelling. Hamburghs and kindred varie-
ties make good progress from the time they show
up to the flowering stage in a night temperature
ranging from 56° to 60° with a corresponding rise
by day, and 60° to 65° during the time they re-
main in flower. A maximum of 70° to 75°, as a
matter of course, should be touched once within the
twenty-four hours, and very often it may run up to
80° under gleams of sunshine.
Succession Iwuses containing a mixed selection of
varieties and intended for coming in early in June
may now receive the first supply of water at a
temperature of 90° to 100°. If the A^nes are aged
and very fertile, as old Vines generally are, a
thorough mulching with sound rotten manure may
precede or succeed the first watering, which must
be repeated until every particle of soil is properly
moistened, or, lacking this material, warm diluted
liquid may be used from the outset. Young Amines,
on the other hand, will start strong enough, and
show the most compact bunches without the aid of
animal manure, especially if well top-dressed with
fresh turf and crushed bones before the leaves fell.
The first week in January is a favourite time for
shutting up the Vines, and as days will be on the
turn more moisture than would have been good for
the earliest set may be found necessary. The
syringe may be freely used at least once a day for
moistening the rods and two or three times upon
the walls, but the main source of continuous
moisture must be obtained from a good bed of fer-
menting leaves placed where the heat will influence
but not be too strong for the roots. If the earliest
Muscat house is started at the same time, similar
treatment in every respect will apply, but later on,
when the buds have started and the bunches begin
to become prominent, a slight increase, especially
by day, may be advantageous to the Muscats.
Hamburghs will break well in a temperature
ranging from 50° to 66° through the night and 60°
to 68° by day, with the usual advantage of a slight
increase from solar influence when the atmosphere
is bright and clear.
Pot Vines. — To be of any use in husbanding the
energies of a house of permanent Vines these should
now be well advanced towards the flowering stage,
when the night temperature may range from 65° to
68°, or even 70°, with a rise of 10° by day during
the time the Grapes are setting. Up to this stage
particular attention must be paid to tying out and
stopping — in the first instance, at the second joint
beyond the bunch, afterwards at various lengths
upon the laterals, to secure an even spread of foliage
over every part of the trellis. When Vines — as too
often happens — are placed as close as the pots will
stand in a row, very little room is left for tying out
the laterals; consequently the foliage being cramped
and confined to a small area, the bunches and berries
do not attain their fullest size, and, notwithstanding
the fact that the allotted space is covered, the yield
is neither so fine nor so heavy as when a smaller
Deo. 2-4, 1887.J
THE GARDEN.
589
number of Vines are allowed more breathing room.
Having decided upon the number of bunches each
Vine is to carry, not more than two duplicates need
be left to make up for accidents or imperfect fer-
tilisation, as healthy pot Vines over bottom-heat in-
variably set well. These, however, I would run over
daily with a small brush, and when all are set, early
thinning must follow. Sis good bunches of Ham-
burghs and Backland Sweetwater, and eight or nine
o£ the Frontignan section, are quite sufficient for
Vines in 12-inch pots to carry and finish weU, and a
smaller number even should be left where the Vines
are weak or the roots in doubtful condition. From
this stage forward the top-dressing, made up some
weeks ago and now in fine condition, must be freely
applied, little and often, and warm, diluted liquid,
always clear and on the weak side, must be given
whenever a thorough watering is necessary. As
water must not touch the berries, the syringe may
be laid aside as soon as the waUs and other surfaces
have been moistened, but the attendant must secure
a continuous supply of atmospheric moisture by
damping with liquid and
turning up a portion of
the warm leaves daily.
Ventilation, as a matter
of course, is imperative,
and having an abund-
ance of fire and bottom
heat at command, a chink
of air may be given at
banking time and shut
off early the following
morning, the air by day
being regulated by ex-
ternal conditions after
the temperature begins
to rise. In aU weathers
the maximum heat with
air should be reached by
noon, when early closing
will favour the rapid de-
velopment of the berries.
Planting Mnes. — If
these are still plunged
against open walls they
may now be removed to
a cold, dry pit or house,
again plunged to pre-
vent the roots from be-
coming too dry, and cut
back to the lowest bud
or any height likely to
suit the house for which
they are intended. Cutting off, however, close to
the pots is the most common practice, as Vines so
treated can be shaken out and grown into fruiters,
or planted out in a growiog state, when a hard,
sticky piece of the original cane, which does not
often swell freely, is avoided. If an early start is
anticipated, each cat should be dressed with styptic
to prevent bleeding, and water must be withheld
uatil the buds show signs of swelling. W. C.
to that of improved size and flavour— it is that the
Frontignau will ripen — be fit for use — at least a mouth
before the iluscats, aud, of course, this means a
lengthened season of ripe fruit. — W. W.
Orchids.
W. H. GO WEE.
ODONTOGLOSSUM NEVADENSE.
The species of Odontoglossum I'epresented in
our illustration is perhaps one of the very rarest
Pear ITapoleofl. — ilr. Francis (p. 562) is fortu-
nate in having this Pear so good, and either his cul-
tural treatment or local conditions as to site, climate,
or soil must he exceptionally favourable to it, or the
variety he has, cannot be true to name. I rather in-
cline to the latter opinion, inasmuch as the variety
seldom ripens in this more southern part than Kich-
mond before the end of November or well into Decem-
ber; whereas, it ripened with Mr. Francis in Septem-
ber, and it never is more than of third-rat« quality as
a dessert fruit. As a culinary variety I consider it on
an equahty with Catillac, and it is worthy of cultiva-
tion for that purpose, because of its regular produc-
tiveness.— W. WiLDSMiiH, Hants.
Grape "White Frontignan. — "F. W. C." in
The Gariiex, Dee. 1" (p. 564), appears to be in doubt
as to whether this variety may be grown in a Muscat
of Alexandria vinery. Please, therefore, allow me to
encourage him — if he can spare the space — to plant it
with the Muscats. I have grown it in heat and also in
an ordinary greenhouse temperature, and the diilerence
not only in flavour (as per the extract you give from
Mr. Barron's book), but size both of bunch and berry
is greater. There is another advantage of growing
this variety with the Muscats, which ia scarcely second
Odontoglosbum nevadense.
of the genus in cultivation at the present day,
notwithstanding that nearly twenty years have
elapsed since its first arrival in Europe. This
fact, indeed, would lead to the supposition that
the plant is rare in its native country. It was
first sent to M. Linden in Brussels by Mr. G.
WaUis in companj' with other species, but it is
quite evident he did not see it flower, neither
could it have been growing in quantity, as he
was not aware that he had collected it. It is a
robust-growing plant, with stout, oblong-ovate,
somewhat compressed pseudo-bulbs, which are
upwards of 3 inches high, and bear on their
summit a pair of broad sword-shaped leaves,
which become much narrowed at the base and.
are nearly a foot long. The scapes are slightly
pendent and bear from twelve to fifteen flowers,
which are about 3 inches across, sepals and
petals chestnut-red bordered with yellow, the
petals in addition being tipped with yellow, and
more or leas marked at the base with flaked
longitudinal lines of pale yellow. The lip is three-
lobed, white, the side lobes erect, streaked and
spotted with chestnut, the front lobe deeply
fringed round the edge, with a bifid crest, and
ornamented with tliree oblong, chestnut-coloured
spots, whilst in some varieties the sepals also
are transversely streaked with pale yellow. Its
natural time of fiowering is during spring and
early summer, and its distinct and pleasing
flowers last a long time in perfection. It requires
quite the coolest treatment, thriving admirably
under the conditions suitable for O. Alexandrie.
]J[axillaria punctata is not one of the showy
Orchids, but yet it is extremely pretty, as the
flowers are borne in wonderful profusion. They
are small, pale yellow, and heavily spotted with
crimson much in the same way as those of M. picta.
The whole plant is dwarf, and the flowers are pro-
duced in dense bunches at the base of the bulbs,
and are deliciously fragrant. There is a plant in
bloom at Kew that attracts as much attention as
the showier and larger-flowered kinds. The plant
is growing on a block of wood, and has been in
bloom for weeks. It is of the simplest culture.
—\y. G.
A new Leelia. — Another wonderfully fine
Sedenian hybrid Lselia, or perhaps Cattleya, as the
distinctive character, the number of the pollen
masses, has not been mentioned, produced by
the crossing of Lfelia Dominiana and Cattleya
crispa, has just flowered in Messrs. Veitch s
nursery. The young plant, which is about nine
years old, has seven bulbs. The longest bulb, which
has produced a spike of two beautiful flowers, is
about G inches long, and the leaf belonging to it
measures about 10 inches, and is somewhat narrow,
like that of Cattleya crisfia. The shape of the
flowers, which have been produced without the
usually accompanying sheath, is very much like that
of a good-sized bloom of C. crispa; the petals and the
sepals, of a pale mauve tint,are elegantly twisted, as
in that species, while the lip is of a very rich purple
colour, lighter perhaps than in Lfelia Dominiana,
but certainly more brilliant, and extending all along
the throat, which is itself of a bright yellow. This
new hybrid is all the more remarkable on account
of its parentage, as it comes from one plant already
a mule, the beautiful La^lia Dominiana being itself
the result of a cross between Cattleya Dowiana
and Cattleya Mossife. This, Mr. BaUantine has
proved, is a very good growing and free-flowering
variety, for we understand that the entire stock
of that beautiful plant is in the collection of Baron
Schroeder, who, we believe, is also the fortunate
possessor of Seden's latest addition to the list of
hybrid Lfelias and Cattleyas.
Oncidium varicosnm and O. Hogersi. — In
The Garden (p. 518) " Vf. I.'' says " Oncidium vaii-
cosum and 0. Eogersi are evidently synonymous," a
statement, however, which I do not think he will
find many Orchid growers to corroborate. At the
same time, I believe there are many plants to be
found about the country bearing the two names
which are identical, and which I account for in the
following manner: On a recent visit to a small
garden I found amongst other plants two Oncidiums
in flower, one named varicosum, which was certainly
a very poor variety; the other form was also vari-
cosum, slightly better than the typical form, and to
this the name of Eogersi was attached, and had I
known nothing of these plants but what I gathered
from the labels, I, of course, should have reported
upon them as distinct, and, I believe, in many in-
stances the name is given by an amateur to a slightly
superior form of varicosum ; hence " W. I.'s " in-
ference that they are synonymous. 0. Eogersi was
590
THE GARDEN.
introduced by and named after Dr. Rogers, of East
Grinstead, I think somewhere about the year 1869,
and the first time I ever saw the plant was in the
autumn of the following year at the nurseries of the
Messrs. Yeitoh, of Chelsea. The plant in question
had stout, ovate, somewhat ribbed pseudo-bulbs of a
deep green hue, mottled with black towards the
upper part, each bearing a pair of strap-shaped
acute leaves; the nodding panicle was about 2 feet
in length, much branched, and bore 170 flowers
each upwards of 2 inches across; the sepals and
petals were pale greenish yellow, transversely
banded with brown ; lip large, upwards of 2 inches
across, the middle lobe reniform, with four
lobules or divisions, and of the richest clear yellow;
the base is crested where it is stained with chestnut-
brown. That O. Eogersi is a very fine variety of
0. varicosum must be admitted, but it differs in
size, in the shape of the lip, and also in having
fewer protuberances on the disc. 0. varicosum is
one of the most brilliant and showy of autumnal
Oncidiums, and many forms have appeared from
the various importations, which somewhat approach
the original 0. Eogersi, but I have seen none to
equal it.— W. H. G.
and bearing on the front edge a central blotch of
white or cream colour.
L. Dayana, which by some is considered a variety
ot L pumila, has flowers much deeper in colour
besides showing a few other trivial variations. They
are sufficiently distinct to warrant them being grown
side by side. The two last-named Ltelias lucceed
best upon blocks of wood, or in small hanging
baskets or pans, and with only a small portioi of
peat and Sphagnum about their roots. Lajlia
amanda IS another pretty kind. This, a supposed
natural hybrid, was first introduced to notice by
Mr. Bull : the sepals and petals are soft rosy purple •
the hp yellowish white, or lilac, veined with red'
and bears a blotch of purple suffused with violet
on the front. There also is to be seen the first of
[Dec. 24, 1887.
dida grandiflora, Odontoglossum Halli, Omithidium
coccineum, Oncidium Phalsenopsis, and last, but not
least, the fine old Zygopetalnm Mackayi, the lovely
shade of purplish blue upon its lip rendering it very
attractive and welcome. W H G
ORCHIDS IN FLOWER AT MESSRS. VEITCH'S.
To the gardener the superb condition of the Orchids
at Messrs. Veitch's nursery always affords some
practical lessons, whilst to the casual visitor the
flowers to be found there are always a source of
pleasure and delight. On a recent visit to this
famous nursery I was particularly struck with the
rude health of the Orchid collection and the many
magnificent specimens of Cattleyas, Lajlias, Cypri-
pediums, Dendrobiums, and many others which are
there gathered together. Many of the plants have
made growths of remarkable vigour, and a corre-
sponding display of bloom may be confidently ex-
pected later on. The system of culture appears to
be quite rational, light and airy houses and a marked
absence of excessive heat being the rule. It is, how-
ever, with the flowering plants that I wish particu-
larly to deal at the present time. The Ltelias and
Cattleyas promise thousands of flowers in the not
far distant days of spring, and are already begin-
ning to wake up after their rest, several kinds being
now in bloom— the pioneers, so to speak, of the
large number which will continue to yield their
blooms more or less until the autumn of the next
year. So numerous and varied are the members of
these two genera that from them alone it would not
be a diflicult task to maintain a display of flower
all the year round. Conspicuous just now is G.
Bowringiana, which may with propriety be called
the autumn-blooming C. Skinneri. It appears to
be a free grower and an abundant flowerer ; the in-
dividual blooms are not large, but the scape bears
from five to ten on the top. The sepals and petals are
rosy purple, with darker veins ; the lip is rolled over
the column and is of the same colour as the sepals on
the outside, within deep purple with a blotch of
maroon-purple in the centre ; throat white. It is
a lovely flower, but its merits are not yet sufficiently
known. ^ It is said to grow upon rocks in a state of
nature in an atmosphere heavily charged with
moisture. This species is a Veitch'ian introduction
from Honduras. C. maxima is another beautiful
autumn bloomer, although the size of its flowers
does not warrant its name at the present time,
whatever it may have been when first discovered by
Ruiz and Pavon. The flowers are some 4 inches or
5 inches across, soft rose colour, streaked on the
inside of the lip with purple and pale yellow.
Another beautiful small-growing plant is Cattleya
marginata, perhaps more correctly called La;iia
pumila, and numbers of its large flowers are quite a
feature in the display. The plant seldom exceeds
3 inches in height, and the flowers are broader than
the length of its pseudo-bulbs, which, by the way,
in this particular variety are very short and stout!
The flowers appear with the young growth, and ex-
pand just about the time when the bulb is full-
sized, but still immature ; the sepals and petals are
broad, of fleshy texture, and rosy purple in colour ;
lip large, rosy purple outside, the middle lobe and
all the expanded part being rich, deep velvety purple,
V ^, u^®^, ^,?^"d Cattleya.-In the Messrs.
Veitchs establishment at Chelsea there was at the
beginning of this month a most curious and very
pretty hybrid form of Cattleya in flower, resulting
from a cross effected between the Cattleya interme-
dia and C. citrina. The latter appeared to have been
the seed-bearing parent, as although the characters
possessed by the progeny were about intermediate
. „ „„ ^^ .„„ ,^, ,„, „, r:*r^° those of the two parents, the peculiar
the variable and gorgeously beautiful Cattleya ™?„ f 1""°^ ,•' *^® equally striking glaucous
Trianic, represented by the variety called Dodgsoni °°^°°^.°f *<^^. foliage, and the particularly distinct
m which the sepals and petals are white with iust ^-l^- ^oZenng were very characteristic of Cattleya
a suspicion of a flesh-coloured tinge ; lip soft ^"""^- ^}^ j'^lbs of this singular plant, which,
violet-purple, which becomes bright rich ma°-enta '^^ understand, was raised in a private establish-
in front, with an orange-coloured base. Of the T?,'-^''^ ^™° °°™^^'''*"° °f ^l^ich are deprived
Mexican La;lias, albida and autumnalis were in ° l°iu^^- ^^^^^ ^^^ certainly longer, but clothed
abundance, whilst L. anceps, by the number of uT/ ^ ^^™^ ^'^^^''5' ^'^^^'^^^ ^^ those of C. citrina ;
spikes showing both of white forms and the type lu^ strongest about U in. long, bears three leaves,
promises to :make quite an exhibition of itself' v., • w^^ °^ ""°'°'^ measures 7 inches, and is of a
Amongst the distichous-leaved Orchids conspicuous ^u V-^* ™usual in any other kind of Cattleya.
was Aerides Lawrences;, nearly resembling the -I- ^f"*^''? P-°^^^ ^7 its pendulous form also
typical form, and the pretty West African Angra;- '?'^^^^*.^s a citrina parentage, but here ends all
cum Chailluanum,Vandaca;rulea in variety and the ^™/- ! ^' *'!?; the whole uniform yellow colour so
marvellous V. Sanderiana, a form in which the °?^™°* '" /^- citnna is conspicuous by its total
reticulated markings on the broad lateral sepals are ^°f^'^°'^- /°e petals and sepals are of a pale blush
very clearly defined. Amongst Dendrobiums now a ' ^""^^ the lip of a bright purple-mauve ; the
blooming, D. endocharis is very pretty • it is a "°'T?'^s, although possessing the colours of C. inter-
garden hybrid raised between D. aureum (hetero- ™'=°''^' "/Yf ^^^ shape and size as well as the sub-
carpum) and D. moniliforme (japocicum) ; the
flowers are borne in pairs and are white, the lip
being stained with mauve. D. chlorops, although
not large, is very distinct, pleasing, and free-flower-
ing ; the flowers are nankeen-buff, the lip being
curiously marked w th emerald-green. The Austra-
lian and New Guinea D. bigibbum appears to be
a perpetual bloomer, producing its spikes from old
and new growths alike.
Cypripediums are quite a feature in this esta-
blishment, and the house devoted to them contained
many grand plants. These are remarkably free
flowering, and I do not suppose it would be possible
stance of those of C. citrina. It is undoubtedly a
most interesting hybrid.
Kitchen Garden.
■W. WILDSMITH.
KITCHEN GARDEN NOTES.
Manure yard.— For several days past there has
been a succession of heavy rains, so that even our
dry ground has at last got too wet to work on We
have therefore turned our attention to the manure
yard. It is to this spot that all the vegetable
refuse, sweepings of walks and roads as well a»
to flnd one single day in the whole year on which ' ^^^^pings of walks and roads as well as
Cypripedium flowers could not be shown Amonest ""^""^^ PfpPe'^ are brought, and there being a large
the fine collection of these plants I noted the hT'""'^«°^-°^ material there has been no difli-
old C. ;insigne in great variety, from the typical T ^ '° t u^ } employment-between the
kind to such beautiful forms as Maulei, punctatum ^^'^^'^^s-for all our hands. I long ago called the
violaceum, and Chantini.'the charming little Schlimi If \J"^ ^.1°^ '''^. *° classification or building
and the prim Spicerianum, and the ever-flowerine *°g<=™<='' °^ ^}^^, various descriptioEs of manure as
Sedeui and its paler relative, Sedeni candidulum "L.fjji'll °/ ■ r,"'-, '?<=f^?"=<=' though nothing is
n T ..„ ,, .. • . iuuium. rejected that IS likely to have fertilising power in
C. Leeanum and its variety superbum are very
showy when seen in quantity, as they are in this coi-
lectioD, and the flowers appear to vary considerably
in the spottings on the dorsal sepal. The pretty little
microcbilum was blooming and growing freely
Mr. Canham observed that he finds this plant re-
quires a stronger heat than the majority, which he
treats to the temperature of an intermediate house.
This remark, in all probability, will be found to
apply to all the C. niveum hybrids. Other kinds
conspicuous for their beauty were C. vexillarium,
purpuratum, callosum, the new hybrid Mrs. Can-
ham, &c.
White flowers were represented by magnificent
examples of Masdevallia tovarensis, reminding one
of quantities of snowflakes ; Cymbidium Masters],
and the ever-welcome Odontoglossum Alexandra;
and 0. Pescatorei ; whilst spotted flowers could be
seen in the varieties of 0. Andersoni, &o. The
grateful perfume of A^olets and Primroses emanat-
ing from the many 'spikes of Oncidium tigrinum
pervaded the cool house. For vivid yellow^colours,
O. varicosum and its varieties cannot be excelled'
Calanthes will not be at their best until after the
new year, although C. Veitchi and C. vestita in
variety are well to the fore. A new form, named
lentiginosa rubra, just now flowering, appears to be
a full round flower, very highly coloured, but it was
not sufficiently open to allow a just estimate to be
formed of its beauty. Miscellaneous Orchids were
nrimor^,,., n,o „TV ""-™'""-v"° , '^'""'> "^'^^ «i"i 11 two layers ot manure are thought to be
numerous, the most attractive being MUtonia can- necessary this kind is used for the bottom, and
It, 1 only make three descriptions, the first being
long stable litter, the second the same in a decayed
state, and the third vegetable matter of any and
every kind. The first-named we throw together
taking pains to shake it well out, and after it has
lain a fortnight or three weeks it is used for surface
mulching. If any remains after present require-
ments have been met, the remainder is passed on to
number two, namely, the same description of
manure in a decayed state, and this we reserve for
use on borders for the production of early Potatoes,
French Beans, Lettuces, and Cauliflowers, and for
the mulching of Strawberries and Gooseberries,
neither of which we ever dig amongst, but simply
weed when necessary, and also feed with well
decayed manure. That the plants approve of this
treatment the mass of roots plainly shows. The
other manure consists of weeds, refuse from vege-
table and potting sheds, sweepings of walks,
charred soil, wood ashes, tree leaves, road-scrapingsj
&c. This is all thrown together, and when oppor-
tunity offers the whole is returned, and either soot
or fresh slaked lime— sometimes both— is at this
turning sprinkled over as each layer is completed
The longer it can be left before it is applied to the
ground so much the lighter, because more friable, it
will be, and therefore it will be quickly assimilated
with the soil. We only use this description of
manure on ground that is being deeply trenched,
and if two layers of manure are thought to be
Dec. 24, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
591
either number two or a sprinkling of bone-dust is
put immediately under the top spit. It is at this
manure manufactory that our kitchen garden hands,
now that the ground is so wet, find profitable
employment, and as soon as this is done there is the
renewal ot linings to Potato frames and the making
up of hotbeds for the frame forcing of Asparagus,
and successional lots of Potatoes and Carrots.
FORClNa. — Tomato plants trained to a trellis in
the Melon house have done well, but indications of
weakness are now apparent, and a sowing of seed has
been made in heat so that we may have young
plants, in readiness for planting should the old ones
succamb. Cucumber cuttings have been inserted
in strong heat wherewith to plant another house to
be in bearing before the old plants are destroyed.
French Beans are now forced entirely in pots, and
it is necessary to sow a batch about every fortnight.
With so much artificial heat a gentle dewing over-
head with tepid water is necessary once a day, no
matter what the state of the weather may be.
Neglect of this means the rapid spread of red
spider and injury to the surrounding plants as
well as to the Beans. The regular production of
Asparagus, Seakale, Rhubarb, small salads, and
herbs is best accomplished if some day in each
week is set apart for taking stock of supplies and
putting in fresh batches as may be required. Daring
the present open weather the lights of frames con-
taining Cauliflower plants. Lettuce, Endive, and
Parsley should be drawn right off except when
there is rain, as then it is best to tilt them up.
Everything that engenders damp and decay should
be instantly removed. Dry soil, dry Cocoa fibre,
and wood ashes sprinkled over the surface soil in
frames are excellent antidotes against damp and
mildew.
Trees and Shrubs.
W. QOLDRING.
THE BROAD-LEAVED SPINDLE TREE.
(edonymus latifolius.)
When, a few weeks ago, the common Spindle
tree (Euonymus europteus) was aglow with a
profusion of coral-red fruits and orange-yellow
seeds, I alluded to the neglect which it and
other ornamental Spindle trees suffered now-a-
days at the hands of tree and shrub planters.
There are few, if any, shrubs that so enliven a
shrubbery with colour in October and November
as the Spindle trees, and they are on that
account invaluable. Beautiful as is our native
species, E. europa3Us, it is surpassed by the
Continental species, E. latifolius, that grows
to the size of a small tree, and has larger
and broader leaves, and brighter and alto-
gether more conspicuous fruits. In autumn,
from September till the end of November,
no small tree possesses such a combination of
elegance and colour-beauty as this Spindle tree,
for the bright coral-red fruit capsules hang in
profusion, and when they open the bright
orange-red seeds, which hang on slender threads,
are exposed. Though generally seen only as a
shrub, it is really a small tree, attaining a
height of from 15 feet to 20 feet in its native
habitat. It grows quite as higli in this country
when allowed plenty of space to develop itself.
As a rule, however, it is allowed to take its
place in a crowded shrubbery, where, at the
best, it can only rear a few straggling shoots
above the dense mass that hems it in. It is
quite worth growing as an isolated specimen on
a lawn, where it can have light and air on all
sides, as it is naturally an elegant-growing tree
with a dense, rounded head and branches with
a drooping tendency. When leafless in winter
it may be recognised by its regularly arranged
branches and smooth reddish green bark, while
its broad shining foliage makes it handsome in
summer. Its inconspicuous green flowers are
produced in summer, and are not worth taking
into consideration. Like the rest of the
deciduous kinds of Euonymus, it grows and
thrives best in a shady situation and in a good,
moist soil. Among other deciduous species of
Euonymus worth growing on account of their
autumn beauty is the American Spindle tree,
E. americanus, which in Canada and the United
States grows 6 feet or more in height, and bears
a crop of bright crimson-red fruits so showy
and abundant, that it is popularly called the
Burning Bush. An interesting shrub is E.
verrucosus, a native of Central Europe, which
has its . green bark covered with peculiar
brownish warts. The common Spindle tree and
its white-fruited variety (fructu-albo), together
with E. latifolius, americanus, and verrucosus,
would make a most interesting and beautiful
isolated group on any lawn, and, moreover,
would form a very uncommon feature. Most of
these exotic Spindle trees are very old intro-
ductions.
E. latifolius has been cultivated in English
gardens for 150 years, and it is strange that
even now a shrub of such singular beauty should
be so uncommon in gardens. It can be bought
in the best tree nurseries, but nurserymen tell
me that they are so rarely asked for it tliat it
hardly pays them to keep a stock of it.
THE CUCUMBER TREE.
(MAGNOLIA ACUMINATA.)
I SHOULD like to direct the attention of tree
planters to the merits of this tree, which I consider
is among those that are neglected. It possesses
several merits — is handsome in growth, has large
and broad leaves, always makes a symmetrical,
globular 'head, is perfectly hardy, and, what is a
great point with most people now-a-days, is a rapid
grower. Fast-growing trees are more in demand
than ever, since immediate effects are required, and
it is a great relief to find that there are other fast-
growing trees besides Poplars, which so many
people detest. Those who have seen the many grand
specimens of the Cucumber Tree in the Knap Hill
Nursery, Woking, must have been impressed with
their fine appearance in summer when in full
beauty of foliage, and again in autumn when the
leaves turn to a rich russety brown. The large
trees in this nursery must have been all planted
about the same time, as they are of uniform size,
and are of such perfect form that I wonder Mr.
Waterer has not recommended and grown it ex-
pressly for avenue planting. It is an extremely
hardy tree, is not at all fastidious as to soil, and
though it is grateful for shelter from wind, I have
seen it flourish on an open hillside. I cannot speak
of its behaviour in towns, but I imagine that it
would thrive as well as a Plane, and would look
quite as handsome in the streets. In this country
it is a moderate-sized tree, even under the most
favourable conditions, as I do not think that the
largest would grow to a greater height than 50 feet.
In the mountain valleys in the AUeghaniesit is said
to reach a height of from fiO feet to 80 feet ; but there
it revels in conditions peculiarly favourable to it,
viz., a rich soil and a moist and temperate climate.
It is a rapid grower till it reaches a height of from
25 feet to 30 feet, evidence of which is afforded at
Kew, where in one part of the arboretum some young
trees, planted about ten years ago, are now hand-
some specimens over 20 feet high. Here, then, is a
tree whose claims as an ornamental subject stand
high, yet, after having been just one hundred and
fifty years in English gardens, one meets with it
only in gardens like Syon, Kew, Cobham, Pains
Hill, Longleat, and other places where ornamental
trees were planted generations ago for the benefit
and enjoyment of the people of the present time.
Skimmia japonic a. — There is nothing so useful
as this for fringing Rhododendron beds, as the soil
that suits these agrees with the Skimmia, which, when
loaded with bright berries, relieves the monotonous
appearance that dense masses of E.hododendrons pre-
sent at this season. Skimmia. japonica is not grown as
a window plant so much as it deserves to he. It is a
capital subject for cool rooms, corridors, aud similar
places, where the berries are safe from the attacks of
birds. Being of slow growth, it may be kept for
several years in the same pot. — J. C. B.
A good evergreen for towns. — It may not
be generally known that Osmanthus ilicifolius (that
looks so much like a Holly as to deceive even ex-
perts) is one of the very best evergreens for town
gardens or anywhere where the atmosphere is
smoky. In some of the public gardens and squares
in the east end of London, where for the greater
part of the year the atmosphere is laden with
smoke, I was surprised to see how much better
this shrub flourished than the Holly. I account
for this from the fact that the soot does not cling
to the surface of the leaves, as in the case of the
Holly and most other evergreens. The fact that
this evergreen is so suitable for town gardens is
recognised by some nurserymen aliout London, who
are working up stocks to meet the demand for it —
W. G.
A handsome Thorn.— Cratfegus Azarolus is
well adapted for planting in parks, standards of it
being also very effective when dotted about shrub-
beries. At Heytesbury House, Wilts, I recently
saw a fine specimen standing not less than 15 feet
in height and beautifully fruited. Other commoner
Thorns are also being grafted with it, so much is it
liked. It invariably produces a mass of pinkish
white flowers, these being followed by abundance
of fruit, which attain the size of Cherries, and when
ripe are of a reddish yellow colour, and of an agree-
able taste. The foliage being of a light green hue,
the under side silvery, contrasts prettily with the
fruits, which are also quite showy for some time
after the leaves have fallen. — I.
The Sweet Fern Bush, as Comptonia aspleni-
folia is called, should be remembereil at this plant-
ing time, as it is one of the prettiest little shrubs
one can have, and makes a Fern-like undergrowth
in the shrubbery. The leaves when bruised have a
pleasant spicy fragrance, and on that account the
plant is a great favourite with those who grow it.
It is a wood plant, and therefore delights in^ shade,
and not being particular as to soil, if not stifl", may
be grown anywhere. In sandy, stony, or hungry
peat soils, it is perfectly at home, and its roots run
freely on the surface and send up shoots as they go.
Oftentimes one is looking for a shrub of this sort to
clothe a shady bank where the poor soil would not
support other shrubs. It is deciduous and grows
3 feet or \ feet high, but by pruning may be kept quite
low. It should also be grown in a garden of sweet-
smelling herbs and shrubs — with Rosemary, Laven-
der, Sweet Gale, and the like. — W. G.
Propagating.
Hardy shrubs. — Though cuttings of evergreen
shrubs that are inserted in the open ground strike
much better if put in during the latter part of Sep-
tember and during October than at the present
time, yet the work is often delayed till this season,
as there is now far more leisure to make the cut-
tings, whereas early in the autumn work of all kind
is pressing. The principal point to be considered in
putting in cuttings in the open ground is to see that
they are inserted firmly, otherwise the frosts and
drying winds will cause them to shrivel up. Hardy
shrubs may be increased with but little trouble or
risk when shifting operations are going on, as it is
often possible to detach a few rooted suckers or
branches that have been buried rather deeply, and
formed roots on their own account. In the case of
an established specimen that is being removed this
can often be done without injuring the plant. As
these detached shoots are as a rule only slightly
rooted, they should be planted in a nursery quarter
or in some sheltered spot where they can be at-
tended to until they become established. Shoots
592
THE GARDEN.
detached in this manner, even i£ they have but few
roots, will, as a rule, form useful plants during
the first season. T.
Ferns.
W. H. GOWBR.
THE FERNS OF MADEIRA.
This most interesting island, now well known
by many who resort to it in order to enjoy its
delightful climate during the cold and trying
months of an English winter and spring, is
situated in the North Atlantic Ocean some 360
miles from the coast of Morocco. It is about
100 mOes in circumference, and is extremely
rich in ilowei-ing plants and Ferns. Of
Ferns it contains about two dozen species of
great beauty, independent of the kinds indi-
genous to the British Isles, which are being so
well described in the pages of The Garden by
" S. G." under the title of "Our Native
Ferns." But, curiously enough, we cannot boast
of a single species which is peculiar to our native
land, for all of them exist in various other parts
of Europe as well as in other more distant
coiintries.
The object of these brief remarks is to enable
Fern lovers who may not be in the happy pos-
session of a stove fernery to select those kinds
which are best adapted for cool-house culture,
for which all of the Madeira species are suitable.
There is nothing difficult or exceptional in the
treatment of these Ferns, but they do not like
either sudden or extreme changes of tempera-
ture. A friend, who resided for several years
on the island, assured me that the highest tem-
perature he had registered in the shade was
about 80°, and this was during July and August ;
while the lowest he had recorded was 53°. The
rainfall of the island is not great, and is mostly
confined to the autumn months, so that it will
be readily understood that these Ferns exist
naturally in a very equable temperature.
WoODWAEDiA EADICANS is one of the largest of
the Madeira Ferns, and also one of the very hand-
somest greenhouse kinds yet introduced to cultiva-
tion. It forms a splendid object when planted in a
suitable position, which should be on the top of a
prominent and isolated boulder of the rookery, or,
if grown in a pot, it should be placed on a pedestal.
Its fronds, which are evergreen, are produced from
a stout creeping rhizome, and vary from 3 feet to
() feet in length. On the points of the fronds small
bulbils, which ultimately develop into young plants,
are produced. The fronds are gracefully arched,
and ultimately become pendent, the whole plant
assuming a vase-like appearance. The segments or
pinnae are broad, deejily lobed, and of a rich bright
green colour. The vaiiety cristata, I believe, origi-
nated in this country. It is an extremely beautiful
plant, the ends of each pinna as well as the apes of
the frond being elegantly tasselled.
Balantium cijlcita is a noble plant, found only
in Madeira and the Azore Islands. It is, I am tolrl,
in great danger of lieing exterminated, as the plants
are being destroyed for the sake of obtaining the
soft shining brown hairs which envelop the crown
of the fplant, and which, I believe, have been used
for stuffing cushions, &c. The plant is nearly allied
to the tree-like Dicksonias, but in Balantium, the
caudex, though stout, is not erect, but decumbent,
and its apex is densely clothed with long, silky,
bright l)rovvn hairs ; the fronds are leathery in tex-
ture and of a deep shining green colour. When
the fronds are fertile, the segments are slightly con-
tracted, and the sori form a conspicuous ornament
to the plant.
Tub Hare's-foot Fern (Davallia^ canariensis)
is said to be a common Fern in the island, and
forms a pretty object scrambling amongst the
rocks ; it is too familiar to lovers of Ferns to need
description here. It thrives best when treated
[Dec. 24, 1887.
as a basket plant. The complaints I sometimes
hear about its being a slow grower are, I fear,
caused by its roots being surrounded by too great
a quantity of soil.
Op Splbbnwoets there are several handsome
kinds. Asplenium monanthemum is a pretty erect-
growing plant with pinnate fronds varying from
6 inches to 1 foot in length and about 1 inch In
width, the pinnae being of a lively green. It
forms a neat specimen, but should not be over-
potted. A. Hemionitis is another distinct Fern
with broad, palmately lobed fronds, which are from
6 inches to 10 inches high and about 6 inches
Nothochlacna Marantae.
broad, the lobes being tiiangular, tapering to a
point, and pale green in colour. There is a variety
of this Fern in cultivation named cristatum in
which the apex of the middle lobe is surmounted
with a dense crest, which those who admire the
crested and tasselled varieties look upon as a great
acquisition. A. furcatum is a bold and handsome
species ; the stems are furnished with short, woolly
hairs, and the fronds are from IS inches to 2 feet
in length. A. prsemorsum is a somewhat similar
plant to the preceding ; the habit is, however, more
pendent ; the segments are broader and terminate
abruptly, having the appearance of having been
bitten off. It is said that A. furcatum and A.
prtemorsum are the same species, but the extreme
forms are very distinct and handsome. A. umbrosum
and A. axiUare are two species nearly allied to our
native Lady Fern (A. Filix-fosmina). They are bold
and slightly coarse-looking Ferns, but they form
dense, handsome masses when planted out.
Cbteeach. — This genus is represented in Ma-
deira by a strong-growing, handsome plant named
C. aureum. It resembles a gigantic form of C.
officinarum, the fronds reaching from 6 inches to
1 foot in length and upwards of 2 inches in breadth ;
the pinnse are smooth and deep green on the upper
side, and densely clothed below with ferrugineous
scales. The Maiden-hair Ferns are represented by
a cm'ious species, Adiantum reniforme, and this
plant appears to be confined to this island and
Teneriffe ; the stems are shining deep brown, 6 inches
to 8 inches high, and the simple reniform frond is
from 1 inch to 2 inches or more across, fringed
round the edge with a line of sori ; the texture is
leathery and the colour deep green. It should be
grown amongst pieces of rock, and with not too much
soil about its roots.
The Scaly Stag's-tonqub Fben (Elaphoglos-
sum squamosum) is an outlying member of a tropical
genus, and I have found it thrive best with toler-
able exposure to the sun; it appears to enjoy more
warmth than the other Ferns from this island; the
fronds are simple, the infertile ones from 6 inches
to a foot high and about an inch wide, tapering at
each end, the upper surface pale green profusely fur-
nished with brownish scales and hairs, while the
under side is covered with a thick coating of large
dark brown scales ; the fertile frond is similar, but
narrower. It likes a stony soil, and water should
not remain upon the fronds in winter.
PoLTSTicHUM FALCINELLUM. — This species is
peculiar to Madeira, and is a robust-growing, hand-
some plant, the fronds being from 1 foot to Ij feet
high, pinnate, the upper side bright green, the
lower being paler, and ornamented with bold, red
sori. P. frondosum is also peculiar to Madeira;
it is a fine, bold-growing plant ; the fronds often
reach 3 feet in length and upwards of a foot in
breadth, triangular in outline, and beautifully
arched ; the texture is leathery, and the colour deep
green.
Phkgoptbeis deepana is found only in
Madeira; it is a bold-growing species ; the fronds
are twice divided (bipinnate) and about 2 feet in
length; the stems are furnished with large dark
brown scales ; sori very copious, black. The plant
is somewhat similar in general appearance to our
native Poljstichums, but it is destitute of an in-
dusium.
Lasteea elongata has nothing special to recom-
mend it, and by some authors it is considtred to be
a form of L. Filix-mas.
Cheilanthbs peageans — This Fern is a
little gem, and, as its name implies, it is odorifer-
ous; the fronds are twice divided, from 3 inches to
8 inches long and about an inch broad, and bright
green ; it forms a pretty object in a Wardian case.
NOTHOCHL^NA Maeant.e, which We here figure,
is a pretty and desirable plant for its distinct
character; the fronds attain a height of from
6 inches to a foot, and are about 3 inches in breadth ;
on the upper side they are pale green, beneath they
are covered with a thick chestnut-red scaly tomen-
tum. N. lanuginosa, of whichan illustration appeared
in The Garden (p. 375), is one of the most elegant
plants of the whole Fern flora. Care must be taken
to prevent water remaining on its woolly fronds; it
likes a stony soil, and not much of it.
Leptogeamma Totta. — This has always been
rare in cultivation, although it has a wide distribu-
tion; the fronds are bipinnatifid, lanceolate in out-
line, from 1 foot to 2 feet long, and about 9 inches
broad ; they are somewhat thin in texture and pale
green. It enjoys greater heat than any other
Madeira Fern.
Adiantum aneitense. — This is an elegant free-
growing Maiden-hair of medium height, introduced a
few years ago by Mr. Bull, aud in whose establishment
I recently noted some nice examples. It is both hand-
Dec. 24, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
593
some and distinct, the fronds being somewhat triangular
in outline, nearly 2 feet long, and gracefully arched.
It thrives best in an intermediate house.
Todea grandipinnula. — This is one of the
most beautiful of the genus, and certainly the freest
growing. It originated from spores in Messrs.
A'eitoh's nursery, and would appear to be of hybrid
origin. The elegant fronds are broad, much divided
pellucid and vivid light green in colour. The
extreme beauty of this plant, coupled with the fact
that it grows freely and does not require stove heat,
should make it a universal favourite for cool fer-
neries and Wardian cases.
Leucostegia parvula. — This exquisite little
gem has been in cultivation some years, having
been first introduced by Messrs. Low, of Clapton,
but it has never become common. This is much to
be regretted, as it is a charming subject either for
clothing the stems of Tree Ferns, or even when
established on slender dead stems of Ferns it forms
beautiful specimens by itself. The rhizome is thin
and wiry, clothed with bright reddish brown scales ;
the fronds are numerous, seldom exceeding 1 inch
in height. It is flourishing just now in Mr. Wil-
liams' nursery at Holloway. The plant is a native
of Borneo. It is sometimes named Davallia and
Humata.
Asplemum bulbiferum. — Next to the common
Maiden-hair I find this one of the most useful Ferns.
It is easily increased, is a rapid grower, and has a
good hardy constitution. It is used extensively in
a small state, and for this purpose a stock is raised
every year. My plan is to take a few dozen
young bulblets off the old plants early in the
spring and prick them into a pan of fine soil ;
they soon root, and in a few weeks are fit for
potting off. Large and small 3-inch pots are used,
and if kept in a vinery or other warm house dur-
ing the season the plants will be useful by the
autumn. I find them very useful for the fronts of
plant stands in the house and for dark corners in
the conservatory. If well supplied with water and
some sort of stimulant occasionally, they will keep
in good health for a long time in small pots. —
E. B. L.
DEATH FROM FIRE AND WASTE BY INSUR-
ANCE.
An excellent example of fireproof construction in
concrete is afforded in the fine building recently
erected at 63, Lincoln's-inn-fields, for Mr. W. Robin-
son. The whole of the structural portions are of
concrete, light iron bars being imbedded in the
floors and tied into the walls. The main build-
ing stands on a solid mass of cement concrete 8 feet
thick, which shuts out all chance of disease from
imperfect drainage or bad subsoil, and ensures a
firmer structure. The super-structure is of concrete
moulded in position on the foundation slab, and as
the walls and floors are of the same material and
formed in the same way, the whole building consti-
tutes a huge monolith. The light iron bars being
imbedded in the concrete are not exposed, and
therefore do not form a source of danger. The
ceilings, floors, and walls are floated with cement,
and the stairs are moulded of cement and fixed
in position in the same way that stone steps
are. The front of the building, facing Lincoln's-
inn-fields, is of Doulting stone, backed with
concrete. The roof is flat and of concrete, like
the floors, but is laid with asphalte. The only
woodwork is that used in connection with the doors,
windows, hoist, and the handrail of the staircase,
the first three being of Columbian Pine, varnished,
and the last of Oak, polished. There is another block
of chambers to the rear of the main building, and
connected with it by a covered way, the whole com-
prising some seventy rooms. The cost of the struc-
ture is said to be not greatly in excess of buildings
of similar size and class. The great feature is that, as
stated, it is perfectly fireproof throughout, and this
being so, it is not intended to effect any insurance
upon it.— Times, Dec. 2, 1887.
be obliged if you could inform me what it is, and how
best to get rid of it. — A. Barker.
*»* Your Marguerites are affected with the Phytomyza
atfinis, resembling the Celery fly. If not too severely
attacked you may save the plants by picking off the
infested leaves and burning them. If, however, the
insects have too much hold, the better plan is to destroy
all the plants and start with a fresh stock. — Ed.
Societies and Exhibitions.
ROYAL HORTICULTURAL.
Scientific Committee.
Newton's system of glazing. — A letter referring to
this subject was referred to the floral committee,
the subject coming within their purview rather than
that of this committee.
Malformed Odontoglossum. — Mr. A. H. Smee
brought a flower-spike of Odontoglossum macula-
tum, bearing leaves, and swollen like a pseudo-bulb.
The usual arrest and differentiation of growth had
not taken place, and the result was the production
of a structure combining the characteristics of
pseudo-bulb, leaf-shoot, and flower-stalk.
Cydonia .sinensis. — Dr. Masters showed fruits of
this plant received from M. Van Volxem, in whose
garden at Vilvorde the fruits had been produced in
the open air. The fragrance is very delicate, but
the flesh is tough and hard.
Malformed Orchids. — Dr. Masters showed draw-
ings of malformed flowers of Cypripedium Sedeni
from Messrs. Veitoh and W. Bull. In one case the
lip was greatly reduced in size ; in the other, in
addition to other changes, there were two lips placed
side by side. ■ Dr.- Masters remarked on the fre-
quency with which distorted and semi-double flower:
of this hybrid are produced — a circumstance ac-
counted for, in the opinion of Mr. O'Brien, by the
large number of plants of this kind now in cultiva-
tion, and their free-flowering tendency.
Lapageria. — Dr. Masters showed a drawing of a
malformed flower of this plant received from Mr,
Bland, in which, occupying the place of one of the
sepals, was a curious stalk-like body of the same
length as the sepals, and expanding at the top into
a hollow trumpet-shaped limb with everted edges.
New memibers. — The chairman requested sugges-
tions as to the names of gentlemen to be proposed
to the council to fill the vacancies in the committee
for the ensuing year.
The future of the society. — At the instance of Dr.
Masters an informal conversation took place as to
the action of the scientific committee in the case of
certain contingencies. Mr. Boscawen was strongly
of opinion that under any circumstances the meet-
ings of the committee should be continued, and, if
possible, in or in connection with the Lindley
Library ; and this opinion was in substance cordially
and unanimously upheld by the committee, which
thus terminated its labours for the year 1887, its
deliberations on this occasion having been shortened
in consequence of the occurrence of the special
general meeting on the same day.
Fuel for saddle boiler. — In answer to
"Amateur," who inquires in The Garden, Dec. 17
(p. 570), as to the best fuel for a saddle boiler, I
should strongly advise him to use anthracite coal
for heating his boiler. I have given this coal a
thorough trial for nearly two years, and have found
it an excellent fuel, and far superior to any kind of
coal or coke that I have yet tried. The fire is
easily kept in, the anthracite coal not burning so
rapidly^as other kinds of fuel, while a much greater
amount of heat is obtained from it. It requires
much less attention than ordinary coke, and is also
far cheaper. I consider that two tons of this coal
are equal to three tons of coke. The ease with which
the heat can be maintained, and the small quantity
of clinkers and ashes made from it, all tend to reduce
the labour of stoking to a minimum. One of the
chief points in its favour is its smokeless character,
Marguerites diseased.-I send you some shoots ^""^ f'^ojil/ °°t ^? ^°^\ ^^gh* of. A good draught is
of Marguerites which are infested with an insect that required tor the burning ot anthracite coal, which
is rapidly disfiguring the whole of my plants. I shall I should not be broken too small before being used.
We break ours to about the size of a cricket ball,
and find it answer admirably. The price of anthra-
cite coal is 16s. 8d. per ton, delivered in Hants from
Swansea. — E. M,
Palm-leaf wall pockets. — These new designs
in preserved Grasses and flowers have also been
termed Princess and Adelaide bouquets, but were
originally introduced under the name which heads
this paragraph. A preserved leaf of Phcenix dacty-
lifera forms the background, but the lowermost
pinnas are woven in the form of a basket, and thus
there is supplied a receptacle for the arrangement
of a graceful bouquet of flowers and Grasses. In
the case of some the Palm leaf is bent over so as
to form a handle to the basket; in others it stands
erect, and when fixed against a wall or any
suitable place these pockets have a beauty of their
own. There is a lightness about these Palm-
leaf wall pockets that makes them more acceptable
than the Pampas or Grass bouquets introduced by
Messrs. Hooper and Co., of Covent Garden, a year
ago, and to whom we are indebted for this pleasing
feature for indoor decoration at the Christmas sea-
son.— R. D.
Iris Pavonia. — Can any reader of The Garden
advise me as to the cultivation of Iris Pavonia? I have
tried it two years in pots, and can get it to grow, hut
not to flower. — W. J. C.
Yello"CTr Picotees. — Can you or any of your
readers give me the names of the four best yellow
Picotees, two heavy and two light-edged, for border
culture in light soil ? I want pure Picotees, not any
markings, but the edge, good hardy varieties, and free
bloomers ; also the name of the best yellow self Cama-
tion, scented, which will not split the pod. — W. J. C.
BOOKS RECEIVED.
"Flower Land: An easy Introduction to Botany."
By Rev. R. Fisher. John Heywood, London and
Manchester.
"The Golden Gate and Silver Steps." Shbley
Hibberd. E. W. Allen, 4, Ave Maria Lane, B.C.
" Bulletin, No. 12, of Miscellaneous Information."
From the Royal Gardens, Kew.
Names of plants. — West Cheshire. — Bienonia
speciosa. Sheffield. — 1, Marattia elegans; 2, Dicty-
mia attenuata ; 3,Drymoglossum pUoseUoides ; 4, Selli-
gueaoaudiformis. Colonist. — 1, Gleiohenia dicarpa ;
2, Colysis spectra ; 3, Loxoma Cunninghami ; 4, Lomaria
filiformis ; 5, Polypodium pellucidum ; Sadleria cya-
theoides. A. Williams. — 1, Doodia caudata;
2, Lastrea glabella ; 3, Lycopodium ulicifoUum ;
4, Todea africana. 0. T. — All forms of Lastrea
Filix-mas ; cannot name infertile fronds.
Captain Vere Hopegood. The Cypripedium
is C. barbatum ; theLseUa, a rather poor form of
L. autumnalis ; the Masdevallia is M. Veitchi ; and
the Vanda is lamellata Boxalli, not tricolor ; the flower
of Odontoglossum caudatum represents a good form.
Somerby. — Chlorophytum orchidastrum. G. E. —
The Cypripedium is C. venustum; the brownish sweet-
scented Orchid is Cymhidium sinense ; and the berries
are those of the Service Tree (Pyrus domestica) ; the
Dendrobe flower represents an ordinary form. A
Young Gardener. — 3, Adiantum Seemani; 4, Adiantum
pentadactylon ; 5, Davallia polyxantha ; 6, may be
Davallia decora ; we ought to see rhizomes. T. Ash-
ford. — Aralia-like plant, cannot be named from leaf
only; when in flower send a good specimen with foli-
age.—— W. Robinson. — Odontoglossum odoratum ;
good form. Juno. — 1, Epidendrum cochleatura ; 2,
Sophronitis cemua; 3, Pleurothallis Grobyi.
Maggie. — 1, Fadyenia prolifera; 2, Adiantum betuli-
num; 3,0dontosoria tenuifolia; 4, Meniscium simplex.
B. K. — 1, Cymbidium giganteum; 2, Oncidium
unguiculatum. B. F. 0. — l,|Coelogyne lentiginosa;
2, Maxillaria graudiflora; 3, Odontoglossum Uro-
SHuneri. Quo. — The Myrtle-leaved Orange.
H. H. — 1, Cattleya maxima; 2, Dendrobium Hilli; 3,
Epidendrum fra grans.
N'am.es of fruits. — M. Hartwell. — 1, Golden
Noble; 2, Withington Fillbasket; 3, HoUandbury ; 4,
Besspool. Sea Gull. — Apples ? 1, Mere de Menage ;
2, Dumelow's Seedling ; 3, Evagil ; 4, Brabant Belle-
fleur; 5, Beauty of Kent. Pears: 6, Vicar ot Wink-
field ; 7, Beurre Diel ; 8, old Colmar ; 9, not recog-
nised ; 10, Gansel's Bergamot. Q. B. Ashbury. — 3,
Feam's Pippin; 4, King of the Pippins; others next
594
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 24, 1887.
WOODS & FORESTS.
THINNING SEEDLING PLANTATIONS.
Trees raised from seed on the spot require
earlier attention in the way of thinning than
such as have been planted. Planted trees are
inserted at regular distances apart, and conse-
quently have room to grow and extend their
side branches for a number of years before thin-
ning becomes necessary. All that is necessary
in this case is to cut down the Grass, Heather,
or surface herbage of any kind that may impede
the growth of the young trees until they become
fairly established. Trees, however, raised by
sowing the seed broadcast or otherwise never
appear above the surface in a regular manner.
Some plants have ample space to grow and ex-
tend their side branches for a series of years,
while others appear quite crowded, and if
not thinned at an early stage of their growth
they soon assume a slender, lanky habit, and
never form useful specimens. In order to grow
timber trees for utility and profit, early attention
must be paid to thinning, as I have always
found that a tree that was well furnished with
branches from the ground upwards was, on the
other hand, nicely balanced by a corresponding
number of roots. In thinning ordmary planta-
tions the forester generally marks the trees to
be removed, so that his men may make no mis-
take at the time of felling, but in thinning for
the first time young plantations raised from
seed on the spot this cannot be done, as the
plants are too small to admit of being marked
in the ordinary way; therefore, it becomes
necessary to have recourse to other methods.
My practice in this case is to select a few
careful hands and have them trained under
my immediate supervision until they are
thoroughly initiated to the work. This ia best
done by marking off a certain breadth of ground
by means of a few pegs stuck into the ground
in lines from one end to the other. The
workers then begin at one end of the ground
thus marked oft' by cutting and thinning out
the young trees at the places where they are too
thick, and in doing so the best plants are always
left as far as possible, even although some of them
are occasionally not in the exact spot as regai-ds
distance apart. Each worker thins a certainspace
of ground opposite himself, and thus the work can
be carried out in a systematic manner without
confusion. By this method each individual's
work can be examined, and any careless or im
proper work detected at once, and the proper
party called to account. As the work proceeds, all
surface herbage, where it occurs. Whins, Broom,
Heather, &c., that have a tendency to choke the
young plants, should be cut down or grubbed up
by the roots to afford room for the extension of
the side branches. In some cases where the soil
was of a free, pliable texture, I have lifted some
of the seedling trees and had them planted in
nursery lines, where they remain for one or two
years according to circumstances, and as such
plants are generally hardy and robust they make
good roots andare handy forfiUing up blanks, &c.
Trees raised fi'om seed on the spot require to be
well protected, as they have many enemies to
contend with. Cattle and deer can be kept
out by a proper system of fencing, but mice,
black game, hares and rabbits must be guarded
against. Mice are most destructive to Acorns
in some seasons, but in districts where the crop
is Pine and Birch they give little or no trouble.
It is not, however, the same with winged game,
as they attack the young Pines by eating the
terminal buds of the branches and leaders, so
that, in place of forming the nucleus of a fine
young tree, the plaat is dwarfed into a mere
bush. In this case, unless the birds are de-
stroyed, the forester is powerless to protect his
plants, and the only recourse left open to him
is to go through his plantations occasionally in
after years and cut off rival leaders and trim the
plants in other respects, so as to direct their
growth into one stem. Rabbits, again, nibble
and eat the foliage of young plants, and in a
time of hard frost and snow often do considerable
damage to hard-wooded trees, especially the
Oak, by barking the stems, so that the best
remedy is to keep down their numbers by trap-
ping and shooting. During a time, however, of
keen, biting frost and snow, I have found it a
good plan to cart a few loads of green Fir
branches and spread them out in the vicinity of
their burrows and along the margins of planta-
tions, and it is wonderful how so(jn these will
attract the attention of the rabbits. They will
nibble the foliage and bark the wood of these
branches, but will not touch a single young tree
until the supply of branches is exhausted, by
which time the storm will probably be broken
up and the principal danger past. The white
or mountain hare is another formidable enemy
which the forester has to contend with, its habits
in many respects resembhng those of the rabbit.
They live a good deal in burrows and holes in
strong rocky places along the slopes and summits
of hills, and are not easily eradicated, but the
same tactics may be used as recommended for
rabbits. These hares often cut off the leaders of
trees 2 feet and 3 feet high, and leave them
lying on the ground. J. B. Webster.
A MONSTER EAFT.
The great Nova Scotia lumber raft, which steamers
will attempt to tow to New York, was recently
successfully launched at Amherst. The raft is
500 feet long, 62 feet wide, 37 feet deep, weighs
9000 tons, and contains over 3,000,000 feet of tim-
ber. The raft after being floated drew 19j feet,
6 feet less than was expected. An attempt was
made to launch this now reconstructed raft in 1880,
but failed owing to the breaking down of the ways.
The new raft in general form resembles that of a
fat cigar, somewhat flattened at its upper and lower
sides, with the pointed end cut off. It is one solid
mass with the exception of movable interstices
necessary in the packing of round lumber, in trees
as long as they grow, from 30 feet to nearly 100 feet
in length. The timber has been stowed with its
small ends generally towards the ends of the raft,
which help to give the proper taper, and it is so in-
terlapped that great strength is attained to hinder
the structure breaking in two. The patentable
point in this system of raft-making is the adjust-
ment of the chains which bind the whole together.
The main or centre chain runs from one end of the
raft to the other, and it is by this that the structure
is to be towed. The lateral chains are used to pre-
vent the raft from working apart longitudinally by
the action of the waves. The encircling chains are
attached to the lateral chains, and are to prevent
the raft from flattening out while afloat. If the
raft can be towed to New York successfully, it will
open a new era in the lumber business of that city.
On this the Standard's New York correspondent
cables : " A huge lumber raft is now on its way to
New York from Nova Scotia, which, if it arrives
safely, promises to efEeot a radical change in the
method of shipping lumber from Canadian ports.
This raft consists of 27,000 trees, bound together by
a series of chains which connect those around the
outer edges with a larger central chain, running
lengthwise along the mass. The shape of the raft
resembles that of a cigar; its length is 5U0 feet, its
greatest diameter is C5 feet, the weight of the raft
being 11,000 tons. The total cost of the raft, in-
cluding timber, construction, and transportation, is
about £()000. The raft has the capacity of seventy
large schooners, and the usual freight charges alone
for this amount of timber are £5000. Two other
rafts of the same size are now being built in Nova
Scotia. The present one is believed to be rounding
the coast of Massachusetts on her way to New
York, and is expected to arrive by the end of this
week ; the propeller Miranda has it in tow. It will
be taken through Long Island Sound and Hell Gate,
instead of by the longer route round Sandy Hook
and through the Narrows." — Anglo-American Times.
*^* Since the above was written we learn that
the raft referred to has been abandoned in a storm.
—Ed.
Sedges for covert (Carex di\Tilsa). — The Sedge
is an excellent subject for covering the bare places
under trees in winter. In winter, when few things
in the shape of green leaves are to be seen, a carpet
of this Carex relieves the dreary bareness in wood-
lands in a most effectual and agreeable manner.
The plant, common in many parts of England,
grows about a foot high, and forms tufts of deep
green leaves, which preserve their verdure in the
midst of frost and snow. It is easily and quickly
increased by division of the tufts, and is a capital
plant for forming a warm game covert where other
things would not thrive. — M. A.
SIountaiiL White Pino (Pinus flexilis) occupies
naturally the sub-alpine belts of the Rocky Moun-
tains and the Sierras. It differs very much in size.
At 10,000 feet altitude it is a tree of 130 feet high,
and is from 2 feet to 3 feet in diameter ; but on
the high exposed crests of the Sierras and Mount
Shasta, it is reduced to a mere straggling shrub,
creeping on the ground. The cones in consequence
vary considerably in size. Where the tree has ob-
tained a stately size, as is the case on the moun-
tains at an elevation of 10,000 feet, a little east of
the Little Yosemite Valley, its cone measures from
i inches to 5 inches ; but where it is reduced to a
mere shrub, they are scarcely from 1 inch to
2 inches long. It is a fine tree, with tapering trunk
and conical outline, branching almost from the
base ; the lower branches are horizontal, the upper
ones ascending. The wood is white and soft ; the
annual rings from one-eighth to one-half line, on an
average one-fourth line wide. In the Eocky Moun-
tains it occurs from New Mexico to the forty-ninth
parallel, never forming entire forests. There it
associates with P. contorta and P. aristata. On the
high crests of the Sierras it is found growing along
with P. contorta and Abies Pattoniana. The species
sometimes described under the name P. albicaulis
and P. cembroides is P. flexilis. — X.
Timely thinning of trees. — The importance
of this subject cannot be too often impressed upon
owners of estates, particularly where ornamental
planting has been carried out in new places. It
often occurs that a plantation is allowed to grow
year after year unmolested until the whole becomes
a thicket of growth, quite destroying the effect
that the planter probably had in view. I re-
member some years since, while looking over a
plantation of several acres in extent, and planted
about thirty years ago, being surprised to find
the trees all very thick, although their appearance
showed that they had been planted originally in a
systematic manner. I therefore made inquiry, in
order to ascertain if the contractor had left any
written specification regarding their future manage-
ment. After some trouble the specification was
found, when it was evident that it bad not been
consulted since the period of planting. In conse-
quence of this neglect the trees had got into a mass
of confusion. Those planted as avenue trees, to
stand at stated distances apart, were crowded up
with Poplars and other nurse trees originally in-
tended to be removed. As the trees in the avenue
lines had in a great measure been injured by
proximity to the nurses and other ornamental hard-
wooded trees, the regularity originally intended
to be maintained could not be preserved. — 0. F.
Avenue in bad condition.— I shall bo much
obliged if one of your correspondeuts will bo good
enough to inform me where I can get information as
to the proper treatment of our avenue here. The part
through the wood is in bad condition, though succes-
sive layers of gravel have been applied to it. O'ught it
to be broken up and a layer of broken stones, followed
by gravel, be used?- K. L. A., Woodlands. :.
THE GARDEN.
595
No. 841. SATURDAY, Dec. 31,1887. Vol. XXXII.
" This Is an Art
Which does mend Nature : change it rather ; but
The Art itself is Nature." — Shakesptare.
Rose Garden.
T. W. orRDLESTONE.
NEGLECTED EOSES.
The question has often been asked whether there
are not among old and neglected Koses some which
are worth growing, not only for association's sake,
bnt also for their real merits. And there is no
donbt that there are a few good varieties which,
though occasionally seen, remain in a general way
in nnde.served obscurity.
This arises, perhaps, partly from accident, and
partly from the fact that it not infrequently hap
pens that a Rose is raised for which at the moment
there is no particular need. Subsequently a pur
pose for which it would be useful may arise, or
altered conditions of culture may render it de-
sirable, but by that time growers probably will be
intent upon raising new varieties to fulfil their new
wants, instead of looking for what may be of value
among existing sorts. Under these circumstances,
it is natural that it should be amongst the class, in
the extent and conditions of whose cultivation
there has been the greatest change of late years,
that the majority of neglected varieties of value
should be found, namely, amongst the Tea-scented
Roses, especially when it is remembered that these
include some of the oldest of what are still first-
rate Roses, the decade 1814-54 having witnessed
the production of half-a-dozen Teas that are stUl
unsurpassed.
Of these elder Teas there are three or four to be
mentioned presently, bnt the more important are
some varieties from ten to fifteen years old which
appear to have been very generally ignored.
First of all comes Marcelllne Roda, a very attrac-
tive IRose, sent out by Ducher in 1873. That the
Duoher seedlings are worthy of careful considera-
tion and trial is obvious, from the fact that they
have included [at various times such sterling Roses
as Amazone, Anna Ollivier, Bouquet d'Or, Innocents
Pirola, Jean Ducher, Jules Finger, Madame Welch,
Marie Van Houtte, Perle de Lyon, Reve d'Or, and
WiUiam Alien Richardson — a goodly list for a single
house. MarceUine Roda is charming, both in the
garden and in the cut state, and is also valuable to
the exhibitor, its pale yellow flowers somewhat re-
calling Caroline Kuster in colour, though in form
more resembling Innocente Pirola with their
pointed centre. They are produced in immense
profusion, and being of good size and carried erect
upon the plant they are very efEective, while from
their form they last well in water, and the exhibitor
wUl consequently find them excellent travellers.
Why the variety is not more generally grown it is
not easy to conceive. Occasionally fine blooms are
exhibited, and during the past season a good many
handsome examples were seen at various shows, in-
dicating the fact that exhibitors sometimes grow
it ; but, considering its free-flowering character and
habit, MarceUine Roda is deserving of far more
extensive cultivation even in gardens where Rose
showing is not the main object of the cultivator.
Another handsome Rose but rarely met with is
La Princesse Vera (Nabonnand, 1878). Naboimand
has sent out such an enormous number of worthless
varieties in his time, that growers in general fight
shy of anything with his name attached, and, con-
sequently, when he does distribute a good seedling,
its merits fail for some time to obtain recognition.
La Princesse Vera, however, although less efEective
in the garden than MarceUine Roda, owing to its
less erect habit, produces a very fine flower, perfect
in form, very large and full, and in colour nearly
white with a rosy base. That the flowers are not
lacking in size or substance, exhibitors wiU realise
when it is stated that during the past season
blooms were several times staged in the back row
of a winning twenty-four or thirty-six distinct, side
by side with such Koses as Her Majesty, Alfred
Colomb, Madame Gabriel Luizet, &c., and the plant
is of a sturdy branching habit with exceptionaUy
lustrous dark foliage.
A variety sent out at the same time by the same
raiser, and called Clement Nabonnand, is very deep-
petalled, and has been a good deal admired ; but of
two distributed the year before, one called Comtesse
de Caserta, a somewhat similarly formed flower, is
more efEective in the garden from its great florife-
rousness and deeper colour ; the other, Abb6 Eous-
tan, from the handsomeness of the plant which
carries its flowers erect. Comtesse de Caserta pro-
duces its very deep, large-petalled blooms in the
greatest abundance, and, though not being very
full, it is undoubtedly better suited by a cooler
season ; it was, nevertheless, successfully exhibited
last summer, whOe the number of buds and flowers
it furnished for cutting was very large. In colour
the flowers are yellowish, shaded at the base with
deep coppery rose or red ; varying somewhat in tint,
but always attractive. Abb6 Roustan is very
vigorous, and its large blush flowers, borne on stiff
stems, are very advantageously displayed above the
mass of deep green glossy foliage, in colour and
texture almost like that of Portugal Laurel, and
very persistent. In this habit of erect flower-stems,
this Rose foUows a somewhat less vigorous, but
good-looking variety sent out by Margottin so long
ago as 1859, namely, Due de Magenta, a Tea which
is still very popular in France, though rarely seen
in this country, and which produces flowers of good
size with a fine petal of great substance, withstand-
ing both heat and wet exceptionally weU. In colour
it is of a pleasing creamy tint, shaded with salmony
yellow, and though the plant is not tall, the growth
is sturdy and healthy. This variety has been found
a useful addition now that coUections of Teas are
increasing in extent, and owing to its habit it shows
up better in the garden than many larger growers
that have pendulous flower.".
A Tea, sent out by Madame Ducher two years
after her husband's death, namely Marquis de
Sanima (Veuve Duoher, 1876), is a Rose which at
its best is extremely beautiful, and during the past
season it was very good, being finely shown at
South Kensington and elsewhere. It is a handsome,
full flower, of those mingled shades of copper and
gold and red only to be found among Tea-scented
Roses; in colour somewhat after Reine de Portugal,
but with a deeper coppery red tint, and opening
more easily than that fine, though rather fickle
variety.
Another Rose from the same raiser, Comte de
Sembni (1874), of the same type of colour, is more
pointed in form, and perhaps a little thinner in
petal, but in dry weather opens fair and is very
pretty. Louis Gigot (Ducher, 1872), though a dwarf
grower, has a "pretty white flower of good size and
softly tinted with pale rose; while the only objec-
tion to the older Louise de Savoie (Ducher, 1854),
which makes a handsome, vigorous plant, and pro-
duces very attractive well-formed pale sulphur-
yeUow flowers, is a slight tenderness when exposed
to great cold.
An old and exceUent Rose, of which the recent
American novelty The Bride has reminded a good
many growers, is ComeUa Koch (Koch, 1855), gene-
rally classed as a Noisette, but for all practical
purposes a Tea. In colour, the ivory-white flowers
with a yeUowish base^closely resemble those of The
Bride, as they sometimes do also in form, and
though probably not so constant as the newer Rose,
the variety affords a good many superb blooms and
is especially valuable in autumn.
Socrate (Robert, 1858) is a Tea that everybody
ought to grow who cares about fragrance in Roses.
It is without exception the most highly scented of
all the Teas, and though somewhat irregular in
form, the flowers are freely produced and beautiful
in colour, being of mingled yellow and rose with an
apricot centre, whUe the plant is a good grower and
autumnal. For cutting, a purpose for which the
irregularity of form of the expanded blossoms is no
objection, there are few Roses more desirable than
Socrate, or more distinct in colour and fragrance, and
even though in France it is well known and highly
appreciated, and a few growers over here cultivate
a considerable number of plants to ensure a good
supply of its flowers for the house, yet it is not
grown nearly so extensively as it deserves to be,
and, in fact, in this country can hardly be said to
be otherwise than generaUy neglected.
"Winter mulching of Rose beds.— It is
questionable whether the mulching of Rose beds,
recommended in The Gabden, November 17
(p. 547), during the winter months is in any way
advantageous to plants in close adhesive soils. It
may answer weU on sandy land in Berks, but on the
strong calcareous clay of this district (North Herts)
our object is to keep the beds as dry as possible
from November to March, and this is best attained
by forking them over in September, or at any sub-
sequent time when the ground is in a fit state, and
leaving the surface rough and lumpy. In this way
suflacient soil is thrown round the plants to protect
the bottom eyes, and when the beds are again
forked over after pruning they show a good depth
of fine, dry mould well calculated to assist in
resisting summer drought, in place of the adhesive
putty-like clots which always result here when the
ground is broken up after having been mulched in
winter. — E. B. L.
The truth about the Bose, "William
Francis Bennett. — The last issue of the Paris
Revue Horticole contains the foUowing opinion of
the much praised new Rose, W. F. Bennett, under
the above somewhat sensational heading, and over
the joint signatures of the two editors of the Revue :
" This variety, about which so much noise has been
made, and the stock of which was sold at the very
high price of £1000, is now weU known and
esteemed at its real value, which is infinitely less
than that of a number of new Roses of which no
special notice has been taken. In an inverse ratio
to so many others it has declined in favour as it
became better known, and soon no one wUl notice
it at aU, and it wiU only be grown by amateurs as
a curiosity. It is a Hybrid Tea Rose which is free-
flowering, but of which many of the buds fail and
drop off before they open. The flower, which is of
medium size, and of a pleasing red of a somewhat
vinous or violet shade, is only semi-double. The
extreme beauty of the bud has been much talked
about, but we think without any just cause, as the
bud of this variety is not, in our opinion, comparable
to that of many other Roses of which no special
notice has ever been taken." — W. E. G.
Fortune's Yellow Bose. — A lady who resides
in Cheshire told me the other day that everyone
who had room for two Roses under glass planted
this kind as a companion to the MarSchal Niel, and
where the latter failed to thrive Fortune's yeUow
variety was substituted for it. This statement
surprised me, for while I am aware of the uncertain
behaviour of Mar^chalNiel.I wasnot prepared to hear
that anyone preferred the other. Fortune's Yellow
is certainly more reliable than the Mar^chal Niel,
for whether planted in the open or under glass it
grows as rapidly and as vigorously upon its own roots
as upon those of any other stock. But it is not so
hardy in the open as the Marfichal Niel, and If it
should pass through the winter unharmed it does
not always flower satisfactorUy, owing to the growth
being made late in the autumn. I have a plant on
a sheltered waU facing west that is in full leaf now
(December 15); consequently the wood does not
become sufficiently ripened to flower well. Besides
this drawback. Fortune's Yellow Rose, whether
grown in the open or under glass, only blooms once
a year, but, on the other hand, if planted in good
soil it is sure to thrive, and when under glass it will
grow most luxuriantly and bloom profusely pro-
vided it is pruned in a proper manner. This consists
in thinning out the growth where it is too much
crowded as soon as the plant goes out of bloom.
If the pruning is done at the end of the summer
every branch cut away wiU mean a loss of flowf rs
596
THE GARDEN.
[Deo. 31, 1887.
the following year, and as far as possible all th
long, thick shoots should be retained and the weak
spray growth cut out. — J. C. C.
NEW PLANTS OF 1887.
Whatevbe may be said to the contrary, it is evi-
dent, from the perusal of the long and elaborate list
of plants which during the last twelve months have
received at the hands of various horticultural
societies awards of merit, that there is no decline in
the production of novelties. For some time past
there has been a general cry as to the scarcity of
new plants, but if this past year, which bears a
favourable comparison with its immediate prede-
cessors, has not produced such startling novelties
as a Lapageria rosea, an Authurium Scherzerianum,
or an Adiantum Farleyense, it has, on the other
hand, been remarkably prolific in home-raised
hybrids in various classes of plants which for the
decoration of our gardens and houses will be as wel-
come as any kinds previously brought home from
foreign parts. The supplanting of the plant collec-
tor by his less roving, but otherwise equally ener-
getic rival, the hybridiser, though not altogether a
matter for regret, is worthy of special notice. Only
a few years ago all, or nearly all new plants came
from foreign countries visited for the first time by
the white man, who was fortunate enough to lay
his hands on everything that to him was in any way
difEerent from those plants grown at home. At
that time any plant coUeoted on these lines was
new, and accordingly, if only favoured with a little
average beauty, was eagerly sought after. The
plant collector has now to a certain extent been
superseded, as things entirely new are less fre-
quently met with abroad, and also because the
public taste for plants has reached such a state of
perfection, that the mere fact of a plant being new
is not in itself a sufiicient qualification to recom-
mend it to amateurs ; it must also be beautiful, and
there lies the difficulty. The hybridiser has lately
shown an amount of activity highly commendable
and gradually increasing ; home-raised hybrids in
aU the classes of flowering plants from Begonias
and Amaryllis to Rhododendrons and Orchids have
taken the places of some imported plants of perhaps
greater interest from a botanical point of view, but
assuredly of less decorative value than the new
forms produced by hybridisation. The same re-
marks apply equally to foliage plants, for the pro-
duction of new Dracfenas, Coleus, Caladiums,
Crotons, &c., has for some time been almost entirely
in the bands of the hybridiser, and it is only fair to
say that the varieties thus raised are of a quality in
every respect equal, if not even superior, to that of
most imported plants.
In respect to flowering plants for warm and inter-
mediate houses, we notice the extraordinary strides
which have slowly, but gradually, been made in the
improvement of the Rhododendrons from Java, a
class of plants whose flowers are becoming every
season brighter and more varied, as well as improved
in shape. The recent introduction from Java of a
species called R. Cartisi, of dwarf and bushy
habit, is already beginning to tell on the habit
of newly-raised seedlings, and after having re-
corded the double-flowering varieties produced by
artificial fecundation, we are now enabled to anti-
cipate plants with smaller flowers of much richer
colours than those hitherto known, and showing a
great and much desired improvement in habit. All
who have had the good fortune to see the stands of
cat flowers of these beautiful autumn and winter-
flowering plants, exhibited by Messrs. J. Veitch and
Sons, at South Kensington, on November 8 and
December 13 last, are agreed on this one point at
least — that, when grown in sufficient quantities,
these lovely flowers cannot fail to become very
popular. Not only do their unique colours re-
commend them to the cultivator, but their compact
mode of growth, their easy culture, and the time of
the year, extending from October to March, during
which they flower most profusely, are so many
qualities combining to render these plants useful
and deservedly popular. Among the novelties of
this season in Rhododendrons we most particularly
note: K.'balsaminEeflorutQ carneum and R.Thetis,
the latter with well-shaped flowers of a clear
yellow, disposed in large umbels of about a dozen
each; while the name of the former indicates
that it is a double-flowered variety with flowers of
a beautiful yellow shaded with rose and pale pink.
The corymb of this variety, which will, no doubt,
prove a useful plant for bouquet-making, as well as
for house-decoration, is composed of about ten very
elegant flowers. R. La Belle is also an excellent
introduction, but this splendid, very deliciously
scented variety belongs to a section altogether dif-
ferent, as it is the result of a cross between R. cilia-
tum and R. Fosterianum ; the pure white ground
of its fragrant cup-shaped flowers is shown off to
great advantage by the markings of its throat,
which is of a light greenish tint, spotted with darker
green.
The Cape LUies, or AmaryUids, have also been
greatly improved. Among the several dark-col-
oured forms which have been raised, the varieties
Ambient and Nestor deserve special mention.
The former has a large flower of a vivid crimson
colour, with broad white bands rising from the base
of the segments, and reaching to half their length.
A. Nestor is an excellent variety bearing large
flowers of fine form, segments of a deep rich crim-
son, these colours forming a striking and most pleas-
ing contrast with the green triangular tips and bases
of the four large flowers borne on one strong stalk.
The pale crimson-red variety with white centre
and bands, called A. Titania, as also A. Rev. J. T.
Bosoawen, a salmon with white nerves, are also
very pretty, though in general effect they are
inferior to "either of the dark varieties above named,
or to the flowers of A. Her Majesty, which are
large, of very good form, white ground with red
flushes. To the light-coloured section belongs also
A. Edith Wynne, whose creamy white flowers with
a crimson flame are traversed by lines of a darker
hue, while A. Eldorado, which appears to be the
precursor of a yellow-flowering race of plants, is
remarkable for the pale lemon colour of its large
blossoms, which also show a few streaks of red.
A. Hilda, whose flower is of a bright scarlet with
white star, and A. Oriflamme, which supplies us
with large, rich bright scarlet flowers of excel-
lent form, and with a distinct white band
reaching half way along every petal, are among
the most vivid colours raised in that beautiful
class of plants. Of the several miscellaneous
flowering plants for warm and intermediate
houses introduced in 1887, the beautiful Cras-
sula, called Kalanchoe carnea, is certainly the
most striking. It is a species introduced from
South Africa by Messrs. Veitch and Sons, who ex-
hibited it in fuU flower towards the middle of
January last, thus showing its real value for winter
decoration, the more so that it is a very free bloomer
and of easy culture. The flowers, of a waxy
texture, are of a delicate pink colour, such as those
of Luculia gratissima, which they also resemble by
their delicious fragrance. The average height of
this Daphne-like plant, of naturally bushy habit,
and which for market and general cultivation can-
not fail to become a favourite, is somewhat under
2 feet, each plant showing from four to six heads of
flowers disposed in umbels.
The section of flowering plants for strictly cool
house culture has also received several valuable
contributions, the most important one being the
charming Boronia heterophylla, a very pretty plant,
of bushy habit, native of Western Australia. The
flowers, of a similar form to those of the deservedly
popular B. megastigma, are about double the size
of those of that species ; their colour is exceedingly
rich, of a beautiful rose-crimson, and very effective.
So free-flowering is this species, that the flowers,
deliciouslv fragrant, though not so powerfully
scented a"s those of B. megastigma, are produced
from the base of each and every shoot upwards, and
even from the old wood below. They are uniformly
disposed in pairs at the axil of every leaf, and soli-
tary flowers, as represented on the plate recently
issued in The Garden, are very seldom, if ever,
met with on the plant. It is strange that such a
beautiful species, certainly the most ornamental of
the genus, should have been discovered more than
forty years ago, and yet only introduced into British
gardens through the medium of the Royal Gardens,
Kew, where seeds of it were sent by Miss North in
1881. We have also in Bouvardia President Cleve-
land a wonderfully remarkable variety of American
origin, particularly striking on account of the exces-
sive brilliancy of its rich bright scarlet flowers, with
large lobes and corolla, and abundantly produced
in large clusters. The plant is of very good habit,
very free-flowering, and the colour is a unique shade,
by the side of which the old favourites, B. Hogarth
and elegans, though very handsome in themselves,
are very pale indeed. The winter-flowering Be-
gonias form another group of greenhouse plants to
which the attention of the hybridiser was bestowed
at an early date, and with results which fuUy justify
the anticipations of the raisers of these gorgeous
flowers. The most satisfactory results were obtained
by the production last year of B. John Heal, by the
adoption of B. socotrana as one of the parents. A
relative idea of the beauty of this first hybrid can
be conceived by the description of a pair of one-
year plants which, at Southwell Park, Sussex, have
this year been grown by Mr. Snow into specimens
over 2 feet in diameter, and which have ever since
October been literally covered with blossoms as
plentiful and even brighter in colour than those of
the well-known Impatiens Sultani, to which the B.
John Heal is similar in habit ; these two specimens,
in all their glory at the present time, promise to
produce an abundance of flowers until late into the
spring. The most important quality in these
hybrids lies in the duration of the flowers, which
are disposed on slender and graceful spikes, and
last individually from three to four weeks in a fresh
state. This year has seen the production of B.
Adonis, belonging to the same section, and which is
a hybrid raised by crossing B. John Heal with one
of the summer-flowering tuberous Begonias. Its
single scarlet flowers are widely expanded, and pro-
duced on shorter and stouter peduncles than those
of B. John Heal. In dimensions they are equal to
many of the best of the summer-flowering kinds,
and their particularly bright crimson-pink colour is
specially welcome at this time of the year ; they are
well shown above the foliage, and the plant, which
is a stronger grower than B. John Heal, in general
appearance reminds one of B. socotrana, which, as
has been previously explained, is one of its grand-
parents, but whose flowers are intrinsically of little
value. Two of those extremely curious plants, the
Streptocarpus, have also enriched our collections :
these are S. Watsoni and S. Kewensis, the former of
which is given as a hybrid between the large-leaved
S. Dunni and S. parvifolius. It is a pretty form,
with small flowers of a rosy purple colour, produced
in abundance on short, erect spikes. The leaves,
which denote the parentage of S. Dunni, are very
large, about 18 inches long by 8 inches broad. In
S. Kewensis, which is given as a hybrid between S.
Dunni and S. Rexi, the flowers are similar to those of
the latter parent as regards form and colour, but
are much more numerous ; its leaves, like those of
S. Watsoni, are also very large. In plants for the
cool house we have also to notice great improve-
ments in such genera as Chinese Primula and Cine-
raria, the latter genus including amongst novelties
such handsome things as Meteor, dark blue self;
Blue Bonnet, a large flower, with blue edges and
white centre; Stella, dark maroon ; and Illuminator,
dark purple. Primulas White Perfection and Snow-
flake are undoubtedly great acquisitions, the former
producing strong and well-formed trusses of pure
white flowers of good substance ; while the latter,
besides having equally pure and substantial white
flowers, is rendered still more attractive by the
beauty and elegance of its Fern-leaved foliage.
The class in which there appears to have been
the least improvement is that comprising ornamental
foliage plants only, although we note amoiig
novelties a variegated form of Impatiens Sultani in
which the pale yellow margins of the leaves form a
most pleasing contrast with the bright colour of the
flowers. There is also Coleus Jubilee, with leaves of
large dimensions, of a dark chocolate ■ brown
ground, with mid-rib and nerves rosy crimson.
The most striking novelty in ornamental-foliaged
plants this season, however, is a small plant of the
Dec. 31, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
597
panicum type, called Oplismenus albidus, of very
dwarf habit, with small whitish leaves disposed
very closely together ; the base of the stems only
being tinged with green. It is of particularly neat
appearance, and will, no doubt, be a useful plant
for various purposes, but principally for edging beds
of bright coloured plants in the greenhouse.
Nepenthes Curtisi is a very distinct plant intro-
duced from Borneo, and difEering from all other
known species and varieties already in commerce
through its peculiar long tapering pitchers, about
S inches long, widely opened at the orifice, and
darkly mottled with red or deep cinnamon blotches
on their entire surface.
Several new Ferns have also made their appear-
ance this season, but nearly all of them are only
varieties, either sports or natural hybrids of species
already known and grown in large quantities.
Foremost among these is Pteris tremula flaccida, a
fine, strong-habited, yet very graceful Fern, with
robust fronds about 4 feet long and 13 inches
broad at their base, of a bright green colour, and
remarkable by their pinnae diminishing gradually
upwards to their apex. Adiantum Regin^ Is a very
handsome Maiden-hair Fern of compact habit,
suggestive of A. Farleyense by the size of its
pinnules, which are diamond shaped, and in some
cases exceed 1 inch in diameter, with edges coarsely
dentate and of a lively green colour. In Adiantum
Capillus-A''eDeris Mairisi we have undoubtedly the
strongest growing form of the common Maiden-
hair; the fronds, which attain from 2'1 inches to
30 inches high, are, as in the common species,
produced on thick rhizomes, and their pinnules are
elegant in shape. Pteris Claphamensis is a pretty
dwarf Fern, distinct in habit from all other Pterises,
and described when shown at Kensington on
December 13 last as a hybrid between P. tremula
and P. serrulata. The fronds are triangular in
shape, about 5 inches long and the same in breadth;
pinnate, with long divided pinnse at the base ;
margins serrulate. It is of compact habit, and if it
reproduces itself freely from spores is likely to
make a very useful decorative Fern. Among the
other varieties of already known species we also
note two very handsome Scolopendriums ; one, called
S. Yallaisi, is a robust growing plant, with fronds
narrow and perfectly erect, and each one terminated
by a very large tassel ; the other, called S. crispum
fimbriatum, is a strong growing form with large,
thick fronds about 8 inches long and 4 inches wide,
deeply cut and beautifully frilled or fringed at their
apex. Among Ferns of introduction from abroad,
Adiantum Ferguson! is the most distinct, and also
the one which, on account of its decorative quali-
ties, is likely to become the most popular. It is a
native of Ceylon ; its fronds, which are particularly
erect, attain a height of about 24 inches, and are
tripinnate along their upper half. The pinnules are
large, overlapping, of irregular form, but neatly
toothed and notched along the outer margin, the
terminal one being generally three-lobed. It is of
very robust constitution, standing the effects of a
smoky and foggy atmosphere much better than
most other kinds. Asplenium scandens is an
exquisitely beautiful species from Sumatra, difEering
from all other members of the same genus by its
scandent habit. The fronds, about 15 inches long
and finely cut, resembling those of certain Filmy
Ferns, are borne on a slender rhizome, and are of a
peculiar metallic green colour. S.
CONTINENTAL VINEYARDS.
I AM pleased to see Mr. Coleman writing hopefully
on the subject of outdoor Grape culture. Having
in earlier days seen so many good crops of well-
ripened Grapes on open walls, I feel sure that a
recurrence of hot summers will revive open-air
Grape culture. Mr. Coleman is, however, I think,
mistaken in his low estimate of Grape culture on
the Continent. Having lived for some years in
some of the best Grape districts, I had a good
opportunity of observing the cultural details fol-
lowed there. The well-being of the Vines and the
proper ripening of the Grape are matters of such
vital Importance to the small Continental proprie-
tors, that they do all in their power to bring about
the desired results. The Vines are carefully pruned,
the shoots are well and timely attended to In the
matter of stopping, and each plant is well secured
against the wind, while the ground between them is
kept scrupulously clean. In one respect only do
the cultural details sometimes leave more to be
desired. There is often among the small holders a
lack of good manure, and they are unable to give
the Vines as much as they would wish.
The vineyards around Paris are not very interest-
ing, the A'lnes being cut down so low that even
when in fruit they are so dwarf that they can be
overlooked. To see the well-oared-for vineyard at
its best, one must go into Baden, some parts of
Switzerland, and the valley of the Neckar. In the
Rhenthal the Vines seem to look stronger and
greener than elsewhere. I doubt if there are more
fertile spots In the world than the Rhenthal of
Baden and the Neckarthal In Wurtembnrg. Vines
clothe the slopes and crests of the hills, between
which nestle little villages embowered in fruit
trees ; whilst lower down. Hop gardens and verdant
pastures, sprinkled with large Cherry trees, give
diversity to the scene. The inhabitants of both
these districts claim for them the title of "the
garden of Germany." In some places the vineyards
have had a vast amount of labour bestowed upon
them. Situated on very sharp slopes, it has been ne-
cessary to throw thesoil up in terraces. Were this not
done, the greater portion of the soil, which in some
places is but a thin layer resting on a rocky forma-
tion, would be washed away by the heavy rains which
occur from time to time. It is a common sight to
see the owner and his family toiling the whole day,
carrying up the earth that has been washed away.
Manure has to be carried up in baskets, and after
all this toil there comes perhaps a hailstorm, which
utterly wrecks the Vines for that year, and deprives
the grower of the fruits of his labours.
John Coenhill.
MODES OF KEEPING APPLES.
A FEW hours expended early in winter by farmers
in making experiments for keeping Apples sound
through the winter and into spring wDl give them
some valuable practical information on the subject,
which may be of much use to them both now and in
after years. The best time to commence such experi-
ments is late in autumn, just as farmers are about to
remove their winter Apples from the cool out-house
where they have been for several weeks to their
fruit room or cellar for winter storage ; but those
who have made this removal, and who have their
Apples already stored In bulk or on shelves, may
make the experiments to good advantage, now that
they have more time to spare. They are to be made
on the basis of the requirements that the fruit will
keep best at a uniformly low temperature, or near
the freezing point. If this is secured, there is no
trouble In keeping fruit for months, which other-
wise might perish in a few days or weeks. Next to
a low temperature is a uniform one, even if con-
siderably higher. But the most unfavourable of all
is a fluctuating one, cold at one time and warm at
another, or subject to rapid changes, disturbing the
texture and firmness and the keeping quality of the
fruit.
To secure good results, and to be able to control
the temperature of the apartment, the fruit-room
should always be entirely separate from the rest of
the cellar, if not in a separate building. The
Apples should never be mixed with vegetables or
other matter in the same place. The farmer who
has not yet provided a suitable and separate space
would do well to at once portion ofE one, either by
a wooden partition, or, better, with an 8-inch brick
wall. This work may be easily done in winter in an
unfrozen cellar. The temporary litter which it
occasions can be borne for the neat and satisfac-
tory results which are to follow. If the new apart-
ment can have windows on opposite sides for ven-
tilation, all the better. Hanging or sliding sashes
will give control, and the temperature may be kept
nearly uniform by admitting cold air on cool nights,
and closing the windows as the weather becomes
warmer. One or two cheap thermometers will be a
guide in regulating it. A neat and tidy separate
room, made cool in this systematic way, will keep
fruit sound, fresh, and excellent long after the
mass in a promiscuous storage, and with changes
of heat and cold, have rotted and perished.
In addition to this care, or as a substitute for it
where it cannot be fully applied, it wiU be valuable
to surround the fruit with a protecting substance.
We have found that even the slight covering of
tissue paper wrapped around each specimen kept
Apples sound longer than when they were exposed.
Hence also the reason that Apples keep better when
headed up in barrels, if not allowed to remain too
long in this condition, or until the confined air
became heated, or If not stored in a warm cellar.
And hence also the reason that when packed in
some pulverised substance, which would fill the
interstices and prevent the accumulation of heated
air, a still better purpose will be answered. Among
these different substances are — bran, baked sawdust,
ground plaster and fine chaff. If sawdust is used,
that made from Basswood answers well, as it is soft
and also free from bad taste. Whatever is used
should be perfectly dry, so as not to produce any
mould. In using plaster, which is liable to adhere to
the surface of the fruit, it is well to wrap each speci-
men in thin paper before Imbedding it in the plaster.
Either barrels, kegs, or boxes may be employed
for receiving the fruit, first placing a layer about
an inch deep on the bottom, then a layer of Apples
with the stems upward, and then another layer of
the packing substance, filling in all the spaces
between, and then alternating layers of each till
full. Care should be taken that no bruised ones are
used. These bedding substances will prevent
freezing for a time, and some fruit growers succeed
by placing the barrels or boxes in an outhouse or
barn, resting on the earth, and with about 3 feet of
hay or straw over them. With this double protec-
tion they will not freeze, and being kept cool aU
winter they come out fresh and sound in the spring.
If in a basement or fruit room they may be kept
colder than when placed on shelves or in bulk
exposed to the' air, and they will keep the longer
for this cooler exposure. A little experience will
aid as a guide. If instead of packing in plaster or
fine bran, the less perfect material of the fine
shavmgs of joiners or from bookbinders is em-
ployed for alternating layers with the fruit, it will
aid in protecting the fruit from cold currents and
sudden changes, and retaining its soundness.
Farmers who have stored their fruit in cellars
without any cover or protection may obtain much
valuable Information relative to the keeping of
fruit by trying the following experiments : —
1. Count and select fifty good, sound Apples from
the shelf or exposed mass, wrap each in paper, and
replace them. Count out fifty more, the same in
condition, and place them aside exposed. Next
spring count the number of decayed ones in each
lot, and see how each has fared.
2. Count out and place fifty equal specimens,
each in boxes of suitable size, packed in fine
shavings, fine chopped oat straw, bookbinders'
chips, coarse and fine chaff, bran, sifted coal ashes,
and plaster ; put them into a cool, but not freezing
apartment, and by counting the decayed specimens
next spring compare the results.
3. Fill boxes large enough to hold half a bushel
or a bushel, with Apples in the more compact
packing, as plaster or fine chaff, and place them in
the barn with a few feet of hay or a foot or two of
chaff upon them, and examine their condition in
spring: or summer.
Improvements on these modes will suggest them-
selves to fruit growers ; they are offered merely by
way of hints for practical tests of different modes.
Similar trials may be made with long-keeping winter
Pears. — Country Gentleman.
The genus Narcissus. — Mr. Burbidge, of the
Trinity College Botanic Gardens, Dublin, is at pre-
sent engaged in completing a work en these plants
which lias occupied his attention more or less for the
past twenty years. It is to be profusely illustrated,
and contains full references to those who have devoted
attention to these beautiful flowers, as also to the books
598
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 31, 1887.
wherein they are figured and deBcrihed. Any refer-
ences as above will be acceptable, especially too out of
the many books, original drawings, andMSS., oi' to
native habitats and variations in the flowers them-
selves.
NOTES OF THE WEEK.
Royal Horticultural Society. — A special
general meeting of the Fellows will be held at 12 o clock
noon on Tuesday, January 10, in the conservatory to
confirm the resolutions passed at the meeting held on
December 13.
The Scarlet Spurge (Euphorbia jacquiniaeflora) .
— This is remarkably well grown by Mr. Hudson at
Gunnersbury House, and, good old plant as it is, we
intend to figure it from his specimens. The growth is
80 vigorous, however, that the flowers are scattered
over an enormous wreath, instead of held together, as
they generally are.
Cornish Gilliflower Apple. — When I was at
Floors Castle gardens, Kelso, there were two very good
bush trees of this Apple. As the trees were a good size
and only slightly pruned, they always bore satisfacto-
rily, and the fruits were of a good size. It was regarded
as equal to any of the other dessert Apples owing to its
brisk flavour. — A. Tkail.
Late Chrysanthemume. — Three of the latest-
flowering sorts I grow here are Mrs. C. Carey, white,
Ethel, white, and The Khedive, rosy-purple. The last-
named variety is only just setting its buds, and will
bloom in February. Cuttings of these sorts are rooted
next month with the general batch, but the plants are
housed about three weeks later in a cool, airy place. —
H. Louth, Syndale Park.
Pear Winter Uelis succeeds admirably here,
either on espalier or east wall, and we consider it one
of our best Pears. — J. ALtsop, The Gardens, Dalton
Ball, Hull.
This is one of our best-flavoured Pears, and the
tree bears regularly. In sheltered gardens where the
soil is not too heavy it does well as a pyramid or bush,
but in our exposed position and strong land it requires
a wall. It is a Pear that is much esteemed both in
Somersetshire and Devonshire. — J. C. C.
In your last issue you ask for information
respecting the behaviour of this Pear in difEerent
localities. With us, and in this district generally,
it grows and fruits admirably on walls, never failing
to yield a good crop. I regard it as one of the best
flavoured fruits for this season; moreover, it keeps
for a long time, even when fully ripe. — John
Ckawfoed, Coddington Hall, Neivarlt-mi-Trent.
December Fears. — I send you three Pears of
Josephine de Malines from a south wall, and two
fruits of Winter Nelis from a south-east aspect.
They are smaller than usual, owing to the past
dry season. The trees are grown fifty miles north
of Dublin, where I find Pears do very well. 1
have had fine fruits of DoyennS du Cornice, Glou
Morceau, Beurre Baohelier, Pitmaston Duchess, and
Passe Colmar ; indeed, all the leading kinds. I
consider Doyenne du Comice one of the best Pears
in this district. — William Ruxton, Ardee House,
Co. Louth, Ireland.
*tf* The fruits of Josephine de Malines were the
best sent this year. Winter Nelis is larger than
iisual, and of a fine russety broven colour; but the
flavour is so good of this fruit, that its appearance
is not of much consequence. We believe, however,
that the majority of people much prefer a Pear of
this medium size than a very large fruit. — Ed,
A new Narcissus is flowering in the Royal
Gardens, Kew. This may not seem a surprising
fact, as during the past few years Daffodils have
increased rapidly, every supposed form having a
name, though showing but trifling variation. But
N. Broussonnetti, the latest acquisition, is a decided
gain, and will possibly become a popular garden
plant. It is a native of Morocco, and apparently
belongs to the Tazetta group, showing a similarity
of character to the common Paper- white Daffodil,
but the flower is devoid of the cup or crown, and
may be likened to a small Eucharis bloom. The
bulbs are planted in a loamy soil and are provided
with bottom-heat, while the house is also kept at
a moderately high temperature. There are several
bulbs in the bed, and all are making robust leafage.
two throwing up sturdy scapes several inches high
One bears five expanded flowers just over 1 inch
across, with several others less forward. They are
slightly pendent, spotless white, except the stamens,
without a crown or cup — a notable feature —
and as deliciously fragrant as a Stephanotis. It
is far better than the old Paper-white, as it is
bolder in all its parts, the tube longer and the
leafage more robust. If it only proves as fine in
pots and as easily grown, it will soon make its way
into general cultivation.
Knipbofla foliosa. — Enclosed is a bloom of
this very pretty flower, which, I believe, is not ge-
nerally known. It is easily grown in a cool
greenhouse, but is just too tender to bear the winter
in my garden. — T. H. Abchee-Hind, South Devon.
*j* A distinct and beautiful Kniphofia, the spike
measuring just over 8 inches in length, and densely
packed with canary yellow- coloured flowers. It is
a synonym of K. Quartiniana, and belongs to the
caulescens group. — Ed.
The Urn Flower (Urceolina pendula) is finely
grown and in great quantity at Gunnersbury House,
large spikes bearing five or six open flowers, with as
many buds, the bulbs bearing the leaves when
flowering. It is a most graceful and beautiful
plant, and so distinct from other hothouse bulbs,
that it deserves to be grown in many places. We
hope to publish a coloured plate of the flower drawn
from plants grown by Mr. Hudson. We hope his
very successful way of growing the plant will spread
and lead to a greater number enjoying a plant of
such rare beauty.
The African Hemp (Sparmannia africana). —
This is an old-fashioned, but handsome plant, and
very useful for winter and spring blooming. Several
fine bushes, from 3 feet to 5 feet high and as much
through, are now flowering profusely in Mr. Clarke's
garden at Croydon, where it is much esteemed for
the embellishment of the conservatory during win
ter. The plant is a native of South Africa, and
bears heart-shaped leaves, which are downy and
pale green, the flowers being white, with reddish
orange stamens, and produced in small clusters
(umbels). The name commemorates a companion
of Captain Cook, who introduced this species.
Daedalacanthus macrophyllus. — Among
the few flowering plants in the stove at Kew this
is one of the most conspicuous ; indeed, it is so
showy that it deserves to come into general cul-
tivation as a winter- flowering stove plant. It grows
about 18 inches high, is of rather thin habit with
somewhat large leaves, and produces terminal,
regularly branching flower- spikes crowded with
tubular curved flowers. Their colour is a pale
lavender on the tube, with a deep tint of rich
purple on the petals. It flowers habitually in
mid-winter, and continues a long time in bloom.
It comes from Burmah.
The winter-flowering Jasmine (Jasmiuum
nudiflorum).— This midwinter-blooming climber is
very beautiful just now ; indeed, I have never seen
it more full of bloom than this season. A couple
of strong plants on the south-west front of some
cottages near here attract the attention of all
passers-by, few, however, seeming to know that these
lovely yellow-flowered plants are Jasmines. Of
course, should very severe weather set in, the then
expanded bloom will suffer somewhat, as the plants
will get no protection, but even with that drawback
this Jasmine is a delightful winter climber.
Curiously enough, when introduced in 1844, it was
classed as a semi-tender or greenhouse climber,
but experience has shown that it is very hardy.
Trained upon dark red brick walls it is very effec-
tive.—A. D.
Hibhertia dentata. — The Hibbertia genus
comprises about fifty species, all of which are re-
stricted in their habitats to Tasmania and Australia.
The showiest of all this number is H. dentata, the
subject of the present note. There is a plant at
Kew climbing up one of the rafters in the green
house, and its richness of appearance is most
apparent, especially now that gay subjects are not
abundant. It makes a free growth, its dull crim
son tendrils twining closely round the pillar, and
against the dark chocolate-brown background of
leafage the yellow colour of the Clematis-like
flowers is most brilliant. It is a plant that should
certainly be more often seen in our greenhouses, as
it flowers in winter, and does not make the wild,
unruly growth of the Habrothamnus or many
of the climbers used for greenhouse decoration.
Yellow Himalayan Primrose (Primula flori-
bunda grandiflora). — The type has now become weU
known, as it deserves to be, but the large-flowered
variety far eclipses it as regards beauty and useful-
ness. It is quite distinct from the parent, as the
flowers are much larger, while they unfold in tiers
at intervals on the sturdy stem. Such a plant, that
throws up a fine stem crowded with bloom far
above a robust m^ss of leafage, is shovfy and inte-
resting. The colour is deep yellow, and it takes but
few plants to make a cool house gay at this season.
It is so much better than the common type, that
this should entirely give way to it. There are spe-
cimens at Kew, and also in Mr. Ware's nursery at
Tottenham, in both places the plants flowering
freely.
Blue Primulas.^A blue Primula was once the
dream of the florist, but the object has been at-
tained, almost perhaps it would be better to say, as
a true blue, like that of the bedding Lobelia, is still
wanting. But a great advance has been made since
the first flower that showed any approach to a blue
appeared, hybridising and cultivation gradually driv-
ing out the slaty hue, leaving a purer colour. There are
now several strains in the hands of the leading
firms, and it is surprising what a distinct effect
these varieties make when grouped or arranged in
the plant house. The colour is a great break away
from the whites, reds, and various shades of pink.
Now that a blue Primula — once thought an impossi-
bility— has been virtually gained, the rosarian who
strives after a blue Rose should not lose heart.
Acacia platypetala. — This is one of the best
of the Acacias for pot culture, as it blooms freely
at the present season and gives a glow of brilliant
yellow colour, the small globular flower-heads
crowding the curiously winged stems. It may be
said to commence the Acacia season, as it is in full
glory during the winter, and is then followed by
those species and varieties that are at their best
during the early spring months. There are several
specimens in the temperate house at Kew, and they
are about the only plants, with the exception of
some seedling forms of Chorozema varium and
Chandleri elegans, in bloom. Acacia platypetala is a
plant that should find universal favour, as it may be
readily grown, while its appearance, though curious,
is neither grotesque nor ugly, and it is in flower
at Christmas and in the new year. In the tempe-
rate house is also flowering a plant of the strong-
growing A. dealbata. The great characteristic of
this Acacia is its beautiful Fern-hke foliage, the
lemon-coloured flowers giving a soft harmony of
colour.
Calanthes are the Orchids of the season, and
there are few more useful or desirable plants, by
reason of the cheerfulness of the flowers and the
gracefulness of the spikes. Very few gardens, even
where Orchids are not made a speciality of, are
without the ordinary forms of Calanthes, and such
as the rosy C. Veitchi and the white C. vestita are
invaluable for giving lightness and elegance to a
group or any arrangement in the plant house.
At Kew these two forms, with the varieties luteo-
oculata and rubro-oculata, are in full glory, and
another one, not so much seen, but quite as beauti-
ful, is C. veratrifolia. It is fairly familiar to
orchidists, but might be oftener grown, as it has
broad, ample foliage and flowers of delicate white-
ness, densely produced at the top of spikes between
1 foot and 2 feet high. A great interest seems to
be springing up in Calanthes, and several fine va-
rieties have been raised. Those shown by Sir
Trevor Lawrence, of Dorking, at the last meeting of
the Royal Horticultural Society showed a surprising
range of colouring, the crimsons having a fine depth
of hue. There is also at Kew a good specimen of
the old Zygopetalum Mackayi with its broad, wavy,
flnely pencilled lip, and Angrsecum eburneum.
Dec. 31, 1887.J
THE GARDEN.
599
Flower Garden.
THE ZEBRA-STRIPED RUSH.
(eulalia japonica variegata.)
This handsome Grass is one of the most valu-
able of the numerous fine plants with which
Japan has of recent years enriched our gardens.
Its peculiarly elegant and graceful habit is
shown in our engraving, which is from a photo-
graph of a plant in Mr. Tillett's garden at
Sprowston. Its tall, slender stems and the
arching and drooping leaves render it a very
grow, viz., Helleborus niger and H. maximus, 1
have a good display, and the flowers are earlier than
for several years past, althoogh the culture has in
no way been altered. But the cause is not far to
seek, at least I think so, for the plants occupy a
somewhat warm corner where the soil is fairly good
and deep, but never before did the leaves flag so
much for the want of root-moisture as during the
past summer. On several occasions I felt that the
plants ought to be watered, but they did not get
any, and instead of their being the worse for the
drought I am satisfied they are better for it. It is
necessary to be very careful in the culture of Helle-
The Zebra-striped Eush (Eulalia japonica variegata) .
attractive plant. The stems are from 5 feet to
6 feet in height, and the leaves are green, with
light straw-coloured stripes, or in many cases it
would be more correct to say that they are of
light straw colour with green stripes. In
autumn some of the stripes turn purple. It is
perfectly hardy and grows rapidly. The clump
shown in our engraving is formed of a single
plant, which has only been planted three years.
Christmas Roses. — These are both early
and plentiful this season. Of the two kinds I
bores, especially with regard to moving them, for
they evidently do not like being disturbed. Two
years ago I very carefully lifted some plants bodily
with a fork, and transferred them with great care
to their new quarters. They have, however, hardly
recovered even now, as the flowers are small and
few in number, but 1 had to move them in the
autumn, and my espeiience is that spring is a
better season for the operation, just as the plants
are commencing to make new leaves. The plants
should never be divided for increase of stock unless
really necessary. Before planting choose some
fairly heavy soil, and make it 2 feet deep ; then the
plants will retain suflicient vigour for several years
if they are not disturbed.— J. C. C.
Tagetes IiemmoiLi is a recently discovered
plant from South Arizona, and promises well, espe-
cially if an improved variety could be raised from
it. The plant is shrubby, stem much branched,
leaves pinnated, leaflets lanceolate, peduncle short,
supporting several ample heads of flowers with golden
yellow rays. The whole plant has the strong scent
peculiar to the genus. This is a greenhouse plant,
easily raised from seeds in the early spring and
should be planted out for the summer. Kept
pinched back, it makes a nice bushy plant by
September, when it should ba potted and kept shaded
until rooted well, when it may be placed in a sunny
part of the greenhouse, where it wOl bloom pro-
fusely. After the flowering the plants may be cut
back and planted out in the spring and treated in
the same way as seedlings. — American Garden.
liObslias, division of. — Those who have flower
beds and borders to furnish in summer are fully
aware of the merits of the Lobelia, and various
methods have been employed to obtain good sturdy
plants. After trying various plans, I find none to
excel that of increasing them by division of the old
plants, as in this way they need not be subjected to
much heat at any time. If suificient stock can be
had by treating Lobelias on the cool system, they
will be found much more satisfactory than if grown
from either cuttings or seeds in spring. To get up
a good stock by division, the best plan is to keep a
quantity of the smallest plants in pots during
summer, and by picking all the blooms off they will
be dense tufts of young growths by the autumn.
These may be wintered in pits or frames in the
same way as Calceolarias, and directly the days
begin to lengthen they may be pulled to pieces and
dibbled into pots, boxes, or frames, and wiU make
fine plants by the time they are required for plant-
ing out. There are many good blue forms, but
among the white varieties I find nothing to equal
Perfection, a variety of very dwarf and free-flowering
habit. — J. G., Hants.
New Sweet 'Peas. — Two of Mr. Henry Eck-
ford's new Sweet Peas are announced, viz.. Splen-
dour, a very fine and distinct self-coloured variety
of a rich bright pinkish rose colour with a shading
of crimson on the standard and wings. This is quite
unlike anything we have in cultivation, and it
makes a valuable addition to our finest types of the
popular Sweet Pea. The other is Apple Blossom,
which was shown at South Kensington during the
summer. I heard one person say : " This is iden-
tical with the Painted Lady Sweet Pea," But
readers of The Gaeden may rest assured that it
is quite distinct in colour as well as being finer in all
its parts. The standards are of a bright pinkish
rose, and the wings are true apple-blossom colour ;
this, also, is a very fine variety, and they have both
been produced as the results of carefully conducted
crosses. Not only has Mr. Eckford endeavoured to
get new colours, and new combinations of colours,
into his Sweet Peas, but he has also laboured to
have them stouter, larger, and finer. During the
past few years he has given us some charming addi-
tions to our somewhat limited number of varieties
of Lathyrus odoratus. — R. D.
The Crocus. — It is interesting to follow the
flowering of the various species and varieties of
Crocus during the winter and spring months. They
do not open out of doors at this season in frost, but
when the flowers are cut and placed in small glasses
in a warm room they open freely by artificial light.
In Maw's book on " The Crocus " I notice that his
plants of C. ancyrensis flowered early in February.
I have it now in flower in a cold frame, and very
beautiful are the flowers, which are of small size,
on long stems, and of a rich deep yellow colour.
Herbert described it as a variety of C. reticulatus,
and Baker as a form of C. susianus. C. ochroleucus
is in flower with it in the same frame, and it is
equally remarkable that Mr. Maw had it in flower
in October. The flowers are creamy white, the
petals tinged with yellow at the base. It is found
in a wild state in Northern Palestine and Syria,
and is in its way a distinct and pretty species. In
600
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 31, 1887.
the open ground, December 17, C. Boryanus is just
openiDg its flowers, but is very different from the
C. Boiyi of Gay and the C. Boryanus of Herbert ;
the fluwers are deep purple outside, with a paler
colour internally. The flowers of the species as
figured by Maw are white, but some of the varieties
are much like our own ; they seem to vary in colour
from white, through the paler shades, vip to rich
deep purple. — J. Douglas.
GAEDEN ANEMONES.
In Mr. Douglas's interesting note on the Anemone
in The Garden, Dec. 10 (p. 533), he seems to
advise a false step in suggesting that yearling, or
rather seedling, tubers should be lifted and stored
for a time after the leaves have decayed. My ex-
perience is that spring-sown seedlings really do not
rest, but keep on growing for twelve months ; hence it
is undesirable, and, indeed, unwise, to lift the tubers
at all. But, even in the case of ripened tubers, it is
not always wise to lift them unless absolutely need-
ful, as in but a very few weeks they again begin to
start into growth ; indeed, often as early as the end
of August, so that by leaving the roots in the ground
time and strength seem to be gained. I do not
assume that, if the soil in which the seedlings have
been put out has been properly prepared, transferring
to fresh soil is needful for two years at least, and,
indeed, so readily can batches of seedlings be raised
that it is doubtful whether it is worth while re
taining tubers after the second year, as the blooms
never afterwards come fine. I was pleased to note
that the assumption that the fine blooms shown in
London occasionally were of home growth was ex-
posed as incorrect. Certainly we have quite as fine
strains in this country, but we can hardly produce
such large flowers. The finest,however, usually come
on the second year tubers. Owing to one or two
failures arising from drought, which checked growth
of seed, I have adopted the plan of sowing seed in
shallow boxes and under glass at the end of August.
The seedlings winter well, and keep growing until
the early spring, when they are lifted carefully,
singled out,and dibbled intotheopen ground in good,
well-manured soil, and in rows a foot apart. So
treated the seedlings soon get well established, and
are in no danger from summer heat. The strain I
have here, curiously enough, always produces some
real doubles, in a seedling batch, of as fine quality
as are the best named kinds. I selected a dozen
one season for a gentleman who took a fancy to
them. These are not seed-producers, but they are
generated by semi-doubles, or rather by flowers in
which the seed organs are partly converted into
petals. I should like to meet with some of the old,
large-flowered semi-doubles, in which, not a cluster
of small petals about the seed-pod, but a double or
treble number of large, broad petals made up the
flowers. These were very good seeders. In the
mattt-r of colour, many of the flowers shown in the
past from the south of France were rather dull. I
find the public taste fixes first upon the brilliant
scarlets and crimsons, then upon the blues and
purples, and next upon those having white grounds
flushed with rose or carmine. Some of these are
exceedingly beautiful. A. D.
,'<UORT worm.— FLOWER.
Crocus Borgei var. lasvigatum.— This is a
winter-flowenng Crocus that might have a place in the
rock garden, which at this season, with the exception
of the Hellebores, scarcely .shows a flower. The
blooms are purple, striped with a deeper shade, and
the leaves are narrow and plentiful. A few bulbs
planted on a ledge on the rockery would not be money
wasted.
Pleiones.— In reply to Mr. Dooglas' query in The
Gard n, Di'C. 17 (p. .548), I may mention that I have
been m the liabit of using loam for Pleiones for several
years past, and found it of great service. The growth
of the plants is stronger and the flowers more freely
produced, in many cases there being three l)lnoms on a
spdte. I may add that I have also used half-inch hones
for them with success, strewing them rather thickly
among the Sphagnnm over the crocks. The compost
I use 13 equal parts peat and loam, a little Sph.ignum
and finely broken crocks. I am also trying the value
of bones for Cattleyas, and have so far been successful.
— C. Howe, NunfieJd Gardens, Dumfries.
Narcissus in Jersey.— Does the common Daf-
fodil grow wild in Jersey or in other of the Channel
Islands group ? What are the wild Daffodils of Nur-
mandy and Brittany ? I shall esteem it a favour if auy
resident or visitor will give me information on these
poiutsof distribution. Has the " Tenby Dafibdil" (N.
obvallaris) been found wild in Prance or in Belgium
Should this meet the eye of any winter resident in the
Riviera or Algeria, I should be obUged if they would
kindly tell us of the Narcissi now, or soon to be in
flower at those places. — F. W. Buebidge, Trinity
College Botanic Gardens, Dublin.
The great Alpine Rccifoil.— Your nice en-
graving of Saxifraga pyramidalis (p. 533) reminds
me of a photograph I had long ago, and which I in-
tended to send for your inspection — stone steps in
my alpine garden garnished with S. Cotyledon. I
enclose it now. Your correspondent " K." is very
audacious to correct Mr. Engler, an eminent
botanist, who studied the genus for many years,
and had the help of most of the European herbaria.
I believe the truth is that S. Cotyledon varies some-
what, and has also — but rarely — red-spotted flowers.
Many of my not spotted ' Cotyledons were 30
inches to 40 inches high. I do not possess the
spotted variety.— O. Foestbe.
Stove and Greenhouse.
VARIEGATED ADAM'S NEEDLE.
(yucca filamentosa variegata.)
Little, if anything, is known of the origin of
y. filamentosa variegata or how long it has been
in existence. It has always been scarce, very
rarely being met with until the fashion arose
for variegated and green-leaved subjects distinct
in habit or with the foliage effectively coloured.
It is likely that the variegated variety is nothing
more than a sport from the green-leaved type.
The leaves have broad, well-defined bands of
white running longitudinally their entire length,
the white colour, when the plant is grown under
glas!i, covering the greater portion of the sur-
face. It may be well to say that the variegated
variety, like the type, will live out of doors, but
when so placed it shows little of the elegance in
form or the purity of colour characteristic of the
leaves of a well-managed specimen grown under
glass.
There is one peculiarity conuected with this
Yucca that deserves notice, as it runs counter to
that usual with plants that will bear our winters
out of doors. When cultivated in pots and kept
in the temperature of a stove, the variegated
Yucca filamentosa not only attains size and
vigour, but it continues to thrive in heat with-
out becoming weakened, as is usually the case
when hardy plants are submitted to a high tem-
perature. When grown in heat it reaches three
or four times the size that it is capable of out of
doors. Under the former condition a full-sized
specimen — that is, say, 2| feet in height or over
— will have four-fifths of the leaves beautifully
curved, the extremities drooping so that the
lower leaves almost cover the pot in which the
plant is grown. Even when small the plants
are very effective.
Similar to most of the other Yuccas, the va-
riety under notice increases slowly from suckers,
as these are produced sparingly, but it ciin bo
readily propagated from root cuttings, which,
when kept in heat, soon strike and make top-
growth. This is the only system worth taking
into account, and the best time to carry out the
work is in the spring or during the summer, as
then the plants that are thus dejirived of many
of their strongest roots to provide cuttings have
a better clwuce of becoming re-established. Wo
attempt should ever be made to take cuttings
from young examples. Plants that have been
rai.sed from root cuttings, even when well
managed and pushed on in heat, take something
like four years to gain strength and size, such as
will admit of their roots being strong enough to
make suitable cuttings.
The way to proceed is to take a plant that is
in good condition such as described, turn it out
of the pot, and gently shake away the soil from
the roots, disentangling them carefully so as to
avoid their being injured. Select the strongest
and sever them from the underground stem as
close to it as the knife can be got, A fairly
strong specimen will bear half its roots being
removed in this way. All the stronger portion
of the severed roots should be cut into bits
about half an inch or a little over in length.
They ought then to be put in pots or pans filled
with finely sifted peat and sand in equal pro-
portions, inserting them so as to just leave the
top of the cutting visible and level with the
surface of the material. Give a gentle watering,
and at once place the cuttings in a propagating
frame or under propagating glasses in a house
where a temperature such as rec£uired by stove
plants is kept up. Shade from the sun in bright
weather, and keep the soil moist, but not too
wet, or there will be danger of the cuttings
rotting. For the same reason the frame or
glasses must not be kept too close. In the
course of six or seven weeks roots will be formed,
and a small crown with tiny leaves will appear
at the top of each cutting. Air must then at
once be admitted so as to prevent a superabund-
ance of moisture, which would cause the young
leaves to damp ofl'. Continue to use a thin
shade when the sun is bright, and give more air
until the glasses can be dispensed with altogether.
AVhen the leaves are 1 inch or H inches long,
put the plants singly into small pots, drained
and filled with sifted peat, having a moderate
amount of sand mixed with it. Directly the
roots begin to move in the new soil put the
plants where they will receive a fair amount of
light, standing the pots on moisture-holding
material of some kind. This latter is essential
for small stock of this and most other plants, as
during the early stages of growth, if the pots
rest on a dry surface, the soil dries up too
quickly, in addition to which the air that comes
immediately in contact with the foliage is drier
than it should be. It is also a great help to
large plants to stand them on a moist bottom.
If the cuttings were put in early in spring the
little plants will most likely require pots an inch
larger before the summer is over, as it will not
answer to keep the roots too much confined.
One half good turfy loam may now be mixed
with the peat, adding a little rotten manure as
well. As the plants gain strength stand them
nearer the glass where they will get plenty of
light. This is essential at all tunes.
Shade may be given in the middle of the day
when the sun is powerful ; this, in most cases,
will be necessary even when the .specimens get
large, for when plants of any kind are kept in a
higher temperature than they naturally need
the foliage will seldom bear full exposure to sun
in summer. During the season of active growth
keep the soil moderately moist. In the autumn
more air may be given, and there should be less
moisture in the atmosphere of the house. Pro-
portionately less water will also be required by
the roots through the autumn and winter. In
the latter a temperature of CO" or G5° by night
will be suthcient. It will be necessary to again
repot early in spring. The increased space
requisite will depend on the progress the plants
have made ; if all has gone well, they will bear
pots 3 inches larger than those they have occu-
Dec. 31, 1887.
THE GARDEN.
601
pied. Now break the soil by hand, not reducing
to so fine a state as hitherto, pot moderately
firm, and increase the temperature both by day
and night as the days lengthen. Again, use a
thiu shade in the middle of the day as the snn
gains power ; some air may now be given, admit-
ting it daily when the temperature of the house
rises considerably through the sini-heat. Treat
generally through the summer as advised for
the preceding, and if the roots appear to get at
all crowded in the pots give others a size or two
larger, as if encouraged with liberal pot room
whilst young, the plants will more quickly attain
specimen size. The soil should now be used in
a more lumpy state.
After this all that is requisite is to continue
the treatment so far recommended, giving plenty
of light at all limes, especially in the season of
active growth During spring and summer
syringe overhead in the afternoons at the time
the air is taken off. The after managementwill be
of the usual routine character, giving more root
room each spring so long as necessary ; 14-inch
or 15-inch pots are large enough for full-sized
specimens, as from the time the plants are
about half grown much can be done to assist
them by the use of manure water, which may
be given frequently during the spring and sum-
mer. Be careful not to apply it in too strong a
state. When the plants are of large size they
have a telling effect in a conservatory or green-
house, where they may be allowed to remain
during the summer and autumn, or, if required,
they will do permanently in a cool structure.
The specimens from which the root cuttings
have been taken should be immediately repotted.
Pots about two-thirds the size of those they
have previously occupied will be large enough.
It often happens that the small roots left are
not suihcient to steady the plants in the pots.
To meet this difficulty it is well to insert two or
three sticks in the soil, the tops of which should
stand 3 inches or 4 inches above the surface.
To these sticks the stems of the plants can
easily be secured. In a stove temperature and
treated as advised for young stock, they will
soon make good the loss of roots they have
sustained. It is not advisable to subject plants
to this partial disrooting oftener than once in
two years.
Tlie Winter Sweet (Toxicophlasa spectabilis).
— A few plants of this shrub will, when in bloom,
perfume a good-sized structure, so fragrant
are the small white Jasmine-like blossoms that
are borne in great profusion in the axil of
almost every leaf. The fact of its flowering at mid-
winter also enhances its value, while the culture
required to maintain it in good health is very
simple. Cuttings strike root readily enough during
the growing season, and if potted off as soon
as rooted they make rapid progress. As the habit
of the plant is somewhat leggy, the young plants
should be freely pinched in order to encourage as far
as possible a bushy habit of growth. This shrub is a
native of tropical Africa, and to grow it success-
fully it requires the temperature of a stove. There
is another species known in gardens, viz., T. Thun-
bergi, but it is not so ornamental as T. spectabilis.
— H.P.
Blue Chinese Primulas. — Slowly, but surely
an advance is being made in deepening the colour
of the blue Chinese Primrose until we are within
measurable distance of a true blue variety. So far
blue varieties have been more of a slaty than a real
blue, but the blue deepens, and the slate tint is
becoming absorbed by it. Our raisers have secured
all the qualities of first-rate flowers, and now we
await a blue that shall rival Salvia patens or that
of the Leschenaultia. Report reaches us from
Birmingham that Messrs. T. B. Thomson and Co.
have at their Sparkbrook Nurseries a blue they have
named King of the Blues, which shows a fine depth
of colour, combined with a vigorous habit and high
quality in the flowers, and so the work goes on.
Twenty years ago a blue Chinese Primrose would
have been regarded as a kind of ideal to be im-
agined, but never to be realised ; and we not only
have it, but in the really wonderful Reading collec-
tion, where the blues are being greatly improved
also, Messrs. Sutton and Sons have succeeded in
obtaining two double blues, one with Fern-leaved,
the other with plain-leaved foliage. — R. D.
CANNAS f OR WINTER FLOWERING.
By the interest that was shown in the extremely
fine collection of Canna flowers that Messrs. Cannell
exhibited the other day, it seemed as if the value
of Cannas for winter blooming is not generally
known, and certainly the fact that they can be made
to produce an abundant supply of their brilliantly
coloured flowers at Christmas gives them an addi-
tional value as ornamental plants. At this period,
when Chrysanthemums are past and the Orchid
season has not yet fairly set in, any brilliantly
coloured plant is of value, and especially if, as in
the case of the Canna, it combines noble foliage
with varied and brilliant bloom. Cannas that have
done duty in the open garden throughout the sum-
mer are, as a rule, relegated to some out-of-the-way
comer out of the reach of frost until wanted agaiia
the following May for outdoor decoration. Messrs.
Cannell, however, have shown us that Cannas are of
perennial utility, for when lifted in autumn they
can, by care in potting the plants and placing
them in a warm and moist house, be induced to
flower abundantly throughout the winter. The un-
commonly fine effect they produce was well shown
by the gathering which was exhibited at Kensing-
ton and admired by everyone, and though the floral
committee could not certificate them, they unani-
mously accorded their thanks to the exhibitors for
their unusual exhibit. The varieties shown were
numerous, representing considerable diversity in
colours. Some were of the deepest crimson, some
of an intense scarlet, others glowing yellow, while
not a few had the petals heavily spotted with
crimson on a yellow ground. All the sorts were, no
doubt, variations from the original C. indica, the
common Indian Shot, and C. Annaji, but as none
of them were named and the flowers were unaccom-
panied by foliage, one cannot be certain on that
point. The Continental raisers have paid a good
deal of attention to hybridising Cannas, and the
varieties they have obtained, which are more or less
distinct, amount to a large number. Some Cannas,
Mr. Cannell tells me, are much better adapted for
winter flowering than others, and he has been care-
ful to select from the multitude of sorts only those
that can be relied upon, and which are most beauti-
ful in bloom. It is a pity that he did not label the
sorts shown, for as they are doubtless well known,
those who possess a collection could single out the
best winter sorts.
The flowers of all are as strange in form as those
of Orchids, and certainly no Orchid flowering at
Christmas is so brilliant in colour. Mixed with
Ferns, the spikes have a beautiful effect, and in a
warm room the buds open in succession, so that
the spikes remain in good condition for ten days or a
fortnight. Some of the spikes I brought from Ken-
sington are as fine to-day (Tuesday, Dec. 20) as
they were on Dec. 13, though the individual flowers
are not quite so large as those that expanded before
the spikes were cut. Advantage should be taken
of the Canna for winter blooming, and instead of
storing the roots away in boxes in some dry frost-
proof shed, they should be made to do double duty
in the stove and greenhouse till wanted again for
the summer, as it should be understood that the
Canna is really a perennial. If flowered in the
stove or pit the plants may be taken to a cooler
conservatory or greenhouse, where they will remain
longer in bloom than if kept in a stove. We may
yet see the Canna included in the list of florists'
flowers, though probably no amount of hybridising
will ever make a Canna flower symmetrical, though
much may be done in improving the size of the
flowers and increasing thtir diversity of colour.
W. G.
Nerine Manselli.— I send you a few notes on
Nerine Manselli in addition to jour report of it in
The Garden, December 17 (p. "uGO). I know of no
Nerine to equal it for freedom of bloom. When
once a bulb has flowered it does so every year, and
the umbel increases in size and beauty each season
Until the present year our largest umbel has been
one with eighteen flowers ; now we have one with
twenty-five, and one bulb is now sending up a
second spike, which will be in bloom about the
middle of January. I have flowered nineteen dis-
tinct varieties of Nerines, which yield a succes-
sion of flowers from early in September until the
middle of January. — E. Petebs, Somerset Terrace,
(Hiernsey.
Feathery Cockscombs (Celosia pyramidalis
plumosa). — At the recent Chrysanthemum show at
Birmingham, two remarkably fine specimens of the
crimson-flowered pyramid Celosia were shown by
Messrs. T. B. Thomson and Co., nurserymen and
seedsmen, of Birmingham, and'they attracted con-
siderable attention because they were so well
finished. The plants were raised from seeds sown
in March last in heat. They were potted singly
in small pots, grown on in a Cucumber frame till
s inches or !.l inches high, and then repotted and
brought on in an intermediate house in a tempe-
rature of 50° to 60°. They were finally placed
in a cool house. Several specimens of unusual
beauty were 4 feet in height, 2^ feet in diameter,
and in !l-inch pots. The compost used was two
parts loam, one part well decayed horse manure,
and one part leaf soil, with a sprinkling of guano.
Nothing was done in the way of stopping, and they
gave wonderful masses of plumose inflorescences.
Beautiful as this Celosia is, it is, unfortunately, far
too much neglected. — R. D.
Double Primulas. — I quite agree with "J. C. B."
in The Garden (page 557) respecting the useful-
ness of double Primulas in winter. There are ro
other plants worth growing so much, as either for
the market or for ordinary greenhouse decoration,
the double Primula may be had in flower all the
year round, but it is generally so grown as to come
into flower from September to March or April.
There are several varieties, but the one chiefly grown
is the old double white (alba plena). It is true
what " J. C. B." says about Primulas receiving poor
treatment. I happened to pay a visit last week to
the nursery of Messrs. Curtis, Sandford and Co., Tor-
quay, Devon, and in passing through their plant
houses I came across two houses about 150 feet to
200 feet long devoted entirely to the double Primula.
There were some thousands of plants in 5-inch pots
full of flower-spikes. The variety chiefly grown is
alba plena, but there are a few other sorts kept in
stock. There is a new variety named White Lady,
something similar in habit to that known as the
Marchioness of Exeter, but the flowers are pure
white, and it seems a strong grower. It should be-
come a great favourite. — H. J., Ton/uay.
SHORT NOTES.— STOVE AND OREENHOUSE.
Small Orange trees.— Plants of the Tangerine
Orauge, when grown like small hushes and pro-
fusely laden with fruit (as they will be if a reasonable
amount of attention is bestowed upon them throughout
the year), form very pretty ob.iects in the greenhouse
at this season, and also remain in beauty for a con-
siderable period. Great numbers are sent to this
country from the Continent every year and find a ready
sale, more especially if the fruit is coloured, as they
can then be used for immediate decoration.— H. P.
Greenhouse Khododendrons. — My experi-
ence is decidedly against that of " J. C. C." (p. 555).
I annually plant out most of my greenhouse Rhodo-
dendrons in good peat with a "little sand. An old
plant of the variety Countess of Haddington some 10
feet high not only flowers profusely every spring, but
young shoots appear from the hardest wood. Even
Nuttalli, generally considered a shy flowtrer, flowers
nearly every year under this treatment; so does
602
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 31, 1887.
Fortune!, Jenkinsi, calophyllum, Maddeni, Dal-
housianum, Edgeworthi, Forsteriauum, eximium,
not to speak of such free-flowering species as cilia-
turn, &c. I can strongly recommend my system. —
0. F., Lehenhof.
Variegated India-rubber plant. — The
ordinary green-leaved Ficus elastica is a useful
and beautiful plant. Young specimens, well fur-
nished with large, healthy leaves down to the pot,
are fairly ornamental, and, what is of importance,
will stand a lot of rough treatment, not even, at any
rate for some time, being affected by the fumes of
gas. Variegated forms of it have at different times
been brought into notice, but only one of them
Ficus elastica foliis aureo-marginata, or the gold
margined-leaved — is of any value. This is really a
valuable novelty, and ought eventually to replace
the green form. As far as my experience goes, it is
quite as easily propagated, grows as vigorously, and
its fine leaves are beautifully margined with a bright
yellow band fully 1 inch wide. This colouring is
most constant, appearing both in young and old
leaves. — W. I.
A pretty combination. — It is now too much
the custom to ignore old-fashioned plants, and yet
what a beautiful effect many of them produce when
well cultivated. A striking proof of the truth of
my statement is now to be seen at Croydon Lodge,
where in a small house, one half of the roof is
covered with Plumbago rosea, its long-branched
spikes of deep rose-coloured flowers hanging in
profuse festoons, while the opposite half of the
roof is covered with Euphorbia jacquinisflora, pro-
ducing innumerable racemes of its brilliant scarlet
flowers. Both the above-named plants hang suffi-
ciently free for their flowers to almost reach those
of the plants upon the stages, which contain
quantities of the beautiful blue-flowered Eranthe-
mum pulchellum, Linum trigynum, and the red and
white-flowered Poinsettias. Together they produce
a brilliant picture, and as the Plumbago and the
Euphorbia last in perfection a long time, the dis-
play can be greatly varied by the introduction of
fresh subjects. — W. H. G.
Callicarpa purpurea. — I would add to your
remarks (p. 555) respecting Callicarpa purpurea,
that a great point in the treatment of the plants is
to starve them and keep them in small pots, giving
very little water when once the berries are formed.
My plants are about 3 feet in height, and on a single
stem. They are furnished with bunches of bright
berries, and I can assert that they will remain in
good condition six months out of the twelve. The
only critical point in their existence is when the
flowers are setting. If wetted overhead at this stage
they will produce nothing. My treatment of Plum-
bago rosea differs somewhat from that of your cor-
respondent (p. 551). In October the plants are
removed from the stove into the Odontoglossum
house, where they remain until the end of January.
When they are returned to the stove they flower
beautifully, and I may say I have not adopted the
cutting-in treatment. — W. Sopeb, ClapUam Road.
Vriesia brachyatachys. — This is worthy of a
place among the most select of Bromeliaceous
plants, for it is of very easy culture, and at all sea-
sons is bright and cheerful. The small vasiform-
like tufts of foliage are of a pleasing green colour,
while the flowers are borne freely, and the same
plants can be depended upon to bloom every season.
The flower-stems reach a height of about a foot,
while the blossoms — arranged on opposite sides of
the stem in a comb-like manner — are of a clear
yellow colour, the calyx from which the flower just
protrudes being of the same hue. The bracts, how-
ever, which form by far the major part of the in-
florescence and retain their beauty long after the
flowers are past, are keel-shaped, and at the base
are of a deep bright crimson colour, shaded with
purple, which gradually merges into the orange
colour of the upper part. The pots in which these
plants are grown should be well drained, the best
compost for potting them in being fibrous peat.
The plants require but little root-room, and on that
account care must be taken not to over-pot them.
They are readily increased by division. — H, P.
BROMELIADS AT CROYDON LODGE.
This is a class of plants to which Mr. Stephen-
son Clarke devotes much attention, and I should
be extremely glad if some English amateurs
would make a speciality of them. A few are
now in great beauty at the above-named gardens,
the first to arrest attention being TiUandsia
Lindeni aplendida. This is a plant with a single
strong crown, and bearing seven spikes of bloom,
the central one being the tallest, from around
which there are six. others, each springing from
the base of a leaf ; the scape is borne well up
above the leaves, the bracts being slightly tinged
with rosy red, and the large flowers of that
lovely blue peculiar to the vernal Gentian. The
base of each petal is white, so that the flowers
have a star-like white eye. This is not the only
plant of this form which is thus prolific here.
It is a charming plant in all its varieties. The
true T. Lindeni I noted some weeks ago as being
in grea,t beauty at Mr. Bull's and Mr. Williams'
nurseries. Other fine forms are the variety Re-
gelianaandaplantcalledT.umbellata,withflower3
similar to those of T. Lindeni splendida, with
short spikes and small green bracts. This plant
can be readily increased from suckers, which it
makes freely after flowering, but they do not
root freely ; indeed, it does not make a great
quantity of roots at any time. Vriesia brachy-
stachys, another species now flowering at Croy-
don Lodge, is a dwarf plant, the leaves (which
are pale glauoous green) being arranged in a
rosulate manner ; the scape is scarlet ; the
bracts scarlet, tipped with green ; the protrud-
ing flowers— yellow, tipped with a darker green
— being arranged in a two-ranked fashion.
Other kinds which are now effective here either
in flower or foliage are Nidularium Meyendorfi,
Tillandsia musaica, zebrina, and hieroglyphiea,
Viiesia zebrina, and Cryptanthus Beuekeri.
W. H. G.
WORK IN PLANT HOUSES.
Ceotons. — Where large or medium-sized speci-
mens are grown it is necessary to cut them well in at
times, without which the plants get bare at the
bottom. Crotons do best when they are grown in
a good deal of heat, as so treated they start into
active growth as soon as the temperature of the
stove is increased a little, which usually takes place
early in the year. The cutting back had therefore
better be carried out without delay. The leading
shoots with the best coloured leaves should be se-
lected for cuttings, as under favourable conditions
these retain their character. Crotons require little
if any shade, even in the brightest summer weather,
direct sunlight being the best means of securing
high-coloured foliage. Stand the cut-back plants
well up to the glass, so that when growth commences
the shoots will get plenty of light. As soon as the
plants have started any that require repotting should
have a shift.
Cissus. — The different species of Cissus, such as
C. discolor and C. porphyrophylla, whether grown
as pot specimens or as coverings for walls in the
stoves, should now have their shoots cut in, removing
all straggling branches. C. discolor would be more
thought of if it were not so readily propagated and
easily grown. Much more use might be made of
the leaves and shoots in combination with Ferns
and cut flowers than is the case, as the colours con-
trast well.
BlLLBBRGlAS. — These plants are propagated by
separation of the suckers, which are usually pro-
duced in summer after the flowering is over, and
which are best left attached to the old specimens
until they have attained some size and strength.
The time for separating them depends on the tem-
perature of the house the plants are grown in.
When kept moderately cool during winter, early
spring will be the best season for propagation, but
where the temperature they are submitted to is
such as required by the warmest stove plants, the
suckers should be taken off very soon in the year, as
it is best not to defer the work of propagation un-
til growth has commenced. The suckers may
either be slipped off or separated with a knife,
being careful to secure all the roots possible. Put
each crown in a separate pot, which should not be
larger than sufficient to hold the roots and a
moderate amount of soil. BUlbergias do well in
good free, turfy loam, to which must be added a
fair sprinkling of sand. Press the soil flrm and put
a stick in each pot, so that the suckers may be
firmly secured until they axe established in the soil.
Do not give much water until the roots begin to
move, but sprinkle overhead with the syringe fre-
quently.
TiLLANDSiAS. — The treatment these plants require
is much the same as for BUlbergias, except that they
have a greater dislike to soil that is at all close or
adhesive. In such they will not tl .rive. The best
material for them is usually given 3 Orchids, con-
sisting of good fibrous peat, mixed with Sphagnum,
sand, and charcoal, or potsherds. When they are
grown in a warm house, it is best to separate the
crowns early bofore growth commences ; if kept
cooler, defer the propagation until later on. Strong-
growing species like T. musaica require much more
root-room than the smaller kinds such as T. splendens
and T. Lindeni ; the latter is one of the most beautiful
of all small-growing blue-flowered plants. Drain the
pots well and treat as advised for the BUlbergias,
being careful not to give too much water until the
roots have begun to move.
IMANTOPHYLLUMS. — These are amongst the
most accommodating of all plants, as by vary-
ing the treatment they may be had in bloom at any
season of the year. The distinct colour of their
flowers, possessing, as they do, the fashionable
orange shade, has brought them much more into
favour than they used to be, especially for bouquets.
Where a sufficient stock is at hand, a few plants
may be brought into heat ; givr cne roots a good
soaking at the same time. If the soil has become
quite dry, it is best to stand the pots in a pail of
water for an hour or two, so as to get the ball
thoroughly moistened. It is better not to force the
flowers on too quickly, as if this is done, they are
weakened. If the growth was well matured in
autumn the flower-spikes wiU come up quickly with
intermediate warmth. In the case of smaU plants
it is advisable to keep them in a growing tempera-
ture both summer and winter for a year or two. So
treated they will gain in size and yield proportion-
ately more flowers.
LuotTLiA GBATissiMA. — This plant when grown
in a pot does not usually make very robust growth,
but after having been planted out in a bed for two or
three years, it generally produces a number of strong
branches that outgrow the others. This especially
occurs in the case of seedlings. To give the speci-
mens a fairly symmetrical appearance, those shoots
that have made too strong growth require to be
cut back ; this should be done about the present
time, when in most cases the flowering season will
be over. It wUl be found much better to do this
now than defer it until some growi.. > has been made.
Luculia gratissima does best when turned out in a
border ; in fact, this is the only way in which it
can be grown so as to show its true character, but
on no account should the plants be turned out be-
fore they have attained a moderate size. Where
planting is to be carried out the bed should now be
made ready. Drain the bottom with any hard ma-
terial that will allow the water to pass through it ;
a mixture of peat and loam will answer well, and
add enough sand to keep the whole sweet and
open. When the buds begin to swell, before they
break into growth is the best time to plant. If this
is not done until active growth has commenced, the
disturbance of the roots in loosening them from the
ball will prevent the shoots making the desired
progress.
Fuchsias. — Young plants when flowering for the
first time are usually in better condition than old
ones ; consequently, unless where very large speci-
mens are wanted, it is often better to propagate
the stock required every year. Cuttings struck
Dec. 31, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
603
towards the end of summer make much the finest
plants, as they have a long start in advance of those
that are propagated in the early part of the year.
Plants of this description that have been kept
growing through the autumn in an intermediate
temperature will soon require a shift ; supposing
them to be now in 4 inch or 6-inch pots, they may
be moved to others 3 inches or 4 inches larger.
The soil should consist of good turfy loam, with a
liberal addition of rotten manure and some sand ;
pot moderately firm. As regards stopping, the
shoots, much depends on the natural habit of the
and giving larger pots later on. In this way
they will be found useful, coming into flower
when the early - blooming portion is getting
exhausted. Fuchsias that are required to bloom
whilst small, in 6-inch or 7-inch pots, are best [
propagated early in winter. To provide the cut-
tings, plants that after flowering last summer
were, as then advised, cut in, should at once be put
into heat. If the soil has been kept a little damp the
buds will now be moving and ready to start into
growth. Syringe overhead daily, and keep the
atmosphere moderately moist. Under these condi-
The Begonia as a table plant.
sorts that are prown. A well-grown Fuchsia should
be densely c^ ed with branches so as to hide the
stem. To secure this condition the shoots of some
varieties should be stopped more frequently than
others. But whatever has to be done in this way
should be seen to early, not letting the branches
grow too long before pinching out the points, and,
in the case of kinds that are more inclined to make
a lengthy stem than side branches, the leading
shoot should be shortened once or twice as may be
necessary. A portion of the early-struck plants
may be induced to bloom later in the summer by
repeating the stopping through the spring months
tions plenty of cuttings will be at hand in a few
T. B.
BEGONIA AS A TABLE PLANT.
Beautiful as are many of the Begonias for
room ornament, few surpass those with the
small flowers and narrow leaves ; indeed, from
the point of view of delicacy and grace, they
are the best. The plant now engraved has
white flowers and leaves of a dark bronze-
green, and has a refined appearance in an em-
bossed vessel of pale, polished brass. J.
Kitchen Garden.
■W. WILDSMITH.
KITCHEN GAEDEN NOTES.
The past ybAE. — The past year has been an
eventful one to Britishers in general, and to gar-
deners in particular — severe frost, heavy falls of
snow, a protracted cold spring, a roasting summer,
a dry autumn, and the end of the year cold, with
a copious rainfall, which, however, is wanted badly,
as here in the south-west of England, where the
average rainfall is seldom too much for
the nature of the soil, a little over 6
inches is still required to make up the
average. The extremes of weather have
taught us valuable lessons, which, as
gardeners, we should do well to retain
in our memories. Anent kitchen garden
supplies, the first lesson was taught
us severely in more ways than one.
Broccoli were half killed before we gave
a thought as to how severe the weather
was, and when (too late) we did protect
them and saved part, it became evident
that, if covered up, all would have been
saved, and the same foresight would have '
resulted in the digging up of roots for
forcing and getting in temporary sup-
plies of Celery, Artichokes, Parsnips,
Leeks, and Horse Radish, instead of our
having to move 2 feet or 3 feet of snow
to get at them. The lessons taught by
the drought and heat are still greater.
Very fortunately, one of them I learnt
many years ago, namely, that of deep
cultivation and not mere tickling of the
surface, will not do in such a summer
as the last, or, for the matter of that,
in any other. Many of our crops had
no artificial watering, but most of them
were thickly mulched, and, except late
varieties of Potatoes, all have been quite
up to the average. Without wishing 1 o
praise myself, I venture to remark that
during the last sunmier I saw no kitchen
garden crops that looked better than our
own, and this in spite of having a very
dry soil to deal with. When the ground
used to be simply dug and manured in
the ordinary way, it produced less than
a third of the bulk now obtained, and
superiority of quality goes without
saying, for everybody knows that rapidly-
grown vegetables, without exception, are
more tender than crops that are long in
maturing through being starved. Those
who during last summer had to water the
crops to keep them alive should put the
lesson the drought has taught into prac-
tice this winter by greater depth of
cultivation, and this, aided by surface
stirrings and mulchings of gross-feeding
crops, will in most instances render
artificial watering unnecessary, or nearly
so. This "nearly" I use more particu-
larly in reference to the sowing of seeds
of Peas, French Beans, Turnips — in fact,
all those to which water can be applied
without washing the seeds into irregular
patches in the drills during a protracted
drought. By adopting this plan of
watering regular successionsof any given
vegetable can be better maintained. If
we had waited for rain before sowing— say Peas-
last summer, the supply would have run short long
before the end of the season. Even in respect of
planting out Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, &c.,
though it ought to be done in showery weather,
rather than lose time, I always plant out as soon as
the ground is vacant and plants are available.
Nearly all our Broccoli, Savoys, and Cabbages were
planted out after this fashion last summer and
autumn, and by their present appearance no one
would think we hadhad such along spell of drought.
Of the kinds of vegetables that best withstood the
drought and intense heat, the first place must be ac-
604
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 31, 1887.
corded to ScarletRunner Beans; the next to the dwarf
French Beans, and the variety Canadian Wonder
must head the list for productiveness. Cauliflowers
follow next, and the variety Dwarf Erfurt stood
the intense heat best, closely followed by Walcheren
and Autumn Giant varieties. All early types were
a comparative failure, being so small and quickly
over. I do not wish to say a word to hinder these
early kinds being grown, because in ordinary
seasons they are all that can be desired, and as
ihey turn in quickly the borders can generally be
cleared and made ready for a crop of dwarf Beans
As with Cauliflowers, so with Peas, all early varie-
ties, without exception, were quickly exhausted ;
this, however, must in part be attributed to the
sudden change in the weather which took place on
the 19th of June, the temperature ranging from 50*
to 70°, and often 80'', with scorchingly hot sun-
shine, and just as the Peas had got into full bear-
ing. The result was a slight break in the supply
between the first earlies and the wrinkled marrow
section. It will be wise not to depend so largely
in future on first early varieties, but sow standard
marrow varieties earlier. Summer, or the round-
seeded variety of Spinach was worthless, as the
plants ran to seed before a dish could be picked.
The winter, or prickly-seeded variety did splen-
didly, and is the best kind to grow in summer as
well as winter. Turnips excepted, all root crops have
turned out well. Onions are small, but so well
matured, that a decayed bulb has seldom to be
picked out.
NEW VEGETABLES.
We have been congratulating ourselves that we now
possess a wondrous wealth of vegetables, a wealth,
indeed, of which our fathers could not have dreamt
forty or fifty years ago. Certainly we have added
few absolute novelties to our vegetable list in that
time, but at least we have not only enormously in
creased the number of varieties of those then
existent, but we have vastly improved the average
quality of the great bulk. In the Brassica family
what good Cabbages, Sprouts, Kales, Cauliflowers,
Broccoli have we of varieties almost innumerable.
Peas are wondrously fine and abundant, varying in
character, season, and taste. Potatoes were never
better than now, and, on the whole, rarely more
plentiful. And so we might go on through the list,
even the most trivial of vegetables showing some
little diversity and improvement. Some thirty di-
verse kinds, inclusive of Mushrooms, Tomatoes, and
salads, make up a respectable quantity, but of
diverse kinds which are regarded as presentable on
epicurean tables the number is yet limited ; at least,
limited in an epicurean sense. The other day an
assumed new vegetable was shown at South Ken-
sington, in the shape of the ungainly tuberous roots
of the Stachys alBnis. In a raw condition the
flavour is so neutral as to be comparatively taste-
less, and whatever edible virtues the tubers may
contain, all the skill of an accomplished cook would
probably be needed to elicit them. The tubers in
form and texture seem to be very closely allied to
those of the .Jerusalem Artichoke — not a very pro-
mising beginning.
Some years ago, a former neighbour of mine, old
Mr. Cobbett, and the eldest son of the original
Cobbett, endeavoured to promote in this country a
taste for green Corn cobs, when cooked and served
up with melted butter. Now, green cobs of Maize
may be grown pretty abundantly in this country.
It is the hard ripe corn which is the most difficult
to produce, and indeed when produced will repay
no one for the labour. But were green Corn cobs
made a favoured dish, everygardener could with ease
produce for the season a fair supply. In any case,
green Maize corn, so far from becoming a standard
dish with us, as old Cobbett so strongly insisted
upon, seems to have passed into oblivion, and the
overburthened gardeners of England have lost what
might have proved a welcome friend. Remember-
ing these thing,<i, the outlook in the direction of
really new vegetaliles is not a hopeful one. We
seem to have culled the best of Nature's productions
from the world's stores long since. Personally, I
am very well satisfied with vfhsit vegetables we have
but no gardener is called upon to cater for my
table, whilst, unhappily, those whom he has to
supply are much less easily satisfied. A. D.
EARLY PEAS.
It is the aim of gardeners in most establishments
to secure a gathering of green Peas as early and as
late in the year as possible, and to maintain a good
supply of the same during the interval. The best
way to obtain early gatherings of Peas, say from
the middle of April, where pit accommodation is
provided for their growth, and to maintain that
supply afterwards, is to sow either during the last
week in December or the first week in January, in
3-inch pots three parts filled with light soil, seeds
(about nine in each pot) of Ringleader, William I.,
American Wonder, and Bijou. The two last-named
varieties grow from 12 inches to 15 inches high,
and are especially adapted for pot culture or plant-
ing in pits filled to within 12 inches to 15 inches of
the glass with fermenting leaves, including 9 inches
thick of short manure and soil on the top. Cover
the Peas with a little soil, put the pots into an early
Peach house or vinery, and when the Peas have made
2 inches of growth remove them to a cooler and
more airy house to harden ofi a little before finally
transplanting them (about the middle of February)
into a warm border. Plant them in rows 4 feet apart
and 9 inches asunder in the rows. Then draw a little
soil up to the haulm and stake the Peas, putting
short pieces of spray between the stakes and close
to the young plants to prevent them being broken
down. Afterwards stick short Spruce boughs
firmly in the ground on either side of the row as a
protection from cutting winds and frost. This
done, lay on each side of the rows a mulching of
short manure a foot wide and of the same depth
This will not only conserve moisture at the roots
and keep the latter in a more equable condition
than would otherwise be the case, but it will also
prevent frost from penetrating the soil and the
haulm from sustaining injury from cutting winds
after the Spruce boughs have been removed aljout
the middle of March. As soon as the Peas begin to
flower pinch the points of the individual shoots, in
order to hasten the formation of pods, and with the
same object, as well as that of keeping the plants
in bearing as long as possible, they should, in the
absence of rain, have copious supplies of water at
the roots. Should we (in the south) be favour.ed
with ordinary spring weather", these plants will yield
a gathering of green Peas about the third week
in May, by which time we may assume that the
supplies previously obtained from those grown in
pots and pits will be pretty well exhausted. Sow-
ings of Ringleader, William I., Wordsley Wonder,
Telephone, and Pride of the Market made in the
open at the same time as the sowings were made in
pots for transplanting out of doors will supplement
and continue the supplies obtained through that
source for a month or five weeks, provided that the
plants are well attended to from the beginning,
heavily mulched and kept well supplied with water
at the roots, including occasional applications of
liquid manure while bearing. The dwarf varieties,
American Wonder and Bijou, should be transplanted
into the pits (where they are at command for that
purpose) as soon as they have made 3 inches or 1
inches of growth, turning the plants carefully out of
the pots and making the soil moderately firm about
the roots, and afterwards attending to the cultural
details as recommended above. The plants in-
tended for pot culture should at the same time
be transplanted into S|-inch pots and be grown
on near to the glass either in a cold or hot-water
pit. If in the latter, a minimum temperature of
from 45" to 5(1° should be kept up, giving suificient
air during favourable weather to prevent the plants
making a weakly growth. H. W. W.
Forcing Seakale. — I obtain the earliest sup-
plies of iSeakale in a very simple way. Two boxes,
each 2 feet square and IH inches deep, are provided,
and r, inches of soil is put in the bottom. The
crowns are especially grown for the purpose in rich
soil in one of the quarters of the kitchen garden,
and to have them in proper condition for forcing I
lift them about the middle of October and place
in the earth again. If this were not done the plants
would retain their green leaves for some time longer,
and then they would not force so readily. By
allowing a month between the time of lifting the
crowns and their being placed in the boxes, I find
the roots obtain all the rest required. About the
middle of November one box is placed in a tempera-
ture of (J0°, where it remains, and the Seakale is fit
for cutting in about a month. At intervals of a
fortnight other boxes are taken to the house, and
by this means a constant supply is kept up until I
commence cutting later on from plants that are
forced on the ground. The great value of forcing in
boxes is, that when the Kale has grown sufficiently,
the boxes can be removed to a cooler place, so that
if the produce is not wanted for immediate use it
may be kept fresh for a week or two if desired.
In many gardens it is the practice to take up the
roots and force them in Mushroom houses and simi-
lar places all through the season. But after the
beginning of the new year I like the old-fashioned
plan of placing pots over the crowns.— J. C. C.
Seakale forces readily in the ground in
spring, but it does not do so in winter, and the best
way of forcing Seakale in these months is to lift the
roots and take them indoors. It is fit for fording
much sooner than Rhubarb or Asparagus. I have
forced successfully seedling roots only one year
old, and the roots may be forced year after year.
Some of the roots which we lifted and forced the
winter before last were put in heat again last winter,
and many of these will do this winter. They do not
appear very valuable at the end of the forcing season ;
but when cut up into suitable crowns and pieces and
planted in good soil in April, they make large roots
and plants before the foliage dies down in autumn.
It is, therefore, unnecessary to say that when the
roots are lifted at this time for forcing they are not
spoiled for future use, and all who desire to have a
variety of choice vegetables at mid-winter should
force Seakale in December. In our case, a good
batch of roots is lifted, and from six to ten of them
are put into a 10-inch or 12-inch pot with some rich
soil round the roots and quite covered, except the
crowns of the plants. They are then watered freely
and afterwards plunged in a hot-bed in the Mush-
room house or some other dark place. I often
place them in a dark shed with no top-heat, and
only the bottom-heat to force them, and they grow
freely. I have also put them in a dark place under
a stage with the heat of the pipes or flue to force
them, and they succeeded ; but I prefer the hot-
bed, and if anyone will try this plan, they will have
no difficulty in obtaining a supply of good Seakale.
Our first batch of roots was dug up, potted, and
plunged on Nov. 25, and I shall have an abundance
of produce to cut by December 25. As the roots do
not gain anything by being left in the ground after
this time, I generally fill two dozen or more pots at
a time, and move them into heat in succession, and
I have generally two gatherings from the same
crowns, as when the first or main part is cut off, the
side growths push forth, and are often very good, —
Cambbian, in Fie/i!,
Early market Potatoes. — In answer to " W."
in The Garden, December 17 (p. 51)7), if he has
very fine soil deeply worked and well manured, he
cannot do better for first early kidneys than plant
any good strain of Ashleaf Kidney, because of good
flavour and general popularity. Still, these Ashleaf
forms will repay culture only in really good soil.
If, on the other hand, the land be of but moderate
quality, the best early kidney and popular in the
market is Beauty of Hebron, which on dry soils is
of excellent quality. It produces double the crop
obtainable from the best of the Ashleaf varieties.
When more abundant, Duke of Albany, or White
Beauty of Hebron, as it is sometimes called, bids
fair to supersede the old variety. A very fine early
white kind is Midsummer Kidney, but it is not yet,
I fear, plentiful enough for extended culture. Of
later or second early kidneys. Snowdrop, Cosmopoli-
tan, and Covent Garden Perfection arc good : and
of rounds. Snowball, first early short-top, Sutton's
Seedling, Fidler's Prolific, and London Hero ; these
Deo. 31, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
605
latter three second earlies are really good white
kinds. Prime Minister, M.P., and Fifty -fold, white,
round, or flatfish round varieties, are also fine
croppers, and of the best Regent quality. Most of
the kiuds named are, I think, fairly plentiful, but
when only small quantities can be obtained it will
be well to secure them and grow both for trial and
for stock. Quality and cropping in Potatoes vary
so much in diverse soils, that it is well for all en-
gaged in their growth for market to obtain a few
fresh kinds yearly and test them. That so few
kinds now are grown for market is due, without
doubt, to the general indifference shown to the test-
ing of a few new sorts yearly. — A. D.
. Two useful herbs. — One of the things always
in great request in spring is green Mint, and
whether a gardener has to supply private or public
tables he can hardly grow a more profitable crop ; it
is so easily grown, that there is no diiEculty in
having a good stock of roots for forcing. The only
thing that I find it does not like is being left too
long in one place. It will spread in all directions,
even invading the gravel paths. If the demands are
small, a few boxes filled with roots will suffice, but
if a large quantity can be disposed of there is no-
thing like making up a gentle hotbed, and covering
it with rich soil, and on this spreading out good
large masses of roots lifted from the open ground.
Keep the frame close and warm, and when the
shoots are well above ground admit air freely, and
in this way a supply for many weeks will be kept
up. Tarragon is not so easily grown as Mint,
although ia some soils it grows quite freely. When
there is any difficulty in growing it, a bed should
be made up specially with some well-decayed
mortar rubbish and other gritty compounds. As
in the case of Mint, it likes fresh soils ; therefore a
new bed should be made every year. Cuttings taken
from the outdoor plants as soon as the young growth
is firm enough, strike freely, and as scon as they
are rooted they should be planted out in well-pre-
pared soil, where by the close of the year they make
excellent plants for forcing, — J. G. H.
Chrysanthemums.
B. MOLTNEUX.
CHRYSANTHEMUM PRIZE SCHEDULES-
The time has now come when societies will be
preparing their schedules of prizes for another
season's shows. New societies need the most
advice, of course, and to them the following re-
marks are more especially directed, although
older ones may sometimes with advantage
learn from younger societies. It is not wise
to go to the extreme limit of the funds, it being
far better to provide for an emergency in the
shape of a wet day, which much interferes with
the success of some exhibitions. The. next
course, then, is the preparation of the schedule
of prizes, rules, and so on. Young societies
would do well to copy older, and those that are
known to be the most successful in the framing
of their rules and formation of the classes. The
rules should be so worded that they are easily
understood, and no loopholes allowed for either
exhibitors or the society in carrying out any
arrangement. Sometimes the wording of certain
classes is so vaguely defined that exhibitors are
oftentimes disqualified through a misunderstand-
ing of the intentions of the promoters, and
sometimes the schedule is so worded that com-
petitors are compelled to stage blooms in perhaps
a diffei-ent manner to that in which they in-
tended. It should be borne in mind that the
schedule is binding upon both exhibitors and
the judges, whether the wording therein be right
or wrong ; therefore, whatever classes or rules
are formed, let them be perfectly understood, so
that no trouble can possibly take place after-
wards.
Now-adays, when so many Chrysanthemum
societies are in existence, it is necessary to
ofler something tempting to exhibitors either
for cut blooms, specimen plants, or groups of
Chrj'santhemums, so that extra interest is
taken in tlic show both by the public and
those whom the exhibition specially concerns.
There is nothing lii^e a special class, or prizes,
to stimulate exhibitors, and bring the best
produce and the largest number of entries.
There is nothing that creates so much interest
and brings societies into notice as challenge
cups. Some growers have a preference for
those cups which have to be won only once.
Be this as it may, in either form they are
certainly very attractive prizes. When the
class is out of all proportion with the value
of the prize, a?, for example, forty-eight cut
blooms for a cup value £5, the competition is
sure to be limited. If societies according to the
state of their finances cannot ofier more
valuable prizes, they shcnild be contented with
a smaller number of flowers, for it must be
borne in mind that it is quality and not the
mere numbers of flowers that should be en-
couraged ; this latter may serve some ends, but
is by no means satisfactory to those capable
of judging quality. Some societies offer prizes
for forty-eight varieties, half Japanese and
half incurved, of cut blooms distinct. This is
well known to be the most difficult class an
exhibitor has to fill ; it is the two or three
last flowers in the incurved stand which are
difiicult to get. The consequence is that
smaller and poorer specimens have to be in-
serted to fill out the class. Now, if the stipu-
lations were not less than eighteen varieties
in twenty-four blooms, duplicates could be
used, and a more uniform and massive stand
would result. It is a well known fact that one
extra good bloom of Queen of England, for in-
stance, this being the duplicate, is much more
easy to get in good condition than, say, the
twenty-fourth variety to make up the distinct
stand, and there is much more credit due to the
exhibitor who stages an extra bloom of the
variety named than there is in placing a poor
bloom in the stand, simply to make the neces-
sary number of varieties.
It is a wise plan for young societies to form
their classes so that all classes of exhibitors
have a chance of winning a prize. It is not
wise for a new society to so frame the classes
that a large exhibitor can step in and sweep oflf
all the prizes. This is discouraging to the others
at first. The remedy for this is easy enough by
inserting clauses in the schedule thus : Ex-
hibitors in Class 10 cannot comjiete in. Class 11,
Class 10 being for twenty-four incurved blooms,
and Class 11 for twelve of the same section, and
so on in the Japanese classes. It is a good
plan for any society to offer prizes for the
premier blooms in both sections, Japanese and
incurved, as the public then are taught which are
the best blooms in the show. When only one
prize for the premier bloom is offered it is diffi-
cult to define the best, as the Japanese and in-
curved flowers are so difterent in character. In
most instances the latter is generally awarded
first honours owing to the greater difficulty there
is in producing a first-class flower. Societies
ought in all cases to insist upon having the
specimens legibly labelled. Societies ought to
have strict rules as to the time exhibitors are to
leave the exhibition building after staging their
exhibits. Where reasonable time is allowed for
the judges to make their awards mistakes are
less likely to occur than when all is bustle and
confusion at the last moment. The appoint-
ment of qualified judges is important, the ex-
hibitors being better satisfied when they know
that those able to form a correct estimate are to
adjudicate upon their produce. I think it Well
to print the judges' names in the schedule, as
exhibitors are more likely to compete with a
better spirit. Speaking from experience, I
should not care to compete at any show without
first knowing who the judges were to be. In
large towns the adoption of popular prices of
admission is a step in the right direction, as in
these days of depression the high prices charged
by some societies are quite unreasonable. A^
an instance of what low prices will do for the
welfare of a society, I will mention that at the
late Chrysanthemum show at Portsmouth, from
six o'clock in the evening to nine, as many as
8109 persons paid the modest sum of Id. It is
only where there is unlimited space that such a
number can be admitted.
SCENTED CHRYSANTHEMUMS.
In reply to P. Inchbald, in The Garden (p. 551),
considering that Compositfe are perhaps the second
largest Natural Order in the world, the number of
species odorous in one way or another is very re-
markable. You can scarcely touch the leaf of any
Composite without verifying this general fact.
Then the enormous number of flies and other
insects which are attracted to flowers of Composites,
such as Asters (Michaelmas Daisies), is some proof
of their having odour to attract, even supposing the
real object of the flies' visit to be pollen or honey. At
the moment I do not remember a single self-ferti-
lising flower that is not scentless. Of course the
self -fertilising or latest flowers of Viola odorata are
scentless, these only producing seed. Now all the
Chrysanthemums known to me are scented, i.e.,
odorous, but while I and many delight in even their
leaf odour and touch a plant on passing for the
delight of a whifl from the hand, others object to
it quite as decidedly.
But all Chrysanthemum flowers have a rather
sweet and aromatic smell, and the leaves have a
healthy tonic odour, with just a suspicion of Arte-
misia, or Wormwood, if pressed too much.
Of course, what present-day growers are now
striving after are kinds having a specialised fra-
grance, say, like that of Violets, one dark crimson-
purple variety, Progne, having quite an appreciable
Violet-like sweetness.
It will have been observed that it is on the flower
or floret-tubes that the honey-glands appear, and,
I believe, that is also the spot where the fragrance
is focussed, as it were, although it possibly, indeed
probably, seeing that the leaves are odorous, per-
vades the whole surface of the florets to a slight
extent.
As to cviltural manipulation, the only way to raise
sweet-scented varieties would be to start with seeds
from those varieties, such as Progne or others really
possessing some specific quality of perfume. The
seeding of these would be difficult in England, but
friends in the United States and in Portugal alike
tell me that their Chrysanthemums seed freely,
being fertilised by a sort of drone fly, which is con-
tinually amongst them on sunny days when they
are in bloom.
IE the idea of fragrance had occurred to the
Chinese or Japanese cultivators of a few centuries
ago, doubtless perfume ere now would have been
the usual accompaniment of the numerous other
graces the Chrysanthemum now possesses, as they
would have saved seed only from the kinds having
(other things equal) fragrance developed to their
satisfaction. And yet I am not quite sure of the
Chinese as judges of perfume, fince they consider
eggs kept in sewage matter until black and rotten
a delicious condiment to eat with their rice, and a
good many other of their delicacies are revolting to
the noses and stomachs of Europeans.
Of course, no manipulation can produce or educe
fragrance in any species wherein it does not natu-
rally exist in some degree, except by hybridising a
scentless species with an odorous or fragrant one.
The man who would assert this I should call
by a strong name. Put when, as in the Chrysan-
606
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 31, 1887.
themum, Nature has laid the foundation of odour,
cultivators may, by patient sowing of seeds from
the most highly perfumed, hope to develop or en-
hance in the offspring the perfume of the parents.
Of course, such scented varieties may now and then
spring spontaneously into existence by what we call
accident, but this only because we are ignorant of
the primal cause.
The highest flavoured of all Pears, the Seckel,
sprang up as a wilding in America, perhaps from a
seed of the Kousselet Pear introduced by the German
emigrants. F. W. Buebidgb.
CHRYSANTHEMUM GROUPS AT EXHI-
BITIONS.
The committee of any Chrysanthemum society
which will arrange a class for groups of Chrysan-
themums on a totally different plan to that now
generally in vogue will be doing good service. On a
round of Chrysanthemum shows the sameness in the
plant groups is very conspicuous. The fact must be
admitted that the Chrysanthemum is not suited for
decoration. A lot of show Dahlias in pots could
hardly have a more stiff and formal aspect ; especially
if incurved flowers are largely in the ascendant. Had
not the feathery and more elegant Japanese varie
ties been introduced, groups of Chrysanthemums
would have long since become intolerable. Happily,
thesecharmingflowershave mitigated the evil materi'
ally. In many directions it is evident that the old
taste for big specimen plants is dying out. That
taste has long been decaying in connection with
show plants in general, and it has existed longer in
connection with the Chrysanthemum, because so
many of those who grew plants as well as promoted
shows were outside of those influences which have
been so effective in other directions. The better
taste is now prevailing in connection with Chrysan-
themums, and it will not be long ere specimen
plants of any considerable dimensions wiU have
become rarities.
That better taste must be extended to plant
groups. There is so far this much in their favour
that they exhibit great variety in a small space ; in
fact, 50 plants may be stood in the same area which
two or three big plants have occupied. But then
even the best of these pot plants rarely give flowers
of such size or perfection of form as are seen in the
boxes on the tables, and the fact that the flowers are
presented on tall lanky plants and in big masses
adds nothing to their beauty or value. When far
better flowers in vast quantities and in wondrous
variety are seen on the tables, large quantities of
them in the groups seem superSuous. On the other
hand, if these plant groups give nothing that is
either elegant or pleasing in the way of decorative
effort, what then is gained from them ? Of course
the question will be asked if the groups are really so
objectionable and devoid of beauty, what should be
done to amend them ? Here we are met by the ob-
jection—
That Chrysanthemum shows are promoted to specially
favour that particular flower, and not plants in general ;
hence Chrysanthemum groups must be taken as they are,
whether pleasing or otherwise.
If plant groups are mainly intended to develop
skill in decorative arrangements, why not employ
other plants, simply requiring that at least one
half of the group shall be Chrysanthemums, with
special emphasis upon the " most effective arrange-
ment." Were that the case, exhibitors would, with
due regard to effect, refrain from exhibiting as now
such a medley of sorts and colours, but would keep to
some halt-dozen varieties, the colours of which gave
effectual contrasts, and served to develop each
other's beauties. Instead of mixing up the sorts and
colours anyhow, we should see good clusters of white,
yellow, peach, brown, red, and crimson standing out
boldly in a setting of Palms and Ferns or other suit-
able foliage plants. I have no objection whatever,
to the exclusion of all other plants in flower from
the groups, so that the Chrysanthemum should have
in these no rival. Were foliage plants admitted for
dressing, and the awards made only for decorative
effect, we should find many growers only too pleased
to eliminate from their coUections inferior varieties,
and rely for effect and beauty upon the best and
most striking sorts only. Of course the trade
growers would object, -because the proposal would
tend to limit the demand for varieties for this par-
ticular purpose. If there be fewer sorts grown in
pots for the forming of decorative groups, certainly
there is no prospect, much less intention, of
limiting the range of sorts grown for the production
of cut flowers.
Will any experienced grower, whose sympathies
in this direction are wide, give a list of any dozen
kinds which both in respect of variation, natural
height, and fitness to produce striking effects in
groups would be specially suitable? I anticipate
that if such be done — and it really does not matter
if a dozen such lists be given — that the Japanese
forms will find most favour. The tasseUed forms,
such as Mile. Lacroix, Criterion, Dr. Macary, &c.,
seem specially beautiful, and as for body colour, so
far none seem yet to excel the glorious CuUing-
fordi. However, these are but tentative selections
made from observation, but growers on a large
scale and of wide experience may be able to give
better ones. What is first needed is a general de-
sire for a change in the form of plant groups of
Chrysanthemums; second, an equal readiness on
the part of show committees to accede to that de-
sire, and make classes of a suitable nature. Should
such be done, growers may in the meantime give
themselves lessons in the art of grouping arrange-
ments of a practical nature, and ascertain how far
by the use of certain foliage plants they can add to
the beauty of their groups. Still farther, they should
see whether some few sorts of distinctive colours
effectually grouped will not give far better results
than does the common method of mixing up scores
of sorts and colours in one confused and inhar-
monious whole. A. D.
Fompon and Anemone Fompon varieties.
— The time to strike the cuttings of Pompon, Ane-
mone Pompon, and single varieties will soon be
here; therefore, now is the season to order them.
If there is a stock of plants in hand, the cuttings
are likely to become drawn up weakly by over-
crowding; therefore, judiciously thin them out.
Weakly grown cuttings of Pompon varieties, which
have never been weakened through want of room,
never make such useful plants as those grown from
sturdy cuttings. Always retain thosecuttings farthest
from the old stem and those that are short and
stocky. Some varieties make weaker growth than
others. Such kinds should be specially looked after
to procure the best stock in the manner named. If
large blooms are required for exhibition they can
only be produced by allowing the plants to carry a
limited number. They must be grown somewhat
after the style of those Chrysanthemums intended
for the production of large blooms. The plants also
require a longer season of growth than do those in-
tended to produce a quantity of medium-sized
blooms for cutting or for decoration. The cuttings
should be inserted at once in the same manner as
detailed previously for other sections; but where
the main object in view is to have a lot of blossom,
the middle of January wiU be early enough to take
the cuttings. The above remarks in every particu-
lar apply equally well to the single varieties. Where
space is at all limited, the cuttings for the dwarf
specimens can be inserted two in each pot, and so
the plants can be grown throughout the season.
The pots will require to be a trifle larger than when
the plants are cultivated singly. — E. M.
Cutting Camellia flowers.— Now that Chry-
santhemums are almost over, other flowers will re-
ceive attention, and amongst these the Camellias
will become prominent. We have had Camellias in
bloom in September and October, but they did not
prove very valuable; but now that flowers of all
kinds are very scarce, the massive blossoms of the
Camellia are welcome. They are admirably adapted
for decoration, but many Camellia plants are
injured or disfigured by the careless cutting of the
blooms, and in taking them off the condition of the
tree should always be taken into consideration.
Some of our Camellia plants are so large, that a man
has to climb up them to reach the blooms on the
top, and there is little danger of injuring huge
specimens of this description by cutting the blooms,
as they are benefited by pruning and restriction.
It is small plants in pots that suffer most, and I
would caution beginners against cutting these. I
have known small Camellias to be bougfit well set
with buds, which, as soon as they opened, were cut
off unmercifully ; but such practice invariably results
in the plants receiving a check, from which they
will not recover for some years. The blooms, how-
ever, may be taken from the smallest plants if they
are detached without a piece of wood, and this may
easily be done with a knife or pair of scissorg; then
wire the petals securely and draw the ends of the
wire back, so as to form a stem, and the flowers
will be much more secure than if attached to a
piece of their own wood. White Camellias are very
easily spoilt. If the petals are at aU bruised the
affected part will become brown or black. — C am-
ebian.
Garden Flora.
PLATE 629.
THE ROCKWOOD LILY.
(ranunctjlus lyalli.*)
Among the many useful and interesting plants
introduced to our English gardens from New
Zealand since the year 1846, few, if any, are of
greater importance to the lover of hardy flowers
in this country than the Rockwood Lily, known
also as the Water Lily of the Shepherds. It is
an interesting plant, as much from its remarkable
peltate leaves (somewhat resembling those of
Saxifraga peltata), as from its large and hand-
some pure waxy flowers. Among the 23 or 24
species that inhabit this region, the majority
are no improvement on our own native Crow-
foots ; while R. Lyalli, Traversi, insignis, God-
leyanus, and one or two more rival anything
before seen belonging to this large genus. Among
the New Zealand species only two, viz., R.
Lyalli and R. Traversi, the latter not considered
sufficiently distinct, have peltate leaves ; while
two, R. Cooperi and R. Baueri, are natives of
South Africa.
The accompanying coloured plate will help to
give the reader some idea of the gigantic pro-
portions which R. Lyalli attains under cultiva-
tion in England, if properly cared for and the ex-
periences of New Zealand growers attended to.
The first to collect specimens of this remark-
able plant was Dr. Lyall, in honour of whom it
was afterwards named, while on a surveying
expedition, during 1847-49, in H.M.S. Acheron.
Unfortunately, however, for botanical purposes,
the fiinder was unable to obtain anything but
leaves, and of course speculation was rife as to
what genus, and even natural order, it belonged
to. Amongst others suggested, Hydrocotyle was
considered the most likely. About 1860 it was
rediscovered by Drs. Sinclair and Haast, on
Middle Island, at 3000—4000 feet above sea-
level, when all doubt regarding its affinity was
cleared up, and under its present name it was
included in the "Handbook of the New Zealand
Flora," published in 1864.
Since that time, and although repeated
importations of both tubers and seeds have been
made, it is still extremely rare in this country,
and, indeed, until Mr. Bartholomew obtaintd
such signal success in the open air at Reading,
its cultivation as an outdoor plant, especially
in the soiith of England, was considered almost
impossible. Many years ago, and probably for
• Drawn for The Gabhen at Mr. C. A. Bartholo-
mew's, Park House, Reading, by H. G. Moon, June
26; 1887, and printed by G. Severeyuf .
-IE GARDEN
ROCKWOOD LILY. (RANUNCULUS LYALLL)
Dec. 31, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
607
the first time in this country, we are told it
bloomed with the late Mr. J. A. Heniy, at Hay
Lodge, Edinburgh, on the open rookery, but
New Zealand plants in Scotland generally
become more robust, and altogether show quite
a different character to those grown in the south
of England, and especially in the neighbour-
hood of London. The success noted above, how-
ever, under what appears to be ordinary treat-
ment shows this giant Crowfoot to be amenable
in every way to our conditions of climate, <fec. ,
and this will, we hope, encourage those who
may have already tried and failed, to "try
again." It would be a great loss, and a lasting
disgrace to the English gardener's ingenuity, if
such a grand acquisition, as the Rockwood Lily
really shows itself to be, is allowed to die out
for the want of a little more patience and
experience in its cultivation. Of course, even
under the most favourable circumstances, it will
ba a few years before this plant becomes
common property. The difficulty of importing
tubers in good condition is still a question of
the future. As Mr. Bartholomew pointed out in
his note, out of a consignment of 800 only 18
reached England alive. There is every reason
to beKeve, however, that this state of matters
can be remedied with proper precautions.
Seeds, even when obtained direct from New
Zealand, vary considerably in the length of time
they take to germinate. Seeds sown at Hay
Lodge germinated after lying in a dormant state
for three years without the aid of fire-heat,
while a few sown in a propagating pit in the
Koyal Gardens, Kew, germinated in about
eleven months from the time of sowing, two or
three of the plants having since flowered.
Veronicas and other New Zealand plants show
to a greater or less degree this erratic manner
of germinating, and the importance of keeping
the pots undisturbed for two, three, and even
four years will be at once apparent.
With regard to the cultivation of R. Lyalb,
Mr. Adams, of Canterbury, New Zealand, in a
letter to The Garden, gave the following as his
experience : —
It is never, he says, found below 2000 feet above
sea level, and it ranges up to 4000 feet, so that it is
completely covered with snow in winter. It is not
a bog plant ; it loves the mountain-side where the
drainage is free, and where it can send its succulent
roots down between masses of rock. But, like
many Ranunculi, it loves water — water moving,
not stagnant — and during summer this trickles
down amongst its roots from the perpetual snow
above its habitat. When the plants are brought
down from the mountains we prepare a place for
them on the south (north in England) side of a
wall ; the soil is peat, sharp sand, and broken rock
the size of ordinary road metal. The plants are
placed thickly in this compost, leaving the buds
barely visible. As they are obtained in May (the
beginning of winter in New Zealand), no water is
given, there being plenty of moisture for them at
this season ; they begin to make roots at once, and
continue doing so all through the winter. When in
flower, water freely, but withhold it afterwards.
We advise planting out on a north border in
England until the plants have thoroughly recovered
from the voyage. To shut them up in frames
means death ; they want cool air, plenty of it, and
very little sun. The seed is sown in well-drained
pans or boxes, filled with peat and coarse grit In
equal parts, put down in a cool place on the north
side of a wall, watered well, and covered with a
sheet of glass.
The following communication is from Mr.
Enys, a gentleman whose station is at Castle
Hill, Canterbury, N.Z., 2000 feet elevation,
where the winter is very cold : —
A summer temperature of 45° to 50° would suit
this plant best if it could be obtained, but 10° below
zero would do in winter. The roots are frozen for
several months at a time in their natural state. The
plant grows in peat, in water, or in running streams,
always on the southern or shady side of the hUls, so
as not to get much sun, and where it is frozen in
during winter. It generally flowers once in Christ-
church, and then dies for want of the winter cold.
It would do, put out on the Scotch mountains or
north of England and naturalised there.
To English gardeners, however, the most in-
teresting experience is that of Mr. Bartholomew.
In a note he says : —
Since it reached me, in March, 1886, it has given
no sort of trouble. Planted on the north side of a
little summer-house in 2 feet of soil chiefly consist'
ing of peat, and liberally watered all through the
summer, it sent up six or seven of its Marsh Mari-
gold-like leaves. When it died down in the autumn,
a little Cocoa-nut fibre was placed over the crown,
and, with a view to saving the plant as far as pos-
sible from alternate freezing and thawing, a glass
raised on bricks was placed over it. Probably the
exceptionally long and unbroken winter was all in
its favour. In March the first leaf appeared, and
on June 5 the first fiower opened, and lasted in
perfection for six or seven days ; but the eight or
nine other blooms went off after a day or two, owing
possibly to no precautions having been taken to
keep oS the early morning and late evening sun.
It has ripened seed here. It may be of interest to
add my experience and that of a friend with regard
to the seed, which was sown as soon as it was
dropping off the plant. In the course of a month
or six weeks some seedlings appeared entirely white.
These all died. No heat was used in raising them.
My friend suggested that we should have done
better to have kept the seed till spring.
R. Lyalli is found in Milford Sound, in moist
places in the Southern Alps at 2000—3000 feet
elevation, at Otago, and in the Lake Ohou dis-
trict at 5000 feet above sea-level. The variety
araneosa differs in being covered with scattered
flaccid hairs. R. Traversi is very nearly allied.
D. K.
Fruit Garden.
W. COLEMAN.
THE RASPBERRY.
Of all the fruits grown in our gardens there is
none perhaps more grateful, more wholesome,
or that can be used in so many ways as the
Raspberry, and yet its cultivation is by no
means so extensive and well managed as it
might be. In many gardens a patch of stools,
the age of a grey-headed man, may be found,
sharing, with a plentiful crop of Convolvulus,
the modest modicum of top-dressing given to
them annually. In others, the plant is really
well done, and I venture to say no fruit would
be more keenly missed were the cultivator sud-
denly deprived of its aid in the household
economy. In the kitchen, no sooner is the first
punnet of Red Currants introduced, than the
Raspberry is in request for taking off acidity
and giving flavour to tarts and pviddings. In
the stUl room it is used for jams and jellies, for
ice creams, and the dessert. In the sick room
and nursery it is invaluable, and what more re-
freshing than a glass of Raspberry vinegar,
diluted with pure spring water, to the self-
denying total abstainer. The grower of fruit,
for market especially, if he lives near a large
town, or in close proximity to a line of railway,
cultivates the Raspberry extensively and pro-
fitably, andalthough the fruit soon "turns," and
wet seasons reduce the yield, he makes both
ends meet, as scarcity raises the price and con-
sumers are ready purchasers. All soils, it must
be borne in mind, do not suit our valuable
Rosaceous friend, but many acres there are,
upon which corn growers are starving, that
might be turned to profitable account if intel-
ligent farmers, on a moderate scale, would try
the experiment. Stiff, heavy soils that crack
in summer and hold water in winter should be
avoided, whilst deep rich light loams may
safely be selected. To these add plenty of
manure, road-scrapings, and parings, old lime
rubble, and the like, drain, if necessary, and
trench deeply, and upon these excellent crops
may be grown for a great number of years. To
some this mode of preparation may appear ex-
pensive, and so it is. But one man does not
require acres ; therefore once started, the Straw-
berry grower's method of preparing a small
piece every year and breaking up a correspond-
ing area may be brought to bear upon the
Raspberry. The mode of propagation is simple,
for all the cultivator has to do is to keep away
the fork and the spade, and Nature will pro-
vide young canes in plenty. The man who can
plant Hops can plant Raspberry canes, and the
pruner who knows his right hand from the
left can prune them. Although it is generally
admitted that autumn is the best time to
plant, it is only fair to say young canes may
be lifted and transferred to their newly prepared
quarters whenever the ground works well
throughout the month of February. The usual
plan is to set out the ground for rows 4 feet or
5 feet apart, running north to south, and in
these lines to insert two or three canes to form
triangular stools 3 feet from centre to centre.
A stake 3 feet in height is then placed in the
centre of each angle, mulching follows ; of this
they cannot have too much, and the work for
the time being is finished. The plant being
biennial — that is to say, produces canes one
year that fruit the next, their principal work
the first season will be the formation of young
shoots from dormant buds found at their base,
and which must be carefully preserved from
injury at the time of planting. Very strong
canes may be shortened back at once, but other-
wise, like all herbaceous plants, the first year's
growth always comes away strongest and best
when the knife is kept in the sheath until the
early part of the summer. If the season prove
dry, an occasional watering will do good, and
keeping the ground clear of weeds is imperative.
Early in the autumn all weak canes — also the old
stumps— must be cut out, and those, say half a
doztn of the strongest, must be tied up loosely
to prevent wind and rain from injuring them.
When the leaves have fallen the number of
these canes may be further reduced to four,
which should then be tied to the stakes with
osiers or twine, shortened back to 4 feet and
well mulched, for the twofold purpose of feed-
ing the crop of fruit and preventing the escape
of moistui'e.
Varieties. — Whilst all other lists have been
growing prodigiously fat, that of Raspberries, it
is refreshing to be able to say, has been com-
paratively stationary. Of summer fruiters, one
writer enumerates seventeen varieties, but Bun-
yard and Rivers confine themselves to half a
dozen. Taken alphabetically, we have —
Antweep Red. — A fine-flavoured old variety.
Batjmforth's Seedling. — New, large, fine
flavour, productive, and good for dessert.
Carter's Prolific. — Large, hardy, a great bearer ;
the finest and best for market or private use.
FiLLBASKBT. — Large, an abundant bearer, and
very good.
Fastolf. — Large, and strongly recommended for
market.
Prince of Wales. — Very fine flavour, excellent
for any purpose, but produces few canes.
Of newer varieties, Lord Beaoonsfield — a very
608
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 31, 1887.
strong grower and enormoua cropper — is strongly
recommended, and quite recently I have received
canes of Carter's Prolific No. 2, a much sweeter
and earlier variety than the old one, from which
it is a seedling.
Pears in the East Riding of Yorkehire.—
In ordinary seasons Pears do well here in the gar-
dens, which are situated at the foot of the Wolds,
150 feet above sea-level. The soil is strong loam,
with a clay subsoil resting on chalk rock. North-
east winds are often destructive in the spring. Our
average rainfall is about 28 inches. It is well known
by gardeners that soil and situation have much to
do with the successful cultivation of fruit, and for
this reason I have given the above particulars be-
fore naming my selection of twelve Pears, all of
which I can recommend where first-class dessert fruit
is wanted. There are a few other kinds,fwhich in a
large garden are most desirable to carry us over the
Pear season, but if limited to twelve they would be
— 1, Jargonelle; 2, Bon Chretien (Williams'); 3,
Beurre d'Amanlis ; 4, Louise Bonne of Jersey ; 5,
Marie Louise ; 6, Doyenne du Cornice ; 7, Beurr^
Diel ; IS, Glou Morceau ; 9, Winter Nelis ; 10, Jose-
phine de Malines ; 11, Easter Beurre; 12, Berga-
motte d'Esperen. Easter Beurre is dehcious when
grown on a south wall. — J. AhhSOP, Da!fo?i Hall
Gardens, Hull.
An old Apple. — There is no doubt that from
the thousands of seedling Apples raised, and only
locally known, "J. C. C.'s" list of ornamental kinds
could be largely added to. In an orchard at the
home of my childhood was a tree the fruit of which
was of conical shape and deep crimson in colour,
mottled all over with paler spots ; the flesh through-
out was nearly as dark as the skin. As a kitchen
Apple it was excellent, and retained its rich colour
when cooked ; but perhaps it was a little too sharp
for some palates to be used as a dessert fruit,
although it was greedily eaten by boys. It went
by the local name of " The Bloody Butcher." The
orchard has long since been swept away, and I
know of no other tree of the same variety. If it
crept into any nursery and still lingers there it
should be advertised, as, if made known, it would
certainly be in demand both for ornament and use.
Not far from the same place, in a large orchard,
stood a tree with a habit as pendent as that of a
Weeping Willow, and when in blossom or laden
with its ruddy fruit it was most ornamental. The
owner thought nothing of it, not having a taste for
the beautiful. It was neglected, and during a winter
gale was prostrated. Whether it was a seedling or
grafted I cannot say, but I do not remember ever
seeing another Apple tree so thoroughly weeping —
much more so than the well-known "hang down"
mentioned by your correspondent.— J. M., Cliar-
month, Dorset.
*tf* At the Apple Congress at Chiswick, in 18S;i,
a variety was sent from Perthshire under the name
of "Bloody Ploughman," and is described in the
report as follows : Medium size, conical, deep
scarlet, very acid, midseason, handsome, but worth-
less. Perhaps this may be the variety above
referred to. — Ed.
Apple Cornish. Gilliflower. — This is the
richest and highest flavoured Apple that I know.
It would be perfect if the flesh were more tender;
perhaps something might be done by crossing it
with a tender-fleshed variety. It is well worth atrial,
for a Cornish Gilliflower with tender flesh and good
habit would be a e;rand acrjuisition. It is not im-
possible that the Ribston Pippin may be one of its
descendants, as it partakes of its flavour, appear-
ance, and deficiency in tenderness, although, on the
other hand, the Cornish Gilliflower may be a seed-
ling of the Ribston Pippin. In Warwickshire it
maintains its character of being difficult to fruit,
and the vagaries of its habit are very peculiar. It
grows freely within 4 miles of my garden on a sub-
soil of sand, making long and strong shoots, which
mature their fruit-buds only at the ends, and as in
the following year the intermediate buds do not
break, the tree has a naked and unsightly appear-
aiio'e ; but ofi the clay of my garden the grovrth is
quite different, being short and slender. My tree
was fruitless for years ; it was transplanted twice
without effect, but after a ring of bark was taken
off a main bough sis years ago (since then the bark
has not reunited) this bough has regularly produced
fruit. The main stem of the tree was ringed four
years ago, and in the following year the tree bore
fruit, but in that year the bark of the main stem re-
united, and next season there was no fruit, except
on the ringed bough. Again, last year a fresh ring
of bark was taken from the trunk, and this year the
whole tree has again borne fruit. — Edmund Tonks.
Referring to this Apple (p. 56.3) as an
orchard standard, it should be noted that it is
almost impossible, owing to the pendulous habit
of the variety, to obtain a good standard of
it with its own stem ; but beautiful and fertile
standards may be obtained by working it
standard-high on King of the Pippins. The latter
sort, budded on Crab stocks, sends up maiden shoots
like gun-barrels, and on these, at a suitable height,
the Cornish Gilliflower may be most efllectively
worked. Whether or not the double working has
anything to do with it, there is no doubt that such
standards are both handsome and fertile, even when
growing in a grass orchard. — T. W. Giedlestonb.
THE FRONTIGNAN GRAPES.
In The Garden, December 17 (p. 5(i4), an inquiry
is made about the White Frontignan Grape. It is
an excellent variety when well grown, but it is now
seldom seen in cultivation, varieties with large
bunches and large berries being the most popular.
Sixty years ago it was considered one of our most
esteemed white Grapes, and at that time the berries
were considered large. Mcintosh, in the " Practical
Gardener," describes five varieties of the Frontignan.
He sajs : —
The White, or Muscat hlauc, was one of the best
white Grapes for hothouses or vineries. The Red
Frcntignau (Muscat rouge) had large briek-coloured
oval berries. This was different from the Grizzly
(Muscat gris), whiehhas round small berries, hut of the
most exquisite flavour. The Blue variety is also de-
scribed, and the Black (Muscat noir), which is also well
known , as it will sometimes ripen its berries out of
doors.
The two best to grow under glass are the Grizzly
and the White. About twenty-five years ago all
the three varieties. White, Grizzly, and Black, used
to be well exhibited at the July exhibitions of the
Royal Botanic Society, Regent's Park, when Mr.
Marnock was superintendent. Prizes were offered
specially for them at that time, and if it had not
been so, probably even then the Muscats and Black
Hamburghs would have driven them out of the
field, except as regards flavour, for which they
would compare favourably with the best Muscats.
To grow Frontignan Grapes well they require a
house for themselves. Not that the same treat-
ment given to Muscats or Black Hamburghs would
not suit them ; but, because in time the more
vigorous growth of the last-named overpowers the
more delicate constitutioned varieties. The grizzly
coloured variety has the best flavour, and is also
most difficult to manage. The rich deep borders
made for grosser growing Grapes do not suit
them at all. The borders, made principally of
good turfy loam, mortar-rubbish, and for manure
some crushed bones used in a dried state, should
be well exposed to the sun. The roots run in this
material freely, and remain in a healthy state all
through the winter months. The Vines should be
planted inside and be allowed to grow outside or
inside at will. I have tried them on their own
roots, and also inarched on the Black Hamburgh,
and did not observe any very material difference in
the growth either way. The white variety was
always vigorous enough, but the grizzly form was
not only weaker in growth, but the berries would
persist in shanking after the first few years. The
blossoms do not set so freely as those of the Black
Hamburgh; but there is no difficulty in this re-
spect if the blossoms are set with a fine brush. I
generally tie a rabbit's tail on to a long stick, and
brush over the bunches daily with it. About ten
o'clock in the m.OrniDg is, I think, the best time to do
this. The Frontignan varieties are also somewhat
liable to be attacked with red spider, but this can
easily be checked by painting the pipes or heating
apparatus in good time with flowers of sulphur
dissolved in soap water. They can also be well grown
as pot Vines, a method of culture that may easily
be followed, especially when the arrangements are
such that the pots containing the Vines are placed
over the hot-water pipes. My plan is to arrange
them over the evaporating troughs, and these are
kept filled with water all through the growing
season and until the G-rapes begin to colour. Suc-
cess depends very much upon the state of the Vines
before beginning to force them. I put in the eyes
in January and have no difficulty in obtaining strong
fruiting canes from them by September. They are
grown over the hot-water pipes as well as fruited
there. We use nothing in the pots except turfy
loam and crushed bones, but during the growing
season the Vines are supplied with manure water in
a weak state. When starting them in the spring
for fruiting the temperature must not be too high
at first— 45° to 50° is enough, and with just a gentle
heat in the hot-water pipes to cause the roots to
move with the tops. When it is seen that the eyes
are breaking regularly and evenly over the entire
length of the rods, the temperature may be gradually
increased to 05° at night by the time they are in
flower, and this is quite high enough at any time.
J. Douglas.
Pear Buhamel du Monceau. — This is truly a
delicious Pear, and should be grown by all lovers of
good fruit. A few trees should be in every garden.
— Ameriean Farm and Harden.
*i,* This Pear was exhibited at the Pear Congress
at Chiswick, in 1885, by Andre Leroy, Angers,
France, and is thus described in the report : Fruit
long, pyriform, yellow, almost covered with reddish
russet; flesh juicy, melting, very sweet; season,
November. It is also figured in Leroy's " Diction-
naire dfe Pomologie." — Ed.
Wir.i netting for fruit quarters. — Noting
" W. G.'s" remarks on the above in The Garden
Nov. 2(i (p. 477), I will add my experience of wire
netting for fruit quarters. Fourteen years ago I
had a quarter ^covered with the above, and up till
last winter it never cost a penny for repairs. All
the standards, bearers, netting, &c., being galvanised,
there was no painting required. One mistake,
however, was made in erecting it, and that was
putting Oak posts into the ground and fixing the
upright standards in them. A few of the Oak posts
began to decay, and with the exceptionally
heavy falls of snow, one or two gave way and the
whole erection collapsed. I now have had concrete
footings put in and all the standards and braces set
in cement, so that there will be no decay of any kind.
In seasons when the trellises and open bush quarters
have been badly infested with insects, I have not
had more than four or six trees attacked in the
covered area, and at no time has it been opened for
birds to get in. I have planted a mixed collection
consist in g of Gooseberries (in the largest proportion),
Raspberries, Strawberry Eleanor, and Cherries. I
look upon this plan as a great boon, in protecting
the buds in the spring and the lipe fruit in the
autumn. I gathered some very creditable dishes
of Gooseberries up till Nov. 15, and plenty of Red
Currants are now (Dec. II) hanging. I may add that
the aspect is N.N.W.,and the fruit should be slightly
protected by sheeting or other material on the top
of the netting should continuous rains set in after
the middle of October. Several gentlemen in the
neighbourhood have erected similar coverings after
seeing the one here. — A. BvAKS, Lythe Hill, Hasle-
mere.
The Idaho'Pear. — All our personal knowledge
of it is derived from a single specimen sent us from
Idaho by J. H. Evans, of the Idaho Pear Company,
and received in good condition about the 1st of
October. Mr. Evans informs us that it originated
in that region about twenty years ago. The speci-
men sent weighed a little less than a pound, but he
informs us that some have weighed frt m ]0 ozs. to
23 ozs. Externally, it has at first glance little of
the common appdarance of a Pear, but more ne'arly
Dec. 31, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
609
resembles externally a large and handsome Apple,
the stalks being deeply set on the full rounded
base, and with none of the neck of the Pear. Its
flavour, however, is that of an excellent Pear, with
fine-grained, buttery, and melting flesh. The de-
scription made by us at the time from this speci-
men we give in full as follows : Large, nearly
globular, obtusely ribbed, light rich yellow, the sur-
face with numerous small dots : cavity very deep
and narrow, and strongly furrowed ; stem small for
so large a Pear ; basin very deep and furrowed ;
calyx closed ; flesh fine-grained, buttery and melt-
ing, with a very good flavour. It will be observed
that the specimen had travelled in the mail about
2000 miles, a part of the way by stage over a rough
road. Mr. Evans writes us, under date of Oct. 24,
that specimens gathered at the same time as the
one sent were then in " prime condition," and that
the tree is hardy, a vigorous grower, a prolific
bearer, and has withstood without injury 30° below
zero. The real value of a fruit cannot of course be
determined from single detached specimens in one
season, and from a single locality : but this Pear is
certainly worthy of at least an extensive trial and in
other places. It may be too large and not suffi-
ciently attractive in appearance to prove useful as a
market sort. — Count ri/ Gentleman.
Raising new soits of Apples — It has been
suggested that it is desirable to raise new sorts of
Apples for late keeping. This seems to be quite
unnecessary, because the raising of new sorts of
Apples has already been overdone. The proper
thing to do is to make a better use of the sorts we
already possess. If anything should be done to
popularise English Apples it should be to make
them better known. Instead of growing a few trees
of a sort, only such varieties should have a place
that have a handsome appearance, good flavour, and
will keep well. There ought to be no diffiulty in
discovering what late-keeping Apples there are. It
is only for those who are interested in the cultiva-
tion of the fruit to offer substantial prizes at any
agricultural show held in the months of April and
May to bring out all the resources of the locality.
I should like to see prizes offered in the following
manner: 1, for the best three dishes of cook-
ing Apples, distinct sorts, nine fruits of each;
2, for the best three dishes of dessert Apples, dis-
tinct sorts, nine fruits of each ; 3, for the best five
dishes of cooking Apples; 4, for the best seven
dishes ditto. If there is no show at which such
subjects could be brought forward, let every local
country town have its exhibition on a market day,
and I am satisfied that a good array of fruit would
be forthcoming if notice of the show was given the
previous autumn. — J. C. C.
Vine eyes. — Although the majority of gardeners
do not start the eyes in bottom heat before the end
of January, it is a good plan to get them potted and
placed in a temperate pit soon after Christmas.
None but clean and ripe wood should be selected,
and pots also clean and not exceeding 3 inches in
diameter will be quite large enough. Light turfy loam
of a sandy nature answers best, and the firmer in
reason it is pressed into the pots, the smaller the
necessity for the baneful practice of early watering.
When the eyes of each sort are made, from the
centre of each pot already filled with soil scoop a
hole the size of a walnut, fill this with silver sand,
and press the eye, bud upwards, firmly into it. Give
a trifle of water to solidify the sand, and leave the
eyes for three weeks to callus. Where plenty of
room and a bed of fermenting material are at com-
mand, the best spring planting or potting canes can
be manufactured upon the Galashiels system. Mr.
Thomson, to whom the credit is due, places thin
sods of light turf Grass-side downwards on the sur-
face of a warm, solid bed, and not too far from the
light. These with a sharp knife he cuts lengthwise,
then crosswise, to divide them into small squares or
cubes, inserts a bud in the centre of each, and
leaves them alone until they commence growing.
In due course the roots which start from the centre
of each cube pass each other by, and form a net-
work of fibres. This he does not mind, but allows
to go on until a week or two divide the next opera-
tion from the date fixed upon for planting or potting.
Then, without the smallest compunction, the caiv-
ing-knife is again passed along every line and all
the marauding roots are severed. To young Vine
roots in their soft, fleshy state this mutilation
makes no apparent difference — the Vines do not
even flag, but set about forming ten devouring
mouths for every one destroyed, and so soon as
they get well to work, with tan fork or spade each
Vine is moved bodily to its pot of warm soil or ridge
of fermenting compost. — W. Coleman.
TALL T'. DWARF ORCHARD TREES.
It is surprising how long it takes to get rid of any
established custom, and the height of stems for
orchard trees is a case in point. The only thing
that can be said in favour of these tall stems is that
they keep the bearing wood out of the reach of
cattle that are pastured beneath them. I would far
rather plant dwarf trees that begin to branch at
1 foot from the ground, yet these 3 feet and 7-feet-
stemmed trees are planted by hundreds at treble
the cost, and are not so useful for the abundant
production of fine fruit. If all fruit-tree orchards
were intended as adjuncts to a farm there would be
reasons for growing standards, but if we ever mean
to supply our markets with home-grown fruit of the
finest quality, the work must be undertaken on
regular systematic rules. The fact is that the old
farm orchards have become worn out, and their pro-
duce is only fit for the costermongers' barrows, from
the fact that when once planted they get but little
care or attention, the crop being usually sold by
auction to people whose only object is to get it off
at the least expense and make the best profit they
can by the transaction. The pruning is of the most
primitive kind, and the manuring is left to the stock
that graze on the Grass growing beneath the trees.
In these days of depression and frequent changes
of tenants, the orchards go from bad to worse. We
have lately seen what can be done by home growers
at our autumnal exhibitions of hardy fruits, and
from my own personal knowledge in nearly every
case the finest Apples have been the produce of
dwarf trees grown on land well cultivated and
manured. It matters not in the least whether the
tree is a cordon, espalier, pyramid, or bush, so long
as the trees get good cultivation and the roots can
find plenty of nourishment. It is useless to expect
that trees in hard, unbroken ground, with the roots
no one knows where, will produce fruit of the finest
quality. We are now paying millions of money to
foreign countiies for fruit that can be better grown
at home. Land of the finest quality is hardly giv-
ing any return, and anyone with land of their own
and wishing to make it worth treble its value, should
plant dwarf trees of the most approved sorts at
from 10 feet to 12 feet apart, and give them proper
attention. With good cultivation one half of the
ailments that are so troublesome on half-starved
trees will disappear. Moderate pruning and crop-
ping with liberal feeding are a few of the items of
culture that would go far to make our market
orchards more profitable. J. G.
iratits.
Pruning Feach and Nectarine 'trees. —
Peach trees on open walls ought not to be pruned
before the end of February or the beginning of
March, as by that time the winter is generally over,
and if any damage has been done to the wood it
can then be detected. But it is not advisable to
defer pruning and nailing after the time above
mentioned, because the flower-buds usually begin
to swell about that time, and there is danger of
their being rubbed off if the work is delayed. As
regards pruning, much depends on the condition of
the tree. If it did not receive proper treatment
during the past growing season there will be a good
deal of growth that must be cut out, because it is
the practice with some inexperienced cultivators to
nail in all the summer growth. When such has
been the case the knife must be used freely, so that
when the shoots are nailed in they are at least
5 inches apart. Always leave the strongest, cutting
out the weakest and as many of the old shoots as
can be spared. The general tendency is to leave
too much growth on Peach and Nectarine trees.
There cannot be a greater mistake, for if the
branches are laid in too thickly at the winter prun-
ing, there is no room left for the summer growth,
and then overcrowding cannot be avoided. It is
essential to preserve some of the strongest shoots
made during the summer in order to furnish fruit-
bearing wood for another year. If the growth is
overcrowded it does not get well ripened, and so is
more liable to injury from frost than that which
has been exposed to the influence of sun and air.
The winter pruning is really not a diflicult operation,
but it is very important to bear in mind that it is
better to cut out old wood than too much of the
young, and it is also better to leave the young
shoots their whole length than to take off the tops.
It is essential for each shoot to have a wood-bud at
the point, and by leaving the young shoots their
whole length the terminal bud is sure to be a wood-
bud. It may be well to mention that when there
are three buds, the shoot may safely be cut back to
that point, if it is desirable to do so, for the pur-
pose of securing more branches to fill up space. —
J. C. C.
Pear Nouveau Poiteau.— Possibly this fine
Pear is not largely grown ; hence, few make reference
to it. I had grafts of it from Chiswick some twenty
years since, and saved one tree, which has grown
into a very handsome natural pyramid on the Pear
stock, on which it does better than any other of the
large-fruited kinds I know of. With me the tree,
as a rule, fruits well, the fruit being fine and, for
the variety, clean and handsome, but never shows
colour, the skin being green, slightly tinged with
russet. In form the fruit is termed obovate or
pyrif orm, irregularly bulged on one side. The "Fruit
Manual" correctly describes it as having flesh of fine
grain, buttery, melting, very juicy, rich, and highly
perfumed — a first-rate Pear, ripe in November. I
hardly know what other Pear can deserve higher
notice, and, as grown here on the Pear stock, it
merits all this praise. The flavour is of a peculiar
quality, not inaptly described as balsamic, and emits
a pleasant aroma. At the Pear congress only forty
dishes of Nouveau Poiteau were shown, possibly
proof of my assumption that it is not too well
known, but that it should only have received two
votes in the national census leads to the inference
that it is not a Pear for all soils. Here it is a long
way before Eeurre Diel on the Pear stock, and yet
this kind obtained sixty-two votes, and was shown
in 194 dishes. It would be interesting to learn how
Xouveau Poiteau behaves as a pyramid at Chiswick.
If I were recommending half a dozen kinds for free
growth, I should certainly include it in the list. —
A.D.
Winter Nelis Pear. — In reply to your query
respecting this Pear, it succeeds well in this locality,
and is, in my opinion, the most reliable of all late-
keeping Pears. It is certainly not so imposing in
appearance as some other kinds, but the flne flavour,
and the fact of its always ripening well, render it so
useful, that if I only grew one kind, Winter Nelis
would be my choice. It is rather a weakly grower,
and generally produces far more flower-buds than
are required. These, as well as the fruit, should be
thinned if it is desired to get them of a good size ;
while a most important point is to let them hang
on the tree as long as possible. For wall trees I
put fish-nets, suspended from the top of the wall
and forming a bag at the base, so that if any fall off
they do not get bruised ; and I find that in this loca-
lity it is well-nigh impossible to give too much water
to wall trees. During the past season the intense
drought prevented us watering trees much, until
rain fell freely enough in September to reduce our
demands ; but after that date the trees received all
the surplus we could spare, and although early in
the autumn the fruit was very small, they swelled up
so rapidly afterwards that by the end of October
they were of average size, and are now commencing
to ripen. I have no doubt but that premature
ripening is greatly accelerated by premature gather-
ing. I grow this kind on west walls, as even in this
comparatively favoured part of the kingdom late
kinds that must hang on the tree through the
violent autumn gales can hardly be expected to
610
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 31, 1887.
succeed in any other way. I think that trees of the
latest varieties grown in cordon form on the walls
would prove a better investment than some of the
early sorts that monopolise nearly all the sunny
walls in the kingdom. — J. Geoom, Havts.
Valuable Seckel seedlings. — In September
last we received from W. A. M. Culbert, of Orange
County, N.Y., a basket of Pears, containing two
seedling varieties. These had originated from seed
of the Seckel. The one closely resembles its parent,
but is later and perhaps of more attractive appear-
ance. The other is a russet Pear of same shape,
but somewhat large, and the fortunate possessor of
a flavour still higher and spicier, if anything, than
that of the heretofore unexcelled Seckel. To grow
seedlings from seed of the Seckel, or from seed
fertilised by Seckel pollen, seems to us a move in
the right direction. With the high quality of its
fruit and the desirable qualities of the tree as start-
ing points, we may hope to attain the highest re-
sults in Pears. — Orehard and Garden.
FRUITS UNDER GLASS.
Pines.
Recently I advised taking time by the forelock in
making preparations for starting a few of the most
promising Queens. If all necessary preliminaries
have been carried out, and a sweet, well-made bed
of tan or leaves has had time to settle and subside to
a temperature of about 8,5°, a small percentage of the
most likely plants may now be picked out and par-
tially plunged in shallow basins, which must not be
entirely filled up for the present, as the most trifling
disturbance not unfrequently rekindles violent fer-
mentation. When this danger has passed away,
the plunging material must be levelled so as to leave
one-third of each pot standing above the surface, a
position favourable to giving moderate supplies of
water and the avoidance of too much heat about
the crock roots at the outset. The plants having
been kept for some months in a bottom-heat of 70°
to 75°, which is quite low enough for Queens, a
sudden increase of 10° to 15° will soon excite the
white healthy roots, and as these must have food, or
draw upon the stored-up juices, water must at once
be given. A moderate quantity, at a temperature
equal to that of the bed, at the outset will suflSce ;
but it must be repeated until the whole of each ball is
properly moistened, when, days being dark and dull
and the bed full of moisture, future waterings must
be conducted with the greatest care. If these
plants, I ought to say, are found at all loose in the
pots, or the surface soil appears exhausted, a small
portion may be removed with the hand, also a few
of the lower leaves, to make room for a sound pack-
ing of warm turf, which cannot be made too firm
about the collars and gradually falling away to the
rims, where, the balls once moistened, the greatest
quantity of water will be needed. Syringe the
walls and paths and other surfaces once or twice on
fine days, but avoid allowing [moisture to trickle
down into the hearts, as a lodgment there at this
critical stage may injure, and possibly destroy, the
embryo fruits slowly, but surely, moving upward to
the light. Let the night heat range about 70'', with
a rise of 10° by day from fire-heat, and run up 5°
niore under gleams of sunshine, when a chink of
air for a short time will be highly advantageous.
As the days gradually increase in length and
the sun gains power, more air, especially through
the early part, must be given, and, provided the
boiler-power is efficient, a slight chink will do
good service through the night.
The principal stock of Queens from which a
growth before they start is expected must be kept
quiet in their resting quarters for some time longer,
as every day up to the beginning of February will
add to the weight and quality of the fruit. Mean-
time, get fermenting material well worked and in
the best possible condition for the renovation of the
old or the formation of new beds, as dispatch is
more than half the battle in the rearrangement of
Pines so early in the season.
S\iccesswns.—\i well plunged in a steady bottom-
heat and not too near the pipes, these will not take
any harih for the present ; otherwise, a sharp eye
must be kept on plants immediately above the
pipes, as the best regulated pits in these parts
sometimes become dust-dry, when continued neglect
leads to premature fruiting. Queens will stand
more dry heat than is good for Smooth Cayennes
and Rothschilds ; but there is reason In all things;
therefore, to keep each plant in proper condition,
it must be frequently examined and properly
moistened when too much dry fire-heat is likely to
prove baneful.
Pre-jiaraiions for the coming season should now
be made, as potting time will soon be upon us,
when materials of all kinds must not only be at
hand, but in the best possible condition for use.
If former remarks have been observed, a good sup-
ply of turf will be in the stack and well protected
from the chilling influence of rain and snow, or,
better still, a moderate quantity will have been
housed where it can be broken up by hand in bad
weather, and removed to suitable warming and
aerating places long before it is wanted for use. In
some few districts the turf is improved by lying in
the stack for a year before it is used ; in others,
where it loses its fibre quickly, the supply obtained
in October is quite stale enough by February, and
then even it requires correctives to prevent its run-
ning too close in the pots. Rough lime rubble,
charcoal, broken brick, and oyster shells, one or all,
are useful for this purpose, and should always be
kept in stock. Half-inch bones also are invaluable
for mixing with the compost or for crocking pur-
poses, and bone-dust is one of the best stimulating
manures that can be used. Stiff, heavy loams are
improved by the use of coarse sand and peat and a
plentiful supply of wheaten straw cut up very fine,
but the great secret of success where coaxing be-
comes necessary is the use of small pots, which
should be scrupulously clean, dry, and porous, well
crocked and firmly rammed with the compost in a
rough, dry state to prevent any great quantity of
water from being held in suspension.
Melons.
Where Melon growing is carried on with spirit
and the season is extended at both ends, a few
zealous cultivators will now be giving a parent's
care to their first batch of seedlings. These, as a
matter of course, will have the benefit of an abund-
ance of top and bottom heat from hot-water pipes
and fermenting material combined. The pits wUlj
be snug, light, and well appointed, and covering for
maintaining an even night temperature will form |
an important part of the programme. Sown singly \
in the smallest-sized pots or upon tiny bits of turf,
the young seedlings should be transferred to pots a
little larger as soon as the roots require more room
and the pushing of the first rough leaf becomes
apparent. Meantime, preparations must be made
for their removal to their fruiting quarters, which,
like the nursing pit, must be well appointed ; other-
wise, poor progress will be the result, and plants
raised a month later will beat them. If planting
out is decided upon, hills of the smallest possible
size should be made for their reception, but unless
the arrangements are exceptionally good, the pot
system will not only be the most expeditious, but
also the safest. Cleanliness, as a matter of course,
is well understood, and a steady bottom heat of 80°
to 85° is equally important, but this cannot well be
secured without the aid of fermenting materials;
therefore, a bed in which the fruiting pots can be
plunged to the rims and the material renovated at
pleasure will be found better than hills for winter
culture. Oak leaves make the best of all beds for
horticultural purposes, but they require careful pre-
paration, and as this takes up time, a good body
should be in a state of fermentation and ready for
turning before the seeds are sown. Sound, solid
beds, free from injurious gases can then be prepared
and well tested before the young seedlings make
their delnit. Having so often drawn attention to
the fact, it seems hardly necessary to repeat that
each pot should be placed on a solid pedestal or
stout plank running the length of the pit, but seeing
that the same simple questions keep cropping up
every year, it may be well to warn the in-
experienced of the danger and loss attending a
slipshod method of fixing pots for Melons and
Cucumbers. If tops as well as pots, or the trellises
even, could all settle together aU would be well, but
this is not the case ; the pots go with the bed, the
tops remain with the trellis, the stems crack or
strangle, and people mourn over their inability to
grow good Melons owing to the annual appearance
of canker. Canker is a very convenient word
which covers a multitude of defects, and this want
of care in forming solid pedestals for plants that
are trained upon trellises is one of them. Pots 12
inches across are large enough for early Melons, and
stifle, rich loam that will grow good Strawberries
and Roses is the best for the roots; if correctives
are needed, old lime rubble and bone dust are pre-
ferable to manure, which may be freely used in a
liquid form when the fruit is swelling. As Melons
are not improved by having earth placed round the
stems, each pot should be well crocked and firmly
rammed with rough compost in a dry state, the
upper half being formed into a cone or miniature
hill on a level with the rim. Top-dressing as re-
quired and water ad lib. can then be given without
even wetting the collar of the plant, and another
very common predisposing tendency to canker just
below the surface wiU be avoided. When the com-
post is thoroughly warm and a stick leading up to
the trellis has been placed in the centre of each
pot, the plants, with balls well moistened, but not
root-bound, may be turned out, moderately watered
to settle the soil, and trained with single stems up-
ward to the trellis. In training, all side shoots and
male flowers must be removed as they appear ; not
so the seed or rough leaves, which should be care-
fully preserved until the fruit is ripe. Varieties of
Melons being so terribly numerous, the best plan is
to select a good one and stick to it throughout the
season, sowing a few seeds about once a fortnight,
and as regularly throwing away the oldest super-
fluous plants before they become infested with
spider. By adopting this method of raising and
keeping stock, fresh sturdy plants for making up
losses and maintaining the succession are always at
command, and seed from extra fine typical fruit
can be depended upon. It is yet rather early to
commence frame culture, but manure and leaves
may be collected, mixed, and well worked ready for
use when the proper time arrives. A few unfortu
nate growers still have to depend upon fermenting
materials alone, but the light does not pay for the
candle, certainly before May, and then, on the as-
sumption that nothing succeeds like success, a flow
and return pipe if possible should be introduced for
supplying and supporting top heat.
Strawbereies.
Where Strawberry houses are not at command
and early fruit is expected, the first week in January
is a good time to commence filling the shelves in
Peach houses and vineries as these structures arc
closed for forcing. Although I dislike this mode of
growing Strawberrie.=, I do not deny the fact that
the moist, genial atmo.^phere, with a steadily in-
creasing temperature rising from 45° or 50° up-
wards, just suits the plants through the early stagi f,
but "all is not gold that glitters," for in hundrcc's
of cases the legacy of spider left behind tells htavily
on the Grapes and Peaches after the few dishes of
Strawberries are forgotten. The earliest and be.'t
ripened sorts in the smallest pots, as a matter of
course, will be selected for a start, and as these
will be one mass of roots the balls must be tho-
roughly moist at the time of housing, and they must
never feel the want of water afterwards. Some
growers, after opening the apertures to see that the
drainage is satisfactory, place the pots in saucers
for the twofold purpose of economising labour in
watering and preventing a continuous drip of liquid
into the passages. Others condemn the system,
asserting, with some show of reason, that the stale
liquid which accumulates in the saucers soon be-
comes putrid, when it rots and poisons the roots it
is intended to feed. The old school, still economi-
cal, avoids the two gulfs by laying thin sods of fresh
rich turf Grass-side downwards on the shelves at
the outset, and placing the pots thereon. Roots
soon lay hold, and nearly all the liquid passed over
the rims of the pots is taken up by them, or passes
upward in the form of vapour to the foliage and
Dec. 31, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
611
fruit. But, one drawbuck attends this method, and
that is the inability to remove the pots to another
house when the fruit is set and more heat may be
considered necessary. Whichever plan is adopted,
judicious watering is of the greatest importance ;
the syringe, too, in skilful hands is a host in itself
— first, for preventing spider from obtaining a foot-
ing ; and second, for dewing over the foliage when
early closing with a little sun-heat favours rapid
progress. It is of no use laying down any particular
temperature for plants that occupy the vinery or
Peach house on sufferance ; they must take what
they get, and, as a rule, as I have just observed,
they make very fair progress. In due course they
throw up flower-scapes, and green-fly about this
time invariably attacks them. This is the first
trouble, as few care to smoke an early vinery, and
no one, I think, would venture to introduce a Blox-
ham even when Peaches are in flower. Prevention,
then, the best of all methods, must be the happy
medium. Peaches, as well as Strawberries, must be
made distasteful by light smokings at short inter-
vals, to ensure a clean bill of health during the time
they are in flower. This difficulty overcome, an-
other looms, as Strawberries in bloom require more
air than is good for Vines. They may and must be
fertilised as a matter of prudence, but fresh air also
•is necessary ; therefore, the better to secure a con-
tinuous supply of this ^element, the earliest batch
at this stage should be removed from the first to a
second vinery or a light airy pit specially fitted up
with shelves for fertilising purposes.
The Strati-berry house proper. — Assuming that
this useful structure was filled with good plants,
also in 5-inoh pots, about the 1st of December, that
a minimum of 45° has been maintained and all has
gone well, the time of the year will justify a steady
rise to 50" whenever the weather is mild and favour-
able to ventilation. The temperature by day with
sun heat and plenty of air may range 10° to 15°
higher, when a gentle syringing above and below
the foliage will promote a healthy development of
the foliage without robbing the flower-spikes. At
this temperature the house should be closed with
sun-heat at least for a few hours, and as gentle fire-
heat through the evening and night will be neces-
sary, the fermenting material should be turned to
set moisture at liberty, when syringing is neither
judicious nor practicable. Brought on in this way,
90 per cent, of good plants will throw up strong, stout
scapes well in advance of the foliage ; the flowers
will be bold and pollen abundant. Of a good set In
such a structure there will be little doubt, but in
order to leave no stone unturned, it wiU be well to
pinch ofE a quantity of the weakest of the side
flowers before they open, also to fumigate, and to
fertilise from day to day with a camel's-hair pencil,
Watering up to this stage must be steady and regu-
lar, but once the flowers begin to open the plants
must be carefuUy looked over early every morning.
Want must never be felt, but at the same time a
saturated condition must be strictly avoided. As
soon as the most forward plants have set a suflioient
number of perfect point fruits they may be taken
down from the shelves, well picked, syringed, and
watered preliminary to their removal to the hottest
house upon the premises. Clear diluted liquid may
be given at every watering ; short forked pegs a few
inches in length will keep the fruit clear of the pots
and foliage, and good syringing will carry it rapidly
to maturity.
Succession 2)lants. — Once a move forward to the
ripening house is made, a systematic change of
plants from other feeding structures to the Straw-
berry house will become necessary. Others from
the store pits will follow on, and in this way a con-
stant supply of ripe fruit will be maintained through-
out the season. The latest plants in the largest
pots, as a matter of course, will be left till last, and
for two reasons. Being late, and perhaps not so
well ripened, more time will favour their showing
and setting well, and being in larger pots the roots
will not so readily suffer from powerful sun-heat.
When drawing late plants from cold pits, it is a
good plan to leave every alternate row undisturbed
in the leaves or whatever they are plunged in.
Here, under judicious management,by full exposure
in fine weather and careful watering, the crock roots
will escape from bondage, an immense blossom will
be produced, and fruit through the month of May
wiU be fine and abundant. W. C.
Ferns.
W. H. GOWER.
TRICHOMANES SELLOWIANUM AND
ITS ALLIES.
The various forma of this genus are popularly
known as Filmy Ferns on account of the mem-
braneous texture of their fronds. This, com-
bined with their colour, which is usually an
intense deep sea-green, renders them special
Triohomanes Sellowianum.
favourites. In a state of Nature the majority of
the species are found in shady mountain ravines,
and in some instances in dark and gloomy
caves, but in all cases where the atmosphere is
well saturated with moisture. The atmosphere
of an ordinary Fern house is thus too arid to
allow them to develop their beauties. As the
majority of the kinds will thrive in a tempera-
ture that does not fall below 50°, many of them
may be used for the embellishment of the dwell-
ing-house in an artistically arranged Wardian
case. The kinds here enumerated, however,
mostly require a slightly warmer atmosphere,
and I should prefer the thermometer not to fall
below 60° during the winter, whilst the summer
temperature should not exceed 65° for any
kinds. The creeping-rooted forms thrive best
upon sandstone or pieces of Tree Fern stems,
and those with an upright caudex should be
potted in peat, loam, and sharp sand, to which
may be added with advantage some nodules and
flakes of sandstone. The fronds of these plants
require to be always moist. I, however, object
to the use of the syringe for this purpose, as
unless the water is very clean, some impurities
are sure to be deposited upon them to their dis-
figurement. Those kinds which have their stems
and rachises clothed with hairs appear to suffer
very much from syringing. The sun should
never be suffered to reach them, and yet few re-
quire heavy shade. If grown in Wardian cases
in the house green glass must not be used, and
wherever the Ferns are cultivated the Mosses
which spring up must not be allowed to increase
and choke them.
T. Sellowianum, of which an illustration is
here given from a specimen grown in the famous
collection of the Messrs. Backhouse at York, is one
of the most handsome of the T. crispum group,
from which, however, it differs in various ways, the
chief distinctions being its tufted habit and larger
size. A glance at our figure will give a good idea
of the extreme beauty of this plant, which is a
native of Brazil.
T. CEISPUM somewhat resembles the preceding,
but yet is quite distinct ; the fronds, from 6
inches to 1 foot long, and from 1 inch to 2 inches
broad, are produced from a short decumbent or
creeping rhizome. They are sub-pinnate, saving a
narrow membraneous wing, which connects them
together ; the stem and rachis are clothed with short
reddish brown hairs. Native of the West Indies
and Tropical America.
T. Kaulfusi is a magnicent species, and one
that would appear to be plentiful in Trinidad, as I
have received numerous consignments of it from
that island, where it seems to luxuriate in strong
loam. The stem and rachis are clothed with long
tawny hairs, the fronds being from 9 inches to
18 inches high, and about 2^ inches wide ; the
segments are lanceolate.
T. CBINITUM. — A pretty dwarf-growing plant of
tufted habit, with slender hairy stems and bi-
pinnatifld fronds, which are broadly oblong in out-
line; the colour is pale green, and the fronds
appear of a glaucous hue from the numerous white
hairs with which they are covered. It is said to be
found in several of the West Indian Islands, but I
have oidy received it from Jamaica.
T. JAVANICUM. — This is a beautiful species from
Java and various other islands in the Indian Archi-
pelago; the fronds, produced from a tufted caudex,
are from 3 inches to a foot high, pinnate, and of an
intense deep sea-green colour.
T. PLUMULA. — This fine form was introduced
from Demerara by the Messrs. Low, of Clapton,
about the year 18G3, I have not seen it in any other
fernery and am not aware if it is still in cultivation.
If not, it deserves to be re-introduced as speedily
as possible. The fronds are about a foot long and
\\ inches wide. It is considered by some to be a
variety of crispum, but it is quite distinct from
that plant.
T. siNUOSUM. — This is one of the very prettiest
species for draping a piece of rookwork or clothing
the stem of a Tree Fern. The rhizome is slender
and wiry, fronds pendent, from 3 inches to 9 inches
long and an inch broad ; the texture is almost
transparent, bright cheerful green in colour. It is
plentiful in Trinidad, and is also found in some
other of the West Indian Islands as well as Tropical
America.
Lastrea fragrans.— This pretty little Fern
is found in some parts of the Northern States
of America, and also throughout Arctic America.
It is a densely-tutted plant, bearing oblong lanceo-
late fronds, which are usually from 3 inches to 6
inches high and about an inch wide. In some in-
stances they have been recorded as growing to 9
inches in length, although I have never seen them
612
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 31, 1887.
attain this size. It appears to be somewhat
plentiful with the Messrs. Veitch just now. The
plant is perfectly hardy, but it is most effective
when planted in a prominent position in a shady
part of the cool-house rockery.
Xioraaria I'Herminieri. — This, one of the
prettiest of the small-growing members of this
genus, is not often seen in a thriving condition. I
have found that whilst it enjoys strong heat and an
abundant supply of water, the drainage must be
exceptionally good, otherwise the plant will soon fall
into bad health and eventually perish. With age
this species assumes the proportions of a miniature
Tree Fern, rising upon a slender stem some 3 inches
or 4 inches long. The fronds are about (1 inches
long, in fine examples reaching even to a foot in
length, and 2 inches to 4 inches in breadth,
narrowest at the base. They are of a beautiful
bright crimson colour when young, but gradually
pass into deep green as they become mature. It
comes from the West Indies.
Dictyogramma japonica. — I know of no
Fern which resembles this plant, saving Conio-
gramma, from which, however, Dictyogramma is
quite distinct, as it has reticulated veins. I think
the Messrs. Veitch were the first to introduce this
plant to this country in a living state, and they now
have some very good examples of it. The rhizome,
from whence rises a straw-coloured shining stem, is
creeping ; the fronds are usually pinnate. The
pinnte are some 8 inches or 9 inches long, and be-
tween 1 inch and 2 inches broad, oblong, and taper-
ing to a point. The sori follow the reticulations of
the veins, and thus the fertile fronds considerably
enhance the beauty of the plant. It thrives admi-
rably in the greenhouse fernery, but having had no
experience of it in the open air, I cannot say if it is
hardy. — H. G.
Phymatodes nigrescens is a large-growing
Fern of great beauty, which I recently noted in
Messrs. Veitoh's nursery. It is not so widely grown
as it; deserves, for its bold, shining green fronds
have a fine appearance either when it is planted in
the rockery, in the stove or when cultivated in a
pot. If treated in the latter manner the rhizome
should be raised upon a mound of soil above the
xim of the pot. The rhizome is stout and creeping.
The fronds are upwards of 4 feet long, including
about a foot of bare stem, which is smooth and
glossy : they are pincatifid, being divided into about
eight to ten pairs of segments and a terminal one.
The segments are about '■) inches long, upwards
of an inch wide, and taper to a point. It is a native
of several of the Fiji and Indian Islands.
Odontosoria famarioides. — An elegant, scan-
dent Fern, with somewhat the appearance of O.
aculeata. The stem and raohises are spiny, and the
fronds upwards of 6 feet in length. I recently
noted this somewhat rare species in Mr. Bull's nur-
sery at Chelsea. The plant forms a beautiful object
when its fronds are allowed to drape the face of a
rocky prominence, or when grown in a hanging
basket, and it is also very effective trained upon the
roof and made to afford shade for its more humble-
growing relatives. 0. aculeata, which is nearly
allied to it, is a better known species, but by no
means a common Fern. It is distinguished by its
larger and more entire pinnules. It is an extremely
elegant Fern. Both are natives of the West Indies,
and require stove heat to develop their beauty. — H.
stems or for draping prominent pieces of rockwork. It
appears to he common in Japan, and also in various of
the Malay aud Paciiic Islands. — ^V.
Adiantum asarifolium. — An extremely rare
Fern, which I have only occasionally met with true,
although I have frequently seen its near ally (A.
reniforme) doing duty for it. This plant is said to
be found only in the islands of Mauritius and
Bourbon, whilst A. reniforme is peculiar to Madeira
and Teneriffe. It may be described as a gigantic
form of reniforme, in which the basal lobes overlap
and shut up the sinus at the base of the frond ; it
is also much thicker in texture. I recently saw a
good example of this rare species at the Messrs.
Veitch's nursery. It appears to be a slow-growing
plant, and I am of opinion that it prefers a rocky
or stony soil in preference to the ordinary potting
mould used for Ferns.
A FERN RAVINE.
SHORT NOTES.— FERNS.
The Eoyal rem.— In The GARnEN of Dee. 17
(p. 50.5) " S. G." writes that Osmundaregalis lias been
found in only three places in Ireland. I will not name
the locality, as collectors might pay it a visit, but I
know of two roads in county Cork from which the Royal
Fern can be seen growing in quantity, though not to
any great size. — 0. G. *
Trichomanes parvulum, a Iwarf, elegant,
Filmy Fern, which I recently saw growing in Messrs-
Veitch's nursery at Chelsea. It has a wiry creeping
rhizome and small, orbicular, flahcUate fronds of a
deep green. It forms a pretty object upon small Fern
The common idea of a hardy fernery is a heap of
stones termed a rockery. But, except for a few
species, such as the Wall Rue (Asplenium Ruta-
muraria), common Spleenwort (A. Trichomanes),
Scale Fern (Ceterach officinarum), the common
Maiden-hair (Adiantum Capillus-Veneris), and a few
others, it is neither necessary nor natural to plant
on a mound of stones, as the majority of British
Ferns are found growing wild either in shady
woods, where the trees are not thickly placed, or on
the banks which enclose the deep shady lanes of
country districts, especially in the south and west,
and along the eastern coastline. I do not say that
a few sober-tinted blocks of sandstone may not give
picturesqueness to the bank, but they should be
bedded partly in the bank, so as only to show their
Moss or Lichen-covered crevices amid the Fern
fronds. Even those species commonly found on
walls will grow luxuriantly in good soil without a
stone if the atmospheric conditions are right. The
common Hart's-tongue is frequently found growing
out of the Moss-grown stony mouth of some old
well, and revels in the dampness of the atmosphere.
But the finest specimens of the Hart's-tongue I
have ever seen I discovered in a deep gorge in
Herefordshire, just above the river Teem, where it
flowered along the margin of a wood. The soil was
good, but not rocky, though there was a layer of the
red sandstone a few feet below the surface. I have
seen large patches of the common Polypody grow-
ing on old trees where decay had set in ; and I have
also seen it equally vigorous in a shady country
lane, growing in ordinary soil. Asplenium Tricho-
manes, Ceterach officinarum.and Adiantum Capillus-
Veneris will grow in any good soil in a shady situa-
tion where there is not too much drip from heavy
foliage above.
Anyone can make a Fern ravine without much
expense beyond the labour of digging out the earth
and collecting the plants. The situation must have
partial shade, such as is afforded by a few old trees
scattered about. If their trunks are covered with
Ivy, it will increase the effect. The depth of the
ravine may be as deep as the nature of the soil will
allow, and' the elevation and inclination of the
slopes and mounds may be fashioned according to
the fancy of the proprietor. In some cases it may
be possible to dig deeply enough to find water, and
then a quiet pool may be improvised for aquatics,
and round the margin the Eoyal Fern (Osmunda
regalis) and the Marsh Fern (Lastrea Thelypteris)
will thrive. I once saw some Fern banks which had
been thrown up without any regard being paid to
the kind of soil placed on the surface. The subsoil
was clay, and through the want of care and super-
vision of the workmen, a great deal of the good soil
was buried beneath the bad, and the plants refused
to grow. In doing the work, keep the good soil on
the surface, adding to it some leaf-mould and sand.
A person of taste will make a very pretty feature
of this. Rustic bridges may be thrown across the
ravines, and be covered with overhanging creepers.
Rough tree stumps may also be set in suitable places
on the summit of the mounds, and covered with
different varieties of Ivy and Honeysuckle. A few
small shrubs, such as the Abies olanbrasiliana, Bam
busa Metake, Gaultheria Shallon, and the different
varieties of Pernettya, &c., will give character if
planted in judiciously selected situations. Among
the species of Ferns which will thrive in a ravine,
or series of artificially created banks in a partially
shaded situation, are the following : Asplenium
Adiantum-nigrum (Black Maiden-hair), A. Filix-
foemina (Lady Fern) and varieties ; Adiantum
pedatum and Capillus-Veneris — though a British
Fern, the latter is not quite hardy in every part of
Britain ; Brittle Bladder Fern (Cystopteris fragilis),
various kinds of Harfs-tongues, Blechnum Spicant
(Hard Fern) and varieties, and Lastrea Filix-mas
(Male Fern) in variety — the crested varieties of this
Fern are very interesting ; the Royal Fern (Osmunda
regalis), which should occupy a damp situation ;
and Shield Fern (Poljstichum angulare). These
are interesting evergreen Ferns. All the Ferns
mentioned will grow in loam with a little peat and
leaf-mould intermingled. Some of the smaller
species, such as the Brittle Bladder Fern, may have
a little sand and a few lumps of sandstone added.
Ostrich Fern (Struthiopteris germanioa), S. penn-
sylvanica, Sensitive Fern (Onoclea sensibilis), and
Woodsia hyperborea are all interesting species.
E. H.
Orchids.
W. H. GOWER.
ORCHIDS AT CROYDON LODGE.
The plant-houses at Croydon Lodge, the resi-
dence of Mr. Stephenson Clarke, are just now
very gay ; indeed I much question if a finer
display could be seen in the county of Surrey.
Plants are well and extensively grown in this
establishment, but yet no one class is fostered
unduly or at the expense of another. Slirubs
and hardy plants are fairly well represented ;
stove and greenhouse plants, both hard and
soft-wooded, are to be found in quantity ; while
good representative collections of Ferns and
Orchids have been made. It is of the Orchids
that I wish to treat just now, as these are now
in great beauty. That gem amongst winter-
blooming varieties, Calanthe Veitchi, is here
represented by upwards of a hundred and fifty
spikes, few of them less than 3 feet long, and
many of them considerably more, the majority
consisting of the superb deep-coloured variety.
These fill the liouse with a rich hue of
rose colours which are indescribably beauti-
ful, more especially when associated (as they
are here) with so many other shades. The
manner in which these Calanthes are grown
unmistakably proves the fallacy of growing
them in large pots, as few of these have pots
more than 5 inches across. Associated with
these are numerous spikes of an Oncidium which
appears to be O. obrjzatum or some nearly allied
species. The spikes, 0 feet or 7 feet in length,
and bearing quantities of lateral branches up-
wards of 2 feet long, are trained along the roof
near the glass, the side branches hanging loose.
The yellow flowers, although somewhat small,
have a beautiful eil'ect amongst the rosy flowers
of the Calanthe Vtitchi and the white of the
C. vestita, of which there are quantities both
of the red and yellow-eyed varieties. Inter-
mixed with these are numerous plants of the
grand old Dendrobiumnobile in 5-inch pots, many
of the plants bearing upwards of a hundred ex-
panded blooms. These plants are grown here in
these small pots for the i-ouveuieuce of room de-
coration, for which purpose they are extensively
employed. In addition to these, the flowers of
Zygopetalum B'laokayi afl'ord a fine contrast, as
also do various Slipper Orchids, such as Cypri-
pediums Sedeni, insigne, Harrisianum, Spiceri-
anum, Lowi, and venustum ; of tlie last there
is a plant bearing over a score of blooms. This
old acquaintance is very handsome when so
Dec. 31, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
613
well flowered. Intermixed again were spilces of
Odontoglossum bictonense and O. b. album,
Ltelia atro-rubens, Deudrobium formosum gigan-
teuin, Epidendruiii fragrans, Masdevallia tova-
rensis and Veitchi, Odontoglossum grande,
and various others ; Saccolabiuiii giganteum,
Oncidiuni Cavendishi and O. ornitliorhynchum,
and one of the finest Phalfeuopsis Schilleriana I
have ever seen. This plant is grown with the
other East Indian distichous-leaved Orchids in
the open stove with other tropical plants, both
ornamental-leaved and flowering kinds, and
all are thriving admirably; the Phatenopsis
has several large leaves upwards of 18 inches
long and is bearing several flower-spikes, each
of which has from six to seven long side spikes.
It is not sufliciently advanced to say more at
present, but I must return to it and its asso-
ciates when the flowers are expanded. The
above compri-;e the chief varieties of Orchids
now open here, and which as arranged are so
effective ; other noteworthy plants must have a
note elsewhere.
SEASONABLE ORCHID NOTES.
The cool Orchid house. — As the old year closes
the enthusiastic cultivator of Orchids daily scans
his collection with an anxious eye, as the plants often
show that they dislike the artificial treatment they
receive. Our leaden skies and keen east winds
enter the houses through numerous chinks in the
joints of the woodwork and laps of the glass. Such
, small apertures are almost essential in summer, but
in winter they cause us to use large quantities of
fuel, making it necessary to heat the pipes some-
times up to a point beyond what is deemed prudent.
So far the weather has not been very trying. We
have had no snow to speak of, and the frosts have
not been very severe or long continued. Heavy
falls of snow cause the temperature to fall more
rapidly than severe frosts do, and as soon as the
air is darkened by the snowfiakes let the fires be
immediately attended to, not that I advocate keep-
ing the temperature up to the same point on
intensely cold nights as may be thought best in
ordinary weather. In fact, it is perhaps injurious
to do so, and a long-continued struggle with severe
weather may be disastrous to the plants, unless a
compromise is made by allowing a fall of about 5°
during the coldest nights. In the construction of
cool Orchid houses I have learned that the practice
of erecting lean-to structures against a north wall
is not the best for the plants during the winter
months, nor am I quite sure that it is the best for
their summer treatment. Span-roofed houses with
the ends to the south seem on the whole to produce
the best results; it shading is used judiciously the
plants should be kept pretty close to the glass.
We are now looking forward to a good display of
Odontoglossum crispum, some being now in flower,
and many more to follow. It is a good plan to
surface-dress any plants that now require it, using
fresh green Sphagnum amongst the rough fibrous
peat. The same remark applies to the Masdevallias,
which if they have not been already surface-dressed,
must be attended to at once. M. ignea superba
gives a rich bit of colour now. It is the best of all,
and is easily distinguished by its habit of growing
out of the pot and requiring to be constantly
lowered to maintain the plants in a healthy condi-
tion. The ordinary forms of this are not worth
growing. We get blooms of M. Veitchi all through
the winter, and very early in the year the singular
M. poljsticha throws up its cream-coloured, densely
spotted flowers. Oncidium macranthum is now
freely throwing up its spikes if the plants are vigo-
rous, but I fancy that if this species is to be main-
tained in robust health from year to year it ought
only to be allowed to flower in alternate seasons.
It is too much to expect a plant to flower year after
year if the spikes take twelve months to rise from
their sheaths, develop, and display the flowers until
they fade. I have just now repotted a large plant
showing signs of exhaustion, and it will not be
allowed to flower at all next year. As Masdevallia
ignea superba gives a rich bit of colour amongst its
congeners, so also does Odontoglossum Edwardi
amongst plants of its own class ; the rich violet-
purple flowers produced on long-branched spikes,
though small in size, are of quaint form and very
effective. They grow with great vigour with us, the
roots pushing freely over the sides of the pots.
Slugs multiply rather freely at this season of the
year, and if they are allowed to traverse the surface
of the pots, which may be bristling with the points
of crisp healthy roots, they will speedily sap the
vigour of the strongest plants. We keep a quantity
of sliced Carrots or Potatoes lying about wherever
these pests abound. We are extremely careful of
such choice plants as Oncidium macranthum and
0. Marshallianum. The first-named stands on an
inverted flower-pot in a saucer of water ; the other
is grown in teak baskets suspended from the root,
and is well out of danger. Keep the atmosphere
rather dry and the temperature about 45°.
We are not doing much in the intermediate house
except keeping the plants clean, as well as the
glass and woodwork of the house. Some few
plants, such as Cymbidium Lowianum and C.
eburneum, have been surface dressed. For these
we use good fibrous loam and decayed manure in
equal portions. A few plants starting into growth
may now be potted. The recently introduced
Cattleya Bowringiana is one of them ; the growths
have started a few inches, and a mass of roots is
now issuing from their base. Flowering as it does
in October and November, this species is most
valuable. The flowers, smaller in size and of a more
lovely colour, are produced much like those of C.
Skinneri. It was introduced from Central America
in 1884, first by Messrs. Veitch, and now more
abundantly by Messrs. Sander.
Any Cypripediums requiring repotting may now
be attended to ; they are, of course, rather quiescant
at this season of the year, but at no time should the
potting compound be allowed to dry to the extent
that may be desirable for Cattleyas, and all through
the winter season roots are being formed. Of
course, those plants that may be throwing up their
flowers should not be disturbed. Amongst the
number are the C. barbatum group, C. villosum, and
some of the hybrids therefrom. Lselia anceps and
varieties of it are now beautiful ornaments of this
house. I saw in Messrs. Veitch's nursery the other
day the variety Sanderiana in flower ; the exquisitely
pure white sepals and petals of this form and the
rich purple blotch on the lip are most charming.
Other white forms in flower in collections are alba,
Williamsi, Schrcederfc, Hilli, Percivaliana, &c., all
more or less beautiful, while the ordinary forms give
a delightful variety. It must be observed that these
forms of L. anceps grow on trees and rocks in their
native country well exposed to li£;ht and air, and,
like other Mexican species, overshading is injurious
to them; at least, it prevents their flowering,
although they produce good pseudo-bulbs which,
however, lack firmness. The leaves are also thin in
texture and weakly, and drop over when partly deve-
loped; whereas the plants if kept well up to the
glass produce better bulbs and leaves, and are more
likely to produce flowers. The evaporating troughs
have no water in them now, and the paths as well
as the stages are damped but once daily. The
temperature ranges a little below or a little over
55°, according to the temperature outside.
The East India house is a pleasant place in dull,
cold weather if the atmosphere is kept compara-
tively dry, for a moist, warm atmosphere is not
enjoyable at any time, and it is not necessary in
winter. We have been repotting various occupants
of this house during the past two weeks, amongst
them some of the Cypripediums which were not
repotted the previous summer. The species and
hybrids of these have increased very rapidly during
the past few years, and are of considerable import-
ance in collections. The names are almost too
numerous to mention, but amongst new varieties C.
Sanderianum now in bloom must be noted for its
quaint form and the delicate spottings on the long
tail-like sepals. Angrsecum Sanderianum seems
alEO to take well to its new home in the warm
house. A plant of it here is developing a strong
spike, giving evidence of its distinct character ; it
is yet on a teak block, but when the flower-spike
has developed itself we will place the plant in a
basket of teak rods. The objection to blocks or
boards is that the plants require so much attention
to prevent their drying up; neglect of water at a
critical stage may do much damage. We keep the
temperature up to GO" or 65° as the state of the
weather may dictate to us. J. Douglas.
Vanda Cathcarti. — A few years ago not many
Orchid growers in this country knew this plant by
sight, and many attempts to introduce it in a living
state failed. At the present time it is more plenti-
ful, but it rarely flowers ; apparently we have not
yet unravelled the particular likings of this curious
and beautiful species. I recently, however, noted
a small plant of it flowering in Mr. Bull's establish-
ment at Chelsea ; the plant is of a somewhat scan-
dent habit; the concave flowers are large and fleshy,
some 3 inches across, the exterior white, the inner
side yellowish white very closely banded with
horizontal lines of reddish brown; the lip is small,
white, bordered with yellow. It is a native of
Upper Assam and Sikkim. — W. H. G.
THE SPARROW IN AMERICA.
Whatevbb doubt in regard to the injurious habits
of the English sparrow may have remained in the
minds of farmers and gardeners, it must now be
dispelled when the facts which have been collected
by the Department of Agriculture, and published in
the report of 1886, are fully known. The informa-
tion on this subject in the possession of the depart-
ment was obtained in answer to circulars distributed
iu all parts of the country. Three thousand two
hundred replies have been received.
In regard to the introduction of the English spar-
row, the report says : —
The English sparrow was first brought to this country,
so far as authentic information has reached the depart-
ment, in the autumn of 1850 when the Hon . Nicolas Pike
and other directors of the Brooklyn Institute imported
eight pairs into Brooklyn, N.Y. They were artificially
housed during the winter and liberated early in the
following year, but they did not thrive. In 1852 a
larger colony was imported. These birds are said to
have multiplied and spread over Long Island and adja-
cent parts of New York and New Jersey. In 1858 and
at subsequent dates independent importations were
made. In most cases the birds did well. They multi-
plied and spread gradually to neighbouring towns.
But the process of diffusion was slow at first, and it
was not until 1870 that the species can be said to have
firmly established itself throughout the Eastern States,
and to have begun in earnest its westward march.
Prom this time to the present the marvellous rapidity
of its multiplication, the surpassing swiftness of its ex-
tension, and the prodigious size of the area it has over-
spread are without parallel in the history of any bird.
Like a noxious weed transplanted to a fertile soil, the
sparrow has been spread over half a continent before
the significance of its presence has come to he under-
stood. The explanation of this phenomenal invasion
must be found partly in the peculiar impetus usually
given prolific species when carried to a new country
where the conditions for existence are in every way
favourable, and partly to its exceptional adaptability
to a diversity of physical and climatic conditions. This
adaptability has enabled it not only to endure alike the
tropical heat of Australia and the frigid winter of
Canada, hut to thrive and become a pest in both these
widely separated lauds.
The English sparrow is a hardy, prolific, and aggres-
sive bird, possessed of much intelligence, and more
than ordinary cunning. It is domestic and gregarious
in habit, and takes advantage of the protection aii'orded
by proximity to man, thus escaping nearly all of the
enemies which check the abundance of our native
birds, moreover, for many years it was looked upon
with favour, and both food and shelter were provided
it.
But the injury to the gardener and fruit grower
is still more direct : —
In addition to the indirect injury thus brought about
by depriving our gardens and orchards of Ihe protec-
tion atibrded by our native insectivorous birds, the
sparrows cause a positive and direct loss to our agricul-
tural industries amounting in the aggregate to not less
614
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 31, 1887.
than several millions of dollars per annum. The da-
mage done by the rice-hird is limited to a single crop,
and takes place during a few weeks in the spring and
autumn, but the ravages of the English sparrow affect
almost every crop produced by the farmer, fruit grower,
and gardener, and extend over the entire year. Indeed,
it may be safely said that the sparrow now exerts a
more marked effect upon the agricultural interest of
this country than any other species of bird ; and its
unprecedented increase and spread, taken in connec-
tion with the extent of its ravages in certain districts,
may be regarded with grave apprehension. In the
early spring it prevents the growth of a vast quantity
of fruit by eating the germs from the fruit-buds of
trees, bushes, and vines, of which the Peach, Pear,
Plum, Cherry, Apple, Apricot, Currant and Grape
suffer most.
But it Is not only the buds, but the fruit Itself,
which is eaten or mutilated so as to make it worth-
less.
Detailed accounts are given of its destroying
Lettuces, Peas, Beets, Radishes, Cabbages, Cauli-
flowers, Blackberries, Raspberries, Strawberries,
Grapes, Tomatoes, Plums, Peaches, Pears, and Ap-
ples. It appears to be particularly destructive to
Grapes : —
The Grape industry, which is one of rapidly increas-
ing importance in this country, encounters in the
Euglish sparrow an enemy second only to the Phyl-
loxera and certain fungoid gi-owths. Already in some
parts of the east it has become such a scourge that
Grape culture can no longer be carried on with profit,
it being necessary to enclose the ripening clusters in
hags to ensure their protection. At the end of the
season of 1880, hitter complaints of damage done to
the Grape crop by sparrows had reached the depart-
ment from twenty-five States.
In California, where this industry is of paramount
importance, the English sparrow has taken firm root
and is multiplying and spreading with ominous
rapidity, and unless steps are taken to wipe out the
pest at the earliest possible moment, the result will
entail a loss to the State of many thousands, if not
millions, of dollars. In this connection it is not
reassuring to read, in the evidence collected and
published by the Australian Government in 1881,
that in the short space of ten days the sparrows
took a ton and a half of Grapes from the vineyard
of John Chambers, of South Richland. Of the
hundreds of testimonials which have been sent to
the Department of Agriculture by practical fruit
growers, the following are suggestive examples : —
Mr. F. S. Piatt, of New Haven, Con-
necticut, writes : —
Last year, when I had a large crop of
very fine Grapes, I found that the spar-
rows were destroying nearly all of them.
I watched the birds, and found that they
would pick out a fine bunch of fruit and
peck a hole in nearly every Grape. This
hole would be so very small that at first
it would not be noticed, but very soon the
place would bfgin to decay, and then the
Grape would be ruined.
The postmaster of Bowling Green,
Ky., writei : —
It has ruined my Grape crop almost
wholly where unprotected.
Mr. Witmer Stone, of Germantown,
Pa , writes: —
It frequently despoils whole Vines of their fruit,
and pecks the bunches so that they have to be pro- .
tected by paper bags.
Mr. Thomas S. Kennedy, of Crescent HUl, Ky.,
writes : —
It eats Strawberries, Raspberries, and Grapes. This
past season it has been unusually destructive, and has
torn the paper bags from the bunches of Grapes. It
also eats holes in Apples and Pears hanging on the
trees.
The bird also destroys a great amount of the
various kinds of grain, ])articularly Wheat, Oats,
and Barley, and it lias even invaded the Rice fields
of the South, and one planter, in Louisiana, writes
that it is more destructive than the lice-bird. '
It is shown to be nearly, or quite, useless in the
destruction of insects and larvie, and, in fact, pro-
tects them by driving away the robin, the Baltimore
oriole, the black-billed cuckoo, and the yellow-biUed
cuckoo, which are great devourers of caterpillars.
The destructive habits of Ihe English sparrow in
Bermuda, Cuba, England, Germany, Austria, Russia,
India, Egypt, and Australia are too well known to re-
quire more than a passing observation. In England
alone the damage it causes has been estimated as not
less than £770,000 per annum, and in Australia the loss
is much greater. It threatens to become a more bane-
ful pest to the American farmer and horticulturist than
the grasshopper, caterpillar, and Colorado beetle.
The report recommends to the legislative bodies
of the various States and territories the immediate
repeal of all existing laws which afford protection
to ,the English sparrow, the enactment of laws
legalising the killing of the English sparrow at all
seasons of the year, and the destruction of its nests,
eggs, and young, and other legislation providing for
the destruction of the birds by persons appointed
for the purpose. — Vick's Magazine.
Trees and Shrubs.
W. GOLDEING.
THE DOUBLE HORSE CHESTNUT.
To those who are engaged in the planting of
public parks, gardens, st[uares, or streets, let
single, there is no reason why it should not be
substituted. A large specimen of the double-
flowered form, moreover, costs no more than a
tree of the single form, and although the former
may not bloom so freely, the spikes are more
showy and certainly last longer in perfection.
As a public avenue tree the double-flowered
Horse Chestnut is unsurpassed, possessing, as
it does, an imposing grandeur by its tall spread-
ing growth and massive foliage, which affords
such perfect shade. It is a first-rcate tree, too,
for towns, as it does not appear to be much
affected by a smoky atmosphere. The double
sort has been known in England for many years,
but it is only of late years that it has come into
such prominence.
The double-flowered Horse Chestnut.
me recommend the double-flowered Horse Chest-
nut, which, in addition to forming as fine a spe-
cimen as the single form, possesses the merit of
not producing fruit. This last is a point worth
much considei-ation in all public places where
the fruits of the common kind ofl'er such an
irresistible temptation to boys in autumn. Stone-
throwing at Horse Chestnut trees when in fruit
is not only a nuisance, but a danger in public
places, and as it is well-nigh impossible to pre-
vent it, the fruit-bearing Horse Chestnut should
not be planted in places oj3en to the public.
Now that the double-flowered kind is almost as
common in all first-rate tree nurseries as the
THE MUTILATION OF SHRUBS.
The pruning of shrubs, upon which " R. D.," in THE
Garden, December 1 7 (p. 569), gives some very good
advice, is, I consider, about the least understood
subject of all garden operations, and perhaps more
ignorance prevails among gardeners upon this ap-
parently commonplace operation than upon any
other. I have frequently noticed that while a
gardener keeps his fruit trees, his orchard, and the
rest of the garden in a faultless condition, his shrub-
beries are a disgrace to him. Perhaps he thinks
them beneath his notice, so he delegates the work
of thinning and pruning to one of the labourers ;
consequently, the shrubs get hacked about in the
most senseless way, and though " pruned " with a
knife might just as well have been cut with a bill-
hook. There is an excuse for the villa gardener,
who cannot be expected to know the right from the
wrong way, and his jobbing gardener knows but
little more. But in the professional gardener im-
proper pruning of shrubs is inexcusable, for if he
does not know how to prune particular kinds so as
to keep them in a vigorous condition, he could, by
his own observations for a season or two, tell which
shrubs bore flowers on the current season's wood,
which on last year's growth, which on the old, and
so on. The result of this careless pruning is that
one sees such shrubs as Weigelas with mostly all
their graceful young shoots hacked away and other-
wise mutilated ; Lilacs with their flowering wood
cut away, leaving the old, which does not produce
flowers; and this goes on in nine gar-
dens out of ten. But if one wants to
properly see how shrubs should not be
pruned, let him go to some of the
London parks, and especially to the
Thames Embankment Gardens, where
they have a special way of their own
in dealing with shrubs. I was amused
the other day in seeing how this work
was done in the garden close to Charing
Cross Station. Two or three labourers
were apparently digging up the shrub-
bery, and as they went they pruned the
shrubs, hacking the poor things about
unmercifully, trimming the shoots up
to regulation height, no matter whether
,\ the shoots were young or old. They
appear to me to hack the shrubs
whether they want it or not, on the
principle that if they do not want it
now they will some day. The result of this is that
a properly developed Lilac in any of these gardets
is a rarity, and if there Is one it is in an out-of-the-
way place, where it is left unpruned. I think that
others will agree with me when I assert that the
shrubberies in most of the London gardens and
squares are disgracefully managed. What with tie
eternal digging, which does more harm than
good to the roots, especially if done, as it
usually is, just before the hard weather sets
in. In one of the gardens of the Metropolitan
Public Gardens Association I saw a man cutting
away at the heads of some fine old Lilacs. I
stopped him and set him to cut away the thicket
of suckers that crowded round the base and was
starving the top. But usually the suckers are net
kept down, so the tops sufier. This is only one in-
Deo. 31, 1887.]
THE GARDEN.
615
stance of the style of pruning shrubs. I would far
rather see a crowded shrubbery with every plant in
it striving to push its head above its neighbours
than one that is annually mutilated, for, when
crowded, one does see a little of the natural growth
of the shrubs.
It is, unfortunately, owing to the imperfect way
that young gardeners on the whole are trained that
shrubberies that should be the glory of outdoor
gardens are so badly managed. If head gardeners
are indifferent about it, how can the young gar-
deners acquire knowledge in this branch 1 From
what I have myself seen I venture to say that there
is not more than one out of every ten important
gardens where proper attention is given to orna-
mental trees and shrubs, and where the work of
pruning is not allowed to be done by the labourers,
who, though they may mow and sweep, cannot be
expected to know how a shrub requires pruning, or
even, indeed, if it requires cutting at all. At the
present time, when more and more thought is being
given to outdoor! gardening, ornamental shrubs will
receive more of the gardener's attention and skUl.
W. GOLDEING.
The yellow-berried Holly.— While berried
shrubs of the different shades of red are plentiful,
there are very few with yellow fruits, and when
among those few is included a Holly equally as fruit-
ful as the common kind, one would expect it to be
very generally planted ; but the reverse is the case,
for it is very seldom met with even where the com-
mon kind is planted largely. The eye, so generally
accustomed to the bright red berries of the Holly,
is at once arrested by a fruiting specimen in which
the berries are of a yellow tint. Another instance
of a yellow-berried variety existing where the fruits
of nearly the whole genus are red is to be found in
the case of the yellow-fruited Yew. — T.
The Potato Tree (Solanum crispum). — Does
this tree ever fruit in England, and is the fruit of
any ornamental merit ? There is one here against
a west wall, which annually makes shoots 8 feet and
10 feet long, and as thick as a man's thumb. These
have to be removed, or the plant would speedily
out-grow the limits assigned to it. It is a sheet of
pale purple for many weeks in early summer, but
never a fruit can I find. From its extraordinary
vigour, I suspect the roots have found their way
into a drain that runs at no great distance. Many
of the exotic woody Solannms partake of this shy-
fruiting character. S. jasminoides is a familiar in-
stance, and the much-lauded Melon Pear, which
turns out to be a Solanum, as I suspected it to be,
is another example. Having a partiality for this
family, I have grown large numbers of its members,
and have found that a free-fruiting ligneous Sola-
num is an exception rather than a rule. — J. M.,
Charmouth,
little care or attention will be afterwards needed.
The variegated forms, pretty as some of them are
in the open ground and in a clear atmosphere, are
not adapted for towns, as the light-tinted portion
of the leaves so soon gets discoloured by smoke and
dirt.— H. P.
The Ivy as a basket plant.— Few plants
adapt themselves to circumstances so readily as the
Ivy, and it is one of the best of all plants for hang-
ing baskets in positions exposed to cold draughts
and cutting winds. I recently saw some baskets
furnished with Ivy that had occupied a position in
a dwelling-house in London for four years, and the
Ivy is still in robust health, while some of the
shoots have clasped the chains by which the baskets
are suspended, and in this way have reached the ceil-
ing. The variety used was in a couple of cases the
common Ivy of our hedgerows; whUe two other
baskets were filled with the small-leaved Caen-
woodiana, and very beautiful it looked in such a posi-
tion. The only attention bestowed upon Ivies in
baskets is to water when necessary, and occasionally
to take them outside and give them a good syring-
ing. Besides growing in suspended baskets, the Ivy
makes a good screen for the window, grown either
in the room or on the outside. In either case, a
box or some such receptacle must be provided for
the roots, and on the box trellis-work of wire or of
wood, to which the plants as they grow can be
secured, must be fastened. The shoots should be
tied in such a manner that they are equally distri-
buted over the trellis, and when it is once covered
AUTUMN-FLOWERING SHRUBS.
The long spell of hot, dry weather experienced last
summer told very heavily against shrubs of this
class, unless in rather cool and moist spots, as in
light, gravelly soil the foliage was in many cases
quite burnt up, and the beauty of the plant con-
sequently destroyed. That useful autumn-flowering
shrub (Hibiscus syriacus or Althaea frutex), repre-
sented in our gardens by so many varieties, suffered
greatly, for even during ordinary seasons it is
benefited by being planted in rather a moist spot.
One interesting point I noticed regarding the va-
rieties of this Hibiscus during the past season was
that the single-flowered kinds generally opened
their blossoms better than the double ones, though
a selection of both is well worth a place among the
most useful of shrubs. The pleasing bluish-tinted
form known as cselestis must always be included,
and other good kinds are totus albus, white ; Lady
Stanley, cream and red ; albus plenus, white, with a
claret blotch in the centre ; Boule de Feu, reddish ;
and atro-purpureus, deep purple. There is a variety
with variegated foliage which cannot be re-
commended, as the white portions of the leaves
are usually discoloured by the summer's sun. Un-
like the Hibiscus, the Japanese Desmodium pendu-
lifiorum seemed but little affected by the drought,
no doubt owing to the fact that the stout roots
descend for a considerable distance, and conse-
quently the massive clusters of rosy purple. Pea-
shaped blossoms produced a grand display. A
liberal dressing of manure greatly assists the growth
and flowering properties of this plant. It is a great
advantage not only in the case of this Desmodium,
but also many other plants, such as Spirasas.Deutzias,
Hydrangeas, PhOadelphus, and others of this class,
which are apt to become too thick towards the
centre with weak, useless wood if the crowded
shoots are removed in order to strengthen those
that remain. A near ally of the Desmodium is
Lespedeza bicolor, that forms a roundish bush about
a yard high, and bears bright purplish blossoms.
It flowers very freely, and is in that state a showy
shrub, but lacks the graceful habit of the Desmo-
dium. Hydrangea paniculata grandiflora is a
valuable shrub, as it is so amenable to pot culture,
and by a little forcing may be had in bloom by the
end of May, so that if desired a succession of bloom
may be kept up from then tUl it flowers naturally
in the open ground. This Hydrangea is very free-
flowering, and is seen to great advantage when a
bed is planted with it, and is, moreover, greatly
benefited by an application of manure, either when
planted or in the shape of top-dressing or liquid
afterwards. Under glass, the flowers are of a creamy
tint, which is retained throughout, but in the open
ground, after they have been expanded a little while,
the blossoms (especially in a sunny spot) become
suffused with pink. In the hot, dry position here, as
well as in several other places that came under my
notice, this Hydrangea suffered greatly last season
from attacks of red spider, causing the greater part
of the foliage to drop. The hybrid Ceanothus
Gloire de Versailles is about the best of its class for
autumn-blooming, and given the shelter of a wall
a display of flowers will often be obtained there-
from till nearly Christmas. The beautiful light
blue flowers are not only showy when on the
plant, but also last well in a cut state. The huge
compound leaves of Aralia spinosa would entitle
it to high rank from a foliage point of view alone,
and when the mass of wide-spreading leaves is
crowned by the large, much-branched inflorescence
composed of myriads of whitish blossoms, the whole
forms a very effective early autumn picture. This
plant can be increased to almost any extent by
means of root cuttings, as also can the Japanese
Clerodendron trichotomum, a hardy representative
of a genus principally composed of tender plants.
This is a stout, bold-growing shrub with large,
heart-shaped leaves and panicles of white blossoms.
Like some of the other species, the calyx, from
whence the blossoms protrude, being of a reddish
hue, forms a conspicuous feature, and in this case is
far more showy than the flower itself. For the in-
troduction of this as yet but little known shrub we
are indebted to Messrs. Veitch, who within the last
few years have put into commerce another valuable
autumn-flowering shrub, Caryopteris mastacanthus,
also a native of Japan. This forms a free-growing,
much-branched shrub, the flowers, of a bright
lavender-blue colour, being borne on the upper parts
of the shoots, and arranged in closely-packed axil-
lary cymes. The leaves are hoary, and when
bruised emit a peculiar odour. This plant was, I
believe, originally introduced into this country
by Mr. Fortune, but was lost for many years tUl
again obtained by Messrs. Veitch. It has proved
itself quite hardy around London, and it also makes
a first-rate waU plant. The propagation of this_ is
very easy, as cuttings of the young shoots strike
readily if put in at any time during the grow-
ing season. Several of the Hypericums flower
well during the autumn, and succeed with but
little care or attention. The Spanish Broom (Spar-
tium junceum) will often bloom from midsummer
till nearly the end of September, and when asso-
ciated with dark-leaved Evergreens the large golden
blossoms are seen to great advantage. The roots
of this, descend deeply into the soil, and on that
account the plant resists drought better than many
other subjects. The Strawberry Tree (Arbutus
Unedo) bears its beautiful wax-like bells during
the autumn, but is liable to be injured in severe
winters. This last remark applies also to the
several kinds of Escallonia, many of which will
flower tiU frost sets in. E. macrantha and In-
gram!, with the smaUer-flowered E. rubra and
the white E. montevidensis, are all handsome
shrubs when uninjured by frost. In some seasons
Spirfea Lindleyana will not flower till Septem-
ber, whUe in others it will be in bloom by
August. However, it is a really handsome shrub
when well established, as the mass of large
pinnate foliage forms a very striking feature,
and during the flowering season this is crowned
by a large branching panicle of whitish blossoms.
The little neat-growing Abelia rupestris will often
bloom for months together, and besides this many
Heaths may be had in flower during the autumn.
One of the showiest is St. Dabeoc's Heath (Da-
boeoia polifolia) with comparatively large bell-
shaped blossoms of a pleasing purple colour. This,
as also its two varieties, one with pure white
blossoms, and the other with both white and
purple blossoms on the same stem, wUl flower
continuously throughout the summer and until
cut off by the frost. The later forms of the
common Ling or Heather (CaUuna vulgaris),
notably Alporti, with purplish blossoms, and
Searli, white, bloom till quite late in the year.
The Cornish Moor Heath (Erica or Gypsocallis
vagans) and Erica multiflora must also be in-
cluded among the later blooming kinds. With
regard to trees that flower during the autumn,
the white-blossomed Sophora japonica stands
almost alone. Besides these shrubs that flower
naturally during the autumn months a great
many of the spring-flowering kinds will pro-
duce in some seasons a second crop of blos-
soms, conspicuous among them being Darwin's
Barberry, the Pyracantha, some of the Weigelas,
several .Spirieas, more especially that dwarf
bushy kind known as callosa alba, though in
general character it bears very little resemblance
to S. callosa. In especially favoured spots the
various shrubby Speedwells will bloom through-
out the autumn and winter, but generally speak-
ing they need the protection of a greenhouse.
The last of the autumn-flowering shrubs is fur-
nished by the curious Wych Hazel (Hamamelis
virginioa), which generally flowers about the latter
part of November. It is a deciduous shrub, and
the flowers, which are borne freely on the then
leafless branches, are of a peculiar starry shape,
and in colour yellowish. It is very curious when
in fuU bloom, but cannot be called showy. There
616
THE GARDEN.
[Dec. 31, 1887.
are one or two other kinds of Hamamelis supe-
rior to it in beauty, but they do not bloom till
the earlier months of the year. T.
Golden - leaved Poplar. — Ornamental tree
planters should make a note of the golden-leaved
Poplar (Populus Van Geerti), as it is very effective
when associated with other trees. Sometimes
occasion requires that quick-growing trees must be
planted in order to hide some object. One, or at
most two trees of the golden Poplar introduced
among them will tend to relieve the otherwise
monotonous appearance which a group of Poplars
(particularly the Black Italian) has. The foliage of
P. Van Geerti is of quite a yellow tint, which lasts
throughout the summer, and is not afEeoted by the
sun, as some other golden-leaved trees are. — W. G.
Garrya elliptica. — There is no more interesting
evergreen shrub than this, especially during the
winter months. It can be planted in any part of
the pleasure grounds, as it is as suitable for posi-
tions on the Grass as for the shrubbery. It is, how-
ever, as a lawn plant that it looks best, as when it
has plenty of space to extend, the branches sweep
the ground. It is also an excellent shrub for small
forecourt gardens, as its grey-green-coloured foliage
is quite distinct from that of ordinary subjects. It
may also be cut back to any size, and if the pruning
is done in the spring of the year, the shrub will
quickly become furnished with growth again. It is
unfortunate that severe frost injures the inflores-
cence, but I have never known any other part of
the plant suffer from keen cold. — J. C. C.
Trees at Bradfield. — Sir John Walrond, Brad-
field, CuUompton, has kindly sent us photographs
of the following trees, with the date they were
planted, and also the height each his attained:
*Wellingtonia gigantea, 1855, 54 feet; *Picealasio-
oarpa, 1857, 62 feet 1 inch; *Thuja Lobbi, 1857,
45 feet 10 inches ; * Picea Nordmanniana, 1857,
50 feet; *P. cephalonioa, 1857, 53 feet 9 inches;
* Abies Menziesi, 1857, 57 feet 2 inches; A.
orientalis, 1860,42 feet 10 inches; *P. grandis, 1876,
45 feet; *A. Douglasi, seed sown 1852 from. A,
Douglasi taxifolia at Bicton, 61 feet S inches ; P.
nobilis, 1855, 48 feet 9 inches ; * P. magnifica (?),
1860, 43 feet 3 inches ; P. Nordmanniana, 1860,
46 feet 8 inches ; P. grandis, 1860, 53 feet 9 inches.
Those marked * are shown in the photographs.
The Pyramidal Birch is strictly of erect
growth, and being dense and compact its outline is
Avell marked, and therefore it looks very unlike an
ordinary Birch. It is a useful tree for varying the
skyline of a group of Birches, and I was greatly
pleased the other day with the effect it produced
when I planted it in a group of about half a dozen
silver-stemmed Birches of different sizes, with a
large specimen of Young's Weeping Birch project-
ing boldly from one of the points of the mass. I
planted the pyramidal variety among the silver-
stemmed ones, and the result was most pleasing. I
have only to add a tree of the shaggy-barked Betula
nigra, as the North American Red Birch is called,
in order to make a perfect tree group. It is by
associating the varied forms of one kind of tree
that their true beauty is apparent, and is far more
satisfactory than the usual mix-them-as-they-oome
style.— W. G.
The Pyramidal White Poplar.— The infor-
mation given in The Gaedbn, Deo. 10 (p. 543),
respecting this new tree is most interesting, as
it throws light upon its origin and the date
of its introduction into Europe, which hitherto
has not been very clear. What the writer
says about the rapid growth of the tree,
its ornamental character, and its extreme hardi-
ness on the Continent are quite identical with its
behaviour in this country, and prove it to be one
of the most valuable hardy trees that have been in-
troduced during the present century. The effect of
spiral White Poplars as high as the Lombardy
Poplar in the landscape can be imagined. I, for
one, have great faith in it as a tree of the future,
and am planting it largely wherever I find an oppor^
young trees, mere saplings, which I planted thre
years ago are now fully 15 feet high and look ex-
tremely vigorous, and, notwithstanding the poor
soil they are in, they outgrow^the Lombardy Poplar.
It is, without question, only a variety of P. alba, and
no doubt it will be found as amenable to poor soils
and exposed situations as that useful ornamental
tree is. Whether to call it P. alba pyramidalis or
P. Bolleana, which last name has become esta-
blished now in English nurseries, is a question of
no great importance. The "Pyramidal White
Poplar" is the name by which it will become popu-
larly known. — W. G.
The English Hawthorn. — Two sensations I
had in Windsor Park or Forest, for I am not quite
sure of the boundary which separates them. The
first was the lovely sight of the Hawthorn in full
bloom. I had always thought of the Hawthorn as
a pretty shrub growing in the hedges, as big as a
Currant bush or a Barberry bush, or some humble
plant of that character. I was surprised to see it as
a tree, standing by itself and making the most de-
licious roof a pair of young lovers could imagine to
sit under. It looked at a little distance like ayoung
Apple tree covered with newly fallen snow. . . The
great poets build temples of song and fill them with
images and symbols that] move us almost to adora-
tion ; the lesser minstrels fill a panel or gild a
cornice here and there and make our hearts glad
with glimpses of beauty. I felt all this as I looked
around and saw the Hawthorn In full bloom in the
openings among the Oaks and other trees of the
forest. Presently I heard a sound to which I had
never listened before and which I have never heard
since : Cuckoo ! Cuckoo ! Nature had sent one
cuckoo from her aviary to sing her double note for
me, that I might not pass away from her pleasing
show without once hearing the call so dear to the
poets. It was the last day of spring.— De. 0. W.
Holmes, in " The Autocrat Abroad."
Propagating.
LUCULIA GBATISSIMA.— The flowering season of
this beautiful greenhouse shrub serves to direct at-
tention to its propagation, with which many people
fail, yet if a few simple points are borne in mind,
there need be no difficulty, provided the necessary
appliances are at hand. After the plants have
done blooming they are shortened back, and it a
genial atmosphere is maintained with an occasional
syringing, they push freely young shoots, which if
taken off soon after they have lost their succulent
character, but before they become woody, form
roots readily. Our propagating case is in a cool
part of the stove (just the place for striking the
tube-flowered Rhododendrons), and under the same
treatment the Luculia strikes well. The very stout
shoots should not be taken as cuttings, but rather
those of a medium vigour, and having been cut off
at a joint and the two bottom leaves removed, they
are ready for insertion. For this purpose small pots
are the best, each cutting being put into a single
pot and light sandy soil used for the purpose. We
plunge the cuttings in the propagating case where
there is a very gentle bottom heat, but care is taken
not to plunge them too deeply at first ; indeed,
should the heat be at all brisk it is better to stand
the pots in the case for about ten days before plung-
ing them at all. The principal point to bear in
mind is, that on no account must the cuttings be
allowed to flag before being put in, as' I know of
no other plant which is more easily affected in this
way than the Luculia. For this reason the cuttings
must be well attended to in the matter of shading
when necessary, as well as the removal of the glasses
occasionally to dry them. They must besides this
have water when required, but as little as possible
should be allowed to touch the foliage, as it is liable
to cause decay. If there is a good-sized plant in a
pot and it is removed after flowering to an inter-
mediate house, the shoots that are there produced
will strike more freely than those that have grown
in a lower temperature. T.
Christmas Roses. — Referring to an article about
tunity. 'it is extremely rapid in growth. Some | these in The Gabdfn, Deoemter 17 (p. 558), permit
me to state that H. uiger Madame Fourcade was raised
by Mons. Dugourd, a gardener at Fontainebleau, only a
few years ago, and that consequently it cannot be the
same as the Bath vai-iety. It is easily recognised by
its strong and stout deeply seiTate foliage. In The
Garden, December 24 (p. 576), H. altifolius is stated
to he the first to flower ; I beg, however, to observe
that H. niger prsecox begins four weeks earlier. —
Max Leichtlin, Baden-Baden.
Narcissus blooms not opening. — I herewith
send spikes of early double Roman Polyanthus Nar-
cissus, and shall be glad for any enlightenment re-
garding them. As you will see, the spikes are of a
yellowish appearance ; whether indicating disease
or cultural treatment, I cannot make out. I have
had the growing of thousands, but never saw any
like these. The bulbs were potted in the usual
way, then plunged in ashes outside, and when about
4 inches high, taken into the Cineraria house, and
have never been taken out. Temperature, 40° to
45° at night, and never above 50° during the day,
except on sunny days. The Narcissi were placed
close to the glass, and were treated exactly as here-
tofore. More than two-thirds of the spikes are all
right, strong and blooming equal to any I have
seen, yet these sickly ones are a mystery. More-
over, I note that bulbs bearing two spikes or more,
if one is bad, all on that spike are bad. and vice
versa. All are in vigorous health, whether good
spikes or bad are borne. — T. R.
*jf* From the specimens sent we think that the
evil is caused by the bulbs not having been properly
ripened. — Ed.
Market Pansies. — One of the greatest gains to
the market Pansy grower would be found in a
white Pansy having the excellent constitution and
early blooming properties of Blue King. This one
is without exception grown more than any Pansy in
the trade. Throughout West Middlesex it is to be
found in tens of thousands, cottagers largely grow-
ing it in preference to any other, not only because
it does so well and blooms so early, but also because
it has in the trade such an excellent reputation.
So far as I can learn, the most favoured white
Pansy is Dickson's Queen, a very good compact
grower, but too late in blooming to make it a
companion for Blue King. Some of the white
tufted Pansies have been grown in the trade
gardens, but they seem to lack those enduring
qualities which mark not only the kinds above
named, but also the old Cliveden Purple. It would
seem as if so much cross-breeding with tufted
Pansies to obtain quality of flowers had led to
weakness of constitution. Just what results in the
case of these best tufted Pansies follows also with
the finer forms of Pansies, such splendid yellows
as New Guinea and George Rudd proving doubtful
doers, especially when they are tried to be grown in
great quantities. The choice whites which have
been raised in the north, and have there such a
good reputation, can hardly be kept alive in the
south, a hot, dry summer such as that through
which we have recently passed killing them whole-
sale. AVhilst the once popular spring bedding in
private gardens seems on the wane, there is still a
large call for Pansies at low prices, and these wU]
pay to grow only when they are hardy, free-growing
kinds that bloom early. — A. D.
Scutiearia Steeli.— A fairly good coloured plate
of this Orchid appears in the December part of
VOrchidcqihile, accompanied with descriptive and
cultural notes.
Wanted, a nam.e. — The names wanted at p. 193
of the nearly completed volume of The Garden are
Oniithogalum pyramidale (L.) (Epi de la Vierge) and
0. arabioum (L.).— H. M., Pari^.
Transactions of the Royal Horticultural
Society.— Will some reader kindly tell me whether the
early numbers (from the eommeiicoment to 1830) of
the '"Transactions of the Horticultural Society" are
obtainable, and if so, what they would be worth ?—
J. V.
Pear Doyenne du Conriee.- In The Gadden
Deo. 17 (p. 562), I see that Mr. Woodall, of Scar-
borough, has not succeeded in fruiting this grand
Pear. Here, about forty miles from Scarborough, it
rarely fails to carry a fair crop.— J. Ahisor, Valton
Hall Gardens, Bull.
Djbo. 31, 1887.J
THE GARDEN.
617
WOODS & FORESTS.
FORESTRY.
Notwithstanding the quantity of rain that has
fallen, the ground in many parts of the country
has never yet been thoroughly saturated, al-
though in most cases the surface has been in
fairly good condition for planting and a great
deal of work has been executed in a very satis-
factory manner. On account of the dry season,
and from the fact that the subsoil is yet quite
dry, test holes dug here and there in barren
ground to attract and hold water as a guide to
the drainer are not to be trusted to this season.
Springs in many parts of the country have as
yet failed to supply their normal amount of
water ; consequently many parts of England,
Scotland, and Ireland have and are suffering for
want of a proper supply. Ireland is rather a
wet country, yet it has been exceptionally dry
this season, as may be gathered from the follow-
ing interesting statement bj' Mr. M'Cammand
at a meeting of the Water Commissioners of
Belfast some time ago. He showed that the
rainfall this year had been less by 85 inches
than the average for the last twenty -three j-ears,
the average being 31 inches and the actual fall
this year being 22i inches. He also took occa-
sion to correct some erroneous impressions as to
the amount of rain that has fallen during recent
weeks. From his statement it appears that the
amount of rainfall during the months of August,
September, October, and November this year
has been less by 3 inches than the average for
the same months in the past six years, the ave-
rage being 14J inches against an actual fall in
the four months of the present year of 11 'IS
inches. But although the soil has been com-
paratively dry this season, yet it has been in
good condition for planting, and in cases where
large ornamental trees and shrubs had to be
lifted and replanted, the work could be carried
out with great facility, as the dry soil could be
worked in between the roots in such a way as to
give the tree a firm, stable position at once. I
need hardly add that such trees require to be
staked and tied firmly to prevent wind-waving
until they get thoroughly established in the
ground.
In an article in The Garden of December 10
(p. 546) on the early coning of Conifers
"J. M." says : —
One of the chief causes of young trees coning
prematurely is the tying upright of the stems which
happen to lean to one side . . . and the after
neglect of taking off ligaments used have a ten-
dency to out into the bark on one side, often
weaken the top, and result in early coning. Another
cause is from transplanting, and is particularly
noticeable in plants of Picea nobilis.
When ligaments used to support trees are
allowed to cut the bark it cannot be otherwise
than injurious to the healthy growth of the
plant, but some species of trees have a natural
tendency to produce cones at an earlier stage of
their growth than others, where neither staking
nor tying were ever practised. I will give an
example of this. In a mixed plantation where
I planted a number of the common Silver Fir,
as well as Picea nobilis, I found that the former
were repeatedly cut down by late spring frosts,
while the latter remained iminjured. This
was, I consider, a fair test, and, according to
"J. M.'s" theory, the common Silver Fir
should have been the first to produce cones, but
such was not the case ; none of these trees
produced cones until they had attained a
pretty large size, whereas P. nobilis generally
began to bear cones when they had attained
a height of some 10 feet or 12 feet. These
trees were all raised from home-saved seed
produced upon the estate, and had all
received the same treatment during their
nursery career, but none of them had ever
been staked, tied, or supported in any way.
Although P. nobilis produces cones at an early
stage of its growth, yet, as a general rule, they
do not produce male flowers for a series of
years after they begin to cone ; consequently
the seeds are barren and of no use. When the
trees begin to bear male flowers I have fertilised
the cones with the pollen thus produced, and
have in this way obtained fine plump seed, the
progeny being all that can be desired as regards
health and general appearance. From the
hardiness of this tree as compared with that of
the SUver Fir in early life, I was under the im-
pression many years ago that it might in course
of time partly supplant the latter as a timber tree,
but from recent observations I fear it will never
attain to such a high standard of excellency.
Although the growth of the common Silver Fir
is retarded in the early stages of its life, yet it
soon recovers, and when once fairly started and
established it is not liable to be injured by frost,
and in good rich soil makes rapid progress and
soon attains a large size. When planted on un-
suitable soil, such as stift' clay resting upon a
hard impervious subsoil, the growth is apt to
get stunted and the trees become infested with
the coccus insect (Adelges Picea^). Such trees
often bear large quantities of cones, but the
seed collector should pass them by and only
gather such as are produced by fine, healthy
trees, free of disease. Plump, well-filled seed
from such trees should always be used, although
the collecting may entail more expense and
trouble. I have never seen any of the trees of
P. nobUis infested with this insect, but whether
or not they are proof against such attacks,
time only will tell. Both species like a deep,
rich soil, well mixed with organic matter, and 1
have planted both kinds with success upon
thorouf/hly decomposed Moss ground mixed
with a little soil.
Further on " J. M." says : —
It will be a service if those who have had expe-
rience in seedlings thus produced wiU kindly give
the results of their experience .... The sickly
state of many of our young Larch plantations, I
much fear, is owing to carelessness in seed-col-
lecting.
The progeny of Larch seed gathered from
unhealthy trees cannot be otherwise than de-
fective and wanting in substance as compared
with plants raised from plump seeds of full size
collected from fine healthy trees. The Larch,
however, is liable to a variety of diseases which
appear in different forms, according to the soil
and climate in which the trees are planted. Stiff
clay, hard tilly subsoils, loose sand, and hard
gravel produce heart-rot and pumping ; late
spring frosts check the flow of the sap and pro-
duce the coccus insect, blister, and ulceration.
Wet ground attracts frost, and trees in such a
position are always sickly and weakly, even
although raised from the finest seed and planted
with the greatest care. J. B. Webster.
liistletoe growing on the Oak. — But few
authentic instances of the common Mistletoe being
found growing spontaneously on the Oak in England
are to be found on record ; the most reliable is that
by the late Mr. Donald Beaton, who, in March, 1837,
exhibited at one of the meetings of the Horticul-
tural Society in London a branch of the common
Oak, with two plants of ordinary Mistletoe attached
to it, and which had been found growing on the
estate of Lord Somers, at Eastnor Castle, near Led-
bury, in Herefordshire, by Mr. Moss, then the
gardener there. The Oak tree on which the Mistle-
toe was found had several large plants of the para-
site upon it, and was the only instance known to
Mr. Moss, although he had made diligent search
through a large extent of Oak woods and other
plantations in which Mistletoe abounded on other
kinds of trees ; he, however, had noticed Mistletoe
growing on that particular Oak for more than
fifteen years, and he also remarked that the Oak
on which it grew was close to a large Willow loaded
with the parasite, and from which, no doubt, it had
escaped. — G.
ORNAMENTAL HEDGES.
Few persons have any idea of the number of shrubs,
both evergreen and deciduous, that may be success-
fully used in the formation of ornamental hedges.
In the following paper I purpose describing, in
as concise and plain a manner as possible, a few of
the many plants that I have used with perfect
success in the formation of live fences, and thus
show that the monotonous repetition of Privet,
Quick, and Holly is by no means a necessity.
The Latjeustintjs (Viburnum Tinus) is a very
ornamental hedge plant and one that can be highly
recommended for garden, lawn, or nursery sub-divi-
sions. It bears pruning well, and for this reason
may be kept to any ascribed bounds; while its free-
flowering nature entitles it to rank high amongst
our more ornamental shrubs. In forming the hedge
do not place the plants closer than 12 inches in
single line, and in previously well prepared soil.
By pruning or trimming the hedge immediately
after flowering is past, a neat habit is brought
about, while its free-flowering qualities are much
enhanced.
Beebeeis Daewini is another excellent shrub for
lawn or garden fences, it being of the freest growth,
a perfectly hardy subject, and a most persistent
bloomer. By placing young plants at 12 inches
apart in thoroughly loosened soil, a very efficient
fence is formed in a couple of years, and one, more-
over, that has few equals from an ornamental point
of view. Close trimming in of the shoots should
be avoided, as then half the beauty of the fence
is destroyed, nothing more being required but
cutting or shortening back with a pruning-knife
any long, ungainly growths immediately after the
flowering season is past. Peaty soil suits this Bar-
berry quite as well as the richest and freest loam ;
indeed, some of the finest, largest, and best-fur-
nished specimens I have ever seen were growing in
a Rhododendron bed on an estate in the north of
Ireland.
The Oval-leaved Privet (Lignstrum ovali-
folium) has few equals as a hedge plant. It is of
remarkably freegrowth, by no means fastidious about
soil, perfectly hardy, and bears hard trimming with
impunity. Being an evergreen, or, at least, nearly
so, is another point in its favour, while it maybe
propagated with the utmost ease by inserting
cuttings in any light, sandy soil during August or
September. In planting, place the plants 8 inches
apart in single line, or where a thick and unusually
strong hedge is required they may be placed in
double lines and at a distance of 6 inches between
the rows. For garden division or as a neat lawn or
shrubbery fence nothing, in my opinion, can surpass
the plant now under consideration.
The common Box (Buxus sempervirens) will be
found well suited for forming a low and neat ever-
green fence. It is of compact growth, bears trim-
ming well, and, although in luxuriance of growth it
may not equal any of the above-mentioned shrubs,
it is well suited for forming a fence of a yard or so
in height. In planting it is not well to place the
plants too close to each other, but rather to use good
sized specimens, say 2 feet high and at a distance
of 18 inches apart.
The Holly (Ilex Aquifolium) forms one of
the most ornamental as well as useful of live
fences. It may be kept in bounds by regular
pruning, which it bears with impunity, while it
grows rapidly where thoroughly established, and
soon forms a wall of impenetrable gTeen,'and_one of
imposing beauty as well. Most persons' are under
the impression that the Holly is difficult to trans-
plant, but by lifting the plants with good balls of
618
THE GARDEN.
[Deo. 31, 1887.
earth attached doriiig the month of May this
operation is rendered very simple. The Holly is
propagated by inserting cuttings in light, sandy
soil in August, and keeping these moist and shaded
in a cool frame or beneath hand-glasses until
growth commences in spring. This is not the usual
way, however, that commonly practised being to
raise the plants from seeds. Grafting of the finer
varieties is usually resorted to.
The common Yew (Taxus baccata) is another
popular hedge plant, but its poisonous qualities
preclude its use in positions where farm stock could
browse on the foliage. For lawn or shrubbery use
it is, however, invaluable, and is, perhaps, more
commonly used for screen or other fences in such
positions than any other shrub or tree. When per-
fectly established the Yew is of fairly quick growth,
and as it bears trimming well soon forms a fence of
so compact growth that birds can hardly pass
through it. The distance at which the Yew may
be planted in forming a fence will much depend on
the size of the plants to be used, but for ordinary
purposes those of say from 2 feet to 3 feet in height
will be found most suitable, and should be placed
at 3 feet or so apart. The Yew is propagated in a
manner similar to the Holly, by collecting the
berries when ripe and either sowing at once or
placing for twelve months amongst sand, so as to
rot off the pulp or outer coating.
The Latjbels, both common and Portugal, are
excellent fence plants, and as they are of large
growth may likewise be used where a screen for
unsightly buildings is required. The common
Laurel is very readily raised from cuttings, which
should be inserted thickly in free sandy soil during
August or September. The Portugal Laurel is
usually propagated by treating the berries in a
similar way to that recommended for the Holly and
Yew, or by layering. In forming a fence of the
common Laurel large-sized plants should be used
and inserted at such a distance apart that the
outer branches will Just touch each other. The
Portugal Laurel being of stronger growth than the
common form must not be planted so closely, and as ^
it bears transplanting when of large size it forms
a fence in a short time.
CuPRESstJS Lawsoniana is another excellent
hedge plant, and as it is now propagated in large
numbers, it will no doubt be largely used wherever
an ornamental evergreen fence is required. It is
by no means partial to soil of good quality, but
flourishes well in that of even very opposite descrip-
tions.
Retinospoba plumosa. — One of the neatest and
prettiest hedges I have ever seen was formed of
this shrub. Being of remarkably close growth and
feathery in appearance, as well as of rapid develop-
ment, no better subject for forming a lawn or
garden fence than this Retinospora could be chosen.
At various times I have formed hedges of this
shrub, and the result has always been satisfac-
tory. It is well to use plants of large size, as
immediate effect is then produced, and as all the
Retinosporas transplant with the greatest freedom,
no risk is incurred by using specimens of from
3 feet to 5 feet in height. By placing these in well-
prepared ground and at just sufficient distance
apart to allow the tips of the branches to touch, a
good fence is formed in an almost incredibly short
time. R. plumosa aurea is a beautiful variety of
the above with golden yellow foliage, but as it is as
yet, comparatively speaking, scarce, few fences have
been formed of it, although its close-set habit and
beautiful appearance render it peculiarly well fitted
for such a purpose. The Retinosporas are propa-
gated from cuttings, and these may be inserted in
boxes containing a mixture of loam, leaf-mould,
and sand, and stood in unheated frames or a cool
greenhouse until roots are emitted, after which they
may be lined out in the nursery for a few years
previous to being placed in theirpermanent positions.
Fuchsia Riccaetoni may by some persons be
considered as an unsuitable shrub for hedge forma-
tion ; but such is, however, not the case, for I have
used it largely and with the utmost satisfaction for
such a purpose. In England particularly it is quite
hardy, and although during very severe winters it
may be killed back nearly to the ground, yet by
cutting away the dead wood in early spring fresh
shoots are emitted, and these in one season reach a
height of 3 feet or 4 feet. It is readUy propagated
from cuttings.
The American Aebob-vit^ (Thuja occi-
dentalis) may be classed as a valuable fence
plant, for when attended to in the way of prun-
ing at stated and regular intervals, it forms a
close and compact hedge of the most sombre
green. It may likewise, from its stiff and un-
yielding nature, be made to form a fence of
considerable height, one of which that I saw
lately being nearly 6 feet high, and a perfect
wedge of green. It bears trimming well, and for
this reason may be pruned without the least
fear of injury, but rather with decided benefit to
the individual plants and fence as a whole. In
forming the fence, good, large-sized plants should
be used — say of 3 or 4 feet in height — and these
may be planted at a yard apart, in previously
prepared soil of average quality. The American
Arbor-vitfE is propagated from cuttings.
Where the line of plants forming a fence is to
be made, trench the ground over roughly 3 feet
in depth and 6 feet wide, and should the soil be
found of inferior quality, enrich it by a liberal
dressing of thoroughly decomposed farmyard
manure, nursery detris, good loam, or leaf mould.
Planting should take place in autumn, and in
doing so be careful not to insert the shrubs at a
greater depth than they formerly stood in the
nursery border. In some cases, more especially
where ground game is very abundant, a wire
fence run along each side of the newly formed
hedge will prevent damage. An annual clearing
of all weeds and dirt from the base of the hedge
must likewise be attended to ; indeed, this is a
matter of the greatest importance, although one
that is far too often neglected. A. D. W.
M .
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